Gaming

The main players in the country’s multi-billion online gaming industry – e-Games and Level-Up – have reached an agreement to merge their online game publishing businesses, the companies said in a statement on Tuesday.

players of Shaiya and WarRock Philippines recently submitted their own spin-off of the Department of Tourism’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign.

Given the 3DS price drop and initial demand for Vita in Japan last year, it appears that 2012 is shaping up to be a rebound year for handhelds. — IDC

Malaysia-based MOL Global, which counts social networking pioneer Friendster as one its Internet properties, has announced that it has partnered with Electronic Arts to distribute prepaid game cards in six Asian countries, including the Philippines.

DFNN, one of the first information technology companies listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange, is eyeing a 100-percent increase in its revenues for next year with the consolidation of its gaming systems.

IP-Games has announced that X-Play Online Games, its joint venture company with GMA Network’s New Media Inc., has signed an agreement with US game developer Take-Two Interactive for an online sports game.

Abu Dhabi-based games developer Karkadann Games has announced the launch of the iOS game “Manny Pacquiao: Pound for Pound: Volume 1”, which features the Filipino boxing great as an action hero.

The explosive growth of casual games – simple games, such as Angry Birds, with mass-market appeal – is the primary driver of revenue growth.

SCI-FI THEME. Models pose during last weekend’s launch of Bounty Hounds Online, the latest MMORPG from game operator Level Up. Bounty Hounds Online is a free-to-play game where players can become high-tech mercenaries called “Hounds” in a strange alien world.

After the initial success of its app arcade tournament dubbed Arcadium, Power Mac Center is bringing back the contest with more games to be played in a wider variety of Apple devices.