Darkspore, a new breed of online action-RPG, is coming to PCs in Australia on 31 March 2011, and New Zealand on 1 April 2011. Today we’re releasing a new Hero Spotlight Video showcasing the abilities of the Gravitic War Master, Andromeda, a Tempest Class hero and one of the more than 25 characters that gamers will be able to customise.

This new video details the variety of devastating attack options in Andromeda’s arsenal. Force Pulse is a ranged attack that knocks an enemy back several feet. The attack requires a recharge time, so must be used strategically. Andromeda’s special ability – Gravity Storm – flings enemies into the air and immobilises them before slamming them to the ground, doing a significant amount of damage. This ability is especially useful in co-operative multiplayer, as friends can attack enemies immobilised by Gravity Storm. Time Bubble, which selectively distorts time and slows both enemies and projectiles, and Repulsion Sphere, which redirects enemy blasts, are two additional abilities Andromeda wields.

Keep an eye out for more videos from our Hero Spotlight series as we move forward to the launch of Darkspore! Be sure to check out the Zrin Hero Spotlight and Producer Diaries 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the Darkspore YouTube Channel at the link below to learn more about the game.

Check out the trailer below;

http://www.youtube.com/user/DarksporeGame

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150106132349025&oid=175230414990&comments

Behind the Scenes of L.A. Noire’s Painstaking Production Design: Part One – Locations & Set Design

L.A. Noire aims to immerse the player in a deep, dark and extremely faithful recreation of 1940’s Los Angeles, with painstaking steps taken in development to assemble and reflect a digital world as accurately as possible. Years of involved motion-capture, groundbreaking MotionScan facial recognition technology, as well as passionate research and production design have been just a few of the efforts employed to help make this one of the most original and epic interactive experiences you’ve played yet.

Over the coming weeks and months leading up to the game’s May release, we’ll be lifting the veil to show you different aspects of how L.A. Noire was created by the talented folks down at Team Bondi. This week, we offer just a few glimpses of the detailed wardrobe and set research that went into the production design of this very unique game – often the last step for most major motion pictures before principal photography, these were among the earliest steps taken towards creating L.A. Noire’s realistically authentic digital world of 1947 Los Angeles. Read on for some detailed info and behind the scenes pics, including some insight directly from Team Bondi Production Designer Simon Wood on the creation of the game’s locations and characters.

Part One – Locations & Set Design
Left: Authentic paint swatches from the 1940’s were sourced to determine the game’s color palette; Middle: From Team Bondi’s extensive Los Angeles locations photo shoot – a Hallway from the landmark Barclay Hotel; Right: That direct reference material transformed into one of L.A. Noire’s shadowy and dangerous locations.

The team at Bondi traveled to L.A. to tour all sorts of historical locations, relics of old Los Angeles still standing more or less as they were over 60 years ago – collecting countless reference photos in a shoot that informed many places you will visit in your tour of duty as LAPD Detective Cole Phelps. From glamorous restaurants to the dingiest skid row hotels, Simon Wood and Team Bondi Lead Artist Ben Brudenell found reference locations perfect for the game. A great example being the run down apartment building that appears in the Traffic desk case “The Driver’s Seat” – the in-game setting being an almost perfect replica of the Barclay Hotel in L.A. which has been used as a location in many Hollywood films. “Sometimes there’s no better substitute than real life,” says Wood. “Ben photographed every square inch of that hotel.”

The final product of in-game locations, both interior and exterior, wound up an amalgam of carefully researched reference material and artful inspiration. Wood explains, “Some were designed from the ground up as we couldn’t find what truly matched the needs of the gameplay or the original script by Brendan (McNamara, Team Bondi Studio Head). But other locations are interiors that we inserted into wonderful existing buildings. The Art guys in the team did an amazing job, as you really can’t tell what was made up by us and what was an original fabrication.” Additional reference material that wasn’t photographed was sourced from rare items such as vintage magazines from the time. “I bought from eBay old House & Garden magazines, along with Architectural Digest, Sears catalogues and Interior Decorating guides from the 40’s. These were invaluable as not only did it show you the best of how they styled their homes, but it showed you how they lived.”

“We created ‘Production Bibles’ which are like production design style guides for all the locations in the game,” said Wood, “The bibles have floorplans, material, dressing, graphics and signage, lighting details, and any other reference images that are needed to create the locations in the game. We made over 140 of them altogether.”

This was particularly challenging considering the sheer amount of locations and the need to keep each one unique, yet accessible to explore and investigate. “I had a checklist of which styles of architecture and colour palettes would work well with the characters Brendan was writing, so that their persona was reflected in their personal surroundings.”

Look for Parts Two and Three of our series on L.A. Noire’s Painstaking Production Design throughout this week, along with much more in our Behind the Scenes look into the production of L.A. Noire in the weeks and months to come…

The ‘Spawn’ of a New Pro-Gaming Mouse

Sydney, Australia: February 02, 2011 – CM Storm gives rise to the latest gaming mouse with the Spawn, a FPS mouse ergonomically designed for professional gamers. The Spawn’s ultra lightweight, claw-grip design and anti-slip rubber side grips makes it well suited for prolonged gaming sessions. The crimson red high-gloss finish makes the Spawn aesthetically enhanced and visually breathtaking. Get your hands on the Spawn and set the gaming world on fire.

“Spawn”ed by Elite Engineering
The Spawn is a result of CM Storm Tactics mastermind engineers to give gamers the extra edge needed in top FPS games. The 7-programmable buttons are strategically placed along with an Ultra-Step Scroll Wheel Encoder for extreme control and precision. The high-performance 3500 DPI-on-the-Fly button located conveniently under the scroll wheel is necessary for those sniper kills during intense game play. Including Japanese-built Omron Micro Switches that guarantee at least 5,000,000 clicks for prolonged usage, the Spawn is synthesized for in-game tactical incisions and precise on screen accuracy.

High-Tech Design
Built into the Spawn is the Sentinel-XTM 32KB microprocessor, included for storing button assignments, advanced macros and other mouse customizations for easy setup and quick installation on any computer. The Anti-drift Control Sensor maintains faultless controls when lifts and drops occur, and with an angle snapping option, gamers can perform that ever-elusive flick shot. With these enhanced features and a smoking-hot design, the Spawn is forged to make you a champion of any contest.

“Spawn Your Ideas” Campaign
It’s so hard to get the gamer away from the Spawn

Watch the Spawn videos and help Monica (the CM Storm girl) with ideas on how to get the CM Storm Spawn mouse out the hands of her boyfriend. Submit your idea and if selected, it will be made into a short clip. Winners will also received customized CM Storm and Cooler Master gaming gear.

Prizes for 1st place
• Have your idea made into the final Spawn clip
• Customized Spawn Gaming Mouse with your own name
• Customized Sniper Gaming Chassis with your own name
• Silent Pro Gold 800W PSU+ V6 GT Cooler

Prizes for 2nd place
• Customized Spawn Gaming Mouse with your own name
• Customized Sniper Gaming Chassis with your own name
• V6 GT Cooler

Prizes for 3rd place
• Customized Spawn Gaming Mouse with your own name
• Customized Scout Gaming Chassis with your own name
Other prizes also available

For more information, please visit http://www.cmstorm.com/event/spawn

For more information about CM Storm, please visit our official website: www.cmstorm.com

AVG (AU/NZ) predicts an upsurge of attacks aimed at Facebook and smart phones

Melbourne and Amsterdam, 1 February 2011 — AVG (AU/NZ), the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific distributor of the award-winning AVG anti-virus and Internet security products, warns that if the past is prologue, 2011 is sure to be another big year for both users and cyber criminals as we continue to battle our way toward a safer and more secure Internet.

Image of cloud networking technologies used under creative commons courtesy of vanhookc

Last year showed that government, industry and security experts worldwide are making a serious attempt to create a unified front against cyber criminals. But we also need to defend ourselves as users and as businesses, and there we still have a long way to go.

More than 2.5 million US households had to replace their computers after they were infected with viruses and spyware last year. Identity theft continues to rise because of how easily cyber thieves can steal it, sell it, and get away with it.

While smart phones are taking over many of the functions of a computer, few users have installed even basic mobile security. Meanwhile in the business world, many organisations are relying more on Web-based technologies but aren’t investing in stronger IT defences.

How will we fare against cyber thieves and cyber thugs in 2011?

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), says “If general carelessness continues to reign unabated, we’re in for another bumpy ride. Hackers are simple creatures, really. They will go where the money is and follow the path of least resistance to get there. If users continue not to take heed, it’s easy to predict 2011’s top five greatest threats:”

#5: The cloud

Another big year for cloud computing translates into a growing opportunity for cyber criminals and hackers. In 2011, cloud computing will be embraced by more businesses and consumers alike. It is inevitable that hackers will turn their attention to data-rich warehouses bursting with information they can steal and profit from. And even if data is secure in how it’s stored, how can we be sure spying eyes aren’t watching as that data is transmitted? The AVG Protective Cloud Technology in AVG’s security products mitigates against the security threats added by the use of cloud computing services.

#4: Applications

As long as bugs are found, as long as users don’t regularly update their apps, and as long as users continue to let rogue Trojan horse applications into their castle, applications will be a big thorn in the side of security. In 2010 we saw a huge increase in the frequency and intensity of Adobe Reader, Flash and various Facebook application attacks. (Lloyd Borrett wrote about this type of attack in 2010.)

#3: Social search

Don’t know what social search is? You’re not alone. Now that Google indexes Twitter and other user-generated content as it occurs, there is no end to the havoc cyber criminals can create with fake and hijacked accounts spewing misleading malicious links that appear in search streams. While AVG’s LinkScanner and Social Networking Protection layers help to protect people from these social search threats, it’s essential that everyone is always on the lookout for them.

#2: Small businesses

While a growing number of cyber criminals are specifically targeting small businesses, 85 percent of small businesses refuse to see the danger at all. This does not bode well for the Internet community at large as small business owners often do not have proper security policies and enforcement measures that can educate workers how to be safe online and not act in a way that puts the company network at risk.

#1: Mobile devices

In 2011, tablet computers and smart phones will become a more important target for cyber criminals. Mobile devices are constantly connected and substantially less protected than a personal computer as users shrug off mobile security solutions and carelessly broadcast financial, account and other personal data such as their exact location while on the go. That’s why it’s important to protect your Android smart phones with security software. If you haven’t already, check out AVG’s Anti Virus for Android.

Borrett says, “While 2011 may be another rough year for the good guys in our fight against cyber crime, I’m heartened that AVG’s 110 million-strong community of users continues to grow. Because with each new user that gets serious about online security, the Web gets a little bit safer and stronger as a whole.

“I believe we can make the Internet a safer place. My advice to you in the meantime? Get smart about Internet security and pass it on.”

To see Lloyd talking about the top five security threats for 2011, view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAffaKPLlyQ.

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

PlatinumGames Presents a Multiplayer Brawler Set in a World Where Anarchy is King.  

Friday 28^th January 2011 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today reveal details on upcoming third-person multiplayer brawler, ANARCHY REIGNS™, the much anticipated next title from critically acclaimed developer PlatinumGames. ANARCHY REIGNS will be available in Spring 2011 on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. 

With ANARCHY REIGNS, PlatinumGames will be using their hallmark creativity and technical excellence to challenge the boundaries of the conventional brawler genre by allowing multiple players to get involved in heavy-hitting action simultaneously. ANARCHY REIGNS incorporates a diverse range of multiplayer modes to provide players with different challenges, including Tag Team battles and Battle Royal, where players can challenge others in a full-on fight for victory.

“SEGA are delighted to continue our collaboration with PlatinumGames, one of the most creative and critically acclaimed developers in the world,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing of SEGA West. “ANARCHY REIGNS is set to offer gamers a fresh multiplayer experience with the quality and innovation PlatinumGames are renowned for.”

ANARCHY REIGNS will be available in Spring 2011 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

For more information please visit www.anarchyreignsgame.com.

THQ Australia would like to confirm that two editions of Homefront are available for pre-order at JB Hifi and EB Games, each offering unique content within the Homefront universe. These special editions are available across all formats (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC) until release (early March 2011). So, not only will Aussie fans have access to dedicated servers, but some awesome additions depending on where they pre-order Homefront. All prices are available on the attached PDFs containing further details of the editions.