A History of Korean Gaming
HQ Team / 드림웨어 Dreamware
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Founded: |
October 1992 |
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Status: |
assimilated by Joyon |
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Key People: |
김태곤 Kim Taegon: |
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Website: |
www.hqteam.co.kr (offline) |
한국 라이센싱 Korea Licensing / 조이온 Joyon / 조이토토 Joytoto
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Founded: |
September 14th, 1996 (Korea Licensing) |
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Status: |
active |
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Key People: |
조성삼 Jo Seongsam: |
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Website: |
www.joyon.co.kr (offline) |
인티즌 Intizen / 엔도어즈 nDoors
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Founded: |
September 21, 1999 |
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Status: |
active |
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Key People: |
Park Taeung: |
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Website: |
www.intizen.com (offline) |
In October 1992, four high school friends (team leader Kim Taegon, Yi Jehyeong, Yi Hyeongjin and Jeong Jongpil) got together to form HQ Team and started working on their first game, Knight Master. But the fatherland called, and thus they just uploaded a very early demo of their unfinished RPG and left for their two years of military duty1.
Upon their return, they resumed their enterprise, but a new inspiration left a deep impact on them: Warcraft. Thus they set out to make the first real-time strategy game set in the history of Korea.2 Lacking the manpower and business experience for such a project, they pitched it to Trigger Soft, who helped out with the graphics and took care of the production side of things3. Afterwards HQ Team decided to take things into their own hands, and their next title Imjinrok marked the beginning of one of the most popular game series in Korea4.
Despite their success, the financial situation remained insecure, and thus the team (by now renamed Dreamware5) eventually joined up with Gamania Korea in July 20006.
Gamania Korea was founded as a joint-venture of the venerable Taiwanese company that was founded in 1990 as Full Soft and the localization studio and Korea Licensing (the Gamania Korea of today is a new company and not directly related7). The brothers Jo Seongsam and Jo Seongyong who ran Korea licensing and Gamania Korea had first founded a PC systems and floppy disk import company named Saem Jeonja in 1988. It had made first game publishing experience in a cooperation with Ssangyong in 1992, but went bankrupt in 1995, resulting in the founding of Korea Licensing, which localized foreign games for the Korean market, but also sold Korean game publishing rights to the US (Korea Licensing was renamed in 2003 to Multi Plus Enterprise)8.
Gamania Korea was on a course of expansion in 2000, taking in not only Dreamware, but also Caiz Studio, developer of the mecha action game Gears9. In August 2001, it severed its ties to Gamania and was renamed to JoyOn. After Kim Taegon and HQ Team left in 200310, the company worked on several more online games, but didn't get to publish any of them. On March 7th, 2006, JoyOn fusioned with the lottery portal JoyToto11 (which had previously renamed itself from Lotototo12), gave up in-house development and settled as a online game web portal only.
In the meantime Kim Taegon and his crew worked on their next title, Goonzu, with the web portal provider Intizen as their publishing partner13. That partnership worked out well enough for them to become the in-house team of Intizen, which soon specialized in games alone and renamed itself to nDoors14.
Ndoors also took in Coong Entertainment in January 2006, the first Korean developer of PSP software (English language trainers, though, no games)15. In May 2010, the company became an acquisition target itself, and since then operates as a subsidiary of Nexon16.
The game news portal ThisIsGame.com declared Kim Taegon the Game Developer of the Year 200717.
Games
충무공전 (Chung Mugong-jeon) / War Diary - IBM PC (June 1996)
Korean Cover
European 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: |
Triggersoft |
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Publisher: |
Orange Soft |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Korean History |
War Diary (IBM PC)
War Diary (IBM PC)
War Diary (IBM PC)
War Diary (IBM PC)
임진록 (Imjin-rok) / Seven Years War - IBM PC (August 1997)
임진록 영웅전쟁 (Imjin-rok: Yeongung Jeonjaeng) - Windows (January 1999)
Korean Cover
European Cover
Expansion Cover
Korean Cover
European Cover
Expansion 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: |
HQ Team |
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Publisher: |
Samsung |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Korean History |
Imjin-rok (IBM PC)
Imjin-rok (IBM PC)
이스트 (East) - Windows (September 1998)
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: |
HQ Team |
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Publisher: |
SKC |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
East (Windows)
East (Windows)
East (Windows)
임진록2 (Imjin-rok 2) / Seven Years War 2 - Windows (January 20, 2000)
임진록2+: 조선의 반격 (Imjin-rok 2+: Joseon-ui Ban'gyeok) - Windows (April 28, 2001)
Imjin-rok 2 Artwork
Imjin-rok 2 Plus Cover
Imjin-rok 2 Artwork
Imjin-rok 2 Plus 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: |
HQ Team |
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Publisher: |
Samsung |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Korean History |
Imjin-rok 2 (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2 (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2 (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2 (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2 (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2 Plus (Windows)
Imjin-rok 2Plus (Windows)
천년의 신화 (Cheonnyeon-ui Sinhwa) / Legend of Millennium / Myth of Millennium - Windows (August 3, 2000)
Cover
Expansion Pack 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.
Artwork
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
eSofnet |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Korean History |
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
Myth of Millennium (Windows)
짱구는 못말려 4: 부리부리왕국의비밀 (Jjanggu-neun Monmallyeo 4: Buri Buri Wanggug-ui Bimil) / Crayon Shin-chan 4 - Windows (March 2001)
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: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
Samsung |
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Genre: |
Platforming |
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Theme: |
Licensed |
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
Crayon Shin-chan 4 (Windows)
타자로매니아 (Tazaro Mania) - Windows (September 6, 2001)
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: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
Game2You |
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Genre: |
Typing |
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Theme: |
Wacky |
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
Tazaro Mania (Windows)
기어즈 (Gears) / Gears War (ギアーズ ウォー) - Windows (September 19, 2001)
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: |
JoyOn (Caiz Studio) |
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Publisher: |
JoyOn (Korea) |
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Genre: |
Action: 3rd Person |
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Theme: |
Mechas |
Gears (Windows)
Gears (Windows)
Gears (Windows)
Gears (Windows)
Gears (Windows)
거상 (Geosang) / Great Merchant - Windows (April 8, 2002 [open beta])
Artwork
Artwork
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.
Artwork
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
Gammania Korea |
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Genre: |
MMORPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy: Far East |
Great Merchant (Windows)
Great Merchant (Windows)
Great Merchant (Windows)
Great Merchant (Windows)
Great Merchant (Windows)
Great Merchant (Windows)
천년의 신화 2 ~화랑의 혼~ (Cheon-nyeon-ui Sinhwa 2: Hwarang-ui Hon) / Myth of Millennium 2 - Windows (August 21, 2003)
Artwork
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: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
Wizard Soft |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Korean History |
Myth of Millennium 2 (Windows)
Myth of Millennium 2 (Windows)
Myth of Millennium 2 (Windows)
Myth of Millennium 2 (Windows)
Myth of Millennium 2 (Windows)
해상왕 장보고 (Haesang-wang Jang Bogo) / The Lord of the Sea - Windows (September 30, 2003)
Artwork
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: |
JoyOn (HQ Team) |
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Publisher: |
JoyOn |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Fantasy: Far East |
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
The Lord of the Sea (Windows)
군주 (Goonzu) - Windows (January 10, 2004 [open beta]; August 2004)
군주S (Goonzu Special) - Windows (June 15, 2007 [open beta])
Goonzu Poster
Goonzu Special Poster
Goonzu Poster
Goonzu Special 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.
Goonzu (Mobile)
Goonzu (Mobile)
Goonzu (Mobile)
Goonzu (Mobile)
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
nDoors |
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Genre: |
Strategy |
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Theme: |
Fantasy: Far East |
Goonzu (Windows)
Goonzu Special (Windows)
Goonzu (Windows)
Goonzu (Windows)
Goonzu Special (Windows)
Goonzu Special (Windows)
타임앤테일즈 (Time 'N' Tales) - Windows (March 30, 2006 [open beta]; July 27, 2006)
Artwork
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.
Time 'N' Tales (Mobile)
Time 'N' Tales (Mobile)
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
Gravity |
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Genre: |
MMORPG |
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Genre: |
Fantasy |
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
Time 'N' Tales (Windows)
쿵파 (Koong! Pa) - Windows (July 5, 2007 [open beta])
Poster
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:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
Nexon |
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Genre: |
Fighting |
Koong! Pa (Windows)
Koong! Pa (Windows)
Koong! Pa (Windows)
Koong! Pa (Windows)
Koong! Pa (Windows)
아틀란티카 (Atlantica) - Windows (January 9, 2008 [open beta]; January 28, 2008)
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.
Artwork
Quick Info:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
nDoors |
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Genre: |
MMORPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
Atlantica (Windows)
Atlantica (Windows)
Atlantica (Windows)
Atlantica (Windows)
Atlantica (Windows)
Atlantica (Windows)
불멸 온라인 (Bulmyeol Online) - Windows (December 21, 2010 [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:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
nDoors |
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Genre: |
MMORPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
Bulmyeol Online (Windows)
Bulmyeol Online (Windows)
Bulmyeol Online (Windows)
Bulmyeol Online (Windows)
삼국지를 품다 (Samgukji-reul Pumda) - Windows (TBA)
Poster
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:
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Developer: |
nDoors |
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Publisher: |
nDoors |
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Genre: |
MMORPG |
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Theme: |
Fantasy |
Samgukji-reul Pumda (Windows)
Samgukji-reul Pumda (Windows)
Samgukji-reul Pumda (Windows)
Samgukji-reul Pumda (Windows)
Samgukji-reul Pumda (Windows)
Unreleased Titles:
임진록~동토의 여명~ (Imjin-rok: Dongto-ui Yeomyeong) (2002-2003)
거상2 (Geosang 2) / Great Merchant 2 (2006-2007)
References
1. PC Champ 4/1998, page 205
2. Gameabout 4/11/2007
3. Gamespot Korea - Self Story: JoyOn's Kim Taegon (2)
4. Gamespot Korea - Self Story: JoyOn's Kim Taegon (3)
5. ETNews 10/22/2012
6. Gamespot Korea - Self Story: JoyOn's Kim Taegon (4)
7. Game Job - Gammania Korea Company Profile
8. Kyunghyang Games 5/3/2004
9. JoyOn Company History (archived 6/23/2003)
10. http://m2.dt.co.kr/contents.html?article_no=2003041602012568671001
11. Job Korea - JoyToto Company Profile
12. Newswire 3/7/2006
13. Naver News 6/12/2003
14. nDoors Company History
15. Kim Donguk's into the Game(& Book) 1/18/2006
16. nDoors Company History
17. This Is Game - Interview with Kim Taegon 12/16/2008