Published on Tuesday, March 22 2011 by Sung Hwan Ahn
2010 was indeed a busy year for social game developers in Korea. New social gaming platforms were launched by major portal sites, many new start-ups as well as online game developers have entered the market, and success stories from small start-ups were introduced here and there. With the growing interest from both inside and outside the market, information about the current trend becomes more pressing. And still, the thought that useful information must be shared around has unchanged and thanks to Nate AppStore for being on the same side by sharing precious information with everyone.
* Download the full version of “Korean Social Game Market Trend Report (2010, 4th Quarter)” - English / Korean
* Download the full version of “Korean Social Game Market Trend Report (2010, 4th Quarter)” - English / Korean
Published on Friday, December 17 2010 by Sung Hwan Ahn
Rubicon Games’ first city building simulation game ‘Star City’ has finally launched in Nate AppStore this Thursday. Adding a bit of twist to contemporary city-builders, Star City requires users to explore the hidden planets to mine various minerals, which are used in general construction activities. Moreover, after exploring different planets, space shuttles bring cute aliens along with them, adding more space-like essence to the game.
Besides the game itself, Star City is also the first game in Nate platform to introduce NateOn Buddy API, which we mentioned in our earlier post. Contemporary games have only allowed 1-chon network access, which only allows up to 300 friends to play with. NateOn, however, has no limits to number of friends on list, significantly expanding the pool of individual network. “NateOn API will provide a much easier environment for users to manage their list of social gaming partners without hindering privacy issues 
related to 1-chon network,” says Geo-sung Lee, senior game director of Star City.
“I’m very happy and proud to present our first city-building game, ‘Star City’ to our users. Our team has put a lot of effort into this game, especially on sustaining stability.”
Since action speaks more than thousand words, please try out our latest title ‘Star City’ and tell us what you think! Have fun then! :D
Published on Tuesday, December 14 2010 by Sung Hwan Ahn
14 Dec. 2010, Nate launched its new mobile social gaming service, Nate AppStore Beta Application for Androids. Now available for download at T-Store, Nate AppStore Beta Application allows users to access social games on Nate AppStore in Adroid 2.2 (Froyo) devices.
With just one time log-in, users can access their favorite games in “My Apps” page or full list of games in “Apps List” page. Game data as well as friends list is also interlinked with web-based platform, which makes it convenient for users to play and manage their games anywhere at any time. Users can also purchase virtual items with Dotori just like they do on web.
As a tip from Nate, puzzle/quiz games are more suitable for mobile devices since it generates smaller traffic compared to other genres. Initially taking off with six games, Nate AppStore expects more and more games to join the mobile stream. Since smart phone users mark up to 6.8 million (aprox. 15% of Korean population) and has grown 8.5 times the previous year (2009), this trend is expected to enlarge the social gaming pie even bigger. Androids appear to be strong in the Korean smart phone market, yet to maximize the coverage of smart phone users, developing mobile service for iPhone is pressing. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that taking the initiative to expand to mobile devices is a great plus to both Nate and developers.
*** View introductory movie clip of Nate AppStore Beta Application ***
Published on Wednesday, November 24 2010 by Sung Hwan Ahn
Korea’s biggest international game trade show G-Star was successfully held in Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (Bexco) from 18 to 21 Nov. 2010. Turning 6th year, the annual game show hosted over 316 companies and 300,000 visitors worldwide.
As part of the show, social game seminar was held on 19 November, inviting guest speakers from major foreign companies such as Playdom, RockYou! Asia, Playfish, Kabam, 6 Waves, and Second Wave. From projecting the future of social gaming industry in Asia to publishing games in Facebook, social gaming experts delivered insightful presentations to the show.
Moreover, 2010 G-Star has also provided a good field of opportunities to both foreign and Korean developers to expand their businesses abroad through B2B meetings. 193 exhibitors from 22 countries have signed over 166 contracts, bringing down about 200 million USD. Business parties were also hosted throughout the show for direct social networking.
Overall, 2010 G-Star was a great success. With more and more foreign developers participating, G-Star has fully earned its reputation as the leading international game festival. Also mobile and social games have established themselves as an important genre, joining the mainstream of the gaming industry. In 2011 G-Star, we hope to see more social gaming events and exhibitions in the show.
Published on Thursday, November 11 2010 by Angus Lau
GStar game exhibition is a game show and trade exhibition held in Busan annually. This year, as with years past, will include some household names in gaming, Blizzard, NCSoft, XBOX360, Nexon, Sony and a long list of domestic and international game studios. According to the exhibition website, a number of Facebook social game developers and publishers will also be at this year’s event which makes it more interesting (and possibly educational) to the general audience as well as other local social games developers who will be attending this event. Hopefully, this opportunity will give us and local developers a chance to interact with and learn from these Facebook developers despite their recent lack of success and presence in the Korea market.
Rubicon Games will be making our first trip to this event and will be there from Thursday (Nov. 18) to Saturday (Nov 20). We will not be exhibiting but will be around the floors and other events there. If any of our readers want to talk to us about the industry, games or the recent Korea social game report we published while we are down there, feel free to contact me, angus at playrubi dot com. Or if you are in Seoul before or after the exhibition and would like to find us then, you are more than welcome to do so! Hope to see some of you guys there!
