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R18+ plans on the backburner

Fri, 31 November 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: ScreenPlay (The Age) | thanks: Power of veto

Lack of unanimous support behind consultation impedes progress yet again

We won't be seeing this on game boxes any time soon.

Plans to start public consultation into a possible ratings reform have been put aside after a draft discussion paper was withheld from public release.

The paper, intended as a precursor to a much wider and extensive research initiative, was shelved after Mr Michael Atkinson, Attorney-General of South Australia, withdrew his support for the consultation, effectively ending the debate.

Spokesperson for [Victorian Attorney-General Mr Rob Hulls], Meaghan Shaw, said "whilst the issue is still formally on the SCAG (Standing Committee of Attorneys-General) agenda, it now appears unlikely that there will be unanimity from all jurisdictions to proceed further at this stage with introducing an R18+ category for computer games."

- The Age

Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia says many elements of the industry will continue to fight for what he believes is the outcome that the majority of the population desires.

As reported in Edge last week, the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia released an annual report which shows that the average age of an Australian gamer is now 30. The report also found that 91 percent of those surveyed believed Australia should have an R18+ rating for video games.

“To us, what it seems like is that Mr. Atkinson is actually censoring debate on censorship, and there's a whole lot of irony in that. We’re going to try and put the paper forward again as soon as possible," said IEAA CEO Ron Curry.

- Edge Online

The next meeting of the Standing Committee of the Attorneys-General, at which the issue will likely take a prominent position, is due to take place within the next month.

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Web searching is healthy

Wed, 15 October 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: news.com.au | thanks: Old people

It may add years to your life...

What does granny get up to online?

Researchers say that web searching may help people keep their memories sharp when they come to old age.

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles studied people doing web searches while their brain activity was recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging scans.

"What we saw was people who had internet experience used more of their brain during the search," said Dr. Gary Small, a UCLA expert on aging.

"This suggests that just searching on the internet may train the brain — that it may keep it active and healthy," said Dr Small, whose research appears in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

- news.com.au

All that random Googling just might pay off.

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Google brings ads to video games

Wed, 15 October 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: SMH | thanks: Spy Machines

You can't escape them

More ways to win...

Google has announced they will soon be marching into web-based game territory with the launch of 'AdSense for Games'.

It is an expansion of Google's AdSense program, which matches ads to the content of websites. Similarly, AdSense for Games will show, for example, ads targeted at young men in sports and action games. The ads themselves would be videos that players watch before or after a game, or after completing a level.

AdSense in Games lets Google offer advertisers "yet another place" to reach customers, said Christian Oestlien, senior product manager at the Mountain View, California-based company.

- SMH

'AdSense' for games is Google's latest bid to remedy slippage in online advertising and to compette with Yahoo who already offer ad-supported games.

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PC PowerPlay Issue #158: December 2008

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Available 15th October 2008 at all good newsagents!

So many reviews...so many...

PCPP#158 simply had far too much awesome for us to give it only one cover. So, we gave it two.

If you're looking to give the disc a miss this time around, you'll get the super-suave British agent, while those who crave the goodness that is the PCPP Disc will get Call of Duty, complete with explosions.

And you can always buy both...

WoW Bot loses court battle

Tues, 2 October 2008
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: BBC News | thanks: Dubious sales agreements

Bot breaches license agreement; $US 6m payout

No more taking down boss mobs on autopilot. /sad

Blizzard have successfully sued for damages from the creator of a WoW 'bot, after claiming it breached a license agreement.

The program manufacturer, MDY, produced the Glider software so that players could automate some of the more repetitive tasks in World of Warcraft, and sold copies at $25 each.

They will now be required to make a $6 million dollar payout to Blizzard for damages.

[The Glider] proved popular with many WoW players as it helped them automate the many repetitive tasks, such as killing monsters and scavenging loot, required to turn low level characters into more powerful ones. Although sizeable the damages award could have been bigger, say experts, if MDY had not won some of its arguments about damages in court.

It was also helped by an admission in court that it would be reasonable to pay some form of damages. The damages award could be delayed if Blizzard appeals against the judgement which threw out its claim to double or triple the cash settlement.

- BBC News

During the original court hearing, MDY successfully proved they didn't violate the anti-circumvention clause in the license, but were still found to be liable for other violations .

Leading up to the initial July ruling, it was argued by Blizzard that the software they provided was only licensed, and not 'sold'. They have since asked for an injunction on MDY, in order to prevent the release of the MMOGlider source code.

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