Curse

EternalTempest · Apr 10, 2007, 03:18 PM // 15:18

This is a very interesting and will affect GuildWars if it wants to operate in China

Source: http://english.people.com.cn/200704/...10_364977.html

Summary from Slashdot
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl...49210&from=rss

Quote:

"The Chinese govt is requiring game houses to modify MMOG's to restrict under 18 users to 3 hours "productive" gameplay per day. This "anti-addiction" software must be in place within 4 months, with games not compliant by July 15 liable to be shut down in China. Net9, Shanda and NetEase will be moving to comply with the government regulations. Users will have to register with their real names and Chinese identity card numbers to be allowed access to the games."

Now like all things tech, there's way around it. And I do know Anet/NCsoft has paid to play model of GW in some Asian countries so I do see them being able to implement this.

I do find this news very interesting, especially since GW is opening up to China.

If a game means to market china age < 18... the game design can't be a 3+ hour grind for 1 objective in a game.

Interesting to see a country implement anti-gaming laws to prevent excessive gaming.

Lonesamurai · Apr 10, 2007, 03:23 PM // 15:23

look rather amusing to me... its a good idea in theory, however i can't see how they can legitimatly police this... Gamers will, as mentioned above, find ways round this

EternalTempest · Apr 10, 2007, 03:51 PM // 15:51

At the minimum... it will force game companies to implement an internal system / registration and denial if they want to operate "legitimately" in china.

I don't think the gaming industry can bully the government from reversing this by the "we will pull out / leave you dry" because the industry is not big enough to push it's weight yet.

I don't think it will stop the gold farming by any shot... but it will make gold farmers / shops in china cost more to make money (more accounts) so it can be some squeeze on them.

Lydz · Apr 10, 2007, 04:20 PM // 16:20

I find this hilarious. What has it got to do with them whether you want to play games or not?

EatMoreCarbs · Apr 10, 2007, 04:45 PM // 16:45

You cant get anything done in 3 hours. lol, give them at least 6 hours. -_-

Viet Spirit · Apr 10, 2007, 04:48 PM // 16:48

similar regulation has already been in effect in my country, Vietnam, but apply to all players not only under 18 year ones. I don't remember for sure the details but something like this: first 3 hours logged in, you gain full experience; next 2 hours you only gain 50% of the experience and so on and its based on each day. So even if you log out and log back in, it's still counted as continious play.

Raiin Maker · Apr 10, 2007, 04:55 PM // 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viet Spirit

similar regulation has already been in effect in my country, Vietnam, but apply to all players not only under 18 year ones. I don't remember for sure the details but something like this: first 3 hours logged in, you gain full experience; next 2 hours you only gain 50% of the experience and so on and its based on each day. So even if you log out and log back in, it's still counted as continious play.

This sounds like what happened to WoW, i assuming you are refering to that... you also get 50% gold if i remember correctly.

Viet Spirit · Apr 10, 2007, 05:07 PM // 17:07

Raiin,

no it only applies to games that are offficially released in my country, which WOW and GW are not. I am not living in country so I don't remember which games are the target.

Honor · Apr 10, 2007, 06:25 PM // 18:25

It also may have somethng to do with the number of suicides that have been related to gaming for whatever reason. Seems I remember 2 or 3 in the past year from China, where over gaming or addiction to the gaming was considering a factor in the person suicide.

Ekelon · Apr 10, 2007, 06:44 PM // 18:44

This is totally messed up. :O But at least a higher percent of players are 18 and older in China. In U.S. it's quite the opposite.

Aerian_Skybane · Apr 10, 2007, 07:14 PM // 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Kiwi

No, its a socialist government, theres a big difference

You are half right.

You are right about Communism being different than general socialism. Even though communism is a form of socialism theory. But you are right.

But unfortunately, since you wanted to bring the politics out, China is not a socialist state, it is a Communist State.

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications...s/ch.html#Govt

Thank you, come again.

There are various other reasons other than ZOMG CHINA IS EVIL or wtf, noobs, for this. A) Since China is a communist state, they prefer people focusing on the state, and not on some game. B) The advent of online interaction and gaming presents a "security" risk to the state, as they have a very prohibitive media society. They can not control what a person can be witness to in the game world. At least, not internationally legally so.

I think this law will only apply to China or any other state as such, as it is their philosophy. In other countries, its up to the parents to control how much their child is playing for other reasons. Free societies come with greater responsibility and a larger margin for error unfortunately, but it is something I accept personally. I don't like this policy move, its just another typical invasion of privacy in a world that fears its own people above all else.

scrinner · Apr 11, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Actually i believe this law is being implemented to counter the numerous deaths related to MMOS in china. I remember reading a few articles in the last year of players playing too much and end up dieing due to lack of.. other stuff. Anyways it might also be meant to be a blow to the gold farmers but they will find a way around it, guaranteed.

unienaule · Apr 11, 2007, 02:49 AM // 02:49

It's like Nebraska in the United States. Some kid kills himself accidentally with a firecracker and O SHI BAN EXPLODING FIREWORKS cause everyone must be retarded.

Pwny Ride · Apr 11, 2007, 02:53 AM // 02:53

Can't you just log out every 3 hours, then log in right away?

lucifer_uk · Apr 11, 2007, 02:58 AM // 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pwny Ride

Can't you just log out every 3 hours, then log in right away?

Or get the Euro/American/Korean version and play on their servers?

Pupu · Apr 11, 2007, 03:00 AM // 03:00

just proves this world is screwed up...and its getting worse.

lucifer_uk · Apr 11, 2007, 03:08 AM // 03:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pupu

just proves this world is screwed up...and its getting worse.

Both ends and indeed middle of the spectrum are screwed up.

Everyone has a different utopia and a different outlook to what's good, normal, bad and moral.

Zaganher Deathbane · Apr 11, 2007, 03:21 AM // 03:21

GW is not an MMORPG it's a CORPG. So technically Anet is exempted from this or I just hope so

Burn Butt · Apr 11, 2007, 03:51 AM // 03:51

Under 18 Chinese players must spend less than 3 hours per day on GW? Looks like DoA item prices just went up in the international districts.

EntityMaster · Apr 11, 2007, 04:03 AM // 04:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerian_Skybane

There are various other reasons other than ZOMG CHINA IS EVIL or wtf, noobs, for this.

It sadden me to hear condemnation against my home country, but I too, do not agree with China policies and governmental structure.

However, I believe this whole MMOs restriction is to prevent Chinese teenagers from becoming addicted to online games. As I have read enough news about young teenagers become so addicted to games that they forgone education and careers, and are forced to attend numerous boot camps for net addicts.

It's also true that many of them were injured spending too much time in front of their computers - body seizures, dehydration, etc... But the most prominent ones that I have heard were actually parents beating their children to death because of their addictions.