Joystiq

PSA: PlayStation Store returns to South Korean PS3s May 16

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 04 May 2013 10:30:00 EST

After being taken offline last July, the PlayStation Store will finally reopen for business on South Korean PlayStation 3 units on Thursday, May 16. The service was originally removed to comply with new South Korean legislation that made it illegal for persons under the age of 18 to verify online accounts with their real name or age.

As a result, use of the PlayStation Store is now restricted to users 18 and older, regardless of whether the service is actually being used to buy something. As an apology to all users affected by the months-long outage, Sony Computer Entertainment Korea is gifting all eligible users one free month of PlayStation Plus.

PSA: PlayStation Store returns to South Korean PS3s May 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Civilization Online announced for Asia

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:45:00 EST

Take-Two Interactive announced Civilization Online this morning for Asia, another milestone in its continental market expansion. In partnership with Korean-based studio XLGAMES, the game is being built "from the ground up" as an online-only experiences for the Asian market.

Civilization studio Firaxis is mentioned as lending its expertise and vision, but the game is being created "under the leadership of " XLGAMES CEO and MMOG designer Jake Song, who helped create Lineage. A team of "more than 100" are working on the project in Seoul.

"Over the last four years, we have been focused on creating an ambitious portfolio of online and social games with some of the most revered companies in Asia such as Tencent in China, Nexon Korea Corporation and XLGAMES in Korea, GREE and CyberAgent in Japan," said Take-Two Asia president Hubert Larenaudie.

Take-Two notes that response in the region to NBA 2K Online, which launched yesterday after months of beta testing, has been very encouraging. It hopes to find that same success with the Nexon-partnered Pro Baseball 2K and Civilization Online.

Take-Two chief operating officer David Ismailer concluded today's announcement, "Civilization Online is an example of how 2K can leverage its successful franchises, beyond sports, to create entirely new experiences in genres that resonate with customers in this region."

Civilization Online announced for Asia originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon acquires Mobage game developer gloops for $468m

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST

Nexon shelled out ¥36.5 billion to buy gloops, a company that develops games for DeNA's Mobage network. That figure converts to an absolutely whopping $468 million. Nexon didn't stump up that much yen because they're seeking fun, but because gloops is one of the most successful makers of Japanese social games. Those games include Shibuya Quest, MLB Battle Game, and Odin Battle, and the company boasts over 10 million active players across its collection. Legend Cards has over 1.5 million players in Japan alone, while Magigate had 100,000 people playing it within just seven hours of its release.

Either way, Nexon apparently has money to burn. The South Korean company, known for free-to-play MMOs like MapleStory, last year set its initial public offering on the stock market at $1.2 billion.

Nexon acquires Mobage game developer gloops for $468m originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Store taken down in Korea in compliance with new law

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST

A new "Game Industry Promotion Act" going into effect in South Korea on July 1 will make it illegal for an online service to ask someone under 18 to verify the account with their real name or age.

In response, Sony is taking down the PlayStation Store in that region, pending compliance with the law. Sony hopes to resume PSN service sometime this year. Online multiplayer will continue to be available through PSN, and the PlayStation Store will remain open for PSP and PS Vita users.

This decision seems to have been a sudden one for Sony - it announced a sale on 2K games through PSN the same day, just before announcing the closure of the store.

PlayStation Store taken down in Korea in compliance with new law originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korea banning trade of in-game items

JC Fletcher — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will enact a ban on commercial trading of in-game items starting next month, the Korea Times reports. Like the online gaming curfew, this move is aimed at reclaiming students' time for non-game-related activities. The ban specifically targets the use of bots that allow automatic collection of items, which the ministry estimates as the source of 60 percent of items on the virtual market.

The ban also prevents arcades from handing out gift certificates for in-game items, as that has resulted in the certificates being traded for cash.

A different restriction on virtual goods was recently enacted in South Korea's neighbor, Japan: the Consumer Affairs Agency banned the "compu gacha" scheme, in which players buy randomly selected virtual items, with bonuses for the completion of sets.

South Korea banning trade of in-game items originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon pays $685 million for 14.7 percent of NCsoft

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST

Nexon is now a minority shareholder in MMO publisher NCsoft, having purchased 3.218 million shares of the company from NCsoft chairman/cofounder Taek Jin Kim to the tune of ₩804.5 billion ($685.43 millon) - 14.7 percent of total stock. This makes Nexon the largest shareholder in NCsoft, according to VentureBeat.

~~The purchase is part of a two-year agreement between the two South Korean game companies, though the specifics of said agreement remain shrouded in mystery~~. This announcement comes somewhat cooly on the heels of reports that claimed Nexon had designs to take over EA; reports that ended up being far less interesting than originally thought.

Update: Nexon has informed us that the deal was a "one-time purchase" and that they "have not made any announcements about any future plans."

Nexon pays $685 million for 14.7 percent of NCsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon, Valve announce Counter-Strike Online 2 for Asian territories

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:15:00 EST

South Korean developer Nexon this week announced Counter-Strike Online 2, a sequel to its successful made-for-Asian-gaming-cafes port of the original Counter-Strike. Developed under license from Valve, Counter-Strike Online 2 will launch in China, South Korea, Japan and "other areas in Southeast Asia" on a future date.

When it does launch, it'll run on an "enhanced" version of the Source Engine and feature "enhanced graphics, more realistic gameplay and powerful impact sensations," the latter of which troubles us slightly considering the game is primarily about bullets impacting squishy human bodies. We're not in a huge rush to experience that firsthand.

Continue reading Nexon, Valve announce Counter-Strike Online 2 for Asian territories

Nexon, Valve announce Counter-Strike Online 2 for Asian territories originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korean rating outs Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013

David Hinkle — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:00 EST

Game Rating Board, South Korea's premiere games rating board, has listed another entry in the Magic: The Gathering series of games, presumably for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 again. As things look, Stainless Games and Wizards of the Coast have no plans of stopping the annual installments.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise: both the original Duels of the Planeswalkers and Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 performed well, the former having sold over 500,000 copies on XBLA, while the latter was one of PSN's top performers last year. Considering both previous installments launched in the summer, we're betting we'll be hearing about Duels 2013 soon.

South Korean rating outs Magic: The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect-powered theme park opens in South Korea

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST

While South Korea's cousins to the north are busying themselves with their new glorious leader, the folks in the south's Ilsan districts of Gyeonggi-do are being entranced by American technology. An entire theme park has been created using Microsoft's Kinect tech combined with RFID wristbands that allow attendees to create avatar representations of themselves and move through the park while interacting with its various "attractions."

But what are these attractions, you ask? They're just as bizarre as you might think, with things like "The Ender Mirror" allowing photo-taking powered by smiles, "Live360," which creates a 360-degree video game "with multiple story endings in a huge space," and much more. The park is being touted as "the world's first 4D avatar theme park," which we find hard to argue with. The question then becomes whether the world asked for such a theme park, which we find much, much easier to dispute.

Kinect-powered theme park opens in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Resident Evil 4 on Android, exclusive to Korea's LG LTE market (for now)

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST

You know what the world needed? Another port of Resident Evil 4. Seriously though, up until now Android users have been left out in the plagas-infested cold when it comes to Leon and Ashley's romp through rural Spain, which is a pretty sad thought when you consider that RE4 is available on everything from the iPhone to the Zeebo.

There is good news for the ultra-specific Resident Evil enthusiast, however, provided that they live in Korea and have an LTE-enabled Android device by LG. Yes, RE4 is finally coming to Google's little robot, but only on LG's LTE U+ Market ecosystem, which happens to exist exclusively in Korea. The port, which is likely itself a port of the iOS version, could eventually make its way to other Android devices, similar to how Street Fighter IV HD's limited-exclusivity situation keeps it on LG devices until May. For now though, the title is only available in Korea for ₩5,000, or $4.41.

[Thanks, Waylan!]

Resident Evil 4 on Android, exclusive to Korea's LG LTE market (for now) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo 3 rated in South Korea

JC Fletcher — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:00 EST

Diablo 3 continues its ~~sprint~~ ~~march~~ ~~stroll~~ shuffle toward release, with new evidence suggesting that the game is at least near completion: it's been rated in South Korea. Today, the Korean Game Rating Board issued a rating suggesting the dungeon crawler is suitable only for ages 18 and above.

Previously, the in-game auction house was holding up the game, as the GRB was deliberating about whether or not it constituted gambling. The explanation of the rating decision mentions only blood and violence, and not gambling, suggesting the GRB decided the auction house does not constitute gambling.

And now Korea is the first nation to issue a rating, which means everyone else on Earth is more of a holdup.

Diablo 3 rated in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attention 20-something adultolescents: Power Rangers Online is a thing

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST

The amount of nostalgic, nigh-shameful glee we have for the Power Rangers series could fill several extended volumes, fully annotated with diagrams and bibliographies and everything. We're even into the obscure pre-Saiban Power Rangers from the 70's, like Battle Fever J (natch) and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.

We ain't no spring flowers, though, and as the steady march of time takes us ever closer to our graves, so too do the Power Rangers march forward into a new century. Part of that march, it turns out, takes the Mystic Force rangers straight through MMO town: South Korean golfing MMO developer Ntreev Soft is in the process of beta testing Power Rangers Online, a side-scrolling beat-em-up MMO staring our favorite teenagers with attitude.

Much like the SNES Power Rangers games of yore, players start out as normal teens at the beginning of the stage, mightily morphin' into Rangers halfway through each level. Only the Red, Pink and Yellow Mystic Rangers are playable at the moment, however the Mystic Force continuity has at least 7 rangers total to pull from, should more characters be added.

We didn't even have to look that last part up, which should probably worry us beyond all measure. Oh well!

Attention 20-something adultolescents: Power Rangers Online is a thing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kim Jong-il has hackers farming MMOs for in-game coin (and, we assume, Aviators)

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

It all makes sense now -- North Korea's infamously deluded dictator, Kim Jong-il, wants to be king of the castle in NCsoft's MMO Lineage, completely explaining his fetishes for extravagance and naked discos. Kim has hired a team of hackers to farm Asian MMOs for in-game coin, which they sell online for cash IRL, according to South Korean officials. Kim's hackers hail from North and South Korea, and work with operatives in Northern China, four of which were arrested last week in Seoul for organizing a hacking squad of 30 people, authorities said.

In less than two years, the organizers made $6 million, 55 percent of which went to the hackers, and some of that to Kim's agents in Pyongyang, Seoul police said. Officials believe the hackers report to a mysterious Communist Party agency named Office 39, which earns money for Kim through drug trafficking, arms sales and other illegal activities. Kim's slush fund is worth billions, American and South Korean officials said, and he uses it, in part, to fund a nuclear weapons program. This is truly upsetting, because the only thing more depressing than a nuclear attack is a nuclear attack funded by MMOs.

Kim Jong-il has hackers farming MMOs for in-game coin (and, we assume, Aviators) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recall is a time-based first-person puzzler concept worth watching

Mike Schramm — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:20:00 EST

Above is a quick video demo for a game concept called Recall built by a South Korean game developer named Jaewoo Jay Jeon. The intriguing video offers up time-based first-person gameplay in a 3D world. The basic idea seems to be that you can "record" the world and your movement, and then fast-forward, rewind, or pause or play back that recording, affecting either your own character, or various objects in the world around you.

That lets you do things like freeze time to hold blocks in place that can be used as platforms, or run a few different versions of yourself around a map, Braid-style. The last room in the demo shows the player recording just a moment, moving away from that point, and then playing it back quickly, warping the player past a dangerous barrier.

It's smart stuff, though obviously this is just a concept of a work in progress, and not actually a commercial game yet. Still, we've seen great games come from humble beginnings before -- could this be another Portal in the making?

Recall is a time-based first-person puzzler concept worth watching originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korea gaming curfew passes committee unanimously

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:00:00 EST

South Korea's national assembly will soon vote on a curfew law preventing children under 15 from playing online games from midnight until 6AM. Chosunilbo reports the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee voted unanimously to pass the bill this Wednesday. The law would not affect offline and console games.

The government began making moves to enact a video game curfew last year. The program also included tests of a "slowdown" policy that would reduce the internet speed of underage users logged into a policed game for an extended time.

Government regulation isn't fun, but it could be worse for young South Korean gamers ... they could be Vietnamese adults.

South Korea gaming curfew passes committee unanimously originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PopCap and NCsoft team up for Korean 'PopCap World'

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

PopCap and NCsoft are cooking up a new product that threatens to destroy productivity in Korea: "PopCap World." The games platform, launching later this year, will be operated by NCsoft and will feature 13 PopCap titles at launch. The games will be offered for free with "optional, premium paid elements to be added later." The initial sampling includes hits of Bejeweled and Plants Vs. Zombies, in addition to an "all-new multiplayer" fix called Super Zuma, which PopCap assures was "built exclusively for Korean players."

PopCap's casual empire, originally built on addictive solo experiences, has expanded rapidly to include the addition of social features and Facebook games. And Korean psychiatrists thought "StarCraft addiction" was an issue ...

PopCap and NCsoft team up for Korean 'PopCap World' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You must watch this teaser video for a Mega Man game you'll never play

JC Fletcher — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:45:00 EST

Rockman Online is a side-scrolling online game that mashes up the Mega Man and Mega Man X worlds. It's also only being released in South Korea. Luckily, then, this anime-style teaser video is cool enough for us to enjoy as a standalone work, because for us, it might as well be!

Continue reading You must watch this teaser video for a Mega Man game you'll never play

You must watch this teaser video for a Mega Man game you'll never play originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global StarCraft 2 League offers over $500,000 in prize money this year

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

A new professional StarCraft competitive organization was recently founded by South Korean television network GomTV, which locked down exclusivity rights to broadcast all Blizzard tournaments in the nation. Called the Global StarCraft 2 League, the organization will begin holding monthly 64-man tournaments across the country later in August, and then every month throughout the rest of 2010. To convince set-in-their-ways players to make the jump from the original StarCraft to the sequel, GomTV is offering over $125,000 in prize money for every tournament.

While potentially lucrative, these monthly tournaments are only preliminaries for a series of tournaments set for 2011, culminating in the Blizzard Cup next December that will crown the greatest StarCraft 2 player of the year. These tournaments will be broadcast globally starting next month -- but if you'd prefer to spend your precious time watching an American StarCraft 2 tourney, your chance might not be too far off. The MLG recently added the successful strategy title to its rotation.

Global StarCraft 2 League offers over $500,000 in prize money this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More than a dozen implicated in South Korean StarCraft scandal

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:30:00 EST

[Image source: MTV]

According to StarCraft forum Team Liquid, 16 South Koreans are being implicated in the StarCraft match-fixing scandal that we heard about earlier this year. The site claims that three brokers, 11 professional StarCraft players and two others (for making bets with insider knowledge) have been indicted thus far. The match-fixing is said to have taken place in December of last year, when brokers corroborated with players to intentionally lose matches.

One of the players named in Team Liquid's report, Moon Sung Jin, has issued a rather grave formal apology via his Cyworld (South Korean social networking service) account. "I am sorry. Due to a hasty mistake, I have disappointed many people. I have nothing to say on this matter, and I do not have any intention of being forgiven," Jin wrote, according to 1UP, adding, "I will be entering military service on the 31st of May, and it seems like I am running away from the truth. I can only say that I will do my best to reflect on my actions and to be discharged as a better, more rational person. I am truly sorry once again."

Reports of the amount each player received varies, from between two to six and a half million won ($2,000 to $6,000) for the calculated losses, which were then allegedly pooled and used to bribe a host of other players.

[Via 1UP]

More than a dozen implicated in South Korean StarCraft scandal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard appeals StarCraft 2 Korean 'Adults Only' rating

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:25:00 EST

Blizzard has zerg rushed an appeal together to combat South Korea's "Adults Only" rating for upcoming South Korean narcotic StarCraft 2. Shacknews reports that the rating was based on an old build of the game, and that Blizzard has already submitted a new version to petition the board for a lower rating.

Blizzard is likely taking StarCraft 2's launch and accessibility in South Korea very seriously. The original game is popular enough to support many incredibly well-paid professional players, and there's lots of money on the line -- albeit not always legally.

Blizzard appeals StarCraft 2 Korean 'Adults Only' rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 given 'Adults Only' rating in South Korea

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST

According to a report by the Korea Times, Blizzard's upcoming StarCraft sequel has been given an Adults Only rating by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, effectively relegating the game to those 18 years old or older. Given the game's enormous popularity in the country -- and the previous "over-15" rating Blizzard received from the same board for SC2 earlier this year with an older build of the game -- the decision comes as a bit of a surprise. Apparently, the company was seeking an "over-12" in the country, and thusly resubmitted the most recent build of the game for rating. The ratings board says of the decision, "Considering that the RC version of the game is closer to what will be sold on the shelves compared to the beta versions, we looked more carefully at the content," allowing that, "this rating is not final, as Blizzard will get the chance to object to it."

For its part, Blizzard's South Korea reps told the paper that an immediate course of action has yet to be decided. "We have nothing to say at this point. We are discussing our official position on the matter as well as what would be the right reaction." We've reached out to Blizzard's US representatives and will update this post if we hear back.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

StarCraft 2 given 'Adults Only' rating in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korea rocked by StarCraft gambling scandal

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST

An ongoing investigation has made headlines in South Korean media over the past few days, thanks to an alarming scandal involving StarCraft. Overseas, Blizzard's RTS is played professionally and broadcast on national television. And, like most sports leagues, the competitions have drawn a following from the illegal gambling market.

The growing controversy surrounds a number of professional gamers, including some famous and top-ranked players, accused of intentionally throwing matches to exploit the illegal gambling operations. The Korean police are currently investigating the accusations. However, considering the underground nature of the scandal, it's clear that it will take a long time before all potential suspects are apprehended.

For further coverage, Team Liquid offers a recently updated and extensive overview of the scandal.

[Via BigDownload]

South Korea rocked by StarCraft gambling scandal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korea to impose gaming curfew to curb minors' playtime

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced two new policies aimed at stifling so-called video game addiction among the country's youth. Dubbed the "nighttime shutdown," users ages 19 and under of certain online games will be required to select one of three mandatory six-hour blackout periods set for the middle of the night, during which a user would be barred form online access to the particular game. The blackouts will be instituted for a number of popular online games, such as Maple Story, in the second half of this year.

Additionally, testing of a second, "slowdown" policy has already begun, affecting four popular pastimes, including Dungeon Fighter Online (pictured above). The system is said to "drastically" reduce the internet speed of any underage user logged into a policed game for an unspecified but "lengthy" play session, according to The Korea Herald. Eventually, this dys-functionality will be rolled into 19 RPG titles, representing 79 percent of Korea's online game market. Some affected game companies have questioned why equally popular MMOs, such as Lineage, have not been marked for regulation. (Good question.)

For years, South Korea has identified and sought treatments for "game addiction," which continues to be a major headline generator in the country and abroad. Critics of the new playtime enforcement policies believe that underage players will inevitably find ways to get around the shutdowns and slowdowns, suggesting that even unprecedented government intervention is not a reliable solution. That is, until the government sends its army of guys with bats to your door.

[Via Massively]

Korea to impose gaming curfew to curb minors' playtime originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rent a PSP Go on your next South Korean flight

David Hinkle — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST

If you're planning on taking a flight into (or out of) South Korea and are hard-pressed for something to do during the flight, Jin Air, a subsidiary of Korean Air, is offering patrons the option to rent a 16GB PSP Go for a reasonable 4,000 won ($3.50), Siliconera reports. It apparently comes pre-loaded with games, none of which are specifically mentioned in the press release. That's a good way to get somebody to pay for something!

Anyway, we're just glad somebody's supporting the PSP Go, because it's not like Sony is.

[Thanks, John]

Rent a PSP Go on your next South Korean flight originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korea serious about serious games, invests $64 million

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:00:00 EST

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Starcraft (okay, we made that last one up) plans to invest ₩80 billion ($64 million) in serious games. The Korea IT Times reports that the ministry is trying to grow the market to ₩500 billion ($400 million) by 2012. Minister Yu In-chon notes that the serious games market is at an early stage and is an "emerging blue ocean." Oh, look who's jumping on the hot topic business bandwagon.

The "Blue Ocean Strategy" is a concept where a company sets up shop in an unknown space, rather than compete in a cluttered market. For gamers, obvious examples of applied Blue Ocean Strategy would be Nintendo's entire marketing of the Wii, and developers who jumped on the iPhone app store. Currently, Korea has no specific serious games projects announced, but likely applications are based in the medical, educational and military fields.

[Via GI.biz]

South Korea serious about serious games, invests $64 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 May 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Sony troubled by 'reverse-importing,' no more PS3s for South Korea

Xav de Matos — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:16:00 EST

Sony is halting shipments of PlayStation 3 to South Korea due to a "reverse-importing" issue, according to a Chosen Online report, as translated by Kotaku. Apparently (somewhat) creative gamers are taking advantage of the depreciated South Korean Won (?) by purchasing their consoles for a reduced price in South Korea and hauling them back to Japan, where the Yen (¥) remains strong. The 80 GB PS3 launched in South Korea in June 2007 and sells for ?480,000 ($321); versus ¥39,900 ($412) in Japan. A Sony representative said the company was "troubled" by the importing issue.

Sony isn't the only company going this route to save money on dwindling currencies. Nintendo recently increased the margin on Wiis sold to UK retailers, forcing stores to increase the price of the system. Also, Microsoft still charges you the life of your first born for a larger Xbox 360 hard drive. (Well, not outright but ... approximately.)

[Via Game Politics; image credit: Enterprise Ireland]

Report: Sony troubled by 'reverse-importing,' no more PS3s for South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean pro Warcraft player says 'zug-zug' to a half-million dollar contract

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:15:00 EST

Korean professional gamer Jae Ho "Moon" Jang has signed a three-year, $486,500 contract to play with WeMade FOX in the Korean gaming leagues. His manager is working on introducing more quality players as there "aren't many first-class players in Korea." Um, if you're, like, really good at Warcraft/StarCraft ... now's the time to start learning Korean.

Best part: Jang isn't even the highest paid professional Korean player, just the highest paid Warcraft player. Top billing goes to his WeMade FOX teammate, Yoon Yeoi "NaDa" Lee, who signed a contract for $521,250 to play StarCraft back in 2007. Wow.

[Via VG247]

Korean pro Warcraft player says 'zug-zug' to a half-million dollar contract originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Counting Rupees: Korea bangs

Geoffrey Brooks — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Features

Each week Jeff Engel and Geoff Brooks contribute Counting Rupees, a column on the business behind gaming:

I've temporarily relocated to Seoul for the summer to work for a consumer electronics firm, so I thought I'd spend a little time detailing some of the differences in gaming culture here in South Korea, and the impact that infrastructure has on the gaming business. In short, there are two notable differences in the Korean gaming industry relative to the United States. First, PC games are significantly more popular than console games; and second, gaming is much more mainstream in Korean culture than it is even now in the States. These differences have created structural factors in the country that have profoundly shaped the nature of the industry from a business perspective.

Perhaps the most salient factor is cultural - there is, as far as I can tell, almost no stigma attached to gaming in the country (at the least, it's viewed as a mainstream activity). A number of Korean acquaintances have commented on the Korean fascination with the new and fashionable: when one co-worker went apartment-hunting with a real estate agent, the agent refused to show him any houses that had been previously occupied, on the assumption that they would be of little interest. And part of that fascination seems to be technological, indicating a possible cause of Koreans' embrace of gaming as a form of entertainment. Indeed, I've seen countless people using a DS or PSP on the subway... and my cheap, used cell phone has more free games on it than I've played on any phone since I began using them in the first place.

Continue reading Counting Rupees: Korea bangs

Counting Rupees: Korea bangs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 'localizes' DS systems for Asia

Candace Savino — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: News

We may not be getting a redesigned DS in the near future (if you believe the company line), but there will be some "localized" DS systems flooding the markets in the near future. We're not sure what the differences are between a "localized" handheld and a good old-fashioned DS Lite, as Nintendo hasn't offered any specifics. What we do know is this:

They'll be releasing in Taiwan, possibly South Korea, and (eventually) China
They'll be sold in mobile phone stores
They'll be available by the end of the month

We wonder if the fact that these ~~redesigned~~ localized DSes are being sold in phone stores is an indication of cell phone support (or, at the very least, connectivity). We think guessing "yes" is a pretty safe bet, but in any case, we're waiting to hear more details from Nintendo itself before going crazy with speculation. This is certainly an interesting move on the Big N's part, though, in the company's attempt to revive sales and fight the popular PC beast in Asia. Being the analyst wannabes that we are, we can't wait to see if this has any impact on the hardware market.

Nintendo 'localizes' DS systems for Asia originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capcom profits in FY07, wants into Chinese online market

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Capcom is looking to get into China and South Korea's online game market with some modifications to its console games. Reuters reports that Capcom's CFO, Kazuhiko Abe, expressed it would be an "attractive step to modify" its console games for online use in other Asian markets, as Japan only has a "certain group of users" into online games.

The publisher should have plenty of money to fund its expansion into western Asia after it reported $803 million in sales (up 11.5%) and about $75 million in profit (up 34%) for fiscal year 2007. Games like RE 4 Wii, RE: Umbrella Chronicles and Devil May Cry 4 saw "robust sales" overseas, while Monster Hunter Freedom 2 shook the money tree back home in Japan.

Read -- Capcom aims to enter China online market
Read -- Profits at Capcom

Capcom profits in FY07, wants into Chinese online market originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Korean president gifted with mother of pearl Xbox 360

Ross Miller — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has commissioned 100 Xbox 360s adorned in the traditional Korean mother of pearl, with at least one of them going to South Korean president Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae on May 6, according to Far East Gizmos. Given the conole's tepid reception in the region (although it did just receive a price drop), we wonder if the president will be able to find any local Xbox Live friends.

Regardless, that's still one of the classier case mods we've seen, and certainly more aesthetically pleasing that the Croco-360. Let's just hope the system doesn't become one massive, red-ringed paperweight.

[Via Engadget]

South Korean president gifted with mother of pearl Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft drops price of Xbox 360 in Asia

Ross Miller — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Microsoft has dropped the price of its Xbox 360 in four Asian markets: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan (via Bloomberg). According to Microsoft executive Jeff Bell, price reductions in Europe caused sales of the hardware there to almost double.

Here are the price drops reported by region:

Hong Kong: An 11 percent drop
Singapore: A 20 percent drop to S$499 (US $366)
South Korea: A 5.1 percent to 369,000 won (US $369)
Taiwan: A 17 percent drop to NT$10,360 (US $340)

According to a Microsoft spokesperson in Taipei, the Hong Kong and Taiwan price drops will come today. The Singapore and South Korea price drop confirmations came from separate emails with no confirmation as to the effective date.

Microsoft drops price of Xbox 360 in Asia originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii hits South Korea on April 26

Chris Greenhough — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

Almost eighteen months after the console made its worldwide debut in the U.S., South Korea has finally received news of its own Wii launch. Little wonder they all look so elated -- back in 2006, our reaction to Wii launch news was similar (if you take away the flag, the crowds, the being outside, and the baring of flesh).

Although South Korea has had to wait some time to get its Wii on, they're getting it fairly cheap when it does arrive on April 26th. The console itself is 220,000 won ($224), while the games range from 38,000 won ($39) to 48,000 won ($49). The launch line-up is dominated by third-parties, with Wii Sports, Wii Play (and a Wiimote), Rayman Raving Rabbids 2, Zack & Wiki, FIFA 2008, Elebits, Namco Museum Remix, and Pangya Golf 2nd Shot available to first-day Wii owners, and Guitar Hero III scheduled for May.

Finally, the country gets its very own Virtual Console, with both a reduced number of consoles (only NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64) and reduced prices. Yep, you read that right: South Koreans will only have to pay 400 Wii Points for NES titles, 600 Points for SNES games, and 800 Points for N64 titles. Lucky blighters.

[Via Siliconera]

Wii hits South Korea on April 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii to be demonstrated in South Korea next month

David Hinkle — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

To drum up some more buzz for their console in South Korea, Nintendo has announced it will have a press conference lined up so folks can get their hands on the Wii. It's all going down on April 14th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. We're not sure if this thing will be invite-only or not, so Seoul Wii Fanboy readers, here's a protip: use the alley entrance on the northwest side.

Many are still looking to Children's Day as being the time when Nintendo will officially release the console to the region. No word from Nintendo, however, so we'll just have to wait and see if they say more come April 14th.

Wii to be demonstrated in South Korea next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii in South Korea by May 5

David Hinkle — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

After opening a branch in South Korea, Nintendo has quickly ushered the DS into the region and into the hands of eager gamers. The DS has been received with big, open arms by the public, so it's only natural that Nintendo would want to get the Wii in there, as well. That time may be during this May, apparently.

In a report recently published by The Korea Times, word hits that both Nintendo and Activision registered games with the Korean ratings board (their version of the ESRB). With the popular gift-giving holiday Children's Day coming May 5th, the consensus is that the system will launch then.

Regardless of when it's coming, the important thing is that it is arriving at all. We'll cross our fingers for you, fine Korean brothers and sisters, so that you may enjoy what has been the focus of our lives for quite some time.

[Via Joystiq]

Wii in South Korea by May 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Wii coming to South Korea by May 5

Kyle Orland — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii

We've known for a while now that Nintendo was planning to bring the Wii to PC-gaming mecca South Korea some time this year, but recent word has it that the system may be hitting the country's shores sooner than later. The Korea Times is reporting that Nintendo and Activision recently registered two Wii games each with Korea's Game Rating Board. The paper speculates this move means Nintendo Korea is looking to launch by Children's Day on May 5, a popular gift-giving holiday in the country. Though there's no official announcement from Nintendo, we can't think of a better holiday to launch for a system known for kid-friendly games like Super Mario Galaxy and Resident Evil 4.

Report: Wii coming to South Korea by May 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All that glitters is gold decal

Candace Savino — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fan stuff

We've showed you some nice DS sticker skins from South Korea before, but we think these decals are a little bit nicer. Why? Because they're 24-karat gold, of course. The SGP Metal pack, which makes the DS shiny and delicious, is being sold in South Korea for 26,200 KRW (approximately $29 USD).

Adding metal trim to the DS is apparently all the rage in South Korea, which is fine by us. If we ever make it over there, we'll have to keep an eye out for all the pimped out handhelds.

Hit the jump to see what this DS looks like on the inside.

Continue reading All that glitters is gold decal

All that glitters is gold decal originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii comes to China, South Korea in 2008

Ross Miller — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Business

On the same day he decreed the Wii's price will not be lowered, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced plans to bring its money-printing home console to China and South Korea next year, following this year's supposed holiday season console shortage.

"We suffer a global shortage of the Wii," said Iwata in a news conference (via Reuters). "Our responsibility now is to deliver as many consoles as we can to existing markets ... But next year, I think we can bring the Wii (to China)."

Though China received the Nintendo DS in a timely manner, South Korea didn't get an official launch of the portable until January of this year.

[Via Engadget]

Wii comes to China, South Korea in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA offering FIFA for free?

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Online, Sports, Business

For the past eight months EA has been offering FIFA Online for free in South Korea. The strategy being: if you can't beat 'em (software pirates), join 'em. Much like any other company that owns digital media sought after by consumers, EA has had to contend with the free, albeit illegal distribution of its products across the internet. So FIFA Online is free in South Korea ... with a catch.

EA has divided the cost of FIFA into micropayments, sold as "enhancements." Want to extend the career of a star player? It'll cost you some change. The approach has proved agreeable to consumer habits -- and presumably less conducive to piracy. Since last May, EA has sold roughly 700,000 enhancements. Cha-ching!

EA offering FIFA for free? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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