Welcome Your Sim to the Neighborhood with Updated Styles for Hair and Clothing and New Local Hangouts

Remove that ‘Commercial Rent’ sign from your lot, your Sim has new places to explore in town. Announced last month and now available for purchase, The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff pack allows your Sim to have a leisurely Sunday afternoon in their neighborhood with new places to explore and items to update their style.

Take your Sim to the park and watch them play in the new sunny bungalow playground set. With new items like slides, fountains and more, your Sim will have countless hours to play.. Additionally, Sims will also be able to revel at the new Laundromat. Maybe they’ll even meet a new Sim or two. For those Sims who prefer to handle their dirty laundry at home, they will be able to add new washers and dryers in their home. From new hairstyles to new clothing, The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff pack gives any Sims the tools to create the comfortable and casual living they’ve been looking for at home and around the town.

The Sims 3 Town Life Stuff pack is now available at the EA Store and can be purchased on shelves from tomorrow. For more information on this title and all of The Sims 3 games, visit the www.au.theSims3.com.

A new video for NHL 12, titled “Anticipation AI Producer Video” is now available for download from the EA ANZ Press Site. NHL 12 is available in Australia & New Zealand on the 8th September, 2011.

Over 700 Improvements Create The Most Authentic Football Management Simulation

SYDNEY. Australia –Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS is developing FIFA Manager 12 in collaboration with football fans around the world. The 11th edition of the football management simulation will include features inspired and determined by the community, in addition to a full feature set and game modes with more than 700 improvements,when the game launches this autumn.

Through the online “Your Feature!” campaign, thousands of fans participated in a community call-to-action to directly influence the game’s content for this season. Fans proposed features they wanted in the game, and then community voting determined the ones that mattered most. Features created by the community include, “Speeches Before The Match”, “European Cup Final Match”, “Trial Training Day For Hobby Players”, new tutorial “Manager Challenges,” and an extension of the last 24 hours of the transfer market.

“It was very exciting to see so many great ideas proposed by our fans,” said Gerald Köhler, lead designer of FIFA Manager 12. “We were impressed by the passion these fans exhibited towards the game and the quality of the ideas generated. Working with the community helped us target more than 700 improvements that will make this the most authentic football management simulation we have ever produced.”

FIFA Manager 12 features improvements to virtually all areas of the game, including major enhancements to the 3D mode, finances, transfers, the calendar and online. Changes to the 3D mode create a more realistic experience, and include new logic, new player artificial intelligence, and marked improvements to tactics, substitutions and the conduct of opposing managers. In addition, a new intuitive user interface makes it possible for players to retrieve all the data relevant to the game within seconds and to issue precise tactical instructions to ther teams.

The financial mode is now more authentic with on-the-pitch success impacting revenue, and realistic differences in revenue generated through jersey sponsors between clubs. In the transfer section, managers can now field players in trial training and in real matches. Managers can also commission a detailed analysis of the squad so the team’s weak points can be specifically eliminated. A whole range of new options will be available in the calendar, from the charity gala to direct friendly match queries, and training can once again be planned and implemented on a daily basis.

FIFA Manager 12 also contains a host of improvements to the online mode, and premium features from previous years are now included and available to all players. Online improvements include an extensive avatar editor, the option of creating fantasy leagues, and a large number of new statistics.

FIFA Manager 12 is developed for EA SPORTS by Bright Future studio in Cologne. The game will be available for the PC later this year from Origin.com for Australian and New Zealand consumers.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

The Next Evolution of the Best-selling Xbox 360 Stereo Headset Ever, Ear Force X12 Elevates Game Audio Performance and Value to New Heights

Sydney, Australia, July 27, 2011 – Turtle Beach, the market leading pioneers of the gaming headset category, have announced the Ear Force X12 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset for Xbox 360 and PC. The X12 features massive 50mm speakers for enhanced audio immersion along with an In-line Amplifier for precision audio control at your fingertips. With Microphone Monitoring and Variable Bass Boost included, the X12 continues the Turtle Beach tradition of delivering superior gaming audio at an affordable price. 

Designed primarily for the Xbox 360, but compatible with PC, the X12 is the next generation of the best-selling and battle-tested X1, which created the console headset category in 2007, and the X11, which has been the best-selling Xbox headset in history. The X12 features vastly improved sound quality and a rugged but lightweight, ergonomic design that provides gamers with an enhanced audio experience and comfort during long gaming sessions. Powered by USB, the X12 never needs batteries and combines crystal-clear audio with advanced features for an attractive and affordable package no gamer can pass up.

“As the record breaking sales of the X1 and X11 have already shown, avid gamers are serious about audio and will seek out equipment that will enhance their experience and skills.” says Michael Arzt, VP of Marketing and Sales for Turtle Beach.  “Turtle Beach strives to support serious gamers of all levels by constantly refining and improving even our best-selling products and the new X12 represents this commitment to audio quality and high performance while still retaining the unmatched value that the X-series is known for.”

Key features and benefits of the Turtle Beach Ear Force X12 include:

·              Amplified stereo audio for crisp highs and deep lows

·              Premium 50mm speakers for highest fidelity sound

·              Variable Bass Boost adds depth and realism to the game audio

·              In-line amplifier that allows for independent control of chat, bass and game volume

·              Microphone Monitoring so you never have to raise your voice to hear yourself

·              Completely powered by USB so you will never need replacement batteries

·              Lightweight design with breathable, fabric mesh ear cushions for enhanced comfort

·              Fully-compatible with the DSS 7.1 Surround Sound Processor

The Turtle Beach Ear Force X12 Gaming Headset will be available this Spring in Australia and New Zealand.

July 27^th, 2011 – BARKIN’ BUDDY is the new must have mobile application for dog lovers everywhere. This social networking app allows owners to build profiles; add buddies, make new friends to play with, locate dog friendly locations and ultimately better manage their pet’s relationships.  The app is an innovative concept from the Radical Ideas Group.  All you have to do is download BARKIN’ BUDDY from the App Store, head outside with your dog and start making friends.

BARKIN’ BUDDY is a dog-to-dog relationship management app, set to improve your pet’s social life. Once downloaded, simply create a pet profile, add a photo of your pooch and you’re on the way to creating your dog’s very own social network.  Let others know when and where you’re heading, share information on hot spots, locate buddies and use it to make new doggy friends.

Radical Ideas Group CEO and dog lover Alexander Bagg, came up with the idea after recognising the disconnect between the sheer number of dog owners worldwide and the advent of social networking.  “Being a dog owner, I felt there was a need to effectively combine the two” Bagg says “pet profile pages on other social platforms can only do so much in terms of actual functionality but with BARKIN’ BUDDY, the focus is on the pet and not the person.”

The BARKIN’ BUDDY app is a fun and modern way to develop your pet’s relationships and is simple and easy to navigate.  In particular, the Map page displays various icons representing the location and status of your dog and those of other pooches nearby.  It can show how many dogs you are walking, which buddies of yours are out and about, those who are yet to become a buddy and those who are offline.  Barkin’ Buddy will enable dog owners everywhere to better manage their pet’s relationships just by ‘barking’ to their dog’s buddies to let them know where and when to catch up.

Visit the official website (www.barkinbuddy.com) for step-by-step details on how to manage the app and updates from the world of BARKIN’ BUDDY.

BARKIN’ BUDDY is available now from the App store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/barkin-buddy/id441400702?mt=8

Codemasters® launches new DiRT 3 DLC, Video and Double Fanbase XP Programme 

Wednesday, July 27^th – To coincide with this week’s  X Games 17, Codemasters® announced that the X Games Asia Track Pack will launch today for DiRT® 3™ from Xbox Live Marketplace and Games For Windows Marketplace (400 MSP), PLAYSTATION NETWORK in North America ($4.99) and will be available on Wednesday July 27^th from PLAYSTATION NETWORK in Europe (£3.19 / €3.99). A new gameplay video showing how Tokyo is turned into the host of an official X Games event is now showing at www.youtube.com/dirt3game.com.

The release of the new DiRT 3 X Games Asia Track Pack coincides with X Games 17 which begins 28^th July in Los Angeles, with Ken Block and Tanner Foust, who both star in DiRT 3, going for gold in Rally and Rallycross. The X Games Asia Track Pack extends DiRT 3’s Rallycross content with two multi-surface, mud-spattered circuits set in stunning Shibuya ,the neon heart of Tokyo. This new X Games event is playable in single player, split-screen and online multiplayer and can be seen in action at http://www.youtube.com/dirt3game.

The X Games Asia Track Pack compliments existing official X Games content in DiRT 3. Gamers can take on the multi-track, multi-jump and multi-surface X Games event set around the LA Coliseum and test themselves on the snow and ice of Aspen, Colorado in DiRT 3’s Winter X Games event.

To celebrate X Games 17 and the launch of the X Games Asia Track Pack, Codemasters is running a Double Fanbase programme for the duration of the competition. From midnight on the 27^th July until midnight on Sunday 31^st July, all players will earn double XP as they play DiRT 3.

Continuing post-launch support for DiRT 3, Codemasters is also adjusting some of the game’s online playlists. Following feedback from fans and extensive data mining of DiRT 3 play statistics on EGOnet, a number of updates are being made, including the introduction of staggered starts for all Rally and Trailblazer stages in Pro Tour mode. Details on all changes will be made available through the game’s social channels at http://www.facebook.com/dirt3game and at www.twitter.com/dirt3game.

DiRT 3 is out now for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE.

Sydney, Australia – July 26, 2011 – Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Embers, a new computer generated animated short movie, will ship when Assassin’s Creed Revelations hits store shelves November 15. Assassin’s Creed Embers will expand on the final chapter of the life of master assassin Ezio Auditore and a journey that has spanned more than four decades. 

The animated short, developed by UbiWorkshop, will be available with the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition, with the Collector’s Edition, and for digital download on Xbox LIVE^® Marketplace for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation Network.

Initially launched in 2007, the first three Assassin’s Creed^® games have sold more than 28 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series on next generation consoles. Recognised for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed has transcended video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, Facebook games, novels, short films and more.

A variety of Collector’s editions for Assassin’s Creed Revelations are available for pre-order now:

COLLECTOR EDITION – Available in Australia exclusively from JB Hi Fi stores.

–        The Collector box: break the Assassin seal to unveil its contents

–        An Art book featuring 50 pages of illustrations and concept art related to the game

–        Original game soundtrack

–        Assassin’s Creed^® Embers Movie: an animated short film

–        In-game content:

• Explore the prison of legendary Vlad the Impaler, the scourge of Constantinople who inspired the myth of Dracula. Seek out the hanging cell of the infamous leader to retrieve his personal blade, a deadly close quarters dagger capable of dispatching any foe.
• Play as two additional multiplayer characters: The Crusader & a new Harlequin revamped with a Constantinople flavour: the Ottoman Jester 

ANIMUS EDITION – Available exclusively from EB Games stores.

–        The Animus box: break the Assassin seal to unveil its content 

–        In-depth encyclopaedia, with comprehensive entries on the major characters, events and other important aspects of the Assassin’s Creed® universe.

–        Assassin’s Creed^® Embers Movie: an animated short film

–        Original game soundtrack

–        In-game content:

• Explore the prison of legendary Vlad the Impaler, the scourge of Constantinople who inspired the myth of Dracula. Seek out the hanging cell of the infamous leader to retrieve his personal blade, a deadly close quarters dagger capable of dispatching any foe.
• Capacity upgrades for your hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows to give you a decisive advantage in battle.
• Play as two additional multiplayer characters: The Crusader & a character from Assassin’s Creed® Brotherhood revamped with a Constantinople flavour: the Ottoman Jester
• The Armour of Brutus from Assassin’s Creed® Brotherhood

–        Customers who pre-order the Animus edition at EB Games will also receive an “Ezio in Altair’s costume” multiplayer skin unlock

SPECIAL EDITION – Available in Australia exclusively from GAME stores.

–        Exclusive packaging

–        An exclusive game soundtrack

–        In-game content:

• Turkish Assassin Armour
• Play as two additional multiplayer characters: The Crusader & a character from Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood revamped with a Constantinople flavour: the Ottoman doctor

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, visit: www.assassinscreed.com and www.facebook.com/assassinscreed.

Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, AKA – The Penguin, is continuing his shady business dealing within Arkham City, bringing chaos and corruption to the dark alleys and foreboding corridors of the sprawling cityscape. 

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today released the new trailer for Batman: Arkham City showcasing the scheming villain in his role as the black market racketeer of Arkham. The foul fiend brings his criminal and financial genius, hand-to-hand expertise, treacherous toys and his feathered friends into the walled streets of Arkham City, with the sole aspiration of ridding the world of the Dark Knight. 

Familiarize yourself with the threat that The Penguin poses: