The StarCraft II team recently unveiled their progress on the StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm single-player campaign, which explores the fate of Sarah Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades.

To learn more about this next evolution in StarCraft II’s gameplay and storytelling, the Blizzard Insider recently sat down with Game Director Dustin Browder. Click here to get the behind-the-scenes details of the upcoming StarCraft II expansion, and be among the first to peer into the Heart of the Swarm.

You can also watch the teaser trailer and gameplay trailer for Heart of the Swarm here.

Sydney, AUSTRALIA (June 1st, 2011) – SEGA® Europe Ltd. & SEGA® America, Inc., today announced London 2012™ – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games. The officially licensed video game of the London 2012 Olympic Games will once again be published exclusively by SEGA in partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). London 2012™ – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC, hitting stores in 2012.

London 2012™ – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will allow gamers to create their own moments of sporting history and fame by experiencing the thrill and adrenaline rush of the events and disciplines that will be a part of the London 2012 Olympic Games. With over 30 events in which to claim gold, players will enjoy more gameplay variety than ever before, even taking the race for medals online by competing for personal and national glory with online leaderboards.

“The London 2012 Olympic Games is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience for many people” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “The official video game will give people all over the world the chance to participate in the greatest sporting event on earth from their homes, even if they are thousands of miles away!”

“London 2012 looks set to be our best ever release in the Olympic Games simulation franchise in terms of both sales and number and quality of events” commented Raymond Goldsmith, Chairman and CEO of ISM. “We are delighted to be working once again with SEGA to ensure we will achieve this historic milestone.”

Developed by the newly rebranded SEGA Studios Australia, London 2012™ – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will truly showcase the studio’s technical prowess and take full advantage of the Brisbane based studio’s state of the art motion capture facility.

For more information about the game, please visit: www.olympicvideogames.com/london2012

SEGA STUDIOS AUSTRALIA ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Brisbane, AUSTRALIA (1^st June, 2011) – SEGA® Studios Australia are pleased to announce their new name and corporate image.  Formerly known as The Creative Assembly Australia, SEGA Studios Australia was initially founded in July 2002 and has been involved in the development of a number of critically acclaimed videogame titles including the 2002 PC title ROME: TOTAL WAR™ and MEDIEVAL II: TOTAL WAR™, which topped the UK charts in 2006.

Following the release of the MEDIEVAL II: TOTAL WAR KINGDOMS expansion pack in 2006, the studio focussed on enhancing its technological capabilities across newly emerging hardware platforms. Developing games over the past nine years for SONY PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Nintendo DS™ has given the studio the tools and knowledge it needs to take on its latest multiplatform title, currently in development.

“SEGA is hugely proud of its internal development studios” commented Gary Dunn, Senior Vice President – Production, SEGA Europe and SEGA America. “SEGA Studios Australia has been involved in the development of some of SEGA’s most successful games; this new corporate image will not only reflect their development heritage but also the exciting new times ahead for the team”.

For more information on SEGA Studios Australia please visit www.segastudios.com.au

Return to the Ruins of Post-Apocalyptic Moscow In the Sequel to 2010’s Cult Hit, Metro 2033

MELBOURNE, Victoria. 1^st June, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) – THQ (THQI) today announced that the hugely anticipated sequel to 2010’s multiple Interactive Achievement Award finalist, Metro 2033, is scheduled for release in Calendar 2012, for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.

Metro: Last Light will immerse the player in the haunting, desolate ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, one of the most richly detailed and beautifully realised gaming worlds of modern times. Developer 4A Games will deliver a terrifying, atmospheric single-player adventure that fuses thrilling combat with exploration and survival horror to create a unique, memorable experience.

“We believe that Metro 2033 was a flawed masterpiece,” said Danny Bilson, EVP Core Games, THQ. “It was a beautiful, original game that didn’t get the marketing support it needed. We won’t make that mistake with Metro: Last Light. This game improves on the original in every way – it will have more polish, deeper and more sophisticated gameplay, and satisfyingly visceral combat, without losing what our fans loved about the original. Metro: Last Light is another artful piece of game development from an Eastern European studio that will thrill and terrify anyone looking for a more cerebral experience than your typical first person shooter.”

Metro: Last Light pitches the player into the midst of a desperate civil war for control over a doomsday device that threatens to destroy humanity forever. The epic single-player campaign and unique multiplayer experience will benefit from the extraordinary lighting, physics and destruction made possible by Metro: Last Light’s bespoke 4A Engine technology.

Metro: Last Light will be unveiled to the public at this years’ E3 Convention with a live gameplay demonstration.

For more information on Metro: Last light:

• View the Announcement Trailer on the official YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/MetroVideogameAU

• Become a fan at www.Facebook.com/MetroVideoGame or follow us on www.Twitter.com/MetroVideoGame

• Visit the website and register for exclusive updates at Metro.THQ.com

About Metro: Last Light

It is the year 2034.

Beneath the ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro, the remnants of mankind are besieged by deadly threats from outside – and within.

Mutants stalk the catacombs beneath the desolate surface, and hunt amidst the poisoned skies above.

But rather than stand united, the station-cities of the Metro are locked in a struggle for the ultimate power, a doomsday device from the military vaults of D6. A civil war is stirring that could wipe humanity from the face of the earth forever.

As Artyom, burdened by guilt but driven by hope, you hold the key to our survival – the last light in our darkest hour…

• A gripping, story-driven first person shooter, Metro: Last Light is the hugely anticipated sequel to 2010’s critically acclaimed cult classic Metro 2033

• Experience thrilling combat with an exotic arsenal of hand-made weaponry against deadly foes – both human and mutant – and use stealth to launch attacks under the cover of darkness

• Explore the post-apocalyptic world of the Moscow Metro, one of the most immersive, atmospheric game worlds ever created

• Fight for every bullet and every last breath in a claustrophobic blend of survival horror and FPS gameplay

• Next generation technology boasting stunning lighting and physics sets a new graphical benchmark on both console and PC

• Wage post-apocalyptic warfare online, as Last Light delivers an intense multiplayer experience amongst the dark Russian ruins

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox LIVE logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations,

Square Enix announces Heroes of Ruin™ for Nintendo 3DS

A brand new adventure featuring a line-up of unlikely heroes and deep social functionality

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – June 1st, 2011 – Square Enix London Studios, part of Square Enix Europe, today announces HEROES OF RUIN, a brand new adventure featuring four unlikely heroes brought together to form a fearsome alliance. Custom-built for Nintendo 3DS™, with support for online play and a wealth of social gaming features, players will find a new experience awaits them every day.

“With HEROES OF RUIN we wanted to take the game experience beyond the confines of the console’s two screens,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager, Square Enix London Studios. “Nintendo 3DS’ online and social features allow us to do so much more than multiplayer, using both StreetPass™ and SpotPass™ to give players innovative ways of enhancing their experience.”

HEROES OF RUIN uses StreetPass to create an inventive in-game ‘Traders’ Network’ where players can buy and sell rare and powerful items picked up in battle. With an ever-changing inventory updated from each player passed in public, character strengths and abilities can be greatly enhanced through accessing items from other players’ games. Outside of the game, HEROES OF RUIN makes use of SpotPass to reward players with rare one-off items or unique challenges through local wi-fi hotspots. The official HEROES OF RUIN community website will reward players further with daily challenges and quests available to complete in-game. With social media functionality, the site will also give players a platform to meet other gamers, swap ideas and items and team-up in-game.

HEROES OF RUIN challenges players to carve their own adventure, joining forces with other heroes through seamless drop-in/drop-out co-op multiplayer or venturing forth alone. Players will enter an ever-changing world where danger waits around every corner. Heroes can explore and fight through wild, varied and dynamic environments, discovering new layouts and routes each time they play. Packed with strange and deadly creatures, these dangerous lands will stretch players’ combat and tactical skills as they enhance their character, collecting loot, weapons and armour to empower them on their quest.

HEROES OF RUIN will be playable at E3 on the Square Enix stand (South Hall, Booth 1647) and will be available in early 2012 for Nintendo 3DS. The game is not yet rated. For more information and updates, join the HEROES OF RUIN community at www.HeroesOfRuin.com.

As global warming heats the earth’s surface, an ancient beast, frozen in an arctic
glacier, has thawed out…and it’s hungry! It makes its way to Mexico to snack on a
steady buffet of bikini babes, lifeguards, horny tourists and more!

Dinoshark is the story of a terrifying sea-creature that threatens to turn a holiday
swim into a bloodbath. This fierce, finned predator has to be seen to be believed: if
he will let you live that long!

From the legendary team that brought us SHARKTOPUS, DINOCROC VS.
SUPERGATOR, DINOCROC and stars Eric Balfour (SKYLINE, SPREAD & ‘24’), Iva
Hasperger and Aaron Diaz. There is even a special appearance by Roger Corman.
DINOSHARK features an audio commentary with producers Roger Corman and Julie
Corman, and is available to rent on DVD and Blu-ray from June 22.

RELEASE DATE: June 22 Exclusive to rent
RATING: MA 15+ Strong violence
RUNTIME: 90 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentary with producers Roger Corman and Julie Corman and director Kevin O’Neill

The hilarious and imaginative RANGO saddles up on DVD and Triple Play (DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Copy) on July 7 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The incomparable Johnny Depp voices Rango, a chameleon living as an ordinary family pet that dreams of being a fearless hero and is challenged to become just that when he inadvertently becomes the sheriff of a lawless desert town called Dirt.  Depp reteams with director by Gore Verbinski, the visionary behind the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, in this wildly original comedy, which delighted audiences of all ages, earning a worldwide box office of $238M.  The film also features the voices of Isla Fisher (Horton Hears A Who!), Abigail Breslin (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl), Ned Beatty (Toy Story 3), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Harry Dean Stanton, (“Big Love”), Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”).

The RANGO Triple Play includes both the theatrical version of the film and an extended cut including a never-before-seen alternate ending, 10 uproarious deleted scenes, a two-part in-depth exploration of the groundbreaking filmmaking process, a look at the real creatures of Dirt, an interactive field trip to Dirt and more.

RANGO is available to buy on DVD & Triple Play on July 7, 2011
from Paramount Home Entertainment

DVD TECHNICAL DETAILS

TRIPLE PLAY TECHNICAL DETAILS

New Roadmaps Across Intel® Core™ and Atom™ Processor Families to Usher in Next Wave of Laptops and Connected Mobile Devices

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• Intel defines new category of mainstream thin and light mobile computers, called Ultrabook™.
• Intel aims to shift 40 per cent of consumer laptops to the Ultrabook™ by end of 2012.
• Separately, Intel is accelerating the Atom™ processor roadmap to a one-process-generation per year cadence to enable a wider range of optimised solutions for multiple market segments.
• Intel highlighted its next-generation, fanless netbook platform, codenamed “Cedar Trail,” a range of new Atom processor-based tablets available today, and a “Medfield” tablet reference design for sub-9mm designs, weighing less than 1.5 pounds and supporting a choice of operating systems.

COMPUTEX, Taipei, May 31, 2011 – Intel Corporation Executive Vice President Sean Maloney today said that by the end of 2012, 40 per cent of the consumer laptop market segment will encompass an emerging new breed of no-compromise computers, called “Ultrabook™,” which will increasingly combine best-in-class performance, improved responsiveness and security in thin, elegant form factors.

During the opening keynote speech at Computex, one of the world’s largest technology trade shows, Maloney provided further details on the significant changes Intel is making to the Intel® CoreTM processor roadmap to enable this new category. He also reiterated Intel’s push to accelerate the pace of innovation for Intel® AtomTM processor-based system-on-chips (SoCs) for netbooks, smartphones, tablets and other companion devices.

“Computing is taking many forms,” said Maloney. “Technology innovation is a catalyst, and we believe the changes Intel is making to its roadmaps, together with strong industry collaboration, will bring about an exciting change in personal computing over the next few years.”

The “Ultrabook™”

Intel’s vision is to enable a new user experience by accelerating a new class of mobile computers. These computers will marry the performance and capabilities of today’s laptops with tablet-like features and deliver a highly responsive and secure experience, in a thin, light and elegant design. The Ultrabook™ will be shaped by Moore’s Law and silicon technology in the same way they have shaped the traditional PC for the past 40 years.

Maloney described three key phases in the company’s strategy to accelerate this vision, which begins to unfold today with the company’s latest 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors. This family of products will enable thin, light and beautiful designs that are less than 20mm thick, and mainstream price points under US$1,000. Systems based on these chips will be available for the 2011 end-of-year holiday shopping season and include the UX21, ASUS* Ultrabook™. ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih joined Maloney on stage to showcase the company’s new ultra-thin laptop based on the latest 2nd Generation Intel Core processor.

“At ASUS, we are very much aligned with Intel’s vision of Ultrabook™,” said Shih. “Our customers are demanding an uncompromised computing experience in a lightweight, highly portable design that responds to their needs quickly. Transforming the PC into an ultra thin, ultra responsive device will change the way people interact with their PC.”

Building on the latest 2nd Generation Intel Core technology, Maloney outlined the next generation Intel processor family codenamed “Ivy Bridge,” which is scheduled for availability in systems in the first half of 2012. Laptops based on “Ivy Bridge” will bring improved power efficiency, smart visual performance, increased responsiveness and enhanced security. “Ivy Bridge” is the first high-volume chip based on Intel’s 22 nanometre (nm) manufacturing technology that uses a revolutionary 3-D transistor design called Tri-Gate announced in May. Maloney also highlighted complementary USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt ™ technologies which are part of Intel’s ongoing work to drive the PC platform forward.

Following “Ivy Bridge,” planned 2013 products codenamed “Haswell” are the third step toward achieving the Ultrabook™ and reinventing the capabilities of the laptop in ultra thin and light, responsive and more secure designs. With “Haswell,” Intel will change the mainstream laptop thermal design point by reducing the microprocessor power to half of today’s design point.

Accelerating the Intel® Atom™ Processor Roadmap

Maloney highlighted key milestones and additional details on upcoming generations of Intel Atom processor-based platforms for tablets, netbooks and smartphones. The Atom processor will outpace Moore’s Law, accelerating from 32nm through 22nm to 14nm within three successive years. Having a cadence of a new-process-generation every year will result in significant reduction in transistor leakage, lower active power and an increase of transistor density to enable more powerful smartphones, tablets, and netbooks with more features and longer battery life.

Reaching its 100 million-unit milestone this month, Intel is preparing its next-generation netbook platform, codenamed “Cedar Trail.” “Cedar Trail” is the first netbook platform based on Intel’s 32nm technology, and will enable ultra-thin, fanless designs with new capabilities such as Intel® Rapid Start technology which provides fast resume, Intel® Smart Connect Technology which enables an always updated experience even during standby, Intel® Wireless Display and PC Synch, which let users wirelessly update and synchronise documents, content and media across multiple devices. In addition, the new platform is expected to enable more than 10 hours of battery life and weeks of standby. “Cedar Trail” will support leading operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows *, Google Chrome* and MeeGo*.

In addition, Maloney showcased more than 10 tablets, running on three different operating systems, that are available today based on the Intel Atom processor Z670. The platform already has more than 35 design wins since its launch in April, with several convertibles, sliders and other innovative designs on shelves now and more coming through the rest of the year.

Maloney also discussed “Medfield,” Intel’s first purpose-built 32nm platform for smartphones and tablets. “Medfield” has been optimised for both low power and high performance and will deliver long use-time, rich media and gaming, and advanced imaging capabilities. To illustrate this point in tablets, Intel showcased a “Medfield” design running Google Android* 3.0 (“Honeycomb”) for the first time. In production later this year, the platform will enable sub-9mm designs that weigh less than 1.5 pounds for tablet designs in market the first half of 2012. It will support a range of operating systems including Android and MeeGo.

According to Maloney, “The work Intel is doing with the Intel® Atom™ processor roadmap, coupled with the significant changes we are making to our Intel® Core™ processor roadmaps, will continue to enhance Intel’s ability to deliver complete hardware solutions with a choice of software platforms across a full spectrum of computing — from back-end servers that power the cloud to the billions of devices that access the cloud.”

The Cloud’s Rapid Expansion

More people and devices connecting to the Internet will lead to unprecedented growth in cloud-based services for storage, synchronisation and entertainment, according to Maloney, and Intel is poised to grow with it. He said that one new Intel-based server is needed for roughly every additional 600 new smartphones or 122 new tablets connecting to the Internet. He also reiterated the company’s “Cloud 2015” vision of a world of interoperable “federated” clouds that allow enterprises to share data securely across public and private clouds; “automated” networks that allow the movement of workloads between servers in the data centre for better utilisation and energy efficiency, and “device-aware” clouds that know what types of applications, commands and processing.

In closing, Maloney stressed the critical role of the Taiwan IT industry in the next transformation of computing. He called for collective innovations that will lead the industry into the next era as computing takes many new forms and becomes ever more pervasive and affordable. “The Taiwan IT industry will be instrumental in realising this vision,” said Maloney.

More information about today’s announcements is available at www.intel.com/newsroom/computex/index.htm

About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.