Think you’re good at trivia? Are you confident in your own knowledge to bet on whether or not you will know the answer against other players? Step into the Open Beta of The Big Bluff, a new game developed by himojo, an entertainment company and social games developer for the Facebook platform, and experience the thrill of online multiplayer trivia that integrates the mechanics of Texas Hold ’Em Poker. Playable within Facebook and on TheBigBluff.com via Facebook Platform, the free-to-play online trivia game stands ready to pit your knowledge against others unlike any other trivia experience to date.

Upon logging in to your account, you will be given a purse of in-game currency to spend on virtual items for your avatar and at the tables. Step into a room and pull up a seat, where games of up to five players will already be in progress, 24/7.

Similar to Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, a dealer will display three cards in the community hand – the first displaying the question category, followed by two hints at the answer. Players will then have the option to match the pot to continue playing based on the cards shown. The fourth card displays another hint, while the fifth and final card displays the question that players must correctly answer. Fold at any point in the game if you’re not confident in the final question and answer, or bluff your way to the end and force your competitor’s hand. Call your opponent’s bluff and win bonus currency if they don’t know the answer.

“We’ve spent months experimenting with ways to combine the best aspects of trivia and Texas Hold ‘Em Poker into one game and are pleased to finally offer early access to the Open Beta of The Big Bluff,” said Eric Arlt, Chief Executive Officer, himojo. “The game offers an online trivia experience through Facebook unlike anything else out there. Poker and Trivia are two huge activities that are beloved around the world and we look forward to everyone experiencing this new hybrid of the two games in a competitive, free-to-play and social environment.”

The Big Bluff Features:
• Facebook Platform – Play the game by logging into your Facebook account on either Facebook.com or on TheBigBluff.com
• Real-time Online Multiplayer – Step into a room for five and watch opponents and friends play you live from across the table
• Chat System – Real-time chat during the game, allowing players to put on their poker face and play their bluff
• Customization – Access the dressing room and customize your avatar from head to toe with publicly available and exclusive items
• Virtual Currency – Earn in-game currency by winning a hand, daily check-ins and by purchasing with real-world money
• Global Leaderboard – Win rounds, build up your purse, unlock high-roller rooms and gain stardom by making it onto a central leaderboard

To start testing your trivia knowledge and betting big on your skill, visit the official The Big Bluff website at www.thebigbluff.com and log in using your Facebook information. Be sure to connect with us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thebigbluff and follow us on Twitter @thebigbluff for daily trivia and giveaways.

A press kit may be downloaded here (16MB):
www.triplepointpr.com/dl/himojo/TheBigBluff_EPK.zip

About himojo

himojo, also known as Renovatio Media Group Inc., is a user-centric, technology-driven company, devoted to delivering the best of breed in social games and entertainment. Its flagship title, The Big Bluff, is a multiplayer Facebook game that blends mechanics of Texas Hold’em Poker with trivia, integrating various avatar customization features and virtual currency built on a microtransactions model. The title is scheduled for launch in Q2 of 2010, playable on both Facebook and TheBigBluff.com. The company was founded in 2010 by Hollywood and Silicon Valley veterans and is based in Los Gatos, California.

Sibblingz enables developers to take advantage of the massive growth in PC and mobile social game adoption. Sibblingz’ social game engine is built to create games on Facebook’s PC site as well as Apple’s iDevices and Google Android devices.

Launch partners include social games company, CrowdStar, and game development studio, SiXiTS. The Sibblingz social game engine was used to develop one of the most successful social games of all time, CrowdStar’s Happy Island, which has 12 million monthly average users and millions of daily active users.

“Game play on the smart phone and tablet is different from social game play on the PC like Facebook. iDevice gamers want more skill-based mechanics with console-like gaming feel,” said Peter Relan, Executive Chairman of CrowdStar. “By using the Sibblingz engine we can make a game optimized for the iPad that is connected to the same back-end data as the Facebook version. Sibblingz gives us multi-device reach with the flexibility to make a game experience unique to that device.”

With Sibblingz, developers will be able to save millions in game development costs and decrease their time to market on launching cross-platform.
Sibblingz will allow them to reach the broadest possible consumer audience.

“A solution like Sibblingz can have a dramatic impact on brands and developers looking to build a game that has scale from a cross-platform perspective,” said Michael Cai, Vice President of Video Games at the research firm, Interpret, LLC. “Right now it’s quite expensive to build a game on multiple platforms, and it’s a big hurdle for someone looking to create the next social game phenomena across devices.”

With Sibblingz, a game can reach the hundreds of millions of smart phones and tablets flooding the consumer market in the coming year, having access to the many social games expected to be available on the devices.

“After gamers on social networks have played a cross-platform game that can be used across all devices, they’ll come to expect it from all games,” says Ben Savage, Founder of Sibblingz. “Adding these features to a game after it’s been developed is difficult and expensive. We look forward to a new era where a studio starts a title with Sibblingz, giving the title a great foundation to scale.”

Sibblingz will increase time to market of cross-platform launches, launching them in less than three months.

Also, Sibblingz will provide the ability to monetize free-to-play games with virtual goods based on a common production art pipeline.

“Our goal is to create high quality social games and experiences that are available on the most devices, so they can reach the largest audience in the shortest time,” said SiXiTS CEO, Euan Macdonald. “Sibblingz is the only avenue available that allows us to do that.”

Sibblingz Public Launch Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fm6CjRV3zI Media companies, brands and game developers interested in the Sibblingz platform should contact partners@sibblingz.com for more information.

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About Sibblingz:
Sibblingz is a YouWeb incubated social games technology firm with offices in Burlingame, California. The company offers the first game engine made for the multi-device world enabling developers to take advantage of the massive growth in PC and mobile social game adoption. The Sibblingz platform gives developers the ability to build a social game that plays across all devices including uninterrupted game play. Games built on Sibblingz, enable consumers to play a specific game and continue the experience across the most popular PC platform such as Facebook as well mobile platforms including Google’s Android and Apple’s iDevices.

By committing to the PCGA, these companies join others in the gaming ecosystem to push the PC gaming industry forward for the benefit of consumers world-wide. Their contributions will keep PC gaming at the forefront of the industry, help it to overcome its challenges, and continue to fulfill its limitless potential.

“These members bring a wealth of experience and a rich diversity of products and services to the PCGA that will significantly enhance our existing membership base”, said Randy Stude, PCGA president. “By joining our rapidly growing organization, they are demonstrating their support for expanding the PC Gaming industry and their commitment to improving the PC gaming experience.”

“We’re honored to be elected to the PC Gaming Alliance Board of Directors,” said Min-Liang Tan, CEO, Razer. “There is so much synergy between Razer’s core DNA – an essence of pure commitment to improving the PC gaming experience with state-of-the-art peripherals – and this organization’s drive to establish high standards and quality guidelines for the evolving industry at large. Both Razer and the PC Gaming Alliance are dedicated to addressing the needs of a maturing category and its largely sophisticated audience.”

“Arxan is pleased to join the PCGA in support of this global forum that enables and enhances the development of the PC gaming industry, including security controls for game tampering for the purposes of piracy and cheating,” said Kevin Morgan, chief technology officer and vice president of engineering, Arxan Technologies. “Our software security expertise in game protection can be leveraged to formulate proven and best-of-breed approaches to implement business practices and technology solutions that preserve code integrity, user experience and business models throughout the PC gaming ecosystem. As a member of the PCGA, Arxan looks forward to participating in various initiatives, such as the anti-piracy sub-committee, to ensure that due consideration is given to the protection of intellectual property, preservation of game integrity and unobtrusive DRM models, especially as PC games are exposed to collaborative and continuous hacking attempts that result from the increase in global digital distribution models.”

“Corsair is pleased to be joining with the PCGA to further the PC gaming experience”, said Andrew Paul, President of Corsair. “We’re looking forward to helping shape the future of PC gaming and working with the other key members to bring even more innovation to our award-winning product families.”

To find more about the PCGA’s role as the voice of the PC gaming industry, visit www.pcgamingalliance.org.

About the PCGA
The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to drive the continued growth of gaming on Personal Computers, the world’s most popular platform for gaming. The PCGA provides an open forum where companies can cooperate to develop and promote solutions that drive the PC gaming industry forward, exchange information and views to promote PC gaming, and share promotional activity designed to grow the PC gaming industry. According to the PCGA 2009 Horizons Report, the industry’s most comprehensive analysis of the PC Gaming market, PC gaming software revenue was $13.1 billion, making the PC the highest revenue generating and most prevalent gaming platform in the world

Contact:
John Ehrig
PCGA Program Manager
jehrig@inventures.com About the Razer Group:
Razer™ is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming products and peripherals that are designed “For Gamers. By Gamers™”. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Razer’s award-winning lineup of products includes desktop speakers, headsets, keyboards, mice, software, and gaming surfaces. Since 1998, Razer has collaborated with leading professional gamers to develop, manufacture and market cutting-edge gaming peripherals using proprietary technologies that give gamers the competitive edge. Razer products offer the best in precision, sensitivity, usability and distinctive product design and have a reputation for being leaders in gaming peripheral technology.

For more information, please visit www.razerzone.com.

Over the past two months, Stonetrip has added four new target platforms including Android, iPad, Wii™ and now Palm webOS. With support for additional platforms in the works, ShiVa 3D is the fastest growing development tool for games and 3D applications.

“Being first on Android, first on iPad and now first on webOS is a testament to our tech team and their ability to bring ShiVa where the community wants to develop,” said Philip Belhassen, CEO of Stonetrip. “For developers, being on platforms early gives a competitive advantage in establishing yourself before the inevitable land rush that we see on each new platform. ShiVa gives developers that extra edge in the marketplace.”

About the ShiVa 3D Engine
ShiVa is the developers’ tool of choice for easily creating amazing 3D real-time applications and games for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iPhone, Android, Wii and now Palm webOS. It is a powerful development platform for creators of 3D real-time applications and games that enables creators to quickly bring high-quality content to market. ShiVa has a strong support team behind it that is responsive, creative and experienced in game development on all platforms. The company continues to add additional support for new and emerging platforms under a single license strategy and extends ShiVa’s functionality to continue to meet the needs of developers.

Features
-Create any genre of game in a fraction of the time
-Cross-platform game engine designed for next-generation game development
-Delivers all the rendering, animation, special effects and programming features needed to create any game with ease
-Optimized graphical engine with dynamic lighting and shadows, reflection and skinning
-Built-in path finding
-Integrated ODE physics engine
-High-level development using LUA language
-WYSIWYG Editor
-Free Engine evaluation and SDK
-No publishing fees
-Single license for all platforms

About Stonetrip
Stonetrip a leading 3D engine company for games and 3D applications founded in 2003. Headquartered in Sophia-Antipolis, France, the company designs and supports ShiVa, the developers’ tool of choice for easily creating amazing 3D real-time applications and games for Windows, Mac OS, Web, Linux, Wii, iPhone, iPad, Palm webOS and Android. The company is focused on delivering a powerful platform for creators through its industry leading technology that continues to make it easier to achieve high quality in less time with the greatest compatibility. Stonetrip continues to add additional platforms to the ShiVa platform as it extends its reach to new markets. For more information on Stonetrip, visit: www.stonetrip.com

About Hegemony: Philip of Macedon
Hegemony: Philip of Macedon lets you conquer the ancient Greek world in this PC RTS war game that follows the rise of Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. Players campaign across a continuous satellite-accurate map of ancient Greece encountering the full range of warfare from reconnaissance to raids to field battles to mountain blockades. The game also features:

- Innovative supply system – Siege and starve the enemy by cutting their supply lines or burning their crops, all the while building and protecting your own supply network to support your growing empire.
- Steeped in history – In-game pedia and 100+ historical objectives recreate the rise of the Macedonian empire.
- Detailed and stylized world and map – Transition smoothly between the detailed 3D world and the stylized board-game map while maintaining complete control over your empire.
- Subjugate your enemy – Chase down and capture routed enemy units to create slave gangs to work your mines or build your forts. But don’t leave them unguarded or they could rebel and wreak havoc in your empire’s heartland!
- Conquer the seas – Build or capture a fleet of triremes to protect your coastlines, raid enemy merchants, or drop an army at your enemy’s backdoor.

About Longbow Games
Longbow Games is a Toronto based developer and self-publisher dedicated to technically innovative and artistically unique games for the PC. Their latest project, Hegemony: Philip of Macedon signals a change in direction for the company as they explore new frontiers in the RTS genre. For more information, please visit: www.LongbowGames.com

A panel of 17 judges including high-ranking executives from Google and Playfish determined this year’s winners. In order to be nominated, digital media companies must meet certain criteria requiring at least revenue of EUR 1.5m in the last financial year. Companies are then ranked by their annual revenue growth rate between the three most recent financial years. Now in its sixth year, the awards are organized by the specialist media and technology investment bank, GP Bullhound. Schroders Private Banking, Acton Capital Partners and law firm Kemp Little are premium sponsors of the awards, with Grant Thornton as award sponsor.

GamersGate’s CEO, Theodore Bergquist, upon receiving notification of the award, noted “GamersGate could not be more honored to receive this outstanding achievement. We have doubled our inventory in the past year and anticipate continued rapid growth. This award is a strong reflection of our rapid growth and commitment to our customers.”

For more information, please visit www.GamersGate.com and http://www.mediamomentum.co.uk/.

About GamersGate

GamersGate is a leading digital distribution platform creating easily accessible gaming experiences for gamers worldwide – anytime, anywhere. Viewed as a strong contender in the digital download arena, GamersGate continues to redefine the download industry and future strategies including the launch of several accompanying services and comprehensive tools, in addition to an aggressively growing product portfolio with over 2,000 games from a wide range of internationally recognized publishers. For more information, check out the GamersGate website at http://www.gamersgate.com.

About GP Bullhound

With offices in London and San Francisco, GP Bullhound is a leading investment banking firm providing advice on mergers & acquisitions and institutional capital-raising to emerging growth companies in the Technology sector. The firm was established in 1999, and has completed over 90 M&A and Private Placement transactions since its founding. Comprised of some of the most experienced technology advisory professionals, our long track record and dedicated approach has helped us establish a leading global position. We have strong domain expertise in the areas of Internet and Digital Media, Software and Services, and CleanTech and Hardware, where we focus on providing preeminent advisory services to some of the best entrepreneurs, management teams and investors around the globe.

Despite his dedication to tracking down the worst inhabitants of the Land of Chaos, the bounty hunter known as Randy Rozz has a truly checkered past. He spent his teenage years living on the streets, digging through trash and begging for food. His rough upbringing led him to become a notorious outlaw, ceaselessly hunted by the royal guards until the pope pardoned fugitives everywhere during a grand celebration. Randy Rozz took advantage of this second chance and committed the rest of his life to the pursuit of dangerous criminals.

Although her parents hoped she would live a normal life, Foxlady spent her childhood training with the legendary warrior “Whitefox” to become one of her tribe’s most powerful fighters. After years of study, she was sent out to explore the far reaches of the Land of Chaos. She soon met a girl from the Moonlight Tribe named Deerfeet and the two became close friends, but tragedy struck shortly after. An evil horde descended upon Deerfeet’s village to kill and kidnap the inhabitants, and Foxlady barely survived the encounter. She now stalks the trail of those evil forces in search of her kidnapped friend, destroying any who get in her way.

To leaf through the Book of Heroes and learn more about Land of Chaos Online’s diverse roster of warriors, assassins, magicians, and monsters, visit http://loco.alaplaya.net/chronicles

For more information about LOCO – Land of Chaos Online in general, head to http://www.loco.alaplaya.net

About LOCO – Land of Chaos Online

Developed by Danal Entertainment, LOCO – Land of Chaos Online is a truly next-gen MMO that features high-end graphics, a roster of 30 playable characters with unique skills and personalities, and hectic online combat. LOCO’s unique combination of RTS, Action, and RPG elements is guaranteed to give players around the world a gaming experience unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

About burda:ic & alaplaya

burda:ic GmbH is a leading free-to-play PC online games publisher headquartered in Munich, Germany. burda:ic markets and distributes massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) such as Avalon Heroes, S4League, and Florensia. Its innovative alaplaya Gaming platform has continued to grow rapidly since its launch in summer 2007, with an expected 10 million registered users by end of 2010. More information about burda:ic is available at www.burda-ic.com.

Developed by Danal Entertainment, Land of Chaos Online is a truly next-gen MMO that features high-end graphics, a roster of 30 playable characters with unique skills and personalities, and hectic online combat. Land of Chaos Online’s unique combination of RTS, Action, and RPG elements is guaranteed to give players around the world a gaming experience unlike anything they’ve ever seen.
About burda:ic & alaplaya

burda:ic GmbH is a leading free-to-play PC online games publisher headquartered in Munich, Germany. burda:ic markets and distributes massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) such as Avalon Heroes, S4League, and Florensia. Its innovative alaplaya Gaming platform has continued to grow rapidly since its launch in summer 2007, with an expected 10 million registered users by end of 2010. More information about burda:ic is available at www.burda-ic.com.

Watch the release trailer for Mount & Blade: Warband here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwGxzdGqEDg

The sequel to the original Mount & Blade introduces grueling 64 player multiplayer battles in the action-RPG that truly sets the standard for equestrian combat. With a host of new features and improvements, including a new campaign, highly-detailed open environments, and the ability to find love amongst violence, the ultimate battle for the throne of Calradia starts today.

Mount & Blade: Warband Game Features:

• Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle, and Siege.

• Graphical overhaul: State-of-the-art rendering technologies combine with a more informative interface, allowing new and advanced players alike to enjoy an unprecedented level of immersion.

• Seek adventure alone, or recruit and train an army fit for a king. You and your companions will gain experience and skills while your soldiers evolve into a deadly fighting force.

• New campaign allows you to become the ruler of a faction and convince lords to become your vassals.

• New ability to marry a lady of the realm for romance or cold political gain. Try to win a lady’s heart through poetry or bravery.

For more information visit: www.mountandbladewarband.com and join the Mount & Blade community on Facebook.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the upcoming Lead & Gold, Supreme Ruler 2020, Elven Legacy, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2 – The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

“The addition of a streamlined in-game toolset to our service adds tremendous value to the GamersGate marketplace,” said Theodore Bergquist, CEO of GamersGate. “With the new features provided by PlayXpert’s program, our customers will enjoy always-on community and a better overall gaming experience.”

The new overlay system is a GamersGate skinned Signature Edition of the PlayXpert program and will be offered free of charge to all GamersGate users. The added in-game tools that accompany this program include:

o Web Browser: A complete Internet browser, surf the web without logging out of your game
o Friends List: In-game chat with friends from Google Talk, Sony Station Friends, AIM, and more
o System Diagnostics: Monitor and optimize system performance on the fly
o Tunes: In-Game control of local media players or streaming players like Pandora

“As a leader in digital distribution, GamersGate provides a strong community of PC gamers that will benefit greatly from our in-game toolset,” said Charles F. Manning, CEO of PlayXpert. “GamersGate’s dedication to its community is unprecedented, and we’re thrilled to partner with them.”

For more information, or to check out GamersGate’s new in-game toolset, visit: http://www.gamersgate.com/playxpert.

About GamersGate

GamersGate is a leading digital distribution platform creating easily accessible gaming experiences for gamers worldwide – anytime, anywhere. With the largest online catalog of downloadable games, GamersGate continues to redefine the download industry and future strategies including the launch of several accompanying services and comprehensive tools, in addition to an aggressively growing product portfolio from a wide range of internationally recognized publishers. http://www.gamersgate.com.

About PlayXpert

PlayXpert, LLC, is the provider of next-generation in-game community management tools for the PC and MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) market. Focused on delivering the technology gamers want to enrich their community experience, PlayXpert allows users to engage in their favorite activities (forum posts, chat, music control, or monitoring system diagnostics) while in-game. The PlayXpert client is a completely customizable platform that enables gamers to choose from a large variety of tools to enhance their gaming experience. For more information, please visit www.playxpert.com.