Beijing-based Changyou.com signed a multi-license agreement to use BigWorld's Technology Suite as its online game development platform for upcoming MMO titles. Established in 2003, the online game operator and publisher is a subsidiary of internet services company Sohu.com.
Earlier this year, the free-to-play game company launched an IPO in the U.S. and raised $120 million -- its share price jumped 25 percent on its first day on the NASDAQ, and Changyou.com is now trading at 110 percent over its initial IPO price.
Changyou.com currently runs three online games: the in-house developed Tian Long Ba By, and the licensed
Blade Online and
Blade Hero 2. The company has at least three titles planned for future release:
Immortal Faith, Legend of the Ancient World, and
Duke of Mount Deer, the last of which is an in-house project.
BigWorld's Technology Suite is designed to provide a "complete technical architecture" for online game and virtual world developers, and includes BigWorld Server Software, Content Creation Pipeline, 3D Client Engine Package, and Live Management Tools & Instrumentation. China has more than 10 commercially live MMOs created with BigWorld Technology.
"The BigWorld engine is the best MMOG solution worldwide and has success stories in China," says Changyou CTO Xiaojian Hong. "Changyou has licensed BigWorld without hesitation. I believe that we will leverage the BigWorld engine in our upcoming 3D products to make them mature and perfect. Changyou will continue to strive to produce many higher quality MMOG titles for end-users."
