Saturday, January 21, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sony BMG Catalogue Now Available on the iTunes Music Store in Australia
Favourite Local & International Artists Include Foo Fighters, Rogue Traders, Shannon Noll, Bob Dylan, Franz Ferdinand and Anthony Callea.
SYDNEY - January 18, 2006 - Sony BMG Australia today announced the addition of their catalogue on the iTunes Music Store in Australia. Music fans can now download their favourite Sony BMG artists, including local artists such as Shannon Noll, Anthony Callea and Human Nature, international artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Foo Fighters, and music videos from Anastacia, John Mayer and Alicia Keys on the iTunes Music Store in Australia (www.itunes.com.au/itunes).
"We're delighted to join the iTunes Music Store in Australia," said Denis Handlin, Chairman and CEO, Sony BMG Australia and New Zealand. "There is a great opportunity for digital music to explode in 2006 and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with iTunes."
"The iTunes Music Store is the world's favourite online music store with a stunning 850 million songs sold," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "We're thrilled to add the Sony BMG catalogue to iTunes, bringing music fans a wide range of great local and international artists."
Additional Sony BMG local favourites coming to iTunes include Pete Murray, John Farnham, Alex Lloyd and Delta Goodrem, and additional international artists being added include Destiny's Child, Franz Ferdinand, Oasis, The Strokes, Kelly Clarkson, Bruce Springsteen, Jamiroquai, Eurythmics and Shakira. The iTunes Music Store will be featuring the exclusive video catalogue of Foo Fighters, a Celebrity Playlist from Delta Goodrem and exclusive tracks from Eurythmics and Rogue Traders.
The iTunes Music Store in Australia features over one million songs, 3,000 music videos, short films from Academy-Award winning Pixar Animation Studios, 11,000 audiobooks and 25,000 Podcasts. Music on iTunes is priced at just A$1.69 per song, A$3.39 per video and with most albums at A$16.99 including GST (www.itunes.com.au/itunes).
SYDNEY - January 18, 2006 - Sony BMG Australia today announced the addition of their catalogue on the iTunes Music Store in Australia. Music fans can now download their favourite Sony BMG artists, including local artists such as Shannon Noll, Anthony Callea and Human Nature, international artists such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Foo Fighters, and music videos from Anastacia, John Mayer and Alicia Keys on the iTunes Music Store in Australia (www.itunes.com.au/itunes).
"We're delighted to join the iTunes Music Store in Australia," said Denis Handlin, Chairman and CEO, Sony BMG Australia and New Zealand. "There is a great opportunity for digital music to explode in 2006 and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with iTunes."
"The iTunes Music Store is the world's favourite online music store with a stunning 850 million songs sold," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "We're thrilled to add the Sony BMG catalogue to iTunes, bringing music fans a wide range of great local and international artists."
Additional Sony BMG local favourites coming to iTunes include Pete Murray, John Farnham, Alex Lloyd and Delta Goodrem, and additional international artists being added include Destiny's Child, Franz Ferdinand, Oasis, The Strokes, Kelly Clarkson, Bruce Springsteen, Jamiroquai, Eurythmics and Shakira. The iTunes Music Store will be featuring the exclusive video catalogue of Foo Fighters, a Celebrity Playlist from Delta Goodrem and exclusive tracks from Eurythmics and Rogue Traders.
The iTunes Music Store in Australia features over one million songs, 3,000 music videos, short films from Academy-Award winning Pixar Animation Studios, 11,000 audiobooks and 25,000 Podcasts. Music on iTunes is priced at just A$1.69 per song, A$3.39 per video and with most albums at A$16.99 including GST (www.itunes.com.au/itunes).
THQ GAINS MARKET SHARE WORLDWIDE IN 2005
AGOURA HILLS, CA., January 17, 2006 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced the company gained share in 2005 across all of its key markets, and achieved the number three independent video game publisher position in both the US and the UK, according to NPD Group, Inc. and UK Chart-Track, respectively.
According to NPD, THQ's US video game market share grew to 7.1% in 2005 from 6.7% the prior year, while the company's US video game revenue increased 2%, compared with an overall industry software revenue decline of 3%.
THQ posted even stronger market share gains in Europe and Asia Pacific in 2005. In the UK, THQ grew share to 6.4% in 2005 from 4.8% the prior year, according to UK Chart-Track. In Australia, THQ achieved the #2 independent publisher position in 2005, and increased its market share to 12% from 9% in the prior year, according to GfK.
"In 2005, we achieved our goal to grow share worldwide, especially among the core gamer audience," said Brian Farrell, president and chief executive officer, THQ. "New original properties such as Juiced and Destroy All Humans! contributed to THQ's market share gains during a difficult industry transition year."
"We are particularly pleased with the results of our strategy to focus on the mass-market consumer this holiday through the release of several family titles as well as WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 for PlayStation 2 and PSP," Farrell continued. "The WWE brand is one of the strongest in the industry, and this holiday we delivered a critically-acclaimed WWE game to fans in more than 30 countries around the world."
"We are confident our system of owned and independent studios, along with our long-term licenses with major entertainment brands will enable THQ to continue to growth market share as we navigate the transition to next-generation hardware in 2006 and beyond," said Farrell.
About The NPD Group
Since 1967, The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today more than 1,400 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels and competition in order to help guide their business. For more information visit www.npd.com.
About Chart-Track
Chart-Track, an independent limited company based in the United Kingdom, monitors sales of music, videos and software through retail in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
About GfK
GfK Australia is part of the GfK Group and monitors the product sales and market trends of industry sectors in Australia and New Zealand including consumer electronics, entertainment media, information technology, major & small domestic appliances, photographic & imaging, telecommunications and toys.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and . THQ, THQ Wireless, Destroy All Humans, Juiced, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
According to NPD, THQ's US video game market share grew to 7.1% in 2005 from 6.7% the prior year, while the company's US video game revenue increased 2%, compared with an overall industry software revenue decline of 3%.
THQ posted even stronger market share gains in Europe and Asia Pacific in 2005. In the UK, THQ grew share to 6.4% in 2005 from 4.8% the prior year, according to UK Chart-Track. In Australia, THQ achieved the #2 independent publisher position in 2005, and increased its market share to 12% from 9% in the prior year, according to GfK.
"In 2005, we achieved our goal to grow share worldwide, especially among the core gamer audience," said Brian Farrell, president and chief executive officer, THQ. "New original properties such as Juiced and Destroy All Humans! contributed to THQ's market share gains during a difficult industry transition year."
"We are particularly pleased with the results of our strategy to focus on the mass-market consumer this holiday through the release of several family titles as well as WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 for PlayStation 2 and PSP," Farrell continued. "The WWE brand is one of the strongest in the industry, and this holiday we delivered a critically-acclaimed WWE game to fans in more than 30 countries around the world."
"We are confident our system of owned and independent studios, along with our long-term licenses with major entertainment brands will enable THQ to continue to growth market share as we navigate the transition to next-generation hardware in 2006 and beyond," said Farrell.
About The NPD Group
Since 1967, The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today more than 1,400 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels and competition in order to help guide their business. For more information visit www.npd.com.
About Chart-Track
Chart-Track, an independent limited company based in the United Kingdom, monitors sales of music, videos and software through retail in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
About GfK
GfK Australia is part of the GfK Group and monitors the product sales and market trends of industry sectors in Australia and New Zealand including consumer electronics, entertainment media, information technology, major & small domestic appliances, photographic & imaging, telecommunications and toys.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and . THQ, THQ Wireless, Destroy All Humans, Juiced, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
A Gaggle of Reviews
Everybody's Golf (SONY)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/ps2everybodysgolf.html
Buzz! The Music Quiz! (SONY)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/ps2buzzthemusicquiz.html
Saitek Gamers Keyboard (Saitek)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/hardwaresaitekgamerskeyboard.html
GUNSLINGER GIRL (MADMAN)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/dvdgunslingergirl1.html
Otogi Zoshi Vol.1 (MADMAN)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/dvdotogizoshivol1.html
http://www.impulsegamer.com/ps2everybodysgolf.html
Buzz! The Music Quiz! (SONY)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/ps2buzzthemusicquiz.html
Saitek Gamers Keyboard (Saitek)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/hardwaresaitekgamerskeyboard.html
GUNSLINGER GIRL (MADMAN)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/dvdgunslingergirl1.html
Otogi Zoshi Vol.1 (MADMAN)
http://www.impulsegamer.com/dvdotogizoshivol1.html
Monday, January 09, 2006
PS2 - Sonic Gems Collection
The popularity of the little blue guy cannot be denied. I remember the first Sonic game I played on the Sega Mega Drive and was totally blown away by how much fun the whole thing was.
Sonic has had many games since then and this is the second main collection of titles to grace a newer console (although in a few months this will all be rendered irrelevant by XBox 360 and PS3).
The collection here is pretty cool and the addition of titles like Sonic the Fighters, Sonic R and Sonic CD will have fans of the series very happy indeed. There are unlockable Vectorman titles on the disc and the retro gaming experience is excellent............
Click on the cover for the review!
PS2 - Jak X: Combat Racing
Jak is back after Jak 3 and this time it’s up to him (and you!) to save the world once again through racing! Surprisingly a rather satisfying adventure in single player mode with a bulky storyline, Jak X takes to the track in a groovy style with really solid gameplay and a lovely racing engine...........
Click on the cover for the review!
DVD - Dukes of Hazzard Review
Yeehaw!
It’s funny you know, I was apprehensive when I got this disc as the movie got a slapping when it was at the cinemas, and I thought that it would be crud. However…. What we did wind up with was a neat little movie that was pure fluff but I enjoyed it the whole way through..........
Click on the cover for the review!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
XBox Quad Bike Up For Grabs!
Xbox quad bike up for grabs
Enter online at www.xbox.com.au for your chance to win
An Xbox quad bike is up for grabs for the winner. The runner up will receive a hot lap with a Holden Racing Team driver. To win you need to produce an image of a customised car you have produced in the game Forza Motorsport. The best seven entries as judged by Mark Skaife will win a bag of Xbox goodies valued at $200 and qualify to participate in stage two of the Forza Motorsport Tournament.
In the Forza Motorsport Tournament the best judged seven entries will race head to head on Xbox Live where the driving skills and tuning of their Forza Motorsport car will come into effect. Visit www.xbox.com.au/forzamotorsportcomp/ for more details.
