Props to bum on the forums for pointing out the GO3 game expo to be held in Perth next year.


The NVIDIA-sponsored event expects to attract over a hundred exhibitors to its two exhibition halls. In addition to the main expo, GO3 will host a two-day trade conference for professional developers, featuring lectures from industry figures, as well as a 600-person LAN party and a game development competition.

While GO3 describes itself as an Electronic Entertainment Expo and has a quote from ESA president Doug Lowenstein on the website, it should not be confused with the recently downsized American E3. Regardless, it should be an important event for Australia's game industry.

GO3 will be held at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre from 30 March to 1 April 2007. If you're interested in attending, tickets are priced at $18 for adults.

This message from Darkscribe, producer of Ultima Online, reveals some of his plans for the definitive MMORPG as it approaches its tenth anniversary. The big news is that the UO client is going to be completely rebuilt with a new interface and improved graphics, bringing the game more in line with what modern gamers have come to expect.

However, Darkscribe has promised that this will not damage UO's reputation for low system requirements:


Aside from a guarantee that players will retain all ingame housing and items, and that there are "more surprises in store", no other details are given about the exact nature of the upgrade nor any new features which may be introduced. This is not the first time that UO players have been treated to a graphics upgrade, as the 2001 expansion "Third Dawn" included an optional 3D client, but it is sad news indeed for players who can't afford to upgrade beyond their 200 MHz Pentium.

New SDK hampers development

Developing a mod for an engine like Source can be a blessing and a curse -- for fans of the upcoming Team Fortress Classic remake, Fortress Forever, Source is proving to be the latter. It looks like the latest SDK update from Valve has thrown an Engineer's spanner into the works:


To make it up to their fans, the Fortress Forever team has released some new screenshots featuring the new Pyro flamethrower, as well as some action shots from Hunted -- all of which can been drooled over at the Fortress Forever media page.

The forthcoming game, The Lost Crown: A Ghosthunting Adventure, puts players into the role of a paranormal investigator hunting for ghosts in a seaside English town.

The development team at Darkling Room seem to have really done their homework for this title: they've participated in actual paranormal investigations conducted by a group of dedicated ghosthunters based in Cornwall. They believe that taking part in the activities of paranormal investigators will allow them to create a game with "with unparalleled experience of real ghosthunting practice, and theory."

The Lost Crown will feature:


The Lost Crown is scheduled to scare its way onto the PC in October. Check out The Lost Crown website for more details as they arise.

Gamesindustry.biz has put together a list of the games that will be on show at the Leipzig Games Convention over the next couple of days, and there's enough to satisfy anyone's taste.

Highlights include Spore and Crysis from EA; Bioshock from Take-Two; Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2 from Valve; Dark Messiah of Might & Magic from Ubisoft; Medieval II: Total War from SEGA; and Gothic 3 from Deep Silver. Even S.T.A.L.K.E.R. will be there, maybe even with content. There are plenty more, and Gamesindustry.biz will be updating the list as more games are announced.

Meanwhile, Joystiq points to the official Games Convention blog, which has a bunch of photos showing some booth construction. They reveal a couple of games not yet mentioned on Gamesindustry.biz's list, like Unreal Tournament 2007 and Burning Crusade expansion for World of Warcraft.

The Leipzig Games Convention runs from 24-27 August.