This week, the tight level design and vertical gameplay of Battlefield 3: Close Quarters comes to the PS3, followed by its release next week on Xbox 360 and PC. Creating a highly competitive and deadly environment, Close Quarters is a themed expansion packs that features enhanced destruction, letting players riddle the environment with bullets to reduce entire locales to rubble. Everything from furniture to plaster can be shot to pieces, and players can see the result of the mayhem as rubble and debris pile up on the floor around them. Key features in Battlefield 3: Close Quarters includes:

• 10 new Assignments
• 5 unique dog tags
• 10 new weapons to use on all Battlefield 3 maps      including:

1.       AUG Assault Rifle

2.       SCAR Assault Rifle

3.       ACW-R Carbine

4.       MTAR-21 Carbine

5.       M417 Sniper Rifle

6.       JNG-90 Sniper Rifle

7.       L86LSW Machine Gun

8.       LSAT Machine Gun

9.       M5K Tactical Machine Pistol

10.   SPAS-12 Shotgun

DICE also recently announced Battlefield 3 Premium, an innovative new offering with a staggering amount of content. For $49.99 (PC), $64.95 (PS3) and 4000 MS Points (Xbox 360) , Battlefield 3 Premium members get all five huge, themed digital expansion packs including early access to Armored Kill coming in September, Aftermath this December, and End Game in March 2013, unique in-game items including the ACB-90 knife and exclusive soldier and weapon camos, Assignments, events and more. For more information on Battlefield 3 Premium please visit http://www.battlefield.com/au/battlefield3/1/premium.

Battlefield 3: Close Quarters is available for $23.95 on the PlayStation Network. Starting next week, Battlefield 3: Close Quarters will be available for 1200 MS Points on Xbox Live and for $19.99 on PC. Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 3 Premium are available now in Australia and New Zealand for the Xbox 360^® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation^®3 and PC. For the latest news on Battlefield please visit http://www.facebook.com/battlefield, follow us on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/battlefield or sign up for the official Battlefield newsletter at www.battlefield.com. Press assets for Battlefield 3 are available at www.ea-anz-press.com

New Gameplay, Features Kick Off Magic 2013 Product Releases 

SYDNEY, Australia – June 21,2012 –  Wizards of the Coast has unleashed Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 on iPad for the first time, along with Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PC/Steam® and PlayStation® Network.* Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is the first major release from Magic: The Gathering this winter, kicking off the Magic 2013 campaign that entices players to “Face A Greater Challenge” against the ultimate evil mastermind of the Multiverse, dragon Planeswalker Nicol Bolas!

Beginning today, Duels 2013 players will get the first look at approximately 100 cards that will be featured in the Magic 2013 Core Set launching July 13, 2012.  In addition, with the purchase of Duels 2013, players receive a code to redeem an exclusive six-card booster pack – including a platform-specific promo card – at participating Wizards Play Network hobby stores.

“Today kicks off our summer-long Magic 2013 experience, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Elaine Chase, Brand Director of Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast. “Whether you’re new to Magic or just starting out, the integration between Duels 2013 and the Magic 2013 Core Set represents a seamless way for players to experience Magic however and wherever they want.”

Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is the latest edition of the award-winning video game title, which was recently named one of PC Gamer’s Top 100 Games of All Time, and number four on the list of The 15 Best Games For Your Laptop.

*Launch timing may vary by platform and region. Only Steam platform available in China.

With One Button Switch Between Typing on Three Apple Devices

SYDNEY, Australia — June 21st, 2012 — Today Logitech Australia announced the expansion of its solar offering with the new Logitech® Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 for Mac®, iPad® or iPhone®. A continuation of Logitech’s solar series, which started with the Logitech® Wireless Solar Keyboard K750. this new keyboard adds Bluetooth® connectivity with an easy-switching capability. It allows simultaneous pairing of multiple devices and the ability to quickly switch among them with the push of a button.

“Laptops, smartphones and tablets are ubiquitous – both at work and at play,” said Annabelle Woods, General Manager, Logitech Australia. “Because Apple devices are central to this trend, Logitech is committed to improving the way people interact with them. With its simple solar charging, familiar Mac layout and comfortable design, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 will appeal to Apple users worldwide.”

The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is stylish and compact with onboard solar cells for hassle-free charging. With its easy-switching Bluetooth connection, the keyboard can be synced to as many as three devices and switch among them without having to reconnect. This means the user can move from typing on a Mac to an iPad to an iPhone – and back again – with the simple push of a button.

The perfect match for any Apple device, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 features a slim, minimalist design and Mac-specific keys, including Command, Brightness, Eject and more. The unique Logitech concave key design allows for more comfortable and quiet typing, and offers more speed and precision than typing on an on-screen keyboard.
And, with its environmentally friendly PVC-free construction, fully recyclable box and onboard solar cells for charging, this keyboard is designed to minimise its environmental footprint. Similar to the existing Logitech Solar Keyboards, the keybaord can be charged in any light – low light or lamp light, indoors or outdoors. Fully powered, the keyboard works for at least three months, even in total darkness (based on average use per day of eight hours).
Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 is expected to be available in Australia at the start of August 2012, for a suggested retail price of $99.95. For more information please visit www.logitech.com or our blog.

To keep up-to-date with the latest Logitech Australia news
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LogitechAustralia or follow us on Twitter:http://twitter.com/logitech_au.

About Logitech
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

SYDNEY, Australia – 21 June 2012 – Plantronics® (NYSE:PLT) today announced the BackBeat® GO, its smallest and lightest wireless headphones yet. The BackBeat GO is the newest addition to the BackBeat® family of stereo headphones and is ideal for iPhone® and Android® users. Now, music lovers, mobile gamers, podcast and streaming fans can listen through their Bluetooth® enabled device, in stereo, without the hassle of headphone wires.

The BackBeat GO possesses style, premium sound quality, comfort and convenience with the simplicity of wireless connectivity to a Bluetooth device. The headphones are compatible with most smartphones, tablets and MP3 players available in Australia. The BackBeat GO includes rich stereo sound with A2DP for audio streaming, digital noise reduction technology for improved call clarity and inline controls that allow you to take calls, skip tracks, and adjust volume all with your fingertips. Its compact and lightweight design, weighing just 13 grams, means that the BackBeat GO can easily slip into your pocket.

“The new BackBeat GO ear-buds allow users to enjoy their music, listen to movies, chat with friends and even play games via their phone or tablet, without the hassle of wires. The fit and sound quality is superb, and nothing has been compromised to produce this compact, wireless, Bluetooth technology,” said Peter Petrides, National Retail Sales Manager of Plantronics Australia.

Added Features, Added Benefits

• Enjoy up to four and half hours of listening or talk time, and 10 hours of standby time
• Bluetooth® technology lets you connect to smartphones or tablets for music, movies, and calls
• Inline controls make it easy to take calls, skip tracks, and adjust volume
• Choose from three sizes of cushioned ear-tips and optional stabilisers to custom fit the headphone to suit individual needs
• For iPhone and iPad users, the BackBeat GO displays an on-screen battery meter for easily monitoring the headset’s battery level
• Android 3.0 and 4.0 users can download the Plantronics MyHeadset™ app for a battery headset meter

Pricing and Availability

The BackBeat GO is available now for $119.99 at Vodafone stores nation-wide, and will soon be made available from further Telco and retail outlets.

Microsoft-made hardware to be available starting with release of Windows 8 and Windows RT.

LOS ANGELES – June 18, 2012 – Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.

Advances in Industrial Design

Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface represents a unique vision for the seamless expression of entertainment and creativity. Extensive investment in industrial design and real user experience includes the following highlights:

Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.

VaporMg: The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mold metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be molded as thin as .65 mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and rigid/strong.

Integrated Kickstand: The unique VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption – watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.

Touch Cover: The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors. Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

An Amazing Windows Experience

Two models of Surface will be available: one running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. From the fast and fluid interface, to the ease of connecting you to the people, information and apps that users care about most, Surface will be a premium way to experience all that Windows has to offer. Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability of Windows 8, and the Windows 8 Pro model will be available about 90 days later. Both will be sold in the Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. and available through select online Microsoft Stores.

Contributing to an Expanded Ecosystem

One of the strengths of Windows is its extensive ecosystem of software and hardware partners, delivering selection and choice that makes a customer’s Windows experience uniquely their own. This continues with Surface. Microsoft is delivering a unique contribution to an already strong and growing ecosystem of functional and stylish devices delivered by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring the experience of Windows to consumers and businesses around the globe.

Additional Product Information

Surface for Windows RT

OS: Windows RT

Light(1): 676 g

Thin(2): 9.3 mm

Clear: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display

Energized: 31.5 W-h

Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Office ’15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

OS: Windows 8 Pro

Light(1): 903 g

Thin(2): 13.5 mm

Clear: 10.6″ ClearType Full HD Display

Energized: 42 W-h

Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

(1), (2). Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process.

Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.

For more information about Surface, visit http://www.surface.com.

MELBOURNE, Tuesday, 19 June 2012 : Madman Entertainment proudly presents REEL ANIME 2012 – showcasing four of the freshest anime feature films this side of Japan, screening at selected cinemas around the country during September, 2012.

Following the sold-out success of the 2008 and 2010 REEL ANIME showcases – which featured Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, the hand-picked suite of cutting-edge films selected for the 2012 showcase are some of the most highly-anticipated amongst fans, and will have something to offer everyone.

The REEL ANIME 2012 program will showcase From Up On Poppy Hill, the latest masterpiece from the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli; Wolf Children, from Mamoru Hosoda, critically-acclaimed director of Summer Wars; Berserk – The Egg of the King, the action-packed first feature film in a brand-new trilogy, based on the best-selling manga and anime series, Berzerk; and Children Who Chase Lost Voices, a visually stunning adventure film from cult director Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a Distant Star, 5 Centimetres Per Second). All films will be screened in Japanese language with English subtitles.

REEL ANIME brings the spectacle of Japanese animation back to the big screen, providing hardcore fans, cinephiles and casual crowds alike the rare opportunity to relish the eye-popping action, masterful storytelling and moving moments that anime has to offer. The 2012 showcase also marks the first time that the program has featured a film from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli.

REEL ANIME 2012 will screen in selected cinemas during September, 2012. Cinema locations and dates will be confirmed in future announcements. For detailed information on each film, please see ‘NOTES TO EDITORS’ section below.

BRISBANE, Queensland–June.19, 2012—EB Games, Australia’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, has today welcomed the introduction of an R18+ Classification for video games with the legislation passing through the Senate with bipartisan support yesterday.

In particular, EB Games would like to thank the 46,000 plus people that supported the introduction of an R18+ classification for computer games through the EB Games submission.

“In February 2010, EB Games responded to our consumers demand to have their voices heard on the issue of an R18+ classification for video games. At the time we were overwhelmed with the phenomenal response, as over 46,000 people took the time to contribute to our submission to the Attorney General’s department.” Debra McGrath, EB Games National Brand Manager.

This huge ground swell of support, showed the Government that this is an issue that is not only supported by the gaming industry but also by the majority of Australians.

According to McGrath “We could not be more pleased with yesterday announcement of a 1st January, 2013 introduction of an adult classification for video games. This legislation is well overdue and we would like to thank the entire Australian gaming community for their relentless efforts on this issue. In particular the gamers themselves. This is truly an example of people power making a genuine difference”.

EB Games believes that the introduction of an R18 classification when introduced on a National level will provide clear guidance for parents when choosing appropriate games for their children. It will also give the Australian Gaming Industry an equal playing field and mean that Australian consumers are not disadvantaged from their oversees counterparts.

“The introduction of an R18 classification is another small step in protecting the local Australian gaming industry and the large volume of jobs that it generates. It is critical that this legislation is rolled out consistently across all States and Territories. Once implemented, this new legislation will mean that Australian gamers are given a fair go and the local industry is not disadvantage by unedited/unregulated titles being imported into Australia” added McGrath.

EB Games collected over 30,000 hand signed submissions in just 2 weeks along with an additional 16,000 submissions that were collected online in conjunction with Grow Up Australia. This equated to an astonishing total of over 46,000 submissions in support of an R18+ rating. The submission weighed over 158kg when delivered to the Attorney-General’s office.

About EB Games

EB Games Australia head office is located in Queensland, with retail stores operating in every Australian State and Territory. EB Games Australia is part of GameStop Corp. Currently EB Games have 375 retail stores in Australia. The Company sells new and preowned video game software, hardware and accessories for video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise. General information on EB Games can be obtained at the company’s website: http://www.ebgames.com.au.

Source: EB Games.

19^th June, 2012 — Wargaming, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, today announced that the company and its products have won several awards at the 2012 E3 Expo recently held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 5^th to June 7^th.

Following Wargaming’s success with World of Tanks at last year’s E3 Expo, this year saw the flight combat MMO World of Warplanes adding numerous awards to its trophy collection, including The Best Hybrid MMO by MMORPG.com, who stated that the game “looks absolutely stunning and plays like a dream.” MMORPGItalia.com dubbed the game The Most Innovative MMO, while 9lives.be and Goha.ru named World of Warplanes The Best MMO and The Best Action MMO respectively.

The massive 10,000 square feet Wargaming booth featured 50 gaming stations dedicated to both World of Tanks and World of Warplanes, becoming one of the highlights of the entire Expo, receiving praise from the media as well as the Best Booth award from Massively.com, 9lives.be and Goha.ru.

“We’re extremely pleased with the recognition our games and booth received at this year’s E3 Expo,” said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. “Last year, World of Tanks made an impressive statement with attendees, and now, that game is passing the baton to World of Warplanes. The scale of attention Warplanes managed to attract shows that the title will soon soar to the greatest heights.”

Stalk the Night as a Werewolf in The Sims 3 Supernatural – Screenshots Featuring The Sims 3 Supernatural Werewolf

In today’s update, we reveal a whole new set of screenshots as we take a deep look into the fearless life of The Sims 3 Supernatural werewolf.

In this game, werewolves embody strength, passion and unbridled emotion, combining human tenderness with beastly power and a heavy dash of unpredictability. In The Sims 3 Supernatural, you can live as werewolf Sims, striving to balance a life of relative normality with the dramatic effects of the werewolf’s curse.

Werewolf Sims possess the ability to morph between human and werewolf forms, whether by will or an uncontrollable feral transformation spurred by low mood or the rise of the full moon. With the conversion into werewolf form, the nose widens and nostrils become more wolf-like, the bottom canines grow and the ears point back. Hair grows wilder and fuller, with the eyebrows becoming bushier and more aggressively sloped. Textured fur appears on the hands, feet and shoulders. Last but not least, large claws extend from the fingertips.

While physically intimidating and prone to inappropriate behaviours, werewolves also possess a great sense of honour, restraining them from recklessly spreading the werewolf curse. As werewolves become more comfortable with their primal nature, they will develop their lycanthropy skill, reducing their uncontrollable transformations and increasing their hunting prowess.

While their unpredictable nature can make dating difficult, werewolf Sims do possess a certain tenderness in their hearts. They can have children with fellow werewolves or with other Sims, with a 50/50 chance of producing werewolf offspring when mating with a non-werewolf. Werewolf toddlers demonstrate some animalistic behaviours, including howling, scratching and practicing hunting. As children, they will begin to transform between human and werewolf forms. As teenagers, werewolf Sims take on all of the benefits and drawbacks that are associated with this supernatural lifestyle.