China Bans Online Gang Games

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Online games with gang themes are facing a crackdown in China.

According to People's Daily Online, China's Ministry of Culture officially issued a circular requesting the immediate ban on online gang games that contain themes such as "sinister gang," "crime syndicate," "Mafia," "underworld," "godfather" and "hooligan."

The news report says that such games highlight "beating, killing, robbing, raping, and cheating," while "romancing bloody violence, instigating users to play the role of 'criminal syndicate' members in these games, and advocating such lives."

The story continues to pose that "these games have seriously threatened and distorted legal systems and moral rules and are very likely to have a harmful effect on teenagers."

Online gang games allegedly violate rules of the Interim Provisions on the Administration of Internet Culture, which paves the way for the Chinese government to crack down on this type of media.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
37 Comments Comment from the forums
  • MrBradley
    Its funny how they are trying to ban "Gang" stuff when they are....well....sort of a gang themselves if you think about it.
    Reply
  • downer88
    China Bans *Insert Something Internet Related*
    Reply
  • foxyg
    Banning thingings only makes them look stupid. Thought they figure that out by now.
    Reply
  • dman3k
    And they think Americans are brainwashed...
    Reply
  • coopchennick
    To be honest, I almost agree with the released statements, but come on China... that's not the way to handle it.
    Reply
  • johnjohn_75
    Wow, China bans gang type games? So that must mean they must disban their commie government--no pun intended.

    BTW, Doesnt anyone else think doing business with a communist government is risky and stupid? Cant figure out why the free world has anything to do with them...Oh, wait, sorry...cheap labor, Chinese business beats their employees...The free world businesses wish they could do that.
    Reply
  • chaohsiangchen
    I gradually come to believe that Chinese intellectual elites are the obstacle for China to become free and democratic. The elites, who succeeded in school system and good at taking exams, despise Chinese proletariat and regard themselves as higher form of people who should dictate how others would live and think. I call it: exetasocracy.

    Most Chinese intellectuals, who spend their early lives in textbooks and preparation for college exams, then seek gantry in either bureaucratic system or educational institutions knows nothing about real lives of people. Yet, they think they can make better decision for others.
    Reply
  • apmyhr
    Did Jack Thompson move to China or something?
    Reply
  • Hanin33
    apmyhrDid Jack Thompson move to China or something?
    he's their new Minister of Entertainment Culture and Vice...
    Reply
  • tenor77
    The thought police doing their normal duties.
    chaohsiangchenI gradually come to believe that Chinese intellectual elites are the obstacle for China to become free and democratic. The elites, who succeeded in school system and good at taking exams, despise Chinese proletariat and regard themselves as higher form of people who should dictate how others would live and think. I call it: exetasocracy. Most Chinese intellectuals, who spend their early lives in textbooks and preparation for college exams, then seek gantry in either bureaucratic system or educational institutions knows nothing about real lives of people. Yet, they think they can make better decision for others.
    The problem is they view people as a resource to be cultivated and utilized. Anything that would detract from their productivity is a nuisance to be squashed.
    Reply