( CNN ) -- In `` Glorious Mission Online , '' China 's first online game co-developed by the People 's Liberation Army and released to the public , players join the ranks of the country 's military to take on the enemy . The game was originally developed by China 's military as a training and recruitment tool and featured Chinese forces taking on American soldiers . But the game drew massive nationwide attention because of one level , which pits Chinese soldiers against a different enemy -- Japan . This level is set on an island chain disputed between China and Japan . The game asks players to defend the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea , known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan . Both countries claim sovereignty over the remote , rocky islands , which are near important shipping lanes , rich fishing grounds and possible mineral deposits . Japan currently administers the area , but since late last year , China has mounted a concerted campaign to try to change the situation . Chinese and Japanese ships cluster around disputed islands . So popular was the game in stoking nationalism amid growing tension between the East Asian neighbors over the islands , developers have officially changed the name of the island mission level to `` Defending the Diaoyu Islands . '' `` The part where we defend the Diaoyu Islands and the aircraft combat were fun ! All Chinese should play , '' posted @ Gaici2hao . @ Haidaoshengmingyue posted : `` We fought with the Japanese yesterday in Shanghai and the Diaoyu Islands , it 's cool . '' Although interest in the game has centered on the territorial issue , game developer Gu Kai says this was not the intention . `` I think the game has been misinterpreted a little bit , '' says Gu , whose firm Giant Interactive Group , Inc. co-developed the game with the Nanjing Military Area Command of the PLA . Gu says the company never specified the island area as the disputed territory in the first place , and the decision to label the mission was in response to growing public interest over the topic . The idea of using military-themed game to train soldiers or serve as a recruitment tool is not new . The U.S. army has an online game called `` America 's Army '' that allows players to go on training missions and fight each other online . According to Gu , `` Glorious Mission '' targets nationalistic youths who are attracted to online games . A press release from Giant Interactive Group claims that the game presents a full picture of the PLA 's daily operations and calls upon youths to join the army , defend their country , and strengthen the `` Chinese Dream . '' Gu says it is hoped the game will help recruit more recent graduates who are experiencing increasing difficulty in a declining China job market , together with well-educated college graduates . Compared to other countries , China is relatively late in terms of using games as military training and recruitment . `` For a long time , Chinese military has been distant and mysterious to the public , but the game opens a door for young people to learn about the PLA and how the military operates , '' Gu says . `` The game aims to provide players with an authentic experience ; even the voices are from real soldiers . ''
First online game co-developed by the People 's Liberation Army allows players to fight Japan . Score: 6 Game developer Gu Kai says the game targets nationalistic youths in hopes of recruiting them .