[Bu-aeri's Game Dictionary] Big Hit or Flop? Two Perspectives on 'Anipang 4'

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Bang! Bang! Last June, Anipang 4 made a bold return to the market as the "national game." First released in 2012, Anipang gained popularity among all ages and was hailed as the ultimate casual game. However, a month later, some voices cautiously suggest that its status as the national game is being threatened.

According to the mobile game analysis site 'Gvolution' on the 1st, Anipang 4 ranks 10th in the Google Play free chart and 23rd in the Apple App Store free chart. The gap widens further in revenue rankings. Anipang 4 is ranked 70th in Google Play revenue and 64th in the Apple App Store revenue rankings.

At the beginning of its release, Anipang 4 received favorable reviews for its puzzle play, real-time battles enjoyed by 20 players, real-time chat, and the fam system that allows exchanging hearts. SundayToz put all its efforts into the game's success, even featuring popular celebrity IU as the model for Anipang 4. As a result, Anipang 4 reached number 1 in the free rankings on both Google Play and the App Store shortly after launch. Compared to that, the current rankings as of August fall short of many people's expectations.

However, although it did not maintain the number 1 spot, some believe it is holding its own quite well in a mobile game market dominated by RPGs (role-playing games). An industry insider commented, "Considering RPG games disappear overnight, this is not a bad ranking for a casual game."

Opinions on the revenue rankings are also divided. Objectively, the rankings seem quite low, but the revenue from 'in-app advertisements,' one of Anipang 4's revenue models, is not reflected. Unlike RPG games that generate revenue through paid items, Anipang 4's main source of income is advertising.

In particular, SundayToz has adopted 'in-app advertisements' as a new revenue model for the past year and a half. In-app ads are advertisements played during the game. Players receive item rewards, etc., by clicking and watching the ads. In Anipang 4, watching ads provides benefits such as additional 'hearts' or extra moves. Regarding this, a SundayToz representative stated, "Advertising revenue increased by about 70% compared to the previous year," adding, "We expect advertising revenue to be reflected quite substantially this year."