automated x-ray inspection ( axi ) is a technology based on the same principles as automated optical inspection ( aoi ) .

it uses x-rays as its source , instead of visible light , to automatically inspect features , which are typically hidden from view .

automated x-ray inspection is used in a wide range of industries and applications , predominantly with two major goals : process optimization , i.e. the results of the inspection are used to optimize following processing steps , anomaly detection , i.e. the result of the inspection serve as a criterion to reject a part ( for scrap or re-work ) .

whilst aoi is mainly associated with electronics manufacturing ( due to widespread use in pcb manufacturing ) , axi has a much wider range of applications .

it ranges from the quality check of alloy wheels to the detection of bone fragments in processed meat .

wherever large numbers of very similar items are produced according to a defined standard , automatic inspection using advanced image processing and pattern recognition software ( computer vision ) has become a useful tool to ensure quality and improve yield in processing and manufacturing .

automated x - ray inspection

automated x - ray inspection , x ray inspection , axi , automated x - ray inspection equipments , test research inc . , automated test equipments .
automated x - ray inspection ( axi ) is a technology based on the same principles as automated optical inspection ( aoi ) but it uses x - rays as its source instead of visible light to automatically . using x - ray has two major goals :
ndt x - ray inspection technologies such as 2d x - ray dr ( digital radiography ) , 3d x - ray ct ( computed tomography ) , and now 4d x - ray ct ( 3d ct with motion ) can be used to inspect nearly any object .
convert your existing 2d x - ray system into a powerful 3d ct x - ray system . we offer a customized upgrade package ; older ct x - ray systems can greatly benefit .
- key essentials about automated x - ray inspection , axi , systems used for inspection pcb printed circuit board assemblies and especially ones with bga ics .
industrial x - ray and ct inspection system for large aerospace partsyxlon mu80 ae is a ‘large envelope’ industrial x - ray and computed tomography system designed for inspection of large . . .
pcb inspection systems come in a number of guises : automated optical inspection [ aoi ] ; automated x - ray inspection [ axi ] ; and manual optical inspection – positioned at post paste , post place , post solder and finished goods stages .
x - ray inspection systems the i 110 x - ray inspection system is suitable for the detection of foreign bodies in packs and trays . it stands out for its high inspection speed and can be . . .
cyxplus inspection machine perform in - line inspection of radial tires . cyxplus provides a complete range of x - ray inspection machines for radial tires . . .
x - ray inspection system for tire on wheel applicationswith yxlon mu2000 - d tire on wheel , x - ray inspection of tires that are wheel mounted can be carried out efficiently , acquiring high quality hdr images . . . .
in recent years , the need for automated x - ray inspection equipment has grown considerably and as a result , a much wider range of equipment is available . additionally the techniques used in automated x - ray inspection equipment has improved and this has enabled far greater levels of detection to be achieved for printed circuit board , pcb manufacture .
etac proview – semi - automated visual inspection system for syringes . cartridges , vials and ampoules
nordson dage is a market leading provider of award winning bondtester and x - ray inspection systems for destructive and non - destructive mechanical testing and inspection of electronic components .
as one significant improvement in axi , automated x - ray inspection , not only are 2d or two dimensional techniques available , but machines utilising 3d technology are available and give significant improvements in performance .
north star imaging’s inspection services group provides real - time x - ray inspection and 3d industrial ct scanning services to virtually anyone needing to verify the integrity of internal components .
the dyxim d is a dual beam x - ray inspection system that produces two x - ray images at a 90° angle . this improves the ability to detect contamination in plastic and glass containers , jars and bottles particularly in comparison . . .
skyscan 1275 fully automated high - speed x - ray microtomograph x - ray micro - computed tomography is one of the most advanced methods for getting 3d insights into samples of any material , any shape , and any size with little to no sample preparation . bruker . . .
harold h . szu , charles c . hsu ,
edge - texture wavelet features for automated x - ray inspection ,
proc . spie 3078 , wavelet applications iv , ( 3 april 1997 ) ;
the evolution of automated optical inspection led the way to automated x - ray inspection – a testing system that uses x - rays as the source , in place of visible light that its predecessor uses . this new technology is forced upon by the ever changing needs of circuit board manufacturers . the newer ic’s are built with its connectors seated beneath the chip and therefore , making them not easily visible . this is what made the regular automated optical inspection devices unusable .
x - ray worx provided a micro - focus rod anode x - ray source with a customized head . bosello designed and provided a cnc - controlled manipulation system to move the drum , with the weld centered between the x - ray tube and the dda . the x - ray projection is carefully controlled to a specific magnification in order to reach the basic spatial resolution requested by the customer ( based on material and weld thickness ) .
the development of automated inspection routines has been fuelled in part by the changes in electronics manufacturing processes .
as far as costing is concerned , the automated x - ray inspection units are far more advanced and complex . they are way better in terms of performance and can accurately increase the quality of the circuits and integrated boards being checked . and as such , x ray inspection has successfully improved the performance the quality assurance teams of the circuit board manufacturing industry .
. . . analysis of small to large objects . the system features powerful 225 / 320 kv microfocus x - ray sources to run highly accurate inspection on dense industrial objects . as the x - ray spot size of these sources is orders . . .
visiconsult x - ray systems & solutions gmbh becomes a member of the nondestructive testing management association . the goal is , to provide insights about automation and digitization in x - ray inspection in the field of non - destructive testing , especially in north america .
this means that axi , automated x - ray inspection systems are able to provide additional information over that which could be provided by purely optical systems to ensure that solder joints are being made to the required standard .
as the digitization of x - ray technology continues to expand in the ndt inspection world , many manual inspection tasks can now be fully automated . the main benefits are a significant increase in productivity and efficiency as well as higher end - product quality .
leave the bunker , perform x - ray exposure and re - enter the bunker to remove film from drum .
inspection of large - thickness pcbs and power devices is possible by combining a proprietary ct structuring technology with a high - output x - ray source .
the contract electronics manufacturer qualitel improves material management using automated x - ray smd component counter . this led to significant savings in time and costs compared to the labor intensive manual approach .
the dp 469 is a programmable system that is equipped with a 450 kv isovolt 160 hs x - ray machine .
north star imaging applications specialists will help you select the best combination of x - ray source and x - ray detector for your application . whether you need to penetrate through several inches of thick aluminum castings or focus on . . .
dürr ndt is a german manufacturer of innovative digital radiography testing systems and x - ray film processors for nondestructive testing .
. . . automation inspection applications , varying from simple pass / fail inspection to full in - line automated ct inspection with feedback to the production process . benefits of automation . . .
semi - automated visual inspection systems for vials containing liquids or powdered / lyophilized products . inspection of empty or filled vials from 2 ml to 500 ml
in addition to xrhcount , the wide product portfolio of visiconsult includes x - ray systems for other applications , such as inspection systems for the automotive , aerospace and industrial markets . visiconsult also provides mobile systems for the security sector and retrofitting of old or defective x - ray systems .
- key points for aoi , automatic or automated optical inspection systems used in electronics pcb printed circuit board manufacture .
with all of the technological developments of automated inspection solutions , there remains the fundamental reliance on human intervention to program and train the automated inspection system to achieve the level of fault coverage that is required for a particular product .
nordson dage ' s award winning x - ray inspection systems offer high resolution nano - focus not only for within failure analysis laboratories but also within the production environment .
. . . choice for laboratories or r & d ; applications . system capabilities advanced 2d x - ray inspection 2d ct slice reconstruction ct volume reconstruction for 3d inspection 3d internal and external surface . . .
as demonstrated , any inspection workflow where conventional x - ray film is used to perform weld inspection during the manufacturing process can benefit from huge time and labor savings by utilizing a fully - automated solution . an additional benefit is the seamless digitization of the inspection data which allows further analysis for part optimization and future development purposes .
this scanner uses an x - ray source with adjustable voltage and a range of filters for versatile adaptation to different object densities . a sensitive 1 . 3 megapixel x - ray camera allows scanning of your whole sample volume in several minutes . . . .
the dp 600 is a fully automatic x - ray inspection system with the image evaluation system saba 3000 p dp 600 stands for a high universality . the main argument for this robot x - ray solution is given in the high speed for inspection and part exchange , for the very compact design , and for the price - performance relation .
. . . ct inspection system for the aerospace and foundry industryyxlon mu60 ae is a compact industrial x - ray and computed tomography ( ct ) inspection system designed for broad aerospace and foundry ( automotive ) . . .
with automated x - ray inspection or axi , errors on newer circuit board and integrated circuits are easily detected . common errors detected are shorts , opens , excessive or insufficient solder , misalignment , and missing components . automated xray inspection machines are normally used in conjunction with an in - circuit test , a functional test , or a boundary scan test to assure maximum quality output .
often , alongside automated inspection systems there will be spot checks on production solder quality . this will usually be implemented to stringent quality procedures making sure the boards are being inspected by the automated systems consistently .
harold h . szu , charles c . hsu ,
edge - texture wavelet features for automated x - ray inspection
, proc . spie 3078 , wavelet applications iv , ( 3 april 1997 ) ; doi : 10 . 1117 / 12 . 271738 ; urltoken
x - ray fluorescence analysis using ed - xrf spectrometers is a commonly used technique for the identification and quantification of elements in a substance .
bits of debris such as rubber , metal , glass , stone , and other opaque that contaminate products can be detected using x - ray technology fitted for manufacturing applications . x - ray equipment can see through a product and its packaging to assess density of contents to distinguish foreign materials from product . x - ray inspection can be used with many packaging types , including cans , jars , bottles , foil , and pouches made of a variety of materials . and x - ray machine is higher priced than metal detection equipment , but it precisely locates the contaminant and shows the line operator exactly where it is to be found inside the product . modern x - ray equipment is optimal for high - speed manufacturing lines and for producers who need to minimize contaminates to guard against recalls . today’s sophisticated x - ray equipment for manufacturing quality control can be stationed in - line to :
in the past , the inspection process involved the use of analog x - ray roll film on every weld in combination with a 360° x - ray source head . this typically took between 1 and 7 hours depending on each interim production step and the number of welds to be inspected . the complete procedure was as follows :
a high quality manual inspection process is essential in the generation and stabilization of an automated inspection programs . this is particularly important where a variety of boards are assembled and tested .
the new generation of standard x - ray inspection systems the x - cube compact is a highly versatile 160 kv radioscopic inspection system for spot tests and inspection of small series of a variety of test samples including light metal castings , steel components , plastics , ceramics and special alloys . the design of the system allows a great flexibility in applications like production , incoming inspection , failure analysis or research and development .
spectro ` s stationary ed - xrf spectrometers are based on the energy - dispersive - x - ray - fluorescence analysis method . the atoms in the sample material , which could be any solid , powder or liquid are excited by x - rays emitted from an x - ray tube or radioisotope . for increasing sensitivity , the primary excitation radiation can be polarized by using specific targets between the x - ray tube and the sample ( ed - p ( polarization ) - xrf ) . all element specific x - ray fluorescence signals emitted by the atoms after the photoelectric ionization are measured simultaneously in a fixed mounted semi - conductor detector or sealed gas - proportional counter .
an x - ray c - arm removes a component for image acquisition the component holder will not be needed in future due to patended tracking technology .
visiconsult x - ray systems & solutions gmbh is a leading manufacturer of customized digital x - ray systems and solutions . the family business is known for highest production quality and reliable customer service . the companies main focus is on high quality customer solutions , such as automated in - line inspection systems , computed tomography systems and roof mounted systems . in addition , the company is a leader in the field of public safety x - ray equipment , the mobile systems mobile checks suspect baggage and defuses bombs worldwide . visiconsult is proud to be able to contribute to a safe world with its solutions .
visiconsult offers a broad portfolio of x - ray inspection systems . the configurator suggests suitable systems based on your products and requirements . this is the fastest way to the perfect solution - discover the invisible !
built for maximum inspection performance , tr7600x sii series offers ultimate performance 3d x - ray inspection for the largest server , networking and power pcbs . with advanced ultra - high - speed cameras , the tr7600x sii series combines tri’s unique shadow - free 3d inspection of multi - layer boards with . . .
axi , automated x - ray inspection systems are not only able to
see
through the chips , but they are also able to provide an internal view of the solder joints . in this way they are able to detect voiding within a solder joint that may otherwise look perfectly acceptable .
start cnc program for specific drum type . this program will x - ray all welds – single images are automatically stitched together by the image acquisition software .
the x - ray inspection system dylight guarantees extremely high levels of safety for your packaged food . this true ‘plug and play’ solution combines all functions in one compact unit . extremely compact design plug and . . .
the dp 500 is a versatile real - time x - ray inspection system designed for the high - speed on - line or off - line inspection of unmachined cast aluminum wheels . the design of the system allows the greatest flexibility in inspecting wheels of different sizes .
built for maximum inspection performance , tr7600x sii ct series offers ultimate performance 3d x - ray inspection for the largest server , networking and power pcbs . with advanced ultra - high - speed cameras , the tr7600x sii ct series combines tri ' s unique shadow - free 3d inspection of multi - layer boards . . .
template matching : using this form of process the aoi , automated optical inspection system compares the image obtained with the image from a
golden board
.
x - ray is a versatile technology that can be used to solve a broad variety of inspection tasks . browse through visiconsult ' s extensive reference catalogue in different fields and industries . challenge our application engineers with your inquiry .
aoi pcb inspection : automatic or automated optical inspection is the preferred method of pcb inspection . it utilises an optical system that takes an image of a good assembly and compares the two images to detect any faults or other issues . this form of pcb inspection is widely used and has been perfected so that it operates very reliably .
the nordson dage xm8000 offers fast automatic x - ray measurement of tsvs , 3d packages , mems and wafer bumps for voiding , fill level , overlay and other critical dimensions .
place x - ray film on circumference of drum , lead markers are placed to label areas in case any rework is required if defects are detected on the processed film later .
the dymond series of x - ray inspection systems is extremely versatile . featuring 4 models it is able to cover the majority of applications for inspecting packaged products . with belt widths up to 800 mm it is ideal for . . .
with this end - to - end solution , aerospace turbine manufacturers can implement a state - of - the - art digital x - ray inspection process which offers full data management and integration using industry standards such as diconde and iso 17636 .
from robotics , to medical equipment and supplies , to food production , inspection and testing plans for incorporating inspection equipment are now driving what has become a robustly innovative inspection equipment industry .
the mih dx is a manual inspection hood for particle inspection of liquid - filled vials , ampoules , cartridges and syringes .
an essential aspect of our yxlon service strategy is the provision of comprehensive upgrade packages and pathways for our x - ray systems in the market . click here to learn more about upgrades .
prosem technologies offers high - end x ray inspection units that can be calibrated to suit your production requirements . trust us with your confidence as we supply your company with the automated xray inspection units that you need , all carefully designed and programmed to be usable for your particular purpose . this company looks forward to providing client satisfaction in every single way and that’s why we are the world leaders in the testing equipment industry .
headquartered in penang , malaysia , and with offices in asia and the unites states , vitrox technologies is a total solutions provider of innovative , advanced and cost - effective automated vision inspection systems and equipment for the semiconductor and electronics packaging industries . in june 2011 , the company sold its first v810 automated x - ray inspection ( axi ) system in the united states . the sale was made to asteelflash , a top electronics manufacturing services ( ems ) customer in fremont , ca with asteelflash’s director of engineering john burke facilitating the sale .
our latest innovation in advanced 3d x - ray inspection system ( axi ) is designed to specially cater to different sizes of pcb assembly to be examined at micron level with maximum throughput . this translates to increased production efficiency and cost savings for manufacturers .
. . . integrated with state - of - the - art sensors and electronics , the x - ray inspection system is proven reliable and highly efficient . the contaminants are readily shown in the built - in hmi terminal . not only . . .
fluorescent lighting : fluorescent lighting is widely used for aoi , automated optical inspection applications as it provides an effective form of lighting for viewing defects on pcbs . the main problem with fluorescent lighting for aoi applications is that the lamps degrade with time . this means that the automated optical inspection system will be subject to a constantly changing levels and quality of light
application : the programmable dp 500 xl wheel inspection systems with optional available automated defect recognition ( saba ) represent very economical systems with a high throughput at a very short idle time .
dürr ndt provided the software integration solution for the multi - manufacturer system which allows the viewing and analysis of the segmented digital weld images for sentencing by level 2 and 3 x - ray inspectors .
axi pcb inspection : with density on pcbs increasing and new ic mounting technologies being used , not all solder joints may be visible . particularly when new boards are being manufactured and new set - ups being used , it is very important to check that solder joints on packages such as bgas ( ball grid arrays ) are being correctly soldered . optical inspection cannot achieve this because the solder joints are not visible . the only option is to use an x - ray system - automated x - ray inspection , axi , that is able to look under the chips to view the solder joints . although expensive and only used for a small proportion of the solder joints , etc , they are necessary in many instances .
visiconsult x - ray systems & solutions gmbh is a leading manufacturer of high - quality digital x - ray systems and solutions . the family business is known for highest production quality ( iso 9001 certified ) and reliable customer service . the main focus of the company are high - quality customer solutions , like automatic row control systems , computed tomography systems and roof mounted systems . furthermore , the company is a leader in the field of public safety x - ray equipment , the mobile systems mobile check suspect luggage and defuse bombs worldwide . visiconsult is proud to contribute to a safe world with its solutions .
the dp 51 radioscopic inspection system is designed for random tests and 100 % inspection of cast light - alloy wheels and other castings .
laboratory equipment that can produce hazardous amounts of electromagnetic radiation include ultraviolet lamps , arc lamps , heat lamps , lasers , microwave and radio - frequency sources , and x - ray and electron - beam sources .
visiconsult is a family owned company located in northern germany and is a specialist for customized and standard x - ray systems . to ensure a premium quality our products are developed and produced locally as turnkey solutions .
assure product integrity with our automated xray inspection machines . contact us for all of your testing and inspection requirements and we ’ll be ready to deliver . prosem is guided by its own mission of making every business competitive and efficient in whatever industry it belongs to .
application : generally speaking wheel inspection covers a variety of wheel types . if the inspection process is automated as it is e . g . in conjunction with saba the wheel recognition process must be automated as well . the wheel recognition station is designed for the type recognition of unmachined wheels . the use of modern image processing technology enables the recognition of an almost unlimited number of different wheel types . inspection is non - contact and largely independent of work piece fettling .
with the aforementioned customer requirements in mind , dürr ndt’s local dealer was responsible for proposing the complete turn - key solution to the customer – this automated solution combines the technology and expertise from three different international companies : dürr ndt gmbh ( germany ) , x - ray worx gmbh ( germany ) and bosello high technology srl ( italy ) .
visiconsult is a family owned company located in northern germany and known as the leading supplier for customized and standard x - ray inspection systems . to ensure a premium quality , all products are developed and produced locally as turnkey solutions . this leads to cutting edge technology and an unmatched flexibility .
for your qm team to ensure quality in daily operations by confirming that processes are optimally efficient in conforming to operating procedures , manufacturing inspection equipment affords ideally controlled repeatable inspections . updating your quality management program technology with automated inspection equipment can take your program a great distance toward :
automated x - ray inspection , axi has an important place in many electronics pcb manufacturing organisations . axi is able to provide a fast and in - depth and accurate inspection of pcbs passing through the production facility and in this way provide real - time feedback that enables the production system to be optimised to enable high quality reliable circuits to be produced . although more expensive than some other forms of inspection , axi has many advantages and these need to be carefully balanced against the costs to ensure whatever choice is made , it is correct for the particular production environment .
the new multiscale x - ray nanotomograph skyscan 2211 covers the widest range of object sizes and spatial resolutions in one single instrument . it opens unique possibilities for 3d imaging and exact modeling of geological materials in oil . . .
axi , automated x - ray inspection systems are able to monitor a variety of aspects of a printed circuit board assembly production . they would normally be placed after the solder process to monitor defects in pcbs after leaving the soldering process . they have the distinct advantage over optical systems that they are able to
see
solder joints that are under packages such as bgas , csps and flip chips where the solder joints are hidden .
automatic or automated optical inspection , aoi , is a key technique used in the manufacture and test of electronics printed circuit boards , pcbs . automatic optical inspection , aoi enables fast and accurate inspection of electronics assemblies and in particular pcbs to ensure that the quality of product leaving the production line is high and the items are built correctly and without manufacturing faults .
the benefit of automated x - ray inspection ( axi ) has proven to be not only a good defect detection tool , but also an efficient device for smt process improvement . by understanding the axi limitations with accuracy and consistency of results , the data can be used real time to adjust process parameters . in manufacturing , we all agree that - prevention is better than detection , 1 but it can only happen with good and timely data .
the tv350 is an automated optical inspection ( aoi ) machine for pcbs , manufactured by beijing torch smt co . , ltd . this product is used for checking unqualified components , independent parts chips and . . .
yxlon x - ray and ct inspection systems come in many different configurations . we’ve developed a product finder to help narrow your search for the system that best meets your needs . can’t find what you’re looking for ? our specialists will customize a system to your exact specifications . contact us today for more information .
vision inspection system equipment automatically identifies a vast array of quality problems that human inspectors cannot detect with comparable consistently . and , these automated camera processes are increasingly fast and wider ranging in the numbers of tasks a camera can manage . the equipment is advancing to produce ever - higher resolution to capture subtle defects . this reduces rates of false rejections by the automated system . additionally , a vision inspection system can be integrated into automated line processes to catch errors that might otherwise ruin entire lots . this benefit may be enough to account for enough loss savings to realize a favorable roi .
for particular inspection tasks a workpiece table , three - jaw chuck and fixing kits out of black plastic are available , which allow x - rays to pass right through into the testing sample without creating shadows disturbing the inspection as it is the case with aluminum or other plastics .
the system can nondestructively visualize up to 209 megapixel ( 14450x14450 pixels ) virtual slices through objects , more than 2600 such slices after a single scan using newly developed 16mp and 11mp x - ray detectors in up to three offset . . .
excerpt from the iso17636 - 2 standard showing weld inspection requirements vs . penetrated thickness
the skyscan 1173 is a high energy micro - ct scanner for large and dense objects with spiral scan possibility . it includes a newly developed 130kv microfocus x - ray source with improved stability of the focal spot position , a large format . . .
the beam from a low - energy x - ray diffraction machine can cause cell destruction as well as genetic damage . the user must always be alert to the on / off status of the x - ray beam , keep aware of the location of the beam , and know how to work safely around the beam when aligning it in preparation for conducting an experiment . machine warning lights indicate when the beam shutter is open . users are required to wear a monitoring badge to measure any accumulated exposure .
infra - red or ultra - violet : on some occasions infra - red or ultra - violet lighting may be required to enhance certain defects , or to enable automated optical inspection to be carried out to reveal certain types of defect .
when an automated x - ray inspection system , or an optical system is used within an electronics pcb manufacturing process , the defects and other information detected by the inspection system can be quickly analysed and the process altered to reduce the defects and improve the quality of the process . in this way not only are actual faults detected , but the process can be altered to reduce the fault levels on the boards coming through . accordingly they ensure that the highest standards are maintained and they are particularly useful when new boards are being set up and the process needs to be optimised .
seamlessly acquire full internal and external measurements of your components with the cxmm 50 , a true x - ray metrology system . whether you need to measure the inside of a fuel injector or the coating thickness on a heart valve , the cxmm . . .
it is essential that any printed circuit board manufacturing area is able to check the quality of the boards coming off the end of the line . only in this way are they able to monitor quality and when problems are detected to rectify the process so that further boards are not affected by the same problems . in this way automatic optical inspection and where necessary x - ray inspection are two essential tools for the manufacturing industry .
accurate , rapid inspection of plastic and glass containers to detect particles and cosmetic defects .
the apk is a spinning visual observation tool used for particle inspection of small batches .
as such the pcb inspection process is an essential element of any pcb manufacturing process .
visit our corporate blog and learn more about the world of yxlon international ! on our blog you will find information that is not being shared through traditional media , from technical guides and latest developments in the fields of x - ray & ct inspection or ct metrology up to recent activities at yxlon . get an insight into the world of yxlon !
the x3 is a production in - line automated x - ray inspection system for up to 100 % inspection of solder joints on both single and double - sided printed circuit assemblies . utilizing both transmission and off - axis imaging , the system can be setup flexibly depending on the smt process to inspect side a then side b , or the double - sided assembly . while transmission imaging offers the fastest and highest resolution imaging process , the x3 also uses two reconstruction techniques to address double sided assemblies and overlapping solder joints . these include the patent pending slice filter technique and 3d - sart which allows inspection at multiple horizontal cross - sections or
slices
. the x3 can identify head - in - pillow ( hip ) defects , inspect package on package ( pop ) components and measure / check barrel fill on thru hole and pin - in - paste processes . the x - 3 can also accommodate a front end automated optical inspection scanner to check for components presence / absence , polarity , off - position , tombstoning , and correct part .
automatic optical inspection works very well in electronics manufacturing for printed circuit boards where joints are visible . however many pcbs today are using technologies such as ball grid array , bga integrated circuits and chip scale packages , csps where the solder connections are not visible . this has arisen as a result of the need for greater numbers of interconnections to integrated circuit packages and as a general result of increasing complexity . in these and many other instances it is necessary to carry out checks using automated x - ray inspection , axi , equipment that can not only check the solder joints under components , but also reveal many defects in solder joints that may not be visible with ordinary optical inspection equipment .
an additional requirement from the manufacturer was that the automated inspection process be compatible with different types and sizes of drums – so a flexible and easily configurable solution was crucial . furthermore , quality assurance required inspection to be performed after each assembly step ( i . e . after each welding and material heat - up / release action ) .
the mih 1 is a floor standing workstation for manual visual inspection with ergonomic height adjustment .
the pcb inspection enables faults to be detected as soon after the manufacture process as possible .
app - based ultrasonic flaw detector for weld inspection and corrosion mapping of tanks and pipelines .
there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems . it is a balance between set - up time , maintenance , accuracy and the requirements for the particular aoi , automated optical inspection system . typically the requirements will be largely dependent upon the machine in use .
in designing manufacturing processes , asteelflash is aware of the limitations of electrical test . electrical test does not cover the solder quality of the components ; therefore , added automated visual inspection is a necessity in the pcba line . to have a complete solution of automated visual inspection , asteelflash conducted evaluations on several market - leading axi systems based on its stringent requirements . after meticulous examination and careful verification of both the system capabilities and cost of ownership , vitrox v810 was selected as the company’s qualified supplier for axi systems .
the automated optical inspection , aoi system uses the captured image which is processed and then compared with the knowledge the machine has of what the board should look like . using this comparison the aoi system is able to detect and highlight any defects or suspect areas .
the mih dx is a fully enclosed stainless steel manual inspection hood for small to large containers .
. . . uses the latest image processing and optical inspection technologies to assure reliable results , higher quality and competence in monitoring surfaces without any subject to fluctuations . its specified inspection . . .
manual pcb inspection : as the name implies , manual inspection involves individual inspectors looking at boards or other assemblies to inspect them for problems . this approach has been proved to be costly , and yielding poor results . before automation , it was the only way that inspection could be performed .
inspection of assets subject to internal corrosion and erosive wall loss such as piping , storage tanks , and other critical assets ; requiring mapping and visual display of remaining wall thickness . two - axis x - y scanner for efficient corrosion inspections .
the radioscopic inspection system has been designed to cover a universal range of applications . it is therefore superbly suited to tackle quality assurance tasks in such diverse areas as production , incoming inspection , or research and development . the programmable dp 419 p version is recommended if inspection time calls for optimization .
. . . creation and the capabilities of high frequency and high speed inspection of 200mm and 300mm wafers . is series contributes to optimizing costs of the defect management and defect inspection of patterned wafer .
the matrix x3 - s is an automatic x - ray inspection system featuring combined transmission and 3d - technology for sophisticated high - speed inspection in electronic production . the system is based on the matrix x2 . 5 axi system platform but is equipped with an additional detector axis used to generate the angle - shot images for the 3d reconstruction . this newly developed 3d reconstruction software generates high resolution slice images for 3d analysis of solder joints . main applications are double - sided boards with critical overlapping areas .
final year project of lbrce , mylavaram . on line quality inspection using plc by hitech automation , vij
evgueni todorov is responsible for the development and maturation of nde and quality measurement technologies , based at ewi colorado in loveland . evgueni specializes in advanced electromagnetic , ultrasonic , and x - ray material testing technologies . with over 30 years of nde experience , he has published over 30 papers and holds two patents .
. . . thing about this groundbreaking technology is it has straightforward inspection automation which makes it very reliable . this can be used in a broad range of applications like inspection of small castings , . . .
world ' s highest ct speed * thanks to our patent - approved technologies . new imaging system reduced inspection tact times by 10 % compared with conventional systems . enabled the complete inspection of all components ( almost impossible by visible light - based inspection ) . * based on an internal research conducted in january 2015 .
- notes and details on maximising manufacturing yields through using electronics inspection technologies including aoi , axi , etc .
raj brewery levarages the xl lv utility video borescope to complete pipe weld and cleanliness inspection effectively and efficiently .
some production processes may also place a pcb inspection stage after the pick and place operation - indeed , some pick and place machines include an optical pcb inspection system . this allows pcbs to be corrected before being soldered .
this fully automated solution has been in operation for over two years and has successfully reduced the inspection burden associated with examining numerous large welds of a single complex part - the time now associated with examining 11 welds has dropped from the length of a shift ( 8 hours ) to merely 1 . 5 hours .
. . . - full inspection : materials inspection , assembly analysis , dimensional metrology - insight : capture problems earlier - ndt : reduce expensive scrap - micro - focus accuracy : check all parts & features at . . .
the advanced cd measurement sem cs4800 provides high - quality sem imaging , improved measurement precision , and fast , automated operation , designed to improve productivity and operating efficiency of existing manufacturing lines and increase . . .
the dp 435 radioscopic inspection system serves to examine small batches and to random - test large , heavy work pieces .
on the other hand , cutting corners on inspection costs predictably prove to be a costly error , escalating risks of comparatively high quality control failure rates and nonconformance rates that can jeopardize a manufacturer’s competitiveness . optimizing inspection systems doesn’t necessarily mean spending more . however , it does mean manufacturers need to get the most for their investment in manufacturing inspection equipment and processes .
optical inspection is often used by research and development engineers , especially where the prototypes of boards are inspected for accuracy and design for fit . at this point automated routines have not been programmed and with no defect history , quality procedures rely on the experience of their engineers and the accuracy of the tools allowing them manually inspect the boards .
reliable automated systems for populating pcbs are a common sight on most of today’s assembly lines . with this in mind , to what extent are manual processes implemented into the production of pcbs , in today’s demanding electronics industry ?
streaming video : one type of camera used for automated optical inspection , aoi , takes streaming video from which complete frames are taken . the captured frame then enables a still image to be generated on which the signal processing is performed . this approach is not as accurate as other still image systems but has the advantage of very high speed .
the dp 500 xl is designed for inspection of light - alloy car and truck wheels from 13 inches to 25 inches .
inspection trajectories and system configurations can now be simulated in advance . this is how customer specific solutions are created at visiconsult .
many electrical instruments , such as lasers and x - ray , electron - beam , radioactive , photochemical , and electrophoresis equipment , emit potentially harmful radiation , and , therefore , special precautions must be taken when they are used . only trained laboratory personnel should use and service this equipment . ( see section 7 . c . 1 and chapter 6 , section 6 . e . )
asteelflash’s electronic plants are equipped with the latest pcba equipment that ensures that its customers’ manufactured boards are of the highest quality . this is accomplished by using full inspection and testing on assemblies that require automatic visual inspection , in - circuit testing and functional testing .
one of the key elements of an aoi , automated optical inspection system is the image capture system . this captures an image of the printed circuit board , pcb assembly which is then analysed by the processing software within the aoi system . there are many variants of image capture system dependent upon the exact application and the complexity / cost of the aoi system .
one of the solutions to this is to use automated or automatic optical inspection systems . automated optical inspection systems can be placed into the production line just after the solder process . in this way they can be used to catch problems early in the production process . this has a number of advantages . with faults costing more to fix the further along the production process they are found , this is obviously the optimum place to find faults . additionally process problems in the solder and assembly area can be seen early in the production process and information used to feedback quickly to earlier stages . in this way a rapid response can ensure that problems are recognised quickly and rectified before too many boards are built with the same problem .
one of the main reasons that the vitrox v810 was chosen by asteelflash to be applied in the manufacturing line is because of its high test coverage for structural defects occurring at the solder john burke , director of engineering at asteelflash , said , “considering that vitrox is a healthy financial yet vision - focused organization , vitrox v810 was singled out for its higher throughput , better focus repeatability , better image quality and system mobility . ” joints . test coverage for structural defects of 3 - d automated x - ray inspection is more than 90 percent , giving manufacturers the upper hand in detecting failure up front ― before the structural failure occurs at the end user’s facility . this minimizes parts return and warranty cost , which significantly increases the return on investment to the manufacturer .
the tr7600f3d presents a next generation inspection platform for the most demanding pcb design . the inline ct axi solution combines ultra - high resolution imaging with high definition planar ct inspection , a new robust hardware platform and a redesigned intuitive software to achieve exceptional image . . .
the cross - sectional images of relevant inspection targets can be easily selected from abundant camera - image libraries to ensure precise fault detection .
automatic inspection processes detect errors at an incomparably higher rate than people can accomplish , bolstering efficiency of production lines . automated inspections afford reliably repeating inspections . and , they offer precision in capturing performance data , such as rejection rates . these benefits spur quality and conformance improvements that become very significant contributors to customer upgrade and repeat purchase rates , profit margin , and market competitiveness .
the tr7600 siii series ct axi is a new generation of tri’s hallmark inline pcba inspection solutions . designed for 100 % inspection coverage at production line speed , the tr7600 siii combines industry’s fastest high resolution imaging speed with greatly improved image quality in the industry ' s . . .
rejects underweight or overweight product units and immediately removes them from the line . the rejection triggers an alert that prompts line workers or supervisors to attend to the fill weight problem , before perhaps thousands of nonconforming products are produced . some features and benefits of automated
the 3d - ct method enables the inspection of indistinct shapes which 2d or pseudo ct cannot detect . making the impossible in design a reality !
abnormal detection , for example the result of the inspection serve as a criterion to reject a part ( for scrap or re - work ) .
the radioscopic system has been designed to cover a universal range of applications . it is therefore superbly suited to tackle quality assurance tasks in such diverse areas as production , incoming inspection , or research and development . the programmable dp 435 p version is recommended if inspection times call for optimization .
inspect safety equipment regularly ( e . g . , every 3 to 6 months ) to ensure that it will function properly when needed . the laboratory supervisor or safety coordinator is responsible for establishing a routine inspection system and verifying that inspection records are appropriately maintained and archived as required by law .
the currently displayed page is not available in the selected language . select yes to go to = a = version , no to go to = b = version , or click the x symbol to stay on this page .
the tr7600ll siii series ct axi is a new generation of tri ' s hallmark inline pcba inspection solutions . designed for 100 % inspection coverage of very large boards , the tr7600ll siii delivers industry ' s fastest high resolution imaging performance and great image quality in the industry ' s most advanced . . .
use of
golden board
: one method is to provide a known good board as a target for the aoi , automated optical inspection system to use . this is passed through the system so that it can learn the relevant attributes . it will look at the components , the solder profiles of each joint , and many other aspects . in order to provide the system with enough variance data several boards are often required .
provide process feedback : an equally important function of a pcb inspection system is to provide feedback into the manufacturing process . using a pcb inspection system on the output of the soldering process can enable any pattern faults to be seen and the process corrected almost immediately to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of a given problem .
if your plant is still using outmoded manual inspection processes , it is probably time to discuss with your sme in manufacturing machinery , possibilities for implementing quality and conformance inspection and identification technologies . you may discover that it is more affordable to procure the equipment and implement its use than it is not to do so .
furthermore , a dürr ndt cr scanner ( hd - cr35 ) was also installed to provide ultra - high resolution inspection capability in cases where this is required if the material thickness is below a certain value . as the inspection techniques for this application are based on the 2013 iso17636 - 2 standard ( “non - destructive testing of welds – x - and gamma - ray techniques with digital detectors” ) , penetrated thicknesses of 1 . 5 mm and below require a minimum basic spatial resolution ( bsr ) of 40 µm – the hd - cr35 exceeds this requirement and is certified by bam ( federal institute for materials research and testing ) down to 30 µm . for any resolution requirements below 30 µm , the dürr ndt dr7 digital detector is more suitable as it can achieve a 25 µm basic spatial resolution .
qualitel is a contract manufacturer ( ems ) specialized in a full range of high - mix , low - volume , and high - reliability products and services . serving aerospace , medical and life sciences , industrial , and military markets qualitel is now also using the contactless component counting system xrhcount from visiconsult . qualitel did a comprehensive market evaluation and comparison , which led to the conclusion that the xrhcount is the fastest and most accurate component counting system based on x - ray technology worldwide .
ewi’s nondestructive evaluation ( nde ) group designs and performs inspections for a broad range of applications . we use manual and automated inspections , custom equipment designs , and mathematical modelling , to tackle the most challenging inspection problems . in addition to evaluating welds , we inspect bulk materials and components . we continually update our capabilities to include state - of - the - art nde techniques and work closely with ewi’s other technology groups to assure the highest standards of quality .
firstly the departure from through - hole components to surface mount components meant that traditional incircuit tests no longer had the electrical connectivity to provide high levels of fault coverage . it has further been accelerated by the use of smaller and smaller geometry devices forcing the requirement for a high connection count automated solution .


video gaming in china is a massive industry and pastime that includes the production , sale , import/export , and playing of video games .

china is the largest and highest grossing ( revenues ) video game market in the world , since 2015 .

the landscape of the topic is strongly shaped by china 's average income level , rampant software piracy , and governmental measures to control game content and playing times .

in 2011 , china 's pc game sector was worth $ 6 billion , the largest in the world .

arcade games are also a thriving industry in china .

console games were banned from the country in 2000 , but the ban was lifted in july 2015 .

in esports , china has been the top country in terms of tournament winnings , possessing some of the world 's best talents across video games .

the special administrative regions of hong kong and macau have unique legal and cultural environments , thus the information below does not apply in these two regions .

china has been widely known as the " games industry capital of the world " , with the largest market and some of the world 's largest video game companies .

video gaming in china

the nation is a world leader in competitive video games—yet officials and parents are suspicious of gaming .
china is a world leader in e - sports even as the government remains suspicious of video games .
console gaming is a niche market to began with i doubt we will see exponential growth in china .
actually , it means that gaming culture will begin to expand in china , as gaming as a past time is appealing to all peoples and cultures .
so why would anyone in china buy a video game console ? there really isn ' t a good reason .
video game consoles are illegal in china . ironically , the wii , the ps3 and the xbox 360 are chinese …
china ' s video game market is the biggest in the world and worth more than $ 30 billion a year .
rob used to host video game tournaments in his home . find out how he turned his youthful passion into a successful career in the gaming industry .
one of the reasons for this gaming culture difference is the gaming console ban in 2000 . ps2 was launched in 2000 , xbox and gamecube in 2001 . this was one of the golden ages of console gaming that exploded in popularity in places like north america . americans went through this phase while china didn ' t . with the ban lifted in 2015 , chinese have moved on from video game console . the winners of the ban being pc gaming and mobile gaming later on .
internet cafes in china are getting increasingly high - end as well , as players in the country demand gaming in a more social setting , according to tech in asia .
that was before pc gaming was as big . pc gaming has a hold on china , and it would take a lot to get people to downgrade .
join gaming insider nelson rodriguez as he meets industry superstars who share insights on how to deliver legendary gaming experiences .
separately , mcnealy added that the removal of the ban on video - gaming could provide a boost to the tv industry .
video game console is not popular in china . even before mobile gaming became mainstream , console gaming wasn ' t popular at all . the biggest gaming majority is pc gaming and it ' s thriving . with popular games like wow , lol and dota 2 dominating the gaming scene in china , console gaming has no chance in changing the gaming culture . plus , pc gaming is way cheaper when piracy is common practice in china . shops openly sell fake copies of pc games . more advanced users can easily download workable copies on the internet . why would i wait for nba 2k15 to release on xbox one and pay more than $ 60 usd on a copy when i can just download it and play it for free on pc ? plus , you can easily avoid content restriction on a pc than on a gaming console .
china ' s government plans to introduce laws for the new overnight gaming ban in next month ' s annual major political meeting .
china’s biggest entertainment and video gaming conference , chinajoy , is under way in shanghai . the fervor of chinese gaming fans remains unshaken by the city’s scorching hot weather , and if anything is even more feverish since the event is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year .
china first instituted its prohibition on game consoles in 2000 as a way to protect children . despite the ban , however , merchants have long brought in video game systems from japan and hong kong and sold them to customers in china .
megastar jay chou is such a huge gaming fan that he owns a professional league of legends team , called j - gaming .
after fourteen years , china has lifted its ban on video game consoles . microsoft is the first of the major console manufacturers to capitalize on the new market , having recently launched its xbox one in the region . however , china ' s gaming culture has undergone a radical shift in the absence of consoles , raising questions about how this segment of the video game industry will fare in china . in our first shacknews select , we take a closer look at what led to the ban , how video games in china have flourished in a different way , and the opportunities and perils of jumping into the market .
in the analysis that follows , we investigate more deeply the role of video games in teen friendships , with a particular focus on the way in which gaming spaces impact and contribute to friendships among boys .
the game was accused of intentionally blackening china and the chinese army ' s image as a freelance mercenary fights in the game across three linked campaigns in the former soviet union , libya and china , where he steals intelligence and conducts sabotage in china and shoots at china ' s soldiers while china ' s national flag and signs like
china aviation
pop up frequently .
. . the manufacturing and selling of any electronic gaming equipment plus its parts and accessories headed to china are stopped immediately . no company or individual can partake in the manufacturing and selling of electronic gaming equipment plus its parts and accessories headed to china .
the console ban was enacted in 2000 by china ' s cultural ministry , ostensibly to shield its youth from the corrupting influence of games . but in the 15 years since , video gaming has become a mainstream leisure pursuit in china , at a time when demand for consumer goods and consumer spending has exploded .
i didn ' t make an arcade video game bar ,
he added ,
i made a cocktail bar that had influences from arcade video games .
china makes up more than half of the global e - sports audience . more than 500 million people worldwide watch other people play video games . by some estimates the video game industry could be worth $ 35bn ( £26 . 4bn ) by 2021 . and more people watch gaming in china than live in many european nations . for many e - athletes , it’s catapulted them into fame and fortune .
online gaming rapidly became very popular in south - korea , triggering the rise of pc bangs .
see what ' s driving players in a must - read report on the state of gaming .
in regards to cultural gaming differences , let ' s not forget that the gaming market in china as a whole , is still fairly new , and open to influences . establishing new popular genres is least of the problems microsoft and sony will be facing .
the ban on manufacturing arcade machines was lifted in 2009 , but the ban on foreign - made video game consoles remained in effect .
video games have become a spectator sport , and facebook is angling to become espn .
with a rapidly developing economy that demands a lot from its workforce , the population of china has been introduced to new levels of stress , competition , and high pressure , both in school and in the workplace . as one means to escape the hassle and tension of life , many chinese of the younger generation turn to video games to relieve stress . because of this , china has become the largest video gaming market in the world .
tl ; dr : china ending its ban on video game consoles means nothing because there is no games or content as they are restricted by the chinese government . there also isn ' t a gaming console culture in china as it is dominated by pc and mobile gaming . people that are avid console gamers already bought their consoles from overseas as it is cheaper and not restricted .
there are many arcades in china , some are shopping arcades , others are video game arcades . but arcade , in shanghai isn ' t an arcade in any sense of the word , it is instead a bar .
t’s safe to say that sony , microsoft , and nintendo are well aware of the huge opportunities that exist in china’s predicted $ 18 billion gaming market . ”
china’s biggest social media and gaming company has said it will limit kids’ play time on its hugely popular honor of kings game , in light of addiction concerns .
as of the day this report is released , the manufacturing and selling of any electronic gaming equipment plus its parts and accessories headed to china are stopped immediately . no company or individual can partake in the manufacturing and selling of electronic gaming equipment plus its parts and accessories headed to china .
e - sports will have full medal status at the 2022 asian games in china .
but at a gaming café employee in beijing , xiao qi , said the measures do not work .
hink of the word “china” and one of two ideas should come to mind : either the country , or the crockery sat in your kitchen cupboard . this synonym in the english language is testament to the reputation of china’s porcelain trade around europe in the 16th century . china was top of the line . but when it comes to video games ,
china ' s government has long tried to dissuade people from playing and up until recently , gaming consoles like xbox and playstation were banned .
i am seeing a lot of reactions by redditors on the ending of gaming console ban in china . many think it will be an impactful change in china but i am here to tell you that ' s not the case . nothing has changed .
teens’ gaming habits vary little by family income , education or race and ethnicity . below we highlight the most notable differences between groups in how their use of video games intersects with their friendships .
game consoles have been banned in china since 2000 because of government concerns over the ideological content of such products and the impact that video - game violence might have on children .
i hope i have answered some of your questions about video game consoles in china . i will be hanging around if you have any questions . feel free to comment below .
i wonder if you ever took a train in china . it is the same exact train linking tier - 1 cities and the rest of china .
being based in shanghai has meant that zhou’s years - long hobby of making video games has fell under the jurisdiction of china’s ministry of culture [ moc ] . this government sector attempts to strictly uphold the constitution of the people’s republic of china , meaning that any entertainment ( including video games ) that violates or smears it or china’s image in anyway is banned or at least censored in the country . this isn’t really a problem for zhou and his small hobbyist games , but it has had a huge effect on china’s video game culture at large , and it’s this that he’s up against .
while there are many video game bars in the us and japan , there aren ' t too many in china . there are arcades that have bars but this arcade is more bar than game center .
video game consoles are illegal in china . ironically , the wii , the ps3 and the xbox 360 are chinese made . and there is a flourishing pc gaming culture . there has to be a reason for this ban . turns out , there is .
since china ' s decision to ban video game consoles within the country in 2000 , no chinese gamers have been able to keep up with the trends in the gaming community . that all changes today , as the chinese ministry of culture has announced that video game companies like nintendo , sony and microsoft will now be able to manufacture and sell their consoles on chinese territory .
there was a healthy dose of everything related to gaming at the carnival : the launch of big gaming titles , virtual reality , gaming payments , and of course , the booth babes who have become a large part of the conference’s charm .
chou ' s gaming company , j - esports ( 魔杰电竞 ) , said it plans to franchise wolfz out throughout china , sina games reports .
this is very real , and happening in south korea – often referred to as an online gaming mecca .
pc gaming has far surpassed the console market worldwide . in the west though ? i have no idea .
even with the ban in 2000 , console gaming still existed but it was a niche market . people with money can obviously purchase consoles overseas . even before the government lifted the ban in 2014 / 2015 , shops in china were already selling ps4 and xbox ones everywhere . you can easily purchase a gaming console online from taobao ( china ' s ebay ) . these consoles are commonly purchased by the supplier from japan , taiwan or hong kong . anyone in china that wants a video game console already has one by the time the ban was lifted .
and as noted previously , when comparing talking by video gaming to other modes of communication and interaction with friends , gaming ranks substantially higher for boys as a mode of daily communication than it does for girls , for whom it ranks at the very bottom .
software piracy is a huge problem in china , and that might be why game companies are hesitant to enter the chinese market , but it ' s not why video games have been outlawed . nintendo legally released its portable nintendo dsi in chinese stores in december 2009 . nintendo has yet to release its nintendo wii in mainland china .
another weird symptom of these restrictions is that the gaming console made specifically for china is more expensive than the ones you can purchase outside of china . how much is xbox one without kinect in china ? 2999rmb which converts to $ 499usd . and guess what ? that ' s the discount price . the original price was $ 600 usd . why is this ? chinese government charges a lot higher taxes on products made by foreign companies . but , it ' s made in china ! wrong ! remember , this is china . anything that is under foreign brand is more expensive in china even though they are made in china . you would think apple , microsoft or sony products are cheap in china because it is made here in china , but nope . it ' s at least 20 % more expensive to buy it in china . a person can walk to hong kong , fly to japan and buy a video game console that is cheaper . oh , and it ' s not restricted by the chinese government .
background : i was sent to china by multinational company that is part of the video game industry . i lived in shanghai for a year before i decided to leave the company and move back to us . i left china not because of the company but because of the living cost , environmental pollutions and the horrific restrictions of internet in china .
whether on headsets or in person , teens who play networked games talk with their friends while they play . nearly three - quarters of teens who play online video games say they’ve talked with friends while they played together . nearly nine - in - ten online video - gaming boys ( 88 % ) say they talk with their friends while playing , while about half ( 52 % ) of online gaming girls do .
as the most powerful western brand in china - - well ahead of mcdonald’s , which came in at # 7 . ”
mobile gaming to reach $ 37 . 0 billion despite lower growth for tablets than anticipated
players are already required to use their government ids to register with online gaming sites .
the proportion of young internet users in china is relatively high ,
mr faqing said .
china’s electronic sports ( esports ) , or competitive video games , industry generated rmb50 . 4 million ( us $ 7 billion ) in revenue in 2016 , up 34 . 7 % year - on - year , according to a report by china’s gpc , an industry group for game publishers .
china ' s 13 - year ban on video game consoles is ending with the creation of a new free trade zone in shanghai that will allow foreign - funded companies to sell game systems nationwide .
in south korea , although the outcomes are very similar . china ' s ban was specifically geared towards protecting its youth from going to dangerous venues and being exposed to unhealthy content . but chinese gamers would not be suppressed , even as the ban stayed in effect for fourteen years . the result of the ban caused a meteoric rise in pc gaming . although the ban does include language that prohibits internet cafes from running businesses related to video games , that portion was rarely enforced . as a result , video game revenues in china topped over
if battlefield didn ' t have enough problems as it is , the game is now banned from sale in china starting this week due to the supposed discrediting of china ' s national image in the futuristic plot line . the game is now deemed as a threat to national security in china .
arenanet is one major video game developer that took great caution in approaching the chinese gaming market . their most - recognized mmorpg , guild wars 2 , launched in china in may . that wasn ' t a spur of the moment decision . rather , the studio analyzed the region carefully , noting a uniquely different taste in games from any other region the developer previously catered to .
' s unexpected story flourishes , and more on gaming addiction being ' singled out ' .
all in all , i think there ' s great promise in this move . it ' ll be slow going , but as china becomes more affluent , you ' ll start seeing shifting attitudes towards various things . video games and how the mainstream consumes video game content will shift with it . you got to be in it to win it , as it were .
chinese government also has the infamous great firewall of china . want to connect to servers outside of china to play a game with your american friend ? good luck . not happening . the chinese government has specifically told microsoft and sony that such practice can ' t exist for gaming console in china . chinese players can only play on chinese servers inside of china . this is the way it is set up .
video games 8 and gameplay are pervasive in the lives of most american teens – and for boys in particular , video games serve as a major venue for the creation and maintenance of friendships . fully 72 % of all teens play video games on a computer , game console or portable device like a cellphone , and 81 % of teens have or have access to a game console .
hints at a removal of the chinese government ' s decade long ban on video - gaming have excited technology investors over potential gains for the industry , but analysts have warned the impact could be muted .
in the world’s newest superpower , professional video gaming is a booming industry set to be worth billions . female players struggle to earn as much as their male competitors – but that ' s not stopping one talented team of young women .
all these severely distort historical facts and violate china ' s gaming and internet service regulations ,
the moc said .
the game should be immediately prohibited .
it is true through . dota 2 for example must be published through perfect world to be serviced in china . an american game company can ' t simply just open an online shop and do business in china .
china just lifted its 14 - year - ban on video game consoles earlier this month , but during that time taiwan developed a underground video game culture that ' s still thriving . names like nintendo are so entrenched in the larger taiwanese culture that a video game console is considered as much of a household staple as a rice cooker , according to the video game explosion : a history of pong to playstation and beyond . but because piracy is such a big problem in asia , many game companies prefer to produce online games , which means they ' re even more popular .
yes . there was a massive pc gaming established community when consoles like the xbox first launched .
despite a rise in mobile gaming , cafes in china have found that players still want to watch professional live and televised esports tournaments right next to other gamers — and games like league of legends and crossfire have been popular amongst livestreamers .
in the early days of game development in china , one game was thought to be awesome . the awesome game however did not exist .
china lifted its 14 - year ban on video game consoles this year , encouraging both sony and microsoft to launch their playstation 4 and xbox one consoles into a potentially huge new market .
already , the world ' s biggest censorship apparatus supposedly protects young minds from pornography , violence and politically unsuitable material , but china ' s communist party sees video games as another threat .
ongamenet and mbc game - were set up . nowadays , a broad range of magazines specialized in gaming are also available . schools
in 2000 , the moc banned foreign video game consoles and accessories entirely , all in an effort to stop video games having a negative effect on china’s youth . the ban lasted until january 2014 in shanghai when a free - trade zone was opened up for foreign console manufacturers such as sony and microsoft to sell their consoles under certain restrictions . it wasn’t until july 2015 that the ban on consoles was lifted around the rest of china – 15 years after its introduction .
emma lee is shanghai - based tech writer , covering startups and tech happenings in china and asia in general . we are looking for stories related to tech and china . reach her at lixin @ technode . com .
that said , experience with gaming might work out to be a good thing if harnessed correctly . for example , gaming is being used to help develop peacekeeping skills worldwide , with trinity college dublin leading a €2m project in europe .
it ' s interesting to see that china still has a flourishing arcade industry as game centers were nearly wiped out in the early 2000s along with the video game console ban . despite falling into the same category as video game consoles ( arcade machines are huge game boxes , like consoles ) , arcades and arcade cabinets are not illegal in china . instead , arcades fall under the jurisdiction of the ministry of culture—the same ministry that oversees internet cafes .
this week , china said it will lift a ban on selling video game consoles and games in the country , the latest in a series of rules aimed at loosening restrictions on sales . but despite the nice - sounding sentiment that china is opening up , the fact is that not much has changed . and not much will change .
nelson rodriguez is a gaming industry veteran who’s helped launch blockbusters like halo 3 . read his new book frictionless : build better video games , attract & retain players , grow revenue for his development strategies and insights .
not constructive , your vision is so obstructed by the western way , this will chabge many hings in china .
new gaming boom : newzoo ups its 2017 global games market estimate to $ 116 . 0bn growing to $ 143 . 5bn in 2020
in theory , the software and id checks will prompt gaming companies to identify minors who are still online , and shut them off .
if all you ' ve known about internet cafes are dingy darkened rooms where people stare into screens , you ' ve got to see some of the new , slick gaming havens that are popping up in china .
china banned consoles in 2000 over fears that video games may have a detrimental effect on the mental and physical development of children . reports earlier this year suggested that beijing was considering relaxing its policy , though officials later disputed such claims . consoles have been available on the black market in china , though most gamers use pcs or mobile devices .
sony sells its 20 millionth playstation , easily making it the most popular gaming console of its time .
unless otherwise noted , in this report we use the term video games to encompass all types of gameplay on computers , consoles , tablets or phones .
these apartment - dwellers aren’t just roommates – they’re teammates . they’re members of llg – one of china’s best female e - sports teams , and a highly skilled group of professional video game players .
nelson rodriguez is a gaming industry veteran who’s helped launch blockbusters like halo 3 . read his new book frictionless : build better video games , attract & retain players , grow revenue for his game development strategies and insights .
for an industry predicted to be worth over $ 100 billion by 2017 ( with the chinese market accounting for about a quarter of that ) , it’s clear why foreign companies are scrambling to get their products released in china . china’s gaming culture remains tough and unpredictable to outsiders , however – though against all odds ( and government bans ) , it has flourished to become a unique part of the youth culture . time will tell where gaming goes from here for china’s latest generation of gamers .
changes to the ban on video gaming are unlikely to have a significant impact on global demand for consoles . there will be some improvement . . . but as pc gaming is already huge in china through laptops and mobile devices , this has meant china already has 300 to 400 million gamers . there is not a huge amount of pent - up demand here . many users can get round the rules and are able to import the consoles illegally from other countries . the law has become irrelevant anyway ,
he added .
chinese gaming magazine electronic gaming software was a huge publication in china , and it still has many fans now . back in the day they would publish stories that were critical of the government and domestic companies . they also pointed out problems such as plagiarism and counterfeiting . in 1995 the magazine was ordered to stop publication . it is back now but only a shallow shell of its original self .
professor tao hongkai is an anti - gaming advocate who wants to see more done to discourage young players .
this has already happened before console gaming . ending the ban didn ' t change the game developement landscape .
the chinese gaming market is a very complicated and confusing one . not only is it chock full of problems , but it is also one that is full of a lot of rumours and scams . chinese internet portal netease has put together a list of 10 of china ' s biggest gaming lies .
china boasts the largest internet population in the world : more than 731 million chinese people are online , according to government officials in january . but until recently , many computer games were not available here . between 2000 and 2015 , console games were banned in china . gaming was viewed as “digital heroin” by government officials . yet today there are an estimated 170 million e - sports players and fans in the country .
they also clone everything from video - games to cartoons . some even tried cloning hearthstone but got shot down by blizzard .
co - workers playing the chinese smartphone game honor of kings in a beijing office on tuesday . more than 200 million people in china play the app .
china ' s government hopes to force young people off the screen and into bed .
not as bad as china sure , but still a big barrier to international indies .
gaming competitions grew in size , and the first “olympics” of online games , called the world cyber games , were held in korea in 2000 . the first world cyber games involved 174 competitors from 17 different countries .
what do you mean china doesn ' t have the technological know - how . . ? all of the ds r4 hacks came out of china . clearly they have a lot of technological know - how , it ' s just their economy doesn ' t support production of a video game console .
in the region . no one knows how successful an expensive console will be in the long run , especially since china ' s pc - centric gaming market largely takes place in pay - per - time internet cafes . then there ' s the sales model in a country that is famous for pirating software and cheap knock - offs . it ' s largely for this reason that the most popular pc games in china are free - to - play with microtransactions .
xbox , sony playstation and other consoles by foreign companies have been easy to get at electronics retail outlets across china despite the ban , but gaming companies have never been able to market their products directly to chinese consumers . in the vacuum , chinese gamers have largely turned to pc - , cell phone - , and social media - based gaming .
china’s heavier sales could also have an element of demographics . japan has seen a sharp increase in its average age , while china is more evenly distributed . the age range between 20 - 40 is particularly skewed , as it’s one of the least populated demographics in japan , and one of the most populated in china . the impact of that difference shouldn’t be understated in a medium primarily aimed at younger players .
the nintendo wii u is a new video game console that was unveiled during nintendo’s press conference at the electronic entertainment expo 2011 .
going from say 1 % of sales are on pc to 10 % of sales are on pc is a substantial shift in the market . pc gaming was pretty much dead and wow was the only reason to own a gaming pc all of 11 years ago .
the global video games market is forecast to cross the us $ 100 - billion mark this year , driven by the huge appetite for online and mobile content of mainland china’s more than half - a - billion gamers .
we have targeted people in developed countries such as japan , the us and europe with sophisticated machines ,
nintendo president satoru iwata said back in 2003 .
to reach a wide range of people in china , especially those inland who are not as rich as those in coastal areas , we thought we needed to deliver a cheaper console .
and to legally sell a video game console in china , it had to sell something that not only didn ' t quite look like a video game console and couldn ' t be pirated to timbuktu and back . ( that ' s not to say the ique player is piracy free ! ) since then , nintendo has used the
ique
brand in china for its characters and products .
see , you say that
everyone
that wants a gaming console already has one , but i find that extremely hard to believe . there ' ll be a large contingent of people within china who have never heard of xbox or playstation . the people you ' re referring to are enthusiasts and even in developed markets where video games are cultural artifacts , enthusiasts make up a small chuck of the larger video game market , despite what communities like this subreddit and places like neogaf wants to believe .
china has banned a swedish - made computer game for
distorting history and damaging china ' s sovereignty and territorial integrity ,
the ministry of culture ( moc ) said friday .
china ' s certification process , but was soon withdrawn by sony after it was discovered .
marcella szablewicz is an assistant professor of communication studies at pace university . her research focuses on digital leisure culture in urban china .
hd consoles will carve out a niche for themselves in china . getting distribution and access in china for the consoles is definitely a worthwhile and profitable venture , but it will always be a small market compared to pc and mobile for the foreseeable future .
china’s growing problem with internet and video game addiction is probably best described by the case of li meng , a young man who has virtually been living in an internet cafe for the last six years , leaving only to buy food and take the occasional shower .
that doesn ' t mean sony was ready to give up . in june of 2012 , sony computer entertainment opened a headquarters at guangdong animation city as part of a government backed initiative in guangzhou to help strengthen its local animation and gaming industry . a month later , sony made a surprise appearance at chinajoy in shanghai , china ' s largest video game expo , after skipping it for four years . around the same time , an outdated playstation 3 model
facebook will have to play catchup to twitch , which has spent years honing its player - picture - in - game - footage - picture video streaming and its live chat . the dedicated interface , ad and subscription monetization options for video creators , and thriving community of gamers will be tough to match .
perhaps its greatest achievements have been cultural . barely a week goes by when a big destiny - based spoof video , speed run or obsessed fan story isn ' t tearing through social media feeds . destiny has carved its own path to become a video game phenomenon .
28 year - old music producer
r3
, came up with the idea for arcade out of his love for video games .
there are also existing rules that strip gaming credits from users once they play continuously for more than three hours online .
nearly a quarter ( 23 % ) of teens report that they would give a new friend their gaming handle as contact information . fully 38 % of teen boys would share a gaming handle , compared with 7 % of teen girls .
a barclays ' analyst note published tuesday supported this view , playing down the impact of looser restrictions on gaming behavior .
shan chen earned her stripes playing in internet cafes in her home town of wuhan in central china . she would out - play young men who tried to stop female players from even entering the internet bars .
“where more mature markets ( as in japan and north america ) are beginning to stabilise , china’s mobile gaming market represents a strong opportunity – featuring consistent year - over - year growth as new users are adopting new devices , ” the report says .
/ blogs / harveycheng / 20141216 / 232465 / the _ applications _ of _ chinese _ traditional _ elements _ in _ game _ design _ in _ china . php
verizon ' s ad - supported video streaming platform go90 will shut down operations on july 31 , the company announced thursday afternoon . the mobile video service ' s death is due to a general lack of interest from viewers , and the resulting lack of ad dollars coming in from advertisers . people weren ' t…
art bully productions was founded in 2008 by 3d art professionals who have years of experience in the video game industry . we pride ourselves on delivering aaa quality work at very competitive rates to developers of all sizes .
first , small gaming competitions were organized by various websites . but as the popularity of online games increased , big companies such as samsung , lg or local telecom operator sk telecom , became involved in the organization and sponsoring of tournaments . tv channels dedicated to gaming - such as
china has “lifted the ban” before—notably in january 2014 , when it allowed the sale of the consoles and games in china so long as they met certain conditions , such as being locally produced in a specific free - trade zone . the latest directive simply makes life slightly easier for companies , allowing them to set up them anywhere in the country , as tech in asia points out .
the missions of the kogia include promoting e - sports and the gaming industry , supporting gaming smes , and promoting the development of core technologies to game applications , setting up incubator program for game developers , conducting researches and surveys . . .
3blackdot released a statement claiming that its involvement was well known by
the community ,
but did not address its reticence to speak of its connection in the video endorsements .
obstacles include high prices that brought other attempts to bring consoles to china down . a base model
when destiny arrived in september 2014 , publisher activision hailed it as the biggest video game launch of all time . the game made $ 500 million in pre - orders and day one retail sales and sold more than six million units in its first month .
wants a piece . its latest conquest attempt is the video game streaming business ruled by twitch and youtube . today , facebook announced its working with world of warcraft maker blizzard to build social login and facebook live video streaming into their games , starting with its new blockbuster overwatch .
development of china ' s service industry , the government specifically encourages more support to help local gaming products to go global . such favoritism suggests things aren ' t going to change any time soon for sony and microsoft .
that ' s exactly why console gaming doesn ' t work for china right now . people that have the money can buy it from overseas . people that don ' t have the money can ' t afford it .
razer is interested in bringing an android - based console to china , something ouya failed to accomplish despite a last ditch $ 10 million cash infusion from alibaba back in january .
while many expected china’s gaming culture to flourish even further with the recent influx of foreign consoles , the release met with a rocky beginning . with a list of games limited by government regulations on content , the ban - lift hasn’t done well in gaining the interest of china’s gamers . the consoles in china actually cost more at release than they do in other countries , which is difficult to justify to a population that has become used to cheap products as a result of piracy . according to a report last year , 70 % of china’s gamers make less than $ 645 a month , and the xbox and playstation at release were selling for $ 480 and $ 460 , respectively . furthermore , the strict censorship laws mean many big video game titles will never see a legitimate release in mainland china , which keeps consumers turning toward the piracy ( through which games banned by the government are readily available ) .
young men play online games at an internet cafe in beijing in 2010 . due to economic and cultural reasons , home consoles are still a hard sell in china following the lifting of the ban in 2015 . photograph : liu jin / afp / getty images
to adapt , companies such as microsoft may decide to enter china ' s gaming market with a console designed to play free games online , he added . tethering the system to online services could also help microsoft ward off piracy . currently , many of the xbox 360s sold in china ' s gray market are reconfigured by local merchants to play pirated games .
ven despite these concerns , there ' s no denying the huge opportunity that awaits console makers by reaching out to china . while console sales remain strong across north america and europe , the population of china is far too big to ignore , especially given the chinese government continuing to relax their restrictions on gaming . millions of people are prepared to discover console gaming for the first time . however , the biggest mistake that microsoft , sony , and nintendo can make is to take the exact approach with china that they do with other territories .
it’s due to this rampant piracy culture and the banning and censoring of video games by the government that has kept many game publishers away from china ( it was only three years ago that battlefield 4 was banned in china ) . but even if they did try to make a move over there now , even after the console ban has been lifted , they likely wouldn’t have any success . chinese gamers don’t tend to buy software ; instead , they pay for a period of play , usually in a pc gaming café , or they play free games on their smartphones . generally speaking , the population are used to and can afford in - app purchases and the hourly rates of cafés , but not to buy consoles and games . trying to launch a games console culture in china , to kick the habits of the biggest pc gaming market in the world , is almost futile .
there are 170 million children and teenagers accessing the internet in china , and juvenile crime specialist hu faqing thinks they need protection when online .
if i had a yuan for every time some random chinese person who tried to tell me people outside of china don ' t understand china , i would have enough to buy a chinese ps4 .
i think ms sold about 200 units of the xbone in japan . i can ' t see them fare any better in china . mobile and mmos divide the market among themselves .
in addition , chinese professional video gamers have surpassed sweden , south korea and the u . s . to become the top country in terms of tournament winnings , with a total haul of us $ 19 . 3 million in 2016 , a report from unibet shows .
no doubt , chinese gaming culture will continue to evolve in its own way and game companies will react accordingly . many of the biggest domestically - produced games in china are free - to - play mmos . activision also launched a variant of call of duty as a free - to - play online shooter .
tencent’s services stretch beyond china’s borders , but it is unclear if this stance will also spread elsewhere .
ding ding is the only korean player in the team and a star signing . she moved to china to pursue her dream of playing professionally .
around 2012 , rumors of a policy change on consoles started coming out of china , and the ban was finally lifted in full in 2015 . a gaming market worth $ 22 . 2 billion didn’t have to wait long for the massive console production companies to start queuing up . microsoft’s xbox one was the first to gain an official release in the mainland .
if console sales ever go beyond the shanghai free trade zone . that ' s not exactly an ideal environment for kinect motion controls or four - player get - togethers . not to mention china ' s official recognition of video game addiction , and its
in america , when people die from gaming , it ' s a bizarre anomaly—like the florida woman who killed her baby when she was playing farmville . but in asian countries , gamers engage in deadly marathon sessions with disturbing regularity . what ' s more : hsieh ' s death is the second one to happen on the island in 2015 . east asian countries sponsor video game tournaments and make big bucks doing so . but they seem to be doing little in the way of protecting gamers .
for now though , llg are continuing to pursue their dream of playing video games professionally – and they ' re not letting gender barriers stop them .
technology analyst at standard chartered equity research don see said the impact of a scrapping of the ban would be insignificant because china ' s gaming industry is already booming despite the restrictions and described the rise in sony and nintendo ' s share prices as a short - term reaction .
at the end of the year , we seek to take stock . here are 20 stories that polygon believes marked 2015 out as another confounding year in the journey that is video games . the stories are arranged in no particular order .
gamers worldwide are expected to generate a total of us $ 99 . 6 billion in revenue for the video games industry this year , an 8 . 5 per cent increase from 2015 , with china accounting for a quarter of that income , according to the latest global games market report released today .
chinese consumers don’t generally pay for software . at most , they pay for a certain period of play , such as in a gaming parlour , or they play free games .
other industry commentary commentators viewed the news more positively , however . pj mcnealy , founder and ceo of boston based consultancy firm digital world research centre , said nintendo and sony would benefit the most from the rule change long - term , despite the already prevalent gaming market in china .
under the rules , foreign - funded companies in the trade zone can sell game consoles domestically upon receiving approval from china ' s ministry of culture .
the dominant form of gaming is on mobile phones , which are now powerful enough to compete with consoles for at least the casual games . ( indeed , china’s snail os has built an entire business—and a mobile network—on mobile gamers alone . )
this one isn ' t exactly a rumour as we ' ve seen domestically produced game systems before . china ' s unable to create its own domestically manufactured game systems in part because of regulations and because china doesn ' t have the technological know how .
the vr - meets - life tech was shown again in a slightly more realistic october video which revealed virtual items mixed with real world items . a robot hides under a desk . the solar system floats in the middle of an office .
given how different eastward is to the majority of video games made and played in china , pixpil doesn’t know how it will do . but the early signs are promising . “with the lift [ on the ] ban of video game consoles in late 2015 and the emergence of well - crafted western indie games , now [ the ] chinese market is more and more open for games with diversity and traditional fun , ” says feng . it’s still hard to predict the sales of eastward in chinese market , but we’re trying to explore it . ”
the number of chinese professional esports players has increased rapidly in the past ten years , from only 50 players in 2006 to 1 , 001 players in 2016 . the nation has remained in the top 3 in terms of player production since overtaking sweden in 2014 .
as the market expanded , china’s ministry of culture decided that playing video games was harmful to young people , threatened state security , and disturbed social order . in 2000 , an outright ban was slapped on foreign consoles , preventing millions of consoles from industry giants such as sega , sony , and nintendo from reaching the enthusiastic market of china’s younger generation . this sounds worse than it was , because it actually did little to stop people from playing games . due to this decimation of competition from consoles , the computer gaming industry – which the ministry of culture allowed to continue despite the ban – exploded , and chinese companies began mass - producing games for the local market . for many , however , the luxury of owning a computer with hardware powerful enough to play the latest games was ( and still is ) out of reach . this led to a surge in popularity of internet cafés , which are cheaper than investment in gaming software and hardware and actually offer a social community to gamers across china . young chinese began frequenting gaming cafés , paying by the hour and connecting with young , like - minded individuals with a passion for gaming culture .