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Expo Doors Open Friday!

SEATTLE – Aug. 31, 2009 – The organizers of the sixth annual PAX gaming festival announced today that all badges for the show this year are sold out. PAX 2009, to be held Sept. 4-6, is expected to draw the largest crowd in PAX history, industry professionals and media to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center for the three-day extravaganza.

“After the crazy crowds last year, the convention center cited fire code regulations and imposed a hard cap on the number of badges we are able to print and sell for PAX 2009,” said Penny Arcade’s Robert Khoo. “Amazingly, we’ve already hit that cap with just pre-registration sales and therefore no badges will be available for sale at the door.”

Highlights of the show include:

FRIDAY

* PAX 2009 keynote from Ron Gilbert, 1pm-2pm

* Penny Arcade Q&A Panel #1, 2pm-3pm

* Live demonstration of Assassin’s Creed® II and Splinter Cell Conviction, 7:30pm-8:30pm

* Music concert with Anamanaguchi, Metroid Metal and MC Frontalot, 9:30pm-1:30am

SATURDAY

* Pitch Your Game Idea, 2:30pm-3:30pm

* Live demonstration of Star Wars: The Old Republic, 3:30pm-4:30pm

* Music Concert with Freezepop, Paul and Storm, and Jonathan Coulton, 9:30pm-1:30am

SUNDAY

* Penny Arcade Q&A Panel #2, 12:30pm-1:30pm

* Wil Wheaton presents: THE AWESOME HOUR!!1, 2:30pm-3:30pm

* Omegathon Final Round, 5pm-6pm

View the complete PAX 2009 schedule at http://www.paxsite.com/schedule.php.

For those not fortunate enough to secure their badges for PAX 2009, don’t forget that it’s not too early to get a jump on the inaugural PAX East festival to be held March 26-28, 2010, at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston. Pre-registration is already available at www.paxsite.com/paxeast/.

About PAX: PAX is a three-day celebration of games and gamer culture. The festival includes an exhibition floor filled with playable builds of upcoming tabletop, console, and computer games; a conference program of game industry speakers; music concerts; freeplay areas; industry parties; game tournaments and more. Since its inception in 2004 the show has doubled in size year-over-year, growing from 4,500 attendees to 58,500 in 2008, making it the largest gaming festival in North America. For more information, visit http://www.paxsite.com/.

Blade Games World, the newly formed company from the merger of Digini and Vyk Games, today unveiled its plans for the upcoming 2009 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Next week, the company will reveal improvements and additional features for its Blade3D engine and will also be discussing its outsourcing services.

Blade Games will be at Moscone Center North Hall Booth 6306, and the company will be hosting a cocktail reception on Wednesday March 25 at their booth from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. Blade Games is also attending Game Connection in San Francisco during the same week.

“We have made great strides in development technology that will dramatically affect how our customers and our industry approaches making games,” said Tony Garcia, CEO of Blade Games. “Over the last few months, we have been working closely with our rapidly growing community to expand functionality while adding elements from our never ending “wish list” of enhancements. We look forward to showing these new features to the attendees at GDC.”

Among the features being shown at their booth include:

Terrain Editor:

Blade3D now includes a fully integrated terrain editing system that is powerful, extensible and easy to use.  As well as basic operations such as raise/lower and smooth/flatten, the new editor lets you paint color channels and level of detail directly on the terrain.  The new editor also allows any shader based material to be painted anywhere on the terrain with automatic blending.  Finally, all terrain editing operations can be used with the visual programming system to enable physics based deformation at runtime.

Audio Support:

Blade3D now has full 3D audio support for both Windows and the Xbox 360 – including Doppler effects, pitch shifting, volume falloff and more.  Support for audio formats has also been expanded with support for Wav, Mp3, Ogg, Wma, Flac and many additional formats.  And, with symmetric deployment on the Xbox 360 and Windows, your games will sound the same no matter what platform you play them on.

HDR Support:

Blade3D now supports high dynamic range (HDR) rendering, this allows you to light your scene with a much higher range of light values. The new HDRToneMapping lens shader adapts the HDR scene into a viewable range with intensity dependent adaptation tone mapping. You can also adjust the overall intensity, contrast and alteration limits to tweak for your needs.

“Try Before You Buy” COMING SOON

This spring, the company will launch a trial version that allows access to all of the functionality within Blade3D, without requirement of entering a credit card. With the Blade3D Trial Version you can use all of the tools within the Blade3D tool set, go through all of the Blade3D training materials and tutorials, and browse assets in the BladeMarketplace.

What is Blade3D?

Blade3D is a revolutionary “all-in-one” game engine and authoring platform that enables every developer, from an individual to a team of professionals, to build their dream game. The innovative application removes the traditional barriers to success with its low-cost, highly robust tool set. The intuitive, easy to navigate interface seamlessly blends all disciplines of game creation, from artist to designer to programmer.  The subscription-based technology works with Microsoft’s XNA game development platform, allowing for easy publishing to Xbox 360 and Windows. To assist with development, Blade3D‘s first-ever integrated asset Marketplace is designed to put “in-game” resources a mouse click away. Blade3D is available with price points of $14.95 per month for hobbyists and students, $29.95 per month for independent developers, and $99.95 per month for professional developers.

Las Vegas, NV – December 8, 2008 – Last Straw Productions announced today the location details for the upcoming Indie MMO Game Developers Conference 3.0, set for April 17-19, 2009. Newly established in the accessible city of Las Vegas, the conference will be held at the Alexis Park Resort Hotel. The hotel provides premiere all-suite accommodations for $99 while attending the conference. A limited number of block rooms are available for this price.

Alexis Park Resort is located just a half-mile from the Vegas Strip, a mile from the airport and across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel. Free shuttle rides are offered directly to the strip. All guests of Alexis Park have access to room service, guest services, free safe deposit boxes and business center services. The hotel and conference center is an excellent place to focus on Indie game development and connect with others in the industry.

IMGDC is moving into its third year with bigger and bolder agendas with the goal of reaching as many Indie studios and developers as possible. Las Vegas is a convenient hub for business and pleasure. The city provides the ultimate central location, allowing for inexpensive flights from all over the country and world. Speakers and sponsors will find it easier than ever to participate in the rapidly growing market of Indie gaming.

“With Las Vegas being such an easily accessible location and the Alexis hotel offering an intimate atmosphere, IMGDC 3.0 attendees will find a venue for harnessing their passion and love for this industry.” said Jonathon Stevens, CEO of Last Straw Productions.

SEATTLE, Washington, October 28, 2008 - Evergreen Events has established a tradition of excellence hosting leaders and influencers in the online games industry at its annual conferences. Beginning in 2006 with the Global Games Summit, and continuing in 2007 and 2008, with OGDC and the ION Game Conference respectively, the tradition is set to continue in 2009 with the LOGIN Conference. LOGIN 2009 brings together three years of feedback from the community and the expertise of an industry leading advisory board to create an innovative event designed to facilitate education, networking, and entertainment for both business and development professionals. LOGIN 2009 will be held May 11th-14th 2009 in Seattle, Washington at the fantastic Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

The call for speakers will be announced by late November. Early bird registration will begin in January 2009. Additional details about speaking, registration and the conference will be announced shortly.

“We are thrilled to continue to evolve our conferences, building on 3 years of amazing success,” stated Cynthia Freese, co-founder of LOGIN and Evergreen Events, its parent company. “LOGIN, our new identity, more accurately reflects our desire to help our attendees get connected with new developments in the ever-expanding online game industry, and also get connected with each other. LOGIN 2009 Conference attendees will be excited to learn that we will build on the best of what made our 2008 conference so successful and distinctive.”

LOGIN 2009 builds upon the strong foundation of past Evergreen Events’ conferences, where attendees, sponsors, and media within the online game industry are treated as exclusive guests. In 2008, the audience spanned 19 different countries, with 20% of attendees originating from outside the United States. Over 40% of attendees held Director, VP or C-level positions, underscoring the predominantly senior level of participants.

The conference has garnered an enthusiastic and loyal following; the majority of 2008 attendees indicated they were present at the conference based on the recommendation of a colleague who had previously attended. 86% of all attendees rated the 2008 conference as “excellent” or “better than” all other industry conferences.

The vision of the 2009 LOGIN Conference advisory board has been expanded with the diverse and experienced insights of Erik Bethke, Founder & CEO of GoPets Ltd.; Steve Klebe, Senior VP, Business Development at Vindicia, Inc.; John W. Ratcliff, Senior Programmer at Simutronics Corporation; George Sarhanis, Management Consultant; and Rich Weil, Community Relations Director at Cartoon Network. To review the expanded advisory board supporting the LOGIN 2009 Conference, visithttp://www.loginconference.com/advisors.php.

The LOGIN Conference is an annual game industry event created for the leading voices and minds of the online game industry from all corners of the globe. The conference is designed to encourage networking and to create unique business opportunities for all attendees. LOGIN 2009 will feature dozens of insightful speakers, five different tracks, a networking expo area and business lounge meeting rooms. Visit the official websitehttp://www.loginconference.com for the latest news and information about the LOGIN 2009 Conference.

Attendee Quotes:

“Evergreen’s conferences are everything a game conference should be-great sessions, speakers, and plenty of networking opportunities. We look forward to participating in 2009!” proclaimed Matt Tullis, Sr. Manager Game Segment of Dolby Laboratories.

“Last year’s conference was the perfect venue for bringing together leaders and visionaries within the online gaming industry. It was an honor to serve on an executive panel with my peers, and very fulfilling to attend the wide variety of great sessions offered at the event. In my opinion it was the key event of the year for networking, catching up with industry colleagues, and making new friends. I look forward to the LOGIN 2009 event,” said Bob Ferrari, VP of Business Development of Turbine.

“Like the 2008 conference, LOGIN 2009 will no doubt be a compact conference with the right mixture of high level designers, developers and executives to get things done while being small enough to not be a media circus,” said Marty Poulin, CEO of ShadyLogic Studios.
“Evergreen Events has created a conference that’s provided a tremendous opportunity for iovation to connect with our gaming clients, network with the some of the biggest names and newcomers in the industry, and learn more about all of their exciting new products. We are anxious to be a part of LOGIN in 2009!” said Cory Swick, Sr. Enterprise Sales Executive of iovation Inc.

LOGIN is supported by:
LOGIN 2009 SPONSORS: BigWorld Technology, Dolby, Garvey Schubert Barer, and iovation
LOGIN 2009 PARTNERS: China GC Networks, Mary-Margaret Network, Massive Gamer Magazine, MPOGD, Pearl Research, Redline China and Thisisgame

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – October 18, 2008 - Today the Dubai World Game Expo (DWGE) announced that Iranian game companies unveiled the biggest presence ever at the Dubai World Game Expo 2008 to be held at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre in United Arab Emirates from 28 – 30 October, 2008. Variety of Iranian game companies will be at DWGE and at least 8 companies already confirmed to be at Iranian Game Pavilion.

In addition, Behrouz Minaei-Bidgoli, Managing Director of Computer Game National Institute of Tehran, Iran will deliver a speech “Iranian Game Market” at Game Development Session during the Dubai World Game Summit 2008.

The partnership with ngmoco, the Kleiner Perkins-funded iPhone publisher co-founded by former EA executive Neil Young, includes a Gold Sponsorship of the IGF Mobile event, which is now in its second year. The mobile-centric indie event, originally created by Think Services and Founding Sponsor Nvidia, is expanding to include iPhone games this year. With last year’s Grand Prize winner Critter Crunch already a successful title on Apple’s handheld, organizers are expecting a surge in iPhone game entries.

“ngmoco is proud to support the independent development community and burgeoning micro-studios who are dedicated to creating device defining ‘only on iPhone’ games”, Alan Yu, Vice President, Artist & Repertoire, ngmoco, said. “As gamemakers, we’ve long admired the IGF for showcasing and highlighting innovation and independent thinking in games.”

iPhone developers entering their games will be eligible for all IGF Mobile categories, which also include game design, art, technical and audio awards, a Best Game award, and other major prizes. In addition, entry into IGF Mobile is free this year, meaning it’s easy for ‘bedroom programmers’ and upwardly mobile indies alike to enter the competition.

The finalists in the ‘Best iPhone Game’ category will be invited to showcase their games on the expo floor at the industry-leading Game Developers Conference 2009, to be held in San Francisco from March 23th-27th, 2009. In addition, the winners of the category will be revealed onstage at the special IGF Mobile awards ceremony at GDC 2009, and also highlighted at the flagship Independent Games Festival Awards event at the show.

“We’re delighted to be working with ngmoco to help discover the best iPhone games out there,” commented Simon Carless, Chairman, Independent Games Festival. “We’re starting to see open platforms and innovation spread indie goodness into fascinating new places, and highlighting worthy, high quality iPhone games is something that will benefit both discerning consumers and developers.”

In addition to the IGF Mobile sponsorship, ngmoco has also partnered as the exclusive sponsor of Think Services’ new iPhone and iPod Touch-specific weblog, FingerGaming (http://www.fingergaming.com). The site, one of the leading outlets in the rapidly expanding space, covers business announcements, gaming news, trends, and impressions regarding games for Apple’s touch screen handheld.

For more information on IGF Mobile and entering this year’s competition, for which the deadline is November 17th, please visit www.igfmobile.com.

London, 28th and 29th of October 2008.

A selection of the best and most interesting independent games will be on show this year at the Indie Arcade, part of the Eurogamer Expo. Organised by Pixel-Lab and Eurogamer as part of the London Games Festival, the Indie Arcade will be happening at the Old Truman Brewery, 28th and 29th of October.

Exclusive titles on show will include the upcoming PC version of Jonathan Blow’s Braid, Amanita Design’s upcoming adventure game Machinarium, and recently announced project Plain Sight, in development by London based studio Beatnik Games. The developers themselves will be on hand to play against people at the Expo, nearly a month before the game goes into public beta testing.

Other titles playable at the Arcade will include Introversion’s Multiwinia, 2D Boy’s World of Goo, FlashBang Studios’ Off Road Velociraptor Safari, and Mousechief’s Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble.

Rupert Loman, Managing Director of Eurogamer said: “We’re delighted to have the Indie Arcade as part of the Eurogamer Expo. As anyone who has followed Eurogamer over the years will testify, we’ve always had a soft spot for independent games – and being able to help introduce these great games to thousands of gamers at the Expo is very exciting for us.”

David Hayward of Pixel-Lab said “Indie Games have long been overlooked in a landscape of boxed games with £50 price tags, but that’s changing now. Whether done commercially or not, indie development is an important strand of the culture of games, where smaller studios and auteurs can make significant contributions to innovation and the aesthetics of games. I’m really pleased to be working on the indie arcade this year, especially as it will feature the public debuts of several titles.”

Among this group of anticipated upcoming commercial indie games, there will also be a surprise selection of some of the most interesting and experimental freeware indie projects. Come down to see the best of Indie; entry is included in the ticket price for the Eurogamer Expo.

For further details see: http://expo.eurogamer.net/

Las Vegas, NV – October 6, 2008 – Last Straw Productions announced today the third annual Indie MMO Game Developers Conference, to be held in Las Vegas, NV on April 17th, 18th, and 19th, 2009. To celebrate continued success, the IMGDC website has been revamped with a fresh and innovative new design and logo that reflects the passion of previous conferences and the anticipation for IMGDC 3.0. Continuing the innovation of the conference, the community can now participate directly by visiting the new community portal at the official IMGDC website, which features IMGDC advisor and speaker blogs as well as forums for continuing or starting new discussions.

IMGDC 3.0 is designed to be an informal venue of Indie developers with the shared passion on design, development and production of Indie MMOGs, virtual worlds and online games. IMGDC 3.0 is an informative, educational, and fun gathering of industry professionals from around the world who want to focus on development and network with other passionate developers.

“Last year’s IMGDC had fantastic presentations, more vendors than the first show, and incredible networking opportunities with passionate leaders from the independent game development community.” – Ron Meiners, Advisory Board Member

“Establishing IMGDC 3.0 in Las Vegas will propel growth by providing easier access, while keeping it affordable for smaller independent studios that drive innovation in this exciting game development arena.” – Jonathon Stevens, IMGDC 3.0 Founder

The conference will also feature demo stations where Indie developers can showcase their latest creations and designs. IMGDC 3.0 provides an excellent opportunity for team building and networking in a casual environment. If you’ve caught the incurable passion to make independent games, this is a gathering of talented individuals you will not want to miss. For more information, please visit the official IMGDC website at www.imgdc.com.