Nexon

Nexon Co.
Type	Developer
Founded	1994
Headquarters	South Korea
Industry	Game Developer and Publisher
Products	Free MMO's
Website	http://Nexon.net

Nexon Corporation (Korean: 넥슨) is a Korean Gaming corporation, and a developer of online games and MMORPGs. Its headquarters are located in Seoul, South Korea. Contents

History

Nexon Corp. published their first title, NEXUS: The Kingdom of the Winds, in 1996. In 1999 Nexon released Dark Ages: Online Roleplaying which was loosely based on the Korean game Legend of Darkness, using the same server technology. The North American version of Dark Ages was developed by David Kennerly

Nexon Corp 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 Japanese division of Nexon, Nexon Japan in a Japanese version. QuizQuiz has since evolved into the exclusively Korean and Japanese online game Q-Play, while Elemental Saga was eventually canceled. Nexon has several games exclusively available to Korean players such as Elancia and Crazy Arcade.

In 2001, Nexon Inc. released Shattered Galaxy, published through TriSynergy. Though it had previously won the Seamus McNally Grand Prize at the 2001 Independent Games Festival, hosted through the Game Developers Conference, the game floundered when it was released to retail. It was subsequently maintained exclusively through KRU Interactive. Shattered Galaxy itself was a heavily localized and customized version of its Korean parent game, Tactical Commanders.

In 2003, Wizet created a hugely successful game called MapleStory, which eventually had clients in South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Southeast Asia, North America and Europe and many other places. Nexon then merged with Wizet and jointly control MapleStory.

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.

Nexon is one of the pioneers of the Free to Play model using Virtual Asset Sales to generate revenue. Of a reported $230M in revenue for 2005, 85% was said to be from the sale of virtual items.

Partnership with Nintendo

NEXON announced that they have made a partnership with Nintendo, though they will continue games for the computer as well. Together, they are currently working on MapleStory DS for Nintendo's handheld console, Nintendo DS.

NEXON Cash

Nexon Cash Card ($10) Nexon Cash Card ($10)

Commonly referred to as 'NX Cash' or just 'NX', the NEXON Cash system was one of the first systems to use the Virtual Asset Sales(VAS) model. The Nexon Cash system was first introduced in the Korean version of MapleStory. The NEXON Cash system allows users to purchase NEXON cash with real money. The NX cash can be used to obtain virtual game items that other users normally wouldn't have. You can buy cards with 5,10,25,or 50 dollar values. Players can use this virtual cash to buy items for their characters in games that support a "Cash Shop." The NEXON Cash system has appeared in other games to generate additional funds for their company and keep their games free to play.

On January 11, 2007, NEXON America announced the release of NEXON Prepaid Cards. The prepaid cards contain amounts of 10,000 ($10 USD) or 25,000 ($25 USD) NX currency that can be redeemed for NX Cash. As of September 17, 2007 the prepaid cards are available in North American Target stores, 7-Eleven stores, Duane Reade, and recently, CVS/pharmacy, Best Buy, Rite Aid, and Longs Drugs stores in the US. In Canada, the cards are available at Future Shop, Shoppers Drug Mart, and 7-Eleven.

News

October 2005 - Nexon Corp. publishes Global MapleStory under the name NXGames from Wizet.
March 2006 - Nexon America hires CEO John Chi and starts 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," an online dance game enjoying success in Taiwan and China as well as in the home market.
7 June 2006 - KIPA (Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency) listed Audition Online to be launched in America.
25 August 2006 - According to an interview published on GameSpot Korea, an PC English version of Mabinogi is under development/translation for North America market. Estimated release is scheduled for late 2007.
3 November 2006 - Alex Garden, co-founder of Relic Entertainment, joins Nexon to run Nexon's North American game development studio, Nexon Publishing North America.
27 July 2007 - Nexon Corp. announces a partnership with Valve Software to publish Counter Strike Online in Asia.
19 December 2007 - Mabinogi is announced in the North American market by Nexon America.
27 March 2008 - Mabinogi Generation 1 is released in North America at 10:32 AM
15 May 2008 - Mabinogi Generation 2 is released in North America.
22 May 2008 - Nexon Corp. announces its Closed Beta release for CombatArms.
13 June 2008 - Nexon Corp. announces its beta release for Sugar Rush Arena. As of 25 June, no further information is available.
26 June 2008 - Nexon Corp. launches its Pre-Open Beta release for Combat Arms. It then moves on Open Beta on 1 July.

Company Divisions

NEXON America

NEXON America first started as NXGames in October 2005. By partnering with Wizet, NEXON America cosigned and acquired publishing rights of MapleStory in North America. On November 2, 2006, NXGames began marketing their business as NEXON America and dropping the NXGames name. 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 MapleStory, Kartrider, Mabinogi, Combat Arms and Audition Online with MTV Networks.

NEXON Europe

NEXON Europe is one of the new online game portals in Europe. NEXON Europe first opened in April 9, 2007, when NEXON Europe released the Open Beta of MapleStory Europe. On May 31, 2007, NEXON Europe officially released MapleStory Europe and opened the cash shop. The release also marked the official grand opening of MapleStory Europe and the game will be removed from its beta stages. The addition of other games has not been confirmed yet. NEXON Europe Limited Logo NEXON Europe Limited Logo

NEXON Japan

NEXON Japan is one of the most successful online gaming companies in Japan. NEXON Japan was first started with MapleStory, which turned into a synonymous online game.

NEXON Korea

NEXON Korea is one of the South Korea's gaming industry's larger companies.[citation needed] NEXON Korea started with Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds in their lineup. NEXON Korea received a large influx of users migrating to the Korean version because of the Tespia Test Server and their more up-to-date patching. To combat this, NEXON Korea now requires a Korean Social Security Number to register. Even with Korean Social Security Number, a number of OBTG (old existing forum) members were able to get into Nexon Korea's games. Of them includes SamLai and many others who started off playing Korean MapleStory.

NEXON Games

   Main article: List of Nexon Games

Release History

   Main article: Nexon Corporation/Release History

Criticism

The Better Business Bureau had assigned Nexon America with a rating of an F, the lowest rating a company can receive. In addition, over 25% of complaints through the BBB were not answered to the satisfaction of the complainant. Most customers that reviewed the company on the BBB complained about its automated customer service. However, recently Nexon America has received a CCC rating, and even more recently a BB rating by the Better Business Bureau for attempts to improve itself.[citation needed]

Nexon Related Companies	Nexon • Wizet • Asiasoft • KRU Interactive • Gamania
	Related Companies

External links

Company Website [1]
(English) www.nexon.net
(Korean) www.nexon.com
(Japanese) www.nexon.co.jp