Melbourne Australia May 31st 2012 – Ted Price, Founder and CEO of Insomniac Games, posted a story on the PlayStation Blog overnight announcing Ratchet & Clank: QForce, exclusively for PlayStation 3. Let’s just say that we’re all excited!!!

Hey folks,

At Insomniac, we are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ratchet & Clank, which is coming up later this year. We know that the HD remaster of our classic PS2 Ratchet & Clank games is something our community has been requesting for a long time and we’re looking forward to bringing this to fans this summer with The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy.

We’ve also heard a lot of community requests to develop a new Ratchet & Clank game, one that returns to the classic third-person Ratchet & Clank camera. We listened to your requests and this Autumn Insomniac will release our own new Ratchet & Clank game as part of our 10th Anniversary Celebration.

I’d like to officially announce that Ratchet & Clank: QForce will be coming soon to a PlayStation 3 near you.

Ratchet & Clank: QForce is a fun-sized Ratchet adventure that will be available to download from PlayStation Store or purchase on Blu-Ray disc across Europe. We’ve returned to the series’ classic feel, camera, controls and weapons. Even better, the addition of online features means there’s a whole new way to play Ratchet & Clank with your friends! We’re really excited about this game and we hope even these small tidbits about it get you excited too.

We’ve been hard at work on Ratchet & Clank: QForce and today we can unveil the European packshot which should give you a taste of what to expect when the game launches later this year. In the meantime, we hope you pick up The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy and will have more details on its release date very soon.

A new documentary film headed by the producer of Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 and an interactive children’s book and iPad app with anti-bullying message are among the first projects to be selected for X Media Lab: Global Media Ideas.

X Media Lab has been flooded with submissions for its annual Global Media Ideas summit, which is happening in Sydney from 8-10 June as part of the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas.

Already selected for the Lab is Stand In My Shoes, a crowd-sourced film about embracing empathy in the 21st century headed by award-winning documentary veteran Kurt Engfehr, the editor and co-producer of Bowling for Columbine, A League of Ordinary Gentlemen and Fahrenheit 9/11.

Combining storytelling and humour to expose the empathy deficit in today’s world, Stand In My Shoes will interview 500 social revolutionaries who are leading the way by making empathy a priority in their work and encourage audiences to become change agents themselves through an interactive online platform.

Also impressing the X Media Lab selection committee was Dandelion, an interactive children’s book and iPad app being created and developed by award-winning Sydney digital agency Protein One.

“Dandelion communicates an anti-bullying message to children by encouraging them to use their imagination rather than their fists. The app is unlike any interaction before it, in that it allows children to follow the main character ‘Benjamin Brewster’ through his story and then physically blow Dandelions on the iPad screen to help his wishes come true,” said Protein One’s Galvin Scott Davis.

There is still time for digital and creative industry entrepreneurs to submit projects for X Media Lab, with 16 teams to be given the opportunity to workshop their projects with some of the world’s leading new media experts in an intensive two-day creative workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art from 9-10 June.

The deadline for submissions is 1 June.

Project teams will have unparalleled access to some of the world’s most successful digital media pioneers, entrepreneurs and creatives, including founding member of the Atari Research Lab, Michael Naimark, co-writer/director of Happy Feet, Warren Coleman, co-founder of Wired Magazine, Ian Charles Stewart and the woman dubbed “the Oprah of the web”, Corvida Raven.

“With the deadline for project submissions rapidly approaching, we encourage industry entrepreneurs to get their project submissions in. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain one-on-one mentoring, elite consultation, feedback and advice from some of the most successful names in global media industries including film, gaming, mobile technology and social media,” Megan Elliott, Director of X Media Lab.

Previous teams to go through X Media Lab have included the minds behind projects such as ABC’s Rage and The Chaser, Lonely Planet, Disney Internet Group, Fairfax Media’s www.thevine.com.au, e-commerce fashion start-up 99Dresses, and creative industry networking site The Loop.

One of the major industry events of Vivid Sydney, X Media Lab: Global Media Ideas will also feature a Pro-Day Conference at Sydney Opera House on 8 June.

A high intensity information download and relationship building event for communicators in the digital age, the Pro-Day Conference will explore cultural and commercial content in a global world, including the rapid growth markets of China, India, South East Asia and Africa.

To submit a project to the Lab and to purchase tickets for the Pro Day Conference visit: www.xmedialab.com

IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, is pleased to announce today’s premiere of “ATTACK OF THE SAINTS,” a new HITMAN: ABSOLUTION™ trailer to promote Agent 47’s extensive appearance at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

A run-down motel room allows Agent 47 the time to treat his wounds. Meanwhile, his former employer, the ICA, send a deadly specialized wetworks team after him: “The Saints.” The ICA wants 47 dead, but that’s easier said than done…

The CGI specialists at Visual Works, under the direction and design of IO Interactive, have created a stunning piece of digital art. It’s an action-packed thrill ride, reflecting the very special vibe and atmosphere you can expect in HITMAN: ABSOLUTION™ when it launches globally on November 20.

Sydney, Australia – 31 May 2012 – Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, today announces the release of the new CM Storm Sirus S 5.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset. Packed with no less than 8 speakers (4 on each side), Sirus S delivers powerful sound as the new addition to a growing range of CM Storm audio gear for gamers and audiophiles alike.

Immersive Experience
Sirus S delivers real 5.1 surround sound with a dedicated extra large 40mm sub driver for explosive bass sound. Thanks to six additional 30mm drivers, each fed by a discrete audio channel, Sirus S produces precise and crisp directional sound. Those that crave a pure audio experience will enjoy the analog 5.1 surround sound connections that the Sirus S is equipped with. In addition, Sirus S is coupled with a uni-directional microphone with background noise cancellation that enables crystal clear communications.

No Compromises
Engineered to provide ultimate comfort and style, CM Storm Sirus S features a futuristic militaristic design and extra large comfortable cushions that sit around your ears and not on them. You can choose between smooth leatherette and breathable weaved ear cups that can be clipped on and off on-the-fly. Adding to this comfort, Sirus S is built to be a lightweight companion that will enable hours of play. An in-line remote control provides immediate access to crucial volume control and mic mute functions.

Pricing and Availability
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
Product Name: Sirus S
RRP AU$99 NZ$109
Website: http://www.coolermaster.com.au
Australian Distributors: Ingram Micro, Rectron, Australia IT, Direct Memory Access.
New Zealand Distributors: PB Technologies
Availability: Now

About Cooler Master
Cooler Master was founded to provide the best thermal solutions to our customers worldwide. Since its establishment two decades ago, we continue to invest in product development in order to provide leading-edge innovations to people and businesses. Cooler Master’s enclosure technology line-up includes heat sinks and fans, chassis, power supplies, function panels and accessories. Cooler Master has its headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, with global branch offices located in Europe, America and APAC, so that we can offer to our customers the best service in time. For more information on Cooler Master, please visit www.coolermaster.com.au.

Travel the world, manage an entire ecosystem, and express your musical side all for free exclusively on PlayStation®Vita

SYDNEY, 31^st May 2012 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) today announced three new Discovery Apps exclusively available for PlayStation_®Vita (PS Vita). The trio of all-new apps showcase the full range of PS Vita’s innovative features including front touch screen and unique rear touch pad, 3G connectivity, front and rear cameras and much more. These all new apps are ideal for PS Vita owners looking for something a little different whilst gaming on-the-go.

The all new titles – Travel Bug, Ecolibrium and Imaginstruments – will all be available free to download from PlayStation_®Store in coming months. 

In Travel Bug, players create and personalise their very own bug which is given a travel-based mission to complete. Your bug can take “travel snaps” on its journey and you can track its whereabouts on an interactive map. This innovative application also invites you to compete against friends to reach destinations first – all tracked via the “near” application. 

Take on a divine role in Ecolibrium, an imaginative eco-system simulator where the aim is to maintain harmony within your own created environment. If the environment becomes unbalanced, species in your eco-system must be fed manually until you have restored balance and created the optimum environment for your animals and plants. Users can collect different species and trade them with other PS Vita users using “near”.

If you are feeling musical then give Imaginstruments a try. Imaginstruments is an ‘imaginary instrument’ application designed from the ground up around the myriad of PS Vita inputs. Players can play drums, guitar, theremin, and even the violin. Once each imaginstrument has been mastered players can record their tracks and share with other players. 

3G enabled PS Vita owners should also be looking forward to the anticipated release of t@g, the graffiti-based app that combines creative expression, location-based gaming, AR and urban art discovery. Exclusive to 3G PS Vita; with t@g you can create your own graffiti t@gs to share and compete with other t@ggers. Plus use PS Vita’s 3G and GPS capabilities to discover t@gs wherever you are.

With all this free content joining an ever-growing roster of first and third-party games available exclusively for PS Vita on the PlayStation Store, there has never been a better time to enjoy the ultimate gaming experience, anywhere, anytime, with PlayStation Vita.

Includes All Crysis 2: Limited Edition Content Plus Retaliation and Decimation DLC Packs all for $39.99

Get ready for the ultimate Crysis® 2 experience with the Crysis® 2: Maximum Edition, available digitally for the PC via Origin.com and third party digital retailers starting May 29, 2012. The Crysis 2: Maximum Edition features all the content found in the Crysis ®2: Limited Edition plus two previously released DLC packs, Retaliation and Decimation, all for (AUD) $39.99 and (NZD) $49.99. The Crysis 2: Maximum Edition provides gamers with 9 additional multiplayer maps, 2 new weapons, bonus XP, weapon skins and attachments, and unique dog tags that were not included in the standard retail package for Crysis 2.
The Crysis 2: Maximum Edition features all of the following content:

• 2 new weapons

o FY71 Assault Rifle

o M18 Smoke Grenade

• Bonus MP XP

• SCAR digital weapon skin

• Decoy Hologram attachment

• Unique platinum dog tag

• 9 multiplayer maps including:

o Park Avenue

o Transit

o Shipyard

o Compound

o 5th Avenue

o Chasm

o Plaza

o Prism

o Apartments

In Crysis 2, the aliens have returned with a full invasion force bent on nothing less than the total annihilation of mankind. In New York, terrifying alien invaders stalk the streets and a nightmare plague strikes down the city’s myriad inhabitants with brutal epidemic speed. The city’s systems are in chaos, its streets and skyline are smashed and in flaming ruin. Neither paramilitary law enforcement nor the might of the US military machine can stand against the invaders, and all who choose not to flee are dead men walking. Just to survive in this maelstrom of death will require technology beyond anything any modern soldier has ever seen. One man will inherit that means to survive. You alone must wield the combat technology of Nanosuit 2, and make the last stand to save humanity from destruction in the urban jungle that is New York City.

For more information on Crysis 2: Maximum Edition, please visit www.origin.com

In an effort to reinforce its Atlantic fleet in the Persian gulf, the Russian army has launched a major offensive to take out the American airbases protecting the South China Sea. With the American installations destroyed, the Russian pacific fleet would be able to move through the Malacca strait, and engage the depleted American fleet holding the Persian gulf. Russian ground forces are now moving stealthily through the jungles of South East Asia along the historic Ho Chi Min trail aiming to destroy the crucial air assets in the region. Intercepted communications have allowed American marines in the region to be rapidly deployed in an effort to halt this Russian offensive, protect the crucial airbases in the region, and stop the Russian navy from gaining control of the Indian ocean and, ultimately, the Persian gulf. Welcome to the jungle, Soldier!

Fans to receive NBA All-Star add-on content presented by Sprite with pre-order purchase, including all-new Sprite Slam Dunk Contest mode 

Sydney, Australia – May 31, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced that NBA® 2K13, the next installment of the top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise* for twelve straight years and the follow-up to the award-winning NBA 2K12, will be available on Thursday, October 5, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Wii™ system and Windows PC. A Wii U™ version of NBA® 2K13 will be available in the launch window, at a later date.

Fans that pre-order NBA 2K13 will receive a new downloadable NBA All-Star content package presented by Sprite. This add-on content will be set in Houston, the site of the 2013 NBA All-Star Game and will allow fans to stage their own NBA All-Star Game, including three NBA All-Star events – the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout, BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest featuring all-new intuitive, pick-up-and-play controls.

“The NBA All-Star package is our way saying ‘thank you’ to fans for their ongoing love of the NBA 2K series,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “This content provides a ton of depth and value to our fans, and it’s just the beginning of a lot of big news about NBA® 2K13.”

Gamers can pit the NBA’s current superstars against classic players in both the Foot Locker Three Point Shootout and Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. Rosters for both the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge and 2013 NBA All-Star Game will feature the 2012 All-Stars, with dynamic updates to the 2013 rosters once the participants are announced.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 is not yet rated by the OFLC and will be available on October 5, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand. The Wii U version of the title will be available during the holiday season. Fans are encouraged to pre-order now at participating retailers in order to receive the NBA All-Star content on day one at no extra cost.

For more information on 2K Sports, visit www.2KSports.com.

For more information on NBA 2K13, visit http://www.facebook.com/NBA2K.

2K Sports is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

*According to 2008 – 2012 Gamerankings.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through April 2012.

NBA 2K13 is yet to be rated by the OFLC.

Latest Game Update for BioWare Mythic’s Free-to-Play Online PvP Game Includes New Map, New Hero and is Available Today

Seek out power and fortune in the latest update to Warhammer Online™: Wrath of Heroes™ — The Pyramid of Settra! Starting today, you can download the latest Wrath of Heroes patch and play in a brand-new scenario with a mysterious and ancient new character.
The Pyramid of Settra challenges all three teams to battle for Relics located throughout this new map. Relics will begin spawning in a central chamber and in the three adjacent anti-chambers, upping the ante in this highly competitive battle arena. Teams will find victory by successfully depositing these relics into their designated treasure rooms, needing to balance the defense of their riches with attacking the other two teams.

Also included in today’s update is the newest Hero from the legendary Warhammer™ universe to join Wrath of Heroes, Amenadresh the Steward. From the sand rises one of the few remaining Liche Priests, an ancient sorcerer whose powerful magic can both strengthen allies and unleash devastating curses.

Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is advancing online PvP games by delivering instant, fast-paced and competitive arena gameplay – for free!  A recent entry in EA’s Play4Free portfolio, the game throws three teams into 6v6v6 battles against each other, where you can choose from a wide range of unique heroes from the Warhammer universe on the fly. This cutthroat setup creates highly dynamic matches where teams constantly live on the edge of victory or defeat and alliances are quickly formed and forgotten. With the instant playability of battles that last for an intense 15 minutes, a small download size and no cost to enter, Wrath of Heroes can scratch the competitive PvP itch for gamers of any type.

Wrath of Heroes is now in open beta. Players can download the client by visiting the game’s official web site at www.wrathofheroes.com. For more information on Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes, please follow the game on Twitterat http://twitter.com/wrathofheroes or “Like” the game on Facebookat http://www.facebook.com/wrathofheroes.

Effortlessly smart and intuitively simple, the Samsung GALAXY S III aims to revolutionise the mobile experience

AUSTRALIA, Sydney – 31 May 2011 — Samsung Electronics Australia, has announced the local availability of the flagship GALAXY S III smartphone which goes on sale today from 10.30am*. Smart and intuitive, the sleekly designed GALAXY S III can recognise your voice, detect when you want to make a call and lets you share a moment quickly and effortlessly – never before has a Samsung device been so easy and simple to use. The arrival of the GALAXY S III in Australia marks the next generation of Samsung smartphone which aims to lead the charge in the growing smartphone market.

The GALAXY S III is sleek and innovative featuring enhanced intelligence to help make everyday life easy. Powered by Android™² 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Samsung GALAXY S III includes a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display, creating a vivid viewing experience. Equipped with an 8MP camera and a 1.9MP front facing camera, the device offers a variety of intuitive camera features, including natural interaction options designed to detect your face, voice¹ and motions for an exceptional user experience.

“The Samsung GALAXY S III aims to change the game in the Telecommunications market,” said Tyler McGee, Vice President of Telecommunications, Samsung Electronics Australia. “The GALAXY range has grown beyond our expectations in the smartphone market and impressive new features are a testament to our commitment to delivering first class new technology to the Australian market.”

Introducing Natural Interaction

The GALAXY S III helps enhance the interaction experience between the device and user. Smart enough to detect your face, voice¹ and motions – the GALAXY S III can respond to the individual user to provide a convenient user experience. With the innovative ‘Smart stay’ feature, the GALAXY S III recognises when you are looking directly at the screen, reading an e-book or browsing the web³ by having the front camera identify your eyes – the phone will maintain a bright display for continued viewing pleasure and convenience.

The GALAXY S III features ‘S Voice,’¹ the advanced language user interface, designed to listen and respond to your words. When your phone alarm goes off but you need a little extra rest, just tell the GALAXY S III “snooze”. You can also use S Voice to play your favourite songs, turn the volume up or down, send text messages and emails, organise your schedule, or automatically launch the camera and capture a photo.

In addition to being able to recognise your face and voice, the GALAXY S III can understand your motions to offer maximised usability. If you are messaging someone but decide to call them instead, simply lift your phone to your ear and ‘Direct call’ will dial their number.

Easy and Fast Sharing

With the ‘S Beam’ feature new to the GALAXY range, the GALAXY S III combines NFC functionality with Wi-Fi Direct allowing a 1GB movie file or a 10MB music file to be shared easily by simply placing two GALAXY S III devices back to back and clicking a button. The ‘Buddy photo share’ function also allows photos to be easily shared with all your friends tagged in an image. AllShare Play’⁴ can also be used to share media files between your GALAXY S III and compatible tablets, PCs and televisions.

Exceptional Performance

The GALAXY S III not only presents features with outstanding usability, but also provides a comfortable user experience through its human-centric design. Its comfortable grip and organic form deliver a comfortable and sleek feel and design.

Samsung Mobile’s heritage Super AMOLED display enhances to HD and 16:9 wider viewing angles. To ensure fast content sharing and connectivity, the GALAXY S III offers Wi-Fi Channel Bonding which is great for fast file sharing.

The gaming experience is also enhanced through ‘Game Hub,’ providing access to numerous social games, while Video Hub brings users high quality TV and movies³.

Exciting Australian Content

The GALAXY S III is an outstanding device to experience the diverse range of offerings within Samsung Apps⁵. Top Apps for Australian consumers include Angry Birds, Fango, Channel TEN, Fruit Ninja, The Age/SMH Good Food Guide as well as fantastic navigation and movie apps.

Users can also transform their GALAXY S III into a GPS device with the included NAVIGON app⁶, which provides turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation on the large 4.8” screen. Using preloaded AU and NZ maps, no data charges apply for using navigation, and FREE⁶ map updates every 3 months for two years are included.

New to Samsung mobile devices, Quickflix™⁷ can give GALAXY S III owners on-demand access to a constantly changing and expanding range of great movies from major Hollywood studios as well as the best in television from HBO (The Sopranos, Entourage and True Blood) and the BBC. Useable on up to five compatible devices including Samsung GALAXY Smartphones & Tablets, Samsung Smart TV/Blu-ray players and on your PC via the web for a low monthly subscription³.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung GALAXY S III is available now at $899 RRP outright for the 16GB device from all operators and is also available on plans.