Rating system ready for go online games-00-5490

Authorities will introduce a rating system for online games this year to crack down on vulgar content amid a soaring number of young gamers.

"We will issue practical rules for online games to protect youth," Liu Qiang, head of the Internet culture department with the Ministry of

Culture, told China Daily yesterday.

Academics recently carried out studies for such a rating system, Liu said.

The rating system released by Peking University and Huazhong Normal University at the 7th International Forum on Cultural Industries on Jan 10

uses three different ratings for the suitability of online games, Xiang Yong, vice-dean of the institute for cultural industries at Peking

University, said yesterday.

"What we are concerned with is not only content involving violence, sex and obscenity, but also the cultural values and knowledge attainable from

the games," Xiang said.

Those involved in the studies divided online games into categories suitable for people aged above 12 and those aged above 18.

For example, games involving virtual maps are deemed unsuitable for children below 12 because these users have not developed appropriate

geographical concepts and the games will negatively affect their growth, Xiang said.

Content providers could also be required to describe their products in five different categories, Xiang said.

The five types of games are: Games with cultural content, games covering social issues, games containing fighting and combat, games that have a

negative visual and mental impact, as well as games that require long periods of time.

Online games that have content inappropriate for children should also be described and labeled accordingly.

"Online game rating is the trend and we are waiting for the final decision over the issue from the ministry," Chen Yanjun, head of the animation

and Internet culture development office with the Beijing municipal bureau of culture, told China Daily yesterday.

Similarly, 15 online game companies and a Beijing animation and online games industry association will propose an initiative to urge all game

developers in the capital to mark the age suitability for games within this month, Chen said.

Still, many in the industry said the recent moves are just first steps.

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