A History of Korean Gaming
드래곤플라이 Dragonfly
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Founded: |
February 1995 |
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Status: |
active |
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Key People: |
박철승 Park Cheolseung: |
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Website: |
In 1995, five Game School alumni decided to conquer the Korean gaming world and founded their own company. Inspired by British developer Bullfrog, they named it Dragonfly1. After keeping themselves above water with a series of mildly popular RPGs and games based on the Anpanman (Hoppangman in Korea) character license, thitherto president and team leader Pak Seungcheol called his older brother Pak Cheolu to help, who took over the management, and pushed for a shift towards squad-based online FPS games in a time when RPG and RTS games were dominating the Korean scene, to conquer Western markets2. The new CEO proved that he had the right intuition, although it was first and foremost the domestic market that he conquered: Dragonfly's Sudden Attack became one of the most popular online games in Korea, among first-person-shooters only lagging behind Sudden Attack3.
In recent years, Dragonfly has licensed a lot of other companies' IPs to translate them into online games. Besides Quake Wars Online listed below, Dragonfly also closed a contract with SNKP for the most popular NeoGeo franchises in April 20084. All three were originally developed by outside studios; WizHands showed artwork and screenshots of a 2.5D Metal Slug Zero Online5, King of Fighters Online was developed by Triple-A Games6, while Blue Dragon Interactive worked on Samurai Shodown Online7. However, the fate of online games based on SNK series has traditionally been an unfortunate one, and these projects were no exception. In June 2009, Dragonfly cancelled Metal Slug Zero Online and reset the whole project to start from scratch, now to be developed by Dragonfly itself (or, as the case may be, its subsidiary AP-Studio). Later that year, it tried to blackmail Dragon Interactive and Triple-A Games into selling their stock majorities and becoming subsidiaries. The studios declined, and Dragonfly pulled support and the licenses. The incident caused significant damage to Dragonfly's reputation, as well as to the value of its stocks8. The new Metal Slug Online is currently in some kind of open testing phase with virtually no promotion, while Dragonfly offered jobs for "3D effects artists" on Samurai Shodown Online in April 20129.
Dragonfly also acquired Phantagram through the subsidiary Future Port in 200810, enabling the company to develop Kingdom under Fire Online.
Games
운명의 길 (Unmyeong-ui Gil) / The Tour of Duty - IBM PC (January 1996)
Cover
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Quick Info:
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Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
SO System |
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Genre: |
RPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
The Tour of Duty (IBM PC)
Karma: Immortal Wrath (카르마) - Windows (September 1997)
Korean Cover
Japanese Cover
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
SKC |
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Genre: |
RPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
Karma (Windows)
Karma (Windows)
Karma (Windows)
Karma (Windows)
날아라 호빵맨 (Narara Hoppangman) - Windows (August 1998)
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Quick Info:
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Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
SKC |
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Genre: |
Platforming |
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Theme: |
Licensed |
Narara Hoppangman (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman (Windows)
벨피어기스나이트~운명의 길 2~ (Walpurgis Night: Unmyeong-ui Gil 2) - Windows (November 1999)
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Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
Wizard Soft |
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Genre: |
RPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
Walpurgis Night (Windows)
Walpurgis Night (Windows)
Walpurgis Night (Windows)
Walpurgis Night (Windows)
Walpurgis Night (Windows)
날아라 호빵맨 2~세균맨의 역습~ (Narara Hoppangman 2: Segyunman-ui Yeokseup) Windows (May 2000)
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Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Wizard Soft
Genre:
Platforming
Theme:
Licensed
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Karma Online (카르마온라인) - Windows (December 11, 2002 [open beta])
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Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
CJ Internet
Genre:
Action: 1st Person
Theme:
Military
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Special Force (스페셜 포스) / Soldier Front - Windows (July 15, 2004 [open beta])
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Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Neowiz
Genre:
Action: 1st Person
Theme:
Military
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Goldslam (골드슬램) - Windows (November 7, 2007)
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Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Dragonfly
Genre:
Sports
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Karma 2 (카르마 2) / Karma Returns (카르마리턴즈) / Karma - Windows (January 22, 2009 [open beta]; July 28, 2010)
Karma Returns Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Dragonfly
Genre:
Action: 1st Person
Theme:
Military
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Quake Wars Online (퀘이크워즈 온라인) - Windows (April 30, 2010 [open beta])
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Quick Info:
Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Dragonfly
Genre:
Action: 1st Person
Theme:
Licensed
Quake Wars Online (Windows)
Quake Wars Online (Windows)
메탈슬러그 온라인 (Metal Slug Online) - Windows (November 30, 2010 [open beta])
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
Developer:
AP-Studio
Publisher:
Dragonfly
Genre:
Action: Top-Down
Theme:
Licensed
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Special Force 2 (스페셜 포스2) - Windows (August 11, 2011)
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
CJ Internet
Genre:
Action: 1st Person
Theme:
Military
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Age of Storm: Kingdom Under Fire Online (에이지오브스톰: 킹덤언더파이어 온라인) - Windows (August 8, 2013 [open beta])
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
Developer:
Dragonfly
Publisher:
Neowiz (Pmang)
Genre:
Action
Theme:
Fantasy
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Unreleased Titles:
붉은 튜울립 (Pulgeun Tyuullip) (1996)
운명의 길 3D (The Tour of Duty 3D) (1997)
카르마2 (Karma 2) RPG (1997-2000)
메탈슬러그 제로 (Metal Slug Zero) (2008)
References
1. PC Champ 7/1997, page 139
2. iNews - Interview with Park Cheolu 12/3/2007
3. Gamasutra - The State Of Korea: PC Games 6/31/2007
4. Dragonfly Company History
5. This Is Game 2/20/2009
6. Gamedonga 4/28/2009
7. This Is Game 1/15/2009
8. Asia Today 8/10/2009
9. http://www.albain.co.kr/recruit/view?idx=2352450
10. ET News 6/13/2008
Cover
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
|
Publisher: |
Wizard Soft |
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Genre: |
Platforming |
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Theme: |
Licensed |
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Narara Hoppangman 2 (Windows)
Karma Online (카르마온라인) - Windows (December 11, 2002 [open beta])
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
|
Publisher: |
CJ Internet |
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Genre: |
Action: 1st Person |
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Theme: |
Military |
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Karma Online (Windows)
Special Force (스페셜 포스) / Soldier Front - Windows (July 15, 2004 [open beta])
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
Neowiz |
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Genre: |
Action: 1st Person |
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Theme: |
Military |
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Special Force (Windows)
Goldslam (골드슬램) - Windows (November 7, 2007)
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
Dragonfly |
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Genre: |
Sports |
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Goldslam (Windows)
Karma 2 (카르마 2) / Karma Returns (카르마리턴즈) / Karma - Windows (January 22, 2009 [open beta]; July 28, 2010)
Karma Returns Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
Dragonfly |
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Genre: |
Action: 1st Person |
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Theme: |
Military |
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Karma 2 (Arcade)
Quake Wars Online (퀘이크워즈 온라인) - Windows (April 30, 2010 [open beta])
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
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Publisher: |
Dragonfly |
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Genre: |
Action: 1st Person |
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Theme: |
Licensed |
Quake Wars Online (Windows)
Quake Wars Online (Windows)
메탈슬러그 온라인 (Metal Slug Online) - Windows (November 30, 2010 [open beta])
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
AP-Studio |
|
Publisher: |
Dragonfly |
|
Genre: |
Action: Top-Down |
|
Theme: |
Licensed |
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Metal Slug Online (Windows)
Special Force 2 (스페셜 포스2) - Windows (August 11, 2011)
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
|
Publisher: |
CJ Internet |
|
Genre: |
Action: 1st Person |
|
Theme: |
Military |
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Special Force 2 (Windows)
Age of Storm: Kingdom Under Fire Online (에이지오브스톰: 킹덤언더파이어 온라인) - Windows (August 8, 2013 [open beta])
Poster
There is no description for this game yet. If you happen to own/have played it and want to contribute, please get in touch on the forums.
Quick Info:
|
Developer: |
Dragonfly |
|
Publisher: |
Neowiz (Pmang) |
|
Genre: |
Action |
|
Theme: |
Fantasy |
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Kingdom Under Fire (Windows)
Unreleased Titles:
붉은 튜울립 (Pulgeun Tyuullip) (1996)
운명의 길 3D (The Tour of Duty 3D) (1997)
카르마2 (Karma 2) RPG (1997-2000)
메탈슬러그 제로 (Metal Slug Zero) (2008)
References
1. PC Champ 7/1997, page 139
2. iNews - Interview with Park Cheolu 12/3/2007
3. Gamasutra - The State Of Korea: PC Games 6/31/2007
4. Dragonfly Company History
5. This Is Game 2/20/2009
6. Gamedonga 4/28/2009
7. This Is Game 1/15/2009
8. Asia Today 8/10/2009
9. http://www.albain.co.kr/recruit/view?idx=2352450
10. ET News 6/13/2008