PAX Australia Tickets to be sent 17th June

PAX Australia's customer service staffer Wendy Hamano has sent out reminder emails to those attending the event, stating that they will be sending out tickets on 17th June, and hopefully arriving at households by 25th June at the latest (though residents of Tasmania, Northern Territory and Western Australia might receive them later than this date).  If your address details aren't correct, you have until 27th May to get in contact with PAX, via info@paxaustralia.com.au, and rectify it!

The team also stresses that you should have appropriate photo ID on hand when you actually arrive at PAX in Melbourne from 19th July - 15 to 17 years olds will be given a blue wristband and 18 and over a red wristband; this helps the PAX staff determine what classification of games you will be allowed to check out and play (hey, it's what we all fought for and we gotta stand by it).  Exhibits and games bearing a classification of R18+ can only be participated by adults over 18; anyone under that age won't be allowed to check out (even if attending with a guardian).

It should be a good event, and I'm so glad something like this is happening in my hometown of Melbourne -  Perhaps I will see you there!

Ballarat Get Into Games (GiG) 2013

Starting on 17th May, the Ballarat ICT Limited, with support from the City of Ballarat, and the Game Developers Association of Australia (GDAA) will be running the annual Get into Games (GiG) event in Ballarat, Victoria.  The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the career prospects of those interested in entering a career in the video games industry in Australia.

This event is also a good opportunity to actually get a foot through the door and into the industry, given that the event is also attended by representatives from the games development industry and the educational sector (including Matthew Hall of "Klick Tock" and Michael Woods from "Media Saints").  If you have some promising skills, perhaps it would be wise to attend and get in contact with these influential people.  In addition, course options will be highlighted so that you can decide what you want to study.

The showcasing on Friday is prominently for those who are already honing their game development skills or interested in pursuing a career in game development.  This might be a little much for the casual attendee who just wants to see games, and is not planning to enter game development.  However, on Saturday 18th May, the event will lighten the tone to a more interactive, entertainment based theme, to cater for the more casual crowd (i.e. the general public).  There will also be some competitions and prizes to be won.

The event is free to all, so just rock up with a can-do attitude and take in as much as your brain can handle. Everything else you need to know is at their official website: http://www.ballaratgig.com/

New Game Plus returns to the airwaves

Announced just this past Sunday, "New Game Plus" will be returning to television sets in Melbourne (Channel 31) and Sydney (TVS), at a weekly slot at 10:30pm on Monday nights.  However, fans in other states can catch the show on their website at http://www.newgameplus.tv.  The producers are still in talks to get the show running on Adelaide 31, but it's admittedly a slow process. 

New Game Plus is a video game television series (with ties to related subcultures) that has risen from the ashes of the Level 3 television series that ended in 2012, and stars Jason O'Callaghan, Kirsty Sculler, Tim Forster, Brad Jolly, Donald Duong, Jamie Galea, Aleks Svetislav, and Kane Watters.  The show will feature reviews, interviews and exclusive coverage.

Catch the show when it starts Monday 20th May at 10:30pm!

EB Games Expo 2013 tickets going fast

Better get in quick; tickets are selling out for the EB Games Expo 2013, hosted in Sydney from the 4th October weekend.  If you have been to the Expo before, you would know it's one of our biggest gaming expo's in Australia.  From my own experience, I know that it's a fun packed day, with plenty to check out and heaps of fun to be had.  I won't repeat what is already mentioned in the EB Games Expo 2013 FAQ.

Besides the gaming exhibitions, be sure to consider the Good Game Live quiz session, which promises to sort the noobs from the gaming elites, and support the best gaming television series on Australian television (and possibly say Hi to Good Game's Bajo and Hex).  I will be there on the Sunday session, and I reckon it will be a blast.

Get your tickets!
http://www.ebexpo.com.au/buy-tickets/

Metro: Last Light to be released in 2011?

Looks like Australia is getting an early release of Metro: Last Light; so early in fact, that it's to be released in the past!  Redditor BlueSwablr noticed the curious release date being touted on placeholder copies of the game and couldn't resist sharing.  So did any one else get their copy a good two years ago?  In all seriousness, the game is scheduled for release on 14 May 2013, and this cover also shows the new R18+ classification, so it looks like they are being used somewhat effectively from here on in.

Electronic Arts to stop paying licenses to use guns in games

Electronic Arts (EA) have stated that they have the right, and intention, to use branded weapons in their games without paying for licenses to gun manufacturers. EA has previously licensed in-game use of weaponry from the McMillan Group for the game “Medal of Honor: Warfighter”.  EA’s president of labels Frank Gibeau argued that “A book doesn't pay for saying the word 'Colt', for example” – essentially claiming that freedom of speech would allow the usage of branded weaponry without a license.

Various media sources, such as Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), have created a tentative link between EA’s statements, and perceived escalations to gun violence in the United States.  At this time, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Freedom Group (who manufacture guns under the brands Bushmaster and Remington) have not responded to the SMH's repeated requests for comment on EA's statements.

So far, there has not been a single case where a gun manufacturer has sued a video game company for using a branded weapon without a license.  However, in a jury trial commencing in June, aircraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter is contesting EA’s depiction of a helicopter design in the Battlefield video games, arguing that its depiction exceeds fair usage and was indeed trademark infringement.  The outcome of this case could indeed impact future cases where digital renditions of real world manufactured objects are included in games without licence.

Sources:
http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1489751/electronic-arts-drops-gunmakers-not-guns/?cs=24 http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/games/electronic-arts-drops-gunmakers-not-guns-20130509-2j9ev.html