[서울신문] “Let’s get it right?”… 4 questions left after Nexon’s probability revealed

‘Probability Disclosure Controversy’ Still Continues Despite Nexon Announcement

On the 5th, Nexon decided to disclose all probability information on the probability-type items paid for, but users’ complaints are still continuing. It is true that the existing self-regulation program contains forward-looking content, but it is not enough to escape from the’speculative controversy’. It is pointed out that if the industry continues to withstand the criticism of the politicians and users, it is inevitable that the’probability regulation legislation’ that contains punishment rules for this is inevitable. Despite Nexon’s announcement, we have summarized the points that users and the industry pointed out as questionable points.

① Why aren’t the paid-free mixed-type probability items released?

The targets that Nexon announced that it will sequentially disclose the probability this time is limited to paid probability items. The probability of a free item or a combination of paid and free items was omitted from the announcement. For example,’Random Box’, which does not know which item will come out according to a certain probability, is provided for free, and the key to opening it is that if you have to pay money to purchase it, the probability of this will not be disclosed. Some point out that this is also an item that users paid some money, and if the probability is not disclosed, there is a lack of sincerity to regain the user’s trust. A Nexon official said, “The data for the paid-free hybrid type is vast, so we are reviewing it for now.”

② Is there a problem with the low probability that is only a decimal point?

Already, game companies are disclosing the probability of some items according to a self-regulatory program. The problem is that some items are only at a fractional level with less than 1% chance to be picked. Therefore, the’Execution Sword’, a symbolic item of NCsoft’s’Lineage’, costs at least tens of thousands of won. It is necessary to make rare items for the fun of the game, but it is pointed out that proper regulation is needed for this. If there are too many items with rare probability, and the competition to obtain them heats up, the question is whether the game will become like a gambling house. Nexon’s announcement did not include self-regulation on sparse probability items. Park Seong-hee, an editor of the International E-Sports Association, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, “The rare probability item can be a necessary factor for the fun of the game to some extent.” said.

③ What will other game companies, who have claimed to be’trade secret’, do?

As Nexon, the No. 1 in the industry, has revealed the odds beyond what game companies have been self-regulating so far, competitors can’t stay still. An NCsoft official said, “There is no set yet, but we are carefully reviewing (for additional disclosure of item probability).” The Korea Game Industry Association showed a strong position regarding the game probability as “a representative trade secret.” If the number of companies making decisions like Nexon increases, it may be subject to criticism that “it was a part that could be disclosed in the end. . As early as this month, the Korea Game Policy Autonomy Organization (GSOK), which tried to create a more reinforced item self-regulatory code, is expected to review Nexon’s announcements and propose a revision of the code.

④ Is it not necessary to legislate just because self-regulation is strengthened?The whole amendment bill of the’Game Industry Promotion Act’ initiated by the Democratic Party member Lee Sang-heon was presented to the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee last month. If the bill is passed, the targets of probability disclosure will expand, and if the bill is not followed, you may face legal sanctions, so game companies are actively opposing it. Game companies, who first created a self-regulatory code in July 2015, avoided the regulatory legislation in the past by strengthening self-regulation whenever there was a controversy. Rep. Lee Sang-heon’s amendment is a bill that discloses all probabilities, whether it is a paid item or a combination of paid and free items, so the regulation is stronger than Nexon announced.

In addition, on the 5th, the Democratic Party lawmaker Dong-soo Dong-soo representatively proposed a partial amendment to the’Game Industry Promotion Act’, which prohibits the sale of’Complete Gacha’ products. Complete Gacha refers to a probability-type item in which several items obtained through a draw are collected and another item is completed. Complete gacha is also prohibited in Japan, but in domestic games, complete gacha items can be easily found. Nexon’s announcement does not include any plans to improve the Complete Gacha. There have been many criticisms that Complete Gacha induces excessive billing, but voices are rising that in order to limit this, it must eventually pass a regulatory bill.

An industry insider said, “Even though several regulatory bills have been announced for over 10 years, and the criticisms have continued during the government audit, the controversy over probability items continues.” In the past, “Previously, if the National Assembly plans to make a regulatory bill, game companies will actively “It is unclear whether it will be possible to stop the legalization this time as the users who have sided with it have turned their backs.”

Reporter Jaehee Han [email protected]