SYDNEY — Rivaling the media spectacle and fan anticipation of a blockbuster movie’s opening weekend, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system is set to launch its exclusive title, “Gears of War 2,” this Friday, Nov. 7. Many fans and critics around the world are predicting that “Gears of War 2,” available only on Xbox 360, will be the biggest gaming blockbuster of summer 2008.

“Each summer season in this current console generation, Xbox 360 has led the industry with the best line-up of blockbuster video games, and we are poised to lead the charge again in 2008 with ‘Gears of War 2,’” said Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. “Holding the title of fastest-selling video game of 2006, ‘Gears of War’ has sold more than five million units to date, and this next chapter in the franchise will raise the bar yet again.”

Under the creative leadership of Cliff Bleszinski, the team at Epic Games Inc. has pushed the franchise into bold new territory, greatly expanding upon the game’s themes of hope, survival and loss. In “Gears of War 2,” the last cities on Sera are sinking, swallowed by a new Locust threat from below. As Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad pursue the Locust, the mission turns deeply personal for Dominic Santiago as he uncovers clues in the search for his missing wife, Maria.

“Epic’s goal was to create an emotionally engaging experience that will not only satisfy core gamers, but also attract new players who want to experience something akin to watching a heart-pounding movie that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until the very end,” said Bleszinski, design director at Epic Games. “With ‘Gears of War 2,’ we’re taking storytelling in the Gears universe to places it’s never been before, and we hope it’ll deeply connect with everyone playing the game alone or with friends.”

 “Gears of War 2” is available as a Standard Edition with an recommended retail price (RRP*) of $99.95, as well a Limited Edition with an RRP* of $119.95. The Limited Edition is packaged in a collectible SteelBook DVD case and includes a 48-page hardbound book titled “Beneath the Surface: An Inside Look at ‘Gears of War 2,’” which is filled with character profiles and exclusive concept art. The Limited Edition also includes a bonus DVD containing the making-of documentary, a keepsake photo of Dominic and Maria Santiago, and a coveted Xbox LIVE token to unlock a gold-plated Lancer for online play.

In addition, all copies of the game come with an Xbox LIVE token to download the Flashback Map Pack as a bonus. The Flashback Map Pack will be available immediately at launch and consists of five popular maps from the original “Gears of War,” including Canals, Gridlock, Mansion, Subway and Tyro Station. Each map has been specially updated with new graphics for “Gears of War 2.”

 “Gears of War 2” is leading a blockbuster line-up of the best and broadest games that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has to offer this holiday season. Whether you are a fan of music, movies, sports, action-adventure, role-playing or games that the entire family can enjoy, Xbox 360 has the highly anticipated games and exclusive content including highly anticipated music games such as “Lips,” “Rock Band 2,” “Guitar Hero World Tour” and “DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3”; movie-themed titles “You’re in the Movies” and “Scene It? Box Office Smash”; sports titles such as “Fifa 09”; games for the family such as “Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”; and role-playing games such as “Fable II” and “Fallout 3.”

Additional press materials as well as art and video assets are available at http://gearsofwar.xbox.com/presskit.htm.
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Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) today announced the release of PAIN™ Movie Studio, starring David Hasselhoff, available for download from PlayStation®Network on PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).  PAIN Movie Studio will be available for PS3 users to download for $12.95 and features The Hoff as a playable character in a setting where destruction is the name of the game. Players receive points by stringing together painful collisions and inducing chaos when throwing The Hoff around the movie studio.  

The Hoff comes with three iconic outfits that players are bound to recognise, different Hoff-esque poses, lines he shouts out while flying through the air and his own PlayStation Trophy (GETTIN’ HOFF). The trophy is gold, because that’s how The Hoff rolls. Additionally, The Hoff has commemorated his very own PlayStation Network game by producing a cover of Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, exclusively for PAIN.

We’ve got a brand new video for download for Star Wars: The Clone Wars Lightsaber Duels.

This video is unique in that it’s taken directly from a deleted scene from the Clone Wars feature film. The development team took a deleted fight scene between Anakin and Ventress and turned it into a unique level and battle in Lightsaber Duels. 

Watch the deleted scene here or let me know if you would like a copy.

Thursday, November 6 {Sydney} – Local Sydney residents were treated this morning to a Mamma Mia! spectacular in the forecourt of Customs House, Circular Quay when well-known personality Pia Miranda unveiled Australia’s Largest Wedding Cupcake Tower to celebrate the release of Mamma Mia! on DVD – out today!

Australia’s Largest Wedding Cupcake Tower:

• Constructed out of 3,000+ delicious Michel’s Patisserie cupcakes
• Snapped up by morning commuters at Circular Quay who relived the Mamma Mia fun all over again
• Ch7 Battle of the Choirs finalist SoulFood performed some of the most popular songs from the worldwide hit musical

MELBOURNE – Thursday 6 November, 2008 – FIFA, EA SPORTSTM and PLAYSTATION are inviting Australia’s best virtual football players to take part in the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009, the world’s largest football gaming tournament which will be held at the eGames Expo.

The FIWC09 Live Qualifier Event sees players compete on the PLAYSTATION 3, the ultimate Hi Definition entertainment device. Gamers from across the nation battle it out to win an all expenses paid trip to the FIWC09 International Grand Final event and the chance to compete against the world’s top virtual players with the hope of being crowned FIFA Interactive World Player of the Year.

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH (hereafter referred to as “Konami”) has announced it
has appointed Red Ant as its new Australian distribution partner.

Based in Sydney, NSW, Red Ant is Australia’s leading independent video games distribution
company and will take over Konami’s roster of titles from 2009. Konami’s previous distributor,Atari, will continue to oversee existing titles until and including the Australian release of Silent Hill Homecoming for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 and PC-DVD in February 2009, with Red Ant to oversee all titles after this. As part of the agreement, Red Ant will also oversee the marketing and PR for all Konami titles from thenceforth.

“We are delighted to be working with a publisher of Konami’s calibre,” commented Julian
White, Founder and Managing Director of Red Ant. “They are the creators of some of the
most successful and innovative games of all time and we will work hard in raising awareness
and sales in Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to a close and strong relationship
as we take the reins of Konami’s exciting 2009 line-up.”

“We have been aware of the strong service Red Ant offers for a long time, and know they are
one of the leaders of their field in Australia and New Zealand,” added Kunio Neo, President of Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “With our distribution with Atari coming to a natural end, I am very pleased that we have agreed a deal with Red Ant and look forward to working with them on our many titles next year.”

Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) today announced a four million dollar Christmas marketing campaign for its leading range of PlayStation® platforms and exclusive software titles. Spearheaded by PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), the campaign will showcase the ‘world of entertainment’ that only PlayStation can deliver to all entertainment seekers, with both hardware and software set to be promoted through an integrated campaign that includes TV, online, experiential, PR, plus a strong retail presence, all in the lead up to Christmas.

SCE Aust. also confirmed that it will be offering one bonus game with every PS3 purchased during the holiday season, starting from today. Consumers will have the choice between LittleBigPlanet™, SingStar®ABBA, MotorStorm®Pacific Rift and Resistance™2, as and when each new blockbuster title is released over the coming weeks. All games are exclusive to PS3 and valued at $109.95.

An hilarious zero-to-hero story about a larger-than-life Average Joe, the international box office hit GULLIVER’S TRAVELS sails on to Blu-ray, DVD and 3-D Blu-ray from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on May 4, 2011. This family-friendly misadventure features side-splitting moments with Lilliputian foosball, a square-off duel with a robot and hysterical theatrical productions of Gulliver’s ‘life story’ including his vanquishing of Darth Vader!

Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda, School of Rock) brings his irreverent humour to this adventure-comedy based on the classic tale. To impress the pretty newspaper travel editor Darcy (Amanda Peet, 2012), an underachieving mailroom clerk named Gulliver (Black) takes a writing assignment travelling to Bermuda. When a shipwreck lands him on the fantastical island of Lilliput, he transforms into a giant — in size and ego! Gulliver’s tall tales and heroic deeds win the hearts of the tiny Lilliputians, but when he loses it all and puts his newfound friends in peril, Gulliver must find a way to undo the damage. Through it all, Gulliver may just learn that it’s how big you are on the inside that counts.

GULLIVER’S TRAVELS also stars Jason Segel (I Love You, Man), Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Billy Connolly (The X-Files: I Want to Believe) and Chris O’Dowd (Dinner for Schmucks).

In a format first for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, fans can now enjoy the hilarious GULLIVER’S TRAVELS at its larger than life best with a special Blu-ray 3D combo pack which contains a 2D and 3D copy of the movie on Blu-ray, a DVD with digital copy, plus loads of laugh out loud special features.

Also available is a 2 disc Blu-ray combo pack containing the movie on Blu-ray with special features and a second disc with the DVD and digital copy, so it really can be played everywhere.

The DVD also comes in a 2 disc pack with the DVD with digital copy, and a bonus content disc.

Gulliver’s Travels DVD Clip – I Come In Peace

Gulliver’s Travels DVD Clip – Gulliver’s Life

Gulliver’s Travels Featurette – Down Time

Gulliver’s Travels DVD Clip – President The Awesome

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble Studios have announced that the much-anticipated strategy game “Halo Wars” will be landing at retailers worldwide this February in both a standard and Limited Collector’s Edition format. Taking the “Halo” battle beyond the first person, “Halo Wars” puts players in command of the battlefield and combines the intensity of  “Halo” with a riveting new story that precedes the events of “Halo: Combat Evolved.”

Developed by Ensemble Studios, the creators of the critically-acclaimed “Age of Empires” series, “Halo Wars” was designed specifically for Xbox 360 and brings a genre that has typically thrived on the PC seamlessly to consoles. From specialised controls to redesigned resource management and unit command, “Halo Wars” will give players the fluid strategy experience they’ve been waiting for on a console.

In addition to the standard retail version, “Halo Wars” will be offered in a Limited Collector’s Edition through participating retailers and will feature: 

·         Three New “Halo 3” Multiplayer Maps – Be one of the first to experience the Mythic Map Pack from Bungie which includes three new maps, “Assembly,” “Orbital” and “Sandbox”

·         Halo Wars: Genesis – a beautiful graphic novel by Phil Noto, Graeme Devine and Eric Nylund chronicling the first military campaign against the Covenant. The novel centers around the Sprit of Fire on a mission to discover why the Covenant are so interested in the world of Harvest

·         Unique In-game Vehicle – “Honor Guard” Wraith

·         Six Leader Cards – Leaders possess elite skills which can turn the tides of battle

·         Spirit of Fire Patch – Start the journey as an official Spirit of Fire crew member

The standard edition of “Halo Wars” will have a recommended retail price (RRP*) of $99.95 and the Limited Collector’s Edition will retail for $119.95 (RRP*). Halo Wars has yet to be rated by the Australian Classifications Board 

More information on “Halo Wars” can be found online at www.Xbox.com/HaloWars or www.HaloWars.com.

Sydney, Aust., November 7, – Iomega, an EMC company and a global leader in data protection, today announced the worldwide availability of the new Iomega® StorCenter™ ix2, the most advanced and easy-to-use network storage appliance for small businesses and the home.  With just four mouse clicks, users can configure up to two terabytes of storage and advanced information management, protection and sharing software that can be connected to multiple devices, including wirelessly with Bluetooth, to manage their ever-increasing digital world.

With a footprint smaller than a large dictionary and starting at just AU$649, the 1TB* and 2TB StorCenter ix2 provides centralised storage to users searching for the easiest and most technologically advanced way to share, secure and protect their most important data – including photos, mp3 files, videos and financial records.  The ix2 boosts small office productivity by making data accessible yet secure over a local network. In the home setting, the ix2 allows family members of all ages to effortlessly enjoy their pictures, videos, music and other multimedia files from personal computers as well as all kinds of compatible consumer electronics and home entertainment products.

“The new StorCenter ix2 is a powerful network storage appliance that brings EMC’s world class storage technologies to consumers and small businesses in an easily understandable way and at a price they can afford,” said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Products Division of EMC.  “The ix2 puts even the most non-technical person at ease with its straightforward operation.  But behind the scenes, the ix2 utilises advanced data protection and data management programs that haven’t been available to consumers and small businesses before.  With the ix2, users are literally four clicks away from storage technologies built on the heritage of those that protect data at the world’s largest organisations.”

StorCenter ix2 in the Small Business

The Iomega StorCenter ix2 operates EMC’s LifeLine™ software, a fully-developed Linux operating environment and suite of applications that incorporate EMC storage technologies with the capability of adding new storage management features in the future.  For business users, the StorCenter ix2 Network Storage appliance delivers new features and applications to boost office productivity. 

In addition to speed, centralised storage capacity and the onboard security to protect all the files on a network, the ix2 delivers optional Bluetooth connectivity, which allows users to send pictures, files and address book contacts directly from cell phones to the StorCenter ix2 for network sharing and data protection; as well as a unique digital video surveillance capability using a compatible Axis™ video surveillance camera for inexpensive real-time viewing and recording of activity inside or outside the office.  

The ix2 includes security technology from RSA, the security division of EMC that protects digital data at many of the world’s largest banks and now shields the StorCenter ix2 from viruses or malware.

StorCenter ix2 in the Digital Home

For home users, built-in support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Digital Living Network Alliance™ (DLNA) certified devices means that the StorCenter ix2 can save, store, and play back all kinds of multimedia files – music, photos, videos and other digital content – using not only laptops and desktop computers but any compatible device on a home network, including:

·         consumer electronics and home entertainment products;

·         mobile devices such as cell phones, music players, and personal digital assistants.

“Consumers want electronic devices that can easily plug into the home network and connect with each other reliably and simply,” said Huberman. “With UPnP and DLNA support and an integrated iTunes™ server in the StorCenter ix2, families can easily set up a robust media server, making the most of all of the digital content they enjoy today and will add to tomorrow.”

StorCenter ix2 – General Capabilities

Fast network performance at the office or in the home is delivered through a Gigabit Ethernet connection, and data is stored on two high-performance SATA-II drives.  Up to two USB devices can be connected to the ix2’s USB ports, including USB printers for network print sharing, a USB Bluetooth dongle for direct uploads, or external USB drives to add incremental storage capacity.

The StorCenter ix2 provides data backup and protection with integrated EMC Retrospect® Express backup software.  During the set-up process, users choose files and folders for scheduled automatic backups from all the PCs and Macs on their network.  After that, any changes or additions are updated and saved automatically.  

Because the EMC Lifeline operating environment is continually being refined to integrate new and existing EMC technologies, users can expect upgraded features and improvements without having to purchase new hardware.  New software features planned for the StorCenter ix2 include remote file access, online storage and data security enhancements – all taking advantage of world-class EMC storage technologies.  

Compatibility

The StorCenter ix2 Network Storage appliance is compatible with Windows®, Mac OS®, and Linux® PCs and supports up to two printers or external hard drives. The interface is localised in 11 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional and Simple Chinese, German, and Russian). Other supported devices include uPnP AV devices, digital media adapters, iTunes™, and PTP (e.g., digital cameras and frames). BlueTooth compatibility requires an optional adapter. 

Price and Availability

The StorCenter ix2 Network Storage appliance 1TB is now available worldwide for AU$649; the StorCenter ix2 Network Storage appliance 2TB is available now for AU$899.

About EMC

EMC Corporation is the world’s leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organisations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC’s products and services can be found at www.EMC.com. 

About Iomega
Iomega Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation headquartered in San Diego, is a worldwide leader in innovative storage and network security solutions for small businesses, home offices, consumers and others. The Company has sold more than 400 million digital storage drives and disks since its inception in 1980. Today, Iomega’s product portfolio includes industry leading network attached storage products, external hard drives, and our award-winning removable storage technology, the REV® Backup Drive. To learn about all of Iomega’s digital storage products and managed services solutions, please go to the Web at www.iomega.com.au Resellers can visit Iomega at www.iomega.com/ipartner.

NOTE: This release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Federal Securities Laws.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (iv) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (v) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.’s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vi) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (viii) component and product quality and availability; (ix) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) war or acts of terrorism; (xii) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xiii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; and (xiv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.