Fantastic Arcade

Austin, TX-Tuesday, September 21, 2010- Fantastic Arcade, the new independent games festival presented by America's largest genre film festival Fantastic Fest, today announced their line-up of Texas game development companies to be featured at this year's debut independent games event.

Fantastic Arcade is presenting demo showcases from independent Texas game development companies, including Devolver Digital, GL33K Audio, Semi Secret Software, Ricochet Labs, Playtechtonics, Twisted Pixel, GameSalad, and Powerhouse Animation.  All Austin-based, these companies represent a cross-section of the diverse game industry talent and innovation present in the capital city. 

The game companies and their gaming products will be on display at the Highball between September 23-26.  Game consumers and game industry alike will visit dedicated demonstration rooms at Fantastic Arcade.  Demo games will be available for free play between 11 am and 7 pm daily during the festival.  More info is available online at: www.fantasticfest.com/arcade/texas-game-developers-at-fantastic-arcade.

Devolver Digital is a small production and publishing company based in Austin, Texas. They will be showcasing their latest release, Serious Sam HD, a game that is infused with fun and which has introduced a new generation to the classic, arcade-style first person shooter.

"We are thrilled to be a part of Fantastic Arcade and all the support it is generating for the wonderful game development talent we have here in Austin," said Devolver partner Mike Wilson. "Grassroots and festival support of these incredibly unique indie games is very important and is exactly how our indie title, Serious Sam, became the sensation it is today." 

GL33K Audio is a game audio company based in Austin, Texas that focuses on content creation, integration, and audio direction for the gaming industry, while Crystal Runner Games is a small indie game studio also headquartered in Austin.  MonstaTrux Primo (fall 2010) is the first game from Crystal Runner Games, a truckdrivin', 4-wheeling, high-power fun with cannons, bombs, missiles, and remote controlled bots, which marries their social network with action game play. Free-for-all and multiplayer lan-type fun on the web.

Texas developer Semi Secret Software will also be available for consumer showcase. Austin-based, the duo at Semi Secret Software are the creators of self-published iPhone and iPad games wurdle, Canabalt, and Gravity Hook HD.  Founded by Eric Johnson (programming) and Adam Saltsman (design) in 2008, Semi Secret remains a two-man operation, although they depend on talented musicians like Danny Baranowsky to help complete their game ideas.

Ricochet Labs joins us to specifically highlight their wildly popular Facebook and iPhone game, Qrank. Named by Esquire magazine as one of the "80 people, places, and ideas that matter right now," Qrank is a free trivia game you play by yourself or competitively with friends.

Twisted Pixel is an independent game studio that specializes in character-driven, original IP titles.  The experienced team strives to make games that illustrate the meaning of the word "personality", not only through memorable characters, but also through creative gameplay and impressive presentation. 

Michael Wilford of Twisted Pixel adds, ""It couldn't be more fitting for us to be showing our latest creation, Comic Jumper, mere days before it launches on Xbox LIVE Arcade, at an amazing show that has become known as the 'Comic Con' of film festivals, and now video games as well!"

GameSalad is the world's most advanced game creation tool for non-programmers. With GameSalad game makers of all levels can bring their ideas to life using a drag & drop interface - all without a single line of code - and publish them to the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Powerhouse Animation is a truly diverse and talented studio.  With over 20 years of experience in feature, television, and commercial design, Powerhouse excels at Flash animation for creative clients in interactive games, storyboarding, character design, and more.

And lastly, Playtechtonics will offer consumers a look at their hit game, Starport: Galatic Empires.  With this free game, gamers can be the captain of a space-ship in this fully graphical, real-time action game, set in a strategic, multi-player world.

The Texas game developers will show off their new titles and products to an audience mix of Fantastic Fest attendees and game fans.  More than 3,000 attendees are expected to visit Fantastic Arcade over four days for hands-on gameplay action in a fun, high octane environment at The HighBall, a top Austin entertainment venue.  Fantastic Arcade sponsors and partners include Alienware, Dell's premiere high end PC division, along with G4, AMD, Dell, 101X, Austin Chronicle, CW Austin, Arcade UFO, GameOver Videogames, GDC Online, SXSW Screenburn, Texas Film Commission, and The Guildhall at SMU.

Attendees at Fantastic Arcade will have a choice of a single day pass for $20, with access to all Fantastic Arcade films, panels, parties, happy hour and game demos for one day, or a basic $10 pass that provides access to the game demos and arcade for a single day.  The VIP Fantastic Arcade Pass for $60 provides access to everything for all four festival days, plus a limited edition Fantastic Arcade T-shirt.  Fantastic Arcade tickets can be purchased online now at www.fantasticfest.com/tickets-2/.

About Fantastic Fest

www.fantasticfest.com

Dubbed "The Geek Telluride" by showbiz bible Variety, Fantastic Fest is also known as the "Comic Con of film festivals." Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the United States, showcasing eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood studios. The 2009 edition hosted over 70 world, U.S. and regional premieres of the latest sci-fi, horror, fantasy and cult films from around the world.  Fantastic Fest is scheduled for September 23-30, 2010.

For more into or to secure a media pass for Fantastic Arcade, contact Fiona Cherbak, ThemePark Studios, (512) 916-9633 or fiona@themeparkstudios.com, or contact Mike Plante, Fantastic Arcade creative director, at mike.plante@fantasticfest.com. For more information, visit www.fantasticfest.com/arcade.