

Warsaw, Poland
Plus GSM (part of the Vodafone group) in cooperation with Mobile
Entertainment Europe and One2Tribe
officially launched Xyber Mech. It is the first location based multiplayer
mobile game in Poland. Xyber
Mech is a MOG (Mobile Massive Multiplayer Online Game), which merges the convenient
game play of a mobile phone with the functionality of an internet portal, developed
especially for the community of Xyber Mech gamers.
The game has a distinct science fiction climate, and allows and unlimited number
of players to interact and participate in the game at any given time. The plot
transports gamers into the XXIV century, to The Free Worlds. Worlds rich in minerals
and resources which have separated from the iron fist of the Human Domain as a
result of the temporary closure of intergalactic tunnels. The mission of each
gamer is to pilot a Xyber Mech, a technically advanced battle robot, which battling
or forming alliances with other players. The Xyber Mechs are controlled by their
pilots – mobile phone users. The game makes use of location based technologies
– the Mechs current position in its virtual world is directed correlated
to the geographic position of the games cellular phone.
Mechs are piloted by users with the help of Premium SMS messages (text messages).
During the promotion, which runs until May 10th 2005 the cost of each message
is 0.23 PLN or about 7 US cents.
The list of all available commands which can be user by Xyber Mech pilots can
be found on the Xyber Mech internet portal www.xm.plusgsm.pl.
The portal also contains a discussion forum for the pilots, player rankings, Xyber
Mech rules and regulations as well as a Mech management console where players
change upgrade and repair their Mech.
Together with the launch of Xyber Mech Plus GSM also launched special Xyber Mech
prepaid packages which contain a bonus 50 free SMS pack to be used in the Xyber
Mech game, as well as a game instructional booklet.
The official launch of Xyber Mech was preempted with 6 months of beta tests, proving
that there is great interest in the game, over 8,000 people registered to beta
test the game, 8 times more than anticipated. Additionally, while still in beta
stages the game as noticed and awarded at Zlote Orly 2004 (Golden Eagle 2004)
in the category of “www service”, as well as receiving an award at
Festiwal Tworcow Reklamy (Advertising Festival) in the “new media”
category.
Xyber Mech was developed for Plus GSM in cooperation with Mobile Entertainment
Europe and One2Tribe. The game is available to Plus GSM subscribers only.