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COMING TO AMERICA
Korean Giant WEBZEN Sets its Sights on the USA
LQGaming Services:: An honorable goal, that. We have to ask, though: Many game publishers are abandoning original IP in favor of licensed or proven brands, because they see these ventures as being safer or more secure. WEBZEN is instead championing it. Why so?
Jason Wonacott: Good question. Established IP is seen as safe because people look at it as being very familiar. But they forget that once upon a time, even franchises like Quake, Doom, Half-Life and Unreal Tournament were unknown. The reason they became so popular was because games in these series were so good.
There are pros and cons to both approaches - unique vs. established IP. At the end of the day though, if the game's solid, it doesn't matter if it's set in the world of a famous movie or an award-winning RPG or a Tom Clancy novel or anything else.
LQGaming Services:: You know WEBZEN America will have succeeded when.?
Jason Wonacott: Another really good question. I think that it's possible to be successful on many levels. Success as a company, of course, involves profitability. Success as a developer means being proud of each product we put out. To give you an example, I'd love to see all our review scores over 90%. Is that likely? Probably not.
However, if we can launch our games in such a way that we debut not just a retail product, but a service, we'll be most pleased. By that I mean launching a game that we get in the hands of players who are emphatic about the titles and love them and can experience great support whether you're talking through the network or customer service. And, for that matter, will leave audiences walking away saying "I really like playing WEBZEN's games." That's something you can really be proud of.
LQGaming Services:: What is your main goal as an organization at the moment?
Jason Wonacott: In a market as popular as the videogame industry, players have huge expectations. I think our main goal right now as an organization launching three titles, especially as a start-up, is to not only live up to, but exceed these standards. And, in a more immediate sense, the number one priority is to get SUN up and running.
"Our goal right now is to not only live up to, but exceed player expectations. You can tout a company until you're blue in the face. at the end of the day, it all comes down to whether or not you can make great games, however. "
LQGaming Services:: More likely that we'll be seeing from the company shortly: An aggressive push to bring out many titles, or a focus on fewer, but potentially higher-quality products?
Jason Wonacott: For WEBZEN America, our main priority right now is just to focus on the three titles we've discussed previously. That said, would we love to bring more products to North America and possibly develop some original properties domestically as well? You bet. right now, though, the emphasis is on SUN, APB and Huxley.
LQGaming Services:: WEBZEN America's vision of the future of the MMO market is.?
Jason Wonacott: All about diversification. Both in the style of products being developed as well as the platforms they're being developed for.
LQGaming Services:: Five years from now, when someone says the company's name, as a consumer, what will I immediately think about. besides, potentially, naked elves and angry orcs, per usual?
Jason Wonacott: You'll think "Wow - they make really awesome games!"
LQGaming Services:: Amen to that, brother! Good luck.
Jason Wonacott: Thanks!
- Scott Steinberg
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