ESoftNet

Background

The company started out as HiCom, a game distributor for Sega Master System and Famicom titles. In 1994 they would begin game development for game consoles and computer titles, including the Corum series. The company fell victim to the IMF financial crisis of 1998 however, but reformed as HiCom Entertainment. In 1999 the company was bought by investor Wise Naeil and was renamed briefly to Wise HiCom. The company would then pursue to the development of MMORPGs and renamed to eSoftNet in December of that year. The company closed doors on 2004, with each of their MMOs being managed by other companies and former staff.

HiCom

1st Logo (1996-1997)

Logo: Over a white background, a bar appears and wipes in a "H" before it becomes an "I" and the text "COM" slides in next to it, forming HICOM. The camera pans into place before an orange arc rises up from the text and two red lines emerge in front of it, forming another "H".

Technique: 3D animation.

Audio: None on earlier games. An ascending theme is heard on Corum.

Availability: Seen on Push Push, Still Hunt, and Corum: Legend of Anpnentria.

2nd Logo (1998)

Logo: We move towards the sun over a cloudy blue background. We travel innards as we then move into the top of the sun, while particles form the HiCom logo described above. We move back, then the background changes to white as the logo fills in and zooms before fading out.

Technique: The movements of the sun and the forming and zooming the logo.

Audio: Atmospheric noises.

Availability: Only seen on Corum II.

HiCom Entertainment

3rd Logo (1999)

Logo: On a black background, two red streaks drop down and move spirally while the orange arc appears glowing in. The streaks keep spinning before the arc zooms in and "HICOM" in white emerges and glows, while "ENTERTAINMENT" fades in below. The streaks then turns into the red lines of the logo.

Technique: The movement of the streaks, the arc and the glowing.

Audio: Whooshing sounds.

Availability: Only seen on Corum III.

Wise HiCom

4th Logo (1999)

Logo: On a black background, a comet appears drawing down the arc. The two red lines then drop down from above, and "WISE HICOM" glows in.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A swoosh during the comet part, two dropping sounds and a synth arpeggio.

Availability: Only seen on Corum: Side Story.

eSoftNet

5th Logo (2000-2004)

Logo: On a white background, we see the text "eSoftNet", the "e" being part of an orange square with a rounded corner, "SOFNET" separated diagonally colored in orange/gray, and the Hangul translation below.

Technique: None.

Audio: None.

Availability: Was seen on their MMORPGs starting with Dragon Raja. Also appears on the PC game of Mashimaro.