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[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]

Some of its games, such as ZT Online, derive revenue from the sale of virtual goods.[9] In 2013 peak concurrent users for ZT Online 2 reached 540,000.[10]

The company may be a partner of site 51.com offering casual games.[11] The company also makes mobile games some in partnership with Ntreev Soft.[12]

It has an architecturally daring corporate headquarters on the outskirts of Shanghai designed by Morphosis.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Milestones". Giant Interactive Group, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "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. ↑ Johnson, Soren (March 5, 2009). "Opinion: Designing For Free Takes More Than 'Just' Game Design". gamasutra.com. UBM TechWeb. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Giant Interactive Updates on ZT Online 2 Peak Concurrent Users." Entertainment Close-up. Close-Up Media, Inc. 2012. HighBeam Research. 23 May. 2014
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "China : GIANT Inks Deal with NTREEV." Mena Report. Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 23 May. 2014
  13. ↑ 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.