SHANGHAI, China, March 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) (“Giant” or “the Company”), one of China’s leading online game developers and operators, today announced its plans for Giant Online to begin open beta testing on March 28, 2008.
Giant Online is the Company’s second self-developed game. It is a free-to-play 2.5D massively multiplayer online role playing game (“MMORPG”) featuring a modern military theme. Players may choose their characters in one of fourteen different roles, such as engineers or spies. Giant Online will provide players with a wide selection of modern weapons and equipment, such as guns and airplanes, and allow players’ characters to engage in friendship and even romance. To further enhance the level of interactivity, Giant Online will utilize the Company’s server technology that allows for single-shard play by 1 million concurrent users.
Mr. Yuzhu Shi, Giant’s Chairman and CEO commented, “Giant Online is doing well during the closed beta testing process. We are receiving positive feedback from our beta testers and we have been able to further refine the game play in accordance with players’ requests. I believe Giant Online will be even more welcomed by gamers in the upcoming open beta test.”
About Giant
Giant is one of China’s leading online game developers and operators in terms of revenues, focusing on MMORPGs. Giant’s game, ZT Online, was voted the most popular online game in China in 2006 according to the International Data Corporation. Giant has three additional online games that it intends to commercially launch, including Giant Online, King of Kings III and Empire of Sports. Giant has built a nationwide distribution network to sell the prepaid game cards and game points required to play its games, which as of December 31, 2007 consisted of over 200 distributors, and reached over 116,500 retail outlets, including internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets, bookstores, newspaper stands, and convenience stores located throughout China. For more information, please visit Giant Interactive Group on the web at http://www.giantig.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to, among other things, game features of Giant Online and Giant’s ability to successfully conduct open beta testing. Giant may not provide certain game features in Giant Online or may be unsuccessful in its open beta testing for Giant Online. Even if Giant provides certain game feature for Giant Online and/or is successful in its open beta testing, it may not attract additional players or increase player loyalty for Giant Online. In addition, Giant’s industry is highly competitive and it faces a number of risks including those outlined under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of Giant’s prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2007. Giant undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Eric He, CFO
Giant Interactive Group Inc.
Tel: +86-21-6451-5001
Investor Relations (US):
Mahmoud Siddig
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Investor Relations (HK):
Ruby Yim
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +852-3196-3712
Media Contact:
John Dooley
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
