PowerPlay has announced that seven new companies, including Bungie, Dynamix, and Raven, have all joined their initiative to improve Internet game performance. Here's the scoop:

FEBRUARY 9, 2000 -- PowerPlay, an effort to make the Internet a better entertainment platform, gained momentum this week as six leading game development studios and content and Internet tools developer, Applied Microsystems, joined the initiative. The latest additions to the list of developers who have gone on record in support of PowerPlay are:

• Bungie -Oni and Halo.
• Dynamix -Tribes, Tribes 2.
• Gas Powered Games -- Dungeon Siege.
• Jellyvision - You Don't Know Jack, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
• Nihilistic - Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption
• Raven Software -Soldier of Fortune, Star Trek: Elite Force, Hexen 2

"It's hard not to support a movement aimed at improving everyone's Internet experience," said Chris Taylor, CEO of Gas Powered Games. "The list of game developers and other tech companies supporting PowerPlay is a great example of industry cooperation that will have a positive impact on all of our games."

The PowerPlay initiative is composed of Internet companies, service providers, and game developers cooperating in the definition and deployment of an open industry standard to improve the Internet entertainment experience.

The first stage will be a proof of concept deployment for US dial-up customers. Following the initial deployment, PowerPlay service will be available outside of the US and for higher speed connections (DSL/cable modem).

The PowerPlay initiative also includes Bioware, Captivation, Cisco, Click Entertainment, Ensemble, Epic, Gearbox, Looking Glass Studios, Outrage, Red Storm Entertainment, Relic, Ritual, Shiny, Valve, and Volition.