JoWooD announce nine new titles. News

The two quoted companies, Bochum-based Phenomedia AG and JoWooD Productions Software AG, the latter listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, signed an agreement today regarding the world-wide distribution of nine games titles. The agreement covers in total 12 new releases on various different games platforms. Phenomedia will provide content and JoWooD will publish and distribute globally the products in this unique cooperative venture. For both parties this agreement means a significant step in securing future company growth. <br /> <br /> The cooperative venture is valued at approx. EUR 8.1 million. For JoWooD this ensure further growth and further proof of turnover potential of EUR 22 million in the comming years. <br /> <br /> "This contract confirms our future strategy, and is also reflected in a positive development throughout the year." commented Markus Scheer, CEO of Phenomedia. Andreas Tobler, Chairman and CEO of JoWooD: "Phenomedia have already proved in the past that they are capable of more than the "Moorhen" and are able to deliver high quality games in the full price market segment. This agreement is a perfect solution for both partners and unique in the German entertainment software industry. For JoWooD this contract means confirmation and recognition of the last month's efforts but above all an important cover of the future business. Furthermore it proves once again that JoWooD are on their way to becoming a global player in the electronic games industry." <br /> <br /> The new full price titles include sequels of the most successful games like "The Planner", "Cultures" and "Gothic" as well as new releases like the western construction strategy game "Far West", which is already now quoted by a games-magazine as among the ten most egarly awaited games of the next year. <br /> <br /> The Phenomedia Games covers a broad variety of game content and appeal to enthousiastic games fans as well as beginners in this fascinating digital world. In excess of 2.5 million copies of the "Planner" serie - a logistics game, published in 1994 - have been sold so far. The vikings saga "Cultures" featuring cute little characters convinced many occasional players as well as core gamers and 130,000 copies have been sold since last Christmas. The demanding 3-D fantasy role game "Gothic" with more than 200 interlinked games caracters is already praised higher than many world class games and quoted as benchmark of the genre. <br /> <br /> The decision in favour of JoWooD has both a commercial and a strategic implications: "Despite a strong interest in our company from many publishers including some of the bigger players, of which we were very pleased, we opted for JoWooD. The company has a size comparable to Phenomedia, which means quick and effective channels of communication, first class marketing strategy that takes into account the different games characteristics. They definitely went for the success of this cooperation.", commented Markus Scheer, CEO of Phenomedia. <br /> <br /> Also for JoWooD this agreement is more than a simple publishing agreement. Andreas Tobler , Chairman and CEO of JoWooD : "Phenomedia has a product range of outstanding quality and they bring in a perfect addition to our own growing portfolio with the Giant and Nations series. Together we offer the biggest product range of all German games companies." <br />