With More Than 14 Million Downloads of the Game App, LINE Aims for Global Expansion Across Its Base of 1 Billion Total Platform Downloads

LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2014 — (PRNewswire) —  LINE Corporation, owner and operator of the free call and messaging app LINE, today announced the release of the English version of its massively popular puzzle game "LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum" (\'soom-soom\) for both Android and iPhone devices in 40 regions worldwide. The title was designed and developed by NHN PlayArt under license from The Walt Disney Company (Japan).  

LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum features the popular "Tsum Tsum" (meaning "stack stack") series of stuffed toys based on popular Disney characters. Since the initial Japanese release in late January, millions of players have fallen in love with the simple gameplay concept of connecting 3 or more Tsums to gain points, as well as the game's charming and adorable Disney and Disney/Pixar characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Stitch, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mike and Sulley. To date the app has surpassed 14 million downloads in Japan alone, achieving the top spot in both the Apple App Store and Google Play's free app ranking. The influence of the app's popularity has extended offline with sales of Tsum Tsum stuffed toys surging 40 percent, pushing them into second place in the Games, Toys and Stationary category of Nikkei Trendy's "First Half of 2014 Product Popularity Rankings".

Spurred by the success in Japan, the English version of LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum was released globally with a focus on western markets, such as the U.S., as well as East Asian markets. By offering the game on the LINE platform with more than 1 billion downloads worldwide, LINE aims to leverage this massive user base and momentum to achieve further growth on a global scale.

"According to the latest trends, the global gaming industry is rapidly expanding beyond traditional console games to cross-platform mobile games" says Jeanie Han, CEO of LINE Euro-Americas Corporation. "With the success of LINE's gaming platform, we are looking to reach the growing casual gaming communities in the U.S. and partnering with well-known brands and IP's has significant global revenue potential."

The simple gameplay consists of matching and eliminating the highest possible amount of sets of three or more of the same Tsum within one minute. The final number of eliminated Tsums determines the final score. By eliminating five or more Tsums, players earn coins that can be used to purchase items, while eliminating seven or more grants the "Magical Bubble" item, which can be used to eliminate multiple Tsums at once.

Players can select from one of 29 different characters to be their "My Tsum", power up their character by eliminating other Tsums of the same type and gain special abilities, such as stopping time or eliminating all the Tsums at the center of the screen at once.

By linking the app with LINE, adult players can compete with their friends in the rankings or send and receive Hearts, which are required to play the game.

To celebrate the launch, exciting events are being planned for the U.S. market in addition to events hosted in cooperation with the Disney Store, which sells stuffed toys from the Tsum Tsum series. Localization of the app into Thai and Traditional Chinese is also being planned.

LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum
Supported devices: Android and iPhone
Supported languages: English
Supported regions: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Republic of the Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Vietnam

Service begins: July 1, 2014
Cost: Free-to-play (offers in-app purchases)
Developer: NHN PlayArt
Operator: LINE Corporation
Copyright: © Disney ©Disney/Pixar

App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id867964741

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linecorp.LGTMTMG

About LINE Corporation
LINE Corporation is based in Japan and develops and operates the LINE app for smartphones. Since launching in June 2011, the LINE app has grown into a global service used in 230 countries, ranking first in the free app category in 60 countries. LINE offers free one-to-one and group messaging, as well as free domestic and international voice and video calls. LINE also includes a wide array of social elements such as fun and expressive stickers, a personal Home, a Timeline, and numerous LINE family apps, including LINE games and LINE camera. For more information about LINE, please visit http://linecorp.com/en/.

 

 

 

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SOURCE LINE Corporation

Contact:

LINE Corporation Staci Youn, Global PR Manager, LINE Euro-Americas Corporation, Phone: 323-424-3795, Email: Email Contact Web: http://linecorp.com/en/