Zeebo Wireless Videogame Console Provides Publishers and Developers With 3G Wireless Distribution, Direct Access to Consumers and Lower Development Costs
SAN FRANCISCO, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading game publishers and developers from around the world signaled their continued support for Zeebo, the first affordable 3D videogame console designed specifically for emerging global markets. The innovative console will launch in Brazil next month. The console features secure 3G wireless game delivery and addresses the special requirements of these regions where current generation videogame consoles are expensive for the middle class and software piracy is rampant.
The Zeebo system provides a new approach for both publishers and developers looking to extend their footprint into emerging markets, including:
Secure 3G wireless distribution of digital content designed to overcome lost revenues from rampant piracy
Simple, intuitive wireless shopping mall making it easy for consumers to discover and purchase content - giving publishers and developers direct access to a potential one billion consumers in the emerging middle class
Shorter development cycle as well as lower marketing costs
"The Zeebo console is the first gaming system to foster the development and monetization of branded and culturally relevant content by preventing piracy through secure 3G wireless game delivery and monetization," said Reinaldo Normand, Zeebo founder and head of developer relations. "Zeebo is attacking the serious issue of videogame piracy in emerging markets head on by giving publishers and developers a secure method to offer their content directly to emerging market consumers around the world."
"Zeebo is combining a strong and disruptive concept with great partners and a sensible target market," said Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate. "Billions of consumers in a new 'Omni Media' market now understand digital content distribution, and it is a convenient business and consumer shortcut to use 3G wireless networks to support a game console. We know that consumers in these markets love games like Tower Bloxx and we appreciate that this technology model is a good way to securely monetize the business."
"Ideaworks3D is happy to announce plans for Airplay to support Zeebo," said Alex Caccia, CEO, Ideaworks3D. "Airplay is the platform behind such high profile games as Resident Evil: Degeneration, Metal Gear Solid Mobile, Pandemonium, Dirge of CerebusLost Episode - Final Fantasy VII, Project Gotham Racing Mobile, and more. We look forward to providing both publishers and developers with a low-cost and turn-key solution to bring their most trusted brands to this exciting new console platform via Airplay."
"Zeebo is enabling a refreshing change of pace for videogame development," said Andreas Vasen, CEO, Machineworks Northwest LLC. "Porting Prey:Evil to the Zeebo platform required significantly less time and resources compared to traditional console development, and did not require the pain of porting to literally thousands of devices in order to release a title via a more traditional wireless carrier's handset deck."
Additional publishers and developers actively supporting the Zeebo console platform include Capcom, Com2uS, EA Mobile, Gameloft, Glu, Namco Networks and THQ.
For more information on the Zeebo videogame console please visit www.zeeboinc.com.
Mike Yuen from Qualcomm and John F. Rizzo from Zeebo will present "4 - Gaming for the Next Billion," this morning at 10:30am PDT at Game Developers Conference Mobile in San Francisco in Moscone North, Room 134. On Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00am PDT, Rizzo will also participate on the panel, "How will startups and the industry giants wrestle over the future of games?" at the GamesBeat 2009 Conference at the Mission Bay Conference Center.
ABOUT ZEEBO
Zeebo, Inc., a closely held company based in San Diego, California, has developed the Zeebo console, a new wireless system to deliver gaming, digital entertainment and education to the next billion consumers in emerging global markets. Primary investors in Zeebo include wireless technology leader Qualcomm and Tectoy SA, which pioneered the introduction of digital gaming in Brazil.
