UTV Ignition consolidates in Austin, Reich FPS 'remains' in development
UTV Ignition confirmed today the closure of its East and West Coast US operations, with all future development and publishing to be handled from its UTV True Games studio out of its offices in Austin, Texas.
The company also revealed that its (once considered canceled) sci-fi FPS, Reich, "remains in development" in Austin, where "key personnel along with additional new hires will create a new internal development team." Additionally, UTV's Tokyo-developed title, El Shaddai, will be released in Japan on April 28, with a European and North American release announcement coming "shortly."
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UTV IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT CONSOLIDATES ITS U.S. OFFICES WITH UTV TRUE GAMES
Company To Tap The Talent In Austin, Texas For the Publishing And Development Of Its Upcoming Gaming Titles
Austin, TX-- January 12, 2011 -- UTV Ignition Entertainment Ltd., A leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, announced today that it has consolidated its West and East Coast operations to a central office in Austin, Texas with on line micro transaction gaming studio, UTV True Games. Merging all of its publishing and development talent into one location, this new centralized facility was chosen to take advantage of the area's thriving high-tech games industry, burgeoning interactive entertainment talent pool and to create synergies across both Companies.
UTV Ignition Entertainment has decided to consolidate its U.S. operations into one single location to better combine resources and become more efficient and streamlined. The company's highly-anticipated first-person-shooter, Reich, remains in development and is now being developed in Austin, where key personnel along with additional new hires will create a new internal development team. Additionally, UTV Ignition Entertainment's main U.S. office, which housed its publishing activities and was located in Glendale, Calif., has moved its activities to Austin.
"In the last few years Ignition Entertainment's Operations have grown and spread out to the East and West Coast so we decided it was time to bring them under one roof. With our publishing and development all now being handled in Austin we will be able to enhance team work and efficiency to create a stronger and more focused vision," said Hassan Sadiq, group chairman of UTV Ignition. With publishing and development under one roof, we will also continue strategic outsourcing options in order to ensure flexibility and broader expertise to ensure titles of true excellence".
The move to Austin is effective immediately and the company is currently seeking personnel to join its publishing and development teams. For more information on positions available visit www.utvignition.com
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AWARD-WINNING ORIGINAL ACTION GAME EL SHADDAI: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON TO MAKE JAPANESE RETAIL DEBUT IN SPRING 2011 FOR PlayStation®3 AND Xbox 360®
Austin, TEXAS -January 12, 2011 -- UTV Ignition Entertainment Ltd., A leading global developer and publisher of original interactive entertainment, announced today that it will release the highly-anticipated original action adventure, El Shaddai: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON for the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® entertainment platforms on Thursday, April 28th, 2011 in Japan. A release date in Europe and North America will be announced shortly.
El Shaddai: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON is an epic original action adventure game inspired by an alternate telling of biblical mythology as narrated in the 'heretical' Book of Enoch, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The game has been developed by a 'dream team' internal Japanese studio whose former credits include iconic multi-million selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, and Okami. El Shaddai: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON features a disruptive next-generation combat system and stunning original direction from director Sawaki Takeyasu, previously the art director on Okami - considered by some media as 'the most beautiful action game ever created.'
"With an immensely talented development team combined with the game's highly inspired action game play and strikingly unique art style, I am proud to deliver this game to gamers all over the world. I hope you will enjoy the wonderful game experience of El Shaddai," said Game Director Sawaki Takeyasu.
Since its first announcement at E3 in May 2010, El Shaddai: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON has been critically acclaimed for its originality both in Japan, where it won the Japan Game Awards 2010's Future Division award, and internationally where it is has become one of the most eagerly anticipated original releases in 2011.
"El Shaddai: ASCENSION OF THE METATRON has been muted by the media as one of the most anticipated titles of 2011 and UTV Ignition is looking forward to its success," UTV Ignition Entertainment Chairman Hassan Sadiq.
For more about the game visit http://elshaddaigame.com
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ABOUT UTV IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LTD: UTV Ignition Entertainment Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Software Communication Ltd, India's only global media and entertainment conglomerate. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in the U.K. with offices in Austin, Texas and Tokyo, Japan.
For more information on Ignition and its products, visit http://www.utvignition.com
ABOUT UTV TRUE GAMES INTERACTIVE: Based in Austin, Texas, UTV True Games is an international multi-player online game developer and publisher founded by a core team of MMO industry veterans with extensive experience in publishing and operating online games. UTV True Games brings new and innovative development ideas online, delivers them with a state-of-the-art game
platform, and leverages micro-transaction revenue models. UTV True Games offers such titles as Warrior Epic, Mytheon, Faxion, Planet Crashers, and Sky Legends. For more information on each product, visit www.utvtruegames.com.
They are working with world-class publishers to license existing online titles and world-class developers to create games exclusively for online play. The company has multiple titles in development at its wholly-owned development studios based in Austin, Texas and Beijing, China.
UTV Software Communications Ltd (UTV), India's first integrated global media and entertainment company, holds a strategic stake in UTV True Games.
ABOUT UTV SOFTWARE COMMUNICATIONS LTD: UTV is the No.1 media and entertainment brand in South Asia today reaching out to over 247 million consumers. This leading global media conglomerate in:
Motion Pictures: Have built the no. 1 movie studio in the country in just 5 years; pioneered the integrated studio model in India with creative, production, marketing, distribution and syndication all under one banner. Television: Are the No. 1 TV producer with the largest number of shows on air and in production with reach across 20 countries in 7 languages across 27 channels. It has also emerged as the fastest growing broadcasting network in India, which in 3 years is among the top 5 networks of the country. Has powered India's No.1 youth brand - Bindass.
Interactive: Is the only Indian Company to enjoy global presence in the Games space with studios across London, Tokyo, Beijing, Austin and Mumbai making it one of the largest gaming entities from South Asia. Also providing personalised entertainment on the mobile and web across the country and gearing up with content to leverage the 3G - 4G space.
UTV is listed on India's premier stock exchanges, The National Stock Exchange (NSE) & The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and The Walt Disney Company holds a strategic stake in the company.
