China May Buckle and End 12 Year Ban on Video Game Consoles

12 years is a long ass time.

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While we here in the West bicker endlessly about video game violence and their supposed impact on impressionable minds, China is considering ending their 12 year ban on video game consoles.

While you can still cop a console on the blackmarket in China, the Ministry of Culture is considering lifting its 12-year long ban on the sale of game consoles after banning them in 2000 over "their potential harm to the physical and mental development of youth within the country."

Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have been trying to crack open the Chinese market in any official capacity, but have been so far, unsuccessful.

"We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market," a source from the Ministry of Culture, who asked not to be named, said.

"However, since the ban was issued by seven ministries more than a decade ago, we will need approval from all parties to lift it," the source said.

While console games may be banned, China is one of the largest consumer of smart phone and PC games. What do you think? Should China lift the ban? Let us know what you think.

[via chinadaily.com.cn, Bloomberg]

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