Starting from March next year, it will be mandatory to disclose information on random items that you receive randomly when you pay for games.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 13th that it would announce a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Game Industry Promotion Act (Game Industry Act) containing these contents and collect public opinions until December 13th.
This amendment to the enforcement ordinance was prepared to protect game users from problems such as non-display of probability information and false probability display, which are continuously controversial, and to establish a fair game usage environment.
The amendment includes provisions to strengthen information accessibility for users by specifying the types of probability-type items, specific mandatory labeling requirements, game products subject to labeling obligations, game products recognized as exceptions, and probability display methods.
First, probability item types were divided into capsule type, enhanced type, and composite type (including complete gacha), and mandatory labeling requirements for each type were defined.
Capsule-type items must display the type, grade, and probability of all game items provided through them, and enhanced-type items must display the results and probabilities of changes such as effects, performance, and options of game items provided through them. For composite items, the synthesis results and probabilities of game items provided through them are mandatory to display.
In addition, supply information was displayed on how certain trial results affect other trial results and how game items can be definitively obtained according to usage conditions. This additionally reflects the opinions of game users, and it is expected that game users’ right to know will be significantly expanded through the amendment.
Through this amendment, all game products that provide probability items are subject to the obligation to display probability information. However, it was decided to exclude game products (arcade games) provided to youth game providers and general game providers, and game products that are exempt from rating classification (game products for public promotional purposes such as education, religion, etc.) from the labeling obligation.
In addition, in order to alleviate the burden on small game companies, game products produced, distributed, or provided by small and medium-sized businesses with annual average sales of KRW 100 million or less for three years are excluded from the game products subject to labeling obligations, but the exception standard for the game time selection system is ‘small and medium-sized businesses with sales of KRW 80 billion or less’. Compared to this, the scope of exception recognition has been greatly reduced.
The general principle of display is to display it as a percentage so that users can easily recognize it, but if there is a change in probability, prior notice is provided as a rule.
However, if there is a method that can help game users intuitively understand, it can display up to a certain decimal point or display it using methods such as fractions, functions, or text.
The display method for each medium is to consider the purpose of displaying probability information for each medium, such as game products, Internet homepages, and advertisements/propaganda materials. In the case of game products, it is displayed on the purchase screen or game screen, but if it is difficult to display, it can be displayed on the Internet homepage through a connection screen (link).
Internet homepages allow probability item information to be viewed at once or provide it in a searchable form as a string or number string, but stipulate exceptions. If probability items are provided in real time according to the user’s game progress within the purchase screen or game screen within the game, only the relevant information may not be displayed on the Internet homepage.
The scope of advertisements and propaganda is enumerated and the fact that ‘probability-type items are included in the game product’ is indicated. However, as an exception, in cases where it is difficult to display the advertisements or propaganda due to the size, format, or nature of the advertisement or propaganda, such as a banner advertisement on a web page, it will not be displayed. You can.
Contents to prevent expedient operations, such as providing probability information in a form that cannot be searched or posting probability information in places that are difficult for users to find, were also included in the amendment.
Prior to the implementation of the probability information disclosure system next year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will establish a probability item monitoring team of 24 people to check for non-disclosure and false indication of probability information.
Not only will the monitoring team crack down on games that do not display probability information, but if the probability information disclosed by the game company is suspected to be false, the plan is to verify the probability information displayed by the game company in accordance with Article 31, Paragraph 2 of the Game Industry Act. If additional verification is deemed necessary, we plan to collaborate with the Fair Trade Commission to determine whether the disclosed probability information is false.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon said, “The implementation of the probability item information disclosure system will be the starting point for the rights of game users who have been marginalized to be restored and ‘fair game rules’ established throughout the game industry.” He added, “In establishing the system, the game industry “As cooperation is essential, we expect the gaming industry to work together.”
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to finalize the revised enforcement ordinance by comprehensively considering the public opinions and opinions of related ministries gathered through this legislative notice and implement the revised enforcement ordinance of the Game Industry Act on March 22 next year after holding a cabinet meeting.
[출처] 문화체육관광부 – 대한민국 정책브리핑(www.korea.kr)
Comments