Sony has finally gained approval to launch the PlayStation 3 in China, despite games consoles technically being illegal in the region. The platform was recently awarded a ‘China Compulsory Certificate’, although firm release plans have yet to formalise.
China implemented its console ban way back in 2000 in order to protect the nation’s youth from the various scientifically proven side-effects of video games. However, the move merely created a black market for imported and pirated products.
Consoles can technically be sold in the region if they are labelled as home entertainment devices – which many would argue the PS3 is anyway. Should the console release in China, it will arrive at least six years after its original debut in Japan. Local gamers are going to have some serious catching up to do.
[source techinasia.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 10
I had no idea there was a Console Ban in China!?!? You really do learn something new everyday.
"China implemented its console ban way back in 2000 in order to protect the nation’s youth from the various scientifically proven side-effects of video games. The move merely created a black market for imported and pirated products."
And I just hope that the Chinese gamers actually buy enough for it be worth it for Sony, instead of sticking to their knock-offs and pirated games.
EDIT: Wait, Play-Asia is based in Hong Kong! Does that make them an illegal enterprise?!
Honk Kong have a bit of different rules then the rest of China.
@kivi95 Oh yeah, I forgot. They have more liberty when it comes to commercial gain or something like that. Pheewph. I'd hate to have the Gov't cracking down on those guys.
Hope this generate sales
I did not know there was a console ban either.
thats great news sony needs all the extra money it can find...
China sounds lame and dumb, happy I don't live there lol I would be shopping at a black market all the time Great to hear ps3 can sell there now
@hydeks China is neither lame nor dumb. On the whole it is actually amazing to watch the amount of change it has embraced in such a short time. From what was a completely closed society, it now accepts thousands if visitors each year and its citizen are travelling the world on holidays (they have become a significant tourism market here in Australia). This is just another sign of opening up and embracing their part in a global community which is fantastic to see.
Navigating change on that scale in not easy. China is certainly not a western country, but why should it be. From the stories that I hear, their human rights are still not what we would hope, but there is positive movement.
Having visited many times, I can think of many worse places to live. This is a huge potential market for Sony. Managing fake versions will be a problem, but that industry has been greatly reduced in recent years, as the government is starting to enforce copyright.
The only reason their had been change is because it had been communist country, glad for the change, seems like the rest of the world is gaining freedoms as a lose ours
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