OGAMES: Big Brother gets more interactive

DSTV Online has launched Africa’s biggest gaming portal, Ogames.com. Offering users over 600 games for PC and over 300 mobile games, Ogames.com has focused on social media integration and dynamic multiplayer offerings for its online community of gamers.

Key to the Ogames.com offering is multiplatform interaction, giving users the opportunity to play games with strong links to the DStv Channel offering. Ogames.com’s new Big Brother games – developed for the current season of M-Net’s Big Brother Amplified – allow users to play for points which translate into rewards for the housemates on the live TV show.

By playing Big Brother Bubble Popper, Big Brother Wordsearch or taking the Big Brother Quiz, Ogames.com users have the chance to influence aspects of the television show. They can use the points they score by playing to supply the housemates with extra snacks, drinks and surprise gifts & goodies at their Saturday night parties. Users also stand the chance to win rewards of their own. By scoring more than 500 points, they are entered into a grand prize draw for Samsung prizes at the Big Brother Amplified finale on 31 July.

Brendan McNulty, GM: Games, says that this level of gaming / television interactivity is a first for the continent and puts Ogames.com at the forefront of interactive gaming worldwide.

“Viewers and gamers in Africa have never had the chance to influence the content of a television broadcast on this level before – outside of voting for contestants. The Big Brother games allow users to compete and show off their skills and have the result broadcast across the continent for all to see on Africa’s biggest reality show,” says McNulty. “This development on Ogames.com is just the first in a series of steps which will take interactivity in the broadcast space to new heights in our market.”

Darkness Falls – The Jozi Outbreak is another new addition to Ogames. The MXit-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) sees users entering a shadowy world to participate in a battle that's been raging for generations in Johannesburg. Thousands of players have chosen their side, created their own characters and are honing their skills as they battle through the dark underworld of Darkness Falls.

“MMO’s like Darkness Falls are generating huge traffic volumes as thousands of players log in to challenge each other. This kind of game has changed the way users engage with multiplayer offerings and Ogames.com is excited to be leading the charge,” says McNulty.

Ogames.com is the biggest gaming portal in Africa, built specifically for the African market. The portal delivers quality, fun and challenging mobile and PC games to users. With a strong multiplayer offering, Ogames.com offers users the chance to compete against each other for high scores and collect badges to showcase their achievements. Ogames.com launches tailor-made Kenyan and Nigerian sites in July.

- Issued on behalf of Ogames.com

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DSTV LAUNCH: Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol

MultiChoice has opened up a whole new world of digital broadcasting to accommodate the evolving needs of its customers. Digital Video Broadcast over Internet Protocol (DVB over IP) was recently launched to commercial establishments.

The service will initially be provided to hotels, shopping malls and office complexes. Later in the year the service will be extended to gated residential communities and residential apartments.

DVB over IP enables customers to receive their favourite DStv channels delivered over a closed multicast Internet Protocol (IP) network. The channels are then distributed to individual DStv IP decoders.

Gerdus Van Eeden - MultiChoice Chief Technology Officer says,

“Commercial customers now have access to a range of services that were previously restricted by bandwidth. The exciting features and benefits of this service enable these establishments to enhance their services and add unique value to their customers' experience. We are proud to launch DStv into the world of IPTV.”

One of the benefits is that several digital services such as telephony, internet, DStv and even security can be made available over the same physical network - resulting in significant cost savings to the commercial customer.

MultiChoice identified a need in the market to address the current limitations and conducted trials before launching the system. Soccer City is one of the first recipients to implement the system in their suites and control room.

The solution supports both Standard Definition and HD television services, as well as surround-sound, multiple language options, 8-day electronic TV guide, central PIN management on both Parental Control and installation Menus and a TV link. It also offers an interactive portal whereby commercial establishments such as hotels, stadiums and office complexes can tailor-make the portal to suit their requirements.

Commercial customers interested in the DVB over IP solution can contact one of four DStv accredited system integrators, as the service requires full installation and purchase of a DStv IP-HD1 decoder and Appear TV Head-End :

• Smart Village (012) 679 3400
• Space Television (021) 462 5103
• Ellies (011) 490 3890 or
• Sammeg (011) 474 2666

All system support for DVB over IP installations is provided by the system integrators.

- issued on behalf of MultiChoice