Vietnam's partial ban for online gaming
MMO licensing, advertising and night-time play restricted following real-world crimes
The Vietnamese government has placed heavy restrictions on the playing and availability of online games, in response to public and media concern about their effects on the nation's youth.
The Ministry of Information and Communication has banned the advertisement of MMOs, and demanded that ISPs turn off internet access to game shops and cafes after hours.
It will also stop licensing further online games until the sign-off of further government legislation, reports the Associated Press. Currently, 93 games - all developed outside of Vietnam - are licensed, with the most successful titles drawing around 200,000 players.
The bans come in the wake of a number of murders and robberies incited by online conflict and desire for virtual items. In one instance, a 15-year-old girl attacked a local four-year-old, reportedly to obtain $10 for microtransactions. The girl was sentenced to ten years in prison.
The Ministry is also seeking to limit violent and pornographic content in games, in addition to the censoring of any government criticism.