Shanda sets up design site
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-03-28 10:06

Shanda Networking Co Ltd, China's biggest online game company, said on March 26 it launched a computer graphics design Website to enhance its research and development expertise.

The set-up is also seen as a move for the Shanghai-based firm to prepare for its stock debut on Nasdaq this year, industry insiders said.

The website, the first one in its kind in the country, called "Online Game Development Center," allows online surfers to upload their computer graphic designs and it is expected to become the biggest online community for designers.

The local firm may also purchase well-designed graphics shown on its Website to use in the next generation of online games in the future.

"The Website will deepen our R & D ability and it will help home-grown online game companies to develop their own games," Tang Jun, Shanda's president, said.

Currently, most Chinese online game companies, including Shanda and The 9com Computer Technology Consulting Co Ltd, function as the Chinese operators of South Korean-developed games. They have to pay the overseas game designers handsome royalty fees.

Last year, Shanda began to promote its own game "Legend of the World." It also aimed to expand into game development from just only operation as it prepares to be listed on Nasdaq to raise about US$300 million this year.

"To an online game company, a wider business scope will help it to avoid risks. That will help the company to attract more overseas investors," said Sun Weijia, an analyst at Analysys International, a local IT consulting firm.

Shanda has attracted 60 million Chinese subscribers.

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