The9 to Invest USD 50 Mln on Game R&D
17173.com, 3/29/09
On March 25, He Xudong, VP and general manager of R&D for Chinese online game developer The9 (Nasdaq: NCTY), said The9 is planning to invest USD 50 mln into in-house R&D efforts and the establishment of a 1,000-employee R&D team over the next three years.
Previously, The9 only had two online game development teams, no R&D center, and fewer than 30 R&D staff. The9 has expanded this to 200 at present.
He says The9 now has 5 project teams, and that the company's in-house developed game, Warriors of Fate, has entered closed beta testing in preparation for a planned Q2 public beta launch. Another self-developed MMORPG, Dragon Emperor, will be released afterwards. The9 has given its R&D center a relatively independent position, and self-developed games will be operated either jointly or through licensing agreements with other operators, with the R&D team receiving as much as a 20% profit split. The9 is taking inspiration for its games from traditional Chinese culture and history, with a focus on historical and martial arts-themed games.
Keywords: pipeline He Xudong Internet NCTY R&D The9 online gaming self-developed game Dragon Emperor Warriors of Fate
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