POOL NATION VR COMING THIS MONTH FOR HTC VIVE

Seattle, WA – April 19, 2016 – VR-centric development studio Perilous Orbit and UK-based developer Cherry Pop Games, creators of the incredibly popular billiards simulation franchise Pool Nation, announced today they will launch Pool Nation VR on April 28 for the HTC Vive. Pool Nation VR will immerse players in the full pool hall experience – including variants of traditional pool and snooker against humans and AI, throwing darts and more! http://www.poolnationvr.com

Pool Nation VR will be available via Steam on April 28 for $19.99 USD.

Pool Nation VR demonstrates more than just amazing pool physics in a VR space. Players will be able to interact with all sorts of objects, create trickshots with plates, bottles and other items in the pool hall, play virtual darts, and take part in the time-honored pastime of throwing empty beer bottles against the wall. With the most advanced proprietary physics engine honed for billiards realism, Pool Nation VR aims to deliver an interactive VR billiards experience and the most chill VR hangout.

Pool Nation VR Gameplay Features:

• Play Real Pool – Delight your senses with an immersive and accurate representation of the sport using motion control and real pool physics (be careful not to lean on the table, it’s not really there).
• No Consequences – Enjoy the pleasure of throwing a bottle at your opponent or breaking one against the wall. We won’t make you clean-up in VR.
• Customize Your Game – Choose from several variations of pool and snooker with popular rule sets, or just hang out and hit some balls in free play.
• Online and Offline Opponents – Play against the AI or with your friends globally online.
• Kill Some Time – Play VR darts while waiting for your turn at the table, change the music or just explore the bar
• Go Crazy – Grab, stack, and smash objects in the world. Create a tower of bottles, stack ’em high and launch a pool ball at your creation.
• Enjoy a Polished VR Experience – Years of VR / AR know-how help provide a fun and comfortable VR space to hang out in with your mates from the comfort of your own home.

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ABOUT PERILOUS ORBIT

Perilous Orbit is a VR-centric game design and development studio based in Seattle, WA. Focused on creating high quality immersive experiences with partners around the world, we bring together years of experience building amazing games, productivity, and experimental applications for Microsoft HoloLens & Xbox. The Perilous Orbit team aims to find FUN as quickly as possible through rapid prototyping and ideation.

ABOUT CHERRY POP GAMES

Located in Manchester, UK, Cherry Pop Games is an independent, multi-platform development studio specializing in pool and snooker games. Its proprietary physics engine has been honed from many years and in 2015 the team integrated it with Unreal Engine 4. Cherry Pop Games’ first title, Pool Nation, was released on Xbox LIVE Arcade in 2012. Since then the franchise has appeared across 5 platforms and has been downloaded over 4 million times worldwide. Cherry Pop Games brings to Pool Nation VR the beauty of UE4, the precision of the Pool Nation Physics and stunning visuals just waiting to be explored.

YOUR EPIC SAGA CONTINUES AS BANNER SAGA 2 LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE

BALTIMORE, MD – April 19, 2016 – Stoic, an independent game development company, and Versus Evil, one of the leading independent video game publishers, today launched the Banner Saga 2 for PC and Mac to gamers worldwide. Banner Saga 2 is the exciting sequel to the award winning, BAFTA nominated, indie hit The Banner Saga, an epic Viking role-playing strategy game where a player’s choice directly affects their personal journey.  The console versions of the game are set to launch this summer.

“The feedback and excitement we received from the Banner Saga 1 really helped us work to make the Banner Saga 2 even better. Huge thanks to the community!” said Arnie Jorgensen, Art Director and one of the founders of Stoic.

“Over the last two years we have been able to launch Banner Saga on multiple platforms and with great success,” said Steve Escalante, GM of Versus Evil. “Now we are entering the next brutal chapter and Stoic has delivered on their promise to deliver a worthy sequel to this epic Viking inspired saga.  There is more of what everyone wanted plus more gut wrenching choices.  This is the first of many platforms to launch this year and we hope the fans enjoy it as much as we do.”

Banner Saga 2 is available for SRP €19.99/£14.99 through STEAM, Bundle Stars, Direct to Drive, GameFly, GameStop, GamersGate, Humble Store and UPlay.  A Deluxe Edition, which includes the official soundtrack by Grammy nominated, two-time BAFTA winning composer Austin Wintory, is also available for €22.99/£18.99.

To celebrate the launch the team is also showcasing the game at PAX East in Boston this week which runs from 22-24th April, 2016. The showcase, which is being sponsored by partners AMD and Razer, includes a dedicated panel on Saturday 23rd April from 10:30am – 11:30am in the Albatross Theatre, reveal of the official “In Memoriam” trailer created by Penny Arcade contributor Kris Straub, a special photo wall in the main lobby area, an exclusive book signing of ‘The Gift of Hadrborg’ novel by James Fadeley and a cosplay contest. Convention goers will also be able to get hands on time with the game on Versus Evil booth #10081 in the main hall, where they will be able to earn the official Pinny Arcade “Bolverk” character pin.

The Banner Saga, which launched to much critical acclaim has received several awards and nominations, including winner of the 2014 Geekie Awards for “Best Video Game”, winner of 2014 Game Developers Choice: “Best Debut” award, finalist placement for “Excellence in Visual Arts” category at the Independent Game Festival, 3 BAFTA Award Nominations, and winner of Pocket Gamer’s 2015 Best Adventure/RPG Game and Best Android Game of the Year.

To learn more about The Banner Saga and Banner Saga 2 visit: http://bannersaga.com

About Stoic
Stoic is an independent game developer based out of Austin, Texas, formed in early 2012 by three veteran game developers. Each is dedicated to making great games that are artful, independent and unique.  Today, the studio is headed by Arnie Jorgensen and John Watson – both industry vets who are now dedicated to continuing as independent game developers. The Banner Saga™ and The Banner Saga: Factions™ content is used by permission. © Stoic LLC. 2012-2016 All rights reserved.

About Versus Evil
Versus Evil, LLC is a US based independent video game publisher behind critically acclaimed indie titles such as The Banner Saga, Guild of Dungeoneering and Armikrog.  Publishing games on all major mobile, PC and console platforms, Versus Evil works with indie studios in North America, South America, and Europe. The company was founded on the principles of helping independent game developers be financially and creatively successful in the highly competitive video games market.  Their suite of games span many different genres, platforms and business models.  As a global publisher, the Versus Evil team is strategically placed around the world with presences in California, Texas, Maryland and New York.
For more information visit http://vsevil.net/
© Versus Evil LLC. 2013-2016. All rights reserved

2K Announces Mafia III Launching October 7, 2016

Highly anticipated new title from the popular organized crime series transports players to the dangerous open world of New Bordeaux amid the turbulence of 1968

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #Mafia3

Sydney, Australia – April 19, 2016 – 2K and Hangar 13 today announced that Mafia III, the next installment in the popular organized crime game series, will launch on October 7, 2016. Collector’s, deluxe and standard editions of Mafia III will be available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC. Those who pre-order any edition of Mafia III will receive the Family Kick-Back, which includes three exclusive vehicles and weapons available to players at launch.

Mafia III is set in the open world of 1968 New Bordeaux, a reimagined version of New Orleans bustling with activity and complete with era-inspired cars, fashion and music. After years of combat in Vietnam, Lincoln Clay knows this truth: family isn’t who you’re born with, it’s who you die for. Now, back home in New Bordeaux, Lincoln is set on escaping his criminal past. But when his surrogate family, the black mob, is betrayed and wiped out by the Italian Mafia, Lincoln builds a new family from the ashes of the old and blazes a path of military-grade revenge through those responsible. Intense gun fights, visceral hand-to-hand combat, white-knuckle driving, hard choices and street smarts will all be required to survive the mean streets of New Bordeaux. But with the right crew, it’s possible to make it to the top of the city’s underworld.

“Mafia III continues 2K’s proud legacy of creating outstanding narrative experiences, and is poised to set a new standard for interactive storytelling,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With Hangar 13 at the helm, Haden Blackman and his team of talented developers are set to deliver a truly unforgettable experience this October.”

“Mafia III introduces a true open world, rich with its own criminal ecosystems to the franchise, while still upholding the strong narrative storytelling and immersive setting that the previous Mafia games are known for,” said Haden Blackman, studio head and creative director at Hangar 13. “New Bordeaux in 1968 provides a unique and powerful backdrop for our hard-boiled story of crime, betrayal, loyalty and revenge.”

Standard, limited deluxe and limited collector’s editions of Mafia III are now available for pre-order. The Mafia III Deluxe Edition (MSRP, Console: AUD$129.95 / NZD$139.95; PC: AUD$119.95 / NZD$129.95) will be available digitally and physically, and includes both the game and access to additional, post-release downloadable content, including the Season Pass at additional savings. The physical Mafia III Deluxe Edition, which includes a bonus SteelBook and poster, will be available in a limited quantity exclusively from EB Games in Australia. The limited Mafia III Collector’s Edition (MSRP, Console: AUD$189.95/NZD$199.95; PC: AUD$179.95 / NZD$189.95) is packed with physical and digital items, providing a window into the sights and sounds of 1968 New Bordeaux, including all content found in the Mafia III Deluxe Edition plus the original game score on vinyl, a collectable art book, art prints and more. Those who pre-order any edition of Mafia III from participating retailers will receive the Family Kick-Back, which includes three exclusive lieutenant-themed vehicle and weapon gifts available to players at launch.

Mafia III will be available October 7, 2016 for PS4™ system, Xbox One and Windows PC. Mafia III is not yet rated in Australia or New Zealand. For more information on Mafia III, subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and visit http://MafiaGame.com.

2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

It’s goodbye Java and hello NXT – RuneScape is now powered by an all-new visual engine and it’s never looked so good.

• NXT is RuneScape’s all-new proprietary visual engine and game client and it’s available right now. • RuneScape has never looked so resplendent as it takes the NXT steps in its 15-year adventure. • Adventure in the new NXT-powered world of RuneScape atwww.runescape.com

Tuesday 19^th April 2016, Cambridge, UK – RuneScape, the iconic award-winning online adventure game, has received the most important update in its 15-year history with the launch of NXT, an all-new proprietary visual engine and game client, Jagex Games Studio announced today.

In development for over two years at Jagex Games Studio, NXT delivers a total graphical overhaul and a raft of technical improvements for RuneScape’s ever-growing band of players. To experience the newly resplendent world of Gielinor within minutes, players can download the NXT client right now and sign in with their RuneScape account information. Gamers can also see the new NXT-powered world in a brand new trailer.

Having welcomed over 245 million adventurers to the game world, the arrival of NXT is a landmark evolution for RuneScape as it celebrates its 15^th anniversary. NXT provide the opportunity to adventure through a new lens, with the game’s rich environments rendered with massively extended draw distances, up to four times greater than before, and the introduction of all-new water effects, complete with real-time reflexion and refraction, and full dynamic lighting and shadow casting.

However, NXT is more than just an impressive graphical overhaul: NXT’s release marks a significant milestone as it transitions the game from being a legacy Java-based title to a modern, future-proof MMO. The arrival of NXT is just the start of a process to further enhance the game’s visuals; continuing NXT development will also see the introduction of normal maps, higher-resolution textures, volumetric lighting and an improved animation system.

Said Phil Mansell, vice president of RuneScape at Jagex Games Studio:

“The new NXT game client is another big step forward for RuneScape. The development team have done a fantastic job engineering a new client that brings significant improvements to visuals and whilst also making it run much faster. It’s been a few years in the making but has been well worth it, as NXT isn’t just a one-off upgrade, it also enables even more new features for the future. Current players have already got a taste of what NXT offers in recent closed beta tests and its full release is a great reason for former players to check out what’s new in RuneScape.”

NXT – The key features

• Massively extended draw distance, up to 4x compared to Java client
• Fully dynamic lighting and shadow casting over RuneScape’s vast world
• Real-time reflection, refraction and ambient occlusion in all environments
• Atmospherics augmented with physically correct light scattering
• Improved performance across an even broader set of PCs from across the past 12 years
• Built-in support for DirectX12, meaning better future proofing
• Support for wide range of operating systems, including Windows XP to Windows 10, OSX 10.7+, and Ubuntu 14.04+

The NXT client is now available to download from www.runescape.com/download . The new NXT-powered world of RuneScape can been seen in the new trailer.

About Jagex
Established in 2001, Jagex Games Studio today stands as the UK’s largest independent game developer and publisher and is the home of the flagship online adventure game, RuneScape. Celebrating its 15th Year anniversary in 2016, RuneScape has welcomed over 245 million players to its world and more than two million of them play every month, while millions more watch avidly through social channels. In addition to RuneScape, Jagex is developing newRuneScape-branded games as it enters additional genres, including Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, an adventure strategy card game, and RuneScape: Idle Adventures created in partnership with Hyper Hippo, the developers of cult hit Adventure Capitalist. Jagex employs over 320 people at its Cambridge headquarters. Career information can be found atwww.jagex.com

About RuneScape
Step into a medieval fantasy world that’s packed with epic adventures, fascinating characters and a passionate community that helps to mould the game itself. Unashamedly British in humour, RuneScape embraces an unconventional world where you’re free to play and explore the way you want to. An MMO unlike any other – become the hero you were born to be atwww.runescape.com .

BBC Build it Scotland – Minecraft to assist the next generation of budding architects at Insomnia Scotland

BBC Make It Digital to encourage young visitors through Build It Scotland pop-up at Insomnia Scotland, marking the nation’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

London, United Kingdom – April 19, 2016 – Multiplay, organiser of the UK’s largest gaming festival, Insomnia, and a subsidiary of GAME Digital plc (“GAME Digital”), the UK’s leading video gaming specialist announce BBC Build it Scotland as an exhibitor at Insomnia Scotland which will give budding architects the chance to create Scotland’s most popular landmarks digitally between 29^th April-2^nd May.

The BBC’s flagship digital technology initiative Make It Digital, through Build It Scotland, is marking Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, teaming up with Immersive Minds, and inviting children aged 7-14 to learn about the nation’s popular landmarks and teaches them the process to construct those buildings in a virtual world.

Visitors of Insomnia Scotland will have the opportunity to visit the Build it Scotland pop-up to create iconic structures via 3D design software such as Minecraft, TinkerCad or Sketchup through PCs, laptops or Raspberry Pi’s. Attendees can also take a look around the virtual map and learn about familiar Scottish attractions such as Stirling Castle, the Kelpies, Glasgow’s Armadillo and the Forth Bridges.

BBC Build It Scotland will also be appearing on stage at Insomnia Scotland for a Q&A session.

“We’re delighted to have a BBC Build it Scotland pop-up at the festival,” said Craig Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Multiplay. He continued, “To have Insomnia Scotland as a platform to present an enjoyable and interactive form of education to thousands of visitors, is another great addition to the festival. Children will get the chance to be creative using the popular game Minecraft and other digital processes to help unearth the future architects, developers, and coders of Scotland.”

Insomnia Scotland will take place at EICC Edinburgh, 29^th April-2^nd May, 2016. For more information, please visit https://insomniagamingfestival.com/scotland or contact[email protected] .

– ENDS –

Notes to Editors:

About Insomnia Gaming Scotland

Insomnia Gaming Scotland is a place for gamers of all backgrounds to congregate, socialise, discover new things and largely celebrate gaming.
Today, Insomnia combines a vast Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) Local Area Network (LAN) gaming hall, a huge line-up of Content Creators from the worlds of YouTube and Twitch, a great line-up of gaming tournaments, main stage entertainment, a major retail exhibition and a whole host of gaming related zones and activities for all types of gamer, including both novice and professional, of any age.

Insomnia Gaming Scotland will take place at EICC Edinburgh, 29 April-2 May, 2016. For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://insomniagamingfestival.com/scotland/ or visit Scottish GAME stores.

About Multiplay

Founded in 1997, Multiplay is a gaming services company specialising in events management, esports, online hosting and more.
Creating and running simple to sophisticated popular events with tens of thousands of people attending, from Insomnia Gaming Festival to MINECON, and RuneFest, Multiplay delivers quality productions and entertaining gaming experiences for all ages.
Multiplay provides a unique online hosting platform, Clanforge® enabling individuals and businesses to host video game backend services with the very best performance at all times. With support from a dedicated 24x7x365 technical infrastructure team and over 26 locations available worldwide, Multiplay provides an unparalleled online hosting experience for gamers across the globe.
Following its acquisition in March 2015, Multiplay is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAME Digital plc, the UK’s leading video games specialist.
For more information, visit   www.multiplay.com or  www.gamedigitalplc.com

About GAME Digital

Listed on the London Stock Exchange in June 2014 and comprising three divisions: Retail, Digital Solutions and esports and Events, GAME Digital plc is dedicated to delivering an authoritative range of gaming products, services and experiences to the gaming communities of the UK, Spain and beyond. GAME’s UK and Spanish retail businesses are the market leaders in each country, operating a total of nearly 600 stores across the two countries, a fully integrated omni-channel offer including the multi-award winning GAME App, and a reach of more than 17 million customers across its Reward programmes. Through GAME’s Digital Solutions division, GAME is pioneering the use of new technologies to deliver gaming content and reach gamers and business partners outside its main markets. Multiplay, GAME’s esports and Events business delivers unparalleled gaming events and experiences directly and on behalf of third parties, including its flagship consumer event, Insomnia. For more information please visit   www.gamedigitalplc.comor  www.multiplay.com .

About BBC Build It Scotland
BBC Build It Scotland runs until October 2016 and aims to inspire a generation of budding new architects, designers and engineers through active learning experiences. Educational materials, video content, ‘how to’ guides and other useful resources as well as more information on how to get involved can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/builditscotland