The lights are on
China’s Ministry of Culture put out a statement yesterday announcing China’s intent to tighten restrictions on potentially offensive content in online games. The pressure is being placed on the game operators, such as NetEase.com (which operates World of Warcraft in China) and Tencent Holdings, to monitor their own content for inappropriate material. According to Reuters, this includes “obscene and violent content,” as well as PvP combat and virtual marriages.“…the current product offerings are not up to standard and the cultural content is lowbrow and having a negative effect on the healthy development of the industry," the statement read.NetEase CEO William Ding told Reuters the company will comply to the government’s demands, as they have in the past; earlier this year World of Warcraft was temporarily banned in China until NetEase replaced skeleton bones in the game’s virtual tombs with non-descript sacks. That may seem like a trivial dispute, but with projected sales revenue for online gaming in China this year landing somewhere around $3.5 billion, it’s easy to see why the company would be quick to keep lawmakers happy.
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I would hope they listen. I wouldn't go against my Communist oppressors
Sounds like a case of censorship to me, but China has their own laws...
*** *** Commies. They're going to devolve the gaming industry into nothing but educational shovelware and Mario games. At least, that's what they want. These angry old shits have never once played a video game and all they want to do is ruin it for everyone because they don't understand it. I say ignore these dictators and keep making games the way you want. I'm glad I live in the greatest country in the world and not some backwards country where child labor is still enforced and dictators have their way. The only good thing about China is the food.
While it's very disappointing to hear all of this, culture is a very touchy subject and is not easily dealt with. Fact of the matter is our idea of "the norm" is much different than that of China's and we will never be able to change that. That doesn't mean that they are wrong. Child labor is wrong, rape is wrong, murder is wrong, but deciding that you don't want your citizens to play certain video games isn't necessarily wrong. The freedom we enjoy isn't necessarily the right thing either. Just be glad that we live in the country that we do, and hope that things will change for the sake of gaming.
that is so stupid.australia and china,why would anyone want to live there?
This is why I love being an American!
I think that Michael Johnson has the right idea. Different strokes for different folks, really.
That's unfortunate for them, however, respectfully it is their culture, and don't worry there will always be someone to smuggle games and make them accessible.
Ah its a walking skeltoon.
I couldn't help but to chuckle at this...
I hear that Skeletor is a second class citizen in china.
Uh-oh, someone didn't get the bribes to the right bureaucrat!
I hope WOW makes a super violent Panda class.
This is why when someone starts in how USA is this and this. I remember I live in a country that lets me do what I want. Maybe this will cut down on gold farmers lol.,...
Don't piss off the commies. You won't win..Unless if you have the US military behind you.
Gold farmers are complaining about the language people throw at them in-game? Now THAT'S funny....
AMERICA
F*** YEAH :D
Oh noes, teh skeletonz r coming 4 teh emperorz.
Seriously, aren't you guys glad you don't live in a communist country? Stupid reds...
I think China is way too strict on this then the U.S.
roflmao.. "OMG, THERES BONES!" "OH NOZ, WE CANT HAVE OUR FUTURE/CURRENT GENERATIONS LOOKING AT BONEZ!" "YEAH! THATS JUST..wait a sec, why cant we? I mean, is it because it signifies death? like someone playing wow hasn't heard of death before? Or because its a tomb? when have descript bones not been in tombs, its what makes a tomb a tomb.. I mean.." "ROAWRLW SALTWATER TAFFY YUM!" "SALT WATER TAFFY YUM!"