The Chinese government has reported that measures it has been taking to counter what it perceives as online games addiction in the country's youth has been a success.

Communicating through the state news agency Xinhua, the government said that the number of online gamers under 18 in 2008 has declined to 15 per cent of survey respondents - a 7 per cent drop from the previous year's 183 million.

China's General Administration of Press and Publication instituted the clamp down on online games in 2007, by limiting gamers to three hour sessions, and requiring them to register to each game with real names and national card numbers to ensure they are over 18.

According to the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the GAPP is one of China's main governmental bodies responsible for censorship, such as banning 19 dictionaries in 2003.