IRVINE, CALIF. – Nov. 12, 2009 – The wait is over. Modern warfare is front and center on the hardcore online gaming portal ijji.com with the launch of the highly-anticipated and ambitious Unreal Engine 3-powered multi-player online first-person shooter (MOFPS), Alliance of Valiant Arms (A.V.A). Prepare for an intense battle to rage as online gamers receive a beautifully crafted, heart-pounding free-to-play game that answers the call of duty. Alliance of Valiant Arms transports the action-hungry and fragging elite to present day, war-torn cityscapes with the promise of combat that blurs the lines of reality. Gamers ready to put their life on the line can download the client here: http://ava.ijji.com.

“Once gamers play A.V.A for themselves, they will wonder why they ever paid a cent for a game,” said Philip Yun, CEO, NHN USA, Inc. “The launch of Alliance of Valiant Arms should have retail-based games nervous, because it isn’t just going to blow online gamers minds, but those of console gamers as well.”

Numerous maps depicting actual modern-day cities obliterated as combat zones and realistic rag-doll physics to animate the atrocities of battle may have gamers pinching themselves to ensure that they are not actually crawling on the front lines. With the launch of Alliance of Valiant Arms, ijji.com is yet again bestowing their community and the online world with a polished game that offers intense high-stakes action, clean imagery and unique battle modes – for free.

Seasoned FPS players, such as Justin “Prank” DeMara, a member of Team Pandemic’s Call of Duty 4 division, lauded A.V.A as boasting “Fast gameplay, heavy amounts of teamwork, replayability.” Having jumped into early versions of the game as well, his colleague Joseph “Nabore” Amorosa commented on the technical nature of the gameply, and how “[A.V.A] takes more skill to master than Call of Duty games.” While the storyline and platforms between the two titles vary, the consistent provision of solid hardcore FPS goodness resonates with any intense PC gamer.

In Alliance of Valiant Arms, modern warfare hits combat zones around the globe where a formidable battle has broken out between the European Union (EU) and the Neo Russian Federation (NRF). Players are tasked with picking a side and squaring off in an unprecedented battle amongst skyscrapers and deserted city blocks. With the signature quick-fragging action of the Unreal Engine 3, combat escalates quickly and tensions run high as players anticipate a bloody clash around every corner. Europe has yet to see more ominous missions or relentless enemies as seen on the streets of Alliance of Valiant Arms.

Console gamers, modern warfare fans and ijji.com members alike must wait no longer; the grimy present-day battle is live and available for gamers able to handle the wrath of war on: http://ava.ijji.com.

About ijji.com

ijji.com (www.ijji.com) is the leading portal for hardcore online gaming. Owned and operated by Irvine, Calif.-based NHN USA, Inc., ijji.com launched in 2006 and now boasts more than 8 million unique registered gamers. The portal hosts a diverse suite of hardcore, fast action free-to-play online games, each with an optional micro-transaction model.

ijji.com’s extensive portfolio includes the renowned online games Lunia, GUNZ The Duel®, SOLDIER FRONT™ and DRIFT CITY™. The portal will soon include the highly-anticipated Unreal Engine 3-powered games Huxley: The Dystopia, a massively multi-player first-person shooter (MMOFPS), and Alliance of Valiant Arms, a multi-player online first-person shooter (MOFPS); in addition to the World War II-era MOFPS KARMA: Operation Barbarossa and the fantasy MMORPG Soul of the Ultimate Nation.

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SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 15, 2009 – Equity Risk Partners (ERP), the only full service insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firm focused exclusively on the needs of the private equity industry, unveiled its newest practice with the announcement of its Infrastructure and Privatization Group. Responding to the tremendous allocation of capital by private equity firms to infrastructure and privatization projects, as well as in an effort to position itself for the expected influx of infrastructure and mixed-use development that will result from the impending economic recovery, Equity Risk Partners has allocated its resources to start this pioneering business practice.

Recognizing the need for reputable and reliable due diligence and insurance brokerage services as private equity firms invest in opportunities in infrastructure, commercial business development, office parks and mixed-use projects, Equity Risk Partners has established itself as the only firm currently seamlessly focused in this arena. ERP is committed to making this practice succeed by working with both private sector and public entity organizations, where there is a need for unique experience and expertise.

To head the new operation, Equity Risk Partners has brought in industry veteran Peter French, leveraging his decades of experience in large scale construction and infrastructure insurance to navigate the nuances of the field. The Infrastructure and Privatization Group expands upon Equity Risk Partners’ existing practice areas, which include due diligence, employee benefits, property/casualty, personal risk management, risk management consulting, transactional products, services and trade credit/political risk.

“With billions of dollars dedicated to future infrastructure improvements combined with the trend towards privatization, we are expecting rapid growth in these areas as the economy rebounds,” said Michael Marcon, CEO, Equity Risk Partners. “Our clients want to protect their investments and we play a meaningful role in helping them achieve that goal. We are thrilled that Peter’s vast experience allows us to offer these organizations such a valuable service.”

“The meticulous way in which Equity Risk Partners conducts due diligence and our extensive private equity industry experience will benefit both current and new clients looking at new infrastructure and privatization opportunities,” said Peter French, managing director, Equity Risk Partners. “The timing of this group’s development further demonstrates the corporate vision of creating long term relationships that rely on a thorough understanding of a client’s business in order to provide effective counsel. By getting out of the proverbial gate before the need arises we will be well positioned to execute quickly when the calls come in.”

Peter French comes to Equity Risk Partners from Willis HRH where he served as the national practice leader for HRH’s construction practice. Prior to his time with Willis Group, Peter held a variety of senior-level positions with Marsh in the Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego offices, mastering the insurance business from all angles.

Based in Equity Risk Partners’ San Francisco headquarters, the Infrastructure and Privatization Group will serve private equity clients and their portfolio companies around the world.

About Equity Risk Partners
Equity Risk Partners is the only insurance brokerage, employee benefits and risk management consulting firm focused exclusively on the needs of the private equity industry and its portfolio companies. Founded in 2001, the company is dedicated to improving the efficiency, structure and return of private equity transactions through consistent and timely due diligence. Combining extensive industry experience with a dedication to excellence, they deliver creative, cost effective insurance solutions, as well as innovative product and financing alternatives. Headquartered in San Francisco, Equity Risk Partners has a nationwide presence with additional offices in New York and Chicago. More information is available at www.EquityRisk.com.

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WComms secured two trade magazines, CRM Buyer and E-Commerce Times, to publish a bylined article by Automation Anywhere’s CEO, Mihir Shukla.   Both trade publications contribute directly to Automation Anywhere’s audience, as well as IT professionals alike.  Read below to see what Shukla’s expert advice is regarding automation in a struggling economy.  His advice helps communicate the automation upside in an economic downturn.

EXPERT ADVICE
Automation: A Lube Job for a Sluggish Economy

By Mihir Shukla
CRM Buyer & E-Commerce Times
Companies are breathing a little easier now that it seems the worst of the recession is over. That doesn’t mean they’re any less interested in achieving greater efficiencies. In fact, cutting costs and streamlining operations are efforts that are now viewed as essential, rather than as extreme, temporary measures. Automating a slew of cumbersome processes is key to long-term success.

Companies are now in the third stage of “economic downturn syndrome.” Having passed through Panic and Denial, they’re firmly in Acceptance. Panicky knee-jerk responses such as cost-cutting, layoffs , tightening budgets and resources are a thing of the past. Most companies have had a quick breather and segued to the stage of a more carefully considered response: monitoring processes and taking steps to improve efficiencies and productivity.

The pings and misses in the old economic engine are more noticeable, now that the flurry of Panic has subsided. It’s time to tune the system, clean out redundant processes, and make the machine run more efficiently and smoothly. So long as we’re at it, why not also gear up for the rebound, and be ahead of the curve when the economy rises?

Automation technology offers practical ways to reduce costs, at a price that’s surprisingly well-tuned to the times.

Please click here to read the full article.

Creative Kingdom, the world’s leading designer of themed design architecture and destinations, unveiled plans for a new mixed-use development in Chiang Mai, Thailand anchored by a movie studio and residential developments. As a leading global entertainment publication, here’s Variety’s take:

Creative Kingdom getting creative

Studio unveils plans for mixed-use lot

By Bashirah Muttalib

If soundstages are built, will film production follow?

Creative Kingdom unveiled plans last month for Chiang Mai Wood (CNX-Wood), a 175-acre, mixed-use movie studio and residential development in Chiang Mai, Thailand. With an expected 2014 completion date, the complex will house CNX Movie World studios, as well as residential neighborhoods, entertainment and cultural venues and restaurants.

Creative Kingdom, creator of themed design architecture and destinations such as Dubai’s Palm Island and World Island, also conducts cutting-edge work with CGI 3-D architectural video animation; 2-D/3-D cartoon animation; and video, film and music production. The company integrates its expertise in architecture, design, entertainment and leisure development when designing themed projects.

The CNX Movie World Studios will feature a series of film production studios, animation facilities and special effects laboratories complete with the most advanced tools and technologies for developing and producing domestic and international movies.

The development includes multiple residential neighborhoods, including villa and luxury housing, that will be connected to the film facilities via a network of bike and walking paths.

A variety of entertainment will be available in nine specially themed areas in the complex. Movie theaters, a water park, theme parks, a beach club, a man-made lagoon and a Japanese-themed amusement center will all be built.

The complex will be equipped to host corporate gatherings, conferences, events and product launches and will offer businesses corporate office buildings for international headquarters or regional bureaus.

Creative Kingdom’s global headquarters are in Los Angeles, with offices in Dubai, U.A.E.; Beijing; Chiang Mai, Thailand; and Pasig City, Philippines.

The full article can be read here.

Automation Anywhere released a Server edition of its namesake software that allows for accessible IT automating anywhere.  WComms recently secured an in-depth product review with Mark Gibbs, a writer for Computer World.  Gibbs was more than satisfied with his experience using Automation Anywhere Server.  The story was picked up on multiple sites around the world within the IDG family.  See below for some highlights from his product review of Automation Anywhere’s unique software capabilities. 

I tested Automation Anywhere Server 6.0.3 (priced at $6,000) and was very impressed. Amongst its huge feature list Automation Anywhere Server can send and receive e-mail, run tasks on schedules or launched via events or “triggers”, run and track the use of VBS and JavaScript scripts, and attempt to resolve platform differences with SMART technology so that tasks execute correctly on different Windows versions and different individual PCs.  This SMART technology appears to mostly work, though a file creation operation that worked fine on Windows 2008 Server failed on Windows Vista Ultimate because of Vista’s enhanced security. An additional problem that you have to work around is that in this case the failure didn’t get reported (this will be addressed in a future release).

To create an automation task there’s the Web Recorder, which monitors your browser’s interactions with a Web site and creates a task that can be edited and run. The only situation where this recording technology doesn’t work is when a Web page contains ActiveX controls. Then you have to manually add to the script specific mouse actions (e.g. “go to these coordinates in this window and click”).

The full review can be read here.

LOS ANGELES and VISTA, Calif. – June 2, 2009 – TRITTON Technologies, a leader in gaming audio technology, introduces two more additions to its unmatched gaming headset line  in the AX 51 Pro and AX PC Pro.   Both products expand on the appeal of the flagship AX Pro by offering true 5.1 surround sound and allowing customers to choose the product that most closely matches their desired gaming experience.

The AX PC Pro and AX 51 Pro take full advantage of the 5.1 audio provided with most games today by reproducing the individual audio details of a game as they were meant to be heard.  With eight (8) precision speakers providing maximum accuracy, clarity and heart thumping bass, both headsets deliver a 3D audio experience with the capability of adjusting the individual sound fields independently via the inline audio controller.  Each headset is optimized for computer gaming with a USB connection for PC and Mac® with the AX PC Pro, and a standard sound card connection for PC and backlit inline audio controller on the AX 51 Pro. 

Both new products will be on display at E3 alongside the rest of the TRITTON collection.

“The AX PC Pro and AX 51 Pro further establish TRITTON in the PC gaming arena,” said Christopher Von Huben, president, TRITTON Technologies.  “These two products, like the AX Pro, set the bar for true 5.1 surround sound gaming headsets.  Each product is designed specifically for certain types of gamers and really offers the best performance in that space.”

Expo attendees who stop by the TRITTON booth (South Hall, Booth 2730) can take the “TRITTON Challenge” to judge for themselves who provides the best high-performance gaming headgear.  TRITTON’s AX Pro and AX 720 will be powered up next to the leading competitors’ products for an audio showdown that will leave testers with ringing ears and loose teeth.