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Red Faction Armageddon – Breaking the Seal trailer

 
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The Crossover PC: New Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Laptop Blends Business and Entertainment Technologies

Lenovo unveils thinnest and highest performance 13-inch laptop1 with new RapidCharge battery technology

Sydney, Australia – May 17, 2011: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the ThinkPad X1 laptop that gives users the thinnest and highest performance combination for its class1. Designed for mobile professionals who demand the best in performance, mobility and entertainment, the laptop offers a simple and modern style with a backlit keyboard, fast charging batteries and a host of performance and multimedia capabilities.

“Lenovo customers are looking for a business laptop that combines premium consumer multimedia and entertainment features with high performance and mobility innovations in a thin and stylish design,” said David Heyworth, Think Product Group Manager, Lenovo Australia and New Zealand. “The ThinkPad X1 is equipped with non-traditional business features like Dolby Home Theater sound, an updated keyboard and a bright, durable screen protected with Corning® Gorilla® Glass that delivers enterprise-level security, manageability and durability that the ThinkPad is renowned for.”

Ultra-Thin Design Meets Elite Performance

As the thinnest ThinkPad, the ThinkPad X1 laptop measures less than 17mm, smaller than the height of an Australian five cent coin. Packed into the ultra-thin form factor are choices of second generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, typically offered on Lenovo’s larger 14 and 15-inch laptops. This engineering allows the ThinkPad X1 laptop to double the CPU performance and quadruple the graphics performance of the ThinkPad X301, Lenovo’s previous flagship 13-inch laptop.

Weighing less than 1.7kg, the ThinkPad X1 laptop feels incredibly light and sturdy, thanks to its interior roll cage and magnesium chassis. The screen uses Corning® Gorilla® Glass for extra durability, rigidity and scratch resistance. The hardened ThinkPad X1 passes eight military specifications so mobile professionals can work anywhere with confidence.

 

Recharge Fast with RapidCharge

The ThinkPad X1 laptop debuts Lenovo’s new RapidCharge battery technology that charges up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. This technology charges two and a half times faster than a typical ThinkPad battery2, giving users more freedom to work on-the-go, faster. RapidCharge combines fast charge cells with a 1,000 cycle battery designed to last three years3. Users can also opt to purchase a RapidCharge external slice battery for the ThinkPad X1 laptop to double their battery life to 10 hours4.

ThinkPad Keyboard in a New Light

Lenovo has modernised the keyboard’s appearance while simultaneously retaining the touch, feel and function of the classic ThinkPad keyboard experience. The simplified design eliminates some legacy keys, like SysRq, while keeping rich functionality including dedicated multimedia and voice calling controls. For working in low light, users can turn on the keyboard’s backlight, available for the first time on an enterprise-class ThinkPad laptop. Additionally, in keeping with ThinkPad tradition, the keyboard features spill resistance.

 

Rich Sound, Riveting Pictures for Music and Movies

Business PCs are not typically known for their audio and visual experience, however the ThinkPad X1 laptop breaks the mould, equipped with rich and resonant Dolby Home Theater v4 sound and its superbright (350 NIT) high-definition display. Whether listening through headphones, built-in speakers or a connected home theater, users will experience a captivating entertainment experience. Also, with the laptop’s HDMI port and Intel Wireless Display technology, the laptop can connect and stream 1080p wirelessly to a TV or projector.

Business-Class Innovations

Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops feature a platform of new innovations that respond to key business needs with video and voice calling, enterprise management features and by creating an easy-to-use computing experience.  Using its optional mobile broadband, 720p camera, high definition microphones and advanced calling modes, the ThinkPad X1 laptop delivers clear video calls. It also offers robust layers of security with Intel vPro technology5, encrypted hard drives with remote management support and a fingerprint reader with one touch swipe for power on and authentication.

For quick and easy startup and shutdown, the laptop comes with Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7, an exclusive certification for Lenovo products that allows users to start their laptop on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer. The ThinkPad X1 is equipped with Instant Resume so users can keep their wireless connection active, whether it’s WiFi or mobile broadband, when closing their laptop and when the laptop goes into sleep mode.

Pricing and Availability6 

The ThinkPad X1 laptop will be available starting May 17 through business partners and online at www.lenovo.com.au. Pricing for models starts at approximately $1959. All prices quoted include GST.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

 

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo’s business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centres in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.au.

1Compared to major vendors offering 13-inch widescreen enterprise laptop PCs: HP, Dell, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Samsung.  Enterprise laptops offer stable images, security and manageability features, global models and global support.

2To reach 80% charge level.  

3Typical ThinkPad X1 battery expected to maintain up to 80% charge after 1,000 charge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use. Typical X1 battery retains over 60% of original capacity after 3 years based on 250 cycles per year assumption.  Lenovo offers a standard one-year Limited Warranty on the battery and the optional upgrade to a ThinkPlus® 3-Year Sealed Battery Warranty.

410 hours of battery life with integrated 4-cell and external slice 6-cell battery measured.

5On select models with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.

6Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.

 
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Clever hands create unique Indigenous fibre works

A unique exhibition showcasing the fibre works created by women from the Arnhem Land community of Gapuwiyak comes to Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre from Friday 27 May 2011.

Women with Clever Hands: Gapuwiyak Miyalkurruwurr Gong Djambatjmala is the first exhibition to exclusively showcase the fibre work of Gapuwiyak women. Featuring 130 works created over the past 15 years the exhibition provides a unique insight into the social and cultural life of the artists and their community.

“An important part of the creation of these pieces is working together and sharing knowledge of technique and practice to inspire the next generation” says Dr Louise Hamby, exhibition curator. “This exhibition provides a fantastic opportunity to extend that tradition, inspiring the people of Melbourne through sharing works and stories of the women of Gapuwiyak”

All the works in the exhibition have been made from materials sourced from the local area around Gapuwiyak and include 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.

“Women with Clever Hands is a wonderful illustration of the continuation of a traditional craft in one community” says Caroline Martin, Manager, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. “Seeing how the unique style of the Gapuwiyak works has changed over many generations provides a glimpse into the lives, community and culture of these extraordinary women”.

Women with Clever Hands: Gapuwiyak Miyalkurruwurr Gong Djambatjmala
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum
Nicholson Street, Carlton
27 May to 28 August 2011

As part of the exhibition Women with Clever Hands there will a special opportunity to see a group of women from Gapuwiyak demonstrating their weaving techniques and traditional dying methods.

Demonstration with the women of Gapuwiyak
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum
Nicholson Street, Carlton
10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, Saturday 28 May 2011

This exhibition is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of Australian cultural material across Australia.

 
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Cyber Vigilantes: How Security Researchers are Hurting the Business of Hacking

Imperva outlines how hacking has become industrialized, details monitoring processes to forecast and disrupt future hacking targets

AUSCERT: Gold Coast, 17 May 2011 – Imperva, the leader in data security, today presented “Cyber Vigilantes: How Security Researchers are Hurting the Business of Hacking” at this year’s AUSCERT Conference. The presentation detailed how developments in hacker attack techniques are overwhelming organisations today, increasingly innovative and bypassing security protocols due to insufficient time and internal corporate resources needed to defend ongoing attacks. Imperva detailed industry vulnerabilities how to best protect against these data intrusions in the future.

In 2010 Imperva launched its Hacker Intelligence Initiative to investigate the anatomy of attacks as well as key hacking trends by exploring the cybercrime industry utilizing techniques including hack-back, forum monitoring and internet traffic surveillance. The HII’s purpose was to help the industry better tune their defences and understand the nature and focus of cyber attacks.

Imperva’s Web Research Team Leader, Tal Be’ery confirmed: “Hacking has become extremely industrialised. Attack techniques, vectors, tools and platforms continue to evolve very rapidly, even for those of us working in the data security sector. Each industry faces a varying list of vulnerability possibilities for intrusion. For example the financial services sector is not exposed to authorization vulnerabilities in the same way the telecommunications sector is. This makes it very difficult for organisations to understand and provide the unique resources and time they need to manage these issues as they happen.”

Be’ery also outlined the drivers for the most recent attacks and areas of interest noting, “for example hacker interest in mobile has increased. There was almost a ten-fold hacker interest in mobile last year, and we have seen nothing that refutes its continued growth this year.”

The presentation detailed the methodology employed by Imperva research labs to measure both quantitative and qualitative analysis of information being disclosed. Be’ery said: “We monitor the communications of hacker forums and rate the most popular topics being discussed today. By understanding the business of hacking we can look at activity including: the discovery of full-fledged Cross Site Scripting (XSS) attack campaigns, server-generated Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, a data collection containing millions of users passwords, and cloud-based technologies used by hackers.”

The Imperva research team is also responsible for monitoring the growing range of tools and kits for every attack type, known automated attacks and the emerging automated attacks.

In order to help the audience gain an understanding of which controls they should apply to secure their systems against the evolving hacking industry Be’ery summarised his recommendations for protecting corporate data:

· Introduce proactive detection into your security environment

· Assess what is sensitive data and apply the necessary controls on that data

· Stop attacks before they even enter your application

· Ensure guards are updated in real-time

· Follow up on trending attack techniques and models

· Irrelevant controls are not necessarily old controls

 
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RESTORATION OF PLAYSTATION®NETWORK AND QRIOCITY SERVICES BEGINS

Increased Security Measures Implemented Before Service Restoration;

Consumer Data Protection a Full-Time, Company-Wide Commitment

Tokyo, May 15, 2011 – Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced that Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) will today begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity Services.  The phased restoration will be on a country by country basis beginning in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Middle East.

The first phase of restored services for these countries and regions will include:

  • Sign-in for PlayStation®Network and Qriocity services, including the resetting of passwords
  • Restoration of online game-play across PS3 and PSP
  • Playback rental video content, if within rental period, of PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
  • Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, for current subscribers, on PS3 and PC
  • Access to 3rd party services such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and MLB.tv[i]
  • ‘Friends’ category on PS3, including Friends List, Chat Functionality, Trophy Comparison, etc
  • PlayStation Home

 

Increased Security Measures

As the result of a criminal cyber attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI shut down the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services on April 20, in order for the company to undergo an investigation and make enhancements to the overall security of the network infrastructure.   Working closely with several respected outside security firms, the company has implemented new and additional security measures that strengthen safeguards against unauthorized activity, and provide consumers with greater protection of their personal information.

The company has made considerable enhancements to the data security, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring and penetration and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption and additional firewalls.  The company also added a variety of other measures to the network infrastructure including an early-warning system for unusual activity patterns that could signal an attempt to compromise the network.

“I’d like to send my sincere regret for the inconvenience this incident has caused you, and want to thank you all for the kind patience you’ve shown as we worked through the restoration process,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation.  “I can’t thank you enough for your patience and support during this time. We know even the most loyal customers have been frustrated by this process and are anxious to use their Sony products and services again. We are taking aggressive action at all levels to address the concerns that were raised by this incident, and are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment.”

“During the past 18 months, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in the volume of cyber attacks, their sophistication and their impact on businesses. Thwarting cyber-crime requires an evolutionary approach to security that is well integrated, reduces risk exposure and improves efficiencies,” said Francis deSouza, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Security Group, Symantec. “Today’s cyber crime attacks are proving to be more covert, more targeted and better organized than those we’ve seen in years past. In working with Sony on the move of their data-center, it’s clear they’re implementing measures to reduce security risks moving forward.” 

As an additional measure, Fumiaki Sakai, president of Sony Global Solutions Inc. (SGS), has been appointed acting Chief Information Security Officer of SNEI.  In addition to his current role at SGS, Mr. Sakai, in his role at SNEI, will work to further reinforce overall information security across the company’s network infrastructure.  Mr. Sakai will lead the recruiting effort in finding a new and permanent CISO for SNEI.  As CISO, Mr. Sakai will report to Tim Schaaff, president, SNEI, as well as to Mr. Shinji Hasejima, CIO, Sony Corporation. 

            “While we understand the importance of getting our services back online, we did not rush to do so at the expense of extensively and aggressively testing our enhanced security measures. Our consumers’ safety remains our number one priority,” Hirai continued. “We want to assure our customers that their personal information is being protected with some of the best security technologies available today, so that everyone can feel comfortable enjoying all that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have to offer.” 

The restoration of the services across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Middle East are beginning, and consumers will be able to enjoy some of the online functionality provided by both the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services.  Phased restoration in Japan and other Asian countries and regions will be announced in due course.  The company expects to have the services fully restored by the end of May 2011. 

The company will be offering customers a “Welcome Back” package of services and premium content to all registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity account services.  The details of this program will be announced in each region shortly. 

For more information about the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services intrusion and restoration, please visit http://blog.us.playstation.com or http://blog.eu.playstation.com/

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world.  Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.  Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

 
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Acronis and Kaseya Offer Upgraded Backup and Recovery Solution

Acronis Backup & Recovery products to be integrated into Kaseya IT Framework and Kaseya Backup 4.0

Sydney, May 17, 2011 – Acronis, a leading provider of easy-to-use disaster recovery and data protection solutions for physical, virtual and cloud environments and Kaseya, the leading global provider of IT Systems Management software, today announced that Acronis® Backup & Recovery™ solution will be integrated into the Kaseya IT Framework as part of Kaseya BackupTM 4.0.

Kaseya has offered the functionality of Acronis technology to their customers through an existing OEM agreement that has been successful for more than five years. Under the extended agreement which adds Acronis Backup & Recovery products for small to medium-size businesses, Kaseya customers are able to simply automate their backup and disaster recovery process across both physical and virtual environments in a single solution.

“The backup and disaster recovery capabilities we offer with Kaseya Backup are a key reason that IT professionals use our product for their customers’ business continuity requirements,” said Gerald Beaulieu, senior director of product marketing, Kaseya. “By offering a comprehensive solution from Acronis, we are able to improve the services we deliver to our customers to minimise loss of production due to disaster.”

“Previously we had no way of supporting servers with dynamic disk capabilities,” stated Tom Andrulis, owner, Intelligent Technical Solutions. “However now with Kaseya BackupTM 4.0, we can back up and it’s amazingly fast. We normally see systems backing up about 1GB per minute. This system backed up over 4GB a minute.”

With offsite data replication supporting rapid disaster recovery functionality based on the award-winning Acronis Backup & Recovery, Kaseya offers its Kaseya Backup™ module to its service provider and enterprise customers. Further, the Kaseya Backup module also protects full disk images as well as selected files to local data stores supporting customers’ business continuity programs. Kaseya offers support for Windows servers and Windows workstations as well as enhanced integration for the Kaseya dashboard and management tools.

Karl Sice, General Manager – Pacific at Acronis said, “we’re pleased to build on our already-strong relationship with Kaseya, the leading solution vendor in the managed service provider market. The Acronis and Kaseya relationship has been successful and we are excited about furthering our partnership with this close alignment of our strategic objectives and product development.”

About Kaseya

Kaseya is the leading global provider of IT Systems Management software. Kaseya solutions empower everyone –– from individual consumers to large corporations and IT service providers –– to proactively manage and control IT assets remotely, easily and efficiently from one integrated Web-based platform. Kaseya solutions are trusted by IT service providers, and a wide variety of industries including: banking, consumer packaged goods, education, financial services, government, healthcare, military, real estate, retail and transportation. The company is privately held in 30 offices in 20 countries. To learn more, please visit http://www.kaseya.com.

About Acronis

Acronis is a leading provider of easy-to-use disaster recovery and data protection solutions for physical, virtual and cloud environments. Its patented disk imaging technology enables corporations, SMBs and consumers to protect their digital assets. With Acronis’ disaster recovery, deployment and migration software, users protect their digital information, maintain business continuity and reduce downtime. Acronis software is sold in more than 90 countries and available in 14 languages. For additional information, please visit www.acronis.com.au. Follow Acronis on Twitter: http://twitter.com/acronis.

Acronis®, Acronis Compute with Confidence®, Acronis® Backup & Recovery™ and the Acronis logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Acronis Inc. in the United States and other countries. Kaseya; the Kaseya k-bug logo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Kaseya International Limited and/or its affiliates. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.?

 
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GOTHAM CITY IMPOSTORS

Critically Acclaimed Monolith Productions Shatters First-Person Shooter Model with Over-the-Top Gameplay Where Players Become Personalized Versions of The Bats and The Jokerz

Sydney, Australia. – May 17, 2011 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Gotham City Impostors, an original download-only first-person shooter where players battle for control of an unhinged Gotham City overrun by impostors inspired by the DC Comics characters Batman and The Joker. Developed by Monolith Productions, the game will be available in the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC and PlayStation®Network.

“Gotham City Impostors blows apart expectations for superhero games with an exaggerated take on first person shooters, set in a part of the DC Universe players have never seen before,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Monolith is creating a game that turns Gotham City upside down and we think fans are going to have a blast with this creative twist on multiplayer heroism and anti-heroism as they play up the classic rivalry between Batman and The Joker.”

Gotham City Impostors is a multiplayer game unlike any other, giving players the opportunity to rebel against conformity as they customize their own characters. Posing as amateur vigilantes or villains, gamers will create their very own Bats and Jokerz characters using unprecedented customization options including insane costumes, homebrewed gadgets and a wide range of traditional and imagined weapons.

The game will feature maps and modes inspired by DC Comics’ Batman license. Fans can visit www.GothamCityImpostors.com  for more information and to sign up to receive updates regarding the game.

 
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‘ACE COMBATTM ASSAULT HORIZON’ EUROPEAN LAUNCH DATE AND PRE-ORDER PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

– 108th Task Force Prepares to Scramble Fighters on October 14th in Europe, with European Pre-order Program Offering Weapons-grade Exclusive Content –

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – 12 May 2011 – At today’s LEVEL UP event in Dubai, a key location in the game, NAMCO BANDAI Games broke radio silence to reveal the European release date of ACE COMBAT™ ASSAULT HORIZON for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3. The intense aerial shooter will set the skies alight across Europe on October 14th 2011. Alongside the release date, the European pre-order program was also announced, with details about the incredible limited edition fans can get their hands on.

Fans who pre-order ACE COMBAT™ ASSAULT HORIZON for Xbox 360® or PlayStation®3 at participating European retailers, will guarantee themselves a copy of the European Limited Edition while stocks last, loaded with exclusive content. Packed in a battle-ready steel case, the Limited Edition contains the game DVD, the original soundtrack on CD, a notebook signed by the development team at Project Aces, plus a card to download an exclusive playable aircraft. And all this for the same price as the standard retail edition.

Developed by the Project Aces team at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. in Japan, ACE COMBAT™ ASSAULT HORIZON brings a new intensity to the franchise, escalating combat to the next level with aircraft that are literally torn apart, spewing oil and debris across the sky. Players will engage in combat across the globe, including over Dubai, the location of today’s LEVEL UP event. In single and multiplayer online modes, players will dodge skyscrapers and turn their enemies into fiery supersonic debris. Never before has combat been so fast and in-your-face.

ACE COMBAT™ ASSAULT HORIZON for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 is coming to Europe on October 14th 2011.

Stay in radio contact with ACE COMBAT™ ASSAULT HORIZON at www.acecombat-assaulthorizon.com and watch the skies for more details coming soon.

 
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NAMCO BANDAI GAMES TO BRING 2 NEW TALES OF TITLES

TO EMEA AND ASIA PACIFIC

– Iconic Role-Playing Series Coming to PlayStation®3 and Nintendo 3DS™ Across EMEA and Asia Pacific, With Incredible Anime-inspired Graphics and Innovative Dynamic Battle System –

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – 12 May 2011 – At its Level Up event in Dubai today, NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe announced that acclaimed role-playing title Tales of Graces F™ is heading to EMEA and Asia Pacific in 2012 for PlayStation®3. Tales of Graces F offers brilliant HD graphics, an amazing dynamic real-time battle system, a deep and captivating story set within the rich world of Ephinea, and other unmissable features.

In the world of Ephinea, a civilization flourishes through the use of “Eleth,” a substance found in a material called “Crius.” Three kingdoms – Windor, Strata and Fendel – struggle for dominance of the world, while in the remote Windor town of Lhant, the eldest son of Baron Aston, 18 year old Asbel, strives to become a fully-fledged knight. However, Asbel is forced to give up his dream when his father passes away and he is obliged to succeed him as the Baron of Lhant.

Tales of Graces F is the latest episode in the renowned Tales series on the current generation of consoles, and the first European appearance of the franchise on PlayStation®3. The story is set against the backdrop of three countries beset by a turbulent conflict and is founded on the ideals of “defending your convictions” and “protecting the people important to you.”

For the first time in the Tales series, the combat system lets the player freely change attack style depending on the battle situation. The characters’ distinctive weapons can be swapped for different styles, and the new combat system is easier to control while simultaneously making battles more involving. The title is developed by NAMCO TALES STUDIO LTD. in Japan with the aim of bringing to life the rich depth of the evocative characters created by Mutsumi Inomata.

There is another Tales of surprise for the fans this year with Tales of the Abyss™ for Nintendo 3DS™, based on the critically-acclaimed PlayStation®2 role playing game of the same name, finally coming to PAL territories in 2011!

Tales of the Abyss delivers full 3D support and use of the dual screens to bring players closer to the action. Tales of the Abyss tells the story of Luke fon Fabre, sole heir to a family of aristocrats, as he is suddenly thrust into the outside world on an epic adventure. Naïve and spoiled by years of isolation, Luke struggles to learn of friendship, sacrifice, duty and of choice. With the fates of many in his hands, Luke’s actions could ultimately save the world or bring about its very destruction.

Tales of Graces F will be available in 2012 and Tales of the Abyss will be available later this year across EMEA and Asia pacific.

For more information on the Tales of series, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.eu

Watch videos and trailers from NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/NamcoBandaiGamesEU

 
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THE UNSTOPPABLE SAGA LIVES ON WITH ‘DRAGON BALL GAME PROJECT ‘ !

– ‘Dragon Ball Game Project AGE 2011’ Scheduled for Release on Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 in This Coming Autumn 2011 –

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – 12 May 2011 – At NAMCO BANDAI Games’ LEVEL UP event in Dubai today, NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. let rip an almighty KAMEHAMEHA with the announcement that Dragon Ball (working title) is currently in development and heading to PlayStation®3, and Xbox 360® across European territories, plus Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, this Autumn 2011.

In Dragon Ball Game Project, prepare to dive into the world of Dragon Ball manga, TV anime, films and video games head first, with brand new content and game play, a comprehensive character line up and faithful manga style graphics.

The development team at Spike Co. Ltd. in Japan, the talented people responsible for sustaining the incredible worldwide success of the franchise over the past 6 years, have taken a new approach this time round, with the aim of creating a new landmark in the Dragon Ball videogame series. They’ve poured all their ki energy into upgrading the character and environment graphics, with character designs drawn straight from the original DBZ manga series, and totally destructible battle fields, including realistic craters and Kamehameha tracers cutting across the sky, delivering a heightened sensation of realism and dynamic immediacy.

Featuring the original Japanese voiceover and music, the enhanced story mode will immerse players in the rich variety of the Dragon Ball universe, where every element of the battle will thrill. The game will also include a special mode which allows the player to experience the brand new age of Dragon Ball Z. The controls are being designed to bring the experience closer to the previous Tenkaichi series, making the play accessible to all, but retaining all the tactical depth in battle.

NAMCO BANDAI Games is pleased to announce that it will be showcasing Dragon Ball Game Project at the Japan Expo event in Paris from June 30th to July 3rd 2011, with special events including tournaments and contests on the Capsule Corporation stand.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe and its line up, please visit www.namcobandaigames.eu.

And sign up on the Dragon Ball Games Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/DBZ.videogames