Dans un souci de vendre des licences pour son moteur graphique phare, Epic est entré en collaboration avec Technicolor Interactive pour entièrement localiser l'Unreal Engine 3 en japonais. Ceci inclut le moteur, mais aussi ses outils d'administration et la page de support sur le site.

Avec cette régionalisation accrue, Epic pourra espérer s'implanter sur le marché japonais assez dur à percer. Epic espère ainsi vendre des licences Unreal Engine aux développeurs qui vont travailler sur la PlayStation 3 de Sony et même peut-être sur la Nintendo Wii si elle s'avère plus puissante que prévu initialement.

Dans le même temps, Sony Online Entertainment vient d'annoncer l'acquisition de l'Unreal Engine 3 pour le développement de futurs titres PC et consoles next-gen.

Décidément, Epic arrive à s'ancrer réellement sur tous les continents pour vendre l'Unreal Engine 3 qui est promu à un bel avenir dans le monde des consoles nouvelles génération ainsi que sur PC. Les stratégies territoriales d'Epic Games s'avèrent payantes et la firme à déjà une longueur d'avance sur ses concurrents historiques, à savoir Id software ou encore Valve.

Les communiqués de presse en version intégrale (anglais) se trouve dans la suite de la nouvelle.

BURBANK, Calif. — July 19, 2006 — Technicolor Interactive Services, part of the Services division of Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), today announced it was chosen by Epic Games, a developer of cutting-edge computer and video games, to manage the Japanese localization of Epic Games’ award-winning Unreal® Engine 3 technology. The agreement enables Epic Games to further penetrate the Japanese market with one of the game development industry’s most powerful 3D middleware solutions.

Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 is the underlying framework for the most visually intensive, interactive and exhilarating games on the market today. The software is a complete game development framework for next-generation consoles, and provides an array of core technologies, content creation tools, and infrastructure support for game developers. Unreal Engine 3 places as much power as possible in the hands of artists, thereby simplifying and empowering them to develop assets in a visual environment with minimal programmer assistance. The solution also gives programmers a highly modular and extensible framework for building, testing, and shipping games across multiple genres and console platforms.

“Technicolor Interactive Services is thrilled to be collaborating with Epic Games on this very important localization project,” said Michael Gollom, vice president of Technicolor Interactive Services. “The customization of Unreal Engine Technology for the Japanese market will enable Epic Games to greatly expand its presence among influential developers in Japan, a critical region of the world for game development. As a result, this is an excellent opportunity for Technicolor Interactive Services, and we are very pleased that Epic Games has entrusted us with this significant assignment.”

“The localization work Technicolor has performed has been crucial for us in the Japanese market,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games, Inc. “We started with conservative plans, but we were so impressed with Technicolor's quality and turnaround times that we greatly increased the scope of our project. They handled the increased volume without skipping a beat, and we are still getting top-notch speed and quality.”

Technicolor Interactive Services’ Localization division will translate Epic Games’ Unreal Engine Technology into Japanese, including its developer support Web site and the Unreal Engine 3 user interface. In addition, the group will act as the liaison to provide Japanese translations for all technical support e-mails pertaining to the software platform.

Technicolor Interactive Services offers comprehensive design and production resources to video game developers and publishers. The group provides expertise in three main production categories: Design and Visuals, including game design, concept art, in-game art assets, cinematics, prototyping, and postproduction; Audio, including sound design, cinematic editorial and mixing, casting, voice-over recording, and sound implementation; and Localization, including project management, translation, casting, and voice-over recording and editing.

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About Thomson — Leader in Digital Video Technologies
Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems and equipment to help its Media & Entertainment clients — content creators, content distributors and users of its technology — realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly-changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. For more information: http://www.thomson.net.

About Technicolor Interactive Services
Technicolor Interactive Services, part of the Services division of Thomson, offers comprehensive design and production resources to video game developers and publishers. The group provides expertise in three main production categories: Design and Visuals, including game design, concept art, in-game art assets, cinematics, prototyping, and postproduction; Audio, including sound design, cinematic editorial and mixing, casting, voice-over recording, and sound implementation; and Localization, including project management, translation, casting, and voice-over recording and editing. For more information: http://www.technicolorinteractive.com.

About Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., based in Raleigh, N.C. and established in 1991, is a developer of cutting-edge computer and video games. The company is best known as the creator of hit PC 3D action games Unreal and Unreal Tournament, both award-winning blockbuster hits having each sold more than one million copies. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including, 2002 Console Game of the Year winner, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell from UbiSoft; PC Gamer’s 2000 Game of the Year, Deus Ex from Ion Storm/Eidos; America’s Army: Special Forces, from the United States Army, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PC) from Electronic Arts. For more information: http://www.epicgames.com.

About Unreal Engine 3
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for cutting-edge graphics and a best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 is expected to maintain those features while adding massive world support, multi-processor support, next-generation console optimizations, and one of the most mature tool pipelines in the industry. Unreal Engine 3’s new toolset is designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for ultra-complex, next-generation content. For more information: http://www.unrealtechnology.com

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LICENSES UNREAL ENGINE 3

Epic's Next-Gen 3D Engine to Power Several of SOE's Next-Gen Online Games

SAN DIEGO, CA – July 20, 2006 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced a licensing agreement with Epic Games to use their Unreal® Engine 3 technology for the development of content for some next-generation console and PC-based games. SOE will utilize this technology for a number of future projects, including the DC Comics-based game currently under development at SOE-Austin.

“Our development teams are very excited about harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 3,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “The combination of a top-notch graphics engine and a robust set of design tools will enable our teams to deliver incredible and innovative game content for next-generation consoles and the PC.”

This agreement allows Epic Games to include another impressive name to an already extraordinary list of licensing partners.

“Sony Online Entertainment has a reputation for delivering detailed, truly engaging, interactive online worlds,” said Mark Rein, Vice President, Epic Games, Inc. “It is a great privilege for us that they’re using Unreal Engine 3 to help create their next generation projects.”

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™: An Empire Divided™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
About Unreal Engine 3
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for cutting-edge graphics and a best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 is expected to maintain those features while adding massive world support, multi-processor support, next-generation console optimizations, and one of the most mature tool pipelines in the industry. Unreal Engine 3’s new toolset is designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for ultra-complex, next-generation content. Additional information on Unreal Engine can be obtained at www.unrealtechnology.com.
About Epic Games
Epic Games Inc., based in Raleigh, NC and established in 1991, is a developer of cutting-edge computer and video games. The company is best known as the creator of hit PC 3D action games Unreal and Unreal Tournament, both award-winning blockbuster hits having each sold more than one million copies. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including, 2002 Console Game of the Year winner, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell ™ from Ubi Soft; PC Gamer’s 2000 Game of the Year, Deus Ex from Ion Storm/Eidos; America's Army: Special Forces , from the United States Army, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PC) from Electronic Arts. Additional information can be obtained through Epic's Web site at www.epicgames.com .
Unreal is registered trademark of Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved.