Gamers, help is on the way!!
Any thoughts on the following article?
Do you think China will also have online therapists for it's millions of addicts to warcraft?
Therapists join World of Warcraft to treat 'addicted' players
by Ben Silverman
Buzz up!
July 28 5:15 P.M.
If Dr. Richard Graham has his way, massively popular online game World of Warcraft will soon get an unofficial new character class: the therapist.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the London psychiatrist is spearheading a movement that would let mental health workers join online game worlds as avatars in order to better treat players suffering from game addiction.
Dr. Graham believes the key is reaching at-risk players on their own turf.
"Those affected don't exhibit the same outward warning signs as most teenage anti-social behaviour issues do because they're in their bedrooms most of the time, seemingly out of trouble," he told the Telegraph. "Because of this we can't get through to them in the traditional educational environment or intrude on their actual bedrooms -- we need to turn to the Internet itself to tackle these problems."
The issue of game addiction itself is still quite thorny. The American Medical Association still doesn't consider game addiction to be a legitimate disorder, while other reports -- including a Swedish study claiming that Warcraft is "more addictive than crack cocaine" -- say otherwise.
Graham hopes to launch the project "by the end of the year," and has called on Warcraft maker Blizzard to possibly give therapists free access to the game. He also notes that since most therapists probably aren't Warcraft experts, the project could potentially recruit gamers to act as "peer mentors" and help identify troubled players.
If you're going to be two-faced, at least make one of them good looking.




Owynne
Re: Gamers, help is on the way!!
China's Ministry of Culture has officially banned any websites that offer online games featuring mafia-like gangs, reports The New York Times.
A post on the Ministry's website claims that such games "embody antisocial behavior like killing, beating, looting and raping" and "undermine morality and Chinese traditional culture." The ban covers any websites that publish, distribute or even link out to mafia-themed titles. Law-enforcement officials have been ordered to crack down on offenders, promising "severe punishment" for those who violate the ban.
Raking in over $2.5 billion in 2008 alone, online gaming is a major pastime in China. But as part of the country's efforts to control access to "vulgar" content, the government has grown increasingly wary of the games industry. Most recently, censors locked out mega-hit World of Warcraft after an operator switch prompted a re-screening of the game's content.
If you're going to be two-faced, at least make one of them good looking.
taoqibao
Re: Gamers, help is on the way!!
That's a laugh, init?
Mafia-like gangs are a part of Chinese history/culture (especially in the south).
What next, ban all those crappy Hong Kong gangster flicks?
Hey, wait a minute, I can live with that.
And while they're at it, ban all those horrible song and dance shows on Chinese TV (isn't that what's undermining Chinese traditional culture?).
Yeah, that would be fancy.
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."
- VP
seabreeze98
Re: Gamers, help is on the way!!
Wait a sec! There's something like Mafia Wars or Mob Wars on kaixin (or is that xiaonei?). When are they going to shut kaixin down? I'm waiting!!!!
“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.” (Stuart Chase)
Male bean counter looking for job in China.
BeijingDays
Re: Gamers, help is on the way!!
I don't believe that world of warcraft is blocked or banned. Practically every Chinese I know plays it.
Anyone who writes ten reviews is absolved of all sins-Admin ( on the thread of open letter to Jamie Shorter )