NISSAN PLAYSTATION® GT ACADEMY INVITES AUSTRALIAN VIRTUAL RACERS TO REV THEIR ENGINES IN 2014

–      Australia included in global GT Academy program from 2014

–      Nissan and PlayStation aim to emulate global success of GT Academy by turning an Australian gamer into a professional racing driver

–      VIDEO – 2014 GT Academy Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBOWGnjZPY

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY, Australia, 27^th February 2014 – Nissan Motor Company Australia and Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) are today pleased to announce that the internationally-acclaimed GT Academy program will be racing to Australian shores in 2014.

Following high demand from fans, the nation’s virtual racers will get the opportunity to turn their love for car racing into a real life experience by participating in the award winning virtual-to-reality competition, Nissan PlayStation® GT Academy.

To earn their grid position, racing driver hopefuls are asked to demonstrate their skill and determination to keep their name at the top of the Gran Turismo®6 leader board, only possible on PlayStation®3 (PS3™). The top gamers will be invited to compete at a live National Final event, where the best competitors will then be selected and sent to the International finals, hosted at Silverstone Circuit in the United Kingdom, to represent Australia.

The winner of the International final will get the chance to become a professional race driver, as they’re put through an intensive Driver Development Programme to ready them for the chance to compete for Nissan at the Dubai 24 Hours.

Starting the journey from virtual to reality is simple. The nation’s top 14 Gran Turismo® gamers will be identified via recording a series of online time trials using pre-selected digital Nissan vehicles available only through PS3 exclusive, Gran Turismo 6. An additional 14 gamers will be selected from live events to be held at V8 Supercars Championship events and other public events around Australia.*

The collective 28 will participate in a National Final event where they will battle in special racing pods during a series of Gran Turismo 6 rounds, driving skill challenges in a real Nissan sports-car, a fitness challenge and a media test.

The top six performers from these National Finals are then invited to take part in the Final Selection Round – an intense Race Camp competition held at the famous Silverstone Circuit.

The Australian finalists will compete against 24 international hopefuls, getting the opportunity to compete in on-track evaluations, driving some of Nissan’s best road and race cars.

GT Academy’s inaugural winner, Lucas Ordonez, has gone on to become the poster boy for ‘virtual to reality’ racing. The Spaniard became the Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am champion in 2013 and was a podium finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LM P2 class in both 2011 and 2013.

Ordonez also got his first taste of a V8 Supercar last year, driving a Nissan Altima V8 Supercar in a test day at Winton.

Another GT Academy graduate, Wolfgang Reip, recently competed in Australia as part of the Nismo Athlete Global Team in the Bathurst 12 Hour alongside Nissan Motorsport driver Rick Kelly in a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 car.

And just last week it was confirmed that 22-year-old Jann Mardenborough, another former GT Academy graduate, will contest the GP3 Series with Arden International in 2014, while also joining an intensive driver development program with Infiniti Red Bull Racing, the most successful Formula One team of recent times. Mardenborough joined Ordonez on the LM P2 podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013.

QUOTES

Peter Jones – Managing Director & CEO, Nissan Motor Company Australia:

“Innovation and excitement sit at the heart of Nissan and GT Academy is a perfect example of this in action,” said Peter Jones.

“This ground-breaking talent search program has been hugely successful overseas. Now that it’s in Australia I can’t wait for it to unearth and develop our country’s next great motor racing star.”

Michael Ephraim – Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia:

“The GT franchise continues to be extremely important to PlayStation, and we are proud of our close partnership with Nissan,” said Michael Ephraim, Managing Director, SCE Australia.

“GT Academy is an exceptional programme and we look forward to following the journey of the fastest Aussie GT gamers as they transfer their skills to the real-world!”

Darren Cox – Global Motorsport Director, Nissan Motor Company:

“GT Academy is getting huge international interest and the expansion of the programme to the Australian market is a great endorsement of that, especially given their impressive motorsport heritage and current V8 Supercars programme,” said Darren Cox.

“Nissan is an international company with global ambitions and it’s exciting that GT Academy reflects that.”

Rick Kelly – Race Driver and Commercial Director, Nissan Motorsport V8 Supercars Team:

“GT Academy is a concept that has proved to be successful around the world, so it’s exciting to have it here in Australia,” said Rick Kelly.

“Todd and I were given our shot in motorsport at a young age in a driver development program, and ever since we started our own team, we have wanted to come up with something that delivered the same opportunity for young drivers.

“Without the opportunities that we have had, Todd and I would not have been involved in motorsport.

“We tried a few different initiatives, but for us, GT Academy is exactly the opportunity we’ve been looking forward to. We’re quite excited to be involved from an Australian stand point and to give the young guys a chance at forging a genuine career in the sport.”

ENDS

ICEBERG INTERACTIVE DEBUTS ENDLESS LEGEND HERO VIDEO CAMPAIGN

Amplitude Studios’ Reveals Brand New Trailer and Art-Pack for “The Vaulters”

Haarlem, The Netherlands – February 26, 2014 – From publisher Iceberg Interactive and Amplitude Studios, the award-winning team that delivered the 4X space strategy hit Endless Space, comes a brand new video series revealing the heroes of Endless Legend (PC). In a series of upcoming faction introductions, Amplitude Studios starts off today with ‘The Vaulters,’ the most sci-fi like faction in the game. The Vaulters have been a part of Amplitude’s other games, Endless Space and Dungeon of the Endless, and will now also star in Endless Legend.

To see the new heroes in action, download the new Vaulters video, screenshots, artwork, and ‘faction card’ HERE: www.hightail.com/download/elNMK0d1dzhveE1FSzhUQw

The Vaulters’ story begins with hardship, survival, and transition. It is a time of change for the Vaulters. For countless generations they lived as loosely-federated clans in the vast underground labyrinths that riddle Auriga. Their skills in mining and crafting made them comfortable, and their study of ancient artefacts slowly unlocked the secrets of their world’s past. Though their origins were lost in legends and myth, they had found peace and prosperity in the deep places of the planet.

Suddenly, now, the Vaulters have been forced to abandon those ancient halls. The Great Quake broke walls and ruined roads and bridges; as their towns crumbled around them they fled to the surface. Some turn for answers to the priests in the Church of the Great Orrery, others look to their leader, Szabad Ilona, First of the Bloodline. For a people deeply bound by tradition and unused to change, the surface of Auriga is a frightening place.

Torn between the secrets of the planet, their own traditions, and their need to survive, the Vaulters may struggle. But they will not fade, or surrender.

Key Features in Endless Legend

• Explore legendary lands with one of the eight civilizations available both in single and multiplayer, adventure through seasons, and strive to discover the secrets of Auriga.
• Expand beyond the unknown and send your heroes in every corner of the world to find mysterious artefacts to equip your troops, and assimilate powerful minor factions which will help overwhelm opponents.
• Exploit every opportunity by researching new technologies and magical powers while collecting Dust, luxuries, and strategic resources tradable on the marketplace.
• Exterminate fools who defy you with a genuine combat system where terrain and your unit abilities are key to take the advantage over the enemy armies.

Endless Legend is set for a Steam Early Access release early Q2, 2014. Visit the official Amplitude website to stay tuned to all the latest news http://g2g.amplitude-studios.com/Games/Endless-Legend.

# # #

About Amplitude Studios
Amplitude Studios is an independent gathering of experienced video game lovers (and developers) with a single goal: create the best strategy games! Based in Paris, the studio boasts an international team that has worked all over the world. Developer credits include franchises such as Battlefield, Rayman, XIII, R.U.S.E., Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Call of Juarez, Might & Magic Heroes, Might & Magic Clash of Heroes, and others. Working closely for years with communities of players to share, discuss or compare ideas, the whole team has the dream of bringing the idea of GAMES2GETHER one step further. Help us accomplish our goal to bring a brand new way for players around the world to participate in the creation of a video game! Read more at http://www.amplitude-studios.com.

About Iceberg Interactive
Iceberg Interactive is an independent video game publisher founded in 2009 by an international group of games industry veterans and is located in Haarlem, The Netherlands. While keeping its roots in the European retail games market, Iceberg has rapidly increased its focus towards the global digital games market, by building strong direct relationships with dozens of Game Portals. Staffed with avid gamers, Iceberg works closely with an international assembly of game developers, both midsize and indie. With a distinct focus on the strategy, action, simulation and adventure game genres, the company has garnered attention with acclaimed releases including Killing Floor, Wings of Prey, APB Reloaded and Endless Space among its 70+ game arsenal – with more promising games in the pipeline.

Play it Cool!

Game Insight Brings Tank Games to iPhone with Tank Domination

Tank games hit the small screen with Game Insight’s explosive head-to-head action game Tank Domination, now available on iPhone

Moscow and San Francisco – February 26, 2014 – Game Insight, a world leader in publishing and developing mobile/social games, is excited to announce the arrival of the next generation of tank games on iPhone: Tank Domination. This blockbuster tank action game lets players engage in exciting, head-to-head tank battles for two teams of up to 10 players apiece alongside the game’s robust iPad fanbase. An Android version is also expected to be released later this year.

Featuring the voice talents of actor Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, Total Recall, X-Men: First Class) as the hardnosed commanding officer Colonel Killgor, Tank Domination launched on iPad in December and quickly shot up the charts, hitting the number two position on the iPad app charts.

Tank Domination is the next chapter in tank games–a fully 3D, massively multiplayer experience. The game offers real-time, synchronous online battles for up to 20 players simultaneously. In the game, players eventually unlock a fleet of real-world mobile armor licensed from the US, Europe, and Asia and build out a virtual hangar filled with multiple classes of tanks, each of which can be further developed and customized to fit players’ preferences.

In addition to offering dozens of officially licensed tanks to drive, Tank Domination includes a huge variety of customization options and handy in-game social features to help players quickly and easily coordinate the assault with friends. In terms of gameplay, Tank Domination offers in-depth team tactics, and easy-to-pick-up, always-on, drop-in multiplayer that lets players duke it out in real-time, synchronous matches on teams of up to 10 versus 10.

Tank games have never been as action-packed, or as portable, as Tank Domination. For more information, please visit the official website at TankDomination.com. For all the latest updates, be sure to follow the game on Twitter at @TankDomination and like the game on Facebook at facebook.com/TankDomination.

Download Tank Domination for iPhone here: http://gigam.es/TDGlobal

Additional Information:
Visit the official Tank Domination website: http://tankdomination.com/
Visit the official Facebook page for Tank Domination: https://www.facebook.com/TankDomination
Watch the official Tank Domination video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAMxlPqtLU
Assets are available here: http://www.game-insight.com/files/EN/Games/GI_TankDomination/iOS/

About Game Insight
Founded in 2010, Game Insight is a global-facing developer and publisher of varied, user-focused, and free-to-play games for all major mobile and social platforms, including iOS, Android, Facebook, and Web. We are a team of more than 600 passionate game developers who actually play games ourselves. Our internal network consists of 15 different studios that constantly create and update high-quality games, many of which have already become #1 top-grossing hits in mobile application stores and on social networks around the world, which has led Game Insight to build a global audience of more than 150 million users. Visit http://www.game-insight.com/ for more info.

GODS WILL BE WATCHING HITS STEAM, HUMBLE, AND GOG IN JUNE

– Palms Will Get Sweaty –

Valencia, Spain — Feb. 26, 2014 — Deconstructeam and Devolver Digital are super pumped to announce that upcoming indie thriller Gods Will Be Watching will arrive on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Humble, and GOG this June. Starting as a standout entry in Ludum Dare 26 competition, Gods Will Be Watching, developer Deconstructeam has greatly expanded the original story of a space exploration team stranded on an unfamiliar world faced with ethical conundrums and moral dilemmas.

The updated and expanded Gods Will Be Watching is a minimalistic “point and click thriller” centered on despair, commitment, and sacrifice as players face intriguing puzzles and tough decisions that will affect their entire crew’s wellbeing. Set against the backdrop of an interstellar struggle, Gods Will Be Watching follows Sgt. Burden and his crew in six tense chapters from hostage situations and wilderness survival to biological weapon prevention and agonizing torture scenarios. Each decision is crucial and players will need to choose between the lives of their team and the saving the world from genocide.

“Our team set out to make a new breed of point and click adventure and capture the feeling of having to make heavy decisions with sometimes dark consequences,” said Jordi de Paco, founder of developer Deconstructeam. “We understand that Gods Will Be Watching is a departure for the genre but think we have an opportunity to break new ground in storytelling and the weight of decisions.”

Deconstructeam and Devolver Digital will have different playable scenarios available to demo at SXSW Gaming in Austin, Rezzed in Birmingham, and PAX East in Boston through the spring leading up to the launch in June. Fans unable to visit these shows can try the original game jam at godswillbewatching.com. and follow development via Twitter @Deconstructeam

ESL brings eSports to World Cup Stadium with largest Dota 2 event to date

World Cup football stadium hosts Dota 2 eSports competition – US$150,000 prize pool for world’s best Dota 2 players – One of many stops for the newly launched ESL One tournament series

COLOGNE, 25.02.14 – One of Germany’s 2006 World Cup football stadiums, Commerzbank-Arena, will play host to eSports competition on June 28th and 29th as the Electronic Sports League (ESL) prepare to showcase ESL One Frankfurt at the venue. In the place of performers such as Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones and Madonna, the video game Dota 2 will fill the legendary stadium.

“Dota 2 saw the first ever million dollar prize pool and this year I am pleased to say it will see its first ever packed stadium. With a capacity of over 35,000, ESL One Frankfurt 2014 is poised to be the largest eSports spectacle Dota 2 has ever seen,” said Managing Director of Pro Gaming, Ulrich Schulze. “Our newly launched ESL One season will see some of the best Dota 2 action the world has to offer. I’m very excited to see finals played out centre stage at such an iconic stadium. With a focused goal of creating legendary esports experiences for our fans, ESL One Frankfurt will be the first of many massive scale ESL events in the years to come.”

Over the course of two days, eight of the world’s best Dota 2 teams will take to their computers in order to decide the ESL One Frankfurt 2014 champion. Watched by millions around the world, the winners will take home the lion’s share of an impressive US$150,000 prize pool, which fans will be able to further contribute to online through purchase of in-game items.

Tickets for the event are available through ESL One’s dedicated tournament site. For more information surrounding ticketing, the tournament, etc. please visit: http://www.esl-one.com. Press inquires can be made at: [email protected]
About ESL One
In ESL One, teams and players from all over the world compete in an eSports tournament unlike any other. Featuring the games Dota 2, Counter-Strike Global Offensive and Battlefield 4, ESL One gives out hundreds of thousands in prize money every year. With events taking place in sports stadiums all over the world, it puts the players in front of enthusiastic audiences, cheering them on in their attempt to secure the one trophy and the glory that comes with it.

About ESL
ESL is the world’s largest eSports company leading the industry in raising eSport production and audience levels to those of mainstream sports. With offices in Germany, Russia, France, Poland, Italy, Russia, China and the USA, it has a true global footprint. Aided by two daughter companies in the form of ESL.TV and ESL.Tech, Turtle Entertainment & ESL create products that cover the entire eSports spectrum. This includes high profile international and national leagues and tournaments such as the Intel Extreme Masters, ESL Major Series, ESL Pro Series, Starcraft II World Championship Series, Wargaming.net League Europe as well as grassroots amateur cups, leagues and matchmaking systems. From its six state of the art event and production studios with a total of 1.000 m² it runs daily broadcasts of a multitude of leagues and games, while its mobile production team hosts massive offline tournaments in large stadiums and trade fairs around the world. With nearly one million attendees in its last Intel Extreme Masters season and tens of millions more watching over streams and video at home it has been increasingly successful in its ambition to deliver amazing gaming experiences and to convey the thrill, emotions and excitement of competing and performing at the highest level.

About Dota 2®
Dota 2®, released in 2013, is an Action RTS (Real Time Strategy) game from developer, Valve Software. Acting as a stand-alone sequel to Defense of the Ancients, the computer game combines action and strategy in an exciting fantasy world. Players pick from a pool of over a hundred heroes, forming two teams of five players. Actively played by millions of individuals, the game continues to grow and excite the gaming community.