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TEAM NINJA ANNOUNCES NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS and Dead or Alive 5 Plus for PlayStation Vita

Superb Graphics, System-specific Features, and Enhanced Gameplay
Bring Topnotch Console-style Action Experiences to Handheld Gaming

BURLINGAME, Calif.DECEMBER 7, 2012 – Team NINJA today revealed that the new generation of DEAD OR ALIVE® combat, DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS(working title), is coming to PlayStation®Vita handheld system alongside NINJA GAIDEN® SIGMA 2 PLUS, the highly anticipated sequel to the hit PS Vita launch title. DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS brings the signature fighting style of the popular DOA series to PS Vita with all-new system-specific features complementing the stunning graphics and new martial arts techniques of the recent console release. Faster, bloodier, and more beautiful than ever, NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS takes the legendary action game to the next level on a versatile new battleground. Developed by Team NINJA, both games will be published by TECMO KOEI America and are scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2013.

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS and NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS both bring the art of combat alive with graphics that rival any console game alongside tight controls designed to fully harness the power of the PS Vita,” said Yosuke Hayashi, Team NINJA leader. “Whether unleashing martial arts moves or striking down enemies as a deadly ninja, players will discover that handheld gaming has never looked—or played—better.”

Building on the popular DOA series’ signature fighting style, DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS brings the spectacular graphics and new martial arts techniques of the recent console release to the PS Vita with all-new system-specific features. Players will take on the roles of the cast of DEAD OR ALIVE fighters in an intense, action-packed brawler set in visually striking locations from around the world, with each stage featuring backdrops that change and interact with players. With a sensual yet realistic style, characters are rendered in incredibly lifelike detail. New touch controls bring a completely new experience to fighting games. Simple taps, swipes, and pinches on your opponent trigger a variety of devastating moves. Using the Vita’s motion sensor, you can even play vertically for a first-person, full-screen view of your opponent. Both new and expert players will also find even more ways to up their game with new training-focused modes and a new display of advanced frame data that reveals twice the amount of information for each move compared to previous versions. Tournament players will spend hours analyzing the best moves for their fights.

NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS brings the most intense, action-packed ninja adventure to PS Vita with stunning graphics, new modes, and plenty of blood. In the game, Ryu Hayabusa, the iconic super ninja of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, returns to the Sigma series to prevent the resurrection of the evil Archfiend by hunting down the Demon Statue stolen by the wicked Black Spider Ninja Clan. Players will battle from Tokyo to New York as Ryu encounters vicious enemies and acquires an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry along the way. The action lights up the Vita’s impressive OLED screen with graphical quality exceeding the original Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus. An intuitive control system uses the front and rear touch screens and motion controls of the PS Vita, and new players will appreciate the inclusion of Hero Mode, which automatically boosts their attacks when their health is low. New modes include “Ninja Race,” where players compete with enemies at breakneck speed to reach the end goal, and “Tag Mission,” in which players can switch between two ninjas in real-time while defending the AI-controlled partner.

Team NINJA will release more information on both titles in the coming weeks/months.

 
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VIRGIN GAMING AND XBOX 360 TEAM UP TO LAUNCH THE HALO 4 INFINITY CHALLENGE

The “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge” launches Dec. 17, giving players a chance to win a UNSC-themed 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor truck and a cameo in a future “Halo” game. 

VIRGIN GAMING “HALO 4 INFINITY CHALLENGE”

Virgin Gaming, Xbox 360 and 343 Industries are joining forces to launch the “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge” on Xbox LIVE starting Dec. 17, bringing gamers the biggest and most accessible free-to-enterHalo” tournament in the world.

Starting today, players can register for the “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge” by visiting www.halo4infinitychallenge.com (localised registration sites available on Dec. 12). Launching on Dec. 17, the free-to-enter tournament will track your personal score in War Games and the number of Spartan Ops1 chapters you complete on global leaderboards, giving players of different preferences and skill levels all a shot at the more than 2,800 prizes. For the War Games leaderboard winner, the grand prize will be a UNSC-themed, V8-powered 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor truck designed by 343 Industries, and for the Spartan Ops winner, the grand prize will be an appearance in a future “Halo” game.

During the qualifier phase (Dec. 17 – Jan. 10), players will need to climb the ranks of the global leaderboards by competing in either the Spartan Ops or War Games leaderboard. After the qualifier phase, players will be tiered into three groups (based on their results on the qualifier phase leaderboards) and will enter the finals phase (Jan. 12 – Jan. 19).  In addition, players can also participate in Weekly Challenges found on Halo Waypoint at http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/challenges for a chance to win great prizes.

During the finals, the leaderboards will reset and prizes will be awarded to the top performers in each tier. While terrific prizes are available within all three tiers, the grand prizes will be offered exclusively for those that have battled their way to the top tier.

For tournament and registration information, please visit: www.halo4infinitychallenge.com or http://www.halowaypoint.com/ 

“HALO 4” CRIMSON MAP PACK

Comprised of three brand new multiplayer maps (Wreckage, Harvest and Shatter), the “Halo 4” Crimson Map Pack2 will launch on Dec. 10 on Xbox LIVE for 800 MS points (or at no additional charge for those that purchased the “Halo 4” Map Pass or “Halo 4” Limited Edition).

Timed just before the launch of the “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge,” the new map pack gives players more reason than ever to stay online and prepare for the upcoming competition by exploring these stunning new battlegrounds. 

SPARTAN OPS SEASON CONTINUES IN JANUARY

Clearing the way for the “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge” and the “Halo 4” Crimson Map Pack, Spartan Ops will go on a mid-season break starting Dec. 10. During the week of Dec. 10, 343 Industries will re-enter five chapters from the first half of the season into Matchmaking as a “Best of Spartan Ops” compilation. From Dec. 17 – Jan. 14, episodes 1-5 will be re-entered into Matchmaking (one episode per week) to support the “Halo 4 Infinity Challenge,” and allow anyone who missed or wants to replay a previous chapter to easily find teammates online. (Check out http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/intel/spartanops for more information.)

The second half of Spartan Ops Season One will resume later in January with brand new episodes, chapters, locations and maps.

 
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Can’t get no satisfaction? Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Concert to stream live on Yahoo!7

Sydney, Australia, December 7, 2012 – Yahoo!7 today announced the exclusive online live stream of the Rolling Stones 50th anniversary concert on www.who.com, which is part of the Yahoo!7 Network. This must-see concert event will take place on Sunday, December 16, 1pm AEDT.

Yahoo!7 will provide fans the exclusive online opportunity to purchase the pay-per-view concert and stream it live via their desktop, mobile or tablet for USD$31.95.

In celebration of this memorable and unique event, the online destination of WHO – Australia’s leading celebrity magazine, will be the only place for Australians to access exclusive ‘Stones’ videos, picture galleries and blog content in the lead up to the concert.

WHAT: www.who.com will host the exclusive pay-per-view live stream of The Rolling Stones’ 50th Anniversary concert. 

WHEN: Sunday, December 16, at 1pm AEDT 

WHERE: Concert to be streamed live on www.who.com

 
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HOUSOS VS AUTHORITY on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download February 27

HOUSOS VS AUTHORITY, mate! Coming at you on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download Feb 27. You better like it or you’re gonna get thonged!

Shazza’s been having a tough time lately – her Dad Wazza died “on the job”, she’s thrown a brick at the head of a skanky model parading up and down their street and now there’s worse news – her mum, whom she hasn’t seen or heard from since she was three, is dying and wants to see Shazza one last time. Trouble is, she lives in Alice Springs and the dole money isn’t going to stretch to a trip to the dead centre. In Sunnyvale if you need the impossible done, you can’t go past the bikies. For the right price they can organize just about anything!

Bikie gang leader, Angry, gives Shazza a job – drive a campervan to Alice Springs, deliver the goods hidden inside and bring the campervan back. Simple. Shazza, Dazza, Franky, Vanessa and Kev hit the road and, after some hectic diversions, arrive in Alice Springs just in time. On her deathbed, Shazza’s mum asks her to sprinkle her ashes on top of Uluru after she’s gone. Shazza, Dazza, Franky, Vanessa and Kev head to the Rock where they take on every authority possible in their quest to fulfil Shazza’s Mum’s dying wish.

No money, no smokes and no rules – it’s a long way to the top if you wanna be a Houso!

FROM THE STOOGES WHO BROUGHT YOU FAT PIZZA AND SWIFT AND SHIFT COURIERS

WATCH THE TRAILER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=26O9XYTSj4g

Check out the Facebook page – with over 122 000 fans!

www.facebook.com/housostv

“It’s unlikely that any movie has ever had such cheerfully obscene, f*ck-filled dialogue ” – Screen Daily

“It’s loud, crude and rude just the way it should be! ” – The Playlist

Available on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download Feb 27

 
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Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition Now Available for iOS Devices

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition is now available for select iOS devices. The successor to the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City turned the open world series from a critically acclaimed bestseller into a cultural phenomenon.

This 10th Anniversary Edition is an enhanced version of the award-winning original game, optimized for mobile and tablet devices with several new mobile-specific features including an intuitive, fully scalable and customizable user interface, new camera controls, upgraded textures, greater resolutions and increased draw distance.

Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition is available for $5.49 AUD/ $6.49NZD from the App Store and is compatible with the following iOS devices: iPad, iPad mini, iPhone 4, 4S & 5, iPod touch 4th & 5th Generation.

Due to unforeseen technical issues, the Android release of Vice City will be slightly delayed. Our goal is to get this out for Android by the end of next week. Our apologies for the delay to all our fans on Android devices and please stay tuned for updates.

 
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Bethesda is pleased to announce that they’ve just released a new gameplay trailer for Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials, the first add-on pack for the critically-acclaimed first-person action game developed by Arkane Studios.

Bethesda is pleased to announce that they’ve just released a new gameplay trailer for DishonoredDunwall City Trialsthe first add-on pack for the critically-acclaimed first-person action game developed by Arkane Studios. 

Dunwall City Trials will include 10 challenge maps that will test and track your combat, stealth and mobility skills. Creatively combine your supernatural abilities, weapons and gadgets to eliminate as many targets as possible, fight off waves of tallboys, guards, weepers and thugs, or take out targets in a non-stop run of drop assassinations. Dunwall City Trials also features a new set of achievements and trophies as well as a global online leaderboard.

Dunwall City Trials will be available worldwide on December 11, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC for AUD$8.45 (or 400 Microsoft Points).

For more information on Dishonored and the newest add-on pack please visit www.Dishonored.com.

To view on YouTube visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFoGQCPVSSQ.

 
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New Plantronics Headsets Make Communication More Effective and Stylish

New Marque 2 headset, improved BackBeat GO, and P2i technology enhance Plantronics’ mobility line-up 

Sydney, Australia – December 07, 2012Plantronics today announced the addition of two Bluetooth headsets, with the launch of the Marque 2TM M165 headset and the reintroduction of the BackBeat GO® headset, now available in white. These additions are designed to deliver the most reliable, convenient and innovative products Plantronics can offer.

Marque 2TM (M165) Headset

Marque 2, Plantronics’ smallest and most lightweight headset, is the perfect companion for smartphone enthusiasts. It lets you listen to music or stream audio and Internet radio, all while managing calls without pressing buttons; users are able to simply say “Answer” or “Ignore”. Dual microphones reduce noise and wind for clear and crisp call quality. The Marque 2 features the new DeepSleepTM power-saving mode ensuring that the headset is always ready when you are. The headset also has up to 11 hours of talk time, 16 hours of standby or 150 days in hibernation mode. You can enhance the Marque 2 experience even further by using the free MyHeadset app.

For more information, visit http://www.plantronics.com/au/product/m165

BackBeat GO® Wireless Earbuds

BackBeat GO, Plantronics’ popular wireless earbuds for music, multimedia, and more, has undergone several enhancements to give consumers an even better user experience. Now also available in white, the latest BackBeat GO boasts rich stereo sound, noise reduction technology for improved call clarity, and inline controls that allows users to quickly and easily take calls, skip tracks and adjust volume in any situation. The enhanced BackBeat GO is even more reliable now, with the inclusion of exclusive P2i nano-coating technology, protecting the earbuds from sweat and other moisture damage. Other enhanced features include: increased maximum volume, up to eight device memory and pre-installed ear stabilisers.

For more information, visit http://www.plantronics.com/au/product/backbeat-go 

P2i Nano-Coating Technology

Plantronics has entered into an exclusive partnership with P2i, the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology. P2i’s innovative technology will be used on select Plantronics devices, making them even more reliable and providing significant protection against damage from moisture. The invisible P2i coating has a thickness equivalent to one thousandth of a human hair, and does not change the look or feel of the Plantronics products. Its ultra-thin size means it also does not affect electrical conductivity, ensuring that the product can be treated, inside and out. The new award-winning Voyager Legend™ and BackBeat GO headsets, including the new white BackBeat GO headset, include P2i’s nano-coating.

“Australians are very active and always on the go, so moisture shouldn’t alter the performance of their headset. As experts in wearable technology, Plantronics recognises that headsets should operate whatever the environment, so this partnership with P2i was a natural choice,” said Peter Petrides, National Sales Manager, Plantronics Australia & New Zealand.

“We’re excited to introduce P2i’s nano-coating to the Voyager Legend and BackBeat GO headsets, including the new white BackBeat GO headset. With the P2i coating, any liquid that lands on these devices will simply bead up and run off the headset, instead of permeating electrical components and potentially causing corrosion damage.” 

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Marque 2 and the enhanced BackBeat GO headset (with P2i nano-coating technology) are available now, priced at AU$79.00 and AU$119.00 respectively. For a full list of retailers please visit www.plantronics.com.au.

 
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THQ continues the “Survivors” series

They fled to the refuge of the Metro and escaped Armageddon. Now beneath the toxic wastelands, a lucky few adapt to survive in this new and inhospitable world, an unrelenting purgatory.

“In my glorious past, I led armies and commanded respect. Now, the same men call me dog, traitor, murderer …”

THQ are thrilled to launch the third and final instalment of their “Survivors” series following characters from the standout “Enter The Metro” short film released earlier this year.

This tells the story of “The Commander”.  His life charts the downfall of a career soldier in charge of marshalling the terrified populace into the safety of the Metro system, to an outcast living on the periphery of the subterranean society, contributing nothing and living by his wits.

To view on YouTube visit  HERE.

To view the original “Enter The Metro” short film please click HERE.

Metro: Last Light is releasing for 360, PS3 and PC in March 2013 and is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by All Interactive Entertainment.

 
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THQ is thrilled to release the first Developer Diary for Company of Heroes 2!

THQ is thrilled to release the first Developer Diary for Company of Heroes 2!

The team at Relic Entertainment take you behind the scenes with the sequel to the highest rated RTS of all time.

To download the Australian Company Of Heroes 2 60 second Dev Diary please click HERE.

To view the full Dev Diary you can view it on the official ANZ THQ YouTube Channel HERE.

The original Company of Heroes was released in 2006 to critical acclaim and is currently the highest rated strategy title on Gamerankings.com (with more than five reviews) with an average of 93.82% based on 56 reviews. The game features similar acclaim on Metacritic.com with a Metascore of 93% based on 55 reviews.

Company of Heroes 2 is scheduled to be available for PC in early 2013 and is distributed in Australia and New Zealand via All Interactive Entertainment.

For more information check out www.companyofheroes.com

 
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Immanitas Entertainment reveals first trailer of ONG BAK TRI – THE GAME

ONG BAK TRI – THE GAME is based on the next installment of the popular Ong Bak movie franchise and will be published exclusively by Immanitas Entertainment this winter worldwide for PC, consoles and smartphones.

ONG BAK TRI which is being developed by Immanitas Entertainment’s partner Studio HIVE in Thailand features three core elements of gameplay: intense fighting action, impressive free running sequences and highly cinematic quick-time action events. The game itself is presented as a 2.5D side-scroller, with gorgeous graphics running on the Unity Game Engine.

One of the most important goals for ONG BAK TRI was to deliver an authentic Ong Bak experience. Superstar Tony Jaa has lent his likeness to the game character and the development itself was closely accompanied by the great minds behind the movies, in particular the movie director, Thossaporn Poonnart, and the original creator and master choreographer, Panna Rittikrai.

Please visit the official Facebook page of ONG BAK TRI: facebook.com/ongbakgame