The Under Age

Gamers flood Melbourne as PAX returns down under

(This article was originally published in The Under Age on 3 December 2014)

This spring, thousands of gamers came to Melbourne to celebrate their hobby, dozens of developers showed off their pride and joy, and one convention celebrated gaming culture down under: PAX Australia.

Visiting Australia for the first time in 2013, the Penny Arcade Expo’s (PAX) second visit was bigger and better in nearly every way than its previous incarnation.

With a transfer this year from Melbourne Showgrounds to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, PAX Australia had room for a lot more than a weekend’s worth of activities.

Guy Blomberg, Content and Community Manager for PAX Australia, spoke to The Under Age about hosting the event in Australia.

“Logistically all the shows follow a similar format, so making sure PAX Australia adhered to that was critical,” said Blomberg.

“Perhaps the biggest concern on our end was to make sure a US-centric show had enough Aussie flair in order to appeal to the local gaming community.”

Blomberg also praised the move to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre: “It made such a massive difference to the vibe of the show; it really did feel like it matched the grandeur of the US PAX shows.”

The Exhibition Hall was packed with booths and stages from various exhibitors, with developers and hardware companies making up the large majority.

First time attendee Madhav Fowdar described his time at PAX as “an experience I’ll never forget”.

“To be in a massive room full of exciting games was amazing,” Fowdar told The Underage.

“I would definitely go again.”

Fowdar said he enjoyed the console-freeplay area, where attendees could play any released game on any released console with their friends.

“Being able to play with your friends in so many games is pretty fun,” he said.

Many major publishers attended to spruik their wares, including Microsoft, 2K Games, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, each bringing demo versions of their next big releases for fans to try.

The main attraction however, was League of Legends, drawing a massive crowd with its display of eSports and cosplayers (short for costume play).

League of Legends is a video game where players fight in lanes to destroy their opponent’s base.

Team Avant Garde was victorious in the League of Legends Oceanic Regional Champions, with the final taking place at PAX AUS.

The Penny Arcade Expo began in 2004, when the creators of the Penny Arcade online comic strip organised a small convention in Bellevue, Washington State. PAX quickly grew in size, with the convention drawing tens of thousands each year. In 2010, PAX expanded to Boston with PAX East, and both events became annual occurrences.

This year’s Australian convention was a sold-out event, with the Melbourne Exhibition Centre bustling with nerds and fantasy characters from dawn til dusk.

Attendees also had the opportunity to experience the future of video games, with the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset, available to try.

However, patience was a requirement to experience this technological marvel, as its line was extremely long.

Overall, PAX Australia 2014 has been viewed as huge success, with tickets being sold out and a positive buzz filling the convention hall for the entirety of the weekend.

With next year’s tickets going on sale this December, and PAX Australia confirmed to be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre for the next 5 years, gamers can be sure Melbourne will be swept up in its fervour for years to come.

Bushfire worry as “worse than normal” fire season looms

(This article was originally published in The Under Age on 17 September 2014)

With summer looming bushfires will once again become a major worry for many Australians, with early reports indicating the potential for a worse-than-normal fire season ahead.

The recently released Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2014–15 report gives an in-depth insight into the upcoming season, showing a combination of below-average rainfall levels and increasing temperatures.

Dr Richard Thornton, CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, spoke about how these factors affect the potential for bushfires.

“There has been prolonged rainfall deficit over the past three to four years that has led to much dryer conditions in the forests along the East and West coasts of southern Australia,” he said.

Large sections of Eastern and Western Australia have had far below average rainfalls over the past three to four years, and despite good rainfalls in recent weeks these conditions are not expected to improve enough to counter the many dry months any time soon.

“This will lead to a much higher likelihood of bad fires within these forested regions,” explained Dr Thornton.

In other non-forested areas, particularly through central Victoria, New South Wales and into Queensland, grass fires will be the main cause of anxiety.

“Although they do not have the big towering flames seen in forest fires, grass fires are very fast moving and can take people by surprise,” said Dr Thornton.

“They can start a lot easier than the forest fires and they change direction much more rapidly, responding to changes in wind direction. This means that people can be caught out by them more easily.”

As well as the decrease in rainfall, the average recorded temperatures across the south of the country have also been abnormally high, especially in southern Victoria.

 

The outlook for Victoria this coming season is hopeful however, with an only slightly above-average season expected in the western and northern parts of the state, and an average season expected elsewhere.

The lack of rainfall is expected to continue in many parts of Victoria, and the warm temperatures are due to begin in spring, leading up to the fire season.

Memories of the 2009 Black Saturday fires are still fresh in the minds of Victorians, with discussion about another inferno occurring each summer.

Last year there were large, destructive fires in Tasmania, the Adelaide Hills in South Australia and later in the heavily populated Blue Mountains outside Sydney in New South Wales.

Although not always as large as such infernos as Black Saturday, bushfires still occur every summer across southern Australia, regardless of the conditions.

To prepare for the coming season, residents in at-risk areas can follow a few simple steps to ensure they stand the best chance in the event that a fire does threaten their home.

Victoria’s Country Fire Authority suggests keeping plants and trees in check, storing woodpiles away from the home, clearing any possible kindling such as dry leaves and sticks, and removing flammable objects such as petrol cans or deck chairs.

These steps should be followed on high risk days, and as the Bushfire Outlook report says, there could be a few of those days in these coming months.

 

Happy hounds and humans at the Casterton Kelpie Muster

(This article was originally published in The Under Age on 6 August 2014)

The crowd falls silent as the competitor begins his run, his legs surging him onwards towards his goal. He picks up speed as his obstacle rises above him: a wall of wooden planks over two metres high. He leaps, slicing through the air like a loosened arrow. He glides up to the top of the planks, grabbing hold of the uppermost one. He pulls himself up and over, his tail wagging as the crowd cheers his success. Moe the Kelpie has just won the Kelpie high jump.

The Kelpie Muster is an annual dog show that takes places in the small, western Victorian town of Casterton every Queens Birthday long weekend. Drawing huge crowds from all over Australia, the event focuses around the Australian stockman’s best friend, the kelpie, widely considered to be the most intelligent and fit working dog available.

Casterton is known as the birthplace of the Kelpie, with the first Kelpie said to have been bred by George Robertson in 1872 on Warrock Station near Casterton.

Almost 20 years ago, Ian O’Connell, a member of the Casterton Apex club, had the idea for a Kelpie-focused event. Looking for an event to promote Casterton’s 150th anniversary, the idea for a working dog auction was decided upon, and Ian O’Connell and fellow Apex member Steve Crossley were given the responsibility of its organisation.

From its humble beginnings as an auction in 1997, the event has grown in to a fully-fledged show, shutting down the main street as kelpie fervour sweeps the town. The key event of the show is the Kelpie triathlon, which comprises of the Kelpie dash, the Kelpie high jump, and the Kelpie hill climb, each designed to demonstrate the Kelpie breed’s skills.

In the Kelpie dash, the four-legged competitors sprint 50 metres into their owner’s arms, with their master using everything from a high-pitched whistle to a chew toy to hasten the dog.

The Kelpie high jump tasks the dogs with jumping over an increasingly high wall of planks. As the event progresses, the weaker Kelpies are filtered out, leaving only the best jumpers in the competition, which makes for an amazing spectacle. With a record jump of 2.91 metres, watching the Kelpies jump is truly a phenomenal sight. Most comically, the smartest of the Kelpies often consider the sheer-faced jump as a waste of time, and simply look for another way around the bothersome planks.

Against the backdrop of the setting sun, the Kelpie hill climb is the final of the day’s events. The Kelpies sprint up Toorak Hill, overlooking the town, in the shortest time possible. In a test of obedience and navigation, the dogs scour the hill for the best path up to their cheering and screaming owner on the summit of the hill. However, not all climb attempts are successful, with more than a few dogs simply giving up mid-climb and running back down the hill.

The triathlon is the main tourist draw but the working dog auction is the all-important business side of the festival. Purebred kelpies, both adults and pups, are sold to the highest bidder, each buyer eager to add a fine canine to his working team. The top-priced seller this year was Bagalla Coke, who was bought for a hefty $10,000.

What to eat

Being on the main street, many Casterton cafes and bakeries are right in the centre of the action. Herbert’s Bakery-Café has a large range of baked goods, including cakes, tarts and naturally leavened sourdough bread. Traditional festival food such as hot chips and lollies can be bought at one of the many stalls along the main street.

Where to stay

Establishments such as the Albion Hotel Motel, Casterton Hotel and the Glenelg Inn Hotel Motel, all located on the main street of Casteron, provide a roof in the heart of the show.

How to get there

Casterton is four and a half hours from Melbourne, via Glenelg Highway. Flights are also available from Melbourne to Mount Gambier.

It’s a long way to the top: How to make it in music

(This article was originally published in The Under Age on 9 July 2014)

Fame and fortune are the ultimate goals for many budding musicians, but it’s a long way to the top in a world where everyone is vying for the same spot in the limelight. To find out how they get there, The Under Age spoke to three Melbournians helping musicians achieve this goal.

Chris Robinson, Director of 123 Booking Agency, explained what it takes to achieve fame in this day and age: “Be original, be relevant, and be authentic.”

Robinson is a veteran of the Australian music industry, originally an investment manager in New York.

Known for his management of Australian rock band Killing Heidi, Robinson explained how the music landscape has changed over the years.

“Big labels don’t have all the power now. It’s easier now to be ‘big in Brunswick’, for those who cater for the latest hip trend,” he said.

However, Robinson did emphasize how having the right backing can be a massive help in achieving fame, citing Lorde and Iggy Azalea. “If someone with the right weight finds you, you can go the whole way.”

Working with Robinson, Madeleine O’Gorman is 123 Booking Agency’s digital marketing coordinator.

“The internet and smartphones have completely changed the mechanics of the industry,” she said.

O’Gorman spoke about how technology has changed the way she accesses and discovers music.

“I used to sit and listen to the radio for hours on end just waiting for my favourite song to come on, so I could then record it onto my tape player. Now, if I hear a track in a café that I like, all I have to do is ‘Shazam’ it,” she said, referring to the music recognition phone app.

“Streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora make music more accessible than ever.”

O’Gorman believes streaming services are a positive addition to the music scene, and should be utilised by all musicians, big and small.

“The negatives of streaming services have been quite topical lately, but I think this is a tool that we should be embracing rather than criticising,” she argued.

“The only way to create a community around your music is if you support and interact with the fans that support you.”

A crucial part of attaining and maintaining fame, said O’Gorman, is remembering the fans: “Embracing the fans you have — even if there aren’t many — is the smartest thing any act could do.”

Gretta Ziller, a singer-songwriter, discussed her musical and performing methods, and her path to success: “I reached where I am today by hard freaking work!”

Ziller emphasised the necessity of planning.

“Having a plan is the best thing you can do. Write what you want to achieve down and figure out how the hell you can get there,” she said.

“The number one thing I have done is listened to people’s advice.”

According to Ziller, being open to advice while still being independent is crucial: “I am not saying that I have always taken that advice, but it isn’t going to hurt you to listen to what people have to say about your music. But remember, it’s your music, you are the product so you should be the one running the show.”

Ziller also spoke about the importance of knowing what kind of musical artist you want to be.

“I would advise that you figure out who and what you want to be as an artist. As a singer, guitarist and songwriter, I needed to develop these skills, and I continue to work at them,” she said.

“I realised a while ago that I don’t need to be the very best at any of these, I just need to work to my strengths and sing, play and write smart.”

The key themes from these industry professionals are clear: hard work and adaptability are crucial if you want to succeed in the cut-throat music industry.

Cultural difference isn’t worlds apart for students at Model UN

(This article was originally published in The Under Age on 28 May 2014)

The Lower House of the Parliament of Victoria fell silent as the Secretary General ascended the podium and sat down. “Please take your seats”. The sound of over 80 teenagers sitting echoed through the hall as the Model United Nations Assembly for 2014 commenced.

Organised by Rotary International District 9810, the Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) provides Year 10–12 students a chance to experience what it would be like to partake in a United Nations Assembly. Dressed in cultural attire from their respective countries, each team of two —representing a different member nation — prepares speeches and debates on a wide variety of topical issues.

Speaking from their respective countries’ point of view, each team attempts to persuade the other member nations to vote in favour of their opinions and beliefs.

“MUNA challenges our youth to respect and tolerate differences of race, religion and nationalism whilst retaining their own individualism and the best of their national traditions,” Joe Somers, Chairperson of the Rotary District 9810 MUNA Committee, toldThe Under Age.

He explained the concept started in Canada, where young people wanted to simulate the debates of the United Nations Assembly. It was introduced to Australia by the Lake Cargelligo Rotary Club in NSW in 1980.

“Each year MUNA has a slightly different flavour. This year the delegates got into debate very early and most teams got involved in the action on day one,” said Somers.

Somers explained the resolutions debated in MUNA are a mix of those based on actual resolutions debated by the UN, and those proposed by the teams.

“The debates reproduce genuine UN debates often with a fine flow of points of order, motions of dissent and bloc walkouts,” he said.

Resolution topics discussed this year included violence against women, population control and refugee intake.

Paige Arnel, who represented South Africa, had nothing but praise for the weekend.

“MUNA was an amazing experience! It was incredible being able to sit in the Legislative Assembly and debate topics that are relevant today,” she said.

When asked of any challenges in participating in MUNA, Paige recounted: “Representing a country, especially a developing country, was quite hard at times. Although for the majority of resolutions South Africa shared out personal views, their culture and way of life is very different to ours.”

Zachary Steenhuis represented Iran over the weekend, and was also glowing in his recount of the experience.

“My Weekend at MUNA was one of the greatest weekends I’ve had in recent memory,” he said, but explained it had been challenging.

“Admittedly it was a difficult country to represent due to religious beliefs, but it was a great challenge … The hardest part of the weekend was standing up to talk, but that turned out to be the most enjoyable part. Without a second thought I would definitely do it again.”