BEIJING, July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Qihoo 360
Technology Co. Ltd (NYSE: QIHU) ("Qihoo 360"), a leading Internet
company in China, and Giant
Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) ("Giant"), one of China's leading online game developers and
operators, today announced that they will collaborate in operating
Qianjun Online, a customized
micro-client version of Giant's ZT Online 2 on Qihoo 360's
game open platform. The collaboration represents a significant
extension of Qihoo 360's game open platform and makes
Qianjun Online available to
Qihoo 360's over 400 million user base.
Qianjun Online retains
nearly all of the core gameplay mechanics of ZT Online 2,
Giant's second flagship 2D client-based massively multiplayer
online role playing game ("MMORPG"), which began open beta testing
in September 2011 and reached over
541,000 peak concurrent users ("PCU") on April 22, 2012. In addition, Qianjun Online includes improved graphics
and designed characters and quests. Although the micro-client
installation file size is only approximately one percent of the
MMORPG installation client file size, it provides a complete game
experience to users. Qianjun
Online also adopts Qihoo 360's latest Internet security
technologies to enhance the protection of users' computers and game
accounts.
Mr. Yuzhu Shi, chairman and chief
executive officer of Giant commented, "We are pleased to announce
our first micro-client game, Qianjun
Online, in collaboration with Qihoo 360. Our extension
into micro-client games offers incremental opportunities for Giant
to market and operate its blockbuster games, helping to further
expand the user base of client-based games. As a leading online
game developer and operator with a sharp focus on innovation, Giant
strives to deliver innovative, fun-to-play experiences to gamers.
The development of the micro-client Qianjun Online and the new partnership with
Qihoo 360 provide us new opportunities to extend such experience
and expand our client-based game business. We look forward to a
successful partnership with Qihoo 360."
Mr. Hongyi Zhou, chairman and
chief executive officer of Qihoo 360, commented, "We are extremely
pleased to work with Giant. Giant has extensive experience in
online game development and a proven ability to understand game
players' needs. This partnership is a significant extension of our
game open platform as we add the micro-client version of MMORPGs to
our offerings. As a leading Internet company in China, we have built our user base of over 400
million by offering free comprehensive Internet and mobile security
solutions and key Internet access points such as browsers and an
app store. With our user base and Giant's game experience, we
believe that both companies are well positioned to collaborate in
marketing and operating Qianjun
Online. It is a win-win relationship. We will continue
to leverage our user base and share resources with potential
partners to build an open and prosperous online ecosystem."
About Giant
Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) is a leading
online game developer and operator in China in terms of market share, and focuses on
massively multiplayer online role playing games. Currently,
Giant operates multiple games, including the ZT Online 1
Series, ZT Online 2, Giant Online, XT
Online, The Golden Land, and Elsword.
Giant has built a nationwide distribution network to sell the
prepaid game cards and game points required to play its
games. For more information, please visit Giant Interactive
Group on the web at www.ga-me.com.
About Qihoo 360
Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU) is a leading Internet
company in China. It is the number
one provider of Internet and mobile security products in
China as measured by its user
base, according to iResearch. Qihoo 360 also provides users with
secure access points to the Internet via its market leading web
browsers and application stores. Qihoo 360 has built one of the
largest open Internet platforms in China. Qihoo 360 monetizes its massive user
base primarily through online advertising and through Internet
value-added services on its open platforms.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking
nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in
this announcement are forward-looking statements, including
management quotations. You can identify these forward-looking
statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "believes,"
"anticipates," "intends," "estimates" and similar statements. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions,
estimates and projections about Qihoo 360 and the industry.
Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
the Company's ability to continue to innovate and provide
attractive products and services to attract and retain users; the
Company's ability to keep up with rapid changes in technologies and
Internet-enabled devices; the Company's ability to leverage its
user base to attract customers for our revenue-generating services;
and the Company's dependence on online advertising for a
substantial portion of our revenues; and the Company's ability to
compete effectively. All information provided in this press release
is as of the date of the press release, and Qihoo 360 undertakes no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its
expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Qihoo 360
believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its
expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are
cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the
anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and
uncertainties faced by Qihoo 360 is included in Qihoo 360's filings
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
annual report on Form 20-F dated April 19,
2012.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd.
In China:
Tel: +86 10-5878-1574
E-mail: ir@360.cn
In the U.S.:
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Floberg or Lee Roth
Tel: (212) 481-2050
E-mail: qihu@tpg-ir.com
SOURCE Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd.