Scientists say the free-to-play video game model, which relies on optional in-game purchases, poses risks that consumers are not adequately protected against.
Video games have become a major component of leisure activities for adolescents and adults globally. Over the past decade, the gaming industry has increasingly adopted free-to-play models, in which players can access games at no initial cost while being offered additional purchases through microtransactions.
The industry has characterized these in-game purchases as voluntary. However, scientists contend that the model presents consumer protection challenges that require stronger safeguards.
Six Javan lorises were released in the Ujung Kulon National Park area as part of conservation efforts for this rare primate species.
Researchers at Deakin University are using patterns of wild bird movement to track the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 across Australia.
Advanced optical imaging can detect the metabolic activity of individual immune cells in blood samples, providing information that traditional fluorescent labeling methods cannot reveal.