Gaming Dev News, Features, and Interviews

• Oculus Rift shows (virtual) reality of car crashes

  NRMA Insurance has used the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to promote car safety at a new exhibit in Sydney's CBD.

• Fear, uncertainty and delays: The NBN in Tasmania

  Tasmanian business is desperate for certainty over the future of the National Broadband Network rollout in the state, according to witnesses that appeared before a Hobart hearing of the Senate’s Select Committee on the National Broadband Network.

• In brief: NT education department signs with NEC

  NEC has won a half-decade ICT contract with the NT government's Department of Education.

• TechEd: Shots from the show floor

  IT pros play with screens of all sizes at Microsoft's Gold Coast event.

• ANZ Innovyz expands to startup graduates

  ANZ Bank and Innovyz announced they will expand their accelerator program to include companies that have graduated from the startup phase.

• CQUniversity uses augmented reality to coach train drivers

  Central Queensland University researchers are enhancing train driving simulators with augmented reality in order to fast track drivers’ skills development.

• Deakin crowdsources funding to discover what makes gamers tick

  Why is it that Australians see playing footy on the weekend to be nothing sneer-worthy, but admitting to spending the odd afternoon playing World of Warcraft marks you as a bit of a weirdo? And why is it that so many Australians who wouldn't consider themselves gamers pass the time in the sardine-can-like confines of public transport propelling birds at green pigs?

• Xbox concept expands video games from the TV to walls and ceiling

  A new proof-of-concept by Microsoft lets Xbox video games project images around the player’s room.

• Northern Territory gov to consider R18+ classification

  The R18+ classification for games will be put before the Northern Territory government this week.

• Australia announces $20 million for video game industry

  Australia will invest $20 million over three years in the video game industry through an Interactive Games Fund, the Commonwealth announced today.

• Windows 8 apps feature at App Fest 2012

  Volunteering for natural disasters, finding cheaper petrol and helping children with diabetes might become easier in the future for Windows 8 device users if the inaugural App Fest 2012 winners have their apps published.

• In pictures: Tech Ed 2012 Hyped party

  Tech Ed 2012 culminated with the annual Hyped party on Thursday night. Delegates had a choice of sports, comedy, gaming or laser tag to keep them entertained. Photos supplied by Microsoft.

• Gaming start-up Scalify receives $2m funding boost from Starfish Ventures

  New start-up company Scalify has received a $2 million funding boost from Starfish Ventures for its peer-to-peer technology called Badumna.

• R18+ games legislation hits parliament

  Minister for home affairs, Jason Clare, has introduced legislation into parliament that will pave the way for an R18+ classification for video games. The state and territory governments will also have to introduce legislation to allow adults only games.

• iGEA cautiously backs R18 games classification guidelines

  While the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA) has welcomed the proposed Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games, it is concerned about references in the document to the high impact of games on players.
  

• Datasquirt halves FY11 loss

  Enterprise communications solutions provider Datasquirt (ASX:DSQ) narrowed its net loss 51% to NZ$599,000 ($519,000).

• Fed Govt distances R18+ games from Norway violence

  Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'Connor, has sought to distance the government’s push for an R18+ classification for video games from the mass violence in Norwayat the weekend.

• Attorneys-general back R18+ games classification

  The two day meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General has endorsed the idea of an R18+ classification for video games. The in principle decision was backed by all states and territories, with the exception of NSW Attorney-General, Greg Smith, who abstained.

• Mobile game on! Xperia Android 'PlayStation phone' arrives

  Mobile handset maker Sony Ericsson has announced its Xperia Play Android will be available from Telstra and Optus from June 8.

• Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review

  The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is a gaming focused Android smartphone launching next week in Australia on Optus and Telstra.

The good, bad and ugly of on-prem. Is this the right choice for your organisation?