Microsoft is proud to announce acclaimed British indie rock band, the Kaiser Chiefs, will be ambassadors for the “Xbox Summer Stadium” sports and entertainment campaign from 15th June until 12th August 2012. As part of their role the band have pledged their support to Microsoft’s charity partner, Right To Play, encouraging fans to take part in donating to a great cause.

The Kaiser Chiefs have joined Right to Play Athlete Ambassadors including UK High Jumper, Martyn Bernard, and Red Bull Cliff Diver, Blake Aldridge, to deliver a special message asking fans to unite in the virtual world and support the charity. On 16th June 2012 at 6 p.m BST, fans across Europe are invited to take part in the 100m dash on Xbox Kinect Sports game and help break a Guinness World Record for the most people in an online race. Participants will not only have the chance to be record breakers, but Microsoft will also donate funds to Right to Play each time a person is taking part.

Kaiser Chiefs lead singer, Ricky Wilson, commented: “We’re proud to be supporting Right To Play and want to encourage our fans and Xbox communities to raise funds for a brilliant cause. Today on 16th June, I’ll be joining people across Europe in the charity fun run on Xbox LIVE. It takes just 10 seconds of your time to do something which will actually help children around the world.”

On the weekend of 15th -17th June 2012, Xbox is providing free access to its Xbox LIVE Gold subscription service* and for every person who takes part in the charity run on 16th June 2012, Microsoft will make a donation to Right to Play. These contributions will enable Right To Play to use the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity.

Right To Play Athlete Ambassador and UK High Jumper, Martyn Bernard, commented: “Working with the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs and Xbox helps raise much needed awareness of the great things we can do together to improve the lives of children through sport. With their support and fans we hope that more children from around the world will have access to and benefit from Right To Play’s sport and play programming. Here’s to a fantastic summer of fundraising.”

Sport fans will also have the chance to represent their countries in weekly online tournaments, as well as watch the world’s greatest sports events on Xbox LIVE’s entertainment applications. The Xbox Summer Stadium campaign will culminate with an exclusive and intimate gig by the Kaiser Chiefs broadcast on the closing weekend of 10th August 2012. Xbox Gold members can watch it exclusively on Xbox LIVE via the MUZU.TV entertainment app as well as win tickets to attend the gig***.

Elena Branet, Entertainment Marketing Lead for Xbox LIVE added: “We’re very excited to have Kaiser Chiefs join our campaign to bring the community together around entertainment and help raise funds for kids sports. It’s going to be a fantastic few weeks for sport and entertainment and we’re extremely proud to be hosting it all on Xbox LIVE in support of Right To Play’s programmes. We hope our fans will take part in what promises to be a very memorable summer and enjoy the celebration with this iconic band.”

The donation site will go live on 15th June 2012, full details on how to donate and take part in Guinness World Record attempt on 16th June 2012 can be found at www.xbox.com/right-to-play.
 

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and KADOKAWA GAMES today announced the release of Lollipop Chainsaw, an over-the-top action game for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on June 15th in the UK.

Developed by GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE, led by Goichi Suda (SUDA51), Lollipop Chainsaw is the ‘un-deadly’ story of sweet, chainsaw wielding zombie hunter Juliet Starling. On her 18th birthday, Juliet must uncover the root of a colossal zombie outbreak. She slices and dices her way through hordes of the undead, but soon realizes the horde is only the opening act to a festival of zombie rock lords determined to kill her.

With a all-star cast behind it, Lollipop Chainsaw is brimming with talent from Hollywood director/writer James Gunn (Super, Slither, Dawn of the Dead, Tromeo and Juliet) and a voice cast featuring the likes of Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Michael Rooker (Slither, The Walking Dead), Tara Strong (Batman: Arkham City), Shawnee Smith (Saw), Linda Cardelleni (Freaks and Geeks) and many more. The final ingredient in this mix of grindhouse style and humor is the collaborative music by acclaimed video game composer Akira Yamaoka and Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence.

For the latest information on the game, visit www.lollipopchainsaw.com or follow the team on twitter @lollichainsawuk or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lollipopchainsawuk.

What is Xbox?

Xbox is the premier entertainment destination for your TV, phone, PC and tablet, and home to the biggest and best games, as well as one of the world’s largest libraries of music, movies, TV shows, videos and sports.1 With Kinect for Xbox 360, Xbox transformed gaming and entertainment in the living room by unlocking a whole new way to play games and find entertainment content — no controller required. More information about Xbox can be found online at http://www.Xbox.com.

Why is Xbox the answer to my entertainment needs?

Xbox is the destination for all your favorite entertainment, to be experienced in innovative ways. Enjoy games, music, television shows, movies and more on your TV, tablet or phone.1 Entertainment is more amazing with Xbox.

Voice plus gesture control. Compatible with every Xbox 360 console,2 Kinect makes your body and voice the controller. Kinect creates experiences that are familiar, intuitive and tailored for each game or entertainment experience.3

Voice search. With voice search powered by Bing, you have the ability to find the games and entertainment content you want on your Xbox 360, regardless of where it resides on the service.3

Later this year, Kinect voice control and search will become available to an additional 12 countries and six languages, for a total of 15 countries and sevenlanguages, with full voice control and search support. In addition, in some countries and languages, you will be able to search for content genres such as comedy, drama and action, and also will be able to use your voice to search user-generated content on YouTube.

•  Supported languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish
•  Supported countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, U.S. and U.K.

Entertainment apps. With an ever-expanding catalog of TV, music, movies and sports apps from world-leading TV and entertainment providers, Xbox continues to deliver all of the content you care about in unique ways.

Xbox delivers a deep selection of global and local providers of live streaming and video-on-demand TV and movie programming through a combination of its Xbox Video service and industry-leading partners.4

Sports apps. Xbox continues to transform sports entertainment by delivering even more content through new partnerships. 2012 will bring NBA Game Time with NBA.com League Pass Broadband (U.S.) and NBA League Pass (outside of the U.S.), NHL GameCenter LIVE and all of the ESPN networks through WatchESPN – including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3 and ESPN U - live on Xbox 360, including “SportsCenter,” “SportsNation” and “The Mike and Mike Show.”3

Fitness. Kinect offers a wide array of active games and fitness experiences to get the whole family off the couch and breaking a sweat — no controller required. This holiday, get fit and become a better athlete with “Nike+ Kinect Training,” a personalized home training program built from the ground up with athletic expertise and inspiration from Nike and powerful technology from Kinect. Through the magic of Kinect, Nike’s personal trainers can see how your body moves, assess your physical strength and athleticism, and create a personalized workout plan to help you achieve your personal best. Whether you are a professional athlete, an everyday athlete or just getting started, "Nike+ Kinect Training” will help you become fitter, faster and stronger.

Xbox Music. Xbox Music is a one-stop, end-to-end music solution that will give you access to your music collection from any screen, combined with unique social features. Xbox Music includes a music store for song downloads, music subscription offering, artist-based radio and a great cross-screen client for your personal music collections.5

2-way TV experiences. The magic comes to life in September with the launch of “Kinect Sesame Street TV” and “Kinect Nat Geo TV,” interactive TV programs where your actions impact the adventure — creating endless new ways to play and learn. With all-new 2-way TV experiences from Kinect for Xbox 360, kids become part of their favorite shows, making laughter and learning more interactive than ever before. Xbox delivers innovation that is capturing the imagination of the world’s greatest creators in TV content, including Sesame Workshop and National Geographic.

Multiplayer gaming. Playthe best selection of downloadable blockbuster games and full versions of Xbox 360 titles, including Kinect games available digitally with Games on Demand. Xbox brings a new wave of fun straight to your living room.6

Xbox LIVE Arcade. Your one-stop shop for fresh downloadable games. With free trial downloads for every game and hundreds of titles to choose from, including Kinect titles, this Xbox game store is the premier destination for quality downloadable games at a great value.
Game Add-ons. Extend the life of your favorite games, from new episodes of blockbuster titles to new levels and maps for Xbox 360 exclusives.

Xbox SmartGlass. Later this year, the power of companion scenarios comes to life in new ways with Xbox SmartGlass. Use your Windows 8-based devices as a second screen with your Xbox 360 for an enhanced game and entertainment experience. Control and interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, music and games by simple flicks, gestures, and pinch and zoom. Start watching on one of your devices and flick it to your TV to keep watching on the big screen. Xbox SmartGlass helps you easily discover more things to do by showing new activities related to what you’re already watching or playing on TV. And now play Xbox 360 games in a new way when you add a phone or tablet as a screen just for you. Xbox SmartGlass will be available on Windows 8-based PCs and devices, as well as other platforms.7

Internet Explorer for Xbox. Explore the Web on your TV in an amazing way with Kinect and Internet Explorer for Xbox. Use your voice to explore your favorite sites with ease on the biggest screen in the house. Even use your phone or tablet to type and control your experience. Internet Explorer for Xbox will launch later this year in all markets that have Xbox LIVE.6

Xbox on Windows. Xbox becomes the premium entertainment experience on Windows 8 when it launches later this year, giving you anywhere access to the games and entertainment you love with four unique metro-style apps:1 Games, Music, Video and Xbox SmartGlass. These experiences will help you find and play the best content and discover what your friends are doing.

Family Settings. Xbox offers some of the most advanced Family Settings in the entertainment industry. Our Family Settings enable parents and caregivers to choose the right play and viewing settings for their families, so that their kids only see content that is appropriate for their age. In addition, Family Settings allow everyone to configure their account settings to customize what information is shared and the level of online communication with others, as well as allow parents to manage these settings for their children’s accounts.

Subscriptions. Xbox offers multiple options for unlocking your entertainment. With the online entertainment service for Xbox 360 consoles, you can connect for free to rent and buy high-definition movies or download Xbox 360 games. Upgrading to a Gold subscription, starting at $5 per month, allows you to play games with friends wherever they are, including Kinect titles. Plus, Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers can access the online content they want including games, music, movies, TV shows and sports, and with Kinect, they can find it easily with voice search, powered by Bing. The Gold Family Pack, starting at $8.33 per month, offers up to four 12-month Gold subscriptions for less than the price of two. Perfect for families, this pack offers access to additional conveniences and services including the new Family Center for easier family management, activity monitoring reports on http://www.Xbox.com, the ability to purchase and gift Microsoft Points to other Gold Family Pack subscribers, and exclusive discounts on family-friendly content.

Rising Star Games today announces its partnership with TOYBOX and Natsume to bring an exciting new IP to the global audience: Project Happiness (working title).

Developed by Yasuhiro Wada, the ‘Father of Harvest Moon’, and his new studio TOYBOX, Rising Star Games will publish the title in Europe and PAL territories - Natsume handling the Americas. More information about Project Happiness will be revealed by Yasuhiro Wada during E3 2012.

“Rising Star Games is privileged to work on the wonderful new IP Project Happiness with our friends at TOYBOX and Natsume,” said Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games. “Our previous collaborations to bring great games to Rising Star Games European audience are a highlight of our game release history. The shared goal of all of us is to bring compelling entertainment to gamers, Wada-san and TOYBOX have an unquestioned skill in doing that.”

With decades of combined experience in producing family-friendly games, TOYBOX will delight gamers young and old with adventure, discovery and wonder.

“Project Happiness is an IP that is very close to my heart, and stems from years of working on other great titles like the Harvest Moon series,” said Yasuhiro Wada, CEO of TOYBOX. “Project Happiness is not only meant to be a fun game experience, but I also want it to help expand the player's view of the world, and make them ponder what their life means to them. From the very beginning of the idea of this product, we knew that to help bring its true vision to light, we wanted to partner with quality publishers who share our values like Natsume and Rising Star Games."

"Project Happiness is the culmination of Wada-san’s many years of creating fun and wholesome gaming entertainment, and we’re incredibly excited to be working alongside TOYBOX and Rising Star Games throughout this project," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “As more details are revealed throughout the year, players will begin to understand why we think Project Happiness will be the next major IP and fan favorite for Natsume.”

Yasuhiro Wada will host behind-closed doors meetings to reveal the first details of Project Happiness at E3 where Natsume will host a booth in the South Hall, booth 515.
 

Just weeks after releasing Forge of Empires in an open beta, InnoGames plans to go public with its upcoming browser game at E3 in Los Angeles. The title, a co-production with fellow German development studio, Ticking Bomb Games, will be published later on this year.

“E3 is the world’s largest and one of the most important events for computer and console games. We are aware that a number of new products will be announced at the event, but due to the considerably high quality of our game, we are confident it will stand out among the strong competition,” explains the company’s chief marketing officer, Volker Dressel.

InnoGames will present the first playable version of the Unity 3D action-based MMORPG game on the floor of the expo. The title’s beta is planned for fall.

Based in northern Germany, the developer and publisher boasting 200 employees is actively searching to add to the team. International candidates with a wide range of skills are encouraged to apply for one of the 50+ positions open this year.

With more than 80 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world's leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.

InnoGames at E3
June 5-7, 2012
West Hall, Booth 5652
for appointments: mika@clevercomm.com

gamigo will be attending this year's international entertainment conference E3 in Los Angeles to present the two flagships in its portfolio to members of the press and media.

Otherland is based on the popular series of novels by best selling author Tad Williams and boasts superb visuals as well as a dazzling variety of multiverses. These include the cyberpunk world of Lambda Mall, the social hub of Otherland, or the medieval fantasy world of EightSquared.

Grimlands, on the other hand, takes players into a rough post-apocalyptic world that has been destroyed by massive earthquakes. There is only one rule in Grimlands: survival. The shooter MMO features a flexible skill system, a player-driven economy and one of the most comprehensive crafting systems that this genre has to offer.

Want to make an appointment? Please contact Clever Communications:

Mika D. Kelly
mika@clevercomm.com
408-693-0176

Players eager to step into the cage and test out their virtual MMA skills will get their chance next week when 345 Games showcases their new arcade style video game, Bellator: MMA Onslaught during the E3 Expo in Los Angeles, June 5-7. In advance of the event, 345 Games has unveiled its roster of world-class fighters, all of whom will be playable at E3 2012 in Concourse Hall Booth #8505.

The final Bellator fighter roster includes:

•  Pat Curran, current Bellator Featherweight World Champion
•  Joe “The Baddest Man on the Planet” Warren
•  Daniel Straus, Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament Champion
•  Ronnie “Iron” Mann, 21-5 Featherweight
•  The Pitbull Brothers: Patricky and Patricio
•  Michael Chandler, current Bellator Lightweight Champion
•  Marlon Sandro, two-time Bellator Featherweight Tournament Finalist

Based on Bellator Fighting Championships, Bellator: MMA Onslaught is a new breed of arcade-style fighting game that combines the quick tempo of actual combat with cerebral strategy found in real life MMA. Players are able to replicate the most electrifying moves through a straightforward pick-up-and-play control scheme which transitions seamlessly from striking to the ground fighting.

345 Games collaborated closely with Bellator Fighting Championships to create Bellator: MMA Onslaught, ensuring the arcade style gaming experience mirrors the organization’s format, styles, graphics and music.

“We have worked closely with 345 Games to deliver an authentic Bellator experience and we are developing a variety of ways to integrate live Bellator events with our game in the coming seasons. ” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said.

The game will also feature a robust fighter creation and customization engine with hundreds of individual moves that players can mix and match after choosing a base style. As players level up their fighter, they will earn the ability to buy and select new skills and moves, which they can then invest to augment their abilities in striking, ground, throws, defense and fitness.

The thought is that players will take their specialized fighter online where they can compete in player-versus-player ranked fights to secure their place atop of the “Onslaught Leader Board” and earn the chance to be immortalized in upcoming Bellator events live on-air.

The game will release on the Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade and Sony PlayStation Network platforms and will be available for download in summer 2012 for $15. “We made a conscious decision to select an optimal fighting game platform that had an endemic online player base and that would enable us to continuously service the game either through improvements in existing gameplay or through additional features, such as new moves, clothing options, venues, and weight classes,” said Dan Yang, General Manager of 345 Games. The publisher plans to be listening closely to the players through the games website, social network sites and game boards to decide the best ways to expand the game.

For those players who like to compete locally, players can take advantage of different gameplay modes including “Super Fight” mode, where gamers can choose their own fighter or pick one of Bellator’s established elite to play against a friend or CPU; “Create a Fighter” where players can modify their fighters looks, skill and moves as well as participate in training challenges and access the ‘Fight Lab’ to assign boosts; and “Championship Road”, where gamers can go up against the toughest Bellator fighters in feature fights and a single elimination tournaments inspired by Bellator’s Tournaments to earn a shot at the title.

For more information, visit BellatorTheGame.com and Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Codemasters will unveil the new Circuit of the Americas track as F1 2012 receives its world premiere at E3 in Los Angeles next week. Attendees to the show will be able to lap the new circuit, based in Austin, Texas, months before the FORMULA ONE teams take to the track for the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX in November.

The first F1 2012 screenshots have also been released today and you can check them out exclusively below. These new shots show the 2012 specification FORMULA ONE cars racing at the Circuit of the Americas.

You can find F1 2012 on the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment booth in the South Hall, Booth #2001, from 5th-7th June 2012.

For all the latest information on F1 2012 please visit www.formula1-game.com or follow us Facebook: www.facebook.com/formula1game and Twitter: www.twitter.com/formula1game.

Electronic Arts Inc. today revealed the games that will be shown during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) from June 5-7. The lineup features updates on some of the industry’s biggest franchises that span across all gaming platforms.

THE DOWNLOAD: EA 2012 Preview, EA’s E3 press briefing sponsored by Origin, will feature leading EA brands: Battlefield 3, Medal of Honor , Crysis 3, Madden NFL 13, FIFA 13, Star Wars: The Old Republic, SimCity and highly-anticipated first looks at Dead Space 3 and Need for Speed Most Wanted from Criterion Games. The event will feature never-before-seen video and gameplay for the biggest titles EA will unveil this year as well as titles not yet announced, including a new social title for Facebook. The briefing can be viewed live exclusively on SPIKE TV on Monday, June 4 at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT or streamed at www.ea.com/e3.

Once revealed at the press briefing, E3 attendees will be able to demo the upcoming titles at booth #1601 at the LACC. For the latest news from the show floor and exclusive interviews with EA executives and producers visit www.ea.com/e3 during the event.

EA will be hosting media demos throughout E3 for key mobile, social and Chillingo titles at the JW Marriott located at 900 West Olympic Blvd. in Salon J. Additionally, select mobile titles such as Plants vs. Zombies from PopCap will be demoed to fans waiting in line at the EA booth.

Titles being shown at the EA booth at the LACC include:

Battlefield 3: Close Quarters and Battlefield 3: Armored Kill

Lauded by game critics worldwide for its outstanding single player campaign and addictive multiplayer, Battlefield 3 extends the experience with the debut of the next two themed digital expansion packs: Battlefield 3: Close Quarters and Battlefield 3: Armored Kill.

· Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC
· Street Dates: Close Quarters in June 2012; Armored Kill in September 2012
· ESRB Rating: “M” for Mature

Crysis 3

The premier sandbox shooter of 2013, Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and incomparable gameplay. Hunt as Prophet in a New York City that has become a veritable urban rainforest, with seven distinct natural environments known as the Liberty Dome’s Seven Wonders. Alien or human, everyone is a target in Prophet’s quest for retribution. Assess, Adapt, Attack and take Revenge!

· Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC
· Street Date: To be announced
· ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

FIFA 13

FIFA 13 captures all the drama and unpredictability of real-world football. The game creates a true battle for possession across the entire pitch, delivers freedom and creativity in attack, and connects fans to the heartbeat of the sport — and to each other — through EA SPORTS Football Club.

· Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStationVita, Wii, PC, PlayStation2, Nintendo 3DS, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Android
· Street Date: Fall 2012
· ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

Madden NFL 13

Madden NFL 13 is all-new from boot up to credits. Every mode, every screen, every pixel has been reinvented delivering the most innovative, connected, and authentic Madden NFL experience in franchise history.

· Platforms: Xbox 360,PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii
· Street Date: August 2012
· ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone

Medal of Honor: Warfighter

Medal of Honor: Warfighter puts players in the boots of today’s most elite U.S. warriors to experience missions that have a dotted line to real world terrorist incursions. This is Tier 1 on a global scale, featuring real world hotspots in the single-player campaign and introducing international Tier 1 Operators in multiplayer.

· Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC
· Street Date: October 23, 2012 in North America; October 26, 2012 in Europe
· ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

NBA LIVE 13

The NBA LIVE franchise makes its return with key innovations to core gameplay, presentation and online experiences that connect you to your friends and to the real-world of basketball all season long.

Platforms: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Street Date: October 2012
ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

NCAA Football 13

For the first time in franchise history, NCAA Football 13 allows players to utilize a former Heisman Trophy winner’s skill set in a quest to match the performances of some of the greatest of all time. Plus, game days come to life with the ESPN Bottom Line ticker and Studio Updates featuring new analyst Rece Davis.

Platforms: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Street Date: July 10, 2012
ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone

NHL 13

NHL 13 represents the biggest year-on-year innovation leap for the EA SPORTS NHL franchise in this console generation as it delivers major gameplay innovations that capture the speed, creativity and strategy of the world’s fastest team sport, and provides hockey fans with new experiences and services that connect them to their friends and the real-world of the NHL.

· Platforms: Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
· Street Date: September 11, 2012
· ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

SimCity

Powered by the GlassBox simulation engine, SimCity is taking back its crown as the king of city-building games. Players will have the power to build the city of their dreams, connect with their friends and face real-world challenges together as SimCity comes to retail and Origin in February 2013.

· Platform: PC
· Ship Date: February 2013
· ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

Star Wars : The Old Republic

The critically-acclaimed, story-driven MMO from BioWare and LucasArts will continue to expand in 2012, with new game content and refined gameplay features the community has been asking for – more PvP, more high-level group content, new social features and new storylines for players to explore.

· Platform: PC
· Ship Date: Available Now
· ESRB Rating: “T” for Teen