Chris Hemsworth to Voice the Mighty Thor and Tom Hiddleston is the Voice of his Antagonist Loki

Friday 3^rd December 2010 – SEGA^® Europe Ltd. and SEGA^® of America, Inc. today announced that Thor™: God of Thunder will feature the voices of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. In addition to their voice over roles, the new upcoming video game offers both actors’ likenesses and marks Thor’s first standalone appearance in a video game.

“Bringing in Chris and Tom to star in Thor: God of Thunder gives us AAA talent that will create a truly cinematic interactive experience,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA America. “Mighty Thor and the trickster Loki will face off with real emotion while giving fans visual and vocal continuity between the video game and film adaptations of the Marvel franchise.”

Thor: God of Thunder will delve deep into the heroic tales of the Thor universe. Eisner Award-winning writer and lead Thor comic book author Matt Fraction brings authenticity to the narrative as a story consultant, and elevates the story beyond the comic and movie universe throughout the video game.  Players will take on an array of ancient enemies and beasts from the many worlds of Norse mythology by using different battle strategies and elemental powers. The sacred Mjolnir, Thor’s legendary hammer, will allow players to command the powers of the storm: wind, thunder and lightning. By earning Valor in combat throughout the game, players will also be able to select from a wider range of abilities, acquire new attacks, powers and upgrades.

Thor: God of Thunder is scheduled for release in autumn 2011 on all major platforms.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth played the role of George Kirk in the 2009 Star Trek film before portraying Thor in SEGA’s upcoming game and the Thor and The Avengers film adaptations from Marvel Studios. He has also appeared in a variety of TV roles and in A Perfect Getaway and Ca$h among other films.

Tom Hiddleston graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has gone on to star in a number of critically acclaimed television productions including Return to Cranford and Wallander. He has also received universal praise on stage in a number of roles including a hugely successful production of Shakespeare’s Othello alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ewan McGregor, and an Olivier Award-winning performance in Cymbeline. In addition to voicing the role of Loki in Thor: God of Thunder, he plays Loki in the upcoming Thor film adaptation from Marvel Studios and in 2011 will also star in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Steven Spielberg’s War Horse.

For more information, please visit the official site at www.sega.com

(Next Stop: Speedball 2 Evolution)
Legendary Game Designer Jon Hare Clarifies His Studios Intentions

Jon Hare’s Tower Studios is about to enter the publishing arena with both feet as it anticipates the launch of its imminent release of Speedball 2 Evolution, a modern reworking of the classic Bitmap Brothers game on the Apple iOS platforms, and the Sony PlayStation PSP (minis).

Tower Studios recently published “Shoot to Kill” on Apple iPhone™ & Apple iPad, a Vivid Games production, which was released to good critical acclaim earlier this year. Hare has learned a lot about the challenges of gaining Tower’s games the profile necessary for commercial success in a crowded market, and is keen to see the market develop on the Apple iOS and Browser platforms to allow the more serious and talented developers and publishers to make headway through the ocean of product currently available.

Given Hare’s industry experience, having been at the helm of Sensible Software, one of the most successful UK game developers of the late 1980s and early 1990s with classic hit franchises such as Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and Wizball during the 8-Bit and 16-Bit eras, he is more than adequately qualified to comment on the similarities and the differences between today’s games market and that of the past.

Says Jon Hare: “On the surface it would appear that today’s developers and small publishers have similar opportunities to those in the Commodore 64 and Amiga eras that companies like Sensible Software dominated. However, from a business perspective the landscape is very different, and it is now increasingly hard for a successful, but non-corporate company to run a sensible and prudent creative business at a time where many consumers will only play-for-free, and the big hitting publishers use their occasionally loss leading marketing budgets to drown out the voices of the competition. Also there are a bewildering variety of platforms and monetization models, further complicating the job of launching a game, and due to market saturation it is often very, very difficult to get enough attention on your product, regardless of quality”

Jon Hare, along with business partner Chris Yates ran Sensible Software at an impressive average of 49% profit per year from 1986 – 1999, before selling the company to Codemasters. During this time the studio never needed to risk big money on development or advertising to develop award-winning titles.

Today I am painfully aware that the saturated downloadable and mobile markets with minimalistic price-points mean that achieving similar success to the past requires more than talent and hard work; luck and timing also plays a big factor. To me, it is not acceptable to expect companies to be large, reckless or lucky in order to find success. For every “Angry Birds” game hitting the market, another 999 are vanishing in the void. This is not the kind of odds with which you want to be gambling your family’s house or the contents of your underperforming savings account. 999/1 odds are OK for youngsters with nothing to lose, but not for people who are a bit older, and with a bit more to risk. Unfortunately, those older people include just about the entire publishing community in the UK, most of whom are entrepreneurs who like to make things happen, but who are not willing – or able – to take unnecessary irresponsible risks.” , Hare continues.

In addition to self-publishing, Tower Studios have considered partnering with larger publishing partners to distribute or co-publish on those platforms where such a co-operation would benefit both parties and consumers alike:

“Like all smaller publishers Tower Studios is capable of publishing iOS and browser-based games independently, the question is, is this really the best way to maximize the success and exposure of the game in the current saturated market? Take our latest project “Speedball 2 Evolution” which is now completed and due for release at the beginning of next year. It is a truly excellent version of a classic old game on modern technology; and I would hate to think that all the work we and our development partners Vivid Games have put into this title could be wasted, purely because we cannot penetrate the market or because we are unlucky, or because Speedball is predominantly a European license and the iOS market is about 90% US based. In a healthy market, having a great and high-quality game guarantees some measure of success, but due to the current processes that dictate success on the App Store and other equivalent digital distribution mechanisms, being successful feels like a lottery, and many of us don’t like this feeling of lack of control – it feels like a step backwards.”, Jon explains.

One solution to this challenge, according the Hare, might be for a number of UK based publishers to work together and share resources when it comes to PR, marketing and monetization strategies, and to work with closely with Apple, who are excellent in the UK, and other influential partners who can help get products directly to market in the downloadable and online space.

“At Tower Studios we have the opportunity to work on so many great original games and retro licensed titles on so many formats, and to really carve out a niche for ourselves as the purveyors of quality online and mobile games with the very best of old fashioned values and modern technology at their heart. I have every faith that our products are excellent. These days it seems that making great games is the easy part; it is generating enough publicity and getting consumers to put their hand in their pocket for something that is not mainstream that is the challenge”, Jon Hare concludes.

Recently released Shoot To Kill is available on the App Store by following these links:

Apple iPhone™ : http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shoot-to-kill-addictive-as/id398034334?mt=8

Apple iPad : http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shoot-to-kill-hd/id397728840?mt=8

Trailer : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSbglszApNQ

Speedball 2 Evolution, Tower Studios soon-to-be released retro classic has an appetizer trailer available for viewing by visiting: http://www.youtube.com/user/VividGamesChannel#p/a/u/2/1wP-t_XZ5As

1 December 2010, Australia – After nearly two months of training on EA SPORTS™ FIFA 11 on PlayStation®3 (PS3™), it is time to put your virtual football skills to the test as the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2011 kicks off!
 
After the huge success of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2010, which saw more than 780,000 players battle it out for the title, the world’s biggest virtual football tournament returns this year, starting with the first online season on December 1.

This year’s event features a new format; in order to make the online qualifying stages more flexible and accessible there will now be six mini seasons lasting 25 days each, beginning on the first of every month from 1 December through to 25 May 2011.  The best two players per season will qualify for the Grand Final, which will take place in June 2011.

An additional 10 players will qualify for the Grand Final through the Live Events (1 per event), with the full constellation of 24 finalists completed by the current FIWC champion Nenad Stojkovic and the winner of a special promotional event. For more details please visit www.fifa.com/fiwc.

Paris, December 1st 2010

Mobigame is pleased to announce that the award winning game “Edge” is now available on the European and Australian PlayStation® Store. You will find it in the Minis section for only 4,99€, for your PSP or your PS3. The North American and Japanese release will follow soon.

Develop your telekinetic strength by pushing a Cube within a geometric universe. Platforms, enigmas and reflexes combine to make Edge a rich and very comprehensive game.

? An original game ideally suited for mobility
? 46 different levels
? 18 unique tunes!
? A simple, addictive game for every type of player

> Buy Edge on the Playstation® Store

> Buy Edge on the App Store for your iPhone/iPad

> Download Edge Soundtrack for Free!

> Watch the new EDGE PSP trailer

Based on an acclaimed novel, Charlie St. Cloud is a romantic drama starring teen heartthrob, Zac Efron, who as a young man survives an accident that alters the way he sees the world. Coming to Blu-ray and DVD on January 20, 2011, this emotionally charged story see Charlie take a romantic journey in which he learns to embrace the dark realities of the past while discovering the transformative power of love.

Accomplished sailor Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron) has the adoration of his mother Claire (Oscar® winner Kim Basinger) and little brother Sam (newcomer Charlie Tahan), as well as a college scholarship that will lead him far from his sleepy hometown. But his bright future is cut short when a tragedy strikes and takes his dreams with it.

Years later when his high-school classmate Tess (Amanda Crew) returns home unexpectedly, Charlie grows torn between honoring a promise he made to his brother and moving forward with newfound love. As he finds the courage to let go of the past for good, Charlie discovers the soul most worth saving is his own. Loaded with bonus features that will take viewers behind the scenes and up close and personal with Zac Efron himself, Charlie St. Cloud is the perfect chance to be swept away on an emotional journey that is sure to move all viewers.

BLU-RAY & DVD BONUS FEATURES:
o Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary by Director Burr Steers
o On Location with Zac Efron
o Zac Efron, Leading Man
o The In-Between World, Feature Commentary with Director Burr Steers

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
Director: Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down, 17 Again)
Cast: Zac Efron (High School Musical, 17 Again)
Amanda Crew (She’s The Man, The Haunting in Connecticut)
Kim Basinger (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile)
Ray Liotta (Narc, Hannibal, Smokin’ Aces)
Price: DVD SRP $39.95
Blu-ray SRP $44.95
Duration: 90 minutes
Genre: Romantic / Drama

AUSTRALIA, Sydney – November 30, 2010 – A new survey* showing that a large number of Australians are doing their Christmas shopping online has prompted a warning that many risk becoming victims of cybercrime.

The Newspoll survey shows that 46 percent of Australians have bought, or intend to buy, a Christmas present this year from a local or overseas website. In total, 31 percent of those surveyed said they were more likely to buy something from a United States website now that the Australian dollar is roughly equal in value to the US dollar.

The telephone survey commissioned by online security expert, Norton by Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) was conducted in early November among a representative sample of 1202 adults aged 18+ nationally.

Norton Internet Safety Advocate for Pacific region, Michele Thompson, says while shoppers are looking for the hottest deals from online retailers to kick off their holiday shopping, cybercriminals are also looking to “score big” – by stealing shoppers’ personal and financial information.

“We already know that 69 percent[i] of Australians have become victims of some sort of cybercrime. However, by taking simple precautions, consumers can ensure their holidays are free of spam, viruses and online scams,” said Thompson.

The release of the survey results coincides with Computer Security Day (30 November), an event observed worldwide to remind people to protect their computers and information.

This year, cyber thieves got off to an early start and Norton expects them to continue their nefarious holiday scams.  

Norton says it has observed spam messages promoting replica watches, health products, free gift cards and fake product offers related to Christmas with the following email subject lines:

• Subject: Grab em before Christmas
• Subject: Just in time for Christmas – cheap watches
• Subject: Hi xxxx, get 70% off Christmas

“Most of these spam messages encourage consumers to get in early because of limited product supply or to get the best deals,” says Thompson.

“You should be suspicious of emails offering Christmas discounts that seem too good to be true or are filled with grammatical errors. Such emails could be spam that is trying to trick you into downloading a virus or giving away personal information and should be deleted.”

Thompson says consumers should also be wary of paying for items that never get delivered or are counterfeit. She says online shoppers should be wary of any web retailer that refuses normal payment methods or requests payment off the web. Consumers should look for SSL certification (Verisign, Comodo, GeoTrust, buySAFE) to ensure data is transmitted securely.

“We don’t want people to lose sight of keeping their personal information secure while in pursuit of a Christmas bargain.”

The Australian Government website staysmartonline.gov.au has also issued warnings to consumers about the online threats posed by the Christmas period.

The site says that people using the internet for banking, shopping, buying tickets, booking holidays and contacting friends and family this festive season should be aware of the risks involved.

Norton says one of the best things consumers can do to avoid becoming victims of cybercrime is to become better informed.

Earlier this month, Norton teamed up with the Federal Government and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to launch a new public education display called BLK MKT (Black Market).

The display aims to raise consumer awareness of cybercrime and provides advice on how to avoid becoming a victim. The BLK MKT display will tour Australia over the next 12 months, visiting key locations and selected V8 Supercar race rounds, including this weekend’s (2-4 December) Sydney Telstra 500 at Olympic Park.

Consumers will also be able to view the free display at Parramatta Church Street mall on Thursday 9 December through to Saturday 11 December.

Don’t be a cybercrime statistic. Keep yourself protected. Be smart. Stay safe.

You don’t have to be a computer genius to protect yourself online. By following a few common sense tips, you can make the most out of your Internet experience, while protecting you and your family from online threats. Increase your awareness of online security and help deny cybercriminals access to your personal information.

Michele Thompson’s Top Tips for safe online shopping include:

• Charge It! – Seventy-four percent of people use a debit card for online purchases[ii]. That’s a big no-no if you want to keep yourself safe and sane during the holidays. Using a credit card when shopping online is the way to go. That way, if your account number falls into a cybercriminals’ hands, your bank account won’t be drained and you’ll have a much easier time getting the issue resolved with your credit card company. 
• “Password” is not a good password – When it comes to passwords, keep it complicated and change them frequently. Sixty-two percent of people don’t change their passwords frequently or use complex passwords[iii], making it easier for cybercriminals to break into their online accounts.
• Make sure your holidays are filled with cheer, not fear – If you receive a suspicious email – whether it’s offering discounts that are too good to be true or is filled with grammatical errors – delete the message. It could be spam that’s trying to trick you into downloading a virus or giving away your personal information
• Be wary of scams – Don’t get stuck paying for something that never gets delivered or is counterfeit by being wary of any retailer that refuses normal payment methods or requests payment off the Web. Look for SSL certification (e.g., Verisign, Comodo, GeoTrust, buySAFE) to ensure data is transmitted securely.
• How do you know that website is safe? – You don’t, unless you use a safe search tool like Norton Safe Web. Sixty percent of people do not use a safe search tool⁴, and these days, even legitimate websites can become infected with online threats without the website owners’ knowledge. To ensure you’re clicking only on safe websites, install a free tool like Norton Safe Web Lite. And for Facebook users, download the Norton Safe Web for Facebook app.
• Use visual cues to identify safe websites, do your homework – Many fraudulent Web sites exist only to “phish” for your personal information and money. Scan the entire web page for a trust mark, such as the VeriSign Trusted Seal. These marks demonstrate that trusted authorities have taken comprehensive measures to certify such things as security, online business ethics or customer privacy standards.
• Make privacy a priority – Avoid sites that share your info with marketing partners. This information is often hidden in fine print. Read a Web site’s policies or user agreements carefully or look for a privacy seal indicating the retailer is respectful of your privacy (e.g., TRUSTe, BBBOnline Privacy, ESRB Privacy).
• Avoid search siphons – Don’t pick your retailer solely based on search results. “Cybersquatters” and “Typosquatters” lure you away from legitimate retailers by including a brand name in a URL or relying on you to misspell a brand name. Others show a low price for your item in search results but not sell it, or display an ad with your search item but not sell it. These sites thrive by earning advertising revenue from accidental visits.

MOONKIN HATCHLING AND LIL’ RAGNAROS NOW AVAILABLE

We’re pleased to announce that the two recently revealed in-game pets, Lil’ Ragnaros and the Moonkin Hatchling, are now available in the Pet Store section of the online Blizzard Store at a price of $10 USD each.

Lil’ Ragnaros, the Tiniest Firelord

Ragnaros, the dread master of all fire elementals, will return in Cataclysm to avenge his defeat in Molten Core. And what better way to head into battle than with a miniature version of the firelord himself following at your beck and call? Lil’ Ragnaros, just like his full-scale namesake, burns with constant fury (not to mention flames that serve as a handy cooking fire) and comes equipped with the legendary hammer Sulfuras. And as a being of pure elemental fire, he has no need to walk from place to place — he just submerges into the magma below the world’s surface when you start walking and reemerges when you stop.

Moonkin Hatchling Charity Pet — For the Children!

The googly-eyed Moonkin Hatchling, which comes in unique Horde and Alliance versions, will occasionally plant flowers at your feet, and happily /dances with any willing partners. Like last year’s Pandaren Monk, the Moonkin Hatchling has a soft spot for helping children. For every Moonkin Hatchling adopted from November 29 through December 31, 2010, Blizzard Entertainment will donate 50% of the $10 USD purchase price to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.

Thanks to the support of all the World of Warcraft players out there who purchased the Pandaren Monk last year, we were able to donate more than $1.1 million to Make-A-Wish this past February. We’re looking forward to making another big contribution to this great cause on behalf of the World of Warcraft community following the close of this year’s promotion.

To learn more about the Pet Store, please visit the Pet Store FAQ, and for more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation® in the U.S. visit www.wish.org and outside the U.S. visit www.worldwish.org.

YOUR FORTUNE AWAITS: 50% UNLOCK

The curious continue to flock to the Darkmoon Faire, hoping to catch a glimpse of their fate from the wise and (some say) frighteningly insightful Sayge. The combined efforts of the Horde and Alliance have brought them to the halfway point of the “Your Fortune Awaits” campaign, unlocking a truly rare treasure. Sit back, relax, and enjoy, “The Making of Cataclysm.”

Body Movin’ Brain Stretchin’ Title to Launch on 11th February 2011, Exclusively for Kinect™ for Xbox 360™

NAMCO BANDAI Games is set to warm up many a winter’s night, following the news that Dr. Kawashima’s Body and Brain Exercises will be available in Australian and New Zealand retailers from 11th February 2011 for Kinect™, controller-free game and entertainment for Xbox 360™.

Dr. Kawashima’s Body and Brain Exercises challenges players to exercise both mind and body in the most cerebral and energetic party game ever from the originators of the video game brain training craze. Players of all ages must think fast and act even faster as they respond to maths, logic, reflex, memory and physical questions using the full-motion capabilities of the Kinect sensor.

Dr. Kawashima’s Body and Brain Exercises includes over 20 different activities in single player and multiplayer modes. Up to four friends can compete in fun and engaging activities as they strive for the youngest brain age.

For more information, please visit www.namcobandaipartners.com.au