The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Institute of Automation signed Tuesday a cooperation agreement with Shanda Networking, a NASDAQ-listed online game provider, allowing the company to apply its advanced interactive technologies game service.

With two million yuan (US$240,000) worth of technological licensing fee, the CAS institute transferred five technologies concerning biometrics verification and interactive role control for games.

Tan Min, vice director of the CAS institute, said that all the transferred technologies were newly developed by the institute.

"The interactive technologies as well as graphics and voice processing technologies would be very helpful to developing more real-scenario games," Tan said.

Chen Tianqiao, chair of the board and CEO of Shanda, said, "Developing advanced interactive games is part of Shanda's overall strategy for cultivating diversified family entertainment."

The CAS institute organized a research team in March 2003 to develop interactive technologies for entertainment application.

Wang Yangsheng, a senior researcher who is in charge of the team, said, "Players can change their own faces to roles in games and control the roles with their own gestures and voices," Wang said.

(Xinhua New Agency April 20, 2005)