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Nvinium Games, a developer of social interactive games, has announced that its text-based military themed MMO, UnforgivenWar, is holding a community event that allows players to search in-game for time based bombs to receive in-game rewards and major prizes including an Apple iTouch and PsP. This is a free event and everyone can join in.

Backstory: The hunt is on. A Terrorist named OdiexY has infiltrated UW and is looking to BLOW up the game. He has planted bombs all over UW and it is your mission to locate the bombs and disarm them. The game is in your hands, don’t let OdiexY succeed in his terrorist plot.

Event Overview: The Bombs go off every 30 Minutes for those that are looking without the aid of a Bomb Bot or Bomb Dog. You can either start searching through the pages till you find it or you can purchase for a Bomb Dog or Bomb Detection Bot. When you find the bomb you MUST disable it. In-game prizes are given to for successful deactivations and prizes can be won every 5 minutes.

Grand Prizes: Grand Prize Drawing – Apple iTouch and a PsP, all participants in the event will automatically be entered into the drawing. Players must be online at the time of the drawing to receive the prize, if a player is not online and does not acknowledge the drawing the next players name will be drawn until the winner acknowledges themselves. Grand Prize Drawing to be drawn within 12 hours after May 31st.

It is up to you to keep UnforgivenWar alive and stop OdiexY.

Find the bombs and disable them. For more details and event rules visit
http://unforgivenwar.com

Photon brings together the masses to compete in real-time online games.

The first Photon powered application is Cmune’s ‘Paradise Paintball’ – a social 3D shooter available on Facebook

Exit Games announces the market’s fastest multiplayer engine for PC, Mac, browser and mobile devices including the iPhone and Android. The product, named Photon, allows players to compete against each other on a wide range of gaming platforms in real-time multiplayer games. The first application to take advantage of this new technology is Cmune’s ‘Paradise Paintball’, a 3D multiplayer shooter bringing next generation 3D experiences to browsers and the social web. The game will be available at Facebook, on both PC and Mac later this month.

Photon is a multiplayer development framework obtainable as licensed software and is available via download to developers. Photon comes with SDKs for multiple platforms including Flash, Windows, .NET, Unity3D, Android and iPhone amongst others. Although Exit Games is already known for being one of the most recognized multiplayer engine providers for the mobile market, they have continued to expand their technology to support many platforms from PC to Mac and browsers to deliver a well-rounded multiplayer experience.

“We searched the market to find the best multiplayer middleware service for us and that was, without a doubt, Photon,” said Shaun Lelacheur-Sales, Founder and CTO of Cmune. “It is incredibly user-friendly, cost-effective, and it can be easily expanded upon while giving us the best performance. We are pleased to have chosen Photon to power Paradise Paintball and the real-time communication behind the Cmune Platform.”

“Photon is absolutely unique in the market, and delivers an affordable, easy-to-use experience to developers,” said Chris Wegmann, CTO of Exit Games. “Most of the commercial network middleware services are either difficult to use, or are based on technology which is not the natural choice for many game developers. What makes Photon so unique is its second-to-none platform support, the purely C-based core engine which, quite simply, delivers the best performance while also being easily expandable using C#/.NET.”

Exit Games products help publishers and game developers to minimize risk and time-to-market for even the most complex multiplayer and community game development projects on various gaming platforms. While the managed service, Exit Games’ Neutron 5.0, provides a broad variety of connectivity features out-of-the-box and world-class hosting services; Photon is the perfect product to enable game developers to integrate sophisticated online features at minimum time and cost investment. Photon provides SDKs for all the popular gaming platforms including PC, MAC, browsers, iPhone, Android, J2ME, Brew, many other mobile devices and the company has recently added the support of Unity3D.

Exit Games will be exhibiting at the Game Developers Conference March 23 -March 27, 2009 in San Francisco. A demo of the Photon service will be showcased at Exit Games’ booth located in the German Pavilion.

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.

Lizard Interactive’s games portal Neofun will have new game section for fantastic mini flash games.

Lizard Interactive, MMO games developer and operator of free-to-play game portal NeoFun,com, partners with Frosmo for exciting browser based skill games which is scheduled to be serviced in April 2009.

Frosmo is an online gaming tournament platform where people compete and win real prize. It provides simple access and great fun to play. Series of mini flash games are all skill based.

Through this agreement, Lizard’s Neofun games portal will provide exciting new features to all NeoFun users. To make the game community more live and vibrant, Lizard interactive plans to add several new features by 2nd quarter of 2009. Some of these features are UCCs and Comic sections.

For further information, please visit the website, www.neofun.com. Always fun and always new.

Following the successful worldwide launch of the all-new animated series Wolverine and the X-Men in territories around the world, Marvel is set to debut an exciting online game based on the show. Coming February 3rd to Marvelkids.com, Wolverine and the X-Men: MRD Escape centers around the iconic character Wolverine, as players use stealth and problem-solving skills to escape the MRD (Mutant Response Division) holding facility and rescue fellow X-Men. Players face unique challenging puzzles in every room, using both brains and brawn to avoid cameras and laser wires, collect access passes, and avoid capture, all without tripping the main alarm. Failure could mean disaster for all mutantkind.

“Marvel is expanding its game library by offering more games of all types, for all our fans, young and old, through our online game initiative. MRD Escape is our first release as we grow this game library and start to enhance the online experience at Marvel.com and Marvelkids.com,” commented Ira Rubenstein, Executive Vice President of the Marvel Digital Media Group.

Eric Rollman, President of Marvel Animation said, “MRD Escape is a perfect complement to the series, picking up on its action with fun and challenging play for both novice and skilled players.”

Wolverine and the X-Men: MRD Escape is the first of a series of online games scheduled to be released on a monthly basis from Marvel’s Digital Media Group. The next game, Iron Pop, debuts in February 2009 in support of the all-new Iron Man: Armored Adventures animated series, which itself follows 2008’s successful Iron Man theatrical release and leads up to the May 7, 2010, theatrical release of Iron Man 2. The Iron Man: Armored Adventures animated series is slated to release on various broadcasters worldwide in the spring of 2009.

Robot Builder
Requirements: Computer (PC, Mac, Linux)
Browser (Firefox, IE and Chrome tested by me)
Internet connection
Facebook Account 

Yes, it’s a Facebook app. I know, they’re cliche. This one is pretty darn good though. It’s addicting, updated frequently and not one of the ones that you HAVE to pay money for that rare item.

The premise is simple, you get Energy, and Salvage for parts. When you find all of the correct parts, you build your robots. There are many levels of robot to build, and each level has 4-5 robots. The hardest thing to do is wait for you energy to build up (I would recommend playing Path Words). There are super rare items, but they can be found after a long while of playing. You can also purchase (or find) Robot Coins to go to their premium salvage areas where your chances of finding the super-rare are improved. 

After you build those robots? Well, they are cool, and you can show them off in your profile, but the thing you build them for is to battle. The battles aren’t anything special, they just reward you with other items, but eventually you get up there in rank. It would be cool to have a pic of some devestation after each battle, but they’re doing this for free, so I won’t complain too much!

If you’re waiting on Facebook and are looking for something to do other than send hugs or pokes, etc, give this a try. I’ve become addicted. It’s definately kid-friendly, there are no scary robots (so far), and they get to learn a bit of resource management on the building of the robots, and selling the remaining parts for cash to go out to more expensive salvage areas. Happy gaming!

4 of 5 stars.

Already launched:

Bumper Stars - http://www.candystand.com/play.do?id=18397

Fashion Star - http://www.candystand.com/play.do?id=18472

Grid - http://www.candystand.com/play.do?id=18473

Icestorm Speedway - http://www.candystand.com/play.do?id=18391

Wallace and Gromit: Top Bun - http://www.candystand.com/play.do?id=18481

Coming soon:

Blockular – Puzzle game where players align same color blocks to dissolve tiles and collect goodies for their chosen character

Dance Mania – Characters must complete dance moves on queue in order to score points and advance to the next level

Kings in the Corner – A classic solitaire game for two players with four decks that will have you on the edge of your seat and competing for the win

On December 16, 2008, social gaming leader SGN and Webs, Inc. came to a mutual agreement over the ownership of Mob Wars, resolving litigation with David Maestri and Psycho Monkey LLC. Under the agreement, Maestri and Psycho Monkey are recognized as the sole owners of the game, and both SGN and Psycho Monkey are permitted to build future games using this gameplay template. The parties reached a confidential financial settlement on an amicable basis.

About SGN

SGN is the largest developer of social networking games and applications. SGN’s current network of games commands over one million game players per-day across multiple social networking platforms including Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and over 5 million installations on the iPhone. For more information, go to www.sgn.com.

Text based games proving a cornerstone to successful communities

December 29th, 2008 (San Anslemo, CA) – Nvinium Games, Inc. announced today that its free to play text based browser game, Unforgivenwar, has received over 100,000 player registrations since the start of its Beta Testing Phase. It has become one of the fastest growing MMORPG communities on the web. As many as 2900 people are actively playing the game and interacting with each other daily. Nvinium Games, recently launched the Unforgivenwar game application to work on both the Facebook and MySpace Community Platforms.

The key to the success for Unforgivenwar lies not only in its depth of game play, but more importantly in the Community interaction with each other, as well as the real time support given by the Unforgivenwar Support Team.

“Unlike most text based games, our utilization of technology such as real time chat allows both members and guests to see activity in the community. This interaction makes the game much more exciting than simple static forums,” said Matt Abrams, CEO of Nvinium Games.

Text based games have seen a major increase in popularity over the past 12 months and have proven to be an important part of social networking communities. “Web based, community networking games are really the next major wave of the Web 2.0 Social System, and games such as
Unforgivenwar.com are proving that through continued rapid growth,” stated social network visionary Joe Abrams Chairman, Nvinium Games. Abrams is well known for Co-Founding Euniverse (Intermix), the predecessor company to Myspace, as well as the Co-Founder of The Software Toolworks which was one of the largest game publishers in the 90’s.

Unforgivenwar is now positioning itself to reach an even greater number of players as it enters its final phase of beta testing. Players can participate in the ongoing Beta Testing of Unforgivenwar by registering at the official site http://unforgivenwar.com.

‘Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone!’ These words from a famous Pink Floyd song are a good prelude to Driving Kids World – the MMO environment with a new approach to kids’ edutainment.

AlbyMedia, Ltd announces the release of a massively multiplayer online edutainment game for kids. This game offers a colorful interactive world, a lot of various activities and an opportunity to chat with friends online. Driving Kids MMO (www.DrivingKids.com) will be of significant benefit for preschool and early school kids, educating and entertaining them at the same time. What could be better for your child?

Driving Kids has been created to meet the demand for a safe and creative international virtual MMO game for kids. This game is the perfect solution for kids and parents: the registration is free, with unlimited free play time, Also the variety of available games and activities is perfect for even the most demanding parents: logic and problem solving games, memory and puzzle games, math and calculation games, creative games and games just for play. Kids can have fun playing on their own or enjoy multiplayer games together with their parents and friends. That is how little children should be educated: without strain, without coercion, but with fun and pleasure!

One of the most important features of the game is a moderated chat, which allows a kid to communicate with friends, but guarantees his/her security (in contrast to other MMO games). Parents can sit next to their kids joining lessons for both kids and parents, or leave them playing alone; the kids are safe either way.

Driving Kids is a browser game, so it does not need to be installed or uninstalled. A kid is requested to register his/her name and password and to send a request to a parent’s e-mail. In this e-mail, a parent is given all the necessary information about the game and its safety, as well as what information the kid has submitted. As soon as the parent gives her/his consent, the kid can start exploring this wonderful interactive world of Driving Kids to learn and have fun. (If a kid cannot read yet, it is not a problem – a friendly robot-guide Arnie provides audio help instruction.) The entire game environment is in English, so if it is not your child’s native language, it will still contribute to his/her vocabulary enrichment and improvement of communication skills.

The game is set in a city, and a player starts to explore it while riding a skateboard. The streets are abundant with games and interesting places that wait for somebody to discover. The vehicle can be upgraded, modified and recycled. It is also possible to buy a different vehicle – a scooter, a segway or a car. All the purchases need some in-game money – “Auro”, which can be earned and spent. So apart from developing kids’ calculation skills and creative thinking, Driving Kids teaches them the basics of economics. The kids also get the basics of ecological thinking: they are shown a full product cycle by example of a car – from the shop in the beginning to the junk yard in the end.

Of course, the parents and teachers will appreciate the game’s educating ability, but what about the kids? No doubt they will enjoy bright colors, friendly game environment, merry tunes (unique for each game). Also there are new exciting games appearing every month. What is remarkable about the games is they don’t dominate the kids with any form of limit or control. That is a characteristic feature of all products released by AlbyMedia.

Pricing and Availability

Driving kids can be played under any operating system that has Internet browser software. The registration at www.DrivingKids.com is free, and membership benefits are also available for a reasonable fee. The information about membership benefits will appear if you click on a gas can icon in the right upper corner.