Sydney, Australia – March 16, 2011 – ZeniMax Online Studios, a ZeniMax® Media company, announced today plans to open a customer support center in Galway, Ireland. The Company’s new facility will provide customer support for players of their future massively multiplayer online games and is expected to result in the creation of hundreds of jobs over the next several years.

Under the leadership of industry veteran Matt Firor, ZeniMax Online Studios was founded to create online role playing games. Overseeing the global customer service initiative at the studio is Rich Barham, Director of Customer Support, whose leadership will foster the growth of the operation. Prior to joining ZeniMax Online, Barham, formerly with Blizzard Entertainment, was a major contributor to the management of in-game support needs, customer care, and retention for World of Warcraft and was a key team member setting up customer service centers for North America and Europe.

“Today’s announcement marks an important step for us,” said Matt Firor, president of ZeniMax Online Studios. “We are excited to be building an experienced team, led by Rich, which will focus on providing superior customer support for our games. Galway has world-class educational facilities, is a beautiful place to work and live, and offers a wide variety of benefits for our employees. Our ability to provide superior customer service for our future products is firmly on track.”

Support from IDA Ireland, the Irish Government inward investment agency, and other local entities, as well as the country’s thriving customer support industry, were critical elements in selecting the Galway location.

Welcoming today’s announcement, IDA Ireland’s CEO, Barry O’Leary, said “ZeniMax Online Studios’ decision to locate its European customer services operations in Galway acknowledges Ireland’s delivery of services’ excellence in the digital media sphere and its position of strength in the global gaming industry. They are a very welcome addition to a cluster of companies across Ireland in a sector which is witnessing rapid growth. IDA Ireland’s strategy blueprint, Horizon 2020 recognizes the global growth in services and today’s announcement by ZeniMax Online further embeds Ireland’s reputation as a European digital capital.”

For more information about ZeniMax Online Studios, visit www.zenimaxonline.com

Believe it or not, there’s a *good* kind of third-tier job.

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA-MARCH 15, 2011-Atlus Online today launched loads of exciting new content for its newest massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Pandora Saga, including highly anticipated third-tier jobs, a level cap raise to 50, mounted combat, a St. Patrick’s-themed costume (Astian Verdant Set), and more.

In addition to the game’s level-cap increase, players can now look forward to advancing their characters into third-tier jobs starting at level 45. Adventurers can learn new skills and play Pandora Saga as a Juggernaut, Saboteur, Corruptor, Exorcist, or another job of their choosing-each with their own specific style of play. With the addition of the third-tier jobs, gamers will have the opportunity to experience 28 different classes in Pandora Saga! For a complete list of jobs and their descriptions, visit http://pandorasaga.atlusonline.com/game-guide/classes.html.

What’s more, after completing the new Winds of War quest, players will be able to take their trusty steed into war, taking battles to a whole new level. Players at level 40 and above may undertake the necessary quest to begin making warhorses. They will also be able to manage their horses by leveling them up and increasing their parameters to best fit their combat needs. The mounts in Pandora Saga are not meant to be cute pets, but rather partners in battle.

Players are encouraged to check out the Item Shop for the new St. Patrick’s-themed costume (only available from March 15-March 17) and sale on all Ice Weapons (until March 22). This is the last chance for players to buy their Ice Weapons, as their limited run in the Item Shop is about to come to an end! To learn more about Ice Weapons, visit http://pandorasaga.atlusonline.com/community/blog.html.

Starting today, players who earn honor points can become barons all the way up to archdukes. Only the player with the highest honor for each nation in Pandora Saga may achieve that coveted title. As players increase in rank, they can earn rewards such as inventory slot expansions, trading honor points for in-game items, learning new skills, and more. For more information on ranks and their specific benefits, visit http://pandorasaga.atlusonline.com/game-guide/system.html#Ranks.

And there’s more! To register, play, and find more info about Pandora Saga and all the current and upcoming events, visit the official website at http://pandorasaga.atlusonline.com.

Bethesda Softworks have just released an all-new Brink gameplay video, “A Matter of Class,” highlighting Brink’s objective-based teamplay.

Brink is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in North America on May 17th, Australia on May 19th and New Zealand and Europe on May 20th, 2011.

For more information on Brink visit www.BrinkTheGame.com.

Free Giveaway to ‘Cut the Cable Con’

Melbourne, Australia, 16 March 2011 – Kogan will help customers from JB Hi-Fi to access Full HD content on their TVs by giving away FREE HDMI cables in a bid to end the overpriced cable con.

Australian shoppers are currently being tricked by JB Hi-Fi et al into thinking they need to buy an expensive cable to get the most out of their new TV.

In a bid to end this dodgy practice, and bring cable prices down to their proper levels, Kogan is now offering free HDMI cables to anyone who has bought a TV at JB Hi-Fi in 2011. Kogan will even pay for the shipping.

Ruslan Kogan said the campaign intends to shed light on the cable con.

“Some retailers have decided that it’s appropriate to trick unsuspecting Aussie shoppers into thinking a $200 HDMI cable is somehow better than a $3 cable.

“What they conveniently forget to tell you is there’s no difference in picture quality between Kogan’s $3 cable and one more than 60 times its price!

“While retailers like JB HiFi use rip-off prices on cables to try to increase their margins, we’re selling them for $3, and we’ll even help JB HiFi customers realise what is going on by giving them free cables.

“Kogan is committed to offering value to our customers across all our product lines. We don’t think it’s fair that customers who buy some products are ripped off to help compensate for better deals on other products.

“At Kogan, we think it’s extremely unfair for someone who shells out their heard-earned money on a new TV to be shafted on cables and accessories because of a deliberate misinformation campaign by the big retailers.

“We are proud of the commitment we have made to our customers to offer great value on all products. We believe that what’s good for our customers is good for our business,” Kogan said.

The Kogan HDMI cable being given away is HDMI version 1.4, meaning it is future-proof for transmitting 3D TV signals, can carry an Ethernet signal, and is gold-plated.

If you’ve purchased a TV from JB HiFi, you can claim your FREE Kogan cable and help expose the JB Hi-Fi Cable Con, by simply emailing proof of your purchase to jbcon@kogan.com.au before March 31, 2011.

Prices of HDMI Cables^

Kogan – 3 metre $3
JB Hi-Fi – Soniq – 1.5 metre $69
JB Hi-Fi – Soniq – 4 metre $99
JB Hi-Fi – Pure AV – 3 metre $199

^Prices current as at 16 March 2011.

For more details please see the Kogan website: http://www.kogan.com.au/blog/2011/mar/16/kogan-offers-free-hdmi-cables-cut-cable-con/

 DJ HERO® 2 SPINS THE BEST OF INDIE HIP HOP WITH THREE NEW DOWNLOADABLE MIXES AVAILABLE TODAY 

Sydney, Australia – March 16, 2011 – St. Patrick’s Day is on the horizon, but budding beat chemists, singing sensations and their friends who have picked up DJ Hero® 2 are in luck already with three exclusive additions to DJ Hero 2’s award-winning mix list, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced.  Available now, and featuring the biggest names in independent underground hip hop such as Atmosphere, Jaylib, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Perceptionists and RJD2, virtual DJs can spin, scratch and remix to the best soundtrack in entertainment with the following three new mixes:

Indie Hip Hop Mix Pack (available now):

• “My World Premiere” by Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf Mixed With “The Red (Instrumental)” by Jaylib
• “Party Hard” by The Perceptionists ft. Guru & Camu Tao  Mixed With “Ghostwriter” by RJD2
• “The Best Day” by Atmosphere (Remix by FSG)

The Indie Hip Hop Mix Pack will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 640 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Store for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.  All tracks will be released as downloadable singles for Wii™ for 300 Wii Points™ each.

About DJ Hero® 2

The ultimate mixer of music and friends, DJ Hero 2 delivers the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay.  Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ’s in an all-new way, the game’s soundtrack delivers 83 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2.   Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they’re spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling.  The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Available now, DJ Hero 2 invites a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game is available as a Party Bundle which includes a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate “party-in-a-box.”  Gamers who experienced DJ Hero®, the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009, can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software.  The game was developed by FreeStyleGames for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii. The game is rated “PG” (Mild coarse language, violence, themes and sexual references) by the Classification Board.  For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Customise discs and drive with smart interchangeable top cover inserts

Sydney, Australia, March 16, 2011 – Lite-On, a global leader of optical storage solutions, today released the new eNAU series 8x external slim DVD writers – eNAU608 and eNAU508.

Compact and convenient, the eNAU series offer a simple solution for sharing photos, creating home videos or backing up data on-the-go, along with smart and stylish interchangeable top cover inserts to complement individuals’ PC devices. Users can create a personalised top cover via a software utility which is included with the device – add vibrant colours, insert favourite photos or choose a design to express fabulous flair and flamboyance. As an added bonus, the device also comes with colourful pre-designed inserts for users to apply.

Beyond its elegant exterior, the eNAU series features LightScribe direct disc labelling technology for DVDs and CDs (eNAU608 only) and LabelTag, Lite-On’s latest patented disc labeling technology that allows users to create a circular label on the data side of a standard DVD±R disc – no special media required. When burning the data, users can add text and a small image that will be printed directly behind the data in the same session and on normal recording speed. After labelling, all discs remain fully compatible with an assortment of playback devices.

The eNAU series are compatible with all common DVD and CD formats including DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R9, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, and CD-ROM.

Furthermore, the eNAU series is powered by USB therefore requires no other additional cables or adapters. With its lightweight design, the eNAU series is an ideal add-on for portable devices such as laptops, netbooks and tablets – a perfect companion for professionals, schools and people with active lifestyles.

“The Lite-On eNAU series 8x external slim DVD writers – eNAU608 and eNAU508 will be available in Australia next month – stockists to be confirmed.”

About PLDS

PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) is a joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics and Lite-On IT Corporation that is responsible for the sales and marketing of Lite-On branded Optical Disc Drive (ODD) business. The combination of a strong R&D focus and access to enormous production capacity makes PLDS an industry leading company. PLDS is dedicated to excellence and devote best efforts to further expand innovative quality product offerings for the PC industry and strengthen its top global position in the ODD industry. For more information, visit www.liteonit.com.

Sydney, Australia – March 16, 2011 – Today, Ubisoft announced the development of Rocksmith, a new video game franchise that is set to revolutionise the music genre. Rocksmith is the first and only game where players can plug any real guitar with a standard quarter-inch input jack into an Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, a PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system or PC, and play through an in-depth library of music including everything from the latest hits to classic rock songs.

Featuring gameplay that automatically adjusts to the player’s skill level and innovative game design that makes reading music visually fun and intuitive, Rocksmith engages experienced musicians and those who are picking up a guitar for the first time. The game includes a sizeable library of music from classic rock bands to current artists, such as The Animals, The Black Keys, David Bowie, Interpol, Nirvana, and The Rolling Stones.

“Rocksmith is the most authentic and addictive music game ever created,” said Geoffroy Sardin, HQ Chief Marketing & Sales Officer at Ubisoft EMEA. “Whether a beginner or a seasoned guitar vet, players progress at their own speed and walk away from the game with the ability to play songs by memory. Rocksmith is the only video game that gets players stage ready.”

Developed by Ubisoft, Rocksmith is slated to be released in the second half of calendar year 2011. For more information on Rocksmith, please follow the game on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocksmithgame, or visit www.rocksmith.com.

Beware… March 15 marks the Ides of March. This is the fateful day on which Julius Caesar was betrayed and murdered by his closest companions, including friend Marcus Brutus who was as close as a brother to him. To commemorate the day, we share with you a section of a new F.E.A.R. 3 in-game cinematic where brothers Paxton Fettel and Point Man recount their violent and hostile past. The two are haunted by themes of betrayal and family ties as the game progresses.

This week, the EA Play Label will step back in time and discover the perils of life in the middle ages with The Sims™ Medieval Brightside trailer. Whether spending a day in the stocks or battling the pit beast there is never a dull moment.

Get out-and-about in the backyard at Scienceworks these autumn school holidays and discover the science in your garden. It’s all happening right outside your door in the Backyard Bonanza. 

School holiday activities – 9 to 26 April 2011 

Down to the Ground                                       

Uncover the science within your backyard in these garden chemistry workshops. Get hands-on with an array of fun experiments.

Time: 11.00am, 12.00, 1.00 & 2.30pm (ages 6 to 12 years)                                                                                          

Games in the Garden             

Fancy a spot of croquet? Backyard cricket maybe?  How about bocce?  Gather your friends, grab some gear and head out onto the lawn for garden games.         

Time: All day                            

That’s My Turf!                                   

Dig deep and discover the science behind your backyard as you get out-and-about in this 20-minute live show!

Time: 12.00 & 2.00pm

Mini Beasts Touch Trolley                 

Beware, creepy-crawlies ahead!  Get hands-on with insects and spiders at this interactive touch trolley.

Time: 10.30am & 3.30pm

Exhibition – Amazing Backyard Adventures

Take a closer look at what you might find in your backyard. Go on a journey inside a magnified backyard lawn and find out how it feels to be smaller than a blade of grass. Use special lenses to take a look at the backyard through the eyes of a dog or jump on board the flying bee for a bees’ eye view of the garden. Delve into the mechanics of the swing, slide and see-saw before exploring the ‘frog eat insect’ world of the interactive pond. There are wonders aplenty hidden in your own backyard; come along to discover the science behind it all.

Developed by Scitech, Perth

Date: 26 Mar – 24 Jul 2011

New Lightning Room Show – Fire and Light             

Explore why matter matters and watch what happens when we transform it with fiery demonstrations.  See that plasma is all around us and discover how chemical reactions keep us alive in this 30-minute electrifying live show featuring lightning bolts.

Time: 12.00, 1.00, 2.00 & 3.00pm

Cost: Adults $14, Concession $5 and Children (3-16 years) $4.50. Includes general entry to Scienceworks.

Melbourne Planetarium

There is a range of Planetarium shows running daily through the school holidays, including Tycho to the Moon, Spinning Out, Our Living Climate and The Problem with Pluto.

Cost: Adults $14, Concession $5 and Children (3-16 years) $4.50. Includes general entry to Scienceworks. 

Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood. (Melway 56, B1). Open daily 10.00am – 4.30pm. Admission: Adult $8, Children and Concession FREE. Additional charges apply to Planetarium and Lightning Room shows. For further details phone 03 9392 4800 or visit museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks