MMO Dragonica U.S. Debarkation
Date: 09-17-2008 Views:
KeyWord: Dragonica, U.S., MMO, RPG, THQ, ICE
Summary: THQ Announces Joint Venture with China Online Operator ICE to Bring MMO Title Dragonica to U.S., the new joint venture provides a North American platform for THQ online games.


Vault Mainpage | News & Events | Database | Mission Map | Job Class | Forum

THQ Announces Joint Venture with China Online Operator ICE
to Bring MMO Title Dragonica to U.S.

The new joint venture provides a North American platform for THQ online games.

September 16, 2008 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced that it has formed a joint venture with ICE Entertainment ("ICE"), an operator of online games located in Shanghai, China, to launch Dragonica, a free-to-play, micro-transaction-based massively multiplayer online ("MMO") casual game scheduled for release in North America in 2009. ICE's Chief Executive Officer Sun Tao is the former Chief Technology Officer of The9, a leading operator of online games including World of Warcraft. The new joint venture combines ICE's online operating experience with THQ's product development and retail publishing expertise to create a new platform for online games in the North American market.

"We are extremely excited to be working with ICE Entertainment to bring this free-to-play, micro-transaction-based online game to the robust yet largely untapped market for online casual gaming in North America," said Doug Clemmer, president of THQ's casual gaming subsidiary. "We are even more pleased to be building a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, which we hope will lead to additional opportunities to deliver online gaming content globally."

"We are looking forward to combining THQ's extensive marketing and retail expertise with our advanced technology and proven online game operating know-how to deliver a great new casual gaming experience for North American consumers," said Sun Tao, chief executive officer, ICE Entertainment. "We also look forward to working with THQ more closely to develop new games and explore future publishing opportunities in both markets."

The market opportunity for online casual gaming in North America is estimated to be 2.2 billion USD by 2013 (Source: DFC Intelligence). China's fast growing online games market was valued at 1.7 billion USD in 2007 and reached more than 42 million online gamers. The market is expected to grow to 4.2 billion USD by 2010. (Source: Niko Partners).

click here for full image

About Dragonica

Dragonica is a massively multiplayer online casual game developed by Barunson Interactive Co, based in Korea. Dragonica is free-to-play and players may choose to pay for additional content and features on a micro-transaction basis. Barunson Interactive spent seven years developing Dragonica, which brings cartoon side-scrolling action online games to a new peak. The game's totally 3D rendering design, fresh cartoon characters and scenery modeling, create a new visual perception of side-scrolling games. Dragonica skillfully mixes the elements of action and arcade, and creates various ultimate skills to enhance playability. ICE currently has the rights to operate the game in China and plans to commence its closed beta for that market in late 2008.

About ICE Entertainment

Founded in 2006, ICE is an online game operator based in Shanghai, China, with an established online technology platform and proven management team, including CEO Sun Tao, former vice president and chief technical officer of leading Chinese operator The9, among others, with many years of experience in the online game field. ICE is focused on the development and operation of massively multiplayer online games. More information about ICE Entertainment may be found at http://www.icee.cn.

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at http://www.thq.com. THQ and its respective logo is a trademark and/or registered trademark of THQ Inc.

Related Stories: Dragonica T-shirt And Mouse-pad Design Contest!

Recommend Your Blogs To All Dragonica Fans

Dragonica T-shirt And Mouse-pad Design Contest!


Player Comments ( comments)
Comments
NickName:
Remember my nickname.
Content:
Total comments [ More Comments ]
Use powerful commenter with smileies and quote function here.
Relevant News
  • Blizzard: GTA 4 Is Like An MMO But With One Quest(09-17)
  • Geoff Johns Announced As Writer For DC Universe Online(09-16)
  • A First Look at Perfect World International(09-16)
  • Where You can Soar above the Sky?(09-13)
  • Burning Crusade's Quality Delayed WAR(09-12)
  • World of Warcraft: What's to Come in Patch 3.0(09-12)
  • Atlantica Online Peek(09-12)
  • NCSoft Ditching Lighter Games To Focus on Triple A Titles(09-11)
  • WoW: The New Landmass Expansion!(09-11)
  • Aion Hands-On Report(09-10)
  • Hot News Daily
    German Questioned Over Gamer's Murder
    WAR: We Are Harder, Darker and Heavier
    Korean Gamer's StarCraft Faction in Spore
    Why Always Fantasy?
    Make Crafting Better
    Crazy People, Crazy WAR!
    Ensemble And An Abortive Halo MMO
    Official Blog Updates
    Q&A of Dragonica
    Screens of Dragonica
    News Of The Day
    Hardcore Loli - XiaDa
    WoW: Blue Post for Icecrown Citadel Loot
    More Gorgeous! C9 Totally Updates Attack
    Tera: Female Castanics Sets Show Feasts
    Dragon Age - A New Game That Drove the I
    Videos of Dragonica