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'Loot boxes' and pay-to-win features in digital games look a lot like gambling

  • Written by: Marcus Carter, Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of Sydney
imageKids love Angry Birds. But features in the latest version of the game allow exchange of cash for game progress. from www.shutterstock.com

Do you play Angry Birds? Candy Crush? Pokémon Go?

You’re part of a huge and growing global digital games industry.

And even if you pay nothing to download the app in the first instance, features...

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We need robots that can improvise, but it's not easy to teach them right from wrong

  • Written by: Feras Dayoub, Research Fellow with the Australian centre for robotic vision, Queensland University of Technology
imageOne day we could have an intelligent robot cook up surprise meals at home.Besjunior/Shutterstock

Industrial robots have existed since the 1960s, when the first Unimate robotic arm was installed at a General Motors plant in the United States. Nearly six decades on, why don’t we have capable robots in our homes, beyond a few simple domestic...

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Student press in 1960s Australia was political, now it's more Prozac

  • Written by: Sally Percival Wood, Writer / Historian, Deakin University
image

Sally Percival Wood’s new book, DISSENT: The student press in 1960s Australia, takes a look at the people, power and politics of student newspapers in that tumultuous decade. Tension between political conservatism and social unrest in post-war Australia played out on university campuses, turning them into sites of dissent. Percival Wood...

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Delay in changing direction on how we tax drivers will cost us all

  • Written by: Marion Terrill, Transport Program Director, Grattan Institute
imageReforming how drivers pay for the costs of their road use can help keep traffic flowing, which is just one of the potential benefits. Holli/Shutterstock

The federal government announced a year ago that it would review the charges imposed on drivers for using our roads. That review hasn’t yet happened. They should get on with it, because...

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More Articles …

  1. Australia should be cautious about introducing laws on coercive control to stem domestic violence
  2. Decoding the music masterpieces: Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites
  3. What's the net cost of using renewables to hit Australia's climate target? Nothing
  4. Science or Snake Oil: will horseradish and garlic really ease a cold?
  5. Queensland result, while decided on state issues, adds to Turnbull's burdens
  6. Conservative amendments to same-sex marriage bill would make Australia's laws the world's weakest
  7. Why we are still convinced robots will take our jobs despite the evidence
  8. With result still in the balance, Labor likely to win Queensland and One Nation likely to take just one seat
  9. Final Queensland polls show Labor likely to win
  10. One party to rule them all: Cambodia’s supreme court rules the dissolution of opposition party
  11. Uber was hacked, so change your password right now. Here's what else you need to know
  12. VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on Malcolm Turnbull cancelling the House sitting
  13. Nepal earthquake reconstruction won't succeed until the vulnerability of survivors is addressed
  14. FactCheck: did the Northbridge WA curfew see a 'dramatic drop' in crime?
  15. Twenty-five years after the ban on lesbians and gays in the military was lifted, there is much to celebrate
  16. All fired up: Clay Stories is a triumphant display of contemporary Indigenous ceramics
  17. Five myths about Australian university graduate outcomes
  18. Queensland election: One Nation dominates Twitter debate in the final weeks
  19. Is apple cider vinegar really a wonder food?
  20. Weekly Dose: Champix's effectiveness is questionable and safety record is concerning
  21. Energy ministers' power policy pow-wow is still driven more by headlines than details
  22. Friday essay: why grown-ups still need fairy tales
  23. Conservative Christians need to stamp out clergy wife abuse - starting with ending endemic sexism
  24. More and more older Australians will be homeless unless we act now
  25. Evidence-based education needs standardised assessment
  26. The Queensland government is paying more for its debt than the average mortgage holder
  27. Vital Signs: five economic red flags to watch for in 2018
  28. We learn from our mistakes: how to make better predictions from tweets
  29. Grattan on Friday: Discovery of the cabinet leaker would present bigger problem than the leak
  30. Foreign Policy White Paper finally acknowledges world power is shifting
  31. Australia's Foreign Policy White Paper offers more wishful thinking than concrete ideas
  32. Experiments in robotics could help Amazon beat Australia's slow delivery problem
  33. No, we aren't running out of new ideas
  34. Australia is hedging its bets on China with the latest Foreign Policy White Paper
  35. Muriel's Wedding: the Musical is a deeply satisfying tribute to Australia's most-loved dag
  36. With a few smart moves, we can relieve the pressure on gas
  37. Blood on the stage: Let the Right One In is a vampire love story for our times
  38. The six-month amendment could defeat the purpose of Victoria's assisted dying bill
  39. Why we need to end impunity for sexual violence in armed conflict
  40. Ratko Mladic, the 'Butcher of Bosnia', to spend life in prison for genocide and war crimes
  41. The off-topic Conversation #142
  42. Voters see through Turnbull, but cool on Shorten: Queensland research
  43. City-wide trial shows how road use charges can reduce traffic jams
  44. Our obsession with infant growth charts may be fuelling childhood obesity
  45. New research suggests common herbicides are linked to antibiotic resistance
  46. If Beazley had become prime minister instead of Rudd, might we have had more stable government?
  47. Standardised tests limit students with disability
  48. Guide to the Classics: Suetonius's The Twelve Caesars explores vice and virtue in ancient Rome
  49. Public investment in electricity generation – a hot-button issue in Queensland?
  50. Citizenship crisis claims Nick Xenophon Team's Kakoschke-Moore

Business News

How Immigration Lawyers Can Help

Introduction Visa decisions can shape employment, family life, study plans, travel, and future residence. A small omission can lead to delay, added expense, or refusal. Immigration lawyers assess l...

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How Industrial Drying Equipment Supports Efficient Processing

Many industrial processes require moisture to be removed from compressed air, products or process materials before they move to the next stage. Excess moisture can affect equipment performance, produc...

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Practical Ways a Whiteboard Can Improve Workplace Communication

Effective communication helps teams stay organised, share ideas and keep track of important information. While digital tools are now common in many workplaces, a whiteboard continues to provide a simp...

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Designing Eco-Friendly Custom Water Bottles for Your Next Event

The Evolution of Sustainable Event Merchandise Event planning has undergone a massive transformation over the last decade. Gone are the days when organizers could hand out cheap, single use plastic...

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Why Choosing a Professional Florist Melbourne Makes Flower Delivery Impactful

Flowers have a great power to speak when humans cannot express their feelings with right words. Flowers are the best gifts when you are celebrating a birthday or welcoming a newborn child into your fa...

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The Business Case for Choosing Australian Fabricators Over Imported Alternatives

For a long time, you might have defaulted to overseas suppliers when sourcing fabricated metal components for a project. The unit price was lower on paper, and the maths seemed straightforward. That...

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Australian organisations are relying on business continuity plans built for a far more predictable world

Tariff escalations, supply chain fragility, geopolitical events, and the ongoing threat of cyber disruption have reshaped the risk environment facing Australian organisations. The problem is that ma...

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How to Rent a Car for Uber in Melbourne: What Every New Driver Needs to Know

Starting out as an Uber driver in Melbourne is not as complicated as it sounds but getting the vehicle right is where most new drivers get stuck. Uber has strict requirements around vehicle age, condi...

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When Should You Speak to a Lawyer About a Legal Issue?

Legal issues can begin with a simple question, then become harder to manage once formal steps are involved. Many people wait until a matter feels urgent before seeking guidance, even though earlier ...

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The Daily Magazine

Why Accurate Measurements Matter When Ordering Flatpack Cabinets

Ordering flatpack cabinets can make a renovation or storage project more manageable, but the proce...

How Long Does Interstate Freight Take in Australia?

If you have ever arranged for stock, equipment or materials to travel from one Australian state to a...

How AEC Firms Can Scale Faster Without Sacrificing Project Quality

Growth presents a fundamental dilemma for architecture, engineering, and construction firms: expan...

What Makes an Aesthetic Clinic Worth Going Back To?

Trying an aesthetic clinic for the first time can feel like a bit of a gamble. You can read review...

Elevate Your Morning Routine with Cafe-Style Coffee at Home with the Right Coffee Machine

There's something magical about that first sip of coffee in the morning. It’s more than just a bev...

Top Garment Steamers for Busy Professionals in Australia

The gap between garment steamers built for a quick touch-up and ones built to keep pace with a wor...

Correct Sleeping Posture to Minimize Back Strain

Most people don’t pay much attention to how they sleep until they start waking up with a stiff bac...

Why Product Longevity Matters for Sustainable Australian Buildings

Sustainability in building design is often associated with recycled materials, renewable resources a...

NDIS Support Coordination Explained: What Does a Support Coordinator Actually Do?

NDIS support coordination explained means understanding how a professional can help participants n...