72707219
submission
dotarray writes:
Australians really are about to start paying more for digital services — including Steam games — as Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has confirmed plans to introduce a "Netflix tax" in this week's Federal Budget.
As mentioned last week, this is not a new tax, but an extension of Australia's current Goods and Services Tax to include digital services, adding 10% to virtual items and services purchased online. Details have not yet been revealed, but potential services include not only Steam games but also Netflix subscriptions and even Uber trips.
70927121
submission
dotarray writes:
Two Swedish airports have taken an interesting approach to helping travelers dispose of unwanted foreign coins. Rather than simply leaving donation boxes, visitors at Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport can now play classic arcade games, regardless of which currency they hold.
70839815
submission
dotarray writes:
Women have no part in history, according to RTS fans who play Europa Universalis IV. Developer Paradox Interactive has recognised International Women's Day (March 8th) with new DLC for the game, celebrating the role of women in history. Despite the fact the new content is both optional and *free*, some gamers seem to have some pretty strong opinions on why female characters should be left out of historic RTS.
70572389
submission
dotarray writes:
You're about to pay even more to get online in Australia, as major ISPs band together to crack down on internet piracy. Even if everything you download is legal, you'll still be slugged with the bill — and while the focus is on TV shows, movies and music, video games are next in the firing line.
70320149
submission
dotarray writes:
It seems Valve is restricting just what you can talk about when using the Steam chat service. Specifically, any reference to a particular torrent site is being stripped from conversation, while mentions of other pages trigger a warning that the site is "potentially malicious".
69928117
submission
dotarray writes:
Australian gamers who are still hurting over the failed 2011 release of Mortal Kombat can relax: Mortal Kombat X has officially been granted an R18+ rating Down Under, meaning we'll be able to play the game alongside everybody else when it launches in April.
69892107
submission
dotarray writes:
We've often shown our love for Paul Robertson, the Australian pixel artist behind those amazing Scott Pilgrim vs The World animations, but today he's outdone even himself with a glorious pixel tribute to The Simpsons.
69759667
submission
dotarray writes:
Video games have been accepted as a second-level Olympic sport, putting eSports into the same category as engagements such as Chess, Automobile Racing, Polo and Cheerleading. The push came from — where else? — the Korean eSport Association (KeSPA), and could see eSports included in the international competition some time in the future.
69679373
submission
dotarray writes:
Censorship dramas continue for Australia, as an uncensored version of Saints Row IV: Re-Elected for PS4 makes it onto local shelves.
Retailers have been asked to remove all copies from sale, while customers are asked to return their copies for a full refund.
69327259
submission
dotarray writes:
Despite its glorious introduction in The Wizard, the Nintendo Power Glove was, from all accounts, a bit of a failure. However, Dillon Markey has given the doomed peripheral a new lease of life — it's a crucial part of making stop-motion animation for Robot Chicken.
69252769
submission
dotarray writes:
It's official: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is too offensive for Australian audiences, according to the Classification Board. The latest from Dennaton and Devolver has been Refused Classification (effectively banned), and will not be released Down Under.
68945807
submission
dotarray writes:
The Australian government has issued a warning to all Steam users, following the outbreak of online malware using the social side of the gaming platform to send malicious messages to users. We're used to seeing this sort of behaviour on other social networks, but this is the first time it's caused such a stir on Valve's digital platform
67990321
submission
dotarray writes:
On a day where Australia's largest city is caught up in a politically-driven hostage crisis (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-15/martin-place-siege-hostages-flag-sydney-cafe-lindt/5967340), a game described as a hate crime is now open for voting on Steam Greenlight. The team at Destructive Creations has also released a short teaser trailer for Hatred — and if you were hoping for something other than mindless slaughter, you'll be sorely disappointed.
65635105
submission
dotarray writes:
Indie game Paranautical Activity has been dropped from Steam after developer Mike Maulbeck threatened to kill Valve's Gabe Newell.
65533799
submission
dotarray writes:
Ultraviolent games are nothing new, but new indie game Hatred has a specific target in mind. The development team behind the project are members of white supremacist neo-Nazi hate groups, so it's no surprise it's the game's non-Caucasian characters who seem faced with the most explicit deaths.
