Philips Announces amBX License Agreements With Codemasters and Introversion
PC Titles TOCA Race Driver 3, DEFCON and Darwinia Join A Growing List of amBX-enabled Games
New York - December 12, 2006 - Philips today announced that it has reached separate agreements with Codemasters and Introversion to amBX-enable their upcoming games. As a result of the partnerships, Philips will utilize a special scripting language in Codemasters and Introversion titles that will redefine the experience of playing games by extending the game world out of the screen and into the real world. The company will partner with Codemasters to amBX-enable the hugely popular TOCA Race Driver 3 and Introversion, the award-winning creator of Uplink, to amBX-enable the upcoming titles DEFCON and Darwinia. All titles will be available for the PC CD-ROM.
Codemasters and Introversion join an ever-increasing list of video game publishers and developers that have signed on to create amBX-enabled games, including THQ, Kuju Entertainment, Revolution Software and Sumo Digital. Previously announced games that will be specifically scripted to work in tandem with amBX peripherals include Broken Sword: The Angel of Death and Rail Simulator. Additional announcements are forthcoming as Philips is currently in the closing stages of agreements with a number of other high profile companies regarding amBX-enabling games in a variety of genres.
"Codemasters and Introversion are the cream of the UK-based game development community. They've recognized both the creative and commercial value that amBX can add, as well as showing that even back catalogue games can be amBX-enabled, extending product shelf life in the future," said Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. "These are three totally different titles that will use amBX in very different ways and, added to existing amBX-enabled adventure and simulation games, demonstrates how adaptable and striking amBX can really be across all genres of PC gaming."
Featuring explosive damage effects across a huge range of motor sport disciplines, TOCA Race Driver 3 delivers pure heart pounding racing for the PC. The scripted amBX effects delivered through the Philips amBX Peripherals will make the experience of playing the game even more immersive. Racers will feel the wind in their hair through the amBX fans and see the flash of lighting through tree lines, tunnels and landscapes via the amBX LED lights all in the real world around them.
DEFCON is an online, multiplayer strategy game simulating global thermonuclear warfare. The game, inspired by the 1983 cult-classic film Wargames, superbly evokes the tension, paranoia and suspicion surrounding the Cold War era. Arming DEFCON with amBX will allow armchair generals to actually see the blinding light, as their intercontinental ballistic missiles land; feel the ground rumble through the amBX rumble pad as fallout rains down around them; and quite literally blow their enemy's wigs off, through the force of the explosion entering the room via the desk fans.
Darwinia is a 2006 Best Game nominee at the Game Shadow Innovation in Games Awards and will immerse gamers into a virtual world populated by Darwinian life forms, who are under invasion. Darwinia will also take full advantage of the amBX LED light, desk fan and rumble peripherals to extend the game world out of the screen and into the player's game room.
"As a small developer you don't have the time and resources to play around with content and photorealistic graphics, all your energy goes into creating a mood, an unforgettable experience," said Thomas Arundel, Commercial Director, Introversion. "With DEFCON we had tried to enhance the gameplay by concentrating on simple Wargames-inspired graphics and a very evocative audio soundtrack. Teaming up with amBX has given us an opportunity to take DEFCON to the next level, to really make you feel like you are the General conducting the whole messy business from your own bunker."
"amBX is a really exciting prospect from a developer point of view, simply because it allows for an added field of creativity when making our games." commented Peter Chan, Business Development Manager, Codemasters, "The TOCA series has been one of our most successful franchises to date and we feel the immersive effects offered by amBX will help us make this year's iteration the most memorable yet."
About Philips amBX
Created by Philips, amBX, a shorthand for ambient experiences, will drive the next generation of home entertainment through the use of a scripting language, a software engine and architecture. Through amBX, multiple peripheral devices in the room will function in harmony to deliver new content experiences: surround lighting, sound, vibration, air movements and other effects. Enabled devices will work in tandem with scripted amBX code embedded inside video games to extend the gaming world out of the screen and into the real world by barraging the senses with audio and visual queues tuned to the action on the screen. For more information visit: http://www.ambx.com/
Media contacts:
Shahed Ahmed
Bender/Helper Impact
Tel: 212/689-6630
email: shahed_ahmed@bhimpact.com
Philips amBX
Hans Driessen
Tel.: +31 40 2746692
email: hans.driessen@philips.com
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 125,500 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 30.4 billion in 2005, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter <http://www.philips.com/newscenter> .
About Codemasters
Codemasters: developer and publisher of world-class video games. On PlayStation®2, Xbox 360, PC and Nintendo, we are dedicated to bringing games of excellence to players across the globe. For 20 years, our mission has been to deliver excellent, innovative games and that's become our reputation.
Within an increasingly buoyant market, Codemasters is growing. For 2006/07 and beyond we're expanding our portfolio with great new and established titles including Colin McRae Rally: DIRT, Brian Lara International Cricket 2007, Clive Barker's Jericho, Maelstrom and many more. Codemasters Online Gaming will publish and operate The Lord of the Rings Online under license from Turbine, Inc in Europe. Codemasters Mobile will launch LMA Manager 2007 for mobile phones.
With more than 60 No.1 hits and distributing to over 70 countries globally, Codemasters enjoys an enviable position, earned through the production of such blockbusting brands as TOCA Race Driver, Colin McRae Rally, and Operation Flashpoint. The company is headquartered in the UK, maintains operations in the US, Germany, France, Spain, and Benelux.
We know that advances in technology can only enhance the gaming experience. We can be bigger, faster and more impressive than ever before.
About Introversion
Heralded as 'the last of the bedroom programmers', Introversion Software is a UK based independent games developer and publisher founded in 2001 by three university students. Starting out with a just £600, no advertising budget, and relying solely on the power of word-of-mouth, Introversion Software went on to produce the highly acclaimed, genre-defining, cult hacking sim, Uplink. Three years later, Introversion released Darwinia - a highly innovative retro action game combining an innovative mix of RTS Gameplay and Arcade Action with spectacular graphics and iconic references to the halcyon days of gaming. Like Uplink it proved a massive hit with the press, and in March 2006 Darwinia was awarded three awards at the Independent Games Festival.
For more information on all of Introversion's projects please visit www.introversion.co.uk <http://www.introversion.co.uk> .