By Alexander Villafania

INQUIRER.net

After a month of hype, entertainment software publisher EagleGame has commercially launched the rhythm game Highstreet 5 on August 15.

EagleGame has made available the game’s top up cards that come in P20, P50 and P100 denominations. Each of the denominations have corresponding in-game amount values ranging from 80 cash points to 420 cash points. These can be used to buy items from the in-game item shop, which was also activated during the commercial launch.

In an interview, EagleGame Marketing and Communications Manager Rio Encarnado said the company will be activating the social networking section of Highstreet 5 “very soon.”

“We’re still converting the social networking interface from Chinese to English. It’ll surely be launched within this quarter,” Encarnado said.

The social networking aspect of Highstreet 5 is one of its two major selling points. Players can upload photos, edit personal profiles and add blogs to their virtual avatars. There is also a video chat component to allow users to see friends and other users online.

Meanwhile, the rhythm and dance part of Highstreet 5 also has its own unique features. There are four types (hip hop, locking, popping and reggae) of street dance styles that are taken from real-world dance steps. These were done using motion-capture and then translated into virtual dance steps.

Encarnado also said there are dozens of songs available in the game, with new ones to be added gradually.

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Singapore-based video game distributor New Era Digital Interactive Media Inc. is refreshing its business in the Philippines in measured steps, as it prepares to introduce two online games in the coming weeks.

The company is also preparing to launch two “huge titles” that will target gamers in Internet cafes, the company said.

Allan Carbonell, newly appointed New Era Digital Interactive Media country manager, told hackenslash that the company will introduce the virtual social networking game Habbo, owned by Finnish firm Sulake Corporation, soon.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

Watch reporter Izah Morales’ interview with Level Up! Philippines chief executive officer Jane Walker who introduces new online game Crazy Kart.

Level Up! has partnered with Shanda Interactive China to bring this latest online game in the country.

In the same interview, Level Up! Marketing Head Ramon Macutay also describes the different features of the game in this video interview.

By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Two pairs of brothers who hail from Cebu will be the first Filipinos to enter the international competition of online casual game GetAmped in Singapore on August 1 to 3.

The Cebuano brothers beat over 4,000 players during the concluded GetAmped National Tournament.

Mervin Medallo, 22, brother Masael Medallo, 18, and Jose Antonio Diosanta, 18, won the GetAmped’s team tournament category and took home P75,000.

Diosanta’s younger brother, Jose Miguel Diosanta, won the individual competition that netted him P25,000.

GetAmped Community Development Head Arnel Duran told hackenslash that the brothers have started training for the upcoming GetAmped World Festival in Singapore.

“They already have a Japanese GetAmped player training them. This is the first time we’re joining so we better come prepared,” said Duran who declined to reveal the identity of the group’s Japanese trainer.

Duran said they will be facing dozens of players from nine countries for the title of the best GetAmped players in the world. Among the countries participating are Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Korea.