Seoul, Korea, August 16, 2011 – Joymax, a leading online game developer and publisher, announced today that its first-person shooter World War II game, Karma Online: Prisoners of the Dead, has officially launched today. Additionally, Joymax released new screenshots and is featuring a special promotional event today in celebration of the game’s launch. To learn more about the game, players can visit http://www.joymax.com/karma/

 “The Karma Online team has dedicated endless hours and passion toward making this title everything it is, and we are so incredibly proud of the final product,” said Joymax CEO, Nam-chul Kim. “We know players will really appreciate and enjoy the uniqueness of this AAA title, including a huge variety of weapons, modes, maps and characters offered in the game. We are excited for everyone to jump right into the action for one of the most exhilarating online first-person shooters to enter the market this year!”

To help celebrate the game’s launch, Joymax has a special promotional event for players. Those players who spend between 60 and 100 silk will receive a free weapon, an AK47, which they will be able to use for three days. Those players, however, who spend over 100 silk, will get to use the weapon for an additional four days.

This is a follow-up event to the Open Beta Test promotion (which ran from August 2^nd through August 9^th) where players were given 100 Silk for every 10 minutes they played the game. The Silk they obtained during the event period will be able to be used to purchase in-game items beginning August 23^rd. The event turned out to be a tremendous success, with more than €10,000 worth of free Silk being given out to players.

Speed is an advantage as players who dash their way through with rapid movements adds to the game’s action-packed game play and liveliness. The ability for players to enter the game by choosing channels without having to select a server provides a quicker way for players to join in on the action. Players can also set their own unique characters with specialized skills. Players must watch their weight limit and be strategic about the weapons they carry with them around the battlefield.

For beginners new to the Karma Online series, players can warm up their soldiers in the special map provided before actually joining the real battle. Gamers can practice their skills by shooting randomly at hundreds of zombies wandering around in AI mode, without the worries of being killed by other players. Channels are classified by ranks and winning rate so players can pick out the best fit for them.

Developed in conjunction with Dragonfly, and published by Joymax, KARMA Online: Prisoners of the Dead is the newest installment in the KARMA Online series, the top online first-person shooter series in Korea. Players go back in time to World War II, where they must choose to side with the Axis or Allied powers and join the fight for global victory – with a zombie twist.  In this virtual and historical simulation, players will be up against enemy troops as well as hundreds of the walking dead from the remains of the catastrophic battle. KARMA Online: Prisoners of the Dead will be available in English, German, Spanish and Turkish.

To become a fan of Karma Online: Prisoners of the Dead, players can visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/KarmaPOD    or http://twitter.com/karmapod   and http://www.youtube.com/user/KarmaPOD

“Famine to Freedom: The Irish in the American Civil War” by J.J. Collins offers details on notable personalities, units and incidents involving the Irish community

LONDON (MMD Newswire) August 16, 2011 – – “Famine to Freedom: The Irish in the American Civil War” (ISBN 1463513518) by J.J. Collins recounts the Irish-American journey of immigration, enlistment, military service and post-war work in the mid-19th Century.

According to Collins, over 1 million Irish immigrants arrived in the United States between 1845 and 1853. Predominantly poor and unskilled, this community was soon embroiled in the conflict between northern and southern states that came to a head in 1861. Most of the Irish conscripts and volunteers served in the Union army, Collins reports, representing states including Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts. Over the course of the war, Irish American soldiers would rise to the heights of military rank, serve as the decisive factor in a number of battles and help shape its outcome. Collins traces the Irish-American narrative after General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse, discussing the war’s aftermath and later political and social impact of the Irish community.

“My book tells the story of prelude to war, the war itself and post-war consequences for both America and the Irish as a unique ethnic group,” Collins says. “My aim is to recognize the unique contribution of the Irish to America and how their participation in the American Civil War enabled them to become better accepted into American society.”

Intended to educate and inform, the book focuses on generals, soldiers, politicians and history-making individuals of Irish descent. It also offers commentary and perspective on civilian contributions and the impact of military service on public perception of immigration and diversity.

“Famine to Freedom: The Irish in the American Civil War” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author
J.J. Collins is a writer, business consultant and political blogger. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Collins studied at “Colaiste Mhuire,” Dublin University of London, Stonebridge College and the Open University. His family has many connections with the Irish-American community in the United States, in large part due to his grandfather and great uncle’s business in Buffalo, N.Y. A lifelong fan of all things American, Collins has always maintained a huge interest in Irish-American history and the American Civil War. He lists Abraham Lincoln as one of his most inspirational and influencing characters in his life. Collins resides in London where he is at work on his next book about American presidents and their legacies.

Whimsical Underwater Epic Coming to iPhone in October; Other Platforms to Follow

PARIS – August 16, 2011 – Get ready to grab some tentacles! The Game Bakers, a new development studio founded by video game industry veterans, is revealing the first details of their upcoming underwater epic, SQUIDS. The game will release for iPhone / iPod Touch in October, with versions for iPad, Mac, PC, and Android following soon after.

In SQUIDS, players will command a small army of stretchy, springy sea creatures to protect an idyllic underwater kingdom from a sinister emerging threat. An infectious black ooze is spreading through the lush seascape, turning ordinary crustaceans into menacing monsters. Now a plucky team of Squids — each with unique personalities, skills, and ability-boosting attire — must defend their homeland and overturn the evil forces that jeopardize their aquatic utopia.

With its adventurous plot, whimsical cartoon artwork, and tactical RPG-inspired gameplay, SQUIDS combines old-school gaming sensibilities with the hands-on convenience of touch-enabled smart phones and tablets. Turn-based battles are fought with simple controls that allow players to stretch Squid heroes by the tentacles and fling them across the battlefield. Special moves, combo attacks, and customizable characters make for a dynamic playing experience that goes deeper than most mobile games. Plus the game’s Retina Display optimized graphics, highlighted by breathtaking underwater environments and hilarious character animations, make SQUIDS one of the best-looking iPhone / iPod Touch games to date.

The Game Bakers was founded earlier this year by former Ubisoft employees whose credits include Splinter Cell Double Agent™, Tom Clancy’s EndWar™, and other best-selling action games. SQUIDS was born of the team’s desire to return to the playful fun of video gaming’s earlier days. “Making SQUIDS has been like baking a cake,” says The Game Bakers’ creative director Emeric Thoa. “We took the best ingredients from our years of AAA console game development, especially in terms of depth, and we mixed those in with the best of iOS gaming. Then we layered a fun universe and characters on top. We’ve sneaked a bite of our cake and it tastes delicious — we hope you like it too!”

SQUIDS will be shown to the press for the first time at this week’s GamesCom convention. To learn more about SQUIDS or sign up for The Game Bakers’ newsletter to receive development updates, visit http://www.thegamebakers.com.

About The Game Bakers
The Game Bakers is an independent video game studio based in Paris and Montpellier, France. Founded and staffed by industry veterans whose credits include numerous AAA console games, The Game Bakers focuses on agile creative projects that combine traditional gaming values with the emerging opportunities afforded by touch devices and the exploding mobile market. Their upcoming first game, SQUIDS, will launch for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac in Q4 2011. To learn more, visit the company’s website at http://www.thegamebakers.com. The Game Bakers are also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/thegamebakers) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/thegamebakers).

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman: Arkham City will be playable in stereoscopic and anaglyphic 3D for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ PCs.  Batman: Arkham City is scheduled for release beginning October 19 in Australia.

Gamers on Xbox 360 and PS3™ can delve deep into Arkham City’s breathtaking environments and immersive gameplay in stereoscopic 3D when playing on any 3D HDTV and wearing active shutter glasses that are compatible with the television.  In addition, Batman: Arkham City supports NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, allowing PC players to also experience the action in stereoscopic 3D on GeForce® GPU-equipped desktop or notebook PCs and compatible 3DTVs.

Fans with HDTVs can enjoy Batman: Arkham City in anaglyphic 3D with technology compatible with all high definition TV sets and visible to players wearing 3D glasses available for the video game. 

Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.

Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game and join the discussion on the recently launched community site at http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com to participate in forums, read upcoming developer diaries and stay abreast of all the latest Batman: Arkham City news.

Madman proudly presents the DVD and Blu-Ray release of the year’s most controversial film, SNOWTOWN – available from 21 September, 2011.

Disenfranchised teenager, Jamie Vlassakis (Lucas Pittaway), lives with his mother and two younger brothers in a low socioeconomic housing community in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Longing for an escape from the ugliness and the violence that surrounds him, when Jamie is introduced to his mother’s charismatic new boyfriend, John Bunting (Daniel Henshall), a friendship immediately begins to blossom. Little does Jamie know that John Bunting will become the man responsible for Australia’s worst serial killings – the Snowtown murders.

These killings, also known as the ‘Bodies in Barrels’ murders, were orchestrated by a delusional Bunting over the course of close to 10 years and culminated with the gruesome discovery of a collection of barrels containing human remains in a disused bank vault in Snowtown, Adelaide.

For the first time, SNOWTOWN presents the crucial story behind these events, bringing the audience face to face with the terrifying influence and control Bunting had over his family and friends, and most particularly the film’s protagonist, the impressionable Jamie.

Written and directed as a first time feature by Adelaide-born filmmaker, Justin Kurzel, SNOWTOWN has become one of the year’s most confronting, yet fundamentally compelling films – igniting a flurry of ongoing debate and discussion amongst audiences and critics alike as to the film’s undeniably powerful impact.

SNOWTOWN’s relatively unknown cast, some of whom are first time actors hand-picked from Adelaide’s northern suburbs, have also garnered attention for their masterful and authentic performances.

To register for SNOWTOWN cast & crew interview opportunities with Justin Kurzel, Lucas Pittaway (Jamie), Daniel Henshall (John) and Louise Harris (Elizabeth), please contact Madman Publicity on the details provided in the attached documents.

SNOWTOWN is available on 21 September, 2011 – DVD $34.95srp / Blu-Ray $39.95srp.

NINE PAST NHL GREATS TO BE FEATURED AS LEGENDS

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) announced today that it will bring nine of the greatest players in NHL history to EA SPORTS™ NHL®12. The nine NHL greats will be integrated into the game across virtually every mode, including the all-new Be A Legend mode, adding a new and exciting dimension to the EA SPORTS NHL series. In Be A Legend, gamers will experience the glory of playing their entire Be A Pro career as one of the nine legends as they attempt to shatter the most impressive records in hockey, achieve legendary milestones and complete legends tasks.

Sydney, Australia – August 16 2011 – Retailer GAME and Turtle Beach, pioneers and market-leaders of the gaming headset category, are thrilled to announce the Battle Of The Clans. To find the best of the best in Halo: Reach and Call of Duty: Black Ops, GAME and Turtle Beach are holding a tournament whereby the winning teams will became the OFFICIAL GAME and Turtle Beach clans! 

The winning teams will receive:

Specialist Halo: Reach Clan – Winning Clan receives:

$10,000 to cover travel &

incidentals for up to 10 appearances

Each Team member receives:

1x NEW Xbox 360 Console

2x NEW AFTER GLOW Xbox 360 Controllers

1x NEW Turtle Beach headset

1x Team Uniform consisting of

Polo shirt and hoodie.

Specialist Call of Duty: Black Ops – Winning Clan receives:

$10,000 to cover travel &

incidentals for up to 10 appearances

Each Team member receives:

1x NEW Xbox 360 Console

2x NEW AFTER GLOW Xbox 360 Controllers

1x NEW Turtle Beach headset

1x Team Uniform consisting of

Polo shirt and hoodie.

How to enter:

There are 2 ways to enter for Battle of the Clans – either through a written response, or with a video entry. If you enter with a video entry and are selected, you’ll also get a bonus exclusive prize pack at the tournament showdown.

To enter with a written entry: Simply tell us in 50 words why you and your clan should be selected to compete to become the official clan of Game and Turtle Beach. Submit your entry to clans@game.com.au

To enter with a video entry: Simply gather up your clan and make a short video (2 mins or less) convincing us why you should qualify for the chance to become the official clan of Game and Turtle Beach. Just make sure you mention game somewhere in your video entry. For example, you could put a Game logo in your video, or say, ‘Game On’. Then, upload your video entry and send it as a downloadable link (no youtube submissions will be accepted).

A panel of judges will choose the finalists, who will be contacted after the 24^th August. The finalists will then get to compete in a knock-out style tournament on the 27^th August.

Entries close 24th August 2011

*Tournament Showdown will be held in Sydney on Saturday 27^th August.  

The grand final will be held in September at Homebush Bay. Date TBC. 

To enter, you and your clan must be available on the 27th August, and make your own travel arrangements to Sydney. 

Copyrights and Trademarks Reserved. 

Halo Reach Settings

Call of Duty: Black Ops Settings 

Halo Reach Rules

Call of Duty: Black Ops Rules

Sydney, 16 August 2011: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has launched Magnificent Movies Magnified, a range of classic and contemporary films that showcase the superiority of Blu-ray, which offers five times the picture quality of DVD.

The range of 22 titles – including The Bridge on the River Kwai, Legends of the Fall, Casino Royale and 2012 – has been produced or meticulously restored to the Blu-ray format by a team of twenty five Sony Pictures Film Restoration technicians. The result is a smoother and sharper image, and a magnified home entertainment experience.

With 1.5 million Australians1 ‘Blu-ray ready’, the Magnificent Movies Magnified range has been developed to reinforce the picture quality delivered by Blu-ray.

Senior Vice-President of Sony Pictures Film Restoration and Digital Mastering, Grover Crisp, said it was a misconception that a movie filmed years ago could not be made to look any better.

“This is not just technology for new films. My team and I take movies from the Sony Library and restore them to their cinematic glory for release on Blu-ray,” said Crisp.
“We want your favourite movie to look like it did the first time you saw it at the cinema. We want you to relive that excitement and feel the same sense of awe. Regardless of when your chosen movie was originally produced, Blu-ray technology instantly magnifies your movie experience,” added Crisp.

The range has been packaged to include a QR code on every title which, when activated, allows consumers to hear a message from Crisp and share the range with their friends on Facebook.

The full Magnificent Movies Magnified range is available at all major retailer now, and can be viewed online at www.sonymagnificent.com.

With only 9 days to go, one of the most anticipated follow-ups to any game in history is nearly here.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution arrives on PC, Xbox 360 & PS3 on August the 25^th, but we’re going to keep teasing you until then!

Today, we have a sneak peak at the “My World” TV spot, which will be on your TV screens shortly.

“Darwin said “It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, or the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change.”

 Check out the brand-new song, “My World”, created exclusively for Deus Ex: Human Revolution by supergroup Transmissions in this shiver-inducing, evolution-inspired spot.