- Asia’s first cloud-based gaming service
- XperiaTM PLAY available exclusively from Singtel
Singapore, 19 April, 2011 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) today announced a significant move into the gaming space, with the launch of a unique cloud-based video gaming service called ‘ESC’ and exclusive distributorship of the highly anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia Play mobile handset - further advancing its evolution from a telco into a leading multimedia services provider.
Reality now has an ‘ESC’ button
Launched in partnership with Playcast Media Systems, ESC (read as ‘ESCape’) is the first service in Asia to deliver on-demand high quality games directly from the ‘cloud’ to customers on TV and PC. This enables a rich and immersive gaming experience through a simple one-time client download - eliminating the need for consoles and time-consuming installations.
“We are very pleased to be offering this exciting and affordable high-quality gaming service to Singaporeans without the need for clunky downloads, expensive computers or additional hardware,” said Mr Allen Lew, Singtel’s CEO Singapore.
“Singtel’s broadband infrastructure in tandem with the national fibre network has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities and we are pleased that ESC has allowed us to introduce the consumer to the world of cloud services.”
“Asia represents a huge opportunity for our game streaming service,” said Mr Guy de Beer, CEO of Playcast. “We believe that the partnership with such a powerful platform in the region such as Singtel, will succeed in markets where the console-based gaming economy has had somewhat limited success.”
With instant and unlimited access to 24 titles at launch from a range of genres, ESC gamers can enjoy popular game titles from publishing bigwigs Atari, Capcom, Codemasters, Disney, Tell Tale Games and THQ. For example, Street Fighter 4, which is one of the most popular game franchises ever, and Back to the Future and Toy Story 3 are available to customers who sign up for the service. Each month, two to three titles will be refreshed to ensure the line-up is current and engaging.
ESC is available to anyone with fibre or broadband connectivity of 10Mbps and above. Unlimited ESC gameplay starts from $1.99 for a One Day Pack, and $9.99 for a month (all prices inclusive of GST). As a launch special, Singtel will be offering an unlimited free trial until 30 April 2011.
Customers on fibre can access ESC on their television sets via Singtel’s exCite TV service and both fibre and broadband customers can enjoy the PC service by downloading a simple client.
From May 2011, ESC will also be offered with Singtel’s exPress 50 fibre broadband plan at a bundled price of $66.90 per month. With this package, customers can enjoy unlimited game play with 50Mbps fibre broadband. From June, customers can look forward to the exPress 50 Ultimate Entertainment Pack which will bundle mio TV and games.
“Besides having on-demand access to the best web video content, our exCite TV customers are now able to enjoy the convenience of playing games on their TV,” added Mr Lew.
For more information and to register for the service, customers can log onto the ESC website at www.ESC.com.sg
(Please refer to Annex 1 for ESC fact sheet).
Sony Ericsson XperiaTM PLAY
The eagerly anticipated Sony Ericsson XperiaTM PLAY will be available in Singapore exclusively to Singtel customers from 22 April 2011. Powered by Android version 2.3 technology, this ground-breaking smartphone delivers the ultimate mobile gaming experience with super-fast graphics capabilities and dedicated game controls. It is also equipped with all the features of a leading-edge smartphone to deliver a superb experience for web-browsing, communications, multimedia content and social networking. (Please refer to Annex 2 for detailed handset specifications).
The XperiaTM PLAY is the first smartphone to be PlayStation™-certified and is pre-loaded with six leading games: FIFA 10, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, SIMS 3, Star Battalion, Madden NFL 11 and Crash Bandicoot. As an exclusive bonus, Singtel customers will also get to enjoy the popular action game, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, free of charge. They will be able to compete against other Xperia Play users in an online leaderboard competition, to win an all-expenses paid trip to the annual video game conference E3 in Los Angeles in June.
Customers can also expand their games library with titles from the Singtel IDEAS portal, Android Marketplace and PlayStation® Pocket.
In addition to games, the XperiaTM PLAY is pre-loaded with Singtel apps, such as the award-winning AMPed social music service and MobileTV video streaming service. Customers will be able to catch the live football action of the Barclays Premier League with the BPL Mobile service, and connect with their friends via Singtel’s WheresApp application.
Mr Lew said: “By bringing the XperiaTM PLAY to Singapore, we want to give our customers the freedom to take their favourite games with them wherever they go. This exciting handset perfectly complements our ESC cloud-based games offerings. Just as ESC showcases the strengths of our high-speed broadband services, the XperiaTM PLAY demonstrates the strengths of our mobile network. So whether at home or on the move, Singtel customers will never be short of entertainment and lifestyle options.”
“Sony Ericsson is delighted to introduce, in partnership with Singtel, the world’s first PlayStation™ certified smartphone – the Xperia™ PLAY – to Singapore. Singaporeans are increasingly looking for access to all their favourite apps, games, chat and web browsing functions in one smart device. The Xperia™ PLAY meets the on-the-go communication and entertainment needs of consumers, and is the only smartphone to combine the best of Android with a PlayStation quality gaming experience,” said Mr Eugene Goh, Deputy General Manager and Head of Market Unit Singapore, Sony Ericsson.
The XperiaTM PLAY is available with Singtel’s 3G Flexi price plans which include up to 500 free minutes of local outgoing calls, 500 free local SMSes and 12 GB of free local data usage.
Customers may pre-order the XperiaTM PLAY from www.singtelshop.com from 6pm on 19 April 2011, with collection or delivery from 22 April. The handset will also be available at Singtel’s XperiaTM PLAY roadshow at Vivocity on 22-24 April from 11am to 9pm.
(Please see next page for XperiaTM PLAY pricing table)
Mobile plans |
3G Flexi Lite |
3G Flexi |
3G Flexi Plus |
Xperia™ Play price |
$348 |
$148 |
$0 |
Monthly Subscription |
$39.00 |
$56.00 |
$95.00 |
Free Local Data |
12GB |
12GB |
12GB |
Free Local Outgoing Calls |
100 mins |
200 mins |
500 mins |
Free Local SMS |
500 |
500 |
500 |
Free apps |
AMPed, BPL Mobile, MobileTV, MySingtel , TrafficLIVE , Xplorer, ILoveDeals , Singtel App Zone , WheresApp |
||
Free games |
FIFA 10, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, SIMS 3, Star Battalion, Madden NFL 11 Crash Bandicoot Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus |
||
Free premium for Presales customers |
Sony Ericsson Wireless Stereo Headset with FM Radio (worth: S$98) |
||
About Singtel
Singtel is Asia's leading communications group with operations and investments around the world. Serving both the corporate and consumer markets, it is committed to bringing the best global communications solutions to customers in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
With significant operations in Singapore and Australia (through wholly-owned subsidiary Singtel Optus), the Group provides a comprehensive portfolio of services that includes voice and data solutions over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms, as well as infocomm technology and pay TV.
The Group has presence in Asia and Africa with more than 383 million mobile customers in 25 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand.
To serve the needs of multi-national corporations, Singtel also has a network of 36 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. These offices enable Singtel to deliver reliable and quality network solutions to its customers, either on its own or jointly with local partners.
Singtel employs more than 23,000 people worldwide and had a turnover of S$16.87 billion (US$11.82 billion) and net profit after tax of S$3.91 billion (US$2.74 billion) for the year ended 31 March 2010. More information can be found @ www.singtel.com and www.optus.com.au.
About Playcast Media
Playcast provides a Cloud Gaming service to IPTV and Cable operators, bringing the console experience as a turnkey TV channel over the existing set-top boxes and broadband network. The service is commercially available in Europe, and includes titles from the industry’s major game publishers. Playcast is a privately held company, based in Israel, UK and Los Angeles. For additional information about Playcast, please visit: www.playcast-media.com.
About Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson celebrates its 10th year as a joint venture between Sony Corporation and Ericsson in October, 2011. Over the years the company has brought together the best communication technologies with superior entertainment user experiences to create its Xperia™ line of the most entertaining smartphones in the mobile handset industry. With its global corporate functions in London, Sony Ericsson has sales and marketing operations in all major regions of the world, as well as manufacturing in China, and product development sites in China, Japan, Sweden and Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.sonyericsson.com/press
ANNEX 1: ESC Fact Sheet
PC requirements
Minimum requirements to run ESC game service
- CPU Pentium 4 and above
- Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (Mac OS not supported)
- 1GB and above of memory
Broadband requirements
Recommended broadband requirement for optimum performance
- Wired 10Mbps & above
Setup requirements
Hardware and peripherals for ESC game service
- Regular PC hardware with direct wired connection to the modem
(wireless connection will be available in the near future)
- Keyboard & Mouse
- Or Gamepad
(Logitech Rumble Pad 2, Logitech F510 or other gamepads with the appropriate button controls)
Pricing model
ESC game service pricing
- 30 Days Pack at SGD$9.99 for (30 days unlimited access to the library of games)
- 1 Day Pack at SGD$1.99 for (24 hours unlimited access to the library of games)
- All new sign-ups will receive a free trial
Payment Channels
Various payment options for ESC game service
- Credit Card
ESC Service delivery
To enjoy ESC games, please download and install the ESC game client from www.esc.com.sg
ESC Free Trial
Free trial will be given with every sign-up of ESC game service for customers to try out the service.
Game Titles
Launch titles (24 titles) with their respective publisher and genre
Title |
Publisher |
Genre |
International Basket 2009 You'll live 40 minutes of intense basket action: try in first person what it means to become part of a real basketball team. Be a real basketball master, rule the game, control your team mates' performance with decisions that you can easily implement through the tactic. Choose one of the available teams and fly above the floor using one of the more than 200 players available in the game: the champions will have different degrees of skills (power, dunk, speed, assist skill, basket defense, schemes).
|
Layernet |
Sports/Sports |
Test Drive Unlimited Test Drive Unlimited is the only game that immerses you into the car and bike enthusiast lifestyle, with total freedom to race however and wherever you want within a huge environment. Visit the most sophisticated car dealers to purchase new vehicles or simply take them for a spin. Customize each vehicle to make it one-of-a-kind. Test Drive Unlimited challenges players to experience the most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1000 miles of diverse Hawaiian roads. Gamers earn master points for driving, airtime, drifts and winning races which leads to unlocking new races and challenges.
|
Atari |
Sports/Racing |
MotoGP 08 Experience all the thrills and excitement of the premier motorcycle racing championship with the only official game of the MotoGP series. Race as one of the legends or race as yourself. MotoGP 08 is packed with all the tracks, riders and motorcycles from the 2008 racing season. MotoGP is the world's premier motorcycling championship consisting of 18 Grand Prix races hosted around the globe. It features top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, K and Aprilia, who provide machinery for the world's best riders, including Casey Stoner from Australia, American Nicky Hayden, Italy's Valentino Rossi, Japan's Shinya Nakano, and Spain's Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo!
|
Capcom |
Sports/Racing |
DiRT 2 DiRT 2 features a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments. This World Tour will have players competing in aggressive multi-car and intense solo races at extraordinary new locations, from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based events, interacting with such real-life drivers as Ken Block, Dave Mirra, and Tanner Faust!
|
Codemasters |
Sports/Racing |
Pure Pure is an action sports off-road game on four wheel vehicles. Developed by Black Rock Studio, Disney Interactive Studios’ award-winning development studio in Brighton, England, Pure takes action sports to a new level. Featuring vertigo-inducing massive aerial jumps and spectacular airborne tricks in photo-realistic real locations all over the globe, Pure delivers heart-pounding experiences. Pure gives players pure adrenaline and emotion as they execute incredible aerial tricks while doing death-defying massive jumps.
|
Disney |
Sports/Racing |
G-Force Based on the Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster 3-D movie G-Force, the G-Force video game is a fast-paced action-platform game that draws you into the adventures of an elite team of specially trained guinea pigs. It puts players in control of both Darwin, the guinea pig leader of the covert intelligence G-Force squad, and housefly surveillance sidekick, Mooch, as they team up with the other G-Force agents and use their gadgets, stealth mastery and pint-sized teamwork as mankind’s only hope to complete a dangerous high-level government mission.
|
Disney |
Family |
Bolt In Disney's Bolt, players take on the heroic personas of the TV star dog, Bolt, and his owner, Penny, from the action-packed television series featured within the film. As Bolt, players can use his superpowers, including laser vision, ground pound and sonic bark to devastate opponents; and as Penny, players can use hacking skills, stealth maneuvers and wheel-bar to outwit enemies.
|
Disney |
Family |
Operation Flashpoint - Dragon Rising Taking gamers as close to war as they'll ever want to get, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is the much anticipated return of the genre-defining military conflict simulator. Set to deliver the total combat experience, Flashpoint: Dragon Rising will challenge players to survive the chaos and rapidly evolving situations of modern warfare in a new contemporary theater. Players will experience the intensity, diversity and claustrophobia of a modern conflict from the unique perspectives of an infantry marine, a helicopter pilot, a Special Forces officer or a tank commander, each engaged against the full force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on a scale never previously experienced in a military action title.
|
Codemasters |
Shooting |
Frontlines - Fuel of War Frontlines: Fuel of War is a first-person shooter set in a dystopian future where the world is dominated by two superpowers: the Western Coalition and the Red Star Alliance. Both factions are fighting over the world's most precious commodity: oil. Frontlines features urban warfare in a cinematic single-player campaign with non-linear missions, destructible environments, and seven theatres of war. Players assume the roles of the front line soldiers waging the key battles in the flaming battlefields of modern war. Frontlines: Fuel of War features a high-tech array of realistic near future weapons, combat vehicles, and professional specializations drawn from real world military designs for the near future. It is the ultimate experience of high stakes, fast paced, easily accessible modern warfare.
|
THQ |
Shooting |
Street Fighter IV Street Fighter IV brings the legendary fighting series back to its roots by taking the beloved fighting moves and techniques of the original Street Fighter II, and infusing them with Capcom's latest advancements in gaming technology. The result is a truly extraordinary experience destined to reintroduce players, both familiar with the Street Fighter series and those coming to the game for the first time, to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts.
|
Capcom |
Arcade |
Ballance A balance against gravity! Beautifully designed levels take you through a series of challenges where you will have to use your brain and knowledge of basic physics to decide which of three ball types (stone wood paper) need to be taken through which route in order to successfully complete each level without falling through eternal space! Steer a ball through a surreal cloud world full of puzzling mechanisms over metal rails, wooden bridges and more. There are 12 increasingly challenging levels in this serene yet totally addictive and challenging mixture between marble madness and super monkey ball.
|
Atari |
Arcade |
Flock Protect your cornfields and lock up your livestock, because FLOCK is here! Herd cute, cuddly animals through over 50 sandbox puzzles with the help of your UFO tractor beam! You can even create your own crazy levels with the built-in level editor! With so much to do, the potential for fun is out of this world!
|
Capcom |
Family |
Cube Monsters Cube Monsters is a match 3 game, with a couple of tricks up its sleeve. The game takes place over multiple vertical planes, and getting a row of five rewards you with a big block that will eliminate all the surrounding blocks. A truly independent game, that brings to mind classic casual hits, but with cubes... and monsters!!!
|
Oggasoft |
Arcade |
Mahjongg Artifact 2 Use your Mahjong skills to collect valuable artifacts in this thrilling adventure! Follow famed archaeologist Mark Hawk on a whirlwind tour of Mahjongg challenges and powerful pieces of antiquity in Quest mode. Pick a layout and settle in for traditional tile-matching fun in Classic mode. Or face an ever-rising tower of tiles in Endless mode. Featuring powerful bonus tiles more than 100 layouts and hours of exciting challenges Mahjongg Artifacts is an adventurous journey for your brain.
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Roboball Prepare to smash your way through a wild and crazy game filled with 3D levels, fast action and powerups galore! With everything from Grand Prix racing tracks to giant planets spinning through space, this brick-buster has dozens of madcap scenes for you to break apart! There are gems to grab and bonuses to use and if you play your best, there are achievement awards to be earned! Get in on the action now with Roboball!
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Chameleon Gems Immerse yourself into the mysterious atmosphere of an ancient land. A continuously moving chain of colored gems rolls past the stone idol of a chameleon. Guide the idol in blasting away these gems before they reach the hole. Rainbow powerups match any color of jewel, so make good use of them as the speed and complexity of the game progresses. If you get good enough, you can convert points into money in order to purchase new skins for the chameleon.
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Enchanted Cavern From the moment you step through the mouth of the cave, your eyes behold an amazing sight! The walls are lined with thousands of glittering jewels! By matching groups of precious stones, you'll be able to work your way toward a treasure of untold value! Featuring exhilarating gameplay, stunning visuals and special logic challenges that will test your mental mettle, Enchanted Cavern is a journey the whole family will enjoy!
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Inca ball Immerse yourself in a great quest for the treasures of an ancient civilization in Inca Ball! Use your quick wits and skill as you shoot orbs into a moving chain of colored balls to create a sequence of spheres of the same color, causing them to disappear! Clear all of the spheres to make your way to the treasure room! During the gameplay you can earn money to purchase a number of explosive artifacts that will help you in your quest. Finish the game, and a special prize will be yours! The treasures of Inca Ball await!
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Electra Everybody wants to be a superhero: but some of us have to be electricians! Your mission in this electrical puzzler is to light up the city at night and prevent a blackout. Quickly attach together a contact out of numerous wire pieces and get a fiery electrical discharge, accompanied by blinding explosions and special effects. Try out six different game modes and practice your reaction speed, reasoning ability or both! Fun for the whole family!
|
Strategy First |
Arcade |
Dark Void Dark Void is a truly unique third-person shooter. An adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and ground-pounding combat mechanics and cover systems headlined by the game's signature in-game items--the hooverpack and jetpack--in it players will experience 3D action like never before as they transition from ground to air combat, and back again whenever they choose. the game will have you racing (and hijacking) UFOs, jumping from surface to surface, and engaging boss characters in aerial combat.
|
Capcom |
Action/Adventure |
Toy Story 3: The Video Game Celebrate the joy of play in Toy Story 3: The Video Game! Fans can play as Buzz, Woody or Jessie as they run, ride and fly through scenes inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated film, Toy Story 3. Experience key moments, interact with new and returning characters, and visit locations seen in the film. The unique Toy Box mode allows players to unleash their imagination and creativity in a new open world and play with Andy’s toys their way. As Buzz, Woody or Jessie, players can choose what activities they want to do and the order they wish to do them. The more they use their imagination and create their own story, the more they get rewarded.
|
Disney |
Family |
Dark Void Zero Rise On! After 20 years, the legendary lost project "Dark Void" is back! To commemorate the game's humble origins, Capcom has commissioned the recreation of the original 8-bit classic, now re-titled "Dark Void Zero". In this critically acclaimed 8-bit de-make, you play as Rusty, warrior test-pilot and Nikola Tesla's trusted friend. With the help of your state-of-the-art rocket pack, blast through three deliciously retro levels of baddies in your quest to close Portal X and save the human race!
|
Capcom |
Action/Adventure |
Back to the Future Ep 1: "It's About Time" The Future is Back and this time it's playable! Marty McFly and Doc Brown return in a completely new Back to the Future adventure. Six months after the events of the third film, the DeLorean Time Machine mysteriously returns to Hill Valley — driverless! Marty must go back in time and get aid from a resistant teenage Emmett Brown, or else the space time continuum will forever be unraveled! Play as Marty in a cinematic adventure true to the films.
|
Telltale |
Action/Adventure |
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Episode 1: The Penal Zone Wield psychic powers against fearsome foes in this epic 5 game comedy saga. In The Devil’s Playhouse series, a mysterious power calls to the strongest and strangest who might wield it - intergalactic warlords and eldritch gods, under-dwellers and scholars of the arcane. This first episode starts with a bang as gorilla invader Skunk'ape sets his sights on Max’s mysterious abilities. While mastering his future sight, teleportation, shape shifting and mind reading powers - and investigating their source - Sam & Max must fend off villainous Skunk’ape and get him banished to The Penal Zone. The saga plays out in a surreal symphony of mayhem that gets deeper and more twisted with each episode.
|
Telltale |
Action/Adventure |
ANNEX 2: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play specifications
|
Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY |
Preloaded game titles |
Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior by Digital Legends Star Battalion by Gameloft FIFA 10 by EA Games Madden NFL 11 by EA Games SIMS 3 by EA Games Crash Bandicoot by SCEA
|
Camera
|
5.1 megapixel camera Auto focus Flash / Photo light Geo tagging Image stabiliser Send to web Touch focus Video light Video recording Video blogging
|
Music
|
Album art Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP) Google™ Music Player Music tones (MP3/AAC) Sony Ericsson Music player Stereo speakers TrackID™ music recognition application
|
Internet
|
Android Market™* Bookmarks Google™ search* Google™ Voice Search* Pan & zoom Web browser (Webkit)
|
Communication
|
Call list Conference calls Facebook™ application (from Android Market™) Google™ Talk* Noise Shield Polyphonic ringtones Speakerphone Sony Ericsson TimESCape™*** Twitter™ application (from Android Market™) Vibrating alert
|
Messaging
|
Android Cloud to Device messaging (C2DM) Conversations Google Mail™* Instant messaging Picture messaging (MMS) Predictive text input Sound recorder Text messaging (SMS)
|
Design
|
Auto rotate Keyboard (onscreen, 12 key) Keyboard (onscreen, QWERTY) Picture wallpaper Touchscreen Wallpaper animation
|
Entertainment
|
3D games Dedicated gaming keys Flash Lite™ Gesture gaming Motion gaming Video streaming YouTube™
|
Organiser
|
Alarm clock Calculator Calendar Document editors Document readers E-Manual Flight mode Google Calendar™ Google Gallery 3D™ Infinite button Phone book Set-up Wizard Widget manager
|
Connectivity
|
3.5 mm audio jack aGPS Bluetooth™ technology DLNA Certified Google Latitude™ Google Location Service Google Maps™ with Street View Media Transfer Protocol support Micro USB Connector Modem Synchronisation via Facebook™** Synchronisation via Google Sync™ Synchronisation via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync® Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync USB 2.0 high speed support Wi-Fi™ Wi-Fi™ Hotspot functionality
* The service is not available in all markets. ** Requires Facebook™ application installed on the device.
|
Preloaded apps |
TrackID™ ShowNearby for Sony Ericsson Foursquare OfficeSuite appXtra Evernote
|
Google™ services*
* These services may not be available in every market |
Android Market™ Client Gmail™ Google Calendar™ Google Gallery 3D™ Google Latitude™ Google Maps™ with Street View Google Media Uploader Google Music Player™ Google Phone-top Search Google Search widget Google Sync™ Google Talk™ Google Voice Search Set-up Wizard YouTube™
|
Screen
|
|
Accessories |
In-Box:
|
Facts |
Size: 119 x 62 x 16 mm Weight: 175 grams
Phone memory: 400 MB
Memory card support: microSD™, up to 32 GB
Memory card included: 8GB microSD™
Operating system: Google™ Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Processor: 1 GHz Scorpion ARMv7
|
Talk time and networks |
Networks
Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 8 hrs 25 min* Standby time GSM/GPRS: Up to 425 hrs*
Talk time UMTS: Up to 6 hrs 25 min* Standby time UMTS: Up to 413 hrs*
Game play time: Up to 5 hrs 35 min* MP3 playback: Up to 30 hrs 35 min*
Networks UMTS HSPA 800, 850, 1900, 2100 GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
|
Colour |
Black White
|
