Hi guys, just a quick piece of Raskulls news today. Below you can check out the montage video of some of the crazy moments experienced by players live at PAX East 2010! I’m sure some of your readers came by to check out the game and this video is a great way to show off how fun live Raskulls multiplayer really is. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWn6kKfn-iE

Professional race car driver Danica Patrick takes you on a guided tour of Blur in this new trailer.

Blur™ is the ultimate powered-up racing experience, dropping players into heart-pumping, electrified action with multiple cars trading paint as they charge towards the finish line.  Drivers careen through real-world track locations packed with fast curves, sneaky alternate routes and hair-raising jumps in over 50 licensed cars as they collect intense Power-ups, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost their speed, and more.

Blur delivers a new style of Powered-up racing experience for all gamers.

Developed by Bizarre Creations, BLUR will be released on May 26 for Xbox 360, and PS3.

KEY FEATURES:

• Power-ups that Shock Your Socks off – Drivers will collect and use intense Power-ups throughout each race, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost speed with Nitros, drop mines, use power-up to take out racers ahead of you and drivers on your tail. You can even generate defensive shields to fend off other racers. Players can use each Power-up independently on the fly, or collect and combine the Power-ups and use them offensively or defensively to multiply the effect on the competition. Players can also purchase Power-up modifications, to amplify the on-track carnage to suit their individual strategies. 
• Racing for All Gamers – Blur moves beyond traditional racers by taking genre staples, including licensed cars, photo-realistic graphics and real-world locations. By combining these with gameplay, designed completely to focus on ‘fun’ and featuring intuitive pick-up-and-play controls, intense Power-ups, and races where players are always in the pack challenging for the lead from beginning to end. Either in Single Player or Multiplayer Blur is for all types of gamers, regardless of experience or skill level. 
• Social Network Interface – Blur’s new, innovative social network user interface is designed to evolve dynamically as players compete in different races, make new friends, rivals and fans, and connect with other racers in real life. Learn what’s going on in the Blur world, locate where and when the next big races are happening, rally your fans for support, and take up challenges designed to suit your favorite racing style. 
• It Wouldn’t Be Racing Without Multiplayer – Blur offers gamers a new kind of racing experience that allows them to race with friends and as part of a network of players in high intensity competition and fun.  With 20 players online and a progressive ranking system that rewards gamers the more they play, Blur focuses on objective based race events, and also features 4-player split-screen for playing with friends from the comfort of the couch.  Blur also introduces Custom Groups – where anyone can create unique multiplayer modes based on their favorite ways to play the game.  These new modes are then shared through Blur’s social network, expanding the game in ways only limited by the gaming community’s creativity. 
• Real-World Cars and Locations – Blur features over 50 licensed cars to drive as players race through visually stunning tracks set in real-world locations ranging from L.A. and San Francisco to the streets of Hackney, UK, to the treacherous roads of Barcelona and all the way to Japan.  As players progress through the game, they’ll be able to unlock and purchase multiple versions of the cars, each paying homage to different racing cultures, including Rat, Drift, Smooth and Tuner, and each with their own specific performance pros and cons. 
• Cinematic Destruction Meets Photo-Realism – CAUTION! – Racers may experience insane collisions featuring loads of damage and destruction, with panels crumpling on photo-realistic cars as they flip and roll down the track.

Third Installment of Popular Series Will Take the Adventure to the Amusement Park and Now Offers Online Play and Collection of Five New Games

14 May 2010, Australia –The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. have announced it is developing HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 for release this SPRING!

Available at retail just in time for the holiday season, HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 will feature a suite of five new digital versions of popular Hasbro game brands for the Wii™, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.  HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 will also deliver an exciting new dimension of online play designed to bring friends and family together from living rooms around the world.  

The HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 collection of titles will appeal to the entire family with digital versions of their favourite game brands brought to life in a new theme park setting with the loveable MR. POTATO HEAD returning as the host and park guide.  

Featuring both classic and remixed versions, players can spin the wheel of fate in THE GAME OF LIFE, find out “whodunit” in CLUE, tie themselves in knots with TWISTER, trigger crazy chain reactions in MOUSE TRAP and try their hand at YAHTZEE Hands Down.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 will also crank up the fun factor with local multiplayer capability for up to four players and for the first time, fans will also be able to take the gameplay online by challenging opponents around the globe via the online play features available in both the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION3 versions.  Full Mii™ and avatar integration (Wii and Xbox 360 only) will also add a personal touch to the HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 experience.  

“Families have embraced the HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT video game franchise because it brings them together around the TV for quality time they’ll remember for a lifetime,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the Hasbro Division at Electronic Arts.  “HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Vol 3 has been developed with next generation online gaming at the forefront and will enable people to play the five new and iconic Hasbro game brands online with friends and family all across the world.”

“This third installment in the successful HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT video game series delivers another great lineup of time-tested favourite Hasbro game brands and uses online play to take the entertainment and competition to an entirely new level,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “No longer will travel distance be a hurdle for families and friends to get together and have some fun.”         

DUBLIN, IRELAND – May 14th, 2010 – Icon Games Entertainment, a leading iPhone, PSP, Nintendo Wii, and WiiWare game publisher and developer today announced Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling tailored specifically for PSP® Minis. Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling is an addictive sports game featuring classic air hockey and bowling designed for all ages. It doesn’t matter how you play it or who you play it with, enjoy it!

Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling offers fully featured 3D versions of Air Hockey & Bowling, with smooth analogue control and realistic gameplay. Win trophies and unlock new equipment in the World Tour career mode, or challenge a friend to play.

Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling features include:

Intuitive controls – with smooth analogue movement
2-player multiplayer; play with friends and family in versus play modes
Varied game modes – including Practice, Versus and Season
Player rewards – unlock new equipment and special trophies
Season mode – become the World Ranked No.1 player; winning extra rewards and secrets along the way
Sophisticated AI – opponent AI designed to play a realistic ‘human’ game, from amateur level through to top ranking
Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling will be available on the PlayStation® Store this July.

For more information, please visit www.icongames.com or follow us on Twitter.

Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling for PSP® Minis has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment of America Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

About Icon Games Entertainment

We are an independent game development & digital publishing studio committed to creating games with a focus on compelling gameplay & fun! To date we have developed and released over 20 games for a variety of platforms – including Wii, PS2, PSP and PC. The team has over ten years of successful development experience, working with various publishing partners – including Playlogic, Zoo Games, IN2Games, Ghostlight, Lego Media, THQ, TDK, Majesco, PlayIt, Midway, Midas Interactive, Mforma, Datel and Acclaim. For more info on Icon and our forthcoming releases check out www.icongames.com

Melbourne Australia 14, May 2010. Today, as the ultimate video before the game’s release – we present the full-length Official Launch Trailer. This is the last video before Red Dead Redemption’s launch on Friday next week.

Utilizing Rockstar’s proprietary Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE), Red Dead Redemption features an open-world environment for players to explore, including frontier towns, rolling prairies teaming with wildlife, and perilous mountain passes – each packed with an endless flow of varied distractions. Along the way, players will experience the heat of gunfights and battles, meet a host of unique characters, struggle against the harshness of one of the worlds last remaining wildernesses, and ultimately pick their own precarious path through an epic story about the death of the Wild West and the gunslingers that inhabited it.

Be excited… be very excited!

After its huge success on Nintendo DS last year, TrackMania, the fun-filled car racing game played by millions of players worldwide, is back on Nintendo’s™ handheld system with an even more complete, more spectacular and more fun-filled edition! Drive racing cars at incredible speeds on spectacular tracks full of ramps, loops, turbo boosts, and other crazy track-blocks.

TrackMania DS’s track editor is back allowing you to create an infinite number of new tracks which you can share with your friends worldwide thanks to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection!

The Multiplayer and Hotseat modes are back allowing many players to play on a single console, the One Card and local Multi-Card modes, but most of all, the awaited online mode using the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection!

With more content and more fun to offer, new TrackMania on DS™ has everything it needs to become the most complete racing game on Nintendo’s portable system.

Stay tuned for more features details and assets…

Visit the official website of TrackMania

Sydney, 13 May 2010 – With the much anticipated Apple iPad hitting shelves at the end of this month, Targus has launched a new collection of cases created specifically to style and protect the new portable tablet computer. Available in a variety of designs, the cases are extensions of Targus’ most popular product lines including the Hughes, Crave, A7 and Unofficial. Targus’ iPad collection incorporates a wide range of protective materials that offer the superior hardware protection that the Targus brand is renowned for. Whether you are a chic urbanite or business sophisticate, there’s a case to complement your needs, style and personality.

Available in black and brown, the Hughes Leather Portfolio Slipcase for iPad (RRP: $99.95) is the ultimate accessory for the savvy and stylish tech lover. Constructed of durable oil-tanned leather, the slipcase features a soft twill inner lining that protects against scratches and a secure magnetic closure.

Inspired by outdoor apparel, the Crave Slipcase for iPad (RRP: $39.95) is made of durable weather-resistant material which has been abrasion tested for durability. Stain-guard coated for longevity, the slipcase offers stow-away top handles and an external pocket for additional accessories. With just enough room to carry your iPad and a few other essentials, this multifunctional slipcase can be used alone or inside another case for added protection.

Available in a spectrum of colours, including black, blue and plum, the A7 Neoprene Sleeves for iPad (RRP: $39.95) suit a variety of personal styles. Each sleeve is built with a Tri-Cell Cushion System™, which integrates layers of foam, neoprene and air-ventilating mesh fabric to protect against bumps.

The Unofficial Laptop Messenger for Mac (RRP: $79.95) comfortably accommodates 13-inch Macbook computers along with a removable custom built sleeve for iPads. The front messenger flap features magnetic snap lock closures while the front zippered compartment provides easy access to daily essentials such as a wallet or mobile phone. The case offers a soft lining to protect against scratches while in transit, as well as a document pocket, pen loops and accessory storage.

Targus’ existing collection of netbook bags is also a great accompaniment for the iPad, perfect for users who enjoy the flexibility of having a bag that accommodates both netbooks and iPads. The netbook collection includes numerous styles from the A7, Crave, Generation-T, Unofficial and Phobos ranges.

Arriving in stores from late May, the Targus iPad range will be available from leading retailers. For further information, please visit www.targus.com.au or call customer service on 1800 641 645.

AOC Introduces the V27m 27-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor
AOC’s largest LCD monitor to date

 
Sydney, Australia: 13 May 2010 – AOC, one of the top global players in the best value display technology, is launching its biggest LCD monitor to date. The V27m is the perfect offering for users who like to view multiple windows at once and those who simply enjoy using their PC as an entertainment centre. The V27m, with its large screen, is also an ideal monitor for people with reduced vision.

The attractive piano-gloss cabinet resembles a TV more than a conventional desktop monitor adding style and sophistication. Indeed, Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, multiple input connections – HDMI, D-Sub, YPbPr, SVBS and CVBS – and integrated 3W stereo speakers, give the V27m everything it needs for versatile presentation of multimedia sources besides the PC.

Like all current AOC monitors, the specifications for Brightness, Dynamic Contrast and Response Time are consistent with the lastest multimedia applications.
The slim line cabinet tapers to a mere 28mm and has a transparent decorative outer frame that further imparts a light and airy look, despite the expansive display area.

Product and Pricing Summary
Vendor: AOC
Product Name: V27m
RRP: $ 499
Website: http://www.aocmonitor-anz.com/
Availability: Now

About AOC
AOC is a leader of display technology for TVs, Monitors and Multimedia Displays backed by over 60 years of design and manufacturing experience. AOC has earned a reputation for selling user-friendly, technologically advanced displays, with every aspect of AOC’s business focusing on the development of products that fit seamlessly into consumers’ digital lifestyles.

For more information about AOC and its products, please visit www.aoc.com

AVG warns you need to logout of Facebook if you want to maintain your privacy 

Melbourne, 13 May 2010. AVG (AU/NZ) recommends that everyone consider the advice from AVG Technologies’ Chief Research Officer, Roger Thompson, and actively LOG OUT of Facebook every session in order to prevent their privacy being compromised if they don’t. As Thompson revealed today…

Pssst… You want to see something reeeeeaaaally scary?

Here it is…

On 29th April 2010, I surfed to CNN.com to check out the news… something I do quite often… I happily read about the oil spill and the asteroids, and then noticed the bit I have circled in red. It’s a bit hard to read, but it says “Log in | sign up”, and then “Friends’ activity”, followed by “View more friends’ activity”!

Not ‘View friends’ activity’, but ‘more’ friends’ activity. I’m not logged in, but CNN knows who my friends are on Facebook! And just to prove it, the next line shows a post by one of my friends, recommending a video.

Given that Facebook has 400 million users, the odds make it unlikely that they just ‘happened’ to grab one of my friends. 

I thought to myself, “They knew who I am! Dang! I wonder how many other web sites know that?”

And then, a couple of weeks later, I noticed that CNN.com had changed.

Now it says, “Hi! Log in or sign up to personalise”, followed by “Log in with Facebook to see your friends activity”, followed by some generic Facebook messages.

So I’m thinking, “What’s going on? Is CNN no longer getting the information, or is CNN no longer disclosing that they have it?”

The answer is neither of those.

As is often the case, it turns out there’s a more prosaic, but still alarming explanation. 

One of my AVG colleagues, Jas Dhaliwal, knew what was going on. He explained…

“CNN and over 100,000 other web sites are using Facebook’s new social plugins that were announced at their F8 Developers conference a few weeks ago.

“The ‘social plugins’ are designed to show which of your friends are voting ‘“like’ on a site’s specific news stories. If none of your Facebook friends are clicking the ‘Like’ button, then Facebook aggregates the popular stories that are ‘liked’ on the site as a whole.

“The social plugins take the step of Facebook Connect, one step further. Connect was designed to be a ‘Single Sign-On’ for the web. In other words, you log into Facebook once, and when you visit other sites around the web, it would log you on to their site, using the Facebook credentials already provided.

“At the recent F8 conference, Facebook announced that they were going to remove the Connect button. So, if you’ve logged in once, it will remember your login. The social plugin caches that login data and uses a custom API to show which of your friends (i.e. your social graph) are visiting the same site.

“Why? Because, I’m likely to stay longer at a site, if I know my friends have been there… so says the psychological theory. Facebook have done a very, very bad job at explaining this. For most people, when they see CNN’s Facebook plugin they are surprised, because as a user, you haven’t given CNN or Facebook explicit permission to connect to your social graph/friends list.”

Jas Dhaliwal concludes, “If you want to stop this type of behaviour, and thus do not want to see the stories that your friends are interested in as they visit the web, simply click “Log Out” of Facebook. This is something nearly no one does. Simply, closing a Facebook tab or window DOES NOT log you out of Facebook. I think the user community needs to be educated specifically on this.”

Folks… you need to LOG OUT of Facebook once you finish reading posts. You just don’t know what information could be leaking.
Just today, CNN was talking about the so-called Bling-Ring, where some LA kids made a point of robbing celeb’s homes. They would use Google earth to survey the homes, and find ways in. Paris Hilton lived in a gated community, but the kids found via Google Earth that there was a gully that went under a fence, and when they went and looked, found they could easily walk right in.

Then they simply watched Twitter until Paris announced that she was going out, and walked right up to her house.

And what about the social platforms that have location information? Telling your friends “I’m at the coffee shop” is fine for those interested in joining you for coffee, but there will be bad guys out there with larceny in their hearts.

Privacy, folks…. it’s a serious issue.

About AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd — www.avg.com.au

Based in Melbourne, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd distributes the AVG range of Anti-Virus and Internet Security products in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. AVG software solutions provide complete real-time protection against the malware, viruses, spam, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, phishing and exploits used by cyber-criminals, hackers, scammers and identity thieves. AVG protects everything important and personal inside computers — documents, account details and passwords, music, photos and more — all while allowing users to work, bank, shop and play games online in safety. AVG provides outstanding technical solutions and exceptional value for consumers, small to medium business and enterprise clients. AVG delivers always-on, always up-to-date protection across desktop, and notebook PCs, plus file and e-mail servers in the home and at work in SMBs, corporations, government agencies and educational institutions.

AVG products actively protect over 110 million users worldwide, including more than 4.6 million users in Australia and New Zealand.

AVG (AU/NZ) has more than 3300 resellers across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Sydney, Australia – Thursday May 13^th, 2010 – Available on Ubisoft’s official Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands website and Facebook page for immediate play is a new Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands flash game.

Ubisoft Montreal and Explosive Barrel, a multi-hit flash game developer, have teamed up to create a flash adaptation of the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Going back to the roots, the flash game is reminiscent of the original 1987 Prince of Persia 2D platformer. It also provides an exciting play that is representative of the vision of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, including fights against the main epic bosses, the Prince’s four new powers and his legendary rewind move from the Sands of Time, and original music. In addition, players can unlock an exclusive playable Malik skin for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC versions.

The Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands game is available at the following sites:

• http://prince-of-persia.uk.ubi.com/games/game-01.php   
• www.facebook.com/princeofpersia

A new video featuring the Acrobatic Powers of the Prince is also now available: 

• To View: http://videos.uk.ubi.com/index.php?video=pl1sgty6 

For more information on Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands please visit: http://prince-of-persia.uk.ubi.com/