IMAGI sets up mobile game apps department

The department to tap the growing internet & mobile gaming market.

IMAGI International Holdings Limited (“IMAGI”) is pleased to announce the establishment of a mobile and internet game applications department in order to tap the rapidly-growing smartphone and internet gaming market.

The new department is scheduled to start operation in 1 December 2011 and the first game application will be launched in the 1st half of 2012. The game will feature a newly created brand and focus on Android and Apple OS smartphones and tablet PCs.

Mr Soh Szu Wei, CEO and Executive Director of IMAGI, said, “Smartphones and tablets are now commonly used as their popularity continues to rise rapidly. Mobile browsers and applications are increasingly used as the main points of interaction and beyond merely serving as a telephone device. Among all the interactive activities, gaming is expected to remain a key pursuit in the use of new and innovative portable connected devices. As a pioneer in the animation industry, we see strong synergy and potential for our technology and capabilities to extend into the game applications business. Leveraging on our expertise in the production of stereoscopic 3D CGI animation and knowledge in animation, IMAGI will create fun-filled game applications to tap the fast-growing mobile gaming as well as the smartphone and tablet PC market. In addition, IMAGI will also leverage on its subsidiary, Toon Express Group’s expertise in creating consumer products and licensing opportunities. In addition, internet provides IMAGI with the unique ability to market its digital based products on a worldwide basis and bypass physical geographic borders.”

According to IT research and consultancy firm Gartner Research, mobile games are the most frequently downloaded application category across most online stores. Gartner Research reports that mobile gaming will experience the largest growth within the gaming software market, with its share growing from 15% in 2010 to 20% in 2015. Gartner Research also predicts that global smartphone shipments will reach 462 million in 2011, up 55% from a year earlier, and rise to 612 million in 2012.

China’s mobile internet market is the Group’s major focus in the new area of business as the country has the world’s largest online population with more than 486 million internet users as at the end of June this year.* The number of people surfing the web on mobile phones has also accelerated to 318 million at the end of June, up by 14.94 million from end-December in 2010, according to an IMAGI report.

“Setting up our mobile and internet game applications department involves minimal capital and operational expenditure, IMAGI will be able to fully utilise its existing infrastructure and resources for product and business development. IMAGI is confident of creating innovative and entertaining game applications to attract users in China and internationally. With the strong and rising demand in gaming applications and online entertainment, IMAGI believes that this initiative will help diversify income stream and drive business growth.” Soh concluded.