MapleStory Dev Wants to Throw Money at You

[Scott Bullock]

MapleStory Dev Wants to Throw Money at You

Nexon America announced the second Nexon iNitiative, looking to find the most promising indie developers and throw piles of money at them.

Last year, over 100 companies in 28 countries participated in the first Nexon iNitiative, competing to win a portion of the $1 million prize. This year, Nexon hopes to top that.

The publisher of games like MapleStory, Vindictus (shown at right), and Dungeon Fighter Online, Nexon America says the mission of the iNitiative is "Finding original, unique and promising projects at an early stage of development in order to sponsor (and in cases co-develop) and later on publish through our global network," according to the iNitiative's site. The most interesting and original ideas and projects submitted to the iNitiative will receive a portion of the prize money, and the potential support of Nexon developers.

Last year's winners, Antic Entertainment and One2Tribe, split the prize evenly, and are currently making games which will be distributed via Nexon's online network.

"We anticipate competing in the social gaming space and other platforms," said Nexon America's vice president of business development, Won Il Sue,"thanks largely in part to innovative game developers discovered through the Nexon iNitiative. By combining our decade of experience perfecting the microtransaction business model with the expertise of the game developers we're funding, we anticipate that the results will be an evolved, innovative and more engaging social games."

If you have a game or game idea to enter in the contest, you can submit it at the iNitiative's site [http://initiatives.nexon.net/]. The deadline for submissions is April 30.

Source: IGN [http://pc.ign.com/articles/115/1151586p1.html]

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[RvLeshrac]

Historically, Nexon has gotten lukewarm reviews from developers they've snapped up. I'd read contracts very carefully.

 

[teh_Canape]

honestly, when I read that title, I immediately thought of "DAWSH GRABBIT WHILE ITZ HAWT"

 

[Mrsoupcup]

I stopped caring about Nexon after the items I purchased expired. Time limits on payed DLC? How about suck my balls. Seriously biggest waste of 30 dollars I have ever spent. Mapple Story belongs in the darkest circle of video game hell for that sin.

 

[RN7]

At first I thought that this was a reference to the new Vindictus event about completing a certain dungeon and being rewarded with virtual money (which is commonly illegally traded, what with the amount of 1000 virtual cash [nx] equaling 1 dollar).

Nexon however has been known to (try) to appeal to their rather large customer base, what with having games ranging from ages 5-8 to 25-30, although they tend to fail miserably since they tend to attract the bellicose teenagers who can't afford WoW subscriptions and snap at any concession that they make. So essentially their fans hate them. But this is only present in the game of Maplestory, which makes sense seeing as it appeals to the most irritable of their customer base...

All in all, it's unsurprising they'd use a motivational/promotional event like this.

 

[AsianMafiaSin]

I thought they were literally throwing money at people.
Still, Nexon's 90 day limit on anything paid for cash is annoying.

 

[Rad Party God]

I don't like Nexon and their games, but if they're going to make something with a little modicrum of quality, then good luck for that dev.