News::GamerGate target drops case against harasser that started it all

Game developer Zoë Quinn has been through an awful lot in the 18 months since an ex-boyfriend posted details of his relationship with her online. But now she's dropping harassment charges against the man who essentially started the GamerGate firestorm because it's not worth the emotional trauma to carry the case forward anymore. "Ironically, getting a restraining order against Creep Throat [Quinn's pseudonym for her ex] was the least effective thing I could do in terms of getting him out of my life for good, and for protecting myself," she writes.

Source: Zoe Quinn (Tumblr)

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News::Valve's VR technology now works with the Unity game engine

For many gaming platforms, the litmus test these days is whether or not they get official support in Unity's game engine -- land that and many developers (and by extension, gamers) are likely to give them a closer look. Valve just got a big credibility boost, then, as Unity is introducing native SteamVR support. If a virtual reality game runs on Unity's seemingly ubiquitous code, it's that much more likely to work with the HTC Vive and other SteamVR-friendly headsets. And much like the Unreal Engine, teams can edit in VR if they want to know what a scene will look like for players.

Via: Jenn Duong (Twitter 1), (2), (3)

Source: Unity

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News::Shooter classic 'Descent' gets a second crowdfunded revival

Apparently, there are a lot of gamers (and game developers) who are still fond of Descent's mind-breaking, 6-degrees-of-freedom shooting action. Just months after the success of Descent: Underground, the aptly-named Revival Productions is crowdfunding its own take on the formula, Overload. It doesn't have the same name as the zero-G combat classic, but there's arguably a stronger pedigree -- co-founders Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog were instrumental to making the earliest Descent games, and other higher-ups built Descent 3. They remember the mechanics and level design that made the original a cult hit, and they're hoping to preserve that vibe while introducing modern technology.

Source: Kickstarter

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News::GameCenter CX - Episode 149 - Kickle Cubicle

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News::Make massive mechanizations with Minecraft's Overworld update

Following on from last fall's update to Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition beta and Minecraft: Pocket Edition, which saw the introduction of basic redstone components, Microsoft today announced that the game's next update will deliver even more advanced mechanisms as well as new enemies and achievements. Players will also be able to more easily share their favorite worlds with a new map import/export function.

Source: Xbox Wire

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News::'The Walking Dead: Michonne' debuts on February 23rd

The Walking Dead: Michonne is a three-episode miniseries from the undead-drama masterminds at Telltale Games, and the first installment is set to drop on February 23rd for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Android and iOS versions land on February 25th. The premiere episode is titled "In Too Deep" and it ties directly into Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead graphic novel: Michonne disappears between issues #126 and #139, and Telltale's miniseries divulges what she did during that absence. Spoilers: She becomes a badass pirate.

Source: Telltale Games

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News::'Final Fantasy IX' is now on iOS and Android

You could argue that Final Fantasy IX is the long-running series' high point. It's certainly the highest-rated Final Fantasy game on Metacritic, even if its sales and nostalgic value pale in comparison to Final Fantasy VII. Putting that argument aside for a moment, it's easy to say that it's definitely a game worth playing if you like JRPGs. And now -- less than two months after it was announced -- it's available on iOS and Android. The bar for entry has never been lower.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Square Enix (Google Play), (App Store)

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News::BioWare writer David Gaider to helm 'Baldur's Gate' series

When longtime BioWare writer David Gaider announced his departure from the studio, many wondered where he would end up next. The answer shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. He's joining Beamdog, a game developer and distributor best known for the "enhanced" remakes of Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II. That's notable because Gaider started his career at BioWare working on Baldur's Gate II, before moving on to larger writing roles with Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and, most famously, the ongoing Dragon Age franchise.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Beamdog (Blog Post)

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News::MadCatz cutting a third of staff after 'Rock Band 4' flop

Peripheral maker Mad Catz has posted yet another disappointing financial report, sparking executive resignations and major layoffs. The filing is the first full quarter since Rock Band 4 was released last year, and the game helped sales increase to $65 million, 114 percent higher than the year before.

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News::Sonic to star in a 'live-action and animation hybrid' movie

If you've played the most recent Sonic the Hedgehog games, you might be wondering how life can get any worse for the blue blur. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was universally panned by the press, and previous efforts such as Lost World and Unleashed didn't fare much better. How could his reputation be dragged any lower? Well, perhaps with a film. Not just any film though -- a worrying "live-action and animation hybrid." The project, which is currently still in the planning stages, was revealed by Sega president and CEO Hajime Satomi in an interview with The Worldfolio.

Via: Den of Geek

Source: The Worldfolio

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News::'Metal Gear Online' adds a bit of sabotage next month

Despite what you might think, Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima's unceremonious departure from publisher Konami won't affect how Metal Gear Online plays out. To wit, the company's bolstering the amount of post-release add-ons for the adversarial multiplayer suite next month as part of a "commitment" to the game's fans. A trio of new maps and a playable version of the eye-rollingly-designed sniper Quiet will be available in March for $4 in the "Cloaked in Silence" pack, while a quartet of emote packs will sell for $2 each.

Source: Konami

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