Digital River and PLAYXPERT Sign Joint Marketing Agreement
Combined solution delivers a branded online experience that integrates e-commerce and community for publishers, resellers and studios of PC-based games
Game Developers Conference
MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV), a leading provider of global e-commerce solutions, has signed a joint marketing agreement with PLAYXPERT, a provider of next-generation, in-game community management tools for PC gamers. By working with PLAYXPERT, Digital River will offer game publishers, resellers and studios a way to engage players of PC-based games in a branded in-game experience that integrates e-commerce with their online communities.
âWith the retail market consolidating, and digital delivery and gaming communities growing in popularity, the game industry continues to undergo change,â said Joel Ronning, Digital Riverâs CEO. âPublishers, resellers and studios are looking for new ways to build ongoing revenue streams. Joining forces with PLAYXPERT is a first step in a broader strategy to help companies involved with PC games to build not only these critical new revenue sources, but also more engaged and sustainable relationships with players of their games.â
Using PLAYXPERTâS True Overlay⢠technology publishers, resellers and studios can configure, brand and deploy a full-featured, in-game toolset that appears as a translucent window inside a PC-based game. Through this toolset and a widget gallery, players can access the Internet to watch videos, research items, chat online, and take part in other community- and content-based activities â all without leaving the game experience.
By delivering this solution in combination with its global e-commerce platform, Digital River is giving players the added ability to make purchases while in-game. The purchases will be backed by the functionality, security and global reliability of Digital Riverâs proven in-store e-commerce platform. For publishers, the integration opens up a new channel for monetizing their games, selling into global markets and building ongoing customer relationships.
âCommunity is one of the strongest mechanisms used in gaming to promote adoption and commerce. Early efforts to combine community with commerce have proven successful and opened the door for further innovation,â said Charles Manning, president and CEO of PLAYXPERT. âWe are thrilled to be selected by Digital River as a partner in optimizing the in-game purchase experience and delivering a new best-of-breed solution for players and publishers alike.â
The companies will be presenting the new solution on March 25-27, 2009, during the Game Developerâs Conference at the Moscone Center (West Hall, Meeting Room 12) in San Francisco.
About PLAYXPERT
PLAYXPERT, LLC, is the provider of next-generation in-game community management tools for the PC and MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) market. Focused on delivering the technology gamers want to enrich their community experience, PLAYXPERT allows users to engage in their favorite activities (forum posts, chat, music control, or monitoring system diagnostics) while in-game. The PLAYXPERT client is a completely customizable platform that enables gamers to choose from a large variety of tools to enhance their gaming experience. For more information, please visit www.playxpert.com.
About Digital River, Inc.
Digital River, Inc., a leading provider of global e-commerce solutions, builds and manages online businesses for software and game publishers, consumer technology manufacturers, distributors, online retailers and affiliates. Its multi-channel e-commerce solution, which supports both direct and indirect sales, is designed to help companies of all sizes maximize online revenues as well as reduce the costs and risks of running an e-commerce operation. The Companyâs comprehensive platform offers site development and hosting, order management, fraud management, export controls, tax management, physical and digital product fulfillment, multi-lingual customer service, advanced reporting and strategic marketing services.
Founded in 1994, Digital River is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices in major U.S. cities as well as Cologne, Germany; London, England; Shannon, Ireland; Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Stockholm, Sweden; Taipei, Taiwan; Tokyo, Japan; and Shanghai, China. For more details about Digital River, visit the corporate Web site at www.digitalriver.com or call 952-253-1234.
