Tag: TERA

Subsidies and Incentives And Government, What The Hell?


State Funded MMOs?

Today’s news gets stranger and stranger. Earlier today, it was reported that TERA, upcoming MMO by Bluehole Studios, has been subsidized by the Korean Government. As part of the Global Plan, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has selected Bluehole to be part of their fund in an effort to expand Korea’s presence in the MMO realm (this is where you point out the hundred thousand Korean MMOs on the market). It is quite an exclusive program, and is one of nine projects selected.

Don’t worry, it gets stranger. Heading back over to the states, our news focuses on 38 Studios, which at this point in times is located in Massachusetts. As it seems, Rhode Island is very interested in having 38 Studios, with their upcoming MMO Copernicus, and they were willing to extend an olive branch. Granted, the olive branch already existed, but Rhode Island is offering 38 Studios a guaranteed $75 million loan in exchange for relocating the company. For a teeny tiny company like 38 Studios, the thought of a guaranteed $75 million must be a godsend (or a nightmare imagining paying that back).

Next time on MMO Fallout? I’m still waiting on the release of Kim Jong Ill’s MMO.

So That's Where The Lineage 3 Code Went!


None shall pass!

Here at MMO Fallout, we pride ourselves on being able to not only take important legal matters and translate them into digestible snausages for the masses, but also the ability to refer to a one man team as “we.” With Atari Vs Turbine and Bethesda Vs Interplay on the table, it’s easy to overlook less reported cases. For starters, NCsoft Vs Bluehole Studios!

By the time Lineage 3 was first canned, quite a number of the game’s mechanics were already in place and, by measure, copyrighted. A couple members of the developer team moved on to Bluehole Studios, currently working on upcoming MMO “The Exiled Realm of Arborea” (TERA), sparking a lawsuit by NCsoft. According to NCsoft, the two developers took with them source code relating to several copyrighted technologies. Mr. Kang and Mr. Yo are the former employees named in the lawsuit.

Sadly the case jumped right over MMO Fallout, in terms of breaking news. At least until today, where the Seoul District Court has awarded over 2 billion won in compensation to NCsoft. Naturally, Bluehole is expected to appeal the ruling. It is uncertain what effect this hefty fine will have on Bluehole, or TERA.

2 billion won equates to approximately $1.7 million dollars USD. More on TERA, not so much on Lineage 3, as it appears.

So That’s Where The Lineage 3 Code Went!


None shall pass!

Here at MMO Fallout, we pride ourselves on being able to not only take important legal matters and translate them into digestible snausages for the masses, but also the ability to refer to a one man team as “we.” With Atari Vs Turbine and Bethesda Vs Interplay on the table, it’s easy to overlook less reported cases. For starters, NCsoft Vs Bluehole Studios!

By the time Lineage 3 was first canned, quite a number of the game’s mechanics were already in place and, by measure, copyrighted. A couple members of the developer team moved on to Bluehole Studios, currently working on upcoming MMO “The Exiled Realm of Arborea” (TERA), sparking a lawsuit by NCsoft. According to NCsoft, the two developers took with them source code relating to several copyrighted technologies. Mr. Kang and Mr. Yo are the former employees named in the lawsuit.

Sadly the case jumped right over MMO Fallout, in terms of breaking news. At least until today, where the Seoul District Court has awarded over 2 billion won in compensation to NCsoft. Naturally, Bluehole is expected to appeal the ruling. It is uncertain what effect this hefty fine will have on Bluehole, or TERA.

2 billion won equates to approximately $1.7 million dollars USD. More on TERA, not so much on Lineage 3, as it appears.