ugh, UPlay

and fuck yeah everyone in Europe go buy Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is tits

Today's News:
1) Update to Ubisoft pulling games from Steam as the company states they have partially reversed their stance with the US/North American market to get those games back on Steam.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/ub...dat/1100-5078/

2) Bioware revealed the lead writer for the next Mass Effect game is Chris Schlerf who was the former lead writer for Halo 4.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/ha...ect/1100-5081/
http://www.destructoid.com/new-mass-...r-283582.phtml

3) SALES & FREEBIES:

• As part of the Humble Store's 1-year anniversary, they are currently giving away Metro 2023 for free for the next 24 hours (ends 10am PST).
  http://www.destructoid.com/metro-203...e-283585.phtml
• Both Microsoft and Best Buy are currently having special deals for the Xbox One with Best Buy selling the console for as low as $200 and Microsoft for around $250.
  http://www.destructoid.com/you-can-g...0-283565.phtml

4) Nintendo states they are considering the idea of third party game support for their Amiibo series although won't have any concrete plans until some point next year.
http://www.gonintendo.com/s/241268-i...-says-nintendo

No BlizzCon news?

Let me do a quick check since almost none of the sites I visit had anything about it so far besides Overwatch.

BlizzCon news:
1) Overwatch was announced to be in development at Blizzard and is their first new franchise within the past 17 years. Some early details include a beta arriving in 2015, signups for the beta currently open, and several debut trailers were released.
http://www.destructoid.com/blizzard-...h-283590.phtml
http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/a-le...lay/2300-9683/
2) Legacy of the Void was revealed to be the final game for Starcraft II's storyline. No release date was announced as of yet for the standalone expansion pack.
http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/the-...ion/2300-9684/

Weekend News Edition
 

Might be an interesting read for some but a recent study regarding violent games and kids revealed an inverse in the levels of youth violence in society.

The study was based on a 16 year span and showed that youth violence actually rises more when there are less popular violent games than not. Movie violence had more cases where more popular violent films lead to more youth violence but overall was also similar to gaming.

There were a bunch of exceptions to the study though mostly in regards to mobile and social-based (ex. Facebook) gaming.

One of the main purposes of the study was to disprove the idea of aggression levels being related or caused by violent games.

http://www.screwattack.com/news/stud...ietal-violence

Is "One of the main purposes of the study was to disprove the idea of aggression levels being related or caused by violent games." From the study themselves?

This would disprove the study entirely as it was results-specific study. Scientific research isn't suppose to have a purpose except for find the truth. Mission research is non-scientific.

Confirmation bias would not be a 16yr project, I think.

Here is where it gets sticky. Obviously starting with a conclusion in mind can be a bad thing, but it doesn't discount findings out of hand. If the methodology used and the integrity of the people doing are both strong, you can still produce something very useful. Much of early science was based on the intuition of brilliant minds who then used the scientific method to prove their hypothesis(plural).

Incidentally, STD, I bet you'd be fine with a study whose expressly stated purpose was to prove how human CO2 production was the cause of freak winter storms and hurricanes.

Also, that was apparently Meatball's description, not something pulled out of an abstract.

And bear in mind this is only the latest in many studies that disproved the correlation. It's how Thompson was eventually made a mockery of (and I suspect Sarkeesian will meet the same end when studies examine her claims). This isn't groundbreaking news.

When is this period that video game violence was declining?

Incidentally: wrong.

What are those claims? The one I remember everyone guffawing at was that there's a trend that violent crimes are carried out by men. Where does she come up with this?

For shame.

Also, is the sticker of "M" indicative of the same ESRB rating system here in the US? If so, Zelda rated "M" makes me wanna say lolUK. I know they are one of the most stringent countries as it pertains to games and violence, but an "m", for Zelda.... yea.

Oh.

lolUAE.

lol @ that twin pack

Interesting on the different rating too. Thankfully ESRB ratings are just voluntary anyway.

Have you... watched her vid series?

guys there's a thread already

This isn't a GG thing, though.

Has anyone else heard about Microsoft shutting down the online servers for XBox Live on the 360's in 2016? I dont think its true as its still making them money.

Haven't heard about it. Doubt it as well.

Today's News:
1) Telltale Games teased their Game of Thrones series will be debuting very soon, Episode One to be called Iron From Fire, and Season One to have six episodes.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/te...oon/1100-5086/
http://www.destructoid.com/telltale-...n-283667.phtml

2) Geoff Keighley announced he will be hosting a brand new gaming awards show called The Game Awards and will air on December 5ths. Keighley previously hosted Spike TV's VGA show until its reboot last year and unlike the VGAs, Nintendo has signed up as a sponsor for TGA.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/ge...how/1100-5084/
http://www.destructoid.com/move-over...s-283668.phtml

3) Update to Ubisoft pulling PC games from Steam news as the company now states all regions except the UK will be getting those games back on Steam.
http://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-s...--283672.phtml

4) SALES & FREEBIES

• EA is currently giving away for free Dragon Age: The Last Court on Origin although it does contain a micro-transaction system.
  http://www.destructoid.com/dragon-ag...--283663.phtml
• Target revealed their lineup of gaming sales for this year's Black Friday with the Xbox One getting a special deal and the bulk of the sales being 50% Off.
  http://www.destructoid.com/target-s-...s-283666.phtml

5) Microsoft rumored to be considering the idea of re-making or re-releasing the original Battletoads based on recent trademark filings.
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...oads-trademark

fuck yes battletoads

Today's News:
1) Just Cause 3 was officially revealed today although Avalanche Studios debunked rumors of the game containing a micro-transaction system nor being a free-to-play game. Other details include the game being set in a Mediterranean-like location and has a 2015 release date for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
http://avalanchestudios.com/news/just-cause-3-unveiled/
http://www.destructoid.com/i-guess-t...5-283705.phtml

2) According to several reports and reviews, Assassin's Creed Unity was revealed to contain a micro-transaction system and locked treasure chests that can only be opened using the iOS/Android companion app.
http://kotaku.com/assassins-creed-un...iew-1657368877
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=930892

3) Nintendo revealed the next set of Amiibo figurines will arrive February 2015 with Mega Man and Sonic among the group.
http://www.giantbomb.com/videos/mega...res/2300-9692/

4) Ubisoft states Blood Dragon will not be getting a sequel anytime soon although they do have plans of making a different spin-off game with Far Cry 4 like they did with Far Cry 3.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/bloo...g-ubisoft-says

Heh. Assassins' Creed Rogue is looking more and more like the better buy right now over Unity.

I need a smart phone to play the game now? That's crap.

I think the concept of Rogue is tons more interesting than another AC story from the assassin standpoint.

Thus far the microtransactions and need for apps to open in-game chests is highly disappointing and I hope the "experiement" fails.

Today's News:
1) For those who own Halo: The Master Chief collection, 343 Industries released a patch today to help fix connection issues with the online matchmaking system. Another patch to fix non-matchmaking stuff was also announced to be arriving this weekend.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/343-...server-updates

2) Sony announced Bloodbourne has been delayed till March 24th, 2015 with the official reason due to From Software needing more time to work and polish the game.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/bloo...-north-america

3) Next game in the Lego series rumored to be based on the Jurassic Park film series according to a teaser found in the LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham credits.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/le...ear/1100-5090/

4) SALES & FREEBIES:

• Walmart recently released their Black Friday game sales ad with both the Xbox One and PS4 having special bundles available among the stuff going on sale.
  http://www.destructoid.com/walmart-b...x-283755.phtml
• GOG.com is currently having a Big Fall Sale with discounts going as high as 80% off and a few games being given away for free as part of the promotion.
  http://www.destructoid.com/gog-com-i...2-283753.phtml
  http://www.gog.com/

5) Update to recent Amiibo news as Nintendo revealed the upcoming Shulk figurine will be a Gamestop exclusive and has a release date of February 1, 2015.
http://www.destructoid.com/shulk-is-...s-283718.phtml

Lego Jurassic Park has potential.

Not the franchise I would choose next, but I love all the lego games so would give it ago.

Prefer BTTF but should still be good.

Lego Jurassic Park does seem... odd. I'm just trying to picture the dinosaur minifigs and how they would function. Seems like it would be awkward but they no doubt know what they're doing.

Today's News:
1) According to Microsoft, Xbox One weekly sales managed to triple since the recent $50 price cut.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/xbox...ter-price-drop

2) Ubisoft states they are currently working on several patches to fix Assassin's Creed Unity with collision and co-op connection issues among the first getting fixed. Other issues like frame rate and graphical problems are likely getting fixed at a later date.
http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/ub...itc/1100-5091/
http://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-i...s-283794.phtml

3) Former Ubisoft developer and creator of the Assassin's Creed series, Patrice Désilets, announces he has formed a new studio in Montreal called Panache Digital Games.
http://www.destructoid.com/assassin-...o-283799.phtml

4) Sony celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Playstation brand today with a special tribute video.
http://www.destructoid.com/sony-cele...o-283781.phtml

20 years?

God, I'm old.

Today's News:
1) 343 Industries states several online modes for Halo: The Master Chief Collection have been temporarily removed in order to help fix matchmaking connection issues with the game. Another patch was released today focusing mainly on campaign related issues.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/mast...ve-online-play

2) SALES:

• Some Black Friday Wii U sales include Best Buy offering a Wii U bundle for $360 which includes a Wii U deluxe, Super Mario 3D World, Nintendo Land, Super Smash Bros., and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
  http://www.destructoid.com/toys-r-us...s-283834.phtml
• Best Buy is also offering a $10 discount on several $50 pre-paid cards for a variety of digital services on their official eBay store.
  http://www.destructoid.com/-50-steam...y-283807.phtml

3) During an interview with Bloomberg, Nintendo revealed they are expecting Smash Bros to have a "Mario Kart 8" or better boost for Wii U sales due to the game having higher pre-orders than MK8 at the moment.
http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-...s-283808.phtml

4) Some Good/Bad news regarding World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor's launch with the good news being Blizzard was able to quickly bring servers back online after suffering a DDoS attack although the bad news is the serves are still experiencing a lot of stress due to the amount of players trying to join games.
http://www.screwattack.com/news/bliz...-woes-continue

The WoD launch has been a disaster. Seems to be calmer now, I've been in-game most of the night.