Entertainment Archives

The FTC’s “Click to Cancel” Regulation—Explained

Do you dread canceling subscriptions because the process can be so convoluted? Did you know companies do this on purpose? The global subscription services market is expected to double in size by 2026. Much of its success comes from making it difficult for people to cancel their subscriptions. The US Federal Trade Commission has proposed a “Click to Cancel” rule that would crack down on deceptive company practices. We’ll take a look at the Click to Cancel rule below.

What the Microsoft and Activision Deal Means for Gamers

Why are some wary of the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal? What does it mean for the future of Activision? Microsoft can proceed with a $69 billion deal to purchase video game publisher Activision Blizzard—the largest such deal in gaming history. Some members of the gaming community share the FTC’s concerns, while those in favor of the merger say this is an opportunity for Microsoft to improve Activision. Below we’ll take a look at the ruling and what it means for the future.

Is Game Development Hard? Challenges of Making a Game

A man at a computer wearing headphones and developing a video game.

Is game development hard to work in? What are the unique challenges of being a video game developer? Video games have evolved tremendously throughout the years, and it’s all thanks to the hard work of everyone on development teams. It’s not an easy job making video games, and Jason Schreier’s book Blood, Sweat, and Pixels explains why. Here are the complications developers often come across when working on the interactivity of games.

Why Beta Testing Video Games Is a Must for Studios

Why is beta testing video games important? How could better beta testing have helped Diablo 3? Beta testing is when individuals are hired to play video games before they’re released. This is a crucial aspect of the game development process because the players may find bugs and glitches that developers missed. Continue reading to learn more about why beta testing is essential for a good game.

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier: Overview

What is Blood, Sweat, and Pixels about? Why is making a video game so hard? Blood, Sweat, and Pixels describes the many challenges video game developers face in the industry. A couple of these includes constantly evolving technology and adhering to a schedule during development. Read below for a brief overview of Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier.

The Difficulties of Adapting to New Video Game Technology

How has video game technology changed over the years? How do game developers navigate these changes? These days, the best video games look so realistic that they could easily be mistaken for a movie. This is thanks to the always-evolving video game technology that developers are forced to keep up with every year. Let’s look at how developers adapt to new technological advancements in the video game industry.

How Was Stardew Valley Made by Just One Person?

How was Stardew Valley made? Did one person really create the entire farming simulator by themselves? Stardew Valley is one of the most popular farming simulators around, and it was created by one person: Eric Barone. To achieve this, Barone had to spend four years working on the game, putting in eight to 15 hours a day. Find out more about the stressful conditions of Stardew Valley‘s development.

Star Wars 1313: Boba Fett’s Lost Video Game Adventure

What happened to the video game Star Wars 1313? How did Boba Fett’s legacy live on beyond the lost game? In Star Wars 1313, Boba Fett was meant to be the playable character that let players live out their wildest bounty hunter dreams. However, Boba Fett was never meant to be the main character in the game, and creative conflicts ultimately led to its cancellation. Learn more about why developers decided to cancel one of the most anticipated Star Wars games.

Video Game Development Roles That Cause Chaos

What are outside video game development roles? How do investors and business executives affect a video game’s release window? One of the biggest challenges in making a video game doesn’t relate to the development itself. Instead, it’s a product of collaboration with investors, publishers, and other people out of the game studio whose interests in selling the product might conflict with the developers’ interests in creating it. Discover how an outsider’s perspective can change everything about the development of a video game.

Reddit Moderators Are Protesting—Here’s Why

Why are Reddit moderators protesting? What new changes does Reddit plan to make? How have similar situations panned out in the past? Volunteer Reddit moderators are protesting a change to the platform’s policies that would potentially put an end to most third-party Reddit apps. Reddit contends the change is necessary to increase advertising revenue and reduce overhead. Here’s a look at the proposed changes, how it would affect Reddit moderators, and examples of similar situations from the past.