China opens first Internet gaming halfway house

You know, it strikes us that China, of all countries, doesn't have a long tradition of therapy and open discussions of feelings. But it does have a growing pattern of kids losing themselves in online video games (as we've seen time and time again). And as was predicted in the Engadget comments' section back in July, China is indeed the next location for a halfway house for Chinese video game addicts in Shanghai. Reuters reports that this house offers therapy, books to read (and even computers!) to help these kids stem their addiction and regain channels of communication with their families. We sense a growth industry of electronics-related therapy coming on -- remember the reports just a few months ago of Blackberry detox at the Sheraton Chicago -- any VCs paying attention? Just please, nobody start Engadget Anonymous, ok? We think you're fine just the way you are.

[Matteh @ Aug 25th 2006 7:14PM]

Aslong as the chinese mafia doesn't try to stop them.

[jimmy @ Aug 25th 2006 8:31PM]

arent those the guy that does all those lip sync video

[Scott @ Aug 25th 2006 9:53PM]

I have no problem with Engadget reading. *twitch* I can stop any time I want to.

[hcore @ Aug 26th 2006 1:54AM]

No help for those kids.

[PacketMonkee @ Aug 26th 2006 3:00AM]

kekeke ZERG RUSH!!!! ^-^

[Tech^CF @ Aug 26th 2006 4:18AM]

Closed shell syndrome next?

[whatsaname @ Aug 26th 2006 10:46AM]

I saw on the news that people can sue companies for being "forced" to use blackberries, cell-phones and other gadgets for work. I don't understand how that works because what if your on location all the time or are a white-collar bastard who needs to take notes in its precious blackberry?

What has the world come to? :X

[Quadrius @ Aug 30th 2006 9:05AM]

Gaming is not an addiction with me or any of my friends. Just a slight obsession... .>

[Bogsnogger @ Jun 25th 2007 2:00AM]

Gaming's never been an addiction for me. I recently blew up my xbox, plugging it into a wrong voltage power supply, and the only withdrawal symptoms I've encountered are slight headaches, temporary lapses in vision, brief spasms of uncontrollable finger twitching, and a phantom HUD floating in the edge of my sight.

[Bogsnogger @ Jun 25th 2007 2:00AM]

Gaming's never been an addiction for me. I recently blew up my xbox, plugging it into a wrong voltage power supply, and the only withdrawal symptoms I've encountered are slight headaches, temporary lapses in vision, brief spasms of uncontrollable finger twitching, and a phantom HUD floating in the edge of my sight.