Chinese online game enterprise- Linekong won two important honors of Jin Ling Award 2008
Linekong Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd. 10/16/08
15th Oct., the “Oscar award” of Chinese online game industry - Jin Ling Award 2008 was issued. As the third-generation leading enterprise, Linekong was respected by millions of players and awarded 2 important honors. They are:
1, ¡°The Most Popular Online Game¡±- <The Legend of Kungfu>
2, ¡°The Best Original Online Game¡±- <Warrior King>
The annual Jin Ling Award has been recognized as the highest honor for Chinese online game industry. In the past, the listed companies monopolized all of the awards. For this year, 300% of the vote growth rate made the competition even fiercer. And this is the first time for Linekong to participate in the election of Jin Ling Award. During the 8 weeks of selection, <The Legend Of Kungfu>, <Warrior King> always captured the top positions of Jin Ling Award. In the end, with gains of the two awards for excellence, Linekong successfully showed the strength of the third-generation online game enterprise.
At the beginning of foundation, Linekong gained 10,000,000 U.S. dollars of investment from IDGVC. In May 2008, Linekong accepted a total of $25 million joint investment from Northern Lights ventures and NEA. Relying on the fully support of capital market, Linekong has sufficient space to participate in market competition. On December 26 last year, Linekong launched the first Kungfu turn-based online game “The Legend of Kungfu”. From that time, Linekong officially march to the domestic online game market. Less than a year, Linekong has five products, game genre covered by 2D, 3D, as well as turn-based, ARPG, casual game and so on.
Mr. Wang Feng, the CEO of Linekong, said that£º“The next three years will be the golden period for development of the third-generation online game enterprises. The great time will be coming soon. Then, the traditional listed companies' ‘monopoly 'status will face enormous challenges.” After one year of rapid development, Linekong was fully trusted by consumers and unanimously endorsed by the game industry. Linekong has set a benchmark for the third-generation online game enterprises. And the excellent product strategy, the creative “independent producer system”, the professional team, the wealthy products will help Linekong to play a greater advantage in the coming fierce competition.
Ms. Liao Mingxiang, the vice-president of Linekong, said that:" With the rapid development of Chinese online games industry, the competition in the level of marketing and sales has been intensified. Relying on the product advantages, Linekong will occupy the more favorable position in the future market competition. This time, two products of Linekong won the Jin Ling Awards. The two important awards not only let us win the recognition from the players, but also encourage us to adhere to the ‘products and talents’ as the core strategy. And this month, we will disclose the company's major product information to the players to show our excellent R&D strength. Please look forward to our news."
Linekong will Attend the Chinajoy with 5 Games on Display
Xinhua-PRNewswire, 7/16/08
BEIJING, July 16 -- As a dark horse of the domestic online game industry, Linekong Entertainment Technology Co., Ltd. will attend the 6th China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference (Chinajoy) with 5 games.
"The Legend of Kung Fu", "Hero", "Blooded Westward Journey", "Warrior King" and "Super Adventurer" will appear in this Chinajoy. These 5 products cover all of the most popular game types in recent years. "The Legend of Kung Fu" is the first turn-based kung fu online game in China. And it is already in the open beta period. The company invited "Super girls" and "Happy boys" to be the spokespersons of "The Legend of Kung Fu" in order to attract the post 80s players. "Hero" is the second work that is developed by Gbits Technology. Their first independently developed game -- "Ask Dao" -- is the most popular game in China nowadays. And "Hero" will be released in this September. Besides, the first independently developed game of Linekong -- "Blooded Westward Journey" -- will be released this year. And it is also the first realistic MMOARPG game on the theme of Journey to the West in the domestic market. One thing is particularly noteworthy, Linekong will disclose some information about "Warrior King" and "Super Adventurer" in this Chinajoy. "Warrior King" is adapted from the super-hit novel of the same name on qidian.com. And "Super Adventurer" is a 3D casual game.
Linekong is the only third generation online game enterprise in this Chinajoy Expo. The Linekong's stage reaches 342 square meters. During the Chinajoy expo, there will be dozens of sexy girls dancing and performing in the Linekong's stage. Besides, there are also Kungfu performances from Shaolin disciples. The audiences there will have the opportunities to communicate with Shaolin disciples.
Behind the stage, there are 30 high-end computers for audiences to experience the games of Linekong. Audiences will also receive the free "Experience Card" provided by Linekong. There are also many showgirls who will help you and show you how to play it. You will find that it is easy to enter the game world of Linekong.
The attractive games, the magnificent showgirls and amazing cosplay, Linekong will show you a crazy game fiesta.¡¡
About Linekong:
Linekong is a young interactive entertainment enterprise founded in March of 2007. The Company is specialized in the development and operation of online games. Mr. Wang Feng, the founder of Linekong, is a senior expert in software and online games.
We have built a perfect R&D center, an operation and service center, and a marketing and sales network all over China. Besides, we have many large online games such as "The Legend of Kung Fu," "Hero," "Blooded Westward Journey," "Warrior King" and "Super Adventurer" and its products can be categorized as turn-based games, ARPGs and casual games.
Linekong will develop its business essentially based on talent and cooperation. The publicized "independent game producer system" is attracting more and more game R&D and design talent. Relying upon our strong operation and marketing abilities, we are also trusted by more and more game development companies.
Presently Linekong has more than 400 people, and have standing branch offices in 14 cities of China.
As a young enterprise in the online Chinese game industry, the Company is devoted to building a world-leading brand for online Chinese games based on the domestic market and expectation of the international market in the future.
Online Gaming Operator Linekong Lands VC Investment
ChinaByte, 5/13/07
Former Kingsoft Senior VP Wang Feng has won USD 15 mln of venture capital funding from IDG and launched a new online gaming operator named Linekong. According to other reports, Wang's repeated trips to Korea earlier this year were to win the rights to Audition 2, follow up to Korean firm T3's online game Audition, with plans to launch it before the end of this year.
Audition is currently China's most successful casual game, with operator Nineyou (9you) reporting up to 780,000 peak concurrent users. An IDG partner once accidentally revealed that eighteen months ago IDG made a confidential investment in T3 to fund development of Audition 2. The connection between this, Wang's funding, and the signing of the rights for Audition 2, is clear.
Wang is already making preparations for the launch of Audition 2, with a team of 30 undertaking localization work.
LENS: Linekong Technologies focuses on interactive entertainment development. The company reports having signed licensing agreements with several domestic and overseas developers for operation of their games in China, with launch planned before the end of 2007. In addition to Wang Feng, the management team also includes Liao Mingxiang, formerly the director of Kingsoft's operations center and channel development (and a colleague of Wang Feng for roughly 8 years) and Wang Lei, formerly the COO of online game developer and operator Guangyuhuaxia.
IDG's investment in Linekong underscores the VC community's continuing focus on China's TMT sector. In Q1 2007, there were 72 VC investments in the Chinese market worth a total of nearly USD 519 mln. Among them, 42 were in the TMT sector, with a combined value of nearly USD 340 mln, or 65.5% of the total. 19 funds have amassed USD 2.86 bln in capital for investment in China in Q1 2007 - already more than half the 2006 full-year total (i.e. available funds) of USD 4.44 bln.
Netease Core R&D Team Hops to Linekong
Tencent, 11/21/07
Earlier reports that most of the core members who left Netease's online game development team have joined Linekong have been confirmed by Linekong CEO Wang Feng. More details could not be disclosed at this time.
According to reports, this is the original Kingsoft "JX" 3-D game project team, which, after joining NetEase in 2003, formed Ark Game Studio and went on to produced the large-scale 3-D online game "Datang Haoxia" and "Datang Haoxia 2".
In early November it was claimed that eight group members, including chief planner Liu Wei, chief programmer Huang Shuhuai, and others involved in numerical systems development, implementation, and other areas had already officially joined Linekong.
LENS: NetEase has focused on fostering its own in-house game development ability, viewing this as a key advantage over game operators like The9, which rely mainly on licensing from outside developers. This road, however, has proven a difficult one, with heavy expenses incurred developing mega-flops like Datang Haoxia and significant staff turn-over.
Netease poached Kingsoft's "JX" development team in 2003 at a "significant cost". The team produced Datang Haoxia, which began closed beta testing in May 2007 with an average concurrent user (ACU) figure of 150,000 players, but after commercial launch as a pay-to-play game in July, the ACU dropped by 60%-70%. In an attempt to lure back these players, Netease quickly announced that the R&D team was developing "Datang Haoxia 2", to be launched as a free-to-play game. However, before even finishing "Datang Haoxia 2", the R&D team jumped ship, returning to former colleague (ex-Kingsoft senior VP) and current Linekong CEO, Wang Feng.
This loss of R&D talent followed a similar setback in June 2006, when the team that developed Netease's blockbuster, Fantasy Westward Journey, was poached by Kingsoft. In Q1 2006, Fantasy Westward Journey contributed nearly 50% of Netease's game revenue.
Linekong Gained Millions Dollars of VC Investment
17173, 5/14/08
According to resources, Chinese online game developer Linekong has recently acquired a huge venture capital investment of more than USD 20 million.
According to resources, Chinese online game developer Linekong has recently acquired a huge venture capital investment of more than USD 20 million. This is the second round of financing Linekong has got after the USD 10 million investment from IDG VC.
This is rare in Chinese online game industry for an online game enterprise to get two investment of ten million level. If this rumor is ture, then it would be the highest record of a single venture capital investment.
Founded in last March, Linekong Technologies is a new internet content provider which focuses on interactive entertainment development. Now there are multiple projects under operation by Linekong, including Wending and Skyward Sword and Dragon-kill Falchion. Rexu Xiyou and Yongbing Tianxia which developed by itself will launch at the end of this year and early next year separately.
According to predict, Wending and Rexue Xiyou will continue the success of Wendao and Zhuxian, estimated to reach PCU between 200 and 300 thousand. And the revenue of each game will reach 20 million to 30 million RMB. Adding to Yongbing Tianxia and Skyward Sword and Dragon-kill Falchion,In the annual conference of Chinese game industry, Linekong gained the award as one of the Top 10 New Enterprises, and its CEO Wangfeng was awarded as one of the Top 10 New aracters.
Linekong Receives New Round of Investment
SinoCast China IT Watch via COMTEX, 5/15/08
Linekong.com, a cyber game start-up in China, announced on May 14 that it had received investment of USD 25 million from venture capital firms Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) and NEA.
It is the second round of financing after Linekong.com gained USD 10 million from IDG VC in May last year. And it is also the largest investment received by a Chinese cyber game vendor in the past five years.
Spokesperson for Linekong.com says that the proceeds will be used for research and development of online game platform, recruitment of high-level game designers, and large scale marketing and promotional activities.
Wang Feng, chief executive officer of Linekong.com, says that the company is planning to enlist as many as 300 game designers and set up a marketing team with 2,000 staff.
Jiang Xiaodong, chairman and general manager of NEA's China arm, says that NEA has been deeply impressed by Linekong.com's innovation and research ability. And NEA hopes to build the Chinese company into the leading light of the industry.
Zhou Shuhua, a partner of Northern Light Venture Capital, says that NLVC has been paying more attention to Chinese high-tech companies with good innovative ability. And NLVC believes that Linekong.com will make a hit with its high-class designers.
Headquartered in Beijing, Linekong.com was founded in March 2007 by a group of experts from the software and cyber game industries. It is poised to be the bellwether of the new generation of entertainment companies.
With the investment from IDG VC last year, Linekong.com has further boost up its integrated competitiveness in the cyber game market in China. By now, the company has more than 500 employees. And it has built up branches in Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenyang.
Several games of Linekong.com have been well received by Chinese game players. Linekong.com is about to kick off its latest hit Wending in June 2008.
NLVC is a China-focused venture capital firm specializing primarily in private opportunities in China-based consumer and technology-related businesses across various industries.
NLVC was founded in 2005 and led by China-born executives with significant operational and entrepreneurial expertise in both China and the U.S. NLVC is headquartered Beijing with offices in Shanghai and Menlo Park, CA.
NEA has been helping to build great companies since 1978. Its committed capital has grown to approximately USD8.5 billion and it has funded more than 550 companies in the IT and healthcare sectors.
