LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--D3Publisher is hosting “The Bangai-O Spirits Elite Level Design Contest,” an invitation-only design competition for influential industry veterans, in conjunction with The Guildhall at SMU, on IGN.com (http://www.ign.com), one of the Web’s leading videogame and entertainment information destinations. D3Publisher tapped select videogame industry luminaries and invited them to craft exclusive game levels using the outstanding consumer-ready level editing tools in D3Publisher’s latest Nintendo DS™ system game, Bangai-O Spirits. Gamers across the world can learn about the designers, download the exclusively designed levels using the ground-breaking new Sound Load Technology in Bangai-O Spirits, and vote for their favorite level at IGN.com. The level that wins the most votes from fans will earn a $10,000 gift from D3Publisher in the level designer’s name, to be awarded to a graduate student at The Guildhall at SMU for tuition assistance. Voting for gamers’ favorite levels will run through September 8, 2008.
Participating Designers include:
- Steve Fawkner, CEO and Lead Designer, Infinite Interactive, LLC
- Shane Hensley, Studio Head, Superstition Studios
- Tom Mustaine, Managing Director, Escalation Studios
- Eric Peterson, President and Co-Founder, Vicious Cycle Software
- Benson Russell, Senior Designer, Naughty Dog Inc.
- Jon Skinner, Professor, The Guildhall at SMU
- Harvey Smith, Game Director, Arkane Studios
- Howard Tang, Designer, Fizz Factor/Foundation 9
- Vince Zampella, Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Ward
“D3Publisher is privileged that these esteemed game industry leaders have shared their talent to create game levels with the robust level editor in Bangai-O Spirits,” said Yoji Takenaka, president and chief executive officer of North America and Europe, D3Publisher. “It is an honor for us to pay tribute to their talent with a $10,000 gift in the name of the winning designer, meant to support the education of future developers at The Guildhall at SMU.”
“This is a major educational gift from the game industry,” Dr. Peter Raad, executive director, The Guildhall at SMU, explained. “Visionary leaders like D3Publisher understand the importance of supporting video game development programs to help train tomorrow’s developers and industry leaders. We are very grateful for this gift.”
Bangai-O Spirits is a compelling blend of twitch-fest shooter and puzzle genres seasoned with strategic and tactical elements. The game boasts a powerful level editor that makes the player into the game designer as they create levels from scratch, edit or copy-and-paste existing levels, and even edit on the fly in the middle of a level! Bangai-O Spirits also offers ground-breaking new technology called Sound Load, allowing players to share their original or edited levels via sound files transmitted through the DS speakers and microphone. Developed in the much-loved style of TREASURE, it is a re-imagination of their ‘90s cult classic game Bangai-O, perfected for the DS system. Bangai-O Spirits is available at Best Buy, GameStop and other fine retailers for a suggested retail price of $29.95.
Bangai-O Spirits is rated “E10+ - Mild Fantasy Violence” by the ESRB. For more information about Bangai-O Spirits for Nintendo DS, please visit www.d3publisher.com, where you can link to the hub for user-created levels.
About The Guildhall at SMU
The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University is the premier graduate video game education program in the US. Many of the school’s founders are industry icons, and classes are taught by industry veterans. In five short years, over 230 Guildhall graduates have worked at more than 80 video game studios around North America. SMU offers both a Master’s degree and a graduate Professional Certificate of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development, with specializations in art creation, level design, and software development. For more information, visit www.guildhall.smu.edu.
About D3Publisher
D3Publisher, a subsidiary of D3, Inc., is a leading interactive entertainment publisher and distributor for licensed and original titles for personal computers, major console platforms and handheld systems. D3Publisher has operations in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. The company also owns development studio Vicious Cycle Software, Inc., and its technology platform, Vicious Engine. Recent releases have included Dark Sector®, Dead Head Fred®, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords®, and Ben 10™: Protector of Earth. For more information about D3Publisher, please visit: www.d3publisher.com.
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