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MIGHT AND MAGIC CLASH OF HEROES RELEASES ON THE APP STORE TODAY

SYDNEY – January 25th, 2013 – Ubisoft® has announced that Might & Magic® Clash of Heroes, the 2009 and 2011 award winner and critically acclaimed puzzle game, launches today on iPhone and iPad at a price of $5.49.

Set in the Might and Magic universe, Might and Magic Clash of Heroes, is now coming on mobile platforms, adding new online features to this role-playing based game which blends together a story driven adventure and an innovative and dynamic combat system based on puzzle mechanics. 

Initially released for Nintendo® DS, the game had been exceptionally received by critics and a successful revamped HD version was released later on PlayStation® Network and Xbox® LIVE Arcade. This new mobile version of the game brings together the best of these two previous iterations, combining the natural touch based interface with beautiful HD graphics.

Might and Magic Clash of Heroes takes place 40 years before the Heroes V saga. Scattered across five different regions of Ashan, 5 special heroes must travel their own dangerous paths to grow in strength, unravel a demonic plot, and ultimately save the world from Chaos.

Create offensive or defensive unit formations, learn advanced combos and make the best of your spells and artifacts to build up the right strategy and overcome your enemies. Defeat the enemy heroes by crossing their armies in standard battles. Launch into special challenges and Boss fights where your strategic skills will be put to a severe test.

For more information and to play Might & Magic Clash of Heroes please visit: http://mightandmagic.fr.ubi.com/clashofheroes/#

Download the game from iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/might-magic-clash-of-heroes/id541590823?mt=8

 
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THE TYRANNY OF KING WASHINGTON DRAWS NEAR

The First Episode of Assassin’s Creed® III – The Tyranny of King Washington: The Infamy to Release on February 19

Sydney, Australia — January 25, 2012 — The time draws closer to fight for justice against a revolutionary turned tyrant in Assassin’s Creed III newest adventure, the Tyranny of King Washington. The Infamy, the first episode of a three-part tale, will be available on Microsoft’s Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and Windows PCs on February 19 and on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on February 20.

In the first episode of the Tyranny of King Washington series, our hero, Ratonhnhaké:ton, awakens from an unsettling dream to find that, despite his efforts to deliver justice in the newly-founded United States of America, a new king has been crowned – George Washington. The Infamy will take gamers through the beginning of the journey to dethrone King Washington.

The three upcoming episodes of the Tyranny of King Washington are available through the Assassin’s Creed III Season Pass, which is available for purchase for 2400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE or $49.95 on the PlayStation® Network and Windows PC. The first episode, The Tyranny of King Washington: The Infamy, can also be purchased as a single DLC pack. Following The Infamy, The Tyranny of King Washington will continue in two additional content packs that let gamers experience an alternate history of the events following the American Revolution.

All Assassin’s Creed III downloadable content packs will also be available on the Wii U TM.

Assassin’s Creed III is now available on PlayStation®3, Xbox 360® and the Nintendo Wii U TM. For Windows PC gamers, the Assassin’s Creed III Deluxe Edition is available as a digital download and includes all future downloadable content.

About Assassin’s Creed III:

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratonhnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Gamers become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylised and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date.

Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier and bustling colonial towns to the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army and the tumultuous high seas. Assassin’s Creed III features unprecedented scope and scale.

For more information on Assassin’s Creed III, please visit the Assassin’s Creed Official Website: http://www.assassinscreed.com

 
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BELKIN ANNOUNCES INTENT TO ACQUIRE CISCO’S HOME NETWORKING BUSINESS UNIT

BELKIN ANNOUNCES INTENT TO ACQUIRE CISCO’S HOME NETWORKING BUSINESS UNIT 

Acquisition to Bolster Belkin’s Position in the Home Networking Market, Building on the Strong Linksys Brand and Innovative Suite of Product and Software Solutions           

Tuggerah, Australia. – January 25, 2013 – Belkin, a private company based in Playa Vista, Calif., with operations and sales in more than 100 countries, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit, including its proven products, technology, well-known Linksys brand and talented employees. With global operations, Linksys’ main office is located in Irvine, Calif.

“We’re very excited about this announcement,” said Chet Pipkin, CEO of Belkin.  “Our two organisations share many core beliefs – we have similar beginnings and share a passion for meeting the real needs of our customers through the strengths of an entrepreneurial culture.  Belkin’s ultimate goal is to be the global leader in the connected home and wireless networking space and this acquisition is an important step to realising that vision.”

Belkin intends to maintain the Linksys brand and will offer support for Linksys products as part of this transaction. All valid warranties will be honored by Belkin for current and future Linksys products. After the transaction closes, Belkin will solidify its number 2 market share position in the ANZ retail home and small business networking market.

“Linksys pioneered wireless connectivity capability around the globe, and has a strong brand renowned for its premium market position, the strength of its installed base and its proven dependability. Linksys users benefit from peace of mind in their home networking environment. At Belkin we have developed great insight into consumer needs, and the experiences, solutions and products we bring to the market, including our WeMo home automation platform, will help us to grow Linksys’ market presence,” Pipkin said.

“Linksys is one of the leading home networking providers and has created a market-leading suite of products and services to meet customer needs,” said Hilton Romanski, VP Corporate Business Development, Cisco.  “While part of Cisco, Linksys has continuously innovated, while strengthening the brand and expanding its market leadership. As part of Cisco’s commitment to service providers, we are pleased about this strategic relationship with Belkin to build on Linksys’ position of strength.”

”With complementary innovation and engineering strategies in the combined organization, Belkin will be able to create new opportunities for consumers, distribution partners and resellers, and will have the strongest retail presence in the U.S. networking marketplace.  Belkin also will have access to a large installed base that will be able to upgrade their networking environment to take advantage of new technologies in the smartphone, tablet, notebook and home automation arenas,” Pipkin said.  “Additionally, Linksys will enhance Belkin’s capabilities to meet the needs of the service provider space and small business users.”

Belkin and Cisco intend to develop a strategic relationship on a variety of initiatives including retail distribution, strategic marketing and products for the service provider market. Having access to Cisco’s specialized software solutions across all of Belkin’s product lines will bring a more seamlessuser experience for customers.  Merging the innovation capabilities of Linksys and Belkin provides a powerful platform from which to develop the next generation of home networking technology.

“At Belkin, we’re committed to enabling great experiences for users of today’s mobile and connected home technologies,” Pipkin said. “The acquisition of Linksys and the combination of Belkin’s and Linksys’ expertise and innovation will position us to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving advances in technology. We look forward to honoring the heritage of the Linksys brand and investing in the continuing evolution of its product portfolio. Together, we will provide a powerful, simple to use, and reliable wireless and networking platform for the markets we serve.”

Specific financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed.  The transaction is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in March 2013.

 

 
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BioShock Infinite: New Trailer

The Industrial Revolution Pack grants exclusive access to three in-game gear items that boost combat abilities, 500 bonus in-game currency, five lock picks, and the Industrial Revolution puzzle game which unlocks stories of Columbia and allows players to pledge their allegiance to the Vox Populi or Founders through Facebook.

 
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EXPLOSIVE 23RD INSTALLMENT OF THE JAMES BOND FRANCHISE SKYFALL

The Highest-Grossing Bond Film of All-Time Comes Home 

007’S Latest Mission Available to Own on Blu-ray March 27th 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (January 25, 2013) – Box-office smash, SKYFALL, will be available to own in high-definition Blu-ray on March 27th, it was announced today by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Directed by Oscar® winner Sam Mendes and starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, SKYFALL’s high definition home entertainment release follows the phenomenal theatrical success of the 23rd installment of the longest-running franchise in film history.  Taking in more than $1 billion (USD), the British secret-service agent dominated the worldwide box-office and has become the highest grossing film ever in the United Kingdom – Bond’s home country.

Accolades continued with the recent announcement of eight BAFTA [British Academy of Film and Television Arts] nominations including Outstanding British Film; Supporting Actor, Javier Bardem; and Supporting Actress, Judi Dench.  Adele’s “Skyfall” was recognized with a Golden Globe® award and an Academy Award® nomination for Original Song, one of the film’s five Oscar nominations.

The theatrical debut of SKYFALL capped a year-long celebration of James Bond’s golden anniversary.  Honouring 50 years since 007 first appeared on-screen, the global campaign was highlighted with the release of BOND 50, a collectable box-set featuring all 22 James Bond films on Blu-ray Disc for the first time in one complete offering. The box-set includes a placeholder for SKYFALL so consumers can complete their 50th anniversary collection.

In SKYFALL Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past returns to haunt her.  With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond.  007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent, Eve (Naomie Harris) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

Withthe Blu-ray, go behind-the-scenes of Bond’s latest mission with more than three hours of in-depth special features.  Shooting Bond brings adrenaline-hungry fans closer to the heart-stopping action and 007’s world of worthy villains, glamorous women, exotic locations and the coolest gadgets.

  • Shooting Bond
    • Intro
    • Opening Sequence
    • The Title Sequence
    • 007
    • Q
    • DB5
    • Women
    • Villains
    • Action
    • Locations
    • Music
    • End Sequence
    • M
    • The Future
  • Skyfall Premiere
  • Commentaries
    • Director Sam Mendes
    • Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli; Production Designer Dennis Gassner
  • Theatrical Trailer

 

 
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BioShock Infinite: Official Industrial Revolution Pack Trailer

Irrational Games today released a video that shows what’s on offer if you pre-order BioShock Infinite. Welcome to the Industrial Revolution Pack, which grants exclusive access to three in-game gear items that boost combat abilities, 500 bonus in-game currency, five lock picks, and the Industrial Revolution puzzle game – not just a challenge in itself, but also a fan essential that unlocks backstories of Columbia and allows players to pledge their allegiance to the Vox Populi or Founders through Facebook

 
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New Nintendo Direct looks at Nintendo’s vision for Wii U

Straight from Nintendo Australia … we’re super excited about Bayonetta 2 and the new Zelda Games! It’s going to be a great year being a Nintendo fan in 2013!

24th January 2013

Did you see the latest Nintendo Direct? If you missed it, you can view it at either of the following:

Nintendo Australia Website – http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendodirect
Nintendo Australia Youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZri3IHbpks

If you’d like a re-cap, a news piece is available to read at http://www.nintendo.com.au/news

All related images have been uploaded and are available at http://images.nintendo.com.au

Finally, we have some local pricing information to announce regarding Virtual Console titles for Wii U!

The Virtual Console service will include a selection of NES and Super NES games, with Game Boy Advance games to be added in the future. In Australia, Nintendo eShop NES price on Wii U is now

$AU 6.50 / $NZ $8.50 and Nintendo eShop SNES price on Wii U is now $AU 10.40 / $NZ 13.60. People who have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to their Wii U console can buy the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of $AU 1.30 / $NZ 1.70 for NES games and $AU 1.95 / $NZ 2.55 for Super NES games.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Famicom in Japan (which was known as the NES in Australia), Nintendo is making one NES or Super NES game available each month now through to July at the anniversary price of just $AU/NZ 0.30 cents. Each game will be available at that price for 30 days, and the first is the NES game Balloon Fight, which is now available in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U.

 
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UBISOFT ACQUIRES THQ MONTREAL

Company Also Acquires Rights To South Park: The Stick Of Truth 

Sydney, Australia – January 24, 2013 –  Ubisoft has announced the acquisition of THQ Montreal as well as the publishing rights for the upcoming South Park: The Stick of Truth video game, being developed externally by Obsidian.

“This deal adds experienced developers to our internal creative teams at a key moment in the cycle of the video game industry,” said Yannis Mallat, president of Ubisoft Montreal.

THQ Montreal

In addition to the team at THQ Montreal, Ubisoft also acquired a new, yet-to-be announced IP in development at the studio.  THQ Montreal will join Ubisoft’s development teams, already the second-largest in-house development staff in the world with 26 studios in 19 countries and more than 6,250 people dedicated to video game production.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

South Park: The Stick of Truth is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas, and is scheduled for release in calendar 2013.

This acquisition has no material impact on Ubisoft’s current fiscal year (2012/13).

 
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New Nightclub & Bar App ‘Meggle’ Set to Change the Face of Clubbing in Australia

MELBOURNE – Thursday 24 January, 2013 – No-one likes to stand in a queue at the best of times, much less on a Friday or Saturday night when you’re outside the nightclub or bar and your friends are all inside. University students and budding entrepreneurs Stephen Esketzis and Dixon Duong have created a mobile phone application which will be music to the ears of club goers Australia-wide and may soon mean the end of long queues outside clubs and bars every weekend.

Designed specifically for nightlife lovers, Meggle is a nightclub and bar directory which compiles numerous nightclub and bar guest lists into one easily accessible mobile application. Fast and free to download, Meggle gives club-goers access to a long list of nightclubs and bars around Melbourne, with venue information, locations and map directions that will take you right to the door.

Once you’ve selected the club or bar you want to visit for the night, you can access the many guest lists provided by promoters and mention the guest list’s name at the door, thereby ensuring easy, discounted access – and often VIP entry status – when you arrive.

“There are so many clubs and bars around Melbourne now that it can sometimes be hard to work out where the best place is to go. You don’t want to go to the same club or bar every weekend, but you also don’t want to make the effort to go to a new place only to find out that it’s not what you expected, or that you have to spend hours on the footpath outside waiting to get in and to start having a fun night,” said Meggle Co-Founder Stephen Esketzis.

“The idea behind Meggle is really to provide people with an easy way to find a club or bar wherever they happen to be at the time and to choose the venue that will give them the best value for money and experience for the night. All people need to do is ‘Meggle it’ and they’ll get all the information they need at their fingertips.”

“If you tell the person at the door that you have found your guest list using Meggle, you get cheaper entry into the club. Sometimes Megglers can get in for free, even if they’re not a regular patron – and at some venues you get a free drink or VIP status,” he added.

Meggle can also be used by nightclub and bar promoters to increase their guests (and profits) for any night by providing them with a platform to promote their lists and accept sign-ups. If promoters sign up to the app, it literally takes about a minute to create a Meggle profile and then they’re up and running ‘Meggle style’.

Available for iPhones from the App Store and for Android Phones from Google Play, Meggle has been rapidly growing in popularity since being launched by Esketzis and Duong in late 2012.

While the name ‘Meggle’ was inspired by ‘MEGL’, standing for ‘Melbourne’ and ‘Guest Lists’, this enterprising young duo have no intention of limiting themselves to the Melbourne market alone, with plans already underway for a launch into the Sydney market in coming months.

“Naturally we’re going to continue to build up our service here in Melbourne and keep improving the  overall Meggle offering, but we’re already gearing up to break into the Sydney nightclub and bar scene. From there, we’re looking to take on the rest of Australia… and then, who knows,” commented Meggle Co-Founder Dixon Duong.

“We’ve got loads of ideas about what we can do to add to the Meggle experience. This is just the tip of the iceberg for us and we can’t wait to see where we can take Meggle this year,” he added.

 
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Warp Your Sims Back in Time with the Newest Stuff Pack for The Sims 3

Today, EA Sydney announced that The Sims 3 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack is now available across retailers in Australia and available for digital download on Origin.com. In the latest stuff pack to launch from The Sims 3 franchise, players will be able to recreate iconic looks from decades past inspired by the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The pack includes fashion essentials, such as clothing, hairstyles and a facial hair and on-trend décor like a console stereo system, distressed furniture and arcade games to outfit Sims and their homes in stylish looks of yesteryear.

From the groovy 70s Sims will have all the right moves when boogying the night away in their flare jeans, bellbottoms and wide-collard suits. After a night of dancing the disco, Sims can continue the party with their very own Starlight Party Ball – the perfect décor piece to add that subtle bit of flare to any Sim home.

Next comes the 80s with big hair, bright colors and lots of fun. Sims will be ready to get physical as they throw on a leotard, legwarmers and a headband and hit the gym in true 80s fashion. Or if success is what they are after, Sims can dress in a vibrant suit with shoulder pads to bound up the career ladder. Whichever they choose, Sims will be dressed for success with the awesome attire introduced in this decade.

Finally, Sims get grunge in the 90s with tattered jeans, flannel t-shirts and layered tops. Alternatively, Sims opting for the 90s casual-chic style can don an asymmetrical hemline handkerchief skirt and rock a slick new hairdo. From this decade, Sims can outfit their homes with distressed and metal furniture creating a laid-back, rocker environment.

The Sims 3 70s, 80s, & 90s Stuff Pack is rated “M” and currently available at your local retailers on PC/Mac and also available for download on PC at Origin.com.

 
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