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Anti-addiction or fatigue system
Also referred to as a “fatigue system” the proposed mechanism was a piece of software installed on the computer and compliant with every MMO active in Chinese game space. Developers were requested to alter their games to allow the fatigue program to monitor a user’s playtime, when the player spent more than three hours online in one day the system would then limit their ability to continue playing, either by turning off in-game reward mechanisms or stopping play. The fatigue system would also be paired with a real name ID system, to ensure that individual players could be more easily tracked, and their game play controlled. After the initial announcement there was a large public outcry from both adult gamers (currently at least 50% of China’s online gaming demographic), and developers who were left scrambling to find a means of implementing the system into games already being played. These general complaints caused the Chinese government to delay the implementation of the system from 2006 to April 2007.
The system has a proposed three stage implementation plan stretching from April 15 to July 15, 2007. Stage one began on April 15 and is scheduled to continue until June 15. The intent of this phase is to allow game developers, and publishers to prepare for full scale outlay of the system. Stage two is proposed to begin immediately after stage one and continue until July 15. This month is to allow game companies adequate time to test and debug their system implementation. The third "phase", beginning after July 15 will signify the final roll out of the system, and its integration into live game servers; essentially the third phase is the proposed release date for full implementation.[14]