What Policies Suit the Gaming Industry in South Korea?
Date: 11-28-2011 Views:
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After the Teenager-oriented Anti-addiction Bill (The shutdown law) took effect on Nov. 12, most game companies in South Korea have been strictly following the relevant regulations. However, things are actually not that satisfying but extremely chaotic instead, because many hidden problems are surfacing gradually, e.g. the bill's practicality, the judging criteria for teenagers' game addiction are vague, as well as the bill's applicability is still uncertain.
Firstly, the bill's practicality is widely questioned. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) in South Korea used to put a great deal of energy into this bill for the sake of teenagers' health & sleep, but it turns out to reap limited fruits. In fact, lots of teenagers use the accounts of their parents, brothers or sisters or even thieve others' accounts illegally to log into online games, which is rather depressing.
Must Be 17 Or Older to Play Online at Midnight? OH, NO!
Secondly, the applicability is also a focus for the bill. The bill is targeted not only at online games only but also casual & console games. The two large game companies Sony and Microsoft just fall victim to this bill. According to insiders, Sony and Microsoft are very likely to stop servicing South Korean gamers.
Misfortune never comes alone. Suffering a heavy blow from the bill, South Korean game companies are further challenged by Game Industry Rejuvenation Act amendment promulgated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on Nov. 20, forbidding teenagers from trading in-game gold and items. Although, it can effectively prevent players from getting addicted to games, it is still liable to affect adults who like to play teenager gamers.
Starting off with the above bill and act, the South Korean government is setting increasingly strict restrictions on its game industry. Will South Korea's prosperous game industry continue its glory or go to its doom? What policies suit the gaming industry in South Korea?
