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SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ –
Increasing its library of local music from around the world this month, Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero(R) World Tour - which features on-disc songs from top global acts such as Tokio Hotel, Hushpuppies and Radio Futura - is offering new three-song Track Packs of downloadable content from popular European bands including Germany’s Sportfreunde Stiller, France’s BB Brunes and Spain’s Fito Y Fitipaldis.

Following their home country’s disappointing 2006 World Cup elimination, German rock band Sportfreunde Stiller re-wrote their chart-topping hit “‘54, ‘74, ‘90, 2006″ in anticipation of a 2010 championship, re-titled it “‘54, ‘74, ‘90, 2010″ and are bringing it to Guitar Hero World Tour as part of a three-song Track Pack available today.

Also included in the pack and further expanding the global audience are Italian rock band Negrita with “Mama Mae” and French rock sensation BB Brunes with “Dis Moi.”

Swedish rock icons the Backyard Babies, whose Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock on-disc track “Minus Celsius” saw an increase in digital audio downloads after appearing in the game, are building on the success for an encore with “Degenerated” off their 2008 self-titled album.

Joining the Backyard Babies in the second three-song Track Pack to be released later this month are Spanish rockers Fito Y Fitipaldis with “Por La Boca Vive El Pez” and Netherlands’ beloved Di-Rect with “Johnny.”

The two Track Packs will be available on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 440 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation(R)Store for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system for $5.49. The songs in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection for Wii(TM) for 200 Wii Points.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com.

LucasArts today announced that it has released a new single-player level for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Available now for Xbox 360 owners through Xbox LIVE Marketplace and for PlayStation 3 owners through the PlayStation Network, the level features The “Secret Apprentice” in an entirely new mission set in the Jedi Temple on the planet Coruscant. The Secret Apprentice travels to the Jedi Temple to learn more about his father, and while searching through the rubble of the destroyed building he must confront his inner demons.

Bundled with the single-player level are nine new costumes, which allow gamers to play through the game disguised as several new characters, including:
• Apprentice’s Temple Exploration Gear
• Apprentice - Cybernetic Reconstruction
• Apprentice’s Sith Training Gear
• Mace Windu
• Darth Maul
• Qui-Gon Jinn
• Dark Stalker
• Lightsaber Training Droid
• Combat Training Droid

In addition, LucasArts also released a new stand-alone costume pack which includes:
• Apprentice’s Utility Combat Suit
• Apprentice – Animated
• Spirit Apprentice
• Republic Trooper
• Luke Skywalker – Tatooine Gear
• Ben Kenobi
• Plo Koon
• Count Dooku
• Jango Fett
• C-3P0

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released on September 16, and has since become a worldwide hit. The game completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force and casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice,” unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy seen through the eyes of this mysterious new character armed with unprecedented powers.

More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.theforceunleashed.com

ROCK BAND® GOES COUNTRY WITH ADDITION OF 5-PACK THAT INCLUDES BRAD PAISLEY, BROOKS & DUNN, DIXIE CHICKS AND MORE COMING TO THE DOWNLOADABLE MUSIC STORE CATALOG

Cambridge, Mass. - December 8, 2008 - Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Rock Band® is set to give fans a taste of country music for the first time with the addition of the “Going Country” 5-pack to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content. The impressive lineup of renowned country artists includes Grammy Award winner Brad Paisley with “Mud on the Tires,” the honky- tonk country classic duo Brooks & Dunn with “Hillbilly Deluxe,” and all-American trio Dixie Chicks with “Sin Wagon.”

Rock Band country lovers can also look forward to Dierks Bentley’s #1 single “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and Miranda Lambert’s standout single “Gunpowder & Lead.”

Each track will be available starting December 16, 2008, for the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and December 18, 2008, for PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) and $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points) for the 5-pack.

Release Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, December 18, 2008 (PlayStation®Store)

Tracks:
(Click on track to view music video) (only the first video worked, so until I get working links, I removed them. -e)

Brad Paisley “Mud on the Tires”
Brooks & Dunn “Hillbilly Deluxe”
Dierks Bentley “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)”
Dixie Chicks “Sin Wagon”
Miranda Lambert “Gunpowder & Lead”

Price:$1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$8.49 (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the 5-pack

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Network

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

With the addition of these tracks there are now more than 500 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to fly off shelves and satisfy music fans and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 28 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 allow online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for Xbox 360 is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system’s version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system’s built in hard drive.

Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system is now available nationwide and supports all previously downloaded content. The groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games is committed to taking gaming to the next level with the evolution of the franchise. Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com

1. “Just a Girl”
2. “It’s My Life”
3. “Hey Baby”
4. “Bathwater”
5. “Sunday Morning”
6. “Hella Good”
7. “Underneath It All”
8. “Excuse Me Mr.”
9. “Running”
10. “Spiderwebs”
11. “Simple Kind of Life”
12. “Don’t Speak”
13. “Ex-Girlfriend”

“Fable II” adventures continue with downloadable content and free pack to release mid-December, 2008

The epic journey begun in “Fable II,” the fastest selling RPG on Xbox 360, is not over. Starting mid-December, 2008, fans will be summoned back into Albion’s service with the release of the Knothole Island downloadable content pack. The remote island of Knothole is dying: its golden sands and lush vegetation are covered with snow, its people freezing, its treasures buried. Only a hero can face the trials of the three shrines to bring back the sunshine.

Following its release on Xbox 360 on Oct. 21, more than 1.5 million units of “Fable II” flew off store shelves worldwide in the first two weeks, making it the most popular game, across all platforms, in the U.S. in October. With the release of the first “Fable II” downloadable content, available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points, gamers will be invited to set sail for Knothole Island, where new quests, wondrous items and bizarre characters await.

Also in mid-December, fans everywhere will be able to enhance their “Fable II” experience with the release of a free “Fable II” downloadable pack exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. To engage in co-op gameplay with a player who has already downloaded the Knothole Island content, gamers will need to download the free pack. Both co-op players must download the Knothole Island (Premium) pack in order to play new quests and enjoy the complete Knothole Island co-op experience.

Free and premium downloaders will receive a show of gifts, including Knight’s Boots, Assassins Gloves, a special Weight Loss Potion, collectible silver book and more. Players will also be able to check their standing in over 50 new Leaderboards on Lionhead.com.

As an additional treat for “Fable II” fans, Lionhead Studios and Microsoft Game Studios have created an all-new Albion dashboard theme in celebration of the launch of the New Xbox Experience. Fans who want to show off their “Fable II” pride can head over to Xbox LIVE Marketplace to download the Albion theme, available now for 250 Microsoft points.

“Fable II” is exclusively available on Xbox 360 and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. Please visit: www.xbox.com/fable2 or www.lionhead.com/fable2 for more information.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES FREE DEMO OF NARUTO(TM): THE BROKEN BOND ON XBOX LIVE® MARKETPLACE

San Francisco - November 4, 2008 - Ubisoft announced today that a free demo of NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft is available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 to consumers prior to the game’s release.

The demo features exclusive content that explores the events that occurred after NARUTO(TM): Rise of a Ninja and will also allow players to play through the prologue of NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond. NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond is the only NARUTO(TM) console game with online multiplayer.

NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond will ship this fall worldwide exclusively for Xbox 360. For more information, please visit: http://narutoxbox360game.com

About Naruto: The Broken Bond
NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond is licensed from VIZ Media LLC (North America), TV Tokyo/Shueisha (Europe) and Mighty Delta (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan). The game, based on the world-renowned NARUTO animated series, is exclusive to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The game will be available in North America, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan for holiday 2008. Building on the success of Ubisoft’s NARUTO(TM): Rise of a Ninja, this sequel features Naruto, who has now evolved into a well-respected Ninja, but his new status and abilities trigger the envy of his best friend and Ninja teammate, Sasuke. The enemy of the village, Orochimaru, takes advantage of the situation and convinces Sasuke to leave his friends and his village in order to join his evil clan and become more powerful. With the help of his Ninja friends, Naruto goes on a quest to retrieve Sasuke and save him. NARUTO(TM): The Broken Bond is also the only NARUTO console game, other than NARUTO(TM): Rise of a Ninja that features an online multiplayer mode which allows players to compete against others in an online tournament mode.