Consumer Electronics Daily News

Legacy of Romulus Expansion to Star Trek Online Launches

The first expansion for the award-winning, free-to-play MMORPG Star Trek Online is now live and free-to-play from Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios. In Legacy of Romulus, fans may, for the first time ever, play as a Romulan or Reman through new story-driven mission arcs written exclusively from the Romulan Republic's point of view. Denise Crosby returns to reprise her role as Empress Sela in a story arc that sees players diving deeper into the intrigue surrounding the destruction of Romulus. Along with the new story content and the introduction of new Romulan ships and enemies, the Klingon faction has also been updated with full level 1-50 progression.

"Legacy of Romulus is the first Star Trek Online expansion and we are pleased to be able to offer players and fans alike a chance to play as a member of the Romulan Republic during this crucial time," said Daniel Stahl, Executive Producer, Cryptic Studios. "It's an exciting time in Star Trek Online and with Romulus and Remus gone, players need to rise up and revolt against the oppressive Tal Shiar regime."

With the launch of Legacy of Romulus, players can still purchase the new Legacy and Starter Packs at the official website:www.startrekonline.com/legacyofromulus 

To download and play Star Trek Online today for free, and for more information about the Legacy of Romulus expansion or the Legacy Packs, visit the official website at: www.startrekonline.com and www.legacyofromulus.com.

 

Got Words? New Word Game "Words in a Pic" Tops Global Mobile Charts

"Words in a Pic" is the latest release from Swedish social and mobile gaming company, WeAreQiiwi Interactive. The goal of the game is to find the words that match a picture. Each picture has three words associated with it. The player gets all the letters needed to find the words, in a random and mixed-up order, and then needs to puzzle them together to create the correct words for the picture. When you get the words right, you unlock new levels and get rewarded with trophies and coins.

Sounds pretty simple right? Well, yes. And no. Thousands of players all over the world get stuck on levels every day, and use the help buttons in the game asking their friends on Facebook and Instagram to help them solve the word puzzle. Players can also use earned coins to uncover letters and get other clues that will help them out.    

Released less than a week ago, the mobile game generated over 100 000 downloads in its first two days and was the #1 free app on the AppStore in Germany, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. "Words in a Pic" is available in nine different languages: English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish. The game is available on both iOS and Android, as well as Facebook for desktop game-play.

WeAreQiiwi Interactive CEO, Andreas Bergström , comments on the recent success: "We're delighted to see how well 'Words in a Pic' has been received in so many different countries. It shows that a really good game is universal and will appeal to people all over the world. New levels will be added every week; we intend to keep the world searching for words for a very long time."

KingsIsle Expands Pirate101 With Two New Worlds

KingsIsle Entertainment released two new worlds, Marleybone and Aquila, for its massively multiplayer online family game, Pirate101.  The release also includes numerous new features.   

"This is a substantial update to Pirate101 – larger in scope than any we have done before across all of our games," said Josef Hall, vice president and creative director at KingsIsle Entertainment. "Two new game worlds, 15 levels and the introduction of highly anticipated systems like the Bazaar give our rapidly expanding player base exciting new capabilities and vast new areas to adventure in."

The Marleybone story, in Book 13, puts players into the depths of a war zone they helped create as the Clockwork Armada sails upon the Westminster Skyway. Players will face consequences of their former actions all the while meeting a rich cast of new characters and recruiting fun companions, like Catbeard, to their crew.

Book 14 brings the mythos and humor of Aquila to light when players attempt to win the favor of Athena and Ares. Adventure and danger await players as they meet legendary heroes like Eagilles and Hawkules while squaring up against fearsome enemies like Manticores, Ettins and even Medusa the Gorgon.

Other major updates to the game include a Bazaar for players to buy and sell items in a common market, a new tutorial and turret bosses for large groups of player pirate ships, "Transportalors" to zip pirates from world to world, and even new treasure chests that give a second chance at raiding the troves of the biggest and toughest enemies found in Pirate101.

The complete set of update notes for this Pirate101 expansion can be found here:https://www.pirate101.com/free_game/update_notes/may23

 

 

GameSpot To Offer Extensive Live And On-Demand Video Programming Of E3

CBS Interactive's GameSpot.com today unveiled comprehensive E3 coverage plans, which will include more than 100 hours of original video programming from the show floor and, for the first time, on-air integration with CBS television stations. 

GameSpot's comprehensive E3 coverage will span all platforms – from television to online, mobile to Xbox Live – and will examine all aspects of gaming at E3, including the newest PlayStation4 and Xbox consoles, the latest games, and the continued rise of eSports.

GameSpot's coverage of E3, which takes place June 11-14 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, has begun in earnest and includes:

• Interactive social media programs: Now through the end of E3, GameSpot is hosting an open forum on Twitter in which users can ask GameSpot hosts questions about games being demoed using the hashtag #GSE3. Additionally, the site is hosting a "Battle of the Next Gen Twitter Campaign" in which viewers can "kick off the next console war" by tweeting their allegiance with the #GameSpotPS4 or #GameSpotXbox hashtags.

• A pre-E3 show for CBS television stations: This specially produced 30-minute television show, GAMESPOT'S E3 2013 PREVIEW, will highlight the latest industry trends and anticipated E3 announcements. The special will air on select CBS stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Seattle and Sacramento, as well as CW stations in San Francisco, Atlanta and Seattle, beginning Monday, May 27.

• More than 100 hours of live and on-demand video coverage: GameSpot will live stream all major press conferences, including Konami's on June 6 (GameSpot is exclusive provider), as well as press conferences from EA, Microsoft, Sony and Ubisoft on June 10. The site will also offer continuous coverage of product announcements and industry news from two stages on the show floor, giving viewers real-time updates. Last year, the site streamed more than 100 million minutes of coverage from the show floor.

• An interactive show-floor map: On June 6, GameSpot will roll out an interactive map that details each exhibitor's location within the Los Angeles Convention Center. Users can click on each booth to see GameSpot news and social media updates relevant to each publisher. 

Big Fish First to Deliver a Casual Cloud Gaming Service Across All Four Screens

Big Fish announced today that its cloud gaming app -- "Big Fish Instant Games" -- is now available on all four screens – PC, tablet, smartphone and TV, delivering games via interactive streaming video.  The "Big Fish Instant Games" app is now available on smartphones on Google Play in addition to its prior availability on tablets. The company also released a channel for the Roku 3, the fastest and most powerful Roku streaming player to date, enabling customers to play "Big Fish Instant Games" on TVs. Customers on all four supported platforms can instantly play the entire "Big Fish Instant Games" catalog of more than 200 games, and it is growing daily.  In less than one year, the company has fulfilled its promise to bring cross-platform cloud gaming to the mainstream, giving users maximum flexibility in where and how they want to play.  The "Big Fish Instant Games" app will be added to even more platforms throughout 2013.

The "Big Fish Instant Games" app offers the largest collection of games available on a cloud gaming service with more than 200 unique titles, and adds A New Game Every Day!® from its portfolio of more than 3,000 casual games published for PC. Game progress is saved in the cloud, allowing customers to play on one device, then pick up another device to continue game progress.

"Adding Android smartphones and Roku to our supported devices has substantially increased the audience of users that can instantly play and enjoy games from Big Fish," said Jina Heverley, Vice President and General Manager of PC, Mac and Cloud for Big Fish. "Now you can start a Big Fish game on your TV at home, and pick it up later on the go on your smartphone without having to wait for the game to download."

Subscription access to Big Fish's instant streaming game premium catalog of more than 200 games is available for a $7.99 monthly fee. Big Fish also offers free access to a rotating catalog of games.

The interactive streaming games service is available at the following links:

• PC: http://www.bigfishgames.com/unlimited/

• Google Play (Android tablets and smartphones): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigfishgames.streaming.client.android&hl=en

• Roku: http://www.roku.com/channels/#!details/24851/big-fish-instant-games

iam8bit Boots-Up iam8bit Entertainment System, A Retro Gaming Gallery Experience

 iam8bit Entertainment System, the videogame-themed art extravaganza, launches in Los Angeles this summer, opening June 7, 2013. iam8bit Entertainment System will debut an international showcase, featuring the work of a variety of returning and first-time artists, as inspired by classic 1980s videogames.

"iam8bit has evolved throughout the years to be not only showcase of awesome art, but recreate the most nostalgic moments of our childhood – the ultimate in fantasy fulfillment for all fans in attendance," Jon M. Gibson , co-curator of the show. "We take great care to craft a uniquely incredible, in-person experience, putting imagination on display in a way that will surprise most gallery-goers."

iam8bit is best known for their expertise in curating uniquely personal artwork and pop-culture inspired exhibits. Most recently, iam8bit hosted It's the shizNICK!, inspired by Nickelodeon TV shows of the 1990s, and Grace & Ritual, which showcased contemporary female artists, exclusively. 

iam8bit Entertainment System will be on exhibit at the iam8bit gallery on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles, beginning June 7 through June 30, 2013.

What:	iam8bit Entertainment System
Where:	iam8bit Gallery, 2147 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
When:	Opening night on Friday, June 7, 7 - 11p.m (Exhibit to run through June 30)

This year's show puts the spotlight on a wide range of more than 80 artists from around the globe, including Jose Emroca Flores,Gerald de Jesus, JC Richard, Rex Crowle, Jim Mahfood, Edison Yan, Olly Moss and Aled Lewis, among many others. Exclusive interactive installations will be revealed at a later date.

For more information and a preview of the gallery, visit http://iam8bit.com/the-gallery

Nissan And Sony PlayStation Announce GT Academy Program For 2013

Nissan Americas and Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC revealed that the groundbreaking GT Academy televised competition will return for a third season in North America.  GT Academy 2013 will be the biggest yet, with more competitors than ever before anticipated. The preliminary online qualifying element of the competition will run from July 2 to July 30 on a demo of the just announced and all-new Gran Turismo^®6 (GT6™) game exclusively on PlayStation^®3. Pre-registration will be available June 11- July 2.

Six former winners of the competition are now competing in top-level racing for Nissan.

Since its inception in Europe in 2008, GT Academy's acclaimed virtual-to-reality competition has attracted over two million entries, with gamers and motor sport fans battling it out on Gran Turismo for the chance to become real Nissan racing drivers. For the past two years in North America, more than 450,000 online gamers have competed. Six former winners of the competition, which now runs globally in Europe, the USA, Germany, Russia, and the Middle East and South Africa, are now NISMO Athletes competing in top-level racing for Nissan.

"We are turning out some genuinely fast racing drivers."

Nissan's Director of Global Motorsport, Darren Cox, revealed the plans for GT Academy 2013 today. Speaking at the Silverstone Circuit, during an event at which the latest version of the famous Gran Turismo game was announced, he said: "Every year of GT Academy has provided excitement and firsts, and 2013 will be no exception. The selection process and driver development program are now so robust that we are turning out some genuinely fast racing drivers. At its core, GT Academy remains a highly-accessible route into professional motor racing for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Unearthing genuine driving talent from the world of gaming is a real example of digital age performance and the innovation for which Nissan is famous. We are predicting that more people than ever will enter the competition this year on the stunning new GT6 demo."

"The challenges... are designed to improve people's race craft before they even make it to driving real cars."

Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital, explained: "GT Academy is a fitting platform for the Gran Turismo community to preview GT6 for the first time, as we aim to bring the worlds of virtual and reality closer than ever. We are very proud of this partnership with Nissan, and we have aimed to make a very appealing and accessible competition featuring a range of their cars. The challenges, even at this early stage of the competition, are designed to improve people's race craft before they even make it to driving real cars. We have also incorporated the Silverstone circuit for the first time in Gran Turismo. This should ensure that competitors will arrive at Race Camp better prepared than ever."

With the online qualification rounds offering a sneak preview of Gran Turismo 6, and the NISMO athletes blazing a trail in motorsports around the world – including Spaniard Lucas Ordonez (2008 winner) and England's Jann Mardenborough (2011 winner) racing at the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours for Nissan – this season sets the stage for the most talent-stacked competition ever. North America's 2012 champion Steve Doherty is competing in a Nissan GT-R in the Blancpain Endurance Series abroad. With that foundation of racing success, the entry levels for this year's video and on-track driving skills competition are expected to reach an all-time high.

How it Works

The format of GT Academy North America has the 32 fastest PlayStation gamers from across the continent compete in the national finals at a location to be announced soon. Once 16 finalists advance, the action will then make the transition from the virtual world to real Nissan sports cars in the intense televised final at Silverstone Circuit, now the established home of the GT Academy Race Camp.

The winners of each of the GT Academy competitions will then be put through an incredibly intensive and thorough driver development program, rated among the best in the world, in order to qualify for the ultimate competition prize - a full season racing a Nissan GT-R GT3 NISMO in a top-level championship.

How to Enter

Details of how to enter GT Academy 2013 can be found on various platforms including: https://www.facebook.com/GTAcademyNA,http://us.gran-turismo.com and www.twitter.com/GTAcademy.

Perfect World Unveils New 3D Fantasy MMORPG "Holy King" in its Pipeline

Perfect World Co., Ltd., an online game developer and operator based in China, today unveiled its new 3D fantasy MMORPG, "Holy King," in its pipeline.

Adapted from the popular online novel of the same name, "Holy King" will run on Perfect World's proprietary "Echo" game engine. The game's vivid graphics and grand scenery will present players with an immersive fantasy world. Featuring a fantasy setting and fierce battles, "Holy King" blends various refreshing gameplay features entertaining players with the ability to devour all things as they progress in the game, a wide variety of profession combinations to choose from, flexible transformation abilities, and the opportunity to experience battles in different forms including vigorous fighters when alive and soul fighters after being slain. The special combination of the mysterious fantasy world and exciting battles will deliver an unforgettable gaming experience to players.

Mr. Robert Xiao, Chief Executive Officer of Perfect World commented, "Our new 3D fantasy MMORPG, 'Holy King,' is another proprietary work that our talented staff created, from its initial design to its research and development phases, with dedication to prioritizing players' needs. We hope the game will provide players with new exciting game content and an enhanced gaming experience."

Gameloft Announces its First Three Games with Google Play Game Services

Gameloft® today announced that three of its popular games will be made compatible with the newly announced Google Play game services from Google. Google Play game services will enhance the Android gaming ecosystem, bringing global leaderboards, achievements, and advanced social features. Gameloft's popular FPS, "Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour," is the first Gameloft title to receive these new features, and is available today on the Google Play store. "Dungeon Hunter 4" and "Asphalt 7: Heat" will also be updated with Game Services in the coming weeks.

"Working closely with Google, we have leveraged these new tools to enhance the game experience for our millions of Android players," says Baudouin Corman, Vice President of Publishing for the Americas. "The new Google Play game services give players more options to connect with their friends and share their gaming experiences. We're thrilled to be part of the launch."

Google I/O attendees can get a first glimpse of the new versions of "Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour" and "Asphalt 7: Heat" on the show floor. The two titles, with Google Play game services integration, will be showcased at a Gameloft kiosk during the event.

DreamWorks Animation Offers $1 Million in Cash Prizes for Snail Racing Competition

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) redefines a snail's pace and makes mobile history with the action-packed Turbo Racing LeagueApp and the $1,000,000 Shell-Out Contest Presented By Verizon.  The game, which is inspired by DreamWorks Animation's upcoming summer film Turbo about a snail who gains super-speed, will feature the first contest of its kind to shell-out $1 million in total cash prizes.

The Turbo Racing League App from DreamWorks Animation and PikPok® features the thrill of racing in the palm of your hands and is available on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android handsets and tablets, and Windows Phone 8.  Players can rocket to the finish line like shell on wheels as they drift around corners, perform crazy stunts, collect tomatoes and grind rails to earn performance upgrades and improve their race times. The game is available on all mobile carriers, however, fans who play the game on a Verizon device will have access to exclusive content from the film as well as unique game customization options and insider tips and tricks on game play.

"Turbo Racing League perfectly captures the high-octane excitement of the film, and players of all skill levels will love the detail and depth that went into creating this addictive racing game," said DreamWorks Animation Head of Global Interactive Chris Hewish. "The basic game play is easy enough for everyone to enjoy, but the added complexities of the advanced maneuvers and the $1,000,000 Shell-Out will have racers vying for a lot more than bragging rights!"

To compete for real cash prizes in the $1,000,000 Shell-Out Presented By Verizon, eligible players must achieve daily goals or obtain sufficient tomatoes throughout the game to unlock access into the weekly contest. Once in the race, players can show off their driving skills on specific contest race tracks during an eight week qualifying period of weekly preliminary races starting on May 16, 2013 and continuing until July 7, 2013.  Each week, the ten fastest racers will win cash prizes up to $25,000.

Each of the eight weekly first place finishers will earn an invitation to the Grand Finale Race Event in Los Angeles to compete against each other for the chance to earn the title of Turbo Racing League Champion and the Grand Prize of $250,000!  The final race will be held in Los Angeles on July 17, 2013, in conjunction with the theatrical premiere of Turbo.