Nintendo brings Korea into games

Japan’s global console game giant Nintendo Co. plans to expand its presence in Korea by helping local software developers create domestic computer game programs, its top Korean operations manager said.
“We are currently cooperating with 20 local software developers and plan to unveil diverse games that can be available on our console game machines,” said Mineo Koda, the Japanese chief executive of Nintendo Korea, in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The Korean market, Koda said, is important for Nintendo’s global strategy. Official government figures estimate Korea’s game industry market at $8.2 billion in 2006, with $670 million in exports.
“We will support local game developers, many of whom have accumulated know-how in the online game sector, for developing more localized content,” Koda said.
Koda said Nintendo’s cooperative ties with Nexon Corp. and other Korean companies will provide financial and technological support. They will be encouraged to develop new programs or localize existing programs for Nintendo’s new portable console device, Nintendo DS Lite, an advanced version of the Nintendo DS.
So far, Nintendo has unveiled two game titles for DS Lite in cooperation with local software manufacturers and plans to debut 20 more in the second half, the Japanese firm said.
Nintendo launched its Korean operations on Jan. 17 by introducing DS Lite. The company has so far sold about 30 million DS devices worldwide.
Though the new DS Lite is not eye-catching in appearance or quality of graphics, its diverse programs allow users to easily grow digital pets, play brainteasers or practice foreign languages, the company said.
During the first four months of its debut in Korea, Nintendo sold 270,000 DS Lites, finding success in a country where online role-playing games such as Lineage dominate the market, the company said.
Yonhap