Machine cults, clans, jungle warfare operatives and intergalactic battle will go head to head for the ATOM Awards titles of Best Tertiary Video Game and Best General Video Game when the 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM awards are presented on Friday 24 October, 2008.
‘Mayhem Intergalactic’ is a simple yet engaging strategy game where the player can wage intergalactic war against friends – or enemies. “Mayhem Intergalactic keeps things simple. Unlike many other strategy games, there are no complicated technology charts to learn, no unit rosters to choose from and no tedious resource-collecting activities to engage in. A typical game session lasts mere minutes rather than hours,” commented developer and ATOM finalist, Chris Pelling.
Yet despite its simplicity, ‘Mayhem Intergalactic’ contains a surprising amount of tactical depth, including attractive graphics and a stirring original soundtrack - which adjusts dynamically, depending on the player’s progress. ‘Mayhem Intergalactic’ can be played against the computer or with friends over the internet. ‘Mayhem Intergalactic’ is a finalist in the General category for Best Interactive Video Game and Best Tertiary Interactive Video Game.
Developed by Drew McMahon, ‘Order of the Machine’ concentrates on a huge area of space that is dominated by the Machine Cults. Whilst still reeling from a destructive civil war that has left the Clans shattered and untrusting, they now find that they are faced with an even greater threat to the Order; an ominous empire which looms across the border. For Gabrielle Mourne, self-exiled heir to the greatest of the Cults, an even darker truth threatens to annihilate not only her own people, but the rest of the galaxy along with them.
‘Order of the Machine’ is a top-down shooter/role-playing game developed for the PC which has been designed in the style of retro shooters of the mid-‘90s.
“The game utilises many modern design techniques and technologies including story techniques, dynamic lights, physics, real-time particle effects and fast-paced game play,” commented developer Drew McMahon.
Coupled with a cast of characters that show real depth, this engaging story will absorb players into a new, dynamic universe. ‘Order of the Machine’ is a finalist in the General category for Best Interactive Video Game and Best Tertiary Interactive Video Game.
‘The Caterian Empire’, developed by Sam Mair, focuses on a sprawling empire that runs the length of the Obsidian arm of the Fortina Galaxy. The inhabitants of the Caterian Empire are a ruthless race that is bent on conquering and dominating other worlds. Their war-hungry nature and militant culture means that they are constantly engaged in taking over new worlds.
“You are the leader of the Major Conquests Squad in the Caterian Empire Army - Jungle Warfare Division. Your mission is to lead your squad of Jungle Warfare Operatives through the galaxy, systematically conquering worlds in the Junestaä States,” described developer Sam Mair.
Conquest points represent your military experience. They are spent in attempting and failing missions but they also unlock new features or can be used to gain new specialty troops such as minefield layers, bomb disablers and equipment such as heavy machine guns, land mines and explosives. Conquest points can also be used to unlock new missions and new planets. Spent conquest points cannot be recovered. ‘The Caterian Empire’ is a finalist in Best Tertiary Interactive Video Game.
The annual ATOM Awards recognise excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia (including video games) and celebrate the very best of Australian and New Zealand production. The competition was open to anyone who had produced a short film, documentary, animation, electronic game, educational resource, television program or innovative new media work in the past twelve months.
The 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards will be presented at a gala presentation ceremony, held in the Plaza Ballroom, Regent Theatre, Melbourne on Friday 24 October, 2008. The evening’s proceedings will commence at 7.30pm for 8.00pm.
The 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards program is sponsored by Avid, Adobe Asia Pacific, Victorian Government through the Department of Planning and Community Development, Madman Entertainment, Deakin University, Monash University Faculty of Arts, Encore Magazine, Metro Magazine, Metroscreen, Open Channel, Qpix, SBS, 2Camels, Netagi, Disc Ready, Scotch College Melbourne and Overnewton Anglican Community College.
The 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards are funded by Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, the New South Wales Film and Television Office and Film Victoria.
For more information about the 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards please visit www.atomawards.org
To book: visit www.ticketek.com.au or call 1300 795 012. Adult $77.00 inc GST. Juniors (under 15 years) $35.00 inc GST.
About the ATOM Awards
The ATOM Awards were established in 1982 by the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) - an independent, non-profit association promoting media education and screen literacy in primary, secondary and tertiary education and the broader community.
The ATOM Awards annually recognise excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia and celebrate the very best of Australian and New Zealand production.
The 2008 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards are open to the education and industry sectors, students, production companies, independent filmmakers, educational bodies and educational producers in both countries.
Using the ATOM Awards, ATOM publications and ATOM Professional Development Victoria, ATOM is actively engaged in the promotion of Australian product into the education and industry market. As such, the ATOM Awards are unique in their incorporation of the educational market with the broader industry.
The combination of student and professional awards not only allows the ATOM Awards to provide all-important early career exposure and experience for emerging professionals, but also provides promotional opportunities for winners and finalists.