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PREPARE FOR FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING WITH THE DEMO AVAILABLE NOW

3rd April 2013 – Coming soon is the eagerly awaited Nintendo 3DS instalment of Intelligent Systems’ tactical role-playing series Fire Emblem: Awakening. Join the adventure in Australia and New Zealand on the 20th April when packaged and Nintendo eShop versions are launched, or try the demo which is available from Nintendo eShop to give Nintendo 3DS players a taste of the action.

This week you can build a foundation to the saga with detailed information on gameplay, characters and the classes systems when the official Fire Emblem: Awakening website[KL1] launches. In addition, you can also read the Iwata Ask: Fire Emblem: Awakening interview with Intelligent Systems.

In Fire Emblem: Awakening, you can create your own character and take him or her on a role-playing adventure. Join Prince Chrom and the Shepherds, and calm the animosity between the kingdoms of Ylisse and Plegia which threaten to turn into war, whilst hordes of undead rise to endanger the world. As commander of your army, devise a plan to rout and crush your enemies in turn-based battles utilising the unique skills of your units. Battles between units are shown as cinematic scenes where you can choose the camera position, for instance to see your finishing blow from a first-person perspective.

Build a formidable army of heroes through allegiances with the many characters you encounter who not only become stronger and more effective from your commands, but also form friendships and marriages to bear children who can fight alongside their parents. So you can choose to play as a matchmaker to bring lovers together, or as a strategist to create the strongest army yet. The progression through your heroes’ relationships makes every player’s game unique. The classic Fire Emblem feature of characters being permanently eliminated if they are defeated in combat is back, however there is the Newcomer Mode where fallen heroes can return to fight in the next battle for RPG fans who want to get into the series.

There are also other radically new features in Fire Emblem: Awakening: you can enjoy lush 3D cutscenes which are fully voiced in English or Japanese, utilise a new tactic where strategically placed characters on the battlefield build Support which increases their relationships and teamwork, and take on the new co-op challenges where you and a friend can connect your Nintendo 3DS and games together locally and take turns in defeating extraordinary enemies.

For the first time in the saga, you will be able to download additional content to expand your adventure via SpotPass and paid-for add-on content available at launch. Via SpotPass you will encounter legendary teams from other Fire Emblem titles in the series, and receive special items, new maps and co-op challenges for free. Via paid-for content you can broaden your core campaign with new battle scenarios that delve deeper into characters’ stories, gain new members in your party and carry over all experience points, items and gold you’ve reaped to your main quest. In addition, the first add-on content map will be free to download for a limited time at launch where you will be able to recruit a special legacy character to your main game!

Fans in Australia and New Zealand have keenly awaited the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening, with US reviewers bestowing glowing reviews, including:

The Escapist, 10 out of 10 –  “A game worth buying a 3DS for.”

IGN, 9.6 out of 10 – “The most fluid and stunning strategy RPG experience available on a portable.”

Metro, 9 out of 10 – “Elevates the series to classic status and in the process creates one of the most engrossing and accessible strategy games ever.”

GameSpot, 8.5 out of 10  – “A gaming gem.”

Own this next chapter in the legend as Fire Emblem: Awakening launches across Australia and New Zealand on 20th April, as a traditional packaged copy at retail or as a digital download from Nintendo eShop.

For further details:

Official Fire Emblem: Awakening Website: [KL2] http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/fire-emblem-awakening/

Nintendo 3DS Website: http://www.nintendo3ds.com.au/

Nintendo Australia Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NintendoAU

Nintendo Australia Image Library: http://www.images.nintendo.com.au

 
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Game of the Year Winner ‘The Walking Dead’ from Telltale Games Coming Soon to Retail in Australia and NZ

Sydney, Australia, April 3, 2013 — Telltale Games, leading publisher of digital entertainment, announced today that the award-winning game series The Walking Dead will soon be available for purchase from Australian and New Zealand retailers on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and PC.

The Walking Dead game was originally a digital download when the series debuted in April 2012. This new retail release is set to launch on May 9th in Australia and May 10th in NZ. It compiles all 5 episodes in the critically-acclaimed first season of the game on one disc.

The Walking Dead has earned Game of the Year honors from over 80 media outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, E! Online, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, and GamesRadar, and recently won the BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.

IGN.com gave the final episode of the season an Editor’s Choice Award and a score of 9.5 out of 10 saying, “People will reference the series over and over as the benchmark for story-telling in games,” and summed up the game’s emotional impact by stating, “I cried in the final minutes, sat silently through the credits, and was speechless after the epilogue.”  

The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.  Players experience life-changing events, meeting new characters and some familiar to fans of the comic book series, in events that foreshadow the story of Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes. The Walking Dead offers an emotionally-charged, tailored game experience – a player’s actions and choices affect how their story plays out across the entire series.

The Walking Dead is rated ‘MA 15+’ (Restricted) for ‘strong themes and horror violence’ by the Australian Classification Board, ‘R16’ for ‘violence, offensive language and horror’ by the New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification.

The Walking Dead is also available to download for Macintosh Computers from the Telltale Online Store and other digital outlets and is available for compatible iOS devices from the App Store.

For more information on the game, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter. For more information on The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, and all of his titles, visit www.Skybound.com.

 
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Naughty Dog reveals two brand new trailers for The Last of Us.

Over the weekend, Naughty Dog took the opportunity to unveil two brand new trailers for The Last of Us.

The first trailer is the first official TV spot which aired in the US during the season finale of The Walking Dead.

Click HERE to view.

The second trailer ‘Red Band’ represents, through gameplay, a slice of the journey Joel and Ellie will be taking across the United States. They’ll travel westward, traversing different climates, environments, and seasons. The moral dilemmas and decisions they’re forced to make will test the limits of their conscience and humanity. Who is a friend and who is a foe? The Last of Us explores many questions that deal with themes of loyalty, love, and redemption.

Click HERE to view The Last of Us – Extended Red Band Trailer.

 

The Last of Us will launch in stores across Australia on June 14, 2013.

 
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BELKIN LAUNCHES ULTIMATE KEYBOARD CASE, REDEFINES CATEGORY WITH BEST-IN-CLASS FEATURES

Tuggerah, Australia – April 2nd, 2013: People-inspired technology brand Belkin today launched a breakthrough new iPad keyboard case — the Ultimate Keyboard Case. Using a revolutionary aluminum alloy and magnet construction, Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case is now the slimmest and lightest keyboard folio of its kind on the market, with a keyboard that is just 6.4mm thin and weighing less than 500 grams. It was designed to enhance today’s most popular tablet without compromising the versatility or portability that make tablets special.

Research conducted by Belkin’s global product development team found that tablet users would often remove their device from its case because it was not conducive to using the tablet to read, watch movies or to play games with the keyboard attached. Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case solves this issue by providing all the key features and advantages of laptop productivity without compromising on convenience or comfort.

“This device allows individuals to not only consume content but also create it more efficiently. It gives the iPad all of the functionality of a laptop, while maintaining the sleek appeal of a tablet.” says Brendan Sparks, Head of Marketing and Product Management, ANZ.

The Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case marries upgraded features such as a durable aluminum alloy base with a precise iPad keyboard, all in a compact package. It conveniently folds flat to hide the keyboard when watching movies or reading. When not in use, smart sensing technology automatically shuts off the keyboard, to offer instant access to the iPad’s onscreen keyboard and help save battery life.

Featuring Belkin’s award-winning TruType keys, the Ultimate Keyboard Case provides a smooth, laptop-like typing experience to minimize errors and maintain typing speed. It also offers a fully protective back cover to keep your iPad safe from scratches, scuffs and every day wear and tear when the keyboard is attached.

An additional enhancement is its SoundFlow design, which enhances audio clarity and directs the sound toward you for superior movie watching or game playing.

Features At A Glance

  • Specially machined aluminum alloy base reduces thickness while improving durability
  • Keyboard  only 6.4mm thin and 482 grams in weight providing a slim, low profile that highlights iPad’s design and minimizes bulk
  • Magnet sensors automatically turn keyboard on or off
  • Media Mode flat fold hides the keyboard away for reading, watching movies or playing games
  • Well-spaced, TruType keys for comfortable, laptop-like typing experience
  • Three viewing and typing angles, with magnets that hold the iPad in place
  • SoundFlow design for enhanced audio power
  • Auto-awake magnets wake up your iPad when opened
  • Shortcut keys for easy media control
  • Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
  • 160 hour battery life under constant use, 6-month standby battery life
  • Rechargeable battery uses included Micro USB cable

Pricing & Availability

Belkin’s Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad will be available in retailers across Australia and New Zealand from May 13th with an RRP of $139.95.

Product Video

View the product video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIGQPScbVPo for an overview of features.

 
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Entertainment Icons Up the Ante in Telltale Games’ Poker Night 2

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Apr. 1, 2013 — Leading publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games – in partnership with studios spanning the worlds of games, television, and cinema – confirms the next entry in their high-stakes series with Telltale Games’ Poker Night 2. 

Some of the biggest personalities in gaming, film, and animation are going all-in on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network, and on PC and Mac from Steam. Other platforms to be announced.

Taking the fifth seat at the table, players will be joined by an all-star cast:

–       Claptrap from Gearbox Software’s critically-acclaimed and multi-million selling Borderlands video game series

–       Brock Samson from Adult Swim’s animated series The Venture Bros.

–       Sam from the Sam & Max video game and comic book series by Steve Purcell

–       Ash Williams from the cult classic movie Army of Darkness. Groovy!

Players at the table will be assured of a fair hand dealt under the unblinking gaze of a Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System from Aperture Science research facilities. Otherwise known as GLaDOS from the Portal and Portal 2 games by Valve, Inc.!

Telltale Games’ Poker Night 2 will offer the chance to win ‘Bounty Unlocks’: rewards for use within other games when special goals are achieved.  With cunning and skill, players will unlock prizes including exclusive skins and heads for use within Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360, PS3 and PC), character accessories for Team Fortress 2 (PC only), unique Xbox 360 Avatar Items, and Premium Themes for dressing up PlayStation 3.

 “It’s great to revisit our roots after the success of The Walking Dead. People might not know that we have a strong history of humor in our games and players are going to find a lot of laughs in Poker Night 2,” said Dan Connors, Telltale CEO and Co-Founder, adding “Poker Night 2 is another example of our ability to work with phenomenal partners and bring great characters to life in the gaming universe.”

Telltale Games’ Poker Night 2 will be released late April on the PlayStation Network, PC and the Xbox LIVE Marketplace; other systems to be announced. Poker Night 2 is rated ‘M’ (Mature) for Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Simulated Gambling, and Use of Tobacco by the ESRB.

For more information on the game, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter.

IMPORTANT: This trailer/video may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar; (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access; and (3) does not display any ESRB rating information on the video player or the age-gate itself. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardize your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future.

 
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A Showdown Four Decades Later: William Shatner Faces the Alien Gorn Again in Promo for Upcoming Release of STAR TREK ™: THE VIDEO GAME

Reprise of legendary 1967 TV battle between Shatner’s Captain Kirk and lizard-like alien puts spotlight

on STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME, set for April 26 release 

More than four decades after they first squared off on an isolated desert planet, William Shatner comes face-to-face again with the menacing Gorn species of STAR TREK fame … but this time the battle begins on a comfy sofa with the two former foes seated in front of a video screen as they fight again in promotion for the April 26 release of STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME.  The Kirk-Gorn rematch can be found at http://youtu.be/4hnBp7x2QAE.

The original Kirk-Gorn duel was seen in the classic 1967 “Arena” episode of the STAR TREK series.  Millions of people have viewed the original on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SK0cUNMnMM.

In the promotional video, which debuted Thursday exclusively on Yahoo! Movies (http://movies.yahoo.com), Shatner and a stunt man in a replica Gorn suit are seen casually playing STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME when a dispute leads to a friendly fight re-enacting actual choreographed punches from the classic TV brawl blow-for-blow. This time, however, couch pillows replace what appeared to be “space rocks” that were thrown the first time around.

“What better way to spotlight the adventure and fun everyone can have actually playing as Capt. Kirk in the new game, than to team up the legendary former captain himself to play one of his old foes,” commented LeeAnne Stables, President of Consumer Products at Paramount Pictures, the studio releasing the game. “Mr. Shatner is such a great sport and that Gorn had absolutely no chance of coming out on top this time.”

After spending a day on the set with the Gorn to create the video, veteran actor Shatner, who originated the role of Capt. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series, added:   “It never ceases to amaze me how many people still ask me about that scene.  It’s 46 years later, and he hasn’t aged as well as I have.”

The highly anticipated STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME features a vastly updated version of the Gorn as the key foe to legendary duo Kirk and Spock.   Players take on the roles of Kirk and Spock, who work together to get to the heart of a mysterious attack by an enemy with unimaginable strength – a re-imagined version of the Gorn.  In an entirely original story, written by BAFTA award winner Marianne Krawczyk, the Gorn is a terrifying threat, with an army that could overwhelm Kirk, Spock and the crew of the Enterprise.

The all-new video showdown between the two STAR TREK icons can also be found online at www.startrekgame.com starting today, and highlights the co-op play that is at the heart of STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME, which will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.  Pre-ordering is available now.

The promotional video was produced in-house under the creative direction of Senior Vice President Brian Miller and shot on location in a ranch-style home in suburban Los Angeles.  The original 1967 Kirk-Gorn fight can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SK0cUNMnMM, courtesy of CBS Television.

STAR TREK The Video Game is under license by CBS Consumer Products and will be released April 26 by Paramount Pictures and NAMCO Bandai Games.

To learn more about STAR TREK The Video Game, visit www.startrekgame.com or follow @star_trek_game on Twitter.

 
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GRID2 – European Expansion Trailer

Sydney, 2nd April – Codemasters® have announced a host of new cars, locations and racing clubs set to feature in GRID 2™ when it launches on May 30. In addition to revealing high performance European vehicles, including those from the game’s Super Touring Car class, Codemasters also released a gameplay video showcasing highlights of GRID 2’s European races; the video is now playing at http://youtu.be/alZ5mdMHzlY. 

The ‘GRID 2: European Expansion’ video focuses on the European cars, clubs and locations. In Road Races on the Côte d’Azur, players speed through tunnels cut into sheer rock and tackle the climbs, plunges and hairpins set amongst some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

The Street Racing category is showcased in central Paris, which comes alive to the sound of roaring engines as cars blast down its magnificent boulevards, sling-shot around the Arc D’Triumph and speed past the Eiffel Tower. Track Racing is represented at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal which makes its console debut in GRID 2. Commonly known as Portimao Circuit, this state of the art, $250M track was opened in 2008 and has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most exciting circuits in motorsport, with constantly undulating asphalt and wide areas built for overtaking.

Additional European locations set to star in GRID 2 include Brands Hatch (Track Racing), Barcelona (Street Racing) and the Red Bull Ring (Track Racing).

The ‘GRID 2: European Expansion’ video also reveals two of the four Touring Cars in competition. In the Super Touring Cars class, the Volvo S60 BTCS – one of the premiere performers in the BTCS and Volvo’s flagship racer – goes wheel-to-wheel with the Gomez Competition, a motorsport thoroughbred custom developed by GC Automotive in Herault in the South of France, with performance that rivals cars from global manufacturers.

Additional Touring Cars in the game include the BMW Motorsport 320 TC – the latest evolution of the car that Andy Priaulx drove to two championships – and the Chevrolet Cruze Touring car, which secured wins in both the WTCC and British Touring Car Championship in 2010, proving this American marquee could compete with the best in the world.

GRID 2’s car list draws models from the finest manufacturers from three continents. Prime examples of European cars set to star in GRID 2 that give a flavour of the car roster include;

BMW E30 M3 Sport Evolution (Evo3)

BMW Motorsport 320 TC

Caterham-Lola SP300R

Ford Focus ST 2013

Gomez Competition GC 10.1

McLaren F1 GT

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.5 Evo 2

Mercedes Benz SLS GT3

Pagani Huayra

Volvo S60 BTCS

Further cars to star in the game are to be announced.

The individual character of every car is brought to life through GRID 2’s ground-breaking TrueFeel™ handling system. Drawing on expertise from professional motorsports drivers and Codemasters’ 15 year heritage in creating award-winning racing games, TrueFeel™ handling lets players feel what it’s like to drive some of the most exciting cars in existence.

GRID 2, the long-awaited sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, critically acclaimed Race Driver: GRID™, will race into ANZ retail on May 30 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows® PC and is available for pre-order now.

Related Links:

Website – http://www.gridgame.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/gridgame
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/gridgame

 
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User privacy plunges as Android aggressive adware and malware rise

Sydney/Auckland – 2 April, 2013 – With adware gleaning more user data from people devices than they would normally need to and developers bundle more than one adware framework into their apps, user privacy is increasingly taking a backseat to profit for developers and advertisers. More and more unknown third parties now have access to user browsing history, phone numbers, email address and everything they need to compile comprehensive and personalised user profiles.

User privacy is taking a serious blow as adware targeting Android devices jumped 61 percent worldwide in the five months through January, while malware expanded 27 percent and adware in the US expanded 35 percent, according to a study by Bitdefender Labs. The number of Trojan reports spiked 37 percent in December 2012.

Android malware and adware are not uncommon to both third party marketplaces and the official Google Play store. While Android adoption increased steadily in the past five months, so has the number of malware and adware detections.

The steepest climb for adware was reported from November to December, reaching a 34 percent increase in a month. Taking advantage of the holiday season, some developers thought to seize the moment to generate extra cash, betting hard that users don’t know how adware behaves.

Trojans saw a slow but steady increase although September to January, only to drop a couple of percentage points in February.

With adware become more intrusive and more bent on collecting as much sensitive information as possible, the line between legitimate software and actual malware is more blurry than ever. Virulent adware seems to increasingly violate user privacy by collecting personal information and using it without users’ knowledge.

While adware is not inherently malicious, it can collect phone numbers, contacts, and email addresses that are broadcasted to third-party services or sold to the highest bidder. The underground market greatly values such data as it can be used by marketers to profile users.

Since most users turn personal devices into work devices, it makes sense that access to restricted and sensitive files is often permitted. As such, it’s not only an issue of having personal data compromised, but also a company privacy matter. Strict BYOD policies should cover malware and virulent adware as well, because both have a direct impact on privacy.

The evolution of Android adware and malware was somewhat different in the US, but it spiked during the holiday season. In November and December 2012, adware spiked, with a 32 percent increase, and malware spiked 33 percent from the previous month.

The ranking Trojan family has been reported as FakeInst, which scams users by asking them to pay for apps that would otherwise be free. If users agree, it sends SMS messages to premium-rated numbers, racking up their phone bills.

In terms of aggressive adware, the Android Adware Plankton family is the most prevalent, as developers use the framework to monetise their work. Adware can also collect personal information such as email addresses and phone numbers. The more adware frameworks bundled with an app, the more intrusive it gets as it broadcasts your data to several third parties.

The ascending trend in both detections indicates that apps bundled with malware and aggressive adware are both reaching for money and for ways to make money by selling your private data. Money is the incentive behind the development of both categories.

 
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WARGAME AIRLAND BATTLE ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE!

British units exposed in screenshots

While the first Beta phase of Wargame AirLand Battle just started, the teams at Eugen Systems are already working hard studying the numerous battle reports supplied by the beta testers in order to improve this spectacular real-time strategy game, bound for release in May. While beta-testers organise their first online matches, the British forces invade our screens through a series of 6 new screenshots!

In these pictures, we notice many new English units making an appearance. Among them, the Tracked Rapier and the FV-434 Falcon, two anti-air support vehicles that will be efficient in dispatching enemy aircraft; the Alvis Stalwart, an armored supply truck; and the FV-510 Warrior, an armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Of course, the RAF (the Royal Air Force) is also present! We can see the Tornado, the Jaguar, the Harrier and their variants, flying in formation above the magnificent reliefs than now compose the landscape of the maps of Wargame.

There’s no denying it: in the upcoming conflict that pits NATO against the Warsaw Pact in Wargame AirLand Battle, the Brits will have strong arguments!

 
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INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US DEMO CONFIRMED FOR XBOX 360 AND PS3

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US DEMO CONFIRMED FOR XBOX 360 AND PS3 

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that a free demo for the upcoming DC Comics fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us will be available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.  Fans can find the demo beginning  April 4 on the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace.

The Injustice: Gods Among Us demo features Batman, Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor – three playable characters pulled from the game’s robust DC Comics roster.  Set in the Gotham City arena, fans can get a taste of the included characters’ unique super powers and individual move-sets as they destroy elements of the world and fight through the multi-tiered arena.

We can also announce that Black Adam is the latest character to join the Injustice: Gods Among Us line up and you can watch the trailer here!

For those who are following the  Injustice: Battle Arena, the semi-final rounds were completed last week, to see who has made it to the final match on April 9th, you can watch the videos below and download here.

Batman vs. The Flash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysLeeZXToA4

Superman vs. Green Lantern

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo8Yhz9fsgs

 
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