Nerds Amalgamated

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An Interview with Savas Savidis

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:30:00 +1000

This week we interviewed Savas Savidis about his game Tales of Grimace and what it takes to be a an indie game developer in high school.

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get a 10% discount when you type NERDS at the checkout from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com

Tales of Grimace The Game

Website - https://www.talesofgrimace.com/

Steam Page - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2223310/Tales_of_Grimace/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Tales-of-Grimace-Video-Game/61563844233175/

Twitter - https://x.com/TalesOfGrimace

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@talesofgrimaceofficial

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TalesofGrimaceOfficialChannel

Instagram - http://instagram.com/talesofgrimaceofficial

Marcelo Brocker’s Game : Lucid Nina

– Lucid Nina on Steam

Full Show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PZaChJWIAR1Vd8YtUdK9XGk__LcCyKYl8ac2bw-eCcc/edit?usp=sharing

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- Why I Deleted My Steam Account After 20 Years · GitHub

Steam is EVIL... Maybe, Direwolves and Moa Ressurections and Movies Ruined Comics

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +1000

The famous modder behind the Special K mod has deleted their steam account and written a manifesto about why Steam is evil. We disagree.

The resurrected Direwolves are doing well, and Peter Jackson is promising to bring back the Moa next. Let's just skip straight to the dinosaurs.

Movies used to be based on comics. But now movies are bigger than comics, and people think comics are worse for it.

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get a 10% discount when you type NERDS at the checkout from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com

Modders Deleting their Steam out of protest

Direwolf Update & Peter Jackson’s Newest Project

- The "de-extincted" dire wolves are 6 months old and getting quite big

- Peter Jackson, Maoris, Colossal To De-Extinct World’s Largest Bird

Have Superhero movies ruined Comics

- Have Superhero Movies Ruined Comics? - ComicBook.com

Stop Killing Games Petition : https://www.stopkillinggames.com/

Full Show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GLMqvP51TVY5wFL_4B5RUx04eNV_uv7uSGeRl3zjtyw/edit?usp=sharing

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- Big update on Stop Killing Games!

Stop Killing Games Update, The End of Xbox, Killer Whales Want To Give You Lunch and Brad Pitt's Actor Advice

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Stop Killing Games has reached 1 million signatures on the European Citizens Initiative. But the battle isn't won yet. Due to invalid signatures, the petition could use as many extra signatures as it can get.

Microsoft have laid off 9000 people from their gaming division, while also planning for a third party Xbox handheld. Could this be the end of the Xbox hardware?

Killer Whales are not whales, but they are indeed killers. They also want to have lunch with you. All around the world, killer whales have been bringing fresh seafood to humans.

Brad Pitt thinks actors should avoid superhero roles. Is his advice just wishful thinking he can't see past because of his immense wealth?

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get a 10% discount when you type NERDS at the checkout from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com

New Stop Killing Games Update & Huge Layoffs at Microsoft

- Xbox layoffs: Microsoft closes studio The Initiative, cancels Perfect Dark, Everwild, and unannounced projects | GamesIndustry.biz

Kind Killer Whales

- Killer whales, kind gestures: Orcas offer food to humans in the wild

Brad Pitt’s advice to young actors….don’t do superhero movies

- Brad Pitt Says Hollywood Pressures Young Actors to Play Superheroes

Stop Killing Games Petition : https://www.stopkillinggames.com/

Full Show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZWWqtN-L4JTx36pWBegeWpCzYtRC0L--akTkr8LR2kE/edit?usp=sharing

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- The end of Stop Killing Games

The End of Stop Killing Games, Lab Grown Meat and Duke Nukem TV

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Stop Killing Games has nearly reached its conclusion, unless hundreds of thousands of European gamers come out of the woodwork. Aaaand here they come.

You will soon be able to buy lab grown meat in Australia. Will you eat it?

Duke Nukem is coming to TV. Maybe this icon of the 90s should have been left there though.

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get a 10% discount when you type NERDS at the checkout from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com

Stop Killing Games Update

Lab Grown Meat now available in Australia

- Lab-grown meat has just been approved for consumption in Australia. What is it and how is it made? - ABC News

Adi Shankar acquires Duke Nukem rights

- Adi Shankar Acquires Rights To 'Duke Nukem,' Describes His Vision For The Project As A "Middle Finger To Everybody"

Stop Killing Games Petition : https://www.stopkillinggames.com/

Full Show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/14wsCS63xxH9efIiURZH-iQTpHwq_JyuG45ohaJ-POBs/edit?usp=sharing

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– Neural Forge (@neural_forge) • Instagram photos and videos

An Interview with Neural Forge

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 23:00:00 +1000

This week we're interviewing Neural Forge, creator of the board game Nimbus.

Neural Forge official website

– Neural Forge

Neural Froge Etsy Store

– NeuralForge - Etsy Australia

Neural Forge Facebook page

– Neural Forge

Neural Forge Instagram

Neural Forge Nimbus Kickstarter

– Nimbus by Neural Forge — Kickstarter

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-4d6ovrzeZNYDK5ijlDwTPkji3B4iX3rNQypRL29Xes/edit?usp=sharing

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- Nintendo Switch 2 is already in some users’ hands, but a mandatory update means they can’t be played | VGC

Everything Wrong With The Switch 2, The Science of Joy and Captain America's Regretful Plot Twist

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 23:00:00 +1000

The Switch 2 is not without controversy. The big issues center around hardware ownership. So why are Nintendo getting this wrong?

Happiness is tricky to pin down, but the latest research gives some hints on how to get there.

Years ago, Captain America was revealed to be a Hydra agent. This led to no end of problems for the writers, mostly caused by the fans. Let's hope their next big plot twist goes better.

Nintendo Switch 2 early bricked

The science of joy

- The Surprising Science of Joy: What Research Got Wrong | Psychology Today Australia

Marvel editor reflects on Cap Hydra reveal

- Marvel Comics Exec Editor Reflects On Captain America Hydra Reveal: "We Were Perhaps Under-Concerned About The Impact That This Moment Was Going To Have"

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ukMX1PRUyuvYhKiWhXijEaXve_SBtQ_3aLcQ2S7gtXM/edit?usp=sharing

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- New Crunchyroll Data Report Reveals Anime's 'Pop Culture Chokehold' on Gen Z & Millennial Fans

Japan's Cultural Victory, An Interview with Strauss Zelnick and Preventing a Supervolcano Eruption

Tue, 27 May 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Crunchyroll have published a report on anime revealing that a majority of people under 50 watch it. Yet the company still wants growth. What are the implications?

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take Two has some thoughts on the games industry, and they're... interesting. Is he completely out of touch, or is it the kids who are wrong?

A supervolcano might wipe all of us out. The good news is scientists are discovering ways to defuse it before it happens. Let's hope they manage to save us all.

Crunchy roll report on anime and its hold

Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick interview

- Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick on game prices, Civilization 7's launch and Switch 2 | GamesIndustry.biz

Rise of the italian supervolcano

- Scientists May Have Found a Way To Stop Italy’s Awakening Supervolcano

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UjShAxWDLdozY7QNNQv9zTTFtCyeEY1JzUHqDoYnZ0k/edit?usp=sharing

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- Steam :: Steamworks Development :: SteamOS Compatibility

The Year of the Linux Gaming PC, Literal Alchemy at the LHC and Europe Vs AI

Tue, 20 May 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Wow 250 episodes and we are still going…what an achievement...We would like to thank each and every one of you for being part of this magical journey

Finally, Valve are releasing SteamOS onto third party devices. Is this finally the year of the Linux gaming PC?

The Large Hadron Collider has turned lead into gold through shooting two lead atoms at each other and missing.

Europe has achieved a victory over generative AI dubbing through unions and laws. Yay.

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com

Steam OS and compatibility

Hydron Collider now makes gold

- ALICE detects the conversion of lead into gold at the LHC | CERN

Europe is winning the fight against AI

- How Europe's Film and TV Dubbers Are Leading the Fight Against AI

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xvyfc1wscNXe_e562-a5TMn-LXGRq0X8WH8361RozXI/edit?usp=sharing

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- Chips aren’t improving like they used to, and it’s killing game console price cuts - Ars Technica

The Truth Behind More Expensive Consoles, Marvel's New Strategy and Photographing Atoms

Tue, 13 May 2025 23:00:00 +1000

There's a variety of reasons consoles are getting more expensive instead of cheaper, and they aren't all because of greed. Chips just aren't improving like they used to.

Marvel has a new strategy. Will they finally start making good content?

A new technique from MIT allows scientists to photograph atoms with a microscope. Finally, we can see what they're up to.

Why are consoles getting expensive

Marvel has a new strategy according to Disney CEO

- Bob Iger Says ‘Thunderbolts*’ Is ‘First and Best’ Example of Marvel’s New Movie Strategy: ‘We Lost a Little Focus by Making Too Much’

Atoms can now be seen on 4K

- MIT physicists snap the first images of “free-range” atoms

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W56RuGLqcD-MExSfBbhG535JQCWcb0BwEcl_iOessno/edit?usp=sharing

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- Subscription spending has been flat since 2021, analyst says subs are not the future of gaming

The Future of Subscription Gaming, Ancient Fire and Netflix Saving Hollywood

Wed, 07 May 2025 02:00:00 +1000

A new analysis indicates that subscription gaming has no room to grow. Of course, that won't stop them trying to take away our game ownership.

Humans have been using fire for hundreds of thousand of years. But during the Ice Age, there's a gap in the evidence. What were humans doing with fire during that time?

Netflix's CEO claims that Netflix is saving the movie industry. Of course he would say that. What's the truth?

Subscription gaming and its failures

Ancient Fire

- Sophisticated pyrotechnology in the Ice Age: This is how humans made fire tens of thousands of years ago

Streaming services can save Hollywood

- https://boundingintocomics.com/movies/netflix-ceo-says-movie-theater-system-is-an-outdated-concept-believes-streamer-is-saving-hollywood/

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BUSTKI7qdQNjinN5dCDkMgkGHoaHFAwD2aN7vrfIcr4/edit?usp=sharing

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– Oscar Voters Can No Longer Vote in a Category Unless They’ve Seen All Nominees

Just Watch The Movies, Yet Another Ubisoft Lawsuit and Astronaut Food

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +1000

At last, the Oscars have added a rule that voters have to watch the movie. Somehow, people are complaining about doing their job.

Ubisoft are being threatened with a complaint about their data collection. The GDPR hammer is raised and ready.

Scientists want to grow astronaut food from scratch using bioreactors. This totally won't make a giant meat blob that consumes the Earth.

We're supported by Rez, which you can get from the REZ website at www.drinkrez.com and with a 15% discount using the code word : NERDS15

We had a nice drink as DJ made a concoction with REZ and orange juice. Find out how it went.

New Oscar rules

– Films made with AI can win Oscars, Academy says

Not Another Ubisoft Lawsuit

– NGO files complaint against Ubisoft for data protection concerns and forcing "always online" connections | GamesIndustry.biz

Space food

– Mission to boldly grow food in space labs blasts off

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wXjl26haRpqs6tIiiCzIuvjnJp8LjaLjzlkEPTpRYj0/edit?usp=sharing

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- Almost 19% of Japanese people in their 20s have spent so much money on gacha they struggled with covering living expenses, survey reveals - AUTOMATON WEST

Gacha Games Dangers, Chinese Movies Only & Life in Space

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +1000

We enjoyed a nice drink of rez which you can get from the Rez website at www.drinkrez.com and with a 15% discount using the code word : NERDS15

DJ went wild and mixed a sachet of REZ with a bottle of coke, while the professor went with the traditional approach of mixing a sachet with water....how did it pan out? Find out....

Gacha games have seen rising popularity in the past few years, but with that comes a new wave of concern. This time it isn't over your anime waifu, but the ridiculous amounts of money people are pouring into them.

China's response to the tariffs has been to ban US movies. And just like that, the world got a little smaller.

A new study has found signs of life on an exoplanet. Could this be it? Have we really found aliens? Maybe.

There is something about Gacha games

- Aussie gamers out of pocket from 'manipulative' tactics: research - ABC listen

China’s cinematic solution to the US Tarrifs

- China to 'Moderately Reduce' Number of US Film Imports in Response to Tariffs

There might be life in space after all...

- Scientists find promising hints of life on distant planet K2-18b

- Scientists Detect Strongest Evidence Yet of Potential Life on Exoplanet K2-18 b

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JZcVQSq8lisA7Kao5uUd1pDSIyteQBy2YvFH-wFa-Qg/edit?usp=sharing

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- Ubisoft responds to The Crew lawsuit by denying players had "unfettered ownership" of the game | GamesIndustry.biz

Stop Killing Games Lawsuit, Minecraft Movie Chaos and Return of the Dire Wolves

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Ubisoft has responded to a lawsuit against them as part of the Stop Killing Games campaign. This setback doesn't mean the end for the campaign. They'll keep fighting.

A Minecraft Movie is a surprising hit. But it comes with some interesting implications for the future. And please don't throw your popcorn.

Dire Wolves are back. But they're not really. Colossal Biosciences claims to have created dire wolves, but what they claim isn't entirely possible, which is sad news for Jurassic Park fans.

We're supported by Rez. Get 15% off with code “NERDS15” at www.drinkrez.com

Stop killing games the saga continues

The Minecraft movie explosion

- As Hollywood Remains Confused By Success Of 'Minecraft', Director Offers Simple Explanation For Film's Box Office Explosion

The Dire wolf resurrection

- The Dire Wolf Is Back | The New Yorker

- No, the dire wolf has not been brought back from extinction | New Scientist

- Dire wolf returns from extinction? Company reveals 'magic' it's using to bring back species

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EUU1CAf8VQgLeg1178ayS3jB3jqsgFkhdr-aEjBkbEA/edit?usp=sharing

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- Nintendo Switch 2: Release date, price, new Switch games and everything else you need to know

Everything about the Nintendo Switch 2, The Tariffs are coming & Brain to Speech

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 01:15:00 +1000

From computer mice to increased prices for games, we'll tell you everything worth knowing about the Nintendo Switch 2 and why you probably don't want to buy it.

Tariffs aren't just affecting video games, but they're also coming to Hollywood and could push out the smaller studios.

A new brain to speech implant greatly improves the speed at which a human-computer interface can translate thoughts into words. Next step on the full dive VR checklist is to put thoughts back into the brain.

We're supported by Rez. Get 15% off with code “NERDS15” at www.drinkrez.com

Recent Nintendo Switch 2 News

The tariffs are coming to Hollywood

- Here Are the Ways in Which Tariffs, Markets and a Possible Recession Could Impact Hollywood

Brain to Speech

- Brain implant translates thoughts to speech in an instant

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1491fPo_fTbVog4-e4bxrbPwqp4X_RsRAM2MihR0TRNI/edit?usp=sharing

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- SAG-AFTRA remains "frustratingly far apart" from major game companies | GamesIndustry.biz

The Game Acting Strike, Anime Shortages and Light Sails For Interstellar Exploration

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:28:23 +1000

SAG-AFTRA warn you not to believe the major games companies who claim that they're close to a deal. Instead, the union is refusing to back down without getting all the concessions they want for their members.

Anime is facing a staff shortage. This could mean lowering quality or reducing season length. Hopefully it means removing filler.

Light sails might be the best way to get to Alpha Centauri within a human lifetime. But we won't be sending humans just yet.

We're supported by Rez. Get 15% off with code “NERDS15” at www.drinkrez.com

SAG-AFTRA VS Game Companies

Shorter anime season due to lack of staff

- 'Gundam' Franchise Animator Says Shorter Anime Seasons Due To "A Shortage Of Professional Staff", Reveals Studios Turning To Social Media For Help

Light Sails

- Pentagonal photonic crystal mirrors: scalable lightsails with enhanced acceleration via neural topology optimization | Nature Communications

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RhzvokSGaISgvhdUX-GI3WySeCDrdBLgyIqj_qlb9ys/edit?usp=sharing

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- With Anime Market Projected to Triple, Netflix and Crunchyroll Poised to Dominate It Together

The Anime Boom, Masahiro Sakurai on Making Japanese Games and Life in Space

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +1000

The anime industry is expecting some major growth, with the surprise entry of Chinese anime.

Masahiro Sakurai of Super Smash Brothers thinks Japanese games should be made for Japanese gamers. How could he say something so controversial and so brave?

Life in space takes a toll on your body. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth, but that's not the end of the story.

We're supported by Rez. Get 15% off with code “NERDS15” at www.drinkrez.com

Here comes the Anime Boom

- Crunchyroll, and the anime it brings, poised to drive Sony's profits over the next two years | Popverse

- As the Anime Industry Booms, It Will Be Making Nearly $16 Billion Within the Next Decade

Smash Bros creator goes based

- Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai encourages Japanese developers to pursue the kind of games Japanese people love instead of adapting - AUTOMATON WEST

- 'Super Smash Bros.' Creator Says Japanese Devs "Should Simply Pursue What They Love" Because Overseas Fans Love "Japan's Unique Style And Its Distinct Charm"

Can the body survive in space

- Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are back on Earth. What does nine months in space do to the body? - ABC News

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WRtgabg8elxXd-r1A-mVJh0oMbjpbWzKDgilN_6K7N0/edit?usp=sharing

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- Report By An Insider Claims The Fate Of DC And Warner Bros. Hangs In The Balance If ‘Superman’ Is Not Successful

The Future of Warner Bros/DC, Trump Blocking Physical Games and Supernova Extinction Events

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Warner Bros and DC are in a bit of a sticky situation. They're failing to make money, and if their new Superman movie flops it could be the end for them.

Trump's tariffs are going to have a major effect on the physical game market in the US. Of course, publishers want this to happen.

At least twice in the Earth's history, a supernova has almost ended life as we know it. Good news though, it probably won't happen a third time.

We're supported by Rez. Get 15% off with code “NERDS15” at www.drinkrez.com

The future of DC Films hangs in the balance

Tarrifs vs gaming

- US Tariffs Will Be Bad for Gamers, But Publishers Would Welcome the Death of Retail, Says Analyst

NA – Supernova triggered Earth level Extinctions

- Violent supernovae 'triggered at least two Earth extinctions'

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N6bp9QFwUzLuQREhEcdPxVqCWWtB7WO9UBMCkW6tNAQ/edit?usp=sharing

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– Following 'Emilia Pérez' Oscar Controversy, Hollywood Reportedly Moves To Make Social Media Scrubbing "An Essential Component" Of Every Awards Campaign

Scrub Your Celebrity History, UK Government Shutting Down Online Games and World First Human Brain Computer

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Should celebrities watch what they say? The latest controversy has come out after Emilia Perez was torpedoed by a castmember's comments. And why not hold them to the same standards most of us are?

Urban Dead, one of the longest running zombie MMOs, is being shut down due to the new Online Safety Act in the UK. While it's sad to see something with such a cult following go, you can't run a product like that without the right loicence mate.

The first computer made with human brain neurons has been created. Let's hope they can't feel pain.

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Scrub your history

Urban dead vs UK government

– Free-to-play browser game Urban Dead taken offline by UK's online safety law

Bio computer made of brain cells now in Melbourne

– Melbourne start-up launches 'biological computer' made of human brain cells - ABC News

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B-vX370-LB9fJ5kVsPcXlNkoe_g5tq5XlFdnMF46nmQ/edit?usp=sharing

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- Balatro's contentious PEGI 18 rating has been amended thanks to 'mitigating fantastical elements'

Balatro ReRated, James Bond to Amazon and Genetically Modified Mosquitos

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Balatro has been rerated after an appeal to PEGI. Now teenagers can legally play it.

Amazon now has full control over James Bond. They promise there won't be any TV shows, but it remains to be seen what they'll do with the narrative problems the last movie left them.

A company plans to release genetically modified mosquitos in Australia to control the spread of dengue fever. This can't go wrong at all. We don't have many movies telling us why we shouldn't do this at all.

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Rating change of Balatro

0 0 Bezos

- Timothy Dalton Laments Amazon’s “Sad” Deal To Take Creative Control Of James Bond

Release the GM Mozzies

- Scientists worried about CSIRO-backed plan to release genetically modified mosquitos in Queensland

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z46qOQZZmaUxIun1nMnG4CT_dXaWXZDYQez8H4OWKvk/edit?usp=sharing

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Interview with Astral Ticket Comics

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +1000

This week we interviewed Isaac Fox of Astral Ticket Comics.

Astral Tickets Comics

Website - https://www.foxxycomics.com/

Youtube - Astral Ticket Comics - YouTube

Facebook - ATFoxxyComics

Instagram - Izumi Fox (@atfoxxycomics) • Instagram photos and videos

X - https://x.com/ATFoxxyComics/

Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/1784220658/

Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/brooke-astral.bsky.social

Astral Tickets Recent Kickstarter : Pure Intent finale + Mistress Izumi's ADULT Lessons #3 by Astral Ticket Comics — Kickstarter

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QmockErWedL3cLdu2sezOLZy0Z8rIc9wN2Gh_-XbjSw/edit?usp=sharing

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- US Copyright Office Declares Generative AI Can't Be Protected By Copyright: "The Requisite Level of Creativity is Extremely Low"

No Copyright For AI, Asteroid Impact Warning And Stop Killing Games In The UK

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:00:00 +1000

The US Copyright Office has decided that at this time, generative AI doesn't deserve copyright.

We've got a small chance of a massive asteroid hitting Earth in 2032. The good news is NASA already has an astronaut who was a driller.

There's been a disappointing update to the Stop Killing Games campaign with the UK rejecting changes to the law.

This episode supported by Rez www.DrinkRez.com

US Copyright Office Declares Generative AI Can’t Be Protected By Copyright

Asteroid predictions

- Don’t panic, but an asteroid has a 1.9% chance of hitting Earth in 2032 - Ars Technica

Stop killing games update

- UK declines to extend consumer law to better protect gamers against "disabling" live service games | GamesIndustry.biz

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jbf3yCMLVHaQEI-GjihMzPQZr7HSmgm4QAHUym3tR5Q/edit?usp=sharing

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- Many of the Pokemon playtest cards were likely printed in 2024 - Articles - Elite Fourum

Counterfeit Alpha Pokemon Cards, Tariffs Coming For Your Comics And The End of Credit Card Numbers

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:00:42 +1000

CGC Cards has been accused of selling fake Pokemon alpha playtest cards signed by Takumi Akabane. Who is behind this devious act, and what are the implications for TCG collectors?

Trump's tariffs on Canada could cause the price of comics to jump by 25%. Will this push independent comics out of business or create a new opportunity?

In the next few years, Mastercard wants to get rid of the numbers on your credit card in the name of improved security. Therer's a few issues with this though.

Counterfeit Pokemon Cards

Comic book price hike

- Comic Books Set To Rocket In Price Next Week Over Tariffs

- Valiant Comics Says The $4.99 Comic Is Over Because Of Tariffs

No more card numbers

- Mastercard plans to get rid of credit card numbers. We could be heading towards the end of cards - ABC News

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/14xWw1hkAocihvZq72Tvh1Eyc34QxBmDUYghNV1WhcYY/edit?usp=sharing

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- Games industry “hopes” GTA 6 costs $100 to justify gaming price hike says analyst - Dexerto

Nintendo Says Emulation Is Legal, Project Stargate, Anime AI and Sci-Fi For The Government

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +1000

Nintendo says emulation is legal, but what does that mean? Are they being hypocrites for going after Yuzu?

Trump has announced Project Stargate to advance AI for the US government. What could they want with images of people with too many fingers?

Anime studios in Japan have started using AI as a tweening tool to speed up production. What does this mean for the animators?

The UK Ministry of Defence has brought in Sci-Fi writers to find out what dangers the future holds.

Cost of gaming update

Emulation is legal now according to Nintendo

- Nintendo patent attorney clarifies company's zero-tolerance position on emulation | GamesIndustry.biz

Trump announces Project Stargate

- The key players behind Stargate, Donald Trump's $500 billion artificial intelligence project - ABC News

Japanese anime company uses A.I.

- How A Japanese Studio Is Embracing AI In Its Anime Production Pipeline

Sci-Fi writers can help governments

- UK Ministry of Defence enlists sci-fi writers to prepare for dystopian futures

- Scientists can help governments plan for the future. But don’t forget sci-fi writers: we can do it too | Emma Newman | The Guardian

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BGbRtvqMkL0kUv1GRMz0WApCJPp4K_NpHGaoiS54d-s/edit?usp=sharing

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- Why So Many Video Games Cost So Much to Make - Bloomberg

Why Games Are So Expensive To Make, Retraining Your Tastebuds and How Harrison Ford Got Blade Runner

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +1000

AAA games are getting so expensive to make that companies have started marketing them as AAAA games. Despite this, games haven't really increased in price. But who's responsible for spending so much money?

You can retrain your tastebuds to like a food that you hate. Will this finally end the war over pineapple on pizza?

Harrison Ford wasn't always the first choice to play Deckard in Blade Runner. Initially financiers had no idea who he was, and wanted someone else despite his roles in other unknown films like Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

The cost in making a game

How to retrain your taste buds

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/how-you-can-retrain-your-tastebuds-to-like-foods-you-detest/104796852

How Harrison Ford got his groove back

- 'Blade Runner' Financiers Asked Ridley Scott: 'Who Is Harrison Ford?'

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1doCpx6qmG_HcgeHGgKn3VKQNrGgzCYO9PGhMlXQt8c4/edit?usp=sharing

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- Why Half-Life 3 speculation is reaching a fever pitch again - Ars Technica

Half Life 3 Rumours, Alan Moore's Novel and Things To Look For In The Sky

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:00:03 +1000

The rumours are flying that Half Life 3 might be close to done. We're trying not to get too hyped just in case, but this might actually be happening this time.

Alan Moore spoke about his new novel, The Great When from The Long London Quintet. Lots of parallel universe shenanigans seem to be heading our way.

2025 has some great astronomy opportunities coming up in Australia, from the possibility of more auroras, some great meteor showers and the temporary disappearance of Saturn's rings.

Half Life 3 news

How to write like Alan Moore : The Novel

- How Alan Moore’s new novel builds on his iconic comics

2025 in Astronomy

- Meteor showers, eclipses and supermoons. What you can expect for 2025 in astronomy - ABC News

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2024: Year In Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 23:00:34 +1000

It's the end of the year, so welcome to our Year in Review episode. We discuss our favourite things of the year from games to movies and science.

We hope you have a happy New Year and we'll see you next year for more nerdy shenanigans.

2024 in video games

– 2024 in video games - Wikipedia

2024 in film

– 2024 in film - Wikipedia

2024 in Science & Technology

– 2024 in science - Wikipedia

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g1w1Tdyexpox_2cz-dx8WKSyGnEGx78ZNpWiovypFeM/edit?usp=sharing

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- Investigation claims "network of illegal casinos" lets children gamble with their Roblox account details | GamesIndustry.biz

Illegal Roblox Casinos, Luigi Mangione Documentaries and How Science Works

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 23:00:52 +1000

Your kids might be gambling in underground Roblox casinos. Or you might be gaming in underground CSGO casinos. Either way, there's been a proliferation of underground gaming casinos gambling in game assets for real world money. The latest investigation shows found children who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Robux. Scary stuff.

In what is certainly not just a way to get on the hype train, 50 Cent and others have announced they are working on documentaries about Luigi Mangione. We discuss whether this could cause copycat killings and might not be such a wise idea.

Science is big, wonderful, and complicated. We'll tell you how scientists actually make decisions, and how you can make sure you're not being conned by bad science.

Illegal Gambling in Roblox

Luigi the Documentary

- Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From Alex Gibney, Anonymous Content

- Second Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From ‘Amanda Knox’ Producer (EXCLUSIVE)

- 50 Cent reveals details about his documentary on Luigi Mangione: "I kinda like this killer” - Meristation

Correlation vs causation...

- If ‘correlation doesn’t imply causation’, how do scientists figure out why things happen?

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aCBAMfBpgbOn6MzVhEx1c4cOeb36mftE-rVwgRtLtvA/edit?usp=sharing

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- Why gaming is India's "new entertainment frontier" | GamesIndustry.biz

Indian Games, Genderbent 007 and New Drugs From Goose Feces

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 23:00:11 +1000

There's a big potential for the untapped Indian games industry. Why hasn't it taken off yet? Is 2025 finally the year of the Indian games industry?

Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton thinks James Bond can't be genderbent. Someone out there will probably take that as a challenge.

A group of scientists working with school students have identified a cytotoxic chemical found in goose feces. Really. It'll take a lot of work to convince people to rub it on their cancer though.

Gaming potential in India

Genderbent 007 is not possible

- 'Quantum Of Solace' Star And Former Bond Girl Gemma Arterton Disagrees With Idea Of Gender-Swapping 007: "Isn’t A Female James Bond Like Mary Poppins Being Played By A Man?" - Bounding Into Comics

A new antibiotic from goose shit...

- Discovery of New Cyclic Lipodepsipeptide Orfamide N via Partnership with Middle School Students from the Boys and Girls Club | ACS Omega

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Paun3E2y41-dJkBmlgEv6kXbpeYucGIfEPh7c_QOtCc/edit?usp=sharing

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- Borderlands 3 and The Elder Scrolls Online director says AAA game studios are playing it safe since "you have people who get nervous because big money is involved"

AAAs Playing It Safe, Snow White Remake And Where's Birdflu?

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 23:00:34 +1000

This week, things get heated when Professor and DJ talk about the reasons AAA games have to play it safe and take no risks.

Disney is remaking Snow White and it looks AWFUL. They really should stop doing this, but they won't as long as people keep watching them.

There's been a lot of news about birdflu lately. So why hasn't it become a pandemic?

Playing it safe Triple A style

First Snow White movie trailer released

- Disney's Snow White Trailer Highlights The Biggest Problem With Rachel Zegler's Live-Action Remake

Why no birdflu

- Why hasn’t the bird flu pandemic started? | Science | AAAS

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Yx4UKAA6WrVq-fdfQPWoosqEMOPJKEbcj-YjMRN12k/edit?usp=sharing

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- Inside the fall of GAME: "no games, no accessories - instead we received 136 Zendaya action figures" | Eurogamer.net

The Death of Retail Game Stores, Denis Villeneuve Hates Star Wars and Eradicating Cervical Cancer

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 23:00:01 +1000

We are have a new Nerd on the Block : Shane from ComX

Once an international brand, GAME is on the verge of shutting down. They've adapted to the changing market by not selling games anymore. We're not sure there's a way to survive as a physical games retailer with the domination of online marketplaces, but they're trying.

Hate might be a strong word but Denis Villeneuve really doesn't like Star Wars anymore. And his hatred goes a long way back. Still, Dune is the better movie so he has a point.

The HPV vaccine has nearly eradicated cervical cancer in young women. A great victory for science. We're excited to see even more cancers prevented by new vaccines.

GAME Shutting down

Denis Villeneuve’s disinterest in Star Wars

- Denis Villeneuve Explains His ‘Star Wars’ Disinterest: “It All Derailed in 1983”

Is there a cure for cervical cancer….the answer is yes

- Cervical cancer deaths are plummeting among young U.S. women

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MxjzIS5Ycpi6-_2ar5YxdpHpcA-wjJ0fmMpcFHuvyvI/edit?usp=sharing

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- The Wild Story Behind Disco Elysium’s Spiritual Successors: Allegations, Legal Threats, and a USB Stick - IGN

Disco Elysium Drama, AI In Movies and Manga and Rats Driving Cars

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 23:00:01 +1000

Disco Elysium is a famous game for very good reasons. But when it comes to creating a sequel, there are now five companies all claiming to be working on a spiritual successor, all with part of the original team. And they're all suing each other. Get your popcorn.

Ben Affleck (Batman) and Hirohiko Araki (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) have both come forwards to complain about AI. The future of their industries is at risk, after all, so they have some personal stake in the matter.

Rats enjoy driving cars. When given the option to take a car or walk to a treat, even though the road is longer, the rats will gladly hop into their vehicles and zoom off to the supermarket. Hmm, just like humans.

Drama Elysium

A.I. Concerns in movies and manga

- Ben Affleck Says Movies ‘Will Be One of the Last Things Replaced by AI,’ and Even That’s Unlikely to Happen: ‘AI Is a Craftsman at Best’

- 'JoJo's Bizarre Adventure' Creator Hirohiko Araki Express Concern Regarding AI's Effect On Manga: "We're Going To See An Increasingly Shady World Filled With Scammers Exploiting It" - Bounding Into Comics

Rats driving cars

- I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eAxmrTUth73GjS2jLhTX2pPqMzV1gUmEs_M81dIAEwY/edit?usp=sharing

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- The government plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms. Here's what we know so far - ABC News

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Australia's Social Media Ban, The Future of Star Wars and Farting for Science

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 23:00:53 +1000

Reuploaded due to Spotify sync issues

Australia's proposed social media ban is very broad and will likely affect gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. We discuss the impact on the gaming industry if this comes into effect.

Disney announced new Star Wars movies, then almost immediately cancelled one of them. What are they doing? Does anyone there have any idea what to do? Probably not.

Track your farts for science. Really. CSIRO have launched a citizen science initiative to track how often and how badly you fart to investigate gut health. Science is amazing.

Social media ban affecting gamers

The Future of Star Wars

- Disney Turns To Rey To Lead 'Star Wars' Movies With Everyone Else Dead

Community farting

- ‘Chart your fart’: Calling Aussies to track flatulence for science - CSIRO

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1udGFB4mm0gxbDvFa344Xf930m5FbHwSxyRIJmk61n-Q/edit?usp=sharing

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– Event Home - Supanova Comic Con & Gaming

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Supanova 100 Review featuring Shane Syddall from Comics Network Australia

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:00:42 +1000

This week we went to Supanova 100. We'll discuss our favorite panels, some great sights and of course the best cosplays.

Brisbane Supanova 2024

Shane Syddall from Comics Network Australia (ComX)

– Comics Network Australia

– Shane Syddall | Comics Network Australia

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tdeHIlAmUYvngQu4K5j3NJBvACToANCafjd7H0bV0DI/edit?usp=sharing

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- What exactly is up with Black Ops 6's 'Enhanced Headphone Mode' and its $20 paid tier | PC Gamer

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Pay to Win Audio, Netflix to The Rescue and Bacteria Pirates of The High Seas

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 23:00:02 +1000

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has a new pay to win audio tier using customised Head Related Transfer Functions. Cool tech, but what isn't cool is allowing some players who can afford a subscription to have a gameplay advantage.

Netflix are saving the Anime industry by... *checks notes* paying the animators a fair wage. This utterly insane idea will hopefully lead the industry in a better direction, away from child labour and exploitative practices.

Aureispira bacteria have been witnessed using grappling hooks and cannons to hunt unsuspecting prey. This pirates of the microscopic world scenario could lead to interesting nanobot technology.

COD Black Ops 6 new tier…enhanced headphone mode

Netflix is saving anime

- Netflix Reveals How It's Helping Save the Anime Industry in Massive New Report

Bacteria Pirate AHOY

- Microscopic pirates attack with cellular cannons and grappling hooks

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hg0UI_Up_OHHLvAm0TE6A3dIAiX2B5XByJxjCS3VFX8/edit?usp=sharing

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-- ‘Prometheus’ Actor Warns Against AI Avatars After He Says Face Used For Venezuelan Propaganda

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AI propaganda, Playstation Vs Hackers, and Bringing Back The Dead Thylacine

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 23:00:46 +1000

A minor actor has had his identity used to create Venezuelan propaganda. He's not too happy about that, and hopes the unions will be able to prevent this in the future.

Playstation have spent ten years suing a company for making hacks for their games, and they just lost. While this might lead to a proliferation of cheaters, we're more excited about the legal protection for modding.

The Tasmanian Tiger has been extinct for less than a hundred years, and an American company reckon they can bring it back to life. DJ is worried about a Jurassic Park situation. Also, that mini moon we spoke about last week might actually be a good place to mine.

AI Avatar

Playstation Parasite mods

-- PlayStation loses fight in EU courts to stop sale of 'parasite' mods because, among other reasons, a book author can't stop 'the reader from skipping to the end' | PC Gamer

Bringing back the dead through the power of SCIENCE & mini moon update

-- Colossal Biosciences behind thylacine de-extinction effort announces genome progress, but others call for peer review - ABC News

-- Earth’s New Mini-Moon is Sign of Tremendous Potential for Space Mining, Scientists Say | Sci.News

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrPq3o38qfSneeVTt7B03l8jDeUAf4oyhg-CqdyvwUI/edit?usp=sharing

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- Nobel Prize 2024: All the Winners | TIME

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Nobel Prizes, The Real Cost of Game Piracy and Hollywood's Direction

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 01:00:58 +1000

The Nobel Prizes for 2024 have been awarded. AI. AI everywhere...

A study has attempted to estimate the actual cost of game piracy for developers who use Denuvo DRM. Is it really worth using on games?

Hollywood has changed a lot in the last few decades with the rise of streaming. Some insiders have concerns about its ability to adapt.

Nobel Prize 2024 Winners

Game Piracy and its costs

- The true cost of game piracy: 20 percent of revenue, according to a new study - Ars Technica

Industry Veterans question Hollywood’s direction

- Industry Veteran Jeff Sagansky Rebukes Hollywood Studios for Decisions Leading to ‘Unbelievable Cataclysm in the Business’

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1969WJIcl-T2aR8Imo9wCC5SpEVE8X9IGvUL2QHsbJlc/edit?usp=sharing

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-- EA turns to the fans to keep The Sims relevant | GamesIndustry.biz

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The Future of the Sims, Responding to Toxic Fans and Plastic Eating Bacteria

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 23:00:18 +1000

EA have announced that they aren't working on The Sims 5 after a decade. Instead, they're farming out future content releases to the fans. Is this a sign of EA's laziness or is it the right move?

Toxic fans ruin everything. Fortunately, studios are developing techniques for protecting actors and fans from their actions.

A recently discovered bacteria eats plastic. Yay. Also not yay. Can it cause a grey goo scenario? We hope not.

The future of The Sims

Hollywood vs Toxic fandom

-- Toxic Fandom: How Hollywood Is Battling Fans Who Are ‘Just Out for Blood’ — From Social Media Boot Camps to Superfan Focus Groups

Wastewater bacteria can now eat plastics

-- Wastewater bacteria can breakdown plastic for food

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pn16eNBRkHN3VIxJdAnmkicEAtP5Xk-5VN5O4YtI7aY/edit?usp=sharing

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-- https://x.com/tomwarren/status/1837858638620176459

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Steam Record Playercounts, Suing OpenAI and Earth's New Moon

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:00:36 +1000

Steam has once again broken their record for most concurrent users online. So where are all these new users coming from? What do they want? What does this mean for the future of Steam?

OpenAI is being sued for copyright infringement. If they lose it could mean the end of the existing LLM AI hype.

For the next few months Earth will have a new moon too small to see with the naked eye. Well maybe you can see it if you squint a bit.

Newly released steam player counts

The People vs OpenAI

-- OpenAI Training Data to Be Inspected in Authors' Copyright Cases

The Mini Moon

-- 'Mini Moon' to orbit Earth for two months

-- A Two-month Mini-moon: 2024 PT5 Captured by Earth from September to November - IOPscience

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/15G9fdZgI5cZjUx8-GNT56HtCU9yr587jZjsa8tcbDW0/edit?usp=sharing

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- Australia introduces new "mandatory classifications" for games with "gambling-like" content | GamesIndustry.biz

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R18 for Gambling Games, Lionsgate AI and How Sleep Resets Your Brain

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 23:00:57 +1000

Australia has now brought in an R18 rating for games featuring gambling. We discuss the merits behind this change and whether it will really protect the children from gambling addictions.

Lionsgate have decided to use AI to create AI generated "augmentations" to their films. We go deep on deep fakes, and appropriate usage of AI.

New research explains how sleep resets your brain and prepares it for learning more the next day. So learn how science might help you reach your full potential by sleeping more.

New changes to Australian gaming

Lionsgate now with A.i.

- Lionsgate partners with AI firm to train generative model on film and TV library | Movies | The Guardian

Sleep resets everything

- Scientists discover sleep "reset" mechanism in the brain that prevents memory overload

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c-fnwq6Ql6OoeGXyuR3G05sPw9mktWURKf79JuWi2r4/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Another reminder that your digital library isn't forever: Oxenfree will be completely removed from Itch.io next month | PC Gamer

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Oxenfree Erasure, Disney Vs Peter Cushing, Gene Editing & A New Nerd Approaches

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:00:39 +1000

A New Nerd Approaches and his name is Phoenix

If you own the game Oxenfree through Itch.io, you're about to lose access to it. The Netflix owned games studio is pulling the game from storefronts and libraries, leaving nothing in its wake. This time, even if you own it, you won't be able to download it. This should be completely unacceptable, so how do we fight back?

Disney didn't have the rights to use Peter Cushing's likeness in Rogue One, and they're being sued about it. We discuss IP law and the right someone has to their own face.

Gene editing is a new technology that could allow us to create new and improved forms of existing animals and plants that are more resilient to climate change and disease. Is this the solution to all our problems?

Oxenfree erasure

Another Disney Lawsuit

- After UK Judge Denies Disney's Attempt To Dismiss, Lawsuit Alleging Peter Cushing's Likeness Was Used Without Permission In 'Rogue One' Headed To Trial - Bounding Into Comics

Gene editing and its results

- The great gene editing debate: can it be safe and ethical?

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R7NG58u84Zs-JY8elnxilRD2sJfbq5LLmuPuFqIJjEA/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Shinji Mikami slams video game censorship in Japan: “The rules are made by people who don’t play games” - AUTOMATON WEST

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Japanese Censorship, Humans in Heat & Jenna Ortega on Women Led Franchises

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 23:00:41 +1000

Suda51 and Shinji Mikami got together to talk about Japan's CERO system of games classification. They've raised some excellent points about the inconsistencies in the system.

Humans don't like the heat much. New research shows that the fatal limit for temperature and humidity might be much lower than expected.

Jenna Ortega thinks more women led franchises should be original IPs, not gender flipped traditionally male roles. This take is certainly not controversial and won't lead to heated arguments in comment sections around the internet.

Pushback against Japanese Censorship in games

Humans in heat

- Scientists testing deadly heat limits on humans show thresholds may be much lower than first thought - ABC News

Woman should have own franchises – Jenna Ortega

- Jenna Ortega Says Women Should Have Their Own Franchises: “I Don't Want 'Jamie Bond'”

- “I just read it and went, oh sh*t” Jenna Ortega & Catherine O’Hara on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vf8IQVWuZni1P1bumPi6OHkffsziC_pmZ4XFbL2EIaw/edit?usp=sharing

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- Epic Games' free game giveaways have been "magical" for user acquisition | GamesIndustry.biz

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How Epic Store Finds Users, Debunking the Marshmallow Test & Banning Fake Reviews

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 23:00:04 +1000

Epic Games Store's long running free games program seems to be paying off for their user acquisition strategy, despite their low sales of exclusives. They still can't hold a candle to Steam though.

The Marshmallow test is supposed to determine a child's future. The latest studies actually debunk it, and prove that you really aren't limited. At least not that way.

The US FTC has finally banned fake reviews. YAY. We'll see how they enforce it but hopefully this leads to a major reduction in fraud.

Epic games free giveaway

Debunking the Marshmallow testing

- Delay of gratification and adult outcomes: The Marshmallow Test does not reliably predict adult functioning - Sperber - Child Development - Wiley Online Library

- Delay of gratification and adult outcomes: The Marshmallow Test does not reliably predict adult functioning

FTC vs Reviews

- New 163-Page FTC Regulation Bans Fake Reviews, Testimonials, And More In "Final Rule" - What Does It Mean For Review Bombing? - Bounding Into Comics

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S1JXbx8j5kULMFGaHMONym5vt2dSG68stYsHlHGxEv8/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Update on the Roblox ban in Türkiye

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Banning Roblox, Olympic Maths and D23 Announcments

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:00:42 +1000

Roblox is now banned in another country for child exploitation. These are serious allegations, so we're lucky serious journalists have investigated and uncovered the reasons why Roblox isn't great for kids. We discuss the issues and whether Australia should follow suit.

Mathematicians have worked out the optimum swimming stroke, and are training swimmers to perform it at the Olympics. We also discuss the just past Paris Olympics and some of the standout memes from the event.

Disney have announced everything they're working on, and it's a field as empty of originality as the Sea of Tranquility is of liquid water. We're not impressed.

Roblox is banned in Turkey

Olympic swimmers and maths

- The mathematician who helps Olympic swimmers go faster

D23 Film announcements

- Here's Everything We Learned At D23 2024: New Film Announcements And More

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X5ciHYmh_nHfJgMVa_e6YmHtTuGbWk_Y8MiaaxGeLrs/edit?usp=sharing

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- Big publishers ‘eject too soon’ from live service titles, says Warframe boss | VGC

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Warframe CEO on Live Service Games, Jim Shooter on Modern Marvel and Cocaine Sharks

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:00:00 +1000

The CEO of Warframe developer Digital Extremes has explained why he thinks there hasn't been another Live Service hit like Warframe.

Jim Shooter, a former Marvel head, has some thoughts on modern comics - There isn't enough dialogue apparently.

Sharks in Brazil have gotten their fins on large amounts of cocaine from drug smugglers. Everything humans do affects the environment, including dumping contraband in the ocean.

Is Live Service game an actual good model

The current state of modern comics books

- Former Marvel EIC Jim Shooter Slams The Current State Of Western Comics: "It's Supposed To Be Entertainment, But A Lot Of It Comes Out Like Propaganda"

Cocaine Shark

- Brazilian sharpnose sharks test positive for cocaine, new study shows - ABC News

- First report on cocaine and benzoylecgonine detection in sharks - ScienceDirect

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3GOEon4GR-kEhuyxYNAxe7i1z_qEBO8QTIVnbRk014/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Viggo Mortensen Speaks His Mind: On Amazon’s “Shameful” Decision, Green Book’s “Disingenuous” Critics, and Indie Film’s Unclear Future | Vanity Fair

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Viggo Mortensen on Franchies, The Indie Games Bubble & Why We Blush

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 23:00:12 +1000

Viggo Mortensen hasn't been seen in any big franchises since Lord of the Rings. He's got a very good reason for that, and he isn't likely to go back. At least he's willing to tell us why.

We've seen a lot of great indie games in the last few years, but it's starting to look like the bubble might be popping. Sooner or later it'll be back, but at what cost?

Watching yourself perform karaoke makes you blush. Scientists used this to find out why we blush and what's going on inside your brain when it happens.

Viggo Mortensen Interview about Movie Franchieses & Film Criticism

Is the Indie Games bubble popping?

- ‘Death Occurs in the Dark’: Indie Video Game Devs Are Struggling to Survive | WIRED

Karaoke Experiment

- Scientists inflict karaoke on young volunteers to find out what makes us blush | Science | The Guardian

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MF9egq18m_pLZiDBT14jYRRGh21219Tl3JlnbG8j0WQ/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Ants can carry out life-saving amputations on injured nest mates, study shows | Animal behaviour | The Guardian

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Ants Performing Surgery, Why We're Addicted to Games and Goodbye Crunchyroll Comments

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:00:10 +1000

A species of carpenter ants will perform surgery on their wounded comrades. These gory scenes take place after vicious battles with other ant colonies. This is the first time that surgery has been observed in non-human animals.

Much has been made of video game addiction, which is a real and scary thing. But not every case is medical addiction, and there might be good reasons why people are turning to games.

Crunchyroll have decided to close their comment section permanently. The exodus of commenters must go somewhere else to rant about anime.

Surgical ants

Why teens are are suffering from game addiction

- It’s not them, it’s us: the real reason teens are ‘addicted’ to video games | Games | The Guardian

Crunchyroll Censorship

- Sony-Owned Crunchyroll Disables Comments, User Reviews In Order To "Reduce Harmful Content" And "Prevent Misinformation" - Bounding Into Comics

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/12fgvsgWpGoKZdeHUGgPTHhBNfmbi-CrH_PPM0-Fs6cg/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- University of Queensland research finds whales were less stressed during early COVID pandemic - ABC News

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Happy Whales, Eve Open Source & Hollywood Exodus

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 23:00:13 +1000

Scientist have found that whales are happier when humans are not around, and this was during the first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic, when human activity on the ocean was limited. Which begs the question do whales really hate humans?

Eve Online's creator CCP Games have decided to go open source...will this make the game immortal? Only time will tell...

Hollywood is facing an exodus of film crew workers, is this the sign that the Hollywood cinema is coming to an end?

Whales hate humans

Eve Online Open Source Edition

- Hilmar Pétursson: Making CCP tech open source will enable Eve Online to live forever | GamesIndustry.biz

Hollywood Exodus

- Goodbye, Hollywood: Why these film and TV workers decided to ditch L.A.

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rz7hvJMxzl2g_EQdJ4luwCyR3v394HNOf4loeYCEKzY/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- MMOs 'don't give people the tools to build community anymore,' says EverQuest 2 creative director | PC Gamer

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UnSocial Multiplayer, The Curse of Geoengineering & GTA the Movie

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 23:00:19 +1000

A classic MMO designer thinks modern MMOs aren't giving players enough ways to play together. MMOs have changed over the last 20 years, and are no longer the only way to play with your friends. So what's really behind the changes?

A new study suggests geoengineering might actually just move the issue from one place to another. Who will bear the consequences of trying to prevent global warming?

GTA has never been made into a movie. One of the Rockstar founders has come forwards to explain why.

Modern MMO….

Geoengineering...curse or cure

- Cloud geoengineering could push heatwaves from US to Europe | New Scientist

GTA the movie….

- Rockstar Games Co-Founder Says 'Grand Theft Auto', 'Red Dead Redemption' Never Adapted To Film Or TV Because "The Risk Never Made Sense" - Bounding Into Comics

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MGjk2zwqVJ0XAIpZX1S3O7x7v8_IKlrV0CbDgcBIBqo/edit?usp=sharing

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- Why is #FixTF2 trending? Team Fortress 2 issues explained

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Save TF2, Save The Crow and Save Arctic Foxes

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:00:20 +1000

Team Fortress 2 has been overrun by bots. A new campaign to save this game from the hackers and cheaters who are ruining it begs Valve to make a difference. We discuss how this relates to the Stop Killing Games campaign and the various ways Valve and the community can save the game.

By all accounts, The Crow's reboot will not be any good. Can it be saved? Who will watch it?

The Arctic Fox is on the brink of extinction, except for the diligent work of a team of fox breeders working to save the population through captive breeding. Will they be successful or will the fox go the way of the dodo?

Please Fix Team Fortress 2

- SaveTF2 Petition

The Unwatchable Crow

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2024/06/10/former-the-crow-reboot-screenwriter-trashes-film-its-horrible-its-unwatchable-dont-waste-your-money/

Project Artic Fox

- Eagle attacks, red invaders and a genetic bottleneck: inside the fight to save arctic foxes | Endangered species | The Guardian

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y6-xFOjpm82r8WizA4phZF0cdgXPMjE42_5EpUOAWp0/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Featured Blog | Modders are Developers - It’s Time to Pay Them

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Paid Mods, Microsoft Recall and GRRM's Rants

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 23:00:23 +1000

Sorry about the audio quality on this one. The people responsible have been fired out of a cannon into the sun. The problem has been fixed and we'll be back to our usual quality next week.

Should we pay modders for their work? After hundreds of hours playing modded games, and even designing some mods himself, Professor's got some thoughts on this.

The future of PCs is AI. Or is it? The Nerds disagree that Microsoft's Recall will gain any traction.

George R R Martin is ranting about how movies and shows are never as good as the books they are based on. He might be right.

Should We Pay Modders

AI is coming…..to your PC

- Microsoft Is Giving Windows a Memory and It Might Change Everything

- Windows to drive PC refresh? Everyone's talking about AI • The Register

- Google AI Overview's health advice: Eat a rock a day, and go jump off a bridge

George R.R.Martin strikes…again…and again…and again

- 'Game Of Thrones' Creator George R.R. Martin Calls Out Most TV & Film Adaptations For Being Worse Than Source Material: "They Never Make It Better"

- The Adaptation Tango | Not a Blog

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YeWK4PRI13Vmj4B2D5mm8miWA1bp7ycgZavg9XO_sYo/edit?usp=sharing

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- https://news.osu.edu/gamers-say-they-hate-smurfing-but-admit-they-do-it/

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Why Gamers Smurf, The End of Anime, Adults Only Social Media and Poo Pills for Parkinsons

Tue, 28 May 2024 23:00:18 +1000

According to surveys, most gamers Smurf - that is high level players using a low level account to stomp noobs. So why do you do it, and is it as bad as it sounds?

The end of anime's Golden Age may be upon us. Miyazaki says so, but he's just won an award for anime. So is it self-deprecating humour or bragging?

The Australian government has suggested social media should be for adults only. The Nerds discuss why this won't work.

Fecal matter transplants are a seemingly miracle treatment for a variety of conditions, and might even slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. You'll have to get over some ick before you go for this treatment though.

Smurfing and no its not about the Smurfs

Miyazaki : The Golden age of anime is over

- https://comicbook.com/anime/news/studio-ghibli-hayao-miyazaki-anime-over/

- https://geektyrant.com/news/hayao-miyazaki-feels-that-the-golden-age-of-anime-is-over

Australia wants a Social Media Ban for under 16 year olds

- https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/21/anthony-albanese-social-media-ban-children-under-16-minimum-age-raised

- https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/21/australia-social-media-ban-children-state-government-nsw-qld-sa-vic

Poo Pills Part 2

- https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/gut-bacteria-transplant-may-improve-parkinsons-movement-symptoms

- https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/research-bacteria-gut-reveals-how-they-potentially-cause-and-affect-progression-parkinsons

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537024001421

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Dkz2_c8us-7FtvYuxgmXeVj4kIDB0ugCH5-tpXBzes/edit?usp=sharing

Stop Killing Games Update, Isekais Are Off the Rails and Pig Butchering Scams

Tue, 21 May 2024 23:00:32 +1000

The UK has issued a response to the Stop Killing Games campaign with a possible angle of attack. Remember to keep signing your local petitions to help make a change.

The creator of Ghost in the Shell Arise thinks Isekais are off the rails and that the real world doesn't suck that much. Has he been outside recently?

AI deepfakes are being used in a new type of scam called Pig Butchering. Keep yourselves safe.

Joycon Lawsuits

- Two Joy-Con lawsuits against Nintendo are dismissed | GamesIndustry.biz

Rob Scotts’s Stop Killing Games lawsuit update

- UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign | GamesIndustry.biz

Why The Isekai hate

- 'Does Everyone Hate Real World?': Ghost In The Shell: Arise Director Bemoans The Rise Of Isekai Anime - Animehunch

New A.I Scam : Pig Butchering

- How South-East Asia's pig butchering scammers are using artificial intelligence technology - ABC News

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G8JBbd3_AU7mS8Lb1o6gC-ChH1Kdh_waGT-MazO2WIQ/edit?usp=sharing

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Victory Over Sony, The Hunt for Gollum, and Rise of The Plastic Eating Nanobots

Tue, 14 May 2024 23:00:11 +1000

Helldivers 2 players have achieved a major victory over Sony, leading to the PSN account requirement being retracted. Good work troops.

WBD are planning some more Lord of the Rings movies, starting with The Hunt for Gollum. The Nerds discuss why they've picked such an overdone part of the story to cover.

Plastic eating nanobots may be coming to a water treatment plant near you. Scientists have developed a type of nanobot that "eats" plastic and can be filtered out of the water supply.

Helldivers vs Sony Saga

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-backtracks-on-helldivers-2-psn-log-in-requirement

DJ – New Lord of the Rings movies

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/new-lord-of-the-rings-movies-2026-peter-jackson-1235894513/

Nanobots farming microplastics

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202402567

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RZm9ndF1YaTuFpnF0EhuiBD8TE11WIdlR6eFgBJ5xgY/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- The US is banning TikTok, could Fortnite and League of Legends be next? | This Week in Business | GamesIndustry.biz

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TikTok Ban Vs Game Developers, Cryonic Brains and Why Marvel Movies Suck

Tue, 07 May 2024 23:00:10 +1000

The USA's TikTok ban coming into effect could affect game developers too. We'll break it down and go over the possible effects.

If you want to preserve your body for the future, you might turn to cryonics. If you can't afford a full body, you can just preserve your brain and hope someone grows you a new body in the future.

Marvel movies suck. Everyone's saying it. Even the cast and crew are saying it. Here's why.

Tiktok bans affects gaming

Cryonic brains...the next evolution to brains in a jar

- How a Controversial Cryonics Procedure Could Finally Make Immortality Possible

Why do Marvel movies suck?

- Avengers Directors Say Marvel Flops Aren't Superhero Fatigue

- Avengers: Endgame directors say they don't believe in superhero fatigue and that the MCU's current problems are part of a "generational divide"

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xwfqY-cXJ1qomXd_mSTOATC2Htpey-eshRcP-e-rhYc/edit?usp=sharing

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- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-24/voyager-1/103761504

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Fixing Voyager 1, The battle for Videogame Libraries, and Rotten Tomatoes Resumes

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:00:15 +1000

The Australian Stop Killing Games Petition is now active. Sign it here: e-petitions – Parliament of Australia

How does NASA repair a spacecraft nearly a light day from Earth? NASA engineers have spent the last few months working on a solution to a faulty RAM chip, and we'll discuss the changes they had to make to save the stricken craft.

The Entertainment Software Association are vehemently against video game libraries. This makes some sense from a copyright perspective, but absolutely none from a preservation perspective. Professor has his own strong opinions on this topic.

Crowdsourcing references for your resume seems to be the next big thing in Hollywood. Directors are having their careers made or broken by the reviews they get on Rotten Tomatoes. DJ and BPM have some thoughts on how this might be inappropriate.

Voyager data fix from a galaxy far far away

- https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-voyager-1-resumes-sending-engineering-updates-to-earth

- https://blogs.nasa.gov/voyager/2024/04/04/engineers-pinpoint-cause-of-voyager-1-issue-are-working-on-solution/

ESA’s take on game preservation

- https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/esa-org-won-t-cooperate-game-preservation

Using Rotten Tomatoes on Directors

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/directors-jail-1235879871/

- https://screenrant.com/rotten-tomatoes-scores-directors-influence-hiring-report/

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aQL4s4yKoz1oZBca7qtKSqawVnVs9pDucrYy1cIRQWo/edit?usp=sharing

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-70-of-devs-say-theyre-concerned-with-the-sustainability-of-live-service-titles

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Game Devs Are Worried About Live Service Games, Binge Vs Weekly Releases and Gaming for Science

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 23:00:41 +1000

The Australian Stop Killing Games Petition is now active. Sign it here: https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN6080

Live service games seem like the future of gaming, but the tide seems to be changing. A survey of game developers says that the majority are concerned about the future of live service games and their sustainability.

Do you prefer binge watching or waiting weekly for each episode? The creator of Scott Pilgrim has very strong opinions on this, and thinks you should too.

Gamers have been named as collaborators in a scientific paper for what is possibly the first time. The minigame Borderlands Science has provided scientists with thousands of hours of data modelled by gamers taking a break from all the shooting.

Live service games sustainability doubts

- 70 percent of devs unsure of live-service games sustainability

- Game Developer Collective Survey March 2024: Business Models and Monetization Omdia

Scott Pilgrim’s angst

- Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Creator Isn't a Fan of Streaming Dumps

Gamers contributing to science

- Millions of Gamers Help Advance Microbiome Research | Technology Networks

- Improving microbial phylogeny with citizen science within a mass-market video game | Nature Biotechnology

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/19ezmTgH9zhtGv5pjmK9itrk1NsEiBdGZs3ty7LqmFRU/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

Stop Killing Games, The Case of the Missing Anime and The New Lunar Time Zone

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 23:00:29 +1000

Ross Scott's Campaign to save games has kicked off, and we're sharing his battle plans. This is something we can all do to help prevent games from being destroyed.

With the death of Funimation, anime is also at risk of being taken away from you. Paid products aren't showing up on CrunchyRoll's site. They claim everything will eventually be available, but this is yet another example of paid products being taken away from customers.

The US Government wants NASA to implement a time zone for the Moon in order to synchronise space equipment prior to the 2026 manned mission to the moon. This could be vital to making sure missions actually land in their designated location, for example.

Stop Killing Games : The Battleplan

R.I.P Funimation

- Funimation's Closure Leaves 190+ Anime Titles Homeless

Lunar Time Zone

- White House wants Moon to have its own time zone

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e3rlz2mt0eC5N4hGxr3GGZoznHOGIpeRY66bT4Yr7jE/edit?usp=sharing

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://worthychaoscomics.com/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@nerdsamalgamated142

A Nerds Amalgamated 200th Episode Special - An Interview with Worthy Chaos Comics Creator : Corissa Grant

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 23:00:22 +1000

For our 200th episode, we've interviewed Corissa Grant from Worthy Chaos Comics to talk about their series Redemption, a comic about love, a war involving the ancient Egyptian and Celtic pantheons, demon hunters, and a whole lot of gore. Corissa tells us about how she got into writing comics, how she found an artist, the challenges of managing a comic business and a whole lot more.

- https://twitter.com/Worthy_Chaos

- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAL-U1I4zx45SFAUWb2OIA

- https://www.instagram.com/worthy_chaos_comics/

- https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/worthychaoscomics/about

- https://www.facebook.com/groups/worthychaos

Full Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mjrwyaDjVDGWBoMOOJt6HfS5SoUeiaZSFvAblWZNuNA/edit?usp=sharing

Don't Reboot The Crow, Neuralink Success, and Pokemon Law

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 23:00:56 +1000

The Crow is one of BPM's favourite movies, as well as a Brandan Lee's final film role. There's talks about rebooting it with a new storyline and BPM, along with the original director, are not very happy about it.

Neuralink has begun human trials, beset with animal testing issues and beaten to market by over a decade. The Nerds discuss the sci-fi future Elon Musk wants, and the impact Neuralink might have on society.

Need a lawyer? Better call Pikachu. Pokemon Law is serious business, and an interview with the former chief lawyer of The Pokemon Company has some tips for making sure your fan project doesn't get shut down.

The Crow ReDon’t

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2024/03/18/original-the-crow-director-rejects-remake-says-film-should-remain-untouched-of-respect-for-brandon-lee-it-is-his-legacy-thats-how-it-should-remain/

- https://thatparkplace.com/new-the-crow-reboot-plot-and-story-details-allegedly-leaked/

Elon Musk Neuralink actually works….on humans

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-21/first-neuralink-patient-livestreams-himself-using-brain-chip/103617606

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzNHxC96rDE

Confessions of a Pokemon Lawyer

- https://aftermath.site/pokemon-lawyer-cease-desist-fan-project-pikachu-movie

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/11xKeQzec5E81uaKfrfNXe6Q5IHRoqaMJDBe-Vjc4Wv0/edit?usp=sharing

WB Kills Another Company, The Oscars and Razzies, and How Stress Makes You Dumber

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 23:00:43 +1000

Warner Bros seem to be intent on killing everything they own. The latest casualty is Adult Swim's Games library. Professor reminisces about some of his favourite games from this publisher that will no longer be available to customers.

The Oscars and Razzies happened again this week, so the Nerds discuss the impact the winners might have on the direction of movies of the future.

Stress is making you dumber. This is a Bad Thing with bad implication for the environment and the economy. Oh, and it's contagious.

WB wipes out Adult Swim games

- As more developers confirm, it looks likely that ALL Adult Swim Games titles will be removed by May [UPDATE: Better Links]

Razzies and Oscars recap

- These are the worst films and performances of the year, according to the Razzie Awards - ABC News

- Oppenheimer dominated the 2024 Academy Awards. But did it break the record for most Oscar wins of all time? - ABC News

- Oscars 2024: Oscars producer apologises for Best Picture announcement blunder, Jimmy Kimmel told not to mention Trump - ABC News

- Godzilla Minus One's Oscar win is a victory for low-budget action films. Can they disrupt the Marvel machine? - ABC News

Chronic Stress affects the environment

- Chronic stress and inflammation linked to societal and environmental impacts in new study

- A multiscale inflammatory map: linking individual stress to societal dysfunction

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MW2ObJ4KLcLPbR6FDntiF5D9kts42nvQr_gRvjxcR2I/edit?usp=sharing

Yuzu and The Crew Updates, Executive Meddling and Teaching Children to Talk

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 23:00:38 +1000

This week we bring you the latest updates in the Nintendo vs Yuzu case, the first shots in the war to save games from deletion, and the push towards even more live service games.

Executives are ruining movies. We discuss the reasons and the solutions to escape executive meddling.

Finally, we put on our boomer hats to complain about how kids these days learn.

Yuzu vs Nintendo Recap and Aftermath

https://fxtwitter.com/PC_Focus_/status/1763601710314889356?t=xaDd6Uc3YOqdPF48O1X03A&s=19

https://fxtwitter.com/oatmealdome/status/1764704580724576465?s=46&t=YKm7FJZd9EGYS65qIVSfjQ

https://twitter.com/yuzuemu/status/1764733659444064671?t=Djc1WhGrAIkokSovP1XtRw&s=19

https://hackaday.com/2024/03/05/yuzu-and-citra-emulators-shut-down-after-legal-pressure-from-nintendo/

Ross Scott Lawsuit update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAD5iMe0Xj4

Live Service games fails

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/745920/view/

https://boundingintocomics.com/2024/03/05/warner-bros-discovery-says-new-live-service-and-mobile-game-plans-will-focus-on-game-of-thrones-harry-potter-mortal-kombat-and-dc-ips/

Executive screwing up

https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/dakota-johnson-teatime-book-club

https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/rooster-teeth-shutting-down-warner-bros-discovery-1235931953/

Babies are losing words daily

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-05/screen-time-and-toddlers-kids-language-speech-words-development/103541806

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2808593

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/12db3B4CK-c_QxFStpRCkVczrgWtaXeH9nLftG5a_vMo/edit?usp=sharing

Nintendo Vs Yuzu, Marvel's Future, and The Benefits of Green Space

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 23:00:58 +1000

Nintendo are suing a Fruit company. The Yuzu emulator is under attack. The Professor has some thoughts on how this affects the future of games preservation.

Marvel are trying to recover from a few big failures recently. The DJ ponders their future projects and what they need to do to bring the audience back.

Going outside is really, REALLY good for you. The DJ and Professor consider going into politics to build more green space.

Nintendo vs Yuzu

- https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1762576284817768457

- https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/27/24085075/nintendo-switch-emulator-yuzu-lawsuit

Marvel Rebuild

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvel-fantastic-four-avengers-movies-1235830951/

Forest Bathing for teens

- https://uwaterloo.ca/news/media/teens-benefit-forest-bathing-even-cities

Full show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jGL2xw2ngTVuYLi4mcmVuZDZ3sO3kNaXGHhlQ2tj_yg/edit?usp=sharing

The Future of Games Consoles, Tyler Perry and Sora AI, and Gaming For Your Health

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:00:21 +1000

Rumours are flying about the next generation of games consoles. The Nerds discuss the future and where we might be going next, whether that's a mid generation Pro release, a full new generation, or the PC master race.

Sora AI has scared Tyler Perry away from an $800m investment. Perry thinks the future is all AI, all the time, but we think there's a possible dark future coming.

Video games help your brain. Seriously. Scientists say so, so it must be true.

The Future of games consoles

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/where-is-the-console-hardware-market-headed-opinion

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/video-game-consoles-are-doomed-right-opinion

Tyler Perry Interview

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/tyler-perry-ai-alarm-1235833276/

Gaming improves performances

- https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-playing-video-games-attention-memory.html

Full Show Notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QeK-6kC7L5QzDZI637Zt-ErcYH0v22zeitv272MpM4I/edit?usp=sharing

OpenAI's Sora, Game Key Resellers and Delicious Meaty Rice

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 23:00:24 +1000

OpenAI's Sora has gotten Hollywood in a tizzy about robots taking their jobs. Again. Hopefully the robots don't come for us next.

You might be tempted to buy games cheaply on a key reseller, but game devs would really rather you pirate their games instead. We'll tell you why.

Scientists have grown lab grown meat on a substrate of rice. Professor thinks this will make great burritos. DJ isn't so convinced.

Open A.I Video creation

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/openai-introduces-ai-video-tools-encroaches-hollywood-1235826527/

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpdyAWLDas

A Game Dev Investigates Game Key Resellers

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLJkg_B3gyY

Meaty Rice

- https://www.bbc.com/news/health-68293149

- https://www.cell.com/matter/fulltext/S2590-2385(24)00016-X

Rest of the show notes will be on : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sVB0dc46JVvTVHVCxS6D62VYsEzJR7ICfDLemAiRjRs/edit?usp=sharing

Fighting Anticheat, Rise of the AntiFans and the reason you shouldn't pick your nose

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 23:00:22 +1000

With Vanguard Anticheat coming to a League of Legends near you, it's worth knowing more about how it works and why it isn't the saviour you might think it is. We discuss the history of cheating, and why Anticheat never seems to work properly.

GRRM has some things to say about toxicity and the AntiFan. The AntiFan is a creature of hatred, dedicated to tearing down creators. But why?

You probably have some bad habits that you won't admit to. But if you pick your nose you might want to think twice, because nose picking might be linked to Alzheimers

Riot Games’ Vanguard more like VanDon’t

- https://www.esportsheaven.com/features/the-cracks-in-riot-vanguards-shield-anti-cheat-and-the-secret-battle-with-hackers/

George R Martin : “Toxicity Is Growing”

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2024/02/05/game-of-thrones-creator-george-r-r-martin-says-toxicity-is-growing-in-fandom-culture-laments-how-social-media-is-ruled-by-anti-fans-who-delight-in-dancing-on-the-graves-of-anyone-whose/

Nose picking is linked to Alzheimer’s

- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/can-your-nosepicking-habit-lead-to-alzheimers-what-science-says/articleshow/107468529.cms?from=mdr

Rest of the show notes can be found here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-SoUDB2TNd2xi-1vkDsOrN6K2Wgs8AEG-UU7BdRxnJw/edit?usp=sharing

Apple's Malicious Compliance, Brains In Jars and Nolan's Big Fat Enormous Movies

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 23:00:34 +1000

The EU has made some demands of Apple, and Apple has complied in the barest possible manner. They're still screwing devs over, and we're not happy about it.

Brains in jars have been a staple of sci-fi for decades. They're a step closer with the latest research into keeping brains functioning without a body. We're a bit worried about the implications, though.

Christopher Nolan likes BIG movies, but he feels like he can't go back to making small ones. We discuss the impacts this could have on the industry.

Apple’s malicious compliance

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/apple-to-allow-alternative-app-stores-in-europe

Don’t be so pig brained

- https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/pig-brain-kept-alive-for-five-hours-separated-from-the-body

- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-39344-7#Sec1

Christopher Nolan loves BIG MOVIES

- https://time.com/6589108/christopher-nolan-oppenheimer-oscars-interview/

- https://variety.com/2024/film/news/christopher-nolan-wont-direct-small-movies-loves-past-lives-1235892298/

Show notes : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x5SDq6qitfPi8zR6Ek14_DMg-EuxwcrOHkafgYd460o/edit?usp=sharing

Suing to Save Your Games, Robot Avatars and The Oscars Nominations

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:57:37 +1000

This week, a moderately famous Youtuber made waves with a plan to sue game developers for shutting down games. Ross Scott wants to fight the You Will Own Nothing future and he's starting with The Crew. He's taking a big step to securing consumer rights and we can't wait to see how it goes.

Soon, even factory workers will be able to work from home using virtual reality and robots. iCub has developed a remote control robot that lets anyone take control of a small humanoid and explore the world. Domo arigato, Mr Roboto.

The Oscar nominations are back, and there's almost as much drama as a Will Smith slap.

The Lawsuit Fighting for the Future of Games

- YouTuber plans lawsuit against Ubisoft for 'The Crew' server closure

- Dead Game News: The Crew

iCuB3 the next frontier

- iCub3 avatar system: Enabling remote fully immersive embodiment of humanoid robots

Oscar Nominations 2024 highlights and snubs

- Oscar Nominations 2024: 'Oppenheimer' Dominates With 13 Nods, 'Poor Things' Follows With 11

- The most shocking snubs and surprises of the 2024 Oscar nominations

Show Notes Link - https://docs.google.com/document/d/12_mDGOLBrk08vqak3li11Ol2UrvpguKd46fP8Jkytts/edit?usp=sharing

You Won't Own Ubisoft Games, AI Coming For Your Jobs And The ProVenom Snakebite Treatment

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:00:42 +1000

Ubisoft don't want you to feel comfortable owning games. We think we speak for all of us when we say we're already comfortable not owning Ubisoft games.

AI are coming for the translator's jobs. Is the human touch compatible with artistic integrity?

Scientists are always working on the next big thing, but sometimes it backfires. This time, the antivenom is a provenom.

Professor

AI replaces ‘woke’ TV translators who inserted liberal language into Japanese art, sparking online debate | Fox Business

A promising snakebite treatment seemed ready for prime time. Then, it backfired | Science

Show Notes in Google Doc : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRjdMxhDGEe6BLtSTWyZ8guW3QajjD0_WBaasOTd92Q/edit?usp=sharing

WE ARE BACKKKKKK!!!!!!!

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 23:00:01 +1000

The Nerds are back! This week on Nerds Amalgamated we're joined by our friend BPM to discuss the SAG-AFTRA AI deal, the Golden Globes and using magic as medicine.

DJ – Golden Globes 2024 Recap

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-08/golden-globes-2024-winners-list/103291446

Professor – SAG-AFTRA AI Backflip

- https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/sag-aftra-ai-voiceover-studio-video-games-1235866313/

- https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-and-replica-studios-introduce-groundbreaking-ai-voice-agreement-ces

NA – Magic is now a science

- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953623008985?via%3Dihub

Show Notes in Google Doc

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qL8GKRbPpHjzlxsCdyqdasN0tkggqqrdNJK7dJa-RTA/edit?usp=sharing

2021 Year Review

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 08:45:16 +1000

It’s 2022. And since we’ve decided to use a recent, arbitrary date as the marker of the completion of a solar revolution, which is a specific period of time, it’s time to review everything that happened in the last 3.154e+7 seconds. We’ll cover the best and worst games, movies and science news from the last year. It wasn’t all bad, promise.

2021 in Gaming

Psychonauts 2

Wildermyth

Unpacking

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy

2021 in Media

Dune

Squid Game

Spiderman No Way Home

The Synder Cut

Daniel Craig final Bond movie : No Time To Die

Cowboy Bebop Live Action

2021 in Science

James Webb Telescope Launch

Ingenuity helicopter launch in Mars

Perseverance Rover deployed on Mars

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

NFT

Shout Outs

31st December 2021 – Betty White’s passed away at 99

Betty White, TV's perennial Golden Girl, has died. "Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas told in a statement on Friday.

31st December 2021 – 10th anniversary of NASA succeeding in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.

The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) was an American lunar science mission in NASA's Discovery Program which used high-quality gravitational field mapping of the Moon to determine its interior structure.

Wackiest movie

31st December 1931 – Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde premiered theatrically

On this day in 1931, the good people of New York City (U.S.) were treated to a limited theatrical premiere of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. Here's the plot summary: "Dr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde."

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Dr Who's "Future", Fruity Cancer Trackers & Qualcomm's Quality Mobile Gaming

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 07:11:51 +1000

The 13th Doctor has been incredibly controversial. Jodie Whittaker is worried that she's ruined the idea of a female Doctor. Whose fault is it really though? Is the concept really ruined forever?

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but the doctor teams up with rotten oranges to diagnose early stage cancer.

A New Challenger Joins The Mobile Gaming Battle. Qualcomm has paired with Razor to develop a new handheld gaming dev kit. It'll run on Android and they claim it'll run anything.

The 13th Doctor - A Legacy Of Failure?

- https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/dec/04/jodie-whittaker-on-saying-goodbye-to-doctor-who-i-thought-what-if-ive-ruined-this-for-actresses

Newest cancer tracker tool : Rancid Oranges

- https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/12/06/spoiled-oranges-shine-light-on-malignant-cells.html

Qualcomm Mobile Gaming Dev Kit

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-12-02-qualcomm-announces-handheld-dev-kit-powered-by-its-first-gaming-chip

Shout Outs

4th December 2021 – Magnus Carlsen wins longest game in World Chess Championship history - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-04/magnus-carlsen-wins-longest-game-world-chess-history/100674464

7th December 2021 – 20th anniversary of Ocean’s 11 - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240772/

8th December 2021 – 15th anniversary of the Wii being released in Europe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii#Launch

Wacky movie

7th December 1979 – Star Trek: The Motion Picture premiered theatrically - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079945/

That moment so, so many Trekkies, Trekkers, and general Trek enthusiasts had waited for -- had pined and prayed for -- finally arrived on this day in 1979 (well, at least for the people of Los Angeles) when Paramount Pictures proudly presented Star Trek: The Motion Picture for its theatrical premiere.

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Planetary Defences, Phil Spencer Revelations & Mass Defect

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 23:00:39 +1000

NASA's DART mission has lifted off to protect humanity from rogue asteroids. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test will attempt to change the orbit of threatening asteroids by... hitting them with a rock. Hopefully that'll be enough to save Earth from future threats.

Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, wants console developers to preserve old games and avoid NFTs. Legal emulation will help bring classic games to a new audience, while Phil thinks NFTs will be exploitative. Professor agrees. HEAVILY. Is Phil once again the saviour of the console industry?

Amazon plans to expand their sci-fi stable with a Mass Effect show. Professor and DJ think this is an awful idea. Mass Effect, the story all about making your own decisions, probably won't translate well into a fixed story television show.

Go Go Planetary Defence System

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-24/nasa-dart-mission-lift-off-space-x/100647884

Phil Spencer : Hero or Villian?

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-18-phil-spencer-calls-for-industry-to-work-on-legal-emulation

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-17-phil-spencer-says-nft-games-feel-more-exploitive-than-about-entertainment

Mass Defect the TV Show

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/11/24/amazon-reportedly-nearing-deal-to-produce-mass-effect-tv-series/

Wacky movie

25th November 1977 – Logan’s Run Sprinted Into Spanish Theatres

- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074812/

- https://ascmag.com/articles/logans-run-and-how-it-was-filmed

On this day in 1977 in Spain, audiences were treated to one of the best Dystopian thrillers from the 1970's when Logan's Run enjoyed its debut. Here's the plot summary: "A police officer in the future uncovers the deadly secret behind a society that worships youth."

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

A Better Animal Kidney, Facebook Meta & No More Jokes

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:59:06 +1000

Animal kidneys. Some people like them in pies, but pig kidneys go just as well as replacements for human kidneys. A new GMO pig can provide kidneys that are completely compatible with the human immune system. This could have a big impact on transplant waiting lists, and is also a new step in transhumanism. Half Man, Half Pig, He's Pig Man.

Facebook are rebranding their parent company as a Metaverse company, and this is a bad thing. Professor really doesn't think Facebook have our best interests in mind and will try to control the Metaverse when it should be federated and free. Facebook are going to be worse than IOI in Ready Player One.

David Zucker, who directed Airplane!, thinks the movie could only be made without jokes. Which is kinda funny considering Airplane is just a script from another movie with jokes stuffed in. Is Zucker right, or is he just being a boomer? I think the answer is clear.

Pigney

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-20/us-surgeons-tests-pig-kidney-transplant-in-human-patient/100555282

The Zuckerverse

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-10-20-facebook-reportedly-rebranding-around-metaverse

Airplane...now without jokes

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/10/19/director-david-zucker-says-airplane-could-only-be-made-today-without-the-jokes/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

Metal Rain, Right To Repair Xboxes and Diagnosing Comics

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:30:10 +1000

You'll want to pack your umbrella for a trip to TOI-3362b, it rains molten aluminium there. We discuss alien weather, and the reason why we're very unlikely to ever take a holiday there. Surprisingly, the molten aluminium isn't the biggest barrier to visiting TOI-3362b.

Microsoft have promised to do better with Right to Repair for Microsoft hardware after pressure from shareholder group As You Sow. They've made a commitment to provide training and replacement parts, along with easier to repair hardware. PAY ATTENTION APPLE. We know they won't, the iPhone 13 is deliberately crippled if you attempt to repair it yourself using genuine hardware.

Yet another Marvel writer has criticised the current state of the comics industry. Somewhere beneath the outrage, there are some really good points for why comics aren't as good as they could be.

The Metal Planet

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-15/new-planet-toi3362b-extreme-seasons-rare-orbit/100539088

Microsoft Helps Right To Repair

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-10-07-microsoft-expands-right-to-repair-options

Why Are Marvel & DC Comics Bad

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/10/14/chuck-dixon-diagnoses-why-dc-and-marvel-comic-books-suck/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

A Leaky Twitch, NFT Kombat & To The Moon

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:55:35 +1000

Twitch got hacked. It's bad. Someone's learning a very important cybersecurity lesson right now. We now know a lot more about how they work on the inside, including payouts for top streamers and private chat messages. Let's hope nobody does anything malicious with this.

NFTs might be coming to gaming to help keep track of player owned items and let characters move between games. Yep, we've combined NFTs and the multiverse. There's still lots of implementation details to flesh out, but based on what we know, Professor still thinks it's a bad idea. Prepare for in depth technical explanations of how crypto and NFTs work.

This week brings us two major pieces of news about moons. First, that our own moon is significantly younger than we thought. Second, the first clear images of exoplanet moon formation have come in and they're looking pretty damn cool.

The Twitch Papers

- https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2021/10/06/updates-on-the-twitch-security-incident/?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/

- https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-streamers-earnings-exposed-now-its-a-meme/

NFTs, gaming and the Multiverse. Buzzword Bingo!

- https://coingeek.com/the-possibilities-are-endless-as-nfts-bridge-gap-between-comics-gaming-and-character-universes/

Moon News

- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moon-rocks-china-lunar-lander-sample-lava-volcano

- https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2111/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Robot Kidneys, Mario Movie & Marvel Lawsuits

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 14:35:25 +1000

What is the measure of a man? Is it the number of totally awesome robot body parts he has? We hope so. Transhumanism has reached another stride with a biomechanical replacement for kidneys that could eliminate the need for dialysis and transplants. What else can we replace? How long until we can be uploaded into the internet and send Von Neumann probes out to colonise the galaxy?

We're getting a new Mario movie, and the cast is absolutely ridiculous. The big question is: Does Chris Pratt do a bad Italian accent?

Marvel are getting sued again. The rights to Spider-man and Doctor Strange might go back to Steve Ditko's family, and Marvel are Not Happy. On the plus side, some of their other cases wrapped up so their lawyers should have some free time now.

Biokidney : The Next Level

- https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu/news/2021/09/kidney-project-successfully-tests-prototype-bioartificial-kidney

A New Mario Movie

- https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2021/09/23/super-mario-bros-movie-cast-chris-pratt-jack-black-anya-taylor-joy-lead-star-studded-cast/?sh=4ef2c06b69f2

Marvel Lawsuits Aplenty

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/marvel-suing-avengers-copyright-termination-1235020110/

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/09/24/steve-ditko-estate-files-to-terminate-marvel-copyrights-over-spider-man-and-doctor-strange/

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/09/25/marvel-strikes-back-counter-sues-to-keep-rights-to-multiple-characters-including-avengers-and-spider-man/

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/scarlett-johansson-disney-settle-black-widow-lawsuit-1235022598/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Crazy Dr Who News, PC Affordability & New Solar Cells

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 01:00:15 +1000

Rusty is coming back to Doctor Who. No, not that one. It's Russell T Davies, back to regenerate the greatest show on TV with his old production team. It remains to be seen whether he can recapture the magic, but the BBC must be desperate.

Gaming PCs are incredibly rare, and they're likely to get even rarer. This means people will pay a massive premium, and that entry level parts don't really exist anymore. This makes us sad. Everyone should have the opportunity to build a PC and learn about electronics. Maybe in the post apocalyptic future there will be enough supply to meet demand.

An Aussie team has created a significantly cheaper and easier to make solar panel that outperforms traditional panels. The sunniest place on Earth could really use some of those. They still need to scale up, but it's great to see Aussie scientists making huge strides.

Doctor Who: A New Hope?

- https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1441405833997217798

Affordable PCs are now a pipe dream

- https://www.pcgamer.com/rip-cheap-graphics-cards/

Tech Start Up makes new Solar Cell

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-21/australian-start-up-creates-world-s-most-efficient-solar-cell/100476152

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

The Epic Gaming Saga, Bloody Space Concrete & Zombified Marvel Movies

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 23:00:07 +1000

A judgment has been handed down in the Apple Vs Epic lawsuit. Now Apple has to allow third party payment systems. This could be the foot in the door to breaking Apple's monopolistic tactics.

Concrete made from Astronaut blood is a potential solution to building on Mars. Let's hope it never gets to the point of keeping people locked up and farming them for building materials.

Denis Villeneuve has joined the battle against Marvel movies turning everybody into zombies. A bit dramatic, but he's really not a fan. And his Dune movie is getting great reviews, so maybe he knows a thing or two.

The Apple App Store Lawsuit : The Epic Conclusion & Star Grift Drama

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-17-the-epic-vs-apple-judgement-leaves-much-undecided-opinion

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-09-09-cloud-imperium-receives-asa-warning-over-marketing-concept-ships-in-star-citizen

From the makers of Soylent Green comes Bloodcrete.

- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210913135713.htm?fbclid=IwAR1Z3_WegQ3pQPBq7EZuZCP3KSTTy9l4H5mDsZCAR5kwcrXIKluLTbPuQBM

Another Director Slams Marvel Movies

- https://thedirect.com/article/marvel-denis-villeneuve-movies-zombies

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

Video Game Surveillance, China's 'Sissy Men' Ban & Space News

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:30:34 +1000

Big Brother is finding ways into your home through your games. You'd be surprised just how much they can tell about you from the way you play.

China has decided to take effeminate men off TV, along with a whole bunch of new criteria. This echoes the Tik Tok ban on ugly and fat people. China, you have some issues with representation. Maybe take a look at that.

An asteroid is coming close to Earth. Prepare now, just in case. South Australians are also complaining about rocket launches. Finally, Australians can go somewhere that isn't overseas to see rockets, which is awesome.

Surveillance in Video Games

- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3881279

China’s New Law : Sissy Man Ban

- https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/09/02/china-bans-sissy-men-tv-encourages-more-masculinity/5694333001/

Space News

- https://comicbook.com/irl/news/asteroid-close-encounter-2021-ny1-close-call-nasa-september/

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-07/whalers-way-first-commercial-rocket-lift-off/100440154

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

Fake Streaming Movies, Junk Food = Bad, M̶u̶l̶t̶i̶ MetaVerse

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:46 +1000

Audio glitches again. They're less obvious on speakers. Hopefully we've actually fixed it this time.

The director of Wonder Woman 1984 has joined the crusade to stop movies being released on streaming. She thinks they look fake. It’s a good cause, but we’re not sure the world is ready for this.

Junk food lowers your life expectancy. Fruit is good for you. A new study has put numbers to just how good and bad some foods are for you.

It’s time to step into the Multiverse. Actually, not so fast, it’s not a thing yet. But it will be soon, and people are really into it. And hopefully this time it won’t involve insane developers killing player’s meat bodies, or using it to make society even more monetised.

Streaming Movies Are Fake

- https://comicbook.com/dc/news/wonder-woman-director-patty-jenkins-says-streaming-service-movie-look-fake/

- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/newsletter/2021-08-31/how-wonder-woman-1984-director-patty-jenkins-really-feels-about-streaming-movies-the-wide-shot

Fact : Junk Food Lowers Your Life Expectancy

- https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/one-hot-dog-knocks-36-minutes-off-your-life-study-claims/

Screw The Multiverse..There Is The Metaverse

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-08-20-what-is-the-metaverse-and-why-is-it-worth-so-much-money

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Videogames ≠ Violence, Nirvana Baby & Roblox Is In Trouble With Everyone

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 08:00:11 +1000

The audio quality can be a little wonky this week. We've identified the issue and resolved it. Sorry about that.

We’ve heard for years that gamers are violent. But what if gamers were more peaceful in game than the people around them in real life? A really interesting new study has identified that gamers behave differently in EVE Online depending on the type of community they live in.

The Nirvana Nevermind baby isn’t happy about his nudes being plastered all over record stores and the internet. Now he’s suing. We’re not legal beagles, but we’ve got opinions.

Roblox is bad. It isn’t the simple gameplay, the child targeted community, or the memes. Actually, it’s bad because it’s one of the worst deals for game devs out there. Roblox seem intent to make it hard to make money from developing on their platform. That’s a really nice way to treat the people who made your game popular. People are also trying to recreate mass killings in a game for children. It’s a mess.

The Link Between Videogames And Violence Is Not What You Think

- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0240196#sec012

Smells Like A Lawsuit

- https://deadline.com/2021/08/baby-nirvana-nevermind-album-cover-sues-band-exploitation-1234821540/

Roblox Drama

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-08-20-roblox-business-model-criticized-as-exploiting-children

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-06-03-parent-watchdog-group-warning-about-roblox

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Green Game Devs, Phone Hacking & Direct To Streaming

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 23:00:58 +1000

The UN has asked game developers to be more green. It would make a nice change from every brown military shooter of the early 2010s. Oh, wait. They want us to use less energy. The UKIE has written a Green paper on methods for developers to reduce their carbon footprint.

SMS is an awful, insecure method for 2FA, but we still use it because anything better is too hard. Maybe this latest string of hacks will help us move on.

Movies are still going straight to streaming even as vaccination rates increase. This used to be a sign of a bad movie. Now we’ll have to rely on Rotten Tomatoes, or, god forbid, talk to people about movies.

Game Development for Green Thumbs

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-08-17-games-london-to-discuss-the-environment-at-best-places-to-work-awards-uk

- https://whitepapers.gamesindustry.biz/green

Phone hacking taken to a new level

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-17/hackers-using-mirroring-apps-to-see-your-texts/100381366

Streaming Services Vs Cinemas : Who will win

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sonys-hotel-transylvania-amazon-1234998312/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

Apple Protects Children, Australian Government Helping The Australian Games Industry & Jason Mamoa On Superhero Movies

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:18:52 +1000

We've got a very important issue to talk about this week. Apple wants to look at your private pictures. They've made such a big deal about privacy for years, so what's changed and why can't we trust them anymore? What have you done Tim Apple?

The Australian government really hasn't liked supporting the games industry, despite years of lobbying and studies into how great the industry is for the economy. Someone's finally got through to them and we'll be getting changes to tax and visas to help encourage AAA development.

Jason Mamoa thinks superheroes are like Greek mythology. Turns out the only reason he's joining the Scorsese comic genre battle is to remind everyone he wants to talk about climate change in his movies. Anyway, we all know his best role will be Duncan Idaho in Dune. It better not get delayed again

Apple’s controversial new child protection features

- https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/10/22613225/apple-csam-scanning-messages-child-safety-features-privacy-controversy-explained

- https://www.ask-solutions.org/blog/2021/08-11-01?fbclid=IwAR1M731S3OrleR84O6134H-ZWXb5EtBoTY9tyXlIs0TiUXBVFwgHpP8Qmvc

- https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-apples-child-protection-features-spark-concern-within-its-own-ranks-2021-08-12/

Australian Games Industry gets a Government Injection

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-08-10-how-australia-is-creating-a-sustainable-video-game-development-ecosystem?

Jason Mamoa’s take on superhero movies

- https://boundingintocomics.com/2021/08/09/aquaman-star-jason-momoa-defends-superhero-movies-as-an-art-form-in-response-martin-scorseses-genre-criticisms/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

The Steam Deck, Amazon's Lord Of The Rings & Minecraft healing Kids

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 23:00:00 +1000

The Steam Deck is not coming to Australia yet. WHY, GABEN, WHY? WHY HATH YOU FORSAKEN US? Professor was pretty annoyed that the Index had never released here, but realised researching for this episode that it's finally here. So at least that means maybe the Deck will get here eventually. It has very exciting hardware and has Professor gushing over Valve's push to save us from Microsoft and let us game on Linux.

Amazon's Lord of the Rings series has a release date. Hopefully Jeff Bezos won't make us regret letting him come back from space. The series covers events of the second age. We still have a lot to learn, but so far all the pieces look great.

There's a bit of a stereotype of autistic kids liking Minecraft. Turns out it can be used to help children learn social skills. Obviously it can't entirely replace real world experience, but the next generation of helping autistic children learn social skills at a more relaxed pace is exciting to see

Steam Deck

- https://www.techradar.com/au/news/steam-deck

Amazon’s Lord Of The Rings

- https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/lord-of-the-rings-amazon-series-premiere-date-1235032768/

Minecraft helping kids with autism

- https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030713-100-how-is-helping-children-with-autism-make-new-friends/?fbclid=IwAR16Oec1CQchRkqxJd2Lk9U21Bvj9SbPzL0mIjW6xTZHPErXQGXaXZwkaQM

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

Follow us on

Facebook

- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/

- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrS

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

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Californian Gaming PCs, Where Sleeping Dogs Lie & Live Action Pokemon

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 23:00:00 +1000

We're back, tell your friends. Let us know what you think of our new format.

California isn't actually banning gaming PCs, despite what you might have heard. Yet again clickbait channels are using lies to drive clicks, which isn't really a surprise. But California IS requiring minimum power consumption for devices in idle state. So get back to gaming and have fun.

Dogs are better than children at knowing when someone is lying. Is this an evolutionary response to owners with laser pointers and hidden treats?

A live action Pokemon series is being produced by Netflix and Joe Henderson. We don't know much about it yet, but hopefully it's more Detective Pikachu and less live action Ghost in the Shell.

California vs Gaming PCs

- https://www.pcworld.com/article/3627491/why-california-isnt-banning-gaming-pcs-yet.html

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxs5YxY2xXI

Liar, Liar, Dogs on Fire

- https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284611-dogs-will-ignore-you-if-they-know-you-are-lying-unlike-young-children/

A Live Action Pokemon series in the works

- https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/pokemon-netflix-series-live-action-joe-henderson-1235026390/

Other topics discussed

The Olympic opening ceremony was full of video game music

- https://www.polygon.com/22590146/olympics-2020-games-athletes-parade-of-nations-video-game-music-dragon-quest-kingdom-hearts

Manga featured in opening ceremony for Tokyo Olympics

- https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/manga-featured-in-opening-ceremony-for-tokyo-olympics/2021/07/23/0c893c08-ebac-11eb-a2ba-3be31d349258_story.html

Dune Official Trailer

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g18jFHCLXk

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over Black Widow streaming release

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-30/scarlett-johansson-sues-disney-black-widow-streaming/100335880

Emma Stone Reportedly Considering Suing Disney Over Cruella Release

- https://screenrant.com/cruella-movie-emma-stone-disney-lawsuit-rumors-updates/

JayzTwoCents - Will California Ban Gaming Monitors? Explaining the New Monitor Law

Powerpuff Girls The Diablo Cut, XBOX Series vs DRM & Crazy Ants vs Red Crabs

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 13:30:40 +1000

Despite the universe conspiring to prevent us releasing this week, we've finally got this episode done. Things will be a bit hectic for a few weeks while we sort out moving, but we'll be back to our usual schedule soon.

The Powerpuff Girls, created from sugar, spice and everything nice, were nearly rebooted into a weird dark alternative universe where the Powerpuff girls gain some additional bitterness and relationship issues. It's pretty bad, and the leaked script has gotten the entire concept dumped for a rewrite.

The Xbox Series (Dumb name) has joined the PS4 as another example of restrictive DRM that will inevitably lead to more ewaste and cultural loss. Yep. Professor's mad again. Console developers lock games to their specific hardware then make sure that you can only play it as long as they'll let you.

Invasive crazy ants are killing all the famous Christmas Island crabs. Scientists are fighting back with micro wasps. Kinda the opposite of what we all thought science would do in 50s B movies.

This week DJ watched the new DOTA anime (apparently it's really good) and Professor watched Edge of Tomorrow (also really good).

Live Action Powerpuff Girls...a Colossal Diaster

- https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/powerpuff-girls-pilot-reworked-the-100-prequel-1234981201/

DRM vs Xbox Series

- https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/xbox-one-series-x-drm-problem/

Crazy Ants vs Red Crabs

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-25/scientists-work-to-curb-crazy-ants-on-christmas-island/100161132

Nerdful things

- Dota: Dragon's Blood - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota:_Dragon%27s_Blood

Rating: :4/5

Professor

- Edge of Tomorrow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_of_Tomorro

Rating: 4/5

Other topics discussed

Diablo Cody (American writer and producer. She gained recognition for her candid blog and subsequent memoir, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper (2005). Cody received critical acclaim for her screenwriting debut film, Juno (2007), winning the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay, and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original...

Disco Elysium, Immortal Ants & Pop Culture Wrap

Mon, 24 May 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Disco Elysium is the latest victim of Australia’s Classification Board, those evil boomers who want to stop you having fun. Ok, I’m only exaggerating a little. It took us this long to get R18 games, why do they keep getting banned? Why does the ACB treat games differently to movies? There’s a long history of video game censorship in Australia, and we spent way longer than planned talking about it.

Some ants live significantly longer than others, being waited on hand and foot by the workers. But they aren’t the queen, they’re just workers infected with tapeworms. This is the most interesting example of parasitism I think I’ve ever seen, and I’m really hoping we work out how to do it to people soon.

DJ couldn’t pick just one thing to talk about in pop culture, so we got the merger of Warner Media and Discovery, and Japan’s pick for the next live action Hollywood anime movie. They’ve got some very interesting views on the reason Hollywood should adapt their pick, and it might even be an anime you’ve never heard of.

Disco Elysium Unbanned

- https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/05/disco-elysium-has-been-unbanned-in-australia-gets-r18-rating/

The Curious Case of the Immortal Ants

- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-never-aging-ants-with-a-terrible-secret/ar-BB1gSGNu

Pop Culture Wrap Around

- Future of DC comics - https://bleedingcool.com/comics/what-does-warnermedia-discovery-merger-wmd-mean-for-dc-comics/

- Japan says no to live action anime movies by Hollywood - https://soranews24.com/2021/05/15/japanese-fans-make-landslide-pick-for-next-anime-they-want-a-hollywood-live-action-adaptation-of/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-03/video-games-you-play-are-using-sneaky-tactics-four-corners/100098826?fbclid=IwAR2_YMW3BvLIGciY4ralT-upT8uUiHt4iPJqi1oSOc9lvd5nTp18cRo2Kzw

ABC 4 Corners on Gaming, Petroleum Wars & First Look at New He-Man

Wed, 19 May 2021 04:58:38 +1000

ABC's Four Corners has done a report on predatory microtransactions. It's nice to see a layman's description to help explain to non gamers why this matters so much. We discuss a solution. Maybe. Let us know if you can see any issues.

The Colonial Pipeline has been hacked, resulting in fuel shortages across the South Eastern United States. Is this the start of a new generation of cyber crime? Are people really dumb when it comes to shortages? Probably and yes. SECURE YOUR BACKUPS PEOPLE.

The new He-Man reboot character art has been revealed. DJ thinks it's pretty good, but thinks Teela looks like Rhonda Rousey.

This week Professor developed an unhealthy fear of light in Into the Night and DJ was disappointed by family drama in Jupiter's Legacy.

4 Corners Report On Gaming

Cyberhack 2021: Petroleum Wars

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-10/cyber-attack-fuel-pipeline-united-states-darkside-colonial-pipe/100127554

The First Look At The New He-Man Series...Nah She’ll Be Right

- https://ew.com/tv/masters-of-the-universe-revelation-photos-premiere-kevin-smith/

Nerdful things

- Jupiters Legacy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter%27s_Legacy_(TV_series)

Rating: 3.5/5

Professor

- Into The Night - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Night_(TV_series)

Rating: 4.9/5

Other topics discussed

AT&T and Discovery to create new streaming giant

- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57139433

AT&T Is Preparing to Merge Media Assets With Discovery

- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-16/at-t-is-said-in-talks-to-combine-content-assets-with-discovery-kor6r2uj?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_content=business&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

NBA 2K20’s loot boxes aren’t gambling? You wouldn’t know from this trailer

- https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/28/20837104/nba-2k20-myteam-loot-boxes-ball-drop-triple-threat-slot-machines-trailer-pc-xbox-one-ps4-switch

AngryJoeShow - NBA2k20 is a Gambling Casino! - Angry...

Epic VS Apple, Cancer Tracking A.I. & Marvel Is Sued

Mon, 10 May 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Epic and Apple's case is going through the courts, and we're on the sidelines gobbling up any juicy news on the industry. Xbox hardware has never been profitable. Only 7 percent of Fortnite income is from iOS. And the Epic Games Store is a long way from being profitable. However the case turns out, we'll have a much better picture of the industry.

AI is a fancy buzzword, but sometimes there's a project that uses it really well. In this case, an AI can diagnose prostate cancer long before the traditional testing would have revealed the condition. And since cancer is better treated sooner than later, it could have a huge impact on mortality.

The team behind Radix think Marvel's Iron Man and Ant Man movie costumes are stolen from their comic. There's definitely some similar parts, but the courts will have to decide if Marvel really are another name for Dodgy Bros. Comics.

This week DJ ran out of room in Final Space and Professor grappled with the ethics of killing to save lives in Stowaway.

Epic Games Store vs Apple : The Court Case

- https://twitter.com/thedextriarchy/status/1389980935479824384?s=20

- https://twitter.com/simoncarless/status/1389297530341519362

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-05-04-epic-expects-epic-games-store-to-be-profitable-by-2024

- https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/28/22407939/fortnite-biggest-platform-revenue-playstation-not-ios-iphone

- https://twitter.com/IdleSloth84/status/1390779050260631555

Cancer Tracking A.I.

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-04/artificial-intelligence-changes-prostate-cancer-detection-/100112458

Marvel Is Getting Sued Over Body Armour

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/comic-book-artists-sue-marvel-791224/

Nerdful things

- Final Space S3 E8 - https://final-space.fandom.com/wiki/Forgiveness

Rating: 3.5/5

Professor

- Stowaway – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stowaway_(2021_film)

Rating: 3/5

Other topics discussed

Elon Musk says he is ‘first person with Asperger’s’ to host Saturday Night Live

- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/may/09/elon-musk-says-he-is-first-person-with-aspergers-to-host-saturday-night-live

Dogecoin sinks as Elon Musk calls it ‘a hustle’ on SNL

2021 Oscars & Razzies, 505 Drama & A Black Hole Named Unicorn

Tue, 04 May 2021 12:36:41 +1000

Another year, another Oscars ceremony. We're more interested in the Razzies though. This year's worst performances include politicians and the Oscars themselves.

505 Games, the publisher behind Control are pulling some dodgy deals with providing the DLC for Control. It's not clear why they're doing this or what they plan to do, but it's a really big problem for people who got Control in Humble Choice.

It's a teeny tiny black hole called The Unicorn, and I'm blaming it for my weight gain. It's only three times the mass of the sun which makes it adorably cute. It's also the smallest black hole ever discovered.

This week DJ read part 2 of the Keanu Reeves self insert fan fic BRZRKR and Professor finally caught up on Season 5 of Black Mirror.

Razzies and Oscars highlights and the disastrous aftermath

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-26/oscars-worst-moments-long-serious-dull-chadwick-boseman-snub/100095580

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-25/2020-razzies-awards-rudy-guiliani-sia-music-absolute-proof/100093720

- https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/oscar-ratings-lowest-ever-1234960615/

Drama at 505

- https://www.reddit.com/r/games/comments/mxernz/_/

The Unicorn Black Hole

- https://www.space.com/tiny-black-hole-unicorn-closest-to-earth

Nerdful things

- BRZRKR #2 - https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/4288481/brzrkr-2

Rating: 4.5/5

Professor

- Black Mirror Season 5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Mirror#Series_5

Rating: 3/5

Other topics discussed

Mike Lindell (also known as the My Pillow Guy, is an American businessman and the founder and CEO of My Pillow, Inc.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell

One America News Network (also known as One America News (OAN), is a far-right, pro-Donald Trump cable channel founded by Robert Herring Sr. and owned by Herring Networks, Inc., that launched on July 4, 2013.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_America_News_Network

20 Incredibly...

NASA Ingenuity, Single Use Gaming & Comic Book NFTs

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 15:10:12 +1000

We blame our recording bot for our late release. The bot has been taken out and shot.

Ingenuity has finally lifted off and begun proving that heavier than air flight is possible on Mars. Also Perseverance is creating oxygen. Very soon, the Martian Colonies will be open for business!

Sony don't want you being able to play games you've bought, or using the PlayStation you paid for once they say enough is enough. This is a Very Bad Thing and Professor is very upset. This flies in the face of everything we should be working towards as a society in terms of reducing our waste and preserving our culture.

Marvel and DC are cracking down on former illustrators who have taken to selling original art based on characters they drew as NFT. Big Comics have decided that even though they could sell their art at conventions. So what's the difference? Why do Marvel and DC care?

This week DJ read the mediocre RWBY/Justice League crossover and Professor Urbexed his way through crumbling powerplants in Infra.

The Flight Of The Ingenuity

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-04-19/nasa-ingenuity-helicopter-makes-historic-first-flight-on-mars/100056708

Single Use Gaming

- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOVj9cZJr7OKHqGmp7RAM3nuHZIVYgJ3/view

Old Man Makes Millions Selling Comic Book NFTs

- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-04-14/nfts-intellectual-property-marvel-dc-comics-who-gets-to-make-millions%20%20

Nerdful things

- RWBY/Justice League - https://www.comixology.com/RWBY-Justice-League-2021-1/digital-comic/924702

Rating: 3.5/5

Professor

- INFRA - https://store.steampowered.com/app/251110/INFRA/

Rating: 3/5

Other topics discussed

Full Video of Mars Helicopter Ingenuity First Flight Showing Ascending & Landing in HD

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfHfQamhimE

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter completed 2nd flight to 5 meters altitude

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9HHH_H5KoU

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Successfully Completes First Flight

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia6S1jZmwWc

Solar Flare (a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun, usually observed near its surface and in close proximity to a sunspot group.)

Sony Shutdown, Agromining & #MaketheBatfleckMovie

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Why does the Professor's sign off always cut out? Why does DJ always repeat himself? Why does Sony hate retro gamers? All these questions may never be answered. Sony plan to kill the digital storefront for older PlayStation consoles. Combined with C-Bomb, that means these consoles might become completely useless within six months. Gamers and Developers are very upset.

Sci-Fi often predicts future tech. This time Professor is sure he's heard this one a lot, but can't remember where. Researchers have discovered plants that create a high concentration of metals in their sap. Agromining might just be a way to mine in more ecologically friendly ways, but it isn't without downsides.

Now DC has given in to the hashtags, new hashtags have joined the battle. Now people want to #MaketheBatfleckMovie. Ben Affleck has been Batman for years now, but hasn't had his own solo movie. Meanwhile, the Star Wars character nobody wanted to see has had his own Solo movie ;). Now, how can we convince Warner Brothers to make a movie entirely based on popular hash tags?

This week DJ checked out the rebooted Children of the Atom and Professor dug into the criminal underbelly in the CyberNoir Anon.

The Great Sony Shutdown

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-26-sony-has-a-responsibility-to-preserve-its-gaming-history-opinion

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh8UhKMikA4

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNTOLRLUqWw

Agromining : The Future of Mining

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-09/trees-that-bleed-metal-could-help-power-the-future/100051066

#MaketheBatfleckMovie

- https://comicbook.com/dc/news/batman-ben-affleck-makethebatfleckmovie/#1

Nerdful things

- Children of the Atom - https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/78663/children_of_the_atom_2021_1

Rating: 2/5

Professor

- Anon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anon_(film)

Rating: 4/5

Other topics discussed

Backwards Compatibility (a property of a system, product, or technology that allows for interoperability with an older legacy system, or with input designed for such a system, especially in telecommunications and computing.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backward_compatibility

DOSBox (a

Graphic Novel about Autism, Operation Chicken Drumstick & 3D Nanostructure by Kirigami

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Author and illustrator Rebecca Burgess has announced a new graphic novel about Autism, aimed at 8-12 year olds. She definitely seems to have a history of writing well rated books about neurodiversities, so this should be good for helping children learn about Autism.

Operation Chicken Drumstick sounds like a name for a sneaky run to KFC, but it's actually a Chinese police sting against a major hacker group with millions of dollars in assets, including luxury cars. We're in the wrong line of work. But these ones got caught, and we aren't tough enough for jail, so maybe not.

Kirigami is an ancient Japanese art of cutting and folding paper, and scientists have worked out how to use it to create nano scale parts for robots. The secret? Very small scissors.

An Autistic themed Graphic Novel

- https://bleedingcool.com/comics/speak-up-a-new-autistic-themed-graphic-novel-by-rebecca-burgess/

Operation Chicken Drumstick

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-02/video-game-cheat-uncovered-china-chicken-drumstick-tencent/100043804

- https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56579449

Newest application of Kirigami : 3D Nanostructure

- htps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210402095932.htm

- https://news.psu.edu/story/652729/2021/03/30/research/kirigami-style-fabrication-may-enable-new-3d-nanostructures

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e9HTcG_L8Q&feature=youtu.be

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-04-16-finland-recognises-the-demoscene-as-part-of-its-cultural-heritage

Demoscene, Prosthetic Hands & Copyrighted Anime Spoilers

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 01:44:43 +1000

Professor has survived his man flu, and celebrates by derailing the conversation onto the bloodier aspects of everyone's favourite chocolate themed weekend.

The Demoscene is now listed as national heritage in both Finland and Germany, bringing it one step closer to becoming UNESCO listed. Demoscene projects are about squeezing the most impressive graphics out of very limited software and hardware. We'll put some of our favourites in the notes.

Now prosthetic limbs can feel. You'd better not swear, or they might stop working right. By linking a user's brain to the limb, it can be controlled and relay touch sensations back to the human mind. I, for one welcome our cyborg overlords.

Japan has decided that posting the dialogue text of a manga on spoiler sites counts as piracy. Let's hope the law doesn't overreach into arresting people for posting any spoiler, or DJ is going away for a long time.

This week, DJ wrapped up the torment of watching Ex-Arm and Professor died in the vast blackness of space because he touched a live wire in Tin Can.

Demoscene now UNESCO approved

- http://demoscene-the-art-of-coding.net/2021/03/20/demoscene-accepted-as-unesco-cultural-heritage-in-germany/

Prosthetic Hand Now Comes With Feelings In Every Box

- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190724144150.htm

- https://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/4/32/eaax2352

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xl6rFvuR08

Time to Copyright Spoilers

- https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-03-31/tokyo-court-posting-manga-dialogue-without-authorization-is-copyright-infringement/.171343

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/

- https://comicbook.com/dc/news/zack-snyder-justice-league-origin-revealed/

Zack Snyder's Justice League aka The Snyder Cut, EA FIFA Gate & Cone Snail Venom

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 23:00:00 +1000

This is the last time DJ is ever allowed to talk to me about the Snyder Cut.

It's finally out. Are you happy now? It's in 4:3 because Superman is vertical when he stands up, which is true for basically all bipedal creatures. It probably wouldn't have happened without lots of people complaining on Twitter, so go watch it if you like superheroes who don't lie down.

To get all the characters you want in an EA FIFA game you could spend tens of thousands of dollars, or you could just go to the black market and get an EA employee to sell you one for a few thousand dollars. Because nothing says your product is reasonably priced than a thriving black market where the street price is more than most people get paid in a week, for a virtual character you can only use for a year. Maybe you just really hate surprise mechanics.

Cone Snails have learnt the art of catfishing. Using mating pheromones, they attract single worms, who expecting a romantic night out, become the main course. Nature is brutal.

This week, DJ watched the Snyder Cut. Please, make him stop talking about it. PLEASE. Professor vanished in a bottomless cave in Spelunky.

The Origin of Zack Snyder's Justice League

- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/14/movies/zack-snyders-rough-and-tumble-ride-with-justice-league.html

EA Gate

- https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-03-13-ea-suspends-all-discretionary-fifa-ultimate-team-content-granting-indefinitely-amid-ea-gate-scandal

Hunting Prey Using Cone Snail Venom

- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cone-snail-venom-sea-worms-pheromones

- https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/11/eabf2704

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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- https://www.whathifi.com/au/advice/nintendo-switch-pro-everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-oled-nintendo-switch-2

Nintendo Switch Pro, Microsoft Hack, Warp Drive & Dr Who Audio

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Well, it's a bad week for Microsoft based businesses. Hackers have breached more than 30 000 businesses and it'll take a lot of fingers and toes to count up all the damage they've done. Luckily, we have a new Switch model to look forward to. The leak shows a model with an OLED screen. But will they finally fix the joycons?

Ensign, Warp speed 10. We'll have to give him a few years for the drive to be finished, but a new model for an Alcubierre drive seems very promising. And once warp speed is possible, we can go anywhere. Maybe even far enough out to catch the traces of the original broadcast of the lost Doctor Who episodes. Yeah, that one's probably a stretch.

Christopher Eccleston has finally chosen to return to Doctor Who, in a series of Big Finish audio dramas. The series shows all the signs of being a quality Big Finish production, including some great returning cast members.

This week, DJ dove into some video game history with a documentary about Jack Thompson, and Professor booted up the retro OS themed Kingsway.

The Future of the Nintendo Switch/Microsoft Hacked

- https://gamerant.com/nintendo-siwtch-pro-2022-hardware/

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-08/microsoft-outlook-hack-white-house-patching-not-enough-backdoor/13226262

A Real Working Warp Drive

- https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a35728928/scientists-say-physical-warp-drive-is-possible/

New Dr Who Audio Drama Details

- https://bleedingcool.com/tv/doctor-who-big-finish-shares-christopher-eccleston-return-details/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated

Support via Podhero

William Shakesbot, Games Wraparound & Cyberhack 2077 V2

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Now the robots are coming for the writers' jobs too. The first AI written play has been performed. And it gets dark and raunchy. BONK. Go to Hornybot jail. GPT is a really amazing piece of tech.

Bethesda are being sued for advertising the season pass as containing ALL the Fallout DLC. Players are upset that it doesn't contain the Creation Club content. Does this look like a man who has had ALL the DLC? Frogwares are saying you shouldn't buy The Sinking City, because the publisher pirated the game. This is some wild publisher drama. Apple demanded sales data from Valve. Valve didn't want to give it over, but the judge says Apple can have a little sales data, as a snack. This is all in defence of Epic's lawsuit about monopolising the app store.

CDPR still haven't unlocked their computers after the ransomware attack, so it'll be taking a bit longer for the big post launch Cyberpunk 2077 patch. Let's see if they can sort this out before 2077 actually happens.

This week DJ read Keanu's self insert BRZKR and Professor whacked zombies that finally work in DayZ.

Introducing William Shakesbot

- https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/kinky-and-absurd-first-ai-written-play-isn-t-shakespeare-it-has-its-moments

Not another Bethesda lawsuit/ Do not buy this game/ Epic vs apple update

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-24-bethesda-faces-lawsuit-over-fallout-4-dlc

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-26-the-sinking-city-developer-asks-users-not-to-buy-its-game-on-steam

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-26-valve-ordered-to-hand-over-sales-data-for-epic-vs-apple-case

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-03-nacon-accuses-frogwares-of-sabotaging-our-investments-in-the-sinking-city

Cyberhack 2077 updates

- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-24/cd-projekt-hack-severely-disrupts-work-on-cyberpunk-game-updates

- https://www.cadosecurity.com/post/punk-kitty-ransom-analysing-hellokitty-ransomware-attacks

- https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/10/22276664/cyberpunk-witcher-hackers-auction-source-code-ransomware-attack

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

NVIDIA Cypto, Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, Pokemon Legends Arceus & Firestarter Reboot

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:00:00 +1000

There's nothing funny about NVIDIA's ridiculous CMP cryptocurrency mining cards, from taking chips away from gamers to being single use electronics. Hopefully this goes better than anyone outside NVIDIA thinks it will, but we'll have to see. Maybe AMD will keep their cards competitive and keep out of trouble so we have one consumer neutral producer to buy from.

NASA's Perseverance Mars Lander touched down recently and is sending out awesome high quality videos of the landing and some interesting rocks. Percy really likes rocks.

Game Freak have announced a new Pokemon remaster and an experimental open world game. Nobody cares about the remasters, but Arceus Legends looks amazing. But can Game Freak pull it off? Probably not.

Stephen King's Firestarter is getting a new movie focusing on emotion. Not a bad thing, but it'll have Zac Efron, so the most horrific thing will be his singing.

This week DJ returned to Tsushima, Professor advanced his Kardeshev level and Dev-i-boy got his funk on.

NVIDIA Cypto Mining

- https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2021/02/18/geforce-cmp/

The Landing of Perseverance

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-19/nasa-rover-perseverance-lands-on-mars/13170902

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-02-23/mars-perseverance-rover-nasa-releases-high-res-images-video/13178646

New Pokemon Game : Pokemon Legends Arceus

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbIA8FKhwl0

Firestarter Reboot

- https://comicbook.com/movies/news/firestarter-reboot-stephen-king-keith-thomas-tease-details-updat/

Nerdful things

- Ghost of Tsushima - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Tsushima

Rating: 4/5

Professor

- Dyson Sphere Program - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1366540/Dyson_Sphere_Program/

Rating: 4.5/5

Dev-i-boy

- FRIDAY NIGHT FUNKIN' - https://ninja-muffin24.itch.io/funkin

Rating: 5/5

Other topics discussed

Elderly patients show no adverse reactions after being given incorrect dose of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-25/coronavirus-queensland-covid-vaccine-dosage-error-aged-care/13188724

COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine incorrectly administered to two patients at Brisbane aged care home

Microsoft A.I Summit, Beneath The Ice, Facebook vs Australia & Justice League Snyder Cut

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 10:44:19 +1000

The Microsoft AI and Gaming summit is about to begin. How long until I get strap on a VR headset and go into a game perfectly designed to keep me interested forever and ever?

Strange creatures living at the bottom of the ocean under a polar ice cap is probably not a big issue, but just in case we should be equipping Antarctic research sites with nukes. It's the only way to be sure.

Facebook and the Australian government are going to war over the proposed laws requiring sites like Facebook and Google to pay news outlets to link to their sites. Big tech really doesn't like this, but the Australian government won't back down.

Finally, a trailer for the Justice League Snyder Cut trailer has been released. It only took years of super fans begging. Let's see what else can happen. Firefly reboot, please?

This week DJ got down to business to defeat the Mongols, Professor picked a really insensitive time to play a game about freezing and Dev-i-boy went back to Uni and ran out of time to have fun.

Microsoft A.I Summit

- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/event/aiandgaming2021/

It Came From Beneath The Ice

- https://www.wired.com/story/scientists-discover-strange-creatures-under-a-half-mile-of-ice/

Facebook vs Australia

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/facebook-to-restrict-sharing-or-viewing-news-in-australia/13166208

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/facebook-credibility-brought-into-question-health-emergency-news/13166318

Justice League Snyder Cut trailer dropped

- https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-snyder-cut-trailer-new-footage/

- https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/02/14/the-new-justice-league-snyder-cut-trailer-the-five-most-notable-additions/?sh=364fd65c27d2

Nerdful things

- Ghost of Tsushima - https://www.playstation.com/en-au/games/ghost-of-tsushima/

Rating: 5/5

Professor

- Frost Punk - https://store.steampowered.com/app/323190/Frostpunk/

Rating: 4.75/5

Dev-i-boy

- DNP

Rating:

Other topics discussed

Texas weather: Deadly winter storm sweeps Texas and US southern states

- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56076686

Burst Pipes and Power Outages in Battered Texas

Three Years On - We Are Still Here - Australian Games Industry, Childhood Diets, Cyberpunk 2077 Hacked & Superbowl 2021

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 23:00:00 +1000

Last week we had some terrible ideas. And we are sorry, because we've had more. There's a reason none of us are allowed to work at CSIRO anymore.

The Australian games industry grew last year, following worldwide trends. We've got some interesting statistics on the industry and why it isn't doing as well as it could be.

Last week we spoke about your gut microbiome affecting your parenting skills. Well now we know that your childhood diet has lifelong impacts on that biome. This is making that salad look extra tempting.

CDPR has lost control of the source code for Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3. If I had a dollar for every time a game dev making a game about hacking gets hacked, I'd have two dollars. Which isn't a lot, but it's surprising that it's happened twice.

Australian Game Development Industry 2021 report

- https://igea.net/2021/01/australian-game-development-industry-counts-185-million-in-revenue/

- https://www.consultancy.com.au/news/2954/australias-gaming-industry-grows-to-34-billion-amid-covid-19

Childhood diet has lifelong impact

- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210203090458.htm

- https://jeb.biologists.org/content/early/2021/01/10/jeb.239699

Cyberhack 2077

- https://press-start.com.au/news/2021/02/09/cd-projekt-reds-servers-were-apparently-hacked-with-the-witcher-3-cyberpunk-2077-source-code-stolen/

- https://twitter.com/CDPROJEKTRED/status/1359048125403590660

Superbowl Ads 2021

- https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/super-bowl-ads-2021-we-round-up-the-teasers-and-spots/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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- https://screenrant.com/borderlands-developer-gearbox-buyout-1-billion-embracer-group/

Gearbox, Garry's Mod Sequel, Golden Globes & Microbiota

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:05:19 +1000

The infamous Gearbox, creator of many mediocre licensed games, has now been bought by the former THQ Nordic, now Embracer Group, owned by Deep Silver, the publisher owned by the Koch Brothers. Yeah, this is why it's so hard to track down the correct owners of game IP.

Before Minecraft and Roblox, there was Garry's Mod. And Garry's back, with a fully overhauled sequel on the Source 2 engine, currently named S&box. Us old timers aren't done kicking yet.

Last week Dev-i made a big deal about Wolfwalkers, and how there's no way it'll win awards because of Soul. Now both are in the running for a Golden Globe.

Next time your stomach isn't agreeing with you, it could be your microbiota gut brain giving you advice. Rat mothers infected with specific E. Coli strains are worse parents than rats with unmodified gut biomes. What else could be controlled by your stomach? Hopefully not your video game preference.

Gearbox now bought out

Garry’s Mod 2 : The Sequel

- https://sbox.facepunch.com/news

Golden Globes 2021

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78th_Golden_Globe_Awards#Nominees

Microbiota controls rat maternal behaviour

- https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/5/eabe6563

Nerdful things

- EX-Arm - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Arm

Rating: 0/5

Professor

- Return of the Obra Dinn - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn

Rating: 3/5

Dev-i-boy

- The Cat Returns - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cat_Returns

Rating: 4/5

Other topics discussed

8 Mile (a 2002 American drama film written by Scott Silver and directed by Curtis Hanson. It stars Eminem in his film debut, alongside Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon, Anthony Mackie, and Kim Basinger.)

VR Breakdancing, GameStop Stonks, Google's Latest Fight & New Harry Potter Series

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 00:46:53 +1000

What does thousands of dollars of VR tracking gear get you? A way to compete in fully virtual breakdancing battles. South Koreans are still at home, and are working hard on creating Ready Player One’s Oasis in order to show off their sick dance moves. And the tracking is surprisingly good.

If you haven’t invested in GameStop, it’s probably too late. If you have, you already know what we’re talking about. Reddit users have discovered an infinite money glitch and are really upsetting the billionaires who aren’t going to make quite as much this year as they did last year. Also, this story developed so much quicker than we expected and most of what we talked about has come to pass.

Google might withdraw their search engine from Australia. Microsoft are probably waiting in the shadows to pounce and be able to claim that someone, somewhere on the planet actually uses Bing.

JK Rowling's Harry Potter projects just won’t die. Now HBO are working on a Harry Potter series featuring the Marauders. The original Harry Potter fans will all be adults now, but there’s a whole generation of younger fans so let’s hope HBO don’t make it as adult as Game of Thrones.

This week DJ continued suffering through Ex-Arm, Professor checked out a Wall-E Simulator, the Burnable Garbage Day, and Dev-i watched artistic animated films.

VR Chat Breakdancing Battles

- https://www.roadtovr.com/vr-dance-battle-vrchat-breakdance/

GameStop stocks rising

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-01-22-gamestop-share-price-reaches-record-high-amid-reddit-user-driven-short-squeeze

- https://gamerant.com/gamestop-stock-reddit/

Google vs Australia

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-25/google-may-pull-search-engine-from-australia-what-happens-next/13086712

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-22/google-stop-search-engine-australia-news-media-code/13079912

Harry Potter TV Series in the works

- https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/harry-potter-live-action-tv-series-in-early-development-at-hbo-max-exclusive

Nerdful things

– Ex-Arm - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Arm

Rating: 0/5

Professor

- The Burnable Garbage Day - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameon.anohiwa&hl=en_AU&gl=US

Rating: 2.7/5

Dev-i-boy

- Princess monoke - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Mononoke

- Wolfwalkers -

NBA Jam, Bacteria Data Storage, Console Energy Consumption & YoYo Games

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 03:01:17 +1000

If you're old enough, you might remember NBA Jam. This old basketball game has enough of a following that modders add new characters based on yearly rosters, and now there's going to be a documentary about NBA Jam and the start of sports video games.

What would you write in 72 bits? Currently, that's the amount of data that can be stored in a self replicating colony of E. Coli. You can't quite fit Shakespeare in there yet, but the team are working on multiplexing the data across multiple cells.

Is your refrigerator running? You might want to check if your console is. New consoles draw more power than last gen, including significantly more when running video content than a dedicated streaming device.

The Opera Browser developer (Wait, that's still a thing?) now owns GameMaker. Well this is the weirdest development in 2021 so far.

This week DJ continued the suffering of EX-Arm, Professor went back to the flawed Master Chief Collection and Dev-i took the battle to a long time ago in the New Star Wars Battlefront 2.

NBA Jam doco in the works

- https://variety.com/2021/film/global/nba-jam-game-documentary-1234886255/

Info storing bacteria

- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00092-1

- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-020-00711-4

Next gen console energy consumption

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-01-14-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-energy-consumption

Opera buys YoYo Games

- https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2021/01/19/game-maker-creator-yoyo-games-bought-by-browser-developer-opera/

Nerdful things

– EX-Arm - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-Arm

Rating: 0/5

Professor

- Halo : The Master Chief Collection - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo:_The_Master_Chief_Collection

Rating: 4.2/5

Dev-i-boy

- Star Wars Battlefront II (2017 video game) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Battlefront_II_(2017_video_game)

Rating:

Other topics discussed

Space Jam (a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka and starring basketball player Michael Jordan.)

A LucasFilm Comeback, Games Industry 2020 Report, Air Pollution Reduction & Winter 2021 Anime

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 23:00:00 +1000

We have another long one for you, but that's ok because LucasFilm is back to making games. EA's tyranny is over! Rejoice!

2020 was an interesting year for the games industry. It turns out people really like Animal Crossing when they can't go outside. Gamesindustry.biz have provided a detailed article of numbers from the year in review.

Staying inside might make you crazy. It also makes you slightly more eco friendly. Air pollution dropped massively in places that locked down to avoid COVID. Unfortunately, it's springing back to regular levels, but now there's tons of data to analyse.

There's a list of new anime to come out in "winter" 2021. The weebs in the team like some of it, including Doctor Stone. And they hate Ex-Arm. All looks the same to me.

A LucasFilm comeback and what a comback

- https://www.wired.com/story/lucasfilm-games-star-wars-ubisoft-indiana-jones-bethesda/

- https://www.starwars.com/news/indiana-jones-game

- https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/01/ubisoft-massive-is-making-an-open-world-star-wars-game/

Games Industry year in numbers report

- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-12-21-gamesindustry-biz-presents-the-year-in-numbers-2020

Pandemic reduces air pollution

- https://www.sciencenews.org/article/covid19-coronavirus-pandemic-air-pollution-ozone-shutdown

- https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/12/3269/2020/

Winter 2021 in anime

- https://comicbook.com/anime/news/winter-2021-anime-preview/

Intro

Artist – Goblins from Mars

Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)

Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ

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