The Chinese Government is going to start a new system regarding online games. Those who play online games more than three consecutive hours, will lose half of their character abilities. If they keep playing until five consecutive hours, their character abilities will be set to the lowest level allowed by the games. Furthermore, the system also lowers the ability of players to find treasures or prizes available in an online game after they have played for more than three consecutive hours.

Kou Xiaowei, Deputy Director of the Audiovisual and Internet Publication Department of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), said that this system is made to prevent young people from becoming addited to online games. Every online games in China must have this system installed once the development of the timing system finished. It is expected to be fully deployed by all online games on late 2005 or early 2006.

The trial operations of the system will be held using the games “The Legend of Mir II” and “The World of Legend” operated by Shanda, “Westward Journey Online” and “Fantasy Westward Journey Online” operated by NetEase, “World of Warcraft” and “MU” operated by The9, “JX Online” and “First Myth Online” operated by Kingsoft, “The Legend of Mir 3G” operated by Optisp, “Lineage II” operated by SINA, and “Blade Online” operated by Sohu.

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