CDC Corporation's (CHINA) subsidiary CDC Games has launched its open beta program for Special Force, one of the first free-to-play, pay-for-merchandise first person shooter games in China.
Special Force was recently ranked as the top online game in Korean Internet cafes for more than 50 consecutive weeks. Developed by Dragonfly, the game has been deployed into nine Internet Data Centers in China in Anhui, Dongguan, Xian, Qingdao, Zhengzhou, Shenyang, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chengdu on China Telecom and China Netcom.
Users from around the country can download the client for free which is available via China content distribution networks. The open beta of Special force will also be promoted in over 1,200 Internet cafe events in more than 100 cities across China during May. The Internet cafes will host "Special Force parties" in which gamers are invited to play and test out the game and provide feedback. The open beta program encourages broad public usage among gamers to complete final testing of the user experience as well as testing of deployment and scalability prior to general release.
Special Force is a first person shooter online game that originated in Korea. The game allows players to create their own elite military units with customized weapons and equipment selected from those used by special forces from around the world. With advanced 3D graphics and advanced special effects, the game will allow users nationwide to play against each other in teams and compete in competitions, which will provide for a very compelling experience in ranking one's self and one's team against other people and teams across the country.
CDC Games plans to leverage its centralized online gaming platform to allow users to enjoy the company's online game portfolio under a single login account, using a common virtual currency for all games. This platform will greatly enhance the flexibility for users to select online games according to their own preference and help build long-term brand loyalty with CDC Games.
CDC Games is targeting the commercial launch of Special Force before the end of the second quarter, 2007.
