The9 Hopes FIFA Game Eases Need for WoW
Date:2007/11/19 Source:
The9 Ltd said yesterday it will launch an online version of the popular soccer game FIFA, which is developed by Electronic Arts, in China in the first half of next year after US-based EA invested US$167 million for 15 percent of The9.
The FIFA Online 2, which will include local soccer team Shanghai Shenhua, will help The9 to reduce dependence on its sole star game the World of WarCraft, according to Zhu Jun, The9's chairman and chief executive.
"The FIFA Online 2 and Audition 2 (an online dance game) will strengthen our pipeline of casual games and that will become another cash cow to us," Zhu said during an interview yesterday.
Zhu expects FIFA Online 2 will attract about three million players "in a short period," about one-third of MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) who are playing WoW in China.
WoW contributes more than 90 percent revenue to The9 now and the Shanghai-based company always aims to diversify its business.
The FIFA Online 2 won't charge users directly but players have to pay for customized game items. The9 will cooperate with EA to localize FIFA Online 2 in China, according to Zhu, who is a soccer fan and the boss of Shanghai Shenhua.
In the second quarter, China's online game market revenue totaled 2.65 billion yuan (US$353 million), a massive 185.3-percent jump year on year. Revenue from MMORPG games contributed 84.5 percent to the industry's total income, according to iReseach, a Shanghai-based IT consulting Co.
The9, ranked No. 3 in the market behind Shanda Entertainment and NetEase.com, may pay US$100 million to buy 50 percent of Microsoft Corp's MSN China, according to recent media reports. But Zhu, however, declined to comment on the issue. | |
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