Laz, the creator, says the game is a "tribute", but as fans of the little Cheesehead will instantly recognise, this is no tribute. It's a remake in the vein of Bionic Commando Rearmed, and that is a good, good thing.

Now, bear in mind this is just one guy. Working alone, without the support/blessing of id. So even if it's not shut down by the rightful owners of the IP, it may/will probably never see the light of day in playable form.

But hey, even if it doesn't, be thankful for this awesome art, and for the daydreams it's inspired of what could be.

Below are some early, early clips. They're early! So be kind.

Commander Keen - 2D Platformer with an extra D thrown in [NZCGI]

This will be the third game in the "Rugby League" series, which have all been developed by New Zealand studio Sidhe Interactive, the previous two titles having appeared on the PS2 and Xbox. And it's a perfect fit for the Wii. As the game is really only enjoyed in a few parts of Australia, New Zealand and the UK (and, on a good day, France), there's just not a market for an expensive, shiny "next-gen" version of the series.

But dusting off the existing PS2 engine for another go-around on an equivalent system? Makes perfect sense.

Like the previous games, there'll be both club and international teams from all over the world to choose from, along with 32 real-world stadiums, along with commentary from Andrew Voss and a full-blown franchise mode.

I played the first game and hated it (it was a shoddy mess of a game), but it's been three years since Rugby League 2, so hopefully that's enough time to have fixed things up a bit.

It'll be released across PAL territories towards the end of the year.

Kotaku AU first noticed the move last week, and when we contacted Microsoft for comment, were handed this rather vague statement:

Microsoft has taken an initiative in New Zealand to ensure people under the age of 18 cannot access mature content. We are working to limit access to content to the appropriate age group in New Zealand. This will take some time due to technical reasons. We are working to remove the ability for people under the age of 18 to add points until we can resolve this issue. People affected by this issue can be refunded via our customer call centre, which can be contacted through www.xbox.com/en-nz/support or on 0508 555 592.

So the kids will get their access to kid-friendly paid content (and to add MS points to their account) back once these "technical reasons" have been overcome. That's fine. If kids can't watch adult movies in NZ, it was only a matter of time before ther were restrictions put in place for access to adult gaming content as well.

Slightly more concerning is that we asked Microsoft at whose behest this move took place (Microsoft's or a relevant New Zealand authority), and whether this could be used as a test case for age-based lockdowns in other markets. And did not receive a response.

Surely there's a better way of handling this than effectively locking child users out of large parts of Xbox Live, even if it is "temporary"? They may be under 18, but their money's as good as anyone else's.

Microsoft Confirms Locking New Zealand Kids Out From Xbox Live [Kotaku AU]

Sydney, Australia, 17:00, 12 November 2008.

International Nintendo publishing partnership strengthened with new title

Future Publishing Australia have today announced a new agreement with Nintendo Australia to launch Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand.

Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand builds upon the existing relationship between the two companies, a partnership which currently extends to both the US and the UK, where Future publishes the official titles in both strategically important markets.

Greg Arthurton, Director of Marketing, Nintendo Australia said:

“We are really excited about the new agreement. By establishing a partnership with Future Publishing Australia, we are able to extend the Nintendo brand into a new environment with a locally produced magazine on the newsstands. We will also benefit from the well established relationship which already exists between the companies in other territories, and we will integrate that into the way we work together here too. We definitely see the magazine as being an important part of our evolving communications strategy in this region, not least to ensure our customers can get the best out of their consoles with a complementary offering.”

As in other markets, Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand will reflect that the Nintendo proposition is evolving and changing. Whilst the console platforms continue to engage with a traditional fan base, Nintendo is also seeking to extend its reach by targeting non-traditional gamers too. The new audience are delivered a breadth of family-focussed and self-improvement software, whereas the die hard gamers are still served with favourites such as Mario, Zelda and Pokemon titles and innovative developments as well.

Nic Healey, Managing Editor, Future Australia said:

“Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand will be the definitive source of Nintendo news and features for both the traditional gamer, and the new audience of Nintendo fans too. We will be able to draw upon Future’s international content, and we will also be working with some of Australia’s leading games journalists to produce our own Australian focused content too. Our Official status gives us unlimited access to the newest Nintendo games and the people who make them, as well as the latest developments on the console platforms.”

Karl Penn, Managing Director, Future Publishing Australia, added:

"We are genuinely honoured to be given the opportunity to partner with Nintendo Australia, and to work with one of the world's iconic entertainment brands. At Future we base everything we do around clusters of like-minded individuals who are passionate about their interests. At this time of overwhelming choice on the newsstands, people want good quality, trusted editorial content more than ever before which is what Future does best. Certainly the unique Official status will ensure it’s further differentiated against other existing and imported Nintendo titles. Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand will be a magazine for this market, but it will also benefit from our pool of internationally created content and the resources we are able to draw upon.”

The first issue of Official Nintendo Magazine – Australia and New Zealand goes onsale in December 2008. The title will be published monthly with a cover price of $8.95. The magazine will be distributed nationally in both Australia and New Zealand, with the first issue packaged as a Special Edition.

It's a blow to Kiwis who take pride in local ownership and believe that retailing games and consoles isn't a job so complex only American multinational corps get to do it. As far as actual economic impact, Geekpulp says Gamesman staff have been told no job losses are planned. However, there are eight stores in five cities, all of whom also have EB stores. So it's inevitable that some will close down the line. Not happy news for our gamer friends in New Zealand.

The Gamesman Set to be Acquired by EB Games [Geekpulp, thanks Ahmad]

Nintendo Australia has not received official notification regarding any announcement concerning Softprint Interactive (SPI NZ Ltd.), Nintendo’s New Zealand distributor. As a result, we are unable to comment further at this stage.

Don't hold your breath for an immediate trans-tasman rescue package then, Kiwis. Now's probably a good time to look at importing.

NZ - The Land with no Nintendo [Geekpulp]

This footage was taken at a recent SCE New Zealand press event. In the men's bathroom. It's...just...yeah.

Sony’s Automated Potty-Mouth [Geekpulp]

"Warhammer is a world-wide franchise with a strong following in Australia and New Zealand. By placing our own server down under and running customer service out of EA Mythic, we can ensure that when we launch WAR, Oceanic players will experience the same quality of game play and customer service as North American players"

EA ANNOUNCES WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING TO SHIP IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND IN FALL 2008

Highly Anticipated MMO to Simultaneously Launch with North America & Europe with Dedicated Regional Server

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sydney, Australia, May 16, 2008 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ (WAR) will ship in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia simultaneously with the North American and European Fall 2008 release.

In addition, WAR will also feature a dedicated server in Australia, ensuring the best game play experience possible for players in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and other Southeast Asian territories. Players will still have the option of connecting to North American servers.

"Warhammer is a world-wide franchise with a strong following in Australia and New Zealand. By placing our own server down under and running customer service out of EA Mythic, we can ensure that when we launch WAR, Oceanic players will experience the same quality of game play and customer service as North American players" said Mark Jacobs, VP and General Manager of EA Mythic.

Based on Games Workshop's epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, WAR features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ (RvR) game play that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict. WAR is scheduled for launch on the PC in Fall 2008.

To learn more about the game, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.

Now here's a familiar story, modder cooks up something and gets in legal trouble, although it's usually from the software publisher. In this case, "unauthorised use of a police uniform" is an offense under New Zealand's Police Act. And even though it's unclear whether this really fits the definition of that offense, the cops are looking at their options. A cop spokesman said the police are looking into the matter.

Honestly, what the fuck is it with Australasia and Grand Theft Auto? I'll just leave it at that. I've never been to either Australia or New Zealand, but crikey, their collective pants-wetting over American video games, this series in particular, makes them look like the schoolmarms of western democracy.

Gamer's Real Brush with the Law [stuff.co.nz.] [pic by Robert Kitchin, The Dominion Post]

"It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks," said Senior Sgt Bruce Jenkins, in the North Island town of Whakatane.

NZ man 'used hedgehog as weapon' [BBC - Ninja Girlden]

If you couldn't tell, Halo Fever is in full force right now. The game may not be perfect (sorry Eurogamer) but it certainly has its selling points and I think Microsoft's boast that they want to dethrone Spider-Man 3's mammoth opening weekend with a mammoth Halo 3 launch day aren't that outlandish.

We've sent our very own Fahey over to New York City to check in on the Halo-mania going on later on tonight. Remember at the stroke of midnight you can pick up a copy of the last in the Halo trilogy... unless you picked it up at one of the many places that seemed to have sold the game early. Once you play through the entire game I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

In the meantime sit back and check out these pictures from New Zealand, the first place in the world where Halo 3 launched. Nicole Sinclair and Ryan Marsden, both 19, were the first two in the world to pick the game up from a retailer.... who didn't break embargo.

New Zealand Microsoft also celebrated the launch by freezing 50 prize discs in a one ton block of ice. Gamers have until 6 a.m. to melt the ice with water guns and get the prizes.

Peter Jackson's Halo movie may be on ice, but that doesn't mean he's not doing Halo stuff. In an interview with game site GameSpy, Microsoft's Shane Kim apparently said the filmmaker is making an interactive, animated series. Apparently, because Microsoft PR is denying it. Anyway, here's what Kim originally said:

Bungie is working directly with Peter Jackson on the Halo interactive series, and Bungie will definitely be involved, and continue to be involved on Halo... Bungie has their plans well mapped out. You have to, when you have a studio like that, and you need to know what you're moving your people on to. So they have the collaboration with Peter Jackson on the animated series.

...he [Shane Kim] was misquoted (or possibly misspoke) during the GameSpy interview, but either way, it was an error.

Peter Jackson [1Up]

Ah, New Zealand. Kiwi fruit, Peter Jackson and, above, rugby. Pencil in "Sony-lovers" for another thing the island nation is famous for. Last November and December, Sony moved 21,800 PS2s units, which accounts for 70 percent of the consoles sold. Says Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand's Warwick Light (killer name!):

It is no surprise to us that PlayStation 2 was the number one selling gaming platform for Christmas. As the PlayStation 2 offering goes from strength to strength, more consumers are buying into the value proposition of the hardware and the unrivalled range of software on offer. Consumers obviously saw exceptional value in PlayStation 2.

Okay. That's not such a big deal. The PS2 is and has been a big seller. But what is interesting is that the PSP sold 9,560 units and captured 73 percent of the handheld market during November and December 2006. Wow, what the DS is to Japan, the PSP is to New Zealand. Brian Ashcraft

New Zealand Is PlayStation Territory [Gameplanet, Thanks psychobadger!]

National's transport spokesman Maurice Williamson says today's young people think they are bullet-proof. He blames Playstations and X-boxes for making teens think they can drive stupidly and just push the reset button if anything goes wrong.

Well, we thought we'd squeezed the last squidge of meconium-like Wii launch announcements out of the Internet's communal bowel, but it seems that's not the case.

Kiwis! Put down that amorous sheep. The Wii is coming to you on December 7th. It will come with Wii Sports. It will cost $499 of your New Zealand dollars. That is all.

Actually, wait, that's not all. NZ $499? That's 261 euros or 330 American Cowboyos. You guys are even paying more for it than Australia. How many sheep do you have to herd for that kind of change? A million?

You guys sure are getting boned. I'm not sure if Nintendo's being all that smart here: if there's anything that Once Were Warriors taught me, it's that you don't fuck with the M ?ori. Florian Eckhardt

Nintendo's Wii heads to New Zealand [Aussie-Nintendo]

Don't live in America or Japan? Want a PLAYSTATION 3? This post is for you. Gadget exporter Audio Cubes has opened the flood gates on pre-order for the 20GB Sony PS3. The unit will set customers back a cool US $699, which is at a $70 premium when compared to the European pricing for the same model. The site does not yet have pricing on the bells and whistles 60GB console. Expect it to be somewhere between expensive and expensive. (But probably better than anything on eBay.) Brian Ashcraft

More Here [I4U]

New Zealand effects company and production studio Weta Workshop brought us optical magic for Xena and Lord of the Rings, and it is working on Peter Jackson's Halo film. The workshop commissioned a large public sculpture in downtown Wellington called "Tripod" to celebrate the Kiwi film industry. Seems innocuous enough, but up close, the statue reveals the truth: Halo or not, Weta are hardcore Ninty fanboys. Hit the jump for the picture proof and just wait for a pic of Peter Jackson's "secret" Mario ass tatt to surface. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [NZ Gamer] Thanks, Steve!

Wired News reports that researchers in New Zealand are working on turning Nokia cell phones into AR (augmented reality) controllers. In a game called AR Tennis, a piece of paper is laid on a table to provide framework for the virtual space. To serve, hit the #2 key on the phone. When the ball is in play, players swing their phones like real tennis rackets. A sound and a vibration let them know when they've hit the ball.

Okay, wait.

If you are swinging your cell phone around, how are you supposed to see the screen? I guess you could swat the controller, then look at the display, then swat again and look at the display. Sounds kinda stressful. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Wired News]

On March 23rd, the Xbox 360 finally launches in idyllic New Zealand. To promote the event, a custom metallic bus is bringing 360 goodness to all Kiwis. Inside the bus, there are playable demos of Project Gotham Racing 3, Fight Night Round 3, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Call of Duty 3, Perfect Dark Zero, Dead or Alive 4, Kameo: Elements of Power and Amped 3. The bus will be touring Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and loads of other cities throughout the North and South islands. Kiwis, you have no excuse not to get your game on!

Full Story Here [VG NZ] Thanks, Raja!

Just how much will Peter Jackson and his wife, Fran Walsh, get to executive produce, not direct, Halo the movie? According to Variety the rotund Kiwi will land a seven-figure (as in one more than six) advance against gross points. Yowsa, did you say advance? On a side note: The thing will be filmed in New Zealand, home of Hobbits and Xena.

More Halo News [EEG News]