Burning Crusade Delayed in China, While Censorship Abounds

[Andy Chalk]

Burning Crusade Delayed in China, While Censorship Abounds

The Chinese release of World of Warcraft [http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade/] MMOG, has been delayed over content concerns.

World of Warcraft has proven as immensely popular in China as it is in the rest of the world, with 3.5 million Chinese players as of January. This popularity has led to increased scrutiny from the Chinese government, however, and concern over "controversial" content has forced the developers to make numerous modifications to the game's content, such as adding flesh to skeletal undead. As a result, the government is examining the expansion pack much more closely than normal, which has resulted in the process taking longer than the standard one-month period.

Shanghai-based Shanda [http://www.the9.com/en/](Shanda Interactive Entertainment), has also been banned. Zhao Yurun, public relations manager with The9, said the censorship is necessary in order to "clean up the WoW environment."


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[Landslide]

I'm sure they don't want any revolutionary movements planned in-game either. I wonder if any world intelligence agencies utilize MMOG's as a means of communication and intelligence gathering. Well... Information gathering, but you get the idea.

 

[Andy Chalk]

I'd be a lot more surprised if Chinese (and other) intelligence agencies didn't have their fingers all over WoW and the like. While I don't harbour any illusions about MMOGs being arenas for constructive social interactive and the free exchange of ideas, there's no way 3.5 million subscribers isn't making the authorities just a wee bit nervous.