Sign in Subscribe
Software industry

Mplayer.com Partners with Fujitsu to Launch Online Games and Entertainment in Japan

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Mplayer.com, an industry-leading Internet games and entertainment community, has formed a strategic partnership with Fujitsu Limited to launch an extension of its service in Japan. This partnership brings the award-winning online game network to a market hosting over 16.5 million computer and video game enthusiast households, the world's second-largest market for interactive games and entertainment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mplayer.com, led by founder Brian Apgar, has formed a strategic partnership with Fujitsu Limited to launch an extension of its online games and entertainment service in Japan.
  • The partnership will bring the Mpath proprietary systems for online games and entertainment, including online game matchmaking, communications features, and advanced technology for high-speed, low latency game play, to the Japanese market.
  • Fujitsu's Electronic Contents and Service Division will host, operate, and provide content for the service, which will be fully localized for the Japanese market.
  • Market research data from Access Media International forecasts that game enthusiasts in Japan will purchase over 110 million computer and video games by the end of 1998, accounting for more than $5.6 billion in revenues.
  • Japan is ranked as the second-largest market for total interactive entertainment software sales, following the United States, with PC game sales expected to reach over 4.5 million units sold, accounting for more than $212 million in revenues.
  • Fujitsu maintains a strong commitment to developing consumer Internet and entertainment products and services, with a proven expertise in online gaming through its "Dragon's Dream" and Multiplayer BattleTech offerings.
  • The partnership is the second in a series of partnerships formed by Mpath Foundation to expand the Mplayer brand worldwide, with a similar partnership announced with LG InterNet in Korea two weeks prior.
  • Mpath expects to announce other partnerships and new markets for the Mplayer brand over the next year.

Statistics:

  • Market research data from Access Media International forecasts that Japan will host over 14 million Internet users by the end of 1998.
  • Game enthusiasts in Japan are expected to purchase over 110 million computer and video games by the end of 1998, accounting for more than $5.6 billion in revenues.
  • PC game sales are expected to reach over 4.5 million units sold, accounting for more than $212 million in revenues.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, Sept. 21, 1998.
  • Fujitsu Limited, http://www.fujitsu.co.jp/index-e.html.
  • mplayer.com, http://www.mplayer.com.
  • Access Media International, various research reports and publications.

Read more