BERLIN, August 26 /PRNewswire/ --     One of the most successful "free 2 play" online games publishers in the 
United States, Aeria Games, has officially announced that it is opening its 
European headquarters in Germany. Its European subsidiary, Aeria Games GmbH, 
will be located in Berlin, the German capital. Since the company's founding 
in Silicon Valley in 2006, it already has gained over three million players.

Aeria Games chose Berlin for a number of reasons. A key factor in the 
investment decision was not only the city's stellar telecommunications 
infrastructure, but also the importance of Germany for the company's 
business expansion plans. Germany has a strong gaming industry, and Berlin, 
with its high quality of life, is an attractive city for European or 
international employees.

Currently Aeria Games Europe GmbH has created six jobs. The company 
however expects that in the next two years, the workforce will expand to 
between 20 and 50 in Berlin.

The company announced in its official press release that it will be 
releasing a new game, Shaiya, onto the German and French markets in either 
late 2008 or early 2009. One of the major tasks of the new European 
subsidiary is to support the company's expansion into new markets such as 
Spain and Italy. This will involve investing in the licensing, publishing,
and developing of intellectual property.

Online gaming is a growing industry in Germany, with expected annual 
growth of over 16% until 2010. Its total revenue hit 390 million EUR in 2007 
and is expected to exceed 670 million EUR by 2010. Investors can also use 
Germany as an entry point to the European online gaming market, one that saw 
total revenue of 1.1 billion EUR in 2007 and has an average annual growth 
rate of over 30%.

Both Invest in Germany and Berlin Partner supported Aeria Games in its 
decision to invest in Germany. "The Aeria Games investment is an example of 
the strength that Germany has to offer investors in this rapidly growing 
industry," notes Dr. Robert Hermann, director of the team Information and 
Communications Technologies at Invest in Germany.

Furthermore, Berlin is the home of many leading companies in gaming and 
other IT-related industries. "With its affordable prices and international 
population, Berlin has attracted numerous IT companies in recent years. 
Without question it is becoming a pillar of the German capital's economy," 
adds Renz Gurka, Managing Director of Berlin's Economic Development 
Corporation, Berlin Partner.

Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the 
Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive support
from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions.

Contact:

    Invest in Germany GmbH 
    Headquarters 
    T: +49-30-200-099-0
    F: +49-30-200-099-111
    office@invest-in-germany.com
    http://www.invest-in-germany.com

    Media Contact: 
    Eva Henkel
    T:+49-30-200-099-173
    F:+49-30-200-099-111
    henkel@invest-in-germany.com