Media Room - Press Releases - 2008

BreakAway and Quirkat Release Tariq’s Treasure, First Tri-lingual Mobile Title in the Middle East

Development, Marketing and Distribution Partnership Continues To Deliver High Quality Games to Middle East Markets


BALTIMORE, MD (3/13/2008) --- BreakAway, a leading developer of entertainment games and game-based technology products and Quirkat, a leading Middle East interactive entertainment services company today announced the release of Tariq’s Treasure, a fun-filled, puzzle/strategy title on mobile handsets. Tariq’s Treasure is the first mobile title released in the Middle East to offer gamers the choice to play in either Arabic, French or English language versions.

Tariq’s Treasure is a follow up product to Arabian Lords, the world’s first bilingual PC strategy game released last year, exclusively in the Middle East region. BreakAway’s unique partnership with Quirkat includes the design, development and marketing of fun, high quality games created specifically for Middle East gamers, blending state of the art gaming with rich and historical regional themes. Future game releases include a fantasy-based collectible card game, set in a mythical kingdom and a PC-based, action-adventure game for kids of all ages.

“With the successful release of Arabian Lords and Tariq’s Treasure, games designed exclusively for the Arab world, we’re realizing our longer term objective to transfer game development expertise and knowledge across genres and delivery platforms to the fast-growing Middle East region”, said Deborah Tillett, Executive VP of BreakAway.

“BreakAway’s established experience and vast talent in all aspects of game design and game play has been a tremendous added value to our team at Quirkat”, said Mahmoud Khasawneh. “Tariq’s Treasure is already a highly anticipated sequel to the Arabian Lords phenomenal success story across the region.”

In Tariq’s Treasure players must rescue Tariq the traveler from the mysterious and dangerous tunnels of the desert. Players can take on the role of an agent, archeologist or treasure hunter as they collect valuable jewels, meet and befriend helpful companions and fight dangerous creatures in their quest to defeat the ultimate enemy and rescue Tariq. Players can submit scores and compete on leaderboards across the region.

Tariq’s Treasure is available across the Middle East via Quirkat’s distribution network of mobile operators in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, in addition to the company’s online casual games portal, Fuzztak (www.fuzztak.com).

About Quirkat (www.quirkat.com)

Established in 2004, Quirkat is the Middle East's leading video gaming brand with offices in Dubai and Amman. Quirkat is the first of its kind in spearheading the development and publishing of regionally relevant content, by capitalizing on its knowledge of the region’s history, culture, social structures, religions and demographics

About BreakAway, Ltd. (www.breakawayltd.com)

Founded in 1998 in Hunt Valley, MD, BreakAway, Ltd. is a leading developer of entertainment games and game-based simulations for modeling, simulation, training, and visualization. By applying tools, technology, and best practices in game design and development to the creation of simulations for training, experimentation and decision-making analysis, BreakAway is an innovator in using game technology to change the way we learn, communicate, train, and teach.

BreakAway’s flagship product, mōsbē is the first PC-based desktop development studio created to power serious games. With a suite of development tools based on game technology packaged in an intuitive and easy-to-learn user interface, mōsbē™ puts the power to create customized simulations in the hands of the user.

With a client list that includes Electronic Arts, Microsoft, the Department of Defense, FDIC, and the National Institute for Justice, BreakAway has emerged as the top serious games company through its Lite Simulation products. A three time Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 winner, BreakAway employs over 100 people in its Hunt Valley, MD headquarters and at its Corpus Christi, TX and Suffolk, VA offices.