Available to rent or buy on BLU-RAY for $49.95RRP and DVD for $39.95RRP from 19 May 2010.  Also available ON DEMAND and TO DOWNLOAD. 

Prepare yourself for an action packed thriller when Ninja Assassin arrives on DVD and Blu-ray this 19 May 2010 from Warner Home Video.  Ninja Assassin follows Japanese star, Rain, in a heart pounding, non-stop adventure to track down and eliminate one of the most notorious clans of ninjas. 

From producers Larry and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta) and Joel Silver (Sherlock Holmes, The Matrix trilogy, RocknRolla) and directed by Sydney raised James McTeigue (The Invasion, V for Vendetta), Ninja Assassin stars Rain (Speed Racer, TV’s East of Eden), Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Miami Vice), Ben Miles (Speed Racer, V for Vendetta) and Rick Yune (Die Another Day, The Fast and the Furious). 

Ninja Assassin will be available on Blu-ray for $49.95RRP and DVD for $39.95RRP from 19 May 2010. 

On the same date, Ninja Assassin will also be available to buy as a Digital Download from digital movie retailers. It will also be available to rent ON DEMAND through internet movie retailers and games consoles.  

On 2 June 2010 Ninja Assassin will be available to rent on a pay per view and ON DEMAND basis through Digital Cable and Satellite TV.  

SYNOPSIS 

Raizo is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them…and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.   

In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow, Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers led by the lethal Takeshi, to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Berlin, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive…and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan. 

DVD

Special Features:

• Additional Scenes

Approx Runtime:

95 mins 

Rating:

R18+ High Impact Violence

BLU-RAY 

Warner Home Video Blu-ray Discs offer resolution five times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and colour and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

Special Features:

• The Story of the Ninja: Myth, Lore, Training and Combat
• The Extreme Sport of a Ninja
• Training Rain: Transforming a Singer/Dancer/Actor into a Powerful Ninja
• Additional Scenes 

Approx Runtime:

99 mins 

Rating:

R18+

Xbox 360 Elite Easter pack includes two of 2009’s biggest blockbuster games, Forza Motorsport 3 and Halo 3: ODST 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 22^nd March, 2010 – From today, Microsoft is shipping the new Xbox 360 Easter pack, which offers more value than ever. For the same price of $449*RRP, the Xbox 360 Elite console now comes with two highly acclaimed Xbox 360 exclusives: “Halo 3: ODST” and “Forza Motorsport 3.” The Xbox 360 Elite Easter pack is perfect for those who want a premium gaming and entertainment experience.

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” lets players experience the fateful events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as well as play the new “Firefight” cooperative multiplayer mode. Additionally, “Halo 3: ODST” contains the complete “Halo 3” multiplayer experience on a separate game disc, including all 24 multiplayer maps. As an added bonus, the “Halo 3: ODST” game disc grants access to the upcoming “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE, which begins May 3^rd. Anyone who purchases the Xbox 360 Elite Easter pack will have the opportunity to join this highly anticipated beta test on Xbox LIVE and experience a sampling of the multiplayer modes in “Halo: Reach,” which launches this spring.

The highest-rated racing game of this console generation, “Forza Motorsport 3” makes it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of some of the world’s most exotic and exquisite cars. Be part of a realistic racing experience, as you take the wheel of more than 400 of the most beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. The “Forza Motorsport” online community is also alive and thriving, as players compete on Xbox LIVE, sell and swap their custom Liveries and tuning set-ups via their personalised Storefronts and the Auction House, and share videos, photos and paint designs with friends. With new Game Add-ons set to be released every month, this award-winning driving experience is only going to get better in 2010.

The Xbox 360 Elite Autumn pack includes a 120GB Hard Drive that offers the storage to download games, the latest demos, movies, music and more straight to your Xbox 360 console through Xbox LIVE, and is available while supplies last.

In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, fans will experience an action RPG featuring stunning visuals, epic combat, a unique and compelling new story, and innovative cooperative gameplay that pit you and your Fellowship against the dark forces of Middle-earth. Join in the fight and show your allegiance by posting the new trailer for your readers to enjoy. For more information about The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, please visit www.warinthenorth.com. 

A one day festival celebrating Victoria’s Ethiopian community will be held at the Immigration Museum on Sunday 18 April, 2010.

Visitors to the Ethiopian Festival will be able to enjoy Ethiopian culture and traditions, including food, music and dance performances and family activities while learning more about Ethiopian migration to Melbourne and Victoria.

Come along to the Immigration Museum to meet the community and take part in activities on the day:

• Experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
• Sample tasty chicken, lamb and vegetable stews the Ethiopian way: scooping it up with injera bread using your hands.
• Listen to the sweet sounds of the masenko, an Ethiopian stringed instrument.
• Watch traditional dance and singing performances.
• Take part in an Ethiopian circus or dance workshop.
• Watch a cooking demonstration and the film Ethiopia.
• See traditional Ethiopian clothes, woven baskets, ceramics and jewellery in the arts and crafts display.
• See photographs, talks and displays to learn more about Ethiopian history, culture and migration.

The Ethiopian community in Australia is a recently established community, with the earliest migrants arriving during the 1970s when the Derg socialist government assumed power in Ethiopia. This repressive regime forced over half a million refugees to flee the country, with many being accepted in Australia. In the following decades Ethiopians migrated to Australia to escape drought, famine and political persecution.

Victoria is now home to Australia’s largest Ethiopian population. The majority of the population lives in Melbourne’s western suburbs and represent a vibrant mix of cultures, including the Tigray, Oromo, Amhara, and Harari.

The Ethiopian Festival is one of three cultural festivals developed annually by the Immigration Museum in collaboration with Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Ethiopian Festival
Sunday 18 April, 2010, 11am – 4pm
Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street Melbourne
Adults $8, children and concession FREE

Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm.
For further details phone 13 11 02 or visit museumvictoria.com.au/immigration museum

To View: http://videos.uk.ubi.com/index.php?video=gm2f1301  

To Download: http://static2.cdn.ubi.com/emea/videos/download/uk/PoP_TFS_Wii_Dev_Diary_UK.zip    

Click on the images for some impressive videos from Splinter Cell Conviction!

The evil Pirats have crash-landed their ship on the Raskulls world. Their search for the Cheese Planet must wait as they hasten to find a source of fuel and continue their journey. Unfortunately for the Raskulls, Captain J. Turncoat has his sights set on the legendary Shiny Stone, which possesses incredible power.

After the Pirats’ botched attempt at stealing the Shiny Stone from Sergeant Bonesaw and General Battlebones, the Raskulls leader King devises a devious plan to thwart his cheese-loving enemies and possibly take credit for someone else’s heroic deeds while he’s at it. He sets up The Tournament, where the Shiny Stone will be offered as the grand prize. The Pirats will inevitably show themselves during the Tournament, King will identify them as the culprits and defeat them handily, and everyone will make it back in time for dinner. A plan this good couldn’t possibly go wrong.

Will King expose the Pirats and bring peace to the Raskulls world?

Will Dragon hook up with his love interest Ridinghood?

And will the Pirats obtain enough fuel to power their ship AND run their ice-cream machine Mr. Freezy?

The new Raskulls trailer will start you on your journey to answering these questions and many more. Further information and media will be landing in the coming weeks as Halfbrick gears up for a worldwide release of Raskulls on Xbox Live Arcade!

Youtube link:

Raskulls blog entry:

http://www.raskulls.com/category/blog/

About Halfbrick

Halfbrick is a professional game development studio based in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 2001, it has developed popular titles for the Game Boy Advance, PSP, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS, with expansion into XBLA, PS3 and iPhone development. For further information, please visit www.halfbrick.com and follow on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook!

Youtube link: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX4mYh1BaI8&hd=1 

Raskulls blog entry: 

http://www.raskulls.com/category/blog/

Facebook changes your password on purpose?

Users targeted in the latest email scam – only to receive dropped malware

SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – March 19, 2010 – Facebook users have been caught up in a Trojan-spreading scheme this week: in the form of e-mails notifying Facebook users that the passwords to their accounts have been changed due to security reasons. The recipients of this fake notification are prompted to open an attached .zip file in order to find out their new allocated password.

Instead of a new password, the zip file hides Trojan.Dropper.Oficla.G. As its name suggests, this piece of malware contains malicious or potentially unwanted software which it ‘drops’ and installs on the system. Frequently, the dropper installs a backdoor which allows remote, covert access to the infected system. This backdoor may then be used by cybercriminals to upload and install additional malicious or potentially unwanted software on the system.

According to the BitDefender Monitoring Systems the distribution of the spam messages carrying this piece of malware started on the evening of March 17^th, 2010. Since then, spam ‘waves’ have reached significant proportions, in some cases more than 200 spam messages being sent out in 30 minutes.

Moreover, the infection rates reflected by the BitDefender Real-Time Virus Reporting System indicate the beginning of a massive spreading of Trojan.Dropper.Oficla.G. Although this phenomenon has just begun, it seems that it’s just a matter of time before the cybercriminals have control of a huge number of systems.

Infection rates are expected to boom because the social engineering behind this mechanism proves to be efficient. Facebook is a highly popular social network and accessing it for discussions or for its popular applications has become a daily habit for very many people. No matter why people access the social network, the e-mail informing them about the alleged password change is likely to drive them towards the same result: open the file to take a look inside and ultimately… get infected.

In order to stay safe, BitDefender recommends you never open attachments coming from unknown contacts. They also suggest people install and update a complete antimalware software solution.

Massively Multiplayer Online Tank Action Game is developed employing  BigWorld Technology 

London (18^th March 2010) – Wargaming.net announces the company is using the BigWorld Technology suite for developing its brand-new free-to-play MMO game WORLD OF TANKS. The software is a really efficient and advanced tool for designing a sweeping massively multiplayer online game, and allows focusing on core issues of the game, such as captivating and realistic gameplay and top-notch graphics and visual effects.

BigWorld Technology fully satisfies the highest requirements of the intensive development process providing a set of tools necessary to produce an ace-high MMOG with fast-paced battles featuring various modes, historic mini-campaigns, tourneys and epic Clan Wars on a global map.

“We had been considering several technologies before starting developing our new team-based Panzer MMO game”, says Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming.net. “However, it turned out that BigWorld is the only ready-to-use and complete solution for the specific needs of this project.”

“World of Tanks breaks new ground”, said John De Margheriti, CEO of BigWorld. “It is a fantastic example of great team-based MMO gameplay, featuring authentic tank models, strong RTS elements and tremendously fun action gameplay. We are very excited by how much fun playing World of Tanks will be”.

To find out more about the new Tank MMO community, please visit the official Forum of the game.

For more information on WORLD OF TANKS, visit www.worldoftanks.com. 

About World of Tanks

World of Tanks is the first and only team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.

A flexible system of authentic vehicle upgrade and development allows you to try any of the vehicles and weapons in the game. Whether you prefer to exhaust your foes with fast and maneuverable light tanks, make deep breaches in enemy lines with all-purpose medium tanks, use the force of giant tanks to eliminate opposing armored forces, or become a heavy sniper with long-range howitzers, each unit type has its own advantages and can be extremely effective when operated by a true tank ace.

But being a great tank commander alone isn’t enough to win! In World of Tanks, it’s all about teamwork. Victory is achieved by combining your combat skills with those of the other members of your team, each playing their own role on the battlefield. Just add your favorite strategy to build your own iron empire and manifest the indisputable authority of the tank! Feel the TANK POWER!

Key Features:

•       Action-packed 30-vs-30 PvP Tank battles

•       Mixture of Action, Strategy, Simulation and MMORPG genres

•       150 Vehicles, thousands of upgrades

•       Unprecedented global Clan Wars

About Wargaming.net

Wargaming.net is a UK-based strategy game specialist. Its 140-strong development team is located in Belarus. Starting from 1998, the company has shipped 13 titles, including acclaimed Massive Assault series, Order of War RTS published by Square Enix and three add-ons for Blitzkrieg II. Wargaming.net’s Operation Bagration RTS was awarded the Best Strategy Game of 2008 at Russian Game Developers Conference (KRI). At KRI 2009 Wargaming.net was named The Best Developer Company from ex-USSR. Currently the company is finalizing World of Tanks MMO action game and is working on unannounced MMO strategy project. Visit www.wargaming.net for more information.

About BigWorld Pty Ltd
BigWorld Pty Ltd was formed in 2002 to commercialize years of intense R&D, which started in 1999 and continues to this day. With a direct local presence in the USA, China, Japan and Europe, BigWorld licenses its middleware platform to game studios and publishers around the world to build successful next generation MMOGs and Virtual Worlds. For more information and links to currently released or in production titles, visit www.bigworldtech.com

BigWorld Blog
blog.bigworldtech.com

GROUNDBREAKING ONLINE CO-OP IN NEW ACTION RPG ODYSSEY 

Sydney, Australia – March 19, 2010 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces today that The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, an epic multiplayer action/RPG video game based on the renowned novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, is set to launch on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows® in 2011.

Developed in association with Middle-earth Enterprises, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North explores both original and familiar narrative elements as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment holds the rights to develop video games based on both the literary and motion picture content from The Lord of the Rings. Breaking new ground as a mature RPG video game set in Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North advances the RPG paradigm through innovative online, interdependent co-op play for up to three players who form their own Fellowship to fight Sauron’s forces in the North.

“With The Lord of the Rings: War in the North we are taking a mature approach to the widely celebrated property with authentic portrayals of battles and all new storylines,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Utilizing the award-winning and passionate development team at Snowblind Studios, we are looking to evolve the RPG experience and deliver The Lord of the Rings game fans have been waiting for.”

“In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Snowblind will deliver an action RPG for core gamers featuring authentic narrative and environmental locations from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original The Lord of the Rings,” said Ryan Geithman, Founder and Studio Head of Snowblind Studios. “This game is a natural evolution of the acclaimed RPG gameplay that Snowblind has consistently delivered over the past years.  Players and fans will experience an innovative approach to online co-op gameplay, woven throughout every facet of the game in a way that only Snowblind can deliver.”

In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, players can become the heroes in the great battle of the North as part of the epic War of the Ring. Exploring unseen lands, story elements and characters from Middle-earth as well as elements familiar from past feature films, gamers will experience extensive character customization and development, expansive co-op gameplay options and upgradeable weapons, skills and special abilities.

For more information about The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, please visit www.warinthenorth.com .