Microsoft launches Xbox-Vista gaming union

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  Video game technology gets smarter

  Recent advancements in video game design — and new game consoles with dazzling computing power — have endowed computer-controlled characters with a sense of self-preservation and unpredictability not seen even a year ago.

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  Australia bans Fallout 3

  UPDATE: Upcoming Bethesda game refused classification Down Under by ratings body; OFLC report confirms banning is due to showing positive effects of in-game drug use.

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  World of Warcraft to sell token device for added security

  The makers of World of Warcraft are offering players of the online role-playing game an optional layer of security in the form of an electronic token device called Blizzard Authenticator designed to prevent unauthorised access to an account.

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  Whaddyareckon?: Ultimate Street Fighters

  Capcom's upcoming Street Fighter IV features new characters that are more wuss than warrior, such as the roly-poly, popcorn-crunching Rufus. This week we ask what your ultimate fighting champion would look like.

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  Blizzard teaser augurs new game?

  World of Warcraft developer's official website is gated by an image of shattered ice in advance of Worldwide Invitational this weekend.

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  Wii Fit hacked to work with WoW

  With Wii Fit's popularity making the game near-impossible to find and World of Warcraft's subscriber base nearing 11 million, it was just a matter of time before the two collided in some form.

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  Call of Duty 4 answered 10 million times

  Infinity Ward's multiplatform modern military shooter makes latest milestone; studio head explains decision not to develop a Wii version.

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  Valve announces best PC gaming idea of the year (so far)

  Valve's new service allows users to save their games and settings online — forever solving the problem of having to back-up save games, or re-enter your configurations.

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  Street Fighter IV heads home

  Capcom's arcade fighting sequel confirmed for release on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3; release dates remain unspecified.

More news »

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  Photos: Driving on Singapore's F1 night track

  Revheads stopping by Singapore in the next few months can have a go on the city-state's F1 night track ... virtually, that is. Last week, SingTel, the race's main sponsor, unveiled an interactive simulator and we were there.

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  Censory Overload: Games censorship in Australia

  How much does the right to choose what content you view mean to you, the consumer? GameSpot AU explores the thorny issue of videogame classification and censorship in Australia.

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  Getting Steamed: digital distribution for games isn't there yet

  Online distribution should be world-wide, and yet we're still thinking inside old market models.

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  Valentine's Day Gift Guide

  Face it -- roses, chocolates, and yes, diamond rings, have been done before. If you really want to impress your sweetheart, surprise him or her with a tech present that will have them remembering you the whole year through.

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  Format wars: the tech that should have won

  Did you love Laserdisc? Were you bonkers over Betamax? Do you cry yourself to sleep because BeOS never hit the big time? Fret no more -- superdork Captain Tech is here to travel back in time and save the format losers that should have triumphed.

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  Rock Band!!! CNET.com.au has it!!!!

  Rock Band may not be coming to Australia for a few more months, but CNET.com.au was lucky enough to have our very own US retail copy shipped in. After much jubilant screaming and high fives, we unpacked the game and had a thrash. Enjoy the pics, and excuse us while we kiss the sky.

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  Gaming online: Which console is best?

  Game consoles aren't just stand-alone boxes anymore -- it's increasingly about what you can do with them online. If you are unsure about which next-gen console to pick up, we've put together a comparison of the Nintendo Wii, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, outlining all of their individual online features and costs.

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  Games as art

  Video games are a viable artistic medium, capable of presenting both superficial beauty and deep commentary. Here are 10 video games that can be considered, for various reasons, works of art.

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  Q&A: GDAA head calls for more support for Aussie game industry

  Game Developers Association of Australia president on the lack of Federal Government support for local video game developers, producing high-quality titles from Australia, and more.

More features »

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  Oi!: Brand Tags' clouds cut through marketing hype

  CEOs and marketing types talk about improving or maintaining "brand values" all the time. But what do we really think of the companies that deliver us our modern existence? The site Brand Tags is attempting to find out.

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  Oi!: Renegade chair pushes back

  The Renegade is another one of those rumble chairs that we're curious if anyone actually buys.

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  Oi!: Second Life for 3G phones

  Feeling lonely on the bus? Second Life on your mobile phone will chase those commuter blues away.

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  Oi!: Australian Made Games

  For almost 21 years now, the Australian Made logo has been appearing on food, beverages, furniture, and other household goods, but never games -- until now.

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  Oi!: BioShock Collector's Edition gets remixed

  2K Games, the Australian publisher of a title that needs very little introduction -- BioShock, has just sent word that pre-order customers will be getting an extra little something in the box this Friday when the title goes on sale.

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  Oi!: Yahoo7 launches Trixi's tricky mystery

  An Australian-made interactive online drama featuring a foxy DJ called Trixi will hit the Web on Monday.

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  Oi!: Reservoir Dogs game banned in Australia

  It's yet another embarrassing day to be an Aussie gamer. Reservoir Dogs, the upcoming game based on the hit Quentin Tarantino film, has been banned in Australia.

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  Oi!: Learnings from E3 2006

  E3 has come and gone for yet another year, and just in case you had your attention on other less important things like trapped miners or Federal Budgets, here are a few of the highlights.

More oi! »

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  Top 5 gaming notebooks

  A samurai might have carried a sword in the past, but the modern virtual warrior whips out one of these top-end portables instead.

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  'Warcraft': A world in transition

  It might seem odd that World of Warcraft's publisher decided to tinker with the game's core experience in releasing the new expansion World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.

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  Apple still quiet on game strategy

  Windows PCs still own the game world, as Apple seems content to focus on digital media and portable music.

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  Microsoft launches Xbox-Vista gaming union

  Windows Vista and Xbox 360 gamers will soon be able to challenge each other online for the first time as Microsoft's Xbox LIVE gaming network opens its doors to PC titles.

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  'World of Warcraft' bans raise players' ire

  Some players of the popular online game think the publisher is banning first and asking questions second when it comes to alleged terms of service violations.

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  Q&A: World in Conflict's Nicklas Cederstrom

  World in Conflict designer talks about the game's single-player campaign, character interactions, and '80s movies.

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  Starcraft II warps into Seoul

  Blizzard Entertainment unveils long-awaited sequel to PC real-time strategy game at worldwide invitational event.

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  Q&A: Auran CEO talks Fury and breaking the MMOG mould

  Fury creator Tony Hilliam speaks out on Australian developers and the MMOG space, the challenges facing local studios, and what Auran is doing to reshape how people will play online games.

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  Partial nudity delays 'Halo 2' for Vista

  The game is now expected to hit the stores sometime in the first week of June, due to an "obscure content error," Microsoft says.

• Portable gaming consoles compared

• Xbox 360 Launch Centre

• PS3 vs 360 vs Wii

• Turbocharge your PSP

• FAQ: Xbox 360

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  Street Fighter IV

  We got our hands on Street Fighter IV — which is already available in Japanese arcades — at E3 2008.

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  Diner Dash/Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue/Diner Dash: Flo On The Go

  Those hankering for a cross between working the Maccas fry line and an 80's handheld hit will get a certain amount of enjoyment out of Diner Dash, although we can't imagine buying all of them.

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  James Bond: Quantum of Solace First Look

  We track down Activision and Treyarch's first game based on the James Bond movie franchise.

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  Diablo 3

  We've got the first look at the gameplay of Blizzard's latest dungeon crawler.

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  Prince of Persia First Impressions

  Ubisoft Montreal has taken a classic franchise from the shelf, dusted it down and is preparing it for its next-gen debut.

More reviews »

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  Diablo 3

  We've got the first look at the gameplay of Blizzard's latest dungeon crawler.

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  James Bond: Quantum of Solace

  We track down Activision and Treyarch's first game based on the James Bond movie franchise.

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  Diner Dash/Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue/Diner Dash: Flo On The Go

  Those hankering for a cross between working the Maccas fry line and an 80's handheld hit will get a certain amount of enjoyment out of Diner Dash, although we can't imagine buying all of them.

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  World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

  We check out a plethora of new content in Blizzard's upcoming expansion pack for World of Warcraft.

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  Prince of Persia

  Ubisoft Montreal has taken a classic franchise from the shelf, dusted it down and is preparing it for its next-gen debut.

More popular reviews »

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  The Orange Box

  The Orange Box is the one of the greatest gaming packages we have ever come across, and there is incredible value inside for an exceptional price.

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  World in Conflict

  World in Conflict is definitely one of the top games this year, with outstanding visual effects and an innovative gameplay system.

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  World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

  The Burning Crusade is a superb example of exactly what an expansion pack for any game should be.

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  Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

  The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is simply one of the best role-playing games ever made.

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  Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach

  The experience and feel of the original D&D experience is transferred successfully to the online realm. While it may not have the completeness demanded by hardcore D&D fans, there is more than enough for casual and beginner players -- who are really the target of this release.

More editors' choice »