| The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.established in August 1999, is a leading online game operator and developer in China. It is the first Chinese hi-tech company which put forth the concept of ¡°virtual community¡± and also the first to put the concept into practice and earned return. Currently, The9 has more than 14 million registered users.
The9 began to offer its self-developed online virtual community game the9 City in 2000 and commercialized the9 City in December 2000. In July 2002, The9 obtained the exclusive license to operate MU in China. According to the 2003 China Online Game Market Research conducted by 17173, MU was Chinese gamers¡¯ most welcomed online game. The9 leaped to become the only Chinese company which can compete with Shanda. In 2003, on Forbes China¡¯s Richest Entrepreneur List, The9¡¯s Chairman, Zhu Jun, then 37-year old, ranked 66th, with net assets of US ?150 million.
In 2004, The9 obtained the exclusive license to operate "World of Warcraft" in China with the cost of US ?13 million. Meanwhile, The9 is expanding its in-house development capability of online games, including MMORPGs. "Joyful Journey West" is the first side-scrolling MMORPG developed in-house by The9. It launched open beta in May 2005. The9?s products and services also include game operating support, Website solutions and advertisement services, and game-related short messaging services (SMS). |
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