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“Crowd pleasing’ – Variety

Based on the incredible true story, The Express follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie
Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy and one of the greatest running backs in
American college football history. The Express is available on DVD from July 22nd.

Under the guidance of legendary coach Ben Schwartzwalder, played by Golden Globe nominee
Dennis Quaid, Davis’ fight for equality and respect forever changed the American sporting arena, with
his story still continuing to inspire new generations.

Set in the sixties when the growing civil rights movement was dividing the country, Davis became a
symbol for achievement that transcended race. Refusing to flinch against a wave of discrimination, he
achieved all his goals including a major challenge that would make most ordinary men crumble.
The Express is the inspirational story of one man’s ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable
obstacles and become a sporting legend in this powerful story of triumph both on and off the field
that will have you cheering for more!

Cast: Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow)
Rob Brown (Finding Forrester)
Price: $34.95
Duration: 124 minutes
Classification: TBC
Genre: Drama
For more information & images please visit www.universalpictures.com.au,

 
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BILL BROWN TO PRODUCE SCORE FOR WOLFENSTEIN™

Sydney, Australia – May 13, 2009 – Activision Publishing (Nasdaq: ATVI) and id Software announced that Wolfenstein™ is set to feature an original score by award-winning composer, Bill Brown. Brown’s work has been featured in numerous feature films and television shows with credits, including: “Ali,” “Any Given Sunday,” “CSI: NY” and “Finding Forrester.”  He previously also scored id’s hit Return to Castle Wolfenstein®. 

“Bill was the natural choice to create a soundtrack that emphasises the fast-paced action of Wolfenstein while enhancing the overall mood during key moments and getting players fully immersed in the adventure,” says Kevin Cloud, executive producer at id Software. “Bill crafted the perfect soundtrack when we previously worked together on Return to Castle Wolfenstein and his experience and passion for the franchise will once again allow him to deliver an incredible score that draws the player deeper into the Wolfenstein universe.”

 

Wolfenstein is scheduled for release later this year on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is not yet rated.

 

About Wolfenstein

Wolfenstein brings the Nazi’s dark obsession with the occult to life, by intertwining fast-paced, intense story-driven combat with a diverse sci-fi experience.  As BJ Blazkowicz, a highly decorated member of the Office of Secret Actions (OSA), you are sent on a special mission into the heart of the Third Reich to investigate evidence that the SS hierarchy may possess a new and mysterious power.

 

About id Software

id – defined by Freud as the primal section of the human psyche; id Software, located in Mesquite, Texas, was founded in 1991.  From inception to present day, id Software has relentlessly provided technical, design and artistic leadership as an independent game developer and technology provider. Transcending the games industry, id’s iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of gamers.  More information on id Software can be found at www.idsoftware.com.

 

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. 

 

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea.  More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements:  Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Activision Publishing generally uses words such as “outlook”, “will,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes”, “may”, “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimate,” future,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “project,” “remain,” “scheduled,” “set to,” “subject to,” “upcoming” and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements.   Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales of Activision Publishing’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Publishing’s success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated.  Other such factors include additional risk factors identified in Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect.  These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

 
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The Tale of Despereaux – World’s Most Famous Cheeses

World’s Most Famous Cheeses
1. Brie, also known as Brie de Meaux, is considered one of the most popular of the 400+
cheeses from France and is produced in the French province of Brie!
2. Camembert was produced in the French village of Camembert by a maiden who was given
the secret recipe by a priest during the French Revolution
3. Cheddar cheese was first produced in the English village of Cheddar (surprise, surprise!)
and is considered the most popular cheese in the entire United Kingdom
4. Blue Cheese (or bleu cheese) has had cultures added to it so that the final product is
spotted, or veined, with blue-green mould! Yes, mould!
5. Haloumi cheese is part of the Cypriot cuisine and is the only cheese that can be fried and
grilled and still keep it’s shape. It actually tastes better cooked!
Timeline of Cheese:
• Gorgonzola, was first made around 879AD
• Roquefort was first made around 1070AD
• Grana was first made around 1200AD
• Cheddar was first made around1500AD
• Parmesan was first made around1579AD
• Gouda was first made around 1697AD
• Gloucester was first made in 1697AD
• Stilton was first made around 1785AD
• Camembert was first made around 1791AD

 
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The Tale of Despereaux – Top 10 Facts About Mice

1. Mice are excellent swimmers and can remain under water for several minutes
2. The average litter size is 5 to 6 but can be as high as 13!
3. Mice have good senses of smell, taste and hearing, however they have poor vision and
are colour-blind
4. Mice are omnivorous and in the field survive mainly on grass seeds, cereal and legume
grains
5. Did you know: You can keep mice on a table without a cage because mice are afraid to
jump off high vertical drops
6. Greeks and Indians thought mice were lightning bolts!
7. The name mouse comes from “mus”, a Sanskrit word that means thief
8. A male mouse is called a buck, a female mouse is called a doe and a baby mouse is
called a pinky, or a kitten
9. Some mice may play dead if they are frightened and cannot escape quickly
10. A mother mouse can produce over 100 babies a year!

 
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TERMINATION SALVATION AND SCREENSHOTS

FACT SHEET

RELEASE DATE:   27, May 2009
PUBLISHER:   Equity Games Production, Evolved Games
DEVELOPER:  GRIN Studios
DISTRIBUTOR:  Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
OFLC RATING:  M – action violence
GENRE:  Third-Person Shooter
PLATFORMS:   Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3              Computer Entertainment System, Games For Windows®

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:
Based on the upcoming Terminator Salvation film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Sony Pictures, Terminator Salvation the videogame offers players the chance to assume the role of John Connor, a soldier in the resistance, battling for survival against the far superior forces of Skynet.

Terminator Salvation the videogame is an intense action-packed third-person shooter featuring concentrated armed combat against all of the Skynet enemies from the film and new killer machines specifically designed for the game.  Taking place two years before the events of the upcoming film set in a post apocalyptic, decimated Los Angeles, players will be lead through a visceral, story and character driven gaming experience. 

Featuring intense third-person action, Terminator Salvation the videogame will take combat to the next level with iconic enemies, cinematic fight sequences and advanced weaponry, drawn directly from the film, as well as an innovative, multi-layered cover mechanic.

PRODUCT FEATURES:
? New Installment of Terminator Mythology: Set two years prior to the upcoming Terminator Salvation film, players will get the opportunity to be John Connor for the first time and continue the epic fiction of the Terminator mythology.
? Unrelenting Intelligent Robotic Enemies: Unrelenting and incredibly resilient iconic enemies from the Terminator franchise fight to the bitter end on land and in the sky.  Designed to pursue the player by any means necessary, damaged or broken enemies will literally claw their way forward to inflict harm. 
? Advanced Destructible Cover Gameplay: Terminator Salvation the videogame will incorporate advanced cover mechanics which allows players to use the destructible environment as protection and strategically navigate through enemy entrenched territory. The cover mechanic’s multi-faceted design changes the way “cover” gameplay is executed.
? Diverse Array of Advanced Weaponry:  The player has access to a wide array of weapons including shotguns, fully automatic machine guns, huge mounted weaponry, grenades, rocket-launchers and even a plasma firing Skynet tank.
? Rugged Armored Vehicles Gun Fights: Pursue, attack, or evade enemies through post-apocalyptic environments on foot or inside rugged armored vehicles in extremely kinetic and extensive cinematic gun battles.

 
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MAKE TIME FOR MORE FUN WITH EA’s HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 EA Developing Sequel to Award-Winning Video Game Expanding Collection of Family Favourite Games and Fun

May 13 2009, Australia – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that Mr. Potato Head is once again stepping up to the microphone as the M.C. of Fun to rally families and friends together to play a new lineup of Hasbro-inspired games in HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2.  The video game, currently in development for the Wii™ and Nintendo DS™, is slated to launch in October 2009. 

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 follows the release of the original HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT, which launched in November 2008 and received several accolades including a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award as well as an “All-Star” Award from U.S magazine, Toy Wishes.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 for the Wii will include five popular games: OPERATION, JENGA, BOP-IT, PICTUREKA, and CONNECT 4X4.  Each game will offer an original mode reflecting traditional board game play and advanced modes, including the all-new “Hasbro Family Game Show” which shifts players into party mode with Mr. Potato Head as the master of ceremonies.  Players will feel as if they’ve been transported to a live television game show studio complete with an audience, a spinning “Challenge Wheel” and the opportunity to win big virtual prizes.  In addition to providing new and exciting ways to play, the Wii version will allow fans to completely customize Mr. Potato Head, pick new themes, and obtain new trophies to add to their collection.

“HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 delivers an exciting new lineup of classic and refreshed Hasbro games designed to bring families and friends together for quality, memorable experiences,” said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division.  “We’ve created incredibly innovative ways to play fan favorites like OPERATION and JENGA, and added features such as a competitive but fun “Game Show” mode and the ability to customize Mr. Potato Head making this game a ‘must-have’ for all ages this summer.”

Arriving for the first time on the Nintendo DS, this version is designed for portable fun on-the-go and features a mix of new and favorite games from the previously released HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT on the console.  Games will include CONNECT 4, BATTLESHIP, SORRY! Sliders, OPERATION and BOP-IT.  Each will offer both original and new ways to play as well as wireless support for multi-player competition.

“EA continues to do a tremendous job of re-imagining and deepening the gameplay experience of Hasbro games across video game platforms,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 will be a great blend of classic, refreshed and new games that will serve as a great reason to invite family and friends over for an evening of fun.”

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 is being developed at EA Bright Light and will be available in October 2009.  For game artwork, visit http://www.info.ea.com .

 
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Cyanide Acquires Interactive Rights for George R. R. Martin’s

www.cyanide-studio.com
Regarding Cyanide Studio

Cyanide is a private French video game development studio founded in 2000. Based in Paris, France and in Montreal, Canada, 70 employees are working on the two continents. Well-known for its sports sim such as the popular Cycling Manager® Series or Pro Rugby Manager® Series, Cyanide is also responsible for the famous Chaos League®, and the recent Hack’n’Slash Loki® released in end-year 2007. In 2009, Cyanide will release Blood Bowl®, an adaptation of the famous Games Workshop’s board game, already awaited as a  potential great hit, the annual edition of Pro Cycling Manager – Tour de France 2009®, and finally its first online free-to-play fast action MMOG, Dungeon Party®!

Cyanide, an independent video game studio, and George R. R. Martin today announced their partnership to create the first-ever video games inspired by the author’s award-winning, international bestselling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ fantasy series.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cyanide has obtained the exclusive rights to develop ‘A Song of Ice and  Fire’ video games for next-generation consoles and PC, and in collaboration with George R.R Martin, development has begun. «We are all huge fans of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, so it is a true honour for our teams to be entrusted with creating the first video games inspired by this masterpiece» stated Patrick Pligersdorffer, Managing Director of Cyanide. «The twists and turns of the plot will allow us to deliver an experience which can be enjoyed by both long-time fans as well as gamers new to the series.»

Published most notably by Bantam Books in North America and Voyager Books in the United Kingdom, the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ novels have been translated into more than twenty languages (including Chinese, Japanese, Korean  and Russian) and have been nominated for numerous prizes. Set in a world where nothing is simply black and white, the rich web of characters makes it an ideal background for numerous genres of video games.

‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ has already been adapted into a card game and a board game. More recently, HBO acquired the rights with the intent of turning the novels into a television series. Cyanide Acquires Interactive Rights for George R. R. Martin’s

‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series

CYANIDE, A FRENCH VIDEO GAME STUDIO, SECURES INTERACTIVE RIGHTS TO GEORGE R. R. MARTIN’S BESTSELLING ‘A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE’ SERIES

Nanterre, France – 12th May 2009
First-Ever ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ Video Games to Bring Classic Fantasy Series to Life About George R. R. Martin George R.R. Martin is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He started writing in the early 1970s and his first novel ‘Dying of the Light’ was published in 1977. More information on the author is available through his website – www.georgerrmartin.com

 
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AVG Introduces Streamlined, Highly-Scalable Anti-Malware Protection for Linux

New AVG 8.5 for Linux combines e-mail and file server protection; adds free workstation protection  

Melbourne, 11 May 2009 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, distributor for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific of the award-winning AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security products, has announced the release of significantly improved and updated implementations of the AVG anti-malware solutions for Linux platforms. AVG 8.5 for Linux, available in both server and free workstation editions, offers streamlined scanning capabilities, new anti-virus filtering and improved performance and ease of use for Linux-based users.
 

Though not as prevalent as on Windows operating systems, Windows malware can and does impact Linux systems. Additionally, Windows-based workstations are frequently attached to Linux-based servers in the network. AVG 8.5 for Linux provides centralised anti-malware protection for those systems.
 

AVG Server Edition 8.5 for Linux/Free BSD provides protection for both e-mail and file servers in a single distribution package. It is robust enough to support millions of e-mails a day, thereby suitable for use by even large enterprises and ISPs.
 

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD provides basic anti-malware protection for Linux workstations.
 

AVG 8.5 for Linux offers both network managers and workstation users:

A streamlined scanning engine that detects and removes viruses, worms, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and other malware in a single pass

Heuristic emulation for improved detection of new and unknown malware types

New avflt anti-virus filter! A RedirFS-based on-access scanner for improved performance, along with simplified installation and deployment.

Improved system resource handling through shared memory usage

Increased scalability through support for 64-bit and multi-CPU architecture, new multi-core CPUs

A fully modular solution, further reducing the number of necessary restarts

 

RedirFS, or redirecting filesystem, is a new layer between virtual filesystem switch (VFS) and filesystem drivers. It is implemented as an out-of-kernel module for Linux 2.6.25 and provides a framework to allow modification of filesystem calls in the VFS layer.
 

“We are particularly proud of the RedirFS element in AVG 8.5 for Linux,” said AVG Technologies CTO Karel Obluk. “The original intention was to discover possible ways of implementing an on-access scanner for the Linux kernel as an alternative to the Dazuko project. Since that time, the RedirFS project has evolved to the general framework of Linux 2.6. We have released the RedirFS as open source. This will enable much broader functionality than on-access scanning.”
 

AVG 8.5 for Linux is distribution-independent. It has been tested to run under FreeBSD, Mandrake, Mandriva, Fedora Core, DebIan, SUSE, Red Hat, Red Flag, Ubuntu, and other distributions using Debian packaging.
 

Licensing for AVG Server Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD is per connection, with pricing on a tiered basis. One and two year licence subscriptions are available. The product is available directly for purchase and download direct from www.avg.com.au, or through one of AVG (AU/NZ)’s more than 2200 resellers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
 

The AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5 for Linux/FreeBSD workstation product may be downloaded from www.avgfree.com.au/downloads/.
 

Support for existing versions of AVG for Linux will be phased out on 15 May 2009. Users are encouraged to contact their reseller or AVG (AU/NZ) to upgrade their protection as soon as possible.
 

About AVG Technologies

AVG is a global security solutions leader protecting more than 80 million consumers and small business computer users in 167 countries from the ever-growing incidence of web threats, viruses, spam, cyber-scams and hackers on the Internet. Headquartered in Amsterdam, AVG has nearly two decades of experience in combating cyber crime and one of the most advanced laboratories for detecting, pre-empting and combating Web-borne threats from around the world. Its free online, downloadable software model allows entry-level users to gain basic anti-virus protection and then to easily and inexpensively upgrade to greater levels of safety and defence in both single and multi-user environments. Nearly 6,000 resellers, partners and distributors team with AVG globally including Amazon.com, CNET, Cisco, Ingram Micro, Play.com, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo!.
 

About AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd — www.avg.com.au

Based in Melbourne, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd distributes the AVG range of Anti-Virus and Internet Security products in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. AVG software solutions provide comprehensive real-time protection against everything from viruses, spam, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, phishing and exploits to cyber-criminals, hackers, scammers and identity thieves. AVG provides outstanding technical solutions and exceptional value for home, small to medium business and enterprise clients. AVG delivers always-on, always up-to-date protection across desktops, servers and e-mail in the home plus corporations, government agencies, utilities and educational institutions.
 

AVG products actively protect more than 80 million users worldwide, including more than two million users in Australia.
 

AVG (AU/NZ) has more than 2200 resellers across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

 
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Confessions of a Shopaholic DVD

Australia’s own ISLA FISHER is Rebecca Bloomwood, the ultimate New York fashion tragedy with an out-of-control debt and an unquenchable thirst for the finer things in life, in the hilarious romantic comedy Confessions of a Shopaholic, released to DVD and Blu-ray 5 August 2009.

Follow Rebecca on her roller-coaster ride into debt, as she attempts to shop her way to the top while chasing every girl’s dream: a job at fashion bible, Alette. When she scores a spot at financial rag Successful Saver instead, Rebecca must use the opportunity to prove she has what it takes. But it’s not long before her high-spending habits land her in trouble – and her career, home and love life start to unravel.

Based on the ‘Shopaholic’ series of books by Sophie Kinsella, directed by the great romantic comedy director P.J.Hogan (Muriel’s Wedding, My Best Friends Wedding) and produced by the highly-acclaimed Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean), audiences young and old have fallen in love with the performance of ISLA FISHER in Confessions of a Shopaholic, one of the most hilarious, must-own DVD releases of the year!

 
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UBISOFT®, MIDWAY AND TIGON STUDIOS ANNOUNCE WHEELMAN DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT

Sydney, Australia – May 11th, 2009 – Today Ubisoft, Midway and Tigon Studios announced Wheelman™ Downloadable Content is now available for download from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 400 Microsoft Points. The Premium Street Showdown Pack includes 5 brand-new street showdown side missions. Additionally, the Free Street Showdown Pack includes a bonus street showdown side mission and is available for download, free of charge. Starting May 8th, both packs will be available for download from the PlayStation®Network for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Premium Pack will cost $8.45. 

Premium Street Showdown Pack Includes:

•       Showdown in Museu Nacional

•       Showdown in Passeig De Gracia

•       Showdown in Grand Theatre De Liceu

•       Showdown in Cathedral De La Seu

•       Showdown in Placa De Catalunya

 

Free Street Showdown Pack Includes:

·                     Showdown in Avinguda Del Paral-lel