SHANGHAI, China, April 28 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Giant
Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) (''Giant'' or ''the Company''), one of
China's leading online game developers and operators, announced today that
peak concurrent users (''PCU'') for its hit game, ZT Online, reached
2,102,118 at 8:42PM (Beijing Time) on April 26, 2008. This represents a new
reported PCU record in the Chinese online game industry.
Mr. Yuzhu Shi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Giant,
commented, ''Although our flagship game ZT Online has been commercially
launched for over two years now, we have continued our enhancement efforts
of the game via constant improvements and new feature releases, in
accordance to our focused strategy and our five year R&D game enhancement
plan for ZT Online. As a result, we are very pleased to see that our player
numbers have continued to grow substantially within a short period of time.
This is an excellent testament to our strategy and R&D plan, and we expect
to continue our enhancement efforts for ZT Online moving forward.''
Mr. Xuefeng Ji, General Manager of the ZT Online Business Unit,
commented, ''Our robust R&D strength, as well as our deep understanding and
constant analysis of our gamers has enabled us to introduce new gameplay
features in accordance with gamers' preferences. For example, ZT Online has
pioneered features such as the 'salary system' for non-paying accounts to
stay more competitive against their paying rivals. Recently, we have also
introduced the Neighboring Friends expansion pack to display the physical
locations of the gamers in order to promote social networks and to expand
our overall community. Leveraging upon our proprietary server technology,
ZT Online shards can now encompass over 40,000 concurrent players. For
example, one of the shards named 'Tian Ma Zai Xian' alone has sustained
43,297 PCU recently, which to our knowledge, represents a new reported PCU
record for a single shard within the Chinese online game industry. This
expanded in-game community has attracted many new players to join, thus
contributing to the continued growth momentum of ZT Online.''
About Giant
Giant is one of China's leading online game developers and operators in
terms of revenues, focusing on massively multiplayer online role playing
games. Giant's game, ZT Online, was voted the most popular online game in
China in 2006 according to the International Data Corporation. The
Company's second game, Giant Online, entered into open beta testing on
March 28, 2008. Giant has two additional online games that it intends to
commercially launch, including King of Kings III and Empire of Sports.
Giant has built a nationwide distribution network to sell the prepaid game
cards and game points required to play its games, which as of December 31,
2007 consisted of over 200 distributors, and reached over 116,500 retail
outlets, including internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets,
bookstores, newspaper stands, and convenience stores located throughout
China. For more information, please visit Giant Interactive Group Inc. on
the web at http://www.ga-me.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating
to, among other things, Giant's ability to continue to enhance its R&D and
increase its player base. Giant's industry is highly competitive and it
faces a number of risks including those outlined under ''Risk Factors''
beginning on page 12 of Giant's prospectus filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 1, 2007. Giant undertakes no obligation to
update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press
release. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Eric He, CFO
Giant Interactive Group Inc.
Tel: +86-21-6451-5001
Investor Relations (US):
Mahmoud Siddig
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Investor Relations (HK):
Ruby Yim
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +852-3196-3712
Media Contact:
John Dudzinzky
Taylor Rafferty
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
SOURCE Giant Interactive Group Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.giantig.com
CONTACT:
Investor Contact, Eric He, CFO of Giant
Interactive Group Inc., +86-21-6451-5001; Investor Relations
(US), Mahmoud Siddig, +1-212-889-4350, or Investor Relations
(HK), Ruby Yim, +852-3196-3712, or Media Contact, John Dudzinzky,
+1-212-889-4350, all of Taylor Rafferty, for Giant
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