Microsoft has announced that the fees for its Games for Windows Live multiplayer will be dropped, allowing publishers, developers and the gaming community to have access to the online gaming service for free. Publishers, developers and PC gamers used to have to pay to use GFW Live for their games, but will now also be able to have access to Microsoft's matchmaking services and GFW Live's Gold membership features at no cost.

"While gamers could previously get free access to GFW Live through its Silver membership, the service limited players to a one gamertag, single-player only achievements, and more. Players who wanted the features contained in the Gold pack had to pay $7.99 a month, or $49.99 a year. By giving players these options for free, Microsoft Entertainment's devices division CTO Chris Satchell said the movement would "…improve Windows gaming." " - IGN

But these are not the only bonuses, as Microsoft has also announced a new re-designed user interface and updated Marketplace, giving gamers access to free and paid content, such as demos, movies, trailers and more. PC Gamers have long held the view that MP should be free, right out of the box and GFW with LIVE flew in the face of that. Could be the boost that GFW has needed for quite some time.

Members of the original Diablo Development team who had broken away to form Flagship Studios, may be looking to return to their fellow devs at Blizzard for the forthcoming MMO title. The reason of course being that Flagship Studios is no more, and like Ironlore and others has shut up shop. What then becomes of their "flag" title, Hellgate: London? There has been raging debate as to what would become of Hellgate: London, since it has refused the financial offer of help from HanbitSoft which offered to keep support for the title going:

"Fan site Hellgate Guru first reported that HanbitSoft was taking full control of Hellgate: London and intended to continue the game. That brought a forceful denial from Flagship, and confirmation from HanbitSoft's own attorneys (who slipped in a backhanded dig at the failing studio, which pretty much confirms Flagship's demise.)"

So the question for players of the game, particularly it's Windows LIVE-driven online play where upgrades and items need to be purchased by the gamer, who will support the game now? There is no point in approaching Flagship Studios as the staff have been "made redundant" (sacked in other words) and the doors of the studio closed on Saturday. There had been whispers amongst the development community that key members of Flagship would be returning to Blizzard, and this does much to lend substance to them.
However, the status of employment for the Devs is not really of interest for Hellgate: London players. They'll be milling around the virtual Underground (subway) Station wondering who, if anyone will support their game now?

As an Australian, I can say that our Government doesn't trust us gamers to have the maturity to discern the difference between film and literature, and computer games. Once again Aussie gamers are handed the blunt tool of censorship by the Australian Censorship Board, officially banning Fallout 3 from release here. This is the third title to be "refused classification" by the OFLC and is only going to harm the retail computer industry. The backlash will of course come in the form of more imports from the US and Asia (with the PS3 being region-free, and the PC also having no problems there). Piracy will also rear its' ugly head more than ever, and yet these blind "minders" of our welfare can't see the actual harm they are doing. Banning something only makes it more attractive, and I have no doubt that many who would not have even played the demo of this game will now seek it out.
Here is the official coding by the OFLC:

"FALLOUT 3 Game (Multi Platform)
Classification RC
Consumer Advice
Category Computer Games
Version ORIGINAL
Duration variable
Date of Classification 4 July 2008
Author BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS
Publisher ZENIMAX EUROPE LTD
Production Company NOT SHOWN
Country of Origin USA
Applicant ZENIMAX EUROPE LTD.
File Number T08/2707
Classification Number 5371155D"

"RC" - refused classification. Advance Australia Fair? I don't think so.

News leaked by a guy who works in the Australian Government (specifically entertainment classification) has stated that "Fallout 3" has been refused classification in this country. In other words it will be banned. The reason? The main character uses Morphine in gameplay and so would carry an (R)18+ classification (or(X)18+). Trouble is games only get rated to (MA)15+, and anything higher is banned or drastically "stripped down" to make it"acceptable" (GTA:SA. GTAIV, Carmageddon, SoF:Payback). The result is of course we have games that never get released, or if they do, they are mere shadows of their former selves.
What they don't realize is that the only folk they are really hurting are the Retail chains and those without internet connections. The rest of us will just order the games online (and for a lesser price). I know gaming censorship is almost as bad in the UK, and like here it is generating much discontent from the gaming public. Trouble is, you tell someone they can't do something and, as human nature dictates, he/she will. Will the crime rate drop? No. Will Rock 'n Roll go away? No. Will existing copyright laws on video games be broken? Absolutely.
Piracy, Direct Download and anger will be the only results and all are negative for the Retail Gaming Industry. I don't know about anyone else, but I kinda like having those stores around, but they won't be around for long at this rate.

News from Australia quoted from the Sydney Morning Herald, June 26th 2008:
Battle for Australia Day - commemorating all who served and died in the defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943 - will be marked on the first Wednesday of each September.

""Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said Governor-General Michael Jeffery had signed the proclamation - fulfilling a Labor election promise to declare a day of national observance for the battle for Australia.
Mr Griffin said Battle for Australia Day would commemorate the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943 when the nation faced its gravest peril.
He said this produced a national mobilisation of the entire population of some seven million people.
"There will be a series of activities and commemorations occurring around the date which will be the first Wednesday in September each year to acknowledge the sacrifice and courage and the national that was something we can all be proud of," he told parliament.
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson supported the decision to recognise the battle of Australia.
"1942 was arguably the most important year in this country's history since European arrival," Dr Nelson said.
Wartime prime minister John Curtin announced the Battle for Australia when Singapore fell on February 15, 1942.
Mr Griffin said the first Wednesday in September had been chosen by members of the veteran community as it represented the first defeat of Japanese forces on land at the Battle of Milne Bay.
"There were direct attacks on the Australian mainland, particularly in Darwin, and battles in the Coral Sea and Papua and New Guinea, including Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track," Mr Griffin said.
"The day will also be an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of those on the home front, who lived in a time when the entire economy was directed towards the war effort."
Mr Griffin said Battle for Australia Day would not be a public holiday.
"This proclamation will not detract from the importance of Australia's two most significant days of commemoration, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, on which we remember all Australians who served and died in wars, conflicts and peace operations," he said.""

And to think "CoD5: World at War" will be released around this time. Might be a lead balloon for Activision going down in the Press upon its' release. Let's hope not.