Noob Shelter Podcast: Episode 18

NS-0018-2019-11-04-Final.mp3
SHOW INFORMATION:
  Show Notes for November 04, 2019
  Episode: 0018
  Show Title: Blizz CON
  Run Time: 1:05:39
Credits
  Executive Producers: None
  Hosted By: Matt Fugitive, John Rythone & Feyd2Black Mike
  Special Thanks to the following:
  End of Show Song: MineCraft Style by CaptainSparklez via YouTube
  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!!
FOLLOW UP STORIES:
  CONFIRMED - EA Games Coming To Steam via GameSpot
    Link to Article
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:06
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    Now Playing: We Played 3 Hours Of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
    Since EA launched its Origin service, it has been the only place that players have been able to purchase the publisher's games on PC, but that will change very soon. EA has announced it is bringing a variety of its titles to Steam, beginning with next month's highly anticipated Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
    Ahead of its release on November 15, Respawn's upcoming Star Wars game is now available to pre-order on Valve's storefront, marking the first new EA game to hit Steam in six years. The publisher says it will be followed by The Sims 4, Unravel Two, and "other major titles" in the next few months. Apex Legends, FIFA 20, and Battlefield V will arrive next year, and those will support cross-play between Steam and Origin.
    All of this is leading up to the Steam launch of EA Access, EA's premium subscription service. EA touts that this is the "first and only" game subscription service to be available on Valve's storefront. No release date has been announced yet, but EA Access is slated to launch on Steam sometime next spring, and subscriptions will cost the same as on consoles: $5 a month or $30 a year.
    The Steam version of EA Access will give subscribers similar perks as on other platforms. Along with access to the Vault--a library of titles that users can play for free--subscribers will be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts and more. "We anticipate that the core benefits of the subscription service as it exists on Origin or Xbox or PlayStation will be the same as those which you would get on Steam," EA senior VP Mike Blank told GamesIndustry.biz. "And when I say the core benefits, I'm talking about things like early access, the 10% discount, or that catalog of games that you might see on EA Access today on Xbox or on PlayStation 4."
    The arrival of EA Access on Steam seems to open up the chance that the service could launch on other PC storefronts as well, such as the Epic Games Store. It appears EA has no such plans as of now, but Blank hasn't dismissed the possibility: "What I'll say today is we are open to new partnerships. While I don't have anything to announce today, we are always open to new partnerships that make sense for our players. So we'll see what the future holds."
    Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
  WWE 2K20's critical reception is so poor it lead Opencritic to discover a bug on the site
    Link to Article
    Source: VG247
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:10
    By Sherif Saed,Tuesday, 29 October 2019 11:59 GMT
    The story of WWE 2K20's shocking quality continues, this time with a unique anecdote from a big reviews aggregator.
    I's no secret at this point that WWE 2K20 has been poorly received by critics and players, who have been sharing footage of bugs and glitches, often calling it a last-gen game.
    Even Sony support acknowledged the issues and started offering players refunds quickly after receiving requests.
    Opencritic, the independent game review aggregate site, typically displays a percentage based on the number of critics who recommend a given game. This information can be found on the game's main page alongside the aggregate score and the overall rating.
    However, in the case of WWE 2K20, not a single listed review recommended the game. This has apparently not happened before with any other game, which caused Opencritic to notice a bug on the site that would display a question mark in place of a 0%.
    The official Opencritic Twitter account shared this amusing detail earlier, which is pretty impressive when you consider the volume of games that pass through the site's algorithm. But, with barely any reviews giving it a 50% rating, it's clear why this happened.
    One nice thing we can say about WWE 2K20:
    It helped us find a display bug. When 0% of critics recommend a game, we incorrectly displayed ?% instead of 0%.
    Fixed in the next deploy!https://t.co/NHI0bxT1Ku pic.twitter.com/ahjs87d46v
    '-- OpenCritic (@Open_Critic) October 28, 2019
  The Great Twitch Migration - UPDATE
    Streamer CouRage Leaves Twitch For YouTube
      Link to Article
      Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:34
      Popular content creator Jack ''CouRage'' Dunlop is leaving Twitch, he announced today. Unlike other recent Twitch departees, he's not going to Mixer. Instead, he's struck a deal with YouTube and will stream exclusively there.
      In a video announcing the change, CouRage'--who has already been on YouTube since 2013 and has 1.86 million subscribers'--described wanting to leave Twitch in order to ''make more content and develop new skills.'' His YouTube channel is currently comprised of reposts of his Twitch streams. CouRage hasn't said what his new YouTube will look like, but in his announcement video, he showed off joke examples of scripted skits sending up medical and police television shows, so it seems like he's looking to do more than just stream Fortnite. He also noted that he'll still be involved with 100 Thieves, an esports organization for which he's currently a ''content creator.''
      ''I don't want to get stagnant and feel like I'm stuck in some 9-to-5 job,'' CouRage said in the video. He'll have his debut YouTube gaming stream on November 5.
      In departing Twitch, CouRage joins the ranks of big streamers like Tyler ''Ninja'' Blevins , Michael ''Shroud'' Grzesiek , and Cory ''King Gothalion'' Michael , though all three of those other recent examples went to Mixer, Microsoft's streaming platform. CouRage's move seems more motivated by a desire to create different kinds of videos than simply looking for a new home to stream. In a statement to Variety , CouRage said, ''This deal with YouTube allows me to create more content and engage with my fans in real time. I am very fortunate to do what I do on a daily basis and welcome my fans to join me on the next phase of my journey.''
    NOTE: MF stated that 4 would leave TWITCH for MIXER specifically by the end of 2019. This does NOT count.
TOP STORIES:
  BLIZZCON 2019
    sound clips: Bliz Pres 1, free hong kong
    News: Blizzard apologises for its rash reaction to Blitzschung's Hong Kong comments
      Link to Article
      Source: VideoGamer.com - All Updates
      Tue, 05 Nov 2019 01:08
      Blizzard president J. Allen Brack apologised and accepted accountability for the developer's reaction to Hearthstone pro Chung 'Blitzchung' Ng Wai's vocal support for Hong Kong protesters while livestreaming on its official Twitch channel (via Vice).
      Brack spoke to an audience on stage, and while he did not refer to the controversy in its particularities, it was clear that he meant the fallout that erupted when the company penalised the pro player for his political speech. 'We moved too quickly in our decision making and then to make matters worse, we were too slow to talk to all of you,' Brack said. 'When I think about what I'm most unhappy about, it's mostly two things.'
      'First, we didn't live up to the high standards we set for ourselves. The second is that we failed in our purpose. For that, I'm sorry, and I accept accountability,' he continued. Blizzard's justification for its actions was that it considered the player's speech to be 'engaging in any act that, in Blizzard's sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image.' Although it repealed its initial sanctions, returning the prize money and reducing the ban from twelve months to six months, plenty of people were dismayed by Blizzard's reaction and chose to cancel subscriptions, refund games, and draw art of Overwatch's Mei as a Hong Kong protester.
      'So what is our purpose?' Brack posed the question to his audience. 'We aspire to bring to the world together in epic entertainment. I truly believe in the positive power of video games. When we get it right, we create a common ground where the community comes together to compete, connect, and play. Irrespective of the things that divide us.' Chinese media conglomerate Tencent has a five per cent stake in Activision Blizzard. Blizzard stated otherwise, but its employees have claimed that commercial connections in China spurred its decision to remove Blitzschung from Hearthstone.
      'BlizzCon has people from 59 countries all around the world here at the show today,' he said. 'That's the positive power of video games. We will do better going forward. But our actions will matter more than any of these events. We hope, as you move around, you recognize our commitment to allowing everyone to express themselves.' Blizzard also chose to ban the American University Hearthstone team that showed a 'Free Hong Kong, Boycott Blizz' sign during the American Collegiate Hearthstone Championship.
      Recently, news broke that Blitzschung has been signed to professional esports team Tempo Storm. 'We believe first and foremost in supporting players and encouraging them to engage and to speak out on the things about which they are most passionate,' Tempo Storm CEO Andrey Yanyuk enthused. 'In many ways, we value the character and integrity of our players as much as, if not more than, their tournament placings.'
    Diablo 4: Everything we know so far about Blizzard's sequel | GamesRadar+
      Link to Article
      Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:56
      HomeFeatures(Image credit: Blizzard)
      It might seem like we're long overdue for a new Diablo game, and in many ways we are - Diablo 3 was released all the way back in 2012 - but remember we waited 12 long years from Diablo 2 for Diablo 3 to launch. Thankfully, it doesn't sound like we'll wind up waiting quite so long, as rumors are hot that Blizzard is gearing up for an announcement at BlizzCon 2019. We're all but sure to learn a whole lot more when the event kicks off on Friday, but here's what we already know.
      It's pretty much definitely in development
      (Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)
      As if fairly reliable reports from Kotaku and an industry-insider known as Metro - who also reports a Diablo 2 remake will be announced alongside Diablo 4 at BlizzCon 2019 - weren't enough to confirm Diablo 4, German magazine GameStar featured an advertisement for an art book describing "over 500 artworks from Diablo, Diablo II, Diablo III, and Diablo IV."
      Blizzard also released a statement denying Kotaku's report that the company had planned and subsequently scrapped a Diablo 4 reveal at last year's BlizzCon and confirmed that "multiple" Diablo games were in development.
      The statement reads: ''First off we want to mention that we definitely hear our community. We generally don't comment on rumors or speculation, but we can say that we didn't pull any announcements from BlizzCon this year or have plans for other announcements. We do continue to have different teams working on multiple unannounced Diablo projects, and we look forward to announcing when the time is right."
      Still, short of an official reveal, we're left with precious few small pieces of a big puzzle that's shaping up rapidly in the form of Diablo 4.
      We're likely to see the return of Lilith
      (Image credit: Blizzard)
      Leaked by Twitter user WeakAuras, a page from the same Diablo art book advertised in GameStar seems to confirm the return of Lilith, the uber boss we last saw in Diablo 2's Pandemonium event and the very first Diablo 4 character (probably) confirmed. The leaked passage also describes Lilith's appearance in Diablo 4 as a dramatic reimagining, so we can expect a much different form of the Mother of Deceit than the challenging boss we know and agonize over.
      There will probably be "many" returning and redesigned characters
      (Image credit: Diablo 2)
      Another juicy tidbit from the leaked art book page seemingly reveals that "many" characters from previous Diablo games will be returning for Diablo 4, although if the leak is authentic, they'll at least appear fundamentally different this time around. The leak includes a quote from art director John Mueller that explains how the creative team plans on bringing back characters from past Diablo games.
      "I've always really liked that about any kind of IP: letting really talented artists get a hold of things and letting them do their version of it. We're doing that with a lot of characters in the new game."
      We don't know yet when it will be outAs expected so early in its development and before an official reveal, we neither have a release date nor release window to go by, but we do have some hints that suggest it might be further along than we thought. Back in June, Blizzard opened nine new job listings to recruit help for an "unannounced project" within the Diablo universe. Keep in mind, this is well after the reveal of the much-maligned Diablo Immortal mobile game at 2018's BlizzCon event.
      Then, popular French publication Le Monde, translated by a Diablo fan, revealed that an early form of Diablo 4 had already been presented to Blizzard employees, but that it wouldn't release before 2020 "at the very best."
      Even 2020 seems a tad optimistic, if we're being painfully truthful. For reference, Blizzard announced Diablo 3 back in 2008, and as we all know, it wasn't until May of 2012 that it was released. While not entirely without precedent, it would be quite speedy of Blizzard to release Diablo 4 only months after its formal reveal, and that's assuming rumors are accurate that we'll see a reveal at this year's BlizzCon.
      BlizzCon 2019's opening ceremony kicks off November 1 at 9:30 am PDT / 5:30 pm BST and will run until November 3, so keep an eye on this page as we update the information in the coming days and over the weekend.
  Steam Now Asks If You Want To Revise Your Reviews When You're Further Into A Game
    Link to Article
    Source: GameSpot - Game News
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:10
    It looks like Steam is changing how user reviews work, and is now asking long-term players if their opinions have shifted over time.
    It's been a big year for Steam. In the face of increased competition from the Epic Games Store, Steam has started beta testing a visual overhaul for the service, and is looking to improve its curation services by recommending games that customers are less likely to already be familiar with.
    Now it seems that Steam is trying to improve user reviews by recommending that players revisit their words once they're deeper into games. Over on Steam's Reddit page, user PunnyCasual has posted a screenshot of a Steam notification they received for Destiny 2. It reads: "You've played an additional 93 hours. Would you like to revise the review?"
    This option will potentially encourage users to change reviews that were based on only the game's initial hours, or which were critical of the launch state of a game that has since improved. Steam also recently added the option to filter user reviews by playtime, making easier to see the reactions from players who have spent a lot of time with the game you're looking at.
    Hopefully this will lead to an improved slate of user reviews on the service. Right now on Steam, several great horror games are discounted as part of the store's Halloween sale. You can save on the Resident Evil 2 remake, Soma, Alan Wake, and more.
    GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.
    Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
  News: Ubisoft is prioritising crossplay for all of its PvP games
    Link to Article
    Source: VideoGamer.com - All Updates
    Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:58
    Ubisoft has announced that its games will be compatible with crossplay features from this moment onwards, and including previously released games like Brawlhalla and Just Dance (via WccfTech).
    Yesterday, Ubisoft held its Q2 earnings call with its investors and shared how well the fiscal year is shaping up to be for the developer and publisher. Assassin's Creed Odyssey was reported to have 'continued momentum' upon its one year anniversary, and Rainbow Six Siege's esports scene is solidifying its player base and introducing new audiences to the game.
    However, the company admitted that The Division 2 and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint did not perform as well as was hoped. Consequently, there has been a nine per cent decrease in total sales, and release windows for hotly-anticipated games have been shifted. CEO Yves Guillemot mentioned 'numerous growth vectors' that will generate optimistic expectations of revenue, such as 'the arrival of the next generation of consoles, the opening up of the Asian market', and the official arrival of Ubisoft properties on mobile devices in China through the media conglomerate Tencent.
    A new discussion was sparked in the earnings call, and that was a question of whether engagement with Brawlhalla has increased after successfully delivering crossplay for all platforms. To support its burgeoning esports scene, Ubisoft and Blue Mammoth Games have worked on tirelessly to bring players of all stripes together in Brawlhalla. Finally, it was announced that, as of October 10, gamers on PlayStation 4, PC, Switch, and Xbox One are able to duke it out with compatible queues and lobbies.
    The analyst asked whether Ubisoft would be interested in implementing crossplay for its other titles, and Guillemot responded positively. 'Yes. Our goal is to put cross play on all the games that - all the PvP games that we have over time,' he affirmed. 'So that's really well underway.'
    Far Cry 5 crossplay would cause carnage in the quiet hills of Hope County, and it would boost the number of players in its multiplayer modes, which is crucial if you're wanting to platinum the game. Players returning to Watch Dogs 2 in anticipation for Legion could hang out in its world, or brush up on their competitive skills. And, these declarations of crossplay could bode well for Roller Champions, Ubisoft's free-to-play sports game announced at E3 2019.
    We'll have to wait and see what Ubisoft has in store, but it's a nice bit of news after the reported disappointment regarding the two Tom Clancy games.
LOCAL STORIES:
  Seattle gets COD esports team
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  FaZe Clan streamer Jarvis banned from 'Fortnite' for cheating - Insider
    Link to Article
    Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:22
    A 17-year-old member of the mega-popular eSports streaming team FaZe Clan has received a lifetime ban from "Fortnite" for cheating in games he uploaded to his YouTube channel.The gamer, who goes by Jarvis (last name Khattri) and is the younger brother of prominent FaZe Clan director FaZe Kay (real name Frazier Khattri), apologized to his fans in a tear-filled video that has spawned varying responses. Many gamers pointed out that by using aimbots, a game hack that auto-focuses the player's weapon on opponents, Khattri clearly broke "Fortnite" terms of services and community guidelines, and deserved his punishment. Some, including Khattri himself, noted that it wasn't clear the punishment would be as severe as a lifetime ban, and that "Fortnite" creator Epic Games has leveled out uneven punishments to other gamers who cheat. A spokesperson for Epic Games told Insider that the company has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating software, which ruins the game for those who play fairly. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A 17-year-old member of the mega-popular eSports groups FaZe Clan was issued a lifetime ban from the game "Fortnite" after he uploaded YouTube videos of himself cheating in solo rounds and on playground mode.
    FaZe Jarvis, whose real name is Jarvis Khattri, became a member of the clan after his older brother and FaZe Clan director FaZe Kay (real name Frazier Khattri) started featuring his younger sibling in his own videos. Jarvis' channel was almost entirely "Fortnite" videos, which was his game of choice up until his ban.
    Khattri uploaded an emotional apology video that trended up to spot no. 2 on YouTube Gaming, earning more than 2 million views in less than 24 hours '' better reception than most of his normal gameplay videos. At least one video of him using aimbots, the software hack that got him banned, is still up on his channel.
    A spokesperson for Epic Games told Insider that it has a zero-tolerance policy for those who use cheating software.
    "When people use aimbots or other cheat technologies to gain an unfair advantage, they ruin games for people who are playing fairly," Epic Games said in a statement.
    Aimbots alter the "Fortnite" software against the game's terms and conditions and community guidelines to allow the player's weapon to focus automatically on targets, giving them a huge advantage in the gameplay.
    "All I was thinking about as I was making those videos is how entertaining and like, interesting these videos would be for you guys to watch. It didn't even cross my mind to think that I could be banned for life on 'Fortnite' for those videos," Khattri said in his apology video, which devolved into tears toward the end.
    "I just want to be clear, this is the first time I've ever done anything like this and of course I've never done this in a competitive game mode at all. At the time I posted those videos I was completely oblivious what could happen to me, what the consequences were. Obviously, this was a huge mistake and it's completely wrong on my end."
    FaZe Clan is a massive team with subsets for multiple games. It rose to prominence for its "Call of Duty" players, but if Khattri remains on the team, he could potentially pivot to other games. His fellow team members have expressed support on social media, indicating that he won't be kicked out of the group.
    Some FaZe Clan fans complained that Khattri's punishment was too severe, but others said it was deserved for cheating Team FaZe Clan during a break in between games against team OpTic Gaming during Call of Duty World League at Anaheim Convention Center on June 16, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
    In the comments section of Khattri's apology video, responders were divided over how they felt about Khattri's ban. Some criticized the fact that he had his apology video monetized (a common gripe toward YouTubers, many of whom profit off apology videos).
    Others made fun of the fact that his older brother would likely profit off his sibling's misfortune, in the way FaZe Kay often produces clickbait-y videos about exposing or pranking the younger Khattri. On Twitter, Frazier wrote "I can't put into words how upset Jarvis has been this week... please take your time to watch this video and share it."
    He also noted that Jarvis "won't be able to make it" to the Simon Cup "Fortnite" event in LA on Saturday, November 9, but said he would still be there with another member of FaZe Clan, who goes by Cizzorz.
    A few FaZe fans pointed out that the treatment didn't seem fair. Epic Games, the company that owns "Fortnite" and other video games, has issued punishments that weren't nearly as intense as a lifelong ban for other streamers who have cheated in the past.
    Most recently, a streaming duo was only punished with a 14-day suspension after a clip went viral showing the two colluding with other players across matches during a qualifier round for the "Fortnite" World Cup championship eSports game. After the suspension ended, the duo, Damion "XXiF" C. and Ronald "Ronaldo" Mach, scored enough points to qualify for the championship.
    But the use of aimbots was weighed more seriously against Khattri, since he hacked the game's software itself '' although, unlike XXiF and Ronaldo, he wasn't playing competitively at the time he cheated. He was, as he says in his apology video, playing only in solo rounds and playground mode, and using the hack to make YouTube content, as opposed to scoring points to qualify for a championship with a $30 million prize at stake.
    Another FaZe Clan member, Blaze, tweeted that "I know this is a sensitive subject but the lil homies doesn't deserve this." Replies to Blaze's tweet were again mixed, with many FaZe fans noting that Khattri was facing the consequences laid out in the "Fortnite" community guidelines, and that it wouldn't be fair for him to get un-banned based on the size of his fanbase.
    "I'm going to take accountability for my actions and I understand completely why this has happened, I just wish I had known how severe the consequences were at the time and I would have never thought about doing it," Khattri wrote on Twitter. "I love all of you who still support me, this is not the end."
    Khattri didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
    Read more:The life and rise of Tim Sweeney, the billionaire CEO and founder of the company behind 'Fortnite,' Epic GamesKids who play Fortnite say they get bullied and shamed if they can't afford paid skins, according to a damning report on gaming habitsFortnite is back with 'Chapter 2' and a new map and new features after its extravagant black hole stunt'Fortnite' creator says it won't punish players for speaking out about politics, as Blizzard faces backlash and calls for a boycott after banning competitor for supporting Hong Kong protests
    More: Fortnite Video Games Streamers FaZe Clan Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
  sound clips: Jarvis - 1-3.mp3
Other Gaming News:
  Mario Kart Tour Multiplayer Still Coming, But Nintendo Won't Say When
    Link to Article
    Source: GameSpot - Game News
    Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:00
    Mario Kart Tour is more than a month old now, but the promised multiplayer update hasn't come yet. Nintendo promises that it's still coming but won't commit to exactly when we can expect it.
    Wall Street Journal reporter Takashi Mochizuku shared the detail from a Nintendo earnings call on Twitter. The company reiterated that it plans to introduce online multiplayer, but can't give further comment on details.
    The game launched with single-player only, but it can be confusing since parts of it appear similar to online play--from bots with player-like usernames to performing an online check before starting a race. For the time being, you can add friends and even gain some rewards for doing so, but the only way to compete with them is indirectly. During Ranked Cup events, you can compare your score to your friends for bragging rights. The menu has said a Multiplayer mode is "Inbound!" since launch.
    Mario Kart Tour is a very different take on the classic game tailored for mobile devices, making it more of a live game with seasonal events and characters to earn, along with microtransactions and even a Battle Pass-like subscription for extra rewards. On the whole we found that it has some good ideas that Nintendo could borrow for future console Mario Karts.
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    Now Playing: Mario Kart Tour Sets New Record - GS News Update
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  Dragon Age 4 Still Happening, But It's A Long Time Away From Release
    Link to Article
    Source: GameSpot - Game News
    Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:02
    BioWare continues to work on Dragon Age 4, but don't expect it to release anytime soon. Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen said on an earnings call that Dragon Age 4 is likely still two or more years away from releasing.
    He said fans can expect to play Dragon Age 4 after Fiscal Year 2022. That period runs from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022, so fans shouldn't expect Dragon Age 4 until April 2022 at the very soonest. Jorgensen said "plans are underway for that product," which makes it sound like it's still early days for Dragon Age 4.
    After much speculation, Dragon Age 4's first teaser was shown during The Game Awards in December 2018. A brief teaser trailer showed some slow pans across artifacts, and a hashtag that likely hints at a central story figure. It read, "The Dread Wolf Rises."
    In a 2018 blog post, BioWare's Mark Darrah confirmed that Dragon Age 4 has been in the works for "quite a while." Some of the "core" team that worked on the previous Dragon Age games are back for the new one, while BioWare's plan is to "push BioWare's storytelling to the next level."
    Dragon Age 4's creative director is Matthew Goldman. He said BioWare has put together its "strongest team yet" to work on the new Dragon Age. He called it the "most epic quest ever."
    Dragon Age 4 may not be the only title BioWare is working on right now, as Jorgensen added that BioWare has other titles in the works, though he did not name them.
    The Dragon Age franchise hasn't seen a new release since 2014's Dragon Age: Inquisition. That game was well received and it was a commercial success.
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WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE:
  Sans From Undertale Is A Wrestler Now
    Link to Article
    Source: Kotaku
    Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:01
    Pro wrestler Kenny Omega loves anime and video games . Like most people who love both of those things, he's also a huge fan of Undertale . During this week's Halloween-themed All-Elite Wrestling promo, Omega, who is known for incorporating his fandom into his act, went all-in, dressing as Sans Undertale for his big entrance.
    As you can see, his costume rules. He even did a whole Undertale-style cutscene to intro him! He really is a pro.
    I know this is not how wrestling works, but he should wrestle in that costume, it'd be fun. I'd watch.
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WHAT THE ACTUAL...:
  Faux Human-Skin Phone Covers Are Creepy Yet Innovative - Nerdist
    Link to Article
    Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:49
    Science & Tech
    Faux Human-Skin Phone Covers Are Creepy Yet Innovative
    People carry around their smartphones everywhere, which, in effect, make the gadgets more or less an appendage of their bodies. Considering that, it kind of makes sense that researchers would want to look into the possibility of covering up phones and other mobile devices with a layer of fake human skin. If interfacing with skin-on-skin contact between humans works so well, why not try to apply the same method to phones? Even if it is way beyond creepy.
    You may be thinking that these faux, fleshy smartphone covers are some kind of joke, but they are most definitely not. The covers, which come via Laughing Squid, are the creation of a team of researchers working out of the Bristol Interaction Group lab in Bristol, U.K. The team's leader, PhD student Marc Teyssier, says that he and his team made the realistic fleshy covers because ''human skin is the best interface for interaction'' and that it would allow for ''new forms of input gestures for end-users.''While some of these input gestures don't seem to require the silicone-flesh interface in order to be executed'--like stroking and tapping'--there are some interactive commands here that seem completely novel and unique to the fleshy cover. For example, you can actually pinch or poke these covers (as opposed to just pinch-zooming or pressing on regular smartphones), which allows for more degrees of freedom. In other words, it seems like this kind of cover allows users to manipulate the z axis (''up'' and ''down'' relative to the phone's screen) rather than just the x and y axes.
    Marc Teyssier
    Teyssier's video (above), shows off some of the uses for those extra degrees of freedom, including: a depth-sensitive touchpad; finger inputs applied through the backs of phones; tactile communication, which is used in conjunction with an avatar in the video, but would presumably be good for people talking online, and even the option to tickle. And even though the range of possibilities for a tickling input seems extraordinarily limited, maybe Siri will be requesting it at some point, so it could be good to have.
    Teyssier and the other researchers aren't messing around with their mission of making a very realistic skin either. Like real flesh, the fake-flesh cover has multiple layers, although instead of an epidermis, a dermis, and a hypodermis, it has a layer for input gestures, a visual and tactile layer, a sensing layer, and a kinesthetic layer.
    Marc Teyssier
    It's obviously too early to say if there's a market for this kind of phone cover (apart from the thousand Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs would order), but it's an interesting avenue of exploration for human-to-gadget interfaces. Plus, there's the non-realistic version, which is just as versatile and infinitely less creepy.
    What do you think of this faux flesh phone cover? Would you ever buy one of these or does the mere sight of it make you want to moisturize endlessly? Let us know in the comments!
    Header Image: Marc Teyssier
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  News: Pok(C)mon Go exceeds $3 billion in lifetime revenue
    Link to Article
    Source: VideoGamer.com - All Updates
    Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:00
    Since 2016, Pok(C)mon Go has exceeded $3 billion in lifetime gross revenue, as estimated by data analyst Sensor Tower (via Game Rant).
    That's peculiar. Everyone always tells me that no one plays Pok(C)mon Go any more. Sensor Tower's report included that the augmented reality game has been downloaded around 541 million times worldwide. Sure, some of those might have been when the player uninstalled it to reinstall it and return to the game, but not all 541 million downloads could be due to that. Maybe'... no. It can't be. These numbers insinuate that people are still playing Pok(C)mon Go in 2019.
    Alright, I've had my government-allocated sarcasm for the day. So, lots of people are playing the pocket monster hunting mobile game, and they're spending an average of $5.60 with each download. Players in the U.S. are the vanguard in Pok(C)mon Go microtransactions, accounting for y $1.1 billion, or a little over a third of total lifetime revenue until now. Japan takes the silver medal with players that have contributed $884.5 million to the total lifetime revenue. Then, Germany's players pop out of nowhere and claim $181.6 million of the pie.
    In 2016, Pok(C)mon Go generated $832.4 million then experienced a dip in 2017 with a total year revenue of $589.3 million. Then, it bounced back by churning $816.3 million out in 2018. This year's numbers are looking very promising, with a present total of $774.3 million generated. It could even surpass its initial record. After all, August 2019 was its most profitable month ever.
    Sensor Tower reckons that 2019's sales statistics have been encouraged by new updates that have come to the mobile game. These include the nefarious Rocket Stops, the addition of Generation 5, the Halloween event, and A Colossal Discovery event that is ticketed. Moreover, Niantic is firmly committed to the future of Pok(C)mon Go, as it will introduce a PvP battle league in 2020.