Nexon America Rolling Out BlockParty Portal, Social Network

Nexon America (MapleStory, Dungeon Fighter Online) has begun rolling out BlockParty, a free service that will replace Nexon.net as the company's online portal for its games and as a social network. The publisher posted an animated preview of the upcoming service across all of its game sites. The clip introduces the new initiative's "Blockheads" mascots and BlockParty's planned features, which both new and current visitors will be able to access after registering for a free Nexon Passport. Along with serving as a centralized portal for launching the company's games and accessing accounts, Block Party will enable players to customize profile pages, receive news updates on their games, post thoughts onto their "wall", setup buddy lists, and follow their friends' in-game accomplishments with the "Play Feed". Though Nexon America did not reveal a firm date for BlockParty's formal opening, the publisher says the service will "be online at BlockParty.com in the coming months", and that it will begin conducting beta tests throughout the remainder of 2009. "BlockParty will be one part games, one part portal with a twist of social networking," says Nexon America's marketing VP Min Kim. "Nexon America's goal for BlockParty is to create the biggest online party with great games and awesome gamers." "BlockParty will allow Nexon to better serve our players by extending the community experience to a central web-based communication hub. BlockParty will also make it easier for players to access Nexon's growing list of games, and at the same time, allow them to share their online gaming adventures with their friends."