It's moving into beta as we converse, with 100,000 spots available, but since those spots are Korea-only, that information is presented only as information, not a recommendation.

Still, you'd expect the final game to be a little easier to sign up for, especially given the Western origins of the IP. In the meantime, feel free to blunder your way through the Korean site below, which has plenty of media for you to find randomly, all the while wishing Google Translator did as good a job with Korean as it does with French or Spanish.

[Quake Wars Online]

It'll be the exact same deal as the Japanese edition - custom console, controller, copy of Final Fantasy XIII - only, for Koreans. It'll be out on January 29, 2010, and will retail for 540,000 Won, which works out to be around USD$460.

While being released in Korea isn't the surest sign the pack will make it to the West - after all, the Korean market gets a lot of Japanese hand-me-downs - you can probably take the news and forge a small crucible of hope from it.

The Dragonica Online open beta kicks off this week, running from September 3rd to October 27th. During the open beta, monsters will be dropping special raffle cards, which players can collect and accumulate until they are nearly choking on them. Raffle cards can either be redeemed for an in-game item, horded, or combined in stacks of five to create high-end raffle cards.

So how does one win?

At the end of the beta testing event, every player with raffle cards in their possession is entered into a drawing to win real-world look as well as in-game items. Take a look at what THQ*ICE is offering up:

- A Trip To Korea: Meet the masterminds behind the game, Barunson Interactive, in-person;
- iHome's iP71 iPod Computer Speakers: Charge, play, and sync your iPod and iPhone with iTunes while it's docked securely into the base of the computer speakers;
- 8GB iTouch Video and Music Player: A perfect fit with your iHome speakers;
- Dragonica Online Skinned Laptop: Play Dragonica Online in style while on the go;
- ICE Cash: Customize your character and gameplay experience with ICE Cash, the exclusive THQ*ICE virtual currency;
- In-Game Prize Pack: A collection of useful items every player should have while on their journey;
- Exclusive Dragonica Online Themed Premium Items: Cool wall scrolls & t-shirt

I crave the skinned laptop myself, but given the sheer adorability of Dragonica Online, I don't like the odds. Visit the THQ*ICE registration page to sign up for a free account for the free to play MMO.

While the gameplay looks a little "been there, done that", it's not the only overly-familiar thing about the trailer. We could swear we've heard that music somewhere before...

[Sudden Attack]

Now a gameplay clip is out, is there still need for the hyperventilation?

Previously, some were calling the game "an embarrassment" to South Korean gaming to which SK-Imedia replied, "Debating (as to if it's a rip off or not) is like having blind men touching an elephant and describing what it looks like. We will reveal the gameplay soon. Other than that, we have no comment at this time."

해브(H.A.V.E.) 온라인 플레이 영상 [Tagstory Thanks, Tae Ho!]

H.A.V.E. Online is being called "an embarrassment" to the Korean game industry. Check out this comparison clip and judge for yourself.

Last week, we reported that its publisher SK iMedia has not commented about the likeness. Well, the company finally has made a statement. Korean web portal DC News did a phone interview with the publisher. "Debating (as to if it's a rip off or not) is like having blind men touching an elephant and describing what it looks like," said SK iMedia. "We will reveal the gameplay soon. Other than that, we have no comment at this time."

신작 게임 'H.A.V.E.', '팀 포트리스2'와 비슷하다? [DC News Thanks, Torokun!]

An homage?

Even with the otaku toy twist, the game is a little too close to Team Fortress 2 for some on the Korean internet, where the game is kicking up a mini-controversy. The game is being called "an embarrassment" to the Korean game industry.

H.A.V.E.'s publisher SK iMedia has not made a comment about the Team Fortress 2 likeness. Check out the trailer comparison shots and wonder to yourself why they called this game H.A.V.E. and not Toy Fortress Story.

Missed opportunity, that.

팀 포티리스 2 표절 + 오덕화 ‘피규어 TPS' H.A.V.E 영상·스크린샷 공개 [The World is just awesome Thanks Torokun!]

One bundle includes a region-specific TV tuner, 32MB memory stick, and a PSP. The other two? They're Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection bundles — as game site Siliconera points out, the year-old-game is quite popular in South Korea. You know another way to say "popular"? That's right, hot.

PSP Bundles Have "Very Hot" Advertising In Korea [Siliconera]

Behind the scenes: How Tetris blocks are made [Offworld via BoingBoing]

While PCs traditionally dominate South Korea, Nintendo has made headway with the DS, so it will be interesting to see how a portable version of the massively popular MMORPG does.

It won't be the first portable Ragnarok as there has already been a cell phone version in its native Korea.

Ragnarok Online DS will be released in North America this winter.

The first title in the series, Magna Carta: The Phantom of Avalanche, was released in 2001, and the second game, Magna Carta: Crimson Stigmata, came out in 2004. While Crimson Stigmata borrowed battle elements from Star Ocean games, Magna Carta 2 has a brand new combat system.

"One of the biggest reasons as to why it took so long to develop this game is we wanted to build a new battle system from the ground up," Banpresto's Yoshihisa Kanesaka told game site Siliconera. "This game has a completely new battle system."

The second reason is that developers wanted to make sure the models closely matched illustrator Kim Hyung Tae's character design. "We put a lot of energy into these two things from the ground up which is why it took so long," Kanesaka added. Gamers hoping to play Magna Carta 2 will have to wait a little longer. The game isn't out in Japan until August.

What Took Magnacarta 2 So Long To Develop? [Siliconera]

And not just dog-sledding, but puppies. Players raise their dog-sledding team and make deliveries to snowy outputs. Higher level dogs bring different skills like smelling goods to determine their quality or leadership abilities that help the pack jump crevices. There are traditional MMORPG elements like story quests and equipment upgrades.

But most importantly — puppies! Check out the game's trailer.

Husky Express [Nexon via GameSetWatch]

Oh, and yes, this is real.

Kids Sing A Made Up Song About Netiquette The Darndest Things

"We are troubled by 'reverse-importing', which is when products exported into South Korea are flown back into Japan," said a Sony employee.

With the depreciating South Korean Won and the strong Japanese Yen, South Korea is an even more attractive shopping destination for Japanese shoppers. The PS3 prices at 448,000 won in South Korea, and it goes for around ¥39,900 in Japan.

Since Korea offers lower retail prices, the Japanese have traditionally visited the Korean Peninsula to pick up luxury items such as designer bags at "discount" prices. However, South Korea and Japan use different voltage frequencies with the nominal voltage for South Korea being 220/380 and being 100/200 for Japan. Those picking up a Korean PS3 for Japan will need a converter.

The PLAYSTATION 3 launched in South Korea on June 16, 2007. Only the 80GB version was available at launch.

ソニーが韓国で「PS3」の販売を中止したワケ [Chosun Online Thanks, Ben!] [Pic]

Signing a contract to play for WeMade FOX team for 700 million Korean won, the 22-year-old is currently the highest paid player in the Korean e-Sports scene and the second highest paid player in its history. Back in 2007, StarCraft legend Yoon Yeol 'NaDa' Lee inked a deal to play for 750 million won.

"I am honored to play for a Korea professional gaming team for Koreans," Moon stated. "As setting good circumstance of playing, I will give everything to my fans and FOX team by winning lots of titles in 2009." And making lots and lots of money.

FOX officially unveils record signing Moon [SK-Gaming Thanks to all who sent this in!]

After the game, when a reporter said that the entire Japanese team got pumped up, right fielder Ichiro Suzuki replied, "In Dragon Quest, tension increases, and you get stronger, right? It was like that."

And the entire nation of Japan went ooooooh, and it immediately got what he was talking about.

「テンションが上がって強くなった感じ」…イチローに聞く [Yomiuri via my game news flash] [Pic]

MBC Game also broadcasts Warcraft III, Tekken and Counter-Strike. As game site Siliconera points out, all three home consoles are available in Korea; however, none of them have reached the popularity of PC gaming. Perhaps that guy's gray vest will help.

Starcraft TV Network Gives Halo Wars Its Own Show [Siliconera]

Built on the Battlefield 2 engine, BFO will pit US forces against Russia in a Middle Eastern setting, with up to 64 players supported at any one time. And...that's about where the details end, because EA and local team Neowiz are playing stingy with the announcements, promising to drip-feed stuff like unit info over the next few months.

You can check out the teaser trailer and site below, but be warned, for some reason I could only get it running in Internet Explorer.

Battlefield Online [EA]

[thanks Kieran!]

Nintendo issues the annual report to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as part of the Special 301 process, which asks for input from the public to underscore areas of concern. So where is piracy rampant this year? For the most part, the list contains the usual suspects. Brazil, China, Korea, Mexico, and Paraguay all return to the list this year, perhaps indicating that the government didn't do enough in those areas last year, instead focusing on less important things, like electing a new president, fighting an ongoing war, and dealing with the failing economy. Priorities, people!

So what has changed? Hong Kong, present on the list last year, has been removed completely, so apparently everything is okay there now. Good job! In its place? Spain. I freaking knew it. They've been way too quiet in Spain lately.

Check out Nintendo's country-by-country report below.

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: China continues to be the hub of production for counterfeit Nintendo video game products. The number of online shopping sites in China selling infringing Nintendo products is increasing, and help is needed by the government to curtail the growth of these illegal marketplaces. These products are sold both inside China and to the world, including our key market in the United States. Chinese customs officials must stop shipments of game copiers and other infringing products out of China, and China should work in the coming year to eliminate barriers to its enforcement laws.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Internet piracy in Korea continues to increase, as does the availability of devices that get around product security and allow for the play of illegal Nintendo software. A massive customs raid of 10 premises that resulted in the seizure of more than 75,000 game copiers at the beginning of 2009 is a positive sign the government is serious about enforcement. Nintendo is pleased with Korea's consistent customs seizures, and courts are now starting to hold distributors of circumvention devices, such as game copiers, accountable. The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is important to all intellectual property rights holders.

BRAZIL: Federal anti-piracy actions are not reducing piracy in Brazil, and local enforcement efforts are weak. Efforts to prosecute for piracy are virtually nonexistent. Customs and border control agents failed to seize a single shipment of Nintendo video game products in Brazil in 2008. Internet piracy is increasing with no legal infrastructure in place to respond to the threat it poses to rights holders. High tariffs and taxes also constitute market barriers for legitimate video game products.

MEXICO: Anti-piracy actions by the Mexican government in 2008 were wholly inadequate. The Mexican government must recognize the seriousness of the piracy problem and start using existing enforcement tools. Mexico's participation in negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is encouraging, but enforcement efforts need to move forward now. The willingness of Mexican customs and Mexican postal service workers to be trained by trademark owners was a positive sign in 2008.

SPAIN: The availability of game-copying devices in Spain is alarming. Internet sites offering game-copying devices and illegal Nintendo software are widespread and must be addressed. Nintendo asks that the Spanish government implement laws protecting the creative copyright industry and enact laws against Internet piracy. Nintendo considers education a priority in its fight against piracy in the European Union. Customs authorities play an important role in enforcing intellectual property rights, and Nintendo is seeing positive signs in this area. Nintendo is pleased about recent steps taken by the Spanish National Police against distributors of game copiers.

PARAGUAY: Corruption continues to hamper anti-piracy efforts. Nintendo's anti-piracy actions in Paraguay show that illegal goods are imported and also locally produced. Border controls are key to decreasing piracy, and the revised criminal code will increase penalties against those distributing circumvention devices in Paraguay.