Freeverse

New York - June 24th, 2008 - Freeverse, Inc. today announced the release of Jeopardy! Deluxe and Wheel of Fortune Deluxe, based on the hugely popular syndicated television game shows, for the Macintosh platform. Both Jeopardy! Deluxe and Wheel of Fortune Deluxe provide you with all of the thrills and excitement of the game shows from your own home! Free demos are available for download from the Freeverse website.

Test your knowledge with America's Favorite Quiz Show in Jeopardy! Deluxe. Featuring over 3,000 clues written by the TV show writers, Jeopardy! Deluxe is the closest you can get to the real thing. Just like the show, if you respond correctly you lead the game, but if you’re wrong, your competitors control the board and you have to use your wits to jump back in command or you might find yourself in JEOPARDY!

Wheel of Fortune Deluxe lets you spin the wheel and experience the enhanced game play and vivid graphics in this updated version of America’s #1 game show! Pick a consonant or buy a vowel to solve puzzles in three exciting new game modes: Road Trip, Group Play, and Puzzle of the Day. Create your own profile and earn trophies along with virtual cash! Look out for the dreaded Bankrupt and Lose-A-Turn wedges as you spin to win in the sparkling new version of this beloved game.

Jeopardy! Deluxe and Wheel of Fortune Deluxe will be available for $19.95 each from the Freeverse online store. A free demo, as well as more information can be found at either the Jeopardy! Deluxe or Wheel of Fortune Deluxe Product Page.

Jeopardy! Deluxe:
http://freeverse.com/games/game/?id=8002

Wheel of Fortune Deluxe:
http://freeverse.com/games/game/?id=8001

Contact Info:
Brian Akaka
Marketing Director
akaka@freeverse.com

New York - June 17th, 2008 - Freeverse, Inc. today announced the imminent release of a major downloadable content pack for its 2007 XBox LIVE Arcade port of Marathon: Durandal, Bungie's classic first-person shooter. Slated for a June 18th release, this content pack will extend the Marathon gaming experience on the Xbox 360 gaming console with new maps, game modes, and textures.

Available for 250 Microsoft Points on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the Jjaro Map Pack for Marathon: Durandal will include 12 classic multiplayer levels previously seen in Bungie's Marathon and Marathon Infinity.

Nostalgic players will recall the names of these classic maps: Thrud, Vulcan, King of Pain, Spiral Insanity, Dead Fields, Morphine, La Cosa Nostra, Mars Needs Women, 'Fugee Camp, What Goes Up Must Come Down, Arena, and Spline.

Each of these downloadable maps will support new gametypes previously unseen in their original release on the Macintosh platform, including King of the Hill, Kill the Man with the Ball, and Tag.

Also included in this downloadable content pack is the "Jjaro" collection, a texture and design set previously introduced in Marathon Infinity. In addition to these exciting new environments in which to play, players will also be able to unlock two new achievements:

Thing What Kicks - Kill a Juggernaut in Survival and live to tell the tale. 20 points.

King Pfhor a Day - Outscore all other players (at least 3) combined in a King of the Hill or Kill the Man with the Ball match. 10 points.

Players must download and enable the Jjaro Map Pack before they can earn these challenging new achievements.

Marathon: Durandal, considered ahead of its time in 1994, was a first-person shooter featuring an advanced 3D graphics engine, interesting story line, and compelling multiplayer game modes. Unique level design set players against obstacles and puzzles, including low-gravity spots, crushing ceilings, and magnetic fields that interfere with the player's motion sensor. Marathon's unique gameplay paved the way for two sequels, as well as Bungie's later franchise Halo.

Freeverse's 2007 XBox LIVE Arcade port adds some modern flair to this timeless classic, including a revised hud, enhanced widescreen high-definition graphics, and an increased framerate. Multiplayer is possible through four-player split-screen and 8-player games over Xbox LIVE, including both co-op and deathmatch modes. Winner of a Best of Show Award at the E3 2007 show, Marathon: Durandal is currently available on the XBox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points.

Marathon: Durandal

About Freeverse

Freeverse strives to develop and publish seamless software, with a particular concentration on the Mac OS and the Xbox 360. Our developed and published titles have been honored with more Apple Design Awards than any other company. Our original characters have appeared in TimeDigital, Wired, and Animation World magazines, as well as television commercials for Blockbuster Video.

Headquartered in New York City, Freeverse draws upon the talents of artists, programmers and sound designers from around the globe.

Contact:
Brian Akaka
Marketing Director
akaka@freeverse.com
212-929-3549

Editors Note: Since our NDA prohibits us from showing all the cool stuff we've been working on (which is frustrating Brian, our Marketing guy!) we've decided to have an intern at Freeverse "review" our new racing game for the iPhone / iPod Touch: Wingnuts Moto Chaser. We have some game art for you and what's best described as the subjective side of his review. We had to "edit" a little bit of his review to make sure we weren't breaking our non-disclosure agreement. Hope you enjoy it and lets hope third-party apps come out soon!

We can't actually show you screenshots, as per our NDA, but here's some art taken from our Mac level building utility and cutscenes.

I'm sitting at my desk in Freeverse's new Brooklyn office, nursing an ice-cold can of Mountain Dew. The iMac's screen stares back at me while I watch the blinking cursor marking my place in this writing. I prefer to write in full-screen, thus eliminating all of the distractions normally associated with multi-task computing. It's serene, really. A moment of quiet in what will soon become an insane work environment. Or will it?

With WWDC next week and the iTunes App Store on the horizon, developers must be scrambling to get their products out as quickly as possible. No one wants to be left behind  when the doors open and happy iPhone users get a first look at what's available. The developers, at the time of this writing, are probably one bug away from a nervous breakdown.



Freeverse, however, seems to exist in the eye of the hurricane. Although we are very aware of deadlines, no one is running around like some kind of apocalypse is coming. Spirits are pretty high around these parts, actually. We still peer out of the new office's windows, still not entirely used to the amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge. The occasional Nerf fight breaks out. Is this unusual for a developer in the midst of a major product launch? I think it just shows how much faith we have in Wingnuts Moto Chaser.




Moto Chaser was one of the first few iPhone _____ ____ ___ _____ ___ _ ____ __. _ ______ ___ _______ _______ ___ ___ _______ _____ ____ enough at the time, but not for me. I recently got a chance to play Moto Chaser, and I must say that it was amazing. Now, I'm not normally a fan of racing games; I've just never been good at them. I'll constantly veer off the track, smash into obstacles, and generally have an unpleasant time. But Moto Chaser, well, that was a completely different story. When I first held the developer iPod Touch to try the game out, I wasn't too sure what to expect. There were no instructions, no prompts yet, but just __________ ______ ____ ________ _____. When the race started, I wasn't prepared. ___ _____ _____ ____ _____ __________, _____ ___ ____ ____________ ________ ______ ____ ________ _____ ______ ___ ______ ___ ____.

_____ ____ _______. _________ __________ _______ ________ ________ ____ _____ ______ ____ ____ __ ______ _____ _____. _____ ______ ___ ___ _____ ___________ _____ _________ _____ ___ _____ ___ ______ ________ ____ _____ _____ __ ___ _________ _____ _______ ______ _____ ________ ____ _____ ___ _ ____ _____ _ _______ ___ ____ _____ _______ ___ _______ ____ ____ __________ ____ ________ ____ ________ ___ high-quality game play.




A bend in the track quickly approached. With no instructions given to me or even traditional controls to manipulate, I had no idea what to do. Previous racing games have told me that I didn't want to veer off the track; I wanted to turn my bike to the left and remain on the road. In a last moment of desperation, I _____ ______ ____ _______ _____ __. Just like a Mac application that works "the way you expect," Moto Chaser behaved perfectly. ________ _____ ________ ______ ________ _____ ______ ____ _____. It just makes sense.



As I piloted my craft through each quickly approaching checkpoint, I began to fear my ability to complete the race. No, I began to fear my ability to complete just half of the race. As I said, I'm terrible at racing games. This one, though, had a very arcade-like feel to it. You don't need know the complicated workings of a motorcycle gear system to have a blast with this. Just pick it up and go. That's the kind of attitude I like in a game. It's the kind of attitude I've come to expect from Freeverse.



When the iTunes App Store finally opens its virtual doors, forget about the iPhone as "just a phone." On that red-letter day, whenever it happens to be, the iPhone will be well on its way to become a premiere gaming platform. You'll have games like Wingnuts Moto Chaser to thank for it.

About Me:
I'm Doug, the new intern here at Freeverse. I'll probably be blogging more about life in the office throughout the summer. I like awkward things like penguins, scarves, and Moleskine notebooks. Quirky bits of Mac software that reek of charm and style make me happy, too. You can find me on Twitter (penguintuition) or just e-mail me.