• Journal of Korea Game Society
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.127-138
• /
• 2011

The creation and interchange of information through the Internet network forms online community and makes Social Network Game (SNG) as a new entertainment by grafting it onto the most popular online games. SNG means the service which amalgamates social network service (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc) strong points and the fun of online game. It promotes the intimacy of relation between the friends above social network service and the gaming amusement for users. The domestic SNG market is currently fast changing according to the smart environment which is quickly shifted. The existing online game field will continuously maintain a market size. SNOG will be more developed because it is competitive from the business perspective of managing cost and production cost when compares with the existing online game. In relation to Facebook, Twitter, etc. overseas SNS platform base SNOG service, the domestic competition for launching SNG is expected to heat up as NHN, Daum and SK Communication introduce open type SNS. This study examines the successful factors and strategy for domestic SNOG by studying the case of MapleStory Adventures successful possibility. The possible successful factors are combing SNS on the existing popular online game, marketing through the existing users, and solving the platform problem of a failure factor of NexonStar. This case study is expected to contribute to the domestic SNOG industry development by providing several implications for the successful factors and strategy of SNOG which will be continuously developed.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
• /
• s.20
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2010

Recently, as the number of female players has increased rapidly, the electronic gaming industry has begun to look at ways to appeal to the largely untapped female market. According to the latest game market investigative report by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), the total number of game players in China increased by 24.8% in 2009, reached 69,130,000 people, and 38.9% of them are female players. This growth in the number of female player is corroborated by a series of investigative reports from IResearch Company in Shanghai, China: from 2003 to 2009, the number of female players grew from 8% to more than 49%. Therefore, no matter how much attention the game production companies have given to male players or how they have ignored the female players before, the companies would be sensible to face up this reality and adjust their marketing policy a bit more. This article analyzes gender preferences in video games which shows that male players are more likely to be attracted to elements of aggression, violence, competition and fast action in electronic game-playing, while female players are drawn to emotional and social aspects of the games such as an understanding of character relationships. The literatures cited indicates that female players also show apparent preference for games with familiar environments, games that allow players to work together, games that have more than one way to win, and games in which characters do not die. It also discusses the characteristics of female-friendly games from the aspect of emotion, pointing out that the simulation games involving pet, dressing-up, and social simulation games are very popular with female players. Because these are the most suitable game types to fill with emotions of love, share, jealousy, superiority, mystery, these are absolutely attractive to female players. Finally, in accord with the above, I propose some principles of designing female-oriented games, including presenting a good-looking leading character, making the story interesting with "live" NPCs(Non-Playing Characters), and finding ways to satisfy female nature instincts such as taking care of others and the inborn interest of classifying and selecting.