Mobile Games Studio Dots Releases Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project App

The Worlds of High Art and Video Games Intersect in New Interactive Exhibition

NEW YORK – Nov. 12, 2015 – In collaboration with ART CAPSUL, mobile games studio Dots (developer of the hit mobile titles Dots and Two Dots) has designed a free tarot card app that celebrates the fifth anniversary of the acclaimed traveling exhibition, Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project. The app supports an auction to help fund the placement of an anniversary print edition in the permanent collection at the Andy Warhol Museum.

Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project is a traveling exhibition of original interpretations of tarot cards by 78 artists, each matched to a card based on parallel archetypes in their artwork and themes in the card. The show is a celebration of the great creative icons of our time, reflecting universal and iconic facets of visual expression. This special interactive app is based on an actual tarot deck accompanying the exhibition. The show – as well as the app – is curated by Stacy Engman from ART CAPSUL and has traveled to distinguished museums, including the Andy Warhol Museum, Salvador Dalí Museum and Virginia MoCA.

“ART CAPSUL has always showcased legendary artists in unusual ways, so we’re proud to help extend those efforts. We hope to continue working with Stacy Engman to bring the art and games worlds together,” said Patrick Moberg, CCO of Dots. “Our games are driven by minimalist design, specifically the visual style of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It would be fantastic to see more games developed with similar inspirations.”

Contemporary Magic: A Tarot Deck Art Project is available now as a free download for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch via the App Store.

About Playdots Inc. (“Dots”)

Dots builds unique games with thoughtful design. The studio’s first game, Dots: A Game About Connecting, has garnered a massive and loyal following since its launch in 2013 by Patrick Moberg and Paul Murphy at the startup studio, betaworks. More recently, the studio launched Two Dots, which shot to the top of the charts hours after it launched and is currently the #1 game in over 100 countries. . Dots and Two Dots are available as free downloads for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices. You can learn more about Dots by following @playdots on Twitter, @twodots on Instagram, liking www.facebook.com/playdots on Facebook and visiting the Dots website: www.weplaydots.com.

About Stacy Engman and ART CAPSUL

Stacy Engman is a fine-art curator based in New York. Her past exhibitions and projects have been presented at international art museums and esteemed institutions including the Andy Warhol Museum, Salvador Dalí Museum, the Museum of Modern Art / PS1, and The National Arts Club, amongst others. Referred to as “The New School’s Head of Class” by V Magazine, her exhibitions are regularly featured in the Top Ten art shows to see, including Terence Koh’s performance “Art History” in the New York Times and New York Magazine, the best show of the summer by Huffington Post for “Contemporary Magic” at the Virginia MoCA, as well as placement in the top art/ fashion cross over shows of the year by Vogue Italia for “ART CAPSUL” at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris. She is known for bridging fine art and other art forms, including music and film, and championing fashion as part of her practice – where she seamlessly has presented fashion designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Philip Treacy in her exhibitions alongside visual artists. Stacy obtained her Master’s Degree in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, and is known as a New York City icon and style maker. For more information, please see http://www.artcapsul.com.

East Meets West As Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey Launches 

Gorgeous Award-Winning Premium JRPG Marks First Collaboration between Esteemed Japanese Developers and Western Studio

PARIS – Nov. 12, 2015 – The mysteries of the beautiful land of Orcanon are ready to be unlocked today as Kobojo launches Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey exclusively for mobile gamers on iOS (iPhones and iPads).  The game, already winner of the 2015 Ping Award as best mobile game, and nominated as one of the top titles at Tokyo Game Show 2015 by Famitsu and 4Gamer, is currently up for approval on Steam Greenlight, and will debut on Sony platforms early next year.

With significant contributions from Kazushige Nojima (writer, Final Fantasy VII) as scenario writer, Hitoshi Sakimoto (composer, Final Fantasy Tactics) as composer and CyDesignation, Inc., the Japanese game design and production company led by renowned artist Hideo Minaba, on art direction, Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey marks the first time these well-known and highly respected Japanese game development icons have collaborated with a western studio.

“Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey is an original JRPG that was created by people from around the world, brought together by their love for the exploration, quests, scenarios, deep turn-based combat and beautiful artwork found in these types of games,” said Kobojo CEO Mario Rizzo. “We crafted Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey to be as engaging as it is stylish, offering an experience with Zodiac that will appeal to all players that enjoy JRPGs – regardless of platform.”

Combining some of the best elements of classic JRPGs, Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey seamlessly combines an engaging storyline and intense battle sequences with freeform exploration, item crafting and a brand-new storyline – all presented with gorgeous, hand-drawn 2D art and accompanied by a full soundtrack.

The game was developed at Kobojo’s Dundee, Scotland-based studio with support from the company’s Paris headquarters in addition to the contributions from the Tokyo-based developers.

Zodiac is available now for $8.99/ €8.99 on the App Store, and will be supplemented in the future with new episodes planned for future release that add new worlds to explore, new characters to meet and new challenges to conquer.

You can download Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey from the App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zodiac-orcanon-odyssey/id933199580?mt=8.

For more information on Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey, including new trailers, deep game details and story information please visit http://zodiac.kobojo.com/.

The Banner Saga: Warbands Kickstarter Launches Kickstarter Campaign Starts for Miniatures Board Game Based on the Award-Winning Video Game the Banner Saga

Austin, TX – November 12, 2015 – Indie video game developer Stoic and miniatures board game creator MegaCon Games in partnership with indie video games publisher Versus Evil, today revealed further details about The Banner Saga: Warbands miniatures board game as funding starts for the official the Kickstarter campaign. 

Based on the successful and critically acclaimed video game franchise, The Banner Saga: Warbands is a cooperative, miniatures board game for 2-4 players that deals with the difficulties and consequences of decision making. The game comes complete with 30 plastic miniatures, a world map, player boards and several card sets. Backers of the Kickstarter will also get an exclusive Warband miniature to add to their collection in addition to other rewards specific to each pledge level.  

“The Banner Saga: Warbands miniatures will be the same high quality miniatures backers have come to expect from MegaCon Games.” commented Brian Shotton Game Designer and Founder at MegaCon Games. “The combat is diceless, purely tactical and while different from the video game, carries over the spirit of hard decision making where not everyone will survive.  The ultimate goal in all this is to keep your Warband together.” 

This is also the first time that fans of the video game will be able to pre-order a digital copy of the forthcoming Banner Saga 2 for PC.  Backers can choose their pledge level and then add on any number of physical or digital items for an additional cost.  The Banner Saga 2 is offered at a 10% discount off the standard suggested retail price. 

“This Kickstarter sheds some light on several important facts about the indie game scene,” said Steve Escalante, General Manager at Versus Evil who brought the two companies together. “Firstly, crowdfunding can be a success as demonstrated by both of these companies. Collectively they have raised over $3.4M which has allowed them to develop and manufacture their products to the high standard promised to consumers.  Secondly, it proves that a new licensing model can exist where like-minded companies can cooperatively work together and create experiences their fans love. Finally, crowdfunding has created a renaissance for the miniatures board game industry, where small companies like MegaCon can afford to manufacture a game based on an indie title like the Banner Saga.  Without this new marketplace, creating a board game like this would not have been possible for an indie brand.” 

A trailer showing off some of miniatures board game items was also released today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkXjAwmzWSg .  Fans can visit https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/megacongames/the-banner-saga-warbands to back The Banner Saga: Warbands Kickstarter campaign or visit the website www.bannersagawarbands.com for more information. 

About Stoic

Stoic is an independent game studio which formed in 2012 and is based out of Austin, Texas. The two owners, Arnie Jorgensen and John Watson, are industry veterans who lead a talented group of developers working remotely from around the globe. Stoic is dedicated to making great games that are artful, independent and unique. The Banner Saga™ and The Banner Saga: Factions™ content is used by permission. © Stoic LLC. 2012-2013 All rights reserved. 

About MegaCon Games

MegaCon Games is a small miniatures board game company that specializes in world-class miniatures based in Noblesville, Indiana. Their games include MERCS, Myth, Emergence Event and Recon and several more are in production.  The passionate team believes in exciting, vibrant worlds, high-quality production values, dynamic miniatures and engaging game play. 

For more information visit: http://megacongames.com/ 

About Versus Evil

Versus Evil, LLC is a global indie game publisher based in the US.  The company was founded on the principles of helping independent game developers be financially and creatively successful in the highly competitive video games market.  Led by group of AAA games industry veterans, Versus Evil’s services include the full suite of publishing support including brand marketing, community, social, PR, creative, production, QA, legal, distribution and other general business support.  As a global publisher, the Versus Evil team is strategically placed around the world with presences in California, Texas, Maryland, New York, and London and works with indie studios in North America, South America, and Europe. 

For more information visit: http://vsevil.net/ 

© Versus Evil LLC. 2013-2015. All rights reserved.

ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED TAKES TO THE SEA WITH TWO NEW DINOSAURS, KAIRUKU ‘PENGUIN’ AND ANGLER FISH

ARK is Optimized for Steam Machines and Controllers and Now on Sale at 33% Off; Crazy New Catapult, MiniGun Turrets and More in Major Update

Studio Wildcard, the studio that never sleeps, has emerged from its frantic competitive tournament schedule with two new sea-worthy dinosaurs to add to the deep diversity of prehistoric creatures already living in ARK: Survival Evolved. From the darkest depths of the ocean looms the outlandish Melanocetus Anglerpescum, an enormous ‘Angler’ fish with bioluminescent light pods at the end of stalks on its head, and the sweet, harmless and prehistoric penguin-like Kairuku Waitaki.

To make things even more interesting, survivors will also find a realistic Creature “Fur” pass, primitive siege Catapult, a modern-tier Gatling Gun Turret, and a new “Tribal Warfare Alliance” system for PvE servers!

Watch the new Kairuku ‘Penguin’ and Angler Fish video Here: youtu.be/r-Lc5YdfAgA

Like typical Anglerfish, the Melanocetus primarily uses its bioluminescent light pods to attract smaller fish and trick them into coming close enough for it to consume the prey. This often makes wild Melanocetus itself relatively easy to spot among the briny depths. Whether its size is caused by adaptation to the island’s other inhabitants, or by cross-breeding with another larger species, Melanocetus Anglerpescum is one of the largest form of Anglerfish. Additionally, a tamed Anglerfish can use the natural light at the end of its stalks to illuminate the depths for safe exploration, and the luminescent nodules can be harvested to create long-lasting fuel and organic light emplacements for surface homes, too.

The Kairuku Waitaki, on the other hand, is an amazingly docile and friendly creature. Kairuku are useless in a fight, but they nonetheless are tamed for their cuteness and friendly nature, kind of like a pet, and the incidentally cool fact that their bodies run extremely hot. Survival Tip! Standing near Kairuku can help keep a survivor warm through long, harsh nights on the icebergs.

The Kairuku’s only defensive trait: Suspended in Kairuku’s blubber are small, dense particles that act as a light form of armor. Adding to Kairuku’s problems, a clever survivor discovered that refining Kairuku blubber can yield a natural form of the same polymer used in advanced tribes’ manufacturing processes. This has caused many tribes to hunt Kairuku extensively, especially the blubber-rich infants, a practice colloquially known as “Kairu Clubbing.”

Furthermore, in this update, the new “Tribal Warfare Alliance” system allows Tribes to formally declare war against each other for specific mutually agreed-upon timeframes, encouraging large-scale set player-vs-player confrontations rather than offline raiding!

ARK: Survival Evolved will launch in June 2016 on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program, PlayStation®4 with Project Morpheus support, and full release on Steam PC. The game is currently in Steam’s Early Access program and includes Oculus Rift VR support and an integration of Steam community features such as Steam Economy and Steam Workshop for custom maps and mods. Players can host private/LAN servers and have access to a custom-built version of the Unreal Engine 4 Editor for creating mods. The world of ARK is designed to be modder-friendly and ever-expanding!

To join our growing band of survivors, journey over to Steam to download the game. For the latest updates follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at www.playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.