Biggest blockbuster game of the year “Halo: Reach” launches September 14^th, 2010

More than 2.7 million players make history with record-shattering demand for the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta

Sydney, Australia – May 25^th, 2010 – One of the most anticipated games of the year is making its worldwide debut this September. “Halo: Reach,” the blockbuster prequel to the best-selling video game franchise and hailed as the No. 1 game series of all time,¹ will leave its mark on the entertainment landscape when it launches worldwide, starting September 14^th, 2010.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed studio Bungie, “Halo: Reach” drops players back into the iconic universe they love so they can experience the birth of the “Halo” legend. During the past 10 years, the “Halo” franchise has inspired multiple New York Times best-selling novels, comic books, action figures, apparel and more, and it has sold more than 34 million games worldwide to-date.

“‘Halo: Reach’ is the culmination of a decade of ‘Halo,’ a franchise that has become a global entertainment and pop-culture touchstone,” said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios at Microsoft Corp. “Just as ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ catalysed the success of the original Xbox to define a decade of entertainment, ‘Halo: Reach’ will push the boundaries for what’s possible in video games and help make 2010 the biggest year in Xbox history.”

Consumers help make history with record-breaking “Halo: Reach” beta

As a testament to the anticipation for its release, more than 2.7 million “Halo” fans helped make entertainment history this month by participating in the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE, making it the largest console video game beta test on record and more than triple the size of the “Halo 3” beta. Players completed more than 13 million online games and logged over 16 million hours of online game play, amounting to over 1,826 years of total play time in just over a two-week period. The data and user feedback gathered from the beta will help Bungie and Microsoft further refine the game and deliver a blockbuster experience that fans have come to expect from the “Halo” franchise.

“Halo: Reach” follows the story of Noble Team, a squad of heroic Spartan soldiers as they make their final stand on planet Reach, humanity’s last line of defence between the terrifying Covenant and Earth. Representing the best-in-class multiplayer elements that have become the hallmark of the “Halo” series, “Halo: Reach” offers the most action-packed multiplayer experience yet on Xbox LIVE. The “Halo: Reach” experience is completed with an intense campaign, an unparalleled suite of features and stunning new visuals powered by groundbreaking new technology.

“Halo: Reach” represents an enormous evolution for the genre-defining “Halo” games, and is testament to Bungie’s 10 years of experience crafting amazing experiences. During the past decade, “Halo” fans have demonstrated their commitment to the franchise by logging more than 2 billion hours of game play on Xbox LIVE, sharing millions of pieces of user-generated content, creating original “Halo” machinima series and even holding “Halo” themed weddings.

“Halo: Reach” is available for pre-order in standard, limited and legendary editions at participating retailers worldwide. The limited and legendary editions of “Halo: Reach” are packed with extras that fans won’t want to miss. The centrepiece of the legendary edition is a 10-inch-tall, hand-painted and individually moulded Noble Team statue crafted by the expert artisans at McFarlane Toys.

Pricing will be announced closer to local availability. Check the classification closer to launch date.

‘THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS’ CONFIRMED FOR EUROPE

– NAMCO BANDAI Partners to Distribute Eagerly Awaited PC Sequel from

CD Projekt RED In Australia-

SYDNEY, Australia – Tuesday 25^th May 2010 – NAMCO BANDAI Partners Australia New Zealand today confirmed that it will distribute The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings from Polish developer CD Projekt RED for Australia and New Zealand. The sequel to the multi award-winning hit PC role-playing game The Witcher, which has sold in excess of 1.5 million copies worldwide, is scheduled for release in 2011.

“We’re very excited and proud to be adding The Witcher 2 to our line up for 2011,” said Olivier Comte, VP Marketing, Sales & Publishing, NAMCO BANDAI Partners. “The team at CD Projekt RED is one of the most passionate and skilled in the world, and they are committed to delivering the best possible experience to their fans, which leads me to believe we will have an amazing game on our hands.”

“I’m very happy that we can put the last piece of the worldwide puzzle in place by confirming NAMCO BANDAI as our distribution and marketing partner,” said Adam Kici?ski, CEO of CD Projekt RED. “We’ve already put a lot of sweat and love into the Witcher 2, which we think and hope will be one of the best ever RPGs, and we’re looking forward to sharing more details in the coming months.”

The second instalment in the role-playing saga continues the morally ambiguous adventures of notorious witcher Geralt of Rivia with a thoroughly engrossing, mature storyline which defines new standards for thought-provoking, non-linear game narration. In addition to the epic story, the game features an original, brutal combat system that uniquely combines tactical elements with dynamic action, letting players feel every sword blow.

Built from the ground up by CD Projekt RED, the new, proprietary game engine is responsible for the game’s beautiful visuals as well as its sophisticated gameplay mechanics, and puts players in the heart of the most alive and believable world ever created in an RPG game. All the elements that made the first game such a global hit with fans, the captivating story, dynamic combat system, beautiful graphics and more, are all executed in a much more advanced and sophisticated way in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, promising an unrivalled role-playing experience.

Fans can follow The Witcher on Twitter (@WitcherGame) and on Facebook.com/The-Witcher.

About NAMCO BANDAI Partners

NAMCO BANDAI Partners, one of the video game industry’s leading distribution, marketing and sales companies,  is a wholly owned subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe with 16 dedicated offices operating in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Australasia, and south east Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea).  The company distributes and markets a broad catalogue of high quality interactive entertainment products for Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo gaming platforms and PC from NAMCO BANDAI Games, D3Publisher and other major video game publishers on an international and regional basis.  NAMCO BANDAI Partners is an independent business unit of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Partners and its products visit www.namcobandaipartners.com.  For media assets visit www.namcobandaipartners-press.com.

About CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt RED is the development branch of CD Projekt, headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. The studio’s first release, the PC-exclusive role-playing game, The Witcher®, has won over critics and gamers with its refreshing blend of engrossing story and action-based combat. The game has sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide and has garnered more than 100 awards since its release in October 2007, including PC RPG of the Year from such respected outlets as PC Gamer, GameSpy, IGN and GameStar. CD Projekt RED’s 80+ employees are hard  at work on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. For more information about CD Projekt RED, visit http://www.thewitcher.com.

Today I have news, a trailer and screenshots from the benchmark development side of Futuremark to share with you. Today we are officially announcing 3DMark 11, a new benchmark for measuring the real-time DirectX 11 performance of gaming PCs. For your readers we have a trailer created entirely with DirectX 11 using an early build of the 3DMark 11 engine. The “Deep Sea” trailer is a tantalizing glimpse of what PC gamers can expect from DirectX 11 games and a hint of what the next generation of consoles might deliver in years to come.

Steve Jobs to Kick Off Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2010 with Keynote Address on Monday, June 7

Sydney, Australia – 25 May, 2010 – Apple® will kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address by CEO Steve Jobs on Monday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m (USA Pacific Time). This year’s WWDC sold out in a record eight days to over 5,000 developers.

The five-day event running from June 7 to June 11, is focused on providing advanced content for skilled developers across five key technology tracks: Application Frameworks; Internet & Web; Graphics & Media; Developer Tools; and Core OS. Apple engineers will deliver over 100 solutions-oriented technical sessions and labs. WWDC 2010 gives an incredibly diverse community the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iPhone®, iPad™ and Mac® developers from around the world.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution with the Apple II, then reinvented the personal computer with the Macintosh. Apple continues to lead the industry with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system, and iLife, iWork and professional applications. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store, has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• The number 32 is key — Intel’s chip design and unique manufacturing dubbed “32 nanometres” delivers 32 per cent slimmer laptops and more than 32 per cent better performance
• Smarter, faster processors offer the perfect balance of style and performance. Ultra-thin laptops typically are approximately 0.8 to 1 inch thick and 1 to 2 pounds lighter than traditional laptops
• Chips include a multitude of new technologies to enhance performance while offering great battery life, such as Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, which intelligently provides an immediate boost when needed for certain software and Intel® HD integrated high-definition graphics.

SYDNEY, Australia, May 25, 2010 – Intel Corporation introduced new Intel® Core™ processors today, extending the availability of its award-winning Intel Core processor family to more stylish, ultra-thin laptops. Ultraportable laptops – less than an inch thick and weighing just 2 to 5 pounds – offer the performance, battery life and connectivity consumers need on-the-go.
     
      Based on Intel’s 32 nanometre (nm) technology (http://www.intel.com/technology/architecture-silicon/32nm/index.htm) manufacturing, the processors are more than 32 per cent smaller¹ and deliver more than 32 per cent better performance², all in a lightweight, sleek design. These new processors also reduce power consumption³ more than 15 per cent, resulting in great battery life.

      “Consumers crave laptops that offer style and performance, and the new 2010 Intel® Core™ Ultra-Low Voltage processors for ultra-thin laptops deliver both, in one sleek design,” said Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group at Intel. “Intel’s leadership in 32nm high-k metal gate process technology, combined with breakthrough architecture and design has enabled thinner, lighter and faster notebooks than previous models, with terrific battery life. Not only are laptops becoming ultraportable, but with the new processors inside, users will see faster response times and less waiting.”

      Processors that feature Intel® Turbo Boost Technology⁴ will automatically accelerate performance, adjusting to the workload to give users an immediate performance boost when needed. Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology⁵, available in Intel® Core™ i7, Intel® Core™ i5 (http://www.intel.com/products/processor/corei5/mobile/index.htm) and  Intel® Core™ i3 processors, provides responsiveness and helps reduce latency when performing several tasks simultaneously. With Intel® HD Graphics, the processors deliver crystal-clear visuals, vibrant colours and smooth high-definition (HD) video and audio playback.

      In addition, recently announced Mobile Intel® 5 Series Chipset designed for use with the ULV-based laptops expands support for multiple video and audio options, enhanced data and PC protection with Intel® Anti-Theft Technology and robust data protection for users’ digital assets.

      More than 40 designs are expected from computer makers such as Acer, Asus, Lenovo and MSI, and will be offered at a variety of price points beginning in June. For more information and images, visit www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/ultrathin.
To learn how ultra-thin can benefit your mobile lifestyle see the Intel Inside Sccopblog ( http://scoop.intel.com). 

About Intel
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com

Transformers: War for Cybertron challenges players to become the ultimate weapon as a TRANSFORMERS character in the final, epic war that will determine the survival of their entire race.  Armed with a diverse arsenal of lethal, high-tech weaponry and the ability to instantly convert from robot to vehicle at any time, players will engage in heart-pounding battles on land and in the air in this gripping, 3^rd person action shooter set in the TRANSFORMERS’ war-ravaged homeland. 

Complete with several multiplayer modes, Transformers: War for Cybertron allows gamers to play through story missions with their friends in drop in/drop out online co-op, and also create their own TRANSFORMERS character for competitive head-to-head multiplayer modes, choosing among four distinct character classes, personalising its look and selecting from a huge variety of weapons, skills and abilities.

KEY FEATURES:

• Become the Ultimate Weapon for Survival – Gamers can instantly convert from robot to vehicle form with the push of a single button, anytime and anywhere, allowing players to strategically demolish their enemies through a diverse variety of gameplay environments.

• Take the Epic War Online – For the first time in a TRANSFORMERS game, fans can play through each adrenaline-fueled campaign, as AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS, with friends around the world in drop-in/drop-out online co-operative play, and compete against one another in a bevy of intense multiplayer game modes as their very own user-created characters. 

• Create Your Own TRANSFORMERS Character – Used in head-to-head multiplayer battles, players can choose from four robust character classes and personalise the look and feel of their TRANSFORMERS character.  Fans can select from a wide variety of weapons and customise their skills loadout, with the ability to level up their characters to gain new upgrades and attributes in a deep, rewarding multiplayer experience.

• Experience the Legendary Conflict from the Beginning – Developed in close collaboration with Hasbro, the storyline introduces entirely re-imagined visualisations of everyone’s favorite characters that comprise an original contribution to the official TRANSFORMERS canon.  Players will embark on the epic journey through the most pivotal moments of the final war for the TRANSFORMERS’ home planet of Cybertron.  

Seagate delivers world’s fastest hard drive for laptop computers; Momemtus XT solid state hybrid drive offers solid state performance with the capacity and value of hard disk drives 

New ASUS Gaming Laptop to Deliver Unprecedented Speeds Powered by Momentus XT Drive 

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — May 25, 2010 — Seagate (NASDAQ:STX) today announced channel and OEM shipments of the Momentus^® XT drive, the world’s fastest 2.5-inch laptop PC hard drive, combining SSD-like performance with the massive capacity and much lower cost of HDDs. The Momentus XT drive also features Adaptive Memory™ – a groundbreaking new technology from Seagate that learns and optimises the drive’s performance to each user by moving frequently used information into the flash memory for faster access. The Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive boots up to 100 percent faster than traditional 5400RPM drives, the mainstream spin speed for laptop PCs, and sets new benchmarks for real-world system performance for laptops and gaming systems.

Today’s high-performance SSDs for mobile computing cost as much as 10 times more than hard disk drives of the same capacity, with the price of a 250GB SSD outstripping even the cost of many laptop PCs. As a result, most consumers and system builders are unwilling or unable to pay the high price for the greater speed and quiet operations of SSDs. Additionally, SSDs offer fewer capacity options than hard disk drives.

The Momentus XT drive is a best-of-both-worlds solution that combines a 7200RPM spin speed, 4GB of solid state memory and Seagate’s Adaptive Memory technology to deliver unprecedented hard drive performance. The unique Adaptive Memory technology works by identifying patterns in how often certain digital data is used, and then moving the most frequently used information to the embedded solid state memory for faster access – effectively tailoring hard drive performance to each user and their applications.

“For notebook PC users looking forward to faster PC performance without sacrificing storage capacity or affordability, now there’s an option,” according to John Rydning, IDC’s research director for hard disk drives. “Seagate’s new Momentus^® XT drive is the first storage device for notebook PCs that raises the bar for affordable capacity and performance.”

“We see the Momentus^® XT drive as a game changer, a product heralding a new generation of hard drives that combine SSD and HDD capabilities so that laptop users don’t have to make trade-offs on speed, cost or capacity,” said Dave Mosley, Seagate executive vice president of Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management. “The feedback we’ve received from customers, industry experts and early reviews has been overwhelmingly positive, and Seagate will continue to drive innovation that provides more value and a better computing experience to consumers.”

Momentus^® XT Drive Brings Unprecedented Speed to New ASUS Gaming Laptop PC

ASUS has also announced that it will offer the Momentus XT drive as an upgrade option for its new Republic of Gamers (ROG) G73Jh notebook. The system is powered by an Intel i7 720Qm quad-core processor, 8GB of DDR3 memory, and DX11 capable ATI Radeon Mobility HD 5870.

“With the Momentus^® XT drive, ASUS gives gaming customers who prefer the ASUS ROG G73 the capacity they need and the performance they crave,” said PC Wang, vice president of the ASUS Systems Business Group. “Seagate’s innovative solid state hybrid drive hands down delivers the best value, capacity and SSD-like performance to a wide audience.”

The Momentus XT drive installs as easily as a traditional 9.5mm-high notebook drive for new systems or laptop upgrades and, unlike early hybrid drives, operates independently of the operating system and the motherboard chipset.

Seagate also unveils new addition to mainstream Momentus^® Family: 750GB spinning at 7200RPMs

In addition to the Momentus XT drive, Seagate is delivering the world’s highest capacity 7200RPM drive at 750GB. This new Momentus 750GB drive is a traditional hard disk drive designed for mainstream to high-performance computing and external backup enclosures. The Momentus 750GB drive also features a SATA 3Gb/s with NCQ interface, 16MB cache with silent acoustics and low power consumption. The Momentus 750GB drive delivers high capacity with high performance and further enhances the feature-rich options already available in the Seagate Momentus family of 2.5-inch notebook drives.

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About Seagate

Seagate is the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions. Learn more at http://www.seagate.com . 

Copyright 2010 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. Seagate, Seagate Technology and the Wave logo are registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Momentus and Adaptive Memory are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC or one of its affiliated companies in the United States and/or other countries. When referring to drive capacity, one gigabyte, or GB, equals one billion bytes and one terabyte, or TB, equals one trillion bytes. Your computer’s operating system may use a different standard of measurement and report a lower capacity. In addition, some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions, and thus will not be available for data storage. Actual data rates may vary depending on operating environment and other factors. Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product offerings or specifications.

Sydney, 24 May 2010 – Telstra and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today debuted the new BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, the smallest BlackBerry® smartphone yet. The compact new smartphone will be available exclusively on Australia’s largest and fastest national mobile network for three months beginning tomorrow.

The stylish and compact BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone provides uncompromising performance and top-of-the-line features including industry-leading BlackBerry® email, messaging and social networking capabilities. By incorporating a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard and RIM’s SureType™ software that can complete words as a user types, the new smartphone makes messaging fast and accurate.

“BlackBerry Pearl smartphones have always been popular in Australia with both consumers and business customers, and we are very excited to deliver the new, enhanced BlackBerry Pearl 3G to the local market. We believe the BlackBerry Pearl 3G will appeal to many customers who want a smartphone that offers both fashion and function,” said Adele Beachley, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Research In Motion.

“Considering the fast growing consumer interest in smartphones, we think the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G addresses a substantial market opportunity in Australia. It allows customers to upgrade their traditional mobile phone to a full-featured 3G BlackBerry smartphone that supports BlackBerry® Messenger and many other apps, while also providing a design that looks stunning and feels very familiar and comfortable,” added Beachley.

Telstra’s Executive Director, Mobility Products, Ross Fielding said the BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone on the Telstra Next G™ network would help people take their friends with them to more places.

“The BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone is a beautifully designed smartphone that’s easy to use, compact, lightweight and stylish. Combined with our new and great value BlackBerry Cap plan, this smartphone makes it easy and affordable for social people to connect, exchange messages quickly, access info as it happens and share favourite moments.”

“Telstra has put together a great plan for consumer users to get them started emailing on the go. For just $59 per month customers can get unlimited push email, unlimited access to Facebook® and Twitter®, and unlimited Internet browsing in Australia on the BlackBerry browser delivered over Australia’s largest and fastest national mobile network. Plus, they can receive up to $400 worth of standard calls and SMS and more to connect and contact anyone, anytime on any Australian network,” Mr Fielding said.

It also makes for the perfect businesses companion providing secure access to email and other business functions in a compact format,” Mr Fielding said.

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G measures less than 50 mm wide and weighs only 93grams, yet supports high-speed 3G and Wi-Fi® (b/g/n) networks, includes GPS and incorporates a powerhouse processor that drives visually stunning images on the sharp, high-resolution display. It also features an optical trackpad for smooth navigation, dedicated volume and media keys for added convenience, a 3.2 MP camera with flash for quality pictures on the go, and support for up to 32 GB of personal content via a microSD/SDHC memory card.

Availability and Pricing
The BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone will be available from Telstra on a range of plans including $0 upfront on a BlackBerry $59 Cap Plan for 24 months (the minimum cost over 24 months is $1416). The new cap plan includes up to $400 of standard voice calls, SMS and more to contact anyone, anytime on any Australian network.

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone can also be purchased outright from Telstra for $679.

It is available in royal purple (exclusive to Fone Zone until the end of June) and piano black.

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be available to purchase from tomorrow online at www.telstra.com/blackberrypearl, from selected Fone Zone and JB Hi-Fi outlets, or, from three T[life] stores initially:

• T[life] Sydney – 400 George Street Sydney, NSW, 2000.
• T[life] Melbourne – 246 Bourke Street (cnr Swanston & Bourke) Melbourne, VIC, 3000.
• T[life] Perth – 667-669 Hay Street Mall, Perth, WA, 6000.

Telstra stores and dealers across Australia will offer the Pearl 3G smartphone from 1 June.

Telstra Business customers can purchase the BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone for $0 upfront on a $55 per month (or higher) mobile plus plan (the minimum cost over 24 months is $1320). Business customers can also purchase the BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone for $0 upfront on a $59 per month (or higher) business mobile cap plan (the minimum cost over 24 months is $1416). Both plans include unlimited BlackBerry email and Internet browsing in Australia through the BlackBerry browser.

The productivity-boosting BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone will also be available on a range of Telstra Enterprise & Government plans.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM’s products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM’s periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Bizarre Creations’ Powered-up Racer Allows Players to Connect with Friends Through Facebook Straight from the Game’s Unique “Share” Functionality 

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – May 24, 2010 –Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) highly-anticipated racing title Blur™ will deliver a new level of social interaction to gamers later this month by allowing fans to challenge their friends and share achievements directly from inside the game through Facebook.

By seamlessly integrating an innovative “Share” button, Blur lets players choose to light up the competition in both single and multi-player modes by sending game challenges to friends and posting in-game photos, racing stats, unlockable items and much more on their Facebook pages.

“Blur’s innovative integration with Facebook makes it easy for players to interact with their real friends to share game play, emotions, and the racing experience,” said Dan Rose, Vice President of Partnerships and Platform Marketing, Facebook. “Blur is leading the next generation of console games integrating with Facebook to make gaming more social for our more than 400 million users.”

“Blur is the first multi-platform videogame that connects the television to Facebook, and for the first time, videogame audiences on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC will be able to link their console gameplay to their network of friends,” said Robert Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard.  “Facebook has become a fantastic platform for videogames and Blur elevates it even further.”

Blur is the ultimate powered-up racing experience, where players collect addictive and intense Power-ups throughout each course, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost speed with Nitros, drop Mines and even generate defensive shields to fend off other racers. Blur offers online multiplayer supporting competitive and cooperative gameplay for up to 20 racers, including team racing and objective based events, and also supports 4-player split-screen.

For more information on Blur, please visit the official game web site located at www.blurthegame.com, and check-out Blur on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blurthegame.

Blur is scheduled for release nationwide May 26^th for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system

Backbreaker Kicks Off New Football Season with Xbox LiveÒ Demo Available Today  – Players Can Now Take the Field in the Groundbreaking Football Video Game 

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – May 24, 2010 – Global video game publisher 505 Games and developer NaturalMotion Games today announced that the demo for the highly anticipated, innovative football video game Backbreaker is now available on Xbox LIVEÒ for Gold level subscribers. A Backbreaker demo on PlayStation®Network for PlayStation®3 will also be available soon. Players can now hit the gridiron and test the hard-hitting, explosive action before the game hits stores across Australia and New Zealand on June 3, 2010.

Backbreaker is the first football video game available this season. Players can download the demo and choose from one of six teams to play in exhibition mode, under various weather conditions in the San Francisco stadium. The demo preps players for an explosive season as Backbreaker’s training camp mode helps sharpen running, passing, kicking and tackling skills before they step onto the field. Players can further train for the full Backbreaker experience with the Tackle Alley mini game.  Already a widely popular download for iPhone and iPad, Tackle Alley gives players the option to play solo or test the split-screen local multiplayer function as they try to gain yards and avoid sacks and tackles.

When Backbreaker hits retail outlets June 3, players will be thrust into the middle of the action on the football field like never before. As the first sports video game to feature NaturalMotion’s critically acclaimed Euphoria engine, Backbreaker offers realistic, physics-based motion, crisp high-definition graphics and a camera angle that follows the perspective of the player. Revolutionizing the way football games are played on this generation of consoles, Backbreaker features an intuitive pick-up-and-play control scheme in Arcade Mode, with the more challenging Pro Mode turning off AI assists.

Rated G, Backbreaker launches nationwide on June 3, 2010 on Xbox 360 and PS3. For all of the latest information, please visit the official website at: http://www.backbreakergame.com/

Check out the demo at – http://marketplace.xbox.com/games/offers/0ddf0001-0000-4000-8000-0000464f87dd?cid=SLink