14 DAY TRIAL // As a result of Mercury Games and Ertain BV announcing today their strategic alliance, Ertain's Publishing office, currently set in Japan will ship some 10 video games into Europe and the US. The deal generally promotes Ertain's Zen Series of DS games, that are all about puzzles and funky relaxing fish simulations, all for release this year, as the official report reads.
"Teaming up with Mercury Games is a great way to enter the Western market, said Tomo Ohno, COO, Ertain BV. "We can develop our position alongside them and firmly establish our presence. The timing is great and we feel that we have the right mix of product, ambition and partner. We look forward to a great relationship."
Basically, the agreement is strongly connected to the Japanese publisher's intentions of taking the Western market seriously and developing a long term strategy of expansion. They're also hoping to help Mercury Games with their position as a growing publisher with a great lineup of innovative DS games.
Leo Zullo, President, Mercury Games, comments: "This is a great strategic step for Mercury Games. Japan has long been a source for innovative products. Now with Ertain, it is a great pleasure to be working with fun and expansive products that don't necessarily follow a trend, but cater to a distinct market, and follow a great ethos". He concluded stating the following: "I've stepped back into the role of President of Mercury Games to work on a series of strategic alliances, this being the first of many to be announced".
Mercury Games was set up in 2005 as a video games publisher and has since sold over 1 million units of the Crazy Frog franchise, worldwide. Currently, they're trying to grow a pipeline of DS, Wii and PS2 products, consisting of licensed and original IP products. They've also set up an additional brand called Turtle Games, to cater to the younger target market.
The official report - as brief as it was - says that more information on the Zen series will be announced shortly, so don't go too far, OK?