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{{notability|Companies|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = KOG Games
| name = KOG Co.
| logo =
| logo = KOG logo.png
| caption =
| caption =
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation = 2000
| founded = {{Start date and age|2000|05|01}}
| key_people = Dong Gyu Lee ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| location = [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], [[California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| location = [[Daegu]], [[South Korea]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Computer and video games]]<br>[[Interactive entertainment]]
| products = [[Elsword]]<br>[[Grand Chase]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| owner = KOG Co. Ltd.
| subsid = KOG Games
| parent = [[KOG Studios]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.kog.co.kr}}
| homepage = [http://www.elswordonline.com/ Website]
}}
}}


'''KOG Games''' is an American video game publisher based in Irvine, California. They specialize in online [[free-to-play]] games and currently publish the [[2.5D|2.5-dimensional]] [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] action [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]], [[Elsword]]. They are a subsidiary of [[South Korea]]n game developer [[KOG Studios|KOG]].
'''KOG Co.''', better known as '''KOG Studios''', is a South Korean game development company based in [[Daegu]]. They specialize in producing online [[free-to-play]] games, and currently publish the [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] action [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]], ''[[Elsword]]'' and the [[early access]] action MMORPG, ''[[Kurtzpel|KurtzPel: Bringer of Chaos]]''. They have also developed the game ''[[Grand Chase]]''.


==History==
== History ==
⚫
KOG Games was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between South Korean game developer KOG and international publisher LevelUp! with the objective of bringing KOG’s games to North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/02/25/kill3rcombo-unveils-first-game-elsword |title=Kill3rCombo Unveils First Game Elsword |publisher=IGN.com |accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref> Their first game was Elsword, which began its open beta test April 27, 2011.
⚫
In June 2012, KOG purchased LevelUp!’s interest in the company to become the sole owner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/loadNews/25705/Kill3rCombo-Fully-Acquired-by-KOG-Changes-Name |title=Kill3rCombo Fully Acquired by KOG, Changes Name |publisher=MMORPG.com |accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref>
In August 2012, KOG officially changed the company name to KOG Games Inc. KOG Games sells the virtual currency [[K-Ching]], which can be used to purchase [[virtual goods]] within their games.


KOG Co. was founded on May 1, 2000. Their first game, ''[[Grand Chase]]'', an action [[side-scrolling]] [[MMORPG]], launched in August 2003. After being a large success in South Korea, the game expanded to mainland [[China]] and [[Japan]], as well as the [[Americas]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://levelupgames.uol.com.br/levelup/noticias/levelup/novidades/chegou-grand-chase-comece-a-jogar-agora-02-08-2006.lhtml |title= 'Grand Chase is here! Start Playing Now!' |publisher=Level Up! Games |language=pt |date=2006-08-02}}</ref> It was notable for reaching mass popularity in [[South America]], breaking the record of most played online game in [[Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://gnn.gamer.com.tw/8/42478.html |title=KOG Claims that '3 Heroes' has achieved good results in Brazil |date=2010-02-18 |publisher= GNN Gamer |language= ko |access-date=2020-07-21}}</ref> [[Ntreev Soft]] began publishing ''Grand Chase'' for North America in early 2008. KOG ceased support for the game in 2015, 12 years after its initial release.
⚫
==Games published by KOG Games==

⚫
* ''[[Elsword]]'' - Action [[MMORPG]]
⚫
In 2010, KOG Studios partnered with Philippine company [[Level Up! Games]], the publisher of ''[[Grand Chase]]'' in South America, to found '''Kill3r Combo''', a subsidiary company headquartered in [[Irvine, California]], with the objective of bringing KOG's games to North America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/02/25/kill3rcombo-unveils-first-game-elsword |title=Kill3rCombo Unveils First Game Elsword |date=2011-02-24 |website=[[IGN]] |accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref> Their first game was ''[[Elsword]]'', which began open beta testing in North America on April 27, 2011, and released on July 2, 2014.
* ''[[Ultimate Race]]'' - Action [[Racing Game]]

⚫
* ''[[Aima Online]]'' - Action [[MMORPG]]
⚫
In June 2012, KOG Studios purchased LevelUp!’s interest in Kill3rCombo to become the sole owner, and officially changed the company's name to KOG Games Inc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/elsword/news/kill3rcombo-fully-acquired-by-kog-changes-name-2000077945 |title=Kill3rCombo Fully Acquired by KOG, Changes Name |date=2012-10-04 |publisher=MMORPG.com |accessdate=2013-02-19}}</ref> Since then, KOG Games has been responsible for publishing their games in the [[Americas]].
* ''[[HeroWarz]]'' - Isometric action [[Role-playing video game|RPG]]<ref>{{cite web|title=HeroWarz Official Site {{!}} Free to Play Action MMORPG|url=http://herowarz.koggames.com|website=herowarz.koggames.com|accessdate=31 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HeroWarz: Register Now!|url=https://register.koggames.com/herowarz?site=hwgoogledisplayUSremark&gclid=CJTc4q3og9ACFcZDhgodg1gC4w|website=register.koggames.com|accessdate=31 October 2016}}</ref>

* ''[[Grand Chase]]'' - Action [[MMORPG]](Closed)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandchase.koggames.com/2015/04/goodbye-chasers-hope-to-see-you-in-elsword/ |title=Goodbye, Chasers! Hope to see you in Elsword! |date=2015-04-15 |website=grandchase.koggames.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Grand Chase' Servers Shut Down In North America |url=http://worthplaying.com/article/2015/4/15/news/95584/ |publisher=WorthPlaying.com |date=2015-04-15}}</ref>
Although ''Elsword'' received some criticism for [[pay to win]] systems,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamecritics.com/kristin-renee-taylor/elsword-review |title=Elsword Review |first=Kristin |last=Taylor |date=2012-06-16 |publisher=GameCritics |access-date=2020-07-21}}</ref> the game was generally well-received, and peaked with 2,500 active players on Steam in August 2013.
** ''Grand Chase: Dimensional Chaser'' - [[Real-time Strategy]] dungeon crawl.

** ''[[KurtzPel]] -Bringer of Chaos-'' - Action [[MMORPG]] (Parallel world of Grand Chase)
''[[Kurtzpel|KurtzPel Bringer of Chaos]]'' was first announced in the South Korean game exhibition [[G-Star]] 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=188180 |title=KOG's new PC online game 'KurtzPel', first released at G-Star 2017 |date=2017-10-30 |publisher=INVEN |language=ko |access-date=2020-07-21}}</ref> and entered worldwide [[Steam (service)|Steam]] [[early access]] on April 30, 2019.

⚫
=== KOG Games ===

KOG Games (previously as Kill3r Combo from 2010 to 2012) is a [[subsidiary company]] of KOG Co., and since 2012, publishes games from KOG in the [[Americas]]. It is headquartered in [[Irvine, California]] and currently publishes ''[[Elsword]]'' and ''[[KurtzPel]]'' on the [[Steam (service)|Steam]] store. KOG Games also briefly published ''[[HeroWarz]]'', a [[MMORPG]] developed by ''A.Storm'', in July 2016, but the servers were closed a few months later.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mmorpg.com/herowarz/news/players-reminded-of-march-26th-pause-2000095504 |title=Players reminded of March 26th pause |date=2017-03-19 |publisher=MMORPG.com |access-date=2020-07-21}}</ref>

== Games ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Platform(s)
! Genre
! Publisher(s)
! Status
|-
! 2003
| ''[[Grand Chase]]''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
| Action [[Side-scrolling]] [[2D Computer Graphics|2D]] [[MMORPG]]
| {{Vgrtbl|NA|[[Ntreev Soft]] (2008–2015)|WW|KOG Games (2021–)}} {{collapsible list|{{Vgrelease|KOR|[[Netmarble]] (2003–2015)|TW/HK|[[Gamania]] (2006–2013)|BR/PHL|[[Level Up! Games]] (2006–2015)|SEA|[[AsiaSoft]] (2009–2013)|IDN|PT Megaxus (2010–2015)}}}}
| Active
|-
! 2007
| ''[[Elsword]]''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
| Action [[Side-scrolling]] [[2.5D]] [[MMORPG]]
| {{vgrtbl|NA|KOG Games (2011–)}} {{Collapsible list|{{vgrelease|KOR|[[Nexon]] (2007–) |TW/HK|[[Gamania]] (2008–) |JP|[[NHN Japan]] (2009–) |EU|[[Gameforge]] (2010–) |CHN|[[Giant Interactive]] (2011–) |TH|[[AsiaSoft]] (2012–) |BR/PHL|[[Level Up! Games]] (2013–)}}}}
| Active
|-
! 2012
| ''Fighters Club''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
⚫
| [[Brawler]] Action [[MMORPG]]
| {{vgrtbl|KOR|[[Nexon]] (2012–2015)}} {{Collapsible list|{{vgrelease|JP|[[NHN Japan]] (2012–2015) |TW|[[Garena]] (2014–2017)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://n.yam.com/Article/20131205942379 |title=Elsword developer KOG will launch the fighting game Fighters club in Taiwan next year |publisher=YamNews |date=2013-12-05 |language=zh}}</ref>}}}}
| Closed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmohuts.com/news/kog-games-announces-closure-of-korean-fighters-club-servers |title= KOG Games announces closure of korean Fighters Club servers |website=MMOHuts |date= 2015-10-04}}</ref>
|-
! 2014
| ''Ultimate Race''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
| [[Racing game|Racing]] [[MMORPG]]
| {{vgrtbl|KOR|[[Nexon]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2014/10/ultimate-race-developer-kog-reveals-its-first-racing-online-game |title=Ultimate Race developer KOG reveals its first racing online game |publisher=MMOCulture |date=2014-10-02}}</ref>}}
Good Game Thailand (2016 - 2017)
| Closed
|-
! 2015
| ''AIMA Online''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
⚫
| Action [[MMORPG]]
| {{vgrtbl|KOR|[[Nexon]] (2015–2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2015/09/aima-nexon-korea-launching-new-kog-action-online-game-next-week |title= Aima - Nexon Korea launching new KOG action online game next week |publisher=MMOCulture |date=2015-09-27}}</ref>}}
| Closed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mmoculture.com/2016/10/aima-nexon-korea-is-shutting-down-action-mmorpg-after-14-months |title= Aima - Nexon Korea is shutting down action MMORPG after 14 months |publisher=MMOCulture |date=2016-10-13}}</ref>
|-
! 2018
| ''[[Grand Chase#Grand Chase: Dimensional Chaser|Grand Chase: Dimensional Chaser]]''
| [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
| [[mobile game|Mobile]] [[Real-time strategy]] [[MMORPG]]
| {{vgrtbl|WW|KOG Games (2018–)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kog.co.kr/games/board_view/1419?&bid=9&page=3 |title= Grand Chase of Kakao officially opened |publisher=KOG |date=2018-01-30}}</ref>}}
| Active
|-
! 2020
| ''[[KurtzPel: Bringer of Chaos]]''
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
| Action
| {{vgrtbl|WW|KOG Games (TBA)}}
| Active
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 34: Line 96:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official Website|https://www.kog.co.kr}}
* {{cite web|title=ELSWORD Online – Free Action MMORPG|url=http://elsword.koggames.com|website=elsword.koggames.com|publisher=official KOG Elsword page.}}
* {{cite web|title=Ultimate Race Online – Free Action Racing|url=http://ur.kog.co.kr|website=ur.kog.co.kr|publisher=official KOG Ultimate Race page.}} Terminated on 17 November 2016.
* {{cite web|title=Aima Online – Free Action MMORPG|url=http://aima.nexon.com|website=aima.nexon.com||publisher=official KOG Aima Online page.}}
* {{cite web|title=Grand Chase Online – Free Action MMORPG|url=http://grandchase.koggames.com/|website=grandchase.koggames.com|publisher=official KOG Grand Chase page.}}
* {{cite web|title=HeroWarz Official Site – Free to Play Action MMORPG|url=http://herowarz.koggames.com/|website=herowarz.koggames.com|publisher=official KOG HeroWarz page.}}


[[Category:Video game publishers]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Irvine, California]]
[[Category:Companies based in Daegu]]
[[Category:Companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Video game companies of South Korea]]
[[Category:South Korean companies established in 2000]]

Latest revision as of 03:43, 29 December 2024

KOG Co.
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedMay 1, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-05-01)
HeadquartersDaegu, South Korea
Key people
Dong Gyu Lee (CEO)
SubsidiariesKOG Games
Websitewww.kog.co.kr

KOG Co., better known as KOG Studios, is a South Korean game development company based in Daegu. They specialize in producing online free-to-play games, and currently publish the side-scrolling action MMORPG, Elsword and the early access action MMORPG, KurtzPel: Bringer of Chaos. They have also developed the game Grand Chase.

History

[edit]

KOG Co. was founded on May 1, 2000. Their first game, Grand Chase, an action side-scrolling MMORPG, launched in August 2003. After being a large success in South Korea, the game expanded to mainland China and Japan, as well as the Americas in 2006.[1] It was notable for reaching mass popularity in South America, breaking the record of most played online game in Brazil.[2] Ntreev Soft began publishing Grand Chase for North America in early 2008. KOG ceased support for the game in 2015, 12 years after its initial release.

In 2010, KOG Studios partnered with Philippine company Level Up! Games, the publisher of Grand Chase in South America, to found Kill3r Combo, a subsidiary company headquartered in Irvine, California, with the objective of bringing KOG's games to North America.[3] Their first game was Elsword, which began open beta testing in North America on April 27, 2011, and released on July 2, 2014.

In June 2012, KOG Studios purchased LevelUp!’s interest in Kill3rCombo to become the sole owner, and officially changed the company's name to KOG Games Inc.[4] Since then, KOG Games has been responsible for publishing their games in the Americas.

Although Elsword received some criticism for pay to win systems,[5] the game was generally well-received, and peaked with 2,500 active players on Steam in August 2013.

KurtzPel Bringer of Chaos was first announced in the South Korean game exhibition G-Star 2017,[6] and entered worldwide Steam early access on April 30, 2019.

KOG Games

[edit]

KOG Games (previously as Kill3r Combo from 2010 to 2012) is a subsidiary company of KOG Co., and since 2012, publishes games from KOG in the Americas. It is headquartered in Irvine, California and currently publishes Elsword and KurtzPel on the Steam store. KOG Games also briefly published HeroWarz, a MMORPG developed by A.Storm, in July 2016, but the servers were closed a few months later.[7]

Games

[edit]
Year Title Platform(s) Genre Publisher(s) Status
2003 Grand Chase PC Action Side-scrolling 2D MMORPG Ntreev Soft (2008–2015) (NA)
KOG Games (2021–) (WW)
List
 Active
2007 Elsword PC Action Side-scrolling 2.5D MMORPG KOG Games (2011–) (NA)
List
 Active
2012 Fighters Club PC Brawler Action MMORPG Nexon (2012–2015) (KOR)
List
 Closed[9]
2014 Ultimate Race PC Racing MMORPG Nexon[10] (KOR)

Good Game Thailand (2016 - 2017)

Closed
2015 AIMA Online PC Action MMORPG Nexon (2015–2016)[11] (KOR) Closed[12]
2018 Grand Chase: Dimensional Chaser Android, iOS Mobile Real-time strategy MMORPG KOG Games (2018–)[13] (WW) Active
2020 KurtzPel: Bringer of Chaos PC Action KOG Games (TBA) (WW) Active

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Grand Chase is here! Start Playing Now!'" (in Portuguese). Level Up! Games. 2006-08-02.
  2. ^ "KOG Claims that '3 Heroes' has achieved good results in Brazil" (in Korean). GNN Gamer. 2010-02-18. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  3. ^ "Kill3rCombo Unveils First Game Elsword". IGN. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  4. ^ "Kill3rCombo Fully Acquired by KOG, Changes Name". MMORPG.com. 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
  5. ^ Taylor, Kristin (2012-06-16). "Elsword Review". GameCritics. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. ^ "KOG's new PC online game 'KurtzPel', first released at G-Star 2017" (in Korean). INVEN. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  7. ^ "Players reminded of March 26th pause". MMORPG.com. 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  8. ^ "Elsword developer KOG will launch the fighting game Fighters club in Taiwan next year" (in Chinese). YamNews. 2013-12-05.
  9. ^ "KOG Games announces closure of korean Fighters Club servers". MMOHuts. 2015-10-04.
  10. ^ "Ultimate Race developer KOG reveals its first racing online game". MMOCulture. 2014-10-02.
  11. ^ "Aima - Nexon Korea launching new KOG action online game next week". MMOCulture. 2015-09-27.
  12. ^ "Aima - Nexon Korea is shutting down action MMORPG after 14 months". MMOCulture. 2016-10-13.
  13. ^ "Grand Chase of Kakao officially opened". KOG. 2018-01-30.
[edit]
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