JUNE 14, 2008 • Having already marketed a World of Warcraft-themed credit card in the United States, Blizzard Entertainment is working with its Chinese partner The9, and China Merchants Bank, to do the same in China. Consumers using the card will own points toward free playing time in WoW.

Impact:  Credit cards are a luxury in China.  Nothing speaks to the coming of age of the Chinese middle class better than the financial branding of World of Warcraft. In the U.S., consumers must spend $1,500 before they earn enough points for one free month of WoW. There’s no word yet of how many yuan Chinese gamers will have to spend for the same reward, but it says volumes about the faith in their spending habits that a WoW Rewards Card is being made available to them.