ATLANTA, July 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSTR) and GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), announced today an expanded agreement with current partner, Strategy First, Inc., to debut their latest titles on GameTap. Popular game franchises such as Disciples, Jagged Alliance, Space Empires as well as highly anticipated unreleased titles including Culpa Innata, Urban Empires, with some titles available for subscription play and online purchase day and date with retail release.
"Strategy First has some of the most played titles in our service," said Ricardo Sanchez, Vice President of Content and Creative Director for GameTap. "By extending our agreement to now include day and date releases for subscription play and online purchase, we are breaking the traditional windows of game distribution."
Under the terms of the agreement, every game released by Strategy First through 2012 will be available for exclusive online play and for purchase in GameTap's new online digital retail storefront, beginning with new releases Call For Heroes, GODS: Land of Infinity Special Edition and Enemy Engaged 2.
"Strategy First has had great success working with GameTap so we jumped at the chance to extend our partnership," said Emanuel Wall, Business Development Manager, Strategy First. "By working with GameTap, we can extend the reach of how to promote our games beyond just retail shelves. Now we are able to get our titles in front of an all new audience who are just now finding them for the first time."
Launched on May 31, GameTap.com is an ad-supported website that features free games and original programming content from GameTap TV, and an online store that offers the best PC and catalog titles for purchase and digital download.
With more than 450 titles at launch, the GameTap.com store offers both classic games and new releases -- including Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, which was the first title that GameTap offered for subscription play and online purchase, day and date with retail release.
Strategy First, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSTR), is a leading worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC. Founded in 1990, the Company is well known for its proprietary groundbreaking titles, such as the award winning Disciples, Jagged Alliance and Space Empires series of games, which are under continuing development. Simultaneously, Strategy First continues to publish many of the industry's major titles, winning numerous awards for games such as "Hearts of Iron," and "Galactic Civilizations." Recent offerings include top releases such as "S.C.S. - Dangerous Waters" and "Space Empires V," and "Making History: The Calm and the Storm." The Company provides a unique alternative for independent developers seeking to market their games to a worldwide audience. www.strategyfirst.com
Silverstar Holdings Ltd., based in Boca Raton, FL, is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq:SSTR) focusing on acquiring controlling positions in high-growth retail-driven and fee-based electronic game businesses that stand to benefit from the economies of scale generated by the Internet and other technology-related platforms. The company owns British-based Empire Interactive, PLC and Canadian-based Strategy First, Inc.
GameTap (GameTap.com), a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is the leader in digital game distribution and broadband entertainment. Launched in 2005, GameTap delivers more than 900 authentic versions of the greatest console, computer and arcade games, including original and exclusive episodic titles such as Myst Online: Uru Live, Sam & Max: Season 1, Galactic Command - Echo Squad, and American McGee's Grimm. Visitors to GameTap.com can play free games on its ad-supported website, purchase top PC and catalog titles from its digital retail storefront, and tune into GameTap TV's original programming that includes Retrospective documentaries and new Re/Visioned animated series. GameTap paid members receive unlimited access to its massive library titles, community and multiplayer features, original games, and content.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
The statements which are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, development of new products, regulatory approval processes, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.