NCSOFT EUROPEAN OFFICE EXPANSION TO CREATE OVER 100 NEW HIGH-TECH JOBS

Wednesday 26th September/...NCsoft Europe, one of the world's leading online gaming publishers, has announced that it is planning to expand its Brighton base and create over 100 new high skilled jobs following a major investment from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

In its first three years NCsoft Europe has grown rapidly employing more skilled staff with every new project, which have included the launch of top games such as Lineage® II, City of Heroes®, Guild Wars®, City of Villains®.

The NCsoft office in Brighton is the European HQ for NCsoft Corporation, the Korean digital gaming developer and publisher. It began its operations in Brighton with three people in September 2004 and now employs 112.

SEEDA is injecting a Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) Grant, ensuring continued sustained development. NCsoft's growth will allow it to diversify following the development and launch of a series of new products.

NCsoft is using SEEDA's SFIE to facilitate the expansion of its current base at Lanchester House, Brighton and support the company's move to the CityPoint development in two years time. 110 jobs at the company will be safeguarded and 116 new jobs are to be created by 2010.

Geoff Heath, NCsoft's CEO explains:

"Brighton is a lively and growing hub for the creative and software sector. Our expansion will stimulate local competition and the exchange of best practice in the region. SEEDA's support of our investment will help grow the business and keep us and Brighton at the forefront of our industry, both nationally and internationally. We'll also be in a position to recruit and further develop the very best talent available."

Jeff Alexander, Executive Director, SEEDA's Global Competitiveness division added:

"NCsoft has attracted national and global attention since its arrival in Brighton. The company is a magnet for highly skilled jobs - this is vital to Brighton and to the region and helps the South-east achieve the goals of the Regional Economic Strategy.

"The news is good for NCsoft and for Brighton and underlines SEEDA's commitment to attracting highly skilled creative employees with computer and language skills to the South East"

- Ends -

For further information please contact: Francesca Fogell, SEEDA Communications Manager, tel: 01483 484275

email, francescafogell@seeda.co.uk

Alternatively contact Lynsey Bonell, at Twelve PR, tel: 020 7631 0737

email lynsey@twelvepr.co.uk

About SEEDA

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) is the Government funded Agency responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of the South East of England - the driving force of the UK's economy. Our aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled workforce, supporting and enabling our communities while safeguarding our natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural heritage.

The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) for South East England 2006 -2016: a world class region achieving sustainable prosperity.

The RES has three headline targets. Progress towards all three of these will provide evidence of overall progress against the vision:

Global Competitiveness: Achieving an average annual increase in GVA (Gross Value Added) per capita of at least 3%.

Smart Growth: Increasing productivity per worker by an average 2.4% annually, from £39,000 in 2005 to at least £50,000 by 2016 (in constant prices).

Sustainable Prosperity: Reducing the rate of increase in the region's ecological footprint (from 6.3 global hectares per capita in 2003, currently increasing at 1.1% per capita per annum), stabilizing it and seek to reduce it by 2016.

SFIE is a national business support scheme that the Regional Development Agencies deliver on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR). The objective of the scheme is to assist the development of the most disadvantaged regions in England by supporting sustainable investment and job creation and it promotes expansion, rationalisation, modernisation and diversification of economic activities of businesses in Assisted Areas.

Notes on NCsoft

NCsoft Europe (NC-E) is headquartered in Brighton, England and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation, the world's leading developer and publisher of online games. NCsoft has already successfully established itself in North America, Japan, Taiwan, China and Thailand. NC-E began operations on 1st September 2004 and serves as a central hub for all NCsoft sales, marketing and distribution operations in Europe, via its European distribution network. NC-E launched Lineage® II in November 2004, City of Heroes® on 4th February 2005, Guild Wars® on 28th April 2005, City of Villains® on 31st October 2005, Guild Wars Factions on 28th April 2006, Guild Wars Nightfall on 27th October 2006 and Guild Wars: Eye of the North 31st August 2007. More information about NCsoft Europe can be found at http://eu.plaync.com.