Distinctive Developments Ltd unveils its latest social game, Rugby Kicks, ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:40:57 GMT

Distinctive Developments Ltd, the renowned social gaming experts in rugby games for iPhone, iPod and iPad, have released a free to download app, Rugby Kicks, to celebrate the forthcoming Rugby World Cup 2011.

Tasking players to score points in one of the sport’s most technically challenging aspects, Rugby Kicks challenges players to successfully complete try conversions and score penalty kicks. Enhancing the player’s experience, Rugby Kicks offers customisation features and an engaging player journey as they progress from local fields to international stadiums

In anticipation of the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in September, Rugby Kicks is the first new rugby title from Distinctive Developments Ltd, creators of the critically acclaimed and best-selling Rugby Nations series. Aimed at the huge global audience which plays, supports and enjoys the sport, Rugby Kicks is a simple, fun and free way for fans to extend their enjoyment of the sport beyond purely being a spectator and for them to join in the excitement growing around the world’s biggest rugby competition.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod and iPad, Rugby Kicks is free both to download and play and is available now on the Apple App Store.

“Rugby has a truly global and incredibly passionate audience in countries all around the world. With Rugby Kicks we wanted to create a simple yet deep rugby game that everyone can play and enjoy, whether you’re eight years old or eighty, that gives rugby fans, gamers and sports enthusiasts a taste of the skill and judgment required to consistently score conversion kicks.” explained Nigel Little, Managing Director of Distinctive Developments Ltd.

Rugby Kicks follows the successful launch of Football Kicks that achieved 6 million downloads and is the first rugby release from Distinctive Developments Ltd in the run up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Launch of the company’s highly anticipated Rugby Nations 2011 will be announced in the near future.

The free to download iPhone app is available to download at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rugby-kicks/id448933711?ls=1&mt=8

For a sneak preview of the game in action, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLuv6AQk8w

Huzutech's Paperworld Takes Social Gaming To New Virtual Worlds

Wed, 11 May 2011 16:11:24 GMT

HuzuVirtual is a brand new technology from HuzuTech, which promises to revolutionize the rapidly evolving social gaming market. The technology allows the creation of stand-alone, browser-based, online worlds - which can be played on any device, by multiple players.

Huzutech today launched Paperworld (www.huzutech.com/products/huzuvirtual/) a technology demonstrator, which shows how social networks, virtual worlds, online communities and massively multiplayer games are all now intersecting. Paperworld offers an example of how companies can combine the mass appeal of social networks and online communities with the entertainment and engagement of multiplayer games and virtual worlds.

The HuzuVirtual technology creates new opportunities for publishers, media companies and brand owners wishing to create their own wholly customised online world, which combines a community and online, multiplayer gaming experience, all integrated into the user's chosen social networks.

HuzuVirtual allows persistent multi-participant worlds to be created, quickly, simply and efficiently. Each world can be branded to create a totally unique environment within which mini games, challenges and activities can be created for single and multiple players. As these worlds are accessed via web browser, HuzuVirtual worlds can be accessed through almost every digital device, from smartphones and tablets, to netbooks and desktops.

HuzuVirtual also provides seamless integration into all of the major social channels and networks - including Facebook and Twitter. This gives users immediate access to friends and followers as well as enabling leaderboards, high score challenges, multi-player competition and cross-posting out through the player's various profiles, tying the world into each user's everyday online life. In addition, the HuzuVirtual platform integrates social media capabilities right into the games world itself. This enables users to create or join groups, post to forums, upload images, video and blogs to their profile, as well as see and interact with those created and uploaded by their friends and contacts.

Graeme Harvey, the founder and CEO of Huzutech, said, "As technology advances and users grow ever more demanding about how they spend their time online, the boundaries between games, social networks, communities, virtual worlds and massively multiplayer games are blurring. Every single social network is now being used to play games of some description, while online games themselves are having to offer ever increasing forms of interaction, community participation and integration into other channels. What HuzuTech is doing, is bringing together all of these strands and creating a technology which allows the creation of dedicated worlds,every single one of which can be branded, designed and personalised to reflect the community, experience or brand it represents. Users can participate in a huge range of activities, take part in competitions, interact with each other both within the world as well as externally through existing social networks. It's a very powerful and flexible technology which promises to give publishers, brand owners and media companies a new way to create something unique and individual for their users to play with, participate in and enjoy."

For more information about HuzuVirtual, please contact: brian@revolver-pr.co.uk or visit www.huzutech.com/products/huzuvirtual/

Outplay Entertainment - New Social Network and Mobile Games Publisher

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:42:24 GMT

Outplay Entertainment, a startup games publisher focusing on high-quality games for social and mobile platforms, launched today and announced that it is recruiting staff for its new UK headquarters.

Founded by games industry veterans Douglas Hare & Richard Hare (The Collective, Foundation 9 Entertainment), Outplay's primary focus is on providing consumers with high-quality, engaging, and, above all, fun experiences that can be accessed and played across the ecosystem of rapidly expanding social networks - such as Facebook - and the new generation of powerful, connected mobile platforms, exemplified by Apple's iPhone.

Outplay will be headquartered in Dundee, Scotland, one of the world's hotspots of gaming talent and creativity.

The company has been backed by Pentech Ventures, a leading venture fund in the digital media market, and the Scottish Investment Bank’s Co-investment Fund, providing Outplay with the resources and capital required for rapid expansion and the global reach required to meet the needs of this new generation of gamers.

Douglas Hare, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outplay, said, "The global games market is changing in a very fundamental but extremely positive way. Over a very short period of time the number of people playing games has exploded and many of those players are demanding that gaming fits into the rest of their lives, whether that means on their mobile devices or as part of their favourite social network.”

“Gaming is reaching players all over the world, regardless of the hardware they use, or when and where they want to play. Outplay was founded to cater to this rapidly expanding global audience by taking lessons learned by the games industry over the last three decades and applying them to these new connected, interactive experiences as more and more people around the world discover the joys of gaming."

Richard Hare, co-founder and President of Outplay, agreed, "There are significant advantages to creating and publishing on social network and mobile platforms. Shorter, more focused development cycles help constrain the upfront investment required. The ability to then rapidly update the games based on measurable consumer response helps us attract and retain players by enhancing and updating the games' features. By investing in the right skills and focusing our publishing efforts on these new platforms and opportunities, Outplay is poised to become a significant player in the global games market.

Eddie Anderson, the founding partner of Pentech Ventures, added, "The recent growth and evolution of the global gaming market opens up a wealth of new possibilities and creates compelling new opportunities for games companies which understand the various new markets, business models, territories and routes to market. In Douglas and Richard, Outplay Entertainment has an outstanding management team with which to address these new markets and who can combine the creativity and passion demanded within the entertainment sector, with the business insight to reach these new audiences and maximise the company's reach as the sector continues to expand."

Andrew Sloane, Head of the Scottish Investment Bank’s Co-investment Fund, said: “Digital technologies are now changing the way the games industry both creates content and makes it available. Scotland is at the forefront of this change, with new companies like Outplay Entertainment creating the next generation of success stories. We are delighted to support this exciting new venture through the Scottish Co-Investment Fund alongside our longstanding partner Pentech Ventures. We look forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength in this fast-moving emerging new market.”

ENDS

Background:

Douglas and Richard Hare are available for interview on this announcement. Please contact Brian Baglow at Revolver PR on 07747 792247 for interview requests.

More information on Outplay Entertainment can be found online: www.outplayentertainment.com

About Outplay Entertainment

Headquartered in Dundee, the digital capital of Scotland, Outplay is focused on developing games for rapidly expanding online gaming platforms - such as Facebook - and the new generation of connected mobile devices, which are introducing gaming to an ever-increasing global audience.

Founded in 2010 by industry veterans, Douglas and Richard Hare, Outplay brings a wealth of experience to the rapidly evolving world of social and mobile games. Both brothers have over 25-years of experience in the videogames industry. Having started their professional careers in the mid 80s, they moved to Orange County, California in the 90s to work at Virgin Interactive. Along with colleague and friend Gary Priest, they left Virgin In 1997 to found their first independent development studio, The Collective. The Collective developed numerous high profile titles including Star Wars: Episode III, Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, and Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.

In 2005, The Collective merged with Backbone Entertainment, to form Foundation 9 Entertainment. With Douglas and Richard as key members of the senior management team, Foundation 9 went on to secure a significant investment from a large Private Equity company in 2006 and subsequently grew to become one of the largest independent developers in the world with over 800 personnel in 11 studios on three continents.

About Pentech Ventures

Since its inception in 2001, Pentech Ventures has invested in young as well as established software companies which are headquartered in the UK and Ireland. Investments include companies developing and marketing enterprise software, SaaS solutions and internet technologies, working in applications ranging from digital media, e-commerce, social gaming and mobile advertising to software protection and software verification.

The Pentech Partners and Advisory Group Members have gained considerable experience in starting, developing and exiting software businesses, both in Europe and in the US. Pentech utilizes the wide experience of the team, together with our international network of industry contacts, to identify software opportunities with global potential, and to work with these companies to realize that potential.

The Pentech Fund is managed by Pentech Ventures LLP, and numbers the European Investment Fund amongst its investors. Pentech Ventures is regulated by the FSA. For further information, see www.pentechvc.com

About the Scottish Investment Bank

The Scottish Investment Bank is a division of Scottish Enterprise which operates Scotland-wide, in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It operates a suite of investment funds including; The Scottish Seed, the Scottish Co-investment and the Scottish Venture Fund to support Scotland’s SME funding market to ensure that businesses with growth and export potential have adequate access to growth capital.

Revolver Takes The Pulse Of Mobile Gaming

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:27:47 GMT

Founded in 2003, Pulse is a pioneer of the mobile lottery and gaming sectors. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company provides technology which allows partners to offer secure mobile gaming and lottery services, from casino games to state run lotteries to Indian reservations and cruise ships.
The mobile gaming sector has experienced high growth over the last several months, thanks in part to the widespread adoption of smartphone devices. Pulse Interactive is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this growth and continue the rapid evolution of the market, with a unique insight into the sector and key partnerships with companies around the world.
Paul Trowe, the founder and president of Pulse Interactive, says, "Gaming on mobile phones is finally fulfilling the potential analysts have been predicting for many years now. The advent of smartphones and the public's acceptance of the new App Stores and services, gives the whole sector enormous potential in the near future. Pulse is working with many of the world's leading companies to make sure that state run lotteries comes to mobile in a secure, responsible and fun manner. We're delighted to be working with Revolver to raise the profile of the company and its services.
Iain S Bruce, the managing director of Revolver, says, "Pulse is the first North American client to start working with our new interactive entertainment division. We're thrilled to be working with Paul in such a dynamic new area of mobile entertainment."
- ENDS -
For more information:

Brian Baglow
Revolver PR, Penthouse Suite,
38 Landsdowne Cresent, Glasgow, G20 6NH.
T: 0845 130 8992,M: +44 (0) 7747 792247
E: brian@revolver-pr.co.uk
(@flackboy) facebook.com/baglow

Revolver Takes The Pulse Of Mobile Gambling

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:24:14 GMT

Revolver PR, Scotland's digitally-enabled PR agency, is providing PR strategy and support to Pulse Interactive, the North American mobile gambling specialist.

Founded in 2003, Pulse is a pioneer of the mobile gaming and gambling sectors. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the company provides technology which allows partners to offer secure mobile gambling services, from casino games to lotteries.

The mobile gambing sector has experienced high growth over the last several months, thanks in part to the widespread adoption of smartphone devices. Pulse Interactive is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this growth and continue the rapid evolution of the market, with a unique insight into the sector and key partnerships with companies around the world.

Paul Trowe, the founder and president of Pulse Interactive, says, "Gambling on mobile phones is finally fulfilling the potential analysts have been predicting for many years now. The advent of smartphones and the public's acceptance of the new App Stores and services, gives the whole sector enormous potential in the near future. Pulse is working with many of the world's leading companies to make sure that gambling comes to mobile in a secure, responsible and fun manner. We're delighted to be working with Revolver to raise the profile of the company and its services.

Iain S Bruce, the managing director of Revolver, says, "Pulse in the first North American client to start working with our new interactive entertainment division. We're thrilled to be working with Paul in such a dynamic new area of mobile entertainment."

PlayStation announce the launch of PlayStation Plus

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:54:37 GMT

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) announced that it will offer PlayStation Plus, a new subscription service package on PlayStation Network. In addition to the current free to use existing features and services, PlayStation Plus brings value-added offerings including exclusive services and content worldwide on June 29.

Purchasing a membership* to PlayStation Plus, will provide members with new options to expand their gaming experience and gain an exclusive set of features and content (content will vary by region). For users’ convenience, PlayStation Plus will be available in different subscription options of 90 days and 1 Year starting from £11.99.

PS+ members will be able to play the full version of designated PS3 downloadable and PlayStation Network titles including PS one Archives and minis (excluding Japan) with no limit of time as long as membership is effective. These games will become available for PlayStation Plus members at no extra cost.

Content such as avatars and dynamic themes, many of which are exclusive, will become available, as will early access to designated new game beta trials, game demos and video content prior to public distribution – both available within subscription fee.

Members will have access to exclusive discounts on designated PlayStation Store titles. Titles will vary every month on PlayStation Store.

Members can also access full game trial where they will have access to full versions of designated PS3 and PlayStation Network titles. The titles on offer will be available for download on PlayStation Store for a stated period and change every month. After the trial period expires (expiration dates will vary by content), users will be able to continue playing the game by purchasing the game on-line**.

PS3 will automatically download and install designated game demos and game updates and also download the system software update data (requires user agreement to install). PS3 will automatically start up at a designated time to download content and will turn off after the download has completed.

Since its launch in November 2006, PlayStation Network continues to gain strong support from PlayStation communities around the world. It offers a broad range of on-line content and services, including on-line gaming, video chat and text messaging with other PS3 users on-line, as well as access to many games, videos and comic content downloadable from PlayStation Store.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

* PlayStation users can purchase PlayStation Plus membership through PlayStation Store on PS3 only. Users need to install PS3 system software version 3.40, which will be released on June 29th, to play PlayStation Plus.
** User can continue to use games with previously saved data. Any trophies earned during the trial will also be unlocked.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation game console, the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStationPortable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation3 (PS3) system.