Blizzard is celebrating one year of ‘Overwatch’ with a special anniversary event featuring new maps, skins, emotes and more

May 24 marked the official one year anniversary of Blizzard Entertainment’s hit game “Overwatch” — and what a year it’s been. Since the game was first released last spring, three new heroes, a weekly game mode rotation and countless cosmetic items and skins have been added to the game through updates and seasonal events. The game even dipped into some co-op gameplay with its Halloween and Insurrection events, deviating from its multiplayer focus.

To celebrate a year of success, Blizzard has released three new maps for the Arena game mode and more new skins and cosmetic items. They are available in a new, limited time loot box.

The three new maps are Necropolis, Castillo and Black Forest, each based on previous “Overwatch” locations. Necropolis places players in the secret base of the sniper hero Anya, hidden away in an Egyptian oasis. Castillo has players return to Mexico, where they visit Sombra’s graffiti-tagged hacker den. Black Forest features the ruins of a secluded forest village in Germany, located outside Eichenwald Castle, the former home of Reinhardt before the first Omnic Crisis.

Heroes fight in Black Forest, one of the newest maps in the latest “Overwatch” update. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

More than half the roster have received quirky new costumes, from a beekeeper suit for Mei to a Kamen Rider-esque set of armor for Genji. Each hero has also received their own dance emote, except for Reaper of course, who just kind of awkwardly taps his foot.

Sentai Genji in his home map of Hanamura, looking like a Kamen Rider. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

What might have fans most excited are the small tidbits of “Overwatch’s” elusive, drip-fed story subtly sprinkled throughout the new maps. With the new update also comes an announcement for Season 2 of the “Overwatch” animated shorts and comics, which makes one wonder when Blizzard will finally make the leap into making its own animated films.

You can check out the Emerald’s review of “Overwatch” here.

Learn more on the game’s official website and watch the trailer for the “Overwatch Anniversary” update below:

Rockstar Games has moved the release of “Red Dead Redemption 2” from Fall 2017 to Spring 2018

If you’ve been itching to roam the wild west once again, it looks like you’ll be waiting a few more months before saddling up again in the “Red Dead” universe. The highly anticipated sequel to Rockstar Games’s “Grand Theft Auto”-like open-world Western “Red Dead Redemption” has been delayed a whole quarter. “Red Dead Redemption 2” will now release in Spring 2018, not Fall 2017 as initially planned.

Rockstar apologized in a blog post announcing the change, but promises more details about the game soon in exchange:

“We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready. We are really excited to bring you more details about the game this summer.”

Not much is known about the plot or new features of this new installment so far, but just the name drop alone warranted a nomination for Most Anticipated Game in 2016’s The Game Awards. All we know so far is that it’s a third-person, open world shooter that has both substantial single player and multiplayer components. Newly released screenshots show trains, towering redwoods and muddy candlelit towns, truly evocative of the Western Frontier theme.

An in-engine screenshot of a train traveling the countryside from “Red Dead Redemption 2.” (Courtesy of Ubisoft)

“Red Dead Redemption 2” is currently only set to release on Xbox One and Playstation 4, but hopeful fans have been vying for a PC port as well.

You can watch the latest trailer for “Red Dead Redemption 2” 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.

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Thursday, May 25: Introduction to Fly Fishing: Basics of Fly Fishing & Casting, (part one: 444 W 3rd Ave., part two: Alton Baker Park), 6:30p.m., $55 for both classes, $45 for casting class

Eugene sits in a prime location for those who love the outdoors. Home Waters Fly Fishing & Guide Service is offering a two-part class to teach anyone and everyone how to fly fish. Part one of the class will take place on May 24 and will focus on safety, etiquette, equipment, technique, bugs and resources. Part two is all about casting and will follow on May 25 or June 1. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 541-342-6691. All equipment will be provided so there is no need to bring your own gear.

Saturday, May 27: The Talbott Brothers perform at Sweet Cheeks Winery, (27007 Briggs Hill Rd.),1 p.m., tickets are free

The Talbott Brothers are a Portland-based, Nebraska-born folk duo consisting of Nick and Tyler Talbott. The brothers often use a mixture of guitar, harmonica and kick drum to achieve the modern-sounding style of folk and blues music they have become known for throughout the Northwest. Their sound is derived from many famous folk and indie artists before them — they list Neil Young, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash and Simon & Garfunkel as some of their biggest musical influences. Although they use a variety of instruments, the sound of their music is simplistic and transparent, which allows listeners to focus on the duo’s impeccable vocal harmonies.

The brothers — who are known for their engaging and intimate live performances — are currently touring throughout the Northwest in promotion of their third studio album, “Grey,” which was released in February.

Monday, May 29: Eugene Pioneer Cemetery Memorial Day Service (Civil War Veteran’s Plot, 18th and University), 11 a.m., free

This Memorial Day service will be held right on campus at the Civil War Veteran’s Plot in the Pioneer Cemetery across from MacArthur Court. The annual ceremony will include members of the Sons of Union Veterans, dressed in Civil War Military uniforms and a Three-Volley “Black Powder Salute.” According to their national headquarters, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the 19th century. The ceremony is performed every year by the Sons of Union Veterans, in honor of all veterans buried or memorialized at the cemetery. Shasta Middle School Band and Choir will perform patriotic songs to pay respects to the veterans. This event is free and all are welcome to join in observance of the holiday.

Conrado Moya. (Courtesy of Conrado Moya)

Wednesday, May 31: Conrado Moya marimba performance at Aasen-Hull Hall (961 E 18th Ave.), 7:30 p.m., free

Conrado Moya is an internationally recognized marimba soloist. He has received multiple awards during his artistic career, including winning first place at the ConUCOpercusión International Marimba Competition. In June, after several U.S. performances, Moya will be traveling to Germany to present his work and help teach others. His performance at the University of Oregon on Wednesday will also include a master class. Moya has spent extensive time training others in the art of marimba and often collaborates with symphonies and bands around the world. For more information about the events, visit the UO Events Calendar or Moya’s personal webpage.

Thursday, May 25: TV Broken Third Eye Open at Hi-Fi Music Hall, (44 E 7th Ave.)10 p.m., $5 at door, 21 and over

If psychedelic funk, eclectic jazz and tribal beats sound like they might be your jam, you can join TV Broken Third Eye Open for a live performance at Hi-Fi Lounge this week. The group performs with a variety of exotic and national instruments, including sitar, didgeridoo, harmonica, banjo and more. The group has performed at festivals like Burning Man and each of their shows features a custom designed and built TV totem “3-D projection mapping stage,” which involves four 15-foot totem poles constructed from broken TV sets. To learn more, visit the group’s website: tvbroken3rdeyeopen.com.

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Thursday, May 25: Introduction to Fly Fishing: Basics of Fly Fishing & Casting, (part one: 444 W 3rd Ave., part two: Alton Baker Park), 6:30p.m., $55 for both classes, $45 for casting class

Eugene sits in a prime location for those who love the outdoors. Home Waters Fly Fishing & Guide Service is offering a two-part class to teach anyone and everyone how to fly fish. Part one of the class will take place on May 24 and will focus on safety, etiquette, equipment, technique, bugs and resources. Part two is all about casting and will follow on May 25 or June 1. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 541-342-6691. All equipment will be provided so there is no need to bring your own gear.

Saturday, May 27: The Talbott Brothers perform at Sweet Cheeks Winery, (27007 Briggs Hill Rd.),1 p.m., tickets are free

The Talbott Brothers are a Portland-based, Nebraska-born folk duo consisting of Nick and Tyler Talbott. The brothers often use a mixture of guitar, harmonica and kick drum to achieve the modern-sounding style of folk and blues music they have become known for throughout the Northwest. Their sound is derived from many famous folk and indie artists before them — they list Neil Young, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash and Simon & Garfunkel as some of their biggest musical influences. Although they use a variety of instruments, the sound of their music is simplistic and transparent, which allows listeners to focus on the duo’s impeccable vocal harmonies.

The brothers — who are known for their engaging and intimate live performances — are currently touring throughout the Northwest in promotion of their third studio album, “Grey,” which was released in February.

Monday, May 29: Eugene Pioneer Cemetery Memorial Day Service (Civil War Veteran’s Plot, 18th and University), 11 a.m., free

This Memorial Day service will be held right on campus at the Civil War Veteran’s Plot in the Pioneer Cemetery across from MacArthur Court. The annual ceremony will include members of the Sons of Union Veterans, dressed in Civil War Military uniforms and a Three-Volley “Black Powder Salute.” According to their national headquarters, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the 19th century. The ceremony is performed every year by the Sons of Union Veterans, in honor of all veterans buried or memorialized at the cemetery. Shasta Middle School Band and Choir will perform patriotic songs to pay respects to the veterans. This event is free and all are welcome to join in observance of the holiday.

Conrado Moya. (Courtesy of Conrado Moya)

Wednesday, May 31: Conrado Moya marimba performance at Aasen-Hull Hall (961 E 18th Ave.), 7:30 p.m., free

Conrado Moya is an internationally recognized marimba soloist. He has received multiple awards during his artistic career, including winning first place at the ConUCOpercusión International Marimba Competition. In June, after several U.S. performances, Moya will be traveling to Germany to present his work and help teach others. His performance at the University of Oregon on Wednesday will also include a master class. Moya has spent extensive time training others in the art of marimba and often collaborates with symphonies and bands around the world. For more information about the events, visit the UO Events Calendar or Moya’s personal webpage.

Thursday, May 25: TV Broken Third Eye Open at Hi-Fi Music Hall, (44 E 7th Ave.)10 p.m., $5 at door, 21 and over

If psychedelic funk, eclectic jazz and tribal beats sound like they might be your jam, you can join TV Broken Third Eye Open for a live performance at Hi-Fi Lounge this week. The group performs with a variety of exotic and national instruments, including sitar, didgeridoo, harmonica, banjo and more. The group has performed at festivals like Burning Man and each of their shows features a custom designed and built TV totem “3-D projection mapping stage,” which involves four 15-foot totem poles constructed from broken TV sets. To learn more, visit the group’s website: tvbroken3rdeyeopen.com.

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In honor of the upcoming graduation ceremony, the Emerald has a complied a list of notable University of Oregon graduates. 

Randy Shilts (1951-1994):

After working at the Daily Emerald as an award-winning managing editor, Shilts came out as gay and began lifelong work as a social justice journalist. While he struggled to find full-time work at first as an openly gay man, he started his career working for LGBTQ magazine The Advocate. In 1981, Shilts earned the position of national correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle. He also wrote the groundbreaking biography of openly gay politician Harvey Milk, “The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk.” Shilts devoted much of his time and remaining life as a journalist covering the medical and social impact of the AIDS crisis.

Chuck Palahniuk:

(Wikimedia Commons)

An acclaimed author of more than 20 books, Chuck Palahniuk graduated from the University of Oregon in 1986, after which he worked in Portland for a local newspaper before leaving journalism and working a series of odd jobs. He began writing fiction in his mid-30s. His first novel, “Fight Club,” is his most well-known; filmmaker David Fincher brought it to theaters with a critically lauded 1999 adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Palahniuk’s work, which has been labeled “nihilist” by some critics, continues to be published. His latest narrative project, “Fight Club 2,” is a graphic novel. 

Patty Larkin:

Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Patty Larkin fit right in with her family of musicians, where she self-taught herself guitar and experimented with pop and folk songwriting before coming to the University of Oregon as an English major. She played music in local coffee shops in the Eugene area before graduating and moving to Boston where she could fully devote herself to music. Larkin has produced 14 albums, her most recent being “Still Green” in 2014. At age 65 she is still touring around the country and sharing her gentle nature and confident spirit with all those willing to listen.

Kaitlin Olson: 

Before she was the co-star of the FX hit-comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Kaitlin Olson did the same bar crawl many other University of Oregon students have, even having her fake ID taken from the bouncer at Rennie’s. But that didn’t stop her from earning her degree in Theatre, which started her career in the TV industry. She picked up her first role in 2000, when she starred in the horror film “Eyes to heaven.” Since then, Olson has become known for her over-the-top characters and crude, improvisational humor. 

Watch the Emerald’s interview with Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney below:

It’s Always Sunny in Eugene from Will Cuddy on Vimeo.

Howard Hesseman:

First known by his acting and radio persona Don Sturdy, Hesseman is a University of Oregon attendee who’s been acting since 1968. Born in 1940 in Lebanon Hesseman attended UO before moving down to San Francisco to start his comedy career, where he was a founding member of the improvisational comedy troupe The Committee. He is best known for his role as Charlie Moore in the 1986 sitcom “Head of the Class” and the 1978 sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” as DJ Dr. Johnny Fever. His most recent role was Vespucci from the 2016 comedy “Wild Oats.”

The post Grad Guide 2017: Notable UO alumni appeared first on Emerald Media.

A still from “Destiny 2.” (Courtesy of Activision)

Blizzard has announced that Bungie’s “Destiny 2” is coming to PC on the Blizzard App

PC gamers rejoiced when Bungie announced that the sequel to their sci-fi first-person-shooter MMO “Destiny” would no longer be a console exclusive. While many fans were glad to hear that the game would be available on another platform and feature cross-platform play, expectant fans were blindsided this week when Blizzard Entertainment revealed it would be hosting the game on its online game manager, the Blizzard App, formerly known as Battle.Net.

This unprecedented move by Blizzard means that we likely won’t see a release of the game on other distribution and game management platforms like Steam, which is both a surprising and intriguing move on Bungie’s part.

While both companies are under the overarching wing of games publisher Activision, both Blizzard and Bungie have maintained a strict measure of independence and have not openly interacted until now.

According to an FAQ published by Blizzard in regards to the choice to allow Bungie to utilize the Blizzard App:

“We loved ‘Destiny’ and think ‘Destiny 2’ is going to be a great game. Blizzard has an established and successful global internet infrastructure we’ve used for years to support our own games. Creating a new network client for ‘Destiny 2,’ which is bringing the franchise to PC for the first time, would needlessly extend the development period for the game. We want to get our hands on ‘Destiny 2’ as soon as possible like everybody else, so we offered to share our PC platform with our sister companies for this release.”

Whether this act of cooperation will be a unique exception or a herald of Blizzard taking on an expanded role as a distributor, we’ll have to wait and see. Could we someday see “Destiny” characters duking it out in the “Heroes of the Storm” Nexus or special skins in “Overwatch?”

Watch the latest trailer for “Destiny 2” below:

Netflix announces it has started production of a “Witcher” TV show based on the book series that inspired the game

“The Witcher” franchise is known for having an absolute glut of story-driven content. The series’s latest installment, “Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” boasted over 100 hours of playtime and was awarded over 250 individual gaming awards since its release in 2015. From its expansive free DLC to the upcoming standalone spinoff card game “Gwent,” it’s no surprise that fans are all clamoring for more “Witcher” content in whatever shape it may come, including state-sponsored commemorative stamps.

Geralt of Rivia, the main character of “The Witcher” franchise. (Courtesy of CD Projekt Red)

Netflix has announced in a recent press release that it will be starting production of a “The Witcher” drama series. This wouldn’t be the first time the grim fantasy universe of “The Witcher” has received a television adaption. The 2001 Polish fantasy film “The Hexer” and a poorly rated television series of the same name from 2002 are adaptations from the fictional works of Andrzej Sapkowski, from which the video game also draws its lore and overall plot. With that said, we can expect some pretty major differences between what we see in the new Netflix show and what we’ve already experienced in the games.

According to a Eurogamer article from March 2017, Sapkowski isn’t a big fan of video games and greatly regrets selling the rights for the story to CD Projekt Red, worrying that the games have cost him book sales.

But based on the aforementioned press release from Netflix, Sapkowski is happy about adapting his work into an episodic television series:

“I’m thrilled that Netflix will be doing an adaptation of my stories, staying true to the source material and the themes that I have spent over thirty years writing.” “I’m excited about our efforts together, as well as the team assembled to shepherd these characters to life.”

Sean Daniel (“The Mummy” franchise) and Jason Brown (“The Expanse”) are set to be the executive producers, along with Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko from Platige Image, a Polish production and visual effects company.

No further information has been released at this time, but for fans of the franchise, more “Witcher” is always a good sign.

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: Blizzard hosts ‘Destiny 2’ on Blizzard App, ‘The Witcher’ Netlix series in production appeared first on Emerald Media.

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

Ubisoft will soon release two new “For Honor” classes, the Shinobi and Centurion, next week on May 16 for Season Pass owners

The hype for Ubisoft’s medieval combat game “For Honor” may have died down in recent months, but the game’s latest DLC pack might add some life into the game. After an initial leak several weeks ago, Ubisoft has officially announced its two new playable characters, the Shinobi and the Centurion, along with a variety of new maps for players to fight for superiority. Their releases will coincide with the start of the second in-game season.

The Centurion is an iron-masked knight hybrid that wields the iconic Roman Gladius, while the Shinobi is a samurai assassin who totes a chained pair of sickles. Their respective play styles have yet to be fully revealed, but the Centurion seems to favor defense and counterattacks like his fellow hybrids; the Shinobi can be seen dodging and keeping a fair distance from his foes.

The two new maps, The Forge and The Temple Gardens, will be available for free. The Forge is a map inspired by the Knights faction and features a large blacksmithing complex that has different seasonal variations, while the Temple Gardens is inspired by the Samurai faction and features an ironically calm environment filled with cherry blossom trees.

Players who purchased the game’s season pass will have access to the new content on May 16, with everyone else being able to purchase the two new classes the following week.

You can check out the Emerald’s review of “For Honor” here.

Watch the trailers for the Shinobi and Centurion below:

Valve changes how its Steam gifting system works, such as removing the gift to email and gift to inventory options

The Steam store is known for its huge seasonal sales and discounts. There’s actually an entire sub-market devoted to trading or reselling discounted keys when the sales end through the service’s gift function. But some recent changes to how gift purchases work might throw a wrench into the works.

Valve’s latest policy change, outlined here in a recent blog post, has altered the way the digital video game distributor allows users to gift games to one another. Gifting is now a direct exchange from user to user strictly on the platform, which adds both new features and limitations to the service.

Users can now buy a game months in advance and have it be gifted to someone else at a specified time. The intention seems to promote buying games on sale to gift to friends later down the line.

There is also an option to decline a gift, which will keep it out of their library and automatically refund the price to the gift giver. This seems like a useful feature to combat the longtime prank of forcibly gifting terrible games, such as the critically panned “Bad Rats: the Rat’s Revenge,” to unsuspecting victims, cluttering up their Steam libraries or filling up their digital inventories.

The final and most impactful feature is the new cross-country gifting limitations. According to Valve, if the price of a game is dramatically different in two countries, you will not be able to purchase and gift it to your foreign friends. This seems like a way to curb region-to-region reselling, where someone could theoretically buy a game activation key for a cheaper currency and resell it in a different country.

While Valve has put an overall positive spin on this change, it will undoubtedly affect the gaming community in the near future. Both the Steam key trading community and digital resellers like G2A and GreenManGaming will likely face difficulty exchanging codes outside Valve’s field of vision from now on.

This change does not affect any previous transactions, meaning any unused keys you may currently have are safe.

Stellaris 1.6 Adam’s Update is live along with a special anniversary deal and free DLC

Paradox Interactive has just announced a new anniversary edition of their 4X space exploration game Stellaris, along with some new free alien species artwork to add a little more Sci-fi flavor to the game. This announcement coincides with the new Adam’s Update, which adds some new features that didn’t quite make it into the “Utopia” expansion.

The Adam’s Update adds derelict superstructures that can be repaired, expanded diplomacy options, the ability to terraform inhabited planets and new ways to tax sectors of your empire by spending influence points. The update also adds a “Devouring Swarm” trait for hivemind species that gives unique diplomacy options, which is exactly what it sounds like.

“Stellaris — Digital Anniversary Edition” includes the base game, the “Utopia” expansion, the “Leviathans” story pack DLC and the “Plantoids” species pack. The anniversary species pack contains the three “void creature” species that were previously only available as a preorder bonus. The “Anniversary Edition” will be on sale for the next few days for anyone who’s been looking to give the game a spin.

Watch the latest trailer for “Stellaris” below:

You can follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week in Review: two new ‘For Honor’ classes, Steam limits game gifting, ‘Stellaris’ Adam’s Update appeared first on Emerald Media.

The “Heroes of the Storm” 2.0 update has been released, completely revamping the game’s progression and reward system and adding new content

Blizzard’s multi-franchise-spanning MOBA “Heroes of the Storm” just got a lot more interesting for casual and hardcore players alike with a fully revamped progression system, as well as some new heroes, a new map and a returning cross-game promotional event.

The main feature of the “Heroes 2.0” patch is the array of cosmetic and social item drops that can be earned by opening random loot chests. These chests have different rarities and can be earned by leveling up individual heroes and your overall account level, a similar system to Blizzard’s popular first-person shooter, “Overwatch.”

A range of new emojis based on characters of the Diablo franchise that appear in “Heroes of the Storm.”

Some of the new rewards include chat emojis, voice lines, announcer packs, ground sprays and any of the game’s character skins or mounts, most of which were formerly only available through a microtransaction purchase. Getting duplicate items gives players points that can be put toward unlocks of their choice. You can also use gold, another in-game currency, to re-roll loot drops for individual chests.

Specific item drops can also be purchased with gems, the game’s new premium currency. Gems replace straight cash prices on in-game items, which means they can be used to purchase new playable heroes as well.

As an added bonus, anyone who logs into the game from now to May 22 will receive 100 gems to purchase one of four new hero starter packs called Mega Bundles. Only one of these can be purchased, but they provide 20 heroes to aid new players or help fill in holes in a veteran’s roster. There are currently four Mega Bundles available, one for each style of play.

This patch also marks the return of the “Nexus Challenge” event, where players can earn special items in “Overwatch” by playing matches with friends. This coincides with the addition of Genji and D. VA, two playable characters from Overwatch, as well as a new map based on Genji’s home turf, Hanamura, to the “Heroes of the Storm” roster.

Watch the trailer for the newest “Heroes of the Storm” map and heroes below:

The Strong National Museum of Play has announced the five newest inductees into its World Video Game Hall of Fame

In 2015, The Strong National Museum of Play, an intellectual and historical institution devoted to studying play, began inducting culturally significant video games into the World Video Game Hall of Fame as part of its ”eGameRevolution” exhibit. Games inducted into the Hall of Fame are those that have made a significant impact both culturally and in video game industry at large. Nominees can span all platforms, eras and genres. The Strong has since only selected only a handful of games to be inducted each year from a changing list of finalists.

This year’s five new inductees to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. (Courtesy of The Strong National Museum of Play)

This year’s winners are “Donkey Kong,” “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Pokémon Red and Green,” and “Street Fighter II.” These games were selected from 12-item list, with “Pokémon Red and Green” being a holdout finalist from 2015 and “Street Fighter II” returning from last year’s finalists.

These new additions were selected by a panel of journalists, scholars and other historical video game experts based on the following criteria:

Icon-status: The game is widely recognized and remembered.

Longevity: The game is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time.

Geographical reach: The game meets the above criteria across international boundaries.

Influence: The game has exerted significant influence on the design and development of other games, on other forms of entertainment, or on popular culture and society in general. A game may be inducted on the basis of this criterion without necessarily having met all of the first three.

Physical copies of all inductees to the World Video Game Hall of Fame are showcased at The Strong in Rochester, New York.

Nominations for next year’s inductees can be submitted by anyone online.

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If there’s a hero, then there’s a villain. Join Mat and Dana as they discuss one of the greatest driving forces in any gamer’s quest: taking down the big bad final boss, from Bowser and Ganon to Andrew Ryan and GLADOS.

This episode was produced by Franziska Monahan.

The post Podcast: From Bowser to GLADOS – video game villains appeared first on Emerald Media.

Thursday, April 27: Across the Table, Around the World, The Cuisine of Mali (The Museum of Natural and Cultural History), 6 p.m., $35 with pre-registration

This weekend presents a unique opportunity to improve your cultural culinary skill at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. This event explores the “staples and regional differences of Mali cuisine.” The West African country is known for its spices, therefore, the demonstration will include spice identification, preparation and cooking methods for rice and grains using spices. For $35, participants can watch these demonstrations and then participate in the mini-workshops. Tastings include various grains, regional sauces and sesame bites, and participants get to take home a special package of rice and grains when the night is over. The cost of the workshop also includes a glass of wine or beer with your tastings. Seats at the global table are still available, but pre-registration is required. Visit natural-history.uoregon.edu for more info.

-Casey Miller

Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29: Academy of Arts and Academics’ Spring Dance Concert (1484 University St.), 8 p.m., Adults $8.50, Seniors $6, A3 Students with ID free

The Academy of Arts and Academics (A3) will present its spring dance concert at the University of Oregon’s Dougherty Dance Theater on both Friday and Saturday evening. Attendants can watch the debut of faculty and student work across many different styles and genres of dance. The A3 has been working with the A Cappella Choir and Dance Costuming to create the performance, which will focus on mental health: The performance will encourage awareness, as well as empathy. There will also be a focus on resources and paths to recovery. 

The performance is open to all students, faculty and the general public. Tickets to the event are available from the UO Ticket Office in the EMU or online.

-Leanne Harloff

Sunday, April 30: Futurebirds at Hi-Fi Music Hall (44 E 7th Ave.), doors open 7:30 p.m., tickets $10 advance, $12 at the door, 21+

Alt-country quintet Futurebirds will bring its brand of slide guitar-led melodies to audiences when they arrive in Eugene this weekend. Known for its high-energy shows and unique sound, the band has released three albums, including 2015’s “Hotel Parties.”

Based in Athens, Georgia, Futurebirds has been active since 2008. Known for their hits “Rodeo” and “Only Here for Your Love,” the band combines classic country elements like pedal steel guitar and rolling percussion with alternative rock. Their music captures a somber, bittersweet mood while still providing enough energy to fill arenas. The band also adds bits of psychedelia in some songs, and showcases the talents of their guitarists with soaring guitar solos. Fans of other country-blending bands like Deer Tick and Middle Brother will find plenty to love in Futurebirds’ sound. Expect a head-bobbing show with enough mellow instrumentation to fill a country barn.

-Dana Alston

Monday, May 1: Coping with Anxiety at the EMU (Duck Nest 041), 2 p.m. 

This one-hour workshop will provide resources and tips on how to manage anxiety. Aiming to teach students how to identify and approach symptoms in a healthy and practical manner, Coping with Anxiety offers a safe environment to talk to others experiencing similar feelings and gain knowledge on how to live with the condition. It is available during the even weeks of spring term and is a great opportunity to hear from professionals, form a plan to handle your anxiety and set yourself up for success. The workshop is free as can be and no sign-ups are necessary, so don’t hesitate to drop in.

–Sarah Urban

Wednesday, May 3: Rethinking the ‘Mystery’ of Easter Island lecture, (418 A St., Springfield), 6 p.m.

University of Oregon’s Clark Honors College Dean, Dr. Terry Hunt, will present his lecture on the mysteries surrounding the Southeastern Pacific island Rapa Nui, more commonly known as Easter Island. The island’s ancient community has been studied by many academics; however, many aspects of the island’s community have remained a mystery to those who study it. Most notably, the composition and transportation of the gigantic statues. Throughout the lecture, Dr. Hunt will present his own hands-on field work as evidence for the community’s technological success.

Hunt’s lecture is part of the Ideas on Tap lecture series that occurs on the first Wednesday of each month. The series seeks to provide the greater Eugene community with an opportunity to discuss science and culture, all while enjoying craft beers via Claim 52 Brewery!

-Zach Price

The post Things to do this week: ‘The Cuisine of Mali’ exhibit, Futurebirds at Hi-Fi and ‘Mystery’ of Easter Island lecture appeared first on Emerald Media.

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

In celebration of the upcoming “Starcraft” remastered release,  you can download the original version for free, right now

The original “Starcraft” and its expansion pack “Brood War” are widely considered to be one of the most influential games of all time, especially in regards to the rising popularity of the competitive eSports scene. The game’s space-opera campaign mode is considered a classic in video game storytelling and its difficulty is the stuff of gaming legend.

The “Starcraft” story seems to have concluded in a rather lackluster manner with the latest installment, “Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void.” But that doesn’t spell the end for the classic real-time-strategy game. Blizzard announced in March that “Starcraft” would be the first game to receive a makeover with a remastered edition coming this summer. They sweetened the deal this week by giving the original version of the game away for free.

The Zerg, one of “Starcraft’s” three playable races, with their new remastered HD designs. (Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment)

Now, everyone has an opportunity to experience this classic real-time-strategy, whether they’re going back for a nostalgia-filled binge or learning what they might have missed out on. Even better, the remastered version will feature cross-play with the old version, meaning you won’t be excluded when the new version comes out.

The original “Starcraft’s” popularity is still felt to this day. Entire genres were created and popularized by games made with the custom map editor, including the Tower Defense genre and the MOBA genre, the latter of which finds its origins in the “Aeon of Strife” map. The eSports competitions that feature “Starcraft II” and its two standalone expansions — “Heart of the Swarm” and “Legacy of the Void” — are some of the largest eSports events featured every year.

Along with the free release, the game received its first update in eight years, which mostly involves some compatibility fixes with modern computers and software, as well as anti-cheat improvements and other modern features like an observation mode and quick saves.

You can find the download on the “Starcraft Remastered” website, where you can also check out all of the planned features for the new version.

Watch the trailer for “Starcraft Remastered” below:

 Nintendo announces it has ceased production of the NES Classic Edition

The NES Classic Edition retail package, an item which Nintendo has announced it will no longer produce. (Courtesy of Nintendo)

Perhaps you’ve heard the legends of the mythical NES Classic Edition, an official plug-and-play console featuring 30 of Nintendo’s best NES games. It has only appeared in stores sporadically throughout the last year and seemed to sell out as quickly as it hit the shelves. Sadly, if you missed it the first time around, your chances of getting one, at least for a reasonable price, have decreased dramatically.

A representative from Nintendo recently provided IGN with the following statement:

“Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year. We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that, we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product.”

This decision comes as a surprise since Nintendo reported the NES Classic Edition sold at least 1.5 million units in its limited run, with only one more batch soon to be released. Nintendo has also been increasingly criticized for not being able to meet the production demand for its latest products, including the Nintendo Switch Console and its line of Amiibo figures.

So if you’re looking to pick up this throwback to ‘80s and ‘90s gaming, this might be your last opportunity. Of course, there’s always the option of buying the console from third-party sellers on sites like ebay.com, but the price on said sites seem to have soared to around five times the $59.95 retail price.

Interested in more of what the Emerald has to say about Nintendo’s gaming consoles? Check out our discussion of the Nintendo Switch here.

The NES Classic Edition has 30 classic Nintendo games pre-loaded onto the system such as “Castlevania,” “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda,” most of which are available through the Nintendo virtual console stores for Wii, Wii U and Switch. So if you can’t get ahold of one before they leave circulation, there’s still a way to sate your hunger for old-school video games.

You can watch the retro-inspired trailer for the NES Classic Edition below:

Follow Mathew on Twitter: @MathewQBrock.

The post Gaming Week In Review: Original ‘Starcraft’ and “Brood War” now free, NES Classic production to cease appeared first on Emerald Media.