[GAM] Gamania Pulls Out of North America

Gamania, the Taiwanese leader in online game publishing, has ended its trial in Western markets and called to a close all operations in North America. The publisher took down its game servers for the last time on January 13. At the time of its closure the company published Divina Online and Lucent Heart, while Hero 108 Online (in partnership with Cartoon Network) was in limbo. Impressive action MMO and expected Vindictus rival Core Blaze is in development in Asia and was expected to be also launched in America.

This is just two and a half years after Gamania first announced the opening of their America office and just over two years after Core Blaze was announced.

Nexon and Gamania have had a very prosperous partnership in Asia. Gamania’s most popular games such as MapleStory and Mabinogi are Nexon games. Last year Nexon made a very controversial acquisition of a leading share in Gamania (here and here). Gamania currently services Taiwan and Hong Kong and is preparing for a portal launch in Japan.

 

[GAM] [BF] Gamania Taking Bubble Fighter To Taiwan

Nexon revealed recently that it has partnered with popular Taiwanese game publisher Gamania for the servicing of Crazy Shooting Bubble Fighter in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The service is expected to begin its launch process in November.

Bubble Fighter is part of the ‘Crazy’ series of games which also includes Crazy Arcade (PopTag!) and CrazyRacing KartRider (Kart Rider). It is a casual third-person shooter (TPS) featuring the renowned super deformed characters from the ‘Crazy series’.

Gamania has been in operation out of Taiwan for 17 years and has recently signed an agreement for Nexon for the Taiwanese service of Cyphers. Gamania is the number one game publisher in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau where they publish games like MapleStory, Dragon Nest, Counter-Strike Online, Kart Rider, Mabinogi, Atlantica, Dungeon Fighter Online, PopTag!, Sudden Attack, Lineage, GetAmped, Grand Chase and Elsword. A leading share of Gamania was controversially acquired by Nexon Co. Ltd. earlier in 2012.

[NX] [Gam] Nexon Responds To Fair Trading Commission Decision In Gamania Share Scandal

So Nexon and Gamania have teamed up to take Cyphers to Taiwan, by the saga on Nexon’s acquisition of a largest stake in Gamania continues.

What happened is that Nexon had been gobbling up shares of Taiwanese online gaming firm Gamania for years now. However, takeovers of companies with a market share of over 25% must be filed to the Free Trading Commission (FTC) prior to the transaction. Nexon failed to do so, even though by FTC’s definition of the market that Gamania sits in Gamania has a market share of over 25%. Nexon argues that this is not so by their definition of the market that Gamania occupies. But the FTC has investigated and has made the decision to fine Nexon 900,000 Taiwanese dollars.

Nexon has responded to the decision.

Nexon’s Statement

July 4 2012

Nexon today has been informed of the decision made by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), which has ruled that Nexon was subject to merger filing pursuant to the Fair Trade Act regarding its acquisition of Gamania shares. It is regretful to learn that the FTC and Nexon have had different viewpoints on the definition of the relevant gamemarkets and the market shares of the respective companies therein. As the issues on the market definition and market share are quite controversial among industries, Nexon will re-consider and verify the facts, data or evidences on which the FTC formed its decision andmay seek any remedy.

Nexon has always maintained a long-term commitment to the growth of the Taiwanese digital game market ever since Nexon and Gamania’s partnership began in 2005. As the major shareholder of Gamania, Nexon highly values the relationship and continues to holda strong and positive business outlook for Gamania and the Taiwanese digital game market. We believe we have delivered some of the top games in the Taiwanese market to this day and will continue to strive to bring such innovative content to local gamers andthereby support the further development of the digital game industry in Taiwan.

Nexon’s statement from ThisIsGame.

[NX] [Gam] Taiwan’s FTC Investigating Nexon’s Takeover Bid of Gamania

I reported recently that Nexon was heading towards an acquisition of Taiwanese game publisher Gamania in a hostile manner and was receiving equally hostile feedback.

Taiwan’s Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is investigating the takeover bid and, depending on the results of the investigation, the FTC may fine Nexon up to NT$25 million ($830,000) and nullify the takeover.

Based on Taiwan’s Fair Trade Act, any takeover involving a company with more than a quarter of market share must be filed to the FTC in advance. Nexon, however, failed to do so.

Nexon is claiming the the market of which Gamania is a part is the digital content market which includes digital games and DVDs. If Gamania is classified in this market then it will not have over a quarter of market share and Nexon did not have to report to the FTC in the first place. However, the FTC is not taking Nexon’s word for it and will conduct investigations into whether Gamania fits into this category or into the category of online gaming, in which case Gamania does have over a quarter of market share.

Taiwan’s Economic Minister, Shih Yen-shiang, said that the Taiwanese government will support Gamania in its position that it will corporate with others but does not welcome any hostile takeover attempts.

And the saga continues on the next episode of Nexon’s Attempted Acquisition of Gamania.

[Gam] Gamania Will Not Bow To Nexon’s Attempted Acqusition

Nexon may be bigger than Gamania. Nexon may have been a loyal partner of Gamania for over 7 years. Nexon may be partly responsible for a great deal of Gamania’s success. But Gamania has said that it will fight to retain its own independent management control and will not allow itself to be taken over by Nexon Co. Ltd. This comes as Nexon has been actively buying up stock in the company and is reportedly heading towards an attempted acquisition. Nexon is currently the largest shareholder of Gamania, a minority shareholder with approximately 34% of shares.

“In light of current online gaming trends, it would be absolutely detrimental to the development of Taiwan’s online gaming industry if a large-scale foreign corporation was allowed to take control of the local industry’s operating channels and resources, whether the integration is horizontal or vertical,” Gamania said in a news release.

“However, Gamania will insist on the independence of our company’s operating rights and will absolutely not accept the merger with South Korea’s Nexon,” it noted.

“As a major shareholder of the company, Nexon is interested in maximizing shareholder profit,” Nexon said in a statement released Monday.

“Our goal is to maximize such benefits not only for specific shareholders, but for all shareholders of the company,” it said.

Gamania has been in operation out of Taiwan for 17 years and has recently signed an agreement for Nexon for the Taiwanese service of Cyphers. Gamania is the number one game publisher in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau where they publish games like MapleStory, Dragon Nest, Counter-Strike Online, Kart Rider, Mabinogi, Atlantica, Dungeon Fighter Online, PopTag!, Sudden Attack, Lineage, GetAmped, Grand Chase and Elsword.

This should play out interestingly…

[CYP] Cyphers Is Going To Taiwan!

Just days after Cyphers took the #1 spot in Msupdate’s Top 5 Nexon Games That Should Be Brought to North America, it has been announced that Nexon and Neople have partnered with premier Taiwanese publisher Gamania for the servicing of the game in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. I’ll have to edit out “Cyphers Online was launched in South Korea in early 2011 and has yet to be exported to any other market. Come on North America!” which was at the end of the Cyphers description in the top list.

Gamania is the number one game publisher in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau where they publish games like MapleStory, Dragon Nest, Counter-Strike Online, Kart Rider, Mabinogi, Atlantica, Dungeon Fighter Online, PopTag!, Sudden Attack, Lineage, GetAmped, Grand Chase and Elsword.

This is really great news and I really hope that we’ll see Cyphers being brought to America and Europe soon.

Gamania also publishes games in North America and Europe. They currently service Lucent Heart, are preparing for the launches of Divina and Koihime Musou and are re-developing Hero 108 Online. Gamania is also preparing the anticipated non-targeting graphically impressive action MMORPG Core Blaze for release in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, North America and Europe. Check Gamania out at http://us.beanfun.com/.

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