MARCH 10, 2008 • According to JLM Pacific Epoch, since the end of Chinese New Year festivities on Feb. 1 the Chinese government has rejected two separate applications by Activision Blizzard partner The9 for the World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King expansion. The rejections were based on objectionable content.
Impact: China is been engaged in a long term crackdown on online content. The issue with Lich King has been with the depiction of skeletons in the game. Two years ago, the China version of WoW had most skeletons removed from the game voluntarily in order to avoid confrontation with the government. Unfortunately, the Lich King expansion features an army of the undead and removing skeletons is proving much harder. Reportedly, The9 has told the agency in charge of approving the release (GAPP), they will go.
