Now this is a game offer we don't see every day. South Korea is set to launch the visual novel title Diamond and the Sound of a Gunshot, and purchasing Zener Works' suspense title does not only give you a brand new gameplay experience, but a diamond as well. For real.

The Koreans loved Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection so much that even two years after its launch, they're still coming out with a PSP bundle for it -- two of them, in fact. Actually, there are three bundles being advertised right now for Korea, and they're using some 'hot' ads to catch your attentions as well.

The maxim says, "imitate, then innovate." Perhaps Fantom Entertainment Group imitated Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children a little too much.

In any case, Square Enix has won the reported copyright infringement case against Fantom Entertainment Group. For more legal details, turn to the full article after the jump.

They say that imitation is a form of flattery. But sometimes, imitation can unleash on you a Beat Rush + Somersault + Water Kick + Meteodrive combo (and very well into Final Heaven too). Last March, Square Enix filed a law suit against Korean media company Fantom Entertainment Group for releasing a music video that's been ruled to have plagiarized FF7: Advent Children. Exhibit A, if you please: Korean pop singer Ivy's music video for her song, "Temptation of Sonata". Read more to see the video and for more details.

FreeStyle Games' B-Boy is viewed by many as one of the best video games for the PlayStation Portable that never made it to North America. It was first released in Europe back in 2006 and then in South Korea earlier this year.

Now it appears that B-Boy is coming to the States after all, if we are to believe a new listing posted by rental store GameFly. Read more.

  

  
Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK) is currently employing a relatively familiar strategy in South Korea to promote the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable consoles. Gaming kiosks have reportedly been put up in certain movie cinemas and a bank.

Yep, you read right: a bank. Even until now, we're still wondering why aging businessmen would want to have a little PS3 fun while waiting for his/her financial transaction to finish. Maybe SCEK is targeting the parents here, egging them on to by a console for their beloved sons and daughters.

The PS2 and PSP kiosks, on the other hand, are positioned in the movie house known as Megabox located in Mokdong, Seoul, South Korea. This is actually part of SCEK's "Zam Zone" marketing campaign for the PS3's predecessor - which is still very hot in that part of the globe - as well as the handheld console.

The Entertainment Software Association has applauded the recent forging of a free trade agreement between the US and South Korea which will not only make it easier for publishers to bring games to and fro, it also helps fight software piracy.

According to the USA, opening better trade relations with one of the most economically-successful countries in Asia will result in "non-discriminatory and duty-free treatment for all digital products." This means that both countries will enjoy equal opportunities in the market to sell their wares.

This also means, according to software publishers, that the campaign against piracy has been bolstered because intellectual rights will be safeguarded whether they're in retail stores or up for sale in the internet.

Both the US and South Korea have populations where gaming is a big business. They also have extensive broadband connections among the citizenry to make them two of the world's most wired nations. Business opportunities abound as the game makers in the regions are innovative and successful at what they do.

 

Nexon's Audition is a rhythm based game which is very much like Dance Dance Revolution. It was released in the U.S. last month with a revised soundtrack to cater to the "Total Request Live Demographic". What some don't know however, is that this game originated in Korea and was released there back in 2005.

Audition Portable will be hitting PSPs in South Korea with a staggering 100 songs and multiplayer for up to six players via network play. There will be a downloadable content service for the game where players will be able to get new dance motions and songs to dance to. To those who are expecting the same "socializing" the online game has, we're sorry to disappoint you but this game won't have any of that.

Hopefully, we'll be getting this game in the US since its pretty cool to "dance" with six of your friends in a multiplayer match. Still no word from Nexon but we'll be keeping you updated on this one.

In case you are not aware, when the PlayStation Portable first arrived in South Korea back in 2005, it also came with NESPOT Network Utility UMD. It's actually an online service for the PSP, and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK) asked the help of Korean network provider KT Corp with the service. Now, we'd like to inform you that our Korean friends will be saying goodbye to the service come May 31 this year. There was no explanation given on why the service is being terminated.

Two years ago, the Korean version of PSP Value Pack came in with a free temporary subscription to the online wireless service (aside from the network utility disc) to help generate interest. The service, we should say, has really been utilized during its run. There was even a video game title called GloRace that used the service for its online PSP functionality. Aside from that, users were also able to access various content from the network provider such as music and videos.

  

How do you spice up the promotion for South Korea's hottest pop music game, DJ Max Portable 2? Not that Pentavision's having any difficulty marketing this hip PSP title. But still, there can never be enough good gimmicks to help out with the marketing, right?

In South Korea, subway advertisements are apparently not hip enough to suit Pentavision's taste. Hence, they unleash their -- er -- Power Rangers. The sentai group was out wreaking marketing havoc throughout Seoul's streets, interacting with people, and basically doing some fantabulous PR stunts like gamely posing for pictures with pedestrians, tourists and whatnots.

Oddly enough, though, the group seemed to enjoy "hassling" couples. Reportedly, the "Rangers" are called NB Rangers in the game and they are all single men. Hmmm... could there be an underlying plot to disturb happy relationships by single men who are unlucky enough to find their own dates, hence they stick together and formed a color-coded group? Do we sense bitterness here? And what's up with their "anti-Xbox 360" warnings?

We'll be sure to investigate for any dodgy subconscious musical messages aboard DJ Max Portable 2.