Sydney, Australia – November 3, 2011 – Ubisoft has announced that it has acquired RedLynx, the Finland-based creator of renowned digital brand “Trials”. 

Founded in 2000, RedLynx is a pioneer in digital games, developing more than 100 high-quality titles for a wide range of digital distribution channels, including PC, consoles, mobile phones, tablets and interactive TV. After initial success on PC and wide acclaim for its highly realistic, physics-based game mechanics, Trials, RedLynx’s flagship brand, has now become one of the best-selling games ever on Xbox™ LIVE Arcade, with over two million paid downloads across the main game and both DLCs. Trials Evolution, the next title in the franchise, will be released in the coming months. The recent DrawRace 2 for the iPhone and iPad was lauded by both press and gamers for its innovative physics-based touch-controls and asynchronous multiplayer gameplay. Upon its release, DrawRace2 became the best-selling racing game in both Europe and the United States. 

Commenting on the acquisition, Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft, stated: “The team at RedLynx has developed exceptionally strong digital brands that stand out for their high replay value, their long tail sales and their multiplatform positioning. We are delighted to welcome RedLynx to the Ubisoft family. Their expertise in asynchronous online games and physics-based game mechanics provides us with a great opportunity to bring their powerful brands, most notably Trials, to an even broader range of fast-growing digital platforms.” 

“We were attracted by Ubisoft’s focus on creativity and quality, and the fact that they base their long-term strategy on both the traditional and digital distribution video game markets.  The reality of today’s market is not about platforms, it’s about creating excellent gaming experiences that consumers can play on any device or screen they like.” stated Tero Virtala, chief executive officer of RedLynx. “As part of the Ubisoft team, RedLynx will be able to focus even more intently on creating stand-out, excellent brands that push the boundaries of online gaming in many new growth areas.  With Ubisoft, a wider audience will get the chance to enjoy our games, we’ll generate more value for our brands, and also leverage our experience more broadly in digital distribution channels.”

Following the acquisitions of Massive Entertainment, Nadeo, Quazal and Owlient, RedLynx represents the continuation of Ubisoft’s focus on strengthening its online expertise and infrastructure in order to expand its portfolio and use of new online business models. The success of The Smurfs & Co social game on Facebook, the upcoming launch of the AAA project Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online in open beta in Europe, the enthusiasm of the TrackMania community, the success of The Settlers Online in Germany and the Uplay online services platform are the most recent implementations of this digital strategy.

Previous Ubisoft acquisitions in the online segment:

–      November 2008: acquisition of Massive Entertainment, renowned for their specialty in creating multiplayer games. Massive is collaborating on or responsible for the development of several ambitious unannounced projects.

–      October 2009: acquisition of Nadeo, creator of cult hit multiplayer driving game, TrackMania. TrackMania 2 Canyon and ManiaPlanet has been recently released.

–      November 2010: acquisition of Quazal, a leader in the creation of online technical solutions. Assassin’s Creed implements Quazal technology for its multiplayer mode, which received the Game Critics Award for “Best Online Game” at E3 2010.

–      July 2011: acquisition of free-to-play game developer Owlient.  The team at Owlient has extensive expertise in the management of online game-playing communities, and their Howrse brand has almost two million monthly active users.

Melbourne Australia – November 3, 2011 – It’s finally here… the most anticipated trailer of 2011… Grand Theft Auto V…

Download Portal OffersFree Test of Entire List of Games

Dusseldorf, 31st October, 2011: The GDC Game and Download Company AG today announced that, with immediate effect, gamers can test the total range of software available on the download portal 

www.awomo.com 

absolutely free. Depending on the game, the first 30 to 60 minutes of game playing time will be made available to everyone free of charge. If the gamer buys the game, they can resume the game exactly where they left off when the test period came to an end.

“We’re excited to finally be able to offer this innovative feature to all gamers. Free testing of an original game is a great service for the client, and in the end it’s a decisive factor in their decision to buy. This also puts an end to the need for publishers to have separate demo versions of their games specially programmed. At AWOMO.COM we let gamers test the actual, original game – nothing else. And testing the game this way has now been made possible by the patent-pending Awomo technology that drives the platform,” commented Nils Herrnberger, CEO of GDC Game and Download Company AG.

About AWOMO.COM:

AWOMO.COM is a new, innovative download portal for computer games. AWOMO.COM offers ultra-fast game downloads thanks to its own patent-pending AWOMO streaming and compression technology.

You’ll find more information on the official website: www.awomo.com

About GDC Game and Download Company AG:
GDC Game and Download Company AG is a company that is listed on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and operator of the AWOMO.COM ultra-fast games download portal. The company is based in Dusseldorf, Germany.

You can find out more on the official website: www.gdc-ag.de

Collaborators include renowned game designer Jane Jensen and graphic novel artist Romano Molenaar 

SAN JOSE, Calif. – October 31, 2011 – Phoenix Online Studios, the team behind the episodic King’s Quest revival The Silver Lining, and Khaeon Gamestudio, an independent game developer based in the Netherlands, will combine their creative forces in Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller. An episodic detective game, Cognition will have a supernatural storyline developed with help from renowned designer Jane Jensen, and graphic novel style visuals created by comic book artist Roman Molenaar. With today’s announcement, Phoenix and Khaeon have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the series’ initial development costs: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/postudios/cognition-an-erica-reed-thriller 

Three years ago, FBI agent Erica Reed lost her brother to a serial killer who was never caught. During this desperate investigation, she developed the strange and unpredictable power of post-cognition: by touching an object, she can see its past and the events that happened on, to, or around it. Though undeniably useful in her line of work, this skill makes her uneasy and has caused her problems professionally and personally. Now a new serial killer is on the move—one who leaves behind clues perfectly suited to Agent Reed’s unique abilities. Has someone learned her secret? What do they want from her? More importantly: by working this case, will Erica finally uncover enough evidence to bring her brother’s killer to justice? 

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller will release as a series of four episodes, a format Phoenix knows well from their work on the ambitious freeware game The Silver Lining (http://www.tsl-game.com). After playing The Silver Lining, Khaeon representatives approached Phoenix to develop Cognition, a project originally conceived by Khaeon’s art director Romano Molenaar. The game’s design team will work closely with story consultant Jane Jensen on Cognition‘s plot and investigative gameplay.

“I’m very impressed by Phoenix’s work on The Silver Lining — this is a talented team who has shown incredible dedication to a fan game. Now they’re a young company moving into commercial production and I’m happy to be involved. I hope to help them make their first project a success,” says Jensen, creator of the acclaimed Gabriel Knight adventure game series. “Cognition is a perfect fit, too, with its supernatural storyline and graphic novel style.” 

Via Kickstarter, Phoenix and Khaeon hope to raise $25,000 to help fund the game’s initial development. Funds raised will be used for software licenses, development resources, and other start-up production costs. Prizes for backers include free downloadable copies of the finished game, signed hard copies, and rare opportunities to appear in the game, name characters, and participate “behind the scenes” in its development.

“Phoenix Online Studios would never have come this far if not for the dedication of our fans. They encouraged us to stick with it, they had our backs when we ran into copyright issues, and they helped us show the world that there’s still a huge audience for games like The Silver Lining and Cognition,” says CEO Cesar Bittar. “Now we’re hoping they’ll join us on this next step in our company’s adventure, and in return we’re looking forward to including the fans in Cognition‘s development process as much as we can.”

Cognition will be developed for PC, with versions for mobile platforms and connected consoles also under consideration. The four episode series is planned to debut in 2012. To learn more about Cognition and view the game’s trailer and concept art, visit the official website at http://www.cognitiongame.com. To help with funding, visit the Kickstarter page at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/postudios/cognition-an-erica-reed-thriller.

 About Phoenix Online Studios

Established in 2004, Phoenix Online Studios began as a group of King’s Quest fans coming together to create an unofficial sequel to the series. The resulting project, The Silver Lining, has been called one of the most ambitious fan projects ever made and has garnered attention from numerous high-profile publications including CNN, PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, Game Informer, Edge, GamesTM, Kotaku, and Joystiq. The fourth of five Silver Lining episodes will release in November, 2011. As the series draws to a close, the team is shifting their focus to commercial projects, starting with Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller to debut in 2012. More information about Phoenix Online Studios can be found on the company’s website, http://www.postudios.com. 

About Khaeon Gamestudio

Khaeon Gamestudio (www.khaeon.com) is an independent game development studio based in the Netherlands. With proven multiplatform experience spanning the entire spectrum from consoles to smart phones, Khaeon Gamestudio has been successfully developing high quality games for the worldwide market since 1999. 

About Jane Jensen

A 20-year veteran of the gaming industry, Jane Jensen is an internationally renowned game designer. Her Gabriel Knight PC adventure games won numerous industry awards and continue to be fan favorites in the adventure community. In 2003, Jane co-founded Oberon Media and went on to design best-selling casual games such as Deadtime Stories, Women’s Murder Club, and the recent hit Dying for Daylight. Her newest adventure game, Gray Matter, came out in November 2010 to great anticipation and praise. She has also written four novels.

London, UK, Paris, FR and San Francisco, CA (1^st November, 2011) —Wargaming.net, the award-winning global videogame publisher and developer, announces Update 7.0 for their world-famous free-to-play MMO World of Tanks that will introduce a wide range of new gameplay features.

Along with unveiling two new maps, Fjords and Swamp, Update 7.0 will feature the long-anticipated camouflage system that will fit tank skins to the battlefields they fight on. Available in different options, camouflage will provide enhanced invisibility and add more to the strategic element of tank combat.

Clan members will be able to represent their membership by using clan emblems on their vehicles. In addition, battles within the Clan Wars will feature the fog of war, where the teams will not see each other’s rosters

The new Update will also include a special model SU-85 (I) available within special World of Tanks events.

“We are truly proud to present the new features to our players,” said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. “We will keep upgrading the game, developing new content and introducing new modes. We promise there are a lot of new exciting features to come.”

World of Tanks is the first and only team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

A flexible system of authentic vehicle upgrade and development allows you to try any of the vehicles and weapons in the game. Whether you prefer to exhaust your foes with fast and maneuverable light tanks, make deep breaches in enemy lines with all-purpose medium tanks, use the force of giant tanks to eliminate opposing armored forces, or become a heavy sniper with long-range howitzers, each unit type has its own advantages and can be extremely effective when operated by a true tank ace.

But being a great tank commander alone isn’t enough to win! In World of Tanks, it’s all about teamwork. Victory is achieved by combining your combat skills with those of the other members of your team, each playing their own role on the battlefield. Just add your favorite strategy to build your own steel empire and manifest the indisputable authority of the tank power!

Join World of Tanks:

• http://game.worldoftanks.eu/registration/ (Europe)
• http://game.worldoftanks.com/registration/ (North America)

About Wargaming.net®

Wargaming.net® is an award-winning online game developer and publisher, incorporated in the UK. Its 270-strong development team is located in Minsk, Belarus. Since 1998, the company has shipped 13 titles, including acclaimed Massive Assault series, Order of War RTS published by Square Enix, and three add-ons for Blitzkrieg II. At the Russian Game Developers Conference (KRI) in 2009 and 2010, Wargaming.net® was named The Best Developer Company from ex-USSR. At KRI 2011 the company was awarded Industry Prize and World of Tanks® won the Best Game Award. The company’s headliner project, World of Tanks®, gained the Guinness World Record for the Most Players on One Server Simultaneously. Currently, Wargaming.net® is developing the next action MMO’s, World of Warplanes and World of Battleships.

Official web site: www.wargaming.net

“Welcome to San Paro!”
Iceberg Interactive to Distribute European version of APB Reloaded

GamersFirst and Iceberg Interactive join forces to bring the Free2Play® revolution to Retail

Irvine, Calif, and Haarlem, The Netherlands 28 October 2011 – Iceberg Interactive is proud to announce that it has entered into a partnership with GamersFirst to distribute the retail version of the upcoming MMOG blockbuster, APB Reloaded, in Europe. GamersFirst is a renowned world leader in Free2Play® massively multiplayer online games, serving over 30 million gamers in 160 countries. Currently in open beta, this virtual cops and robbers-themed game has already attracted more than 700,000 online players in less than three months of testing and nearly 300,000 “Likes” on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/APBReloaded ).

There’s trouble in the city of San Paro, and players have to put an end to it – or maybe it might be more fun to make things even worse! APB Reloaded is a Free2Play massively multiplayer online third-person shooter game taking place in the modern-day fictional city of San Paro. This open-world environment challenges players to find their way through a city in a state of near anarchy. Players can take up the role of either a Criminal or Enforcer to commit or stop petty crimes and gain notoriety within their own organizations in order to control the city. Be it on foot or from the driver’s seat, APB Reloaded melds player-on-player combat within the immersive city teetering on the edge of total chaos. Powered by Epic’s Unreal 3 engine, APB Reloaded features a robust set of customization tools second to none, providing gamers the ability to create the exact look of their in-game avatar, personalized symbols, clothing, vehicles and in-game music.

“GamersFirst has been looking for a partner who can help us revolutionize retail distribution for Free2Play games in Europe. With Iceberg Interactive, we have found the perfect partner. Our pricing model for APB Reloaded actually pays a gamer to come try the game. This is unprecedented for a title which cost more than seventy million dollars to produce,“ says Rahul Sandil, Senior Vice President of Marketing at GamersFirst. 

The suggested €19.99 retail version of APB Reloaded will include more than €35 worth of in-game items, including a permanent in-game high-performance vehicle, a permanent in-game weapon and 30 days of premium access that provides increased cash rewards, reputation gains and a 20 percent in-store discount. APB Reloaded will be released early in January, 2012. To get up-to-date information on GamersFirst and APB Reloaded’s Community and Fan Pages, check out the following links:

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/APBReloaded 

Development Blog – http://apbreloaded.blogspot.com 

Website – http://www.gamersfirst.com/apb/    

Twitter – @APB_Reloaded @GamersFirst

Iceberg page – www.iceberg-interactive.com

Key Game Features

• Fun and engaging online action in a highly detailed interactive city
• Revolutionary customization system – players create their own avatars, music and vehicles, and can modify them extensively
• Unique game play mechanics with each “action district” supporting two rival factions, 100 players in 25 teams, 250 cars and 1,000 NPCs
• Each game world handles 10,000 players

What the Media are Saying about APB Reloaded

•  “If you can only play one free to play shooter this year, this is the one.” – MMOBOMB April 2011.
• “ I thoroughly encourage you to give APB Reloaded a shot and see for yourself why it’s been nominated for one of Ten Ton Hammer’s Best of E3 2011 awards.”  -Reuben ‘Sardu’ Waters- Ten Ton Hammer  June 2011.
•  “If you like Grand Theft Auto and you like shooting virtual people online, there’s really no reason not to give APB: Reloaded a spin”  Adam Rosenberg  – Digital Trends  May 2011.
•  “…GamersFirst is doing some fantastic work the core mechanics of [APB Reloaded], which means They’ll only bring APB back, but they’ll bring it back a much better game than before!  Nic van ‘t Schip, OnRPG.com March 2011.
•  “Over this past weekend I sunk about 7 hours into [APB Reloaded] and I couldn’t get enough”  Steve  Lichtsinn Multiplaying.net  June 2011.
• “Many MMO games were on display that didn’t serve up the staple Orc vs Goblin type fair, and APB Reloaded was definitely the strongest of the bunch.”  MMGN– Best MMO of E3, June 2011.
•  “In reality, stealing a car is wrong but in APB [Reloaded] it feels so right.” Adam Tingle MMORPG.com  May 2011.
• All Points Bulletin: Reloaded is definitely worth a try.”  John Jacques- Gamerant.com   June 2011 
• “..this looks to be a glorious and fast-paced team action game.”  Chris Jarvis –Gamespeople   May 2011.

About GamersFirst

GamersFirst, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the leading Free2Play® MMO game publisher in the Western hemisphere. GamersFirst has offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. GamersFirst.com features the hit MMOG’s Knight Online, Fallen Earth, Sword2 and War Rock and future hits including APB Reloaded, Hailan Rising, Victory: Age of Racing and Taikodom: Living Universe. Read more about the company and its games at http://www.gamersfirst.com.  

GamersFirst is a subsidiary of K2 Network, one of the fastest growing companies in the fastest growing segment of the video game industry. Founded in 2001, K2 Network has established itself as a global leader in Free2Play online gaming, serving over 30 million gamers in 160 countries. The company’s portal, GamersFirst.com, offers a range of multiplayer online games as well as rich community features.

About Iceberg Interactive

Iceberg Interactive (www.iceberg-interactive.com) is an independent videogame publisher founded by an international group of games industry veterans, that recognises quality games and their audiences. With key offices in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands, Iceberg has both a firm footing in, and a firm eye on, the vibrant European games market. Iceberg is currently among the market leaders for the following PC game genres: simulators, adventure, strategy and MMO/action games.

Don’t just play, play it cool!

Survive Nine Trials in the Largest PvE Experience Yet

(Foster City, CA) November 1, 2011 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), today announced the imminent launch of Perfect World International: The Trials, the latest free update to Perfect World International, now one of the most popular free-to-play MMORPGs on Earth with over 50 million players.

The Trials launches November 2, 2011. To prevent the Grand Demon Lord from utterly destroying Perfect World, players must survive and conquer nine deadly perilous trials.

“The Trials is another terrific free content update for Perfect World International and reaffirms our commitment to supporting our amazing, and amazingly large, community of players with new and unique gaming experiences,” said Derick Chan, Product Manager, Perfect World Entertainment Inc. “The Trials even brings with it the largest and most challenging player versus environment experience yet, which includes a spectacular 100-person raid.”

Additional features in Perfect World International: The Trials include:

•    The Nine Ultimate Faction Trials
Band together with 99 others and undertake rescue missions, monster assaults, unique boss fights and tower defense challenges to stop the Grand Demon Lord’s evil schemes.

•    Travel to Exotic Places, Reach New Heights
Unravel the mystery of Elysium Village, complete high-level quests and experience a couple’s love – a power that could unite or destroy the entire world.

•    The Best Armor Gets Better
Acquire new items to complete the perfect armor set, re-forge powerful gear with brand-new materials and access the latest Rank 9 gear for the Earthguard race.

For more information about Perfect World International: The Trials, please visit the official website: http://pwi.perfectworld.com

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD INTERNATIONAL
Perfect World International is one of the most successful free-to-play 3D MMORPGs ever and now boasts over 50 million players worldwide and a distinct a level of artistic elegance unlike other games of its kind. Be transported into a graphically stunning and captivating world filled with adventure and chaos. Prepare to unite against a common enemy and uncover the mystery behind the reemergence of an ancient race known as the Tideborn.

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), primarily publishes online games and provides online services in North America. Aiming to provide the best game services to North American players with the highest level of commitment in localization, quality assurance, and user-friendly publishing infrastructure, Perfect World Entertainment has achieved great success and published a number of MMORPGs, including “Perfect World International”, “Forsaken World”, “Battle of the Immortals”, “Jade Dynasty”, and “Ether Saga Odyssey”, and a single-player action-RPG “Torchlight.”

Helps businesses stop malware-driven fraud, block bots and automated attacks and control access by geographic location 

Sydney – November 2, 2011 – Imperva, a pioneer and a leader of a new category of data security solutions for high-value business data in the data center, announced today the availability of SecureSphere 9.0 and introduced ThreatRadar Fraud Prevention Services. With ThreatRadar Fraud Prevention, Imperva has defined a new Web security architecture that not only encompasses Web applications, Web server infrastructure and application data in databases, but also extends to Web application users. 

Fraud Prevention

ThreatRadar Fraud Prevention empowers organizations to quickly and easily mitigate malware-driven fraud. ThreatRadar Fraud Prevention integrates with Trusteer Pinpoint, a transparent solution that detects client devices infected with malware. The new ThreatRadar service for the SecureSphere Web Application Firewall:

• Helps businesses reduce fraud mitigation costs and customer turnover, and satisfy regulatory requirements such as FFIEC compliance
• Accelerates time-to-security by adding fraud detection without requiring Web application changes
• Enhances security efficacy by supporting correlation of fraud detection with Web application firewall policies
• Decouples fraud prevention from Web application business logic; adjusts fraud policies and actions from the SecureSphere Web user interface
• Provides detailed security alerts and graphical reports that allow fraud analysts to investigate suspicious activity 

“Organizations with high-risk applications and sensitive customer data must look for vendors and technology that can fend off increasingly sophisticated and unpredictable attacks,” explained Avivah Litan, Gartner VP Distinguished Analyst.

“The marriage of Web application firewalls with advanced fraud prevention is an important step towards increasing the integrity of online transactions,” said Mickey Boodaei, CEO of Trusteer. “As attack sophistication increases, we believe that security teams will need the ability to detect and correlate malware activity with Web application traffic to bolster their defenses, and that’s where Trusteer’s partnership with Imperva will play a significant role.” 

Bot and Automation Protection

With version 9.0 of the SecureSphere Web Application Firewall, Imperva has introduced new defenses that help stop bots and automated attacks. SecureSphere anti-automation technology differentiates between bots and legitimate users, making it easy to block undesirable activity. Advanced application DDoS policies use innovative detection techniques to stop Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, and customizable DDoS policy templates simplify administration. Finally, new site scraping policies help safeguard intellectual property and thwart competitive espionage.

IP Geolocation

Imperva has also extended ThreatRadar Reputation Services to include IP geolocation. With up-to-date IP information regarding geolocation, Imperva customers can block unauthorized activity by geographic location. Geolocation also helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, such as U.S. export controls EAR and OFAC, by restricting access from embargoed countries. Geolocation is included as part of ThreatRadar Reputation Services. 

“Cyber criminals are combining fraud with automation,” said Amichai Shulman, CTO of Imperva. “And thanks to the global nature of the internet, attacks come from everywhere.  By combining anti-fraud and anti-automation with blacklisting by geo-location, we believe security teams have a powerful capability to increase efficiencies of doing business online.”

SecureSphere 9.0 will be available in late 2011. For more information about SecureSphere, visit: http://www.imperva.com/products/wsc_web-application-firewall.html. 

About Imperva

Imperva is a pioneer and leader of a new category of data security solutions for high-value business data in the data center. With more than 1,500 end-user customers and thousands of organizations protected through cloud-based deployments, Imperva’s customers include leading enterprises, government organizations, and managed service providers who rely on Imperva to prevent sensitive data theft from hackers and insiders. The award-winning Imperva SecureSphere identifies and secures high-value data across file systems, web applications and databases. For more information, visitwww.imperva.com, follow us on Twitter or visit our blog.