CYOS - VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2004--CYOP Systems
International Inc. (NASD OTC: CYOS.OB), the leading provider of online video
games and tournaments of skill, announced that it has embarked upon a strategy
of building associations with "Tier One" game developers in an effort to add
more games into its licensed CrediPlay Skill Gaming systems.
Game Developers and Publishers own games in a variety of categories. Types of
games are role-playing games, strategy games, action games, flight simulations,
sports games, card games and single player games.
The industry has over 2,900 game developers and publishers including companies
such as Acclaim, Atari, Electronic Arts, Midway Games, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft
and THQ. A few industry leaders control the largest market share, and CYOP
intends to market its products to these companies as well as the smaller niche
developers.
Since 1997, the online gamer population has leapt from 5.5 million to 42
million, according to Forrester Research Inc. The number is projected to reach
50 million by 2004. And overall, the online games sector took in $960 million in
2003; according to research firm "The Themis Group". That number is expected to
hit $1.3 billion this year as the marketplace grows and broadband becomes more
readily available.
Patrick Smyth, President of CYOP, commented, "Stung by the overall crunch that
has shut down many studios, publishers are scrambling for ways to make a profit.
The developers that survive will be those that form both short and long-term
alliances with online content and service providers, such as pay-for-play skill
gaming. Investments in new games are in the millions of dollars. CrediPlay can
provide an opportunity to game publishers to generate new revenue streams
and extend the shelf lives of their products. This will, in-turn,
bring additional action-type games to our customers and increase our ability to
target a new demographic player database."
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.
For more information please visit www.cyopsystems.com.
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. This document is not intended to be and
is not an advertisement for any securities of the company.
