InnoGames announces date, is confident with closed beta feedback

Hamburg, April 12, 2012. Today InnoGames announced that its strategic browser game Forge of Empires will go into open beta on April 17. The German open beta will begin on April 19, other language versions, including French and Polish will soon follow. A few thousand players already helped InnoGames put the final touches on Forge of Empires by delivering crucial feedback during a closed beta phase. Players eager to play the game now can still enter the closed beta by pre-registering on www.forgeofempires.com or visiting the InnoGames-Facebook page, where keys will be given out daily leading up to the open beta launch.

The team’s high expectations for Forge of Empires’ closed beta were exceeded by the overwhelmingly positive response from beta testers and media alike. Particularly the graphical quality, as well as variety and depth of the gameplay, were received positively. Many players enjoyed the possibility to approach the game in an entirely peaceful way. In the future, InnoGames plans to add a number of updates and features: Players can look forward to additional PvP-content and new ages.

Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game that allows players to create a city and develop it from the Stone Age and onward throughout the centuries. Players can create a vast empire through military campaigns and skillful dealings. InnoGames provides additional information in the game’s very own blog.

With about 75 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.

Franchise that Created the Tag-Fighting Genre Returns to the Arena on PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® this September

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, (April 12, 2012) – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. today delivered a knockout blow with the announcement that TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2™ will be coming to the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system this September.

With the largest player roster in Tekken history, TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2 will feature more than 50 characters with expanded fight arsenals and move sets to do battle in new stages set in different countries from around the world. In addition to the tag-based battle that Tekken pioneered, TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2 will feature both one-on-one fighting and solo fighter vs. a tag-team battle, upending the current fighting game standards and making the game accessible for fans and newcomers alike.

In Pair Play mode, up to four players can each control a character in the ultimate team battle, while in the all new Fight Lab mode, players can customize the moves and appearance of new training character, Combot. Players that clear the innovative Fight Lab will have mastered the complexities of TEKKEN and own their own customized Combot.

“TEKKEN Tag Tournament is one of the most beloved entries in the TEKKEN series – not just among fans but also for myself and the entire development team, so crafting the sequel has been a labour of love for everyone here,” said Katsuhiro Harada, TEKKEN Project Director at NAMCO BANDAI GAMES Inc.  “To truly make this game stand up to the high benchmark set by the original, we have injected some exciting features and modes that will revolutionize the online fighting game community and allow new players to enjoy and master the game – so there will be something for everyone.”

The original TEKKEN Tag Tournament created the entire tag-based fighting genre when it released in arcades in 1999, and the highly-anticipated sequel will bring unique features to the fighting game community with innovative online functionality that will be revealed in greater detail during E3 in June.

“There is so much packed into TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2 that we can’t wait to reveal to fans of both fighting games and fans of all games,” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice President, NAMCO BANDAI Partners S.A.S. “The latest entry into the iconic series will have the level of depth expected of the highest-selling fighting game franchise of all time, but also the accessibility for new fans and gaming noobs alike.”

For more information on the TEKKEN™ universe, please visit: www.namcobandaigames.eu,    www.tekken.com http://www.facebook.com/Tekken; http://www.twitter.com/Harada_TEKKEN; or http://www.twitter.com/FilthieRich.

Renowned Fighter Working with Square Enix and United Front Games on Open World Cop Drama

SYDNEY – (April 12, 2012) – Square Enix London Studios, a part of Square Enix Europe, today announced its partnership with highly acclaimed mixed martial arts (MMA) champion Georges St-Pierre to collaborate on the development of Sleeping Dogs. St-Pierre, known to his legion of fans as “GSP”, has been working with Square Enix and United Front Games on multiple elements – including combat – in Sleeping Dogs, a gritty open world cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.

“Working with Square Enix has been an incredible opportunity,” said St-Pierre. “I’m really impressed to see how the hand-to-hand combat in the game is shaping up – it’s been a great experience being involved.”

In the stylized, high-action Hong Kong setting of Sleeping Dogs, every street corner, market stall, harbor dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat as players take on the role of undercover cop Wei Shen. Featuring an intuitive and imaginative combat system, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to perform an extensive set of martial arts moves, single-handedly taking on numerous opponents. Players perform bone-crushing kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.

St-Pierre is working on an ongoing basis with Sleeping Dogs, consulting on elements in the game as well as sharing insights with the public on the game’s progress. Stay tuned for more detail.

“When it comes to professional fighting, names don’t get much bigger than GSP,” said Square Enix London Studios general manager Lee Singleton. “We are thrilled with the expertise that GSP brings to Sleeping Dogs”

Sleeping Dogs will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PCs.

Related Links

Sleeping Dogs Official Homepage: www.sleepingdogs.net

Sleeping Dogs Official Facebook® page: www.facebook.com/SleepingDogsGame

Follow Sleeping Dogs on Twitter®: @SleepingDogs

About Georges St-Pierre

Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, also known as “GSP,” is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist and welterweight world champion who holds black belts in both Kyokushin karate and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Recognized as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound MMA fighter and all-around athlete, GSP lives in Montreal but travels around the world to train with the best coaches and training partners in karate, jiu jitsu, muay thai, boxing and wrestling.

About Square Enix London Studios

Square Enix London Studios is part of Square Enix Europe, sitting within Square Enix’s European head office in Wimbledon, South West London. The studio is focussed on bringing to market games from some of the world’s most successful and talented independent development teams. Previous partnerships include award-winning titles such as BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM with Rocksteady Studios and JUST CAUSE 2 with Avalanche Studios.

About Square Enix Ltd.

Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 59 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/ eu/en/.

The Critically Acclaimed Action RPG Coming to the PC Platform by Popular Demand with All New Content  

LAS VEGAS – 11 April 2012 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today announced that, by popular demand, Dark SoulsTM: Prepare to Die Edition will be releasing for the PC platform in Europe and Australasia on August 24th. This special, content-enhanced edition of the critically acclaimed Action-RPG developed by FromSoftware will be finely-tuned to cater to the PC gaming audience while retaining all of the deep challenge, rich atmosphere, and compelling gameplay that made the game a worldwide phenomenon. Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition on the PC platform will also include an enhanced PVP mode allowing players to more closely assemble battles against one another online in an all-out fight to the death that fans have demanded.

In addition, the production team at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. has revealed an untold chapter in the world of Lordran created specifically to help further expand upon the lore of the game. ‘Artorias of the Abyss’ will include all-new areas to explore, enemies to encounter, and bosses to take down one by one.

“Our fans demanded to see this game brought to the PC, and the noise they have made was simply too loud and too passionate to ignore,” said Daisuke Uchiyama, producer for Dark Souls at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., “This also allowed us to dive back into the world of Dark Souls, offering a special edition of the game that offers more ways to die over and over again than ever before. Adding a whole new chapter to tell the tale of the Dark Knight Artorias was an opportunity we’re also proud to have taken, as we’ve managed to expand the experience for our biggest fans without compromising the balance of the core game that we worked so hard to create. This edition of the game is our gift to the fans.”

Heralded by critics worldwide, IGN referred to the original Dark SoulsTM release as, “One of the most thrilling, most fascinating and most completely absorbing experiences in gaming,” while GameSpot called it, “Extraordinary… an awesome and menacing world you may never forget.”

With tense dungeon crawling and fearsome enemy encounters, the seamlessly intertwined world of Dark SoulsTM is full of extreme battles, rewarding challenges, nuanced weaponry and magic, and the flexibility to customize each character to suit any desired play style. The innovative online component allows gamers to draw from the collective experience of the Dark Souls community as they either help or sabotage each other on the journey through the world of Lordran to save the land from darkness. With a massive, seamless open world design, Dark souls encourages deep exploration and an adaptable gameplay experience.

Dark SoulsTM: Prepare to Die Edition will be available on the PC platform in Europe and Australasia on August 24th. For more information on the game please visit www.facebook.com/DarkSouls, www.PrepareToDie.com

Bitdefender wins 5th straight round of AV-TEST evaluations 

SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – April 12, 2012 – Bitdefender®, the award-winning provider of innovative antivirus solutions, was again declared the world’s reigning anti-virus champion after rigorous testing by AV-TEST on its Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 product.

Bitdefender won the highest score of all tested products, or 17 points, in the January and February round of testing by AV-TEST, the leading independent anti-virus testing organisation. Bitdefender has now won five rounds of AV-TEST trials in a row, as well as the organisation’s prestigious Best Protection 2011 Award.

“Bitdefender has hit a roll of innovation and dedication that is leading us further and further ahead of the pack in recent years,” said Viorel Canja, head of Bitdefender Labs. “We’re taking that lead and running with it. We’re confident our upcoming product releases are going to take us even further into the lead.”

Bitdefender scored best in “protection against 0-day malware attacks, detection of malware discovered in the last 2-3 months, and widespread and prevalent malware,” according to AV-TEST. Bitdefender was also top in “cleaning and repair of a malware-infected computer” and “detection of actively running widespread malware.”

Besides Bitdefender, AV-TEST evaluated other 22 home user security products using their default settings in January and February. Bitdefender was followed by second-place Kaspersky, with 16.5 points and Symantec’s Norton Internet Security, in third place with 15 points.

AV-TEST CEO Andreas Marx said: “It’s a consistently very well-performing product and the company well deserves the great reputation it has. It’s always a pleasure to test Bitdefender products and we’re looking forward to the new ones this year.”

AV-TEST Institute, based in Magdeburg, Germany, is a security software analysis firm recognized as an authority by Bitdefender and the entire industry.

For a more detailed breakdown of the AV-TEST results, and historic test data, see http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/.

-Namco Bandai Games Announces Newest
Evolution In The Beloved Fighting Series – 

LAS VEGAS – 11 April 2012 – 11 April 2012 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today announced that Dragon Ball Z For Kinect™ will be coming to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this October. All of the classic action and intensity of the Dragon Ball Z universe will be felt with an unprecedented sense of immersion when players learn to deliver over 100 moves, including the legendary Kamehameha with their own fists as they charge their way to victory in this ultimate evolution of the classic franchise.

Developed by Spike Chunsoft Co. Ltd, players will be entering the Dragon Ball Z universe in an entirely new way. Featuring iconic characters, famous attacks, and epic battles authentically created from the original manga series, Dragon Ball Z For Kinect™ lets players unleash their inner Super Saiyan with no controller in the way! Fans will also be treated to new anime footage debuting in US and Europe for the first time, along with over 50 playable characters and an entirely new character. Leveraging the Kinect sensor, Dragon Ball Z For Kinect™ will also support QR code functionality, allowing fans to hold up special QR codes to unlock characters and power-ups in the game.

“There’s going to be no better feeling in the world for fans of the Dragon Ball Z series than standing in front of their screens and unleashing their own fists and raging blasts upon enemies with this game,” said Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing, NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “The Kinect sensor has truly enabled the development team to finally realize the dreams of millions of fans of both the classic games and the timeless original anime. This game will truly represent the next generation of interactive entertainment in the Dragon Ball Z Universe”.

Choosing between ‘Story Mode’ and ‘Score Attack’ mode, players will enjoy battles and events following the story of Dragon Ball in first-person view for the first time. Dramatic battles use animestyle camerawork and require the player in the same way as their character and perform the same attack or movement from a particular famous scene, combining CG demo scenes and battle controls to experience giant boss battles like never before! In ‘Score Attack’ mode, defeat opponents in 1-on-1 battles to get the highest score!

Dragon Ball Z® for Kinect™ will be available throughout Australia and New Zealand this October.

For more information on the game, please visit: www.namcobandaigames.eu and www.facebook.com/DBZ.videogames.

One licence to secure tablets, smartphones, PCs and Macs  

MELBOURNE, Australia – 7 March, 2012 – Kaspersky Lab today introduces Kaspersky ONE, universal security that protects multiple devices at once, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs and Macs.  Making it easier to ensure all your devices are secured at the same time, Kaspersky ONE allows consumers to simplify security and ensure simultaneous protection.

The Kaspersky ONE product is becoming increasingly essential to respond to the way consumers are storing their information and accessing the internet. The 2011 Australian Mobile Phone Lifestyle Index found:

• 15% of Australians surveyed use their mobile phone for banking at least once a week, while 2% bank from their phones at least twice a day[1]
• 12% of Australians surveyed said they are making payments at least once a week on their mobiles, and 5% are purchasing items from their phone that are not specifically for their phone (such as apps, for example)[2]
• Additionally, almost half of the Australians surveyed who owned a mobile phone also either own a tablet or are planning to buy one in the near future[3]

Accessing the internet, whether it’s from a PC, mobile or tablet, leaves consumers open to identity theft, ID fraud and a range of malware and viruses. Ensuring all devices that are used to access the internet are protected is essential to prevent cybercrime.

“There’s no longer a question around whether or not you need mobile security. Any device that connects to the internet is vulnerable to attacks, and as soon as you start banking, shopping or connecting to social networks, the odds of being attacked increase,” explained Nigel Hedges, Technical Services Manager, Kaspersky Lab Australia & New Zealand.

“The perception that there are no threats to mobile devices is incorrect. In fact, the numbers of detected Android malware are rapidly increasing. In December 2011, 82,000 variations of Android malware were detected, then in just the first two weeks of January 2012, another 360,000 variations were detected. The more popular the device, the more attractive it is for cyber criminals to create malware for that device, which means that the prevalence of mobile malware is only going to increase.

“In our experience, consumers are well aware of the need to keep their PCs protected from viruses and malware. The next step is educating consumers that their smartphones and tablets are increasingly becoming as vulnerable as computers. Having one solution that can protect all their devices universally should help ease the transition and ensure protection across mobile devices.”

Kaspersky ONE is a multi-platform, user-centric Universal Security solution that brings comprehensive protection for the wide range of personal devices, across varied software and hardware platforms, including:

• Comprehensive protection for Windows-based PCs
• Award-winning anti-malware protection for Macs
• Protection from cyber threats and anti-theft technology for Smartphones
• Essential protection from mobile malware for Android-based Tablets

The installation and activation of Kaspersky ONE for any device is easy – just one universal activation code is needed. There is no need to upgrade subscription for each device-specific application, and users may decide which particular combination of devices will be secured by the product.

Product Overview

Kaspersky ONE is a one-stop single-license solution that protects multiple devices with different hardware and software platforms.

Kaspersky ONE is available in different packages, for 3, 5 or 10 devices:

• 1      Year – 3 Devices – RRP $99.95
• 1      Year – 5 Devices – RRP $159.95
• 1      Year – 10 Devices – RRP $299.95

Kaspersky ONE is available for purchase online from https://www.kasperskyanz.com.au/kaspersky_one

Award-winning producer will compose and produce soundtrack for first installment of all new Halo saga

Microsoft and 343 Industries today announced that the team has enlisted contemporary music icon, Neil Davidge, of Massive Attack fame to compose the score for Halo 4¹, the highly anticipated sequel to one of the entertainment industry’s biggest franchises.

As co-writer and producer for the last three albums from pioneering trip hop group Massive Attack, Davidge is an award-winning composer, record producer, songwriter and musician who has helped create some of the most innovative sounds over the past two decades and made an indelible impression on the music industry. In addition to helping pioneer an entire genre of contemporary music, Davidge has established a career as a film composer, scoring acclaimed documentaries and composing additional music for Hollywood blockbusters like Clash of the Titans.

“As a passionate Halo fan, I’m incredibly honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to compose the score for Halo 4,” said Davidge.  “Music has always been at the heart of what makes Halo so captivating and iconic. With Halo 4, we want to build upon the franchise’s amazing legacy and create a score that captures the awe and wonder of the Halo universe, and reinforces the deeper and more emotionally impactful journey Master Chief will embark on.”

The partnership between Davidge and 343 Industries marks the first time a new composer has taken the reins for the landmark series’ score since the launch of the original Halo game more than a decade ago. Working in collaboration with 343 Industries, Davidge and his production team enlisted a 16 person hand-picked male tenor / bass choir plus 10 female Bulgarian vocalists, a full 50 piece orchestra and a whole host of other performers to bring the music of Halo 4 to life through a massive production effort on par with a major Hollywood blockbuster.

“Neil has a deep love and appreciation for the Halo universe, and the music he’s composed perfectly captures the heroic spirit and emotional power of Master Chief’s story,” said Sotaro Tojima, audio director for Halo 4. “Neil is a remarkably talented composer who has a unique vision for the future of Halo music, and I’m confident his work will spark the passion and excitement of a whole new generation of fans.”

To offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Halo 4 score, 343 Industries released a new video feature today showing a choir and orchestral recording session at Abbey Road and Angel Studios in London. The video features interviews with Davidge, Tojima and other members of the audio team discussing their vision for the music of Halo 4, and highlights the scope of the score’s production as a colossal undertaking that rivals a blockbuster movie.

Music fans who are hungry for more insight into the creative process behind the Halo 4 score can visit the Waypoint blog to read a blog post by Tojima about his collaboration with Davidge, listen to and download an exclusive sample track, and see the new behind-the-scenes video and photos of the recording sessions.

Launching worldwide exclusively on Xbox 360 this holiday, Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment of the iconic franchise that has shaped entertainment history and defined a generation of gamers. Developed by 343 Industries, Halo 4 continues the story of the series’ iconic hero, Master Chief, as he returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 takes the series in a bold new direction by delivering its most epic and explorative campaign yet, alongside an emotionally resonant story and a groundbreaking multiplayer offering unlike anything before it – setting the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga.

The Critically Acclaimed Action RPG Coming to the PC Platform by Popular Demand with All New Content  

LAS VEGAS – 11 April 2012 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today announced that, by popular demand, Dark SoulsTM: Prepare to Die Edition will be releasing for the PC platform in Europe and Australasia on August 24th. This special, content-enhanced edition of the critically acclaimed Action-RPG developed by FromSoftware will be finely-tuned to cater to the PC gaming audience while retaining all of the deep challenge, rich atmosphere, and compelling gameplay that made the game a worldwide phenomenon. Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition on the PC platform will also include an enhanced PVP mode allowing players to more closely assemble battles against one another online in an all-out fight to the death that fans have demanded.

In addition, the production team at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. has revealed an untold chapter in the world of Lordran created specifically to help further expand upon the lore of the game. ‘Artorias of the Abyss’ will include all-new areas to explore, enemies to encounter, and bosses to take down one by one.

“Our fans demanded to see this game brought to the PC, and the noise they have made was simply too loud and too passionate to ignore,” said Daisuke Uchiyama, producer for Dark Souls at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., “This also allowed us to dive back into the world of Dark Souls, offering a special edition of the game that offers more ways to die over and over again than ever before. Adding a whole new chapter to tell the tale of the Dark Knight Artorias was an opportunity we’re also proud to have taken, as we’ve managed to expand the experience for our biggest fans without compromising the balance of the core game that we worked so hard to create. This edition of the game is our gift to the fans.”

Heralded by critics worldwide, IGN referred to the original Dark SoulsTM release as, “One of the most thrilling, most fascinating and most completely absorbing experiences in gaming,” while GameSpot called it, “Extraordinary… an awesome and menacing world you may never forget.”

With tense dungeon crawling and fearsome enemy encounters, the seamlessly intertwined world of Dark SoulsTM is full of extreme battles, rewarding challenges, nuanced weaponry and magic, and the flexibility to customize each character to suit any desired play style. The innovative online component allows gamers to draw from the collective experience of the Dark Souls community as they either help or sabotage each other on the journey through the world of Lordran to save the land from darkness. With a massive, seamless open world design, Dark souls encourages deep exploration and an adaptable gameplay experience.

Dark SoulsTM: Prepare to Die Edition will be available on the PC platform in Europe and Australasia on August 24th. For more information on the game please visit www.facebook.com/DarkSouls, www.PrepareToDie.com

Sydney, 11 April 2012: Academy Award nominated flick Moneyball, the most inspiring film of 2012, is available to rent and own on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download from today.

With critics calling this Brad Pitt’s best on screen role in cinema, the film depicts the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and his attempt to put together a championship winning baseball team on a limited budget by employing a computer-generated analyst to draft his players.

Despite opposition from the old guard, the media, fans and their own field manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Beane – with the help of a young, number-crunching, Yale-educated economist (Jonah Hill) – develops a roster of misfits along the way and forever changes the way the game is played.

Nominated for the Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a leading role and supporting role and Best Writing of an Adapted Screenplay, in the Academy Awards of 2012, the film is most notably known for its stellar performance from all star cast Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and it’s exceptional screenplay adaptation by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin. The home entertainment release of the much anticipated film will give every fan the chance to relive the game with behind-the-scene special features and never before seen interviews with the Billy Beane – man behind the game.

Moneyball is available to rent and buy on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download today.