BattleTech: Firestorm delivers adrenaline-pumping game action. From the moment you spot an opponent on your radar screen to the explosive battles, you are exhilarated. Enjoy the hunt for prey in a futuristic wasteland. BattleTech is not hide and seek, it's seek and destroy.

Every moment counts as you control a thirty-foot tall, 75 ton walking tank, blasting your way to victory. You're the pilot of a BattleMech^® competing against seven other players in the 31st century. Each 'Mech^® is equipped with tons of ammo, cannons, lasers and missiles. Your job is to destroy your opponents while trying to withstand their vigorous attack on you.

When seated in the Tesla II^TM System cockpit for your BattleTech: Firestorm game, you will be amazed. The BattleTech game is like nothing you have experienced before. The main screen is a window, your view from your giant 'Mech. Five surrounding monitors display your 'Mech's systems. A secondary radar screen helps you hunt down your opponents. The throttle, foot pedals and military-style joystick help you pilot this massive fighting machine. At your fingertips are enough weapons to destroy anything in your path. Or so you think.

The depth of the BattleTech game is unparalleled in location based entertainment. As your skills progress in the game, you discover more advanced systems and controls. You are responsible for the 'Mech's wear and tear. You control how much use you get out of the 'Mech. There are over thirty different 'Mechs to choose from. Each has a variation on size, speed, weapons and controls. Choose from more than twenty different battlefields, including cities, swamplands, canyons, and more.

For Immediate Release:

Minneapolis, MN

Greetings all!

A set of 4 Tesla II cockpits featuring BattleTech:Firestorm and Red Planet have gone up for sale at The Fallout Shelter Arcade in the Twin Cities.

This set is in Turn-Key condition and comes with everything you need to operate from the moment they arrive at your door. Not only do they include all requisite accessories and software, they have already been re-engineered for convention use!

I can assure you that you will not find a better price on cockpits in this kind of condition anytime soon.

Click the link below to get the details.

Link: Discussion Thread

For Immediate Release:

Kalamazoo, MI

Greetings fellow VGL pilots!

It’s been a little over three weeks since my appointment as International SEC and I wanted to keep you all in the loop about what has been going on, and what is in store for the future. My intention is to always keep things clear so everyone knows what is going on.

First of all, I want to thank everyone who has sent me a message of congratulations and offering help. It is very much appreciated and warmed my heart. I will be taking some of you up on your offers!

The website is a big obstacle right now. There are a lot of issues here. If anyone is wondering why a lot of things haven’t been updated over the years, I can say it’s amazing Nick has managed to post anything at all. A lot of of time has been spent assessing the site and seeing what is there, backing up materials we don’t want lost again, and finding out what is missing. Obviously this is a huge task and we are not anywhere near done, but progress is being made. We need a solid foundation to build on and to keep our piloting communities linked together. A solid website to do that with is essential for our mechwarriors in the 21st century.

The Order of Burton page desperately needs updating. There are some files I haven’t been able to find, and I will be reaching out to people directly. I know that this has been a long time coming, and I thank everyone for their continued patience. This for me is a very high priority, but I want it to be done right. More on this will be coming in another post.

On the plus side, the forums seem to be quite robust and stable. The old forums had a lot of instability and Nick did a great thing moving to the current set up. We have also seen an explosion over Facebook. The only downside is there are a lot of pilots who do not use Facebook or other social media. Since a lot of forum traffic moved to FB, a lot of these pilots have been left in the dark so to speak. To try and balance this, new announcements will be posted here and then pushed out via social media outlets. In the coming weeks expect to see “old” news being updated on the current homepage. Hopefully this will go a long way towards keeping everyone informed.

Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! I can now be reached via e-mail at SEC[at]mechjock.com. This is much better than Facebook as I can keep things better organized and under control.

I will be at Gen Con Indy this year with the MechJock crew, so if you’re around be sure to stop and say hello!

Best,
Marc "Conn Man" Santos

For Immediate Release:

Kalamazoo, MI

Greetings fellow Virtual Geographic League compatriots,

It is with great honor that I announce that Marc “Conn Man” Santos has agreed to accept the appointment of International Special Events Coordinator.

In this new role, Marc will oversee all matters regarding the Special Events Bible (SEB) on behalf of Virtual World Entertainment and its licensees.

Marc will immediately assume all responsibility and authority over all VWE sanctioned events including the Order of Burton, the Order of Bell, the Order of Tesla, the MechWarrior’s Guild, and the VTV Guild

Nickolas “PropWash” Smith, President of Virtual World Entertainment and Chairman of the VGL had this to say about the appointment. “We are fortunate that someone with such admiration and stature within our community is willing to bring his knowledge, experience, and leadership to bear on the matters currently concerning the VGL.”

In response, Marc added, “Being asked to be the International SEC is a humbling honor and privilege that I am really excited about. The trust that Nick has placed in me is huge and I will constantly endeavor to keep that trust. There are several goals that I want to accomplish and getting Master Trials started again is one of those goals."

Please welcome Marc to his new role as he moves our organization forward, bringing the honor and legacy of the VGL’s past to a new generation of VGL pilots.

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Virtual World Entertainment® is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World® has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment®, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.mechjock.com .

For Immediate Release:

Kalamazoo, MI

World Entertainment and some of its independant operators and licensees of the Tesla II cockpit system are once again taking the show on the road to bring the ultimate BattleTech™ expereince to a convention near you.

Appearances include:

BASHcon: Toledo, OH (Big Kidz Games)

Marmalade Dog: Kalamazoo, MI (Big Kidz Games)

Anime Central: Chicago, IL (MechJock)

Origins Game Faire: Columbus, OH (MechJock)

GenCon: Indianapolis, IN (MechJock)

ChiCon: Chicago, IL (MechJock)

OwnCon: Houston, TX (MechCorps)

CyPhaCon: Lake Charles, LA (MechCorps)

Comicpalooza: Houston, TX (MechCorps)

Delta H Con: Houston, TX (MechCorps)

Texas Comicon: San Antonio, TX (MechCorps)

DragonCon: Atlanta, GA (MechCorps)

MechaCon: New Orleans, LA (MechCorps)

Anime Detour: Bloomington, MN (Fallout Shelter Arcade)

A-Kon: Dallas, TX (VG Corps)

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Virtual World Entertainment® is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World® has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment®, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.mechjock.com .

For Immediate Release:

Kalamazoo, MI

World Entertainment™ is proud to announce the return of Red Planet™ for the Tesla II Cockpit System.

After extensive testing and evaluation by some of its premier independent operators, Virtual World Entertainment™ has authorized the general release of Red Planet™, allowing owners and operators of Virtual World’s™ Tesla II cockpit system an opportunity to offer an additional out of this world experience along-side the well-established hit, BattleTech™: Firestorm.

By releasing Red Planet™, Virtual World™ is following through on its commitment to continue extending the life and value of its legacy out of home entertainment platform while it continues to develop new, next generation products.

Originally developed as the launch title for the first generation Tesla VR cockpit platform, Red Planet™ was ported to the current Tesla II platform by Dallas, Texas based Elsewhen Studios. This Red Planet™ release also includes a new cockpit management suite developed by Elsewhen Studios to help facilitate the implementation of Red Planet as well as allowing greater remote management of Tesla II cockpits from the central operator’s station, increasing overall cockpit management efficiency.

Virtual World will be allowing all Tesla II Operators in good standing an opportunity to trial Red Planet™ for 30 days at no cost, allowing each player community a chance to re-visit the canals of Mars at excessive speeds to decide for themselves if Velocity truly equals Victory.

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Virtual World Entertainment® is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World® has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment®, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.mechjock.com .

Elsewhen Studios is a cutting edge game and software development company. Working from Dallas, Texas, Elsewhen Studios has been creating elegant software solutions and rich entertainment experiences since 2009. Red Planet and the Tesla Management System mark Elsewhen Studios' entrance into the location-based entertainment industry.

For Immediate Release:

Singapore

Singapore-based game developer, Personae Studios, announce the release of their secretive "Seattle Project,” a project which will unveil as a new addition to the popular MechWarrior series: MechWarrior: Tactical Command. The new game, designed for the Apple iOS platform, is scheduled to make its debut in the iTunes App Store in 2012.

With more than eleven million game copies sold since its launch in 1989, the MechWarrior game franchise boasts a vast fan base, and recognition as one of the best-selling PC games of all time. Ten years have passed since the launch of MechCommander 2 in 2001, and with MechWarrior: Tactical Command, Personae Studios plans to bring strategic game play back into the MechWarrior franchise.

“Maintaining the discipline of secrecy has been monumental,” states Personae Studios' Director, Edmund Koh. “But we've finally come to the point where we are comfortable with the quality of our offering, which is keeping with the expectations of our fan base for the pedigree of this franchise. The game will now be available on a mobile platform – this is history in the making for the [MechWarrior] franchise.”

Gamers can anticipate the upcoming release due to the partnership formed between Personae Studios, and Smith & Tinker in 2009. Other collaborative partners include Catalyst Game Labs; publishers of the BattleTech table-top games. Loren L. Coleman and Randall N. Bills, writers of numerous novels set in the BattleTech / MechWarrior universe, were the chosen scriptwriters for the game's storyline set in the game period of 3050.

The game, which has been under development since the fall of 2009, will employ touch centric game play and Real Time Tactics (RTT). Players can also expect the same components that have made previous MechWarrior versions so popular among users, including: more than thirty mech options, highly detailed mission assignments, and an advanced weapons system, to name a few. Early focus group testing conducted during the 2010 Indianapolis Gen Con Convention proved positive, with many testers commenting on how MechWarrior: Tactical Command is to be the next installment of the MechCommander franchise.

To learn more about the upcoming release, view MechWarriorTC game trailers on YouTube, or visit MechWarriorTC.com. For more information on game progress and release schedule follow MechWarrior: Tactical Command on Facebook, and on Twitter @MechWarriorTC.

About the Company

Personae Studios is the first and largest game developer in Singapore to specialize in game design, development, and supporting infrastructure on the Apple platform. Since October of 2007, the company has launched over a dozen game titles – many of which have received top-rankings and recognition throughout Singapore, and around the world. For more information on the company or upcoming releases, please visit PersonaeStudios.com.

About Smith & Tinker

Smith & Tinker develops and distributes widely appealing mobile games for today's connected generation. Founded in 2007, S&T's leadership and management teams have deep experience in games, entertainment and software development. More information is available at http://www.smithandtinker.com. ###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prwebmechwarrior-ios-2012/mechwarrior-iphone-ipad/prweb9014315.htm

Forums have been updated!

Come check out the new features!

For Immediate Release:

Dallas, TX –

It is with great pleasure that VGCorps announces that the VWE® BattleTech Pods will return to A-Kon® 21! Come out June 4th – 6th and enjoy one of the greatest anime-based conventions in the country, which also offers some of the best gaming around! This year, we are pleased to join many other fine gaming options in the Westin Hotel, adjacent to the main convention hotel, Sheraton Dallas, because just one hotel couldn’t hold all the fun that is offered by A-Kon®! We will offer near ‘round the clock action in 4 of our Tesla System™ II simulator pods, complementing the other gaming options available to the convention attendees. So come out for A-Kon®, come out for gaming, and come out for a hot fight in 30 foot tall mechs in the great game of BattleTech: Firestorm!

VGCorps, LLC ( www.vgcorps.com ) are owner/operators of Virtual World® Tesla System™ II simulator cockpits. Located at XMax Games ( www.xmaxgames.com )in Dallas, TX, the Virtual World® simulators are some of the most advanced around. With primary and secondary displays combined with Multi-Functional Displays (MFDs), a ground-pounding audio system, and countless controls these cockpit systems will make you sweat as you try to fight your way through the heat of battle! Our set of eight machines will grant you the opportunity to stomp your friends in furious games of strategic, reflexive, and piloting prowess.

A-Kon® ( www.a-kon.com ) is the oldest continually running, anime-based convention in N. America. Celebrating its 21st year in 2010, A-Kon® hosts anime fans and guests, and offers other items of interest ranging from gaming, to independent film, all in the quest to provide the best experience for the fans and bring the most engaging, and educational, entertainment to the anime community. If you wish to book your stay at the Westin Hotel, please visit http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/akon2010

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Virtual World Entertainment® is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World® has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment®, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.virtualworld.com .

Origins Game Fair
June 23rd to 27th 2010
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio

MekTek and Virtual World Entertainment will be joining forces at Origins Game Fair in Columbus Ohio to create the first official “Mech Gathering”, our first joint effort between VWE and MT to bring core members of their respective communities to a single location to make some heavy metal mayhem.

MekTek and Virtual World Entertainment are extending an open invitation to all members of both the MechWarrior and BattleTech communities to come out and join us, along with the already growing contingent of BattleTech board game players, at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio for this special event.

Virtual World Entertainment will be on hand with 12 of the Tesla II BattleTech VR cockpits that feature the latest release of BattleTech: Firestorm that includes several of MekTeks own designed BattleMechs.

Are you interested in obtaining some exclusive swag? Virtual World Entertainment will be unveiling new BattleTech board game compatible minis of MekTek’s officially canonized custom BattleMech, the Deimos. MekTek will also be on hand with some exclusive MekTek embroidered gear to commemorate the event.

Come help us celebrate the reboot of MechWarrior as well as paying tribute to those who helped release MechWarrior for free! We hope to see you there! For those of you unfamiliar, Origins Game Fair is frequently visited by those directly responsible for MechWarrior and BattleTech. Be sure to check out the latest in BattleTech developments by Catalyst Game Labs.

URL: http://www.mektekdev.com

Studio MekTek, Inc. is proud to present MekTek's latest update to our community acclaimed MekPak expansion series.

This is not the Mechwarrior Free Release. Though it is still free!

After many long months of waiting we have decided to release our Mechwarrior4: Mercenaries community expansion pack update known as MekPak 3.1. This MekPak update fixes many long standing bugs which have existed in our previous MekPaks including MekPak 3.02b, it also adds additional security as well as a few new game-play features. We are very pleased to present our latest work on the MekPaks after several years of no-releases on the project. We had hoped that this release would be the Mechwarrior4 Free Release promised by Smith and Tinker, Inc. last summer. However, it would seem that the Free Release is held up at Microsoft and it is unknown to us and our Studio when the Free Release will be given the final go ahead. Our community is tired of keeping the world waiting for a new Mechwarrior4 update and, as such, we will continue releasing our MekPak expansions under our original agreement with Microsoft Games and Fasa Studios. One of the restraints of our original agreement is that we are unable to provide what is commonly referred to as "no-cd" patches for the game. Thus, if your Mechwarrior4 discs are lost, destroyed, or stolen please take a look on Amazon or EBay as Mechwarrior4 discs are still available for those of you searching. Virtual World Entertainment has assured us that our work featured within the MekPak 3.1/4 will be seen on the Tesla Cockpits and Mechwarrior4: Firestorm.

Due to the demands placed upon us by industry lawyers to release the Mechwarrior4 Free release we were forced to insure our Studio at a premium rate to meet the Microsoft standard. Our insurance policy is a one year lease and we are unable to tap out of this policy until next fall. In addition to our insurance costs we are also struggling with our server costs. Currently, our server fund has run dry and staff and beta members are paying out of their pockets to help keep MekTek online. At this point we don't know from month to month if we will be able to stay online. If you enjoy our MekPaks and free services to the community, please help out if you can. If everyone that downloads the 3.1 update donated $5.00 we would have enough to cover our server costs for the next year including our MekMatch service which is now running in a clustered environment.

You might be wondering what else MekTek has been doing recently. Most significantly, we have incorporated MekTek and opened a studio in order to create and explore new opportunities. WhiteFeather and I have been traveling around the continent setting up business relations. We’ve had meetings with the various people/groups that control the Mechwarrior/BattleTech IP (Jordan Weisman, CGL, VWE) and have positioned ourselves favorably with all involved. Unfortunately, I can’t go into detail on the opportunities that have arisen from these meetings but I can assure you that we are currently exploring a variety of avenues and determining which is the best course for MekTek and our community to take. I'd also like to mention that during WhiteFeather's trip to New Brunswick to open our Studio, we met with a part of the Canadian government that’s role is to help new businesses and promote growth in Canada. We told them what we were about and what our future plans are. I guess we must have impressed them because they were able to rush us funding to attend GDC 2010. Woohoo Canada!!

To get started playing, grab your original Mechwarrior4: Mercenaries CD, and install MTX . Then download our Mechwarrior4 install (1.7GB) via MTX. MP3.1 can be downloaded via torrent or http (for those unable to share bandwidth). Enjoy!

For Immediate Release

MechCorps' Mobile Armor Division will be stationed in the Ley Student Center on the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas during OwlCon XXIX "The Year We Make CONtact" on February 19-21, 2010.

In MechCorps' prior deployments to OwlCon, new recruits were introduced to the exhilaration of piloting a 70-ton, 3-story tall robot armed to the teeth with lasers, missiles, cannons and all manner of weaponry to take on all foes... including friends. The Tesla II cockpits, featuring the BattleTech: Firestorm software, are fully enclosed military style simulators that feature 7 screens, over 90 control systems, and a 12 speaker surround sound system. When seated in the cockpit or 'pod', the player pilots their own walking tank known as a BattleMech onto the virtual landscape to compete for battlefield superiority with those seated in surrounding cockpits.

OwlCon is a dedicated gaming convention that features board and card games, miniatures (historical, fantasy, and sci-fi), role-playing games (tabletop and live action), related events (e.g., painting competition, movies) as well as the most beautiful arcade games: the BattleTech Pods. OwlCon is one of the longest running gaming conventions in Houston, if not in Texas. Student led and student run convention held in many buildings across the Rice University Campus. Admission is free for spectators, only if you want to participate does it require a convention pass.

MechCorps Entertainment, LLC is the largest independent operator of Virtual World Entertainment's Tesla II BattleTech: Firestorm Cockpit Simulator Pods with it's main base of operation in Houston, Texas. MechCorps' Mobile Armor Division is the touring branch of MechCorps traveling to various conventions and other remote deployments across the United States. MechCorps Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company. Visit www.MechCorps.com for more information.

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Virtual World Entertainment is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.virtualworld.com.

For more information, go to www.MechCorps.com/OwlCon

Dont miss this rare opportunity to pick up a set of 8 grey Tesla II BattleTech VR cockpits currently stored at a truck accessible warehouse in Madison, WI for an incredible price of $25,000.00.

These 8 cockpits were recently pulled in great condition from a retail venue and are fully assembled, are sitting on wheeled bases, and are running the current BattleTech: Firestorm 5.06++ software.

This is a great opportunity to get 8 cockpits in turn-key ready-to-go condition that are ready to load directly into a truck. This alone saves you thousands in tear-down and set-up costs!

This set includes 8 Tesla II cockpits, mission console, mission review, printer, training station and all licensing.

If interested, email propwash@mechjock.com if you have any additional questions.

*Sold as-is where-is.

Dallas, TX – Do you seek competition, camaraderie, and a little glory on the side? Care to take it up in a BattleMech®? Then make it count by doing it against the best in the nation!

VGCorps is pleased to announce September 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th as the dates for the 2009 Virtual World Invitational Tournament. In cooperation with our home site at XMax Games, VGCorps will offer events to pilots of all skill levels seeking the best in competition. This will be VGCorps first Invitational at their new site in Dallas, Texas. All pilots are invited to take part in individual and team events, as well as a Master Trial. Join us as we celebrate our new location, and our wide ranging community, with a grand competition.

BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction

BattleTech Simulator Pods Return to MechaCon

Back to the Rosemont! Pods at Comic-Con Aug 6-9th

GENCON pilots. This is not a drill.

MechWarrior 4 to be Released for FREE!

We are very pleased to announce that Smith & Tinker has authorized us (MekTek.net) and our professional studio (MekTek Studios) to distribute and package a worldwide free release of MechWarrior4 and all of its expansions.

This free release of MechWarrior 4 commemorates BattleTech’s 25th anniversary as well as MekTek’s 10th anniversary, and will allow BattleTech fans a chance to re-discover MechWarrior, as well as help us bring in a new army of players who are discovering MechWarrior and the BattleTech universe for the first time, completely for free.

MekTek views this partnership as a hallmark moment for the global MechWarrior 4 community. We welcome the opportunity for the MekTek team to officially take a leadership role in the cultivation and development of the on-line MechWarrior 4 communities in support and anticipation of the recently announced MechWarrior game by Smith & Tinker and Piranha games.

We are honored by the opportunity bestowed upon us by Smith & Tinker and its partners, and we hope the online community will enjoy this free release all the while recognizing the support and commitment that Smith & Tinker, Catalyst Games, and MekTek.net has made to the BattleTech fans around the world.

MekTek.net

MekTek.net is an on-line community founded by Vince 'VAM' McMullin in 1999 to provide free downloadable content and tools, developed in-house, for the Mechwarrior series of video games. To date, MekTek has released 3 major fan made Mechwarrior 4 content expansions (known as MekPaks) and has the final iteration (known as MP4) in development.

MekTek Studios

MekTek Studios, established in 2006, is a Canadian based software development studio out of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada specializing in 3D geospatial development and virtual environment replication. MekTek Studios is currently pioneering geospatial development projects for corporate and academic clients nationally as well as continuing to work on gaming related projects including the last expansion pack for Mechwarrior4 (MP4), Assault Tech1: BattleTech (AT1:BT) and the development of the NP project - a cross-platform, shader ready .NET engine.

For Immediate Release

In honor of BattleTech’s 25th anniversary, Smith & Tinker has authorized MekTek.net and MekTek Studios to distribute MechWarrior 4 (along with its expansion packs) completely free. For years, MekTek.net has been the central point for online distribution of MechWarrior 4 expansion packs. Now they can provide the core game free to the fans as well. Keep an eye on BattleTech.com—the free download will be available soon!

About Smith & Tinker

Smith & Tinker is an inventor of kid-focused entertainment products that create a new play experience for the connected generation. The company’s toys and games encourage social interaction and play among kids by bridging the Internet and physical world. Founded in 2008 by executives who share a passion for reinventing play for today’s tech-savvy generation Smith & Tinker is led by executives from some of the world’s top brands including Cranium Inc., Hasbro Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Microsoft. Smith & Tinker was founded by Jordan Weisman, creator of the MechWarrior gaming franchise, which has sold over 11 million PC games worldwide. More information is available at www.smithandtinker.com.

For Immediate Release

VWE Tesla II BattleTech: Firestorm cockpits come home for Anime Central May 8th through the 10th

To celebrate the 25th year of BattleTech and the 20th year of BattleTech VR attractions, Virtual World Entertainment, LLC is taking its critically acclaimed Tesla II BattleTech: Firestorm cockpits to the Anime Central convention in Rosemont, IL. Held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, the convention runs May 8th through 10th.

These are the exact Tesla II cockpits that operated in the original BattleTech Center at the North Pier Mall in the 90’s and later at the Gold Coast Dave & Buster's until 2005. Following this the cockpits and the company were relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Tesla II cockpits, featuring the BattleTech: Firestorm software, are fully enclosed military style simulators that feature 7 screens, over 90 control systems, and a 12 speaker surround sound system. When seated in the cockpit or 'pod', the player will pilot his or her own walking tank known as a BattleMech onto the virtual landscape to compete for battlefield superiority with those seated in surrounding cockpits.

This is the first, but not the last, major convention appearance for the Kalamazoo operation this season. These cockpits are slated to appear at other major entertainment conventions in the Midwest later this Summer. Visit www.virtualworld.com to get all of your BattleTech: Firestorm and Tesla II information as well as other appearance dates.

Another set of VWE BattleTech: Firestorm Tesla II cockpits owned by an independent operator, Houston based MechCorps Entertainment, LLC. have already started making appearances down south. MechCorps' mobile division, aptly named ‘Mobile Armor Division’ or MAD for short, have already appeared at OwlCon in Houston, TX and ChimaeraCon in San Antonio, TX. MechCorps is scheduled to return to MechaCon V in Lafayette, LA July 24th through the 26th as well as other unannounced events. More details regarding MAD deployments can be found at www.MechCorps.com

Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Virtual World Entertainment is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company. Visit today at www.virtualworld.com.

To help celebrate the 25th year of BattleTech as well as the 20th year for its BattleTech VR attractions, Virtual World Entertainment, LLC is taking 4 of its critically acclaimed Tesla II BattleTech: Firestorm cockpits to entertainment events around the United States. The Tesla II cockpits, featuring the BattleTech: Firestorm software, are fully enclosed military style simulators that feature 7 screens, over 90 control systems, and a 12 speaker surround sound system. When seated in the cockpit or ''pod'', the player will pilot his or her own walking tank known as a BattleMech onto the virtual landscape to compete with those seated in the other cockpits for battlefield superiority. The first stop of the 2009 tour will be at the Western Michigan University Bernhard Center during the annual ''Marmalade Dog'' Game Convention hosted by the Western Michigan University Gamers Guild. The WMU Gamers Guild has had a long standing relationship with MechJock.com founder, Nickolas ''PropWash'' Smith, who became the majority owner and President of Virtual World Entertainment, LLC in December of 2005. Nickolas had this to say about the event. "The WMU Gamers Guild has always been an important part of the gaming community here in Kalamazoo. Cooperating with Guild is an opportunity to not only give something back to the local game enthusiasts who have supported us over the years, it is also the ideal scenario for a full-scale test of our new convention system." Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Virtual World Entertainment is a leading supplier of high-end, centerpiece attractions to the location-based entertainment industry. Virtual World has produced and distributed cockpits since 1989. Virtual World Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company. Visit them at www.virtualworld.com. Picture: James ''Komodo'' Moe helps a player exit a Virtual Worlds Tesla II cockpit at GENCON in 2006

• Gatorbait
• Day
• Clear
• Weather = Off
• Mech = Highlander
• Candidate = Rabid Squirrel
  
• Master A = Craig "Pharaoh" Evans
• Master B = Angel "Target" Berrios
• Master C = Steve "Rellik" Miller

Master B got called out first Target went out to the water line and waited. Squirrel came out from the right and they engaged in the water and island that the masters start on. Targets first 2 alphas hit squirrels RT while squirrel hit CT with everything. Target began to go defensive and was able to destroy squirrels RT but right as he did Squirrel did a great maneuver. Squirrel jumped at the inactive masters and on his decent called out Master C. Rellik had enough time to take 2 steps back before Squirrel DFA'd him (3:19). Amazingly squirrels 'Mech survived the splash, and caused no splash to master A. Squirrel stood up charged his severely crippled 'Mech at Target and died on target causing both of them to explode (3:48). Master A was automatically engaged now. I ran across the map and even with 6:32 on the clock I was unable to find squirrel hidden on Gatorbait. The clock finally expired and he was never found.