U4iA Games Optimizes Delivery of Offensive Combat via Highwinds GDN

WINTER PARK, Fla., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Highwinds^® today announced its instrumental role in the launch and delivery of U4iA™ Games' inaugural title, Offensive Combat™, a high-energy, frenetic, free-to-play, first-person shooter game designed for multiplayer, browser-based gameplay.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120305/FL64103LOGO )

Highwinds, a global content delivery and network services company and creator of the GDN™ (Game Delivery Network), is providing U4iA with products and services that optimize the delivery of Offensive Combat for gamers everywhere.  Highwinds is serving in a consulting capacity to help U4iA plan a comprehensive launch event, and execute it flawlessly with Highwinds GDN.

"Our year-long effort has resulted in THE best-playing and best-looking browser game.  It's the only FPS of its kind," said Chris Archer, CCO and co-founder of U4iA.  "We needed a content delivery network with solid industry experience in working with large gaming companies, as well as indie studios like us, and with a track record of orchestrating successful launches and delivering exceptional gaming experiences.  That's Highwinds."

Offensive Combat is currently in the final stages of its closed beta phase and will enter into open beta phase later this fall.  The game features some of the most competitive multiplayer action ever seen inside a web browser, enabling players to harness their FPS skills and win the ultimate mash-up of first-person shooters.  The innovative gameplay and console-quality graphics, guided by industry veterans from Activision, Sony, and the Call of Duty and Guitar Hero franchises, offer an irreverent take on FPS archetypes, weapons and themes.  The game is being delivered over Highwinds GDN, which includes tools for quickly and reliably launching, patching, monetizing, analyzing and delivering online games, while fueling faster downloads, lower delivery costs and fewer abandonments.  Players can request a closed beta code today at www.offensivecombat.com.

"In the early stages of the game's development, teams from U4iA and Highwinds began working together to outline the go-to-market plan," said Steve Miller founder and CEO of Highwinds.  "The result of this collaboration, part of our GDN Launch consultative service, is that Highwinds is both confident in Offensive Combat's imminent success and also thoroughly vested in it."

GDN Launch is a service unique to Highwinds GDN, the ultimate platform for delivering online games to global audiences.  Learn more about Highwinds GDN at www.highwinds.com/gdn.

About U4iA Games, Inc.
U4iA Games is comprised of seasoned industry veterans with a shared ambition to create the future of gaming.  Founded in 2011 by CEO Dusty Welch and CCO Chris Archer, the company's leadership was previously credited with the creation and growth of Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and other successful titles across nearly every PC, console, handheld and mobile platform on the market today.  Together, they established U4iA Games with the primary goal of bringing core, console-quality, free-to-play games like Offensive Combat to web browsers and mobile devices all over the world.  Oh, and they enjoy partaking in "Doughnut Thursdays" every week!  For more information, visit www.U4iAgames.com, "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/U4iAgames, follow us on Twitter at @U4iAgames, and watch us at Twitch.tv/offensivecombat.

About Highwinds Network Group, Inc.
Highwinds is a content delivery, network and cloud-based IP services business that offers a comprehensive suite of CDN solutions.  The company delivers games and rich media over its high-performance RollingThunder^® network to millions of global users every day.  Highwinds CDN and GDN customers gain unprecedented command and control with its StrikeTracker^® console and open APIs.  Highwinds is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and maintains data centers around the world.  For more information, visit www.highwinds.com.

Highwinds, RollingThunder and StrikeTracker are registered trademarks, and GDN is a trademark, of Highwinds Network Group, Inc.  U4iA and Offensive Combat are trademarks of U4iA Games, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

U4iA Games and Offensive Combat logos, and other media assets, are available at: www.dropbox.com/sh/asxnlgkiiputca5/qLDU-PIrMv

SOURCE Highwinds Network Group, Inc.