CCP Expands Contract with Level 3, Achieves All-Time Game High for Concurrent High-Definition Video Streams for Live Video Gaming Tournament
LONDON, Jun 17, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE:LVLT, news, filings) today announced it has expanded its relationship with massively multiplayer online gaming (MMOG) company CCP Games and is providing live online streaming of the company’s in-game online tournament, the EVE Online Alliance Tournament VIII, during the month of June.
Under the terms of the expanded contract, Level 3 will provide CCP with streaming services, beginning with the Alliance Tournament. This event runs over three consecutive weekends in June, with the finals taking place on 19 and 20 June, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. GMT. During the first weekend of the tournament alone, EVE Online broke a new peak concurrent user (PCU) record for the tournament with 60,453 starship pilots zooming around the expansive, single server cluster universe.
“This is the eighth Alliance Tournament we’ve hosted, and we’re committed to making it the biggest and best tournament yet – both for the players and those tuning in to watch the action,” said Jón Hördal, CCP’s chief operating officer. “With Level 3, we knew we had a reliable CDN that could handle the record-breaking traffic spikes we’re experiencing for this event, and now we are also taking advantage of their live event support team in order to ensure the best quality online viewing experience.”
Level 3 is delivering live online streaming of the Alliance Tournament via the EVE Online website. Viewers have access to high-definition (HD) video display of the battle as well as expert commentary, and discussion of the tournament and teams by CCP developers and experts between matches. More than half of the online users who watched the live event over the first two weekends of the tournament opted for the HD-quality stream, creating peak bandwidth utilization rates of 33 Gigabits per second.
Level 3 first announced its contract with Iceland-based CCP in March of 2010. Level 3 currently provides content delivery network (CDN) services, caching, download, origin storage, and its advanced Content Analytics platform for CCP’s EVE Online title.
“We’re proud that CCP’s experience thus far with Level 3 has lead them to expand their relationship with us and make the most of the portfolio of services we offer,” said James Heard, president of European Markets at Level 3. “As the online games industry grows, companies like CCP are increasingly realizing the full potential of the companies they work with for their content delivery, analytics and live event support, and as a one-stop shop for a lot of these services, Level 3 is well-positioned to be a leader in this area.”
CCP is one of a number of online game companies around the world who use Level 3’s highly-scalable global platform to deliver game downloads, patches and updates to players. From content capture to consumption, Level 3 works with game developers and publishers to tailor solutions – from intelligent traffic management to metrics to support for major launches – to meet their specific needs.
For more information on Level 3’s services for the online game industry, please visit www.level3delivers.com/tags/gaming.
About Level 3 Communications
Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT) is a leading international provider of fiber-based communications services. Enterprise, content, wholesale and government customers rely on Level 3 to deliver services with an industry-leading combination of scalability and value over an end-to-end fiber network. Level 3 offers a portfolio of metro and long-haul services, including transport, data, Internet, content delivery and voice. For more information, visit www.Level3.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are forward looking in nature. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3’s control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. The most important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to, the current uncertainty in the global financial markets and the global economy; disruptions in the financial markets that could affect Level 3’s ability to obtain additional financing; as well as the company’s ability to: increase and maintain the volume of traffic on the network; successfully integrate acquisitions; develop effective business support systems; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage system and network failures or disruptions; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; adapt to rapid technological changes that lead to further competition; attract and retain qualified management and other personnel; and meet all of the terms and conditions of debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
SOURCE: Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Level 3 Communications, Inc. Media: Alexis Hammack, 720-888-2441 or Investors: Mark Stoutenberg, 720-888-2518
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