Webzen, an online game developer, wanted to support the global launch of Arctic Combat, a new massively multiplayer game that would be played online by thousands of users. To minimize lag time in dynamic combat scenarios, Webzen decided to run Arctic Combat in a hybrid-cloud environment based on the Windows Azure platform. As a result, players can enjoy a smooth gaming experience, including first-person-shooter (FPS) combat, without communication errors. The solution also seamlessly transfers data between the cloud and on-premises infrastructure, so Webzen can offer its games in regions where cloud services are not available. Arctic Combat launched successfully in the North American and European markets in December 2012.

Sneaky Games creates video games for multiple online platforms, including Facebook and other social media. With millions of players online each day, the company required a solution that could quickly scale up and down as needed. To ensure rapid response times and continuous availability, the company runs its entire infrastructure—including a content delivery network, game servers, and databases—in the cloud on the Windows Azure platform. By taking advantage of features such as binary large object (BLOB) storage and caching services to store player and game information, Sneaky Games ensures that data is always ready and quickly accessible. And with Windows Azure development tools, the small team can speed game development without requiring an IT department. As a result, the company can focus on doing what it loves to do—creating great games.

VRX Studios, which provides photography and content management services to the global travel industry, needed a digital asset management solution that could handle thousands of concurrent users and hundreds of terabytes of data. For optimal scalability, the company created MediaValet, a cloud-based asset management system that runs on the Windows Azure platform. Geo-replication and triple redundancy ensure continuous availability, and the company can quickly increase its computing and storage capacity to handle more users. By using Windows Azure to improve performance, functionality, and usability, the company believes that MediaValet will become its most successful endeavor yet. VRX Studios plans to keep evolving together with the Windows Azure platform, continually adding more features that improve the end-user experience.

Digimarc Corporation, a provider of digital watermarking solutions, is using the Windows Azure platform to deliver its innovative services on a global scale. By integrating its Digimarc Discover app with Windows Azure, the company can quickly deliver media content to users worldwide. Running on mobile devices, the app detects digital watermarks embedded in print media and returns relevant information to the reader. With Windows Azure, Digimarc can quickly develop and deliver new solutions that help users connect the things they see in their daily lives with the vast array of information available online.

Mattress Firm, a major mattress retailer in the United States, grew quickly, both organically and after several acquisitions. The company’s continued rapid growth strategy exposed a decentralized IT infrastructure that was labor intensive, difficult to manage, and not scalable. Recognizing the shortcomings of its legacy IT solutions, Mattress Firm implemented a new system in partnership with Microsoft Services that provided them with a scalable solution built to meet the needs of the future business.

Staff at Hunter TAFE wanted to make their public web site a more powerful marketing tool. This called for a consistent brand feel across the site, better search functionality and more intuitive navigation. They also wanted to ensure that information on up to 500 courses remained fresh. In a high-speed deployment Computer Systems Australia helped build a new web site, using Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 for Internet Sites Enterprise as the content management system. It includes a sophisticated search engine that enables staff to hone search results, and simple page-building tools that enable faculty staff to design, edit and upload branded content themselves. Today, Hunter TAFE has an attractive, intuitive web site, full of compelling and up-to-date content. Staff can now upload stylish, rich-media content quickly and easily, helping to keep the site fresh, focused and compelling.

Akrapovič is the leading global manufacturer of top-quality exhaust systems for motorcycles and performance cars and supports many of the world top motorcycle and car racing teams. Akrapovič is also an innovator in titanium and carbon fibre product manufacturing for use in aviation, automotive and nautical industries, machine manufacturing, architecture, and sports. Innovative solutions, global recognition and a partner network with more than 3,000 partners enable the company to grow rapidly. To realize their goal of increasing revenue by 100 percent in the next five years, they needed a solution that would better support their business processes that face partners and customers. By developing a solution based on Microsoft solutions, they’ve improved efficiency in sales and marketing, strengthened relationships with their partners and laid the foundation for advancing into new markets.