Games like "EverQuest" are all the rage in china,and as you might have a clue about,the authorities aren't very happy about it.China being China decided to do what does best -apply a ban. So later this year, when students join college for the first time, they will not be allowed to bring their laptops or PC's with them-at the countries top three universities:Zhejiang University,Nanjing Universityand Shanghai Jiaotong University.The ban is appilicable to all first years students,irrespective of whether or not they are doing a computer course.
The ban seems rather unenforceable, considering that quite a few students have found ways to install the games on the computers in university labs.
A small poll conducted at Shanghai Jiaotong University revealed that the ban will have no effect whatsoever:after having spent a year playing he games in clandestine fashion, we presume, most of the students polled plan to get their laptops or PC's the next year and continue with their gaming. Some in China believe the only way to be rid of the "menace"-a word the authorites in China seem to like to use-is to approach the root of the problem and educate youngsters on the perils of continuous gaming.
This is not the first time China has proposed a ban on gaming-with the hope of creating the perfect working-class society. Back in April, the government hoped to limit the number of hours kids spent on online games by reducing game credits for excessive play.
Essentially, China is trying hard to wean its citizens from dependence on computers and get them to be more responsible in the real world. Of course one could think up theories of all sorts-get rid of the Western influence, perhaps, or get citizens to believe in the virtues of regimented hard work. In any case, half-baked laws like this one can only lead to what any old ban means-Work Around. But do not forget that the Chinese government, while progressive, still wields power of the sort that can say,"No more games".Or perhaps"No more American games".
