Square Enix London Studios has today released the 101 Trailer, an action-packed four minute feature for its hotly anticipated open world action title, Sleeping Dogs.

An energetic fusion of East and West, old and new, Hong Kong is one of the most unique cities in the world, and Sleeping Dogs an open world game like no other. In the 101 trailer, London Studios and United Front Games delve deep into every aspect of the game from the brutal martial arts combat to the intense vehicle shoot-outs and street races, the wealth of side content and social features to the girls, guns and gambling dens.

Developed by United Front Games in collaboration with Square Enix London Studios, Sleeping Dogs is a gritty and visceral open world cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong. Taking the role of undercover cop Wei Shen, players are tasked with taking down one of the world’s most fearsome criminal organisations from the inside. Offering players an island packed with action, every street corner, market stall, harbour dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat. Featuring one of the most intuitive and imaginative combat systems, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to perform an extensive set of martial arts moves, singlehandedly taking on numerous opponents. Players perform bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.

Sleeping Dogs will be available in from 16th August, 2012, for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PCs. Check with your local Australian / New Zealand retailer for details on the ANZ Limited Edition, featuring George St Pierre DLC and more.

For furthe information about the game, visit www.sleepingdogs.net and join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SleepingDogsGame for regular updates.

The elite sniper defends his squad in war-torn Sarajevo one .50 caliber bullet at a time

Sydney, Australia – May 25, 2012 – Taking aim at E3 2012, City Interactive and their highly anticipated FPS sequel, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2, are giving gamers an early look at what to expect when the doors open at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 5.  Powered by CryENGINE^®3, gamers at this year’s show will get to go hands-on with the only game dedicated to delivering a pure sniper experience.

Check out and share the new ‘Modern Combat Trailer’ now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z17EMiFUqE

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today confirmed its METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection title for PlayStation®Vita will be released in Australia on July 5th.  

Created by critically acclaimed director, Hideo Kojima, METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection includes two beloved classics: METAL GEAR SOLID 2: Sons of Liberty and METAL GEAR SOLID 3: Snake Eater. Both enjoy upgraded graphics from the original PlayStation®2 versions, and also make use of Kojima Productions’ proprietary Transfarring system, where players can transfer save data from their PlayStation®3 METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection to their PlayStation®Vita system and start the action from where they left off.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection for the PlayStation®Vita allows fans to experience the series like never before with bespoke control mechanisms that take full advantage of the handheld’s unique touch-screen and rear touchpad systems. Using just their fingers, gamers can zoom in to the game’s cut-scenes, peek around corners, interrogate enemies, cycle through weapons/items, and perform quick attacks with their knife.

New Adventure Game from Ron Gilbert and Double Fine Coming to Consoles and PC for Digital Download in early 2013 

SYDNEY, Australia – May 25, 2012 – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd., in a partnership with award-winning independent developer Double Fine Productions, today unveiled the latest adventure from the mind of Ron Gilbert: The Cave. An adventure game so odd and compelling that it can only be described as odd and compelling, The Cave will be coming to consoles and PCs for digital download worldwide in early 2013. For a first look at this puzzling adventure game, watch the teaser trailer online here: http://thecavegame.com.

If you enjoy rappelling, spelunking and dark rocky caverns then be prepared to be disappointed! And then intrigued. And then AMAZED. And then disappointed again, but only for a minute. Then relieved, amused, bewildered, excited, and satisfied. In that order. Your first clue that The Cave is a place like no other will come just after you assemble your team of three unlikely adventurers – each with their own unique personalities and skills – and stumble across a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready to launch nuclear-tipped ICBM.

“As SEGA continues to expand our digital gaming catalog, we’ve put a lot of effort into finding truly original experiences we can help bring to life. Both Ron and the team at Double Fine are experienced and deeply creative, and we value the chance to work with them on The Cave,” said Haruki Satomi, Senior Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA.

“The concept of The Cave has been bouncing around in my head for many, many years, and then the little voices that tell me to do things said it was time to make the game,” added Ron Gilbert. “I’m thrilled to be working with amazingly talented folks at Double Fine and ecstatic that the team at SEGA believes in adventure games and quirky ideas.”

Asked for a quote, The Cave said, “There are those who say I’m not rooting for everyone who ventures down here but that’s not true. Not true at all.”  He then followed up with “But I’m also not above a good chuckle when someone falls in lava.” The Cave then began to chuckle.

25 May, 2012 – In an Australian group buying first, LivingSocial has partnered with SumoSalad to bring Australians a famously delicious and healthy lunch at half price.

Normally priced at $10.00, LivingSocial’s SumoSalad deal at just $5.00 offers a complete delicious lunch time meal. Each deal includes one mouth-watering small fast deli salad of choice, a tasty snack and a 600ml bottle of Mount Franklin water.

Adam Rigby, Executive General Manager of LivingSocial Australia and New Zealand, said, “We are delighted that another global brand has chosen LivingSocial as part of their marketing mix. Great partnerships with renowned brands like SumoSalad are integral to LivingSocial’s continuous commitment to create great experiences for our members”.

Luke Baylis, Managing Director of SumoSalad Australia, said, “We are pleased to be able to bring our fresh and healthy lunches to LivingSocial’s extensive membership network. We hope our range of fast deli salads inspire many more Australians to eat a healthy lunch every day.”

Up to two fast deli salads, from SumoSalad’s extensive range can be mixed and matched as part of the deal.  Popular choices include pesto chicken and avocado, roast pumpkin and chickpea, southwest chicken, or falafel, barley and quinoa.  A choice of favourite snack is also possible with yoghurt balls, apricot bites, trail mix or rice snacks on the menu. Combined with the 600ml bottle of Mount Franklin water, this deal makes for a truly satisfying lunch.

LivingSocial members can purchase two vouchers for themselves and up to 10 vouchers to share with health-conscious friends. To purchase the deal or for further information go to www.livingsocial.com/cities/1055/deals/342890-salad-snack-and-a-bottle-of-water

To redeem, simply present your LivingSocial voucher to any participating Australian SumoSalad store when ordering. Store locations are profiled on the above link.

New Downloadable Content Available Now on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

SYDNEY, Australia – 25^th May 2012 – 505 Games, a global publisher of videogames, and Majesco Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market just released the first Zumba® Fitness Rush downloadable dance style pack featuring three exotic Bollywood songs to spice up your workout and build your track library. Additionally, Majesco Entertainment and 505 Games launched a Zumba® wear Avatar Collection so fans can customize their Xbox LIVE® avatars with virtual apparel inspired by the fan favorite Zumba® Wear apparel and accessory line currently worn by millions. The Zumba® Fitness Rush Bollywood Style Pack is available now for 480 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The 10-piece Zumba® Wear Avatar Collection is also available now on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, with individual apparel items ranging from 80 Microsoft Points to 160 Microsoft Points.

Featuring stylized Indian choreography that has won fans over with its fun, high energy movements, the Bollywood Style Pack lets you dance with Zumba® creator Beto, and celebrity Zumba® instructors Kass Martin and Tanya Beardsley.  Feel the Bhangra beat and get a sneak peek at the Zumba® Fitness Rush Bollywood Style Pack when you download the free trailer.  This three song pack includes both licensed music and contagious Zumba® originals that will keep your body moving:

• “Beware of the Boys,” DJ Punjabi (danced by Beto)
• “Bangalore Dreaming,” Zumba® original (danced by Kass Martin)
• “Start the Fire,” Zumba® original (danced by Tanya Beardsley)

You can also show off your style with the new Zumba® Wear Avatar Collection that features a range of vibrant men’s and women’s apparel, from virtual tank tops, cargo pants and vests to the sporty Zumba® Team Track Jacket and classic Zumba® Fedora. To preview the full collection, please click here.

Zumba® Fitness Rush, available on Kinect™ for Xbox 360, invites you to lose yourself in the music with a fun, effective workout that makes you forget you’re even exercising. Get a total body workout and party yourself into shape with 42 sizzling new songs and routines while you move to 24 international dance styles – that’s twice the number of styles included in the original Zumba® Fitness game and more than any other dance game.   Six superstar Zumba instructors guide you through each routine in a variety of new, exclusive arenas, while the new Progress Tracker calculates calories burned so you can maximize your workout.   

Zumba® Fitness Rush is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by All Interactive Entertainment.

For more information about Zumba® Fitness Rush, the Bollywood StylePack and the Zumba® Wear Avatar Collection, please visit zumbafitnessgame.com.

Straight from Blizzard…

“For players who pre-ordered Diablo III from GAME Australia, did not receive their game and took advantage of our offer, full details on how to receive a credit have been posted on our forums here: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5149181828”

Needless to say, Blizzard have very awesome about this issue!

Get a Sneak Peek of the New SQUIDS Game Today via Free iPhone / iPad Update 

PARIS – May 23, 2012 – The Game Bakers, creators of the fan-favorite mobile RPG SQUIDS (http://itunes.apple.com/app/squids/id467904350), are announcing that the next chapter of their undersea saga, SQUIDS Wild West, will release for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch this summer. Even better: eager players can get an early look by downloading SQUIDS‘ latest free update from the App Store, which includes three bonus levels set on a SQUIDS Wild West map.

SQUIDS follows a band of unlikely heroes who must protect their idyllic underwater kingdom from the destructive black ooze settling over the seas. Set in the western kingdom of Seawood, SQUIDS Wild West takes the group into deeper, more dangerous waters as they regroup against oily crustacean enemies and search for a fallen comrade. They’ll help the feisty Calamary Jane save a besieged frontier town, explore native Squid lands and a volatile mine, and start to understand the evil they’re up against — but not without paying a terrible personal price.

SQUIDS Wild West will be a Universal App with more of the gorgeous cartoon art, jaunty music, and humorous storytelling that made SQUIDS a fan favorite. Like the original, SQUIDS Wild West combines tactical RPG-inspired gameplay with the convenient interface of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Although turn-based battles are easily fought using an Angry Birds-style “flinging” mechanic, SQUIDS Wild West provides a much deeper challenge than the average mobile game. Strategy and skill are required as players use environmental elements, the Squids’ strengths, and enemies’ weaknesses to succeed. With devious new enemies, four new playable characters, and nearly twice as many levels as the original SQUIDS, the upcoming sequel also has many fun gameplay surprises — including seahorses that you can corral and ride into battle!

In today’s free update, SQUIDS players can dive into the Wild West with three missions that take place in Seawood. This exclusive sneak peek introduces a new Squid hero: Cleef, a vengeful gunslinger with secrets to hide. And a formidable enemy, the massive Buffalo Shrimp, will rear its ugly thorax. The update also features a new Game Center achievement, a new level cap, and enhanced social media functionality. Those who own the original SQUIDS on iOS can download today’s free update from the App Store, while new players can buy the game (with the SQUIDS Wild West demo included) for just $1.99: http://itunes.apple.com/app/squids/id467904350

The original SQUIDS has been downloaded over a million times and has ranked as the App Store’s #1 RPG in 65 countries. Since its October 2011 release, it has maintained a perfect 5-star fan rating on the App Store. It is also available for Android, PC, and Mac.

To learn more about SQUIDS and the upcoming SQUIDS Wild West, visit the official website at http://www.squidsthegame.com. SQUIDS fans can befriend the game’s tentacular heroes on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/squidsthegame) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/squidsthegame).

About The Game Bakers
The Game Bakers is an independent video game studio based in Paris and Montpellier, France. Founded and staffed by industry veterans whose credits include numerous AAA console games, The Game Bakers focuses on creative projects that combine traditional gaming values with the best of the mobile experience. Their first game, SQUIDS, has had more than one million downloads and can be enjoyed on iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. To learn more, visit the company’s website at http://thegamebakers.com. The Game Bakers are also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/thegamebakers) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/thegamebakers).

The forces of Sanctuary already stand more than 6.3-million strong and growing 

IRVINE, Calif. — May 23, 2012 — Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that as of the first 24 hours of Diablo^® III’s release, more than 3.5 million copies had been sold, setting the new all-time record for fastest-selling PC game.^* That number does not include the more than 1.2 million players who received Diablo III as part of signing up for the World of Warcraft^® Annual Pass promotion. Altogether, more than 4.7 million gamers around the world were poised to storm Sanctuary on day 1 of Diablo III’s release — representing the biggest PC-game launch in history.

As of the first week of the game’s availability, that number had already grown to more than 6.3 million.^* The above figures also do not include players in Korean Internet game rooms, where Diablo III has become the top-played game, achieving a record share of more than 39% as of May 22.^†

“We’re definitely thrilled that so many people around the world were excited to pick up their copy of Diablo III and jump in the moment it went live,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We also regret that our preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so. I want to reaffirm our commitment to make sure the millions of Diablo III players out there have a great experience with the game moving forward, and I also want to thank them for their ongoing support.”

“Regarding today’s announcement, we recognize that setting a new launch record is a big achievement,” Morhaime continued. “However, we’re especially proud of the gameplay feedback we’ve received from players worldwide. We’re pleased that Diablo III has lived up to players’ high expectations, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more players into Sanctuary in the days ahead.”

Diablo III went live on May 15, with more than 8,000 retailers throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau opening their doors to players at midnight or concurrently with the local release time in celebration of the launch. Blizzard thanks its retail partners around the world for their support and commitment to the Diablo series.

In addition to being able to buy the game at retail stores, gamers in the regions above as well as in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil are also able to purchase Diablo III digitally via the official Diablo III website (http://www.diablo3.com).

Diablo III is available for Windows^® XP/Windows Vista^®/Windows^® 7 and Macintosh^® at a suggested price of $89.95 AUD for the retail DVD-ROM version and $79.95 AUD for the digital version sold directly from Blizzard.  The game has received a MA 15+ rating from the Australian Classification Board.

Players in the Latin American countries listed above and in Russia will be able to purchase Diablo III at local retail locations starting June 7. Digital availability via http://www.diablo3.com for the Russian version of the game will also begin June 7. In addition to the English version, Diablo III is fully localized into Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, European Spanish, Italian, Polish, Russian, Korean, and traditional Chinese.

Diablo III is the latest chapter in Blizzard’s critically acclaimed action–role-playing-game series. The game continues the epic Diablo storyline, with players taking on the role of one of five heroic characters — barbarian, witch doctor, wizard, monk, or demon hunter — and embarking on a perilous quest to save the world of Sanctuary from the corrupting forces of the Burning Hells. As players adventure through rich and varied settings, they’ll engage in pulse-pounding combat with hordes of monsters and challenging bosses, grow in experience and ability, acquire artifacts of incredible power, and meet key characters who’ll join them in battle or aid them in other ways. Diablo III features the intuitive interface, fast-paced action, and visceral gameplay that Diablo players have come to expect and enjoy.

Designed from the ground up to leverage the full functionality of the Battle.net^® platform, Diablo III also provides gamers with industry-leading matchmaking and communication tools, allowing adventurers to seamlessly join forces for cooperative play. Battle.net also provides the infrastructure for the Diablo III auction house, a feature-rich marketplace that Sanctuary’s heroes can use to trade their hard-earned treasures. To learn more about the auction house and the other features of Diablo III, please visit the official website at http://www.diablo3.com.

With multiple games in development, Blizzard Entertainment has numerous positions currently available — visit http://jobs.blizzard.com for more information and to learn how to apply.

* Based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.

† www.gametrics.com