- GamesCon, the largest European event for gaming, is taking place right now. And it's finally getting the attention it deserves with a visit from German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, who officially opened the event. The initial open with the Chancellor only included 350 guests and a handful of journalists, but hey. At least someone in the government realizes how big of an impact GamesCon has on the economy.
- You may have heard that Vivendi is steadily trying to take over Ubisoft. And can you blame them? Even with the bad publicity, Ubisoft is still hitting sales records. But CEO Yves Guillemot has made it clear that he doesn't want to be bought out by Vivdendi, whom currently own about 27% of shares in the business. Fortune sat down with Guillemot to discuss strategy and what the future of Ubisoft holds.
- NPR talks about how rough it is to be a YouTube star. There is no sarcasm there. No gimick. This is a serious issue - something a number of artists and actors experience. When you have to "always be on" and expect to product/perform, it can take a toll on one's mental health. Being your own boss, playing games, or creating DIY videos may sound like fun, but you have to think about the long-term as well for your well-being.
- Can a gamer and a non-football fan learn to love Madden? The AV Club tested this by taking one of their own, who has little to no football knowledge, and seeing what happens. This is a pretty cool article and showcases the power of video games. It also allows us to ask questions about Madden. Why is this game so popular? Is it because of the football or the mechanics of the game play? Is is the hidden puzzle/strategy element?
- Polygon got some flack for an op-ed regarding the "video game crunch." The piece was in relation to a book titled Significant Zero, written by Walt Williams. In the excerpt posted, Williams talks about how the "crunch" is a sort of metaphorical high for him. He chases it. He thrives on it. While many people are against this method of production, Williams is for it. But he does clarify that the crunch has it's negative side and he does think it's his confession as an addict. Within hours after the piece was posted, Williams clarified his stance on his Twitter account, and it still reflects the original Polygon message. However, some feel that Polygon was trying to glorify the "crunch" cycle. The article is still up for viewing, and it's a good read. It's all about the context - read for yourself.
- Amazon's gaming studio is finally starting to drum up some designs and they are working on a new game titled Breakaway. The concept of the game is centered around the Twitch generation. They want the game to be accessible, easy to stream, and open for people to interact with. While not the first game to go after the streaming crowd, it is one that is hoping to harness that energy to make the game more compelling. It also helps that Amazon owns Twitch, so they can provide a better experience through the direct connection.
- Finally, MGM Grand in Las Vegas is starting a new VR experience where you can fight zombies. Where is the gambling in that? None. But hey, it's VR. It's New! It's Hip! For 30 minutes and $50 you and 7 other people can shoot at zombies. Instead of doing that now, on Steam, for a fraction of the price and any time you want to. But VR! It's Neat!
- Amazon's gaming studio is finally starting to drum up some designs and they are working on a new game titled Breakaway. The concept of the game is centered around the Twitch generation. They want the game to be accessible, easy to stream, and open for people to interact with. While not the first game to go after the streaming crowd, it is one that is hoping to harness that energy to make the game more compelling. It also helps that Amazon owns Twitch, so they can provide a better experience through the direct connection.
- Finally, MGM Grand in Las Vegas is starting a new VR experience where you can fight zombies. Where is the gambling in that? None. But hey, it's VR. It's New! It's Hip! For 30 minutes and $50 you and 7 other people can shoot at zombies. Instead of doing that now, on Steam, for a fraction of the price and any time you want to. But VR! It's Neat!
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