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UBISOFT® ANNOUNCES TENCHU™ 4

Australia – September 24, 2008 – Today Ubisoft announced Tenchu™ 4, the newest addition to the Tenchu™ franchise exclusively for the Wii™ system, will launch in North America, Europe and Australia in early 2009. The development team behind the original Tenchu, Acquire, brings a fresh new look, feel and motion to the Tenchu franchise.

Tenchu 4 will use the Wii Remote™ to fight, dash, jump and kill like a true ninja. Players will continue the saga of Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. Playing as both stealthy Rikimaru and the aggressive and acrobatic Ayame, players will fight their way through more than 10 missions and 50 side quests and experience the thrilling adventure of being the ultimate ninja.

Tenchu 4 will be well-received by both fans of the series as well as Wii owners who have been looking for an edgy and exciting game. And if it’s katanas, throwing stars, daggers and smoke bombs you’re looking for, then, yeah, it’s got all those too.

© 2008 FROM SOFTWARE. All rights reserved. Published and distributed by Ubisoft Entertainment under license from FROM SOFTWARE. Tenchu is a trademark of FROM SOFTWARE and is used under license. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo.

 
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2K Sports Gets More Real with Living Rosters in NBA® 2K9

Fans will receive the most up-to-date player attributes, player tendencies, and unlockable animations

2K Sports today announced details on Living Rosters, an exciting new innovative online feature for this season’s highly anticipated basketball title, NBA 2K9.  Living Rosters will ensure dedicated fans are playing with the most up-to-date and complete basketball experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise.  In addition to delivering constant updates to player ratings and player tendencies, Living Rosters will also offer exclusive access to unlockable animation packages for players in the game.  When a player starts to heat up and takes his game to the next level on the real courts, new animation packages will unlock for that player in the video game.  As the NBA season progresses, so will NBA 2K9, as players will have the ability to pull off new moves never seen before in the video game, adapt their offensive and defensive rotations, and shift starting lineups as they occur. If it happens during the regular NBA season, it will happen in NBA 2K9 thanks to Living Rosters. 

When the Living Rosters feature is activated and a gamer signs in online, the game automatically checks for Living Roster updates in order to download the latest real-life player information in a seamless process behind the scenes.  Gamers will have an option to either have Living Rosters automatically update their in-game roster information, or they can choose to download new roster data manually. 

Once Living Rosters has successfully completed an update, NBA 2K9 fans can then review the different player and gameplay updates from the NBA 2K Insider – a real person working behind the scenes, pouring over the stats and spreadsheets, and who is ultimately responsible for the content and accuracy of the Living Rosters updates. However, the Insider’s job is much more than just crunching numbers – they will interact with the community and listen to roster update suggestions to determine what the fans really want in each update. The NBA 2K Insider’s analysis and commentary will be available in-game and on the 2K Sports website, www.2ksports.com.

NBA 2K9 is the latest edition of NBA 2K, the series that has been the #1 rated NBA simulation for seven years in a row* and is back for its 10th season. NBA 2K9 is the premier basketball game for serious players, and will deliver the most realistic and feature-rich simulation experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise – from gameplay and graphics to presentation and online features.  NBA 2K9 is rated G and will be available in Australia and New Zealand on October 10 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems. For more information about NBA 2K9, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/nba2k9.

*The NBA 2K series developed by Visual Concepts outranked competitors based on GameRankings.com average scores of 2001-2007 NBA video games.

 
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To celebrate the release of Brothers In Arms: Hells Highway this Thursday, a launch trailer is now available

To view: click here

 
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Creative Suite 4

Adobe is today announcing the release of Creative Suite 4. Adobe’s Creative Suite 4 family is a milestone software release for designers and developers, impacting virtually every creative workflow. New Flash integration and radical workflow breakthroughs bring down the walls between designers and developers. Packed with hundreds of feature innovations the new Creative Suite 4 product line enhances the creative process across print, web, mobile, interactive, film and video production. Adobe’s biggest software release to date brings to market Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design editions, Creative Suite 4 Web editions, Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, Adobe Master Collection, as well as 15 point products.
The following releases will give you all the details about the various products and packages:

· Adobe Introduces Creative Suite 4 Product Family

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4Family.html

· Adobe Delivers Creative Suite 4 Design Premium

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4Design.html

· Adobe Unveils Creative Suite 4 Web Premium

 http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4Web.html

· Adobe Releases Creative Suite 4 Production Premium

 http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4ProdPrem.html

· Adobe Introduces Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4PS.html

· Adobe Unveils Powerful InDesign CS4 Release

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4ID.html

·Adobe Advances Mobile Testing in Creative Suite 4

http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200809/092308AdobeCS4Mobile.html

 
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New Logitech Illuminated Keyboard Makes Typing Easy – Night or Day

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — 22nd September, 2008 — To help you find the keyboard that best matches your needs – and style – Logitech today introduced three new keyboards, including the Logitech® Illuminated Keyboard, which offers an optimised backlight experience, Logitech PerfectStroke™ key system and Logitech’s thinnest design ever. Also unveiled today, the Logitech® diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks is designed for laptop owners who use a notebook mouse to improve comfort and need a keyboard to complete their setup, while the Logitech® Cordless Desktop™ S520 offers a keyboard-and-mouse combination that matches a wide variety of computer setups.

“Style – specifically the ability to choose the style that fits one’s tastes – is increasingly driving purchase decisions,” said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech keyboards and desktops. “Our three newest keyboards address this trend, as well as various usage scenarios, from working in low light to being more comfortable when working on a laptop.”

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard makes typing easy – even in the dark. To optimise existing backlight technology, Logitech combined microlens reflectors, a multilayer painting process and laser etching – creating a backlight experience that is brighter, sharper and easier to read. Whether you’re typing an e-mail or chatting with a friend, the adjustable backlight gives you just the right amount of light.

With its transparent frame, the ultra-thin Illuminated Keyboard (9.3 mm from base to frame) adds an elegant touch to any desk. Balancing form and function, the keyboard offers a full-size key layout (including a number pad), soft-touch palm rest and a full row of F-keys, as well as media and volume-control keys for instant command of your entertainment.

PerfectStroke Key System

The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard and the diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks feature the Logitech PerfectStroke key system, which provides a typing experience that’s comfortable, fluid and silent. PerfectStroke is designed to create longer key travel – 3.2 mm compared to 2.2 mm – than that of typical notebook keyboards; as a result, the distance your fingers have to travel to activate a key is optimised for your comfort. Micro-scissors distribute force evenly across key surfaces – even if you strike the edge of a key, the key stroke still feels the same.

Logitech diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks

While notebook computers have become the platform of choice, people often have to compromise comfort and functionality in exchange for convenience and portability. Logitech has developed a range of peripherals, including notebook mice and a line of Alto™ notebook stands that maximise the benefits and minimise the challenges posed by the notebook. The first Logitech keyboard designed specifically for the notebook PC, the diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks offers a full-size layout, complete with number pad, and the optimised key feel of PerfectStroke. By using the diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks with the Logitech® Alto™ Connect or Logitech® Alto™ Express notebook stands, you can transform your setup into a comfortable place to work and play, as well as protect yourself from laptop heat.

Based on Logitech’s distinctive line of diNovo™ keyboards, the impressively thin (22.1 mm from base to key caps) diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks has a glossy black finish and brushed-aluminium palm rest that look great with any notebook PC.

Because you often use your notebook PC in busy wireless environments, Logitech’s advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology dramatically reduces interference, effectively eliminating delays and dropouts. And by optimising the power management system, Logitech’s improved wireless technology enables an impressive 3-year battery life for the keyboard.

Logitech Cordless Desktop S520

With its matte-black and grey palette, its rounded edges and gently curved palm rest, and the straight lines of its full-size layout – the contemporary, yet compact, S520 keyboard complements a wide range of computers. Plus, the high-performance cordless laser mouse delivers exceptional precision and smoother tracking, compared to optical mice.

The new Logitech keyboard-and-mouse combination provides the convenience of up to eight months of battery life for the mouse and 15 months for the keyboard. With one-touch access to Word®, Excel® and your Internet browser – you can instantly get to your favourite applications. Four additional programmable F-keys let you customise your keyboard the way you want it and a full set of media and volume controls make managing your media, photos and music easy (after installing software available at no additional charge from www.logitech.com/downloads).

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is expected to be available in Australia and New Zealand early October for a suggested retail price of $129.95 inc GST in Australia and $149.90 in New Zealand. While the Logitech diNovo Keyboard for Notebooks is expected to be available by late October for a suggested retail price of $149.95 inc GST in Australia and $169.90 in New Zealand. The Logitech Cordless Desktop S520 is expected to be available late September for a suggested retail price of $99.95 inc GST in Australia.
About Logitech

Logitech is a world leader in personal peripherals, driving innovation in PC navigation, Internet communications, digital music, home-entertainment control, gaming and wireless devices. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

 
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Ubisoft® launches Imagine® Fashion Idol, an outstanding Fashion game for girls on Wii.

Take center stage in a fashion reality TV show!

Developed by Lexis Numérique, Imagine Fashion Idol is all about fashion, creativity and fun. Girls from 6 to 14 years old will participate in a TV show that seeks to discover the best fashion designer of the show!

Their creativity and imagination will be their best assets to complete the numerous backstage workshops. When they are ready, they will go on stage to present their designs and convince a fierce jury that they are the best fashion designer.

Imagine Fashion Idol makes full use of the Wii intuitive controls: The Nunchuk and Wii Remote will be used as scissors, brushes and lipstick. The players will even be able to experience the catwalk through the Wii Balance BoardTM!
Key Features:

Experience intuitive and fun controls with the Nunchuk and the Wii Remote through the 3 games mode: Creation, Fashion Reality Show, and Multiplayer.
Experience the catwalk through the Wii Balance Board.
Use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as scissors, brushes and lipstick!
Be the most creative designer in two main workshops, Clothing and Beauty.
Go on stage in the Fashion Reality Show to present your designs in front of a fierce jury.
Discover more than 40 fun and fast multiplayer mini-games full of challenges.
Challenge your girlfriend and interact with 2 fashion professional coaches and the TV show characters (frontman, members of the jury and the 5 different models).

 
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UBISOFT ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR PRINCE OF PERSIA

Sydney, Australia – September 22nd 2008 – Ubisoft announces that Prince of Persia will ship December 4th, 2008 for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PC. Prince of Persia: The Fallen King will also ship simultaneously and exclusively for the Nintendo DS™ system.

Prince of Persia opens an entirely new chapter in the Prince of Persia universe in addition to introducing a fresh Illustrative art style, evolved combat system, open world structure and dynamic AI – most notably in the form of the Prince’s powerful ally Elika.

About Prince of Persia

Set in a land rooted in ancient Persian mythology, the Prince finds himself caught in an epic battle between the primal forces of light and darkness: the God of Light, Ormazd versus his brother Ahriman, the destructive God of Darkness. The Prince arrives just in time to witness the destruction of the legendary Tree of Life – an act which threatens to plunge the entire world into eternal darkness. Manifested in the form of the Corruption, a dark substance that physically contaminates the land and the skies, the Prince must partner with Elika, a deadly companion, to heal the world from the evil Corruption.

About Prince of Persia: The Fallen King

Facing imminent danger, the Prince flees to a deserted kingdom that seemingly offers sanctuary. Already touched by the evil Corruption, a dark substance that physically contaminates the land and the skies, the kingdom is filled with adventure, challenge and intrigue. As the Prince seeks a way to fight the spreading Corruption destroying the land, he encounters a partially infected creature that promises salvation. But is the creature truly an ally or merely an enemy in disguise? It seems this perilous alliance may be the only way for the Prince to face the forces of darkness and save the Persian kingdom from the Corruption once and for all.

 
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Fracture demo now available on XBOX Live and Playstation Network

The Fracture demo has now gone live on both the Playstation Network and Xbox LIVE. The demo will introduce players to the revolutionary gameplay behind Terrain Deformation, a key gameplay mechanic that allows for the dynamic creation of on-the-fly cover and geographic manipulation.

To coincide with the demo, LucasArts have released a new webdoc which focuses on the weapons of Fracture which were integrated into the terrain deformation aspect in order to create something that becomes second nature. You can watch the webdoc here otherwise let me know if you would like a copy.

There are also 2 demo videos available which can be viewed here

For further information regarding fracture please visit www.fracturegame.com

 
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MTV Games, Harmonix and EA to Ship Rock Band™ in Australia

Sydney, Australia – 22nd, September, 2008 – Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that Rock Band will be available in Australia for the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ beginning November 7th, 2008.

Rock Band is the all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune, mastering lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. With more master recordings than any other music game, Rock Band features some of the world’s biggest rock artists and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk.

Rock Band also features an unprecedented library of 200 songs available for purchase and download for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION 3 system.  In the near future, all new Rock Band downloadable content will be available on a weekly basis. For a complete list of Rock Band songs available for purchase to date, please go to http://www.rockband.com/dlc

Since its North American release in 2007, Rock Band has garnered more than 40 awards including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Rock Band is rated PG by the OFLC.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Developed by Harmonix, MTV Games is the publisher of Rock Band.  EA is the exclusive distribution partner for Rock Band.

 
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WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING – DEPLOYS TO RETAIL STORES

Sydney, Australia – September 16, 2008 – Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio, today announced that the highly-anticipated MMORPG, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ (WAR), will ship to retail stores across North America, Europe, and Oceania in preparation for launch on September 19th. WAR set a company record for the most retail pre-orders placed by consumers for a PC title in EA’s 26 year history. Overall, the company has sold 1.5 million units of WAR to retailers.

Based on the popular tabletop game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is an epic fantasy MMORPG featuring innovative Realm vs. Realm™ game play that pits the armies of Order and Destruction against one another on the battlefield to determine the fate of nations. Hundreds of thousands of players have already joined the battle in the open beta, and soon the time will be at hand for players the world over to pledge their allegiance to the armies of WAR.

“This is truly a historic day for both EA and Mythic as we prepare to send more copies of WAR to retailers than any other newly launched MMORPG in North America and Europe. Over the course of our beta, over a million gamers throughout the world sent a clear signal to us – they want WAR, and we are more than happy to oblige them,” said Mark Jacobs, co-founder and general manager of Mythic Entertainment. “In three days the real battle begins – we have declared September 18th the ‘Day of Reckoning,’ and WAR will soon be upon us!”

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is available for PC at an RRP of $99.99. WAR will be the first MMORPG to open its servers simultaneously in North America, Europe, and Oceania when it goes live on September 19th (Australian time), 2008. For more information, visit http://www.warhammeronline.com/