YAHOO! GAMES UNVEILS EXTREME SITE
MAKEOVER AT E3 EXPO
New Video Games Site Offers
Player Matching Tools and More Comprehensive Editorial Content
Sunnyvale, CA – May 16, 2005 –
Yahoo! Games, the leading online games site
http://games.yahoo.com , is
showing its renewed focus on video games at this year’s Electronic Entertainment
Exposition (E3). Upgrades to Yahoo! Games’ offering for hardcore gamers includes
a fresh new look and feel; bolstered content like cheats, tips and previews; and
new multiplayer and player matching services.
“We are confident that gamers at
this year’s E3 expo will be excited about our plans for new video games
services,” said Geoff Graber, general manager, Yahoo! Games. “Not only do we
have a vivid new look, but we’re also giving people a way to connect with each
other in PC video games in fun, engaging ways.”
New Features, Partnerships Change
the Face of Yahoo! Games Known on a global scale for its leadership in single
and multiplayer casual games, Yahoo! Games will show its dedication to video
gamers. Highlights include:
Deeper Yahoo! Messenger integration
– Yahoo! Games is deepening its integration with Yahoo! Messenger. In Yahoo!
Messenger, players will be able to see if friends are online and what PC video
games they are playing by simply looking at the indicator next to their friend’s
name in Yahoo! Messenger. With one click, they can actually join their friends
in the same game right through Yahoo! Messenger.
Editorial content upgrade and other
services – Yahoo! has forged a partnership with GameSpot, a CNET Networks, Inc.
(Nasdaq: CNET) property and a leading source for trusted gaming information, to
launch a new content-rich site featuring tips and tricks, cheats, previews,
reviews and all the other information gamers want at their fingertips. GameSpot
will have 50 editors at E3 scouring the convention for the latest breaking news
while providing live coverage with more than 60 interviews from the show floor.
In addition, Yahoo!’s video games site has no subscription fee and free
downloads for everyone.
Third-party development tools –
Yahoo! Games is providing game developers new access to tap into its multiplayer
matching services and Yahoo!’s community network services. Developers will now
be able to more easily reach Yahoo!’s expansive consumer base of passionate
gamers.
In addition, Yahoo! Games is doing
its part in games education, having pros on hand to help E3 attendees and others
brush up on their poker and video game skills. For video games, Kornelia and The
Frag Dolls will be available to play Doom 3 and Splinter Cell against convention
attendees. Several of the world’s top touring professional poker players – Phil
Laak and Antonio Esfandiari, as well as an additional surprise poker superstar –
will be in Yahoo!’s E3 booth to teach poker tips and tricks to convention
attendees.
Yahoo! Games can be found in Booth
#2200 in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center at E3 May 18-20.
About Yahoo! Games Yahoo! Games
(http://games.yahoo.com) is the leading destination for online games with one of
the largest game communities on the Internet. Millions of new users and gamers
of all types visit Yahoo! Games each month to play and to discover the best in
games. Yahoo! Games’ industry leading and extremely popular casual games area
attracts users who enjoy downtime with popular games like card, arcade, word and
board to play alone or with others, as well as playing and trying out the latest
downloadable games. Yahoo! Games also gives hard core video gamers what they
want, from the latest game news, cheats, tips, previews and other exclusive game
information, to helping them easily connect with friends to play their favorite
multiplayer games. Game fans who want Yahoo! Games wherever whenever have Yahoo!
Mobile Games, available on most major carriers.
About Yahoo! Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO
– News) is a leading provider of comprehensive online products and services to
consumers and businesses worldwide. Yahoo! is the No. 1 Internet brand globally
and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide. Headquartered in
Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!’s global network includes 25 world properties and is
available in 13 languages.
Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logo are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners
