http://bigpoint.net We do games. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:31:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://bigpoint.net/2013/05/brand-new-blockbuster-merc-elite-reaches-closed-beta/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/05/brand-new-blockbuster-merc-elite-reaches-closed-beta/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 15:23:37 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=5212 ]]>
To coincide with the launch of the invite-only test phase, Bigpoint is also releasing the first Merc Elite video, which provides a glimpse into the game mechanics and exclusive game footage: http://www.youtube.com/mercelitehq


In a World Gripped by Chaos, Corporate Soldiers Reign Supreme

Rising from the smoking wreckage of failed states, five corporations wrested power from the chaos to rule over a lawless disillusioned society. To achieve their sinister schemes, these conglomerates deploy special units to take their aims with force. Staffed primarily by ex-members of armed forces from every nation, these professional outfits emphasize top-of-the-line equipment and boast experienced, deadly employees. They are the finest mercenaries the planet has to offer: the elite.

Merc Elite: The Next-Generation of MOBA Games

Merc Elite is a team-based, PvP, strategic shooter that delivers spectacular action in a cutting-edge game world set in the near future. Thanks to the novel direct-fire combat system, players can simply point and click to fire at any target, which provides them with increased control and precision in combat. Elaborate, varied battlefields offer a multitude of strategic cover options to minimize enemy fire and the refined line of sight feature allows players to explore the terrain, while staying out of enemy view. Merc Elite delivers exciting, tense, relentless action in 5v5 online battles; where players can unlock advanced military weapons, train new skills, and hire powerful new mercenaries by directing their team to victory.

Players can choose from five different character classes: Recon, Tactician, Assault, Heavy Gunner or the Juggernaut. Each class contains a unique skillset that players can employ to successfully complete strategic operations in a series of rapid-succession battles.
Merc Elite is aimed at MOBA players looking for a new challenge in an entirely unique game setting, and shooter fans looking for innovative new gameplay. Merc Elite is free-to-play and emphasizes fair, skill-based arena combat and is built on Unity Web Player technology, which requires no client installation or download.

Bigpoint will soon release further information about Merc Elite, its five character classes, as well as detailed descriptions of the respective sub-classes.

Additional information can be found at the following:

http://www.mercelite.com
http://www.facebook.com/MercElite
http://www.youtube.com/mercelitehq
https://twitter.com/MercElite

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/05/brand-new-blockbuster-merc-elite-reaches-closed-beta/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/bigpoint-adds-firepower-to-catalogue-with-the-launch-of-brand-new-moba-game-merc-elite/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/bigpoint-adds-firepower-to-catalogue-with-the-launch-of-brand-new-moba-game-merc-elite/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:02 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=5014 ]]>
Merc Elite is a military-themed MOBA game that takes place in the near future, where dominating the opponent is the prime objective. Boasting a direct-fire aiming system, exciting combat requiring precise tactical movement, a multitude of varied battlefields and endless strategic options, Merc Elite offers a new experience for even the most well-versed MOBA players as it marks the first ever game in the genre to be set in a near-future reality – not in the realm of fantasy.

Set in a world where governments have faltered and collapsed, 5 multinational conglomerates have emerged from the fallout as the undisputable powers in a world on the brink of self-destruction. In the persistent struggle to secure the few remaining resources, the ex-military elite, the mercenaries, do the bidding of the money and power hungry conglomerates.

Players can choose from five different character classes and a plethora of high-tech weaponry as they hatch plans and lead attacks in rapid-succession battles. Be it through applying brute force, wielding heavy weaponry, employing stealth or hit-and-run tactics, or using brains instead of brawn to complete their objectives, players will find the depth and variety of the character classes available refreshingly unique.

“A team of more than 40 people have developed our newest Unity Game,” says Jeff Lydell, Senior Producer at Bigpoint, “Merc Elite goes beyond standard free-to-play browser titles by employing stunning 3D graphics powered by Unity and delivering a flurry of PvP action that includes an array of high-tech weapons, cunning tactics and a variety of character classes, while ensuring fair gameplay with skill-based combat.”

“Not only will Merc Elite bring a breath of fresh air into the MOBA genre via its shooter elements and tactical approach, I believe it will also mark the dawn of a new generation in free-to-play browser based games, where this level of production value, innovation and risk taking in the game design will set a new industry standard.” says Khaled Helioui, Managing Director of Bigpoint.

Further information
- http://bigpoint.com
- http://bigpoint.net
- http://mercelite.com
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/bigpoint-adds-firepower-to-catalogue-with-the-launch-of-brand-new-moba-game-merc-elite/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/farmerama-struck-by-worlds-first-online-drought/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/farmerama-struck-by-worlds-first-online-drought/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:39 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4926 ]]> Farmerama, the online farm simulator game published by Bigpoint, is caught in the midst of a debilitating drought. More than 45 million farmers are shocked to find their once blue rivers gone brown and lush fields turned to plots of dust, while their animals are dying of thirst.

Just in time for World Water Day, Farmerama is tasking farmers for five days with challenging quests to call attention to water problems facing the world. The quest centers around players working together to undo the grime caused by Borsty, the filthy industrialist pig. The countryside took a dramatic turn for the worse after Borsty began using cheap machinery to fill his greedy pockets with profits at the expense of the eco-system. In line with the event theme “Water Cooperation,” every farmer is being called on to work together and take on Borsty in an effort to restore order to the environment.

The lighthearted quest facing farmers in the online world is unfortunately a tragic realityfor millions around the world living in regions fraught with drought and damaging water shortages.

“The sole way to create awareness for this appalling situation is to spread the word online. Access to potable water is no matter of course for far too many people around the globe. By working together, however, we can all take the necessary steps to ratify this important issue,” says Khaled Helioui, Managing Director of Bigpoint, who himself supports a non-profit organization that initiates water projects in the world.

By creating the event Bigpoint is supporting UN Water, the UN mechanism responsible for World Water Day, as well as the FAO’s Ending Hunger Initiative, in a viral campaign to raise awareness for the global water shortage facing small-scale farmers and their families. Donations can be made to FAO via www.farmageddon.eu, the proceeds of which will go directly to families in developing countries. The aim of the project is to raise money to acquire water pumps, reservoirs, piping and other necessary equipment to supply regions in need.

Farmerama’s community has a track record of engaging in charitable projects as evinced by the Pro7 Green Seven week, events with Oxfam, Plant for the Planet and the German Red Cross in Hamburg. The World Water Day event in Farmerama is being jointly developed by Bigpoint and the international marketing agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

About World Water Day
World Water Day (www.unwater.org/water-cooperation-2013) has been observed on March 22nd since its inception in 1993 and is aimed at raising awareness for the sustainable management of fresh water resources. The theme of World Water Day 2013 is “International Day of Water Cooperation.” World Water Day is coordinated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

About FAO
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, www.fao.org) leads international initiatives to defeat hunger and create sustainable food supplies. FAO was founded in 1945 as a special agency of the UN; its headquarters are located in Rome. FAO’s EndingHunger Initiative enables young person and interested persons to become actively involved in defeating world hungry during our lifetime.

About Bigpoint
Bigpoint is Europe’s leading online-game developer and publisher, as well as content provider for more than 1000 global distribution partners. Bigpoint’s free-to-play games are played by over 300 million registered users in over 22 languages. The company‘s portfolio includes casual, core and hardcore titles, including Battlestar Galactica Online and Drakensang Online. Employees from more than 35 countries work together at the company headquarters in Hamburg, Germany and at various locations around the world such as Berlin, San Francisco and Paris. Bigpoint has received various awards, such as the European Business Award 2011, the MMO of the Year 2012 for Drakensang Online, the Mashable Online Game Award for Farmerama and the MTV Skyscraper Award for Excellence in Game Development.
Press information: www.bigpoint.net

About Saatchi & Saatchi
Saatchi & Saatchi is the Lovemarks Company that accompanies brands such as Toyota, O2, AS&S Radio, Pampers, Ariel, vivesco, Voltaren, Pro7, Volvo, AIDA, Veltins and Union Investment on their way to becoming a Lovemark.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/farmerama-struck-by-worlds-first-online-drought/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/drakensang-online-to-host-epic-battle-massive-cash-prizes-in-store-for-15-million-registered-players/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/drakensang-online-to-host-epic-battle-massive-cash-prizes-in-store-for-15-million-registered-players/#comments Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:00:28 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=5066 ]]> Bigpoint would like to show its appreciation to the more than 15 million registered Drakensang Online fans by hosting a massive player versus player battle beginning March 18th with cash prizes totaling €10,000.

In just 18 months, Drakensang Online has amassed a core following around the world with over 15 million registered users signing up to experience the award-winning fantasy action RPG.

To say thanks for their support, Drakensang Online is organizing the Dance of Blades event – a PvP battle pitting teams of three against each other in a winner-take-all format scheduled to begin on March 18th.

“We wanted to give our players action-packed PvP battles that are as entertaining as they are rewarding,” said Drakensang Online producer Bernd Beyreuther.

“To this end, we have devoted an enormous amount of time and energy towards revamping the PvP feature to create exciting battles that will keep players entertained for hours on end. To celebrate the fruits of our efforts and to kick off the feature’s relaunch, we are holding the Dance of Blades event, where we will be giving away a bundle of cash prizes to the victors.”

To be eligible, players must qualify during the month of March by forming a 3-person team to collect battle points and make it into the rankings. Depending on the amount of points tallied, players can earn either bronze, silver, gold or platinum classification to have a shot at bringing home either €500, €1500, €3000 or €5000 in cash!

Additional links
- www.drakensang-online.com
- www.facebook.com/drakensangonline
- www.twitter.com/drakensang
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/drakensang-online-to-host-epic-battle-massive-cash-prizes-in-store-for-15-million-registered-players/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/quo-vadis-2/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/quo-vadis-2/#comments Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:55:36 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4851 Panel discussion on gaming
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/quo-vadis-2/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/khaled-helioui-to-lead-bigpoint/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/khaled-helioui-to-lead-bigpoint/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:09:31 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4815 ]]> Bigpoint, Europe’s leading online game developer and publisher, is announcing the selection of Khaled Helioui as its new Managing Director. Mr. Helioui is entrusted with driving and executing the company’s strategy, including the further expansion of its portfolio of games with a strong focus on quality and innovation and the extension of its international reach within Europe, Asia and America. The gaming and internet industry expert took over the company’s reins on February 1, 2013.

Mr. Helioui joined Bigpoint in July 2012 as Chief Games Officer (CGO) and was responsible of managing the games portfolio. In this position he oversaw the development of new games, lifecycle management for existing titles and the publishing of third-party content. Mr. Helioui joined from TA Associates, a global growth equity firm, where he covered the technology space from 2009 through May 2012 and was notably involved in that company’s investment in Bigpoint. He had previously served at UBS advising technology companies across Europe on capital raising and M&A considerations.

“I am really proud and honored to have the trust of company founder Heiko Hubertz and our supervisory board. In face of the transition within the industry, Bigpoint has undergone a number of changes over the last year. I am confident that with our new organization, our fantastic staff and our renewed focus on the core of what Bigpoint really is, our games, we are going to drive the next phase of online gaming with content of unprecedented quality and genuinely innovative design,” says Khaled Helioui, Managing Director of Bigpoint.

Heiko Hubertz, founder and Chairman of the Board of Bigpoint, said: “Khaled has a passion for gaming, really understands what makes Bigpoint unique and has proven to be a great leader for Bigpoint as CGO. We are very pleased to have him guide the company going forward.”

The COO, Christian Unger, had held the post on an interim basis and left the company in good standing after a planned seven month stint, effective January 31, 2013, to become managing director at Partners Group AG.

About Bigpoint
Bigpoint is Europe´s leading online game developer, publisher and content provider for more than 1,000 global distribution partners. Bigpoint’s free-to-play games are played by over 300 million registered users in over 25 languages. Employees from over 35 different nations work at the company headquarters in Hamburg (Germany) and at other locations such as Berlin, San Francisco and Paris.
The company‘s portfolio include high quality casual games titles like Farmerama, Rising Cities and Skyrama as well as core titles like Drakensang Online, Battlestar Galactica Online and Dark Orbit.
Bigpoint’s many distinctions in the industry include the European Business Award 2011, the MMO of the Year 2012 for Drakensang Online, the Mashable Best Online Game Award for “Farmerama” as well as the MTV Skyscraper Award for extraordinary achievement in game development.


Khaled Helioui,
Managing Director Bigpoint

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/khaled-helioui-to-lead-bigpoint/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/rising-cities-tops-2-million-players-and-continues-a-series-of-new-features/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/rising-cities-tops-2-million-players-and-continues-a-series-of-new-features/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:00:20 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=5070 ]]> Bigpoint is going to new heights! Over two million players have registered for Rising Cities (www.risingcities.com) since its launch. Now a series of recently implemented features have budding mayors buzzing with excitement.

Since breaking ground, Rising Cities has amassed an impressive following with some two million players already building their own personal metropolis by investing in industry and infrastructure, managing resources and producing goods:

“Rising Cities offers players a unique blend of core gaming elements in a casual game that boasts PC quality graphics. Bolstered by such encouraging figures, Rising Cities is poised to continue its successful run with various updates in store for the coming months,” says Moritz Overath Producer Rising Cities.

A new daily bonus feature is scheduled to be implemented this week. Additionally, the brand new harvester function will be going live soon and will significantly reduce the number of mouse clicks by fully automating the collection of rental income and rewards. Players can take full advantage of this feature by picking it up in the City Hall.
The exiting updates continue a series of recent new features to further increase excitement and fun in the Rising Cities metropolises.

After introducing two exciting resident types to augment the strategic aspects of the game, as well as creating the city square to provide players with a centralized starting point for weekly and event quests, the first major Rising Cities update is centered on the Emergency System feature.

The Emergency System feature gives mayors the chance to show their leadership skills in tough times by presenting them with various catastrophes and crises to deal with. The initial update was implemented in early March and includes the Academy and the Fire Department. Mayors will be able to train citizens to perform various civic tasks in the Academy, beginning with firemen and women.
The Emergency System will then be expanded to include a police force and hospitals.
Rising Cities breakneck start continued as it recently received the MMO of the Year 2013 Award by the audience for Best Tycoon Browser Game: MMO of the Year 2013



]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/03/rising-cities-tops-2-million-players-and-continues-a-series-of-new-features/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/weltspitze-gegen-newcomer-beim-ersten-dota-2-bigpoint-battle-am-samstag/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/weltspitze-gegen-newcomer-beim-ersten-dota-2-bigpoint-battle-am-samstag/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:00:11 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4744 ]]> Bigpoint is set to start a series of monthly “Bigpoint Battle” together with joinDOTA this weekend. Tens of thousands of fans are being offered exclusive Drakensang Online bonus codes before the first tournament takes place on Saturday, 6 p.m. CET. The best of the participating world class teams and ambitious newcomers will win € 2,000 in prizes.

“Dota brought a whole new genre for gamers around the world to compete in. Dota 2 is one of the key titles in electronic sports and inspires millions of players to improve their skills by competing in intense tournaments. We are proud to organize such competitions”, says Khaled Helioui, Chief Games Officer of Bigpoint.

This weekend’s tournament is just the beginning: in the future more than ten thousand spectators are expected to join the monthly Bigpoint Battle to watch eight leading international teams competing. Newcomers, who have presented themselves as highly talented during preliminary competition, will have the chance to make their first step to start a professional e-sports career by competing against the professionals.

“The current format allows newcomers to test their skill against established teams and will raise awareness around pro-gaming around the world. Competitive gaming has always been a key focus for Bigpoint and this is why we have been increasingly pushing PvP gameplay and events in our games, notably in Battlestar Galactica Online, Pirate Storm and most recently Drakensang Online,” mentions Khaled Helioui.

Dota 2 fans will receive exclusive online bonus codes for the action MMORPG Drakensang Online under www.drakensang.com/dota. This includes the Epic Armor, the Fruit of Insight, numerous Health Elixirs, Chrystal of Truth and other great items.
Drakensang Online is Bigpoint’s exciting action RPG and recipient of several awards, including innovative browser game, MMO of the Year for 2012 and a German Games Award, as well as the RPC Fantasy Award.

Links about the Bigpoint Battle

Overview Bigpoint Battle
Broadcasting
Exclusive Drakensang online bonus codes
Team- Register for future qualification matches

Links about Drakensang Online

www.drakensang-online.de
www.facebook.com/drakensangonline
www.twitter.com/drakensang
bigpoint.com/drakensang-online
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/weltspitze-gegen-newcomer-beim-ersten-dota-2-bigpoint-battle-am-samstag/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/bigpoint-the-first-online-gaming-company-in-germany-offers-significantly-more-flexibility-by-offering-sms-payment/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/bigpoint-the-first-online-gaming-company-in-germany-offers-significantly-more-flexibility-by-offering-sms-payment/#comments Tue, 12 Feb 2013 18:59:18 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4676 ]]> Bigpoint, Europe´s leading online game developer and publisher, announced this morning that it is to be the first German provider to introduce a new and more convenient SMS payment option.

Now the millions of Bigpoint users will have increased flexibility compared to previous SMS payment systems by being able to specify the payment amount.
“This innovation allows us to offer our customers a much more user-friendly solution for payments via mobile phone. Fixed, small amounts like € 1.99 per premium SMS are a thing of the past. From now on the user himself decides if he wants to pay more or less depending on the size of his shopping basket.”, explains Jochen Siegert, Head of Payment, Risk & Pricing at Bigpoint.

The new payment process is very simple: after a player enters their mobile number in the payment section of the online game, they receive an instant SMS confirmation including a security PIN, which is a common practice for secure online banking. The product purchased will be activated in-game as soon as the correct PIN has been entered online.

“On the one hand, we ensure that the owner of the mobile phone wants to initiate the transaction; on the other hand, transactional errors and delays due to misspellings from premium SMS are completely eliminated.”, says Jochen Siegert.

After successfully testing this in Turkey, Bigpoint will be the first provider to implement the new payment option across all of its games in Germany, with a more robust international roll out planned over the next few weeks.

In addition to payment upon invoice which was first introduced to the global gaming industry by Bigpoint, flexible SMS payment can now be seen as further innovation in simplifying payment for Bigpoint customers. Once again Bigpoint is underscoring its leading role as an online game provider, and setting new standards for the gaming industry in customized online payment.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/bigpoint-the-first-online-gaming-company-in-germany-offers-significantly-more-flexibility-by-offering-sms-payment/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/gamescom-2013-2/ http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/gamescom-2013-2/#comments Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:02:12 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4862 B2C booth
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2013/02/gamescom-2013-2/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/12/bigpoint-celebrates-300-million-registered-users-worldwide/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/12/bigpoint-celebrates-300-million-registered-users-worldwide/#comments Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:00:05 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4547 ]]> Bigpoint – a worldwide leader in online games – announced today that it has exceeded 300 million registered players on its premiere global gaming site Bigpoint.com. Over the past decade, Bigpoint has delivered multiple hit titles, such as Battlestar Galactica Online,
Drakensang Online, Farmerama, Pirate Storm and Dark Orbit, and has amassed communities across the world in the process. To honor this sensational achievement, the free-to-play (F2P), browser-based gaming giant will hold a sweepstakes beginning today for new and registered users alike to win fantastic prizes, including brand new smartphones and one of five sets of five gold coins worth over $3000 USD.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a rapid increase and unprecedented numbers in our titles. We want to celebrate our accomplishments and show our appreciation to our international community,” said Heiko Hubertz, founder of Bigpoint.” The strength and support of our players exemplifies how we’ve evolved in the F2P industry, and serves as further motivation to keep us driving innovation in browser games.”

Sweepstakes
From December 4th through December 18th, Bigpoint will offer new and registered players alike the chance to enter in the sweepstakes to win great prizes, including brand new smartphones and one of five sets of five gold coins worth over $3000 USD. Eligible participants must sign up with a valid email address on the official page at www.bigpoint.com. Registered users will receive an e-mail in the coming days containing a link to register in the sweepstakes. Winners will be selected at random and notified should they win.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/12/bigpoint-celebrates-300-million-registered-users-worldwide/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/09/expansion-brings-custom-crafting-features-to-new-guild-zones-own-an-island-with-bonuses-aplenty/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/09/expansion-brings-custom-crafting-features-to-new-guild-zones-own-an-island-with-bonuses-aplenty/#comments Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:26:51 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4410 ]]> Bigpoint – a worldwide leader in online games – announces today that Pirate Storm: Death or Glory has added the ability to acquire new guild islands in guild zones within its treacherous waters. “Players will experience a greater sense of union and engagement with their comrades, each fulfilling a duty amongst a number of responsibilities, and strengthening the guild connection to defeat their foes!”, said Philip Hufen, Producer, Bigpoint. “With the addition of guild islands and guild zones, we’ve thought of unique ways to add flare to ordinary guild configurations.”

With over two million registered players, Pirate Storm is an action-packed, free-to-play combat and exploration MMORPG featuring highly detailed graphics with PvP and PvE gameplay. Players navigate the seas as dreaded pirates fighting adversaries, monsters, and fiends in the battle for fame and glory.
Guilds that have reached level 5 and above in Pirate Storm can now stake a claim in territories on the new Guild Island map. With the updated guild islands system, members can build, upgrade, and fortify defenses to protect their mighty fortress. Players who attempt to raid guild zones earn Raid Points and rise in rank; the top 10 ranking guilds will unlock special rewards. By forming a guild, players activate team benefits including upgrade abilities, discounts on merchandise & repairs and bonus loot.

NEW Guild Finances
A new in-game currency – Guild Gold – can be earned and contributed by each guild member. Guild Gold is required to purchase building structures, workshops, upgrades, repairs and related items for the guild island headquarters. Within each guild-owned harbor, a variety of monsters and defense towers can be bought and trained to safeguard the surrounding waters.

NEW Custom Crafting
Crafting has been implemented in this new development of Pirate Storm – which will be available to all players. With Raid Points, buccaneers can purchase blueprints containing crafting recipes. Items such as advanced ammunition and invasion weapons can be produced in the Workshop on the guild island. Once an item is completed, it is removed from the crafting queue, and ready for use.
Every month, guilds will have the opportunity to win the Guild Trophy – the top guild in every server will be rewarded with the prestigious insignia of “War Master,” known as the most feared adversaries in Pirate Storm.
Pirate Storm: Death or Glory is currently available in 24 languages. The free-to-play game can be accessed at: http://www.piratestorm.com/ without any download or installation. For more information about this seafaring adventure, visit the Facebook fanpage or community forum.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/09/expansion-brings-custom-crafting-features-to-new-guild-zones-own-an-island-with-bonuses-aplenty/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/drakensang-online-celebrates-first-anniversary-exceeds-10-million-heroes-and-warriors-in-the-anderworld/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/drakensang-online-celebrates-first-anniversary-exceeds-10-million-heroes-and-warriors-in-the-anderworld/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:28:01 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4385 ]]>
“Within a short period, Drakensang Online has achieved many accomplishments and grown in remarkable ways,” said Bernd Beyreuther, Head of Game Development, Bigpoint Berlin. “We’re proud to keep the community involved throughout its development and are excited to give them the opportunity to contribute their own creations to the game. The game would not be a success without the support of the community – that’s why we want to celebrate this occasion with more in-game rewards and festivities!”

Within the past year, Drakensang Online has received massive content updates including the introduction of a third character class (Ranger Class), PvP mode, pet and mounts, talent tree and crafting, teleportation feature, Norseland and Loxley Caverns map expansion, and vast new regions to explore in the recent Atlantis update. The game has quadrupled the amount of gaming content available since its open beta launch with hundreds of new levels, quests, monsters, bosses, skills, weapons and armor.

Drakensang Online continues to impress critics and users with its depth of gameplay and visual fidelity, built upon Bigpoint’s “Nebula 3” engine. The title has received several awards including “Best Browser Game” at the German Computer Game Awards 2012, “Best Role Playing Game” and “Best Browser Game” at the 2011 German Game Developer Awards, and many more.
With over 10 million registered heroes braving the terrain as Dragonknights, Spellweavers and Rangers, champions of the Anderworld now have the freedom to create and store up to four characters with a multi-character account.

The development schedule for the upcoming year includes more weekly updates, new in-game features, fresh content releases, and the premiere of a fourth character class; more details to be announced soon.

To learn more Drakensang Online and the forthcoming competitions, visit the game’s Facebook fanpage , and community forums.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/drakensang-online-celebrates-first-anniversary-exceeds-10-million-heroes-and-warriors-in-the-anderworld/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/build-your-city-without-tearing-down-friendships-bigpoint-breaks-new-ground-with-rising-cities/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/build-your-city-without-tearing-down-friendships-bigpoint-breaks-new-ground-with-rising-cities/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:57:27 +0000 m.kuhnert http://bigpoint.net/?p=4320 ]]> Rising Cities now in Open Beta, allowing players to plan their very own metropolis

Hamburg/Germany: August 8, 2012 – Ever wanted to build your own virtual metropolis without having to annoy your buddies with Facebook requests and beg them for energy? Bigpoint (http://www.bigpoint.com) is launching Rising Cities, a free-to-play urban development game, into Open Beta, to the delight of casual gamers worldwide. At http://www.risingcities.com, would-be mayors can play Bigpoint’s new city-builder, hassle-free, directly in their browser and start planning, building and managing all of the ins and outs of their soon-to-be booming cities. The new trailer available on Bigpoint’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/bigpoint) gives a first impression of the game’s building blocks.
Rising Cities is designed to appeal to a wide audience – the game mechanics are intuitive and user-friendly, so even beginners should have no problems navigating the landscape of their growing towns. The game offers the player multitudes of options in terms of planning, expanding their cities and trading raw materials that are sure to engage fans of classic city simulation games. The high-quality graphics bring the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan streets to life.
“With Rising Cities, we are introducing a casual game with lots of core elements. As such, players have a depth of play in this city simulator that will enrich their experience as they trade, build and design their own metropolis,” said Jan Michel Saaksmeier, Executive Producer at Bigpoint. “All Rising Cities mayors will be able to share their victories in urban development without having to spam their buddies with Facebook requests.”
When executing their vision, enthusiastic city-planners must always try to keep their cities attractive, yet efficient, all the while staying lucrative and keeping citizens satisfied. Online urban developers must also maintain the balance of residential, commercial and industrial buildings in their cities, without losing sight of keeping their burgeoning metropolises appealing to its citizens.
It doesn’t matter what kind of towering cities players have in mind, they can bring them to life in the new free-to-play browser game Rising Cities (http://www.risingcities.com). The game’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/risingcities) offers city-planners the opportunity to make connections with other players and to get the latest news directly from the Rising Cities team.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/build-your-city-without-tearing-down-friendships-bigpoint-breaks-new-ground-with-rising-cities/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/bigpoint-brings-in-big-talent-from-paypal-to-bolster-the-payment-team/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/bigpoint-brings-in-big-talent-from-paypal-to-bolster-the-payment-team/#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:32:25 +0000 N.Bouguerra http://bigpoint.net/?p=4246 ]]> · Jochen set to take on the role of Head of Payment
· New leadership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Payment based in Luxembourg

Hamburg, August 1st 2012 – Bigpoint, Europe’s leading online-games developer and
publisher, is poised to add another expert to the senior management team. The hunt to fill the new roles of
the recent reorganization with top industry experts continues to bear fruit as Bigpoint reaps the rewards.

The former Director of EMEA Strategy & Business Development at PayPal Europe, Jochen Siegert will join
the Bigpoint Luxembourg office to take over leadership of the payment team. With over 12 years of
experience in the payment industry, Jochen will put his experience to good use in managing the countless
payment solutions of the Bigpoint portfolio.

Jochen Siegert brings valuable expertise to Bigpoint Payment team

Before his role as Director of EMEA Strategy & Business Development at PayPal Europe, Jochen Siegert also
served as the Director of Financial Products within PayPal Europe as well. There he not only built up the
European Financial Products department, but also developed and executed PayPal’s continental European
card and credit strategy. Throughout his 12+ years in the payment industry, Jochen has gained experience
in all facets of the payment value chain; from working with merchants and consumers to international
payment systems and e-commerce.

When asked about the new member of the Bigpoint Family, Bigpoint founder and CEO Heiko Hubertz
happily reported, “Now that Jochen Siegert is onboard, we will be able to really take our payment options
to the next level. With all of his expertise, I’m sure that we will be able to secure the best payment terms in
the industry.”

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/08/bigpoint-brings-in-big-talent-from-paypal-to-bolster-the-payment-team/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-undertakes-universal-monsters-online-into-closed-beta/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-undertakes-universal-monsters-online-into-closed-beta/#comments Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:59:52 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4236 ]]> Bigpoint – a worldwide leader in online games – today announced that Universal Monsters Online has entered closed beta, and is now accepting player registrations to access the game before its global open beta launch. Developed in collaboration with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, Universal Monsters Online is a fast-paced, free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that brings together Universal’s iconic monsters into one competitive experience.

“We’re excited to have players jump into the closed beta of Universal Monsters Online,” said Billy Delli-Gatti, Producer, Bigpoint. “During this phase, we’re able to test and optimize the game for improvements, and the community feedback we receive will help to ensure that the game is fun and entertaining.”

Universal Monsters Online pits the brand’s iconic cast of monsters into a “winner-take-all” timed gameplay session where two opposing teams claw and gouge their way across a richly-detailed game environment to achieve the ultimate victory: raiding enemy territory to locate the damsel and returning her to the team’s fortress.

During the closed beta, players will be whisked into character selection mode where they can choose from a diabolical lineup of legendary monsters – Dracula, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and of course, Frankenstein’s monster among many others. Full-team cooperation will be demanded to survive, succeed, and defeat the town’s chaotic villagers, zombies, and seemingly indestructible turrets.

Registration for Universal Monster Online’s exclusive closed beta before its worldwide release can be found at: http://www.UniversalMonstersOnline.com/. In the following weeks, Bigpoint will increasingly unlock new player accounts for gamers to experience their favorite classic Universal Monsters in a refreshing new MOBA.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-undertakes-universal-monsters-online-into-closed-beta/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-adds-international-management-for-next-phase-of-growth/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-adds-international-management-for-next-phase-of-growth/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:17:34 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4173 ]]>
“In the past few years, Bigpoint has developed incredibly quickly from a small start-up to a large, internationally successful business with partners and customers around the world. We had outgrown our original structure. This new structure and team represent an important step in order to position us for the next five years and to further expand our international market leadership. We want to have the best browser games in our portfolio, whether developed internally or by third parties, and we want to continue to be the number 1 browser games publisher in every market where we are present”, says founder and CEO Heiko Hubertz.

Christian Unger adds more senior experience to the team

Christian Unger will be supporting Bigpoint with the implementation of the new structure and with the next steps of international growth. From 2009 until April 2012, Christian was CEO of Ringier AG, the biggest media group in Switzerland. Prior to this, he led Tradus plc., an e-commerce company with online-auction platforms and e-commerce portals in twelve countries. During his time at Tradus, the stock price tripled. The 44-year-old father-of-three started his career with Bertelsmann where he held several positions, most recently as CEO of Bertelsmann China. Christian Unger will be reporting directly to Heiko Hubertz, founder and CEO, and will be supporting Bigpoint on an interim basis.

The second new addition to the management team is French-Tunisian Khaled Helioui who joins as Chief Games Officer and will run the whole product department – from new game development to game life cycle management of blockbusters such as Battlestar Galactica Online, Farmerama and Drakensang Online. Khaled joins from TA Associates, a global growth equity firm, where he covered the Technology space from 2009 until May 2012 and was notably involved in their investment in Bigpoint. He was previously at UBS AG advising Technology companies across Europe on their capital raising and M&A considerations.

Claire Davenport, an experienced British executive who has previously held senior positions at RTL Group and Skype, and who has been with Bigpoint for over a year, will continue to run the distribution arm of the business as Chief Commercial Officer, now including the USA. Meanwhile, Tim Weickert, former IT Director of Bigpoint, has been promoted to Chief Technical Officer where he will focus on building up the flexibility and stability of the technical infrastructure to have the best gaming platform as the company’s operations and international user base continue to expand.

“I am pleased to support the company, in such a dynamic market environment, with its transformation and to contribute my experiences in the area of change management and international growth”, says Christian Unger, COO Bigpoint.

As part of the transformation, Nils Holger Henning (former Chief Communication Officer), as well as Tobias and Philip Reisberger (Managing Directors at Bigpoint Luxemburg) are leaving the company to pursue their own businesses.
]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-adds-international-management-for-next-phase-of-growth/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-get-cool-with-worldwide-open-beta-launch-of-ice-age-online/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-get-cool-with-worldwide-open-beta-launch-of-ice-age-online/#comments Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:28:15 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4162 ]]> Ice Age Online brings together the popular film characters and environments in a free-to-play, browser-based adventure game with a host of cool social features. The title offers fans a new way to enjoy the beloved franchise alongside the global release of Ice Age: Continental Drift, in theaters in 3D July 2012.

“We’re excited to have fans of Ice Age jump into the open beta,” said Julia Salomon, Producer, Bigpoint. “Our team is dedicated to delivering an authentic online gaming experience that is true to the cinematic adventures of Sid, Manny Diego, and Scrat – and we’re confident that fans will be entertained by Ice Age Online.”

In Ice Age Online, players take on the role of a sloth who discovers the perfect home for its herd, but suddenly becomes separated by a volcanic eruption. To survive, players must rescue the lost members and build camps for their prehistoric animal friends through a combination of mission and jump-n-run gameplay. Throughout multiple game modes and the World Map, a variety of locations can be explored – the Ice Floes, Grassy Plains, Jungle, and Glacier – based on familiar settings within the blockbuster movie franchise.

The platform game, built atop the Unity 3D platform, will also feature a friends list, activity graph, leaderboards, and the opportunity for friends and families to visit each other’s camps and leave gifts behind. As players learn to utilize special skills and master the collection of precious acorns and materials needed to construct camps, they will unlock new achievements and bonuses – including one level where players are able to take control of Diego, the lightning-fast saber tooth tiger, and race along a challenging obstacle course.

“Video games and film have an organic connection, and the online game space offers the opportunity for fans around the world to be immersed in the world of Ice Age in an all new way,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “Bigpoint, a global leader in online game development, was a natural partner choice for launching this franchise phenomenon on an online gaming platform.”

Ice Age Online is now available in 10 languages worldwide with more languages to be added in the weeks to follow. Players can access the game for free, and play directly in their web browser.

For more game news and updates on Ice Age Online, visit the official website at www.iceageonline.com.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-get-cool-with-worldwide-open-beta-launch-of-ice-age-online/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-announces-game-of-thrones-seven-kingdoms-as-official-title-of-upcoming-browser-based-mmorpg-exclusive-trailer-at-comic-con/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-announces-game-of-thrones-seven-kingdoms-as-official-title-of-upcoming-browser-based-mmorpg-exclusive-trailer-at-comic-con/#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:31:35 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4147 ]]> Bigpoint – a global leader in online video games – today revealed the official name of its upcoming free-to-play (F2P) fantasy massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) as Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms. Bigpoint has partnered with HBO® to develop the game inspired by the network’s critically acclaimed television show, Game of Thrones®, adapted from the bestselling fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin. Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms will be set within the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, giving players the chance to experience epic moments from the television series. At the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con, July 12-15, Bigpoint will release a new exclusive video trailer for Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms.

“Selecting a game’s title can be quite an arduous process, especially in the free-to-play space where games must be easily discoverable by players around the world,” said Max Pfaff, Producer, Bigpoint. “By selecting Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms we’re confident that we’ve chosen an identifiable name that will resonate with the global community of diehard Thrones fans.”

In context of the lore, the Seven Kingdoms were originally independent countries which rose up over thousands of years until the Targaryens ruled over them as one nation of Westeros. Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms begins after the deaths of King Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark. The Starks of the north declare war on the south and Baratheon’s two brothers both make claims to the throne. Players are challenged to form alliances through Player vs. Player (PvP), Siege combat and politics to control Westeros.

Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con (July 12-15) will also have the opportunity to get a first look at the exclusive new Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms trailer by Bigpoint which can be viewed at booth 2615 (Dark Horse). The teaser captures the essence of gameplay and visual fidelity that players will get to experience when the game is launched.

Bigpoint is collaborating with Norwegian development studio, Artplant, on the development of the forthcoming Unity-based project. Bigpoint and Artplant have previously partnered on the production of Battlestar Galactica Online, a breakthrough F2P space combat MMO that recently celebrated its first birthday and 10 million registered pilot milestone.

Game of Thrones Seven Kingdoms beta testing is slated to begin later this year. Fans are encouraged to visit http://www.GameofThronesMMO.com/ for more information and to follow the latest Twitter updates @GOTMMO.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/07/bigpoint-announces-game-of-thrones-seven-kingdoms-as-official-title-of-upcoming-browser-based-mmorpg-exclusive-trailer-at-comic-con/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/bigpoint-scares-up-more-details-about-universal-monsters-online/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/bigpoint-scares-up-more-details-about-universal-monsters-online/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2012 08:24:44 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4098 ]]> Universal Monsters Online. The game, which Bigpoint is developing in collaboration with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, will enable players to experience Universal’s iconic cast of classic monsters in a highly-competitive Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) setting.

Taking on the persona of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon – among many other notable monsters from Universal’s rich history – players compete with and against each other in a blend of combat and strategic game play.

Like all Bigpoint titles, Universal Monsters Online will be F2P. In-game currency can be used to purchase items such as new characters (after a free-trial period), unique character skins, and special abilities.

Bigpoint plans to begin closed beta testing shortly, and is now encouraging players to sign-up for early access at: http://www.UniversalMonstersOnline.com.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/bigpoint-scares-up-more-details-about-universal-monsters-online/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/emilian-walter-lorenz-appointed-head-of-product-marketing-at-bigpoint/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/emilian-walter-lorenz-appointed-head-of-product-marketing-at-bigpoint/#comments Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:30:58 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=4086 ]]>
Hamburg, June 11th, 2012 – Bigpoint today announced Emilian-Walter Lorenz as Head of global Product Marketing, a key hire that underpins Bigpoint’s commitment to the strategic development of its global marketing department. Lorenz will be stationed at Bigpoint’s headquarters in Hamburg, where he will report to the company’s international board members. A renowned marketing expert, Lorenz previously served as European product manager for Nintendo Europe. At Bigpoint he will spearhead the development of the global product and marketing departments. In addition to top-line marketing strategy, Lorenz will look after high-profile game assets, including trailers and marketing art.
Lorenz worked for Nintendo Europe for ten years, initially as a Brand Executive for GameCube and since 2006 as European Product Manager where he was responsible for the development, implementation and management of marketing strategies for Wii hardware and software products. Before joining Nintendo, from 2000 until 2002, Lorenz worked as a project manager at Lesch + Frei in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where he coordinated corporate design programs for renowned banking and utility clients, including Commerzbank AG, Sudhessische Gas & Wasser AG, and Linde AG.
Originally from Romania, Lorenz studied in Frankfurt, as well as in Virginia, USA, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Shenandoah University in 1999. In 2007, Lorenz completed an advanced ‘Diplom’ degree (the German equivalent of a Master’s degree), awarded from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in Berkshire, England.
“Emilian-Walter Lorenz is a superior product marketing expert with many years of valuable brand experience in the gaming sector. For exactly this reason, we are happy to welcome him to the Bigpoint team to put his industry know-how to good use,” said Heiko Hubertz, Bigpoint CEO.
“I believe Bigpoint has a promising future in the games market and am thrilled to join the team as Head of Product Marketing. With its diverse game portfolio and over 270 million registered users, joining Bigpoint provides a very exciting and dynamic opportunity to make a difference within a leading global gaming company,” said Lorenz. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead these departments and, in so doing, implement positive new changes in Bigpoint’s product marketing.”

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/emilian-walter-lorenz-appointed-head-of-product-marketing-at-bigpoint/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/fantasyrama-signals-the-unveiling-of-a-new-magical-world-for-players-to-explore/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/fantasyrama-signals-the-unveiling-of-a-new-magical-world-for-players-to-explore/#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:08:40 +0000 k.frank http://bigpoint.net/?p=4058 ]]> Hamburg – June 6, 2012 – Beginning today, players can now access the new magical online game FantasyRama (www.fantasyrama.com) in 21 languages across the world during the international open beta. FantasyRama comes from the developers of the renowned casual game Farmerama (www.farmerama.com). Bigpoint’s development team (www.bigpoint.com) is pleased with the game’s initial success; over 70,000 fans have already registered to participate in the magical world of FantasyRama.

FantasyRama combines popular fantasy elements in an enchanted setting with the beloved Farmerama game mechanics to create an exciting online experience that promises loads of fun in a large social community. The game’s highly-detailed and appealing graphics help to raise the bar in casual gaming. FantasyRama not only offers players a diverse and relaxed game world, but also provides players with exciting quests and social interactions.

Magical Moments in the Latest Casual Game
Deep in a secluded alcove, between pines and heather, lies the magical world of FantasyRama, where a myriad of elves, pixies and mystical forest creatures dwell in the shadow of the Great Tree of Life. The might of the Great Tree, however, seems to be dwindling and threatens the very existence of the forest and all its inhabitants.

FantasyRama whisks players away into a world of wonder and magic, where life depends on energy that flora and fauna transmit to the Great Tree. Players cultivate flowers, trees and magical beings in their own enchanted gardens in effort to restore the Great Tree and the entire world to its glorious past.

FantasyRama can now be played for free at www.fantasyrama.com


]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/06/fantasyrama-signals-the-unveiling-of-a-new-magical-world-for-players-to-explore/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/square-enix-and-bigpoint-unleash-a-world-of-creativity-with-gameglobe/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/square-enix-and-bigpoint-unleash-a-world-of-creativity-with-gameglobe/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 09:04:33 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=3979 ]]> Square Enix Ltd. and Bigpoint are excited to unveil the first details on Gameglobe™ an innovative new online game platform to be published by the two companies.

Gameglobe is a unique browser-based experience that allows players free access to endless game worlds and creative possibilities, all in HD quality. Players can choose to either create their own game or simply play the multitude of levels available at launch.

“It’s never been easier to create your own game,” said Rune Vendler, Game Director. “We want Gameglobe to be a community where everyone can get involved in the fun: play new games every day, share your favourites, or flex your creative muscles with your own designs.”

“We’re very excited by the creativity unleashed through the collaboration between Bigpoint and Square Enix that allows us to bring an entirely new and innovative online gaming experience to players”, added Jan-Michel Saaksmeier, Executive Producer at Bigpoint. ”Gameglobe offers fun without limits and a vast selection of free-to-play adventures directly in your browser – and in full console quality HD graphics.”

Gameglobe is developed by Danish studio Hapti.co who are part of the Square Enix group and will be published exclusively by Bigpoint in Europe and North America, who will distribute the game through the Bigpoint.com Portal as well as across their network of partners.

Gameglobe is currently in closed beta and will be opened up to additional players in the coming months. To register for the beta, players can head to the official website.






]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/square-enix-and-bigpoint-unleash-a-world-of-creativity-with-gameglobe/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/battlestar-galactica-online-approaches-ten-million-players-humans-and-cylons-celebrate-one-year-anniversary-of-epic-space-combat/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/battlestar-galactica-online-approaches-ten-million-players-humans-and-cylons-celebrate-one-year-anniversary-of-epic-space-combat/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 14:37:31 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=3952 ]]> Bigpoint – a worldwide leader in online games – today announced that Battlestar Galactica Online has nearly achieved ten million registered players worldwide since the game’s launch one year ago. Based on the internationally popular Syfy television series produced by Universal Cable Productions, Battlestar Galactica Online (BSGO) is a free-to-play, browser-based space combat MMO that combines high-quality graphics with intense gameplay. To celebrate its birthday, Bigpoint is hosting a week-long party for all players. Running April 30 through May 6, Humans and Cylons who log-in will receive in-game gifts and bonuses. Battlestar Galactica Online is licensed through Universal Partnerships & Licensing on behalf of NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group.

“We are thrilled with the tremendous growth of BSGO and how the game has performed over the past year,” said Heiko Hubertz, Founder and CEO, Bigpoint. “BSGO is a breakthrough title that has empowered us to change perceptions of the kind of gaming experience that can be delivered through a web browser. We’re excited to move forward with this momentum, celebrate our achievements, and reward all of our players in the community who helped us get to this point.”

Since its launch, BSGO has benefitted from numerous content updates, including the introduction of new classes of ships (Escort, Line, Carrier), the ability to pilot Battlestar and Basestar capital ships, the integration of the Triad and Prophecy meta-game, custom ship paints, and an eight-foot tall Cylon giveaway contest. Within the past year, the game has enlisted close to 10 million registered players, and has received industry accolades such as the Unity Developers Award for Community Choice, and Best Browser Game at the European Games Awards.

Beginning April 30, Bigpoint will reward players with free items and bonuses. All players who log-in to Battlestar Galactica Online every day for the week will be able to collect their prizes. In addition, the Daily Merit Cap will be increased, and special offers will be made available for players to purchase in-game items.

Leveraging Bigpoint’s vast international distribution network of over 1,000 media partners, localization in 25+ languages, and team of worldwide community managers, Battlestar Galactica Online continues to attract over 25,000 new pilots every day. The 2012 development schedule calls for many new content releases, as well as more events, tournaments, and fast-paced space combat.

For more information and updates about Battlestar Galactica Online, visit the game’s news page, Facebook fan page, and community forums.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/05/battlestar-galactica-online-approaches-ten-million-players-humans-and-cylons-celebrate-one-year-anniversary-of-epic-space-combat/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/experience-the-ultimate-magical-gardening-world-in-new-bigpoint-online-game-fantasyrama/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/experience-the-ultimate-magical-gardening-world-in-new-bigpoint-online-game-fantasyrama/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:11:23 +0000 k.frank http://bigpoint.net/?p=3928 ]]> London / San Francisco, 26 April 2012 – The developers of the internationally renowned and award-winning casual game Farmerama (www.farmerama.com) are proud to present the enchanting new online game FantasyRama (www.fantasyrama.com). FantasyRama is currently in development at Bigpoint (www.bigpoint.com), and will launch in open beta at the beginning of May, playable across the world. This magical game has many of the most popular features of Farmerama and is set within a spellbinding, fantasy world.

“Judging from our early testing, FantasyRama looks set to be a great addition to our successful line of casual games,” says Heiko Hubertz, CEO and Founder of Bigpoint. “We are continually striving to raise the bar in casual games development and players can look forward to FantasyRama’s beautiful graphics and detailed designs, its challenging yet entertaining depth of play, and lots of opportunities for social interaction.”

Enchanted moments in the latest casual game
FantasyRama will lead players to a world full of magic: the game’s entire ecosystem is interconnected and all of the flora and fauna effuse a special energy that emanates from the game’s governing force, the tree of life. In this mystical setting players tend to their own enchanted gardens filled with fascinating and wonderful flowers, trees and animals allowing players to fully let their imagination run free.

In just a few weeks, FantasyRama will be playable online for free. All enthusiastic players can register now at www.fantasyrama.com or like the game on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fantasyrama) to keep up with the latest news and updates from the game.


]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/experience-the-ultimate-magical-gardening-world-in-new-bigpoint-online-game-fantasyrama/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-herd-together-to-launch-ice-age-online-an-entertaining-online-browser-game/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-herd-together-to-launch-ice-age-online-an-entertaining-online-browser-game/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:32:53 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=3902 ]]> Bigpoint – a global leader in online games – today announced its partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products to develop an online game based on Ice Age, the hit motion picture franchise. With access to the most popular characters and settings from the films, the free-to-play browser game – Ice Age Online – will give fans a new way to experience the entertaining prehistoric storylines.

“We’re excited to work with one of the most successful film franchises of all time,” said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder, Bigpoint. “We’re equally happy to begin working with Fox on this project and are eager to give Ice Age fans another way to enjoy the fun they’ve had at the movies.”

In Ice Age Online, players assume the role of a sloth that recently discovered the perfect place for animals from the herd to live. Along the way, the herd gets separated and lost. Players must rescue the lost animals and build up a camp for them to live. In the adventure mode, players collect precious acorns and construction materials – such as wood, flowers, coconuts, and mud – from locations based on the film franchise, including Ice Age: Continental Drift, the fourth animated film from the franchise releasing from Twentieth Century Fox in theaters in 3D July 2012. Acorns and materials are used to build camps for the rescued animals to live.

“Video games and film have an organic connection, and the online game space offers virtually limitless creative opportunities to extend the cinematic experience and the Ice Age brand,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “Bigpoint, the market-leading pioneer among online video game companies, is the natural choice for us to partner with in building the world of Ice Age Online.”

Customization & Socialization
At the beginning of the game, players have the opportunity to customize their sloth character. Options include gender selection, multiple color and fur combinations, special haircuts and headdresses, and a number of wardrobe choices. The game will also offer a number of socialization features, including friend lists and activity trackers, leaderboards, and the ability to challenge other players and friends. Friends can also visit each other’s camps to see which animals have been rescued and leave gifts of food and construction materials.

As players progress through the game they will unlock bonus levels. In these special levels, players will compete as other popular characters from Ice Age in specially-designed gameplay that puts each character’s unique strengths to the test.
Ice Age Online will be built atop the Unity development platform, which allows high-end graphics to be displayed in common web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/bigpoint-and-fox-consumer-products-herd-together-to-launch-ice-age-online-an-entertaining-online-browser-game/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/farmerama-goes-green-fashion-and-sows-seeds-for-a-great-cause/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/farmerama-goes-green-fashion-and-sows-seeds-for-a-great-cause/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:55:49 +0000 k.frank http://bigpoint.net/?p=3895 ]]> Hamburg, 10. April 2012 – Farmerama is going green! The latest in-game event in Farmerama – one of the most popular online games anywhere on the web – is sowing, harvesting and designing for a great cause. For two long weeks, Farmerama (www.farmerama.com) farmers can plant and harvest organic cotton to make some stylish t-shirts. The event will showcase everything that goes into producing the latest, real-time fashion craze by depicting the process in the virtual world, and will focus on sustainable and fair production methods. No step of the production process has been overlooked. All the agricultural, production, dyeing and social standards which must be adhered to to earn the Fair Trade or GOTS symbol, are depicted in Farmerama in order to raise awareness for a fantastic cause. But we haven’t stopped there! In order to create an authentic community atmosphere, Farmers and Fans alike can look forward to exclusive t-shirts by trailblazing eco-friendly fashion label armedangels.

All the proceeds generated from the armedangels’ Farmerama t-shirts will be donated to the Plant for the Planet initiative.
Plant for the Planet is an unprecedented initiative founded by children, which has played a major role in planting countless trees around the world in an attempt to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the initiative is aimed at planting a million trees in every country on the planet. Plant for the Planet was founded in 2007 in the wake of a school presentation by Felix Finkbeiner. At present, the initiative has approximately 100,000 children in over 200 countries taking part in the “Stop Talking. Start Planting.” campaign.

A total of 1,800 limited edition Farmerama t-shirts are set to produced, and can be purchased online on the armedangels homepage at www.armedangels.de/farmerama.

German celebs Birte Glang and Florian Frowein to aid this great cause
Birte Glang is known all over Germany from the hit series “Unter uns” for her role as Heidi. Additionally, Glang actively uses her role as an actress and model to raise awareness for social issues and environmental causes, including being an ambassador for Fair Trade. This October, Glang will be starring in her first major motion picture entitled “Agent Ranjid.”

Florian Frowein is known for his work in the German TV series “Wege zum Glück – Spuren im Sand.” Beginning this May, Frowein’s fans will have a chance to see him each and every day in his role as the environmentalist “Leon,” and Mr. Frowein himself could not be more thrilled to be taking part in such a great cause.


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The new game, which is already well into development at Square Enix, will be exclusively published and marketed by Bigpoint in Europe and North America. The title will be distributed on the Bigpoint.com portal, as well as by other media partners. Focusing heavily on social gameplay and encouraging user generated content, the game will be unveiled in the near future.

“We’re very excited to have teamed up with Bigpoint who are leaders in browser gaming,” said Phil Rogers, CEO Square Enix Europe. “This is the start of both an exciting new project and a strong relationship.”

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to work with Square Enix. The combination of Square Enix’s long-standing experience in providing digital entertainment and Bigpoint’s expertise in developing browser games promises to yield quite the exciting new game,” said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder of Bigpoint.

More detailed information about the game will be made public within the next few weeks. In the next six months, the game should be available and fully playable on the Bigpoint portal as well. In the meantime, fans can access additional information about the game on Facebook.

]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/04/square-enix-and-bigpoint-team-up-for-exciting-new-project/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/03/rent-the-looney-tunes-the-famous-comedy-characters-are-coming-to-your-farm/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/03/rent-the-looney-tunes-the-famous-comedy-characters-are-coming-to-your-farm/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:26:15 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=3851 ]]>
From late March 2012 through 30 June 2012, the Looney Tunes will be hanging out on Farmerama, giving farmers a chance to participate in “Rent the Looney Tunes.” In “Rent the Looney Tunes,” farmers will have the chance to rent their favorite figures for a limited time, during which the Looney Tunes are not just guests on your farm, but are also bringing special daily gifts. The Easter event will also be decked out in Looney Tunes flair. These two events mark the beginning of a collaboration set to continue to excite farmers through Summer 2012. More than 150 sheep on the e-pastures of Farmerama can hardly wait to meet the most famous Bunny on the planet and all of his friends.

“Farmerama is a one-of-a-kind game that can look back on an impressive string of successes. For this reason, Farmerama is the perfect online game for our Looney Tunes, which will bring a combination of charm and energy to the game and will cause quite the stir on the farm. We are excited about the partnership with Bigpoint and fans can look forward to many a special game highlights,” said Bruno Schwobthaler, Senior Vice President of Sales & Business Development, Warner Bros. Consumer Products EMEA.

Phillip Reisberger, Bigpoint’s Chief Revenue Officer, added, “The Looney Tunes are one of the most successful and reconizable brands in the world, and we are extremely excited to be able to welcome them to Farmerama, as this announcement is sure to delight our more than 38 million players around the world.”

Farmerama: a success story
Farmerama is not only one of the most successful online games, as evinced by its numerous awards, including the German Developer Award 2010, the LARA Online Award 2010, European Games Award 2010, but also one of the most entertaining and crazy casual games found anywhere on the web. Since its launch in 2010, more than 35 million gamers have begun a virtual life on the farm. With Farmerama: Harvest Time, Farmerama can now be downloaded as an app for portable Apple devices.


]]> http://bigpoint.net/2012/03/rent-the-looney-tunes-the-famous-comedy-characters-are-coming-to-your-farm/feed/ 0 http://bigpoint.net/2012/03/bigpoint-opens-offices-in-london-and-paris/ http://bigpoint.net/2012/03/bigpoint-opens-offices-in-london-and-paris/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:42:58 +0000 c.paletta http://bigpoint.net/?p=3764 ]]> Additional Bigpoint locations to open in 2012

Hamburg, 6 March 2012 – The Hamburg-based online video game company Bigpoint is significantly expanding its operations in Western Europe by opening up regional offices in the English and French capitals. Bigpoint is set to hire five to ten staff members in each of the newly-formed branches. These positions will focus on expanding the sales network, in order to promote Bigpoint’s portfolio, which currently consists of approximately 70 games.

Bigpoint banks on extensive experience

Bigpoint has already appointed managing executives at both its Paris and London locations. Overseeing the French and Italian sales networks is new Managing Director Cédric Génin, who has over 15 years of experience in the interactive entertainment industry. Mr. Génin most recently worked at SFR, where he helped to launch the world’s first on-demand games service via IPTV (Cloud Gaming). He was also responsible for SFR’s games which, because of his push to offer mobile games, led to the company becoming one the market leaders in all of Europe. Before his time at SFR, Mr. Génin worked for various game publishers (like Activision Blizzard and Infogrames, to name a few) for whom he helped to develop over 40 game titles from their inception.
Entrusted to lead operations in London is Paul Raven, who has been with Bigpoint since 2011 as head of the Product Marketing division. Before joining Bigpoint in the UK, Mr. Raven held a number of senior marketing positions including interim Head of Product Marketing for Bigpoint in Hamburg, Marketing Director of British TV network ITV’s international distribution division, head of marketing for global production company FremantleMedia, and a consultant for media companies including Shine Group (News Corp).
The Spanish and Italian offices are set to open in the second quarter of 2012.

Expanding successfully around the world

“With over 1,000 media partners from all corners of the globe, we have created a one-of-a-kind sales and distribution network for online games,” stated Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz. Mr. Hubertz went on to say that efforts will be “aimed at cultivating our regional contact partners in Western Europe to expand our position as market leader.”

Bigpoint is currently represented around the world at four international locations. Company headquarters are located in Hamburg, Germany, where close to 700 staff members from over 35 countries are employed. The main areas of focus in Hamburg are development, controlling and marketing. Two years ago Bigpoint opened its second German location in Berlin directly on the Alexanderplatz. Approximately 50 developers are employed by the Berlin office, where the award-winning 3D action-adventure saga Drakensang Online is produced. Bigpoint expanded its market presence by opening its first international office in San Francisco, which employs an additional 100 staff members, making it the second largest location in the company’s growing portfolio. In 2010, Bigpoint opened offices in Sao Paolo – its first dedicated exclusively to sales operations. Bigpoint employs a team of five in the South American metropolis that effectively supports local media partners and conducts regional-based marketing activities.
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