YouTube Terms of Service Update Has Content Creators Concerned
Every so often, something happens over at YouTube that has content creators worried that the end is nigh for them and/or the website that hosts their content. So far, YouTube has come out mostly unscathed while YouTubers have found alternate ways of making a living creating online video content. Between the “adpocalypse,” copyright claim abuses, concerns over the application of community guidelines for monetization and ongoing changes to the YouTube discoverability algorithm, it’s seldom smooth sailing for your favourite YouTuber.
The latest changes to YouTube’s Terms of Service is doing nothing to allay those concerns as two lines are getting YouTubers concerned for their future… again.
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China to Limit Online Gaming Time for Minors
The biggest gaming market in the world is making changes that will limit the length of time and amount of money that minors can spend on their favourite online games. China announced new guidelines that they believe will “[protect] the physical and mental health of minors.”
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How Movie Franchises Make Their Money (Infographic)
With Disney+ launching in only a couple of days, people are gearing up to add yet another subscription streaming service to their lineup. That also means that Disney is adding another revenue source to the plethora that they already have for their myriad film franchises. But even with the advent of online streaming for entertainment, it’s not like these franchises haven’t made copious sums of money already.
But how much have some of film’s biggest franchises made and how have they made them? We have a handy infographic to show you. Take a close look at Star Wars’ merchandising revenue while you’re here.
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BlizzCon to Open with Big Protest
Blizzard has been subject of an exceptional amount of controversy over previous weeks since their ban of Ng “Blitzchung” Wai Chung following a call for the liberation of Hong Kong during a Hearthstone tournament. Since then, Blizzard has been the subject of criticism from the media, gamers, its own employees and even prominent politicians.
Now, the public outcry against Blizzard will hit very close to home. Fighting for the Future will be launching a massive protest on the opening day of Blizzard’s biggest event of the year, BlizzCon, under the Gamers for Freedom banner.
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Game of Thrones Creators Exit Star Wars Project
The two men who were behind the much beloved then much derided Game of Thrones series are no longer at the helm of the next stage of Star Wars movies.
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss announced early on Tuesday morning that they would no longer be at the helm of the first Star Wars movies to follow Episode IX and will instead focus on their commitments to Netflix.
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Alberta to Eliminate Digital Media Tax Credit
If you’ve ever wondered why so many gaming developers and publishers have studios in Canada, it’s because of various forms of government support given to these companies to create jobs. Various levels of government have provided funding to companies in the forms of loans, grants and tax breaks.
One province that just put some more skin in the game to promote gaming and similar digital industries has just gotten right out of it. The recently elected government of Alberta has announced that their upcoming provincial budget will eliminate the province’s Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit which might leave some current and future plans for developers in the province in question.
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Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Farewell Review: The End at the Beginning
With Life is Strange 2 coming this fall and Dontnod moving forward with new characters and a new story in that game, it’s only appropriate that the final episode of Life is Strange with Max, Chloe and Arcadia Bay is called Farewell. As you’d expect from Life is Strange, even the title has some depth to it with this bonus episode being our farewell to Max and Chloe along with Max and Chloe’s farewell to each other. That doesn’t answer the question of whether we needed this episode to close the Life is Strange story.
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et geekera’s Most Anticipated Games of 2018
Last week saw our look back at 2017. Now, it’s time to look ahead to the rest of 2018. With the release of the Nintendo Switch, the red brand brought out some heavy-hitters that helped to make last year rank as another of the all-time great years in gaming. So far, 2018’s success could depend entirely on what doesn’t get delayed to 2019. It could beat out 2017 or it could be a sparse year while we wait for the big games to drop in 2019.
But if all goes according to plan, what great games can we expect in 2018? Here are our top eight most anticipated games of 2018.
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et geekera’s Ten Favourite Games of 2017
It’s kind of amazing to hear talk along the lines that 2017 could be one of the greatest years in gaming history. Nintendo has to take a lot of credit for that. Many weren’t sold on the Switch concept, especially after the initial sizzle reel but it’s turned out to be a big hit for Nintendo, both critically and commercially. According to GOTY Picks aggregation, 188 of 276 game of the year awards went to Nintendo exclusives which is amazing dominance of the industry. I’d say the Switch thing has worked out pretty well for them.
But as we wont to do around here, it’s time for us to go through et geekera’s favourite games of 2017.
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Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Episode Three Review: The Things We Do For Love
A prequel story has plenty of challenges associated with it. You have to tell an interesting story that people want to play but you can’t step on the toes of the original while backing into characters, setting and plot that builds into the original story. Fans will want a little fan service but not too much because that would be distracting.
The first two episodes of Deck Nine’s Life is Strange prequel came close to stepping on the toes of the original. At times, it feels like it changes Chloe and forces the relationship between she and Rachel Amber to get us to a particular choice-determinant scene in Life is Strange: Season One. However, when focusing on its own characters and world in Before the Storm, Deck Nine hits the right notes and makes a game that feels like a proper Life is Strange game.
The final episode would have to be the trickiest of all for Deck Nine. They have a three-year gap between Before the Storm and Season One which they need to lay the building blocks for but not seamlessly lead us from one to the other so we can account for the passage of time. Fortunately, they pulled that task off. The rest of the episode might be a bit more contentious.
