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2K Sports Extends the NBA® 2K13 Experience with NBA 2K Everywhere

Authentic mobile simulation game, free-to-play companion app, and Facebook game gives fans more NBA 2K anytime, anywhere

Sydney, Australia, 6th September, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced NBA® 2K Everywhere, giving fans the opportunity to experience NBA 2K virtually anywhere via an all-new mobile companion application, a social game on Facebook, and a full-featured mobile version of NBA 2K13 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices. NBA 2K Everywhere will extend the NBA 2K experience by offering players greater flexibility, more variety and new ways to play, at home or on the go, with these all-new social and mobile games. Additionally, both the mobile companion app and Facebook game enable players to feed data and experience right back into NBA 2K13 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, introducing a new level of connectivity and continuity to the NBA 2K experience.

The free companion app, MyNBA2K, will be available in October on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android, and Kindle devices. Players can experience a series of entertaining mini-games including shooting practice, free throw drills, a dribbling course, and autograph signing. With intuitive multi-touch controls and a variety of pick-up-and-play training games, MyNBA2K will offer an easy way for players to stay connected to their MyCAREER and MyTEAM experience in NBA 2K13 while away from home. MyNBA2K will be available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The app will also available for free on the Amazon Appstore for Android, including a Kindle Fire edition, and on Google Play.

NBA 2K: MyLIFE, 2K Sports’ first ever social game, will launch on October 2, 2012 on Facebook. Players can import their MyCAREER avatars from NBA 2K13 to compete in skills competitions with friends, build their home-court environment, and play through experiences of an NBA superstar including earning endorsements and fostering relationships with fellow NBA stars. Accomplishments in NBA 2K: MyLIFE can help unlock clothing, dunk packages, and other rewards in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system versions of NBA 2K13.

For the second consecutive year, fans can also purchase an authentic, full-featured NBA simulation experience for their mobile devices with NBA 2K13 for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android devices. The new mobile game will be available in October and feature intuitive multi-touch controls, improved graphics and, for the first time, a new multiplayer mode via Bluetooth and Game Center (iOS version only). Fans can also relive some of the NBA’s most memorable games with the NBA’s Greatest Mode.

“Our console game will always be the heart of the NBA 2K franchise, but we want to go beyond that,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “Through NBA 2K Everywhere, fans can extend their NBA 2K experience wherever they go, whether it’s on the road with the mobile apps or socially with friends via Facebook. We’re offering more ways to experience NBA 2K than ever before.”

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 is rated G by the OFLC and is available 5th October, 2012 in Australia and New Zealand for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Wii™ system and Windows PC. 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.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, MyNBA2K will be available in October on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, and Kindle devices.

Developed by Fifth Column Games, NBA 2K: My Life will be available on October 2, 2012 on Facebook.

Developed by 2K China, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices will be available in October.

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

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

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

 

 
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Heart of the Swarm Beta Now Live!

The Heart of the Swarm beta test has begun! This multiplayer-only test will initially be limited to a select group of pro-gamers, members of the press, Arcade contest winners, and shoutcasters. Beta test participants are not under NDA, so you’re likely going to see live streams of matches, screenshots, and casts of impromptu Heart of the Swarm throwdowns starting . . . mmm, NOW!

We will soon be inviting other players to participate in the beta, so be sure you’ve opted in by clicking on the “Beta Profile Settings” under the Account Management section of your Battle.net account (or just click here). Signing up from a Battle.net account that’s actively playing StarCraft II will help your chances of being selected. Note that opting in doesn’t guarantee beta access.

For further details on the Heart of the Swarm Beta, including a full FAQ, head to the StarCraft II Community Site.

 
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Creative Unveils the Sound BlasterAxx™ – A Whole New Generation of Sound Blaster to Dazzle the New Mobile Networked Generation

Sydney Australia – September 6, 2012 – Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Sound BlasterAxx™, a whole new generation of Sound Blaster and a new genre of audio device that the world has not seen before. The Sound BlasterAxx is specially designed and engineered to meet the demand for simplicity and coolness by a whole new generation of networked mobile device users. The sound produced by the flagship Sound BlasterAxx, a unique, one-piece, elegantly designed hexagonal device, simply blows people away, and yet, no power adapter is required.

Sound BlasterAxx SBX 20

Besides seamlessly supporting the PCs and Macs, the Sound BlasterAxx is also designed to work intelligently with smart devices including the iPhone, iPad, Android phones and Android tablets, providing the best of all worlds. The Sound BlasterAxx leverages Creative’s vast audio engineering expertise to provide best-in-class audio playback for music, movies, games and voice communications. To support the intelligent audio applications on these smart mobile devices, the Sound BlasterAxx also features advanced Bluetooth wireless audio connectivity and a high-quality dual-microphone array.

“After selling 400 Million Sound Blasters, I was staring at a mega-irony that few realised – they all don’t make sound! It was probably due to the hassle of installing Sound Blaster inside the PC; can you imagine the horror if one needs to further install some speakers inside? Today we face a whole new generation of users, who have busy and fast-paced lifestyles. They demand elegant, simple and hassle-free solutions. My ultimate challenge was how to design a whole new Sound Blaster for them. Sound BlasterAxx ushers in a whole new generation of Sound Blaster and marks a paradigm shift for the brand – for the first time ever, we have created a Sound Blaster that not only produces awesome audio, it actually listens to you and your audio environment. This paradigm shift unlocks a whole new world of useful and exciting applications,” said Creative Chairman and CEO Sim Wong Hoo, creator of the Sound Blaster.

“Sound BlasterAxx provides absolute freedom, total control and convenience from just a touch on their mobile devices, enabling users to completely customise their listening experience for music, movies and games. We have designed it to also deliver stunning voice quality with smartphone and Skype hands-free calls through adaptive communication technologies that can cancel ambient noise and focusing the microphone-array for accurate voice pick-up. If you like, you may even change your voice when calling others,” continued Sim.

“Plus it’s amazingly simple to use! Installation is as easy as inserting a USB dongle – just simply insert-and-go, nothing else! And it requires virtually no power – in fact, I’ve banned the unwieldy power adapter together with its cable and plugs! This not only saves money for the users, it’s a small but meaningful contribution towards saving the environment.”

“Audio has never been so simple, so elegant, so fun, so engaging, so dramatic and so magical…”

The Sound BlasterAxx stands above the rest in appearance as well as performance. Elegantly designed in the form of a hexagonal tower with backlit capacitive touch controls, it allows users to access key functions at a touch. The Sound BlasterAxx utilises a unique patent-pending “stacked stereo” speaker design that incorporates two-speaker drivers angled to provide stereo separation. When combined with SBX Pro Studio Surround technology, it delivers awesome room-filling sound from a compact one-piece device powered by only the tiny USB current. Specialised circuitry enables very low power consumption but large amplified power output from a PC or Mac USB connection. This all-in-one design eliminates the need for a two-speaker system with all the messy wiring, microphones and wires, and the unwieldy power adaptors along with their plugs and cables.

The Sound BlasterAxx also works standalone when used with mobile devices. It can then be powered by any certified simple USB power adaptor.

The Sound BlasterAxx is powered by the new SB-Axx1™ (Sound Blaster “Axxelerated” multi-core audio processor chip) which inherited all the desired features and technologies of the legendary Sound Blaster series, and boosted by an array of additional technologies and features to tackle the challenges of the new market defined by the new mobile networked generation. This means that for the first time, a single audio enhancement solution bridges every major audio and communication platform and network; for example the PC world, Mac world, Mobile world, Tablet world, the Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth, the PSTN system, the LAN, the WAN, etc. Each of these worlds has its own unique complex requirements.

Since the SB-Axx1 chip is so powerful, flexible and programmable, it is able to adapt quickly and seamlessly to any new audio scenario in these multi-faceted and connected worlds.

With an astounding suite of audio technologies in the SB-Axx1 chip, Sound BlasterAxx delivers dramatic enhancements to two of our fundamental daily activities in the intricate new world of audio: LISTENING and TALKING. These technologies include:

SBX Pro Studio™ enhances the world of LISTENING with Awesome Playback:

The fully customisable SBX Pro Studio™ set of technologies dramatically improves audio playback for music, movies and games – delivering unprecedented levels of personal audio realism from a compact one-piece device.

• SBX Crystalizer™ – Enhances audio for music and movies by restoring details in the high and low frequencies
• SBX Surround™ – Delivers an immersive personal surround sound experience
• SBX Smart Volume™ – Solves the problem of abrupt volume level changes in music, movies and games by intelligently applying gain and attenuation to deliver consistent volume levels, includes Night Mode™ to reduce the impact of explosions and bursts of sound so as not to disturb others after hours
• SBX Dialog Plus™ – Enhances the intricacy of the human voice in movies and games, allowing the listener to hear the dialog clearly
• SBX Bass™ – Fills in the missing low frequency tones and gives that extra punch for a better entertainment experience

CrystalVoice™ Technology enhances the world of TALKING and Communication with crystal-clear hands-free voice and video conference calls:

The Sound BlasterAxx design also integrates a high-quality dual-microphone array which leverages CrystalVoice™ technology to dramatically improve voice quality for hands-free phone calls or video-conferencing calls. Voice Focus ensures precisely targeted voice pick-up, while Noise Reduction enables clear conversations without background noise interference. Smart Volume gives users the freedom to walk around a room during phone conversations while the listener experiences clear, consistent volume levels.
• Acoustic Echo Cancellation – Eliminates the echoes in a hands-free conference call
• Noise Reduction – Enables the person speaking to be heard clearly over background noise by constantly monitoring the environment, eliminating unwanted noise that interferes with the conversation
• Smart Volume – Automatically adjusts the loudness of a voice to maintain a consistent volume level. This makes it convenient for the speaker to converse normally, regardless of whether the speaker is close to, or far away from the microphone
• Voice Focus – Envelopes the user in an audio shield that blocks out unwanted voices or noises, enabling only the users voice to be heard clearly
• VoiceFX™ – Enables the alteration of the user’s voice with a variety of effects: create interesting accents, or enable someone to sound like a completely different person, such as changing one’s voice from male to female, or monster, or robot, and much more


(Check out the cool Noise reduction video and Voice Focus features on video – click above)

The whole suite of technologies on the Sound BlasterAxx can be controlled from the PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets. Sound BlasterAxx Control Panel lets users fully customise and control their audio experience from a PC or Mac. The Creative Central app lets users do the same from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet – with a newfound wireless convenience.

In a nutshell, Sound BlasterAxx makes the two fundamental activities of TALKING and LISTENING simple again.

About the Sound BlasterAxx Series
The Sound BlasterAxx will be introduced in three models: the SBX 20 and SBX 10, which are Bluetooth wireless-enabled, and the SBX 8, which will connect to a PC or Mac via USB for use on a desktop.

Sound BlasterAxx SBX 20
Premium Wireless Sound BlasterAxx for Smart Devices
• Works wirelessly with Bluetooth-enabled devices
• Application support for iOS, Android, PC and Mac
• Innovative acoustic ID utilises a stacked stereo design that directs sound to fill the room
• Voice Focus with dual-microphone array
• Premium speakerphone encompassing noise reduction and voice focusing technologies to improve communications
• Hardware-accelerated SBX Pro Studio and CrystalVoice technology
• Control buttons embedded in a backlit touch-sensitive panel
• Aux-In connectivity for wired connection to audio playback devices
• 410 x 91 mm form factor

Sound BlasterAxx is also available in the following models:

Sound BlasterAxx SBX 10
Best-in-Class Wireless Sound BlasterAxx for Smart Devices, PC and Mac
• This model incorporates all functions of the SBX 20, except it is smaller in size

Sound BlasterAxx SBX 8
Ultra-portable Sound BlasterAxx for PC and Mac
• Smaller in size than the SBX 10 and is designed to be the perfect companion for PC and Mac

Pricing and Availability
Manufacturer: CREATIVE
Product Name and RRP: Sound BlasterAxx SBX 20 $249, Sound BlasterAxx SBX 10 $179, Sound BlasterAxx SBX 8 $129
Australia Distributors: Altech Computers, Multimedia Technology, Force Technology
Availability: Sound BlasterAxx SBX 8 (Sept 14 2012), Sound BlasterAxx SBX 10 (Sept 14 2012), , Sound BlasterAxx SBX 20 (October 1 2012)
Website: www.soundblaster.com

About Creative
Creative is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products. Famous for its Sound Blaster® sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment with cutting edge audio solutions, premium wireless speakers, wireless headphones and portable media devices.  Today, Creative re-invents the Sound Blaster, which has a user base of over 400 million, with its ground-breaking Sound BlasterAxx that aims at the new mobile networked generation by bridging the multi-worlds of the computer, smartphones, and tablets.  Creative’s proprietary technologies, innovative hardware, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment,  anytime, anywhere.

 
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Motorola Mobility Takes Screen Size and Battery Life to the Edge with Three New Smartphone Additions to RAZR Family

More screen. More battery life. More compact. More colors. And the best of Google packed inside. Introducing the new RAZR M, RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Sept. 5, 2012 – Speed, power, design and the best Android™ experiences around. Motorola Mobility is delivering all that and more with threenewadditions to its RAZR™ smartphone family: Motorola RAZR M, the full screen phone; the nonstop all-day entertainer Motorola RAZR HD; and the unmatched, live-forever battery of DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola. All three Android-powered smartphones are built with top-of-the-line materials, are small in size, big on battery life and packed to the gills with the best experiences Google has to offer.

Pushing Screen Space to the Edge

Motorola RAZR M packs a big screen into a phone that fits in the palm of your hand. The Super AMOLED Advanced 4.3-inch display spans from edge-to-edge. The border you typically find on smartphones is virtually, in a word, gone. Even though it’s smaller in size, you still get 40 percent more screen than the leading competitor*. You can type emails and texts easily with a wider keyboard, watch YouTube™ videos and movies on a wider screen and browse the Web with Chrome™ for Android without squinting. All on a long-lasting battery that is 40 percent more powerful than the competition*.

Motorola RAZR M is also easy to use. It comes with interactive, swipe-by-swipe tutorials that walk you through the setup and help customize your phone to your needs – no instruction manual required. While RAZR M already has a long-life battery, when you set up the SMARTACTIONS™ battery saving rules too, your phone settings will automatically adjust to squeeze even more from every charge.

Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR M will be coming soon to consumers in several Asia Pacific countries. For those in the US, it’s coming to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR M by Motorola for the unbelievable price for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. All that power, speed and edge-to-edge beauty at a great price. No catch.

Go. All. Day.

The new Motorola RAZR HD provides long-lasting battery performance for nonstop high definition entertainment. Its 4.7-inch HD display is the most compact smartphone in its class, designed for watching up to 10 hours of movies and TV shows or 6 hours of surfing the Web. You get the same sharp clarity as your HDTV, and beat the competition* with 85 percent greater color saturation and 50 percent more pixels per inch.

It’s not all about looks though. If you feel like hitting the road, you can drive with confidence knowing you’ll get up to 6 hours of voice-guided turn by turn GPS navigation all on a single charge. No matter where the day (or night) takes you, Motorola RAZR HD will keep up with 24 hours of battery performance1.

Available in sleek black or stand out white, the Motorola RAZR HD will be coming soon to consumers in various countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. In the US, it will be available before the holidays on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as DROID RAZR HD by Motorola. We’ll provide more details on pricing and availability soon.

Long Live the Battery

Never have an “off” day again. DROID RAZR MAXX HD has the same features as Motorola RAZR HD, but takes battery life to a whole new level. We’re talking 32 hours of performance2 with the longest-lasting LTE smartphone2.  You can literally get through an entire Hollywood trilogy with 13 hours of straight video playback, up to 10 hours of YouTube HD content or surf the day away with up to 8 hours of web browsing. For those who eat, drink, work, play and sleep with their phones, life won’t ever be the same.

DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available before the holidays in black in the US on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. More details on timing and pricing will be made close to availability dates.

Premium Materials and the Best of Google

These new smartphones are made from the premium design materials you expect from the Motorola RAZR family, including a Corning® Gorilla® Glass display, DuPont™ KEVLAR® fiber^ and a splash-guard coating. They’re also built with the best of Google inside:

  • Chrome™  for Android, giving you a personalized Web experience anywhere you go
  • Google Play™, offering access to 600,000+ apps and games, millions of books and songs thousands of movies and TV shows
  • Google Maps™ for Android for voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions
  • Voice Actions for Android™, letting you control your phone with your voice
  • Google+™, which can automatically upload your photos to a private album online
  • YouTube™ for watching exclusive videos and live events in HD quality
  • Android 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, upgradeable

For more information and multimedia assets for Motorola RAZR M, Motorola RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD, please visit our press kit at mediacenter.motorola.com.

Calling All Devs and Mod Enthusiasts

The beauty of Android lies in personalization and customization. For developer and custom ROM enthusiasts, DROID RAZR M and DROID RAZR HD will come in a special developer edition available online only through motorola.com in the U.S. Tweak, tinker and customize the day away by using Motorola’s software tools to unlock the bootloader. Warning: not for the faint at heart. Warranties will be voided. Visit motorola.com/razrmdev  or motorola.com/razrhddev for more information.

In countries outside the U.S., the device will ship with an unlockable bootloader where operators allow.

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

 
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MEDIA ALERT: Rooftop Mayhem Trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Released

BUDAPEST – September 5, 2012 – Independent developer NeocoreGames presents a new gameplay trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, leading the young monster hunter high above the cobbled streets of Borgova, where strange creatures creep and crawl. Helping out a scientist in need and battling a horde of nightmarish creatures, Van Helsing fights his way through the rusty walkways, majestic terraces and the crumbling chimneys of the rooftop world! You may prepare yourself for a whole array of fantastic foes: the Strongmen, former circus performers; Igors, the once obedient servants of the mad scientists; Stitchfiends, created to annihilate monsters; and the succubus-like Rusalkas!

Set in a gothic-noir universe and wrought with wry humor and snappy dialogue, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing follows the trials of the famed hunter’s son, a young man with a dark yet romantic charm, in the dismal land of Borgovia where former supernatural foes have enlisted his help to defeat a new scourge terrorizing the ravaged city. With an assortment of extraordinary characters, an engrossing storyline, and a beautifully dark and gothic art style, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing looks to test the bravest hunters of all time.

View the Rooftop Mayhem trailer now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doAEzETXI-k

 
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Elgato adds 1080p Full HD Support to Elgato Game Capture HD

Munich, September 5, 2012 – Elgato today announced the immediate availability of a free software update that brings 1080p Full HD support to all Elgato Game Capture HD products, for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Elgato Game Capture HD is the only USB capture product to offer this essential feature for any gamer’s setup. After only three months, Elgato Game Capture HD’s state of the art hardware combined with intuitive and powerful software has taken the market by storm.

The Elgato Game Capture HD 1.1 software update is available as a free download at http://gamecapture.com for PC and Mac.

Stunning 1080p capture for Xbox 360 and PS3
“Simultaneous gaming and recording in 1080p enables gamers to capture spectacular videos”, said Adam Steinberg, Vice President Marketing at Elgato. “This is a first for USB capture products, and Game Capture HD delivers it to PC and Mac users for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.” Apart from cross-platform, console-independent 1080p support, the new Game Capture HD software also improves on-screen latency on the computer as well as compatibility with certain video editing applications. What’s more, version 1.1 adds language support for Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.

Tailored to gamers
Elgato Game Capture HD uses H.264 hardware encoding to record high definition gameplay from Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 in HD quality at up to 30 Mbits per second. At the same time, gameplay is passed through to the TV via HDMI with no delay. Elgato Game Capture HD doesn’t need a lot of cables or even a power supply – the hardware connects directly to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 using a single cable. Thanks to the unique Flashback Recording feature, Elgato Game Capture HD remembers the gameplay that has preceded it, even if the record button wasn’t pressed. Gamers can simply go back to the start of the scene they want to record and begin recording retroactively.
What’s more, Elgato Game Capture HD allows for social interaction and sharing: With just a single click, videos can be shared with friends and fans on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. And with Elgato Game Capture HD software, it’s even possible to trim gameplay videos for later editing using a video-editing program.

What’s in the box & requirements
Elgato Game Capture HD comes with a Quick Start Guide, a USB cable, an HDMI cable, a PlayStation 3 cable, and a breakout cable for Component video. It accepts the input of Xbox 360 (unencrypted HDMI) and PlayStation 3 (A/V In) video signals at 576p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. Gameplay in 1080p60 is captured as 1080p30. On a PC, Windows 7, a 2.0GHz Dual-Core CPU, a sound card, 4GB RAM, and a USB 2.0 port are required. Mac OS X 10.7 (or later) and a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU are required for use on a Mac.

Pricing, availability
Elgato Game Capture HD is available from Elgato (www.gamecapture.com), Amazon, the Apple Online Store, and selected other retailers for $199.95 USD. Elgato Game Capture HD software is a free download at http://gamecapture.com/download.

 
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Call of Duty® Black Ops II Xbox 360 Bundle

One of this year’s most hotly anticipated releases, Call of Duty® Black Ops II, will be accompanied by an Xbox 360 hardware bundle sure to excite loyal fans the world over.

On November 13th 2012, fans will be able to purchase the Call of Duty® Black Ops II 250GB console bundle with controller for AU $499.00 RRP[1].

Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty® Black Ops II propels players into a near future, 21st Century Cold War, where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare. Pre-order today.

 
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Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise and Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! heading to Australia and New Zealand this September

5th September 2012

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise for Wii and Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! for Nintendo 3DS will launch in Australia and New Zealand on 13th September, 2012.

For the first time on home consoles, the quirky rhythm-based action of Rhythm Heaven—which was first enjoyed on Nintendo DS, now comes to Wii with Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise. Featuring 50 brand new rhythm games, gather your friends and family round the TV to experience a colourful world of eccentric characters and funny situations that Rhythm Heaven fans have come to know and love.

From playing golf with mandrill to controlling a flowerpot-punching karate man, everything has to be done in time to the beat to win. Try not to let the craziness occurring on screen distract you from the music because it is keeping the rhythm that counts. If you do stop to look at whats going on then you wont be disappointed, as each of the 50 rhythm games has their own short story featuring the classic Rhythm Heaven humour. Fans will also be able to switch between the Japanese and English soundtracks covering many musical styles. Some games can be played in co-op mode, so why not invite a friend to play with you? The aim is to play together and master the different rhythms; the more compatible you are, the higher your score!

Let your imagination run wild when Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! launches for Nintendo 3DS. Available as a boxed retail game and as a digital download on Nintendo eShop, bring your very own creatures to life, plucking each designed element from the depths of your mind to create something truly unique. Known as formees, your customised creatures are created on a drawing board featuring a large palette of shapes, body parts and colours that can be put together and tweaked to transform them into pretty much anything. The only limit is your imagination.

As the expanded version of the Nintendo 3DS Download Software title: Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive!, this eccentric game is packed full of user-generated content and contains a wide range of new features for you to enjoy. Once you’ve mastered the drawing board and brought a team of formees to life, it is time to explore the side-scrolling platform aspects of the game, exploring your personally customised planet and completing quests as you go.

For the first time, you can now also showcase your formees with other Nintendo 3DS users in multiplayer mode, in addition to sharing them over StreetPass or via QR Codes. It also comes with the option of utilising Download Play, so if you wish to play with a friend who doesn’t own the game then they will be able to join in with the creative fun.

Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise for Wii and Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! for Nintendo 3DS will both launch in Australia and New Zealand on 13th September, 2012.

For further information on Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise, Click Here
For further information on Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive! , Click Here

 
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PREPARE FOR ALL-OUT VEHICLE WARFARE WITH DICE’S BATTLEFIELD 3: ARMORED KILL DIGITAL EXPANSION PACK

Get ready for some heavy metal thunder with Battlefield 3™: Armored Kill, the third digital expansion pack for the award-winning Battlefield 3. Now available for all Battlefield 3 Premium members on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Battlefield 3: Armored Kill introduces four new multiplayer maps including the biggest map in Battlefield history, six additional vehicles, 20+ unlocks and the new Tank Superiority gameplay mode. Battlefield 3 Premium members on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment systemand the PC will have their opportunity to join the fight starting September 11th.

 
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MCAFEE THREATS REPORT SHOWS LARGEST MALWARE RISE IN FOUR YEARS

Mobile “Drive-by Downloads”, Use of Twitter for Control of Mobile Botnets,
and Mobile “Ransomware” Among the Latest Trends

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sept. 4, 2012 – McAfee today released the McAfee Threats Report: Second Quarter 2012, which found the biggest increase in malware samples detected in the last four years. McAfee Labs detected a 1.5 million increase in malware since Q1 2012 and identified new threats such as mobile “drive-by downloads”, the use of Twitter for control of mobile botnets, and the appearance of mobile “ransomware”.

Through proprietary research and investigation, McAfee Labs has been witness to rapid growth in its database or “zoo” of malware samples. With the malware sample discovery rate accelerating to nearly 100,000 per day, McAfee has identified key malware variants affecting a range of users globally.

“Over the last quarter we have seen prime examples of malware that impacted consumers, businesses, and critical infrastructure facilities,” said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president of McAfee Labs. “Attacks that we’ve traditionally seen on PCs are now making their way to other devices.  For example, in Q2 we saw Flashback , which targeted Macintosh devices and techniques such as ransomware and drive-by downloads targeting mobile.  This report highlights the need for protection on all devices that may be used to access the Internet.”

Malware on the rise
As PC malware writers master their craft, they continue to transfer their skills to other popular consumer and business platforms, such as Google’s Android OS.  After the mobile malware explosion in Q1 2012, Android malware shows no signs of slowing down, putting users on high alert. Virtually all new mobile malware detected in Q2 2012 was directed at the Android platform, and was comprised of SMS-sending malware, mobile botnets, spyware and destructive Trojans.

Mobile ransomware and botnets: the latest cybercrime fads
Ransomware, steadily increasing quarter over quarter, has become a popular avenue for cybercriminals. Damage can range from loss of photos and personal files for home users to data encryption and demands for money for large enterprises. Ransomware is especially problematic as it can hold computers and data hostage, instantly damaging machines.

Botnets, a network of compromised computers infected with malicious software and used to generate spam, send viruses or cause Web servers to fail, have also taken center stage again this quarter with infections reaching a 12-month high. With the U.S. as the global hub of botnet control servers, new methods for control have also been uncovered, including the use of Twitter for mobile botnet command and control. As such, the attacker can tweet commands with relative anonymity and all infected devices will follow them.

Thumb drive corrupters, password stealers and web threats
Thumb drive and password-stealing malware showed significant growth in Q2. At nearly 1.2 million new samples, the AutoRun worm spreads from thumb drives by executing code embedded in AutoRun files, repeating the process on any and all drives discovered. Password-stealing malware, at nearly 1.6 million new samples, collects account names and passwords, so an attacker can pose as the victim.

Websites with malicious reputations are influenced by the hosting of malware, potentially unwanted programs, or phishing sites. This quarter McAfee Labs recorded an average of 2.7 million new bad URLs per month. In June, these new URLs were related to about 300,000 bad domains, which is equivalent to 10,000 new malicious domains every day.  Of the new bad-reputation URLs, 94.2 percent host malware, exploits or code that have been specifically designed to hijack computers.

Each quarter, the McAfee Labs team of 500 multidisciplinary researchers in 30 countries follows the complete range of threats in real time, identifying application vulnerabilities, analysing and correlating risks, and enabling instant remediation to protect enterprises and the public. To learn more about the rise in malware in the full copy of the McAfee Threats Report, Second Quarter 2012, please visit http://www.mcafee.com/us/resources/reports/rp-quarterly-threat-q2-2012.pdf.

About McAfee

McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), is the world’s largest dedicated security technology company. McAfee delivers proactive and proven solutions and services that help secure systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world, allowing users to safely connect to the Internet, browse and shop the Web more securely. Backed by its unrivaled Global Threat Intelligence, McAfee creates innovative products that empower home users, businesses, the public sector and service providers by enabling them to prove compliance with regulations, protect data, prevent disruptions, identify vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor and improve their security. McAfee is relentlessly focused on constantly finding new ways to keep our customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com

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