VANCOUVER, B.C., May 4, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- CYOP Systems International Inc. (OTCBB:CYOS), the leading provider of online video games and tournaments of skill, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement to feature CYOP's licensed pool game on an exclusive basis with SINA.com Online, the North American subsidiary of SINA Corporation, a leading online media company and value-added information service provider for China and for global Chinese communities.
According to IDC, China's online video game market reached RMB1.3 billion (US$159 million) in 2003 and is expected to grow to RMB6.7 billion (US$809 million) by 2007, representing a compounded annual growth rate of over 50 percent. Currently, the online video game market in China consists of massive multi-player online role-playing games ("MMORPG"). China is expected to mirror Korea over the next few years, where on-line games and game portal business has become an important segment of the overall online revenue-generating market.
CYOP will provide a co-branded multiplayer pool game, exclusively for the Game Channel (http://game.sina.com) on SINA.com Online, and SINA will be the exclusive online media company for CYOP's pool games and other free games offered to Hong Kong, Taiwan and United States.
SINA will localize and integrate the co-branded Chinese free pool games as well as other games. SINA will further arrange fixed entry points on SINA Taiwan and Hong Kong Game Channel (http://game.sina.com.tw , http://game.sina.com.hk), linking on-line traffic to the co-branded Games site in the US. In efforts of providing significant benefit to Sina's members, the ability to choose between free games, subscriptions games and tournament games will be available.
Craig Owens, VP of Business Development, CYOP Systems Inc, stated, "We are very excited about the partnership and the natural fit that exists between our companies. CYOP's licensed technology "Crediplay" provides a platform for SINA.com Online to provide a valuable interactive entertainment model to further capitalize on its existing traffic. The ease of integration has allowed the site to add to their core business without any software development costs or expensive downtime. As we've stated before, the Asian marketplace is very important to the online gaming industry -- with its growing demographics who simply love to play games."
About CYOP
CYOP is a developer and provider of online skill-games and services for the online entertainment and gaming industries. CrediPlay, CYOP's licensed application, is an online transaction platform that is based on charging a fee for each game of skill played over the Internet. CYOP's central games portal, www.skillarcade.com, features virtual sports games, puzzles, card games, action games, strategy, driving, racing and adventure games where people play popular skill games against other players and compete in tournaments to win real money prizes.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934 and the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is subject to safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of risks, including, but not limited to, technological and operational challenges, needs for additional capital, changes in consumer preferences, legal risks associated with Internet gaming and risks of governmental legislation and regulation, risks associated with market acceptance and technological changes, risks associated with dependence on software providers, URL providers, risks relating to international operations, and risks associated with competition.