August 30, 2011
By aaronwatkins

Washington, DC – Worried about the recent rash of earthquakes? You have less to worry about than the people of Iceland who not only have to deal with earthquakes, but ice quakes as well! Perhaps it’s hurricane Irene that has you worried. If you are trying to stay dry – don’t try to outrun it… you will get 50% wetter running in the rain than you will standing still. You can find these and 300 other Weird but True facts in the new app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad launching this coming Thursday, September 1, 2011 in the iTunes App Store.

The Weird but True iOS app is a fully interactive random fact generator inspired by the popular National Geographic Kids book series of the same name, which was inspired by a successful feature in National Geographic Kids magazine. Now the franchise is fully functional as the latest app from National Geographic Kids.  With a quick shake, or a simple swipe, you will be entertained and educated at the same time as some of the strangest truths ever to be told. Did you know:

  • New Zealand has more sheep… than people. (Baaa!)
  • Parachutes were invented before airplanes (Look out below!)
  • Honeybees can be trained to detect bombs (Bzzzzz….. BOOM!)
  • A sneeze travels 100 mph (Bless you!)
  • Some honeybee queens… quack (Duck! It’s a bee!)

We can’t make this stuff up! Sometimes the old saying is true… the truth is much stranger than fiction.

Along with the collection of facts, you can save your favorites to show off later, or voice your vote on the Weird-o-Meter and see a collection of the weirdest true facts as voted on by the users. Facts can be shared via email as well.

Weird but True will be available in the iTunes App Store around the world including from the top of Mt. Everest… where you can get rather clear cell phone reception. That’s weird!

About National Geographic Kids: National Geographic Ventures (NGV) is a wholly owned, taxable subsidiary of National Geographic Society. NGV creates and distributes digital and film content across multi-platforms and media, providing outlets for the hundreds of scientific and expedition-based grants awarded by National Geographic each year.

National Geographic Kids magazine, part of the National Geographic Global Media (NGGM) group, is an award-winning, photo-driven publication for 6- to 14-year-olds that empowers its readers by making it fun to learn about the world. Published 10 times a year, National Geographic Kids has a circulation of 1.2 million and is available by subscription in print and on tablets. Its award-winning website (kids.nationalgeographic.com) aims to inspire children to care about the planet and its inhabitants and covers a multitude of topics, including animals, entertainment, science, technology, current events and cultures from around the world. National Geographic  Kids Books, also part of NGGM,  publishes as many as 100 nonfiction titles each year and aims to inspire the youngest readers to engage with our  world. The Weird But True franchise touches all segments of the National Geographic Kids groups.

Copyright (C) 2011 National Geographic Ventures. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

 

Press Contact:

Aaron Watkins
Appency for National Geographic
aaron@appency.com
858-945-1465


August 25, 2011
By aaronwatkins

Explore some pyramids, dodge some sandstorms, and beat out some rival treasure hunters: all in a days work for Ramses II on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touches!

Munich, Germany – August 25, 2011: Ravensburger Digital is at it again – with the success of their Puerto Rico iOS board game still fresh in the memories of gamers, they’ve teamed up with the Berlin-based game development studio exozet games to release another of their titles to the App Store: Ramses II.

Ramses II takes you back to ancient Egypt with beautiful HD animation, where the rich – but very confused – pharaoh has concealed his treasures from around the world in the pyramids to hide them from thieves. He now needs you to help him remember where they are! Compete versus your friends or the built-in computer AI as you race to uncover the most treasure.

Uncover superpowers throughout your journey to aid in the search and engage in merciless duels with rival treasure hunters to compete for the prize! Be wary of scorpions and sandstorms though as they may cause you to ‘tomb’-le and fall along the way, leaving you lost in the depths of history!

In-game help features and multiple AI difficulty levels make Ramses II fun and accessible for young and old alike, but watch out or this mind-wrenching memory game might just send you crying for your mummy!

About Ravensburger Digital: Ravensburger Digital is part of Ravensburger Group, internationally well-known for its high-quality games, puzzles and books. We develop Ravensburger products for all major digital platforms, including online & browser games, PC games and mobile applications. Ravensburger Digital has already published several highly successful game titles like the memory(R) and Think(R) series on the iTunes App Store. Copyright (C) 2011 Ravensburger Digital. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

For further information regarding Ravensburger Digital, please visit:

www.ravensburger-digital.com/en/

About Exozet Games: Exozet Games specializes in developing and distributing games and apps for mobile devices and produces browser and console games. exozet covers the complete production process – from concept and design to programming and distribution. A number of big-name game licences and brands such as Catan,Carcassonne and Emily the Strange have been made multiplatform gaming hits by exozet. exozet games is part of exozet group – with a staff of 150 at offices in Berlin, Potsdam, Vienna and Dusseldorf.

Press Contact: Brian Collins.  By email: brian@appency.com or by phone: +1 916.765.5949

 


August 4, 2011
By aaronwatkins

Munich, Germany – August 4th, 2011:  Puerto Rico never looked more beautiful -Puerto Rico the game that is.  Ranked as the #1 game on BoardGameGeek.Com for eight years in a row, over 250,000 units of the board game sold, and winner of the International Gamers Award, it was no surprise when Ravensburger Digital decided to reinvent the company’s classic strategy game.  Unveiling their iPad app to a new generation of players, this advanced multi-player game will please Puerto Rico veterans and new gamers alike.

Sailing to the shores of Puerto Rico players put their entrepreneurial skills to the test as they take on roles of Captain, Settler, Prospector, Builder, Mayor, Craftsmen or Trader in a multi-player, multi-task setting.  But choose wisely! Your role may dictate your victory. How do you win? Well as they say, to the victor go the… victory points? Yes! In this game, wealth is measured in more than just doubloons.  Conquer other players by accumulating the most victory points through the construction of the grandest buildings, harvesting the most fruitful crops and shipping the most bountiful harvest back to the Old World – all of which is only a finger tap away on the new application for iPad. Strategy, creativity and some luck may just make you governor of the island.

Andreas Seyfarth, the creator of the original board game, commented that “this conversion was really successful.  All the game play modes have been enhanced: Online mode, Solo mode, multiple difficulty levels – everything is there.” Noted for its complexity, Puerto Rico finds sweet simplicity as an app on the iPad.  With a built-in tutorial for those new to the game (or anyone who needs a quick refresher course) the app brings to life the world of Puerto Rico and allows them to share their experience with fellow Puerto Rico fans all over world.  Staying true to the original game the application version doesn’t lose any of its luster which Seyfarth applauds, saying “The conversion of the rules and the game play is impressive, the developer really did a great job.  Now I have to get an iPad just for Puerto Rico”

Fans, old and new, will definitely be pleased with the direction that this ship is sailing.

About Ravensburger Digital (Publisher)

Ravensburger Digital is part of Ravensburger Group, internationally well-known for its high-quality games, puzzles and books. We develop Ravensburger products for all major digital platforms, including online & browser games, PC games and mobile applications.  Ravensburger Digital has already published several highly successful game titles like the memory® and Think® series on the iTunes App Store.

For further information regarding Ravensburger Digital, please visit

www.ravensburger-digital.com/en/

About Codito Development (Developer)

Codito Development was founded in 2003 and, through their Sage Board Games division, are bringing a remarkable “who’s who” list of board game apps to the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.  Reiner Knizia’s “Medici” and “Ra” are available in the App Store now, as well as Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling’s “Tikal”.

Press Contact: Brian Collins.  By email: brian@appency.com or by phone: +1 916.765.5949