With Borderlands 3 now an Epic Games Store exclusive, the war between Epic and Valve seems to be heating up...hotter than a round of Fortnite (or DOTA).

Epic is no stranger to brash and impetuous characters, but is their exclusive-buying policy proving to be more brash and impetuous than any of them?

And what about that time they told the world they'd never steal a game from Steam again, before changing course not three weeks later?

Finally, what does Steam's response to fans "review bombing" the Borderlands series' other entries tell us about just how seriously they are taking Epic's emerging threat to their empire.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/It_P1KYyC80

#Epic #Steam #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Epic on pulling Metro Exodus from Steam: 'We don't want to do that ever again'"

PCGamer - March 21, 2019

(https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-on-pulling-metro-exodus-from-steam-we-dont-want-to-do-that-ever-again/)

"Epic's move into digital game distribution is a shot heard 'round the gaming world"

GameDailyBiz - December 5, 2018 - Mike Futter

(https://gamedaily.biz/article/433/epics-move-into-digital-game-distribution-is-a-shot-heard-round-the-gaming-world)

"We've had a lot of discussions about this since GDC."

Twitter Thread - April 1, 2019

(https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1112814870129504262)

"Epic's Tim Sweeney: Exclusivity deals are 'up to developers and publishers'"

GameDailyBiz - April 5, 2019 - Sarah LeBoeuf

(https://gamedaily.biz/article/749/epics-tim-sweeney-exclusivity-deals-are-up-to-developers-and-publishers)

"Valve targeting ‘off-topic review bombs’ in Steam user reviews"

Polygon - March 15, 2019 - Michael McWhertor

(https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/15/18267720/valve-steam-user-review-bombings-scoring-update)

"Review-bombed Borderlands 2 is the first to have user scores thrown out by Steam"

Polygon - April 6, 2019 - Owen Good

(https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/6/18298215/epic-games-store-review-bombs-steam-borderlands-2)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

With one of the most popular games on the planet, From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, proving to be too difficult for many to master (or even progress in), when is it okay for folks to complain?

Should an Easy Mode be added for accessibility?

What might such a mode mean for experiencing the game?

For the intent of the developers?

For players tempted by the path of least resistance?

And should any of that matter when considering folks that just want to experience the journey?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/eImb0BpNByQ

#Sekiro #EasyMode #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"An Easy Mode Has Never Ruined A Game"

Kotaku - April 2, 2019 - Joshua Rivera

(https://kotaku.com/an-easy-mode-has-never-ruined-a-game-1833757865)

"Ni no Kuni II: The Kotaku Review"

Kotaku - March 23, 2018 - Jason Schreier

(https://kotaku.com/ni-no-kuni-ii-the-kotaku-review-1823879455)

Metacritic Score Page - Ni No Kuni II

(https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/ni-no-kuni-ii-revenant-kingdom/critic-reviews)

Excerpt "Ulysses"

James Joyce

(https://www.berfrois.com/2012/06/ulysses-james-joyce/)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

(0:00) Disclaimer

(0:42) Introduction

(3:32) Kotaku Article

(8:10) Easy is a Dirty Word

(12:33) Difficulty is the Point

(14:57) The Case for Easy Mode

(16:26) The Problem with Easy Mode

(22:32) Easy Mode Has Never Ruined a Game

(24:11) Should All Games Have Difficulty Settings

(25:52) Miyazaki on Difficulty

(26:37) Easy Mode vs Film

(28:13) Ulysses

(30:19) The Medium

(32:05) The Search

(37:58) Outro

Kotaku's Jason Schreier once again brings us into the world of how the video game sausage gets made, as he dives deep into the tumultuous development history of Bioware's Anthem.

Why was Anthem's traversal, gameplay, and even name changed at the last minute?

What forces, both internal and external, led to the release of the lowest rated game in Bioware's history?

What did Bioware have to say about Kotaku's article?

And why does Bioware's messaging on this do more to evidence its communications issues than it does to refute them?

We've got a lot to say about this one folks.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/_9Hx3_Scbew

FOR MORE ON BIOWARE'S RECENT "ISSUES" WITH MESSAGING:

"Virtual Legality #18 - Metroid Prime 4 vs Anthem: A Tale of Two Messages (Hoeg Law)"

(https://youtu.be/n-tymXSjh0k)

#Anthem #Kotaku #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

2:45 - "How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong"

Kotaku - April 2, 2019 - Jason Schreier

(https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964)

42:56 - "Anthem Game Development"

Bioware Blog Post - April 2, 2019

(http://blog.bioware.com/2019/04/02/anthem-game-development/)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

(0:00) Opening

(2:45) How BioWare's Anthem Went Wrong

(42:56) Anthem Game Development

Sony announces a full server shutdown for DriveClub, once a crown jewel in their PS4 launch plans. But what might be a relatively small closure is just the latest evidence of an ever widening problem for the industry.

What does it mean for software to be licensed and not sold?

What legal rights does Sony have to "turn off" the DriveClub servers under contract and copyright law?

Why is this such a big problem for the preservation of gaming history going forward?

What does the DMCA, the Copyright Act, and the Library of Congress have to say about it?

And why is that not nearly enough?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/46eMpYuZn7I

#DriveClub #Preservation #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Sony is shutting down all Driveclub online servers"

GameIndustryBiz - April, 2019

(https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-01-sony-is-shutting-down-all-driveclub-online-servers)

"Decommissioned servers"

PlayStation (Updated April 1, 2019)

(https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/legal/gameservers/)

"SOFTWARE PRODUCT LICENSE AGREEMENT"

Sony PlayStation (Updated April 1, 2018)

(https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/softwarelicense/)

"TERMS OF SERVICE AND USER AGREEMENT"

Sony PlayStation (Updated April 1, 2018)

(https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/legal/terms-of-service/)

"Copyright Law Just Got Better for Video Game History"

Motherboard - October 25, 2018

(https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/zm9az5/copyright-law-just-got-better-for-video-game-history)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

null

Two lesser-known role-playing games launched this week in Nine Dot Studios' "Outward" and Zen Studios' "Operencia: The Stolen Sun". One may well just wind up a cult classic. The other? Well it might just be a classic, cult or no.

Which is which? Find out on this episode of "Impressions".

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/2DU3yiyqRiQ

#Outward #Operencia #Impressions

***

PODCAST VERSIONS AVAILABLE AT

Spotify: (https://open.spotify.com/show/3qsDhQ7h6BR2wLyNQYDWB4)

iTunes:

(https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/virtual-legality/id1448785539?mt=2)

SoundCloud:

(https://soundcloud.com/user-510342404)

Google Play Music:

(https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/In3d7qersx72lvzehxo7gu6cd5u)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050

PAX East - Gearbox Software announces the long-awaited sequel, Borderlands 3, but accompanied by publishing announcements, card games, magic tricks, and all the technical difficulties one could ask for.

What does Borderlands' apparent commitment to NOT becoming Destiny/Division/Anthem mean for Gearbox and 2k?

How and why was the announcement, in part, a "train wreck"?

And why do I think that "train wreck" is exactly what the industry could use a bit more of?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/3o4hdIePz4E

#Borderlands #Gearbox #VirtualLegality

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Gearbox Announces Borderlands 3"

Kotaku - March 28, 2019 - Jason Schreier

(https://kotaku.com/gearbox-announces-borderlands-3-1833646841)

Borderlands 3 Official Reveal Trailer

Gearbox Software

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Gu1PspA3Y&feature=youtu.be)

"The 7 most awkward moments from Gearbox's Borderlands 3 stream"

GamesRadar - March 28, 2019

(https://www.gamesradar.com/the-7-most-awkward-moments-from-gearboxs-borderlands-3-stream/)

"Borderlands 3 Reveal + Gearbox PAX East 2019 Stream - IGN Live"

IGN/Gearbox Software

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNcqglTGYfs)

***

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050