GRAVITY INTERACTIVE’S RAGNAROK ONLINE Wins Reader’s Choice Award

One of the top MMO resources worldwide, MMOSite.com, has named Gravity Interactive¹s mmorpg RAGNAROK ONLINE   as one of the top three (3) online P2P (Pay to Play) games for
2010, included with World of Warcraft and Aion online. More information can be found at www.warpportal.com <http://www.warpportal.com>

MMOSite describes RAGNAROK ONLINE as a ³world of incredible beauty and sound Š with over 50 unique classes, personalized skills and character stats as well as a robust guild system with battlegrounds and activities.  RAGNAROK provides users with uniquely detailed quests and story lines as well as a guild vs. guild and free to all PVP systems.²

³We are honored to have receive this award by the readers of MMOSite.com,² states Yoshinori Kitamura, Gravity Interactive, Inc. CEO, ³We, here at Gravity Interactive, strive to bring the best in online gaming to all our players and fans and we invite those that have yet to try RAGNAROK ONLINE, or any of our other amazing titles, to check it out at www.WarpPortal.com <http://www.WarpPortal.com> and join in on the action.²

To celebrate this accolade, RAGNAROK ONLINE will be ³doubling² all player item drop rates starting February 10, 2011 through February 17, 2011.

Paramount Digital Entertainment and Funtactix to Create Online World for Movie Fans

Funtactix, a worldwide developer of innovative, browser-based games, and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced they have teamed up to create an online multiplayer game based on the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies soon-to-be released animated feature film Rango starring the voice of Johnny Depp. Rango: The WORLD will make its debut alongside Rango on March 4, 2011. 

Rango: The WORLD is a multiplayer online universe that lets participants become the hero: fans can create their own character, join their friends and explore the dynamic world of the film, including the town of Dirt and its surroundings. Along the way, players encounter the colorful characters from the film, embark on quests, compete in mini-games and customize their own personal hub.

This marks one of the first applications of Funtactix’ ‘The WORLD’ solution, a multi-year technology investment designed to create authentic online experiences with compelling characters and breathtaking visuals, giving fans the opportunity to enter the world of their favorite film.

“Rango: The WORLD is the first announced game that uses our revolutionary ’The WORLD’ solution, which lets us bring animation film assets into a web-based game without compromising fidelity or authenticity,” said Sam Glassenberg begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting, CEO of Funtactix. “Rango is a visually groundbreaking feature; combining the film’s assets with our technology provided the perfect springboard for us to permanently raise the bar for browser-based games and bring the world of Rango to the massive audience of fans on the web.” 

“Rango’s characters and their outrageous antics are well-suited for a variety of gaming platforms and players of all ages,” stated Tom Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “Rango: The WORLD gives younger fans of the film a fun way to interact and personalize the characters and storyline in an immersive online environment.”

Paramount Digital Entertainment is launching two games based on the upcoming Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies animated feature film Rango.  In addition to Rango: The WORLD, Paramount Digital Entertainment is publishing an action-adventure console game, Rango The Videogame that invites players to continue on Rango’s wild journey through new adventures inspired by the movie.  Rango The Videogame will be available on console platforms including PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, Nintendo DS and Xbox®360 videogame and entertainment system starting March 1st. 

Rango: The WORLD is currently in development by the award-winning design team at Funtactix. Founded in 2006, Funtactix works with leading entertainment companies to deliver visually stunning, highly innovative online games and virtual worlds around leading media franchises.  For more information about Funtactix and Rango: The WORLD, please visit www.funtactix.com

BLIZZCON 2011 ANNOUNCED

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for its sixth BlizzCon^® gaming convention, to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2011. BlizzCon is a celebration of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft^®, StarCraft^®, and Diablo^® universes.

“We look forward to holding another exciting BlizzCon this year, filled with some great entertainment and competition, as well as the latest news about Blizzard games,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “BlizzCon is built from the ground up with our community in mind — we’re pleased to be able to host an event where players can come together to have fun and celebrate their passion for gaming.” 

In addition to serving as a gathering place for Blizzard Entertainment gaming communities, BlizzCon will offer attendees a chance to enjoy:

• Hands-on play time with the latest versions of Blizzard Entertainment games
• Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers
• Competitive and casual tournaments for players to showcase their talents
• Community contests with great prizes
• Commemorative merchandise based on Blizzard Entertainment’s game universes
• More activities and attractions to be announced

The previous BlizzCon was held in Anaheim in October 2010. Tickets to the event sold out in minutes, and some of the highlights included the unveiling of Diablo III‘s fifth and final playable character class, the demon hunter, and an epic closing concert featuring Tenacious D.

Further details about BlizzCon 2011, including ticket availability and pricing, will be announced on the official Blizzard website, www.blizzard.com, as the event draws closer.

To keep pace with the continued growth of World of Warcraft as well as development on other Blizzard Entertainment games, the company is currently hiring for numerous open positions. More information on available career opportunities can be found at www.blizzard.com/jobs.

SOE Unveils All-New ‘Green Mana’ Trailer for Magic: The Gathering – Tactics

Today Sony Online Entertainment unveils an all-new Green Mana trailer for Magic: The Gathering – Tactics, the free-to-play online animated grid-based tactical strategy game available now for the PC. Focusing on iconic characters – including the primal Planeswalker Garruk Wildspeaker – the gameplay trailer showcases how players can beckon regenerative spells and massive beasts on to the tactical battlefield to trample opponents.

Magic fans will take the role of an animated Planeswalker as they tap Green Mana to fight against the manmade artifacts and abominations that threaten the natural world – all set within a fantastic 3D online gaming experience. Players are able to summon iconic Green creatures including Force of Nature, Enormous Baloth and Llanowar Elves.

Remnant Knights Closed Beta Begins

Remnant Knights closed beta servers will open on Wednesday, February 2. Armed with a closed beta code, players who visit www.remnantknights.com will be granted instant access to the beta realm. A limited number of codes will be made available to select sites throughout the week. All participating sites will be announced on the publisher’s home page at www.gamesamba.com.

Remnant Knights is an anime-inspired MMORPG with a story written by DC Comics’ 2010 Eisner award winning graphic novelist, Jim Krueger, and dialog by Hunter Brown book series creators, Chris and Allen Miller.  Players will experience the vast and amazing world of Kasmari and learn that they are the last line of defense against an ancient threat that has returned.  After choosing one of the three basic areas of study — Gun Circle, Magic Circle or Fight Circle — players will begin honing their skills at either the Owl or Dragon School. At level 10, players will have the option to specialize into classes such as the Dual Gunner and Heavy Launcher.

Remnant Knights offers many of the most desired features in MMORPGs.  There are customizable player housing areas, which can be furnished, decorated and used as meeting places for online friends.  Getting from place to place could not be more fun.  Players can be found zooming around on hoverboards and jet scooters or ripping around on other vehicles and mounts. With many other sought after features, such as crafting, enchanting and multiple modes for player vs player competition, players will have plenty to do in the world of Kasmari.

During this beta, the GameSamba community staff will use the in-game event calendar to run various competitions. Player vs. player events will range from school vs. school to free for all battles with the winners awarded with a variety of esteemed titles and public distinctions, which can be found on the Remnant Knights home page at www.remnantknights.com.