Joystiq

Valve partners with Nexon to bring Dota 2 to Japan and Korea

Mike Schramm — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST

Online game publisher Nexon has announced that it's teaming up with Valve to bring the free-to-play Dota 2 to the Japanese and Korean markets. Dota 2 is of course based on a Warcraft 3 mod named Defense of the Ancients, and the multiplayer online battle arena style of gameplay, inspired by real-time strategy games, will likely appeal very much to those overseas markets. Valve's Gabe Newell says, according to the press release, that "partnering with Nexon will allow us to deliver Dota 2 to a massive audience of Asian gamers via a premium service."

Dota 2's competitor League of Legends has already been enormously popular in Korea, with a South Korean team nabbing the world title at the last championships. So Valve is likely expecting a lot from Nexon, in terms of delivering the game to these new markets. Dota 2 is currently in closed beta and heading toward a free-to-play launch soon.

Valve partners with Nexon to bring Dota 2 to Japan and Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:00:00 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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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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Korean government raids Blizzard over Diablo 3 complaints

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

The Korean Federal Trade Commission raided Blizzard's Seoul office on Monday as part of an investigation into consumer claims that Blizzard has refused to refund Diablo 3 to eligible Korean players.

The FTC says it suspects Blizzard of violating Korean law on electronic commerce and commercial contracts, and it gathered documents and other evidence relevant to its investigation in the raid. Some Korean players were frustrated with Diablo 3's server issues at launch and asked for refunds, which Blizzard denied, citing its sales contract terms, The Korea Times reports. The FTC considers these terms to be disadvantageous to players.

"We have received many complaints from Diablo 3 users," FTC spokesman Kim Hyung-bae says.

Another angle the FTC is investigating is whether Blizzard should be held liable for its "ill-preparation" in regards to player traffic, The Korea Times says.

On that note, who has a raid tonight? Oh, the Korean government. Right.

Korean government raids Blizzard over Diablo 3 complaints originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo launching 3DS in Korea on April 28

David Hinkle — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST

Korea is finally getting the 3DS. Blue, pink and black models are launching in the country on April 28 for 220,000 won ($193), Nintendo has revealed.

The launch lineup will consist of three games: Tekken 3D Prime Edition, Super Mario 3D Land and Nicola Magazine Model Stylish Audition 2. Later in the year, Nintendo plans to offer Mario Kart 7, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Nintendogs + Cats and the two N64 remakes, Star Fox 64 3D and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

Nintendo launching 3DS in Korea on April 28 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Ball Z Kinect rated in Korea, start practicing your Fusion Dance

JC Fletcher — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST

We're not even ashamed to admit we're excited about "DragonballZ Kinect," an unannounced game rated by Korea's Game Ratings Board. Usual Dragon Ball Z game publisher Bandai Namco is listed as the publisher for this game.

It's not hard to imagine a Kinect-based Dragon Ball Z game, all yelling into the microphone to "power up" your character, making wild flailing motions to throw Kamehameha Waves and Spirit Bombs at smirking, airborne jerks with tall hair, and maybe even walking in place to pantomime the destructive stomps of a crazed space gorilla.

Whatever we imagine this game includes, the real thing's going to be so much goofier. We can't wait to find out.

Dragon Ball Z Kinect rated in Korea, start practicing your Fusion Dance originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:30:00 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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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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Diablo 3 has a gambling problem in South Korea

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Diablo 3 is stuck in production hell in South Korea, where the Korean Ratings Board is "conflicted about what to do" with the game's auction house, which they feel is too close to gambling to be entirely legal, The Korea Times reports. Blizzard's Mike Morhaime visited Korea in September to resolve concerns and Blizzard has currently submitted three versions of Diablo 3 to the Ratings Board, including one without the auction house feature, but "committee members are still reluctant," The Korea Times writes.

Blizzard is intent on a global release of Diablo 3, and this snag could affect the launch date for everyone. There is no official release date for Diablo 3 yet.

Diablo 3 has a gambling problem in South Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:30:00 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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Korea classifies Joe Danger for Xbox 360

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST

Joe Danger, the exciting bike game from Hello Games, just might be flipping its way to Xbox 360. The Korean Game Rating Board has classified the stunt-driven racer for the Xbox, with Microsoft Korea listed as publisher. Pre-zoom-ably, the game will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade, perhaps ahead of the launch of the sequel, Joe Danger: The Movie.

We've contacted Hello Games for comment.

Korea classifies Joe Danger for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DJ Max Technika coming to PlayStation Vita

JC Fletcher — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

The PSP saw releases of several DJ Max games from developer Pentavision. Now, the successor system will get a portable version of the touchscreen-based DJ Max spinoff, DJ Max Technika. Sony Computer Entertainment Korea announced the Vita port in a press release today, sharing the single moe screenshot above.

In the arcades, Technika has players tapping circles and tracing lines on a giant touchscreen. The Vita version won't simply replicate this gameplay concept, as it somehow uses both the touchscreen and the rear touch panel. However it works, rest assured: it will be very difficult.

DJ Max Technika coming to PlayStation Vita originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean Game Rating Board rates Crysis for Xbox 360 [update: ESRB too]

JC Fletcher — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST

A new rating suggests that the first Crysis may be headed to Xbox 360. "Crysis" was spotted on the Korean Game Rating Board website, listed for Xbox 360. Crysis 2 is already on the database, with separate listings for each platform (including Xbox), so it's not simply a matter of the sequel being released in that market as just "Crysis."

That leaves the tantalizing possibility that Crysis is being ported to Xbox 360, using Crytek's multiplatform-friendly CryEngine 3. There's also the distinct possibility that the listing is just a mistake, though we're hardly tantalized at all by that.

[Thanks, Sacra]

Update: The ESRB lists Crysis for both Xbox 360 and PS3.

Korean Game Rating Board rates Crysis for Xbox 360 [update: ESRB too] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limbo rating sought by Sony in Korea, could be PSN-bound

Christopher Grant — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST

Shortly before last summer's release of Limbo - that year's top Xbox Live Summer of Arcade title "by a long stretch" - the ESRB erroneously listed the PlayStation 3 and PC platforms in addition to the Xbox 360. Developer Playdead's Dino Patti told us, "We are only launching the title on XBLA. You won't see a PS3 or PC version this time around, sorry."

However, like other Summer of Arcade indie exclusives before it including Braid and Castle Crashers, Limbo could make an appearance on Sony's platform after a period of exclusivity ... like, say, a year or so. The Korean Game Ratings Board has a listing for Limbo filed by Sony Computer Entertainment Korea. It so happens that the GRB has a pretty strong track record, outing Xbox Live Arcade titles like Fruit Ninja Kinect and Sega Rally Online Arcade. Before you get your hopes up, we've reached out to Playdead for a comment on the listing.

Limbo rating sought by Sony in Korea, could be PSN-bound originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft profits decline, limited marketing blamed

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

MMORPG publisher NCSoft has reported a year-over-year decline in both revenue and profit during the first quarter of 2011. The company's revenues fell 7 percent from the same period a year ago to 155.4 billion Korean Won (about $143 million), despite increased sales from Lineage 2. Profits showed an even sharper decline, dropping 30 percent to 40.8 billion KRW ($37.5 million).

The company chalked up the losses to "soft sales promotions" of its other two key games, the original Lineage and Aion -- or, as we like to call them, "the one with all the castles" and "the one with all the angels." That's ... about all we know about the two games. You know, ahem, because of their limited marketing budgets.

NCsoft profits decline, limited marketing blamed originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Fruit Ninja Kinect' rated in Korea

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

According to Korea's Game Rating Board, the iOS, Android and Windows Phone sensation Fruit Ninja is headed to the Xbox 360 with Kinect functionality in tow.

The game will be billed Fruit Ninja Kinect and, presumably, will have us all karate chopping virtual melons in front of the TV like idiots. In other words, it sounds like a grand ol' time. We can only hope it winds up a little something like this.

'Fruit Ninja Kinect' rated in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon America's pre-paid card empire

Mike Schramm — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:55:00 EST

Nexon America CEO Daniel Kim tells an interesting story about how his company created one of the biggest phenomena in gaming retail lately: The pre-paid card. Nowadays, you can find rows of pre-paid cards for Nexon's microtransaction-based games like MapleStory or Vindictus lining the shelves of any 7-11 or Target. But a few years ago, both Target and its customers had to be sold on the idea.

Kim and his company came up with a way to teach customers how it worked, right inside a browser-based MMO. "We had a quest in-game, to go to Target in-game, to the section where they had the game cards," Kim says. Target kept the cards not in the gaming section, but in the music section alongside iTunes gift cards. "So three months leading up to the actual release of the card, we actually had a quest in-game to go get allowance from an NPC, go to the Target store, go to the music section, go find a CD card."

The training worked. "Day one," says Kim, "the cards were released, they were sold out in so many stores. They called us and said, 'We gotta print more cards.'"

Continue reading Nexon America's pre-paid card empire

Nexon America's pre-paid card empire originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Sega Rally Online Arcade' rated in Korea

JC Fletcher — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST

If a new listing by the Korean Game Rating Board is any indication, we could be kicking up some dust on PSN soon. The board posted a rating entry for "Sega Rally Online Arcade," a title that doesn't really require much interpretation. It's Sega Rally -- the classic arcade rally racing series originally created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi -- online.

The title was submitted by Sony Computer Entertainment Korea, which would suggest a release on a PlayStation system; and we'll just go out on a limb and guess that would be PS3. The previous "Online Arcade" game, OutRun Online Arcade, was released on PSN and XBLA ... and then removed (due to an expiring contract with Ferrari). Since this Sega Rally game has yet to even be officially announced, it'll be long before we have to worry about that game being over (yeaaah).

'Sega Rally Online Arcade' rated in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Blizzard suing over Korean StarCraft broadcast rights

David Hinkle — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:10:00 EST

According to a report from The Korea Times, Blizzard CEO Paul Sams is none too happy with Korean channels MBC Game and OnGameNet. They've been broadcasting StarCraft tournaments without the company's consent, Sams revealed in a press conference in Seoul yesterday. Last month, Blizzard filed to sue both networks and he says the company is currently considering filing against the Korea e-Sports Players Association (KeSPA) as well, who manage these tournaments. Bupropion seems to be having little effect on the popularity of the game in the country.

The other side of the argument, uh, argues that games used in public tournaments such as these should be considered part of the public domain and Blizzard has no right to charge licensing fees. "StarCraft is not a public domain offering, as Blizzard has invested significant money and resources to create the StarCraft game and the overall StarCraft universe,'' Sams said. "Classifying StarCraft and other e-sports as part of the public domain deprives developers such as Blizzard of their IP rights. There will be no incentive to do what Blizzard had done to balance the games for competition, which is a more difficult task than creating a normal game." Back in August, Blizzard inked a deal to the broadcast rights for StarCraft 2 with GomTV.

Currently, the company is deciding whether to file a preliminary injunction against the broadcasts, which would legally halt all contests until the dispute could be settled in or out of court.

Report: Blizzard suing over Korean StarCraft broadcast rights originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crytek puts on its Warface, launching free-to-play FPS in Asian markets

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:05:00 EST

Free-to-play in-your-face FPS news now, with Crytek's announcement of a new military shooter "especially dedicated" to Korean and other Asian markets. Powered by CryEngine 3, Warface will serve as the developer's entry into the freemium arena, and a chilling reminder of that poor kid you teased in high school about his terrible, uncontrollable acne.

That was me, by the way, and I know where you live now.

Warface is co-produced by Crytek Seoul, and will debut on PC in South Korea with class-based, player-versus-player modes, as well as "dramatic" multiplayer co-op missions. Just try to hold the tears back -- it ruins the camo face paint.

Gallery: Warface

Continue reading Crytek puts on its Warface, launching free-to-play FPS in Asian markets

Crytek puts on its Warface, launching free-to-play FPS in Asian markets originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mega Man Online looks like Mega Man

JC Fletcher — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:40:00 EST

The mysterious Korean MMO Mega Man Online has finally been revealed. The ten-minute off-screen gameplay video after the break reveals what we didn't dare hope for: it's actually a run-and-gun. You know, like a Mega Man game! Basically, it looks like a polygonal, sped-up Mega Man X. Not bad.

Continue reading Mega Man Online looks like Mega Man

Mega Man Online looks like Mega Man originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox holiday bundle with Forza 3, downloadable Alan Wake headed to multiple territories

Richard Mitchell — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:10:00 EST

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

Just in case you were worried that there weren't quite enough Xbox 360 bundles to choose from, it looks like Microsoft has another one headed down the pike. The bundle in question includes a 250GB Xbox 360 S console as well as Alan Wake and the eternal pack-in, Forza Motorsport 3. The image above -- pulled directly from one of Microsoft's retailer resource services -- is denoted as a Canadian bundle.

Siliconera also reports that the bundle has been announced for South Korea at a price of 398,000 won ($356). A tipster has informed Kotaku that the bundle is available in Europe as well, retailing for €250 ($348). We've contacted Microsoft to find out if the bundle is coming stateside as well.

One intriguing note about the bundle: It doesn't actually include a physical copy of Alan Wake, instead offering a code to download the game in its entirety (see a close-up image in the gallery below). While it's likely to be a Games on Demand title in the near future, it's also worth noting that Remedy has expressed interest in releasing the game in downloadable episodes, a la Fable 2.

Gallery: Xbox 360 250GB Holiday 2010 bundle

Xbox holiday bundle with Forza 3, downloadable Alan Wake headed to multiple territories originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:10:00 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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South Korean psychiatrists treating StarCraft 'addiction' with drugs

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST

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

A study recently conducted by the Department of Psychiatry at South Korea's Chung Ang University has found that StarCraft "addiction" can be treated with Bupropion, an antidepressant and anti-smoking aid. According to Wired, the study found that individuals who took the drug for six weeks saw their average StarCraft playtime decrease by 35.5 percent. Also -- we swear we're not making this up -- MRI scans showed that participant's brains reacted less strongly to pictures of Zerglings after the treatment.

Treating someone's obsessive behavior towards a video game with real-life pharmaceuticals is a fairly heavy prescription. Then again, out of the survey's eleven participants, six had dropped out of school for two months due to the amount of time they put into StarCraft every day. Two participants were divorced due to their demanding StarCraft schedules. Isn't it possible these people are suffering from depression because of their obsession with a video game? Or, rather, couldn't they have become obsessed with a video game because they were depressed? In either case, doesn't it kind of make sense to treat them with antidepressants?

South Korean psychiatrists treating StarCraft 'addiction' with drugs originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: Call of Duty Online could make $100 million in its first year

David Hinkle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:30:00 EST

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

Rumors have been flying around about a subscription-based Call of Duty game for some time now -- Activision boss Bobby Kotick loves the idea, because he loves money, and the company's other subscription-based game, World of Warcraft, is quite the cash-printing machine. So why not go down that road?

Many still believe Activision will, including Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey. With the publisher's plans to break into China and Korea, Hickey told IndustryGamers he sees Call of Duty as the perfect platform for accomplishing that goal and strengthening ties with NetEase, the online powerhouse of the Chinese market. "We expect the Company [NetEase] could extend their relationship with Activision Blizzard, by establishing an additional license to operate Call of Duty Online in China and Blizzard's unannounced MMO, which will likely leverage their Battle.net platform," he said. "The eventuality of COD in China could bring an additional +$50 to +$100 million in sales and +$0.15 to +$0.30 in EPS in its first year of operation." EPS, to clarify, is short for "earnings per share."

Who knows what's in store for the future, but for now, rest assured: you won't ever have to fork over extra cash to play Modern Warfare 2 online.

Analyst: Call of Duty Online could make $100 million in its first year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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StarCraft 2 free for WoW players in Korea, loses 18+ rating

Mike Schramm — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:05:00 EST

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

Blizzard is tweaking the business model for its upcoming StarCraft 2 release in Korea. IGN reports that the RTS will be free for Korean subscribers to World of Warcraft there, as Blizzard reportedly wants to bolster the MMO's player base overseas. Other players will be able to buy the game outright for the US equivalent of about $54, or pick up $8 monthly or even $1.60 daily passes for the game, so Blizzard will still make a googoojillion dollars on the long-awaited sequel in Korea. No word on if these plans will make their way to North America, but we'd bet against it. WoW itself has had different pay models overseas for a while, but just the usual monthly price here in the US.

That money can also come from children as young as age 12 -- after the game was originally rated for adults only, an edited version of the game has brought the rating back down to a 12+ age rating. The edit changes Zerg and Terran blood to black from red, and removes all profanity and smoking from the game. Blizzard is reportedly still thinking about releasing the "mature" version in Korea separately, although it'll be after next month's worldwide release.

Gallery: Starcraft 2

StarCraft 2 free for WoW players in Korea, loses 18+ rating originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi submitted to Korean ratings board by Microsoft

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST

Microsoft Korea has submitted Sega's Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure to the Korean ratings board, leading to speculation that the Dreamcast titles are racing to XBLA. Sega was unable to officially comment on the ratings.

Sonic Adventure popped up like a blue blur on radar back in January, while Siliconera points out that Crazy Taxi has been banging around as a rumored XBLA release for a little while. With E3 only a couple weeks away, it wouldn't be surprising to hear more about the titles then -- you know, unless another ratings board accidentally posts a classification.

[Via Siliconera]

Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi submitted to Korean ratings board by Microsoft originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision CEO teases Call of Duty plans for China, Korea

Christopher Grant — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:20:00 EST

While discussing his company's plans for the grotesquely lucrative Call of Duty series, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick teased another evolution in the war game franchise: globalism. No, we don't mean the globe-trotting "narrative" of the games, but rather Activision's plans to cash in on the rest of the planet.

"The popular global fantasy of being a soldier is allowing us to enter new geographies, leveraging expertise only companies like Blizzard have in markets like China and Korea," Kotick said. "We have dedicated teams in these new markets creating content for the audiences that, to date, have only been satisfied by Blizzard games. Soon we'll announce our plans for both China and Korea."

And that's all he said before returning to a general discussion of the Call of Duty business. Is he talking about the oft-rumored Call of Duty MMO or just a global release of the existing games, using Blizzard's proven methods? Kotick says we'll find out "soon."

Activision CEO teases Call of Duty plans for China, Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 May 2010 18:20:00 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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Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project rated in Korea

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:55:00 EST

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project has been classified by the Korea's Game Rating Board, as spotted by GamerBytes. No platforms are listed, but it is being published by Microsoft Korea, leading to speculation that it may be published for Xbox Live Arcade.

For PC players, the well-reviewed side-scroller from 2002 is available currently on GOG.com for $6. Check out the trailer after the break to get an idea of what this game looks like -- unless, of course, it receives a facelift for XBLA.

[Via GamerBytes]

Continue reading Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project rated in Korea

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project rated in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard, NCSoft talent set up MMO developer En Masse Entertainment

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:21:00 EST

A piping-hot press release from Korean MMO developer Bluehole Studio has announced a new subsidiary for the company named En Masse Entertainment. Based in Seattle, En Masse will focus on "selecting high quality online games and adapting, refining, and positioning them so they are perfectly suited for audiences in Western markets." In other words, slightly reducing the size of everyone's swords. You know, just to the point where it looks reasonable that they could lift them off the ground.

According to the presser, the En Masse team features talent from other big players in the MMOverse, including Blizzard, EA, ArenaNet and NCsoft. It sounds like the studio's got a pretty experienced roster; whether or not they'll be able to get us excited about their first project -- a Westernized version of a Korean MMORPG called TERA -- remains to be seen.

Blizzard, NCSoft talent set up MMO developer En Masse Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Use a sausage to play with your iPhone in the cold

David Hinkle — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:00:00 EST

[Bike Hugger]

Now the above headline invites all kind of mental imagery, we know, but we assure you this isn't some kind of sexual euphemism. That hunk of Brat you've been carrying around in your pocket (again, not a euphemism) can do more than provide you with a tasty snack. It can also help you play Peggle on your iPhone, if you happen to work in a milkshake factory or, like these Koreans, use the subway during those cold winter months.

According to machine translation of a Korean news article, CJ Corporation's snack sausages have seen a sharp rise in sales lately, most likely due to the sausages' close size and shape to that of the human finger. As the above image shows, sausage is all the rage with Korean male iPhone users. Again, not a euphemism!

[Via Pocketgamer]

Use a sausage to play with your iPhone in the cold originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blueside's 'Project T' MMO also in development for Xbox 360

Mike Schramm — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST

We'd heard before that Korean developer Blueside (of Ninety-Nine Nights and Kingdom Under Fire) was working on a sekrit massively multiplayer game called Project T for the PC, but now we've learned that it's also planning to release the game on the Xbox 360. A Korean job listing for the company says that the MMORPG is in development for both platforms, and asks for game programming skills of all kinds, including experience working on commercial MMOs.

The game is supposed to be an "action RPG," so it actually sounds like a pretty good fit to try for the more action-friendly console world. The job listing specifies a contract time of one year (though that seems pretty boilerplate in these situations), and the MMO was last scheduled for a release sometime in 2011. The company's also working on some MMO-style gameplay for its upcoming Kingdom Under Fire II.

Blueside's 'Project T' MMO also in development for Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London servers set to reopen in Europe and U.S.

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST

The online world of Hellgate: London experienced its apocalypse (or, judging by the game's ruined, lifeless environments, its second apocalypse) almost one year ago, only remaining open in Korea as a free-to-play title. Today, HanbitSoft, the company responsible for keeping the game on life support in Korea, announced it had secured worldwide publishing rights for the title, and would revive the game in Europe and the U.S. later this year.

The MMO, which has appropriately been remonikered Hellgate: Resurrection, has adopted a universal free-to-play model during its downtime. It's also acquired a few new features, thanks to developer T3 Entertainment. Hopefully, the studio didn't succumb to the crippling waves of depression which hampered the game's original creators.

Hellgate: London servers set to reopen in Europe and U.S. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Though it might lose some of its magic without the full chair-and-tinted-window-equipped arcade cabinet, we're still pretty pumped about the possibility of getting our hands on a port of Sega's classic flight combat sim, After Burner. According to the OFLC and the Korean Game Rating Board, it's only a matter of time before our wish is fulfilled -- GamerBytes recently noticed that both groups have rated Sega's After Burner Climax for home console distribution.

According to the Korean board, the rating was applied for by Sony, leading some to believe the title's planned launch platform is the PSN. However, considering the multi-platform release of Outrun Online Arcade, we wouldn't be surprised if Sega decided to share the aerial dogfighting love with the 360 as well. We've contacted the hedgehog-loving developer to find out exactly what its plans are for the title.

After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Sand Sculpting Championship holds special surprise for Sony fans

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST

Sony took some time to promote the PS3 and PSP at Korea's first annual Invitational World Sand Sculpting Championship. We're impressed by how the sand PS3 simply towers over these Asian girls. As we ponder the incredible manpower used to create these massive sand recreations, we can't help but think to ourselves ...

There's a Invitational World Sand Sculpting Championship???

World Sand Sculpting Championship holds special surprise for Sony fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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