[Bu-aeri's Game Dictionary] "Old is Gold?"... Stirring 'Baram-ui Nara'

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] Is it true that old is gold? In the gaming industry, games utilizing intellectual properties (IPs) that were popular from the 1990s to the late 2000s are recently creating a sensation. In a market flooded with similar mobile games, familiar games that users already know well are capturing their hearts more than tiring them with new games. It is a glamorous comeback of old IPs.

According to Nexon on the 27th, the pre-registration number for the new mobile MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) 'Baram-ui Nara: Yeon' has exceeded 1 million.

'Baram-ui Nara,' which started pre-registration on the 17th, is based on the online game 'Baram-ui Nara' IP and implements the original’s unique controls and the thrill of world battles on mobile. The PC game 'Baram-ui Nara,' released in 1996, is the longest-running online game with a cumulative registration of 26 million users, enjoying immense popularity. 'Baram-ui Nara: Yeon' underwent two tests last year and is scheduled for release this summer.

Earlier, Nexon’s 'KartRider Rush Plus' is also enjoying popularity, ranking number 1 in Apple’s free charts and Google’s free charts. KartRider Rush Plus is a mobile adaptation of the PC game KartRider, released in 2004. For the 30s and 40s generation, KartRider rekindles memories of their school days, becoming a 'healing game.' For the 10s and 20s generation, in a mobile market dominated by MMORPGs, KartRider’s cute retro-style characters themselves offer freshness and have gained popularity.

Old IPs from Netmarble and NCSoft have also launched. Netmarble released the mobile game 'Stone Age World' in 172 countries on the 18th. Stone Age is an IP released in 2000 and was a nostalgic game enjoyed by 200 million people worldwide. It is a game where users become trainers, capturing and collecting over 250 pets themselves. NCSoft also announced the release of the mobile version of the martial arts genre PC game 'Blade & Soul,' released in 2012, titled 'Blade & Soul 2,' scheduled for the second half of the year.

Experts see the rebirth of these old IPs as a potential factor for long-term revenue growth. Professor Wi Jeong-hyun of Chung-Ang University, president of the Korea Game Society, said, "In a situation where similar games are flooding the market, users nowadays tend to look for games they are already familiar with rather than trying new ones," adding, "Initially, the 30s and 40s who have experienced the original games ignite the trend, and when the 10s and 20s join, it can secure future consumers in the long term."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.