Nexon America Implements Offer-Based Ads In Its F2P Games

Copying a practice employed by social game developers, MapleStory publisher Nexon America is now allowing customers to earn free NX, the universal virtual currency for its MMOs, by participating in offers with the company's business partners. In Nexon America's free-to-play titles like MapleStory, Mabinogi, and Combat Arms, players purchase virtual goods or customizations with NX, which they buy using real world money. With offer-based ads, however, they can now earn NX for free in exchange for participating in consumer surveys and contests. Nexon partnered with offer-based ad networks Super Rewards, Sometrics, and Peanut Labs for its offers and promotions. The offers include deals for entertainment, electronics, books, and gifts from bands like AT&T, Netflix, Footlocker, and Disney. Each offer or survey lists an amount of NX that players can earn if they participate. Many free-to-play game developers on social networks like Facebook and MySpace have taken advantage of offer-based ads as an extra revenue source for some time now. Some companies offer new takes on the idea, rewarding players with free virtual currency after they watch a video or shop at participating online retailers. Though FarmVille developer Zynga and several ad networks came under fire last year for running scam-like offers that added unauthorized charges to users' credit cards and mobile bills, those companies have since made efforts to clean up the practice, and offers still remain popular with players looking to earn free virtual currency for their favorite social games. "This new program provides an opportunity for our players to take advantage of the in-game NX item shops while enjoying our free-to-play games," says Nexon America's Business Development VP Won Il Sue. "Our business partners have done a great job of presenting an exciting and high-level set of offers and fun contests and surveys. This makes earning free cash to use in Nexon games easy and fun."