IBM, Lopez firms tie up for newest gaming venture

Global information technology company IBM has sealed an agreement with Bayan Telecommunications (BayanTel) and ABS-CBN Interactive (ABS-CBNi) to provide the comprehensive IT infrastructure needed to run Tantra, the newest massive multi-player online game (MMOG) to be launched early next year in the Philippines.

A joint project of BayanTel, the telecommunications arm of the Lopez Group, and ABS-CBNi, the Internet multi-media services arm of ABS-CBN, Tantra is one of the newest and most exciting MMOGs that have come out of South Korea. It offers rich 3D graphics and a compelling storyline that is expected to attract a lot of interest from serious online gamers in the Philippines.

According to Joevel Rivera, BayanTel vice president for product and development, the company expects the new online game to further stimulate the growing demand for Internet access service, particularly digital subscriber line (DSL). At the same time, having the game hosted locally and with the ramp-up demand for connectivity, the cost of Internet connection can be lowered while increasing the speed of access, translating to better customer benefits.

Rivera stressed that the game can be played well in both dial-up and DSL access and will be accessible to all Internet service providers (ISPs) in the Philippines. Gameplay, however, is best experienced using BayanTel services such as Sky DSL, Sky Internet and pre-paid cards Blast and Loaded.

"We have historically relied on IBM for our critical IT systems in BayanTel. Choosing IBM made us comfortable that they can provide the outstanding support to our network which we can extend to our customers," he said.

On the other hand, ABS-CBNi managing director Carlo Katigbak said they are also excited of the tremendous upside in the gaming business in the country. "Our entry into the MMOG business is in line with our strategy to diversify our services to the public that leverages our strength in the mobile and web-based services targeting the youth market. At the same time, Tantra represents an opportunity for us to venture into an area of entertainment that is experiencing robust growth globally," he noted.

For his part, IBM Philippines president and general manager Joaquin Quintos IV pointed out that the next big thing in technology is not technology itself but a better way to make it work.

He said the tremendous success of Tantra is proof that great strides have indeed been made in terms of innovation in IT. "Now, it even makes online gaming a bigger, better and a much more efficient and enjoyable form of entertainment. We are happy to partner with industry leaders BayanTel and ABS-CBN Interactive in bringing this highly anticipated game to the local market," Quinto emphasized.