Monthly Archives: December 2019

The Witcher 3 Hits Almost 50k Players on Steam Following Netflix’s Release

Following the release of Netflix's highly anticipated new series, The Witcher, a resurgence for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt began over the weekend on Steam.

IGN confirmed concurrents on Steam were recorded at nearly 50k players as of Monday morning, according to analytics on Steam Charts. The average players on PC have been approximately 13,000 over the past six months, with a slight uptick to 18,000 concurrents in July – possibly due to reveals of The Witcher series at San Diego Comic Con.

A player count increase to this extent has not been seen since 2016 when CD Projekt Red released the game's DLC, Blood and Wine, as reported by PlayTracker.

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How Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker Handles The Legacy of the Jedi

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is not only the conclusion of Disney's new trilogy, but also designed to be a culmination of the entire franchise in much the same way that Avengers: Endgame capped off a decade of Marvel storytelling - there will undoubtedly be more Star Wars stories, but the Skywalker Saga is officially at an end.

In that tradition, it did something very cool, unifying all the stories that came before in a clever way.

This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the rest of the Star Wars movies and TV shows, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Check out our Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ending explained, plus a Rise of Skywalker review roundup from IGN's staff.

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The Xbox Brand Is Too Big To Care About Next-Gen Confusion

Just a few weeks ago, Xbox chief Phil Spencer commented that the next-generation Xbox would have a name that reflects its utility, later confirming the name of the monolith-like box as Xbox Series X. The broader name for the presumed family of new Xbox consoles is just that, ‘Xbox’, eschewing anything more complicated beyond the back-to-basics title first given to the product line in 2001. While there is a belief percolating among some that Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot with such a confusing name, the tech giant might just be prepared for a little bit of brand confusion in the pursuit of a grander goal.

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The Xbox Brand Is Too Big To Care About Next-Gen Confusion

Just a few weeks ago, Xbox chief Phil Spencer commented that the next-generation Xbox would have a name that reflects its utility, later confirming the name of the monolith-like box as Xbox Series X. The broader name for the presumed family of new Xbox consoles is just that, ‘Xbox’, eschewing anything more complicated beyond the back-to-basics title first given to the product line in 2001. While there is a belief percolating among some that Microsoft is shooting themselves in the foot with such a confusing name, the tech giant might just be prepared for a little bit of brand confusion in the pursuit of a grander goal.

Continue reading…

New Study Leaves Scientists in Awe of How Brains Process Watching Movies

A new study has raised many questions about how brains process visual communication in film.

According to ScienceNews, scientists studying brain cells in mice have found that previously held thoughts on how the brain processes visual data might be false.

The study, conducted by the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, saw researchers use a powerful microscope to peer through openings in the skulls of mice and study their brain cells. They showed the mice clips of various imagery, including simple images and more complex scenes like moments from the famous 1958 Orsen Wells noir film Touch of Evil.

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New Study Leaves Scientists in Awe of How Brains Process Watching Movies

A new study has raised many questions about how brains process visual communication in film.

According to ScienceNews, scientists studying brain cells in mice have found that previously held thoughts on how the brain processes visual data might be false.

The study, conducted by the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, saw researchers use a powerful microscope to peer through openings in the skulls of mice and study their brain cells. They showed the mice clips of various imagery, including simple images and more complex scenes like moments from the famous 1958 Orsen Wells noir film Touch of Evil.

Continue reading…

Stranger Things Pinball Revealed: First Images and Gameplay Details

Netflix's Stranger Things will be the next pinball machine from Stern Pinball Inc. The trailer video above and images and interview with Stern's Zachary Sharpe below reveal some cool, innovative details unique to this pinball machine. The Limited Edition and Premium versions of Stranger Things pinball will feature a unique projector system that animates ramps, targets, and a central screen on the playfield. These versions also feature a magnetic, hovering ball lock on the back panel of the machine that is inspired by Eleven's telekinesis powers. Of note is the playfield design by Brian Eddy, designer of widely-loved Medieval Madness and Attack From Mars pinball machines, who is returning to pinball design after a two decade break.

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Stranger Things Pinball Revealed: First Images and Gameplay Details

Netflix's Stranger Things will be the next pinball machine from Stern Pinball Inc. The trailer video above and images and interview with Stern's Zachary Sharpe below reveal some cool, innovative details unique to this pinball machine. The Limited Edition and Premium versions of Stranger Things pinball will feature a unique projector system that animates ramps, targets, and a central screen on the playfield. These versions also feature a magnetic, hovering ball lock on the back panel of the machine that is inspired by Eleven's telekinesis powers. Of note is the playfield design by Brian Eddy, designer of widely-loved Medieval Madness and Attack From Mars pinball machines, who is returning to pinball design after a two decade break.

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UK Daily Deals: Watch Premier League Games on Amazon for Free This Boxing Day

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest deals on games, tech and accessories.

How to Watch Premier League Games for Free This Boxing Day

epl amazon prime boxing day IGN2With Amazon gaining the rights to rights to show 20 Premier League games in December 2019, you're going to need an Amazon Prime membership to watch any of the live games. The next big round of fixtures will be airing on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), so if you don't want to miss any more of the action, you can sign up for a free Amazon Prime subscription today and gain full access for the rest of December.

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UK Daily Deals: Watch Premier League Games on Amazon for Free This Boxing Day

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest deals on games, tech and accessories.

How to Watch Premier League Games for Free This Boxing Day

epl amazon prime boxing day IGN2With Amazon gaining the rights to rights to show 20 Premier League games in December 2019, you're going to need an Amazon Prime membership to watch any of the live games. The next big round of fixtures will be airing on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), so if you don't want to miss any more of the action, you can sign up for a free Amazon Prime subscription today and gain full access for the rest of December.

Continue reading…