Numerous useless ‘functional games’ made by national tax
Kim Soo Yeon | newsnews@ | 2017-05-01 09:58:43
KRW 12 billion investment after 2009
40% of developed games out of service
"Low market value, high social value
In urgent need of post management practical usage "
The government developed functional games for 8 years from 2009 to last year under investment of KRW 12 billion In order to improve social awareness of games and improve game utilization. However, many of the developed functional games were found to be out of service.
This year, KRW 2.5 billion will be invested in the functional game development budget, but functional games made with national taxes are becoming obsolete. It is pointed out that it is imperative to establish a system to improve systematic post management system and utilization of functional games.
According to the data submitted by the Korea Creative Content Agency on April 30, 51 games have been supported by functional game production from 2009 to the present, and about 40% of them (19 cases, 2 cases of the same game developed for 2 consecutive years) stopped their service. It means two of the five supported games have become ‘obsolete.’
Functional games combine the fun elements of games to match the purposes of health care, education, therapy, communication, and social awareness. Although marketability is low, the government continued to support the game development to pursue the social usefulness of games. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency have declared 2013 as ‘the first year of functional game activation’. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the total budget for 8 years from 2009 was KRW 11.63 billion. From 2009 to last year, about KRW 500 million, KRW 700 million, KRW 1.4 billion, KRW 1.9 billion, KRW 1.7 billion, and KRW 2.3 billion were invested in game development on annual basis.
According to Korea Creative Content Agency, the games that are out of service are the online climate change environmental education game "Eco Friends" (UNEP Korea Committee, NHN), the Korean language education game for online multicultural families "Hangul Detective Hanah and Duri" (TSE Entertainment, Seoul National University). Also, the game based on the smart cooking "Steam Challenge" (Hello Apps, Dong-A Science, RNTS Media) and the multiplayer-based educational game `King of Mathematics` (Red Cube, Talent e Academy, SH Mobile).
Also, a mobile game `Word Monster` (BJP), a mobile virtual job experience game that helps users learn alphabet! Kid Dream Town `(EasyWide), Kinect-based rehabilitation game` Sagye `(Seawan) by using motion recognition sensor, and mobile environment education game ‘Fiestory-Marine Waste Disposal Operation`(Bit Mage) have stopped their service.
In addition, cultural heritage education mobile game `culture power charge! Magical garden (da Vinci Games), Mobile Traditional Music Experience Game `Eunsubit` (Human Media Tech), Mobile Dementia Prevention Game `Brain Training` (Imagination Digital), Mobile History Learning Game `Three Kingdoms Struggle` (Moajio) The mobile storytelling game `tourism game` (NCNE) based on location based system (LBS) are also not available anymore.
There are some games, which were developed 2~4 years ago but never provided their service. Mobile educational game `Rune Ward Magic` (Crete Games, supported in 2013) and Korean music rhythm game `Korean music world` (Finco Mobile, 2015) are the games that have never been available.
An industry expert said, "The basic post-management should continue as the government has recognized the benefits and made production support. It is necessary to envision a plan to link the demand from the initial stage of support."
Korea Creative Content Agency representative explained, "We have not been able to figure out whether all the functional games we have been supporting are still being serviced. But functional games that have been terminated are under business performance survey once in every three years.
By Kim Soo Yeon newsnews@
[ copyright ⓒ The Digitaltimes ]
40% of developed games out of service
"Low market value, high social value
In urgent need of post management practical usage "
The government developed functional games for 8 years from 2009 to last year under investment of KRW 12 billion In order to improve social awareness of games and improve game utilization. However, many of the developed functional games were found to be out of service.
This year, KRW 2.5 billion will be invested in the functional game development budget, but functional games made with national taxes are becoming obsolete. It is pointed out that it is imperative to establish a system to improve systematic post management system and utilization of functional games.
According to the data submitted by the Korea Creative Content Agency on April 30, 51 games have been supported by functional game production from 2009 to the present, and about 40% of them (19 cases, 2 cases of the same game developed for 2 consecutive years) stopped their service. It means two of the five supported games have become ‘obsolete.’
Functional games combine the fun elements of games to match the purposes of health care, education, therapy, communication, and social awareness. Although marketability is low, the government continued to support the game development to pursue the social usefulness of games. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency have declared 2013 as ‘the first year of functional game activation’. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the total budget for 8 years from 2009 was KRW 11.63 billion. From 2009 to last year, about KRW 500 million, KRW 700 million, KRW 1.4 billion, KRW 1.9 billion, KRW 1.7 billion, and KRW 2.3 billion were invested in game development on annual basis.
According to Korea Creative Content Agency, the games that are out of service are the online climate change environmental education game "Eco Friends" (UNEP Korea Committee, NHN), the Korean language education game for online multicultural families "Hangul Detective Hanah and Duri" (TSE Entertainment, Seoul National University). Also, the game based on the smart cooking "Steam Challenge" (Hello Apps, Dong-A Science, RNTS Media) and the multiplayer-based educational game `King of Mathematics` (Red Cube, Talent e Academy, SH Mobile).
Also, a mobile game `Word Monster` (BJP), a mobile virtual job experience game that helps users learn alphabet! Kid Dream Town `(EasyWide), Kinect-based rehabilitation game` Sagye `(Seawan) by using motion recognition sensor, and mobile environment education game ‘Fiestory-Marine Waste Disposal Operation`(Bit Mage) have stopped their service.
In addition, cultural heritage education mobile game `culture power charge! Magical garden (da Vinci Games), Mobile Traditional Music Experience Game `Eunsubit` (Human Media Tech), Mobile Dementia Prevention Game `Brain Training` (Imagination Digital), Mobile History Learning Game `Three Kingdoms Struggle` (Moajio) The mobile storytelling game `tourism game` (NCNE) based on location based system (LBS) are also not available anymore.
There are some games, which were developed 2~4 years ago but never provided their service. Mobile educational game `Rune Ward Magic` (Crete Games, supported in 2013) and Korean music rhythm game `Korean music world` (Finco Mobile, 2015) are the games that have never been available.
An industry expert said, "The basic post-management should continue as the government has recognized the benefits and made production support. It is necessary to envision a plan to link the demand from the initial stage of support."
Korea Creative Content Agency representative explained, "We have not been able to figure out whether all the functional games we have been supporting are still being serviced. But functional games that have been terminated are under business performance survey once in every three years.
By Kim Soo Yeon newsnews@