PSP World

InnoGames - a new breed of publisher

With six online games totaling over 65 million users combined, InnoGames policy of "quality over quantity" is proving to be very successful in building the company into a global success story in a rapidly growing online games market.

InnoGames is emerging as one of the world's leading developers and publishers of online games. The German-based company has scored major success with games such as Tribal Wars, The West, and Grepolis, and recently appointed Dr. Gerhard Florin, former executive vice-president of EA, as chairman of the advisory board. Whilst the company has focused on browser games in the past, in 2010 it expanded its portfolio by launching its first social game on Facebook (WestWars). Also, it became a publisher of third party games by acquiring licenses for the Asian client game Bounty Hounds Online, which the company launched in an open beta this past month. Last year, InnoGames also founded its first subsidiary company, InnoGames Korea Ltd.

"We managed to continue our dynamic growth in 2010 and reached some milestones for InnoGames as a company. A primary reason for our success was the quick and worldwide roll-out of Grepolis", InnoGames managing director and founder Michael Zillmer said. The strategy browser game was launched in 17 languages within a few months. In the last year, InnoGames increased its turnover by more than 100 percent.

InnoGames is also pushing the boundaries of its business, and with Dr. Gerhard Florin as its new Chairman, is exploring opportunities for players and business in Europe, UK and US. Previously, Dr. Florin was Executive Vice President at Electronic Arts, responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of the organisation's publishing business, across Western Europe. "We are confident that Gerhard's expertise and contacts will help us continue to grow", Michael Zillmer explained. Dr. Florin said: "InnoGames has grown rapidly. It has a strong market position, especially due to its unique browser based games targeted towards high monetizable core gamers. InnoGames has a very promising future as a global player, attracting customers all over the world. I am looking forward to being part of that future."

InnoGames´ first online game Tribal Wars, now in its eighth year, has an active, devoted community and is constantly being developed further by the company; but this success was not premeditated. In 2003, Hendrik Klindworth, together with his brother Eike and their friend Michael Zillmer, developed the game in their home studio and what was initially intended as a hobby project, played by friends, grew into something much more, and now Tribal Wars has turned into one of the biggest browser games on the market.

Additional expansion is planned for 2011. InnoGames currently boasts over 150 employees, and plans to reach 200 by the end of the year. "We have a very international staff from eleven countries and offer job opportunities for various departments and career levels. Most of the jobs are created in software development but InnoGames also wants to strengthen graphics, marketing and product management departments," stated Mr. Zillmer.