Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories

AOL Tech

AOL
MAIL

Switched

Tech Tips

A Baker's Dozen Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Mac

Advice

Switched's Comprehensive Guide to Video Game Emulators

China Cracking Down On Online Games

by Evan Shamoon on January 17, 2008 at 03:40 PM

Once the Chinese government gets its mitts on your industry, you're in trouble. Their newest target? Online games.

The government is issuing a set of new rules meant to crack down on what it calls "undesirable" elements of online games, mainly MMO-style affairs. All the hysteria stems from fears of growing Internet addiction which, as anyone with a level 60 Night Elf knows all to well, doesn't do a whole lot for productivity.

According to an Xinhua news agency, the number of online gamers in China rose 23 percent to 40.17 million last year. Regular subscribers, which accounted for over for over half the players, rose a rather staggering 30 percent.

Um, we blame their parents?

From Reuters

Related Links:

Tags: Censorship, China, Crackdowns, online gaming, OnlineGaming

Comments

penmanJan 17th 2008 8:29PM

Neutral

"all too well" is the proper spelling of the phrase that you tried to use. It's sad the Reuters could publish such a blunder with the advent of spellcheck. I blame your teachers.

Dislike

Report

Snidely PeppercornJan 17th 2008 10:20PM

Neutral

This is absolutely horrible. However, if you're playing Eve-Online, then join the Screen Berets! 14-Day trial free trial -- www.eve-online.com See us in game.

Dislike

Report

ambaadeJan 17th 2008 10:50PM

Neutral

Hey- if these people want to spend all of their free time and brain power playing online games, at least it may keep them from reproducing.

Dislike

Report

SusanJan 18th 2008 3:12AM

Neutral

You have got to be kidding me..China needs to work on cracking down on the priacy industry..like all the fake designer wear and pirated movies, CDs.DVDs..how about that little issue with freedom of speech and democracy..might want to start there and leave the gamers alone...you fascists.

Dislike

Report

ExFactorJan 18th 2008 8:00AM

Neutral

Hey, the way the world is going right now, they don't need to reproduce. In 20-50 years much of the earth will be in the grips of extreme weather and global warming, oil prices will skyrocket due to the decline of supply and increase in demand, religious ferverism will increase between all 3 of the monotheistic nutcase religions, and increasing violence and wars will break out over the scraps of what's left and ideological differences. Boy, all that stock purchasing and money making and productivity for nothing. Better enjoy yourself while you can. Reproducing's off that list, unless of course it's a byproduct of that other nice little instant gratification...

=================================================
ambaade says:
Hey- if these people want to spend all of their free time and brain power playing online games, at least it may keep them from reproducing.

01/17/08 10:50 PM

Dislike

Report

Add your comments

Your comments:

Remember me

E-Mail me when someone replies to this comment

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.