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 22 November 2005: Heroes of the Pacific!

Consoles
Heroes of the Pacific with Codemasters
Sumea.com.au comments that the IR Gurus game Heroes of the Pacific will be published by Codemasters. Heroes of the Pacific will be released September 2005. For the publishers' game website, click here. IR Gurus Interactive Australia Pty Ltd formed in 1996 and is based in Melbourne. The company is known for its AFL game franchise, with AFL 2005 to be distributed by Sony mid year. IR Gurus original distributor for the Heroes of the Pacific project withdrew late last year, but due to the independent nature of the project's funding, development continued undisrupted. By Tim Richards. [30 April 2005] [top]

Events
Australian Writers Guild Game Writing Workshop
A post on Bigkid.com.au today reports on an Australian Writers Guild workshop on writing for games, commenting the the workshop "sounds like an interesting look at this often undervalued aspect of game development". For the posting, click here. It will be held 28 May 2005 in Adelaide. By Tim Richards. [29 April 2005] [top]

Industry
Game Industry versus Movie Industry
"As everyone knows, the videogame industry has eclipsed the movie industry in terms of total revenues. Still, in terms of cultural impact and influence, movies still predominate. Yet that could be changing" starts an interesting commentary in TechCentralStation.com which seeks to identify the issues supporting why Hollywood is failing to take on interactive entertainment. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [29 April 2005] [top]

Education
Educational Version of Online Business Game Launched
Industryplayer.com has announced the launch of Industryplayer 2.0, "the Ultimate Online Business Game on the Internet." The company says "the Educational version makes Industryplayer a distinctly unique classroom tool and a great teaching aid...Teachers and Trainers can monitor each student's activity and results." Industry Player is offering School Teachers, University Lecturers and Professors a free trial period to test and preview the educational version. See the Industry Player website here. By Tim Richards. [29 April 2005] [top]

Industry
US Actor Unions Raise Stakes in Video Game Industry Negotiations
Further to our previous report US Actors Push for More Equitable Share of Video Game Industry, 24 March 2005, here, Backstage.com reports that "members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have authorized their unions to strike [against] video game producers if negotiators can't agree to new contracts. The bargainers are scheduled to go back to the table on Mon., May 9." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [29 April 2005] [top]

Industry
GameTap to Exploit Game Back Catalogues
Turner Broadcasting, owned by TimeWarner Inc, has spent two years developing GameTap, an internet based system allowing gamers to play older games. GameTap was announced this week, and will launch "later this year with a library of more than 1,000 games from 17 different publishers" according to Reuters.com. The system uses emulation software to allow users to play the games they use to play years ago. For the Reuters.com article, click here. For BusinessWeek.com's take on the story, click here. For the GameTap website, click here. By Tim Richards. [28 April 2005] [top]

Retail
Q&A: Co-Owners of Gameplay Online Pty Ltd
Gameplay.com.au is a new Australian based online video game sales and rental service which launched this month. See our Q&A, left hand column, with founders Mark Busani and Evan Wallace, about their new business and the game market. By Tim Richards. [28 April 2005] [top]

Society
Current Issues with Video Game Violence and Classification
The Age takes a look at video game violence and classification in their article "Shoot to Thrill" published today. The lenghty article provides a neat review of the various issues and those seeking to influence opinion on the subject. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [28 April 2005] [top]

Event
Game Events in Germany August 2005
The GC Developer Conference website has been launched in support of the conference to be held 16 to 18 August 2005, at the Leipzig Exhibition Centre. The Developer Conference is part of a consortium of game industry events at that time, the others being GC 2005: GC Games + Entertainment (Exhibition): 18 - 21.08.2005; and GC Business Center (B2B): 17 - 20.08.2005. The press release for the events comments that the event project manager, Frank Sliwka, says that "the prime aim of the GCDC is to intensify dialogue between developers and publishers as a way of driving forward knowledge and know-how transfer on an international level." For the website, click here. The attendance figures for the 2004 GCGD are surprising: the website provides "Attendees and speakers total: 276 (2003: 160, +42%)... Speakers: 67 (2003: 35, +48%) ... Attendees:211(2003: 125, +41%) ... Representatives of the media: 50(2003: 18, +156%). By Tim Richards. [27 April 2005] [top]

Corporate
THQ CEO Interview
TheStreet.com has a sizeable Q&A article with the CEO of US based THQ, Mr Brian Farrell. Described as "one of the second-tier rivals of industry giant Electronic Arts... [THQ] has a reputation for being largely a maker of kids' games...Farrell's not unhappy with that business... but Farrell thinks the company has other opportunities it can exploit, from titles geared at hard-core gamers, to games for mobile phones." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [27 April 2005] [top]

Industry
US Game Industry: Q1 2005
Further to our 18 April 2005 news item "US Game Consoles in March: Figures, here" more complete figures for the first quarter of 2005 have been released by NPD Group, which finds "total U.S. sales of video game hardware, software and accessories rose 23 percent in the first quarter of 2005 to more than $2.2 billion" according to Reuters.com. For the article, click here. The Street.com provides a longer report in "Handhelds Fuel Video-Game Sales", here. By Tim Richards. [27 April 2005] [top]

Handheld Consoles
Australia: PSP from 1 September 2005
AustralianIT.com.au reports today that "the handheld games unit, already a hit in Japan and the US, would go on sale in Australia on 1 September, priced at $429.95...Sony will include a range of accessories with the PlayStation Portable (PSP) package including a 32MB Memory Stick, headphones, remote control, AC adaptor and games sampler." For the article, click here. The PSP has sold extremely well following its March North American launch (See news item here) and the Australian launch has apparently been delayed to ensure sufficient supplies; it would appear Sony underestimated the success of the handheld console. By Tim Richards. [26 April 2005] [top]

Online Games
Who Are Online Gamers?
The International Herald Tribune in its article "A new dimension for hard-core gamers", which is attributed to the New York Times, provides a lengthy commentary on the online game market. While focussing initially on the Matrix Online, the article explains the nature of online game playing and the rationale for game publishers to create a popular online game title. Examples cited include EverQuest, World of Warcraft and Star Wars Galaxies. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [26 April 2005] [top]

Classification
New Zealand: Kids Take Action over Grand Theft Auto
An interesting article from TVNZ.co.nz reports on the actions of two school children to have a video game banned in New Zealand. The kids took action after schoolmates started acting out the over-18 game: "people were pretending to shoot me and chasing me around" says one child. The New Zealand Chief Censor said "if their parents are giving them access to this game, then the parents need a talking to because they've committed an offence...and could be liable for a fine or a term of imprisonment." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [24 April 2005] [top]

Events
Riyadh's PS2 GT4 Challenge
Arabnews.com reports on a two day "PlayStation 2 Gran Turismo 4 Challenge" held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the fastest driver "invited to participate in the grand final to be held next month in Dubai." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [23 April 2005]

Industry
United Kingdom Publishers Seek More Political Influence
The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the video game software publishers association in the United Kingdom, has hired a political lobbyist "to aid with its UK government and parliamentary lobbying" according to Digital Media News for Europe. The firm is PSA, and "will handle public affairs strategies around key issues to the industry such as age rating, codes of practice, piracy and education along with communicating the essential contribution the games industry makes to the UK economy." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [22 April 2005]

Society
Online Games: Could be Digital Extortion Targets
NewScientist.com speculates in their article "Attack on game raises prospect of online extortion" that a recent distributed denial of service attack on popular online game Final Fantasy XI, which disrupted the service provided by Square Enix, indicates the potential for online games to be subject to extortion. For the article, which takes a brief look at the method of attack and defences, click here. By Tim Richards. [22 April 2005]

Industry
Disney Buys Developer, Establishes Game Start-Up
The Sun Sentinal reports that Disney is "acquiring a small video-game developer, Avalanche Software, and launching a new venture in Vancouver, British Columbia." The new venture will make non-children's games. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [21 April 2005]

Media
Gameplaying Inspired Student Film: 'As Real as Your Life'
The DailyPennsylvanian.com has an article about a student who "was playing about 10 hours of video games in an average day" which inspired him to make a 10 minute film to explore "the psychological effect of video games." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [21 April 2005]

Government
Californian Bill to Ban Certain Computer Game Sales
The California State Assembly may soon vote on a proposed law to "to restrict the sale of violent video games to minors" according to Reuters.com. The proposed law, known as a bill, comes on the back of similar proposals being pushed through State parliaments or otherwise promoted by politicians at the current time (see "New Twist to US Proposals to Ban Certain Computer Game Sales" 28 March 2005 Jan-Mar 2005 Archives; "Illinois, US: Update: Proposed Law to Ban Certain Computer Game Sales" 9 April 2005 below). The Reuters article notes that "two federal appellate courts have already ruled, however, that such laws violate the free speech guarantees of the First Amendment." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [20 April 2005]

Industry
Publisher Issues Sickness Warning for Specific Game
Gameshout.com reported this month that UK publisher Digital Jesters has "issued supplemental playing guidelines for players of its new release 'Trackmania: Sunrise' in order to prevent them from feeling ill through extended play." For the report, click here. For the sickness warning from Digital Jesters, click here. By Tim Richards. [20 April 2005]

Society
Reports on Sony Game and Bangladesh
There have been various reports in the last day (see Xinhua China "Sony game portraying Bangladesh as terrorist state arouses protest" or Times of India "Tech-terror: Game's on Bangladesh") which appear to be based on the same source, and report that an upcoming Sony computer game developed by the US's Zipper Interactive, portrays Bangladesh as a terrorist state. While the reports don't mention the game, it is apparent the game is Socom III, the next game in the hugely popular SOCOM series. In the SOCOM games the player's character is a US Navy SEAL commander. The reports claim the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bangladesh would seek to have the country name dropped from the game, taking legal action against Sony if necessary. The reports note the game has yet to be released and will not be launched until August yet state that the portrayal in the game has led "to widespread resentment in the country". For a Game Daily article about SOCOM III click here. By Tim Richards. [20 April 2005] [top]

Events
New Game Association: Game Technology Association
The Game Initiative, a group formed in the US from those involved with Austin game develop support group the Austin Game Initiative, has announced the launch of their new game industry association, the Game Technology Association. The Game Technology Association has been formed as "a peer networking group specifically serving companies involved in producing software and hardware technologies for the creation of interactive entertainment for video game consoles, handheld and mobile devices, personal computers, consumer electronics and the Internet." The first meeting will be held 7 June 2005 in San Francisco, USA. For the Game Technology Association website, click here. By Tim Richards. [19 April 2005]

Retail
Game Retailing Shaken Up
The New York Times reports that "GameStop Corporation, the nation's [US] largest video game retailer, said yesterday that it had agreed to buy a rival, Electronics Boutique Holdings, for $1.44 billion. The combined company will have $3.8 billion in sales and more than 3,800 stores." For the article, click here. In related news, the Telegraph in the UK reports speculation that UK based game retailer Game Group Plc, which announced that talks with a potential buyer had failed, had been dealing with Electronics Boutique as the "likely suitor." For that article click here. By Tim Richards. [19 April 2005]

Online Games
Ragnarok in the Phillipines: Too Addictive?
Phillipines based Sunstar.com.ph reports on the phenomenal success of online games, particularly Ragnarok, in the Phillipines, in the article "Online games: Addiction raises concern on family, social relations". The lengthy article provides some case studies of selected users, a snapshot of Ragnarok in the Phillipines, some details on the attraction of such games and finishes with government regulatory controls in the country and in neighbouring Thailand. The article reports "in other countries such as Thailand, measures are undertaken, including a night curfew on online gaming to curb the rising rates of addiction by young players. Game servers, both local and overseas, are blocked from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am daily...". For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [18 April 2005]. Also - see the Gamenews.com.au interview with Australian Ragnarok operator OnGameNet Pty Ltd here (see left hand side article).

International Business
US Ener1 buys Russia's Nival Interactive
US technology holding company Ener1 Group has announced that an affiliate company has agreed to buy Russian game developer Nival Interactive for US$10 million. Nival, established in 1996, has a creative studio in Moscow with 140 staff. Nival CEO and Founder, Sergey Orlovskiy, will head up the new company Nival Inc out of Florida with the Moscow studio doing game development. For the press release click here, for a Mosnews report on the announcement, click here. By Tim Richards. [18 April 2005].

Industry
US Game Consoles in March: Figures
According to a Reuters.com report, quoting various analysts, "Video game sales rose 32 percent in the United States in March...". Also: 620,000 PSPs sold and 1.1 million PSP games/software in March; 428,000 Nintendo DSs sold since 1 January 2005; 495,000 PS2s sold in March; 227,000 Xboxs; 94,000 Gamecubes. For the report, click here. By Tim Richards. [18 April 2005]. [top]

Facilities
Australian Games Innovation Centre Launched
The Game Developers' Association of Australia launched the Australian Games Innovation Centre yesterday. The Centre was opened by the Honourable Marsha Thompson, Victorian Government Minister for Information and Communication Technology. The Games Innovation Centre will be a tactile game development display, located at the GDAA’s headquarters in St Kilda Road Melbourne. By Tim Richards. [15 April 2005].

International Business
Ex-Xbox Designer Partners with Chinese for High Speed Internet Delivery
Kevin Bachus, a key Xbox designer, has launched a new venture with Haier Group and Tsinghua Tongfang Co, two large Chinese electronics makers, to build a game and movie delivery system over high speed internet, not just for China, according to this article from Technewsworld.com. The venture is IDV-Global Media-On-Demand. Kevin Bachus is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of Infinium Labs which is developing the 'Phantom Game Service', an on-demand game delivery system. By Tim Richards. [15 April 2005]. [top]

Enforcement
American FBI Arrest Counterfeit Game System Distributors
The FBI has arrested four Chinese nationals in New York for allegedly distributing video game consoles that contain Nintendo game software. 60,000 illegal products were seized in five raids on April 13 but it appears 280,000 counterfeit game systems were originally brought to the USA last year. Nintendo estimates that piracy cost the company more than $860 million in lost sales in 2004, with authorities worldwide seizing 1,556,487 counterfeit Nintendo products in some 30 countries last year. For the press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [15 April 2005].

Media
Game Video Content for New Zealand Mobiles
Gamer.tv has announced it has signed an agreement with Telecom New Zealand to supply video game reviews, previews and features for access by New Zealand Telecom's T3G customers. for the press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [14 April 2005].

International Business
Ubisoft tie-up Chinese Film Based MMOG Deal
French game developer and publisher Ubisoft has announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Beijing Pegasus Infinite Digital Culture & Media Co. Ltd. "to develop Massively Multiplayer Online video games based on the upcoming Chinese fantasy movie “The Promise” (“Wu Ji”)." Ubisoft will create a joint venture company to implement the deal, with the development being carried out initially by Ubisoft's Shanghai studio. Ubisoft says the game will be rolled out throughout eastern Asia, including Japan, South Korea and the People’s Republic of China. For the press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [14 April 2005].

Society
United Nations Releases Food Force Game
BBC.com reports that the United Nations World Food Progamme has launched a "video game which aims to teach children about global hunger... written for the PC and Mac, the free game is aimed at eight to 13-year-olds for download at www.food-force.com." For the article, click here. To go to the Food-Force website, click here. By Tim Richards. [14 April 2005]. [top]

Industry
New President for Game Developers' Association of Australia
The Game Developers' Association of Australia (GDAA) is set to announce Evelyn Richardson as the new President of the Association. Evelyn has been with the GDAA since 2002, formerly in the position of Executive Director. She has taken leadership of the organisation following the untimely death of Adam Lancman, the highly regarded Australian game industry figure. Evelyn brings well rounded experience to the position of President, with a proven dynamic and strong work ethic. For an interview with Evelyn, see Gamedaily.com here. By Tim Richards. [14 April 2005].

Classification
NARC Banned in Australia due no R Classification Available
Red Ant Enterprises Pty Ltd has announced that the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has refused classification for NARC, published by Midway games. Red Ant says NARC is an in-depth, 3rd-person action/shooter video game set against a stylised modern-day backdrop of the War on Drugs. ...Players decide whether to play as a good or bad cop as they face the mean streets and criminal underworld that rules it." Red Ant says "the OFLC classified NARC with an RC [refused classification] in accordance with Part 1(d) of the computer games table of the national classification code, which states, in part, that “1. Computer games that; (d) are unsuitable for a minor to see or play”. A minor is someone under 18 years old. Red Ant adds "a seven-member panel of the Classification Board determined, in a majority 6 to I decision that Narc be refused classification." There is no R classification for computer games in Australia, unlike the US, accordingly those games unsuitable for someone under the age of 18 years old are outlawed. Red Ant suggests that due to the current rating classification in Australia, "it appears that adults are not able to read, hear and see what they want", adding "gaming is fast growing in the entertainment industry. With the average gamer being of an age around 25, the demand is high for a restricted (R) rating to be introduced." For the press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [14 April 2005].

Developers
Canadian Developer DC Studio to Open Dublin Studio
DC Studio, a Canadian headquarted game developer established 1999 with offices/studios in Montreal, and Glasgow and Bristol UK, will open a 50 team studio in Dublin, Ireland. The company has been enticed by Irish Government agency IDA, and initiative Digital Hub. The IDA promotes itself as an Irish Government agency with responsibility for securing new investment from overseas in manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, while also encouraging existing investors to expand and develop their businesses. Digital Hub promotes itself as an international centre of excellence for knowledge, innovation and creativity focused on digital content and technology enterprises. The DC Studio investment in Ireland is being billed as "Ireland’s first overseas investment in console software development" according to Ireland Online. For the Digital Hub press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [13 April 2005].

Events
Digital Media Festival, 1-3 June 2005, Melbourne
The Digital Media Festival, to be held 1-3 June 2005 at the Melbourne Convention Centre, has announced that Industrial Light & Magic Animation Supervisor Jamy Wheless will attend the Festival to provide an "exclusive Australian profile" of Star Wars: Episode III Return of the Sith (to be released worldwide 15 May 2005). The Festival comments that as an "Animation Supervisor, Wheless was responsible for the character development and performance of one of the film’s favourite character’s, Yoda." Originally an illustrator, Whelass became a digital animator in the early 1990's, joining Industrial Light & Magic in 1996. For the Festival website, click here. By Tim Richards. [13 April 2005].

International Business
Eidos Bail Out Update
The Guardian reports that Eidos, in financial difficulties and dealing with suitors (Eidos Gets bail out Offer, 22 March 2005, below), has spurned the offer from private equity firm Elevation, which features Bono as a partner, and swung behind an offer from SCi Entertainment for £103m for the company (Elevation bid was £71m). The Guardian says SCi Entertainment believes the "combined company would have a market capitalisation of about £330m, comparable with Europe's largest independent games publisher, Ubisoft of France." SCi Entertainment also reportedly said "the global games market is enormous. It's estimated to be worth €23bn (£15.8bn), and sadly the UK publishers have got a very tiny percentage of that. We believe it's really appropriate that there is a strong UK player that has a presence with the US and French firms." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [12 April 2005].

Development
Film Companies Seek to Exploit Film Catalogues
The Chicago Tribune runs an article from the Los Angeles Daily News today about Hollywood Film studios and their current efforts to "parlay blockbuster titles into hit video games -- the single most lucrative merchandising opportunity for films." The article notes that The Walt Disney Company subsidiary Buena Vista Games has increased in-house game development over the past few years but that "despite the onslaught of movies released as video games, the titles rarely rank among the top sellers in the $10 billion gaming industry." The article indicates however that some recent film based games have been popular enough for film groups, like Disney, to justify substantial interest and investment in the area, and look not just at current films in production but also how popular films from the past can be exploited through new game products. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [12 April 2005].

Consoles
Xbox 2 to be Unveiled on MTV 12/13 May 2005
Microsoft's Xbox 2 will be unveiled on MTV around the world on 12 and 13 May prior to that month's E3 Expo in LA, news agencies revealed today. BBC News online reports "the machine [Xbox 2] will be unveiled to the press and trade on 16 May. Sony will show off its PlayStation 3 machine on the same day while Nintendo is also expected to unveil the Revolution during the E3 games conference." For the BBC article, click here. For the Microsoft press release, click here. The MTV exclusive will no doubt be highly controlled by both parties and it will be interesting to see whether such media exclusivity has any impact on other media outlets and their reporting of the launch, or whether it will indeed be beneficial for both parties. By Tim Richards. [12 April 2005].

Industry
Accomplished Director Disapproves of Game
Frances Ford Coppola apparently disapproves of the planned The Godfather video game reportedly saying "I think it's a misuse of film." For the report click here. By Tim Richards. [11 April 2005].

International Business
VIS Entertainment in Administration
Reuters reports that Scotland's VIS Entertainment, developers bought by US based BAM! Entertainment last year on the basis they need to raise new finance (see BAM! Entertainment and Vis Entertainment, 19 February 2004, Gamenews.com.au) has gone into administration with the administrators reporting they have "at least two potential suitors." Reuters reports that VIS Entertainment, makers of the game State of Emergency, "ran out of money while developing a sequel". Reuters reports "VIS closed the doors at its Dundee studio on Thursday, making 26 staff redundant, and another 28 were made redundant at the firm's Edinburgh office. An additional 42 people were laid off but asked to return next week once the administrators have a chance to review the situation." The conditional purchase means BAM! is not affected. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [11 April 2005]. [top]

Console
Publishers Supporting Xbox 2
Msxbox-world.com has a partial list of publishers apparently supporting the Xbox 2. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [9 April 2005].

Retail
Game Retailing Article
This article, "Gaming to Please", from the News Sentinel in the USA provides a glimpse of current game retail techniques. By Tim Richards. [9 April 2005].

Consoles
Xbox 2 to Have Microtransaction Facility
A recent Reuters report provides an outline of a microtransactions component for the Xbox 2 (Xenon); the microtransactions and associated storefront, a part of Xbox 2 games that game developers will need to insert according to Microsoft's specifications, will provide players with the ability to make in-game purchases at a few cents a purchase. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [9 April 2005].

Government
Illinois, US: Update: Proposed Law to Ban Certain Computer Game Sales
The Illinois parliament's proposed ban on sale and rental of violent video games to those under 18 years (Illinois, US: Proposed Law to Ban Certain Computer Game Sales, 18 March 2005, below) has been dismissed by local police as a low priority; the Chicago Tribune online reports "police throughout Illinois say enforcing a proposed law to criminalize the sale of violent video games to minors will be low on their priority lists." The report quotes a police chief who stated "Unless the parents are outside our police department, like a scene in Frankenstein with pitchforks and signs, telling us that the stores are selling them, I don't see us doing the sting operations". For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [9 April 2005].

Industry
Latest Game Developers Association of Australia Newsletter Released
Issue 12 of the GDAA Newsletter, March 2005, is now available. The issue has a tribute to Adam Lancman, a huge article on hiring in the game development industry, and news about Australia's presence at the GDC 2005 and the soon to launch Australian Game Innovation Centre, and other items. The newsletter is available free, to subscribe email tim@ematic.com.au. [7 April 2005]

Latest Game Developers' Association of Australia Newsletter Released

Games
JFK Reloaded Results
Traffic, the makers of JFK Reloaded, have provided the final scores for the JFK Reloaded competition, with the highest score going to “Major_Koenig”from France, who "most closely matched the shots taken by Lee Harvey Oswald, as concluded in the Warren Commission Report on the assassination of JFK". For the website, click here. By Tim Richards. [7 April 2005]. [top]

Industry
Software to Control PC Game Use for Underage Gameplayers Launched
A company has released a program they call "Wallfly", to help parents understand what computer games are on the family PC, what the game may contain and how it is classified. In some cases the program can restrict games from running on the PC. The company, SMARTguard Software, has used the American Entertainment Software Rating Board classification database as the basis for their software system. The program uses a user profile system set by the parents, to allow gameplayers of different childhood age to be treated differently when using the family PC to play games. The profile system can also be used to set the times games can be played, and for how long that access is available. For the press release, click here. By Tim Richards. [6 April 2005].

Consoles
Sony PSP Additions by Third Party Programmers
Reuters reports that programmers are already making their own additions to the functionality of the Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) which was launched in the USA 24 March 2005, adding Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and web browsing, even within days of the device being released in the USA. The report states "one man needed only 24 hours to get a working client for Internet Relay Chat, or IRC, an older messaging platform... "I was on IRC, and someone mentioned how cool it would be to use their PSP on Wi-Fi at Starbucks to talk to people over IRC. I said, 'I can do that', so I began working on it immediately". Find this creator's application at his website. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [6 April 2005].

Society
Insurance Company Trialling Video Game for Health Benefits
An American insurance company is trialling the video game Dance Dance Revolution as a means to reduce obesity and makes its insured more healthy. The insurance company is the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency. It is thought to be the first insurance company to use a video game for its health benefits, and the trial is part of a $60,000 study. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [6 April 2005].

Gamenews.com.au
Screenhub.com.au Feature: "Internet lets local games industry down"
Gamenews.com.au editor Tim Richards' latest column for Screenhub.com.au is now online; entitled "Internet lets local games industry down" the feature proposes that the quality and cost of Australian internet access has cost the local games industry dearly. See Screenhub.com.au [subscription site]. [5 April 2005].

Business
"Father of Playstation" Removed from Sony Board
The Japan Times online, with the Associated Press, reports on Sony's recent top management restructure, today noting "the "Father of the PlayStation," Ken Kutaragi...was removed from Sony's board, though he still runs the company's game business." For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [4 April 2005].

Events
Brisbane Battle: Developers Vs Students
The Greater Brisbane IGDA chapter is organising a game developers versus students LAN tournament, and is now seeking competitors. This is a social event, and the organisers are "looking for a side of 10 student warriors worthy enough to battle against a team of 10 developers in six rounds of two undisclosed games." The event will be held at Chillan in Brisbane Sunday 17th April 2005 (2 to 5 pm). To apply to be a team member, send your answers to the following three questions, together with your name, age, preferred alias and favourite multiplayer game, to igda@lavainjection.com. The questions: (1) What is the definition of a camper?; (2) Translate the following phrase "D3v310p3rz wi11 b347 teh 57ud3n7z 345y!"; and (3) In Counterstrike, what do the letters A and B refer to? Get in quick as winners will be notifided and teams announced Monday 11th April. Cost to play is $7.50 and there will be a BBQ and other activities on. By Tim Richards. [4 April 2005].

Online
Real Actors to Play Matrix Characters in the Online Game
TheInquirer.com reports on The Matrix Online, launched in the US recently and set to debut in Europe 8 April, and the use of professional actors to control key Matrix characters such as Morpheous. For the article, click here. Rpgvault.ign.com sheds further light on the matter, and in its extensive review of the online game, comments "of particular interest is the fact that an in-game Live Events Team will play continuously written roles such as Morpheus, The Oracle, Seraph and The Merovingian." For that article, click here. By Tim Richards. [1 April 2005].

Media
Online Games and TV Ads
Issues concerning the accessibility of online games are raised in a brief article in the Digital News section of BrandRepublic.com. A recent advertising campaign in the UK, involving TV ads and online game components, is coming under scrutiny with the TV ad receiving substantial complaints for the use of sexually suggestive material. While the ads screen after 9 pm, the similarly themed game is accessible 24/7. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [1 April 2005].

Industry
Chinese Online Game Market
For an insight into the Chinese online game market with an international flavour, see "Collapse, Death And Re-Birth In The Chinese Online Game Market", in Chinatechnews.com. For the article, click here. By Tim Richards. [1 April 2005].