Wild Pockets
Free system for creating web-based games; teaming up with Microsoft for the Bay Area Game Jam.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — March 17, 2009 — Wild Pockets ( www.wildpockets.com), currently in open beta, is giving indie and casual game developers a powerful platform to create Web-based games for free. Using Wild Pockets browser-based tools, developers can create elaborate games, interactive training, and 3-D advertising, which can then be posted easily on just about any Web site by using an embed tag similar to YouTube videos.
Wild Pockets is working together with Crispy Gamer ( www.crispygamer.com) and Microsoft to host the Bay Area Game Jam, which will be held at the Microsoft Campus in Mountain View, CA on April 4 and 5. This 24-hour game creation event is open to game developers of all skill levels, backgrounds and disciplines; space is limited to the first 200 registrants. It is recommended that participants form teams of 2 to 5 developers.
The Bay Area Game Jam keynote speakers are Aaron Tarnow of Wild Pockets and Andrew Sheppard of Hi5. The judging panel is comprised of the following industry veterans: Anne-Marie Rousselt of Microsoft, Robert Ashley of Crispy Gamer and A Life Well Wasted, Jamil Moledina of EA, Jameson Hsu of Mochi Media, Andrew Sheppard of Hi5 and Alan Yu of Ngmoco. Developers will compete for fun, fame and prizes, including a grand prize of $2,500 in cash. Featured live entertainment includes the band The OneUps ( http://www.theoneups.com/)famous for their loose interpretations of classic gaming tunes in a jazz / funk style, and the Megas ( http://www.themegas.com/), an independent video game cover band based on the Capcom game, Mega Man 2.; they will perform on April 4 starting at 10 p.m.
“We believe that it is important to break down the barriers to entry for indie developers, and especially in this tough economic environment,” said Shanna Tellerman, CEO of Wild Pockets. “With the help of our very generous sponsors, we’re able to provide participants with 24 hours of free networking, food, fun and entertainment, plus some really fantastic prizes. “
“Wild Pockets opens the door to would-be game developers who lack the financial freedom to pursue their dream of making a game. And, we know our audience of gamers will be interested to play these games for free on our site,” said Chris Heldman, CEO of Crispy Gamer.
“We are excited to host the 24-hour Bay Area Game Jam at our Microsoft campus in Mountain View,” said Anne-Marie Roussel, senior director of digital media in the Strategic and Emerging Business Group at Microsoft Corp. “Sim Ops is part of Microsoft’s Accelerator program, which is designed to foster the success of high-potential start-ups. We view their Wild Pockets product as truly innovative for the game developer community.”
Crispy Gamer has a deep editorial bench of games journalists aiming to provide independent, intellectual and entertaining coverage of the videogame landscape. Crispy Gamer has also differentiated itself by taking a bold stance in refusing to accept advertising from game publishers, setting a benchmark for fearless and credible industry reporting. Crispy Gamer is averaging over 1 million monthly unique visitors.
All completed games from the Bay Area Game Jam will be available at wildpockets.com and crispygamer.com. For more information and to register for the Bay Area Game Jam, visit http://www.wildpockets.com/sfgamejam/.
About Wild Pockets
Sim Ops Studios, the creator of Wild Pockets, is a spin-off from Carnegie Melon University. Founder and CEO Shanna Tellerman alongside co-founder Jesse Schell and a team of extraordinarily talented engineers and game developers, created the Wild Pockets platform to simplify the creation and delivery of 3-D content through the Web browser. The vision is to create a complete, single source solution for the creation, distribution and monetization of 3-D content on the web.
Wild Pockets is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with development offices in Pittsburgh, PA.
About Crispy Gamer
Crispy Gamer (crispygamer.com) is the independent destination for the thinking gamer. Experts and gamers come together to form critical opinions and share essential information around their passion for games and games culture. Crispy Gamer is headquartered in New York City. Privately held, the company’s backing is led by Constellation Growth Capital. For more information about Crispy Gamer, please visit: www.crispygamer.com
Contact:
Emily Skopic
Sim Ops Studios
412-904-5097
eskopic@wildpockets.com