The event’s centerpiece was the chance to win a Genesis G80 Black luxury sedan, valued at approximately 60-70 million won. (Image courtesy of EOS Black)
SEOUL, Jul. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – The Game Rating and Administrative Committee of South Korea has intervened to stop a controversial promotional event by a domestic game developer that offered a luxury car as a prize for its newly launched online game.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the committee recently rejected a content modification request submitted by Blue Potion Games, the developer and operator of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) “EOS Black.”
Blue Potion Games launched “EOS Black” on June 20, accompanied by a high-profile event called “The Blacklist.” The promotion promised various prizes, including electronic devices, luxury hotel accommodations, and department store gift certificates, to players who completed in-game missions to earn entry tickets.
The event’s centerpiece was the chance to win a Genesis G80 Black luxury sedan, valued at approximately 60-70 million won. Players could enter the draw by using 100 entry tickets, with multiple entries allowed to increase winning odds.
Players could enter the draw by using 100 entry tickets, with multiple entries allowed to increase winning odds. (Photo: an in-game screenshot of EOS Black)
However, the Game Rating and Administrative Committee found the event problematic after a thorough review. A committee spokesperson explained, “Many of the missions required to earn tickets, such as reaching specific levels or achieving high rankings, were difficult to accomplish without making purchases or engaging in intense competition among users. This structure falls under the category of speculative prizes prohibited by the Game Industry Promotion Act.”
“EOS Black” is an MMORPG known for its player-versus-player combat, where purchasing probability-based items with real money is often necessary to gain a competitive edge. The committee’s decision effectively puts a stop to marketing tactics that might encourage excessive spending in pursuit of valuable prizes.
In response to the committee’s ruling, Blue Potion Games suspended the in-game prize draw feature on June 26, less than a week after the game’s launch, citing “errors on the event page.”
A representative from Blue Potion Games stated, “We are reviewing certain aspects that require modification. However, we plan to proceed with the event prizes as originally announced.”
This incident is not without precedent. The Game Industry Promotion Act explicitly prohibits game-related businesses from “promoting speculation by offering prizes.” The committee has previously taken action against similar promotions, including a 2019 case where Playwith’s “Rohan M” offered a Porsche to the first player to reach the maximum level.
More recently, in February, Netmarble’s plans to offer cash prizes in a user tournament for “Raven 2″ were also rejected by the committee. The committee argued that such events should provide equal opportunities for all users, rather than favoring those who invest more time or money into the game.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
