China Cracks Down On Online Gaming
You could go through the Oxford English Dictionary, pick a noun, and China’s likely cracked down on it. (Except counterfeit goods). Online games that are “unhealthy” (says the state) are the latest target, and 45 have been shut down.
State authorities said the games “encouraged players to engage in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution,” according to the Beijing News. The offending games were run from abroad and had not received permission to operate in China. Wait, so, CrimeCraft’s available in Chengdu? Wat?
Here’s my favourite detail. According to Agence France-Presse, “more than 200 online games had been investigated as part of the campaign, launched to coincide with communist China’s 60th birthday on Oct. 1.” Kotaku agrees that that is how you f—-in party down: Just start bannin’ the hell out of everything.
That gives me an idea. Oh, and, because I just got off the phone with someone from the U.K. I would like to say the following: “Chiner.” That is all.
China Launches Crackdown on Online Gaming [AFP on Yahoo! Tech, via Game Politics]
- Next Post: It’s Bad When The New Yorker Trolls You Over A Game »
- « Previous Post: Facebook, Twitter Launch Nov. 17 On UK Xbox Live
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
They “encouraged players to engage in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution”?
It’d certainly be interesting to see that list.
I wouldn’t be particularly surprised if every single title on it is produced, owned and operated outside of China’s borders. The Chinese government has openly voiced their dislike of foreign MMOs in the past, citing damage to the local economy and exposure of Chinese youth to western culture as the main reasons, if I remember correctly.