15. NCsoft

Year formed: 1997

Headquarters: Seoul

Studios: ArenaNet (Bellevue, Wash.); Austin; Mountain View, Calif.; Seoul

As of this year, NCsoft's mainstay Guild Wars series has passed the 5 million mark, however sales flagged 50 percent during the year, signaling a trailing-off for the brand.

The MMO-centered Korean publisher showed signs of transition during the year, as it dropped the spacefaring MMO Blackstar, acquired a 100 percent share in the City of Heroes IP, and opened a new studio in Mountain View, CA.

NCsoft traditionally maintains a conservative release schedule, but this year saw three titles for last year's four, and the company's review average was down to 71 percent from last year's 79.5 percent.

NCsoft/ArenaNet's Guild Wars: Eye of the North