from the auld lang syne desk
2011 has been a landmark year for BigWorld. Our team has expanded, we’ve made some major improvements to our product, and we’ve seen our clients leverage our technology to do some amazing things. We hope yours was as fruitful as ours, and we wish you an excellent 2012.
So, from all the BigWorld cells scattered across the globe, we wish you a happy new year.
from the Korea desk
Thisisgame.com, one of the leading video game news websites in Korea, recently caught up with Gavin to discuss upcoming BigWorld Technology shininess, including the iOS client demonstration.
The article is in Korean, but here’s an excerpt:
Another main driver of BigWorld’s success in China has been the support it has provided for its clients, as well as the stability of its server. For some of its earliest clients in China, BigWorld provided a secure solution, both with a developed client and integrated server solution. “The core server-client solution makes it significantly easier to create and publish content to your MMO,” explains Gavin Longhurst, VP of Business Development at BigWorld.
from the bow christening desk
Our friends at Develop Magazine have put their iPad app up on Apple’s Newsstand Service, and BigWorld is sponsoring its launch.
The app provides access monthly to each issue of the game-dev-focused publication.
As well as offering access to a wealth of video content, the Develop iPad app also includes outbound links throughout each issue, caters for searching every edition, includes a comprehensive contents and navigation tools, and provides a number of social sharing options.
BigWorld is also proudly sponsoring Develop’s online digital edition, available here.
BigWorld Pty Ltd, a developer of online game and MMO development middleware technology, is continuing a decade-long track record powering NetEase’s newest Chinese MMO, Tian Xia III
Austin, Texas – Thursday, November 10, 2011
Video Trailer: http://bgwld.co/uPP3uZ
Beta Launch Aircraft Party Video: http://bgwld.co/teFbSq
Chinese internet giant NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES) is using BigWorld Technology to power its newest MMO, Tian Xia III (天下3), which has now entered beta. The game offers new quests, environments and features to build on the rich tapestry of Chinese mythology and innovative MMO design established by its predecessor, Tian Xia II, one of the most popular MMO’s in China. On beta launch day, thousands of players filed into Tian Xia III servers and a limited-edition box release sold out in less than 30 minutes.
Tian Xia III takes place in an immersive fantasy world full of ancient Chinese mythology and philosophical undertones. The game features fast-paced combat that mixes twitch and dice-roll styles, as well as uncommonly deep narrative integration into quest chains and a visual aesthetic that draws on the architectural and tonal history of China. The game strongly emphasizes the creation of family structures between avatars, including marriage, utilizing a unique family system. As in most MMO’s, players benefit from collaboration, but NetEase intends to improve upon that by introducing mechanics like multi-passenger mounts, as well as content that can only be generated by multiple users working in concert.
“Feedback from the alpha player community has indicated that NetEase has expertly wielded the BigWorld Technology tool suite to create another rich and immersive MMO, and we’re proud as ever to be powering the game” says Lei Guo, Director of Greater China Region at BigWorld.
NetEase originally chose BigWorld as its middleware solution because the technology offers an end-to-end solution for MMO development. Unlike traditional game middleware that offers only on the front-end client, BigWorld offers an end-to-end solution. BigWorld Server is a highly scalable back-end solution specifically optimized for the BigWorld Client, tools, plugins, instrumentation, and the rest of the BigWorld suite. BigWorld Server made it possible to scale rapidly to support bulging beta server with no down time.
NetEase Director Michael Tong says “we have found BigWorld Technology to be extremely flexible and robust. Our artists and world builders have found BigWorld’s content creation tools intuitive and very powerful …and the technical support is excellent. The good experience with BigWorld leads us to extend the BigWorld technology empowered product line.”
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About BigWorld
BigWorld Pty Ltd was formed in 2002, and has offices in Australia, Europe, USA and China. BigWorld Technology provides developers of online games a competitive advantage by significantly reducing risk, cost and time to market. The BigWorld Technology Suite includes a highly scalable and stable server, robust next-gen client, content creation tools, a library of 3rd party plugins, full support, and other accompanying tools. Multiple licensing options are available. More information at www.bigworldtech.com
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About NetEase
NetEase was founded in 1997, seeing its first major successes as a search engine provider. The company operates 163.com, a popular and heavily-trafficked web portal that was the 28th most visited site in the world in April 2010, according to Alexas’ internet rankings. The company expanded to develop MMO’s, developing titles like Fantasy Westward Journey. NetEase became one of BigWorld’s first Asian customers when the Australian middleware developer first entered Asia over ten years ago. The company has since developed multiple successful titles on the technology, including Tian Xia II and Genesis: Journey to the West. More information at http://tx3.163.com/
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Contact
BigWorld Pty Ltd
press@bigworldtech.com
+13133554347
enVie Interactive™, LLC integrates BigWorld middleware and BitRaider streaming technology to bolster the quality and accessibility of their new virtual world, VIE: Virtual Island of Entertainment
Austin, Texas – October 6, 2011
BigWorld Pty Ltd, enVie Interactive™, LLC, and BitRaider come together in Austin for this year’s GDC Online to discuss the successful integration of their three properties.
VIE™: Virtual Island of Entertainment™ is a 3D virtual world with social game elements developed by enVie Interactive. The studio has licensed both BitRaider and BigWorld technologies to help facilitate VIE’s development process. BigWorld provides the end-to-end game development middleware technology and support that has allowed enVie Interactive to focus their efforts on the actual design of their virtual world without needing to dedicate resources to internal tools development.
“We’ve been happy to see how enVie Interactive has leveraged our tools, client and server technology to create their rich 3D world, and are thrilled to see BitRaider’s streaming solution actively making the experience even more frictionless and enjoyable for their users,” says John De Margheriti, CEO of BigWorld.
BitRaider equips VIE with cloud-based asset streaming, allowing users to progressively download the virtual world’s assets as they play, instead of downloading one large package installer. Other BitRaider features include progressive patching during gameplay and character movement prediction about twenty times per second to ensure the game world quickly streams from the cloud to the end user.
“VIE has been an excellent showcase for BitRaider streaming technology,” said Royal O’Brien, CEO of BitRaider. “The very smooth launch where VIE starts playing in minutes and patches while it’s played is a great testament to an excellent partnership.”
enVie Interactive’s adoption of these two technologies has enhanced the quality of experience for guests on VIE and has broadened appeal by increasing the speed at which guests can enter the world.
“By integrating BigWorld Technology, we are able to make VIE the most visually immersive 3D virtual world experience,” said Stacey Hirata, President of enVie Interactive. “BitRaider has helped us accelerate the delivery of this experience to our guests and we’re thrilled by the results from these amazing partnerships.”
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About BigWorld
BigWorld Pty Ltd was formed in 2002, and has offices in Australia, Europe, USA and China. BigWorld Technology provides developers of online games a competitive advantage by significantly reducing risk, cost and time to market. The BigWorld Technology Suite includes a highly scalable and stable server, robust next-gen client, content creation tools, a library of 3rd party plugins, full support, and other accompanying tools. Multiple licensing options are available. More information at www.bigworldtech.com
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About BitRaider
BitRaider MMO, LLC. is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana company that licenses a disruptive game streaming technology to publishers who want to provide a superior player experience faster, more easily and without the pain of current download and patching methods. More information at www.bitraider.com/
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About enVie™ Interactive LLC
Based in Sunnyvale, California, enVie Interactive LLC is a ground-breaking developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment. Players can sign up for enVie’s flagship product, VIE: Virtual Island of Entertainment at www.viethegame.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/viethegame or follow us on Twitter @viethegame to receive additional information.
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Contact
Matt Daly
Social Media Director
BigWorld Pty Ltd
mdaly@bigworldtech.com
+13133554347
from the visuals desk
Wargaming.net has released a new batch of screens for recently-announced, BigWorld-powered World of Warplanes.
from the doting desk
Aeria Games is today launching BigWorld-Powered Realm of the Titans into closed beta. This landmark caps the extensive design, development and alpha testing of this DotA-inspired, isometric, free-to-play action/strategy game.
Testing has thus far garnered positive feedback from the testing community and press, and the BigWorld team is proud to see the title mature so quickly.
Whet your appetite with this video and go sink your teeth in!
Massively Virtual Worlds News