What’s On at Scienceworks

January to March 2010

Going Places: The Technology of Transport

Pilot an airship through sky hoops, ride the hovercraft and land a plane on the flight simulator. Find out how travel has shaped society and put yourself to the test with a multitude of transport challenges. With more than 20

hands-on exhibits, Going Places is a wild ride. This unique exhibition explores the way mankind has developed new transport technology to overcome gravity, distance and the division of continents to move us around the globe.

Developed by Scitech, Perth

Date: Until 17 October 2010

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

Toys: Science at Play 

What makes a spinning top stay upright? Why do magnets attract iron? How does a doll talk? This popular interactive exhibition returns to Scienceworks and includes robots, dolls, hula hoops, building blocks, toy timelines and kaleidoscopes. Toys provides plenty of opportunities for all ages with enquiring minds to tinker with toys. 

Developed by Scienceworks and Scitech, Perth

Date: Until 18 July 2010

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

Summer School Holidays

Explore the wonders of flight this summer as part of Scienceworks’ summer school holiday program, ‘Up, Up and Away!’ Learn all about how we lift ourselves off the ground in ‘Winging It!’, a live science show all about flight, then make your own flying object to take home in the ‘Design-a-Glider’ activity.

Date: 26 December 2009 to 31 January 2010

Winning Sky Photos: the David Malin Awards

A display of spectacular images of the sky from the annual photography competition named after the world-renowned astrophotography and competition judge, Professor David Malin.

Exhibition developed by the Central West Astronomical Society and toured by the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

Date: From 29 January 2010

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

Discover the Night Sky

Evening Planetarium Program

The Melbourne Planetarium at Scienceworks presents special after-dark sessions, Thursday evenings in March. All evenings include complimentary wine and cheese, the opportunity to chat to the Planetarium’s Astronomer and be immersed in a Planetarium experience. The evening will finish with stargazing through telescopes (weather permitting). Each evening will showcase a different aspect of the night sky:

Thursday 4 March:      Backyard Astronomy

It’s not just stars you can see in the night sky – planets, comets, shooting stars and satellites are all there if you know when and where to look.

Thursday 11 March:    Travel the Universe

We invite you on a tour of the Universe that will take you from Spotswood to the far reaches of space.

Thursday 18 March:    Deep Sky Wonders

Explore magnificent galaxies, sparkling star clusters, mysterious gas clouds and much more.

Thursday 25 March:    Our Solar System

Journey through planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids and comets. Marvel at the beauty of each unique world and the stories they tell.

Session times: Commence 7pm.

Cost: $25 per person, MV members $20, Season pass $85.

Bookings essential: Call 03 9392 4819 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm

Harrison Refrigerator Model

Come and see a model of the first successful industrial refrigerator (1857) developed by James Harrison of Geelong. An internationally significant invention, the refrigerator was used in breweries, hotels and distilleries throughout Britain, Europe, South America and Australia. This model was displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, United States of America, from 1964 to 2002 and is now on show at Scienceworks.

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

1908 Wright Engine

See the engine from the first powered aeroplane to fly in Australia. The plane was a Wright Model A, designed by Orville Wright of the Wright brothers. Piloted by English racing driver Colin Defries and named ‘The Stella’ after Defries’ wife, the plane flew about 100 yards (91m) on 9 December 1909. The flight was witnessed and reported by several reliable sources, but was not officially recognized and the first flight trophy was awarded to Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss) in 1910. This engine is one of the most significant aeronautical artefacts in Museum Victoria’s collection.

Date: From late March 2010

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

Machines in Action Day

Take a ride on a model steam train and check out historic vehicles in action as they parade around the arena. Items on display include the Cowley Steam Roller, Cowley Steam Traction Engine, the only working Australian made traction engine in the world, along with the Super Sentinel Steam Wagon, the K.L. Bulldog Tractor and many others.

Date: Sunday 28 March 2010

Cost: Included with Scienceworks admission

Autumn Holidays

Spin out this autumn at Scienceworks as we explore the science of toys that turn and tumble.  Make your very own toy to take home and view a dynamic science show featuring things that spin.

Date: 27 March to 11 April 2010

Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood. (Melway 56, B1). Open daily 10.00am – 4.30pm. Admission: Adults $8, Children and Concession FREE. For further details ph 03 9392 4800 or visit museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks

Cisco Reunites Family for Christmas Through the Magic of TelePresence

Cisco Helps Long-Lost Relatives Connect via Cisco TelePresence as Part of Its ‘Christmas Connections’ Contest

SYDNEY, Australia – Dec. 23, 2009 – Cisco today helped reunite a family after more than 50 years of separation, using its Cisco TelePresence™ system. The Cisco ‘Christmas Connections’ Contest invited people residing in Australia and New Zealand to submit their stories for a chance to connect with family and friends from around the world over Cisco TelePresence. The winning Australian entry was from three elderly sisters and their families from Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, and Virginia in the United States, who had seen each other only once in more than half a century.

With the help of Cisco, the family today enjoyed a ‘virtual’ Christmas dinner with more than 20 family members from three generations, including never before seen children and grandchildren.

The contest winners were Claire (83), Athlone (80) and Sonia (73), three sisters who last lived together as a family in Brisbane, with two other sisters, Leone and Zoe (both deceased).  After WWII, Claire emigrated to the US where she lives today near Herndon, VA. The other sisters remained in Australia and have been together once since 1953. Danelle Dobinson, Athlone’s eldest child, wrote in the contest entry submission that “in light of their ages, it’s unlikely that my mother and aunts will have the opportunity to visit in person in the future, so it would mean everything for them to be able to see each other and as many of the children and grandchildren as possible once more.”

Despite the oddity of eating Christmas “dinner” at breakfast time for the Sydney and Brisbane based relatives, while their American relatives ate dinner in snowy Virginia, the unusual situation did not detract from the warmth and intimacy which developed through the virtual connection. Sonia, the youngest sister from Sydney said before the event that “it will be lovely just to be able to see Claire, and catch up with as many of the family as we can at this special time”.

Cisco TelePresence allowed  more than 20 family members to reunite without the need for financially and physically draining long-distance travel. The technology combines high-definition audio quality, interactive technologies and a specially designed environment to approximate the feeling of being in the same room despite the participants being in separate locations.

Cisco awarded two first-place prizes of Christmas dinners over Cisco TelePresence, one for Australia and another for a New Zealand family connecting with relatives in England. Cisco also gave out 10 second-place prizes of a Cisco TelePresence meeting and 20 Flip Mino^TM cameras for third-place prizes, to the people with the entries that best illustrated the importance of connections with family and friends at Christmas.

LEONARD NIMOY REPRISES LEGENDARY ROLE OF “SPOCK” IN STAR TREK™ ONLINE

Nimoy will voice the introduction to Star Trek Online and key in-game scenes.

New York, NY (December 22, 2009) – Atari, Inc., one of the world’s most recognized videogame publishers, and acclaimed MMO developer Cryptic Studios™, announced today that Leonard Nimoy, the actor who originated the legendary and beloved Star Trek character of Spock more than 40 years ago, has joined the cast of Star Trek Online, the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) ever set in the Star Trek universe.

Nimoy, who recently reprised his role as Spock in 2009’s Star Trek movie, will voice the introduction for Star Trek Online. Nimoy’s voice, known to millions of fans all over the world, will also be heard during key scenes and events in-game.

“I am happy to be involved with Star Trek Online. In this game, the essence of Star Trek – exploration and adventure – lives long and prospers,” said Nimoy. “I’m pleased that a whole new generation of fans will be able to discover new frontiers in the Star Trek universe.”

“Mr. Nimoy’s participation in Star Trek Online brings the game to a whole new level,” said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. “When Star Trek fans hear his voice they will know that Star Trek Online truly is part of the Star Trek universe.”

Nimoy received multiple Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Spock during the original run of Star Trek in the late 1960s.  Besides his on-screen roles in six Star Trek feature films, he directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and helped write Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.  He has also appeared as Spock in Star Trek: The Next Generation and most recently, starred as Spock in J.J. Abrams’s film Star Trek.

Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures.  Offering space and ground game play, players will have the opportunity to become a high-ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets, and even inside other starships.  Star Trek Online offers total customization where every ship player’s command can be customized, from color to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in Star Trek Online, as well as customize the look of their avatar’s uniform.

Star Trek Online is a licensed product from CBS Consumer Products. For more information and to pre-order, please visit: www.startrekonline.com and www.atari.com

Zachary Quinto, Star Trek’s Newest Spock, Boldly Goes into Gaming by Lending Voice to Atari’s Star Trek™ Online

Quinto to Teach Players How to Navigate the Star Trek Universe, Attain Higher Ranks, and Succeed in Missions during Star Trek Online’s Tutorial

New York, NY (December XXXX) – Atari, Inc., one of the world’s most recognized videogame publishers, and acclaimed MMO developer Cryptic Studios™, have announced today that Zachary Quinto will lend his voice to the highly anticipated Star Trek Online for PC, set to release on February 2, 2010 in North America and February 5, 2010 across Europe and Australia. Quinto, who garnered critical and fan acclaim as Spock in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek, will play the part of an Emergency Medial Hologram and will voice the tutorial of this first-of-a-kind massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), teaching fans how to explore the Star Trek Online universe, improve their characters, attain higher ranks, and succeed in space combat and on away missions.

“Zachary Quinto has inspired both new and long-time Star Trek fans through his extraordinary portrayal of Spock in 2009’s Star Trek,” said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. “We are thrilled to have him participate in Star Trek Online as players get set to explore this whole new chapter of the beloved universe.”

“Being a part of the Star Trek universe has been an incredible experience for me,” said Zachary Quinto. “Extending that experience into the gaming space – and sharing it with gamers and trek enthusiasts around the world – makes it even more exciting.”

Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Offering space and ground game play, players will have the opportunity to become a high-ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets, and even inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization where every ship player’s command can be customized, from color to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in Star Trek Online, as well as customize the look of their avatar’s uniform.

Star Trek Online is a licensed product from CBS Consumer Products. For more information and to pre-order, please visit: www.startrekonline.com and www.atari.com

CHAMPIONS ONLINE LAUNCHES NEW CONTENT ‘ATTACK OF THE MISFIT TOYS’

– Winter Event, Demo Program, Referral Bonuses and iPhone Application Announced –

New York, NY (December 22, 2009) — Atari, Inc. and Cryptic Studios in partnership with Namco Bandai Partners Australia New Zealand announced today a quartet of new programs to celebrate the holiday season in Champions Online.

“We really wanted to celebrate the holidays by giving our players some really fun gifts,” said Bill Roper, Executive Producer of Champions Online. “So we’ve cooked up a brand new winter event, and created several new ways to share the joy of Champions Online.”

First among those is the Attack of the Misfit Toys. In celebration of the winter holiday season, psychotic bad guy Black Harlequin has made deadly changes to all the toys being given out in Millennium City. He’s even has brought along his own giant, murderous mecha-teddy, Clarence, to have some fun.

Also in the holiday spirit, but far less deadly, Cryptic Studios is initiating a referral program allowing players to invite a friend to play free for ten days. Both players and recruits will win a rare in-game action figure and bonuses. For every recruit who buys the game, players will also earn an extra costume slot and 400 Cryptic Points to spend as they wish.   

To prolong the fun, Cryptic Studios is also inviting new players to enjoy a Champions Online demo. Players can play the tutorial for free, defending Millennium City from alien invasion. Players will be able to create two fully customized characters and play them all the way up to Level 15 within the tutorial. Look for the demo beginning December 22, 2009.

The team at Cryptic Studios is also taking Champions Online mobile with a new iPhone app. Players can download the Champions Companion for free from the App Store. Champions Companion allows players to keep up with the latest game news, view their characters and communicate with friends playing the game.

Champions Online taps into a rich universe of heroes and villains with unparalleled intrigue and adventure. Cryptic Studios has taken the genre to new heights with Champions Online’s fast paced, “real time” action combat and the power of total customization.  Through Champions’ unique character customization tool the player can create and individualize every component of their hero: name, back story, costume, powers and abilities can all be modified in countless ways.  In addition to allowing players to transform into the ultimate hero, gamers can craft an enemy of the extreme opposite, concoct a villainous history for their ultimate foe and guarantee themselves a truly unique experience.   

For more information about the Attack of the Misfit Toys event, please click here:

http://www.champions-online.com/winter_event

For more information about the Champions Online Referral Program, please click here:

http://www.champions-online.com/referral

For more information about the Champions Online Demo, please click here on December 21, 2009:

http://www.champions-online.com/demo

For more information about the Champions Companion for iPhone, please click here:

http://www.champions-online.com/companion

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information about Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at:

www.crypticstudios.com

ABOUT ATARI, SA

Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for interactive game platforms that include PC, online, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone).  Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Atari London Studio, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.

Atari benefits from its global brand and an extensive catalogue of popular games based on classic owned game franchises (Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander), original owned franchises (Test Drive, Backyard Sports, Deer Hunter), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters, Project Runway, Dungeons and Dragons).

For more information please visit www.atari.com

© 2009 Atari Europe SASU. All rights reserved.

Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

Australian team wins best V-blog award at inaugural Autodesk PANORAMA 2009 Asia Pacific Animation Challenge  

21 December 2009 – After four days of intense competition among 11 student teams, the three-man team from Swinburne University of Technology won first prize for The Best V-Blog Award at the inaugural Autodesk PANORAMA Asia Pacific Animation Challenge and Animation Bootcamp 2009 in Hong Kong.

Richard Osellame, Danny Masalkovski and Steven Donnet won first prize for their V-blog Tweet Revenge. The award recognised creativity, originality, motion, technical excellence and overall design.

Wendy Li, Autodesk branch manager, Hong Kong and Macau, Autodesk Far East Ltd, said, “We were very impressed by the high standard of the audition submissions for PANORAMA across the region and the winning animated productions delivered by the 11 student finalist teams under the mentorship of industry professionals and Autodesk customers. We have achieved our objectives of inspiring, grooming and providing young digital artists with opportunities to acquire the skills and industry exposure they need to excel.”

The Autodesk PANORAMA Animation Challenge received 57 entries across seven countries in Asia – Hong Kong, China, Australia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. 11 student teams were shortlisted to compete at the Autodesk PANORAMA Animation Bootcamp held at the Hong Kong Cyberport from 11 to 14 December 2009. Teams were then trained under the mentorship of industry professionals and Autodesk customers from Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, Imagi Studio, Rhythm & Hues Studio and Rising Sun Pictures, who shared their invaluable knowledge on how to leverage Autodesk software to fine-tune the animated projects submitted by the teams during the qualifying stages of the competition.

Oscar Sheikh and Sin Yu Tsang from Hong Kong, winners of the PANORAMA Champion Award, said, “PANORAMA has been a valuable opportunity for us to not only compete against more than 50 student teams across the region, but to really hone our design skills and widen our horizons under the guidance and encouragement of our PANORAMA mentors.”

The seven winning teams were:

1. PANORAMA CHAMPION AWARD
Country                : Hong Kong – Team 1
Film title          : Tancho
Institute                : City University of Hong Kong
Participants        : Oscar Sheikh / Sin Yu Tsang

2. 1st RUNNER UP AWARD
Country                : Malaysia – Team 1
Film title        : My Territory
Institute                : The One Academy
Participants        : Chin Kuan Win / Julian Chai / Yow Han Chong

3. 2nd RUNNER UP AWARD
Country                : Malaysia – Team 2
Film title        : Nature’s Roar
Institute                : The One Academy
Participants        : Loh Yong Kang / Tan Guo Xiang / The Beng Eu

4. THE BEST ROOKIE AWARD
Country                : Singapore Team
Film title          : Alice
Institute                : Singapore Polytechnic
Participant        : Grace Ng Siew Mei / Owen Lim / Bavani Naidu

5. THE ANIMAX EXTRAORDINARY AWARD
Country                : India – Team 2
Film title        : The Moon
Institute                : National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad
Participants        : Pratik Ghosh / Nikhil Bajpai

6. THE BEST TEAM WORK AWARD
Country                : Philippines Team
Film title          : Maskara
Institute                : Ateneo de Naga University
Participant        : Alejandra Karlo Zapanta / Albert B. Brisenio / James Jerome Raneses

7. THE BEST V-BLOG AWARD
Country                : Australia – Team 1
Film title        : Tweet Revenge
Institute                : Swinburne University of Technology
Participants        : Richard Osellame / Danny Masalkovski / Steven Donnet

Benjamin Huber, Lucasfilm Animation, said: “One of the hardest things for studios globally, particularly in this region where the industry is still relatively young, is finding talent that can immediately be productive without too much additional training. I applaud Autodesk for organising PANORAMA, as it contributes significantly towards raising the design skills of students and their awareness of industry standards and requirements.”

The finalist teams’ original animated productions will be aired as vignettes on Animax from 25 December 2009 onwards.

Li continued, “The success of this inaugural competition would not have been possible if not for the shared commitment and vision of our partners from Cyberport IncuTrain Centre, Hong Kong Cyberport, the Mayan Hong Kong User Group, and Animax. The positive feedback we have received from educational institutions and industry professionals across Asia has been overwhelming and Autodesk looks forward to creating more of such opportunities to showcase the creativity and innovative spirit of students across Asia Pacific.”

For additional information about Autodesk PANORAMA Animation Challenge and Animation Bootcamp, please visit www.apac-panorama.com.

About the Mayan: Hong Kong User Group
The Hong Kong Maya User Group is a passionate, non-profit organisation formed by dedicated Maya users.  The primary objective of the group is to promote and cultivate professionalism in digital content creation with a focus on 3D computer graphics, animations and digital visual effects creation, especially to the education community.  The group has developed a strong network among similar user groups in the APAC region, and aim to elevate users’ skills through the exchange of ideas, programs and best practices. For additional information, visit www.mayan.hk/mayan/Welcome.html

About Cyberport IncuTrain Centre
Funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund, Cyberport is Hong Kong’s first and only incubation and training centre for the digital entertainment industry. Dubbed as the “IncuTrain Centre”, it aims to promote the commercial success of Hong Kong’s digital entertainment industry, foster entrepreneurship and competence amongst small-to-medium size businesses, and generate a pool of creative business talents for the local industry. IncuTrain also provides incubatee companies with fully equipped office spaces, advance digital production facilities, support in business development, training, legal advice, internship recruitment, and facilitates partnership matching and collaborations with local and overseas organisations. For more information, visit www.incutrain.hk.

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD® software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software to help customers experience their ideas digitally before they are built. Fortune 100 companies – as well as the last 14 Academy Award® winners for Best Visual Effects – use Autodesk software tools to design, visualise and simulate their ideas to save time and money, enhance quality, and foster innovation for competitive advantage.

BANJO -KAZOOIE & PLAYABLE AVATARS CONFIRMED FOR SONIC & SEGA ALL-STARS RACING

Monday 21^st December 2009 – SEGA® Europe Ltd., SEGA® of America, Inc. and Microsoft today announced an exciting new partnership for Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing™.  For the first time ever in a racing game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, you will be able to jump in to the game in the form of your Avatar and race against your favourite Sonic & SEGA characters.  In yet another addition to the character roster and exclusive to the Xbox 360 version, Banjo and Kazooie will make a welcome return to the console and take to the starting grid in their Bolt Bucket all terrain vehicle!

Working closely with the Rare Studio to bring the popular characters to life, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Banjo and Kazooie taking their place on the starting grid alongside classic SEGA characters such as Sonic, AiAi, Amy, Knuckles and Ryo Hazuki.  As well as mastering the drift system to get the best out of the tracks, and picking up  weapons such as Sonic speed boots and homing rockets along the way, Banjo and his faithful sidekick Kazooie will be able to unleash their own unique All-Star move in a bid to cross the finish line in pole position!

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will also be the first racing game for the Xbox 360 to feature fully playable Avatars.  Have you ever pictured yourself speeding around the lush green hills of Sonic’s Seaside Hill Zone?  Or wondered how you’d look rolling around the levels of Super Monkey Ball?  Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will allow your Avatar to hop in to the All-Stars Racing “Avacar” and put your pedal to the metal around SEGA world inspired tracks!  If you find yourself towards the back of the race, or taking hits from everyone’s weapons, it’s your friends that will come to your rescue in the Avatar All-Star move, with recognisable faces from your Xbox LIVE Friends List offering a helping hand!

“We’re very excited to see Banjo and Kazooie back on the screen racing against these great SEGA characters” said Shintaro Kanaoya, Head of Business Strategy and Development at Rare.  “We’re also very proud to see the Xbox 360 Avatars, which were conceived of and developed at Rare, incorporated into the game and allowing players to put themselves in the driving seat.  The project has been an excellent collaboration between Rare and SEGA, and we’re looking forward to its retail release and tearing around the tracks!”

David McLean, Regional Director, Entertainment & Devices Division, Microsoft, says; “Avatar characters are proving increasingly popular to the Xbox 360 owner and the ability to bring them to life as fully playable characters is not only an exciting concept to bring to Australia, it’s a world exclusive! It’s even more thrilling to be launching this activity with such a big title, especially when it heralds the return of Banjo & Kazooie to the platform.”

“SEGA are proud to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Microsoft to incorporate characters as big as Banjo and Kazooie in the Xbox 360 version of the game,” commented Darren Macbeth, Managing Director SEGA Australia. “We are dedicated to continue to work with first party publishers to bring the best there is to offer to gamers and to individual platforms and having truly playable Avatars for the first time in a game is testimony to our commitment.”

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing sees Sonic and friends speed around tracks set in medieval castle ramparts, lush rainforests and bustling cities, all taken from the visually rich and varied universes of Sonic and SEGA.  Are you gonna be faster than Sonic?

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing featuring Banjo Kazooie will be in stores Early 2010.  For more information please visit www.sega.com/sonicracing or for press assets please visit www.sega-press.com.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:

SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s web site is located at www.sega.com.

About SEGA® of America Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home.  The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.  SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

ALIENS VS PREDATOR TO HIT STORES ON 18 FEBRUARY 

Aliens vs Predator to be available in Survivor Edition and Hunter Edition

SEGA Australia Ltd.  today confirmed that upcoming action shooter Aliens vs Predator will be released across Australia on 18 February 2010 on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows.

“On the back of the successful appeal last Friday we are delighted to confirm that beyond the standard edition for the game, we will be delivering two Special Editions – Survivor and Hunter”, said Darren Macbeth, Managing Director SEGA Australia. “The team at Rebellion have been true to the Aliens and Predator universes and created a title that allows gamers to experience first-hand all the thrill, tension and excitement of the Aliens and Predator movies.”

Aliens Vs Predator – Standard Edition

360,PS3 – SRP $99.95

PC – SRP $89.95

Aliens Vs Predator: Survivor Edition

360,PS3 – SRP $119.95

PC – SRP $109.95

Includes:

–          Limited Edition Steelbook

–          4 x Exclusive multiplayer maps

Aliens Vs Predator: Hunter Edition

360,PS3 – SRP $139.95

PC – SRP $129.95

Includes:

–          Prestige Packaging

–          The Survivor Edition (Steelbook + Exclusive maps)

–          Replica Mouldable Facehugger

–          Weyland logo – material sleeve badge

–          3D Lenticular card

Intel Announces Next-Generation Atom Platform
 
First Intel Chips to Integrate Graphics and Memory Controller in CPU;
Enables Power Reduction, Smaller Systems and Performance Improvements

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• Higher level of integration plus 45nm manufacturing enables significant power reduction, performance improvements and smaller package size.
• Average power consumption down 20 percent over previous generation, enabling longer battery life in netbooks.
• Over 80 netbook design wins from major OEMs including ASUS, Acer, Dell, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Samsung and MSI.
• Next-generation Intel® Atom™ systems available Jan. 4.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec 21, 2009 – Intel Corporation announced new Intel Atom processors today that feature integrated graphics built directly into the CPU, enabling improved performance and smaller, more energy- efficient designs in a new generation of netbooks and Atom-based entry level desktop PCs. Major OEMs have committed to having systems on the new Intel® Atom™ processors and a new companion chipset available within the next few weeks.

    The newest Intel Atom platform, formerly codenamed “Pine Trail,” consists of a new Intel® Atom™ processor, the N450, and a new low-power Intel® NM10 Express Chipset (for netbooks). For entry level desktop PCs, it consists of either the Intel® Atom™ processor D410 or the dual core D510, also paired with the Intel® NM10 Express Chipset. The Atom processor was designed from the ground up for small devices and low power, and remains Intel’s smallest chip, built on the company’s 45nm high-k metal gate manufacturing process. The overall package, including chipset, just got smaller due to the increasing integration and 45nm manufacturing, which means smaller, more compact system designs, lower costs for OEMs and improved performance.

Broad Industry Momentum
    Intel continues to see broad industry support for the Atom platform as netbooks in particular have been hot sellers during a recessionary year due to their affordability, function and small size (7-10.2” screens). Additionally, Intel is expecting to see broad channel adoption for Atom in a variety of small form factor entry-level desktop PCs at low price points, including ultra-small designs (less than 1-litre chassis), fanless designs, and low-cost all-in-one designs.

    Since Intel announced the first Atom processors for netbooks and entry-level desktop PCs in June 2008, the market has expanded rapidly. Since introduction, Intel has shipped over 40 million Atom chips for netbooks to every major OEM around the world. In the same timeframe, netbooks have ramped faster and sold more units than Apple’s iPhone and the Nintendo Wii.* According to ABI Research, total Atom shipments for all segments are expected to continue to grow into the 100s of millions by 2011.* Intel is not letting up, offering the next-generation platform for OEMs to continue to innovate around. 

    “The Intel Atom processor has fueled an entirely new category of computing over the last year and a half and we think the growth will continue for devices like netbooks and entry-level PCs built around basic computing and Internet usage models,” said Mooly Eden, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group. “We’re excited to be delivering the next-generation Atom platform and working across the industry as we head into a second phase of growth, powering innovative new system designs with better performance, smaller footprints and better battery life.”

    Intel has over 80 design wins to-date for the new Atom platform from such leading OEMs as ASUS, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, MSI, Toshiba, Samsung and Fujitsu. While the bulk of the systems will feature the new Windows 7* Starter or Home Basic operating system, consumers will have a choice when it comes to selecting an operating system, with some OEMs offering MoblinTM Linux v2 as an alternative for customers who desire a customisable and differentiated user interface.

    Worldwide netbook shipments by telecommunications companies such as T-Mobile, Vodafone, Orange and others are also growing and expected to fuel another round of expansion. Intel has been working closely with mobile operators and modem vendors to advance 3G capabilities in netbooks in established and emerging markets. To-date approximately a dozen service providers offer netbooks in various markets, and the numbers are expected to grow with the newest platform.

Improved processor and graphics performance
    One of the most significant features of the new platform is the integration of memory controller and graphics into the CPU, a first in the industry on x-86 chips. That means two chips (CPU+chipset) instead of the previous three (CPU, chipset, I/O controller hub), a lower TDP, and substantial reductions in cost, overall footprint and power. The netbook platform features a 20 percent improvement in average power and a smaller package size over the previous Atom platform. This translates into smaller and more compact system designs and longer battery life. Because of the integration, the total footprint for the netbook platform has decreased by approximately 60 percent. For entry level desktop PCs, it’s a nearly 70 percent reduction in footprint and about 50 percent lower TDP than the previous generation.

About the platform
    The N450 is a single core Atom processor with 512k of L2 cache and a 7 watt total kit TDP including chipset. The D410 for entry-level desktop PCs is a single-core Atom processor with 512k of L2 cache and a 12-watt total kit TDP including chipset, and the D510 for entry-level desktop PCs is a dual core Atom processor with 1meg L2 cache and a 15-watt total kit TDP including chipset. The new chips all run at 1.66GHz. Pricing and availability will be announced in January as systems become available from OEMs.

About Intel
    Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.