EVE Online(R) Screams With Vivox Real-Time Voice Technology
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Electronic Entertainment Expo, Los Angeles, CA - May
10, 2006 - CCP Games and Vivox today announced that
subscribers of the massively multiplayer online game (MMOG)
EVE Online will soon have real-time, in-game voice
communication as the result of a technology integration
agreement between the two companies. Vivox will provide CCP
with game-embedded voice communication services customized
for and integrated into EVE.
EVE players will be able to speak with each other in-game,
create audio conference channels for their gang, corporation
or alliance, and start, leave or rejoin voice conversations
during game play without impacting game performance.
On-screen indicators will show the gamer which channels are
monitoring audio communications and which player within a
channel is speaking. Players will also have moderator
privileges to kick, mute, ban and un-ban other players, all
synchronized with the rights of existing EVE moderator and
user roles.
"Players of EVE are attracted by its unique role playing and
space simulation features," said Hilmar V. Petursson, CEO of
CCP. "But when players unite to form corporations and
alliances, the game's dynamic, immersive experience really
comes alive. Now users will be able to talk, strategize, plot
and negotiate naturally with each other. To deliver this
functionality to our subscribers, we wanted a partner with
expertise in delivering voice communications with a simple,
scalable and high quality solution so that we could focus on
our core expertise of building game content."
Unlike other MMOGs, the entire EVE player base shares the
same server cluster. With Vivox providing the in-game voice
services and managing the required infrastructure, there are
no resource implications that could impact game server
performance. This new feature will be a premium service
option for game subscribers and, because of itts tight
integration into the game, ease of use, and massive
scalability, presents a tremendous improvement over burdening
gamers with maintainings their own voice servers with third
party applications, as some EVE player corporations and
alliances currently do.
"With its concurrent users numbering in the tens of
thousands, and the game's distinct depth and challenges, EVE
is a stellar stage for our voice technology," said Vivox CEO
Rob Seaver. "Adding real-time voice to a game like EVE makes
for an MMOG experience that grabs users and immerses them in
game play that's challenging and entertaining, and creates a
sense of community and camaraderie. It's this kind of
technology that's going to keep gamers heavily-invested in
EVE and excited about the future of MMOGs."
About Vivox
Vivox's managed services generate online interactions that
reflect the intelligence, power and nuance of real-world
communication. Vivox's carrier-grade communications platform,
Precision Studio, combines text, voice, video, multi-party
communication, and presence in simple and intuitive solutions
for online communities. With specific offerings for the
social networking and Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming
markets, Vivox generates incremental revenue opportunities
and enhances services for its customers' businesses. For more
information please visit www.vivox.com.
About CCP
CCP Games is a privately held company that specializes in the
creation, development and distribution of massively
multiplayer online games (MMOG). Founded in 1997, CCP is
recognized internationally as a pioneer in the single-server
persistent universe concept of the MMOG genre. CCP Games is
headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland.
About EVE Online
Set tens of thousands of years in the future, EVE is a
breathtaking journey to the stars, to an immersive experience
filled with adventure, riches, danger and glory. Supported by
a vast player-run economy, EVE offers professions to choose
ranging from commodities trader to mercenary; industrial
entrepreneur to pirate; mining engineer to battle fleet
commander; or any combination of these and much more. Your
greatest asset is the starship, designed to accommodate your
specific needs, skills and ambitions. Complementing its
lethal arsenal are thousands of modules and components,
allowing for countless customizations. From brokering
business deals to waging war, you will have access to a
diverse array of sophisticated tools and interfaces to forge
your own destiny in EVE.
Press Contacts - Vivox:
Vivox
SHIFT Communications
Monty Sharma
Maria Avellaneda
508-270-5090
617-681-1210
Monty.sharma@vivox.com
vivox@shiftcomm.com
Press Contacts - CCP:
CCP Games
Magnus Bergsson
+354-540-9186
magnus@ccpgames.com
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