PopCap Games provider of online & MMO games will bring PopCap’s first online multiplayer social game service to Korea later this year. The new platform, PopCap World, is the first product to be developed and released by PopCap’s Shanghai game studio and marks a major milestone for the company in terms of its global online and social strategies.
PopCap World, operated by NCsoft, will launch with 13 of PopCap’s award-winning games such as Bejeweled, Plants vs. Zombies and Zuma as well as an all-new multiplayer game, Super Zuma, built exclusively for Korean players. All of the games are free to play, with optional, premium paid elements to be added later.
James Gwertzman, PopCap’s Vice President for Asia/Pacific, said:
“When Disneyland first opened, it revolutionized the amusement park industry and ushered in the era of the modern theme park. In the same way, we believe PopCap World has the potential to redefine casual games in Korea and beyond by offering players the most immersive PopCap experience yet.
“Our announcement today is just the beginning. We are very excited about our partnership with NCsoft – their formidable presence in the online market combined with PopCap’s leadership in the casual and social spaces makes for an interesting recipe that we look forward to serving up to players in Korea – and beyond.”
PopCap ia regarded as a founding father of the casual games industry. Over the past 10 years, the company has solidified its reputation as a games pioneer by innovating new games genres exemplified in games such as the BAFTA-nominated, Plants vs. Zombies. Most recently, the company has gained notoriety for its success in the mobile and social spaces: its first iPhone game, Bejeweled 2, has been in the top 20 apps since its July 2008 launch; while the company’s first social game, Bejeweled Blitz, launched in December 2008, is one of the top games on Facebook with over 4 million daily active users (DAU). PopCap prepares to launch its second social game, Zuma Blitz, on Facebook later this month.
