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Project Torque Opens Beta

Aeria Games announced today that the closed beta for Project Torque has been opened up to the public. Over the past few weeks, the team has worked very hard to add a large variety of new and exciting game features such as new cars, tracks, and game modes.

To register and play for FREE, please visit us at http://project-torque.aeriagames.com/

Project Torque is one of the first MMORGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game) to hit North America. This game embodies the essence of competition, as well as delivers all the fun of casual gaming. Tune your car, personalize it, and then show it off to everyone at the track. But it’s not all about the car. Each individual driver must earn experience and pass licensing tests so they may unlock higher level items.

Major features of Project Torque are:

• MMORG (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game)
• Cutting Edge 3D Graphics
• Several Types of Game Modes
• 8 Player Races (Expanding to 30 Players per Race with Stock Car Mode)
• Advanced Experience and Licensing System
• Online Community features, such as Chat and Email within the Client
• Shop and Item Mall for Upgrades and Car Customization
• Fantasy and Real tracks from around the world
• Online Rankings
• Tournaments
• Upcoming Features:
• Race Teams / Race Clubs
• Fully Customizable Avatars and Race Girls
• New Cars (Fantasy and Licensed)
• New Tracks
• New Modes of Play (Tag, Police Chase, Bomb, Drag Strip, Demolition, and many more!)
• Monetary Prize Competitions

Tabula Rasa Goes Gold Play For Pre-Order Buyers Starts Oct 16th

NCsoft, announced today that Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa has reached gold status and will launch service in Europe and North America on October 19, 2007. Pre-order customers will begin their three-day head start on October 16.

Tabula Rasa is gaming legend Richard Garriott’s newest title, which combines a vast, persistent game world and rich storyline with fast paced action. Set in a near-future science fiction storyline, players create characters that must fight to save humanity against hostile alien enemies while trying to gain control of the universe. The game introduces several innovative elements to massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, including a Character Cloning System that allows players to explore different character classes without having to create a new character, and dynamic battlefields where players experience the frenetic action of combat in an ongoing war.

Buy DirectTV and Get World of Warcraft Free for 11 Months

DIRECTV, Inc., the exclusive distributor of the Championship Gaming Series in the U.S., and Blizzard Entertainment are offering the world’s most popular, massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft, to new DIRECTV customers across the country.

Available now through Nov. 30, 2007, new customers who sign up for DIRECTV with (Promo Code “57417 NEW”) you will receive 11 months of free World of Warcraft game time (worth approximately $150 if purchased separately). New DIRECTV customers who are not current World of Warcraft players will be able to download a trial copy of the game, upgrade that to a full version at no cost, and also receive 11 months of free World of Warcraft game time.

Tabula Rasa Limited Collector’s Edition

NCsoft announced their plans for the Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa Limited Collector’s Edition, which will be released to stores in North America and Europe when the game launches this fall.

This special retail box offers customers exclusive in-game items, including a special character emote, exclusive dye recipes players can use to create unique armor colors, and a unique pet. Players who purchase the Limited Collector’s Edition box also receive a briefing from Richard Garriott’s alter-ego in the game, General British, classified maps, an Allied Free Sentients (AFS) field guide, Tabula Rasa dog tags, an AFS challenge coin and a special edition poster. The Limited Collector’s Edition also includes one month of free game play and a “Making of Tabula Rasa” DVD.

One of the most anticipated PC games of the year, Tabula Rasa is the latest title by gaming legend Richard Garriott and offers a strikingly new approach to the design of multiplayer online games by combining a vast, persistent game world and rich storyline with fast-paced action. The game introduces several innovative elements to massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, including a Character Cloning Systemâ„¢ that allows players to explore different character classes without having to create a new character. Dynamic battlefields and ethical parables make this MMO game incredibly immersive, where players really feel a part of the ongoing war effort.

Tabula Rasa Pre-Order Bonus Pack With Beta Account Ships to Retailers

NCsoft, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, announced that the pre-order bonus pack for Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa has begun shipping to retailers. The pre-order box offers customers several perks, including exclusive in-game items and a three-day head start when the product launches this fall. Customers will find the pre-order bonus pack and digital pre-sale availability at various retailers in North America and Europe, as well as the NCsoft store at PlayNC.com. Richard Garriott is best known for creating the Ultima series, including Ultima Online, one of the first commercially successful massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) in North America. Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa, which is one of the most anticipated PC titles of the year, is set in an epic science-fiction story where players will be challenged by dynamic and fast-paced adventures on unique alien worlds.

Players who purchase the pre-order for Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa not only get a three-day head start on the live service, they also receive exclusive character emotes, exclusive in-game pets to accompany their characters, access to the beta test, and a DVD with the game client, bonus wallpapers and art.

“There is an amazing amount of anticipation for Tabula Rasa’s launch within our development team and the player community,” said Richard Garriott, executive producer. “The player feedback at this point has been extremely helpful and we’re putting the final touches on the game. This pre-order release truly marks the final stages in developing this epic adventure, and since owning the pre-order allows players beta access, it is a great way to try Tabula Rasa out before we launch the game.”

Please contact your local retailer for details on when Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa will be available on the shelf, or download it from the PlayNC store beginning Friday, August 10

Cryptic Studios Adds Some Big Hitters To The Board of Advisers

Cryptic Studios, a leading independent developer of massively-multiplayer online games, announced today a newly formed Board of Advisers that will provide strategic counsel to the company as it works to expand its leadership position in the interactive entertainment market.

Cryptic Studios appointed five members to its Board of Advisers, including experts in marketing, technology, and business development. This elite group will direct the development studio in regards to current projects as well as future opportunities.

The joining board members are:

- Jeff Braun: A 20-year game industry veteran, Mr. Braun co-founded Maxis with Will Wright. Under Mr. Braun’s leadership as Chairman and CEO, Maxis became world famous for its “Sim” branded video games. Maxis went public on the NASDAQ exchange in 1995 before selling to Electronic Arts in 1997. He remained with Electronic Arts as SVP North American Studios until 2000. Mr. Braun is currently involved with a number of private companies in the fields of interactive entertainment, media production/services and community collaboration.

- Kevin Cloud: Mr. Cloud began his career in game development in 1985 as a computer artist for Softdisk. In 1992, he joined id Software to assist on game art as well as packaging and advertising. Kevin is now co-owner, artist, and executive producer for id Software, an independent game developer and technology provider with iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE, and Enemy Territory.

- David Higley: Mr. Higley served as the Managing Director and the Global Head of Digital Media at UBS Investment Bank, leading the coverage of Interactive Entertainment, Wireless Content, and Media Related Technologies. Mr. Higley successfully built a team of leading global franchise managers, with clients throughout Europe, Asia, and the US. Mr. Higley has nearly $20 billion of transaction experience and has worked with virtually every leading Digital Media company during his career. Prior to investment banking, Mr. Higley was an attorney at the law firm now known as Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner.

- Ed Roffman: Mr. Roffman held several key financial positions at Activision from 1979 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1991, including Controller, Vice President of Finance, and CFO, and was a key contributor to Activision’s successful 1983 IPO. After Activision, Mr. Roffman served as CFO and COO of Palladium Interactive, a PC gaming company, where he was instrumental in the company’s sale to The Learning Company. He has also held CFO positions for several business software companies including Forte Software (sold to Sun Microsystems) and Illustra Information Technologies (sold to Informics).

- Strategic Marketing Partners: Strategic Marketing Partners, Inc. (SMP) is the largest independent PC and video games sales force in North America. For the past 15 years, its clients have represented the highest quality software and video game publishers and accessory manufacturers to all North American resellers and distributors. Its current list of clients includes LucasArts Entertainment Co., Sony Online Entertainment Inc., Palo Alto Software, DeLorme, Disney Interactive Studios, Sega, Square Enix, and Sony Media Software.

Marvel Universe Online Adds John Layman

Cryptic Studios, Inc., a leading independent developer of massively-multiplayer online games, today announced that they have added to their growing talent pool with the hiring of a new Design Writer, John Layman. Layman, a twelve-year veteran of the comic book industry and an accomplished game writer, joined the team in their Los Gatos headquarters on Monday, June 25. He will be lending his expertise to Marvel^TM Universe Online, the highly-anticipated MMO currently in development for PC and the Xbox 360^TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

“Having a creator like John on our side really demonstrates to our players - present and future - that we strive for authenticity when we bring a universe to life,” said Michael Lewis, CEO of Cryptic Studios. “As a company, we are committed to hiring the most creative people in and out of the industry. It’s all about delivering high-quality games that stay true to what both gamers and fans of the genre have come to expect from our studio.”

Layman’s comic credits include written work for several prominent Marvel Comics series, including Gambit, House of M: Fantastic Four, and Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness. He is responsible for several creator-owned titles, including Puffed for Image Comics and Armageddon & Son for Oni Press. Layman also has several notable games to which he has contributed his writing, including Metroid: Hunters for the Nintendo DS^TM and Marvel Trading Card Game for the PSP^® (PlayStation^® Portable) handheld system.

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Mythos Closed Beta Opens

today announced the opening of a closed beta program for the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game Mythosâ„¢ developed by Flagship Studios Seattle.

The program will commence with the first Mythos beta test on July 10th which will officially begin the beta test phase across the globe. During testing, eager fans will be given their first look of the online world of Mythos. The game will be tested in multiple phases and the first set of beta testers will be notified by Flagship Studios via email. To join the closed beta, interested gamers should sign up at the Mythos Site.

Mythos is an online, action role-playing game that is free to download and free to play. Set in the land of Uld – a fantasy world arising from the ashes of an epoch-long war of darkness – players assume the roles of fantasy heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest through entirely randomized dungeons and environments. With an elegant point-and-click interface and an accessible “isometric” perspective, Mythos is poised to have near-universal appeal. The game allows thousands of players to interact within the same world while using mostly “instanced” dungeons to create unique gaming experiences suited for both solo and group-minded players.

As players journey into Mythos’ ever-expanding universe, they select one of three races (Humans, Satyrs, or Gremlins) and opt to play as a particular character class using a huge variety of skills and items. Through heroic quests players search for gold, gems, armor, and weapons, while unlocking the secrets of Uld. Mythos presents a constantly expanding, continuously updated world where something new lurks around every corner.