-Highly Anticipated Online Games Huxley and All Points Bulletin to Enjoy New Revenue Streams from Blue-Chip Advertisers
June 27, 2006 — Massive Incorporated, creator of the leading in-game advertising network, and WEBZEN Inc. (NASDAQ: WZEN), a leading global online entertainment company, today announced plans to provide in-game advertising to two of the global publisher’s most anticipated massively multiplayer online games (MMOG). The agreement marks Massive’s entry into the Asian market and WEBZEN’s first services to provide in-game advertising.
Games included in the deal are the upcoming PC versions of the massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) Huxley and the urban action MMOG All Points Bulletin. Both games are slated for worldwide release and will include in-game advertising in each territory.
“As a premier global online games company, WEBZEN is dedicated to providing a realistic experience for our gamers,” said Nam Ju Kim, CEO, Webzen Inc. “The combination of WEBZEN’s global marketing know-how and Massive’s unprecedented in-game advertising experience ensures we are delivering the highest level of quality to gamers.”
Slated for release in 2007, the award-winning Huxley utilizes the UNREAL3 engine and WEBZEN’s proprietary networking technology to create an unparalleled twitch action gaming experience with up to 5,000 players in the same world. All Points Bulletin, developed by Real Time Worlds, Ltd. and designed by the creator of the Grand Theft Auto® franchise, is the only massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) to combine nearly limitless customization with intense urban action in a city that never sleeps. APB is planned for a 2008 release.
“Massive’s network represents the best global content in the industry, ever more so with the inclusion of Webzen’s award-winning games,” said Nicholas Longano, President of New Media for Massive. “We’re thrilled to work with Webzen to bring dynamic in-game advertising to the Asian market for the first time.”
Recently acquired by Microsoft Corp., Massive pioneered dynamic in-game advertising with the launch of the Massive Network in October 2004 and has since partnered with more than 60 blue-chip advertisers to seamlessly deliver ads into more than 75 million game sessions. Massive enables publishers and developers to capture significant new revenues through the aggregation of the video game audience which can be more effectively marketed to advertisers. Developers are able to integrate real-world ad campaigns that are timely and enhance the game environment with more realism.
