Gala Networks Europe expansion

Wednesday 14th January 2009 – Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen TD today announced that Gala Inc, a leading Japanese online games publisher, is to expand its European HQ at Gala Networks Europe in the Digital Hub. Due to the growth of the European online games market and the success of the Irish operation to date, the IDA Ireland client company will create an additional 50 positions in Dublin, bringing total employment to 100 by 2010.

GALA Incorporated, established in 1993 in Tokyo Japan, is a leader in the growing non-subscription Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG) market. The company’s main business focus is the development of online games and the operation of game portal sites worldwide (90% of revenues). Gala also develops data mining tools, provides marketing and web design services and operates a number of multi-topic websites. In early 2007, Gala established its European Headquarters in the Digital Hub to serve and expand its growing base of European customers.

As part of its rapid European expansion, Gala is planning the introduction of new games titles and new language versions to its existing French and German speaking markets; expanding into new markets and licensing games from other development companies. The new roles created will require highly-skilled candidates with a combination of gaming and relevant third-level experience. These roles will be created in management, engineering, localisation, customer support and marketing.

Announcing the company’s decision to expand its European HQ in Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen TD said “Gala is an integral part of the thriving games industry in Ireland, and particularly in the Digital Hub in Dublin. The industry is a strategic target for IDA Ireland and we are becoming a location of choice for the world’s leading internet and digital content companies.”

Mr Satoru Kikugawa, Gala Group CEO, Gala Inc said “We are delighted with the success of our operation in Ireland to date. This decision to expand our presence in Ireland is the right one to support our market growth objectives. Ireland has a strong internet infrastructure and population of young, educated and creative talent. There is a strong supply of software, localisation and technical expertise there which is essential for our further expansion into the European market-place.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Gala is a newcomer to the growing online games business, but is one of the first Japanese companies to provide online games in the U.S. It is also a pioneer of the free-to-play business model, i.e. users can download the game for free and only pay when they decide to buy an ‘item’ to expand their gaming experience.

Gala, Inc., Gala-Net, Inc and Gala Networks Europe Ltd. are currently creating a worldwide gaming brand, “gPotato”, and marketing online game titles all over the world. Gala Networks Europe markets games in various European languages, starting with French and German, from Ireland.

Gala Networks Europe Ltd., is a leading European free-to-play online games publisher based in Dublin, Ireland. Gala Networks Europe operates the gPotato brand by hosting, publishing and distributing free online games via the www.gpotato.eu portal. Present in Europe for more than a year with three successful MMORPGs Flyff, Rappelz and Street Gears, the gPotato.eu portal is now a major destination for online gamers with over a million users. Dragonica, the fourth game of the portal, will be available in Spring 2009.

Gala Inc. was listed 12th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Japan* 2008, a ranked list of the fastest-growing companies in the Japanese technology, media, and telecommunications industry.

* The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Japan is part of the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Awards, run and moderated by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Group in countries around the world. It seeks to reward companies that have demonstrated cutting edge business strategies, vision and solid management, and recognizes the 50 fastest-growing companies in the technology, media, and telecommunications industry of Japan by examining companies on their relative growth in revenue over a three-year period.

For media queries contact:

Gala Networks Europe : Get in touch at contact@gpotato.eu