Nexon Kim Dae-hwon: "In an Era of Competition with Other Pastimes... We Must Go Beyond Traditional Gaming Areas"

At Nexon Developer Conference, Vice President Kim Dae-hwon Emphasizes Change in Developer Perceptions

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Kim Dae-hwon, Vice President in charge of new development at Nexon, emphasized the change in developers' perceptions, stating that the spread of COVID-19 has opened an era where games compete with other forms of entertainment.

On the 9th, Kim gave a keynote speech titled "The Definition of Games in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution" at the Nexon Developer Conference (NDC), held online.

Kim focused on the phenomenon where rapid digital transformation and enhanced interactivity, triggered by the spread of COVID-19, are breaking down the boundaries between different hobbies. He explained that whereas games used to compete for gamers, now they must compete with all leisure activities for the attention of the general public.

He cited examples such as "Zwift," a combination of exercise equipment and software that effectively becomes a game, and "T map," which scores drivers' driving records and displays accumulated actions as achievements.

Kim emphasized, "It is important to excel in the area traditionally called 'games.' However, at a time when all boundaries are disappearing, the challenge we face is to create something that everyone can enjoy beyond the existing game domain."

He added, "Humans have a fundamental nature to want their actions and thoughts to be evaluated. Games are one of the hobbies that satisfy this need through interaction. This interaction is maximized through various interfaces and technological support, providing intense immersion. This is the strength of games."

Kim revealed that Nexon's new development division is also making various attempts to reflect these trends in platforms and content, introducing the currently preparing 'FACE PLAY' and 'MOD.' FACE PLAY is a communicative type of game that uses artificial intelligence and deep learning technology to turn one's face into a responsive content. MOD is a platform where users can create, distribute, and operate content.

Kim stressed, "Developers must do their best to produce good games in the areas we have traditionally excelled at, while also considering various attempts to strengthen the advantages that game companies possess in this new competitive era."

Meanwhile, the NDC, which started in 2007 and is now in its 14th edition, is the largest knowledge-sharing conference in the gaming industry. Every year, it shares technologies and knowledge reflecting various social changes and trends surrounding the game and IT industries. Over the next three days, industry experts from domestic and international companies such as NCSoft, Krafton, and SK Telecom will participate to share the latest development knowledge and experiences in data analysis, algorithms, servers, programming, cloud, and more.