Voices

Prof Tao will always lose to Fan Bingbing

By Guan Dongke (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-28 08:02

Professor Tao Hongkai Actress Fan Bingbing

Professor Tao Hongkai, a noted critic of online games, has recently become a laughing stock.

After a newly launched online game made popular movie star Fan Bingbing its spokeswoman, Tao reportedly said the appointment is nonsense and that the company made a stupid decision.

Tao reportedly said Fan doesn't understand online games and by being the game's spokesperson, she won't be able to educate children. Moreover, he suggested that he would make a better spokesperson for online games.

People were amused by Tao's words. Nobody expected a critic of online games to suggest that he switch roles and become a promoter. And people are shocked by the man's confidence and enthusiasm for being a game spokesperson when he is almost 70 years old.

Between a beauty and an old man, who will a game company pick for a spokesperson? The answer is obvious. I believe Shi Yuzhu, the company's boss, would rather stage a show of "beauty and beast" instead of "an old man and beast". Shi has said he respects Tao, but is not considering appointing him as a spokesperson.

Despite Tao's willingness, no game company would probably want to hire a former critic to promote its business. On one hand, Tao has heavily criticized the games. On the other hand, Tao said he'll promote "healthy" games. But beware, which domestic game maker dares to step forth, promising its products are "healthy" and no children will become addicted to them?

There is no doubt that Tao knows a lot about online games. Otherwise he wouldn't have become a noted critic of online games as well as an expert on Internet addiction. But this doesn't mean he can be a spokesperson. If you look at television commercials, how many celebrities in advertisements know much about the products they promote? Why must Fan Bingbing be a good online game player? No stars can do that.

Both Tao and Fan are public figures. But as far as product promotion is concerned, the companies need public attention most. Beautiful women are a good selling point, including in the world of online games. It's only natural for Shi to hire Fan. I can't think of a single game that could engage Tao's service. It's a joke for an old man to offer himself as a promoter of an online game.

Excerpts of a comment that appeared on china.cn on April 24.