NCsoft splinter group to westernise MMOs

A group of NCSoft employees have merged to head up a new MMO specialist outfit.

Based in Washington, En Masse Entertainment is a new publisher with an aim to transform eastern games to better suit western audiences.

En Masse is comprised of talent from the likes of Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, ArenaNet, and – notably – NCsoft.

The group’s CTO, Jae Heon Yang, departed from NCsoft back in December 2007. Seven years prior he helped develop Sephiroth, known to be one of the first 3D MMOs ever released in Asia.

The remaining senior staff at En Masse all join the group from recent posts at NCsoft, from COO Patrick Wyatt, senior producer Brian Knox and publishing VP Chris Lee.

Lee told MCV in today’s interview that the firm’s knowledge of the global market is a key distinction between itself and other MMO publishers.

En Masse had officially formed back in 2009, though the group has only now jumped into the spotlight, announcing that its first project will be PC MMO Tera.

We’ve brought together ‘best of breed’ experts in the fields of technology, online gaming, branding and localisation who have a shared vision for global MMO games that deliver on the highest levels of quality and cultural relevance,” said Jae Heon Yang.

Our inaugural project, Tera, is one that we feel deeply passionate about and will reflect our approach and commitment to the Western gaming community.”

En Masse is owned by South-Korean MMO firm Bluehole.