Giant Interactive

Giant Interactive Group Inc
Traded as NYSE: GA
Genre massively multiplayer online games
Predecessor Shanghai Zhengtu Network Technology Co Ltd[1]
Founded November 2001 (2001-11)[2]
Key people
Shi Yuzhu
Website http://www.ga-me.com/
Giant Interactive
Simplified Chinese 巨人网络集团有限公司
Literal meaning Giant Interactive Group Inc

Giant Interactive Group Inc operates and develops online games, primarily its blockbuster MMO ZT Online 2, in China.[2] As of 2008, the company has a strong presence in 2nd and 3rd tier Chinese cities,[3] large and medium-sized cities that aren't one of the top four in terms of population and contribution to GDP.[4] In 2008, Giant Interactive had the third-largest share of the Chinese online games market with 11.9%,[5] and a BNP Paribas media unit called the company "the industry leader of online games in China."[6] It was founded in 2001 as Shanghai Zhengtu Network Technology Co Ltd.[1]

Listed on the NYSE in 2007,[1] in late 2013 the company was planning to be taken private (and subsequently delisted from the exchange).[7] As of April 2014, this go-private plan had yet to be completed amid a lawsuit filed by shareholders to prevent the sale.[8] By July 2014, the company had gone private in a $3 billion merger with Giant Merger Ltd.[9]

Some of its games, such as ZT Online, derive revenue from the sale of virtual goods.[10] In 2013, peak concurrent users for ZT Online 2 reached 540,000.[11]

The company may be a partner of site 51.com offering casual games.[12] Giant Interactive also makes mobile games some in partnership with Ntreev Soft.[13]

It has an architecturally daring corporate headquarters on the outskirts of Shanghai designed by Morphosis.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Milestones". Giant Interactive Group, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "About Us >> Profile". Giant Interactive Group, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  3. Yu, Frank (July 8, 2008). "The China Angle: Reaching Into The Heartland Of China". gamasutra.com. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  4. Mullich, Joe. "China’s "Second-Tier" Cities Take Off". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company, Inc. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  5. "Jeux en ligne : +213% pour le marché chinois d'ici 2011". L’Atelier (in French). L’Atelier BNP Paribas. 13 March 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  6. "Chine : 51.com entre sur le marché des jeux en ligne". L’Atelier (in French). L’Atelier BNP Paribas. 23 October 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  7. Williams Act Reports." SEC Filings Insight. Wolters Kluwer CCH. 2013. HighBeam Research. 23 May. 2014
  8. Lowrey, Brandon (April 25, 2014). "Giant Interactive Shareholders Fight $3B Go-Private Deal". Law 360 A LexisNexis Company. Portfolio Media, Inc. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. "China's online gaming firm Giant Interactive goes private in a $3B deal". Giant Interactive Group, Inc. July 18, 2014.
  10. Johnson, Soren (March 5, 2009). "Opinion: Designing For Free Takes More Than 'Just' Game Design". gamasutra.com. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  11. "Giant Interactive Updates on ZT Online 2 Peak Concurrent Users." Entertainment Close-up. Close-Up Media, Inc. 2012. HighBeam Research. 23 May. 2014
  12. "51.com lance sa propre plate-forme de jeux en ligne". L’Atelier (in French). L’Atelier BNP Paribas. 30 April 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  13. "China : GIANT Inks Deal with NTREEV." Mena Report. Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 23 May. 2014
  14. Pearson, Clifford A. (January 2011). "Morphosis engages landform with architecture to create a new kind of workplace for Chinese capitalism.". Architectural Record (Shanghai, China). The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2012.


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