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PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT AT PAX EAST

Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter and RaiderZ to Headline Company Effort 

(Redwood City, CA) March 30, 2012 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD) today announced its lineup of games at PAX East, the consumer video game expo taking place between April 6 and April 8, 2012.  

At the Perfect World PAX East booth (#736 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center), the free-to-play online games publisher will be showing two marquee titles: RaiderZ, the highly anticipated colossal monster hunting MMORPG, and Neverwinter , the newest fantasy action MMORPG based on the immensely popular Dungeons & Dragons franchise. 

During the show, attendees may experience RaiderZ’s non-targeting, monster grappling systems in and around the Kingdom of Rendal and enjoy the first ever hands-on playable version of Neverwinter . By playing the custom-built demos, players may collect exclusive real-world prizes that match randomized loot drops found in-game. Throughout the expo, players will also have a chance to enter raffles held twice daily. The raffles feature a wide assortment of prizes, including NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, computer, and gaming equipment from Logitech and Alienware. 

Attendees can also check out Blacklight: Retribution , the award-winning free-to-play first-person shooter, in a LAN tournament sponsored by Intel at its booth (B1 – PC Room). Participants will put their combat readiness skills to the test in a war for bragging rights. Players can also hang out in the after-hours VIP area and experience the game in free play style after regular expo hours. 

“We are proud to showcase RaiderZ and Neverwinter at PAX East,” said Yoon Im, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Game Publishing, Perfect World Entertainment.  “Our strong partnerships with developers worldwide have allowed us to expand our diverse portfolio of impressive free-to-play games and strengthen our position as a leader in the business of online games. Both RaiderZ and Neverwinter are looking spectacular and we can’t wait to show them off.” 

Private Demo Rooms

Personalized, in-depth looks at both RaiderZ and Neverwinter are available by appointment to registered press only. These meetings will provide unique opportunities for exclusive hands-on demos and interviews with each game’s developers and producers. To schedule an appointment, please refer to the designated company contact listed above. 

For more information about Neverwinter, please visit the official website: www.playneverwinter.com 

For more information about RaiderZ, please visit that title’s official website: www.playraiderz.com 

For more information about Perfect World Entertainment’s portfolio of games, including the titles that will be present at PAX East, please visit www.perfectworld.com

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Perfect World Entertainment is a leading North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Founded in 2008, Perfect World Entertainment has published 10 popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its American development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly anticipated MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Entertainment is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.com

 
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STAR TREK™ ONLINE SETS COURSE FOR EUROPE

Popular Sci-fi MMO Releases French and German Versions

(Amsterdam, Netherlands) March 29, 2012 — Perfect World (Europe) B.V., the European subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), and Cryptic Studios, Inc., an acclaimed developer of MMO games, along with CBS Consumer Products, have announced today the European launch of the free-to-play, massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Star Trek Online.

With this European free-to-play launch, German and French players can now lead their crew on missions in their own language and also participate in events, in-game chats, competitions and episodic missions that will immerse them even more in the always expanding Star Trek universe.

As the first AAA quality MMO to feature space and ground combat, Star Trek Online has continued to grow in popularity. Over the past two years, the game has expanded with five seasons of content updates, delivered story-driven Feature Episode Series, and introduced new systems that allow for enhanced gameplay, such as spacewalk missions in zero-gravity and the new Duty Officer system. In addition, the recent conversion of Star Trek Online to a free-to-play model has opened its doors to anyone who wants to experience the game at no cost.

“The launch of Star Trek Online in Europe is the culmination of our efforts over the past several years to bring gamers the Star Trek universe on a truly massive scale,” said Dan Stahl, Executive Producer for Star Trek Online. “We’d like to share this accomplishment with our community of players that have given their ongoing support to help us create an innovative game that captures Star Trek’s essence and we are happy to offer a localized experience for our French and German-speaking players. Our team is looking forward to sharing this experience with players in Europe and across the world.”

For more information and to begin playing Star Trek Online for free, please visit the official websites:
English: http://www.startrekonline.com/
French: http://fr.startrekonline.com/
German: http://de.startrekonline.com/

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

ABOUT PERFECT WORLD Europe B.V.

Perfect World Europe is a leading European online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs. Perfect World Europe has published five popular titles, including Blacklight Retribution, Forsaken World, Perfect World International, War of Immortals, and Star Trek Online. The company works closely with its Western development teams and partners such as Cryptic Studios, developer of the highly anticipated MMORPG Neverwinter, and Runic Games, developer of the hit Torchlight series, to provide unparalleled quality of service and game experiences to its players. A subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), Perfect World Europe is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For more information, please visit: www.perfectworld.eu

ABOUT CRYPTIC STUDIOS, Inc
.
Cryptic Studios, Inc. is a leading developer of online games committed to delivering the next level of gameplay. Cryptic Studios, Inc. develops AAA titles for PC and is rapidly diversifying its portfolio of games to expand beyond the traditional MMORPG genre. In addition to its successfully launched “Champions Online: Free for All” and “Star Trek Online”, Cryptic Studios, Inc. is now developing “Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter” and other unannounced projects. Cryptic Studios, Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is located in Los Gatos, CA.

 
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3 Sprockets Release Award-Winning Indie Tower Defence Game Cubemen on iOS, Mac and PC

Get Ready for Crazy Cubemen Action with its’ launch on App Store, Mac App Store and PC digital download services.

March 29th, 2012 – Melbourne, Australia – 3 Sprockets, an indie development micro studio, today announced that its award-winning, fast paced, action packed original 3D Tower Defence game Cubemen is now available through the App Store for iPad 2/3. Cubemen is also available for OSX through the Mac App Store and PC digital download services including Steam and Desura.

“Cubemen gives a new spin on the tower defence genre, mixing classic real-time strategy tactics, multiple game modes and multiplayer”, said Seon Rozenblum, Director of 3 Sprockets, “We are incredibly proud of its clean fluid gameplay, voxel style graphics and cross-¬platform functionality, that allow players to compete against one another online no matter which version they play.”

Featuring streamlined stunning visuals that keep the focus solely on gameplay and strategy,Cubemen is the age old struggle of Good vs. Evil, Blue vs. Red and Little Men vs. Little Men. In the classic single player tower defence mode, featuring 28 levels, players defend themselves against an enemy onslaught by selecting and deploying troops, including rocket launcher-toting warriors, ice-armed soldiers, laser gunners and medics. Skirmish mode features 22 levels of real-time strategy-style multiplayer chaos where you compete against either an AI or human opponent. Cubeman also includes local and cross platform global leader boards to compete in.Cubemen was declared the official winner of the Unity GEE multiplayer contest where it beat 20 other entries to become grand champion.

For additional details on the contest please visit:
http://www.geemag.de/category/bloginhalte/redaktion/

Cubemen is launching on sale on the App and Mac Store with a 20% time limited discount to celebrate the iPad and Mac launch.

Download Cubemen to your iPad (2/3) now from the App Store at:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/cubemen/id466248152?ls=1&mt=8

Download Cubemen to your Mac now form the Mac App Store –
http://itunes.apple.com/app/cubemen/id466248661?ls=1&mt=12

Download Cubemen for PC or Mac on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/207250/  and Desura – http://www.desura.com/games/cubemen

For more information about 3 Sprockets and the latest news:

– Visit our website: www.3sprockets.com
– Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/3sprockets
– Visit the Cubemen website: www.cubementd.com

 
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The Max Payne Multiplayer Experience, a hand’s on look by Impulse Gamer (+ New Screenshots)

Melbourne Australia, 30 March 2012.

Thanks to the team at Rockstar Sydney, Impulse Gamer was given a sneak peek and play of the multiplayer experience of Max Payne 3. Even though it wasn’t the final XBox 360 build of the code, there was enough content and information to play and test the multiplayer mechanics. However before I give my final thoughts on the multiplayer experience, let’s see what’s available to the end-user. Firstly, the game supports up to 16-players with three modes of play that include Team Deathmatch, Payne Killer and Gang Wars. Add in the ability to customise your characters, more guns than a small African nation (e.g. .38, M500 or Frag Grenade) and the ability to level-up and Max Payne 3 is shaping up to be a very sturdy gaming experience. Apart from customising your character’s sex or appearance, there are some great items that can be used by your characters such as gas masks (perfect to combat tear-gas) or something bizarre like a gorilla mask. It’s these little things that make the character customisation options so appealing.

However what made Max Payne the game it is today is the inclusion of bullet-time and amazingly enough, Rockstar have included this in the multiplayer mode. In order to keep things fair, bullet-time works by line of sight. This means that when you active bullet-time, anyone in your line of site will be effected by this feature which in turn slows their gameplay down as well. Interestingly enough, it has been well implemented into the multiplayer facet of this game and adds to the overall action movie experience. Another cool feature are bursts. Bursts are special in-game abilities for your characters that awards you on how you play the multiplayer game by shooting, killing and looting corpses which fills your adrenaline metre. Bursts also have 3 levels and offer a wide variety of choices that will affect your gaming strategy. For example, the burst “Trigger Happy” has three levels. Level 1 gives the player armour piercing ammunition for 20 seconds, Level 2 grants the player a LMG .30 and  DE. 50 plus increased accuracy and finally, level 3 grants the player a rotary grenade launcher with extra ammo. These bursts definitely take multiplayer gaming to a whole new level and makes the game quite dynamic.

Let’s talk about some of the modes. Team deathmatch is like your traditional deathmatch game that has team A versus team B. It’s a fun experience that can be heavily tweaked but the multiplayer fun doesn’t stop there. The highlight for me was Payne Killer. Payne Killer is like king of the hill but the goal here is to become either Max or his partner Passos. The rules are simple, the first person to kill in the game becomes Max and the first victim transforms into Passos. Everyone else in the game must then hunt down these two characters from the single-player game in order to become the next “king of the hill”. However just because you kill Max or Passos doesn’t mean you automatically turn into these characters as the game takes into count a variety of factors such as who done the most damage for example. In order to keep things fair, because 14 against 2 is quite devious, these two characters have special abilities and weapons in order to give them the edge and nothing is more fun than robbing your killer the pleasure of the last shot because by pressing “Y”, you force Max to suicide.

Then you have Gang Wars which uses similar threads from the single-player story which requires you to complete certain objectives such as setting bombs in enemy territories or moving bags from point A to B. Add motion-comics and that famous Max Payne voice-over and playing Gang Wars is extremely reminiscent of the single-player mode but with real players. The best part of Gang Wars is that the game really throws some curve balls at the players which means that you don’t know what the next level or objective will be.

Although I had my editorial butt handed to me by various Sydney gaming reviewers such as the nefarious Gamespot Australia, things began to change when Rockstar disabled aim-assisted controls. By disabling aim-assisted controls, it actually took skills to take out your enemies that placed more importance on strafing, bullet-time and the rather sturdy cover system. When you do and respawn in the game, you also have the option to place a vendetta against the person who killed you which gives you additional experience should you kill them. One new inclusion into the gameplay is shootdodge. Shootdodge mechanics not only reduces the amount of damage your character takes but allows you to perform some classic Max Payne manoeuvres. Apart from that, the usual multiplayer mechanics are used such as running or looting the bodies of teammates and victims to find health and ammunition etc.

With only a couple more months to go, I must admit that I’m very excited to play the final code of Max Payne 3 because Rockstar have definitely thought outside the gaming square when it came to multiplayer. It’s great that once you have finished the single-player experience, you can then get involved in the engaging multiplayer game that is just like a Hollywood action movie. May Payne 3 will be available on PlayStation 3 and XBOX from May 18th and the PC version will be available on the 1st of June 2021.

 
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Check out Episode 7 of Impulse Gamer Net TV Starring Edwin Millheim & Tara Babcock

This post is restricted, and may contain content inapropriate for minors. Please insert your age.





 
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What if Michael Bay (aka Mr. Transformers) made… MY LITTLE PONY

Besides having too much time on their hands, check out this amusing trailer of what would a live action My Little Pony Michael Bay inspired movie would look like! Scary!

 
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MADMAN SECURES DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH HASBRO STUDIOS.

MELBOURNE, Wednesday, 28 March 2012: Today, Madman Entertainment is proud to announce it has secured a new distribution deal with Hasbro Studios, the TV development and production division of Hasbro, Inc (NASDAQ: HAS) – the producer of hit series including Transformers: Prime, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, G.I. Joe: Renegades, Pound Puppies and more.

The agreement with Hasbro Studios further cements Madman’s position as the home entertainment industry’s leading distributor of cool and collectible content for kids, and encompasses brand-new properties, including the critically acclaimed CG-animated action series Transformers: Prime and the cool My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.

Developed by Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the team behind Fringe, Alias, and the Star Trek and Transformers movies, and Jeff Kline (Men in Black: The Series, GI Joe: Renegades), Transformers: Prime is the state-of-the-art, triumphant CG-animated TV series and next chapter in the billion dollar Transformers franchise. With a bold and modern new look and a further deepening of the Transformers mythology, Transformers: Prime holds great appeal to new audiences and core fans alike. Peter Cullen, long-time voice of Optimus Prime from the original Transformers: Generation 1 series through to the recent Transformers movies, also reprises his role for Transformers: Prime.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic introduces a new generation to the My Little Pony franchise with a vibrant and irreverent take on this beloved toy brand, established more than 25 years ago. Developed by Hasbro Studios with Lauren Faust, the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic series has become a pop culture phenomenon across the globe, thanks to the show’s brilliantly written plot lines, high quality graphics and a message of friendship that almost anyone can relate to. 

We are incredibly honoured to be partnering with Hasbro Studios and very excited to be representing their content in this territory,” said Tim Anderson, Managing Director, Madman Entertainment. “Hasbro Studios has produced a stellar line-up of shows – both faithful to the licenses and original in their approach – which will perfectly complement our existing suite of highly sought-after kids’ content”. 

Our goal is to further engage audiences with our content, everywhere they are consuming entertainment. It is important that we work with partners that are dedicated to this vision,” said Stephen Davis, President, Hasbro Studios. “Madman are just such partners and we look forward to achieving great success with them well into the future. 

The first wave of Hasbro content, including Transformers: Prime and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic will release in June, 2012.

 
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STEP UP TO THE TEE AND CUSTOMIZE YOUR SWING! TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 13 AND TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 13: THE MASTERS COLLECTOR’S EDITION IN STORES

Kinect for Xbox 360 Integration Puts Your Authentic Swing into the Game

SYDNEY, Australia. – March 29, 2012 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13 and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13:The Masters Collector’s Edition have shipped in Australia and will be available in New Zealand on March 30. Both games are packed with an array of new features, including the most comprehensive swing mechanic revamp in more than a decade, allowing players to customize their shots and execute more than 62 million combinations. Additional new features include Kinect for Xbox 360 integration, making the franchise the first ever voice-enabled and controller-free sports simulation, an all-new Tiger Legacy Challenge mode that allows players to relive Tiger’s most memorable golf achievements and an online and social feature that allows fans, for the first time ever, to connect, compete and collect in-game rewards with their friends.

According to Official Xbox Magazine, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 features “the most significant changes to the long-running golf sim”. The game is available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

“We focused on making Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 the most immersive golf experience ever. Fans have the opportunity to chase and win one of sport’s most highly coveted accomplishments, the Green Jacket, play with or against friends with our online Country Clubs mode and incorporate their authentic swing in the game with Kinect integration,” said Mike Taramykin, vice president and general manager of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR. “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 is the total package.”

Tiger Legacy Challenge celebrates Tiger’s greatest golf moments from child prodigy to golfing legend. The mode features 10 different eras where gamers can relive Tiger’s days as a toddler playing golf in his childhood backyard, his domination of junior and amateur events, his remarkable Tiger Slam in 2000-2001, his 14 major championship wins and much more.

In addition to all the content available in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13, the Collector’s Edition provides gamers with the most comprehensive Masters Tournament experience ever. It features exclusive access to Augusta National Golf Club’s Tournament Practice Facility, its famous Par 3 Course, an authentic Green Jacket Presentation, five additional courses and the ability to explore the hallowed grounds like never before – all of which has been authentically replicated down to millimeters of the actual course.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 is developed in Orlando, Fla., by EA Tiburon and will retail for $99.99 AUD & $119.99 NZD and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13: The Masters Collector’s Edition will be available for $99.99 AUD & $119.99 on Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3.

Over the past two decades, EA SPORTS has introduced a series of immersive and authentic golf experiences across a variety of game platforms. The EA SPORTS golf product portfolio includes the award-winning Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online and EA SPORTS PGA TOUR® Golf Challenge for Facebook.

To see additional information regarding Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13: The Masters Collector’s Edition log on to www.easports.com/golf. For in-gameassets, go to www.ea-anz-press.com. ; For more regular exclusive updates regarding Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, become a fan of the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tigerwoodspgatour or follow on Twitter at @easports_tiger.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, fan programs and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected experiences that ignite the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, SSX, and Fight Night boxing. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game communities, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

CHECK OUT THE LAUNCH TRAILER AT – http://www.ea.com/asia/tiger-woods-13/videos/tw13-with-kinect-launch-trailer

 
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Watch MAX PAYNE 3 MULTIPLAYER Gameplay Video Part One

Presenting the first video in a special two-part series unveiling Max Payne 3 Multiplayer.

In the video above (also viewable in HD from the Videos sections of both the Rockstar Games and Max Payne 3 sites), see how Max Payne 3 Multiplayer brings the franchise’s combination of highly responsive and cinematic shooting action to the realm of online multiplayer across a range of game modes, the implementation of Max’s signature Bullet Time® special ability and how we utilized the third-person perspective – allowing players to connect with a character they can see while still retaining full fluid control during gunplay.

Tomorrow, look for the first hands-on multiplayer previews to hit the web and stay tuned for Multiplayer Gameplay Part Two coming soon.

 
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THE WITCHER 2 : ASSASSINS OF KINGS’ GOES GOLD

WARSAW, POLAND – 29 March 2012 – NAMCO BANDAI Partners S.A.S. and CD Projekt RED studio are proud to announce that THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS ENHANCED EDITION has gone gold on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.  The Enhanced Edition is now available for pre-order and scheduled to arrive at retail stores on April 17, 2012.

“We are very pleased that The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings Enhanced Edition for Xbox 360 is in our spring portfolio,” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice President, NAMCO BANDAI Partners S.A.S. “The game is truly a masterpiece and we are excited to bring the complex and non-linear story of Geralt of Rivia to console players”

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings Enhanced Edition for Xbox 360 is an adaptation of the hit RPG fantasy game on PC.  The game offers more than 40 hours of non-linear gameplay, set in a beautiful dark fantasy setting.  At its core, the game gives players complete freedom to develop the game’s storyline through a series of choices.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition features never-before-seen content , making it the richest version of The Witcher 2.  The Enhanced Edition will include a world map, a soundtrack audio CD and a quest handbook and is available as a Limited Day 1 Edition. 

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition can be pre-ordered at Australian retailers including EB Games, JB Hifi and Game, as well as at buy.thewitcher.com