NCsoft has announced that it plans to launch beta services for Lineage II in Taiwan by the fourth quarter of 2003.
Lineage II is planned to be among the first titles that NCsoft will provide for NC Taiwan, which will in turn use Gamania's resources to market, distribute, and provide user services in the Taiwan region, where the popularity of online games is second only to Korea.
Gamania, which has provided online services for the original Lineage since July 2000, has a 51-percent stake in the joint venture. NCsoft's stake is 49 percent.
Gamania CEO Albert Liu will act as NC Taiwan's managing director, while NCsoft Korea's Jung Hwan Kim will serve as CEO. NCsoft states that this partnership is part of a strategy to develop a globe-spanning network, complementing other joint ventures in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the US.