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Ragnarok Online News - Game Gets Suspension In Vietnam
Posted by on Feb 12, 2007 | 5 comments in our forums
VietNamNet Bridge is running an article about Ragnarok Online getting suspended due to VinaGame not meeting sales and exchange limitations. With more virtual currency stories coming out, this is an interesting read.
VietNamNet Bridge - On February 5, the HCM City Department of Post and Telecommunications instructed VinaGame to stop its Ragnarok services because it failed to apply limits to the sales and exchanges of game products.
According to the VinaGame representative, on December 14, 2006, VinaGame applied limits to the point awarding system of the game according to Circular 60.
On January 12, 2007, inspectors from the HCM City Department of Post and Telecommunications asked the Ragnarok provider to put more limits on the sales and exchanges of products in the game.
VinaGame's president Le Hong Minh said that the sales and exchanges of game products weren't a form of point awarding, so VinaGame fervently hoped that the department wouldn't put limits on them, since it was extremely complex to change game rules and any change would affect the whole structure of the game. This request, however, was turned down.
Also according to Mr. Minh, there are gaps in online game certification processes carried out by city departments and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
For instance, the HCM City Department of Post and Telecommunication applies limits to game product sales and exchanges, while Hanoi's department doesn't.
Online games providers are now waiting for the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to standardise all game regulations.
Read more here.
This would be a precursor for all mmorpg in-game items (virtual properties). IMO, its a benefit. However, Sony with its exchange has actually made it a viable market and controlled. I'm sure they used Sony's model it would change their attitude towards the out-of-hand situation of ragnarok online.
The other thing I see happening is having all items bound on acquire. Which would limit to the sales of accounts and not virtual property itself.
I guess the communists aren't satisfied enough ruining real economies, they've got to ruin virtual ones too.
Not at all, I do however believe that everything should have rules applied. Making a game just to sell virtual commodities needs to be regulated. Its income coming into their nation.
EDIT: Btw, the issue isnt (totally) in-game economy. Its the buying and selling of virtual properties out of the game is what Vietnam is concerned with (original intent). The original statemented post doesnt show the whole picture of what is occuring with the Vietnam goverment and Ragnarok online.