[Gt-R R34]

At a recent StarCraft II event in Seoul, Blizzard announced that any Korean gamers with an active World of Warcraft subscription will be able to play StarCraft II, free of charge. The deal lasts as long as the World of Warcraft account is active, and is a very smart move on the part of Blizzard to drive the popularity of WoW in the region. Blizzard's Chris Sigaty described the announcement as "a way of giving something back to such a supportive and skilled community of players."

It also makes a great deal of sense given the pricing system for StarCraft II in South Korea, which – given the popularity of playing at Internet cafes (or PC Bangs, as they're known there) – is a whole lot more flexible than anything we've seen in the West. The full game can be purchased for 69,000 won (about US $57), but more importantly, a 9,900 won monthly pass will also be available, and breaking it down even further, a 2,000 won pass for 24 hours of play. The game will sit on the player's hard drive and will be unlocked for play whenever a pass is purchased.

Would pricing systems like this work outside South Korea? Should Western WoW players also be treated to StarCraft II? Sound off below…

Korean POWER