China Mobilises Republic

Wenesday 10th August 2005/... Computer games written by a prominent Yorkshire games developer now have the potential to reach over 360 million mobile phone subscribers thanks to the pivotal role played by the region's alliance of high-tech companies.

Creative North, developers and designers of mobile phone games, today applauded the considerable influence of Game Republic, a trade alliance formed to further excellence in video games development within the Yorkshire and Humber regions, in instigating its new publishing deal with Beijing-based MIG China - one of China's leading mobile games publisher.

The crucial role played by Game Republic in bringing the two companies together to publish two of the Huddersfield-based developer's games in China cements the alliance's burgeoning reputation as a major influence in the success of the region's often financially stretched games developers. It also guarantees Creative North the opportunity to sell its games in a country boasting a massive 360 million mobile phone subscribers - a figure unrivalled by any other country in the world.

"Game Republic is committed to ensuring the region's software development community are given every chance of success in what is a fiercely competitive global market, and today's publishing deal between Creative North and MIG China clearly demonstrates the virtues of the collaborative effort," says Michael Crampton, General Manager, Game Republic. "Our goal, as ever, is to assist the region's wealth of programming talent to gain a sustainable international presence."

"Without the connections, support and encouragement of the Game Republic alliance, it's doubtful whether such an outstanding opportunity - to sell our games to anything like the number of potential mobile phone gamers China affords - would have come to our attention," adds Phil Mundy, Director, Creative North Studios Ltd. "Game Republic hasn't just been a sympathetic ear, but a bona fide means to explore and generate new and exciting business opportunities."

For more information on Game Republic and its activities, please head to www.gamerepublic.co.uk

For more information, please contact Tom Sargent at Barrington Harvey: +44(0)1462456780 / tom.sargent@bhpr.co.uk

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Note to editors:

Please include this statement where appropriate/possible: Game Republic receives funding from Yorkshire Forward and is part financed by The European Union.

About Creative North

Creative North is a developer of J2ME based mobile games. In addition to commercial development the studio also operates the Creative North academy; the academy is designed to give young people the opportunity to learn new skills and develop their industry understanding; our aim is to then place these individuals into the games industry. For more information on Creative North, visit their website at http://www.creativenorth.co.uk.