Viet Son Net

Kingsoft (3888.HK) announced that it plans to release “Liuyue Weicheng,” a new expansion for its in-house developed 2D MMORPG JX Online World, on June 8, qq.com reported May 24. The expansion features a new marriage system and cross-server state fights, said the report.

The company also announced that it plans to start shooting “JX: Cangjian Shanzhuang,” a TV drama based on Kingsoft’s 3D martial arts MMORPG JX Online 3, on July 15, according to a separate qq.com report. The 30 episode series will be produced in conjunction with Hai Run Movies & TV Production and Beijing Runya Media, and is expected to cost “tens of millions,” the report said.

In addition, Kingsoft has more than doubled its operation team in order to strengthen its games operations capacity, Beijing Times reported May 24 quoting Kingsoft Games Division President Wu Yimin.

Kingsoft (3888.HK) plans to launch 3D martial arts MMORPG JX Online 3 and 3D MMORPG Lost Temple, fighting game set in ancient Greece, in Europe and North America next year, Reuters’ China site reported April 20, quoting an interview with Kingsoft Chief Financial Officer Wang Donghui. The company will mainly target markets including Russia, Great Britain, German, France and the US with the new games, said the report.

Kingsoft expects revenue from overseas markets to grow to 20% of total revenue in the next two years. The company currently generates 14% of its revenue overseas, mainly from Southeast Asia, the report said.

Kingsoft is also reviewing a plan to set up a subsidiary in Taiwan, hoping to cash in on the island’s strong game operation and development, said the report. Kingsoft established a wholly-owned online game subsidiary to launch its JX game series in Malaysia last year.

Domestically, the company plans to launch four to five new games this year, including Moon Online, The First Myth, Du Gu Jiu Jian and Amazing Clouds, said the report.

Kingsoft saw revenue climb 25% year-on-year to RMB 1.02 billion in 2009, mainly due to the successful launch of JX Online 3 in China and the JX series abroad.

Shanda (Nasdaq:SNDA) plans to start co-operating Kingsoft’s (3888.HK) in-house developed 3D martial arts MMORPG JX Online 3 in May this year, 17173.com reported citing a March 19 Shanda announcement. The companies have agreed that Kingsoft will be responsible for game content and quality, while Shanda will distribute and promote the game, the report said.

Kingsoft Chairman and CEO Pak Kwan Kau confirmed last June that that his company was in talks with The9 (Nasdaq:NCTY) and Shanda to co-operate JX Online 3. Kingsoft and Shanda announced late 2009 that they will establish a joint venture to co-operate games, starting with JX3.

Kingsoft has nine games scheduled for release in 2010, according to a separate 17173.com report. The company said it plans to start second-round alpha testing of its licensed Chinese fantasy 3D MMORPG Feitian Fengyun in April, launch martial arts game Du Gu Jiu Jian in May, and has slated Yue Ying Chuan Shuo, 3D western fantasy MMORPG Shanggu Shendian, and community game Jian Ke Xing for June. Kingsoft will release its first webgame Shendao Xing 8 Ke in September, the report said. The company also plans to release 2D martial arts MMORPG The First Myth III in the first half of this year and launch 2.5D fighting game Feng Shen Zheng Ba in the latter half of 2010, the report said.

Previously, the company had scheduled Yue Ying Chuan Shuo and Du Gu Jiu Jian for closed beta testing in the second half of 2009.

Kingsoft (3888.HK) plans to release two expansion packs, “Cangjian Shanzhuang” and “Bashu Fengyun,” for its in-house developed 3D martial arts MMORPG JX Online 3 in May and in the fourth quarter of 2010, respectively, according to a February 24 posting on the game’s official site. The expansions will add three new factions to the game.

Reports in late December 2009 said that Shanda (Nasdaq:SNDA) division Shanda Games (Nasdaq:GAME) and Kingsoft planned to establish a joint venture, whose first project will be to operate Kingsoft’s JX Online 3.