Newsbriefs: Denki DirecTV, DEFCON Tournament, Gotham News Games

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 2:00pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include news Dundee developer Denki adding games to DirecTV's subscription based cable TV gaming service, Introversion's DEFCON getting a Linux version and a three month tournament, and Gotham Gazette developing new 'news games' with the help of the Knight foundation. - Dundee-based developer Denki (Denki Blocks, Go! Go! Beckham! has announced a new partnership with DirecTV's casual Game Lounge to provide new content for the cable tv provider's subscription based gaming service. DirectTV offers access to the Game Lounge at a rate of $5.95 per month or play-per-day price of $1.95. Denki will be providing a number of games including Word Crunch, Letter Box, Denki Blocks! (its own puzzle game released for the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color), Brain Teasers, Number Crunch, Polly Pocket SPLASH!, Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses and Barbie: World Fashion Tour, Tumble Fever and Hot Wheels: Monster Truck Smashdown. Said Denki managing director Colin Anderson, “Gaming on digital television is very popular in Europe. It enjoys a very broad range of games players, including a high percentage of female and mature users, who are not traditionally considered 'gamers'... We are delighted to be developing games for their service and we look forward to viewers across America enjoying Denki developed games.” - A number of developments have cropped up from bedroom coders Introversion regarding its latest title, the apocalyptic strategy title DEFCON. First, the developer has released a Linux version of the game, cross compatible with the PC and Mac version for online play exclusively through Introversion's online store. Existing PC users can play the Linux version for free using their existing keys. The company has also announced a partnership with amBX makers Philips to launch a three month DEFCON league and tournament hosted by LAN gaming center IGUK, with the finale to be played in Birmingham's soon to be opened gaming center Omega Sektor. Prizes are to be donated by Philips, Logitech and Introversion, with the winner receiving over £10k in software and hardware. The tournament will be steamed live through the internet for those at home to watch. - Non-profit news service Gotham Gazette has announced it is among the 30 winners of an online journalism and community building projects proposal challenge hosted by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. With its winnings, it has announced it will develop three new games a year for the next two years for its ongoing "news game" project that lets readers "make policy on key issues facing New York City." Current projects developed by the Gotham Gazette can be found via the Gazette's website. “With this project Gotham Gazette will reach many new readers with engaging informative games,” said Gail Robinson, Editor in Chief. “We look forward to the ‘conversation’ of the games, hearing the solutions and ideas our readers present as they play and become virtual policy makers."