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More online video-game players in Japan could use an authentication service from Visa Inc. under a deal announced this week. Visa and the Japan Online Game Association plan to push adoption of the Verified by Visa online authentication service to all online gaming firms in the country by the end of the year. Verified by Visa requires Visa cardholders paying for goods or services online, including participation in video games, to provide personal passwords when approving purchases. So far, 13 companies that belong to the Japan Online Game Association have adopted Verified by Visa, a spokesperson for the card company tells CardLine Global. Nine other association members plan to do so by the end of 2009. Japan has some 60 million online gaming accounts, of which the association covers up to 80%, the Visa spokesperson says. "An account is necessary for every online game site, so this is indicative of the number of actual players," the spokesperson says.
