Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced the Nightwing Bundle Pack for Batman: Arkham City will be available November 2.  Nightwing comes complete with his own unique gadgets and special moves, and is playable in all challenge maps in the game, as well as two additional challenge maps that are included with the pack: Wayne Manor and Main Hall. The pack also contains a bonus Animated Series Nightwing character skin.
 
The Robin Bundle Pack is scheduled for availability on November 23 to all owners of the game.  
 
Both download content bundles will be offered on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 560 Microsoft Points and PlayStation®Network for $11.45.  

You can download the Nightwing render here.
 
Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
 
Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game.

SESAME STREET: ONCE UPON A MONSTER 

CELEBRATED GAME DEVELOPER AND PARENT-TRUSTED BRAND UNITE ON THE

PAGES OF A WHIMSICAL STORYBOOK ADVENTURE ON KINECT FOR XBOX 360

 Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces the launch ofSesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, an innovative, engaging and humorous, new controller-free video game on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®.  Players can interact with popular Sesame Street characters as well as make new monster friends in a journey of learning, discovery and fun. 

Developed by award-winning Double Fine Productions, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monsteris a truly original interactive experience where young players join Cookie Monster, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters as they explore a living storybook titled Once Upon a Monster. In the book, they meet new, loveable monsters from the Once Upon a Monster world, forge friendships and learn key life skills along the way. Parents and children become part of the storybook adventure by getting active together through dancing, jumping, flying and more.

“Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is a very engaging title,which provides families with young kids  a quality experience unlike anything they have seen before,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Full of life lessons, like building friendships and overcoming fears, the game combines the values and appeal of the beloved Sesame Street brand with Double Fine Productions’ talent for creating lush and exciting worlds while delivering a fun game that parents can feel good about purchasing.”

“I’ve been promising this game to my daughter for a long time,” said Tim Schafer, President and CEO of Double Fine Productions. “I’m very grateful to Warner Bros., Sesame Workshop, and the extremely dedicated team behind Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster for helping me make good on that promise to her, and to every family that’s been waiting for this great chance to play together.”

Guided by a social and emotional curriculum set forth from Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, young players engage in activities that promote lifelong lessons about making friends, cooperation, recognizing and labeling emotions, and so much more.

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster on Kinect for Xbox 360 is rated G and available now at retail stores nationwide at a RRP of $69.95.

For more information on Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, please visit www.OnceUponAMonsterGame.com 

Download the launch trailer from this link: http://bit.ly/qkHqEE 

Download screen shots, pack shots and logos from this link: http://bit.ly/pXrIU8 

And for fun, check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4EnqvCYi6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcJJxedh-uY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gddBHzy5ByU

Wage War on the Wanton and Golden Maw in Latest Rift™ World Event

Your fiery Ash Strider mount awaits as the forces of Fire and Earth descend upon Telara

Beginning tomorrow Rift™ players will face the combined forces of Earth and Fire in the game’s latest World Event, the Ashes of History. Wanton and Golden Maw cultists have joined forces to find and transport mysterious artifacts across the Telaran sea ,and it’s up to Ascended to discover what the slaves of Laethys and Maelforge are plotting out beyond the horizon. Ashes of History features new daily quests, rifts, and invasions that offer Magma Opals, currency that can be used to purchase scorching rewards, including rare and epic weapons, a glittering oreling companion, and the fearsome Ash Strider mount.

The latest Rift lore installment featuring screens and a profile of the Golden Maw cult is now available

New modes, new control options, and full online functionality confirmed

SYDNEY, 12 October, 2011: Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has outlined its plans for PES 2012 3D, which will include full support to allow Nintendo 3DS™ users to play other users online.

PES 2012 3D will offer unrivalled realism, and allow users exclusive entry into its recreation of the UEFA Champions League™ tournament, and also allows users to experience the thrills of South America’s high-intensity Copa Libertadores league. Full control is offered over the game, with every pass, through ball, tackle and shot left to the player, and accessible via either the Circle Pad and buttons, or via a new Touch Screen control system where players use the Nintendo 3DS stylus to move their players. 

PES 2012 3D then focuses on the skills on show via a number of new, intelligent camera views that pan and swoop to cover the on-pitch action and show off the 3D powers of the Nintendo system, players are also invited to hone their skills in a number of game modes. 

The eternally popular Master League option made famous by previous home format versions of PES is now a vital part of PES 2012 3D, and allows users to shape and develop a team of unknowns into a dynamic football force. Similarly, the game’s new Become a Legend option takes a more personal look at the game, charging the player with the progression of one player trying to establish themselves as a world-class talent. 

Other new additions include new League and Cup competitions, Free Training where the multi-layered controls elements can be practiced, and an Edit Mode wherein the players and their kits can be adapted. PES 2012 3D also boasts a strong online element following huge demands for fans of the series.

Players can now play against a friend in one-vs-one games via both wireless and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection settings, while KONAMI has implemented a new take on the StreetPass™ system of data exchange. PES 2012 3D users can now exchange Master League team data with other Nintendo 3DS users, with players invited to take a CPU opponent using the team of other players.

MOVIE EXTRA WEBFEST’S FIRST ANIMATED WEBSERIES SHAAARK! LAUNCHES ON YOUTUBE TODAY
 
MOVIE EXTRA WEBFEST’s first animated webseries, Shaaark!, premieres on YouTube today at www.youtube.com/mnctv. Written and animated by Phil Watson, Shaaark! tells the story of ‘Jacques’, a shark determined to inspire his fellow apex predators to rise up above their instincts and be more than mindless killing machines. Shaaark! features the voices of Tex Perkins as ‘Wink’ – the most feared of all the sharks and Merrick Watts as ‘Robert’ the shark whose only exotic characteristic is to fart and burp at the same time. 
 
Following the success of MOVIE EXTRA WEBFEST in 2010, MOVIE EXTRA commissioned three finalist entries to produce a seven part webseries, each brought to life with a $25,000 production budget. Shaaark! the first of the three animations to debut, was recognised by MOVIE EXTRA for its ingenuity and humorous appeal. Creator, Phil Watson has previously worked on animation for Australian television and has a worldwide audience thanks to his animations for the SeaLife Aquarium in Minneapolis. 
 
Mollusks the second webseries commissioned by MOVIE EXTRA features the voices of comedians Shaun Micallef and Bob Franklin and will premiere on the Movie Network Channels YouTube Channel in November. For an exclusive look at the first episode Cold Turkey? Aisle 7, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmtlezmRWAY. The third webseries Livin’ with Steve will premiere in December. 
 
Visit www.youtube.com/mnctv to watch Shaaark!

Sydney, Australia. — Oct. 12, 2011 — AMD (NYSE: AMD) today unleashed the AMD FX family of CPUs, delivering a fully unlocked and customizable experience for desktop PC users. The AMD FX series of desktop CPUs includes the first-ever eight-core desktop processor, enabling extreme multi-display gaming, mega-tasking and HD content creation for PC and digital enthusiasts – all for less than $245 (suggested U.S. retail price). This marks the first retail availability of processors that use AMD’s new multi-core architecture (codenamed “Bulldozer”), which is included in AMD’s upcoming server CPU (codenamed “Interlagos”) and the next-generation of AMD Accelerated Processing Units.

            “AMD FX CPUs are back with a vengeance, as validated by the recent feat of setting a Guinness World Records® for ‘Highest Frequency of a Computer Processor,’” said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and general manager, Client Group at AMD. “While overclockers will certainly enjoy the frequencies the AMD FX processors can achieve, PC enthusiasts and HD media aficionados will appreciate the remarkable experience that AMD FX processors can provide as part of a balanced, affordable desktop system.”

            All AMD FX CPUs offer completely unlocked processor clock multipliers for easier overclocking, paving the way for PC enthusiasts to enjoy higher CPU speeds and related performance gains. Additionally, these processors use AMD Turbo Core Technology to dynamically optimize performance across CPU cores enabling maximum performance for intense workloads.

            Without spending a small fortune, users can combine an AMD FX CPU with an AMD 9-series chipset motherboard and AMD Radeon™ HD 6000 series graphics cards to create the AMD “Scorpius” platform for an astounding gaming and HD entertainment experience. As part of the “Scorpius” platform, AMD FX CPUs also support AMD CrossFireX™ technology, which allows the combination multiple graphics cards in a PC for stunning visual experiences, and AMD Eyfinity technology support for super resolution on up to six monitors.1 With AMD CatalystControl Center™  / AMD VISION Engine Control Center, users can get regular updates to help improve system performance and stability, and to add new software enhancements.

Starting today, the below AMD FX CPUs will be available from global retailers. Additional AMD FX CPUs and systems based on the AMD FX processors will be available for purchase following the initial launch.

Pricing and Availability

Manufacturer: AMD
Product Name: AMD FX series
Australia Distributors: Avnet and Ingram Micro
New Zealand Distributors: Ingram Micro
Website:  http://www.amd.com/  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMD
RRP:

Supporting Resources

• Stay tuned to the AMD Game blog for AMD’s take on AMD FX CPU performance, overclocking and more.

• Learn how AMD set a Guinness World Record.

• Is your rig ready for the AMD FX CPU? Read up to be sure.

• Follow AMD on Twitter at @AMD_Unprocessed for AMD FX CPU updates.

•  Like AMD on Facebook.

Note:  AMD’s product warranty does not cover damages caused by overclocking. Extreme overclocking with liquid helium and liquid nitrogen should only be attempted by professional overclockers.
1. AMD CrossFireX™ technology requires an AMD CrossFireX Ready motherboard, and may require an AMD CrossFireX™ Bridge Interconnect (one for each additional graphics card) and a specialized power supply.  Note that the following graphics cards only support AMD CrossFireX technology in dual mode (i.e.: maximum 2 graphics cards): AMD Radeon™ HD 6670, HD 6570, HD 6450, HD 5670 and ATI Radeon™ HD 5670, HD5570, HD 5550, HD 5450 and do not require a bridge interconnect. AMD Eyefinity technology works with games and applications that support non-standard aspect ratios, which is required for panning across multiple displays. To enable more than two displays, additional panels with native DisplayPort™ connectors, and/or DisplayPort™ compliant active adapters to convert your monitor’s native input to your cards DisplayPort™ or Mini-DisplayPort™ connector(s), are required.  AMD Eyefinity technology can support multiple displays using a single enabled AMD Radeon™ graphics card with Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems – the number of displays may vary by board design and you should confirm exact specifications with the applicable manufacturer before purchase.  SLS (“Single Large Surface”) functionality requires an identical display resolution on all configured displays.

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.

Starting today, fans of Dragon Age™ II can embark on a gripping new adventure packed with intriguing characters, expansive environments and treacherous enemies in the Mark of the Assassin DLC pack for Dragon Age II. Available for download on Xbox LIVE®, PlayStation®Network, PC and Mac® for $15.95 or 800 Microsoft® and BioWare™ Points, Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin introduces a new party member and playable character named Tallis, voiced and modeled after internet sensation, Felicia Day.

“I’m a huge fan of Dragon Age and working with BioWare on Mark of the Assassin has been a dream come true,” said Felicia Day. “The colorful characters and deep story-telling of Dragon Age is what BioWare does best and the way the team brought Tallis into the fiction felt very natural. I was extremely excited to use their amazing world as my creative playground in developing her character.”

“We instantly recognized Felicia’s passion, expertise and inherent knowledge of the Dragon Age lore and knew it was something special,” said Mark Darrah, Executive Producer on Dragon Age. “Felicia is a really great fit for Tallis and incorporating such a passionate fan into our fiction was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”

Surrounded by deception and intrigue, Hawke finds himself face-to-face with a cunning Rogue assassin named Tallis as she intervenes during a perilous ambush. In return for her aid in defeating a group of mercenaries, Tallis asks Hawke to help her steal a precious relic from an Orlesian Duke in his well-guarded estate outside of Kirkwall. In Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin, players will explore open, outdoor environments and dive deeper into the backstory of the Orlesian and Qunari races. Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin can be accessed from a safe house at any point in the Dragon Age II campaign.

In Dragon Age II, players step into the role of Hawke, a refugee who survives the destruction of his homeland to become the Champion of Kirkwall. Along the way, Hawke encounters many characters that undoubtedly shape his journey through his rise to power as their involvement in his story reveals his true allies or sworn enemies.

Today, the highly anticipated six-episode web series, Dragon Age: Redemption, will premiere on Machinima at www.youtube.com/Machinima. Felicia Day, creator of the popular web series “The Guild,” brought her team together to collaborate once more on Redemption, a series that Felicia wrote, produced and will be starring in. Felicia can be seen taking on the role of Tallis, an Elvin assassin, who will get one last chance at redemption as she sets off to capture a rogue Qunari Mage intent on wreaking havoc on the world.

For more information on Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin, please visit www.DragonAge.com, follow the game at www.twitter.com/dragonage and or on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/DragonAgeOrigins.

All-in-one security suite designed to deliver strongest protection and performance ever 

AUSTRALIA, Sydney – October 11, 2011 – Today Norton by Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) released the public beta of version 6.0 of its award-winning all-in-one security suite Norton 360.  The beta is available for free download from the Norton beta website, and includes the powerful core security technology found in Norton Internet Security 2012, in addition to enhanced PC tuneup and backup capabilities. The Norton 360 beta is designed to deliver the strongest, most comprehensive protection for consumers, without sacrificing speed or performance. According to Symantec’s internal testing, the version 6.0 beta outperforms the award-winning Norton 360 version 5.0 on key performance metrics, including an average improvement of over 50 percent on file copy impact.

New protection and usability improvements in the Norton 360 version 6.0 beta include:

–        Norton Identity Safe in the Cloud – Protects personal and financial information from cybercriminals and keeps users safe from fraudulent websites. New streamlined interface, simplified login experience, and ability to store passwords in the cloud make accessibility easy from any computer with Norton Internet Security 2012 or Norton 360 version 6.0 beta installed.

–        Norton Management – New web-based functionality lets users manage their Norton products from anywhere in the world. Users can remotely add Norton products, manage security settings and update subscriptions, making it simple to check on the health of their devices or fix issues without needing to be there in person.

–        Download Insight Stability Ratings – Checks every downloaded file for safety before installation and now provides users with additional data about the predicted stability of the application in their environment based on the stability experiences of millions of other Symantec users.

–        Bandwidth Management – Limits non-critical Norton updates when connected to metered networks to avoid using up monthly data allotments or causing overage fees.

In addition, key continuing features include:

–        Norton Insight – Norton’s exclusive reputation-based security technology leverages the anonymous software adoption patterns of millions of contributing Symantec users to automatically identify and block never before seen malicious software. 

–        SONAR – SONAR technology monitors running applications for suspicious behavior to quickly detect and disable previously unknown threats. 

–        Norton User Experience – From the streamlined main user interface, Norton 360 version 6.0 beta offers quick access to Norton Mobile Security Lite, Norton Cybercrime Index, Norton Online Family and website ratings service Norton Safe Web.

Beta Availability

The Norton 360 version 6.0 beta is available for free public download now at the Norton Beta Center.  Beta testers are encouraged to share feedback and discuss their product experiences in our online Norton Public Beta Forum.