Tracks Represent Metallica’s Most Influential Music and Hand-Picked Guest Acts Including Queen, Foo Fighters and Alice in Chains

Sydney, Australia – January 30, 2009 – Metallica’s influential music takes centre stage this spring when Activision Publishing Inc.’s Guitar Hero® Metallica® takes music fans through the band’s fabled library of songs, plus the music and musicians who influence them.  When the house lights go down this spring, virtual rock stars across the globe will shred, drum and wail to an explosive set list featuring over 45 tracks from Metallica’s illustrious career and a wide variety of other legendary artists personally selected by the band, such as Queen, Foo Fighters, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Slayer and Judas Priest.  Featuring tracks from every Metallica studio album, the complete Guitar Hero Metallica on-disc set list will include their following hits:

“All Nightmare Long”
“Battery”
“Creeping Death”
“Disposable Heroes”
“Dyers Eve”
“Enter Sandman”
“Fade To Black”
“Fight Fire With Fire”
“For Whom The Bell Tolls”
“Frantic”
“Fuel”
“Hit The Lights”
“King Nothing”
“Master of Puppets”
“Mercyful Fate”
“No Leaf Clover”
“Nothing Else Matters”
“One”
“Orion”
“Sad But True”
“Seek And Destroy”
“The Memory Remains”
“The Shortest Straw”
“The Thing That Should Not Be”
“The Unforgiven”
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”
“Wherever I May Roam”
“Whiplash”
 
Complementing Metallica’s intensity are the following 21 rockin’ tracks personally chosen by the band:

Alice In Chains – “No Excuses”
Bob Seger – “Turn The Page (Live)”
Corrosion of Conformity – “Albatross”
Diamond Head – “Am I Evil?”
Foo Fighters – “Stacked Actors”
Judas Priest – “Hell Bent For Leather”
Kyuss – “Demon Cleaner”
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Tuesdays Gone”
Machine Head – “Beautiful Mourning”
Mastodon – “Blood And Thunder”
Mercyful Fate – “Evil”
Michael Schenker Group – “Armed and Ready”
Motörhead – “Ace of Spades”
Queen – “Stone Cold Crazy”
Samhain – “Mother of Mercy”
Slayer – “War Ensemble”
Social Distortion – “Mommy’s Little Monster (Live)”
Suicidal Tendencies – “War Inside My Head”
System of a Down – “Toxicity”
The Sword – “Black River”
Thin Lizzy – “The Boys Are Back in Town” 

Gamers who have downloaded the Death Magnetic album on Xbox 360® or PLAYSTATION®3 will have access to the album while the Wii™ and PlayStation®2 versions will have “Broken, Beat & Scarred,” “Cyanide” and “My Apocalypse” included on disc.

“Ride the Lightning” with musical icons Metallica and 21 other rockin’ acts in an all new Guitar Hero® experience – Guitar Hero Metallica.  Enter the world of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo and experience the intensity and skill of one of the greatest bands of all time.  Shred on the guitar controller, rip on the drum kit controller and wail on the mic to a set list featuring over 45 explosive hits from Metallica’s illustrious career and a wide variety of other legendary artists personally selected by the band, such as Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters and Queen.  Fans will be able to rock as Metallica while performing in venues reminiscent of the band’s epic album covers, themes from their music and real world locales.

Guitar Hero Metallica is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.  The Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system versions are being developed by Budcat. The game is yet to be rated by the Classification Board.  For more information about Guitar Hero Metallica, please visit guitarhero.com.

Sydney, Australia – 30 January, 2009 – Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio, today announced the new “Call to Arms” live expansion for its award-winning MMORPG, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning® (WAR). Call to Arms will introduce an array of new content for WAR players, including two highly anticipated new careers – the Orc Choppa and the Dwarf Slayer – and a new dungeon zone called “Land of the Dead,” set in the desert realm of the Tomb Kings.

The Call to Arms live expansion, set to roll out for free in early March and running through the beginning of June, will also include three in-game live events, a new Realm vs. Realm™ (RvR) Scenario, added functionality to the Realm Wars section of the WAR website, the opening of the official WAR Forums, and a new free trial version of the game. 

“The launch of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning was only the first step in our ongoing quest to make a great MMORPG that players will enjoy for years to come. Over the next few months, we are going to be treating our players to the first of our ‘live expansions’ planned for the game,” said Mark Jacobs, VP and general manager of Mythic Entertainment. “With the addition of new careers and a huge Tomb Kings dungeon that is the spiritual successor to the Dark Age of Camelot™ dungeon, Darkness Falls, Call to Arms is an outstanding example of the massive amount of free content we are committed to delivering to WAR players now and in the future.”

Call to Arms Live Expansion Schedule

‘Call to Arms: Bitter Rivals’ Live Event (March): Successful completion allows head start access to the new Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer careers. The event will also include the new Chaos-themed RvR Scenario, Twisting Tower.
 

Two New Careers Join WAR (March): The Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer answer the Call to Arms.
 

‘Call to Arms: Beyond the Sands’ Live Event (April): Details to be revealed soon!
 

‘Call to Arms: Rise of the Tomb Kings’ Live Event (May): The race between Order and Destruction players begins to unlock the Land of the Dead for their Realm.
 

‘Land of the Dead’ Opens (June): The deserts of Nehekhara open to players with the addition of a new RvR-gated dungeon zone. To gain access to the Land of the Dead, opposing Realms must battle for control of the zone to access dozens of new Public Quests, instanced lairs, and a massive new Tomb Kings dungeon to plunder in search of the Casket of Souls.
 

More details on these and other new features soon to invade the Age of Reckoning will be revealed as the launch of Call to Arms grows near.

Bitter Rivals Answer the Call to Arms!

The Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer may be bitter enemies, but they have at least one thing in common: they live, eat, and breathe close-quarters melee combat. Choppas are ornery and savage, with a one track mind dead set on bashin’ heads! This savage dedication makes them ferocious fighters, wreaking havoc throughout enemy lines purely for the sake of satisfying their own self-indulgent bloodlust.

The Slayer is driven by a solemn oath to atone for past sins through an honorable death in combat. However, Dwarfs are a stubborn folk and dying quietly is simply not in their nature. Slayers therefore become ruthless and terrifying fighters, throwing themselves into battle with no regard for their own well-being.

“The Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer are two of the most iconic characters in the Warhammer universe, and I have no doubt WAR fans will go berserk for them,” said Jeff Hickman, executive producer of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. “Choppas represent the pure anarchy that the Greenskins embody, and the crazed, mohawk-sporting Slayers are their ideal archenemy. It won’t be long before you see both of them adding a new level of insanity to the Age of Reckoning!”

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come. Available now for PC, WAR is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. 

To answer the Call to Arms and learn more about the live expansion, as well as the new careers, read the January issue of the WAR monthly newsletter at www.warhammeronline.com.

Become part of the Café Community with the highly addictive Café Sudoku from Digital Chocolate on N-Gage. With an infinite number of puzzles to crack across five difficulty levels, Café Sudoku is suitable for all skill levels and provides endless fun. 

Create a character, form a café and share Sudoku strategies with other players in the Café  Community. In-game hints and tips give players the chance to learn how to play the game on the move and develop their Sudoku skills to unlock items for both their café and character. 

Vibrant animations bring the dynamic game play to life and make Sudoku more exciting than ever. Flex your mental muscle in the game that anyone can play anytime, anywhere.

Café Sudoku is now available on www.n-gage.com.au

Chaos Takes to the Pitch in video!

Watch as Chaos brings death and destruction to the Human team.

Today marks the second day of our Blood Bowl video series, and this time, the demonic legions of Chaos take to the pitch to bring pain to all who oppose them. Watch as the legions of Chaos punish the Humans for daring to face off against them. In the end, the Human team’s only hope is to cheat by calling in a blast of fire from above and steal the ball away in the confusion!

An ultra-violent mix of American football and other team sports, Blood Bowl takes place in the popular Warhammer universe, and allows players to build the ultimate “fantasy” teams. Would-be team managers can build bone-crushing teams composed of Orcs, Elves, Humans, Dwarfs and many more fantastic creatures – then throw them into the arena for the ultimate blood sport! Blood Bowl is strategic, action-packed and violent, requiring players to use their best tactics, team design – and a dose of pure ruthless bloodlust always helps too!

Published by Focus Home Interactive and developed by Cyanide Studio, Blood Bowl is being developed for the PC and the Xbox 360™ as well as for the handheld systems Nintendo DS™ and Sony PSP™ and is set for release on Q2 2009.

Watch the video (Streaming)

Download the video (26 MB)

Visit the website

Sequel to Award-Winning BOOM BLOX Takes Players from the Depths of the Sea to Outer Space for a Party Anyone Can Throw 
 

Sydney, Australia – 30 January, 2009 – Get ready for the ultimate blox-busting action as Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced BOOM BLOX™ Bash Party for Wii™, the sequel to the critically-acclaimed BOOM BLOX™ game for Wii. EA’s collaboration with director and producer Steven Spielberg continues with BOOM BLOX Bash Party, and the destructive fun reaches new heights with richer multiplayer action and more than 400 new levels that will have players of all ages gaming together and solving action-packed puzzles under water, in zero gravity, and beyond!

“BOOM BLOX Bash Party is a wild social gaming experience,” said Steven Spielberg. “We know families and friends really enjoyed playing the original BOOM BLOX together, so we designed more explosive multiplayer experiences with BOOM BLOX Bash Party.”

BOOM BLOX Bash Party is even more fun to play with friends and family, featuring twice as many multiplayer challenges as the original, and now offers team-based challenges! Players can play with or against friends, solo or in teams, knocking down blocks, destroying towers, slinging and launching blocks and characters, for tons of high-energy, family-friendly fun!

BOOM BLOX Bash Party is packed with tons of new features that are sure to get the party started! The game showcases new block types, including: virus and conveyor blox, new blox shapes, such as: cylinders and wedges, and new tools that will make for even more destructive fun. Players will find twists on BOOM BLOX game play favorites like throwing and grabbing. Players now can also sling, launch, and blow the competition away with new cannon, paint ball and slingshot tools.

Even the characters are in on the action as BOOM BLOX Bash Party features a new cast of wacky blox characters. This time they don’t just cheer you on, they are now blox themselves and you can throw, stack or even launch them, utilizing them to create even more madness and mayhem!

The fun continues online as BOOM BLOX Bash Party enables players to download even more new levels via the Internet. With the press of a button, players will be able to grab, play and rate new levels from EA as well as levels created by members of the BOOM BLOX Bash Party community. Using the game’s easy-to-use Create Mode, players now have the power to share the levels they built with friends, or submit their masterpiece to be shared with the world! The expanded Create Mode lets players build and create like never before, giving them access to the same tool set the EA development team used to create each and every level in the game!

“In BOOM BLOX Bash Party we are taking the game elements to the extreme,” said Amir Rahimi, Senior Producer. “In the original BOOM BLOX, we really focused on perfecting the game’s physics so now we can push the boundaries of physics, offering exciting new challenges and completely new ways to play.”

Developed by the EA Casual Studios, BOOM BLOX Bash Party will be available in Australia in Autumn 2009. BOOM BLOX Bash Party has not yet been rated. For more information, visit http://www.ea.com or to download artwork, visit http://info.ea.com.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Year Released: 1992

Dr. Robotnik is back, and you can bet that Sonic’s not far behind. This time, the bad doctor has created the ultimate weapon – the dreaded Death Egg! Sonic’s not in this fight alone, however. He now has a pint-sized sidekick named Tails, the two-tailed fox with the ability to hover for a brief amount of time. He’s also got a new move, the lightning fast Spin Dash, which allows him to blast through Robotnik’s mechanized hordes. The 3D Special Stages bring a whole new perspective to Sonic’s SEGA Mega Drive™ adventures, and the split-screen two-player mode allows you and a friend to see who is the fastest.

Did You Know?

– The European and U.S. release date of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was on Tuesday, November 24, 1992. SEGA® dubbed the day “”Sonic 2sday””.

– Tails’ real name is Miles Prower, a pun of the phrase “”miles per hour””.

– Sonic the Hedgehog 2 marks the first appearance of Sonic’s golden, powered-up form, Super Sonic.

STORMRISE

Stormrise is a post apocalyptic real-time strategy game from Creative Assembly, the makers of Medieval II: Total War. Two warring factions arise from the rubble: the Echelon, a technologically advanced race that endured the planet’s fallout by way of self-induced hibernation, and the Sai, a tribal society that adapted to the new apocalyptic environment and evolved over time.

Stormrise will be released in March on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.

For more information please visit http://www.sega.com/stormrise/.
Unit descriptions

Echelon
Enforcers

Enforcers are the troops on the frontline, bringing peace and security to all who fall under the wing of the Echelon.  Determined to bring the civility of the past to the chaos of the frontier, Enforcers serve with utmost loyalty to the Chancellor. They are protected by tactical combat armour and heavily armed with an assault rifle/grenade launcher combo.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Grenades: The Enforcers can launch a barrage of explosive grenades at their enemies.
• Riot Shield Up: The Enforcers activate their energy Riot Shields and hunker down behind them for increased protection.
Infiltrators

The arbiters of justice, Infiltrators seek out the hidden enemies of the Echelon and dispatch them with a high velocity shot to the skull. Trained from a young age to join the elite ranks of the Echelon infantry, Infiltrators are supreme scouts and deadly accurate snipers. All Infiltrators are armed with the best field camouflage armour and a large calibre high velocity rifle. The Infiltrator always strikes its target.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Thermal Vision: The Infiltrator is able to detect and target any hidden and cloaked units within view.
Prowlers

Prowlers are moderately armoured but highly mobile vehicles that provide security both on the ground and in the air. Unmatched for their versatility, Prowlers engage land and air targets with turret-mounted twin cannons. Echelon Commanders know that when these cats are on the prowl, the enemy better watch out!

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Search the Skies AA Mode: The Prowler transforms into a stable gun platform to shoot down airborne targets.
Sai

Rangers

Rangers perform two functions within the Sai hierarchy. Firstly they scout the frontiers for dangerous mutants, alerting Sai villages if they are in danger and secondly, Rangers form into Militia Platoons in time of war, providing the most common form of troops available to Sai commanders.  Armed with basic armour and an assault rifle, Rangers are best deployed in numbers.  When the Rangers’ battle fervour is heated they will charge into combat heedless of danger. They can also fire Sai energy charges at air targets.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Sai Anti Air Rockets: The Rangers can fire Sai energy charges at airborne units from their unusual weapons.
• Commando Rush: The Rangers call forth their natural aggression and rush into combat completely ignoring the dangers around them but increasing their damage.
Spectres

The silent knives in the night, Spectres are a true nightmare for Echelon soldiers to handle.  They have an exceptional ability to control Sai energy, having been trained from a young age to manipulate the energy in different ways.  Able to project swords made out of energy from their arms, the Spectres can slash their way through nearly all opposition.  The Spectre can also bend light at-will to cloak itself, making it nearly invisible to the naked eye, only being given away by a slight shimmer.  The fact that Spectres can also use mind control could be the most terrifying thing of all.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Mind Control: The powerful mind of the Spectre can temporarily dominate any enemy except for commanders.
• Cloak: The Spectre can warp light around itself to hide from enemy sight.  The shimmering can be detected from up close though.
• Rapid Slice: The Spectre goes into a slashing frenzy, destroying any infantry within its reach.
Scorpions

The Sai may not be as technologically advanced as the Echelon but that doesn’t mean they don’t have machines.  Scorpions are off-road vehicles used to patrol the wastes around Sai villages and to provide light strike power for when Sai forces go into combat.  The Rangers enlisted to drive them revel in the freedom of thrashing their machine around and firing off the back mounted machine gun.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Sting: A ceramic shell-filled with Brood acid charged with Sai energy. On impact it does minimal damage, but greatly reduces the armour where the shell hit.

SYDNEY, Australia — Jan. 30, 2009— Addressing the number one challenge for data centre managers1, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced widespread availability of five new low-power 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron™ HE processors.  At 55-watt ACP, these new highly efficient processors help meet the industry’s rising demand for low power, cost-saving data centre technology. Now available in eight server systems from HP, the new processors can help customers immediately recognise power savings and increased virtualisation performance. Rackable Systems will also have Quad-Core AMD Opteron HE processor-based servers available immediately and additional systems from global OEMs including Dell, Sun, and other solution providers are expected later this quarter.

The 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron HE processor, with speeds ranging from 2.1 to 2.3 GHz, is designed to address a vast segment of the business computing market that must maximise performance during peak hours while managing the energy costs during idle and low-utilisation hours.  Server platforms based on these new AMD Opteron HE processors can offer up to 20% lower idle power compared to similarly configured competing systems2 Based on AMD internal testing. AMD configuration: 2 x Quad-Core AMD Opteron™ processors Model 2376 HE (2.3GHz) in Supermicro 2021M-UR+ motherboard, 16GB (8x2GB DDR2-667) memory, 500GB SATA disk drive, Ablecom PWS-702A-1R power supply, SuSE Linux® Enterprise Server 10 SP2 64-bit. Intel configuration: 2 x Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors Model L5420 (2.5GHz) in Supermicro 6025W-NTR+ motherboard, 16GB (8x2GB DDR2-667 Low-Power FB-DIMM) memory, 500GB SATA disk drive, Ablecom PWS-702A-1R power supply, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2 64-bit. , helping cut energy costs without compromising any of the processor features of the standard power options.        

“In the current economic environment, datacentre managers are under more pressure than ever to reduce costs without compromising the latest features or performance,” said Patrick Patla, general manager, Server and Workstation Business, AMD.  “The new Quad-Core AMD Opteron HE series processor offers unrivalled performance-per-watt and cost-efficiencies for a wide range of configurations without a potential front-side bus bottleneck. In the second quarter AMD plans to take energy-efficiency to the next level in introducing even lower ACP processors for the unique demands of cloud computing environments.”  
       
Additionally, two new 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron SE processors (2.8 GHz) are now available for customers with the most performance-intensive datacentre workloads. At the 105-watt ACP thermal envelope, these new processors are also immediately available in three new systems from HP as well as from other AMD technology partners.  

New Power Management Innovations and Performance Numbers

significant new power management capabilities are now enabled with all 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors. Details on these new additional power saving features, as well as information on the performance data available for both new processor categories is available at AMD@work.    

About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

Sydney, Australia, January 27, 2009 – ASUS, creators of the Eee PC, today announced the newest addition to the Eee Family, the touchscreen-enabled Eee Top.

The all-in-one Eee Top ET1602 boasts the full functionality of a regular desktop PC at just a fraction of the footprint. Equipped with a 15.6” LCD and five-wired resistive touch panels, the Eee Top enhances interactivity and the simplicity of performing daily computing tasks by applying direct pressure with just a fingertip.

Adding a touch of class to the home, the Eee Top provides countless communication possibilities convenient for the whole family. With a comprehensive suite of touch-optimised applications, the Eee Top enables users to do virtually anything, easily. In the kitchen, a new recipe, online cooking class or just enjoying music while you cook is a touch away. In the living room, learn the art of relaxation, watch the news or a movie, with just a touch. In the bedroom, chat with a friend, surf the net to research or catch up on reading. Placed at the entrance it is touch and go with the Eee Top – ideal for quick access to information before leaving the house, purchasing movie tickets, checking the weather, time or map. Additionally, it is a welcome addition to leave convenient notes and reminders for family members.

Equipped with a myriad of features, the Eee Top displays large icons and tabs which provide easy access to applications such as Eee Manager for easy system management, out-of-box productivity with Microsoft Works and Star Office, handwriting recognition with Soft Stylus, Eee Memo scribble sticky notes, YouCam for video chat, exciting Eee Cinema media centre, and powerful web surfing that supports drag-and-drop functions, widgets and ‘speed dialing’ with Opera Touch.

Furthermore, the Eee Top packaged as a compact LCD monitor form factor, offers Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity for speedy and reliable Internet access, built-in high fidelity speakers for crystal clear audio and an integrated 1.3 megapixel web camera and microphone array for convenient web conferencing. With ASUS Tranquiller Technology the Eee Top has a smart air flow design with quiet fans and unique heat dissipation materials to ensure it stays cool while operating at an extremely quiet 26 dB.

As an entertainment centre, the Eee Top 15.6” widescreen (16:9) LCD is sharp and vibrant bolstered by Eee Splendid™ Video Intelligence Technology. Enjoy high quality audio throughout as well, without the need for additional speakers thanks to the integrated Hi-Fi speakers and SRS TruSurround HD™ technology. Tying in all of the Eee Top’s multimedia capabilities is Eee Cinema, a full-featured multimedia centre that enhances user’s enjoyment of photos, videos, music and movies.

The Eee Top is simple to set up, just plug in the power cord and it’s ready for use. Elegantly designed, the Eee Top is an attractive addition that complements the home. The compact form factor includes a carrying handle which doubles as a keyboard holder and with its silent operation can be placed anywhere in the house, office or commercial space without being obtrusive or distracting.

The touchy, feely Eee Top from ASUS is the ultimate in dynamic touchscreen computing.

The Eee Top ET1602 will be available in Australia from February 2009 at Harvey Norman. RRP: AU$1,299 inc GST.

Specifications

Model:
 Eee Top ET1602
 
LCD:
 15.6” 16:9 wide panel
 
Touchscreen:
 Single touch; accepts finger or pen input
 
Operating System:
 Genuine Windows® XP Home with Express Gate
 
Processor:
 Intel Atom N270
 
Chipset:
 945GSE + ICH7
 
Memory:
 DDRII 1 GB
 
HDD:
 160 GB SATAII 5,400 rpm
 
Graphics:
 Onboard graphics
 
LAN:
 10/100/1000 Mbps
 
Wireless:
 Wi-Fi 802.11n
 
Speakers:
 4 W Hi-Fi speaker x 2 + SRS Premium Sound System
 
Audio Chip:
 High definition audio chip
 
Side I/O Ports:
 USB 2.0 x 2, card reader
 
I/O Ports:
 §       3 audio ports for 5.1 channels:

ú       Microphone port in ß> Center/Bass

ú       Line in ß> Sur R/L

ú       Line out ß> Front

§       Gigabit LAN x 1

§       USB 2.0 x 4
 
Power Supply:
 19 V DC, 4.74 A, 65 W power adaptor
 
Net Weight:
 4.3 kg
 

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2008 was 8.1 billion US dollars. ASUS ranks among the top 10 IT companies in BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100”, and has been on the listing for 11 consecutive years. ASUS was also selected by the Wall Street Journal Asia as No.1 in quality and service. For more information, visit www.asus.com.au.

Glendale, CA – September 17, 2008 –  Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a UTV Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, in conjunction with AQ Interactive invite gamers around the world to “Awaken the Power Within” when Blue Dragon Plus for Nintendo DS™ breathes fire across North America and Europe in March 2009.

Directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, Blue Dragon Plus features character designs by Akira Toriyama, and a soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu.

Currently a top-rated show on Cartoon Network in the U.S., the story of Blue Dragon centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends who possess the ability to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters. In Blue Dragon Plus, one year has passed since Shu and his companions defeated the tyrannical remnant of the Ancients, Nene. In the midst of the battle, the world split in two and now consists of a myriad of “cubes” that exploded from its depths. King Jibral notices a mysterious cube in the distance suddenly start to move violently, and from it he sees the Shadow of a Balaur, a three-headed dragon, emerge. The enormous and sinister Shadow is just the beginning of the new turmoil and devastation to come.

“We are thrilled to be able to take Blue Dragon Plus to market,” said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. “Out-of-the-box thinking and effective marketing are the cornerstones of our success, and this acquisition relays our standing commitment to that. Clearly our partners have as much faith in Ignition as we have in their products!”

“Ignition Entertainment has proven to be an excellent partner for us and we look forward to working together with them again with the launch of Blue Dragon Plus in North America and Europe next year,” said Tomoyuki Takechi, CEO of AQ Interactive Inc.

Blue Dragon Plus Features Include:

• Single Player Campaign With Over 30 Hours of Game Play
• Legion vs. Legion
o Control up to 16 humans and Mecha Robos to fight against a horde of enemies
o Equip your units with items and alter their composition to bolster their strength
• Exciting Real-Time Battles and Shadow Fights!
• High Quality Dual Screen FMV’s Showcasing More Than an Hour of Story Events!
• Exciting RPG Elements Such As Item Collection, Character Progression and Robot Customizations