Governmental Restrictions on Chinese Gamers

[Calneon]

Quote from an article on GameReplays.

Zhang Yijun, director of the General Administration of Press and Publication's technology and digital publication department, stated that due to a recent decision by the Chinese government, gamers who are playing a game online where they are allowed to create a user name are not longer allowed to do so. Instead, each gamer must register their account or character under their real name and play under it. The law is planned to take effect this year.

It doesn't end here either. Governmental forces in Beijing also are imposing time limits to try and stem the possibility of addicted behavior of popular massive multiplayer online games such as World of WarCraft and Lineage II. With more than 20 million Chinese online players, the government is going to attempt to tend the issue by limiting play time down to only three hours at a time. If players attempt to go over this limit of three hours, their characters will only earn half their experience. This way, Chinese players will have reduced experience in their MMO games if they exceed just three hours of play. If they play past a five hour mark they will gain no experience at all. Players will be then forced to take a five hour break before being allowed to return to their game. "The timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," says Xiaowei Kou, of the General Administration of Press and Publication or GAPP (an organization which monitors Chinese online gaming).

Apparently all major gaming companies of China agreed to the terms and are "willing to sacrifice short-term revenues to create a healthy environment for online gamers". The list of the games in which these drastic measures are being put in place for includes Blizzard's hit MMORPG World of WarCraft and its respective expansion packs, which has a player base of over 1.5 million gamers in China alone. Other games that are included in the restrictions will be The Legend of Mir II, The Legend of Mir 3G, Lineage II, Westward Journey Online, Fantasy Westward Journey Online, MU, JX Online, First Myth Online, The World of Legend, and Blade Online.

I think the first idea is the most rediculous, where you have to name your avatar using your real name. I think the other could potentially be a good idea, 3 hours is enough for casual instances (using WoW as an example), but hardcore raiders will definately be penalised. The thing I see a problem for their government is that they can't do jack shit if Blizzard just says, "No, sorry", and that's that. The only thing the government could do it make WoW illegal. TBH, I think the limit is a good idea if implemented well, for example you could limit to three hours per sitting before 6PM, and then have unlimited afterwards so people can raid. The limit should only apply to under 18s though.

[Mr.Big]

lol, its true games are like drugs, you will get addicted , but trying to control it is a bit much

[Target]

lol blizzard will never agree to it, and i don't think they will ban it, but using ur real name is a bit ridiculous in china ], imagine how many Lee's there will be

[Vicious Horizon]

There are only 900 family names in China, it'll never work.

If I'm honest, who actually plays for 5 hours straight? I find it physically impossible to do so.

[Isphera]

Who actually plays for 5 hours straight? I find it physically impossible to do so.

I spent 6 hours in one WoW instance :S

This is China being the irrational communist dickwads which we all know and hate.

[D_K_Head]

There are only 900 family names in China, it'll never work.

If I'm honest, who actually plays for 5 hours straight? I find it physically impossible to do so.

yeah, and some other games like LOTRO require a 12 hour non stop quest.. as a chicken (god I hated that.)

I really can't see the real names thing working to be honest... I love my alias, bummer for all the chinks, I guess.

[Mr.Big]

yeah guys, and think about the wasted money on gamecards THINK THINK THINK!

[Vicious Horizon]

Oric, how? My eyes burn out at 3 XD

At DK, that's rediculous XD What mental person would attempt that?

[D_K_Head]

*cough* I really hated that quest *cough*

[Calneon]

Haha DK. Subtle. I can go probably 12 hours straight without my eyes burning. Doesn't mean I'd want to though. It's pretty much what i did at i34 though xD.

[Vicious Horizon]

Hahaha. I really want to go to an iSeries event