China bans some online games
p2pnet.net News:- China’s Ministry of Culture has imposed a censorship program against online games with, “content threatening state security”.
In March, China launched an attack on an online shoot-em-up featuring an ex-SAS mercenary saying it, “smears China’s national image,”
Now, games, “damaging the nation’s glory, disturbing social order and infringing on other’s legitimate rights” will be prohibited, says the state news agency Xinhua’s China View here, going on:
“A source from the Ministry of Culture said only those online games with exclusive import authorization from the ministry could be imported and businessmen could not revise game contents without authorization.
“The source said all foreign online games must accept content examination by the ministry before they enter into the Chinese market. Those already-imported online games must make up relevant examinations before Sept. 1, or the game operators will be punished according to law.”
Tuo Zuhai, an official with the Ministry of Culture, is quotes as saying there are more than 140 online games currently being sold in China and that three problems have emerged.
“First, the game contents are always related to sex, violence, gambling and superstition.
“Second,more than 80 percent of online games being used in China are foreign ones without examination and authorization from the Chinese government.
“Third, some games adversely affected youngsters’ psychological health.”
Tthe problems, “have drawn great attention from the central government and to strengthen screening on the online game content is an important method to solve the afore-mentioned problems,” Tuo said, adding that from now on, the Ministry of Culture will import only “foreign online games whose contents accord with Chinese national conditions and bring positive effects to young people’s mentality”.
[Tuo Zuhai has a point with the first contention - Ed]
June 1st, 2004 at 7:45 pm
No freedom of press in China? What a surprise.
Ryan – Albuquerque, NM
June 1st, 2004 at 8:32 pm
Why not hold a national competition for excellence in China, for online games?
How about running a government hosted online collaboration service for design, implementation and testing for this purpose? Perhaps a common set of freely downloadable development toolkits / online design tools could be provided. This way the Ministry of Culture could provide a continuous evaluation and direction to the submission process and recommend content, instead of rejecting completed products. I suggest this could promote the development and hence availability of new online games that celebrate the rich heritage and culture of China.
June 2nd, 2004 at 12:00 am
So did Microsoft with their Flight Simulator in USA after Sept. 11. I’m sure that games that will let player be terrorist fighting USA or humilitate USA, will be banned too.
June 2nd, 2004 at 4:40 am
Idiot, there is a difference between a company banning something for fear of bad PR than a government banning something… we call it capitalism vs. tyranny… the sad thing is, you are probably an American (if so, a direct example of constitutional entropy/if not, well… all I can say is too bad.) If I misread your comment–my bad.
June 2nd, 2004 at 5:43 am
Idiot, there is a difference between a company banning something for fear of bad PR than a government banning something… we call it capitalism vs. tyranny… the sad thing is, you are probably an American (if so, a direct example of constitutional entropy/if not, well… all I can say is too bad.) If I misread your comment–my bad.
No, in capitalism its up to the company, in communism (not tyranny, you idiot, go learn geography instead farms and ranches) its up to the government to ensure that there is no disrespectful content in the media/games to the country. You, seem to be disturbingly brainwashed to believe not being an American is “too bad”.
June 2nd, 2004 at 9:41 am
Communism, tyranny – aside from a bit of ideology what’s the difference in practice?
June 2nd, 2004 at 10:22 am
>No, in capitalism its up to the company, in communism (not tyranny, >you idiot, go learn geography instead farms and ranches) its up to the >government to ensure that there is no disrespectful content in the >media/games to the country. You, seem to be disturbingly brainwashed >to believe not being an American is “too bad”.
I am truly sorry, but the concept of something being “disrespectful to a government” is fascist when combined with the (still) violent nature of the “revolution”. Totalitarianism has always been part of any communist regime. Go read the novel “1984″ by George Orwell and something about the Prague spring 1968.
June 2nd, 2004 at 11:14 am
Well you know, that is kinda what I was saying: in the example capitalism (i.e. company banning for fear of bad PR) vs. tyranny (i.e. CHINA, or for the sake of the conversation, any government banning something because of disrespectful content, etc.) And my fellow earthling, if you think for ONE second CHINA is not a tyranny you must have high lead content wherever you live. As for “you idiot, go learn geography instead farms and ranches” really got no idea what your trying to say here, but I am sure it is supposed to be an insult towards me… ouch! For the not American, too bad… well yes, I can honestly say I am brainwashed! I am without a doubt a RED WHITE AND BLUE Yankee all the way, you’ll get about as much apology out of me for that as you would China for Tiananmen Square. Peace and Love… but just remember China (or any communist (tyranny) countries cannot and have not survived without capitalism… something that just runs in American blood. ALSO!!! Remember — ALL HAIL MICROSOFT!
June 2nd, 2004 at 5:17 pm
Under communism there is group of people, called Communist Party that controls every aspect of life, including economy. They are people too so they fuck it up all the time and may grow corrupt … etc … but they actually try to keep all these children in school and ordinary Joes feed and happy. As you probably could see from the example of Russia is that when they screw it up too largely they may step aside in quite peaceful manner.
Under tyranny there is one person, who does care only about his own power to control things and personal popularity.
In practice you can see it that there was Communist Russia and there is Communist China. These economy models must be quite competive otherwise why USA president did go hugging and kissing these people in TV. Now as for example of tyranny there is poor Saddam … you can see that USA president has no respect for him whatsoever.
June 2nd, 2004 at 6:28 pm
That would require their government to actually do something constructive
June 2nd, 2004 at 10:41 pm
Tyranny: [politics] oppressive government by one or more people who exercise absolute power cruelly and unjustly. Whether controlled by one person or a group of people it does not matter. The key word is OPPRESSIVE! To ban a game because it “smears” the government is OPPRESSIVE! That is O-P-P-R-E-S-S-I-V-E. China has a consistent history of oppressing and then justifying its oppressive nature as “protecting its citizens,” where in fact they are only concerned that they (the Chinese government) will loose the death grip it has on its people. Communism is incompatible with human nature. Humans have never lived in harmony under a “hive concept,” humans are and have always been definable through and prospered by individuality—as shown even in a small example by the ingenuity and creativity of these “oh so horrible” games. Hopefully China’s move towards TRUE freedom will come in our generation, and hopefully it will be peaceful—they have made some steps (mostly out of survival); but even this situation (banning the games) shows they have A LOOOONG WAY to go.
June 2nd, 2004 at 11:17 pm
Without Chinese, and other third world labor, USA would not exist, ever since the end of slavery!
June 3rd, 2004 at 12:49 am
Having lived there for the early part of my life (thankfully I’m somewhere else now), all I can say is commies can go suck my ying yang. Effing wankers.
June 3rd, 2004 at 1:01 am
Amen brotha… or sista!
And, for the original comment about USA not being able to exist without the third world labor…. well I think we would do just fine. I think that the only people who would not exist without Chinese forced labor (or related third world workforces) are the bloated oppressive Chinese governments (and others like it) and the poor miserable workforces.
June 3rd, 2004 at 1:02 am
“wankers” wouldn’t be in England now would ya?
June 3rd, 2004 at 10:12 am
How hard is it to know the difference?
Communism, Fascism, Republic, Democracy and Monarchy etc are types of governments.
Capitalism is something completely different, see it as an add-on if you have a problem to see the difference. You can have a Capitalist type of country and ruling it with Communism, not the hardcore Communism. But at the other side you can’t have a hardcore Capitalism and trying to rule it with Democracy, hardcore Capitalism can’t live in a democratic environment.
Then we have a third thing… Market economy! What isn’t that Capitalism? Nope sorry, it isn’t, market economy is included into Capitalism, but Capitalism is bigger then that.
Market economy is one of the major things that differ between old USSR and the west European countries. USSR had a planed economy, hence they planned what they needed and produced according to their plans. Market economy is when you let the market rule itself, well you need some control over it but we will not go into that, and hold your thumbs that it will deliver what you need.
So when you guys write Capitalism vs Communism you are completely wrong. My advice is that you should go to your school and make them change the school book. I don’t mean to put you down or mocker your school or anything like that, it’s just that the information is wrong and it needs to be corrected!
So here is a short “vs” list.
Communism vs Republic
Market economy vs planed economy
USA vs China
And here is a “do not” “vs” list
USA vs Democracy
Democracy vs market economy
Communism vs planed economy.
Market economy vs Capitalism
I hope you guys see the irony in my list of governments
There is more to the story, but I can’t make it shorter… signing off.
June 3rd, 2004 at 11:14 am
I see your point, but I think we were citing a very specific example, that is, a company banning something and a government banning something. We, or at least I, was not trying to compare governments. And yes you are right, USA is not a democracy. We could not function as one. We are a democratic republic. And though we have many market economy features we are by no means a true market economy. Government plays a hefty role in our market, far more than is generally thought of. With the “vs” list; the original point, again, was in a capitalistic society the company bans items in order to prevent bad PR vs. a tyranny, a government banning something because it smears its name. I do not think I was trying to preach a economics lesson—just mud throwing at China.
June 3rd, 2004 at 12:18 pm
My bad, with the “do not” list, and the whole post, was that some things can’t be compared to each other, USA vs Democracy can’t be compared because USA is a country and Democracy is a government style…. But you could compare the government in USA with a Democracy.
True, it’s a major difference between banning/censoring and modify your own products so you won’t receive bad will from them. But China isn’t the only nation that practices it, every nation is doing it. LOL, the difference is that the west is doing it because they believe that our people can’t think for them self and China is doing it so their people don’t start to think
But in the end the result is the same, a state that think that they know what’s best for us.
Is it really the thought that counts? Or is it the action?
I think it was a priest that once said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” or something like that.. I like the sound of it.
My last cent….USA has a democratic government from my point of view.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I grow up in a comunist country. Some idiots never learn.