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EspañolVIDEO GAMES IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
'Video games in the People's Republic of China' is a massive industry and pastime in the People's Republic of China (PRC) that includes the production, sale, import/export, and playing of video games. The landscape of the topic is strongly shaped by China's average income level, rampant software piracy, and governmental measures to control game content and playing times.
Though part of the PRC, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau have unique legal and cultural environments, and the information found below may not apply there.
China has a number of domestically produced games. These include the Genesis of the Century trilogy (''The World of Legend'', ''The Age'', and ''Magical Land''), ''Westward Journey'', ''Perfect World'', ''Learn from Lei Feng Online'', and ''The Incorruptible Warrior''.
Although China's growing economy has boosted the economic prospects of most Chinese in the last couple of decades, the cost of a personal computer, video game console, or Internet connection remains prohibitive for many Chinese. Because of this, Internet cafes and Internet cafe gaming have become quite popular in the country. Rather than purchasing their own hardware and software, users are simply charged a small fee (often by the hour) to use an Internet cafe computer which often comes preloaded with a selection of games.
:''See also: Intellectual property violation in the People's Republic of China''
Because of the high amount of software piracy in China, many foreign game companies have been reluctant to enter the country's market with single player or console games. Instead, they have focused on selling online titles such as massively multiplayer online role-playing games as income from these titles comes largely from subscription fees rather than the purchase price of the title itself.
As of December 2005, there were an estimated 100,000 Chinese employed as "farmers", video game players who work to acquire virtual currency or items in online games so they can be sold to other players for real currency.[1]
In recent years, the Chinese government has shown increasing concern over what it perceives as problems with the addictions to and negative influences from video games.
The Beijing Reformatory for Juvenile Delinquents claimed in 2007 that a third of its detainees were influenced by violent online games or erotic websites when committing crimes such as robbery and rape.[2] In a high-profile case from October of 2004, 41-year-old Qiu Chengwei was sentenced to death for murdering 26-year-old Zhu Caoyuan over a dispute regarding the sale of a virtual weapon the two had jointly won in the game ''Legend of Mir 3''.[3]
''. This and other controversial depictions of China in the game may have contributed to the series' ban in the PRC.]]
As with almost all mass media in the country, video games in China are subject to the policies of censorship in the People's Republic of China.
In 2004, the Ministry of Culture set up a committee to screen imported online video games before they entered the Chinese market. It was stated that games with any of the following violations would be banned from importation:[4]
★ Violating basic principles of the Constitution
★ Threatening national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity
★ Divulging state secrets
★ Threatening state security
★ Damaging the nation's glory
★ Disturbing social order
★ Infringing on others' legitimate rights
The State General Administration of Press and Publication and anti-porn and illegal publication offices have also played a role in screening games.[5]
Examples of banned games have included:
★ ''Hearts of Iron'' (for "distorting history and damaging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity")[6]
★ '' (for "intentionally blackening China and the Chinese army's image")[7]
★ '' (for "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army")[6]
1. Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese Barboza, David
2. China launches campaign to crack down on Web porn
3. Death sentence for online gamer Cao Li
4. Censorship on imported online games strengthened
5. 50 illegal electronic games banned
6. Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty
7. Computer game cracked down on for discrediting China's image
8. Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty
Though part of the PRC, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau have unique legal and cultural environments, and the information found below may not apply there.
| Contents |
| Domestically-produced games |
| Internet cafes |
| Piracy |
| Farming |
| Government controls |
| Limits on playing time |
| Censorship |
| References |
Domestically-produced games
China has a number of domestically produced games. These include the Genesis of the Century trilogy (''The World of Legend'', ''The Age'', and ''Magical Land''), ''Westward Journey'', ''Perfect World'', ''Learn from Lei Feng Online'', and ''The Incorruptible Warrior''.
Internet cafes
Although China's growing economy has boosted the economic prospects of most Chinese in the last couple of decades, the cost of a personal computer, video game console, or Internet connection remains prohibitive for many Chinese. Because of this, Internet cafes and Internet cafe gaming have become quite popular in the country. Rather than purchasing their own hardware and software, users are simply charged a small fee (often by the hour) to use an Internet cafe computer which often comes preloaded with a selection of games.
Piracy
''Final Fantasy V'', Japan, 1992
''Perfect World'', China, 2005
:''See also: Intellectual property violation in the People's Republic of China''
Because of the high amount of software piracy in China, many foreign game companies have been reluctant to enter the country's market with single player or console games. Instead, they have focused on selling online titles such as massively multiplayer online role-playing games as income from these titles comes largely from subscription fees rather than the purchase price of the title itself.
Farming
As of December 2005, there were an estimated 100,000 Chinese employed as "farmers", video game players who work to acquire virtual currency or items in online games so they can be sold to other players for real currency.[1]
Government controls
Limits on playing time
In recent years, the Chinese government has shown increasing concern over what it perceives as problems with the addictions to and negative influences from video games.
The Beijing Reformatory for Juvenile Delinquents claimed in 2007 that a third of its detainees were influenced by violent online games or erotic websites when committing crimes such as robbery and rape.[2] In a high-profile case from October of 2004, 41-year-old Qiu Chengwei was sentenced to death for murdering 26-year-old Zhu Caoyuan over a dispute regarding the sale of a virtual weapon the two had jointly won in the game ''Legend of Mir 3''.[3]
Censorship
''. This and other controversial depictions of China in the game may have contributed to the series' ban in the PRC.]]
As with almost all mass media in the country, video games in China are subject to the policies of censorship in the People's Republic of China.
In 2004, the Ministry of Culture set up a committee to screen imported online video games before they entered the Chinese market. It was stated that games with any of the following violations would be banned from importation:[4]
★ Violating basic principles of the Constitution
★ Threatening national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity
★ Divulging state secrets
★ Threatening state security
★ Damaging the nation's glory
★ Disturbing social order
★ Infringing on others' legitimate rights
The State General Administration of Press and Publication and anti-porn and illegal publication offices have also played a role in screening games.[5]
Examples of banned games have included:
★ ''Hearts of Iron'' (for "distorting history and damaging China's sovereignty and territorial integrity")[6]
★ '' (for "intentionally blackening China and the Chinese army's image")[7]
★ '' (for "smearing the image of China and the Chinese army")[6]
References
1. Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese Barboza, David
2. China launches campaign to crack down on Web porn
3. Death sentence for online gamer Cao Li
4. Censorship on imported online games strengthened
5. 50 illegal electronic games banned
6. Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty
7. Computer game cracked down on for discrediting China's image
8. Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty
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psst.. try this: add to faves
