Nexon Corporation

NEXON Corporation (넥슨) is a Korean video game developer and publisher of online games and MMORPGs. Its headquarters is located in Seoul, South Korea.

History
NEXON Corp. published its 80 millionth title in 1996. In 1998 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 Ethan Kennerly.

NEXON Corp. also released a few unsuccessful games to the North American audience in beta form which have since been dropped. They include Elemental Saga, QuizQuiz, KartRider 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 cancelled. NEXON has eight 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 Seumas 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 localised and customised 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, Europe, Brazil, Vietnam and players from many other places. NEXON then merged with Wizet and jointly controlled MapleStory. More than 92 million people are playing Maplestory today.

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 developed MapleStory DS for Nintendo's handheld console, Nintendo DS. MapleStory DS was released on April 15, 2010 in Korea, 3 months later than the original date: January 2010.

Partnership with Valve
In July 27, 2007, NEXON and Valve made a partnership and announced Counter-Strike Online, a new online version of the world's most popular first person shooting multiplayer game that will be tailored for Asia. Under the terms of the agreement between two studios, NEXON developed and became the exclusive publisher for Counter-Strike Online in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China. After the release of Counter-Strike Online, Nexon released numerous updates for their own FPS game called "Combat Arms".

Acquisition of NDOORS
It was announced by Nexon on May 4, 2010, that they had acquired NDOORS. The amount that Nexon paid for 67% of Ndoors' equity was undisclosed, but is speculated to be close to 200 billion Won (US$ 153.9 million dollars), which was the original 'wish-price' from Ndoors.

From this acquisition, Nexon will take over IPs of Goonzu Online, Atlantica, Corum Online, two upcoming MMORPG titles, as well as publishing rights of Perfect World's Battle of the Immortals in Korea.

Acquisition of GameHi
On May 27, 2010 Nexon acquired bought a controlling stake in GameHi for US$59.8 million. Nexon bought 29.3 percent of the company's shares as well as management rights for control of GameHi from Gun-Il Kim, the largest shareholder in GameHi.

Nexon Cash (NX)
Commonly referred to as 'NX Cash', 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 NX 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 15 October 2008 the prepaid cards are available in North American 7-Eleven stores, Target (discontinued in June 2009 ), Duane Reade, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Longs Drugs, and Blockbuster stores in the US. In Canada, the cards are available at Future Shop, Best Buy, Shoppers Drug Mart, and 7-Eleven.

On October 7, 2009, NEXON America announced a name change for their cards, NX, instead of NEXON Cash. They have split the NX into two areas, NX Credit(such as PayPal), which is limited to some items which can not be purchased, or can be purchased at a later level, and NX Prepaid, which has no limitations. As well as the new change, the logo has been replaced, instead of the regular NEXON Cash, there is a new symbol, to represent it which is similar to the RX logo, except the letters are NX.

Recently MapleStory's Trade System was established, in which users can buy game items with real NX and sell items for NX. However, only NX from the prepaid cards can be used in this.

In the Trade Shop, players can request items for others to sell and even put up their own items for a certain amount of cash depending on the item's rarity and benefits.

NEXON Cash Cards are not available in Mexico, New Zealand, or Australia. There are currently several petitions for Nexon to sell NEXON Cash Cards in these regions.

You can also redeem Nexon Cash via survey, however this is not NX Prepaid, it is NX Credit.

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 announces its launch of 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.
 * June 7, 2006 - KIPA (Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency) lists Audition Online to be launched in America.
 * November 3, 2006 - Alex Garden, co-founder of Relic Entertainment, joins NEXON to run NEXON's North American game development studio, NEXON Publishing North America.
 * July 27, 2007 - NEXON Corp. announces a partnership with Valve Software to publish Counter Strike Online in Asia.
 * March 27, 2008 - Mabinogi is launched.
 * June 13, 2008 - NEXON Corp. announces its beta release for Sugar Rush Arena. As of June 25, no further information is available.
 * July 19, 2008 - Combat Arms' release is announced.
 * April ? 2009 - Sugar Rush service discontinued, new publishers are currently unknown.
 * April 9, 2009 - Combat Arms service discontinued in South America
 * April 14, 2009 - MapleStory takes action against illegally operated private servers such as SydneyMS and DestinyMS.
 * April ? 2009 - Audition Online is discontinued, Redbana is the new publisher.
 * August ? 2009 - iTCG Online Beta Phase 1 starts, first game developed and published by NEXON America.
 * September 30, 2009 - NEXON takes legal action against hacking site gamecheetah.com.
 * October 9, 2009 - Combat Arms service discontinued in South America.
 * January 14, 2010 - NEXON Corp. takes action against rogue development site KryptoDev.com
 * January ? 2010 - PopTag gets ready for BETA stage, iTCG starts its 2nd Phase.
 * February 27, 2010 - 'RavenSCA' (GM) is hacked on the popular game MapleStory - NEXON America
 * March 2010 - Nexon America unveils Vindictus and Dragon Nest and announce a Fall 2010 release date of Vindictus and a Q1 2011 release date for Dragon Nest.
 * March 28, 2010 - Nexon America releases a major content update into MapleStory which includes the release of the Evan class.
 * April 15, 2010 - Nexon and Nintendo launch MapleStory DS to retail along with the limited edition MapleStory DS Red Nintendo DSi in Korea.
 * April 28, 2010 - Nexon America launches Vindictus' teaser website.
 * May 4, 2010 - Nexon announces its acquisition of NDOORS.
 * May 27, 2010 - Nexon announces its acquisition of GameHi.
 * June 9, 2010 - Dungeon Fighter Online officially launches in North America.
 * June 9, 2010 - Mabinogi: Goddess of Light (Generation 10) is launched.
 * June 10, 2010 - Service of iTCG Online in North America is closed.
 * June 2010 - MapleStory : Return of the Explorers Launches!
 * July 8, 2010 - Korean Version of MapleStory releases their biggest patch. (Big Bang Update)
 * July 21, 2010 - MapleStory's Dual Blade gets released.
 * August 10, 2010 - Vindictus closed beta begins. It will last until August 24.
 * August 24, 2010 - Vindictus closed beta ends.
 * September 3, 2010 - Vindictus Rolls Out Next Beta Date
 * September 12, 2010 - Vindictus is not really open beta you still need a key to get in the game.
 * September 15, 2010 - Vindictus beta Begins

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 announced its partnership with MTV Networks to promote NEXON games and enhance the Neopets services. NEXON has also announced that they will market MapleStory, Mabinogi, Combat Arms, Audition Online and Sugar Rush, Vindictus, and also Dungeon Fighter Online with MTV Networks. Audition Online (which has been discontinued of service on Nexon America's server) has been transferred over to the game hosting service RedBana Corp. On April 2, 2009, NEXON America made an announcement that South American support for Combat Arms would end on April 9, 2009. Sugar Rush has been taken back by Klei entertainment as of August 5. NEXON America will soon replace their current portal, Nexon with their new game portal Block Party to attract an older audience. In January 2010, Nexon America announced Pop Tag!, the American version of the successful Crazy Arcade. The open beta for Pop Tag! was opened on January 26, and the official release took place on February 9.

In early February 2010, Nexon America announced that it had surpassed 10 million unique users and confirmed its place as America's most popular gaming portal.

NEXON America will be launching their new gaming portal, Block Party in the summer of 2010. NEXON America has announced that Dragon Nest will be the first game to be launched through Block Party. They also announced that Crazy Arcade and Vindictus would be released through their original portal. Vindictus is expected to be released in the Fall of 2010 (beta to be released in August), and Dragon Nest released in very early 2011. As of August 2010, only the American version of Crazy Arcade, Pop Tag!, has been released while the beta phases of Vindictus have begun.

NEXON Europe
NEXON Europe is one of the new online game portals in Europe. NEXON Europe first opened on 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 Combat Arms to the NEXON Europe game line was announced by NEXON America on August 8, 2008. On the 25 September 2008, NEXON Europe launched the Combat Arms Europe Teaser Website. On 28 October 2008, NEXON Europe started the Combat Arms Europe Closed Beta testing phase, which finished on the 11th November 2008. Combat Arms Europe Open Beta testing began on 16 December 2008 and will finish on January 15, 2009. NEXON Europe also opened the brand new NEXON Europe Portal Website on 16 December 2008. Combat Arms was fully launched by NEXON Europe in January 2009, servicing Europe and the Middle East. Nexon Europe has just announced a new game launch for the European market called Mabinogi. The Open Beta for Mabinogi Europe has now ended together with the update that released the cash shop and Generation 3. A further update has been scheduled to commence in September 2010. This new update will bring Mabinogi Europe to Generation 11 including all Generations before it. NEXON Europe has also announced that Vindictus (Mabinogi Heroes), is due to be released at some point later in 2010.

NEXON Japan
NEXON Japan is the most successful and recognized online gaming company/portal in Japan. It all started in 2004 with the release of MapleStory. Since then, NEXON Japan has shown tremendous growth, with their revenue increasing 56% from Q4 2008 to Q4 2009. NEXON Japan currently services many extremely successful games including Arad Senki, Atlantica Online, Counter-Strike Online, MapleStory and Mabinogi. Recently, new games have been released by NEXON Japan including Dragonica, Tenvi and Fantage which are all showing promise.

NEXON Korea
NEXON Korea is Korea's 2nd largest online gaming company/portal behind NHN's Hangame with over 25 million users. 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 resident registration number to register. Even with a Korean resident registration number (KSSN), a number of OBTG (old existing forum) members of that forum were still able to get into NEXON's games.

NEXON America's games

 * Maplestory
 * Combat Arms
 * Mabinogi
 * Dungeon Fighter Online
 * Pop Tag!
 * Vindictus