Nintendo Claiming Monetization Rights For Certain YouTube Videos

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Reports are that Nintendo has targeted fan-made YouTube videos featuring its content to prevent their creators from earning any revenue. Nintendo has made a “content ID match” claim, which does not prevent the videos from being made but it does give Nintendo all monetization rights on the videos, as well as power to block the content.

“As part of our on-going push to ensure Nintendo content is shared across social media channels in an appropriate and safe way, we became a YouTube partner and as such in February 2013 we registered our copyright content in the YouTube database,” said Nintendo in a statement. “For most fan videos this will not result in any changes, however, for those videos featuring Nintendo-owned content, such as images or audio of a certain length, adverts will now appear at the beginning, next to or at the end of the clips. We continually want our fans to enjoy sharing Nintendo content on YouTube, and that is why, unlike other entertainment companies, we have chosen not to block people using our intellectual property.”

Zack Scott, who does “Let’s Play” videos on YouTube, is critical of the stance by Nintendo. He notes that he will not be playing their games in his videos, despite his long fandom for their products.

“I think filing claims against LPers is backwards. Video games aren’t like movies or TV. Each play-through is a unique audiovisual experience,” said Scott. “When I see a film that someone else is also watching, I don’t need to see it again. When I see a game that someone else is playing, I want to play that game for myself! Sure, there may be some people who watch games rather than play them, but are those people even gamers ”

“Since I started my gaming channel, I’ve played a lot of games,” he added. “I love Nintendo, so I’ve included their games in my line-up. But until their claims are straightened out, I won’t be playing their games. I won’t because it jeopardizes my channel’s copyright standing and the livelihood of all LPers.”

Source: Gamefront.com

Crytek Expands Warface Partnership With Nexon

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Crytek has announced a new partnership with Nexon to bring the free-to-play FPS Warface to Japan. The game has over 10 million registered players in Russia and currently is in beta in South Korea and Europe.

“Expanding Warface to Japan is a very important step for us,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO of Crytek. “Since it’s a global IP, this move perfectly underlines our strategy in sharing the game’s unique action with gamers around the world. Nexon is a very trusted partner; they have shown us tremendous results in South Korea, where Warface just entered open beta after receiving highly positive feedback from gamers during closed beta, and we are sure that they will play a key role in ensuring Warface’s success in Japan as well.”

Watch_Dogs Hacking Created With Consulting From Security Firm

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Watch_Dogs is all about hacking up devices in the city in order to achieve the objectives you’re going after. Hacking is being described as a shortcut to certain goals to compliment shooting and traveling in the environment, and was developed in conjunction with a security firm in order to give it more authenticity.

“We’re working with Kaspersky Lab, a big security firm,” said senior producer Dominic Guay. “They have really hardcore experts there on hacking. We send them some of our designs and we ask them feedback on it, and it’s interesting to see what gets back. Sometimes they say, ‘Yeah, that’s possible, but change that word,’ or, ‘That’s not the way it works.'”

Source: Joystiq.com

Dust 514 Officially Launches

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CCP Games has announced that it has officially launched Dust 514 exclusively for PS3. This coincides with the launch of three new item bundles on the PSN Store and the Sony Entertainment Network Store in the Mercenary Pack, Veteran Pack and Elite Pack for $19.99, $49.99, $99.99 conveying varying amounts of in game currency, items and vehicles.

“Dust 514 has been forged by the willpower and skills of the players who have joined us on the journey to launch, and the talent and determination of our development teams around the world,” said CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson. “We are now poised for the next phase of development of Dust 514 and the Eve Universe. We are off to a fantastic start, and ahead is the opportunity to expand even further what games can become. After a decade of preparing for this moment, we will at last see the emerging society of Dust players begin to fight gun-and-grenade for planetary dominance, alongside their Eve Online brethren. For all we have done so far, our best moments are yet to come.”

Dragon’s Crown Pre-Order Artbook Offered

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The cover artwork for Dragon’s Crown was revealed, showing the watercolor-esque art style of game artist and Vanillaware president George Kamitani on full display. Additionally, it has been announced that those who pre-order the 2D multiplayer hack-and-slash beat ’em up will also receive the Dragon’s Crown Artworks: a limited edition soft-cover art book.

“The Artworks will be 64 pages of full-color illustrations from Dragon’s Crown. This includes intricate drawings of the characters in the game, lush environment backgrounds, and descriptions from the artist himself,” reads the official release. “Also included in the art book will be commissioned illustrations of the Dragon’s Crown universe from three prominent Japanese video game artists: Akira Yasuda (Akiman), Kinu Nishimura, and Gouda Cheese (BENGUS).”

Dragon’s Crown will release on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems for $49.99 and $39.99 respectively.

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Beyond: Two Souls Euro Special Edition Detailed

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Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced a Special Edition of Beyond: Two Souls. The Special Edition will be available via pre-order only.

Most prominently, this Special Edition will have steel book premium packaging. There will also be an additional playable scene lasting about 30 minutes, “behind-the-scenes” videos, a game soundtrack, a PS3 dynamic theme and a PSN avatar bundle.

Source: Blog.EU.PlayStation.com

Arizona Bistro Has Epic Social Media Meltdown

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This week may have marked one of the most fantastical social media faux pas the internet has ever seen. Earlier this week two hapless Arizona restaurant owners of Amy’s Baking Company became the first to be abandoned by no-nonsense chef Gordon Ramsay on Kitchen Nightmares. The two have now become the subject of online ridicule after their unsophisticated attempts to repair their reputation using social media.

Husband and wife Samy and Amy Bouzaglo, who butted heads with the TV chef after inviting him to critique their Italian bistro and bakery, took on the entire Internet of what they repeatedly call ‘haters’ after the episode aired on Fox last week showing the married owners in an unflattering light.

 

The owners, who have already established a less than flattering social media presence, took to the restaurant’s Facebook page to post their reaction to the show.

“We do not feel the need to make any excuses for our behavior on tonight’s show.However we would like to make the following statement: We do not, nor have we ever stolen or taken any of our servers ,waitresses, or waiters tips at Amy’s Baking Company.We pay our staff members anywhere between $8.00 to $14.00 per hour to ensure that at the end of the week regardless of it being busy or not, that they go home with money and a well paid paycheck. As do many other restaurants.They are aware of this when they are hired.I would challenge any of our employees past or present to come forward with proof that we have ever done such a horrible thing.
So please enjoy the show! Amy & Samy”

Naturally, when a tainted restaurant with a history of ranting against web reviewers is focused on by a prime time television show, one can only expect to see a storm of backlash through social media platforms. The owners unfortunately fell right into the laps of the Internet trolls.

 

 

 

 

 

The owners have since claimed that all of their social media accounts were hacked and posted the following to the restaurant’s Facebook page. Of course, users responded swiftly and with much skepticism.

 

 

 

Since the avalanche of online and media attention, Forbes social media contributing writer Kelly Clay has outlined a well-written playbook for brands to learn from the unsavvy small business owners.

Source: BuzzFeed

MC Frontalot – I’ll Form The Head

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MC Frontalot worked with filmmaker Caly Monardo to create a video for I’ll Form The Head, very evocative of early ’80s anime and an obvious loving homage to Voltron. Frontalot is backed up by Dr. Awkward and ZeaLouS1, who each make arguments for why they should “form the head.”

The Michael J. Fox Show – Official Trailer

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The Michael J. Fox Show has Fox playing a news anchor named Mike Henry who gives up his career when he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but eventually tries to return while balancing family concerns. The whole thing is basically a send up Fox’s real life and is another demonstration of how awesome a human being he is.