Civilization Revolution adapted for Windows Phone 7 by Virtuos

GLOBAL DOMINATION TO GO!

Build. Discover. Conquer. Rule the World!

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is an award-winning title with “just one more turn” put into the palms of your hands. Lead your civilization from the dawn of man to the modern age and beyond. Go head to head with history’s greatest leaders as you wage war, conduct diplomacy, discover new technologies, inspire your nation and build the most powerful empire the world has ever known.

For nearly two decades, the Sid Meier’s Civilization® franchise has been the benchmark for strategy gaming and is available and updated for Windows Phone 7.   You can choose from 16 Civilizations (including America, Spain, China, Japan and Germany) to lead one of four different victory conditions: Technology, Domination, Economic or Cultural.   Engage in strategic combat across a randomly generated map for many hours of replayability or use the Scenario Creator to create your own challenge.  With multiple difficulty levels, an integrated tutorial and friendly advisors to help newcomers and seasoned Civ veterans alike this is a game for anyone.

Via WindowsPhone.com

Gore Verbinski’s “Rango” wins Oscar for best animated feature film

By Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES | Mon Feb 27, 2012 (Reuters) – “Rango,” starring Johnny Depp as the voice of a pet chameleon who tries to bring law and order to a town in the Wild West, won the Oscar for best animated feature film on Sunday.

Depp voices Rango, who ends up stuck in a desert town called Dirt, where he takes on the role of sheriff and leads a quest to replenish the town’s water supply.

The film is directed by Gore Verbinski, the man behind three of the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies that also star Depp. “Rango” is Verbinski’s first animated movie.

The film features references to classic movie westerns and is filled with sophisticated humor appreciated by adults.

“Someone asked me if this film was for kids,” Verbinski said as he accepted the award. “It was certainly created by a bunch of grown-ups acting like children.”

Asked backstage if he had hoped to win an Oscar for live action rather than animation, Verbinski said: “I’m feeling I’m dreaming right now. I don’t think it matters.”

“Rango” has won a slew of other awards, including a BAFTA and a People’s Choice Award for favorite animated movie voice.

The movie distributed by Viacom Inc unit Paramount Pictures has taken more than $245 million at the worldwide box-office and also features the voices of Ilsa Fisher, Abigail Breslin, and Ned Beatty.

Saigon, Vietnam – February 28, 2012 – Sparx has added industry veteran Frederick Lissau to its growing Vietnam Studio.

Frederick brings more than 15 years of animation production experience with companies including Disney Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Imageworks, Universal Studios and SCEA. He joins Sparx as Director of Production.

“Frederick is a seasoned animation professional, able to drive large complex productions while supporting the creativity of his team,” said Sparx CEO Gilles Langourieux. “With the benefit of his extensive production experience, Sparx is well equipped to deliver high-caliber productions.”

Mr. Lissau’s credits include feature films Hercules, Prince of Egypt and El Dorado, Open Season, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Tale of Despereaux, and AAA games InFamous2 and Uncharted 3.

“Sparx’ work is well known and respected in the industry,” said Mr. Lissau. “I am delighted to join the talented team here, and look forward to working together with them on new animation productions.”

Sparx was recently acquired by the Virtuos Group, and has production resources in Saigon, Shanghai and Chengdu, including over 100 3D animation professionals.

About Sparx

Sparx is a 3D animation company for feature films, TV series and game cinematics. Its credits include the 3D animated feature film “Igor” starring John Cusack. Sparx is part of the Virtuos Group, which is one of the largest digital entertainment production companies in the world with more than 800 digital production specialists, and locations in Shanghai, Chengdu, Vancouver, Saigon, Paris and Tokyo.

Virtuos team member nominated for VES 2012 award for parking garage models in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

January 12, 2012 – Los Angeles, California – Virtuos team members have been nominated by the Visual Effects Society at their 10th Annual VES Awards. The VES awards recognize the most outstanding visual effects of the year.

The nomination is in the category Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture for work on the parking garage model in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Virtuos was engaged by Industrial Light & Magic to contribute work on the model, which is based on the 20-story Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany. “Virtuos is proud to contribute to the visual effects created by ILM,” said Gilles Langourieux, Virtuos CEO.

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is a non-profit professional, honorary society, dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects. For more information, visit www.visualeffectssociety.com

About Virtuos
Virtuos is one of the largest providers of outsourced digital entertainment content production services, specializing in 3D art and game software development. With locations in Shanghai, Chengdu, Vancouver, Saigon, Paris and Tokyo, Virtuos has more than 900 employees representing 15 nationalities. Virtuos’ clients include 15 of the top 20 digital entertainment companies worldwide as well as renowned independent studios. For more information, please refer to: www.virtuosgames.com

February 10, 2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Several games contributed to by Virtuos were recognized by the AIAS at the 2012 Interactive Achievement Awards, including Kinect Disneyland Adventures which was nominated for Family Game of the Year.

The AIAS presents awards to games which ‘exemplify the highest standard of excellence and quality.

“Virtuos is honored to have the opportunity to contribute to award-winning projects such as this,” said Gilles Langourieux, Virtuos CEO. “It speaks to the caliber of Virtuos’ art teams to be able to reach the world-class standards set by Frontier Developments.”

The AIAS is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates creativity in video games worldwide, and the IAA ceremony is attached to the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit.

Sparx* Moves into New Saigon Studio

December 12, 2011 – Saigon, Vietnam – 3D animation company Sparx is pleased to announce that it has moved its Saigon studio to a new facility. The new facility is located in the heart of downtown Saigon’s First District.

The move was prompted by the strong growth of the team, which is expected to continue through 2012.

“The move to the new studio is a significant milestone in Sparx’ expansion,” said Didier Montarou, General Manager, Sparx. “We are very excited to set up shop in our new home and continue our growth with more team members and bigger projects.”

Sparx is on pace to surpass 100 staff in Vietnam in 2012. Sparx currently employs over 100 animation professionals in Saigon and Shanghai and aims to employ over 200 by the end of 2012.

Sparx is a company of the Virtuos Group, which has locations in Shanghai, Chengdu, Saigon, Paris, Vancouver and Tokyo.

About Sparx

Sparx is a 3D animation company for feature films, TV series and game cinematics. Its credits include the 3D animated feature film “Igor” starring John Cusack. Sparx is part of the Virtuos Group, which is one of the largest digital entertainment production companies in the world with more than 900 digital production specialists, and locations in Shanghai, Chengdu, Vancouver, Saigon, Paris and Tokyo. For more information, please refer to: www.virtuos-sparx.com

Shanghai, China, December 1, 2011 – Virtuos is pleased to announce that the China game-industry veteran Frank Feng (Feng Yu Hui) has joined the company as General Manager of Virtuos Academy. (www.virtuosacademy.com)

Mr. Feng co-founded the Shanghai game development studio Gamestar in 2002, which was acquired by Disney Interactive Studios in 2008. Prior to that he was one of the first Art Leads at Ubisoft Shanghai in 1997, and has a long history of experience in the education of 3D artists.

“Frank is a seasoned industry veteran who has a deep understanding of the game development business and the training requirements of artists,” said Virtuos CEO Gilles Langourieux. “His considerable expertise and vision will enable the Virtuos Academy to define a new standard of professional education for digital entertainment industry in China.”

Mr. Feng’s former 3D art students include members of Virtuos’ current Art Director team – the highest level of artists in the company.

“I am excited to be taking on new challenges with Virtuos Academy, and to be working alongside some of the great Virtuos artists who I first met as students more than a decade ago,” said Mr. Feng. “I look forward to further evolving the Virtuos Academy and expanding to new cities in the near future.”

The Virtuos Academy was established in 2010, with a mission to train the most promising digital entertainment talents on the framework of how to deliver real games and movies, through intense training programs based on real-life production scenarios, workflows and technologies.

Activision’s DreamWorks® Super Star Kartz(TM) Video Game Speeds Into Stores Today!

For the first time ever, race to the finish line with your favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Madagascar, How To Train Your Dragon and Monsters vs. Aliens!

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Rev your engines because Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard Inc., ATVI +0.00%  announced today that DreamWorks Super Star Kartz is now available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Wii(TM) system from Nintendo and the Nintendo DS(TM) and Nintendo 3DS(TM) hand-held systems.

DreamWorks Super Star Kartz brings everyone’s favorite DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. DWA +0.18%  characters together in one game for the first time, including Shrek, Donkey, Alex, King Julien, Hiccup, B.O.B. and many more!

In DreamWorks Super Star Kartz, you will race on wacky, wild and wondrous tracks from your favorite movie locations; such as Shrek’s swamp, the zoo in New York City’s Central Park and the Island of Berk. Use each character’s unique abilities as you speed, jump, power-up and boost your way past the competition and capture the checkered flag.

You can dominate the driver’s seat in multiple game modes, including Quick Races, Circuit Mode and Challenge Mode, with platform specific match-ups such as head-to-head Battle Mode for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii. Challenge up to three friends on the Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 and Wii in hilariously fun multi-player action, or compete with up to four friends wirelessly in multi-card play on the Nintendo DS.

DreamWorks Super Star Kartz is now available for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system, Wii(TM) and Nintendo 3DS(TM) at $29.99, and for Nintendo DS(TM) at $19.99. This game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.activision.com .

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com .

SANTA MONICA, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –The nanite threat is mounting and it’s up to you to save the world in Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and Cartoon Network Enterprises’ Generator Rex: Agent of Providence, a new video game based on the wildly popular Generator Rex television series.  The game, which combines classic combat and action gameplay was developed by Virtuos for Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held systems, Wii™ system from Nintendo, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Generator Rex: Agent of Providence allows players to step into the shoes of Rex Salazar, the hero of Cartoon Network’s original action-adventure television series. Rex controls mutation-inducing “Nanites” that make him a valuable member of Providence, a worldwide force that reins in out-of-control E.V.O.s (Exponentially Variegated Organisms). Whether he is crafting “Builds” or curing the dangerous mutations of others, Rex’s powers are truly amazing!

As Rex’s abilities evolve he unlocks awe-inspiring “Omega Builds”. With this newfound power he must leap into action to take on terrifying bosses, including the diabolical Van Kleiss! Players will also meet Rex’s allies Bobo Haha, Agent Six and Providence’s leader, the White Knight. Throughout the game, Rex faces enemies in environments such as the underwater world of Aquania and the private dimension of the nefarious Breach. In addition to the main campaign, gamers will engage in time trials and a variety of level-specific challenges. For an agent of Providence with powers matched by no one else, there’s always more adventure to be had!

Generator Rex: Agent of Providence is available now on Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Nintendo 3DS for $39.99 and on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ at $29.99. This game is rated “E10+ for Everyone 10 and older” by the ESRB. For more info, please visit www.activision.com and www.generator-rex.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

About Virtuos

Virtuos is one of the largest providers of outsourced digital entertainment content production services, specializing in 3D Art and game software development.  With locations in Shanghai, Chengdu, Vancouver, Saigon, Paris and Tokyo, Virtuos has more than 800 employees representing 15 nationalities. Virtuos’ clients include 15 of the top 20 digital entertainment companies worldwide as well as renowned independent studios. For more information, please refer to: www.virtuosgames.com

Shanghai, China, October 28, 2011 – Sparx, a Virtuos company has added the experienced Cinematics Director Miguel Angel Martin to its growing animation and cinematics teams. Miguel has more than 20 years of experience as a director and nearly a decade of experience with digital cinematics.

His extensive experience in this area includes work for Ubisoft in Canada, Romania and China, with credits on games including Rainbow Six, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, and I Am Alive franchises. He has also directed independent films and more than a dozen music videos.

“Miguel is a seasoned talent who will fit right in with the team here at Sparx,” said Sparx CEO Gilles Langourieux. “He is creative, energetic and possesses a high level of expertise in creating dynamic cinematics for AAA productions.”

“Having worked closely with the Sparx team in the past, I am looking forward to joining the talented artists and animators here, and providing my talents to a variety of clients’ projects, said Mr. Martin.

Sparx was recently acquired by the Virtuos Group, and has production resources in Saigon, Shanghai and Chengdu, including over 100 3D animation professionals.

Miguel Angel Martin’s reel can be seen on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/31237584