SHANGHAI, Aug. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney Interactive China showcased a host of international plus locally produced mobile game titles from Star Wars™, Marvel and Disney at the China Joy Expo 2015, the country's largest and most significant gaming event, held in Shanghai from July 30th to August 2nd. In addition to showing blockbuster titles Marvel Contest of Champions, Marvel Future Fight and Star Wars™: Commander, Disney signaled its intention to work with local studios to develop world class games for Chinese audiences.
"With Marvel and Star Wars, Disney Interactive has the biggest stories of the year and the biggest intentions to entertain players," said Justin Scarpone, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Disney Interactive Asia. "China is fast becoming the epicenter of gaming in the world and we intend to work with the best developers to deliver high quality games that apply our global IP in a locally relevant and totally engaging format."
Gaming is the largest segment and growth driver for China's Media & Entertainment market. According to iResearch, the gaming market will grow from US$18 billion in 2014 to US$31 billion in 2018 with mobile gaming set to account for 43 percent of the gaming market by 2018. "This is the hottest, most competitive market in the world and by working with leading developers and local studios we intend to ensure Disney's international portfolio of blockbuster games are hits in China too," said Mr. Scarpone.
At a gaming developer forum hosted by Disney Interactive China, industry leaders came together to talk about the biggest stories in games. Kabam, a world leader in creating AAA console quality games for mobile devices spoke about its Marvel slate of games including Marvel Contest of Champions. China Mobile Games and Entertainment Group Ltd (CMGE) the largest publisher and a leading developer of mobile games in China, launched Star Wars™: Commander, a combat strategy mobile game and Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher in Asia and globally highlighted the success of Marvel Future Fight.
"Continuing our efforts of bringing mega hit mobile titles to China, we have worked with Disney Interactive and Marvel Entertainment to develop Marvel Future Fight that applies Marvel IP with Chinese-friendly game system, creating an exciting experience with a differentiated quality for Chinese players entailing RPG lovers as well as casual gamers," said Seungwon Lee, President of Overseas at Netmarble Games.
"Kabam's deep experience developing AAA mobile games combined with our Beijing-based team's insights allow us to take the global hit Marvel Contest of Champions and rebuild it in China with all the key elements that appeal directly to Chinese audiences," said Kabam Co-Founder and CEO Kevin Chou.
"Together with Disney Interactive, CMGE co-published and launched Star Wars™: Commander in China. The game was the top ranked iPad® Free App and ranked No. 4 Free App on overall Apple's App Store℠ when it launched in the U.S. and we are very excited to bring the title to Chinese fans and game players," said Xiao Jian, CEO of CMGE.
Gu Da Bai Hua, a social influencer who owns 6 million fans on China's social media, expressed his passion for Marvel and Star Wars at the event: "I'm fascinated by the endless imagination and possibilities from Marvel and Star Wars and I'm sure that fans will be as excited as I am and through the mobile games we could explore new stories and stay connected with the universe and galaxy far far away."
At the event, Disney Interactive also announced several upcoming mobile titles that will be co-developed with local partners including Inside Out: Thought Bubbles with iDreamSky, a Pirates of Caribbean themed game with TipCat and a Star Wars themed game with Digital Sky.
ABOUT DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company's stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps and console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY IN CHINA
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments. Disney's first animation screened in China in the 1930s and today our long association continues with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou with over 3000 employees. The company is focused on creating high-quality entertainment experiences and effectively building local and Disney franchises in China. Disney currently has several established businesses in the country, including studio entertainment, parks and resorts, consumer products (including Disney Store, publishing and Disney English) and interactive, and media networks. Nearly ten years ago in September 2005, Disney opened its doors to its first theme park in China, Hong Kong Disneyland and in 2011 announced ground breaking for Shanghai Disney Resort, a joint venture with Shanghai Shendi Group. In May 2015, the Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disney Resort was topped out, and Disney opened the doors of its first Disney Store in China and largest in the world, in Shanghai. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $48.8 billion in its Fiscal Year 2014. For more information about The Walt Disney Company please visit: http://corporate.disney.go.com/
ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company's activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.
ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2015 MARVEL
ABOUT NETMARBLE GAMES CORPORATION
Netmarble Games Corp. strives to enrich people's lives by providing great games to global audiences. Based in Seoul, Korea, Netmarble Games Corp. has produced some of the most successful mobile games such as Marvel Future Fight, Raven, Seven Knights, Everyone's Marble, and Monster Taming. The company has more than 2,500 employees worldwide, numerous studios and consistently ranks as a top developer and publisher in Asia and globally. Netmarble Games Corp. has a strategic partnership with CJ E&M Corporation, Asia's largest entertainment company, Tencent Holdings, Asia's largest internet company, and NCsoft, a prominent MMO company, as company shareholders. The company is the largest shareholder to SGN, a leading casual game developer. More information can be found at www.netmarble.com.
ABOUT KABAM
Kabam, Inc. ("Kabam") creates, develops, and publishes games that are available on mobile devices via its own dedicated channel in the Apple App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore. Valued at more than $1 billion, Kabam is the 6th fastest growing company overall in North America, according to Deloitte LLP. The company has been profitable since 2012. Kabam's Kingdoms of Camelot franchise has grossed more than $250 million, making it one of the top 10 strategy franchises of all time. Kabam has also created four titles that have grossed more than $100 million each in their life. In 2014, Kabam had three titles rank in the Top 50 Grossing apps on the App Store. Kabam has more than 825 employees around the world, with corporate headquarters in San Francisco. The company's investors include Alibaba, Canaan Partners, Google, MGM, Intel, Pinnacle Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Warner Brothers and others. More information about Kabam can be found at www.kabam.com.
ABOUT CMGE
CMGE is the largest publisher and a leading developer of mobile games in China with integrated capabilities across the mobile game value chain. Its fully integrated capabilities include the development, licensing, publishing, distribution and operation of mobile games, primarily in China. Its social games are mainly developed for Android and iOS-based smartphones. CMGE's extensive distribution network includes its proprietary Game Center application, handset pre-installations, application stores and web platforms and mobile network operators. The offices are in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei and Seoul. The Company's stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol CMGE. For more corporate and product information, please visit CMGE's website at http://www.cmge.com.
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