The "Free" $100 Package: Analyzing the Bold Monetization of War of Genesis: Idle Heroes

I would like to introduce a Japanese game developer with a highly unique background. I first learned about him through a game called Second Wave, and upon looking into his history, I realized he has built a truly eventful and turbulent career. He is Koji Tamura, the current CEO of VOYAGER INC.

Born to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, he absorbed both cultures and threw himself into the Korean game market. Let's talk about his fierce story of survival and his 8th challenge.

A Diverted Path to Korea and the Struggle in the Console Market

Koji Tamura’s career was far from ordinary from the very beginning.

1. ROC (Founding Member and Publishing PD)

2. HUE (HanbitSoft-Hitachi Joint Venture)

3. Sony (SIE) PS4 Asia Launch Team

4. NHN Japan

Through these first four companies, he developed a global perspective. Notably, during his time at NHN Japan, he ambitiously prepared to enter the Korean market by utilizing his Korean language skills. Although his original plans fizzled out due to differences in vision, this diverted path turned out to be a blessing in disguise, leading him right into the heart of the Korean game industry.

5. Krafton (formerly Bluehole): Console Version PD for TERA

6. Nimble Neuron: Participated in the console version production of Eternal Return

It is quite impressive that he spearheaded major console game development in a market environment heavily dominated by PC and mobile platforms like Korea. However, he experienced a bitter setback during his time at Nimble Neuron when the console team was disbanded, naturally causing him to fall off the project.

The 7th Nest: Challengers Games and a Desperate Struggle

7. Challengers Games

His most painful ordeal came at his seventh company, Challengers Games. After a sudden dismissal, he gathered like-minded team members and founded the studio in July 2022. They ambitiously presented the anime-style team shooting game Second Wave and the social deduction game iLLANG, but reality was harsh.

The released games suffered from severe server issues and bugs. In the case of iLLANG, accommodating just around 100 users resulted in a staggering 71 million KRW in server costs, plunging the company into an irreversible financial crisis.

I’d like to take a brief moment to touch upon the ill-fated game, Second Wave. Combining attractive anime-style characters with team-based shooting and MOBA genres, it garnered significant expectations both domestically and internationally. It received positive initial reactions at events like G-Star and GDC , and more than 4,000 players flocked to its Alpha Test. As a user who highly anticipated and personally played the game, I still feel a deep sense of regret that it ended so abruptly due to a combination of unfortunate events, especially considering the fun and potential it held.

Amidst the financial crisis triggered by the failure of iLLANG, the process of preparing and servicing Second Wave's Early Access was a truly tearful struggle.

• The number of employees, which once reached 90, dwindled to just 20.

• Unable to afford the licensing fees for expensive professional development programs, they persistently continued development by tracking bugs using free tools.

• They even tried to sell the PCs of former employees to pay off overdue server bills, but the company's accounts were confiscated by insurance companies.

• Ultimately, the situation became so desperate that a remaining team member had to cover the server costs with his personal credit card.

Finally, unable to bear the weight of a massive debt of 2.4 billion KRW and unpaid wages , he declared the closure of the studio along with the end of service for Second Wave as of June 24, 2024.

The Grand 8th Challenge: VOYAGER INC.'s Dramatic Comeback

8. VOYAGER INC.

An ordinary person would have been completely crushed by the 2.4 billion KRW debt and the painful closure. However, this is exactly where Koji Tamura’s story becomes extraordinary. In 2024, even before the shock of Challengers Games' closure had faded, he immediately got back on his feet by founding his 8th company, VOYAGER INC.

Eterna

Surprisingly, VOYAGER INC. grew rapidly right after its establishment and has now become a solid company with 190 employees. They are actively seeking new breakthroughs by developing various projects. These include the subculture game Link! Like! Love Live!, which was completed through outsourcing and is successfully in service, as well as the next-generation AI social app Eterna and an unannounced new title, Project R.

Project R

I am highly anticipating how the unique anime-style sensibilities and attractive character modeling know-how he honed since his days at Challengers Games will shine in his new nest and be reborn into great works.

Proof of an "Unbreakable Spirit"

From ROC to VOYAGER INC., Koji Tamura's journey across exactly eight companies is not just a simple list on a resume. It is a genuine story of a developer's survival, one who refused to stay down after every failure, laying bricks back up on the ruins of collapse.

We should continue to keep an eye on his future endeavors and see what exciting results his 8th challenge, VOYAGER INC., will present to the market.

Read the original Korean post here.