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  • Q&A: Xbox One Australian info

    Early this morning Microsoft finally took the wraps off its long-anticipated, next-generation console, the Xbox One. Following the announcement, GameSpot AU chatted with Microsoft Australia’s marketing manager for console and software, Adam Pollington about all the local details.

    GameSpot AU: Will Australia be part of the global launch planned for later this year?

    Adam Pollington: The answer to that is that it's very much the goal to roll out to all markets. In terms of specific regional release dates, we’ve got nothing further to announce at this time, but stay tuned over the coming weeks.

    GS AU: Kinect vocal controls were late to Australia, will the Xbox One include support for Australian voices at launch?

    AP: Today’s announcement was really about the future of the platform and what we’re looking to deliver through Xbox One, rather than detailing specific regional announcements. The goal is very much to deliver the enhancements to the Kinect sensor in all markets where Xbox One will launch.

    GS AU: Many of the services announced today (like fantasy football and ESPN integration) were very US-centric. Will you suplement them with offerings locals want, like fantasy AFL, or Foxtel on Demand on Xbox One?

    AP: Local content is very important to us; [as far as] ABC iView, Foxtel on Demand [goes], we don’t have any specific announcements. HDMI-in is a key piece of functionality for the Xbox One console and we’re definitely looking to deliver things like live TV, whether that be over-the-air, pay TV, or internet TV through that HDMI input on Xbox One.

    GS AU: The Forward Unto Dawn Halo series was available on YouTube, and Halo Waypoint, will the new Halo TV series be console exclusive, or are there plans for wider distribution?

    AP: At this stage we’ve only confirmed availability on the Xbox One platform, whether that comes to other systems down the track, stay tuned.

    GS AU: Does Microsoft want to be a partner and curator or a content creator in the entertainment space?

    AP: All of the above. We’re definitely working with partners to deliver services and applications on the box, but at the same time we’ve recently opened Xbox Entertainment Studios where we’re actually creating our own content, the first piece of which is the Halo live-action TV series, which we’ll create and cast out through the Xbox One console as well. The intention is to deliver across all of those mediums.

    GS AU: Microsoft has confirmed there will be no backwards compatibility with disc or Xbox Live Arcade titles on the Xbox One. Given the company's focus on cloud services, will we see any of these current-gen games come to the Xbox One?

    AP: The Xbox One console is definitely designed for a new generation of games, so backwards compatibility with 360 titles is unavailable. Whether we choose to bring that to some form of digital distribution [service] is still to be confirmed. What I will say is that the Xbox 360 isn’t going anywhere. We have every intention to continue to support Xbox 360 as well as Xbox One for many, many years to come.

    GS AU: How will you support the Xbox 360 once the One launches, and are there plans for split-generation games from Microsoft studios, such as offering Forza Motorsport 5 on both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One?

    AP: With next-gen titles we’ve announced, Forza 5 and Quantum Break, at this stage we’ve only announced availability on the Xbox One console. But in terms of supporting the Xbox 360 platform, we do have a large number of new titles launching in the coming year, as well as new additions to the Xbox Live service, including applications and updates. There will continue to be fresh new content for Xbox 360 for a considerable amount of time into the future.

    GS AU: What are the plans for day-one digital releases for all new games published on the Xbox One?

    AP: The plan is very much to provide consumers the choice whether they want to digitally download the content for convenience, or whether they want to purchase it at retail--that’s not going away. The vast majority of our sales continue to be done at retail, and our partners are very valuable to the space. Regarding day-and-date, we haven’t announced anything about that at this time.

    GS AU: The cost of new games has been a huge hurdle for Australian consumers, and has subsequently grown importing. Do you anticipate a local price hike for Xbox One software when the unit goes on sale?

    AP: At this stage we’ve got no announcements around local pricing.

    GS AU: There's plenty of confusion around what happens if players want to play an Xbox One game on a second console. Can you explain how the system activation will work, and what fees will be required if someone loans a game to a friend, or buys a second-hand copy.

    AP: What we have confirmed is that pre-owned games will be playable on the Xbox One console. Regarding the specific mechanics around how that functions, we haven’t yet made any official statements. Essentially we’re saying we have enabled pre-owned games, with more information on how that works to follow.

    GS AU: The Xbox One's interface was demonstrated using a mix of voice and hand gestures, will you offer standard controller navigation as an option, or ways for those with disabilities to play?

    AP: The Kinect sensor is certainly an integral part of the Xbox One system. You’ve got multiple options: Kinect being one of them, a standard controller being another, and the third being SmartGlass functionality; enabling your smartphone or tablet to act as a controller for the unit. If anything, we’re going to continue to invest in SmartGlass functionality and we’ll see that grow. The consumer really has a choice how they interact with the box.

    GS AU: Prior to the announcement there was plenty of discussion about multiple versions the Xbox One at launch, including a rumoured subsidised device with an Xbox Live subscription commitment, as you've done previously on the Xbox 360. Will there be multiple hardware configurations available at launch?

    AP: We’ve made no announcements around [configuration] lineup at this stage, but it’s only a few weeks away until E3, so stay tuned.

    GS AU: Adam Pollington, thanks for your time.

  • Xbox One listed at EB Games Australia for A$899

    • Posted May 22, 2013 2:33 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Only hours ago, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One at a live event hosted in Redmond, Washington. Although an official price has yet to be announced for the console, Australian retailer EB Games has listed it on its website at a placeholder price of A$899.

    Xbox One wireless controllers are also listed on the page for preorder at A$99.

    The Xbox One was unveiled at Microsoft's media briefing earlier today. The console is scheduled to launch within the year alongside the PlayStation 4.

    This would not be the first time EB Games has estimated the launch RRP of a next-generation console, with the PlayStation 4 receiving similar treatment following it's unveiling.

    To keep up with the latest news on Microsoft's next-gen console, check GameSpot's Xbox One hub.

  • Company of Heroes 2 gets Red Star edition

    • Posted May 17, 2013 4:59 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    World War II real-time strategy game Company of Heroes 2 will be getting a Red Star edition release at Australian retailers this year, with a recommended retail price of $109.95.

    The Red Star edition will include the following:

    - Steelbook packaging
    - 24 skin vehicle combo pack for multiplayer
    - Additional commanders for multiplayer
    - Commander Pass
    - Additional single-player/co-op mission for Theatre of War mode
    - Collector's edition faceplate.

    In addition to these features, the Red Star edition will ship with the Company of Heroes Complete pack, which includes the original Company of Heroes and its expansions, Tales of Valor and Opposing Fronts.

    Company of Heroes 2 Red Star edition is dated for a June 25 release on PC. Sega purchased the publishing rights for the game from THQ earlier in the year.

  • Victoria hosting games career expo

    • Posted May 6, 2013 7:12 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Students interested in pursuing a career in the games industry should head on over to the Ballarat Get into Games (GiG) event on May 17-18.

    Hosted at the Mining Exchange in Ballarat, the expo is open to the public, and consists of two days of demonstrations, playable games, competitions, and presentations from industry professionals.

    Ballarat GiG will open on Friday, May 17, with an open day aimed at students who are interested in a technology-sector career. Teachers are encouraged to bring their students along. Admission is free.

    Day two centres on the theme “Welcome to the World of Apps”. Attendees will have the opportunity to spend time with developers, learn about the process behind developing apps, participate in skill-based competitions, and play games on the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

    Some of this year’s speakers include:
    - Tony Reed (CEO, Game Developer Association of Australia)
    - Matt Hall (KlickTock Games)
    - Developer team Many Monkeys
    - Ballarat University and TAFE representatives.

    More details, including a full program schedule and registration for schools, can be found at the Ballarat GiG website.

  • Melbourne to host fifth annual fighting game tournament BAM

    • Posted May 1, 2013 7:29 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Competitive gamers will have a chance to test their might at an annual tournament featuring a variety of fighting games and special guests.

    Fans can head over to the fifth anniversary of Battle Arena Melbourne (BAM) on May 17-19.

    Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic writer Tom Taylor will make an appearance, and be available for fan signings and discussion on the comic's story development. Renowned Street Fighter player Johnny "Humanbomb" Cheng, who placed fifth in Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) last year, will also be present.

    Tournaments listed include Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, The King of Fighters XIII, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, Dead or Alive 5, Super Smash Bros Brawl and more.

    The full list can be found at the CouchWarriors website. A special launch competition featuring Injustice: Gods Among Us will also be hosted. CouchWarriors has teamed up with fighting game organisation Shadowloo to stream the event live.

    Run by events group CouchWarriors, BAM5 will be hosted at CQ Hotel in Melbourne this year. Tournament entry costs vary according to the game; full ticket pricing can be found at the CouchWarriors website. Players are encouraged to register in advance to receive discounted entry fees, which starts at $40 for entrants and $5 to spectate.

  • Battlefield 4 to appear at EB Expo 2013

    • Posted Apr 23, 2013 3:25 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Electronic Arts Australia has revealed that Battlefield 4 will be making an appearance at EB Expo this year. The announcement, which was made on Twitter, invites attendees to “experience Battlefield 4” at this year’s event.

    No additional details were divulged as to what this would entail.

    The game, which uses the next iteration of DICE's Frostbite engine, was announced with a 17-minute gameplay video at GDC 2013. The game is due to be released later this year, but so far only Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions have been confirmed.

    EB Expo 2013 will take place over three days from October 4-6, and will once again take place at the Sydney Showgrounds. Hosted by Aussie retailer EB Games, several exhibitors have confirmed their presence at the expo.

    The EB Expo is an event dedicated to gaming and geek culture, and will be open to the general public who purchase tickets. For the rundown on all the action that happened at last year's event, check out GameSpot AU's full coverage on our EB Expo 2012 hub.

  • Battlefield 3 on sale on Origin for $5

    • Posted Apr 18, 2013 7:36 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Electronic Arts has announced the featured title in its upcoming Origin mystery deal. First-person shooter Battlefield 3 will be available on digital distribution platform Origin in Australia for $5 from midday till midnight on Friday, April 19.

    Players who wish to take advantage of the price must purchase the game via the Battlefield 3 page on Origin during the 12-hour sale.

    Battlefield 3 was recently included as part of the free game redemption program that EA rolled out as an apology for the SimCity launch disaster.

    The first-person shooter was positively received in GameSpot’s review, praised for its detailed environments and varied multiplayer. EA has since released five additional DLC add-ons for the game: Back to Karkand, Close Quarters, Armored Kill, Aftermath, and End Game.

  • EB Expo 2013 first details announced

    • Posted Apr 17, 2013 2:28 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Aussie retailer EB Games has revealed details for its EB Expo 2013.

    The event will take place over three days from October 4-6, and will once again be hosted at the Sydney Showgrounds.

    Tickets will go on sale from 10am, April 23 at all EB Games stores, on the EB Expo website, and Ticketek. General admission ticket pricing remains the same as last year ($40), with a newly introduced discounted multiplayer pass for groups of four attending the Friday and Saturday evening sessions ($129).

    The ultimate gamer pass has also returned, at a new price of $699.

    EB Games has confirmed the first wave of exhibitors: Sony, Microsoft, Activision, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros will be returning. The following events have also been confirmed for the expo:

    • Good Game live show
    • Video game parade
    • Video game comedy show, hosted by John Robertson
    • EB Action Stadium fireworks show

    An EB Expo 2013 mobile app with updated information in the lead up to the event will be available to download from April 23.

    The EB Expo is an event dedicated to gaming and geek culture, and will be open to the general public who purchase tickets. For the rundown on all the action that happened at last year's event, check out GameSpot AU's full coverage on our EB Expo 2012 hub.

  • Nintendo Australia to attend Supanova

    • Posted Apr 8, 2013 8:20 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Nintendo Australia has announced its plans to be present at the Supanova Pop Culture Expo in Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Attendees who bring their Nintendo 3DS consoles will be able to partake in multiplayer gaming with titles such as Luigi's Mansion 2, Mario Kart 7 and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

    A Nintendo Lounge will be set up at the expo for gamers wanting to team up with others, or get StreetPass hits. Charging stations will also be available for attendees who wish to keep their 3DS topped up with juice throughout the day.

    Supanova is a fan convention focusing on science fiction, pulp television and film, toys, console gaming, trading cards, anime, cartoons, fantasy, comic books, entertainment technology, books, fan clubs, and more. The convention will be running in Melbourne and the Gold Coast in mid to late April. See below for additional details.

    Melbourne Supanova
    Where: Melbourne Showgrounds
    Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, Victoria 3032.
    When: Saturday April 13, 10am to 6pm
    Sunday April 14, 10am to 6pm

    Gold Coast Supanova
    Where: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
    Corner Gold Coast Highway and TE Peters Drive, Broadbeach, Queensland 4218
    When: Saturday April 20, 10am to 6pm
    Sunday April 21, 10am to 6pm

  • An open letter to Jackson Gray

    • Posted Apr 4, 2013 6:36 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    On February 4 this year, Jackson “Casua1ty” Gray, one of the head organisers behind the Sydney Gamers League, passed away suddenly.

    The Sydney Gamers League (SGL) is one of the largest and longest-running LAN events in the Australian gaming scene. Its last event, hosted in February 2012, saw 500 gamers gather together with their PCs to take part in more than 24 hours of gaming alongside the 48-hour Sydney Game Jam.

    Jackson became well known within the LAN community, and helped grow SGL from a local LAN party to an event that saw gamers travel from across Australia and New Zealand to attend. His friend Alex “dippa” Walker has written an open letter as a tribute.

    Dear Jackson Gray,

    I know you will never get to read this letter. I'm writing it anyway, because there are things that I never got to say to you, things that you deserved to hear and things that others should know.

    We first met in 2008 when I was running tournaments for the World Cyber Games national finals in Australia. There had been a call out for volunteers and you put your hand up, as you always did.

    Anything that needed doing, you were happy to do. You were a gamer that wanted to help other gamers.

    Anyone that saw the direction the Sydney Gamers League took under your leadership with the equally wonderful Chris Hailes--who misses you terribly--saw that for themselves.

    I know what going to LANs is like. You rock up, play in a competition if you are so inclined, have a poke around, talk to your friends, and go home. Sometimes you’d have fun. That was always the case when you were running the show.

    It will be hard going to other events and not being able to randomly play Mario Kart on the N64, abuse my mates over table tennis, or stand in a line with a hundred other people for a hard-drive tossing competition.

    At SGL, that was all possible. I don’t know why it wasn't a bigger thing before. Maybe others did it first, but it almost became the central characteristic of SGL. I liked going because I knew I could have fun. I thought that was no longer a certainty at LANs.

    You never discriminated among gamers, a trait that’s all too common. Look at the divide between console and PC. RTS and FPS. MOBA and, well, anything else. It’s like everybody has to compete against each other, all the time. But you were always happy to extend a hand of friendship, offer advice, or move boxes if necessary.

    It didn’t always work out, and I think that’s one of the reasons I was so fond of you. You made mistakes, as we all do, but I don’t know many other people who copped quite as much flak. Some of those mistakes were large, but you never shied away from your responsibility. You took it on the chin, moved on and continued doing your best.

    There are so few people willing to do that. In eSports, gaming, the world. Nobody likes being embarrassed, but you never saw it as anything other than an opportunity.

    Reaching the heights you did never changed the way you went about it. It’s easy to be a pariah as a volunteer. It’s much easier to let that go when people are coming to you for help, asking for advice and all the other trappings associated with being part of the “in” crowd. But that was never you.

    I never got to tell you this, but meeting you helped me remember the kind of person I was and want to be. I've come across more shady personalities than I would have ever expected; maybe the internet just means we meet a lot more people than we used to. But being enveloped in a world of darkness leaves a mark, and it’s only once you meet someone so honest, incorruptible, and decent that you realise the changes within yourself.

    I was able to see those changes because of you; I became a happier person because of you. Thank you Jackson, my friend.

  • Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag collector’s editions announced for Australia

    • Posted Mar 26, 2013 7:07 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Ubisoft have announced collector's editions for the upcoming Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Exclusive to Australia, the collector's editions will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC, and Wii U iterations of the game. Fans will be able to choose from four different variations: The Black Chest Edition, The Buccaneer Edition, The Skull Edition, and The Special Edition.

    The Black Chest Edition is only available via pre-order on Uplay and includes the following:

    - Diorama of Captain Edward (55cm)
    - Steelbook case
    - Artbook
    - Official soundtrack
    - Two lithographs and two canvas prints
    - All existing additional Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag unlockable in-game content, including single player missions, skins, and weapons
    - Collector's box
    - Parchment world map
    - Original Black Flag.

    The Buccaneer Edition is exclusive to retailer EB Games and will include the following:

    - Edward Kenway Figurine (46 cm)
    - Artbook
    - Official soundtrack
    - Two lithographs
    - Collector's box
    - Unlockable in-game content.

    The Skull Edition comes with a steel case, artbook, soundtrack, two lithographs, and unlockable in-game content. The Special Edition will include in-game content available at launch.

    Additionally, Ubisoft has announced a new VIP program for fans of the Assassin's Creed Universe. Named The Watch, the program is accessed via a code given to gamers who pre-order any one of the special editions. The code will be distributed on a physical treasure map from retailers EB Games, JB Hifi, UPlay and Mighty Ape.

    Fans who access The Watch are able to access additional information on the Assassin's Creed universe, as well as bonus content and an exclusive quest.

    Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is being built by eight different Ubisoft studios, and according to a new claim, may have a developer headcount of nearly 1,000. The eight studios working on Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag are the company's outfits in Montreal, Singapore, Sofia, Annecy, Kiev, Quebec, Bucharest, and Montpellier.

    For more information on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

  • ANZ Call of Duty winners heading to Hollywood

    • Posted Mar 20, 2013 1:37 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Eight Australian gamers have secured their place in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Championship tournament. Pitted against the best teams from all over the world, Team Immunity and Mindfreak eSports will be making their way to Hollywood, California, to represent Australia on the international stage.

    "It's a great feeling to take out the Call of Duty title in Australia, and we can't wait to go to Hollywood and play for the big bucks against the world's best," Team Immunity captain Albert Nassif said after the team had secured their spot in the tournament.

    The Aussie qualifier was played in Sydney on March 15, hosted by the Australian Cyber League (ACL). The top two teams will go on to the Call of Duty Championship taking place from April 5-7 at the Hollywood Palladium Theatre.

    Activision has partnered with Xbox, and eSports organisations Major League Gaming (MLG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL) for the event, which will see 32 of the world's best teams compete head-to-head in Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the 360 during a live-streamed competition. The winners will claim their share of a $1 million dollar prize pool.

    To witness all the action that went down at the Aussie qualifier, tune in to the live stream replay.

  • FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Brisbane Qualifier Photo Gallery

    • Posted Mar 19, 2013 5:45 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    The Sydney qualifiers for the FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Tournament took place on February 28 at Mana Bar in Brisbane. Don't worry if you weren't able to make it on the night, you can watch the twitch replay here and witness all the FIFA 13 action for yourself!

    The winner of the Brisbane qualifiers scored themselves a trip to Singapore, where they will be representing Australia in the finals for a shot at $10,000! Credit to Veritas Network for photography.








    Kieran "fray`Muzza255" Murray claimed first place. Congratulations!

    For more FIFA 13 tournament action, be sure to keep an eye on the FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Tournament page!

  • FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Sydney Qualifier Photo Gallery

    • Posted Mar 8, 2013 12:32 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    The Sydney qualifiers for the FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Tournament took place on March 5 at the GameSpot AU offices. Don't worry if you weren't able to make it on the night, you can watch the twitch replay here and witness all the FIFA 13 action for yourself!

    The winner of the Sydney qualifiers scored themselves a trip to Singapore, where they will be representing Australia in the finals for a shot at $10,000! Check out our photo gallery of the night!






















    Adam "HumptyDumpy" Kharman claimed first place. Congratulations!

    For more FIFA 13 tournament action, be sure to keep an eye on the FIFA ULTIMATE TEAM ASIA ALLSTARS Tournament page!

  • StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Aussie launch party guests revealed

    • Posted Feb 26, 2013 6:22 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Earlier this month, Blizzard announced launch event plans for RTS title StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. The official Australian launch party will take place on March 11 at Federation Square in Melbourne from 8pm.

    Blizzard Australia has revealed details on the line-up of special guests in attendance. StarCraft II eSports community commentators Leigh "Maynarde" Mandalov and Sean "Flamga" Krauter will be in attendance.

    The event will also feature live StarCraft II show matches played by Australian professional gamers Andrew "mOOnGLaDe" Pender, Jared "PiG" Krensel, Mark "yang" Richardson, and Daniel "deth" Haynes.

    A developer panel will be hosted on the night with game director Dustin Browder and 3D artist Luke Mancini. The panel is to include both developers in a Q&A session, as well as a cosplay contest, music videos by Viva La Dirt League, and prize giveaways.

    The Blizzard autograph table and game pre-order pickup will become available once the clock ticks over to midnight. Fans who are unable to make it to the event can catch the action being streamed live. More details about the launch event can be found on the Blizzard website.

    In addition to a standard edition of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a collector's edition of the game. The collector's edition includes a behind-the-scenes DVD and Blu-ray, soundtrack, art book, mouse pad, and in-game content for StarCraft II, World of Warcraft and Diablo III.

    Heart of the Swarm is the second instalment in the StarCraft II three-part series. The Zerg-centric expansion will follow 2010's StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and precede the final entry, StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. The game is scheduled to launch in Australia on March 12.

  • AU Wrap Up February 18-22

    • Posted Feb 22, 2013 6:40 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    AU Shippin’ Out February 18-24: Crysis 3
    What games hit Aussie shelves this week? Crytek’s futuristic sci-fi shooter Crysis 3 was released for the 360, PS3 and PC. The game has been described by Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli as one of the most technically competent titles ever released on current-generation consoles, using almost every ounce of power from existing platforms. For more details on games released this week, check out the full article.

    Wii U-exclusive Lego City: Undercover Australian release confirmed
    Nintendo Australia has unveiled an official release date for the latest entry into the Lego City series of games, Lego City: Undercover. The open-world action-adventure game sees protagonist Chase McCain embark on a hunt for criminals in his role as an undercover cop. The title will feature gameplay on the Wii U Gamepad controller. For more information including release date and game features, read the full post.

    Limited edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate bundles coming to Wii U and 3DS
    Action role playing game Monster Hunter 3 is receiving limited edition treatment for the Wii U and 3DS in the form of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. The game is exclusive to Nintendo and is included in bundles with the Wii U or 3DS. For more details read the article.

    PlayStation 4 listed for A$899 at EB Games Australia
    Sony unveiled the PlayStation 4 console on February 20 at its PlayStation event in New York. While Sony has yet to announce an official price for the console, Australian retailer EB games has listed the PS4 on its website, available for preorder at a placeholder price of A$899. To get the full rundown on the listing, check out the article.

  • Limited edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate bundles coming to Wii U and 3DS

    • Posted Feb 18, 2013 10:35 pm GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Capcom’s action role playing game Monster Hunter 3 is receiving limited edition treatment for the Wii U and 3DS. Titled Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, the game is a Nintendo exclusive and will be available from March 23 this year.

    The Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Premium Pack includes a 32GB Wii U console, a black Wii U Pro Controller and a copy of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. For 3DS owners, the Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Limited Edition Pack is available and includes a new black-coloured Nintendo 3DS XL which comes preinstalled with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

    Nintendo Australia has also recently announced the Ultimate Monster Hunter competition, in which Monster Hunter fans can compete for their chance to be crowned "Ultimate Monster Hunter" and score a visit to Nintendo Australia’s head office. The winner will also be given the opportunity to create a gameplay launch trailer for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.

    To enter the competition, fans must submit footage of themselves playing Monster Hunter Tri demonstrating their skill on YouTube, and send a link to the competition website. More information can be found at the Nintendo Australia website.

    Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will support cross-platform multiplayer over the Internet or via a local Wi-Fi connection. Players who own the 3DS and Wii U versions will be able to transfer their save files between both systems, allowing them to take their game on the road with the 3DS, and then pick up where they left off on the Wii U when they get home.

  • Wii U exclusive Lego City: Undercover Australian release confirmed

    • Posted Feb 18, 2013 5:22 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Fans of the Lego universe will be please to hear that Nintendo Australia has announced an official release date for the latest entry in the Lego City series, Lego City: Undercover. Exclusive to the Wii U, the game will be available in Australia on March 28 this year.

    The open-world action-adventure game centres on protagonist Chase McCain, an undercover cop on the hunt for criminals. The character will be able to don different costumes to gain varying special abilities and assist in the hunt for antagonist Rex Fury.

    Lego City: Undercover will also feature gameplay on the Wii U Gamepad controller, including scanning surroundings for clues, and serving as a GPS map when driving in the city. Nintendo Australia has confirmed a prequel to the game, titled Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins will be available for the Nintendo 3DS later this year.

  • AU Wrap Up February 11-15

    • Posted Feb 18, 2013 5:18 am GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    AU Shippin' Out February 11-15: Aliens: Colonial Marines
    What games are out in Australia this week? Take up arms and storm the USS Sulaco as a marine in Aliens: Colonial Marines. The game is the third title to be published by Sega in the Aliens universe. For more on this first person shooter title, check out GameSpot’s review.

    PAX Australia to be opened by Monkey Island series creator
    Australia’s first ever Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) will be opened by the creator of the Monkey Island adventure game series, Ron Gilbert. The renowned game designer will be making a keynote address (dubbed “storytime”) at PAX. For more information on the gaming expo, including other guests in attendance, check out the full story.

    YouTube app available now for the PlayStation 3
    PlayStation 3 owners can now download a free YouTube app which has been optimised for the console. Features include new search tools and using a smartphone or tablet to browse on the PS3. To get more details on what else is new, read the article.

    Australian retail games industry slips 23 percent in 2012
    The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA) announced Australian Games sales achieved $1.161 billion in the year of 2012, representing a 23 percent decline on the previous year. Check out the article for the full story.

    Call of Duty Championship qualifiers coming to Australia
    Australian Call of Duty: Black Ops II players will be able to put their skills to the test in the upcoming Call of Duty Championship Qualifiers. Activision has partnered with Xbox and eSports organisations Major League Gaming (MLG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL) to present the event. Two Aussie teams who place first and second in the qualifier final will go through to the event in Hollywood, where they will compete for their chance at a $1 million prize pool. For details on how to partake in the event, read the full article.

    Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition coming to Australia
    NetherRealm Studios' fighting game Mortal Kombat will finally be sold in Australia after being refused classification twice. The game has received a R18+ rating in Australia and will be sold as the Komplete Edition, available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

    Queensland passes R18+ video games rating
    The Queensland governemnt has passed legislation that allows for the classification and sale of R18+ video games in the state. For more information, read the full article.

  • Call of Duty Championship qualifiers coming to Australia

    • Posted Feb 13, 2013 10:29 pm GMT
    • By Zorine Te

    Activision has partnered with Xbox and eSports organisations Major League Gaming (MLG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL) to present the Call of Duty Championship. The event, which will take place in Hollywood, and be based on Call of Duty: Black Ops II, will offer a prize pool of $1 million.

    The competition will see 32 of the world’s best teams compete head-to-head in Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the 360 during a live-streamed event.

    Players who are interested in participating must register on the website for a free Call of Duty Elite account. Australian and New Zealand teams can enter the local qualifier, which is being hosted by the Australian Cyber League (ACL) on March 2-3. The series of online matches will then progress to a live final hosted in Sydney on March 15. The top two teams will go through to the Call of Duty Championship in North America, taking place from April 5-7.

    Sixteen team spots will be up for grabs across Asia, Australia, and Brazil, with the remaining places made up of the top eight squads from North America’s MLG Winter Championship and the best eight teams from ESL's European Finals. For more details, check out the ACL website.

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