901am

New Media News Every Morning

Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands online adventure enters open beta

By

magination.pngCookie Jar Entertainment announced that North American online gamers and Magi-Nation fans alike can now experience the enchanting online world of Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands as open beta testing has started for the web-based multiplayer adventure game.

Magi fans are invited to sign up and be among the first to experience the interactive fantasy game that is based on the Magi-Nation animated television series. Marking a major step in Cookie Jar’s entertainment strategy to extend the Magi-Nation property to their fan-base on a multi-pronged approach via television, consumer products and online worlds, the free-to-play, web-based game is geared for children ages 8-14 and incorporates a parent-friendly micropayment model, which allows players the flexibility to upgrade their gaming experience.

Originally posted on February 13, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

EA, Gigamedia agree to operate MMORPG Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning in Taiwan

By

Electronic Arts Inc. and GigaMedia Ltd have entered into an agreement to launch and operate Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Based on Games Workshop’s Warhammer fantasy universe, the online game features next generation Realm vs. Realm (RvR) game play that will immerse players in a world of perpetual conflict.

The agreement between EA and GigaMedia also aims to provide the ultimate MMORPG gaming experience for players in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Working closely with the EA Mythic development team, GigaMedia will provide marketing, community management, technical support, and customer service functions. Further details concerning the release schedule will be announced in the coming months.

warhammer.png

Originally posted on January 31, 2008 @ 5:39 pm

Guitar Hero surpasses $1 billion sales in North America in 26 months

By

Activision, Inc. announced that Guitar Hero has set an industry record, surpassing $1 billion in North American retail sales in just 26 months, according to The NPD Group.

Additionally, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was the #1 title in units and dollars for calendar year 2007, making it the best-selling video game of all time in a single calendar year.

Since its initial release in fall 2005, the Guitar Hero franchise has sold in excess of 14 million units in North America alone, according to The NPD Group. In 10 weeks since the game’s launch, consumers have already downloaded more than five million songs.

guitarhero.png

Originally posted on January 21, 2008 @ 10:00 am

Warhammer Online’s army of beta players now 500,000 strong and growing

By

Electronic Arts Inc. announced that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), the highly anticipated massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) from EA Mythic, has surpassed 500,000 closed beta registrants in North America and Europe.

Poised to be one of the biggest new MMORPG releases of next year, WAR is slated for official launch in second quarter of 2008. The Beta Center is still open and accepting recruits.

Based on Games Workshop’s epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, Warhammer Online features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm game play that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict.

war.png

Originally posted on December 13, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

CDC Games to launch popular Manga style online game in the U.S.

By

CDC Games, the pioneer of the “free-to-play, pay for merchandise” model for online games in China, announced that its CDC Games International (CGI) business unit plans to launch Lunia Online, a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) based on the popular manga style comic art form, for commercial availability in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2008.

Lunia Online, developed by Korea-based ALLM Co., Ltd., is based on the manga style of Japanese comics which is widely popular throughout the world and is currently a more than $200 million industry in the U.S. according to Publishers Weekly.

Unlike many other massively multiplayer online roll-playing games (MMORPGs) currently on the market, Lunia Online is played much like an action arcade game, allowing players to move around using arrow keys rather than a mouse.

lunia.png

Originally posted on December 10, 2007 @ 11:29 am