MMORPG Sphere goes on portable platforms
MOSCOW and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 17, 2005 - Nikita, 1C and Yandex jointly announced the release of the mobile version of the online game Sphere. The first Russian massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is now available on portable platforms. The project was created with the help of the Intel Early Access Program.
Mobile Sphere for Pocket PC and Smart-phone is unique - there are no similar projects in the world of game development to date. The fascinating experience of MMORPG and the advantages of portable platforms are combined into one system. Now, all the inhabitants of the fascinating virtual world of Sphere can greatly reduce former interruptions in playing the game.
The mobile client provides gamers with a broad range of features taken from the original version of the game. There are communications, trading with the original interface, and also free moving amongst each other in the trading place. The client connects to the game server of Sphere. Therefore users can see each other no matter which kind of device they use.
On the mobile devices, Sphere's 3D graphics remains a stunning experience. The Intel® XScale® processor running at 600 MHz for Pocket PCs and at 300 MHz for smart-phones delivers 3D imaging with both high performance and excellent quality while the Intel® 2700G Multimedia Accelerator (Marathon) provides users with maximum execution speed.
"We are delighted to help software companies to create and bring onto the market new exciting applications that enable people to enjoy their digital content anywhere and anytime," says David P. Ryan, Director of Intel's Software Enabling Division in Europe. "We hope that our efforts will change the way people think about entertainment, bringing new opportunities to enjoy their digital content with much more flexibility and freedom: at home as well as while having a cup of coffee in the coffee shop or at the airport enabled with a wireless hot spot.
The mobile Sphere version was shown for the first time at the Russian game developers conference "KRI - 2005" where the high-tech project attracted numerous players and game industry experts. The mobile Sphere version was awarded the "Best game for portable platforms 2005" prize.
For Intel® XScale® PXA 27X Pocket PCs and smart-phones running Windows Mobile (e.g., Dell Axim X50v, Fujitsu-Siemens LOOX 718, Asustek P505, BenQ P50, HTC Magician - Qtek s100, Samsung SGH-i70, etc.), the mobile Sphere application is available for download from the web-site www.sphere.yande.ru where instructions on downloading can also be found.
Nikita, headquartered in Moscow, is the leading Russian supplier of computer games and mobile services and Russia's first game company. The company's main activities are computer games development; localization of games for Russian users, development of value added entertainment services based on MMS, WAP, GPRS, SMS, and J2ME technologies and their provision to subscribers of mobile operators as well as publication of SMS-Life, an interactive magazine for young people. Nikita's highly successful development efforts and services rely on state-of-the-art technology and platforms.
http://www.nikita.ru
1C specializes in developing, distributing, publishing and supporting computer games and databases for home and office use. Founded in 1991 and with headquarters in Moscow, the company employs more than 500. From its warehouse and through the most developed partner network in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS - 5,300 permanent partners in 570 cities across Russia, the CIS and the Baltic states), 1C supplies a full range of consumer software for home and office, with currently more than 5,000 products. 1C is known as one of the most successful game publishers in Russia and cooperates with the leading developer teams in Russia and the neighboring states such as Action Forms, Akella, Apeiron, Arise, Best Way, Creat Studio, CrioLand, Dark Fox, Digital Spray Studio, DiP Interactive, DTF Games, DVS, Eagle Dynamics, Elemental Games, Gaijin Entertainment, G5 Software, Ino-Co, Katauri, K-D LAB, KDV Games, KranX Productions, Meridian`93, Nikita, Nival Interactive, Orion, OSW Games, PIPE studio, Saturn plus, SkyFallen Entertainment, Skyriver Studios, SoftLabNSK, Xbow software and many others. Proprietary developments of 1C are well-known outside of Russia. The combat flight simulators Il2 Sturmovik, Il2 Sturmovik Forgotten Battles and Pearl Harbor achieved well-deserved recognition from players around the world and received over 50 prestigious international awards. 1C games are distributed worldwide by major publishers including ATARI, Codemasters, THQ, and Ubisoft.
http://www.1c.ru/eng/title.htm
Yandex is the largest Russian portal offering a variety of web services. According to the research companies Comcon and Gallup Media, Yandex became the biggest resource on the Russian Internet in terms of its audience in mid-2001 and has remained in the lead since then. Yandex' services include web search and a catalogue of websites, a payment system as well as the latest news, encyclopedias and dictionaries, an expert system for selecting products, a catalogue of vendors' offerings, a no limit email service, hosting, and more. Yandex also provides excellent media for both mass and highly targeted advertising.
http://www.yandex.ru
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
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