Sydney Australia, August 6, 2009

Microsoft sure know how to put on a good show, and how to make their guests happy with an overload of good food. On Thursday August 6th, XBox Australia hosted a VIP event on Sydney’s Cockatoo Island in preparation for the release of Halo 3: ODST. An expansion which has evolved into stand-alone product, it marks a departure from previous Halo titles by introducing non-linear gameplay and a new less heavily armed playable character – the Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. 

After barely making it to the ferry that was to take us to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, I was greeted by by a boat full of geeks eagerly playing with their iPhones and ignoring the beautiful harbour in front of them. Upon arrival at the dilapidated industrial island that was at various times an imperial prison, industrial school, jail and shipyard, we were led through a 150 m long tunnel in darkness, save for the distant rat-tat-tat of gunfire and Nathan Fillion’s (who voices “Buck” in the game) distinctive tones. Eventually we arrived at the presentation site: large flat screens under a green fluorescent glow fronted by the life-size replica of a Warthog built by the WETA Workshop in New Zealand (of Lord of the Rings fame).

WETA general manager Tim Launder was in attendance and gave the first presentation describing the “cool shit” (TM) his company is responsible for. Originally built for the proposed Halo movie to be produced by Peter Jackson, the Warthog is a fully functioning four-wheel-drive multi-terrain vehicle and the star of the live-action Halo short films floating around on the net. A custom WETA design from the Bungie brief, it is fitted with a turbocharger, roll cage and has the ability to withstand a fall of 20 feet. It can switch between two wheel and four wheel drive, and has a special “crab” mode where it is able to drive sideways and diagonally. Reportedly it drives in real life much like it does in the game, which means it’s a tricky, slidey little sucker (as anyone who’s seen the You Tube video of the low speed crash into the of side of a warehouse would attest). Unfortunately, the event was at night and we were not able to see the machine in action.

After Tim, Bungie’s Curtis Creamer took to the stage and made a presentation much the same as the one given at E3, demonstrating the early stages of the game’s campaign. Halo 3: ODST finds you as “The Rookie”, a UNSC soldier in New Mombasa. Unlike Master Chief, ODSTs more lightly armoured and players hence have to be more cautious about engaging multiple enemies at once – health and shields, for one, do not automatically regenerate though you do posses more advanced navigation systems. Dropped into the city, you become separated from your teammates. As you find evidence of their whereabouts, you control their characters in flashback. This gives the player the power to let the narrative unfold in an order they see fit. This branching structure and the open planned city makes the game much less linear than its forbearers. 

Aside from these two elements and the addition of new weapons including a powerful pistol reminiscent of the original, the gameplay remains largely the same as earlier Halos. The AI seemed predictable – sure, they jump away from grenades and take advantage of rudimentary cover (diving behind walls, etc.) – but but exhibited little in the way of autonomy. An extensive map system aids players in navigating the open world environment and is especially useful in the cooperative mode to set waypoints for teammates.

Following the brief presentation attendees were allowed to test out this cooperative “firefight” mode. Played with up to 4 teammates through a system link, players face endless ways of random enemies of increasing difficulty. With no defined endpoint, players can continue until they exhaust their allocated number of lives. While most of the attendees seemed impressed, many were more interested in snapping pictures of friends in the Warthog and indulging in the culinary treats on offer. After a mere 45 minutes or so of gameplay, the night had come to an end and we were ushered back towards the ferry.

While the original Halo was undoubtedly a landmark, I confess to never really been much of a fan of the series, and this new incarnation which draws upon the sandbox style of shooter done so well in Farcry 2, does little to change that. Nonetheless, while ODST could hardly be considered innovative it at least appears like a polished product that should offer fans more content than just a mere expansion pack.

Halo 3: ODST will be released on September 22, 2009.

Joshua Blackman, Impulse Gamer Reviewer (Australia)

Milton Keynes, 9th August 2009 – 505 Games, in collaboration with 1C Company, have revealed more information on the multiplayer modes available in forthcoming World War II flight combat title, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. As well as boasting over 50 single player missions, the multiplayer experience featured in IL-2 delivers even more thrilling aerial combat action. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey will be available from 3rd September for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS and PSP.

The official website (www.il2game.com) now hosts the new multiplayer trailer where allied and axis forces go head to head in ferocious aerial dog fights and bombing raids over war torn Europe. Also featured is an exclusive community update from Pavel Kulikov, Game Designer of the multiplayer modes and maps at Gaijin Entertainment in which he shares some behind the scenes stories from the making of IL-2, as well as tips to becoming a multiplayer ace. Details on the modes featured in the game are as follows:

Dog Fight
Dog fight is a traditional ‘free-for-all’ mode. After selecting initial game settings (number of players, difficulty level, planes available, game play map, time limit, point limits etc) players engage in aerial dogfights earning points for every downed enemy aircraft.

The winner is the first pilot to reach the point limit first or the pilot with the most points when the allotted time runs out.
Team Dog Fight 
After selecting initial settings, players are divided into two teams. Like Dog fight, points are earned for every downed aircraft in the enemy’s team. The winner is the team that reaches the point limit first or has the most points when the allotted time runs out.

Strike
Strike is a multiplayer mode where teams attempt to destroy as many of the enemy’s ground targets as possible, while defending their own. The winner is the team with either the most points when the timer runs out, the team that reaches the points limit first, or the team who wipes out all of their opponent’s ground targets. Points are awarded for both aerial and ground targets, although ground targets are worth more points than those in the air.

Capture the Airfield
In Capture the Airfield, players attempt to capture and hold as many opposition airfields as possible. An airfield is considered captured once a player lands and spends a specified amount of time on the ground without being destroyed. All airfields in this mode being the game as neutral, so securing airfields quickly is crucial.

Each team is granted a specified number of team tickets at the beginning of the game. Each time a player respawns, one team ticket is used up. Once a team has no tickets left, it cannot return to the battlefield.

The team controlling the lowest number of airfields suffers a penalty of their ticket pool being depleted second by second. The bigger this disadvantage, the quicker the ticket pool is depleted.

The winner is the team that has the most tickets left either at the end of the match or when an enemy team loses all tickets and planes.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey gives you the chance to participate in the most famous confrontations of the era piloting fighters, battle planes or heavy bombers across a range of daring and action packed missions. There are 6 theatres of war in which to engage – The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, the Battle of the Bulge and Korsun – representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey will be published by 505 Games in collaboration with 1C Company on 3rd September for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS and PSP. For all the latest information visit the official website at www.il2game.com or follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/IL2BirdsOfPrey.

Sydney Australia, 6th August

The recent Halo 3:ODST event at cockatoo island gave eager fans a chance to check out a few things many long time Halo aficionados have been dreaming about. First there was the chance to check out the new Halo prequel and even get some hands on time with it. Next was the chance to listen to speeches from Weta Workshop and Bungie staff. The last thing, and something that will make many Halo fans squeal with girlish excitement, was the chance to see a real life Warthog.

The Warthog was designed by the aforementioned Weta Workshop, when a Halo movie was still in the works. Weighing in at three tonnes, the beast was a joy to look at for people familiar with the game. It is also very much operational, as one lucky raffle winner from the night will soon get to find out. A spokesperson from Weta Workshop talked about the team’s creations for a few minutes, eloquently summing up his job with “We make cool shit”. The Warthog was built from scratch and then blowtorched and beaten to give it that used feel. It also drives just like the game apparently, as the crowd was informed “If you can’t drive the Warthog in the game, you are going to have some trouble in real life”.  He also showed off some of the Halo merchandise that they make, which is all individually sculpted, incredibly cool, and very expensive.

Next up was a speech from Bungie designer Curtis Creamer. Creamer described the main storyline of the game before showing the audience a snippet of the games campaign mode. The campaign mode is said to play out like a mystery, as the player crashes down on a planet without his team mates, and must find them. The game play also switches between characters to flesh out the story of how the situation became like this. Creamer showed off some new mechanics to the game, such as the ODST soldiers reduced capabilities and the new visor display, which enables players to accurately spot targets, interactive environments and see in the dark.

After Creamer finished fans were finally allowed to get their hands on the firefight mode, which showcases the co-operative game play. The game plays very similarly to Halo, but the mechanics have been finetuned, and shooting up the Covenant remains incredibly fun. The public wasn’t allowed to have a go at the campaign yet, but if the fire fight was any indication, Xbox 360 owners should have another must have exclusive very soon.

(Tuggerah, NSW) – August 10, 2009 – Things are getting easier at the airport—with Belkin’s FlyThru, you no longer need to take your laptop out of the bag in the security line. This revolutionary new bag isolates your laptop on one side, and the clear window makes it easy for airport security to identify it. Just unzip the bag and lay it flat. Keep your other personal belongings away from the laptop and you should get the all clear.

Enjoy your flight!

Features

• Secure compartments to organize your accessories while traveling
• Clear window over laptop compartment for visibility
• Designed with minimal metal zippers and hardware for checkpoint screening clarity
• Comfortable shoulder padding with removable strap
• Sized for both standard and widescreen laptops up to 15.4″
• 1-Year Warranty

SCA HYGIENE AUSTRALASIA CONSUMER DIVISION AILSA STREET BOX HILL, VIC, 3128

SCA Hygiene Australasia Pty Limited ABN 62 004 191 324

Play the ‘Sorbent Arcade Challenge’ and help support Daffodil Day

Pac Man, Frogger and Snake are on a mission to raise money for Daffodil Day this year thanks to Sorbent.
For the third consecutive year Sorbent is joining forces with Cancer Council to support Daffodil Day, and has created a novel and exciting way to raise additional funds and engage donors online with the ‘Sorbent Arcade Challenge’.

The interactive website invites users to challenge friends and family to the classic ‘retro’ arcade games Pac
Man, Frogger and Snake, and win their way to glory. Sorbent will make a donation on behalf of the top three
scorers of each game and the site provides another convenient avenue for consumers to support Daffodil Day by making an online donation direct to Cancer Council.

This new online campaign highlights the ongoing partnership between Sorbent and Cancer Council, which will again include a range of limited edition Sorbent Daffodil Day inspired products in 2009. Sorbent will be selling toilet and facial tissue products featuring the daffodil – the international symbol of hope to those affected by cancer.

“Sorbent is proud to have donated over a quarter of a million dollars in the first two years of our partnership towards cancer research, education and support services”, explains Drew Lette, Sorbent Marketing Manager.

“With a further donation by Sorbent in 2009, shoppers can purchase our Sorbent Daffodil Day products knowing they are helping a great cause,” he said. “Sorbent has been instrumental in raising over $380,000 for Cancer Council and investing over $2 million in promotional campaigns over the last two years,” said Eliza Fettes, Director of Marketing and Corporate Partnerships at Cancer Council.

“We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from Sorbent. Funds raised through initiatives like Daffodil Day are vital in helping to make a difference in the fight against cancer,” Ms Fettes said.
Daffodil Day is on Friday 28 August. Look out for specially marked packs of Sorbent toilet paper and facial
tissues, and visit www.sorbentdaffodilday.com.au to participate in the Sorbent Arcade Challenge.
SCA Hygiene Australasia is a leading Australasian tissue company, manufacturing and marketing a number of leading household brands including Sorbent, Purex, Handee, Deeko, Hygenex, Treasures, Libra, TENA,Tork and Orchid. SCA Hygiene Australasia has facilities in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and employs approximately 1,500 people.

Style and function come together seamlessly in the new retro inspired Targus Generation T Laptop Case, which launches nationally this month.

Appealing to young professionals and uni students, this all purpose black shoulder bag is available in two sizes, suitable for laptop screens measuring up to 12.1 inches (RRP: $49.95) and 15.6 inches (RRP: $69.95). The 12.1 inch model also features an adjustable divider, which allows the case to accommodate netbooks as small as 8.9 inches in size.

The lightweight and slimline case features a luxurious koskin exterior, adjustable shoulder strap for comfort, as well as padded compartments to minimise scratches and damage to your laptop. There are also plenty of internal pockets to hold essentials such as mobile phones, music players, wallet and keys.

The new Generation T Laptop Case will be stocked at most major retailers nationwide, including Harvey Norman, Domayne, Joyce Mayne and JB Hi-Fi.

To obtain more information about the Targus Generation T Laptop Case, please visit www.targus.com.au or call the customer service free call line 1800 641 645.

Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival will bring the next wave of black cinema to Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum from 30 August to
1 September 2009.

The 10th anniversary of the Message Sticks Film Festival includes Warwick Thornton’s Samson & Delilah, which won the Camera d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival along with seven new short films by new Indigenous directors, including debuts by Deborah Mailman and Leah Purcell, and Fire Talker, a new documentary about the life and times of Charles Perkins directed by Ivan Sen.

It is the second year that Bunjilaka has hosted the Message Sticks Film Festival and Caroline Martin, Manager, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre is thrilled to be part of the national tour. “It is an absolute privilege to work with Blackfella Films and to bring internationally acclaimed films by and about Indigenous people to our audiences”.

“The Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival provides audiences with a fantastic opportunity to immerse themselves for free in work from Australia’s leading Indigenous filmmakers,” said Sally Riley, manager of Screen Australia’s Indigenous Branch.

Message Sticks Film Festival is curated by award winning filmmakers Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale from Blackfella Films. It is the only festival in this country that is solely committed to presenting films made by Indigenous people, and all screenings are FREE.

In addition to Warwick Thornton’s Camera d’Or winning Samson & Delilah, this year’s festival will include a retrospective of Thornton’s best short films including Greenbush, Mimi and the much-loved award winning Nana. Thornton has a close association with the festival as all his past short films have screened at Message Sticks. Making Samson & Delilah is a new 55 minute documentary shot and directed by Beck Cole and produced by Kath Shelter.

Ivan Sen’s latest documentary Fire Talker uses exclusive archival footage from the early 1960s to 2001 and builds an intimate and honest portrait of Charles Perkins’ life bound inexorably with the most dramatic political shifts in Australian Indigenous policy.

A highlight of the festival promises to be The New Black, a new generation of Australian filmmakers whose work will be showcased in a series of seven 10-minute dramas. These films by emerging Indigenous writers, directors and producers premiered at Sydney Opera House Message Sticks in May 2009. The New Black is the latest initiative from the Indigenous Branch of Screen Australia and features stories from Far North Queensland, Bourke, Alice Springs, South Coast NSW, inner west and western Sydney.

The projects were financed with production support from the ABC, NSWFTO and the Pacific Film and Television Commission.

Message Sticks Film Festival will screen at Melbourne Museum from August 30 – September 1. See over for program details.

Message Sticks Film Festival 2009 program

Sunday 30 August
11am – 12.30pm Warwick Thornton Retrospective
1pm – 3pm  Samson & Delilah
3.30pm – 4.30pm Making Samson & Delilah

Monday 31 August
   The New Black
6.30pm – 7.15pm  Session 1:  Nia’s Melancholy (10 mins)
     Bourke Boy (10 mins)
     The Farm (11 mins)
     Aunty Maggie & The Womba Wakgun (11 mins)
7.30pm – 8.15pm Session 2:  The Party Shoes (11 mins)
                              Jacob (11 mins)
              Ralph (10 mins)

Tuesday 1 September
6pm – 7.30pm  Fire Talker

Where: Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum, Nicholson Street Carlton
Cost: All films are FREE
Further information: Phone 13 11 02 or visit http://museumvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka
Presented by Blackfella Films in association with Screen Australia, The National Film & Sound Archive, Sydney Opera House and SBS Television.

Proudly supported by Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum.

BLACKFELLA      FILMS

Some fresh info about King Arthur

Neocore has just announced the release of their first video developer diary for upcoming role-playing wargame title King Arthur.

This first release is part of an ongoing series to be released regularly on during the time leading up to the game launch. In the video developer diaries Neocore’s staff members will give in-depth views of the unique game features, and share insights from the development process.

The actual release is an overview of the game by Zoltan Varga – Co-Producer of King Arthur, introducing “role playing wargame” gaming experience, the main objectives and the management system of King Arthur.

Are You ready for the show?

Enjoy the first release of Neocore’s developer diary in high definition (HD)!
http://kingarthurthewargame.com/Videos/KA_DEVDIARY1_HIGH.zip

You can also download this first part of the developer diary in medium resolution:
http://kingarthurthewargame.com/Videos/KA_DEVDIARY1_MEDIUM.zip

If You don’t prefer downloading and want to watch the on-line streaming version of the diary, just navigate to the official website of the game: www.kingarthurthewargame.com

Stay tuned for more info…

Sydney, Australia – August 7, 2009 – The war rages on with intense fury for one of the most-popular online multiplayer games, as Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and developer Treyarch announced today that Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 3 is now available for download on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.  Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 3 includes three new multiplayer maps and one Zombie map:

§         Battery: An armoured island surrounded by anti-ship mines and shore-to-ship cannons, “Battery” places soldiers on a mid-sized map based on Fort Drum (El Fraile Island) in the Philippines. Players will have plenty of areas to hide and a steady flow of close quarters combat! 

§         Revolution: “Revolution” pits soldiers against each other in a large factory set in Russia’s cold city streets. Keep your trigger finger primed, your gun loaded, and your head low through this sniper-friendly territory!

§         Breach: Overwhelm the enemy in “Breach,” set in Berlin’s crowded city streets surrounding the historic Brandenburg Gate. Only the finest soldiers will survive in this fast-paced, dense battlefield!

§         Der Riese (Zombie Factory): The undead horde approaches! Fight for your life in “Der Riese” (translated: “The Giant”), an all-new Zombie map set in a secret Nazi research facility featuring the Pack A Punch Machine, a device capable of upgrading weapons at the touch of a button. Use the teleporters to escape the vicious Hell Hounds and pray that the powerful Wunderwaffe DG-2 will appear before it’s too late. This map includes 10 new Xbox 360 Achievements/PS3 Trophies.

Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 3 is currently available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for $15.95.

Call of Duty: World at War is rated MA 15+ (Strong violence and coarse language, Gaming experience may change online) by the Classification Board.  For more information and exclusive updates about Call of Duty: World at War, visit www.CoDWaW.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.