Niko Partners Releases Report Covering Videogame Regulatory Approval Process in China

San Jose, CA – January 24, 2007 – Niko Partners, a leading market intelligence firm for the Chinese videogame industry, and TransAsia Lawyers, a leading Chinese law firm, today announced the release of a report they co-published entitled "China’s Videogame Industry Regulatory Landscape." It is an important synthesis of the regulations, policy and issues that face foreign companies in the Chinese online, offline and console games market segments. Geared toward developers, publishers, hardware manufacturers and prospective investors in the Chinese market, the report takes a comprehensive look at the key people, offices, and agencies in China who influence and affect policy, and the game approval process.

“The complex regulatory environment is a major barrier of entry for foreign companies and stems from the fact that 10 ministries and agencies are tasked with creating regulatory policy for this industry. In addition to providing the names of the key influencers and decision makers, this report establishes a roadmap of the necessary steps in the process of participating in the Chinese videogame market and summarizes the relevant laws and policies that will bear on their strategic business decisions,” said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of Niko Partners.

With the online game and game software market standing at more than $800 million (US) and projected to climb 25% per year through 2010, China is currently one of the fastest growing regions for online games. China also houses a concentrated group of more than 30 million gamers, which attracts many of the world's top videogame publishers, hardware manufacturers and related service providers. The complexity of the Chinese regulatory system has taken even the early-to-market corporate giants as long as three years to ascertain. To help make sense of the situation in a shorter time period, the report comes complete with appendices of organizational charts for the important ministries regulating this industry, and provides a checklist of documents required for the application process for game content approval.

"China’s Videogame Industry Regulatory Landscape" is a critical read for any company that needs to understand the complex regulatory landscape in that market, and is available now from Niko Partners (www.nikopartners.com) for $5,000 (US).

ABOUT NIKO PARTNERS

Niko Partners was founded in 2001 as an international consulting services firm for the multimedia software industry. Since 2003, we have conducted and published primary market research on the Chinese videogame industry, both in the form of syndicated reports and as custom research studies. We also execute market-entry strategy projects using research and our extensive Niko Network of associates as the basis. The goal of the research and strategic advisory services is to help videogame industry clients understand the market, strategically enter or expand market share, and continue to profitably grow within China.

The team of analysts, researchers and consultants is based in Silicon Valley, Shanghai and Beijing. Lisa Cosmas Hanson founded Niko and manages operations in both countries. In Silicon Valley she is supported by professional analysts and consultants with whom she creates all research methodologies as well as all quantitative and qualitative analysis. Ms. Hanson manages all client relations and makes all presentations on behalf of the company.

The China team is comprised of senior market entry consultants and videogame industry professionals. They manage all China-based researchers and execute all of Niko’s local surveys, interviews, and focus groups throughout China.

ABOUT TRANSASIA LAWYERS

TransAsia Lawyers (www.TransAsiaLawyers.com) is a boutique Chinese law firm established by attorneys with over 25 years’ experience serving clients with regard to direct investment as well as ancillary activities in China.

TransAsia advises a wide range of local and international companies on matters regarding corporate and commercial law. TransAsia's principle practice areas include telecommunications, media & technology (TMT), employment, regulatory and land & real estate. In particular, TransAsia's TMT practice, in particular, is considered preeminent in China due to the breadth and depth of the firm’s experience. TransAsia assists clients to resolve complex legal problems that arise when doing business in China, including those relating to market entry, foreign investment, M&A, crisis management, employment and general compliance matters.

In conjunction with its client work, TransAsia has high-level working relationships with the key government authorities in this area, including the Ministry of Information Industry, General Administration of Press and Publications, and Ministry of Culture. TransAsia has a team of approximately 60 lawyers and professionals, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong (associated) and Sydney, as well as an international network of 1,750 lawyers in 18 offices. Most of TransAsia's attorneys are admitted to practice in mainland China, with others qualified in Hong Kong, United States (New York, California, Texas), Australia and Malaysia.