Vivendi Games today announced the acquisition of Wanako Games, based in Santiago, Chile. Wanako is the largest game development studio in Latin America. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition underscores the commitment by Vivendi Games' Sierra Online division to enhance its internal product development capabilities in the fast growing console download online games space. Sierra Online will bring to life several of Wanako's innovative, original concepts and will retain and grow its talented team of developers. Sierra Online teamed up with Wanako Games on the development of the action-packed Xbox Live Arcade title, Assault Heroes(TM), released … Continue reading Vivendi Buys Largest Chilean Game Firm →

The Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Raymond Bachand, accompanied by Frank Zampino, President of the executive committee, City of Montréal, Julien Merceron, Chief Technology Officer of Eidos, Bill Ennis, Commercial Director of SCi Entertainment Group, Stéphane D'Astous, Managing Director of Eidos Montréal and Jacques Daoust, President and Chief Executive Officer of Investissement Québec, today announced that the British company will open a studio in Québec. Montréal was the only Canadian city selected by the major video game producer. The new studio will develop four games for NextGen platforms. A testing unit will also be established in Montréal. … Continue reading Eidos Opens Montreal Studio →

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES has reached gold status. The Tactical Action game set in Feudal Japan will be available for both the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Consumers can purchase the game at many North American retailers beginning February 28, 2007. SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 EMPIRES combines the most exciting aspects of Action, Fighting and Strategy games. At the start of the game Feudal Japan is divided into warring states and it is up to … Continue reading Samurai Warriors 2 Goes Gold →

Neurok Optics, LLC, a US-based 3D technology developer and marketing company and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO), a Taiwan-based leading worldwide TFT-LCD manufacturing company, announced they have formed a new joint venture company. The new company, iZ3D, LLC, will be based in San Diego. It will develop and market iZ3D products for the electronic entertainment market as well as for commercial and professional visualization applications. "To enhance its leadership in the 3D display market, the newly formed iZ3D, LLC combines superior iZ3D technology and marketing capabilities with CMO's leading manufacturing techniques and worldwide distribution presence," stated David Chechelashvili, vice president of … Continue reading Neurok Optics, Chi Mei Launch iZ3D →

GarageGames, the leader in powerful, affordable game development tools, is pleased to announce the long-awaited release of Torque Game Engine Advanced. The 3D Torque Game Engine Advanced (known throughout development as Torque Shader Engine) takes full advantage of modern hardware technologies. Features include: TorqueNet: Strong multiplayer networking foundation built into the code. TorqueNet uses both UDP and TCP, with key features including support of multiple data delivery requirements, partial object state updates, ghost management, packet stream management, and an optimized Notified Delivery Protocol. Allows hundreds of players to connect to a single server within demanding FPS game lag and response … Continue reading GarageGames Releases Torque Game Engine →

Fashion designer Marc Ecko expanded his videogame offerings today with the formal announcement of Marc Ecko Entertainment, a newly formed organization focused on originating, funding, and developing interactive properties. The new division, to be headed by Marc Ecko Enterprises' ("MEE") veteran Mike Lynch, will focus on initiating and identifying innovative games, as well as working with publishers to bring them to market. "Our goal is to expand creativity in videogames – we want to try brand new things," said Marc Ecko, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of MEE. "There are so many great ideas out there that either aren't getting … Continue reading Marc Ecko Forms Videogame Company →

Are you the master of pop culture trivia? Get ready to put your skills to the test and earn your title in the mobile version of Scene It? Movie Edition by Namco - all through your mobile phone. Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of wireless games and content, and Screenlife, LLC, the pioneer of the booming DVD game industry, today announced the availability of Scene It? Movie Edition for mobile phones. Loaded with more than a thousand questions including movie clips, trivia questions and puzzlers, Scene It? Movie Edition lets players relive the greatest movie moments from some … Continue reading Namco Networks Launches Scene It Mobile →

GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), today announced that "Myst Online: Uru Live" will officially open its doors tomorrow on Thursday, February 15. Published by GameTap and developed by Cyan Worlds, "Myst Online: Uru Live" is the most recent addition to the GameTap Originals label. This latest installment of the best-selling Myst franchise introduces all-new Ages and puzzles while fusing the social concepts of a traditional massively multiplayer online game with mystery and problem-solving facets. Consumers can now visit www.gametap.com/mystonline to take advantage of a free trial offer and enjoy "Myst Online: Uru … Continue reading GameTap Gives Uru Live New Life →

Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, is creating a video game inspired by the hit television series, Battlestar Galactica, airing on the SCI FI Channel. Battlestar Galactica will be available on Xbox Live Arcade, as well as Windows PC, in Fall 2007. To gear up for the game, fans of Battlestar Galactica will be able to download Gamer Pics and Themepacks from the show on Xbox Live Marketplace beginning today. "We're huge fans of Battlestar Galactica and are thrilled to have the opportunity to create a game inspired by the TV series," said Ed Zobrist, president of Sierra Online. … Continue reading New Battlestar Galactia Show Becoming Game →

Eidos Interactive Ltd., one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms that it will release Carol Vorderman's Sudoku in North America for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, and Windows PC. Carol Vorderman, one of England's most beloved TV celebrities and mathematics guru, is ready to share her intellect and teach the world the wonders of Sudoku. Carol made her rise to acclaim by showing her intellectual prowess on the hit UK television show "Countdown" with her quick calculations of complicated mathematical problems. When it comes to teaching or advancing one's … Continue reading Carol Vorderman's Sudoku Releases In March →