AusGamers :: News

So Long and thanks for all the Clicks

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:49:49 +1100

That time has come. For anyone still checking back in hope that AusGamers would start posting regularly again, given we’ve been sporadic and largely dormant these past six or so weeks, we can now reveal that both Kosta and I, the site’s long-time co-managing editors, have made the decision to move on to something new, while Mammoth Media has decided to put the site out to pasture.

The reasons are numerous, but largely we just wanted a new challenge and to have full ownership over our next adventure. This was all amicable with no hard feelings between camps and therefore isn’t tied to the recent spate of site closures or firings or resignations across the gaming media landscape. (Largely because we haven’t been employed with Mammoth these past number of years, running the site in a kind of defacto setup with Mammoth.)

So what’s next for us?

We’re launching a new entertainment platform called 3rd-Phase Boss focusing on Gaming, Tech & Gear and Pop Culture. We’ll also be building out a merch store, working with artists that work in and around gaming and pop culture to produce bespoke ‘Limited Run’-style shirts and prints. The tone of the site will be not all that dissimilar to what we produced here, but it’ll be more expansive and will focus more heavily on the celebration of so-called ‘geek culture’ and will feature a more rounded and dynamic social media presence.

But we want to specify it won’t be AusGamers 2.0 (the Mammoth cats have given us permission to carryover a collection of our work from here, though that will be updated and reformatted for the new digs so as not to ‘copy and paste’, so to speak).

This wasn’t an easy decision. For almost two decades AusGamers and Mammoth Media have been ever-present in my life, and I can’t thank Trog and Term enough for taking a punt on me all those years ago, and my time working alongside Dan and Eorl as well as the rest of the Mammoth Media guys will forever remain one of my most beloved professional jaunts. And then being able to work with one of my best friends in Kosta at this site has been amazing, but together we just felt it was time we owned our own shit. 3rd-Phase Boss is wholly owned by us under our freshly-minted digital publishing and professional writing business, Swear Jar Editorial and Media Pty Ltd and will launch in early 2024.

Thanks to everyone who followed our words and our stories over the years and thanks to everyone we ever worked with here. You can get in touch with us at our new digs via email and for all enquiries related to AusGamers use the site’s contact form as those still reach Mammoth Media.

Cheers,

Steve and Kosta

Checking Out the Coolest PC Gaming Hardware at PAX Australia 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:14:46 +1100

At PAX this year, in between checking out indie games and lining up to take shots with Mario and Sonic, we went on the hunt for the coolest PC gear at the show. From the holy grail of GeForce RTX 4090s to a very cool Cult of the Lamb PC and Cooler Master's giant sneaker PC concept.

Click on the image above or here to check out our full PAX Aus 2023 tour.

Aussie Energy Drink V Changes its Flavour for the First Time in 26 Years

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:51:37 +1000

If you're a local, you'll no doubt be aware of the homegrown V Energy Drink, with its bright green cans - and liquid that looks like a long-lost Nuka Cola Quantum flavour from Fallout. Anyway, after 26 years, the taste is changing to a "smoother and fruitier taste - with the same energy kick that has made it a late-night gaming staple since the days of LAN parties and split-screen Goldeneye on the N64.

So then, how does it taste? Well, it's kind of like the original V but with a more fruit-tingle tinge - with a dash of sour Skittles. As a fan of fruit tingles (another Aussie classic) and all things sour, this is great news for me.

Doubly so because the fine people at V sent us some samples - which included V-branded Crocs and a V-bum bag.

Baby Steps from Ape Out Creators is Exactly the Sort of Irreverent Comedy Experience Gamers Need

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 11:03:08 +1000

The so-called 'walking simulator' is about to meet its parody moment, and it couldn't come at a better time. Baby Steps, from the creators of Ape Out and Getting Over It, is a physics-based adventure(?) title that simply tasks you with moving your 'life-got-the-better-of-me' avatar, Nate, by being in control of his legs. And while that might sound easy enough, as you can see from today's State of Play trailer, it's anything but.

In Baby Steps, the player can explore a world shrouded in mist, one step at a time. Hike the serene mountains by placing each footstep yourself, in original physics-based gameplay from the minds behind Ape Out and Getting Over It. Take in the sights, fall in love with the local fauna, and try to find meaning in a wasted life.

The game is scheduled for later this year for both PC and PS5 and comes by way of publisher Devolver Digital, which should give you an indication of the sort of unique experience we're in for this summer.

The Crew Motorfest is Now Available, Play for Free for 5 Hours

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:51:42 +1000

Ubisoft Ivory Tower's open-world racer, The Crew Motorfest, is now out in the digital Hawaiian wild. The game, which has been earnestly compared to the Forza Horizon series takes the open-world concept in the racing space a bit further, adding sea and air to the mix for a truly transformative experience in a lush world full of opportunity.

In The Crew Motorfest, players can explore the Hawaiian island of O'ahu and participate in Motorfest, a festival designed for all car enthusiasts. At the heart of the event, they can discover the very best of car culture through a selection of 15 thematic campaigns, called Playlists. Each with their own atmosphere, music, objectives, gameplay, and rewards, the Playlists fully immerse players in these unique car culture universes and allow them to explore the legacy of iconic brands or master different driving styles: from underground street racing in the Made in Japan Playlist to American Muscle cars, off-road, open-wheel racing, drift, and more! Electric supercars have their own Playlist all about raw power and energy management, and vintage classics have one too, with entirely different gameplay settings, removing GPS and assisted driving to bring back the feeling of legendary vehicles from the past. Of course, car culture is not only about cars, but also about people. To give players as many different experiences as possible, some of the biggest names in the car-loving scene have contributed directly to The Crew Motorfest, including professional drivers, tuners, and content creators. Several Playlists will feature their talents at launch:
Rule the Streets, featuring popular US network Donut Media putting the hottest cars to the test in James Pumphrey’s signature challenges.
Dream Cars, with world-famous car enthusiast Supercar Blondie (Alexandra Hirschi), bringing her curated selection of the most unique and innovative concept cars ever seen on the road.
LBWK, immersing players in the vision of Wataru Kato, founder of the Japanese car shop Liberty Walk, and his passion for tuned and customised cars.
And this is only the beginning: new Playlists and new experiences are just around the corner! Each visit to Motorfest is another chance to hop into a new weekly theme, drive new vehicles, and win rewards. Starting at launch on September 14, Season 1 is putting the spotlight on what makes an iconic car in different regions of the world: America, Japan or Europe. And in December, Season 2 will then welcome one of the most famous brands in Car Entertainment: Hoonigan, bringing their special project vehicles to the game!

The best part? Starting today, players can test The Crew Motorfest for free for 5 hours, on PlayStation, Xbox and PC until 6pm, September 18 AEST! If they wish to continue their adventure, every unlocked item and progression will be carried over upon the game’s purchase. By getting the game before the end of the Free Trial, they will benefit from the Early Adopter offer and unlock the Liberty Walk Pack, including the Toyota GR Supra 2021 LBWK Edition.

Having played the game ahead of release elsewhere (there's also a reason we're review-less at the moment, please stay tuned), I can tell you Motorfest is a bushwhacker's dream in terms of getting off the beaten track to, well, beat your own damn track. It's full of events and challenges and hidden goodies, is stunningly-presented and is simply a joy play.

You can pick it up now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Starfield Smashes Through Skyrim's Steam Record for Concurrent Players

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:44:03 +1000

Starfield recorded a peak player count (via Steam Charts) of 330,723 galactic explorers this past weekend, smashing through the concurrent peak player record for Skyrim set back in 2011. Skyrim's peak player count at launch on Steam was around 287,411. What makes this an even more impressive feat is that this doesn't include Xbox Game Pass players on PC - which will be another sizable chunk of spacefarers.

Ahead of this new record, Bethesda announced that Starfield is the studio's biggest launch to date, drawing in over six million players - more than Fallout and Skyrim. As a brand-new IP, this is great news for the team as Starfield was more of a gamble than simply releasing a new Elder Scrolls or Fallout title - though we should expect new entries in both sometime in the future.

As of this morning, #Starfield has already surpassed 6 million players, making it the biggest Bethesda game launch of all time. pic.twitter.com/4yZa1lAYjW
— Starfield (@StarfieldGame) September 7, 2023

That said, it still has a few ways to match Fallout 4's peak of around 473,000 concurrent players back in 2015 or Baldur’s Gate 3, which hit an impressive peak concurrent player count of around 875,000 just this past month. It would be nice to be able to combine Steam and PC Game Pass numbers to get a better picture - but the big takeaway for Starfield is that it has been a massive success for Bethesda and Microsoft on PC.

PAX Aus' Probable Final Details... Probably

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 18:13:51 +1000

If we've learnt one or a few things about trade shows and fan events in gaming post-pandemic, it's that anything and everything can change at the last minute.

Still, the PAX Aus team has sent through its updated release on everything to expect at the event, with Nintendo to have a particularly large presence, which is a new tilt for The Big N even.

Here's the official word on things:

Gaming icon, SEGA will be attending PAX Aus this year with a booth showcasing Sonic Superstars and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Melbourne-based Ukiyo Studios will be presenting "SEA What I Made! (SWIM)", the largest Southeast Asian indie games delegation of its kind to grace Australian shores. A total of 15 titles from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines will feature a variety of game genres from turn-based RPGs to Southeast Asian-inspired Diablo-likes and even restaurant management sims.

And for tabletop fans, Star Wars™: Unlimited will be demo-ed for the first time in Australia at PAX Aus.

Two icons of the tabletop world will also be at PAX Aus - Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Attendees will be able to learn to play Dungeons & Dragons with their friendly Dungeon Masters waiting to guide you on a quest. From there, visit the D&D Superstore where you will be able to find everything you need and want from sourcebooks to minis to collectibles and more. For Magic: The Gathering fans and noobs you can learn to play and get lost in the Wilds of Eldraine with fantastical creatures, unbelievable settings and beloved characters with a unique twist.

Pack your Senzu Beans and Devil Fruit, because the tabletop major moments don’t stop there with Dragon Ball Z and One Piece showcasing their games and hosting tourneys at the event. Compete for glory in the Dragon Ball Super Regionals and One Piece Card Game Tournament, pick up a free demo deck (while stock lasts), as well as try your hand at the new Dragon Ball Super Fusion World card game.

Vanguard, Weiss Schwarz, Shadowverse and Final Fantasy Trading Card Game will also be showcased at PAX Aus and Asmodee, yes, them of Exploding Kittens, CATAN, Ticket to Ride, Dobble/Spot It and so many more legendary games fame will be bringing their latest and greatest games.

What’s October without a jumpscare? Five Nights at Freddy’s will be activating the world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza where Freddy and the gang are dying to meet you – step into the scene and see if you can survive five nights?

While on the topic of bears, what about bears, in space?! Hear from Broadside Games as they discuss how they went from working a day job and developing games on the side to focusing on a game full-time!

The team behind the upcoming action-packed game, Bears In Space, tell all at PAX Aus! And lastly, tabletop legends Phil Walker-Harding (Sushi Go, Bear Park, Imhotep) and Matt Dunstan (Fairy Tile, Relic Runners) will also be on the floor at PAX Aus, with Walker-Harding demonstrating his game, Spellbook, and Dunstan showcasing a new game, to be revealed for the first time at PAX Aus.

The Ninteno presence features a Splatoon competitive tournament for ANZ as well as the first opportunity for punters to get their hands on Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which is due to drop on 20th of October for Nintendo Switch.

The release we received also that all 3-day passes are now gone, but that single-day badges can still be claimed. Click here for details on how to get them.

PAX Aus takes place in Melbourne from October 6-8.

Watch This - 17 Minutes of Glorious Race Action in Forza Motorsport

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:15:51 +1000

Turn 10 has definitely become the premiere racing game studio. And while all of its peers and some of the OG are nipping at its heels, you get the sense that Turn 10 is Max Verstappen with everyone else just playing catch up, including its own teammate in Playground (definitely Perez in this silly analogy).

Ahem.

Forza Motorsport, a seminal reboot of the series for the developer is just around the corner, and the studio has been kind enough to share a full 17 minutes of jaw-dropping gameplay. Check it out after the jump.

Maple Valley in the US is the first out of the blocks in the visual tour de force, followed by an endurance race at Hakone, Japan is also in there as well as the shiny new Grand Oak Raceway, which is a fictional track exclusive to Forza Motorsport.

On top of those tracks across the 17 minute gameplay eyegasm, there's a handful of awesome cars and the all-important UI, presentation and more to sink your expectations into.

The game drops in full on October 10 for all punters across PC and Xbox Series X|S, but there is the option to pre-order and get five days early access from October 5, all details of which you'll find in the Xbox Store.

Watch This - 7 Minutes of Puppetastic Gameplay from Lies of P

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:08:30 +1000

In case you haven't been across it, Lies of P is a unique Souls-like set in a twisted world where murderous puppets roam the streets of the fictional city of Krat and where you, P, also a puppet, must fight to stop this seemingly ridiculous-yet-still-terrifying nightmare from continuing.

Oh, and it's based loosely on Pinocchio, just for good measure.

Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action Souls-like game set in the dark, Belle Époque-inspired city of Krat. Once a beautiful city, Krat has become a living nightmare as deadly puppets run amok and a plague sweeps the land. Play as P, a puppet who must fight his way through the city on his unrelenting journey to find Geppetto and finally become human. Lies of P presents an elegant world filled with tension, deep combat and character customization systems, and a gripping story with interesting narrative choices where the more lies told, the more human P becomes. Just remember: in a world filled with lies, no one can be trusted…

Even though I'm not a huge fan of Souls-like games, I seriously love things this outlandish and am something of a horror game aficionado so am really looking forward to pulling some strings in this silliest of game ideas that could actually be really awesome.

Lies of P is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S this September 19.

Starfield - Here's Some 4K Ultrawide Footage of Our Solar System in the Year 2330

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:24:58 +1000

Starfield is huge, and even though only 10% of the game's 1,000 planets to explore are not classed as 'Barren,' there's just something about landing on a desolate rock or mass and walking around. Very early on, the game lets you fully explore the Sol System - and that's what I did, checking out the harsh conditions on Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Earth.

Consider this a spoiler-free bit of planetary landscape eye-candy - outside of being a glimpse at the state of our homeworld in the year 2330. All footage was captured with the PC version running max settings at 60 fps with a GeForce RTX 4090. Check it out.

A snippet from our Review In Progress.

Starfield is a step ahead in how it embraces its role-playing nature beyond joining various factions and being either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ when it comes to making choices that might affect the lives of others. The detailed skill tree offers a long list of game-changing abilities to choose from, each feeling meaningful and useful, and there’s this level of diversity across the social, exploration, creation, and combat sides.

This then ties into what to do; even though Starfield features a compelling main story, alongside several fantastic side quests and faction questlines to work your way through slowly - you can just as easily spend several hours (like I did) exploring barren and sparse planets simply because it felt like a frontier that deserved discovery.

Ultimately, you can feel the thought and care poured into every corner of Starfield, from the lore to the discovery of the fate of humanity and its colonies in the year 2330 - it’s science fiction bliss.