Minecraft is classified as an adult game in South Korea, at least on Microsoft platforms, due to an eccentricity in South Korean law. Why is Minecraft classified as an R-Rated adult game in South Korea?
It's truly bizarre: the quintessential kids game, Minecraft, is classified R19+ in South Korea. Not only has bizarre South Korean laws forced Microsoft to classify Minecraft as adult-rated, but the whole hoo-ha has sparked a player petition against the government to fix what is being termed a "Shutdown Law". It's confusing, but the question on everyone's mind is simply: why is Minecraft classified as an adult game in South Korea?
Look, we don't really understand what this is all about, but what we do understand is... a bunch of other stuff. Here are a couple cool articles you could also check out (if you feel so inclined!).
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Why is Minecraft Classified as an Adult Game in South Korea?
Minecraft is classified as an adult game in South Korea because it requires an Xbox Live account to play, and that's a 19-plus service! Xbox Live is especially controlled in South Korea because, fascinatingly, a "shutdown law" prohibits children from playing video games between midnight and 6AM.
Basically, because Microsoft didn't want to implement some crazy complex system to screen players, they made Xbox Live a 19+ service in South Korea. Weird, right? Well, it kind of makes sense - Microsoft don't want to have to put new systems in place to monitor who and when people are playing in South Korea, and this decision circumvents any necessity to do so.
The catch? Well, lots of kids games require Xbox Live! That means that games like Minecraft are classified as a freaking adult's game! Bizarre, right? Well, look, I do love me some Minecraft, but it's most certainly a kids game, and having the age restrictions set for 19 seems... at least a little bit bizarre, right?
Why are Players Petitioning the South Korean Government?
South Koreans are petitioning the Government in opposition to the same Shutdown Law that has caused Minecraft to be classified as an adult's game. More than 15,000 South Koreans have signed the petition, directed at the Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae. Crazy, right?
In an amusing turn of events, the South Korean Government have actually made a statement to the KoreaHerald, claiming that it's Microsoft's fault that Minecraft is R-Rated! They were pretty brutal, too!
Any responsible game company should make adjustments to different systems of different countries when it makes a policy change and make investments to protect its users.
What do you think? Do you think that Microsoft is just being insanely lazy? Do you think that the South Korean Government is being ridiculous? Are you just utterly confused... I think I am a combination of all three. This is so weird.
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