Moments ago Valve announced they are teaming with Nexon (the guys you can blame for taking your time due to Maple Story and Kart Rider) to release Counter-Strike Online, a new version of CS tailored specifically for the Asian market.
"It is our utmost pleasure to be able to develop Counter-Strike Online with Valve," said David K. Lee, CEO of NEXON Japan Co., Ltd. "We will be devoting our expertise in online game development and service know-how for Asian territories to Counter-Strike Online. Already a global phenomenon, we are confident we can grow the success of Counter-Strike with this new product by tailoring the gameplay for the millions of gamers in Asia, one of the gaming industries fastest growing territories."
Under the terms of the agreement, Nexon will develop and be the exclusive publisher for Counter-Strike Online in South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan.
While it’s likely (make that just about set in stone) that the game will be the typical Counter-Strike with a few changes, I can’t help but imagine a sidescrolling Counter-Strike MMO game, somewhere along the lines of Gunbound. If that doesn’t steal your precious hours, I don’t know what would. Either way, expect the Asians to dominate Counter-Strike within a year of its release.
