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.

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

In a brief statement made after an intense round of Lead and Gold from the game’s beta testing, Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester said, “There are so many inflated sales numbers in the gaming industry today that it feels especially good to present some actual numbers for once. This game is so incredibly awesome that the sales numbers don’t shock us at all. One beautiful thing about being a privately held company is that we really don’t need to provide proof, but everyone can just take our word for it. With console pre-order numbers are coming early next week which we expect will triple the sales numbers.”

For more life changing information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and www.leadandgold.com.

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 Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

About Fatshark
Fatshark is a Swedish game development studio located in Stockholm. Comprised of experienced and skilled developers, the team members have been involved in the Swedish game development industry from its humble beginnings to its current elevated position. In addition to their previous experience, the Fatshark team has continued to evolve being involved as subcontractors in a number of AAA titles for consoles as well as for PC. Follow Fatshark at twitter, www.twitter.com/fatsharkgames or visit us at www.fatshark.se

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.

“PC gamers can now experience the fun, frenetic action of Shatter with new modes, achievements and leaderboards,” said Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe. “We’ve continued expanding the game to bring modes to the PC version that will appeal to both new players and those familiar with the PSN version.”

To celebrate the launch of the game, Sidhe will be running competitions to give away copies of the Shatter soundtrack to players following the official Sidhe Twitter feed and members of the Sidhe Facebook fanpage over the next week.

About Shatter® for PC
Shatter is a retro-inspired brick-breaking game that merges familiar action with unique twists and a modern crafted production approach.

Key Features:

• Innovative controls, physics effects, power-ups, special attacks, and boss battles which combine to provide an experience that is always interactive.
• Story Mode, Boss Rush, Bonus Mode, and all new game modes Endless Mode, Endless Local Co-op Multiplayer, Time Attack Mode and Time Attack Local Co-op Multiplayer
• A Vibrant 3D Style presented across 10 distinct worlds in high resolution.
• A fully scored soundtrack featuring over 90 minutes of award winning original music
• Steam Leaderboards and Achievements for all modes

For more information on Shatter, visit www.shattergame.com. Purchase Shatter for PC via Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/20820

About Sidhe
Founded in 1997, Sidhe is an award-winning developer of console, handheld and PC games. The largest game production studio in New Zealand, Sidhe has a proven track record of creating high-quality, mass-market, licensed and original titles for a worldwide audience. The studio has produced more than 20 high-profile titles including the award winning original titles GripShift® and Shatter®, Speed Racer The Videogame, as well as multiple games based on the NRL Rugby League franchise. For more information on Sidhe, please visit: www.sidhe.co.nz Copyright © 2010 Prodigy Design Limited. Shatter and Sidhe are trademarks or registered trademarks of Prodigy Design Limited. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

In The Tarot’s Misfortune, players take on the role of tarot reader, Rosalee, who awakens disoriented in prison and must embark on a thrilling journey. Exploring the town of Luzio, players will piece together cryptic clues and find the lost tarot card deck to uncover the secrets of the village. To advance through each of the 12 beautifully detailed levels, players must uncover specific hidden objects in Luzio. Gameplay is intuitive yet addicting so both experienced casual gamers and newcomers to the genre will be entertained and enchanted.

“We believe we’ve succeeded in creating a game that will keep players of all levels captivated by intertwining challenging puzzles along with an intriguing storyline,” said Michael Grills, Director of Operations at Triple Hippo Studios.

To learn more about The Tarot’s Misfortune, please visit: http://www.tarotsmisfortune.com.

To play The Tarot’s Misfortune on Big Fish Games, please visit: www.bigfishgames.com.

About Ph03nix New Media

Based in Alberta, Canada, Ph03nix New Media is a game development company focused on creating inspiring and entertainment multi-platform games. Founded in 2003 by entrepreneur, Jon Lam, Ph03nix New Media specializes in designing casual games, and has received widespread recognition for the Curse of the Pharaoh series, which topped the charts on leading casual game portals. Ph03nix New Media is backed by AVAC Ltd. and received $1.1 million in investment funding. In 2009, Ph03nix New Media launched the iPhoenix Fund, an investment fund focused on development for the iPhone platform. Additionally, the company acquired Blue Unit Studios, a Calgary-based iPhone game development studio, and formed Big Stack Studios and Triple Hippo Studios, the iPhone and casual games divisions of Ph03nix New Media. For more information, please visit: www.ph03nixnewmedia.com.

The pre-order announcement coincides with the release of the Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 demo, offering a taste of the game’s focus on realism and both tactical and strategic depth.

For more info, visit www.paradoxplaza.com/games/achtung-panzer-kharkov-1943 or join the Achtung Panzer fan page on Facebook where one copy of the game will be given to fans daily leading up to the release of the game.

Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 Main Features:

• Great replayability and flexible AI behavior: “smart” AI analyzes tactical movements of player and chooses the best strategy based on opponents’ behavior, rather than following scripts. It allows players to complete the same scenarios using different tactics as if playing with a human player.
• Painstaking landscape reconstruction of Kharkov region in scope and size
• Thorough re-creation of weapons, artillery and vehicles: all battle characteristics, including missile trajectories or number of crew, were modeled according to military archive materials and WW2 chronicles.
• Dynamic change of day & night, and weather effects that affect combat – terrain traversal, visibility on the battlefield, disguise abilities of all forces, etc.
• Destructible environment: blast and destroy almost everything, from ground terrain to houses and enemy defenses. All traces of previous battles (shell-holes, broken vehicles, corpses, etc.) are left on the battlefield until the end of the scenario.
• Real ballistics: bullets and projectiles follow authentic trajectories. Proper shot longitude, number of frags and their range are calculated.
• Real vehicle damage system: engine, suspension, weapons, aiming appliances can all be damaged separately, affecting the combat abilities of the vehicle.
• Real soldiers’ behavior: every soldier has some basic parameters, such as experience level, fatigue and morale that affect his behaviour and effectiveness.
• Military Encyclopedia with 3D model viewer and detailed data on all units, describing their historical and in-game characteristics.

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 Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

The overall story line is the main draw to Three Cards to Dead Time, as you play as Jess Silloway, who has just discovered that she has a rare “gift”.  Of course, this “gift” has almost cost her her life, and the lives of her adoptive parents.  During your game play, you’ll play as her to unravel mysteries, save your family and friends, and discover memories from people long gone.  You have to determine who your heart belongs to – your boyfriend or the PI that you have hired to help you – and you have to fight for your life against both real people and ghosts of the past.  Let me tell you right now that the story line is excellent in this casual hidden objects game, it’s a superb addition to an already great game.  Anyone that is looking for a casual game that actually has a realistic feel to it needs to try out Three Cards to Dead Time from Big Finish Games.

When it comes to the overall game play in this great little game, anyone that loves hidden objects games will find the game play is different from others out there.  It’s more challenging, and the different games that you have to play to solve the puzzles will really push your brain to the limits.  Personally, I love the fact that you don’t have to play the level’s different areas in a specific order.  You have the freedom to choose where you want to play first and also have special areas where you get to choose how the story line will go.

The challenge of Three Cards to Dead Time is much better than other hidden objects games out there, as you really have to use your brain to find the objects needed.  For example, you don’t just have a list of objects at the bottom of the screen to search for.  Instead, the game will give you a phrase or question or linked objects – such as objects on a tarot card, or linking objects together such as salt and pepper and so on.  The game really makes you use your brain, which gets you more involved in the game overall and gets you involved with the characters as well.

One more thing that I absolutely loved was the voice acting in Three Cards to Dead Time.  Normally the voice acting in some of these types of games really sucks (to put it nicely) and I am by far not a fan of most of the music and background noises out there.  But the developers really put in some major time and effort here.  The voice acting actually adds more to the game overall, as it provides a “real” feel to the game overall.

Now, let’s talk about the graphics in Three Cards to Dead Time – once again, this is a jewel.  The graphics are extremely good, as in computer animated movie good.  The graphics are actually believable, and the areas where you have to find objects doesn’t just look like there are different things cut and pasted in from other games or pictures.  You’ll actually have some times during the game play where the graphics in the hidden object levels are so good that you won’t be able to find the objects – even on the easy mode.  As you can see for yourself from the screen shots throughout this review, the graphics are impressive to say the least.

I really enjoyed reviewing this game and have gone back through it and played it a couple more times as well after the review.  It’s interesting to play the game on the different difficulty levels – although the toughest difficulty is still too much for me!  So, if you’re looking for a great way to play a casual game without giving up the RPG feel, check out Three Cards to Dead Time.

Preview the quest of four of the bravest wizards as they take on dragons, ice monsters and wield things that glow in an attempt to save the world from ultimate peril.

View the teaser trailer that bests all teaser trailers here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7EFHt2IL4E

Additionally, Johan Pilestedt, CEO and Game Director at Arrowhead Game Studios recently sat down at the Paradox Interactive Convention to discuss Magicka.

“The most important key feature is the dynamic spellcasting system where you can combine spells freely,” says Johan Pilestedt. “For example, combining two elements, like fire and water, creates steam. And if you then combine that steam with earth you create an earth projectile which, when it hits something, explodes in a steam cloud.”

View the complete interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jp7Y5oNOA4

Be prepared for intense fighting in fancy robes when Magicka releases on multiple platforms in Q2 2010.

For upcoming news visit Magicka on Facebook and www.paradoxplaza.com/games/magicka

Magicka Game Features:

• Innovative and dynamic spellcasting system with over a million possible combinations
• Up to four-player co-op in all game modes, as well as a single-player option
• Fight your way through 13 different levels in the campaign
• Explore an expansive realm of adventure to defeat the evilest of wizards
• Experience the parody and satire of a clichéd fantasy world

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 Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

Watch as Johan Andersson, Producer at Paradox Interactive, takes viewers through the title which calls upon players to guide their chosen nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century through expansion and colonization, ultimately becoming a great power by the dawn of the 20th century.

“Victoria 2 is an economical game in its core,” says Johan, when stressing the title’s large focus on simulating the economy and political landscape during an era which featured the largest free market in the world. For fans of Paradox’s war strategy titles, Johan adds, “…there is of course, still war.”

Victoria 2 is scheduled for a Q3 2010 release.

The interview and teaser trailer are available for viewing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzWY6ykHDFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDMgNJbaGQ

For more info, follow Victoria 2 on Facebook and on Twitter and www.paradoxplaza.com

Victoria 2 Main Features:

• Deep, engrossing political simulation with dozens of government types
• Detailed economy with over 50 different types of goods and various production factories
• Over 200 different playable countries, from 1835 to the onset of WWII and with the possibility to export a saved game at the end of the game into Hearts of Iron 3
• Advanced technological system with thousands of inventions to discover
• Advanced spheres of influence system, where the great powers battle over the control of the world

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 Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on twitter.