Point-and-click indie from Wadjet Eye Games and Wormwood Studios will release for PC on December 5

NEW YORK – November 13, 2012 – Wadjet Eye Games, publisher of retro-styled adventure games including Gemini Rue and Resonance, is now taking preorders for their next release, Primordia, at http://www.primordiagame.com. The first commercial project from indie developer Wormwood Studios, the cyberpunk-themed Primordia will release as a PC download on December 5, 2012.

What happened to the humans? Set in a post-apocalyptic world strewn with cast-off machines, Primordia tells the story of Horatio Nullbuilt, a stoic robot who values his solitude and independence. Horatio spends his days studying the Book of Man, sparring with his droid companion Crispin, and tinkering with the airship they call home — a peaceful existence that becomes threatened when a rogue robot steals the energy source that the pair needs to survive. When Horatio and Crispin’s search for energy brings them to the dazzling city of Metropol, the simple quest to recover their stolen power core leads to unexpected discoveries about Horatio’s origins and a new understanding of the legendary humans who walked the earth before him.

Starting today at http://www.primordiagame.com/preorder, Wadjet Eye is offering two preorder deals in anticipation of the game’s December 5 release:

• Digital      Download: For $8.99 (10% off the game’s usual $9.99 price), customers can      reserve a DRM-free copy of Primordia to download on December 5. The      digital preorder includes a free MP3 soundtrack.
• Limited      Edition DVD: For $19.99, customers can purchase a DVD version      of Primordia that includes the MP3 soundtrack, concept art, a      behind-the-scenes video with voice recording footage, and other digital      goodies. Free worldwide shipping is included, along with DRM-free download      access to Primordia on December 5. This limited edition DVD will only      be sold during the preorder period and is expected to ship in time for      the holidays.

“Primordia has one of the most evocative art styles I’ve ever seen — art that tells half the story. It somehow turns a barren wasteland and corroded metal into something very beautiful, and from the very first screenshots, I needed to know how the world got that way,” says Dave Gilbert, founder of Wadjet Eye Games. “Thankfully, the rest of the game is just as intriguing. The guys at Wormwood have put an amazing amount of heart, energy and passion into Primordia and it shows. I feel honored to have this game as part of our catalog.”

More Primordia details, including screenshots and a new trailer, are available at the official website (http://www.primordiagame.com). Journalists who wish to request a review copy in advance of the December 5 launch should contact pr@wadjeteyegames.com.

About Wormwood Studios

Wormwood Studios is a team of three experienced developers committed to creating games with powerful narrative and artistic content. Before teaming up on Primordia, Victor Pflug, Mark Yohalem, and James Spanos worked on a variety of published games including Dragon Age: Origins, Heroes of Newerth, Kohan II: Kings of War, and numerous freeware adventure games. In creating Primordia, the Wormwood team drew upon each member’s broader experience: Yohalem is an attorney, a former Supreme Court law clerk, and a published author; Pflug has worked for years in oil paints and other artistic media; and Spanos holds a PhD in electrical engineering. Law, art nouveau, and real-world engineering challenges are woven throughout the fantastical world of Primordia.

About Wadjet Eye Games

Founded in 2006, Wadjet Eye Games has developed a reputation for producing award winning and critically acclaimed adventure games for the PC. Committed to creating unique character-driven game experiences around recognizable brands, Wadjet Eye has recently expanded to support and publish games by other independent developers. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes The Shivah and the Blackwell series, both of which have garnered Game Developers Choice nominations, Puzzle Bots, which was selected for the Penny Arcade Expo’s PAX 10 showcase, IGF Student Showcase winner Gemini Rue, and the critically acclaimed Resonance. For more information, visit http://www.wadjeteyegames.com.

Next chapter of Blizzard Entertainment’s StarCraft^® II saga introduces key new online features and continues the epic story of Kerrigan, Queen of Blades 

Heart of the Swarm™ Digital Deluxe and retail Collector’s Editions revealed 

Digital presales NOW LIVE at StarCraft2.com

IRVINE, Calif. – November 13, 2012 – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that StarCraft^® II: Heart of the Swarm™, the first expansion to Blizzard’s award-winning real-time strategy game StarCraft^® II: Wings of Liberty^®, will be available in stores and online beginning March 12, 2013. Heart of the Swarm features a new campaign continuing the epic story of Sarah Kerrigan, Queen of Blades, as she gathers the remnants of the zerg Swarm and plots her revenge against the treacherous dictator of the Koprulu sector, Arcturus Mengsk. It also introduces several new multiplayer units and features that enhance the acclaimed StarCraft II online experience.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be available on DVD-ROM for Windows^® XP/Windows Vista^®/Windows^® 7/Windows^® 8 and Macintosh^® at a suggested retail price of $49.95 AUD. The expansion will also be available digitally directly from Blizzard’s StarCraft II website (www.StarCraft2.com) at an expected price of $44.95 AUD.

Blizzard is offering a Collector’s Edition of Heart of the Swarm loaded with digital and physical bonus items, available exclusively at select retail stores for a suggested retail price of $89.95 AUD. Players will also have the option of purchasing a Digital Deluxe version of the expansion, which will include all of the digital items from the Collector’s Edition. The Digital Deluxe version will be available directly from Blizzard via www.StarCraft2.com at an expected price of $64.95 AUD. Players who purchase the standard edition digitally or at retail will have the option to upgrade to the Digital Deluxe version at any time (for as long as the standalone Digital Deluxe version remains available) for an additional $20 AUD.

Presales for the standard digital and Digital Deluxe versions of Heart of the Swarm are now available. Players who would like to purchase either version and be ready to play the moment the expansion launches can do so now by visiting www.StarCraft2.com. For players who prepurchase, the expansion content will automatically be digitally delivered via StarCraft II’s streaming launcher prior to the release of Heart of the Swarm. Players who would like to preorder the standard box or the retail-exclusive Collector’s Edition can do so by visiting their local retailer.

“With Heart of the Swarm, our goal has been to expand on the multiplayer action and cinematic storytelling of Wings of Liberty,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “Combined with features like unranked matchmaking and our new leveling system, this expansion elevates the StarCraft II experience for players of all skill levels.”

The Digital Deluxe version of Heart of the Swarm includes a full digital copy of the expansion along with the following in-game bonus items:

–          StarCraft II Torrasque: Crush the enemies of the Swarm with the indomitable Torrasque, a fearsome new look for your zerg Ultralisks.

–          StarCraft II Battle.net^® Portraits and Decals: New Swarm-infested Battle.net portraits and decals help you customize the look of your online profile and in-game army.

–          World of Warcraft^® In-Game Pet: The Baneling companion pet is bursting with enthusiasm and ready to explode onto the Pet Battles scene.

–          Diablo^® III Blade Wings and Banner Sigil: Grow zerg-like wings in honor of the Queen of Blades, and unfurl an exclusive banner sigil to mark your allegiance to the Swarm in Sanctuary.

The Collector’s Edition of Heart of the Swarm includes the full version of the game on DVD-ROM and contains the following exclusive bonus items, in addition to the content from the Digital Deluxe version:

–          Behind-the-Scenes DVD and Blu-ray: Immerse yourself in the StarCraft universe with developer commentary, interviews with voice actors, and an in-depth historical retrospective on StarCraft’s eSports legacy narrated by key members of the community.

–          Collector’s Edition Soundtrack CD: Enhance your Heart of the Swarm musical experience with this collection of more than a dozen tracks from the game.

–          Heart of the Swarm Hardcover Art Book: This 144-page tome features never-before-seen art from the expansion, including early concept sketches and meticulous 3D renderings.

–          Zerg Rush Mousepad: This Collector’s Edition mousepad depicts the Terran Dominion holding out desperately under the onslaught of the Swarm.

Heart of the Swarm picks up the story of StarCraft II where Wings of Liberty left off, focusing on Kerrigan’s quest to reunite the Swarm and exact revenge on Arcturus Mengsk. Over the course of 20 campaign missions, players will follow Kerrigan as she sweeps across the galaxy, incorporating a variety of distinctive zerg species into her brood. Kerrigan will grow in strength from mission to mission, and players will be able to customize her with powerful new abilities, as well as evolve various zerg strains into fearsome new subspecies to suit their play style.

New weapons of war also debut in Heart of the Swarm‘s multiplayer, including new units such as Terran Hellbats, Zerg Swarm Hosts, and Protoss Tempests, while certain existing units from Wings of Liberty will be updated with new capabilities. New features will enhance the game experience, including group and clan systems; unranked matchmaking; Global Play, enabling players to battle others in different regions around the world; additional stat tracking; user interface improvements; an enhanced physics system, for more visceral looking battles; multiplayer replays, to watch replays with friends; a leveling system that gives Heart of the Swarm players a new way to earn customization options for their online profiles; and much more.

Heart of the Swarm has received a M rating from the Australian Classification Board. In addition to the English version, Heart of the Swarm will be fully localized into Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, European Spanish, Russian, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Italian, and Polish. Availability of Heart of the Swarm in mainland China will be announced at a later date. 

To learn more about StarCraft II and Heart of the Swarm, visit the official website at www.StarCraft2.com. To set up a Battle.net account and to opt-in to Blizzard Entertainment beta tests, please
visit the official Battle.net website at www.battle.net.

With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available — visit jobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply.

Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, Most Anticipated Entertainment Release of the Year, Now Available in Australia and New Zealand

Call of Duty® Elite Services to Unite Fans with New Features – Player, Clan HQ; Zombie Leaderboards, Live Streaming Support and More

Season Pass Allows Fans to Purchase Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Map Packs as a Discounted Bundle

Sydney, Australia – November 13, 2012 – The wait is over. The groundbreaking Call of Duty®: Black Ops II is now available at retail locations across Australia and New Zealand. The highly-anticipated sequel to the best-selling Xbox 360® and PlayStation ® 3 console game in history has been called “the most ambitious Call of Duty® ever,” pushing the boundaries of the blockbuster franchise to new heights by propelling players into a world full of advanced weaponry, robotics and drone technology in the year 2025. Call of Duty: Black Ops II is poised to usher in a new era for the 30-million Call of Duty fans worldwide with a host of new innovations to deliver the complete gaming experience. Providing great value to the Call of Duty community, starting today Activision Australia’s Call of Duty® Elite services for Call of Duty: Black Ops II are free, providing fans with deeply integrated features, including Clan Operations, Zombies Leaderboards and more.

Activision Australia kicked-off the celebration overnight as eager fans lined-up at midnight across ANZ to get their hands on Activision and their award-winning studio Treyarch’s innovative new release.

“From the very beginning, our goal with Call of Duty: Black Ops II was to deliver a new high watermark for the franchise. And thanks to the hard work and creative brilliance of our team at Treyarch, I think that’s exactly what we’ve done,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. “In addition to an amazing and innovative game, we’re also proud and humbled to see the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II creating yet another legitimate, pop cultural phenomenon. To our millions of fans worldwide, who have driven everything from pre-orders to YouTube views, to midnight lines outside of stores worldwide to new levels, we just want to say, thank you. You are the best fan base in the world, and the unprecedented thrill ride that is Call of Duty: Black Ops II is all for you.”

“From day one, we’ve pushed ourselves to make the best gaming experience of our lives and I am so incredibly proud with what this team has created with Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia. “Our vision has been to deliver the complete package – something for every type of player. Beginning with the single player campaign, Treyarch introduces things that you’ve never seen in the Call of Duty franchise before, like branching storylines, non-linear missions and customizing player load outs; or multiplayer, where we’ve re-written the rules with an all-new ‘Pick 10’ Create-A-Class, Score Streaks, and entire suite of eSports competitive features like CODcasting, Live Streaming and League Play that further makes Call of Duty a spectator sport; all the way to our biggest Zombies experience yet, which has three modes of play by itself – it’s been an absolutely amazing experience developing Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and now we can’t wait to play it with our fans.”

Delivering an epic scale that rivals Hollywood blockbusters, Call of Duty: Black Ops II also features a heavyweight musical lineup with contributions from Academy Award® winning composer Trent Reznor (theme), BAFTA nominee Jack Wall (score), and tracks from musical acts Avenged Sevenfold and an original collaboration by Skrillex and Alvin Risk. The plot-twisting, generation-spanning story, co-written by David S. Goyer, screenwriter for The Dark Knight and the upcoming Man of Steel, picks up where Call of Duty: Black Ops’ Cold War era tale left off, in its explosively cinematic single player campaign taking gamers to the year 2025, against the most sinister villain in Call of Duty lore. Armed with branching storylines and non-linear missions known as Strike Force levels, which provides players a sandbox style gameplay experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops II affords players the opportunity to actually affect the outcome of the game, and for the first time in series history deliver multiple endings to this epic saga. “Collaborating with David Goyer has been an incredible experience. From the beginning, we had a shared vision to rewrite the rules of storytelling in the Call of Duty franchise and deliver a truly innovative experience for players,” said Call of Duty: Black Ops II Director and Co-Writer, Dave Anthony.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer mode delivers a true package of innovations, including the all-new “Pick-10” Create-a-Class system that revolutionizes the traditional slot-driven system by allowing fans to gear up for battle by customizing an unprecedented number of combinations to best suit their play-style. Further leveling the playing field for more gamers, the new Score Streaks system rewards all-types of players for helping their team win from capturing flags, securing objectives, defending teammates and more.

Without a doubt, the most prolific multiplayer additions to Call of Duty: Black Ops II are the ones lining up to bring Call of Duty online gaming and eSports to the masses across ANZ. Accessible to players of all skill levels, Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer introduces League Play, a skill-based matchmaking system that makes competition fun at any skill level. Multiplayer also now seamlessly integrates a play-by-play “CODcasting” commentary system that allows fans to create their own eSports commentaries on games. And in a historic first for console gaming, Call of Duty: Black Ops II also features live streaming of League Play games on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, without the need for any additional hardware. With the live streaming feature, players now have the ability to broadcast their Call of Duty: Black Ops II games to the masses in real-time on YouTube, so anyone in the world can enjoy watching the action. Call of Duty Elite takes the live streaming experience even further, enabling viewers to see the player card of the user that is streaming. Viewers can dig deeper on Call of Duty Elite to see class loadouts, recent match data, as well as career stats across supported Call of Duty games on the Call of Duty Elite service. Live streams of Call of Duty: Black Ops II are viewable via web browsers, mobile and tablets through Call of Duty Elite as well as individual YouTube user channels. A verified YouTube account is required to live stream. A valid Call of Duty Elite registration is necessary to view the streams and related information inside Call of Duty Elite. Call of Duty: Black Ops II player live streams will be subject to limitations and restrictions.

The complete package also delivers the fan-favorite Zombies game created by Treyarch. The beloved and terrifying cooperative game mode pits players against an unrelenting horde of the undead. The Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies offering is the biggest to date, featuring three different modes to survive the zombie apocalypse. Unravel the mysteries of a dying Earth in Tranzit, fight endless waves of zombies in Survival mode, or compete in the new 4z4 last-human-standing mode Grief.

Activision Australia also is making available pre-orders for the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Season Pass at select retail outlets. The Season Pass lets gamers access four epic Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Map Packs to be released in 2013 at a bundled discount (discount based on a suggested retail price of $69.95 and four DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $20 each). The DLC Map Packs will be available on the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network first, and pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Additionally consumers who purchase the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Season Pass will not only receive an exclusive in-game calling card, but also access to the Nuketown Zombies bonus map. Nuketown Zombies will be offered to Season Pass holders in December, releasing first on Xbox 360 with other platforms to follow.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is available today in Australia and New Zealand on the Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. The title is scheduled for release in Australia on November30, 2012, for the new Wii U™ game system from Nintendo. Call of Duty: Black Ops II is published by Activision Publishing, Inc., and is rated “MA15+” (Strong Violence and Coarse Language) by the Classification Board. More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops. Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.

Also releasing today for PlayStation Vita is Call of Duty® Black Ops: Declassified, bringing classic Call of Duty-style gameplay to gamers-on-the-go. Developed by Nihilistic, this intense Call of Duty handheld title features frenetic 4v4 multiplayer across popular modes and hallmark features, including Care Packages, Create-A-Class, Killstreaks, Perks, Prestiging and more. The title also delivers an original fiction taking place between Call of Duty®: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Utilizing both touchscreen and “Near” technology, Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified puts the adrenaline-rush combat and action of Call of Duty in the palm of your hands. The title is also included in a limited PlayStation®Vita Call of Duty®: Black Ops Declassified Special Edition Bundle Pack for the ultimate value on the go. Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified is rated “MA15+” Strong Violence and Coarse Language

TECMO KOEI EUROPE[i] and Mindscape Asia Pacific announces today that the second video game adaptation of renowned action manga ‘Fist of the North Star’, entitled ‘Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2’, will be released in Australia on the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on the 1^st of February 2013.

‘Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2’ will offer players a variety of modes and new features:

1. Legend mode, follows the storyline of the entire manga, starting with a re-imagined version of ‘Raoh’ and covering ‘Celestial Emperor’ and ‘Land of Shura’. This faithful adaptation ensures that this mode can be enjoyed by both fans of the manga and new comers to Kenshiro’s post-apocalyptic world. Different characters will be controlled for each episode while ‘boss’ encounters will feature entire famous scenes from the manga, recreated in intricate detail.
2. 2.      Over 20 playable characters will be available, including Falco, Shachi, Shew and Juza.
3. Dynamic new moves.  The destructive power of the techniques of Hokuto Shinken and Nanto Seiken meet the intense action of the Warriors series to produce a thrilling experience. In addition to the signature moves of the first title, new actions such as ‘sprint’ and ‘dodge’ have been added to the move sets.
4. Dream Mode introduces new, original storylines to the Fist of the North Star Universe while bridging the gaps between parts of the main story, often focusing on some of the series’ minor characters.
5. Online Co-Op and Versus play. For the first time, Dream Mode will be playable in co-op or versus play via the internet.

In addition, a variety of character costumes, and stages will be available as downloadable content.

‘Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2’ is also being developed for the Wii U™ and the release date will be announced at a later time.

Latest update brings a mini-expansion of new content heralded by massive one-time in-game event 

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – November 13, 2012: NCSOFT® and ArenaNet are excited to release the second major content update within three months since launch for Guild Wars 2 this week, entitled The Lost Shores. Arriving November 15, the update brings many new features to the game and will be highlighted by a multi-stage, one-time event that will forever change the world of Guild Wars 2.

A Mini-Expansion

Following the hugely successful multi-stage mystery of the recent Halloween event, the Lost Shores update continues ArenaNet’s tradition of delivering regular content, compelling events, and unequalled ease of access in its regular game releases, all subscription-free. The Lost Shores update is a mini-expansion worth of new content that brings players an unprecedented amount of new areas to explore, challenges to conquer and goals to achieve. This is all punctuated with a massive one-time event that will change Tyria forever.

In addition to numerous improvements and additions across the entirety of the game, major features that players can look forward to include:

• A mysterious zone to explore, accessible to all players regardless of level
• A challenging new dungeon to conquer
• A new PvP map set within a Kodan dojo
• New gear to acquire, ranging from additional weapons skins to item enhancements to an additional tier of items between Exotic and Legendary.
• Crafting updates including a new resource to harvest and 200 new recipes
• A one-time in-game event that will forever leave its mark on the world of Tyria, starting Thursday, November 16 and ending Sunday, November 18.

Play with Friends

To make it easier than ever for friends to share in the mystery and epic events of the Lost Shores update, Guild Wars 2 will be opening its doors for a refer-a-friend trial period. Starting today, players who have already purchased the game will be able to invite up to three friends to join a free trial period from November 15-18.

For more information about this massive update and the one-time event, please see the timing information below and visit http://www.myguild.com.au/news-articles/guild-wars-2-update-shows-fans-the-wonder-and-scope-of-online-worlds

Timing of The Lost Shores event is as follows:

• Thursday, November 15, 9:00 a.m. PT – Free trial period begins, update build is released
• Friday, November 16, 12:00 p.m. PT – One-time Lost Shores event begins
• Sunday, November 18, 12:00 p.m. PT – Final event stage begins
• Sunday, November 18, 10:00 p.m. PT – One-time event and free trial weekend ends