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BioShock franchise reaches major milestone with more than seven million units sold globally

March 5, 2010 – 2K Games announced today that the Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack, the first in a series of single and multiplayer downloadable content for BioShock®2, will be available on March 11, 2010 from both the Xbox®LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows®-LIVE for 400 Microsoft Points, and from the PlayStation®Network for $4.99.

BioShock 2 has already shipped over three million units worldwide just four weeks after its release – cementing its place as one of 2010’s blockbuster games. Additionally, the original BioShock has now sold more than four million units globally since its release in August 2007, bringing the total sales of the franchise to seven million units.

Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack, the first of several planned downloadable packages, contains a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2’s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience. The pack includes:
• Rank increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
• New playable characters – Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
• 20 new trials*
• A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
• Five additional masks*

*Some items are only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher.

Announcements about additional downloadable content for BioShock 2 that will extend the game’s single player and multiplayer experience will be made in the coming weeks.

BioShock 2 is available now for the Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows-LIVE and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

For more information on BioShock 2 please visit www.bioshock2game.com, www.cultofrapture.com and www.somethinginthesea.com.
2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

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CONTACT:

Charlie Sinhaseni
2K Games
(415) 507-7586
pr@2kgames.com

Chase
Access Communications for 2K Games
415-844-6289
chase@accesspr.com

5th March 2010, London, UK: Origin8 are pleased to announce a major update to their hit iPhone/iPod Touch tower defense sequel “Sentinel 2: Earth Defense”. Version 1.4, now in submission, enables downloadable content as well as providing free enhancements to the base game. Expansion Pack One, priced at $0.99 or regional equivalent, will be available as an in-app purchase upon approval.

Free content features:
- One menacing new enemy unit, integrated into all existing campaign maps.
- A new Sentinel ship weapon, the ION bomb, providing a spectacular explosion and damage over time.
- Two new missions based on existing campaign maps.
- New OpenFeint achievements.
- Bug fixes and balance tweaks for existing missions.

Expansion Pack One features:
- Two new maps, Barracks and Overpass, both with unique mechanics and challenging layouts.
- A tough new enemy present on DLC maps only.
- Three new missions based on DLC maps.
- OpenFeint leaderboards and achievements for the new maps and missions.

Sentinel 2: Earth Defense is the critically acclaimed sequel to Sentinel: Mars Defense, and has been a constant presence in the App Store Strategy and Action games charts since its release in June 2009. For more information, screenshots, video, and a round up of press and reviews visit http://www.origin8.com/sentinel2. Sentinel 2: Earth Defense is available from the iTunes App Store for $2.99 or regional equivalent at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sentinel-2-earth-defense/id320388936?mt=8

About us: Origin8 is an innovative mobile developer based in London, UK. With an experienced team whose credits cover a vast number of gaming platforms, they specialise in games and entertainment for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. Origin8’s acclaimed products include “Sentinel: Mars Defense”, one of Apple’s App Store Anniversary top 30 games.

Press and media contact: pr@origin8.com
Website: http://www.origin8.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/origin8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/origin8

English version of space drama in US and Canadian retail stores; IGS to handle U.S. retail distribution

WÜRSELEN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 19, 2010 – Egosoft, a Germany-based game developer since 1990, announced today the PC version of X3: Gold Edition is now available at top U.S. and Canadian retailers. North American distribution is being handled by Interactive Gaming Software.

“The X3 series, including X3: Reunion and X3: Terran Conflict, has been consistently successful in Europe in several languages and it was time to bring this special edition our space adventure games to North American markets,” said Bernd Lehahn, CEO of Egosoft. “We’ve bundled these two titles and other assets into one package which offers PC gamers hours of gameplay fun.”

The X3: Gold Edition includes:
X3: Reunion 2.5 including the Bala GI Missions
X3: Terran Conflict 2.5 including The Aldrin Missions
X3: Terran Conflict Soundtrack CD
X-Universe Personal Uplink access, part of EgoSoft’s online community, allows players to compare their X-Universe statistics with one another.

The X3: Gold Edition is rated “T” for “teen” by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Review Board).

Games Overviews

Egosoft’s games take place in the X universe – a far-flung universe populated by a number of alien races with their own agenda. The X-Universe is a living vibrant place with fast-flying space ships and colorful and deadly battle sequences. The player can Trade, Fight, Build, and Think their way to universal domination.

X3: Reunion begins in 2935 AD, eons after an ancient and long-dead species left behind a mysterious machine. The space drama quickly unfolds as Yaki pirates search the universe for this machine and for mysterious relics. The warring Kha’ak continue their aggressive attacks on the Argon fleet which is now stretched to its limit. Can you change the course of history?

X3: Terran Conflict 2.5 offers players the choice to play as a pilot of various X-Universe races and embark on exciting adventures spanning the largest X-Universe yet. Terran Conflict features a host of engaging storylines which the player can choose to get involved with or ignore. There are new Terran resources, stations, ships, and sectors for the player to discover and help to shape the future of the Terran frontier.

Egosoft’s Player Community and Game Updates

Egosoft regularly updates game content, improves game quality and offers competitions. Players can follow these updates and learn more about the vibrant community by reading the X-Universe newsletter at http://www.egosoft.com/news/current_en.php or viewing and participating in the Egosoft forums at http://forum.egosoft.com/index.php.

Technical Specifications

Microsoft® Windows® XP (SP-2), Vista SP1™
CPU: Pentium® IV or AMD® equivalent at 2.0 GHz
1 GB RAM
256 MB 3D DirectX® 9 comparable video card (not onboard) with Pixel Shader 1.1 support.
Soundcard (Surround Sound support recommended)
10 GB free hard disk space
DVD-ROM Drive
Mouse and Keyboard or Joystick (optional support for force-feedback) or Gamepad.

X3: Gold Edition is available for $19.95 in the U.S. at Best Buy, Gamestop, Frys, Microcenter, Amazon, New Egg, Gogamer, and Nebraska Furniture Mart. The game is available in Canada at EB Games and Best Buy for $29.99. For more information about X3: Gold Edition, visit www.egosoft.com and www.igs-games.com.

Trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Truck and Sim-enthusiasts throughout the country are busy discussing the launch of UK Truck Simulator in forums and Facebook groups. Many of them cannot wait to get their hands on a copy.

The drivers will discover UK routes through cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburg and Newcastle to name only a few. Previous players will recognise the object of this Sim from the previous versions: You will gain experience working as a UK haulage contractor ensuring your deliveries are on time, your truck isn’t damaged and keeping an eye on fuel consumption, with the aim being to build up your own business.

With Euro Truck Simulator hitting 9th place of Chart Track’s PC Entertainment Chart in 2008, Excalibur Publishing Ltd are looking for a similar reaction

Robert Stallibrass of Excalibur Publishing says: “When Euro Truck Simulator landed in the Top 10 PC Charts we were ecstatic. Not only did it prove that niche games find a broader appeal in the market but also gave us the enthusiasm to work with SCS, the developers , to make a UK version. Looking at the forums it seems that driving on the right hand side of British roads is appealing to more than just the UK gamers, which is fantastic.”

The latest trailer can be viewed at:
http://www.contactsales.co.uk/video/UKTruckSimulator_trailer2_low.wmv

The product will retail at £29.99, is available on pre-order now at www.excalibur-publishing.com and will officially hit the shelves in all major game retailers today.

Excalibur Publishing Ltd.
For further information please contact Robert Stallibrass on Tel: 01869 338833.
For more information on our products, please visit our website us at
www.excalibur-publishing.com

Munich, Germany, February 10, 2010

The time has come to fight in epic battles! The online games publisher burda:ic officially launched Avalon Heroes today, a thrilling online RTS RPG from the developer Wemade/Movon, and a real feast for all fans of the genre. The official PC client at www.avalonheroes.alaplaya.net is just a few clicks away; players get to download it and immediately join breathtaking battles for free. At the same time, the Electronic Sports League (ESL) starts in all of Europe. An ideal moment for the introduction of a new eSport hit!

Avalon Heroes offers a stunning combination of real-time strategy and role playing with competitive elements, as previously seen in the game modification “DotA”. The free-to-play online strategy game already offers plenty of new contents: Six new heroes, a battle mode map, a new chapter in scenario mode for both factions, and two supplementary maps in the adventure mode are provided to real-time strategists and role players at no cost.

Besides the first 36 of 100 unique heroes, a total of four single player scenario modes per faction, five adventure mode raid challenges and five battle mode maps for exciting tournaments are now available.

For more information about Avalon Heroes, please visit the official website at www.avalonheroes.alaplaya.net. The online RTS RPG in the European ESL is found at www.esl.eu/eu/avalonheroes.

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About alaplaya
The free multiplayer games portal offers top-quality games such as Audition, Fantasy Tennis, S4 League, Florensia, and Avalon Heroes. Another game, Land of Chaos Online, is currently in the making. Meanwhile, more than 4 million users are already playing alaplaya games. The portal is offered in eight languages; the games run in all of Europe including Turkey, some of them even in Russia as well as North and South America, at www.alaplaya.net.

About burda:ic GmbH
burda:ic GmbH is a publisher of PC online games, marketing and running massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) in EMEA as well as North and South America, including Ragnarok Online and Florensia. burda:ic also builds interactive gamer communities such as alaplaya.net. www.burda-ic.com

About ESL
With over 2.3 million registered members and more than 570,000 registered teams, the Electronic Sports League (ESL) is the largest and most prominent league for computer gamers in Europe. Founded by Turtle Entertainment GmbH in the year 2000, ESL provides a platform with more than 3,500 leagues and games from all genres, and currently some 220,000 matches played each month. The ESL website counts more than 1.1 million unique visitors and over 10,000 new registrations each month. For more information, please visit www.esl.eu.

Press contact

Dirk Gärtner
Gärtner PR
Destouchesstr. 68
D-80796 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)89 – 30766856
Mobile: +49 (0)151 – 15166249
E-mail: dg@gaertner-pr.de

Battlefield Heroes Introduces Vampires and Werewolves to the Battlefield!

The world is obsessed with blood-sucking demons and vicious werewolves, and so are we! Battlefield Heroes™, the hit Play 4 Free third-person shooter has been invaded by vampires and werewolves. In a special month long event, the many millions of Heroes who have perished on the battlefield can be brought back to life. Anyone can fight alongside these preternatural beings but to become one players must purchase the all-new outfits as a special bundle on the website or as separate items in the in-game store. Once-dead Nationals can be transformed into blood-sucking vampires and Royals into teeth bearing werewolves. Three existing maps have been converted to an eerie night setting to set the stage for an epic battle between these immortal enemies.

With endless hours of signature Battlefield sandbox action and a built-in matchmaking system to ensure new and old players of equal skill levels are paired together for fair play, Battlefield Heroes is EA’s popular web-based free to download, free to play title.

Players can quickly download and easily launch the game from http://www.battlefieldheroes.com. Character customization and upgrade items are available for Valor Points (points earned by playing the game) or with Battlefunds (a fictional currency bought with a credit card, PayPal or other methods such as SMS) so players can change or upgrade their hero at any time.

Battlefield Heroes is rated “T” by the ESRB and “16+” by PEGI. For more information on the game, please visit www.battlefieldheroes.com or www.ea.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bfheroes.

‘THE DOG’ LAUNCHES ON IPHONE

Puppies with pulling power

Smash hit puppy brand ‘The Dog’ is unleashed on the iPhone

Manchester, February 9th 2010 – Connect2Media has today launched ‘The Dog’, a new iPhone and iPod Touch app that lets players go ‘walkies’ with a collection of lovable puppy playmates that live inside your device.

Based on the iconic puppy photography brand, the application offers five adorable puppy breeds that require lots of love and attention from their new owner. Using the devices’ touch screen control, players must groom, wash, train and play with their new canine friends to keep them happy. The app includes five adorable puppy breeds including Labrador, Yorkie, Boxer, German Shepherd and Beagle.

Sporting The Dog’s close-up photographic style, the app is the closest you will get to owning a real dog without any of the mess, walks on cold days or chewed furniture. You will have lots of fun getting to know your puppy and exploring the game world together. Take a walk to the park, run around in the garden, go and play on the beach or enter dog shows. With The Dog, the choice is all yours.

Help your furry friend get comfy in their new home by customising it with items from the store. You can buy new gear, treats and toys for your puppy at the store, from coloured collars to frisbees and bouncy balls. Connect on Facebook and send toys and treats to your friends to give to their puppies in The Dog. Find hidden objects, take your puppy for walks and compete in competitions to earn even more cash to spend.

A statistics tool allows you to follow their progression and you can even share your achievements with friends across Facebook. Will you be the best dog owner of the bunch?

Keep your puppy groomed, exercised, fed and happy and it will love you forever!

GAME FEATURES:

• A choice of FIVE dog breeds to choose from

• Shower your dog with love, make your puppies look great, care for them and have lots of fun together

• Teach your puppy skills and tricks through touch screen gestures in the most realistic and intelligent dog simulator available

• Each puppy displays its own unique characteristics

• Practice and use your skills in different environments including the home, the beach, the garden, the park and train for competitions that test you and your dog in true teamwork

• Customize your home and garden

• Purchase additional items, toys and food for your puppy at the pet store

• Follow their progression using the stats tool and even share your achievements with friends on Facebook

• Achievements to unlock, mini games to play and competitions to master

Stephen Hey, Marketing Director, Connect2 media said “The Dog images are hugely recognised and well loved around the world. We wanted to create a level of interaction with its fans that brings them closer to the dogs than ever before. We are confident ‘The Dog’ on the iPhone will not only offer that level of interaction missing from other Dog simulators, but also give the owner the opportunity to collect all the breeds on offer.”

The Dog is available for $4.99/€3.99/£2.99 via the following iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-dog/id343605515?mt=8

Tuesday 9th February/… Official strategy guide expert, BradyGames, has launched the BioShock 2 Signature Series Guide – the ultimate accessory for the critically-acclaimed first-person shooter that is released worldwide today. BradyGames’ official strategy guide is the only choice for gamers looking to uncover all the secrets held within the dark halls of Rapture, and has an RRP of £12.99 for the Signature Series book and £19.99 for the Limited Edition hardcover that includes exclusive lithographs.

Ten years have passed since the death of Andrew Ryan and Rapture’s subsequent fall into a state of corruption and despair. And once again the halls of Rapture echo with the sins of the past. A monster has been snatching little girls off the Atlantic coast and bringing them to the once great underwater Utopia.

You are Subject Delta, one of the first Big Daddies to be successfully bonded with a Little Sister – forgotten for a decade. Now you must make your way through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival.

The only officially-licensed, 256-page Signature Series strategy guide (Limited Edition is 272-pages) features a comprehensive walkthrough of the entire single-player campaign; extensive area maps including the location of every secret, safe and enhancement; in-depth listings of all items, weapons and Plasmids; expert multiplayer maps and tactics so that gamers can dominate online; full Achievements and Trophies listed; and with the hardcover Limited Edition Guide also offering one of two sets of 8×10 lithographs of stunning BioShock 2-themed art bundled with each hardcover guide.

Get In The Diver Suit!
Step into the shoes of a Big Daddy and use the guide to explore the ruins and uncover the secrets of this underwater metropolis. Use the information gathered within these pages to locate invaluable vending machines, find Little Sisters, and punish the deadliest foes in Rapture.

Join The Battle For Rapture!
Use the deep multiplayer strategy and maps to go head to head with other Splicers. Learn the locations of valuable power-ups and where Big Daddy suits spawn so you can destroy your opposition.

Equip Big Daddy Weaponry!
Rev up your Big Daddy Drill, blast your enemies with the Rivet Gun, and lay waste to Splicers with the vast array of Plasmids and Tonics at your disposal.

Put Rapture’s Residents To Rest!
Discover the backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses and bonuses for researching the dark city’s gene splicing denizens.

Written by two of the videogames industry’s most highly respected guide authors, Doug Walsh and Phillip Marcus, in direct collaboration with 2K Games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC, the official BioShock 2 Signature Series guide provides a vital toolset for gamers to survive the horrors that await within the crumbling walls of Rapture.

Ends.

The world’s most popular super-powered hero MMORPG continues to delight players with its new super-powered graphics, content and game enhancements coming with Issue 17 “Dark Mirror” this April. The free update includes a superior graphics rendering process, dubbed “Ultra Mode,” that will give City of Heroes a new look and feel with a heightened level of detail in lighting, reflections, shadows and water effects. Ultra Mode will be scalable to ensure that all City of Heroes fans can enjoy their favorite comic-inspired game.

In addition to Ultra Mode enhancements, as part of Issue 17 players will confront a new and nefarious foe who will be able to match them blow for blow. Other features within Issue 17 “Dark Mirror” include:
• New badges, new missions and new player emotes
• Epic Archetypes now available at level 20
• Improvements and additions to Mission Architect
• Enhancements to UI and game systems
• And dozens more

As players embark on the last major update to City of Heroes before the highly anticipated Going Rogue expansion, NCsoft is giving players a chance to enjoy early access to two Going Rogue power sets. Beginning March 2, players who pre-purchase City of Heroes Going Rogue (MSRP $29.99 USD) will be given immediate early access to the Dual Pistols power set, and access to the Demon Summoning power set starting in April.

Additionally, gamers new to the City of Heroes franchise can purchase the City of Heroes Going Rogue: Complete Collection (MSRP $39.99 USD), which includes City of Heroes, City of Villains and City of Heroes Going Rogue, as well as 30 days of free game time. Those who purchase this bundle at retail will be rewarded with the Complete Collection Item Pack featuring the following bonus items:
• Alpha- and Omega-themed auras
• Alpha and Omega themed costumed sets
• Four stance emotes
• The Shadowy Presence invisibility power

City of Heroes fans will get their chance to explore the grey area between heroism and villainy in Going Rogue this July with the beta beginning in the Spring.

For more information about City of Heroes as well as the upcoming Going Rogue expansion please visit http://www.cityofheroes.com.

About NCsoft
NCsoft, headquartered in Seoul, Korea, is the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games, including the critically acclaimed Aion®, Lineage®, Guild Wars®, City of Heroes® and Exteel® franchises. NCsoft West is a division of NCsoft that holds operating responsibilities for North America, Europe, South America, and Australia/New Zealand. More information can be found at http://us.ncsoft.com

Farm Frenzy 2 expands Alawar Entertainment’s flagship farm genre creating series to the iPhone, iPad and Macintosh platforms making it one of the most platform diverse casual games of all time.

Alexandria, VA – Before there was Farmville, Farm Town, Barn Buddy, Ranch Rush or any of the other clones that came after it, software developers from Alawar Melesta in 2006 came up with a unique game play genre where players could help a lonely farmer turn a run-down farmstead into a rich, flourishing agricultural complex.. Farm Frenzy and the entire farm game boom was born. Three years later the Farm Frenzy franchise continues its steady growth by expanding its popular Farm Frenzy 2 title to the iPhone, iPad and Macintosh platforms.

“The Mac devices have never been the first choice for hardcore gamers”, said Kirill Plotnikov, VP of Publishing for Alawar Entertainment, “but casual games are different. Farm Frenzy 2 has been a huge success for the PC gaming enthusiast and we get requests almost daily to bring the game to other platforms.”

The Farm Frenzy series has spawned three primary titles (Farm Frenzy 1-3) and three add-on games including Farm Frenzy 2 : Pizza Party, Farm Frenzy 3: American Pie and Farm Frenzy 3: Ice Age. This is also the second of the series to be ported to the iPhone platform, with the first . Farm Frenzy occupying the top sales spots in several markets; in the U.K., it was among the top three best-selling applications, and it came in first in several markets in Eastern Europe and Asia. On the U.S. App Store, Farm Frenzy became one of the top 20 most popular applications overall.

Farm Frenzy 2 expands on the series with:
• Five kinds of store products
• Four varieties of animals
• Four types of marauding bears
• 12 structures with three types of upgrades
• 16 types of products for manufacturing
• 17 hilarious gags
• 19 trophies

In 2009, Farm Frenzy 2 received the prestigious iParenting Media Award, which recognized the title as the best computer game for families and children.

Farm Frenzy 2 is available for the iPhone or iPod touch for $2.99 and can be found listed in the iTunes app store under Arcade and Simulation games. The app is rated 4+ and is compatible with OS version 3.0 and higher.

About Alawar Entertainment
Founded in 1999, Alawar Entertainment specializes in the development, publication and distribution of casual games, reaching audiences in over 60 countries worldwide. The company is the leading distributor of casual titles in Eastern Europe and has published more than 200 casual PC games globally, including some of the industry’s leading downloadable series like Farm Frenzy®, Craze® and The Treasures of Montezuma®. Alawar recently extended its offerings onto the iPhone™, PLAYSTATION® 3, Nintendo DS™ and Mac® gaming platforms, and in 2010 plans to enter the social games and MMO markets as well as expand onto other leading-edge platforms. Visit www.alawar.com for more information.

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