Notes from the Field

August 11, 2008 on 3:18 pm | In Korean Life | 1 Comment

Sorry, dear readers, for my extended absence here on the blog, but my Korean teaching gig has been demanding of late. It’s vacation season here, and I’ve been filling in for a couple of instructors who took a holiday (and taking a trip or two of my own). Since I’m on the subject of my erstwhile home, I thought I would dispel some myths and reinforce some stereotypes about the gaming culture here in Korealand.

The image on everybody’s mind when South Korea comes up is a legion “Starcraft”-obsessed pros who can Zerg rush you in no less than five separate ways. While it is true that there is a television channel which broadcasts professional S’craft matches 24-7 (complete with over-enthusiastic announcers), its place in Korean culture is hardly monolithic.

Among the younger set, the game de jour is the “free” online MMORPG “Maple Story.” Its popularity is due to the fact that most Koreans play PC Games (no one here plays video games) away from the comfort of their own home. Instead, in an effort to escape the watchful eye of strict mothers, they congregate at the ubiquitous PC Rooms that occupy most Korean buildings. The owners of these businesses are cheap bastards, so they don’t splurge on the computing equipment. Therefore, 10-year-old games like “Starcraft” and simple downloadable affairs such as “Maple Story” feature prominently. In addition, the friendly and colorful design lures them in.

Among teenagers, there might be one game that actually surpasses “Starcraft” in popularity. The game pops on the PC Game channel every once in a while and, from what I can tell, seems to be a cheap-looking “Counterstrike” ripoff. Called “Sudden Attack,” the mere mention of it can sometimes cause students to start reeling off a list of the game’s available weapons (”AK-47, M16, Sniper!”), which is kinda disturbing when it’s coming from a sixth grader. If you ever meet any young Koreans, mention “Sudden Attack” and I guarantee it will earn you instant credibility.

In closing, I’d like to come to the defense of the Koreans. While it is true they like to play computer games, there simply isn’t much time available between the 10-12 hours of school they attend six days a week. The average U.S. teen easily matches their fervor. Just check out the Youtube video of the guy getting a 100 percent on “Through the Fire and the Flame” or all those damn-near impossible achievements for Xbox 360 games. It’s clear, we love to waste our time in front of the screen, too.

-Frank