Genshin Impact has been one of the most successful games in the world since its release in September 2020. The global success of the game is not only beneficial for its developers MiHoYo, but the Chinese culture too. It is hard to believe that traditional culture and gaming can blend together in such a manner, but Genshin Impact does it ever so well.
Daniel Ahmed, senior analyst at Niko Partners, talked about this relationship between Genshin Impact and Chinese culture recently:
I was quoted in this @jingtravel article about the integration between video games and cultural institutions such as museums and national parks in China. https://t.co/oSTgORBRCZ
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) November 3, 2020
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Genshin Impact is based on real-life locations
One of the biggest attractions of Genshin Impact is its beautiful open-world. Surprisingly, the awe-inspiring locations in the game are not fictional, but a depiction of the Huanglong National Park.
While talking to Jing Travel, Daniel Ahmad claimed that there are two advantages of the amalgamation of gaming and culture.
“The deep integration turned Genshin Impact into a showcase for the national parks. It increases the cultural value of the game to its players and increases tourism to these regions.”
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There is also a section on Genshin Impact and its co-operation with the Zhangjiajie and Huanglong national parks.
Locations in the game were based off aspects of these national parks. As were certain interactive elements.
Increased cultural value = Increased tourism pic.twitter.com/Hhx4f8mVlD
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) November 3, 2020
It is amusing for players to find out that their favorite game is not just a fantasy world. It not only enhances the realism in the game but compels the players to know more about these real-life locations.
Growth in the gaming industry is a blessing in disguise for the Chinese culture
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Developing games in China has its own set of challenges because of the adamant policies of the government. As per Daniel, “Chinese regulators have long encouraged developers to create games that explore the country’s traditional culture.”
“There have been cases where China’s regulators or media criticize games for misrepresenting historical figures or events, requiring developers to make changes to the game.”
Therefore, developers like Tencent, NetEase, and MiHoYo actively collaborate with the museums and national parks in China to propagate the country’s diverse heritage and culture. The museums lend their art to the developers, and in return, the success of these games expands the global reach of these museums.
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ALSO READ– Genshin Impact : New Characters Arrive With the Upcoming 1.1 Update
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing has become a global lifestyle and Chinese games are witnessing a surge in their users. The developers are trying their best to include the country’s culture in their games. As a result, China is slowly making its way to the tourism map.
