The Beta Patrol

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.