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Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today unveiled a brand new trailer and gameplay details for the action adventure title Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate.

The epic Nintendo 3DS™ title tells the story of Simon and Trevor Belmont (voiced by Alec Newman and Richard Madden respectively) both descendants of Gabriel Belmont who has now returned as a powerful vampire called Dracula and is threatening to destroy the brotherhood and any who would stand against him. Gabriel (voiced by Robert Carlyle) was revealed to be the prince of darkness in the original Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and an all-new prologue level allows users to control Gabriel once again before his transformation.

Developed by Mercury Steam and mixing intense combat with deep exploration elements, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate showcases the same aesthetic and gameplay that made Castlevania: Lords of Shadow the most successful Castlevania game in its illustrious history.  The new game takes place 25 years after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,and acts as a precursor to the highly anticipated Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 which will be released in 2013 for PlayStation®3, Xbox 360® and Windows PC.

The all new two-minute trailer details the combat, platforming and challenges present in the game whilst the stunning 3D locations act as a tantalising taster of what fans can expect next year. With an estimated play-time of around 20 hours, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate will offer a suitably deep and lengthy action adventure experience and a graphical tour de force on the handheld.

The game’s orchestral score by award winning composer Oscar Araujo is also showcased, adding to the suitably gothic atmosphere in a tale that explores the bonds of family and inescapable destiny.

 
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Mission Complete: Sackboy™ shares his Project (Near) Space adventure

SYDNEY, 2 November 2012 – PlayStation® Australia today announced mission complete as the courageous Sackboy™ returned safely from his trip to (near) space. Launched around 50 kilometres outside West Wyalong and sent high into the ‘sackosphere’, the hessian hero has brought back his own incredible bird’s eye view pictures of our own little big planet.

<image006.jpg>With perfect launch conditions, Sackboy’s meteorological balloon was filled with five cubic metres of helium, expanding to a 30 foot diameter and soaring to 95,000 feet before popping. The launch team made sure they could follow the journey by fitting the flight rigging with GPS and wireless modules, capable of tracking Sackboy up to 32 kilometres.

The journey was captured perfectly using four Sony Action Cams, stitched together on his flight rigging to create a 360 degree panoramic view.

The launch team eagerly tracked Sackboy’s progress, watching as he zoomed upwards at over 15 feet per second as a north-north westerly breeze pushed him up to speeds over 90 km/h. Racing through fields to Sackboy’s landing zone, they found him safe and sound in a wheat field over 69 kilometres away from the launch site.

As part of Project (Near) Space, over 1000 fans participated in the social media initiative and were able to use strategic clues and tips provided on PlayStation Australia’s Facebook page to locate, using skill and logic, where the brave Sackboy would land.

Sackboy couldn’t have made the journey without the help of his Facebook fans, who created their own design submissions for his maiden voyage spacesuit. The winning design from Tom Fox provided him protection from the elements and kept him in contact with Mission Control.

With two feet back on the ground, Sackboy is now preparing for his next customisable adventure with LittleBigPlanet Karting™ on PlayStation®3 (PS3™), that zooms in store next week, 8th November. This fast-paced karting fun will have both Sackboy and fans race the unexpected, this time on land: behind the wheel to race through fun-filled tracks, and battle in karting arenas.

You can see Sackboy’s full Project (Near) Space adventure in high definition with footage captured in flight by visiting PlayStation Australia’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.

 
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Video – Lamborghini Gallardo Transformation into the Most Wanted Taxi

NSW POLICE GET MOST WANTED TAXI RIDES FOR FREE

  • EA to help police enjoy Lamborghini taxi service legally
  • Motorists who are caught and fined breaking new mobile phone driving laws to receive complimentary copy of Need For Speed™ Most Wanted                            

Following revelations of NSW Police taking mobile phone photographs while driving of the new Need For Speed™ Most Wanted Taxi, in apparent contravention of new laws banning motorists from touching their mobile phones while driving, EA has announced the launch of a new ‘Police-only’ initiative. To help NSW Police officers enjoy the Need For Speed™ Most Wanted Taxi legally and safely, EA is offering all serving members of the force the opportunity to take a complimentary one hour ride in the stunning Lamborghini Gallardo taxi to a destination of their choice in central Sydney.

At the same time EA is also coming to the rescue of any motorists found to have contravened the new laws. Drivers who can demonstrate they have been caught and fined by NSW Police for taking a photo on their mobile phone while driving will be offered a free copy of Need For Speed™ Most Wanted.

“The Need For Speed™ Most Wanted Taxi has already been a huge hit with Australian and International celebrities with the likes of pop-star Ellie Goulding, Ricki-Lee Coulter, X-Factor host Luke Jacobz and the guys from Bondi Rescue getting involved. It’s no surprise to us that members of the NSW Police want a piece of the action, and we’re happy to help them get a ride in our Lamborghini taxi.” says EA spokesperson, Snezana Stojanovska.

“With Need For Speed™ Most Wanted launching  on the same day this law was introduced, we’re happy to offer a copy of our game as a consolation to those who get caught out like the police officer.”

 
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Sure Bets from AVG for a Safe Online Melbourne Cup

The arrival of online gambling services on mobile devices opens novice gamblers and the unwary to more scams.

MELBOURNE, 1 November 2012 — Scammers are ratcheting up their targeted activities for this year’s Melbourne Cup in their attempts to catch novice and unwary Internet gamblers. The ‘race that stops a nation’ will be heavily backed by online gambling sites. And the proliferation of these services as apps on mobile devices creates new opportunities for cyber criminals.

AVG Technologies says this year’s winners will be the punters who protect themselves from malicious online hits before turning to the Form Guide.

Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG, said: “The risks for those having a bet online is that cybercriminals are following the money and developing sophisticated scams and malware to tap into this highly lucrative market.”

Typical scams include fraudulent betting sites and sports arbitrage sites[1] which are being introduced at an alarming rate to fleece unwary Australians. And the Government’s SCAMWatch site warns of the latest scam – software to predict race outcomes.

“To understand why the risks are increasing, we need to recognise how quickly we’ve changed our national behaviour. Not that long ago, betting was primarily the realm of men who frequented the TAB. Only the Melbourne Cup brought out the once-a-year gamblers and for most, that meant a simple flutter in the office sweep,” McKinnon said.

“Now, with the easy convenience of apps on our phones and mobile devices, online gaming and gambling has never before been so accessible in our society.

“According to the Australian Government’s Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy[2], it is estimated that Australians are losing close to $1 billion a year to unlicensed online gaming services, with local players accessing 2200 illegal gaming sites in addition to those licensed in this marketplace,” McKinnon said.

AVG 2012 Melbourne Cup Trifecta

1. Prepare ahead of time.

Don’t leave it to the last minute to sign up to an online service or download an app for your Melbourne Cup bets this year. If you go searching in a hurry, particularly using the convenience of a smartphone or other mobile device, you may be more vulnerable to cybercrime tricks that lure you into malicious sites or scams.

During peak events, such as the Melbourne Cup, it is common for cyber criminals to engage in short-term advertising and linking campaigns that can expose victims to any number of active threats, including malware infections, identity theft and credit card fraud.

2. Don’t trust your e-mail

Recent tactics used by spammers include cloning e-mails from legitimate companies, so that the fakes are almost impossible to identify. It is important to always use an Anti-Spam solution to filter junk e-mail, and be aware of the website address in links before you click.

Legitimate gambling operators often advise that you should never click on links contained in e-mails, and many of them never send e-mails with a link to their site, advising that you always enter their web address directly into the web browser.

3. Use a reputable, Australian licensed service

AVG recommends that you use only gaming and betting services that are licensed and regulated in Australia. Before you sign up, take the time to review their site security pages.

McKinnon said: “Be wary of attractive sign-on incentives, what you agree to and what you may be asked to click through to. Think twice about sites offering ‘free money’, or claims that you’ll be more likely to win with them. Any site with these ‘above the odds’ offers should be assessed very critically.

“Reputable sites will have comprehensive advice about protecting your personal information, spotting fraudulent e-mails and monitoring your logins to ensure there’s only legitimate activity occurring in your account.”

4. Protect every device and all personal information

  • Strong passwords that are changed at least every six months are your best bet.
  • Trustworthy betting sites will provide a minimum of 128-bit SSL encryption for all transactions – look for URLs which begin with https:// — the ‘s’ signifies security.
  • Consider opening a credit card account only for online transactions and keep it separate from your other accounts.
  • Protect all computers with automatically updated and always on anti-virus and Internet security protection software.
  • Mobile devices now have the full power of PCs – these too need to be operated using all available in-built protection measures as well as specifically designed security software for smartphones, laptops and tablets such as AVG AntiVirus for Android.
  • Do all your online betting or gaming from a secure Internet connection. You should never use a public computer or a public, unsecured Wi-Fi network to do online transactions such as logging into online accounts, placing bets or making payments.

Report any suspicious or unscrupulous behaviour from unlicensed or overseas gambling sites to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at gambling@acma.gov.au.

Legitimate Australian gambling providers are registered with the following state government bodies:

Victoria : http://www.vcgr.vic.gov.au

New South Wales : http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory : http://www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au

South Australia: http://www.olgc.sa.gov.au

Queensland : http://www.olgr.qld.gov.au

Western Australia : http://www.orgl.wa.gov.au

Tasmania : http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au

Northern Territory : http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/licenreg

 

[1] http://www.scmagazine.com.au/News/313231,exclusive-online-betting-scam-robs-aussies-blind.aspx

[2] The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 Interim Report May 2012 – here

 
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FIGHT TOGETHER OR DIE ALONE WHEN ARMY OF TWO THE DEVIL’S CARTEL SHIPS MARCH 28, 2013

Pre-Order and Upgrade to the Army of TWO The Devil’s Cartel Overkill Edition with More Weapons, Gear and Early Access to Bonus Content

Sydney, Australia – Nov. 2, 2012 – Grab a friend, cross the border and take the war on drugs head on when Visceral Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) studio, launches Army of TWO™ The Devil’s Cartel in Australia on March 28th, 2013 (29 March 2013 in New Zealand). Powered by the award-winning Frostbite™ 2 engine from DICE, Army of TWO The Devil’s Cartel features intense co-operative gameplay where teamwork is needed for success and survival against a relentless Cartel lord. To help equip players for this intense operation, Visceral Games is rewarding fans who pre-order the game with the exclusive Army of TWO The Devil’s Cartel Overkill Edition, which includes 3 bonus contracts!

 
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Shocking horror-comedy banned two days before screening at Horror film festival

2nd November 2012: A Canadian horror-comedy, Father’s Day has been refused classification (RC) by the Australian Government Classification Board two days before it was scheduled to screen at the Monster Fest Film Festival at Melbourne’s Cinema Nova.

“This is an outrageous decision” comments Festival Director and Monster Pictures Manager Neil Foley ‘Yes Father’s Day is an edgy film, but it is an hilarious and over-the-top spoof that, despite it’s gore, is actually one of the sweetest films in the Monster Fest program!”

Father’s Day was due to screen this coming Sunday at 8.00pm following on from another Canadian film by the same filmmakers, MANBORG.

Father’s Day tells the story of a one-eyed vigilante named Ahab who sets out to stop the murderous rampage of a psychopath dubbed “The Father’s Day Killer”

At this stage the Classification Board have not disclosed their reasons for the banning of the film.

Father’s Day has been granted an 18+ certificate by the British Board of Film Classification who are traditionally seen as more conservative than their Australian counterparts.

Produced by Canadian collective Astron-6 and distributed by Melbourne based Monster Pictures, Father’s Day has been a hit at festivals across the globe, winning numerous awards including ‘Best Film’ at the prestigious Toronto After Dark Festival.

Father’s Day screened earlier this year at Sydney’s Night of Horror Film Festival’ where it won awards for ‘Best Feature Film’ and ‘Best Director’ as well as numerous other awards. The film had been granted a temporary festival exemption by the Classification Board on the occasion of the Sydney screening.

“This is yet another example of the draconian censorship in this country. Laws that restrict Australian adults from viewing legally produced materials that are freely available in the rest of the world are an embarrassment and need to be overhauled immediately” says Dean Bertram, Director of the Night of Horror Film Festival.

The scheduled Sunday evening screening of Father’s Day will be replaced by another Canadian film DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK whose co-directors Jen & Sylvia Soska, are currently in Australia to promote their new film AMERICAN MARY. DEAD HOOKER and AMERICAN MARY will be presented by the sisters at Monster Fest and accompanied by a Q&A sessions. AMERICAN MARY will be released nationally in theatres this month.

Tickets to Monster Fest are still available.  Go to http://www.cinemanova.com.au/catalogue/monster-fest/ to purchase.

 
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Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package

In honour of Saints young and old, THQ and Volition are proud to unveil the new launch trailer for Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package, scheduled to ship in Australia, November 6th. The premiere edition of Saints Row: The Third, The Full Package includes award-winning Saints Row: The Third; all three downloadable mission packs and more than 30 bonus DLC items – The Full Package lets it all hang out.  With every weapon, every vehicle, every outfit, go over the top, off the reservation, and to places where no decent game should go.  Strap it on, all the way.

In addition, Volition is happy to give away to all Saints Row fans five new in-game clothing items, compatible with Saints Row: The Third as well as the Full package. Simply drive on down to Let’s Pretend in Steelport, and all Saints players can snag the “Member of the Row” shirt, 3rd Street Hoodie, His and Hers Free Throw basketball jerseys, and the always-stylish Antenna hat, modeled after the finest arthropod antennae in the land.

Hope you had a happy All Saints Day, and you’re welcome – Volition.

 
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NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED – THE MOST SOCIALLY-CONNECTED GAME OF THIS GENERATION – RACES ON TO RETAIL SHELVES TODAY

The Open World Racing Game, Created by Award-Winning Developer Criterion Games, Shatters Franchise Records with the Reimagining of the Best-Selling Title in

SYDNEY, Australia. — Nov. 1, 2012 – Make trouble for the cops, for your friends or just for fun! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Criterion Games today announced that the latest entry in the critically-acclaimed Need for Speed™ franchise, Need for Speed Most Wanted, is now available at retail stores and on Origin.com in Australia (November 2 in New Zealand). After shattering franchise records with a total of 43 award nominations and winning the prestigious Best Racing Game award at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), from the E3 Game Critics, Need for Speed Most Wanted is poised for global success. In Spain, Official PlayStation Magazine awarded Most Wanted with a 9.4/10 and called it, “the best online multiplayer experience ever.” Game Informer, in North America, gave Most Wanted a 9/10 and described the action as an “exhilarating experience.” Edge Magazine, in the UK, also awarded Most Wanted a 9/10 and credited the game for setting a “new standard in open world driving games.”

Need for Speed Most Wanted puts social competition at the heart of the experience, and lets players compete to become the Most Wanted amongst people they care about the most – their friends. Need for Speed Most Wanted is powered by Autolog 2, an innovative online technology that automatically tracks and compares everything players do in the game against their friends, from earning Speed Points to achieving best race times and more. Autolog 2 also generates personalized gameplay recommendations, which are integrated throughout the open world, fueling competition and rivalries. If there’s something to do, there’s someone to beat. How can you tell which friend has the furthest jump through a billboard? Autolog 2 puts their face on it.  With Autolog 2’s deep and powerful social integration, Need for Speed Most Wanted has been declared, “the ultimate social game” by IGN, engaging friends unlike ever before, and allowing players to leave their mark in the open world across their social network. Winning never felt so good.

“With our years of experience creating critically acclaimed blockbuster hits, Need for Speed Most Wanted is Criterion’s vision to shake up the series and breathe new life into the genre,” said Matt Webster, Executive Producer, Criterion Games. “We’re throwing years of convention out the window and creating an open world game with an open structure that lets players drive whatever car they want, how they want, without consequences. We’ve built an experience full of variety that enables freedom and choice for the player to play the game the way they choose. Take down friends in a race to the finish, explore the city to find new cars, flash past speed cameras, jump through billboards or take on an Autolog Recommendation. Not only do players have complete freedom, they’re rewarded for everything they do. With friends so naturally embedded into the heart of the experience, Need for Speed Most Wanted is the most socially-connected game of this generation.”

Developed by award-winning studio, Criterion Games, Need for Speed Most Wanted features a seamless, nonstop multiplayer experience, with no menus and no lobbies – just competition. Gamers are thrust into a continuous playlist of different events with persistent scoring and endless rewards. Players must fight for position on the start line, or turn around to take out oncoming rivals at the finish. Furthermore, with the all-new CloudCompete technology, players can extend the game beyond the console with a cloud-based scoring system that tracks Speed Points and game accomplishments across multiple platforms through http://www.needforspeed.com. For the first time, players can rack up points on the couch while playing multiplayer on the console and then top off their Speed Points while on the go on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android or PlayStation® Vita. Need for Speed Most Wanted is now available in Australia and will be available November 2 in New Zealand for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system with Kinect support, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PC, PlayStation Vita, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android. Need for Speed Most Wanted is available for $7.49 from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.
For more information on Need for Speed Most Wanted, visit http://www.needforspeed.com/most-wanted. For more information on Need for Speed, visit http://www.needforspeed.com or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/needforspeed and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/needforspeed.

 
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Nintendo Australia announce Wii U will be on tour throughout Australia!

Following the first hands on experience at EB Expo, Wii U will be touring around Australia from the 5th of November and Nintendo is inviting everyone to come try it out!

Nintendo Australia is pleased to announce Wii U Experience Stores will be popping up temporarily around the country. With famous Nintendo franchises like Mario, as well as exclusives new titles including Nintendo Land to try!

The Wii U Experience Stores provide everyone the chance to try out the new Wii U GamePad controller. The stores are the perfect place to get your hands on the GamePad and discover how Wii U will change your in-home gaming experience. See the below details or check out the events page at www.nintendo.com.au/wiiu/try-it-now to see where the Wii U Experience Store will be popping up near you. With loads of pre-release Wii U titles to try, there’s also the opportunity to get to grips with the latest Nintendo 3DS titles, including Pokémon and Mario games! There’s lots happening at the Wii U Experience Stores so make sure you stay tuned for the details, or pop down and see for yourself!

You can find us at the locations below:
Sydney Wii U Experience Store
Sydney Plaza – George Street Entrance
George Street
Sydney
5th November – 9th December
Melbourne Wii U Experience Store
Fountain Gate
352 Princess Highway, Fountain Gate
Melbourne
5th November – 9th December
Perth Wii U Experience Pop Up
Perth Cultural Centre, St James Amphitheatre
5th November – 11th November
Gold Coast Wii U Experience Pop Up
Pacific Fair, Site 23 Courtyard
12th November – 17th November
Brisbane Wii U Experience Pop Up
King Georges Square, Area 2
18th November – 23rd November
Adelaide Wii U Experience Pop Up
Rundle Mall, Gawler Canopy
24th November – 29th November

 
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Halo 4 Midnight Madness and New Spartan Ops trailer

It is just one week until the highly anticipated release of “Halo 4,”. To celebrate the blockbuster title, more than 200 EB Games stores across Australia will be open for midnight madness, with flagship events in major capital cities Sydney (MacArthur Square), Melbourne (Werribee Plaza), Brisbane (Carindale) and Adelaide (Tea Tree Plaza). JB Hi-Fi will also have selected stores open across NSW and Qld counting down to midnight. 1

Sydney Halo fans and media are invited to head to EB Games, Macarthur Square, Campbelltown from 10pm on Monday November 5 to take part in the event including giveaways, the chance to play Halo multiplayer on the cinema screens and check out fans in cosplay.

Microsoft and 343 Industries today debuted the launch trailer for Spartan Ops, a new story-driven, episodic co-op adventure in “Halo 4” that blends immersive storytelling, high-quality cinematics and action-packed gameplay to deliver an unprecedented serialised experience.

Through a weekly series of cinematic episodes, Spartan Ops will tell the continuing story of the UNSC Infinity, following the events of “Halo 4.” These episodes will center on the UNSC Infinity leaders and crew as well as a new team of Spartans — Fireteam Majestic – as they explore the corners of Requiem in objective-based missions and help uncover the secrets of the mysterious Forerunner world. A massive adventure that builds off the “Halo 4” story, access to Spartan Ops is included with “Halo 4” at no additional charge — effectively delivering two campaign experiences in one game.2

The trailer can be viewed now on Halo Waypoint at: http://www.halowaypoint.com/en-US/Universe/detail/spartan-ops-season-1-trailer/5a56fb7e-ba8d-4ec4-9147-6467ca7b0b0a

Launching worldwide exclusively on Xbox 360 Nov.6, 2012, “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 the 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 standard edition of “Halo 4” will be available for AUD $89.95RRP, and the Limited Edition, which includes an extended 90-minute version of the live-action digital series “Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn” and additional bonus content, will be available for AUD $129.95RRP3.

 
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