泥中蟠龍's Game愛歌
[A love song for games of the dragon waiting for an opportunity]
Have the courage to create uncontested market space
I have ever heard such a funny story that Kang Ho Dong, a famous South Korean MC and comedian, is not known to many junior high and high school students as the top wrestler-turned TV star. The former wrestler began a career as a master of ceremonies and comedian as well in 1999 on MBC TV show. But 20 years later, his successful wrestling—Ssireum—career appears to have not existed anymore.
Recently video game users seem to take it for granted that a new mobile game is released through Kakao Talk almost like MC Kang Ho Dong, not the wrestler. Kakao Talk Game Center opened just 3 years ago, however, we already got used to it.
I've recently asked a representative of a video game developer about the type of game between online and mobile when I had a business meeting with him. "Is there still an online game developer which attracts investment?" He asked me in return. Unfortunately, it's not easy to see an investment proposal for online game companies nowadays. But I am a little bit perplexed by the current situation where most game developers are making their games just for a mobile platform such as Kakao Talk.
Since mobile games like Anipang, Dragon Flight made a great hit with Kakao Talk social network, numerous mobile game studios were started to found from the fall of 2012 like so many mushrooms grow after the rain. The mobile game world naturally attracted investors and the industry climatically flourished in 2013.
I was very passionate about looking for a promising online game company when Kakao Talk was more than a success in late 2012. My logic was simple and clear. Online games were ignored by investors including venture capitalists, which would lead online game developers to stop making games at some point. I thought that newly-released online game would sharply reduce within 2~3 years because online game makers should stop manufacturing due to lack of money. And I was sure that a few online game companies can provide a differentiated service creating uncontested market space and have the potential to succeed in 2~3 years.
We usually use words such as the red ocean or blue ocean. Most people generally don't notice that the blue ocean is a good choice for them unlike the red ocean because there is no competition. That's why people who choose blue ocean are brave and they finally win recognition.
Online games are once again rising recently thanks to Black Desert's good performance. In 2013, I invested in one online-game developer and I failed to invest in the other one due to opposition from the company insiders. The game studio I couldn't invest in is NPIC SOFT that developed ELOA. That is one of my lost opportunities, however, I am also excited at the same time. I will play the game this week with the greatest pleasure. Fashion comes full circle. we need to carefully consider to look back upon the trends of the past which we are not interested in anymore.
※ This is from Kyunghyang Games column by 泥中蟠龍 since September 2013.
(http://www.khgames.co.kr)
Translation by Kim Ki-hui
