Berlin, Germany, December 22nd – Today Berlin based Publisher Just A Game and Premier Polish game developer Vivid Games are proud to announce the release of Ski Jumping 2012 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. 

Following on from the million-selling iOS debut Ski Jumping 2011, the mobile winter sports gaming phenomenon goes fully 3D for the first time in Ski Jumping 2012, delivering all the thrills, skills and danger of professional ski jumping. 

“In Vivid Games we found a strong and very experienced partner especially for mobile devices. We are happy to be part of a very successful and well performing brand like Ski Jumping is. The blend of simulation, thrill and intense sports action that made Ski Jumping 2011 such a success is a tried and proven concept – Ski Jumping 2012 will take things to the next level,” explained Christian Sauerteig, Just A Game’s Sales & Licensing Director. 

“Ski jumping is a sport that demands fitness and skill,” says Vivid Games president Remigiusz Koscielny, “but it also requires a huge amount of courage. Our decision to evolve this massively popular gaming franchise gives us the ability to permeate the action with that epic sense of excitement and danger that makes the sport so thrilling. Viewing the ramp at breakneck speeds from the skier’s perspective makes you really appreciate the guts it takes to launch yourself into the air with very little safety gear!” 

Putting players right behind the courageous skier’s goggles, Ski Jumping 2012 takes the terrifying sport into the third dimension with beautifully detailed visuals and high-speed downhill action. With more than 20 real- world ski jumping venues available for players to compete in quick jumps, world cups, custom events and tournaments, Ski Jumping 2012 offers a completely new and comprehensive winter sports experience.

Ski Jumping 2012 embodies all aspects of the most dramatic and death-defying winter sport ever devised, and not just the toe-curling heights the flying skiers reach. To beat the best, players must master their balance as they tear down the inrun, learn to take off with grace and style, control their aerodynamics while in flight, and maximize their distance by landing perfectly. The judges are watching for all these intricate skills in Ski Jumping 2012, making this the most accomplished – and entertaining – ski jumping simulation ever seen. 

The Ski Jumping 2012 application is available as two separate releases for iPhone and iPad, allowing it to take full advantage of HD Retina display graphics and incredible special effects enhancements on the new generation of A5-equipped devices. 

Launched in perfect time for the 60^th anniversary of the Four Hill Tournament (December 29^th – January 06^th) – one of the most celebrated and auspicious ski jumping events in the world – Ski Jumping 12 is available now priced at 0,79€ for iPhone and iPod touch, and 1,59€ for iPad. 

External links: 

Ski Jumping 2012 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbzUA0cckMI

World of Planes is a flight simulation MMO dedicated to World War II military aviation where players can take part in all of the major combat battles, fighting with real players all over the world.

The official community portal has changed massively since the Closed Alpha test started. How does developer / publisher Gaijin Entertainment manage to attract so many new fans and keep them entertained, when the game’s not even out yet? Find out in this comprehensive newsletter that highlights World of Planes’ most interesting and important recent updates.

Interviews
Gaijin started a series of interviews with real pilots who participated in World of Planes’ Alpha-test program. The latest interview was a fascinating conversation with a US Military Maintenance Test Pilot who has flown helicopters during all major military conflicts over the last 10 to 15 years. As an experienced virtual pilot, he is now helping the developers to bring maximum realism to the sensation of flying – one of World of Planes’ best features.

Read the interview here:
http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/4813-special-interview-with-a-pilot-hawkdriver9/

Tips for Beginners
Another community-oriented initiative that Gaijin is now implementing is the “Aces of World of Planes – Tips for Beginners” series, which offers advice and instructions for those who may encounter problems in the game’s virtual skies. The “Tips for Beginners” series contains the most essential information for newbies, presented simply and intelligibly by the game’s most skilled and experienced players.

Read the Tips for Beginners:

http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/4957-aces-of-world-of-planes-tips-for-beginners/

http://forum.gaijinent.com/index.php?/topic/5008-aces-of-world-of-planes-tips-for-beginners-2/

Screenshots

Two different sets of screenshots have been revealed over the last two weeks. The first one presents pictures depicting the Battle of Britain, as RAF and Luftwaffe aircrafts clash in the skies above Dover. The second set of screens is completely devoted to the Pacific theatre of war, where US and Japanese aces met each other in the crosshairs of their Wildcats and Zeroes…

View the screenshots on Facebook or on the official website:

http://www.facebook.com/WorldofPlanes

http://worldofplanesgame.com/en/media/screenshots

Fan Video
Now, testers have created fan videos that the developer has agreed to publish! The first one was filmed, directed, and edited by VerTun, a World of Planes Alpha-test virtual pilot and Russian forum moderator at http://forum.gaijin.ru.

Watch the fan-video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kzrt_-o5IA

22^ndDecember 2011 – 

This Christmas, Nintendo offers you the chance to send your festive greetings via your Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo Letterbox is a free download that will be available from tomorrow in the Nintendo eShop. 

Nintendo Letterbox is a simple and creative way to stay connected with your family and friends. Via StreetPass and SpotPass, you can send 2D and 3D messages, drawings, and photos taken from your Nintendo 3DS Camera. Plus you can even send voice messages that you record in Nintendo 3DS Sound. 

Nintendo Letterbox gives you the perfect opportunity to send your family and friends personalised greetings this Christmas. 

To download Nintendo Letterbox, visit the Nintendo eShop. 

For more information, visit: www.nintendo.com.au

Australia, Sydney — Dec. 22, 2011 — AMD today launched the AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 graphics card for desktop PCs, introducing the world’s fastest GPU and the only GPU based on 28nm production technology.¹  With the arrival of the AMD Radeon HD 7970, AMD has unleashed its revolutionary new Graphics Core Next Architecture that enables new levels of gaming and compute capabilities – realizing an improvement of over 150% in performance/sq mm over the prior generation.² Engineered with support for PCI Express 3.0 and AMD CrossFire™ technology, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics card arrives prepared for the next evolution in gaming.³

“AMD is once again aggressively advancing the state of the graphics industry – this time with the arrival of the world’s fastest GPU, the AMD Radeon HD 7970,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. “This graphics card represents a revolution in the graphics industry. To put it bluntly, as the world’s first 28nm GPU, the AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 changes everything!”

AMD further extends its GPU leadership with the AMD Radeon HD 7970 through AMD App Acceleration, which enables exquisite high-definition video images and exceptional performance improvements for everyday applications. Ground-breaking advancements with AMD Eyefinity technology enable gamers and desktop enthusiasts to connect up to six displays to one graphics card, delivering immersive stereoscopic 3D experiences and astonishing 16k x 16k display resolutions.⁴ It’s also armed with the latest PCI Express 3.0 standard to enable uncompromised image quality, and is additionally equipped with GDDR5 memory, enabling accelerated GPU performance. Through its intelligent AMD PowerTune and ZeroCore Power technologies, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 enables higher performance levels while maximizing power efficiencies. ⁵

“The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is the must have tool in any gamers arsenal,” said NAME, TITLE, EA/DICE.” “EA has worked closely with AMD to take full advantage of AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology and DirectX 11 for a more realistic, entertaining and thrilling gaming experience in Battlefield 3.”

Efficient Architecture for Leading DirectX® 11 Performance 

•    New architecture for greater performance: AMD has further enhanced its GPU design efficiency through the introduction of the 28nm process technology and Graphics Core Next Architecture, realizing an improvement of over 150% in performance/sq mm over the prior generation. 

•    Refined AMD PowerTune technology: Designed with the most advanced power management features, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 is equipped with the intelligence to convert unused power headroom into extra performance by dynamically controlling clock speeds, allowing gamers advanced performance inside of the power envelope they specify.

•    AMD ZeroCore Power Technology: Gamers asked, AMD delivered – the AMD ZeroCore Power technology found in the AMD Radeon HD 7970 ensures that no power is wasted when the graphics card is not in use, enabling lower idle power than any other currently available graphics card.4 With support for AMD CrossFire technology, AMD ZeroCore Power eliminates wasted power, as well as additional heat and noise from extra cards when you are not using them.

•    PCI Express 3.0: The AMD Radeon HD 7970 comes natively equipped with support for PCI Express 3.0. With world-class performance scaling, enthusiasts’ GPU experience is maximized when paired with the latest platforms

•    Discrete Digital Multi-Point (DDM) Audio: DDM Audio provides multiple independent audio streams for audio-capable displays via DisplayPort or HDMI signals. DDM Audio delivers unique experiences in cases where multi-display video conferencing, directional audio or multi-room entertainment hubs are being used.

•    Enhanced Multi-GPU Capabilities: AMD CrossFire technology is the ultimate multi-GPU performance gaming platform. Unlocking game-dominating power, AMD CrossFire technology, coupled with PCI Express 3.0, will allow for unprecedented bandwidth in TriFire and QuadFire configurations.

The Ultimate Immersive Gaming Experience and Innovative AMD Eyefinity 2.0 Technology

•    Next Generation AMD Eyefinity technology: AMD Eyefinity 2.0 features all-new support for stereo 3D, universal bezel compensation, brand new display configurations and an expanded and more immersive field of view. This allows users with 2560×1600 monitors in an AMD Eyefinity 5×1 landscape configuration to achieve a horizontal resolution of 12,800 pixels, driving more than 20 million pixels of screen real estate. More than 70 game titles have been AMD Eyefinity-validated, while many are AMD Eyefinity-ready, and hundreds more are AMD Eyefinity-compatible.

•    DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a: With full support for 3GHz HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 HBR2, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 is set to drive next generation displays at up to 4K resolution.
•    3D entertainment choices with AMD HD3D technology: With the arrival of the latest in stereo 3D technology, AMD continues to deliver an enhanced visual experience on stereo 3D-capable desktops and notebooks powered by AMD Radeon graphics. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is backed by AMD’s open 3D initiative for stereo 3D gaming and Blu-ray 3D movies.
Better Performance through AMD App Acceleration

•    AMD App Acceleration lets you do more, faster: Enthusiasts will enjoy improved GPGPU performance and new features in many top media, entertainment and everyday productivity applications with AMD App Acceleration
•    Extensive support of industry standards: AMD Radeon HD 7970 fully supports DirectCompute® and OpenCL™ technologies, enabling broad application support today and tomorrow.
The AMD Radeon HD 7970 is available January 9, 2012 from retailers worldwide, with select models starting at $549 US SEP.

Supporting Resources
•    Product page: Learn more about the AMD Radeon  HD 7970
•    Twitter: Follow AMD graphics news on Twitter at @AMDRadeon
•    Facebook: Become a fan of AMD technology on Facebook

About AMD
AMD (NYSE: AMD) is a semiconductor design innovator leading the next era of vivid digital experiences with its groundbreaking AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) that power a wide range of computing devices. AMD’s server computing products are focused on driving industry-leading cloud computing and virtualization environments. AMD’s superior graphics technologies are found in a variety of solutions ranging from game consoles, PCs to supercomputers. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

THE TESTAMENT OF SHERLOCK HOLMES: SHERLOCK SHOWS HIS TRUE FACE IN VIDEO

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, the new investigation video game developed for PlayStation® 3, Xbox 360® and PC by Frogwares, today unveiled a new video teaser, exploring a bit more the character of Sherlock Holmes and the dark ambiance of the game.

Forget everything you thought you knew and discover a Sherlock Holmes darker than ever. The detective’s reputation on the verge of being ruined, the admiration of Doctor Watson toward him is starting to fade and change into hatred as he witnesses his friend committing reprehensible acts.

The video offers a beautiful sneak peak at the game, its dark ambiance, and its strong story centered on a controversial hero with obscure motives. This is an exalting investigation that players will have to lead, playing as both Holmes and Watson, while they will be trying to discover the reasons behind the strange doings of Sherlock himself.

You are Sherlock Holmes, and this is your investigation. Unfold an incredible conspiracy on PS3, Xbox 360® and PC in 2012!

WATCH THE VIDEO – http://www.sherlockholmes-lejeu.fr/index.php?rub=media&vid=1

SYDNEY, 22 December, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) will bolster its on-demand services in Australia with the arrival tomorrow of the Quickflix (ASX: QFX), subscription movie streaming service for PlayStation®3 (PS3™). The Quickflix service on PlayStation 3 will provide unlimited viewing of movies from a constantly changing catalogue, and complements its DVD and Blu-ray rental by mail service in Australia.

The debut of the Quickflix streaming service, complements the two existing PS3 on-demand movie services: PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service (the “PSN Video Store”) and MUBI, cementing the console’s strong entertainment on-demand credentials across TV, games, music and now, one of the most comprehensive range of movie on demand service options available in the Australian market.

For $14.99 a month, subscribers to the Quickflix streaming service can enjoy unlimited access to movies on demand, from a constantly updated catalogue. Existing Quickflix online Blu-ray and DVD rental customers can upgrade from $7 to $14 per month. For a limited time, a special Quickflix promotional offer will be available for PS3 customers who sign-up to the service providing unlimited monthly subscription streaming and a choice of two Blu-ray disc rentals available for $4.99 per month for the first three months.[1]   

Michael Ephraim, Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia commented: “PlayStation 3 in Australia has today made another leap forward in our home entertainment on demand offering with the exciting addition of the home grown Aussie movie subscription service, Quickflix, to our platform. It’s great to be partnering with an innovative, fast growing Australian company making inroads in the multichannel delivery of movie content that will provide our customers even more entertainment choices.”

“With a world of entertainment services at your fingertips, a trifecta of movie services on demand available, and the most highly acclaimed games of 2011, such as UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception™, it’s little wonder PlayStation 3 hit the number one spot for Australian home console sales in 2011,” Michael Ephraim said. “There’s no better time to ensure a PS3 makes it under the tree this year.”

Chris Taylor, Chief Executive Officer Quickflix said “Our launch on PS3 is an important milestone in the distribution of our digital streaming product, given the popularity of the PS3 console and its rate of connectivity with 1 million devices connected in Australia. Thousands of subscribers are already enjoying the tremendous value of our unlimited movie proposition and with a great launch offer to PlayStation 3 owners, we expect many more to take up our service over the festive season. Quickflix continues to build the catalogue of movies available for streaming and expects to announce more deals with some of the world’s leading content providers in the coming weeks.”

The dedicated growth of PlayStation 3 on demand services – across games, movies, TV and music -continues to position the console at the forefront of the interactive home entertainment category. With well over 1.3 million PlayStation 3 devices in Australian homes, families across the country can now access more of the best movie services, with content available across a wide variety of genres. From tomorrow, PlayStation 3 owners can enjoy three movie services on demand: from Quickflix streaming, to Hollywood blockbuster titles from all the major studios on the PlayStation Network Video Store, to curated art-house and independent cinema on MUBI. PS3 is also an awarded Blu-ray player, with 3D capability, and makes it a compelling home entertainment choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers alike.

The Quickflix streaming application will be available to download to the PS3 XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface from the PlayStation®Store once you have signed to the free to join and play PlayStation®Network[2]. PlayStation Network is a portal to a world of entertainment that includes game add-ons, trailers, demos, mini games, music catch-up TV in addition to movies on demand.

[1] Terms and conditions apply. For a limited time only. See Quickflix.com.au for promotional details.

2 Excludes broadband costs

Watch the all new Quickflix for PS3 trailer here

To find out more visit: www.au.playstation.com or www.youtube.com/PlayStationAustralia

Find PlayStation Australia on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/PlayStationAU

December 22, 2011 – EA SPORTSTM announced today that it is celebrating the transfer signing of Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi with a special pre-order incentive for FIFA Street, launching at retail worldwide in March 2012. Fans who pre-order FIFA Street from leading retailers around the world will receive exclusive in-game access to an adidasTM all-star team featuring Messi and 12 of the greatest footballers in the world.

SYDNEY, Australia. – December 22, 2011 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that tennis stars John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova will grace the global cover of EA SPORTS™ Grand Slam® Tennis 2, available in stores worldwide* by February 10, 2012, and in North America on February 14, 2012. McEnroe, one of the sport’s most recognizable figures, is exclusive to the EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise. Djokovic and Sharapova hold seven Grand Slam®tournament singles titles between them, and Djokovic currently holds the ATP Tour number one ranking. Alongside the global talent is a roster of elite past and present players from around the world that will adorn regional packaging.

The title will be available for the first time in HD, on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, including support of the PlayStation® Move controller. Players can experience the authentic thrill of serving up aces on Wimbledon’s prestigious Centre Court, hitting cross-court winners on the clay courts of the French Open, play under the bright lights at the U.S. Open or work on their serve and volley game at the Australian Open.

EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2 will include a host of gameplay features including:

• All-New Total Racquet Control:Control every shot with the right analog stick, smashing forehands, backhands, overheads and volleys with precision, accuracy and power.
• Become a Champion: Become a true Grand Slam® tournament champion by capturing all four major championships in succession – including Wimbledon (exclusive to the EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise).
• PlayStation Move Support:The motion control experience gets you on your feet and puts a racquet right in the palm of your hands.
• Legends of Now and Then:Play with or against more than 20 of the greatest players to ever grace the courts, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams.
• Professional, Realistic, Organic (P.R.O.). AI:The playing styles and behaviors of the sport’s greatest stars are captured right down to their signature swings and emotional reactions. Realistic tactics and strategies are your keys to success against each legend whether playing on hard court, clay or grass.
• ESPN Grand Slam® Tournament Classics: Relive some of the most memorable moments in tennis. From Borg versus McEnroe, to Nadal versus Federer, play your way through history unlocking up to 25 amazing moments of Grand Slam® tournaments.

For more information about EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2, visit www.easports.com/grandslamtennis2.

City Interactive’s Original IP Hits the Bulls Eye with New Sales Milestone 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, December 22, 2011— City Interactive, a fast-growing international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, has today announced a new milestone in the success of their original franchise Sniper: Ghost Warrior.  Developed and published by City Interactive, Sniper: Ghost Warrior has achieved sales that have now exceeded 2,000,000 units worldwide. 

“We are all very happy that we have reached the 2 million units milestone. This builds a strong belief we can do even better with the sequel and other upcoming releases.” – said Marek Tymi?ski, CEO City Interactive. 

The new sales figures mark the culmination of a stunning year for City Interactive, who, in addition to the development of the recently announced WWII FPS Enemy Front, and the impending release of Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII, is now equally busy prepping the much-expanded sequel – Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 – for 2012 launch.

“It is great to be a part of the City Interactive team.  Especially, when business success comes hand in hand with rapid growth of game development across all our studios.” – added ?ukasz Michalec, Senior Production & Project Manager in City Interactive.

“We are very excited to be working with City Interactive on the Sequel of Sniper: Ghost Warrior and the new IP Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII.” –Paul Elliot, Managing Director, QVSOFTWARE. 

Sniper Ghost Warrior is set on the fictitious South American island of Isla Trueno, where a despotic military regime lead by the ruthless General Vasquez has overthrown its democratic government to seize control. As one of a group of covert commandos, the player is charged with infiltrating the rebel stronghold and overthrowing the unelected powerbase. Intelligence reports indicate that Vasquez is due to chair a meeting with his cohorts in an old refinery facility, and a government plant is in place to set up an assassination opportunity for the crack unit. But as the unit arrive on the island, it soon becomes clear that the plan has gone awry, and the team must adapt and use their combat skills if they are to complete the mission.