A hundred jobs are being created at a computer games publisher.

NCsoft Europe, one of the world's leading online gaming publishers, said it was planning to expand its Brighton and Hove offices and create another 116 jobs.

The company currently employs 112 people at its headquarters in Trafalgar Place and now hopes to double that amount by 2010 after securing a £1 million funding package.

The money has been provided by Seeda, the regional development agency, and will support the firm's move to the CityPoint development, near Brighton station, in 2009.

NCsoft Europe is an offshoot of NCSoft Corporation, the Korean digital gaming publisher. When it was founded in Brighton in 2004 it employed just three people.

The company has grown rapidly employing new staff with the launch of every new game. Its successes have included hits such as City of Heroes, Guild Wars and City of Villains.

NCSoft Europe's chief executive Geoff Heath said: "Brighton is a lively and growing hub for the creative and software sector.

"Our expansion will stimulate local competition and the exchange of best practice in the region."

He added: "Seeda's support of our investment will help grow the business and keep us and Brighton at the forefront of our industry, both nationally and internationally.

Jeff Alexander, executive director of Seeda's global competitiveness division, added: "NCsoft has attracted national and global attention since its arrival in Brighton.

"The company is a magnet for highly skilled jobs. This is vital to Brighton and to the region and helps the South East achieve the goals of the regional economic strategy.

"The news is good for NCsoft and for Brighton and underlines Seeda's commitment to attracting highly skilled creative employees to the South East."

Brighton and Hove is one of Britain's leading centres for digital media and has a small army of web designers, animators, film makers and games developers.

Almost 1,500 companies now fall into the "creative" category. About half of those are directly involved in digital media. Many are recognised as leaders in their field.

Tara Solesbury, project director at digital media agency Wired Sussex, said: "This is great news for Brighton in terms of tackling the so-called brain drain to London.

"A hundred jobs means more opportunities for graduates to stay in the city. It's about retaining talent and Brighton and Hove needs more large employers to do that."

"NCSoft are an interesting company.

They have managed to keep quite a low profile compared to some of their rivals but they have been growing over the years."