Singapore, 25 November 2010 – StarHub today announced the launch of its comprehensive games store targeted at casual and competitive digital gamers. The store is part of StarHub’s overall strategy to provide compelling value-added content to all its customers. StarHub Games Store will serve as the central point of access for all new digital gaming content that the operator will launch in the upcoming year, ranging from mobile games, casual PC games and competitive multiplayer PC games. At launch, StarHub will make available over 2,000 mobile and casual PC games as well as a select number of premium multiplayer PC game titles for StarHub customers to purchase, download and enjoy.
“We have put together a one-stop portal that is designed to meet all the gaming needs of our mobile and broadband customer by working with many leading partners in the local gaming industry. Now, whether gamers want to test their skills against each other on the digital battlefield, or just chill out with a few casual games on laptop or on mobile, we have something to offer," said Mr Chan Kin Hung, Head of StarHub’s Products and Solutions. “We are very committed to the future of the gaming industry and will be constantly evolving the games store to include the very latest and most exciting new games in the market. Customers should look out for new additions to the games portfolio at games.starhub.com."
Comprehensive Mobile Games Offering
From today, StarHub is offering a comprehensive range of mobile games on StarHub Games Store for Android, BlackBerry, Java and Symbian phones. Through leading mobile games partner WOOWORLD, the store will provide games in a variety of genres such as action-adventure, simulation, racing, traditional and classic arcade games. Highlights of some of the mobile games offerings include "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ and ‘Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit’.
In addition, while most mobile games range from $4 to $8 per download, StarHub is also offering, for the first time in Singapore, a number of ad-funded premium mobile games through its partner 24MAS. Mobile users with Java and Symbian phones will be able to download and play premium games such as 7 Wonders, Chop Sushi, Sally's Saloon, Text Twist Trubo and Zum Zum for free, in exchange for viewing short mobile advertisements.
Growing Casual PC Games Selection
In partnership with MatchMove Games, StarHub is bringing some of the best games from around the world to the new gaming platform. In addition to mega-hits such as Bejeweled, Pet Party, Zuma and Plants vs Zombies, StarHub will have numerous popular titles from East and West, covering all genres such as racing, puzzle, girls and educational games. StarHub users can also soon look forward to new player favourites such as Magic Castle, Happy Ranch and Captain Cook which are already enjoyed by millions of players around the world, and which will be available for the first time in Singapore on this new platform in the very near future. Furthermore, they will also be able to use the store’s specially-designed social gaming platform to allow them to add friends, share in-game items, and post messages on each other's profiles.
To celebrate the launch of StarHub Games Store, StarHub will be offering the first 500 StarHub customers who register at the store, 500 “M-Cash” game credits, which they can then redeem to purchase any casual games on the website.
Competitive Multiplayer Games
Finally, together with local game industry leaders AsiaSoft and IAH Games, StarHub will be making select premium game titles accessible for online gamers on StarHub Games Store. Not only will gamers enjoy the many quality games such as Audition and MapleSEA from Asiasoft, and Dragonica, Fifa 2 Online and Granado Espada from IAH Games, they will be able to purchase in-game items via SMS Top-Ups on their StarHub mobile phones.
StarHub has also partnered WoLong Ventures on two new premium PC games – Serious Sam HD: First Encounter and Stronghold Kingdoms. Serious Sam HD is a popular first-person multiplayer shooter which follows the main character Serious Sam in his fight against the alien overlord Mental. Stronghold Kingdoms is the yet-to-be-launched new Massively-Multiplayer Real-Time Strategy Game from Firefly Studios where players build, expand and conquer villages on their way to become King of England.
For a limited time only, StarHub will offer a special 25% discount off any new Serious Sam HD purchases from the website. StarHub will also be giving away free beta keys for gamers who would like to preview and play Stronghold Kingdoms prior to its full retail launch next year. Details of how to obtain the beta keys are available on the website.
The Future in 3D Gaming
Beyond all the many exciting new gaming titles, StarHub is also collaborating with TQ Global to launch Singapore's first locally-developed 3D racing game Torque Racing 3D. Capitalising on advances in 3D technology, Torque Racing 3D was first showcased at the Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. The well-received game puts up to eight players in the driver seat as they compete for bragging rights to become the first player to pass the chequered flag, over several race courses including one spanning Singapore’s skyline.
Even though Torque Racing 3D will be available to gamers in Singapore in 1Q 2011, customers will be able to get a sneak preview of the game at GamesFest at SCAPE from 25 to 28 November 2010. StarHub will also be opening up beta trial registration for the game on StarHub Games Store very soon, so racing fans can get their first test drive of this ground-breaking game when the beta trial opens.
For more information on StarHub Games Store, visit http://games.starhub.com. For mobile games, you can visit http://mobilegames.starhub.com/starhub as well.
