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Dragon Nest closed beta delayed
Nexon's Dragon Nest team announced today that the 3-D brawler's closed beta is being pushed back until June. While this may seem like bad news for fans anticipating the chance to get their hands on the game, Nexon assures us the team felt the decision necessary in order "to provide a polished and positive experience for our players, fans, and testers." The game -- described by Nexon CEO Daniel Kim as "an action MMO that the company is trying to position as the third point in the 'Triangle of Awesome,' along with Vindictus and Dungeon Fighter Online" -- is a dungeon-crawler wherein the player chooses one of four classes (Warrior, Archer, Cleric, or Sorceress) and ventures with others into a variety of instanced dungeons to take part in fast-paced, combo-based combat against all manners of enemies. Until the final date for the closed beta is announced, check out Massively's hands-on impressions of the game from PAX East and -- if you haven't already -- head to the Dragon Nest official site to sign up for beta.
Free for All: So how DO they make their money?
Each and every article I write will have at least a few comments from different points of view on the subject of free-to-play profits and cash-shop uses. Once again my wonderfully unique position as a writer for a large gaming website gives me some general insight into the mind of today's modern MMO gamer -- at least the type of gamer who comes to Massively for his information. As with any group, there are a lot of myths that are passed around, as well as many truths. Figuring out which is which takes time. I decided to continue with this fascinating look at payment models by gathering even more information. Already I have collected some of my favorite comments from many of you for possible future use in a column, but I love asking questions for you to answer. This week I thought it would be fun to examine some of the different "truths" about free-to-play that get passed around. For example: How do free-to-play publishers make their money? Do most free-to-play players really pay more than a typical subscription price? Do free-to-play games sell power? Click past the cut and let's look into some of these items.
Nexon America posts 59% revenue growth in first quarter
Nexon America, publisher of various microtransaction-based games such as MapleStory and Dungeon Fighter Online, has announced that its revenue gain for the first quarter is up by 59%. The press release notes that, typically, "first quarter sales tend to decline seasonally compared to the rest of the year, making the enormous jump in revenues particularly notable." What's Nexon's secret to success? According to Daniel Kim, CEO of Nexon America, the key lies in its "ability to deliver engaging content that our players find valuable, whether they are playing for free or purchasing items in our game." As if business wasn't already booming for Nexon, it is presently planning to release its newest game, Dragon Nest, and will be taking its first foray into social gaming with MapleStory Adventures for Facebook sometime this summer.
Free for All: A week of scheduled playtimes
After a loose week of playing scheduled games, I can say that I have a lot of work to do to perfect my system. Once again, Tim and Jon from the Van Hemlock podcast are my inspiration. They are both dedicated to the art of playing games, to "finishing" games, almost to the point of obsession. It's certainly not for everyone, but they seem to maintain a real balance while skipping around. Perhaps the podcast they host helps them with this balance? I've hosted several podcasts over the years, so maybe putting my weekly gaming thoughts into audio form is necessary to keeping my sanity? In reality, what I need to do is just stick it out and stay the course. I am not sure of many things in this world, but I am positive that repetition and scheduling are more powerful than almost any plan. Humans are habitual creatures, even with their gaming. Especially with their gaming. Over this last week, I started to settle into the role of a scheduled player and even looked forward to it each night. Click past the cut and I'll let you know how it went.
Rise and Shiny recap: Atlantica Online
Is it possible to be simultaneously annoyed and enchanted by an MMORPG? I think it just might be, now that I've spent several days and hours with Atlantica Online, now published by Nexon. It might not make sense to a lot of you, but the overwhelming and possibly overly complicated UI and systems of gathering basic information ("where's the bank?") filled me with a sense of wonder and even awe. There was so much to learn and see -- or was it just that the poorly designed UI gave me way too much information in too many ways? For example, if I wanted to locate the bank, I would open up an information window, go into a few more selections until I found the city and then the bank, then either try to find my way there or click on auto-walk to get there. Once there, I would have to join the bank then ask why the bank didn't allow me to store items in addition to money. Then I would find out that the only city with item storage is Rome, so then I'd need to open up the information book to find Rome, only to discover that I had no way of getting there until level 20. So then I would need to find an NPC through the book, auto-path to him or her to sell the goods that were taking up way too much room in my inventory, then double-click on the quest so I could double-click and auto-path my way top the NPC who gave me the quest (since the quest's mobs were not linked in the book), then continue on with my quests that would result in my bags becoming full again. Phew. Click past the cut and let me tell you all about it.
First Impressions: Divine Souls
Divine Souls, published by Outspark, reminds me of Vindictus in far too many ways. I only question which came first and whether more fighting games like the two are coming in the future. While I have had a lot of love for Vindictus since its release, I also have had enough issues with it that I had to stop playing it much at all. While I will save that for another article, I can use the popular Nexon release to illustrate what is wrong and right about Divine Souls. More of Massively's readers are probably familiar with Vindictus, so that will be a good point of comparison. Think of Divine Souls as Vindictus' uglier little cousin. Granted, Vindictus is a supermodel, so that makes Divine Souls just an average beautiful person, but it should still be noted. Also, both games pit players against hordes of enemies -- massive swarms of baddies that die in spectacular ways. Well, spectacular when you see them for the first few times. After that it becomes pretty repetitive. Join me past the cut and let's talk about what I liked and didn't like about Divine Souls. Don't worry, there are no baddies to jump you.
Free for All: Would I play RIFT for free?
Today I got the email informing me that my RIFT subscription had expired. I bought it when it came out and enjoyed the beta, but suddenly the hard decision was upon me. Was I going to subscribe to the game? Was I going to pay 15 dollars a month for basic access to the wonderful world that Trion has created? There is a lot that goes into a decision like subscribing to a game, even when that decision feels easy. A subscription is really a vote of confidence, especially considering that we have no idea what the game might become or where it might go in the future. That automatic payment says so much about our trust in a company and its product, even though lately it seems more and more people are not trusting it like they once did. Click past the cut and let's discuss, and I'll tell you whether or not I subscribed.
Rise and Shiny recap: Monster Forest
Monster Forest, brought to us by Asiasoft, is a deceptive little game. First of all, it feels so freshly translated that there are still bits of foreign language clinging to quest text and character speech. But the sheer amount of little games and systems involved makes me feel like I am revisiting Mabinogi for the first time. If you took a collectible pet game, a farming system, turn-based combat, a stock market, and several other major systems and wrapped them in a cartoony skin, you would get Monster Forest. Heck, we did get Monster Forest. Also, the GMs from Asiasoft are insane. Now, I am fully aware of the cultural differences between West and East. I respect them and always remember to avoid applying any stereotypes to any one group. But let's face it, North American game developers would never ask their GMs to dress up like the person in this video to film a game guide. It just wouldn't happen, unless the North American crew was attempting to be silly. To the lady in the video, this is just another day at the office. Anyway, let's find out some more details -- click past the cut!
Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica
I was so glad to get back to normal this week, logging into a new (well, newish) game to enjoy and to write about. Dragonica, from what I remember, had been shut down some time ago. Somehow, magically, the announcement of its return slipped past my eyes, but here it is. It seems gPotato EU is going to be publishing it, considering that that's where I found it. I know, I know -- I work at Massively.com, the worlds' coolest and most reliable source for all things MMO, so how did this news get past me? I have no idea. Still, I was glad to see it sitting on my hard drive, waiting to be played. I never gave it much of a chance before, mainly because side-scroller combat games were normally good for just a weekend jaunt or two. I hate repetition, generally, and sometimes the combat in these kinds of games can be boring at best. I was pretty surprised, though, once I gave the game a chance and learned some of my moves. It grew on me really, really fast. Also, it ran like a dream and was adorable to the point of nosebleed, which always helps. Still, there's more. Click past the cut and find out!
GDC 2011: Nexon's future is so bright, it's gotta wear shades
Not only are Nexon's revenues on the way up with no sign of slowing, but the company's famed "Nexon iNitiative" is already producing hearty results. Unlike the Dharma Initiative, the Nexon iNitiative is a force for good, as the company is funding promising indie developers and their pet projects. Last year, Antic Entertainment and one2tribe both received a chunk of the $1 million funding to make games that would be published worldwide by Nexon, and a similar program is underway for 2011. At GDC we sat down with Nexon America CEO Daniel Kim to talk about the future direction of the company. Nexon's in its 17th year and considers itself the most accomplished global provider of online games. Whether or not you agree with that statement, the fact that the company has over 30 titles under its belt in over 71 countries is impressive, and that's not even looking at the way Nexon casually drops how many hundreds of millions of players check out its titles daily. Interesting Nexon tidbit: The name comes from the company's philosophy, to look for the "next online" trend. Now you have something to say during awkward silences at dinner parties. Hit the jump to hear about some of the future projects and developments of this online pioneer, including MapleStory and Dragon Nest!
Vindictus welcomes back vets with Lucky Leaf update
It doesn't seem all that long ago that Nexon's Vindictus officially launched in North America. The free-to-play hack-and-slash game opened its doors on October 27th, but judging by a new Nexon promotion, four months is time enough for players to leave (and return) to the title. Vindictus' version 1.22 update is titled Lucky Leaf and features a bevy of new cash shop items related to avatar customization (specifically facial tatoos and new hairstyles). The game's official website also notes a couple of bug fixes relating to storage chests and graphics optimization. Finally, the game's Returning Veteran Event will run from March 2nd through March 22nd and feature a 50% XP bonus for recently returned mercenaries (and their partymates), as well as gift packages containing potions, platinum tokens, XP capsules, and a storage chest coupon.
Exclusive: MapleStory video preview of upcoming class
New classes and new abilities are always a good thing. MapleStory is already full of classes and abilities, but the upcoming Aftershock update will be adding in a new set of abilities for the Cygnus Knight class. Players who have attained level 120 in the class will be granted the option of making a new character of the Ultimate Explorer class, a character starting at level 50 and bypassing the early training levels for veteran players. The fine folks at Nexon have put together a preview showing off some of the new abilities and attacks players will be able to enjoy in the new update, animated with MapleStory's usual aplomb. While it's a bit on the short side, it should still give a picture of what new destruction can be wrought in the game's side-scrolling regions. Click on past the break for the video, and keep an eye out for further news as the patch gets closer.
Nexon's Daniel Kim talks demographics, pre-paid gaming cards
Our friends at Joystiq recently spoke with Nexon CEO Daniel Kim about the runaway success that is the company's pre-paid gaming card program. While Nexon is a well-established gaming powerhouse outside of the U.S., the company's American market is nothing to sneeze at either, with 12 million users spread across its portfolio (7.6 million of them in MapleStory alone). A big part of Nexon's American success is the pre-paid gaming card, an ubiquitous fixture at retail outlets including Target and 7-11. Kim tells Joystiq that a key factor in raising pre-paid card awareness among consumers was the implementation of an in-game quest designed to train users to head for the music section of their local Target superstore. "So three months leading up to the actual release of the card, we actually had a quest in-game to go get allowance from an NPC, go to the Target store, go to the music section, go find a CD card," he says. Kim also provides a bit of insight into Nexon's customer demographics, stating that "our median age is really 17, 18, 19." Many of the company's users weren't previously online gamers, and Kim says the microtransaction model is the key to customer attraction and retention. "There's no barrier to entry. If they have a computer and an internet connection, they can download the game and play for as long as they want," he says.
Nexon America's pre-paid card empire
Nexon America CEO Daniel Kim tells an interesting story about how his company created one of the biggest phenomena in gaming retail lately: The pre-paid card. Nowadays, you can find rows of pre-paid cards for Nexon's microtransaction-based games like MapleStory or Vindictus lining the shelves of any 7-11 or Target. But a few years ago, both Target and its customers had to be sold on the idea. Kim and his company came up with a way to teach customers how it worked, right inside a browser-based MMO. "We had a quest in-game, to go to Target in-game, to the section where they had the game cards," Kim says. Target kept the cards not in the gaming section, but in the music section alongside iTunes gift cards. "So three months leading up to the actual release of the card, we actually had a quest in-game to go get allowance from an NPC, go to the Target store, go to the music section, go find a CD card." The training worked. "Day one," says Kim, "the cards were released, they were sold out in so many stores. They called us and said, 'We gotta print more cards.'"
MV Guide: January 24th - 31st
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff will be logging in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We'll have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
Nexon brings Shakespeare's Hamlet to Mabinogi
To play Mabinogi or not to play Mabinogi, that is the question. Classic literature fans may have an easier time answering it after viewing two new trailers for Nexon's free-to-play fantasy MMORPG. The tortured Shakespearian prince will be making an appearance in Chapter 4 of the game's story campaign, and if you're scratching your head as to why, Nexon explains all on its official website. "Both Mabinogi and Hamlet are rich stories filled with twists, intrigue, and memorable characters. These similarities, along with the legacy of being one of the most famous of Shakespeare's works, made the story of Hamlet a natural to fit within the world of Mabinogi," it reads. The update will also be bringing new gameplay to Mabinogi in the form of theater missions and a new destiny system that allows for further skill specialization. Additionally, new character skills, shadow mission updates, and item upgrades are coming with the patch. Hit the jump to check out the two new videos and head to the official site for further details.
Nexon touts Vindictus New Year's item pack
Looking to get a leg up on the new year in Vindictus? If so, Nexon has a time-limited deal that may interest you. The New Year's Renewal Pack is available now through January 11th, and it's crammed full of goodies, including a 90-day storage chest expansion, 30-day hair and body tattoo coupons, a special character title (celebrating the Year of the Rabbit), and 10,000 in-game gold. The pack will set you back 9900 NX (Nexon's cash shop currency; $1.00 US currently buys you 1000 NX) and is only available for purchase a single time per character. Read all about it on the official Vindictus website.
MapleStory developer destroys the world, then this interview
Cataclysm? Ha! A couple chunks of earth missing here and there and a nasty footprint left on the walls of a castle? That's not world destruction; that's moving the furniture around! Look no further for true heart-rending, life-altering, earth-shattering, massive destruction than MapleStory's new update. Well, I might be pushing it a bit far, but really -- it's pretty dramatic. If you're not familiar with the game, you either have an all-weather stone roof or this is your first visit to Massively. MapleStory boasts one of the largest playerbases in the world, despite offering more "primitive" graphics. The game's accessibility doesn't mean that it has no depth. Multiple classes and tons of quests as well as a robust cash shop offer something for everyone. Throw in the fact that this recent patch updated the graphics and added a new dimension to the game, and you will understand why the servers and website were crushed after the update. Well, we decided to interview Crystin Cox from Nexon to help make sense of all the changes. Join us past the cut to read the interview!
MapleStory hits more than 136,000 concurrent players
Concurrent users are one of those interesting things to track in MMOs -- while they're mostly an indication of how robust the hardware supporting the servers happens to be, they're also a decent look at how many players are enjoying the game at any given moment. MapleStory has managed to set a new record for itself, with 136,000 players simultaneously active in the North American version of the game. That's nearly double the previous high-water mark back in July of 2009. Daniel Kim, the CEO of Nexon America, issued a statement concurrent with the record: "This milestone represents a new high point for MapleStory and is a testament to the growing popularity of the game into its fifth year." Said milestone is also coming on the heels of the first two parts of the Big Bang update, with a third part set to hit the game in early 2011. That means a great deal of new content and two new classes for MapleStory players to enjoy, which turns out to be good news for Nexon.
