Gaming, music, movies and more to stream from new Razer micro-console powered by Google Android TV

SAN FRANCISCO (Google I/O 2014) - Razer™, a provider of connected entertainment devices and software “for gamers, by gamers,” announced today plans to create a Razer micro-console. The new device, powered by Android TV, will stream movies, music and other apps for large-screen entertainment with an emphasis on gaming.

Android TV is an entertainment interface that allows users to find and enjoy content on their televisions. The Razer micro-console can be navigated with a special mobile application that operates from any Android tablet or smartphone. Voice control is built into Android TV, leaving access to entertainment just a few words away.

Enhancing the gaming experience on Android devices is a key focus for Razer. Razer’s experience in designing high-performance gaming systems, controllers, keyboards and mice will contribute beneficially to the device development. Gaming-related software is also an area Razer knows well. With 9 million active users registered on its platform, the company offers a range of applications for communication, performance optimization, and device personalization.

“This is a console of the future,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “Built on Google´s incredible Android TV platform, the Razer micro-console incorporates not only hardcore and casual gaming, but music, movies and other entertainment and social applications, all on an affordable system.”

The award-winning Razer design team is developing the Razer micro-console. This same team engineered thin and powerful PC systems, including the Razer Blade and Razer Blade Pro laptops, the Razer Edge gaming tablet and, most recently, the modular PC prototype Project Christine.

Razer previously demonstrated success blending hardware and software together with the Razer Nabu smartband, a 2014 “Best of CES” winning device. Over the past two years, Razer won a combined four official “Best of CES” awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show.

The Razer micro-console is scheduled to be released this fall.

Availability:
Fall 2014

About Razer: Razer™ is the worldwide leading gamer lifestyle brand. With a unified platform of integrated devices and software, Razer enables, connects and entertains a global community of electronic entertainment enthusiasts. Driven by the company credo, “For Gamers. By Gamers,”™ Razer is transforming the way people play games, engage with other gamers, and identify with the gamer lifestyle. Having won the coveted “Best of CES” award consecutively for four years, Razer’s leadership in product innovation continues to drive market opportunities to address the estimated 1.4 billion gamers worldwide. Razer´s award-winning technologies includes voice-over IP and other social applications; programs for music production, performance and enjoyment; cloud-based solutions for customizing and enhancing computer systems; and an array of groundbreaking laptops, tablets, hardware, accessories, and apparel. Founded in 2005 in San Diego, Razer is backed by IDG-Accel and Temasek Holdings. For more information, visit http://www.razerzone.com/ab out-razer.
 

Submitted by: E. Thomas

– Funcom successfully launches free-to-play Open Beta for LEGO Minifigures Online; the fun has begun! –

Oslo, Norway – June 25th, 2014 – Funcom and The LEGO Group are very excited to have kicked off the Open Beta for LEGO® Minifigures Online, and LEGO fans from all over the world have now begun assembling their Minifigure teams and sent them out on grand, online adventures! LEGO Minifigures Online is set to launch later this fall, and throughout the coming months of Open Beta and beyond players will see the game grow and expand as new content and gameplay is introduced.

The game is currently available for play on the Windows PC, and the developers are hard at work preparing tablet versions of the game which will be available later this year.

Based on the hugely popular Minifigures series of collectible toys, LEGO Minifigures Online is a free-to-play game geared towards a younger audience, but can be just as much fun for the young at heart; especially when playing with your kids! Here players get to collect countless Minifigures, discover their unique abilities, and take them out on great adventures through colorful LEGO worlds together with thousands of other players. Funcom is making sure LEGO Minifigures Online is a fun, enjoyable and safe experience for everyone, and the game is fully COPPA compliant and has a robust privacy policy certified by TRUSTe. In-game chat is filtered and monitored using Crisp Thinking technology, and is restricted to members only to ensure a friendly and safe social environment; especially for younger players.

"This is the first step on a new and exciting journey," says Funcom CEO Ole Schreiner. "We are going to use these months of Open Beta to push the game in the right direction by adding, tweaking, polishing, changing and doing everything it takes to make sure the game is constantly evolving and improving.  Players can expect to see both smaller and bigger changes over the course of Open Beta, and we look forward to surprising players with great new content and gameplay."

Currently players can explore exciting locations in Pirate World, Medieval World and Space World, but the developers are hard at work finishing up more great content. More worlds will be added, and coming up next in Open Beta is the legendary Mythology World, where adventurers get to visit the Underworld and even battle Hades himself! Players can also look forward to new gameplay mechanics, such as a new and super fun way to collect minifigures.

To join the fun, please visit www.playminifigures.com to download the game. All player progress and purchases will carry over from Open Beta through the full launch and beyond.

Submitted by: E. Thomas

Larkspur, Calif. – June 24, 2014 – For beautiful and spacious skies and all the D-L-C! Deep Silver announced the Saints Row IV National Treasure Edition today, coming to the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC or via digital download this summer for $29.99. Shipping to retailers on July 8th, the title will be available via digital download and on store shelves by mid-July.

Included in the National Treasure Edition will be the entirety of the Saints Row IV add-on content catalogue totaling a whopping 29 separate DLC items and content packs totaling more than $60 dollars in value. Also included is the fabulous Grass Roots ‘Merica! gun, which functions similarly to the completely insane and otherwise totally bad ass multi-use weapon previously only available in the Commander In Chief Edition. The National Treasure Edition Grass Roots ‘Merica is a weapon with unmeasurable freedom containing: a light machine gun, a sub machine gun, an auto shotgun, heavy pistol, a minigun, a rocket launcher, a flamethrower and a huge combat knife all in one gun. MERICA!

The full list of the 29 DLC items and content included in the Saints Row IV National Treasure Edition can be found at http://www.saintsrow.com/.

In the award-winning and multi-million selling fourth installment of Saints Row, Volition continues the story of the Third Street Saints by elevating their status to the highest level – the leaders of the free world. In Saints Row IV, the head honcho of the Saints has been elected to the Presidency of the United States. But the Saints are just getting started. Now the larger-than-life insanity of the Saints series gets a new twist with a catastrophic alien invasion, and the aliens have transported the Saints to a bizarre Steelport simulation. Wield gargantuan superpowers and fight to free humanity from alien granddaddy Zinyak’s mental grasp. Escape the simulation that’s trapped the Saints crew, or die trying.

For more information about the Saints Row universe, please visit one of the following official sites:

Web: http://www.saintsrow.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/saintsrow
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/saintsrow
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/saintsrow

Submitted by: E. Thomas

LOS ANGELES – June 23, 2014 – Games are now being used in all areas of education and training.  Nationally recognized industry experts will share tips on how to measure the effectiveness of games for learning and talk about future uses of serious games at the fourth annual Serious Play Conference at USC in Los Angeles, Tuesday – Thursday, July 22 – 24, 2014.

Government / Military speakers:

·David Smith, Lockheed Martin, will show a new DOD-funded open source framework for developing collaborative training applications via next generation web technologies

·Paulette Robinson, National Defense University, will talk about a recent training program used by the military based on an MMO

·Jan Cannon-Bowers, Cubic Advanced Learning Solutions (CALS), will  discuss a large-scale game-based training effort for the Navy's new Littoral Combat Ship

Enterprise training and gamification leaders sharing their insight will include:

·Lynda Donovan, Learnovate, Trinity College, presenting a market study on the use of serious games in large enterprises

·Ross Smith, Microsoft, elaborating on how games fit into a rapidly changing work culture

·Guido Helmerhorst, Air France/KLM, speaking about the challenges of developing games for airline employees

Healthcare leaders presenting findings will include:

·Dan Baden, CDC, talking about the first federal healthcare game jam

·Clemens Gros, UNICEF, exploring the challenges of implementing serious games in Sub-Saharan Africa and other low-tech environments

·Pablo Suarez, Climate Centre, sharing the Red Crescent/Red Cross’ training game about dealing with extreme weather events and climate change

·Pam Kato, Coventry University, reviewing key challenges facing healthcare game developers

Education leaders sharing their experience will include:

·Zoran Popovic, University of Washington, outlining a worldwide math challenge sponsored by DARPA

·Girlie Delacruz, CRESST, UCLA explaining how game assessment can be done and how this data is furthering scientific research

·Chris Haskell, Boise State University, addressing how MMORPG mechanics such as leveling, skill-building and immersion in a virtual world can be applied to education

A pre-conference workshop on Monday, July 21 will offer hands-on instruction for those who are new to game-based learning.  For more information, check out the site: www.seriousplayconference.com

Submitted by: E. Thomas