INDUSTRY, Calif. - (Business Wire) She
’s one of the world
’s most recognizable icons and she is making her way into cyber world with the introduction of Hello Kitty Land. GoLive2, Playhut Inc.
’s newest division, announced today that SANRIO Inc. has signed on as a licensee for the division
’s innovative K Line of interactive toys, which includes the creation of a new Hello Kitty virtual world.
“Hello Kitty is a global icon, and this agreement is a testament to the potential of our GoLive2 division,” said Brian Zheng, CEO and President of Playhut. “We are proud to be working with SANRIO, and look forward to adding a new dimension to Hello Kitty through the new model of play we have pioneered with GoLive2.”
GoLive2’s K Line has two distinct but connected components – two massive multi-player online (MMO) virtual worlds, and a line of toys that interacts with and enhances the MMO game play experience.
The new SANRIO partnership will bring four unique Hello Kitty figurines to the GoLive2 K Line toys. Each of the Hello Kitty interactive toys will feature the popular icon donned in her signature red bow and one of her popular looks and styles.
Hello Kitty’s participation within GoLive2.com will include Hello Kitty toys interacting with the GoLive2 MMO world in a newly developed Hello Kitty Land. The Hello Kitty toys will provide users with virtual Hello Kitty accessories and features to play in the Hello Kitty section of the GoLive2 online world, as well as allow for interaction with the Hello Kitty brand through the current GoLive2 avatars.
"We are excited to be a part of this exciting new era as GoLive2 creates products that create a new kind of play,” said Jennifer Campbell, Vice President Licensing at SANRIO. "Playhut Inc. has an exceptional reputation in the toy industry and our partnership with GoLive2 will allow us to enhance Hello Kitty availability and deliver new experiences to her fans."
The Hello Kitty/GoLive2 line of toys will be available in fall 2008. Beginning this summer, players can visit www.Golive2.com to access the Hello Kitty virtual world.
About GoLive2
Created in 2007, GoLive2 brings the hands-on appeal of traditional play to the excitement of online game-play, creating a safe and imaginative new world for kids and parents alike. With its innovative new gaming platform, GoLive2, an independent division of Playhut Inc., has pioneered an entirely new interactive play category featuring three distinct play paradigms: K, S, and GX.
About SANRIO
SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 60 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 200 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
GoLive2, a division of Playhut Inc.
Jennifer Weaver, 909-869-8083 ext. 1829
jenniferw@playhut.com
or
Orsi Public Relations for SANRIO, Inc.
Dyann Hawkins/Janna Koppel, 323-874-4073
dyann@orsipr.com/janna@orsipr.com
