Puzzle-solving ghost story from Casual Box Studio sells for $7.99 

MONTPELLIER, France – DECEMBER 7, 2011 – Casual Box Studio is announcing that their casual adventure game Age of Enigma Special Edition is now available exclusively on the Mac App Store. The $7.99 download includes localizations in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Danish, Swedish, and Portuguese. It can be purchased from the Mac App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/app/age-of-enigma-special-edition/id478290257 

Age of Enigma Special Edition combines puzzle solving, mini-games, and story in a balanced mix of casual and adventure gameplay. As medium Ashley Reeves, players will embark on a journey to exotic locations including classical Japan, ancient Egypt, and even the depths of Hell, to free six ghosts trapped in an abandoned house. Only by solving the puzzles surrounding each spirit’s unresolved death can players help them find peace. With stunning cartoon artwork, a haunting soundtrack, and a brand new mini-game not present in the game’s original PC release, Age of Enigma Special Edition is a high-quality puzzle game that will intrigue casual as well as core gamers. 

“At Casual Box, we are big Mac fans — in fact, Age of Enigma was almost entirely coded on Macs! So bringing Age of Enigma to the Mac App Store is very important to us,” says David Mekersa, the company’s CEO. “Mac users expect products with elegance and style, and Age of Enigma is a beautiful, sharp game that we know will appeal to this audience.” 

For more information about Age of Enigma and purchase links to the Mac and PC versions, visit the game’s official website at http://www.ageofenigma.com. The game’s soundtrack, by French composers the Cleophas Brothers, is available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/age-enigma-the-secret-sixth/id458605930 

About Casual Box Studio

Casual Box is a French studio that specializes in the design and production of casual games. In four years, it has gained widespread notoriety among hundreds of thousands of gamers by means of its portal, www.casualgames.fr, the best French-language casual game community on the web. Casual Box began game production in 2009 with Geisha: The Secret Garden, which met with significant acclaim. The company’s most recent game, Age of Enigma, released for PC and Mac in 2011 and will come to iPad in 2012.

Data backup is essential but can be confusing; don’t let it spoil your summer holidays   

Sydney, 7 December 2011 – As people store more and more photos, music, videos, e-mails and documents on their computers, it’s essential that they protect them properly. And with many people soon going on their holidays, they need to know how to keep their memories safe. Backup specialist Acronis has compiled seven tips on backup and recovery to highlight the key points for comprehensive protection of home users’ laptops and PCs. 

Karl Sice, General Manager – Pacific at Acronis, said: “Summer is the peak season for photographs. People capture memories that are then stored in digital format on PCs and notebooks. Accidental deletion, hardware failure or a sudden loss or theft of the entire device are just some examples of why it pays to protect your good memories. When you’re picking up your suntan lotion, bucket and spade and holiday novel, don’t forget to throw in some backup software too!” 

The top tips are: 

1. Regularly backup: Backups should be made regularly. After an initial full backup of the entire system, make sure you set up automatic, incremental backups. Incremental backups only store what has been changed or added since the full backup, allowing you to save disk space. 
2. Invest in a good external disk: The backups should be stored on removable media or removable drives and kept separately from the PC or laptop. This means that your backup is safe, even if your machine is lost or stolen. 
3. Double protection: Provide double security for your most important data by backing it up to the cloud. With the right software, you can encrypt the data so it’s safe and secure and also protect it against physical damage, such as a fire.
4. Recovery test: Try testing your backup, so if your system fails you can quickly recover it. There’s nothing worse than discovering your backup hasn’t worked! 
5. Check backups automatically: The backed up data should be validated automatically by the software used for each backup. This ensures that the data can be restored properly. 
6. Shorten your backups: A full backup of the entire system can be completed much faster under certain circumstances. Delete as much unnecessary information as possible before the backup. For example, empty the Recycle Bin and delete your temporary files. With appropriate backup software you can also choose to exclude some file formats such as video or music files. 
7. Before you install: Before installing new programs, updates or drivers, taking a full backup of the system makes sense. Changes that go wrong can be reversed by installing the initial backup. 

Enjoy your holidays!  

About Acronis

Acronis is a leading provider of easy-to-use disaster recovery and data protection solutions for physical, virtual and cloud environments. Its patented disk imaging technology enables corporations, SMBs and consumers to protect their digital assets. With Acronis’ disaster recovery, deployment and migration software, users protect their digital information, maintain business continuity and reduce downtime. Acronis software is sold in more than 90 countries and available in up to 14 languages. For additional information, please visit www.acronis.com.au. Follow Acronis on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acronis.

SYDNEY, Australia – 7 December 2011 – Plantronics today announced the Marque M155, a smarter and smaller headset designed to be the perfect companion to the smartphone. Offering voice-guided pairing for iPhone® and Android smartphones, voice recognition to answer or ignore calls completely hands-free, and stereo Bluetooth®, the headset allows users to listen to music, GPS directions or email, all while providing remarkable stereo quality. It also comes with a unique dual charging cable, enabling the user to charge their smartphone and headset simultaneously. 

“Android and iPhone users better understand, that their smartphone is not ergonomically designed for their face as much as they are for their hands these days, yet they still need to talk and listen with it” said Peter Petrides, National Retail Sales Manager of Plantronics Australia. “The Marque M155 lets users take advantage of the full range of their phone’s capabilities, and allowing them to Talk, Type and Swipe, with a headset that is designed specifically for their device”   

Unbelievably Small and Light 

The Marque is Plantronics’ smallest headset ever and offers excellent sound quality in an amazingly lightweight design. Weighing only seven grams, users will hardly know they are wearing the headset.  

App Convenience  

Users can get the most from Marque and their smartphone with the MyHeadset^TM app, currently available in the Apple app store. The app will do a sound check and familiarise users with the added functionality of their headset, such as streaming music, with much more to come. 

Pricing and Availability 

The Marque M155 is available now for AU$89.00 from leading retailers. For a full list of sellers, please visit www.plantronics.com.au.

The hottest toys this Christmas, Cars 2 Appmates Let Kids Explore the World of Cars, Perform Missions, and Compete In Action-Packed Races

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – December, 7 2011 – In an industry first, Disney is introducing Disney AppMATesTM Mobile Application Toys in Australia, a new toy line that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad by allowing kids to use the tablet’s screen as a virtual play mat. Developed by Disney, featuring patent-pending technology, the Appmates toy line features miniature Disney•Pixar Cars 2 vehicles with sensors on the base of each toy that are recognised as a unique footprint by an app with no cable or Bluetooth connection required. Simply download the free Cars 2 Appmates app from the iTunes app store, place your favourite Appmates toy character on the screen and play.

(Editor’s note: Product images available at http://bit.ly/AppmatesImages, demo video available at http://bit.ly/Appmates-Demo)

“The Disney Cars Appmates is the first product to truly deliver play experiences that seamlessly combine the digital & physical worlds. We have cracked the technology code in changing the way kids play with their toys,” said Kylie Watson-Wheeler, General Manager, Licensing, The Walt Disney Company, Australia. “Kids will always use toys to play out their favourite Disney stories, but Disney Appmates now allows them to include technology which has become a way of life for them through a beautifully rich app.”

The magic begins when kids place their vehicle on the iPad and begin to explore the world of Cars. Available for download from today, Cars 2 Appmates app is a free app created by Disney exclusively for use with Appmates toys. By guiding the Appmates vehicle on the screen, the iPad becomes a virtual play mat where kids can experience the world of Radiator Springs.

Cars 2 Appmates features include:

· Exploration – Drive around the world of Radiator Springs to discover landscapes and hidden secrets by simply placing the Cars toy character on the screen and turning it in any direction. Drive through mud and up ramps, visit friends at Flo’s V8 Café or check out your Car’s reflection, showing off your latest gear and gadgets.

· Directed Game Play – Perform missions unique to each character. Completed missions – like helping bring a tow hook back to Mater – gain hubcaps, the virtual currency. Collect enough hubcaps to personalise each car with special features like a unique horn sound, customised tire tracks, and cool gear like a rocket launcher or spy vision goggles.

· Racing – Rev up the action by racing against World Grand Prix opponents and your Radiator Springs friends. Five racetracks are available at launch. Race around Willy’s Butte, jump off Carburetor Mesa and roar through downtown Radiator Springs earning hubcaps in day or night races.

Each toy unlocks different features and content within the app specific to the character, allowing kids to come back over and over to enjoy an imaginative, open-ended play experience using the Appmates toys. Fans can download and test the app by simply using their fingers to drive a virtual car through the world, but the play experience is optimised to come to life with the Appmates toy vehicles.

Created in collaboration with Spin Master, Disney Appmates toys launch in Australia from 7th December just in time for Christmas! They will be available from Apple Store and Apple Store online as vehicle two-packs featuring characters including Lightning McQueen, Holley Shiftwell, Tow Mater and Finn McMissile for RRP$29.95.

Dymocks unveils D Publishing, a revolutionary service for all Australians to create and publish their own books from start to finish

8 December 2011 – Budding authors looking to release their works can now access D Publishing – www.dpublishing.com – to create, print, publish and commercially distribute their books and eBooks with Dymocks.

The new and innovative web-based publishing service from the nation’s largest bookseller allows every Australian to become a published author. By enabling authors to take greater control of the book production and publishing process, D Publishing provides the opportunity to produce one or thousands of books.

Dymocks General Manager of eCommerce, Michael Allara, says the publishing service begins a new evolution of the book industry; one that not only offers more books to Australian readers, but gives budding authors hands-on experience with the publishing process.

“We’re incredibly excited to reveal D Publishing. Unlike the conventional publishing model, D Publishing is driven by the author. The author can make decisions about book content, cover, distribution and printing via our website for a far lower cost than a traditional custom or vanity publishing house would charge,” said Mr Allara.

“Authors who publish with D Publishing will find we do not approve or reject authors based on perceived literary merit or commercial viability of their work – the author determines whether they are good enough to be published.”

Books and eBooks published through D Publishing will be available for purchase on the Dymocks website. Books will also be presented to Dymocks bookshops nationally and will have the potential to be stocked and sold in-store.

“D Publishing aims to be relatively simple, and takes out the complexities of book production, publishing, commercial terms and distribution. We encourage authors to visit www.dpublishing.com with a draft manuscript, preferably edited and proofread, to start producing and publishing their book,” continued Mr Allara.

“The service will see a manuscript turn into a published work within a few hours and the physical book itself can be produced within a week and a half. The service is as much for individuals as it is for groups, institutions or small and medium sized businesses; and aims to provide Australians with the tools they need to create and publish their own book from start to finish.

“We look forward to seeing the new wave of D Publishing authors come through as we know each Australian has a story to tell, and the purpose of this service is to realise this potential.

“We’re the people’s publisher, here for those who are curious about taking the next step to become a published author. We want to find Australia’s next bestseller,” concluded Mr Allara.

Further enhancements, including professional editing and review services, will be rolled out over the coming months.

For more information on how authors can publish their book with D Publishing, visit www.dpublishing.com.

Pre-Order the Newest Expansion Pack from the Best-Selling PC Franchise of All-time* and Receive an Automatic Upgrade to a Special Limited Edition**

SYDNEY, Australia December 7, 2011 – Here is your chance to become a star and tell the story of your journey! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that The Sims™ 3 Showtime Expansion pack*** for PC/Mac is in development and will launch worldwide in March 2012. The latest expansion pack from The Sims Studio allows players to live the rags to riches story with their Sims and share these experiences with their friends. Using new and innovative social features such as individual in-game news feeds and live updates, players are connected to each other like never before.

Bioshock Infinite is in the running for most anticipated game of 2012 http://www.spike.com/events/video-game-awards-2011-voting/voting/most-anticipated-game 

We wanted to share the teaser screen shot for the trailer to give you a sneak peek at what will shown on the night, the trailer will be going out next Monday following the event.

Rich online mode features unique weapons, combat styles and narrative-driven gameplay for four new playable characters 

Sydney, Australia – December 7, 2011– 2K Games announced today that The Darkness™ II, releasing on February 10, 2012, will feature “Vendettas,” a fast-paced, violent and narrative co-op experience that takes place parallel to the single-player story. Playable for up to four friends, Vendettas lets consumers choose one of four characters – all with their own unique Darkness weapon – and begin their dangerous and bloody journey. Designed as a team-focused, mission based experience, Vendettas explores the crucial role each character plays in Jackie Estacado’s campaign to defeat the Brotherhood. 

Interwoven into key points of Jackie’s single-player narrative, Vendettas expands the universe of The Darkness II by branching off into unique, parallel missions, while connecting thematically to the core single-player story arc. Four players can collectively immerse themselves in the lore of The Darkness II, and explore a variety of environments not found in the main story. Adding to the destruction and mayhem, Vendettas will also feature a new Hit List mode, which allows players to repeat their favorite campaign moments or wreak havoc in brand new scenarios. 

Vendettas will also offer varied, intuitive combat with multidimensional scenarios for the four characters. Each individual possesses unique combat styles that will help shoot, smash and disembowel enemies in the most brutal and diverse ways. Designed to pick-up-and-play, gamers have their choice among the following wielders of dark power: 

• Inugami: Wielding the mythical Kusanagi samurai sword rumored to have killed ten thousand innocents, Inugami is a dark and mentally unstable character with revenge-driven motives against The Brotherhood and their allies for the slaughter of his entire family. He can also use a swarm of miniature demons to attack and immobilize his enemies. 
• Shoshanna: Shoshanna is an ultra-efficient agent for Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence Agency, who was sent to New York to combat a spike in Brotherhood activity. Her obedience and devotion to her superiors makes her a perfect operative, and she harbors a passion for hunting and destroying evil in the world as part of her legacy. Shoshanna wields the Arm of the Night, a powerful weapon fueled with Dark essence and the power to fire multiple rounds of gunfire at one time. 
• Jimmy Wilson: A product of inner-city Glasgow, Scotland, and a notorious alcoholic, Jimmy believes The Brotherhood is simply another form of the Hated English that persecuted his family in the past, and he travels to New York to torment them to the fullest extent. He wields the Dark Axe, and has the ability to summon Darklings that he commonly refers to as “Little Jimmys”.   
• J.P. DuMond: A former doctor from New Orleans, DuMond is burdened with guilt for using a form of Louisiana Voodoo to heal his patients. The use of dark magic drew the attention of The Brotherhood, an organization which J.P. is now forced to combat in order to halt their pursuit of evil relics. J.P. wields the Midnight Stick and can pull enemies into an anatomy-crushing vortex when he tosses his Box of Tricks – a black metal box filled with dark power – into an open area. 

The Darkness II is the sequel to the million unit-selling 2007 title, The Darkness, and brings a unique new combat mechanic through Quad-Wielding™, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with two Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with thematic elements of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and maintains the stylistic violence visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique, true to its comic book origins. 

The Darkness II will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC on

February 10, 2012. 

The Darkness II is rated MA 15+ by the OFLC. For more information on The Darkness II, please visit www.embracethedarkness.com. 

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).