GAMESPY EYES HIP
By Adnews Staff
GameSpy Industries, based in Irvine, CA, has hired Toronto-based Hip Interactive to build and operate a GameSpy-branded online game store. Hip's current operations include the Gamesmania.com Web site, which publishes video game news, reviews and previews, the Microplay.com site, which sells video games, the Microplay chain of retail stores, Electric Playground, a nationally broadcast television show, and its online counterpart Electricplayground.com. During the three-year term of the agreement Hip will be the exclusive e-commerce provider to <http://www.gamespystore.com>. Hip will also handle fulfillment and customer service for the online store. GameSpy Industries provides online entertainment and technology for the game industry. "Creating a GameSpy Store allows us to build on our reputation for being the only place a gamer needs to go online to purchase, play or read about the latest in games," said Mark Surfas, chief executive officer of GameSpy. The new online store will open in September.