Ben-DutkaChina just recently lifted its 14-year ban on foreign-made video game consoles, but regulations may come down the pike.
The country is already talking about regulating certain games and game content before it goes on sale, as reported by Bloomberg . Cai Wu, head of China's Ministry of Culture, said the rules are being written as quickly as possible, but perhaps unsurprisingly, there's no specific timeline for completion.
We do know that the country won't be allowing any content that is not "in conformity with the outlook of China's government."
"We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air, but we still need a screen to block the flies and mosquitoes."
Already on the chopping block is EA's Battlefield 4 , which released a China Rising DLC pack that didn't go over well . It was called a threat to national security last month. Who knows what else China might end up blocking as time goes on, but at least consumers in that region will finally get a chance to catch up. Remember, it hasn't been legal to purchase a game console in that country since 2000. That was the year the PS2 launched.
Of course, that doesn't mean there weren't illegal ways of getting their hands on systems and games. Hell, might have to do it again.
Shocking…..
Damn ban on video games that inhumane
For a country that has rip offs of just about every brand and product of the world and at one time allowed Starbucks a space in a far corner of the beautiful Forbidden City… seems a bit… odd?
I guess some hardliners still wanting to keep control in some aspect of the daily lives. Or at least show that they can if need be.
Keep playing…if you can!
China has been and always will be…China? aka Dystopian backwater fascist government hadicapped place.
Hopefully Fallout lore becomes reality…
…you're hoping china, the us, and russia nuke the hell out of each other?
Personally I'm hoping NO nuclear, biological or chemical (or any other kinds if there are or will be) weapons of mass destruction go off anywhere. I mean for all we know there are potentially already several things that could wipe most or all of us out at some point, let it not be at our own hands please God/Lord/Powers That Be. 😐
Yeah, sounds about right. Censorship is everywhere. It's just more clear in China than most other parts of the world. At least they have no qualms about stating it.
That's not even censorship when you ban the product all together. Their reason was never a good one. They did not ban DVD players or TVs. The country takes away basic human rights period. You cannot even speak out against the government or they will shoot you dead. They are just a bit above North Korea and Iraq.
I've been wondering, does it even matter whether or not the ban has been lifted?
Piracy is a very very common thing over there…..
I'm glad I don't live in that country. Nothing but commies. It really is sad.
Conformity + Control = PROPOGANDA!
Propaganda is definitely how China operates, but that's not the formula for propaganda. You're describing a form of tyranny.
Honestly, believe it or not, this is a step forward for China. They've been much stricter in the past.
Doesn't anyone remember the censorship issues for athletes during the Olympics in Beijing? And even that wasn't so bad compared to their past.