Newsbriefs: Exent Goes Indian, HEI$T, Xbox Live FraudNewsbriefs: Exent Goes Indian, HEI$T, Xbox Live Fraud

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 3:48pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include Exent and Indiagames bringing a games on demand service to more than 100,000 Indian internet cafes, Codemasters publishing inXile Entertainment's bank robbing/getaway driving HEI$T, and Microsoft investigating possible Xbox Live fraud. - Israeli games-on-demand provider Exent Technologies and online game provider Indiagames have announced a new partnership to bring games-on-demand to the widening Indian game market. The service, which will cover more than 100,000 internet cafes across India, will give players unlimited access to a catalog of games from publishers like Microsoft, Atari, Codemasters, PlayFirst, Alawar, Merscomm, Cenega, Meridian, Techland for a monthly fee. Games currently announced in the deal include Age of Empires II, Tomb Raider, Toca Race Driver 3 and Flight Simulator. The two have also announced plans to later expand the deal to cover free ad-supported play using Exent's AdMuse technology. "India's game market is saturated with pirated titles," said Indiagames CEO Vishal Gondal. "Our service will expand the legitimate online games market and increase broadband market penetration by offering a first-class user experience and a high-quality package of games at an unparalleled price. This is a first of its kind service in India and is bound to expand the games category beyond its limited traditional audience." - British-headquartered publisher and developer Codemasters has announced plans to publish HEI$T, a new title in development by inXile Entertainment (The Bard’s Tale) that is being billed as “an all-new job pullin’, bank robbin’ action-driving game set in a gritty San Francisco, circa 1969.” The game will cast players in the role of back robbers as the move from job to job on their way to the ultimate robbery of the San Francisco Mint. HEI$T is expected to ship in the fourth quarter for next generation consoles and PC. “We designed HEI$T so that players feel like a part of the best robberies and car chases from classic movies,” states Maxx Kaufman, creative director at inXile Entertainment. “Everything from the different types of jobs to pull and the reckless pursuits by the police through the streets of San Francisco, to the sarcastic banter back and forth between the members of the crew, gives HEI$T the action and style of the great attitude and rock-driven films of the 60’s.” - According to a report by CNET News, Microsoft is looking into possible fraud with its popular Xbox Live online service following reports of playing having their online accounts “hijacked” and their credit cards used to purchase Microsoft Points. The report cites many players' frustrations with Microsoft's response to these allegations to date, with some noting that the electronics giant has been slow to move to patch this what some are calling a 'breach' of Xbox Live's security. However, the company seems to be taking the claims a bit more seriously now, with a Microsoft representative telling CNET that "security is a top priority for Xbox Live, and we are actively investigating all reports of fraudulent behavior and theft." - Former Ignition Entertainment US president Ellen Fuog and 23 year industry veteran Jeff Hill have founded a new publishing company called Detn8 Games Ltd. The company, which is recognized as an all platform licensee for both Nintendo and Sony, will focus on games both both console and handheld platforms. Detn8 Games' first release is expected this June. “We’ve been around since the Mattel Intellivision days and each of us has owned and operated game-related companies in the past,” commented Fuog, the company’s president. “We’ve worked for and with many game publishers. It’s just time to take this step into publishing on our own.” - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister alt.gaming weblog GameSetWatch include a look at several interesting interviews posted on Capcom's official blog, magnetic GDC speaker gifts, and an interview with Alter Ego's Dr. Peter Favaro. - The latest updates from Gamasutra sister website Serious Games Source include news of a gaming VR headset being used to treat balance disorders. - Also updated today: the latest Gamasutra job postings, including openings from Big Huge Games, Datascope Recruitment, Disney Interactive Studios, Eden Games, gpu4hpc, High Impact Games, Keen Games, LucasArts, Microsoft Game Studios, NCsoft, Realtime Worlds, and the University of Southern California.