China’s largest video game museum opens to public

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's largest professional video game museum officially opened to the public in Shanghai on Friday, vividly presenting the history of the industry.

Covering an area of 2,000 square meters in Shanghai's downtown Xuhui district, the Video Game Museum of CADPA (China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association) collects more than 5,000 pieces of game-related exhibits such as game consoles, personal computers, game software, game books and periodicals.

The exhibits are on display across four major sections, which respectively introduce the early situation of electronic games, the blossoming of console games, the development of computer games, and the chronicle of Chinese video games.

The retro decoration and setting bring visitors some nostalgic feeling of childhood summers playing games with friends.

"I feel like I'd been traveling back to my childhood, being in a 'time tunnel,'" said Shen Yang, a visitor.

One of the highlights at the museum is the world's first commercial home video game console Magnavox Odyssey that was released in the United States in September 1972 and overseas the following year.

The Odyssey consists of a white, black, and brown box that connects to a television set, with two rectangular controllers attached by wires. 

"This is the first home video game console that was produced in 1972. Players need to put these transparent overlays on the family television and then connect the console to the television to play it," said Weng Xin, the curator of the museum.

The museum also features 20 interactive areas where visitors can not only enjoy classic video games on early arcade machines, home consoles, and handheld devices, but also play recent hits such as the newly released "Black Myth: Wukong" with state-of-the-art equipment.

"We hope to restore the history of games through physical objects, so that visitors can see the inseparable relationship between games and technology, culture and history in the development process. The game industry benefits from the nourishment of history and culture, and at the same time pushes forward technological progress," said Zhou Wei, manager of the museum.

China’s largest video game museum opens to public

China opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one's own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the "law of the jungle," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday.

During the call, Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments in Iran, saying the recent unrest was incited by external forces and that the situation has now returned to stability.

Saying that Iran has made preparations to respond to external interference while keeping the door wide open to dialog, Araghchi expressed hope that China would play a greater role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China consistently upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, opposes imposing one's own will on others, and opposes a return of the world to the "law of the jungle."

He said that the Chinese side believes the Iranian government and people will stay united, overcome difficulties, maintain national stability, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Wang also called on all parties to cherish peace, exercise restraint, and resolve differences through dialog, adding that China is willing to play a constructive role in this regard.

Chinese, Iranian FMs have phone conversation