Dropzone Enters Closed Beta, First Tournament To Be Held

Gameforge, Sparkypants Studios, and ESL team up to hold first-ever Tournament as Dropzone enters its early Closed Beta phase 

Karlsruhe, Germany, July, 22^nd, 2016 – Leading European video game publisher Gameforge in partnership with Sparkypants Studios is providing select players with early access to Dropzone through its Closed Beta Test.  In this ground-breaking RTS experience, players outfit their squad of three Rigs with specialized gear to face each other in adrenalin-fueled 1v1 battles and race against the clock in the most intense 15 minutes of RTS action ever to hit the PC.  Furthermore, top ESL-Streamers will square off in Cologne, Germany at the ESL Studios to put their skills to the test as they match up against each other.

Follow the first ever Dropzone Tournament on Twitch, Saturday, July 23^rd at 12 pm CET: twitch.tv/esl

Sign up for a chance to receive an exclusive beta-key here: http://www.playdropzone.com

Check out the newest Dropzone game play trailer here

15 Minutes of Fame on Twitch

A highly competitive title, Dropzone combines popular RTS mechanics including intense 1v1 action, multi-unit control, deep strategy and attention management with extensive ability customization, pilot leveling, positional play and tactical action found in MOBA-styled games.  Underlining the competitiveness of the game, Gameforge, Sparkypants and ESL have teamed up to stream the first-ever Dropzone tournament on Saturday July 23^rd at 12 pm CET. All viewers of the stream have the chance of grabbing some of the first beta-keys to be handed out during the stream. “The participants of the tournament include RTS veterans, famous MOBA players and ESL streamers.

Individual Excellence

Powered by Sparkypants Studios own Sparkle Engine, a game engine built from the ground up for competitive online play, players command a squad of three individual, highly-specialized Pilots each operating a unique Rig in 15 minute head-to-head matchups of strategy and skill.

“Dropzone delivers that adrenaline rush and individual excellence that comes from the classic 1v1 competitive experience we have always loved.  We like to have it all on the line where the individual player is responsible for winning or losing,” says Stuart Jeff, Design Director, Sparkypants Studios.  “With all the hard work and love we put into the game every day, it’s exciting to open Dropzone up for more players.  We’re looking forward to the feedback from beta participants, as well as these tournament match-ups and what Pros and professional Streamers can do in our game as together we take Dropzone to the next level.”

On a Distant Moon

“It is the 22nd Century. All of humanity depends on a rare and powerful energy source called Cores mined from Jupiter’s moon Europa—but Europa has fallen. Now corporations, entrepreneurs and all freelancers fight the hostile Alien Kavash (and sometimes each other) to scavenge Cores and cash in on the new “Core Rush”. Doing so requires powerful mechanized Rigs, specialized gear and highly trained pilots to explore the surfaces or Europa and retrieve the cores from the Kavash.”

More information about Dropzone: www.playdropzone.com

Key Features

• 1v1 Focus on individual skill and strategic customization
• Intense 15 minute matches
• Extensive options for customizable units – combine pilots and gear to build a squad of Rigs that suits your style of play
• Easily understandable rules and victory conditions that provide for incredible strategic depth
• Integrated Spectator and Replay Modes allow players to watch and learn
• Powered by the brand-new next-gen Sparkle Engine, designed specifically for:
  • Robust Online Play
  • Responsive Controls
  • Amazing Visual Fidelity that is 4k Gaming-Ready, but can scale to lower-end PC systems

Title: Dropzone
Genre: RTS
Plattform: PC
Publisher: Gameforge
Developer: Sparkypants Studios

About Dropzone

Dropzone is the first, new game IP from game developer Sparkypants Studios, comprised of seasoned RTS veterans of Big Huge Games. Dropzone brings together classic attributes of Real-Time Strategy such as map control and multi units the player must direct, with 1v1 intense online competitive play and familiar keyboard and mouse controls.  Players must develop their tactics, customize their Rigs to suit their play-style, and then bring them into battle against their opponent to see who can score the most points during a 15-minute match.  Dropzone provides for a vast array of choices between Rigs and their load-out, and rich variety of maps set on alien-infested Europa over which players will contest. Dropzone is set for a 2016 release as a free download for PC. You can read more at http://www.PlayDropzone.com/.

About Sparkypants Studios

Sparkypants Studios is a AAA game studio located in beautiful Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2011, Sparkypants is comprised of veterans of award-winning game franchises such as Rise of Nations, Civilization II, Alpha Centauri, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and Catan. Sparkypants has always believed that collaboration and iteration are pillars of great game development. Passionate about the games it makes (and plays), Sparkypants is on a mission to redefine the multiplayer strategy space and have fun doing it.

About Gameforge

With more than 20 titles and over 450 million registered players, Gameforge is the leading provider of free-to-play massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) in the western hemisphere. Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, the group offers its online games in more than 75 countries and employs 450 members of staff. The portfolio encompasses numerous well-known game industry brands, including client-based titles such as Orcs Must Die! Unchained, HEX: Shards of Fate, prized role-playing game AION Free-to-Play and TERA as well as Europe’s most successful MMO, Metin2. In future, competitive RTS Dropzone and action-laden Anime MMORPG SoulWorker will add to the collection. Popular browser-based games such as OGame and Ikariam as well as a growing portfolio of mobile games complete their offering. For more information please visit http://corporate.gameforge.com/.

About ESL

ESL is the world’s largest esports company, leading the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline competitions. It operates high profile, branded international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL One, ESL National Championships and other top tier stadium-size events, as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. ESL covers a broad field of services in gaming technology, event management, advertising and television production, fully catering to the needs of the esports ecosystem. With offices in North America, Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Spain, China, and partners in many other countries, it has a truly global footprint.  www.eslgaming.com

NEXON Korea Launches Summer Season Events in Mabinogi Duel

The strategic mobile trading card game (TCG) Mabinogi Duel, based on Nexon Korea’s acclaimed MMO, will feature a special summer event starting today. The developers at devCAT Studio are hosting an in-game event to help players celebrate the summer season and rise to be a champion through battles with duelists from all over the world!

The summer celebration includes:

Introduction of the ‘Limited Arena’
o   Starting on Saturday, July 23 through Monday, July 25 at 5 a.m. CEST and every week this summer, players (or duelists) can compete in an environment with a fixed set of rules that change every week
o   Duelists who compete each week will receive Gems and Discount Coupons to acquire classic/new Generation of cards

Rewards for Returning Players
o   Duelists who have not played since June 8 will receive a special gift of Gems, Coupons and pre-release boosters
o   Returning duelists who are at level 11 or higher will also receive various items and rewards until August 3

Mabinogi Duel is currently available to download on iTunes and Google Play for free.

If you haven’t checked out Mabinogi Duel, please feel free to install the game and we can update your account with a nice supply of in-game currency. In addition, members of Nexon are available for an interview about the title. We’d love for you to share the news and new assets for Mabinogi Duel.

Trailer: LINK
Official Facebook fan page: LINK
Official website: http://devcat.nexon.com/duel/us

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 coming soon to console and PC!

Frantic maze running, big boss battles, and loads of new content set the stage for PAC-MAN’s newest videogame outing 

Leading interactive entertainment company BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. today announces PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2007’s smash hit PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION and its follow-up hit from 2010, PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION DX. PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 will be available exclusively in digital form for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and STEAM® for PC and is scheduled to launch in September 2016.

Currently under development at BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc. in Tokyo, Japan; PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 features new eye-popping 3D mazes with unique visuals, a wide variety of dynamic mazes, the new ability to bump ghosts, and the addition of intense giant sized ghost boss battles. The new game will also build upon PAC-MAN Championship Edition DX’s “Chain Eating” mechanics by enabling fans to build up to four ghost trains before chowing down for maximum chompage points. PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 returns with the fan favorite Score Attack mode where players need to gather as many points within a specified time and a new Adventure mode that will have players chasing fast moving fruits, battling big bad bosses, and experiencing fun new ways of playing PAC-MAN.

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 will be released in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Australasia in digital form for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and STEAM® for PC in September 2016.

Watch the announcement trailer on YouTube

BORUSSIA DORTMUND’S MARCO REUS REVEALED AS GLOBAL COVER ATHLETE FOR EA SPORTS FIFA 17

Fans Select Reus over Anthony Martial, James Rodriguez, and Eden Hazard for FIFA cover honor

Sydney, Australia. – July 22, 2016 – Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that fans chose Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund to be the global cover athlete of EA SPORTS™ FIFA 17.  Over the past two weeks, fans have voted on the official FIFA Cover Vote Website for their favorite player among four FIFA 17 ambassadors, James Rodriguez of Real Madrid C.F., Anthony Martial of Manchester United, Eden Hazard of Chelsea FC, or Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund. Fans cast over 3.1 million votes, with Reus emerging as the victor.

Reus is a highly-decorated winger, and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe. Reus was named Footballer of the Year in Germany in 2012, and has 29 appearances with the German National Team. Reus was also recently named captain of Dortmund, and will be wearing the captain’s armband in the coming season.

“It is incredible to see how fans get behind their favorite player – Marco plays for a great club, is really fun to watch, and he is very popular in FIFA Ultimate Team, so it makes a lot of sense that the fans picked him,” said Nick Channon, Senior Producer for EA SPORTS FIFA. “ Reus joins an elite group of international football superstars who have appeared on the cover ofFIFA over the years.”

“I’m honored to join a very distinguished group of footballers to appear on the cover of FIFA,” said Reus. “Most of all I am humbled that the fans have chosen me, and I will strive to make them proud with my performance on the pitch.”

All four players featured in this year’s cover vote are global ambassadors for FIFA 17 and influenced key gameplay features to bring innovation to the way players think and move, physically interact with opponents, take set pieces, and use new techniques in attack. Reus serves as the face of the new Active Intelligence System, which impacts off ball activity and the way players move, read and react.

With innovative gameplay features that let fans own every moment on the pitch, FIFA 17brings an overhaul to Physical Play, a Set Piece Rewrite, New Attacking Techniques, and a brand new Active Intelligence System. Fans can learn more about new features to FIFA 17 by visiting FIFA 17’s website, and by becoming an EA SPORTS FIFA Insider (http://easports.com/fifa). Fans can also join the EA SPORTS FIFA communityhttp://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa and follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa anz and,Instagram.

EA SPORTS FIFA 17 is developed by EA Vancouver and EA Bucharest, and will be available in Australia and New Zealand on September 29 on  Origin™ for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3. The game is rated G by the Australian Classification Board.

Fans who pre-order FIFA 17 Super Deluxe Edition can get up to 40 FIFA Ultimate Team™ Jumbo Premium Gold Packs, Team of the Week loan players, and other FUT content. Clickhere to read about all our available pre-order offers. EA Access* members on Xbox One andOrigin Access* members on PC can play the game early with Play First Trials. Stay tuned for more information on access timing and availability.

FIFA 17 is powered by Frostbite™**. One of the industry’s leading game engines, Frostbite delivers authentic, true-to-life action, takes players to new football worlds, and introduces fans to characters full of depth and emotion.

*CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SEE EA.COM/EAACCESS/TERMSAND http://www.origin.com/store/origin-access FOR DETAILS.

**Frostbite game engine technology is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC platform versions only.

Join the EA SPORTS FIFA community at  Facebook and on Instagram. Follow us on Twitter @easportsfifa and use the hashtag #FIFA17.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through videogames, including Madden NFL football, EA SPORTS™ FIFA,NHL^® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR^® golf, and EA SPORTS UFC^®.

DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS ARRIVES THIS OCTOBER

Exclusive Day One Edition Digital Content and Box Art Revealed

SYDNEY, 22^ND July 2016 –   Square Enix Ltd., today revealed details of the “Day-One Edition” of its all-new block-building adventure, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ – arriving across Australia & New Zealand on 13^th  October.

Players who secure the Day-One Edition will receive a selection of exclusive in-game item recipes that allow for the creation of materials for use in the game’s Terra Incognita (Free Build) mode, including;

• Springtide Sprinkles Recipe – Transform trees into festive Cherry Blossom Trees and soil into comfortable Straw Floor Blocks
• Slimy Blocks Recipe – Craft delightful blocks adorned with cute blue Slimes
• Gold Blocks Recipe – Show off your opulent side with blocks made of pure gold

In DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS, players will use their creativity to build a variety of unique tools from the materials they gather, and rebuild towns and cities to restore life to the shattered world of Alefgard– a human realm destroyed and plunged into darkness by the menacing ruler of the monsters, the Dragonlord. Explore with the freedom of sandbox gameplay, combined with an immersive and charming DRAGON QUEST® story – battling with iconic DRAGON QUEST monsters and interacting with gorgeously designed 3D characters along the way. With an intuitive control system, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS will have you building the towers and castles of your dreams in no time!

DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS will arrive across Australia & New Zealand on 13^th October 2016f or the PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System and PlayStation Vita (digital only). For more information visit: www.dragonquest-game.com

Related Links:

Official Homepage: www.dragonquest-game.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DragonQuest
Twitter: @DragonQuest

Australian Boomers to feature in NBA 2K17

The Olympic bound team are set to appear in a video game for the first time

Friday 22 July, 2016 – 2K and Basketball Australia announced today that NBA 2K17, the latest release in the award-winning basketball game franchise by Visual Concepts, will feature the Australian Boomers as a playable team for the first time on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Other than Team USA, this is the first national team to appear in the NBA 2K franchise since its inception in 1999.

The lineup includes Australia’s top players from leagues around the world, including the NBA, Australia and Europe:

David Andersen
Cameron Bairstow
Aron Baynes
Andrew Bogut
Ryan Broekhoff
Matthew Dellavedova
Dante Exum
Chris Goulding
Joe Ingles
Kevin Lisch
Damian Martin
Patrick Mills
Brock Motum

Anthony Moore, CEO of Basketball Australia said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of NBA 2K17, the biggest NBA game in the world.  We jumped at the chance to have our Australian Boomers in the game and now Australian gamers can take on the world with Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Andrew Bogut together in the green and gold.”

Patty Mills, speaking ahead of his third straight Olympic appearance said, “Australian basketball continues to go from strength-to-strength and our players are leaving their mark on leagues around the world. It’s great to see 2K recognizing our nation’s growing impact on the sport with the inclusion of Team Australia in NBA 2K17.”

The NBA 2K17 Standard Edition will be available in both digital and physical formats for $99.95 on Xbox One and PlayStation®4, for $79.95 on Xbox 360, and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, and Windows PC platforms. The NBA 2K17 Kobe Bryant Legend Edition will be available in digital and physical formats for $119.95 on Xbox One and PlayStation®4.

For the latest news on NBA 2K17, visit the official site, follow @NBA2K on Twitter, and become a fan of NBA 2K17 on Facebook.

NBA 2K17 will launch on Friday, 16^th September in Australia and New Zealand.

Explosive game Train Conductor World lands on Google Play and continues 8 million player success story

Melbourne, Australia – 21st July, 2016 – The Voxel Agents, creators of the runaway success Train Conductor series have just released the highly anticipated title Train Conductor World on Google Play. Train Conductor World is a high-speed train traversal puzzler, with players learning to avoid train collisions at high speeds, and build their ultimate rail network across Europe.

The award-winning Australian team have expanded and refined the key features that made the Train Conductor series a hit with over 8 million mobile downloads and counting. With an established reputation for the best train game on mobile, The Voxel Agents incorporated extensive player feedback into Train Conductor World to craft an experience to delight both existing fans and brand new players. New gameplay features can be found in the launch trailer

Train Conductor World challenges players to adventure across new terrain and connect the wonders of the European continent. Mobile gameplay encourages fans and newcomers alike to grow the ultimate railway network across Europe, with signature Train Conductor arcade-style gameplay to keep the chaos under control. Requiring swift thinking and creative problem-solving, players will master track design, managing movement and avoiding collisions. Featuring a fully realised 3D European setting, trains will be barreling across the familiar canals of Amsterdam, zooming around the Arc De Triomphe in Paris and navigating the perilous peak of the Matterhorn.

Train Conductor World key features include:

• International European landmarks lovingly created as in-game destinations
• Collect unique track tile pieces and build the ultimate rail network
• Brand new rail-building world mode introduces a new world for players to explore
• Train customisations available for the first time
• Crazy train conducting challenges based on new curving track designs
• Daily objectives and a Star Medal system to challenge the top players
• Dynamic weather system – all in-game weather events (eg. rain) are shared by all players
• Flexible adjusting for gameplay difficulty to suit any skill level

Since it arrived on iOS in March The Voxel Agents have been constantly refining and improving the experience in preparation for the launch on Google Play. Director Simon Joslin commented: “Although Train Conductor World received rave reviews and has been our most successful title in seven years, we weren’t happy with it. We’ve spent everyday for the last four months responding to player feedback and improving the game across the board. The launch on Google Play is the culmination of many months of refinement, and we can’t wait to share Train Conductor World on the biggest platform on the planet, Google Play.”

Train Conductor World is available for free on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thevoxelagents.tc3) on July 22nd 2016, and it is available from the App Store (link) For more information, please visit http://trainconductorworld.com.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXUwXiPThfs
Images: http://thevoxelagents.com/presskit/sheet.php?p=trainconductorworld
Website: http://trainconductorworld.com/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thevoxelagents.tc3
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/train-conductor-world-european/id932228293

The Voxel Agents:

The Voxels Agents create delightful games that unravel in surprising ways. Headquartered in Melbourne, the studio was founded in 2009 by Simon Joslin, Matthew Clark and Tom Killen to create games that kindle curiosity with a passion for highly focused gameplay.

Among their accolades the studio and its games have been awarded for “Best Mobile Game”. “Best Game Audio”, and “Best New Business 2010” among others. The Voxel Agents first established their success with the release of Train Conductor and followed with Train Conductor 2 USA and Puzzle Retreat, with over 7 million global players enjoying the Train Conductor franchise. The team is set to release the highly anticipated title Time Project (working title) in late 2016, and Train Conductor World releasing March 3rd 2016.

New F1™ 2016 Attract Trailer showcases new features 

SYDNEY, 22^ND July 2016 – Codemasters® have today released the latest gameplay video for F1 2016, the official videogame of the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™. The new attract video shows action both on the track and in the pit lane, recreating key moments from the year and highlighting many of the game’s key features.

To watch the F1 2016 Attract trailer

Available from 19^th August for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC (Steam), F1 2016 boasts the most in-depth Career mode ever seen in the franchise which allows players to create their own legend over the course of ten seasons. The player selects an avatar and number to carry throughout their career as well as the team they want to start with. Players are able to move between teams or they can choose to develop a team into a championship contender by working with their Research and Development Engineer and Player Agent to develop their progress.

The Formation Lap will feature for the first time in the game’s history as does the brand new Virtual Safety Car which accompanies the return of the regular Safety Car, a fan favourite. The level of immersion has been further enhanced by the inclusion of manual starts and manual pit lane entry and braking – all vital to avoid losing time, penalties and track position.

With multiplayer support for up to 22 drivers, F1 2016 allows players to form a full grid of human players across the 21 circuits featured in the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, including the tight Baku street circuit, the latest addition to the calendar. In single player, gamers are able to create their own legend in the expansive Career Mode which stretches for up to ten seasons and includes drama both on and off the track.

F1 2016 Limited Edition includes the ‘CAREER BOOSTER’ DLC PACK, which will give players a head start in their career as well as exclusive Career Helmet and Laptop designs.

Follow Codemasters F1 games blog and social channels on Twitter and Facebook for future updates. Further details will be released on the upcoming game soon.