Round Up: Horizons Sold, Star Wars Galaxies, ChinaJoy Dinner

Today's Gamasutra round-up includes news of Horizons: Empire of Istaria being sold to EI Interactive, the announcement of Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures, and information on an invitation-only VIP dinner event in China for developers, as well as the latest GameSetWatch posts, product news, Serious Games Source news, and Gamasutra job postings. - Butte, Montana-based EI Interactive announced that the company has acquired the fantasy MMORPG Horizons: Empire of Istaria from Tulga Games effective July 21, 2006. The game was originally developed by Artifact and published in 2003 by Atari, and EI confirmed that it will continue supporting the game from a new Phoenix, Arizona office. "The magic of Horizons is not only in its uniquely supportive community, but also in the deep potential this game has for a player's participation in building the environment and growing the storyline", said EI Chairman Edward C. Andercheck, "the success EI has had in building the Savage Eden community is a great testimony to our in-game event team's efforts, we look forward to the same experience in Horizons" - LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment today announced Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Online Adventures, a compilation containing the original MMO, plus the three previously released expansions. Scheduled to ship in November for $29.99, the collection will also come with a bonus DVD featuring an AT-RT vehicle for use in the game, as well as exclusive artwork, interviews and fan-made featurettes. The package will also come with a demo for Star Wars: Empire at War. - China GC Networks, with the support of the IGDA Shanghai chapter and Shanghai Creative Industry Association, announced 'Creative Night: Gathering of Chinese Game Developers 2006', a special invitation-only dinner reception during the upcoming ChinaJoy China Digital Entertainment and Expo on July 29, 2006 in Shanghai. This invitation-only event will see representation from many of China's VIP developers and game company executives, as well as selected representatives from major media outlets and various government branches in China who will be able to discuss topics and socialize over dinner in a relaxing atmosphere. - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister weblog GameSetWatch include a look back at the Treasure-developed Nintendo 64 classic Sin and Punishment, Sam 'N Max gracing the cover of CGW magazine's July issue, and the Mega64 Version 2 DVD being officially released online. - Also updated today: Serious Games Source news, including a feature looking back at the recent Games For Change conference, plus Gamasutra product news including the release of OpenSceneGraph version 1.1, alongside the latest Gamasutra job postings, featuring openings from BreakAway Games, Cryptic Studios, Guerrilla, NaturalMotion, Sucker Punch Productions, The Eleven Agency, Vicarious Visions, VSTEP Serious Games, and Walt Disney Internet Group.