16-year-old gamer becomes first person to defeat highest level on Tetris
A 16-year-old gamer has just made history by doing something never seen before in the history of video games. Michael Artiaga became the first person to beat level 255 of the classic game Tetris, causing the game to reset to level 0, a moment known as “rebirth.”
And it happened to a live audience. It took Artiaga, who goes by the username “dogplayingtetris” on Twitch, 82 minutes to clear level 255. After reaching this massive milestone, Artiaga was ready to call it quits, saying he never wants to play the game again.
He was using a special version of the game designed to prevent the game from crashing after level 155, a point where other players have faced the “kill screen” or other game-ending glitches. Last year, another teen gamer managed to reach level 157 before the game crashed on him.
Artiaga is no stranger to breaking records. He became the world’s youngest Tetris champion at just 13 when he beat his older brother in the Classic Tetris World Championship final in 2020.
First created in 1984, Tetris remains a global favorite for its simple yet challenging gameplay.
Games drive user growth at New York Times, surpassing news audience
The New York Times is seeing a major shift in its user base as more visitors are flocking to its platform for games rather than news. Recent data shows that the number of users engaging with the publication’s games has more than doubled the traffic for news content.
Reuters
The latest addition to the Times’ game offerings is an experimental word game called “Zorse,” where players guess which words form a portmanteau, such as “zebra” and “horse.”
The move solidifies what some industry analysts have suspected: the Times is becoming as much a destination for gaming as for journalism.
In fact, the New York Times Games app has remained in the top 30 iOS game charts for the past year, even breaking into the top five in March.
The Times has acknowledged that games are a key component of its strategy to attract new users and keep existing subscribers engaged, particularly those less interested in traditional journalism.
Games, along with other offerings, are included in the New York Times’ subscription package, “The Bundle,” which helped the company post a nearly 14% profit growth in the latest quarter, adding approximately 300,000 new subscribers.
Two treasure hunts conclude with winners finding trophies worth thousands
Two treasure hunts concluded during the week of Sept. 29, resulting in two fortunate winners discovering hidden gold. One contest in the Northeast took about two weeks for the winner to find the prize, while the gold in France was unearthed after a 30-year search.
Starting abroad, a 1993 book filled with riddles attracted more than 200,000 participants in pursuit of the “Golden Owl.” This contest is noted as one of the longest unsolved scavenger hunts in history.
A winner has been declared, though their identity remains undisclosed. The lucky finder captured a prized owl statue made of gold and silver, valued at over $150,000.
A golden trophy was hidden in the deep woods of the Northeast. The individual who found it would keep the trophy, worth $26,000, along with a share of the entry fees, which totaled more than $87,000. The winner of this treasure hunt also remains unnamed.
The creators of the hunt have not yet heard from the trophy finder directly. However, contestants in the woods reported speaking with the winner, who is said to be a scientist studying tree habitats and weather patterns. They utilized images on the treasure hunt website to track down the gold.
Black-colored plastics found in kitchen utensils, toys linked to toxic chemical
A study published on Tuesday, Oct. 1, found that black-colored plastics may contain concerning levels of a toxic flame retardant that could be leaching in through the recycling process. The study, done by environmental advocacy group Toxic-Free Future, found the highest levels of the toxic chemical in costume jewelry kids often wear when dressing up as pirates.
The study’s lead author said these necklaces contain toxic chemicals equal to almost 3% of their weight.
Researchers found one PBDE, in particular, known as decaBDE was found in 70% of samples tested even though it was completely banned in the U.S. by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2021.
The European Union allows a level of decaBDEs up to 10 parts per million in products. The study’s authors said they found levels ranging from 5-1,200 times greater than that in the products they tested.
Take black plastic kitchen utensils for example. Researchers say based on how often they’re used, you could be exposed to nearly 38 parts per million of decaBDE per day — more than three times what the E.U. has deemed acceptable.
Most of the contamination can be traced back to flame retardants used in electronic devices like TVs, smartphones, gaming systems, and computers. This contamination occurs when these items are improperly recycled.
However, these flame retardants can also be found in the padding of things like couches, yoga mats, children’s car seats, just to name a few.
The study also only looked at black plastics, so it’s unclear if the toxic chemicals can be found in any other color of plastic.
Researchers say if you want to cut down your exposure, you can replace your kitchen utensils with stainless steel, dust, mop, and vacuum regularly to get rid of any dust that has been contaminated, and never wash and reuse the black plastic containers your food comes in or put them in the microwave.
Video game designers launch real world treasure hunt, hiding gold near Boston
A real-life treasure hunt is underway in New England, thanks to two video game designers. They’ve hidden a 24-karat gold sculpture valued at $26,000 in the dense woods of the Northeast.
“Unlike those childhood stories, this treasure is real,” a “Project Skydrop” promotion video said. “It’s just sitting there somewhere on the forest floor right now.”
In addition to the gold, the winner will also receive a “prize bounty” collected from entry fees of $20 each, which has currently amassed nearly $50,000 and continues to grow. The treasure hunt, dubbed “Project Skydrop,” began on Sept. 19, and as of now, no one has claimed the prize.
Every day, participants receive clues that help narrow down the search area. There is also access to a 24/7 live feed showing its secluded location.
While local wildlife like opossums have been spotted near the treasure, it remains unclaimed by human hands.
“There it sits. Still waiting for someone to come along and pick it up. That someone could be you,” they said, encouraging more participants to join the hunt.
The developers hope to expand Project Skydrop across the country and potentially worldwide.
“We’re trying to figure out if the treasure hunt can become a self-sustaining financial venture, where entry fees and a growing bounty make it increasingly appealing,” co-creator Jason Rohrer told the Boston Fox affiliate.
Tamagotchi makes a comeback: 90s virtual pets in a new generation
A 90s classic toy is catching the attention of a new generation. Tamagotchi, the egg-shaped virtual pet is making a sales comeback.
The pocket-sized digital devices, owned by Bandai Namco, are once again flying off the shelves, with global sales more than doubled between 2022 and 2023. For the first time ever, the company has opened a Tamagotchi store in the U.K., an event that didn’t even happen during peak sales in 1996.
While the toy still features the same egg shape, the functionality has been upgraded in recent years. Tamogatchi Brand Manager Priya Jadeja said users can now connect with friends, play on Wi-Fi and download items.
Unlike the 90s, today’s virtual pet market is much more competitive. Brands like Bitzee and Punirunes are offering new features, and even Digimon has recently resurfaced. Despite the competition, the lines between who plays with these toys seems to have blurred. Kids and adults are both embracing the nostalgia.
Nintendo, Pokemon Co. sue ‘Palworld’ maker over patent infringement
Nintendo and the Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Tokyo against Pocketpair, accusing the video game maker of patent infringement. Pocketpair is the company behind the popular survival adventure video game “Palworld,” known by fans as “Pokémon with guns.”
In a statement released Thursday, Sept. 19, Nintendo said, “This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.”
On its website, Pocketpair says “Palworld” is “home to over 100 unique pals, each equipped with a diverse set of skills to enhance the player’s adventure. Along your journey, you will also encounter formidable boss pals… Naturally, these boss pals are also capturable.”
As for “Pokémon, The Pokémon Company’s website said the world of Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and features “creatures of all shapes and sizes who live alongside humans. People known as Pokémon trainers form lasting friendships with their Pokémon partners, and as a team, they go on adventures, train to improve their skills, and battle in friendly competitions.”
Pocketpair said in a statement of its own on Thursday, Sept. 19, it was alerted of the lawsuit on Sept. 18.
“At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details,” Pocketpair said.
Pocketpair, which describes itself as a small indie game company whose goal is to “create fun games,” said it will begin “appropriate legal proceedings.”
“It is truly unfortunate that we will be forced to allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development due to this lawsuit,” Pocketpair said. “However, we will do our utmost for our fans, and to ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas.
In July 2024, Pocketpair announced a partnership with Sony to promote the licensing of “Palworld” globally in a new joint venture called “Palworld Entertainment.” Nintendo, in the meantime, said it will continue to take necessary actions against any infringement “to protect the intellectual properties it has worked hard to establish over the years.”
Controversy as Flappy Bird returns without original creator’s involvement
The iconic mobile game, “Flappy Bird,” is returning to app stores, but not without controversy. The original creator of the 2013 hit said he’s not involved at all.
Posting on X for the first time since 2017, the Vietnamese video game developer made it clear he didn’t sell anything. The new owner of the trademark for Flappy Bird says it got the rights from Gametech Holdings, which secured them after proving in court that the trademark was no longer valid.
The new team behind the game, the Flappy Bird Foundation, released a new trailer playing up the game’s rise over a decade ago. By January 2014, it was the most downloaded free game on Apple’s App Store and was making $50,000 a day in ads and purchases.
However, the developer decided to pull the game, saying that while it was a success, it had ruined his life.
As for the new version of the game, cybersecurity researchers say they’ve spotted hints that it could involve cryptocurrency. A hidden page suggests that Flappy Bird will “fly higher on Solana,” as it enters web 3.0.
While the game is set to return in 2025 to IOS and Android, it’s clear this won’t be the exact game from over a decade ago.
Chinese video game flaunts commercial success amid censorship controversy
The first big-budget video game produced by a Chinese developer is being lauded as a success. But while sales are strong, so are accusations of censorship.
“Black Myth: Wukong” is loosely inspired by the Chinese epic “Journey to the West.” Game Science developed the game with the backing of Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent. While the Game Science team comprises former Tencent employees, Tencent holds just a 5% stake in the company.
Chinese media said it’s the most expensive game ever developed in the country. The budget exceeded $50 million and it’s considered China’s first AAA title. AAA is a classification for games produced by mid-sized or large publishers that have large development and marketing budgets.
In the first 48 hours since the game’s release, reviewers and users alike are praising it. It currently has a “generally favorable” score of 81 on video game review aggregator metacritic.
“Black Myth: Wukong” made headlines for being the most-played game on Steam with more than 2.2 million concurrent players as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 21.
But French streamer and video games journalist Benoit Reinier, who goes by the name Ex Serv, criticized the companies involved after reviewers who received advanced copies of the game were provided with a list of topics to avoid.
“I have never seen anything that shameful in my 15 years doing this job,” Reinier said in a French-language video posted to YouTube. “This is very clearly a document which explains that we must censor ourselves.”
Beijing-based Hero Games, a company that handled the marketing for the game, sent out a document featuring a list of do’s and don’ts for content related to the game.
The do category just said to “enjoy the game.”
But the list of don’ts is what caught the attention of reviewers like Reinier. First, reviewers were to avoid using “trigger words such as ‘quarantine’ or ‘isolation’ or ‘COVID-19.’”
China faced mass protests in 2022 over its strict “zero-Covid” restrictions, which included lockdowns in major cities. There was also the proliferation of the term “China virus” that manifested in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.
Another bullet told reviewers to refrain from including “politics, violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization and other content that instigates negative discourse.”
It’s unclear what exactly constitutes “feminist propaganda,” but a report from France24 in July said the Chinese Communist Party wants women to focus on motherhood and the home, and it has cracked down on feminist activities, like talking about discrimination, inequality and striving for independence.
China also locked up a journalist for writing about the #MeToo movement, saying she’s guilty of subverting state power.
Meanwhile, another point in the document said do not “discuss content related to China’s game industry, policies, opinions, news, etc.”
China famously made efforts to reduce video game addiction in young people including limiting game time to no more than 90 minutes on weekdays and three hours on weekends and holidays. It also banned incentive-based gaming rewards that can lead to spending more in the game.
Chinese-produced games don’t usually make a global impact. Goldman Sachs says the immediate success of “Black Myth: Wukong” opens the door to more Chinese AAA games on the global market.
The game itself doesn’t include microtransactions, which have become commonplace in nearly every major game released recently. That means the developer and publisher are only relying on the one-time sale price of the game.
But Chinese state-owned paper Global Times said the important thing is, “China is finally getting its own AAA game that can excite the world.”
Biden says ‘violent protest is not protected’ in speech on campus unrest
President Biden addresses the nation regarding the protests at college campuses. And China launches a spacecraft it hopes will be the first to bring back samples from the far side of the moon. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, May 3, 2024.
Biden says ‘violent protest is not protected’ in speech on campus unrest
“Both must be upheld,” Biden said. “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But — but neither are we a lawless country. We are a civil society, and order must prevail.”
After days of silence about the demonstrations, Biden delivered his first formal remarks on the unrest from the Roosevelt Room. He echoed previous White House statements saying peaceful protest is American, but violent protest is not protected. Biden added Americans have the right to protest, but not create chaos.
His remarks followed criticism from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, who had urged Biden to speak out. The president’s comments came just hours after police arrested over 130 people at a UCLA campus encampment.
Today, President Biden delivered remarks on college campus protests. In America, we respect and protect the right of people to make their voices heard.
Biden also addressed the importance of safety and nondiscrimination on college campuses, stating, “People have the right to get an education and walk across campus safely without fear of being attacked. There should be no place on any campus, or in America, for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students.”
After his speech, when reporters asked if the protests would change his policies in the Middle East or if the National Guard should intervene, Biden responded with a single word: “No.”
Prosecutors allege Trump violated gag order four additional times
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York is once again deliberating whether the former president breached the gag order that prohibits him from publicly discussing witnesses and jurors.
After finding Trump guilty of nine violations of the gag order earlier in the week and imposing fines, the judge was presented on Thursday, May 2, with four additional alleged violations by the prosecution.
Trump’s attorneys argued that he should be able to respond to ongoing attacks on his presidential campaign.
NY v Trump to resume with gag order hearing after Trump fined $9K, threatened with jail time https://t.co/t0MY97e7jv
The judge has yet to make a ruling on these new allegations.
Later in the day, Trump’s lawyer requested that the judge review a series of articles before Trump posts them to his Truth Social account to ensure they comply with the gag order.
Hamas delegation heads to Egypt for cease-fire talks
Hamas is set to send a delegation to Egypt for further cease-fire talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Facilitated by Egyptian and American mediators, these discussions show signs of potential compromise.
“There is a proposal on the table that answers much of the demands that Hamas made in previous rounds of negotiations. Israel made a significant offer,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “And this last proposal that went forward, they compromised on many longheld positions that they had taken. And as I said, met many of the demands that Hamas had said they needed to agree to a deal.”
However, the outcome remains uncertain, dependent on whether Israel will agree to end the conflict without achieving its goal of dismantling Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that even if a cease-fire is agreed upon, Israel will still target Rafah, which he claims is Hamas’ final stronghold in Gaza.
As the war approaches the seven month mark, a U.N. report released Thursday has highlighted the severe long-term economic impacts and the extensive rebuilding required in Gaza, saying it would take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes that have been destroyed in Gaza.
China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft heads to far side of the moon
China launched a Long March 5 rocket Friday morning carrying the Chang’e 6 spacecraft, aiming to be the first mission to return a sample from the far side of the moon.
The spacecraft, named after the Chinese moon goddess, will take five days to reach the moon, with the mission spanning a total of 53 days. Scientists hope the samples will provide insights into the moon’s origin.
Once celebrated as a pandemic success story, Peloton is now grappling with declining sales and subscriber numbers as consumers return to in-person gyms.
The company is looking to cut costs by more than $200 million, aiming to streamline operations and reduce its retail footprint.
7-Eleven teams up with Tetris to offer handheld gaming device
In a collaboration many did not see coming, the video game brand Tetris is celebrating its 40th anniversary by partnering with convenience store chain 7-Eleven. Together, they are offering a limited-edition handheld gaming device shaped like 7-Eleven’s famous beverage, the Slurpee. The device lights up in various colors to resemble different Slurpee flavors.
7-Eleven customers who purchase certain items have the chance to win one of 20,000 devices made. Additionally, the chain is offering an entire line of Tetris apparel on its website as part of the anniversary celebration.
