gamepolitics: China Clamps Down on Youthful Online Gamers

Game Politics (

gamepolitics) wrote,
@ 2005-08-04 09:10:00

China Clamps Down on Youthful Online Gamers

Interfax is reporting that the People's Republic of China has issued new regulations prohibiting those under 18 from playing online games in which players can kill other players. Such games currently dominate the huge Chinese market for online games.

China's Ministry of Culture (MOC) and Ministry of Information Industry (MII) have also directed online game operators to create "identity authentication systems" to prevent minors from playing violent online games. Such authentication systems would force gamers to first enter their Citizen ID Card numbers before being allowed to play games that permit player versus player combat. No timetable has been given for implementation of the identity card system.

Liu Shifa, head of the MOC's Internet Culture Division, told Interfax, "Minors should not be allowed to play online games that have PK (player killing) content, that allow players to increase the power of their own online game characters by killing other players. Online games that have PK content usually also contain acts of violence and leads to players spending too much time trying to increase the power of their characters. They are harmful to young people."

The Chinese online gaming market generated US $304 million revenue last year. That figure is expected to jump to US $1.34 billion in 2005. Online gaming in China is dominated by massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), many of which offer the option to PK. The three most popular MMORPG's in China are World of Warcraft, The Legend of MIR, and Fantasy Journey to the West, all of which permit PK's.

Interfax reports that nearly 16% of China's 103 million Internet users are under the age of 18. Not surprisingly, game companies are reluctant. More than 20 million Chinese play online games, about half of which favor MMORPG's.

"We don't want to put the authentication system in our games," a game company executive said. "PK game content is an important and attractive part of almost all MMORPGs. This new regulation will have a major impact on China's online gaming market...It will be very difficult for the government to enforce this new regulation...I think they will only be able to enforce this policy at internet cafes, where authentication systems would be linked to police databases. But I think it will be very difficult to enforce this system for people playing online games from home."

But wait, there's more.

Chinese authorities have also mandated online game companies to set up a timing mechanism that would boot players out of their games after a certain time limit. Gamers in China average about 11 hours per week playing online games.

"A lot of operators are not willing to install these timing mechanisms," the executive told Interfax. "Some have already installed them, such as Shanda (Legend of Mir), but we are not going to install it. Even if it is compulsory, many companies will not install it because it is contrary to their interests."

The Chinese government has significantly increased its surveillance of online games since 2004 as part of its effort to create a "healthy" environment for children. As part of that same campaign, regulators have also cracked down on pornographic, violent, gambling, and superstitious content disseminated over the internet and mobile phone networks.

Wow.

(Post a new comment)

(Anonymous)
2005-08-04 03:02 pm UTC (link)

I think it is a very good idea to introduce a system which stops youngsters from having access to violent adult games. People are always complaining about parents not doing enough to stop their children playing these adult games and I think identity authentication systems are a good solution.

Apparently the new Xbox 360 will also come equipped with an age restriction feature that will lock both games and DVD movies with a rating above the age assigned to the profile. Good on you Microsoft.

For the full story check out this link:
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20050721p2a00m0na009000c.html

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	gamepolitics 2005-08-04 08:59 pm UTC (link)
	Well, I think it's scary. The PvP in World of Warcraft, for example, would be restricted. But that stuff isn't particularly graphic, and totally bloodless. I have no problem with my adolescent kids playing it. Even beyond the PK age restrictions, however, the bit about the Internet cafes being monitored by the police and the timer on game usage is very troubling. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(Anonymous)
2005-08-05 01:18 pm UTC (link)

I wrote the first post and after reading your reply Dennis, I have to agree with you. I do believe that it is a good idea for restrictions on games that are inappropriate for youngsters however you are correct that not all PvP games are unsuitable.

And I also agree that the bit about monitoring and timer usage is kinda scary. Thank god I live in UK, where we have a good rating system and people don't treat games like the work of the devil.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	gamepolitics 2005-08-05 11:30 pm UTC (link)
	I hear you. The UK seems to have a very sensible approach... (Reply to this)(Parent)

	(Anonymous) 2005-08-04 03:20 pm UTC (link)
	It's important to let the parents do their job. Windows Vista is also going to have a parental-lock feature, akin to the Xbox 360's. The state has no place in deciding what is and what is not moral or "right". Good choice of article picture. (Reply to this)

	Shocking sigtrent 2005-08-04 03:45 pm UTC (link)
	Almost as shocking as keeping teenagers from seeing simulated sex acts after they sepcificaly request to do so. Next thing you know they will be drawing naughty parts on their PeeChee folders. The horror. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	Important Question quartermaine 2005-08-04 05:29 pm UTC (link)
	I've been wondering for a long time: if we don't believe games can make someone insane/violent, then why do we support the ESRB ratings system? Isn't putting M or AO ratings on games an admission of sorts by the industry that these games may be harmful? Sorry for playing the devil's advocate, but I never understood 100%. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Important Question
(Anonymous)
2005-08-04 05:36 pm UTC (link)

"then why do we support the ESRB ratings system? Isn't putting M or AO ratings on games an admission of sorts by the industry that these games may be harmful? Sorry for playing the devil's advocate, but I never understood 100%."

It has nothing to do with being harmful for kids, it has to do with the appropriateness of the games for kids. The rating system is meant as a guide to parents about what games may be inappropriate for their children under a certain age.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	Re: Important Question (Anonymous) 2005-08-04 05:38 pm UTC (link)
	Video games are not harmful but some games are inappropriate for youngsters. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Important Question

sigtrent
2005-08-04 06:17 pm UTC (link)

The problem is this. Who is deciding what is appropriate for youngsters.

If I had a child, I'd make sure they had some acces to sexual material around the age of puberty. Stories that invlove sex, pictures of naked people, fantasies etc... In fact I think there should be such material especialy made for teens and such. Kids need to learn what sex is, what its consiquences are, and how to cope with it.

A boy shouldn't have to wonder what a bare nipple looks like, and a girl shouldn't be suprised when she sees a penis. They are pretty standard equipment on the human body. Sex is an integral part of life.

Same goes for violence. Its a real thing and kids are notoriously violent until they are tought better. People need to know how to deal wtih their anger and the consiquences of hurting others. Fairly young children, especialy boys are farily capeable of understanding that going "postal" is bad in real life, but kind of cathartic in a game.

Many folks disagree with me. Still, I'm ok with most rating systems so long as they don't preclude material from being available at all. Parents can always give their kids a beer or a playboy if they think its a good idea. There are certainly things I think no kid should have to see and having some rules about what you put out in the open is fine to prevent that.

I think adults who want to be shielded from ideas are fools.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Important Question

baldynomad
2005-08-04 07:22 pm UTC (link)

I'm your age, and I have a child, another on the way. I agree with you! Sex is treated worse then violence, and it shouldn't. Kids that don't learn what sex is have difficulty coping with it, & learn it the wrong way. Talking about sex, letting kids know what guns are and how they hurt others, as well having the drug talk, is something that every parent should do, but they don't. That's sad.

But, um... the beer and playboy thing? Your not serious, are you sig? Perhaps you should have an age to go by...

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: Beer and Playboy

sigtrent
2005-08-04 08:10 pm UTC (link)

I'm fairly serious, but it does depend on age and sex. I wouldn't hand a girl a playboy, I'd give her a soft core romance novel as that is pretty much the equivilent.

I don't think you can teach kids about sex using nothing but clinical diagrams and lessions about biology. Passion, desire, and seduction are part of the package. I havn't read a playboy in some time but as I recall it was mostly just naked pictures and articles about cars and acting masculin. To be honest I'd me much more woried about the articles and adds than the pictures of naked women. Age wise it kind of depends, but when I was young I remember having my first "sexual feelings" as young as 5, although I didn't realy know what they are. I've seen the same thing in my baby sister (20 years younger than me). By age 10 I had a pretty active interest in sex, and by age 15 I had sex (more or less). If had to steal my parents and neighbors magazines to get a look at what my hormones were telling me was something I'd find very interesting. So If I had a boy, I think I'd start with the clinical stuff early on, and give them acces to controled images around the age of 12.

I'd also do it in a way that wan't monumentaly embarasing. I'd ask my wife to hand out the romance novels, and I'd hand out the playboy to my lad on the sly. And then we could talk about it guy to guy and if he wants some advice some day on something important he can talk about it. Basicaly I think you don't want to deny what is natural, just channel it. I do think its the role of parents only to do this. I don't want any strangers giving my kids dirty magazines, lord knows what their intentions are, but if you don't do it first someone else might see an opportunity. Basicaly paretns are abdicating thier abbility to be the person to teach their kids about sex, drugs, violence and all the other stuff adults have to cope with.

Each kid is different though. My ideas are mostly based on my own experience as a kid. I was horny and curious and mostly just wanted to understand what it was all about. I did some things I was kind of ashamed of to discover what was going on. After my curiosity was satisfied I chilled out and my "sex life" was pretty normal.

Beer... well I don't drink, but our society is full of the stuff and kids should know what it is. If you give them a taste early on they are likely to spit it out and not want any again for a long time. Again curiosity will get them drinking sooner or later, so just take that factor away early and let them make a decision based on preference and your advice. Probably the main reason I don't drink is my parents hardly ever did. (they did some other stuff but fortunately I never picked up on it until I was older and had my own opinions).

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: Important Question

sigtrent
2005-08-04 06:07 pm UTC (link)

I've thought a lot about that myself.

I actualy do think there is a place for some censorship and control of social behaviro in public places. I just happen to disagree with much of american culture about what exactly it should be and how it should be done.

I think the number one reason why people want ratings and censorship is because they hate being embarased. People sometimes kill themselves when they are embarased badly enough. Social acceptance is a vital part of human nature. Sex is something lots of people are fearful or insecure about, especialy in public and thus it embarases them, and exposes their fear and insecurity, thus making them feel unaccepted. So, the best way to control that is to make sure no one sees anything sexy.

The more practical reason is to protect children from information that could lead them to destructive behavior. Is sex destructive? Not realy but it has some serious consiquences that can be. Children born into insecure families have a hard time in life and don't contribute much to the welfare of the community. So it benefits society to have families that are well established financialy and emotionaly. Kids having sex tends to be counterproductive to that goal. And of course there is the danger that kids who are sexualized will seek out adults that will take advantage of them, and no parent wants that for thier children. (of course many are concerned with adults seeking childrent, but I honestly think that's not usualy caused by advertising or media). But realy, kids naturaly have a sex drive of sorts, and I think the challenge is to teach them how to cope with that, not to try and deny it compleately.

Violence is less an issue in america because we are not embarased by it, and it rarely reaches the point where people actualy do the things we depict in games. It happens, but not nearly as often as teenage pregnancy or the like. Because we have a good understanding of violecne were more likely to understand the social restrictions on it. Sex is not realy bad in and of itself so we have a harder time getting people not to do it.

So ratings are mostly a mechanism to prevent children from learning about sex and violence by restricting their access to it.

I think both Sex and Violence are pretty much natural parts of human nature and that the challenge is not to remain inocent, but to understand them and behave appropriately.

I realy think that there is nothing about an exposed nipple that is in any way dangerous to childrens minds or society at large. Sex is so fundamental to life that to hide it at every opportunity is rediculous. If anything I think we all need to discuss it more and to prepare our children for the day when they must deal with their desires and make good decisions.

I'd rate games based on whether the game invites the player to engage in activities that hurt others or themselves. Thus a street racing game would have the same rating as a game where you have sex with strangers.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

Note about editor's note...
(Anonymous)
2005-08-05 12:18 am UTC (link)

EDITOR'S NOTE: We're not clear on how WoW works in China, but here, PK is only permissible in designated PvP (player vs. player) servers. Other servers, designated PvE (player vs. environment) don't permit PK.

This isn't going to help the argument much, but there are three types of WoW servers: (1) PVP, (2) PvE, and (3) RP (Role playing). While PK'ing is allowed at pretty much any time on PVP servers, anyone on a PvE or RP server can "flag" themselves as PVP (by typing "/pvp "), which allows them to PK (and be PK'd by) other "flagged" characters. Also, you can always PK NPCs (non-player characters, or those that are controlled by AI programming of the server, and have no human interaction) of the opposing faction. (Note that if you attempt to attack any character of your own faction, the game gives a small text message to the effect of "You can not attack that character.")

One other note about PVP in Wow: there are two "factions" in the game, Horde and Alliance, which is essentially dictated by the race of each character that you create. On the PvE and RP servers (and I assume on the PVP servers as well, but I'm not positive), you can only PK characters of the opposite faction.

Given that it would take extensive modification on Blizzard's behalf to implement PK and PVP-flagging restrictions based on age and territory, this doesn't bode well for the future of WoW in China.

Palliclese
L60 Paladin
Shadowsong

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: Note about editor's note... gamepolitics 2005-08-05 11:32 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks for clearing that up. I must confess, I've spent all of my time on a PvP server... PaulyWalnuts L54 Mage Magtheridon (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Note about editor's note... (Anonymous) 2005-08-06 04:51 pm UTC (link)
	Oh lol, now I gotta call in Dennis as a threat to humanity! 9_9 (Reply to this)(Parent)

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