February 24, 2005 - Last week Webzen released an initial batch of screens of its massively multiplayer online game Wiki. The shots depicted a cel-shaded protagonist who looked strikingly similar to Link in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Furthermore, the game employs a near-identical visual tone, with cel-shaded environments and characters. Essentially, it looked like early screens ripped from a Wind Waker sequel.
Nintendo officials have taken notice. Citing concerns that Wiki could possibly violate trademarks, a Nintendo spokesman today announced that the company was taking "natural steps" to protect its intellectual properties, and that it would "seek appropriate measures at the appropriate time." This will be the first time Nintendo has ever raised concerns over possible trademark and copyright violations with a property in Korea, according to South Korean Nintendo representative Jeong Hyuk-jin.
Despite the apparent similarities, Webzen representatives claim the protagonist in Wiki lacks any kind of fixed appearance, and that players can mold their virtual avatars however they wish. In other words, the screen shots of Wiki displaying a very Link-like character are purely coincidental, and can change depending on the tastes of the individual playing the game.
"The number of variables are in the tens of thousands," said Webzen representative Choi Hyun-woo in an interview with Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily, "We are still in the middle of developing the game, which will begin closed testing services in December."
We'll bring you further updates as the story develops.
IMHO, this game looks like it could be better than WW
