Gaming curfew imposed in Malaysia

[ZuePhok]

Originally Posted by 'The Inquirer"

HE MALAYSIAN city of Subang Jaya will impose a curfew in an attempt to cut down on the number of gamers becoming addicted to online play.

The BBC is reporting that the city will close internet cafés that would otherwise allow gamers to play all night. This follows an approach to politicians by a mother whose son had gone missing for 48 hours. He was found to have been in an internet café the entire time.

The new ruling will force cyber cafés catering to gamers to separate gaming and non-gaming areas and will require these cafés to own a separate entertainment license. These restrictions will be policed to avoid some gamers staying later than the allotted times and café owners found not to be closing will face the prospect of losing their entertainment licences.

While this is currently only to be enacted next year in Subang Jaya, the introduction of any law to govern online gaming is telling of the trouble with online gaming addicts.

This comes immediately after the possibly game related death of the Chinese World of Warcraft player "Snowly" in whose honour an online funeral was held. This death and others like it have prompted the question to be asked about time limits being imposed on online gamers as well as campaigns to encourage gamers to take care during extended play.

The success of this new curfew could later be used as an example for other countries hoping to restrict online gaming.

so we cant PK (play game) at USJ's inferno after 12 next year?

[aKho]

restrict online gaming?
let's see them try..
Malaysia gonna be so alone in this..

[jasperchc]

the mother also so.... , just dont give her son money, no money then he'll go home liao

[Chai]

Smart parenting. Don't let kids play at home leh... That's what you will get. Now blame cyber cafe... As usual, blame someone else for their own stupidity.

[zy]

aya.. now cant overnite in KL to play game ..

[Dashken]

Aiya... bring your desktop along wherever you go, can bump at a friend's place and play all night la.

[ZuePhok]

Originally Posted by Dashken

Aiya... bring your desktop along wherever you go, can bump at a friend's place and play all night la.

cant shout out loud and swear ma....

[The_YongGrand]

If the authorities ban these cybercafes, the addicts will go and find some other alternatives:

1. Bring a desktop to his/her friend's home and do LAN party or something else.

2. Vandalise public amenities (because to vent their anger)

3. Taking drugs. [What else? These guys could smell glue all day long...]

I don't know, but banning one of these will lead to another problem....

I don't mean offense, but it happen in real life. *sigh*...

[djspinnet]

On the other hand if some people just knew how to limit themselves, they might not have to resort to such curfews.

I was a victim of cyber-cafe addiction.. no, I wasn't addicted and I don't go to cyber cafe, but was 'harassed' by students who were too busy playing games all day all night to bother with their work and bully me into giving them crash courses or giving them answers to their practicals/assignments.

Though I must say, it might be a little unfair for those who are not addicts but just happened to be one of those who go there for an hour or two at the stroke of midnight.

[ZuePhok]

some ppl go to cafe isn't because their parents do not allow them to game.

just that, the atmosphere there is better. you ge to play together with a group of friends...

I still go to cafe to game once in a while..but of cuz you gotta know the limit 48hours without a phone call back home..hehe..abit

but then again, online games..are that "addictive"..especially when there is something big happening..like when your clan involves in territorial wars. it can extend to 3 days 3 night