Xboxist

Philips Lights Up World Cyber Games Final With New amBX Games

World premiere for games from THQ and Codemasters

Philips showcased its new amBX PC Gaming Peripherals and several new amBX-enabled versions of games to members of the press and invitees at the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final in Seattle last weekend. As a global sponsor of the event, which ran from October 4-7, and saw 700 elite gamers from 74 countries compete for a share of $500,000-worth of prizes, Philips held demonstrations of the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals and the latest amBX game software.

This included the first press showing for the integrated amBX version of Supreme Commander, the award-winning strategy game from Gas-Powered Games and THQ, which will be available before Christmas, and is soon to be bundled with amBX kits. In Supreme Commander, the feeling of immersion is greatly enhanced by the use of amBX-enabled sensory effects.

Also showcased for the first time, Overlord, the new action-based RPG published by Codemasters, showed how amBX can be incorporated seamlessly within a game to heighten a dark and twisted atmosphere. In Overlord, amBX scriptwriters have created multiple layers of amBX effects using all of the sensory output possible for events triggered by environmental factors, in-game events, and player actions. The amBX version of Overlord will be released later this month.

The eagerly anticipated Quake 4 amBX mod was also shown at the WCG event, and, to give a further glimpse of games to come, an amBX-enabled trailer of Clive Barker's Jericho, which blends all the thrills of a cinematic horror movie with the fast action and tension of an FPS. Jericho is due to be released on October 26, 2007 by Codemasters, and the amBX version of the game will follow one month later.

Finally, journalists and invited gamers also saw how the amBX FXGenerator brings immersive light effects to many existing and readily available PC games. Philips amBX's ongoing amBX testing program has already identified 112 PC games which are amBX compatible without the need for any modification, which means that many of the games in a player's existing collection will be amBX-enhanced as soon as they set up their amBX hardware system. The testing program is ongoing, with new games being added each month - check www.ambx.com for details.

Philips amBX technology is a milestone in the development of ambient intelligence and has revolutionized the gameplay experience by extending the virtual world outside the screen and into the real world. amBX provides gamers with a full sensory surround experience by delivering amazing light, wind, explosion and rumble effects that flow through enabled devices to coincide with gameplay elements.

The Philips Peripherals & Accessories amBX hardware is now available in selected territories, with the range available worldwide in the next few weeks. Kits comprise the $199 Starter Kit, with the controller unit and lights; the $299 Pro-Gamer Kit, which includes speaker lights and a sub-woofer, and the $399 Premium Kit, which includes the lights and adds a wrist rumbler and fans as well. An Extension Kit at $99 effectively upgrades a Pro-Gamer Kit to a Premium Kit, and can also be used in combination with a starter kit.

For more information: www.philips.com/ambx ; www.ambx.com