2AM Inc., a rapidly growing developer and provider of online multiplayer games, announced today the launch of the 2AM Game Club* at http://www.2am.com. The new cyberspace game
site features a wide variety of online multiplayer experiences, such
as games which allow up to 1,000 players from around the world to
compete simultaneously, and the ability for players to chat while
competing against one another. There is no fee to participate.
Unlike other online games which are adapted from the non-Internet,
single player world, 2AM games are designed specifically for
multiplayer Internet use. This approach to game design, coupled with the company's proprietary 2AM Creation* technology, enables the company to solve the latency and bandwidth problems faced by other gaming sites.
In order to access the 2AM Game Club, one simply needs an Internet account. Users also do not need to make any prior software purchase or own the CD-ROM of the game they wish to play online. All that is necessary to compete is a one time, quick download of the game they wish to play.
"2AM games are fundamentally better than those offered by other
online multiplayer gaming sites since our games are designed
specifically for multiplayer online play," commented Eli Ehrman,
2AM's founder and president. "Our competitors derive their games from the non-Internet, single player world, which lessens the quality of the online multiplayer experience since you are playing games in a medium and format for which they were not created."
The 2AM Game Club focuses on the strategic and social interaction
elements of multiplayer gaming. Therefore, observation of games
already in progress is possible and chat facilities both outside and
within the individual games are available for real-time communication
among competitors. 2AM also employs system operators to help guide newcomers through the 2AM Game Club and encourage and organize competition among visitors to the site.
"2AM's unique design philosophy and system architecture enable us to offer the highest level of play performance and social interaction," commented Mark Granat, chief game designer for 2AM. "From the moment the player enters the Club until his final move in a game, there is always human interaction with people from around the world - whether it be strategizing, joking, political wrangling, or just plain conversation." For example, in 2AM's multiplayer business simulation users have a chance to try their hand at various business or political roles, and jointly create a massive cybercity. In Chain of Command, 2AM's real-time tactical infantry combat game, players control increasing numbers of actual players as they move up the military hierarchy. Traditionalists can also compete against one another in 2AM's renditions of popular classics like chess, checkers, and backgammon.
According to recent market research from Jupiter Communications and IDC, the online gaming industry is expected to grow from 1996
revenues of $90 million to over $1.5 billion in revenues by the year
2000. 2AM plans to exploit this growing opportunity by positioning
itself as a developer, publisher, and distributor of online
multiplayer games.
Another advantage which 2AM will leverage to capitalize on the
expected growth of the online multiplayer gaming industry is its
patent pending Creation technology. Creation'sgame design
platform expedites the development of complex, graphics-rich,
Internet-based games, enabling 2AM to offer the highest level of
content and service. Utilizing Creation's design architecture, 2AM
has been able to complete the development of six Internet-based games in the last six months. Three of these games - Alliance & Defiance*, Total War*, and 2AM's business simulation game --were ranked among the top five online multiplayer games by Happy Puppy, a premiere online game review site.
Development of 2AM Inc.'s core technology began in 1994. Today the New Jersey based company, is a leading provider of multiplayer online games. The company's wholly owned development arm, 2AM Development Ltd., was established in May of 1996 and is located in Bet Shemesh, Israel. 2AM's mission is to create challenging online multiplayer strategy games that
provide compelling and meaningful social interaction. |
