Story: Starcraft 2 gets Adult-Only Rating in Korea

Blizzard seems to be having a lot of trouble in Korea with Starcraft 2.

The news just keeps getting worse for computer games giant Blizzard Entertainment, which is reeling after Korea's Games Rating Board moved to ban youngsters from playing its upcoming title, ``StarCraft II.''

StarCraft II was obviously the most-anticipated launch of 2010, being the sequel to the original game that has sold more than 5 million copies since its 1998 release, while singlehandedly spawning a whole new industry of ``PC bangs'' (commercial gaming lounges), and professional gaming leagues within a movement dubbed as e-sports.

The decision by the Games Rating Board, a unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is certainly a letdown, although Blizzard can file an objection within the next 30 days.

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[via Starcraft 2 Armory]

I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Gamesterpheonix

[QUOTE="Gamesterpheonix"]I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Agent_Kaliaver

[QUOTE="Agent_Kaliaver"][QUOTE="Gamesterpheonix"]I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Gamesterpheonix

It doesn't really matter.

I don't think there is a single SKorean who has never heard StarCraft, or a SKorean kid older than 4 that has never played it.

Making it 18+ won't keep anyone from playing it. I bet a lot of parents would laugh at this if they knew it. Korean kids whose parents won't buy SC2 for them would go emo in a matter of two, three weeks at most because of schoolmates teasing them.

It doesn't really matter.

I don't think there is a single SKorean who has never heard StarCraft, or a SKorean kid older than 4 that has never played it.

Making it 18+ won't keep anyone from playing it. I bet a lot of parents would laugh at this if they knew it. Korean kids whose parents won't buy SC2 for them would go emo in a matter of two, three weeks at most because of schoolmates teasing them.

Mograine

I like how all westerners talk about Korea as if Starcraft is their god, without actually having been there. Ever. SC is bigger in Korea than here, but goddamn it you guys exaggerate it. You can compare it to MMA in the U.S or something, most people know about it but the majority doesn't give a damn. And aye, this has to do with gaming addiction or whatever you'd like to call excessive gaming. Two babies died recently (two different families) because their parents stayed at a LAN café, letting them starve to death. Durhur I'm not trying to start a "GAMING KILLS!" debate, just debunking the myth that everyone and their grandparents in Korea is in love with Starcraft. They have a lot of Jack Thompsons, and the Thompsons have support from the public. The gov't is reducing gaming in one way or another already, LAN cafés are no longer legally allowed to be open 24/7 for example.

I like how all westerners talk about Korea as if Starcraft is their god, without actually having been there. Ever. SC is bigger in Korea than here, but goddamn it you guys exaggerate it. You can compare it to MMA in the U.S or something, most people know about it but the majority doesn't give a damn. And aye, this has to do with gaming addiction or whatever you'd like to call excessive gaming. Two babies died recently (two different families) because their parents stayed at a LAN café, letting them starve to death. Durhur I'm not trying to start a "GAMING KILLS!" debate, just debunking the myth that everyone and their grandparents in Korea is in love with Starcraft. They have a lot of Jack Thompsons, and the Thompsons have support from the public. The gov't is reducing gaming in one way or another already, LAN cafés are no longer legally allowed to be open 24/7 for example.

Vfanek

I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Gamesterpheonix

Agreed. Without giant bureaucratic oversight and a concise set of rules to follow, we would probably all have to resort to common sense.

I pray to the sweet baby Jesus you don't vote.

Zerg don't wear clothes.

Kerrigan is a Zerg.

You do the math.

StarCraft II: giving new meaning to the term "purple nurple".

(Yes, I read the article. :P )

It doesn't really matter.

I don't think there is a single SKorean who has never heard StarCraft, or a SKorean kid older than 4 that has never played it.

Making it 18+ won't keep anyone from playing it. I bet a lot of parents would laugh at this if they knew it. Korean kids whose parents won't buy SC2 for them would go emo in a matter of two, three weeks at most because of schoolmates teasing them.

Mograine

I think it makes a bigger difference over there. Most kids don't play games at home. They go to the local "internet bang" (cafe). Some of the places ignore the rules as you can expect, but it can be risky for the shop to do that. I don't know the penalties, but I imagine they would be something like fines, prevention from installing games, or even forced store closure (depending on number of offenses).

[QUOTE="Gamesterpheonix"]I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Snotweasel530

Agreed. Without giant bureaucratic oversight and a concise set of rules to follow, we would probably all have to resort to common sense.

I pray to the sweet baby Jesus you don't vote.

It doesn't really matter.

I don't think there is a single SKorean who has never heard StarCraft, or a SKorean kid older than 4 that has never played it.

Making it 18+ won't keep anyone from playing it. I bet a lot of parents would laugh at this if they knew it. Korean kids whose parents won't buy SC2 for them would go emo in a matter of two, three weeks at most because of schoolmates teasing them.

Mograine

:roll::roll::roll:

Wow, I can't believe how some poeple can get so ignorant of other countries. Do you really think that if their entire population was addicted to SC, the children there would consistently score higher on reading comprehension and math tests by a HUGE margin, compared to American kids? Or that their manufacturing and engineering firms (such as LG, Samsung, Hyundai, Kia) keep on growing and growing every year?

The reality is that, while it's certainly "big" in Korea, the more correct definition would be "bigger" than in the US. Not "ALL OF KOREA IS ADDICTED TO SC, LOLOLOLOOOLOL."

The first starcraft should've received a mature rating. it has marines and medics being ripped apart with blood splashing out everywhere. runbleduck

[QUOTE="Snotweasel530"]

[QUOTE="Gamesterpheonix"]I think this has more to do with their game addiction problem. I bet they dont want the young people to start playing the game and forget everything else. I dont think they think the game is bad in terms of content just bad in terms of what it may do to the kids lives. lol. Like Ive been told " D3 and SC2 are going to end some college careers when they're released". And I believe it there in Korea. They're just safe guarding they're kids and I dont see any problem with it. Games are a problem when not controlled to some extent either by the user themselves or by the one getting the games for the user. Gotta live your life too people. Gamesterpheonix

Agreed. Without giant bureaucratic oversight and a concise set of rules to follow, we would probably all have to resort to common sense.

I pray to the sweet baby Jesus you don't vote.

Apples and Oranges