NCsoft began to recruit game testers for `Lineage2,' a follow-up of its hit online game Lineage, for a close beta test scheduled later this month, while rolling out 3D online game service `Shining Lore,' a game title it bought from Pantagram. The company is also pushing up effort to develop another Lineage follow-up, 'Lineage Forever,' for a service launch as early as in the first half of next year.

At the same time, it is making a major push into the game portal area, snatching up new games at board game servicing Web site 'Gameting,' a move that has long been speculated in the industry.

The leading game publisher, therefore, is seen making a sharp turn toward the so-called `department store strategy' based on a lineup of new game services from its heavy focus on 'Lineage.' In particular, the new launch by the industry major with a strong cash flow is expected to spark fierce competition with the existing online games.

"With the rating controversy now resolved, we expect our new business to get on track at full speed," said Kim Taek-jin, CEO of NCsoft. "We hope to firm up our position as No.1 online game publisher with a series of new services next year."

Having decided to have a close beta test later this month, NCsoft is currently working on a launching schedule of `Lineage2' it has kept in secret for some time. The new game will go through three to four times of close beta tests and a short period of an open test through early next year, the company said, before a rollout of a fee-based service.

With the release of the new game adopting 3D graphic, NCsoft now sees inevitable a fierce battle with popular 3D online role-playing games for a larger share of the market, and has begun to craft a major marketing campaign.

Another `Lineage' franchise, 'Lineage Forever,' is likely to hit the market in the first half of next year. The game based on 3D graphics will offer link with the existing Lineage service to prevent its users from breaking away during the transition to new services.

NCsoft is also gearing up for a game portal business in earnest, with its board game site 'Gameting( http://www.gameting.com)’ topping 20,000 in subscribers with such services as Go-stop and Omok.

In addition, the company recently bought a marketing and servicing license for Pantagram's hit online game 'Shining Lore' and kicked off a promotional campaign. It is further set to upgrade domestic service of `Ever Quest' to counter the penetration of foreign online games including Microsoft 'Asheron's Call2,' which is due out early next year.