SVB & G4Box Launch Closed Beta of Highly Anticipated Online Game, Cross Fire
posted on
Nov 10, 2008 02:20AM
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Attention Business Editors:
SilverBirch and G4Box Launch Closed Beta of Highly Anticipated Online Game, Cross Fire
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Closed Beta keys oversubscribed in hours as thousands of online gamers
rush to Cross Fire website and download game
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TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - SilverBirch Inc. (TSX-V:SVB) and G4Box Inc. have
launched the closed beta of the highly-anticipated free to play online game
Cross Fire, the companies announced today. The closed beta of Cross Fire
(www.crossfire-en.com), is an award-winning, free-to-play, online military
first-person shooter game for PCs. The 10,000 closed beta keys available were
oversubscribed and gone in less than 10 hours.
The closed beta, which went live on November 7th, will run for
approximately one month. During this time, Cross Fire will offer gamers an
opportunity to play one of four high adrenaline game modes prior to the open
beta planned for December 2008. The commercial launch is scheduled for
January, 2009. Gamers can to continue to download the game for free at:
www.crossfire-en.com
"The response to the English version of Cross Fire has far exceeded our
expectations," said Kevin Astle, Interim President and CEO of SilverBirch.
"Cross Fire's fast-paced action, superb graphics and compelling features have
already made it a hotly anticipated game among English-language gamers."
Prior to going live, the Cross Fire website received more than 1,900,000
hits leading up to the launch. Two-thirds of these hits originated from the
United States. In Asia, Cross Fire is already a runaway hit. In less than 9
months, The Asian version has achieved tens of millions of registered players
and has reached in excess of 500,000 concurrent users playing the game online
at the same time.
"Cross Fire has been a huge success in China, Japan, Vietnam and other
Asian markets," said Howard He, CEO of G4Box, noting that the game is now more
popular in Vietnam than World of Warcraft. "Based on the positive initial
response from North American gamers, we look forward to replicating this
success for the English-language version."
SilverBirch and G4Box hold the English language rights to Cross Fire in
North America and the UK, and hold further rights to the game in Europe.
The Cross Fire story line features two international mercenary forces
locked in a global struggle. Players assume the role of either a Black List
terrorist or Global Risk mercenary, and then join an online team that must
work together to complete objective-based scenarios. The game has four online
modes: Team Death Match, Team Match, Annihilation Match and the all-new Ghost
Match. Based on their performance in-game, players will receive experience
points and be promoted through various military ranks. More information on the
game, including a movie simulation, can be found at
http://www.crossfire-en.com/movies.aspx.
Revenue opportunities are generated through Cross Fire's in-game item
shop, where players can customize their character's equipment and appearance
by making online purchases. The game's English-language version is expected to
begin generating revenue shortly after the commercial launch goes live in
January 2009.
Cross Fire is part of a worldwide online game market forecasted by DFC
Intelligence to grow from US$3.4 billion in 2005 to over US$13 billion in
2011. Fifty-five percent of that growth will be derived from MMORPG (massive
multiplayer online role-playing) games. Cross Fire has been selected as one of
the PC titles to qualify the China team for the World Cyber Games (WCG)
competition to be held in China next year. Other PC titles selected for the
tournament include Warcraft III and Starcraft. The WCG tournament
(www.worldcybergames.com) is the largest gaming event in the world.
About SilverBirch Inc.
Toronto-based SilverBirch Inc. is a leading digital entertainment company
operating in the fastest growing sectors of the video game market. The
Company's video game operations include SilverBirch Studios, a video game
developer; Red Mile Entertainment, a San Francisco based publisher of console
games such as Heroes Over Europe and the exclusive worldwide license holder
for Sin City; Lighthouse Interactive, a Netherlands-based publisher of PC
games; and a co-venture with G4Box Inc. to operate licensed English language
online multiplayer games. For more information see www.silverbirchinc.com.
About G4Box Inc.
G4Box was founded in September 2004 in Markham, Ont. Its primary business
is in the distribution of MMORPG games. The company is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of 568 Network Inc., a Markham based developer, publisher and
distributor of games that also partners with CryptoLogic Inc. in online casino
and poker games for the Chinese market. For more information on G4Box, please
visit www.g4box.com.
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Cautionary Notes:
The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the
proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the
contents of this news release. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news
release.
(*)The acquisition of Red Mile Entertainment is expected to close in
early 2009, subject to shareholder, legal and regulatory approvals.
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%SEDAR: 00020946E
For further information: Kevin Astle, Interim President and CEO,
SilverBirch Inc., Tel: (416) 621-6711 Ext. 34, kastle@silverbirchinc.com