KingsIsle is decorating the world of Wizard City and promising a "special surprise" for all players of Wizard101 this month as they celebrate one year of card-based, free-to-play magic duels for the whole family. Response to the title has been overwhelming, with more than five million players signing up to give the game a spin since it launched in September of 2008.

"Quality family entertainment doesn't have to be expensive," said J. Todd Coleman, creative director of Wizard101. "The success of Wizard101 clearly shows that it is possible to produce a fun and challenging game that is both wallet-friendly and appropriate for all ages – and that it's something people are looking for in these tough economic times."

While I'm not sure these tough times are quite as tough as they were a year ago, there's definitely something to be said for a game you can sit down with your child and play until he or she gets so engrossed you can slip away to play big people games in the other room.

Dragonspye is an ancient, haunted world with a magic Academy of its own, rivaling the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts in Wizard City that features prominently in the main game. Death Magic professor Malistaire has been spotted there, and players who venture into the new land will soon learn the truth behind his sinister plans. Insert evil laughter here.

Along with the new land in the introduction of a new PVP Wizard Areana on Unicorn Way, where players can face off against each other in practice and ranked duels. While ranked duels will be exclusive to paying customers for a few weeks, non-paying members will gain access in mid-February.

The first major world expansion and a new Player vs. Player (PvP) Wizard Arena now live in KingsIsle Entertainment's Wizard101 game

Plano, Texas - Jan 20, 2009 - Dragonspyre is a high level world that continues the storyline of online game Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) beyond the Feudal world of Moo Shu populated by "Samoori" cows. The new environment, Dragonspyre, is an ancient haunted world where renegade Death Magic professor Malistaire has recently been spotted. Once an advanced militant society, Dragonspyre had an esteemed Academy rivaling that of the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts in Wizard City. It is a dark world where the inhabitants held a special interest in Fire Magic. Players will face challenging new battles, and ultimately discover the truth about Professor Malistaire's sinister plans.

Diego the unicorn is the gatekeeper to the new PvP Wizard Arena in Unicorn Way. Players can challenge each other in either Practice or Ranked duels, with up to four Wizards per team. Un-Ranked practice duels, free for all Wizard101 players, allow players to jump into an automatically formed duel or set up their own team and choose opponents. In Ranked duels, a robust matchmaking service matches Wizard101 subscribers with similarly ranked Wizards, and the winners of each duel are awarded Arena Tickets, redeemable for unique loot. Ranked duels will be an exclusive subscriber benefit for the first few weeks in the Wizard Arena. In mid-February, non-subscribers will also be able to participate in Ranked duels for Crowns. At the end of each quarterly Wizard Arena season, a top Duel Master will be named.

Access to the game’s basic features will remain free, but now gamers can either pay a monthly fee of $7 to $10 to access more advanced gameplay or choose to pay as little as a $1 to unlock small sections of the game, one street at a time.

Depending on how they set it up, this could be a lot like buying an expansion pack for World of Warcraft. It would have to include pretty big chunks of access to work like that, but either way it’s an intriguing idea

KingsIsle Entertainment Lets Wizard101 Players Choose Their Payment With Pay-By-Zone

Plano, Texas — Nov 03, 2008 — Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment today launched a new payment option that essentially lets players of the company's new virtual world, Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) decide for themselves which game payment plan suits them best, whether it's via monthly subscription or micropayment. Each of the four imaginative 3D worlds currently in Wizard101 contains zones that are now individually unlockable through micropayment. A considerable amount of game content remains free to play.

"A parent can reward a child with days of entertainment content for the price of a pack of gum... and at the same time someone who regularly meets up with their friends in Wizard101 may elect to get full access up front, and save by subscribing," said KingsIsle Entertainment CEO Elie Akilian.

Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 puts players in the fantasy role of a wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. The game's colorful creative look, family-friendly features and immersive game play have made the site a popular online destination since launch in September. Players can choose to play in three economic formats:

1. At the basic level, Wizard101 is free-to-play for as long as players choose.
2. Subscriptions provide advanced gameplay access for a monthly fee. Prices start at $6.95 per account per month for multiple accounts on the family plan, or $9.95 per month for the regular subscription. All items will be available to subscribers via in-game gold or item drops.
3. The micropayment system now allows individual streets or "zones" to be unlocked for as little as $1.00. Players purchase packages of in-game currency called Crowns to buy zones or items in the game. A volume discount is available based on the number of Crowns purchased.

Wizard101 features spell-casting adventure and card style game play. The game's family-friendly safety features include a collaborative play style, a chat system with many options and a character name selector. The game contains no blood, and characters don't die if they are defeated in a duel of spells-they simply go to a safe area in the game to regain health. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board gave Wizard101 a rating of E10+.

To download screens, movies and additional assets, please visit http://www.mmpr.com/MMPRFTP/FTP%20Folders/KingsIsle

About KingsIsle Entertainment
Founded in 2005, with operations in the Dallas area and Austin, KingsIsle is creating massively multiplayer online entertainment offerings that are innovative, compelling, uncommon and of high quality. They have brought together a team of highly creative, energetic, accomplished and skilled professionals to develop these projects. The team consists of individuals with unique and in-depth experience in the development of video games, online environments, communications and commercial software. For more information, please visit www.kingsisle.com.

The game is extremely family-friendly, right down to the pre-defined character name generator. Sure, my magical alter ego Fuckwad the Fantabulous can never know true life now, but if it means I'll never run across a Gandolff, Raestlyn, or Dughenning it's a small price to pay. Hit the jump for details on how to enroll.

KingsIsle Entertainment Launches Wizard101
Virtual Wizard School Now In Session

Plano, Texas — Sept 02, 2008 — Tweens are grabbing their best spell-casting gear and rushing off to school... wizard school, that is. Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. has officially opened the doors of its highly anticipated Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) virtual world, a magical 3D environment where aspiring wizards gather to adventure with friends and save their world from creatures like a pumpkin-headed Harvest Lord and a zombie named Wormguts.

Michael Lafferty of GameZone commented, "The game is thoroughly delightful, exuding a youthful sense of fun and excitement... KingsIsle is on track to have a certified hit title."

Joe Blancato of GiantRealm said, "A kid-targeted [Massively Multiplayer Online Game] that's charming the beard off anyone who plays it, regardless of age."
Designed for pre-teens and attracting a wider audience of families and traditional gamers, Wizard101 features magical adventure and card style gameplay. Players enroll in the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts and begin a course of spell study. Immediately upon arrival at wizard school they are tapped by the Headmaster to help save the school from a renegade teacher who has disappeared but who seems to be behind some mysterious happenings.

Wizard101 features include:

* Extensive magical 3D worlds, each with its own creative theme such as a feudal countryside run by Samoorai cows, or an ancient Egyptian-inspired land where the treasured relics are being carted off by dogs from another world.
* More than 101 collectible spells that come to cinematic life as players learn to summon creatures such as Ninja Pigs and a Leprechaun that slides in on a rainbow and showers opponents with gold.
* Seven different schools of Magic, each with its own unique style and gameplay experience.
* The ability to adopt magical pets, like a flying dragon or a mischievous imp.
* A wide variety of outfits and accessories for customizable Wizard avatars.
* Puzzles and mini-games that challenge players and provide a place to rest and rejuvenate after duels.

Wizard101's collaborative play style supports an environment where players benefit from working together in adventure quests and lower level characters can play alongside higher level ones. A three-tiered chat system and pre-defined character name generator create a safe community for younger players. The game contains no blood, and characters don't die if they are defeated in a duel of spells-they simply go to a safe area on campus to regain health. An Arena provides a spot for more traditional gamers to show off their player versus player spell-casting skills. Wizard101 is free-to-play, with advanced play content available by subscription at the rate of $9.95 per month. Discounts are available for six-month and one-year subscriptions. For a limited time a 12 month subscription can be purchased for $60. Gift subscriptions are expected to be available online soon. To play, PC users may simply go to www.wizard101.com and download the game installer. A rating by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board is pending.

"We more than doubled our anticipated beta audience for Wizard101," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "It turns out that the solid game mechanics and whimsical fantasy environment appeal even beyond the tween audience. We've had a great response from testers that included everyone from grandmas who play with a grandchild sitting in their lap to twenty-something traditional gamers."

Not to mention thirty-something traditional gamers! Anyone and everyone can head over to www.wizard101.com right now, download the client, and start getting completely thrashed by children half your age. It'll be awesome.

KingsIsle Entertainment Launches Open Beta Testing Phase for Wizard101

Beta Testers Find Virtual World Brings the Family Together For Shared Playtime

PLANO, TEXAS- Aug 06, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc announced the successful completion of closed beta testing for virtual world Wizard101. The final beta testing phase has now been opened to the general public at www.wizard101.com. Wizard101, which emphasizes magical adventure and card-collecting in an online 3D world of Wizards, is expected to officially launch within the next month.

"We more than doubled our anticipated beta audience for Wizard101," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "It turns out that the solid game mechanics and whimsical fantasy environment appeal even beyond the tween audience. We've had a great response from testers that included everyone from grandmas who play with a grandchild sitting in their lap to twenty-something traditional gamers."

Wizard101's collaborative play style supports an environment where players benefit from working together in adventure quests. A tiered chat system and pre-defined character name generator create a safe community for younger players while an Arena provides a spot for more traditional gamers to show off their player versus player spell-casting skills. As they adventure, players can upgrade their costume and magical accessories, adopt bizarre pets, solve puzzles and play mini-games. At launch, Wizard101 will be free to play, with advanced play content available by subscription.

KingsIsle had Wizard101 under development for three years before the beta period, which means testers experienced a very fully fleshed out game with detailed graphics, fantastic worlds and fully-functional game play. There has been an increasing online buzz about Wizard101. Testers, including those below from esteemed virtual community The Syndicate® have been saying things like:

"Wizard101 is a great game for the whole family, especially for kids. I watch my 6 year old AND my 14 year old laughing with each other instead of irritating one another, as brothers tend to do. I play right along side of my kids."

"Having been a gamer for 30 years now, playing with my kids has to be the most fun I have ever had ... They enjoy the ability to get many different spells and see all the amazing animations, and both are always wanting to start new wizards to try the others. I think the variety of schools and the spells that goes with them makes Wizard101 stand out over [other online games]."

Anyone with a PC who would like to join the final beta testing phase can now sign up at www.wizard101.com and instantly download and install the initial software to join the large cast of good, bad, and frequently silly in-game characters and other players. Beta testers play the game for free and provide feedback to the game's creators leading up to the official launch.

For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.

"While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that's creative and witty, but still safe. We've set the bar high for this game."

Teens and tweens? Is there some sort of verification in place, because between the feature list and combat video I've posted after the jump, I might want to play the darn thing. Such a card battle junkie.

KingsIsle Entertainment Announces Wizard101

Ravenwood School of Magical Arts Opens for Enrollment this Summer

Virtual World Designed Especially for Teens and Tweens

Plano, Texas - May 22, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for Wizard101, an elaborate 3D virtual world in which magic and sorcery come to life as players embark on a quest that involves a massive cast of good, evil and frequently silly characters. Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) puts players in the fantasy role of a Wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts.

"While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that's creative and witty, but still safe. We've set the bar high for this game."

J. Todd Coleman, an MMO veteran and the creative mind behind Wizard101, is heading up development of the game, which has been in the works for three years. In the game, players will adventure through magical 3D environments as they learn, collect and cast spells summoning fantastic cinematic creatures. Players can also collect bizarre pets and magical artifacts, solve puzzles, make friends, play mini games, and more.

Features include:
• Extensive magical 3D world where players team up with friends and carry out quests to save Wizard City from the forces of Evil.
• Collectible card-style duels that come to cinematic life as players cast spells alongside fellow and rival students.
• More than 101 collectible spells summon zany creatures such as Humongofrog, Evil Snowman and Stormzilla.
• Seven different schools of magic, each with its own unique style and storyline.
• Many witty scenarios and characters based on history, mythology and pop culture.
• The ability to adopt magical pets, like a tiny dragon or flying pig.
• Puzzles and mini-games that challenge the player to earn crystals and enchanted items.
• New outfits and accessories to earn for your customizable Wizard character.

Wizard101 will launch in the third quarter of 2008 and is not yet rated. For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.