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Massive New Outbreak of Cross-Over Cult Hit Begins Today on Nintendo DS; Additional Strains Coming Soon to iPhone, Micosoft’s Xbox 360 and XBLA, and More; Art Contest Launched

PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced a three-month period of pure Peggle pleasure, with the arrival of the company’s cult video game hit on a host of new platforms, in each case customized for the device or service. Peggle Dual Shot, the much-anticipated, platform-optimized adaptation of Peggle becomes available today for Nintendo DS (US$29.95) and later this month Peggle will arrive on iPhone and Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) service. In April, Peggle Nights will arrive on retail shelves. Peggle will also be available next month for Xbox 360 as part of PopCap Arcade Volume 2. And in May PopCap will release Peggle for smartphones running Google’s Android© operating system. Further, PopCap announced the availability today of a new, free, online bonus level pack for Peggle Nights, and unveiled a unique Peggle-based art contest.

To celebrate this ultra-extreme occasion, PopCap is holding a three-month long “Peggle Fever” celebration at PopCap.com featuring daily giveaways of games and merchandise, free access to the new bonus level pack for Peggle Nights, and more. Peggle Fever also features a first-of-its-kind Peggle art contest, with the grand prize winners receiving all-expense paid trips to PopCap’s Seattle headquarters as well as having their creations included in a future installment in the Peggle series. More details of the contest, which begins today and runs until June 3, 2009, are at www.popcap.com/promos/peggleart.

Combined with Peggle’s existing availability on PC, Mac, iPod, mobile phones and the Web, the new adaptations arriving over the next 90 days will make Peggle one of the most widely available casual games ever. Not to mention one of the most “customized,” as PopCap co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Jason Kapalka explains: “Peggle is a pretty special little game, and it deserves all the attention to detail and high touch polish we’ve given it. We’ve gone beyond just porting Peggle and have really opened up new territory for the game with the iPhone’s input and control mechanisms and by partnering with Q Entertainment on the development of Peggle Dual Shot for Nintendo DS. Add to that the cool multiplayer modes in the Xbox 360 and XBLA versions, and these are really adaptations of the game designed to tap the unique aspects of each respective device and service. It’s been really cool to see how the game has evolved and expanded.”

Separate press releases detailing the launch of Peggle Dual Shot and the art contest were issued today. To date, Peggle and Peggle Nights combined have been downloaded more than 45 million times – yet the games remain modest commercial successes by PopCap standards. Nevertheless, the Peggle titles are the most lauded casual game series in the last two years and have garnered nearly 100 rave reviews, with a devoted cult following that encompasses a surprisingly wide range of people. From great-grandmothers to seriously hardcore gamers including the editorial staffs of several leading video gaming magazines, Peggle has fans of every imaginable type.

Doritos: Dash of Destruction
Format: Xbox 360, Xbox Live
Cost: Free download
Points: 200 total

This is just a quickie review, for the game, Doritos: Dash of Destruction. It’s on Xbox Live Arcade right now as a free download, obviously to help the Doritos brand. You control either a Dinosaur trying to destroy the Doritos truck, or a Doritos truck trying to avoid the dinosaur and make deliveries to the “chips” on the board.  There’s not much depth here, but you get 6 levels (12 total) of easy distraction. They do have a skill level increase, but nothing too difficult. The dinosaur missions are a bit tougher, because he’s fairly large, and not as easy to control. It’s also the most fun to be the dinosaur, as you can destroy all buildings in your way. You can’t jump, so water is your enemy. With each level, you get upgraded, either with cybernetics or vehicle upgrades.

The graphics aren’t too flashy, and it’s worth mentioning that NinjaBee, creators of Kingdom for Keflings. If you’ve played that game, you know their quirky graphic style, and it’s here, making the game fun the see the first time around.

The music is unmemorable, but didn’t get in the way of the game either. You know when the new cars appear, or the dinosaurs are coming.

There’s not a whole lot of replay value, and you can probably finish the game in 20 min if you’re hardcore. The kids love being a dinosaur, and have probably fully played out the game many times over, just to destroy the buildings. It is a fun, fast way to get 200 points, but that’s about it.

Rating 2.5 of 5 – Nothing wrong with the gameplay or graphics, it’s just what it was designed for, a short, playable advertisement for Doritos.

Lips Fact Sheet
July 2008
Title: “Lips”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: iNiS Corp.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: Holiday season 2008
Price: To be determined

Product Overview:
Microsoft Corp. is taking a whole new stage with “Lips,” an all-new music franchise exclusively for Xbox 360. “Lips” is the only singing game that offers wireless motion-sensitive microphones and the ability to sing from your own music collection of DRM-free songs.* Start channeling your favorite pop star because it’s you, your friends and most important your music that turns “Lips,” the new singing game for Xbox 360, into the world’s ultimate party experience this holiday season.

Keiichi Yano, celebrated developer behind some of the industry’s most beloved rhythm games, brings his vision of collaborative and social musical entertainment to “Lips.” The first and only singing game that offers interactive motion-sensitive microphones to make your party rock all night long, “Lips” encourages players to toss apprehensions out the window and join the party.

Features:
Top game features include the following:

• Two wireless interactive microphones. Featuring stylish interactive motion sensors and lights, the microphones respond to singers’ actions and can be used as percussion accompaniments. With the freedom and encouragement provided by the high-quality wireless microphones, everyone can live their singing dreams in style.

• The best music. “Lips” will include a diverse selection of songs, including your favorite blasts from the past such as “Bust a Move” by Young MC, as well as new songs from breakout artists such as “Mercy” by Duffy and “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John.

• Sing your music collection. “Lips” allows people to customize their experience with the songs that matter most to them by singing along with friends to the music from their personal collection.*

• Play along. Using the standard Xbox 360 controller, up to two people will be able to join the fun and choose from a variety of percussion accompaniment to play along with the music in “Lips.” By placing control of various tambourines, claps and of course the ubiquitous cowbell at the fingertips of anyone with a controller, “Lips” creates a social entertainment experience for friends, co-workers and kids alike.

• Constant flow of new music. From the songs that will come with the game, to your own music collection and the ability to download new tracks from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, “Lips” will continually provide new music to bring people together and keep the party going.

UNO RUSH Fact Sheet
June 2008
Title: “UNO RUSH™”
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Microsoft
Format: Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360™ video game system
ESRB Rating: TBD
Availability: 2008

Product Overview:
UNO RUSH™ is a challenging and exciting party card game for up to four players. Developed by the same Microsoft team that brought the original, best-selling UNO® to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, UNO RUSH™ boasts exciting gameplay and social features – multiple variants, house-rule options, local and Xbox LIVE multiplay, camera support, avatar support, full XSAM (LIVE Party Chat) support and more – plus fast-placed gameplay to keep the party going! Sort your cards whenever you have a second to think, because they’re played automatically on your turn. Think fast, keep an eye on your opponents’ cards, predict the flow of play, and above all, don’t forget to call UNO!

Features:
“UNO RUSH” features include the following:

Full Avatar support
Full XSAM (LIVE Party Chat) support
Couch play for the whole family – Up to 4 players per console
Full guest support for multiple users per console over Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE Vision support
Big Button Pad support
Co-op Play for teams of two
Achievements

For Release Noon PDT

July 14, 2008

Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE Exclusive agreement creates game-changing home entertainment experience; more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available to watch instantly at no additional cost to paying subscribers.

LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — An exciting new home theater experience is coming to living rooms this holiday season. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) and Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world’s largest online movie rental service, today unveiled an exclusive partnership to offer consumers the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Xbox 360 will be the only game system that lets users instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix. This movie watching innovation will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers and will let those users enjoy streaming movies from Netflix on Xbox LIVE at no additional cost.

A growing library of more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available from Netflix when it launches on Xbox LIVE in late fall, with more choices added over time. Through this agreement, along with the existing Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, Xbox 360 will be home to more movies and TV shows on demand than any other device connected to the TV. Xbox LIVE quickly and easily connects consumers and their friends to the entertainment they want — with no PC required for viewing.

Netflix on Xbox 360 is an important component of the new Xbox experience, a new generation of games and entertainment experiences that will be available on Xbox 360 consoles this fall. The new Xbox experience, also announced today at the E3 Media and Business Summit, represents the first time in history that a mass-market consumer electronics device has been re-invented through free software, giving people more fun and intuitive ways to interact, play and enjoy entertainment content.

“Watching movies at home will never be the same. Netflix on Xbox 360 is an entertainment first, and we are bringing friends together with the best in entertainment content like no other device in the living room,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Services Business at Microsoft. “We are creating a completely new social entertainment experience, and Xbox 360 will be the only video game system where you can access your library of instantly streamable movies from Netflix and turn any room into a virtual movie theater.”

From the Netflix Web site, members simply add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those choices will be automatically displayed on the TV screen via Xbox 360 and available to watch instantly. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Media Remote. In all, the user interface creates a highly personalized experience that puts viewers in control.

“Netflix and Xbox 360 are a perfect combination, the leading online movie rental service and the leading games and entertainment system joining forces to create an all-in-one entertainment experience with content for everyone,” said Reed Hastings, chairman and CEO of Netflix. “For Netflix, it represents an important step forward in making instantly streaming movies on the TV more broadly available to our members.”

The library of movies and TV episodes that will be available for instant streaming from Netflix via Xbox 360 includes scores of Academy Award winners and nominees, episodes from a number of popular, currently running and classic TV shows, and 24 of the movies rated by the American Film Institute as the greatest ever.

Today, Xbox LIVE members can also download movies and purchase TV shows from the industry-leading Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store, currently packed with content from more than 45 networks and studios. The Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store offers more than twice the high-definition content than the nearest cable provider and more than 6,000 hours of TV shows and movies.

Community Games on Xbox LIVE

July 2008

Overview: With Microsoft Corp.’s offering of community games, the company delivers on its promise to truly democratize game development and revolutionize the way consumers get and play community-created games on Xbox 360. Using XNA Game Studio, the community will be able to create games and submit them to a peer-review system, through which other XNA Creators Club members will classify and review submissions for appropriateness and accurate representation before allowing them to be listed on the Xbox LIVE for all to download and play.

The rich online and connected capabilities of Xbox LIVE will provide a thriving storefront filled with community-developed games. The goal of this offering is to provide customers with an unprecedented opportunity to participate in and drive the ongoing growth of the games industry, and to offer the most diverse, unique selection of games available on any platform through a consistent and easy-to-access marketplace. A beta to develop and publish community games on Xbox LIVE is now available to XNA Creators Club Premium members in the U.S., and the service will be more broadly available to creators and consumers by the holiday season.

Distribution Pipeline:

● Developer tools. XNA Game Studio offers efficient and accessible tools for developers of all levels to create rich gaming experiences. XNA Game Studio also enables multiplayer games and matchmaking capabilities using Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows – LIVE. An XNA Creators Club membership is required to develop for Xbox 360, submit games for peer review and rate community games for Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Memberships are available for $49 (U.S.) for four months or $99 for 12 months. Faculty and students are provided with a free, personal development license for educational use only.

Jury of one’s peers. Game submissions and classifications will be reviewed by other XNA Creators Club members who will collectively enforce basic policies to ensure appropriateness and integrity of content and accurate rating representation before approving games for listing on Xbox LIVE.

Safety and security. As part of the peer review process, when reviewers identify unauthorized or inappropriate content in a game that does not comply with the basic policies, the game will not be listed on Xbox LIVE until the submitter removes such content. After publication on Xbox LIVE, Microsoft will actively remove infringing content when properly notified by the copyright owner(s) and will remove inappropriate content when notified by the community. Microsoft takes the safety and security of the Xbox LIVE service seriously, and continues to help members better control their online experience and help provide a safe and enjoyable time on Xbox LIVE.

Ease of search and play. Xbox 360 owners will be able to find and download user-created games through Xbox LIVE. They also will be able to more easily search the Web for detailed reviews, comments and game ratings.

True democratization. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this new offering is that it finally allows for the true democratization of game development. Microsoft has delivered on its promise to provide the greatest, most accessible tools and the first-ever community-created forum for game distribution to ensure that the best games continue to be built for the Xbox 360 platform.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Fact Sheet
July 2008
Title: “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: E-10 rating pending
Availability: November 2008

Product  Overview:
Famed game developer Rare Ltd. is reviving one of its most beloved and successful franchises exclusively on Xbox 360 with the third installment of the “Banjo-Kazooie” series. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” embraces new and old fans alike, as the famous bear and bird duo return in stunning high definition for a unique adventure of epic proportions. The Lord of the Games (aka LOG) is tired of the petty squabbling between Banjo and the evil witch Gruntilda (aka Grunty), and has arranged a showdown to decide the rightful owner of Spiral Mountain. Claiming to have created every video game ever made, LOG has built the game worlds in which the contest’s challenges take place. Banjo must complete LOG’s challenges to win, while Grunty tries to stop him using every method her devious mind can muster.

Throughout their adventure, players create their own abilities by building vehicles for Banjo to pilot over land, sea and air. Vehicle parts, which range from simple devices such as engines and wheels to more unusual equipment such as springs and egg guns, are earned and collected throughout the game. Players use their imagination to combine parts in any order to create whatever vehicle they choose. LOG’s challenges have one goal, but players’ choice of vehicle and tactics will determine how it gets accomplished. By exploring worlds and solving puzzles, players both young and old will be rewarded with more advanced and diverse vehicle parts in their quest to defeat Grunty once and for all and lay claim to Spiral Mountain.

With the power of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” brings an entirely new experience to the console and takes the franchise to a whole new level of enjoyment. High-definition graphics, user-created content and online gameplay are just three of the many advances people of all ages and skill levels will discover as they embark on their adventure.

Features:
Top features include the following:

• An adventure that starts with your imagination. If you can imagine it, you can build it in the Mumbo’s Motors easy-to-use workshop. Then put your creation to the test as you take on Grunty in your quest for Spiral Mountain. Unlike other games, where the player progressively picks up new skills or abilities at points predetermined by the game’s creator, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” puts the power of improving Banjo’s abilities into the hands of the players as they build vehicles that allow Banjo to progress through the game. Vehicle parts include a wide variety of body panels, engines, wheels, wings, propellers, fuel and weapons, plus many more weird and wonderful gadgets such as floaters, Mumbo Bombos and the versatile sticky ball. Players can design and create anything from a simple object-carrying truck to a space-age flying saucer. Once players have designed their creation, they give it the finishing touch by painting it and choosing a suitable name before Banjo jumps in and pilots it into action.

• Customizable experience. With more than 100 contraption parts and unlimited possible combinations, no two players will have the same experience in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” By exploring the vast game worlds, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players continually find more and more ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content for a 3-D platform adventure game.

• Fun right out of the box. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s greatest inventor or want to skip the workshop and get straight to the action, because “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” comes with a fully loaded experience right out of the box. Pre-built vehicles are included so players can jump right in and get started, with many more contraptions available for purchase throughout the adventure using the in-game currency system of musical notes.

• Xbox LIVE gets in on the fun. For the first time in franchise history, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” is going to include competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Now players can face off head-to-head in multiple multiplayer modes or team up and play cooperatively via Xbox LIVE.* And with the title’s online blueprint sharing system, players can share their designs over Xbox LIVE with friends and gamers everywhere. Rare has an extremely dedicated and active fan base, and we expect this addition combined with the unlimited user-generated content of “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” to help further grow and inspire that community, and push their creative limits!

• Engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Two of Rare’s most beloved characters have returned from retirement, making their debut on Xbox 360. To win the deed to their homeland and prevent the evil witch Gruntilda from developing it into tower blocks and malls, Banjo and his best friend Kazooie battle over land, sea and air against their longtime rival. Familiar faces such as Mumbo Jumbo, Bottles, Captain Blubber and the Jinjos are also back to lend a hand, along with an equally colorful cast of new friends and foes. Players can look out for Trophy Thomas, Piddles, Lord of the Games and Grunty’s mechanically menacing army of Gruntbots.

• Innovation connecting the franchise’s past and present. With the power of Xbox 360, this newly activated feature, known as Stop ‘N’ Swop, connects “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” to the upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade release of the original “Banjo-Kazooie.” Players’ accomplishments in the new game will be rewarded with extra content and features in the Xbox LIVE Arcade game, encouraging fans to dive into as much “Banjo” as they can get their hands on!

• Enjoy alone or with friends. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” offers complete single-player and multiplayer experiences. Gamers can play through the adventure alone in the single-player campaign, or with friends in competitive or cooperative challenges alone or in teams on Xbox LIVE.

• Fun for everyone. Xbox 360 is the home to the best entertainment experiences for everyone. With “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” Xbox 360 continues to build its impressive lineup of content that appeals to people of all ages and types.

Fable II Fact Sheet
July 2008
Title: “Fable II”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Lionhead Studios Ltd.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: Pending
Availability: October 2008
Price: $59.99 (U.S.) for standard edition and $79.99 (U.S.) for Limited Collector’s Edition1

Product Overview:
 “Fable II” is the highly anticipated sequel to the wildly successful original that sold more than 3 million copies, offering even more choices and building on the core gameplay theme of “Fable,” where players’ every decision continually defines whom they become. “Fable II” is an action role-playing game (RPG) that truly allows players to live the life they choose in the newly expanded open world of Albion.

Set 500 years after the original, “Fable II” will provide gamers with an epic story and innovative real-time gameplay, including a massive amount of freedom and choice to explore a vast collection of dungeons, catacombs and taverns in the world of Albion.

Features:
 “Fable II” features include the following:

• Choices, consequences. The innovative gameplay pioneered in the original “Fable” provided gamers with a never-before-seen level of immersion in a truly interactive world. “Fable II” expands upon the scope and depth of the Xbox classic by adding incredible new features and creating a wider, more complex kingdom of limitless choices and consequences. Players will have the option to play as a man or woman, get married, have children, and live a life of their own design — all leading to different destinies.

• A land far, far away. Gamers will revisit the newly expanded world of Albion more than 500 years after the events of the original “Fable,” where they are free to explore the landscape and openly roam the countryside. For the right price, every house, hut, dungeon and castle is for sale. Players can witness how the world grows and changes in response to their decisions in incredible and unique ways as they rediscover Albion as if for the first time.

• Fight with ease. “Fable II” pioneers a new combat system designed to allow players to truly master hand weapons such as swords and maces, ranged combat weapons such as crossbows and guns, and an entirely new magic system. These three disciplines, while very accessible, are also amazingly deep, and allow players to mix combat styles and become everything from master swordsman to skilled ranger to evil magic wielder, each using a different single button on the Xbox 360 Controller.

• A hero’s best friend. This groundbreaking addition to the game is integral to the theme of unconditional love in “Fable II.” A player’s canine companion will act as friend, compass and protector. Players must merely feed their pooch and he will love unconditionally, creating a bond that sets up emotion-filled journeys throughout this magical world.

• Experience the world together. For the first time in the “Fable” series, gamers can experience the expansive and immersive world of “Fable II” with friends, either on the same couch or over Xbox LIVE together in co-operative mode.2 “Fable II” embodies the new Xbox experience and will extend the Xbox LIVE service further with the introduction of orbs. Orbs allow for seamless LIVE co-op play and interaction with other “Fable II” players.

• Xbox LIVE Arcade “Fable II” Pub Games earn major gold. Lionhead Studios is providing an unparalleled experience to gamers through Xbox LIVE Arcade. Gamers can start earning in-game currency for the “Fable II” world in August 2008, before the game’s release to retail, by downloading and playing an Xbox LIVE Arcade title, which contains three casino-style minigames titled “Fortune’s Tower,” “Keystone” and “Spinnerbox.” Gamers can win items such as dog tricks, potions and chocolates; unlock 15 pieces of concept art; and use the gold earned to purchase weapons, armor and more in “Fable II.” This is a first-of-its-kind experience for gamers that can only be found on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Fact Sheet

July 2008

What: “You’re in the Movies”

Publishers: Codemasters Software Co. Ltd. and Microsoft Corp.

Developer: Zoë Mode

Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system, Xbox LIVE-enabled

ESRB Rating: Pending

Availability: Holiday 2008

Product Overview:

Get ready for your close-up. “You’re in the Movies” combines cool with kitsch as you live out your dreams of becoming a scream queen, zombie or kung fu master. Premiering exclusively on Xbox 360 this holiday season, “You’re in the Movies” is the first and only game of its kind. It transports players into a magical world of cinema and hilarious improvisations. Using the Xbox LIVE Vision camera, players’ minigame actions are captured and placed into short, riotous films that put the spotlight on the unique and often dubious acting talents of friends and family. Performances never end up on the cutting room floor and are never the same. With “You’re in the Movies,” you’re about to be a star — if only straight to DVD.

Features:

Top features include the following:

• Star in your very own B-movie. “You’re in the Movies” casts players in a variety of exciting roles, from an action hero to a silent film star. B-list actors often can’t be picky, but with the power of “You’re in the Movies,” feel free to choose a genre, choose a script and become an A-list movie star.

• Casting call. Up to four friends can bask in the spotlight and play starring roles. But rest assured, even watching from the sidelines is fun! A top-notch director guides actors through their roles with simple instructions and immediate feedback; in fact, the director even rates actors on their physical performance in minigames. This exciting scoring system will stop you A-listers from getting too lazy.

• Share your masterpiece with the world. What budding talent doesn’t yearn to be discovered? You can share your cinematic creations — your performances and user-created movies — by downloading your masterpieces to your computer and sharing them with friends, family and the entire world. Just think, that best actor award could be only a click away.

• Take the director’s chair. Jump into Director Mode and produce your very own blockbuster. Lock yourself in the edit room and get to work filming the next big hit. Choose your music, add your own voice-over and re-edit to your heart’s content.

• The miracle of technology. The Xbox LIVE Vision camera captures player movements using the revolutionary Cutout Studio technology. “You’re in the Movies” allows players’ best and most hilarious performances to be filmed, saved, shared and relived.

Developer Information:

Zoë Mode makes games that are accessible; simple, social, games that are effortlessly fun but don’t take themselves too seriously. Based in central Brighton, on the south coast of England, its diverse work force is unified by its attitude to gaming. Zoë Mode believes that games are powerful ways of bringing people together and having fun and that there’s more to life than gaming, but that gaming can make life better; and strongly believes that there is a game for everyone.