Yearly Archives: 2015

Robocraft supports MegaBots’ Kickstarter campaign

Robocraft supports MegaBots' Kickstarter campaign news header

Indie developer Freejam, developers of the hit robot crafting-shooter MMO, Robocraft, are supporting MegaBots Inc.’s Kickstarter campaign, which aims to raise funds to build their next generation fighting robot, the MK.II, for battle in July 2016.

One year from now, the first giant fighting robot duel in the world will take place between two robots and the companies behind them – America’s MegaBots with their Mk.II (or “Mark Two”) against Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industries’ contender – KURATAS. For MegaBots, this duel is the start of the creation of a new and compelling live action sports league, featuring giant battling robots in stadiums and arenas.

The Kickstarter campaign will enable MegaBots, working with AutoDesk, BattleBots, FonCo, Grant Imahara, Howe & Howe Technologies, IHMC Robotics, NASA, Peter Diamandis and other leading entertainment and technology pioneers to build, test and battle-ready their MK.II.

“We’re psyched to have Robocraft as a new partner to our Kickstarter project”, said Gui Cavalcanti, CEO of MegaBots, Inc., “further extending the union of real and virtual world engineering in creating giant combat robots for the future of robotic sports and entertainment!”

In support of this project, Robocraft have created a battle-ready, virtual robot of the MegaBots MK.II in their game, available exclusively to backers of the Kickstarter.

“MegaBots’ Kickstarter is an exciting and epic milestone in the realization of both of our companies’ long-held dreams – bringing amazing battle robots to life”, said Mark Simmons, Robocraft’s Game Director and CEO. “Hopefully we shall see many of today’s Robocrafters as engineers and pilots in the MegaBots, Inc.’s robot spectator sports in the coming years!”

The main and stretch goals of the Kickstarter campaign are:

  • $500k – basic armour, speed and power upgrades to the Mk.II which will make America’s robot 5x faster, 5x more powerful, and ready to engage in melee combat
  • $750k – interchangeable weapon suite for extensive weapons combinations testing
  • $1M – advanced balancing algorithm that keeps it steady and resilient while in melee combat
  • $1.25M – Significantly upgraded for pilot safety in consultation with NASA
  • $1.5M – Hollywood makeover from a visual effects firm that made robots for films like Star Wars, Terminator, and the Matrix.

The campaign runs until 18th September 2015. For further information about the MegaBots, Inc. Kickstarter, please check out this link.

AlphaDraft Partners with SMITE

AlphaDraft – the premier daily fantasy sports platform that seamlessly blends the highly popular worlds of eSports, live streaming and fantasy sports contests – is thrilled to announce today a partnership with developer Hi-Rez Studios for their SMITE Pro League, an independent eSports league based around their smash-hit MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game SMITE. Both organizations have teamed up to provide in-line, real-time official fantasy stats during upcoming SMITE Pro League broadcasts.

AlphaDraft On Smite

Starting with the electrifying SMITE Pro League Summer Finals, where North American Team SoloMid prevailed over its competitors to win a $50,000 grand prize, AlphaDraft and Hi-Rez Studios introduced official in-depth fantasy statistics for players in the SMITE Pro League. To further enhance the spectator experience, AlphaDraft and SMITE developer Hi-Rez Studios worked together closely to integrate on-screen fantasy statistics directly into SMITE’s official broadcasts during the SMITE Pro League, broadcast on Twitch.tv/smitegame and within the AlphaDraft platform at www.AlphaDraft.com. Official, real-time fantasy stats are an invaluable resource to the SMITE and fantasy eSports communities, and will be available throughout the Fall Split (August 15, 2015 – October 25, 2015).

“Many of us at AlphaDraft are and have been huge fans of SMITE. Once we started talking to the team at Hi-Rez, we realized just how passionate we are collectively about eSports and building a fantastic eSports community. This made a deep collaboration a no-brainer,” said AlphaDraft CEO Todd Peterson. “As a result, Hi-Rez introduced elements of AlphaDraft’s fantasy eSports algorithm into the SMITE Pro League, giving viewers the ability to access official fantasy player stats during the broadcasts. We can’t think of any other scenario where a developer and daily fantasy draft platform have worked together so closely, with such great results that benefit the pro gamers, the community, and the daily fantasy participants.”

“We’re very excited to be working with AlphaDraft on daily fantasy for the SMITE Pro League,” said Todd Harris, Chief Operating Officer of Hi-Rez Studios. “Like Hi-Rez, one of AlphaDraft’s primary goals is helping to build and strengthen eSports as a whole. Our partnership with AlphaDraft gives us a tool to make SMITE broadcasts even better, with relevant real-time statistics and updates available to viewers as players battle it out, drawing spectators even deeper into the action.”

In a short time, SMITE has cemented itself as one of the world’s leading MOBA titles, sporting over 10 million players to date. AlphaDraft formally inducted SMITE (Windows PC version) into its list of supported competitive eSports titles for daily fantasy contests and drafting earlier this summer after much demand from its members. AlphaDraft is building on this initial support for SMITE by sponsoring the SMITE Pro League and by partnering to provide an exceptional additional resource for SMITE fantasy eSports fans world-wide.

New Cars and Dates available in Drift Girls

New Cars and Dates available in Drift Girls news header

Drift Girls is bringing more oil-slicked contests and built a few more cars for you to race.  Come back and see what kind of girls you can impress with these new whips!

Drift Girls, developed in-house by NHN BlackPick Corp., features dozens of gorgeous anime characters with personality, jobs (ranging from marine biologist to private investigator), and brilliant voice acting from local Hollywood actresses and legends of the American anime industry!

Join the community on Facebook and Twitter as more people put down their expensive PC rigs and consoles for the simple thumb-tapping pleasure of the Drift Girls mobile game experience.  You can play a lengthy fantasy RPG, or you can play in the world’s first mobile racing and dating sim combo!  Which would you rather do?

Now there are more girls available for Exceeded Limits.  Shower these new models in presents and praise as you nod your head to the sultry beats of the Drift Girls OST.

We’re happy to have such a long list of dedicated fans who so clearly what to see more Drift Girls action.  Two of our most amazing fans (Luni & Trung Pham) created a beautiful microsite.  Get more information and see more screenshots at www.driftgirlsclub.com!

Check out the upcoming events for August and September!

Event 1 – Vote for the Best Drift Girl

Now players can vote for their favorite Drift Girl while waiting for the game to load.  Once one of the Drift Girls reigns supreme, we’ll send out a special gift for that girl.  So be sure to log in between 8/31 – 9/13 to vote for the Drift Girl you love the most!

Event 2 – Sponsor Professional Package

Meet and dress up with the women behind the big players in the racing scene.  For a limited time, you can buy professional outfits for the Drift Girls elite businesswomen.  Check out the store 9/08 – 9/13 for this upgraded wardrobe!

Event 3 – Drift Girls of the Week

Each week brings a new favorite girl to the tracks with new bonuses!  Racing with these girls will give you 30% Gold for every race!  Don’t fret!  Once the girls’ weeks are done, you can get a Special Girl Gift just by logging in the following Monday.

Chloe – 8/31 ~ 9/07
Anna – 9/07 ~ 9/14
Nicole – 9/14 ~ 9/21
Jina – 9/21 ~ 9/28

Event 4 – Daily Gift

We love our fans, and we want them to race through the game at the pace they set.  That’s why we’re giving away Gold every day from 9/01 (Tues) ~ 9/31 (Wed).

If you log in from 10:00-13:00 and from 17:00-22:00 every day, you’ll receive 10,000 Gold Coins each time!

Event 5 – World Tour Burning Event

Don’t you want the rewards from leaving other players in your PVP dust?  Well, if the pride of putting your girl and car on a pedestal of PVP perfection isn’t enough, we’re giving out rewards for participating in our World Tour Event from 9/24 – 10/10.  Just keep racing, and you’ll keep getting rewards, whether you win or lose!

# of Participations – Rewards
1 Race – Fuel Tanks (Large) x2
10 Races – 20,000 Coins
20 Races – Premium Parts x3
30 Races – 5* Car Paint
40 Races – 3 Premium Car Boxes
50 Races – 6* Car Paint

Special Collector’s Edition of Grey Goo Now Available in North America

 

Special Collector’s Edition of Grey Goo Now Available in North America news header

UIG Entertainment and Grey Box are proud to announce the retail release of the Grey Goo Collector’s Edition in North America.

The highly rated strategy hit (Metacritic score 78 %) plunges you into a fight for survival on a planetary oasis commanding one of three factions: the defense-oriented Humans, the versatile Beta, or the all-consuming Goo. Construct impenetrable walls, dominate from strategic outposts – or become the Goo and overrun your enemies.

The special retail Collector’s Edition of Grey Goo is now available for purchase at retail outlets throughout the US, including select Walmart Stores, and features an exclusive poster, tech-tree map, concept art gallery, wallpapers, soundtrack, and more.

World of Tanks Clan Wars Issues New Global Map

World of Tanks Clan Wars Issues New Global Map news header

 

Wargaming is excited to announce that the revamped Global Map is now live in Europe, North America, Asia and Korea . A total reimagining of the previous Global Map, it introduces highly-anticipated Clan Wars integration, a completely revamped interface, and a hugely expanded map .

Strongholds and Global Map have been combined, allowing players to earn a new form of currency: Influence. Influence is earned when battling for provinces and in Skirmishes, which can then be used to bid on locations, giving Clans a chance to claim any area across the map. This new in-game currency can also be invested into these regions, raising its Province Income, as well as purchase Divisions, autonomous units. Divisions are a fully equipped battle unit with necessary number of tanks that does not depend on the number of members in the Clan.

Further good news for Clans is the ability to reap more Province Income via upgrading their ELO rating. With the new Global Map, the combined revenue of all provinces can be up to three times as much as before, and at max level, the new Global Map will being producing 10 million Gold daily.

A revamped UI and in-game tutorial, refined by the players, makes it even easier to jump into the battle. With the addition of flexible settings to vehicle tier, type and nation, players no longer just require Tier 10 vehicles; now Tiers 6, 8 and 10 are all available. Combined with a newly implemented seasonal model, events this year will earn players great rewards.

“The passion and growth of veteran Clan Wars players has shown us that we needed to create a bigger and better Global Map experience,” said Natallia Pershyts, Product Manager of Clan Wars. “The new Global Map has opened the door for a huge Clan Wars audience. In the future, we are looking forward to bringing this mode to other great Wargaming titles.”