I posted this in SRO Official Forums and it was deleted IMMEDIATELY.
So I brought it here for your information. This is not an attack on Joymax. It is simply the truth for you to consider and think about. You, as users deserve to know what you are dealing with.
The following information was copied/pasted from Yahoonews. The reference url is:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/060831/3/10clx.html
Pay particular attention to the last paragraph of the article.
QUOTE:
Japan's Gambling Machine Makers Strengthen S. Korean Business
SEOUL, Aug 31 Asia Pulse - Japanese video gambling machine makers are boosting operations in South Korea amid local authorities' crackdown on the proliferation of local gambling chains, industry sources said Thursday.
Mounting suspicions that businesses related to "Sea Story," the leader in the domestic arcade-gambling market, were involved in political bribery in return for business licenses and favors have recently spurred prosecutors' probe into the local gambling market.
Japanese gambling machine maker Yamasa Co. is currently eyeing setting up a subsidiary in South Korea and start up parlors by scouting local market experts, a source who requested anonymity said.
"Japanese companies seem to be stepping up efforts, assessing that the probable disapproval of the use of 'cultural gift certificates' as awards would sooner or later have a favorable effect on their business here," he said.
In South Korea, gambling is strictly prohibited by law, but the developers and distributors of such games bypassed the law by providing the certificates to winners instead of cash.
The source added that Yamasa is also planning to develop gambling machines here by recruiting technicians from Aone Biz, the producer of the Sea Story machines.
Sankyo Co., another Japanese gambling machine maker, is also planning a tie-up with Mega Enterprise Co., a South Korean game distributor, to export their products to the neighboring country.
Japan's Taito Corp. is already running a chain in South Korea after buying nine gaming parlors under local game company
Joymax Corp. last year, while another Japanese firm Sammy Corp. has formed ties with local amusement game maker Scirex, according to the sources.
UNQUOTE
This really shouldn't come as a suprise to anyone. It also didnt suprise me that the SRO Official Forums Mod Team actually CAN respond quite quickly to a post when they want to.
I play SRO quite often and love it. I also have spent more money on this game than every MMORPG I have ever played combined. In fact, the monetary investment that I have in the game is the main reason that I seem unable to quit despite my common disgust with the lack of community control by Joymax. Thats a pretty common "hook" for any casino - the more money you have in the slot machine, the longer you are likely to sit there shoveling in your dollars trying to get someting out of it.
Again, just so you know what you are dealing with.
