Mark Santomartino

Melbourne

Reporter at Nine News Australia

Reporter @9NewsMelb [email protected] Founder of Newsie

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Articles

How much are you willing to spend to cancel the Suburban Rail Loop?

4 weeks ago | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Despite a damning assessment from Infrastructure Australia and a lack of commitment in Canberra, Jacinta Allan will sign two more major Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) contracts before next year's state election. Those contracts will all but force the opposition to complete the project - should Brad Battin win office - at the risk of triggering a multibillion-dollar payout. The premier has already signed two major works contracts for Suburban Rail Loop East worth $5.8 billion.
Nintendo Switch 2: Everything you need to know about the new gaming console

1 month ago | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

The Nintendo Switch 2 will hit Australian shelves on June 5, 2025. Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and an exclusive game by Elden Ring's From Software headlined the announcements in today's Nintendo Direct. Here's everything you need to know about Nintendo's sequel to its best console. READ MORE: The world's smallest pacemaker is dwarfed by a grain of riceThe Nintendo Switch 2 will cost Australians $699. That's better than many expected after hearing the console would cost $US449 ($713).
Nintendo Switch 2 and new Mario Kart revealed

Jan 16, 2025 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Nintendo has finally lifted the lid on the Nintendo Switch 2 and it is beautiful. A trailer for the new system quietly appeared online in the early hours of Friday morning Australian time; confirming features - and a new Mario Kart - which have been rumoured for months. We don't have details on price or a release date just yet, which will be confirmed at presentation on April 2. Here's what we know so far, and some lingering questions.
'Next generation' Australian Open tickets offer new capabilities for iPhone users

Jan 16, 2025 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Gone are the days of fumbling for printed paper tickets. Digital wallets are king, and if you've visited the Australian Open this week, you may have noticed just how much your ticket can do. Thanks to an Apple update, and a new partnership with Ticketmaster, iPhone users can find maps, curated tennis playlists, buy merchandise and check the weather from within their wallet. READ MORE: Is 2025 the year of the robot?
Why the creator of the world's most famous flight simulator game looks like a 'crazy person' - even to his own staff

Nov 25, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Jorg Neumann is used to having staff look at him like he's insane. For 40 years, he's pushed the limits of computing to create an insanely accurate "digital twin" of our world for pilots and wannabe aviators to explore. It's a twin that has just become more realistic than ever, with the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. "At some point, the team looked at me like I was a 'crazy person' because I said, 'Hey, can we have butterflies?'" Neumann joked in an interview with 9news.com.au.
Future of Zelda 'Based' on Echoes of Wisdom

Nov 18, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Future games in the Legend of Zelda franchise will be 'based' on Echoes of Wisdom. Legendary producer Eiji Aonuma dropped that hint at the very end of a one-hour, round-table discussion with the game's developers, which 9news.com.au was invited to attend. "Having a classic style and being able to add new elements is challenging," admitted Aonuma, who was speaking via a translator.
'A masterclass in combat and visual spectacle': A Mario & Luigi Brothership Review

Nov 10, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Mario & Luigi Brothership is a masterclass in combat and visual spectacle, weighed down by a forgettable world, overly-chatty characters and frustratingly linear progression. When it doesn't get in its own way, Brothership is a lot of fun. Fights require focus, enemies are engaging and the game does an excellent job in drip-feeding new mechanics that add layers of strategy.
'This is the future': Melbourne hospital first to successfully use microsurgery robotics

Oct 21, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

A Melbourne hospital has become the first in the southern hemisphere to successfully complete operations with the next generation of microsurgery robotics. The machine, called Symani, recently arrived at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. Geoff Rohde, who needed cancer cut out of his thigh and a skin transplant, put his hand up to be the first Australian to go under its tiny knives. "My recovery, in my mind, has been incredible," the 71-year-old said.
The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom | Review

Sep 26, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

What would you get by crossing the best parts of Pokemon with a classic adventure through Hyrule? The answer is The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. It sounds ridiculous but in practice it's fantastic. After rolling credits this week, I immediately jumped back in to complete every side quest I had missed along the way. I did not want this game to end.
GoPro Hero13 Black Review

Sep 25, 2024 | 9news.com.au | Mark Santomartino

Rugged simplicity has always made a GoPro feel special. But over the years, the experience has become more complicated for creators as the company battled to add more professional controls to its pocket-sized action camera. Enter the new GoPro Hero and the GoPro Hero13 Black. The cameras, which landed this September, are a line in the sand moment. The GoPro Hero is the new entry point for anyone looking for a cheap way to take action shots on their next holiday.