Consumer Briefs

Get ready for James Bond, Guitar Hero

Activision Inc. announced that its first game based on the James Bond license, a franchise that once belonged to rival game publisher Electronic Arts Inc., will hit stores Nov. 7, the same date as the release of the new Bond movie “Quantum of Solace.” The movie features the return of actor Daniel Craig, who played Bond in “Casino Royale.”

At the annual E3 video game convention, Santa Monica-based Activision also showed off a new version of its Guitar Hero franchise. Scheduled for release in the fall, Guitar Hero World Tour adds a drum kit and microphone as well as a new guitar that has an accelerometer and a touch-sensitive slider bar.

Activision’s newest entry in the music game genre also adds a recording mode that lets players create songs from scratch, using a library of beats, sounds and samples.

Some analysts question whether some of the added features will make the game too complex for mainstream players who bought Guitar Hero because it was easy to learn.

Block addresses civil union glitch

H&R Block Inc. is offering to reimburse part of the cost some couples in civil unions encountered when the company’s online tax filing system refused to submit their returns.

The company is offering couples who can show documentation that they started online but had to complete the process at one of H&R Block’s offices either a $100 coupon toward having their tax returns prepared or a free copy of H&R Block’s TaxCut software.

The American Civil Liberties Union raised the issue in March on behalf of a Hartford, Conn., couple, Jason Smith and Settimio Pisu, who tried to file their joint state tax return as a civil union in January. The online network told them that the company’s software didn’t support tax returns from civil unions in Connecticut and recommended they complete their return at an H&R Block office.

ACLU attorneys said that was discriminatory because it was more time-consuming and the couple had to pay an extra $155 to file their taxes that way.

H&R Block spokeswoman Denise Sposato said the problem involved difficulties in meshing rules in the various states that allow civil unions with the federal tax system, which doesn’t recognize civil unions. The company has developed a technical workaround, she said.

Customers can find more details by visiting taxcut.com/tax_tips/aclu.html.

Help for visitors with disabilities

The National Park Service has launched a website for visitors with disabilities and other special needs to help them find accessible trails, programs and activities at national parks.

The website is called ”National Parks: Accessible to Everyone.” Many individual parks have sections on their websites about accessibility, and the new national database is a work in progress, incorporating information as it becomes available.

The site lists places where signed interpreters can be arranged for the hearing-impaired and visitors centers that have captioned movies or services for visually impaired parkgoers. There are also detailed descriptions of trails, including the type of surface, for visitors who have mobility issues.

Lead levels high in kids’ necklaces

British publisher Parragon Books is recalling about 500,000 children’s necklaces with silver-colored ballet shoe charms. Solder on the charm may contain high levels of lead, which can harm children if swallowed. The necklace came with a book – titled “The Magical Ballet Slippers” or “Ballerina’s Magical Shoes” – sold nationwide at retail chains and independent bookstores from January 2003 through June 2008. Consumers should immediately take the necklaces away from children and contact Parragon.

For more information, call (888) 480-2854 or visit www.parragonrecall.com.

From Times Staff and Wire Reports