– The Unstoppable Ninja Fighting Game Series Launched in 2003 Flies Past Major Milestone as the Latest Title Prepares to Hit Retail – 

– NARUTO Hits The Road with First Ever World Video Game Tour Coming to Japan and Europe in February 2012 –

CERGY-PONTOISE, FRANCE – 12^th January 2012 – Champagne corks are popping today at NAMCO BANDAI Games headquarters around the world following the news that the NARUTO video game franchise has shipped an incredible 10 million copies worldwide since the launch of the first game in 2003 (Japan/Asia 1.9 million units, North America 4.3 million units, Europe 3.8 million units). NAMCO BANDAI Games began releasing NARUTO videogames in March 2003 and has published a total of 15 titles to date across multiple platforms. 

The 10 million milestone has been passed as the latest title, NARUTOSHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, warms up for its Australian & New Zealand release on March 29^h for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®, and NAMCO BANDAI Games prepares for its first ever NARUTO video game world tour.  Throughout January and February 2012, fans from Japan, Europe and Asia will be invited to show their skills at a series of dedicated NARUTO gaming events. The European event will take place at the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show this February 4^th and 5^th in Paris, France.  For more information about dates and locations please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu

Since 2003 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. has had the privilege to work very closely with a number of talented developers on the series including the exceptional team at CyberConnect2.  NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 from CyberConnect2 was released in October 2010 for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® and has been a huge success with global sales in excess of one million. 

To celebrate the 10 million sales of NARUTO games in his own inimitable style, the charismatic president of CyberConnect2, Hiroshi Matsuyama, will run all 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195km) of the Marathon de Paris in France in full NARUTO costume on April 15^th, 2012, joined by NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe.  He’s already on a hard NARUTO-style training regime to get in shape for the shock! 

Also, for the first time in the history of the series, NAMCO BANDAI Games is pleased to announce a collaboration between NARUTO videogames and the NARUTO trading card game which will see the light of day within the same release window as NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations. 

“We’re very glad and proud to have achieved 10 million units worldwide on the NARUTO franchise, and we promise you that we will keep working very hard on this important franchise to carry on exciting all the fans around the world. Thanks again for all of your support, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you all at the upcoming Paris Manga event. I wish you all the best for 2012!!” said Yusuke Sasaki, Producer at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. 

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is the latest title in the hit ‘NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm’ series of games. The title powers the series into the future with revolutionary online play and more playable and support characters than ever.  With original Japanese voiceovers and faithful NARUTO presentation, NARUTO Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is an essential addition to the smash hit NARUTO series of games. 

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe and its entire line up of games please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu.

Street Fighter x Tekken
Genre: Fighting
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Ratings: PG
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Distributor: THQ
Release Date: 8th March, 2012

EB Games – Link
Street Fighter X Tekken Special Edition includes:

• Street Fighter x Tekken game
• Build-It-Yourself Arcade Cabinet Bank (approximately 5” high)
• Exclusive Prequel Comic Book by UDON
• 45 Gems: In-Game Power-ups to customise your fighting style. Read more about the new Gem System here: http://www.capcom.co.jp/sfxtk_en/system_gem.html

Anyone that pre-orders the standard edition of the game will receive the Power-Up offer of 45 Gems: In-Game Power-ups to customise your fighting style.

JB Hi-Fi – Link
This 60x90cm Wall Scroll features two of the most revered and iconic fighters of all time: Street Fighter’s Ryu and Tekken’s Kazuya Mishima. Adds 15% more awesome to any room you choose to hang it in.

GAME – Link
Conspiracy theorists take a deep breath and a firm seat before reading about GAME’s exclusive Street Fighter x Tekken tee.

Featuring Tekken’s Kazuka Mishima and Street Fighter’s Ken Masters. Sounds innocuous enough, right? Wrong. Check out their initials, put your tinfoil hat on and start freaking out.*

*Reports that pre-ordering this t-shirt gets you priority access to the Mothership cannot be confirmed at this time. 

Gameplay Overview

The long awaited dream match-up between the two leaders in the fighting genre becomes a reality. Street Fighter™ X Tekken™ delivers the ultimate tag team match up featuring iconic characters from each franchise, and one of the most robust character line ups in fighting game history. With the addition of new gameplay mechanics, the acclaimed fighting engine from Street Fighter™ IV has been refined to suit the needs of both Street Fighter™ and Tekken™ players alike.

UNLEASH YOUR RAGE WITH THE DEMO OF ASURA’S WRATH

Feeling angry? Having a bad day? Then unleash that rage with the official demo for Asura’s Wrath, available today on both PSN and Xbox Live.

Introducing a brand new style of action game, players will control Asura in a blend of action and cinematic sequences, delivering a fresh take on the action gaming genre. Download the demo and face off against distinct enemies in two episodes from the game. Meet the planetary sized boss Wyzen and Asura’s old mentor Augus on this journey for revenge against each of the eight deities who betrayed him 12,000 years ago. Execute a mix of range attacks and visceral close quarter action to fill Asura’s ‘Burst Gauge’, unleashing the full force of his rage and deliver devastation.

Asura’s Wrath will be available in Australia on February 23rd for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

SQUARE ENIX is pleased to announce that a playable demo for FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 is available from today via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation® Network for PlayStation® 3. Please find the official press release attached.

A brand new video is also available to post immediately. This is the sixth in a series of new gameplay videos, so watch this space for the next instalment.

English Language Open Beta launched

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – January 12, 2012 –Ubisoft® announced that The Settlers Online®, a browser based free-to-play strategy game set in the Settlers Universe, has reached more than 1.5 million players in its initial rollout in Germany, US, France and Russia.

Developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte, The Settlers Online combines the popular game-play elements of The Settlers franchise with brand new features suited to a persistent, web-based browser game. Players are able to settle a new city and join thousands of gamers already online to create or join guilds, trade resources and acquire and exchange bonuses to help each other out along the way to building a mighty kingdom.

The English language open beta commenced this week, allowing players to experience the latest iteration of the Settlers brand for the very first time.

“The Settlers is a beloved, enduring franchise which strategy players from all over the world enjoy and it’s exciting to be able to offer those fans a new way to interact with the Settlers Universe,” said Thomas Paincon, Europe, Middle East and Asia FTP Publishing Director. “The success of the free-to-play model is very encouraging and with the rollout of the English language Open Beta beginning, we are very optimistic about the future of the Settlers Brand.”

For more information about The Settlers Online and to join the open beta, please visit: www.thesettlersonline.com

Madman proudly presents the quirky coming-of-age comedy, SUBMARINE – out now on DVD ($34.95srp) and Blu-Ray ($39.95srp).

In his head, 15-year-old schoolboy Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts) is a cool literary genius. The reality, however, is quite different. Despite his uphill battle with popularity, Oliver really only has two objectives: to lose his virginity before his next birthday, and to save his parents’ marriage.

The directorial debut from Richard Ayoade (THE I.T. CROWD, NATHAN BARLEY) and based on the best-selling novel by Joe Dunthorne, SUBMARINE brings to life a quirky, touching and often painfully realistic story about growing up in small-town Wales in the eighties. Featuring a killer soundtrack by the Arctic Monkeys’ frontman Alex Turner, SUBMARINE is destined to become a cult-comedy classic.

Hideo Kojima’s jungle epic heads to Nintendo 3DS in March

SYDNEY, 11 January, 2012: Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has revealed that METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER 3D for Nintendo 3DS™ will be released on March 8^th. 

METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER 3D is a reworked update of the best-selling PlayStation®2 title, and brings that game’s immersive jungle setting to life using the handheld’s glasses-free 3D imaging system. KONAMI has also confirmed that the new game will also make use of the new Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Pro accessory, and has revealed the packshot for the first time.

METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER 3D is set during the Cold War of the 60s, and sees series hero Snake infiltrating the Soviet jungle to bring back a scientist being held against his will. Starting on the outskirts of a military base, the player must use Snake’s stealth skills along with the foliage and shade that the jungle offers as cover to infiltrate unseen. As the game progresses, old faces make unwelcome appearances and a series of terrifying boss characters must be defeated before leading up to a dramatic twist that brings Snake face to face with a key figure from his past… 

The new game springs to life in 3D, with the jungle’s dense foliage and craggy outcrops acting as truly immersive cover as the player works their way through the lush setting. The game also takes full advantage of the split-screen format, enabling easier access to Snake’s inventory, which is now located below the main action. The game also supports gyro synchronisation, for special actions like balancing on narrow ledges that will draw players further into the world of MGS. Similarly, targeting enemies is now made simpler with the addition of Circle Pad Pro-compatibility, with the second Circle Pad allowing users to target distant foes with ease. 

Concealing one’s self and sneaking up on guards is central to METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER 3D, but the 3D elements make key boss battles and exploration all the more incredible. The Nintendo 3DS title utilises a first-person view in which the foliage can be seen brushing past as Snake moves through it, and the many creatures that inhabit the locale will attack if Snake disturbs them. However, these can also be killed and stored as rations, highlighting how Snake must also overcome his surroundings while undercover on his mission… 

Another addition exclusive to METAL GEAR SOLID: SNAKE EATER 3D is an all-new camouflage photography system. Within the game, Snake can alter his ensemble to match and blend in with his immediate environment and the possibilities can range from brick-coloured fatigues within buildings, to the classic camouflage khakis of the jungle. Users can now take a picture of real-life items and create a camo suit based on them – although the extent of its effectiveness will vary depending on how well your pictures blend with Snake’s environment!