ANKAMA LAUNCHES WAKFU IN SOUTH EAST ASIA AND OPENS NEW SINGAPORE OFFICE TO SUPPORT ITS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Roubaix, France – 9 January 2014 – Leading international online game developer and publisher Ankama today announced the launch of WAKFU in several Asian countries, and the opening of its subsidiary in Singapore to accelerate the company’s development in the region. This next strategic step for Ankama follows the opening of a new office in Montreal, Canada, in September 2013 and the appointment of Olivier Comte as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Group Managing Director in October 2013.
Ankama has hired a new team for the Singapore office to drive marketing and PR operations, community management, and customer support in South East Asia.
“Singapore is a key location for us. Our office there will support the launch of WAKFU and other projects and IPs in Asia. We needed a dedicated team who had relevant knowledge of local markets and were close to potential partners and consumers. The offices will be the headquarters for our Asian operations, including partnerships and events,” said Olivier Comte, COO and Managing Director of Ankama.
Previously launched in Europe and North America, Ankama’s second MMORPG, WAKFU, is now available for the first time in Asia, where it is being marketed as a freemium title. The open beta began in December 2013 and the game has now been officially released in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. In China, the game will be distributed via Speedy Bird, with a closed beta starting on January 15th.
Creator of properties including trans-media brands DOFUS and WAKFU, the Ankama group of companies employs 450 people in France and its offices around the world.
About WAKFU
WAKFU is a cross-media experience comprising an animated series, online and console video games, and comic books. Each adventure is an original creation which can be lived separately, although exploring the brand through multiple media delivers a richer experience. WAKFU transports its fans into the same magical, humorous universe as DOFUS, whilst adding notions of ecology and citizenship. For more information, please visit the official WAKFU website at https://www.facebook.com/wakfu.apac?fref=ts
About Ankama Group
Ankama is an independent French group working within the entertainment industry, which has based its growth on a trans-media strategy incorporating online games, publishing, animation, press, music, merchandise, toys, and video games for next generation consoles and mobile phones. Ankama develops its universe, the Krosmoz (which includes DOFUS and WAKFU), through these media to create a complete, narrative, immersive experience. Ankama also supports artists creating their own universes through screenplays, television programs, music albums, comic books and more. www.ankama-group.com
UBISOFT ANNOUNCES Far Cry® The Wild ExpeDITION, A 10-year anniversary compilation
Far Cry Classic To Be Released As XBLA/PSN Standalone On February 13th
London, UK — January 9th 2014 — Ubisoft announced today that to celebrate the 10-year Anniversary of the Far Cry® franchise, a complete compilation called Far Cry The Wild Expedition including Far Cry Classic, Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon will be released in the UK. The compilation will be available on February 14th, 2014 in the UK for the Sony PlayStation®3 Computer Entertainment System, Xbox®360 and PC for £29.99.
In addition to the release of this retail compilation,Far Cry Classic will be available on February 12th as a standalone downloadable title for the Xbox LIVE Arcade and the Sony PlayStation Network at the price of £7.99.
Each Far Cry game included in the The Wild Expedition compilation offers a unique storyline and setting that will keep gamers engaged for hours as they experience the expansive open world beauty, original narrative and the memorable characters all combined with classic Far Cry FPS gameplay.
Far Cry Classic – Far Cry Classic is the premiere and ultimate console version of the very first Far Cry game. Take the role of charter boat captain, Jack Carver, who finds himself hunted by an unrelenting team of highly trained mercenaries in this nature-gone-wrong FPS adventure. This HD revamp features stunningly realistic foliage, real-time day and night cycles, drivable underwater and flying vehicles which you can commandeer, and more…
Far Cry 2 – Caught between two rival factions in war-torn Africa, you are stricken with malaria and forced to make deals with corrupt warlords on both sides of the conflict in order to hunt down your mark – The Jackal. This version includes the full single-player campaign and Multiplayer.
Far Cry 3 – Beyond the reach of civilization lies a lawless island ruled by violence and human suffering. This is where you find yourself stranded, caught in a bloody conflict between psychotic warlords and indigenous rebels, where your only escape is through drugs or the muzzle of a gun. Includes the full single-player campaign, Multiplayer, and Co-op modes.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – The year is 2007. It is the future. You are Sergeant Rex Colt: Mark IV Cyber Commando. Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear war, which erupted in the 90s. Get the girl, kill the bad guys and save the world. Includes the full single-player campaign.
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman and Far Cry. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
“PlayStation” and “PS3” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
KINECT, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.
ASSASSIN’S CREED® PIRATES RECEIVES FIRST MAJOR UPDATE
Free update brings further exploration and challenges on the high seas
London, UK — January 9, 2014 — Today Ubisoft® announced that Assassin’s Creed® Pirates, part of the award-winning Assassin’s Creed® franchise, will receive its first update which brings new missions, achievements, and exploration to players.
An update to satisfy any pirate’s plundering and pillaging needs, players will have access to a new map with beautiful scenic explorations as they embark on a new campaign mission as well as 10 new side quests to find treasure, unlock ships, and prove their worthiness on the high seas.
The difficulty has also been raised to challenge even the most experienced pirate. The new map, Nassau, will be the most challenging play area yet, but defense has become more difficult across all missions. New defense and dodge mechanics have been introduced, allowing players to destroy cannonballs mid-fire and offering more counterattack capabilities. With the raised level of difficulty during battle even the most experienced buccaneers will have to keep an eye on their health bar.
Additionally, players will no longer feel like lone souls on the open sea, as the new social feature allows them to view and measure up against friends and foes on their journey to find La Buse’ missing treasure.
The update is available starting today.
For more information on Assassin’s Creed Pirates, please visit:
Makers of the world’s first live action First-Person-Shooter (FPS) game, Patient 0, are planning on setting up shop in Sydney in the coming year, and to do so they have started collecting money through crowdfunding. It turns out that for all the awesomeness that is the world’s first live action FPS, said awesomeness didn’t translate so well into cash and so the developers have resorted to crowdfunding for the next installment. The indie developers, IRL Shooter, are currently offering backers a variety of rewards ranging from a shirt to having your own NPC character created in the universe of IRL shooter. They intend to sell 10 000 tickets in order to acquire the funds they need to cover the costs of running the game. These include things like venue acquisition, equipment, NPC wages and insurance (because zombies need a roof over their heads and dental care too…).
We covered the development of the original Patient 0 back in Melbourne in a previous article, but the developers claim they have much more to add this time around for the game in Sydney including greater “immersion”, achievements/unlocks, and customisable tactical loadouts. Some aspects of the game will remain constant such as retaining the setting of a warehouse filled with zombies, although one hopes that with the sequel these developers will let players have their mayhem with new level design.
You can find more info about this installment and pledge your support in the (I hope) franchise on the crowdfunding page for the installment here, alongside links to behind-the-scenes and gameplay videos for those are especially interested. In the meanwhile, here’s a teaser video:
Overview Power, riches, respect. Three of the most sought after goals ever to wander through the minds of humanity. Most spend their whole lives working, carefully building up just enough to be happy. However, then there’s those few. Those who decide that enough isn’t enough. They want more and are more than willing to metaphorically make a deal with the devil. And by devil I mean Sea Devil. And by metaphorically I mean things didn’t turn out too well…
Wouldn’t it be great if life were like this?
Story Long ago… The Mayor of the island town of Kingsmouth made a rather important decision. Rather than think of a natural way his town could bolster their income, he decided to make a deal with the devil of the seas, the infamous Davy Jones. Though he was provided with the means to keep his towns finances above water, his deal also carried with it an unfortunate side effect, a curse if you will. His citizens ceased aging and began to transform into fishpeople. Though only the truly wicked of heart were immediately afflicted, the curse permeated to the slightly dubious…then the innocent.
As the hero of the story, it is up to you to continue forward, besting the Mayor’s devious traps and never ceasing to rescue the town of Kingsmouth’s one and only hope: Calliope. A siren with the power to break the curse and free the plagued townsfolk. Naturally, the Mayor has scattered the tools necessary to accomplish this, so you’ll have to explore the twisted town for all manner of relevant relics and curious curios . Of course as the curator of the Carribean Naval Museum you’re used to seeing all manner of artifacts. However, magic boxes and vials infused with the power of the ocean still qualify as…less than ordinary. But I mean, this is Nightmares From The Deep 2, so you’ve already tussled with Davy Jones and his oceanic magic once and come out alive. What’s one more?
Those are some thorough notes
Gameplay Just like its predecessor, Nightmares From The Deep 2 is a point and click puzzler. As you proceed through the story, you’ll unlock a number of new locations to explore, each containing a plethora of hidden items and passageways. Though many of these paths will be open to you at once, you will be unable to explore many of them without first acquiring the correct items. For example, though you may clearly see your objective, you’ll need to find out how to open the large gate that impedes your progress. May I suggest finding the keys? Of course explosives work just as well. That being said, each obstacle is only overcome by a specific set of objects, so even if you have a hammer, you might not be able to open a crate because what you actually require is a crowbar.
Certain portions of the game will require you to play a little game of “I Spy.” Placed in a smaller area, you must locate all objects on the presented list in order to attain your next useful tool. If you would prefer to not undergo such as task, or just want a little break from the same game you’ve already played a few times, you can instead opt for a quick little bout of Mahjong. Each discovery area includes the option to play said game instead with no penalty to your overall progress. Whichever you choose, you will receive the item you seek, so feel free to have a little fun. You know, before the evil mayor succeeds in his dastardly plan that is.
This relic seems to have some kind of Link to the past
There are also a number of minigames within each landscape, which serve to mix up the fairly repetitious gameplay. From tile puzzles, to chemistry, to safe cracking, your perilous journey will have you undertaking a number of tasks. Completing said tasks will allow you to progress through the game, acquiring new items and unlocking new areas. As they are a neccessity and may be a touch on the hard side for some, the game includes a Skip option. Said option builds up over time, allowing you to bypass any puzzle if you just can’t get through it on your own.
Should you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the landscapes spread before you, there is a handy dandy hint button that will guide you on your way. If used in quick succession, the hint button will enter a recharge mode, preventing you from using it for a period of time. How long it takes the button to recharge is directly tied to the difficulty you selected at the start of the game, with it taking longer the harder you set the game to be. Difficulty also has an effect on the more passive hint system of sparkles. If you spend a decent amount of time in a single room, objects of interest may sparkle to draw your attention.
Looks valuable, hope I don’t put a Kraken it
Visuals As a point and click game, Nightmares From The Deep 2 is, for the most part, a static game. Though you move between a number of areas, it is a simple fade to black transition before you simply find yourself somewhere new. That being said, each environment is very intricately drawn and displays a large amount of detail, which is good…for the most part. Whilst it is usually pretty clear what objects a re clickable, there is the ocassional area where the attention to detail on everything in an area proves to be a source of confusion. The I Spy minigames don’t count though, as they’re supposed to be that way.
In contrast, characters move surprisingly fluidly and feature a rather high degree of motion. Honestly, sometimes they look like a real person moving throughout the world. Naturally this is a good visual element, however it also has the unfortunate effect of bringing to light some of the…lesser visual qualities. When compared to such a fluid character, the overall static nature of the backgrounds becomes glaringly obvious. The dissimilarity between the two elements also makes it seem as if they are, in fact, separate from one another. As if the character is not actually interacting with the world in which they move.
The game will also ocassionally shift into a cutscene, choosing to display the more crucial story elements in a more cinematic fashion. These cutscenes are presented in full CG, with characters walking, talking, attacking, falling…all that good stuff. While these moments are the visual highlights of the game, they again serve as a direct contrast to the visuals of regular gameplay. It can be a little jarring to go from a dramatic chase sequence to yet another picture of a room.
Just a little to the left…
Audio As to be expected from its spooky premise, the game contains a fairly haunting soundtrack. Included are your ghoulish classics, pipe organ for depth, violins for those piercing notes. For added creepiness, the pipe organ/piano is occasionally played just a tad off key. Nothing scarier than a tone deaf spirit. As the game is set near the ocean, the sounds of waves crashing against the shore and seagull squawking in the distance is also fairly consistent. It’s a small touch, but it does serve to unconsciously remind you that the ocean looms ever near…
As with other G5 titles, the game also contains a full voice cast. Though not what you would call spectacular, the voice acting serves to add some form of depth to the main cast, giving them enough personality for you to care what happens to them. That being said, the voicing sometimes fall into the trap of exposition, explaining issues to you with such detail that they lose all pretext of being a real conversation. Again, only a small detail, but these things add up.
Just a usual day in the life of a museum curator
Overall Nightmares From The Deep 2: The Siren’s Call is just what you’d expect from a G5 point and click adventure. A number of well drawn rooms to explore, a small cast of heroes and villains to observe and a larger than life plot to quash. The cutscenes and voice acting are a nice touch that elevate the game above a lot of the other point and click adventures out there and the number of puzzles is sure to keep you interested. That being said, it’s still very much a preference. If you’re a fan of this style of game, you’ll have a blast. If not, you’ll still have fun, just not as much. All in all a fun little game. Make sure you play the little epilogue once your quest is complete, it may or may not hint at another journey to come. A cliffhanger about a cliffhanger, how meta is that?
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Dames of Thrones Production Company:Tenderloins Format:Theatre (The Vanguard) Show Run:Until the 9th of February Price: $43.80 (Basic admission), $134.80 (For dinner and front row seats) – Various Nights Available Here
Overview
HBO adaption of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, better known as the Game of Thronestv series, has itself been adapted into a burlesque show at Newtown’s The Vanguard. The show on the 7th of January gave audience members (and more importantly, this humble writer) the chance to explore the realm of Westeros in a new light. A light which was often titillating, sometimes funny, but always amazing. A hot, geeky event definitely worth experiencing.
The Performance
The show largely follows the format of vaudeville with a variety of acts all largely drawing inspiration from the HBO Game of Thrones television series. These acts range from live song performances, acrobatics, and of course, burlesque dancing. The nature of the Neo-Burlesque style means that there will be plenty of skin showing thanks to the striptease that is a hallmark of said style. If you’re a prude or intend to find entertainment for your dear sweet grandmother on her 85th birthday, this show is NOT for you as it is 110% NOT family friendly… unless your grandmother was a burlesque dancer herself, as one of the older women sitting near the front turned out to be. Do not misunderstand me, however, as this style creates dances which are less defined as ‘sexual’ and more as ‘sexy’ (less ‘hentai’ and more ‘ecchi’ for anime fans). However if you’re one of those people who can’t bear to stand the ribald comedy of an Oglaf comic, then I do not recommend you watch this show as I doubt you’d be able to tell the difference (between ‘sexual’ and ‘sexy’… trust me, Oglaf is way more full on than this show). Neo-Burlesque concerns itself with the self-expression of the performer, any sexual gratification which the audience might attain is largely incidental although it is neither uncommon nor undesired. So now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I’ll go through some of the acts which you can expect to see…
The MCs (Varys and Little Finger) introduce the next act as the dance of the ‘Unsullied’, the curtain opens and the audience sees the performer. She is armed and armoured in the same manner as those of her namesake from the tv show, with breastplate, spear, and shield. The music starts and she begins her dance. The weapons are laid down to the side quickly and the armour soon goes along with it. She is down to her underwear. Her movements are strong and disciplined with acrobatics making up part of the routine. This is how Game of Thrones can be interpreted through dance, with a performer portraying their character solely through movement. The Dames of Thrones Burlesque does this amazingly well with many of the iconic characters from the series portrayed accurately onstage in the style of burlesque. In this case, it is titillating to watch this performer demonstrate the superior strength and agility of her body. Hot.
Another act focuses on the relationship between Shae and Tyrion Lannister. This act is not so much a dance but a non-verbal vignette in reference to the relationship between the two characters. Tyrion begins the dance sombre and immersed in his books but changes with the appearance of Shae. We see the mischievous and lecherous side of ‘the imp’ as he tips over piles of books to sneak a peek down Shae’s dress as she bends down to pick them up. As the music crescendos, Tyrion builds a tower of books upon which to stand eye to eye with Shae and share a kiss. The audience on the night I went ‘aww’ed during this intimate moment. Heartwarming. The MCs started up a chant amongst the audience: “King of the North! King of the North!”. The curtains parted and we see a shadowy figure sitting upon the Iron Throne. The music starts and the performer begins dancing. I first notice a giant flopping tongue, then two ears, a snout and fangs. The performer is wearing a wolf’s head mask. This is Robb Stark, or more accurately (judging by the fake blood painted around the performer’s neck) the remains of Robb Stark, and they’re doing Irish dancing. It’s a little bit sick, a little bit macabre, but a moment that you won’t soon forget. Hilarious.
An act I can still remember vividly started off with a dark stage. The performers stood dormant. As the lights brightened on the stage, a voice rang out: “And who are you?”. It was Catelyn Stark singing the (now infamous) ‘Rains of Castamere’. The audience was in complete awe throughout her song as the performer gave it a new and powerful aspect; one of grief and mourning (which is understandable for the Starks). Burlesque showcases its power and range with this particular performance. It’s not just for titillation and tease, but also capable of bringing a tear to the eye. Such is the power of theatre which can amplify its effect on an audience in a way that recorded performances cannot. Haunting. The weakest part of the show overall for me were the opening and closing acts which I felt to be extremely tame by comparison to the other performances. I still enjoyed them all the same, but by comparison to the awesomeness that was the rest of the show, I felt that these acts fell flat.
Visuals
There is much to enjoy visually in this particular show with both the male and female performers all being very well toned in their physique. This is a treat for connoisseurs of the human form (*cough* perverts *cough*) such as my partner and myself. The costumes are all beautiful, but it became clear that all the belts and buckles that performers had to undo were inconvenient when it came to the art of the striptease. The small stage of the Vanguard (dominated by the ever present set-piece of the Iron Throne) caused me to worry somewhat for the range performances and what could be achieved in such a small space. My concerns were completely unfounded as the performers often extended their acts into the air with acrobatics, and maintained a intensity which the small space amplified. Kudos should especially be given to the appearance of the ‘White Walkers’ during the performance, glowing blue eyes and all, which moved about and terrified the audience on the ground floor but (un)fortunately did not come to harass the public on the mezzanine level (where I was located).
Audio
The music was a delightful feature as well, which I noticed served to further enhance the humour within the show. I found a certain amount of irony when a cover of Eurythmics ‘Sweet Dreams’ played for an act focusing on Melisandre, and the use of a cover of Nirvana’s ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’ for Joffrey’s act was a stroke of hilarious genius in my humble opinion. The show really shined for me when they had a song performed live, such as with Catelyn Stark, and I sorely missed the performance of more songs from the book (I had my fingers crossed for the ‘Bear and the Maiden Fair’) which unfortunately didn’t materialise.
Overall
The show overall is very well done with a variety of acts to enjoy and experience. The show is a wonderful way to spend a night out which will leave you with a smile, a tear, and a warm feeling in your heart (and possibly your naughty bits…) I would also recommend shelling out the extra cash for a dining experience to get seats on the ground floor in front of the stage, especially if you’re a height-impaired individual (such as myself). As far as adaptions of the Game of Thrones franchise go, this is by far one of the best ones…
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The recently (digitally) released Sims 3 expansion, Roaring Heights, has been given a retail release date by EA and Maxis. February 6, you’ll be able to pick up your physical copy in Australia and February 7 in New Zealand, or download from Origin.com for PC and Mac platforms.
Live the life in a sea-side city that screams sophistication and money… lots of money! Hey, at least you’re a millionaire in a virtual world, right? That’s what games are for, to live an unachievable dream (sorry for the bad news 99th percentile). Dozens of fresh clothing options and décor objects are added to your world, along with a very special vehicle in the Fixer-Upper Car. It’s a classic automobile that Sims will be able to work on, just like a real-life pet project for you motorheads out there.
Check out the gallery of The Sims 3: Roaring Heights screens below.
New Update for Stronghold Kingdoms Adds Strategy Cards, Player-Requested Features
London, UK – 09.01.2014 – A new community-led client update has just been released for Stronghold Kingdoms, one of the top ten most popular free to play games on Steam. A quick overview of some of the new features can be found below:
New Strategy Cards – A new set of strategy cards have been introduced affecting different areas of gameplay including farming, religion and combat. Attainable by free players through the Veteran Level free cards system and by paying players through the game’s selection of various card packs, all players will have access to this new content.
Player Targeting – The Lords and Ladies of Stronghold Kingdoms can now send letters in-game marking other players, villages and parishes, something that can be used for good or evil. Have a sworn enemy? Mark them for death! Want to protect a particular village or parish? Team up with your Liege Lord and send reinforcements! Whatever your purpose, the new player targeting system will hasten your plans, nefarious or otherwise.
Gameplay Features – Firefly have also added a number of new features requested by players over the past few months. These include the ability to keep a record of diplomatic relations with other players with the new notes system, in case you forget exactly why you’re at war! Also added this month is a quick replay button for cards, several UI tweaks and more.
Almost two years after launch Kingdoms remains one of the most popular free to play games on Steam. With nearly 3 million registered players from over 100 different countries, Kingdoms regularly has more active players on Steam than other MMOs from heavyweight IPs such as EVE Online and Marvel Heroes. Firefly has promised to continue supporting the game throughout 2014, with monthly updates based on community feedback found in the forums, on Facebook and Twitter.
As always a full list of new features, tweaks and hotfixes can also be found in the Stronghold Kingdoms forums – http://bit.ly/1cYRqsn
About Stronghold Kingdoms
Stronghold Kingdoms is the medieval online castle game. Join hundreds of thousands of players in a rich world of Lords, Ladies, Bumpkins and Barons as you build your village, research new technology and strive to be the greatest in the land. Construct mighty castles to defend your lands against insolent intruders, develop your economy and trade your way to victory, lead your fellow noblemen to war and control of the Kingdom. Build, besiege, pillage, farm, explore, research, vote, trade and banquet your way to the throne! For more information please visit www.strongholdkingdoms.com or follow @SHKingdoms on Twitter.
About Firefly Studios
Firefly Studios is an independent PC game developer specialising in real-time strategy and MMO titles. Formed in 1999 by Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette, the company has brought to market a number of high profile and commercially successful strategy games, including the Stronghold series with lifetime sales of over five million. Firefly has offices in the UK and US. For more information please visit their website at www.fireflyworlds.com or follow @fireflyworlds on Twitter.
Every PPV will be included in the subscription after all
Finally, the official announcement was made: at CES 2014, WWE Chairman of the Board Vincent K. McMahon – along with numerous professional wrestling superstars and legends – revealed everything you need to know about the long-gestating WWE Network.
The first-ever 24/7 streaming network will launch on February 24, the day after WWE Elimination Chamber. It will cost $9.99 USD a month, with a 6-month commitment necessary. Every PPV will be included in the package, amongst groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches and more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch. This is a true steal, as buying the PPV’s standalone costs diehard viewers approximately $600 USD per year. Fans can subscribe from 9am ET on Monday, February 24 and will be offered a free one week trial as an early adopter. However, those who live outside of the U.S. will have to wait as the network is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordics by the end of 2014/early 2015.
Every Monday night and Friday night, the WWE Network will air 30-minute pre-shows and post-shows for WWE’s weekly cable programs Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. The two, along with WWE Main Event, will continue to broadcast on their respective channels exclusively.
WWE Network will be delivered directly to fans through over-the-top digital distribution, on desktops and laptops via WWE.com and through the WWE App on Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Android devices, iOS devices, Roku streaming devices, Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and the Xbox 360. Availability on additional devices, including Xbox One and select Smart TVs, will follow in the summer. WWE Network also promises a comprehensive second-screen experience for all original programming via the aforementioned WWE App. Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, spoke on the importance of the network
Today is a historic day for WWE as we transform and reimagine how we deliver our premium live content and 24/7 programming directly to our fans around the world. WWE Network will provide transformative growth for our company and unprecedented value for our fans.
WWE NXT – where the superstars and divas of tomorrow get to showcase their ability in hopes of impressing the upper brass and making an impression upon fans – and WWE Superstars – a weekly highlight show also featuring new matches – will be moved to the WWE Network (no details on foreign markets where they still air on cable).
This has all been made possible by a fruitful collaboration with MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), who built a powerful solution for delivering 24/7 WWE content to fans. MLBAM are providing their industry-leading technology services, including video streaming infrastructure, application development and operational support for reliable cross-platform distribution. MLBAM’s pedigree is beyond impressive, having over a decade of experience in the field, and managing live video content for more than 25,000 events in the last year alone. Bob Bowman, President and CEO, MLBAM, stated;
We applaud WWE for this bold, timely and strategic move to fully optimize the power and potential of live entertainment. We are proud to work with WWE to help provide its millions of loyal fans with unencumbered access to distinctive and engaging live content across the devices they use most.
Here is more original programming fans can look forward to with the WWE Network:
The Monday Night War is a series that explores the shocking real-life stories that fueled the mid-90’s rivalry between WWE and WCW. Battling for ratings dominance, WWE’s Vince McMahon and WCW’s Ted Turner engaged in a masterful game of one-upsmanship and, in the process, elevated WWE Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro to all new levels of pop-culture relevance.
WWE WrestleMania Rewind is a comprehensive look back at the most groundbreaking matches and dramatic moments in WrestleMania’s rich, three decade long history, including never-before-seen footage and in-depth interviews.
WWE Countdown is a one-hour interactive countdown series that puts the power squarely in viewers’ hands by giving them the chance to discuss and rank WWE’s most spectacular superstars, unexpected moments, best catchphrases and more through digital polling and social media.
Coming in April, WWE Legends House reunites WWE’s greatest legends – only this time, they’re competing outside the ring. Imagine a beautiful house in the suburbs… perfectly furnished, with gorgeous landscaping, a lovely pool and quiet, respectable neighbours. WWE superstars from the past, including Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will turn the neighbourhood upside-down as the house staff tries their best to keep these legends on time, on speaking terms and out of trouble in this new reality show.
In addition to the streaming services, WWE Network will also hold all previous WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-views, as well as classic matches uncut and uncensored, encores of Raw, SmackDown and WWE Main Event, totaling more than 1,500 hours of video on demand at launch. All episodes of original programming on WWE Network will be available on demand immediately after they premiere as well, allowing viewers to watch on their own schedule.
What Difference Does It Make? A Film About Making Music is a full-length feature, directed by Ralf Schmerberg and shot at the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy, that got made in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the academy. Red Bull are rolling out the documentaries!
Releasing globally for one day only on February 17, the film will then become available the next day, for free, on redbullmusicacademy.com. A trailer has just been released for the movie – which deals with the challenges that a life in the industry brings – and can be viewed at the bottom of this article. Many notable artists are included in the picture, from Erykah Badu, Rakim and Q-Tip to Brian Eno, whose statement – “Why am I doing this and what difference does it make?” – inspired the title. The common thread between them all is that each has spent time as a studio tutor at the academy, which holds workshops for aspiring musicians as it travels to a new city every year.
WWE NXT – where the superstars and divas of tomorrow get to showcase their ability in hopes of impressing the upper brass and making an impression upon fans – and WWE Superstars – a weekly highlight show also featuring new matches – will be moved to the WWE Network (no details on foreign markets where they still air on cable).
Coming in April, WWE Legends House reunites WWE’s greatest legends – only this time, they’re competing outside the ring. Imagine a beautiful house in the suburbs… perfectly furnished, with gorgeous landscaping, a lovely pool and quiet, respectable neighbours. WWE superstars from the past, including Rowdy Roddy Piper, Tony Atlas and Hacksaw Jim Duggan will turn the neighbourhood upside-down as the house staff tries their best to keep these legends on time, on speaking terms and out of trouble in this new reality show.