Overview
The rapid growth of the Korean online game industry, viewed in social, cultural, and economic contexts. In South Korea, online gaming is a cultural phenomenon. Games are broadcast on television, professional gamers are celebrities, and youth culture is often identified with online gaming. Uniquely in the online games market, Korea not only dominates the local market but has also made its mark globally. In Korea's Online Gaming Empire, Dal Yong Jin examines the rapid growth of this industry from a political economy perspective, discussing it in social, cultural, and economic terms. Korea has the largest percentage of broadband subscribers of any country in the world, and Koreans spend increasing amounts of time and money on Internet-based games. Online gaming has become a mode of socializing—a channel for human relationships. The Korean online game industry has been a pioneer in software development and eSports (electronic sports and leagues). Jin discusses the policies of the Korean government that encouraged the development of online gaming both as a cutting-edge business and as a cultural touchstone; the impact of economic globalization; the relationship between online games and Korean society; and the future of the industry. He examines the rise of Korean online games in the global marketplace, the emergence of eSport as a youth culture phenomenon, the working conditions of professional gamers, the role of game fans as consumers, how Korea's local online game industry has become global, and whether these emerging firms have challenged the West's dominance in global markets.
Full Product Details
Author: Dal Yong Jin (Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University; KAIST )
Publisher: MIT Press Ltd
Imprint: MIT Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 1.30cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.476kg
ISBN: 9780262014762
ISBN 10: 0262014769
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 01 October 2010
Recommended Age: From 18 years
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: No Longer Our Product
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
The Korean game industry has spearheaded the global online gaming phenomenon--it is one of the fastest growing creative industries worldwide. This book is timely and will have a captive audience, given that to date the only material on the topic has been in journal articles. It promises to fill many gaps.
Both developers and marketers will find this discussion enlightening. -- Brad Reid Computing Reviews
Both developers and marketers will find this discussion enlightening. -- Brad Reid, Computing Reviews
Author Information
Dal Yong Jin is associate Professor, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology as well as Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University.
