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Gamers invited back in time to immerse themselves in action-packed epic mob drama

2K Games announced today the availability of a downloadable demo for Mafia II, the action-driven epic crime saga for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. The demo is now available for free to download from PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and via Steam and select Internet portals for Windows PC. Set in Empire Bay, a fully realized and immersive 1940’s and 1950’s American urban cityscape, the Mafia II demo invites gamers to experience the title’s intense shooting, white-knuckle car chases, compelling characters, engaging narrative, and decadent and meticulously crafted atmosphere. Mafia II will be released on August 24 in North America, August 26 in Australia and August 27 internationally.

While the game spans two eras, the Mafia II demo invites gamers to dive into the “Buzzsaw” level, which takes place during the summer of the ‘50s – a time considered the “Birth of Cool”, and with it, rock ‘n’ roll, hot rods, and rebellious attitudes. In the demo, Vito Scaletta and his buddies, Joe and Henry, are sent to take out a mobster known as “The Fat Man”. This mission showcases the vibrant edge-of-your-seat action, era-evoking cars, memorable characters, and a snapshot of the expansive city of Empire Bay in this colorful era.

Mafia II centers around Vito Scaletta, who has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay. He’s someone who can be trusted to get the job done. Together with his buddy Joe, he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, a move which escalates to crimes that generate bigger rewards, bigger status, and bigger consequences.

Mafia II is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information on where to download the Mafia II demo, please visit www.mafia2game.com/demo. For information on how to pre-order the game, please go to: www.mafia2game.com/preorder. To get immersed in the mob experience, please visit: www.mafia2game.com/frankiepotts.

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

Starting today, the explosive Black Market ‘Boom’ Pack is available to download, containing three game-changing prototype weapons for agents with an appetite for destruction!

The latest add-on pack is the perfect tool for players with a craving for combat and little care for collateral damage. Containing three experimental and highly volatile prototype weapons, the pack is the final word in wide-scale carnage and features:

• Quad Rocket Launcher: half shotgun, half rocket launcher, all carnage

• Cluster Bomb Launcher: the natural successor to the grenade launcher

• Air Propulsion Gun: a highly experimental jet-powered blast weapon, powerful enough to send vehicles and soldiers skyward

The Black Market ‘Boom’ pack is available from today for €1.99/£1.60/$1.99 from the PlayStation Store and Steam, and 160 Microsoft Points from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Be sure to check out the official website at JustCause.com to see the downloadable content trailer, showcasing the incredible destruction available from the Black Market ‘Boom’ Pack, the previously released Black Market ‘Aerial’ Pack and many other free and paid-for items available to download now.

DLC pack coming soon

For the first time ever, fight as the darkspawn in BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins. In the new downloadable content pack, Dragon Age: Origins Darkspawn Chronicles, players have the chance to experience life on the dark side, playing as the corrupted army of the Blight, are enslaved to the will of the Archdemon. In North America, Darkspawn Chronicles will be available for the Xbox 360 videogame system for 400 Microsoft points and PC for 400 BioWare points on May 18th, and on PlayStation Network for $4.99, with its launch date to be announced later.

The Darkspawn Chronicles offers players a look at an alternate history in the Dragon Age universe. Darkspawn Chronicles begins as your character dies during the Joining ceremony, and the Grey Wardens now march under Alistair’s command. As a hurlock vanguard, you alone hold the power to make thralls of their fellow darkspawn and drive them into the heat of battle as Denerim burns! This adventure gives you command of genlocks, hurlocks, shrieks, and even the mighty ogres.

Key features include:

o Imagine a world without heroes, where the greatest among you never became a Grey Warden

o Play through the Fall of Denerim from the perspective of the darkspawn

o Complete the module and unlock an epic darkspawn item for use in Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening

o Use the “Enthrall” ability – recruit any darkspawn you encounter into your party

Dragon Age Origins won over 30 “Best of 2009” awards, was named “RPG of the Year” by Game Informer, G4 and SpikeTV and was hailed by The New York Times as “…perhaps the best electronic game made yet.”

New Screens, Release Date and Price Point Emerge as Konami Prepares to Launch Its Favorite Opossum Hero This Month

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today released new screenshots as well as the launch date for Rocket Knight, a new 2.5D sequel to Konami’s classic action adventure series coming soon for Xbox LIVE Arcade, the PlayStation Network and for PC download via Steam. The new screens provide a sneak peek at the third flight stage for the first time. Included in the new screens is Sparkster invading the Wolf Army’s mountain forest, as well as the famed opossum hero dodging a barrage of missiles. Other screens show Zephyrus not quite like Sparkster had left it, and a few levels that show Sparkster rocketing past an enormous dirigible.

In Rocket Knight, players assume the role of Sparkster, a heroic opossum who returns home to the Kingdom of Zephyrus after 15 years only to discover that wolves have attacked his homeland. Rocket Knight introduces expansive new worlds to the franchise, with massive platform levels as well as rocket-flying levels. Using their wits and a trusty rocket pack, players must overcome the hostile wolf army aiming to attack Sparkster’s beloved kingdom. As gamers battle their way past the enemy, their rocket pack can be used to ricochet off walls, launch Sparkster through obstacles and enemies in his way, and drill through weak walls to create new passageways. To attack distant foes, Sparkster can shoot projectiles from his sword or create a burst vortex with his rocket pack to repel enemy bombs right back at them. When all else fails, players can use Sparkster’s prehensile tail to hang from and slide down rails in order to avoid danger. With online leaderboards, dedicated players will also be able to show off their high scores and fastest times online.

Rocket Knight will be available on May 12th on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 1200 MSP, PC download via Steam for $14.99 and on May 18th for $14.99 on the PlayStation Network. For all the latest news, be sure to follow us on Facebook (Facebook.com/rocketknight) and Twitter http://twitter.com/konami_rocket).

Addictive arcade game now available exclusively on PlayStation Network

Leading casual game publisher Alawar Entertainment, Inc. and developer iSquared Games are announcing that Hyperballoid HD is now available in North America. The addictive brick-breaker, a PlayStation 3 exclusive, can be downloaded via the PlayStation Network for the low price of $5.99.

“We’re very excited to bring Hyperballoid HD to North America,” says Kirill Plotnikov, Alawar’s vice president of publishing. “The positive response to our European launch showed that our combination of casual gameplay with a slick visual style is a natural fit for the PlayStation audience.”

Putting a next-gen spin on an arcade classic, Hyperballoid HD has one hundred challenging levels, a unique trophy system, and realistic physics developed specifically for PS3™. The stunning futuristic visuals support 1080p high-definition graphics as well as standard resolutions. Upon its European debut in December, Hyperballoid HD was heralded as fun and addictive, with ConsoleObsession.com praising it as “very good value for the money” and TotalPlayStation.com calling it “the ultimate refinement of Arkanoid, honing that basic gameplay to a razor-sharp edge.”

“If you own a PlayStation 3, you have to give Hyperballoid HD a try. It’s vibrant and colorful—a great casual title that appeals to all audiences,” says Igor Makaruks, CEO of iSquared Games. “We’re proud to have collaborated with Alawar on this game and plan to continue the relationship, with more games from Alawar and iSquared coming later this year.”

Hyperballoid HD is an evolution of Alawar’s successful Hyperballoid casual game series for PC. The company will continue their expansion onto consoles in 2010, with plans to port other popular casual games and to offer additional Hyperballoid HD levels as downloadable content. To learn more about Hyperballoid HD, view the trailer, and download avatars and desktop wallpapers, visit the official website at http://www.hyperballoidhd.com.

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in North America revealed a new selection of FINAL FANTASY XIII items for PlayStation Home today.

Players can now personalize their avatar with Lightning, Snow, Sazh and Vanille costume sets, as well as add some flair to their personal space with various items, such as an airship figure and Lightning’s gunblade figure.

For more information on the items available, visit www.playstation.com. PlayStation Home is the 3D, online, social gaming service from PlayStation Network. It’s the place to meet friends, play games online, watch videos, attend exclusive events and chat with other fans. As long as the user has a PlayStation Network account and access to PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home can be downloaded for free.

Story

Cocoon — a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise. Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity.

Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever. Their tranquility was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie. The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse — the feared and detested lowerworld — awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end. Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants. They become l’Cie — chosen of the fal’Cie. Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself.

A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world.

A promise to challenge destiny.

After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins.

Features

· Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.

· Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system – The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.

· Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.

· Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.

· Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?

· A Brand-New Song for an International Audience – Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has come on board with Square Enix to provide her new song, “My Hands,” for the North American and European versions

Popular Retro Arcade Game Returns with New Stealth Combat in Summer 2010

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., announced today that Rush’N Attack Ex-Patriot is coming to PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 this Fall. Developed by Vatra and based on the popular retro arcade game originally released in 1985, the 2.5D arcade action platformer will feature all-new stealth combat, a combo system and non-linear levels built on the Unreal Engine.

In Rush’N Attack Ex-Patriot, a clandestine struggle exists between Russia and the United States for military intelligence during the shadows of the Cold War. When the CIA discovers that the Russians have found a never-before-seen material used to create devastating nuclear missiles, they form a secret branch called “Harvest” to infiltrate and investigate the Soviet weapons program. The Cold War soon ends without a bang and the operation is discontinued. Decades later, new operative Sergeant Sid Morrow, call sign “Wolf Spider”, is tasked with retrieving an abandoned member of Harvest, re-evaluating the missile threat, and sabotaging it if necessary.

Rush’N Attack Ex-Patriot takes players through three massive environments of a Siberian prison complex, a bio-weapons laboratory, and a nuclear weapons base. In each location, gamers will have to complete a variety of mission and survive encounters with a variety of Russian soldiers from prison guards to elite paratrooper, snipers and more.

Players choose their own gameplay style by moving through each level loud and fast or silent and deadly. As they find themselves almost always outnumbered, players must avoid constant detection from the vigilant guards and the unblinking eyes of security cameras. Armed with a little more than a knife, the players will have to scrounge for weapons and supplies to survive as they are truly behind enemy lines.

Rush’N Attack Ex-Patriot is slated to release in Fall 2010 for the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade. For more information on the game, please visit: www.konami.com.

“KING OF SOUL” OTIS REDDING DEBUTS ON ROCK BAND

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a five pack of songs from Otis Redding, known as the “King of Soul,” as well as singles from All Time Low, Alphabeat, Brian Setzer and The Chemical Brothers, will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

These are among the more than 400 artists currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,000 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 System and Wii

Otis Redding’s short career has been celebrated many times over. He was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, has three songs listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “The 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,” and Rolling Stone ranked him No. 21 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the No. 8 greatest singer of all time. The legendary artist will make his debut in Rock Band next week with five of his classics: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),” “I’m Sick Y’all,” “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” and “Love Man.”

Also available in the Rock Band Music Store next week are singles from All Time Low (“Weightless”), Alphabeat (“Fascination”), Brian Setzer (“Stray Cat Strut”) and The Chemical Brothers (“Let Forever Be”).

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Feb. 16) and PlayStation3 system (Feb. 18):

· Otis Redding – “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” +

· Otis Redding – “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” +

· Otis Redding – “I’m Sick Y’all” +

· Otis Redding – “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” +

· Otis Redding – “Love Man”

· All Time Low – “Weightless”

· Alphabeat –“Fascination” +

· Brian Setzer – “Stray Cat Strut” +

· The Chemical Brothers – “Let Forever Be” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Otis Redding Pack 01”as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Tracks marked with “+” are also available for download in the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Price:$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$8.49 USD, £4.39 UK, €6.55 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Otis Redding Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

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

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

Otis Redding Website

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Storeusing Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

With these additions, there are now 1,086 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 60 million paid downloads since its launch Nov. 20, 2007. The Rock BandRock Band library. 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 and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

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

The gateway to the rich Mistbound universe is unlocked with a revealing trailer and the opening of the community website.

The newest and richest universe in gaming is primed to reveal some of its secrets as W!Games opens the borders to the Mistbound universe today with a new trailer. The fascinating backdrop to the forthcoming innovative strategy game Greed Corp, the world is introduced with a two minute trailer exploring the history of Mistbound, along with the launch of the community website and competition to win copies of the game on PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360.

The Mistbound community website will contain continuously updated information on this beautifully realized gaming landscape including the multiple games situated within it, beginning with the aforementioned Greed Corp. There will be weekly blogs giving a behind-the-scenes look in to the daily life of the studio and the ongoing development of the various games as well as blogs written by the inhabitants of the Mistbound world. Get pumpkin growing advice from veteran Freemen walker pilot Max Brawley, the latest strategic tips on how to beat your friends in Greed Corp straight from the lips of an Empire General, and a travel blog describing the locations and adventures of legendary Pirate leader Evander.

There will also be regular updated information on the games themselves with in-depth articles, screenshots, artwork and trailers. Players can meet each other on the forums and participate in regular competitions. The giveaways will begin immediately on January 15th where 10x copies of Greed Corp (5 x PlayStation Network and 5x Xbox LIVE Arcade) will be given away to 10 people. All you have to do is register on the Mistbound Community website.

To register and be in with a chance of winning head to www.mistbound.com/community