Since its first release, the award-winning Call of Duty franchise has sold in excess of 55 million units worldwide. The latest title in the franchise, Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, recently shattered box office and video game records with a worldwide estimated five-day sale through of approximately $550 million, establishing the game as the biggest entertainment launch in history.

“Call Of Duty has become one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, Inc. “If you consider the number of hours our audiences are engaged in playing Call of Duty games, it is likely to be one of the most viewed of all entertainment experiences in modern history.”

Modern Warfare 2 picks up following the historic events of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the blockbuster title that remains the top selling first person action game in history. Modern Warfare 2 is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Language. For additional information about the game, visit www.modernwarfare2.com.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Ayalogic announced the public beta availability of imVOX, a new voice communication service designed to broaden the use of voice in games. The free imVOX service allows up to 30 gamers to join a voice chat for free. imVOX runs in the background while a user plays a multiplayer game like Modern Warfare 2 or World of Warcraft to provide users with better communication with teammates. Premium services are available for $24.99 USD per year, and provide users with the ability to connect up to 250 users to a single server and expanded in-client features such as text-to-voice and a customizable client.

The imVOX software is currently available on Microsoft’s Windows XP, Vista and 7 and runs directly on your computer. Support for OS X is in the works. Additionally, social networking features and integration are currently in development, with login via Facebook Connect and Twitter integration available soon.

Ayalogic’s CEO Mike Rojas says, “We want to make it easier to enable gamers to connect with voice. There will be no more begging a friend to leverage their voice server to have a little extra fun in whatever game you want to play.”

The imVOX network of servers is set up on Amazon’s Web Services platform, utilizing EC2 for the main servers and S3 for backup and persistent storage– a first in the consumer game voice market. This solution allows for a low cost, redundant, scalable and cost effective infrastructure that passes its benefits for reliability and price directly to the gamer.

By providing not only the servers and technology for imVOX, but also the user client, Ayalogic is able to provide a smoother experience than existing solutions at a significantly reduced price – Free.

“Our architecture and technology will allow us to bring rapid innovation around communication services to the gaming market. The time has come to bring together to merge the benefits of embedded voice and dedicated gaming voice clients into a single solution,” says Mike Rojas.

Gamers can get started by downloading the free imVOX software at http://imvox.com/.

imVOX was created by Ayalogic to revolutionize communication in gaming. Ayalogic was founded in 2002 and is backed by Draper Triangle Ventures, Early Stage Partners, and JumpStart, Inc. Ayalogic also runs the Green-Ear network, and has been providing integrated voice services to indie game developers since 2008. For more information on imVOX visit http://imvox.com/.

Frost & Sullivan honors Telestream with 2009 Global Competitive Strategy Leadership Award and 2009 World Market Share Leadership Award

Telestream, a provider of world-class video transcoding solutions, affirms its leadership position with the announcement that Frost & Sullivan has presented the company with two 2009 Global Video Transcoders Market Leadership Awards. The Competitive Strategy Leadership Award recognizes Telestream for its accomplishments in the overall global enterprise, broadband and mobile video transcoders market. The World Market Share Leadership award recognizes Telestream’s position in the global broadband video transcoders market sector.

The awards cite Telestream’s best practices as being unmatched in their field; acknowledge the company’s continued double-digit growth rate and market share dominance; as well as the creativity and dedication of its executive team and employees.

Frost and Sullivan’s Competitive Strategy Leadership Award is based on key criteria that benchmarks Telestream against its competitors in the areas of competitive intelligence, competitive strategy, market share, brand positioning and customer satisfaction.

“Telestream has focused on using transcoding as an enabling technology and has been able to successfully merge it with other components to provide customers with complete workflow solutions. Further, Telestream has made two major acquisitions that have helped the company leverage growth,” said Vidya S. Nath, Senior Industry Analyst at Frost and Sullivan. “Despite tough economic conditions and extremely competitive situations, Telestream has enjoyed substantial growth in 2009 and established itself as a leading transcoding vendor across multiple market segments.”

Frost and Sullivan cites several key performance drivers that contributed to the growth of Telestream:

–  A highly diversified line of transcoding products complimented by
other software and workflow automation products have resulted in
higher adoption rates and the ability to address a broader range of
markets.
–  Strong brand recognition driven by its perceived innovation leadership
in spite of the dominance of large broadcast equipment vendors.
–  Year-on-year revenue growth of 30% despite recessionary economic
conditions in 2009.

Frost and Sullivan also recognized Telestream as one of only two vendors that has gained robust growth within the global broadband video transcoders market, while driving innovation. Although the market is highly fragmented, Telestream led its competitors with a 17.9 percent market share.

“An important factor that has contributed to Telestream’s growth is its highly diversified product line. The company offers both enterprise-scale and desktop encoding and transcoding solutions, enabling customers of all sizes to compress video for web distribution,” stated Nath, at Frost & Sullivan. “Telestream’s market share, especially in the broadband video market segment, has grown tremendously because of these efforts.”

Both awards acknowledge Telestream’s recent acquisitions as contributing to its transcoding expertise and breadth of product offerings for Mac and Windows users. These acquisitions have helped Telestream to leverage its growth and expand distribution.

“Telestream is honored to receive these two awards from Frost & Sullivan, one of the world’s top research firms,” said Dan Castes, CEO of Telestream. “The most important recognition for us is customer satisfaction which is reflected in our sales growth and is the foundation for receiving these awards. We are dedicated to continuing our quest to create the technology and products that enable a broad range of digital media solutions across multiple platforms.”

Founded in 1998, Telestream products make it possible to get video content to any audience regardless of how it is created, distributed or viewed. The world’s most demanding media and entertainment companies, service providers and enterprises rely on Telestream products to streamline their operations and generate more revenue from their media. In addition, a growing number of video prosumers are turning to Telestream to simplify the creation of video for online and mobile distribution. Enterprise-class products include video capture devices, video transcoding and workflow automation server software. Desktop solutions include encoding, live webcasting, screencasting and component software. Telestream enables users in a broad range of business environments to leverage the value of their video content. Corporate headquarters are located in Nevada City, California, and its team of video experts is located in France, Germany, Sweden, UK and US.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com/.

Companies enter mutually exclusive arrangement to develop UK’s most advanced television and broadband offering

TiVo, a leader in the creation of television services and advertising solutions for digital video recorders (DVRs), and Virgin Media, the UK’s leading entertainment and communications company, announced they have entered into a strategic partnership under which TiVo will develop Virgin Media’s next generation TV platform. Under the mutually exclusive agreement, TiVo will develop a converged television and broadband interactive interface to power Virgin Media’s next generation, high definition set top boxes. The terms of the deal are not disclosed.

TiVo will become the exclusive provider of middleware and user interface software for Virgin Media’s next generation set top boxes. Virgin Media will become the exclusive distributor of TiVo services and technology in the United Kingdom.

Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media said, “TiVo’s proven track record of innovation, strength of its patented technology and experience in developing best in class user environments, make it an ideal strategic partner for Virgin Media as we move aggressively to bring our next generation TV service to market. The superiority of our fibre optic network combined with TiVo’s capabilities, will allow us to offer consumers the most significantly advanced and compelling TV service available in the UK, and we believe will do to the TV market what Virgin Media has done to the high speed broadband market.”

The next generation platform will offer a superior television viewing experience which will allow Virgin Media customers to search and discover content through major advances in video-on-demand integration and broadband video delivery creating the ultimate one-stop-shop for in-home entertainment.

“This deal underscores TiVo’s commitment to expanding its global footprint through strategic alliances with leading international media companies to help them deliver the best in-home entertainment experience for consumers,” said Tom Rogers, president and CEO of TiVo Inc. “We are very excited about this new distribution relationship with the UK’s most advanced pay television provider and are particularly proud to have been selected as Virgin Media’s core software partner for its next generation DVR-enabled set top boxes and its next generation non-DVR set top boxes. Virgin Media is a true leader in the world of entertainment and their enthusiasm for building the next generation of pay television is an excellent opportunity to put all of TiVo’s innovation to work in a product distributed by a world class partner. We believe this international deal affords us a significant subscriber growth opportunity.”

Virgin Media currently anticipates its first TiVo co-branded product in 2010.

Modern Warfare 2 was released on Tuesday, November 10th, to worldwide fanfare across the globe, including over 10,000 retail outlets in the U.S. alone which held midnight openings to meet consumer demand. In its first day, the blockbuster title sold through approximately 4.7 million copies in just North America and the United Kingdom, according to internal Activision estimates.

“The Call of Duty franchise has become a cultural phenomenon showing the power of video games as an entertainment medium,” said Mike Griffith, CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the Call of Duty brand delivers. Modern Warfare 2 has taken interactive experience to unprecedented heights setting a new standard for entertainment.”

Modern Warfare 2 picks up following the historic events of Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®, the blockbuster title that remains the top selling first person action game in history. Modern Warfare 2 is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Language. For additional information about the game, visit www.modernwarfare2.com.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

The application has launched today and for £6 a month people can access the Sky Sports bundle – which includes access to Sky News, the Sky Sports channels and the ESPN channels live on their handset or iPod Touch for the first time.

The Sky TV app is free to download initially and allows users to stream TV via WiFi and not 3G at this stage. It is understood this is because of restrictions from O2. It will be available to all iPhone owners, regardless of what mobile network they are signed to, including Orange, which begins selling the handset today.

Subscribers to the app will have access to live televised matches from the Barclays Premier League, Scottish Premier League and Football League, and other sport tournaments such as the European Tour golf, Premiership rugby and international and domestic cricket.

Full story at telegraph.co.uk.

“Star Trek Online is poised to become the ultimate Star Trek gaming experience,” said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, Inc. “Throughout the last four decades, Star Trek has been a mainstay in pop culture, influencing legions of fans through television, film, and more. Star Trek Online opens a whole new chapter and expands upon this incredible universe in 2010.”

Taking place in the year 2409, continuing the story of the latest film installment, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players will have the opportunity to become a high ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and even inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, where every ship players command can be customized, from color to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in Star Trek Online, as well as customize the look of their avatar’s uniform.

Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for interactive game platforms that include PC, online, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone). Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Atari London Studio, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.

Atari benefits from its global brand and an extensive catalogue of popular games based on classic owned game franchises (Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander), original owned franchises (Test Drive, Backyard Sports, Deer Hunter), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters, Project Runway, Dungeons and Dragons).

For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, Activision Blizzard’s GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.01, as compared to its prior GAAP loss per diluted share outlook of $0.03. On a non-GAAP basis, the company’s earnings per diluted share were $0.04, as compared to its prior non-GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook of $0.03.

The company reports results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis.

Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, stated, “Our performance was driven by positive audience response to Activision Publishing’s Guitar Hero 5, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, and the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises, as well as Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft. Year to date through September 30, the Guitar Hero franchise was the #1 best-selling third-party franchise in North America and Europe. For the month of September, sales of music games in the U.S. increased 72% in dollars year over year, which demonstrates the sustained interest in this new and important game category. During the quarter, we continued to see strong sales for Call of Duty World at War and associated map packs, which year to date have sold more than seven and half million units. Despite a challenging overall software market, the company grew its quarterly U.S. share by 3.1 points over the previous year to 13.3%. This success is the result of our focus on delivering the highest game quality and the best entertainment experiences possible for our consumers.”

Kotick continued, “We believe we have the industry’s strongest holiday release schedule which includes Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Band Hero, Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, DJ Hero and Tony Hawk: RIDE. We are committed to making great games and our fall releases deliver against this more than ever before. As of today, our calendar 2009 financial outlook remains unchanged, and we still expect to deliver record non-GAAP operating margins based on the strength of the Call of Duty franchise and high consumer anticipation for Modern Warfare 2, which we project could be the largest entertainment launch of the year. Even though there is a great deal of economic uncertainty in the marketplace and the consumer risks around the holiday season are high, we believe that our strong balance sheet and solid cash position, coupled with our leading franchises, operational capabilities and broad global reach will enable us to take advantage of the long-term opportunities afforded by our industry.”

For the third quarter, Activision Blizzard increased its U.S. and European share 1.2 points over the previous year across all platforms to 12.3% and had two of the top-10 best-selling titles in the U.S., Guitar Hero 5 and Guitar Hero World Tour, according to the NPD Group (U.S. data) and Charttrack and Gfk (European data).

For the first nine months of the calendar year, with Guitar Hero World Tour and Call of Duty: World at War respectively, Activision Blizzard had the #1 and #2 best-selling third-party titles in North America, according to the NPD Group and in Europe, according to Charttrack and Gfk. Additionally, year to date, the company grew its U.S. share of the music/dance category 5 points over the previous year to 51%, according to the NPD Group.

Other highlights are as follows:

>  For the quarter, Activision Blizzard had two of the top-10 best
selling franchises in the U.S. with Guitar Hero and Call of Duty,
according to the NPD Group.
>  During the quarter, Guitar Hero was the #1 third-party console and
handheld franchise in Europe, according to Charttrack and Gfk.
>  For the first nine months of the calendar year, Blizzard Entertainment
had three of the top-five bestselling PC games in units in North
America, according to the NPD Group, and four of the top-10
bestselling PC games in units between North America and Europe
combined, according to the NPD Group,  Charttrack, and Gfk.
>  For the first nine months of the calendar year, Guitar Hero was the #1
third-party console and handheld franchise and Call of Duty was the #2
third-party franchise, in North America, according to the NPD Group,
and in Europe, according to Charttrack and Gfk.
>  For the first nine months of the calendar year, sales of the Guitar
Hero franchise for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 increased on a
combined basis 20% year over year in the U.S. according to the NPD
Group, and Europe, according to Charttrack and Gfk.
>  On September 19, 2009, Blizzard Entertainment’s massively multiplayer
online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft was relaunched in
China.
>  As of September 30, 2009, Activision Blizzard had purchased $960
million, or approximately 89 million shares, of common stock at an
average price of $10.81, under its stock repurchase program since the
program’s inception in November 2008.

Additionally, on September 16, Activision Blizzard announced that George L. Rose was appointed to the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer. The company also announced that Christopher B. Walther, Procter & Gamble’s general counsel for Western Europe, has been named to succeed Mr. Rose as the company’s Chief Legal Officer.

During the fourth quarter of calendar year 2009, Activision Publishing plans to release five holiday titles. Bakugan Battle Brawlers is one of the most anticipated kids titles of the year and leverages the tremendous popularity of the award-winning toy line and television show. DJ Hero introduces an innovative turntable controller and expands Guitar Hero’s signature social gaming with the debut of new music genres including hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and dance. Band Hero delivers an exciting music collection featuring top-40 hits designed to appeal to broad family audiences.

In November, Activision Publishing plans to release Infinity Ward’s highly anticipated first-person action game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 globally. The company expects the title will be one of the top entertainment properties of the holiday season and pre-orders for the game are higher than for any previous Activision title. The company also plans to release Tony Hawk: Ride in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. The game features an innovative skateboard controller that lets consumers experience the thrill of skating in an entirely new way.

Activision Blizzard’s outlook is subject to significant risks and uncertainties including declines in demand for its products, fluctuations in foreign exchange and tax rates, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers and risks relating to the ongoing ability of Blizzard’s licensee, NetEase.com, Inc., to operate World of Warcraft in China on a paying basis without interruption.

The company’s outlook is also based on assumptions about sell through rates for its products, and the launch timing, success and pricing of its new slate of products. Current macroeconomic conditions increase those risks and uncertainties. As a result of these and other factors, actual results may deviate materially from the outlook presented below.

As of today, for calendar year 2009, Activision Blizzard’s financial outlook remains unchanged. The company expects to deliver GAAP net revenues of $4.05 billion and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.26. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects net revenues of $4.5 billion and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.63.

For the fourth quarter, Activision Blizzard expects to deliver GAAP net revenues of $1.33 billion and GAAP loss per share of $0.04. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects net revenues of $2.22 billion and $0.43 earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter.

Boom for Event as Gamers Cast 1.2m Votes and Name Fallout 3 Their Ultimate Game.

The video games industry was recognised as the fastest-growing entertainment medium and the UK was acknowledged as a centre of creative excellence today as the winners of the world’s most popular video game awards show, the 27th annual Golden Joystick Awards were announced in London.

Fallout 3 was crowned “Ultimate Game of the Year”, whilst Call of Duty continued its annual winning streak with a hat-trick of accolades.

With UK consumers spending GBP2.7billion on gaming over the last year, the industry remains resilient through the current downturn. As games continue to increase in popularity, organisers of the Golden Joystick Awards reported a 47% surge in voting, with over 1.2m votes in another record breaking year.

The full list of winners in the 2009 Golden Joystick Awards is:
Family Game of the Year: LittleBigPlanet
Bliss Handheld Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Retailer of the Year: GAME
Mobile Game of the Year: Metal Gear Solid Touch
Nintendo Game of the Year: Call of Duty: World at War
MSN Multiplayer Game of the Year: Call Of Duty: World At War
The Rampage Soundtrack of the Year: Guitar Hero World Tour
Xbox Game of the Year: Gears of War 2
PC Game of the Year: Fallout 3
Amiqus Games UK Developer of the Year: Jagex
PlayStation Game of the Year: Killzone 2
Publisher of the Year: Activision Blizzard
Online Game of the Year: Left4Dead
ShortList One to Watch: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Ultimate Game of the Year, together with Zavvi.co.uk: Fallout 3

Rounding off the afternoon in style, the Golden Joystick Awards themselves were officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the “World’s Most Popular Video Game Awards.” The Golden Joysticks polled 1,223,646 votes in its 27th year.

Emma Parkinson is Organiser of the Golden Joystick Awards: “The games industry remains innovative and vibrant despite economic pressures. Many of the winners at the Golden Joysticks demonstrate that UK talent remains crucial to the success of this industry across the globe and must be nurtured at all costs.

“I’m delighted by the record number of votes – gamers deserve to have their say about their favourite games, having spent GBP2.7billion of their hard-earned cash in the toughest year the industry has experienced.”

The company sold 5.7m Wiis during the six months to 30 September, compared to 10.1m during the year-ago half.

Global Wii videogame sales also dropped by six per cent during H1 FY2010, Nintendo said. Some 76.2m Wii games were sold in the half-year period, compared to sales of 81.4m during the same period last year.

“Wii has stalled,” said Nintendo’s CEO, Satoru Iwata, according to Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun. “We were unable to continue to release strong software.”

The outlook for Nintendo as a global gaming powerhouse now looks dim, with the firm reporting a 52 per cent drop in net profit for half to ¥65.9bn (£440m/$721m/€491m).

Nintendo has also now cut its full-year net profit forecast by 23 per cent to ¥230bn (£1.5bn/$2.5bn/€1.7bn).

Read more at reghardware.co.uk.

“The God of War franchise has an incredibly loyal fanbase and we know they will be extremely excited with all the exclusive content and memorabilia we’ve packed into God of War III Ultimate Edition,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Marketing, SCEA. “With fans waiting patiently for the arrival of God of War III for the PS3, we wanted to make sure their anticipation was properly rewarded.”

In addition to a copy of the highly anticipated God of War III and the limited-edition art book, fans will receive exclusive digital content headlined by the director’s cut of God of War: Unearthing the Legend, a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise. The Ultimate Edition will also include God of War- inspired downloadable music in the form of the God of War Trilogy soundtrack and the God of War Heavy Metal EP (Extended Play). Lastly, fans will have access to the God of War Combat Arena, containing an exclusive environment and up to seven unique challenges, as well as the exclusive Kratos skin, Dominus, all available for download via the PlayStation Network. The God of War III Ultimate Edition will retail for $99.99 (MSRP).

Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Santa Monica Studio, God of War III is set in the realm of Greek mythology and is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he treads through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of hell to seek revenge on those who betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.

Utilizing a new game engine built from the ground up and state-of-the-art visual technologies, the development team behind God of War III have made significant strides in giving players the realistic feel of actually being on the battlegrounds. With texture resolutions that have quadrupled since God of War II, God of War III will feature fluid, life-like characters, as well as dynamic lighting effects, a robust weapon system and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring unmistakable realism to Kratos’ fateful quest. Players will have a chance to join battles on a grand scale with many more enemies on-screen and be able to interact with levels like never before.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation and PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and its online and network services PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and the PSP systems for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Visit us on the Web at www.us.playstation.com.

Available on PC and based on the award winning pen-and-paper role-playing game, Champions, from HERO Games and powered by the groundbreaking Cryptic Engine, Champions Online taps into a rich universe of heroes and villains with unparalleled intrigue and adventure. “Gamers everywhere will be able to enjoy a free trail of Champions Online between October 30 and November 2, coinciding with the recently announced Blood Moon Halloween Event,” said an Atari spokesperson.

To date, some of the most notable critics within the gaming industry have praised the game, stating:

> “First, tremendous credit goes to the robust character creation
tools…Champions Online delivers some fantastic instanced content and
some fun public quests.” – IGN

> “Champions Online makes you feel like a hero, and its intensely robust
superhero creation tool ensures that you can stand out in a sea of
other online prima donnas clad in skintight spandex and hardy power
armor.” – GameSpot

> “Champions Online is a colorful, action-packed title with the finest
character creation system yet seen in an online RPG.” – G4

> “Champions Online is an unusual game….it quickly grows on you, and
becomes surprisingly endearing.” – Games Radar

> “Champions Online is one of the best MMO releases in years that will
wow you with its character creator.” – GameZone

> “One major bright spot the game has to offer is the Nemesis system,
which is a feature that truly sets Champions Online apart from all
other MMO’s.” – Big Download

Cryptic Studios, already a leading developer and publisher of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), has taken the genre to new heights with Champions Online’s fastpaced, “real-time” action combat and the power of total customization. Through Champions’ unique character customization tool the player can create and individualize every component of their hero: name, back story, costume, powers and abilities can all be modified in countless ways. In addition to allowing players to transform into the ultimate hero, gamers can craft an enemy of the extreme opposite, concoct a villainous history for their ultimate foe and guarantee themselves a truly unique experience.

“We are very pleased with the wonderful praise Champions Online is receiving,” said Jim Wilson, CEO, Atari, Inc. “We credit the great MMO fan base and look forward to seeing what players create as the game continues to grow and develop. We are working hard on new content and updates that will expand the universe and give Champions fans more to explore.”

Champions Online brings epic heroism back to the MMORPG genre with depth that will certainly challenge the most experienced online gamers, while its fast paced action promises to engage new entrants to the online superhero universe Enter a world where the diabolical genius Dr. Destroyer has returned to wreak havoc. After he single-handedly destroyed the city of Detroit, many thought he had perished in the colossal explosion, but he is back to inflict his evil plans on the unsuspecting world. Join with Defender and the legendary Champions to stop Dr. Destroyer and his minions in an ultimate showdown of good versus evil.

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: www.crypticstudios.com. Cryptic word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Cryptic Studios, Inc.

Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for interactive game platforms that include PC, online, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone). Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Atari London Studio, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.

Atari benefits from its global brand and an extensive catalogue of popular games based on classic owned game franchises (Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander), original owned franchises (Test Drive, Backyard Sports, Deer Hunter), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters, Dungeons and Dragons).

Users can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with their Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through their home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.

“The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio.”

The redesigned main menu on Apple TV gives instant access to users’ favorite content. Recently rented or purchased movies, as well as other content including TV shows, music, podcasts, photos and YouTube, are accessible directly from the new main menu. The new software also allows Apple TV users to enjoy stunning fullscreen iTunes Extras and iTunes LP, including great new movie titles such as “Star Trek” or classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and albums such as Taylor Swift’s “Fearless (Platinum Edition)” and Jack Johnson’s “En Concert.” iTunes Extras gives movie fans great additional content such as deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP is the next evolution of the music album, delivering a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.

Now Apple TV users can enjoy Genius Mixes through their home theater system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library. Customers can also enjoy Internet radio, allowing them to browse and listen to thousands of Internet radio stations, as well as tag favorite stations to listen to later. Apple TV’s support of HD photos is enhanced with iPhoto Events, which simplifies finding users’ favorite photos on Apple TV, as well as iPhoto Faces, which gives access to photos organized by people identified in iPhoto.

Apple TV users have direct access to a catalog of over 8,000 Hollywood films on iTunes including over 2,000 in stunning HD video available for rent or purchase. Users can also choose from a selection of 11 million songs, 10,000 music videos and over 50,000 TV episodes to purchase directly from their Apple TV or browse and enjoy the iTunes Store podcast directory of over 175,000 free video and audio podcasts. Purchases downloaded to Apple TV are automatically synced back to iTunes on the user’s computer for enjoyment on their Mac or PC or all current generation iPods or iPhones. iPod touch or iPhone users can download the free Remote app from the App Store to control their Apple TV with a simple tap or flick of the finger.

The new Apple TV software is available as a free automatic download to all Apple TV customers. The 160GB Apple TV is available from the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $229 (US). Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet networking, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition widescreen TV. Video availability varies by country.

Apple TV easily connects to a broad range of widescreen TVs and home theater systems and comes standard with HDMI, component video, analog and optical audio ports. Using high-speed Wi-Fi, Apple TV automatically plays users’ iTunes content without setup or management.

Movie rentals work on iPod classic, iPod nano with video, iPod touch, iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

By Jim Giles

Something exciting has just happened to online music, and it has nothing to do with Google’s new music service garnering all the headlines.

If you Google search for music related terms, like an artist’s name, some results now come with links to audio previews for relevant tracks. It is easy to use, but the service taps into just a few of the online music streaming sites. Lala and iLike are included but others with large libraries like Spotify and Last.fm are ignored. It also only works in the US. But more importantly, Google’s service only helps people find music, and what they really want is to listen to it.

If a friend tweets about a song, for example, I don’t want to have to search for it: I want a play button to appear in the tweet. I don’t care which server the song is stored on, I just want to click it and hear the music. The same goes for tracks mentioned in emails, blogs or anywhere online.

A new service called Playdar tries to do just that. Its creator is Richard Jones, a programmer who developed some of the technology behind Last.fm. Playdar’s stated goal is to do one thing: “Given the name of a track, find me a way to listen to it right now.”

Click here to read the full story at New Scientist.

Mopar will showcase FLO TV Auto Entertainment at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas next week.

“We want to offer our customers the ultimate in entertainment,” said Pietro Gorlier, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care. “With FLO TV Auto Entertainment, we are the first automaker to offer mobile TV with the capacity for as many as 20 channels.”

Until now, the challenge for mobile TV has been to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted coverage in urban environments and at highway speeds. Existing mobile TV systems in the United States either offer limited channels or require large satellite dishes on vehicle roofs – and a large price tag to match.

Mopar’s suggested retail price is $629, plus installation. A one-year pre-paid FLO TV service subscription is included with installation.

The entertainment package will be available as a dealer-installed option on the following 2008-2010 model year vehicles with factory DVD entertainment systems: Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro, Ram 1500 and Ram 2500/3500.

The service also can be added to select 2008-2010 model-year vehicles when new Mopar headrest or seat-top DVD entertainment systems are purchased.

How it Works

Television signals are delivered through a dedicated multicast network built by San Diego-based FLO TV Inc., a live mobile TV service provider, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc. FLO TV offers live and time-shifted programming from top entertainment brands, including CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon.

Up to 20 channels will be available in late December when the feature is available for dealer installation. By the end of 2009, the FLO TV service should be available in more than 100 major markets and many interstate driving corridors. The FLO TV service is not available in some rural areas.

Audiovox Corp., of Hauppauge, NY, supplies FLO TV Auto Entertainment hardware that integrates with Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles’ existing entertainment systems and new Mopar 7-inch DVD screen systems. A small antenna, similar in size to a laptop mouse, is mounted on a vehicle’s roof to deliver the digital TV signal. Inside the vehicle, the receiver and wiring are installed under the interior trim of the vehicle and are not visible to occupants.

User-friendly wired and wireless remote controls allow viewers to easily surf channels, similar to TV systems at home.

Mopar’s FLO TV Auto Entertainment option includes a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on new vehicles or a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on used vehicles for hardware and installation.

Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Car, Ram Truck and Mopar brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler’s culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat’s complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC’s product lineup features some of the world’s most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered by the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles – a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.

When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960’s – the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth “package cars” equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of “special parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

The system allows you to watch live sports, breaking news, kids’ programs and primetime network shows in the back seat
> Live mobile TV available on Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge Car and Ram Truck
vehicles as a Mopar(R) option
> Live TV viewing of CBS Mobile, CNBC, Comedy Central, FOX News, MSNBC,
MTV, NBC 2Go, Nickelodeon and more
> FLO TV(TM) Auto Entertainment will be available in late December for
$629 plus installation, includes one-year subscription

> Mobile TV option includes 3-year/36,000-mile warranty for new vehicles
and 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on used vehicles

It has watered down its original amendment to the Telecoms Package which stated that member states could not cut off net pirates without court authority. It follows pressure from countries keen to adopt tough anti-piracy laws.

The French government has just approved plans which could see pirates removed from the net for up to a year. The UK’s file-sharing policy is also likely to include a clause about disconnecting persistent offenders.

The new proposal reads: “Any such measures liable to restrict those fundamental rights or freedoms may only be taken in exceptional circumstances…and shall be subject to adequate procedural safeguards in conformity with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights.. including effective judicial protection and due process.”

It stops short of demanding a court ruling on the matter. Members of the European Parliament have until the beginning of November to agree to the draft proposal.

Click here to read the full story.

By Katie Allen

Google has launched a music search service for internet users in the United States that will provide information about artists and quick access to licensed music providers.

The new search feature on Google.com will allow people to find songs, even if they know only a few of the lyrics, by simply typing a line or two.

“People searching for an artist, song or album will get what they are looking for right at the top of their search results, with links to audio previews and the option to purchase music from Google’s music search partners MySpace and Lala,” Google said.

The internet company said the new feature was designed to help users find music and help artists, labels, songwriters and music publishers by driving traffic to licensed online music services. Google has not struck any revenue-sharing deals with labels as part of the new service. Instead it says the feature is merely a search function linking people up with existing legal music sites.

“Lots of people search for music through Google, so it made sense for us to find a way to get them to the content they’re looking for faster,” said Tom Stocky, Google’s director of product management.

“The best answer to a query is frequently not a web page but a map, a video, an image or some other kind of content. This launch makes search better by adding music to the list of things we can connect people to speedily, as well as providing a revenue source for artists, labels and others.”

“We are pleased with the result of our patent licensing efforts. It further demonstrates the technical strength and value of VIZIO’s patent portfolio,” said Rob Brinkman, VIZIO V.P. of Operations and Administration.

VIZIO continues to expand its intellectual property including the development of new technologies that will be implemented in VIZIO’s products available later this year and beyond. “We are excited about the new line of VIZIO HDTVs which will have technically advanced features. We are committed to providing the best HDTV experience possible to our customers,” Brinkman added.

VIZIO also announced that it has successfully resolved its ongoing patent disputes with Sony, and that VIZIO now is a licensee under Sony’s color television patent portfolio. “Having successfully resolved the disputes, we shall continue to aggressively protect our rights and actively expand VIZIO’s licensing program. As an owner of patent rights and as a licensee of legitimate patent right held by others, VIZIO respects intellectual property and we expect our competitors to do the same,” added Mr. Brinkman.

In addition to the Panasonic booth (#14053), the company’s presence will be supplemented by a Panasonic Full HD 3D Home Theater-equipped tractor trailer exhibit from its nationwide 3D tour fleet to demonstrate 3D for show goers. The Full HD 3D system, which will reach the market next year, utilizes 1080p Plasma display technology and a modified Blu-ray Disc player to deliver a truly immersive 1080p Full HD 3D experience of entertainment and other programming in the home.

“Panasonic believes that the Cable-Tec Expo, with its more than 10,000 cable industry professional attendees, provides the perfect opportunity for us to highlight the impact of Full HD 3D and to give cable engineering, operations and management leaders the chance to experience first hand the powerful and exciting possibilities of 3D. Full HD 3D is anticipated to be widely deployed in 2010, creating new revenue opportunities for the industry,” said Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic Corp. of North America’s Chief Technology Officer. “It also provides Panasonic with an occasion to demonstrate our commitment to tru2way, including exhibiting our expanded range of interactive cable solutions — both current and next-generation tru2way digital set-top boxes and the design for a new tru2way digital Set-Back Box which converts VIERA TVs into tru2way-capable receivers.”

At Booth #14053, Panasonic will feature a lineup of next-generation tru2way-based broadband cable set-top boxes all of which offer a smaller footprint and are more energy efficient than earlier models. Panasonic will also demonstrate tru2way-enabled VIERA Plasma TVs, their NovaTouch(TM) system, an innovative touch-based remote control designed to navigate next generation cable program guides, and a prototype of Panasonic’s new tru2way Set-Back Box, which can transform Panasonic VIERA HDTVs into tru2way-enabled receivers.

In addition, at Booth #14044 Panasonic will feature its highly acclaimed Toughbook® mobile computers that allow cable technicians, engineers and supervisors in the field or on the workbench to solve problems quickly and efficiently with exceptional reliability.

EPIX will be available in standard definition on channel 395, in high definition on channel 895, and on FiOS TV Video on Demand (VOD). In addition, more than 150 movies will be available every month for EPIX subscribers online at www.epixhd.com. To access the content, customers must subscribe to both FiOS TV and FiOS Internet.

“We’re taking the lead in delivering the richest and best entertainment to movie-lovers, on whatever platform they choose,” said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. “On TV, on VOD and online – FiOS TV subscribers are the first to enjoy the incredible quality and variety of EPIX that’s available only from Verizon.”

Verizon FiOS is the first provider to launch the new channel, and has been offering a free preview of EPIX on-demand since August. FiOS TV customers will get to check out the EPIX HD and SD channels free of charge, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. EPIX will be available for sale starting November 2, for $9.99 per month. The easiest way for customers to get all that EPIX has to offer is by tuning to EPIX on FiOS TV and clicking the remote to subscribe, using Verizon’s unique on-screen ordering. EPIX also can be ordered either online by visiting www.verizon.com/fiostvcentral or by calling Verizon at 888-553-1555.

“Verizon FiOS pushes technological boundaries to deliver the very best service and programming to its subscribers, which is why an EPIX-FiOS partnership comes so naturally,” said Mark Greenberg, president of EPIX. “Home entertainment is undeniably changing, and by partnering with EPIX, FiOS will deliver feature films, original series and comedy and music events to the next generation of premium viewers on TV, on demand and online at EpixHD.com.”

EPIX is the new premium entertainment joint venture formed by Viacom Inc., its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate. The channel will showcase dozens of recent releases from Paramount, Paramount Vantage, MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate, along with thousands of classic films.

Upon launch, the EPIX programming lineup will include the worldwide television and online premieres of an exclusive two-hour special concert event: Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet: Live from Buenos Aires.” In addition, customers will get to see Marvel’s blockbuster film “Iron Man;” the exclusive comedy special “Eddie Izzard: Live From Wembley;” and more than 15 world television movie premieres including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Madea Goes to Jail,” “Pink Panther 2,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and more.

Verizon’s FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 500 all-digital channels including more than 123 HD channels and more than 18,000 monthly VOD titles, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, FiOS TV VOD includes more than 2,400 HD titles. FiOS TV also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; news, entertainment and social TV widgets; remote DVR management; multi-room DVR; and more. Verizon FiOS Internet is a leader in providing the fastest broadband connections, delivering Internet access with downstream connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upstream connections of up to 25 Mbps.