The Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into allegations of item probability manipulation in the online game "Ragnarok Online (Ragnarok)".
According to industry sources on the 1st, the Fair Trade Commission has received complaints regarding false display and manipulation of item probabilities in Ragnarok as a case and is currently reviewing the related details.
Earlier, on the 20th of last month, ahead of the enforcement of the revised Game Industry Act mandating disclosure of probability-type item information, Ragnarok's developer Gravity updated the probability-type item information on its homepage. They also disclosed changes, stating, "Upon verification, we found that some items did not match the in-game information."
According to the published correction table, there were over 100 items with probabilities different from the previously announced ones. Some items had their appearance probabilities revised from 0.8% to 0.1%, an inflation by as much as eight times.
Gravity explained, "When item probability notification is required, we conduct verification procedures through simulations, but there were some shortcomings," yet users suspected probability manipulation and filed complaints against Gravity with the Fair Trade Commission.
The Fair Trade Commission plans to investigate how much consumers were harmed due to Gravity's incorrect probability disclosures and whether there was any 'intentional manipulation' deceiving consumers behind this incident. They are also considering securing additional materials through on-site investigations.
If the probability manipulation allegations are proven true, Gravity will bear the dishonor of being the first violator since the mandatory disclosure of probability-type item information was implemented.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
