Press Release
YAHOO! GAMES UNVEILS EXTREME SITE MAKEOVER AT E3 EXPO
New Video Games Site Offers Player
Matching Tools and More Comprehensive Editorial Content
Sunnyvale,
CA – May 16, 2005 – Yahoo! Games, the leading online games site
(http://games.yahoo.com), is
showing its renewed focus on video games at this year’s Electronic
Entertainment Exposition (E3). Upgrades to Yahoo! Games’ offering
for hardcore gamers includes a fresh new look and feel; bolstered
content like cheats, tips and previews; and new multiplayer and
player matching services.
“We are confident that gamers at this year’s E3 expo will be excited
about our plans for new video games services,” said Geoff Graber,
general manager, Yahoo! Games. “Not only do we have a vivid new
look, but we’re also giving people a way to connect with each other
in PC video games in fun, engaging ways.”
New Features, Partnerships Change the Face of Yahoo! Games
Known on a global scale for its leadership in single and
multiplayer casual games, Yahoo! Games will show its dedication to
video gamers. Highlights include:
-
Deeper Yahoo! Messenger
integration – Yahoo! Games is deepening its integration with
Yahoo! Messenger. In Yahoo! Messenger, players will be able to
see if friends are online and what PC video games they are
playing by simply looking at the indicator next to their
friend’s name in Yahoo! Messenger. With one click, they can
actually join their friends in the same game right through
Yahoo! Messenger.
-
Editorial content upgrade
and other services – Yahoo! has forged a partnership with
GameSpot, a CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNET) property and a
leading source for trusted gaming information, to launch a new
content-rich site featuring tips and tricks, cheats, previews,
reviews and all the other information gamers want at their
fingertips. GameSpot will have 50 editors at E3 scouring the
convention for the latest breaking news while providing live
coverage with more than 60 interviews from the show floor. In
addition, Yahoo!’s video games site has no subscription fee and
free downloads for everyone.
-
Third-party development tools
– Yahoo! Games is providing game developers new access to tap
into its multiplayer matching services and Yahoo!’s community
network services. Developers will now be able to more easily
reach Yahoo!’s expansive consumer base of passionate gamers.
In addition, Yahoo! Games is doing its
part in games education, having pros on hand to help E3 attendees
and others brush up on their poker and video game skills. For video
games, Kornelia and The Frag Dolls will be available to play Doom
3 and Splinter Cell against convention attendees.
Several of the world’s top touring professional poker players –
Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari, as well as an additional surprise
poker superstar – will be in Yahoo!’s E3 booth to teach poker tips
and tricks to convention attendees.
Yahoo! Games can be found in Booth #2200 in the West Hall of the Los
Angeles Convention Center at E3 May 18-20.
About Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games (http://games.yahoo.com)
is the leading destination for online games with one of the largest
game communities on the Internet. Millions of new users and gamers
of all types visit Yahoo! Games each month to play and to discover
the best in games. Yahoo! Games’ industry leading and extremely
popular casual games area attracts users who enjoy downtime with
popular games like card, arcade, word and board to play alone or
with others, as well as playing and trying out the latest
downloadable games. Yahoo! Games also gives hard core video gamers
what they want, from the latest game news, cheats, tips, previews
and other exclusive game information, to helping them easily connect
with friends to play their favorite multiplayer games. Game fans who
want Yahoo! Games wherever whenever have Yahoo! Mobile Games,
available on most major carriers.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - News) is a leading provider of
comprehensive online products and services to consumers and
businesses worldwide. Yahoo! is the No. 1 Internet brand globally
and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!'s global network includes
25 world properties and is available in 13 languages.