Avatar Reality to Unveil New Technologies and Blue Mars Attractions at GDC 2008

Avatar Reality to Unveil New Technologies and Blue Mars Attractions at GDC 2008

Renowned Development Team to Showcase Third Party SDK and Scenic Tours of Upcoming Virtual World; Sponsored Session to Focus on Blue Mars Third Party Development Program

Avatar Reality Inc., a new development entity dedicated to the advancement of online community building, today announced it will provide a sneak preview of its upcoming massively multiplayer virtual world (MMVW), Blue Mars, at the 2008 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, Booth 418 in the West Hall Career Pavilion.

Set in Terraformed Mars in the year 2177 AD, Blue Mars will feature stunning graphics, realistic characters and endless gaming attractions that will allow players to build and simulate real-life scenarios by creating personalized characters, or avatars. The MMVW will launch in a public beta version at the end of 2008.

At GDC, Avatar Reality will conduct an interactive tour of Blue Mars attractions which highlight breathtaking graphics through the utilization of CryTek’s game middleware CryENGINE™2. Additionally, they will preview their scripting game development environment which enables third party developers to easily build rich 3D casual games, and their proprietary Avatar Technology, which enables realistic character appearance and animation.

Avatar Reality’s vice president Li-Han Chen will host a sponsored session on Wed., Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. announcing the Blue Mars Third Party Development Program which gives game developers, CG artists and interested business partners an opportunity to create a variety of in-world attractions, 3D art assets and promotions for Blue Mars users. The session will take place in the West Hall, Room 2000.

For more information on Blue Mars and the Third Party Development Program at GDC, please visit Avatar Reality at Booth 418 in the West Hall Career Pavilion.

About Avatar Reality Inc.
Founded in December of 2006, Avatar Reality Inc. is developing a new massively multiplayer virtual world (MMVW), called Blue Mars, featuring stunning graphics, realistic characters and endless social bonding opportunities. The Honolulu-based company consists of multiple well-known and award-winning game developers including Henk Rogers, founder of Blue Planet Software, Blue Lava Wireless and The Tetris Company, and Kazuyuki Hashimoto, former vice president of technology, New Platforms at Electronic Arts (EA) and chief technical officer of Square USA.

For more information about Avatar Reality, please visit www.avatar-reality.com.

DX Studio 2.3 released with new PhysX engine option, performance boosts and user controls

Pinewood studios based software developers Worldweaver Ltd announce the latest release of their games and simulation platform DX Studio.

Version 2.3 comes packed with new features including PhysX support, depth of field, simple user control creation, scrolling listboxes, full tweening on all object properties, DXT support and a spherical map importer. There have also been a number of performance and memory usage optimizations. Full details of all the new features in v2.3 can be found at www.dxstudio.com/news.

“We’ve done a lot of work embedding the PhysX engine into DX Studio but the benefits of using PhysX should really help users looking to create particular gaming environments, especially given the recent announcement of Nvidia’s acquisition of Ageia and that they will soon introduce PhysX physics processing support into all GeForce 8-series graphics cards through a simple software download. Of course we have still kept the option of using Bullet physics too as it is still proving to be more appropriate for creating certain environments ” said CEO and founder Chris Sterling.

The latest version of DX Studio also sees the release of their own demo game, Hut of the Dead (www.hutofthedead.com). The game is free to play and all script available to DX Studio users to help with their own projects. There is also a competition running for the best game play modification of Hut of the Dead.

DX Studio licenses are available in both freeware and commercial editions (from £50) and can be downloaded from the website at www.dxstudio.com.

Games Convention Asia Set for September 18-20, 2008

The organizers of Games Convention Asia (GCA) and Games Convention Asia Conference (GCAC) today announced new dates for this year’s shows. GCA will take place at Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore, September 18-20, 2008, with the GC Asia Conference (GCAC) being held alongside, September 18-19. The main focus of GCA is the public exposition and business area, where product presentations of the latest industry innovations will be held as well as the promotion of international business contacts and the creation of business solutions.

GCA is the only platform for the booming interactive entertainment industry in the Asia-Pacific region with the Inaugural show drawing more than 70,000 international visitors. PricewaterhouseCoopers is predicting annual growth of more than ten percent in the digital games sector for the Asia-Pacific region alone. This means market growth from $ 11.7 billion in 2006 to an incredible $ 18.8 billion in 2011. Worldwide revenue in this sector is expected to grow from $ 31.6 billion to $ 49 billion over the same period.

GC Asia also announced that it has appointed Red Dawn Communications as its PR Agency of Record for the Asia-Pacific region. Red Dawn Communications is a full service communications agency specializing in PR for entertainment clients. The agency's client roster includes 20th Century Fox (East), Diageo, Electronic Arts, Golden Village Multiplex, Motion Picture Association, SingTel mio TV, and United International Pictures.

GameSpy Technology Launches New In-Game Commerce Engine, Direct2Game

IGN Entertainment’s GameSpy, a leader in multiplayer and online gaming technology, today announced the launch of Direct2Game, a new in-game commerce service that will allow publishers and developers to create and manage in-game storefronts, selling and delivering add-on content directly to gamers. Building on the successful foundation of IGN’s Direct2Drive, a leader in the digital distribution of games, GameSpy now offers developers a one-stop service to create new revenue streams and expand the range of content available to consumers.

Direct2Game’s service will enable gamers to purchase and download add-on content, such as maps, mods, expansions, sequels, and soundtracks. The service will also give developers access to a robust catalog of program interfaces, empowering them to create in-game “storefronts” to market their products. GameSpy will also provide full digital rights management (DRM), billing, and customer support to Direct2Game developers, backing innovations in videogame technology with a high level of client support.

“With the launch of our Direct2Game commerce service, GameSpy is now bridging its dual heritage in digital distribution and in-game technology, opening up new revenue streams and business models for publishers and developers,” said Jamie Berger, senior vice president of consumer products and technology for IGN Entertainment. “This new service further demonstrates our commitment to publishers and developers who want to directly offer new content and experiences to their valuable core fans.”

In addition to Direct2Game, GameSpy continues to be a leader in multiplayer and online gaming. The company’s suite of high-end technology enhancements enables videogame developers to build community experiences that transcend the barrier between in-game and out-of-game environments. Core features like instant messaging, friend rosters, and advanced matchmaking capabilities offer developers a turnkey toolset for constructing dynamic communities around their games. In addition to these community elements, GameSpy also provides tools for developers to build extensive player profiles, ranking systems and in-game voice applications. GameSpy technology is featured in more than 500 titles and the company most recently partnered with Epic Games to integrate GameSpy multiplayer technology into Epic’s Unreal 3 game engine. This partnership powers the recently-released Unreal Tournament 3 on both the PC and PLAYSTATION 3 platforms.

Splash Damage Launches New Website

Splash Damage today announced that it has relaunched its web presence at www.splashdamage.com. The updated look signals a new era as the company moves into multiplatform development with a larger team.

"Our goal for the new Splash Damage site was to create a useful and comprehensive resource for gamers, journalists, and business partners," said Stephen Gaffney, Splash Damage's Business Development Manager. "We needed something bigger and better and now we have it."

The new website boasts a clean and modern look, and offers a wealth of information about Splash Damage and its projects, while also providing community tools including forums and a developer blog the studio intends to use to keep its fans and the general gaming public up-to-date.

"We will keep adding features and useful tools to the new site, with a special focus on our online community," added Steve Hessel, Splash Damage's Community Relations Manager. "It's our goal to turn this into one of the best community platforms on the web."

The company also announced it is now actively hiring for several additional positions. These include openings related to Art, Game and Level Design, and Programming. Full details can be found at www.splashdamage.com/jobs.

POOL, PIRATES, PINBALL AND PUZZLES – COMING SOON IN OXYGEN'S NINTENDO DS SYSTEM LINE UP

Oxygen today announces four new DS titles to add to its spring line up. Hurry Up Hedgehog!; An intriguing multiplayer brainteaser for all ages, and Powershot Pinball Constructor; allowing you to play, create and share pinabll - are both set for release March 28th. Pirates: Duels on the High Seas; an epic adventure for the 7 keys of the 7 seas, and 8Ball Allstars; Your pool, your way, your rules - both hitting stores April 18th.

About Hurry Up Hedgehog! – Instore 28th March:

Hurry your hedgehogs home with Hurry Up Hedgehog! An intriguing brainteaser challenging the whole family to shrewdly manoeuvre their hedgehog to victory. Jostling against the canniest critters in the garden players must dodge hazards, out-smart their friends and use cunning to race their hedgehogs home.

Hurry Up Hedgehog! – Race, creep, jostle and out-manoeuvre.

About Pirates: Duels on the High Seas – Instore 18th April:

A chance encounter with an old sea-dog, the legend of a fantastic treasure - Thus begins an epic adventure for the 7 keys of the 7 seas – a daring battle against the Royal Navy, sea monsters, the Witch Queen and Blackbeard himself!

Steel yourself to face foes that no captain has ever bested before, in this perilous adventure of the enchanted worlds. Collect weapons, pick up crewmen, amass great riches and explore un-chartered seas. Learn the secrets of dozens of enemies as you cast off and set sail on a daring voyage of adventure and battle.

Choose a pirates life – For gold and glory!

About Powershot Pinball Constructor – Instore 28th March:

Play on a selection of stylish tables. Create and design your own unique table using the first DS table editor. Share it with your friends… Or employ the sabotage mode to disrupt your opponent’s game.

If that’s not enough – engage in a tournament, team battle or time attack as well as a variety of secret areas and mini games.

Pinball - Play it. Create it. Share it.

About 8Ball Allstars – Instore 18th April:

Chalk up your cue and challenge your friends anywhere to a head-to-head match, doubles game or just take a break and design your own table and playing icon!

Authentic and crazy tables, chat rooms, friends lists, challenge mode, league tables, 3, 6, 8, 9 and 10 ball games, plus online play and unique Winner Stays On mode, make this the years most exciting pool experience on the DS.


8Ball Allstars – Your Pool, Your Rules, Your Style!

Waygate Publishing Confirms First Major In-Game Event for Legend: Legacy of the Dragons

Waygate Publishing Limited, publisher of the popular, free-to-play, browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons, today confirmed plans to host its first major in-game event, which includes a mass PvP battle for up to 500 gamers. The company says it is delighted with the current progress of the game and is very excited about the event, which it intends to hold monthly in conjunction with the Full Moon.

Waygate Publishing also confirmed that the localisation and translation of new content is on schedule and expected to be released from the end of February. It includes a number of exciting features and upgrades about which it will release further details soon.

The Battle of the Dragons
For the last week, hundreds of players have been collecting the items required for access to the Battle of the Dragons which will occur on Wednesday, February 20th. The battle will pit the best warriors of each race (Magmar and Human) against each other, led by their dragons, Striagorn and Erifarius. It is a battle not only for pride and glory but for a real advantage as the winning race will lead the war against the eternal enemy of Faeo, Chaos…

The Invasion of Chaos
Chaos is planning an invasion on Thursday, February 21st and the victors of the Battle of the Dragons will be temporarily boosted in the fight against Chaos with a gift from their dragon. Participation in repelling the invasion offers players an excellent opportunity to boost their character’s attributes for the coming month of quests and battles.

New content and features
In addition, Waygate Publishing announced that it has almost completed the translation and localisation of new content, including 27 new quests, and intends to begin releasing them from the end of February. The new content will include the introduction of magic into the game for the first time. There will also be a significant software update, adding a new ‘Navigator’ feature to aid player’s orientation and travels in the ever-growing world of Faeo. More details will follow shortly.

For more information, visit www.warofdragons.com.

Free MMORPG Rappelz released in French and German

After the great success of Fly for Fun, Gala Networks Europe Ltd. Announces the release of its second free MMORPG: Rappelz in French and German versions. After a short period of a very satisfying beta test which attracted several thousands of players, the game has now been released in its final version on the gPotato Europe portal: www.gpotato.eu.

Rappelz is a free MMORPG taking place in a dark and violent universe where three different factions struggle to survive under the permanent threat of hordes of monsters. Using an optimized in-house graphic engine, the game proposes 24 different character classes spread among three factions, an impressive creature control system avaible to any character, and a lot of skills for dynamic and tactical combats.

With a very huge content spread among 140 levels of play, and a PvP system based on wars between guilds to control the dungeons, Rappelz has what it takes to seduce all kinds of players, and it’s fast growing community clearly proves it.

Already avaible in Japan, China or in the US, Rappelz can count on a very strong and active community in both French and German versions to build its European success.

The Golden Horde – JoWooD Productions Announces New Strategy Game

The Golden Horde takes you back to a place in time where the heirs of Dschingis Khan were ready to fight for their honor and glory. Choose your battles wisely; you will be up against fast and flexible Mongolians, heavily armed Crusaders and seemingly unconquerable Russians.

About The Golden Horde

The Scenario is based on events taking place in Europe, central Asia and Russia at the beginning of the XIII century. The game will offer recreated versions of famous battles and political crisis in an epic campaign where the outcome is yours to determine.

With sophisticated RPG elements, individual Heroes, stunning graphics and easy controls, The Golden Horde offers the perfect exotic setting for a real-time strategy game in the early middle ages of Europe and Asia.

Three different factions
Crusaders, Mongolians and Russians: each faction will have unique types of military forces, buildings and combat and heroes with individual abilities.

Takeover of enemy Units / Weapons
Take control of neutral horses or their slain riders’ weapon.

Equipment “on the fly”
Provide your warriors with new weapons or switch them directly on the battlefield.

Weather is a key element
Wind affects the flight qualities of arrows; Rain greatly affects visibility; Snow slows down units, which may cause the units to break through the Ice of frozen lakes.

Developer: World Forge
Genre: Strategy
Expected Age Rating: 12+
UK Release: March 28th 2008

www.jowood.com

Lighthouse Interactive releases update 1.08 for SUNAGE

Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and Austrian developer Vertex 4 today released update 1.08 for SunAge, their sci-fi real-time strategy game for PC. The new update adds several new enhancements, an auto-updater, bug fixes and above all, new multiplayer features.

Roman Pneudl, CEO of Vertex4 said, “We are extremely pleased with this new update since it makes the gameplay experience even more enjoyable. Update 1.08 also includes an auto-updater, which enables the game to automatically check for future updates upon start-up. This will ensure that the user always plays the latest version of the game. We also managed to reduce network traffic by switching to the UDP protocol, which means lag free gaming regardless of router or firewall settings. No more fiddling with port forwarding! In addition, we added a multiplayer lobby feature, allowing SunAge players from all over the world to chat, setup or join servers from within the game.”

SunAge is the modern day answer for RTS fans who want the best possible overview of their troops, while trying to outsmart opponents in frantic battles where strategy and tactics are more important than ever. If you have been into real-time strategy games for a while, this will bring back the good old days!

Key features in update 1.08 include:

• Re-balancing of several in-game units, an added enhancement given community feedback
• Multiplayer game lobby with chat functionalities
• Master server and improved online functionalities
• Improved firewall support and “punch through”
• Auto-updater functionality (future patches or fixes will be downloaded automatically upon startup of the game).
• Heavily reduced network traffic; rework of the network protocol, now UDP
The complete list of new features included in upgrade 1.08, are available at the Lighthouse forums, as well as on www.sunage-the-game.com.

To download the update 1.08 (file size: 5 MB) visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Earth is a desolate wasteland destroyed by the radiation and heat of the sun. Humankind, known as the Dome Confederacy, have been forced to retreat into shielded cities enduring constant attacks by the Raak-zun cult; a sect of religious outcasts who live outside the dome. An age long war has ensued as both races battle for the limited resources of the dying planet. Amidst the havoc, the gateway to a bold new planet is unlocked. Hope is on the horizon, but this Mecca is teeming with lethal Sentinel drones who will not hesitate to annihilate any life form that gets in their way.

FEATURES

• 3 Distinct Races - Human, Raak-zun and Sentinel - each with their own units, buildings, technological advantages and disadvantages.
• Unique Upgrades - Alternate modes can be researched for all units, unlocking dual functionality for greater tactical depth.
• Graphics - Stunning sci-fi environments from vast industrial cities and devastated wastelands, to a lush alien planet. While displaying rich graphical environments and visual effects, SunAge is very playable on lower spec PC’s and laptops.
• Tactical Landscape - All units and their alternate modes are crucial to the overall strategy. Exploit weaknesses in the enemy’s network while strengthening your own connection lines.
• Formations - Squad concept combined with long distance camera views allows a large number of units to be fighting onscreen with a clear overview of the battleground.
• Singleplayer - 25 campaign maps with compelling plots for each race.
• Multiplayer - LAN and Online – Classic multiplayer with focus on gathering4 different kinds of resources and outsmarting the opponent in battle. 10 maps created uniquely for multiplayer mode.
• Command Queuing - Command your units to prone, build or attack where you want them and when you want them to do so.
• Indirect Intelligent Targeting (IIT) - Order your units to focus on pre-selected targets.

To find out more about SunAge and to keep up with the latest news on the game, visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.sunage-the-game.com.