“BLACK Myth: Wukong,” an action role-playing game developed by Shenzhen-based Game Science, has caused a sensation in China since its release last week, with several peripheral industries quick to cash in. A series of themed concerts curated by the game production company and Beijing-based Poly Culture Group sold out rapidly in multiple cities when tickets went on sale Wednesday. Tickets for the shows in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hangzhou were sold out by 2 p.m. Wednesday on the ticketing platform Maoyan. Those for the shows in Beijing and Chongqing are also no longer available. There will be two concerts in each of the five cities, with prices ranging from 180 yuan (US$25) to 880 yuan, according to Maoyan. The concert series will kick off in Shenzhen on Sept. 8 and conclude in Chongqing on Oct. 27, with each concert running for at least 90 minutes. Featuring 19 soundtracks created by Qu Jinyan, the game’s music director, the concerts highlight the symphonic rendition of the beloved theme song from the 1986 TV series “Journey to the West,” a rap-style interpretation of the Buddhist music piece “Rebirth in the Pure Land,” and a Shaanxi folk song-inspired composition. Every city will host both afternoon and evening shows, scheduled for 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. The triple-A game — an expensive, high-profile video game typically developed by major game studios — has become a global hit since its launch last week. Shanxi Province in North China, home to major real-world settings featured in the game, has experienced a surge in visitor numbers. “Games, much like films and TV dramas, play a central role in industry chains and drive the growth of related industries,” said Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration. (SD News) | 