JULY 7, 2010 • The Chinese government has banned online games companies from using sex, gambling or violence to promote their products. The Ministry of Culture has found that many online publishers have used women involved in sex scandals, or porn stars, to market their games.

Impact: Although culture ministry has shown an ongoing concern for the effect of video games on gamers, we not so sure this edict is wholly concerned with public morality. Corruption is a big topic in China these days, and there’s a very good chance officials are more concerned with the political reaction of ordinary Chinese to mass media exposure of privileged government minister’s mistresses, and rich businessmen’s paramours.