Some outraged over Chinese gaming limits

Worried that too many of its citizens are addicted to online fantasy games, China on Tuesday unveiled new government controls meant to limit play to three consecutive hours or less.

Many bloggers oppose the new system--scheduled for an October launch-- which cuts the ability of a player's character in half after three hours. After more than five hours of consecutive play, the ability level is cut to the lowest level allowed by the game.

The system also keeps track of hours of play--players must be logged off for at least five hours before returning. Companies have already vowed to participate in a beta of the new system.

A Gamespot story points out that the new system comes after several tragic incidents that demonstrate extreme devotion to role-playing games such as "World of Warcraft" and "Lineage II": A couple's infant died as they played games in an Internet cafe, and a man died after a 50-hour gaming marathon.

Blog community response:

"Human rights? We'll pass. Polution laws? Maybe next year. Internet-gaming-related death? We'll get on that right away."
--"tktk" on Slashdot

"I can see the anger now--someone has spent the last year building up their character, and they are in the middle of fighting some big baddie in hopes of the promised big score. They are pounding away and the clock ticks??3 hours. Without a second to lose the baddie smacks em dead. Heh, sucks to be you."
--RepTIDE

"The move can be highly damaging for one of the more profitable internet industries in China, where gaming tops any other online activity. The move is rather similar to an action of the government last year where the profitable online content market--mainly SMS-based--was reshuffled by the government to the advantage of the larger telecom providers and put a dent in the revenue of content providers and portals. Drastic government measure can change overnight a profitable market into a non-profitable one."
--China Herald

"Now isn't that just ridiculous!? This calls for public outrage! Utterly ridiculous!...As you can see, if the publishers dont comply, then they won't be allowed to run their game because it's the government allowing them to do so...In a way, it's blackmail."
--Adrielch