Japan's Nintendo Co. said Thursday that it will enter China's home-use video game market next month, making it the first computer game console maker to move into the mainland market.

With competition in hand-held game machines intensifying at home, Nintendo wants to move ahead of its rivals into the Chinese market.

Competitors, including Sony Corp., which markets the ``PlayStation'' game console, and Microsoft Corp., which sells the ``Xbox,'' have also been considering entering the Chinese market.

Nintendo plans to market an inexpensive console that comes with a flash memory card specifically developed to prevent piracy.

The memory card, used to download game software, works only with the console sold with it, a step believed to effectively prevent illegal copying, Nintendo said.

The machine, ``iQue Player,'' will sell for 498 yuan (US$60) including the memory card. Game data can be downloaded onto the card at 48 yuan (US$5.80) per title at shops that register with Nintendo's local joint venture, iQue Ltd., in charge of planning and manufacturing game machines and software titles in China.

About 10 game titles, including Chinese-language versions of Nintendo's trademark ``Super Mario Bros'' series, are planned for initial release.

Sales will begin in mid-October in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

Nintendo expects several hundred retailers to sign up as software title vendors, and plans to expand its sales network nationwide.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Business News
+The next great leap after Shenzhou V ( 2003-10-21) +Hu calls for balanced development ( 2003-10-21) +Report: SARS not airborne virus ( 2003-10-21) +Japan urged to resolve weapons issue ( 2003-10-21) +Int'l AIDS group opens Beijing office ( 2003-10-21)		+Home-appliance giants want wheels ( 2003-10-21) +Exchange-rate reform under study ( 2003-10-21) +Health insurance sector called for ( 2003-10-21) +SanDisk teams up to open outlets ( 2003-10-21) +Housing prices start to sag in Shanghai ( 2003-10-21)