Shanghai, China - Chinese online game operator The9 Limited announced on Monday that it will establish a joint venture with Korean game developer T3 Entertainment -- creators of the "Audition" massively multiplayer online game -- to further strengthen their partnerships in the areas of game development and publishing. Through the joint venture, The9 will be more proactively involved in the development of "Audition 2" and other titles, both for China and other international markets.

Durham, N.C. - Video game publisher Funcom announced on Friday that its "Age of Conan" massively multiplayer online PC game has now sold a million copies in less than three weeks, topping PC game charts in the U.S., Germany, France and the U.K. "Sales data shows that Age of Conan is the biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft," said Morten Larssen, Funcom VP of sales and marketing. "The numbers are very promising, and we are very proud to be one of the fastest selling PC games ever in a launch month and the biggest simultaneous Europe/US MMO launch in history."

Westwood, Mass. - Multiplayer online game developer Turbine announced on Wednesday that it has raised $40 million in a new financing round co-led by Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) and GGV Capital.

Redwood City, Calif. - Video game developer and publisher Trion World Entertainment has signed a co-development deal with NBC Universal's (NYSE: GE) Sci Fi Channel, to create a multiplayer online game that will tie-in with a TV series set to launch in 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported. Separately, Trion on Monday announced its first title is now in development -- a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. The new MMORPG will be developed by a team led by Jon Van Caneghem, whose previous titles include "Might and Magic" and "Heroes," and distributed in both North America and Europe.

San Francisco - Grockit, a San Francisco-based start-up developing a massively multiplayer learning game, announced on Friday that it has raised $8 million in its second round of financing, led by Integral Capital Partners with participation from Benchmark Capital.

Durham, N.C. - Video game publisher Funcom announced on Tuesday that its "Age of Conan" has become one of the fastest-selling PC games of all time, as more than 400,000 players have entered the multiplayer online game in the ten days since it went on sale. The company said less than half came from the North American market.

Shanghai, China - Chinese online game operator Shanda (NASD: SNDA) has been sued for around $14,000 by a player who blames the company for the loss of 31 virtual items that have disappeared from his account over the past year, Pacific Epoch reported, citing a post by People.com.cn.

Shanghai, China - South Korean wireless carrier SK Telecom has paid $7.8 million for a 30% stake in Magic Tech Network, a unit of Chinese online game company Magicgrids Networks, Pacific Epoch reported.

Austin, Texas - Bigfoot Networks, a provider of technology that decreases lag time for networked online gaming, has raised an $8.75 million second round of funding, led by North Bridge Venture Partners and Palomar Ventures, Austin Business Journal reported.

Los Angeles - Electronic Arts will acquire Rupture, a games-focused social network launched by Napster founder Shawn Fanning, for $30 million, according to a report from TechCrunch, which cited sources with knowledge of the deal.

Westwood, Mass. - Turbine, a developer and publisher of multiplayer online games, is raising a $40 million third round of venture capital financing, led by Granite Global Ventures, PEHub.com reported.

Shanghai, China - Chinese online games operator Giant Interactive Group announced on Monday that its two-year-old "ZT Online" multiplayer game reached a new Chinese record of 2.1 million peak concurrent users over the weekend.

Shanghai, China - The9, an online game operator in China, announced on Wednesday that it has made an equity investment of $38 million in Korean game developer G10 Entertainment.

Cambridge, Mass. - GamerDNA, an online community for video game players, announced on Friday that it has raised $3 million in its first round of venture capital, led by Flybridge Capital Partners.

Austin, Texas - Video game developer and publisher NCsoft on Wednesday introduced NCcoin, a new micro-transaction system that will allow players to use real-world money to purchase in-game items and upgrades within its titles. NCcoin will make its debut in the game "Exteel"; NCsoft also publishes "City of Heroes," "Guild Wars" and "Lineage."

Shanghai - Chinese online game operator The9 said on Friday that Blizzard Entertainment's "World of Warcraft" massively multiplayer online game has achieved a record of 1 million concurrent players in China. The first expansion pack for the game, "The Burning Crusade," launched in mainland China on Sept. 6.

Deerfield Beach, Fla. - Video game and entertainment ad network Intergi said on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to supply advertising placement for K2 Network, which serves over 16 million gamers in over 100 countries. K2 operates multiplayer online games including "War Rock," "Knight Online," "Global MU Online" and "Sword of the New World."

San Francisco - Double Fusion, a provider of in-game advertising services, said on Thursday that it has signed a deal with NCsoft, to serve ads within the developer's popular massively multiplayer online game, "City of Heroes."

Shanghai - Nineyou International, a developer and publisher of online games in China, has raised $100 million in private equity funding from Singapore's Temasek Holdings, PEHub.com reported.

San Francisco - Fluid Entertainment, a developer of children's video games, announced on Wednesday that it has landed $3.2 million in its first round of financing, led by Trinity Ventures.