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EVE New Citizens Q&A

 
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Why is Hong Kong region blocked in Steam?
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Dump Carner
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2013-08-16 19:15:19 UTC
I've recently started a trial account and playing EVE online, I am loving every minute of it!
I really want to start over from Steam since I consider myself to be a pretty dedicated Steam user, with over level 50 and already have gotten the level 5 EVE online trading card badge with all backgrounds collected.

The problem of course is EVE online being region blocked here, not only do I not being able to access the Steam store page, I can't even download the trial from steam, I go to Steam store and I search for EVE online all I get is EVE online trial and if I click on it BAM
Oops, sorry! This item is currently unavailable in your region.

Really?

I just want to ask, why ban us? I know EVE had a Chinese version and all so I really don't understand the reason behind this.
It's even worse that If I were to acquire a tradable copy to circumvent this issue, I would lose the advantage of having 14 days in trial, and more importantly, how do I extend game time in steam if I am region blocked?
Marc Callan
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#2 - 2013-08-16 19:40:12 UTC
Once you've gotten a trial from whatever source, extending game time is all done through EVE itself - through subscriptions via credit cards or online banks like Paypal, or through purchases of game-time codes or PLEX. I suspect region-blocking may be more of a Steam issue than a CCP issue.

In any case, I don't think there's any fundamental difference between playing it through Steam or using the direct client.

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." - Kurt Vonnegurt
Xercodo
Cruor Angelicus
#3 - 2013-08-16 19:42:27 UTC
If you wanna play EVE in China you would have to do it via TianCity I believe.

They have a separate provider and a separate server from the rest of the world because of the "Great Firewall".

So as far as I know if you're gonna be in Hong Kong you cant use steam for EVE at all.

The Drake is a Lie
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#4 - 2013-08-16 19:43:39 UTC  |  Edited by: ShahFluffers
If I recall correctly... China has laws that restrict or outright block any game or service that connects you with the wider web... something about "cultural contamination" and "oversight." As a result, games such as MMOs have to set up separate networks for China only.

It's not a new practice. China has been doing this for years... even with non-gaming companies (multinational corporations have to set up an office in China to make themselves subject to Chinese laws and regulations before they can do direct business in the country).

How did you Veterans start?
Dump Carner
University of Caille
Gallente Federation
#5 - 2013-08-16 19:59:25 UTC
ShahFluffers wrote:
If I recall correctly... China has laws that restrict or outright block any game or service that connects you with the wider web... something about "cultural contamination" and "oversight." As a result, games such as MMOs have to set up separate networks for China only.

It's not a new practice. China has been doing this for years... even with non-gaming companies (multinational corporations have to set up an office in China to make themselves subject to Chinese laws and regulations before they can do direct business in the country).


Hong Kong is totally different than China though, we have separate laws and while it's true that China bans ALOT of stuffs, we don't.
Take dota2 for instance, the old beta invites restricted China but not Hong Kong.
From what I understand here in Hong Kong we don't have game violence restrictions or censors anything like that.
Which is why it's baffling to see why many games in Steam are region blocked.
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#6 - 2013-08-16 20:16:00 UTC  |  Edited by: ShahFluffers
Dump Carner wrote:
ShahFluffers wrote:
If I recall correctly... China has laws that restrict or outright block any game or service that connects you with the wider web... something about "cultural contamination" and "oversight." As a result, games such as MMOs have to set up separate networks for China only.

It's not a new practice. China has been doing this for years... even with non-gaming companies (multinational corporations have to set up an office in China to make themselves subject to Chinese laws and regulations before they can do direct business in the country).


Hong Kong is totally different than China though, we have separate laws and while it's true that China bans ALOT of stuffs, we don't.
Take dota2 for instance, the old beta invites restricted China but not Hong Kong.
From what I understand here in Hong Kong we don't have game violence restrictions or censors anything like that.
Which is why it's baffling to see why many games in Steam are region blocked.

Censorship is not always "consistent." Blink

And last I checked, while Hong Kong has some degree of "autonomy" it's still officially a part of China and thus subject to some "rules."

How did you Veterans start?