kespa posts

Even though eSports isn't nearly as huge here in the US as it is in South Korea, it's clear that developer Blizzard gets a lot of money from the sales of their games in that country where eSports is a major entertainment business. This past week Blizzard signed a new deal with Korean-based GomTV to broadcast tournaments that use all of Blizzard's games, including the upcoming StarCraft II, for the next three years.

Current broadcast arrangements are apparently set to expire in August, according to web site Team Liquid (who has translated Korean-based news reports on the subject). It also has a message from Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime who said that previous arrangements with Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) had collapsed over issues of intellectual property rights. However it looks like KeSPA sees things differently. Team Liquid reports that in response to the Blizzard-GomTV deal, KeSPA believes Blizzard has over-stretched its rights over using their games in eSports event, saying, "Car Companies do not ask for usage fees from racing car contests."

Earlier this year reports hit the internet that a number of pro StarCraft players in South Korea were under suspicious of fixing and throwing matches for money. Today the Korea Times reports that the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office has now indicted 11 current and former pro StarCraft players in that country for deliberately losing matches.

The story says that three Web sites were also indicted in the investigation. They allegedly masterminded the operation to pay the 11 players to throw matches. The web sites then were paid with gambling winnings knowing the outcome of the matches. It's the first time such indictments have ever been made in the e-sports industry in South Korea where the original StarCraft is considered to be a national sport.

[Via Blue's News]

With StarCraft II getting (hopefully) close to a release date, it looks like one of the sci-fi RTS sequel's biggest audiences is heading for a big shake-up. According to a story on the Korean-based Yonhap News (and translated by TeamLiquid.com) developer Blizzard has broken its ties with the Korean e-Sports Association (also known as KeSPA) who has been a major force in organizing teams and tournaments for the original StarCraft.

According to the TeamLiquid.com translation, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime stated they could not get KeSPA " . . . to recognize our IP rights. Of course we think our IP rights should be respected. StarCraft II will be released soon, so we will have to look for a new partner." Combining this news with the recent accusations of cheating and gambling in the Korean StarCraft e-sports scene and it's possible that the release of StarCraft II in Korea may not be a smooth one.

[Via Shacknews]