Video games and world building: Taking players somewhere they’ve never been before

2018 has been crazy good for RPG’s. The worlds that have been massive and immersive, and deep in content. What is curious is how the developers of these games let players in on the facts of the worlds they’ve built. Information is given to players in interesting ways that differ from game-to-game. From letting players…

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What could be the selling points of the next generation of consoles?

We have, if you can believe, almost reached the end of the current generation of consoles, and with news of PlayStation pulling out of E3 in 2019 in rumoured preparation of a hardware announcement, speculation is mounting as to what the selling points could be for the next generation. 2019 is going to be an…

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Late winter just became the best time to visit New York City for deal seekers

For the first time ever, NYC & Company – the official destination marketing organisation for New York City – will align their three signature programs across the same stretch of dates, bringing together NYC Broadway Week, NYC Restaurant Week, and NYC Must-See Week. Under the new collective name of NYC Winter Outing, the new mega-program…

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Melbourne’s CouchWarriors Crossup is a Dragon Ball FighterZ World Cup global qualifier and you shouldn’t miss it

With Super Smash Bros Ultimate scratching that fighting game itch pretty well at the moment, you might be on the hunt for some fresh challengers. Good news — this weekend’s CouchWarriors Crossup is not only debuting its brand new Smash Ultimate competition, it’s also a significant stop on the Dragon Ball FighterZ World Cup qualifier…

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This hotel just broke the world record for most Michelin stars under one roof

The guiding light of Michelin stars have been luring people to memorable meals for decades now, but never before have so many of them been clustered under the one roof. With the recent unveiling of the Michelin Guide 2019 Hong Kong – Macau, one hotel has proudly set an impressive global benchmark for having the…

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Deliveroo to deliver free Messina to Sydney beaches using speedboats

Although Sydney will be getting a few patches of rain here and there this weekend, plenty of the city’s most visited beaches will no doubt be packed full of summer-loving folk. That’s why Devliveroo have launched speedboat deliveries, in partnership with Messina, to keep those lazing on the sand well fed throughout the day. Across…

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Chill out mates, Beau Ryan and PlayStation are gonna tell you how to #PlayItCool this summer

PlayStation Australia know that being a gamer in the summer is a bit rubbish. You have to have the windows open so its hard to see the TV during the day, which is no good. If you want to close the place up to create a little darkness, it means running the aircon while you…

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Why Canberra’s Gingerfest is not to be missed this weekend

Remembering the Ginger Ninja are a not for profit organisation that have organised punk rock festivals in honour of their close friend Nicholas Sofar-Schreiber, and this Saturday at MOLO Live, situated just upon ANU Campus, the great organisation is gearing up for a day of great music, great beer, and to commemorate the titular Ginger…

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Interview: Paul Capsis (Aus) talks Sydney Festival and working with Jethro Woodward

Paul Capsis is one of Australia’s most versatile performers and is equally at home in the world’s of theatre, film & television, and of course cabaret. He’s a gifted interpreter of song, and has sung with a diverse and varied group of musicians and singers, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Russell Crowe, the Soweto Gospel…

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Blues and Metal collide as the innovative Zeal & Ardor announces Australian tour dates

Originally little more than an experiment of Swiss-American mastermind Manuel Gagneux, the avant-garde combination of negro spirituals and black metal embraced on his 2015 album Devil Is Fine quickly connected with several previously unstruck chords – as though American slaves had found Satanism rather than Christianity. And when it came to the music being created,…

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Film Review: Once Upon a Deadpool (USA, 2018) proves to be a rather bizarre and unnecessary re-release

There are times when a film critic is asked to review some strange pieces of cinema, but none are perhaps stranger this year than Once Upon a Deadpool, a rather bizarre holiday re-release of Deadpool 2 bereft of the swearing, sexual content, blood, and gore that’s become this anti-Marvel franchise’s calling card. “Why?” you may…

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Exclusive Music Video Premiere: The Northern Folk “Cold” (2018)

With no less than 10 members, and hailing from Albury, Melbourne, The Northern Folk have been incrementally building their charismatic and varied sound since banding together and gracing the local touring circuit in 2012. Since then, the ever-evolving outfit have released two records of lyric-led, horn-saturated ebbs and troughs that showcase the breadth of the…

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Hobart’s MONA to build five-star hotel, and a spa by James Turrell and Marina Abramović

Hobart’s infamous Museum of Old and New Art, AKA MONA, has officially announced their intention to build a brand new precinct and five-star hotel nearby the famed mostly-underground art museum. Submitting their development application to Crown Land Services and Glenorchy City Council this week, the museum and founder David Walsh plan for the new development…

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Film Review: Dumplin’ (USA, 2018) is revolutionising the meaning of beauty

Standing up against the status quo has been a beloved, exciting trope, and in the new Netflix Original Dumplin’, it’s delightful and empowering. It’s a film that Insatiable and Sierra Burgess is a Big Loser wish they could be. The movie centres on Willowdean Dickson (Australia’s Danielle Macdonald), an overweight teen who loves Dolly Parton and…

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Track of the Day: Durand Jones & The Indications feat. Aaron Frazer “Don’t You Know” (2018)

Durand Jones & The Indications have offered up the first taste of their sophomore album, American Love Call, set for release March 1st, with their latest single “Don’t You Know”. It’s a nostalgia drenched track, and yet another nod to the classic soul music of the early Seventies. “Don’t You Know” is put simply put…

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Track of the Day: Galactic feat. Miss Charm Taylor “Clap Your Hands” (2018)

New Orleans’ Galactic are back with a new single, “Clap Your Hands”, featuring guest vocalist Miss Charm Taylor. The upbeat and percussive number is the first taste of the band’s new album (their first in more than three years), Already Ready Already, which is set for release in early 2019. After more than twenty years…

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What exactly makes for a good mobile game?

Blizzard’s announcement of their latest mobile title, Diablo Immortal, shook many fans of the series to their core. For better or worse, Diablo Immortal on Blizzard’s to-do list and that is a fact that its detractors must learn to live with. They can, of course, simply elect to not spend any money on it if they…

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Liam Neeson coming down under this Summer to promote Cold Pursuit

He’s an acting icon, with an impressive list of dramatic roles including Schindler’s List, Rob Roy and Kinsey. But more recently he’s made a name for himself as a gritty action star courtesy of the Taken trilogy, The Grey and The Commuter. Now Irish actor Liam Neeson will be coming down under in the middle…

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This Canberra institution has become the city’s first “Ospitalità Italiana” certified restaurant

Looking for the best Italian food you can possible find in our nation’s capital? It’s going to be hard to look past Agostinis, which has now become the city’s very first to receive the exclusive “Ospitalità Italiana” certification from the Italian Chamber of Commerce in affiliation with the Italian government in Rome. Basically, what this…

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Crystalbrook Collection to open Newcastle’s first ever five-star luxury hotel

After a highly successful entry into Cairns with recently opened luxury resort Riley, Crystalbrook Collection Hotels & Resorts have today announced that they have acquired Newcastle’s iconic ‘Roundhouse’ Council Administrative Centre with plans to convert the building into a luxury five-star hotel. Set to open in late 2020, the planned hotel, dubbed Kingsley, will stick…

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Our top picks for the perfect gift this Christmas

It’s hard to believe 2018, an exhausting year for many around the world, is already coming to a close. Just one look at any news media would tell you people around the globe put up with a lot this year, and that’s all the more reason to make this Christmas one that’s stress free and…

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Building the perfect campsite ahead of the Summer music festival season

Summer is here and that means two things. One, the weather is now at its absolute best for you to head out and explore the outdoors and secondly, it’s the season of camping festivals. We’ve road tested and put together a list of the best OZtrail products out there that will have you camping, glamping…

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What it’s like interviewing on the ARIA Red Carpet for the first time

The 2018 ARIAs have well and truly gone, but that night was one to remember! November 28th, 2018 marks the date I was lucky enough to report at my first red carpet event and now it’s time to do a tell-all on the experience: Interviewing some of Australia’s biggest names in music can seem like…

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Album of the Week: Karrie Hayward – Ephemeral (2018 EP)

Karrie Hayward is a Brisbane based songstress with a pop infused, indie edge sound. Spending the last few months travelling solo in a van performing shows down the Eastern coast of Australia from Townsville to Melbourne she recently released her debut EP Ephemeral. An album about the experiences of a past relationship and the raw…

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Track of the Day: Odette feat. Gretta Ray “A Place That I Don’t Know” (2018)

Singer-songwriter Odette has teamed up with fellow Aussie songstress Gretta Ray for a stunning new duet single “A Place That I Don’t Know”. At just Twenty One years of age, Odette is on path to quickly becoming a household name with her engrossing soulful vocals and evocative lyricism. This year has seen her debut album To…

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Bondi favourite Shuk is expanding to Chatswood and Elizabeth Bay

Renowned for their signature spin on Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine, Bondi stalwart Shuk is finally ready to expand on out to the North Shore with two new venues, one in foodie hub Chatswood and one in the breezy Elizabeth Bay. The expansion comes after celebrating their fifth year in the Bondi community, and it’s…

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Competition: Win one of three double passes to the Gfinity Elite Series Finals in Sydney!

The AU Review has partnered with our friends at Alienware Australia to give away three double passes to the Gfinity Elite Series Finals this weekend! All the finals action will go down at the Gfinity esports arena at Sydney’s Hoyts Entertainment Quarter on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16. Be there live as Sydney…

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A discussion of blame, intent and Fallout 76

It’s safe to say that Fallout 76 has been one of the year’s most controversial releases, plagued with issues ranging from internal bugs, to botched preorder incentives and now a serious privacy and security breach. One of the most recent of the controversies, before the, y’know, significant data breach, was the PR minefield regarding a canvas…

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Games Review: Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Switch, 2018) is the Greatest Hits collection you’ve always wanted

It’s been 20 years since Masahiro Sakurai became the architect of one of the riskiest experiments in Nintendo’s history. Super Smash Bros‘ dramatic origin story is well known — Sakurai had an idea for a four-player fighting game featuring Nintendo characters. Sakurai was acutely aware that getting Nintendo to approve a game about their beloved…

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Bethesda celebrates Doom‘s 25th birthday with a commemorative trailer

id Software’s Doom, the progenitor of the first person shooter genre as we know it, turns 25 today. A game that was so uniquely itself that the term First Person Shooter was invented so we could stop called them “Doom clones,” Doom is an indelible component in the gaming landscape. To commemorate the 25 year…

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