'StarCraft' regaining popularity
Gamers cheers during Blizzard Entertainment’s GG Together event at a PC room in Gangnam, Seoul, July 30. The game company said it held the event to celebrate the exclusive pre-launch of “StarCraft: Remastered” at all its partnered PC rooms in Korea. / Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard comes under criticism for controversial pricing
By Yoon Sung-won
The 19-year-old computer online strategy game “StarCraft” is recovering its popularity with the exclusive pre-launch of its upgraded version in Korea, according to industry sources, Tuesday.
According to its developer and distributor Blizzard Entertainment, about 28,000 copies of a special “StarCraft: Remastered” package have been sold so far. The special package has been exclusively released in Korea.
On top of the strong online download sale and license deals with PC rooms in Korea, “StarCraft: Remastered” has been making an impact in the domestic market, the company said.
“Many more copies of StarCraft: Remastered have been sold through online download compared to the special packages sold here, though we cannot release the exact number yet,” a Blizzard Entertainment official said.
“We have also released the game through all our partnered PC rooms since July 30, which numbers some 10,000 nationwide.”
According to game market tracker Gametrics, “StarCraft” remained at the sixth spot in the rankings of most-played games at PC rooms here this week with a 3.87 percent share. The game went up two steps in the rankings from the eighth right after the launch of the remastered version.
“In Korea, computer online games, especially old ones, seldom go up the ranks because many users prefer to spend their time on what they have played so far instead of looking around at other titles,” an industry source said. “Considering this tendency, StarCraft made a meaningful leap.”
Another game industry insider said the popularity of “StarCraft: Remastered” may work as a catalyst that encourages mid-aged users to become active players again.
“It can definitely be a positive factor in the game market,” a game industry source said. “In particular, StarCraft: Remastered will bring many middle-aged gamers back to PC rooms. This means that many computer online games other than StarCraft will also have more chances to draw them as new customers.”
Blizzard Entertainment said it developed “StarCraft: Remastered” to return the favor that fans of “StarCraft” have shown over the last 19 years. The new version provides ultra-high definition graphics and new multiplayer mode features such as an improved matchmaking system, the company said.
Meanwhile, professional gamers and game industry insiders said Blizzard Entertainment still faces tall tasks ahead to make “StarCraft: Remastered” playable through generations as it hopes.
“StarCraft now has a new look that is in tune with the times,” former professional gamer Lim Yo-hwan said during a press conference on July 30. “I think StarCraft could have remained as a robust gaming culture without losing regular seasons and tournaments if it has had proper maintenance. A game dies out without proper updates.”
Better relations with local PC room owners have also been pointed out as a key task.
Despite Blizzard Entertainment’s claim that local PC rooms have been one of its greatest allies in its game business here, those who run PC rooms here have blamed the company for its policy for pricing game licenses.
In June, the company said it will charge PC rooms with license fee even for gamers who personally purchased “StarCraft: Remastered.”
Opposing Blizzard’s policy, the Internet PC Culture Association of Korea (IPCA) and PC room owners announced a statement, claiming that the company is trying to double charge for “StarCraft: Remastered.” The IPCA and PC room owners even filed a petition against the company with the Fair Trade Commission for unfair trade.
Blizzard Entertainment said it provide extra benefits for playing “StarCraft: Remastered” at PC rooms such as additional experience points for user levels.