It’s bound to happen, so to speak. Do you guys remember the iPed? The iPad China rip-off?

Well, they’ve taken it one step further with their version of the Sony PSP Vita. And they’re even selling it BEFORE Sony. Specs and more photos follows…

Chinese Version PSP Vita Specs

• Android powered
• gravity sensor
• front and back cameras
• a large LCD screen
• 1080p support
• and a front touch-screen. (no touch sensor at the back, though)

It’s branded as “Yinlips”.

‘Nuff said.

Don’t forget to share! Thanks!

Via Kotaku

If you think the “living out” conditions of embattled NBP detainee Gov. Leviste is lavish and that the poor prisoners have it up to their necks living in sqaulor, think again.

Some Chinese jail officials have turned their correctional facilities into a virtual sweat shop to farm and resell gold for World of Warcraft. OMG!

According to a detainee at a prison in Heilongjiang province:

he was habitually forced into playing MMOs likeWorld of Warcraft for the collection of loot, which the prison guards would then resell online for as much as ¥6,000 ($924) per day. Such totals would be the product of up to 300 inmates working 12-hour daily shifts, though predictably they saw none of the profits themselves. The unnamed source was at a “re-education through labor” camp where the usual toil would involve actual, rather than virtual, mining.

What would they think of next?

[ source ]

A couple of years ago, the Japanese built this 1:1 scale classic, RX-78 Gundam at Odaiba’s Shiokaze Park. This was done in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam.

Not to be outdone, China has erected a flimsy replica at Floraland park in Chengdu.

Spot the difference?

Here’s another photo of the original life-sized Gundam

And here are close-ups of the Chinese version:

Note that unlike the Japanese Gundam, the Chinese version is made up of fabric.

Sigh. From Apads (iPad clones) to Gundam. What will they think of copying next?

[ source ]

Her name is Zhu Songhua, 30 years old and is a primary teacher at China’s Jiangsu Nantong grade school.

She measures 34-26-34 and is single.

Boy, I’d love to be Elementary again. Don’t forget to share.

Zhu Songhua – Cutest Teacher in China?

Want to see more of Zhu? Head on over here

Photo Credits and news via Indo New York News

Despite government, civic groups and media features, the Chinese gold farming industry - with online game World of Warcraft as the primary vehicle, continues on.

Some proponents of the underground industry are adamant that the supply is still huge. They think that gold farming will continue to exist because players will continue to look for it and pay for it. “The reason people buy gold is the same reason they pay people to wash their car – they would rather spend money than do it themselves”, said one anonymous Chinese gold farmer.

Let’s take a look at the current state of the Chinese gold farming industry and take a behind-the-scenes-look at 2 actual employees.

One more click, sir…

Case Study 1: Li

Here’s an excerpt from a post at MMOSITE:

Li is just one of more than 100 workers employed by Wow7gold, an internet-based company that makes more than 1m pounds a year selling in-game advantages to World of Warcraft players. Customers may ask for their avatar’s skill level to be increased (“power levelling”), or for a virtual magic sword or precious ore to be obtained. As one player put it: “Where there’s a demand, China will supply it.”

For thousands of Chinese workers such as Li, “gold farming” is a way of life. Workers can expect to earn between $100 to $150 (PHP4,800 to P7,200) a month which, given the long hours and night shifts. After completing his shift, Li is given a basic meal of rice, meat and vegetables and falls into a bunk bed in a room that eight other gold farmers share. His wages may be low, but food and accoMMOdation are included.

Case Study 2: Eva Yuan

 A 26-year-old graduate who speaks three languages, she has been working in the white-collar departments of Wow7gold for more than a year. Each day she helps more than 100 customers, placing orders and answering queries. “Most of our customers are from America but they are people of all ages and careers,” she says. “The biggest transaction I have seen was one person who bought 100,000 gold, which costs $3,000 (P144,000). For me this is a lot of money but for them it is not.”

After leaving university, Yuan was unable to find employment in the “real” economy. Now, the $325 (P15,600) she makes every month at Wow7gold allows her – with a bit of help from her parents – to support her one-year-old son.

“We face unemployment in some areas and China has a large population so the challenge is severe,” she says. “These firms provide the employee with a place to live and money to earn. When I came there were just 100 employees, now there are over 130. This is a new and innovating area for the economy”. I ask Yuan whether she thinks her job is worthwhile. “Everything that appeals to some people in the world needs some people to produce it. We are allowing people to buy what they want, and we care about that.”

The latest estimates put around 400,000 Asians (mostly Chinese) employed in these sweat shops.

The underground industry is reported to make around $900 Million (PHP43.6 B) a year. With a customer base numbering from 5 to 10 million. This is expected to grow in the years to come as Internet access and online games become more popular.

Via MMOSITE

BBC reports on the massive scale of gold farming for WoW. To most Chinese, it’s a full-time job. With a population of over 1.3 billion people, the growth of the gaming population has been incredible. From just around 22.3 million players less than a year ago, this has ballooned to 147 million. A growth of 559%.

Blizzard has began a crackdown on these operations which has been closely monitored by the blogosphere.

An average gold-farmer earns the equivalent of $150 to $250 a month (roughly around P11,250/month) working 8 to 12 hour shifts.

Why do they keep doing it?

Simply put – there is a HUGE demand. With over 8 million players worldwide logged and addicted to the best-selling MMORPG of all time, WoW players simply do not have the time to farm on their own. They’d rather pay for it.

Another article at Joystiq aptly puts it so; “A professional who makes the equivalent of $50 per hour (about $100,000 per year) would be foolish not to spend $10 per hour to skip the boring parts of World of Warcraft. He’s got better things to do with his time.”

It then becomes a conscious decision to keep up with the other players while carefully balancing online and real-life.

Is it then a moral question? Some may argue yes, it IS cheating. But some will say that it’s not YOUR money. Buyers will continue to buy and sellers will continue to keep up with the growing demand. At the end of the day, it does give some unemployed Chinese a job.

Tough call… you be the judge and comment below.

Via Joystiq

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