Noob Shelter Podcast: Episode 17

NS-0017-2019-10-28-Final.mp3
SHOW INFORMATION:
  Show Notes for October 28, 2019
  Episode: 0017
  Show Title: The Great Twitch Migration PT1
  Run Time: 1:14:01
Credits
  Executive Producers: None
  Hosted By: Matt Fugitive, John Rythone & Feyd2Black Mike
  Special Thanks to the following:
  Dave Jones: Freedom Controller
  Adam Curry / John C. Dvorak: Sound Clips
  John Fletcher: Sound Clips
  Anchor.FM: Our MP3 and RSS hosts
  Please Donate To The Noob Shelter Podcast!!
TOP STORIES:
  Bethesda is charging $99 a year to play in a Fallout 76 private world
    Link to Article
    Wed, 23 Oct 2019 18:22
    If you want to play in a private world in Fallout 76 it will cost you.
    Bethesda has introduced Fallout 1st, a ''premium membership'' service which sets you up in a private world for Fallout 76.
    Broken down, it's similar to MMO pricing and offerings, only instead of playing with the general population, you're getting a private server of sorts. This private world can handle up to eight players total, and only the person hosting the world is required to have a Fallout 1st membership.
    For $99 per year, or $12.99 per month you will be handed exclusive items and some cash to spend in the Atom Shop.
    Here's what you'll get for your money:
    You'll also get a Survival Tent, as noted above. This allows you to set up a base while out wandering the world. It comes with a Stash, Sleeping Bag, Scrapbox, Cooking Station, and an instrument. It will also act as a fast travel point, in addition, to your main C.A.M.P.
    Bethesda said it may change or rotate the icons, emotes, outfits and other cosmetic and utility items available to keep things fresh for members.
    While it sounds a bit expensive, the price is comparative with the cost of a private server, depending on the service you use.
    It is available for those playing on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
  Fallout 76 fans are raging at Bethesda's $99 Fallout 1st charge - VG247
    Link to Article
    Thu, 24 Oct 2019 15:53
    Bethesda's plans to offer a premium $99 service for Fallout 76 has been met with rage from the game's long-suffering community. Yesterday the publisher revealed Fallout 1st, a premium service that offers private worlds, monthly credits, exclusive outfits and emotes, amongst other things, for a yearly fee of $99.
    Players have been asking for private worlds since the game launched, but they never expected to have to pay for them on top of a game '' a notoriously broken game '' they've already shelled out for.
    One fan has snagged the FalloutFirst.com domain and turned it into a diatribe directed at Bethesda, while the game's reddit boards have burst into flames.
    FalloutFirst.com has rewritten Bethesda's original blog post with creative use of swearing, just in case you're any doubt about how the owner feels: ''Ever since Fallout 76 launched, we have consistently done nothing to improve and evolve the experience based on your shitty feedback,'' it reads.
    ''That's why we're excited to launch Fallout Fuck YOU 1st, a premium ass-pounding membership that offers something dumbass players have been asking for since before launch'... And the best part? Fallout Fuck YOU 1st is available to screw you right now!''
    Fallout 76 Reddit is losing its shit right now, but at least one person on the boards has noticed something worth considering: ''Xbox Game Pass is cheaper than Fallout 76 1st'... And includes the upcoming Outer Worlds''.
    The Outer Worlds? That's Obsidian's Fallout-style action RPG that releases this week. And it's very good.
    Thanks, mspoweruser.com
  Yes, The Outer Worlds Has Come To XBox Game Pass
    Want to play The Outer Worlds, but don't have the spare cash? If you're planning on playing on XBox One or PC, you can pick up the game on Game Pass.
    At E3 this year, Microsoft announced that Game Pass would be coming to PC . The first month of your subscription is currently one dollar. After the first month, the price goes up to ten dollars per month. You also need to have Windows 10 and the XBox Beta app installed'--the service itself is still in beta on PC.
    If you decide to grab Game Pass to check out this truly wonderful game, you'll also be able to pre-load it onto your system. Enjoy your time in Halcyon, captain.
  It looks like EA games will be returning to Steam
    Link to Article
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:59
    Years after branching out with Origin, it looks like EA might soon start publishing its games on Steam again.
    Since the Origin store launched back in 2011, EA has released their games through their own service while avoiding Steam. But now we're seeing some hints that the publisher might be considering a return to Valve's storefront.
    The big clue here is a tweet from EA itself, which shows a steaming mug of'...presumably coffee? Although I suppose they probably just filled the cup up with boiling water for the sake of the video, right? The specifics of the liquid are immaterial, I suppose '' the steam is the important thing to focus on.
    Another Twitter user, 'RobotBrush', also pointed towards some evidence that Steam would start selling EA games, embedded below (thanks, PC Gamer). The implication here is that you could buy the games through Steam and have them in your library, but starting them up would still start up Origin's launcher.
    looks like EA are indeed getting ready to come back to steam
    Hopefully we'll get actual proper confirmation on this soon.
Other Gaming News:
  Mario Kart Tour races to 129m downloads in first month - CNET
    Link to Article
    Source: CNET Gaming
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 02:48
    Nintendo announced the Mario Kart mobile game back in January 2018, with an original launch date of March 2019. However, the game was then delayed until summer 2019 while it was being fine-tuned, eventually launching Sept. 25 .
    It's free to play on Android and iOS , but the Sensor Tower data -- reported earlier Monday by The Hollywood Reporter -- shows Mario Kart Tour generating $37.4 million of in-game revenue since its release.
    Mario Kart Tour is Nintendo's most successful mobile game release in terms of downloads -- it's trailed by Super Mario Run's 21.8 million -- but is second to Fire Emblem Heroes' revenue, which raked in $67.6 million in its first month, according to Sensor Tower.
    Nintendo didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Great Twitch Migration of 2019 (NEW SEGMENT WITH INTRO MUSIC):
  They lost Ninja and now it looks like two more streamers are jumping ship for XBOX's Mixer Streaming Service:
    1: Shroud is joining Ninja on Mixer as an exclusive streamer
      Link to Article
      Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:21
      Michael ''Shroud'' Grzesiek is the latest Twitch megastar to abandon the Amazon-owned streaming service in favor of Microsoft's Mixer platform.
      Grzesiek, a former professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player, made his announcement on Twitter today. His first stream is today at 8pm ET. He jokes in the announcement video that he's ''making moves,'' following in the same footsteps as another popular streamer, Ninja.
      Tyler ''Ninja'' Blevins left his home on Twitch in August to stream exclusively on Mixer earlier this year, and shook the streaming industry to its core. Both Grzesiek and Blevins are two of the gaming world's most watched streamers, and both came up through Twitch after retiring from professional play. (Ninja was a former Halo pro before transitioning to battle royale games.) Blevins commented on Grzesiek's move on Twitter, calling it a ''massive move for the platform and the streaming industry.''
      It may come as a surprising move to fans, especially since Grzesiek saw Blevins' departure as a chance for him to grow his own brand on Twitch. ''Hey man, Ninja's gone,'' he said during a stream in August, just after the announcement was made. ''It's all me, baby. Gotta take advantage.''
      Still, his move is proof that Twitch's top talent isn't as tied to the streaming service as people may have expected before. Whether it's due to financial deals '-- reports suggested that Blevins signed an impressive contract with Microsoft to stream exclusively on Mixer '-- or growing concern over burnout and lingering issues on Twitch, streamers are looking elsewhere.
      Ninja's manager and wife, Jessica Blevins, told Business Insider earlier this year that he decided to leave Twitch because of the company's inability to work with them on building out the ''Ninja'' brand.
      ''Money was the last thing on our mind,'' she said. ''It's like, they don't even know what went on behind the scenes and how hard we tried to make that deal work '-- and then how amazing Microsoft was for us.''
      Mixer is growing in popularity, but it's still far from competing on a level field with Twitch. New data, released by StreamElements in partnership with streaming analytics site Arsenal.gg, found that hours watched on Mixer jumped about 3 million in August, just after Blevins joined the platform. In that same time period, Twitch jumped from 850.6 million to 932.1 million, according to StreamElements' data.
    2: King Gothalion leaves for Mixer | PC Gamer
      Link to Article
      Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:28
      HomeNews(Image credit: Gothalion)
      Following in the footsteps of Ninja and Shroud, a third Twitch streamer called Cory "King Gothalion" Michael is leaving the platform for Mixer. Michael has 1,014,724 followers on Twitch where he mainly streams Destiny 2 and Borderlands 3, and while he may not be as big a name as Mixer's previous gets, he has a dedicated fanbase who are likely to follow wherever he goes.
      Michael has released a video in which he explains the decision, stressing the value of having "platform-level input".
      New Horizons@WatchMixer https://t.co/P8eAdCdW1p pic.twitter.com/3QslVNf78xOctober 27, 2019
      "Working closer with Microsoft and Xbox is not only gonna help us propel what we're doing," Michael says, "but help us propel what's always been important to the channel, which is doing good in gaming. Everything from helping broadcasters establish themselves, mentoring growing broadcasters, raising money for charity and putting on events like GuardianCon at GCX."
      Michael will be streaming exclusively on Mixer from October 29, though he says he'll still appear as a guest on streams broadcast on other platforms.
      Jody is that guy who will try to convince you to play some indie game you've never heard of with a name like Extreme Meatpunks Forever. He is also on a doomed quest to play every Warhammer game.
  5 Twitch streamers that Mixer could poach next | Dexerto.com
    Link to Article
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:50
    With two of Twitch's most prestigious streamers in Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins and Michael 'shroud' Grzesiek joining Mixer, it's anyone's guess who will be next to jump ship to Microsoft's rival platform.
    Mixer upped their game with the acquisition of elite Fortnite streamer Ninja on August 1, 2019. They then followed this up on October 24 when they poached FPS legend Shroud just one day before Modern Warfare released.
    Now that Mixer has secured two of the biggest streamers on the planet with both Fortnite and CoD covered, there are a number of directions they could go to further build their streaming empire and compete against Twitch.
    Here are five streamers Mixer could be looking to acquire next, and branch out into new territory.
    Felix 'xQc' Lengyel
    Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment
    xQc went from Overwatch pro to one of Twitch's most hype variety streamers.
    The former Overwatch League pro turned variety streamer is one of Twitch's most controversial, yet entertaining stars.
    The French-Canadian originally made a name for himself as an Overwatch tank player specializing in his skill with the hero Winston. While his time in the Overwatch League was short-lived and filled with controversy, that drama helped grow his popularity.
    In addition to streaming the first-person shooter, xQc has become an elite variety streamer. According to the third-party tracking site Twitchmetrics, Lengyel has the most-watched variety channel, and is the fifth most-watched overall.
    He will play anything from dating sims, Sea of Thieves, Super Smash Bros., and Fortnite. Combine his eccentric, hyper personality '' which some consider to be the embodiment of Twitch chat '' and you have a natural entertainer.
    Read More: xQc tops list of Twitch's most subscribed streamersWith Overwatch 2 being hinted at, having a seasoned pro streaming the game would be crucial for Mixer's success. Not only would they be landing Twitch's top variety streamer, but they'd also be setting themselves up to cover their bases when it comes to Overwatch as well.
    Dr Disrespect
    Respawn Entertainment
    Could shroud and Dr Disrespect continue their rivalry on Mixer?
    It shouldn't come as a shock that the Two-Time makes the list as it's near impossible to talk about streaming icons without mentioning Doc.
    Dr Disrespect talks the talk, backs it up and does so with what is arguably the best production out of any streamer on Mixer, Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. His stream intro is iconic, the graphics are top notch, and overall, his broadcast is more of a show than a standard stream.
    The gaming champion isn't locked down on one game either, but like shroud, specializes in first-person shooters like Apex Legends, and Call of Duty.
    Despite being in his mid-30s, the Two-Time can hold his own against the best of the best, and is known to clutch out highlight reel plays on a consistent basis.
    Read More: Dr Disrespect stuns viewers with 1v6 clutch in Modern WarfareWhere Doc shines brightest could be in his social media reach, boasting an impressive 1.2 million followers on Twitter. This would be crucial for promoting his potential Mixer streams, making him a prime target for Microsoft's platform.
    Given shroud and Doc's friendly rivalry, getting the two together could pay dividends by putting fans of both streamers on the same platform.
    Asmongold
    Asmongold/Twitch
    Asmongold dominates Warcraft streams.
    Unlike other streamers on this list, Asmongold specialises in one game. Under most circumstances that could be a bad thing, but not when that game is World of Warcraft.
    The Texas-native isn't just a great WoW player '' he plays the game in style. Whether it's commanding his allies in battle while Lord of the Rings music appropriately plays in the background, or giving a hot take about a recent gaming controversy, Zack delivers.
    Asmongold is a mammoth on Twitch, and is the third most-watched channel overall according to TwitchMetrics, which is incredible considering he is a Warcraft streamer.
    While he may not have the biggest Twitter following with under 200K, his Twitch numbers are the biggest selling point. The streamer has over one million followers on the streaming platform, and could bring a lot to Mixer in the form of MMORPG players.
    Read More: Asmongold claims Belle Delphine has joined his WoW Classic guildWith fans still rejuvenated over the launch of WoW Classic and more in the ''world'' of Warcraft potentially on the way, locking up Asmongold would be a major blow to Twitch.
    Best yet, is that the streamer fills a void that isn't filled by anyone else on this list, so it would create minimal competition amongst Mixer streamers.
    Imane 'Pokimane' Anys
    Instagram/Pokimane
    Could Pokimane become the number one female streamer on Twitch... and Mixer?
    When it comes to female streamers who strive on creating the best content possible, few come close to competing against Pokimane.
    The Moroccan-Canadian Just Chatting icon keeps the drama to a minimum unlike other big-name females, and hasn't relied on controversy to build up her brand.
    Just Chatting has skyrocketed in popularity on Twitch, and Pokimane may be the best streamer to bring the phenomenon to Mixer.
    As far as popularity goes, the 23-year-old is the complete package. On Twitter, she boasts over 1.3 million followers, over 4 million on Instagram, and closing in on 3.5 million over on Twitch.
    Read More: Who is Pokimane? The number one female streamer on TwitchWith multiple ways to advertise her broadcast and a following that won't overlap with other Mixer sensations, Pokimane could make a major impact on the streaming wars.
    MoonMoon
    MoonMoon
    MoonMoon rarely shows his face.
    When it comes to variety, MoonMoon is another streamer whose entertaining personality and assortment of games would be a lock for Mixer.
    MoonMoon plays everything from Diablo to Super Mario Maker '' and having a popular Nintendo streamer in particular join the platform's ranks could tap into a very unique market.
    Since joining Twitch in 2016, Moon has amassed nearly 900,000 followers, and according to TwitchMetrics, is the 38th most-watched streamer on the website.
    Read More: Summit1g and xQc cause carnage as they team up in Sea of ThievesWhat makes this even more impressive is the fact that unlike others on this list, MoonMoon doesn't show his face, creating a more gameplay-immersive stream.
    With ten hour streams every weekday, he would be a force on Mixer and yet another controversy-free star to take the Microsoft-owned platform to the next level.
The Trash Can:
  WWE 2K20 is such a mess that Sony is offering refunds to customers
    Link to Article
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:59
    WWE 2K20 is having an all-time bad launch, and its customers are having none of it.
    WWE 2K20 is a true mess, and while it might be pretty funny for the casual observer, wrestling fans who paid actual money for the game are understandably annoyed. A patch is apparently on the way, but considering the state the game is in right now, you'd have reason to not be optimistic that a single patch is going to fix all its problems.
    To that end, Sony is stepping in to issue refunds for customers who bought the broken game. As per Eurogamer, it looks like refund requests on this title are being processed quickly '' it's likely that there's a high number of them coming in, and the game is legitimately faulty.
    Back in August, longtime WWE developer Yuke's parted ways with 2K. August was not long ago, of course, and it seems that Visual Concepts had a hard time getting the game up to the standards expected by fans (which were already fairly low; these games have not reviewed well in some time).
  Epic Games sues tester that ''gave the game away'' and leaked Fortnite Chapter 2 secrets | GamesRadar+
    Link to Article
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:26
    Fortnite developer Epic Games is suing a game tester for breaking their non-disclosure agreement and spoiling some aspects of Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 1 before it was released.
    Filing the civil complaint in North Carolina, Epic alleges tester Ronald Sykes of sharing details of Chapter 2 ahead of its launch "at the expense of Epic and those in the Fortnite community who were anxiously awaiting the new season of Fortnite".
    As reported by Polygon, Sykes '' who previously used the Twitter handle @invisiblellama9 before the account was deleted '' is accused of tweeting another Twitter user in late September, stating: "played S11 and can tell you the new stuff". Using an alternate account, Sykes is also alleged to have revealed further undisclosed information, including an image of the map and confirmation that players could swim in Fortnite Chapter 2.
    ''As a direct result of Sykes' breach of his contractual obligations under his NDA," Epic's lawyers said in the lawsuit, "Epic has sustained and will continue to sustain damages in an amount to be determined."
    The lawsuit added that "a trade secret is information that is valuable because it is secret" and if it loses its secrecy, "it loses its value".
    "Information is currency," the lawsuit said. "Sykes cashed in on what he learned as a User Experience tester for Epic. He did so at the expense of Epic and those in the Fortnite community who were anxiously awaiting the new season of Fortnite only to have some of Epic's planned surprises spoiled by Sykes' leaks."
    Consequently, Epic is seeking "injunctive relief and damages [...] for misappropriation of trade secrets" by way of a civil action lawsuit. It also asks that Sykes compensates Epic for "a sum certain reflecting the maximum amount of damages" permitted under the law, as well as the developer's legal costs.
    An Epic representative told Polygon it does not comment on ongoing litigation, and Sykes did not respond to a request for comment, either.
  BlizzCon 2019 Schedule: Opening Ceremony Start Time, Livestream Details
    Link to Article
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 02:48
    Blizzard has announced its schedule for BlizzCon, which is set to take place this weekend, starting on November 1. Though the schedule doesn't give specific announcements, it does give insight as to when to tune in for the possibility of news and announcements.
    The festivities will kick off as usual with the opening ceremony on November 1 at 11 AM PT, which will be simulcast across all of its stages. Traditionally the opening ceremony is where the company outlines the broad strokes of its announcements, with individual panels throughout the weekend taking more of a deep dive.
    Some of those game-centric panels include a Heroes of the Storm update at 3:15 PM PT, a Hearthstone update at 5:15 PM PT. The next day, November 2, includes a World of Warcraft update at 11:15 AM PT, and an Overwatch update at 1:15 PM PT. There is no Diablo update listed throughout the weekend, but there are two art panels scheduled for 10:30 AM and 4:15 PM, respectively, on November 2.
    Rumors have circulated that this year's BlizzCon will include Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2, which would likely lead the announcements in the opening ceremonies if they pan out. None of that is confirmed, however.
    The community is also watching especially closely this year as Blizzard may attempt to respond to recent controversial moves. After last year's event faced criticism after the announcement of Diablo Immortal, this year the company banned a player for expressing support for Honk Kong protesters. That has resulted in a renewed backlash against the company, with a protest planned for the event. It will remain to be seen if Blizzard officially addresses the controversy in its panels.
The Streaming Age:
  HOCUS POCUS 2 in Development at Disney+ - Nerdist
    Link to Article
    Thu, 24 Oct 2019 15:51
    HOCUS POCUS 2 in Development at Disney+
    The Sanderson sisters waited 300 years to return on All Hallows' Eve, but we won't have to wait that long to get a sequel to Hocus Pocus. A new report, one we are positive fans will find ''quite lovely,'' says Disney+ is currently developing a followup to the 1993 cult classic that starred Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as three soul-sucking witches. And even though the last time we saw the children-hating siblings they had been turned to dust, the Mouse House is looking for a way to bring all of them back for a new story.
    Collider reports Disney+ has hired Workaholics writer and co-producer Jen D'Angelo to pen the script for a sequel to 1993's Hocus Pocus. D'Angelo has apparently been told to find a way to bring back the Sanderson sisters, though neither Midler, Najimy, or Parker are formally attached to the project yet. Disney+ is hoping/optimistic that all three will be involved somehow, though it is unknown if they would return in main roles or as bit characters while a new generation of witches takes on the mantle of terrorizing the good people of Salem (or even possibly an all new location).
    While a 2017 report said a sequel was heading to the Disney Channel, this is the latest original project attached to Disney+, which recently announced its entire massive catalogue of films, television shows, nature documentaries, and plenty of its own original programming.
    Hocus Pocus 2 seems like a natural fit for the Disney+ slate, as the original film directed by Kenny Ortega has become a cult classic in the 25 plus years since its release. It has continued to find new fans after becoming a Halloween movie staple on cable television. However, its revered status with generations of viewers was not something many would have predicted after it initially disappointed, both with critics and at the box office. The movie was released to mostly negative reviews, and it pulled in under $40 million in the U.S.
    Considering how beloved the movie is now, though, and also that everything Disney touches turns to gold these days (and we're starting to think that might literally be true), we expect that Hocus Pocus 2 won't take two decades to earn its place as part of most peoples' regular Halloween viewing, whether the original Sanderson sisters return or not.
    Of course it's only fitting that Hocus Pocus 2 is being made for the streaming site and not for a big screen release. This way no one will have to go out to their locals theaters to see it; we will all be able to watch it while spending a quiet evening at home. And that definitely won't be terribly uncomfortable.
  AT&T TV NOW Will Merge Into HBO MAX & AT&T TV is Delayed Until Early 2020
    Link to Article
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:18
    When AT&T TV launched, AT&T said that it would reach nationwide by the end of 2019 Now during AT&T's 3rd quarter earnings call, AT&T announced that AT&T TV's national rollout is delayed until 2020. AT&T did not explain why it is delaying the deployment of AT&T TV.
    AT&T also announced that in the future, HBO MAX will be how AT&T offers live TV streaming. This lines up with an earlier report that then DIRECTV NOW (now called AT&T TV NOW) will be merging into HBO MAX. AT&T did make it clear that would not happen on day one but did say eventually HBO MAX will be how they offer live TV streaming in 2021.
    According to AT&T's CEO Randall Stephenson, AT&T TV will ''ultimately get down to two products,'' including HBO MAX. AT&T did not say how AT&T TV NOW will merge into HBO MAX or exactly when that would happen, but it is starting to look like the days of the newly launched AT&T TV NOW are already numbered.
    This lines up with what AT&T's CEO said about the future of then DIRECTV NOW (now called AT&T TV NOW) a few months ago. Here is what AT&T CEO John Stankey said in an interview with CNBC:
    ''In addition, AT&T eventually plans to merge its DIRECTV NOW service with its WarnerMedia streaming service, giving customers a more robust TV offering than anything on the market, the people said. A combined product with a common search and user interface '-- which, like the standalone streaming service, could also come bundled at a discount with an AT&T wireless subscription '-- would give customers access to live pay-TV streaming channels and Warner's library and originals, all in the same ecosystem.''
    If you have AT&T TV NOW this does not mean your service is going away. As best we can tell AT&T still wants profitable streaming customers, but the future of the service is with HBO MAX. This does raise the question of why AT&T rebranded DIRECTV NOW to AT&T TV NOW a few months ago only to announced plans to make HBO MAX the future of live TV streaming.
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  Sony is reportedly looking to sell its PlayStation Vue streaming service - The Verge
    Link to Article
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:20
    Sony is currently looking for a buyer of its PlayStation Vue TV streaming service, according to a new report published by The Information. The company has reportedly already approached one potential buyer, the sports-focused streaming service FuboTV, with a sale that would include the service's approximately 500,000-strong subscriber base, alongside its underlying technology. That customer tally is substantially less than other subscription TV services, despite PlayStation Vue being one of the first such services to launch.
    The Information's report claims that Sony's streaming service is continuing to lose money, despite several subscription price hikes, most recently a $5 increase in July of this year. Sony is struggling with the rising cost of programming, which is thought to be hitting the company harder than its competitors. Unlike, say, Hulu, Sony doesn't have as big of a content library of its own, which leaves it with less leverage in its negotiations. The Information notes that it's unclear whether Sony's programming contracts would transfer to PlayStation Vue's new owner after a sale.
    From a technology standpoint, PlayStation Vue offers some unique features. If you're using the service on an Apple TV, for example, you can currently watch as many as four streams simultaneously on a single screen. On a PlayStation 4, this limit drops to three, but the PlayStation Vue has the advantage of being the only internet TV service available. Sony has so far refused to allow competitors like Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu's live TV service onto the platform. Should Vue be sold to an outside company, that could potentially change.
    Sony may have picked a good time to get out of the streaming business, as the market will soon become a lot more crowded with a host of new players. Disney+ and Apple TV Plus are both coming next month, AT&T's HBO Max is due next year, and NBCUniversal is readying its Peacock service as well. With each of these companies investing heavily in exclusive content '-- and with Vue already trailing other internet TV providers '-- Sony's challenges aren't going anywhere.
Why is this a thing?:
  The Most Expensive Pokemon Card On Earth Sold For $195,000
    Link to Article
    Source: Kotaku
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:59
    One of the rarest Pok(C)mon cards in existence went up for auction last week at New York-based Weiss and sold for $195,000 . It is now officially the most expensive Pok(C)mon card in existence.
    It's a ''Pikachu Illustrator'' card, a promo given out to winners of a comic contest that was held in Japan in 1997-98 . While there were 39 of these cards awarded, it's believed only 10 are left today, making each one of them insanely valuable.
    So valuable that someone was willing to pay $195,000 for a single Pok(C)mon card, which is almost 4x the price paid for the last Pikachu Illustrator to hit auction back in 2013, which ''only'' went for $54,970 .
    Pikachu Illustrator is notable for a few things other than its rarity. It's the only card to say ILLUSTRATOR at the top of the card, and the only to have a pen as its icon in the bottom right. The unique art'--by Pikachu's creator, Atsuko Nishida'--is also pretty damn amazing.
Something we missed??:
  What is XBOX All Access:
    XBOX All Access is a payment plan service where starting at 20 a month for 24 months, users can get an xbox one (digital, X or S) via a payment plan. Prices are as follows:
    20 a month = XBOX ONE Digital
    23 a month = XBOX ONE S
    31 a month = XBOX ONE X
  Xbox All Access will introduce an opt in Project Scarlett upgrade
    Link to Article
    Source: VideoGamer.com - All Updates
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:58
    Microsoft has announced that Xbox All Access will include an option to upgrade to Project Scarlett when the new console launches in late 2020 (via Polygon).
    Currently, Xbox All Access lets a customer purchase an Xbox One for £17.99 for in 24 monthly installments. The Xbox One X, Xbox One S or Xbox One S All-Digital Edition bundles are available and are priced depending on their content. They do all contain one Xbox controller and a 24-month membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Once those 24 monthly payments are complete, the customer then owns the console.
    Now, Microsoft has said that those who buy an Xbox One with Xbox All Access will be able upgrade to Project Scarlett once the next-generation console launches. The customer will have needed to complete 18 payments prior to the upgrade, and will need to visit the same shop where they bought the current console and its subscription. If the console is in an acceptable condition and the user has a 'good standing' with the country-specific financing partner, the customer will be able to swap it for a Project Scarlett with deferred payments.
    'We realize buying a console is an investment and some players are waiting to make the jump to the next generation with Project Scarlett when it launches in Holiday 2020 alongside Halo Infinite,' Xbox general manager of platform and devices marketing Jeff Gattis said in a post on Xbox Wire. 'This is why as a limited time offer this holiday season, players in the U.S. and U.K. who purchase an Xbox One X with Xbox All Access through December 31, 2019, have the option to upgrade to the next Xbox console in as few as 12 months and once Project Scarlett has officially launched.'
    The Xbox One X has a 12-month upgrade option, the Xbox One S has an 18-month upgrade option, and the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition has an 18-month upgrade option with a £15.00 charge. The offer with Xbox All Access will be live on November 5 in the UK, November 8 in the US, and October 29 in Australia.
Quick Shots:
  Death Stranding Coming To PC Next Summer
    Link to Article
    Source: Game Informer News
    Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:58
    Kojima Productions made the announcement via twitter, and currently, there are no other details regarding any possible additional content or enhancements for the PC version.
    We'll have our review of the PS4 version of the game later this week, so stay tuned!