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Source: Insomniac Games / PlayStation / Dove
Black and Brown video game characters are constantly plagued with awful-looking generic hairstyles. Dove and Open Source Afro Source Hair Library to fix that glaring issue.
Did you know that 85% of Black gamers do not feel video games are coming up painfully regarding the representation of Black characters?
Did you also know that 74% of game developers really want to actively promote better representation?
Dove and Open Afro Source Hair Library are on a mission to fix the Black hair issue in video games with the launch of “Code My Crown,” the first complete and free guide about coding textured hair and protective styles specifically for video games.
Code My Crown aims to eliminate the tired excuse that Black hair is hard to emulate in games by providing coders and developers with an instructional guide allowing them to code more diverse and “true to life” hairstyles in 3D games.
As mentioned above, the guide is free to download at Dove.com/CodemyCrown. This site was also created to help increase diversity in the video game world.
Speaking on the lack of texture hairstyles in games, Isaac Olander, lead Code My Crown developer 3D Artist, said in a press release, “Out of hundreds of possible hairstyles to choose from in the video games I play most often, only a handful are textured hairstyles,”
Olander added, “I am personally grateful to the many talented artists that have selflessly shared their knowledge before me. Their generosity has shaped my artistic journey, and it feels incredibly rewarding to give back to our artistic community with this guide.”
What Is The Open Source Afro Hair Library?
Open Source Afro Hair Library features a bunch of Black creators, developers, and natural hair experts who point out the top textured and protective hairstyles that are always absent in video games.
Code My Crown also features 15 original hair sculpts created by international Black 3D artists, animators, programmers, and academics to help give developers a foundation to create better virtual hairstyles for Black characters.
Each sculpt has 360-degree image mapping, step-by-step instructions, and cultural context to help them create Black hairstyles in the game.
“In the real world, there is an incredible variety of Black hairstyles. But this is rarely reflected in the gaming world,” A.M. Darke, founder and lead Code My Crown contributor, said in the release. “When Black hair is absent from the games we play or are consistently low-quality, it communicates that Black players and our culture are an afterthought, that our stories aren’t worth telling.”
Black Hair In Video Games Has Been A Hot Topic Issue
In March, Kinda Funny’s Blessing Adeoye Jr. released a fantastic video highlighting the need for immediate fixes to Black hairstyles in video games.
The video notes there have been some strides.
For example, see Miles Morales’ crispy ceaser haircut in the above photo from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales or his latest hairstyle in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but the issue in gaming is still glaring.
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We can still find some recently released games that provide users with subpar cornrows, afros, and other hair options that only Tyler Perry would use in his television shows or films.
However, we applauded Dove, the Open Source Afro Hair Library, the developers, and Blessing for bringing attention to this important issue.
Representation will always matter.
¯
Photo: Insomniac Games / PlayStation
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Source: Sony / PlayStation Portal
When the PlayStation Portal was officially unveiled, there were more skeptics than believers about the latest PlayStation accessory. Now that people have tried it, surprisingly, it is being well-received by many.
The PlayStation Portal is an unusual device. For $200, you’re basically getting the perfect PS5 companion device that truly puts the console’s Remote Play option to use better.
Of course, there are caveats; it doesn’t allow for cloud streaming, even though there are reports that the feature could be coming eventually. Another complaint is the lack of Bluetooth functionality.
Plenty of people have said you don’t need this device, given that you could use Remote Play on your smartphones and even connect your DualSense controller. Still, after using the PlayStation Portal leading up to its release, some reviewers are much more optimistic about the device than initially.
What Are The Critics Saying About The PlayStation Portal
Tech Radar’s Rob Dwiar had nothing but glowing words for the PlayStation Portal, giving it a perfect score in his review:
“Offering superb ergonomics as well as excellent design and build quality with all those exquisite DualSense controller features on top, this Remote Play beaut and its bright and sharp 8-inch LCD screen present a wonderful portable PS5 experience. … The Portal is not pretending to be anything else apart from a quality remote-play device for your PS5, and it absolutely nails its brief. As long as you come to it knowing what it does and what it can offer you, then it wholeheartedly, unabashedly, spectacularly succeeds.”
Surprising Skeptics
IGN’s Seth G. Macy had his issues with the device but overall was surprised by the PlayStation Portal after initially being skeptical about it, writing in his review:
“The PlayStation Portal is the most surprising device I’ve ever come away from loving after going in loaded with skepticism. It’s such a better experience than using your phone with a slap-on controller, and it works so much better than I was anticipating. I really love the freedom it gives me to play my PS5 from anywhere with decent WiFi coverage … The biggest things keeping the Portal from being a truly amazing device are its current lack of a way to access WiFi that requires a web browser to log in, and its lack of Bluetooth support for audio. [Grade: 8/10]”
A Perfect Gift For Gamers, But There Is Room For Improvement
Kotaku’s Jen Glennon praised the PlayStation Portal’s battery life, calling it “a solid sub-$200 gift option,” but also noted in her review that there is room for improvement with the Portal.
“While there are tweaks I’d like to see in the weeks and months ahead, I’ve been quite impressed with the time I’ve spent with Portal so far. I’ve played for about six hours on a single charge and still have a bar of battery life left to go. It’s a solid sub-$200 gift option for the gamer in your life who’s always hogging the TV when you’re trying to watch Vanderpump Rules or Monday Night Football.”
Some Are Meh On The PlayStation Portal
With the good, some people were always left feeling meh about the PlayStation Portal experience.
The Loadout’s Callum Self described his experience with PlayStation Portal as “enjoyable and disappointing” but noted in his review that it is the best way to use Remote Play.
“My overall time with the PlayStation Portal was both more enjoyable and disappointing than I expected. It’s certainly the best way to use Remote Play currently, by a long shot, and I’m sure I’ll be using it frequently in the future. But the washed-out screen, lack of cloud gaming support, and so-so battery life make me wish for a better, but unlikely, PlayStation Portal 2. [Grade: 5/10]”
No Reasonable Use For The PlayStation Portal
Then, of course, some just feel PlayStation swung and missed with the Portal. PC Mag’s Will Greenwald calls the Portal “just a screen sandwiched between a controller” and not worth the $200 price point.
“The screen works as intended, but the 1080p resolution looks fuzzier than most modern mobile devices. … The most baffling aspect of the Portal is its fundamental limitation. … I can’t see a reasonable use case for the Portal that wouldn’t be served more economically, and with a better screen, with many other devices. Ultimately, the Portal is just a screen sandwiched between a controller, and for $200, it should be more than that. [Grade: 2.5/5]”
Well, for the most part, people are high on the PlayStation Portal, but it sounds like this is a device for a very niche group of people, and those are the gamers who love Remote Play and hate using their smartphones to utilize it.
Will you be buying a PlayStation Portal? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Photo: Sony / PlayStation Portal
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Nearly 30 years after its release, Nintendo remastered the classic Super Nintendo game Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.
Exclusively for Nintendo Switch, Super Mario RPG is priced at $57.99-$59.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target. After saving Princess Peach from King Bowser, the Smithy Gang, led by an evil robotic blacksmith named Smithy, invades the Mushroom Kingdom and shatters the Star Road into seven pieces.
Nintendo
Super Mario RPG
As far as gameplay, you play as Mario and his friends — Princess Peach, Mallow, Geno and even Bowser — trying to defeat the gang and restore the Star Road to its former glory. The role-playing game has elements of turn-based combat with up to three characters, while it was heavily influenced by Final Fantasy, but in an isometric 3D platform game. Think of Super Mario RPG as Nintendo’s version of Final Fantasy, but with Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom.
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The Super Mario RPG remake has updated graphics that are brighter, colorful and modern, while audio is deeper and richer — specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch. It also has some new gameplay mechanics, like timed attacks and triple moves, that varies from different character groups, so it’s encouraged to mix and match between the five characters to discover new attacks and abilities.
Back in 1996, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was the first Mario RPG and the last Mario game released for the Super Nintendo. The game is very influential for Nintendo fans, as it paved the way for more role-playing games, such as the Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi series.
Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target for $57.99-$59.99. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the game, below.
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Although Sony just released the newly designed PlayStation 5 Slim, the tech and entertainment company has another gaming device up its sleeve with the PlayStation Portal, which comes out on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
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Retailing for $199.99 at Amazon and Target, the new PlayStation Portal is a handheld remote player for the PS5. While it may look like a Nintendo Switch or a SteamDeck, it’s not an independent gaming console. It’s a remote player that pairs with your PS5 and mirrors its games so you can play anywhere on the PS Portal when you’re on the same Wi-Fi network as your PS5. The PlayStation Portal comes in handy if, for example, you want to play the new Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III in the bedroom while someone else is watching TV in the living room.
Please note: You need to own a PlayStation 5 to use the PlayStation Portal.
Sony
Sony PlayStation Portal
The new Sony handheld supports 60fps (Frames Per Second) at 1080p HD resolution gaming, while it has a sharp 8-inch LCD touchscreen display and DualSense wireless controller features, like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. In fact, it looks and feels exactly like the DualSense wireless controller that comes with the PS5 proper, only it’s split into two with a tabletlike display placed in the middle.
It comes with a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired headphones. Unfortunately, there is no built-in Bluetooth. If you want to go wireless with a pair of headphones and earbuds or a gaming headset, you’d have to use the upcoming Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds (drops on Dec. 6 for $199.99) or Pulse Elite Headset (releases on Feb. 21, 2024, for $149.99) via Sony’s proprietary PlayStation Link connectivity standard.
The Sony PlayStation Portal comes out on Wednesday, Nov. 15. It’s available for $199.99 at Amazon and Target. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the new handheld, below.
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Source: Sascha Schuermann / Getty / Amazon Games
While gamers are enjoying what might be the most remarkable year in gaming history, the people behind the scenes are enduring massive layoffs. Amazon is the latest company to let workers go.
Spotted on The Verge, Amazon announced, via a memo sent to employees by the VP of Amazon Games, Christoph Hartmann, that it would cut 180 jobs in its gaming division and make “some” changes to its games initiative.
The changes will see Amazon shut down its Crown Twitch channel and shutter its Game Growth effort, which helps game developers market their products, while “refocusing” its work with the free games it offers through its Prime Gaming service.
“We are proud of the work the teams have been doing, pushing into new areas with weekly content on Crown Channel and finding more ways to help publishers reach new audiences with Game Growth,” Hartmann said in the memo. “But after further evaluation of our businesses, it became clear that we need to focus our resources and efforts to deliver great games to players now and in the future.”
Speaking on the free games that are a beloved benefit to Amazon Prime subscribers, “We’ve listened to our customers, and we know delivering free games every month is what they want most, so we are refining our Prime benefit to increase our focus there,” Harmin added.
It’s A Spooky Time To Work In The Video Games Industry
These changes came after Amazon announced in April that over 100 staffers in Amazon’s games organization were let go.
This news joins the list of layoffs in the world of video games. Destiny 2 developer Bungie laid off dozens of staff, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog cut developers in October, and Humble Games was also affected recently by layoffs.
Our thoughts are with all of the workers affected by these layoffs.
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Photo: Sascha Schuermann / Getty
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While the original PlayStation 5 was released back in November 2020, Sony just released a new generation refresh of the gaming console, which drops on Friday, Nov. 10.
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Priced at $499 at Walmart, and $499.99 at Amazon, Best Buy and Target, the new PS5 “Slim” has just about the same specs and features as the previous model, such as 4K gaming with HDR (High Dynamic Range) picture quality for vivid colors and deep black levels, up to 120fps (Frames Per Second) with 120Hz output for buttery smooth action, backwards compatibility with PS4 games and more. However, it’s more than 30% smaller by volume and 18% lighter.
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PS5 Slim – Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Bundle
This is the disc edition of the console and it comes with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive that’s detachable to make it even slimmer when not in use, while the console retains its white look and feel with a new four-panel design that makes it more customizable. The top two panels are glossy, while the bottom two are matte.
Walmart
PS5 Slim – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle
The new Sony console comes with four USB ports (two front-facing USB-C and two rear USB-A) for expansion, inputs and peripherals, as well as HDMI out and Ethernet ports. It also includes 1TB of on-board storage, which is increased from the previous model’s 825GB SSD (Solid-State Drive).
Inside of the box, you’ll find a Sony PS5 DualSense wireless controller, an HDMI cable and an AC power cable. While it comes with a horizontal stand, it doesn’t come with a vertical stand, as the photo above would suggest, unfortunately. It’s sold separately for an additional $29.99.
The new PS5 Slim model is bundled with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (digital download) at Target, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is included with the console at Walmart. And since Modern Warfare III and Spider-Man 2 have a $69.99 value each, it’s like getting the game for free when you buy the console.
The Sony PlayStation 5 Slim model (Disc Edition) bundled with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III or Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 comes out on Friday, Nov. 10. It’s available for $499 at Walmart and $499.99 at Target.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Sony / PS5 / PlayStation
Sony’s PS5 is on its way to being one of the company’s most successful consoles.
It was a successful quarter for Sony regarding PS5 sales. Spotted on Engadget, the company has sold 4.9 million PS5 units during its second financial quarter.
That number now brings the total of PS5 consoles sold to 46.6 million. While impressive is still short of last year’s holiday figures, Sony did manage to move 1.6 million units more than it did in the previous year.
The impressive numbers come as Sony (as well as Nintendo and Xbox) all struggled to keep up with the demand for its PS5 consoles due to global supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As things slowly got back to “normal” and the shortages began to ease up, Sony was able to ramp up production on the PS5 console.
By the end of July 2023, Sony announced that more than 40 million PS5 units had been sold since the console hit shelves in November 2020.
Sony has set an ambitious target of shipping 25 million PS5 units in this financial year, but to achieve that goal, the company has to move 16.8 million more units.
While it seems like a bit of a stretch, according to Reuters reporting, Sony President Hiroki Totoki believes the goal is something his company “can attain very easily.”
The new “PS5 Slim” model due out this month could be that shot in the arm that Sony needs this holiday season to reach that goal, as the PS5 will surely be on the top of children’s and adult’s Christmas wishlists.
Sony Also Moved A Lot of Games
Hardware/consoles was not the only thing Sony talked about. The company sold 67.6 million games in the second quarter; 4.7 million were first-party titles.
The first-party numbers should also get a boost thanks to Insomniac Game’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which the studio happily announced sold 5 million copies since launching exclusively on the PS5 console.
That’s quite a feat for a game, not Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, which launches on multiple consoles.
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Photo: NurPhoto / Getty
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Williams III is a gamer on the court and with the sticks off the court. The man known as Time Lord is a certified Call Of Duty fan and in a quick interview with Hip-Hop Wired, he offered plenty of insight into getting adjusted to his new Portland surroundings (he was traded from the Celtics in the summer—a say day for this Celtics fan writer), explained the joy he finds in gaming, and of course what he’s looking forward to in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
Robert Williams III says he was initially an NBA 2K player but got into Call Of Duty during his rookie year (he was drafted in 2018, so we’re talking Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 era). After admittedly taking a break for a year, he’s been back in full swing ever since. The franchise aligns with the high-flying forward’s NBA travel grind and keeps him trouble-free.
“It’s a mixture of things,” said Williams about why he plays. “It’s unwinding. A lot of times [instead] of going out and making some bad decisions, Call Of Duty will help you make great decisions. Just being able to communicate with people around the world. Being able to communicate with my fam back home over the game—kind of go through therapy sessions. We may get into a party and not even start the match for 30 minutes, just talking to each other.”
With Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III on the horizon, which lands this Friday (November 10), Williams is looking forward to getting as comfortable with the new title as he is on the court.
“I love it, man,” said Williams of the early taste of the game he was granted. “I feel like Call Of Duty surprises us every time. We ask ourselves what they can do to make it better or we suggest stuff that would make it better and a lot of the times the stuff that people suggest will really make the game terrible. We don’t realize it. I think they did a great job. I’m ready to play the campaign. I want to see what the rest of the game has in store.”
If you think Williams dropped a generic answer, he confirmed that he was legit when detailing his style of gameplay.
“I was the type where when I first started playing [I’d let] my friends go on fighting [and] I was the sniper that sat in the back the whole time. I’m marking people. [But then] I fell in love with SMG’s. I really miss the Cooper Carbine [Ed. Note: from Call Of Duty: Vanguard], I miss those bad,” Williams said.
Williams’ gritty play on the court will surely be missed by Boston Celtics fans. His new home and team of Portland are already treating him well.
“It was just tough getting adjusted to the West Coast time coming from Boston,” Williams shared. “But the city of Portland is amazing, man. People [have] been welcoming me. Been trying to find some good food. The nature is crazy, the trees, the wilderness out there is crazy.”
As a testament to the type of person he is, he’s already eyeing ways to give back to his new city.
“Obviously it’s not a celebratory topic, but I think Portland’s homelessness is probably the worst I’ve ever seen in my life, so I’m trying to figure out the next steps to get involved and try to help with that,” Williams said. In 2022, Portland ranked 25th nationwide in homelessness; per Axios, the homeless rate rose 20 percent in 2023.
Williams, a well-paid pro athlete, displaying such empathy is a testament to the type of teammate he is. This is often glossed over by those covering him in the press.
“I’m a people person,” said Williams when asked what’s the most underrated part of his NBA game. ” Anything I can do to help the team. Anything I can do to help my coaches, any given time on and off the court. This is what I am. I know I look unapproachable, I got neck tattoos and all that man, but I’ma cool person.”
Unfortunately for Blazers fans, Williams will have more time to play Call Of Duty since he recently suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for a least a few months (we conducted this interview a short while ago). But you can guarantee he’ll be back, stronger than ever.
Get well soon, Robert Williams III. We got your six.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda
Move over Mario. Link is the latest Nintendo character coming to a movie theater near you.
Per Engadget, The Legend of Zelda is being adapted into a live-action film, Nintendo confirms. The film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda has been in discussion for a while, but now we have the confirmation the project is in development, and Wes Ball (The Maze Runner, Kingdom of The Planet of The Apes) will sit in the director’s chair.
It would seem all Nintendo would need to give this project the greenlight was the success of the Super Mario Bros. movie.
Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad will serve as producers on the film; shockingly, Sony Pictures Entertainment is co-financing the movie.
Nintendo will finance 50% of the film, while Sony will handle the theater distribution.
As he did for the Super Mario Bros. animated film, Miyamoto-San proudly announced that the film is coming on via Nintendo’s official X, formerly Twitter, account.
“This is Miyamoto. I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films,” the Nintendo chief wrote.
Miyamoto also noted that the film is in early development and “Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production,” plus “it will take time until its completion.”
X Reacts To The Legend of Zelda Movie
With the film’s announcement, X’s video game community is reacting and already fan-casting for the movie, like choosing Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer for the iconic role of Princess Zelda.
Some folks are not too excited. Kinda Funny’s Barrett Courtney, a lifelong Zelda fan, isn’t as optimistic about the upcoming film.
The Legend of Zelda is so far away, and we will be optimistic about it. You can see more reactions to the upcoming film in the gallery below.
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Photo: Nintendo / The Legend of Zelda
1. LOL, jokes
3. IGN’s greatest April fools joke
4. Howling
6. Interesting
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The third installment in the reboot series Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III drops on Friday, Nov. 10
Ready for pre-order for $69.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III — for current generation consoles PS5, Xbox Series X, as well as previous generation PS4 and Xbox One — is a first-person shooter with open-world elements from Sledgehammer Games and Activision. Modern Warfare III is the reboot of 2011’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Modern Warfare III follows a multinational special operations unit called Task Force 141. The unit is on the trail of Vladimir Makarov, a Russian ultranationalist and terrorist who wants to start World War III. Task Force 141 must stop him and his roaming armies.
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The game has 16 base maps from the previous installment Modern Warfare II, and also features a new special Zombie Mode that’s open world — a first for any Call of Duty game. Players can select linear missions, which are straightforward and on rails, or “Open Combat Missions,” which are open world. And of course, Modern Warfare III has online multiplayer with up to 24 players at once.
One of the best features is “Carry Forward,” which imports inventory from Modern Warfare II to Modern Warfare III. This is ideal for those who don’t want to spend the time to re-collect or upgrade their weapons and gear.
Additionally, Standard and Cross-Gen are the two editions of the game that are available. First is the Standard Edition, which just has the game. The second is the Cross-Gen Edition, which has the game itself and five different content packs, which includes early access, new locations, new missions, new characters and more — all unlocked.
Dropping on Nov. 10, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III comes out for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4 and Xbox One, and is available for pre-order for $69.99 each. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the game, below.
[embedded content]
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