Starcraft II, which has to count as the most eagerly awaited game in South Korea, has been rated "Adults Only" there by the Korea's Games Rating Board. Here in the U.S., the game is rated T for Teen.
Blizzard could still file an objection to the rating within the next 30 days, but has yet to say whether it will or not. "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,'' a representative for Blizzard in Korea told The Korea Times.
"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,'' said an official from the Games Rating Board. "However, this rating is not final, as Blizzard will get the chance to object to it."
Korea has been in the gaming news recently for creating mandatory cut-off times for users of some multiplayer games. When taken together, the two developments could indicate a comprehensive strategy on the part of the Korean government toward games.
Source: Korea Times
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Spybreak
People only want things they can't have.
revolverroach
huh, so now there's going to be a black market for SC2 in korea. perhaps they'll also create underground tournament fights. the dark side of gaming.
jutsin928
Im actually hoping they take there sweet time on Diablo 3 , I need to save up some dough for a gaming pc!!!.. Starcraft, I'll eventually pick up sometime afterwards, I only play single player with cheat codes anyways :P
Canid117
Could the AO rating possibly have been set in place because Blizzard refuse to help the South Korean government limit game time? I don't know for a fact but it is possible.
Apsalus07
The Korean government is a joke. While Obama just passed a bill to reduce private interests in health care, the South Korean president tried to PRIVATIZE health care (their country currently has free universal health care). The measure failed miserably.
L4Dfan550
This reminds me of the whole Left 4 Dead 2 Australian thing. So what do we have to learn from all of this censorship. It's quite simple: When it comes to gaming controversy in the U.S. , we must say to ourselves, "at least we aren't in Australia or Korea (both)."
ManWhoWasNotThere
lol@northeastmonk sorry dude but halo's numbers don't even compare to starcrafts, no matter where you go.
Bigburito
this just goes to show how much of a strangle hold starcraft has on Korea. one of the biggest newspapers in Korea was running this story...
DreamingDarklyRobin
Well, there goes the South Korean economy.
gravy666
Are you sure it's Korea and not Australia?
Jenraux
This will give me a chance to Zerg Rush korea.
thISmurderous
korea isn't the only country with higher standards than the U.S., good to know.
XwingVmanX
Hopefully this plus their gaming limit will help give everyone else in the world a fighting chance at beating them lol.
Slymerz
where is a Stim Pack when i need it
IBloodstormI
I think this their attempt to keep their economy from collapsing upon the release of Starcraft II. Lord knows that no one there will get any work done otherwise.
greeknerd
Korea is trying to make their country's youth play less video games and Star Craft 2, a game that has many Koreans screech like girls at a Beatles concert, gets an AO rating? Hardly a coincidence, seeing as a lot of young Koreans won't be able to get their hands on this game (at least from retailers). If they don't file an objection, I wonder how much money this could cost Blizzard?
NocturnalX
BS politics and massive censorship.....Nothing new for Korea.
That's what you get with communism I guess :S They could at least make their whole "fight game addiction" crusade a little more suddle.
Raisinbman
It really is the end of the world! Korea is turning into Australia!
DOOM! DOOM! DOOOM!
Raverenz51
I have a feeling that this won't last seeing as Korea always wins the Starcraft tournaments. Cities will riot!!!!
NortheastMonk
How bizarre. The largest support of a game in history (outside Halo in the US lol) gets AOed? You'd think the vast majority of professional Korean players wouldn't be able to play it.
Displaying 1–20 of 20