nexon
Latest
New Nexon CEO: Mobile games 'letting consumers down'
New Nexon boss Owen Mahoney had harsh words for mobile game makers at last week's Game Developers Conference. "A third of what we've done in the last few months is Flappy Bird clones. We're letting consumers down," Mahoney told Venture Beat. "I know that, because as a consumer, I really want to play a different kind of game than just a casual, short-format game. I want to play a more immersive experience." Mahoney believes that mobile devices and PCs will eventually converge, and he said that Nexon is focused on developing games -- and acquiring a North American IP -- with that in mind.
Mabinogi update introduces Doki Doki Island, Valentine's Day events
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Nexon America has announced a new update to its free-to-play title Mabinogi that will add the romantic Doki Doki Island to the game. The new area will also introduce the Soulmate system, which makes romance more of a game than it already is. On the island, players can "create a profile" by talking to the Matchmaker, who will then match them with their "soulmate." Side-by-side, players and their soulmates can "explore charming landmarks such as the Harmony Torch in the town square and participate in events to accumulate Romantic Points." When enough Romantic Points have been earned, soulmates gain the ability to fly, presumably through the power of love or something equally inspirational. Aside from hanging out with their hopefully-not-axe-murderer soulmates, players can also take part in a variety of new minigames and daily quests centered around Doki Doki Island or scour the beaches for cat's eye gems that can be exchanged for items such as an exclusive armor set. To top it all off, beginning on February 26th players will be able to celebrate their newfound powers of flight by taking part in the Seize the Skies event, which will allow players to test their aeronautical prowess against one another in competitions for prizes and bragging rights. If this romantic getaway sounds up your alley, you can join the fun over at Mabinogi's official site. [Source: Nexon America press release]
NCsoft boosts numbers in Q4 2013 while Nexon names new CEO
NCsoft is thanking its lucky Blade & Soul these days, as revenues from the game's popularity in China have helped to boost its financial status. In the recently released Q4 2013 earnings report, NCsoft announced that sales, operating profit, pre-tax income, and net income were up over Q3 2013. Overall, 2013 was profitable for the company as its income went up year-over-year. NCsoft credited a growing Lineage and a "strong" and "solid" Guild Wars 2 for this effort, as well as cost savings initiatives. While sales in Korea improved from 2012 to 2013, those in Japan, Europe, and North America all declined over the same time period. Lineage is by far NCsoft's biggest earner, followed by Guild Wars 2, Aion, and Blade & Soul. The company said that WildStar is on track to launch in mid-2014 and that the key GW2 focus is not on an expansion but with bringing the game to China. Meanwhile, NCsoft's biggest investor, Nexon, just named Owen Mahoney as its new president and CEO, replacing Seungwoo Choi. Nexon also announced a revenue and income increase in 2013 and acknowledged that it is underperforming in Japan and the West.
One Shots: Over the moon and back
Welcome back to One Shots! I've missed you! I've missed you so much! It's been so long -- how long has it been, really? A week? That's far too long. Let's catch up: What have you been up to? Me? Well, I've been collecting the very best player-submitted screenshots for all to enjoy. But I guess binging on Breaking Bad is a valid use for your time too. Reader Derrick sent in our first picture of the day from Mabinogi, and this might well be one of my favorites. Just looking at it makes me want to live a better life so that one day I might be invited to sit up there with them. "Here I am sitting in my personal homestead on Ladeca, one of the two moons of Erinn," Derrick explains. It only gets more whimsical from here, folks! Join us as we swing on a star and see what our fellow gamers are up to in MMOs.
Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games. But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.
Mabinogi II: Arena stops development
Hope that Mabinogi II: Arena wasn't on your "most wanted in 2014" list, because Nsquare has announced that it's ceased development on the MMO. The love child of Nexon and NCsoft, Mabinogi II was to be an action MMO arena with spectators watching teams crawl through countless dungeons. The Nsquare team said that the market didn't look ripe for Mabinogi II, although it did say that it would take another look at the project in the future. For now, Nsquare is moving on to work on MapleStory 2 and other titles.
Here's a MapleStory 2 teaser
Curious about MapleStory 2? Here, have a teaser trailer, then. There's not a lot of gameplay info to be gleaned from it, but Kotaku reports that the sequel will be in full 3-D and will feature an "all-new world and all-new monsters." The Nexon title is scheduled to launch in Korea next year.
Dragon Nest getting new dungeons, quests, and more
Dragon Nest is getting two new dungeons, new accessories and crests, and "new and unique game types within the Dragon Expedition." This is according to Nexon's latest press release, which says that level 50 players will have access to Apocrypha 2 Chapter dungeons and be able to "fight in the war against Jasmine." New daily and side quests are coming, too. Level 60 players can look forward to the Garden of Eternity as well as new missions, titles, costumes, and cooking recipes. Nexon says the Dragon Expedition requires teamwork and coordination in order to complete its two-player co-op content. [Source: Nexon press release]
Vindictus heralds upcoming Episode 3
Episode 3 will be coming to Vindictus next week featuring a new area full of challenging monsters. In it, Vindictus players will be able to progress to the Misty Summit, which is a little bit of a misnomer due to the fact that it's made of four peaks. In any case, the cliff-themed region will keep players on their toes, especially if adventurers find a treasure map that's full of disappearing monsters. The update will happen on November 27th, but you can get an advance look by watching the trailer after the break! [Source: Nexon press release]
Massive Mabinogi update introduces Merlin's magic
The magic of Merlin joined the world of Mabinogi yesterday in a large update that also included new character cards, a Hero Support System, a dressing room update, and in-game events. With the new Merlin content, players can now wield that magical power by utilizing the new Druid talent and accessing new advanced skills. The Hero Support System allows players to make progress on multiple characters simultaneously. The in-game beauty shop experienced some remodeling, adding a new UI and the ability to track and preview gear across all characters on the account. In conjunction with the dressing room update, Mabinogi is having a Fashion Bingonogi event, where players can spin the roulette wheel in hopes of snagging some new gear, including the Snowflake and Ranger outfits. Additionally, players who log in anytime during November 16th will automatically receive a non-tradable Shyllien Mana Knuckles magic weapon courtesy of the Magic Weapon Giveaway event. [Source: Nexon press release]
DotA 2 pink war dog courier sells for $38,000
Pricey items aren't just for MMOs -- MOBAs are getting in on the action as well. DotA 2 secured its place in the ranks of titles where in-game items have sold for exorbitant real-life sums when an ethereal flame pink war dog sold for a whopping $38,000. The war dog is a courier, an item used to transport items from your team to your base as well as from the base to your team. Why did this particular virtual item fetch such a hefty amount? According to the seller, this item is a very rare combination of the most sought-after courier type, effect, and color; only four others are known to exist.
Nexon puts millions into Rumble Games
Rumble Games, founded by former BioWare/Pandemic CEO Greg Richardson, has just received a nice cash boost from Nexon and its investment partners. Rumble announced today that Nexon, Google Ventures, and TriplePoint Capital have invested $17.5 million in the studio, which intends to use the funds to expand its markets and further support its stable of free-to-play and mobile titles. Nexon, the Tokyo-based producer of online games like Mabinogi, Combat Arms, and MapleStory, apparently sees something it likes in Rumble's games, which include KingsRoad, Ballistic, and Nightmare Guardians.
Dragon Nest Europe gets an Academic update
Games have some strange ideas about what certain professions entail at times. You've probably known a lot of academics in your life, and few if any of them carry enormous guns and hit things with wrenches. But the Academic class in Dragon Nest does precisely that. This new class has just been added to the game's European version, patched in alongside a major localization update that allows the game to be played in full German or French versions. Assuming you speak neither of those languages, the big update is the new class. Academics can damage dealers or healers, with a specialization coming at level 15; Alchemists focus on support while Engineers deal out exceptional amounts of damage. The class also features a choice between cannons and bubble guns for damage, with the former hitting hard but slowly while the latter is quick but weak. It should be an interesting addition for EU players, although it still raises the question of what's so academic about shooting people. [Source: gamigo press release]
Vindictus celebrates two years in Europe with wings
It's not always easy for a game to make it to the second year of operation, but Vindictus has done just that in the European region. To celebrate, EU players are being given wings. Some of them, anyway. The rest are just going to have to purchase them. Here's how it works. When players are logged in at 6:00 p.m. GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT) between today and September 27th, they have a chance to receive the second anniversary gift box which contains a free set of Phoenix Wings. Players not logged in on at that time can purchase the wings directly for 35,000 NX during the limited sales windows: 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. GMT (11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT), September 28th until October 3rd. Players who are uninterested in chasing wings can also take part in the new Siege Mode PvP matches by speaking to the Battlemaster in Rocheste. So everyone gets something for the second year.
Extraction, formerly Dirty Bomb, starts closed beta in October
Splash Damage's Extraction, which you may know better as Dirty Bomb, is set to launch a closed beta on October 1, publisher Nexon America has announced. All interested parties looking to get in on the free-to-play PC shooter's closed sampler session can sign up over on the official site right now. Extraction was first announced as Dirty Bomb, an Unreal Engine-based competitive shooter set in a London shaken by attack. Extraction has been in development since 2010 at Splash Damage, best known for creating Brink and Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory.
Nexon buying all shares of FIFA Online developer Thingsoft
Nexon recently announced plans to acquire South Korean developer Thingsoft. The acquisition has Nexon subsidiary Neople purchasing all shares of Thingsoft, creators of FIFA Online, FIFA Online 2 and its in-development MMO, Project NT. Nexon is a free-to-play publisher that is best known for games like MapleStory and Combat Arms. Its North American branch partnered up with Splash Damage in late August to publish Extraction, formerly known as Dirty Bomb.
Free for All: Recapping the vastness of Mabinogi's Saga Iria
My summer has been filled with a massive, 10-part adventure called The Saga Iria. It's an event that happened inside the world of Mabinogi, one of my favorite free-to-play sandbox MMOs. Once a week Nexon released a new chapter, and each time I streamed my first few steps into it, often resulting in my immediate and embarrassing death. Actually, make that deaths. I died a lot. My companion for this wild ride was Mabinogi Community Manager Sabina. Sabina is a "fashionogi" (as they call it in-game), someone who enjoys customizing her characters more than sending them into battle. Mabinogi allows for almost any style of play, from combat mastery to roleplay to fashion obsession. The community showed up during my livestreams to give me plenty of advice during my hard times in combat because the game is known for its challenge level. It's time to recap some of my favorite moments of those times and discuss what I liked... and didn't like.
Nexon invests in former EA, Zynga COO's studio, Shiver Entertainment
Online games publisher Nexon has invested in Shiver Entertainment, the studio founded by former EA and Zynga COO (not at the same time, of course), John Schappert. Schappert previously founded Tiburon Entertainment, the developer behind the Madden series. Schappert started Shiver in December, and with Nexon's investment and a multi-year publishing deal, it intends to develop free-to-play games. "Shiver Entertainment is focused on creating the world's best free-to-play games and by working together, we combine Nexon's expertise in online free-to-play games and global publishing capability with our AAA Western-oriented games," Schappert says in a press release. For those heading to trivia night later on: "Tiburon," the name of Schappert's Madden studio, is the Spanish word for "shark," and "shiver" is the term for a group of sharks. The more you know.
Wargaming partners with Nexon for prepaid card options
Wargaming has announced a new partnership with Nexon America for the use of Karma Koins as a prepaid card solution for all in-game purchases across Wargaming titles, including World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, and the upcoming World of Warships. Not only is Karma Koin available at 75,000 stores in North America and Oceania, but one percent of all sales go directly to charity. "We're committed to providing our players with as many flexible and safe payment options as possible," said Mike Turner, Vice President of Business Development at Wargaming. "Our new partnership with Nexon America and Karma Koin will address that desire, and we're excited to give our players a new and philanthropic payment option to enhance their in-game experience."
The Stream Team: Labor Day edition, September 2 - 8, 2013
To the youngsters, Labor Day has always always seemed misnomer since folks actually get to take time off from school and work. So a more appropriate moniker would be Play Day, amirite? But the older crowd knows that the day was meant to honor the hard work and contributions of workers. So in the spirit of honoring hard work, we pay homage to those who tireless toil to entertain us -- The Stream Team! Hats of to you, and a three-BBQ-rib salute to boot! Want to join us in this week-long celebration for our streamers? Then tune in to Massively TV and watch a live show or two and catch a few reruns as well. We've got all you need to know right here. (For the snacks, however, you're on your own.)
