China govt steps up limits on online gaming
Three-hour limit embraced by seven superpower publishers; World of Warcraft among those games affected.
Online gamers are different in Asia.
Examples of extreme devotion to one's favorite online game have resulted in a number of quirky, if not tragic, occurrences in that part of the world. For instance, there's the couple whose infant expired as they played games in an Internet cafe; there is the death that occurred from exhaustion; and there are even murders that have resulted from feuds begun online. These are a few of the most notorious results of intense attachments to gaming.
In China yesterday, the government agency that oversees the online game industry said that testing of a system to regulate the number of hours gamers spend online will be ready for deployment this October.
The system will impose penalties on players who spend more than three hours gaming online. The system is slated to be fully operational in late 2006 or early 2006 and will be compulsory for all massively multiplayer online role-playing and online casual games.
"This timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," Xiaowei Kou, the deputy director of the general administration of press and publication (GAPP), said during a press conference in Beijing.
According to the Interfax news service, the system reduces the ability level of a player's online game character if the game is played beyond the three-hour limit. Basically, play more than three hours and the system cuts a game character's ability by half. Play more than five hours and the system reduces a game character's ability to the lowest level possible.
Gamers must wait a minimum of five hours before returning to gameplay, or the system will not reset..
Companies that have vowed to participate in the beta of such a system include the country's biggest online game operators: Shanda, NetEase, The9, Optisp, Kingsoft, SINA, and Sohu.
The following games will be included in trials of the new system: The Legend of Mir II, The World of Legend, Westward Journey Online, Fantasy Westward Journey Online, World of Warcraft, MU, JX Online, First Myth Online, The Legend of Mir 3G, Lineage II, and Blade Online.
The endorsement of publishers is hardly surprising, as no online game is allowed to be operated in China without GAPP's approval. To defy GAPP would be tantamount to exiting the online-game playing field in China.
Content you might like…
-
Couple's online gaming causes infant's death
Korean press picks up tale of tragedy when couple plays World of Warcraft to excess, infant perishes from neglect.
- Jun 20, 2005
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Carmack on ZeniMax, Apple, and new 'triple-A' game
Q&A: id Software's technical guru explains shock buyout by Bethesda parent, talks about new project, and doubts the Mac-maker will enter the console wars; new wave of iPhone games explained in detail. Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 12:23 pm PT
- 169 Comments
-
Crosshairs Interview: Remedy Ent. on Alan Wake
We chat with lead writer Sam Lake at E3 2009 about Alan Wake. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 1:04 am PT
Featured Stories
-
Starcraft II jettisons LAN support
Blizzard confirms anticipated sci-fi RTS will skip local multiplayer due to piracy, quality concerns. Full Story
- Posted Jun 30, 2009 11:45 am PT
- 927 Comments
-
28% of all console gamers now female - Study
Industry-tracking NPD Group reveals women flocking to Wii, hardcore gaming on decline, online gaming stagnate. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 4:45 pm PT
- 484 Comments
-
Shippin' Out June 28-July 4: Call of Juarez prequel, Harry Potter
Ubisoft's Western shooter and J.K. Rowling's boy-wizard lead this week's retail charge along with Mega Man Star Force 3, Worms 2: Armageddon, The Punisher: No Mercy, Ice Age film game. Full Story
- Posted Jun 29, 2009 8:22 am PT
- 66 Comments
-
Obsidian, Sega confirm Aliens RPG 'no longer in development'
Developer breaks silence, confirms all work has ceased on sci-fi film-inspired role-playing project; publisher says there are "no plans to move forward" with the game. Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 4:31 pm PT
- 147 Comments
-
THQ reveals controller-based game for 2010
UFC publisher reveals first peripheral-specific title, claiming it will have a "competitive advantage" by being "different from anything else." Full Story
- Posted Jun 26, 2009 2:17 pm PT
- 143 Comments
Submit News
Recent News
-
Alpha Protocol initiated for October 6
Sega and Obsidian Entertainment's wetwork-heavy stealth RPG dated for this fall on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
Site Blogs
-
Battlestations: Pacific DLC deploying in July
Battlestations: Pacific won the battle against critics when it debuted on the Xbox 360 and PC in May. And while it has yet to be seen...
2 Comments