Online game: Where should I be?

In mid-November 2006, Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Post and Telecommunications (MPT) issued a decision to suspend 13 online games (GO) and fined 6 businesses (DN) that provided these games. Why is there such a thing and the fate of those games?

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The main reason why enterprises are sanctioned is ' there is no professional technical measures to manage game hours ', ' there is no confirmation of meeting the technical and professional conditions of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications ', violating the circular. (TT) jointly number 60/2006 / TTLT-BVHTT-BBCVT-BCA (TT 60). Section d, clause 1, article 7 of this Circular stipulates: ' each account played in the first 180 minutes is counted 100% of the reward points, from the 181th minute to the 300th minute only 50% of the points will be awarded; Bonus points will not be counted from 301 minutes in any form '.

At the meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications on November 28, 2006, 6 enterprises of online game business (GO) issued a petition, which said that there are differences in the way of understanding the concept of 'reward points'. Regulatory agencies (CQQLs) understand 'reward points' are all ways to encourage players to continue playing, be it points, artifacts, money or other forms. This is shown in the Official Letter No. 2547 / BBCVT-VT dated November 16, 2006 of the Ministry of Post and Telematics (Guidance on implementing a number of regulations on online games) and documents guiding in detail the limited implementation. reward points system of HCMC Department of Post and Telecommunications.

In the aforementioned document, the TPV requires the GO enterprises, from 301 minutes onwards, to provide only 3 elements of interest, including chatting, chatting; listen to music, enjoy beautiful pictures; explore secrets, strange lands; and must eliminate the following 12 excitement factors:

1. Practicing and improving class
2. Search and upgrade in-game items
3. Purchase and sale, exchange of games / websites
4. Show off items or skills, skills
5. Establishing associations and factions to compete
6. Collect members for guilds and factions
7. Fight between groups
8. Join gang activities in the game
9. Owning the land, the city in the game
10. Execute tasks to upgrade characters (do quest)
11. Married
12. Demonstrating power in the game

According to Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications Department, on December 25, 2006, the implementation of regulations in Circular 60/2006 on management of enterprises is as follows:

3 GO has been recognized as qualified technical: 'Silk Road' of VDCNet2E, 'MU Vietnam - Worthy of Heroes' and 'PTV Retake Promised Land' of FPT-Telecom.

1 GO has been tested: Game 'Tam Quoc Chi' has been checked by HCMC Department of Posts and Telecommunications with A22 to check the actual conditions of technical response and is completing the dossier sent to the Ministry of Post and Telematics to consider.

The GOs have written a request from the ministry to check: Currently the Ministry has issued a formal request to the Hanoi Post and Telecommunications Department to check the 'Cuu Long Tranh Ba' game of Vinagame. The other two games of this enterprise are 'Vo Lam Truyen Ky' and 'Ragnarok' will be inspected by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Posts and Telecommunications. Ministry of Post and Telematics also proposed the HCMC Department of Post and Telecommunications to preside over the inspection of 3 other games of AsiaSoft namely 'Gunbound', 'TS' and 'Giang Ho Visitor Association'.

In addition, there are now 3 GO 'Auditon - Life Rhythm', 'Space Cowboy' of VTC and 'Genghis Khan - Khan' of Virtual World technology joint stock company without a written statement. test meeting.

Businesses think that the above understanding is not accurate. In this way, the game manufacturer has to revise many of the default features, such as the ability to attack, pick up, level up, join or create groups ., to intervene deeply into the system and structure. game The fixed object index must also be calculated, reprogrammed, and this is not technically feasible.

GO enterprises believe that the nature of limiting reward points is to 'reduce the attractiveness', not to completely ban the content of the game, and the reward points here are understood as 'experience points when training level' in the Online role-playing games have a form of practice to upgrade. In simple games (like casual games) such as Audition, Gunbound, the experience system is not the main motivation of the player, so even if the ban is not affected much.

According to GO businesses, for small players of transition, the limit will be less effective, because they can create multiple accounts and when restricted will change accounts to continue playing; Players can play many different games; Participate in foreign servers (no bonus points). The restriction for game production partners to worry about breaking game design, may not want to cede copyright to Vietnamese companies, self-release (set up servers in their countries) and entice Vietnamese gamers. participation.

However, in the short term, businesses agree to apply measures to limit bonus points because this is stipulated in Circular 60. In the long term, the enterprises propose to clearly define the reward points as experience of practicing and only applied to online games with a form of practice to level up, without applying to casual games. Closed Beta, Opened Beta does not need to apply bonus point limits for testing. Should only be applied when the game is officially released.

Authority: Enterprises have not strictly complied

According to the report of the Telecommunications Department (Ministry of Post and Telematics), most enterprises did not pay attention to the implementation of Circular 60. This Circular was issued from June 1, 2006. Official Letter 1515 instructs the implementation of Circular 60 issued from August 1, 2006, before issuing business ideas (in which enterprises must complete the implementation of technical conditions before 1/10 / 2006). However, by October 15, when the Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications Department began to announce the inspection, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications only received reports from one company (AsiaSoft). Representatives of businesses also recognized this fact.

Regarding the time needed to complete the management of game hours, the Telecommunications Department said that it is not necessary as much as the enterprises stated. When the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Post and Telecommunications resolves to handle, most of the reporting enterprises will complete according to the prescribed time, and within 2-3 weeks, there have been 3 reports completed. Some other companies also reported completion in December. The department said it would coerce after December 1, 2006, and after January 1, 2007, exactly as the official letter No. 2547 of the ministry.

As far as we know, the opinion of the Ministry of Post and Telematics is that GO enterprises must strictly implement Circular 60, especially the limitation of play time. However, depending on the content, nature and complexity of each game, GO enterprises work with the Post and Telecommunications Departments to determine specific factors that need excitement and commitment on implementation time.

Representatives of Vietnam PM Enterprises Association (VINASA) supported the viewpoint of Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications Department on the implementation of Circular 60, and said that there should be flexibility for very young GO enterprises not to be difficult. towel. VINASA proposed the Post and Telecommunications Department to provide detailed guidance for enterprises to implement. On the side of enterprises, it is necessary to formulate the habit of answering documents and cooperating more closely with the authorizing agencies.