NCsoft Rolls out NCcoin, a New Micro-Transaction System for Online Games

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCsoft^® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, unveiled today the details of a new micro-transaction system called NCcoin^™. This system will allow customers to use real-world money to purchase in-game items and upgrades.

NCcoin, debuting in the action-packed game Exteel^™, was designed so that each dollar spent (US$1) equates to 100 NCcoin, which can be used to acquire in-game items and for upgrade purchases. NCcoin is part of NCsoft’s continuing efforts to offer a variety of business models while giving customers easier access to NCsoft games.

“NCsoft’s goal is to bring more and more people into the online gaming market, and part of achieving that goal is to continue to diversify how customers can pay and play,” said Chris Chung, NCsoft North America’s president. “This system will offer our customers much greater flexibility and convenience in paying for content. Micro-transactions are a growing part of the online gaming industry and NCcoin will allow us to support micro-transaction based games efficiently, allowing developers and players to quickly enjoy the benefits of those systems. We will soon be rolling out more contents that leverage the flexibility of NCcoin.”

In addition to Exteel, NCcoin is expected to be incorporated globally into many of NCsoft’s existing and upcoming games.

NCcoin is currently available in 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 denominations for $1, $5, $10 and $20 amounts, respectively. For more information about NCcoin go to: http://www.plaync.com/us/nccoin/.

About NCsoft Corporation

NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with other NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company has successfully launched multiple online titles in the last three years and continues to support its franchises, which include Lineage^®/Lineage II, City of Heroes^®/City of Villains^®, Guild Wars^®/Guild Wars Factions^®/Guild Wars Nightfall^®, Guild Wars: Eye of the North^™, Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa^® and Dungeon Runners^®. More information about NCsoft can be found at www.plaync.com.

NCsoft, NCcoin, the interlocking NC logo, PlayNC, Lineage, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, Guild Wars Factions, Guild Wars Nightfall, Guild Wars: Eye of the North, Tabula Rasa, Dungeon Runners, Exteel, and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Supplemental quotes from Chris Chung, President of NCsoft-North America, regarding NCcoin:

ON IMPLEMENTATION

“With the release of Exteel and NCcoin micro-transaction system, we at NCsoft North America are taking this opportunity to really focus on improving our game infrastructure, service and overall customer experience.”

“NCsoft has grown its game catalogue to the point where we are now not just offering individual products, but a service. NCcoin will serve as an important part of making NCsoft’s service easier to use by our customers and more efficient for NCsoft to add new content.”

ON WHICH GAMES FIT NCCOIN

“NCcoin will not be retrofitted in games that have business models that do not work with a micro-transaction system. We will, however, work to have NCcoin incorporated in as many of our games as possible, and what role NCcoin will play with our future console offerings have yet to be determined. NCcoin does fit perfect for some of the free-to-play and download games we are developing, and gives players choice on how they want to play these games.”

ON SAFE USAGE

“We have built redundant systems to help make NCcoin as safe and secure to use as possible. We are fully aware that any time a new system is put in place that there will be those who will try to cause problems. The good news is that we have been using NCcoin in Exteel and it has proven to be quite secure.”

ON REVENUE

“We don’t really know how much NCcoin will generate, but we do know that this sort of system has been successfully proven overseas. We also know that NCcoin has been well received by players in Exteel and is generating revenue for the game that has put it on firm footing. NCcoin will be a valuable source of development funds for our free games, and will help support the creation of new content.”

ON NCSOFT BUSINESS MODELS

“NCcoin is just one of many elements that make up the variety of business models NCsoft has to offer. We have grown to the point where if you are a MMOG player and you like the traditional subscription-based game, we have those. If you are an MMOG player seeking a free to play and download game with microtransactions, we have that. If you just want to pay for software and have lifetime play, we have that too. The bottom line for NCsoft is that we want to be able to offer a variety of business models to meet the needs of the different customers out there. NCcoin is another way to make it easier for customers to access the kind of game they want to play.”