—WHQL certification delivers the stamp of approval to AMD graphics drivers, ensuring that the combination of ATI Radeon™ graphics cards and drivers delivers an incredibly stable, high-performance Windows 7 experience—

Sydney, Australia — May 8, 2009 — Underlining the company’s leadership in developing hardware and drivers to support the Windows® 7 operating system, AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced that its Windows 7 driver has received Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) certification on the first day of the certifying program.

•WHQL certification sets a high bar for quality and reliability, and is considered essential by many home and business users.
•WHQL certification demonstrates AMD’s ability to deliver the stability, incredible 3D game performance and smooth multimedia playback needed in order to help bring the new features of Windows 7 to life.
•As a testament to its ongoing commitment to reliability and stability, AMD is the only graphics hardware company in the world delivering monthly WHQL-certified graphics driver updates.

For users of ATI Radeon™ HD 2000, HD 3000, and HD 4000 series products, the ATI Catalyst™ software suite delivers:
•Industry-leading driver stability and reliability.
•Full WDDM 1.1 WHQL certified support under Windows 7. 
•Scheduled performance and new feature innovation every month. 
•Enablement of ATI Stream technology for general purpose GPU (GPGPU) computing on supported graphics cards.

“By delivering a WHQL certified driver for the Windows 7 operating system at the earliest possible opportunity, AMD has once again demonstrated its driver leadership,” said Ben Bar-Haim, corporate vice president, Software Engineering, AMD. “AMD is working closely with Microsoft to ensure superior performance and a reliable Windows 7 experience throughout our line of graphics processors.”

Microsoft WHQL certified graphics drivers for Windows 7 are scheduled for release on AMD.com on May 5, 2009, and a fully unified WHQL-certified driver supporting Windows Vista and Windows 7 is planned for the release of ATI Catalyst™ 9.5 later in May.

To learn more about the first AMD WHQL certified graphics driver for Windows 7, please visit www.amd.com

About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

©2009, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, ATI, the ATI logo, Catalyst, Radeon, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.  Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

EVE Online celebrates its 6th year of existence today–May 6th. That’s six strong years of continuous growth thanks to tireless integration of user feedback into game design and pushing to release around two major free expansions per year. Our single-shard world, where everyone plays on the same shared server, has seen tremendous benefit from having each player able to interact and affect each other player in a persistent manner. From massive fleet battles to individual bonds of trust, every pilot in EVE has the potential to rock the ship of hundreds of thousands of others by their actions.

At one population milestone we saw agreements form between alliances. At another we were able to fully turn over the economy to the players. As the population of New Eden has grown, so have the instances of emergent behaviors of its pilots. A 6 year persistant history. A living history where truly brilliant strategies have unfolded. Truly terrible betrayals unveiled. We are excited to see what will happen next.

This year has been very successful for EVE Online, thanks in large part to our latest free expansion EVE Online: Apocrypha and a return to retail. We started out the year with around 244,000 subscribers and in five short months we’ve had a 22% growth in subscribers. In the past couple days we surpassed the impressive milestone of 300,000 active subscribers. That doesn’t include trial accounts. We’ve broken our peak concurrent user record 3 times this year alone, standing now at an impressive 53,850 in the same universe. That is exponential growth. We couldn’t think of a better birthday present than having more people playing EVE Online than ever before. It is another sweet reminder of EVE’s boundless potential.

As always, we encourage you to bring your friends, family and even enemies to New Eden by visiting www.eveonline.com <http://www.eveonline.com/> and downloading a free trial or by heading to your local retailer and purchasing a copy of EVE Online, which includes 60 days of game time.

“Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” game add-on is set to unleash all-new campaign and multiplayer content

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA – MAY 7, 2009 – “Gears of War 2,” the entertainment blockbuster of 2008, has surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide, and the overall “Gears of War” franchise unit sales have eclipsed the 11 million unit mark.  

To commemorate these milestones, Microsoft Game Studios® and Epic Games® are set to unleash “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners”, a value-packed offer of downloadable multiplayer map packs and all new exclusive campaign content.

Available exclusively on Xbox LIVE® from July 29 for 1600 Microsoft points, the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” game add-on, features seven new multiplayer maps. 

The seven new multiplayer maps in the “Gears of War 2: Dark Corner” game add-on are:

•        Allfathers Garden: Honour the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders in this explosive map, where powerful weapons catalyse fast and furious action at this COG landmark.

•        Memorial: Set near the Eternal Flame, which pays tribute to the fallen soldiers on the battlefield, a hard-fought battle ensues at the Tomb of Unknowns. Putting their flank formation and evasive skills to the test, players will fight to control the Boomshot.

•        Sanctuary: Once a peaceful ground for reflection and remembrance, all that remains of the Sanctuary is the chill of death. Feast your eyes on the arsenal of weapons available as you make your way through the tight paths and blind corners of the Locust-damaged temple corridors.

•        War Machine: In the abandoned train station that once served as a hub for travel, players will need to master the Longshot, Mulcher and Boomshot weapons to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.

•        Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system brimming with enemy vermin. Stick together, separate the enemy and have an exit strategy ready or it’ll be a one-way trip.

•        Way Station:  Sitting in limbo between death and “processing” are Locust way stations filled with fallen COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience as it’s better to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.

•        Nowhere: Set in the middle of what was once a destination for weary desert travellers, the land is now barren and devoid of life. Pick off your enemies with the Longshot sniper rifle and make your way to the stairwell with a well-fortified team during this intense firefight.

Also releasing at the same time is a deleted campaign chapter titled “Road to Ruin.” In “Road to Ruin,” Marcus and Dom return to the Locust Hollow in a scene that can be played two ways, guns blazing or in all-new stealth mode.

“Gears of War 2” is available exclusively on Xbox 360 and is rated MA15+. “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” will be available in Australia from July 29th.

For more information about “Gears of War 2”, visit www.GearsofWar.com.

– Naruto’s Biggest Adventure Arrives in the Palm of Your Hands this Autun –

CERGY-PONTOISE, FRANCE – 7 May 2009 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S announced today that NARUTO™ Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising will be coming to PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) in Australia this Spring.  Based on the popular NARUTO Shippuden animated series, players will assume control of over 10 of their favourite ninja, including the dreaded Akatsuki. NARUTO Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising promises to deliver fierce ninja action as players re-live the NARUTO Shippuden storyline and experience a brand new adventure this Spring.

Naruto and his friends are in for the fight of their lives as they search for Gaara, the fifth Kazekage, who has been kidnapped by the dreaded Akatsuki organization.  It’s a race against time as the Akatsuki attempts to release Shukaku, the demon sealed inside Gaara.  

NARUTO Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising boasts streamlined controls for the PSP, ensuring exciting, fast-paced tactical battles making best use of each character’s Jutsus. Aim and time the powerful Jutsu attacks with simple button commands and devastate enemies by entering Hypermode.  As characters defeat the enemies or take damage, the Hyper Gauge will start to fill which enhances the Jutsu or unlocks new Jutsus. Players will be able to gain advantage in the heat of a battle by selecting two support characters to form a three-man team for each mission.  Utilize the different skills each character brings and combine their attacks with yours to discover the ultimate combos for defeating enemies.   

NARUTO Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising will incorporate multiple modes of play including two-player cooperative or versus play via ad-hoc local wireless network.  Original Mode lets players experience the Gaara Retrieval Arc as they battle enemies through lush, 3D anime inspired environments.  Scenario Mode introduces all-new side-missions to pick up Skill Scrolls which increase your character’s abilities including attack, defense, health and other numerous indicators reflected through all modes.  Akatsuki Mode will let players gain control of members of the Akatsuki organization for the first time in a brand-new storyline, discovering the Akatsuki’s true intentions while Naruto was searching for Gaara.  Finally, find out who the best ninja is with one-on-one fights against a friend or the computer in Versus Mode.       

For more information on the game, please visit www.naruto-videogames.com. For more information on NARUTO and to view free episodes of NARUTO Shippuden, please visit www.naruto.com 

About NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe:
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., is a leading interactive entertainment software publisher based in Cergy-Pontoise, France. The company is a part of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including the RidgeRacer™, Tekken™, SOULCALIBUR™, Tamagotchi™, Digimon™, Dragonball® and Naruto™ brands.

AUSTRALIA – May 7, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announces that the “U.S. Eagles” downloadable content (DLC) pack for Tom Clancy’s HAWX™ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will be available on May 7, 2009. The price for the U.S. Eagles Pack DLC is 400 Microsoft Points or $8.45 for the PLAYSTATION®3 system.

In the U.S. Eagles pack, control the skies with a selection of US futuristic and veteran aircraft that includes the battle hardened F-4 Phantom II, the famous Blackbird and the F-111 Aardvark tactical striker. Fly the A-12 Avenger stealth bomber prototype or the reconnaissance variant based on the F-15, the Peak Eagle.

For more information on Tom Clancy’s HAWX, please visit the game’s official site at http://www.hawxgame.com.

Activision has unveiled the highly-anticipated set list for Guitar Hero Greatest Hits, the quintessential Guitar Hero game that allows players to join together and rock to the 48 most fun-to-play songs, all available as master tracks. Players will fall in love with their favorite Guitar Hero music all over again as they rock to anthems from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and enjoy them for the first time as a full band experience with updated note tracks for guitar and bass, as well as entirely new gameplay for the drum kit controller and microphone. 

Guitar Hero Greatest Hits features the most memorable songs from Guitar Hero games together in one epic set list, available on June 24, 2009:

Guitar Hero

·         Blue Öyster Cult – “Godzilla”

·         Boston – “More Than A Feeling”

·         Deep Purple – “Smoke On The Water”

·         Franz Ferdinand – “Take Me Out”

·         Helmet – “Unsung (Live)”

·         Incubus – “Stellar”

·         Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – “I Love Rock N’ Roll”

·         Ozzy Osbourne – “Bark At The Moon”

·         Pantera – “Cowboys From Hell (Live)”

·         Queen – “Killer Queen”

·         Queens Of The Stone Age – “No One Knows”

·         The Donnas – “Take It Off”

·         The Exies – “Hey You”

·         White Zombie – “Thunder Kiss ’65”

Guitar Hero II

·         Alice In Chains – “Them Bones”

·         Avenged Sevenfold – “Beast And The Harlot”

·         Danzig – “Mother”

·         Foo Fighters – “Monkey Wrench”

·         Iron Maiden – “The Trooper”

·         Jane’s Addiction – “Stop!”

·         Kansas – “Carry On Wayward Son”

·         Lamb Of God – “Laid To Rest”

·         Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Free Bird”

·         Mötley Crüe- “Shout At The Devil”

·         Nirvana – “Heart-Shaped Box”

·         Rage Against The Machine – “Killing In The Name”

·         Reverend Horton Heat – “Psychobilly Freakout”

·         Rush – “YYZ”

·         Stone Temple Pilots – “Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart”

·         The Police – “Message In A Bottle”

·         The Sword – “Freya”

·         Warrant – “Cherry Pie”

·         Wolfmother – “Woman”

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s

·         Anthrax – “Caught In A Mosh”

·         Extreme – “Play With Me”

·         Judas Priest – “Electric Eye”

·         Poison – “Nothin’ But A Good Time”

·         Ratt – “Round and Round”

·         Twisted Sister – “I Wanna Rock”

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

·         AFI – “Miss Murder”

·         DragonForce – “Through The Fire And Flames”

·         Heart  – “Barracuda”

·         Kiss – “Rock And Roll All Nite”

·         Living Colour – “Cult Of Personality”

·         Pat Benatar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”

·         Priestess – “Lay Down”

·         Slayer – “Raining Blood”

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

·         Aerosmith – “Back In The Saddle”

Take an adventure through time with The Wiggles

http://www.thewiggles.com.au/yearbook/

“Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment can today confirm that Batman: Arkham Asylum will be released in Q3, 2009. This additional time will allow us to ensure Batman: Arkham Asylum is of the highest quality for gamers.”

MELBOURNE, Wednesday, 6 May 2009 – Groundbreaking SBS documentary series, FIRST AUSTRALIANS, was awarded a Silver Logie at Sunday evening’s 51st TV Week Logie Awards ceremony. The Logie, awarded for Most Outstanding Documentary, is prestigious recognition of the importance of the series, painstakingly produced by Darren Dale and Rachel Perkins. The achievement is a highlight on an ever-growing list of accolades for the series, which critics have already called “One of the most significant documentary series in the history of Australian television…”

FIRST AUSTRALIANS reveals the untold story of Australia. Produced by Australia’s finest Aboriginal filmmakers, the astonishing series chronicles the birth of a country and the collision of two worlds. It’s an epic story that comes alive through the struggles of individuals, both black and white.

Beautifully filmed, including cinematography by Warwick Thornton (Writer, Director and DOP of SAMSON AND DELILAH), the series blends landscape, art, interviews and first-hand accounts with a vast archival collection to present the birth of contemporary Australia as never seen before, from the perspective of its first people — the First Australians.

FIRST AUSTRALIANS is available now on DVD, $39.95 SRP.

Sydney, Australia – May 6, 2009 – The juggernaut that is Call of Duty®: World at War Map Pack 1 continues to roll, with Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and developer Treyarch announcing today that worldwide sales for the downloadable map pack have cleared the two million download mark, on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network (combined). 

“This is a huge milestone and we are so appreciative of our incredibly supportive community who continue to play and enjoy the game,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch.  “We’re hard at work on Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 and look forward to delivering that in June.”

Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 contains four maps (Nightfire, Station, Knee Deep and Verrückt) and is available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for $15.95. Call of Duty: World at War is rated MA 15+ (Strong violence and coarse language, Gaming experience may change online) by the Classification Board. 

For more information and exclusive updates about Call of Duty: World at War, visit www.callofduty.com.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

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

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

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