New Remake Of Retro Classic Coming To UK In Early 2008

Ascaron & Frogster Join Forces To Bring Futuristic Streetsport Title Speedball 2 - Tournament To UK Gamers

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Oct. 25, 2007

25th October 2007

Ascaron Entertainment, a leading European 'boutique' developer and publisher of games for the PC, has announced a new partnership with German publisher Frogster Interactive. The two partners will be bringing Speedball 2 - Tournament to UK gamers in Q1 of 2008 offering state-of-the-art 3D-graphics and extreme online multiplayer action.

The signing of a sublicensing contract signifies the start of a close working relationship between the two companies in the coming months to bring Speedball 2 - Tournament to UK gamers with maximum impact. Frogster will also assist Ascaron in the local marketing of the game with the production of new assets plus the management & implementation of an online Speedball 2 - Tournament cup at the end of 2007.

Frogster's excellent relationship with the developers, The Bitmap Brothers, has brought about the recent remake of the original version of Speedball 2 (1990). The new release for the PC platform developed by the Paris based studio Kylotonn Entertainment transforms the futuristic, violent game setting with up-to-date technology into a high-speed online sports spectacle.

Speedball 2 - Tournament offers international leagues, a worldwide ranking system, a virtual marketplace and online multiplayer gaming action. A wide range of fully customisable male, female and cyborg characters, dynamic sports battles, and continuous community support will convince old and new fans of its great appeal.

Roger Swindells, Managing Director of Ascaron, comments, "We look forward to working with Frogster Interactive and bringing this exciting revival to the UK. Speedball 2 is a well known action-sports license that already enjoys a loyal fan base so we anticipate great interest from the trade and consumers alike with this completely new remake."

Speedball 2 - Tournament: The Story & Gameplay

For many years civilisation has been in decay and by 2326 civil war erupts. Rival gangs form an ultra violent street sports league called Speedball 2 to settle their deadly disputes. The sport quickly rises in popularity but with no rules or regulations, it becomes considerably more dangerous. Ten years on and the players turn professional, seeking sponsorship from well known international brands.

Two teams face each other in bloody battles for a steel ball. Nine-on-nine in an all-out rush on the opponent's goal; almost any malicious move is permitted. The winner of the matches secures supremacy over the city.

New Game Features

New Multiplayer mode - Dedicated server solution and renowned Raknet network middleware for professional online gaming (e-sports) Customise your players - choose your player skin, team colours and tags in the profile editor or create your own logo and integrate it into the game and display it on the field Team Selection - Choose your team carefully from male, female and cyborg characters with differing strengths and weaknesses Game-Center - Unique online community platform: Subscribe to worldwide rankings, leagues and events and use the match making tool to play with friends or other ranked players. Get your own webpage and add personal information, access the chat room and link to your clan's blog. Extreme community support and action - Challenge other players on the Speedball2.com game portal's international leagues or tournaments for friendly or ranked matches. Live news and replays - Keep up-to-date with tournaments and events and watch full game replays on the Game-Center. Notes to Editors

Speedball 2 - Tournament will be available in early 2008.

www.Speedball2.com

About Ascaron Entertainment

>From Day One in 1989 Ascaron Entertainment has become one of the leading European "boutique" developers and Publishers of games for the PC, with many successful titles including Patrician, Port Royale, DarkStar One and SACRED.

Ascaron maintains development studios in Berlin, Gutersloh and Aachen (Germany), as well as an international department in Birmingham (UK). Ascaron currently markets its products in more than 40 countries and over 15 languages.

Ascaron Entertainment (UK) is an independent office and is highly regarded on a domestic and global scale. With a professional reputation, full-service product management, and a wealth of experience in the games industry, the UK operation manages the international releases of Ascaron's entire catalogue, whilst also providing a bespoke publishing, sales, PR and marketing function to selected affiliate label partners. Ascaron Entertainment (UK) continues to be responsible for successfully launching titles into the UK market from developers and publishers worldwide. Titles include the popular UFO, Panzers, Cossacks and Blitzkrieg series of games, as well as critically acclaimed hits such as Call of Juarez, Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle and TrackMania United. www.Ascaron.com

About Frogster Interactive Pictures AG

Frogster Interactive Pictures AG is a Berlin-based holding company with stakes in the field of computer games. Frogster acts as publisher of virtual worlds, so-called Massively Multiplayer Online Games, a growth sector in the games industry. The fully owned subsidiary FIP Publishing GmbH, based in Berlin, acts as publisher of computer games of all genres and price classes and is among the market leaders in Germany. The company publishes and distributes PC games by international licensors under its labels Brigades, Eclypse and BacktoGames. OnlineWelten, a Frogster stake based in Berlin, is one of the most influential broad impact German language MMOG and Gaming portals (Frogster stake 83%). Frogster Studios Co. Ltd., based in Seoul (Republic of Korea), develops MMOGs and publishes its own as well as licensed virtual worlds in Asia (stake 50%). Yusho GmbH (stake 50%) runs virtual worlds on its own servers and delivers accounting services for subscriptions and virtual items sales for its customers. The Frogster group currently employs more than 70 staff. Internet: www.frogster-interactive.de

For further press information please contact:

REF: Ascaron Entertainment

Matt King

Media Safari

T: +44 (0)1225 731388

M: +44 (0) 7973 210515

E: mattk@mediasafari.co.uk

REF: FIP Publishing GmbH

Axel Schmidt

PR Manager

T: +49 (0) 30 - 28 47 01 44

M: +49 (0) 171 - 34 78 460