The first paragraph of the "Art Style" section seems like overstatement to me. Chinese seem to accept western styles just fine (WoW for example), so I just do not think art is really worth putting as the first section along with more important design decisions like world background.
The image caption "Popular Art Style among Game Players in China" could be much better phrased as "The Art Style of popular Chinese games" imo. The original caption gives the impression that the art style led to popularity, which is not true: it is probably because the settings of these game, of ancient China, fill a niche that few foreign competitors are interested in.
How much is the art style of something like WoW already adapted to a style that is more compatible with the Asian markets? Warcraft has definitely gotten considerably more cartoony and almost anime-inspired since it's original incarnations.
It only makes sense that they might be influenced in that direction, given the runaway success StarCraft, for instance, enjoyed, and still enjoys in Korea.
I do need to admit that I did not consider that these game could have adapted more to the Asian markets. I guess I need to reorganize my thoughts and perhaps do more research.
I do not know much and this is pure speculation, but I feel like WoW's art change is a result of constant tweaking while in the Asian markets instead of a deliberate trend. This intrigues me into asking if Chinese games' traditional style (not the anime ones) will have any luck in western markets at all or it will be force to be westernized to gain popularity in western markets in the first place.
The image caption "Popular Art Style among Game Players in China" could be much better phrased as "The Art Style of popular Chinese games" imo. The original caption gives the impression that the art style led to popularity, which is not true: it is probably because the settings of these game, of ancient China, fill a niche that few foreign competitors are interested in.