magnify
formats

DiRT® SHOWDOWN™ TO CRASH INTO ANZ RETAIL ON MAY 24th ON NEW ‘CODEMASTERS RACING’ LABEL.

All new ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ gameplay video now playing at www.dirtgame.com.

DiRT Showdown playable demo, due May 2nd, will introduce RaceNet, the new online community hub for Codemasters Racing players.

Friday April 20th – Today Codemasters® announced that DiRT® Showdown™, the new all-action racing game from the award-winning DiRT series, will race into Australian & New Zealand retail on May 24th. DiRT Showdown will be the first game to launch on the company’s new publishing label Codemasters Racing* (See Notes attached).

To mark the news, Codemasters has released the ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ gameplay video featuring the spectacular tricks and stunts players can perform in DiRT Showdown’s Hoonigan game modes. The video features Ken Block’s Ford Fiesta H.F.H.V Gymkhana 5 which features exclusively in DiRT Showdown, going head-to-head with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X JUN, and is now playing at www.dirtgame.com.

Codemasters also announced that the playable demo of DiRT Showdown is due to launch worldwide from May 2nd. The demo will feature a solo and multiplayer event and will be available from Xbox Live Marketplace, PlayStation Network and Steam on PC.

When the DiRT Showdown demo goes live, Codemasters will invite fans to join the free new online hub for Codemasters Racing games, RaceNet† (See Notes). RaceNet will launch in beta as an evolving interactive community platform for Codemasters Racing games and allow fans to track their Races, Rivals and Rewards.

A special ‘Hoonigan’ edition of DiRT Showdown is now available to pre-order exclusively from all leading ANZ Retailers, for a limited time only (RRP AUD$79.95 / NZD$99.99). Sporting unique packaging, the DiRT Showdown: Hoonigan Edition will include an in-game cash boost, an online XP multiplier plus Monster Energy liveries for the Kohler D350, Duke Coupe and Ford Fiesta Gymkhana 3 and Hoonigan liveries for the Holbrook Growler, Logan Vulture and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X JUN(as seen in the ‘Ultimate Hoonigan’ video), redeemed via an online code.

DiRT Showdown will deliver a new world of competitive and combative racing as players race, crash and hoon their way to ‘Showdown’ finals on a chaotic tour of motorised mayhem when it launches May 24th for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC. For all the latest updates straight from the studio, crash over to www.dirtgame.com, www.facebook.com/dirtgame or follow the team at www.twitter.com/dirtgame.

 
formats

FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction and Deep Black: Reloaded now armed for full motion play

New Strategy First Inc. titles add to an ever-growing library of PC games supporting full motion play with Razer Hydra

Sydney, Australia, 20 April 2012 – Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, together with Strategy First Inc., critically-acclaimed game publisher and one of the largest online distributors for PC games, announce fully integrated motion gaming support with the Razer Hydra motion sensing controllers for new game releases FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction and Deep Black: Reloaded.

With the Razer Hydra’s intuitive one-to-one motion tracking technology, taking corners quickly and exacting road carnage on foes is as easy as twisting your wrists when steering in FlatOut 3.  Take out targets with pinpoint accuracy and dodge projectiles underwater with lighting fast reflexes in Deep Black: Reloaded as the Razer Hydra responds to your instinctual hand movements, a result of the controllers’ ultra-low latency and precision tracking down to the millimetre and degree.

“With full integration of the Razer Hydra’s best-in-class motion sensing technology, gamers will be experiencing the explosive action these two games have to offer with much more immersion,” said Robert ‘RazerGuy’ Krakoff, President, Razer USA.

“By fully integrating motion sensing support for these two games, gamers will be able to experience these games in a new and exciting manner,” said Emanuel Wall, Director, Strategy First Inc.

FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction features high-octane, adrenaline pumping, high-speed destruction racing action. Rich in content, gamers can choose from 60 annihilative vehicles ranging from monster trucks, race cars, off road vehicles, and many more.

Deep Black: Reloaded, a third person shooter, tells a tale of a dark future that accentuates intensive underwater battles with 40 different missions in 4 diverse environments to Infiltrate the enemy’s base, save hostages, and reign supremacy in a war against bio-terror.

The Razer Hydra is the world’s first PC gaming-grade motion sensing peripheral to use an electromagnetic field to track your hand movements as you hold two ultra-precise motion sensing controllers.  Swing your controller to melee enemies underwater in Deep Black: Reloaded and turn at high speeds in FlatOut 3: Chaos & Destruction – The Razer Hydra makes playing these games a seriously immersive affair.

To watch the Razer Hydra in action with Deep Black: Reloaded and FlatOut3: Chaos & Destruction, please visit these following links:

Deep Black: Reloaded – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbzM4pX_Xxs

FlatOut3: Chaos & Destruction – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEowRXEDoTs

About the Razer Hydra Motion Sensing Controllers

The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion-sensing controller to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to the PC and Mac. With compatibility for over 250 games out of the box and future support for gamers to self-configure controls for any PC or Mac game, the entertainment possibilities are virtually endless. Built to deliver ultra-low latency and location-orientation tracking exact to the millimetre and degree, the precision and speed of the Razer Hydra makes it unrivalled amongst its kind.

Price:

Razer Hydra standalone (via RazerStore): US$99.99

Razer Hydra + Portal 2: Available at RazerStore and Amazon.

Availability:

Deep Black: Reloaded – Now Available on Steam

Flatout 3: Chaos and Destruction – Now Available on Steam

Product features:

(Per controller)

Thumb-ergonomic analog stick for fluid control

4 Hyperesponse action buttons

Rapid-fire trigger and bumper for faster in-game response

Non-slip satin grip surface

True six degree-of-freedom magnetic motion tracking

Lightweight, anti-tangle braided cable

(Base station)

Low-power magnetic field, low power consumption

Ultra precise sensor for 1mm and 1 degree tracks

No line of sight to controllers required

Low latency feedback

For more really interesting information about the Razer Hydra, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/hydra

Razer Hydra images

Transparent Images

High-res Images

About the Razer Group:

Razer™ is the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware. Founded in 1998, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., the company has offices in nine cities around the globe. Used by the most demanding professional gamers who compete in global tournaments, Razer provides gamers with the unfair advantage of cutting-edge technology and award-winning design. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.

Learn more at http://www.razerzone.com/

About Strategy First™ Inc.:

Strategy First Inc. is a worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC and Social Networks Founded in 1990, the Company is well known for its proprietary ground-breaking titles, such as the award winning Disciples, Jagged Alliance as well as the continuing development of the Space Empires series of games. Strategy First Inc. continues to publish many of the industry’s major titles, winning numerous awards for games such as “Hearts of Iron”, and “Galactic Civilizations.” Recent offerings include top releases such as “S.C.S. – Dangerous Waters™”, “Space Empires V.” , the “Flatout” series and “Armada 2526”. The Company provides a unique alternative for independent developers seeking to market their games to a worldwide audience.

For more information, please visit http://www.strategyfirst.com/

 
formats

God of War: Ascension on PlayStation 3

Get ready to explore the origins of Spartan warrior Kratos in an epic new God of War® adventure. Take a first glimpse at God of War: Ascension™ in this tantalising trailer.

 

God of War fans rejoice; infamous Spartan warrior Kratos is preparing to return to PlayStation®3 (PS3™). This exclusive trailer marks the official unveiling to the world of forthcoming title, God of War: Ascension.

 

The most ambitious God of War adventure in the series so far, God of War: Ascension takes us right back to where it all began. Discover the origins of Kratos as he takes his first steps on a now legendary quest for freedom.

Visit au.playstation.com for the latest news on God of War: Ascension and details on the multi-million selling God of War series on PS3™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®2.

 
formats

Symantec Achieves Highest Number of SSL Certificates Issued Globally

Industry security leader surpasses all Certificate Authorities in SSL technology history

SYDNEY, Australia – April 20, 2012 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today announced that it has issued the largest number of active SSL certificates worldwide, according to the April 2012 Netcraft Survey. With 811,511 installed SSL certificates, Symantec beats its nearest competitor by more than 200,000 active SSL certificates, demonstrating clear leadership in the global SSL certificate market. Symantec experienced the largest growth of net new SSL certificates, an increase of 14,768 certificates, according to the April Netcraft SSL Survey.

Current Netcraft data also shows a significant 41.3 percent year over year growth of installed Symantec EV SSL certificates. This growth demonstrates the deepening trust organisations have on EV SSL certificates, while positioning Symantec as the committed leader of the EV SSL market with a staggering 65.1 percent total market share. The EV SSL market will continue to thrive as EV SSL certificates provide organisations with the reassurance needed to protect online transactions and communications.

The April 2012 Netcraft SSL Survey reports that Symantec led the industry in net new SSL certificates across all three recognised segments, Extended Validation SSL (EV SSL), Organisation Validated SSL (OV SSL), and Domain Validated SSL (DV SSL).

Quote
“The Electronic Frontier Foundation reports that over 650 third party CA’s currently exist,” said Fran Rosch, vice president, Identity and Authentication Services. “The Netcraft report for April shows that when it comes down to it, website owners need to put their trust in a Certificate Authority that provides top notch protection against growing cyber security threats.  At Symantec we continue to invest in both our own security infrastructure and in the relationships we’ve built with website owners and Internet users around the world. When it comes to the value of dedicated website security, consumer trust and a sustainable business partner, not all Certificate Authorities are created equal.”

Additional Resources

Connect with Symantec

About Business Solutions from Symantec
Symantec helps organisations secure and manage their information-driven world with endpoint security, messaging security, web security, data protection, identity authentication and security management solutions.

About Symantec
Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organisations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

 
formats

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 Release Date Announced!

TAKE THE SHOT ON AUGUST 21 WHEN CITY INTERACTIVE DEPLOYS ‘SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2’

new website goes live to help aspiring snipers prepare for battle

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — April 20, 2012 — City Interactive, a fast-growing international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, has zeroed in an August 21, 2012 launch date for the release of Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2.  The sequel to the multi-million unit selling first-person shooter (FPS) for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC uses the advanced CryENGINE®3 game engine to produce the most authentic sniping experience to date in a video game.

There are soldiers and there are snipers, and Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is the only multi-platform FPS modern shooter exclusively designed around the sniper experience and, thanks to the advance capabilities of the CryENGINE3, delivers graphically stunning environments, more diverse sniper challenges, a rebuilt AI system and the “one shot; one kill” precision that made the original a worldwide hit.  With unprecedented levels of realism in weaponry, ballistics and environmental factors, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 offers the ultimate test of lethality for sniper fans.

To learn more about Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2, please visit the newly launched website http://sniperghostwarrior2.com/.  

About City Interactive

City Interactive is an international publisher, developer and distributor of interactive entertainment products with sales in more than 40 countries worldwide.  Established in 2002 and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, City Interactive has development and publishing offices throughout the world, including Poland, United States, Germany, UK, Canada, and Romania.  The company recently launched its biggest commercial success to date – Sniper: Ghost Warrior, which has sold over 2.5 million copies.  The sequel, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is currently in development and will be released in August 2012. More information about City Interactive and its exciting lineup of titles can be found at www.city-interactive.com.

About QVS

As a leading interactive entertainment specialist across Australia and New Zealand, QVS is a privately owned independent software and accessories distributor that has operated in Australia for over ten years providing quality, innovative interactive software titles and accessories. The company’s main objective is to provide its clients and customers with software products and accessories that deliver a highly satisfying entertainment experience. QVS distributes products from a wide range of publishers for a variety of demographics including lifestyle, office, productivity, education and games. QVS feature titles and products from the following well-known brands: Avanquest, City Interactive, Focus Home Interactive, Focus Multimedia, Koch Media, NCsoft, Nero, PDP, Trion Worlds, Turtle Beach plus many more. www.qvsoftware.com.au

 
formats

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 Content Collection #1 Now Available for All Gamers on the PlayStation®Network

We’re excited to announce that the Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection #1 is now available to purchase for all gamers on the PlayStation Network.  Content Collection #1 includes the brand new multiplayer maps Liberation, Piazza, Overwatch and Black Box along with new Special Ops Missions Black Ice and Negotiator, marking the first time Special Ops has been made downloadable online in franchise history.

The Modern Warfare 3 Content Season is co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software. Information on the MW3 Content Collection #1 for the PC will be coming soon.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For more information on the Call of Duty: MW3 content drops, season of content, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty Elite visit www.callofduty.com/mw3 and www.callofduty.com/elite.

 
formats

Diablo III: Open Beta Weekend

Melbourne Australia, 20th May 2012 – Blizzard have just released an open Beta Weekend! Definitely a must event to check out for fans! There official press release is below;

DIABLO III OPEN BETA WEEKEND

We’re pleased to announce the Diablo III open beta weekend, which offers open access to all players with a valid Battle.net account! Beginning this Saturday everyone is invited to log in and help us put the game and servers through their paces in this three day stress test as we march toward the game’s release on May 15. You can begin downloading the Diablo III client right now!

From Saturday, April 21 at 5:01 a.m. AEST, until Tuesday, April 24 at 3:00 a.m. AEST you’ll be able to log in, team up with friends, and play each of the five heroic classes to level 13 as you fight to save the world from the impending demonic invasion.

For more information and the full FAQ, head over to the Diablo III community site.

 
formats

Cyanide announces the dungeon editor for Dungeonbowl™

Jim : “That carpet of mushrooms around the helmets seems really weird…”

Bob : “Well, you see Jim, it was a magic goblin who designed this dungeon… So you shouldn’t try to understand.”

Cyanide announces the dungeon editor for Dungeonbowl™

Paris, May, 20th 2012.?

Dungeonbowl™, the online game inspired by Games Workshop’s® Blood Bowl® universe, will include a dungeon editor!

Thanks to a cleverly designed set of floor tiles, the original Dungeonbowl™ boardgame allowed a player to build his own dungeon for a game. At the end of the match, the tiles could be stacked up and used to build a completely different dungeon for the next game. Given that the layout of the dungeon is a key element in this underground version of Blood Bowl®, Cyanide believed it was necessary to offer the same freedom of design in its video game adaptation.

Official dungeons created by Cyanide’s Dungeonbowl™ team offering all the fun of the Dungeonbowl™, will be included in the game. However, the real enjoyment will come from those settings floor plans created using the dungeon editor. Players will be able to design the most Machiavellian of layouts, combining different playing surfaces, walls, decorations, assorted items… and share it online.

By offering a dungeon editor in Dungeonbowl™, Cyanide wished to let the collective imagination of the Dungeonbowl™ community run wild creating endless dungeons to play Blood Bowl®in!

Dungeonbowl™ is a tactical and multiplayer parody of fantasy American football meets the Warhammer® world. The game is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2012 on the Windows PC platform.

For more information:

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dungeonbowl

Google+ page: https://plus.google.com/u/1/b/103639731133208492802/

Official forum: www.dungeonbowl-game.com/forum

 
formats

Fighters Blast into World of Warplanes

19 April 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, today unveiled its Fighters, one of the three main classes of warbirds that will slice deadly skies, in the company’s highly anticipated World of Warplanes flight combat MMO.

Fighters will be available for all nations currently featured in World of Warplanes-the U.S., Germany and the Soviet Union-and will be represented by the most famous warplane models, including the P-51 Mustang, P-39 Airacobra, La-5, and Bf 109.

Just like their real-life prototypes, Fighters in World of Warplanes will be best at performing offensive reconnaissance, engaging in close one-on-one dogfights and effective attacking in groups of two or three.

“People love fighters for the freedom they give,” comments Anton Sitnikau, World of Warplanes Producer. “They have tremendous speed coupled with superb nimbleness that make them a hard target yet a deadly threat for other classes.”

World of Warplanes is currently in its global alpha, with more than 100,000 applicants in 24 hours of opening, and closed beta coming soon.

About World of Warplanes

World of Warplanes is the flight combat MMO action game set in the Golden Age of military aviation. The game continues the armored warfare theme marked in the highly-acclaimed World of Tanks and will throw players into a never-ending tussle for air dominance.

World of Warplanes will allow players to build full-scale careers as virtual pilots offering machines from several key eras, from1930’s biplanes to the Korean War jet fighters that led the way to modern air forces.

World of Warplanes will feature a wide range of warbirds, each of them unique in their effectiveness and behavior. Virtual pilots will choose from three main warplane classes – single-engine light fighters capable of engaging enemies in close dogfights, heavy fighters with their deadly straight attacks, and strafing aircrafts, the fearsome threat to ground targets.

Every plane will feature multiple variations of ammo types, engines, and other crucial modules, and their various combinations will allow players to pick the optimal configuration for the most effective behavior in combat.

Find more about World of Warplanes at:

About Wargaming.net®

Wargaming.net® is an award-winning online game developer and publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market. Since 1998, the company has published more than 15 titles, including the highly acclaimed Massive Assault and Order of War series. Currently Wargaming.net is focused on establishing an MMO war trilogy that will include their flagship armored World of Tanks, the flight combat World of Warplanes (one of the most anticipated MMOs for 2012), and the naval World of Battleships scheduled for release in 2013.

Official web site: www.wargaming.net

 
formats

Ghostlight Announce Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked & Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor II

BRAINTREE, UK – Date

Ghostlight have today announced that they will be releasing their first Nintendo 3DS™ JRPG. As anticipated by many fans, Ghostlight’s first title on the platform is the eagerly awaited Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked, the Nintendo 3DS™ remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. They will also be releasing the amazing Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor II on Nintendo DS™ throughout the PAL region.

About SMT: Devil Survivor Overclocked

Considered one of the best RPGs of 2009*, the original Devil Survivor presented gamers with a novel premise: Tokyo is in full lockdown, the government’s swift, coldblooded response to a surprise demon invasion. While you and your friends must solve the nature of the inter-dimensional rift through which the horrific creatures are entering your world, saving the world is not your highest priority; staying alive, on the other hand, is.

Expanded and enhanced, Devil Survivor Overclocked for Nintendo 3DS builds upon the game’s original release with the addition of voice acting for the entirety of the game’s lengthy, unconventional narrative. Moreover, that very story, already boasting multiple endings based on critical decisions by the player, now concludes with a special eighth chapter, a rousing epilogue for Shin Megami Tensei fans. The game’s beautifully remastered hand drawn artwork and character portraits benefit from the new system’s higher resolution screens, offering players a crisper, higher fidelity experience.

*Nominee – Best RPG (2009), GameSpot.com

© 2011 Index Corporation. Licensed by ATLUS/Index Digital Media, Inc.

Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2012 Nintendo

About SMT: Devil Survivor 2

Hailed as “a solid sequel” by Nintendo Power, SMT: Devil Survivor 2 continues a long tradition of excellence for the acclaimed Shin Megami Tensei universe of games.  Destructoid.com gives Devil Survivor 2 a resounding 8.5 out of 10, citing the game as having “an even better story, better characters, more demons to collect and a bunch of gameplay improvements.”  ZT Game Domain hands out an impressive 8.8 out of 10 score along with their Editor’s Choice Award, stating that “the story is very well told, and the situations and story driven set pieces are actually more enjoyable than the first game.”  RPGFan calls Devil Survivor 2 “a fantastic game worth every dollar” and gives it a massive score of 89%.

With an all new story and cast, an expanded roster of demons to manage, vastly expanded party interaction plus a host of refinements and improvements over its predecessor, SMT: Devil Survivor 2 delivers everything fans loved about the first game and more.  The sequel boasts an all new soundtrack from composer Kenji Ito along with an intense narrative and multiple endings based on player actions.  There are also of course, all the beautiful visuals and sounds the SMT series is so renowned for, not to mention the highly addictive challenge of collecting, customizing, auctioning and fusing every last demon in the game!

When a new website that shows the manner of people’s deaths in advance makes the rounds amongst Japanese high schoolers, a trio of students is shocked to witness their own deaths in a terrible subway accident just minutes away. They narrowly escape the carnage, only to find themselves in a worse situation–facing otherworldly demons. Desperate to survive, they fend off the demons and flee, but the destruction at the station is only the beginning…

Key Features

What if You Could See People’s Deaths Before They Happened?

The spread of a mysterious website that offers a preview of people’s deaths, and the great calamity that suddenly strikes Japan – a mere coincidence, or part of something larger? A band of high school students must use the website to avert their own deaths, as well as others’, amidst the unprecedented nationwide chaos.

Recruit Your Party, Build Bonds

Adding a new dimension to traditional party mechanics, players must recruit new members to their team and then invest time into developing relationships with them. The closer the connection, the more effective they’ll be in battle. Every party member is mortal and susceptible to death, making it essential that every decision be weighed carefully lest they be lost forever.

Collect, Customize, Barter and Fuse Every Last Demon!

Endlessly addictive, the task of discovering and enlisting new demons to aid you in battle is a staple of the Shin Megami Tensei universe. With nearly twice as many demons to find and unlock as in the original game, there’s no shortage of work to be done in assembling and managing an army of your own demons for battle.

© 2011 Index Corporation. Licensed by ATLUS/Index Digital Media, Inc.

Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2012 Nintendo.

Established in 2004, Ghostlight specialise in bringing the best in Japanese gaming to the PAL region.  We have released JRPGs such as Agarest: Generations of War, Agarest: Generations of War Zero, Shadowhearts: From the New World and multiple entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series, including Digital Devil Saga, Digital Devil Saga 2, Lucifer’s Call and Persona 3 Portable.  We have recently released Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and Persona 2: Innocent Sin (both on PSP) and are currently working on the forthcoming releases of Fate/EXTRA (PSP), Agarest: Generations of War 2 (PS3), Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked & Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor II.