Originator of the free-to-play model, Nexon has recently announced that they’re bringing their most popular titles, KartRider and MapleStory to the mobile and social world, respectively. KartRider Rush is targeted at iOS and Android platforms, while the classic side scrolling MapleStory Adventures will find a new home on Facebook. KartRider will arrive later this month (iOS), while MapleStory Adventures is set for a summer ’11 launch.
True to Nexon’s model, both titles will be free-to-play, and offer microtransactions as enhancements to the games, as well as provide a healthy revenue stream for Nexon. KartRider Rush will soon be a free iP (phone, pad, pod touch) app, with an Android based version arriving later this summer. KartRider Rush is a mobile/handheld version of KartRider; a title that counts a massive 200 million registered players worldwide. KartRider Rush features a multiplayer interface, allowing up to four players to race head to head on unique and challenging courses in both battle and time trial modes. If you’ve no friends to play with, fear not, as KartRider Rush also features a rich and engaging solo experience. Single player mode brings up a range of AI racers to square off against in Item Mode and Speed mode. Taking advantage of Facebook Connect, KartRider Rush fans can display their highscores and compare them against friends’ best lap times, etc. Nexon introduces the microtransactions in KartRider Rush via a variety of additional tracks all available for purchase.
On the Facebook front, Nexon brings the all-time classic, side scrolling, MapleStory (Adventures). Arriving this summer, Nexon has taken the already simple interface of MapleStory, and slimmed it down even further. MapleStory Adventures will provide the same MapleStory experience, only now on Facebook, as players are presented with a number of quests and challenges. Only now, they can ask for Facebook friend help in their trials and tribulations. Similar to the original MapleStory, Nexon will be offering microtransactions of the upgrade and in-game items variety.
“Expanding our global IPs into the social and mobile gaming space is a watershed moment in Nexon’s global expansion efforts,” said Daniel Kim, Nexon America’s CEO. “Not only will this move provide new ways for hundreds of millions of fans worldwide to experience Nexon’s games, it allows Nexon the opportunity to prove the robustness of its business model on new platforms.”







We took a long hard look at not only the technologies that we’ve developed in house, the experience and knowledge that we’ve gained, but also at what players and publishers across the world are looking for in a gaming experience. Combine that with the current state of the industry and the tremendous interest and revenue streams in the micro transaction field, adding the fatfoogoo partnership program was a no brainer.