Kotaku: Australia

IKEA, and the Logic of Video Game Design

Daniel Golding — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST

A visit to IKEA usually means house moving, renovating, and too much fun spent with LEGO for grown-ups. But is there an element of videogame design hidden away within the Swedish minimalism? More »

Will Make Games For Food… Or Funding

Tracey Lien — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:00:00 EST

Republished from Kotaku Australia. More »

No 32GB Vita Cards For You, Europe (Yet)

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST

The must-have accessory for the PlayStation Vita launch - and this is because you almost literally must have one - have been Sony's proprietary memory cards. The 32GB versions in particular have been the most sought-after, selling out in Japan and being confirmed for the handheld's US launch. More »

Syndicate Has Been "Banned" In Australia

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:30:00 EST

Syndicate Has Been "Banned" In Australia" alt="Click here to read Syndicate Has Been "Banned" In Australia" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/12/small_052bef28d4168009280956ba02bf460c.jpg"/>

The latest game to fall foul of Australia's lack of an adults-only game rating is the upcoming Syndicate reboot, the shooter having been "refused classification" in the country, which effectively bans the game from sale. More »

Call It a Hunch, but EA, LucasArts and BioWare Probably Aren't Making a Rock-Paper-Scissors Game

Owen Good — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:00:00 EST

Probably Aren't Making a Rock-Paper-Scissors Game" alt="Click here to read Call It a Hunch, but EA, LucasArts and BioWare Probably Aren't Making a Rock-Paper-Scissors Game" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_53bdc5ac9dc1a1f79fa1266dbd9be39b.jpg"/>

Australia's classification board has received an application for an M-rated game entitled "Paper, Scissors, Stone," to be published jointly by Electronic Arts, BioWare and LucasArts. As amusing as the concept is, this is most likely Star Wars: The Old Republic, which will not include Australia (nor any countries outside North America or Europe) when the game launches Dec. 20. More »

Shooting Robots On the iPhone Never Looked so Good

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST

It's easy to look at Epoch in action and think it's trying to be Gears of War for the iPhone. Easy, and thankfully, wrong. More »

The Whore of the Orient is the Next Game From LA Noire's Creator

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:30:00 EST

The Whore of the Orient is the Next Game From LA Noire's Creator" alt="Click here to read The Whore of the Orient is the Next Game From LA Noire's Creator" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_78fd54f90c8f04c54e8fad850000d4ab.jpg"/>

Brendan McNamara, whose LA Noire project resulted in a good game and a shuttered studio, has ended up at the same place many of his ex-employees did: filmmaker George Miller's KMM Studios. More »

Gameloft Flies Game-Laden Rental iPads Across Australia

Mike Fahey — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:20:00 EST

Wouldn't it be nice if you could rent an iPad filled with nifty Gameloft-brand game product to keep you occupied during lengthy flights? Next month customers of Australia's Jetstar will find out first hand. More »

Simpsons! Simpsons Arcade Here! Who's Ready?!

Owen Good — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:30:00 EST

Simpsons! Simpsons Arcade Here! Who's Ready?!" alt="Click here to read Simpsons! Simpsons Arcade Here! Who's Ready?!" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_81556d30b56e4a0486843befe1d794df.jpg"/>

A listing with Australia's Classification Board says The Simpsons, the fondly remembered arcade beat-em-up, is coming soon to modern platforms. More »

Australian Politician Already Wants Grand Theft Auto Banned

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:50:00 EDT

Never mind that GTAV was just announced, New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith called for Grand Theft Auto to be "banned". Le sigh. [Kotaku Australia] More »

Why Not Play Dark Souls In a Coffin

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:00:00 EDT

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You end up spending a lot of your time in Dark Souls dying. Being stabbed, burned, crushed, bludgeoned, whatever. So this custom rig for the game, built out of a coffin, seems wonderfully apt. More »

The World Has Become a Video Game, and It Is Very, Very Sad

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:30:00 EDT

This is a commercial currently airing on Australian TV. I won't spoil the bizarre ending by telling you what it's for, but that's not the point. The point is how great the voxel effects look. More »

L.A. Noire Studio Owes $1 Million to Employees—and a Quarter of That Is Claimed by the Boss

Owen Good — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:30:00 EDT

L.A. Noire Studio Owes $1 Million to Employees—and a Quarter of That Is Claimed by the Boss" alt="Click here to read L.A. Noire Studio Owes $1 Million to Employees—and a Quarter of That Is Claimed by the Boss" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/10/small_la_noire_online_pass.jpg"/>

Team Bondi, the Australian studio that saved the worst year of its existence for the one in which it finally delivered L.A. Noire, owes its employees more than $1 million, according to papers filed in the studio's liquidation. More »

Turns Out Sony Didn't Break the Law When Somebody Else Hacked Them

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:30:00 EDT

The law can be a strange beast sometimes. Take Sony and Australia, for example: earlier this year, when the PlayStation Network was hacked into, an investigation was launched targeting Sony, to see whether the company had broken Australian law. More »

What Happens To Developers When A Studio Closes?

Tracey Lien — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:30:00 EDT

We hear about video game studios closing down - and people losing their jobs as a result - all the time. But have you ever wondered what it's like to be one of those affected? To work through the job uncertainty, survive a round of layoffs, get the sack and try and find new work? This great feature from Kotaku Australia's Tracey Lien examines just what happens when there's a disturbance in the workforce. More »

Dead Space Satellite Studio Goes Belly Up

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:04:00 EDT

Visceral Games, the team behind the Dead Space series, had a small studio based in Melbourne, Australia. That studio is now no more, its 21 employees let go earlier today. More »

A Three-Minute Look at THQ's Avengers, Disassembled

Owen Good — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EDT

Avengers, Disassembled" alt="Click here to read A Three-Minute Look at THQ's Avengers, Disassembled" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_explore_kotaku_videos_1953.jpg"/>

THQ's big-time bloodletting back in August meant the end of its Brisbane, Australia studio and scuttled the publisher's planned video game adaptation of The Avengers. Evidently those who were involved with the project can't take no for an answer; footage of the game in its pre-alpha state released last week and was immediately smashed by YouTube. Now another video has leaked out. More »

Europe, Australia Getting White PS3

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:50:00 EDT

The White version of the PlayStation 3, long available in Japan but not in the West, will in November go on sale in Europe and Australia. It'll include a 320GB HDD, two controllers and will sell for €300/AUD$448/£250. More »

This Is How Sonic Generations Does A Collector's Edition

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:40:00 EDT

Sonic Generations Does A Collector's Edition" alt="Click here to read This Is How Sonic Generations Does A Collector's Edition" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_sonic_generations_ce.jpg"/>

Sonic the Hedgehog is now 20-years-old. To celebrate, Sega is bringing two Sonics together in Sonic Generations for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. To sweeten the deal, Sonic gets a rare "collector's edition" bundle, full of collectible tchotchkes. More »

Dead Space? It's For Kids!

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Dead Space? It's For Kids!" alt="Click here to read Dead Space? It's For Kids!" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_big1.jpg"/>

Dead Space's Isaac is normally running around in the dark scared out of his mind. Here, he's just a kid. Kickin' it on the playground. Maybe with an imaginary friend. Note I said imaginary friend, which is good times. Not imaginary dead girlfriend. Which is bad times. More »

The End is Nigh For LA Noire's Developers

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:00:00 EDT

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Despite (finally) shipping a successful product, it seems allegations of shoddy work practices and claims that no major publisher would work with the team has brought about the end of LA Noire developers Team Bondi. More »

The Strange, Sad Case of the North American Super Nintendo

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

This week is the, believe it or not, 20th anniversary of the release of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. More »

This Resistance 3 Multiplayer Map Comes From a Land Down Under

Mike Fahey — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:40:00 EDT

Resistance 3 Multiplayer Map Comes From a Land Down Under" alt="Click here to read This Resistance 3 Multiplayer Map Comes From a Land Down Under" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/08/small_explore_sceablog_videos_2016.jpg"/>

While Resistance 3's single-player story sees players traipsing across the U.S., multiplayer is a trip around the Chimeran-infested world, with stops in Bogota, Colombia, Glamorgan, Wales, Africa's Republic of Chad, and this latest map, which takes the battle to the second largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. More »

The Weird & Wonderful World of Australian Video Game Commercials

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Before the internet put the entire planet on the same page, there were certain nations on Earth that were a little...slower than others. Places where the latest trends would turn up late, or turn up filtered through a few different sets of hands. More »

Nobody Wants to Work With LA Noire's Developers, Boss In Buyout Talks

Mark Serrels — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:00:00 EDT

LA Noire's Developers, Boss In Buyout Talks" alt="Click here to read Nobody Wants to Work With LA Noire's Developers, Boss In Buyout Talks" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/08/small_hats2.jpg"/>

With Rockstar reluctant to publish LA Noire developers Team Bondi's next game, rumours are circulating that studio founder Brendan McNamara is in talks with George Miller's KMM studio, with the aim of being absorbed into the Mad Max and Happy Feet creators. More »

Euclideon Creator Swears Infinite Detail is "Not a Hoax"

Mark Serrels — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:30:00 EDT

Yesterday we posted a video from Euclideon – a Australian company that claims it can revolutionise video game graphics, increasing visual fidelity by 100,000. This morning we spoke to Euclideon's CEO Bruce Dell – the man Markus Persson calls a "Snake Oil Salesman" – to ask a few questions regarding Euclideon's ‘Infinite Detail' technology. More »

Rooney Again Anchors FIFA Cover in UK, Australia

Owen Good — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:30:00 EDT

FIFA Cover in UK, Australia" alt="Click here to read Rooney Again Anchors FIFA Cover in UK, Australia" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_fifa-12-uk-cover-rooney-wilshere.jpg"/>

Wayne Rooney is again on the cover of EA Sports' FIFA series, joining Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on FIFA 12 for release in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Middle East. In Australia, he will be partnered with Tim Cahill, the Australian star who plays for Everton in the English Premier League. More »

Star Wars: The Old Republic Won't Launch In Asia, Australasia

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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As though we were still living in the 1990's, it's come to light that when upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic is released, it'll only be released (at first) in North America and Europe. More »

Australia is (Probably) Getting Adults-Only Games

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EDT

Despite one of the state Attorneys General required to change Australia's classification laws not turning up to a meeting earlier today, those present (and the Federal Government) have agreed "in principle" to institute an adults-only game rating for the country. More »

Rumor: Gameloft Working Employees to the Bone

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:15:00 EDT

Mobile publishers Gameloft are known for making blatant, if high-quality rip-offs based on other people's intellectual property. Might they also be known now for shitty work practices? [games.on.net] More »

Is This Where Gears of War 3 Was Leaked From?

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EDT

Gears of War 3 Was Leaked From?" alt="Click here to read Is This Where Gears of War 3 Was Leaked From?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_gearsmontage_01.jpg"/>

Months ahead of its release, Epic's Gears of War 3 has been leaked onto the internet, a security breach so severe law enforcement has gotten involved. Maybe, though, the cops won't be needed. More »

Report: LA Noire Was Development Hell, Rockstar No Longer Working With Team Bondi

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:30:00 EDT

LA Noire Was Development Hell, Rockstar No Longer Working With Team Bondi" alt="Click here to read Report: LA Noire Was Development Hell, Rockstar No Longer Working With Team Bondi" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_hats2.jpg"/>

Andrew McMillen, who published the original report on IGN claiming poor work conditions at LA Noire developer Team Bondi, has now published on GI.biz what's claimed to be a series of leaked internal emails that don't exactly paint Bondi's boss, Brendan McNamara, in a good light. More »

Gamestop Resurrects Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Trade-In Hopes

Sam Winstrom — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:20:00 EDT

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It's hard to describe used copies of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D as pre-owned when pre-played seems to fit the game so well. Despite the eternal save file, major U.S. retailers are still accepting Mercenaries trade-ins. More »

Inside the Seven-Year Labor Pains of L.A. Noire

Owen Good — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EDT

L.A. Noire" alt="Click here to read Inside the Seven-Year Labor Pains of L.A. Noire" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_la_noire_cole_pissed.jpg"/>

It took seven years. It spanned two console generations. It was the biggest undertaking in Australian games development. And the seven years it took to bring L.A. Noire to store shelves was consistently an unhappy time for many who worked on the game, reports IGN. More »

Video Game Ships Used to Train Australian Navy

Jen Schiller — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:20:00 EDT

The Royal Australian Navy is teaming up with Invenio Engineering Solutions on a huge undertaking, to train sailors almost exclusively with video games of a sort. More »

Dead or Alive: Dimensions Gets Mature in Australia

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:20:00 EDT

After being pulled to get reclassified, Dead or Alive: Dimensions isn't rated MA+15 (a rating that caused outrage in Australia), but is now rated Mature (a rating that hopefully...won't?). Yep, the game was bumped up one rating. [Kotaku Australia] More »

The Struggles of a Gay XCOM Scientist

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:30:00 EDT

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It's hard enough finding enough major characters who aren't white in games, let alone people who aren't straight. So it's interesting to see how 2K is handling the inclusion of a homosexual character in upcoming shooter XCOM. More »

When Crane Games Eat Children

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EDT

This isn't a first. But three year-old Tyler ended up inside a crane game in Sydney when the tyke climbed up the chute, hoping to snag a stuffed tiger. More »

Dead or Alive: Dimensions May Not Be For Kids After All

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:45:00 EDT

The international ratings absurdity surrounding 3DS game Dead or Alive: Dimensions just got a little more absurd, as the game is now being reclassified in Australia after media reports pointed out the game's somewhat adult photography mode. [Kotaku Australia] More »

Former LA Noire Developers Give Credit Where It's Due

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:30:00 EDT

LA Noire Developers Give Credit Where It's Due" alt="Click here to read Former LA Noire Developers Give Credit Where It's Due" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_hats2.jpg"/>

LA Noire had been in development for over six years across two publishers, so by the time it was done, a lot of people had worked on the game. More than were listed (or listed correctly) in its closing credits. The site lanoirecredits.com, thankfully, seeks to address that. More »