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NCsoft takes a financial hit in Q3 2013
NCsoft's latest financial earnings report shows that the publisher took a substantial hit in the third quarter of this year. Sales, operating profit, pre-tax income, and net income were all down from both the previous quarter and Q3 2012. NCsoft blamed the dip due on a shuffling of Lineage's in-game sales from third to fourth quarter. Guild Wars 2 once again dropped in sales, while Blade and Soul came out the best in the report, seeing an uptick in sales thanks to a recent content update. Higher expenses were also to blame for NCsoft's lower profit margin, including an increased WildStar marketing campaign and relocating headquarters. Quarter-over-quarter, sales were down across most of NCsoft's subsidiaries save for NCsoft Taiwan and Ntreev Soft, which both saw a bump in sales. [Thanks to Sharvis for the tip! And note, the unit on the Y axes is million South Korean won, not US dollars.]
Attention 20-something adultolescents: Power Rangers Online is a thing
The amount of nostalgic, nigh-shameful glee we have for the Power Rangers series could fill several extended volumes, fully annotated with diagrams and bibliographies and everything. We're even into the obscure pre-Saiban Power Rangers from the 70's, like Battle Fever J (natch) and Himitsu Sentai Gorenger. We ain't no spring flowers, though, and as the steady march of time takes us ever closer to our graves, so too do the Power Rangers march forward into a new century. Part of that march, it turns out, takes the Mystic Force rangers straight through MMO town: South Korean golfing MMO developer Ntreev Soft is in the process of beta testing Power Rangers Online, a side-scrolling beat-em-up MMO staring our favorite teenagers with attitude. Much like the SNES Power Rangers games of yore, players start out as normal teens at the beginning of the stage, mightily morphin' into Rangers halfway through each level. Only the Red, Pink and Yellow Mystic Rangers are playable at the moment, however the Mystic Force continuity has at least 7 rangers total to pull from, should more characters be added. We didn't even have to look that last part up, which should probably worry us beyond all measure. Oh well!
Astonishia Story 2 headed for Japan as Garnet Chronicle
A name change is just what Astonishia Story 2 needs for its journey from South Korea to Japan; at least in the opinion of its Japanese publisher, Sega. A Weekly Famitsu scan shows the game will debut in Japan this fall as Garnet Chronicle and highlights the game's main characters, story, the battle system and the Japanese version's seiyuu. We've made available the Korean version's demo before so feel free to try it out. The game will arrive in Japan on October 23rd. Take a look at the scan here.[Via PSPHyper]
Ntreev Soft: Pangya "probably" coming to the US
Over at Siliconera, it seems another golf title has been stumbled upon. This one's called Pangya and is Ntreev Soft's brainchild -- originally a strange sort of golf MMO for PC's. It plays similar to Hot Shots Golf, so for those who are well-versed in golf gaming, you'll know what to expect. All the characters from seasons 1-4 are expected to make it into the PSP version -- seasons being, like, "expansions" from the original? Whatever. The game will hit Korea sometime this year with a US release thereafter slotted into the "probably" category. We just hope a game that's all about playing golf online will stay true to that and allow PSP gamers to play against others online.[Thanks, Joe!]
