Real Life Jef

Link: http://www.sambakza.net/amalloc/amalloc_frameset.htm

This inter-regional hatred has been in front of me for many years, even though I did not notice it until I discovered the truth about Cats and Rabbits. Korea, not only being a country of kimchi, affordable small cars and hard working people, also is a country of avid computer gamers. The MMORPG craze really took off in Korea, where DSL services are cheap and fast. Good gamers are awarded substantial prizes for winning competitions, much like top sports competitions in Australia. Gaming in Korea is big business.

What surprized me the most is that the rivalry between the former kingdoms of Baekje and Silla permeates the games I have played every day and I have been blithely unaware of it. They have found a way to perpetuate their regional war online in the games they play!

In the Guild Wars "Factions" expansion there are two distinct groups that fight continually for domination of territory - players have to choose which faction they want to fight for as a part of the storyline. The Kurzicks, who are highly cultured and art oriented and live in great gothicly inspired mansions and reside in the petrified forests of Cantha. The Luxons are rustic, nomadic tribespeople who wander the now solid jade sea. I now understand why these two groups came to be and who they are supposed to represent.

Even in a game where one would not expect it, the Koreans have found yet another venue in which to fight their old battles. In Sword of the New World, you take control of a family of pioneers who are out to discover more of the new lands of Granado Espada. Roughly based on the early European exploration of the new world, it is seen through the eyes and mythology of europeans to explain the strange things they find. But even in a fresh New World, there are factional battles between Royalists and Republicans. Again another two-sided battle, and again, ways to seperate Koreans based on their region.

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