Thursday, March 22, 2012

Create Shots Like The Pros in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13 and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13: The Masters Collector’s Edition

12:47 AM snip3r42

Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: EA) announced today that the world’s number one selling golf video game franchise will return with an array of exciting new features, including Kinect for Xbox 360 integration, an opportunity to experience Tiger’s golf legacy, online and social features, as well as a Collector’s Edition providing even greater access to the Masters Tournament and Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13® and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 13: The Masters Collector’s Edition, marks the 22nd season for the EA SPORTS golf simulation video game franchise and will go on sale in North America on March 27 and worldwide on March 30, and be made available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

With the most comprehensive swing mechanic revamp in over a decade, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 will provide fans unprecedented control over their swing tempo, ball position and stance, allowing players to replicate countless swing combinations used by real-world PGA TOUR players. Coupled with complete integration with Kinect for Xbox 360, including voice-enabled controls, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 lessens the gap between the real world and virtual golf course experience.

“Our fans asked us to deliver a new level of fidelity and authenticity to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 and our team delivered with the ability to literally choose millions of shot combinations through our new swing mechanic,” said Mike Taramykin, vice president and general manager of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR. “Fans will now be able to experience unparalleled control on the virtual golf course.”

“As the first of the EA SPORTS titles to feature Kinect for Xbox 360 integration in 2012, the controller-free and voice-enabled Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 experience will bring a whole new level of fun to fans worldwide,” said George Peckham, general manager, Global Publishing Group at Microsoft. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with EA SPORTS to deliver the most immersive and engaging sports gaming experiences, only on Xbox 360.”

In addition to Kinect for Xbox 360 integration, EA SPORTS is providing fans with a fully immersive golf experience through all-new features such as Online Country Clubs, the chance to relive Tiger Woods’ memorable golf career accomplishments and the return of the pre-eminent tournament in all of golf – the Masters.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 and The Masters Collector’s Edition include a number of features and enhancements that will make golfers feel as if they’re on the course, such as:

Total Swing Control – Taking its most significant leap forward in swing mechanics in over a decade, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 revolutionizes the virtual golf swing. Golfers will take full control over their swing with all-new tempo, swing plane and shot power controls along with an adjustable shot setup, allowing players to address the ball in a number of ways to create limitless shot types with just one club.

22 Licensed Professional Golfers – Fans can take to the course with any one of 22 PGA TOUR golfers in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13, including Tiger Woods, 2011 US Open Champion Rory McIlroy, 2010 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 US cover art finalist Bubba Watson. More details about the new golfers in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 will be revealed during the week of January 16.

Kinect for Xbox 360 Integration – Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 will be the first-ever Kinect for Xbox 360 sports simulation title, tracking full body movements to create the most advanced and authentic swing to date on the virtual golf course. Controller-free and voice-enabled controls provides for a unique, never-before-seen sports gaming experience. More details will be revealed about Kinect for Xbox 360 integration the week of January 24.

PlayStation Move Integration – Improve your game with the true-to-life golf swing created for the PlayStation Move. Fans will once again be able to experience the authentic golf swing created by the PlayStation Move, allowing golfers to emulate their swing style as they drive the ball down the fairway or sink a 30-foot putt.

Experience Tiger’s Golf Legacy – Relive first-hand Tiger Woods’ most memorable golf accomplishments as he rises from a child prodigy to golfing legend. More details will be revealed about the Tiger golf legacy feature the week of February 6.

Online Country Clubs – In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13, gamers will be able to invite friends to join their own exclusive country club and team up to gain quicker access to downloadable golf courses or compete against other club members for the coveted Club Championship. More details will be revealed about Online Country Clubs the week of February 20.

The Masters Collector’s Edition Exclusives – The Collector’s Edition provides fans with the ultimate Masters experience. Fans that purchase the Collector’s Edition will receive all of the features in the standard edition game, as well as exclusive access to Augusta National Golf Club’s Tournament practice facility, Augusta National’s famous Par 3 Course, an authentic Green Jacket Presentation and a chance to explore the hallowed grounds like never before.

The Collector’s Edition also comes packed with five additional championship courses in addition to the standard edition, allowing players to experience 21 of the world’s greatest golfing destinations.

More details will be revealed about features exclusive to The Masters Collector’s Edition during the week of March 6.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

EA’s Play4Free Portfolio Tops 25 Million Players Worldwide

8:47 AM snip3r42

The digital gaming revolution is in full effect and EA is leading the charge. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) announced today that it continues to break new ground in the free-to-play gaming market with a community of active players that has reached 25 million worldwide. Pioneering the fast-growing freemium gaming category is a centerpiece in EA’s strategy to reinvent itself as a leader in digital gaming. Two flagship titles, Battlefield Heroes™ and Need for Speed™ World, each reached 10 million registered players earlier this month. In addition, Battlefield™ Play4Free, Dragon Age™ Legends, Battleforge™ and Lord of Ultima™ bring the total community across the 25 million mark, with a combined 5 million players.

To celebrate this milestone, EA is thanking the community with the release of several special edition virtual items. Battlefield Heroes players can redeem the following promo code, EQ9M-TYYT-TXR3-5GU3, for 300 Battlefunds* from today until January 17th, 2012; which can be used to purchase powerful in-game weapons, vanity items, widgets, and more. In Need for Speed World, from today until January 17th, 2012, players can redeem promo code, EWPD-3KGA-VBVF-9HYS, for 750 SpeedBoost* that can be used towards the purchase of cool licensed cars, performance upgrades and a wide variety of aftermarket parts.

“Developing a community of 25 million players is a remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the explosive growth of the free-to-play market and a reflection of EA’s commitment to spearheading the digital transformation. We plan to continue to innovate in the category, introduce new gameplay that delights players and keeps them coming back for more,” said Sean Decker, Play4Free, Vice President. “For our teams, this is an incredibly exciting time to be making games as the audience continues to grow and diversify.”

With regular content updates, rewards and giveaways, EA’s Play4Free titles boast vibrant and active communities. Since the launch of Battlefield Heroes, over 8 billion bullets have been fired, with nearly 532 million in-game kills. In Need for Speed World, over 15 million races and 22 million pursuits are logged every month with gamers from 237 countries playing**.

This month, EA’s Play4Free portfolio continues to buzz with activity and updates. Need for Speed World is releasing a series of new cars, starting with the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S that went live on January 10th. The month will continue to see an impressive rollout of vehicles from exotics to muscles to beloved classics. Battlefield Heroes has a fresh slate of clothing items and weapons launching in the coming weeks as well. In December, the Play4Free Studio, Phenomic, also announced their new, upcoming browser based MMO strategy title, Command & ConquerTM Tiberium Alliances, which is now available in Closed Beta. Sign up for a chance to access the beta today at http://alliances.commandandconquer.com.

For more information on EA’s Play4Free titles, visit http://play4free.com.

*Code expires January 17, 2012 at 12:00 AM GMT. One-time use code can be redeemed at www.battlefieldheroes.com/store/redeem. Requires access to Battlefield Heroes (“Product”), Internet connection, EA account and registration of Product. Code may not be substituted, exchanged, sold or redeemed for cash or other goods or services. May not be combined with any other offer, gift card, rebate or discount coupon. Retailers, distributors and employees of Electronic Arts Inc. and their agencies/affiliates are not eligible. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Limit one code per person.

*Code expires January 17, 2012 at 12:00 AM GMT. One-time use code can be redeemed towards any item offered in the Need for Speed World Web Store, Boost Store and Safehouse. Requires access to Need for Speed World (“Product”), Internet connection, EA account and registration of Product. Code may not be substituted, exchanged, sold or redeemed for cash or other goods or services. May not be combined with any other offer, gift card, rebate or discount coupon. Retailers, distributors and employees of Electronic Arts Inc. and their agencies/affiliates are not eligible. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Limit one code per person.

**According to Google Analytics: Countries as of January 10, 2012

EA Readies the Donkey Cannons and Prepares for War With the Launch of the RISK: Factions Game, Now Available on Facebook

12:47 AM snip3r42

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), the second largest games developer on Facebook® according to AppData, announced that the RISK: Factions game is now available for play on Facebook. The first free-to-play social gaming version of the iconic strategy game brings an entirely new and innovative approach to a classic – featuring outlandish warring playable factions, offbeat humor, and unique gameplay twists reimagined for social gaming – while still honoring original gameplay features and objectives. The RISK: Factions game promises to challenge and captivate both new and veteran players in their quest for world domination. Under license from Hasbro, the RISK: Factions game can be played on Facebook at: http://apps.facebook.com/riskfactions.

“RISK presents an ideal game design for Facebook Platform and we’re thrilled to introduce our unique take on the RISK brand to millions of fans on Facebook,” said Chip Lange, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Hasbro Division at Electronic Arts. “The RISK: Factions game leverages the social tools on Facebook to deliver a deeper, more dynamic experience and combines them with turn-based combat that allows friends to challenge each other in a competitive game of RISK, making rubbing a friend’s nose in defeat more meaningful than ever before. With EA's innovative approach in reimagining the RISK brand, we believe people will delight in the mix of player-versus-player action and our quirky take on the factions in the battle.”

Fans of the classic game will find familiar features in the RISK: Factions game, such as dice based combat, iconic maps, and the player turn sequence of reinforcing troops, attacking and fortifying territories. Re-imagined for the world of social gaming, the RISK: Factions game can be played several ways on Facebook: including dominating the world in single-player mode, claiming victory against Facebook friends in player-versus-player mode, and taking part in “friendly fire” against random gaming fanatics on Facebook. And with Leaderboards, players can see how their combat skills stack up against friends and other players around the world as they claim their rightful place at the top. Players can choose to engage as several kooky factions – including the Human faction, led by General William P. McGutterpants, an army of fearless Cats led by the honorable Generalissimo Meow, and a militia of brain-starved Zombies led by the cadaverous Colonel Stiffenberg – each with their own unique strengths, domination strategy, and quirky special weaponry. Additionally, players can customize and build their military base with training grounds to generate troops and factories to build weapons. But it’s not all about battling enemies – it pays to have allies. Players can send gifts to friends, give comrade’s power boosts by visiting their base, and cooperate with friends to help complete or upgrade buildings on the base.

"With the new RISK: Factions game, EA is once again building social design into a great franchise and bringing it to Facebook," said Ethan Beard, Director of Platform Partnerships, Facebook. "We're excited to see RISK on Facebook so those who've loved the game for decades can play it online with friends, and a new generation can discover it."

“For over 50 years, millions of RISK game fans around the world have been engrossed with commanding troops and occupying enemy territory in an effort to rule the world,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Marketing at Hasbro. “By creating a free-to-play social gaming version, fans will be able to battle Facebook friends from around the globe anytime and anywhere, bringing a whole new meaning to the term ‘world domination’.”

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Katy Perry Joins Creative Forces With EA’s The Sims

4:47 PM snip3r42

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) announced the beginning of an extensive and exclusive creative collaboration between Katy Perry, one of today’s biggest superstars, and The Sims™, one of the most popular gaming series of all-time***. In collaboration with Perry, the world-renowned The Sims Studio plans to develop multiple games within The Sims franchise featuring special Katy Perry themed in-game content and virtual goods. The relationship kicks off with a special Collector’s Edition for The Sims™ 3 Showtime, launching in March 2012. Katy Perry will also be featured in all-new advertising and marketing campaigns for the brand.

“Today marks the start of the most integrated and exciting collaboration with any artist in the history of The Sims,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music for EA. “Katy Perry has been a fan of The Sims for several years, and her Simlish recording of her hit ‘Hot and Cold’ featured in The Sims™ 2 series quickly became the most popular Simlish music video to date. We couldn’t be more excited to work with Katy and bring her distinctive talents, style and personality to the franchise’s global fan base. No performer could better represent the humor and fun of The Sims brand.”

"I love how you're able to play out different stories through your Sims characters - giving them different careers and watching them succeed,” said Perry. “It’s cool to see the Sims’ stage performances in The Sims 3 Showtime decked out just like my California Dreams Tour – even my cotton candy video screens are in there! I always like to think of myself as a cartoon, and now I’m a Sim!”

Katy Perry became the first artist in history to spend 52 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Perry’s Teenage Dream produced five #1 hits, an accomplishment equal only to Michael Jackson’s Bad album and making her the only female artist in history to achieve this feat.

Katy Perry will work closely with The Sims Studio to create accessories, clothing, hairstyles, furniture and props in The Sims games that truly celebrate the imagination that she brings to her performances, music videos and life. Katy Perry will also be featured throughout The Sims television advertising campaigns, online communications and retail marketing around the world.

Available for pre-order** today, players can make their rise to fame in The Sims™ 3 Showtime Katy Perry Collector’s Edition. This Collector’s Edition includes The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion pack, plus downloadable content including an Ultimate Stage bonus venue, iconic Katy Perry themed items, and an exclusive poster. This iconic content includes fashions, a guitar, a hairstyle and various Katy Perry themed stage props.

In The Sims 3 Showtime, the latest expansion pack to the critically-acclaimed The Sims 3, players can venture into a new world and play out a rags-to-riches story with their Sims as they become superstar singers, acrobats and magicians, or even moonlight as a DJ. Players can watch their Sims rise to fame – or go down in flames – as they perform on stage in front of cheering crowds in all new venues. On the way to the top, players will have more tools to tell their Sims’ stories the way they want to including the ability to customize stages, create Sims with all-new clothing options, traits, skills and lifetime wishes and interact with objects like the new pool table, karaoke machine and mechanical bull. New connected features allow players the opportunity to share their big moments and connect with friends and fans of The Sims like never before. Using the all-new optional SimPort feature, players can send their Sim on tour to perform in their friend’s world. Along the way, players can earn achievements for accomplishing special challenges that will be rewarded with new badges and that can be viewed and shared on the new in-game player profile and wall.

In addition to the Katy Perry themed Collector’s Edition, a Limited Edition version of The Sims 3 Showtime is also available for pre-order** while supplies last. When pre-ordered, these products feature the Ultimate Stage bonus venue. Players can place this fully customizable venue in their world and will be able to use it as an additional stage for their Sims to perform on, complete with in-game props, backgrounds, lights and special effects.

*Requires The Sims 3 for PC/Mac to play.

**While supplies last. Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://store.origin.com/store/ea/en_US/pd/productID.241940500?sourceid=ea5068 for details.

***In North America and Europe according to NPD data, Chart-track, Gfk France, Gfk Spain, Gfk-MCC Germany and EA internal estimate.

EA and NCAA Football Announce Inaugural Selections for Videogame Development Fellowship

8:47 AM snip3r42

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and NCAA Football today announced that Richard Mancuso and Clint Oldenburg will join the EA SPORTS™ NCAA® Football development team as a part of the inaugural EA SPORTS NCAA Football fellowship, a sixteen-week full-time, paid opportunity for former football student-athletes to apply their skills and knowledge of the sport to the development of the NCAA Football videogame.

Mancuso, a computer science and engineering graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was a three-year starting quarterback, New England Football Conference Rookie of the Year, and was awarded the Boston Globe Golden Helmet Award. Oldenburg, a technical journalism graduate of Colorado State University, was a starting offensive lineman for three years and a fifth round NFL draft pick in 2007.

“We put a premium on identifying individuals that combine real-world experience and knowledge of football with talent and passion for video game development,” said Cam Weber, GM of Football, EA SPORTS. “This first-ever fellowship program provides the fantastic opportunity to help us find experienced football student-athletes, such as Richard and Clint, to add to our development teams and help take our game to the next level.”

For the past 18 years, the NCAA Football videogame franchise has delivered the pride and pageantry of game day by connecting players to the emotion of the college football experience. From fight songs to school specific traditions, all 120 Division I FBS college programs are recreated with unparalleled authenticity. The fellows will both contribute to engineering and design development to further enhance the NCAA Football gameplay experience.

“The inaugural fellows program continues to strengthen our relationship with EA, and it gives former football student-athletes an opportunity to turn their passion and skills for the game into a meaningful professional experience,” added David Bertram, Executive Director of NCAA Football, the coalition established to promote college football, which is managed by IMG College, a division of IMG Worldwide.

The fellowship term will run from January 17 to May 4, 2012. Both positions will be based out of the EA Tiburon studio in Orlando, Fla.

NCAA Football is developed in Orlando, Fla. by EA Tiburon. EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions, and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Continues Meteoric Rise in Becoming the Latest Online Phenomenon

8:47 AM snip3r42

Just six weeks after launching one of the most anticipated videogames of all time, BioWare™, a Label of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA), is continuing to set new standards in online games with Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. Already the fastest growing subscription MMO ever, Star Wars: The Old Republic has sold over 2 million copies, with a thriving base of over 1.7 million active subscribers, as gamers around the world have immersed themselves in the story-driven, online Star Wars universe from BioWare and LucasArts. Helping drive The Old Republic’s early success has been the quality and reliability of the game’s service, with servers being available for more than 99.5% of the time outside of scheduled maintenance. BioWare has also delivered on the promise of continually adding new content by releasing Rise of the Rakghouls, which added new, higher level group content, less than 30 days after launch. The next game update, featuring even more content, new game systems and additional guild features, is scheduled to be released in Spring 2012.
 
“We’re truly honored and humbled by the incredibly strong support from our players who are enjoying Star Wars: The Old Republic,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder of BioWare and General Manager of EA’s BioWare Label. “Our entire team worked very hard over the holidays to deliver a smooth experience at launch, and the resulting response to the game from our fans and critics has been exceptionally gratifying.”
Added Dr. Greg Zeschuk, Co-Founder of BioWare and General Manager of the BioWare MMO Business Unit: “But we’re not resting! We’re actively listening to our community for ongoing feedback to help us ensure the game and service continue to improve, and we’re working to deliver spectacular new high quality content on a regular cadence going forward.”

Player engagement for Star Wars: The Old Republic has not slowed since launch, as the community achieved the following incredible gameplay milestones in just over one month since launch:
Over 239 million in-game hours, or over 332,000 months and over 27,000 years of in-game time Over 20 billion NPCs killed Over 148 billion credits spent

Star Wars: The Old Republic is one of the most critically acclaimed MMOs of all time, having won MSNBC’s “Game of the Year” award, “Editor’s Choice” awards from IGN, PC Gamer and “Best MMO of 2011” awards from Game Informer, Gamespy.com, Massively, Ten Ton Hammer and more. The game is set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies, with the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire locked in the middle of an epic, galactic war. Players choose one of eight iconic Star Wars character classes, including the Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Smuggler, Trooper, Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Bounty Hunter and Imperial Agent, becoming the hero or villain of their own personal Star Wars saga.

Included with the purchase of every copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic is 30 days of access to the game, after which players can continue to play through subscribing* at either $14.99 per month, $41.97 for 3 months ($13.99 per month), or $77.94 for six months ($12.99 per month).

For more information on Star Wars: The Old Republic, please visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com, follow the game on Twitter at http://twitter.com/swtor or “Like” Star Wars: The Old Republic on Facebook at http://facebook.com/starwarstheoldrepublic.

*Subscription pricing in the United Kingdom will be £8.99 per month, £25.17 for three months (£8.39 per month) or £46.14 for six months (£7.69 per month). Subscription pricing in Europe will be €12.99 per month, €35.97 for three months (€11.99 per month) or €65.94 for six months (€10.99 per month).

About Lucasfilm Ltd. 

Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully-integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, the company's global activities include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual-effects and audio post-production; LucasArts, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide; Lucas Licensing, which manages the global merchandising activities for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties; Lucasfilm Animation, which is currently producing content for film and television, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a CG-animated half-hour television series; and Lucas Online creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties and businesses. Additionally, Lucasfilm Singapore produces digital animated content for film and television, as well as visual effects for feature films and multi-platform games. Lucasfilm's motion-picture productions include three of the 20 biggest box-office hits of all time and have received 19 Oscars and more than 60 Academy Award nominations. Lucasfilm's television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif. LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.

About BioWare 

The BioWare Label is a division of EA which crafts high quality multiplatform role-playing, MMO and strategy games, focused on emotionally engaging, rich stories with unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's most critically acclaimed titles and franchises, including Baldur's Gate™, Neverwinter Nights™, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™, Jade Empire™, Mass Effect™ and Dragon Age™. BioWare currently operates in eight locations across the world, including Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec, Canada), Austin (Texas), Fairfax (Virginia), San Francisco (California), Los Angeles (California), Sacramento (California) and Galway (Ireland).

In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. In 2011 EA created the BioWare Label, alongside EA Games, EA SPORTS™ and EA Play. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bioware. To join the millions of fans already registered with the BioWare community, go to http://social.bioware.com.

Shank 2 Available Now

12:47 AM snip3r42

Independent game developer Klei Entertainment and EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced that the cinematic 2D action brawler, Shank™ 2, is now available on the PlayStation®Network and PC in North America for $9.99 USD. The highly anticipated sequel earned an 8.5/10 from IGN.com, who called the game, “…One of the best action games in recent memory.” Shank 2 will be available tomorrow on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points and on PlayStation®Network in Europe for €9.99.
Shank 2 drops players into a stunning pulp fiction world as Shank, an ex-mob hitman who is forced down the road to redemption after his village comes under brutal attack. With precise and fluid controls, tons of new weapons, stronger enemies and the most advanced combo system of any 2D brawler, Shank 2 delivers a dynamic and evolved combat experience. Players have access to a diverse arsenal of guns, knives, chainsaws, baseball bats, and more as they move through Klei’s beautifully drawn environments that earned the indie studio IGF’s Excellence in Visual Arts nomination in 2010, and the Canadian Animator of the Year award in 2011.

Shank 2’s all-new multiplayer Survival mode drops players into fast paced and action-packed interactive environments where they tactically take down hordes of goons and mini-bosses in an arcade-style fight to protect objectives and stay alive. Teams of two can play locally or online as they battle wave after wave of smarter, stronger enemies and use fallen weapons and on-the-fly purchases in gory brawls.

For more information on Shank 2, please visit www.shankgame.com and follow the development team at www.twitter.com/klei and at www.facebook.com/shankgame.

About Klei Entertainment 

Founded in 2005, Klei Entertainment is an award-winning game development studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Klei has been developing original games since its inception, and has developed and published games for the PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® Arcade. To learn more about the Klei team and its latest projects, visit www.kleientertainment.com.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

EA and 38 Studios Ship One of the Highly Anticipated Videogames of 2012 - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

4:47 PM snip3r42

Choose your destiny in the massive and mysterious world of Amalur! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), 38 Studios, LLC and Big Huge Games released the much anticipated open-world action role-playing game, Kingdoms of Amalur™: Reckoning™. The game’s vision was brought to life by 24-time New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and internationally-celebrated game designer Ken Rolston – an all-star team assembled by three-time World Series Champion pitcher and founder of 38 Studios, Curt Schilling. This original intellectual property breaks new ground by melding a deep open-world RPG experience with visceral action combat that offers players millions of combinations of moves, weapons and armor in a completely unique experience for every individual. IGN.com, who awarded the game with a 9 out of 10 review score, anticipates "Reckoning will be discussed when Game of the Year 2012 rolls around," adding that it "certainly isn't a game you should sleep on. Quite the contrary: Amalur demands your attention." The UK's The Guardian added "Reckoning sounds like just the kind of start to 2012 RPG fans were hoping for."

EA and 38 studios also revealed today House of Valor, a digital download pack* that extends the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning story giving players seven exclusive quests. The Grand Champion Tyr Magnus will challenge players to compete in the Valor Arena and overcome all obstacles to survive the barbaric tournament and ultimately seize control of the arena. As the player battles through the Valor Arena, they will meet new companions and rivals along the way. In addition, players can visit the Arena Battle Board to access a nearly endless variety of combat challenges. By completing bonus objectives in these challenges, like defeating all enemies without taking any damage, players can earn unique items and other rewards. House of Valor is available with a non-transferable one-time -use registration code that accompanies the new, full retail purchase Players that do not have a code can purchase a Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Online Pass for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox®LIVE Marketplace and $9.99 on the PlayStation®Network.

“This is a momentous occasion for the entire team at 38 Studios and Big Huge Games. I could not be more proud of all of the heart, passion and talent the team has poured into creating the first title in the world of Amalur,” said Curt Schilling, Founder and Chairman of 38 Studios. “This is the beginning of a long and fantastic journey. We are deeply committed to the RPG community and plan to continue to serve up a lot more story-based and action-packed content in the near and long term.”

Reckoning has become one of hottest video games of 2012 after being included on the New York Times, Complex, IGN and other ‘Most Anticipated Games of 2012’ lists. Reckoning players customize every aspect of their experience through a revolutionary new RPG system as they unlock powerful new Destinies, abilities, and combat maneuvers based on their own individual play style. In Reckoning, players immerse themselves in a master-crafted world filled with extraordinary landscapes, mysterious cities, colorful characters and fantastic creatures.

Developed by 38 Studios subsidiary Big Huge Games in Baltimore, Maryland and 38 Studios in Providence, Rhode Island, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is available now in North America and will be available in Europe on February 10, 2012 on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Learn more about Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning by visiting www.Reckoning.com or follow us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/ReckoningTheGame) and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ReckoningGame).

*Internet connection and Origin Account (EA) required. Must be 13+ to create an account.

Hollywood Stars Rosario Dawson and Brian Cox Headline Voice Cast in EA’s Syndicate

8:47 AM snip3r42

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) and Starbreeze Studios (The Chronicles of Riddick and The Darkness) today announced that celebrated actors Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Men in Black II) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity) will headline the Hollywood cast of Syndicate™, a re-imagining of EA’s cult classic from 1993. The stars take on the role of cutthroat executives working for the biggest and most aggressive syndicate, EuroCorp, in a near-future world ruled by three mega-corporations. Syndicate is a unique and brutal sci-fi first person shooter experience that blends fast-paced action and futuristic settings with an innovative gameplay mechanic where players hack into and violently extract the mind-controlling chips embedded in people’s brains.

“Syndicate immerses players deep into a dystopian world of unscrupulous corporations and chip augmented enforcers,” said Mikael Nermark, CEO of Starbreeze Studios. “These agents are the weapons of this war for market dominance and we needed strong talent to represent these intense characters. We are honored to have worked with the incredible Rosario Dawson, Brian Cox and Michael Wincott to make this world come alive.”

Dawson, the famed actress of Unstoppable, Sin City and Grindhouse, plays Lily Drawl, the rising star of EuroCorp. With a shattered and conflicted psyche, Lily is torn between the demands of her corporate masters and the underground resistance to syndicate rule. She knows that this balancing act can only last for so long before she falls, most likely, to her death.

“I’m amazed how videogames have become so deep in story, delivering fantastic worlds and memorable characters rivaling big Hollywood films,” said Rosario Dawson. “I was excited when EA approached me to play Lily Drawl in Syndicate. She’s an interesting and strong female character. How cool is it to play the mastermind who designed the military chip inside the player’s head!”

Rounding out the cast is Emmy Award-winning actor, Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, X2, Troy), who plays Jack Denham and Michael Wincott (The Crow) who voices Jules Merit in Syndicate. Both play significant roles at the top of EuroCorp’s organization. Jack is the ruthless power behind the boardroom throne, while Jules is a highly regarded senior agent having led many successful operations against the Aspari corporation.
Syndicate will be available February 21, 2012 in North America and February 24, 2012 in Europe for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and the PC. For more information on Syndicate, please visit www.syndicate.ea.com. Become a fan of Syndicate on Facebook at www.facebook.com/syndicate to download the exclusive remixed tracks of the original Syndicate theme song from some of the world’s top DJ’s including Skrillex, Digitalism and Flux Pavilion.

Tencent and EA Bring The Sims Social to China

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The universally popular life simulation franchise, The Sims™, is coming to China’s leading social network, Tencent Open Platform. The Sims Social™ is in development at Playfish™ in Beijing, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), and will be available to Chinese players on Tencent’s social gaming network QZone. The Chinese name of the game is Mo Ni Shi Guang.

The new offering from EA and Tencent now brings the fun and humor of playing with life and interacting with friends to Chinese players. Mo Ni Shi Guang combines the best of The Sims gameplay from its creators at The Sims Studio with innovative social gaming features developed by Playfish for Tencent’s social game platform. Mo Ni Shi Guang expands the award winning Sims universe to China, and leverages the techniques and service resources from Tencent’s open platform to localize the game both in its art and game design.

The Tencent Open Platform is capable of providing high quality products and services to its users, and has now become China’s leading open platform. With Mo Ni Shi Guang, Tencent Open Platform is set to provide a greater experience to users. Closed Beta testing of The Sims Social is underway, and Open Beta is expected to begin in the coming months.

The Sims franchise is the groundbreaking game series that allows players to create and live a virtual, simulated life. The series has become a global gaming and cultural phenomenon, with more than 150 million units sold across 20 languages and 60 countries. The Sims Social, a browser-based game, launched on Facebook® in August 2011 and saw 50 million monthly active users in its first month. In The Sims Social, players can not only enjoy the fun of building a home and a life, but are also able to play with friends and play with life.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis 2 in Stores

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) announced that EA SPORTS™ Grand Slam® Tennis 2 is available in retail stores worldwide. The EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis franchise will be coming to high definition for the first time and will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation®3, including support of the PlayStation® Move controller. EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis 2 features top past and present athletes including John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, and is the only place to play all four Grand Slam championships. Now players can experience the thrill of serving up aces on the prestigious Centre Court at The Championships, Wimbledon – exclusive to EA SPORTS or hitting cross-court winners on the clay courts of the French Open.

“We’re excited to bring the EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis franchise to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms where we can leverage the power of these high definition consoles and give it the level of authenticity and depth that EA SPORTS games are known for,” said Dean Richards, General Manager, Team & Action Sports, EA SPORTS. “We feel like we’re bringing the first real innovation to the tennis category in a while with the Total Racquet Control system, and truly put the racket in the palm of your hands with really strong PlayStation Move integration.”

EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2 will include a host of gameplay features including:
All-New Total Racquet Control: Control every shot with the right analog stick, smashing forehands, backhands, overheads and volleys with precision, accuracy and power. Become a Champion: Become a true Grand Slam® tournament champion by capturing all four major championships in succession – including Wimbledon (exclusive to the EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis franchise). PlayStation Move Support: The motion control experience gets you on your feet and puts a racquet right in the palm of your hands. Legends of Now and Then: Play with or against more than 20 of the greatest players to ever grace the courts, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Bjorn Borg, Maria Sharapova, Serena and Venus Williams. Professional, Realistic, Organic (P.R.O.) AI: The playing styles and behaviors of the sport’s greatest stars are captured right down to their signature swings and emotional reactions. Realistic tactics and strategies are your keys to success against each legend whether playing on hard court, clay or grass. ESPN Grand Slam® Tournament Classics: Relive or rewrite some of the most memorable moments in tennis. From Borg versus McEnroe, to Nadal versus Federer, play your way through history unlocking up to 25 amazing moments of Grand Slam® tournaments. EA SPORTS Game Face: Use the Game Face Creator web application to make a lifelike 3D avatar as a playable character in the game.

EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver and is rated E by the ESRB and PEGI 3; visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.info for more information. For more information on EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2, please visit www.easports.com/grandslamtennis2 or become a fan of EA SPORTS™ Grand Slam® Tennis on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EASPORTSGrandSlamTennis.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game communities, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete. To download assets for EA SPORTS Grand Slam® Tennis 2, please visit the EA press site at http://info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

BioWare Unleashes Its First Strike in the War to Take Earth Back by Enlisting Veterans and New Recruits with the Mass Effect 3 Demo

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Commander Shepard -- a battle hardened, no-nonsense leader -- wants you to join the fight to take Earth back! Today BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), released the demo for Mass Effect™ 3 on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Mass Effect 3 is the most anticipated game of 2012, blending world class combat, deep customization options, cinematic storytelling and blockbuster action on a huge scale. The demo delivers a preview of this powerful combination, whether you are an N7 veteran or the galaxy’s newest recruit. BioWare has designed Mass Effect 3 to deliver the satisfying payoffs veterans have been waiting for while also making sure it is the best entry point into the franchise for new players.

In continuing the lead up to launch, BioWare also revealed today that an all-new CG trailer for Mass Effect 3, “Take Earth Back,” will make a worldwide debut on Sunday’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” AMC’s critically-acclaimed, post-apocalyptic horror series*.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished with Mass Effect 3, and am very excited for fans around the world to experience something really special when they play the demo today,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series.

The Mass Effect 3 demo kicks off with the devastating, all-out attack on Earth by an ancient alien race known as the Reapers. It also includes another thrilling single player mission from later in the game. Players will be able to choose the name, gender and appearance of their Commander Shepard. These initial choices along with choosing Shepard’s background cause the game to re-write itself, ensuring the player knows everything that happened in previous games, and can hit the ground running. Additionally, Mass Effect 3 allows players three different ways to experience the epic battle for Earth: “Action” allows players to focus mainly on combat, giving them the opportunity to pre-set the tone of decisions made during the interactive cinematic scenes; “Story” focuses more on the conversations and scales down the difficulty of the action; and “Role Playing” presents the classic Mass Effect experience which blends both challenging, intense action with rich, interactive storytelling where the choices lie with each player. All settings can be adjusted throughout the game, and all are available in the demo. Mass Effect 3 will also be one of the first pre-launch demos to support full voice recognition functionality on Kinect™ for Xbox 360.

Also included in the demo is a sample of the new multiplayer mode in Mass Effect 3. For the first time in the franchise, Mass Effect 3 will feature a fun, addictive co-operative gameplay as part of the Galaxy at War System**, which gives players an opportunity to link progress made in multiplayer or other applications directly back to the player’s main campaign to save the galaxy. The co-op portion of the demo will unlock on February 17, 2012. Gamers who have activated their Battlefield 3™ online pass will be able to unlock the co-op portion of the demo beginning today***.

Mass Effect 3 thrusts players into an all-out war to save the galaxy from an ancient alien race known as the Reapers. Players will assume the role of Commander Shepard, a war-torn veteran who’s willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate this nearly unstoppable foe. With a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers at your side, each player decides how they will take Earth back, from the weapons and abilities they utilize to the relationships they forge or break.

Recently named by over 100 outlets around the world as one of the most anticipated games of 2012, including winning the fan-voted Most Anticipated Game of 2012 award at the Spike TV VGAs, Mass Effect 3 is available for pre-order now at participating retailers. Fans who pre-order**** have the opportunity to arm themselves with cutting-edge in-game weapons and armor to prepare for the all-out galactic war. The game arrives on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC in North America on March 6, 2012 and in Europe on March 9, 2012. For more information on Mass Effect 3, please visit http://masseffect.com, follow the game on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect or "like" the game on Facebook at http://facebook.com/masseffect

* Check your local listings for airtime in your market and with your cable provider.

** The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War feature can be activated via the Online Pass code found in every new copy of Mass Effect 3. The Mass Effect 3 Online Pass can also be purchased separately on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

*** Conditions and restrictions apply. Early access requirement and availability may differ by platform and/or region. See www.masseffect.com for more details.

**** Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://masseffect.bioware.com/me3/game/preorderbonus/ for more details.

Friday, March 16, 2012

EA and Trapdoor’s Warp Explodes onto Xbox LIVE Arcade Today

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Independent game developer Trapdoor and EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that the sci-fi stealth-action puzzler, Warp™, is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points. Warp was praised by IGN.com as being, “fun and as dark as you want it to be,” and is the first title to kick off Microsoft’s third-annual Xbox LIVE Arcade ‘House Party’ for Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, a line-up of this season’s best downloadable games coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade.
Warp puts players in control of Zero, a loveable – yet lethal – little orange alien with a big score to settle. After being captured and taken prisoner in an underwater facility, Zero is subject to torturous research experiments by cruel scientists. But Zero’s powerful and deadly abilities help him break loose and gamers must guide him through the laboratory to safety.

Warp has been praised for its dynamic gameplay, giving players the choice to take bloody revenge on every human they encounter or hide and plan their way through each level for a no-kills, stealth game. Bending the traditional rules of videogames, Warp features clever and intuitive puzzle-based gameplay where players decide how to traverse obstacles and combine abilities to master challenge rooms and top online leaderboards.

Warp will be available on PlayStation®Network in North America and PC on March 13, 2012 for $9.99 USD. Warp will be available in Europe on PlayStation®Network on March 14, 2012. For more information on Warp, please visit www.ea.com/warp.

The Future of Corporate Rule is Here, EA’s Syndicate is Now in Stores

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Starbreeze Studios (The Chronicles of Riddick and The Darkness) today announced that Syndicate™ is now available at retail stores across North America. A re-imagining of EA’s cult classic from 1993, Syndicate blends fast-paced action and futuristic settings with an innovative chip breach gameplay mechanic to provide a brutal sci-fi first person shooter experience. Using the advanced DART 6 bio-chip technology implanted in their head, gamers can dilate time, see through walls, and breach the digital world and enemies around them. Critics are recognizing the advantages of this unique hacking mechanic with GameSpot.com touting, “there's some sick satisfaction to be had with the game's breach abilities” and @Gamer Magazine praising the game for its “addictive hacking gameplay.” “there's some sick satisfaction to be had with the game's breach abilities”

Set in 2069, Syndicate takes players into a dark, Machiavellian world where corporations are vying for market dominance. With no government to question their intentions or actions, mega corporations are at the forefront of this war. Stepping into the mind of Miles Kilo, Eurocorp’s latest prototype agent, gamers embark on a brutal action adventure full of corruption and revenge. Syndicate features the talents of celebrated actors Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Men in Black II) and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity), who take on the roles of cutthroat executives working for the biggest and most aggressive syndicate. The engaging storyline was penned by award-winning sci-fi writer Richard Morgan (Altered Carbon, Thirteen) who has brought these deeply conflicted characters to life in an unforgiving world where violence, corruption, technology and betrayal have become the everyday tools of business.

In addition to the intense single-player campaign, Syndicate features a four-player co-op mode* where gamers play as an upstart syndicate, Wulf Western, aggressively taking over the rival syndicates. Throughout the co-op campaign, players will be fighting their way through nine different missions, many of which have been reimagined from the original hit game. Gamers need to team-up to defeat the other syndicates’ bosses, ripping the bio-chips from their heads and stealing their technology blueprints to put their syndicate on top.

Developed by Starbreeze Studios, Syndicate is now available in North America and will be available February 24 in Europe for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and the PC. For more information on Syndicate, please visit www.syndicate.ea.com. Become a fan of Syndicate on Facebook at www.facebook.com/syndicate to download the exclusive remixed tracks of the original Syndicate theme song from some of the world’s top DJ’s including Skrillex, Digitalism, Flux Pavilion and Nero.

* Internet connection and Origin account required to play. Must be 13+ to create an account.

EA SPORTS Launches FIFA Soccer on PlayStation Vita

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Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) announced that it has delivered the first true HD console experience on a hand-held gaming device with the launch of EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer on the PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system, available now in retail stores throughout North America and Europe. The first game ever developed for the PlayStation Vita by EA SPORTS features the award-winning FIFA Soccer console quality gameplay, graphics, game modes and authenticity.

“FIFA Soccer on PlayStation Vita represents a quantum leap forward for hand-held gaming, delivering the HD console quality experience in the palm of your hands,” said Vice President and Executive Producer Kaz Makita. “The level of quality that is now achievable is a very exciting landmark for the FIFA Soccer franchise and in gaming.”

Described by IGN as “a must-have launch title” and by Play Magazine as “one of Vita’s best games”, EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer on PlayStation Vita features the same physics-based, data driven technology that powers FIFA Soccer gameplay on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system across eight different game modes. The largest and most complete experience for handheld ever created by EA SPORTS includes authentic 11 versus 11, Be A Pro, Tournament Mode with over 50 real-world competitions, a full in-depth Career Mode, and head-to-head online.

In addition, FIFA Soccer features innovations that utilize front and back multi-touch screens, creating a more responsive, intelligent and unique gameplay experience. Touch Screen Shooting delivers pin-point accuracy and removes the element of “hit and hope” from shooting, Touch Screen Passing opens up the field of play for more creative, precision passing, and Touch Screen Free Kick Control enables players to swipe a finger to aim and curl the shot around the wall. The game also features over 30 officially licensed leagues and 500 officially licensed clubs in 11 v 11 matches in authentic stadiums from around the world.

FIFA Soccer on PlayStation Vita is rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB. Screenshots are available at http://info.ea.com. For the latest news on the EA SPORTS FIFA franchise join more than 7.5 million fans in the EA SPORTS FIFA community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/easportsfifa.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA JAM basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active. For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

EA Announces Robert Griffin III as NCAA Football 13 Cover Athlete

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Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: EA) announced Robert Griffin III, former Baylor University quarterback, will be featured on the cover of EA SPORTS™ NCAA® Football 13, set to hit retail shelves on Tuesday, July 10. In addition to RG3, a fellow Heisman Trophy winner will appear on the cover of NCAA Football 13 based on a fan vote.

Beginning March 12, fans can log on to the EA SPORTS NCAA Football Facebook page to vote for one of eight Heisman Trophy winners to accompany Griffin III on the cover of NCAA Football 13. The candidates include former University of Southern California running back Marcus Allen, former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie, former The Ohio State University running back Eddie George, former The University of Michigan wide receiver Desmond Howard, former Oklahoma State University running back Barry Sanders, former University of Georgia running back Herschel Walker, former Florida State University quarterback Charlie Ward and former University of Houston quarterback Andre Ware.

The first student-athlete from Baylor to win the Heisman Trophy, Robert Griffin III – popularly known as “RG3”— also won the Davey O’Brien Award and was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year in 2011. In 2008, RG3 was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches, setting the school’s rushing yards record for a freshman and for a quarterback with 843 yards for the season.

Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, and licensed by The Collegiate Licensing Company, a division of IMG College, NCAA Football 13 will be available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. NCAA Football 13 is available for pre-order now.

EA SPORTS™ is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers experiences that ignite the emotions of sport through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.com to connect, share and compete.

About Electronic Arts 

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Active, The Sims, Need for Speed and Blitz are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. John Madden, NFL, FIFA, NHL, NBA, NCAA, Tiger Woods, and PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. Xbox and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Twitter is a registered trademark of Twitter, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About the NCAA 

The NCAA is a membership-led nonprofit association of colleges and universities committed to supporting academic and athletic opportunities for more than 400,000 student-athletes at more than 1,000 member colleges and universities. Each year, more than 54,000 student-athletes compete in NCAA Championships in Division I, II and III sports. For more information, go to www.ncaa.com.

About The Collegiate Licensing Company 

CLC is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate trademark licensing agency in the U.S. and currently represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers and consumers. Headquartered in Atlanta (Ga.), CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development. For more information on CLC, visit: www.clc.com or www.imgworld.com.

About NCAA Football 

NCAA Football USA, Inc. represents a coalition of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA), the Football Bowl Association (FBA), the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the National Football Foundation (NFF) and serves as the collective voice to promote college football. NCAA Football is managed by IMG College, a division of IMG Worldwide. For more information on NCAA Football, visit www.NCAAFootball.com.

About the Heisman Trophy Trust 

The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletics and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for the Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted. For more information on the Heisman Trophy, our charitable mission or for tickets to the Heisman weekend events please visit www.Heisman.com.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Conjures up First Story-Driven Downloadable Content on March 20

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The quest for glory continues in Amalur! EA, 38 Studios, and Big Huge Games unveiled The Legend of Dead Kel™, the first downloadable content (DLC) pack for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning™, the critically acclaimed open-world action role-playing game. Featuring a mysterious tale of intrigue, danger and dark magic on the island of Gallows End, players will encounter shadowy characters and new enemies, and will experience a host of new side quests, treacherous battles and exciting new challenges. The Legend of Dead Kel gives players access to Gallows End, a gigantic new continent to explore where players claim ownership of a vast personal estate and experience new weapons, Twists of Fate and other perks against new enemies. The Legend of Dead Kel will be available starting on March 20, 2012 on Xbox Live, PlayStation®Network, Origin™ and Steam.

“Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will be discussed when Game of the Year 2012 rolls around”
The Legend of Dead Kel DLC and the story of Gallows End will feature:

An Epic New Questline – The Legend of Dead Kel is only part of the story of Gallows End. It intertwines with numerous side quests, multiple dungeons to explore and a colorful cast of characters

New Enemies, Dungeons, Items – Multiple new enemies and enemy variants, a new dungeon type: Dverga Fastings, three new Twists of Fate, eight new armor sets, eight new shields and 18 new unique weapons

The Ultimate Player Housing – Gravehal Keep is more than just player housing, it's a massive estate with multiple buildings and a full retinue of retainers, each with their own back stories, side quests, perks and quirks

Tons more to Explore – The Legend of Dead Kel DLC adds in more than 15% of additional land to traverse and explore in the already massively expansive world that is Amalur

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has gained critical acclaim in its first weeks since launch. Claiming “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will be discussed when Game of the Year 2012 rolls around,” IGN scored Reckoning 9 out of 10. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was brought together by a stellar team of creative minds that joined World Series Champion pitcher and founder of 38 Studios, Curt Schilling, including 24-time New York Times bestselling author R.A. Salvatore who created Amalur’s 10,000-year history, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane who lent his signature visual style to the artistry of the game, and Ken Rolston, internationally celebrated game designer.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning brings open-world exploration and unparalleled action and combat together in the ultimate RPG experience. With near infinite combinations of destinies, abilities, weapons, items and special moves, players are able to customize their play experience to suit any play style. By reweaving their fate, they can retool and totally rebuild their hero in the midst of their adventure. Within Reckoning, players will immerse themselves in a world filled with extraordinary landscapes, mysterious cities, colorful characters and fantastic creatures exploring an entirely new universe where every building, tree, and creature has a clear and defined history.

Developed by 38 Studios, a subsidiary of Big Huge Games in Baltimore, Maryland and 38 Studios in Providence, Rhode Island, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is available now in North America and Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Press assets for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning are available at www.info.ea.com.

About 38 Studios 

38 Studios, LLC, an entertainment and IP creation company founded in 2006 by Curt Schilling, is developing an original fantasy IP driven by the creative and artistic visions of pop-culture icons R. A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane. Entertainment products will include a massively multiplayer online game, novels, comics, toys, console games, movies, TV, and more. For more information, visit www.38studios.com.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is Now Available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore

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BioWare™ a Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), is proud to turn on the servers for the critically-acclaimed Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong & Singapore. Fans in those regions will now be able to experience the award-winning massively multiplayer online game that has captivated millions of fans worldwide on regional servers, giving them better game performance with decreased network latency. Australia’s AusGamers has scored the game at a 95%, saying The Old Republic is “arguably the most complete and polished MMO ever launched.”

“We have been incredibly pleased with the response to the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic from fans and critics, as players are finding that immersive story and personal choice are a real innovation for the genre,” said Dr. Greg Zeschuk, General Manager of the BioWare Label’s MMO Business Unit and Co-Founder of BioWare. “Just as important to our success has been the smoothness of our launch. Now after months of testing, we’re excited to be able to bring both a high quality game experience and service to our fans in the Asia Pacific region.”

Players in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore will be able to choose from the Standard Edition ($79.99 AUD, $89.99 NZD, $389.00 HKD, $64.90 SGD) and the Digital Deluxe Edition ($89.99 AUD, $99.99 NZD, $465.00 HKD, $76.90 SGD) of Star Wars: The Old Republic at participating retailers. The Digital Deluxe Edition is exclusive to Origin.com. Players in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore will also be eligible for the Founder’s medal*, a distinction given to the early members of The Old Republic community.

Set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies, players will be immersed as they team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles reminiscent of the films, exploring a galaxy of vibrant planets and experiencing visceral Star Wars combat. Players join forces with either the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire and choose one of eight iconic Star Wars characters, including the Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Smuggler, Trooper, Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Bounty Hunter and Imperial Agent.

Included with the purchase of every copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic is 30 days of access to the game, after which players can continue to play by subscribing** to the ongoing service. Subscribers will also receive ongoing content such as the recently released Game Update 1.1, Rise of the Rakghouls. For more information on Star Wars: The Old Republic, please visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com, follow the game on Twitter® at http://twitter.com/swtor or “Like” Star Wars: The Old Republic on Facebook® at http://facebook.com/starwarstheoldrepublic. Press assets for Star Wars: The Old Republic are available at www.info.ea.com.

*GOOD ONLY FOR PURCHASES OF STAR WARS™: THE OLD REPUBLIC™ WITH REDEMPTION OF A PURCHASED GAME TIME CODE OR BILLING OF AN ACTIVE GAME RECURRING SUBSCRIPTION WITH AN APPROVED PAYMENT METHOD. VALID WHEREVER GAME IS SOLD. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. CUSTOMERS WILL ACCESS THE ITEM IN-GAME. VIRTUAL ITEM ONLY. ITEM WILL BE APPLIED TO ALL CHARACTERS UNDER USER'S ACCOUNT. PLEASE ALLOW 7 DAYS FOR NOTIFICATION OF DELIVERABLES.

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND – OFFER EXPIRES APRIL 30, 2012 AT 12:01AM EDT; 2:00AM NZDT

HONG KONG and SINGAPORE – OFFER EXPIRES APRIL 29, 2012 AT 9:01PM HKT, 9:01PM SGT

** SUBSCRIPTION PRICING IN AUSTRALIA,NEW ZEALAND, HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE WILL BE $14.99 USD PER MONTH, $41.97 USD FOR THREE MONTHS ($13.99 USD PER MONTH) OR $77.94 FOR SIX MONTHS ($12.99 USD PER MONTH).

About LucasArts 

Founded in 1982 by filmmaker George Lucas, LucasArts is a leading publisher and developer of interactive entertainment. With development facilities in San Francisco and Singapore, LucasArts leverages the global skills, technology and resources of the Lucasfilm family of companies -- including visual effects leader Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm Animation and Skywalker Sound -- in addition to strategic partnerships with best-in-class external partners, to further the boundaries of game development. LucasArts is dedicated to delivering deeply immersive, visually spectacular and engaging experiences that inspire and amaze generations.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

“Life-Ruiningly Fun” Comes to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch with the Launch of The Simpsons: Tapped Out

4:47 PM snip3r42

Simpsons fans, get ready! EA Mobile™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:EA) and the world’s leading mobile games publisher, today announced the launch of The Simpsons: Tapped Out for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. For the first time, fans of TV’s longest-running comedy will be able to recreate Springfield and customize the city any way they want—anywhere they want—with a free app*. To quote Homer from the game: “It's life-ruiningly fun.”

“The Simpsons is the ideal brand to bring laugh-out-loud entertainment to mobile devices”

Written and brought to life by The Simpsons’ award-winning TV writers and animators, the game starts when Homer accidentally causes a meltdown that wipes out Springfield – “D’oh!” It’s up to players to rebuild it and help him find his family and friends.

Players complete a variety of quests to earn virtual money, experience points and even donuts which they can use to customize and expand their Springfields with new buildings, decorations and characters from the show. Players will also enjoy exclusive, never-before-seen animated scenes that are sure to please fans of the show.

"The Simpsons is a beloved entertainment franchise that has continually broken new ground in the new media space, and we are proud to see that level of innovation continue with The Simpsons: Tapped Out," said Peter Levinsohn, President of New Media and Digital Distribution for 20th Century Fox. “Thanks to the ground-breaking work of the creative team at Gracie Films and the top-notch game developers at EA, The Simpsons: Tapped Out brings all the unique comedy that fans have come to expect from The Simpsons to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users everywhere."

In the process of creating their own living, breathing Springfield, players interact with their favorite characters in hilarious new ways, including:

Help Homer find Marge, Bart and the rest of his family and friends! (Ned Flanders, too.) Grow and harvest Tomacco on Cletus’s Farm. Party down with Duffman at Duff Brewery. See how your Indolence, Consumerism, and Gluttony stack up on the Conform-o-meter. Visit friends’ Springfields, play pranks and collect “cash.”

“The Simpsons is the ideal brand to bring laugh-out-loud entertainment to mobile devices,” said Nick Earl, Senior Vice President of Global Social and Mobile Studios, Electronic Arts. “We worked closely with Gracie Films to create a freemium game experience that The Simpsons fans will enjoy playing every day complete with irreverent humor and their favorite characters.”

The Simpsons: Tapped Out is now available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

*Internet connection required to play. Wireless fees may apply. 

About THE SIMPSONS: 

The longest running scripted show in television history, THE SIMPSONS exploded into a cultural phenomenon in 1990 and has remained one of the most groundbreaking and innovative entertainment franchises, recognizable throughout the world. Matt Groening created the iconic family: Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. Currently in its record-annihilating 23nd season, THE SIMPSONS celebrated their historic 500th episode in February 2012. The series has won 27 Emmy Awards, been the subject of a hit feature film, created “Krustyland” and a revolutionary virtual coaster – The Simpsons Ride – at Universal Studios, received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, been honored with five U.S. postal stamps personally designed by Matt Groening, and named the “Best Show of the 20th Century” by Time Magazine.
THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division develops and produces the licensed content for the series. Film Roman is the animation house.

Make Your Rise to Fame in EA’s The Sims 3 Showtime

12:47 AM snip3r42

Stand out from the crowd and let your true performing talents shine! The Maxis label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced that The Sims™3 Showtime Expansion pack* is now available at retailers nationwide and for digital download on PC and Mac. The Sims 3 Showtime is the newest expansion pack to the wildly popular The Sims 3 and gives players a new outlet to play with life in the glamorous world of Starlight Shores. Also available today is the much anticipated The Sims 3 Showtime Katy Perry Collector’s Edition Expansion pack, featuring in-game Katy Perry-themed outfits, props and objects. Sims (characters unique to The Sims) will make their rise to fame in The Sims 3 Showtime as a singer, magician, acrobat or DJ, and build skills necessary to put on a showstopping performance. Honing talents, acquiring crowd approval and showcasing unique skills are just the beginning steps to becoming a mega-star. Sims will also need to navigate the town’s proprietors by auditioning to prove their talents are worthy of the stage. Successful auditions will lead to larger and grander performance venues, where Sims will showcase their skills and ultimately fulfill their fantasies of achieving superstardom.

“The Sims is the world’s most popular life simulation game. It allows you to create and control just about every aspect of life,” says Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims Studio. He continues, “With every game that we build in The Sims Studio, we want to empower players to explore, create, and share their own stories with the world. We believe that The Sims 3 Showtime truly evokes new ways to play with life.”

The Sims 3 Showtime offers more fun for everyone. New to the game is the option for players to fully customize their own performance stages. Fog machines, spotlights and confetti are just a few of the stage props available for players to enhance their Sims’ performance stages. New, extensive areas are ready to explore in the town of Starlight Shores, where players can watch their Sims succeed or epically fail as they transition from one venue to the next. Using new on-stage objects, players are able to further experiment within the performance careers to catapult their Sims to success or bestow the deadly grim reaper upon their fate.

For the first time ever, The Sims 3 introduces connected features into the game. Players will be given the option to log in and connect using their ‘My Page’ account information from www.TheSims3.com. By logging in, players will be able to view their player profile and wall, as well as access various other connected features such as messages to friends, friend requests and an all-new feature, SimPort. The innovative SimPort feature will now enable players to send their Sims on tour to one another’s games. SimPort makes storytelling and sharing experiences with friends simple and fun. The use of SimPort leads to greater rewards, including stamps, simoleans, lifetime happiness and exclusive in-game content.

The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion pack on PC/Mac has a MSRP of $39.99, is rated “T” for Teen and is available in stores and as a digital download nationwide and throughout Europe this week. In addition, The Sims 3 Showtime Katy Perry Collector’s Edition Expansion pack retails for $49.99 and includes special Katy Perry-themed in-game content and an exclusive poster. Also available is The Sims 3 Plus Showtime, which bundles The Sims 3 base game with The Sims 3 Showtime Expansion pack and retails for $49.99.
  *Requires The Sims 3 for PC/Mac to play.

About The Sims 

The Sims™ franchise, the groundbreaking game series that allows players to create and live a virtual, simulated life on a variety of gaming platforms, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2010 and has sold more than 150 million units since its launch in February 2000. Now translated into 20 different languages and available in 60 different countries, The Sims series has quickly become a universal gaming and cultural phenomenon. Since its June 2009 launch, The Sims 3 has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide across multiple platforms and was the #1 best-selling PC title for 2009 in North America and Europe. Fan intensity is evidenced through more than 300 million downloads of player-created content including: The Sims characters, houses, stories and more. The Sims 3 community site, www.thesims3.com, welcomes more than five million unique visitors monthly, handles more than 100 content downloads every minute and more than 3.5 million uploads to date. In addition, The Sims 3 has a broad range of community channels reaching millions of fans daily. The Sims 3 YouTube Channel videos have been viewed more than 70 million times and The Sims 3 global Facebook and Twitter pages have a combined fan base of more than 22 million. Visit The Sims 3 official website to see what the players are creating at www.TheSims3.com or the official YouTube Channel for The Sims at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSims. Join The Sims 3 Facebook and Twitter communities to see what fans have to say about the game at www.facebook.com/thesims3 and www.twitter.com/thesims3. The Sims 3 is available for PC, Mac, iPhone®, iPod touch®, mobile devices, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, Wii™ and Nintendo 3DS™. In August, 2011, The Sims Social browser-based game launched on Facebook and within one month garnered an impressive 50M monthly active users. To play The Sims Social, visit www.facebook.com/TheSimsSocial.

About Electronic Arts 

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company’s game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.

The Sims, The Sims Social and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. “PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS are trademarks of Nintendo. iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owner.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Mass Effect 3 Begins an All-Out Invasion on Retailers across the Galaxy

4:47 PM snip3r42

The first blockbuster game of 2012 has arrived! Mass Effect™ 3 from BioWare, a Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), is now available at retail stores in North America and will be launching in Europe on March 9. The highly anticipated game has been praised by critics for delivering, deep, interactive storytelling and adrenaline-pumping action on a huge scale. Mass Effect 3 has already received perfect scores from a wide variety of outlets around the world, including MSNBC, Game Informer, USA Today, G4 TV, Eurogamer (UK), The Guardian (UK), Official Xbox Magazine (UK), PlayStation Official Magazine (UK), Eurogamer (IT), Game Reactor (Sweden), Atomic Gamer (AUS) and more. Entertainment Weekly declared that “Mass Effect 3 isn’t just one of the videogame events of the year. It’s one of the pop-culture events of the year.”

“Mass Effect 3 isn’t just one of the videogame events of the year. It’s one of the pop-culture events of the year.”

“Mass Effect 3 is the beginning, middle and end of an entire war to save the galaxy – and the team has held nothing back,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder of BioWare and General Manager of EA’s BioWare Label. “The action is more intense and bolder than ever. The level of customization is richer and deeper. The story is incredibly powerful and features the biggest decisions and consequences in the series. Whether you’re a veteran of the series or a new recruit, there’s never been a better time to jump in.”

Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series added, “I’m very proud of what the team has been able to deliver with Mass Effect 3. This is our best work yet, and we cannot wait for fans to finally get their hands on the game and experience Commander Shepard’s journey for themselves.”

Mass Effect 3 thrusts players into an all-out galactic war to save mankind from an ancient alien race known only as the Reapers. Players will assume the role of Commander Shepard, a war-torn veteran who’s willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate this nearly unstoppable foe. With a team of elite soldiers at their side, each player decides how they will take Earth back, from the weapons and abilities they utilize to the relationships they forge or break. Mass Effect 3 also features the Galaxy at War* system, where players will have the option to fight the galactic war on multiple fronts. The system includes the franchise debut of co-operative multiplayer, as well as two iOS-exclusive apps, the cover-based, third-person shooter, Mass Effect Infiltrator, and the Mass Effect 3 Datapad. Progress made in each of these components will directly link back to the player’s main campaign, helping Commander Shepard rally the forces of the galaxy to eliminate the Reaper threat once and for all.

Also today, BioWare released Mass Effect 3: From Ashes. This downloadable content pack is included in the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector’s Edition and Mass Effect 3 Digital Deluxe Edition, and BioWare is now offering this gripping new adventure to all gamers who could not secure a copy of either special edition.
In Mass Effect 3: From Ashes, Commander Shepard will discover an ancient Prothean artifact that could turn the tide in the war to take Earth back. Players will take on a dangerous mission during Earth’s final hours to retrieve this critical piece of lost technology, and travel to a remote human colony to secure the artifact before the shadowy, pro-human organization, Cerberus, captures it for their own plans of domination. This optional content is included in the Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector’s Edition or Mass Effect 3 Digital Deluxe Edition or can be purchased on Xbox LIVE®, PlayStation® Network and PC for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft® Points starting today.

The Mass Effect series is one of the most highly decorated series in the history of games, having earned over 200 international awards to date. Mass Effect 3 is available now on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC in North America and in Europe on March 9, 2012. For more information on Mass Effect 3, please visit http://masseffect.com, follow the game on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect or “like” the game on Facebook at http://facebook.com/masseffect. Press assets for Mass Effect 3 are available at www.info.ea.com.

The Mass Effect Infiltrator App is available for $6.99 from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The Mass Effect 3 Datapad App will available as a free download following the launch of Mass Effect 3.

* The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War feature can be activated via the Online Pass code found in every new copy of Mass Effect 3. The Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War feature can be activated via the Online Pass on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, or via the PC product code found in every new copy of Mass Effect 3.

About BioWare

The BioWare Label is a division of EA which crafts high quality multiplatform role-playing, MMO and strategy games, focused on emotionally engaging, rich stories with unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's most critically acclaimed titles and franchises, including Baldur's Gate™, Neverwinter Nights™, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™, Jade Empire™, Mass Effect™ and Dragon Age™. BioWare currently operates in eight locations across the world, including Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec, Canada), Austin (Texas), Fairfax (Virginia), San Francisco (California), Los Angeles (California), Sacramento (California) and Galway (Ireland).

In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. In 2011 EA created the BioWare Label, alongside EA Games, EA SPORTS™ and EA Play. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/biofeed. To join the millions of fans already registered with the BioWare community, go to http://social.bioware.com.
About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company's game franchises are offered as both packaged goods products and online services delivered through Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones and tablets. EA has more than 100 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.

In fiscal 2011, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster franchises such as The Sims™, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed™, Battlefield, and Mass Effect™. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.

BioWare, Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and Dragon Age are trademarks of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. EA SPORTS, The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. iPad, iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Free games on offer for BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 users

8:47 AM snip3r42

 . Apps, Blackberry Playbook apps, BlackBerry PlayBook, PlayBook apps, Gameloft, Gaming 0

Research in Motion has announced that, as a celebration of PlayBook OS 2.0 finally landing, all upgraded users can nab themselves a couple of Gameloft games free of charge.

The titles on offer are Asphalt 6 Adrenaline HD and Modern Combat 2 Black Pegasus HD and you've got until 20 June to claim your free copies.

The move is the latest in a long line of offers and promotions to try to build a more substantial user base for the 7-inch slate.

In January, Research in Motion cut the price of its struggling tablet amid reports of poor sales. Back in September it was revealed that RIM was struggling with sales of the 7-incer, with just 200,000 shipped to shops in the previous quarter. The following month the phone giant took action by offering free PlayBooks in the US and Canada with a buy two get one free deal.

The Canadian company must be praying that PlayBook OS 2.0 is enough to steady the sinking ship. It brings native email, contacts and calendar support - something that has been missing from the device since its launch in 2011.

The update also adds the ability to run Android Apps from developers who have submitted amended code.
Whether these features prove enough of a lure to tempt people away from iOS and Android remains to be seen though.

PS Vita hits 1.2 million sales worldwide

12:47 AM snip3r42



Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that worldwide sales of its PlayStation Vita handheld console have now exceeded 1.2 million units. In addition, more than 2 million pieces of software for the device have been sold, both at retail and on the PlayStation Network.

Of course, it will have to go some to top the sales figures of its predecessor, the PSP, which has sold more than 71 million units in just over seven years. But Sony can be reasonably proud of its initial results, considering that the PS Vita is a high-performing, high-quality piece of kit, launched during a global monetary recession.

Certainly, Andrew House, president and group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, is upbeat. "PS Vita was designed to deliver the ultimate portable entertainment experience, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the reaction we’re seeing from consumers and the pace at which PS Vita is selling," he says.

"The market has responded and there is clear demand for a mobile device capable of providing a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context.

"To sustain momentum, we’re working closely with 3rd party developers and publishers to ensure the best games and franchises possible will be available on PS Vita, and our software line up for the remainder of 2012 will have something for everyone across the globe."

It's definitely been a critical success, with a vast majority of reviews, Pocket-lint's included, singing its praises - especially when it comes to hardcore gaming.

The initial sales figures don't quite match those of the Nintendo 3DS, which sold more than 3.5 million in around six weeks after its Japanese launch, but we suspect that Sony is playing the long game. Game support will be key and Sony claims that more than 70 new titles are in development for the handheld.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Durango: Xbox 720 gets a codename?

4:47 PM snip3r42

Durango, that's the new codename for the next generation of Xbox according to several sources slowly ring to the top of the pile on the internet at the moment.

The name has been cropping up all over the place for those looking closely. First there was a story on gaming website Kotaku, then a deleted tweet from a Crytek game developer (they of Crisis and Timesplitters 2 fame).

The new Tweet is the most interesting of the bunch though as it suggested there was a secret developer summit under way in London for the new console.



“Enjoying the Durango developers summit in London. So far, great swag and interesting talks,” said Sean Tracy, from Crytek before deleting his gaff.

Rumours have been circling for some time that Microsoft has already started working on the next-generation device, previously dubbed the Xbox 720, although the company has been keen to state that the Xbox 360 still has plenty of life left in it.

The Xbox 720 or project Durango is expected to debut at this years E3 gaming conference in June.
What's key here is that Microsoft has a tendency to codename its next -eneration projects after cities and Durango fits the bill. Before the Microsoft Kinect was launched it was known as Project Natal, a town in Brazil.

Pinball Arcade review (Android and iOS)

8:47 AM snip3r42

Pinball arcade

It’s back to games today on App of the Day, and here is one that you can play on both Android and iPhone. You can certainly play on your mobile phone but, if you happen to own a tablet that works on either OS, then your luck is really in.

Think The Who. Think Tommy. Think Elton John and Tina Turner. Think Brooke Shields and think Tilt. Think Batman, the Simpsons, Indiana Jones, think any big movie you can think of. Think nudging, trapping, enormous multipliers, scores in the tens of millions, ramps, slides, spinners and bumpers because, today, we’re playing pinball.

Pinball Arcade isn’t just a game. It’s a mission. That mission is to recreate exact digital replicas of the greatest pinball machines of all time featuring those made by Bally, Williams, Stern and Gottlieb - who, frankly, we’ve never heard of but are presuming were the big players in the pinball machine-making fraternity of the time - down to the bumper, flipper, sound effect and pixel. Ambitious.

The app, which is free on Android and cheap on iOS, starts you off with three or four of these old school machines to enjoy and gives a brief history and tutorial on each one so that you know not only why each is significant in pinball history but how to play them like a pro.



The controls are simple enough. Swipe down on the lever to pull it back and release and then it’s a matter of tapping the left or right hand side of the screen to activate the flippers on that particular side. Tapping at the top corners will nudge.

Pinball Arcade is fun, addictive and everything an app should be. Yhe added information, the mission and the tutorials add a depth that make it more than just a casual to throw away after a week or two. Even if you’re no pinball aficionado, it’s something you’ll enjoy.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Assassin's Creed III first trailer hits the web

4:47 PM snip3r42

Last week Ubisoft revealed the official title of Assassin's Creed III (or Assassin's Creed 3, as the company also writes it) and now we have the first action from the game, courtesy of its first trailer.

Set during the time of the American Revolution in the late 18th century the game apparently offers gamers the chance "to experience the American Revolutionary War not written about in history books" and features a new hero - Ratohnak: ton of Native American and English heritage.



"Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars," explains Ubisoft.

"Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylised and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date. Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army."

Powered by the new Ubisoft-AnvilNext engine its makers are promising "a revolutionary new game engine that delivers breakthroughs in visual quality, character models and artificial intelligence".

"Whether you’re a longtime fan of Assassin’s Creed or if you’re new to the franchise, you’re going to be blown away by the scale and marvel of Assassin’s Creed III," said Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft.

Landing on 31 October, the game will hit the Xbox 360, the PS3, PC and is also in development for the Wii U.

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