DREAMCATCHER INTERACTIVE MAKES ‘SMART’ MOVE
Famed game designer, Derek Smart, brings Battlecruiser franchise to DreamCatcher
TORONTO, Ontario; December 19th, 2002 – DreamCatcher Interactive announced today that it has signed famed game designer, Derek Smart, to a multi-game agreement. Smart is well-known for developing the Battlecruiser series of games. DreamCatcher will be releasing his next two games, with an option on the third -- a still-to-be-announced Xbox title.
Richard Wah Kan, DreamCatcher President is pleased with the signing. “Derek has a great reputation for producing high quality, innovative games, and his next two will be no exception. His flair and enthusiasm are a great fit with DreamCatcher and really demonstrates our commitment to both our developer partners and our customers.”
An industry veteran, Smart has been making games since 1989 when he first started on the Battlecruiser series after being inspired by such notable games as Elite, Echelon, and the Star Flight and Star Fleet series. The Battlecruiser franchise really put him on the map, and Smart has gained a reputation for creating incredibly deep and immersive simulation games that allow players complete freedom to explore the massive and dynamic freeform universe.
Smart’s decision to go with DreamCatcher was well-researched. “I ended up choosing DreamCatcher because of their penchant for taking chances on niche properties and their obvious high-quality production standards,” says Smart. “Also because, quite frankly, from the onset it was clear that it was all about the games, the teams behind those games and their expressed commitment to supporting our efforts to the fullest. What more could any perpetually out-on-a-limb indie developer ask for?”
The first game to be released will be Battlecruiser Millennium Gold. This box includes the full version of Battlecruiser Millennium, as well as numerous fixes, upgrades and new features, including the long-awaited full-featured multi-player add-on. The game will ship on March 4, 2003 at an SRP of US$29.99, with a US$10 mail-in rebate for gamers who own the original Battlecruiser Millennium.
The second game is Battlecruiser Generations. Taking off where Battlecruiser Millennium left off, the game features a dramatic new graphic engine, advanced A.I.., and numerous gameplay enhancements. The game ships in August 2003, at an SRP of $39.99.