News::Read the first 13 years of 'Nintendo Power' on Archive.org

Before the yawning information-spouting chasm of the Internet, there were two ways you could get information on video games: your dubiously-trustful buddies and trade magazines. Despite being a company rag that only covered things coming out on its own consoles, Nintendo Power was one of the best of these publications for its wonderful artwork and community culture. But don't take my word for it: Now you can parse through the first 13 years of the magazine at Archive.org.

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News::Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal will star in 'The Division'

Ubisoft's mission to bring another of its major franchises to the big screen has been given a boost after the company confirmed The Division movie's first big stars. As predicted last month, Jake Gyllenhaal has signed onto the project alongside Interstellar and Zero Dark Thirty actress Jessica Chastain. As agents, they'll combine to help restore a dystopian New York that has been decimated by a lethal strain of smallpox and has become host to powerful criminal gangs.

Source: Ubisoft Blog

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News::Twitch lets viewers tip more broadcasters by 'Cheering'

To entice top broadcasters to its streaming service (and make a cut from their tips), Twitch recently introduced "Cheering." It lets viewers spend actual cash to purchase "Bits," which they can then lavish on streamers by sending animated chat "emotes." The streamer gets to keep that money, minus Twitch's hefty 30 percent cut. Cheering has been in beta for just 100 broadcasters, but the Amazon-owned company announced that it's now available to all 11,000 or so partner streamers in the US and UK.

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News::Telltale's 'Batman' game does Bruce Wayne justice

Batman comics excel when they dive into the psyche of Bruce Wayne. The moody billionaire is conflicted by his desire to be a good person while protecting Gotham by any means necessary. How much force is excessive? Where do you draw the line? It's easy for the Caped Crusader to lose sight. Bruce is also a genius, capable of unravelling the most complex mysteries. Watching him scour the city and piece together a supervillain's plot is as rewarding for the reader as seeing the Dark Knight foil it with fists.

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News::Overwatch heroes are getting Olympic-themed makeovers

With the 2016 Olympics just days away, Blizzard is giving its popular multiplayer shooter an unofficial sporting makeover. To coincide with the events in Rio, every one of Overwatch's 22 heroes has been assigned a sport in the "Summer Games" and given a selection of new skins, sprays and other in-game emotes to play with. Reaper is a BMX rider and Winston is a keen volleyball player, but nothing beats Roadhog as a high diver.

Source: PlayStation Store (UK)

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News::Xbox One S review: A worthy successor -- to the Xbox 360

Microsoft is making a lot of assumptions with the Xbox One S. It's a 40 percent smaller, 100 percent whiter version of the Xbox One that launched nearly three years ago, albeit with a few key differences. First is the built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player and compatibility with high dynamic range video for increased contrast and a wider color gamut. Then there's support for Ultra HD streaming from apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. As for the rest of the system? For better and worse, it's basically the same.

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News::'Pokémon Go' makers explain why they blocked third-party apps

Gotta catch 'em all. It's the itch you just can't stop scratching -- and one where a wave of unofficial Pokémon Go apps and web-based maps helped clue you in on exactly where those Jynx were hiding. Unfortunately, alongside an app update last weekend, the team behind the app shut down data access to third-party services like PokeVision. It released a statement to users on its Facebook page, saying these services were "interfering with our ability to maintain quality of service for our users and to bring Pokémon Go to users around the world." It added that the huge number of users has had an effect on its roll-out plans.

Source: Pokemon Go (Facebook)

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