Namco Networks Chooses Live Gamer Elements For Microtransactions

Publisher Namco Networks has selected Live Gamer's microtransactions platform Elements to power online payments and more for its social games and virtual items-based projects. Namco plans to first implement the virtual economy platform into its upcoming Facebook title Hamster Pirates, which launches this fall. Elements will power the game's virtual goods merchandising, analytics, virtual item gifting, earned in-game currencies, item storefronts, catalog management, payments gateways, cash-in flows, and more. Live Gamer's technology has been integrated into more than 145 titles from major publishers like Electronic Arts, Funcom, NHN USA, Sony Online Entertainment, and THQ. The New York-headquartered company launched its platform in 2001, and it currently supports over 83 million users in 23 countries. "Namco is one of the most beloved game companies in the world, with titles that have inspired and created favorite past-times for generations of gamers," says Live Gamer president and co-founder Andrew Schneider. Schneider adds, "As in-game virtual items have become the leading revenue driver for online games today, gaming publishers are now integrating this business model for continued success. We're looking forward to helping Namco accelerate their social game strategy and ongoing growth."