Gather ’round, children, and let me tell you a story about the old bugaboo we used to call DRM. Digital Rights Management was the beast under every gamer’s bed in the mid-2000s, an invisible bit of software baked into game discs that dictated and tracked player behavior under the guise of preventing piracy. DRM software, like SecuROM, limited the times a game could be downloaded and forced players to regularly connect to the internet for authentication checks, at a time when less than half of American adults had reliable broadband connections. DRM features soured the releases of BioShock, Mass Effect and Spore, and by 2010, anti-piracy software had rendered Assassin’s Creed 2 and Splinter-Cell: Conviction unplayable. When Microsoft attempted to release the Xbox One with always-on DRM features in 2013, intense vitriol from fans forced the company to reverse its plans at the 11th hour. There were lawsuits. DRM was a curse word. Meanwhile, Valve was building out Steam. When it landed in 2003, the digital PC storefront was designed to streamline the patch process for games like Counter-Strike and make it easier for Valve to implement anti-piracy and anti-cheat measures. Steam was made to be a DRM machine. In 2004, with the release of Half-Life 2, Valve made Steam a requirement for every player, and even those who’d purchased new, physical copies of the game had to boot up the launcher first. There was some low-level grumbling, but PC players were used to being lab rats, and... Continue reading at 'Engadget'
[ Engadget | 2024-03-04 16:30:21 UTC ]
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Early this football season, the National Football League began shifting tactics to engage younger fans on social media as people reallocate their attention from TV to digital content that is fun, snackable and highly visual. With Super Bowl 57 quickly approaching, Big Game advertisers--who spent... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2023-02-08 19:41:19 UTC ]
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Netflix is adding two more releases to its excellent library of games. The streaming giant announced Monday it recently secured exclusive mobile rights to Dust & Neon and Highwater, two upcoming titles from indie publisher Rogue Games. Of the two, the former will arrive first when it hits... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-02-06 18:00:28 UTC ]
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Cloud gaming libraries normally get larger, but Amazon Luna's appears to be shrinking — for now, at least. 9to5Googlenotes that the paid Luna+ tier will lose 53 games in February. Many of these are older or niche titles you won't necessarily miss, but that does mean losing classics like No More... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-02-06 16:53:46 UTC ]
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PW caught up with the famous lexicographer to talk about the recently published Fifth Edition of his essential guide—and his lifelong fascination with the English language. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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It's a rough time for fans of several live service games, which are titles designed to be constantly updated for a long time. A bunch are shutting down in the near future, and CrossfireX and Knockout City are among the latest to join the list.CrossfireX is an Xbox console version of the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-02-03 20:24:59 UTC ]
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An updated version of the author and preacher’s classic My Utmost for His Highest from Our Daily Bread Publishing is set to reach a new generation of readers. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-27 05:00:00 UTC ]
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As many in the accessibility community will tell you, inclusive design isn’t an endeavor that’s “one and done.” It’s a continuous, ongoing effort to ensure that as new products and services are made, people with different needs or disabilities aren’t left out. Over the last three years, Engadget... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2023-01-16 15:00:07 UTC ]
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The commercial chiefs of ITV, Hearst and Spotify say the industry is more resilient to economic shocks than in previous downturns. Continue reading at Media Week
[ Media Week | 2023-01-09 10:49:09 UTC ]
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To try out the recipes in the new cookbook Fabulous Modern Cookies, I asked the baker I trust the most to join me in the kitchen. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2022-12-23 12:00:00 UTC ]
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With sales in the adult books and children’s/young adult categories falling 16.4% and 9.9%, respectively, total industry sales dropped 9.3% in October from a year ago for the 1,370 publishers that report results to AAP’s StatShot program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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London's International Excellence Awards extend their nomination dates, and Hay's season opens with its Colombian festival dates. The post Industry Notes: London Book Fair Awards, Hay Festival in Colombia appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-16 16:12:24 UTC ]
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Our first salary and jobs survey in three years found that the publishing industry’s lack of racial diversity and gender pay gap haven’t improved much. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Nielsen faced growing scrutiny and competition as it went private and industry shifted toward CTV, clean rooms and outcomes. Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2022-12-14 10:30:00 UTC ]
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It’s been a bumper year for gaming on the go. For a spell, it kinda felt like Nintendo was the only name in town, but it’s since become one of the more exciting corners of gaming. Today, there are handheld options for everything from AAA to Indie to retro and beyond. Whatsmore, the current... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-12-07 18:00:03 UTC ]
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Total publishing industry sales fell 4.5% through September compared to 2021, with trade sales down 3.3%, at the 1,368 publishers who report revenue to the AAP’s StatShot program. Lower hardcover sales and higher returns were the main drivers in pushing down trade sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks now include freebies from an erstwhile rival. The company now offers Ultimate subscribers three-month free trials of Apple Music and Apple TV+ to newcomers for either media service. You can stream tunes in the background while you're playing Halo... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-11-16 16:50:43 UTC ]
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The failure of a recent bid to merge two large publishing companies shines a light on a central issue of cultural powerDespite a rise in self-publishing, commercial publishers are still the main gatekeepers of what arrives on our bookshelves. As such, they have great cultural and – if a book... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-04 18:25:28 UTC ]
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The uncertainty comes at a time when publishing is facing slumping sales after a pandemic boom, and fears of recession. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2022-11-01 22:14:42 UTC ]
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Comics industry publishers and retailers gathered in person for the 2022 Diamond Retailer Summit, held October 26-28 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic Con. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The sole Canadian press that deals exclusively in theatrical works evolves to keep pace with changes in the publishing industry. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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