Xperia PLAY to showcase new content and functionality at Gamescom 2011
· 150 optimised titles now available from top publishers and leading independent studios
· FIFA 12, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, and Dead Space from EA coming to Xperia(TM) PLAY soon
· Facebook inside Xperia(TM) enables powerful new way to discover great content
17 August, Cologne, Germany 2011 – Sony Ericsson shows a strong selection of games from its ever growing ecosystem of over 150 optimised titles for Xperia(TM) PLAY at Gamescom in Cologne. As of result of Sony Ericsson’s ever expanding partnerships with top publishers and leading independent studios, Xperia(TM) PLAY now offers a broad and compelling portfolio of content including games of all genres and for all types of gamer.
At Gamescom Sony Ericsson is announcing and previewing a selection of new titles from Gameloft, EA’s Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and Dead Space, and the Android premiere of Polarbit’s driving game Reckless Getaway.
Sony Ericsson’s new developer programme “Stand Out” is also starting to bring innovative and award-winning content to Xperia(TM) PLAY. As such, Sony Ericsson will be hosting the cream of independent development talent at their booth. Among the titles available to try are Catfish Blue’s Hyperlight, Be-Rad’s Lame Castle and an enhanced new version of They Need To Be Fed from YoYo Games.
“With new games coming to the ecosystem on a daily basis, Xperia(TM) PLAY is redefining smartphone gaming. Xperia(TM) PLAY is in a whole new category, a unique platform that allows major publishers and independent studios alike to push the boundaries of smartphone gaming and reach new audiences,” said Tim Harrison, Head of Content & Marketing Strategy for Sony Ericsson. “Gamescom provides a fantastic opportunity to show consumers just how far Xperia(TM) PLAY has come in a short space of time. And the journey is really only just beginning.”
Some of the Xperia(TM) PLAY Android titles announced and showcased this week:
· Dead Space, Need For Speed Hot Pursuit and FIFA12 by EA
· Reckless Getaway, Reckless Racing 2 and Tanks by Polarbit
· Let’s Golf 3 by Gameloft
· Townsmen 6, Guns & Glory WW2 and Clouds and Sheep by HandyGame
· They Need To Be Fed by YoYo Games
· Lame Castle by Be-Rad Entertainment
· Hyperlight by Catfishblues Games
· Diversion and Crazy Snowboard by Ezone PTY LTD
· Gibs & Gore Micronytes
· Protoxide and Battle Boats 3D by Herocraft
· EVAC HD and Radient HD by Hexage
· PewPew 2 by Jean-Francois Geyelin
· Stellar Escape by Orange Agenda
· Jumpy, INC and Meganoid by Orange Pixel
· Death Worm by PlayCreek LLC
· No Gravity by Real Tech VR
· Crusade of Destiny by Divide Arts
· Desert Winds by Southend Interactive
Compelling New Smartphone Functionality for Xperia(TM) PLAY:
Facebook® inside Xperia(TM) brings a new way to share and discover games to Xperia(TM) PLAY. Users will soon be able to recommend their favourite games instantly on Facebook from within their Xperia PLAY and share top scores or favourite gaming moments by uploading a screenshot from any game to Facebook. If users want to find a new game to download, the friends’ games and apps widget in the homescreen will enable users to discover and download games recommended by friends on Facebook.
Xperia(TM) PLAY also now supports Skype video calling using the Skype for Android(TM) app on the Android(TM) Market.
Sony Ericsson will be present at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th-21st August to offer hands-on demos of Xperia(TM) PLAY and many of the new games at the Sony Ericsson stand in hall 7.1 (stand C010). The new games announced today will be released in the coming months, with more details regarding timings and exclusivity to be announced in due course.
Check out the Sony Ericsson Product Blog for more information: http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products
Partner quotes:
Pascal Bestebroer, CEO, Orange Pixel: “I can’t believe it has taken this long for someone to add game controls to a phone…it’s pure genius! With our game Meganoid we tried to really get awesome and responsive touch-screen controls, and most people will agree that we succeeded! But if you play Meganoid on the Xperia(TM) PLAY, you will understand that there is a better way to play this type of arcade game. The game controls just feel perfect; by sliding it open, your phone suddenly turns into a full game console! If you consider yourself a gamer, then this really is the device for you…And as a bonus – it makes phone calls too!”
Jopacus J Parrott, CEO, DVide Arts Incorporated: “I like Xperia(TM) PLAY because I believe it is an amazing device that delivers the perfect gaming experience. It is important to me that a device supports advanced 3D graphics and controls which is why Xperia(TM) PLAY is the ideal platform for my 3D RPG “Crusade Of Destiny”. As a game developer I am always looking for new technologies that push gaming to the next level and I foresee Sony Ericsson leading the future of mobile gaming with Xperia(TM) PLAY.”
Sandy Duncan, CEO, YoYo Games: “Xperia(TM) PLAY is an exciting new device that redefines the line between smartphone and a handheld gaming console, and offers a very interesting new platform for the developer community. Our games look great and play brilliantly on it, so we’re really looking forward to the worldwide launch and the first ever public showing of a new version of ‘They Need To Be Fed’ with many eagerly anticipated new Worlds and Levels at Sony Ericsson’s Gamescom booth this week.”
Anthony L. Sommers, CTO, Spacetime Studios, creators of Pocket Legends and Star Legends: “We’re delighted to be launching Star Legends on Xperia(TM) PLAY, the second title we have brought to this great device. Its performance and physical controls add a great new dimension to our titles. Sony Ericsson is also building a strong content ecosystem around the device, and it’s great to be a part of that.”
Mitri Wiberg, CEO, Polarbit: “Android is becoming a serious gaming platform, with devices like Xperia(TM) PLAY at the forefront. We are therefore delighted to launch Reckless Getaway for Android here today from the Sony Ericsson booth at Gamescom.”
Brad Johnson, Be-Rad Entertainment: “Lame Castle takes advantage of the Xperia(TM) PLAY gamepad buttons and the wonderfully wide screen size. As far as the screen goes, it’s a bit wider than a lot of other phones so you can actually see further ahead of you. This gives you a bit more time to see pickups and hazards so you’ll have an advantage when going for a high score.”
Alessandro Avigni, CatfishBlues Games: “Xperia(TM) PLAY has proven to be very powerful and allowed us to include advanced graphical effects unfeasible on other devices with similar hardware specs”
About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson celebrates its 10th year as a joint venture between Sony Corporation and Ericsson in October, 2011. Over the years Sony Ericsson has brought together the best communication technologies with superior entertainment user experiences to create its Xperia(TM) line of the “most entertaining smartphones” in the mobile handset industry. With its global corporate functions in London, Sony Ericsson has sales and marketing operations in all major regions of the world, as well as manufacturing in China, and product development sites in China, Japan, Sweden and Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.sonyericsson.com/press.
Legal guidelines:
The Liquid Identity logo and Xperia are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is the trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. Additional information regarding trademarks may be located on our website at: www.sonyericsson.com/cws/common/legal/disclaimer.
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sony Ericsson Global Communications & PR Mattias Holm +44 20 8762 6065
General Press: +44 208 762 5858
E-mail: press.global@SonyEricsson.com
Product images: www.sonyericsson.com/press
