Global Music Icon Eminem Debuts New Track

Sydney AUSTRALIA. June 16^th 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — A cast of some of the most influential and popular recording artists performed at Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) special E3 preview event at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Monday night in celebration of the company’s highly anticipated games.  

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/activision/44550/

The heart pounding event began with world renowned mash-up master Z-Trip who started off the night and warmed up the crowd with his trademark sounds.

First up was an all-out celebration of DJ Hero(R) 2‘s incredible line-up of world-class artists ensued, featuring live sets from all-star DJs and in-game playable characters, Grammy(R) winner and multi-platinum selling artist David Guetta, along with progressive house producer Deadmau5, part of dance music’s elite. Storming the stage with a high octane mini-set, global superstar Usher, complete with live band and dancers, brought down the house with a performance of his current #1 hit “OMG,” with a current audience reach of over 160 million, along with chart-topping singles “Caught Up” and “Yeah.”

The event brought skate acrobatics to life with a live Tony Hawk skate demo accompanied by Z-Trip who was once again at the head of the turntables. Hawk’s performance went BIG, with larger than life jumps, huge grabs and over-the-top tricks in the spirit of Tony Hawk(TM): SHRED, the next game in the venerable skating franchise.

A heart-pounding collaborative performance of Queen’s classic anthem, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” featured on Guitar Hero(R): Warrior of Rock’s 93 track on-disc set list, was lead by artist Maynard James Keenan and over 200 of Los Angeles’s most awe-inspiring gospel singers accompanied by a 75-piece orchestra. To celebrate their incorporation into Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, Jane’s Addiction played seminal hits “Mountain Song” and “Been Caught Stealing” and Soundgarden performed an orchestrated version of their classic hit “Black Hole Sun.”

The exciting line-up continued as Grammy Award winning recording artist, producer and musician Pharrell Williams and his band N.E.R.D. performed the upbeat dance jams “Hot-N-Fun” and “Lapdance” to celebrate Pharrell’s contribution to the soundtrack of True Crime(R): Hong Kong. In addition, brand new recording artist and industry up-and-comer Rhea debuted “My Motorcycle,” which will be featured in the game with a sultry performance choreographed by JaQuel Knight.

Innovative and ground-breaking Grammy(R) Award winning performer EMINEM ignited the crowd as he closed the all-star event in celebration of the year’s most anticipated title Call of Duty(R): Black Ops and was joined on stage by drumming legend Travis Barker. Eminem’s raw live performance of tracks included songs such as “Lose Yourself,” his newest hit single “Not Afraid” and the world premiere of “Won’t Back Down” from his upcoming album Recovery scheduled for release June 21st.

About Activision Broadcast Media Center

Members of the media can visit Activision’s Broadcast Media Center to download broadcast quality video, web-ready video and high-resolution images. Members of the media using Pathfire can take advantage of a Pathfire enabled video download.

Highlights from Activision’s E3 event are available for download.

Broadcast Media Center: http://www.activisionvideo.com/

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as “outlook,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimate,” future,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “project,” “remain,” “scheduled,” “set to,” “subject to,” “upcoming” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Publishing’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms, declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology, industry standards and consumer preferences, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors and third-party developers, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, and the other factors identified in the risk factors section of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

Guitar Hero, DJ Hero and Activision are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.

First Game From EA/Playfish Partnership – Brings World’s Most Popular Football Videogame Franchise to Millions of Fans

16 June 2010, Australia – Electronic Arts have announced that EA SPORTS™ has created its most popular franchise for the hundreds of millions of football fans on social gaming sites just in time for the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Developed by Playfish, EA SPORTS™ FIFA Superstars is a free-to-play^ social game that has launched on Facebook®. It will be available on additional social networks in the future.

“We are leveraging our football expertise with the experience of our partners at Playfish to create a casual football game for a broader audience,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Football, EA SPORTS. The EA SPORTS FIFA franchise has sold over 90 million units lifetime and FIFA 10 is the highest rated* sports videogame on the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® in the world.

“Football fans have a voracious appetite for their sport so we are creating interactive football entertainment in new ways and on new platforms to meet the interest,” continued Bilbey. “We are excited to broaden our reach from the console that touches our core audience of 10-20 million fans to the hundreds of millions of football fans and casual gamers using social networks.”

EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars is the first social game developed through the EA/Playfish partnership and the first sports game developed by Playfish, who leads social gaming in innovation and creativity with award-winning category defining games designed for friends to play together. Playfish hits include Pet Society and Restaurant City.

“On the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, we’re introducing into social gaming an entirely new category and game play style built around the most popular sports franchise in the world,” said Kristian Segerstrale, vice president and general manager of Playfish. “EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars captures all the magic and passion of the beautiful game, allowing players to build and manage a team of the world’s greatest footballers and compete against their friends.  We’re looking forward to working with our players and evolving the game in many exciting ways through the FIFA World Cup and beyond.”

FIFA Superstars will leverage EA SPORTS football licenses for 30 leagues, 500 teams and 15,000 players. Fans will be able to create a fantasy club side by collecting or trading players, challenging friends head-to-head and competing in leagues, or searching out broader leader boards to compete against the best. To capitalise on the worldwide football fever driven by the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, players can predict the outcomes of games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to win valuable in-game coins. Screenshots of EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars can be downloaded at http://info.ea.com. For more information visit http://apps.facebook.com/fifasuperstars/.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.
   
^ Internet connection and a Facebook account required
*Source www.metacritic.com, June 5, 2010

Norton report finds six in 10 kids have had negative online experiences – from exposure to nudity and violence to having a stranger try to meet them in real life

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – 16 June 2010 – Kids around the globe are growing up in an online world, learning to navigate not just the Web, but new rules, emotions and unfortunately, some negative experiences.

• Angry. Upset. Afraid. – Kids reported these feelings about negative online experiences.
• More than half feel some personal responsibility for their negative online experiences.[i]
• Nearly seven in 10 say they would turn to their parents if something bad happened online.[ii]
• But nearly half think they are more careful online than their parents. Twenty percent (25 percent in Australia) actually say their parents have “no idea” what they are doing online.

The Norton Online Family Report, released today, is a good reminder for parents to plug in to their kids’ online lives, if they’re not already; especially with kids spending an average of 10 percent more time online per month than last year[iii]. Over the past three years, Norton has examined the gaps between parents and kids with respect to their online beliefs and behaviours. With this year’s report, Norton also looked at the emotional impact of online experiences on kids and their online codes of conduct.

Norton went straight to the source, surveying 2,800 kids and more than 7,000 adults in 14 countries about their online lives and experiences. The resulting study, the Norton Online Family Report, was conducted by research company StrategyOne and examines kids’ actual online experiences compared with parents’ assumptions, with some surprising results.

According to NetFamilyNews.org Editor and ConnectSafely.org Co-Director Anne Collier, who collaborated with Norton on the study: “This report provides a rare glimpse into the online lives of young people in many countries, in their own words. Not only does it send a clear message that the online safety and security issues around parenting are universal, it offers insights and information that can empower parents worldwide to help kids use the Internet safely and keep family communication about technology open and ongoing, the number-one Net-safety best practice at home, school, and everywhere.”

One Gap Closed

In 2008[iv], Norton found that kids reported spending nearly 10 times as much time online as parents realised. In 2009, the gap shrunk to kids reporting being online twice as much as parents realised. This year, kids and parents are fully in sync about the amount of time kids spend online, closing one major gap.

Parents Aren’t Clued In

However, only 45 percent of parents (48 percent in Australia) realise their kids are having negative experiences. While parents are generally aware of the activities kids participate in online, they underestimate the extent to which kids download music and videos, activities in which kids may be exposed to inappropriate content and encouraged to disclose personal details.

Kids’ Emotions

Kids are feeling the powerful emotional impact of negative online experiences. Children are most likely to feel angry (39 percent globally, 47 percent in Australia), upset (36 percent globally, 56 percent in Australia), afraid (34 percent globally, 40 percent in Australia) and fearful/worried (34 percent globally, 37 percent in Australia) as a result of such an incident. One-fifth of kids worldwide regret something they’ve done online. Further, kids feel some personal responsibility for these negative experiences, especially downloading a virus or being scammed.

The Good News

Kids actually want more parental involvement in their online lives. In addition to relying on their parents if something bad happened online, nearly nine in 10 report they follow family rules for Internet use. In addition, most kids say they have online manners: nearly seven in 10 say they don’t bully and aren’t mean to others online (nearly eight in 10 in Australia), over six in 10 say they don’t harass or stalk others online, and nearly six in 10 refrain from passing on embarrassing photos or posts about others (over six in 10 in Australia). More than half wouldn’t do or say anything online that they wouldn’t do or say off-line (60 percent in Australia).

New Tips for Parents

While kids are aware of many common sense rules for staying safe online, the old rules are not enough to keep up with the fast-changing online world. In addition to talking to kids, keeping security software up to date and using tools specifically designed for kids’ safety, parents can improve kids’ online experiences with new tips that combine technology and communication.

• Prepare your kids for good or bad experiences online – don’t wait until after something happens.
• Highlight the importance of thinking before clicking and downloading.
• To protect against malicious links on social networks, use a free tool such as the Norton Safe Web scanner application for Facebook, which uses site rating technology to scan members’ news feeds.
• Use a search advisor to help identify if a website is safe versus unsafe.
• Let your kids know that what happens to them online is a shared responsibility; children cannot take all of the responsibility for what happens to them online.

The award-winning Norton Online Family service can give parents insight into their kids’ lives online. Launched worldwide today, Norton Online Family is now available free of charge in 25 languages.

View the full Norton Online Family Report here.

Swordsman Online Brings to Life Louis Cha’s Popular Martial Arts Novel

June 15, 2010 – Redwood City, Calif. – Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), today unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) an all new MMORPG under the working title, Swordsman Online . With a huge following and made into countless movies and TV shows, Perfect World Entertainment aims to bring Louis Cha’s popular martial arts novel to a whole new audience. The Swordsman Online teaser trailer will be shown at Perfect World Entertainment’s E3 booth located in the West Hall: Booth #5112.

“We are extremely excited to be announcing Swordsman Online as a working title and setting our precedence for unveiling cutting edge games at E3,” said Dr. Alan Chen, CEO of Perfect World Entertainment Inc. “Swordsman Online highlights our commitment to constantly push the industry envelope and what it means to be a free-to-play game. Players should never have to settle or compromise on game quality regardless of business model and we want players to expect more from their MMOs.”

Perfect World Entertainment will also be showcasing Forsaken World and Heroes of Three Kingdoms, shown as playable demos for the first time in North America, along with the hit action-MMORPG, Battle of the Immortals.

For more information on Forsaken World, Heroes of Three Kingdoms and Battle of the Immortals, please visit the official E3 preview site at: http://www.perfectworld.com/e3_2010

About Perfect World Entertainment
Perfect World Entertainment, a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), publishes free-to-play online games and provides online services in North America. The Company primarily publishes online games based on the Perfect World proprietary game engines and game development platforms. The Company’s releases include “Battle of the Immortals,” “Ether Saga Online,” “Jade Dynasty” and “Perfect World International,” a free-to-play MMORPG which is currently played by millions of people worldwide; and a single-player action-RPG “Torchlight.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – April 16, 2010 – Cygnett, Australia’s premier designer of digital accessories, announces its new range of cases for the iPhone 4.

The new offerings will comprise of 36 new cases across 9 ranges, including our vibrant and versatile SnapsDuo bands, which allow iPhone 4 users to change the look of their phone in seconds.

The release of Cygnett’s iPhone 4 range of cases will be staggered, with the SecondSkin case available in time for the first international launch on June 24. By July, when the iPhone 4 is launched in Australia, Cygnett’s SnapsDuos will be available, as will the Lavish, Glam, Frost, Crystal, Molecule then WorkMate cases.

“Cygnett was one of the first major digital accessories companies in the world to announce iPhone 4 cases,’’ says Marketing Director Sophie Swann, “and there’s something to suit everyone, from the fashionable Glam for those who like a touch of glamour to the rugged WorkMate, aimed at hardcore users such as tradies whose phones tend to take a beating.

“There are two ultra versatile ranges, Molecule and SnapsDuo, whose interchangeable parts let you change the look of your phone to match your clothes or your mood. So, you can have one look during the day and another completely different one at night.”

To see the entire iPhone 4 range of cases, www.cygnett.com/products/cases/cases_iphone4.htm
For hi-res images of all 36 case ranges and colours, visit http://www.cygnett.com/pages/cygnett_ms.htm

GLAM (Due: July*; Price: $39.95; Available in red, black, purple and white)
Looking like something straight off the European catwalks, this glossy, patent leather case protects (and completely covers) your iPhone in absolute style.
More information: www.cygnett.com/products/cases/glam_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images: http://snappyurl.net/GlamRed | http://snappyurl.net/GlamBlack | http://snappyurl.net/GlamPurple | http://snappyurl.net/GlamWhite 

MOLECULE CASE (Due: July; Price: $24.95; Available in black, red and white )
Featuring dozens of tiny perforations that reveal your favourite colour combination, Cygnett’s silicon Molecule cases include 6 swappable panels that can be changed instantly to match your clothing or to reflect your mood. 
More information:  http://www.cygnett.com/products/cases/molecule_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images:  http://snappyurl.net/MoleculeGroupShot | http://snappyurl.net/MoleculeBlack | http://snappyurl.net/MoleculeRed  | http://snappyurl.net/MoleculeWhite

FROST  (Due: July; Price: $24.95; red, pink, purple, blue, orange & black)
Smooth yet durable, these super-slim, vibrant cases feature anti-fingerprint coating and excellent surface protection from fingerprints, dirt, skin oil and cosmetics.
More information: http://www.cygnett.com/products/cases/frost_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images: http://snappyurl.net/FrostRed | http://snappyurl.net/FrostPink | http://snappyurl.net/FrostPurple | http://snappyurl.net/FrostBlue | http://snappyurl.net/FrostOrange | http://snappyurl.net/FrostBlack 

SNAPS DUO (Due: July; Price: $24.95; Available in grey, blue, turquoise, yellow, orange & red. All SnapsDuo sets include a second black frame )
Night and day, work and play – make the transition by switching your SnapsDuo frames to instantly change the look of your iPhone 4. SnapsDuos protect your iPhone 4’s edges against bumps and drops while dual screen protectors its guard front and back surfaces against scratches. Cygnett will release a pink SnapsDuo in coming months.
More: www.cygnett.com/products/cases/snapsduo_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images:  http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoGroup (pictured, right) | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoArtistic | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoRed | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoBlackOrange | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoTurquoise | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoYellow | http://snappyurl.net/SnapsDuoGrey

PRISM (Due: July; Price: $24.95; Available in black, blue and red in three designs)
A bright and bold, form-fitting hard case that protects your iPhone from scrapes and scratches without compromising on style, the Prism is flexible but tough and easy to clean. It is available in three bold and eye-catching geometric designs.
More:  http://www.cygnett.com/products/cases/prism_cubes_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images:  http://snappyurl.net/PrismRed | http://snappyurl.net/PrismBlue | http://snappyurl.net/PrismBlack 

WORKMATE (Due: August; Price: $29.95; Available in Orange/Grey and Black)
A double-strength rubberized case designed to absorb shocks and withstand falls in conditions more extreme than the norm. If your lifestyle involves your iPhone being knocked about – whether it’s outdoors, on a building site or playing sports, WorkMate has you covered.
More information: http://www.cygnett.com/products/cases/workmate_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images: http://snappyurl.net/WorkMateOrange | http://snappyurl.net/WorkMateBlack

LAVISH (Due: July, Price: $44.95, Available in black, brown and turquoise)
This premium leather case is crafted from high-grade, ultra-soft lambskin that’s exquisite to touch. It adds an element of sophistication & luxury while completely enveloping your iPhone.
More information: http://www.cygnett.com/products/cases/lavish_iphone_4.html
Hi-res images: http://snappyurl.net/LavishBlack | http://snappyurl.net/LavishBrown | http://snappyurl.net/LavishTurquoise

Also available for the June 24 launch will be Cygnett’s new dual-sided Optic Clear screen protectors for the iPhone 4. OpticClear protectors for the iPhone 4 will include four protectors, three to cover the touch-sensitive screen, as well as one to cover the phone’s back plate.

Please note, all Cygnett products come with a two-year warranty.

About Cygnett:
Owned by Melbourne siblings Sophie, Tim and Amie Swann, Cygnett was established in 2003 with the aim of bringing to market a fun, fresh and quality range of products for the iPod, then the iPhone and, now, the iPad. Today, Cygnett is Australia’s leading digital accessories company offering everything from iPhone and Blackberry cases to laptop bags and iPad screen protectors. Their products are available in more than 6000 stores globally and the team has grown from a family of three to a family of 30, headed in Australia by Gary Newman.

* All case release dates are subject to the release/availability of the iPhone 4

On the eve of the TOOTH FAIRY release on Blu-ray and DVD, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) have unveiled some astonishing information about Tooth Fairies.  It has been revealed that the value of the Tooth Fairy in the average Australian household has tripled over the past 20 years,  according to a recent Newspoll survey of close to 400 Australians* with children between the ages of 1 – 17. 

The Tooth Fairy has been a welcomed visitor in most Australian homes since the early 1900’s.   The thought of a magical pixie exchanging money for teeth has helped generations of kids through the unpleasant and often scary process of losing their first baby teeth.  The recent Newspoll survey of Australians commissioned by TCFHE found that 20-30 years ago the Tooth Fairy was worth on average 78 cents per visit in comparison to today where the average tooth fetches just over $3.00.

“In celebration of the June 16 TOOTH FAIRY Blu-ray and DVD release TCFHE conducted this survey to understand the value of the Tooth Fairy in Australian homes,” says Kristen McGrath, Associate Director of Publicity and Promotions TCFHE.  “We thought it would be a fun and interesting exercise to understand the rise in value of the Tooth Fairy amongst Australian families”.

Interesting to note the survey also revealed that 8% of respondents would pay a minimum of $5 per tooth, if not more, and interestingly that 7% of parents actually received nothing from the Tooth Fairy 30 years ago.

“This poll demonstrates that Australian’s obsession with ‘Keeping up with the Jones’ is also keeping the Tooth Fairy current in Aussie homes; inflating the worth of the Tooth Fairy in 2010 to reflect the economic climate,” says McGrath. “We all remember receiving a silver coin for every tooth when we were younger, but for many Australians today determining the going rate for the Tooth Fairy in your neighborhood may alarm you.”

TOOTH FAIRY Synopsis

In the spirit of The Game Plan and The Pacifier comes a ‘fish out of water’ comedy for the entire family. Hilarious and wholesome, TOOTH FAIRY arrives on Blu-ray and DVD June 16.  Dwayne Johnson (The Game Plan) stars as Derek Thompson, a hard-charging minor league hockey player whose nickname comes from his ability to knock out other players’ teeth. After discouraging a youngster’s hopes, he is ordered to one week’s hard labor as a real Tooth Fairy, complete with the requisite tutu, wings and magic wand. At first he “can’t handle the tooth,” but eventually learns how to adapt to his new position and finds himself rediscovering his own forgotten dreams.

  *Online Newspoll Survey conducted on May 13 – 16, 2010 with 396 respondents nationally with children aged up to 17 in the household.

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions.  The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment.  Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets — from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce – throughout the world.  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is unleashing something super just in time for E3 – the  E3 trailer for Super Scribblenauts™, the follow-up to the smash hit game that took last year’s E3 by storm as the winner of more than 30 industry awards. Created and developed by 5TH Cell and available October 2010, Super Scribblenauts will include 120 brand new levels, hundreds of new objects in a robust dictionary and an adjective system with thousands of adjectives. The new E3 trailer highlights some of these shiny new adjectives available in the game like zombified, telekinetic, narcoleptic and gentlemanly. 

Created and being developed by 5TH Cell, Super Scribblenauts offers hours of original entertainment, upgraded controls and innovative new gameplay mechanics. Players will be able to write any object that comes to mind and modify it in any way they desire, using adjectives that change the colour, size, elements, behaviours and many other aspects of objects in the game. Multiple descriptors can be combined to produce inventive new items, allowing players imaginations to run wild for a truly unique and individualistic experience.

Please help us spread the news about Super Scribblenauts – the game that’s making this year’s E3 SUPER!

You can view the trailer online here

GET THE PARTY STARTED ONLY ON KINECT™FOR XBOX 360® ACTIVE AND ENGAGING ARCADE, SPORTS AND PARTY GAMES FOR ALL AGES

SYDNEY, Australia. – June 15th, 2010 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces Game Party: In Motion exclusively for the revolutionary new way to play using Kinect™ for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.  Game Party: In Motion offers players full-body motion control of in-game or Xbox 360 Avatar characters, using the motion-sensing technology of ”Kinect  for Xbox 360 in a collection of 16 games.

Game Party: In Motion lets players engage in true-to-life motions with games appealing to people of all ability levels, ranging from sports like Hoop Shoot and Darts to arcade and party games including Rootbeer Tapper, Table Hockey and more. Players mimic the actions and gestures of real-life activities allowing them to move their arms, legs or full bodies in natural motions to control the game.

“Game Party: In Motion is a great fit with Kinect for Xbox 360, offering interactivity, full body motion and intuitive gameplay to players in a completely new way,” said Samantha Ryan, senior vice president, production and development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We’re bringing one of the most popular party game series to a platform that is tailor-made for the game’s universal appeal and pickup-and-play style.”

Game Party: In Motion offers a variety of fun activities, ensuring that anyone is able to jump in and play using the sensor to track body movements and gestures available on Kinect for Xbox 360.  The list of games includes a total of 16 classics and new favourites, including Darts, Hoop Shoot, Table Hockey, Rootbeer Tapper, and more.

Game Party: In Motion also offers several first time features for the series. Players will be able to challenge friends head-to-head online over Xbox LIVE. In addition to online gameplay, Game Party: In Motion offers integration with Facebook^®, including the ability to post in-game Achievements onto the player’s Facebook Wall and set automatic notifications to Facebook friends when they have started a game. With full Xbox 360 Avatar support, players can get even closer to the game by using their own likenesses. Whether in person or online, Game Party: In Motion allows family and friends to connect, play and get the party started!

Game Party: In Motion is under development at FarSight Studios, LLP.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today reveals the first online screenshots of upcoming Action/RPG The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, along with the game’s E3 Trailer! 

View Link Here 

Developed by Snowblind Studios, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is bringing war-torn Middle-earth to fans as never before played or seen. Give your readers a look at these newly released screenshots featuring the treacherous lands of the Mirkwood, vicious troll battles and images of the Fellowship – human, dwarf, and elf – battling against fierce enemies. 

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North evolves the Action/RPG genre through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players, who form their own Fellowship and engage in brutal combat. Gamers must play together or perish as they explore previously unexplored lands, story elements and characters as well as elements familiar from past feature films. Players engage in extensive character customization and development, expansive co-op gameplay options and upgradeable weapons, skills and special abilities. 

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North will be featured at this week’s E3 event, located in the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment booth, South Hall # 2401.

Microsoft surprises and delights with Kinect, blockbuster games and new ways to enjoy movies  

Los Angeles – June 15^th – Xbox today opened a new era of entertainment for everyone, transforming the way the world plays, entertains and connects with friends and family members. To kick-start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. world premiered Kinect, formerly known as “Project Natal,” in a spectacular live performance imagined by Cirque du Soleil. Unlike anything seen or experienced before, Kinect for Xbox 360 opens a new world of controller-free games and entertainment so everyone can have fun.

In addition to Kinect, Xbox showcased new and easy ways to enjoy movies and games with friends and family. It also demonstrated that Xbox 360 is the only place to play the three biggest blockbuster games: “Call of Duty,” “Gears of War 3” and, what is potentially the biggest game of 2010, “Halo: Reach.”

“At Microsoft, we believe fun is a universal magnet, uniting us and connecting us all together,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “We believe interactive entertainment is the greatest form of all entertainment, and it should be open and approachable to as many people as possible, and it is this belief that led us to remove the last barrier between you and the entertainment you love. By making you the controller, we will transform how you and your friends experience games and entertainment.”

The year we all “Kinect”

Kinect for Xbox 360 brings roaring rapids, wild tigers, mountainous obstacle courses and zooming race cars to living rooms in North America on Nov. 4 and will roll out to the rest of the world thereafter. Uniquely magical and instantly fun, Kinect for Xbox 360 tracks your body movements and gestures. It even understands your voice.

By taking technology out of your hands for the first time, Kinect lets people who have never picked up a game controller join in the excitement. See a ball? Just kick it. Want to learn how to dance or get fit? Just follow the moves. With Kinect, all you have to do is be you — no controller required.

Kinect also puts your favourite movies and music videos at your fingertips, turning ordinary entertainment into an extraordinary experience.¹ Jump right into a movie in instant-on 1080p HD² by simply saying “Xbox, play.” Kinect instantly makes playing games and watching movies more fun and interactive than ever before, and it is available only on Xbox 360.

The new Xbox 360

Microsoft also surprised the world with a new Xbox 360 console designed for the future. Back in black, the new Xbox 360 is sleek, quiet and sexy. Connect in seconds to the always-expanding world of Xbox LIVE through built-in Wi-Fi N and store twice as many games and entertainment on a 250GB hard drive.

The newly designed console is whisper-quiet, so the silent tension of a game or movie is never broken. The new Xbox 360 system also comes with everything you need to get started, including an Xbox 360 wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, HDMI input, USB flash drive storage capabilities and more, available in Australia from July 1^st and priced at $449 RRP*.

Entertainment for everyone

Xbox LIVE connects you and your Xbox 360 to a world of fun, friends and interactive social entertainment, with the best in games, movies, TV, music, sports and community experiences all in one place.

• Video Kinect – Share a smile and a wave with far away friends and family as you come together from living rooms across the world, no headset required³. Video Kinect pans to follow your movements and adjusts automatically to make chat on Xbox LIVE more intuitive and easy-to-use than ever before.

Next year, Microsoft will link Video Kinect with Windows Live Messenger, allowing the Xbox LIVE community to have rich, real-time video conversations with hundreds of millions of PC users around the world. It will also integrate custom news feeds, weather and videos from Bing, sparking conversation just like you’re in the same room reading the paper or watching the news together.

• Global expansion – This holiday, Xbox LIVE will roll out service to nine new regions — Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa — delivering the core gaming and community features that have made Xbox LIVE the world’s premier online gaming destination.

Earlier this month it was announced that Australians will soon be able to watch live television and a range of video-on-demand programming on Xbox LIVE from satellite and cable TV provider FOXTEL with no set-top box required. FOXTEL by Xbox LIVE will allow Xbox 360 owners in Australia to access FOXTEL channels including FOX Sports, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Disney, MTV, and other leading channels via their Xbox 360 entertainment console, without the need for a FOXTEL set-top-box.⁴

The year of blockbuster games

Larger-than-life characters. Emotional storytelling. Groundbreaking gameplay. This year, the Xbox 360 is the only place to play three of the biggest blockbusters — “Halo Reach,” “Call of Duty” and “Gears of War 3.” In addition to these highly anticipated titles, games like “Fable III,” “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” and “Kingdoms” are on the way.⁵

# # #

Should you have any questions or comments please contact:

Danny Wong, Pulse Communications: (02) 8281 3826 / daniel@pulsecom.com.au

¹ Xbox LIVE Gold Membership required.

² Users will need an HDCP compliant 1080p display, an HDMI cable and broadband speeds greater than 3–4 Mbps for instant viewing at 1080p and 5.1 surround sound.

³ Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for “Kinect” Chat.

⁴ Xbox Live Gold subscription and Foxtel by Xbox Live subscription required.

⁵ Check the Classification closer to launch date

* Recommended Retail Price.  Actual price is set by the reseller

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. This holiday, with the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to some of the best and broadest games as well as a large on-demand library of standard- and high-definition movies, and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment centre of the living room, Xbox 360 blends fantastic content with an online social network of 25 million Xbox LIVE members to create a brilliant entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com .