Award Recognizes the 100 “Most Promising” Companies

 Driving the Future of Technology

CANNES, France, March 22, 2007 – CCP Games, a leading independent game developer and creator of EVE Online, a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG), today announced that it is a recipient of the Red Herring 100 Europe. This award is given to the top 100 private technology companies based in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region each year by Red Herring. 

“This year’s impressive list of winners demonstrates Europe’s emergence as a major player in the global technology sector,” said Red Herring Editor-in-Chief, Joel Dreyfuss. “The exceptional accomplishments of European technology companies and entrepreneurs are a testament to the rapid advancements being made in building the European innovation ecosystem.” 

Red Herring’s lists of top private companies are an important part of the company’s tradition of identifying new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs. Companies like Google, eBay and Skype were spotted in their early days by Red Herring editors, and touted as leaders that would change the way we live and work. 

“Accolades such as the Red Herring 100 are very important to CCP and confirm our commitment to the evolving MMOG market in Europe,” said Hilmar Petursson, CEO of CCP Games. “Within the past couple of years, CCP has emerged to become a leading enabler of smart entertainment experiences.  Starting with a humble 45 employees in Reykjavík, Iceland, CCP is continuously growing, now with 200 employees throughout Europe, US and Asia and a subscriber base of more than 180,000 players.” 

Red Herring’s editorial staff rigorously evaluated more than 700 private companies through a careful analysis of financial data and subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development.  

To honor the CEOs of Red Herring 100 Europe companies, Red Herring has invited each CEO to present his or her company at its Venture Market Europe (VME) 2007 event.  Scheduled for March 25-27, at the Intercontinental Carlton, this intimate, three-day event is themed “The Pursuit of Disruption” and will explore how European firms are leading the charge in many technology sectors, gaining the competitive advantage, and driving entrepreneurial success in ways that create business opportunities for challengers and incumbents alike.  

About Red Herring

Red Herring is a global media company which unites the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums: a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service, technology newsletters and major events for technology leaders around the globe.  Red Herring provides an insider’s access to the global innovation economy, featuring unparalleled insights on the emerging technologies driving the economy. More information about Red Herring is available on the Internet at http://www.redherring.com.  

About CCP Games

CCP Games is an industry-leading independent developer and publisher of EVE Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Founded in 1997 and privately held, CCP is recognized internationally as a pioneer of the single-server persistent universe architecture. EVE Online is played in nearly every country in the world with more than 200,000 players. The company is headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, with offices in Atlanta, London and Shanghai. More information is available at http://www.ccpgames.com.

About EVE Online

Set tens of thousands of years in the future, EVE Online is a breathtaking journey to the stars, to an immersive experience filled with adventure, riches, danger and glory. Supported by a vast player-run economy, EVE offers professions to choose ranging from commodities trader to mercenary, industrial entrepreneur to pirate, mining engineer to battle fleet commander or any combination of these and much more. Your greatest asset is the starship, designed to accommodate your specific needs, skills and ambitions. Complementing its lethal arsenal are thousands of modules and components, allowing for countless customizations. From brokering business deals to waging war, you will have access to a diverse array of sophisticated tools and interfaces to forge your own destiny in EVE. Visit the EVE Online website at http://wwww.eve-online.com. 

CCP | White Wolf, the world’s largest independent game developer, took San Francisco by storm during last week’s Game Developer’s Conference, hosting an event Thursday night that could arguably called the “Party of the Year.”  The goth vampire-themed fete at Glas Kat was at full capacity and offered more fun than you can shake a riding crop at with painted dancing girls, a tattoo artist and an open bar.  

Coverage of CCP’s GDC party may be found on these sites:

• -  Destructoid: http://www.destructoid.com/gdc-2007-night-at-white-wolf-30334.phtml
• - Massively Online Gamer: http://www.massivelyonlinegamer.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=114
• - Stuck in Customs: http://stuckincustoms.com/?p=1108
• - The Escapist: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/69484-GDC-2007-CCP-and-My-Shredded-Back 

However, it wasn’t all fun and games. CCP | White Wolf came with a purpose: To find the best and the brightest potential candidates to fill a number of positions that will be available soon™ within the rapidly-expanding company.

Currently ramping up for a new MMO project to begin production later this year at CCP | White Wolf’s North America studio in Atlanta, Georgia, a “highest caliber” resume contest was held in conjunction with the party. After collecting nearly 100 resumes, Greg Chapman was declared the winner and will receive a collection of World of Darkness books, a one-year subscription to EVE Online and a trip to CCP’s Fanfest 2007 to be held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in November.

Recruiting efforts are still under way. Visit http://ccpgames.com/jobs/us.asp to learn more about the positions available and instructions for submitting your resume. (Chains, fangs and black lipstick optional.)

Gaming Industry Innovators CCP and White Wolf to Merge

Combined company to deliver next-generation gaming products online and offline
 
Reykjavik, Iceland and Atlanta, GA, USA – November 11, 2006 - CCP hf. and White Wolf Publishing, Inc. today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement to merge. The creators of the single largest persistent online role-playing world and the world's second-largest developer of offline role-playing, strategy and collectable card games will create the industry's largest independent Virtual World developer. CCP is the publisher and developer of EVE Online, the world's largest virtual gaming universe. White Wolf is the creator of some of the world's most recognized role-playing titles including: World of Darkness (Vampire, Werewolf, Mage) and Exalted. The combined company will introduce new online and offline gaming products across the science-fiction, horror, and fantasy genres.

The merged company will enable CCP to integrate White Wolf's leading expertise in offline gaming development to enhance and create physical products for its MMOG, EVE Online. Products to be introduced in 2007 will include strategy guides, enhanced collectable card games, role-playing systems, and novels all based on EVE Online. White Wolf will leverage CCP's industry-leading technologies to bring its offline role-playing titles online. Conceptualization and early development has begun to bring White Wolf's World of Darkness, one of the world's strongest gaming properties, into the online world.

"White Wolf possesses the RPG industry's leading offline gaming talent and some of the most recognizable roleplaying properties in the world," said Hilmar Petursson, CCP's Chief Executive Officer. " Virtual worlds are a new form of entertainment, separate from traditional computer games. By combining forces, we will create a company unsurpassed in quality, innovation, and scope which will keep us at the forefront of this emerging trend."

The combined company will continue to operate under their respective names. White Wolf will be operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCP. Hilmar Petursson, Chief Executive Officer of CCP, will be CEO of the combined company. Mike Tinney, President of White Wolf, will continue as President of the independent subsidiary. Further, White Wolf will continue development and enhancement of their entire portfolio of gaming products.

"CCP brings industry-leading technical expertise and online game development experience to us," said Mike Tinney, White Wolf's President. "Together, we will create the industry's most innovative games leveraging both online and offline systems."

About CCP Games

CCP Games is an industry leading independent developer and publisher of EVE Online, a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game. Founded in 1997 and privately held, CCP is recognized internationally as a pioneer of the single-server persistent universe architecture. EVE Online is played in nearly every country in the world with over 300,000 players. The company is headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland with offices in London, England and Shanghai, China. More information is available at www.ccpgames.com.

About White Wolf Publishing

Since its entry into the gaming market in 1991, White Wolf Publishing, Inc. has grown into one of the leading role-playing companies in the world. With collective book sales in excess of 5.5 million copies over the life of the company, White Wolf is one of two undisputed worldwide publishing leaders for pen and paper role-playing games. White Wolf properties have been licensed to television series, comic books, action figures, professional wrestlers, a myriad of merchandising, replica props and weapons, interactive media events, coin operated arcade games and, of course, video games. More information is available at www.white-wolf.com.