Lineage (1998)
Kim Taek-jin and NCSOFT's 1998 Genesis: The Isometric MMORPG That Forged Korea's Gaming Empire
Created in Seoul by NCSOFT founders Kim Taek-jin and lead designer Song Jae-kyung (architect of Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds) and launched in 1998, Lineage (The Blood Pledge) is the historic catalyst that transformed South Korea into a global digital entertainment titan. Adapted from Shin Il-sook's acclaimed fantasy manhwa about rightful Prince Deporojhe reclaiming his stolen throne, this 2D isometric MMORPG laid the foundational blueprint for online social gaming. Through its Bloodpledge clan hierarchies, merciless open-world player-killing, and thrilling castle sieges, Lineage became the first online game in history to surpass 3 million concurrent subscribers, directly igniting the nationwide PC Bang phenomenon.
Bloodpledges, Siege Warfare, and the PC Bang Era
Arriving alongside the rapid post-crisis rollout of high-speed broadband in Korea, Lineage forged real-world brotherhoods. Players organized into Bloodpledges, congregating physically in local PC Bang internet cafés to orchestrate fortress sieges and coordinate territorial tax collections.
Genesis of a Multibillion-Dollar Virtual Economy
Lineage pioneered real-money trading where enchanted virtual swords commanded thousands of dollars. Generating over $10 billion in cumulative lifetime franchise revenue, it remains the spiritual foundation of modern Korean gaming.