Chair Entertainment Group - Chair Entertainment Group

Press Release: Epic Games Acquires Chair Entertainment Group

Laura — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:21:16 -0700

May 20, 2008

Epic Games, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Chair Entertainment Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EPIC GAMES ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CHAIR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Cary, North Carolina – May 20, 2008 – Epic Games, Inc., creators of the award-winning Unreal and Gears of War video game franchises and the industry leading Unreal Engine, today announced its acquisition of Utah-based development studio, Chair Entertainment Group, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Chair Entertainment Group has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Epic Games and will continue to operate under the same name while maintaining its focus on creating new original game properties which utilize Epic's Unreal Engine technology.

"Chair's stylized approach to creating games is further enhanced by their ability to stretch our technology in new directions that not only help in creating amazing gaming experiences but also demonstrate the power and versatility of the Unreal Engine," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games, Inc. "We are thrilled to bring the Chair team into the Epic family, and look forward to working with them to create original new games that continue to innovate and inspire."

"Our team has long admired Epic for its ability to shape the game industry with its innovative technology and first-rate video game offerings," said Ryan Holmes, Co-Founder and CEO of Chair Entertainment Group. "We share Epic's passion for creating ground-breaking game play experiences and are excited for the opportunity to partner with a truly visionary company."

Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is jointly led by directors, Donald and Geremy Mustard, and CEO Ryan Holmes. Best known for its award-winning Xbox Live Arcade title, Undertow, Chair's previous success includes the launch of its Empire property which has produced an Orson Scott Card-written New York Times bestselling novel and a feature film currently in development with Warner Bros. In 2007, after several years of building games with Unreal technology, Chair entered into an agreement with Epic Games to make Unreal Engine 3 their exclusive technology for game development.

About Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its Unreal series, recently shipping Unreal Tournament 3 for PC and PlayStation 3. Epic's breakthrough game, Gears of War, sold over 4.7 million copies and was awarded overall Game of the Year for 2006 by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Game Developers Choice Awards, GameSpot, GamePro and many others. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including the Game Critics Awards' Best Console Game and Spike TV's 2007 RPG of the Year Mass Effect by BioWare and the 2007 BAFTA Best Game and Spike TV Game of the Year BioShock by 2K Games. Epic's Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder, and three-time consecutive winner, of Game Developer magazine's Front Line award for Best Engine. Epic was also recognized as 2006 Studio of the Year by Spike TV, 2006 Developer of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine and 2007 Large Company of the Year by the North Carolina Technology Association. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through the Epic Games Web site at www.epicgames.com.

About Unreal Engine 3
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for cutting-edge graphics and its best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 maintains those features while adding massive world support, multi-processor support, next-generation console optimizations, and one of the most mature tool pipelines in the industry. Unreal Engine 3's advanced toolset is designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for ultra-complex, next-generation content. Additional information on Unreal Engine can be obtained through the Unreal Technology Web site at www.unrealtechnology.com.

About Chair Entertainment
Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is an independent video game production company committed to creating blockbuster entertainment franchises through development of its original intellectual properties. In 2006, Chair launched its first original property, Empire, as a best-selling novel written by Orson Scott Card. A feature film based on Empire is in development by Warner Bros. and Chair has future plans for video games and comic books based on the property. In November 2007, Chair launched Undertow, the award-winning underwater action shooter which was named Xbox Live Arcade Game of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine. Additional information and gamer forums can be found at: www.chairentertainment.com.

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Press Release: Undertow Named XBLA Game of the Year; Expansion Pack Released

Laura — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:45:59 -0700

March 5, 2008

Chair releases Undertow: Path of the Elect as Undertow is named XBLA Game of the Year by Offical Xbox Magazine.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP RELEASES
UNDERTOW: PATH OF THE ELECT FOR XBOX LIVE ARCADE

-- Expansion Pack for Award-Winning Undertow Game Debuts Tomorrow;
Introduces New Playable Race, Additional Maps, and More --

Salt Lake City, Utah – March 4, 2007 – Chair Entertainment Group, an independent video game production company, today announced Undertow: Path of the Elect, the first expansion pack for its award-winning, underwater action game, Undertow, will be released tomorrow. Undertow: Path of the Elect will be available exclusively via Xbox LIVE® Arcade, the premier destination for digitally distributed, downloadable games, and cost 400 Microsoft Points ($5).

Undertow was named the 2007 Xbox LIVE Arcade Game of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine and has received numerous Editors Choice awards from top enthusiast outlets. Since its debut, nearly one million gamers have been introduced to Undertow and its exciting brand of non-stop game play action. Powered by Unreal Engine 3, Undertow features a robust 15-level single player and co-op campaign with two multiplayer modes for 2 to 16 players.

The Undertow: Path of the Elect expansion pack extends the full game by featuring a full, five level single player and co-op campaign and introduces an entirely new playable race known as the “Elect.” Armed with superior technology and fire power, this fanatical alien race is determined to rule the earth and destroy those who seek to stop them. Multiplayer fans can now choose to play as the Elect or as one of three other races as they explore four new multiplayer maps and earn points for upgrades by killing enemies, completing objectives, and taking checkpoints.

“We’ve received a ton of great gamer feedback on Undertow, which has helped us to create more of the exciting types of content that fans of the game will really enjoy,” said Donald Mustard, creative director at Chair Entertainment Group. “Whether they’re looking to continue the saga we’re building in the single player campaign or seeking more opportunities for competitive multiplayer battles, the expansion offers something new for everyone.”

About Chair Entertainment
Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is an independent video game production company committed to creating blockbuster entertainment franchises through development of its original intellectual properties. In 2006, Chair launched its first original property, Empire, as a best-selling novel written by Orson Scott Card. A feature film based on Empire is in development by Warner Bros. and Chair has future plans for video games and comic books based on the property. In November 2007, Chair launched Undertow, an award-winning underwater action shooter for Xbox Live Arcade. Additional information and gamer forums can be found at: www.chairentertainment.com.

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NEWSWEEK'S LEVEL UP | Exclusive Feature on Ender's Game Announcement

Laura — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:50:45 -0800

January 2008

Newsweek's N'Gai Croal breaks the story on Chair's announcement to create the first-ever Ender's Game video game.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/29/interactive-adaptation-of-enders-game-announced.aspx

Press Release: Chair Entertainment Acquires Interactive Rights for Ender's Game

Laura — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:51:20 -0800

January 29, 2008

Chair partners with famed author Orson Scott Card on first-ever Ender's Game video game

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"THE ENEMY'S GATE IS DOWN!"

CHAIR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SECURES INTERACTIVE RIGHTS TO ORSON SCOTT CARD'S BESTSELLING "ENDER'S GAME" SERIES

-- First-Ever "Battle Room" Video Games to Bring Classic Literary Series to Life—

Salt Lake City, Utah – January 29, 2008 – Chair Entertainment Group, an independent video game production company and creators of the award-winning Undertow, and bestselling author, Orson Scott Card, today announced their partnership to create the first-ever video games inspired by the legendary "Battle Room," featured in the beloved literary classic, Ender's Game. Ender's Game is an award-winning, international bestseller and one of the most popular science fiction novels ever written.

Under the terms of the agreement, Chair has obtained the exclusive rights to develop Ender's Game "Battle Room" video games across all next-generation consoles, handheld platforms, and PC. In collaboration with Orson Scott Card, Chair will begin development later this year with the first offering expected for release via downloadable platforms.

"I have been a huge fan of Ender's Game since I was ten years old, so it is a true honor for our team to be entrusted with creating the first video game inspired by this classic story," said Donald Mustard, creative director at Chair Entertainment Group. "Our goal is to create an authentic Ender's Game experience that delivers awesome gameplay and can be enjoyed by both longtime fans and gamers new to the series."

"From the moment I started working with Donald Mustard and his team at Chair, I knew that these were the guys I wanted to do the first Ender's Game video game," said Orson Scott Card. "It's not enough to slap the Ender's Game name on just any game - it has to be exciting, memorable, and endlessly replayable. Chair shares my understanding of this and I am looking forward to working with them to ensure the game is as authentically Enderish as possible."

In the fictional Ender's Game universe, humanity is at war with an alien species known as the Formics, and Battle School is the training ground for the future leaders of Earth's International Fleet. Taken at a very young age, Earth's most brilliant children undergo a rigorous training designed to teach advanced military theory where strategic and tactical glory is won in the null gravity battles known to the elite students simply as the game! Through simulated war games and training conducted in the Battle Room, the children rise through the ranks of Battle School to become Earth's only hope for victory.

The two parties previously collaborated on the Chair Entertainment Group property Empire, which the Company introduced in 2006 with the launch of an Orson Scott Card-written bestselling novel of the same name. A feature film based on Empire is in development by Warner Brothers and Chair has future plans for video games and comic books based on the property.

Gamers and long-time Ender's Game fans are invited to share their thoughts on Orson Scott Card's popular website, www.hatrack.com, and the official Chair forums at: http://www.chairentertainment.com/community/forums/

About Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is the award-winning author of the national bestsellers, Shadow of the Giant and Shadow of the Hegemon, and of the beloved classic, Ender's Game, published by Tor Books. He is a professor of literature and writing at Southern Virginia University and lives with his family in Greensboro, North Carolina. For more information on Orson Scott Card, please visit his official website: www.hatrack.com

About Chair Entertainment Group
Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is an independent video game production company committed to creating blockbuster entertainment franchises through development of its original intellectual properties. In 2006, Chair launched its first original property, Empire, as a best-selling novel written by Orson Scott Card. A feature film based on Empire is in development by Warner Bros. and Chair has future plans for video games and comic books based on the property. In November 2007, Chair launched Undertow, an award-winning underwater action shooter for Xbox LIVE Arcade. Additional information, artwork, and gamer forums can be found at: www.chairentertainment.com.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY | PopWatch Mentions Undertow in its "Best of 2007" Post

Laura — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:24:32 -0800

December 2007

On Entertainment Weekly's popular PopWatch Blog, Undertow is mentioned among games "criminally overlooked" for their upcoming Best Games of 2007 feature.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/12/the-best-videog.html?cid=93468672#comment-93468672

TEAM XBOX | Chair Launches Undertow TUESDAYS @ 10

Laura — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:44:40 -0800

December 2007

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15222/Undertow-Tuesdays-10-Launches-Tonight/

Media Alert: Chair Launches Undertow TUESDAYS @ 10

Laura — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:39:55 -0800

December 4, 2007

Undertow developers to host and join player matches every Tuesday night.

UNDERTOW DEVELOPERS INVITE GAMERS TO PLAY "TUESDAYS @ 10"

One of the best reviewed games available on Xbox Live Arcade, Undertow continues to grow in popularity among XBLA gamers looking for an ultra competitive gaming experience. To continue to expand the game's online audience, Chair Entertainment Group today announced its "TUESDAYS @ 10" player matches will officially kick-off tonight.

Every Tuesday night at 10pm ET / 7pm PT the Undertow team will host and join Undertow Player Matches with fellow gamers. During that time, players will also have the opportunity to join members of the development team for Ranked Matches, during which they can gain achievements and additional game play tips.

"TUESDAYS @ 10" is open to experienced players and those new to the game. Players can join in on the action by downloading Undertow, selecting Multiplayer, and then selecting Player Match.

For more information on Undertow visit: http://www.chairentertainment.com/company/projects/undertow

Press Release: Chair Entertainment Launches Undertow for Xbox Live Arcade

Laura — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:19:03 -0800

November 21, 2007

Chair launches their highly anticipated XBLA game, Undertow, just in time for Thanksgiving!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAIR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LAUNCHES UNDERTOW FOR XBOX LIVE® ARCADE

-- Award-Winning Underwater Action-Shooter Offers 16-player Online Combat and Stunning Visuals --

Provo, Utah – November 21, 2007 – Chair Entertainment Group, an independent video game production company, today announced its newest original property, Undertow, has launched for Xbox LIVE® Arcade, the premier destination for digitally distributed, downloadable games. Undertow is powered by the Unreal Engine 3 and offers an unprecedented 16-player online experience for Xbox LIVE Arcade.

“With Undertow, our goal was to create a game that we as gamers would like to play - a full-featured, super fun game that could deliver a completely original new gaming experience for XBLA,” said Donald Mustard, creative director at Chair Entertainment Group. “Whether players prefer to dive in to the single player campaign or battle it out in an intense multiplayer match, Undertow offers non-stop excitement for all types of gamers.”

The fast-paced action of Undertow features a robust 15-level single player and co-op campaign with two multiplayer modes for up to 16 players. Players navigate the stormy seas as one of four unique, upgradeable unit types ranging in ability from the fast and agile to the large and powerful. Players then earn points for adding upgrades by killing enemies, completing objectives, and taking checkpoints. The non-stop conquest-style battles of Undertow push the envelope of on-screen effects and combat action with stunning graphics and special effects.

One of the most anticipated games released for Xbox LIVE Arcade to date, Undertow has received awards from some of the top gaming enthusiast outlets including, Official Xbox Magazine, IGN, and Team Xbox.

About Chair Entertainment
Founded in 2005 by Donald and Geremy Mustard, Chair Entertainment Group is an independent video game production company committed to creating blockbuster entertainment franchises through development of its original intellectual properties. In 2006, Chair launched its first original property, Empire, as a best-selling novel written by Orson Scott Card. A feature film based on Empire is in development by Warner Bros. and Chair has future plans for video games and comic books based on the property. Additional information and gamer forums can be found at: www.chairentertainment.com.

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MTV NEWS | Exclusive Feature on Undertow Memory Usage

Laura — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:23:29 -0800

November 2007

MTV News' Stephen Totilo breaks down the memory usage of Undertow and how Chair packed all those features into just 50mb!

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2007/11/19/exclusive-memory-breakdown-see-exactly-how-the-parts-of-xbox-lives-undertow-fit-togeth

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE | Chair: The Great Experiment

Laura — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:34:56 -0800

November 2007

Article discusses how Chair is determined to control its own destiny and how Undertow came to be.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7443646