Gamenews Weekly
Production Pages
14 June 2005 Gamenews Weekly: Production Pages - games in development in Australia. To get the next issue, and lots more, subscribe to Gamenews Weekly today!

Dissecta Events: Check the Next Event Here

Competition
Killzone Competition!
Thanks for all your entires and well done to AW of Melbourne for being the winner! [16 Dec 2004]

Competition - Closed
Killzone Competition!
Over the next two weeks, Gamenews.com.au is giving readers the opportunity to win a cool Killzone Limited Edition Collector's box, to celebrate the release of KILLZONE, an awesome looking first person shooter for the PS2. We have one Limited Edition Collector's box to give away, containing a t-shirt, a Swiss army flask, two dog tags, a card set, and other goodies. To enter our Killzone competition, just email us on or before 5th December telling us the name of at least one of the four player controlled characters in the game. Gamedaily has a good article about Killzone here. For all your local Killzone info, click here. For the game website, click here.

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Education
AIE Releases Short Course Schedule
The Academy of Interactive Entertainment has released its summer school short courses, aimed at 13 to 16 years old, with one course entitled "Making Games/Playing Games" aimed at 8 to 12 year olds. For the list, click here. Tim Richards [24 November 2004].

Popular Media
JFK Reloaded Reloads Video Game Violence Debate
The release of JFK Reloaded, an event based simulator dripping with poor taste, has kicked off the violence in video game debate a further time, with some apparently opportunistic vested interest groups releasing their top 10 most violent video games. For an example, see here. At the top of the list, Doom 3, in the middle at 5, Halo 2. Tim Richards [24 November 2004].

Platforms
Sweaty Games
Business Week Online takes a look at interactive games that make you sweat; games using unique controllers that provide players with a work out as they play. For the article, click here. Tim Richards [24 November 2004].

Industry
What is the Quebec (Canadian) game industry worth?
$80 million according to Jean-Pierre Faucher, "partnership development manager for Alliance numeriQC, an industry association for Quebec multimedia companies" reports canada.com, where "video-game development employs only about 2,000 full-time positions in about 50 companies in Quebec". For the article, click here.

News
If you want me, darling, I'll be in the 'hood.
Rockstar games GTA:SA is causing a stir in the UK, even the BBC is on top of the action. Check out this article, if only for the user posts at the end. And also see this article for an insight into how R classifications actually get enforced, not by dumb parents but by switched on salespeople. Tim Richards [12 November 2004].

Console
Halo 2 An Agent for Microsoft
Hundreds of Xbox owners have reported in online forums in recent days that they were banned from Xbox Live, Microsoft's online gaming service, after trying to play "Halo 2" online with a modified console. See one of the articles here. Gamenews.com.au hears it is permanent. Tim Richards [12 November 2004].

Industry News
Latest Game Developers Association of Australia Newsletter released
Issue 9 of the GDAA Newsletter, October 2004, is now available. The issue covers the Electronic Games Investment Fund Ltd, the Open Content Licensing: Cultivating the Creative Commons conference, the new Elsevier book The Focal Easy Guide to Flash MX 2004, news from Perception about Stargate SG-1, and with other stories, information on a US media delegation which is coming to the AGDC in December. The newsletter is edited by the same guy who edits this website, and is available free to subscribers by emailing tim@ematic.com.au. [10 November 2004]

News
Important TV Shows: Halo 2 Ultimate Gamer
Check here to see what must be the ultimate TV show, Halo 2 Ultimate Gamer on USA's Spike TV. The ultimate Halo gamer was found, put through the paces with the Halo 2 team, and had the ultimate Halo 2 game room installed in his home. Tim Richards [9 November 2004].

Console
Fitness Game Coming to Console
A new 'game' for the Xbox has been released reports wkyt.com, called Yourself!Fitness. Learn more about it here. Tim Richards [9 November 2004].

Genre
Comedy Computer Games; MIA
A recent article on the MSN site asks the question, Why are video games so humorless? For the article click here. Although from time to time a top-shelf funny computer game is released, computer game content is generally serious or fun rather than funny. Tim Richards [6 November 2004].

Education
Game Based Learning
For an interesting article on using computer games to increase the skill level of basketball athletes, click here. Tim Richards [6 November 2004].

Consoles
EA Games on the Nintendo DS
For a review of Electronic Arts list of key games for the soon to be launched Nintendo DS, see this article in Game Daily here. The article has an interesting comment from Nintendo sales and marketing Executive Vice President Reggie Fils-Aime, stating that "we've spoken with consumers and they tell us that better graphics are a dead-end road". In context, Fils-Aime goes on to say "What gamers want is functionality and better gaming experiences. Nintendo DS delivers dual-screen gaming, voice recognition and wireless gaming with both a LAN system and Wi-Fi." However it could be true that generally speaking better graphics are reaching a limit as a positive in themselves, however real world physics and innovative game control, which are also key factors to the gaming experience, still have a long way to go. Tim Richards [2 November 2004].

Government
Korean Government Launches MMOG Test Bed Program in USA
Gamespot reports that the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency (KIPA), which operates two offices in the USA, in Boston and the Silicon Valley, and with a US$7 million budget to promote the Korean games industry overseas, has launched a new initiative to introduce Korean MMOGs to the global market. A new website has been launched, offering free full versions of four Korean MMOGs for download, with free use for North American gamers until December. For the full story, click here. Link: www.gameNgame.com. Tim Richards [2 November 2004].

Industry
More People Want Games Than Movies
The Christian Science Monitor reports that Blockbuster Video in the USA has launched a new game division called Game Rush, and that this is a sign of the earning power of computer and video games. Although the audience is still mainly under 30, the report states "as the demographic ages (players include those in their 20s and 30s) and the industry begins to beat movies'
box office, pundits say it's time to acknowledge a cultural change at work." For the interesting and informative article, click here. Tim Richards [1 November 2004].

Industry
Games An Advertising Medium
The Chicago Daily Herald contends that "video games win a sizable chunk of advertising dollar" and comments that "roar down city streets in the upcoming "Need for Speed Underground 2" racing game and you'll see a Best Buy store amid the skyscrapers, along with bright billboards with ads from Cingular, Old Spice and Burger King." The use of advertising in video games adds realism to the environment and as such, if placed appropriately, is acceptable to gamers. However, it is interesting to note that the marketing budget of large multinationals such as DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, now includes a sizeable chunk to spend on in game advertising, up from zero four years ago. Advertising in games is now a real factor, and the car maker's Jeff Bell, a Chrysler Group vice president, comments in this article that '"When I was a kid, I used to run downstairs to watch Saturday morning cartoons, but my sons wake up and run downstairs to play video games."' For the article, click here. Tim Richards [1 November 2004].

Consoles
Sony PSP and PS2 Update
IT News Australia reports that Sony's new PSP handheld console "will go on sale in Japan on 12 December for RRP ¥19,800 ($250)". Also, Sony will release a new look PS2 in Australia tomorrow, at $249.95. The new PS2 console is 75% smaller and half as heavy as the original PS2. For the article, click here. Tim Richards [28 October 2004].

Society
Outrage Over Grand Theft Auto Poster Brings Prompt Response
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online reports that Blockbuster Stores in Milwaukee have taken down posters for "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" in response to suggestions from customer Charles Grosz that it was insensitive given the recent beating death of a homeless man in the area where the accused "had compared it to the violent video game "Grand Theft Auto"". For the article, click here. Tim Richards [28 October 2004].

Products
Serious Racer for Serious Race Simulator Players
The Australian IT takes a look at the Serious Racer, an ultimate racing simulator accessory designed and produced on the Gold Coast, which was showcased in Melbourne recently at the Intelligent Home Show. For the article, click here. For the serious racing website, click here. Tim Richards [25 October 2004].

Games
Halo 2 Leaked, Bungie Try to Buy Time
Apparently a French pressing version of Halo 2 has been leaked onto the Internet. For the London Free Press article, click here. For the Bungie studio announcement on the leak, click here. It is interesting to note the comment in the Bungie announcement that "We [Bungie] also ask that you help us minimize the spoilers for those opting to wait for the retail release by refraining from posting screens, talking about the story and deleting any such posts you encounter." It is one thing to point out illegally reproduced screen shots should not be posted but rather amazing to suggest fans shouldn't talk about the story of the leak; particularly given the post itself has a link at the bottom inviting viewers to "discuss this story". Given the Half-Life 2 code theft which occured about the same time last year, it appears code theft and leaking is a major issue for blockbuster developers that has yet to be properly mitigated. Tim Richards [19 October 2004].

Legal
European Union Court Upholds Laser Game Ban
EUBusiness.com reports the European Union's top court has "upheld a German ban on a laser game in which people pretend to kill each other, dismissing arguments that the ban violates EU law." The laser game operated in Bonn Germany and "involved firing on human targets with a mock sub-machine gun firing laser beams"; the German police ordered the laser game closed in 1994 arguing the game "trivialised violence" while the operator, Omega, argued "its freedom under community law to provide services had been violated." For the article, click here. For the Courts press release, click here. Tim Richards [19 October 2004].

Retail
Christmas Rush To Add Female Game Players
The Age reports that while the christmas rush generates "40 per cent of annual sales in the $800 million" game market, this year companies like Sony are hoping to gain women and girls as new game buyers through "singalong software." For the article, click here. Tim Richards [19 October 2004].

Events
World Cyber Games 2004 Wraps Up
The China Daily reports that "amid fanfare fit for actual world-class athletes, five Americans with really quick fingers took home the gold medal Sunday in the popular "Counter Strike" competition of the World Cyber Games championships." Team Netherlands eventually won the Grand Champions title for the five day World Cyber Games event, which finished overnight in San Francisco, USA. For the article, click here. Tim Richards [11 October 2004].

Consoles
Nintendo Double Screen Update
The Australian IT reports that Nintendo's new handheld double screen console "will hit the US market in late November and come to Japan in December". The Japanese price will be ¥15,000 or about $185 Australian dollars, and the console will have about 14 titles by the end of the year. See the Australian IT article here. However, as the DS will be backward compatible with Game Boy Advance SP games, DS owners will have access to a huge catalogue of around 550 games. While the Nintendo DS will be up against the Sony PSP in the new hand console stakes, the DS is prompting alot of discussion for its wireless interconnectivity feature (see here for example). The wireless interconnectivity will allow DS consoles to network for gaming and communicating through the inbuilt chat application, Picto Chat, and allow impromptu game networks as DS consoles detect other DS consoles in the vicinity. See Nintendo's own press on the DS console here. Tim Richards [8 October 2004].

Nintendo DS

Industry
AGDC Call for Game Award Nominations
The Australian Game Developers Conference Awards Committee has called for nominations from the computer game development industry in Australia and New Zealand for the annual Australian Game Developers Awards. The Awards comprise 17 categories including outstanding innovation, outstanding industry contribution, best new start-up company, best game of 2004, best PC game, best console game, original character design, best audio game, best game design, best level design, programming excellence, outstanding visual arts, best unsigned games and two new categories introduced this year—best handheld game and best mobile phone game. Award nominations close on 5 November. See www.agdc.com.au for further information. Tim Richards [8 October 2004].

Jobs
Pandemic Needs Contract Testers for Destroy All Humans!
Pandemic is currently seeking several testers for its "Destroy All Humans!" game now under development for THQ. Candidates need game knowledge, communication / problem solving skills, computer skills/ office package knowledge, and the ability to work in a team environment. The 3 to 4 month contract position involves following a documented test plan and being responsible for logging clear and very detailed bug reports. It would be a great way to gain game industry experience if you are trying to get a foot in the door. Contact Pandemic through jobs@pandemicstudios.com.au. Links: www.pandemicstudios.com; www.destroyallhumansgame.com. Tim Richards [6 October 2004].

Studios
Long Live Point and Click!
Old school fans have reason to rejoice! The juggernaut of genres past, the point and click adventure, may still have life in it yet - at least if the guys at the newly formed Telltale Games have any say in it. The new studio is made up of ex-LucasArts types and industry veterans dedicated to the resurrection of adventure games with great storytelling and character. Gamers with a special place in their hearts for classic franchises like Kings Quest and Monkey Island were crushed in March when LucasArts announced the cancellation of Sam & Max Freelance Police - the long awaited sequel to the much loved 1993 PC adventure Sam and Max Hit The Road. While it is unclear whether Freelance Police will reappear in some form through Telltale Games, a recent press release states that the company is "in the design phase on a well-loved license." With LucasArts now producing so few games without lightsabers or furry 2-foot freedom fighters it is comforting to know that some developers are still pushing for games with giant monkey heads. You can find the full story as well as an interview with Telltale Games CEO Dan Connors here. Or check out Telltale’s official site here. John Curtin [06 October 2004]

News
KROME Studios CEO Talks Up Ty
Robert Walsh, CEO of Brisbane based KROME Studios, has been out spreading the word on their upcoming Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue. In an interview with IGN Walsh discusses Ty’s place among other console platform titles, what the developer has learned from the first instalment in the franchise, and some of the things they hope to achieve with Ty 2. The original Ty the Tasmanian Tiger title managed to sell more than a million copies and so expectations are high for the sequel. You can read the full interview here. John Curtin [06 October 2004]

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