China Restricting MMOs: Play more than three hours and you're busted!

[TriniXaeno]

Pretty amazing news I just read at 1up.

China Restricting MMOs
Play more than three hours and you're busted.
by Patrick Klepek, 08/24/2005 

The recent strings of reports discussing addictive massively multiplayer online video games in association with crimes such as murder have pushed China into action. Starting late this year, player's characters will begin losing abilities after three hours of consecutive play, reports GameSpot by way of Interfax.
The penalties become increasingly worse as time marches on. Players are expected to stop playing for a total of five hours after they hit the three hour mark, but if they continue, their character's abilities will be slashed in half, eventually being reduced to the lowest level past five hours.

"This timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," said Xiaowei Kou, deputy director of the general administration of press and publication (GAPP), during a recent press conference. When releasing an online game in China, publishers are required to go through GAPP. Basically, this law is sticking.

These restrictions aren't being incorporated into upcoming online games or some unpopular smaller ones. Rather, 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 will be affected

 

[rb]

I'm guessing this is the result of people dying infront of pcs because of gaming for hours ?

[Czar]

I'm guessing this is the result of people dying infront of pcs because of gaming for hours ?

Wouldn't be surprised if it played a factor in the decision...

[TriniXaeno]

amongst other things, yeah.

at first read, it almost sounds prankish. Surely the die hards will find h4x0rs to work around the restrictions if they ever do come into effect.

[DeadEyes]

/agree


see lineage for an explanation on the above

[Crixx_Creww]

lol @/agree
/lol

anyways

could this mean end of farmers??

also, how does this affect westerners playing l2 and WoW?

[Trinitus]

Way boy that is something else but i can understand this though, i myself am addicted to almost any game i get my hands on. In a sense, restriction is good so that gaming doesn't surround your life( not that gaming for life isn't bad) but priorities must be taken into consideration and realistically speaking, gaming is not one of them sad to say but it is true. Get yuh life in ordah and then play games!!!

[bk]

somehow i highly doubt they could do that. sure they (government) can do whatever they want, but dont tell a big company like blizzard their consumers cant play for more than 3 hours and force them to slash their lvls. so in the end its just a good idea, bad business.
haha oh yea i did read about that murder thing. its not funny but damn cmon u gonna kill a guy over some stupid Bow. i feel sorry for geeks. (bring on the flame)

[Kaizen]

i hope this doesnt reach our side cause we not as bad as them
asia on whole are addicited to these games...O_O
i dont understand why we not as hardcore as they culture differences ...no life interaction? wtmc
like i say thank god we trini not like dat

[spinner]

i think they overdid it across there...hours without sleep or food and almost 0 human interaction..that just sick

[Beomagi]

I'm guessing this is the result of people dying infront of pcs because of gaming for hours ?

Wouldn't be surprised if it played a factor in the decision...

That should be a factor, for entry onto http://www.darwinawards.com
or
www.his_mother_shoulda_beat_his_arse_blue_till_he_got_a_job.net
or
www.frickingretardeduseofthewordrepublic.commie

They also want their own chips only.

Their gov't is also preventing cyber cafe's from playing games where one player can kill another - i just gotta know, does "player killing" also involve fighting games? super smash brothers?

Just imagine though - 17th century greatwall
21st century - forcefield (hecho en china)