NEXON Inc.

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NEXON Inc.
Image:nexon.jpg
Type of Company Internet
Founded 1994
Headquarters Seoul, South Korea
Industry Internet
Website www.nexon.net
www.nexon.com
www.nexon.co.jp

NEXON Inc. (Korean: 넥슨) is among the pioneers of online gaming and MMORPGs. Its headquarters is located in Seoul, Korea.

Contents

[edit] History

The South Korea-based game company made a name for itself in the early 1990s, having an influence primarily in Korea. Nexon launched Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds in 1994, becoming one of the first large MMO titles, released prior to Ultima Online, and making a name for the company. The company has recently expanded into other Asian countries, notably Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore; along with the United States. Nexus was released in the United States in 1996, along with Dark Ages in 1999, followed by Shattered Galaxy (2001). For a short time, Shattered Galaxy was sold in stores in the United States but never sold well due to the fact that it was offered for free in a long-term open beta and then made available as a free download, only four months after commercial launch, from the Shattered Galaxy website. Shattered Galaxy has also been awarded the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, Audience Choice Awards, Technical Excellence Award, and Best Game Design at the 2001 Independent Games Festival Awards.

NEXON has also released a few unsuccessful games to the North American audience in beta form which have since been dropped. They include Elemental Saga, QuizQuiz and Elancia. QuizQuiz never left beta stage in North America but was later released through the Singapore division of NEXON, NexonAsia in an English version. QuizQuiz has since evolved into the exclusively Korean and Japanese online game Q-Play, while Elemental Saga was eventually cancelled. NEXON has several games exclusively available to Korean players such as Mabinogi, Elancia, and Crazy Arcade.

In April 2005, NEXON Inc. split from the Korean division of NEXON and changed their name to KRU Interactive. They still own and operate the online games NexusTK (aka Nexus: Kingdom of the Winds), Dark Ages and Shattered Galaxy.

It has produced several online video games, primarily MMORPGs and online action games. Most games have used a 2D perspective, including side-scrolling, top-down, and isometric perspectives. Newer 3D titles are currently being published. Although most games are available for free, various gameplay enhancements can be purchased.


[edit] NEXON America

NEXON America started as NXGames on October 2005 and they released its first online game release called MapleStory (Thanks to a partnership deal with Wizet, MapleStory was originally released in the States in 2003 by Wizet). On November 8, 2006 NXGames changed its name to NEXON America, and launched with MapleStory (Which was already released by the partnership deal with Wizet), and Audition Online. On November 9, 2006, NEXON America had announced its partnership with MTV Networks to promote Nexon games and enhance the Neopets services. NEXON has also announced that they will market both MapleStory, Kartrider, and Audition Online with MTV Networks.

[edit] News

  • May 2006 - NEXON America hires a CEO and will be starting a major marketing campaign.
  • June 2006 - NEXON disclosed it is set to launch a game portal service in the U.S., with the company planning to unveil "Audition," a hit online dance game enjoying phenomenal success in Taiwan and China as well as in the home market.
  • June 7, 2006 - KIPA (Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency) listed Audition Online to be launched in America.
  • August 25, 2006 - According to an interview published on Gamespot Korea, an english version of Mabinogi is under development/translation for North America market. Estimated release is scheduled for 2007.
  • November 8, 2006 - NEXON America is now released.
  • Mid 2006 - Nexon Purchases Maple Story from Wizet

[edit] Company Divisions

[edit] KRU Interactive

[edit] NEXON America

[edit] NEXON Japan

[edit] NEXON Korea

1 Under Development
2 In Closed Beta Testing
3 In Open Beta Testing

[edit] Release History

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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