Fresh for the new year comes a brand new selection of screenshots from L.A. Noire, focusing on the incredibly lifelike characters of our dark detective thriller coming this spring.  Check ’em out below and in full high-def glory at www.rockstargames.com/lanoire. 

As a reminder, the human interactions you see here aren’t limited to what is commonly understood as cutscenes in videogames. Thanks to the huge leap forward that MotionScan technology represents, every character in L.A. Noire speaks and emotes with realistic precision throughout the entire game, every facial detail captured regardless of whether searching for clues on foot, in a shootout or in the middle of a crucial interrogation. For a more detailed look at the MotionScan technology used to capture performances in L.A. Noire, make sure you’ve watched our most recent video here:http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/12361/watch-the-new-la-noire-video-the-technology-behind-performance.html and stay tuned for much, much more on L.A. Noire in the weeks ahead.

SEAGATE INTRODUCES GOFLEX FOR MAC EXTERNAL DRIVES

New Collection of FreeAgent® GoFlex™ for Mac External Drives Are Designed for Mac Enthusiasts While Maintaining Cross-Platform Compatibility

LAS VEGAS, NV — January 6, 2011 — Addressing the personal preferences of the Mac community, Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) today introduced a new collection of GoFlex™ for Mac external drives designed to make it easy for those who use Mac OS X and Time Machine to backup, shuttle, or share their digital content.

These new portable and desktop solutions are HFS+ formatted out-of-the-box, making them fully compatible with Apple Time Machine ® backup software, while maintaining the ability to work across both Microsoft ® Windows ® and Mac OS X computers. A truly unique feature, GoFlex for Mac drives can also be used with computers running Windows by simply downloading an HFS+ driver for Windows from Seagate.com , which will provide full read-write access to the drive from a Windows computer.

Each GoFlex for Mac product comes bundled with FireWire ® 800 and USB 2.0 adapters and cables—the most popular interfaces for Apple computers—but also delivers the flexibility to change the drive’s interface to USB 3.0 or powered eSATA for use with Windows computers. The GoFlex™ interface cables help deliver the speed, performance and connectivity people need, as well as to help safe guard their investments against changing technology. To deliver a fresh look that fits seamlessly with today’s Apple product line, each 2.5-inch, ultra-portable drive in the family features a durable, soft-touch, metallic finish, which is also designed to withstand scratches, fingerprints or other marks incurred from travel.

The new line-up of GoFlex™ for Mac external drives include:

o GoFlexTM for Mac ultra-portable drive—This 2.5-inch portable drive is now designed specifically for use with Apple’s Time Machine right out-of-the-box, easily go back in time to access changes or file updates were before they were made. MSRP (USD) $199.99 for 1TB, and $249.99 for 1.5TB. Availability and pricing for Australia and New Zealand has not been determined at this stage.

o GoFlexTM for Mac Limited Edition ultra-portable drive— The GoFlex™ for Mac Limited Edition ultra-portable drive packs 1TB of storage into the standardized 2.5-inch form factor, making it the slimmest high-cap drive available on the market today. With a depth of 12.5mm and shorter in length than an iPhone , the GoFlex TM for Mac Limited Edition is perfect for use with GoFlex TV or GoFlex Net. MSRP (USD) $199.95 for 1TB. Availability and pricing for Australia and New Zealand has not been determined at this stage.

o GoFlexTM Pro for Mac ultra portable—This 7200RPM, 2.5-inch drive delivers advanced performance for those professionals who place high demands on their storage, such as graphic artists, musicians, videographers or photographers. Using the included FireWire 800 cable to achieve transfer speeds up to three times faster than USB 2.0. MSRP (USD) $149.99 for 500GB; $179.99 for 750GB. Availability and pricing for Australia and New Zealand has not been determined at this stage.

o GoFlexTM Desk for Mac drive—This 3.5-inch high-capacity external drive includes a flexible design that can sit horizontally or vertically to fit your workspace. Back up files using Apple’s Time Machine. Optional software displays the drive’s real-time capacity with lights on the dock and includes other useful tools. MSRP (USD) $219.99 for 2TB; $279.99 for 3TB. Availability and pricing for Australia and New Zealand has not been determined at this stage.

In addition, each GoFlex for Mac drive can be used with other devices in the GoFlex™ Storage System such as the GoFlex™ Net media sharing device and the GoFlex™ TV HD media player[1]. These solutions provide the flexibility to enjoy content on a TV or a mobile device, such as an iPad or smart phone. There is also an option to download additional software for use with all GoFlex for Mac drives that will provide helpful utilities such as a control to turn the activity lights off and a tool to verify that the drive is functioning properly. Each drive in the family also comes backed by a Seagate three-year warranty, helping to protect your investment and providing peace of mind.

“With over 10 billion songs downloaded from the iTunes® store and Apple’s market share continuing to grow year-over-year, the growing audience for Mac OS X will need external storage to backup all their digital content,” said Darcy Clarkson, vice president of Global Retail Sales and Marketing for Seagate. “Today’s product introduction addresses these current market trends and underscores Seagate’s commitment to delivering flexible, easy-to-use solutions that meet varying customer needs.”

The AMD Radeon™ HD 6000M series are a top-to-bottom family of DirectX® 11-capable mobile graphics processors designed to deliver exceptional performance in every segment

Sydney, Australia: Jan. 6, 2011 – AMD today introduced its next generation mobile graphics technology, the AMD Radeon™ HD 6000M series, delivering AMD’s highest performing notebook graphics for those who want to experience games, entertainment, and productivity on the go. Harnessing AMD’s second-generation of Microsoft DirectX® 11-capable mobile graphics architecture, the AMD Radeon™ HD 6000M series provides users with:

• Models offering up to 1.3 teraFLOPS of compute power for an unrivaled gaming experience on up to six displays using AMD Eyefinity technology.[1]

• AMD HD3D technology for the ultimate in stereo 3D entertainment.[2]

• AMD EyeSpeed technology for improved video and application performance.[3]

Notebooks featuring the new graphics technology are previewed at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the Wired: Make a Scene booth, located in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“One year ago AMD claimed the title of undisputed technology leader in mobile graphics performance and since then we continue to pave the way for mobile computing innovation,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. “With the introduction of the AMD Radeon HD 6000M series, AMD’s best just got better by cementing its leadership in notebook graphics. Through our feature-rich line of top-to-bottom next-generation notebook graphics, including AMD’s fastest performing notebook graphics processor, we’re enabling a superior visual computing experience in virtually every segment.”

AMD Radeon HD 6000M series graphics represent powerful support for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with existing and upcoming 2011 AMD Mainstream notebook platforms planned to feature true “Eye-Definition” Gaming with DirectX 11 support and AMD Eyefinity technology, plus amazing AMD HD3D Technology—all designed to accelerate mobile performance.

Supporting Resources

AMD @ 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show:
For AMD press meetings please contact Bite Communications at AMDCES@bitecommunications.com
WIRED: Make a Scene, Brought to Life by AMD: Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center
Facebook: AMD @ 2011 International CES
Product Page: Second-generation DirectX 11-capable family of AMD Radeon HD 6000M graphics
Video: Features and Benefits of AMD Radeon HD 6000M Series
Blog: AMD graphics blog by Casey Gotcher
Twitter: Follow AMD graphics news on Twitter at @AMDGraphics

About AMD
AMD is a semiconductor design innovator leading the next era of vivid digital experiences with its ground-breaking AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Units (APU). AMD’s graphics and computing technologies power a variety of devices including PCs, game consoles and the powerful computers that drive the Internet and businesses. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

LePad multi-touch Android slate for mobility and U1 laptop PC base for full Windows 7 experience

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) announced the IdeaPad U1 hybrid with LePad slate, a unique two-in-one device that combines the mobility of a media-rich, high-definition slate featuring access to Android applications and a keyboard base that provides a full Windows 7 computing experience. Lenovo delivers an uncompromised mobile and computing experience to consumers through great performance and a unique Hybrid Switch dual mode capability that seamlessly switches between two different operating systems.

“Our IdeaPad U1 and LePad truly fit today’s mobile lifestyle,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. “Use the light-weight slate when you’re mobile, and then simply slide it into the U1 base when you need to create and edit content. Consumers shouldn’t have to adapt their lifestyle to technology, and this product definitely delivers twice the functionality and fun in one device.”

LePad Slate – Light, Long-Lasting and Application Rich

Weighing under one kilogram and only half an inch in thickness, the extremely portable LePad, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor, keeps users incredibly mobile all day with up to eight hours of battery life. LePad is available in two colours, scarlet and white, and with two different textures, brown “leather” and black “leather.” The 10.1-inch widescreen, high-definition LePad slate runs in landscape and portrait modes. Users can consume content such as video, surf the Internet and access social networks from their fingertips, as well as tap out messages and email. It also has a front camera for taking pictures or for video chat.

“We are excited that Lenovo has chosen our Snapdragon processor to power the LePad slate,” said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of marketing and product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “Lenovo’s innovative 3G connected slate, powered by our Snapdragon platform, enables a high performance, always connected experience for consumers on the go.”

Built on Android 2.2., Lenovo customised the LePad slate with an optimised Android media experience for LePad’s larger screen size, starting with an attractive four-pane, easy to use interface and a distinctive Lenovo-developed push service. The push service delivers email, news and other content in real time, eliminating the need to constantly open a browser and log in. LePad leverages the Android ecosystem that Lenovo has already established in China for the LePhone Smartphone. LePad users, in addition to enjoying many preloaded applications, also have access to thousands of custom Android apps from China’s top content partners that are optimised uniquely for the LePad’s large screen. Lenovo plans for LePad to support Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 to provide users a more complete Web browsing experience.

IdeaPad U1 for a Complete Laptop

For users who need the full functionality of a mainstream laptop for doing content creation with Windows-based productivity applications, the LePad can slide into the U1 base. The IdeaPad U1 hybrid laptop with a full keyboard transforms the user interface on LePad into Windows 7. The base features a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and an Intel CULV processor. With the Hybrid Switch feature, users can seamlessly change operating systems to support a continuous Web browsing experience.

Pricing and Availability1

The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 with LePad will be available beginning in China in the first quarter of 2011. The LePad slate can be purchased separately from the U1 base. The LePad slate starts at approximately RMB 3,499 (approximately US $520). The U1 hybrid laptop with LePad slate starts at approximately RMB 8,888 (approximately US $1,300). For detailed pricing and availability for other markets, please contact your Lenovo representative.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Lenovo’s activities at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at LenovoSocial.com/Live.

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 centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.au.

The Razer Switchblade powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor redefines Mouse/Keyboard Interface for mobile gamers with an all new ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen and dynamic tactile keyboard

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Nevada – January 7, 2011 – Razer, the world’s leading brand of high-end precision gaming products announced today the development of an innovative concept design, based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, bringing traditional PC desktop gaming to a portable form factor.

The new Intel® Atom™ powered concept model, codenamed “Razer Switchblade”, brings an evocative level of design to gaming by replacing the traditional mouse and keyboard interface with an ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen, dynamic tactile keyboard, and an intelligent user interface that adjusts the configuration and key layout on-the-fly based on game content and user requirements.

The Razer Switchblade concept was created from the ground up by Razer designers and engineers, focusing on enhancing the entire user experience of playing the extensive PC game library on a handheld device.

“The main problem with mobile PC gaming so far is that no one has been able to port the full mouse and keyboard experience onto a small size portable solution,” said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. “By combining adaptive on-the-fly controls and display, we managed to maintain the full tactile keyboard in a miniature computer while saving valuable screen estate.”

“PC Gaming continues to attract innovation with rich 3-D graphics, high definition video, and life-like animation,” said Brad Graff, director of gaming platforms for Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group. “The Intel® Atom™ processor, combined with Razer’s expertise in bringing gaming solutions to market, will help make it possible for consumers to have a powerful gaming experience in mobile devices.”

“With our established focus on human interface devices, moving the mouse and keyboard experience to the next level was a natural step.” continues Min-Liang Tan. “Razer isn’t just about bringing innovation to the PC, but creating products that will change the future of gaming. The Razer Switchblade is one such product.”

About the Razer Switchblade Concept

The Razer Switchblade Concept is a breakthrough portable gaming device model that allows gamers to play on the go without giving up the precision and control ordinarily possible on a desktop gaming system. Integrating a multi-touch seven-inch screen, and an innovative tactile dynamic keyboard, the Razer Switchblade Concept delivers the full desktop experience in a netbook sized solution.

KONAMI details first PlayStation®3 DDR title – complete with PlayStation®Move compatibility

07 January, 2011: Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today announced it will release DanceDanceRevolution New Moves across Australia and New Zealand in March 2011. The new release marks the classic series’ debut for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and showcases extended full-body movement via Sony’s new PlayStation®Move motion controllers. DanceDanceRevolution New Moves features over 50 tracks, ranging from popular hits to classic dance anthems for players of all ages with enhanced multiplayer capabilities.

DanceDanceRevolution New Moves offers a new mode has been implemented where users will be able to dance using both the DDR Dance Mat controller and the Playstation®Move together. Users move both their upper and lower body as they dance to match the indicators displayed on screen. As they use the Dance Mat controller to mimic the on-screen arrows, the player also holds the PlayStation®Move Motion controller, which is represented by a ball of light on screen and must be guided towards the relevant moving arrows.

The PlayStation®Move Motion controller is also used to vary on-screen visuals with combinations of button presses and movement used to add visual effects to the on-screen action. This creates a striking aesthetic interpretation of the player’s dances, and players can also see themselves in action using the PlayStation®Eye and upload their greatest hits to social networking sites via the console’s XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) menu to share their DanceDanceRevolution skills with friends.

DanceDanceRevolution New Moves adds new game modes to the series. In ‘Dance Off’ Mode, two to four players take turns running through the same dance. The player that is able to keep in step more accurately will earn more points and be crowned the winner. In ‘Club’ Mode – which has been specifically created for die-hard DanceDanceRevolution fans – gamers can play over and over again in a marathon session. The difficulty level of the tracks will change along with the dances the players are challenged to match, as they get further and further into the session. As an added obstacle, various tricks will also come into play. Gamers will be able to play from four to 20 tracks in succession depending on their skill level.

DanceDanceRevolution New Moves will be available in March at retailers, bundled with a dance mat controller.

KONAMI’s acclaimed football series breaks new ground with all-new version

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced that it is to bring its acclaimed PES 2011 title to Windows Phone 7 users, in a bespoke version created especially for the new range of mobiles.

07 January, 2011: PES 2011 focuses on the incredible realism and gameplay its console versions are famed for, and offers the most advanced team and player AI in a mobile game. The game gives the user total control over their selected team, offering passes, through-balls, neat inter-changes and blistering shots via a specially devised control system. The Windows Phone 7 version of the game also introduces the ‘true flow™’ system, which allows users to determine the level of control they use, either using AI-supported controls, or opting to use on-screen buttons to mimic those of a conventional joypad controller.

As with its console counterparts, PES 2011 for Windows Phone 7 offers a wide range of competitions and tournaments, including the officially licensed UEFA Champions League™ and UEFA Europa League™ modes, while online connectivity is provided via online Leaderboards for the best players, and the ability to unlock Xbox LIVE achievements via the mobile game. PES 2011 also benefits from stunning visuals that bring the game to life. The players react just like their real-life counterparts, and stunning animation shows their skills to full effect – even down to their goal celebrations.

“PES 2011 arrives on a new format, bringing its intense realism and stunning gameplay to a whole new audience,” commented Florian Stronk, Head of Network Business Development for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “PES gamers can now hone their skills while away from their system, while the true ethos of PES – skill, timing and beautiful football – can be enjoyed at any time, everywhere.”

“It is great to see best in class game franchises such as PES 2011 coming to Windows Phone 7, cementing the fact that it is fast becoming a leading gaming platform. Windows Phone 7 is a great platform for PES 2011 and I am looking forward to the game’s release” Ron Pessner, General Manager, Microsoft.

Gamers Return in April To Aperture Science Labs For The Most Anticipated Game of 2011

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – January 7, 2011 – EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) have announced an agreement with Valve to distribute Portal 2 in retail channels.

Recently named the most anticipated game of 2011 at the Spike TV Video Game Awards, and releasing worldwide in April 2011, Portal 2 will see players introduced to a host of fresh puzzles, devious new test chambers in never-before-seen areas of Aperture Science Labs and be reunited with GLaDOS, the occasionally murderous computer companion from the original Portal. The game’s all-new co-operative mode will feature its own unique campaign and characters, and will force players to both act and think together.

“Portal 2 is Valve’s most innovative title in the company’s history and will be launched with a first-class launch campaign this April,” said Doug Lombardi, vice president of marketing at Valve. “We’re excited to be working with Electronic Arts to deliver this title as we expand our platform strategy to include the Mac and PlayStation 3 platforms.”

Portal 2 will be available in Australia and New Zealand for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PC and Mac on April 21, 2011. For more information on Portal 2, visit www.thinkwithportals.com and follow Valve on Twitter at www.twitter.com/valvesoftware.

###

For further information on Portal 2, please contact:

Snezana Stojanovska
EA PR Manager
P: + 61 2 8569 1214
E: snezana@ea.com

Karina Lamb / Lisa Knox / Jill Notzon
DEC Communications for EA
P: + 61 2 8014 5033
E: EA_PR@deccommunications.com.au

About Valve
Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. The company’s portfolio of entertainment properties includes Half-Life®, Counter-Strike®, Day of Defeat®, Team Fortress®, PortalTM and Left 4 DeadTM. Valve’s catalog of products accounts for over 35 million retail units sold worldwide, and over 80% of PC online action gameplay. In addition, Valve is a developer of leading-edge technologies, such as the Source game engine and Steam, a broadband platform for the delivery and management of digital content. For more information, please visit www.valvesoftware.com.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Xbox, and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. PlayStation is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Red Dead Redemption Xbox 360 Official Social Club Multiplayer Event (January 8, 8-11 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time)

We’re kicking off the new year in the Social Club Multiplayer Events Series with a morning of Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare. We’ll be on Xbox Live tomorrow January 8th from 8-11AM AEST with plenty of Undead Overrun, Land Grab, Stronghold, Grand Prix Horse Racing and Free Roam…as well as many of the other modes on the multiplayer playlist.

For those that are new to our multiplayer events, the Social Club Multiplayer Events page is the centerpiece of the Rockstar Games multiplayer experience, offering a live gameplay video stream, full-on chat session and the opportunity to win prizes. Definitely the place to be during the event, whether you’re able to play in-game or not. You can also view the stream below, so watch for the video player to appear Saturday Morning.

And be sure to check out the brand new multiplayer calendar of events that takes us through the month of March, including a good helping of Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead and Midnight Club…

HOW TO FIND US IN THE EVENT TOMORROW
Start up multiplayer from the main menu. This will place you into a Free Roam lobby. Invite at least one other person and form a posse. Then enter the game modes as we announce them in the chat.

HOW DOES FREE ROAM WORK?
Free Roam is the hub of your online experience. Supporting up to 16 players, Free Roam allows you to explore with your friends and enemies, take out the gangs of outlaws or launch into more structured gameplay using the markers placed around the world. We’ll be forming posses and then heading into several game modes across all of the original multiplayer and the downloadable content during the evening.

To form a posse, press the ‘Back’ button and use the menu. This menu gives you several gameplay options and access to the list of players in your session.

FORMING A POSSE
To start the game, invite your friends, form a posse and find Rockstar, follow these steps:

1. From the main menu, press ‘Start’ and then enter ‘Xbox Live Multiplayer’ by pressing the ‘X’ (blue) button.

2. Once in a Free Roam lobby, press the ‘Back’ button to open the in-game multiplayer menu.

3. Press the ‘RB’ button and then the ‘Y’ (yellow) button to ‘Invite Friends’. Invite at least one friend into your posse using the ‘A’ (green) button.

4. Once your friends are in the game, press the ‘Y’ (yellow) button again to return to the ‘Players’ menu and select them with the ‘A’ (green) button to ‘Propose New Posse’ or ‘Send Posse Invite’.

5. Once you and your friends are ready to go, start up the game mode we’re currently playing. This can be found in the chat as the event rolls along.

Remember it’s best to be in a posse with at least one other person to play with Rockstar. And as stated, pay close attention to the chat to know what game mode we’re currently playing.

OFFICIAL ROCKSTAR GAMERTAGS

• RedDeadDev3
• RedDeadDev4
• RedDeadDev5
• RedDeadDev6

Wouldn’t be a bad idea for you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter if you aren’t doing so already. We like to play online a few times a month without any pre-announcement…basically whenever we feel like playing. How do you know when we’re online? Follow us and you’ll see soon enough…