Starcraft II to receive an Adult Only Rating in South Korea

[akilae]

Starcraft is pretty much the national sport in South Korea, there are close to 5M boxes sold there out of a population of 50M. Competitive games are actually shown on TV. So it was quite a surprise to learn that Starcraft II was to get an Adult Only rating by the Games Rating Board, a unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Such a decision would be a crippling blow to both the South Korean pro gaming scene as well as to the PC Bang (internet cafes geared towards gaming) economy. It may represent an attempt by the government to curb the compulsive gaming addiction trend but seeing how huge Starcraft is in South Korea the decision might prove quite unpopular.

Blizzard has 30 days to challenge the rating decision.

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2010/04/133_64287.html

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

The game raters (who also play Starcraft as a national sport) obviously feel that game is inferior to the sequel. Or "broken" in some way.

And this is their evil plan to try and stop people from playing it.

 

[mad825]

No surprise? it probably due the problems they have with gaming nothing to do with the actual content, the fact that they now have a gaming curfew (via online) says it all.

 

[slowpoke999]

http://nerfnow.com/comic/284

^this

 

[Delusibeta]

http://nerfnow.com/comic/284

^this

Indeed.

I imagine this is less to do with bloody violence and more to do with the fact that a video game is considered high in the list of their national sports.

 

[Sixties Spidey]

Keeping people from getting addicted...? Perhaps? I bet you any money this isn't going to through without a shitload of protesting from the community

 

[akilae]

To clarify the point, at least from the beta perspective which is Multiplayer only, Starcraft II is even close to adults-only material.

Keeping people from getting addicted...? Perhaps? I bet you any money this isn't going to through without a shitload of protesting from the community

I would take the bet if I wasn't hoping the community would do such a thing. Statistically speaking, so far, the gaming community hasn't achieved squat, other than throwing some worthless 3000 signatures petitions at any wrongdoer, that is. It may represent a turn, though, towards the perception of the Gaming Community as a force that can stir up some shit instead of being the usual scapegoat.

 

[syndicated44]

The way other people stated it probably has to do with their war on drugs err I mean games. But seriously I would probably do something similar if my citizens were to busy playing wow to feed to their baby.

 

[Reaper69lol]

Well, if you've seen the levels of addiction in Korea, it really is staggering sometimes. It's not like in the west, there are kids who are genuinely physically addicted to videogames and going online, as in, when they stop doing it, they start withdrawing.

I mean, I hate seeing gamers stigmatized, but they really do need to do something about it. Whether this is the right decision, I don't know, but I can definitely see why they're doing it.

Still, there's probably a better solution than just restricting it.

I agree, restriction will only make things worse in my opinion. There must be some other way.

 

[Delusibeta]

On the positive side, it's another sign that its release (or at least a release date) is immenent.

 

[azncutthroat]

Does anyone know if the rating makes it illegal for minors to buy/play the game like in the US?

 

[revjay]

I just hope this doesn't fuck with tournament play. I'm not sure but I'd guess the pro's are pretty much over 18 though so hopefully not.

 

[Saargston]

While this might not exactly be a mature decision, I don't really think it'll stop the korea gamers out there from getting the game.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I like to imagine that the Korean version of the game has interspecies sex scenes. Hot, sweaty Marine on Zerg cinimatics AND in game options for "Lets get along... If you know what I mean by 'long'" commands.

Not because that what gets me off, of course, but because something is horribly, horribly wrong with me.

EDIT: Honest answer from someone whos actually been in Korea? Their all crazy. ANd this just proves it.

 

[azncutthroat]

Does anyone know if the rating makes it illegal for minors to buy/play the game like in the US?

Adults Only. AO in the US is 21+, although you'll almost never see a game on the shelves of any typical game retailer rated AO. They're usually only sold online or at, ahem...specialty shops.

Unlike in the US, Starcraft wouldn't necessarily need to be bought because of the PC bang (literally PC room), aka internet cafe, for it be popular. Kids could just go pay their 80-100 won/hour at the local PC bang.

 

[TheRocketeer]

Wow. I wouldn't have ever seen this coming.

I wonder how, or even if, Blizzard will deal with this.