Sydney, Australia – July 4^th, 2011 – Well-respected broadcaster and former England forward Alan Smith was unveiled today as part of the main English commentary team for EA SPORTS™ FIFA 12, joining long-time commentator Martin Tyler as the primary voices of this year’s title. FIFA 12, chosen Best Sports Game by the E3 Game Critics, launches September 29th in Australia and September 30^th in New Zealand.

“Alan will bring a fresh, new perspective and insight to FIFA 12, working alongside the trusted and well-known voice of Martin Tyler,” said David Rutter, Senior Producer of FIFA 12. “As one of the top-tier broadcasters on the UK football scene, he brings enormous knowledge and expert analysis to the game so that we can deliver the most authentic FIFA experience this year.”

“The natural chemistry that Martin and I have developed working live matches for TV has transferred very well to the virtual broadcast booth,” said Smith. “I’m really looking forward to FIFA fans hearing our work this fall as we bring all the match day emotion and excitement to this year’s game.”

For the first time ever, FIFA 12 will feature two English broadcast teams, and more than 10,000 lines of fresh commentary, making the game sound new and different all year long. The second commentary team, featuring Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend, will call tournament matches, giving these games a real-world broadcast feel and sound. Fans will also have the option to customize the audio to their preferred commentators for any matches.

For the latest news on FIFA 12 join more than six million fans in the EA SPORTS FIFA community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/easportsfifa.

FIFA 12 will be available in stores September 29^th in Australia and September 30^th in New Zealand for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PC, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone®, iPad™, and iPod® touch. The game will also be available for digital download on PC at origin.com. Additional feature details will be revealed in the months ahead.The game has not yet been rated. Screenshots are available at www.ea-anz-press.com.  
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.

From 8 July 2011, take up the second AR.Drone Challenge & qualify for the international grand final in Paris!

Monday 4 July 2011:
Second Challenge: The Homerun
On 8 July, Parrot will post its second challenge on www.ardrone.com/challenges . Participants will have to film themselves while reproducing the challenge and post their videos on their preferred video sharing website before August 14th.

The criteria taken into account will be:
The strict observance of the instructions laid down for each challenge ;
The time taken to complete each challenge, the objective being to make the best time possible ; In the event several participants complete the challenge in the same length of time, a tie-breaker will be introduced in the form of scores allocated on the following qualitative criteria: style, technique, attitude, etc.

About AR.Drone Challenges*
‘AR.Drone Challenges’ consists of three challenges for pilots of the AR.Drone, within the framework of an international competition* which will take place from June 24th till August 14th 2011.

The pilots will have to reproduce the three challenges, film their exploits and post their videos on a sharing platform of their choice before August 14th, 2011. After this date, a jury will determine 14 finalists who will participate in the grand final in Paris.

Prizes
Grand prize: 1 round-trip to Las Vegas during the ‘Consumer Electronics Show’, valued at $3500 (includes transportation, accommodation and meals)
2nd and 3rd place prizes: 1 iPad 2 valued at $700
4th and 5th place prize: 1 helicopter flight valued at $425
6th-14th place: 1 AR.Race kit valued at $125
Each winner will also be awarded a Parrot AR.Drone valued at $299

Ritual and Ceremony

Ritual and Ceremony is an exhibition by renowned Koorie artist Maree Clarke that explores traditional ritual and ceremonial practices of her Victorian Aboriginal Ancestors. It looks at the power of art to heal, inspire and enable people to connect with their cultural heritage. Through the use of photographs, digital media and objects, Maree brings the Birrarung space alive with her rich colours, bush inspired installation and bold statements of cultural continuity and respect.

Date: 7 July to 30 October

Trepang: China & the Story of Macassan – Aboriginal Trade

This exhibition tells the story of the ancient trade in sea cucumbers (trepang). Trepang explores the long history of cultural exchange and trade between the Chinese, Macassan and northern Australian Aboriginal people. Combining historical artefacts, paintings, maps and photographs with new works to tell the story of the Aboriginal and Asian contact around the trepang (sea cucumber) trade from the early 18th Century to the early 20th Century. Trepang is founded on a 20-year friendship between classically-trained Chinese artist Zhou Xiaoping and highly respected Indigenous Australian artist John Bulunbulun. The exhibition features contemporary works including cross-cultural collaborations of traditional Chinese and Australian designs.

Proudly presented by Rio Tinto, the Gordon Darling Foundation, the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation, The University of Melbourne, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and Museum Victoria.

Date: 23 July to 16 October

Tutankhamun Tuesdays – Tutankhamun’s wardrobe

Join Dr Gillian Bowen in an exploration of Ancient Egyptian attire. The tomb of Tutankhamun has yielded the largest collection of clothes and footwear that we have from ancient Egypt. This talk will examine items of his wardrobe to show the range of clothes from underwear to formal attire and shoes, discuss the textile industry and range of materials used.
Presented by: Dr Gillian Bowen

Date and time: 6.30pm, Tuesday 26 July

Venue: Melbourne Museum   

Tickets: Adults $20, Concessions $15, MV Teachers $15, MV Members and the University of Melbourne Alumni and staff $10, MV Members concession and the University of Melbourne Alumni concessions and students $7.50.

Bookings: Tel: 13 11 02

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

The Tutankhamun exhibition comes to Australia for the first time. Revel in the splendour of Ancient Egypt as you view a dazzling array of possessions unearthed from the boy king’s tomb. See Tutankhamun’s golden canopic coffinette and the crown found on his head when the tomb was discovered. Learn about the extraordinary discovery of the tomb and the belief and burial processes of ancient Egypt. View results from the latest scientific testing conducted on Tutankhamun’s mummy and what it is telling researchers about his life and death. The exhibition has drawn over seven million visitors in the United States and London in the past five years.

Tickets now on sale. To guarantee a ticket, you must pre-book. Visit kingtutmelbourne.com.au to buy your tickets.

Cost: Adult $29.50–$35.00, Concession $26.50–$32.00, Child $17.50–$19.50. Additional transaction fees apply.

Date: until 6 November

Women with Clever Hands

Women with Clever Hands showcases Aboriginal fibre work by women artists from Gapuwiyak in northeast Arnhem Land. Featuring baskets, bags, mats, sculptural figures and jewellery, these beautiful works combine simple, functional shapes with intricate design, fine detail and subtle colour, all of which reflect the complexities of their land and their culture.

Date: until 28 August

Ancestral power and the aesthetic: Arnhem Land paintings and objects from the Donald Thomson Collection

Donald Thomson’s research was innovative for its time and the resulting collection remains dynamic and inspiring. Ancestral power and the aesthetic explores through the Thomson collection and research the complex understandings of place, history and experience in the art and culture of Arnhem Land.

Date: 11 November 2011 to 12 February 2012

Melbourne Museum, Nicholson Street, Carlton. Open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm. For further details phone 13 11 02 or visit museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum

Just a quick note to inform you that the original Dead Island trailer, released in February 2011, has won the Golden Lion in the Film Lion Category for its original approach at the 58th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Big ups to Deep Silver and animation studio Axis Animation, who co-produced the short. 

Dead Island will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC globally on September 9, 2011.  To view the trailer and for more information please visit www.deadislandgame.com

BIOHOCK INFINITE – E3 2011 demo sneak peak –

RRP: $29.95

Madman and SBS are proud to announce the highly-anticipated DVD release of the groundbreaking series, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM, available August 31, 2011 ($29.95srp).

Following its premiere on SBS, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM has become an instant historical reference point in Australian television and a catalyst for opinion and debate across the world on the subject of refugees and asylum seekers.

From social media platforms such as Twitter – where #GoBackSBS has become a major trending topic, with each episode sparking an avalanche of ongoing commentary – through to a major feature in the New York Times, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM has captured the attention of the world.

The series follows six ordinary Australians who agree to undertake the most challenging experience of their lives. By confronting their preconceived notions about asylum seekers, the participants take a tumultuous 25-day journey in the footsteps of refugees, through Malaysia, the Congo and Iraq. The participants are relieved of all but the most basic of belongings and placed into profoundly challenging scenarios that many refugees must face as a matter of course.

The result is a bold and eye-opening reality TV experience, the likes of which Australian audiences have never seen. It will anger some and move many; either way, it will be the subject of great debate and referenced as an important educational tool for a long time to come.

The DVD will include all three hugely successful episodes of the journey, plus the special event forum – The Response – in which World News Australia presenter, Anton Enus joins the six participants, along with family and friends to share their experiences, opinions and the impact that the series has had on their lives.

GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM will be available on DVD from August 31, 2011, and can be pre-ordered now from:

http://www.sbs.com.au/shop

Limited-Edition Premium Merchandise Available Exclusively Online Through UbiShop®

Sydney, Australia, July 4, 2011 – Today, Ubisoft® announced the creation of UbiCollectibles, a collection of premium, limited-edition merchandise for fans of the company’s popular brands, including Assassin’s Creed®, Might & Magic®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® and more. UbiCollectibles are available exclusively through UbiShop, Ubisoft’s official online store, and the store is now accepting pre-orders from customers.

The first UbiCollectibles are inspired by fans of the Assassin’s Creed®, Might & Magic® Heroes® and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon franchises. More than 29 million people have purchased an Assassin’s Creed video game, and now a fortunate 2,000 will have the chance to buy a highly detailed, hand-crafted statuette called “Ezio’s Fury.” The figurine shows Ezio in a combative stance as he moves in for the kill.

In Might & Magic® Heroes VI, Michael, the legendary Archangel, is one of the most charismatic characters, and 500 fans will now have the opportunity to own an intricate polyresin figurine of Michael, wings spread and sword drawn for battle. UbiCollectibles is using a design chosen with fans on Facebook to create this unique offering.

From Ghost Recon, a limited quantity of “Production Team” t-shirts, with the same design as those worn by the development team during this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, will be available as UbiCollectibles.

“UbiCollectibles are designed to give true fans something special,” said Geoffroy Sardin, Chief Europe, Middle East and Asia Marketing and Sales Officer at Ubisoft. “Each item is a custom-designed, limited edition, created to give fans an exceptional way to deepen their experience with their favourite Ubisoft universes.”

Future offerings from UbiCollectibles will include apparel, figurines, lithographs, jewellery, and replicas from Ubisoft’s best-selling brands. Pre-order information and more details on UbiCollectibles can be found at http://shop.ubi.com/ubicollectibles