If you take a look at the product page of any game on Steam, you can immediately see the screenshot area. Sometimes you can find cinematic game trailers, screenshots of cinematics, or images with a small screenshot of the game with the game's features or critical reception. The problem with these particular videos or images is that they either don't actually show the game being played or they make it difficult to see clearly how the game is played.
Now, Valve is banning from the screenshot area for a game's product page on Steam, any image or video that isn't taken from the game being actually played. Valve is saying the screenshot area in the product page is there to help customers see clearly how the game is played.
If the screenshots don't show actual gameplay then it will only confuse customers. Any game trailers, cinematic screenshots, or marketing images should not be in the screenshot area but instead be placed in the appropriate area on the Steam product page.
Valve is clamping down on these so called fake sceeenshots I believe as a direct result of the recent and highly publicised 'bullshots' controversy. Bullshot was the term coined by the website Penny Arcade in 2005 to denote the practice of using video game screenshots that are so obviously different from what really appears on a game's actual screen that they appear to have been doctored.
There are so many examples of bullshots but the most recent and controversial has been No Man's Sky. It has gotten so bad for that game that the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority have investigated both Hello Games, the developer of No Man's Sky, and Valve for false advertising. This is probably why Valve has made these changes.
Source: Travelers Today
Researchers Identify Fossilized Brain Tissue for the First Time
A brown pebble has been identified by researchers as the fossilized brain tissue of a dinosaur. The is the first time that fossilized brain tissue has been identified. The results were reported in a Special Publication of the Geological Society of London. The research was coordinated by Professor Martin Brasier of the University of Oxford and Dr. David Norman of the University of Cambridge.
Apple and Microsoft to Compete in Music Streaming Services
Both Apple and Microsoft made moves to capture strong positions in the music streaming services market. Apple, with its immensely popular iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac, ventured into online music streaming by launching its Apple Music service. Microsoft, which has a foothold on consumers via its Windows monopoly, Xbox One and 360 consoles, and Windows mobile devices, seeks to gain market share in music streaming by rebranding its service from Xbox Music to Groove Music.
Apple announced its music streaming service, Apple Music, in early June 2015 and launched it later at the end of that month, together with iOS 8.4. It was announced that it would be free for its first three months and then cost $9.99 per month.
Microsoft announced the rebranding of its online music streaming service in early July 2015. From Xbox Music, it would be now known as Groove Music. A Groove Music Pass will still have the same price as an Xbox Music Pass at $9.99 per month or $99 a year.
Apple’s first entry into music streaming was its iTunes Radio. It was free but ad-supported and only available in the U.S. and Canada. It was announced in June 10, 2013, and launched on September 18, 2013 with the release of iOS 7. iTunes Radio has been rebranded as Apple Music Radio with the launch of Apple Music. It will still be free but ad-supported. Apple Music will also include another free and ad-supported online streaming radio station, Apple Music Beats 1.
Microsoft has already rebranded its music service twice. At first, it was known as Zune Music, back when the unpopular Zune device was still being sold. It was renamed to Xbox Music to take advantage of the popularity of the Xbox 360 console after the Zune player was abandoned. This time, because the Xbox brand was not well known by non-gamers, Microsoft decided to rename the Xbox Music service to Groove Music. Originally, Microsoft’s Groove brand was used for non-music purposes. Microsoft bought Groove Networks for its Groove software. This software has already been supplanted by OneDrive for Business.
The most popular competitors of Microsoft and Apple in the music streaming service marketplace include Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Rhapsody. Of these, only Microsoft and Rhapsody do not provide a free and ad-supported option. Apple offers its Apple Music Beats 1 and Radio for free listening.
For ad-free listening, Spotify offers Spotify Premium for $9.99 and Spotify Family for more users, starting at $14.99. Pandora has an ad-free subscription, Pandora One, for $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year. Aside from its basic listening option for $9.99 per month, Apple also provides a family plan for up to six family members for $14.99 per month.
Apple Music is available on iTunes for Mac and Windows. On iOS devices, it is only available for iOS 8.4. Supported Apple devices include 5th gen iPod Touch, iPad 2 and later versions, iPad Mini and later, and iPhone 4s and above. Apple Music for Android is not available at launch but will come out later.
Microsoft’s Groove Music is currently available on the Xbox One and 360, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, iOS 6 and later, and Android 4 and later.
Apple announced its music streaming service, Apple Music, in early June 2015 and launched it later at the end of that month, together with iOS 8.4. It was announced that it would be free for its first three months and then cost $9.99 per month.
Microsoft announced the rebranding of its online music streaming service in early July 2015. From Xbox Music, it would be now known as Groove Music. A Groove Music Pass will still have the same price as an Xbox Music Pass at $9.99 per month or $99 a year.
Apple’s first entry into music streaming was its iTunes Radio. It was free but ad-supported and only available in the U.S. and Canada. It was announced in June 10, 2013, and launched on September 18, 2013 with the release of iOS 7. iTunes Radio has been rebranded as Apple Music Radio with the launch of Apple Music. It will still be free but ad-supported. Apple Music will also include another free and ad-supported online streaming radio station, Apple Music Beats 1.
Microsoft has already rebranded its music service twice. At first, it was known as Zune Music, back when the unpopular Zune device was still being sold. It was renamed to Xbox Music to take advantage of the popularity of the Xbox 360 console after the Zune player was abandoned. This time, because the Xbox brand was not well known by non-gamers, Microsoft decided to rename the Xbox Music service to Groove Music. Originally, Microsoft’s Groove brand was used for non-music purposes. Microsoft bought Groove Networks for its Groove software. This software has already been supplanted by OneDrive for Business.
The most popular competitors of Microsoft and Apple in the music streaming service marketplace include Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Rhapsody. Of these, only Microsoft and Rhapsody do not provide a free and ad-supported option. Apple offers its Apple Music Beats 1 and Radio for free listening.
For ad-free listening, Spotify offers Spotify Premium for $9.99 and Spotify Family for more users, starting at $14.99. Pandora has an ad-free subscription, Pandora One, for $4.99 per month or $54.89 per year. Aside from its basic listening option for $9.99 per month, Apple also provides a family plan for up to six family members for $14.99 per month.
Apple Music is available on iTunes for Mac and Windows. On iOS devices, it is only available for iOS 8.4. Supported Apple devices include 5th gen iPod Touch, iPad 2 and later versions, iPad Mini and later, and iPhone 4s and above. Apple Music for Android is not available at launch but will come out later.
Microsoft’s Groove Music is currently available on the Xbox One and 360, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, iOS 6 and later, and Android 4 and later.
Family Sharing Announced on Steam's 10th Anniversary
The past week marked the 10th year of existence of Valve's Steam service. The past week also saw Valve announce a Family Sharing scheme for users to share their Steam game library with family and friends. A good move to commemorate Steam's 10th Anniversary.
Family Sharing is a boon for users who have family or friends who have hundreds of games in their Steam library and who can't seem to find the time to whittle down their game backlog. These hundred game backlogs are a sign of how far Steam has come from 10 years ago.
When Steam came out in 2003, like many people, I regarded Steam as just another form of oppressive DRM and I vowed I'd rather pirate their games than use Steam. Like many people, what changed my mind was the incredible sales Steam offered throughout the years.
I bought my first game on Steam, which was Half-Life, for only $0.98 in 2008. Since then I've bought all of my games on the various sales of different game shops. The low prices effectively ended the specter of piracy for me. Like many people, the sales built up my game collection to the point where I have a huge backlog.
Thank you Steam for helping to revive PC gaming and to reduce software piracy. Curse you for making me spend so much. Happy 10th Anniversary.