Sohu operates two multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG games): Knight Online and Blade Online. In addition to MMORPG games, the Company also operates a casual game platform on its portal, mainly consisting of self-developed chess and board games. In November 2006, the Company terminated the operation of Knight Online when the license contract expired. It will maintain servers for Knight Online until March 20, 2007. In December 2006, Sohu announced the launch of Blade Hero Online, which is the upgraded version of Blade Online.
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seems all the crap started just after k2 took control of the servers..lol
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K2 says it has nearly 8 million subscribers for its four online games, with most of those subscribers playing for free.
K2 does not disclose revenues, but it was categorized at a technology conference in Dana Point last month as a company with more than $10 million in revenues.
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Joshua Hong
CEO and founder of K2 Network
Age: 36
Born: South Korea
Lives: Irvine
Education: B.S. in industrial engineering from Purdue University. M.B.A. in finance, accounting and international business from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Experience: Co-founded K2 Network in 2001. Prior to the establishment of the company, he was vice president of strategic planning and growth at Kali, developer of one of the first network-based multiplayer game systems. In 2004, Hong co-founded Item*Star, China's leading digital game item trading platform, and serves as its CFO. That same year he also co-founded Game Networks in the United States, the game industry's first cross-industry conference for broadband ISPs, content aggregators, service providers and game developers. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur in the online games industry, Hong was a management consultant at Accenture.
Family: Single
Favorite movie: "When Harry Met Sally" ("I don't know why I like this old movie so much but it brought many smiles to my face over the years.")
Favorite activity: I am a runner. I run because it centers me when I am off balance. I run because it initializes my overburdened life to the simplicity of earth, ocean, sun and me.
Heroes:
* For public speaking, I love Tony Blair, down to every syllable he says.
* For technology business, I love Steve Jobs.
* For overall business building, I think Sam Walton is the king, the king of corporate frugality.
* For entrepreneurship, Richard Branson made it fun. Fun = Business.
* For beating the odds against you, Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi 1537-1598) redefined political persistence and patience.
Favorite quote: "Pour your heart into it."
Insights about innovation: "Innovation is a way of everyday business life. Without it, a business will decay and customers will leave."
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Matthew Hannus
Vice president of strategic growth for K2 Network
Age: 31
Born: Chicago
Lives: Laguna Beach
Education: B.S. in finance, University of Illinois
Experience: Entrepreneurial finance, both operating and advisory sides. Stints at KPMG, First Analysis, M-Code Software. A founding principal at Fultonbridge Partners LLC.
Family: Married, with baby girl due in December.
Hero/role model: "My dad, hands down. He is truly the most principled person I know."
Favorite quote: "I have a bad memory for things like quotes for, as Voltaire said, 'A witty saying proves nothing.' "
Tip for companies that want to be innovative: Support creative people and ideas.
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K2 Network
Online game publisher and distributor
Headquarters: Irvine, with offices in Seoul, South Korea, and Bangalore, India.
Employees: 95
Ownership: Private
Revenues: More than $10 million a year
Founded: 2001
Products:
•Knight Online ( www.knightonlineworld.com)
•Global MU Online
•War Rock
•Golf King
Web:www.k2network.net
Sources: K2 Network, AeA conference
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