F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin fans can now download four all-new single-player levels in the exclusive F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn DLC campaign from Warner Bros. Interactive Entrtainment and Monolith Studios, available today on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points, for PlayStation®Network on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for $12.95, and on Windows™ PC for $9.99 USD via portals like Steam, IGN and Digital River.

F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn immerses gamers in the chaos of Alma’s aftermath in an entirely new role: that of Replica Soldier Foxtrot 813. Gamers begin the mission as part of an orbital Powered Armour drop to reinforce their squad, and the ruined city of Auburn emanates supernatural events and familiar voices, beckoning Foxtrot813 to go against orders from Replica command. Be careful, not everything is as it seems…

Also available today for all three game systems is the FREE Slow-Mo Deathmatch update, offering F.E.A.R. fans an all-new multiplayer mode. Gamers can now use a slow-mo powerup to slow down enemies in multiplayer deathmatch, thus gaining a distinct short-term advantage. The longer players hold onto the slow-mo powerup, the more objective points are accumulated, contributing to their overall score. Watch out though, whoever has slow-mo ability becomes a bigger target to everyone else!

The full debut trailer of Beaterator from this morning is now available on the Rockstar Games Australian YouTube channel.

This is the proof: a video trailer of 12 year old kids Max and Clay, making music on Beaterator in Central Park, New York City.

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September 4, 2009 – Seattle, WA – Runic Games, Inc. (“Runic Games”), a specialized developer of PC-based entertainment software in the United States, today unveiled at the Penny Arcade Exposition that the highly-anticipated, action RPG, Torchlight, will launch on October 27. Runic Games’ development team features the same talent that brought the bar-setting, action RPGs, Diablo, Diablo II and Fate. Torchlight will be available as a fully downloadable game for US$19.99.

Gaming enthusiasts looking for a sneak peak at Torchlight before the official launch date can visit Runic Games at Booth 872 in the Expo Hall during the Penny Arcade Exposition, which runs from September 4-6. On hand will be Runic Games’ CEO, Max Schaefer, co-designer of Diablo; and President, Travis Baldree, designer of Fate, to demonstrate the game.

“We have always felt that gaming should first and foremost be about the players and by announcing the launch date of Torchlight to fans at PAX, we’re able to give them a sneak peak of the game before its official release” said Max Schaefer, CEO of Runic Games, Inc. “PAX is a unique venue geared towards video game enthusiasts and we are excited to be showcasing Torchlight and look forward to seeing many of our dedicated fans at PAX.”

Torchlight sets itself apart from other action RPGs with its intuitive, approachable interface, which enables gamers of all skill levels to quickly immerse themselves into the rich game play and varied world of Torchlight. The level randomizer will ensure that each adventure is unique with different monsters, treasures, puzzles and items for players to find, defeat, and unlock. Through a powerful suite of development tools, Runic Games will empower players and game enthusiasts alike to create and share their own content and levels.

For more information on Torchlight, gamers can visit the official website at http://www.torchlightgame.com/ to view additional game play details, trailers and screenshots.

About Runic Games, Inc.

Runic Games is a developer of PC-based entertainment software, designing games that focus on quality, approachability, and fun.  Runic Games is staffed by a team with experienced members, including leads on “Diablo,” “Diablo II,” “Diablo II: Lord of Destruction,” “Fate,” “Hellgate: London” and “Mythos.” Runic Games is located in Seattle, Washington, United States.

Capcom has just released some never before seen Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles zombie gamplay action videos!

Available for download now on the Capcom press site, these two new gameplay videos show Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield working together to take down hordes of zombies, unworldly creatures and one ferocious boss.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles launches on November 27th across Europe and Australia, exclusively for the Wii.

To learn more about the game visit www.residentevil.com/darkside and for the latest assets go to www.capcomeuro-press.com

• The world-famous real driving simulator is yours to enjoy any time, anywhere.
• With over 800 dream cars, drive everything from a 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe to a Ferrari Enzo.
• Build your ultimate car collection and trade vehicles with friends via Ad Hoc Mode.
• Race in head-to-head events with up to four players via Ad Hoc Mode. 
   

Available 1st of October

AVG’s Internet Security Software Awarded Multiple Certifications  

Melbourne, 3 September 2009 – AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific distributor of the world’s most popular free anti-virus software, today announced a string of important industry awards for its AVG Internet Security product. 

AVG Internet Security received the coveted VB100 Award from UK-based Virus Bulletin. Business Solutions Magazine (BSM) subscribers selected AVG Internet Security SBS edition a “Best Channel Product” in two categories — Email Security and Endpoint Security. And AVG Internet Security became the first product to receive the Checkmark Anti-Malware Dynamic Certification from West Coast Labs.

AVG Internet Security is a comprehensive security solution which protects computer users while they are online. It provides protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits, spam, and all types of malware that can threaten valuable personal information. AVG Internet Security also boasts real-time safe surf protection from AVG LinkScanner. Advanced behavioural technology delivered by AVG Identity Protection (also part of the product), provides an extra layer of protection. It protects against new and unknown threats and safeguards the user’s identity.

Key Industry Certifications

The Virus Bulletin lab awarded AVG Internet Security a VB100 certification for passing its test criteria in the VB lab as part of the formal VB comparative review process. AVG received the third highest Reactive Percentage (RAP) of all products tested. The reactive percentage measures detection of new items first seen in the three weeks prior to the test. Basic requirements for the VB100 award include:

• The product delivers in its default settings 100% detection of malware listed as ‘In the Wild’ by the WildList Organisation at the time of the review,
• No false positives occur when scanning Virus Bulletin’s collection of known-clean files.

Business Solutions Magazine (BSM) named AVG Internet Security Small Business Server (SBS) edition a “Best Channel Product” in the categories of Email Security and Endpoint Security. AVG Internet Security SBS provides antivirus, antispyware, rootkit, and desktop anti-spam protection for Microsoft Windows Small Business Server networks. It protects every component of the small business network, provides central management and monitoring, and automatic updates. These features dramatically simplify administration for IT staff. AVG LinkScanner, which delivers unique technology to let users safely surf the web with real-time protection, is included as part of AVG Internet Security SBS.

BSM collaborated with Penn State University to survey 2,186 channel professionals to determine the Best Channel Product recipients. Products were reviewed on richness of features/functionality, product reliability/durability, ease of integration and upgrade, and a VAR’s ability to service the product.

West Coast Labs honoured AVG Internet Security as the first product ever to receive its Checkmark Anti-Malware Dynamic Certification. The testing program for security products comprises ongoing testing against malware samples. The test suite for the Dynamic Testing is refined to reflect prevalence within attack vectors and by geography. Samples for the testing are collected in real-time around the world.

“Today’s web-based, transient threats and skilled cyber criminals are more cunning than ever, which means that users need products they can trust. AVG is honoured to receive these awards based on product performance and user preference,” said Lloyd Borrett, Marketing Manager at AVG (AU/NZ). “We have always been confident in our internet security technology, but receiving these awards and key certifications are great achievements. We will continue to strive to develop the best internet security products on the market and are committed to continuing to deliver quality solutions to our users.”

Links

• For security news analysis, subscribe to Roger Thompson’s blog at http://thompson.blog.avg.com/
• For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at http://twitter.com/officialAVGnews
• Become a fan of AVG’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/avgfree
• For more information about Business Solutions Magazine, go to http://www.businesssolutionsmag.com/
• For more information about Virus Bulletin, go to www.virusbtn.com
• For more information about West Coast Labs, go to www.westcoastlabs.com   

Sydney, Australia – September 3, 2009 – Screenlife today announces the latest home console iteration of the bestselling Scene It?® brand.  Scene It?® Bright Lights! Big Screen!™ will be the first videogame in the Scene It? franchise available for Wii™ and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems and marks a return for the brand to the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft.  Previous product success on the Xbox platform combined with casual gaming’s explosive growth create a tremendous opportunity for Screenlife to bring its unique brand of entertainment trivia game play to millions of new consumers. 

Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! offers a wide variety of media-rich trivia that provides movie fans and social gamers with a lively, competitive group gaming experience. Trivia content in the game will include recently released 2009 movies as well as fan favourite Hollywood hits from the last four decades.  There are numerous game improvements, including: 

–        Thousands of new questions

–        A new and improved single player option

–        Party play modes

–        Many new puzzle types

–        12 all-new player avatars

–        A simplified game interface

–        A new, very entertaining game host

–        New, unique mini-game content

Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! brings it all together and provides incredible fun for the whole family.  Single-player mode challenges player speed and entertainment trivia know-how, while multi-player mode creates a challenging social gameplay experience. 

Also today, Screenlife and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) announce a distribution agreement where WBIE will handle worldwide distribution of Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with WBIE on the release of Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!,” said Barry Watts, Chief Executive Officer of Screenlife.  “Combining WBIE’s world-class distribution expertise with our most entertaining console trivia game to-date, Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! is sure to be a smash hit with movie and pop-culture fans of all ages.” 

“The globally successful Scene It? brand and movie based trivia are a great fit for Warner Bros. as a games publisher and a film studio,” said John Quinn, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  “We are launching Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! on a variety of videogame consoles to more widely offer its dynamic entertainment experience to the expanding casual videogame audience.” 

Artificial Mind & Movement (A2M) is developing Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! for Screenlife.

On the heels of an extremely successful Game with Fame featuring Megan Fox, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen developer Luxoflux will be on Xbox® LIVE on Saturday, September 5 to challenge Transformers fans in multiplayer battles featuring the recently released Character and Map Pack Plus DLC from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time.  

Fans who would like to participate will need to download the DLC and look for the following Gamertags online: 

• LuxoDev01
• LuxoDev02
• LuxoDev03
• LuxoDev04
• LuxoDev05
• LuxoDev06
• LuxoDev07
• LuxoDev08
• LuxoDev09
• LuxoDev10

Fans of the classic Transformers television series can take a trip down memory lane, as the new downloadable content includes Generation One Transformers characters along with additional fan-favourites from the blockbuster summer movie, new multiplayer maps, a new “Expert” difficultly level and new Xbox 360 Achievements and PLAYSTATION 3 Trophies. This new DLC package is available now on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and in the PlayStation®Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for $15.95.

For more information, visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithdevelopers/2009/0904-revengeofthefallen.htm.

Batman: Arkham Asylum™, co-published in North America by Eidos Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, is in stores from today for the PLAYSTATION®3 Computer Entertainment System and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by Rocksteady Studios and based on DC Comics’ Batman license, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players diverse gameplay that pushes the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games and exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure taking them to the depths of Arkham Asylum. The Games for Windows® LIVE version of the game will be available on September 24, 2009.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, BATMAN finds himself trapped inside the confines of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, ARKHAM ASYLUM. THE JOKER has set a trap for the DARK KNIGHT and has conspired with the deranged inmates to eliminate Batman once and for all. Adding to the authenticity of the game are veteran animated Batman voice talents Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, who reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

“This has been an immense collaborative effort and we’re extremely proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager, Eidos Game Studios. “From the reactions we have already received, we truly believe it will not only stand out as one of the games of the year but establish itself as one of those rare action adventure games you simply cannot forget.”

“Batman is one of the most recognizable and iconic characters around the world and with the high quality launch of Batman: Arkham Asylum we are establishing the brand as a triple-A franchise,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We are extremely proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum and consider it critical in developing and growing our key franchises.”

“The team at Rocksteady has poured an immense amount of love and effort into developing a game that Batman fans and gamers will enjoy,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios. “We’re very proud of Batman: Arkham Asylum. We are excited about the incredible response from the press and even more excited that everyone will now finally get their chance to play the game.”

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story by Paul Dini, Batman author and five-time Emmy Award winner whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. Gamers will move in the shadows, instill fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains, including HARLEY QUINN, BANE, KILLER CROC, POISON IVY, and SCARECROW, who have taken over the asylum.

Owners of the PLAYSTATION3 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum will be able to take control of The Joker in eight Challenge Maps as he battles wave after wave of enemy do-gooders. The Joker Challenge Maps will be available from launch as free downloadable content through the PlayStation®Network. In addition, the PLAYSTATION3 version of the game unlocks the Batman: Arkham Asylum Batcave Outpost in PlayStation®Home, an exclusive personal space available to those who purchase the game for PLAYSTATION3. The Batcave Outpost comes complete with the BATMOBILE, BATWING, and tons of other great features, allowing fans to call the BATCAVE their own home within Home.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is rated M and is available for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION3. It will also be available for Games for Windows as of 24th September, 2009. For more information, please visit www.batmanarkhamasylum.com.