Monday, August 12, 2013

NHN Spins Off Divisions

NHN Spins Off Divisions:
Thirteen years after it came on the scene, Next Human Network Corp. (NHN) has been in the process of spinning off its online gaming and online portal businesses since the beginning of the month. The Hangame division now operates as NHN Entertainment Co., while the Naver search division has been renamed Naver Corp. The break up into separate entities was seen as the best strategy to execute more quickly and efficiently on opportunities in the burgeoning global mobile segment – of which Europe, India and the Latin America have been identified as markets for expansion outside Northeast Asia. Content development will be a primary focus for NHN Ent. moving forward, with an emphasis on mobile and online games.

Serge Versillé, head of communication and marketing at Pretty Simple, details Criminal Case.

Serge Versillé, head of communication and marketing at Pretty Simple, details Criminal Case.:
Everyone here at Pretty Simple would tell you emphatically that yes, there are opportunities for growth with social games. With Criminal Case, we saw the number of DAUs rise from 0 to 9 millions in six months. As a result, Criminal Case became the second most played game on Facebook. What's more, Criminal Case is still a desktop-only social game, though a mobile version is in the works, and it has been holding its own in the competition with cross-platform games.

Michael Kalkowski, co-founder and creative director at GameDuell, talks about 120 new game positions he intends to fill this year, as well as his predictions for important changes in the coming months.

Michael Kalkowski, co-founder and creative director at GameDuell, talks about 120 new game positions he intends to fill this year, as well as his predictions for important changes in the coming months.:
We have seen a tremendous amount of changes in our industry in the last 10 years, spanning all areas from game mechanics and genres to business models, process, and technology innovations to platforms, marketing, and distribution.

Korean New Dance MMO World in Audition Debut

Korean New Dance MMO World in Audition Debut:
First releasing Audition Online and Audition Online 2 in various countries, Korean developer Hanbitsoft announced the third game in the series a couple of

Bella Online Launches Official Website with Closed Beta Coming Soon

Bella Online Launches Official Website with Closed Beta Coming Soon:
First announced in 2011, Bella Online is a 3D MMORPG developed by Taiwanese game company OMG using the in-house 3D Chameleon Engine. The game has

NetEase Reveals New Trailer for Online Shooter Crisis 2015

NetEase Reveals New Trailer for Online Shooter Crisis 2015:
First revealed at ChinaJoy last month, Crisis 2015 is NetEase's first ever online shooter developed by the top Dynamite engine. Today a brand new trailer is

Mobile game market growth, opportunity

Mobile game market growth, opportunity:
Rapid growth continues, and the [a] list daily looks at the numbers and what lies ahead

Wargaming: "We will push free-to-play hard"

Wargaming: "We will push free-to-play hard":
CEO Victor Kislyi says Microsoft needed convincing about free-to-play viability on consoles, says the company will understand "when they see the first

Gloria Victis doubles playable land area in August update

Gloria Victis doubles playable land area in August update:
Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, Free-to-Play, Sandbox The fantasy MMO Gloria

Developers Without Borders

Developers Without Borders:
Okam Studio co-founder Martina Santoro on the perks and pains of the fast-growing Latin American games market

Firefall open beta weekend includes dev-hosted missons

Firefall open beta weekend includes dev-hosted missons:
Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Firefall Been dying to try out Firefall but have had the worst luck obtaining a beta key? Sir or

Wooga: Being a developer will make us a strong publisher, too

Wooga: Being a developer will make us a strong publisher, too:
Gamasutra speaks to Wooga CEO Jan Miczaika about why it's booting up publishing functions, how they work, what they're looking for, and why its developer

Amateur Surgeon 3 Keeps The Trauma Center Dream Alive... Barely.

Amateur Surgeon 3 Keeps The Trauma Center Dream Alive... Barely.:
I loved the Trauma Center series from Atlus. It was over-the-top dramatic and played fast and loose with real medical procedures, but games were amazing

SWTOR update 2.4 preview from Chicago cantina tour

SWTOR update 2.4 preview from Chicago cantina tour:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Events (Real-World), Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPG The

Two of the world's most addictive mobile games, Taito's Groove Coaster Zero and GungHo Online's Puzz

Two of the world's most addictive mobile games, Taito's Groove Coaster Zero and GungHo Online's Puzz:
Two of the world's most addictive mobile games, Taito's Groove Coaster Zero and GungHo Online's Puzzles & Dragons, are crossing-over August 12-24. There'll be

Atlantica Online: Australia Discovery Deployed

Atlantica Online: Australia Discovery Deployed:
Atlantica Online players can now venture to the Land Down Under thanks to the Australia discovery update. Check out the cities of Perth and Sydney as well as take

Champs: Battlegrounds Review

Champs: Battlegrounds Review:
Synchronous multiplayer games have long had a love-hate relationship with mobile. While the bulk of successful mobile multiplayer titles have been turn-

Capcom's Heroes Look Awesome as Samurai

Capcom's Heroes Look Awesome as Samurai:
Ever wonder how Capcom’s greatest heroes and heroines would look as samurai? Or ninja? Or geisha? Well now is your chance!Read more...

Kixeye launches VEGA Conflict on Facebook, browsers

Kixeye launches VEGA Conflict on Facebook, browsers:
Image via Kixeye Kixeye has announced the official launch of its latest game, VEGA Conflict, on Facebook and browsers. The game is the first to come

War Thunder video highlights planes and mods of update 1.3

War Thunder video highlights planes and mods of update 1.3:
Filed under: Historical, Video, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries 'The friendly skies' it is not; not with historical

Second Beta Celebration For MU Rebirth Kicks Off Today

Second Beta Celebration For MU Rebirth Kicks Off Today:
Webzen now is celebrating the Second Beta for MU Rebirth: The Official PvP Server! Starting today, players will be able experience this new action-packed RPG

Big Summer Update Arrives in Dragon Nest Europe

Big Summer Update Arrives in Dragon Nest Europe:
Fans of Dragon Nest Europe can enjoy a huge variety of game improvements and new features which also eliminate the community's most important points of

Kritika KR Released a PvP CG Trailer For the Last Update of This Summer

Kritika KR Released a PvP CG Trailer For the Last Update of This Summer:
Kiritika KR revealed a CG trailer for the last update of this summer (detailed summer update schedule) . In previous update, it added class awakening skills

Candy Crush Saga, Crysis, Tale of Tales talks added to GDC Europe 2013

Candy Crush Saga, Crysis, Tale of Tales talks added to GDC Europe 2013:
New GDC Europe sessions include a postmortem on mega-hit Candy Crush Saga, art production lessons from the Crysis series, and Tale of Tales's sneak

Stock up on your trophies with RIFT's upcoming store section

Stock up on your trophies with RIFT's upcoming store section:
Filed under: Fantasy, News Items, Free-to-Play, RIFT If you've ever wanted the share the spoils of your RIFT achievements with your alts, you'll soon

Swift Revenge Review

Swift Revenge Review:
In Swift Revenge, the evil Doctor Crow has destroyed (or at least done a nice bit of damage to) the floating island home of the heroic bird, Swift. Though Jedi may

World of Warplanes Pre-Launch Preview

World of Warplanes Pre-Launch Preview:
Similar to World of Tanks putting the player in the shoes of a tank driver, World of Warplanes launches you into the sky to pilot various warplanes alongside allies

Kingdom Under Fire OL: Age of Storm (KR) Kicks Off Open Beta

Kingdom Under Fire OL: Age of Storm (KR) Kicks Off Open Beta:
The highly anticipated Korean AOS MMO Kingdom Under Fire Online: Age of Storm today kicks off Open Beta in Korea, following the launch of the new heroes

High School Story Review

High School Story Review:
Our experiences in high school shape the kind of adult we become--for better or worse. We instinctively label ourselves unless we have a label applied to us, and

Fairy Tale Twist Review

Fairy Tale Twist Review:
Despite some hits and misses, Zynga maintains its position as the pre-eminent purveyor of "fee-to-play" (nope, that's not a misspelling) and its latest pay-as-you-

Civilization Online not currently planned for North America

Civilization Online not currently planned for North America:
Filed under: Betas, Historical, MMO Industry, War, Free-to-Play You might be tremendously excited about Civilization Online right now, especially if you read

Nvidia sees revenues and profits drop in Q2

Nvidia sees revenues and profits drop in Q2:
But early sales of its Shield handheld inspire optimism among execs

A New Ultima For A New Age, With New Problems.

A New Ultima For A New Age, With New Problems.:
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar was a revolutionary role-playing game from a legendary game designer. Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar updates the

Vindictus' grim Pantheum the Executioner offers toughest challenge yet

Vindictus' grim Pantheum the Executioner offers toughest challenge yet:
Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, Free-to-Play, Vindictus, Dungeons With a name like "Pantheum the Executioner," you have to figure that

Rebellion moves into browser games with Evil Genius Online

Rebellion moves into browser games with Evil Genius Online:
Sniper Elite studio Rebellion is the next big-name developer to release a game via Zynga's browser-based games platform, as the company revealed Evil

MechWarrior Online Update Adds 12v12 | Ten Ton Hammer

MechWarrior Online Update Adds 12v12 | Ten Ton Hammer:
A new patch arrived for MechWarrior Online this week to add new 12v12 battles and the new Goldenboy Hero mech.

Dungeon & Fighter Updates with Female Slayer Advancements

Dungeon & Fighter Updates with Female Slayer Advancements:
Dungeon & Fighter is receiving large content update by Nexon and Neople with the second advancement classes for the Female Slayer coming on 12th

Neverwinter Review

Neverwinter Review:
When it comes to games that are a long time coming, Neverwinter is right up there. With a setting that's been detailed in classic RPG supplements, prior video

The Lego Group, Warner Bros. announce open beta launch of Lego Legends of Chima Online

The Lego Group, Warner Bros. announce open beta launch of Lego Legends of Chima Online:
Image via Warner Bros. / The Lego Group Warner Bros. and The Lego Group have announced the launch of Lego Legends of Chima Online in open beta. The

LEGO Legends of CHIMA Online goes into open beta

LEGO Legends of CHIMA Online goes into open beta:
Legends of CHIMA is newer line of LEGO products -- including LEGO sets and video games -- where animal warriors with...

TERA: Rising: Three-Faction PVP Comes to TERA

TERA: Rising: Three-Faction PVP Comes to TERA:
TERA is getting ready for an exciting political overhaul in the forthcoming Rising Alliance update that will see Vanarchs give way to continent-ruling

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: Beta 4 Begins August 17th, Early Access August 24th

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: Beta 4 Begins August 17th, Early Access August 24th:
During the recent Letter from the Producer Live, it was announced that the fourth phase of the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will commence on August

Celebrates 11 Years of FFXI with Free Abyssea Expansions | Ten Ton Hammer

Celebrates 11 Years of FFXI with Free Abyssea Expansions | Ten Ton Hammer:
Square Enix celebrates the 11th year of Final Fantasy XI by offering players three free expansion packs and items.

Blacklight: Retribution Dropzone Update Now Live | Ten Ton Hammer

Blacklight: Retribution Dropzone Update Now Live | Ten Ton Hammer:
Blacklight: Retribution’s new update boosts the level cap, adds a new map, and trucks in some new gear.

New Additions for Soviet, German, and Chinese Coming in World of Tanks 8.8 | Ten Ton Hammer

New Additions for Soviet, German, and Chinese Coming in World of Tanks 8.8 | Ten Ton Hammer:
Wargaming tunes up the tank lineup for Soviets, Germans, and the Chinese with new additions in World of Tanks’ 8.8 update.

Rise in sales for mobile game giant DeNA, but still work to be done

Rise in sales for mobile game giant DeNA, but still work to be done:
As profits continue to drop at Japan-headquartered social game publisher DeNA, the company is betting on its upcoming first and second-party titles to

Nexon's Japanese business booms in strong Q2

Nexon's Japanese business booms in strong Q2:
Japanese revenue up 233 per cent, company revenues up 60 per cent

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Beta Update | Ten Ton Hammer

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Beta Update | Ten Ton Hammer:
A look at the state of the Hearthstone beta and other recent information provided to us by Blizzard about the game.

Live events give Gree game a 600% revenue boost

Live events give Gree game a 600% revenue boost:
Modern War shows the positive effect of special events on online games

Total War: Rome 2 owners granted early access to Total War: Arena

Total War: Rome 2 owners granted early access to Total War: Arena:
Those who purchase Total War: Rome 2 will receive "privileged" early access to Creative Assembly's...

PR tips for developers: Tradeshows and conventions

PR tips for developers: Tradeshows and conventions:
You can go to PAX and -- maybe -- lay groundwork for a breakout success. How do you determine whether or not you can or should go to a convention? Here's

Xsyon: Prelude: Now Teaming with Wildlife

Xsyon: Prelude: Now Teaming with Wildlife:
The Xsyon team has sent out a notice about the most recent updates to the game that include free-roaming wildlife that will breed and migrate in ways

God of War II Director Back At Sony To Make Something 'Freaking Huge'

God of War II Director Back At Sony To Make Something 'Freaking Huge':
God of War II game director and infrequent Twitter user Cory Barlog is back at Sony Santa Monica, according to a Tweet from the southern California

Firefall: Review in Progress #4

Firefall: Review in Progress #4:
The fourth in our Review in Progress series for Firefall is hot off the press and ready for your perusal. In this week's edition, we take a look at a missing

What Pay Model Do You Prefer Most in Your Mobile Games?

What Pay Model Do You Prefer Most in Your Mobile Games?:
There are many, many great game on the iOS platform, with more coming out every single day. It's an exciting place, and the sheer variety of game experiences to be

Rumor: Amazon Is Making an Android Console

Rumor: Amazon Is Making an Android Console:
One of the biggest retailers in the world is rumored to be making an Android gaming console.Read more...

An up-close look at Nintendo's growing digital sales business

An up-close look at Nintendo's growing digital sales business:
Gamasutra analyst Matt Matthews takes an in-depth look at Nintendo's digital transition, and why the company has been slow to take up the shift to digital. ...

Massively's hands-on with Strife, a new MOBA from S2 Games

Massively's hands-on with Strife, a new MOBA from S2 Games:
Filed under: Screenshots, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, PvP, News Items, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Events (Massively's

Crushing MOBA community strife in S2's Strife

Crushing MOBA community strife in S2's Strife:
Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, Previews, Opinion, Massively Meta, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous,

Scott Hartsman returns to Trion as CEO; Trion shutters San Diego branch

Scott Hartsman returns to Trion as CEO; Trion shutters San Diego branch:
Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items Scott Hartsman has returned to Trion, this time as CEO. "We're going to rapidly be laying the groundwork for a new

Trion Worlds names Scott Hartsman CEO

Trion Worlds names Scott Hartsman CEO:
Rift maker's former chief creative officer returns in new role after just seven months away

Valve closes two-man San Francisco office

Valve closes two-man San Francisco office:
Valve San Francisco duo to start their own studio, Temple Gates Games, after ending partnership with Valve. Valve has closed its remote two-man studio in San

EA announces new free-to-play FIFA World for PC

EA announces new free-to-play FIFA World for PC:
EA unveils FIFA World for Brazil and Russia, with the game designed to be played by those who do not own a console. EA has announced FIFA World,

Age of Wushu Legends of Mount Hua Expansion Goes Live | Ten Ton Hammer

Age of Wushu Legends of Mount Hua Expansion Goes Live | Ten Ton Hammer:
Snail Games launches the first expansion for Age of Wushu loaded with new content, features, and the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures Battle Arena.

Age of Wushu: Snail Games - Mount Hua, Black Gold & More

Age of Wushu: Snail Games - Mount Hua, Black Gold & More:
Age of Wushu's Legends of Mount Hua expansion will be released today and is said to bring more immersive qualities to the game. We had the opportunity to chat

Your game got copied. How do you respond?

Your game got copied. How do you respond?:
From clones to copies -- how should you respond when your game gets ripped off? Attorney Stephen McArthur pores through cases of IP infringement inside

GDC Europe 2013 adds Microsoft, Google, App Annie vendor sessions

GDC Europe 2013 adds Microsoft, Google, App Annie vendor sessions:
Late additions to GDC Europe 2013's vendor sessions include Microsoft's 'Commitment to Indie Success' and cross-platform talks, plus details on

Worms 3 Review

Worms 3 Review:
You know the drill, sergeant: those ruthless worm soldiers have returned in Worms 3, and they're taking to the battlefields at every Beach, Farm, and

10 things you'll hear before your milestone is rejected

10 things you'll hear before your milestone is rejected:
Sketchy comments from the developers, excuses from the publisher -- this list compiled by veteran producer David Mullich is an overview of why developers

Critical Consensus: The Drowning

Critical Consensus: The Drowning:
Scattered Entertainment re-imagines the FPS for touch devices, but free-to-play gets in the way of the fun

A Nintendo F2P game that lets you bargain for better prices

A Nintendo F2P game that lets you bargain for better prices:
Darumeshi Sports Store is a free-to-play title found in Nintendo's Japanese 3DS eShop. It works like a lot of F2P titles do, but with a twist: players can bargain over

Marvel Heroes: A Superheroic Summer

Marvel Heroes: A Superheroic Summer:
The Marvel Heroes team has been very candid about its rocky start and is hot on the trail of making the game improvements that need to be made. We

Betawatch: August 3 - 9, 2013

Betawatch: August 3 - 9, 2013:
Filed under: Betas, MMO Industry, News Items, Betawatch, Miscellaneous It's been a long wait for Final Fantasy XIV fans, but the relaunched version has

Make My MMO: July 28 - August 10, 2013

Make My MMO: July 28 - August 10, 2013:
Filed under: Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous, Crowdfunding, Make My MMO Ah, the joys of bringing more games into the fold.