Virtual Legality

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Square Enix's almost two decades' old Kingdom Hearts project comes to its long expected conclusion in Kingdom Hearts 3.

Unfortunately, at least for the first dozen or so hours, it's just more of the same.

Hope you liked licensed, movie tie-in games...for decades-old movies.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/jTyBydxx1Xo

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THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

What if I told you that one day, the most popular Valentine's Day candy in the country would simply up and vanish?

That the bankruptcy of the candy's centuries-old creator would result in not one, not two, but three separate asset sales that would cost the country its ability to communicate on tiny candy hearts for all of 2019.

Welcome to the crazy, true story of the New England Confectionery Co. and its bankruptcy.

And why you won't be able to call much of anything Sweetheart this holiday.

Happy Valentine's Day!

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/9H-CxBiNu8g

#Sweethearts #NECCO #VirtualLegality

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Discussed in this episode:

"Be Mine? Nope. SweetHeart Candies Hard To Find This Valentine's Day"

NPR, January 28, 2019

(https://www.npr.org/2019/01/28/688637413/be-mine-nope-sweetheart-candies-hard-to-find-this-valentines-day)

New England Confectionery Company, Inc.

FDA Enforcement Letter, 5/16/18

(https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm607845.htm)

"Necco is sold for $18.8 million at bankruptcy auction"

Boston Globe, May 23, 2018

(https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2018/05/23/necco-sold-for-million-bankruptcy-auction/j94PlNSPc0TKkKWyZX79mI/story.html)

"Spangler Candy backs out of deal to buy NECCO Wafers"

The Blade, June 2, 2018

(https://www.toledoblade.com/business/2018/06/02/Spangler-Candy-backs-out-of-deal-to-buy-NECCO-Wafers.html)

"Necco wafer factory abruptly shuts down after company is sold to unknown buyer"

Washington Post, July 25, 2018

(https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/07/25/necco-wafer-factory-abruptly-shuts-down-after-company-is-sold-to-unknown-buyer/?utm_term=.ede5cf6c2a1e)

"Spangler Candy buys Necco Wafers, Sweethearts brands"

The Blade, September 25, 2018

(https://www.toledoblade.com/business/2018/09/24/spangler-candy-buys-necco-wafers-sweethearts-brands-bryan/stories/20180924232)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

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(0:00) Intro

(2:40) Sweet Heart Candies Hard to Find

(9:33) Spengler Backs Out of Deal

(15:01) Round Hill Buys Necco

(20:35) Spangler Buys Necco

(23:15) Sweet Hearts

Resident Evil 2 (2019) is everything one could want from a revisit to classic series. The nostalgia may be overpowering, but you've never seen Resident Evil 2 look like this.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/FVyOkttF7o0

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

Gamergate long ago scorched the earth of having a reasonable conversation about journalistic practices in gaming and beyond, but...what if it hadn't?

In our first Virtual Legality Extra, we dive headlong into the conversation started again this past week by The Escapist and Russ Pitts, including a discussion of the comments being made by some the industry's most popular journalists.

Can we separate out harassment from message?

What place does politics have in the conversation?

And why does the rise of the "influencer" make the consideration of ethics more important than ever?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/DySHnxw6B5s

#Ethics #Journalism #VirtualLegality

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Discussed in this episode:

"How Do We Finally Talk About Ethics?"

Escapist, February 5, 2019

(https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2019/02/05/how-do-we-finally-talk-about-ethics/)

Jason Schreier Twitter Thread

February 6, 2019

(https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1093240946416910337)

Resident Evil 2 Review Script

Easy Allies

(https://easyallies.com/#!/review/resident-evil-2-2019)

"I Wish 'Resident Evil 2' Let Me Be a More Compassionate Hero"

February 1, 2019

(https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/59xgqz/resident-evil-2-survivor-compassion)

Star Wars Episode II Review Homepage

Rotten Tomatoes

(https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_ii_attack_of_the_clones)

Amanda Farough Twitter Thread

February 6, 2019

(https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1093253099744100354)

Brian Crecente Twitter Thread

February 7, 2019

(https://twitter.com/crecenteb/status/1093520479489572864)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

Though Epic has come out blazing with attacks on Steam's 70/30 revenue split, Steam's policy of allowing publishers and developers to sell their own Steam "keys" on other stores (serviced by Steam for free), makes the math a bit more complicated.

What is Steam's "key" policy and how does it differ from what is presently offered by the Epic Games Store?

What does it mean to enforce "guidelines" over specific rules or contract terms?

And why does the use of "guidelines" mean that some publishers and developers might still consider themselves to be better off going with Epic?

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/lb79Tv-rjF4

#Steam #Epic #VirtualLegality

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Discussed in this episode:

Twitter Conversation between Lewie Procter and HoegLaw

Twitter, January 30, 2019

(https://twitter.com/LewieP/status/1090772768847745024)

ResetEra Post analyzing % of reviews from Steam purchasers on Steam

ResetEra, January 27, 2019

(https://www.resetera.com/threads/6-of-devs-think-valve-justifies-its-30-steam-cut-according-to-gdc-poll.96047/page-4#post-17301542)

Is There any Deal Website HomePage

(https://isthereanydeal.com/#/)

Gamebillet "About Us"

(https://www.gamebillet.com/about-us)

Steamworks Documentation - "Steam Keys"

(https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/keys)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

What lessons can we take away from the games that appear on the "Steam Top Sellers of 2018" list?

Or perhaps more importantly, what lessons can we take away from the games that don't appear?

As always, it's fun (and insightful) to read between the lines.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/46yFbnDgb40

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Discussion in this episode focuses on:

"Top Sellers of 2018"

Steam, December 28, 2018

(https://store.steampowered.com/sale/winter2018bestof/)

"Entertainment Industry Top 10 Sellers"

NPD, November and October

(https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/top-10/)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

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

With EA's stock price dipping, how much of the blame can be pinned on Battlefield V?

And of that blame, how much is the responsibility of the designers, and how much is the result of the politically and culturally charged media landscape?

As always, communication is key.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/MqCb-3pQWLc

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Discussion in this episode focuses on:

"Electronic Arts: Expect Additional Estimate Reductions As Battlefield V Sales Disappoint"

Seeking Alpha, December 20, 2018

(https://seekingalpha.com/article/4229279-electronic-arts-expect-additional-estimate-reductions-battlefield-v-sales-disappoint)

***

THANKS FOR WATCHING!

FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

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

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at 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