22 December 2010, Australia – People Can Fly, Epic Games, Electronic Arts Inc. and Microsoft Game Studios have announced the “Epic Edition” of Bulletstorm™ – the highly anticipated new action shooter from the makers of the award-winning Unreal Tournament and Gears of War series of games.

In this unique promotion, Epic Games and EA are blowing out the launch of Bulletstorm with access to the public beta for Gears of War 3 – the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in video games. Players that purchase the Epic Edition are guaranteed early access to the Gears of War 3 beta* and can pre-order now to reserve a copy of the Epic Edition which will be available on Feb. 24, 2011 for RRP $109.99, only for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, while supplies last.

“Epic is poised to break new ground in 2011 with Gears of War 3 and Bulletstorm,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “With these two highly anticipated triple-A experiences comes a unique opportunity to do something to really excite players, and that’s what we intend to accomplish with the support of Microsoft Game Studios and EA. This is for the shooter fans.”

In addition to access to the beta, the Epic Edition gives players bonus in-game Bulletstorm content when playing online, including 25,000 experience points, visual upgrades for their iconic leash, deadly Peace Maker Carbine, boots and armour. With this unique gear, gamers can kill with skill in style. Bulletstorm’s insane Anarchy four-player online cooperative mode takes full advantage of the game’s unique skillshot gameplay and unlock/upgrade weapon system to deliver the best possible multiplayer experience within the Bulletstorm world. The combination of Bulletstorm’s multiplayer gameplay and skillshot system creates a frantic and frenzied experience setting itself apart from the multiplayer experiences in traditional shooter games.

Poised to be one of next year’s most anticipated original games, Bulletstorm will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC on Feb. 24, 2011. For more information on Bulletstorm, please visit www.ea.com/au/game/bulletstorm and www.facebook.com/bulletstorm or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bulletstorm.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See back of pack for details if and when available.

22 December 2010, Australia – Calling all soldiers; the battle for Vietnam is about to begin! DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio, has announced that Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 Vietnam, the digital multiplayer expansion pack for the mega-hit Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 is now available, for the PC at the EA Store™ and Steam.

The pack will also be available from today at select digital service providers and in participating retail stores on PC, on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and the PlayStation® Network for RRP $19.95 or 1200 MS points. Starting from 23 December, players will be treated to price drops on select previous Battlefield digital content on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Marketplace.

In Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam, gamers will find themselves in an entirely new theatre of war, fighting as either the U.S. Marines or North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The punishing jungles of Vietnam are brought dramatically back to life via the award-winning Frostbite™ engine, where players can take advantage of Battlefield’s classic sandbox environments in five all-new multiplayer maps using powerful air invasions or close-quarter guerrilla tactics.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam takes all of the intensity, action and addictive gameplay of the multi-million selling Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and ups the ante with new weapons, vehicles, achievements and trophies. Featuring five all-new maps playable in four different modes, including Conquest, Rush, Squad Deathmatch and Squad Rush, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam will continue to deliver exceedingly intense vehicular warfare, destruction and squad play.

The fifth map, Operation Hastings, will be unlocked as part of a worldwide community challenge, where players will work together to reach 69 million team actions on each respective community – Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. The challenge begins on December 22.

For more information about Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam, please visit www.battlefield.com.

MEET THE MAN WITH A PLAN IN NEW OPERATION FLASHPOINT®: RED RIVER™ GAMEPLAY VIDEO

Staff Sergeant Damian Knox leads the charge in new Operation Flashpoint: Red River gameplay video, now showing at www.facebook.com/flashpointredriver

SYDNEY, Australia – Wednesday, 22nd December – Codemasters® today released a new gameplay video for Operation Flashpoint®: Red River™, the all-new chapter in the multi-million selling tactical shooter series set to launch in Q2 2011. In the first in a series of gameplay biographies introducing key players in the game’s narrative, Staff Sergeant Knox explains his role in Tajikistan as the USMC are shown taking on deadly insurgent enemies. The video is now showing at www.facebook.com/flashpointredriver.

The trailer demonstrates some of the wide range of combat scenarios which players will encounter in the game’s diverse new battlefield of Tajikistan, with Knox’s narration detailing his personal take on the conflict. From defending bases to sweeping through mountains, villages and towns to flush out entrenched enemies, Knox and his Marine Fireteams are shown engaging insurgents at range and close-quarters, supported by ground and air support. In an awesome display of power, A10 bombers are shown obliterating an insurgent stronghold with a strafing bombing run before the marines sweep in.

As Squad Leader, Knox takes pride in being part of the battle-hardened USMC fighting force on the ground in Tajikistan but he doesn’t take his duty lightly: “Tajikistan is a tricky place” he says “I tell my men all the time, I’m not a Doctor but I am in the lifesaving business. It’s my responsibility to use the knowledge that I have gained to help my marines accomplish their mission with honour and leave here in one piece.”

Operation Flashpoint: Red River is a game that authentically recreates the unique tension of war where one stray round can kill, and Knox is all too aware of the danger he and his men face: “Just because I laugh at danger, doesn’t mean I think it’s a joke. I know I’m not invincible. And while a single bullet can’t end the world, one can certainly end mine.” Knox accompanies Red River players in the field, providing guidance and helping them achieve their objectives through the series’ trademark tactical approach to warfare: “The way I figure, a man with a gun is a threat. A man with a gun and a plan is lethal. I believe in having a plan. And trust me, I’ve got the gun part covered.”

Set to deliver an authentic and intensely personal infantry experience, Operation Flashpoint: Red River’s challenges players to take up the role of one of four distinct and complimentary classes in a USMC fireteam. The Grenadier, Scout, Rifleman and Automatic Rifleman combine to create a fearsome fighting unit and offer unique gameplay perspectives, extending replayability across the substantial campaign mode and standalone Fireteam Engagements.

Up to four players can enjoy the unique Operation Flashpoint experience across all game modes with seamless drop-in drop-out co-operative play. Whether playing solo or co-operatively, players can build up XP across all modes to unlock weapons, skills and modifications for their class, customising their loadouts to suit their preferred style of play.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River will set a new standard for authentic and intense tactical combat when it arrives in 2011 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows® LIVE. Sign up to ‘get some’ USMC style with the latest briefings direct from the Operation Flashpoint studio at www.facebook.com/flashpointredriver and www.twitter.com/flashpointgame.

Gran Turismo®5 Signature Edition Challenge for PlayStation®3 goes live 27^th December 2010

SYDNEY, 22^nd December: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has announced that an exclusive competition for owners of the Gran Turismo®5 Signature Edition will go live at 09:00 GMT/20.00 AEST on Monday, 27^th December 2010. The racing competition will see the ultimate winner get their hands on a brand-new, real-life Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG worth €180,000. With 15 regional winners from across 22 countries set to benefit from a stint at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Event, the winner of the spectacular gull-wing, 6.2 litre supercar will have to demonstrate to the judges that he, or she, is best placed to handle the SLS’s 571hp that delivers acceleration of 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317km/h.

The limited-release ‘Signature Edition’ of Gran Turismo 5 included a number of exclusive and collectable items, both virtual and real, but the voucher code contained in the GT5 leather wallet is the key to entry to the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG competition. To enter the competition, owners of the Signature Edition should make sure they have downloaded all the latest updates to GT5. Then they will need to redeem their voucher code via PlayStation®Store on their PS3™ and register their details on Gran-Turismo.com[1].

Once they have completed these steps they will be able to access the Signature Edition Challenge from within Gran Turismo 5. The Challenge takes place in Gran Turismo 5’s innovative B-spec mode – where players take the role of team director with their own AI drivers doing the racing. The Challenge is being held over a series of five races on different circuits. The choice of B-spec mode opens the competition to more than purely the fastest GT5 racers, and there will be no limit on the number of times entrants can complete the races. In-game leaderboards for each region will display the top 50 race times for each circuit, as well as the top 250 combined times across the five races.

Entrants with the fastest total time from each region[2] at the closing time (23:59 GMT on 31^st January 2011 / 10:59 AEST 1^st February 2011) will be invited to take part in the second phase of the competition – the Mercedes-Benz Driving Event where winners from each international region will compete against each other in a series of real driving challenges under the scrutiny of judges. Points will be awarded for each challenge with the winner taking home the stunning SLS AMG.

Gran Turismo 5 has shipped 5.5 million copies worldwide since launching on 24 November 2010, but limited copies of the Signature Edition were available throughout the 22 countries participating in the competition, with the majority being snapped up on launch day. With the SLS AMG featuring on the cover of GT5, it was a natural progression for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Mercedes-Benz to develop the Signature Edition Challenge, a manifestation of PlayStation®3’s (PS3™) brand promise that ‘the game is just the start’.

Commenting on the Signature Edition Challenge, Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi said: “We have enjoyed a brilliant working relationship with Mercedes-Benz throughout the production of Gran Turismo 5 and the stunning prize that they have offered for this competition is a testament to that. I am particularly happy that we have developed such a balanced challenge which both newcomers to the Gran Turismo brand, and more experienced racers, will find equally enjoyable.”

Yoostar2 combines the power of new console platforms, top Hollywood movies and the burgeoning Social Media phenomenon

Gold Coast, Australia – 22 Dec 2010. Yoostar Entertainment Group, together with All Interactive Entertainment, today announced the upcoming release of its next generation video game, Yoostar2, for Kinect™ for Xbox 360® and the PlayStation®Move for the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Everyone now has the opportunity to become a global movie star with Yoostar2. Yoostar2 allows players to perform in hundreds of famous movie scenes, record their performances, and share them with friends and family online. Using the sensor of the Kinect™ for Xbox 360 and the PlayStation®Eye, Yoostar2 achieves Hollywood “green screen” style effects without the use of a green screen. In an instant, players can insert themselves into famous movie and TV scenes, starring alongside or in place of their favorite actors.

“Yoostar2 will bring the magic and fun of Hollywood into living rooms across the world.” said Gregory Fischbach, President and CEO, Yoostar Entertainment Group. “The new console platforms have allowed us to make the experience totally immersive and incredibly fun and easy.”

Once a scene is recorded, players can upload their performances to Xbox LIVE® or PSN, share the performances on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Yoostar.com and view them on virtually all devices, including smart phones, PC’s and consoles. Players increase status through community participation, such as sharing, rating and commenting on others’ performances. “We have created something entirely new — a ‘Social Video Game’ that bridges the worlds of social games and video games,” said Fischbach. “The result is a game that’s incredibly fun to play with friends, lets you create and share your own video online, and provides a social game mechanic that motivates you to play and participate in the community. It’s like nothing the video game industry has seen before.”

Yoostar2 features an innovative user interface created by Blitz Games Studios, one of the world’s leading game developers. This interface is driven by Kinect™ for Xbox 360 gesture-based technology and PlayStation®Move motion controllers. Players’ performances are scored, allowing them to rise from “struggling actor” to “superstar”. The game also encourages improvised performances that draw on players’ creativity. Yoostar2 features multiple gameplay modes, including a “party mode” that allows a group of players to perform in quick succession and a progression mode where players face a series of challenges and unlock new scenes.

Yoostar has secured world-class movie content from leading motion picture studios, including Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal, MGM, Lions Gate, CBS and Warner Bros. The Yoostar library features hundreds of iconic movie scenes and top Hollywood talent. The game comes with 80 scenes, and players can purchase and download additional scenes from the Yoostar library during or apart from gameplay.

“The intuitive technology and breadth of licensed content with Yoostar2 offers consumers a genuinely new and unique gaming and social experience” said Robert Kingston, Director, All Interactive Entertainment. “I am excited that we can be part of a franchise that carves a new genre in the casual gaming space, and will provide ongoing entertainment to users through DLC and continuous user generated content”.

Yoostar and AIE will release more information about the game, including an official launch date, in the weeks to come.

Full version of action-packed game on sale for only $1.99 through December 31

ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 21 – Gaijin Entertainment is announcing the release of a “lite” version of their new action / role-playing game, Braveheart HD for iPad. Players can now experience Braveheart HD’s stunning graphics and unique touch-controlled combat system for free, in a demo that features a complete level from the full game. Braveheart HD for iPad normally sells for the low price off $2.99; through December 31, the price has been discounted to $1.99.

In Braveheart HD, players control the brave knight Richard on his quest for the Holy Grail. With the path to victory blocked by numerous enemies and bosses, players must make good use of 10 different weapons, as well as perks and power-ups that can be acquired during battles. In between intense combat sequences, Braveheart HD’s fantasy storyline unfolds via stylized comic book style cutscenes. Braveheart HD also features “challenge” gameplay in addition to the main quest, allowing players to build skills, earn gold for in-game upgrades, and compete against friends.

Since its launch earlier this month, Braveheart has climbed the App Store charts and has been featured on the “New & Noteworthy” and “What’s Hot” listings. It has also been well received by reviewers, with IGN calling it a “good, tough action game” and AppSpy.com praising its “unique brand of action-packed and RPG inspired gameplay.”

Braveheart HD for iPad can be found in the App Store at the following links:

Free lite version: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/braveheart-hd-lite/id404524088?mt=8

Full version: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/braveheart-hd/id399296164?mt=8

Braveheart is also available for iPhone / iPod Touch:

Free lite version: http://itunes.apple.com/app/braveheart-lite/id401893521?mt=8

Full version: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/braveheart/id401885524?mt=8

Educational Fun Aimed At The Inner Child In All Of Us

Dot Fun is primarily an educational game aimed at a younger audience, but it can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age! A number of dots burst on to the screen and you connect them using the touchscreen revealing the hidden picture underneath. Once successfully unveiled, the completed imagery features entertaining animations accompanied by amusing sound effects: for example, a soccer ball bounces while being chased by a baby Panda, spaceships streak, robots march, birds in flight, monkey and baby somersault over a jumping tiger, kangaroos hop, penguins and giraffes waddle, elephants and polar bears march across the screen, star spins, images pulsate, and those are just a handful of examples! Sound effects include monkeys, elephants, jungle sounds, bubbles and a variety of pleasant tunes.

At any given time, Dot Fun enables you to shake your device to start a new and different picture from one of three categories: Shapes, Animals and Things. An option is to have the game select imagery randomly from within a category, or randomly from a combination of all categories. At your fingertips you also have a palette from which you can pick the line drawing color, and the option to enable or disable audio. Another option is to use dimmed pictures that become clearly visible using brightness as more lines are drawn by connecting the right dots, and finally an option that displays unconnected lines at any time by touching the screen with two fingers – all options that truly inspire and assist younger children.

Dot Fun from solo-developer Pramod Shanker is an excellent and well-designed educational title suitable for literally everyone, but with focus on the younger audience as it entertains and improves not only concentration but also motor-skills, and provides endless hours of enjoyment! The game supports English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Norwegian and Korean.

Dot Fun for the Apple iPhone™, Apple iPod touch® and Apple iPad is available from the App Store here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dot-fun/id407583723?mt=8

LEGENDARY ARTISTS KISS AND LINKIN PARK ALLOW FANS TO FILL THEIR STOCKINGS WITH DOWNLOADABLE SONGS FOR GUITAR HERO®: WARRIORS OF ROCK AND DJ HERO® 2 THIS HOLIDAY  

“Rock and Roll All Nite” With The Three-Song KISS-Mas Track Pack Available Now for the Guitar Hero® Music Library 

Three Original, Exclusive Mixes of Linkin Park Tracks Arrive for DJ Hero® 2 Today

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – December 22, 2010 – Just in time for the holidays, Activision Publishing Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero®: Warriors of Rock and DJ Hero® 2  are giving the gift that will keep fans rocking and mixing with new downloadable content from two of the world’s best-selling artists KISS and Linkin Park. 

Gene Simmons, who voiced the Demi-God of Rock in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, is back this holiday season and has brought the boys of KISS with him. Beginning today Guitar Hero® aficionados can celebrate the holidays KISS style with a KISS-mas trio of tracks featuring everyone’s favorite KISS songs. The KISS-mas Track Pack contains one of the bands biggest hits and possibly one of the greatest rock songs of all time, “Rock And Roll All Nite,” along with two other hit KISS tracks, “Detroit Rock City” and “Calling Dr. Love.”

Linkin Park are no strangers to the remix realm, having collaborated on crossover tracks with everyone from hip-hop icon JAY-Z to world-renowned DJ Hero remixer and consultant Z-Trip. Now, two Linkin Park tracks off of their 2010 number one selling album A Thousand Suns have received the exclusive DJ Hero remix treatment as downloadable content for DJ Hero 2, including “The Catalyst (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)” and a mashup of “When They Come For Me” by legendary turntablist, producer and DJ Hero alumni, Diplo.  Available beginning today, and rounding out the three track Linkin Park Mix Pack, is a mashup of “Pts.OF.Athrty” from the band’s 2002 remix album, Reanimation.

The KISS-mas Track Pack for the Guitar Hero Music Library will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 440 Microsoft Points, on the PlayStation®Store for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for $8.25 and for Wii™ for 550 Wii Points™.  All songs in the KISS-mas Track Pack will also be released as downloadable singles for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 160 Microsoft Points, PlayStation 3 system for $3.45 and Wii for 200 Wii Points each.  In addition to the in-game music store and Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, Xbox 360 owners can expand their Guitar Hero music library using the Guitar Hero VIP Pass Music Store, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network.

The Linkin Park Mix Pack for DJ Hero 2 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 for $12.95.  All mixes will be released as downloadable singles for Wii™ for 300 Wii Points™.

Details Revealed of Record-Setting Title’s First Game Add-On Release

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – December 22, 2010 – Prepare for Call of Duty®’s new online assault. The Call of Duty®: Black Ops First Strike game add-on will first launch worldwide on Xbox LIVE® February 1. Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike represents the first downloadable content expansion for the blockbuster title from Treyarch and Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI).

“We’re committed to supporting Call of Duty: Black Ops fans with continuous updates to the game and exciting new content that will keep our community engaged,” said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia. “We can’t wait to deliver Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike to our fans, which has four all-new Black Ops multiplayer maps, and an exciting new Zombie map to be declassified later. “

Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike features four new multiplayer maps, including Berlin Wall, Discovery, Stadium and Kowloon, and a new Zombie map called Ascension.

For Silver Xbox LIVE members who haven’t yet experienced Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer, Xbox LIVE will host a Multiplayer Unlock event running January 28-30th for new fans to join in.

Created by Treyarch and published by Activision, Call of Duty: Black Ops made entertainment history this November when it shattered theatrical box office, book and video game sales records for five-day opening worldwide sell through in dollars, selling more than US $650 million.

Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated “MA15+” by the Australian Classification Board.

For additional Call of Duty updates, visit www.callofduty.com/blackops and also via Twitter @JD_2020.