Grandma’s Got Game

Posted on September-30-2008 By admin
Filed under: News, PC
Tagged as : , , , ,
KingsIsle Entertainment Reveals Wizard101 Family Plan
A magical new virtual world game designed especially for tweens, Wizard101 is fast becoming an online hotspot where the elementary and junior high set play with friends and family after their homework is done. In response to an enthusiastic audience of kids to grandmas already playing the game, online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today introduced a family subscription plan for Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com). The $6.95 per month family subscription rate will make it more economical for siblings or (grand)parents and their (grand)children to adventure, play and chat together, each with their own customized wizard characters.
“I live 1500 miles from my grandchildren… and now this is the game we play. They both think it’s great that their grandma plays with them and like to brag about it to all their friends,” posted ‘Olivia Jadeflower’ (her in-game name) on the Wizard101 message boards.
“…of all the games out there for kids, this is the best one by far! The chat is safe, it’s exciting, and great fun for parents to play with their children,” wrote mom ‘Donna Mythcaster’ who likes to play Wizard101 with her daughter.
Wizard101 is free-to-play, with advanced play content and features available at the general subscription rate of $9.95 per month. The new family subscription plan enables family members to purchase multiple accounts charged to the same credit card at the rate of $6.95 per month for each account. Discounts to the general subscription plan are also available for six-month and one-year subscriptions. Additions to both the free-to-play and subscription game environments are planned on an ongoing basis.
Wizard101 features spell-casting adventure and card style game play. The game’s family-friendly safety features include a collaborative play style, a chat system with many options and a character name selector. The game contains no blood, and characters don’t die if they are defeated in a duel of spells-they simply go to a safe area in the game to regain health. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has given Wizard101 a rating of E10+.
“When all is said and done, Wizard101 is an MMO [massively multiplayer online game] made for kids that their parents will want to play,” summarized Don Shump in Wired’s geekdad blog.

Permalink | No Comments
 

KingsIsle Entertainment Announces Wizard101

Posted on May-22-2008 By admin
Filed under: PC, Previews
Tagged as : , , , , , , , , ,

Ravenwood School of Magical Arts Opens for Enrollment this Summer
Virtual World Designed Especially for Teens and Tweens

Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for Wizard101, an elaborate 3D virtual world in which magic and sorcery come to life as players embark on a quest that involves a massive cast of good, evil and frequently silly characters. Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) puts players in the fantasy role of a Wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts.

“While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously,” said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. “Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that’s creative and witty, but still safe. We’ve set the bar high for this game.”

J. Todd Coleman, an MMO veteran and the creative mind behind Wizard101, is heading up development of the game, which has been in the works for three years. In the game, players will adventure through magical 3D environments as they learn, collect and cast spells summoning fantastic cinematic creatures. Players can also collect bizarre pets and magical artifacts, solve puzzles, make friends, play mini games, and more.

Features include:
· Extensive magical 3D world where players team up with friends and carry out quests to save Wizard City from the forces of Evil.
· Collectible card-style duels that come to cinematic life as players cast spells alongside fellow and rival students.
· More than 101 collectible spells summon zany creatures such as Humongofrog, Evil Snowman and Stormzilla.
· Seven different schools of magic, each with its own unique style and storyline.
· Many witty scenarios and characters based on history, mythology and pop culture.
· The ability to adopt magical pets, like a tiny dragon or flying pig.
· Puzzles and mini-games that challenge the player to earn crystals and enchanted items.
· New outfits and accessories to earn for your customizable Wizard character.

Wizard101 will launch in the third quarter of 2008 and is not yet rated. For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.

(Click to Enlarge)

Permalink | No Comments