Korean Gaming in the US
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It started back in 1997 when I was 12 years old. I was hooked from the moment my friend introduced me to the original WARCRAFT game. Humor me a little bit, as I rarely, if ever say “back in the day”, however, back in the day, this game ran supreme and my gaming friends and I couldn't get enough. The game play, maps, and chances to see Orcs destroy the land of Azeroth (I've always been on the side of evil), it was quite possibly the PERFECT game.
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Flash forward to 2010 and things have changed dramatically. Games got better, bigger, and more advanced- but I never grew with them. I never did get back into online gaming on the level I was before- but that never stopped my curiosity. As a Korean American, I became especially interested, as article after article that I read almost always had a comment about South Korea's stake within the online gaming industry.
As I speak, millions of people are logging on, competing, and generating unbelievable amounts of dollars in business. In South Korea alone, their game market generated nearly 5.9 Billion Dollars in revenue during 2009, more than half of which was from MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) Gaming. With professional leagues, commercial sponsors, and media coverage it isn't surprising that South Korea is the number two biggest market for online gaming in the world (right behind China).
The United States isn't too far behind. According to reports done by gamesindustry.com and TNS Global, during 2009, the US spent nearly 3.8 billion on MMO games and boasted more than forty six million players. With there being such a high affinity for online gaming- one would think there would be room for growth for US based games in the Korea and vice versa. Share the wealth and experience as some would say.
Although it can be traced back to the huge popularity of Nexon Company's (a Korean based gaming company) MAPLE STORY (their first US MMO release which to this day has over 95 million loyal users worldwide), the real story of potential South Korean stake in the Western gaming market took place only little over a year ago with a game called AION. Published by Korean Based gaming company NCSoft in 2009, AION had a very ordinary set up, take on the role of a warrior or mage and do battle with friends in a fantasy setting, with extraordinary results. AION became the very first Korean game to top the best selling charts in the US. Before it was even released it was already pushing incredible units in pre-sale orders (over 400,000!), and received various prestigious awards like Gamescom's 2009 BEST ONLINE GAME. The most interesting thing to take note of, is how it was actually designed with Western audiences in mind. Its' success proved that the Korean gaming industry could very well thrive in the US and reflected a trend of Korean companies focusing specific content towards Western friendly games. With technology trends favoring activities like online gaming, it has been opening the door for even more growth for companies like NCSoft and Nexon in the US and doesn't seem to stopping any time soon.
All of these factors are contributing to an increasing need and popularity for web sites such as Game&Game (www.gameNgame.com) which focuses directly on introducing Korean games content to North America. As a portal for some of the best new online games from Korean companies, Game&Game provides reviews and samples of exclusive content you can only find on their site. It's a great example of the industry taking note of the growing potential (financially and culturally) and instead of ignoring it actually developing something that stimulates and contributes.
With such an exciting time for new technology, I'm quickly being brought back into old habits. I get sentimental playing these new games; memories of WARCRAFT quickly rush back into my head. I look forward to the future when 40 year old Daniel can reminisce about the games of 2010. Except this time I won't have any regrets as I plan on fully immersing myself in all the wonders of online gaming now and never looking back.
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