51.com Launches Casual Gaming Platform
Sina Tech, 4/15/09
Chinese social networking service 51.com has announced that its self-developed gaming platform game.51.com has officially begun online operations. Pang Shengdong, founder and CEO of 51.com, stated that the website expects to achieve a certain amount of revenue from the platform by the end of this year, and also hopes it can jointly operate games with other providers.
51.com stated that a first batch of 18 casual games are now online, primarily consisting of board, card, and puzzle games. At the same time, 51.com has integrated its friend functionality onto the gaming site.
In July 2008, Shi Yuzhu, chairman of Chinese online game developer and operator Giant Interactive (NYSE: GA), announced an investment of USD 51 mln in 51.com, and in November 2008 the website established a gaming business division following an internal restructuring. In early 2009, the company announced its was investing RMB 100 mln to cooperate with Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei and Chinese telecom operators to strengthen online infrastructure construction with the goal of preparing for future game industry development.
51.com currently employs over 100 staff at its gaming business division (approximately 25% of all company employees), primarily consisting of product and R&D staff. Pang stated that the company's gaming business is expected to gradually account for a larger and larger portion of the company's overall development and revenue.
Keywords: strategy 51.com GA Giant Interactive Huawei Internet Pang Shengdong Shi Yuzhu casual game online gaming SNS
Sending
