NETDRAGON Websoft Inc's English-language multi-player game for iPad users worldwide is now available on Apple's App Store, the Fuzhou-based game developer said yesterday.

The launch of the game has helped NetDragon to tap into the mobile game sector following a venture capital investment of US$20 million in its mobile application platform last week.

NetDragon's new game is Conquer Online is a free online multi-player game for iPad users.

"With the increasing popularity of tablets, more and more players are playing games on such new devices rather than on traditional PCs," Hong Kong-listed NetDragon said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. "The launch of the new game is expected to bring NetDragon new opportunities and attract the attention of more players in this new environment."

Chinese game developers, including The9 and Shanda, are expanding from the traditional online game sector to mobile platform and overseas markets, industry insiders said.

Separately, Shanghai-based The9 Ltd announced last month it would be paid a license fee of US$23 million to allow game operators in southeast Asia and Taiwan to run a shooting game. Shanda has set up special teams to develop mobile games and may launch several tablet device games next year.

Last year, the revenue in China's game market rose an annual 30 percent to 32.3 billion yuan (US$5.04 billion). But the pace slowed from the previous annual growth of over 50 percent, according to the General Administration of Press and Publication.

The value of games exports soared 111 percent last year to US$230 million, GAPP said.