Ship Simulator 2008

Haarlem, The Netherlands – June 26, 2008 – Wouldn’t it be great if you could play Ship Simulator and actually feel the wind on your face, the rumbling of the engines below, and the impact of oncoming thunderstorms as if you were actually standing on deck? Leading developer VSTEP and Philips makes this all possible by releasing an upgrade, which enables Philips’ amBX technology in the best-selling Ship Simulator 2008 game. Published by Lighthouse Interactive, Ship Simulator 2008 is available on PC worldwide.

Ship Simulator 2008 with amBX will feature variable speed fan effects to simulate wind speed and direction as players sail their vessels through the different environments. LED Light Effects – across a 16 million color range - will deliver immersive weather light effects, including sunlight, sunsets and lightning storms. Rumble effects will be featured to simulate ship engines, vessel collisions, and roaring thunder during storms, giving players a true feeling of captaining a ship in a host of different circumstances. The upgrade is suitable for players with v1.4.2. of Ship Simulator 2008 and the official add-on Ship Simulator 2008: New Horizons and is compatible with all available language versions.

Short for ‘ambient experiences’, amBX reinvents the gameplay experience by extending the traditional gaming world outside of the screen and into the real world. amBX delivers full ‘surround senses’ by allowing developers to use light, color, sound, rumble and even air flow through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED color-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals, and variable speed desktop fans.

VSTEP’s CTO Pjotr van Schothorst said, “We are excited about enabling Philips’ amBX technology in Ship Simulator 2008. Striving to create high quality games and simulations, we are constantly innovating our products and the enhanced gameplay sensation created by amBX will provide our audience with an even more immersive experience of Ship Simulator 2008.”

To download the amBX upgrade, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com

To find out more about Ship Simulator 2008 and to keep up with the latest news, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.shipsim.com.

GAME SUMMARY

With the growing number of Ship Simulator users worldwide, VSTEP is continuously adding new content and features. In Ship Simulator 2008, players will perform a multitude of tasks, all set within stunning 3D environments. They will take control of a wide array of vessels – from massive cargo ships and ferries, to speedboats, yachts, water taxis, personal watercrafts, and even the mighty Titanic. The waters you sail are as varied as the ships, including the harbors of New York, the Thai Phi Phi Islands, Rotterdam and Hamburg, plus three newly added harbors Southampton, Marseille and San Francisco. Ship Simulator 2008 incredibly recreates real-world locations from around the globe and presents players with the challenges of commanding the vessel of their choice on the open sea.

About Philips amBX

amBX is a new 'experience' technology developed by Philips that is currently being added to PC games and PC gaming peripherals. amBX is shorthand for ‘ambient experiences’. With amBX, games and peripherals providing surround lighting, sound, vibration, air movement and other effects work in harmony together. The result is an incredibly immersive experience bringing game play into the room. www.ambx.com

About VSTEP

VSTEP develops professional simulators for fire-fighters, train drivers, safety officers, and nautical training. Since its initiation in 2002, VSTEP has completed over 30 training simulators for customers like the Royal Dutch Navy, the Port of Rotterdam, Falck/Nutec, and the Dutch Railways. VSTEP’s experience and core technology from these projects has been adapted to deliver a “true to their roots” simulator for the home PC user. www.vstep.nl

About Lighthouse Interactive

Lighthouse Interactive Game Publishing B.V. is a fast growing publisher of interactive entertainment with offices established in Toronto and Montreal, Canada, Haarlem, The Netherlands and London, England. The company is focused on bringing strong titles to the worldwide market in a wide array of genres including: RPG, Simulation, Adventure, Action and Strategy. Staffed with industry veterans, Lighthouse is the right choice for developers looking to bring their products to a worldwide audience.

www.lighthouse-interactive.com

Media Contact

Lighthouse Interactive

Tamara Robeer

Email: pr@lighthouse-interactive.com

Tel: +31 23 540 9449