Explosive Strategy Game Devolved by Petroglyph Coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. 

AUSTRALIA – August 14, 2009 – Today, Ubisoft announces it will be releasing Panzer General®: Allied Assault on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in Spring 2009. Developed by Petroglyph, Panzer General:  Allied Assault is an all-new single and multiplayer digital card game that takes place during the last phase of World War II, from 1944 to 1945. The dramatic events of D-Day finally gave the Allies a foothold on Fortress Europe, allowing them to push the Germans back to Berlin. Players can recreate actual battles such as Utah Beach, Operation Market Garden, and the infamous Battle of the Bulge in the hopes of turning back the German tide. Build, customize and fight with your personalised deck of 60 digital cards.  History is in your hands.

Ranked as one of the top 50 computer games of all time and quoted by PC Gamer Magazine as “Criminally Addictive”, the Panzer General franchise has spawned a loyal following of dedicated fans eager for more turn-based strategy action. This all-new strategy game title comes after five successful releases under its belt.

Panzer General®: Allied Assault key features:

CARD GAME MEETS BOARD GAME:

Thanks to the Collectible Card Game mechanics, players can swap out Unit Cards in decks for the perfect mix of tanks, artillery and infantry. Add in special Action Cards to “break the rules” and surprise opponents with air strikes and reinforcements. Players can retool decks with new cards awarded after each single or multiplayer victory.

A TASTE OF HISTORY:
Panzer General Allied Assault lets players dive into the history of World War II. 3D models of vehicles used during the War march across the board and players can discover the cities where desperate battles took place. It’s a new and exciting way to learn history.

PLAYER V. PLAYER (PVP) MODE

Players can play with a friend and have access to the special Unit and Action Cards you have unlocked in the single player Campaign. The more you play, the more cards you unlock!

Panzer General®: Allied assault is scheduled for release in Spring 2009.

About Ubisoft®

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft is present in 28 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2008–09 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.058 billion euros.  To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Petroglyph

Founded in 2003, Petroglyph is an award-winning, independent game development studio located in Las Vegas, NV. The company is composed of industry veterans with a studio-wide average of over ten years in game development. The Petroglyph team specializes in the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre, leveraging the experience gained from developing original hit franchises for PC and consoles. Petroglyph uses their proprietary GLYPH game engine, tools and technology to power their next-generation titles. For more information about Petroglyph, visit www.petroglyphgames.com

MELBOURNE, Friday, 14 August 2009 – Madman proudly presents Tim Minchin’s live performance return to DVD in READY FOR THIS? (Available Sep 9th, 2009, $29.95 SRP), a brand new show recorded live during Tim’s sold out 2009 tour.

Tim’s new show ‘Ready for This?’ has enthralled audiences across Australia and around the world, and is now available to own in DVD. The show contains brilliant songs, extraordinary piano playing, hilarious rants, a 9-minute beat poem about a hippy, and just enough of his acclaimed ‘Darkside’ and ‘So Rock’ stuff to keep the old fans from rioting.

Tim’s national Australian tour earlier this year sold every ticket in record time, now, direct from a massive UK tour and 2 nights at London’s legendary Apollo Theatre, Tim Minchin returns to Australia by popular demand, to perform ‘Ready For This? Returns’, an extended 2-act version of the award-winning, critically acclaimed ‘Ready For This?’.

Winner of the: Perrier Award for Best Newcomer, Edinburgh 2005; Festival Director’s Award, Melbourne 2005; Best Alternative Comedian, US Comedy Arts Festival 2007; Chortle Award for Best Show, UK 2009; Chortle Award for Best Variety Act, UK 2009; Best Comedy Performer, Helpmann Awards 2009.

”The entire show is of such a fantastically high standard that it’s difficult to pick out highlights.” – The Herald, Scotland

“I rated Tim Minchin’s sold out show “Ready for this?” five stars after the first 10 minutes… Tim Minchin is a true comic genius.” – Adelaide Advertiser

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME  

WALT DISNEY PICTURES/JERRY BRUCKHEIMER FILMS

Genre:                                      Action/Adventure

Rating:                                     TBD

Release Date:                           May 28, 2010

Cast:                                        Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina

Director:                                   Mike Newell

Producer:                                 Jerry Bruckheimer

Executive Producers:                Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Jordan Mechner, John August, Patrick McCormick, Eric

McLeod

Based on the video game series

“Prince of Persia,” created by:   Jordan Mechner

Screen Story by:                       Jordan Mechner and Boaz Yakin

Screenplay by:                          Doug Miro & Carlo Bernard

                                                (writing credit not final)

From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia.  A rogue prince (JAKE GYLLENHAAL) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (GEMMA ARTERTON) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Directed by Mike Newell (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) with a cast that includes SIR BEN KINGSLEY and ALFRED MOLINA, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME hits theaters Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. 

Notes:

• Director Mike Newell’s credits include “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” “Donnie Brasco,” starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp, “Pushing Tin,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Dance With A Stranger.”
• Among numerous other awards and nominations, Jerry Bruckheimer Films have been honored with 41 Academy Award^® nominations, with six wins, and 23 Golden Globe^® nominations, with four wins. 
• PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME was filmed near Marrakesh, Ouarzazate and Erfoud, Morocco, as well as hugely scaled sets constructed at Pinewood Studios in Great Britain. 

Set in the mystical lands of Persia, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME is an epic action-adventure about a rogue prince (JAKE GYLLENHAAL) and a mysterious princess (GEMMA ARTERTON) who race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

Milton Keynes, 12 August 2009 – As a continuous commitment to its dedicated fans, Bohemia Interactive and 505 Games have released a new patch for ARMA II the PC military shooter smash hit of 2009. ArmA II is now available across Australia and New Zealand for all who want to visit the post-soviet republic of Chernarus and experience the many fantastic features of this monumental war simulator.

The patch (1.03) is available to download now from www.arma2.com and will solve and improve/balance the following:

In-game issues:
* Major AI tweaking and balancing (especially AI infantry aural detection sensitivity lowered significantly)
* Improved multiplayer and cooperative campaign (saving games, connection issues)
* Numerous fixes and improvements in the Harvest Red campaign

Engine:
* New: Functions getPosATL and setPosATL to allow controlling position relative to terrain.
* New: command line option -showScriptErrors introduced to show errors in scripts on-screen
* New: Direct analogue throttle and brake for airplanes now available.
* New: More flexible configuration of Flares in the config (brightness, size)
* New: Mission name (with * indicated unsaved work) displayed in the mission editor
* New: Keyboard shortcuts in the mission editor
* Improved: Better airplane HUD visibility both night and day
* Optimization: Reduced frame stutter near map borders.
* Fixed: Rainbow is visible even with sun below horizon.
* Fixed: 3D Editor – civilian and resistance units did not work correctly
* Fixed: Sea surface was not rendered in NE area out of map.
* Fixed: Terrain surface was sometimes using wrong parallax map.
* Fixed: Grenade could sometimes destroy a building just by impact
* Fixed: Radio messages sometimes echoed
* Fixed: Team switch did not work when player died
* Fixed: Reduced AI detecting slowly moving enemy vehicles by ear.
* Fixed: Prevent killed AI units reporting who killed them.
* Fixed: After respawn in MP, player’s tasks, diary content and skills are transferred to the new entity
* Fixed: Leaning ‘limits’ did not work with TrackIR
* Fixed: MP client frozen in Receiving… screen sometimes
* Fixed: Problems with saving and loading games in cooperative campaign

Missions:
* Fixes and improvements in most of the campaign missions (Into the Storm, Harvest Red, Bitter Chill, Manhattan, Badlands, Dogs of War)
* Improved: autosave logic to not save when it was not safe
* Improved: Eye for an Eye in Scenarios

Data:
* Fixed: various minor problems on buildings
* Fixed: rocks destruction effect changed
* Fixed: penetrability of some vegetation
* Fixed: collision geometry of A_BuildingWIP
* Fixed: react FSM core conversations
* Fixed: cargo animations in LAV25
* Fixed: indicators in Ka52 when using NVG
* Fixed: cargo animations in BTR
* Fixed: Warfare keypoint on Chernarus

System requirements:
* ANY ORIGINAL VERSION OF ARMA 2 from 1.00 to 1.02 other than Steam version, Steam users should use auto updating feature instead (their game will not be playable if they applied this patch until they recover it again from Steam)
* DirectX 9 March 2009 is required and should be updated during the patching process automatically as needed or you can update your version of DirectX from www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/
ARMA II offers the ultimate realistic combat simulation experience in a modern day setting. With unprecedented freedom of movement, actions and tactics, the game allows players to immerse themselves in battle as never seen before.

For all the latest information visit  www.arma2.com

Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, today confirms the A-list voice talent featuring in forthcoming RPG Risen.

One of the busiest actors in the UK, Andy Serkis takes the role of The Inquisitor.  Serkis, who has had a long and varied acting career, is best known for his CG character representations Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong in the movie of the same name.  Veteran British actor, John Rhys Davies, who has starred in countless blockbuster movies such as Indiana Jones and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, performs as Don Esteban.  Movie actress Lena Headey, who played Sarah Connor in Terminator TV spin-off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles take the role of Patty.  “The quality of the voice casting reflects the quality of the game” stated Paul Nicholls, Sales and Marketing Director, Koch Media UK “with such an amazing lineup of talent from movies and TV, there is a voice everyone will recognize; we will attract a new generation of RPG players to the genre”. 

Serkis, Rhys-Davies and Headey are joined by a lineup of some of the most recognisable British TV actors; Fincher is played by Torchwood actor Burn Gorman, Larkrise to Candleford star Brendan Coyle takes the role of Commandant Carlos, Damian O’Hare who starred in medical drama The Royal plays Olf.  I’m Alan Partridge regular and Star Stories narrator Simon Greenall plays Luis.  Oscar is played by Grange Hill actor Donald McCorkindale while fellow Grange Hill actor and Secret Diaries of a Call Girl star Stuart Organ plays Brogar. The Archers actress, Louiza Patikas represents Sara and Timothy Watson who has starred in countless TV dramas from Eastenders to Casualty takes the role of Romanov

All the actors were cast and recorded by award winning London agency Side, with voice direction carried out by Andrew S Walsh.

Developed by Piranha Bytes and releasing on Xbox 360 and PC, this epic role playing game is set in a medieval world on a volcanic Mediterranean island. The “Risen” story unfolds over four chapters and will offer multiple ways to develop the story depending on the player’s actions and decisions. An innovative and intuitive user control interface will support both casual and hardcore gamers. With full world streaming support, Risen offers a seamless experience while playing in a fully simulated game world with authentic characters.

Risen will be released for the Xbox 360Ò video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and Windows® PC. More information about Risen at  http://risen.deepsilver.com.

About Piranha Bytes

The Piranha Bytes development team, residing in the Ruhr Area, was established in 1997. Approximately 20 people have been a part of this team in its current form since 2002. Piranha Bytes has so far acquired fame even beyond German borders with its RPG successes „Gothic“ (2001), „Gothic II“ (2002), „Gothic – Night of the Raven“ (2003) and „Gothic 3“ (2006). www.piranha-bytes.com

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver products are designed to equally appeal to pros and beginners, children and adults.

Deep Silver has published more than 80 games since 2003, including Anno 1701 (co-published with Sunflowers), Gothic 3 (co-published with JoWooD), the successful Secret Files adventure series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, the Chernobyl shooter, the action role-playing game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (co-published with Ascaron), and the Horse Life series of horse simulations. The company’s own brands Risen (Xbox 360 and PC), the new role-playing game from the Piranha Bytes team, the urban MMO 7Million, the survival/horror game Cursed Mountain (exclusive on Wii), and the multi-platform action game Ride to Hell are currently being developed. Deep Silver’s own production company in Vienna opened in 2007. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and movies on DVD). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous software and games manufacturers: Kaspersky Labs, Nero, Cyberlink, PC Tools, Net Nanny, Cakewalk, Gotham New Media, AVG Technologies, Eleco, Mr Site, Braingame, Mindscape, Slitherine, RTL, Blade Interactive etc. Headquartered in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, and the USA. www.kochmedia.com

About Madman Entertainment

MADMAN is Australia’s leading independent home entertainment and theatrical distribution and rights-management Company, specialising in the wholesale distribution of DVD product into retail and rental stores throughout Australia. Madman product categories include Kids, TV, arthouse film, Australian independent features, animation, Japanese anime and Interactive games. Madman is owned by Funtastic Limited, one of Australia’s largest wholesalers of consumer products into retail outlets and an Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed company.

Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

August 13 2009, Australia — Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today released the G.I. JOE™ The Rise of Cobra™ videogame for all major videogame platforms as well as mobile devices, unleashing an elite team of G.I. JOE characters to fight the evil forces of the COBRA organisation. 

Releasing alongside its film counterpart, G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, in association with Hasbro, the videogame presents an all-new storyline that weaves in key elements from the film and for long-time G.I. JOE enthusiasts, adds a layer of nostalgia inspired by the animated cartoon series, comic books and action figure toy line, delivering the ultimate adrenaline-pumping, action-packed G.I. JOE experience. 

The accessible third person action-arcade shooter allows G.I. JOE fans to step into the boots of 16 playable characters as they battle through 20 levels of intense gameplay armed with high-tech gadgetry, weapons and vehicles.   

“G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra is one of those games that screams fun from the first shot due to its fast paced action that never slows down until you’ve taken out the last COBRA boss,” said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division.  “We expect the excitement to carry over from the theatre to the living room as fans re-create legendary G.I. JOE action, tapping an arsenal of well-known characters, never-before-seen vehicles and futuristic weapons inspired by the iconic IP.  Whether gamers choose to play solo or enlist reinforcements with our two-player co-op mode, forceful battles will unfold at every turn. This is big action at its best.”

Do You Have the Mettle to Join the Elite G.I. JOE Team?
G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra picks up where the movie leaves off as the COBRA organisation unfurls its deadliest plot to date.  Players must counter the COBRA team’s every move over the course of 20 levels spanning four different environments including the snowy arctic and balmy jungles.

As the high stakes battle begins to let loose, selecting the best-suited G.I. JOE characters and their accompanying gear and skillset becomes a pivotal strategic decision when facing the dark forces of COBRA such as STORM SHADOW, a soulless and powerful enemy.  It may be a job for DUKE, a well balanced combat soldier or perhaps the mission should be handed off to SNAKE EYES based on his lethal martial arts skills.  Better yet, co-op play lets players find the best combinations with any two characters for an over the top tag-team showdown.

When selecting a G.I. JOE team, players can handpick members from three units: Heavies, who can zero in and pick off specific targets from a distance; Commandos, who are Ninja-like and can eliminate the enemy at close range; and Combat Soldiers, who offer balanced skillsets at both distances. 

Adding to the action, players are also challenged to find 75 file cards and various intelligence items that are buried deep within the game in order to unlock new characters, special missions, achievements and trophies. In addition, defeating each of the four COBRA bosses will earn the player the ability to unlock four of the classic 20-year old G.I. JOE Public Service Announcements (PSAs), other bonus content and the ability to play the game with the COBRA boss characters.  

The G.I. JOE High Tech Edge
The G.I. JOE brand has long been known for its high-tech gadgets, weapons and vehicles and the video game brings these futuristic wares to life for both new and long-time fans alike. The game offers up a mix of original creations by EA as well as historic classics built directly from blueprints unearthed in Hasbro’s toy line archives. Whether you’re hopping into the film-inspired Accelerator Suit for a lightening burst of speed, or behind the controls of the inimitable H.I.S.S. Tank, players will get a full-blown G.I. JOE brand experience all the way.     

“G.I. JOE defined the action figure category 45 years ago and EA just defined how to re-imagine the powerful toy line to create a blockbuster video game experience for today’s digital consumer,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “The video game tightens the grip that the G.I. JOE brand has on fans with a fresh and compelling storyline inspired by the film, cartoons, comics and toys combined with ‘pick-up-and-play’ gameplay mechanics that will appeal to gamers of all skill levels.”  

Availability & Pricing
G.I JOE The Rise of Cobra is available now on the Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3, and Wii™ for a RRP of $79.99; the PSP®, PlayStation®2 and Nintendo DS™ for a RRP of $49.99; and a variety of mobile devices.

G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra for the Nintendo DS features six G. I. JOE and five COBRA characters.  Built from the ground up specifically for this platform, the title serves up more than 20 missions across four environments, playable vehicles and up to four-player wireless gaming.

Interview with Hiroaki Yura
A Night in Fantasia

Impulsegamer chats with Hiro Yura, the Founder and Director of the Eminence Symphony Orchestra which plays at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on the 26th of September 2009. Tickets can be purchased via www.ticketmaster.com.au.

[IG] Hi Hiroaki, thanks for your time and agreeing to be interviewed by Impulse Gamer, Australia’s largest and oldest independent online review site. Tell us a little about yourself and what were you doing before founding Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Before I started doing what I am doing now, I was a classical violinist representing Australia and Japan in International Competition. All I performed was classical music and was a solo performer.

[IG] You play the violin, how long did it take to master this instrument?

[Hiro]I don’t think I’ve mastered it yet! I have been playing for 22 years though.

[IG] The violin has the ability to portray a variety of emotions. How do you draw our these emotions and stories from the violin?

[Hiro] Easy. It all comes down to either soft or loud, short or long. These elements when used correctly portray a million emotions. Oh, and a hell of a lot of practice!

[IG] If you could choose to master another instrument, what would it be and why?

[Hiro] I have no desire to master another instrument. I can start thinking about the next instrument once I have mastered the violin.

[IG] How did you come up with the idea of Eminence Symphony Orchestra and what were your motivations?

[Hiro] Eminence Symphony Orchestra’s sole aim, is to have young people who have no prior classical background at all to enjoy concerts performed by classical instrumentalists. Why did I think of it? That’s because all I see in classical concert is a sea of grey hairs or no hairs at all. No offense to the older people who supports us, but if we don’t do something now, by the time I’m at the end of my life, what I love dearly would not exist.

[IG] How many people is part of Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Currently there are over 120 people in Eminence. If you include people who helped us in that past, well over 300. If you include other companies and people around the world like composers who supports us, 500?

[IG] How long did it take to prepare this latest concert?

[Hiro] 12 months. And we’re still behind schedule!

[IG] With thousands of great musical scores from video games and anime, how did you narrow down your selection? It must have been a difficult task.

[Hiro] I narrowed down the selection through artistic value, what people are familiar with and who would be coming to our concert as our guest. We are constantly over time and yes, it is an extremely hard process

[IG] Although your work load must be quite busy, do you do anything else (musically) aside from Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Well I guess I get asked to perform for foreign diplomats and functions to perform classical music back in Sydney. Now that I live in Tokyo, I have started to get asked by the Australian Embassy to play at their functions. All very fun! When I have time, I go to live performances by friends like Kow Otani (Shadow of the Colossus) or Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato from Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). I want to start a violin centric band and start rocking away too. It seems fun and I want to explore a lot of music as much as I can.

[IG] What’s your favourite video game and why?

[Hiro] That’s a hard question. I have a lot of favourites. I recently quit WoW so that was a big step for me. I think Secret of Mana would be my favourite game overall, as I love the game’s battle system, story, the music and the design.

[IG] What your favourite anime or mainstream movie and why?

[Hiro] Mmmmmm… this question is even harder. I like Hajime no Ippo, it’s a great boxing manga/anime and it depicts such greatness of people who work very hard. In terms of movie, I love “The Professional”, “Snatch”… oh and “Tropic Thunder”. That was an awesome movie.

[IG] What is your favourite piece of music and why?

[Hiro] Music wise, I have a lot of favourites. So I won’t go into it. But let’s talk about what people would know. I do like Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay to Sean Kingston. I don’t listen to much Japanese bands these days since I think a lot of them is just really bad… but I’m secretly hoping the industry would get their act together and make good music like from the 90s era. I’m deliberately not talking about Sound Track because… I won’t.

[IG] What was the hardest aspect of bringing the music of A Night in Fantasia together?

[Hiro] Financing! It costs a lot…

[IG] Can you fill us in as to who the guest stars will be in Australia?

[Hiro] I’m sure that’s all in the media release haha! But they are all cool people I met personally. They are awesome. They are either beautiful, handsome, sexy, pretty, intelligent, cool or a combination (or more) of the above.

[IG] Will there be plans for a Night in Fantasia to tour Australia?

[Hiro] Maybe. One day hopefully!

[IG] What are current and upcoming music CD’s?

[Hiro] We’ll announce that soon but we are doing something really really big. And cool.

[IG]  COSPLAY… who would you dress up as?

[Hiro] Either Ruffy from ONE PIECE or Colonel Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist. Why? Because I have short black hair and I’m slim built.

[IG] Lastly, what can the audience expect on the night of your concert in Sydney?

[Hiro] Pure awesomeness and the absolute best that the human race can offer. Well that’s what the Youtube results said anyway!

[IG] Thanks for the interview Hiro and good luck for a Night in Fantasia!

Created by the team at Monolith Productions, this is the first community trailer for F.E.A.R 2 Reborn downloadable content.  

Along with four new single player levels available on September 4th, a free title update will also enable Slow-Mo Deathmatch in multiplayer. 

Check out the mental new video showcasing the feature here