FenixSoft Co., Ltd. (hereafter “FenixSoft”, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Kengo Aoki, Director and President) formally announces that its “neuro impulse network engine®” (hereafter “nine”), an online game software development network library developed by FenixSoft, has been adopted for the “TSUMO” online mahjong software package (hereafter “TSUMO”, URL: http://www.tsumo.jp/) developed by WEST, Inc. (hereafter “WEST”, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Hiroyuki Nishi, Director and President) and officially opened on March 4, 2009.

■ What is the “TSUMO” online mahjong software package?
“TSUMO” is a mahjong software package that features a high degree of realism with, for example, screens featuring high-definition mahjong tile designs and sound effects, and innovative and sophisticated mahjong functions. It enables players to chat with one another over the net and to check the play strategies of the opposing players, as well as the latest play ranking. It also enables a player with a ready hand to view the tile that he or she needs for a winning hand, making it easy even for beginners to enjoy the game. On the official “TSUMO” web site, players can check their own play strategies against 150 or more personal records. As the records are linked to the game ranking, players can compare their own strategies with those of other players.

■ What is the “nine” online game software development network library?
The “nine” library provides a suite of basic communication functions. The library offers basic communication program functions such as high-speed connection management and TCP stream message blocking. As “nine” was developed to be “simple and compact”, its users have given it high marks for its ease of use and stability. Online game software developers have been using “nine” to develop their online content, including mahjong software, and avatar chatting applications. In this way, “nine” is being steadily adopted for more and more applications. The “nine” library can be downloaded from the FenixSoft web site free of charge.

■ How will “nine” develop in the future?
The “nine” library will develop from the current high-speed communication module towards an integrated-environment solution for network application development. As the first step in this development, a matching server will be offered in May of this year. This new function greatly enhances network application development by users by offering client-to-client matching and tournaments within frameworks. Before summer of this year, “nine for Flash” will be released to provide Flash support, targeting light content development. With this release as the starting gun, “nine” will come to support multiple platforms, including mobile terminals, while growing into a high-speed, stable, compact library.
As communication middleware for supporting software development at customers all over the world, “nine” will continue to contribute to market activation and technical innovation.

* “neuro impulse network engine” is a registered trademark of FenixSoft Co., Ltd.
All company names, brand names, and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

Direct enquiries about this article to:
FenixSoft Co., Ltd.
Kengo Aoki
PR
E-mail: nine@fenixsoft.jp

Company overview
FenixSoft Co., Ltd.
President: Kengo Aoki
Established: February 6, 2008
Capital: 4,200,000 yen
Number of employees: 18
Headquarters: Kitasando DT bldg. 2F, 4-16-7 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business description: Research and development of network systems
Development of network based gamesbr /> URL: http://www.fenixsoft.jp/
E-mail: info@fenixsoft.jp