Heatwave Interactive announced the acquisition of the intellectual property rights and all assets for Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, the highly anticipated Roman mythology themed Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game. As part of the transaction with PlayGrid, Heatwave also obtained a source code license to the PlayGrid Platform, their online game publishing technology as well as acquiring two game development engines.

“Heatwave’s philosophy is to identify and develop world class IP, and we believe the project is just that,” said Anthony Castoro, co-founder and CEO, Heatwave Interactive. “With this acquisition Heatwave greatly expands its core development capabilities as well as adding a well-known, award-winning title to its expanding intellectual property portfolio. This game hits the Heatwave ‘HIP’ mark in terms of its social gaming features and the intrinsic entertainment value found in its mythological storyline, high action adventure and beautiful art style. ”

The newly acquired game engines, previously developed by Perpetual Entertainment for in-development titles Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising and Star Trek Online, will serve as the technology foundation for Heatwave’s planned roster of MMOs.

“The Perpetual team built high quality engines and a very robust and easy-to-use platform. Through this transaction with PlayGrid we secure all the necessary components needed to not only complete this game but also to operate our entire portfolio of online games on one platform,” said Donn Clendenon, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Heatwave Interactive. “This world-class online platform technology will allow us to reduce both development costs and time to market.”

Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising is a full scale action adventure MMO that immerses the audience in Roman mythology. Players step into a hero’s sandals to battle monsters and command minions while seeking favor from the gods. Heralded at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2006 as “Best in Show” by leading MMO sites Allakhazam and TenTonHammer, and dubbed “Game of Show” and “Best Graphics” by MMORPG, God & Heroes was in closed beta when production was halted in 2007.

“We at PlayGrid are thrilled to see Rome rise again with the Heatwave team,” said Chris McKibbin, co-founder, PlayGrid, and former president, Perpetual Entertainment. “Gods and Heroes was designed for both core and casual MMO players alike and Heatwave is one of the few studios with the talent and experience to fulfill this vision while delivering a final version that will fit with what today’s gamers are looking for. We are also thrilled that Heatwave has chosen to license the PlayGrid Platform to solve their game operating needs

With a strong roadmap of titles and a talented development team, Heatwave Interactive is focused on incubating its diverse and marketable roster of intellectual properties that have cross-media entertainment potential. The company has previously announced two IPs: Platinum Life: Web Edition and iSamJackson. A precursor to the in-development massively multiplayer online game, Platinum Life will launch March 2010 on social networks and the web, offering players the opportunity to become a music icon, taking them from the mean streets to the penthouse suites. Heatwave’s first launched title is the top-rated entertainment app, iSamJackson for Apple’s App Store, an innovative soundboard app that features a extensive collection of original and authentic recorded quotes, humorous adages and sage insight all provided by mega-celebrity Samu el L. Jackson.