Mythic Entertainment said it plans in mid-June to release downloa...

expansions to be released this year. Game maker said title had attracted “more than 220,000 paying subscribers” to date and “more than 600,000 people have played Dark Age of Camelot worldwide since its release in October 2001.” At “peak times,” company said, “more than 60,000 people play simultaneously.” In other online game news, South China Morning Post reported that “safeguards may be built into online games sold in Hong Kong to help tackle the problem of young people becoming addicted to them.” Report said initiative by manufacturers and Consumer Council arrived amid surge in popularity of online games. Newspaper said recent study “found there were 400,000 players aged 10 to 29 in Hong Kong, spending an average 10 hours a week online” while “medical experts have warned obsessive play can result in wrist pain, back injuries, physical exhaustion and convulsions.” Report also said “at least 3 young cyber-addicts have died playing computer games.” Consumer Council spokesman said group was worried situation would worsen with schools suspended because of SARS outbreak. As result, report said, Council asked online game industry to modify games to reduce obsessive play. One recommendation was to install automatic pause function that would log player off after certain number of hours. Council also suggested manufacturers put message box on screen to remind players they should take break. It asked makers to submit games for classification voluntarily and to put any necessary parental warnings on packaging, report said. Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Assn. told Council it believed suggestions were workable and would ask its members to consider them when making games, report said.