China lifts decade-long ban on gaming consoles
Show me any child, I’ll show you a PlayStation, an Xbox or a Wii U. Children these days are so addicted to playing games on small and large screens, with and without wires, that they almost neglect any other day-to-day activities. This is precisely why China placed a ban on these gadgets in 2000. The government was concerned about the potential harm these gaming consoles may have on children and that it might affect the physical and mental growth of children.
Not only did the government ban foreign video games, game consoles and their accessories; it also prohibited existing video game centers from making expansions and from purchasing new equipment.
So, where do the disciplined children have their fun? What fun is a childhood without these consoles? After a decade of thought on the issue, the Chinese government lifted a decade-long boycott against the game consoles. Foreign-invested companies are now allowed, for the first time in almost 14 years, to carry out gaming machines’ production and marketing in the all too popular Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
All this leads Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo popping open champagne bottles as they can now target the large and potential Chinese audience for PlayStation4, Xbox One and Wii U. Even so, according to a report by mydrivers.com published on January 6th, the content of games are subject to censorship. It’s a good news nonetheless. If you were to travel to China now, you could unhesitatingly pack up your favourite game console and have fun!