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THQ Selects Live Gamer to Power Micro-Transactions Business

^{Published on 2010-07-19 05:11:25 - Market Wire}
 

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - July 19, 2010) - Live Gamer, the trusted total commerce solution for the interactive entertainment industry, today announced that it has been selected by THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: [ THQI ]) to power the e-commerce solutions for the company's PC-online and mobile games in North America. Company of Heroes^®Online, launching later this year in the United States and Canada, will be the first THQ title to integrate Live Gamer's Elements platform for monetizing its virtual economy. Other scheduled projects include multiple social game titles for Facebook.

Live Gamer, founded in 2007, has technology and experience that dates back to 2001 where its subsidiary, Live Gamer Asia (formerly N-Cash) powered the first micro-transaction-based online game in Korea where the business model first originated. Since that time the item-based model has become the predominate revenue driver for online games worldwide. As the category continues its explosive growth towards an estimated $7B worldwide by 2015 (DFC, 2010), worldwide game publishers turn to Live Gamer Elements to accelerate, augment and grow their micro-transaction-based online game strategies.

"In-game virtual items have become increasingly popular with gamers today, and not only offer them a more immersive experience, but also give game publishers a viable and profitable revenue stream," said Martin Good, THQ Executive Vice President, Kids, Family, Casual Games, and Global Online Services. "Live Gamer offers the most complete platform for integrating a virtual economy into our games. We view this as a critical component of our complete online game delivery platform for THQ's growing portfolio of online games."

"Major game publishers like THQ are tapping into the growing virtual goods market more than ever," said Andrew Schneider, President and Co-Founder, Live Gamer. "We've watched this industry evolve since its inception and today, virtual economies have become the driving force in the online gaming business. THQ is at the forefront of game development across the globe, and we look forward to helping them grow their business model for years to come."

For more information on Live Gamer, visit [ www.livegamer.com ]. To learn more about THQ, visit [ www.THQ.com ].

About Live Gamer
Live Gamer provides a total commerce solution for global micro-transaction-based businesses. Spanning online games, digital entertainment, and social networks, Live Gamer provides an advanced offering that goes beyond billing to drive core business metrics and optimize new transaction-based revenue streams. Combining its micro-transaction platform, catalog management, storefronts, merchandising and anti-fraud solutions, scalable publisher support and international payment gateways, Live Gamer's technology has been adopted by leading publishers in gaming, social and entertainment including Acclaim, CCR, Funcom, THQ, NHN USA and Sony Online Entertainment, supporting over 84 million users in 23 countries. [ www.livegamer.com ]

About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: [ THQI ]) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products can be found at [ www.THQ.com ].

© 2010 Live Gamer, Inc. All Rights Reserved. LIVE GAMER and the Live Gamer logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Live Gamer, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. THQ, Company of Heroes and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.