Syncopate to Add Shanda Games’ Magic World 2 to Lineup of Acclaimed Free-to-play Games

Highly-anticipated Sequel to Internationally Popular MMORPG to be Localized for Russian Audiences

MOSCOW – January 19, 2012 – Syncopate, a leading Russian online games publisher, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Shanda Games to localize and commercially release Magic World 2, the 3D sequel to popular free-to-play MMORPG Magic World Online, in Russian markets. Set in a gritty dark fantasy world, the game continues the epic story of Magic World Online, pitting players’ highly customizable characters against the minions of the underworld, as well as each other in player versus player (PvP) combat. Magic World 2, published in Europe by Frogster under the title Eligium: The Chosen One, is planned to be Syncopate’s highest-profile launch of 2012.

“Magic World 2 is our self-developed product which already has received a warm welcome from Chinese, Japanese and Thai players,” said Donghai Chien, Senior Vice President of Shanda Games. “We hope that with our developing expertise and Syncopate’s publishing strength we will make the project successful in Russia as well.”

Magic World 2 has garnered particular international acclaim for its deep array of PvP options, which run the gamut from castle sieges and territory wars, to inter-guild (and even inter-server) combat, as well as more traditional PvP dueling. The game also boasts an impressive number of customization options, allowing players to choose from among five unique races such as the mighty Panda, five specialized classes, a wide range of abilities and a bevy of other options for personalizing their characters, such as patron spirits, virtues and weapons. Also customizable are player-owned guild houses and territories, which are featured in PvP battles. The game’s story spans five chapters set in a 3D world and takes players from epic battles to casual mini-games.

“Shanda Games’ Magic World 2 involves players in a beautiful and dangerous world in which skill and devotion are of the essence,” said Ilya Verigin, CEO of Syncopate. “The Russian market, particularly our community of GameNet members, has been longing for this game, and we take pride in being able to hear our players and serve them once again.”

For more information on Magic World 2, please visit http://www.mw2.ru/.

About Syncopate
Syncopate is a leading Russian online game publisher introducing a brand new social network for gamers – GameNet – that enhances both the gaming experience and game to game communications. GameNet seamlessly integrates social networking and community features that extend the boundaries of online gaming. Following a major investment in 2011, Syncopate is partially owned by AR Games, a division of AR Films. Syncopate is the exclusive publisher in Russia and the CIS of internationally acclaimed hits including Blood Rites by KongZhong (NASDAQ:KONG), Rage of Titans by Ningbo SG-TY, Aika Online by Hanbitsoft and War Inc. Battlezone by Online Warmongers Group. Additional information is available at www.syncopateglobal.com.

About Shanda Games
Shanda Games Limited (Nasdaq: GAME) is a leading online game developer, operator and publisher in China. Shanda Games offers a diversified game portfolio, which includes some of the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and advanced casual games in China, targeting a large and diverse community of users. Shanda Games manages and operates online games that are developed in-house, co-developed with world-leading game developers, acquired through investments or licensed from third parties. For more information about Shanda Games, please visit http://www.ShandaGames.com.

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Aiman Seksembaeva, Syncopate
+7 495 648 9108
info@syncopateglobal.com

Categories: free to play, free-to-play, GameWire, MMO, MMORPG, multiplayer, Online Games, online gaming, Online Multiplayer, Online RPG, PC, PC gaming, Russia