The “Minecraft” Pokemon mod, Pixelmon, has been shut down by the Pokemon Company.

“Minecraft” and “Pokemon” are two of the most popular game franchises of the last generation, so it’s no surprise that a group of committed fans decided to combine the two. The Pixelmon Mod team used its skills to bring “Pokemon’s” colorful denizens to “Minecraft’s” blocky world. But like many “Pokemon” fan creations before it, it just wasn’t meant to be.

The Pokemon Company has requested that the creators of Pixelmon cease development and publication of the popular mod, and they obliged. In a brief blog post, the Pixelmon team made the announcement and asked their fans to remember the game fondly. An excerpt from the post reads:

“With much sadness, but keeping all our fond memories, we must announce that Pixelmon is ending its development. We have had a great time making this mod and creating such a wonderful community but after a request from the Pokemon company we will be shutting our doors. I’m sorry for the disappointment this will cause but let’s remember all the great times we had playing Pixelmon, discussing Pokemon, making awesome things inside this mod and everything else that we’ve done.”

All the official download links for the mod have been shut down, as well as the game’s official wiki. You can read the full blog post here.

This isn’t the first time Nintendo went after a Pokemon fan project. In 2010, an ambitious fan project called “Pokenet” attempted to create a “Pokemon” MMO before Nintendo shut it down. More recently, a fan-made Pokemon game called “Pokemon Uranium” faced legal action only a week after its official launch.

Blizzard introduces “Starcraft II” War Chests, which bring a variety of cosmetic rewards to the game and help support esports.

The “Starcraft II” community has requested cosmetic skins for a long time and Blizzard Entertainment has finally unveiled a way to implement them with the new War Chests system.

Purchasing a War Chest gives players access to a new form of in-game progression that gradually unlocks new cosmetic features. By playing the game in both Ranked and Co-op mode, players can gradually unlock new unit skins for the Zerg, Protoss and Terran factions. The release is staggered, meaning the skins will be released over the coming months and only for a limited time.

The new Leviathan Swarm skin for the Zerg faction. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

Each faction’s War Chest costs $9.99, but the bundle is a slight discount at $24.99. Every War Chest purchase contributes 25 percent of the price to supporting Blizzard’s “Starcraft II” Blizzcon tournament.

The War Chest’s staggered release schedule is accompanied by a comic series that explores conflicts in the Koprulu Sector after the events of “Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void” and “Nova’s Covert Ops.”

The “Starcraft II” community has split since Blizzard revealed the War Chest system. One-half seems critical of the business model and the other is glad for another opportunity to support the game’s continued development. The system draws some inspiration from two of Blizzard’s more popular and casual-friendly games: “Overwatch” and “Heroes of the Storm.”

“Overwatch” and “HoTS” have two ways of earning cosmetic items. Players can play the game and grind for cosmetic loot chests or simply buy them. It’s about picking the lesser of two evils: lose your time or your money. But with War Chests, Blizzard wants players to give both. Players can pay, but still need to earn the rewards in-game.

War Chests are also more expensive than most of the game’s previously released content, despite being purely cosmetic content with no effect on gameplay or story. The entire ‘Nova’s Covert Ops” campaign is $14.99 and a new Co-op Commander is $4.99.

You can check out the Emerald’s initial review of “Nova’s Covert Ops” here.

Gaming Week In Review is a semi-regular column by Mathew Brock devoted to recapping recent news from the video game world each week.

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week in Review: Pixelmon ‘Minecraft’ mod shut down, ‘Starcraft II’ implements cosmetic skins appeared first on Emerald Media.

Jump is an indie video game streaming service that will debut later this year with a current catalog of over 60 games.

When it comes to distributing media, streaming has become one of the most popular modern methods for getting music, TV shows, movies and even video games. GameFly entered the market several years back by streaming games to smart TVs, and Sony allows gamers to stream games with Playstation Now to their Playstation 4 or PC. Now there’s a new player looking to enter the market.

The Jump client and download manager.

Jump is an on-demand streaming service that hopes to launch this summer. It offers a curated library of independently developed video games for $9.99 a month. Jump allows its patrons to play instantly with no downloads other than the Jump app. The app uses local hardware to run the games, meaning computers will still need to meet many of the game’s minimum requirements to play.

The service will debut on PC, Mac and Linux this summer, and includes VR and controller support for games. Games will remain on the service for at least 12 months at a time, with new games added or removed afterward at the developer’s discretion. Some of the starting catalog includes “Always Sometimes Monsters” and “Teslagrad.”

Jump will need to find its place in the current market, but it may give indie game developers a new platform to take advantage of. As it stands, it might be a hard sell to convince indie game developers that selling games directly or by retail isn’t a better choice. Either way, more opportunities for indie game developers to distribute their work is probably a good thing. Games being available as part of a larger package might give some extra exposure to more obscure titles.

Learn more and check out Jump’s open beta here.

Capcom has debuted a new zombie themed game bundle in the Humble Store.

In the last few weeks, the Humble Bundle offerings have been lackluster, to say the least. We can probably thank the Steam Summer Sale and its flood of cheap games for the bundle drought. After several weeks with no new game bundle and the prior few’s poor reception by the community, the latest bundle seems more than worth the wait.

Humble Bundle has teamed up with Capcom to bring us the Capcom Rising Bundle, which features some of the Japanese gaming company’s most popular zombie-themed titles.

The Capcom Rising Bundle

For just $1 players can get “DmC: Devil May Cry,” “STRIDER” and “Umbrella Corps.” While the first two were well received, “Umbrella Corps” is almost universally panned by critics and fans of the “Resident Evil” franchise alike.

The current average is hovering around $7.30 and will add “Dead Rising 2: Off the Record,” “Resident Evil HD REMASTER,” “Resident Evil 0 HD REMASTER,” and an upgraded edition of the aforementioned “Umbrella Corps.” “Dead Rising” and “Resident Evil” are the two standouts, each probably worth the price of admission on their own.

The final $12 tier unlocks “Dead Rising 2” and “Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition.” It also includes coupon codes for “Dead Rising 4,” “Resident Evil 7” and “Street Fighter 5.” “Dead Rising 2” is considered the better the iteration of the second installment. While poorly received at first because of numerous game breaking bugs, “Dead Rising 3” is worth taking a look at after 3 years of patches.

Overall, it’s a great bundle with some impressive titles for each tier. Whether $1 or $12, this bundle is a solid deal. Buyers can also choose a charitable organization for their money to go to, with customizable amounts to allocate. This week the choices are Child’s Play Charity, American Red Cross and GamesAid.

You can check it out here.

Gaming Week In Review is a semi-regular column by Mathew Brock devoted to recapping recent news from the video game world each week.

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week In Review: Indie game streaming service Jump in beta, Capcom’s Rising Humble Bundle appeared first on Emerald Media.

Blizzard unveils the new Offense hero Doomfist as the latest addition to the “Overwatch” roster.

“Overwatch” fans have been anticipating the arrival of Doomfist as a playable character since the game was initially announced at Blizzcon 2014. The game’s first cinematic short features several of the game’s characters fighting over his destructive power gauntlet, which was on display at an Overwatch museum. The in-game Numbani map also has players escorting said gauntlet to the Numbani museum for safekeeping.

Now we’ve finally got our first look at the man himself and what he brings to the competitive first-person shooter.

Doomfist. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

Doomfist, whose real name is Akande Ogundimu, is a highly mobile Offense character that focuses on powerful charge attacks and frontline brawling. His basic attack fires a short ranged projectile from his hand, and his ammo recharges over time. His three basic abilities are Seismic Slam, Rising Uppercut and Rocket Punch.

Seismic Slam draws nearby enemies towards him while Rising Uppercuts damages and flings enemies into the air. Rocket Punch is a charged attack that propels Doomfist forward, dealing heavy damage and knocking enemies away. Doomfist’s ultimate ability is Meteor Strike. It propels him into the air and away from harm before slamming down into a large targeted area, dealing more damage the closer enemies are to the center.

Doomfist is from the West African country Nigeria and is actually the third person in the “Overwatch” universe to take the name. He is heavily cybernetically augmented, so it’s difficult to tell where the machine ends and the man begins. He is also incredibly strong, easily defeating Genji, Tracer and Winston in the newest animated cutscene. Doomfist also punches his way out of a steel prison cell with his bare hands. Like Reaper, he is a high-ranking member of Talon, the villainous counterpart of Overwatch.

You can watch Doomfist’s debut animated cinematic below:

Scott Cawthon, creator of the popular “Five Nights at Freddy’s” game franchise has announced the cancellation of the sixth game in the series.

Few games can claim the instant success that propelled the original “Five Nights at Freddy’s” game into the annals of video game history. Popularized mostly by online streamers, this jumpscare focused horror game spawned four sequels, a novelization and an upcoming movie by Blumhouse Productions, a horror production company behind films like “The Purge.”

But despite the critical acclaim and huge cult following, the game’s creator, Scott Cawthon, abruptly announced he has canceled the sixth game. The following is an excerpt from the blog post announcing Cawthon’s decision:

“For the last month or so I’ve been dropping hints about a new game; and it’s true that I’d been working on one (call it FNaF 6 if you’d like.) But after forcing myself to keep working on it day after day, I realized something- I just don’t want to work on this. With each game’s release, I think the expectations get higher and higher for the next, and rightfully so. Each game SHOULD be better than the last! But that pressure starts to mount, and I fear that I’ve been neglecting other things in my life for the sake of trying to keep up with those mounting expectations.”

While later stressing that he hasn’t thrown in the towel at game development altogether, Cawthon expresses his dissatisfaction with his current endeavors and his desire to rediscover what made creating games enjoyable for him in the first place.

You can read the full blog post here or watch the trailer for the latest game in the series below:

Gaming Week In Review is a semi-regular column by Mathew Brock devoted to recapping recent news from the video game world each week.

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week In Review: Doomfist announced for ‘Overwatch,’ ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 6’ cancelled appeared first on Emerald Media.

If guiding a party of disease-ridden neurotic adventurers on a hopeless quest isn’t enough, imagine managing their vampiric addictions, keeping them from flogging themselves to death and dodging zealous hammer-wielding madmen along the way. Red Hook Studios found a way to make its turn-based dungeon crawling RPG “Darkest Dungeon” even more strenuous with its first major DLC expansion the “Crimson Court.”

“Darkest Dungeon” first made the rounds as an ambitious early access game on Steam before seeing a full release earlier this year. It’s received several minor updates since—adding new content, boss encounters and difficulty modes.

In this grimdark adventure, players must mold a roster of unlikely heroes into a force strong enough to conquer the Darkest Dungeon and to uncover the horrifying Lovecraftian secrets within. Players send adventurers to find and defeat bosses in the surrounding areas and recover family heirlooms along the way. These heirlooms can then be used to upgrade facilities in the main town. Throughout the game, the story is narrated by a distant Ancestor who slowly reveals the dark machinations that lead to the horrific state of the surrounding area.

The game isn’t just about keeping your adventurers alive in battle though. Players must manage the stress levels of individual party members. Or else they will suffer mental breaks, making them ignore orders, harm teammates or even die of a heart attack. After each mission, stressed heroes need to relax in town, whether it’s at the local bar or church. Each hero also has a set of shifting personality traits and quirks that affect their stats and behavior.

“Crimson Court” is the first major expansion to the game and adds new features that increase the depth of gameplay on both a micro and macro level. Individual expeditions can carry more weight, forcing players to rethink how they choose to progress through the overall campaign.

As players start a new game, they’ll soon be harassed by a town event involving swarms of mosquitos attacking the inhabitants and making it hard for adventurers to de-stress. To deal with this problem they’ll have to unseal a new area and burn the pest’s nests, inadvertently releasing a much worse threat. This area is called The Courtyard, and it happens to be filled with vampiric nobles.

Heroes face off against a vampire and his mosquito allies. (Courtesy of Red Hook Studios)

Unlike more contemporary depictions of vampires, the “Crimson Court” seems to draw from the game’s Lovecraftian theme. These vampires are insectoid, often resembling mosquitos and other carnivorous insects. The overall aesthetic is a combination of Victorian England and Colonial New Orleans, capturing both elements of high society poshness and an encroaching bayou wilderness.

Engaging these vampires is a dicey proposition. They can infect adventurers with a special disease known as the Crimson Curse. The curse increases an adventurers speed but lowers all other stats until they can consume a special item known as The Blood, which then increases their stats dramatically for a time. The Crimson Curse worsens over time and heroes who are denied The Blood for too long will wither away and die. It can also spread to adventurers using the same facilities in town, making curing or de-stressing them together risky.

The Fanatic. (Courtesy of Red Hook Studios)

The curse also brings with it an entirely different risk with The Fanatic, a powerful rogue monk devoted to destroying the Crimson Curse and all those infected with it. After he arrives through a town event, he can show up during regular missions as a powerful boss to attack any parties with infected members.

“Crimson Court” also introduces a new hero called the Flagellant. Most heroes become stressed when struck by an enemy, but this sado-masochistic healer grows more powerful the closer he is to death. Under certain health thresholds, he can use powerful abilities to heal and deal damage and when struck with a potential killing blow his allies are healed.

While a challenging and immersive experience on its own, “Darkest Dungeon” is thoroughly improved by the addition of “Crimson Court.” The expansion not only adds extra depth to the already deep gameplay and narrative, but it creates a certain sense of urgency and purpose in the main campaign.

You can watch the trailer for “Darkest Dungeon: Crimson Court” below:

The post Review: ‘Darkest Dungeon: Crimson Court’ adds a whole extra layer to the challenging RPG appeared first on Emerald Media.

If you’re in Eugene for the Fourth of July, you might be wracking your brain on how to spend the holiday. Here are a few Eugene events you can attend to celebrate Independence Day.

34th Annual Art and the Vineyard & Freedom Festival Fireworks at Alton Baker Park (200 Day Island Rd.) 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., $10 ages 15 and up, $5 ages 14 and below, 6 and under free

To celebrate the Fourth of July, the Maude Kerns Art Center will be ending its yearly Art and Vineyard celebration with a fireworks display at dusk. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait around until the sun goes down, as there will be a plenty of activities for all ages hosted throughout the day to keep you busy.

From 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. you can browse the different booths and stalls of the festival. The Artists’ Marketplace features work from over 90 artists and the Art For Your Garden area uses plants a foliage to add an extra touch of summer to different pieces of art. If you’re in the mood to check out something a little more unique, you can go to one of the many stalls in the Specialty Booth area. From a book of laughs from the infamous Frog’s Joke Books to balloon art from Cartoon Candy and the Balloon Guy, there’s plenty to see.

Keeping with its name, the festival hosts a Wineries area featuring local vintages and an International Food Court, featuring the diverse cuisine available in Eugene.

There will be ongoing music performances throughout the day on the main stage by the High Street Band, a high energy and colorfully dressed party band. For younger audiences, there will be a designated Youth Art Arena, where visitors are provided with various art making activities and entertainment, from music, dance, theater and more.

You can learn more at artandthevineyard.org

Red, White & Boom: Eugene Emeralds vs Boise Hawks at the Eugene Emeralds Baseball Club (2760 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd) 7:05 p.m.

There might be few better ways to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day than with the national pastime of baseball. This year, you can check out the Eugene Emeralds vs. the Boise Hawks Minor League Baseball game at the annual Red, White & Boom event.

Hosted at the Eugene P.K. Park, attendees can choose from bleacher or box seats as well as luxury suites. Concessions include traditional baseball fare of peanuts and hotdogs, as well as local Prince Puckler’s ice cream and diner sandwiches. Attendees 21 and over will be treated to a discount on local  Ninkasi craft beers.

The night will conclude with a fireworks display after the game. You can learn more here.

Firecracker Bullride at the Oregon Horse Center (90751 Prairie Rd.) 4 to 9:55 p.m. Ticket prices: Adult: $16.75 online at the gate are $18.75, children $12.75 in advance or $14.75 at the gate. Discounts codes are available at local Bi-Mart.

If you’re in the mood for something a bit more exhilarating for your Fourth of July festivities, you can bear witness to the age old rivalry between man and beast at the annual Firecracker Bullride rodeo.

Usually reserved as the finale of any rodeo event, the Eugene Pro Rodeo has reserved an entire day for their annual bull riding competition. Competitors who can last a mere 8 seconds will walk away with a cash prize, but that’s no small feat when they’re riding on top of a 2000 pound animal that wants nothing more than for than to fling them into the dirt or worse.

The gates and beer garden for the event will open at 4 p.m. The pre show will start at 5:45 p.m., featuring the Oregon Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team. The main event Bull Ride will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the night will conclude with fireworks at 9:55 p.m.

You can learn more at eugeneprorodeo.com.

Aquafina Butte to Butte with the Oregon Track Club at Donald St Hill (43rd & Donald St) 7:30 a.m., adult entry fee is $35 with a tech shirt and $25 without, first accompanying child entry is free and additional children are $10 each, all ages

If you’re looking for something a little more active for the Fourth of July, you can join in on one of TrackTown USA’s yearly traditions by entering or spectating the the 44th Annual Butte to Butte competitive 10K and 5K run or walk races and 4M walk. The first three competitors to finish each race will receive a cash prize.

The full 10 kilometer race begins at Spencer Butte Middle School then takes participants through a half-mile excursion through local neighborhoods before turning to Donald Street Hill for a flat finish on High and Pearl. The 5 kilometer race will begin there and head towards High Street then Amazon Parkway and then loop back at 24th street. The 4 mile walk will follow the flat portion of the course. To add a little fun to the course, several local bands will be performing along the way.

You can learn more at buttetobutte.runnerspace.com

The post Things to do in Eugene for the Fourth of July: Art and the Vineyard, Firecracker Bullride and Butte to Butte race appeared first on Emerald Media.

The Steam Summer Sale is in full swing and will remain up until July 5.

It’s here, that time of the year where PC gamers both quiver in excitement and lament the fate of their poor wallets: the Steam Summer Sale.

This year’s Steam Summer Sale.

Most of Steam’s tremendous catalog is currently marked down in one of its biggest seasonal sales of the year. While the deals are far too expansive to discuss in-depth, here are a few of my personal highlights from this year’s bargain extravaganza:

• Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor – $3.99
• XCOM 2 – $19.79
• Dark Souls 3 – $23.99
• Darkest Dungeon – $9.99
• Total War: Warhammer – $20.39

If you need a few tips on how to get the best bang for your buck, you can refer back to the Emerald’s previous Steam sale buyer’s guide here. The sale will end on July 5. You can also check out the Emerald’s review of “XCOM 2” here.

Blizzard unveils the long-awaited Necromancer class for “Diablo 3” this week along with new features in Patch 2.6.0.

Fans of Blizzard’s hack ‘n’ slash RPG series “Diablo” might have some fond memories of the Necromancer, the undead-commanding hero from “Diablo 2.” This master of macabre has finally made his way into the game’s latest iteration, ready to send legions of shambling skeletons against the minions of hell and the Angel of Death himself.

The Necromancer joins his fellow heroes to battle Diablo, The Lord of Terror. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

In the latest patch for “Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls” we see the return of the Necromancer class alongside several new features, including “Challenge Rifts” where players can compete using one another’s preset character builds. The Moors and The Temple of the Firstborn are two new areas for players to explore, which have debuted alongside four new Adventure Mode Bounty missions called the Realms of Fate. Storywise, these new areas and missions are meant to explore some of the unexpected consequences of the protagonist’s actions in the main story.

The Necromancer class plays much like its predecessor from “Diablo 2,” allowing players to command an army of skeletons, a hulking flesh golem, an arsenal of curses and a variety of bone-based shields and projectiles. The class itself currently costs players $14.99 and comes with collectible in-game cosmetic items, extra storage space and two additional character slots for your “Diablo 3” account. You can learn more about the new patch here.

The rest of the new content is free for anyone owning copies of “Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls” or the “Ultimate Evil Edition.”

You can watch the brief for the new patch below:

Studio Wildcard has announced that Ark: Survival Evolved will see a full release on Aug. 8.

Among the droves of Early Access multiplayer crafting survival games on Steam, “Ark: Survival Evolved” is one of the few long-time standouts, being one of the most regularly updated and polished games of the bloated and oddly specific genre. A recent announcement by the game’s developers, Studio Wildcard, has made it stand out even more by providing something few of its competitors can boast: an actual release date.

“Ark: Survival Evolved” is currently set for a retail release on Aug. 8, 2017, on PC and console. You’ll be able to pick up the basic game, the Explorer’s Edition, which includes the season pass; or the Collector’s Edition, with some special physical goodies on that date.

The game is best known for its wide range of tamable and breed-able prehistoric creatures, from different dinosaurs to the yeti-like Gigantopithecus. The game also features a tiered technology progression system that takes players from throwing rocks in the Stone Age Tier to strapping lasers onto dinosaur sharks when they reach the final Tek Tier.

Players attack a T-Rex with primal weapons in “Ark: Survival Evolved.” (Courtesy of the Steam Store)

The game first debuted on Steam Early Access in 2015 and has since received 258 individual update patches, a highly controversial dragon-themed expansion pack called “Scorched Earth” and console ports to both Playstation 4 and Xbox One. The game has been praised for its ambition and a steady flow of new and interesting content, but it has also been criticized for optimization issues and drastic mechanical changes.

If you’d like to check out the game early you can check it out on the Steam store, where the base game and expansion are currently on sale for 51 percent off. You can learn more about the upcoming retail release here.

You can watch the pre-order trailer for “Ark: Survival Evolved” below:

Gaming Week In Review is a semi-regular column by Mathew Brock devoted to recapping recent news from the video game world each week.

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week In Review: Steam Summer Sale, ‘Diablo 3’ Necromancer class, ‘Ark’ release date appeared first on Emerald Media.

Nintendo announces “Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon,” “Pokken Tournament DX” and re-releases of the classic “Pokemon Gold and Silver” games for later this year

As a treat tailored specifically to Pokemon fans, Nintendo released a special edition of its Nintendo Direct news broadcast that outlines its plans for the franchise over the next year.

The first major announcement was Nintendo’s first “Pokemon” game for the Switch, “Pokken Tournament DX,” which is a fighting game set in the “Pokemon” universe, intended for older audiences. Through brief glimpses of gameplay, we can see that a large variety of Pokemon will be playable, from the iconic Pikachu to some of the most powerful Pokemon in the franchise, such as Mega Charizard and legendary Pokemon like Darkrai.

The next announcement detailed “Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon,” the sequels to “Pokemon Sun and Moon.” These new installments are going to be an “alternate story set in the ‘Pokemon Sun and Moon’ universe,” according to Nintendo. To enhance the experience, players will have a host of new features to explore, most of which have not yet been announced.

Based on the trailer, we see popular Alola region Pokemon, namely Mimichu and Lycanroc, getting their own special Z-Moves. “Sun and Moon’s” special legendary Pokemon also make a return, but this time they are decked out in some mysterious technological armor. Other than that, the game world displayed seems more fleshed out overall, with extra background details and environmental scenes such as a field full of frolicking Pikachus.

Check out the Emerald’s review of “Pokemon Sun and Moon” here.

Veteran fans will be happy to hear about “Pokemon Gold and Silver” getting a modern port on the 3DS, which will be available for digital download on the Nintendo Virtual Console. As if to taunt us, the announcement opened with the player battling the infamous Gym Leader Whitney, known for steamrolling young Pokemon fans with her unstoppable rollout-using Milktank. Much like the ports of the original Pokemon games, “Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow,” the game will be compatible with the Pokemon Bank service on the 3DS, meaning you can take your new friends from the old game with you into future installments.

You can watch the full Pokemon Direct broadcast below:

Steam Greenlight has officially shut down and will be replaced by Steam Direct on June 13

Valve announced quite a while back that it intended to shut down its infamous Steam Greenlight program, where users had the opportunity to vote on specific games to be made available on the Steam platform.

To replace the voting-based system where publishers paid a small fee to put their game up for judgment, Valve has started the Steam Direct Program. This new system requires publishers to pay a $100 fee, fill out some electronic paperwork and provide adequate bank and tax information for a streamlined publishing method. Once the game has made at least $1,000, the original fee will be returned to the developer. This effectively cuts out the community input aspect altogether, in favor of a fee and Valve’s discretion in regards to quality.

Valve’s farewell message to the Steam Greenlight system.

While the opportunity to vote on what games made it onto Steam was an intriguing prospect, Valve ultimately had the final say in the process, often arbitrarily deciding what was up to par.

Steam Greenlight was directly responsible for many hit titles, such as “Octodad,” “Project Zomboid” and “Superhot.” But other quality and cult-classic games floundered to make their way onto the platform through the program. For example, it took years for the free “Fire Emblem” inspired “Battle for Wesnoth” to get through the system. Some incidents have left a sour taste in many people’s mouths, such as the game “Paranautical Activity” being denied through Steam Greenlight, getting published by Adult Swim and then denied again for “cheating the system.”

You can check out the full announcement here.

Gaming Week In Review is a semi-regular column by Mathew Brock devoted to recapping recent news from the video game world each week.

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week In Review: Nintendo Pokemon Direct announces new games and returning classics, Steam Greenlight says goodbye appeared first on Emerald Media.

Wednesday, June 7-June 17: Bowls Around Town at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History (1680 E. 15th Ave.), free with sign-up

Past and Presents, The Museum Store, is hosting an inclusive and interactive project called Bowls Around Town. Stop by the museum to pick up a bowl kit containing a bowl made by ceramic artist Michael J. Strand, a digital camera and a recipe book. Just use the kit to create and serve a meal that is special or personal to you, while doing what millennials do best — documenting the process via photos. Record your creation in the recipe book and then return the kit for your chance to be featured in the Hungry Planet display at the museum and online. The kit is available for checkout on Thursdays and must be returned the following Wednesday.

Contact Lyle Murphy at lyle@uoregon.edu with any questions.

Friday, June 9: Spring Dance Loft, Gerlinger Annex (1484 University St.), 8 p.m., students/seniors $3, General admission $5

Students of the University of Oregon’s dance program will bring their creative works to life at Friday’s performance. The show is choreographed and performed entirely by students. It serves as a capstone year-end event showcasing what students have learned and perfected throughout the year and their time in the dance program as a whole. You can learn more about the university’s dance major and minor on the department website.

The event will take place in the Dougherty Dance Theatre and is open to all students, faculty and the general public. Tickets to the concert are available in advance from the UO Ticket Office in the EMU or can be purchased at the door.

Saturday, June 10: Beer dinner at Falling Sky Pizzeria & Public House in the EMU basement, (1395 University St.), 6 to 9 p.m., $25, 21+

To celebrate the end of Eugene’s Beer Week, Falling Sky Pizzeria & Public House is hosting its inaugural beer dinner. The dinner, which costs $25 per person, will feature a five-course meal that will be paired with five beers. Among other options, dinner courses include soups, salads, Italian sandwiches, calzones, pasta, chicken wings and, of course, a variety of pizzas.

Along with the beer dinner, Falling Sky is hosting several special events throughout the week, including a beer-off sensory class at 6:30 p.m. and beer and brewing trivia at 9 p.m. on Thursday. In addition to the special events, Falling Sky is offering a free pint glass to anyone who visits all three of their locations in a single day. The offer stands through Saturday, June 10.

Tickets for the beer dinner can be purchased in advance at fallingskybrewery.com

Saturday, June 10: Honk! Fest Eugene at Vanilla Jill’s and Ninkasi (298 Blair Blvd. and 272 Van Buren St.), 6 p.m., free, all ages

A Flying Karamazov Brother from Fighting Instruments of Karma. (Courtesy of Honk! Eugene)

Eugene’s music culture will be on full display at Honk! Fest, a music festival planned, organized and performed by volunteers. A musically and culturally diverse series of marching bands perform for audience members on the street using brass, woodwinds and makeshift percussion to “blur the line between crowd and performers.” In past years, Honk! has carried the spirit of Mardi Gras, compelling onlookers to laugh and dance along to the music. Tubas, snare drums, trombones and trumpets will be just a few of the instruments on display.

This year’s eclectic group of bands includes ensembles from Oregon, Indiana and Chicago. Bands are multi-generational, completely non-profit and regularly play for the public throughout the year. The diversity and talent of each musician ensures that there truly is something for everyone.

Sunday, June 11: A Day of Rosé (Iris Vineyards Tasting Room & Patio), 1 to 5 p.m., free

In case you need to escape Beer Week, Eugene’s Iris Vineyards Tasting Room & Patio is hosting a “Day of Rosé” for local wine lovers. Complimentary tastes of seven rosé wines will be available from seven South Willamette wineries. Tasters are also able to purchase these wines, either by the glass or the bottle. Oregon Wood Fired Pizza, a local food truck, will be on site with a variety of toppings available on slices or full pizzas. Local wines will be on display from Bennett Vineyards, J. Scott Cellars, Silvan Ridge, Sarver Winery, Sweet Cheeks, William Rose, and host Iris Vineyards. Check out the event at 1 p.m. at Iris Vineyards just south of Eugene.

The post Things to do this week: Spring Dance Loft, Beer Dinner at Falling Sky, Honk! Fest Eugene appeared first on Emerald Media.

Ubisoft has delivered its first big information drop for “Far Cry 5,” which will take place in Montana

“Far Cry” is a series known for taking players far afield from what most would consider the civilized world. From the plains of Africa, the islands of the Pacific ocean, the Himalayan mountains and even into the prehistoric past and cybernetic future, fans of the series have been on quite the globe-trotting journey. But now the series is taking a bit of a new direction by dropping players into a location that might be closer to home: the rolling hills of Hope County, Montana.

Earlier this week, Ubisoft revealed the cover art, announcement trailer and basic plot for the next installment of the open-world shooter series: “Far Cry 5.” This time around players will be combating a radical pseudo-Christian cult known as The Project at Eden’s Gate, as it terrorizes rural America.

Concept art for “Far Cry 5” depicting cultists advancing on a farmhouse. (Courtesy of Ubisoft)

Ubisoft claims that this new adversary will be “the biggest and most ruthless baddest enemy” in the “Far Cry” series so far — a bold claim considering previous installments have featured brutal warlords, deranged pirates and violent dictators.

Typical of each new installment in the “Far Cry” series, there will be a large expansion of the weapons and vehicles available for players to play around with. One of the most interesting will be the inclusion of planes, most of which seem to be propeller powered fighters straight out of World War II.

The game is currently set to launch Feb. 27, 2018, and will be on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. You can learn more on the game’s official website.

You can watch the trailer for “Far Cry 5” here. (Viewer discretion is advised.)

Blizzard has been teasing its newest map for “Overwatch,” the Horizon Lunar Colony

One of the big questions that have been on the minds of the “Overwatch” community are the mysterious circumstances surrounding one of the game’s most featured characters: the genetically engineered hyper-intelligent gorilla Winston.

Like most of “Overwatch’s” narrative, we’ve only been drip-fed small hints and clues as to what’s actually going on in this alternate timeline where cars can fly and gorillas can talk. Fortunately, we’ll be getting at least a few answers with the release of the game’s newest map: the Horizon Lunar Colony, which should be available sometime in the coming weeks.

This scientific research colony was Winston’s home before what appears to have been a “Planet of the Apes” style uprising against the science staff by the ape test subjects. Winston fled afterward to Earth where he joined Overwatch, but always knew he’d return home one day, or at least to what’s left of it.

The map is currently a Capture Point game mode where players fight for control of the different facilities. It will be available in both casual and competitive play upon full release.

The map is currently available for testing on the “Overwatch” public test realm.

Watch the trailer for the Horizon Lunar Colony map below or watch the developer diary here:

The post Gaming Week In Review: ‘Far Cry 5’ unveiling, ‘Overwatch’ lunar colony map teaser appeared first on Emerald Media.

Thursday, June 1: Jean-Luc Ponty at The Shedd Institute (E Broadway & High St.), 7:30 p.m., $39-$45

Jean-Luc Ponty’s prolific 60-year career has made him a pioneer in the world of jazz fusion. With his virtuosic grasp of the elusive jazz violin, Ponty has catapulted himself among names like Frank Zappa, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea. This Thursday, he’s teaming up with keyboardist Wally Minko, bassist Barron Browne, guitarist Jamie Glaser and drummer Rayford Griffin.

As part of The Shedd’s “Now Hear This” concert series, Ponty will take you back to the late ’70s by performing the fusion jams that helped define the genre during his collaboration with Atlantic Records. His ability to masterfully manipulate the strings of a violin in his brilliant compositions has more than cemented his place in jazz history. Opportunities to see a true jazz legend are waning with each year that passes.

The Shedd ticket office number is (541)-434-7000.

Friday, June 2: Travis Scott at Cuthbert Amphitheater (2300 Leo Harris Pkwy), 7 p.m., all ages

Jacques Webster, Jr. is having a busy year. The rapper, known onstage as Travis Scott, is on tour for his third studio album, “Astroworld,” due for release sometime this year. He also collaborated with Migos on its debut album, “Culture,” headlined NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and contributed to Drake’s latest project “More Life.” He’ll continue his banner year with a concert in Eugene this Friday.

Raised in Houston, Scott’s musical style has always been eclectic. His second album, “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight,” exhibited a large number of guest artists and a dark, continuously shifting sound. Scott himself has disowned the “rapper” label, pointing to his singing, music videos and occasional role as producer as an example of his wide-ranging talent. His show is certain to exhibit that talent when he takes the stage at the Cuthbert Amphitheater.

Friday, June 2: Professor Steven Shankman book launch at Knight Browsing Room (1501 Kincaid St.), 4 to 5 p.m.

UO Professor Steven Shankman’s new book, “Turned Inside Out: Reading the Russian Novel in Prison,” reflects on his moving experience teaching books written by Emmanuel Levinas, Leo Tolstoy and many others to inmates. You can join Shankman this Friday to celebrate and discuss the book’s launch.

Shankman currently teaches an Inside-Out class every Thursday, taking students to the Oregon State Correctional Institute for class. His book intertwines the texts discussed in class along with the incredible insight prisoners involved in the program have to offer.

You can learn more about the book at www.nupress.northwestern.edu.

Friday, June 2: ‘Venus in Fur’ at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, (194 W. Broadway), 7:30 p.m., student tickets $15

American playwright David Ives’s play “Venus in Fur” is about theater and blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. It follows Vanda, an actress, as she auditions for Tom, a playwright-director who is adapting an 1870 Austrian novel about masochism, “Venus in Furs” into a play. Ives is known for his short, one-act plays and fiction, and is a prolific writer. Ives’ work has been performed around the country. Last year, University of Oregon University Theatre staged a show of his called “The School for Lies,” an adaptation of the French playwright Moliere’s “Misanthrope.” Ives is a versatile writer and “Venus in Fur” is bound to be a funny, exciting play. It runs Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. each show.

For more information and ticket information, visit OCT at octheater.com or call 541-465-1506.

Saturday, June 3: 2nd Annual Invitational Brew Fest at The Bier Stein (1591 Willamette St), 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Admission is $20 (Cash Only), 21+

The Bier Stein Invitational Brew Fest is back and will be hosting more than 30 local breweries from around the state of Oregon. A wide variety of brews will be poured from a selection of new, seasonal, one-off beers, ciders and meads. Additionally, Oregon Wood Fired Pizza will be also be at the event serving fresh pizza to all Brew Fest goers. A bicycle valet will be on-hand, along with a refillable water station, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottle. Admission is $20 and includes a 0.25-liter glass and five beer tickets to be spent at the various booths. Pours will range from 1-4 tickets per four ounce pour. Only cash will be accepted at check-in, and attendants must be 21 or older to purchase a ticket. The fest is also offering a reduced “designated driver admission” at $5 for those taking one for the team.

The post Things to do this week: Jean-Luc Ponty, Travis Scott, 2nd Annual Invitational Brew Fest appeared first on Emerald Media.