Just released in the UK - My Sims is the latest launch from EA within The Sims franchise – created especially for Wii and Nintendo DS the game delivers all the creativity and personal expression expected from The Sims but developed in a kitsch new world.

To celebrate its launch MySims has commissioned 4 of the UK’s hottest fashion designers to create a dual purpose capsule collection based on the core attributes of the game – Self Expression, Customisation, Creativity and Collectability.

Much like the world of fashion My Sims takes you into a world where personal style is everything and personalising your world is your right!

Each item works to enhance the My Sims Wii or DS experience BUT also brings the MySims world into your world. Strictly limited edition and available from 8th Oct at www.TheSims2.co.uk/mysims with all profits going to Great Ormand Street

• Giles Deacon – Eek Wii-mote/Bag talisman – based on Giles’ signature avatar Eek will come with special My Sims elements designed to stimulate the mind or just act as good luck. RRP £35
• Cassette Playa – Stuck on My Sims – Cassette Playa puts a unique twist on the MySims world with a series of vinyl and foil artworks rooted in customisation – give your DS that My Sims make-over or simply customise your phone, laptop, nails or notebook. RRP £15
• House of Holland – My Sims Pouch Tee – designed for DS on the go, with a seamed in DS pouch/pocket – this limited edition tee bears the cult signature of Henry Holland’s irreverent take on life – with the slogan ‘Life Begins With MySims’. RRP £40
• Tatty Divine – My Sims Sushi Bag – designed to perfectly carry your Wii mote on the go, Tatty Divine’s exclusive bag takes design inspiration from MySim’s sushi chef, and features hundreds of glittering Swarovski crystals. RRP £150

Bright, colourful, inventive & intuitive, these cool accessories are an insiders must have!

EA and NBA unite the best in real and virtual basketball on European courts this week
CHERTSEY, UK 5 October 2007 – NBA Europe LIVE presented by EA SPORTS™ is bringing some of the world’s best basketball action to fans in Europe this week as EA and NBA unite for the second time. NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS began on 1st October and features the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves in training camps and exhibition games against top Euroleague Basketball clubs in six cities across Turkey, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The first games of this year’s tour are on October 6 in both Istanbul and Rome.

As the presenting partner, EA SPORTS will also conduct a number of events around the launch of the popular new videogame NBA LIVE 08, which will be available across Europe on the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable). Wii™ and PC versions of the game.

“NBA Europe Live is a fantastic platform for EA SPORTS and our partners at the NBA to share our passion for real and virtual basketball with fans and gamers across Europe,” said Matt Bilbey, Senior Director of International Marketing, EA SPORTS. “We’re pleased to continue to be ambassadors for NBA basketball and with the launch of NBA LIVE 08 in Europe today are excited for gamers to be able to celebrate the best basketball action on the virtual court.”

“Following the success of last year’s tour, we are pleased to have EA SPORTS with us again as the presenting sponsor of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, Vice President of Marketing Partnerships & Business Development for NBA Europe. “Once again, this ambitious international competition continues to be a celebration of the game of basketball for fans throughout Europe – both on the court and with NBA LIVE.”

Games

NBA Europe LIVE presented by EA SPORTS is a comprehensive tour of Europe that includes training camps and exhibition games against NBA and Euroleague Basketball teams. During last year’s inaugural NBA Europe, four teams – the San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns - held training camps in France, Russia, Spain and Italy respectively and competed against top Euroleague Basketball teams with exhibition games held in Germany. The tour drew more than 36 million viewers and 115,000 spectators in October 2006.
Building upon a solid foundation of 5-on-5 gameplay, NBA LIVE 08 introduces a set of 4 all-new features in this year’s game – Quickstrike Ballhandling, Own The Paint, Hot Spots and Signature Go-To Moves to increase user control, while providing an unrivaled level of authenticity to the sport of basketball. Use these features to create your own Go-To Moves and take on the best in the world with NBA LIVE 08. For the first time ever, NBA LIVE 08 will also feature eight international teams as part of a multi-year licensing agreement with FIBA, the world governing body for basketball. The game features a number of the NBA’s biggest international stars on packaging across Europe, including the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker and Phoenix Suns’ Boris Diaw (France), Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Memphis Grizzlies’ Pau Gasol (Spain) and Toronto Raptors’ Andrea Bargnani (Italy). Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas is featured on packaging in North America and all other territories.

For more information on NBA LIVE 08, log onto www.nbalive.com.

Three book deal will see Dragonology^TM, Wizardology^TM and Pirateology^TM come to life as video games for the Wii and Nintendo DS.

Codemasters, a leading creator and publisher of critically acclaimed video games, and The Templar Company PLC, the parent company of Templar Publishing, today announced a worldwide licensing agreement that will see the creation of a series of original video game titles based on Templar’s 14 million-selling ‘Ology series of books.

The deal will see Templar Publishing’s best sellers Dragonology™, Wizardology™ and Pirateology™, each a fascinating and entertaining encyclopaedic journal packed with multi-textured content and paper-engineered extras, realised as individual video game titles exclusively for the Wii and Nintendo DS.

Codemasters will publish two editions of each title, one for Wii, with play centred on action gaming, and the other for the Nintendo DS, which will embrace explorative gameplay in the form of an interactive book. Dragonology will be the first title in the series and is expected to launch in the second half of 2008.

“Extending Codemasters’ reach in the family entertainment category, this alliance with Templar further demonstrates the continued growth and diversification of our portfolio,” said Barry Jafrato, Senior Vice President of Brand, Codemasters.
“With each title based on a popular fantasy theme and delivering a truly content-rich read, Dragonology, Wizardology and Pirateology are major entertainment properties that form a perfect base on which to build original and creative gaming experiences.”

“The Ology book brand is a powerful contemporary franchise and we always seek to work with high calibre creative partners,” commented Richard Scrivener, Commercial and Operations Director, Templar Publishing.
“Right from the outset, we were impressed by the combination of Codemasters’ passion for the product and their global reach.”

Dragonology: the Complete book of Dragons, by Dugald A Steer, was first published in 2003, creating a series which has sold over 5.7 million copies worldwide in 32 different languages. In the U.S., where the series is published by Candlewick Press, Dragonology, Wizardology and Pirateology have all been New York Times bestsellers and the ‘Ology series was recently noted in the Wall Street Journal as ‘a major publishing phenomenon’. For more information on the ‘Ology series, please visit www.ologyworld.com