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Korean File-Sharing Service Soribada Shuts Down, Following Court Order

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 9, 2005 - 9:28am.
Seoul, South Korea-- Korean digital music service Soribada has shut down its peer-to-peer file-sharing feature, after being ordered to do so in a ruling by the Seoul Central District Court, the Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported. Soribada, which claims 22 million users, was sued by the Korean Association of Phonogram Producers, which said it may also file separate litigation claiming damages from file-sharing on Soribada.
tags: Law | File-Sharing | Korean | Soribada | Shuts Down |

Korean Online Game Developer Gravity Buys Stake in Trigger Soft

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 3, 2005 - 10:23am.
Seoul, Korea -- Korean online game developer Gravity, distributor of the popular "Ragnarok Online," announced on Tuesday that it has acquired a 75% stake in Korean developer Trigger Soft for $1.35 million. Trigger Soft is the developer of "R.O.S.E. Online," another title that Gravity distributes. Separately, Gravity announced that it has signed an agreement with Soft World International to distribute "Ragnarok Online" in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, and another deal with Level Up to distribute the game online in Brazil. Gravity also partnered with Gung Ho Online to distribute seven mobile versions of "Ragnarok" in Japan, which include the ability for items acquired playing the mobile versions to transfer to a player's online game account.
tags: Games | Internet | Korean | Gravity | Trigger Soft |

Chinese Online Game Operator Shanda Buys Stake in Korean Developer Actoz

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2004 - 4:10am.
Shanghai, China -- Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment announced on Tuesday that it has purchased a 29% controlling stake in Korean online game developer Actoz Soft for $97.1 million in cash. Actoz is co-owner of the copyright for "The Legend of Mir II," currently the most popular online game in China. Shanda operates "Mir II" in China, as well as other titles including "BNB," currently the most popular casual online game in China. Shanghai-based Shanda said the strategic investment secures an alliance with its leading supplier of online game content.
tags: Games | Internet | Shanda | Chinese | Korean | Actoz |

Korean Firm Acquires Multimedia Messaging Firm Ztango in Stock Deal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 21, 2004 - 7:54am.
Reston, Va. -- Korea-based WiderThan, a provider of mobile Internet technology, announced on Thursday that it has acquired Virginia-based Ztango, a provider of wireless multimedia and messaging services, through a stock swap transaction. Ztango has been a long-standing partner of WiderThan. The combined company will offer mobile entertainment services to over 30 wireless network operators reaching more than 210 million subscribers. The new U.S. company will be called "Ztango, a WiderThan Company." Ztango customers currently include America Online, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless.
tags: Korean | Acquires | Stock Deal | Multimedia Messaging | Ztango |

Korean Independent Game Developer NCSoft Announces E3 Titles

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 29, 2003 - 8:29am.
Seoul -- Korean independent online game developer NCSoft on Tuesday announced the slate of new games it plans to feature at next month's Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3) video game convention in Los Angeles. The company plans to unveil "Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle," a sequel to its popular massively multiplayer online game, as well as "City of Heroes," developed by Cryptic Studios; "Guild Wars," developed by ArenaNet; "Exarch," developed by Realm Interactive; and two titles developed by Phantagram: "Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders" for the Xbox, and the massively multiplayer online title "Shining Lore" for the PC.
tags: Games | Korean | E3 Titles | Independent | NCS |

Korean Online Games Firm NCSoft Sees $123.3 Million Revenue in 2002

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 14, 2003 - 3:08am.
Seoul, South Korea -- Korean online video game developer NCSoft announced on Friday that the company saw revenues of $123.3 million in 2002, a figure it claims is the highest ever recorded in the Korean game industry. The company's popular online game "Lineage" currently claims 300,000 concurrent users and 3.2 million active users around the world. "Our company was able to maintain favorable growth last year amid the systematic slump of the local industry thanks to the breakthrough expansion of the online game market," said NCSoft CFO Hong Heo. "This year we will strengthen our internal capabilities and give added momentum to our current ongoing projects to set the stage for a second growth spurt." The company plans to advance into the Chinese market this year and will also launch "Lineage Tournament" in South Korea. http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/f_headline.cgi?day0/230450152&ticker=
tags: Games | Internet | NCsoft | Korean |