LOS ANGELES, CA- May 9, 2013- Leading mobile games publisher and developer, GAMEVIL®, announced the debut of their latest title, Dark Avenger, on Google Play today. Dark Avenger is a third party title developed by BOOLEAN GAMES and published by GAMEVIL through their $10M Partner Fund. The game brings the popular dungeon crawler genre to mobile with smooth, intuitive controls and brilliant HD graphics.

Dark Avenger is the premiere hack-n-slash dungeon crawler for mobile. With its smooth gameplay and brilliant artwork, the game quickly immerses the user in the dark fantasy world of Dark Avenger.  The game is a progressive action RPG that features progression through stages. This allows players to easily switch back and forth between Single Player mode and the game’s focal point – realtime global PvP. The game’s powerful game engine allows players to engage in realtime combat with up to 6 people at a time, in a no holds barred, 3v3 Deathmatch. Players are able to collect points and rise the weekly leader boards to win awesome prizes based on global ranking at the end of each week.

The game comes released with one available hero, the mighty Templar, as a namesake to the game’s title, Dark Avenger. Customization and skills will be put to the test as these features alone will distinguish the best gamers from the rest. Dark Avenger comes as a service game with new characters, such as the Ranger, set to be released through frequent game updates.

“We are excited to have worked with BOOLEAN GAMES through the $10M Partner Fund in bringing Dark Avenger to the masses,” stated Kyu Lee, President of GAMEVIL USA. “The game’s smooth, intuitive gameplay combined with its dark aesthetics definitely sets the bar for a truly immersive mobile gaming experience. We are sure that fans of the hack-n-slash dungeon crawler genre will fall deep into the game as we have.”

Dark Avenger is now available for free on Google Play for Android devices at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamevil.doz.global

For more details, please visit http://www.gamevil.com

About GAMEVIL

GAMEVIL®, with over 240 million game downloads and experience publishing hundreds of games on multiple platforms, is one of the most active and innovative mobile game companies in the world. Established in 2000 and with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Seoul, GAMEVIL is an experienced global mobile game publisher working with more than 70 top studios around the world.

With deep industry and regional knowledge, GAMEVIL has been able to craft numerous award winners through a diverse portfolio of games. Backed by unparalleled expertise in mobile, GAMEVIL continues to lead the sector with a commitment in establishing mobile gaming as a way of life.

GAMEVIL is currently listed on the KOSDAQ Market (Ticker: 063080, Bloomberg: 063080:KS, Reuters: 063080.KQ)

Follow the Twitter feeds at http://www.twitter.com/gamevil and Facebook Pages at http://www.facebook.com/gamevil.com

 
 
Two-player, minimalistic, table top game for families, friends and parties

May 8th, 2013: CIRCULETS (www.CIRCULETS.com) is coming to iOS and Android on May 9th.To celebrate the launch of Hashstash Studio’s latest iOS game CIRCULETS is launching at only 99 cents. CIRCULETS is a fast and easy to learn family game that is open ended, minimalistic and abstract. Circulets is designed for interactions between the players and a lot of playfulness. Download the game from http://circulets.com/#download (for iOS and Android).

CIRCULETS is a game that pits two players against each other on the same device on a fun trip to collect as many tiny colored circles – circulets, as the other player will let you. You have to work your way against the other player and ensure that you end up on the top. It brings a new and innovative experience to your touch devices. It is not about winning. It is about who you play with and how you chose to play. Its a simple toy that helps you explore your relationships in new ways.

The gameplay is very open ended and abstract, with heavy doses of minimalistic art which leaves everything open for the players to decide – what rules they want to play with, how long they want to play it, do they want to play in a league or a tournament, do they prefer collaboration over competition and much more.

About Hashstash Studios

Hashstash Studios is an independent game development studio from India. We develop innovative and dumb games that will hopefully tickle you to death. Or at least make you sneeze. We don’t know yet. We hope. And we scheme! Learn more and join in the fun at our company website at www.hashstash.in

Follow CIRCULETS at:  http://www.CIRCULETS.com/

and Like CIRCULETS at: http://www.facebook.com/CIRCULETS

Follow Hashstash at: http://www.twitter.com/teamhash

and Like us at:  http://www.facebook.com/hashstash

find more about us at: http://www.hashstash.in

 
 
Bingo Rider reaches the top position in the categories of board and casino games in the Apple’s Appstore during its first week available, in all Akamon’s strategic markets. The game is now available for iOS mobile devices and tablets and will be launched on Android in the upcoming months

Barcelona, May 6, 2013 –  Bingo Rider, Akamon Entertainment’s first game for mobile devices, is available in the Apple AppStore starting 1^st May. Akamon Entertainment, the leading social gaming company specializing in traditional and casino games in Southern Europe and Latin America, launches its first game for mobile devices, doing so with a game that recently has been recognized internationally as the best social bingo product in the market, at the EGR Operator Awards 2012.

Bingo Rider is a 90-ball multiplayer social bingo game where users share their gameplay experience with the shared-liquidity Akamon community of over 11 million players in real-time, regardless of which platform each player uses, allowing them to play with portal or Facebook users, synchronously.

This new mobile gaming experience offers multiple levels and gifts and includes new social elements with collectible cards and a chat option in the iPad version. In the words of David Jané, Head of Bingo at Akamon Entertainment, “We have developed a mobile game that allows users to pair the game with other tasks and have an exceptional gaming experience shared with other users, translating the success of the online game to new interactive screens and emphasizing the social aspects, reproducing the experience of a real, traditional bingo game in the palms of your hand.”

Bingo Rider is available for free on the AppStore, and users receive 5000 chips and 50 cards with their download, so they can play for free. In addition, following Akamon’s freemium business model, users can purchase virtual chips to improve their playing experience and accelerate the progression of levels.

Vicenç Martí, CEO of Akamon Entertainment, emphasizes “the company’s veritable leap with the new offering of mobile games, particularly in the Latin American markets, with Brazil at the forefront, where already more people use smartphones and tablets than PCs and where more users want to play on their smartphones every day.”

According to Martí, “The launch of Bingo Rider and 5 other mobile games throughout 2013 is the first step to turn Akamon into a mobile-First company, and will allow Akamon to consolidate its position as a main player in social gaming throughout the company’s natural markets -Latin America and Southern Europe- and exponentially grow the number of registered users, projecting a total of 20 million users by the end of the year.”

In its first week available at the Apple’s Appstore, Bingo Rider reached the top position in the categories of board and casino games in all Akamon’s strategic markets -Spain, France, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia standing out-, and keeps on Top 10 of these categories in most Latin American and European markets.

Akamon plans to launch the Android version of Bingo Rider before the end of Q2 2013.

About Akamon

Akamon Entertainment is an online social gaming company specialising in traditional games, operating in the south of Europe and Latin America via local portals, those of partners that are leaders in the online field and Facebook. The company, which has its own development team and offices in Barcelona and Valencia, was recognised as best emerging gaming company with the ‘Rising Star’ prize at the EGR Operator Awards in November 2012 where it was also awarded ‘Social Bingo Product of the Year’.

Akamon’s extensive portfolio consists of casino and local traditional games, such as Tute, Tarot, Roulette, Parchís, Poker and Dominoes. All the games incorporate social features and give players the opportunity to be part of a global gaming community of more than 11 million users, whereby they are online together and share their gaming experience, whether it be via Akamon’s international portals, those of its partners or Facebook.

 
 
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON – May 9, 2013 – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe, Ltd. today revealed the release date, final pack art, pre-order bonus and Collector’s Edition for Total War™: ROME II.

Release Date:

The global release date for the most keenly-anticipated Total War game yet will be September 3, 2013 across all territories on both physical and digital formats.

The game is now available for pre-order from the SEGA Store (http://download-store.sega.com/eshop/total-war/rome-2-3418.html) and other retailers world-wide http://www.totalwar.com/preorder

Pre-order Bonus:

Those gamers who pre-order any edition from participating retailers will receive ROME II’s first DLC for free alongside the game on release day. This first DLC, the Greek States Culture Pack, adds three additional playable factions to the game: Epirus, Athens and Sparta.

These factions have their own unique units, buildings, missions and win conditions alongside a distinct tech tree and, in the case of Sparta, will present a considerable challenge to the advanced player wishing to restore the famous city state to its former glory.

Collector’s Edition:

The Total War™: ROME II Collector’s Edition will be produced in a single, extremely limited run; only 22,000 individually numbered copies will be manufactured. The CE contains a wealth of custom, Roman-themed games and items, bound in a leather-effect presentation box, complete with gold logo and magnetic closure, including:

• Numbered copy of Total War™: ROME II

The most ambitious and expansive game in the Total War™ series to date, ROME II brings the statecraft, politics, intrigue, diplomacy and epic battles of the ancient world to life in thrilling detail. This version comes in a debossed Steelbook™ case, laser-etched with your unique collector’s number in Roman numerals.

• Tabula set
  • The Roman forerunner to Backgammon, this Tabula set comprises 30 bone-effect game pieces supplied in their own burlap drawstring bag; the board itself is built into the base of the Collector’s Edition box.
  • Tesserae Dice
    • Three replica bone-effect dice for use in a variety of games. The design is based on original Roman Tesserae, found at the archaeological site of Herculaneum.
    • Total War Cards™: PUNIC WARS
      • Designed from the ground up to echo elements from ROME II, Total War Cards is a game of skill and luck for two players. Involving combat, territorial control, resource management and technological development, PUNIC WARS consists of 58 high-quality playing cards and a game-board printed with the PUNIC WARS tech-tree.
      • Canvas Campaign Map
        • A reminder of the world you must conquer, this ribbon-tied canvas map depicts each of the 57 provinces of the ROME II campaign.
        • Roman Onager
          • A complete, fully-functional Onager, or Roman siege catapult. This easy-to-assemble kit is constructed from weathered wood and steel, measures 26cm x 12cm x 12cm, and is capable of unleashing small projectiles at a variety of inanimate objects which may have affronted the glory of your empire.

A remarkable way to mark over 10 years of Total War games and Creative Assembly’s 25^th Anniversary, the Total War™: ROME II Collector’s Edition is only available through selected retailers. Follow the link to pre-order from a list of participating retailers: http://www.totalwar.com/rome2_collectors

The award-winning Total War series returns to Rome in 2013 with the hotly anticipated Total War: ROME II, setting a brand new quality benchmark for strategy gaming. Players can become the world’s first superpower and command the Ancient world’s most incredible war machine. Find out more about ROME II at www.totalwar.com.

About Total War

Multi-million-selling Total War is one of the most critically-acclaimed series in gaming with a legacy covering 12 years. A drive for historical authenticity and superb gaming quality has helped establish the franchise as one of the most successful PC games of all time. Alongside the core historical-based games, the Total War series has expanded to include mobile and now has a free-to-play title, Total War: ARENA, currently in development. Total War’s website is located at www.totalwar.com

About Creative Assembly

Founded in 1987 and based in Horsham, West Sussex, Creative Assembly is one of the UK’s most successful and established game studios. Creator of the multi award-winning Total War strategy series, the studio has received numerous press, industry and consumer accolades, including BAFTA and the Develop Industry Excellence awards.  With over 250 highly talented developers and counting, the studio is expanding to embark on thrilling new triple-A console, PC and mobile projects. Creative Assembly’s website is located at www.creative-assembly.com

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:

SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.com

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s website is located at www.sega.com

 
 
Soft-Industry announces its new fifteen puzzle game is released on iTunes – Buggy Puzzle. The game is a classic slider puzzle interweaved with nasty insects trying to impede a player to solve the enigma. Armed with various weapons, the player can exterminate insects or use his mind alone to beat the game.

One of those games that everyone used to play as a child is a fifteen puzzle. Sliding pieces back and forth, trying to align them in their proper order is simple, yet challenging gameplay. And new versions and options of this classic game only make it better.

Buggy Puzzle announced by Soft-Industry is one such enhanced fifteen game. Aside from game fields of varying sizes, the puzzle also features nasty insects floating all around. Whenever one of those lands to a piece, it cannot be moved until the insect flies away from it. Different types of insects (mosquitoes, flies and horseflies) rest on pieces for different times. Luckily, the player has a way to get those pestilent creatures away with a set of weapons.

The game has two difficulty levels to entertain both newbies and serious minds. The complexity of the game gradually increases from the first to tenth levels, while the eleventh level is officially impossible to finish, which should supposedly encourage players to prove or contest this. Obstacles of four types that are randomly scattered through the game field also add to the difficulty.

With more than a year put into its development, Buggy Puzzle is a pinnacle of game puzzle ideas. The smooth and intuitive interface, the well-thought gameplay and perfectly balanced complexity make this puzzle decent entertainment for many evenings. Aside from a classic fifteen game, it also features a slider puzzle where the player should gather a certain picture from the pieces.

Neat graphics and sounds, the specific style and challenging puzzles are what make Buggy Puzzle an excellent and catchy mind game for all ages.

Pricing and availability

Buggy Puzzle is available for iOS devices. The price for the full version is $1.99.

About Company

Soft-Industry was founded in 2006. The company specializes in developing business automation applications, CRM systems, as well as network and informational system integration. In 2012, a new division of the company started game development for mobile platforms. Buggy Puzzle is one of the first projects released for iOS by this division.

Links

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/buggy-puzzle-bonus-pack/id588645027?l=ru&ls=1&mt=8
Website: http://buggy-puzzle.com/en/

 
 
Popular Fighting MMO Officially Debuts with Host of New Content, including First Licensed Character, New Maps, and New Modes

IRVINE, CA – May 3, 2013 – WeMade Entertainment USA, the US-based publishing arm of leading online game company WeMade Entertainment, today announced the commercial launch of the popular PC fighting MMO, LOST SAGA. The company has added two new modes and a new map as well as the game’s first Premium character, Iori Yagami, the iconic star of The King of Fighters and SNK vs. Capcom fighting series. In addition, 15 new characters and four new maps added during the game’s recent open beta test (OBT) are available. Other new content will be added in continuing monthly updates as WeMade is committed to making LOST SAGA the online destination for PC fighting fans.

Now open for commercial play at playlostsaga.com, LOST SAGA is an action-packed online beat-em-up game. The MMO brawler brings together heroes from fantasy, history, sci-fi, and well-known fighting games in an epic battle for glory. Players can choose from over 50 unique heroes and level up and customize their skills. Fighters can be subbed in, tag-team style, to create multi-character combos and teams of up to 16 players can participate in a variety of game modes. The game’s new Premium heroes allow players to play as their favorite characters from popular fighting games—but do not confer special powers that would unbalance gameplay.

“LOST SAGA opens a new chapter today where players can choose their hero and join battles with more characters, modes, and maps than ever before,” said WeMade USA CEO Philip Yun. “The addition of well-known characters such as Iori Yagami is just the start for us as more content will be added each month—we hope fans enjoy this new experience.”

To celebrate LOST SAGA’s launch, in-game events such as the opportunity to pick up a free a style item to customize the player’s Hero will be on tap. Along with the events, the re-launched fighting MMO features fresh experiences for new and returning players. Champion mode takes two players to vertically-constrained maps that simulate classic, 2D-style combat—complete with KOs. The single-player Crusade challenge mode is now extended to a whopping 60 floors of tough opponents and the dizzyingly high Sky Castle level brings a fresh locale to the game. A range of new characters first shown in the OBT are now available in the commercial game including the sexy Devil Ranger, the transforming Werewolf, and leather-clad Rockstar. More new features and Heroes will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Players can visit playlostsaga.com to download the game and play for free.

For more information about WeMade USA, visit www.wemadeusa.com. Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/wemadeusa and follow us on Twitter @wemadegames.

About WeMade USA

Established in 2008, WeMade Entertainment USA, Inc. (DBA: WeMade USA) is the business and publishing arm of WeMade Entertainment Co., Ltd. for North and South America. WeMade USA is dedicated to serving gamers in the Americas with a huge stable of WeMade mobile, PC, and cross-platform games. WeMade USA’s latest release, the fast-paced fighting MMO LOST SAGA, launched in May 2013.

 
 
LOS ANGELES, CA- May 2, 2013- Leading mobile games publisher and developer, GAMEVIL®, announced the release of their latest title, Dark Avenger, on App Store today. Dark Avenger is a third party title developed by BOOLEAN GAMES and published by GAMEVIL through their $10M Partner Fund. The game brings the popular dungeon crawler genre to mobile with smooth, intuitive controls and brilliant HD graphics.

Dark Avenger is the premiere hack-n-slash dungeon crawler for mobile. With its smooth gameplay and brilliant artwork, the game quickly immerses the user in the dark fantasy world of Dark Avenger.  The game is a progressive action RPG that features progression through stages. This allows players to easily switch back and forth between Single Player mode and the game’s focal point – realtime global PvP. The game’s powerful game engine allows players to engage in realtime combat with up to 6 people at a time, in a no holds barred, 3v3 Deathmatch. Players are able to collect points and rise the weekly leader boards to win awesome prizes based on global ranking at the end of each week.

The game comes released with one available hero, the mighty Templar, as a tribute to the game’s title, Dark Avenger. Customization and skills will be put to the test as these features alone will distinguish the best gamers from the rest. New characters, such as the Ranger, are set to be released through game updates.

“We are excited to have worked with BOOLEAN GAMES through the $10M Partner Fund in bringing Dark Avenger to the masses,” stated Kyu Lee, President of GAMEVIL USA. “The game’s smooth, intuitive gameplay combined with its dark aesthetics definitely sets the bar for a truly immersive mobile gaming experience. We are sure that fans of the hack-n-slash dungeon crawler genre will fall deep into the game as we have.”

Dark Avenger is now available for free on App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch at
https://itunes.apple.com/app/dark-avenger/id620510217?mt=8

For more details, please visit http://www.gamevil.com

About GAMEVIL

GAMEVIL®, with over 240 million game downloads and experience publishing hundreds of games on multiple platforms, is one of the most active and innovative mobile game companies in the world. Established in 2000 and with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Seoul, GAMEVIL is an experienced global mobile game publisher working with more than 70 top studios around the world.

With deep industry and regional knowledge, GAMEVIL has been able to craft numerous award winners through a diverse portfolio of games. Backed by unparalleled expertise in mobile, GAMEVIL continues to lead the sector with a commitment in establishing mobile gaming as a way of life.

GAMEVIL is currently listed on the KOSDAQ Market (Ticker: 063080, Bloomberg: 063080:KS, Reuters: 063080.KQ)

Follow the Twitter feeds at http://www.twitter.com/gamevil and Facebook Pages at http://www.facebook.com/gamevil

 
 
New Map, New Tutorials, New Achievements, & More Costumes!

Apr 30, 2013 – Guns of Icaurs Online is pleased to announce yet another major free content update to its post apocalyptic airship combat game. This update includes a new 2v2 King of the Hill map set in the burned out shell of a once great metropolis, scripted tutorials for new players, a new commendation system to award players for their sportsmanship, skill, and tutoring, and a bunch of new costumes. Additionally Guns continues to push for its first milestone stretch goal on Kickstarter with 20 days remaining. Get involved at http://kck.st/YtnfSW or directly on the website at www.GunsofIcarus.com.

The key features to this update include

·         The Labyrinth: A 2 vs 2 King of the Hill match set in the forgotten ruins of a dark metropolis. See the map teaser video:

·         Scripted Tutorials: A major improvement for new fans will be actual in game tutorials for each class, including expanded text and the ability to create stationary and moving targets for target practice.

·         New Achievements and Commendations: To further promote new player learning each match now allows players to award commendations to people they feel were especially excellent during the match. These commendations can trigger new achievements and rewards! Additionally the level cap is now 11.

·         Beginner Only Matches: Lastly for new players will be a beginner only tier of play, which can be entered only by players at level 1 or by community staff who have been approved for teaching their beloved newbies.

·         New Costumes: Because you can never have too many hats.

·         New Effects: More particle effects for weapons, new flare gun model, gun handles, and maybe a bird or two.

Guns of Icarus Online is the premier airship combat game where up to 4 players man a single ship in their attempt to coordinate with their team to bring down the enemies in a variety of game modes. Adventure Mode expands on this format, creating a living online world with true player, town, and meta progression. Kickstarter backers will receive some amazing rewards for their support, including the return of the ultra-popular Bullet USB, now in a polished aluminum style as well as the original brass. More information at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/musegames/guns-of-icarus-onlineadventure-mode.

ABOUT MUSE GAMES
Muse Games is an independent game development studio in New York City that creates original 3D games using the Unity engine. Their flagship products, CreaVures and Guns of Icarus Online, are available on Steam.  Find out more at www.musegames.com

 
 
Scientific research and input from patients combined in new health games supported by major philanthropic and corporate partners

April 29, 2013 – REDWOOD CITY, CA – Re-Mission 2, a collection of free online games launched today by HopeLab, harnesses the power and appeal of casual games to help young people with cancer fight their disease. Combining research on the neuroscience of interactive video game play with the fun and accessibility of casual games, Re-Mission 2 is the follow-up to HopeLab’s breakthrough Re-Mission video game, released in 2006.

The new games apply insights from a brain-imaging study published in 2012 by HopeLab and Stanford University researchers showing that Re-Mission, a video game about killing cancer in the body, strongly activates brain circuits involved in positive motivation.¹ This reward-related activation is associated with a shift in attitudes and emotions that helped boost players’ adherence to prescribed chemotherapy and antibiotic treatments in a previous study.² As a result, each Re-Mission 2 game is designed to boost positive emotion, increase self-efficacy, and shift attitudes toward chemotherapy. The new games also incorporate direct input from more than 120 teens and young adults with cancer across the U.S.

“A lot of times we don’t really want to take our meds, we wonder, ‘What is this doing?  Where is it going?  I’m tired of it.  It’s just going to make me throw up,’” said Jose Guevera, an 18-year-old who was treated for cancer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and helped design the Re-Mission 2 games. “But when you see on the screen and visualize what’s happening inside your body, and what the chemotherapy’s doing – you’re not looking at a PowerPoint, you’re playing a game and you’re being chemo and you’re killing your bad cells. I think Re-Mission 2 can really help a lot of us.”

“Research on the original Re-Mission showed that it impacted biology and behavior primarily by energizing positive motivation circuits in the human brain and giving players a sense of power and control over cancer,” said Steve Cole, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at HopeLab and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. “That gave us a whole new recipe for engineering the games in Re-Mission 2 – by harnessing the power of positive motivation circuits in the human brain.  And by involving more than 120 young cancer patients in shaping the game scenarios and play experience, we know these games will be super fun to play.”

Each Re-Mission 2 game puts players inside the body to defeat cancer, using weapons like chemotherapy, antibiotics and the body’s immune cells. The action parallels real-world medical treatments used to fight cancer. The games are designed specifically for teens and young adults who are at risk of adverse cancer outcomes due to poor treatment adherence.³ Research on Re-Mission 2 shows that the new games are as effective as the original Re-Mission game in increasing players’ self-efficacy, boosting positive emotions and shifting attitudes about chemotherapy.

“Combining high-quality science and compelling game design to help young cancer patients fight their disease was at the core of my vision for the original Re-Mission, and I’m delighted to see that continue with Re-Mission 2,” said Pam Omidyar, HopeLab Founder and Board Chair. “HopeLab science has improved our understanding of how technology can be harnessed to catalyze the innate resilience of young people, even in the face of extreme adversity, like cancer. The Re-Mission 2 games have been tested with kids across the country, including my own, and we hope people have as much fun playing them as we have.”

Re-Mission 2 games are free to play online at http://www.re-mission2.org. The web-browser-based casual game format offers a variety of fun gameplay styles and meets young cancer patients where they already spend time, online and on mobile devices. Three of the games also can be played on iPad, and players can unlock a special bonus pack of downloadable games for Mac or Windows PC.

The innovative research and development work behind Re-Mission 2 was led by HopeLab, a nonprofit funded by Mrs. Omidyar and her husband, Pierre Omidyar, eBay founder and chairman. Additional funding support for Re-Mission 2 was provided by Vivendi, LIVESTRONG Foundation, the Entertainment Software Association Foundation, Cigna, Genentech and the Annenberg Foundation.

1.     Cole, S.W., Yoo, D.J., Knutson, B. (2012). Interactivity and Reward-Related Neural Activation During a Serious Videogame. PLoS ONE.

2.     Kato, P.M., Cole, S.W., Bradlyn, A.S., Pollock, B.H. (2008). A Video Game Improves Behavioral Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: A Randomized Trial. Pediatrics, 122, e305-e317.

3.     Butow P, Palmer S, Pai A, et al: Review of adherence-related issues in adolescents and young adults with cancer. J Clin Oncol 28:4800-4809, 2010.

Perspectives on Re-Mission 2

“When I first was introduced to the Re-Mission program, I was just amazed,” said Ernest Katz, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Sciences and Co-Director of the HOPE Program, Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Here is a product that kids can engage with in a fun way, and it helps them learn about what they need to do in order to get better.”

“Re-Mission 2 is an inspiring example of how digital entertainment can improve lives,” said George Bushnell, Vivendi Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel.  “Vivendi is proud to be a lead sponsor of Re-Mission 2 through its Create Joy Fund.”

“The LIVESTRONG Foundation is excited to partner with HopeLab on Re-Mission 2, an engaging, fun and effective video game to help young adults facing cancer cope with their illness,” said Doug Ulman, LIVESTRONG Foundation president and CEO.

“Cigna is committed to providing our customers with innovative, evidence-based resources that empower them to manage their health,” said Scott Josephs, M.D., Cigna national medical officer. “We have been distributing Re-Mission to young people with cancer since 2007 and we’re proud to be the exclusive health plan sponsor of the Re-Mission 2 launch.”

“We know that technology can be a powerful force for good in the lives of young people,” said Jenny Lai, vice president of the ESA Foundation. “Re-Mission 2 embodies that promise. The ESA Foundation became HopeLab’s first Re-Mission distribution funding partner in 2006. We are delighted to extend our partnership to support the launch of Re-Mission 2.”

About HopeLab

HopeLab is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by Board Chair Pam Omidyar. HopeLab harnesses the power and appeal of technology to improve human health and well-being. HopeLab applies a research-based, customer-focused, collaborative approach to create products that positively impact health behavior. HopeLab is part of the Omidyar Group of philanthropies. For more information, please visit www.hopelab.org.

 
 
Toronto and New York – April 25, 2013 – Arkadium, creators of the largest library of casual games in the world, today announced the hiring of David Elton as general manager of their Toronto game development studio.  David brings 18 years of experience to Arkadium having worked on blockbuster franchises such as Need For Speed and SSX, as well as all of the major platforms in gaming, from console to handheld and PC to mobile. He will be responsible for expanding the Toronto team that is focused on creating cross platform games on the web, Facebook, Windows 8 and iOS/Android.

“We were looking for a visionary to lead a passionate team of people while also inspiring creativity and encouraging innovation. David has amazing experience that spans across this entire industry, and he brings a wealth of knowledge of game development process from various platform and organizations,” said Kenny Rosenblatt, CEO and Co-Founder of Arkadium. “On the heels of our funding announcement, this is one of the many key hires that will bring us closer to our goal of becoming the number one casual game studio in the world.”

David Elton started his career during the days of Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. He has a well-rounded background in Production, Design and Business Development, working with companies such as Electronic Arts, Microsoft Studios and Acclaim Entertainment. Most recently, David has been consulting with a number of small companies to help them with business growth and creating groundbreaking new properties.

“Arkadium has been in the games business for 12 years and the company has created a culture of innovation that inspired me,” said David. “The Toronto area has become an impressive hub for video game development over the last several years and I am excited to help position Arkadium as one of leading studios in this area.”

Arkadium has some of the top games on the web, mobile devices, Facebook and in the Windows Store including Taptiles®, Microsoft Solitaire Collection, Microsoft Mahjong and Mahjongg Dimensions Blast. Arkadium games have been played worldwide billions of times on the company’s game Arena distribution network.

About Arkadium

Arkadium, creators of the largest library of casual games in the world, has been a prominent game development studio for over 12 years.  Whether it’s with cards, cubes or the occasional monkey, the company delivers entertaining and addictive gameplay for all demographics.  Their easy-to-play, hard-to-quit games include the hits Taptiles®, Sparks, Trizzle, Mahjongg Dimensions and countless others.  Over ten million consumers worldwide enjoy Arkadium’s games every month on the web, mobile devices, Facebook and Windows 8.

Arkadium has also pioneered the launch of hundreds of games through its partnership network of brand and publisher sites including MSN, CNN, AARP, Discovery and many more. Arkadium is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Canada and Ukraine.  For more information visit http://www.arkadium.com or follow us on Twitter @Arkadium.