Korean Officials Raid Blizzard

Andy Chalk

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Nov 12, 2002
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Korean Officials Raid Blizzard


Blizzard's Seoul office was raided as part of an ongoing investigation into consumer complaints about Diablo 3.

Blizzard's been taking a lot of guffola over Diablo 3 [http://www.amazon.com/Diablo-III-Standard-Edition-Pc/dp/B00178630A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338574944&sr=8-1], but nowhere is the ride rougher than in South Korea, where an investigation into possible violations of the country's electronic commerce and commercial contracts laws is being carried out by the country's Fair Trade Commission. The FTC actually raided Blizzard's offices earlier this week, seizing documents and other evidence as it seeks to determine whether or not any laws have been broken.

The matter relates to Blizzard's refusal to issue refunds to disgruntled Korean gamers, hundreds of whom have filed official complaints with the FTC about overloaded and inaccessible Diablo 3 servers. Many of them have demanded their money back but Blizzard, citing EULA terms, has refused to do so; instead, it doubled its server capacity in the region and said it would continue to take steps to improve the service and avoid service problems in the future. But for a lot of players, that's not good enough.

"We have received many complaints from Diablo 3 users," FTC rep Kim Hyung-bae said, although he refused to elaborate. Other officials, however, said the investigation is looking into allegations that the game was sold based on an "unfair" contract and whether Blizzard was "ill-prepared" for the high traffic at launch. There's no word on when the investigation will conclude, but the expectation is that Blizzard will be ordered to issue refunds to all unhappy Diablo 3 owners in the country.

Despite its well-publicized troubles, Diablo 3 has been a huge, albeit entirely unsurprising, success for Blizzard, selling 6.3 million copies [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117399-Diablo-III-Sells-Like-Crazy] in its first week of release.

Source: Korea Times [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2012/05/123_111971.html]


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Kenjitsuka

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Pretty sure those extra Korean servers got taken out from somewhere else, say Europe, where """"service"""" has sucked immensely as of late.
 

Zipa

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Kenjitsuka said:
Pretty sure those extra Korean servers got taken out from somewhere else, say Europe, where """"service"""" has sucked immensely as of late.
Tell me about it, the last couple of days the servers have been down every time I wanted to play.
 

tmande2nd

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"Its totally fair to make people always be online! ...suckers!"

Its amazing I know people who have not been able to play since it came out because of servers. They spent 60 dollars and got NOTHING.

I hope SK gives Blizzard what for, for pretty much failing consumers and hiding behind these claims.

If its not "artistic integrity" its "anti-piracy" the next week.
 

Tony2077

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this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
 

Worgen

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Whatever, just wash your hands.
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
 

Lvl 64 Klutz

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I realize it would make absolutely no difference towards the success or future practices of Blizzard if they're found to have broken some South Korean commerce law.

And yet, if they are indeed found guilty, I will feel that a little bit of justice has been served. And I will laugh, and laugh, and laugh.
 

Tony2077

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Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
 

Worgen

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Whatever, just wash your hands.
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
 

RaikuFA

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This isn't about the hacked accounts?

Blizzard really screwed the pooch with this one.
 

Tony2077

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Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
so if i don't agree with bullshit i should just stick my head in the ground?
 

Li Mu

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Hah! Blizzard, your puny DRM wont protect you from the Korean government!
 

The Forlorn

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Good on you, Korean gaming brothers. You were fools to buy such a silly, little, game in the first place... but at least you have the balls and good sense to say F this.
 

Worgen

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Whatever, just wash your hands.
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
so if i don't agree with bullshit i should just stick my head in the ground?
How is wanting a game to work bullshit?
 

Fappy

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This is pretty hilarious. Blizzard games are serious business over there.
 

Tony2077

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Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
so if i don't agree with bullshit i should just stick my head in the ground?
How is wanting a game to work bullshit?
the thing is the game does work just because you live where there is a lousy connection doesn't change that basic
 

ScruffyMcBalls

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Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
so if i don't agree with bullshit i should just stick my head in the ground?
It'd be better than leaving it up your ass.
I couldn't resist.
 

RaikuFA

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Jun 12, 2009
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Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
Worgen said:
Tony2077 said:
this is just as bad as the bullshit about the me3 ending when will it end.
Except this actually protects consumer rights as opposed to trying to make a game ending not suck.
the right to be assholes are the only rights i see being protected these days
That is a right just like any other but if you buy something than you fucken expect it to work so they have every right to complain about this and if you don't agree then you shouldn't complain about their complaining.
so if i don't agree with bullshit i should just stick my head in the ground?
How is wanting a game to work bullshit?
the thing is the game does work just because you live where there is a lousy connection doesn't change that basic
What about the hacked accounts and Blizzard victim blaming? You saying no one has a right to complain about that either?