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A History of Korean Gaming
조이맥스 Joymax
Founded: |
April 10, 1997 |
Status: |
active |
Key People: |
田贊雄 전찬웅 Jeon Chanwoong: |
Website: |
Joymax' founder Jeon Chanwoong had originally studied Computer Information Systems at Vancouver Douglas College, before he learned of Digipen opening a course in video game programming. He enrolled in the first course in 1994 and graduated in 19961. His project at the school was supposedly a SNES game called "Cave of Nevar." Back in Korea he won a prize at a programming contest held by GM Entertainment with a little game called "Super Pong".2
He stated that he found the AI programming in real-time strategy games the most inspiring, and thus he founded his own company to develop some in 1997. After decent successes with some games that uncanningly resembled StarCraft, Joymax kept going through the years with simpler license-based games. Finally the company successfully entered the online game market with Silk Road Online, and had particular success by offering global service as an online game publisher for several games, starting in early 20063.
However, on June 4th, 2010 Jeon Chanwoong sold his stock in the company to Wemade Entertainment4. Originally it was expected that he would continue to lead the R&D of the company while Wemade's Kim Namcheol would take over management, but no more than a month later he took his leave5. In 2011, Joymax bought a stock majority of developer IO Entertainment (Lost Saga)6
Games
파이날 오딧세이 (Final Odyssey) - Windows (January 1999)
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.
아트록스 (Atrox) - Windows (December 20, 2000)
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.
탱구와울라숑 (Tangoo & Ullashong) - Windows (July 21, 2001)
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.
탱구와 울라숑 2: 변신응가맨! 샤샤를 구출하라!! (Tangoo & Ullashong 2: Byeonsin Eungaman! Syasya-reul Guchul-hara!!) - Windows (December 5, 2002)
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.
야인시대 (Yain Sidae) / Age of Wanderer - Windows (January 19, 2003)
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.
요랑아 요랑아 (Yorang-a Yorang-a) / Yorang, Little Fox - Windows (August 15, 2003)
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.
실크로드 온라인 (SilkRoad Online) - Windows (November 29, 2004 [open beta]; March 17, 2005)
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.
범피크래쉬 (Bumpy Crash) - Windows (January 13, 2010 [open beta]; January 27, 2010)
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.
실크로드-W (Silk Road-W) - Browser (TBA)
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.
Unreleased Titles:
Superion (1999)
Tangoo & Ullashong GP32 (2002)
References
1. ZDNet Korea 7/21/2009
2. PC Champ 11/1998, page 255
3. iNews 24 - Interview with Jeon Chanwoong 5/20/2008
4. ZDNet Korea 6/4/2010
5. ZDNet Korea 7/8/2010
6. EDaily News 3/24/2011