Talking Entertainment: Video Games Legalized Plus Next Hobbit In Approved Fall Releases

Video games and their consoles have been banned in China for 13 years, but new regulations will allow Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo to market and sell their gaming products in the country, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Playstations, Xboxes and the like have long been available at shady electronics markets like Zhongguancun in Beijing, although directly marketing these products to consumers in China was made illegal in 2000 due to concerns over ideological and violent content in the games.

A government document released late in September states that these companies will be able to market and sell their products if they set up joint ventures with Chinese companies in the newly launched Shanghai Free Trade Zone. Games will also have to be approved by the Ministry of Culture. Despite the loopholes, we’re excited to see that the days of shoddy counterfeit video games may soon be over.

China’s 34 foreign film quota is close to being been filled for the year, and this has generated concern over new blockbusters missing a run in the country this fall. Sources have told The Hollywood Reporter in Beijing that the quota is malleable, and it is hard to predict if anything else will get through. So far here’s what we can expect and not expect to see in cinemas over the coming months.

Films to Expect:

The Lone Ranger (October)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Thor: The Dark World  (November)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (December)

Still Uncertain:

Summit/Lionsgate's Ender's Game

Disney's Planes

Here are some Arts and Entertainment events over the coming week:

• Andy Warhol "15 Minutes Eternal"
• Carnaby, A book talk with Cate Sampson
• NCPA’S Production of Puccini’s Turandot
• Beijing Improv's BIG show