Tánaiste announces Gala Networks Europe to expand European Headquarters in Dublin with the creation of over 100 new jobs
Success of Irish operation results in significant expansion at leading online games company
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Mary Coughlan, TD, today (Wednesday January 27th 2009), announced that Gala Inc., a leading Japanese online gaming company, is to expand its European Headquarters in Dublin with the creation of 103 new, high-quality jobs. The company is located in Dublin’s Digital Hub and the expansion is facilitated by the Irish Government with the support of IDA Ireland.
Gala established its European headquarters, Gala Networks Europe Ltd. (GNE), in 2006 with a mandate for localisation, marketing, customer support and revenue collection along with a global mandate for licensing, publishing and hosting. The expansion of this operation comes as a result of growth of the European online games market and the success of the Irish operation to date.
Making the announcement, the Tánaiste said: “This expansion by Gala in the digital media sector is most welcome. Digital Media is an exciting emerging sector and one for which Ireland is gaining a strong reputation. Gala is currently building a new worldwide gaming brand in an exciting and growing area in the games market.”
“Gala’s decision to expand its Irish facility further embeds the company’s operations here. On behalf of the Irish Government I look forward to facilitating Gala’s expansion and the future growth of the company here,” the Tánaiste added.
Speaking at the announcement Hyun Hur, CEO of GNE. said: “As part of GNE’s European expansion a number of new mandates will be added. This will include expansion into new markets, the introduction of three new game title releases and new language versions and the licensing of games from third party game development companies. Ireland provides for us the skilled, multi-lingual workforce necessary to increase our mandate and Gala looks forward to the continued success and development of our Irish operations.”
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Note for Editors
About Gala
Gala Incorporated, established in 1993 in Tokyo Japan, is a leader in the growing non-subscription, free-to-play (F2P), Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) market. Gala also develops data mining tools, provides marketing and web design services and operates a number of multi-topic websites.
In January 2006, Gala restructured its business model to focus on the online games market, which now accounts for over 88% of its business. Its strategy is to invest in game development companies, then publish and market the games through its operations in the US, Japan and Europe. During 2008, Gala also began licensing game titles from third-party game development companies. In October 2009, it acquired 19.28% of game development company Noria Co., Ltd.
Gala Networks Europe Ltd.
With the support of IDA, Gala established its European Headquarters, Gala Networks Europe Ltd. (GNE) in the Digital Hub, Dublin in October 2006.
Functions and responsibilities of the Irish operation:
- License game titles from Gala Inc’s game development companies (Aeonsoft, nFlavor and Noria)
- License game titles from third-party game development companies (Astrum Nival, Barunson Interactive, XPEC, Snail Games)
- Global licensing management
- Localise, publish and market online-games in European countries (Ireland, England, Germany, France, Poland and Turkey)
- Provide customer support for European users in each country’s local language
- Host servers for European users
- Revenue collection
- Global publishing management
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For further information contact:
Gala Networks Europe Ltd.
Jamie McCormick, English Marketing Manager, Tel; +353 (0) 1 511 1245, Mob; +353 (0) 86 1500137, Email jamie.mccormick@gala-net.eu
Joanne Graham, HR Generalist, Tel; +353 (0) 511 1200
IDA Ireland
Thomas McEvoy, Press and PR Manager, Tel: +353 (0) 1 6034255
Antoinette Tyrrell, Press Officer, Tel: +353 (0) 1 6034256.
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Roisin McCann, Tel: 01 631 2200.
Last modified: 27/01/2010
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