Sydney, Australia, August 23, 2010 – ViewSonic, global technology provider and renowned worldwide leader of visual display products today strengthened the company’s commitment to green computing by announcing that all of its PC display products will feature LED technology by early 2011.

Offering significant energy cost savings, improved performance and enhanced dynamic contrast, ViewSonic LED displays have a lower power consumption while providing crystal clear images. Furthermore, with Edge-LED lighting the displays are slimmer making them a space-saving solution.

William Tse, country manager at ViewSonic, said, “Consumers are rapidly transitioning to LED display products because they are more energy efficient and in turn more economical, at the same time delivering brilliant picture quality. ViewSonic is leading the way towards a greener, more cost efficient future by offering an array of green LED products for customers to choose from.”

Today’s announcement comes just a few months after ViewSonic’s June unveiling of the VX2250wm-LED 22-inch LED monitor, which reinforced the company’s leadership position in LED technology. ViewSonic will continue to announce innovative, energy efficient display products that use LED lighting in the coming months, including 3D displays.

ViewSonic remains committed to commercial partners who have standardised on specific CCFL displays and will continue to produce these products until demand subsides.

For more information on ViewSonic LED displays or to speak with William Tse, country manager at ViewSonic, contact Christine Kardashian at Dash PR on 02 8084 0705 / 0416 005 703 or via email at chris@dashpr.com.au.

About ViewSonic

ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including Portable Media Players, Nettops, Netbooks, All-in-One PCs, as well as digital signage displays including LCD monitors, LCD TVs, projectors, digital signage displays, digital photo frames and other display solutions. For more information, visit www.viewsonic.com.au.

At the far edge of the solar system there is a prison planet where only the craziest criminals are sent.

No guards, no security… no rules. Survival and escape are the only things that matter… it’s enough to send you GUN LOCO™! 

Sydney, Australia (August 23, 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX®  interactive entertainment products in PAL territories, announced today GUN LOCO, an exciting, all-new approach to the third-person shooter genre. Currently in development and exclusively for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, GUN LOCO offers single and multiplayer gameplay in a sprint-action shooter format. 

Set on a remote prison planet at the farthest reaches of the solar system, a collection of the system’s craziest criminals are incarcerated in a prison with no walls and forgotten by society. In this long abandoned world, the only rule is anarchy as each faction fights in a bloodthirsty race for survival, power and ultimately escape. Through varied climate zones and numerous stylised maps, players must fight through the ruins of the world’s previous civilisations, taking on each region’s inmates in a frantic and frenetic struggle to survive.

Featuring unique third-person, sprint-action shooter gameplay, players can assume the roles of a variety of unique and memorable characters in a game that redefines the run-and-gun shooter. While pursuing and being pursued by their opponents, players must make use of the sprint-action play by running, jumping, ducking and vaulting, using the environments to their advantage. With a powerful arsenal of weapons at their disposal, each character comes complete with their own unique kill move, coupled with a mocking take-down taunt to ridicule their victims. The frenzied and furious comic style comes into its own with full 12-player online multiplayer matches across the planet, with a range of game modes and multiplayer arenas.

GUN LOCO’s characters feature a unique visual style with each created from original design concepts by the hands of respected designer toy maker Kenny Wong. Founder of kennyswork, co-founder of Hong Kong-based Brothersfree and co-creator of the cult Brothersworker series of collectible action figures, Kenny’s incredible design style and unique characterisation are a perfect fit for the bizarre world of GUN LOCO. Painstakingly crafted by hand, each comic caricature has been designed from scratch as a real, posable action figure in the Brothersworker vein before being digitally scanned into the game. GUN LOCO brings these memorable misfits and surreal sociopaths to life through animation, audio and unforgettable action gameplay.

“GUN LOCO’s comic characterisation and furious gameplay is a fantastic take on the third-person shooter and offers the kind of unique twist that only Square Enix can provide,” said Sarah Hoeksma, VP Brand PAL region. “The action is relentless, the characters unforgettable and the black comedy a perfect fit.”

GUN LOCO will be available in 2011 on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

You can find out more at http://www.gunloco.com/#/UK/

About Square Enix Ltd. 

Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, is a London-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company leading the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. publishes and distributes entertainment content under the Square Enix Group’s internationally renowned brands such as Square Enix, Eidos and Taito in Europe and other PAL territories. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 97 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 54 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 35 million units worldwide, together with other well established products and services.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United Kingdom and/or other countries. GUN LOCO and TOMB RAIDER are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United Kingdom and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com

ViewSonic presents the PJD5352 short-throw professional projector

Powerful projector in a petite package

Sydney, Australia, August 23, 2010 – ViewSonic, global technology provider and renowned worldwide leader of visual display products today announced the release of the PJD5352 professional projector. Primarily designed for corporate or classroom use, the PJD5352 makes it easy to give dynamic presentations from a modest office setting to the boardroom or multimedia lessons in the classroom.

A versatile projector, the PJD5352 presents exceptional 2600 ANSI lumen brightness, high 2600:1 contrast (typical) and BrilliantColor™ DLP Technology that delivers vibrant, vivid images and all-digital clarity with life-like colour, sharp graphics and outstanding video performance. In addition, the 120Hz 3D-ready PJD5352 boasts video capability for DVD-quality contents and a small throw ratio of 0.9-1.08, allowing the projector to be placed 50% closer to the screen providing more space for presenters – a small screen size of 66 inches is possible from just 1.2 metres.

Equipped with multiple preset presentation modes, an increased 40 degree digital vertical keystone correction and optical zoom ensure the PJD5352 displays the best possible image, regardless of location. To protect lamp life and prolong the life of the unit, the PJD5352 features Auto Off which automatically shuts down the projector, preserving power and lamp life up to 6,000 hours, as well as off and go which allows busy presenters to simply unplug the projector and go without waiting for the lamp to cool down.

Weighing only 2.5 kilograms, the PJD5352 can sit at the front of a table, mounted to a wall or ceiling, or just as easily packed to go ensuring users have the right projection solution available for their needs. With its small throw ratio, the PJD5352 can be used in an office, as well as a meeting room or classroom making it ideal for business or education looking to invest in practical, multi-purpose projector products that are economical and eco-friendly.

With 3D capability, full-featured connectivity, long lamp life and low cost replacement lamps, filter-less design and a non-degrading DLP® light engine, the PJD5352 is one of the lowest total cost of ownership projectors.

The ViewSonic PJD5352 projector is now available in Australia and New Zealand. RRP AU$1,399 inc GST, NZ$1,699.

About ViewSonic

ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including Portable Media Players, Nettops, Netbooks, All-in-One PCs, as well as digital signage displays including LCD monitors, LCD TVs, projectors, digital signage displays, digital photo frames and other display solutions. For more information, visit www.viewsonic.com.au.

Research In Motion (RIM) is today announcing updates to BlackBerry App World™, the official application store for BlackBerry® smartphones. BlackBerry App World provides BlackBerry smartphone* customers with an intuitive, integrated service for discovering, downloading, recommending and managing mobile applications for personal or business use. New features in BlackBerry App World, which is available for download today, include two additional pricing tiers, PayPal and credit card payment options, enhanced discovery and search capabilities and a new user identification system called BlackBerry® ID.

In addition to the broad selection of free mobile applications available in BlackBerry App World, customers can also now purchase a variety of additional mobile applications starting from US 99 cents.** Customers in Australia and New Zealand can now download the new BlackBerry App World directly to their smartphone by visiting www.blackberry.com/appworld or mobile.blackberry.com.

Some of the enhanced features of the new App World include:

* Enhanced Payment Options
With the new BlackBerry App World, customers will be able to purchase applications using PayPal and major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard.

* Easier Application Discovery
BlackBerry App World adds new tabbed sections for various lists of applications. Users can horizontally swipe or scroll to quickly view the Top 25 Free Apps, Top 25 Paid Apps and Top 25 Themes, as well as lists of the Newest Apps and Recently Updated Apps.

QR barcode scanning is also supported, allowing users to scan a QR code associated with an application from anywhere – the web, print ads, brochures, etc. BlackBerry App World will quickly find the related application and automatically open the application’s information and download page.

* BlackBerry ID
BlackBerry ID provides customers with a device-independent user identification (ID) used with BlackBerry App World. It enables credit card payments and allows customers to seamlessly transfer their personal library of free and purchased apps when they switch to a new BlackBerry smartphone.

The new BlackBerry App World also features some Australian developed apps, including:

* Buzz Me Beats with Roy Hamilton 3
Developed by Big Tin Can, Buzz Me Beats with Roy Hamilton 3 allows users to access over 30 special beats for their phones – perfect for phone calls, SMS/MMS, email accounts and social media alerts.

BuzzMe Beats also matches Roy’s unique sounds with special LED colour and phone vibration patterns – and includes a special mute function that can be used from within any BlackBerry® application to turn the phone to silent easily.

Roy Leaford Hamilton III (born in Queens, New York) is an African American number one Pop and R&B songwriter, record producer, and musician. Collectively, these skills and abilities have helped to sell over 70 million albums worldwide.

* CoDriver
The brainchild of local developer Arrival Tech, CoDriver is a new generation of GPS-based driving assistant designed to meet the daily needs of motorists. Developed to assist drivers, the app offers a comprehensive safety mode that will alert drivers to:
* speed limits at road safety locations
* speed limits for learner and provisional plate drivers
* the need for driver fatigue alerts after two hours
* school zone areas and speed limit changes during school times
* safety camera locations (speed, red light, dual speed/red, average area, bus lane)
* country town entry point speed limit changes
* accident black spots and railway crossings.

For a limited time CoDriver will be available free to BlackBerry App World users. The first 30,000 downloads will receive a free 12 month subscription to road safety updates valued at $14.99. CoDriver can be found in the free application category of BlackBerry App World.

* miRoamer
miRoamer is a free Internet radio application that offers users access to the world’s largest and most diverse selection of customised music, entertainment and Internet Radio AM/FM content. Developed by Melbourne based Mi Media Holdings, the app allows users to tune into miRoamer’s tens of thousands of Internet radio stations from nearly a dozen different global content providers.

The free app also features miRoamer Platinum which is a range of fully-customised premier stations based on musical genre and mood. The miRoamer Platinum content is compiled by radio experts with more than 60 years of combined broadcast and music programming experience.

miRoamer also offers the ability to browse genres or stations and customise preferences, providers and search options online at www.miroamer.com.

* mProductive
mProductive is the perfect app for the busy executive cleverly combining the user’s calendar, tasks and memos in one place. Developed by Sydney based Basis Design, the app gives users the capability to manage daily priorities more intuitively through a clear picture of ‘what to leave and what to do’.

For the first time, the combined view of calendar, tasks and memos gives users the ability to easily organise and link related items that have a common theme or purpose. The app, uniquely, also makes it possible for users to create their next action with a single click from an email, call or sms.

* Take Back Your Life
Developed by Fishvision,Take Back your life is an application that helps you to achieve that elusive work-life balance. With simple options, you can decide who can phone you on your time. The application integrates seamlessly with the inbuilt contact groups to make it easy to divide your contacts between work and play. Take Back Your Life also allows you to set a “silent mode” to get total peace and quiet or “VIPs Only mode” when you’re waiting for that one call.

Nearly 30 million BlackBerry smartphone users have downloaded BlackBerry App World and an average of over one million applications are being downloaded each day. Available in more than 65 countries, BlackBerry App World allows users to discover, download, recommend and manage the applications that help them get the most out of life while on the go.

Download the new BlackBerry App World directly to your BlackBerry smartphone by visiting www.blackberry.com/appworld or mobile.blackberry.com.

For more information about BlackBerry App World please visit http://au.blackberry.com/services/appworld/.

Sydney, Australia – August 19, 2010 – Today, Ubisoft announced the launch of Combat of Giants Dinosaurs Strike for the Wii™ system from Nintendo. A new installment in the successful Combat of Giants franchise, the game will be available worldwide in November 2010. Designed exclusively for Wii by Ubisoft Quebec, the development studio behind the Nintendo DS^TM versions  in the franchise, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs Strike is the new addition to the Combat of Giants franchise, which has already sold more than one million copies worldwide.

The Combat of Giants brand offers young players the thrill of controlling a giant creature and fighting against other creatures for survival. Combat of Giants Dinosaurs Strike will immerse young players in a cataclysmic Jurassic world. Players will be able to choose a dinosaur among 18 different breeds such as T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus or Baryonyx and customise their dinosaur with 12 color options and different stripe patterns, or even upgrade horns, bone plates, fins or feathers to create the strongest possible creature. Combat of Giants Dinosaurs Strike also offers the possibility to unlock six other dinosaurs in Domination mode, where the player fights against eight other giant creatures, one by one in a ladder mode, before attacking the boss. The dinosaurs unlocked after each ladder are then available in the multiplayer versus modes.

The core of Combat of Giants Dinosaurs Strike is its fast-paced, three-round combat system, in which the player has to use each dinosaur’s specific abilities and powers. Entirely based on real-time actions, players will need to act and react as quickly as possible, launching super attacks while protecting themselves from the natural casualties of the cataclysmic environment, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Combat of Giants Dinosaurs Strike takes full advantage of Wii capabilities. The Wii™ Remote and Nunchuk™ offer immediate and natural controls, while the polished graphics of the three different breathtaking environments in the game (tropical forest, desert and mountain) bring additional immersion to the experience. It also allows fierce multiplayer battles (with up to four players at a time) as well as three different multiplayer modes: Versus, Tournament and Tag Team.

Sydney, Australia – August 19^th, 2010 – Today Ubisoft announced the full tracklist of its anticipated game Just Dance 2. After the success of the first installment, which has sold more than 4 million units to date, Just Dance 2 returns with a brand new tracklist of more than 40 popular songs, with each song featuring its own choreography. 

Just Dance 2’s track list offers a wide range of songs drawn from classic hits and legendary songs to today’s chart-toppers, including Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff, I Got You by James Brown but also Rihanna’s SOS, When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls and many other songs perfect for parties! It also explores new music styles such as Bollywood music and Reggaeton. And for those who still want more, they will be able to download tracks from an expanding catalogue of new hits.

 Tracks available in Just Dance 2 are:

1. Avril Lavigne – “Girlfriend”
2. Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian”
3. Beastie Boys – “Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix)”
4. Benny Benassi presents “The Biz” – “Satisfaction”
5. Blondie – “Call Me”
6. Bollywood – “Katti Kalandal”
7. Boney M. – “Rasputin”
8. Charleston – “Mugsy Baloney”
9. Cher – “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”
10. Digitalism – “Idealistic”
11. Donna Summer – “Hot Stuff”
12. Elvis Presley – “Viva Las Vegas”
13. Fatboy Slim – “Rockafeller Skank”
14. Franz Ferdinand – “Take Me Out”
15. Harry Belafonte – “Jump In The Line”
16. Ike & Tina Turner – “Proud Mary”
17. James Brown – “I Got You (I Feel Good)”
18. Jamiroquai – “Cosmic Girl”
19. Junior Senior – “Move Your Feet”
20. Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
21. Ke$ha – “TiK ToK”
22. Mardi Gras – “Iko Iko”
23. Marine Band – “Sway (Quien Sera)”
24. MIKA – “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)”
25. Outkast – “Hey Ya!”
26. Quincy Jones & His Orchestra – “Soul Bossa Nova”
27. Reggaeton – “Baby Girl”
28. Rihanna – “S.O.S.”
29. Snap! – “The Power”
30. Sorcerer – “Dagomba”
31. Studio Allstars – “Jump”
32. Studio Musicians – “Crazy In Love”
33. Studio Musicians – “Jungle Boogie”
34. Supergrass – “Alright”
35. The Frighteners – “Monster Mash”
36. The Hit Crew – “Holiday”
37. The Hit Crew – “Toxic”
38. The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
39. The Pussycat Dolls – “When I Grow Up”
40. The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil (Fatboy Slim Remix)”
41. The Ting Tings – “That’s Not My Name”
42. The Weather Girls – “It’s Raining Men”
43. Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”
44. Wham! – “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”

Added to the “Classic” mode in which you can just dance on the tracks and hit the score, Just Dance 2 also boasts new modes. Players will now be able to create their own team and engage in dance-off contests with up to 8 players. In the Duet Mode, each player will follow a different choreography mixing dance steps and poses that will respond to the choreography of the other. An added benefit is the new Just Sweat mode where players will lose calories dancing away to their favourite songs. 

Just Dance 2 will be released exclusively on Wii^TM on October 14^th, 2010 in EMEA territories and October 15^th, 2010 in North America. 

For more information about Just Dance 2, please visit www.justdancegame.com

UBISOFT® UNVEILS NEW TRACKS FOR MICHAEL JACKSON THE EXPERIENCE

Fans Attending Gamescom Will Be The First to Play The Game That Lets Them Feel The Magic of The King of Pop

AUSTRALIA – August 19, 2010 – Today Ubisoft unveils just a few of the phenomenal songs that players will be able to perform in Michael Jackson The Experience, the video game that will allow players to feel the magic of King of Pop by reliving his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing. For the first time ever, the Wii™ version of the game will be playable exclusively at the Gamescom consumer and trade show that will take place in Cologne, Germany from August 18th through the 22nd.

Some of Michael Jackson’s most famous songs that will be included in the game are:

· Bad

· Beat It

· Billie Jean

· Earth Song

· The Girl Is Mine

· Who Is It

· Workin’ Day And Night

· And many more…

The Power of Ubisoft’s Player Projection on Kinect™ for Xbox 360®

Developed by Ubisoft Montréal, Michael Jackson The Experience using the sensor for Kinect for Xbox 360, will give fans of the King of Pop the feeling of actually performing in Michael Jackson’s shoes. Ubisoft’s proprietary Player Projection technology projects the player on-screen and into the game itself, where their body will be tracked so they will see their true movements and steps reproduced in the game. This level of immersion has never been seen before and as players are surrounded by environments inspired by the music videos and live performances of each song, they will truly live the experience. The player’s performance will trigger effects, visuals and even the music itself as fans match their talent to that of the greatest artist of all time, whose music, lyrics and stunningly innovative dance moves continue to excite fans in every corner of the world.

Michael Jackson The Experience for Kinect™ for Xbox 360 sensor is more than just a game as it features a combination of dancing, singing and freestyle moves. The player’s full-on singing and dancing performance takes place in jaw-dropping sets with incredible lighting, special effects, and a completely energized million-strong crowd just waiting to cheer on every move.

The Ubisoft Expertise on Nintendo’s Wii™ System

Ubisoft Montpellier, in collaboration with the Ubisoft Paris team that has created the multimillion seller Just Dance, is putting all its expertise into crafting Michael Jackson The Experience for WiiTM to match the expectations of all Michael Jackson fans across the globe – as well as bringing all the fun, laughter and energy that has won over players of all ages around the globe.

Michael Jackson The Experience for Nintendo’s Wii™ will make learning to dance like the ultimate pop icon fun and accessible for everyone. In Michael’s School mode, players will be able to rehearse before their show, with video training to practice Michael’s most challenging moves and perform his most authentic choreographies. With multiplayer mode on Wii™, fans are never alone – up to three more players can get in on the performance and everyone will be able to sing with Michael Jackson using the on-screen lyrics!

Michael Jackson The Experience for Wii™ will be playable for the first time ever at Gamescom. Five Wii™ pods will be available at the Ubisoft booth, located in Halle 7, stand 31. Players will enjoy performing to Billie Jean and Workin’ Day And Night.

Michael Jackson The Experience will be available for KINECTTM for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 system with the PlayStation®Move motion controller, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo’s Wii™ system and the Nintendo DS™ handheld system, for holiday 2010.

Sydney, Australia – August 19, 2010 – Today, Ubisoft announced Fighters Uncaged, a new fighting game that will be available worldwide in November 2010 exclusively for Kinect™ on Microsoft Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by AMA Studios, Fighters Uncaged will deliver players the excitement of real fighting competitions, in addition to teaching players mixed martial arts techniques.

“Fighters Uncaged is the first motion fighting game for Microsoft Kinect™, dedicated to a core audience,” said Caroline Stevens, EMEA brand director at Ubisoft. “Fighters Uncaged requires players to get out of their seat to engage in a controller-free full-body combat game and experience the authentic fighting style of Thai boxing.”

Leveraging the Microsoft Kinect™ technology, Fighters Uncaged delivers players an immersive total-body combat experience. Players will be able to create 70 different strikes inspired by martial arts and compete in 21 different fighting environments such as rooftops, dark alleys, gritty city docks and abandoned church. Included are diverse opponents with unique fighting styles, devastating combos with voice-activated super strikes, opportunities to upgrade your character by unlocking new skills and a jump-in multiplayer feature to take your enemies down with your friends.