3-Hyper-innovation

“Unlike the traditional approach, Nexon makes its games free to download to personal computers and to play. The company makes money by charging customers anywhere from 30 cents to $25 each for virtual “items” to enhance their game experiences, including everything from souped-up vehicles to wacky hairstyles for in-game characters.” Nick Wingfield, journalist | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008

“Nexon’s biggest hit in the U.S. so far is MapleStory, an online role-playing game popular with teenagers in which players assume the identities of warriors, magicians and thieves and collectively fight monsters. The game has 85 million users globally, of which 5.9 million are registered in the U.S.” Nick Wingfield | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008

“The in-game purchases add up to a big, fast-growing business. Prepaid cards used to buy Nexon game items are now the second best-selling entertainment gift card at Target Corp. stores in the U.S., after cards for Apple Inc.’s iTunes Store, Target says.” Nick Wingfield, journalist | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008

“These games are as much Facebook as they are raw video games.” Evan Wilson, Analyst, Pacific Crest Securities | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008

“We sell social experiences, not packaged products.” Min Kim, VP Marketing, Nexus | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008

“I think we’re going to become television to their film…there will always be room for big blockbusters, but there will be less and less of them. I think we’ll reach a much, much broader audience.” Steve Rechtschaffner, CCO, Nexon Publishing North America | Wall St. Journal, 23 May 2008