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Wargaming Renames World of Battleships to World of Warships

New Title to Better Reflect Wargaming Universe

2 August, 2012 — Wargaming, the award-winning global video game developer and publisher, today announced that its upcoming naval MMO action game, World of Battleships, has been retitled to World of Warships™. All further references to the game and its development will continue under the new title.

“The company is gearing up, and so are its titles,” said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. “In addition to more accurately reflecting the game’s core essence, World of Warships™ will correspond more closely to the framework of our Wargaming universe.”

While the game has changed its title, the gameplay hasn’t. World of Warships™ will still focus on straightforward naval action gameplay, including accessible controls, historically accurate vessels and combat, as well as a deep and engaging upgrade and customization system.

World of Warships™ will also be included in the Wargaming.net common economic system that will allow players to distribute resources between the three titles.

World of Warships™ is scheduled to set sail in 2013.

 
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MUIRHOUSE SCREENS TO PACKED AUDIENCE

SYDNEY: The Australian made supernatural award winning horror movie ‘Muirhouse’ this week committed to their promise and screened the film to residents of Junee, NSW; the location of the film.

‘It was an amazing night’ Tanzeal Rahim, Writer and Director of ‘Muirhouse’ comments ‘it was always our intention to showcase the film to the residents of Junee as a thank you for hosting the cast and crew during filming.  We were so thrilled with the reaction from the residents who turned out in droves for the screening with standing room only! I am personally grateful that with the support of the Junee Council and the Trustees of The Athenium we were able to hold this event’.

In the tradition of films like ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘Paranormal Activity’ – ‘Muirhouse’ is a documentary style film set in Australia’s most haunted house; the Monte Cristo Homestead and is based on the actual happenings at the house.

Stars of the film were in attendance including lead actor Iain PF McDonald who plays Philip Muirhouse; a ghost hunter who finds himself alone in the house; and the frightening events of that night are recorded in real time by camera and audio devices; taking the audience on a suspenseful, nail biting ride!

‘When they told me we would be returning to Junee for this screening I was very excited and made sure I could be there and part of the event’ says Iain ‘my only hesitation was if we were staying at the Monte Christo Homestead! Don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing place but lets put it this way; staying there during the filming of the movie made me a believer!’

Muirhouse has had a run of success over the last few months with screening to a packed audience in Cannes and winning ‘Best Foreign Feature Film’ at last months Fright Night Film Festival in the USA.

http://www.muirhousefilm.com/

 
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SYMBIOTE STUDIOS TO CREATE STYLIZED VINYL TOYS BASED ON BETHESDA SOFTWORKS’ AWARD-WINNING FRANCHISES

Sydney, Australia – August 2, 2012 – Symbiote Studios LLC, a leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of toys and high-end collectibles, has received rights to create stylized vinyl toys based on Bethesda’s award-winning franchises, including The Elder Scrolls®, Dishonored™, DOOM®, Fallout®, and QUAKE®.

QuakeCon® 2012 attendees that ordered the QuakeCon “Swag Pack” will receive Symbiote’s first creation for Bethesda, an exclusive QuakeCon figurine.

Symbiote is also creating a Dragonborn™ figure, inspired by The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim®. The Dragonborn figure, which will retail for $9.99, will be available this August. Pre-orders for the figurine can be made in-person at Symbiote’s booth at QuakeCon, or online via Symbiote’s official website, http://www.symbiotestudios.com.

About Symbiote Studios

Symbiote Studios LLC is a premier manufacturer of figures, statues and busts for the comic, movie and video game markets. Comprising of today’s leading artists, sculptors and licensors, Symbiote Studios LLC is committed to creating innovative and high-quality products.

Symbiote Studios products are currently sold in specialty, trend, collectible and comic shops, as well as on the World Wide Web at http://www.symbiotestudios.com

About Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a worldwide publisher of premier interactive entertainment software. Titles featured under the Bethesda label include such blockbuster franchises as DOOM®, QUAKE®, The Elder Scrolls®, Fallout®, Wolfenstein®  and RAGE® .  Among the world’s top development studios creating titles for ZeniMax are Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, MachineGames Studios, Tango Gameworks and ZeniMax Online Studios. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, Dragonborn, Dishonored, DOOM, Fallout, QUAKE, QuakeCon, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda, ZeniMax and their related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.

 
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Episode 2 of Carrier Command: Recruits out now

Sydney, Australia, Thursday 2st August 2012

Bohemia Interactive has dispatched the second episode of the free Carrier Command: Recruits mini-game-series. In this new chapter, players are assigned to their first official task as a Technical Analyst. Their objective is to recover image data from a salvaged APA drone.

Experiencing its launch last week, Carrier Command: Recruits is an episodic series of free mini-games preparing people for the Gaea Mission. Spread over four chapters, it follows the players’ story as they obtain the position of Technical Analyst. Their task is to unravel a mysterious plot by completing a diverse set of challenges.

Also worth mentioning is that by completing an episode, and sharing their progress on Facebook or Twitter before Monday August 20th, people will be able to win 1 of the 5 available digital copies of Carrier Command: Gaea Mission for Windows PC.

The second episode of Carrier Command: Recruits – ‘More Than A Thousand Words’ – is now available at www.carriercommand.com/recruits

Carrier Command: Recruits – Features:

  • Join the United Earth  Coalition as their top Technical Analyst and help them to uncover an      elusive plot to sabotage the UEC’s Gaea Mission
  • Test your abilities in a   series of Carrier Command themed mini-games – featuring an entertaining      variety of familiar and unfamiliar game-concepts
  • Seize the opportunity to      win 1 out of 5 digital copies of Carrier Command: Gaea Mission (including      beta-access) by completing and sharing any of the Carrier Command:      Recruits episodes before August 20th

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission – ‘Recruits Mini-Games’ Teaser:

http://youtu.be/qM_0Vo9ryPQ

To learn more about Carrier Command: Gaea Mission, be sure to check out the E3 2012 presentation video.

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission is distributed via All Interactive Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information, please visit www.carriercommand.com or track us via our social channels:

Facebook.com/CarrierCommand
Twitter.com/CarrierCommand
YouTube.com/CarrierCommand

 
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SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES MENSA ACADEMYTM NOW AVAILABLE

Stretch your Grey Matter today on Nintendo® Wii™, 3DS™, Windows PC  

Sydney, Australia (August 2, 2012) Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products and Barnstorm Games, today announce Mensa Academy, the ultimate brain training game, is now available at retailers in such areas as the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and PAL regions for Nintendo Wii and 3DS, and Windows PC platforms. It will be available in the near future for iOS devices, Xbox LIVE for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network from Sony and Android products.

Created in collaboration with Mensa, the renowned global high IQ society, Mensa Academy is chock-full of fun and stimulating mini-games and challenges. The questions featured throughout the game are directly inspired by those attempting to join Mensa.

“We are thrilled that consumers will now be able to play Mensa Academy, the most credible brain training game to date, to test and stretch their brainpower,” stated Roger Cheung, Head of Acquisitions, Square Enix Europe. “Whether they play on the beach on their 3DS, or at home on their PC or against their friends on the Wii, players will experience a clear improvement of their skills in an entertaining, accessible way.”

Mensa Academy offers players the ability to determine and improve their Mensa Academy score in Play, Coach and Test modes. Play mode challenges players to take on 100+ replayable levels in five disciplines— Numeracy, Language, Logic, Memory, and Visual, packed with stimulating questions. For further training, players can use Coach mode to hone their abilities and assess their progress in key areas before taking their skills to the next level in completing the Test, and discovering their Mensa Academy score; see how all that brain training has paid off! Nintendo Wii players can take on their friends in a multiplayer mode, to determine who the ultimate brainiac is.

“When setting out to create Mensa Academy we felt that it was important to provide the consumer with an experience that matched the quality of the Mensa brand.  We are delighted with the result and feel that we have a title that will appeal to a broad demographic and provide both a stimulating and positive gaming product,” stated Simon Jeffrey, CEO of Barnstorm Games.

“The Mensa Academy console game is a first for Mensa and we’re thrilled to see it launched today. The game will appeal to anyone who enjoys answering fun and stimulating questions. It can also be played with friends on the Wii, so in addition to training your brain you can challenge others to see who can achieve the highest Mensa Academy score,” stated John Stevenage, Chief Executive, British Mensa Ltd.

Mensa Academy is available for $39.95 for Nintendo Wii, $49.95 for 3DS and $19.95 for Windows PC. Mensa Academy is distributed in Australia and New Zealand via All Interactive Entertainment.

For more information about Mensa Academy, visit http://www.mensaacademy.comMensa Academy is developed by Silverball Studios and Barnstorm Games and published by Square Enix Europe.

A version releasing exclusively in North America, American Mensa Academy, will be available in the near future for Windows PC platforms, iOS devices, HD consoles and Android products.

 
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2K Sports Announces Unprecedented Partnership with JAY Z for NBA® 2K13

Artist and entrepreneur to curate soundtrack and lend artistic vision to world’s top NBA video game simulation franchise as Executive Producer

Sydney, Australia – 2nd August, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced an unprecedented partnership with entertainment mogul Shawn “JAY Z” Carter to serve as Executive Producer of NBA® 2K13, the next installment of the top-selling and top-rated NBA video game simulation franchise*.

“This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with 2K Sports and be a part of one of the best sports video games in history,” commented JAY Z.  “NBA 2K13 will be the next evolution in sports and basketball culture, and I’m ready to usher in the new era of the franchise.”

JAY Z’s interests and influences extend well beyond his illustrious music career as a 14-time Grammy award winner, as evidenced by his part-ownership of the 40/40 sports clubs and of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, having recently helped craft that team’s iconic black-and-white logo and visual identity. As Executive Producer of NBA 2K13, JAY Z’s artistic vision and style will permeate the experience, from the overall look and feel of the game, to the hand-picked soundtrack, interactive in-game menus and more.

“We aren’t content with just being the best, and we will continue to grow the NBA 2K franchise into one of today’s premier entertainment experiences,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “JAY Z’s role in NBA 2K13 represents a unique fusion of basketball, music, art, and entertainment, and illustrates the evolution of NBA 2K into something much bigger than simply the best basketball video game series ever made.”

The audio and visual aesthetics of NBA 2K13 will reflect a balance of basketball and musical influences, with JAY Z himself hand-picking the game’s soundtrack. The 24-song collection features some of his top hits, along with an eclectic mix of music’s biggest acts.

Artist: Title:    
The   Hours Ali   in the Jungle  
Too   Short Blow   the Whistle (Main)  
Eric   B. and Rakim I   Ain’t No Joke  
Phoenix 1901  
JAY   Z Pump   it Up (Freestyle)  
Puff   Daddy and the Family Victory   (feat. Notorious B.I.G. & Busta Rhymes)  
Daft   Punk Around   The World (Radio Edit)  
Santigold Shove   It (feat. Spank Rock)  
Kanye   West Amazing  
JAY   Z Run   This Town  
The   Dirty Projectors Stillness   is the Move  
Nas The   World is Yours  
Coldplay Viva   La Vida  
Roy   Ayers We   Live in Brooklyn, Baby  
Justice Stress  
JAY   Z The   Bounce  
Kanye   West We   Major (feat. Nas & Really Doe)  
Mobb   Deep Shook   Ones, Pt. II  
Meek   Mill Ima   Boss – Instrumental  
Kanye   West

U2

JAY   Z

JAY   Z

JAY   Z

Mercy   (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz)

Elevation

On   To The Next One

Public   Service Announcement

H.A.M.   (Instrumental)

 

2K Sports today also released a special trailer announcing JAY Z’s integration in NBA 2K13 which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/ME30jZHj_D0.

Fans are encouraged to enjoy select tracks from the NBA 2K13 soundtrack (which can also be shared on Facebook) at http://2kgam.es/NBA2KJAYZ.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NBA 2K13 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available on October 2, 2012 in North America and October 5, 2012 internationally for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, 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.

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).

*According to 2008 – 2012 Gamerankings.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through June 2012.

 
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New Dell Precision Mobile Workstations Provide Unrivalled Performance and Dependability for Power Users on the Go

SYDNEY, Australia, August 2, 2012 – Dell today announced the next generation Dell Precision mobile workstations for engineering and design professionals who need uncompromising performance and dependability wherever their demanding work takes them. Film editors on movie sets, architects at construction sites, geophysicists in the field and many other mobile professionals can now run their graphics or compute intensive applications faster and more accurately regardless of the location.

“Appalachian State University relies on Dell’s tower and mobile workstations in our IT, Building Science, Geological, Interior Design and Astronomy departments and they’ve proven to be bullet-proof for our varying high-performance and critical computing needs,” said Stephen Taylor, an IT Manager at Appalachian State University. “I’ve used Dell Precision mobile workstations for the past six years and the attention to detail Dell put into the look, feel and performance of these new systems elevates them to a new level. These are truly mobile workstations without compromise and they have changed the way I look at all Dell products going forward.”

Dell continues to build on its workstation leadership with two new systems, the Dell Precision M4700 and M6700 – the world’s most powerful 15-inch and 17-inch mobile workstations.  The M4700 is Dell’s 15-inch mobile workstation with exceptional portability and performance and the Dell Precision M6700 provides fixed workstation capability and higher performing graphics with a 17-inch display.  The popular Covet Edition is back on the 17-inch version, featuring a brilliant Phoenix Red color finish for extra appeal and edge to edge Corning® Gorilla® Glass 2 for brighter images and increased resilience and protection.

Go-Anywhere Performance

The Dell Precision M4700 and M6700 incorporate the latest Intel Core i5, i7 and Extreme Edition processors with Turbo Boost Technology for optimal performance and an extensive choice of professional graphics including the NVIDIA Quadro K-series GPUS and AMD FirePro graphics. The M6700 is the first and only to offer AMD FirePro M6000 with PCIe x16 Gen 3 for fast data throughput.

Additionally, Dell provides DDR3 SDRAM with up to 32GB¹ of system memory and 1600MHz of memory speed and up to 16GB¹ of 1866MHz memory, the fastest memory available on a mobile workstation, for high performance and fast access to large data sets. They also offer an optional SATA3 512GB¹ solid state drive (SSD).

Both systems come with outstanding expandability in the form of RAID 0/1/5 and three storage devices with up to 1.8TB¹ of total storage in the M4700 and up to four storage devices with up to 2.8TB¹ of total storage in the M6700. That means not only can Dell Precision mobile workstations deliver graphic-intensive designs fast, but also can store them locally no matter where they are.

Delivering on the promise of a true desktop replacement, the M4700 and M6700 offer a wide array of ports which enables users to connect to a greater number of formats and devices without carrying around multiple dongles, increase storage and connect to more displays.  The I/O ports include two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0 and one eSATA / USB combo ports and three integrated video ports – one VGA, one HDMI and one DisplayPort 1.2.

Smart Design

Designed for increased uptime and dependability while working in or away from the office, the new mobile workstations feature a durable aluminum and magnesium alloy chassis that is MIL-STD 810G tested, the lightest 17-inch design and all day battery life. An optional slice battery, ExpressCharge battery and NVIDIA Optimus™ technology, which intelligently and automatically optimises the system to provide outstanding graphics performance when needed while extending battery life, are also available on both the M4700 and M6700.

The new workstations also have quiet dual fans and cooling solutions for the CPU and graphics to enable long periods of high performance without overheating and an easy ejectable primary hard drive caddy for customers working with large volumes of data or sensitive data and need to remove or swap out hard drives frequently.

Specifically designed for customers doing color-critical work, Dell’s mobile workstations offer a variety of brilliant WLED and IPS RBG LED display options with a wide spectrum of colors including more than 100 percent Adobe color gamut. The M6700 will also be the first mobile workstation to offer optional 10+ finger multi-touch in the coming months.

Another first on the M6700 is NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro, a combination of wireless active shutter glasses, an integrated RF communication hub, and advanced software. The technology automatically transforms various CAD/CAM/CAE, DCC, seismic visualisation, life sciences and other applications into full stereoscopic 3D to improve the usefulness of the application, deliver better results and increase productivity.

The M4700 and M6700 can power up to three simultaneous displays when undocked and up to five displays when docked and are compatible with the Latitude E-family dock.

Complete Dependability

Dell Precision mobile workstations come backed with leading Dell ProSupport™², Dell Data Protection | Encryption and FIPS fingerprint reader security features and ISV certifications to keep professional workstation users up and running and their sensitive work and data secure at all times.

All Dell Precision workstations are ISV certified for the top professional software applications from vendors such as Altair, Ansys, Autodesk, Adobe®, Avid, Grassvalley, Matrox, Sony, Dassault Systemes, PTC, Siemens PLM Software, Barco, Schlumberger, Landmark, esri, ffA (Foster Findlay Associates), Dynamic Graphics and many others, guaranteeing application compatibility and dependability.

Finally, Dell designed the M4700 and M6700 with the environment in mind from the start. In addition to being EPEAT-registered³ to help customers understand the full breadth of their environmental attributes, both systems fully qualify for the energy-efficiency standard ENERGY STAR. Additionally, they are engineered with smarter materials, including environmentally preferable replacements for Brominated Flame Retardants and Polyvinyl Chloride (BFR/PVCs)?.

 

Pricing and availability

All three new mobile workstations are available for purchase starting today. Australian starting prices are $3,599 for the Dell Precision M4700 and $3,799 for the M6700 when all configurations are available.

 

Quotes:

“Our new family of mobile workstations offer uncompromising performance, dependability and design,” said Kirk Schell, vice president of Computing Products, Dell.  “We are continuing to build on our heritage of developing innovative workstation technology by offering the first NVIDIA 3D Vision Pro solution, Gen 3 graphics and 1866MHz memory in a mainstream mobile workstation, enabling our customers to bring their creative and design work to life fast regardless of their location.”

 

“Adobe worked closely with Dell to test and validate Dell Precision workstations to ensure optimal software performance and reliability for our broadcast and video customers,” said Bill Roberts, director of video product management at Adobe. “As a result, Dell’s new mobile workstations provide increased speed, power and graphics advantages so video pros have everything they need to run Adobe® Creative Suite® 6 software and work more efficiently.”

 

“Dynamic Graphics tests, certifies and recommends Dell Precision mobile workstations as the optimal platform for running CoViZ 4D software for oil field visualisation,” said Art Paradis, president  and co-founder, Dynamic Graphics.  “Not only do Dell’s mobile workstations lead the industry in memory and hard drive capacities, they provide the portability and graphics performance to view and interpret oil and gas deposits in real-time while in the field.”

 

“Paired with AMD FirePro™ graphics, Dell’s newest mobile workstations are incredibly versatile rendering and digital design powerhouses that make it possible to turn virtually every countertop, every client site, and every airport lounge into the perfect place to develop the next digital masterpiece,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Graphics. “AMD FirePro graphics brings an important set of features to the latest generation of mobile workstations including support for industry standards such as OpenCL™, AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD HD3D stereo 3D capability and broad application optimisation and certification, and we believe Dell customers will very quickly appreciate the expanded toolset and its productivity and creativity enhancing benefits.”

 

“Discovery and creativity is happening anywhere anytime and mobile workstations with powerful Intel® Core™ i5/i7 processors are helping engineers, artists, animators, analysts and scientists collaborate with their peers where they work – unlocking answers faster than ever before,” said Frank Soqui, Workstation Group General Manager, Intel Corporation.  “Hardware and software technologies are combining to accelerate innovation and with solutions like Dell’s Precision M4700 and M6700 mobile workstations with Intel Core processors we like to think we are helping them do it faster than ever before.”

 

“NVIDIA Quadro mobile workstation graphics deliver unrivalled horsepower while conserving precious battery life with Optimus, and our 3D Vision Pro technology provides exceptional 3D application performance,” said Jeff Brown, general manager of the Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. “These new Dell Precision mobile workstations with Quadro GPU technology truly transform modern workflows.”

 

Additional information:

 
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PopCap and Mindscape launch new titles in Casual Fever range

Vacation Quest Australia, Escape the Emerald Star, Mystery P.I: Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove and Mahjong Escape now available! 

SYDNEY, 2 August 2012 — PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual video games and a division of EA, in partnership with software publisher and distributor Mindscape, has today released four new titles in its Casual Fever range. Vacation Quest Australia, Mystery P.I. Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove, Escape the Emerald Star and the double pack Mahjong Escape Ancient China and Ancient Japan bring a new realm of globe trotting adventures to retail in Australia and New Zealand.

Each title provides hours of quality gameplay with new challenges played in beautiful settings. Each title has a different focus and theme, as outlined below.

Vacation Quest Australia

In Vacation Quest Australia, players explore 28 beautiful Australian locations including the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbour and the outback. Players must search for over 2,200 items and collect hidden boomerangs to complete tours, fill their vacation journals with achievements, extend their trip and unlock bonus locations. Australian trivia and local lingo are also included in this incredible vacation that you will never forget.

Escape the Emerald Star

In Escape the Emerald Star, players are vacationing on the Emerald Star cruise ship only to awake and find the ship abandoned and in disarray. Only by searching the gigantic ship will players escape the ship, make it to dry land and solve the mystery.

Players search through 25 intriguing locations including the officer’s quarters, the luggage area, and the wheel house to piece together fragments of a map that will help them escape. There are over 2,000 hidden items and seven unique mini-games including Match 3, Mahjong, and more in game. By finding 50 hidden anchors two bonus play modes will be unlocked.

Mystery P.I. Curious Case of Counterfeit Cove

The picturesque New England village of Whaler’s Cove is preparing for the fall tourism season, but counterfeit bills are popping up all around the seaside settlement. Players play as the world famous Mystery P.I., and are hired by the town elders to track down the counterfeiting ring before the fake bills ruin the local economy.

Players visit 25 charming seaside locations and explore more than 100 levels as they search for more than 2,200 hidden objects to close the case. Players must also find hidden lobsters and keys to unlock two bonus game modes and solve six unique mini-game puzzles including Mahjong, Match 3 and Jigsaw.

Mahjong Escape Bundle Pack- Ancient Japan and China

Play two new mahjong games in this two-for-one edition- Mahjong Escape Ancient Japan and Mahjong Escape Ancient China.

Players travel through 12 eras of Japanese history as they match magic gold tiles to unlock wisdom on a quest to collect the lost Emperors’ treasures. The games includes 200 unique levels, six different tile designs, over 20 hand-painted backgrounds, three difficulty settings and a relaxing soundtrack. Two game modes mean players can collect the lost Emperor’s treasures in the Emperor’s Adventure, or relax with traditional tile-matching fun in Classic Mahjong Solitaire.

Players match magic gold tiles and explore 11 dynasties as they unlock ancient Chinese wisdom to collect lost treasures. Enjoy over 175 unique levels, delectable hand-painted backgrounds, special power-up tiles that help along the way, six tile designs, 15 hand-painted backgrounds, and five relaxing soundtracks. Mahjong Escape – Ancient China will bend the brain while soothing the senses.

All four titles are now available at leading game retailers for $19.95.

 
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Australia’s Hitman Sniper Challenge Competition & PC Launch

SYDNEY (2nd August, 2012)   Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announced the launch of the HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE™ competition for Australia. With Agent 47’s around the globe having racked up over 35 million kills playing HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE, the competition to find Australia’s top sniper is now live with gamers competing for monthly prizes.

In partnership with EB Games Australia, the search for the country’s best sniper has begun, with monthly prizing going to each of the highest Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and PC Leader-board scores, for those that have pre-ordered Hitman Absolution at EB Games Australia and registered their details at www.hitmansniper.com. For further information on the high-quality Sennheiser headphones and exclusive Hitman merchandise that’s available to win, along with all of the latest updates on the Australian Sniper Challenge Leader-boards, visit the EB Games site for further details: http://hitman.ebgames.com.au

The launch of the Australian leader-boards competition also coincides with today’s launch of the HITMAN®: SNIPER CHALLENGE™ PC version. An exclusive standalone pre-order sniper experience available to play from the moment customers pre-order their copy of HITMAN®: ABSOLUTION™, ensuring that it’s also now time for all PC marksmen to scope, score and come back for more. 

“IO is fully committed to delivering a PC version of Hitman: Absolution that lives up to the high standards of our PC community,” said Jon Brooke, Brand Director of the Hitman Franchise. “Hitman: Sniper Challenge will give them a first taste of what’s to come.”

HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE has been created as a bespoke standalone experience to reward fans who pre-order HITMAN: ABSOLUTION™. Online leader boards allow players to compare their sniping abilities with players around the world, supported by various challenges to determine who has the best sniping skills. Skilled players will capitalize on score multipliers, discover secret extras, unlock equipment upgrades and marvel at the many creative ways one can discreetly dispose of a body while they work to fulfil their contract in the most efficient way possible.  A host of upgrades can be unlocked and carried over into HITMAN: ABSOLUTION. HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE pre-order promotion is available now through access to Xbox LIVE® or PlayStation Network, and from today for PC owners, for those who pre-order HITMAN: ABSOLUTION. 

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION is scheduled for global release on 20th November 2012 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. Developed by IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, HITMAN: ABSOLUTION is not yet rated.

For full details and the official competition terms and conditions, please visit www.hitmansniper.com, and the EB Games Australia competition site http://hitman.ebgames.com.au

Related Links

HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE Official Homepage: www.hitmansniper.com

HITMAN: SNIPER CHALLENGE EB GAMES AU Homepage: http://hitman.ebgames.com.au

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION Official Homepage: http://www.Hitman.com

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION Official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Hitman

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION Official Twitter page: http://twitter.com/Hitman

Join the HITMAN community: http://www.barcode-society.com

 
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RAZR Style and Quality Meet Awesome Value as Motorola Mobility Launches Motorola RAZR V in Australia

Iconic styling , built KEVLAR® strong  – made with you and your budget in mind

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – 2 August, 2012 – You’re going places, and you’re going fast. You need a smartphone that will be by your side whenever you need it, and that will look and feel good in any situation. Good news: Motorola Mobility is proud to introduce the latest member of the RAZR family, Motorola RAZR™ V, a beautiful Android™ 4.0-powered smartphone that wraps a vibrant 4.3-inch screen in a svelte body, at a price that’s almost too good to believe.

Optus is the exclusive carrier partner for RAZR V which will be available for $4 upfront on the $35 Optus Plan (minimum total cost over 24 months is $936).

An amazing 8.4mm thin with a glorious 4.3-inch scratch resistant glass display, the Motorola RAZR V makes iconic RAZR family styling and quality available to everyone. KEVLAR fibre, a narrow bezel and a comfortable, soft-touch rim mean that this big-screen beauty is surprisingly compact and light, and feels great even in smaller hands, while a splash guard coating protects the outside and the internal components. While Motorola RAZR V comes at a surprisingly affordable price, it gives away nothing in performance, thanks to a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).

What goes better with beauty than brains? With SMARTACTIONS™, the Motorola RAZR V can adjust to your preferences, learning when and where you like it quiet or loud, and even when it can switch off certain applications and functions to get the most out of your battery life. Because you’re switched on all day, your Motorola RAZR V should be, too.

“With Motorola RAZR V we’ve created the perfect smartphone for stylish, smart and tech-savvy consumers who want great looks, great performance and great value,” said  Timo Brouwer, General Manager Motorola Mobility for ANZPI.“We are committed to creating devices that are beautiful and powerful, but also affordable. The new Motorola RAZR V embodies that commitment perfectly.”

Michael Smith, Managing Director of Marketing, Optus said, “Considering how popular the Motorola RAZR brand has been in Australia over the years, RAZR V is a fantastic addition to the Optus mobile handset range on a great value plan. With a blend of technology, design and quality, at an accesible price point, we’re positive this smartphone will be a hit with our customers.”

Key Features and Specifications:

  • Powered by AndroidTM 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • 1.2GHz Dual Core Processor
  • 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen display
  • 8 mega-pixel camera with auto focus, LED flash, digital zoom and VGA front facing camera
  • 1080p HD video capture/ playback/streaming
  • 1780 mAH battery
  • 1GB RAM of memory; 8GB eMMC
  • Splash guard protection (external and internal)

Price and Availability

Motorola RAZR V is will be available from Optus and Optus aligned retailers from the 3rd August.

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) 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.

About Optus

Optus is an Australian leader in integrated communications – serving over nine million customers each day. The company offers a broad range of communications services including mobile, local, national and long distance telephony, business network services, internet and satellite services and subscription television.