Japan’s social game networking service giant Gree announced today November 2 that it had established a new invest subsidiary Gree Ventures.

Gree Ventures is going to form GV-I Investment Partnership, which is planned to invest (tantative) 2 billion yen (US$25.6 million) in total.

GREE to Begin Investing in Southeast and East Asia

- Plans to Actively Support Start-up Companies Targeting Global Markets -

Nov. 02, 2011

TOKYO, Japan – November 2, 2011 – GREE today announced that it has resolved to enter the venture capital business with a focus on Internet business-related start-up companies. For the entry, GREE has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, GREE Ventures, and formed a GV-I investment partnership which globally invests in Internet-related businesses under the management of GREE Ventures.
Aiming to boost the Internet market, not only in Japan but throughout the world, GREE will support the growth of promising unlisted venture companies which operate mainly in the Internet market in Southeast Asia and East Asia, where long term expansion is expected.

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Tags: Investment, Japan by Akky Akimoto
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Toyota [J] has released a promotional pro racing game “Social Network Racer” for Facebook.

“Social Network Racer” is designed to enhance global recognition of the “FT－86II Concept” model, which will be officially opened to the public at the Tokyo Motor show in December.  Users compete for time with others on the virtual circuit, and the person who clocks in at the fastest time will be registered as a record holder in the game.  By acquiring points it’s also possible to remodel your machine.  In addition they are also holding the “TOYOTA CHAMPIONSHIP,” targeted at foreign Facebook users.  The champion racer can, by lottery, be invited to the Tokyo Motor Show and participate in the world premier of the “FT－86II Concept.”

What’s more, Toyota has released the iPhone application “FT-86 World Report,” about the new model FR Sport, also scheduled to make its first appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show in December.  Download is free.

In “FT-86 World Report,” users become a reporter, take photos of FT-86s running throughout the world, and submit them in this AR (Augmented Reality) App.  When the app starts up and you peek through the iPhone camera, a virtual FT-86 appears over the actual scenery on the iPhone screen.  When you save this picture and post it on the FT-86 World Report Site([updated 2013-05] the site seems to be terminated and squatted by SEO spammer so took the link down.), it is added to an interactive movie open to the public all over the world.

Translation authorized by VSMedia

Tags: Japan by Chiho Komoriya
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