Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) has confirmed that from 7^th March, for one month only, PlayStation Plus subscribers will have the opportunity to download acclaimed action RPG Mass Effect 3 as part of their Instant Games Collection.

Developed by the very talented team at Bioware, this title completes the franchise in stunning form. The game plunges you into an all-out galactic war to take back earth from a terrifying enemy. In addition, SCE has teamed up with publisher EA to offer great discounts on both Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 for both Plus members and standard users.

Also available to download from 7^th March is the beautifully designed fighter Dead or Alive 5 from Tecmo Koei. Featuring a range of game modes, the game picks up two years after the destruction of the tri-tower – headquarters and symbol of DOATEC. Helena Douglas has begun the task of rebuilding DOATEC, this time with the aim of using its technology for peaceful ends. Now in the same position once held by her father, Helena has announced that she intends to hold the fifth Dead or Alive tournament.

Entering PS Plus in March:

·        7^th March: Mass Effect 3
·        7^th March: Dead or Alive 5
·        7^th March: Joe Danger 2
·        14^th March: Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
·        21^th March: Puddle

For more information on March’s PlayStation Plus content, click here to visit the PlayStation blog with all the details.

ShootMania^® Storm and TrackMania² Stadium Open Beta Live on Steam today, Pre-Orders Available 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – February 28, 2013 – Ubisoft® and Nadeo have announced that ManiaPlanet games and services, including the upcoming multiplayer first-person shooter, ShootMania Storm, will be accessible via Valve’s Steam service. With ManiaPlanet, it’s also TrackMania² Stadium, the racing game phenomenon with more than 12 million registered users that makes its debut on Steam. Both ShootMania Storm and TrackMania² Stadium open betas can now be accessed via Steam. Steam users can also download the full TrackMania² Canyon game via Valve’s platform.

ShootMania Storm is currently in open beta, inviting gamers of all levels from around the world to have a try the fast-paced competitive slugfest. The open beta will allow Nadeo to fine-tune and refine the experience thanks to the feedback of the open beta testers, as well as to test servers and progressively introduce additional features and possibilities. Several updates are already planned until ShootMania Storm reaches its final version on April 10, 2013.

“This partnership with Steam’s worldwide publishing platform allows us to introduce ShootMania Storm and all of the ManiaPlanet games and services to an even wider audience of PC gamers in the world. As a matter of fact, it is key to us that as many players as possible join the actual growing community so that everybody gets maximum fun with the game” said Anne Blondel-Jouin, Nadeo Publishing Managing Director.

“Through Steam, we’ll make “competition for everyone” a dream come true for more gamers and map-and-mod makers who all create the user-generated content and activity that make ShootMania Storm so attractive and innovative on the FPS PC competitive field,” Anne Blondel-Jouin added. “I want to take the opportunity to thank whole-heartedly the players who have already joined ShootMania Storm frenzy and to warmly welcome new comers: we’re looking forward to seeing all of them on the servers.”

Both ShootMania Storm and TrackMania² Stadium are now available to pre-order on Steam with a 10% discount until release, as well as on the official website of the ManiaPlanet platform: ManiaPlanet.com.  The games can also be downloaded and played right away in their Open Beta versions on http://www.ManiaPlanet.com/download

Developed by Ubisoft’s Nadeo studio, ShootMania Storm is a fast-paced, multiplayer first-person shooter designed from the ground up for online and eSports competition.  With multiple game modes and diverse play styles, ShootMania Storm is an innovative twist on familiar multiplayer game-play that focuses on skill, speed and strategy.  The game also offers stout community support and interaction, with an easy-to-use map-maker and sharing elements that to date have produced more than 15 player-made game modes as well as more than 20,000 player-made maps.

ShootMania Storm, TrackMania² Stadium and TrackMania² Canyon are part of the ManiaPlanet system and follow in the footsteps of TrackMania^TM, Nadeo’s successful arcade racing game.  ManiaPlanet is a flexible and robust development, gaming and community platform that pushes cutting-edge graphics, enables limitless game types, and encourages incredible community participation and user-made content.

Third Iteration of the Popular Real Racing Franchise Delivers the Ultimate Racing Experience on Mobile for Free

SYDNEY, 28 Feb, 2013 — Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that Real Racing™ 3 is now available on Google Play, in addition to the iPhone ®, iPad ®, iPod touch ®. Developed by the EA Firemonkeys studio in Melbourne the game delivers the most exhilarating handheld racing experience and features 46 licensed vehicles covering three classes, a 22 car grid across real world tracks, eight varied event types and over 900 events. Real Racing 3 is available as a free download, a first for the critically-acclaimed franchise, and was designed and developed from the ground up as a free-to-play experience.

Real Racing 3 features hundreds of hours of gameplay, making it one of the most robust mobile games available to date. All of the game’s content is available for free without players needing to pay to progress. In-game monetisation will enable players to accelerate their experience and speed up car servicing and upgrade wait times by spending virtual currency, which can either be purchased or earned through racing events, levelling-up, obtaining trophies and competing with friends.

“With Real Racing 3’s console-quality graphics, realistic gameplay and unparalleled depth of content, the Real Racing franchise is once again raising the bar for mobile games,” said Nick Earl, Senior Vice President & General Manager EA All Play Label. “By developing Real Racing 3 to be a freemium title, we’ve removed the barrier of entry, thereby expanding the game’s audience and making it easier to find multiplayer opponents, as well as giving players the freedom to enjoy the game when and how they want.”

The ability to play against friends whenever and wherever is key to one of Real Racing 3’s new features, Time Shifted Multiplayer™ (TSM). This new mode of competitive multiplayer allows players to race against their friends, even if they have different devices or if they’re offline.

“Real Racing 3 is the best in the series, sporting some of the most advanced multiplayer technology in the industry today,” said Tony Lay, GM of the Firemonkeys. “Time Shifted Multiplayer adapts everyone’s racing styles to competing cars on the track using leaderboards and previous times to emulate how they’d drive those courses. Now everyone will be able to battle against each other for bragging rights on the track anytime, anywhere in a more realistic manner.”

Praised for its console-quality graphics, Real Racing 3 displays dynamic reflections, persistent car damage and fully functioning rear view mirrors in real time to enhance the realism of the race day experience. Game features include:

• Real Cars – The largest ever roster of cars available in a Real Racing title from all-new manufacturers like Porsche, Lamborghini, Dodge, Bugatti and Audi. Feel the intensity of an authentic race grid of 22 cars for the first time on mobile. 
• Real Tracks – A first for the Real Racing series. Burn rubber around a full lineup of real tracks in multiple configurations from top locations around the world, including Mount Panorama, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, Hockenheimring, Melbourne CBD, and many more. 
• Real People – With Real Racing 3’s Time Shifted Multiplayer™ (TSM) you can race anyone, anytime, even if they’re offline. Every single career event is filled with the fully interactive AI-controlled time shift doubles of your Game Center or Facebook friends, as well as other players from around the world. 
• More Choice Than Ever – Compete in 900+ events including cup races, elimination, endurance, and drag races. Upgrade a wide selection of different car parts to maximise car performance. See the action through a variety of camera angles and fine tune the controls to your personal preference. 
• The Premier Racing Experience – Persistent car damage, fully functioning rear view mirrors, and dynamic reflections enhance the realism of the race day experience. Real Racing 3 delivers a rich, next-gen racing experience in the most advanced cross-platform social and competitive racing community ever. 

To download Real Racing 3 for free, please visit http://www.firemonkeys.com.au/downloadR3.

Phoenix Online Studios’ Cognition Episode 1: The Hangman On Sale for $3.99 on the App Store

SAN JOSE, Calif. – February 28, 2013 – Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, a supernatural adventure game series from indie developer Phoenix Online Studios, debuts today for iPad with Cognition Episode 1: The Hangman. This gripping psychological thriller can be downloaded from the App Store for the sale price of $3.99, a 20% savings off its regular $4.99 price: https://itunes.apple.com/app/cognition-episode-1/id598738593

Erica Reed is no ordinary FBI agent. She has a secret weapon when it comes to tracking a killer, an uncanny sixth sense that reveals flashes of the past so she can piece together how a crime went down. She’s also grieving a devastating loss: the murder of her brother Scott, whom she tried and failed to save. Now a serial killer loose in Boston is leaving clues that only Erica, with her odd intuition, can decipher. As she struggles to control her increasingly erratic and frightening visions, how many more people must die before she can bring the killer to justice?

Each Cognition episode is a self-contained investigation into a unique serial killer that also advances Erica’s story and brings her closer to avenging Scott’s murder. With traditional “point and click” gameplay, stylized graphic novel artwork and cutscenes, and an intuitive interface optimized for iPad, this modern adventure is a must-have for fans of mystery games like Gabriel Knight, interactive narratives like Heavy Rain or The Walking Dead: The Game, supernatural serials like TV’s Fringe, CSI-style crime dramas, or all of the above.

Phoenix Online Studios, the independent team behind Cognition, are lifelong adventure fans who got their start with the ambitious King’s Quest spin-off The Silver Lining. Cognition also bears the mark of veteran adventure game designer Jane Jensen (creator of Gabriel Knight, Gray Matter, and the upcoming Moebius), who is serving as a story consultant on the series.

In addition to today’s iPad release, two episodes of Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller are available so far for PC and Mac. To learn more about the series, visit the official website at http://www.CognitionGame.com.

About Phoenix Online Studios

Phoenix Online Studios is a game development company dedicated to making compelling, cutting-edge, and generally awesome adventure games. Established in 2004, Phoenix began as a group of King’s Quest fans from around the world that came together to create an unofficial sequel to the series. The resulting project, The Silver Lining, earned widespread community support and withstood two cease-and-desist orders to become one of the most ambitious fan projects ever made. After completing four Silver Lining episodes, the team shifted their focus to commercial projects with Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller. Cognition debuted in October 2012 and is currently releasing episodically for PC, Mac, and iPad. More information about Phoenix Online Studios can be found on the company’s website, http://www.postudios.com.

Gaijin Entertainment, a developer and publisher of multi-platform video games and winner of numerous industry awards, reports that their MMO War Thunder has been approved for distribution by Steam after successfully navigating the Steam Greenlight process. This military MMO is dedicated to the aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval combat of the World War II period.

To thank everyone who helped Gaijin to get War Thunder approved, we are holding a day of +50% experience. From 19:00 Moscow time (GMT +0:400) on February 27 through 23:59 on February 28, all players will receive additional experience for your matches.

The game already has three game modes, each with unique benefits that new players as well as seasoned veterans will come to appreciate. You have over 100 weaponry units at your disposal, and that’s just a taste of what’s to come! You can see the list of major features of the game on our official website: http://warthunder.com/en/game/features

Note that War Thunder is currently in Open Beta and new exciting features are added regularly.  More than one million players have already played the game. Anyone wishing to test their skills in the thrilling aerial battles can register for free, download the game client, and start playing right away. Moreover, you can help the developers create the game of your dreams by providing valuable feedback during the Open Beta.

You can find War Thunder on Steam by following this link: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=115947344

Gaijin Entertainment is a successful, fast-growing game development company established in 2002. The company specializes in the creation of games for various platforms including PlayStation3, Xbox 360, iOS and PC. Gaijin also focuses on technology-related research that makes them a leading provider for solutions in changeable IT market conditions. To date, Gaijin’s team is represented by six departments and over sixty highly qualified employees. The company’s projects have received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such KRI Awards as Best Simulation Game, Best Technology, Best Sound, and many more. Today Gaijin Entertainment is the biggest independent PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 games developer in Russia. For more information take a look at Gaijin’s official website: http://www.gaijinent.com