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China Defeats Online Gamers

April 12, 2007 in News comments 16

China takes aim at limiting the number of hours kids under the age of 18 can play online. They have demanded that all gaming companies apply anti-addict filters that will limit playing time to 3 hours. After the initial 3 hours they will be allowed up to two more hours but will only gain half of their experience. Once a gamer has played more than 5 hours they will no longer gain any points and they will recieve a warning message every 15 minutes.

Developers will have until July 16th to implement the system before they will have their games taken off the shelves. Players will be required to register with their real name and identification number.

So will the “anti-online game addiction system” work? Maybe a little. Official statistics show that more than 85% of online Chinese gamers are over the age of 18. You gotta believe a large number of them are playing more than three hours a day. So perhaps even adults “lack the self-discipline to control their playing time.” Start ‘em young, I guess.
Enhance via gigaom.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Apr 14, 2007

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  • 0
    tekmosis Apr 13, 07
    I actually read this in our local paper yesterday! that's crazy that they're so hardcore there that the government needs to start cracking down like this. Although, it really isn't too surprising.
  • 0
    ali3n Apr 13, 07
    To be honest I find this quite funny.
  • 0
    Reason Apr 13, 07
    I agree, it is kind of humorous. There is a ridiculous amount of people in China addicted to MMORPG's though.
  • 0
    FFXFREAK Apr 13, 07
    Oh my god, when I first read this I thought it was a joke and could not stop laughing XDDD. HAHAHA. Poor Chinese kids, they're gonna like wtf? when they start getting half the exp. XD.

    I'm suprised the Chinese Government even knows about gaining exp >_>.
  • 0
    Gary Apr 13, 07
    I heard about this way back on the WOW forums, but I didn't think they'd actually go through with it, seems totally crazy, but then again afters eeing how people in China have actually died from too much MMORPG playing maybe it's a good thing. But still it seems that Adults should be able to manage their own time themselves.
  • 0
    draxx23bb Apr 13, 07
    HAHAHA this is funny I hope it will not happen in my country to.
  • 0
    mettaur Apr 13, 07
    quote: "To be honest I find this quite funny."

    Same here. I feel bad for those kids at China. Bet more of them will migrate XD.
  • 0
    Tyzer Apr 13, 07
    Woooah! I suppose it will aid their social lifes for the better!
  • 0
    dmf_dynasty Apr 13, 07
    Wow. It's gonna suck when the developers only make one version of the game and this happens to everybody. I don't play MMORPGs, but there would be a nerd uprising equal to that of the hippies in the 60s if this happened in the US.
  • 0
    gameboy613 Apr 13, 07
    That's not fair =/ On the bright side it will give the kids more time to go outside.
  • 0
    Dragons Call Apr 13, 07
    o.0 Wow. That's just... wow.

    That really sucks.
  • 0
    madtown Apr 13, 07
    ZOMG! That is hilarious!! are they really so addicted to games that the government has to do something? Isn't that up to the parents? And what a lame way to try getting them to cut back, half their experience.
  • 0
    Gary Apr 13, 07
    It seems to me that for children this system is fine but it does seem a bit extreme applying it to adults don't you think?
  • 0
    Sakura Apr 13, 07
    Sucks for them. I'm glad I don't have restrictions on any of my gaming. ^^
  • 0
    Mishtram Apr 14, 07
    After you have people throwing themselves out of buildings and dying in their seats, I can see the dangers which are being considered when looking at this.

    Also, you guys are aware you can reply to individual posts, right? =)
    • 0
      Dragons Call Apr 14, 07
      Indeed. ^__^

      But what's all this I hear about people dying in their seats?

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