Artifact
Entertainment Selects NTT/VERIO Hosting to Manage Its
Online Game Environment [12th November]
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov 12, 2003 (BUSINESS
WIRE) -- Working with viaVerio(R) Channel Partner Venicom,
Artifact Teams with NTT/VERIO Solutions to Deliver Managed
Hosting Solution for Its Massively Multiplayer Game,
"Horizons"
Verio, a subsidiary of NTT Communications
and a leading global IP solutions provider, today announced
it will manage a new massive multiplayer, online gaming
(MMOG) hosting environment for Artifact Entertainment,
a worldwide provider of interactive entertainment content,
media, delivery and technology.
Artifact is launching the world's first
turnkey interactive entertainment production system
in Fall 2003, known as, "Horizons: Empire of Istaria,"
a cinematic quality massively multi-player online game,
built using Artifact's proprietary interactive simulation
technology, Evolution Engine(TM). The game delivers
adventure in the form of lost civilizations, buried
treasures and new frontiers.
The market potential for massive multiplayer
online entertainment is enormous. Horizons and the Artifact
Entertainment Network are targeted at a potential 50
million worldwide consumers that are currently playing
online games. The initial consumer focus will be geared
towards the existing MMOG consumer, which is estimated
at over 14 million worldwide subscribers according to
a recent report by Datamonitor.
To support the estimated market penetration
and level of anticipated demand on the network, Artifact
Entertainment has teamed with Verio to provide a fully
managed, highly scalable and redundant multi-server
configuration with load-balancing and managed security
services.
"With the volume and growth we
are expecting, as well as the type of dynamic content
experience we are delivering, and rapid increases in
game user volume requiring immediate managed hosting
infrastructure changes with less than 15 days notice,
we needed a solutions provider that could meet the performance
and infrastructure requirements our complex massive
multiplayer game demands," said James Jones, co-president
of Artifact Entertainment. "Because of Verio's
experience in the industry, and the knowledge of their
technical team, we have worked hand in hand to construct
a solution that will be scaleable, secure, and above
all, deliver high availability for our customers."
The Artifact Entertainment Horizons'
solution leverages the full redundancy and global capability
of the NTT/VERIO IP network. "Network capacity
and bandwidth is certainly a big consideration given
the business we are in," added Jones. "We
found that the infrastructure and support systems in
place at Verio will help deliver an on-demand solution
to meet our anticipated but periodic massive traffic
spikes."
The debut of Horizons has already seen
Artifact partnering with industry leaders such as Atari
and in Europe, Digital Brothers.
Early beta reviews of Horizons in industry
sources show it is already a contender to lead the pack
of new MMOGs. IGN's Vault Network, a top rated gaming
website stated that, "When you add together everything
Artifact Entertainment has put into Horizons: a deep
and immersive crafting system, nine playable races including
Dragons, player owned property, and player built cities,
Horizons is the game to get this year." Horizons
won this year's "Game of Show" from IGN's
Vault Network, and also received recognition in areas
including Best Sound, Developer of the Year and Best
of Show: RPG from Daily Game at the 2003 Electronic
Entertainment Expo.
"Artifact Entertainment is poised
to become the next leading online gaming provider as
it takes advantage of its proprietary technology engine
and product delivery, and as we see increasing use of
broadband capability in households in both the US and
worldwide," said Isabel Ehringer, president of
Verio Enterprise Hosting. "In addition to preparing
for a successful launch this fall, Artifact is already
at work planning for the development of new titles and
products. With this ongoing expansion, Verio will work
closely with Artifact to ensure we continue to offer
the premium solutions that a growing company like Artifact
Entertainment demands."
About Artifact Entertainment
Artifact Entertainment, Inc. is a privately
held developer of Online Interactive Entertainment Environments
and revolutionary Multi-User Networked Simulations for
the gaming and military communities. Artifact strives
to provide quality entertainment experiences using superior
technology, proven design methods, broad market appeal,
customer satisfaction and the highest quality staff.
Artifact is currently developing the highly anticipated,
fantasy based Massively Multiplayer Game called "Horizons:
Empire of Istaria". More information on Artifact
Entertainment, Inc. can be found at http://www.artifact-entertainment.com
or on Horizons at http://www.istaria.com.
About Venicom
Venicom created its carrier neutral
relationships with multiple Tier One backbones to become
a unique, single source bandwidth consulting and procurement
company. Venicom acts as a single point of contact for
its clients concerning all of their connectivity needs
including data, voice, and local services as well as
consultation for purchasing services such as co-location,
web hosting, hardware and dark fiber. By procuring contracts
directly from each carrier for clients, not only does
Venicom provide the lowest prices possible, but insures
the highest level of direct carrier support and customer
service.
About Verio
Verio Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary
of NTT Communications (NTT Com), which provides long
distance and international telecommunications reaching
over 200 countries worldwide. Verio is the world's largest
operator of Web sites for businesses and a leading provider
of global IP solutions. NTT Com and Verio market their
global IP solutions under the NTT/VERIO brand. The company
offers businesses a broad range of Internet services,
including Web hosting, dedicated access, virtual private
networks, and managed service offerings, among other
enhanced services. Verio supports its operations with
highly reliable and scalable global infrastructure and
systems including the NTT/VERIO Global IP Network, and
provides Web hosting services to customers in more than
170 countries. The combination of Verio and NTT Com
offers services to meet the growing and diverse needs
of all businesses, including small to medium businesses,
large global enterprises and multi-national corporations.
More information can be found at www.verio.com and www.ntt.com/index-e.html.
Evolution Engine is a registered trademark
of Artifact Entertainment. Verio, viaVerio and the Verio
logo are trademarks and/or service marks of Verio Inc.
in the United States and other countries. All other
names are trademarks or registered marks of their respective
owners.
SOURCE: NTT/VERIO
Artifact Entertainment
Steve Escalante, 480-218-1223 x234
stevee@artifact-entertainment.com
or
Verio Inc.
Mona Peloquin, 303-645-1961
mpeloquin@verio.net |
