Removal of the region block for certain countries

[Maacha]

For about 2 years now I have had to play FFXI using a VPN service because South Korean IP addresses are blocked from access to the game. With the near death of RMT in this game, is it really necessary to block a whole country just because their neighbor country may have at one point been involved in RMT? There other Korean FFXI players also, and people in other countries that have been blocked.

I played FFXIV in the Beta without the VPN, and enjoyed it. I bought the collector's edition. I tried to install the game, and ran into the region block that had caused me problems in FFXI. Why allow the Beta to be played from Korea, but not the retail game? This is the major reason I do not and will not play FFXIV. I was already hooked on FFXI for years before the region block went into place, mostly in the US but for almost 2 years in Korea, but I refuse to play another SE title if I am forced to use a VPN which restricts by bandwidth to less than 10% of its normal speed.

[Alhanelem]

Well, south korean developers lock out their games from the rest of the world by requiring a south korean SSN. So frankly I find it understandable that the reverse lockout is also in place. I don't think it's just a matter of RMT, which, as you said, is mostly dead (though who is to say it wont make a resurgence if they can get easy access?)

[Byrth]

This could be totally wrong, but here is my memory:
The Korean lockout is a remnant of the DDOS attacks of ~2005, which were thought to be initiated by a Korean bot net after Japan made a very insensitive comment about the Japanese occupation of Korea. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule)

Both the act of aggression and the response don't make much sense to me, but that's what I remember.

[Coldbrand]

The original gil sellers were Korean also. But that doesn't mean all Koreans should be persecuted as a result by any means.

[Maacha]

The "block" Korean games have by requiring a Korean SSN does not prevent you from logging in with an IP address from a different country, so it's not really the same thing. I have a US account for FFXI, I played in the US for 4? years before moving to Korea. I lived in Korea for over a year before the IP address blocking went into effect. I use an SE account with a security token, but being limited to a very slow connection because of the need to use a VPN is VERY frustrating...

The region block on Korea from SE games went into effect in 2009, I know this because my VPN subscription is yearly, and it's almost due to be renewed for the 2nd time.

There are RMT in every country. The majority of those who remain in FFXI today are in the US. They sell their gil to websites who then resell it to people stupid enough to buy. There's not even much in this game left to buy with gil anyway... most of the best stuff is ra/ex...

[oliveira]

They actually erected the barriers in November 2008 after RMT attacked them. I've been somewhat afflicted as I use an Japanese account outside of Japan and now I'm unable to renew my subscription through credit card. I had a new credit card added to my account a few months before the barriers were added so I was able to enjoy the game for a few years. My credit card is now expired and I'm locked out of the game. So you're not alone on this issue, my friend.

[Stromgarde]

While not affected by this personally, I do agree something should be done for these players.

[GERM]

This could be totally wrong, but here is my memory:
The Korean lockout is a remnant of the DDOS attacks of ~2005, which were thought to be initiated by a Korean bot net after Japan made a very insensitive comment about the Japanese occupation of Korea. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule)

Thats practically dealing with pre WWII issues it has a couple dates after 1945 but they just talk about a little bit of business blah blah and what not.. I don't think this has anything to do with SqEnix .. I may have over looked something but doubt this is related