All Your XP Belongs to China

Yesterday a law went into effect where characters who have been logged into China’s most popular massive multiplayer online game for more than three hours will suffer loss of experience points and weapons. After five hours, character abilities will be cut making any meaningful playing impossible.

Players must take a two-hour break between gaming sessions before logging on again.

From xinhuanet.com:

"This timing mechanism can prevent young people from becoming addicted to online games," Kou Xiaowei, deputy director of the Audiovisual and Internet Publication Department, said in Beijing.

Game players and industry officials, however, complained the system infringes upon consumer rights.

"It's absolutely a foolish decision," said Yankee Song, a 23-year-old game player.

But the move isn’t going to stop some dedicated players:

  Another senior WOW player David Tian said: "I am sure cheating programs that can make the system think we have logged off will soon be formed.

Tian, 23, has already created various accounts in the same game and he plans to switch among them when his time limit runs out each day.

Yeah, be careful Tian. I really like playing video games too — but not “mess with the Chinese government” like.