China Announces New Game Crackdown

June 18, 2009

China is mounting a renewed crackdown against "undesirable" online games.

A Reuters reports cites Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency, which attributes the government action to concerns over crime and Internet addiction. More than 40 million Chinese now participate in online games.

Kou Xiaowei of China's General Administration of Press and Publication explained:

Although China's online gaming industry had been hot in recent years, online games are regarded by many as a sort of spiritual opium and the whole industry is marginalised by mainstream society. If we don't make adjustments, the industry will suffer sooner or later.

The lack of a content rating system and widespread availability of bootlegged products have hampered official efforts to regulate games.
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Comments

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by The Man on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 11:09.

Not sure how this is "recent news" as the linked Reuters article is dated January 2008.  Is there something more recent?

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by michaelleung on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 03:34.
They've got a new games rating system, similar to the ESRB. There are only three categories though: C for Communist I for Indecent M for Made by Running dog capitalists (it's banned).
Steam ID: canadakiller

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by JustChris on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 13:57.

China's not a very strong Communist country...they're mostly just authoritarian.

GameSnooper

GameSnooper

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by Shahab on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:07.

Seriously, can the Chinese government just die already.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by cpu64 on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 00:09.

Calm down shahab...

That is called BIG GOVERNMENT, they tell you want you need and take what you want.

Guess what other nation is on its way to having similar government intrusions and regulations??

Here's a hint, it starts with U, S and A.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 09:07.

No, I don't believe you.  Our President just wants to take over all of the industries in the country, weaken us in front of our enemies and tell our friends we were always wrong and they were always right.  Not to mention putting us so far in debt that my children won't be able to pay it back.

 

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by CarsAreScary on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 17:47.

40 million Chinese now participate in online games? It's almost as if they're trying to escape some.. harsh.. reality-CHINA PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by Deamian on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 17:40.

"All your liberties and freedom of toughts are belong to us." -Chinese govt.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by MartyB on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 15:58.

 In other news, MMORPGs have announced a decrease in chinese gold farmers...

/jk

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by MrKlorox on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 15:18.

Crackdown? That ain't new! I played that on my 360 years ago and it was from Scottland. //sarcasm

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by MaskedPixelante on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 13:41.

The Chinese anti-fun police are starting to make America's "Anyone who doesn't share the opinion of the right is a terrorist" intolerance seem fun by comparison.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 20:14.

Versus America's "Anyone who doesn't share the opinion of the left is a racist, sexist, homophobic, greedy, unhelping, intolerant, warmongering, fearmongering asshole."

 

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

I didn't vote for Barack Obama, and that doesn't make me racist.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by Gaming Observer on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 22:21.

"Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth."

Wrong.  Freedom of speech protects the conservative (i.e. small and broken) brain to say and suggest that homosexuality is immoral and that gays will go to hell.  None of that is true.

Truth has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Sat, 06/20/2009 - 20:45.

Only because rogue elements on both sides of the political spectrum have hijacked it.  Conservatives say what you posted, while liberals (i.e. white people ashamed at being white) believe they can say anything about Judeo-Christian principles, but nobody can say anything that might be construed as mean against any so-called "protected minorities."

 

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by MaskedPixelante on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:03.

And that's why I'm glad to be Canadian.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:41.

Touche.

 

Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by allen85 on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 13:01.

So of those 40 million how many of those are actually doing it for a living? 

Re: China Announces New Game Crackdown

Submitted by Cheater87 on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 12:36.

IIRC when I imported Siren New Translations there was a sticker on it saying along the lines of "WARNING" Do not sell, give, lend, play infront of anyone under 18.

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