MashON? Signs Licensing Deal with Cryptic Studios? for Champions Online? User Generated Stories

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 9, 2009

MashON, developer of the MashON! Platform and creative social media applications, announced today a licensing deal with Cryptic Studios? to create user-generated stories based on Cryptic's highly acclaimed massively multiplayer online (MMO) superhero action game, Champions Online?.

MashON will use their Creative Suite, featuring the MashON E-Card and Comic Strip Creator, to allow users to generate comic-style stories that will range from a single frame, four frames, multi frames and multiple pages, providing a progressively richer set of features and experiences in each case. Users will be able to bring their characters and stories to life through user-generated videos, pictures and sounds, blended with in-game art from Champions Online. The resulting unique digital story can be shared via email or posted to MySpace, Facebook and over 22 other social networks.

"We're very excited to be working with the Cryptic Studios team on a project with such a vivid and compelling world," said Philippe Benoliel, CEO of MashON. "The art assets we've seen from the game look amazing and we're sure fans of the characters will really enjoy telling and sharing their stories with the MashOn Creative Suite."

"We have always looked for ways to get players more involved with our titles," said John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios. "The MashON Comic Strip Creator will allow players to develop their own fantastic storylines that explore what they would like to see happen in Champions Online."

Cryptic Studios, headquartered in Los Gatos, has recently released the MMO game, Champions Online and is currently in production for the anticipated MMO, Star Trek Online. Champions Online based on the popular Champions? pen-and-paper RPG and published by Atari, gives players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe. For more information, please visit http://www.champions-online.com.

For more information about the MashON Platform, please visit http://www.MashON.com.

About MashON

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, MashON is the author and developer of the MashON Platform, a creative, social media platform that delivers its Brand Partners: reach, user engagement, control and multiple revenue streams and its Users: fun, easy to use, immersive web applications and an opportunity to engage with their favorite brands to create and share their own customized digital or physical products. MashON applications reach in excess of 8 million visitors each month across sectors as diverse as entertainment, publishing, music, gaming, comics, sports, fashion and education. http://www.mashon.com

About Cryptic Studios

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information about Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: http://www.crypticstudios.com.

About Atari, SA

Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for interactive game platforms that include PC, online, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and advanced smart phones (i.e. iphone). Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Atari London Studio, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.

Atari benefits from its global brand and an extensive catalogue of popular games based on classic owned game franchises (Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander), original owned franchises (Test Drive, Backyard Sports, Deer Hunter), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters, Dungeons and Dragons).

For more information please visit http://www.atari.com and http://corporate.atari.com

? 2009 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.

Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

MashON and MashON Comic Book Creator are trademarks of MashON.

Champions, Champions Online, and Cryptic Studios are trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc.

STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of CBS Studios Inc and used with permission.

Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

MashON Media Contact:

Pauline Elvidge

310.943.8618

pauline(dot)elvidge(at)mashon(dot)com

Cryptic Studios Media Contact:

Tricia Gray

408-399-1969 X 244

tgray(at)crypticstudios(dot)com

###

Find More Dungeons And Dragons Press Releases

Full Sail University?s New Game Studios to be Dedicated to Late Gaming Legend, Dave Arneson

Winter Park, FL (PRWEB) October 29, 2010

On Saturday, October 30, Full Sail University (http://www.fullsail.edu) will be holding a ceremony, dedicating its new Game Studios to late gaming legend, and co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons series, Dave Arneson. The new studios will be named after Dave Arneson?s creation, BlackMoor, the fantasy role-playing game campaign setting in Dungeons & Dragons.

The ceremony will begin with the unveiling of the new studios, with guest speakers and game sessions taking place throughout the day, where any fan of Dungeons & Dragons, Settlers of Catan, or Munchkin, can come and play their favorite game. The guest speakers include:

Malia Weinhagen - Dave Arneson?s daughter

Duke Seifried ? Former Executive Vice President, TSR

Garry Jones ? President of Full Sail University

Rob Catto ? Program Director for Game Studies

Dustin Clingman ? Founder and President of Zee Gee Games

Shawn Stafford ? Director of F.I.R.E The Full Sail Institute for Research in Entertainment, and Full Sail?s Course Director for Research and Design in Game Studies.

?Dave Arneson was a pioneer in gaming entertainment and we are honored to name the Full Sail game studios, BlackMoor, after his works,? said Rob Catto, Director of Game Studies. ?This ceremony will honor our dear friend and esteemed colleague.?

Full Sail?s new Game Studios were designed specifically for the institution?s gaming degrees? Final Project process. The facility hosts student teams from the Game Development Bachelor of Science Degree, Game Art Bachelor of Science Degree, and Game Design Master of Science Degree. The facility features 8 game studio offices, 4 game development studios, 2 asset development rooms, a research room, and a conference room.

Dave Arneson taught classes in game design at Full Sail since it was first offered on campus in 1999, and was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame in 1984. Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game that was created by both Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and was first published in 1974.

About Full Sail University:

Since 1979, Full Sail University, located outside of Orlando, FL, has been an innovative educational leader for those pursuing careers in the entertainment industry. With over 34,500 alumni, graduate credits include work on OSCAR?, Emmy? and GRAMMY?-winning projects, best-selling video games, and #1 grossing U.S. concert tours. Full Sail's

191-acre campus and online education platform proudly welcomes over 12,400 students from 50 states and 49 countries.

Full Sail currently offers a total of 28 campus and online degree programs including: Associate of Science Degrees in Graphic Design and Recording Engineering; Bachelor of Science Degrees offered in: Computer Animation, Digital Arts & Design, Entertainment Business, Film, Game Art, Game Design, Game Development, Graphic Design, Internet Marketing, Music Business, Music Production, Recording Arts, Show Production, and Web Design & Development; Master of Science Degrees in Education Media Design & Technology, Game Design, Entertainment Business, and Internet Marketing; and Master of Fine Arts Degrees in Creative Writing and Media Design.

Full Sail was named the 2008 ?School/College of the Year? by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges. The university has also been previously named: The Harvard of Game Schools by Tips & Tricks Magazine; one of the top three New Media Schools by Shift Magazine (alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University); one of the Top Five Game Degree Programs in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly; one of the Best Music Programs in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine; one of the Best Music Business Departments in the Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide; and one of the Best Film Programs in the country by UNleashed Magazine.

For more information about Full Sail, please visit http://www.fullsail.edu.

###