SHANGHAI, Oct. 23, 2009 (PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall) -- Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) ("Giant" or "the Company"), a leading Chinese online game developer and operator, today announced that it signed an agreement with Astrum Nival, LLC ("Astrum Nival"), an online game operator and publisher in Russia, to grant a license to Astrum Nival to operate ZT Online, Giant's flagship 2D massively multiplayer online role playing game ("MMORPG"), in the Russian Federation and other Russian speaking territories.
ZT Online is Giant Interactive's first internally-developed 2D free-to-play MMORPG. Since its commercial launch, ZT Online has reached peak concurrent user (PCU) levels over 2.1 million and was voted the most popular game in China in 2006 according to International Data Corporation. As a free-to-play game, revenues are derived from in-game purchases of virtual items and services. ZT Online is currently operated in Mainland China by the Company and in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore via a license to Lager Network. Additionally, Giant has also granted a license to VinaGame Software Service Joint Stock Company, or VinaGame, to operate ZT Online in Vietnam.
Mr. Yuzhu Shi, Giant's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce our new partnership with Astrum Nival, Russia's leader in the online game space. This agreement paves the way to introducing ZT Online into a new market and furthers our vision to become the leading online game provider in Asia. Our flagship game has already enjoyed success in international markets such as Vietnam, and we believe ZT Online's unique content set and gameplay features will be well-received by the growing number of online gamers in Russian speaking territories."
Mr. Dmitry Devishev, Astrum Nival's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We welcome the opportunity to add an online game as renowned as ZT Online into our product offering. I am confident that Giant's reputation for developing innovative and exciting games, coupled with Astrum Nival's expertise in the Russian online game market, will prove a successful combination.
