Online Warmonger to launch free-to-play shooting game around globe

Online Warmongers has announced that it will launch its free-to-play online shooting game, War Inc. Battlezone, in a number of territories around the world. The web-based game is an attempt to go after the Call of Duty game fans who don’t want to dish out $60 for each title.

Online Warmongers bills the game as a realistic combat game with stunning visuals, especially for an online-only game.

The game is the first to launch as part of a collaboration with [a]list games (that’s how they spell it), a Pasadena, Calif.-based marketing and distribution company that offers its services in exchange for a share of revenues or some other form of payment. [a]list games will promote the title in North America, Europe and Australia.

[a]list games, a division of digital marketing company The Azyenberg Group, says it takes one of the big risks out of traditional publishing deals. Many indie game makers are scrappy enough to find their own capital, so [a]list games will not fund games. That’s a big difference between what [a]list will do and what a traditional publisher does. [a]list games calls itself a “go to market” company. While it won’t fund games, it will fund the marketing plans for the games. In exchange, it negotiates how it can be paid: perhaps by getting a share of royalties or some other way.

Moscow-based Syncopate has published the game online in Russia and other Russian-speaking territories, where the game has been made an official tournament title in World Cyber Games Russia. Players join the ranks of Paramilitary Commando Units, or mercenaries who fight anarchists. As many as 64 players can be in the same arena at once. Players can buy virtual items such as weapon enhancements or clothing.

“We’re thrilled to secure partners who understand the online game market and match our vision,” said Sergey Titov, chief executive of Online Warmongers. “Once people play our game, their expectations for what free-to-play games can offer will change forever. With [a]list games’ unique capabilities in building demand for digital games and Syncopate’s expertise with Russian-speaking gamers, War Inc. Battlezone is ready to become a standout title in the world’s biggest shooting-game markets.”

“We want to expose new and existing online gamers to what a premium free game can offer,” said Steve Fowler, general manager of [a]list games. “Players experience a graphically stunning, deep, tactical, feature-rich and relentlessly competitive shooter in War Inc. Battlezone, and they don’t pay a red penny to start playing.”

Online Warmongers developed the game using the Eclipse Game Engine, a foundation for game graphics created by Arktos Entertainment Group. That is the same technology used by Riot Games’ League of Legends game. It promises an experience that isn’t so far from high-definition console games.

“We’re thrilled to secure partners who understand the online game market and match our vision,” said Sergey Titov, CEO of Online Warmongers.  “Once people play our game, their expectations for what free-to-play games can offer will change forever.  With [a]list games’ unique capabilities in building demand for digital games and Syncopate’s expertise with Russian-speaking gamers, War Inc. Battlezone is ready to become a standout title in the world’s biggest shooting game markets.”

“We want to expose new and existing online gamers to what a premium free game can offer,” said Steve Fowler, GM of [a]list games.  “Players experience a graphically stunning, deep, tactical, feature-rich and relentlessly competitive shooter in War Inc. Battlezone, and they don’t pay a red penny to start playing.”

Online Warmongers is a Los Angeles-based video game development company funded by $5 million from the Arktos Entertainment Group.  The studio was established in 2009 to develop innovative online next-generation titles for consoles and PC.  Rival games include Battlefield Heroes, which is published by Electronic Arts, and Combat Arms, published by Nexon.  Online Warmongers has 23 employees. The founders are Sergey Titov, CEO and former technical director at Riot Games, and Matt Candler, chief operating officer and former vice president of interactive at Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment.

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