[{"_updatedAt":"2024-12-06T19:28:23Z","category":"video-games","summary":"It's an opportunity to try out some games that are still being developed.","_rev":"wY2M0cMS7HxrcE9YGhuXLp","title":"Xbox Just Announced A New Demo Event For Independent Video Games","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","body":[{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/xbox-is-hosting-an-indie-game-fest-demo-event-for-unreleased-games-and-yall-better-support-it/","_key":"4b405c516c58","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_key":"4224d5c6e49f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The gaming world has evolved tremendously over the past few generations, from the 4-bit Atari 2600 to the hyperrealistic, interactive titles of today. 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Basically, participants will have an opportunity to download","_key":"ea79330c48620"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" dozens of indie titles","_key":"72d917e4f16d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and play some video games they might not have otherwise even known were coming.","_key":"97d3e7dcff87"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0243ed435583"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But don’t get the wrong idea about the term “demo.” Xbox advises that, unlike the demos available on consoles via the Microsoft Store, the games included in the upcoming event aren’t taken from a fully (or nearly) completed version of a full game.","_key":"f52368c3b1aa0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6165d74f65a3"},{"_key":"32f90817bd85","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"78aed894e2e60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Think of these as ‘"},{"_key":"090f8e453eb8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"show floor demos"},{"marks":[],"text":"’ and not necessarily indicative of the final product,” the company said of the indie demos. “You’ll get to experience these games early — some way early — which gives you the chance to provide your feedback!”","_key":"0a33200c3a28","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"A few things to remember","_key":"c6bdca7594900","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fd7d2e842aae"},{"style":"normal","_key":"dde69f5bc00c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It might sound like all fun and games, but Xbox wants participants to be aware of a few ground rules and restrictions before diving in.","_key":"20a967a3b7d50"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3d2850e328c5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For starters, demos will be available to ","_key":"ef11596c2ccd0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"download through the Xbox Dashboard","_key":"4a3655f787b1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", but they won’t be there forever.","_key":"176bd70da33f"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f8c7488f15ee","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Some might be re-published to the Demo channel later, but many will disappear at the end of the month, so be sure to check them out while you can,” Xbox advised.","_key":"d11ca0eace600"}]},{"_key":"d24bf626b3d0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One important step players can take, the company concluded, involves reaching out to developers “","_key":"a5050117d65b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"on social media or through their websites","_key":"b4b82e07ec5d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” to share feedback and/or constructive 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","id":"66ErFrQX","_createdAt":"2024-08-19T22:31:33Z","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For generations, video games have been a common scapegoat cited by those who blamed them for everything from glorifying violence to exacerbating laziness.","_key":"ece24e11ffd70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"65b1176bf75b","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02643-8","_key":"a1044847aeb0"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But when the world shut down during the pandemic, these games ","_key":"4d9917eb4ccc0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"became a lifeline","_key":"af07c0c0ad97"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for countless people around the world. And now there’s ","_key":"d7ece35bf986"},{"_type":"span","marks":["a1044847aeb0"],"text":"evidence","_key":"4d9917eb4ccc1"},{"marks":[],"text":" showing just how beneficial they were.","_key":"4d9917eb4ccc2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"607265e72855"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More than a year of data","_key":"7c190169631c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e46885ba68ee"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Researchers in Japan studied what impact owning and using a video game console had on individuals throughout much of the COVID-19 lockdown period (specifically from late 2020 to early 2022).","_key":"a9159e83bf6b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3e3a06a41f3"},{"children":[{"text":"More than 8,000 people were entered into a lottery for a chance","_key":"07334271d1810","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" to buy either a PS5 or Nintendo Switch","_key":"8f6d4d26a4ee"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and the results of the ensuing study were recently published in the Nature Human Behavior journal.","_key":"0e33f2921e44"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"796d148a6bad","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"db45ee80bbed","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here are some of the highlights:","_key":"b352f44559a40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f8c977ca585a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"All of those who received a console demonstrated"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" lower psychological distress","_key":"be0da68d9895","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and increased life satisfaction.","_key":"14b2c4c91501"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0638cc43540b","listItem":"bullet"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"721e6622e99b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Among those who purchased a PS5, ","_key":"e175fae5e79e0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the greatest boost","_key":"1b4ac1c22a17"},{"_key":"f7afbfb9568b","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" was seen in men, avid gamers, and those without children."}],"level":1},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The group that bought Switches, on the other hand, ","_key":"ba79a620f4030"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"provided a bigger benefit","_key":"3b749f5320a1"},{"text":" to inexperienced gamers and families.","_key":"d95d05dacbf2","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c8b3725d788b","listItem":"bullet"},{"children":[{"_key":"0636668326f60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So while it seems clear that video games can provide a psychological benefit in certain situations, it’s also apparently important to choose the right console for your lifestyle."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"feacd02d7e97","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A different type of research","_key":"97aa9ff5363c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3cc57c65fa0"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b717fbcb00db","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While some folks might be surprised to learn that playing video games can significantly improve the lives of those living during a lockdown, many experts say the study’s results make sense.","_key":"0be4bd3f34f60"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Unlike previous clinical studies that don’t look at the real-world impact of gaming, this research is more focused on the daily lives of gamers. 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News about","_key":"c4f1a424651f0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" expensive in-game purchases","_key":"ccfdce274460"},{"text":" and worries that the game might never actually surface at all has fueled allegations that the entire thing is just a long-running scam.","_key":"8c4cbd9cb4f8","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"91c792eee182","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"222a3d0c28f3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Nevertheless, CIG insiders say the game is coming and it will be worth the wait.","_key":"bfa57fa526090","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"285219bce874","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A sneak peek","_key":"3c443a064c470"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"b697b186c77d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"“Star Citizen Alpha 3.23” sparked a huge amount of buzz with its release, and many supporters of the project are holding out hope that the finished product will live up to the hype. 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Directly from the research:","_key":"d3e9e72f346a0"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"a861e7e44e820"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"492e67787da6","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4f514e435c79","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Both groups showed increased response time as difficulty level increased. For all conditions and overall performance, VGP [video game - players] had faster response times and higher accuracy than NVGP. VGP were significantly more accurate than NVGP [non video game - players] for task performance overall (by 2.24 ± 6.87%) and easy condition tasks (7.12 ± 5.38%).","_key":"2cae41752a480"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"\n","_key":"df88dc22e1210"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What does all this mean for the gaming community? Straightforward, it means science shows positive brain functions from playing video games. 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video game news, not a soul expected to hear today, French officials are taking a stand against English ","_key":"eae3c329bdcb0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"words","_key":"eae3c329bdcb1","_type":"span","marks":["88acb20d346f"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in gaming. The culture ministry attempts to 'preserve' the French language (which is in no danger of disappearing) and wants to help clean up the Anglicism in the French gaming community.","_key":"eae3c329bdcb2"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"5701b0cd179d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e5aba2067999","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"77b111156364","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The culture ministry announced while speaking with the Agence France-Presse (AFP), however, it's up to government workers to enforce the banning of words like 'pro-gamer' and 'streamer.'","_key":"820723c4cb720"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"198bd8f93c650"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6030759150f3"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d7cbb72d5185","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-03-15-second-record-year-for-french-market-at-5-6-billion","_key":"d6fff186d232"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The concerns are said to come as an effort to help 'non-gamers' in France understand the gaming community, despite the gaming market in France seeing incredible ","_key":"382d5da5285e0"},{"_key":"382d5da5285e1","_type":"span","marks":["d6fff186d232"],"text":"growth"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (even during the pandemic).","_key":"382d5da5285e2"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"adf54a8fc687","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"1593baaed0ed0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The effort by the culture ministry seems to feel far over the top with a hint of nationalism, which has dark undertones. It's unlikely many French gamers were having difficulty communicating with 'non-gamers' concerning gaming or were degrading (a word used by language watchdog Academie Francaise in February regarding non-French communication) the French language.","_key":"77f21f1936440"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"67890151bc56"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"","_key":"3878557a502a0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"97b81e74fb93"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Can we let gamers play and communicate as they see fit as long as they are not discriminating or causing any other harm?","_key":"a5f7cb72c1620"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d2ed70d34c03","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"58264b15-0b4c-42d0-a0de-be9f9d58ec91"},{"category":"video-games","slug":"/story/2022/06/a-district-9-sequel-is-coming","_id":"f7e102ab-473a-4800-9c1e-e9f62c4410a7","author":{"_ref":"pYanAoHWh","_type":"reference"},"id":"c4NkKP","publishDate":"2022-06-01","title":"A District 9 Sequel Is Coming","summary":"Neil Blomkamp confirms 'District 10.'","image":{"attribution":"Sony Pictures","asset":{"_rev":"cAWu7qvPfyNGMEttw8IUn0","mimeType":"image/jpeg","uploadId":"UUx6q4fgATlqoqcpu93WnOM267YypjDP","size":141689,"_createdAt":"2023-02-28T20:46:40Z","_id":"image-2bfeefc3b62f70437b96695f9715df2fbb89ecaf-1000x1483-jpg","originalFilename":"District 9.jpg","extension":"jpg","sha1hash":"2bfeefc3b62f70437b96695f9715df2fbb89ecaf","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2bfeefc3b62f70437b96695f9715df2fbb89ecaf-1000x1483.jpg","assetId":"2bfeefc3b62f70437b96695f9715df2fbb89ecaf","metadata":{"dimensions":{"width":1000,"aspectRatio":0.6743088334457181,"height":1483,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"dZHB_A-:NHof_Nxu%Mof9GWUt7WBRkWBM{WB.8ofWBkC","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"background":"#927b72","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.54},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.49,"background":"#40352c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.54,"background":"#927b72"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#d0857e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.54},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#040c06","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.15},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.67,"background":"#cbb1aa","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#ce4546","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.34}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2bfeefc3b62f70437b96695f9715df2fbb89ecaf-1000x1483.jpg","_updatedAt":"2023-02-28T20:46:40Z"},"_type":"image","alt":""},"_rev":"BPyZGvs0pJRGqz7s02FtQC","_type":"story","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/neill-blomkamp-says-district-9-sequel-is-coming-in-near-future-1835467/","_key":"7158e462284d"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you were a fan of the 2009 hit ","_key":"25b92e18793a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"District 9","_key":"25b92e18793a1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", it's time to rejoice (unless you're one of those who hate all sequels and fun). 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The game which takes place in the post-apocalyptic United States that is overrun by robotic Machines is one of the most lucrative video game titles in the past decade.","_key":"bb6c6c0e6ed73"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"fe273bf4606e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"24b61b52019e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1fbd5aff52f","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://twitter.com/hermenhulst/status/1492136368541212673","_key":"68da746af2b0"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In February 2022, ","_key":"54ff8ae0f30d0"},{"text":"Horizon Zero Dawn","_key":"54ff8ae0f30d1","_type":"span","marks":["em"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" ","_key":"54ff8ae0f30d2"},{"_type":"span","marks":["68da746af2b0"],"text":"surpassed","_key":"54ff8ae0f30d3"},{"_key":"54ff8ae0f30d4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" selling over 20 million copies across the Playstation 4 and PC since the release of the title. The title went on to win numerous awards including the 2017 Golden Joystick Awards 'Best PlayStation Game.' Surprisingly, the title did not win a 'Game of the Year' award while being up for nomination."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d2859a6936ad","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"4267816cda4f0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Along with","_key":"3542c253587e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" Horizon Zero Dawn","_key":"3542c253587e1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", Netflix has a list of video game adaptations including ","_key":"3542c253587e2"},{"_key":"3542c253587e3","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Resident Evil, The Cuphead Show, "},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"a future ","_key":"3542c253587e4"},{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Bioshock ","_key":"3542c253587e5"},{"marks":[],"text":"film, ","_key":"3542c253587e6","_type":"span"},{"marks":["em"],"text":"Castlevania","_key":"3542c253587e7","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and others. The series could bring a new audience to the Horizon franchise, setting it on the path to becoming one of the most popular gaming franchises in the modern concise.","_key":"3542c253587e8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"fc9581ea5c62"},{"style":"normal","_key":"65f917cc2186","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"743a1f8c25570"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"02b325b19845","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Does Horizon have that much potential? 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A release date attached to the hyped Amazon show could lead to massive hours for the Daedalic Entertainment labor force.","_key":"7c66d1c9ab345"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"c50d1f8e556a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8e7d9bef4814"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9d31019cecce","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/24/23138534/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-release-date","_key":"7aeb76422fb3"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to Jay Peters of The Verge, players will undergo a lot of sneaking around in the ","_key":"4ac796c9fb320"},{"_type":"span","marks":["7aeb76422fb3"],"text":"gameplay","_key":"4ac796c9fb321"},{"_key":"4ac796c9fb322","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", with the choices gamers make influencing the narrative."}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"","_key":"2e3ed9b28a4b0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36820e34f8f4","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The plot is roughly parallel to the events of ","_key":"8c0b6b45c6250"},{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"The Fellowship of the Ring","_key":"8c0b6b45c6251"},{"text":". So, fans of the novel and film will be familiar with the story; therefore, surprises should be limited. However, the deal between Daedalic and Middle-earth Enterprises ensures the game is canon, meaning there could be some adventures that are new to long-time fans.\n","_key":"8c0b6b45c6252","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3199dac0fe9f","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The game will feature characters from Tolkien lore that will provide a bit of nostalgia. With a lot at the stake for Daedalic Entertainment, a well-reviewed game (more by fans than critics) is necessary for the well thought of studio.","_key":"b6d1031e10c90","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0c4435693952"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"b8051f3a738c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c11e711993d4"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"However, Daedalic has a great track record. 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Yesterday the National Labor Relations Board counted the unionization votes by the Raven Software Quality Assurance team. Raven Software's parent company Activision Blizzard did all they could in an attempt to organize the Quality Assurance team in a way to prevent collective bargaining; however, the National Labor Relations Board saw through the attempt.\n","_key":"a1ceb380a69a2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"53800a29afc7","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2022/05/23/1100743563/in-major-video-game-company-first-activision-blizzard-employees-are-joining-a-un","_key":"22e50fa64650"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The vote was ","_key":"158dfc2e69cc0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["22e50fa64650"],"text":"successful","_key":"158dfc2e69cc1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with a 19-3 vote, meaning the 28 Quality Assurance employees of Raven Software have officially unionized. Kevin Lui, Activision Blizzard spokesperson, said the following regarding the successful vote. \"We respect and believe in the right of all employees to decide whether or not to support or vote for a union,\" Liu began. \"We believe that an important decision that will impact the entire Raven Software studio of roughly 350 people should not be made by 19 Raven employees.\"\n","_key":"158dfc2e69cc2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, Activision Blizzard would throw a little salt on the moment; however, this is monumental for the video game industry in the United States. 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Activision attempted a procedural trick to prevent the National Labor Relations Board from recognizing Raven Quality Assurances workers as a bargaining unit, an effort that was ","_key":"93ab5464d2d12"},{"_type":"span","marks":["5e689994e024"],"text":"rejected","_key":"93ab5464d2d13"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" by the board.","_key":"93ab5464d2d14"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"72df91f5d751","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"","_key":"5505f526a9cd0","_type":"span"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"74ceb2c2bda3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The National Labor Relations Board is counting the mail-in ballots today. 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Buckle Up","_rev":"l28MLa9EqJWOqXPxf5c91A","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2022-05-21T12:13:27Z","slug":"/story/2022/05/do-you-like-tomb-raider-buckle-up","author":{"_ref":"pYanAoHWh","_type":"reference"},"id":"r5bFOf"},{"_rev":"BPyZGvs0pJRGqz7s02FljI","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"pYanAoHWh"},"publishDate":"2022-05-11","slug":"/story/2022/05/ea-dumps-fifa-fifa-moves-on-quick","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_key":"f236c1239a9e","_type":"link","href":"https://www.polygon.com/23065395/fifa-23-ea-sports-fc-name-change-2023"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Electronic Arts (EA) ","_key":"9cddb85469e50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["f236c1239a9e"],"text":"announced","_key":"9cddb85469e51"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" it was ending its relationship with the controversial world association football (soccer to the uncultured) organization FIFA after 29 years. EA Sports will launch its new title named ","_key":"9cddb85469e52"},{"_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"EA Sports FC ","_key":"9cddb85469e53"},{"_key":"9cddb85469e54","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"(FC is for Football Club, again for the uncultured) on July 23, 2023."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"98bca3e4d8fe"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3dfe9278ad58","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"","_key":"bb0baf9b5a320","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bba6a35fcb9e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The announcement comes less than a year after EA Sports top executive, Cam Weber stated the company was thinking about dumping its exclusive license with FIFA. It was on that day EA filed trademarks for 'EA Sports FC.'","_key":"d708255076b30"}]},{"_key":"3513d89ffd39","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"9a13ef5250990"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"7831ea2ab2e2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Hmm...sounds like EA was planning this breakup for quite some time and aren't going to give the \"It's not you, it's me\" excuse. According to EA's press release, the company believes the FIFA license was more of an expense than an attribute to the popular titles.","_key":"8501ff59f8400"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"6a0fdc436279","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"cf47de220f7c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":""}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Hopefully, EA gets rid of the Ultimate Team scam, but that's unlikely to happen right EA?","_key":"146250ee2b950","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6f54bfce3d6b"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"","_key":"3ea4c82faba60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9c1e61b53e34"},{"_key":"a1aeaaa78716","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"FIFA 23 will be the last FIFA game under the EA brand. FIFA realizing it needed a good PR spin (FIFA has spin practice with deflecting concerns of human rights advocates and the Qatar World Cup) announced 'a number' of new non-simulation games are already under production for release this fall.\n","_key":"75d0784956aa0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7623761e1a52","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"FIFA's move to non-exclusive license holders will be interesting. The gaming community will let EA and FIFA know which one was the true market draw soon enough.","_key":"a56a4429ac490"}],"_type":"block"}],"_createdAt":"2022-05-11T11:01:32Z","_type":"story","id":"60OJKa","category":"video-games","summary":"EA decides to break up with FIFA, leading to FIFA announcing it wants to see multiple new people at once.","_id":"702f3067-8899-46bf-912e-fc2385402e92","visibility":"true","image":{"_type":"image","alt":"","attribution":"EA/FIFA","asset":{"_id":"image-16ce9d3d755048c76f6bc8c0cf777896883cdcfb-1200x675-jpg","extension":"jpg","uploadId":"GkW38lMZKSPwc9pktbhiJk8fKbcXyK47","_rev":"cAWu7qvPfyNGMEttw8IOjO","sha1hash":"16ce9d3d755048c76f6bc8c0cf777896883cdcfb","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/16ce9d3d755048c76f6bc8c0cf777896883cdcfb-1200x675.jpg","size":33904,"assetId":"16ce9d3d755048c76f6bc8c0cf777896883cdcfb","_updatedAt":"2023-02-28T20:46:36Z","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MIA,tVj[00WB~qs;j[NGay%2D$ay-;j[IU","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"background":"#204c78","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.09},"lightMuted":{"population":0.52,"background":"#abb5bb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.06,"background":"#e62c22","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"population":0.52,"background":"#abb5bb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#34446c"},"muted":{"background":"#b46c84","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#efb0a2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.03}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQHBf/EACEQAAEEAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQFABExUQcSFEFh/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AgVPXjLtIzANE8pGm2x5JPvKV5gpKlqsrn6aqKKjYoj7iN+qJvhF7X9yRxJT8aQLsd0m3B4IV0qZoT761mRjZlTn3Wi1sSLaLrjBCvx2+8MT9y7XDKj//2Q==","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1200,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":675}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/16ce9d3d755048c76f6bc8c0cf777896883cdcfb-1200x675.jpg","_createdAt":"2023-02-28T20:46:36Z","originalFilename":"ea-sports-fifa.jpg"}},"_updatedAt":"2023-03-01T15:50:52Z","title":"EA Dumps FIFA, FIFA Moves On Quick"}]