Action-packed Ninja Adventure from Developer Team NINJA

Brings Fast, Bloody, and Beautiful Fighting Action to PS Vita

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA–MARCH 7, 2013 – TECMO KOEI Europe and Mindscape Asia Pacific today announced that NINJA GAIDEN® SIGMA 2 PLUS, the highly anticipated sequel to its hit PlayStation®Vita launch title, will be available today at retailers across Australia and New Zealand, as well as via the PlayStation®Store for digital download. Faster, bloodier, and more beautiful than ever, NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS takes the legendary action game to new heights with stunning graphics, new modes, and a star-studded cast headlined by super ninja Ryu Hayabusa.

Developed by Team NINJA, NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS brings the most intense, action-packed ninja adventure to PS Vita with a host of new features and plenty of blood. In the game, Ryu, the iconic super ninja of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, returns to the Sigma series to prevent the resurrection of the evil Archfiend by hunting down the Demon Statue stolen by the wicked Black Spider Ninja Clan. Players will battle from Tokyo to New York as Ryu encounters vicious enemies and acquires an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry along the way.

Accompanying Ryu on his quest are fan favorites Momiji, Ayane, Rachel, and Sonia. Ryu will need their support—and their specialized weapons—to overcome an elite alliance of enemies and bosses including Elizébet, Ruler of Blood, the evil priest Dagra Dai, the Four Greater Fiend Lords, the fearsome Black Dragon, and Ryu’s longtime nemesis Genshin.

NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2 PLUS takes everything gamers love about the Ninja Gaiden franchise and packs it into a spectacular new handheld adventure for the PlayStation Vita. New modes like the frantic Ninja Race and the single player co-op Tag Mission keep the game fresh, the roster of player characters and enemies is unmatched, and the action lights up the screen with phenomenal visuals that rival anything you’d see on console.

The game uses the Vita’s impressive OLED screen to produce graphical quality exceeding the original NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA. An intuitive control system uses the touch screen of the PS Vita, and new players will appreciate the inclusion of “Hero mode”, which automatically helps players when their health gets low. New modes include “Ninja Race,” where players compete with enemies at breakneck speed to reach the end goal while racking up maximum points, and “Tag Mission,” in which players freely switch between any two ninjas in real-time while defending the AI-controlled partner. In Tag Mission mode, players can execute devastating “Combined Ninpo” attacks utilizing the front touch screen and rear touch pad.

Players can accumulate and wield an array of deadly weapons such as Ryu’s legendary Dragon Sword, the massive (and bloodthirsty) sword known as Emma’s Fang, the nunchuck-like Vigoorian Flail, Ayane’s Fuma Kodachi short swords, and Rachel’s Inferno Hammer. Last but not least, the game features costumes from the PlayStation 3 version of the game as well as new outfits including a stunning display of costumes for the female warriors.

-– Visionary TressFX Hair technology fortifies each lustrous strand of Lara Croft’s hair with its own real-time physics system ?

SYDNEY, Australia ? 6 March 2013 ? AMD today announced a collaboration with Crystal Dynamics™ following the launch of “Tomb Raider,” one of the most highly anticipated PC games of 2013, and part of the AMD Gaming Evolved program. AMD and Crystal Dynamics worked together extensively on the development of “Tomb Raider,” most notably with TressFX Hair, the world’s first in-game implementation of a real-time, per-strand hair physics system. This leading-edge technology imparts one of the most iconic video game characters, Lara Croft, with an astonishingly lifelike appearance. With AMD Radeon™ graphics, gamers can unleash the full potential of this next-generation technology.

“With the launch of ‘Tomb Raider’ and TressFX Hair, AMD and Crystal Dynamics have radically pushed the boundaries of realism in the PC gaming experience,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Graphics. “Over the past several months, AMD has proven that the Gaming Evolved program is set to full throttle, and today’s launch is a testament to AMD’s ingenuity and innovation. Our team is working with the finest game developers in the world to ensure AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series graphics deliver the ultimate PC gaming experience.”

AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next (GCN) is the ideal architecture for outstanding “Tomb Raider” performance. Built with numerous compute-driven effects like High Definition Ambient Occlusion (HDAO) and Depth of Field (DOF), “Tomb Raider” uniquely exploits the computing strengths of GCN architecture and the AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series, enabling an unrivaled gaming experience. “Tomb Raider” also fully supports AMD CrossFire™ technology, immersive AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology and AMD HD3D stereo 3D. What’s more, it is the first game in the franchise to take full advantage of DirectX® 11, a direct result of Crystal Dynamic’s collaboration with AMD Gaming Evolved.

“AMD and the Square Enix Studios, including Crystal Dynamics, have a long successful history of collaboration, starting with ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ from Eidos Montreal,” said Darrell Gallagher, studio head, Crystal Dynamics. “We continue this close PC gaming relationship with the latest edition of ‘Tomb Raider.’ The AMD Gaming Evolved engineers and the team at Crystal Dynamics worked for months to make TressFX Hair a reality – with tremendous success. We believe that AMD Radeon Graphics and Graphics Core Next is the best way to take advantage of the dynamic realism we’ve brought to Lara in Tomb Raider.”

“Never Settle: Reloaded” Redemption

Coupons for “Tomb Raider” included in the AMD Radeon “Never Settle: Reloaded” bundle are provided by resellers in select regions¹ when customers purchase select AMD Radeon HD 7900 and HD 7800 Series graphics cards, and coupons can be redeemed on the AMD redemption portal².

Supporting Resources

• Product      pages: AMD Radeon™ HD 7850, AMD Radeon™ HD 7870 GHz Edition, AMD Radeon™ HD 7950, AMD Radeon™ HD 7970, AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 GHz Edition
• Follow      AMD graphics news on Twitter at @AMDRadeon
• Become      a fan of AMD technology on Facebook
• Become      a fan of AMD gaming on Facebook
• Visit      the “Tomb Raider” homepage for more gaming      information

Fans Get First Taste of Innovative Gameplay Features

March 6, 2013 – Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 demo is now available on Xbox 360 and tomorrow on PlayStation 3. Experience golf from the past and present, and play as golf icon Arnold Palmer in the all-new Legends of the Majors mode, experience the LPGA Tour and get a taste of the Connected Tournaments feature where players can compete online with friends.

• The Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 demo features one of the most compelling modes in franchise history – Legends of the Majors. The featured challenge, 1961 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, puts players in the shoes of golf legend Arnold Palmer, in the 1960’s era, with the legend’s era-specific attire, equipment and skills. Once the challenge is passed, gamers will unlock 1960’s Arnold Palmer for use in the full version of the game.

• For the first time in franchise history, the game will feature LPGA integration and gamers can get a preview of the LPGA via the all-new Quick Tournaments feature. Players can use LPGA golf phenom Lexi Thompson on a new course – Oak Hill Country Club.

• Golf in a “Twenty-foursome” through our all-new Connected Tournaments mode in the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 demo. Compete online against other players or friends and see as many as 23 shot arcs from other players on the course at the same time. Players can get a jumpstart on creating their country club tournaments by going to the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 website.

• The Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 14 demo will support motion control and continue the level of immersion as fans can play the demo with Kinect for Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation Move controllers.

The Tiger Woods PGA TOUR franchise is developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon. For more information and exclusive updates regarding Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, become a fan of the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Facebook page at or follow on Twitter at @EASPORTSGOLF.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling video game 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 to connect, share and compete.

06 March, 2013, SYDNEY: Team NINJA today outlined new details for NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR’S EDGE, the latest chapter in the famed action series arriving at retail on April 4th 2013 for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360^®. The famed developer revealed that the game will have a full-featured demo available on both platforms before launch and that the full retail Xbox 360 version will support robust SmartGlass functionality for tablets and smartphones, a first for any Team NINJA game. Additionally, Team NINJA announced the new Golden Scarab upgrade feature and fighting details for the female characters Kasumi and Momiji. To premier these new game elements, Team NINJA has released all-new images highlighting the SmartGlass functionality, Golden Scarabs and fighting moves.

Xbox 360 players will be able to expand their NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR’S EDGE experience with immersive SmartGlass “second screen” features on their internet-enabled tablet or smartphone. They can check their updated personal records and achievements and even watch strategy videos based on their current in-game location to get help. Players will also be able to participate in the game’s community by viewing and commenting on gameplay videos which have been uploaded by players around the world—or take a more active role by uploading their own videos from the game.

Regardless of whether they are using SmartGlass features, all players can boost the capability of Ryu Hayabusa, the game’s iconic ultimate Ninja, by discovering Golden Scarabs hidden throughout the game world. These Scarabs can then be used to unlock new Ninpo or weapons. For instance, Piercing Void, a move that creates deadly sharp vacuum blades to slice up nearby enemies, can be unlocked for 20 Scarabs while the sweeping Lunar Staff weapon can be unlocked for 10 Scarabs. The Scarabs are well hidden, though—players will have to search hard for them!

Team NINJA also revealed fresh intel on the fighting moves that Kasumi and Momiji will add to NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR’S EDGE as playable characters. Kasumi, first seen in the DEAD OR ALIVE series, brings a variety of deadly attacks including her renowned Mugen Tenshin attacks that strike with deadly speed even if delivered from midair. She can also unleash the slow but powerful Kunai Tempest, which creates a giant pinwheel shuriken, and Rending Wind, which channels her aura into a powerful beam of energy. Momiji is no slouch, either. She can double-jump in midair with her unique Heavenbreaker to rain down attacks from high overhead, transform dancing leaves into a circle of flames with her Crimson Lotus, and unleash a powerful fireball with her Autumn Flame.

Available prior to launch, the game’s demo will feature stages for both Hayabusa and Ayane. Any Karma or Ninja Skills acquired in the demo can be transferred to the full version, ensuring that demo play time is put to productive use. More details regarding the demo will be available soon.

NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR’S EDGE is the most action-packed and feature rich NINJA GAIDEN game ever created. Published by TECMO KOEI, the game was designed from the ground up to please core action fans with a brutally redesigned battle system, tough enemy AI, upgraded online features, and the return of dismemberment. The Ninja Skills system lets players use Karma earned in combat to freely purchase weapon and Ninpo upgrades, feats, and costumes. Adding to the variety of gameplay, Kasumi, Ayane, and Momiji all join Hayabusa as playable characters. Ayane will get her own chapters in story mode while all three female characters can be played in the new Chapter Challenge mode and Ninja Trials co-op play with multiple costume options.

NINJA GAIDEN 3: RAZOR’S EDGE is developed by Team NINJA and published by Tecmo Koei.

06 MARCH, 2013, SYDNEY: TECMO KOEI EUROPE and Mindscape Asia Pacific are thrilled to announce that the latest installment in the fan-favourite Atelier series, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk for the PlayStation®3, ships to retailers across Australia on Thursday. Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk is sure to fulfill the desires of every alchemy RPG fan with new features, battle system additions, and brand-new storyline and characters. Fans of the series will have even more to explore with future DLC releases of new costumes, characters, additional areas, and more!

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk follows the story of Ayesha Altugle, a girl who has been living alone in a secluded workshop ever since her grandfather died and her younger sister went missing a few years ago. She supports herself by making and selling medicine. As the story begins, she finds out that her younger sister IS alive somewhere in the world. Now, she must devote herself to finding her younger sister. Her journey to keep her promise begins…

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk game features include:

New story and cast of characters: Ayesha’s mission is to find her younger sister, Nio, who went missing after she left home to gather medicinal ingredients, and Ayesha will be supported and helped by those already close to her, as well as new friends she’ll meet along the way. This new setting will embrace all the Japanese RPG fans who are looking for a new kind of alchemy RPG!
Keep a diary to delve deeper into the story: The new Diary System allows the player to keep a log of Ayesha’s activities. Keeping up with the diary, Ayesha will be able to gain more recipes, bonus stats, and items. Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk does not have any time restriction on each mission; instead, every mission will be connected and will help determine your success in finding Ayesha’s younger sister.
Turn-based battle system: Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk features a turn-based battle system that emphasises the importance of character positioning and distance from the enemies. Support and Assist attacks among your party will play a big role in each battle. Place your party members wisely and strategize your way to victory!
Back Attacks and unique character skills: Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk has an updated battle system that allows players to move behind the enemy; attack them from the rear to score critical hits! Get familiar with the special skills and abilities of each character to maximize your battle experience!

Alchemy gets even more exciting by focusing on the process: Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk features an updated synthesis system where Ayesha will learn special alchemy skills that she can use to fine-tune the details of the items that she synthesizes for more desirable results!

UNVEILED FOR PC AND NEXT GENERATION CONSOLES BY EIDOS-MONTRÉAL

Critically-Acclaimed Studio Returns with a New Vision

Sydney (06, March 2013) – Eidos-Montréal®, a part of Square Enix Europe and the award winning studio behind the critically acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution®, today unveiled THIEF™ for PC, PlayStation®4, and other next generation consoles. THIEF is a reinvention of a franchise that helped define an entire genre of games. 

Time has moved on. Power has shifted. New greed replaces the old.

But to remain free in The City of chains – that is still the greatest prize.

First I stole to survive… then I survived to steal.

I am one man; I hear your secrets, see your hidden truths.

I am the shadows, the dark and deadly, the velvet night. You will not see me coming. 

I am Garrett….What’s yours is mine.

There is a rising tide of fear in The City. Hatred saturates every stone and whilst the rich prosper, the less fortunate face misery and repression. Ravaged with sickness and famine, they wait for something to change.

Into this shadowy world steps Garrett, THE master thief in a first-person adventure featuring intelligent design that allows players to take full control, with freedom to choose their path through the game’s levels and how they approach and overcome each challenge.

“We’re handling a precious gemstone with THIEF. Fans remember the original games very fondly and we want to preserve that essence – which we have excellent experience of doing at Eidos-Montréal – whilst also introducing THIEF to a brand new, next-generation, audience,” said Stephane D’Astous, General Manager, Eidos-Montréal. “Our goal is to deliver the fantasy of being Garrett, THE master thief, and we’re building this game around that core experience.” 

Exclusive coverage and developer interviews can be found in Game Informer’s April issue. Additionally, visit GameInformer.com/thief throughout the month for on-going coverage. 

THIEF will be available in 2014 for PC and PlayStation®4, It is also planned for other next-generation consoles.