Bonus DLC content available when pre ordering the ‘We are Tekken’ Edition and ANZ Editions

NAMCO BANDAI Games announced that TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT™ 2 will include over 150 swimsuits as a pre-order bonus. This bikini bundle comes in addition to the Snoop Dogg Stage and additional DLC characters available at selected retailers: Michelle Chang, Angel, Kunimitsu or Ancient Ogre

TEKKEN shattered fighting game genre barriers when it unveiled tag based combat with the release of TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT in 1999. TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2 continues to break boundaries with the introduction of the new Fight Lab mode, where players can customize the moves and appearance of new training character, Combot. Players that clear the innovative Fight Lab will have mastered the complexities of TEKKEN and own their own customized Combot, which can be used in offline and non-ranked online play.

In addition to this, one-on-one fighting and solo fighter vs. tag-team battles have been added to enhance the range of gameplay options for seasoned TEKKEN fans while providing an easier point of access to new players. TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2 also includes Pair Play, where up to four players can each control a character in the ultimate team battle.

TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2 will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in Australia and New Zealand on September 13, 2012.

TEKKEN GIRL POWER TRAILER

TEKKEN SWIMSUIT TRAILER

SYDNEY, Australia. – July 17, 2012 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced access to the exclusive beta for Battlefield 4™, the next entry in DICE’s award-winning shooter series, to players that pre-order Medal of Honor™ Warfighter Limited Edition* prior to the game’s launch in Australia on October 25. The most authentic shooter this holiday, Medal of Honor Warfighter is the only game that puts players in the boots of the world’s most aggressive, precise and disciplined warfighters, fighting battles that are ripped from headlines around the globe. Powered by the ground-breaking Frostbite™ 2 engine, Medal of Honor Warfighter delivers tomorrow’s technology on today’s platforms with advanced gameplay, visuals and sound design.

The exclusive Battlefield 4 beta will be available in Spring 2013. Additional details regarding Battlefield 4 will be revealed at a later date.

“Though Battlefield and Medal of Honor Warfighter each offer players a completely unique experience, they are united by their underlying technology base – Frostbite. These are two of the hottest shooters, coming together to deliver a one-two punch of action, intensity and shooter entertainment,” said Frank Gibeau, President of EA Labels.

Written by U.S. Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas, Medal of Honor Warfighter is set to deliver this year’s most authentic military shooter experience inspired by real warriors, real operations and real places. From rescuing hostages in Abu Sayyaf’s stronghold in the Philippines to assaulting Al-Shabaab’s “Pirate Town” on the Somali Coast, Medal of Honor Warfighter puts players in the boots of today’s most highly trained and skilled warriors to experience missions that have a dotted line to real world terrorist threats. Medal of Honor Warfighter features real world hotspots in the single player campaign and introduces international Tier 1 Operators from 10 different nations in multiplayer allowing players to show their national pride online.

“Frostbite 2 is an amazingly powerful technology that challenges us to break the multiplayer mold. The unique premise of global warfighters in Medal of Honor Warfighter has inspired us to pioneer new multiplayer concepts such as Fire Teams and the idea of having Tier 1 Operators from around the world go head-to-head in online competition,” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor.

Developed by Danger Close Games, Medal of Honor Warfighter will be available in Australia on October 25, 2012 and in New Zealand on October 26, 2012 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. For more information on Medal of Honor Warfighter, please visit www.medalofhonor.com, and for the latest news visit www.facebook.com/medalofhonor or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/medalofhonor.

Popular Free-to-play MMO Introduces Fleet Advancement System, Allowing Players to Construct Their Own Starbases

(Redwood City, CA) July 12, 2012 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc. today announced the release of Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege. This latest major update to Star Trek Online introduces the Fleet (Guild) Advancement System, which allows Fleet members to construct, level-up and defend their own Starbase. Alongside new Fleet events and additional end-game content for max level players, with Season 6: Under Siege, the free-to-play MMO sees its first major Foundry update since launch.

“Our primary focus with Season 6 is to have fleets become a more central and fundamental part of the Star Trek Online experience,” said Dan Stahl, Executive Producer of Star Trek Online, Cryptic Studios. “Fleets may now work to improve their Starbase category, unlocking additional functionality and increasing the size and grandeur of the Starbase itself.”

Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege key features include:

•           Fleet (Guild) Advancement System

Fleets construct their own Fleet Holdings with Starbases. Fleet Officers assign specific Fleet Projects for members to carry out in order to build their Starbase and master three specialization tracks: Military, Engineering, and Science.

Fleets can also improve Starbase specialization through five tiers of design, unlocking new Fleet Projects to earn more Fleet experience points and rewards. Functionality items to Starbases include Transwarp gates that allow for rapid access to different sectors.

•           Fleet Starbase Defense Missions

New missions and events that call upon Fleets to defend their Starbases include a five-man Starbase Alert, two five-man Fleet Sorties, and a 20-man Fleet Action. Some of these will be available at all ranks, while others will only be available to Vice Admirals (Federation Faction) and Lieutenant Generals (Klingon Faction).

•           Foundry Updates

New features to the Foundry, Star Trek Online’s popular user-content creation tool, include an improved user interface, which makes it easier for players to identify items prior to map placement. Players will also be able to find additional items such as vivid backdrops, as well as new ground and space maps in the content library.

•           Fleet Rewards

Unlock the new Starbase Exterior and Interior options as your Fleet advances in the aggregate Starbase track. In the other tracks, stores that sell ultra-rare Fleet Rewards, such as new high-end gear, starships, costumes, materials and various tactical assets, can be unlocked.

•           Fleet UI Redesign

Expect a new Fleet Home Page and Fleet Holdings Page, which has been created to provide information on Fleet Status, Projects and Contribution Leaderboards.

•           New Max-Level Content

New missions, events, challenges, and end-game content designed specifically for max level players are also included in Season 6: Under Siege. Try “No Win Scenario”, the five-man space challenge, or “Colony Rescue”, the five-man ground challenge.

For more details on Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege and to download and play Star Trek Online for free, please visit:  http://www.startrekonline.com. Star Trek Online is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.

TM & © 2012 CBS Studios Inc.  All rights reserved.  STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.

Micro Studio Reveals PAX 2012 Plans, Launches New Trailer and Releases July Update to Alpha Community 

Berkeley, CA – July 17^th, 2012. – Independent micro studio BitFlip Games today announced that Minion Master, its debut strategy release that seamlessly combines elements of tabletop gaming, turn based and  real-time strategy, and collectible card building games, will be unveiled for the first time at Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, WA from August 31^st to September 2^nd. All attendees who visit the BitFlip booth will be given limited edition playing cards from the Minion Master universe and anyone who chooses to pre-order  

Minion Master between now and the end of PAX will receive a special in-game character.

Additionally the BitFlip Games team has released the latest iteration to Minion Master, building the universe for its dedicated alpha community. The latest update throws four new Minions into the mix with the introduction of the Werewolf, Slasher, Spider and Peasant and introduces 11 new cards to the game. Finally the July update sees the introduction of the Online Deck Builder that has now launched through the cloud, as players can now create and play with or against their own customized decks anywhere in the world. Players will only be given a few short months to build decks and test strategies against the AI before multiplayer is added later this summer. To purchase Minion Master for $15 and qualify for 25% off the retail price of $20, players will need to pre-order Minion Master before July 31^st, 2012.

“Our mission with Minion Master has been to bring together the worlds of tabletop and video games in a fun, approachable way”, said David Steinwedel, Executive Producer of BitFlip Games, “We’ve been heavily influenced by classics such as Magic: The Gathering and Starcraft. With the help of a dedicated community (whose feedback we rely on in shaping the future of the universe), we look forward to showcasing the latest build at PAX Prime 2012”

Last week’s San Diego Comic-Con saw the debut of a brand new playable build of Resident Evil 6 featuring missions for the game’s three protagonists – Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield and Jake Muller – as well as an RE6 panel where the development team showcased further new content from the title.

SYDNEY – July 18, 2012 – IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, is pleased to announce the release of HITMAN: ABSOLUTION – E3: BEHIND THE SCENES. Join the Hitman-Team backstage and get a glimpse of what it took to bring The Original Assassin to the world’s biggest media stage in video gaming: The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2012 in Los Angeles.

HITMAN: ABSOLUTION is scheduled for global release on November 20th 2012 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.”

New SSD Provides Powerful Performance in a Tiny Form Factor

SYDNEY, Australia 18 July, 2012 – Crucial, a leading global brand of memory and storage upgrades, today announced the immediate availability of the Crucial^® m4 mSATA Solid State Drive (SSD), designed primarily to address the rapidly emerging Ultrabook™ category and deliver powerful, proven performance for systems where space is at a premium. The Crucial m4 mSATA SSD delivers the award-winning performance and reliability of the Crucial m4 SSD in a drive one eighth the size. Because of its tiny mSATA form factor, the Crucial m4 mSATA SSD can be mounted to an mSATA-enabled motherboard to serve as a primary storage in ultrathin laptops or act as a cache to complement the performance of an existing hard drive. Available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities with MSRPs of $62.99, $88.99, $145.99, and $270.99, respectively, the Crucial m4 mSATA SSD can be purchased now through select global channel partners, or directly at www.crucial.com.

The Crucial m4 mSATA SSD features sequential read speeds up to 500MB per second and offers inherent power savings, travel-worthy durability, validation for Intel® Smart Response technology and Dataplex™ caching software from NVELO. The Crucial m4 mSATA SSD joins the Crucial m4 SSD and the Crucial Adrenaline Solid State Cache Solution as part of the award-winning Crucial SSD portfolio.

“With the rapid growth in ultrathin laptops and the adoption of smaller system builds, consumers are increasingly in need of SSD performance in a smaller form factor. The Crucial m4 mSATA is designed for users who want the flexibility that a micro-sized SSD offers,” said Robert Wheadon, senior worldwide product manager, Crucial. “In a form factor that’s about a third the size of your business card, the Crucial mSATA SSD can also be used as a standalone SSD or as a cache for an existing drive.”

Featuring the same advanced controller technology, Micron custom firmware, and high-speed synchronous MLC NAND that have made the Crucial m4 SSD a mainstay, the Crucial m4 mSATA SSD is engineered to deliver the same blazing-fast performance. The Crucial m4 mSATA SSD leverages the industry-leading memory, design, and manufacturing capability of Micron Technology and is backed by a limited three-year warranty.

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About Crucial
Crucial is a leading global brand of Micron Technology, Inc., one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world. Crucial branded products include industry-leading solid state drives and DRAM memory upgrades for desktops, laptops, servers, workstations, and other systems. Crucial products are available worldwide at leading retail and e-tail stores, commercial resellers, and system integrators who can be found at www.crucialproducts.com. For more information or support, visit www.crucial.com

About Micron

Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND and NOR flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

— Edison Chen, Emma Stone, Tom Wilkinson, Lucy Liu to star in open world cop drama —

SYDNEY – (18^TH July, 2012) – Square Enix London Studios, a part of Square Enix Europe, today revealed the cast list for its hotly anticipated open world cop drama, Sleeping Dogs, set for ANZ release on the 16^th August 2012. With a line-up of some of the finest vocal talent from modern Hollywood movies, the game captures the tone of Hong Kong cinema.

“Sleeping Dogs features over two hours of rich dialogue in a story inspired by some of Hong Kong’s finest films,” said Stephen van der Mescht, Executive Producer at United Front Games. “As huge fans of the genre we knew exactly who we wanted; we knew who could bring the script to life. The end result is fantastic.”

Sleeping Dogs features the voice talent of Will Yun Lee (Die Another Day, Total Recall) as Wei Shen, an officer sent deep undercover into one of Hong Kong’s most feared Triad gangs, the Sun On Yee. With the aid of Police Inspector Pendrew, played by Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins, The Full Monty), Wei must earn the trust of his childhood friend, Jackie Mah, voiced by Edison Chen (Infernal Affairs I/II, The Dark Knight). Through Jackie, now a low-level thug running for the Sun On Yee, Wei will become one of the most-trusted lieutenants of Red Pole Winston Chu, played by Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow, The New Guy), slowly becoming ingrained in the criminal underworld and becoming one of the very men he was sent to bring down.

With a supporting cast including Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man, Zombieland), Robin Shou (Hard to Kill, Fatal Chase), Terence Yin (New Police Story, Colour of the Truth), James Hong (Blade Runner, The Day the Earth Stood Still), Lucy Liu (Kill Bill: Vol. 1, The Man with the Iron Fists), Tzi-Ma (Rush Hour, The Quiet American), Yunjin Kim (Lost, Diary of June) and Kelly Hu (Martial Law, X2), Sleeping Dogs features one of the most credible casts of Asian and Western cinema stars, bringing the game’s deep and evolving plot to life.

ACL TO HOST WCS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL/OCEANIA FINALS

We’re pleased to announce our partnership with the Australian Cyber League to host the WCS Australia National and Oceania Finals the weekend of August 11th and 12th at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney.

Featuring the top 18 players from Australia and New Zealand, the weekend will be the largest eSports event Blizzard has hosted in the region with a combined prize pool of $25,000 USD. Casting the matches will include top IPL casters HD and PainUser, GSL legends Artosis and Tasteless, and our very own local prodigy Maynarde.

Saturday kicks off the completion of the Australia Nationals which will crown this year’s best Australian StarCraft II players. Their chance to celebrate will be short lived though as the top six Australian players will clash with the top two New Zealand players in the Oceania Finals on Sunday. The two finalists coming out of the event will then go on to represent the region in the Battle.net World Championship in China later this year.

Entry is free, so grab a ticket and come on down to show your support for local StarCraft II eSports and cheer your favorite local players on!

Further information regarding this event can be found at ACLpro.com.au