Sanrio Digital - Hello Kitty Online

ATLANTA, Nov.9, 2010 — InComm, the leader in sales and marketing of prepaid products and innovator of transaction processing, has teamed up with Sanrio Digital to support the retail launch of the new prepaid game cards for the massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) Hello Kitty Online (HKO).  Leveraging InComm’s history of successful gaming launches, expertise in marketing within the point of sale gaming category, and industry-leading global distribution network, this partnership will allow Hello Kitty Online players to purchase game cards with stored value to be used in the game’s item mall. HKO cards are now available at key retailers in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Hello Kitty Online, developed by Sanrio Digital, is the official online game of Hello Kitty and Sanrio friends, and is the first MMOG to integrate social networking web services into a true social gaming experience. These services are provided in-game by SanrioTown and include blogs, video sharing and Hello Kitty email to complement MMOG features such as customizable avatars, guilds, a skill-based system, crafting, housing and pets.

“Partnering with InComm for our HKO card distribution across North America and Europe allows us to offer fans of Hello Kitty Online the flexibility of an easy payment option or gifting, as well as the value-added bonus points and special virtual items obtained by redeeming HKO game cards,” said Robert Ferrari, vice president of publishing & business development of Sanrio Digital. “InComm is a leader in the prepaid transactions space, and we aim to deliver only the best payment options to our fans, so I speak for both companies when I say it’s an ideal pairing.”

The HKO game cards are available in two denominations: $10 and $20 (prices in USD for the US; for Canada and Europe similar price-points will apply). Both denominations include free bonus points and a Level 8 Farm for in-game use, and the $20 denomination also grants an exclusive in-game House. The game itself is currently available to fans both as a free download and a Premium Edition retail boxed version sold at leading retailers across North America, and soon to be sold across Europe. 

“We are excited to expand our online gaming payment suite with a top tier partner such as Sanrio Digital and the launch of Hello Kitty Online,” said Dave Etling, vice president of product development at InComm. “InComm is committed to being the leader within the prepaid digital content space, and opportunities like this allow us to create a value proposition for both our gaming and retail partners that is unrivaled in the category today. As demand grows for gaming cards - one of the most popular payment methods in the online teen gamer demographic - InComm’s prepaid solution continues to create a success story for everyone involved; especially consumers.” 

The partnership encompasses retail locations across North America, Canada and Europe, including top tier merchants. For a full list of retailers carrying the game cards and to learn more about Hello Kitty Online visit the official website at www.hellokittyonline.com. 

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About Hello Kitty Online

Hello Kitty Online (HKO), developed by Sanrio Digital, is the official massively multi-player online game (MMOG) of Hello Kitty. The imaginative game boasts a captivating storyline, a myriad of quests and a beautifully realized fantasy world, making it a must-have adventure for Hello Kitty and online gaming fans. Featuring customizable avatars, farms and houses, players can enjoy crafting, farming, guilds, pets and much more. Hello Kitty Online is the first MMOG to integrate true social networking services, featuring blogs, video sharing and email provided by SanrioTown, the official online community for Sanrio fans.  For more information, please visit www.hellokittyonline.com. 

About SANRIO

SANRIO, best known for global icon Hello Kitty® and home to many more endearing characters including Chococat®, My Melody®, and Keroppi®, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.  August 2010 marks the golden anniversary for the worldwide lifestyle brand that was founded on the “small gift, big smile®” philosophy -- that a small gift can bring a big smile to people of all ages. Today, over 50,000 Sanrio-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 95 Sanrio boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.

About Sanrio Digital

Sanrio Digital is a joint venture between Typhoon Games (HK) Ltd. and Sanrio Wave Hong Kong Co., Ltd. Sanrio Digital is responsible for the expansion of Sanrio intellectual property assets into various digital and online media, leveraging an extensive library of original material that includes world-famous brands such as Hello Kitty, Badtz Maru, My Melody and others. Sanrio Digital is the developer and global publisher of Hello Kitty Online and SanrioTown. For more information please visit www.sanriodigital.com, www.hellokittyonline.com, and www.sanriotown.com. 

About InComm:

InComm is the industry leading marketer, distributor and technology innovator of stored-value gift and prepaid products using its state-of-the-art point-of-sale transaction technology and payment solutions to revolutionize retail product sales and customer experiences. With nearly $10 billion in retail sales transactions processed in 2009, InComm is the nation’s largest provider of gift cards, prepaid wireless products, reloadable debit cards, digital music downloads, content, games, software and bill payment solutions. InComm partners with consumer brand leaders around the world to provide more than 220,000 retail locations the products and services their customers demand. Since 1992, InComm's patented technologies have made the buying process easier for consumers while streamlining the selling process for product and retail partners. InComm is headquartered in Atlanta, GA with offices in Canada, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas. To learn more about InComm, visit www.incomm.com or call 1.800.352.3084.