SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 12^th February, 2011 – Codemasters® has today released the third DiRT 3™ developer Q&A, focussing on the myriad advancements set to make the car handling the most authentic in the series. The ‘Keep It Real’ video features developers answering questions, fans playing the game and Rally drivers Kris Meeke and Ken Block putting DiRT 3 through its paces. The new video is now playing at www.facebook.com/dirt3game.

Codemasters has also released the box art for DiRT 3 which features Ken’s Gymkhana Fiesta as driven in his iconic 25million+ views YouTube video, Gymkhana THREE.

The video includes new gameplay footage, showcasing the blistering speed, jaw-dropping damage effects and stunning graphics for which the series is famed. Starring the game’s new rally locations of Kenya and Finland, a trio of iconic rally cars – the Audi Sport Quattro Rallye, Lancia Fulvia HF and Kris Meeke’s 2009 Intercontinental Rally Championship winning Peugeot 207 S2000 – powerslide and redline their way through gruelling new stages. Exploring the most important aspect of the game, the handling, Gehan Pathiraja, Senior Vehicle Handling Designer, and Tim Dearing, Vehicle Handling Designer, explain how DiRT 3 will deliver the most exciting and realistic behind-wheel experience in the series.

“We’re working much closer with manufacturers and racing drivers to make sure the physics are as realistic as possible for each and every car in the game,” says Gehan Pathiraja, Senior Vehicle Handling Designer on DiRT 3.  “What we’ve looked to do is improve the way the weight shifts in the car. It’s far more realistic. It transfers that force in a much more detailed fashion on the springs, dampers and the tyres. Without a doubt the car handling in DiRT 3 is the best it’s ever been.”

DiRT 3 will boast more cars, more locations, more routes and more events than any other game in the series. With more than double the track content of 2009’s hit, players will enjoy a career as an elite professional driver, competing in off-road racing events on the intense, weather-beaten rally stages of Europe, Africa and the US. DiRT 3 will feature the most amount of Rally content to feature in the series to date, accounting for 60% of its extensive career mode. With rally stages set across three continents players will learn to master the conditions on tarmac, gravel and snow in dry and wet conditions for the most authentic rally experience.

The new developer Q&A video is now showing at www.facebook.com/dirt3game where fans can keep up to date with the latest news, screens and videos straight from the studio. Set to raise the bar for authentic and accessible off-road racing again, DiRT 3 is now in development at Codemasters Studios for a May 24^th 2011 release for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE.

EA’s Dead Space for iPad Review receives a whopping 9.5/10, being awarded the Editor’s Choice.

What a ride! That was the first thing that came into my head once I completed Dead Space on the iPad. It was also the game (for me anyway) that proved this portable platform could do more than just casual games for not only was it eye candy but it played amazingly. Dare I say it, I was in heaven and with gaming mechanics that matched the console world, it was a really good time for being an iPad owner and Dead Space more than delivered what my gaming expectations were.

CLICK ON LINK TO READ MORE: http://www.impulsegamer.com/iphoneipaddeadspace.html

AVG (AU/NZ) responds to Girl Guides Australia survey which showed two-thirds of young girls are subjected to bullying.

Melbourne and Amsterdam, 11 February 2011 — The release this week of a survey conducted by Girl Guides Australia that revealed more than two-thirds of girls under 10 had experienced bullying, highlights just how vigilant parents need to be in protecting their young daughters, and presumably their sons too, from cyber bullying.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist for AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd, says: “The use of social media is exploding, with even early primary school kids setting up accounts. As parents, you can’t always be looking over their shoulders to stop e-mail, chat and social network messages from pranksters and bullies who can be active 24/7. But you can help your kids be safe and savvy online.”

Even if you have a pact with your children — that they can set up Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and chat accounts and use the Internet so long as you have access to what they are doing — you don’t necessarily know what they are doing at school or when visiting their friends.

Borrett says that ‘status-jacking’ is a growing trend, particularly among students, who find that friends, bullies and sometimes cyber criminals, have ‘hijacked’ their social network profile by logging onto their accounts and posting embarrassing updates for them.

Basic Steps When Responding to Cyber Bullying

As simple first steps in response to cyber bullying, give your kids the following advice:

Don’t answer any bullying text or post — by not responding they’ve got nothing new to ‘play’ with. Let them get bored and stop.

Block those ‘friends’ who are involved — the impact on your kids will be less if they can’t see the harmful messages and images.

Save any messages and images as proof of the bullying — then if action needs to be taken against the offenders, the evidence is available.

Report cyber bullying — ask them to tell someone they can trust (parents, older siblings or teachers, for example). If it’s happening at school, or involves kids at their school, encourage them to report it to a teacher. The school should have policies in place for handling all kinds of bullying.

They don’t have to take it — reassure them that you love and support them and that you will help them.

Helping Your Kids Stay Safe Online

“It’s important that you communicate often with your kids about their online life,” says Borrett. “Then you can help them to better leverage this magnificent resource, while doing so safely.”

In your conversations with your children get them to think about ‘walking in someone else’s shoes’: how would you feel if this was happening to you. Help them understand how important it is not to forward messages or pictures that they wouldn’t like to find on their wall. Get them to talk about what they’re doing online, the good, the funny and the strange so that if the bad happens, it’s easier for them to bring it up.

It is also critical that they learn to think before they post. Don’t respond to angry messages from anyone, or send a message when angry. What goes online, stays online, possibly forever. Even if they delete it, others won’t — whatever is put online may be forwarded and published on social networks, Google and other search engine results. Think about who may read a post or see a photo. Posting online about personal matters can also lead to friendship problems or bullying.

Let your children know that ‘stranger danger’ applies to people online, just as it does in ‘real life’. Let them know that they shouldn’t accept messages from or exchange pictures with an online ‘friend’ or arrange to meet people they don’t know. They shouldn’t give out private or sensitive information such as passwords, their name, e-mail addresses, home address, phone number, school name or family or friends’ names online. But above all else, let them know that when something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Encourage them to trust their instinct.

Install Family Safety Software On Your Computers

Putting in place appropriate parental control measures is an important step in protecting your children from cyber bullying and blocking hateful content. Most parental control software falls into one of three categories and sometimes contains features of all the following:

Content Filtering – These features prevent your kids from viewing or accessing content which is deemed inappropriate.

Usage features – These help you restrict the amount of time your kids are online.

Monitoring – This can involve the tracking of your kid’s online activity such as where they go, what they search for, instant message conversations, who is talking to your kids online, etc.

You should also look into what parental control features you may already have, but may not be using. There are a number of features built into video game systems, your TVs, mobile devices, internet browsers, and even certain computer operating systems. Be sure to include these in your research.

Online Safety Resources for Parents, Teachers and Young People

The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) Cybersmart program — www.cybersmart.gov.au — provides education resources, advice and support for young people, teachers and families about a range of online safety issues. The Cybersafety Contact Centre provides practical information and helpful advice about and reporting of cybersafety matters.

AVG (AU/NZ) has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has released a version of its popular PES 2011 title for Android phone users

Continuing the series’ expansion on to new formats, the Android version of PES 2011 delivers incredible realism and presentation. A full gamut of passes, shots, through balls and set pieces are all available to the user, while player and opposition AI are used to deliver players that move and react like their big-name counterparts.

The game enjoys an instantly accessible control system entitled True Flow(TM), which allows users to play with a simpler control system, or via a touch-screen joypad. The game also enjoys an amazing level of visual detail, with every move shown in stunning detail, and atmosphere building cut scenes focusing on the match officials or replays.

PES 2011 for Android also is the only game to feature all UEFA Club Competitions, boasting both the UEFA Champions League(TM) and UEFA Europa League(TM), with the UEFA Super Cup Final(TM) awaiting the winners of both.

PES 2011 for Android phone is available on the Android Market now.

TEST DRIVE® UNLIMITED 2 OUT NOW

Join Thousands of Players Online, Race the Worlds

Most Coveted Cars, and Live the Ultimate Luxury Lifestyle

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – February 11, 2011 – Atari Europe, one of the world’s most recognised publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, and Eden Games announced today the release of the highly anticipated multiplayer racing game Test Drive® Unlimited 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC and Windows PC Download.    

Test Drive Unlimited 2 expands on the traditional racing experience providing gamers with M.O.O.R.®: Massively Open Online Racing®; immersing drivers in a persistent online environment and revolutionising multiplayer racing communities as players compete, team up, and share their achievements and creations online while putting the world’s most desirable vehicles in the players’ hands.  Test Drive Unlimited 2 blends the single player and multiplayer experiences, creating a vibrant world of unique content and challenges.  Test Drive Unlimited 2 is “always live,” with automatic updates and seamless online/offline integrated gameplay. 

“Test Drive Unlimited 2 continues to redefine the racing genre with massively open world online racing,” said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, SA.  “We’re proud to unleash this game to our loyal community as they experience a dynamic environment filled with highly detailed limited edition automobiles, skill and luxury.”  

Test Drive Unlimited 2 carries a suggested retail price of $99.95 for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and $79.95 for Windows PC.  For more information on Test Drive Unlimited 2, please log onto www.TDU2.com/buy.

Here’s the latest pack shots for Duke Nuken Forever and our friends at 2KGames have informed us that no modifications will be made to the Australia version. With that said, let’s bring it on baby!

Website: www.dukenukemforever.com

Release date: 6th May – XBOX 360, PS3 and PC