Turner International India announced an exclusive partnership with Zapak Digital Entertainment to market and distribute Cartoon Network’s most popular Multiplayer Online Games (MOGs), including the launch of Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes (www.ben10.net) and a brand new version of the hugely popular game, Toon Football (www.toonfootball.com).
Press Release from Turner International India
HONG KONG (November 23, 2010) – Turner International India announced an exclusive partnership with Zapak Digital Entertainment to market and distribute Cartoon Network’s most popular Multiplayer Online Games (MOGs), including the launch of Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes (www.ben10.net) and a brand new version of the hugely popular game, Toon Football (www.toonfootball.com).
As part of this partnership, Turner will leverage Zapak’s strong promotional channels to expand the reach of Cartoon Network’s online gaming experience nationwide. Zapak, India’s largest gaming company, will also support the launch of CN Coins game cards, the first ever toon currency designed for the youth gaming space in India. CN Coins will be available at more than 100 Zapak’s gaming café networks – Zapak Gameplex along with 500 other private cafes across 35 cities in the country for consumers to access and enjoy these games.
Turner’s foray into social gaming coincides with an increasing appetite for fun and interactive online games in India, with the industry experiencing 89% year on year growth in 2010. In Cartoon Network’s kids’ lifestyle survey, New Generations™, results showed that 34% of kids aged 7-14 who surf the net list playing multi-player online games as their favourite activity followed by 19% who listed individual online gaming as their favourite online activity.
Benjamin Grubbs, Executive Director for Turner Entertainment Interactive Media and General Manager, TurnOut Ventures Limited, said, “India is a priority market for us so our partnership is a win-win for both Turner and Zapak. The alliance expands the distribution of Cartoon Network games and associated payment options as it leverages Zapak’s enviable network of promotional channels. We’re already enjoying some of the highest game-plays and web traffic in the region coming from India so we look forward to welcoming even more players to our sites.”
As the exclusive marketing and distribution partner for these Cartoon Network’s games, Zapak will provide significant ongoing support to Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes and Toon Football via promotional activities, gaming tournaments and customized retail promotions across Zapak Gameplexes and the private cafes across 35 cities. Zapak will promote the two games heavily on Zapak.com. In addition, Zapak will also act as a premium payment partner integrating the games into payment channels including credit and debit cards and electronic coupon purchase in Zapak gameplexes.
Commenting on this partnership, Rohit Sharma, CEO, Digital Business, Reliance Big Entertainment said, “The kids aged 15 and below contribute to over 20% of traffic on Zapak.com. They serve as one of the stickiest users on the site. Ben 10 is an extremely popular Cartoon Network toon star amongst kids in India while Sports has always been one of the most popular genres of gaming. Hence this partnership with Turner for Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes and Toon Football is to offer the very best to our growing kids segment. With the launch of the first time ever Toon currency - CN Coins game cards, we believe that it will give the smart kids in India a chance to manage their transactions wisely.”
About the MOGs:Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of the Heroes (www.ben10.net) is the first ever Ben 10 Multi Player Online Game. It is a story driven, casual Multiplayer Online Action Game that takes place in the five years between the final BEN 10 episode and BEN 10: Alien Force series. It is a place to discover and experience Ben 10 in new and more interactive ways and offers Ben 10 fans total immersion into the Ben 10 Saga!
Toon Football (www.toonfootball.com) online game catapults players into the action packed, animated world of Cartoon Network and right onto the football pitch! The new version of the game offers viewers an enhanced gaming experience via options such as the improved Team Builder allows gamers to create teams with computer generated characters, in addition to real players. Thus, making it much easier to just join and kick off. Plus, the gamers can finally have Ben 10 (from the UA series) join their team His special feature is a 'Super Kick' which guarantees you to score more goals.
About Cartoon NetworkLaunched in India in 1995, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s (TBS) Cartoon Network is the leading kids’ entertainment channel, reaching more than 28 million viewers. Currently available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages, Cartoon Network India is the first international kids’ channel to acquire 25 locally produced animated series. Recognized as the resident kids’ expert with a 360-degree presence through successful on-air and on line presence, ground-events, promotional licensing, product licensing, publishing and CD ROMS Cartoon Network continues to be India’s no. 1 kids channel. Part of the Time Warner Company, Turner International India Pvt. Ltd. is the arm of Turner Broadcasting System. Inc. (TBS) that manages the sales and marketing of Turner’s news and entertainment services in India and South Asia.
About TurnOut Ventures LimitedTurnOut Ventures focuses on innovation and investment in multi-platform entertainment. The company leverages its shareholders' strengths in content development and digital infrastructure, and functions as an incubator for market-leading new media content. TurnOut Ventures is a joint venture between Turner Entertainment Holdings Asia-Pacific Limited and Outblaze Investments Limited. For more information on products and upcoming projects, please visit www.TurnOutVentures.com.
About Zapak Digital Entertainment Ltd:Zapak (www.zapak.com) is India’s largest gaming company that addresses the complete value chain of Digital Gaming. With currently 8 million registered gamers, Zapak.com is not only the largest casual gaming sites in the country but amongst the top gaming sites in the world. Zapak owns the largest chain of dedicated gaming cafes in the country – Zapak GamePlex. These are first of its kind, high speed gaming cafes that offer world class gaming content to the Indian user. Presently there are over 100 cafes in more than 35 cities in India. Zapak Games, the Licensing & merchandising arm of Zapak has created one of India’s largest retail distribution network with presence in over 5000 retail outlets across 135 cities all across India.
Zapak is also the biggest publisher of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG) in India. It has launched some of the world’s most popular MMOG titles such as “Crazy Kart” (in partnership with Shanda, China’s largest Gaming company worth $ 3 Billion) and “Runescape” (world’s second largest MMO with over 8 million subscribers, in partnership with Jagex Games Studio). Zapak has a division, Jump Games, which is the leading Global publisher and developer of Online and Mobile Entertainment with global distribution across North America, South America, EMEA and APAC on 80 networks across 40 countries. Jump also publishes leading entertainment applications on the ITunes App store, Blackberry App world, Nokia Ovi amongst others and have had top selling applications/games around the world. Our leading games can be accessed through 80 leading networks across 40 countries worldwide like Verizon Wireless, ATT Wireless, Vodafone, Orange.
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