Webzen Inc. is a developer and distributor of online games in Korea. The Company's core online game products consist of MU, a three-dimensional (3D) massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) provided in Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam and the United States, and Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN), a 3D MMOG provided in Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan. The Company commercially launched its game MU in Korea in 2001 and game SUN in Korea in 2006. The Company also provides other online games such as Huxley, which is massively multiplayer online first person shooter game (MMOFPS). As of December 31, 2008, the Company had five subsidiaries: Plux Co., Ltd, 9WEBZEN, Webzen Taiwan, Webzen China and Webzen America.
Soul of the Ultimate Nation (SUN)
SUN is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, in which the players experience an epic medieval tale in a world of emperors, armies, magicians and monsters set to an original soundtrack by Howard Shore. SUN features a game graphics environment, taking advantage of normal map rendering and various graphical effects, offering players rich and realistic graphics with high polygon counts. Its programmers have developed game engines that enable fluid movement and console-level control of the game characters. SUN can be accessed from any location with a high-bandwidth Internet connection. In the markets, in which the Company provides commercial service of SUN, it provides the basic service of the game for free. End-users pay the Company when they buy at its in-game item shops various items for their characters, such as armor, weapons and potions, and the right at its in-game item shops to change the world or stage at the Company’s in-game item shops, in which the end-user plays.
MU
MU is an MMOG. MU players select a specific character, with which they develop experience and enhanced game capabilities that can be carried over into sequential gaming sessions. Players are able to communicate with each other during the game through instant messaging and may coordinate their activities with other players to form groups, thereby coordinating their game skills to achieve collective objectives. During the year ended December 31, 2007, it introduced microtransaction sales for MU service in Japan, Taiwan and China, and the end-users in those markets pay the Company when they buy at its in-game item shops various items for their characters, such as armor, weapons and potions and the right to change the world or stage, in which the end-user plays.
$2.78 (04/20/09)
