LibriumArcana.Games

BBC

Gamers in China are facing new limits on how much time they can spend playing their favourite online game.

The government in Beijing is reported to be introducing the controls to deter people from playing for longer than three consecutive hours.

The measures are designed to combat addiction to online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft and Lineage II.

More than 20 million Chinese play games regularly, mainly in net cafes.

Extreme devotion

Games are serious business in China. Last year, Chinese players spent almost US$500m on online games.

The government has been encouraging the growth of online gaming. It is hosting a two-day games conference in September in Beijing in the hope of attracting more foreign investment.

But the phenomenal popularity of online games has fuelled concerns that some people may be losing themselves in the virtual worlds of massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG).

In one extreme case, a player killed a fellow player who had stolen his virtual sword. The gamer received a suspended death sentence in June.

The measures announced by the Chinese authorities are due to be introduced from October.

Central control

The new system will impose penalties on players who spend more than three hours playing a game by reducing the abilities of their characters.

Gamers who spend more than five hours will have the abilities of their in-game character severely limited.

Internet users in China (courtesy New Synergy Consulting)
More than 20 million people play online games in China
Players will be forced to take a five-hour break before they can return to a game.

"The timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," said Xiaowei Kou, of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), the body which regulates online gaming.

All the biggest online game operators in China have said they will adopt the new system.

According to the Interfax-China news agency, the gaming firms said they were prepared to sacrifice short-term revenues to create a healthy environment for online gamers.

The operators face little choice as they need government approval to offer online gaming.

Among the games affected in initial trials of the system is the MMORPG game, World of Warcraft, which has 1.5 million players in China alone.

Other games include The Legend of Mir II, The Legend of Mir 3G, Lineage II, Westward Journey Online, Fantasy Westward Journey Online, MU, JX Online, First Myth Online, The World of Legend and Blade Online.

As a certified computer addicit/junkie I can see two sides to this one. Pretty much with equal merit for both in fact.

I can easily understand the need to curb the gaming, though it's something that parents should monitor in their children. As for the adults playing it, hey they're of the age of majority, as long as they work, pay their bills and don't bother other people why not let them play when they want, as much as they want. They're paying for it with their own money.

But in all seriousness it is an addiction. I myself can quite easily testify to this. I'll watch a movie on my computer before I watch it on my tv. And that's on my laptop mind you with a 15" monitor as opposed to my 30" flatscreen tv. Maybe I'm just weird. I use to be even worse then I am now and I find myself getting drawn back into it as bad as I was before I joined the military. It's something that I'm going to have to deal with in short order.

But yes, to actually make the point here...

They're addicting, they cause rampent loss of social skills and promote a lack of real interaction with other people. They lead to people removing themselves from society, existing solely to play the game, go to work to earn money to play the game and playing the game. This isn't healthy. They're withdrawn, sociophobic and one could argue, somewhat mentally unbalanced. They would almost need to be to let that type of addiction rule their life. Addictive personality is what I think psychologists call it right? Easily addicted to things/people and unable to resist?

But, on the other hand the people aren't, with a few cases aside, bothering anyone. They're not, for the most part, causing any disruptions to the lives of those around them. They're not out robbing a store, blowing up a building, killing in cold blood(with noted exceptions mentioned) or raping school girls. They're just dealing with thier lives by systematically removing themselves from it to greater degrees. But as long as they continue to function as a productive member of society, going to work, earning money, paying taxes, buying goods and obeying the laws, they should be allowed to do as they desire. They bought their computers, they bought the game, they're paying for the service and earning the money to pay for it. I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to play the game as they choose.

But then again, this is China and not the US. All talk of fairness, equality, etc is moot as China is a different form of government and completely different mindset then the US. So in this case I suppose it is up to the government to decide what is best.

But hey, if they're getting that bad stage an intervention right? Get them some help or simply go up to them and pull the damned plug. Maybe they want/ need the help but don't know how to stop themselves or to get it. *shrugs*

I suppose one way of putting it is: 'Life online is easy, enjoyable and fun. Life outside of online is...harsh, cruel and stressful."

Walper, that fixs to most mind altering substances, not only games.

So you can only vist a bar for 3 hours?
No using any mind altering drugs for more then 3 hours?

Its a stupid argument aimed specificly at curbing a new industry that operates independently of any supervision in China, namely the MMO farmers.

Ace Pace wrote:Walper, that fixs to most mind altering substances, not only games.

No arguement here.

So you can only vist a bar for 3 hours?

I never said that.

No using any mind altering drugs for more then 3 hours?

I'm personally against any substance use of any kind to be honest. My only exception is alcohol, but within reason.

Its a stupid argument aimed specificly at curbing a new industry that operates independently of any supervision in China, namely the MMO farmers.

I never said I agreed with the arguement. I merely pointed out one reason why it's so addictive.

I know you don't, I should have made that clear, but I'm raising possible arguments that lead from this to show how ridicolous this is.

I mean... slippery slope fallacy warning..next you can only vist a brothel for 3 hours a month!

This entire argument leads to a slippery slope, and can apply to anything, their not only doing this to curb the MMO industry but to set up for future attacks on other industries.