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http://www.dt.co.kr/contents.html?article_no=2010090302010431749003
In the latest decision by Department of Videogame Rating Board of Korea, they have expressed possible intention to block all Valve's Steam services from Korea due to the fact they have Korean language support yet both the service and games have not been rated or approved by the department.
As it stands right now in Korea, all electronic games including indy games, flash games, and games distributed on-line must be rated by the department, paying up to hundreds and thousands of dollars fee for the rating.
The department have set a precedent in the past with 'Tribe Wars', a free on-line web browser based game which refused to be rated by the department, so the department blocked the country's internet access to the website.
An insider from the department suggests, 'complete block is on the table, but are seeking alternate options.'
The department is likely expecting Steam to send all games in for approval, taking in thousands of dollars per game just for the process.
Korean communities, especially all FPS related websites are enraged with their keyboards, typing in massive amounts of exclamation marks, but are unlikely to amount to any meaningful action.
Also the department is currently enforcing an initiative which requires free homebrew games to be rated by the board as well.
http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=30383
In this article, a homebrew game making team was undergoing a development of an RPG game made with RPG-maker (RPG Tsukuru) when they recieved a cease-or-desist e-mail from the department unless they sent in their game for rating (as well as asking for a hefty amount of fee). The team eventually closed all their websites and ceased game development as it was too much burden on their pocket, rendering Korea's video game industry pretty much dead.
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This is fucking greedy.
I really do not know much about the size of Valve's fanbase in Korea, but I imagine it to be somewhat big since Valve always makes great games. I don't think this is gonna go too well.
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I'm not entirely sure what the DVRB's policy consists of. Why is the rating necessary? Are the fees just another way of accruing money for the government? And wouldn't the money spent to get the ratings be counteracted by the influx of Korean consumers? If that's the case, why is this even a matter of discussion?
I apologize for being a newb, but I'm pretty much at a loss here.
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United States74 Posts
Isnt it always greed lool
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Bitches be going hog wild and pig crazy over some cash. That's an absurd request from this rating board. Sucks ass to be a half-life or team fortress fan in Korea.
I'd be raging too.
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why so much whining? rules are rules. follow 'em. you too, valve.
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isnt this the same as all video games and movies needs to be rated here in US/Canada/EU?
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Yay I love it when the government protects us. Just imagine the chaos that would ensue in Korea if they allowed Valve's steam.
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Wait, they'll ban FREE games for not paying to get rated? I guess Valve will just have to disable all the free games for Korea and possibly increase prices on other games to cover the ratings fee.
They have a lot of games on Steam, paying thousands per game will be annoying, maybe they'll pass the costs to the publisher/developer.
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On September 04 2010 02:35 Zzoram wrote:
Wait, they'll ban FREE games for not paying to get rated?
It's called extortion. Free or not, it's an extortion racket.
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Things governments screw up.
1. Video Games
2. People's lives.
3. The economy
4. Anything they can touch.
Things governments solve
.......
......
still trying to think of one.
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On September 04 2010 02:39 darmousseh wrote:
Things governments screw up.
1. Video Games
2. People's lives.
3. The economy
4. Anything they can touch.
Things governments solve
.......
......
still trying to think of one.
how bout anarchy?
Doesn't take me long to think of a benefit. dont get me wrong the government definitely causes as many issues as it solves
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This rating board wouldn't by any chance be run by the same dudes that run KeSPA?
It really seems like the computer gaming industry is being milked for all it's worth these days. I guess the non-gaming business community finally realised its popular appeal, and thus market potential. Shame.
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On September 04 2010 02:39 darmousseh wrote:
Things governments screw up.
1. Video Games
2. People's lives.
3. The economy
4. Anything they can touch.
Things governments solve
.......
......
still trying to think of one.
you forgot healthcare.
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Crying shame if this goes through.
But to play Devils advocate, don't you think that country's have a right not to be pushed around by foreign enterprise ?
Proper Language support is a fairly basic after all, especially if people are trying to get sub par translations through.
What they have is an overzealous rule on gaming classification and Steam is circumventing the law. These are generally not small games and they are generally not free, if there are fees to be paid, either pay them or GTFO.
(again Devils advocate, please don't hurt me !)
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Damn it, why does government have to have control video games like this. Australia already rapes gamers in the ass and now South Korea wants to prevent a great company like Valve from coming in? Woohoo, promote more shitty games like Sudden Attack and the numerous other Valve knockoffs in Korea.
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On September 04 2010 02:39 darmousseh wrote:
Things governments screw up.
1. Video Games
2. People's lives.
3. The economy
4. Anything they can touch.
Things governments solve
.......
......
still trying to think of one.
Go move to an island somewhere if it bothers you that much.
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umm i thought even with the draconian censorship of australia that companies dont pay to get their stuff rated by the classification board.
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It has nothing to do with the general rule of governments fucking shit up anywhere you go.
Korea has had a long-standing problem corruption and greed in all branches of their governments. Throw in the fact that this regulation committee is probably more private than public would amplify the issue.
<= Korean, spent 7 years of childhood there.
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Korean regulators must have said to themselves "this Valve company have not treated us to kalbi and soju!!"
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EPT
