Battle Royale: The Last Generation Of An SNES-CD Saga

[AeroTheZealousOne]

Just got caught up again. Wow, we're already at the end of 2013?! This was a pretty good year in the realm of video games if I do say so myself.

Conversely, if people believed that Game Over wasn't too bad of a dystopia with a focus on video games, you now know that E3 2020 has been cancelled in that universe for reasons discussed towards the bottom of the previous page.

No, I wish I was playing a mean joke. And I don't like pulling those at all.

 

[RySenkari]

I imagine that in the Game Over topic's 2020, a bit of a shitstorm has started to emerge, with criticisms that the author is starting to make his timeline WAY too dystopic and ASB, and that the whole "coronavirus" thing is just so he doesn't have to do 2020's E3 updates.

And yeah, 2013 has turned out to be quite a good year ITTL, comparable to OTL's 2013 in terms of quantity and quality of excellent games.

The year in review topic is tomorrow, who's going to win 2013's Game of the Year?!

 

[RySenkari]

Nexus Continues Success, Handhelds Up, Virtua Disappoints Over Busy Holiday

2013's holiday season saw a significant increase in both gaming hardware and software sales with two new consoles on the market and a massive glut of quality games, along with an improving economy. The big winner, especially in North America, was the Google Nexus, which beat out the Nintendo Reality over the combined months of November and December in the United States and Canada. While the more expensive Reality did make more money overall, the Nexus sold slightly more units than the Reality, and even performed well in Europe and Japan, though Nintendo's console won out there and also sold more units worldwide over the period. Analysts attribute the Nexus' success to a number of factors, including the system's price, the release of the $199 “Bring Your Own Device” version of the console which allows players to use the phones and tablets they already own as the Nexus' second screen, the cross-promotion with cell phone companies pushing the BYOD version of the console as a phone accessory, and the release of popular family titles, particularly Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug was the most purchased Nexus game during November and December and one of the most popular games overall, with worldwide sales of the game beating out Nintendo's Pilotwings: Freeflight by a decent margin (though in North America, the sales gap was much smaller). Meanwhile, the Reality continued to have a strong season, and though it failed to outsell the Nexus in North America, it still sold more units during December than it did during any other month since its release in June. It's also managed to sell slightly more units than the Nexus overall, despite an eight month head start (though the Nexus leads in North America sales). As for the Virtua, that console has experienced a disappointing year all around, and even in Japan, where the console has been performing extremely well, it had a rough December, slipping just behind the Reality in lifetime sales in the country. The Virtua now sits at third place overall in terms of total units sold across the eighth console generation, and with sales continuing to lag behind both the Reality and the Nexus, it will need to play catch-up in 2014.

Apple's Gemini managed to bounce back over the holidays, providing some good news for the company, though it remained far behind Nintendo's Connect in terms of overall sales. The Gemini saw increased sales from 2012's holiday season, and looks to maintain that momentum into 2014 with a number of strong upcoming games, including Sonic The Hedgehog 7. Meanwhile, Pokemon Order and Chaos was a major driver of sales for Nintendo's Connect, which enjoyed its best month ever in November 2013 and saw only a slight sales drop in December. The Connect, which remains at its original $199.99 MSRP (though it's now begun bundling games such as Mario Kart Excel and Pokemon Order and Chaos to provide a more attractive value), was overall the best selling home gaming device on the market this holiday season, with massive sales in Japan. It lagged slightly behind the Nexus and the Reality in North America, but remains the best selling console of its generation and doesn't look to be surrendering that title any time soon, outpacing sales of all other Nintendo handhelds over a similar time frame.

-from a January 19, 2014 article on Gamespot.com

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Top 25 Best Selling Games Of The Year:
(Note: Multiplatform sales are combined. Only console games are included. Includes pack-in and bundle sales. Includes all North American software sales between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013.)

1. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
2. Pokemon Order And Chaos
3. Mariokart Excel
4. Madden NFL 14
5. Cyberwar 4
6. Destined 2
7. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
8. Call Of Duty: Coalition
9. Virtua Sports
10. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
11. Bayonetta 2
12. Watch Dogs
13. Miraculous Ladybug
14. Pilotwings: Freeflight
15. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic III
16. Sonic The Hedgehog 6
17. Bounty
18. Neutralizer Alpha
19. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
20. Super Mario Laboratory
21. Virtua Rally
22. Call Of Duty: Nightfall
23. R.E.V.O.
24. Lash Out 4
25. Batman: Dark Legend

-

MTV Video Game Awards 2013:

Game Of The Year:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Bayonetta 2
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3

Handheld/Mobile Game Of The Year:

The Avengers
The Covenant: Ashfall
Legends Of Treasure
Pokemon Order And Chaos
Towerfall

Indie Game Of The Year:

Chasm
Legends Of Treasure
Nimble Quest
Sewer Scamps
Towerfall

Action/Adventure Game Of The Year:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Bayonetta 2
Destined 2
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
R.E.V.O.

Epic Game Of The Year:

A Song Of Ice And Fire
Corona del Sol
Phantasy Star IX: Between Fact And Fiction
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
Watch Dogs

Sports Game Of The Year:

Madden NFL 14
Mariokart Excel
Thrillseekers: Thin Air
Virtua Sports
Wipeout Reality

Shooter Of The Year:

Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
Encounter: Station Omega
Half-Life 3
Joanna Dark
Neutralizer Alpha

Best Graphics:

Bayonetta 2
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Wolfenstein: The New Order

Best Soundtrack:

Ascent II
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Modern Beats
Thrillseekers: Thin Air

Best Storyline:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Batman: Dark Legend
Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy
Half-Life 3
Thrillseekers: Thin Air

Best Original Game

Corona del Sol
Miraculous Ladybug
R.E.V.O.
Towerfall
Watch Dogs

Best Licensed Game

A Song Of Ice And Fire
The Avengers
Batman: Dark Legend
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic III
Star Wars Masters

Best Competitive Online Game

Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
Deep Black
Pump Action
Search It Out
Towerfall

Best MMO:

The Bard's Life
Fairy Team
Mark Of The Devil
Total Sacrifice 2
Wizardry Online

Best DLC:

The Arena (Final Fantasy XIII)
Hacker School (Cyberwar 4)
Over The Edge (Batman: Dark Legend)
Pinks (Shift: 24/7 Racing)
Top Hat (Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy)

Best New Character:

Elizabeta Azarola (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag)
Lang Warner (Neutralizer Alpha)
Prince Cream (Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince)
R.E.V.O. (R.E.V.O.)
Syrene (Thrillseekers: Thin Air)

Most Improved Sequel:

Amok 3
Encounter: Station Omega
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
Thrillseekers: Thin Air
Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity

Best Voice Performance:

Brittany Saldita as Elizabeta Azarola (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag)
Seth MacFarlane as Robert Zendine (Joanna Dark)
Sigourney Weaver as Lana Strong (Call Of Duty: Nightfall II)
Woody Harrelson as Kenneth (R.E.V.O.)
Yvonne Strahovski as Chell (Half-Life 3)

Game Company Of The Year:

Activision
Electronic Arts
Nintendo
Ubisoft
Valve

Most Anticipated Game:

Commander Keen: Adventures In Virtual Reality
Grand Theft Auto III
Necrocracy 3
Sojourn
Squad Four Betrayal

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Nintendo Celebrates 20 Years Of Squad Four In 2014

Nintendo has announced that 2014 will be the "Year Of Squad Four", in commemoration of the franchise's 20th anniversary and in anticipation for the upcoming Squad Four Betrayal. Nintendo will be launching several promotions for the upcoming game and celebrations of the franchise's 20th year, including a chance to buy exclusive Squad Four merchandise with Club Nintendo points (such as T-shirts and figurines), the launch of a brand new comic series in collaboration with Acclaim's Dark Horse label, a Squad Four web retrospective that will be running for 20 weeks starting in March, a "Squad Four Tour" in which Nintendo will be sending buses around North America, which will allow players to experience all the previous Squad Four games, play a demo of Betrayal, and even meet cast members at certain stops, and of course, launching the Squad Four 20th Anniversary Collection on the Nintendo Reality, which will include all the previous games in the series and a graphic novel of Squad Four: Origins, which ran in the pages of Nintendo Power between July 1994 and June 1995.

"Squad Four is one of Nintendo's most storied and beloved series," said Shawn Layden, announcing the celebration during a Nintendo conference call earlier this month. "We're excited to celebrate the legacy of this incredible game, and we hope fans will enjoy taking a look back as we prepare to launch Squad Four Betrayal, the biggest game in the series to date."

Squad Four Betrayal is one of 2014's most anticipated games, despite a somewhat disappointing reception for 2009's Squad Four Protectors, which shook up the series' classic "adventure" formula in favor of a more open-ended hack and slash title. From what we've seen, Squad Four Betrayal looks to be a return to the feel of games such as Rebellion and Upheaval, and expect it to be the focal point of Nintendo's E3 keynote this year.

-from an article on Games Over Matter, posted on January 22, 2014

-

Games Over Matter Awards 2013:

Game Of The Year:

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
3. Half-Life 3
4. Corona del Sol
5. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Best Graphics:

1. Half-Life 3
2. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
3. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
4. Bayonetta 2
5. Joanna Dark

Best Sound:

1. Half-Life 3
2. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
3. Child Of Light
4. Joanna Dark
5. Miraculous Ladybug

Best Gameplay:

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. Corona del Sol
3. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
4. R.E.V.O.
5. Half-Life 3

Best Thematics:

1. Half-Life 3
2. Miraculous Ladybug
3. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
4. Remember Me
5. Imaginary Friend

Most Innovative:

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. Modern Beats
3. Rymdkapsel
4. Towerfall
5. F-Zero: FIRESTORM

Best Multiplayer:

1. Towerfall
2. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
3. Joanna Dark
4. Virtua Sports
5. The Bard's Life

Best New Character:

1. Elizabeta Azerola (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag)
2. Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug (Miraculous Ladybug)
3. R.E.V.O. (R.E.V.O.)
4. Syrene Bennington (Thrillseekers: Thin Air)
5. John (Half-Life 3)

-

2014 is looking like a huge year for new games, with highly anticipated titles like Grand Theft Auto III, Necrocracy 3, and Squad Four Betrayal poised to take the world of gaming by storm. But 2014 might also be remembered as the Year of the Rerelease, in which some of yesteryear's best games are repackaged for a new generation of consoles, some with extra features or a new graphical coat of paint, others remaining as you remember them. Here are what we think will be the top ten re-releases of the new year.

10. Deadman Sam's Underworld Chronicles

Remember Deadman Sam, the skeleton/murder victim hero who went to the underworld to avenge his beloved? Now you can play all the Deadman Sam games on the Reality, Nexus, Virtua, or on the go on the Gemini or Connect. All the previous games are here, but our favorite is still the original. Don't expect any graphical upgrades, but there is a nice museum feature.

9. Virtua Narcotics Squad

The classic SEGA games about a cop out to bust drug lords in the criminal underworld have been brought back to the Virtua. You can buy them in their original forms on the iTunes store, sure, but these re-releases have improved graphics, smoother gameplay, and the option to use motion controls and play them like classic arcade titles. At $39.99, it's only ten dollars more than it would be to buy these three games on iTunes, so it's up to you to decide if the new features are worth it.

8. The Turok Chronicles

Acclaim is rereleasing the first five Turok games in one package, upgrading them to HD, and selling them on the current consoles and handhelds for 40 bucks. If you've never played any of them before, it's a pretty good deal, and the original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter still holds up.

7. Resident Evil Virtua Collection

Resident Evil 4, 5, and 6 are being packaged together with improved graphics and added motion controls. They're all good games, with Resident Evil 6 arguably among the best iTwin exclusives, and it just came out last year. You'll have to pay full price for all three games, but at 20 a pop, that's a decent deal, especially with all the extras you're getting.

6. Thrillseekers HD Collection

Thrillseekers and Thrillseekers 2 are being re-released as a package deal on all the current consoles and handhelds. It's the first time Thrillseekers has been available on anything except the Nintendo Wave, and the first time Thrillseekers 2 will be portable. Both games are excellent, with Thrillseekers getting the biggest upgrade (a boost to HD graphics and the option to play with the improved Thrillseekers 2 controls, as well as "added interactivity" features for certain cutscenes). If you never owned the Wave and want to experience the one that started it all, or if you want to play either one of these games on the bus, now's your chance.

5. Goblins HD Collection

Naughty Dog is bringing its two excellent Goblins platformers to the Nintendo Reality with a massive graphical upgrade. While these two games haven't been improved much further, they really don't need it: they're among the best platformers the original Nintendo Wave had to offer, and it's a tragedy we didn't get more games in the series. Perhaps if enough people buy this compilation, Naughty Dog will be convinced to make a third.

4. Silent Hill HD Trilogy

Ubisoft is completely remastering these brilliant horror classics in HD graphics for modern consoles, improving them with new features, and fleshing out the story of each game, in preparation for the highly anticipated Silent Hills. The early video of this trilogy looks gorgeous, and we can't wait to have nightmares all over again playing these.

3. Collection Of Mana

Squaresoft is releasing Secret Of Mana, Elements Of Mana, and Legend Of Mana together in one package for the Reality, Virtua, and Nexus, as well as the handhelds. The three games haven't been improved any graphically, but the most significant thing about this package, which will retail for 40 dollars, is the ability for Apple and Google owners to experience these games for the first time. They're all available to purchase on Nintendo's store in their original form, so the Reality version is a bit redundant, but all three are classics and must play games for any RPG fan.

2. Squad Four 20th Anniversary Collection

Nintendo pulled out all the stops for this amazing compilation of games: you get Squad Four, Squad Four Eclipse, Squad Four Rebellion, Squad Four Upheaval, Squad Four Protectors, and the two Supernova games, as well as a graphical novel version of the Nintendo Power comic. In addition, Squad Four and Squad Four Eclipse have been upgraded to allow you to play both games in VR, and though Squad Four has aged somewhat poorly, being able to play it in virtual reality, even with its aged SNES-CD graphics, is going to be an experience that old school fans will love. You'll be paying $60 for this, but for seven games (two of them upgraded) AND a graphic novel, it's more than worth it.

1. Metal Gear Solid Anthology

Metal Gear Solid. Metal Gear War. Metal Gear Solid II. Metal Gear Peace. Metal Gear Solid III. All in HD for the Reality, Virtua, and Nexus, for the price of a single game. 'Nuff said.

-from an article on Destructoid, posted on December 30, 2013

-

Other Awards:

IGN (Editor Top 10):

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. Half-Life 3
3. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
4. Corona del Sol
5. Neutralizer Alpha
6. Pokemon Order And Chaos
7. Bayonetta 2
8. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
9. Imaginary Friend
10. Joanna Dark

Joystiq (Editor Top 10):

1. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
2. Miraculous Ladybug
3. Half-Life 3
4. Bayonetta 2
5. R.E.V.O.
6. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
7. Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
8. Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity
9. Screed
10. Valkyria Chronicles III

Kotaku:

Game Of The Year: Bayonetta 2
Runner-Up: Half-Life 3
Finalists: Miraculous Ladybug, Thrillseekers: Thin Air, R.E.V.O., Dawn Comes To Venville, Alter Ego, F-Zero: Firestorm, Pokemon Order And Chaos, Virtua Rally, Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity, Call Of Duty: Nightfall II, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince, Elvenfall III, Bounty, A Song Of Ice And Fire, Rogue's Story V, Papers, Please, Hexfield, Monument Valley, Nexus Flight

Gamespot

Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Action Game Of The Year: Bayonetta 2
Adventure Game Of The Year: F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Shooter Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Sports Game Of The Year: Virtua Sports
RPG Of The Year: Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince

Gaming Age

Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Runner-Up: Miraculous Ladybug
Nintendo Reality Game Of The Year: F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Virtua Game Of The Year: Guardian: Fates Intertwined
Nexus Game Of The Year: Miraculous Ladybug
Gemini Game Of The Year: Duality Twin
Connect Game Of The Year: Pokemon Order And Chaos
PC Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Mobile Game Of The Year: Shining Force VII

GameInformer

Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Finalists: F-Zero: FIRESTORM, Bayonetta 2, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Miraculous Ladybug

Blargo

Game Of The Year: Miraculous Ladybug
Runners Up: F-Zero: FIRESTORM, Bayonetta 2
Most Unexpectedly Good Game: Papers, Please

RPGamer

Game Of The Year: Pokemon Order And Chaos
Runners Up: Valkyria Chronicles III, Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
WRPG Of The Year: A Song Of Ice And Fire

Gamers' Blog Alliance

Game Of The Year (218 blogs polled):

Half-Life 3: 81
Miraculous Ladybug: 35
F-Zero: FIRESTORM: 27
Bayonetta 2: 13
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: 10
Corona del Sol: 8
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II: 5
R.E.V.O.: 4
Neutralizer Alpha: 4
Guardian: Fates Intertwined: 4
Joanna Dark: 3
Destined 2: 3
Wolfenstein: The New Order: 2
Dawn Comes To Venville: 2
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince: 2
Bounty: 2
Watch Dogs: 2
A Song Of Ice And Fire: 1
Pokemon Order And Chaos: 1
Legends Of Treasure: 1
Screed: 1
Virtua Sports: 1
Imaginary Friend: 1
Republique: 1
Lash Out 4: 1
Sewer Scamps: 1
Rymdkapsel: 1
Guncriss: 1

Australian Gamer (Editor Top 10)

Game Of The Year

1. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
2. Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity
3. Half-Life 3
4. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
5. Call Of Duty: Nightfall 2
6. Bounty
7. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
8. Pokemon Order And Chaos
9. Corona del Sol
10. Miraculous Ladybug

ScrewAttack (Top 10 Games Of 2013):

1. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
2. Half-Life 3
3. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
4. R.E.V.O.
5. Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
6. Miraculous Ladybug
7. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
8. Bayonetta 2
9. Neutralizer Alpha
10. Pokemon Order And Chaos

Edge (Game Of The Year- Editors' Choice):

Miraculous Ladybug

Famitsu (Game Of The Year- Readers' Choice):

Winner: F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Runner-up: Pokemon Order And Chaos

X-Play (Editors' Choice):

Half-Life 3

Sylph (Editors' Choice Top 5 Games Of 2013):

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. Bayonetta 2
3. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
4. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
5. Joanna Dark

1up.com/EGM:

Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
Runners Up: Miraculous Ladybug, F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Most Innovative Game: Towerfall
Worst Game Of The Year: Sweatin' On The Virtua with Richard Simmons

Destructoid (Top 10 Games Of 2013):

1. Miraculous Ladybug
2. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
3. Corona del Sol
4. Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy
5. Bayonetta 2
6. Half-Life 3
7. R.E.V.O.
8. Thrillseekers: Thin Air
9. Watch Dogs
10. Bounty

KidGamers (Game Of The Year 2013):

Miraculous Ladybug

PowerGamer (Top 5 Of 2013):

1. Half-Life 3
2. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
3. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
4. Bayonetta 2
5. Joanna Dark

New Game Network:

Game Of The Year: Corona del Sol
Runner-up: Miraculous Ladybug
Best PC Game: Corona del Sol
Best Presentation: Half-Life 3
Best Gameplay: Corona del Sol
Best Performance: Cristina Vee as Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug in Miraculous Ladybug
Best Multiplayer: Towerfall

Eurogamer (Game Of The Year 2013):

Half-Life 3

ZZZando!:

Game Of The Year: Half-Life 3
#2 Game Of The Year: F-Zero: FIRESTORM
#3 Game Of The Year: Corona del Sol
Best Sleeper Hit: Towerfall
Best Experience: Miraculous Ladybug

Ars Technica (Top 20 Of 2013):

1. Corona del Sol
2. Miraculous Ladybug
3. Half-Life 3
4. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
5. F-Zero: FIRESTORM
6. Bayonetta 2
7. Towerfall
8. Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
9. Neutralizer Alpha
10. Alter Ego
11. Remember Me
12. Joanna Dark
13. Call Of Duty: Nightfall 2
14. Pokemon Order And Chaos
15. Republique
16. Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy
17. Valkyria Chronicles III
18. R.E.V.O.
19. Guncriss
20. Profoundly Mystified

BAFTA Game Awards:

Game Of The Year: Miraculous Ladybug
British Game Of The Year: Joanna Dark
Action/Adventure: Miraculous Ladybug
Artistic Achievement: Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
Audio Achievement: Half-Life 3
Debut Game: Remember Me
Family Game: Miraculous Ladybug
Game Design: Miraculous Ladybug
Innovation: Towerfall
Mobile/Handheld: Towerfall
Multiplayer: Towerfall
Original Music: Half-Life 3
Performer: Brittany Saldita as Elizabeta Azerola in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Sports Game: Thrillseekers: Thin Air
Story: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Strategy/Simulation: Nexus Flight

-

The Google Nexus has been nothing short of a revolutionary gaming device, and one of the keys to its success has been its thriving community, in which players battle it out on the system's many online games. It takes a talented group of people to forge such a strong gaming community, and Google has coordinated with Samsung, the company that manufactures the Nexus hardware, to ensure safe, stable, and engaging interactions. Barbara Dunkelman was just 24 when she was hired by Samsung to be the Community Manager for the company's North American gaming operations, but has already proven to be a major part of the Nexus' early success, engaging with fans while proposing and enacting a number of rules to ensure things don't get out of hand for new players to the service who might be overwhelmed by playing games online for the first time.

While Dunkelman isn't the primary face of the Google Nexus in North America (that honor belongs to Eric Bright, another young and dynamic executive who heads up Samsung's North American gaming operations), she's presented herself as the "friendly big sister" of the community, someone who enforces the rules with a smile while also bringing a bit more fun to the Nexus' fans.

"It's been a pretty amazing journey," she told me, as the two of us walked the halls of Samsung's North American gaming offices. "I've always been a fan of games, but I never imagined I'd get to work for a video game company. When Samsung was scouting for talent for the Nexus back in 2011, I sent out my resume, crossed my fingers, hoped for the best, and here I am!"

Not only does Dunkelman call the shots when it comes to the Nexus' North American community, she also assists in promoting the Nexus' upcoming games, including performing a series of online sketches with Marinette's voice actress Cristina Vee. The sketches, which were fairly cheesy and littered with puns made by Dunkelman, were still a hit with fans, and brought her to the attention of Nexus fans for the first time, making her an instant fan favorite. That's not to say her relationship with the fans has been entirely smooth: she's been extremely vocal in her displeasure for fans who might make for a toxic online experience, and not all members of the community have agreed with her at times strict enforcement of the rules and willingness to hand out bans.

"The thing is, if you're not gonna play nice, you shouldn't be playing at all. There are kids on this service. There are people on this service who have been victims of abuse. I've got a low tolerance for anyone who would be sexist, racist, whatever, and I know that's going to make me unpopular amongst certain segments of the community, but we can do without those kinds of people. Sales are up, they're way up in fact, and I've gotten a lot more emails thanking me for cleaning up the service than I have from people angry about bans. My number one thing is, let's just have fun out there, you know?"

The conversation quickly turned lighter as we discussed our favorite Nexus games, sharing a mutual love for Miraculous Ladybug. Of course, we did have a few disagreements: one of her favorite Nexus titles is Bounty, while I prefer nonviolent games such as Rymdkapsel, but we both agree that the console has done a lot to distinguish itself from its competitors, and that she wants to continue making the Nexus ecosystem the most friendly place to play in all of gaming.

"My number one job is to get people playing the Nexus and to keep people playing the Nexus. How do you keep people playing? Make it a fun place to play. How do you get people to start playing in the first place? Get people talking, and you get people talking by having fun talking about it."

-from a February 1, 2014 article on Cressida Lane, written by Wendy Halpers

-

DICE Awards 2013:

Game Of The Year:

Bayonetta 2
Corona del Sol
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Miraculous Ladybug

Action Game Of The Year:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Bayonetta 2
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
Half-Life 3
R.E.V.O.

Adventure Game Of The Year:

Ascent II
Bounty
Fated To Awaken
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Miraculous Ladybug

Family Game Of The Year:

Mario Kart Excel
Miraculous Ladybug
Modern Beats
Pokemon Order And Chaos
Virtua Sports

Online Game Of The Year:

The Bard's Life
Overdrive
Total Sacrifice 2
Towerfall
Wizardry Online

Portable Game Of The Year:

Duality Twin
The Library Of Elliot Carlisle
Pokemon Order And Chaos
Shining Force VII
Towerfall

Racing Game Of The Year:

Dirty Driving
Mario Kart Excel
NASCAR 2K13
Virtua Rally
Wipeout Reality

Role Playing Game Of The Year:

Corona del Sol
Dawn Comes To Venville
Pokemon Order And Chaos
Rogue's Story V
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince

Strategy/Simulation Game Of The Year:

Alter Ego
Hexfield
Nexus Flight
Shadowrun Tactics
SimCity

Sports Game Of The Year:

Madden NFL 14
NBA Elite 14
PGA Tour 2014
Thrillseekers: Thin Air
Virtua Sports

Outstanding Art Direction:

Bayonetta 2
Corona del Sol
Miraculous Ladybug
Monument Valley
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince

Outstanding Character Creation:

Elizabeta Azarola (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag)
Lang Warner (Neutralizer Alpha)
Marinette Dupain-Cheng (Miraculous Ladybug)
Prince Cream (Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince)
Syrene Bennington (Thrillseekers: Thin Air)

Outstanding Animation:

Bayonetta 2
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Miraculous Ladybug
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
Thrillseekers: Thin Air

Outstanding Game Design:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Miraculous Ladybug
R.E.V.O.

Outstanding Game Direction:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Bounty
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
Half-Life 3
Miraculous Ladybug

Outstanding Innovation:

F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Miraculous Ladybug
Monument Valley
Papers, Please
Towerfall

Outstanding Online Gameplay:

The Bard's Life
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
Screed
Towerfall
Wizardry Online

Outstanding Original Music:

F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Mega Man Battle
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince
Wisp Sky Garden

Outstanding Audio Design:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Thrillseekers: Thin Air

Outstanding Story:

Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy
Half-Life 3
Miraculous Ladybug
Pokemon Order And Chaos
Thrillseekers: Thin Air

Outstanding Technical Achievement:

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
F-Zero: FIRESTORM
Half-Life 3
Miraculous Ladybug
Wolfenstein: The New Order

-

Steve Jobs To Take "Less Active Role" In Apple's Gaming Division

After a disappointing 2013, with Virtua sales lower than expected and the Gemini continuing to lag behind the Connect, Steve Jobs recently announced that he will be taking a less active role in the company's gaming division, and will instead focus more on promoting the company's computer and mobile products. This comes as the company announces slightly lower expectations for 2014 overall, with the iPhone expected to be the company's biggest growth sector in terms of gaming. Jobs' role in the gaming division will now be focused on overseeing hardware and peripheral development, including the rumored VR headset for the Virtua that could be announced as early as this year. Meanwhile, John Carmack will be given more control over the company's gaming operations, and will also assist in the development of talent at the company, which will likely mean more games developed by Apple affiliated studios. Jobs has been said to have focused much of his energy in the last few years on the development and promotion of the Virtua and the Gemini, and is said to have been "exhausted" from focusing so much energy on gaming, as well as his multi-year pancreatic cancer fight, a disease which continues to be in remission since 2010. Despite the losses in Apple's gaming sector, the company's stocks and revenues continue to be up on the strength of its iPhone, its computer products, and the iTunes Store, which remains the largest digital marketplace for music, movies, and games in the industry.

-from an article on Kotaku.com, posted on January 27, 2014

-

GameFAQs Best Of 2013 Polls:

Best Of 2013: Best Reality Game

F-Zero: FIRESTORM: 24.25%
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince: 22.17%
Joanna Dark: 13.14%
Lash Out 4: 11.36%
Pandora's Tower: 7.61%
Watch Dogs: 6.22%
Pilotwings: Freeflight: 5.71%
Wipeout Reality: 5.04%
Wisp Sky Garden: 2.93%
Locked And Loaded: 1.57%

Best Of 2013: Best Virtua Game

Bayonetta 2: 27.23%
Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity: 16.65%
Phantasy Star IX: Between Fact And Fiction: 11.15%
Neutralizer Alpha: 10.71%
Guardian: Fates Intertwined: 8.63%
Virtua Sports: 8.31%
Virtua Rally: 6.14%
Star Wars Masters: 5.74%
House Of The Dead: 4.05%
Ghosts At Dusk: 1.39%

Best Of 2013: Best Nexus Game

Bounty: 23.05%
Sewer Scamps: 16.14%
Miraculous Ladybug: 15.64%
A Song Of Ice And Fire: 13.88%
Rogue's Story V: 10.84%
The Witcher: Shrouded Silence: 7.81%
Imaginary Friend: 5.41%
Rymdkapsel: 3.24%
Fated To Awaken: 2.26%
Nexus Flight: 1.73%

Best Of 2013: Best Connect Game

Pokemon Order And Chaos: 57.60%
Guncriss: 10.01%
Mario Kart Excel: 9.39%
Metroid Raid: 7.60%
Shin Megami Tensei V: 4.65%
Donkey Kong Country: K. Rool Returns: 3.71%
Forever War: 2.52%
Elvenfall III: 1.90%
The Avengers: 1.74%
Tomodachi Life: 0.88%

Best Of 2013: Best PC Game

Half-Life 3: 46.45%
Corona del Sol: 18.26%
World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King: 9.84%
Papers, Please: 7.04%
Wolfenstein: The New Order: 6.63%
Dawn Comes To Venville: 5.14%
Pump Action: 2.16%
The Cleaners: 2.14%
Alter Ego: 1.69%
Hexfield: 0.65%

Best Of 2013: Best Gemini Game

Valkyria Chronicles III: 24.63%
Mega Man Battle: 20.27%
TowerFall: 18.16%
Panzer Dragoon Sectera: 8.74%
The Library Of Elliot Carlisle: 8.16%
Duality Twin: 7.05%
Nightscour: 5.54%
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Remote Ops: 3.12%
Head-2-Head: 2.61%
Infinity Blade II: 1.72%

Best Of 2013: Best Mobile Game

Legends Of Treasure: 26.20%
The Covenant: Ashfall: 25.76%
Shining Force VII: 18.16%
Virtua Racing Mobile: 11.55%
Technopets: 6.98%
Trapped: Gun Your Way: 3.67%
Dress-Up Crusader: 3.05%
Dynamic Bit: 2.16%
Chasm: 1.43%
Badland: 1.04%

Best Of 2013: Best Multiplatform Game

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: 35.69%
Call Of Duty: Nightfall II: 24.76%
Kingdom Hearts: Fallen Monarch: 8.22%
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic III: 6.64%
Destined 2: 6.50%
Thrillseekers: Thin Air: 4.81%
R.E.V.O.: 4.73%
Batman: Dark Legend: 3.61%
Crime Stories: The Written Tragedy: 2.97%
Ascent II: 2.07%

Best Of 2013: Game Of The Year:

Half-Life 3: 30.33%
Pokemon Order And Chaos: 24.32%
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: 13.79%
Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince: 9.16%
F-Zero: FIRESTORM: 7.34%
Bayonetta 2: 6.62%
Bounty: 3.57%
Valkyria Chronicles III: 2.13%
The Covenant: Ashfall: 1.84%
Legends Of Treasure: 0.90%

Best Of 2013: Game Of The Year (Final):

Half-Life 3: 42.97%
Pokemon Order And Chaos: 41.38%
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: 15.65%

-

GameRankings Top 25 Games Of 2013

1. Half-Life 3: 97.56%
2. Miraculous Ladybug: 97.11%
3. Bayonetta 2: 96.93%
4. Corona del Sol: 95.47%
5. F-Zero: FIRESTORM: 95.01%
6. Neutralizer Alpha: 93.03%
7. Virtua Fighter Beyond Infinity: 93.01%
8. R.E.V.O.: 92.67%
9. Call Of Duty: Nightfall II: 92.44%
10. Super Mario RPG: Visions Of The Psychic Prince: 92.04%
10. Dawn Comes To Venville: 92.04%
12. Screed: 91.70%
13. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: 91.44%
14. Joanna Dark: 91.15%
15. Guardian: Fates Intertwined: 90.77%
16. Guncriss: 90.71%
17. Pokemon Order And Chaos: 90.51%
18. A Song Of Ice And Fire: 90.41%
19. Thrillseekers: Thin Air: 90.40%
20. Monument Valley: 90.20%
21. Imaginary Friend: 90.15%
22. Bounty: 90.14%
23. Western Front: 89.94%
23. Valkyria Chronicles III: 89.94%
25. Sewer Scamps: 89.74%
25. Republique: 89.74%

-

January 7, 2014

Satoru Iwata smiled as he played the game on the television in front of him. Seated nearby was Mark Cerny, the director of Nintendo's Treehouse, as well as Dylan Cuthbert and numerous other developers and executives from Argonaut. The game was Squad Four Betrayal, and Iwata seemed to be enjoying the game more than he'd enjoyed a game in quite a while.

"This is quite fun," said Iwata to the Argonaut developers in heavily-accented English. "I'm having a very good time!"

"You guys have made something really special here," Cerny told Cuthbert and his team.

"The animation for the fighting, it's quite impressive," said Iwata, admiring the smoothness with which the character he was controlling, Rebecca, moved in time with his button presses and combo triggers. "It looks very realistic."

One of the developers, the one who'd directed the animation for the game, beamed with pride. Cerny smiled and pointed him out.

"Monty, stand up and take a bow, you've really impressed Mr. Iwata," said Cerny with a laugh. Iwata looked over at the developer and smiled, congratulating him on his work.

"It's beautiful, it's all beautiful. It's a wonderful game," Iwata complimented him.

On the screen, Rebecca was fighting a group of guards, while Shad, Lane, and Marcus flanked her, took out stragglers, and occasionally helped her with combo attacks. The combat seamlessly flowed into a mini-cutscene whenever Rebecca would trigger a combo, resulting in a beautiful animation and massive damage to an enemy. Rebecca and Shad were engaging in a sort of stylish, mid-air dance that lasted just long enough for the player to admire the character models before being launched back into the fight. Everything was completely seamless, smooth, and vivid, like a modern CGI movie, brilliantly showing off the Reality's graphical capabilities. While Iwata wasn't currently trying out the game's VR, it had that as well, allowing for first person control in battles or for cutscenes to be viewed from a character's perspective. Not only did the game's animation team have to animate third person sequences, but the first person sequences as well. It was an incredible amount of work, but it was almost concluded, and the team was extremely proud. The proudest one of all in the room was the game's animation director, a young man named Monty Oum, who had established himself in the industry with the Androsia games, but who had put even more work into Squad Four Betrayal, and now, as Iwata marveled at the game and had the time of his life playing it, all that work seemed to have paid off.

"Aaaah!" Iwata shouted at a particularly spectacular sequence in which all four characters were battling a large mech piloted by a rogue soldier, with each character playing their own role in the combat. "That's wonderful!"

Everything was in perfect sync: the gameplay, the animation, the detail. When Iwata finally finished off the boss and put down the controller, he was clearly pleased with the developers' efforts.

"How much of the game has been completed?"

"We're at 90 percent," said Cuthbert, "and now we're working on bug fixes and the finishing touches. We'll be ready for a launch date before the end of the year."

Iwata was pleased with this answer, though he was also willing to delay the game, despite all the marketing going into the Squad Four 20th anniversary celebration. He knew the team had worked hard, and he didn't want to force them into crunch to push the game out before the end of the year.

"Keep working, it 's very fun so far. Thank you for all of your hard work."

Iwata then went around the room and shook everyone's hand. Monty Oum looked particularly star struck as he shook hands with Iwata, and Iwata gave him some encouraging words before parting.

"You have a very bright future," said Iwata. "Keep up the good work, and please remember to have fun also."

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't having fun," Oum replied. Iwata laughed and smiled, and continued around the room. He then walked to the door, with Cerny accompanying him as he left the room.

"That was the most fun I have had playing an unfinished game in a very long time," said Iwata. "Today's certainly been more fun than tomorrow will be."

"Ah, what's tomorrow?"

"I am returning to Japan and going to see my doctor," said Iwata. "It's nothing to worry about, just a couple of tests. I will be fine."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like fun," Cerny told him. "You should bring the Connect along! Have you played Pokemon Order and Chaos yet?"

"I wish I had the time to play more Pokemon!" said Iwata with a laugh. "Perhaps I will do so on the plane."

The visit from Satoru Iwata had given Dylan Cuthbert and his team the boost they needed to push through the last bit of work on their game. This Squad Four would be the culmination of 20 years of hard work, and though most of the people on the team hadn't been working for Argonaut for nearly that long, they all knew what the franchise's legacy was. All of them wanted Squad Four Betrayal to live up to the hype and then some.

None of them wanted to let Mr. Iwata down.

 

[Neoteros]

Good to know Monty's alive and kicking, and people are taking a hardline stance against energy drink-chugging trolls.

 

[eldandythedoubter]

None of them wanted to let Mr. Iwata down.

Well here's a red flag for me. I don't think Iwata's going to survive ittl.

 

[RySenkari]

Good to know Monty's alive and kicking, and people are taking a hardline stance against energy drink-chugging trolls.

Monty died in 2015 IOTL, but he died of something that could potentially be headed off via butterflies, so we'll see what happens.

Barbara Dunkelman's role for Google/Samsung is essentially a cross between what Stephen Toulouse did for Microsoft IOTL and what she's currently doing IOTL for Rooster Teeth, so yeah, I imagine she'd enjoy playing Whack-A-Troll and be quite good at it as well.

 

[Roger Redux]

Sweatin' On The Virtua with Richard Simmons

..........................................*assortment of "ohgodwhy" noises*......................................

promotion of the Virtua and the Connect,

*Gemini

Wow, big update full of stuff. Great work as always!
Hopefully Apple can catch up (....only in an ITTL context would I ever say that...) and at least make a strong showing this generation.
If it doesn't, I'm blaming Richard Simmons 😛

 

[RySenkari]

Corona Virus Threatens Computers Around The World

A dangerous new computer virus has cropped up in the past few months, and it's wreaked havoc on personal and business computers all over the world, with millions of infections worldwide and counting. The virus is known as the Corona Virus (not to be confused with coronavirus, a family of flu-like illnesses known for causing upper respiratory distress), as it first cropped up in the computers of people attempting to pirate the popular PC RPG Corona del Sol. From the initial infections, which numbered in the thousands, the virus has spread to computers throughout the world, via email, corrupted website ads, and other methods of transmission, with pirated games, movies, and televisions shows also being distributed with the virus. The virus causes infected computers to slow down and also runs the risk of corrupting files, but experts believe the virus' intended purpose is to add infected computers to a rapidly growing "botnet" which can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, including denial of service attacks and further virus distribution. It's estimated that the virus has infected about three million computers in the last four months, making it one of the fastest growing computer viruses of the past few years. Experts say that users can mitigate their risk of their computers falling victim to the Corona virus by taking certain steps, including installing anti-virus software, refraining from opening suspicious e-mails, and purchasing software legitimately and refraining from downloading illegally from filesharing websites, which are havens for viruses and other malware. Interpol and other agencies are currently attempting to find the creator of the Corona virus, and while they've been able to gather few leads thus far, it's believed that the virus may have originated from a programmer in China, in the area near the city of Wuhan. Chinese authorities have declined to issue any statements about the Corona virus thus far.

-from an article on Yahoo! News, posted on February 21, 2014

-

Cryptocurrency's Future Muddled By Lawsuits

Cryptocurrency, a special new type of digital currency that uses blockchain technology to create an untraceable digital signature which can hide transactions, has begun to make its presence felt online. Utilizing the same technology that powers the digital encryption technology known as Veritsu, cryptocurrency can be "mined" by people using their computers to solve a series of mathematical problems, and when a solution is reached, a single coin is awarded. Cryptocurrency exists in a number of forms and is said to be a substitute for paper currency, because its creators can make the currency deflationary rather than inflationary, avoiding what advocates say are flaws in fiat currency. The most popular and valuable form of cryptocurrency at the moment is known as Techcoin, which currently trades for around $2 per unit. This is down from a high of around $15 in mid-2013, and the reason for this is the uncertainty of cryptocurrency's future as a form of payment, due to a series of lawsuits filed by Veritsu inventor Mitsuko Ariyama. Ariyama, who has been extremely vocal in pushing back against cryptocurrency, claims that it's a misuse of her technology and a form of patent infringement. She has not only sued cryptocurrency trading websites, but has also pushed back against websites accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment, and has sued some of them as well, claiming that the technology required to accept cryptocurrency is part of her Veritsu blockchain patent. Ariyama, a 28-year-old inventor and businesswoman currently living in Palo Alto, California, is the world's richest self-made woman, with a current net worth of over $10 billion, and has seen her net worth soar in the last three years, due largely to her Veritsu patents and her small but significant ownership share in Google. She has been successful in obtaining injunctions against a number of cryptocurrency traders and businesses, though some of these companies have appealed, and a major court battle that could drag all the way to the Supreme Court is expected.

"If I wanted to use my technology to make funny money, I would've done so myself," said Ariyama in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired in December. "My Veritsu technology was not intended to help people conduct shady business and destroy the trust we must all have in one another. It was designed to help people protect themselves, while allowing for the open and secure exchange of information online. Veritsu has helped millions of people prevent themselves from being defrauded or harmed when conducting business online, and the rise of cryptocurrency threatens to damage all of that. I understand that there is a need to conduct anonymous and safe business transactions, but cryptocurrency is a technology that carries too much risk, and I will do everything in my power to prevent the misuse of blockchain."

Ariyama's critics have accused her of wanting to control all blockchain activity herself, and that she stands to profit heavily from being able to monopolize the use of cryptocurrency. She has even been countersued by one company under the provisions of antitrust laws, claiming that allowing one company to control the budding blockchain technology would be a serious mistake. For now, however, cryptocurrency's future remains uncertain, and legal analysts predict that should such a lawsuit go to the Supreme Court, Ariyama would win. If it does go to the Supreme Court, it would likely be 2016 before a final decision is reached.

-from an article on Techbiz.net, posted on March 1, 2014

-

Create simple animations on Eepster!

A new app has emerged over the past few months that has blown up into massively memetic proportions due to the ease with which it allows users to create their own simple animations and post them on Twitter or other websites. It's called Eepster, and it gives users the ability to choose simple figures, a background, and a number of actions and options with which to create their animation. The average Eepster animation takes less than a minute to make, but especially exacting users might take up to an hour or more to get everything just right. The service is fairly heavily moderated to prevent obscene animations (though they do crop up from time to time) or abusive or insulting language on Eepster, making it one of the most kid-friendly apps available. Numerous Eepster animations have taken on a life of their own as memes, encouraged by the app's ability to allow users to share their work with others, letting other users repost or manipulate animations to spread or even contribute to a meme. The mascot of Eepster is an anthropomorphic rabbit known as the Eepster Bunny, which itself has become the subject of many a meme, and users are free to do what they wish with the bunny, putting him into their own animations or using him in a variety of ways.

Over the coming months, the app's developers are exploring the idea of partnerships with other companies to allow the use of licensed characters, as well as the addition of sound and voice recording. So far, there are over 15 million Eepster users and counting.

-from a post on Digital Trends Update on February 13, 2014

-

CES' Best of Show was a surprising new product combining mobile gaming with augmented reality, and could be coming to a wrist near you. In the midst of rumors of Apple and Google getting ready to premiere watches that will let you sync with their phones and mobile gaming systems, a company called Integra may have beaten them to the punch, and at a somewhat cheaper than expected price as well. Integra's DigiBrace consists of a pair of wristbands that you wear like you might wear watches or bracelets. DigiBrace can serve as a watch (or as a blood pressure monitor, among other things), but can also be used to play augmented reality games by moving your arms in various ways, combining with a compatible phone to produce something called a "mobile light display". This display can serve as a sort of information screen, but it can also play motion games, including a series of fighters and puzzles, and also a really creative RPG. The DigiBrace's developers want users to "always have something to do", and while they don't expect people wearing the DigiBraces to start throwing fists in public, there are other uses for the wristbands that could make the common digital watch obsolete. The DigiBraces are set to be released in August, and will retail for $99 for a pair, significantly cheaper than Apple and Google's watches are expected to be.

-from an article on CNet, posted on January 28, 2014

-

Lycos Buys Friendster For $15 Billion, Giving The Company A Significant Chunk Of Online Social Networking Market

Mark Cuban's Lycos continues to grow, after a series of acquisitions, the most notable among them being Youtube in 2009. Cuban has transformed Youtube into a legitimate online video powerhouse, keeping the copyright lawsuits away while still allowing users a much greater degree of freedom than Videocean, which has grown increasingly restrictive with user generated content in recent years. Now Lycos has acquired the social networking giant Friendster, which, for most of the last decade, has been the #1 social networking site on the internet. For most of this time, Friendster's biggest competition has been Angelsphere, the website creation/social networking tool that, while giving users the freedom to create a larger online presence, lacked the simplicity and user friendliness of Friendster. However, Angelsphere's market share has slowly grown, while Friendster has seen its user base decline in recent years, and in 2013, Angelsphere finally accomplished what no other website had been able to do: eclipse Friendster in overall users. Friendster will remain a separate service for the time being as part of the Lycos umbrella, and it's rumored that Angelsphere may shift its focus to web hosting and site creation while allowing Friendster to become the primary social networking service for Lycos. Lycos has undergone many changes since Youtube's acquisition: it's shed its search engine, which Cuban admitted was "inferior to Google and has been for a long time", and it's also culled millions of old Angelsphere sites, which generated some controversy among its user base after a few beloved sites were deleted. However, through it all, Lycos has remained one of the major hubs for social networking online, and with the acquisition of Friendster, it now assumes a dominant position in the online hierarchy. Its biggest competitor is now Okuma, the social networking arm of Google, which has also grown rapidly and has focused heavily on mobile apps rather than on normal PC browsing (like Lycos and Angelsphere continue to do). Though Lycos and Google are both enormously successful (and worth well over $100 billion each), competition between them in the social networking realm has grown especially fierce, and with the acquisition of Friendster, the rivalry between the two market leaders in social networking could grow fiercer than ever.

-from an article on Wired, posted on March 17, 2014

 

[Neoteros]

Wait, so the actual coronavirus has come and gone already here?

Also, looks like pseudo-libertarians of the "no step on snek" variety will have to find a new pet project, since cryptocurrency's about to be smothered in the cradle.

And I hope Ariyama won't end up as yet another amoral billionaire.

 

[RySenkari]

Wait, so the actual coronavirus has come and gone already here?

We've known about coronaviruses since the 1960s:

Coronavirus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It's just that ITTL, they're not really a notorious thing since there's never been a major deadly outbreak, SARS and MERS never became a thing.

 

[TheDetailer]

SARS and MERS never became a thing.

How?

 

[RySenkari]

How?

Diseases are quite susceptible to butterflies, so the SARS and MERS outbreaks of OTL didn't happen ITTL. There have been a couple of SARS/MERS-like diseases to pop up, but they didn't result in a notable outbreak like the ones IOTL.

 

[RySenkari]

With 2014 looking like another banner year for indie titles, we continue to see game companies pushing the limits of what players expect from a budget video game, trying out new genres and forms of gameplay while helping to establish a wider field of play for developers of all stripes, large and small.

February's crop of indie titles is looking especially strong, with two in particular standing out as examples of genre expansion in a time of unprecedented creativity. The simulation genre gets a new entry with Superstore Simulator, a game in which the player can take charge of a Walmart-like business and see it achieve success or run it into the ground. Hire and fire employees, deal with customers, stock the shelves and even decide what type of city you'll set up shop in (will you build a multi-story flagship store in a major city, or a massive big box unit a small town cornfield, invoking Kevin Costner's Field Of Dreams mantra: "if you build it, they will come"?) While the game goes for laughs most of the time, customer behavior and financial information is surprisingly realistic, and shopkeepers will deal with all types of different situations, from the hype surrounding a hot new electronic product release to a viral plague causing massive hoarding, Superstore Simulator gives players all the excitement and anxiety of running their own department store without ever having to run a register themselves. The developers plan to introduce new content via DLC, and the game itself is coming to the Reality, the Nexus, Nintendo's handheld Connect, and the Steam store (an Apple release is expected later this year) at a bargain price of $19.99. Superstore Simulator is fairly lighthearted and fun, but this month's other big indie release is much darker: Don't Starve, from Klei Entertainment and published by Google, is coming exclusively to the Nexus at the end of February. Its protagonist, a scientist named Wilson, must survive by foraging and doing whatever he can in a mysterious world where everything wants to kill him. The game has roguelike elements, in which dying will cause the player to restart their quest from the beginning, though with the knowledge of what they did before and a few choice items picked up in their previous playthrough. It's expected to be one of the year's more difficult games, but those who have played titles like the King's Grave series and FTL: Faster Than Light know what they're getting into, and the game's whimsical art style, which resembles something out of a Tim Burton movie, has received accolades for its unique artistry. Don't Starve is a somewhat slowed paced game than Superstore Simulator, and is likely to appeal to a different group of players. Its exclusivity status is symbolic of Google's continued efforts to woo indie developers, and the company continues to aggressively pursue them for both its Nexus and Android platforms, a strategy Google appears determined to pursue whether or not Don't Starve is a success.

-from an article on Games Over Matter, posted on February 11, 2014

-

Eclectic 2

Eclectic 2 is the sequel to Jonathan Blow's 2009 hit Eclectic, which became one of the iTwin's most successful digital exclusives with several million units sold. Eclectic 2, released on the Virtua, is a game that combines puzzle solving with the Virtua's motion control capabilities, and combines elements of OTL's The Witness with Jonathan Blow's OTL idea for a game about wizards utilizing hand gestures to cast different types of spells. The game's plot has nothing to do with the original Eclectic, though there are some callbacks to the characters in that game, with homages and alliterations to the characters of Marseline and Gomez scattered throughout. In Eclectic 2, the protagonist is a female wizard named Gloria who finds herself alone amidst the ruins of a massive castle implied to be a home for wizards like herself. Gloria must discover what became of the castle by regaining her powers and using them to solve puzzles and open passages both around and beneath the castle's ruins. She eventually comes to meet other wizards, some of whom help her and some of whom battle her, with battles playing out somewhat like the fights in a Punch-Out game, with the player needing to memorize patterns and figure out when the time is to strike. Gloria can cast up to 18 different spells, with each spell having different variants depending on how the player moves their hands (or how they press buttons, if using traditional controls). Eventually, Gloria pieces together the mystery of the castle: it was destroyed when the king tried to cast a spell to bring back his beloved daughter, but ended up destroying the castle due to not being able to control the spell. Gloria turns out to be the king's long lost daughter, but learns that remaking the castle will unmake her own life, and will not bring back the people killed, only the castle and its environs. Gloria eventually makes her way to her own room, which is mostly intact, and an emotional moment ensues as she reads journal entries from her mother, father, and sister. Her mother and father were killed in the explosion, but it's left ambiguous whether or not Gloria's sister died or whether she merely left. The ending is also ambiguous, showing the rebuilt castle at the end of it all and eventually showing a person returning, but not revealing whether or not it's Gloria or her sister who comes to the castle in the end. Overall, Eclectic 2 is considered to be a very good game by critics, who praise it almost as highly as Eclectic, but isn't revered as highly as The Witness was IOTL, due to the quality of the puzzles being somewhat less. It's still a very good game and considered a worthy sequel to the original Eclectic, and would ultimately become one of the Virtua's fastest selling digital exclusives of the first quarter of 2014 after its release in early March. Apple, like Google, continues to aggressively pursue indie studios and developers, but in a more strong-armed way than Google (outright buying several companies, in contrast with Google's lighter hand). Both companies are pulling well ahead of Nintendo in that regard, though Nintendo is starting to lure in some indie companies who are intrigued with the Reality's VR technology.

 

[RySenkari]

The 2013-14 NFL season once again played host to plenty of surprises, new superstars, and new powerhouses, with plenty of young players taking over and some old ones fading back into the distance. In the AFC, the defending Super Bowl champion Tennessee Titans picked up right where they left off, cruising to a 12-4 record and the overall #1 seed. The Kansas City Chiefs had a bounce back year in the AFC West, taking the #2 seed and barely beating out their fellow 11-5 Miami Dolphins for the bye. The AFC also saw the surprising resurgence of the Cleveland Browns, led by their young quarterback Russell Wilson and their excellent receiving corps, including All-Pro tight end Aaron Hernandez, who managed to excel despite his mercurial personality. The Browns fought their way to a 9-7 record and snuck in with a wild card berth, beating out two other teams for that distinction, including last season's #2 New York Jets, who couldn't quite repeat the success of 2012.

In the NFC, two young quarterbacks, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, guided their teams to wild card spots, with Luck taking the 49ers and Griffin taking the Eagles. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks shocked the world by going from the outhouse to the penthouse. They started 6-3, already pretty good after last year's 4-12 campaign, then rattled off seven straight wins to go to 13-3 and enter the playoffs with the league's best record. The Seahawks did it with a mix of firepower on offense and toughness on defense, with their defensive unit being led by rookie Manti Te'o, who won Rookie of the Year and dominated on his side of the field. The Chicago Bears once again had an excellent year, finishing 12-4 in their bid to repeat as conference champs, while the New Orleans Saints struggled with Peyton Manning going down to injuries and Brandon Weeden not being able to handle the load.

NFL Playoffs 2013-14:

Wildcard Round

(3) Miami Dolphins over (6) Cleveland Browns, 45 to 14

The Browns' Cinderella story ended fairly early on a disappointing note, as Drew Brees and the Dolphins dissected the Browns' mismatched defense. Russell Wilson tried to get things going, but he found himself overwhelmed, and the Dolphins won easily, despite two touchdowns from Hernandez and a gutsy performance by the Browns' rushing game.

(4) Pittsburgh Steelers over (5) New England Patriots, 13 to 0

One of the NFL's best rivalries for more than a decade looks to be ending, as the Patriots, despite excellent coaching, looked old and tired in this game and coughed up four turnovers to Pittsburgh's excellent defense. The Steelers, led by Aaron Rodgers, struggled a bit on offense as well, and this was one of the least entertaining playoff games in recent memory. The Steelers looked okay, but okay might not be good enough to beat the surging Titans.

(6) San Francisco 49ers over (3) New York Giants, 20 to 14

Andrew Luck struggled to get things going in the first half against the Giants' staunch defense, and the Niners went into the locker room at halftime down 14-0. That's when their offense finally started to move the ball, and after a long drive in the third quarter, it was 14-7. The Niners then quickly scored again, converting a turnover into a short field goal, followed by a quick touchdown drive after the Giants went three and out. The Giants turned over the ball again, leading to another Niners field goal with thirty seconds remaining, and that wasn't enough time for the Giants to come back, putting the Niners into the next round and into a divisional showdown with the Seahawks.

(5) Philadelphia Eagles over (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20 to 17 (OT)

The Eagles triumphed over the new-look Bucs in this highly competitive showdown. The Eagles made the most of RG3, who ran and threw his way to a rushing and passing touchdown over the course of a long, back and forth game. Tampa Bay's young studs helped them win a down NFC South, but they fell short against the Eagles, who kicked a field goal in overtime to advance to the next round.

Divisional Round:

(1) Tennessee Titans over (4) Pittsburgh Steelers, 29 to 16

The Steelers were no match for the Titans in a game that wasn't as close as the score would indicate. Rodgers threw for two touchdowns, but also two interceptions, while the Titans pretty much had their way with the Steelers in this game, running and throwing all over the field to stymie their defense. The Steelers managed a late garbage time safety, but couldn't convert a touchdown on their ensuing drive, and the Titans return to the conference championship.

(3) Miami Dolphins over (2) Kansas City Chiefs, 27 to 24

The Dolphins led by 27-0 at one point in the third quarter before Kansas City mounted a furious comeback that gained momentum after Brees went down in the third with a concussion while the score was 27-7. Unable to score, with the Dolphins' backup throwing an interception, the Dolphins were helpless to prevent the Chiefs from roaring back, making it 27-14, then 27-17 with a field goal, then scoring again with two minutes to go to make it 27-24. They failed to recover the onside kick, and had a chance to get the ball back on a 3rd and 6 defensive stop, but the Dolphins' running back managed to squirt through the Chiefs' defenders, converting the first down by a few inches and ending the Chiefs' season. Brees' status going into the championship game would be a big question mark throughout the week.

(1) Seattle Seahawks over (6) San Francisco 49ers, 28 to 27

The 49ers almost pulled off a miracle in this epic game that featured outstanding quarterback play and a big comeback by the 49ers that fell just short. The Seahawks went up 17-0, but Andrew Luck pulled them to within 3, then gave them the lead just before halftime, 21 to 17. The two teams' defenses then stiffened up, forcing heartbreaking red zone turnovers by both teams and holding the Niners out of the end zone for the duration of the second half. The Niners had one last chance to get into field goal range, but turned the ball over on downs, giving the unlikely Seahawks their eight straight win.

(5) Philadelphia Eagles over (2) Chicago Bears, 24 to 13

The Bears just didn't have it in this divisional showdown at Soldier Field, while the Eagles and RG3 ran wild, using their running game to extend drives and keep the Bears' potent offense off the field. They dominated time of possession by an almost two-to-one ratio, leaving the Bears offense and home crowd frustrated to the point where they began booing their team in the fourth quarter. The Eagles would win and head to Seattle for the NFC Championship.

Conference Championships:

(1) Tennessee Titans over (3) Miami Dolphins, 41 to 20

Drew Brees was unable to suit up for the Dolphins, leaving them at the mercy of a tough Titans team. Dolphins backup Tom Savage did his best, but his two interceptions came at crucial times in his team's drives, and the Dolphins were never able to get any momentum. Meanwhile, Philip Rivers was excellent, throwing for five touchdowns on a short field and guiding his team to victory. The Dolphins' fans would have to endure the painful "what if?" of Drew Brees going down in that Chiefs game, and what might have been.

(1) Seattle Seahawks over (5) Philadelphia Eagles, 23 to 19

The Cinderella Eagles led 16-7 at one point, and looked poised to pull off a huge upset, but it wasn't to be. The Seahawks managed to score two touchdowns and a field goal, and though they failed to convert on a two-point conversion, giving the Eagles a chance to go back up with the score 20-19 in the fourth quarter, they couldn't convert and the Seahawks were able to get one more field goal, leaving the Eagles with a long field and almost no time. They couldn't get it done, and the Seahawks would get a chance to prevent the Titans from repeating as champs.

Super Bowl XLVIII:

Seattle Seahawks over Tennessee Titans, 30 to 27

Despite Seattle's superior record, the Titans went into this game as four point favorites to repeat as champions. However, they seemed off for most of the game. The Seahawks jumped out to a 13-0 lead, and though it was 13-7 at halftime, they never really looked back, making the tough plays when they needed to and keeping the Titans at a safe distance throughout most of the game, making this Super Bowl somewhat less entertaining than the score would indicate. Whitney Houston, after a successful rehab stint and comeback tour, performed to a raucous crowd at halftime, and even invited PSY onto the stage for an impromptu performance of "Gangnam Style" with the two hugging out their differences at the end of the performance. Seattle quarterback Brian Hoyer was the MVP, and the Seahawks close their season on a magical ten game run.

-

2014 NFL Draft:

The NFL Draft once again loomed as a chance for the league's worst teams to change their fortunes with a franchise-shaping player, with the consensus #1 pick being Florida State's Blake Bortles, who'd taken the Seminoles to two straight national championships in a row. The hapless Buffalo Bills held the top pick, and eagerly snapped up Bortles, hoping to make him into the next Jim Kelly. The explosive defender Jadeveon Clowney was next up, going to the Arizona Cardinals at #2, while Khalil Mack went to the Houston Texans at #3. Odell Beckham Jr., said to be the best wide receiver prospect in years, went to the Baltimore Ravens at #4, where they hoped he could help them compete in a tough division. The New Orleans Saints decided to end the Brandon Weeden experiment early, and took quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round, hoping Peyton Manning could shape him into a star in what looked to be Manning's final year in the league. The NFL champion Seahawks surprised many when they took quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with the #32 pick, showing a lack of confidence in their reigning Super Bowl MVP. However, Hoyer had long been maligned for being a streaky and inconsistent passer, and the Seahawks were fairly stacked at other positions, so a QB was the logical choice for them.

-

JA Adande: But I think the best American performance in the Winter Olympics so far has to be from 23-year-old John Sanderson (+1), the first ever African-American snowboarder to win a gold medal (+1). In fact, he's won two (+1) (+1). Tuesday he won a gold medal in the halfpipe with some really amazing tricks, especially this huge leap (+1) into a 540 reverse, and then this trick which has never been done at the Olympics before (+1). Then last night, he won the slopestyle in even more spectacular fashion (+1), beating Mark McMorris by less than a point with this amazing run. John Sanderson is absolutely the best story to come out of this Winter Olympics, at least from the American team, and he's also an inspiration to young black athletes all over this country (+1).

Woody Paige: I have to agree with you, he's been really fun to watch, and even though I still think the young figure skating star Naya Alexander has been the better story overall (-1), John Sanderson has been amazing as well.

Tony Reali: I think some of us might be getting a little bit worn out on hearing about Naya Alexander.

Woody: What's there to get worn out about, she's a great story!

Tony: But she's been everywhere though, and before this, I hadn't even heard of John Sanderson. Interestingly enough, he cites the character Kirsten from the video game Thrillseekers as his biggest inspiration. I'm more of a Marina guy myself, but always good to hear about a fellow Thrillseekers fan.

Woody: What is this we're talking about now, video games? Come on, Tony, you know us old timers don't- (MUTE) (-3).

JA: Tony Hawk for me, all the way. (+1) The original, 1999, Ultra Nintendo.

Tony: Tony Hawk is an acceptable game as well.

Bob Ryan: You sure that's not because you two have the same name?

JA: I don't think I'd play a Tony Reali's Pro Skater. (MUTE) (-3)

Tony: Moving on to football news, the Cleveland Browns are now saying that their All-Pro tight end Aaron Hernandez is indeed going to be taking a few weeks off from the team for "psychological reasons", though they've declined to say exactly what those might be. Guys, you know the Browns have had trouble in the past with these types of issues, and you know that Aaron Hernandez has had off the field issues before. Do you think the Browns are smart to keep taking a chance on Hernandez, or should they try to cut him loose?

Bob: Tony, you know as well as I do that these players go through a lot of psychological stress (+1) (+1) (+1), and I think you've got to give them the chance to get the help they need and come back to the team (+1). Aaron Hernandez hasn't been in any kind of legal trouble since college, and the only problem he's had in the NFL is a game suspension for cussing at a fan (+1), and we debated that on the show and nobody here except Woody agreed that he deserved it (+1). Aaron Hernandez has admitted to having a troubled childhood and a history of abuse (+1) (+1), and deserves the chance to handle his issues with dignity and privacy. The Browns shouldn't have even had to announce that he was going through problems (+1), the only reason they had to announce it is because of nosy people from social media.

Woody: Well, first of all, Aaron Hernandez cussed out a little girl (+1) (+1), and second of all, I'm one of his biggest defenders outside of that incident, and I've struggled with mental health issues before too (+1) (+1), so I'm not going to show anything but sensitivity toward Aaron in a tough time for him. Look, the Browns have had a history with guys like Michael Vick (+1), they're just starting to pick themselves up from the hole they dug with that incident, so they're naturally going to be skittish, especially with the press. The bottom line is that Aaron Hernandez is an extremely talented player, and even though I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt, you have to understand what the Browns and the whole city of Cleveland are going through right now. That whole city has collective PTSD (+1).

-from the February 14, 2014 episode of Around The Horn

 

[Ry Guy]

Thank God the Evil Empire of Tom Brady, Bill Belicheck, and the Patriots have not ruined everything.

 

[Nivek]

Thank God the Evil Empire of Tom Brady, Bill Belicheck, and the Patriots have not ruined everything.

BB Is a good coach have won a SB with mcnabb after some close call ittl, Brady Is a SB winner QB for Colts, so both are fine regardless

 

[AeroTheZealousOne]

There IS an update coming up very soon concerning coronavirus... though not quite what you might expect.

Corona Virus Threatens Computers Around The World

Now that just made my day because of how none of us expected it to be a computer virus.

As for cryptocurrencies, they don't look to solid right now, do they? Well, we might get a better understanding of their fate as time goes on. I can't remember what's on the itinerary for 2014 except for something sort of depressing, but once we get there I'm sure I'll be hyped.

 

[RySenkari]

2014 Grammy Nominees (winners in bold):

Best New Artist-

Dreadlock
Ed Sheeran
Kendrick Lamar
Selena Gomez
Tryste Vandolin

(Note: In a fairly thin field for new artists, Kendrick Lamar manages to get his due ITTL, beating out his biggest rival in Ed Sheeran and fending off a late surge from Selena Gomez. Critics and fans alike loved the artistry of Lamar's work, and though he split the votes a bit with reggae superstar Dreadlock, he still managed to take the win in this category ITTL.)

Song Of The Year-

“How Aboutta” by Dreadlock
“It's Weird In Here” by Katy Perry
“Locked Out Of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
“Royals” by Lorde
“Same Old Summer” by Clint Black

(Note: Lorde barely loses out in this category ITTL, as Bruno Mars is just a bit more popular and Lorde isn't QUITE the phenomenon she is IOTL (she's still pretty big though, people are just a bit burned out on M. S. and Lorde suffers from the comparisons). It's a pretty competitive category though, as every song was seen to have at least a puncher's chance to win.)

Record Of The Year-

“Arcadellica” by Nathan Benz
“Double Trouble” by Selena and Selena Gomez
“Locked Out Of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
“Royals” by Lorde
“Space Station” by Daft Punk

(Note: Yet another Grammy win for Selena, as her pop/Latin fusion collaboration with Selena Gomez takes home the gold, narrowly beating out Locked Out Of Heaven and Space Station, which wasn't as catchy as OTL's Get Lucky. Both Selenas seemed quite shocked to get the win here, and shared a warm embrace as they accepted the trophy together. This Grammy win cemented Selena's status not just as a legendary artist, but as a producer, and earned her Corpus Christi studio at least one new major star.)

Album Of The Year-

Artistry by Selena
In The Game Of Life, You Win More Than You Lose by Clint Black
Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
Sure Enough Next Time by Dreadlock
watch where you step by Kendrick Lamar

(Note: Though they were shut out in most of the other categories ITTL, Daft Punk managed to take home the Grammy just as IOTL, beating some fairly stiff competition to do so. Clint Black and Dreadlock were thought to be Daft Punk's biggest competition here, but it wasn't all that close, and Random Access Memories proved just as successful ITTL as it was IOTL.)

-

2014 Oscar Nominees (winners in bold):

Best Picture-

12 Years A Slave
Dallas Buyers Club
Fidelius
Gravity
Her
Lee Daniels' The Butler
North Of Chicago
Philomena
The Pieces
Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III

(Note: This was the first year that saw the change from 5 to 8-10 Best Picture nominees, which happened a few years later than IOTL. Tyrant was a cultural phenomenon, and though some Hollywood purists decried this film and would've rather seen something closer to Shakespeare's classic play, no one could deny the impact this movie had, ultimately beating out competitors like 12 Years A Slave and Gravity to take home the night's biggest prize. Fidelius, about a woman who loses her place in high society after an accusation of adultery, and North Of Chicago, about police corruption in the Chicago suburbs, were both considered fairly strong contenders as well, but couldn't take down the historical epic.)

Best Director-

Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
Alyssa van Strunk for Fidelius
Rian Johnson for Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III
Ridley Scott for North Of Chicago
Steve McQueen for 12 Years A Slave

(Note: Just as IOTL, Alfonso Cuaron's masterful work on Gravity was recognized by the Academy, beating out the other films in this category including the favorite, Tyrant. It wasn't really all that close, though Steve McQueen was a fairly distant second. Gravity was just as spectacular and finely crafted a film as it was IOTL, and didn't have much trouble taking home Best Director.)

Best Actor-

Chadwick Boseman for 12 Years A Slave
Jesse Plemons for North Of Chicago
Leonardo DiCaprio for Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III
Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
Paul Rudd for The Pieces

(Note: There was some controversy over this category, as many thought that Matthew McConaughey's Dallas Buyers Club performance deserved the win, while still others believed that Jesse Plemons' turn as a young cop caught in the middle of a corruption scandal in North Of Chicago might be a dark horse contender. In the end, Tyrant's dominance bled into this category as well, and DiCaprio took home the Oscar.)

Best Actress-

Jodie Whittaker for Fidelius
Judi Dench for Philomena
Lena Headey for Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III
Regina King for Plain Sight
Toni Collette for Gravity

(Note: Toni Collette starred in Gravity ITTL, not Sandra Bullock, and her performance was extremely good, good enough to beat out even the two favorites in this category, Dench and Headey. Judi Dench was the critics' favorite, while it was believed that Lena Headey would ride a wave of Tyrant hype and love all the way to the Oscar, but Toni Collette managed to take it home, winning another major award for Gravity.)

Best Supporting Actor-

Harry Melling for Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III
Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
Michael Caine for On The Pitch
Michael Fassbender for 12 Years A Slave
Pablo Schreiber for North Of Chicago

(Note: HOW THE FUCK DID DUDLEY DURSLEY WIN AN OSCAR?! was the cry that rose up from many an Oscar party on that fateful Sunday night, especially with Jared Leto's heartwrenching performance in Dallas Buyers Club making him a prohibitive favorite, and yet, Melling's performance as the conflicted Henry Stafford, who ultimately turns against Richard in his guilt over killing the Princes in the Tower, was good enough to win him the Oscar in a controversial choice.)

Best Supporting Actress-

Julia-Louis Dreyfus for Nowhere Fast
June Squibb for Nebraska
Kirsten Dunst for Fidelius
Kristen Bell for The Pieces
Olivia Cooke for Tyrant: The Fall Of King Richard III

(Note: Probably the least controversial Oscar choice of the night, Julia-Louis Dreyfus' performance as a disillusioned travel columnist in the dramedy Nowhere Fast was both the best part of that movie and head and shoulders above the other nominees. Kristen Bell won accolades for her performance in The Pieces, and it was thought that Olivia Cooke might be able to ride Tyrant's coattails to victory, but it wasn't to be.)

 

[TheDetailer]

HOW THE FUCK DID DUDLEY DURSLEY WIN AN OSCAR?!

Holy shit!

 

[AndyWho]

The New Orleans Saints decided to end the Brandon Weeden experiment early, and took quarterback Johnny Manziel in the first round

Good God in heaven....Maybe at least he doesn't play for a year. Maybe that could help....

The NFL champion Seahawks surprised many when they took quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with the #32 pick

Heartbreaking really, especially with OTL