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Company Launches Third-Generation Laptop SSHDs and First-Ever Desktop SSHD

Sydney, Australia — Mar. 6, 2013 — Building on the momentum of its current line of solid state hybrid drives (SSHD), Seagate Technology plc (NASDAQ:STX) today announced it will begin shipping its third-generation of SSHD products. Featuring the Seagate Laptop SSHD, 7mm-high Seagate Laptop Thin SSHD designed for the thinnest and lightest laptops in the industry, and the all-new Seagate Desktop SSHD, the line of drives will deliver blazing-fast performance and high-capacity at an affordable price.

Seagate Laptop and Laptop Thin SSHDs— SSD Speed Meets HDD Capacity
Boasting solid state drive (SSD) like speed and hard disk drive capacity, the new Seagate Laptop and Laptop Thin SSHDs are the most affordable way to increase your laptop performance. With storage performance up to 40 percent faster than previous generations, the Laptop and Laptop Thin SSHDs can add as much as 30 percent to total system performance – regardless of the processor inside the system. These products also enable system builders to build high-performance, high-capacity systems, including new thin and light laptops, at mass-market price points.

Seagate SSHD technology is up to 5 times faster than a standard 5400RPM notebook hard drive. Boot a laptop in less than 10 seconds with the powerful combination of Windows 8 and SSHD technology. In fact according to PC Mark Vantage tests every action related to getting information from storage is faster— booting, loading files and applications, and running computer-based tasks.

With a massive 1TB of capacity available, the Laptop SSHD provides the space needed to download, store and stream rich media content such as gaming or high-definition video without sacrificing performance or responsiveness. And with a 500GB option measuring only 7mm-high, the Laptop Thin SSHD can be incorporated into most ultra-thin, ultra-sleek laptop systems.

“Seagate’s engineers have really out done themselves this time. Our new SSHDs serve up your favorite content with the lightning-fast performance you have to experience to believe. With these new drives it’s like adding a turbo-charge to your PC, without having to sacrifice capacity, at a price that’s easy on your wallet,” said Scott Horn, Seagate’s vice president of marketing. “Now consumers can create, store and consume digital content like a pro without having to spend like one.”

“Seagate’s SSHD technology reinforces our focus on delivering the most reliable PC solutions in the industry,” said Kirk Schell, vice president, commercial PC group, Dell. “Dell plans to incorporate Seagate technology across an array of our next-generation products so our customers can benefit from the quality, performance, responsiveness and increased capacity these SSHD’s can provide.”

“By incorporating Seagate’s SSHD technology into our product offerings we are able to address customer demand for greater speed, shorter boot up and response times, optimum storage capacity and better battery life, all at a lower price point, ” said Jerry Gross, vice president, Lenovo global procurement. “As we continue to drive PC innovation in today’s markets we look forward to integrating this SSHD technology into a number of our PC families, providing an excellent blend of value and performance for our customers.”
New Seagate Desktop SSHD— Ultrafast Performance in a Desktop
With the Seagate Desktop SSHD, users can now experience SSD-like performance while enjoying the capacity of a desktop hard drive— all at a fraction of what a similar size SSD costs. The Desktop SSHD enables a desktop system to boot in seconds not minutes for an “instant on” experience, run favorite applications faster or simply breathe new life into an aging desktop PC. The Desktop SSHD will perform up to 4 times faster than other desktop HDD-based storage alternatives, as measured by PC Mark Vantage benchmark software, regardless of the CPU inside.

Using Seagate’s own breakthrough Adaptive Memory™  technology, to identify and store only the most critical data a system needs to go fast, the Desktop SSHD serves up high-performance without a high price tag. As a result, the Seagate Desktop SSHD will cost you just slightly more than a standard hard drive while delivering dramatically faster performance.

The Seagate Desktop SSHD features up to 2TB of massive capacity and 8GB of NAND Flash making it ideal for accelerating the most commonly used PC applications and delivering extreme desktop performance with all the storage capacity needed for any computing scenario.
“Our customers want the highest storage capacity with the ability to access their data easily and quickly,” said Fredrik Hamberger, vice president, consumer PC business, HP. “Integrating Seagate’s SSHD solution into our rapidly growing portfolio of industry leading PCs will offer our customers a superior experience while running multiple applications.”

“Whether you’re into video editing, music or gaming, with Seagate’s new Desktop SSHD you can now have your cake and eat it too,” said Kevin Wasielewski, CEO and co-founder of Origin PC. “With SSHD technology you don’t have to sacrifice massive capacity when you choose faster performance. SSD-like speed, hard drive capacity—all at an affordable price—makes the Seagate Desktop SSHD a perfect choice for gaming enthusiasts like me.”

 
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Activision Publishing, Inc. today announced that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Out of the Shadows, a new, digital download-only video game inspired by Nickelodeon’s new hit animated series, will be available this summer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a third-person brawler game set in New York City, taking gamers through articulated, true-to-life environments filled with action-packed adventures as Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.  Featuring an original hyper-realistic 3D-style, gamers can experience four-player online co-op play while stomping out the Foot Clan and unleashing turtle torment on any foe that gets in their way.

With an immersive world, deep character development, and an intuitive, skill-based combat system built around combo-driven action, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows puts ‘Turtle Power’ in players’ hands.

Trailer

Developed by Red Fly Studio, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is expected to release this summer exclusively for digital download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, PlayStation®Network, and PC via Steam. This title is not yet rated by the ACB.

 
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OFF-TV PLAY AND CROSS-REGION ONLINE PLAY COMING TO MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE ON Wii U

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate to receive April software update and free of charge downloadable quests, with demos already available for both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on Nintendo eShop                      

6th March 2013 – Capcom® and Nintendo have today confirmed that following the March 23rd release of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U, a software update will be released in April as a response to Capcom community feedback. The software update will add online cross-region functionality, allowing Australasian, European and North American gamers to play together online in up to four-player battles. Monster Hunters will also be able to play the game using just the Wii U GamePad without the need for a TV screen as the software update makes the title compatible with off-TV play.

Wii U and Nintendo 3DS™ ownerscan also get a glimpse of the incredible adventure that awaits with a free demo for each system, now available to download from Nintendo eShop.

If you’re taking your first steps in the world of Monster Hunter, you can learn the ropes in a quest aimed squarely at beginners, while experienced players can dive right into a more advanced quest against a formidable foe. And because Monster Hunter is all about customisation, you can arm yourself with one of 12 different weapons before heading out to make your mark.

Capcom will be continuing to support Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for several months after release with additional free of charge downloadable quests. The first quest will be available at launch.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will be released across Australia and New Zealand on March 23rd. Look out for a Wii U Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Premium Pack, as well as a bundle including a black Nintendo 3DS XL system with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate pre-installed, both released on March 23rd.

Fancy yourself as a Monster Hunter professional? Don’t forget to check out the search for the Ultimate Monster Hunter, where players can win the opportunity to help create a launch trailer for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate!

Please note: The downloadable demos, as well as online play for gamers in Australasia, Europe and North America will be completely free to play, although broadband Internet charges may apply. Consult with your ISP.

For further information:
Nintendo website http://www.nintendo.com.au

Wii U website http://www.nintendo.com.au/wiiu

Nintendo 3DS Guided Tour http://www.nintendo3ds.com.au/

Nintendo Australia Image Library http://www.images.nintendo.com.au

Nintendo Australia on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/NintendoAU

Monster Hunter on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/monsterhunter

Monster Hunter on Twitter https://twitter.com/monsterhunter

Monster Hunter on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/monsterhunter[MF1] 

 
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World of Warcraft – Patch 5.2 The Thunder King now live

Just a quick heads-up that World of Warcraft’s Patch 5.2: The Thunder King is now live, bringing with it a ton of new features, including a massive tier of raid content, new zones, world bosses and more.

Across the other Blizzard franchises:

–        StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is released next week on Tuesday, March 12th, with the official Australian launch event taking place in Melbourne on Monday evening.

–        StarCraft II’s Patch 2.05 is now live, bringing with it Global Play

–        Diablo III Game Designer Travis Day shares some plans on itemisation

 
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BOLSTER YOUR UNOVA POKÉDEX WITH MYTHICAL POKÉMON MELOETTA, AVAILABLE NOW VIA SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION

Full Details Revealed on Forme-Changing Meloetta, Adding a Strategic Spin to Players’ Rosters via a Limited-Time Retailer Distribution Event                       

6th March 2013 – For just three weeks between March 4 and April 19, Pokémon Trainers across the country can add the long-awaited Mythical Pokémon Meloetta to their Pokédex via a special character distribution event at participating EB and Target retail stores Australiawide, and participating JB Hifi stores in New Zealand. In anticipation of the event, The Pokémon Company International has revealed a special video of Meloetta in battle and comprehensive details on the stats and capabilities of this Pokémon, which can be obtained by players of Pokémon™ Black 2, Pokémon™ White 2, and the original Pokémon™ Black and Pokémon White™ video games.

Meloetta is the rare and powerful Melody Pokémon that keeps opponents on their toes with its one-of-a-kind ability to alter Formes in the middle of battle. Players who attend the retail distribution event will receive Meloetta at Level 50 in its Aria Forme, in which it fights as a Normal- and Psychic-type Pokémon. If a battle calls for a change of tone, Meloetta can switch to its Pirouette Forme and become a Normal- and Fighting-type character—the first-ever Pokémon with such a type combination.

Meloetta changes Formes using Relic Song, a special damage-dealing move that can only be learned when Meloetta is added to your party and listens to the music of a guitar player at Café Sonata in Castelia City. When players receive Meloetta at the distribution, however, it will already be outfitted with a suite of powerful moves—Close Combat, Teeter Dance, Psychic, and Round. Players can find more information about the Meloetta distribution at Pokemon.com.

Fans can also enjoy Meloetta in the “Meloetta’s Moonlight Serenade” animated short via the recently launched Pokémon TV app, available for free for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and Android™ devices.

The Meloetta distribution event is only running for a limited time, so players will need to visit participating retailers between March 4 and April 19 to add this unique Mythical Melody Pokémon to their adventures in Unova.

To receive Aria Forme Meloetta during the distribution time period, fans will need the following:

  • · A Nintendo 3DS™ or Nintendo DS® system
  • · A Pokémon Black 2, Pokémon White 2, Pokémon Black, or Pokémon White game
  • · The Pokédex within the game
  • · No more than 11 Wonder Cards in their possession

To see the store listings for Meloetta in Australia and New Zealand, click HERE

Be sure to visit Pokemon.com, Like the official Pokémon Facebook page at Facebook.com/Pokemon, and follow Pokémon on Twitter @Pokemon to receive the latest Pokémon news.

 
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Mass Effect 3: Citadel

BIOWARE CELEBRATES COMMANDER SHEPARD’S HEROIC SAGA WITH AN EMOTIONAL SENDOFF IN MASS EFFECT 3: CITADEL

Embark on one last adventure with Commander Shepard and crew and rejoin the Alliance when Mass EffectTM 3: Citadel launches today. This emotionally driven piece of single player DLC expands on the events of Mass Effect 3 by inviting players to return to the capital of the Citadel Council in an effort to eliminate a startling threat. This new content will also feature Commander Shepard’s long-time friends and romance interests from the entire Mass Effect trilogy, as Mass Effect 3: Citadel offers one more chance for fans to reconnect with their favorite characters and even rekindle past romances.

With the trilogy arc coming to an end, BioWare will be participating in a special panel at PAX East entitled “The Mass Effect Trilogy – A Retrospective.” Fans can join Executive Producer Casey Hudson, Lead Designer Preston Watamaniuk, Lead Cinematics Director Parrish Ley, Writer John Dobmrow and Level Designer Dusty Everman as they relive some of the most memorable public and private moments in the creation of the Mass Effect trilogy. The panel will be at the PAX East Main Stage on Sunday, March 24 at 5.00am AEST and will be moderated by SpikeTV’s Geoff Keighley.
In addition to new story content, Mass Effect 3: Citadel will also give players the opportunity to use squad members from the entire Mass Effect series in a brand-new training facility on the Citadel. The Armax Combat Arena offers ten scenarios and will challenge players by dropping them in the middle of battle to fight off wave-after-wave of enemy forces. When the adventure is over, players can blow off some steam by trying their luck at the Citadel’s Silver Coast Casino or discover and furnish Commander Shepard’s living quarters on the station.

Mass Effect 3: Citadel will be available to download on Xbox LIVE® and OriginTM starting today and on PlayStation® Network in Australia on March 6.

The Mass Effect franchise is one of the most highly decorated and beloved series in the history of games, having earned over 300 awards and 200 perfect scores from critics around the world. Mass Effect 3 launched in March to universal critical acclaim, receiving over 90 perfect scores and according to Metacritic.com, is currently the highest rated game of the year for the Xbox 360. For more information on Mass Effect 3 and Mass Effect 3: Citadel, please visit http://www.masseffect.com.

 
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DICE UNLEASHES BATTLEFIELD 3: END GAME – GET READY FOR EVEN MORE LETHAL HIGH-SPEED ACTION

Sydney, Australia — March 6, 2013 – DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, today announced that Battlefield 3™: End Game, the fifth and final digital expansion pack for Battlefield 3, is now available for Battlefield 3 Premium members on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. In Battlefield 3: End Game, gamers battle on four new breath-taking maps inspired by each of the four seasons, including Kiasar Railroad and Operation Riverside. Gamers can jump in the seat of the speedy new dirt bike and two AA vehicles to get behind enemy lines, or use the new dropship, which can quickly turn the tide in battle by rapidly deploying air drops of troop transports.

In addition to this, gamers will enjoy the return of two classic game modes, Capture the Flag and Air Superiority. In Capture the Flag gamers have to coordinate lightning fast attacks and defenses, while in Air Superiority they take to the sky and engage in massive dog fights. With five new assignments, 16 dog tags and five trophies and achievements, Battlefield 3: End Game is the exhilirating and epic capstone on the award-winning Battlefield 3 experience.

 
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Disney Mobile Games Runs Off to Oz With Launch of Temple Run: Oz

New game brings together Imangi Studio’s “Temple Run 2” with Disney’s “Oz The Great and Powerful” for an endless running game bursting with speed and excitement. 

Available now from Disney Mobile Games and Imangi Studios, and inspired by Disney’s upcoming feature film “Oz The Great and Powerful,” Temple Run: Oz has players sprinting through the vast Land of Oz using the faster and more fluid Temple Run 2 platformFor the first time, players can pick their own path through the land of magic, powered by the stunning visual and animation advances of the updated Temple Run.

Players of Temple Run: Oz will be far from Kansas as they dash along the Yellow Brick Road through the most vibrant depictions of Oz. Dynamic obstacles like poisonous snap dragons and collapsing bridges will keep players on their toes, while over 100 unique objectives keep them on track. 

Temple Run: Oz integrates amazing live environments into the advanced visuals of Temple Run 2 for the most breathtaking adventure on the App Store. It’s a feast for the eyes players will be running to get!

New features just for Temple Run: Oz include:

·         An endless running adventure through the vivid Land of Oz

·         Explore stunning environments inspired by the film like the Whimsie Woods and the Dark Forest

·         Bonus hot-air balloon feature to fly through clouds and mountains for coins

·         Over 100 unique objectives for each region

·         New Oz-inspired obstacles like snap dragons, flying baboons and collapsing bridges to avoid

·         A new save feature where players can use gems to start a run where they ended

·         Power-ups like fireworks and magnets to attack flying baboons and attract coins

Images can be found at http://smu.gs/YY2H1x with a trailer at http://bit.ly/VbaEDH.

Temple Run: Oz is now available for 99 cents for the iPhone and iPod touch and iPad on the iTunes App Store at http://bit.ly/WgSWAk

Disney’s Oz The Great & Powerful is in cinemas Mar 7 – Disney.com.au/oz

 
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Full Control Releases First Screens from Space Hulk

Full Control today released the first screens from Space Hulk, its 3D digital turn based strategy game based on the best-selling board game and set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Revealing a claustrophobic look, classic to the board game, these first screens show off the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of an ancient vessel lost in the graveyard of space as a small force of fearless Space Marine Terminators battle in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory alien Genestealers.

Terminator attacking a Genestealer

Tactical overview of squad management in Space Hulk 

About Space Hulk (PC, Mac and iOS)
Based on the “Sin of Damnation” campaign from the 3rd edition board game, Space Hulk includes a robust 12-mission single-player and co-operative campaign. Recreating the tense battles of the board game, multiplayer mode will allow players to go head-to-head as one player controls the Space Marines and their opponent the Genestealers, in the ultimate fight for domination. Cross platform functionality in multiplayer mode allows players to compete against friends whether they play on PC, Mac or mobile. The Space Hulk level editor will enable players to design their own levels, share them with others online and in a central hub explore creations of the community. Please visit the official Space Hulks site at: www.spacehulk-game.com

 
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Fuel Overdose’s launch trailer: Top 5 tips for pros

Tokyo (March 5th, 2013). Bringing something new to the combat racing genre has always been the primary objective of the Fuel Overdose project that is releasing today March 5th on the Playstation Store in North America.  After almost 3 years of development I-Friqiya is today proud to deliver a game experience that breaks the conventions of the genre by mixing driving action and strategy.

A first didactic trailer titled “Top 5 tips for beginners” was published yesterday. Today we unveil its sequel “Top 5 tips for pros” for the players who are willing to dig deeper into the game mechanics of this indie production. For more details regarding the tips for beginners and pros, check the official US Playstation Blog today starting from 6am Pacific time.
The Fuel Overdose team would also like to remind that two free DLCS that offer 10 vehicles will be released in the coming weeks: Mercenary vehicle pack and Wanderer vehicle pack.