GOA reveals launch line-up for casual games portal

France Telecom's videogames publishing arm, GOA, has revealed the first three titles to appear on its European free-to-play games portal, which is scheduled to launch in the second half of the year.

In a bid to cater for a broad audience of both casual and hardcore gamers, GOA will offer fantasy golf game Pangya, turn-based combat title Gunbound and urban sports game Extreme Soccer. Each of these has enjoyed a positive reception in Asian markets - and GOA is hoping they will also prove successful in Europe.

GOA SVP Ghislaine Le Rhun commented: "These three initial titles offer accessible, addictive and diverse gameplay experiences. They will cater for the multiple tastes of all sorts of players, from casual gamers who enjoy dipping in and out of titles in their spare time, to the hardcore who are devoted to climbing to the top of the online leagues."

Touted as Europe's first free online gaming portal, GOA.com is based on an increasingly popular Korean business model which is increasingly being adopted by publishers of massively multiplayer online games and premium online casual games services.

The site will offer all games for free, generating revenue through optional micro-payments for additional in-game items, weapons, character abilities and a massive selection of personal customisation tools.

The new portal, which will be accessible across Europe in English, French, German and Spanish, will launch with just three games, each supported by online ranking, community features and a selection of purchasable in-game items.

GOA intends to drive consumers to the site - adhering to the successful Korean business model - by offering regular additional content including new games, downloadable content and a strong set of community features and communication tools.