Lost Ark, a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) launched by Smilegate, was crowned this year’s best in Korea and also swept five other awards at the 2019 Korean Game Award on Wednesday.

Lost Ark was the only PC online game among other candidates. Smilegate RPG, the subsidiary of Smilegate, launched the game in November last year after seven years of development with a budget of more than 100 billion won ($85.4 million). The game became an instant hit, drawing sales of 30 billion won in its first two months of launch.

The winners of the award were decided with votes from judges counting for 60 percent, a panel of game experts 20 percent and votes from internet users 20 percent. Lost Ark not just grabbed the top prize but also became a winner of five awards for planning and scenario, sound, graphic, character and popularity.

Xlgames’ Legendary Moonlight Sculptor, a mobile MMORPG launched in October, won the runner-up prize. Cherry Bugs’ Blade and Soul Revolution, Funny Paw’s Seven Great Sins: Grand Cross, Netmarble N2’s Koongya Catchmind and Krafton’s Mist Over received the third highest award.

“Developers who used to enjoy foreign games during their childhood are now making games for children around the world,” said Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in a video message. “I hope your achievement to lead to a bigger achievement of the next generation,” he added.

By Lee Yong-ik and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]