South Korea Announces Daily MMO Blackouts For Youths

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South Korea Announces Daily MMO Blackouts For Youths

Posted by Soulskill on Monday April 12, 2010 @09:55AM from the probably-just-making-more-time-for-starcraft dept.

eldavojohn writes "GamePolitics reports that South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has announced two new policies that will force underage gamers to pick a six-hour block of time (midnight-6 AM,1-7 AM, or 2-8 AM) where they will not be able to play 19 online role-playing games. While it targets most popular MMORPGs, some popular games like Lineage were left off the list."

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Stupid by girlintraining · 2010-04-12 09:56 · Score: 3, Insightful

A lot of kids just suddenly turned 18...

--
#fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
1. Re:Stupid by iSzabo · 2010-04-12 10:06 · Score: 1
  
  A lot of kids just suddenly turned 18...
  Wait, what?
2. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:10 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  I believe he is suggesting that players would modify their date of birth in their player profiles to say they are over 18 to circumvent the law.
3. Re:Stupid by skine · 2010-04-12 10:13 · Score: 1
  
  It's like visiting an adult website.
  They something like: "You must be 18 or older to enter. Are you over 18? [Yes] [No]"
  A 14 year old boy can be 18 for five minutes (30 minutes on dial-up).
4. Re:Stupid by compro01 · 2010-04-12 10:22 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  IIRC, registering for those online games in Korea requires your nation ID #, so that won't work.
  
  --
  upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
5. Re:Stupid by trytoguess · 2010-04-12 10:24 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I rather doubt this will be possible. To sign up for pretty much anything online in Korea (with the exception of sites that cater to an international audience) you must enter your "resident registration number." And like wikipedia so kindly tells us, the first six digits of that number is ones date of birth.
6. Re:Stupid by girlintraining · 2010-04-12 10:40 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  I rather doubt this will be possible. To sign up for pretty much anything online in Korea (with the exception of sites that cater to an international audience) you must enter your "resident registration number." And like wikipedia so kindly tells us, the first six digits of that number is ones date of birth.
  Yeah, because registration based on a number has worked so well in other countries and systems that impliment it...
  
  --
  #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
7. Re:Stupid by trytoguess · 2010-04-12 11:44 · Score: 1
  
  Can't comment on how how many people are truthful about their RRN, but my limited observation is that folks generally only considering doing that when they try to access socially awkward things like porn. The stiff penalties that exist doesn't exactly nurture lying either. In any case, you can't just switch the number attached to your account. One would have to open a whole new account, and I wonder how many are that desperately addicted...
8. Re:Stupid by zill · 2010-04-12 12:10 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  1. Steal parent's/friend's/neighbor's ID #
  2. Register new account
  3. ???
  4. Play until dead
  
  Just look at how many drug related robberies happen every day; from what I've seen MMORPGs can be a lot more addictive than your average narcotic substance.
9. Re:Stupid by rubycodez · 2010-04-12 12:47 · Score: 1
  
  so the kids access porn and games via server or proxy in some other country. problem solved.
10. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 13:46 · Score: 0
  
  what's a yute?
11. Re:Stupid by Opportunist · 2010-04-12 14:06 · Score: 1
  
  So a lot of parents will suddenly take over their kids' accounts. Where's your problem?
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
12. Re:Stupid by Daengbo · 2010-04-12 15:03 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Korea has an online ID law, so I don't think that would work. Real identities with real national ID numbers are used.
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
13. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 15:07 · Score: 0
  
  In essence you can't change the resident registration number tied to an account. The RRN like our social security numbers are almost impossible to change, so no site is going to believe you changed either one w/o some damn good evidence.
14. Re:Stupid by Sir_Lewk · 2010-04-12 16:45 · Score: 1
  
  I just checked wikipedia's article on this thing and it is worse than it sounds. The thing is absolutely and completely worthless for any sort of authentication.
  
  The resident registration number consists of 13 digits, with each block serving a certain function, as illustrated below:
  yymmdd-sbbbbnc
  The first six digits signify the person's date of birth. For example, a person born on September 1, 1946, such as former President Roh Moo-Hyun, would have 460901 for the first six digits.
  s, the seventh digit, indicates the sex and the century in which the person was born. The code used for each category follows:
  * 9: male born 1800 - 1899
  * 0: female born 1800 - 1899
  * 1: male born 1900 - 1999
  * 2: female born 1900 - 1999
  * 3: male born 2000 - 2099
  * 4: female born 2000 - 2099
  * 5: foreigner male born 1900 - 1999
  * 6: foreigner female born 1900 - 1999
  * 7: foreigner male born 2000 - 2099
  * 8: foreigner female born 2000 - 2099
  bbbb, the eighth through eleventh digit, signify a code for the person's place of birth:
  n, the 12th digit, is a sequential number used to differentiate those of the same sex born on the same day in the same location.
  c, the 13th digit, is a check digit, used to verify that the number has been transcribed correctly. It is generated from the rest of the digits.
  You could generate a list of these things no problem. Want a new identity? Just calculate yourself one!
  
  --
  "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
15. Re:Stupid by mysidia · 2010-04-12 16:45 · Score: 1
  
  What about kids just making up a number that would make them old enough?
  Or taking their own number, modifying the date of birth, and re-computing the check digit.
  I doubt the online MMORPG sites can afford to go to great lengths to validate the number.....
16. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 17:42 · Score: 0
  
  You'd also need a name to go with those numbers which makes things more difficult.
17. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 17:48 · Score: 0
  
  registering for those games require your national ID number, which has your date of birth encoded into it.
18. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 18:01 · Score: 0
  
  At the very least, the sites know the name attached to the resident registration number. There's also talks of somehow preventing kids from using their parents info. Someone below mentioned requiring physical identification, and all things considered, this wouldn't surprise me.
  ~ Another Anon
19. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 18:08 · Score: 0
  
  Or just steal a random person's ID number.
  True story: There was a certian game whose internation server got shut down; the only servers still running were the Korean servers. You can't register for an account on the Korean servers without a valid Korean ID number. Solution? One day some guy shows up on the forums with pages upon thousands of Korean ID numbers and names.
20. Re:Stupid by crossmr · 2010-04-12 18:30 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Generate them all day. it won't do you any good. Your name and the number is verified against the database. Any site which implements this system (which is all of them) must actually connect to the government database to verify. You also often have to verify your account with an SMS message to a cellphone registered in the same name. You cannot fake them. you can steal them, but you cannot fake them. So yes, they're completely worthwhile for verification. Other than people using stolen/borrowed ones, they know who everyone is.
21. Re:Stupid by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 20:52 · Score: 0
  
  1. Steal parent's/friend's/neighbor's ID #
  ID fraud in South Korea is punishable by 3 years in jail.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_registration_number#Fraud
22. Re:Stupid by SupremoMan · 2010-04-12 21:50 · Score: 1
  
  I think it worked pretty well in Germany, around the late 1930s, early 1940s.
23. Re:Stupid by Shakrai · 2010-04-13 00:54 · Score: 1
  
  How delightfully Orwellian of them. I'm glad we stand ready to spill American blood and treasure to defend them.
  
  --
  I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
  We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
24. Re:Stupid by girlintraining · 2010-04-13 02:18 · Score: 1
  
  You also often have to verify your account with an SMS message to a cellphone registered in the same name.
  Hmmm. At least in the US, that's not hard. $15 buys you a prepay SIM card, which I can register under anyone's name.
  
  --
  #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
25. Re:Stupid by crossmr · 2010-04-13 03:28 · Score: 1
  
  you really are in training.
  Any account you create on a website in Korea is verified against the real name database run by the government, the phone has to match that same name and number, it is an extra step against ensuring against theft or "borrowing". To start with, there are no GSM phones in Korea (you're on the internet, would have taken you a short time to check that) While Korea is very wired, they're way behind on that. The only phones that come with SIM cards are dual mode phones that are marketed as "international" phones that allow for roaming and other use in GSM countries.
  In addition to that, you can't walk into a shop and buy a prepaid phone here. You need ID which is verified before the phone is sold and activated. That ID, which includes a photo, is checked against the government database. But the original poster's point was about generating numbers which is utterly useless. Years ago Korean sites used to just look for patterns and allow creation. These days they actually verify against the database. You can't fake a number. If you got a hold of a KSSN card and a less than reputable dealer you might be able to create a cell phone in that person's name to fake an account but that is a lot of work to get on an MMORPG and if caught (say through your IP address), it's a minimum $10,000 fine.
  So short of hacking the government database, there is no way to fake a number into the system and short of finding a criminal cell phone dealer (who wouldn't last long, they'd know who made the phone), you wouldn't be able to fake an account on most sites in Korea. There are a few sites which don't need cell phone verification still, so you could on those, but as it becomes more prevalent, that will also decline. Real name verification is pretty serious business in Korea.
26. Re:Stupid by HungWeiLo · 2010-04-13 03:54 · Score: 1
  
  And how many people in America can have a meaningful existence without a complete database of your personal information being held by the credit bureaus, banks, and the federal government?
  
  --
  There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
27. Re:Stupid by Shakrai · 2010-04-13 04:25 · Score: 1
  
  You can live without credit. It's occasionally a PITA but it's certainly doable. Ditto for banks -- a few of my co-workers get checks that they cash at the employers bank and use greenbacks for everything.
  Anyway, nowhere in the United States are you required by law to cough up your SSN and DOB to register for a friggen website.
  
  --
  I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
  We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
28. Re:Stupid by tepples · 2010-04-14 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  You can live without credit.
  Then how does one reasonably save up $100,000 or more to buy a house without a mortgage?
  
  checks that they cash at the employers bank
  Not all employers are big enough to have a bank.
  
  Anyway, nowhere in the United States are you required by law to cough up your SSN and DOB to register for a friggen website.
  I was required to use my SSN and date of birth to sign up for online repayment of a student loan.
29. Re:Stupid by DarKnyht · 2010-04-14 07:05 · Score: 1
  
  You can live without credit.
  Then how does one reasonably save up $100,000 or more to buy a house without a mortgage?
  Matress, Shoebox, buy your own safe, bury it, etc. Just because you have cash doesn't mean you must spend it.
  
  checks that they cash at the employers bank
  Not all employers are big enough to have a bank.
  If they don't have a bank account then they are paying the employees in cash anyways so where is the problem in this? By employer's bank, he means the bank that your employer banks at not that they own a bank. You can also cash checks for a small fee at grocery stores, Wal-Mart, and a few other locations (with Check-Cashing in their names).
  
  Anyway, nowhere in the United States are you required by law to cough up your SSN and DOB to register for a friggen website.
  I was required to use my SSN and date of birth to sign up for online repayment of a student loan.
  That would be because the loan already has your SSN and DOB recorded. It was just a convenient way to link you to your record. I am sure if you pressed the issue it too could have been worked around.
  Society managed for years without credit, and in fact it frowned upon anyone that used credit when it first came around. It is sad that we as a nation have become so dependent upon it.
  
  --
  Voting them all out of office, now that's change I can believe in.
30. Re:Stupid by tepples · 2010-04-14 09:56 · Score: 1
  
  Matress, Shoebox, buy your own safe, bury it, etc.
  Carrying large amounts of cash as an individual is a good way to get mugged and/or accused of money laundering or financing of terrorism. See, for example, EU cash controls.
  
  By employer's bank, he means the bank that your employer banks at not that they own a bank.
  My fault. The English possessive case is ambiguous that way.
  
  Society managed for years without credit
  Society before credit also had commodity money and serfdom.
  
  It is sad that we as a nation have become so dependent upon it.
  I agree that one should not depend on credit in most cases. I treat my credit card as if it were a debit card and pay it in full each month. But buying a house is an exception due to the sheer dollar amounts involved.
Government bailout by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 09:57 · Score: 0

So, basically this will only increase their time spent playing non-listed games.
1. Re:Government bailout by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 09:59 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Lineage 2 is critical to national security, you wouldn't understand.
2. Re:Government bailout by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2010-04-12 10:04 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And those commie bastards in NK better not even think about trying a zerg rush...
3. Re:Government bailout by Chris+Burke · 2010-04-12 10:15 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  So, basically this will only increase their time spent playing non-listed games.
  Yeah. Think of it as the Unpopular MMO Promotion Act. Encouraging a healthy ecosystem of MMOs, when smaller ones normally have trouble stealing enough subscribers from the big ones to stay afloat. That's it. That's the ticket.
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
4. Re:Government bailout by trytoguess · 2010-04-12 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  Well... that else do you propose one do with a bunch of cheap disposable units?
5. Re:Government bailout by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 14:51 · Score: 0
  
  Micro them as bait?
Registration Numbers? by Knara · 2010-04-12 09:58 · Score: 1

FTFA: "The Ministry will also target young gamers who use the registration numbers of their parents in order to circumnavigate such restrictions."
Anyone know what this refers to? Is it like an SSN or something?
1. Re:Registration Numbers? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:04 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resident_registration_number
2. Re:Registration Numbers? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:06 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  It refers to the Korean residency registration number which all Korean citizens have. It's practically a requirement to sign up for any online site in Korea. It also has the handy effect of blocking any foreigner registration numbers from ever signing up for Korean services.
3. Re:Registration Numbers? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:08 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  A couple of years ago, there was a big disaster with Lineage 2 (insanely popular in Korea) where a bunch of Korean Social Security Numbers for everyone who played the game got leaked. As a result (don't ask me how this makes sense), the Korean government demanded that every MMORPG operating in Korea take down identification (in the form of KSSNs for Korean citizens) for every player using their system. This is why it is insanely difficult for non-Koreans to get into Korean MMOs - usually, they either have to find a leaked KSSN and use that to register, or in some cases use a separate registration system that requires sending multiple forms of ID to the company operating the MMO and potentially having that ID looked at by the Korean government.
4. Re:Registration Numbers? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:20 · Score: 0
  
  There were also KSSN generators floating around the 'net for a while.
5. Re:Registration Numbers? by Daengbo · 2010-04-12 15:08 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  That was pretty much the reason I left Korea. Massive nanny state. Internet filter. AND I was unable to join or post on many sites.
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
6. Re:Registration Numbers? by crossmr · 2010-04-12 18:34 · Score: 1
  
  There were also a number of government sites wide open you could google to get KSSNs, while I was still living back in the west I googled one up to get access to a couple games. it seemed like it was a health care site or something. They've since closed that down, no longer displaying the full ID number. Now that I'm here I just use a friend's ID who doesn't play video games.
Great! by Computer_kid · 2010-04-12 09:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Now more kids are going to be on my lawn!
1. Re:Great! by Antiocheian · 2010-04-12 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  Quite the opposite. Once kids get cut off their e-toys, guess where they are going to stroll...
2. Re:Great! by McGiraf · 2010-04-12 10:49 · Score: 1
  
  you missed the w it seems
3. Re:Great! by McNally · 2010-04-12 12:16 · Score: 1
  
  you missed the w it seems
  You think he's expecting more kids on the guy's LAN?
4. Re:Great! by McGiraf · 2010-04-12 12:53 · Score: 1
  
  nice one.
5. Re:Great! by Antiocheian · 2010-04-12 18:12 · Score: 1
  
  oops!
Freedom? by commodore64_love · 2010-04-12 10:02 · Score: 3, Interesting

I'm not seeing it. It should be left to the Parents to decide what kids should be doing late at night, and I'd certainly prefer my kid be home during those hours, rather than outside getting into trouble.
IMHO.

--
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
1. Re:Freedom? by djnforce9 · 2010-04-12 10:05 · Score: 1
  
  I am guessing that the intention was to prevent children from staying up all night playing these games. However, as you said, parents themselves should really be enforcing these limitations automatically without any external intervention.
2. Re:Freedom? by Renraku · 2010-04-12 10:07 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Because there's SO much to do in South Korea at night. This isn't about blocking MMOs, it's about trying to make sure that the kids have nothing better to do than go to sleep and get ready for school the next day. An appreciable number of young South Koreans play 10+ hours a day of MMOs and it will affect the next generations of the country.
  However, this is the wrong way to go about fixing the problem. Perhaps they should make more things for young people to do at night, other than play MMOs?
  
  --
  Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
3. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:09 · Score: 0
  
  I feel sorry for your kids that they have to grow up with a dad that thinks that the schlock that Alex Jones churns out on prisonplanet and infowars is real. They're going to need some serious therapy once they leave your house.
4. Re:Freedom? by BobMcD · 2010-04-12 10:09 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I'm not seeing it. It should be left to the Parents to decide what kids should be doing late at night, and I'd certainly prefer my kid be home during those hours, rather than outside getting into trouble.
  IMHO.
  Excellent point, but you're probably off-target.
  Currently:
  
  1) Kid eats supper, logs into (MMO)
  2) Hours roll by
  3) Kid glances at clock, notices that it is 2 AM
  4) Kid thinks 'meh', and keeps playing
  5) Kid notices the clock says 4 AM
  6) Kid elects to get three hours of sleep before school
  Ideally under the law:
  
  1) Kid eats supper, logs into (MMO)
  2) Hours roll by
  3) Kid glances at clock, notices that it is 1 AM
  4) Kid is blacked out from the game
  5) Kid whines about it on Facebook a while, then goes to bed
  Your scenario:
  
  1) Kid eats supper, logs into (MMO)
  2) Hours roll by
  3) Kid glances at clock, notices that it is 1 AM
  4) Kid is blacked out from the game
  5) Kid goes on a crime spree...
  I think the ideal scenario is more likely, as these are the kids that are electing to stay up way too late to play an MMO, rather than are out raising hell. In short, I think this law would have little impact on the types of kids who are out and about at that time of night.
5. Re:Freedom? by Grimbleton · 2010-04-12 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  Parental involvement? Surely you jest.
6. Re:Freedom? by X-Dopple · 2010-04-12 10:10 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Actually in South Korea it's more likely than not the kids will be studying at any number of academies until midnight. I doubt there's any opportunity for them to get into trouble.
7. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:17 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Like drinking and prostitutes? Texas street anyone?
8. Re:Freedom? by CoffeeDog · 2010-04-12 10:17 · Score: 1
  
  Except a lot of kids there don't have the luxury of their own gaming PC at home and flock to 24/7 Internet cafes which may not be the safest places at night.
9. Re:Freedom? by Skuld-Chan · 2010-04-12 10:20 · Score: 1
  
  I'm all for the government forcing more kids off mmo's - have you played any of them lately?
10. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:20 · Score: 0
  
  Sex? Don't know how that will get them to s
11. Re:Freedom? by commodore64_love · 2010-04-12 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  Well there should at least be an exception for Friday and Saturday nights. And you say there's nothing to do in S.Korea? Even in the middle of an Iowa cornfield kids can get themselves into trouble - I don't imagine it's any different over there. No games? The kids will go get drunk instead and screw the hot cheerleader.
  Plus: The article says kids connections will be throttled after X number of hours. So a kid's having a long session on a Saturday and after hour 6 suddenly he's throttled to Dialup speeds? Ridiculous.
  And why pick-on just games? Why not ban books too? Hell when I was a kid I used to read novels nonstop all day Saturday and Sunday. The horror. But I guess goofing-off with books is okay..... games are "scary" to adults and easy to demonize, even though games can be just as educational (problem solving, socializing, reading).
  
  --
  "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
12. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:34 · Score: 0
  
  I've been to Korea. The Internet cafes are like Starbucks in America and many of them are quite safe and dirt cheap. Although your more likely to be keylogged then mugged in real life.
  Also machines are not that expensive to buy there. So that isn't much of an issue. Broadband is insanely cheap compared to other places. I got my mother-in-law a new PC while I was there. The machine list price was 990 euros. After my wife spoke to the guy behind the counter it dropped to 700 with some free items thrown in. The delivery guy came in, set it all up for free and even cleaned the room before leaving. All at no extra charge + no tip involved.
  Same machine in Ireland would of been 1,300 approx without freebies or the delivery guy.
13. Re:Freedom? by Fozzyuw · 2010-04-12 10:36 · Score: 1
  
  This made me think of a recent news article... it's not Korea, but China, it's not an MMO but an FPS, but it does involve an internet cafe and "trouble". Some poor kid got a kitchen knife through the temple and survived. It's pretty fascinating.
  
  --
  "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth." ~1984 George Orwell
14. Re:Freedom? by LandDolphin · 2010-04-12 10:38 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  it's about trying to make sure that the kids have nothing better to do than go to sleep and get ready for school the next day.
  
  However, this is the wrong way to go about fixing the problem. Perhaps they should make more things for young people to do at night, other than play MMOs?
  If the goal is to get the kids to go to sleep, how would providing more things to do besides MMOs help?
  
  --
  Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
15. Re:Freedom? by McGiraf · 2010-04-12 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  what did she do behind the counter?
16. Re:Freedom? by zarzu · 2010-04-12 10:56 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  ah yes, all those kids playing mmorpgs instead of screwing the hot cheerleaders. haven't we all been there?
17. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:57 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah. Rich Asian countries are known for having absolutely no nightlife. News flash, retard: the Human Development Index of Korea is about as far behind the US as the US is behind Canada. There's plenty to do at night.
18. Re:Freedom? by memnock · 2010-04-12 10:58 · Score: 1
  
  i'll get modded troll or something, but i actually slept when i was a teen. i wasn't up until all hours of the early morning during the week. even on weekends, i usually was asleep by 1a. but that was because i knew i could sleep in. i wasn't walking around like a zombie during the week. i guess some kids did, because they'd get on the bus with dark circles under their eyes. don't know when they went to sleep to get that. there is no reason for kids to do that due to sleep deprivation because of their hobbies or recreation. work or some kind responsibility causing some sleep loss, well that's a different story.
  
  --
  "To stop the terrorists."
19. Re:Freedom? by Hatta · 2010-04-12 10:58 · Score: 1
  
  Because there's SO much to do in South Korea at night.
  You might have mistaken South Korea for North Korea.
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
20. Re:Freedom? by Hatta · 2010-04-12 11:05 · Score: 1
  
  Actual Scenario:
  
  1) Kid eats supper, logs into (MMO)
  2) Hours roll by
  3) Kid glances at clock, notices that it is 1 AM
  4) Kid is blacked out from the game
  5) Kid switches to game that is not on the list
  6) Kid notices the clock says 4 AM
  7) Kid elects to get three hours of sleep before school
  What has been accomplished?
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
21. Re:Freedom? by bill_kress · 2010-04-12 11:09 · Score: 1
  
  Wouldn't you say that if something should be left to parents and it IS left to parents and it isn't taken care of that there needs to be a fix beyond "this should be left to the parents"?
22. Re:Freedom? by LandDolphin · 2010-04-12 11:16 · Score: 1
  
  Other games now get an influx of players.
  
  Hmm.. wonder if the people passing the law have any connection to games that are not on the list.
  
  --
  Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
23. Re:Freedom? by PKFC · 2010-04-12 11:21 · Score: 1
  
  In short, I think this law would have little impact on the types of kids who are out and about at that time of night.
  You're right about that part.. What I don't get is why enforce a curfew on a subset of youth? If you're going to try to straighten out youth, I would figure that you would want to target teens who would be more likely to commit crimes rather than a group that is less likely to do so.. To punish people for not committing a crime? Bad form imo..
24. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 11:44 · Score: 0
  
  But we have evolved laws that do not leave decisions to parents who are neglecting their children. Maybe many more parents are neglectful by convenience than we admit. And if I wanted to breed a generation of kids too scared to go outside, one method is to certainly make sure they get rewarded for spending as much time as possible inside and, thanks to the mono direction of time, cannot make up for their lack of worldly experience. You do know that is exactly what feminists complained men were deliberately doing to raise girls to be dependent on them? That would make your boys into girls. The type modern women despise.
25. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 11:45 · Score: 0
  
  Actual Scenario:
  
  1) Kid eats supper, logs into (MMO)
  2) Hours roll by
  3) Kid glances at clock, notices that it is 1 AM
  4) Kid is blacked out from the game
  5) Kid switches to game that is not on the list
  6) Kid notices the clock says 4 AM
  7) Kid elects to get three hours of sleep before school
  What has been accomplished?
  That should be
  1)Kid gets home, logs into MMO, downloads/installs update
  2)Kid bring supper to PC.
  3)Kid finds favorite MMO is down
  4)Kid whines about it on facebook
  5)Finally the game come back up, logs in, joins for a 2-hour raid
  6)Kid looks at the clock, sees it's 1am and gets kicked off while still in his party
  7)Kid elects to go on a crime spree!!!
26. Re:Freedom? by thehostiles · 2010-04-12 12:25 · Score: 1
  
  I completely support this. Some days, I'd actually like to have a forced complete internet blackout so I could get off the internet and sleep.
27. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 12:29 · Score: 0
  
  No, because "taken care of" doesn't mean "done the way I think it should".
28. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 12:43 · Score: 0
  
  I don't want to burst your bubble but most MMO's are not about problem solving and socializing AT ALL.
29. Re:Freedom? by chonglibloodsport · 2010-04-12 13:08 · Score: 1
  
  Or how about starting school at 11am?
  There's some pretty strong evidence that teenagers have a biological need to stay up late and sleep in.
30. Re:Freedom? by commodore64_love · 2010-04-12 13:29 · Score: 1
  
  Sadly no.
  
  --
  "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
31. Re:Freedom? by LandDolphin · 2010-04-12 13:37 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  While I do not refute that there might be some evidence to support starting school at 11. I am not sure that a later start time for school would mean that kids would just stay up later than they already do.
  
  --
  Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
32. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 13:41 · Score: 0
  
  An easy mistake; this new law is more reminiscent of the latter than the former.
33. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 14:00 · Score: 0
  
  They're morons and fools if they don't, IMO. Always follow the money. The money will invariably lead you to the truth of the matter. :)
34. Re:Freedom? by Opportunist · 2010-04-12 14:39 · Score: 1
  
  Probably they are not, they're just pissed that it's so damn hard to find groups in the early morning hours when they got time to play.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
35. Re:Freedom? by Opportunist · 2010-04-12 14:42 · Score: 1
  
  I read it. My first thought was "so typical for a cheater, usually knife to head is a 100% kill".
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
36. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 14:50 · Score: 0
  
  I am still wondering where does profit fit in all this?
37. Re:Freedom? by Opportunist · 2010-04-12 15:04 · Score: 1
  
  Yes. You might have to swap the parents for some responsible ones, but still.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
38. Re:Freedom? by Daengbo · 2010-04-12 15:11 · Score: 1
  
  The Korean high schoolers near my apartment would be in school from 8am to 12am pretty much straight. There were a couple of breaks where they would run out and watch StarCraft on TV, but that was about it.
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
39. Re:Freedom? by Daengbo · 2010-04-12 15:14 · Score: 1
  
  All the expats I knew spent the weekends at bars until 8am the next morning. I'd guess that qualifies as something to do at night.
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
40. Re:Freedom? by tsotha · 2010-04-12 16:24 · Score: 1
  
  Well, presumably if you could get them to do active things they'd be too tired to stay up all night.
41. Re:Freedom? by BobMcD · 2010-04-12 17:18 · Score: 1
  
  No, no, I just think the law wants them rested for school/work/whatever the next day.
42. Re:Freedom? by Techman83 · 2010-04-12 17:19 · Score: 1
  
  I lived the life of an MUD gamer, lived your first scenario till I was 19. I'm now a functioning member of society, who goes to bed at 10pm, gets up at 6am, walks the dog, goes to work etc. Honestly though, it's up to the parents and I did give mine hell as a teenager! But this is South Korea, since when was freedom guaranteed?
  
  --
  # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i cat
  Damn, my RAM is full of cats. MEOW!!
43. Re:Freedom? by BobMcD · 2010-04-12 17:21 · Score: 1
  
  Chances are, though, that you would have had you had the kinds of internet distractions that we have access to today. Especially since many, if not all of these are online and involve other people who are also up that late. It would be like having a friend over every night that never wants to crash before 3 AM. You'd probably at least want to stay up with them. Hopefully your parents would put the kibosh on it, but it seems Koreans want the law on their side. And with my own son as a guideline, I could see how this would be compelling... He won't argue with 'the cops'. Not yet anyway.
44. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 21:51 · Score: 0
  
  The typical high school student attends school from 8 am to 9 pm. They are often required by their parents to attend private academies until midnight. I'm not seeing where they have time to play MMOs for 10+ hours a day. The typical middle school student attends school from 8 am to 4 pm, and then heads off to academies until about 9 pm. Again, not seeing it. This doesn't include the bi-weekly required Saturday classes at school. I'm not seeing it.
45. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 23:11 · Score: 0
  
  Circular argument is circular.
46. Re:Freedom? by Philip_the_physicist · 2010-04-12 23:38 · Score: 1
  
  Wow. Either they should be coming out of high school with what we would consider bachelor-level qualifications, they don't specialise in any sane way, or there is something very broken about their pedagogy.
47. Re:Freedom? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-13 00:42 · Score: 0
  
  Good point but as i get older i see the point to big brother type control now and again. for example, we don't let kids drink alcohol until they're 18/21 in north america because it's not cost/material/life/limb beneficial to let them do so in this culture. probably the same thing is going on in SK. may be they have a genetic weakness for spending hours playing games than north americans, so they need to nationally address the issue. just my 2 korean pesos
48. Re:Freedom? by zero_out · 2010-04-13 03:48 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not seeing it. It should be left to the Parents to decide...
  I see and hear this statement quite often, and sometimes I agree. This is one of those times. Most times, however, I disagree, and here is why. I know that this law pertains to SK, and not the USA, but in the USA we have prisons, welfare, and other programs for unproductive members of society, which are funded by taxpayers. That is, we who are responsible members of society have to support those who are not. When the parents are 100% financially responsible for their adult child's behavior, then I will agree that the government shouldn't be involved in how we raise our children. When I have to pay an emotional price because someone else's child shot mine in a psychotic rampage*, or I have to pay for their adult child to live in prison (like my cousins), or collect welfare because they can't keep their legs together or hold down a job due to laziness (like my sister), then no. I will not agree.
  I'm not saying that playing MMOs at 4 AM will lead to criminal behavior. In fact, in this instance I agree with the person I quoted. What I am saying is that people often say "let me raise my kids my way, and stay out of it," but they fail to consider all those bad parents, whose failures have a direct emotional and financial impact on everyone else.
  *This is not hyperbole, but a real situation that I've experienced. A 14 year old in my former junior HS came to school with a gun and went on a rampage, killing at least one person before killing himself. Another acquaintance of mine was killed at the NIU shooting in 2008.
49. Re:Freedom? by HopefulIntern · 2010-04-13 21:36 · Score: 1
  
  I can relate. I actually had a bedtime all through High School... it was embarrassing to admit in public but I guess I benefited in the end. There was one kid especially I noticed in some of my classes, he was always zombie-like, and would often fall asleep in the middle of class. He was not too academic either. I learned later that he would actually play CS:S from when he got home until the sun came up the next day, fuelled by energy drinks and cola. He became very depressed and failed Senior year. My younger brothers still see him around at school, catching up classes here and there.
  
  I dont mean to demonize gaming. I love gaming (as long as its not CS:S) but sleep is very important, especially for growing kids. If parents arent strict enough to get their kids to bed at a reasonable time, something else must be done. I do not like the idea of the government intervening though.
Oh thank God by masmullin · 2010-04-12 10:07 · Score: 5, Funny

Now the rest of us can compete in PvP!!!
1. Re:Oh thank God by surmak · 2010-04-12 10:08 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  But only from 2-6AM Korea time.
2. Re:Oh thank God by Monkeedude1212 · 2010-04-12 10:25 · Score: 1
  
  Unless I miss my mark (which is entirely possible) thats 4pm till 8pm Mountain Standard Time. Not so bad.
3. Re:Oh thank God by warGod3 · 2010-04-12 23:48 · Score: 1
  
  But, what about the poor gold farmers?
  
  --
  "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet." General James Mattis
Socks for South Koreans by allometry · 2010-04-12 10:11 · Score: 2, Interesting

I'm going to make a killing running SSH proxy's!

--
http://www.allometry.com
1. Re:Socks for South Koreans by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:30 · Score: 0
  
  The minor detection will probably be simply through their registered accounts, which invariably require the Korean SSN to sign up for. The IP address will not matter.
  In fact, it's very possible this will be implemented as applying to all accounts, unlockable only if a hard copy of age verification is submitted, or some e-signing system such as use of a registered cell phone or internet certificate (as they use for banks) is used.
They must be preparing for by josteos · 2010-04-12 10:14 · Score: 1

the World of StarCraft beta...

--
Save the Music; Save the World at http://www.TuneTriever.com (Our latest Android game)
While we sleep? by lemur3 · 2010-04-12 10:15 · Score: 2, Insightful

How about I use my block during the hours of sleep i enjoy at night...... or while i am at work/school.....
yeah this will work out perfectly!
1. Re:While we sleep? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:28 · Score: 0
  
  No shit, I'm surprised people are responding to this thread at all. ... two new policies that will force underage gamers to pick a six-hour block of time (midnight-6 AM . Gee, it's like they didn't even try to make it a difficult choice.
2. Re:While we sleep? by compro01 · 2010-04-12 10:58 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  How about I use my block during the hours of sleep i enjoy at night
  That's the point. The issue is that children are reportedly playing these games all night and not sleeping enough.
  
  --
  upon the advice of my lawyer, i have no sig at this time
3. Re:While we sleep? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 12:42 · Score: 0
  
  If they missed 6 hours of sleep, they are going to end up sleeping 12 hours anyway... or dead... so I guess it's a moot point. Let nature take care of it.
4. Re:While we sleep? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 14:58 · Score: 0
  
  how about I use my block during the hours of school?
5. Re:While we sleep? by mxh83 · 2010-04-12 18:53 · Score: 1
  
  Eh? Work/school hours are excluded from the options. Read it again.
6. Re:While we sleep? by SupremoMan · 2010-04-12 21:57 · Score: 1
  
  The whole idea of this is so kids sleep 8 hours, not 6, not 5, and definitely not 4!
This is probably not going to work by tann0r · 2010-04-12 10:20 · Score: 2, Insightful

All this is going to do is cause the MMOs that aren't on the initial list to see a huge rise in traffic during the blackout hours. So now instead of focusing all of their time on leveling one blue haired angel that can do a flying knee kick at the face of a tree who spits fairy dust at you -- they will have two to worry about. If these kid's parents are allowing them to spend upwards of 12 hours a day in front of the computer I have a feeling they aren't paying enough attention to know whether they are playing Maple Story or a lesser known (but just as time consuming) title.
1. Re:This is probably not going to work by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 15:18 · Score: 0
  
  I spent upwards of 12 hours a day on the computer when I was a teen in the 80's. For the most part I was writing software, not gaming but I turned out OK. I own several software companies due to the skills I started learning back then.
Oh please do this by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:22 · Score: 0

Hundreds of kids on the street with nothing to do, please do this I can't wait to see what happens!
In other news.... by vampire_baozi · 2010-04-12 10:28 · Score: 1

Lineage II and other games not on the list brace for usage spikes during those time blocks. Stockholders are braced for wads of cash to fly their way. CEOs hope new subsriptions outway the bribes they paid to keep their games off the list.
1. Re:In other news.... by Literaryhero · 2010-04-12 11:13 · Score: 1
  
  Lineage 2 is rated 19+ in Korea, meaning that you have to be 19 years old to play it. Since this is a blackout list to protect youths, naturally Lineage 2 wouldn't be included.
2. Re:In other news.... by ULTRAJOE · 2010-04-13 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  PS *outweigh
Never been there, eh? by Frosty+Piss · 2010-04-12 10:45 · Score: 1

Because there's SO much to do in South Korea at night.

I don't think you've been to South Korea, have you? Now, I must admit, I only spent two years in Seoul, but it seemed pretty cosmopolitan to me...

--
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
Then ditch the isolationist Koreans by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 10:49 · Score: 0

It refers to the Korean residency registration number which all Korean citizens have. It's practically a requirement to sign up for any online site in Korea. It also has the handy effect of blocking any foreigner registration numbers from ever signing up for Korean services.
If the Korean's want to be isolationist, let them. And ditch them. Just hit the Japanese sites and let the Korean's whine about why they aren't as popular as the Japanese are.
1. Re:Then ditch the isolationist Koreans by zill · 2010-04-12 12:12 · Score: 1
  
  But I like Korean boobs more!
Interesting, but by Lueseiseki · 2010-04-12 11:15 · Score: 1

How would they go about enforcing this? (article slashdotted) Are they going to block a family's internet connection because their one child will be playing during a different time? What if you have multiple children even?
1. Re:Interesting, but by crossmr · 2010-04-12 18:39 · Score: 1
  
  Accounts require real name verification here. There is no making multiple accounts unless you steal/borrow someone's ID and usually cell phone.
Make it universal by WinstonWolfIT · 2010-04-12 11:16 · Score: 1

And society would benefit without question.
1. Re:Make it universal by selven · 2010-04-12 12:34 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I know, it'll be great. Let's go and ban all the other undesirable elements of society while we're at it, and productivity will shoot through the roof! I say start with alcohol.
2. Re:Make it universal by WinstonWolfIT · 2010-04-12 13:46 · Score: 1
  
  Which is why alcohol isn't available from 2 til 6, for example. Which is why gaming responsibility laws are passed. Which is why the public has an interest in managing addiction.
3. Re:Make it universal by Daengbo · 2010-04-12 15:22 · Score: 1
  
  But alcohol is available 24/7 in Korea.
  
  --
  Put identity in the browser.
A better idea by thoughtsatthemoment · 2010-04-12 11:48 · Score: 1

Let them learning some serious programming and they will forget about all these MMO in no time.
Ok, cool by mysidia · 2010-04-12 11:59 · Score: 1

As long as they can pick a different 6 hours at any time they want.
Think about it... every child needs sleep, this actually seems reasonable. That should be at least 6 hours a day, as any less is considered unhealthy.
So while it's nanny-state, at least the terms are reasonable, and it's not forced to be the same 6 hours for everyone.
In a free society such as the US, of course, this would be the parents' job, not the government's.
1. Re:Ok, cool by crossmr · 2010-04-12 18:41 · Score: 1
  
  You've never been to Korea. 6 hours of sleep for a high school student would be luxurious.
  Most of them only sleep 4. They're often studying until about 2 am and up at 6.
2. Re:Ok, cool by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 21:00 · Score: 0
  
  Then probably you have seen only one aspect of Korea. I am a native Korean who went through the high school ages in Korea, and I slept 7+ hours every day.
  It's not that I'm bragging about myself, but it's because nobody can't stand the long-term stress caused by insufficient sleep. Sure, you may manage to strive a couple of weeks with only 4 hours of sleep, but it's ridiculous to live like that for months.
  Yes, there are some guys who only sleeps 4 hours for a whole year, but based on my experience, that isn't the normal case.
3. Re:Ok, cool by mysidia · 2010-04-13 12:16 · Score: 1
  
  If you have been to Korea, then maybe your point of view about how much sleep the average school student gets on an average night is biased and not objective?
  If a person from France came to the US and visited certain colleges during finals week and talked to the students, they might conclude that an hour of sleep a night is a Luxury in the US.
  Most of them didn't sleep at all, they were up around the clock studying slurping coffee.
  Americans must work really hard!
4. Re:Ok, cool by crossmr · 2010-04-13 12:40 · Score: 1
  
  It is based on media reports and government reports, not observation of a single school. The problem of high schoolers not sleeping and spending all night studying is a country wide problem repeatedly covered in the media.
I doubt that too by Moraelin · 2010-04-12 12:48 · Score: 1

I doubt that the goal is just to subsidize whoever might be behind. For example Lineage isn't all that small, actually. Even if they meant strictly Lineage 1, it would still have almost a million players in Korea, although it never got too popular outside Korea. That one game alone would pad a lot of that difference between 79% of the market (which they claim to throttle) and 100%. And honestly, much as WoW has 11 million total, I wouldn't be surprised if in Korea alone Lineage actually has more Korean players. So why is it _not_ on the list?
It seems to me more like a simple case of taking sides, than any coherent vision of how a healthy MMO ecosystem may look like.

--
A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
1. Re:I doubt that too by Chris+Burke · 2010-04-12 13:40 · Score: 1
  
  I doubt that the goal is just to subsidize whoever might be behind.
  No kidding.
  
  --
  
  The enemies of Democracy are
As opposed to... by MessedRocker · 2010-04-12 13:05 · Score: 2, Funny

As opposed to North Korea, where you can spend as much time on MMOs as you'd like. Except the only MMO is standing guard at the DMZ, awaiting an attack by the South Koreans or the Americans. And it's not a game.
Just moved to Seoul by Anonymous Coward · 2010-04-12 13:21 · Score: 1, Funny

Just moved into Seoul about two weeks ago. There are internet cafe's that advertise MMO's *everywhere*. I think within a mile radius of where I'm staying, I've seen at least 7 or 8, and quite possibly more than that. I don't get the appeal of these things...I tried WoW once, and it just seemed like a drawn out walking simulator to me!
Parents? by ThurstonMoore · 2010-04-12 14:39 · Score: 1

Why can't parents just take care of this?
1. Re:Parents? by TheLink · 2010-04-12 19:23 · Score: 1
  
  This is just so that the parents can get some sleep ;).
  --
  
  Too many replies beneath your current threshold
Nanny state. by Alex+Belits · 2010-04-12 14:43 · Score: 1

Literally.
And it's a good thing.

--
Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
What a joke by BlackBloq · 2010-04-12 14:54 · Score: 1

So they can only play till midnight? Give me a break how about 9:30pm-7am. That's what a real parent would choose.
1. Re:What a joke by crossmr · 2010-04-12 18:45 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Most students don't get home from school until 10:30 pm. They go straight from public school to private academies all night.
Internet use in korea isn't based at home by Deibhaid · 2010-04-12 14:55 · Score: 2, Interesting

I think the reason for this new measure decided upon by the government is because in Korea, it is far more normal for people to get together at a PC Bang (basically internet cafe), where first of all the kids waste their money and time (not to mention sucking up huge amounts of second hand smoke, even in the so-called "not smoking areas") and in addition to that, they pay less attention to their studies. In Korea in particular where studies are very important up through the end of high-school,
18 by Arancaytar · 2010-04-12 17:28 · Score: 1

That's a stupid limitation - grown-ups are not more immune (in many cases less, because nobody tells them what to do) to game addiction.
If they wanted an effective measure, they should enforce that for everyone, but in practice they probably can't.