DJ HERO® 2 HEATS THINGS UP WITH TRIO OF DOWNLOADABLE TRACKS FEATURING ELECTRONIC MUSIC ACT PENDULUM

 “Watercolour,” “Set Me On Fire” and “Salt In The Wounds” – All Tracks From The Band’s New Album, Immersion – Available Now

Sydney, Australia – February 16, 2011 – Budding beat chemists, singing sensations and all their friends can heat up their decks with three exclusive additions to DJ Hero® 2’s award-winning mix list, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced. While Australian electronic music act Pendulum is on tour with Linkin Park, gamers will be able to experience hits off their newest chart-topping album, Immersion, in an all-new way. Virtual DJs can spin, scratch and sing to the best soundtrack in entertainment with three new tracks:

Pendulum Mix Pack (Available now):

• “Watercolour”
• “Set Me On Fire”
• “Salt In The Wounds”

The Pendulum 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™.

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” 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.

Sydney, Australia – February 16, 2011 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, an innovative, engaging and funny, new video game on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®. Being developed by award-winning Double Fine Productions, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster will be available in Australian spring 2011.

In a truly original interactive experience, young players join Cookie Monster, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters as they explore a living storybook titled Once Upon a Monster. In the book, they make new zany monster friends from the Once Upon a Monster world and share in their adventures, solving problems, forging friendships and learning key life skills along the way. Parents and children literally become part of the whimsical storybook adventure by getting active together through dancing, jumping, flying and more.

“As a mother, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the inspiring activities we’ve created for kids and families to play together in Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Combining Double Fine Productions’ talent for making highly creative games and the beloved Sesame Street brand, the game mixes original gameplay with a memorable learning experience.”

“It’s great to be working with Warner Bros., especially on a game like Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, which brings together so many things we all care about,” said Tim Schafer, President and CEO of Double Fine Productions. “Sesame Street had a profound effect on me, and many members of the Double Fine team, when we were children. So did video games. Now many of us are parents and we want to share with our kids the great experiences we had, but also the completely new ones made possible by cutting-edge technology like Kinect for Xbox 360. So it’s a labour of love on many levels.”

Guided by a social and emotional curriculum set forth from Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, young players engage in activities that promote lifelong lessons about making friends, cooperation, and recognizing and labelling emotions.

“We are excited to collaborate in the development of this game where families can play together, be physically active, and parents have the opportunity to foster the social and emotional development of their children,” said Rosemarie Truglio, Vice President of Education & Research at Sesame Workshop.

SEGA REVEALS EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDER DETAILS FOR THE DREAMCAST™ COLLECTION

Wednesday 16th February 2011 – SEGA® of Australia today revealed details of an exclusive pre-order incentive for the Dreamcast™ Collection, a packaged compilation of classic titles from SEGA’s popular Dreamcast console. The Dreamcast Collection is available to pre-order now from JB Hi Fi stores nationwide, with all pre-orders for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft receiving a limited edition numbered vinyl record.

The Dreamcast Collection includes the fan favourites Sonic Adventure™, Crazy Taxi™, SEGA Bass Fishing™ and Space Channel 5™: Part 2. Five classic tracks are featured on the vinyl record including ‘Open Your Heart’ (Sonic Adventure), ‘Option Remix’ (Space Channel 5: Part 2), ‘Radical Sabbatical’ (Crazy Taxi), ‘Flinch’ (Crazy Taxi), and ‘Get Out’ (Crazy Taxi).

The pre-order offer is only available at JB Hi Fi stores and while stocks last. The Dreamcast Collection will be available on February 24th 2011 in Australia for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PC.

For more information please visit www.sega-australia.com/games/dreamcast-collection

Hear ye, hear ye!

Come one, come all to explore the world of The Sims Medieval!

This webisode takes an intriguing look at the ideas behind The Sims Medieval, as told by the senior producers and executives from EA. Learn about the different characters, quests and events that are available in the game. The team behind the game also discuss where the inspiration came from when developing The Sims Medieval.

Adelaide, Australia – 17/2/2011

DUNGEONS follows the misadventures of the foremost of all Dungeon Lords, who spends his time luring heroes into his labyrinthine creations with the promise of treasure and a good fight — only to be trapped by his ingenious devices.

DUNGEONS will be available as a standard edition and also a limited edition. The limited edition will be exclusive to EBgames in Australia.

The limited edition version includes a glossy A2 tech tree poster showcasing some of the hellish creatures from the three main dungeon levels along with a soundtrack CD containing a few of the aural delights you will experience as you create your hero enticing masterpiece.

The standard and limited edition versions of DUNGEONS will be released on the 3rd of March 2011 for Windows PC and the Limited Edition can be pre-ordered exclusively at EBgames here – http://www.ebgames.com.au/pc-152727-Dungeons-Limited-Edition-PC 

In DUNGEONS, our protagonist falls victim to a devious plot hatched by his vile, nasty and thoroughly vicious ex-girlfriend and finds himself at the bottom of the underworld hierarchy and the top of the dungeon pile. In his world, that is about as bad as it can get. Our lord must have his revenge, and make his way back down the dungeon levels to his rightful place — but first he must deal with his new bosses, the three despicable Dungeon Lords who stand in his way.

At his disposal are his dim-witted goblin minions who dig tunnels and build rooms to lay out his lair and trap ever stronger and braver heroes who dare to enter, not forgetting to plot his revenge against his ex-girlfriend and his new bosses who think it’s great fun to bombard him with useless tasks. It goes without saying that a malicious and sneaky creature such as our Dungeon Lord has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Revenge will be sweet indeed.

Visit http://www.dungeons-game.com for more information!

The true Pandora Saga starts here…

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — FEBRUARY 15, 2011 — Atlus Online today launched commercial service for its newest massively online roleplaying game, Pandora Saga, capping off a successful open beta period and implementing a number of additions and enhancements to celebrate the occasion. In addition to the game’s level cap being raised to 44, today also marks the grand opening of the Pandora Saga Item Shop, adventurers’ one-stop shop for a wide variety of rare and potent weapons, potions, and more.

“After an open beta full of excellent feedback and refinement, Pandora Saga proudly leaves beta status and begins its commercial service,” stated Tsuyoshi Onozuka, Director at Atlus Online. “It is now that the game will truly begin to deliver on its tremendous promise, with huge warzone battles featuring hundreds of player combatants, new challenges for higher-level users, an item shop full of rare and useful resources, and much more. That is not to suggest that the time for continuing to listen to feedback and improve the game has passed; our focus will always be on delivering the ultimate experience for our community, and as such we shall continue to explore ways to make Pandora Saga the best game possible.”

New to commercial service is the Clash of the Nations, Pandora Saga’s PvP battle royale. To celebrate the game’s official launch, there will be one Clash of the Nations event a day throughout the first week–aptly dubbed “7 Days of War.” It should offer denizens of the three major nations frequent opportunities to go head-to-head against their rival adventurers.

The newly-opened Item Shop features a wide variety of unique equipment and armaments for the intrepid Pandora Saga explorer, including frost-imbued Ice weapons. For pricing and a full list of what is available, please visit the Item Shop today! Be sure to visit frequently, as new items will frequently be added!

Brave adventurers may join the Muldia Medals Event that may deliver some real life rewards! Players must collect the coveted Muldia Medals and exchange them for a chance to win various prizes. One lucky player will be rewarded with the grand prize: a $50 Ultimate Game Card, a 23″ LCD monitor, and a keyboard for the avid MMO gamer. Hundreds more will win various prizes.

Players can look forward to next month’s update, in which the third job class tier will be unlocked!

CLICK HERE to download the full client and for official system requirements. To register to play and for more info about the game, visit the official site at http://pandorasaga.atlusonline.com

New Update Now Includes 181 Effects and Ability to Share Presets Across Social Networks

New York, NY — February 15, 2011 — MacPhun LLC, a leading developer of iOS photo and video apps, announces an update to FX Photo Studio HD, the most dynamic photo processing app available for the iPad. The update will include more than 53 additional new effects, giving FX Photo Studio HD the largest variety of photo effects and filters of any app on the iTunes App Store.

Along with a myriad of new effects, the update adds a completely customizable interface that allows users to label their most often used effects as favorites, save combinations of effects into presets, and share images and presets via social channels like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr as well as email. Individual effects themselves can also be adjusted for deeper customization, and with a total of 181 photo effects and filters, endless possibilities now await iPad users and their cherished images.

The updated app offers an unlimited realm for creativity to blossom. Users can go beyond classic effects and easily apply single or multiple effects to a single image. The most notable innovation of FX Photo Studio HD is its ability to generate and share codes for customized presets as well as use codes provided by others. Preset codes can be used in FX Photo Studio HD as well as in FX Photo Studio for iPhone and iPod touch.

“Our latest update adds a true social component, through the sharing of unique customizable tools and photo editing recipes that will push iPhone photography and creativity to an entirely new level,” says MacPhun CEO Paul Muzok. “The FX Photo Studio collection for iOS has something for everyone, from pro photographers to beginners who enjoy artistically experimenting with their photo library. This app gives everyone the chance to create vibrant pieces of art by utilizing countless effects. Now that we’ve reached the next generation of mobile photo editing, we’re excited to see what kind of artwork our users are able to create.”

Along with popular lomo and vintage affects, the app also features presets:
Art Effects
Pencil Paint
Burned Paper
Vignette Layers
Grunge
Cross Process
Glo
Blur
TiltShift
Color Fantasy and many more!
In this latest update, FX Photo Studio HD also makes available the option to save creations to the device’s photo album, clipboard, or document folder which makes sharing between a device and computer more convenient. Along with new setting options, faster image processing, faster previews, and the ability to print custom masterpieces, this update of FX Photo Studio HD makes it one of the most efficient and powerful image editing apps on the market.

FX Photo Studio HD for iPad is currently on sale for $2.99 and is available on the iTunes App Store or at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fx-photo-studio-hd/id369684558?mt=8

FX Photo Studio for iPhone and iPod touch is available for $1.99 on the iTunes App Store or at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fx-photo-studio/id312506856?mt=8

Watch Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo2o5vz6KuE

Promo codes are available for press reviews.

Screenshots:

Unity Technologies Announces Partnership with Sony Ericsson to Bring Games to the Xperia™ PLAY through its Union Content Distribution Service

BARCELONA and SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 15, 2011 – Today at Mobile World Congress, Sony Ericsson and Unity Technologies, provider of the Unity development platform for games and interactive 3D on the web, iOS, Android, consoles and beyond, today announced that they are collaborating to bring Unity-based games to the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY smartphone via Union. Union is a business unit of Unity Technologies dedicated to syndicating high quality 3D games on mobile phones, tablets, app stores, set-top boxes, connected TVs and other emerging new platforms.

Targeting the core gaming demographic and featuring a twin d-pad and analogue joystick-like controls, the Sony Ericsson Xperia™ PLAY will be displaying its gaming capabilities by showcasing three Union games at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.  Racer by Luma Arcade, Guerilla Bob by Angry Mob Studios and AirAttack HD by Art in Games have all been optimized for the Xperia™ PLAY through a special API created by Unity Technologies. Unity Technologies is pre-integrating and optimizing the Unity platform for Xperia™ PLAY, ensuring that a rich library of Unity-based games is available to consumers. The new API and platform optimizations will be widely available to Unity developers with a new update coming this Spring. The Xperia™ PLAY is the first such device that Unity has supported pre-launch, and Unity Technologies is the first game development platform Sony Ericsson has partnered with.

This announcement is part of a larger partnership between the two companies. As part of the partnership, Sony Ericsson will prominently feature Union games on the Xperia™ PLAY through its games recommender application, and Union will encourage developers to bring high quality games from all platforms to Xperia™ PLAY.  The companies also plan to work together on marketing opportunities to jointly market Union games and cross-market to Unity Technologies and Sony Ericsson’s developer bases online and at industry events, such as Game Developers Conference (GDC).

“Sony Ericsson has a beautiful, ground-breaking gaming smartphone on its hands with the Xperia™ PLAY,” said Brett Seyler, General Manager of Union. “Through our partnership with Sony Ericsson and Union, we look forward to working with our developers to deliver mind-blowing gaming experiences for consumers, taking advantage of the Xperia™ PLAY’s

brilliant input design and powerful hardware.”

“This collaboration with Union and Unity Technologies provides our consumers with access to a vast library of high quality games,” said Steve Walker, Head of Marketing at  Sony Ericsson. “Unity Technologies’ development platform empowers content creators to maximize the Xperia™ PLAY’s gaming focus and through Union, we can market a large portfolio of quality releases to our customers.”

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/unity3d

Twitter: @unity3d

About Union?

Union is a newly formed business unit of Unity Technologies, dedicated to syndicating high quality video games to mobile phones, app stores, tablets, set-top boxes, connected TVs and other emerging platforms. Union works closely with Unity’s video game developers and publishers to build a portfolio of premium gaming titles. Union then adapts, localizes and syndicates this content to app stores, mobile phones and other platforms, as appropriate to the medium, helping developers access technically or commercially challenging monetization opportunities and providing platform partners with a rich gaming experience for their consumers. Union provides an 80 percent revenue share to its developers. For more information, visit: http://unity3d.com/union.

About Unity Technologies

Unity Technologies is revolutionizing the game industry with Unity, its award-winning breakthrough development platform. Unity Technologies has more than 350,000 registered users worldwide — including Bigpoint, Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola, Disney, Electronic Arts, LEGO, Microsoft, NASA, Ubisoft, Warner Bros., large and small studios, indies, students and hobbyists — all using Unity to create games and interactive 3D, like training simulations and medical and architectural visualizations, on the web, mobile, consoles and beyond. Unity Technologies is aggressively innovating to expand usability, power and platform reach along with its Asset Store digital content marketplace and Union game aggregator so that it can deliver on its vision of democratizing interactive 3D technology. Unity Technologies is headquartered in San Francisco and has development offices worldwide. For more information, visit: http://unity3d.com.

TRANSFORMERS™: DARK OF THE MOON™ VIDEO GAME SETS THE STAGE IN THE ULTIMATE BATTLE FOR EARTH   

New Game to Feature an Original Prologue Storyline to Upcoming Film and Debut In-Game ‘Stealth Force’ Conversion Mode 

Sydney, Australia – February 15, 2011 – The next colossal entry in the TRANSFORMERS saga on Earth is on the way as Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Transformers: Dark of the Moon is in development by the critically acclaimed developers at High Moon Studios.  Based on Hasbro’s legendary TRANSFORMERS property and featuring a brand-new ‘Stealth Force’ conversion mode, the game thrusts players directly into an original prologue storyline to experience the ultimate battle between the AUTOBOTS™ and DECEPTICONS™ that leads into the summer’s most anticipated blockbuster film and reveals another face of evil, SHOCKWAVE.

“We couldn’t be more excited to expand on the epic movie universe in the Transformers: Dark of the Moon game, and allow fans to experience the gripping events and backstories that occur right before the upcoming film,” said Paul Wright, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing.  “The immensely talented group at High Moon Studios are huge fans of the property, and they are thrilled to unveil some new characters from the movie while introducing Stealth Force gameplay that lets players convert to a third form beyond robot and vehicle modes to defeat their enemies in more ways than ever before.”

“Activision continues to deliver outstanding video games based on Hasbro’s iconic TRANSFORMERS brand,” said Mark Blecher, SVP of Digital Media and Gaming, Hasbro.  “We’re thrilled to deliver the Transformers: Dark of the Moon prologue video game to TRANSFORMERS fans around the world in anticipation of the film.”

The Transformers: Dark of the Moon game allows players to fight through the epic battles on Earth that will shape the events of the upcoming film.  Armed with a brand-new gameplay mechanic, fans will harness the power of Stealth Force to instantly convert to a third, hybrid state that combines the weapons and firepower of robot mode with the agility and maneuverability of vehicle mode.  Set in unique environments around the world such as the Jungles of South America, Siberian military facilities, Detroit Cityscapes and more, the game lets players assume the roles of a diverse roster of everyone’s favorite TRANSFORMERS from the movie through a heart-pounding campaign to save mankind.  Additionally, fans can play the game with or against their friends through intense, online multiplayer game modes as their favorite iconic characters.

The Transformers: Dark of the Moon video game is currently in development by High Moon Studios for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.  Behaviour Interactive is developing distinct versions for the Wii™ system, Nintendo DS^™ and Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held systems. 

For more information and to receive exclusive updates about the Transformers: Dark of the Moon video game, visit www.transformersgame.com and www.facebook.com/transformersgame.

Paramount Pictures will release the Transformers: Dark of the Moon movie nationwide June 30, 2011.

About Hasbro

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio.  From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY.  The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2010 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) and DC Entertainment have just released the first trailer from the upcoming Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters videogame.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is an action-adventure title that is scheduled for release in conjunction with Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic superhero feature film Green Lantern scheduled for release Australian Winter 2011. The game will be available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ and delivers an immersive experience for Green Lantern fans that the entire family will enjoy.

Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters is inspired by the feature film, which brings the enduringly popular DC Comics Super Hero to the big screen for the first time and which stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as Hal Jordan, the newest member of the Green Lantern Corps. In the videogame players will utilize over a dozen constructs and take flight across the deepest parts of the Universe to restore intergalactic order by wielding the ultimate weapon: the Green Lantern power ring