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EA Is Said to Buy Part of The9 Ltd.(SinoCast China IT Week Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) SHANGHAI, April 10, SinoCast -- Electronic Arts Inc. (EA and Nasdaq: ERTS), a US developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and video games, is said to buy a 19% stake in The9 Ltd. (Nasdaq: NCTY), a Chinese online game company which is operating the World Of Warcraft in Mainland China, a quite popular massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) around the world. For the moment, both sides remain prudent about it. "Although many people hope that EA can take more steps in China, we do not comment upon it," said in an interview Zhou Yi (transliterated), manager for public relations at EA Shanghai. Also, The9 Ltd. declines to make comment on it, Zhao Yurun (transliterated), director for public relations of the Shanghai- based online game operator, told the Oriental Morning Post, a local paper. However, Zhao disclosed, The9 Ltd. is in contact with EA. Zhu Jun, chairman and chief executive officer of The9 Ltd., paid a special visit to the US on April 2. The9 Ltd. is one of the best online game operators in China and there will be a possibility of cooperation between both. And Zhao did not unveil how their talks were progressing. Once they reached accord, they would obtain what they want respectively. For instance, the Chinese company would be likely to get operating dealerships for more EA sports leisure online games, enlarging its game product catalog. On the other hand, the US company would indirectly jump into the mainland's booming online game market. EA has recently sped up its steps in the Asia Pacific region. On March 20, it announced the USD 105 million acquisition of a 19% stake in Neowiz, a game developer in South Korea. It said on April 3 that it was about to debut Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, another MMORPG, in such Asia countries and areas as South Korea, Japan, Mainland China, and Taiwan. In addition, EA was rumored to license The9 Ltd. to operate FIFA Online, a well-known soccer game. It terminated the cooperation about the game with Skyhi, another Chinese game company, at the beginning of 2007 and turned to The9 Ltd. officially, said a source close to the move. Industry analysts believe that The9 Ltd. has steadily ranked among China's top three online game operators and won more MMORPG dealerships since it succeeded in operating the World Of Warcraft in the mainland, designed by Blizzard Entertainment, a worldwide famed publisher of entertainment software. The9 Ltd. has proved a bonanza in front of foreign game titans. Copyright 2007 Sinocast |