PlayStation®Plus turns up the heat this July

SYDNEY, Monday 24^th June -  Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) has confirmed the July line-up for PlayStation®Plus (PS Plus) will include hit titles Battlefield 3™ for PlayStation®3 (PS3™) and Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita), available to members from July 4^th in Australia.

Step into the role of an elite U.S. Marine in Battlefield 3™ on PS3 and experience heart-pounding single player missions and competitive multiplayer action across diverse locations from around the globe. Tackle combat on claustrophobic streets, metropolitan downtowns, and varied landscapes in the US, Europe, and Middle East. Powered by the innovative technology of Frostbite 2, Battlefield 3 takes the thrill of a first person shooter to a whole new level.

With PAYDAY™ The Heist, you are tasked to ‘cash in before you cash out’ in this action filled first person shooter game for the PlayStation®Network. Players take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”. Navigate diverse urban settings with three partners in crime—controlled by either A.I. or your best buddies in co-op multiplayer. Load out with an array of weaponry and equipment as you embark on a spectacular crime spree through six high-stake heists, including banks robberies, prisoner extractions and armoured car hijackings.

Enter gang territory in open world action-adventure Saints Row: The Third on PS3. Years after taking Stilwater for their own, the Third Street Saints have evolved from street gang to household brand name with Saints sneakers, Saints energy drinks and Johnny Gat bobble head dolls all available at a store near you. The Syndicate, a legendary criminal fraternity with pawns in play all over the globe, has turned its eye on the Saints and demands tribute. Refusing to kneel to the Syndicate, you take the fight to a new city.

If it is gaming on-the-go you’re after, grab your PS Vita and get stuck into one of the highest rated action games of all time that is now back and better than ever. Experience a new way to play Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus with motion and touch controls, lots of content, and new challenges to test even the toughest ninja. For centuries, the Dragon Ninjas have protected the world and kept safe the most powerful weapons: the Dark Dragon Blade and the Dragon Sword, but now a powerful evil arises that will test the might of the ninjas. Take Dragon Sword in hand as the young Ryu Hayabusa, and journey to the farthest reaches of the world and beyond to cut down the malevolent fiends!

Prepare to join the ultimate special forces squad in Unit 13™ on PS Vita. Your next deployment could take you anywhere, at any time. Play through scenarios that echo real-life news headlines and infiltrate some of the most challenging war zones a soldier can ever face. Offering dual analog control, Unit 13™ delivers constant pinpoint precision in the heat of battle. With a new mission sent to your PS Vita system every single day, there’s always a fresh challenge waiting to be met head-on.

PS Plus provides members with access to top-rated games* on PS3 and PS Vita throughout the course of their subscription.  PS Plus members also receive an array of exclusive features and access, including 2GB cloud storage (1G for PS3 & 1G for PS Vita ) for game saves which will be welcomed by subscribers keen to take advantage of the Instant Game Collection. Automatic updates and beta access, as well as a huge collection of exclusive dynamic themes and PlayStation®Network avatars, makes PS Plus the place to be in 2013.

A PS Plus subscription is AUD$19.95 for a 90 day subscription or AUD$69.95 for a one-year subscription.

*Top-rated is based on a meta-critic rating of 70+

Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Z -- The Ultimate Brawl Trailer

NEW SUPER LUIGI U OUT NOW ON NINTENDO eSHOP‏

21^st June 2013 – With the Year of Luigi in full flow the spotlight is firmly on Luigi, the man in green, who takes over from Mario in New Super Luigi U, in his own platform adventure exclusively on Wii U. Luigi and friends battle their way through over 80 brand new courses all tweaked to be even more challenging and exciting! This game is now available as Add-On Content for New Super Mario Bros. U via Nintendo eShop* and will be available in stores as a standalone game in Australia and New Zealand from 27^th July.

New Super Luigi U tests the capabilities of seasoned gamers and fans of the series, with the simple act of travelling to the Goal Pole at the end of each course remixed with seemingly improbable jumps, formidably hidden Star Coins and all with just a time limit of 100 seconds to do it in! Whilst each course is challenging, they are designed with densely packed features to invite you to replay each one of your best performance.

With Mario taking a break in this twist on New Super Mario Bros. U, Luigi takes centre stage bringing a set of skills that change the way you play! For instance, Luigi can jump much higher and further than Mario, and is able to cross chasms and reach platforms that Mario never could in a single jump. Players better watch out though as Luigi finds it a lot harder to stop once he starts moving…  

Take on the challenge with friends in multiplayer in New Super Luigi U, where players can join Luigi as Yellow Toad, Blue Toad or Nabbit – a character first seen in New Super Mario Bros. U – and now playable for the first time! Nabbit brings his own nifty skills to the table; he is invincible which will make life easier with enemies and obstacles, and any items he collects are converted into 1-Ups at the end of the course. Nabbit is perfect for beginners and when paired with Luigi, he offers a whole new multiplayer experience. Or join in with Boost Mode and help Luigi to reach new areas and jump further by dropping blocks into the course with the Wii U GamePad touch screen for the ultimate speed run!

New Super Luigi U is now available via the Nintendo eShop* as Add-On Content for owners of the digital and disc versions of New Super Mario Bros. U – and will also be available at retail as a stand-alone game disc on 27^th July.

*An available update is required for New Super Mario Bros. U to download the AOC version. A wireless broadband Internet connection is required to perform this update. Internet usage charges may apply. Consult with your ISP."

The LEGO Movie - Trailer

Spartacus Legends -- The will of the mob

The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot Bloopers

SYDNEY – June 20th, 2013 – Ubisoft® has showcased a brand new video for The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot. Ubisoft Montreal’s free-to-play title puts players in an outrageous medieval fantasy world where wealth, status and showboating are the name of the game.

To celebrate the closed beta and the end of E3, Sir Painhamer takes players behind the scene of the video that made him famous in what he calls “making a masterpiece”. Besides the new exclusive footage a magical surprise awaits players at the end

To register for the closed beta and to have ongoing updates about the game, please visit the official website: www.themightyquest.com.

Changes to the way XBOX ONE works

Letter from Don Matrick, Head of XBOX.


Last week at E3, the excitement, creativity and future of our industry was on display for a global audience.

For us, the future comes in the form of Xbox One, a system designed to be the best place to play games this year and for many years to come. As is our heritage with Xbox, we designed a system that could take full advantage of advances in technology in order to deliver a breakthrough in game play and entertainment. We imagined a new set of benefits such as easier roaming, family sharing, and new ways to try and buy games. We believe in the benefits of a connected, digital future. 

Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One. 

You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc. The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world.

So, today I am announcing the following changes to Xbox One and how you can play, share, lend, and resell your games exactly as you do today on Xbox 360. Here is what that means:

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.
  

• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.
  

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console -- there will be no regional restrictions. 

These changes will impact some of the scenarios we previously announced for Xbox One. The sharing of games will work as it does today, you will simply share the disc. Downloaded titles cannot be shared or resold. Also, similar to today, playing disc based games will require that the disc be in the tray. 

We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.

Thank you again for your candid feedback. Our team remains committed to listening, taking feedback and delivering a great product for you later this year.