The game industry has rapidly evolved through the convergence of IT and entertainment. It has become a showcase for new technologies, where observing the latest games often serves as a barometer for gauging the current state of technology. The graphics and features of modern games, evolving in tandem with the dramatic improvements in computer performance, represent the cutting edge of technological trends themselves. During my time working at a game company, I personally experienced that no other industry is as sensitive to trends and as actively utilizes new technologies as gaming. Especially while residing in Silicon Valley and encountering executives and employees from global companies and their new products, reading this book made me realize once again that I was standing at the starting point of major IT trends.

Starting with my entry into the mobile gaming field in 2000, I’ve worked in sales amidst major IT industry shifts: launching games in the early smartphone market in 2007, successfully integrating KakaoTalk with game monetization models in 2012, and navigating the cryptocurrency craze in 2018. This journey taught me that staying dedicated to one field eventually brings opportunities. When a user interface (UI) is refreshed, it often appears to be a major innovation, but in reality, the core technology frequently remains largely unchanged. Ultimately, it is how that technology is marketed that determines whether the market perceives it as innovative. Take the case of ‘Dialpad’, the first internet phone, or the MP3 player ‘iRiver’ – both developed in Korea, yet it was American companies that achieved global business success. It’s also surprising to note that Nexon in Korea was the first to attempt the now-ubiquitous ‘partial monetization’ revenue model.

Currently, my work is somewhat removed from the IT field, but the backend systems enabling early morning deliveries are all implemented using IT technology. Marketing and membership management are also operated in line with the latest trends. However, operating as a one-person business means efficiency is low, and on the surface, it may not appear to be changing much. Yet, I take pride in being the only delivery driver in South Korea who uses an electric truck for early morning deliveries while acquiring and managing customers through Instagram and Karrot Market. It was a beneficial read that prompted me to anticipate 2021 digital trends from my own perspective.