“HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE” FUN FACTS

• Extras were hired to play paparazzi during one scene in which Hannah Montana is making a music video in Santa Monica. Meanwhile, off screen real paparazzi were trying to capture the moment.

• Star Lucas Till’s four-legged co-star, Seabiscuit, was the horse that played the title character in the 2003 film “Seabiscuit,” a true story about a Depression-era race horse that beat the odds.

• Director Peter Chelsom was an actor for 15 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

• Hannah Montana’s concert, which opens the film, was shot at the Forum in Inglewood, California, the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Kings as well as the location of hundreds of concerts. During the concert, Miley Cyrus performed a couple of her revamped biggest hits for the 1,000 extras on hand.

• Filming in Tennessee returned the Cyruses to their own home near Nashville.

• The shoe fight sequence between Hannah Montana and Tyra Banks was filmed in two locations. The exterior was filmed on the very posh Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, while the interior was shot in a department store in Tennessee.

• At a fundraiser in the film, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) gets up on stage and teaches the audience the dance steps to the show-stopping “Hoedown Throwdown,” a hip-hop country fusion number in which the song’s lyrics are the dance instructions. The filmmakers nicknamed the number “Miley’s Macarena.”

• Miley/Hannah performs classic crowd favorites such as “Rockstar” and “Best of Both Worlds” in addition to unveiling 10 brand new songs including “The Climb,” “Hoedown Throwdown,” “Let’s Get Crazy,” “Butterfly Fly Away” and “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home.” Also performing in the film are hit musical acts Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.

Two Free Maps Available September 17 for PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360® and Games for Windows®

– 15^th September, 2009 – Eidos Interactive Ltd. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced the Insane Night Map Pack, a free downloadable map pack for the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum™ action adventure title. Beginning September 17^th, the Insane Night Map Pack will be available from PlayStation® Store, Xbox® LIVE Marketplace, and Games for Windows® LIVE Marketplace, and offer gamers two new Challenge Maps to hone their FreeFlow™ Combat skills and test their Invisible Predator™ prowess.

In the ‘Totally Insane’ FreeFlow Combat map, players will be tested to their fullest as scores of escaped lunatics bear down upon BATMAN as they make their escape through the asylum’s secure records facility. These fast-moving foes will challenge all but the most practiced players, with quick reactions and expert timing needed to fend off wave upon wave of insane inmates, bent on taking down the DARK KNIGHT. In the ‘Nocturnal Hunter’ Invisible Predator map, players take on a wholly different approach, practicing their predatory skills to remain in the shadows, utilizing the Arkham watchtowers and Batman’s arsenal of gadgets to gain the upper hand on The Joker’s army of goons patrolling below.

The Insane Night Map Pack will be available from September 17^th for PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, and the soon to be released Games for Windows® LIVE edition. 

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios and based on DC Comics’ Batman license, the Dark Knight takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITY – ARKHAM ASYLUM! Since its release, Batman: Arkham Asylum has garnered the acclaim of gamers and critics alike, achieving an average score of 92 from reviews around the world*, earning it a Guinness World Record for ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever.’
Batman: Arkham Asylum is rated M and is available for PLAYSTATION3 and Xbox 360 for the suggested retail price of $119.95.  It will also be available for Games for Windows LIVE at retail outlets for the suggested retail price of $89.95 on 24^th September, 2009.  For more information, please visit www.batmanarkhamasylum.com.

Always committed to help its customers stay one step ahead, Fujitsu is pleased to offer its latest enhanced products, all decked with exquisite style and remarkable versatility and yet each built to suit specific user needs, the Fujitsu latest series of notebooks get you ready to take on the possibilities of tomorrow.

Sydney, Australia – 15 September, 2009 – Fujitsu jazzes up an entire range of distinctively designed computing gems with a slew of powerful processors today to bring its users to new levels of work and play.

Mr. Ivan Chan, Country Director, Fujitsu PC Australia says, “Whether you are an intensive user with demanding business needs, an entertainment fanatic who seeks the best visual experience or a student seeking a stylish yet affordable companion, there’s a Fujitsu for you.”

Ultimate Mobile Companion: LifeBook P8020, S6520, T2020, T5010 and T1010
Designed to bestow mobility, productivity and efficiency upon the user all at once, the Fujitsu LifeBook P8020, S6520, T2020, T5010 and T1010 are the perfect companions that bring you the convenience you need.

LifeBook P8020

Exuding a lustrous flair, the LifeBook P8020 is presented in either a high gloss sleek black or chic pink gold finish to impart the user with style and panache whilst on the move.

Sporting a 12.1-inch SuperFine Wide XGA TFT with 1280 by 800 pixels (250nits brightness and 45% Colour Gamut) with SlimEdge display, this sassy number makes a powerful yet lightweight mobile companion at just 1.3kg with the upgraded Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor SU9400 (1.40GHz, 3MB Cache and 800MHz).

Full featured with an integrated optical disk drive, microphone and 1.3 Mega Pixel camera for optimised VoIP communications, the LifeBook P8020 effortlessly becomes an indispensable mobile tool.

LifeBook S6520

Returning with an improved Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9600 (2.8GHz, 6MB cache and 1066MHz), in a pristine white chassis for that minimalistic and fuss-free demeanour, the Fujitsu LifeBook S6520 is set to impress.

Equipped with a 14.1-inch SuperFine WXGA Back Light LED with 300nits brightness (1280 by 800 pixels) display with SlimEdge Design, the LifeBook S6520 provides an additional 12.5% display area compared to other notebooks in its class. Complemented with superb 2D/3D graphics performance with S3 Graphics Chrome 430 ULP, the LifeBook S6520 dedicates a magnificent visual experience for pictures or movie viewing wherever you are.

LifeBook T5010, T2020 and T1010

Be spoilt for choice when you indulge in Fujitsu’s tablet series with enhanced performance from the upgraded Intel® Centrino®2 Processor technology, promising a boost in efficiency and productivity.

Identifying with the need to have a superior quality display during presentations to clients especially in an outdoor setting, the LifeBook T2020 is decked out in a 12.1-inch Wide Screen with 270nits brightness and AR coating, making both indoor and outdoor viewing a pleasurable experience.

Opt for a larger screen if you’re seeking a more comfy usage, the 13.3 inch display of the LifeBook T5010 and T1010 permits you to choose between typing on the conventional keyboard, or writing with a stylus.

Taking notes during lectures or brainstorming during a meeting has never been easier, especially with such flexibility, your handwritten notes will no longer end up as misplaced pieces of paper.

Coupled with a bi-directional hinge for a greater convenience, these LifeBook notebooks make it possible for you to swirl and adjust the screen easily to achieve the perfect viewing angle.

Corporate Gems: LifeBook E8420 and S7220

Displaying brilliance in performance with modest and inconspicuous exteriors, these two business performers are hard to be overlooked.

Integral to the LifeBook E8420 is the boosted processor performance to the Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T9600 (2.8GHz, 6MB Cache, 1066MHz), making this gem the obvious choice if you seek ultimate processing speed and advance security features. 

LifeBook E8420

Pamper your senses with the outstanding 2D/3D graphics performance with NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS graphics with HDMI output of the LifeBook E8420. Coupled with the 15.4-inch wide top-of-the-line SuperFine WXGA TFT and a 1280 by 800 pixels display area, the E8420 takes visual extravagance from the boardroom to the playfield.

With a slew of security features such to give you the ultimate peace of mind, the E8420 boasts of the Fujitsu 3D Shock Sensor, BIOS Lock, 2-password Hard Disk Lock, LifeBook Lock, Trusted Platform Module option, Anti-theft Lock Slot and the Fingerprint Sensor to provide the layers of data security.

LifeBook S7220

For ultimate flexibility options, the LifeBook S7220 comes with a hot-swappable modular bay device options so that you can choose from Fujitsu’s suite of modular bay options to suit your computing needs.

With a multitude of ergonomic features to support your lifestyle, like a slightly raised palm rest that relieves stress off your wrists as you type a long report and the improved scroll button for optimum control.

The LifeBook S7220’s 14.1-inch Anti Glare WXGA TFT (185nits brightness, 1280 by 800 pixels) makes working off this sophisticated performer easy on the eyes and for a longer period of time of up to 6.7 hrs with the standard and optional battery bay.

The full featured security features such as the BIOS Lock, 2-password Hard Disk Lock, LifeBook Lock, Anti-theft Lock Slot, Smartcard slot, Fingerprint Sensor and Trusted Platform Module option also ensures maximum data confidentiality.

Stylish All-in-One Performer: Fujitsu L1010 and LifeBook S6420

Style meets performance in these Fujitsu machines that come packed with performance brilliance and are eye candies on their own with beaming hues that flaunts chic and style.

Fujitsu L1010

Pumping up the vivid quotient is the Fujitsu L1010, presented in four palatable hues – Pink, Purple, Black and the only-one-of-its-kind White with Pink Gold. Characteristic of Fujitsu’s precise attention to details, the L1010’s high gloss finish curved edges makes it effortless to carry around. With such a marked design, the L1010 is distinctly the top-notch in the style department that is bound to turn heads as you walk down the street!

Not just style but also packed with substance, the L1010 is powered by an enhanced Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6600, optimised by NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS Graphics with HDMI output for brilliant picture and movie viewing.  With its built-in 1.3 Mega Pixel web camera with stereo microphones and speakers, you can do almost anything on your L1010, be it reports, presentations, your personal photo album, or multimedia centre, while being easy on the pockets.

LifeBook S6420

          
With a streamlined profile and lightweight design, the LifeBook S6420 now comes with an Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8700 donned in white exterior, amidst the existing classic black.

Stay in touch with clients and business associates with a full suite of features for instant converged communication and be rest assured with a host of advanced security features. Enjoy reduced power-up time and a brilliant SuperFine Wide LCD display, perfect for stunning visuals thanks to the S3 Graphics for cinematic video quality viewing pleasure. 

Pocket-friendly: LifeBook S6421 and A6230

At such crunch times during the economic downturn, cost-effective office solutions are at the top of everyone’s minds. Never one to compromise functionality over cost savings, Fujitsu has the answer to your needs with LifeBook S6421 and the enhanced LifeBook A6230.

LifeBook S6421

Packed with the Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6500 for performance, yet maintaining Fujitsu’s standards in delivery with full features, the LifeBook S6421 is definitely worth every penny.

This 13.3-inch with SuperFine WXGA TFT petite number with 250 nits brightness, 1280 by 800 pixels display, built-in 1.3 mega pixel web camera and dual stereo microphones despite its considerate pricing.

With this whole gamut of features, communicating with clients and work associates requires minimal effort. Aside from that, simply activate the ECO button whenever you’re using the notebook for low processing tasks such as listening to music, viewing photos and so on to extend your battery life up to 4 hours.

LifeBook A6230

Emanating undeniable style, the pocket-friendly Fujitsu LifeBook A6230 offered in Lamp Black, comes with the brilliant 15.4-inch Glare WXGA TFT  in a 1280 by 800 pixels LCD screen with 200 nits brightness, 350:1 Contrast Ratio and 45% Colour Gamut, with a built-in Blu-ray Disc Drive will ensure your LifeBook A6230 accompanies you for both work and weekends movie nights.

Stay instantly connected with friends and work associates with the instant converged communication tools – built-in 1.3 Mega Pixel camera and internal digital microphone.

About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 175,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

Sydney, Australia – September 15, 2009: Lenovo today announced a new way for business users to work with multitouch screen technology¹ on its versatile and portable ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC and slim and powerful ThinkPad T400s laptop. Lenovo is also introducing SimpleTap, an application that brings simplicity to the multitouch screen experience.

“We see now as the right time for multitouch screens on PCs,” said Chris Kelly, Product and Marketing Director, Lenovo Australia, New Zealand. “With touch screens increasingly becoming part of more devices we use routinely and continued improvement of the technology ,including the integration of touch in the upcoming Windows 7 operating system, the environment for making touch part of our tablet PC and ThinkPad T400s laptop experience couldn’t be better. We’ve also extended the touch experience with Simple Tap to make frequent hardware-based functions touch-enabled and simple.”

Lenovo also today announced a new defence against the sun for outdoor workers with a new super bright optional screen on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet.

Personalising Productivity on the PC with Touch

Users can now interact with their ThinkPad PC in a more personal way with multitouch screen technology. Designed for highly mobile users, the optional multi-touch screen ThinkPad X200 Tablet caters to individuals in fields such as sales, health care and education. Already supporting one finger touch, these users can now use two-finger touch to perform a variety of gestures, including pinching, zooming, tapping and flicking through documents, web pages and photos instead of using a mouse.

The high performance ThinkPad T400s laptop serves professionals in engineering and design. Now these users can manipulate four fingers on the ThinkPad T400s laptop’s optional multitouch screen to not only replace the mouse but transform the way they work. They can now use four fingers to manipulate objects, move images with two hands and even have another person touch the screen at the same time with them. As new multitouch applications are introduced, there will be new possibilities for using multitouch screen laptops.

Using advanced capacitive touch, the screens are sensitive and responsive to even the slightest touch of the finger. Lenovo also optimised the firmware to help compensate for slightly imprecise taps on the screen, such as when closing a window or navigating the Start menu, helping make navigation easier for Tablet users. To combat fingerprints, an anti-fingerprint coating helps keep smudges at bay and the screen clean. The multi-touch screens also allow users to enjoy ultra long battery life with up to nine hours on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet.²

With upcoming ThinkPad X200 Tablet models supporting the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, these mobile users can also take advantage of improved predictive text over previous operating systems, improved handwriting recognition in more languages and formula input features for math and scientific equations.

More details on the ThinkPad T400s and X200 Tablet are available at www.lenovo.com.au.

Adding a “Touch” of Simplicity to Touch Screens

Touch screens are designed to make interaction with a PC natural and intuitive, however, often users must switch between touch screen gestures and pressing hardware buttons. Lenovo designed SimpleTap, a ThinkVantage Technology, to enable uninterrupted use of people’s touch screens by giving them access to hardware-based functions that may be more easily accessed via touch input. For Tablet users, that means staying in tablet mode longer while on-the-go, saving time and being more productive.

To use SimpleTap, simply double tap anywhere on the screen to launch the application. A clean and efficient grid of colourful and transparent square tiles, inspired by the classic 15 Puzzle, opens on top of the work beneath and allows users to choose several hardware-based functions including: turning on or off the wireless radio, ThinkLight and microphone, previewing the camera, enabling mute, adjusting the volume or screen brightness, locking the screen or putting the PC to sleep. To exit SimpleTap, just tap once anywhere on the screen to close the grid and continue working. As a quick access interface, SimpleTap allows users to get in, perform a function and get out quickly.  

Designed to be highly customisable, individuals can create their own tiles to enhance their personal productivity. For example, a sales professional could create a tile that launches a sales presentation with just the tap of a finger. A health professional could similarly create a tile that pulls up a patient’s medical information instantaneously. Or a consumer could quickly access his or her favourite website. Users can arrange the tiles however they choose by dragging and grouping them together, and designed to be fun to use, the tiles can even be flicked around the screen.

Brightening Tablet PC for Outdoor Light

To further extend tablet computing outdoors, users can now choose a super bright outdoor screen that displays images even in direct sunlight. For field engineers, sales professionals, students and others who work outside, outdoor viewability is critical. The new optional outdoor screen on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet offers excellent viewability with a bright 400 nit screen, low 1.2 percent reflectivity and wide viewing angle. Coated with a thin anti-reflective layer, the screen provides crisp and bright images that can easily be seen indoors or outdoors. Mobile workers can also stay productive with the Tablet’s all day battery life. 

A photo of the ThinkPad X200 outdoor screen compared with a standard screen can be viewed here.

Pricing and Availability³

The ThinkPad T400s with the multitouch screen and the X200 Tablet with the multitouch screen and the outdoor screen will be available starting 15 September 2009 through www.lenovo.com.au. Pricing starts at $2891.00 for the T400s with multitouch screen, $3215.00 for the X200 Tablet with multitouch screen and $3039.00 for the X200 Tablet with the outdoor screen. SimpleTap will be available for download after September 15 2009. All prices quoted include GST.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centres in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.au.

Sydney, Australia – For the first time ever in a video game, GRAMMY® Award winning DJ’s and producing duo, Daft Punk, will start the party right with Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) DJ Hero™ on October 27, 2009. Featuring 93 exclusive on-disc mixes from some of the biggest acts in hip-hop, pop, rock and dance, players will be able to test their DJing chops as virtual recreations of the renowned twosome and experience their iconic sounds in eleven original mixes, including two signature “Megamixes,” using their music. Among the mixes in the game featuring Daft Punk are:

Daft Punk “Around the World” vs. Young MC “Bust A Move”
Daft Punk “Da Funk” vs. NASA “Strange Enough ft. Karen O, ODB and Fatlip”
Daft Punk “Da Funk” vs. Queen “Another One Bites the Dust”
Daft Punk “Robot Rock” vs. Hashim “Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)” – Produced and mixed by The Scratch Perverts
Daft Punk “Robot Rock” vs. Queen “We Will Rock You”
Daft Punk “Short Circuit” vs. Boogie Down Productions “Jack Of Spades”
Daft Punk “Technologic” vs. Gary Numan “Cars”
Daft Punk “Television Rules The Nation” vs. No Doubt “Hella Good”

“Partnering with Daft Punk is a rare opportunity in any medium and we are extremely honoured to have worked with them so closely on integrating into DJ Hero in such a compelling way,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Guitar Hero®. “This is the first time in a video game that fans will have this kind of direct interaction with Daft Punk while also experiencing never-before-released mixes that feature some of their most popular tracks. It’s amazing working with Daft Punk as they are the quintessential electronic music act known around the world for their unique style and music.”

Expanding upon the revolutionary easy to pick up/challenging to master gameplay mechanics developed and refined in Guitar Hero, DJ Hero delivers an all-new interactive music experience that allows players to start the party and not only experience, but to hear music in an all-new way. With over 100 individual songs, highlighted in 93 unique never-before-released mixes that blend genres of music, including hip-hop, pop, rock and dance, DJ Hero delivers the most diverse and international collection of music ever assembled in a music game by incorporating anthems from legendary artists. Created exclusively for DJ Hero, the turntable controller immerses fans into the DJ culture and a sea of music as they utilise and master various DJ techniques including scratching, crossfading and sampling, while leaving room for creative expression with a variety of effects and player chosen samples and scratches, transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party.

DJ Hero is being developed by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is rated “PG” (Mild Themes, Sexual References and Coarse Language). For more information about DJ Hero, please visit djhero.com, facebook.com/djhero and twitter.com/djhero. To pre-order DJ Hero, check out djhero.com/preorder.

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, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

For any enquiries contact:

James Levy

PR Manager

Activision Blizzard

+61 2 8876 5738

James.Levy@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 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, licensees, licensors and third-party developers, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, 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 completing the integration of 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 the risk factors section of 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.

###

© 2009 Activision Publishing, Inc. Guitar Hero and Activision are registered trademarks and DJ Hero is a trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc.

The Beatles: Rockband By Joshua Blackman (EVENT)
11/09/09

To the cheer of Beatles fans around the world, the Beatles CD catalogue has finally been digitally re-mastered. To coincide with this release, EA Australia has released the latest in the Rockband series, this one consisting solely of classic Beatles tunes: The Beatles: Rockband.  

At the press launch held at the Diamant hotel near King’s Cross in Sydney, representatives from EA were joined by up-and-coming and young rock-punk-glam-electro band Short Stack. Donning the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club outfits, they did their best to play a song in the game, but the guitarist curiously missed almost every beat (though apparently the controller was set up incorrectly). To the complete indifference of the audience they then played two songs from their new album, before giving up the stage to allow the attendees at hands-on experience of the game.

Anyone who’s played the other Rockband titles or Guitar Hero would be instantly familiar with the gameplay – almost nothing has changed except unique addition of three-part vocal harmonies. Players can choose from four instruments – guitar, bass, voice or drums. One of the games unique selling points are the replicas of instruments made famous by the band, including the Höfner base used by Sir Paul McCartney. The drums kit is also a very cute imitation of Ringo’s pearl-finished set. 

Over 45 songs from the Beatles catalogue have been included, the songs themselves divided up into the different venues featured in the game, which include the Cavern Club, the Ed Sullivan Theatre, the final rooftop concert and, of course, Abbey Road. While 45 songs are on offer, including classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “I am the Walrus”, “Yellow Submarine” and “While my Guitar Gently Weeps”, a mass of material is missing, some of which will be available to download beginning with Abbey Road in October.

While I was not given a chance to extensively playtest the game, particularly impressive were the cell shaded animations of the fab four in concert and the particularly surreal video accompanying “I am the Walrus”, which was as visually creative as many recent animated films. 

The career mode of the first Rockband game has been replaced by a similar “story” mode which chronologically maps out the band’s career. Also akin to the previous titles, you can play any song cooperatively or competitively at difficultly levels ranging from “Easy” to “Expert”. Hence, The Beatles: Rockband doesn’t do a lot to advance the already established gameplay, but it doesn’t need to. The very presence of their classic songs is sufficient to warrant this an essential purchase for fans of the series or of the band. If for some inexplicable reason you don’t fall into either category, then this is a great opportunity to interactively become familiar with some of the most iconic musicians of the 20^th century.

The Beatles: Rockband is now in wide release with a RRP of $79.99 for Wii and $89.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3. The limited edition bundle including the unique set of controllers retails at $369.99.

Get ready for the ultimate adventure when Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 releases this Wednesday 16^th on X360 and NDS, and September 23^rd on PS3 and Wii. 

Watch the launch trailer here!

For more information visit www.marvelultimatealliance.com

Fast HyperX 4GB Kits Available at 1.65 Volts; 8GB Kits to Come

Sydney, Australia – September 14, 2009 – Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is leading the charge in memory support for Intel’s new LGA1156 Core i5 and Core i7 systems by shipping super-fast 2133MHz HyperX running at a low 1.65 volts. The XMP-ready Kingston 4GB dual-channel 2133MHz CL8 kit is the perfect choice for ultra-enthusiasts who are ready to take the Intel Core i5 platform to the next level of memory overclocking performance.

“Intel has worked closely with Kingston on testing HyperX memory for use with the Core i5 platform and P55 chipset,” said Geof Findley, Memory Ecosystem Manager, Intel. “We’ve seen great results from all of the Kingston memory especially the high-performance dual-channel kits. The combination of Kingston HyperX and Core i5 utilizing the Nehalem architecture brings unsurpassed performance for mainstream and enthusiast users.”

Kingston is shipping a family of XMP-ready HyperX products in different frequencies to support users of all levels who want to take full advantage of the Core i5 platform. HyperX memory running at 1.65 volts are shipping in 4GB kits at 1333-, 1600-, 2000- and 2133MHz frequencies. In late September, Kingston will launch 8GB kits of two in 1333- and 1600MHz frequencies for users who wish to take advantage of 64-bit operating systems.

“Kingston has worked with our terrific partners including Intel, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI worldwide, to develop a series of memory kits that deliver top-notch performance on the some of the finest motherboards being launched this week,” said Vaughan Nankivell, Regional Manager- Australia and New Zealand for Kingston Technology. “While the 2133MHz modules are engineered for benchmarkers and overclockers, our recently released 1600MHz frequency is the perfect choice for mainstream users who want to build their own rigs with P55 motherboards and 1156-pin processors.”

Videos showing the top-of-class HyperX 2133MHz CL8 kits working on P55-based motherboards from Asus and Gigabyte are available at:
1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFvVztQo79o (Asus)
2.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF0BDzZquSs (Gigabyte)

Kingston has also changed its part numbering system to make it easier to decipher. All HyperX part numbers begin with a ‘KHX’ designator and are now followed by the module’s frequency. A complete explanation can be found at http://www.kingston.com/asia/hyperx/Products/decoder.asp.

Product Summary
Manufacturer: Kingston Technology
Product name : Kingston HyperX DDR3 Dual-Channel 1.65 volt
RRP for KHX2133C8D3T1K2/4GX: A$672, NZ$$850
RRP for KHX2133C9D3T1K2/4GX: A$461, NZ$$583
RRP for KHX2000C8D3T1K2/4GX: A$340, NZ$$429
RRP for KHX2000C9D3T1K2/4GX: A$238, NZ$$301
RRP for KHX1600C8D3T1K2/4GX: A$225, NZ$$284
RRP for KHX1600C8D3K2/4GX: A$218, NZ$$276
RRP for KHX1333C7D3K2/4GX: A$206, NZ$$259
Website: www.kingston.com/anz
Australian Distributors:  Avnet Australia Pty Ltd, Ingram Micro, Simms International Pty Ltd., Synnex Australia PTY Ltd.
New Zealand Distributors: Ingram Micro NZ, Synnex NZKingston memory is backed by a lifetime warranty and free technical support.

Download High Resolution Images
http://www.gapmarketing.com.au/press_images/Kingston/HyperXD3K2.zip

For more detailed information visit discuss this product on Kingston Blog, please go to www.kingston-blog.com. To try the game “Challenge Your Memory”, please go to www.kingston-blog.com/challenge_your_memory/en/.To find out if your Kingston product is genuine, Kingston also provides an online verification site: www.kingston.com/asia/verify. To try the game “Search for Genuine Kingston”, please go to anti-counterfeit.kingston-blog.com.www.kingston.com/anz.To

About Kingston Technology Company, Inc.
Kingston Technology Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston designs, manufactures and distributes memory products for desktops, laptops, servers, printers, and Flash memory products for PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Through its global network of subsidiaries and affiliates, Kingston has manufacturing facilities in California, Malaysia, Taiwan, China and sales representatives in the United States, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, India, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.kingston.com/anz.

Bellevue, Washington–Tozai Games is pleased to announce the Deal of the Week promotion on Xbox LIVE for its highly-praised Xbox LIVE Arcade title, Lode Runner^TM. The Deal of the Week promotion for Gold members highlights one exceptional title in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and is given a reduced price point for an entire week. From September 14th through September 20th, Xbox LIVE Gold members will be able to find Deal of the Week notices for Lode Runner on the Xbox 360’s dashboard, in the Xbox.com newsletter and in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace at Xbox.com.

“Lode Runner for Xbox LIVE Arcade is our premier product ” says Sheila Boughten, President of Tozai Games. “We acquired the Lode Runner property a few years ago, and we feel honored to carry its wonderful legacy forward to the franchise’s many fans as well as to a whole new generation of gamers.  Everyone at Tozai Games was a huge fan of the original, so to us Lode Runner for Xbox LIVE truly represents a labor of love. We are thrilled to have Lode Runner featured as Deal of the Week and believe the opportunity to own this title for only 800 Microsoft Points is a huge value for Xbox LIVE Gold members.” 

Tozai Games and developer SouthEnd Interactive collaborated on the creation of Lode Runner just as in the case of Tozai’s first Xbox LIVE Arcade title, R-Type Dimensions. The game’s design and its huge collection of 272 levels were created by Tozai’s Brett Ballow, while the SouthEnd team rebuilt the game’s infrastructure from the ground up.

“This isn’t just a port of the original Lode Runner that so many people remember,” says Scott Tsumura, Tozai’s co-founder, referring to the franchise’s storied 26-year history, which dates back to Douglas E. Smith’s ground-breaking game design for early computer systems such as the Commodore 64 and Apple II. “We focused on maintaining the integrity of the incredibly fun 2D game play, but added all-new levels, hi-res graphics, multiplayer online options, puzzles, co-op modes and much more.”

When Lode Runner for Xbox LIVE Arcade originally released near the end of April, TeamXbox’s Andy Eddy gave the game an Editor’s Choice Award, saying: “I think the old-school game play shines through in its new packaging.” In all, 19 of 29 reviewers noted by Metacritic gave Lode Runner scores of 80 or above.

“The game features exceptional breadth,” Brett Ballow explains. “The six modes include a single-player adventure, which we call Journey mode, a two-player co-op Journey that adds an entirely new level of strategy, single-player puzzles and two-player co-op puzzles, single-player Hang On mode (a survival challenge) and two-to-four player Last Man mode, in which up to four players compete to be the last Runner standing. And if you die in Last Man, you’ll immediately return as one of the enemies so you can avenge yourself.”

Lode Runner is also known as one of the very first game franchises to include a Level Editor so players could create their own challenges. Tozai Games not only created an easy-to-use Level Editor, they pioneered Community sharing of user generated content for Xbox LIVE Arcade.

“Microsoft really wanted us to build in a Lode Runner Community, where players and level designers can swap and play their own custom creations,” says Ballow. “It took us months of extra work, but in the end it was definitely worth the effort. We’ve seen some really amazing level designs from the game’s early purchasers.”