Of all the E3 conferences, I'd have to say I've been eyeing this one for some time. I'll definitely be there.

As interesting as A3, Project N.U.D.E and Fortress 2 Blue sound, I'm wondering if you'll also give some time to any other games?

I also have a question for you (or anyone else who comes across this post). I've been noticing that more and more, games that would once be dismissed as a niche titles are making their way over the American shores, like: Seaman, Mr. Mosquito, Gitaroo Man, Rez, Ikaruga, or Animal Crossing.

Do you think that this is just a sign of the videogames industry becoming big enough to be able to support the release of these niche games but without too much expectation for success? Or do you see it more that the American gaming public has becoming accepting enough to try these new games?

Ironically, at E3 I am supposed to debate "Online Game Design: East Meets West"--with Richard Garriott. I have to assume that they meant "east side of Austin meets west side of Austin." A debate where we'll both be on the outside looking in.

I am unsure right now that the precise confluence of circumstances that led to the huge prevalence of online games in Korea can be precisely replicated anywhere else. There's a lot of unique factors that led to the creation of that marketplace. The factors are similar in certain other places, but some of the factors are timebound (such as the economic situation in Korea at the time that Lineage hit).

It's definitely something that I want to learn more about, though!

Raph, I assume you're aware that Garriot is heavily involved with (the Korean company) NC Soft's American arm? Check this interview for details.

Man I wish I could be there too. So many interesting points raised on this page alone!

David, you're right about niche products - and there's a very good reason for that (if not several). In South Korea, Japanese goods are embargoed. That's why we in N. America are seeing more titles here that wouldn't have been released here otherwise. The S. Korean market is closed to them - put another way, the world leader in broadband penetration is beyond their grasp. That must truly suck for Japanese companies. That's also why the S. Korean gaming 'scene' is so vibrant and so well tuned to S. Korean sensibilities. Japanese companies are hoping to replace this lost opportunity by expanding their reach and brands to N. America.
Industry size? Maybe. Public acceptance? Perhaps. Searching for wallets: definitely.
Just my 2 cents,

Walter, of course I am. :) He's a friend of mine, I started out in the industry working for him on Ultima Online, and I've visted his current offices a couple of times.

Still, though, I still think that even though he's working with NCSoft, there's a gulf there. Granted, Jake Song is working with him here in Austin (though I heard that may be ending?) on Tabula Rasa, so there's some joint East-West design happening there.

As I understand it, originally, I was supposed to debate Jake, but Jake couldn't make it.

Ahh, okay. Um. Nevermind, then. :)

Raph,

Were you at the press conference a couple of years ago when they announced the Lineage partnership? Seeing Jake Song and company in ten-gallon hats was one of the more surreal experiences of that year's show.

I wish I could attend the panel discussion. I think I will only get show only ticket. :(

Just a few comments on this thread.

1. Japanese games are not embargoed any more in Korea. Playstation 2 was officially released early last year and doing slightly better than X-Box, which has been truly disastrous. Console market has been emerging since then but Korea is not quite there yet in terms of size. Well, I think MS has made a text book case model on what not to do when you launch a product in a foreign market.

2. It is true that there are a few factors that has contributed to the creation of Korean online game market - broadband, financial crisis, Starcraft & Lineage and so on. However, now I see other Asian markets, where they do not have those conditions, are growing even faster than Korea in terms of MMOG. I believe MMOG boom is more of a Asian cultural thing rather than other contributing factors a lot of people are referring to. The only thing I can not rule out completely yet is the possibility of multi-year fad.

3. The gap of mindset between Eastern online game developers and Western developers is probably be wider than you might have suspected. MMORPG is considered niche in US and mass market product in Asia; there are huge gap between two concepts and that is one of big WHY western MMOG has never been succesful in Asia and vice versa.

4. Jake Song already left NC Soft.

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We are importers and exporters of general merchandise and would like to do business with your company.

Please do confirm to us that your company has accepted our proposal.
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