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Madman Entertainment | The Press Room Bulletin | March 2011

MARCH 2011

 
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THE PRESS ROOM BULLETIN – MARCH 2011

Dear Press-folk,

Well here we are in March: summer is over, the air is soon to become a bit chillier and the post-holiday blues are hopefully beginning to fade. Fortunately, we have heaps of quality DVDs to help you ease into the new working year, which I trust will make your lives just that tiny bit more manageable.

  Films Television Animation Kids  
 

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THE LOVED ONES

The mother of all prom pics comes to DVD & BLU-RAY! This blackly funny, twisted tale of teenage romance with a power drill demands your attention – lest it kidnap you, tie you to a chair and force you to join it for an intimate dinner.

High school student Brent was behind the wheel when his father died in a car accident. Unable to cope with his guilt and his mother’s grief, Brent escapes into a haze of marijuana smoke and loud metal music. As graduation approaches, Lola Stone, the weirdest girl in school, asks Brent to the end of year dance – but Brent’s already going with his loving girlfriend, Holly. With the dance only hours away, Brent takes a walk in the woods behind his house to clear his head – when suddenly, everything goes black. He wakes up in Lola Stone’s filthy kitchen, decorated with a cracked mirror ball: here he is the King of the Dance at a demented, sadistic formal – where the entertainment is Brent’s threshold for pain.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

SRP: DVD $34.95
BLU-RAY $39.95
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MY SUICIDE

Archie Williams is a 17-year old media geek who has suddenly found himself the most talked-about kid in school. He has announced that he’s going to kill himself – on camera – for a class project. His classmates, parents, Sierra – the most beautiful girl in school, and a “Shady Bunch” of shrinks, doctors, pill-pushers, and counsellors descend on Archie. Some are hoping to save him, some want to imitate him, others try to push him over the brink. Archie films every moment of his high school experience, hiding nothing from his audience: realities of life, death, violence, sex, drugs, and the intense media overload and hypocrisy that bombard all teenagers.

A cross-media phenomenon featuring a who’s who soundtrack of indie artists – including Bright Eyes, Animal Collective, Radiohead and many more – MY SUICIDE is an innovative, super black comedy. A ‘Heathers’ for the YouTube generation, if you will.

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

SRP: $29.95 More Info      
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A TOWN CALLED PANIC

From the wild imaginations of a pair of Belgian claymation innovators comes the mad, whacky and downright hilarious A TOWN CALLED PANIC.

The unlikely trio of Horse, Cowboy and Indian live together in a crooked little house on the top of a hill, in a town called Panic. While Horse pines for the sultry piano teacher Madame Longrée, Cowboy and Indian are horrified to discover that they have forgotten Horse’s birthday. This leads the three improbable flatmates to embark upon a series of inconceivable adventures of pure implausibility, taking a journey to the Earth’s core, stumbling upon an aquatic parallel universe and taking part in a breakneck snowball ride across a frozen wasteland. Replete with booze-fuelled birthday parties, poker games and equestrian romance,
A TOWN CALLED PANIC
is unlike anything you’ve seen before – or will ever see again!

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

SRP: $29.95 More Info      
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WINTER IN WARTIME

January 1945. Nazi-occupied Holland lies under a blanket of snow.

A young man, Michiel, defiant in his hatred for the Nazis, inadvertently receives a map detailing the hiding place of a crashed RAF pilot and sets off to prove his worth. He finds the pilot, Jack, badly injured, but the situation becomes more desperate when a dead Nazi trooper is found… and a hunt for the killer begins. Unaware of the terrible consequences that await his family, Michiel decides to help Jack to escape, undertaking a perilous journey that could cost him everything he has ever known.

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

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PIANOMANIA

PIANOMANIA follows the day-to-day life of Stefan Knüpfer, a softly-spoken, highly sought-after piano tuner for Steinway and Sons. Armed with his tool kit, his wry sense of humour and his keen musical ear, Knüpfer helps musicians such as Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder and Pierre-Laurent Aimard achieve the sort of tone, pitch and clarity they desire from their instrument.

No matter how rigorous the schedule or ridiculous the request, Knüpfer does whatever he can to facilitate the desires of his clients, achieving optimal results with minimal fuss. PIANOMANIA provides fascinating insight into a largely unseen world – a peak behind the velvet curtain of the world’s best concert halls, where our tour guide, Knüpfer, is charming, unpretentious and vastly talented.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

SRP: $34.95 More Info      
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THE LADY VANISHES

From the filmmaker who needs no introduction comes THE LADY VANISHES, a high-stakes thriller set on Hitchcock’s favourite mode of transport –  the locomotive. When rich socialite Iris Henderson concludes her European holiday and boards the train back home, she meets the affable Miss Froy, with whom she shares an easy bond. But after Iris falls asleep, she awakes to find Miss Froy gone – and none of her cabin mates even admit to having seen her. Now, with the help of smart-aleck Gilbert, Iris attempts to track down Miss Froy, and prove that she is not losing her mind!

Hitchcock learnt his craft and perfected his style in his prolific British years, in which he also made the thriller YOUNG & INNOCENT with Nova Pilbeam and SECRET AGENT with Madeleine Carroll and Peter Lorre. These two titles are also available in March from Directors Suite.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

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IP MAN – THE LEGEND IS BORN

Featuring some of the most spectacular, innovative and explosive martial arts ever staged, IP MAN – THE LEGEND IS BORN is the remarkable true story of the early life of Ip Man, the formidable kung fu genius who would become Bruce Lee’s mentor.

Beginning at the start of his journey, from his initial training through to the ultimate battle to become the supreme master of the art of Wing Chun, A Legend is Born, the prequel to GRANDMASTER IP MAN, has already been hailed as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time and features an all-star cast, including Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Ip Man’s real life son, 76-year-old Ip Chun, as Ip Man’s kung fu master.

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

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THE SNOOP SISTERS

In a precursor to the hit series MURDER, SHE WROTE, Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick are mystery writers with a touch of the eccentric. Stumbling across fiendish and baffling murders, the spinster sisters put their literary talents into real action as they investigate clues to bring the clever perpetrators of crime to justice. From faded movie stars, to basketball pros and satanist cults, there’s nowhere these seemingly genteel ladies won’t poke their noses as they are driven around by their pragmatic chauffer in a classic vintage car.

Part of the legendary NBC Mystery Movie wheel which featured COLUMBO, McMILLAN & WIFE and McCLOUD, THE SNOOP SISTERS was pioneering in presenting elderly investigators who appear to be frail old ladies, yet possess a [knitting] needle-sharp brain for uncovering crime and with a light comic touch, trick their foe into a false sense of security.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

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MIDSOMER MURDERS 13 (PART 1)

John Nettles returns to the deadliest county in Britain for the first four episodes of SEASON 13 – his final season of the best-selling murder mystery show. Unflappable detectives DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Ben Jones uncover affairs, tragedy and long-held family secrets as mystery, murder and mayhem shatter the peaceful and picturesque surroundings of the Midsomer villages once again. We are also introduced to a new Barnaby, Tom’s cousin John, who will take over the burden of solving crimes in season 14 of the series.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

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IMMIGRATION NATION

Australia led the world in the 20th century by initiating reforms that entrenched basic freedoms decades before they were tried overseas. Yet at the heart of this lay a dark paradox. Racist ideals emerged when the nation underwent the White Australia policy. It would take more than 100 years to resolve this fundamental contradiction. IMMIGRATION NATION is the story of how Australia did it, and highlights the dramatic saga of modern Australia.

A landmark production and a superb reference tool in the tradition of SBS’ FIRST AUSTRALIANS, IMMIGRATION NATION tracks, for the first time, the dramatic saga through Australia’s untold immigration policy.

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

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KINGDOM OF THE BLUE WHALE

Blue whales are the largest animals to ever live, yet they are difficult to find or track. Even some of the locations where they birth their young are great secrets. Join some of the world’s eminent blue whale scientists as they embark on a revolutionary mission to identify and tag California blue whales as they migrate to a spot known as the Costa Rica Dome. This incredible voyage yields unforgettable new footage and insight into these amazing creatures’ lives.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

SRP: DVD $24.95
BLU-RAY $39.95
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THE SACRED BLACKSMITH

Cecily is a blushing knight in shining armour. Unfortunately, it seems most battles end with her as the damsel in distress. Her lack of skill and distaste for violence make her an unlikely heroine – until the brooding blacksmith Luke comes to her aid, using his powerful magic to forge blades of supernatural strength. Cecily wields this sacred steel and charges forth to face a dangerous new threat. A cloaked fiend is unleashing demons upon the land, and though he lurks in shadows, the villain is much closer than Cecily can imagine.

Release Date: 16th March, 2011

SRP: $59.95 More Info      
KIDS
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SESAME STREET: IRON MONSTER AND SESAME HEROES

Look! Up in the air on Sesame Street… it’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s… Iron Monster?! When Super Grover’s cape is not ready at the Laundromat, he turns himself into Iron Monster, Super Hero of the Laundromat to heroically solve any laundry related problem that comes his way. Can he make change for the dryer and subtract stains using amazing maths skills? Will his power of static cling come through in a pinch? Find out in this and three other action-packed Sesame Street stories including fantastic friends Elmo, Abby, and Rosita in the story of The Furry Four, and Super Grover’s silly search for a new sidekick. It’s heroic maths fun for everyone!

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

SRP: $16.95 More Info      
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THE WANNABES

THE WANNABES follows six high school students, Sarah, Andrew, Mariah, Alan, Drew and Shaylen, who attend an arts academy boarding school in the hope that they will one day become pop stars… until they realise the stuffy academy only teaches the classics like ballet, instrumental music and Shakespeare! After a singing battle breaks out in the student lounge, their principle hands out one week of detention – working free at the local café!  Fortunately for the teens, the daughter of the café owner shares the same hopes of becoming a pop star and talks her dad into letting her and the academy students rock out at the café, and the band, ‘THE WANNABES’ is formed.

The series follows these wannabes as they learn to tolerate, but appreciate their time at high school while enjoying their secret life as pop stars. Watch how funny things can get as the six students try to climb their way to the top of the pop charts.  Hiding their identity from their strict principal won’t be easy but they’ll do anything to keep singing and dancing the way they like it!

Release Date: 2nd March, 2011

SRP: $19.95 More Info  
 
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Konami announces Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship

New duels, new challenges!

Prepare to duel as KONAMI unveils stunning new official game of the 2011 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH will unleash the latest in its Yu-Gi-Oh! range of titles for Nintendo DS in March, as Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over The Nexus delivers the ultimate dueling simulation to handheld fans.

The new game is based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s TV series and is also the official video game of the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship in 2011. Skilled duelists will be invited to show their prowess at a series of events, with the very best players eventually picked to compete in KONAMI’s World Finals. As such, multi-player competition plays a big part in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over The Nexus, offering Wi-Fi gameplay and the ability for up to four players to duel offline.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over The Nexus features over 4200 cards for use in the game, and includes the new ‘Storm of Ragnarok’ booster and the ‘Lost Sanctuary’ structure deck. The game’s one-player story mode uses characters and situations from the TV show, and the in-game presentation has been streamlined with all-new dual-screen presentation to offer more information at a glance, while a new Duel Puzzle Editor allows users to create dueling situations that can be shared with duelists all over the world via Wi-Fi.

Every aspect of dueling is showcased in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over The Nexus, and it is the ultimate simulation of the ever-popular TRADING CARD GAME. Its many online options detail the social aspects of dueling, and the collectible nature of the various cards is also perfectly realised – even allowing players to get their decks rated, using given feedback to refine their cards.

As has become traditional with KONAMI’s Yu-Gi-Oh! titles, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over The Nexus will be released with three official Trading Cards inside the box.

 
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KONAMI reveals new screens for No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise

KONAMI reveals new screens for No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise

New Screens Reveal Travis Touchdown in Action With his Beam Katana in Hand as he Battles Foes in KONAMI’s Upcoming Hack and Slash Title

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today released new screenshots for No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise which is scheduled to release in Q2 2011 for PlayStation3. For the first time in franchise history, fans of the exciting hack and slash series will have the opportunity to see Travis Touchdown in rich high definition graphics as No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise makes its first appearance on a next generation console in Europe. In the 5 new images provided, Travis Touchdown is seen in a variety of environments utilizing his trusty Beam Katana as he strives to become the world’s deadliest assassin. An image is also revealed of Bad Girl getting ready to assault Travis Touchdown with a baseball bat in Santa Destroy.

No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise will be available in Q2 2011 for PlayStation®3 utilising the PlayStation®Move motion-detecting unit for the very first time.

 
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Madman proudly presents the star-studded new Australian romance, SUMMER CODA, on DVD 2 March, 2011.

Set amongst the stunning orange groves of picturesque Mildura, SUMMER CODA is the story of Heidi (Rachael Taylor) – a young violinist returning to her home town to seek closure on her estranged relationship with her father.  SUMMER CODA’s roll-call of Aussie stars is as impressive as its splendid setting – including 2010 Best Actress AFI Award-winner & Golden Globe nominee, Jacki Weaver (ANIMAL KINGDOM), Rachael Taylor (TRANSFORMERS), Alex Dimitriades (UNDERBELLY), Suzie Porter (EAST WEST 101), Nathan Phillips (BALIBO) and Angus Sampson (BENEATH HILL 60).

 
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Appular releases Terrorist Zombies for iOS Devices – Neurotoxin Injections Responsible for Mutations as Terrorist Zombies Invade App Store

New York, NY — January 4, 2011 — Appular announces the release of Terrorist Zombies, a post-apocalyptic third-person shooter for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. In the war-ravaged future, terrorists have resorted to injecting themselves with an experimental neurotoxin that turns humans into ticking time-bomb-toting zombies. Waves of the infected horde are threatening the last bastion of humanity, and after a hair-raising heli-drop, players must take up post as the lone Marine responsible for securing and defending the area against total zombie domination.

A full military battalion is at the player’s disposal, waiting to unleash a lethal air-barrage on the game’s three main war zones. Players arrive on the scene equipped with an extensive arsenal of zombie-shredding weapons, ammo, and stim-packs to hold off attacks until all unaffected civilians have safely evacuated the battlegrounds.

Hordes of mutated undead threaten the player and will explode as they reach the shooter, resulting in significant damage to a player’s health points. Brain-splattering head shots maximize the payout in each round and players use their hard-earned blood money to purchase rifles, automatic machine guns, grenade launchers, and laser chainsaws made especially for mowing down mutated terrorist zombies.

To aid in the fight against genetically altered terrorists, random power-ups appear on the battlefield during open-fire, enabling players to summon air-strikes, annihilate every enemy on sight, re-up their artillery, or restore their health.

“With Terrorist Zombies, we set out to create an engaging and intense iOS third-person shooter. After all of the weapons were created and loaded into the game, we realized we had an absolute wild ride on our hands,” says Jack Freeman, Founder of Champion Software (developers of Terrorist Zombies). “Terrorist Zombies delivers on the two things we were hoping to accomplish with the game: raising the stakes and getting the adrenaline pumping.”

Terrorist Zombies for iPhone and iPod touch is available for $0.99 on the iTunes App Store or at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/terrorist-zombies/id404818459?mt=8

Terrorist Zombies for iPad is available for $1.99 on the iTunes App Store or at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/terrorist-zombies-hd/id408007446?mt=8



 
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MARIO SPORTS MIX

4 January 2011

Nintendo announces Mario Sports Mix will arrive on Wii from 27 January 2011, with four sports for the whole family to enjoy!

Mario has a long history as a sports fan. Throughout his storied career he has pursued an interest in golf, tennis, baseball and go-karting, to name just a few. Now Mario’s tackling four different sports at the same time, all of them included on one disc for Wii. Mario Sports Mix lets players jump into games of hockey, basketball, volleyball or dodgeball.

Mario Sports Mix presents these four familiar sports – but with a Mario twist. Players can choose from a variety of playable Mushroom Kingdom characters and can even challenge Mario and friends directly by playing as their own Mii characters. Each game contains a number of Mushroom Kingdom power-ups that can turn the tide of a game in an instant, such as banana peels, green shells and even mini mushrooms. In over-the-top Mario sports fashion, each character can unleash his or her unique special move that ranges from Mario’s fire dunk in basketball, to Yoshi’s rainbow attack in dodgeball.

Players can also hold their matches in a number of interesting venues. For example, the Wario Factory has conveyor belts that affect how the players move on the court, while in Peach’s Castle, fountains go up and down to block certain areas of the net in Volleyball.

Up to four friends who are in the same room can join in the fun, while up to four players can compete online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players can play online against friends with whom they have traded friend codes, or anonymously against other opponents.

For more information visit: www.nintendo.com.au

 
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HUGELY ANTICIPATED GAME RASKULLS HITS XBOX LIVE ARCADE

December 29th, 2010 – Today Halfbrick can officially announce the full worldwide release of Raskulls on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points! Announced in 2009, Raskulls has been in the works receiving extra doses of polish, humor and fun – and today everyone can get in on the action!

Raskulls combines platforming, action and racing all wrapped up in a fantastic art style featuring the Raskulls themselves – adorable yet very cheeky little guys! With the epic single player Mega Quest, unlockable characters for Grand Prix and both local and online multiplayer, Raskulls is a massive package full of awesome content.

Mega Quest stars King, Dragon and Ninja as they travel across the world to thwart the evil Pirats in their attempts to steal the legendary Shiny Stone. Including racing, puzzle, action and even boss levels, players can unlock Medallions and new playable characters, along with official Xbox Live Achievements!

Multiplayer features 16 levels in which players race their way to the finish line in both online and split-screen games. Use items like Flame Charge, Thunder Staff and even the awesome Mega Zap to decimate your fellow Raskulls and take the crown.

As part of the Games for the Holidays promotion on Xbox Live, Raskulls can be used to get access to ilomilo before release next week, and players can also unlock awesome new playable characters by downloading and unlocking an Achievement in World of Keflings and ilomilo.

It has been a long time coming, but everyone at Halfbrick couldn’t be more proud to finally launch our very first XBLA and major console game!

Xbox.com Raskulls Page: http://bit.ly/fHzjS7

About Halfbrick

Halfbrick is a professional game development studio based in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 2001, it has developed popular titles for the Game Boy Advance, PSP, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, with expansion into XBLA, PS3 and iPhone development. For further information, please visit www.halfbrick.com and follow on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook!

 
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Iceberg Interactive reveals packshot for Trapped Dead, game now available for pre-order!

Haarlem, The Netherlands – 23 December 2010 – Today premier PC videogame publisher Iceberg Interactive reveals the packshot of zombie survival RTS game Trapped Dead. The pack shot is exclusively for the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Benelux and Australia/NZ.

The game is now available for pre-order in the Iceberg Webshop. Pre-orders will be delivered on the day of release with free shipping.

Trapped Dead will be released in retail exclusively for PC by Iceberg Interactive on 25 February 2011 in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Benelux and Australia/NZ.

About Trapped Dead

Trapped Dead is an award-winning zombie survival RTS in the tradition of classical evergreens such as “Commandos” and “Desperados”. Players control their characters in a 3rd person isometric view through a mature Zombie survival scenario inspired by the successful horror movies of the early 80s.

Features

  • Terrifying, cinematic game atmosphere
  • Thrilling on- and offline multiplayer co-op mode 
  • Appealing tactical gameplay with numerous shock- and surprise elements 
  • Highly detailed locations such as a mall, jail, scrap yard & many more 
  • 7 different playable characters 
  • Interactive and dynamic game environment including various traps 
  • Manifold weapons, gadgets and other items
 
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World of Tanks Exclusive Christmas Trailer

Christmas Greetings from Wargaming.net and World of Tanks

Wargaming.net have prepared a special Christmas video, where the magic power of Santa Claus meets the brutal force of steel machinery. The video demonstrates how the all-famous open sleigh would look like in a world of tanks.

“The first present I got from Santa was a tiny plastic T-34, so I’m pretty sure that he just loves tanks. In fact, we’ve got a letter from Lapland recently with him asking to film a Christmas of his dream,” — says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. “We didn’t hesitate for long and have come up with something he will surely like”.

 
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COMMANDER SHEPARD CONQUERS NEW TERRITORY

24 December 2010, AUSTRALIA – PlayStation gamers, the time has come for you to join Commander Shepard in his fight for the lost! After earning over 70 perfect scores and 50 awards, and having explored countless galaxies and uncharted worlds – Commander Shepard and the Normandy will make their long-awaited debut on the PlayStation Network with a Mass Effect 2 demo launching in Australia.

The Mass Effect 2 demo marks the first time the highest-rated game on Xbox 360 and PC, and one of the most critically acclaimed interactive entertainment franchises of all time, will be available on the PlayStation 3.

In the demo, players will step into the role of the heroic icon of the Mass Effect franchise, Commander Shepard, giving them a chance to experience three of the game’s most memorable, action-packed missions that have helped make Mass Effect 2 G4TV’s Game of the Year, the Xbox 360 Game of the Year from the Spike Video Game Awards, IGN.com and Gamespy.com and over 15 other “Best of 2010” awards to date. This includes the game’s shocking and thrilling opening sequence, the investigation of a planet whose inhabitants have disappeared and a mission to help recruit one of the most memorable characters in the franchise, Mordin Solus, to your squad.

Mass Effect 2 on PlayStation 3 will ship to retail stores in Australia on January 20, 2011 and will include six hours of bonus DLC missions, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning Lair of the Shadow Broker, making it a terrific value. Mass Effect Genesis, an interactive comic from Dark Horse Comics and BioWare, will also be available through the Cerberus Network, an in-game online interface that allows gamers who purchase the game new to receive free content. The interactive comic will help give players a high level overview of the events of the original Mass Effect, giving them the option to make critical choices that will affect their storyline in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, launching simultaneously on all three platforms for the first time in the franchise’s history in late 2011. For those who do not purchase the game new, Cerberus Network codes will be available for $10 on the PlayStation Network.

*Requires PlayStation Network account and internet connection.