| Bandai Korea CEO Emoto Yoshiaki introduces the company's online and mobile game strategy during a press conference, Thursday. / Courtesy of Bandai Korea |
Gundam is a sci-fi television anime series depicting giant robots and Digimon is a cartoon and video game content about creatures in an imaginary digital world. Both Japanese media contents have garnered significant popularity around the world.
"Recently, we see favorable sales performances from our Gundam-related products," Bandai Korea CEO Emoto Yoshiaki said during a press conference. "By launching the games, we aim at attracting everyone who likes our toys, anime series and games."
The world's third-largest toy maker said it decided to provide online and mobile games directly in the Korean market for the first time, seeking greater business opportunities.
"We used to put out digital contents only through local publishers," said Lim Jae-chung, Bandai Korea's digital business department deputy general manager. "Now we will release game contents in the name of Bandai Korea. This means that we will expand business in this sector here."
The Tokyo-based game company merged with Namco, a Japanese game development and amusement facility operating firm, in 2005. It is the largest toy manufacturing and entertainment content company in Japan and one of the world's largest game conglomerates. Tapping into its cartoon and toy intellectual properties, the company has also improved performance in the online and mobile game sectors.
"Recently, we have seen our sales improve in the mobile game sectors," Lim said. "We are strongly pushing ahead with the new business here and will continue do so in the future."
During the event, Bandai Korea showcased three new titles, including an online game "SD Gundam Next Evolution," a mobile game "SD Gundam Shooter," as well as what is tentatively called "Digimon Soul Hunter." It also said it will allow users to synchronize game plays between online and mobile platforms.
The "Gundam" games will be launched between March and May, while the Digimon title will be available this summer, the company said.