NCSoft starts testing for Lineage mobile launch

The online game company NCSoft began open beta testing of mobile service for its flagship game Lineage, which is scheduled to go live Wednesday.

Lineage Mobile Haste is the smartphone app.

Game users will be able to use rewards gained from the mobile app on the PC-based online game Lineage, and vice versa.

It is the first time a PC-based online game has been linked with a mobile game app, which will be launched on the Android operating system first.

NCSoft reproduced the screen and user interface of PC-based Lineage to fit smartphones.

With the open beta test, NCSoft is offering coupons to all Lineage users to experience the Lineage Mobile Haste app.

“Haste is the first mobile app to expand NCSoft’s game experiences to mobile,” said Shim Seung-bo, managing director of the global business group at NCSoft. “We will expand the game environment for users to easily enjoy the online game anywhere.”

Users can download Haste at Android’s app marketplace, Google Play for free.

Meanwhile, the nation’s No.1 mobile carrier SK Telecom said yesterday it signed a business agreement with NCSoft at its headquarters in Pangyo, southern Gyeonggi, to provide differentiated services and boost mobile content.

LTE customers of SK Telecom will be able to enjoy the mobile Lineage game at 3,000 won ($2.80) per month with no additional data use charges.

Furthermore, SK Telecom plans to provide a special item package to customers who subscribe to the Lineage Mobile Plan and hold a launch event with NCSoft at its T World Cafe.

Through this partnership, both companies also discussed joint development of differentiated mobile game content and exchanging API information.

In particular, the companies plan to continue providing exclusive services to customers by combining NCSoft’s capabilities in developing excellent game contents and SK Telecom’s leading mobile communication technologies.

“We plan to continue providing a variety of content that our customers can enjoy under SK Telecom’s distinguished mobile communication environment,” said Lee Yong-hwan, affiliate marketing director of SK Telecom.

“We also hope to contribute to creating the virtuous cycle ecosystem in the future mobile industry through cooperation with NCSoft in various areas.”

With the start of open beta test yesterday, NCSoft stock closed 0.9 percent higher in hopes the mobile service will improve the company’s performance, said analysts.

BY KIM JUNG-YOON [kjy@joongang.co.kr]