China’s government decides what games its children should play?

ClanBase’s Kincaid submitted this report.

Personal choice and civil liberties for gamers took another bashing as China’s Ministry of Culture published details of ten games it deems “suitable” for minors.

In an effort to “purify the ‘on-line environment,” ten games have been selected by the ministry’s on-line games censorship committee, that are deemed healthy and can “enhance intelligence.” The games are all domestic products so you won’t see the likes of World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike or Call of Duty on the list.

Instead they are made up of five role playing games, four recreational/chess games and one educational game.

This isn’t the first time though - in 2005 People’s Daily Online published an article relating to the Culture Minister’s 15 clean online games. Another list was collated again in January 2006.

Although this is only a recommended list it doesn’t stop people playing what they want. However last month Reuters reported China’s imminent crackdown on “undesirable” online games fearing “growing internet addiction,” with this being another step forward in China’s already very strict internet censorship.

This beats the British Government’s idea of a complicated rating system.

Sources: MCOT - Thai News Agency, Xinhua, Reuters