AFTER successfully launching the country’s first online racing casual game, online game publisher Level Up! is adding a new Filipino-themed map in Crazy Kart.

The “‘Pinas Map” features famous landmarks spread along the track. It includes digitized 3D images of the Fort Santiago Tunnel, the Rizal Monument and the Manila Cathedral.

In one part of the map, a hazy image of an island that looks like the rocky Corregidor Island can be seen. Another part of the track includes a stretch that looks like the road going up Baguio City, which actually leads to the Banawe Rice Terraces.

In a humorous twist, Level Up! developers added some potholes reminiscent of the damaged parts of EDSA. They even added look-alikes of steel sidewalk barricades placed by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

The company had previously incorporated Filipino vehicles as playable units in the game. Among these are the FX taxi, an owner-type jeep and the ubiquitous jeepney. They later added the CK Drift Kart, which is based on a real-life Nissan Cefiro drift car that the company modified as part of their marketing strategy for Crazy Kart.

Another element in the game is the addition of an original Filipino song entitled “Crazy Karter Sweet Lover” performed by Ang Bandang Shirley.

Level Up! Crazy Kart Brand Manager Jeff Paulino said the idea behind the Pinas Map is to create more excitement for Filipino players of Crazy Kart and to package the game as the “pambansang [national] casual racing game.”

He said that since they incorporated “Taglish” as part of the localization of the game, the number of players have increased to over 1 million registered users.

In a month, Crazy Kart has more than 700,000 unique users (or more than 100,000 unique users daily) playing the game, Paulino added.

“The drawing point of the game is both its incorporation of the Filipino language – a first among our games – and the ease of playing it. We’ve had players as young as four and parents enjoy watching their kids play as much as they play themselves.”

Paulino said they are looking to create and release more Filipino-themed maps soon.

Watch this video report:

By Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES–Lara Croft is set to return in a new movie based on the “Tomb Raider” video games but Angelina Jolie is unlikely to reprise her role as the gun-toting archeologist, reports said Wednesday.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, studio giant Warner Bros. is in the early stages of developing a third film in the franchise following movies in 2001 and 2003 derived from the 1996 video game.

However the report in the entertainment industry journal said Oscar-nominated actress Jolie was unlikely to return for the role.

The new project was expected to revamp the character of Croft, the report said, with the film bearing little resemblance to the earlier movies.

The first two “Tomb Raider” films grossed roughly 430 million dollars worldwide.

NEWLY established online game publisher iAM Interactive announced its new unified account management system for its existing and upcoming online game titles.

The iAM Wallet will serve players of Lineage II and all future free-to-play online games, one of which is the mecha-anime inspired game Exteel. It will become fully operational on February 17.

The iAM Wallet will be used in countries that the company is serving, namely the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

In a statement, iAM Interactive, which is the gaming division of Asian Media Development Group (AMDG), said one feature of the new user account management service is the use of “iCoins” or the currency for game-related transactions.

Using iCoins, players can purchase game time, in-game items and use these for value-added services such as server transfer, gender change, name change, among others.

AMDG announced the establishment of the new game division in December 2008.

iAM Interactive President Fadzly Yusof told hackenslash previously that they will be introducing two other games sometime this year, both of which will be free-to-play.

By Agence France-Presse

EMERYVILLE–A “Spore” computer game that lets people play God by designing life forms is evolving to offer versions tailored for children, space hunters, and fans of Nintendo Wii consoles.

A brainchild of game legend Will Wright, maker of the world’s top-selling computer game “The Sims,” “Spore” has attracted legions of players since its release by Electronic Arts-owned Maxis studio in September of last year.

“We were overwhelmed by the massive response to the game from the millions of people that created, shared and played in the ‘Spore’ universe,” said Maxis general manager Lucy Bradshaw.

“This year we’re going to experiment with new experiences that extend the powerful creativity tools of ‘Spore’ to all-new audiences. With the universe as our backdrop, the only limit in the Spore universe is your own imagination.”

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THE Philippines saw good growth in the overall gaming industry last year.

Despite looming economic slowdown in the country, gaming companies are not worried.

The online game business in the country is the most successful segment in the gaming business, as it capitalized on Filipino’s community approach.

Millions of Filipinos are playing online games published by companies such as Level Up!, IP e-Games and Amped Games. There are several other publishers that have introduced new games in 2008. But the economic slowdown looms.

IPVG chief executive officer Enrique Gonzales said the economic slowdown might mean less disposable income for gamers and a slowdown in Internet usage among Filipinos.

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