Microsoft to buy US gaming giant Activision-Blizzard for $69 billion

Microsoft announced Tuesday a landmark $69 billion deal to purchase US gaming giant Activision Blizzard, grabbing the sex harassment scandal-hit firm as the tech colossus seeks to boost its power in video games.

Merging with troubled Activision will make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony, it said, a major shift in the booming world of games.

"This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft's gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse," Microsoft said in a statement.

Activision, the California-based maker of "Candy Crush" has been hit by employee protests, departures, and a state lawsuit alleging it enabled toxic workplace conditions and sexual harassment against women. 

Over the past seven months the company has received about 700 reports of employee concerns over sexual assault or harassment or other misconduct, in some cases separate reports about the same incident, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

Nearly 20 percent of Activision Blizzard's 9,500 employees have signed a petition calling for CEO Bobby Kotick to resign.

"Acquiring Activision will help jump start Microsoft's broader gaming endeavors and ultimately its move into the metaverse with gaming the first monetization piece of the metaverse in our opinion," Wedbush analysts said after the news broke.

- Troubled Activision -

"With Activision's stock under heavy pressure (CEO related issues/overhang) over the last few months, Microsoft viewed this as the window of opportunity to acquire a unique asset that can propel its consumer strategy forward," Wedbush added.

Microsoft has just marked 20 years of the "Halo" video game franchise that turned its Xbox console into a hit.

Microsoft launched a host of initiatives to mark two decades of both Halo and the Xbox, including a virtual museum exploring key moments in the console's history.

Xbox remains a key player in a video game industry now thought to be larger than the movie sector, with market research firm Mordor Intelligence valuing it at $173.7 billion in 2020.

Troubles, meanwhile, have stacked up for Activision over its sex harassment and discrimination scandal.

In July, California state regulators accused the company of condoning a culture of harassment, a toxic work environment, and inequality.

In September the Securities and Exchange Commission launched a probe into the company over "disclosures regarding employment matters and related issues."

And two months later the Journal reported that Kotick, accused of mishandling the harassment complaints, had signaled he would consider stepping down if he failed to quickly fix the company culture. He has led the company for more than three decades.

Late last year chief operating officer Daniel Alegre pledged a 50 percent increase in female and non-binary staff over the next five years so that they will account for more than a third of Activision's workers.

Agence France-Presse

Microsoft ends game streaming, teams up with Facebook

Microsoft said Monday it was throwing in the towel on its livestream gaming platform and teaming up with Facebook to better compete with rivals like Amazon-owned Twitch.

Microsoft Mixer will be shuttered on July 22, the tech giant said in a statement.


“It became clear that the time needed to grow our own livestreaming community to scale was out of measure with the vision and experiences that Microsoft and Xbox want to deliver for gamers now, so we’ve decided to close the operations side of Mixer and help the community transition to a new platform,” the Mixer team said.

The gamers will be encouraged to transition to Facebook Gaming, which has some 700 million people who play or watch games every month.

“We will work to transition the Mixer community over the next few weeks. Starting on July 22, all Mixer sites and apps will redirect users to Facebook Gaming,” said by Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, the gaming division of Microsoft,

Microsoft announced it was buying the livestream service Beam in August 2016 to bolster its effort to boost its ranks of people who play and watch games online.


But the service, renamed Mixer in 2017, struggled to gain traction against Twitch, Google-owned YouTube and Facebook Gaming.


Spencer said the move to shutter Mixer would allow Microsoft to focus on its other gaming efforts including “the world-class content being made by our 15 Xbox Game Studios, the evolution of Xbox Game Pass, the launch of Xbox Series X, and the global opportunity to play anywhere with Project xCloud,” referring to the cloud-based game service.

“Bringing that vision to life, for as many people as possible, will see us working with different partners, platforms, and communities for years to come,” Spencer added.

“It will also see us adjusting our strategy to best serve players wherever they gather daily, which includes the category of livestreaming.”

Agence France-Presse

Amplify your Audio Experience with Astro A40 Headset

Discover a brand new love for gaming with the premier audio experience brought by Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR. The top-notch gaming gear was launched in the Philippines on February 7, 2020 at the Globe Esports Center (ESC) – Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City. The event was attended by gaming professionals and members of the media who participated in the Tekken 7 Show Match and Tournament respectively. Attendees were able to give an all-out performance through the superior audio experience brought by the Astro headsets.

The ASTRO A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR is the premier gaming audio solution that equips every gamer a complete and fully customized soundscape.  The surround sound, the game/chat balance and the equalization switching satisfy a true gamer’s strict and sensitive standards for audio fidelity, comfort and durability.  The A40 headset provides a robust gaming environment while delivering crisp and clear audio for voice chats with its swappable Boom microphone. Experience first-class comfort with just-right ear cups and padded headband that’s a perfect fit for every user.

“Having professional-level headsets elevate the performance of esports athletes, therefore, improving the overall competitiveness of the local esports scene. The A40 TR utilizes class-leading industrial design and professional gaming expertise,”  said Jan Borja, Logitech Philippines Country Manager.

For the serious live streamers and content creators, the MixAmp Pro TR is a powerful game audio tool that provides a plethora of inputs and outputs for a lag-free/interference-free operation. For the esports athlete and game developer, connecting multiple MixAmps to each other creates a local chat network for optimal team communication in tournament setups.

“The newly designed MixAmp was created to have a cleaner desk footprint, which leads to a better layout for gaming with the wires all coming out the back.  For Content creators and Streamers, this will also enhance the output of their streams and videos through sound profile capabilities of the mix amp. Our gamers can expect a spatial, immersive gaming and streaming experience,” said Wesley Yuri Lopez, Logitech Philippines Category Manager.

Local gaming idols Jhanelle Trias (Ardent Esports), Suzanne “Suzzysaur” Erasga (Ardent Esports), Jules Lozano (SGD), Alexandre “AK” Laverez and Doujin (Playbook Esports), and Alexa “Asahina” Gabriel, are raving about the latest offering from Astro. Check out their social media handles to get a glimpse of their awesome experience and stellar reviews on the Astro A40 headset and MixAmp Pro.

Better yet, try for yourself the supreme audio quality of Astro headsets at Globe, ESC – Eastwood Mall where you can purchase them right away. You can also check the A10 headset at the Logitech booth.

Logitech will be partnering with Playbook Esports to bring the Astro headsets at the Playbook Video Game Lounge and in their upcoming tournaments.

Gift your audiophile friends and loved ones this perfect Valentine’s gift priced at PhP 13,990 for a limited time only. The Astro A40 TR headset + MixAmp Pro TR (Gen 4) for Playstation and PC will soon be available at the Logitech official store in Lazada and other partner retail outlets.

Be informed and updated.  Download the LOGI Rewards PH app (available for iOS and Android).

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple Arcade: Apple Launches Game Subscription Service

Apple on Tuesday announced that its eagerly-awaited online gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, will launch next week, offering exclusive
titles for mobile and desktop users.

The newserviceavailablefromApple’s online marketplace and costing $4.99 per month will include more than 100 game titles made for Apple
devices.

“You can’t find these games on any other mobile platform for subscription service, no games service ever launched as many games, and we can’t
wait for you to play all of that,” product manager AnnThaitold the Apple media event in Cupertino, California.

GC-rl/EC

source: usa.inquirer.net

American 16-year-old becomes solo Fortnite champ, winning $3M

NEW YORK — American Kyle Giersdorf, alias “Bugha,” became the first Fortnite world champion in the solo division, winning $3 million at age 16.

Originally from Pennsylvania, the young gamer took the lead in the first of six games and never looked back.

“It’s insane,” the young millionaire said after the final Sunday.

Aside from the second of six games, Bugha was remarkably consistent despite playing in the first world cup final, with millions of dollars on the line, in the Arthur Ashe stadium, where the US Open tennis tournament takes place.

“This morning he was worriless, energetic, having fun to make sure he wasn’t stressed at all,” his best friend Colin Bradley told AFP after the final.

In the game, users are dropped onto an island where they must search for weapons and other resources while eliminating other players — all while trying to stay alive.

A sense of placement, a talent for building, brilliant in close combat and foolproof cold blood — Bugha had it all in the final.

“He’s one of the smartest players. He knows when to attack, when not to attack, to stay high ground. He’s a strategic player,” Bradley said.US, internet, gaming, eSports, Fortnite, champion

Having a high position is often a decisive advantage, especially in the closing stages of the game, making it easier to shoot other players.

Epic Games — Fortnite’s creators — have spent a whopping $100 million on the inaugural event, including staging 10 weeks of qualifying culminating in this weekend’s tournament.

Every competitor is guaranteed to leave the competition with $50,000, making them the envy of the schoolyard when they return home.

On Saturday, gamers using the pseudonyms “Nyhrox” and “aqua” became the first Fortnite world champions in the duo division, winning $1.5 million each.

Fortnite, which is free to play, has 250 million users worldwide.

source: technology.inquirer.net

From high school drop-out to Korean gaming superstar

A high school drop-out dubbed the “Michael Jordan of eSports” has helped make South Korea a major power in video-gaming, and is now leading its push to be recognized by the mainstream.

The bespectacled, floppy-fringed “Faker”, real name Lee Sang-hyeok, is the world’s top “League of Legends” gamer and in hyper-wired Korea, he enjoys similar fame and fortune to top basketball or baseball players.

Faker, 22, will be one of the biggest stars at next month’s regional Olympics, the quadrennial Asian Games in Indonesia, where eSports will be held as a demonstration event for the first time.


It marks a step forward in gaming’s efforts to be considered a genuine sport, possibly even gaining a slot at the Olympics in the future, good news for global eSports powerhouses like South Korea.

The South enjoys ultra-fast broadband and a vibrant internet culture, and internet cafes armed with powerful high-end computers catering to school-age gamers can be found on many street corners.

“eSports player” consistently ranks among children’s most popular future jobs, coming eighth in an education ministry survey of elementary school pupils last year, higher than “scientist.”

Faker started playing video games in elementary school, and excelled at “League of Legends”, an online battle game introduced by Riot Games in 2009.

As he climbed the online LoL rankings speculation mounted about his identity, and he formed a team with friends to compete at amateur tournaments.

He dropped out of high school after being offered a job as a professional, making his debut in 2013 and thrashing top players one after another as he made his way to stardom.

eSports ‘fully embraced’

Korea’s eSports scene is reminiscent of Germany’s soccer culture, with grassroot talents nurtured from a young age, some of them making their way to amateur leagues and, after years of competition and effort, professional teams.


Many leading firms have their own eSports teams, with Faker believed to be paid at least 3 billion won ($2.6 million; P142 million) a year by his sponsor SK Telecom, the South’s top wireless operator.

“This is a country where eSports has been fully embraced as a type of sport among youth, and even college sports championships have eSport events,” said Kim Cheol-Hag, secretary general of the Korea eSports Association.

Last year, eSports was ranked the third most popular sport among South Koreans aged 15 to 29 after soccer and baseball, according to a survey by Nielsen Korea.

Multiple TV channels are dedicated to broadcasting eSports competitions, held at large football stadiums to roars from tens of thousands of fans, or sleek special arenas designed to showcase the games.

“Playing games became a full-time career in the South in the mid-2000s when many pro eSports teams were established, ahead of other countries,” Kim said.

With 25 million players, which is half the population, the South is the world’s sixth-biggest video game market.

But many South Korean players and coaches have been hired to work for top teams around the world, including China and the United States, eSports’ two biggest markets.

“Now the U.S. and China have the same systems and have caught up with us,” Kim told AFP. “But we have know-how and culture that has been accumulated for decades helping us stay at the top of the game”.

‘Improve your social standing’

South Korea’s obsession with video games dates back to the 1990s when Starcraft, a U.S, science fiction strategy game, enjoyed huge popularity, so much so that the South accounted for more than half its worldwide sales.

Nowadays, teenagers hoping to become professional players, or popular among their game-crazed peers, flock to a growing number of private, after-hours schools coaching them how to play video games better.

A typical “game academy” features a rows of teenagers or men in their 20s playing “Overwatch” or “League of Legends”, with a coach, usually a former pro, watching their performances and suggesting better moves.

“If you become a good gamer, it can improve your social standing and help you make more friends,” game academy student Kim Han-eol told Seoul’s YTN news channel.

Six other players will accompany Faker to Indonesia next month to compete.

“The Asian Games is not an event only watched by gamers but something watched by the whole nation,” Faker told reporters. “I will win the game no matter what.” JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Oculus Rift closes in on Vive after summer sale

Facebook’s virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift, enjoyed a surge in ownership among computer gamers in August, after a mid-year price cut took effect in July.


The Oculus Rift increased its market share among VR headset owners using PC gaming service Steam, according to the Steam Hardware and Software Survey for August 2017.

The monthly survey showed that the Oculus Rift accounted for 43.8 percent of VR headsets associated with users’ computers.

That figure represents an increase of 8.1 percent on July, when Rift ownership would have been registered at 35.7 percent, observes GamesIndustry, an upward trend that has the Rift closing in on the higher-spec HTC Vive, which was developed in partnership with Valve itself.

Both the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive were launched in 2016, and both have received price drops in 2017.

For the duration of a July and August promotional sale, the Rift was priced at $399 (over $20,000) before returning to $499 (over $25,000) in September.

The Vive, whose higher price is offset by gains in room-scale movement tracking, was reduced in price from $799 (nearly $41,000) to $599 (over $30,000) towards the end of August.

As RoadToVR notes, growing awareness of Steam compatibility among Rift users and the launch of HTC’s competing Viveport service could have contributed to the change in percentage share, but the primary driver is thought to have been that Summer of Rift price drop.

Oculus VR was purchased by Facebook for $2.3 billion in 2014, and partnered with Samsung over screen technology for the former and a Gear VR visor for devices in the latter’s Galaxy range.

Sony launched a $399 (over $20,000) PlayStation VR for PlayStation 4 consoles late on in 2016, with Google’s Daydream arriving the same month along with the company’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.

Microsoft and a selection of tech partners are preparing the Windows VR line for October 2017, with entry-level prices set at $399 (over $20,000) and scaling upwards accordingly. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Super Nintendo mini-version coming out this year

After enticing old-school gamers with the release of a mini-replica of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) a few months ago, gaming giant Nintendo is revitalizing another classic console—in a miniature version, of course.

According to EuroGamer, the Kyoto, Japan-based game developer will soon release a smaller, near-identical version of the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) later this year.

Much like the tiny NES, the gaming platform will also boast classic built-in game titles and come with the iconic gray controller.

At the peak of SNES’ popularity—which was regarded as “Nintendo’s golden era of gaming”—the device was the prevalent console for every household and paved the way for multiple popular gaming titles.

Now popular franchises like “Donkey Kong Country,” “Super Mario World” and “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” all first debuted on the SNES gaming platform.

As of this writing, Nintendo has yet to release the possible lineup of games that might appear on the SNES Classic Edition.

The gaming company also remained mum on the console’s development,  but its sudden cancellation of production of the mini-NES last week could signal that they’re shifting focus to the SNES.  Khristian Ibarrola /ra

source: technology.inquirer.net

PlayStation VR, almost a million units sold worldwide

One of virtual reality’s greatest hurdles right now is getting wider distribution and better accessibility. PlayStation VR appears to be in the lead when it comes to this area, as it has cumulatively sold 915,000 units worldwide as of Feb. 19, 2017.

The virtual reality system for the PlayStation 4 console was launched back in October 2016 and offered a more affordable alternative to the PC-based Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR systems. The existing PS4 consoles, which has already sold over 53.4 million unit globally, made it easier for gamers to get into VR gaming as it would only require them to purchase the PS VR headset and the PlayStation Eye camera if they did not already have one. The availability of game titles also made VR gaming on the PlayStation more viable.

Game titles have reached over 100 globally as of February 19. Better yet, the number of publishers and developers involved with creating VR titles has increased to over 360. This includes the industry’s top publishers as well as small independent teams and a range of entertainment companies from movies to music.

There are currently 220 software titles in development for the PS VR. These include highly-anticipated titles such as Ace Combat 7, Final Fantasy XV, Steel Combat, Tekken 7, Farpoint and Gran Turismo Sport. Some video content is also being created. Over 100 of these titles are expected to be released by the end of 2017.

The PlayStation VR system is currently available in 64 countries and regions worldwide. In the Philippines, it can be purchased at an SRP of P22,900 for just the headset and P25,290 with a bundled PlayStation Eye camera. Alfred Bayle/JR

source: technology.inquirer.net

PlayStation 4 Pro unveiled, offers richer gaming experience

Once known only by its codename Neo, the new PlayStation 4 Pro has been officially unveiled by Sony and it comes with a bevy of upgrades that promise a richer gaming experience.

Unveiled by the console’s chief architect, Mark Cerny, the PS4 Pro is now able to support 4K resolution gaming. It is also equipped with a 1TB hard drive and an upgraded GPU for outputting HDR content, reports The Verge.

Cerny says, “PS4 Pro is not intended to blur the line between console generations. Instead, the vision is to take the PS4 experience to extraordinary new levels.” When it becomes available on Nov. 10 for $399, the PS4 is intended to be sold alongside the standard PS4. New games will also be playable on the older hardware.

Cerny also presented 4K game footage on stage from games like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Spider-man to showcase the machine’s prowess. He noted that the PS4 Pro will be able to pull new detail from the games despite being developed for the base PS4. Cerny added that select PS4 titles will be able to maximize the new hardware inside the PS4 Pro and have noticeably improved graphics.

Improving the PlayStation VR experience is also one of the PS4 Pro’s goals. Developers will be able to up the frame rate and increase scene crispness, among other things. Apps specifically for the PS4 Pro is also being developed by YouTube and Netflix.

Over at the other camp, Microsoft is also working on its own beefed up Xbox One codenamed Project Scorpio. It will also have upgraded hardware to support 4k content and support for virtual reality games. However, it won’t be out until fall of 2017.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

LOOK: Conor McGregor stars in new ‘Call of Duty’ game

Popular first-person shooter video game franchise “Call of Duty” has found its new star: UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor.

The 28-year-old mixed martial artist will appear as one of the villains of the latest release entitled “Infinite Warfare,” alongside Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington, according to Activision.

It is a true honour for me to team up with @CallofDuty on this amazing new project! #InfiniteWarfare #TheMacLife https://t.co/rjdBWja9FE

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 2, 2016

 

Game developers digitally cloned the Irish sensation’s iconic movements through the use of a motion capture suit.

He reportedly turned down a movie role to focus on his UFC 202 rematch with Nate Diaz, but couldn’t resist the multibillion-dollar gaming franchise.

In a performance that shouldn’t require much acting, McGregor will lend his unprecedented star power in one of the most successful video game franchises of all time.

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 3,” which was released in 2015, notched the highest-grossing entertainment premiere of any video game with $550 million in its first three days, the report said.

It remains unknown how much McGregor will make for his role. Rumored to have earned around $15 million during his Diaz rematch, he should command a hefty sum.

“Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare” hits stores Nov. 4.  Khristian Ibarrola/rga

source: technology.inquirer.net

Life-sized virtual reality shooting game to hit Japan

What draws people to virtual reality is the prospect of being able to experience a fantastical scenario as if it were really happening. According to VentureBeat, a Melbourne-based company called Zero Latency VR is about to take it up a notch higher when it comes to providing an immersive virtual reality experience.

The company is planning to have multiple players walk around a space wearing head-mounted displays and tracking equipment. Prominent game publisher SEGA is more than happy to make this a reality. Zero Latency is about to make a permanent installation in Japan.

Players will be able to “play” in a variety of modes including fighting waves of zombies in a simulated building.

What’s more fun than sharing virtual reality space with a team of gun-toting, like-minded individuals. Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

VR games coming to Facebook soon — report

Here's something awesome coming to gamers on Facebook: virtual reality gaming.

Facebook's chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer hinted at this at the F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco, tech site Mashable reported.

"Why is VR going to work now, when it didn't work in the '80s and '90s? ... Each one of these core tracks of technology had to hit a minimum core viability...to get to that sense of presence to sense that you're truly there," Mashable quoted Schroepfer as saying.

According to Mashable, Schroepfer also said the prospect of VR gaming could come "this year," and that people may soon play games in VR on "something" shipped by Oculus.

But Mashable also quoted a Facebook spokesperson as saying this was not intended as an announcement of availability for Oculus Rift's consumer version.

"You're going to be able to do it in something shipped by Oculus. This is going to be incredible," he said.

Schroepfer also showed a demo for the game EVE: Valkyrie, where users are in the cockpit of a spaceship.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Oculus VR told Mashable, when asked if Oculus Rift would be for sale this year: "Nah. When we are ready to announce consumer, we will shout it from the mountaintops."

Oculus chief scientist Michael Abrash said during the keynote that VR done right "truly is reality, as far as the observer is concerned."

But he added VR today "is good enough to create experiences, but just barely."

He also said consumer-ready VR headsets could take "a year or two" before they are ready for realistic VR experiences. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Nintendo to start making mobile games

Finally, Nintendo is venturing into the world of smartphones and tablets, after entering a venture with Japanese mobile gaming giant DeNA, a tech site reported.

The venture will see the two companies making smartphone games featuring Nintendo characters, according to a report on The Verge.

Also, Nintendo and DeNA will develop a cross-platform service bridging smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Nintendo's devices.

Such a platform is to launch this fall, the report said.

But those expecting Super Mario Bros. classic or Donkey Kong to be ported straight to the smartphone are out of luck, at least for now.

Only "new original games optimized for smart device functionality" will be made, The Verge quoted DeNA as saying.

It said DeNA wants to "ensure the quality of game experience that consumers expect from this alliance of Nintendo and DeNA."

Also, The Verge report said Nintendo will take a 10-percent stake in DeNA, while DeNA may take 1.24 percent of Nintendo.

This is not Nintendo's only foray into mobile gaming, however. It is to release with GungHo a Mario-themed version of smash hit Puzzle & Dragons for 3DS in April. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Xbox One wireless controllers to come to Windows

Gamers with Windows-based rigs, better start saving up: Microsoft is rolling out soon an adapter that allows Xbox One controllers to connect to Windows PCs wirelessly.

A report on PC World quoted Xbox head Phil Spencer as saying the wireless adapter for Xbox One controllers may come later this year, getting rid of the USB tether.

While the Xbox 360 controller for Windows had a wireless model, Microsoft stopped making the adapter easily available.

A report on PC World said this move may be part of Microsoft's drive to unify the Xbox and Windows ecosystems, or "to keep the Xbox semi-relevant to PC gamers." —Joel Locsin/JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Marvel beefs up 'Avengers Alliance' with 3D tactical combat

The world of Marvel's "Avengers Alliance" role-playing game continues to expand, with a new 3D tactical combat offering.

 

Dubbed "Marvel: Avengers Alliance Tactics," the new tactical game for Facebook has nearly 70 million agents fighting for the fate of Earth.

 

"Heroes are drafted from a roster of more than 20 characters that includes Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. Special characters, like Loki and Task Master, become playable as the game’s story unfolds," Marvel said.

 

The game is available at Facebook.com/MarvelTactics

 

Aside from strategically positioning a team of Marvel heroes within 3D environments, players are to manage the upgrading of their heroes' powers.

 

In the game, S.H.I.E.L.D. has sent a strike force to the Savage Land to investigate an energy anomaly.

 

But our heroes later find out this would be much more than a routine containment mission - uncountable parallel dimensions are about to collide.

 

Players in the game can recruit and train over 20 Marvel heroes and villains at launch, and engage in action-packed tactical combat within 3D environments.

 

They can compete against other players in strategic multiplayer battles, and build and upgrade their headquarters.

  

Super Hero teams can be deployed to defend S.H.I.E.L.D. bases and collect resources. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

‘Hunger Games’ to become mobile game

SAN FRANCISCO - "The Hunger Games" is becoming a mobile game.

Interactive entertainment company Kabam announced Friday that it agreed with film studio Lionsgate to make a title for play on smartphones or tablet computers based on the dystopian books and films.

San Francisco-based Kabam specializes in mobile games that are free-to-play, instead bringing in revenue through tactics such as digital ads or hawking virtual goods or abilities.

"Lionsgate has an unparalleled track record of developing and producing blockbuster movie franchises like 'The Hunger Games,'" Kabam chief operating officer Kent Wakeford said in a release.

"Partnering with Lionsgate, Kabam will build a mobile game that's as much fun to play as the movie is to watch."

Kabam's vision for the game included casting players in roles as District members out to build alliances and liberate themselves in the spirit of the story told in the books on which the film is based.

The story centers around a futuristic society which stages televised death matches among youth.

The first two "Hunger Games" films starring Jennifer Lawrence have taken in more than $1.5 billion at box offices worldwide, according to Kabam.

The next installment in the series is set for release in November.

"We are so pleased to be working with Kabam to give the fans an experience like they have never had before," said Lionsgate executive vice president of digital media Danielle DePalma.

"Being able to role-play with the mentors straight from the world of 'The Hunger Games' will let fans feel as if they are in the middle of the action."

The game will be developed in the Kabam studio in China that made a mobile game based on "The Hobbit." — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Kids tend to eat more when playing computer games featuring candy

NEW YORK - Kids eat more calories when playing a computer game featuring advertisements for candy than when the game has ads for toys, according to a new study from the Netherlands.

Children with low self-control were especially vulnerable to cues from a candy-themed game and ate more sweets even when offered a reward not to eat, the researchers found.

“Impulsive children have insufficient inhibitory behavioral control, and food advertisers try to influence eating behavior, thereby making it more difficult for especially impulsive children to self-regulate their food intake,” Dr. Frans Folkvord told Reuters Health by email.

Since kids are not fully aware of the persuasive intent of food marketeers, it is very difficult for any child to be critical towards the advertisements, said Folkvord, of Radboud University Nijmegen, who led the study.

Past research has shown that food advertising influences how much children eat, but little is known about what makes an individual child susceptible, Folkvord and his colleagues write in the journal Pediatrics.

The researchers recruited kids between the ages of seven and 10 to play online games that had either a candy theme or a toy theme.

“We used an online memory game that is comparable to the advergames that are used by major food companies,” Folkvord said.

Kids played the simple memory ‘advergames’ on a computer. Sixteen cards marked with a candy or toy brand name and logo appeared face down. Two could be flipped over at once. On the other side, they displayed individual candies or toys. The object was to match pairs as quickly as possible.

For the study, researchers divided the 260 children from primary schools in the Netherlands into four groups. Two groups played the candy advergame while the two other groups played an advergame promoting a toy brand instead.

The kids played the games for five minutes in a room with two bowls of jelly candy and milk chocolate candy.

Researchers told one group playing each game that they could eat as much candy as they liked, and told the other group that they could eat the candy, but if they made it to the end without eating they would be rewarded.

Before the game-playing sessions, the researchers also had all the kids answer questions to gauge their level of impulsivity. Based on scores on that test, 39 percent of the children qualified as impulsive, according to Folkvord.

Overall, kids ate more calories when playing a game with a candy theme. But rewarding the kids for avoiding eating the candy in the room during the game sessions resulted in most eating fewer calories.

Children who played the candy game without the inhibition reward ate an average of 156 calories, for example, compared to 87 calories for kids who played the same game with the inhibition reward.

During the toy-themed game, kids without the inhibition reward ate 101 calories, compared to 33 calories when they had been offered the inhibition reward.

For certain more impulsive kids, however, the food cues in the candy game were stronger than the incentive not to eat. The more impulsive kids playing the candy game tended to eat the same amount of calories whether or not they had been offered the inhibition reward.

“Impulsive behavior is extremely common and it is believed to be genetic,” said Dr. Deborah A. Cohen of the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California.

Cohen studies how the social and physical environments influence health.

Impulsiveness tends to go hand in hand with making poor decisions, said Cohen, who was not involved in the new study.

“Most of the food companies have advergames on their websites,” she told Reuters Health by email. “Exposure depends upon how much time children have free computer access and also based upon their awareness of these games.”

“Children as old as 15 do not recognize that advergames are adverts,” Folkvord said. But parents can help train kids to recognize advertising and reduce their undesired effects, like overeating, he said.

“Parents should explain to their children why food companies advertise their products and brands, helping them to become more critical, and subsequently become less susceptible,” Folkvord said.

Even then, there is only so much that parents can do, Cohen said.

“Everyone is susceptible to advertising, even those who believe they aren’t,” she said. “Parents have a limited ability to protect their children, because they do not control advertising nor is it easy for them to limit exposure to advertising.”

Counter-advertising campaigns, like the ‘truth’ campaign against tobacco use, may be one way to inoculate kids against the persuasive power of food ads, she added. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft now available worldwide on iPad

Nearly three weeks after launching in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the mobile version of Blizzard's popular card game series has finally launched worldwide.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is now available in all countries at the App Store for iPad users. New players will be given a free card pack after playing through its tutorial missions, while veteran players can get their packs by starting a game in Play, Arena, or Practice mode.

Card collections can be ported across both PC and iPad versions, allowing long-time players to continue their progress on the go.

Players who prefer to challenge themselves may also play the Curse of Naxxramas, an episodic single-player adventure mode for Hearthstone.

Its first wing, "The Arachnid Quarter", will be released for free and simultaneously on PC, Mac, and iOS, with four other wings available for a yet-to-be-announced price, according to Forbes.


Naxxramas dungeon's five wings will come with 30 new unlockable cards. Each completed wing will also reward players a new Legendary card. Nine new class-specific challenges will also reward players with unique cards if completed during the adventure. - Rie Takumi/TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Xbox One original programming pushes through, starting with 'Humans'

Since the Xbox One's was unveiled at a press event at Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, the company has teased consumers with the prospect of original programming to be made exclusively available on their Xbox Live service. Such programming was going to be just one slice of content in the company's desire to make the Xbox One a do-it-all entertainment device for the entire family.



Microsoft has announced that they are moving forward with original programming. Bloomberg reports that production at Xbox Entertainment Studios will commence this June, under the leadership of Nancy Tellem. Tellem was hired by Microsoft in 2012. Previously, Tellem was president of CBS Entertainment, where she supervised the network's programming lineup. Shows like CSI, Everybody Loves Raymond and Survivor all aired under her watch.

Xbox Entertainment Studios was founded in L.A. last year to create 'true interactive content' for the Xbox brand, not long before the unveiling of the Xbox One. Back then, Microsoft already began talking about a Steven Spielberg produced series based on the megahit franchise Halo. While details have yet to materialize regarding that project, the renewed commitment to original programming comes with the reveal of their first series, entitled 'Humans.'

'Humans' is based on a Swedish series, Äkta människor or 'Real Humans.' A collaboration between Xbox Entertainment Studios (XES) and the UK's Channel 4, the series will be set in an alternate present where robotic servants have become a household accessory. Drama unfolds when a busy father purchases a second-hand model that conceals its own secrets. An eight episode order has been given, and will air on Channel 4 with XES holding exclusive broadcast rights in North America.






"Humans not only questions personal relationships, we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology," said Tellem. "This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios' commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences." Other programs on the slate at XES include "Every Street United," a street football reality show and a sketch comedy show from Sarah Silverman and Michael Cera.

Tellem later told Bloomberg that Microsoft is open to creating programs based on the "rich amount" of intellectual property the company already owns ."Whether it's from a game like Fable or Age of Empires or Gears of War or Forza, which is an amazing car racing game, or Halo. These are the things that frankly if we weren't attached to Microsoft everyone would yearn to have."

Microsoft is just one of a handful of tech companies diversifying into original video content. Netflix has already seen success with their Netflix Originals, which includes shows like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards. The online retailer Amazon has already begun greenlighting shows for the first season of its Amazon Originals. Sony is also developing its own programming for the Playstation service, but so far has only one show in its stable, the high concept procedural Powers. — TJD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com