That's according to Chinese media giants Sohu, who say that the two government agencies engaged in a territorial dispute over the title - the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) and the Ministry of Culture (MoC) - have settled their differences and come to a decision on whether current operators of the game, Netease, have been breaking regulations in running the title in China.

Kind of feels like the Ents arguing over hobbits being orcs...

Source: GAPP, MoC Prep NetEase Sanctions for WoW Ops [Pacific Epoch]

Put together by Conor O'Kane, who also did the excellent Harpooned, BTG!'s premise is simple. If a game "crosses the line", you can ban it.

Ban This Game! [via Kotaku AU]

The founders of Sports Interactive, Oliver and Paul Collyer, have been given MBEs (a member of the Order of the British Empire) in recognition of their company's work on first the Championship Manager series and, more recently, the Football Manager franchise.

Other games industry representatives named include Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens, who was made a Commander of the British Empire, and Paul Jackson, formerly of Electronic Arts and currently of ELSPA (the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association), who can now put OBE after his name (as an Officer of the British Empire).

Note, Americans: the titles are honorary. None of the above will actually be commanding the British Empire.

Sports Interactive founders given MBEs [Develop]

CCTV is China's state news channel, and the program (the second part in a series), which visited a juvenile prison to speak with those apparently influenced by the titles in question, blames online video games for contributing to everything from teen pregnancy to drug addiction to murder.

The timing of the program is no coincidence, as Chinese bodies have spent much of 2009 cracking down on online games, banning some titles while suspending others. Even the mighty World of Warcraft has been in the government's sights, shutting down for 3 months earlier in the year and more recently being the subject of a to-and-fro between two competing government agencies.

China Blames Online Games for Drugs, Murder, Teen Pregnancy [Yahoo]

It's a serious charge, one that carries a mandatory two-year jail sentence if he's convicted. In his defence, Watts claims not only that he is innocent, but that US officers beat him, attempted to withhold his Miranda Rights and seized a whole ton of his stuff.

Messy.

Watts has worked with Relic on the story for what would later become Homeworld 2, and has most lately been employed by Crytek to lend a hand with the writing for Crysis 2.

Dr Peter Watts, Canadian science fiction writer, beaten and arrested at US border [Boing Boing]

It's been revealed today that since first beginning the recruitment-tool-masquearading-as-a-game project in 2000, America's Army has cost the US military - well, really, the US tax payer - $32.8 million.

That's just a little over the game's expected outlay, which was originally touted as $7 million over five years.

$30 million is what you'd expect to pay for a bells and whistles, AAA blockbuster title, not a free-to-play online shooter. We're guessing the bulk of that cash has gone on marketing.

America's Army bill: $32.8 million [America's Army]

Raupp is looking to "curb the manufacture, distribution, importation, distribution, trading and custody, storage [of] the video games that affect the customs [and] traditions of the people, their worship, creeds, religions and symbols".

A senate education commission has already approved the bill, meaning it's on its way now for a vote in Brazil's Committee on Constitution and Justice. If passed, anyone caught violating the law could face 1-3 years in the slammer.

Criar ou distribuir jogos ofensivos pode virar crime no Brasil [UOL, via GamePolitics]

The study, "Playing By the Rules" was undertaken by Pro Juventute, a Swiss children's rights group, and Track Impunity Always (TRIAL), which is concerned with international criminal justice. Their report provides a legal analysis of the conduct enabled by the games.

Rather than play the games themselves, the two groups sent expert observers to watch serious gamers play through and then note the egregious acts they saw. Here's what they had to say about Battlefield: Bad Company.

In the scenes, there seems to be no assessment of proportionality in the attacks realized in civilian areas and we do not know, whether precautionary measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects. However, in a real life situation, one is often confronted with similar circumstances: regular armed forces and irregular armed groups are very unlikely to give any information about the planning of the preparation of military operations to international organisations or human rights bodies. Without such information, it is difficult to establish that a military operation was not proportional, in particular whether the attacker took all the precautionary measures necessary to avoid, and in any event to minimize incidental loss or civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects."

In addition to the extensive destruction, some of the scenes portray the members of "Bad Company" taking gold and "treasures" found in the civilian houses they have just destroyed. Upon obtaining them, the players get points. These actions amount to pillage, which is strictly prohibited under IHL and thus have also been labeled as "strong". This illegal action is confirmed in one of the scenes where you can hear a member saying that "Pillaging is an old war tradition." Pillage is considered as a war crime both in international and non- international armed conflicts.

I'm thinking that asking the goons of Bad Company to take precautionary measures for anything would be a little like talking to a cardboard box. It's also amusing to me that a basic, nonviolent scavenging mechanic rates a "strong" violation of international law (which it would be, if it occurred in real life) and is called out as a war crime.

Anyway, the study had a number of recommendations. Among them is a call for clearly defined rules of engagement.

It would be very useful if developers would incorporate more specific rules on how to conduct an operation in their games, in terms of the weapons allowed, the behaviour allowed, the military targets sought, the degree of collateral damage permitted, etc. The message of the scenes should never be that everything is allowed, or that it is up to the player to decide what is right and what is wrong. In real life, this is not the way it works.

If you want to dive into more killjoy gasbaggery about Modern Warfare, World at War and - Jesus, True Crime Streets of L.A. is in here? Who did they find to play that? Anyway, you can grab your copy of the report here [pdf.]

Fighting Fair: International Humanitarian Law As Applied to Games [Game Politics]

The Guardian goes on to report that the campaign will run for six weeks, using games like Modern Warfare 2, Assassin's Creed II and Left 4 Dead 2 to gauge players' skills in quick-thinking, problem solving and team work.

In which case, they really don't want me. When I'm not leaving my teammates to die in Left 4 Dead 2, I'm busy getting lost in airplane fuselages in Modern Warfare 2 until somebody's good enough to come knife me. And I haven't even bought Assassin's Creed II yet. Oh, and I'm American.

Here's what the British government has to say of its campaign:

"As well as tackling 'traditional threats' GCHQ's work is also about helping government departments, such as the Ministry of Defence, to protect their information and communication systems," said a GCHQ spokeswoman.

"This means we can offer excellent training and careers for people with specialist technical skills. However, the fact remains that many potential candidates remain unaware of GCHQ and what we do. Using video on Xbox LIVE helps carry our message to the right people in a creative and innovative manner," she added.

Government intelligence organisation targets recruits with Xbox Live ads [The Guardian]

Thanks for the tip, Josh!

We can see where they're coming from; something akin to "No Russian" for the domestic violence scene. Make you do something horrible to better confront the horror. But the execution? It's a flash game. Where you do nothing but smack a woman around. Comes across a little tasteless.

As such, it's hard to recommend "Hit the Bitch" over the genre's existing powerhouse.

Anti-Violence Flash Game Lets Users Beat Woman [GamePolitics]
[Hit The Bitch]

Note: at time of publishing, the website has been blocked for IP addresses outside Denmark.

We are of course talking about America's Army, the free-to-play shooter that's been drumming up interest in the US armed forces for nigh on seven years now.

According to a statement issued by MIT as part of a 2008 report - which is now being presented to the US Congress by the Army - "30 percent of all Americans age 16 to 24 had a more positive impression of the Army because of the game and, even more amazingly, the game had more impact on recruits than all other forms of Army advertising combined".

Not a bad investment, then! That is, if you mean "bad" in terms of effectiveness vs money spent. If you mean "bad" in terms of "you shouldn't recruit soldiers through a video game", that's another topic for another day.

America's Army Extremely Effective Recruitment Tool [GamePolitics]

"These games are a cherished part of my life," Núñez-Mujica writes over at website Boing Boing, "they helped to shape my young mind, they gave me challenges and vastly improved my English, opening the door to a whole new world of literature, music and people from all around the world. What I have achieved, all my research, how I have been able to travel even though I'm always broke, the hard work I've done to convince people to fund a start up for cheap biotech for developing countries and regular folks, none of that would have been possible hadn't I learned English through video games.

"Now, thanks to the tiny horizons of the cast of morons who govern me, thanks to the stupidity and ham-fisted authoritarianism of the local authorities, so beloved of so many liberals, my 7 year old brother's chances to do the same could be greatly impacted."

The essay in full is yours to read in the link below and it touches on more than video games. It's brave stuf: "If I get fined for writing this (Article 13, promoting the use of violent videogames), so be it. If I go to jail because I carry rooms in my hard drive or in an R4 card for my brother, next time I return to the country, so be it. But I'd rather go to jail than betray the gamer culture, partially responsible for making me the person I am today." Read it.

Venezuela bans violent video games: a first-person guest essay [Boing Boing]

According to a report on Reuters, NetEase - the company operating the game in China for publishers Activision Blizzard - have been ordered to "stop operating" the title, cease charging existing user's accounts and block any new account registrations.

The GAPP claim that because of these supposed violations, the game lacks the necessary approval required to be run under China's increasingly strict laws governing online video games.

This move is the latest blow in an ongoing struggle between the GAAP and the Chinese Ministry of Culture, which was behind last month's bluster over foreign investment in Chinese online gaming firms.

Indeed, things are so messy between the two that it's unclear whether the GAPP's actions will even be enforced, with reports emerging that NetEase haven't even been contacted by the GAPP, and that the Ministry of Culture have labelled the threats inappropriate.

NetEase, Activision caught up in China turf war [Reuters]
'World of Warcraft' Faces Goverment Crackdown In China [MTV]

UPDATE - Yup, appears this is more to do with a conflict between Chinese government bodies than the game itself. Reuters report that the MoC have said the GAPP "oversteps its authority" in shutting the game down, along with a clarification that it's only expansion Burning Crusade that's affected, not the core game itself.

Estavillo first filed suit against SCEA in July, alleging the company's total ban of Estavillo from the PlayStation Network constituted theft and caused him pain and suffering. He wanted $55,000 in punitive damages and an injunction against all further banning. In September, a judge told Estavillo — who was representing himself — to pretty much take a hike and tossed out his case.

Now, GamePolitics reports that Estavillo is at it again — this time with an appeal of his tossed lawsuit and a civil suit against SCEA to the tune of $180,000. And he's still representing himself.

GamePolitics further reports:

Estavillo tells GP he is representing himself in these cases and, in light of his PSN ban, is playing the Wii (Metroid Trilogy) and Xbox 360 (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe). Estavillo said that he loves playing as The Joker in the latter title and may be "a bit obsessed" with the character, adding, "I plan to wear a purple suit during my court trials. No joke!"

Banned Resistance Gamer Appeals Verdict [GamePolitics]

The site goes on to link the group's upcoming weekend event to a school shooting that occurred earlier this year.

While I don't want to disrespect an anti-violence movement that's a direct response to the tragedy, I have a serious problem with the thought of an activist group trashing video games. The wanton destruction (or junking) of any entertainment media for no better reason than it might have something to do with something people don't like reminds me of book-burning — something the Nazi party encouraged.

That nasty association only got worse when I read this next paragraph:

GP reader Matthias noted that one image used in the group's promotion for the event appears to use a modified copy of an image designed to aid Germany in ridding use of the swastika, substituting a CD or DVD for the Nazi symbol.

Really, activist group? You couldn't think of a more productive thing to do with video games?

German Group Plans Killer Game Drive [Game Politics]

This new decision also prevents foreign companies from indirectly influencing Chinese gaming companies through tech support or agreements.

Earlier this year, Chinese game dev NetEase.com was awarded the license to operate World of Warcraft within China. The country's regulators have had concerns about the the joint venture in which NetEase is supported by Blizzard's tech support.

Update: According to George Godula The Next Web.com, the original Reuters story is incorrect and China is not banning foreign investment. Read the nitty-gritty here.

China bans foreign investment in online games industry [Reuters via Joystiq] [Pic]

"Warring lord turned video game sensation Date Masamune, is a household name in Miyagi prefecture," explains Capcom. "This campaign aims to use the broad appeal Date Masamune has among the residents of the prefecture to draw attention to the election and increase the turnout of younger voters."

Characters from the game will also be used to promote tourism in Miyagi Prefecture and Kochi Prefecture.

Known in the West as Devil Kings, Capcom has shipped over 1.5 million copies of Sengoku BASARA in Japan. Next year, Sengoku BASARA 3 is scheduled for release.

Seller David Morrill is hell-bent on getting his seven-figures for this Palin-autographed piece of hardware. After it was taken down in August, everyone said fake-fake-fakety-fake. Morrill, on the new listing, says it was taken down thanks to an "insufficient diescription of the item or no photos of the item," and then because "PayPal is unable to process a payment of this size." Which actually is good to know about PayPal.

So Morrill is back at it with a new payment processor. The console has been re-listed and is up for auction until Oct. 10, at a minimum bid of $1.1 million, which is upland territory usually handled by Christie's or Sotheby's.

As we said in August, this might be expecting a little much. $1.1 million would be a record for anything signed by a person still living at the time of its sale. Never mind this is the signature of a political one-hit wonder who just finished up a grueling four (4) months writing her memoir. Hell, I'm not even sure the advance on her memoir rises to the $1.1 million mark.

The 360 has a grand total of zero bids on it as of now. Surprise. Good luck with it, Dave.

Sarah Palin Signed Autograph XBOX 360 [eBay via Game Politics ]

"It was certainly bad judgment for me to play a computer game even for just a few minutes during the final House session on the budget," Rep. Jack Hennessey, of Bridgeport, wrote. "I am embarrassed, and I apologize to each and every person in the North End and to people across the state."

The Associated Press photo, taken Aug. 31, caused a category three foofaraw because, naturally, few things convey such disrespect as to play goddamn Solitaire when the opposition's talking about the budget. Hennessey could have at least played Bejeweled or Peggle or something. Not only that, he's playing the unwinnable Canfield. His colleague to the left, Rep. Barbara Lambert, was absorbed in either Freecell, Forty Thieves or Montana. Hard to tell. Guy back and to the right is reading about Andy Pettite on ESPN.com. What in the hell is the matter with you people!

Rep. Larry Cafero, the dissed House Minority Leader in question, faced off with the state House Speaker on a local public affairs program. "This has made international news because it captures the frustration of the public. While Rome is burning, they're playing solitaire.''

Yes. How dare someone fool around with games, the Internet, whatever, during a super important speech.

Rep. Jack Hennessy Apologizes For Playing Solitaire at State Capitol During Late-Night Budget Debate [Hartford Courant via GamePolitics]

In a game-centered candidacy announcement, to GamePolitics, Tenorio said he's on the ticket led by fellow Sen. Eddie Baza Valvo. "As most everyone in WoW are eyeing level 85 in the Cataclysm expansion, waiting to take down the Lich King and still grinding heroic Ulduar," is his preamble.

Through his candidacy, he says, "we can continue to let people, voters and those in positions of authority know that gamers are the same as those who do everything from clean public parks, fight and die for democracy, conduct intricate procedures in professional careers, and, yes, even make policy."

Lieutenant governor of Guam - a U.S. territory with no voting representation in Congress - is not exactly on the top 100 list of visible political offices. But you gotta start somewhere, and if gamers get this, at least it's better than the Libertarians, who have like a county medical examiner or something as their highest elected official.

Tenorio is also known as Paleray, a level 80 Dwarf Priest in the Knights of the Marianas guild. He can be found on the Silverhand server.

Hardcore WoW Playing Senator Announces Run for Lt. Guv of Guam [GamePolitics]