ICFX Launch Pod at ATEI 2004

ICFX Launch Pod at ATEI 2004

Flexiserv's ICFX division launched its next generation, real-time, interactive multiplayer games machine, the 'Pod' at the ATEI show last month, causing much excitement amongst visitors. The Pods debut has marked a new dawn in gaming by creating an innovative cross-over product which bridges the two worlds of arcade games and PC games.

The powerful multi-player gaming station, known as a 'Pod' will be deployed in pubs, sports bars, bowling alleys, holiday camps, airports etc., for ICFX by leisure machine operators and distributors world-wide.

The ICFX pod offers players an intense interactive games experience and introduces the uninitiated to the world of fast, full screen, '1st Person Shooter Games'. Big hit games titles, already played at home and across the Internet, will feature on ICFX pods in city venues around the world.

This exciting, full screen, sound and vision, "Shoot to Win" ICFX games experience allows players to do battle on their pod, or to select and play against another ICFX pod situated at a different venue in the country, or indeed take on anyone else in the world who might be playing on the Internet at that time, either as individuals, or in teams.

Les Haigh, Business Development Manager of ICFX said, "Our pods will provide an exciting addition to the usual gaming provided in bars. Furthermore, for the price of a regular coin, players are drawn into an atmospheric, all engrossing, 'real life' battle experience. What's more, by competing on our pods, for the first time ever, players will do battle on a level playing field, so that they can be properly ranked according to their true skills. Presently, tournaments are weighted in favour of the Internet gamer with the best (biggest) bandwidth connection to the Internet, giving an unfair edge to those players. As all our pods will connect over lightening fast DSL Internet connections, our gamers will not suffer any disadvantage."

ICFX will support the venues electronically over the Internet to ensure that their pods always have the best, 'up to the minute' new games on offer. Unlike existing games machines, there's no need for the games operating company to move ICFX machines onwards to new venues once the games get old, - a simple overnight remote station download quickly and automatically refreshes a pod with the latest new title.

Likewise, ICFX engineers can fix a pod problem remotely by accessing anyone of the game stations and re-programming its software.

Existing players will be drawn to the ICFX pod venues to show off their skills and no doubt casual players will soon get hooked on finding out just how exciting these all-action games Pods really can be.

ICFX will be building and promoting world-wide tournaments by utilising their 'on-pod web site' to register and rank tournament players, as well as list which venues are taking part in championships, describe what's offered and map their addresses.