Kakao Games will launch the new massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) "World of Dokkaebi," which highlights Korean traditional folklore and dot graphics, in Oct. It removes player killing (PK) between users on the same server and, instead of fixed classes, lets players freely combine about 90 skills—features that set it apart from existing MMORPGs.
It also differentiates its monetization by applying an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant system that guides users' growth direction and allowing the use of free currency in the exchange. With Kakao Games posting operating losses for seven straight quarters, attention is on whether "World of Dokkaebi" will be the first test for a turnaround.
Kakao Games and developer Supercat held a media briefing on the 20th at Korea House in Chungmuro, Seoul, and unveiled the main content and service plans for "World of Dokkaebi." The game began pre-registration at 12 p.m. that day and is slated for release in Oct. It will be serviced as a cross-platform title playable on both PC and mobile.
◇ Korean folklore meets 2.5D dots… "It will feel fresh globally"
The biggest feature of "World of Dokkaebi" is that its universe is built using Korean traditional folklore. It uses 2.5D graphics that combine 2D dot characters with 3D backgrounds. Supercat, which has developed dot-graphic games such as "The Kingdom of the Winds: Yeon," handled development.
In the game, monsters drawn from Korean traditional folklore—such as tiger yokai and mountain spirits—appear. Park Seong-jun, a producer at Supercat, said, "K-content is gaining popularity globally not only in K-pop but also in film and drama," and added, "We judged that K-content using Korea's traditional folklore in games can be sufficiently influential and feel fresh."
The game is based on the web novel "Exorcist's Martial Challenge," written by Yeon U-sol of Redice Studio, which produced webtoons such as "Solo Leveling" and "Omniscient Reader." Although the web novel began serialization in Mar., Supercat took part in the collaboration from the process of preparing the work before serialization.
◇ No classes, combine 90-plus skills… PK on the server is also blocked
Unlike existing MMORPGs, "World of Dokkaebi" has no classes. Instead, players can combine 12 skill styles and about 90 skills in the way they want to create their own combat approach.
Jang Su-min, a director at Supercat, said, "Users can freely combine skills to match their situation and the strategies required by the content," and added, "Creating a combat meta that fits one's personality and needs is the game's point of differentiation and core fun."
Another differentiator is that there is no PK on the server. In normal fields, users cannot attack others so they can focus only on story and growth. Instead, PK is possible only in a separate, dedicated space.
◇ AI assistant recommends gear and skills… "It won't suggest paid currency"
Personalization features using AI will also be introduced. The in-game AI assistant "Myorong" analyzes user activity data and public price and ranking information to assess a character's growth state and suggest needed gear or skills. It also provides functions that compile a day's growth results or summarize the status needed to run a clan. However, at launch, Myorong will be provided at a beta level, and the plan is to enhance its functions as user data accumulates.
In addition, Myorong will not recommend that users purchase paid products. Cha Myeong-su, head of business at Kakao Games, said, "Myorong is purely a device to help with gameplay," and added, "It will make recommendations based on growth currency obtainable in-game and will not recommend paid currency items."
◇ The exchange uses free currency… "Differentiating the burden of spending"
Kakao Games and Supercat said they designed the business model (BM) differently from existing games, considering the recent fatigue over spending among MMORPG users.
In-game currency is divided into the paid currency "Spirit Stones," "Yeopjeon" used for character growth, and "Geumjeon" used for user-to-user trades. In the exchange, Geumjeon earned through gameplay, rather than paid currency, is expected to be used.
Cha said, "We set it up so that when using the exchange, users can trade with currency obtainable in-game rather than paid currency," and added, "Because Geumjeon can basically be earned in the game and the economy revolves around it, we differentiated the burden of spending."
With the paid currency Spirit Stones, users will be able to buy memberships and passes, or purchase clothing and mounts as standalone items. Specific product lineups and prices will be finalized before launch.
◇ Kakao Games to unveil five titles by the first quarter of next year
Meanwhile, attention is on whether "World of Dokkaebi" can lead Kakao Games' earnings recovery. Due to a gap in new releases and declining revenue from existing titles, Kakao Games posted an operating loss of 23 billion won in the second quarter of this year. It was the seventh consecutive quarterly loss.
Starting with "World of Dokkaebi," the company plans to release a total of five games by the first quarter of next year. Shin Gwon-ho, chief financial officer (CFO) at Kakao Games, said on the second-quarter earnings conference call that he sees the second and third quarters of this year as the bottom for revenue, and projected that results will recover starting in the fourth quarter as the impact of new releases kicks in.
Lee Si-u, co-CEO of Kakao Games, said, "We captured the originality of the universe and the core fun of MMORPGs with a modern sensibility," and added, "We believe it's a work that can resonate not only in the domestic market but also globally."