* Taxing Australian Gamers
    * Krome Studios acquires Melbourne House
    * eGames Convention
    * Wii Virtual Console
    * Wii road show
    * 100,000 Xbox 360
    * Pink is the New Black
    * The Infamous Top 10
    * Upcoming Releases

Taxing Australian Gamers

So it’s official! Australia has become the first country in the world to tax players. Gamers who have been making a sturdy profit off online games such as World of Warcraft and Second Life now have to deal with the Tax Man. That is right, any gamer who has been earning a living in the virtual world will now be taxed. In a recent interview with The Age, an Australian Tax Office spokesperson told the paper "If you are getting a monetary benefit then it's not treated any differently - normal rules apply, your income will not be treated any differently than if you earned it working nine to five in an office."  Also, any gamer earning over AU$50,000 a year gaming will be required to get an ABN (Australian Business Number) and register for GST, an additional tax that is exclusive to Australia.


Krome Studios acquires Melbourne House

Australia's leading game development company, Krome Studios, announced that they will be acquiring the former Atari development studio "Melbourne House", which will promptly be renamed Krome Studies Melbourne. The studio will act as an extension to the Brisbane-based Krome Studios. Melbourne House had produced titles such as KKND and PS2 Transformers game.  Recently, though, they had been working on a PSP and PS2 version of Test Drive Unlimited. The studio is expected to complete Test Drive as their final project. Krome Studios will now employ almost 300 in-house workers, making it the largest games developer in Australia.  Krome studios CEO Robert Walsh commented on the acquisition "It's an amazing time for us right now and we couldn't be happier to welcome this new team to the Krome family.  Acquiring the Melbourne House studio will allow us to continue to expand our company with additional seasoned talent, many of who we also are great friends with, to help further grow our business and position ourselves as a world-class development studio working on both current and next generation projects."

eGames Convention

eGames & Entertainment Expo is a new convention that is being held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from November 17th to 19th. The Convention will be open to the public all days so Australian gamers can sit in on the Keynote Speakers. The line-up for keynote speeches starting at 2:15pm on Friday will be:

Opening - Marsha Thomson, Minister for Information and Communication Technology
PS3 - Michael Ephraim, Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia and New Zealand
Wii - Rose Lappin, Director of Sales and Marketing, Nintendo Australia
Xbox Live - David McLean, Microsoft's Home and Entertainment Division Regional Director

The event will cost the following:
Two Day Pass $22
Adults $16 (Concession/Students $13)
Family Ticket $38 (up to 2 adults, 2 children)

All tickets available at the door. Children under 6 years of age admitted free, and children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult.


Wii Virtual Console

The Wii will be releasing on December 7th and one key feature is the Wii Virtual Console, which brings the classic games to the current generation. Using Wii points you will be able to purchase NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Mega Drive.  Pricing and games in the Australian markets is as follows:

- NES games will be available for 500 Wii Points which is the equivalent to AU$7.50 - Baseball, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Ice Hockey, Mario Bros., Pinball, Soccer, Solomon's Key (Tecmo), Tennis, The Legend of Zelda, Urban Champion, Wario's Woods.
-  Super Nintendo games will available for 800 Wii Points which is the equivalent to AU$12.00 - Donkey Kong Country, F-Zero, SimCity.
- Nintendo 64 games will be available for 1000 Wii Points, which is the equivalent to AU$15.00 - Super Mario 64.
- Sega Mega Drive 800 Wii Points approximately AU$12.00 - Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Columns, Gunstar Heroes, Ecco the Dolphin, Space Harrier II, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Dr. Robotonik's Mean Bean Machine.

Wii Points Cards will be available to buy in retail stores and are estimated to retail at around AU$30.00 for 2000 Wii Points

Wii road show

During November and December, Nintendo is giving Australian gamers the opportunity  to experience their latest console the Wii. Their on the Road Show will be showcasing the Wii at selected Malls and Events. A list of these can be located at the link at the bottom. Nintendo will be offering players the chance to play Wii Sports, Wii Play, Warioware: Smooth Moves, Excite Truck and The Legend of Zelda Twilight. If there any of our fans that live near me (highly doubtful) I will be at the Campbelltown Macarthur Square for the Wii Road Show so if you feel like a chat please give me a heads up or just a friendly hello. And yes, I will be taking photos if it is interesting. LINK


100,000 Xbox 360

"The Xbox 360 is officially the fastest-selling home game console in Australian history." Yep, that's what they’re saying! The Xbox 360 has sold a 100,000 units since its release in March, along with more than 400,000 individual games. So that said, when the Wii launches I wonder if they could beat it considering that the Nintendo Gameboy Advance (which sold more than 128,000 units in its first seven months on sale). Maybe the PS3 might sell more ... ok, we had a good laugh … back on the subject! So with the upcoming holiday season, the console war is starting to heat up and we can watch to see if the Xbox360 can hold its ground.

Pink is the New Black

In the last report, I mentioned that the Black DS Lite was hitting our shores and I took a guess that the next one was Pink.  Guess I picked right, because it has just been released. So got a Daughter, Girlfriend or Wife that wants a little Nintendo DS then the Pink might just be their style.

The Infamous Top 10

1. The Sims 2 : Pets PC/MAC
2. Pokemon Mystery Blue Nintendo DS
3. Canis Canem Edit PS2
4. Battlefield 2142 PC/MAC
5. Flight Sim X PC/MAC
6. FIFA 2007 PS2
7. Splinter Cell Double Agent X360
8. Pokemon Mystery Red GBA
9. Melbourne Cup Challenge PS2
10. Buzz Junior Jungle Bundle


Upcoming Releases

So interesting release list this month, heaps and heaps of games being released and finally some decent ones. Darwina/Uplink finally reaches our shores, as does the PS2 title Realm of the Dead which is a surprise title. Definitely some heavy hitters coming out for the Christmas rush: GoW, Rainbow Six, Guitar Hero II and more....


PS2

Tony Hawks Project 8 15th November
Guitar Hero 2 15th November
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 16th November
Cricket 2007 16th November
Disgaea 2 Cursed Memories 16th November
Delta Force Black Hawk Down Team Sabre 16th November
Buzz Sports Quiz 16th November
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus 16th November
Scarface: The World is Yours 16th November
The Made Man 16th November
Biker Mice From Mars 16th November
James Pond 16th November
Crazy Chicken 16th November
Naruto Ultimate Ninja 17th November
Call Of Duty 3  22nd November
World Series Of Poker Tournament of Champions 22nd November
Eragon 22nd November
Eye Toy Kinetic Combat 23rd November
Sega Mega Drive Collection 23rd November
Realm of the Dead 23rd November
The Sopranos 23rd November
Teen Titans 23rd November
Flushed Away 24th November
One Piece Grand Adventure 24th November
Mercury Meltdown Remix 27th November
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum 27th November
Phantasy Star Universe 30th November
Ninja Vs Samurai (Kengo 3) 30th November
Crusty Demons 30th November
Impossible Mission 30th November
Capcom Classics 2 30th November


Xbox

Call Of Duty 3 15th November
Tony Hawks Project 8 15th November
Scarface: The World is Yours 16th November
Eragon 23rd November
Open Season 30th November
Superman Returns 30th November


Xbox 360

NBA Live 2007 14th November
Call Of Duty 3 15th November
Tony Hawks Project 8 15th November
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 16th November
World Series of Poker 22nd November
Rainbow Six Vegas 23rd November
Eragon 23rd November
Sonic The Hedgehog 23rd November
Gears of War 23rd November
Bomberman Act Zero 24th November
Viva Pinata 29th November
Phantasy Star Universe 30th November
Open Season 30th November
Superman Returns 30th November
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 30th November
Football Manager 2007 30th November


GameCube

SpongeBob Squarepants Creature from Krusty Krab 15th November
Flushed Away 24th November
Open Season 30th November

PSP

Battlezone 10th November
Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories 10th November
Gun Showdown 15th November
Ace Combat 16th November
Capcom Classics Reloaded 16th November
Mind Quiz 16th November
LA Rush Showdown 16th November
Ford Street Racing LA Duel 16th November
Taito Legends 16th November
Eragon 23rd November
Sega Mega Drive Collection 23rd November
Sonic Rivals 23rd November
Kameleon 23rd November
Kazook 23rd November
Mortal Kombat Unchained 23rd November
Myst 23rd November
Scooby Doo Whos Watching Who 23rd November
World Tour Golf 23rd November
Rengoku 2 24th November
Bomberman 24th November
Lego Star Wars 2 The Original Trilogy 28th November
Dynasty Warriors Vol 2 30th November
Superman Returns  30th November
Impossible Mission 30th November
Football Manager 2007 30th November
Family Guy  30th November
Rainbow Island Evolution 30th November
MOH Heroes 30th November
Capcom Puzzle World 30th November
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 30th November

Nintendo DS

SpongeBob Squarepants Creature from Krusty Krab 15th November
Age of Empires 2 16th November
Strawberry Shortcake Strawberryland Games 16th November
Scooby Doo Whos Watching Who 16th November
Crazy Frog Racer 17th November
Micro Machines V4 17th November
Tomb Raider Legend 17th November
Bratz Forever Diamondz 23rd November
Eragon 23rd November
Flushed Away 24th November
Charlottes Web 30th November
Happy Feet 30th November
Open Season 30th November
Super Fruit Fall 30th November
Superman Returns 30th November
Asphalt Urban GT 2 30th November


Game Boy Advance

Tonka on the Job 15th November
SpongeBob Squarepants Creature from Krusty Krab 15th November
The Sims 2 Pets 16th November
Tomb Raider Legends 17th November
Eragon 23rd November
Flushed Away 24th November
Charlottes Web 30th November
Disney Princess Royal Adventure 30th November
Happy Feet 30th November
Open Season 30th November


PC

Civilization Chronicles (Sid Meiers) 10th November 2006
Darwinia/Uplink 15th November
Star War Galaxies Collection 15th November
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 15th November
Extreme Gamers 6 Pack 15th November
Neverwinter Nights 2 16th November
Wings over Europe 16th November
Shogun: Total War 16th November
Cricket 2007 16th November
Desperate Housewives 16th November
Heroes Of Might And Magic 5 (DVD ROM) Hammers Of Fate 16th November
Medieval 2 Total War 16th November
International Cricket Captain - Ashes Edition 16th November
Scarface: The World is Yours 16th November
The Made Man  16th November
Immortal Cities: Children Of The Nile 16th November
Worms Forts: Under Siege 16th November
Runaway 2: The Dream of the Turtle 16th November
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent 16th November
World Series Of Poker Tournament of Champions 22nd November
EA Warefare Collection 23rd November
EA Strategy Collection 23rd November
EA Sports '06 Collection 23rd November
Eragon 23rd November
Catz 2006 23rd November
Dogz 2006 23rd November
The Sims 2 Holiday Stuff Pack (Add-On) 23rd November
Rush for Berlin 23rd November
Unreal Anthology 23rd November
X3 Reunion GOTY Edition 23rd November
The Mark 30th November
Lord of the Rings: Rise of the Witch King 30th November
Phantasy Star Universe 30th November
Open Season 30th November
Crazy Frog Racer 2 30th November
Warhammer Mark Of Chaos 30th November
Rainbow 6 Vegas 30th November