Nexon America claims record breaking growth in July

Nexon America announced today that it had a record-breaking month of growth throughout its portfolio of games in July, and posted a 35 percent increase in revenues compared to the same time last year. The catalyst for this growth was MapleStory, the popular massively multiplayer online role playing game brought to America by Nexon America. MapleStory set a new record in July, with more than 70,000 max concurrent users. This marks continued growth for the North American service, which has more than six million registered users and is part of MapleStory’s 92 million total worldwide.

During the last week of July, Nexon America added major content updates to MapleStory, Mabinogi and Combat Arms, and plans to launch Dungeon Fighter Online later this year. Nexon also announced its plans for Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), which will mark the company’s first major involvement in a consumer trade show. Nexon will continue to stay relevant in the free-to-play gaming market in the coming months with what it calls “an aggressive rebranding initiative” called BlockParty, which will unite Nexon America’s games and players together in a way never before achieved in the North American market.

a pretty lofty claim. We’ll tell you more about it as details become available.

Nexon America details Comic-Con plans

Nexon America’s presence at Comic-Con Inext week will consist of a preview of the soon-to-be released title, Dungeon Fighter Online, as well as contest giveaways and models dressed in Dungeon Fighter Online garb to entertain conference attendees.

Nexon is also taking part in the Gaming University booth (No. 5135) and will have models in Dungeon Fighter Online costumes handing out thousands of disks that include $5 worth of Nexon cash as well as clients for its online titles, Combat Arms, Mabinogi and MapleStory. The disk will also have the new game trailer for Dungeon Fighter Online. Comic-Con attendees will also have a chance to win four Razer Tarantula keyboards as part of an on-site sweepstakes at the Gaming University booth.

Nexon will be making daily presentations (1:00 pm) where fans can learn more about Dungeon Fighter Online. The presentations will be conducted by Robert Welkner and Hailey Bright, the hosts of the popular weekly gaming talk show, COIN-OP TV LIVE. Welkner and Bright will give fans a first look at this new title which pairs arcade action with the features found in online role-playing games. Attendees who stop by the booth during the presentations will have a chance to receive an exclusive Dungeon Fighter Online T-shirt as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

MapleStory goes mobile with AT&T

AT&T is now offering a mobile phone version of Nexon USA’s MapleStory at AT&T MEdia Mall, AT&T’s multimedia content store. AT&T is the first U.S. wireless carrier to launch a mobile version of MapleStory, which is the world’s most popular 2D side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game, with over 92 million worldwide registered users.

Just like in the PC version, AT&T customers will be able to take part in all of the MapleStory action from assuming characters to taking on challenges where they are called upon to protect the Maple World. The AT&T version of the mobile game also includes a special bonus: players who download the MapleStory mobile game from AT&T will be able to claim a special item for their MapleStory PC game.

Learn more about it by visiting maplestory.nexon.net.

Happy Birthday, MapleStory

MapleStory has been running in North America for four years, by Nexon USA’s count. I remember a former coworker of mine carrying on about how his niece had fallen in love with the game when it was still in beta. It was at that time that the game had taken off like a wildfire among the tween set, and then adults, intrigued by that fascination with the game, started to play it in droves. Obviously, the number of users since that time has dropped off considerably, but the game apparently still enjoys a fair share of subscribers. Of course, it’s no Runescape.

Nexon USA is celebrating this milestone - four years surviving in the rather vicious North American MMO market, by offering a number of items and events for subscribers. Some of the goodies being offered to subscribers include Fourth Anniversary Maple Weapons (Maple Hats, Maple Shields, Maple Earrings, or Fourth Anniversary Scrolls), weapons upgrades using Maple Leaf drops, a level up event (again, involving Maple Leaves), GM events, the ability to transform into a monster, 1,200 prizes over the next 40 days, a special Maple Quiz and a whole lot more.

Learn more by checking out maplestory.nexon.net.

Call CSI: MapleStory, There’s Been a Virtual Murder

It was interesting to check out the newswires today and see headlines discussing a video game related “virtual murder” that took place in Japan, resulting in the arrest of a 43-year old woman. Of course, dig a little deeper, and the story takes on a whole different flavor.

The reality of the story involves the unnamed woman and a man she had virtually married in the game MapleStory. According to reports, the online relationship soured, with the man apparently “divorcing” his online wife. Of course, as the saying goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

“I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry,” the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

Read the rest of this entry »