The Walt Disney Internet Group and Shanda (SNDA) today announced an agreement to bring Disney's content to China's online game industry via Shanda's online game platform.

Shanda will develop, distribute and operate an online casual game based on Disney's animated characters. The agreement marks Disney's entrance into China's online game market.

The game, which will be developed for a broader demographic than traditional online games, as well as China's burgeoning segment of female online gamers, will be available in China for open beta in the spring of 2007.

"The market for online games in China is large and growing, and it was important for us to find the right partner. We're pleased to have found that in Shanda," said Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, Walt Disney Internet Group. "Disney's rich content library, combined with Shanda's capabilities as a leading online game operator, will bring a new, unique and fun experience for the online game consumer. We actively look to bring more of our content to the online interactive entertainment market in China."

In the first quarter of 2006, Shanda's total peak concurrent users for all games in commercial service was 2.45 million and peak concurrent users for Shanda's casual games was 1.56 million.