-Gyeonggi-do delegation visits world-renowned game businesses in the US to discuss how to develop the game industry

Governor Nam Kyung-pil, who is visiting the United States to boost diplomacy between local governments and attract investment to his province, paid visits to world-renowned game businesses Blizzard Entertainment and Riot Games and renewed his commitment to the development of the game industry.

At 2:00 PM on July 31 local time, Mr. Nam Kyung-pil paid a visit to the headquarters of Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, California. There, he met with CEO Mike Morhaime, COO Paul Sams, and Vice President Rob Hilburger and exchanged opinions on the game industry.

 “The ‘online shutdown’ system adopted in South Korea will deal a severe blow to domestic businesses in the country rather than those outside it. We are a global business providing services in many countries. Thus, we are not that affected by the new system. But the system will act as poison to domestic game businesses,” Mr. Mike Morhaime said at the meeting.

In response, Governor Nam Kyung-pil noted that there have been controversies in the Korean political circles over what is the right regulation or development of the game industry. “The current administration is doing its best to ease the regulation and breathe life into the industry. This will bring about changes in the game industry. I am serving as chair of the Korea Internet & Digital Entertainment Association. That fact alone will tell those interested that Gyeonggi Province will be a nice investment destination for the game industry,” he added.

Blizzard Entertainment is a world-renowned business specializing in the development of games. It has developed games well-known even to Koreans like Diablo, World of Warcraft, Star Craft, etc. In 2010, it was ranked no. 1 in the world in terms of game sales.
 
Governor Nam Kyung-pil continued his schedule in California. At 10:00 AM on August 1 local time, he paid a visit to Riot Games in Santa Monica and met with Co-representatives Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill and Director O Jin-ho  who is in charge of overseas operations. There, he exchanged opinions with them on how to develop the game industry in Korea.

 “In Korea, the game industry is making a rapid shift from PC-based operation to mobile-based one. Mobile-based games have a not-so-good profit structure, which casts a dark cloud over the game industry of the country. I know you are making good profit from PC-based games. Please tell me what needs to be done for the development of the game industry of Korea,” Mr. Nam Kyung-pil said at the meeting.

In response, Mr. Brandon Beck said that the LOL game features in-depth story, absorbing music, graphics that do not allow distraction, etc. It is not suitable for mobile games, and it took a long time to develop, he added. “You need to make investment, including training talented people in the relevant areas, from a long-term perspective. The platform is the next problem to tackle. The thing is to concentrate on the provision of a unique experience to customers (players),” he stressed.

Established in 2006, Riot Games developed League of Legend, which has 70 million members the world over.