Two arms of the Chinese government appear to be battling over whether or not non-Chinese companies can operate online games within the country’s borders.
The General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) issued a statement on Friday saying that “foreign companies are not allowed to operate online games in China in any form.” The only problem? Control of China’s online gaming industry was taken away from GAPP last month and given to the Ministry of Culture. Proactive Investors reports that Tuo Zu Hai, a Vice Director in the Ministry of Culture was “startled to hear the news” emanating from GAPP.
Reuters states that the ban covers all foreign investment in online games, including joint ventures, agreements and technology support, which may not be good news for NetEase.com, the new operator of World of Warcraft in China.
While GAPP’s position is not entirely new, the story notes that strict enforcement of the ideology was not previously common place.
The statement from GAPP was released just in advance of the kick off of the Game Developers Conference in Shanghai, which opened today.
Comments
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
What will happen to CCP Shanghai?
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
All I'm gonna say is once again I'm glad I live in the US.
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
I say we should bring in Liberty Prime in there to clean up that mess. That country desperately needs Liberty Prime, badly.
For those of you who are unfortunate enough not to know who Liberty Prime is, here is a video with his best speech clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=298Cw3_qGwE
LIBERTY PRIME FTW!!!
"God, is that you?"
"No! It's a me, Mario!"
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
Next thing will be to cover China with a energy force field which will kill anybody who touch it. China needs a good civil war in the next years if they want to get rid of their moronic and fanatical leaders.
They will look up and shout "Give ROFLCOPTERS to us"... and I´ll whisper "NO". The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
Please be joking about that.
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
About the civil war? No, I´m serious. I know war is terrible but the most of the time serves to put down tyranic regimenes out of the power. There´s not enough democracy in the world to fix China goverment´s stupidity.
They will look up and shout "Give ROFLCOPTERS to us"... and I´ll whisper "NO". The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
You have to realize that most Chinese people fully buy into the idea that the government knows what's best for them and it's their duty to obey, even when they don't necessarily agree. There's the occasional protest, or a cry for justice when something really bad happens, but largescale civil disobedience and social change are practically foreign to the "average" Chinese. There's very little chance you could stir up a civil war in China at the moment. Maybe amongst the tiny minority of modern Westernized Chinese, but very unlikely.
Not that advocating a civil war is a good idea, anyway.
Re: Chinese Agency: Foreign Online Game Operators Not ...
It´s gonna happen one day, not this decade, not this century, but it will, as same as many other countries before us. People will regret their attitude and they will claim for a change, and that will led to a violent confrontation.
I´m not advocating for war either, but I think when the things will get worst and China still give a fuck for civil liberties, chinese people will not tolerate it anymore.
They will look up and shout "Give ROFLCOPTERS to us"... and I´ll whisper "NO". The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com