Electronic Arts (EA) to conquer Asia online-gaming market next

cinderboy · 03-21-2007, 06:38 AM

From: Gamasutra

EA Invests $105 Million In Korean Dev Neowiz

Major publisher and developer Electronic Arts has revealed plans to make an equity investment in South Korean developer Neowiz, as well as expand the existing co-development and publishing relationship with that company.

The aggregate investment made by EA will be approximately $105 million, making EA Neowiz’s second largest shareholder after CEO and founder Sung Kyun Na. Once the deal has been completed, EA notes that it will own approximately 19 percent of common stock equivalents (excluding treasury shares) comprised of 15 percent of common stock and four percent of preferred stock of Neowiz, which EA adds could be converted into common stock at a later date.

The two companies partnered previously for 2006's FIFA Online, a PC-specific online version of EA's officially licensed soccer franchise only available in Korea. The game has enjoyed tremendous success since its release, with the title currently boasting more than 4.4 million registered subscribers.

Following the conclusion of EA's new investment in Neowiz, the companies plan to co-develop an additional four online games for Asia, with Neowiz owning the rights to publish two of the four titles in Korea and Japan. (Wonder which are the 2 other Asian countries ...)

“We are extremely happy with the expertise Neowiz showed in launching FIFA Online in Korea last year. We think they will be a great partner for bringing other EA franchises to the rapidly growing market for online games in Asia,” commented EA Chairman and CEO Larry Probst.
__________________________________________________ _______________

Neowiz developed Yogurting with another company

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurting

About Neowiz

Neowiz Co. Ltd, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is the nation's leading online game company. Founded in 1997, Neowiz is expected to post revenues of $150 million for fiscal 2007. The company develops and publishes online games.

In 2006, Neowiz had over 50 online game titles in service including the most popular online game in Korea called Special Force. Neowiz markets its products under its online game portal www.pmang.com. More information about the company information and press releases can be found on the internet at www.neowiz.com

nzrock · 03-21-2007, 06:51 AM

105m is not enough to get neowiz rofl...

K-Rizzle · 03-21-2007, 11:49 AM

Hopefully, if EA Games lays their cards out right, we'll get some pretty decent Korean MMO's shipped over - (LaTale for instance).

Trisomy · 03-21-2007, 12:12 PM

What games have neowiz made???

Afro-American · 03-21-2007, 01:57 PM

Any Gaming company can Take over the Asia online-gaming market if they just pump out dozens of cookie cutter mmorpgs. oh my god did i just type that?

id also like to know what games neowiz made? never heard of them.

cinderboy · 03-21-2007, 02:00 PM

Neowiz developed Yogurting with another company

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurting

About Neowiz

Neowiz Co. Ltd, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is the nation's leading online game company. Founded in 1997, Neowiz is expected to post revenues of $150 million for fiscal 2007. The company develops and publishes online games.

In 2006, Neowiz had over 50 online game titles in service including the most popular online game in Korea called Special Force. Neowiz markets its products under its online game portal www.pmang.com. More information about the company information and press releases can be found on the internet at www.neowiz.com

nzrock · 03-21-2007, 02:12 PM

i wana play warlord before ea buys it rofl.
but all those games pmang hosts is worth way way more then 105mil.

cinderboy · 03-21-2007, 02:15 PM

About time EA dip into MMO games ...

Pillows · 03-21-2007, 06:05 PM

God bless EA. We'll finally get the decent games imported instead of these six year old rejects.

03-21-2007, 06:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
cinderboy OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stinkapore Posts: 4,199 Reputation: 24 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	Electronic Arts (EA) to conquer Asia online-gaming market next From: Gamasutra EA Invests $105 Million In Korean Dev Neowiz Major publisher and developer Electronic Arts has revealed plans to make an equity investment in South Korean developer Neowiz, as well as expand the existing co-development and publishing relationship with that company. The aggregate investment made by EA will be approximately $105 million, making EA Neowiz’s second largest shareholder after CEO and founder Sung Kyun Na. Once the deal has been completed, EA notes that it will own approximately 19 percent of common stock equivalents (excluding treasury shares) comprised of 15 percent of common stock and four percent of preferred stock of Neowiz, which EA adds could be converted into common stock at a later date. The two companies partnered previously for 2006's FIFA Online, a PC-specific online version of EA's officially licensed soccer franchise only available in Korea. The game has enjoyed tremendous success since its release, with the title currently boasting more than 4.4 million registered subscribers. Following the conclusion of EA's new investment in Neowiz, the companies plan to co-develop an additional four online games for Asia, with Neowiz owning the rights to publish two of the four titles in Korea and Japan. (Wonder which are the 2 other Asian countries ...) “We are extremely happy with the expertise Neowiz showed in launching FIFA Online in Korea last year. We think they will be a great partner for bringing other EA franchises to the rapidly growing market for online games in Asia,” commented EA Chairman and CEO Larry Probst. __________________________________________________ _______________ Neowiz developed Yogurting with another company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurting About Neowiz Neowiz Co. Ltd, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is the nation's leading online game company. Founded in 1997, Neowiz is expected to post revenues of $150 million for fiscal 2007. The company develops and publishes online games. In 2006, Neowiz had over 50 online game titles in service including the most popular online game in Korea called Special Force. Neowiz markets its products under its online game portal www.pmang.com. More information about the company information and press releases can be found on the internet at www.neowiz.com __________________ ... ... and you thought he is just Ronaldo... Last edited by cinderboy; 03-21-2007 at 02:05 PM.

03-21-2007, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
nzrock OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 4,601 Reputation: 27 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	105m is not enough to get neowiz rofl... __________________

03-21-2007, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Trisomy Str1der's Stooge Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,685 Reputation: 15 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	What games have neowiz made??? __________________ Trisomy <======== Saint's Sinner(Of course i am...) Yeh im in College i sorta quit most games...

03-21-2007, 02:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
cinderboy OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stinkapore Posts: 4,199 Reputation: 24 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	Neowiz developed Yogurting with another company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurting About Neowiz Neowiz Co. Ltd, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is the nation's leading online game company. Founded in 1997, Neowiz is expected to post revenues of $150 million for fiscal 2007. The company develops and publishes online games. In 2006, Neowiz had over 50 online game titles in service including the most popular online game in Korea called Special Force. Neowiz markets its products under its online game portal www.pmang.com. More information about the company information and press releases can be found on the internet at www.neowiz.com __________________ ... ... and you thought he is just Ronaldo... Last edited by cinderboy; 03-21-2007 at 02:05 PM.

03-21-2007, 02:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
nzrock OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 4,601 Reputation: 27 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	i wana play warlord before ea buys it rofl. but all those games pmang hosts is worth way way more then 105mil. __________________

03-21-2007, 11:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
K-Rizzle Banned Join Date: May 2006 Location: Groton, CT, USA Posts: 481 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	Hopefully, if EA Games lays their cards out right, we'll get some pretty decent Korean MMO's shipped over - (LaTale for instance).

03-21-2007, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Afro-American Sonic’s Milkshake Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 318 Reputation: 10 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	Any Gaming company can Take over the Asia online-gaming market if they just pump out dozens of cookie cutter mmorpgs. oh my god did i just type that? id also like to know what games neowiz made? never heard of them.

03-21-2007, 02:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
cinderboy OnRPG Elite Member! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stinkapore Posts: 4,199 Reputation: 24 MMOFaces Profile: None Yet	About time EA dip into MMO games ... __________________ ... ... and you thought he is just Ronaldo...

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