The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) will allocate CNY10 million in support of the development of generally-used network game engines in China.

This is the first time that network games have been listed to receive the government's funding. The program is called "Network Game Development Platform Program" and ten enterprises including Great Wall Broadband, Shanda and Kingsoft have won rights to receive funds from the program.

The companies who receive funding will be divided into three teams, each of whom is required to undertake a specific task to ensure the engines are completed on time.

February 4 is the deadline for the companies to sign the contracts with MII and then the engines will be completed by early 2006.