EB Games Expo, the largest ever to be held in Australia, have announced some of their official exhibitors which a a strong and diverse set.

This Thursday the 2nd of June tickets will be on sale online and in EB Games stores from midday Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Games, software and related exhibitors are 2K, Activision, Bethesda, Capcom, Codemasters, Disney Interactive Studios, EA, Incomm, Konami, Mindscape, Namco Bandai Partners, Pop Cap, QVS, Sega, Square Enix, THQ, and Ubisoft.

Hardware is also covered, like Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstation, Nintendo, Logitech, Bluemouth Interactive, Plantronics GameCom, Parrot AR.Drone, Razer and Turtle Beach.

Several media partners are also announced.

EB Games EXPO will be held on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th October at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre (GCCEC), Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Yes, you read that right, a games EXPO on this side of the planet.

This has been three years in the making and follows EB Games’ previous internal conferences. EB Games is the leading Australian game retailer Looks like it will be the biggest games event yet in Australia spanning across 10,000 square meters.

• Cosplay (costumes) judging and prizes
• Showcasing new releases and upcoming games, some of which will be playable
• Live presentations from international game developers
• EB Arena Spectacular with Showtime FMX freestyle motorcross
• The best gamers in the country will compete for the National Championship Crown and the right to represent Australia at the World Final in Seoul in the Australian National Finals of the 2011 World Cyber Games.
• Optional VIP passes for $AU99.95

Naturally details are still sketchy including exactly who and what will be there but there are already some big names involved, such as Electronic Arts. No doubt details will improve as we draw closer to the event.  Tickets on sale from Thursday 2nd June through EB Games and online.

Attended the ANZAC day Dawn Service at 6.00am this morning to a good crowd at Morphett Vale’s memorial. No rain at all but quite cold. It’s always amazing to see so many come. The service itself is quite short. Lowering the flags, the service and laying of the wreaths. The two minute silence and the anthems.

I will put this link to RSL SA down, as much to remind myself, as my readers of where to get the details of the local services, which are not so easy to find. There are quite a few locally so perhaps next year we will attend one of the others.

One man was carrying a frame full of medals emotion of his face plain.

We remembered too the other members of ANZAC. The New Zealand flag and anthem of course but there was also a haka. Kia kaha.

We will remember them.

Just a quick note, Mana Bar in Brisbane are offering a free drink to the Australian military and veterans on ANZAC Day.  Mana Bar are a video game cocktail bar which would be interesting to see.

PS Mana Bar: Open one in Adelaide too.

h/t: Games On Net

Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming console was released in Australia today. I won’t get one for some time. The $AU349 price of the 3DS seems a bit high but the main issue, like with any new gaming system, is the poor availability of games at launch.

It looks rather retro superficially. Bit like an old Deputy Den handheld LCD game. What is exciting of course is the 3D capability for which the device is named. Not only a 3D screen which is adjustable from 2D to 3D using a slider but a 3D camera as well. The 3D autostereoscopic view in full colour is done without special 3D glasses. From all accounts it looks great in practice and doesn’t give the usual eye strain headaches. However, you do have to get used to the positioning.

The addition of 3D is interesting especially being linked to mention sensors and the camera. You can see here potential for rather interactive games of the active style in Wii. The built in software already includes a clever use of the 3D camera to digitally overlay a real image from the camera with imagery from the Nintendo. You can also take a picture of yourself and have your facial structure added into a ‘Mii’. Such corny wording I know.

The success or failure of the 3DS will be worth watching for gaming business and gamers alike.

Update: Some people do complain of the usual headaches etc.  Not really that many given the sales but still enough to prompt a response from Nintendo.