To celebrate the release of Soulcalibur V™ on Feb 3 2012, Namco Bandai has joined forces with GYMBOX to present the Soulcalibur V: Swordsman Workout, a brand new fighting fit workout class, running exclusively every Tuesday evening at 7.00pm throughout the month of February at GYMBOX Westfield (open to both members and non-members).

The most exciting gym in London, GYMBOX and a special team of fight choreographers has designed the sword workout. The session is inspired by the Soulcalibur video game franchise and the exercises replicate the likes of Mitsurugi, Siegfried and Pyrrha, taking you through a series of moves lifted straight from the game, giving your body the ultimate cardio and muscle workout.

The 40 minute course is built up of 16 layered sword repetitions, progressively enhancing and improving speed, accuracy and ultimately conditioning the body. Simple yet very effective, many of the moves can also be done at home, so members can continue with their swordsmanship as often as they like!

In addition, any Soulcalibur fan who turns up at GYMBOX Westfield with a copy of Soulcalibur V on either Playstation 3 or Xbox360 will not have to pay a joining fee if they decide to sign up for GYMBOX membership during February, saving themselves £99! 2012 is the year to slash the pounds…don’t delay, get fighting fit today!

For further press information or to attend the Soulcalibur: Fighting Fit   session contact:

Laurence Bray, Luke Mortner or Simon Byron at Premier PR
020 7292 7396 / 020 7292 7398 / 020 7292 2024
laurence.bray@premierpr.com / luke.mortner@premierpr.com / simon.byron@premierpr.com

SoulCalibur V trailer: http://www.youtube.com/v/_S2n50VM0KA&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1
For further information about GYMBOX please visit: www.gymbox.co.uk

Company Exiting the Kids’ Licensed Category

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. Jan. 25, 2012: THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) announced its updated business strategy as the company exits traditional kids’ licensed video games and focuses on its core video game franchises and digital initiatives for the future. The company will continue to build its strong portfolio of core game franchises and align its resources to deliver games on both existing consoles and new and emerging platforms. The company intends to accelerate digital revenues by extending and supporting key console launches, and to create dedicated digital properties for emerging platforms.

As part of the alignment, THQ is in the process of exiting its relationships with kids’ licensed entertainment companies but will continue to sell certain previously released titles.

“THQ will be a more streamlined organization focused only on our strongest franchises,” said Brian Farrell, President and CEO, THQ. “The success of  Saints Row®: The Third™  is an example of what our revised strategy and focus can achieve. We have now shipped 3.8 million units globally and are currently expecting to ship between five and six million units lifetime on this title. Additionally, our robust digital content offerings for this game have resulted in the highest digital revenue of any console title in our history.”

The company’s five internal studios are developing games aligned to several of THQ’s key franchises, including the upcoming launch of  UFC® Undisputed™ 3  and  Darksiders® II, as well as Company of Heroes, inSANE, Saints Row, Warhammer 40,000,  and the new title from Patrice Désilets and his team. The company also continues to work with prominent external development talent on both existing and new franchises. THQ’s goal is to optimize its portfolio for the current generation of consoles and to establish new franchises on the next generation of game devices.

THQ will discuss its new streamlined business model that reflects this strategy in more detail on its third quarter 2012 conference call scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveiled today The Lord of the Rings Online™: Riders of Rohan™, the latest expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) developed by Turbine .  Riders of Rohan expands the online world of Middle-earth where players join forces to ride into the Plains of Rohan.  Riders of Rohan launches in Autumn 2012 with an increased level cap, the vast plains of Rohan including iconic locations such as Amon Hen and Fangorn Forest, the new Mounted Combat system and much more!

“2011 was another banner year for The Lord of the Rings Online with consistent growth for the game, a successful unification of our European and North American services and the success of Rise of Isengard, our best selling expansion to date.” said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online.  “This is going to be another outstanding year as we celebrate our fifth anniversary and introduce a wealth of new content throughout the year, ending with our arrival in Rohan.  One of our largest expansions ever, Rohan is expected to be twice the size of the recent Rise of Isengard expansion and includes the most new game systems and technology we've introduced since 2008's Mines of Moria.”

NEW FEATURES:

Ø  Experience the Riders of Rohan – Join with the Rohirrim and ride across the sprawling Plains of Rohan; witness the breaking of the Fellowship at Amon Hen; forge alliances with the Ents of Fangorn; and aid Éomer, adopted son of Théoden, as he seeks to protect his homeland from the growing Shadow.

Ø  Introducing Mounted Combat – Ride into Combat atop your loyal War-steed as you defend the people of Rohan from the forces of Isengard and Mordor. Customize your War-steed’s armor and level its skills over time to aid you in mounted defense of King Theoden’s lands. Mount your steed and gather your fellows to fight against Warbands, contingents of roving warg riders that have been scouted all over the Plains of Rohan! It falls to you to head off and defeat this new threat before they over take the land.

Ø  Advance to level 85 – Continue your legend in the next chapter of The Lord of the Rings Online. Experience new adventures in the epic story, and gain new skills and deeds as you face new challenges on your journey to 85!

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate adventure. This award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most famous fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players can experience the world of Middle-earth for free!  For more information, visit www.lotro.com.

Purchase game through EA’s digital service and receive limited-edition in-game items
 

Rift™, the immensely successful MMORPG from Trion Worlds, is the latest addition to the growing list of titles on Origin™, EA’s direct-to-consumer gaming platform. Beginning today, gamers can purchase on Origin both the Standard and Ashes of History editions of Rift for £19.99 and £24.99 respectively, and join fellow Ascended from around the globe in the fight against the planes. For a limited time, purchasing through Origin gets new Rift players in-game bonuses – the adorable Screechling Vanity Pet and the Ascended Gift Pack, a goodie bag filled with stat-bumping treats that give players the edge they need to vanquish the Blood Storm.     

Ascended Gift Pack includes:

o   Spirit Woven Backpack – 10 slot bag
o   Essence of Magic (10) – Restores a small amount of mana
o   Essence of Health (10) – Restores a small amount of health
o   Soul Nectar (20) – Restores a moderate amount of health and mana over 10 seconds
o   Words of Might (5) – Temporarily increases Dexterity, Strength, Intelligence, and Wisdom
 

Rift, Trion’s debut title, was widely acclaimed on its release in March 2011 and has recently garnered a number of international accolades, including MMORPG.com’s “Game of the Year”, and IGN.com’s “Best MMO Game” of 2011. The development team is currently working on the seventh major patch for the game, which will be available soon.

For more information on the Standard Edition visit: http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.243547000

For more information on the Ashes of History Edition visit: http://store.origin.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.244438800

Skills

Assassin

• Fox Fangs (PvP): reduced bonus damage to 10…25.
• Leaping Mantis Sting: reduced bonus damage to 5…15.

Dervish

• Crippling Victory: increased adrenaline cost to 6; removed Cripple from AoE component.
• Onslaught (PvP): removed 25% movement-speed increase.
• Twin Moon Sweep (PvP): reduced damage by 25%.
• Wearying Strike: increase adrenaline cost to 6.

Elementalist

• Blinding Flash: increased recharge to 8 seconds.
• Glyph of Sacrifice: added the following functionality: "Ends prematurely if you use a non-spell skill."
• Obsidian Flame (PvP): split for PvP; reduced damage to 22…92.

Monk

• Shield Guardian: reduced cost to 5 Energy; increased casting time to 1.5 seconds.
• Spirit Bond: reduced healing threshold to 50 damage; reduced healing to 30…90.
• Spirit Bond (PvP): reduced healing threshold to 50 damage; reduced healing to 30…90.

Paragon

• Wild Throw: added the following functionality: "All of your non-spear attack skills are disabled for 3 seconds."

Ranger

• Melandru's Shot: reduced recharge to 8 seconds.

Warrior

• Enraged Smash (PvP): split for PvP; increased recharge to 10 seconds.
• Yeti Smash: removed 1 second activation; reduced adrenaline cost to 6.

Guild Wars Wiki notes

• This update was explained on Feedback:Robert Gee/Journal#January 20th 2012: Snow Day Skill Update Preview.