the courier
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culture gaming EA turn the steam back on
Monday 24 February 2020
courier.gaming@ncl.ac.uk Gaming Editors Alex Darbyshire, George Boatfield, James Troughton & Shawn Khoo
Beat the algorithm: the b
Alex Gervas talks business following EA's recent policy change Video games aren't just about playing. Our writers share the brightes
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uring the first weeks of February, users of the intended to attract more users to the Origin platform. The digital storefront Steam reported an increase in increase in prices creates further disparity between Origin the prices of Electronic Arts (EA) games. and Steam, meaning that third-party platforms can’t use Reddit user MJuniorDC9 noticed how after EA’s games bought through Origin. comeback to the platform, many of the original games, such as SimCity 4, Crysis 2, and Mass Effect Collection. EA's price spike could These games have increased as far as 30%. Mass Effect Collection, for instance, has gone from €27.99 to €34.99; be due to Valve's SimCity 4 has seen an increase of $7; Crysis 2 went from commission on games €19.99 to €29.99. Other affected games are Battlefield: Bad bought through Steam Company; Command & Conquer: Red Alert; Dead Space 2; or Dragon Age: Origins. Secondly, EA’s price spike But the spike in prices could be due to Valve’s doesn’t appear to be commission on games consistent. Some bought through countries like Steam. Game Thailand and developer, Alva Indonesia have Majo, explains seen a higher that Valve increase in take a cut their Steam depending prices as on the opposed to country US users. and the However, importance E A ’ s of the distribution developer. platform, W h i l e Origin, has their cut on not been EA’s games affected by is allegedly these price now 30%, the alterations. c om m iss i on Eight years ago, varies depending EA stopped selling on the country. their games in thirdHowever, some party-platforms. Still, users appear to be Image: Wikimedia by the end of 2019, EA sceptical. While Valve’s announced a new partnership cut is now at 30% for EA, the with Valve, the publisher behind exact percentage before EA’s ‘hiatus’ Steam. The new association with Valve is unknown. This means that the price came with a new release: Jedi: Fallen Order. spike could be due to a change in Valve and EA’s commission.
EA's distribution platform, Origin, has not been affected
Users have started reflecting on possible reasons behind this increase. The first explanation given was that EA
Too many sword fighters?
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NakeyJakey Carl Smith Valdez
f you are looking for a YouTuber that surpasses simple analysis of video games, then look no further than NakeyJakey! He differentiates himself from other video essayists by subverting viewers’ expectations created by his thumbnails. At first glance, his videos might seem similar to many other content creators. However, he gives fresh insight on video gaming through his comedic style and content by injecting his own nuances, wit and critical theories, all of which intertwine seamlessly. His analyses highlight how subjectivity can be a powerful tool in understanding the concepts behind games. These emphasise how one does not require a university degree in order to be capable of insightful, critical thought. He also explores themes that are usually disregarded by many analysts, such as ideas stemming from clothing design, animals and alcohol in video games. He diverges from formulaic video essays
with his infectious personality and set design. He puts himself before a green screen for relevant “let’s play” videos, and sits on a yoga ball while discussing the game. This welcomes engagement in an odd, yet equally exciting manner. Furthermore, his rap reviews bring out another side of NakeyJakey. He demonstrates a plethora of talent with his creative and experimental analysis of video games, helping to bring his points across in ways that are simultaneously informative and entertaining. NakeyJakey’s presentation is truly unique, hilarious and surprisingly perceptive. His channel highlights how editing doesn’t need to be complex in order to foster a connection with online audiences. All an individual needs is authenticity, charisma and sincere opinions that reach the audience’s hearts.
Image: YouTube (NakeyJakey)
Coronavirus gets the
Jack Wallace-Hunter assesses the fan reaction to Byleth from Fire Emblem being added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo delays console production, while Peter Lennon shows that
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asahiro Sakurai, director of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has acknowledged that a considerable portion of the game’s fighter roster contains characters from Fire Emblem, and specifically sword fighters. Since the announcement of Byleth as a new DLC character, fans have voiced their disappointment towards what has been interpreted as a bias towards the FE series. Many fans believe that other franchises deserve more representation. The latest issue of Famitsu magazine reveals that Sakurai “understand[s]” that “there are too many Fire Emblem characters”. However, shown in a translation from online news outlet Nintendo Everything, it is Nintendo who “brings their thoughts to the table”. Sakurai goes on to say that he’s “not exactly aware of what Nintendo’s future release plans are, so [he] [goes] along with what they decide.” Suggestions have been made that Nintendo pushed the introduction of Byleth into the game’s roster in order to add a character from the new instalment of the Fire Emblem franchise: Three Houses.
Fans have a second round of DLC fighers to look foward to from Sakurai and his team
Sakurai explains that “[f]or this fighter, an important factor was being able to turn the protagonist of a game that people are playing right now into a fighter that players
could experience immediately in Smash Bros.” Yet, the issue of sword fighters was in Sakurai’s power to consider, as he “ended up implementing the three houses’ leaders’ ‘Hero Relics’ as some of their moves to keep with elements present in Three Houses.” However, fans have more to look forward to, as Sakurai’s team is set to release a second round of DLC fighters. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, speculation and potential leaks suggest characters such as Dante from Devil May Cry and a DOOM fighter set to join the roster. With a Nintendo Direct a fair way off, fans will have to remain patient for the foreseeable future. Image: Twitter (Greninja3535)
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ince its outbreak in Wuhan at the end of last year, the coronavirus has caused a wave of disruption all around the world, from racial fear-mongering – colloquially termed ‘coronaracism’ – to the mass closure of public spaces, such as cinemas, in East Asia. Now Nintendo has come out with a statement revealing that production for their Switch console has been delayed for the Japanese market. The delay comes from the mass production of Switch consoles that is done in China, which has been the most severely affected country by the virus thus far. While Nintendo has been migrating their production to Vietnam since the emergence of the China-US trade conflict, operations there are not yet sufficient to support the backload. Additionally, the Animal Crossing: New Horizonsthemed Switch console, unveiled at the end of January, has also been delayed, with a new release date in Japan
left unconfirmed. The console design has been met with a great reception online and is slated to be a limited edition release. New Horizons is the upcoming and highly anticipated follow-up to 2013’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf (released on the 3DS).
The Animal Crossing themed Switch console has also been delayed
Meanwhile, the global market, including North America and Europe, will remain unaffected by the fall of production in China. This is due to the fact that, unlike Japan, Switch consoles and accessories are not produced in China for these markets. Likewise, the Animal Crossing-themed Switch will make the 13 March
