Kids discover a West Africa Sense-ation

Stimulate your senses in the different worlds of West Africa at the two-day family fun

Kids Fest: West Africa Sense-ation at the Immigration Museum on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 January 2011.

 Kids Fest will feature five different West African worlds just for kids, including a folktales area, a West African bazaar, a safari, a drum and dance performance space and a delicious cuisine section, each highlighting West African culture and traditions and stimulating all the senses.

Kids Fest: West Africa Sense-ation celebrates the Immigration Museum’s special exhibition West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit, which will be open to visitors throughout the two days. The exhibition explores the long-held traditional beliefs and cultural practices of contemporary West African society and features over 200 traditional objects, including colourful masks, intricately carved figures, musical instruments, beautifully decorative cloth and jewellery as well as photographs and film, providing a window into the life of today’s West African culture.

Activities in the West Africa worlds include:

Rhythm: Drum and Dance

Dance to the rhythm and beats of West Africa as performers entertain with drum workshops and energetic music and dance.

Folktales

Create your own puppet inspired by the mystical Bamana masquerades from Mali, listen to exciting legends and folktales from West Africa and learn about the adventures of Titi the tortoise while making a take-home picture of a tortoise using recycled felt. You can also contribute to a giant tortoise collage that will be on display in the museum.

Safari

Have your face painted as a West African animal, create a picture holder and step into a safari scene for a photo with the whole family.

West African Bazaar

Follow your nose into the bazaar and discover the wonderful aromas of West African herbs and spices then colour in and decorate a traditional Nigerian mask.

West African Cuisine

Allow your tastebuds to explode with the delicious flavours of West African food, sweets and drinks.

Self-guided family activities with West African themes will also be available at the Immigration Museum every day of the summer school holidays, from 18 December 2010 until 6 February 2011 (except Christmas Day).

Kids Fest: West Africa Sense-ation
Immigration Museum
11am – 4pm, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 January 2011
Adult $8, children and concession FREE

Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne.  Open daily 10.00am to 5.00pm (except Christmas Day)

Admission: Adult $8, child/concession FREE. More info 13 11 02 or museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum

SYDNEY, 21 December, 2010: Amid increasing vendor claims to market leadership, Canon Australia has today spoken out on the growing confusion in the reporting and interpretation of market data in the Australian market as a result of poor reporting standards and lack of industry regulation.

“On any given day, consumers and retailers are presented with contradictory and misleading claims to leadership in the digital camera market,” says Darren Ryan, General Manager Consumer Product Marketing, Canon Australia. “Most recently we have seen GfK reporting categories spliced and diced to create composites that make no sense in terms of how a reasonable person views the camera market and reporting periods as short as one month.”

Canon contends that it is incumbent on dominant market data providers such as GfK to ensure standardised reporting by enacting and enforcing clear reporting guidelines. These include clearer category definition to prevent the use of specific camera feature sets to blur category boundaries. Also to be addressed is the minimum reporting period for any leadership claims.

Clearing the air

“Canon is the ‘total’ retail camera market leader with a 30% share by value for the most recent 12 months*1, which in simple terms means that almost one in every three dollars spent on a camera in Australia during that period was spent on a Canon,” continued Ryan. “To be clear, Canon has the overwhelming leadership position in the total camera market.”

Canon believes in healthy competition and that vendors should be entitled to lay claim to genuine and sustained category leadership.

“Competition is great for the industry and the consumer, but clearer identification of market results is important for all stakeholders,” said Ryan.

*1 Source: GfK Retail and Technology Australia, Digital Still Cameras, Retail Sales Value Nov 2009 to Oct 2010 (excludes MMC, internet and online channels)

See gymkhana gameplay in action as WRC driver Ken Block explains the history behind the freestyle stunt phenomenon and its role in DiRT 3 

SYDNEY, Australia – Tuesday, 21^st December – Codemasters® has released a new video starring WRC driver and DiRT® 3™ technical consultant Ken Block, focussing on the all-new gymkhana game mode. The trailer mixes live action with gameplay footage as Ken Block explains the origins of the discipline and how players can hone their rally skills by unleashing their inner hoonigan. The ‘Ken Block on Gymkhana’ video is now playing at www.facebook.com/dirt3game.

The video introduces gymkhana, the freestyle car driving showpiece pioneered by Ken Block whose video series has become a 90 million-plus views YouTube phenomenon. The trailer shows Ken Block performing incredible stunts and stunning feats of car control in a heavily modified rally car and shows how you can perform the same stunts in DiRT 3’s unique gymkhana discipline. By pushing cars to their limits around purpose built arenas littered with obstacles and jumps, players will learn skills that can be put into the practice in the other game modes.

“The gymkhana stuff got started for me as a simple way to get extra seat time to practice for rally,” said Ken Block, DiRT 3 Technical Consultant. “For me gymkhana is an amazing feeling because it’s very similar to the things I love in rally, like sliding the car at speed. Having a gymkhana element in a game like DiRT 3 just adds a whole new aspect of fun ways to do things with the car. Going through a course and trying to do it for a time or for style points is always fun but on top of that feeling you [can] use those courses to go out and learn the techniques of driving those cars, and to be able to just kinda hoon around.”

In DiRT 3’s gymkhana game mode players can practice their skills in free sessions or take on challenge events where they must complete courses by performing spectacular stunts, racking up combos and earning style points. Players can also play or compete with friends in split-screen or online multiplayer and become gymkhana stars themselves by publishing their most spectacular runs direct to YouTube.

Coming Q2 2011, DiRT 3 will boast more cars, more locations, more routes and more events than any other game in the series. With more than double the track content of 2009’s hit, players will enjoy a career as an elite professional driver, competing in off-road racing events featuring jaw-dropping damage and race-changing weather. DiRT 3 will feature the most amount of Rally content to feature in the series to date, accounting for 60% of its extensive career mode. With rally stages set across three continents, including the addition of all-new locations Finland, Kenya, Norway and Michigan, players will learn to master the conditions on tarmac, gravel and snow in dry and wet conditions for the most authentic rally experience.

Set to raise the bar for authentic and accessible off-road racing again, DiRT 3 is now in development at Codemasters Studios for a 2011 release for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE. Fans can keep up to date with the latest news, screens and videos straight from the studio at www.facebook.com/dirt3game and http://www.twitter.com/dirt3game.

Through Jaunary 1, get three great indie adventures for just $9.99 from www.wadjeteyegames.com

NEW YORK, December 20, 2010 – Independent developer and publisher Wadjet Eye Games is announcing a special holiday price for their Blackwell adventure game series. Now through January 1, the 3-game bundle is on sale for only $9.99 — a 60% discount on the usual $24.99 price. The downloadable PC bundle, which contains The Blackwell Legacy, Blackwell Unbound, and The Blackwell Convergence, can be purchased from http://www.wadjeteyegames.com.

The Blackwell games are atmospheric mystery games reminiscent of the “golden age” adventures from Sierra and LucasArts. When Rosa Blackwell’s only relative dies after languishing in a coma for twenty years, Rosa thinks the worst is over. Then Joey Mallone, a sardonic ghost from the 1930s, blows into her life and reveals that she is a spirit medium. As much as Rosa wants to turn her back on her family legacy, it’s now up to this unlikely pair to assist tortured souls and cure New York City’s supernatural ills, whether they like it or not.

The Blackwell games were created by a small indie team led by Wadjet Eye Games founder Dave Gilbert. Features include retro cartoon graphics, a point and click interface, voice acting, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, and unlockable extras such as concept art and voiceover blooper reels. The story-driven gameplay focuses on investigation, character interaction, and puzzle solving. Throughout each game, the playable character alternates between medium and spirit, with each character possessing unique abilities.

Since its debut in 2007, the Blackwell series has developed a cult following among adventure and casual gamers. This year The Blackwell Convergence won an AdventureGamers.com “Aggie” award for Best Dramatic Writing. A fourth game, Blackwell Deception, will release in 2011.

To learn more about the Blackwell games, view screenshots and trailers, or purchase the bundle at the $9.99 holiday price, visit the Wadjet Eye Games website at http://www.wadjeteyegames.com.

About Wadjet Eye Games

Founded in 2006, Wadjet Eye Games has developed a reputation for producing award-winning and critically acclaimed adventure games for the PC. Committed to creating unique character-driven game experiences around recognizable brands, Wadjet Eye Games has grown from a small homebrew operation to a company sought after by major publishers. The company’s award-winning portfolio includes The Shivah and the Blackwell series, both of which have garnered Game Developers Choice nominations, and Puzzle Bots, which was selected for the Penny Arcade Expo’s PAX 10 showcase. For more information, visit

http://www.wadjeteyegames.com.

AVG (AU/NZ) Offers Some Timely Advice for Christmas Shopping

Melbourne and Amsterdam, 21 December 2010 — With the Christmas shopping season upon us, why wait in line at a mall when you can shop on the go with your mobile device? Thanks to the bevy of mobile shopping apps available, you can now beat the crowds and score the best holiday deals. And you won’t be alone: according to ABI research, nearly half of all smart phone owners have shopped or plan to shop on their mobile phone.

“But attention bargain hunters: you’re also being hunted,” says Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ). “Don’t forget smart phones are portable computers, and like any computer, they can be hacked and attacked for any account, financial and other personal info that might be on them.”

“So, to help you shop smart with your mobile cart, we suggest these five safety tips to help you be more secure when you shop on your mobile.”

Not everyone online wishes you a merry Christmas. Public Wi-Fi is a great means of browsing retailers on the go, but be cautious when providing personal information like credit card numbers or passwords. You could be opening a back door for hackers and spammers. You wouldn’t invite a stranger into your home, so why do the same to your mobile device. Don’t give away your credit card details over open unsecured Wi-Fi.

Be aware of the entire URL. Many smaller mobile devices don’t show the full web address, or hide it completely. Hackers are aware of this and may attach information at the end of URLs to lead you to corrupt sites. If the site name is unrecognisable, check before you click.

There’s an app for that. Whether it’s an app for price comparison or an app from your favourite retailer, check with the app’s parent company to make sure it’s legitimate, and read the app’s privacy policy before you install it. The most important thing is to trust your instincts. AVG DroidSecurity for all Android devices can help with free automatic scans for malware in apps.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid clicking on suspicious links that claim to offer free products or amazing deals. Everyone loves free things or deals that offer unbeatable savings, and hackers love taking advantage of this by offering links to fraudulent sites.

Lock it down. Password-protect your private information and data. Mobile devices are easy to lose, and a lost phone can put you at risk of a phishing scam or identity theft if your accounts are accessed.

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

### ENDS ###

About AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd — www.avg.com.au

Based in Melbourne, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd distributes the AVG range of Anti-Virus and Internet Security products in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. AVG software solutions provide complete real-time protection against the malware, viruses, spam, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, phishing and exploits used by cyber-criminals, hackers, scammers and identity thieves. AVG protects everything important and personal inside computers — documents, account details and passwords, music, photos and more — all while allowing users to work, bank, shop and play games online in safety.

AVG provides outstanding technical solutions and exceptional value for consumers, small to medium business and enterprise clients. AVG delivers always-on, always up-to-date protection across desktop, and notebook PCs, plus file and e-mail servers in the home and at work in SMBs, corporations, government agencies and educational institutions.

Pocket God’s Pygmies Invade The Moron Test with New Themed Section: Ooga School

Seattle, WA — December 20, 2010 — Two of the most successful indie developers in the App Store, DistinctDev and Bolt Creative, are partnering to give The Moron Test and Pocket God fans a special holiday treat. The #1 and #2 Paid Entertainment apps of Apple’s Rewind 2010 have teamed up to give The Moron Test an extreme makeover, Pocket God style. With the latest update, The Moron Test now contains a new themed-section called “Ooga School,” which features the adorable Pygmies, dodo birds, and dinosaurs that Pocket God fans know and love. In addition, both Lite and Paid versions of The Moron Test have received a winter makeover in celebration of the joyous holiday season!

In Ooga School, all the familiar characters from the Old School section of The Moron Test give way to a host of Pocket God’s island inhabitants. The familiar mice, ducks, and buttons of The Moron Test are gone, as the entire section has been redrawn with elements from Pocket God. DistinctDev has even integrated Pocket God’s playful background music and sound effects to complete a fully immersive experience that will help their Pygmies feel a little more at home!

The Moron Test and Pocket God, which were the #8 and #10 Top Paid Apps Overall, respectively, in Apple’s Rewind 2010, have each built up millions of fans since launching in the App Store. The Moron Test recently surpassed three million iOS sales, and Pocket God has also announced that they have sold over three million copies in the App Store.

“DistinctDev has always been open to collaborating with top app developers, and working with Bolt Creative has been a fantastic experience,” says Berkeley Malagon, President and CEO of DistinctDev. “This is a great precedent for us and we’re looking forward to collaborating with more developers in the future. We hope that fans of both The Moron Test and Pocket God will enjoy this unique cross-over!”

The iOS version of The Moron Test is available for $0.99 on the iTunes App Store or at:http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-moron-test/id312343159?mt=8

The iOS version of The Moron Test, Section 1 is available for free on the iTunes App Store or at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-moron-test-lite/id388338756?mt

The iOS version of Pocket God is available for $0.99 on the iTunes App Store or at:http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-god/id301387274?mt=8

Screenshots:

For more information, please visit:
Website: www.distinctdev.com
DistinctDev Twitter: www.twitter.com/distinctdev
The Moron Test Twitter: www.twitter.com/themorontest
The Moron Test Facebook: www.facebook.com/themorontest

“Strangers from distant lands, friends of old, you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stands upon the brink of destruction, none can escape it. You will unite or you will fall.”

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Snowblind Studios have re-launched the official website for the upcoming Action/RPG video game The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. Fans awaiting this epic game will find current news, a rich community and more at www.warinthenorth.com .

A place of fellowship and the definitive community destination, the website is a hub for in-depth information about the game and the development team. A gathering ground for the latest news from Snowblind’s Middle-earth, visitors will find the site a haven of news, screenshots, story details and more to ensure they have the most up-to-date news about the War in the North. Dedicated forums provide the perfect venue for camaraderie and discourse.

Developed by Snowblind Studios, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North introduces players to the Northern reaches of Middle-earth, in a realm where survival depends on fellowship. Featuring online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players, gamers join forces to do battle with the enemies of this world, while developing and upgrading weapons, skills and abilities to strengthen their party. The power of fellowship – the power of three – is a necessity in The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, breaking new ground as the first The Lord of the Rings video game to embrace the authentic brutal combat of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is slated to launch on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Games for Windows in 2011. For more information please visit the official site at: www.WarInTheNorth.com. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.

LG Optimus 2X with Tegra 2 Offers Top Multimedia Features for a Better User Experience

Sydney, Dec. 21, 2010 — LG Electronics (LG) has unveiled the LG Optimus 2X, the world’s first smartphone with a dual-core processor. Along with more powerful multimedia features, the LG Optimus 2X’s high-performance Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and applications and lets users multitask with virtually no screen lag.

“Dual-core technology is the next leap forward in mobile technology so this is no small achievement to be the first to offer a smartphone utilizing this technology,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, CEO and President of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With unique features such as HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) mirroring and exceptional graphics performance, the LG Optimus 2X is proof of LG’s commitment to high-end smartphones in 2011.”

Developed by graphics processor powerhouse NVIDIA®, the dual-core Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip found in the LG Optimus 2X runs at a clock speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio.

Users will experience faster web browsing and smoother gameplay compared with single-core processors running at the same speed as well as instantaneous touch response and seamless multitasking between applications.

The LG Optimus 2X offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to full HD quality. The LG Optimus 2X can connect wirelessly to any DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible digital device such as HD TVs for a console-like gaming experience taking full advantage of the phone’s HDMI mirroring, accelerometer and gyro sensor. The smartphone also includes both rear- and front-facing cameras, microSD memory expandability, Micro-USB port and a hefty 1500mAh battery.

The LG Optimus 2X will be available in Korea next month with countries in Europe and Asia to follow. The phone will initially be released with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). The upgrade schedule will be announced in local markets in due course.

Key specifications:

_ 1Ghz Dual-core Processor (NVIDIA Tegra 2)

_ 4-inch WVGA screen

_ 8GB memory (up to 32GB via microSD)

_ 1,500 mAh battery

_ 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front camera

_ HDMI mirroring

_ 1080p MPEG-4/H.264 playback and recording

EA Play4Free Racing Game Finds its Audience and Adds New Features

20 December 2010, Australia – Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), has announced that Need for Speed™ World, the Play4Free™ online PC action racing game, has now eclipsed three million registered users. With numerous hours of high-speed, high-stakes Need for Speed multiplayer action, Need for Speed World is one of the most popular, free to play racing games.

Today, EA builds on the game by adding an all-new dynamic day/night cycle and an advanced vehicle performance customisation tuning system. Players can go under the hood to upgrade and tune their vehicle with an extensive list of car parts ranging from tuned engines to top-tier suspension systems to create a high-performance race machine.

Need for Speed World brings together best-in-class action racing with an unparalleled social experience for the PC. Players can compete against their friends and family or pick from thousands of top ranked players to challenge in intense online battles and police pursuits. Gamers race the way they want in an ever-expanding world that continues to grow with a constant stream of new content, cars and features.

In addition to English and German, Need for Speed World has now been localised for the French, Russian, Spainish and Polish markets. Players worldwide can feel the rush of illicit street racing as they speed their way through a white-knuckle, socially connected Need for Speed experience. They will also be able to purchase SpeedBoost which they can use to acquire in-game items such as Booster Packs, Power-ups, XP accelerators and even exclusive exotic cars via the in-game store using a variety of local payment options including credit cards and SMS billing.