GAMING INDUSTRY INNOVATORS CCP AND WHITE WOLF MERGE
Combined company to deliver next-generation gaming products online and offline
Reykjavik, Iceland and Atlanta, GA, USA
November 11, 2006
CCP hf. and White Wolf Publishing, Inc. today announced that the
companies have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The
creators of the single largest persistent online role-playing world
and the world's second-largest developer of offline role-playing,
strategy and collectable card games will create the industry's
largest independent Virtual World developer. CCP is the publisher
and developer of EVE Online, the world's largest virtual gaming
universe. White Wolf is the creator of some of the world's most
recognized role-playing titles including: World of Darkness
(Vampire, Werewolf, Mage) and Exalted. The combined company will
introduce new online and offline gaming products across the
science-fiction, horror, and fantasy genres.
The merged company will enable CCP to integrate White Wolf's
leading expertise in offline gaming development to enhance and
create physical products for its MMOG, EVE Online. Products to be
introduced in 2007 will include strategy guides, enhanced
collectable card games, role-playing systems, and novels all based
on EVE Online. White Wolf will leverage CCP's industry-leading
technologies to bring its offline role-playing titles online.
Conceptualization and early development has begun to bring White
Wolf's World of Darkness, one of the world's strongest gaming
properties, into the online world.
"White Wolf possesses the RPG industry's leading offline gaming
talent and some of the most recognizable roleplaying properties in
the world," said Hilmar Petursson, CCP's Chief Executive Officer. "
Virtual worlds are a new form of entertainment, separate from
traditional computer games. By combining forces, we will create a
company unsurpassed in quality, innovation, and scope which will
keep us at the forefront of this emerging trend."
The combined company will continue to operate under their
respective names. White Wolf will be operated as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of CCP. Hilmar Petursson, Chief Executive Officer of
CCP, will be CEO of the combined company. Mike Tinney, President of
White Wolf, will continue as President of the independent
subsidiary. Further, White Wolf will continue development and
enhancement of their entire portfolio of gaming products.
"CCP brings industry-leading technical expertise and online game
development experience to us," said Mike Tinney, White Wolf's
President. "Together, we will create the industry's most innovative
games leveraging both online and offline systems."
About CCP
CCP Games is a privately held company that specializes in the
creation, development, and distribution of Massively Multiplayer
Online Games (MMOGs). Founded in 1997, CCP is recognized
internationally as a pioneer in the single-server persistent
universe concept of the MMOG genre. CCP Games is headquartered in
Reykjavik, Iceland with an office in Shanghai, China. For more
information, visit www.ccpgames.com.
About White Wolf
Since its entry into the roleplaying game market in 1991, White
Wolf Publishing, Inc. has grown, maintaining an average market
share of 22%. With collective book sales in excess of 5.5 million
copies during this time, White Wolf is one of two undisputed
worldwide publishing leaders for pen-and-paper roleplaying games.
White Wolf properties have been licensed for television series,
comic books, action figures, console and computer video games,
coin-operated arcade games, professional wrestlers, replica props
and weapons, interactive media events and myriad merchandise. More
information on White Wolf can be found at
http://www.white-wolf.com/.
For further information
CCP Games, Magnus Bergsson, magnus@ccpgames.com , Tel: (354)
820-8640
White Wolf, Kelley Barnes-Herman, kelley@white-wolf.com
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