News::Database error publishes data of 3 million Hello Kitty fans

Online researcher Chris Vickery uncovered a database this weekend containing the personal information of 3.3 million accounts associated with Hello Kitty Online and official Hello Kitty websites, including SanrioTown.com, HelloKitty.com and MyMelody.com. The information included users' first and last names, birthdays, genders, countries of origin, email addresses, password hashes, password hint questions and answers, and other data, CSO Online reports. Some of the information was encrypted, but "easily reversible," according to the site. The breach was the result of a misconfigured database installation and all of the information is now secure, CSO says.

Via: Geek.com

Source: CSO

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News::Lawsuit demands the right to resell Steam games

One of the biggest gripes about downloadable games (unless you're a developer) is that you can't typically resell them -- that title is yours forever, even if you'll never play it again. French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir is doing something about it, though. It's suing Valve to demand resales for Steam games. Its policy violates the European Union's right to resell legally purchased software, according to the group. As proof, it points to a 2012 Oracle case where a judge ruled that there was no difference between reselling disc-based copies and their downloaded equivalents.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: UFC-Que Choisir (translated)

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News::Bandai Namco sends its anime-inspired games west in 2016

Bandai Namco, the studio responsible for Dark Souls and Tekken, will expand some of its franchises in the western world with new installments in the Tales of, God Eater and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series. Tales of Berseria is a Japanese role-playing game starring a young woman named Velvet, whose left hand has special, demonic powers; it's confirmed for PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam across the Americas and Europe. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven is a PS4-exclusive, two-on-two brawler starring characters from that franchise's anime and manga storylines.

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News::Video game tie-ins shouldn't feel 'cheap'

It used to be that if you loved a video game, your options for showing it beyond buying the cartridge or disc were pretty limited. Now there's a whole cottage industry for gaming fandom. Want a rad vinyl soundtrack for a hyper-violent indie game? Say no more. How about an evocative statue showcasing the duality of a game's strong, female protagonist? You're covered there, too.

But for every one of the former, there were seemingly a dozen tasteless cash-ins. When these brand extensions are done right, we wind up with heartfelt keepsakes or ways to keep a game in our lives while we're away from the controller. But when a company blows it, you get crap like tacky game-branded mini-fridges.

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News::Man sues Bethesda over his 'Fallout 4' addiction

There's little doubt that Fallout 4's gameplay is involving when you can spend dozens of hours on the main storyline alone. However, one Russian man is convinced that it's too involving. RT says that he's suing Bethesda for 500,000 rubles ($7,030) for failing to warn that Fallout 4 would "become so addictive." Supposedly, the man went on a 3-week gaming marathon that cost him his health, job and wife. Had he known how alluring it was, he says, he would have either waited until the holidays to buy the game or avoided it entirely. We've reached out to Bethesda to both confirm the lawsuit and get its take on the claims.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: RT

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News::A video game journey through America's original remix culture

Long after Deadmau5 finished his closing set at The Game Awards, one new trailer stayed with me. It was understated and soothing, featuring a hand-painted desert landscape, a rolling train and a hint of fantasy, all backed by a melancholic American folk song. It was a teaser for Where the Water Tastes Like Wine from Dim Bulb Games. I noticed the trailer because of its visuals, but I remembered it because of the song.

"[Music is] a form of art that has amazing appeal and power, and its impact is huge," Dim Bulb founder Johnnemann Nordhagen tells me. "Look at any group of music fans and watch how passionate they are. ... In the context of a game, especially a game like this, music helps set the tone for the world and the experience, bringing players to a particular time and place and mood."

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News::Pinball Labs wants to bring the pool hall experience to VR

Early adopters of the soon-to-arrive Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets are going to need games, and what better way to waste time than a few rounds of pinball? Thomas Kadlec, the developer of the Star Trek Voyager Bridge VR experience is trying to round up Kickstarter funds for Pinball Labs, a pinball simulator that will let you design and play your own games. Built with Unreal Engine 4, games will have realistic physics, a built-in table editor and custom user settings. They'll be playable in VR on Vive and Oculus Rift, in desktop mode for PCs and on virtual, multi-monitor cabinets.

Via: Road to VR

Source: Kickstarter

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