Popular "first person shooter" game is expected to accelerate 2009
revenue and earnings growth
TORONTO, May 13 /CNW/ - SilverBirch Studios, a member of the SilverBirch Inc. (TSX-V: SVB) group of digital media companies, and G4Box today announced that they have secured English language rights, in several major markets, to develop and publish CrossFire, an online computer game that has rapidly become a major success in Asia.
CrossFire is an award-winning military-themed online game for PCs, and a leading title in the "first person shooter" (FPS) genre. Participants assume the roles of online characters that interact with other players while engaging in battle and other activities through multiple levels. New to this genre, is the revenue model whereby the game is free to download and play, but players purchase value-added, in-game services and assets, along with premium features that enhance the game experience.
"Securing the CrossFire rights is the next step in developing our online game portfolio," said Wojtek Kawczynski, SVP & GM of SilverBirch Studios. "Following our current success with Metin2, we are now pioneering use of the proven "free-to-play" model for FPS games."
"CrossFire has been a huge success in other operating regions such as China, Japan and Vietnam," said Howard He, CEO of G4Box, noting that the game achieved 62,000 concurrent users and more than 1 million subscribers in Vietnam just three days after the open beta test in that country launched, in March. "We look forward to replicating this success for the English-language version."
CrossFire has been selected as one of the PC titles to qualify the China team for the World Cyber Games (WCG) competition to be held in China next year. Other PC titles selected for the tournament include Warcraft III and Starcraft. The WCG tournament is the largest gaming event in the world. For more details, please visit: www.worldcybergames.com.
The English-language version of CrossFire is expected to begin generating revenue shortly after it goes live this fall, following open-beta testing.
Please visit, www.g4box.com/cftrailer.htm to view the game trailer.
About SilverBirch Inc.
Toronto-based SilverBirch Inc. is a fully integrated developer, publisher and distributor of high quality interactive media content and, through its Jambo Mobile division, provides mobile marketing and direct-to-consumer mobile content. In addition, the company is a multi-platform video game developer and operates an MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) game called Metin 2 (see www.metin2.us). For more information, please visit www.silverbirchstudios.com and www.jambomobile.com.
About G4BOX Inc.
G4BOX is a publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment media in North America. The company offers a portfolio of diversified entertainment content that is accessible via the internet. G4BOX Inc.'s vision is to become a premier content provider in the explosive worldwide market where they are concentrating creative and technical efforts on introducing new and exciting MMORPG products from Asia to North America.
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Forward-Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release, including management's assessment of future plans, contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond management's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and currency fluctuations. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
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