According to a representative from the General Administration of Press and Publication of China, the content examination of World of Warcraft has been completed and GAPP now allows NetEase.com to start beta test of the game from July 30, 2009.
The representative revealed that GAPP has provided its content adjustment suggestions for World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of this online game, is currently making the changes. Considering the rights and interests of the millions of Chinese users, the administration allows NetEase.com, the new Chinese operator of WoW, to start beta test on July 30 while the content adjustments are underway.
The beta test will be limited to original registered users and the key task for the beta test is to recover users' various data in the game. During the beta test period, the operator should not collect fees or open registration of new accounts, and it is required to adopt all necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of original users.
The representative added that NetEase.com and Blizzard Entertainment should finish the game adjustments as soon as possible while making sure the content can meet the laws and regulations of China.
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by the U.S. game company Blizzard Entertainment. This online game has about five million active users in China, accounting for about 30% of its total users worldwide. In April 2009, Blizzard Entertainment terminated its operating contract with the game's former Chinese operator, The9, and selected Chinese portal and online game provider NetEase.com as its new operator in China. Since the operator replacement, the operation of the game in China has been suspended and users of the game have consistently complained to get the game restarted.
