Activision Wins $3 Million Lawsuit Against Call of Duty Cheat Makers

Cheating in PC gaming is a longstanding issue, but there’s a growing effort to crack down on those who create and distribute unauthorized cheat tools. The latest group to be hit with a hefty fine is EngineOwning, a Call of Duty cheat seller whose two developers were recently ordered to pay $3 million for designing cheating software.

According to Axios, the judgment specifies that the cheats were used in several Call of Duty titles, including Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, Vanguard, all of the Black Ops games, Warzone, and Warzone 2. EngineOwning also reportedly created similar software for Overwatch, which is another game published by Activision.

As online multiplayer games have grown in popularity, major publishers have become more aggressive in their pursuit of cheat sellers, particularly Activision, Bungie (developer of Destiny 2), and Riot Games (developer of Valorant). Many of these legal cases cite the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as a crucial component in their arguments against cheat makers. Bungie is currently involved in several lawsuits against cheat sellers and recently won a $4.3 million judgment in arbitration against well-known cheat provider AimJunkies. Additionally, Bungie is suing a Destiny YouTuber who is accused of posing as the company to send DMCA takedown notices to other content creators. Last year, PUBG Mobile cheat makers were hit with a $10 million fine following a legal victory for Tencent.

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Fortnite Mystery Solved by ChatGPT

Fortnite enthusiast, and content creator, Hypex, recently revealed that he sought the help of an AI service called ChatGPT to decode a cryptic message teasing the upcoming season of the popular game. Fortnite is known for its enigmatic teasers, and the latest message was shared on the official Fortnite Status Twitter account. The tweet contained a sequence of numbers, followed by an update on when the next game patch would be released.

After the tweet was posted, Hypex announced that he had successfully deciphered the code with the assistance of ChatGPT. He shared that the numerical cipher actually spells out the message “CRACK THE CODE”. Although this message is somewhat vague, it appears to be in line with Fortnite’s ongoing Most Wanted Event, which centers around themes of thievery and heist-inspired items that players can earn by completing certain challenges before February 28. This teaser is likely the first of many that will hint at what’s to come in Chapter 4, Season 2, which is expected to debut after March 8, the final day of the current season.

ChatGPT, which was created in late 2022, is a versatile AI service that can be used for a range of purposes, including writing stories, fixing errors, answering queries, and more.

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Nokia Reveals Its Fresh New Logo

Nokia unveils a dramatic new brand identity, including a new logo, for the first time in nearly 60 years. The iconic typeface and “Yale blue” that defined its previous logo are gone, replaced by a more modern and digital look.

The company’s CEO, Pekka Lundmark, stated that the change reflects Nokia’s evolution into a business-to-business technology innovation leader, focused on networks and industrial digitalization.

However, it’s important to note that Nokia’s phone business has not been a part of Nokia proper since 2014, and the company currently licensing the Nokia brand for smartphones and tablets, HMD Global, has been doing its own thing. It remains to be seen if HMD Global will continue to use the classic Nokia l

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Polymega Set to Release Free App for Playing Retro Games on Any Device

It’s great news as Polymega unveils free app for cloud-based retro gaming.

Polymega has long been renowned for its physical emulator, which enables gamers to enjoy their favorite classic titles using original games and controllers. With prices starting at $549, the base unit allows access to a range of CD-ROM based games, including the original PlayStation and Sega Saturn, with cartridge-based games playable via additional modules. The system has ports for connecting original controllers and even includes a light gun designed for use with modern HDTVs. Now, however, Polymega has revealed its latest innovation: the Polymega App.

This free downloadable app enables users to access their games collections, game states, and installs via the cloud, using any standard disc drive to start playing, installing, and managing legacy games from any device. Although disc drives are becoming increasingly rare, Polymega has catered for users without them, with the Polymega Remix – a piece of hardware that enables CDs and cartridges to be connected to a PC and other devices via USB for use with the Polymega App. Retailing at just $149, the Polymega Remix is a much more affordable option.

Polymega has also announced the Polymega XL, a premium subscription that will offer additional features, including Cloud access for playing games on multiple devices. Details of pricing and other features are yet to be released, but those who purchased a Polymega Base Unit or Deluxe Bundle before December 31, 2022, will be granted access to the closed beta for the Polymega App, along with exclusive access to Polymega XL during the beta and a free one-year upgrade to Polymega XL following the beta. Customers who have ordered other products from Polymega will receive access to the closed beta under the free-tier.

Finally, Polymega has announced a new Universal Wireless Controller, compatible with Android and featuring improved battery life and lower-latency 2.4GHz connectivity. This new controller will be included in all Polymega devices delivered in 2023 and beyond.

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Hidden Cryptocurrency Mining Operation Discovered at Local High School

A 39-year-old man named Nadeam Nahas has been arrested and is facing charges in Cohasset, a small town located about 10 miles outside Boston, after local authorities discovered an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation. Nahas had previously served as the assistant facilities director for Cohasset before resigning shortly after the operation was uncovered.

According to a report by the BBC, the mining setup was hidden under the floors of Cohasset High School, and was discovered during a routine inspection of the school in December 2021. Cohasset High School’s director of facilities noticed electrical wires, temporary ductwork, and numerous computers that seemed out of place. Upon further inspection, local authorities found that the ducts and wiring were all leading towards the same area, near the school’s boiler room, where an illegal cryptocurrency mining operation was discovered.

The mining operation consisted of 11 computers, including some that were inside coolers that vented to the outdoors. Despite not being a large-scale operation, the mining setup was drawing a significant amount of power and was estimated to have racked up electricity bills for the school totaling around $17,500.

Authorities say the mining setup had been in operation from April to December 2021, and an investigation involving local police, the US Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security led to Nahas’ arrest. Nahas plead not guilty in a court appearance last week and is currently facing charges related to the illegal cryptocurrency mining operation.

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Adam Savage Reveals the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 1/6 Scale Vehicle in an Unboxing Video!

Adam Savage Unveils and Reviews an Incredibly Detailed 1/6th Scale Model of the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 from Blitzway via BigBadToyStore!

The largest scale model vehicle ever to grace Adam’s studio has arrived! Adam unboxes and reviews the impressive 1/6th scale Ghostbusters Ecto-1, a meticulously crafted replica of the iconic car as it appeared in the first Ghostbusters movie. With intricate LED lights and a fully modeled engine under the hood, this collectible left Adam utterly speechless.

The level of detail and craftsmanship put into this model is truly astonishing, and Adam can’t wait to give it his signature weathered treatment in a future build. If you’re a fan of Ghostbusters or high-quality scale models, this is a must-see review that will leave you in awe!

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New characters Friede and Captain Pikachu revealed in the latest announcement for the upcoming Pokemon anime series.

The Pokémon Company has recently disclosed that the new anime in the Pokémon franchise will introduce two new characters, namely Friede and Captain Pikachu. As a Pokémon professor and his trusty Pokémon partner, the duo will join Liko and Roy in their adventures and battles.

Taito Okiura, the Vice President of Marketing for The Pokémon Company International, further confirmed that Pikachu will maintain a prominent role in the animated series and continue to represent the brand.

The anime will debut on April 14 and will air on Fridays at 6:55 p.m. While the English press release mentioned that the anime will premiere in 2023 and beyond, the show will include popular Pokémon like Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly from the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games. Fans can also expect to see the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza in its Shiny form.

In Japan, the final 11 episodes of Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, titled Pocket Monster Mezase Pokémon Master (Aiming to be a Pokémon Master), premiered on January 13. The show marks the “final chapter” for Ash and Pikachu.

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Full List of Winners at the 2023 DICE Awards

Elden Ring won the top prize of Game of the Year at the 26th annual D.I.C.E. Awards, presented by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. God of War Ragnarok, which won in seven categories, was the night’s most awarded game, receiving Outstanding Achievement awards for Animation, Art Direction, Character, Original Music Composition, Audio Design, and Story. In addition to winning Game of the Year, Elden Ring also won four other categories, including Outstanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, and Role-Playing Game of the Year.

The D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony was hosted by Stella Chung of IGN and Greg Miller of Kinda Funny, with IGN serving as the event’s media partner.

The ceremony featured 23 categories and also saw Double Fine Productions founder Tim Schafer inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame for his contributions to the gaming industry.

Below are the winners of the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards across various categories, including Action Game of the Year, Adventure Game of the Year, Family Game of the Year, and Sports Game of the Year.

Action Game of the Year: Vampire Survivors

Adventure Game of the Year: God of War Ragnarok

Family Game of the Year: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Fighting Game of the Year: MultiVersus

Racing Game of the Year: Gran Turismo 7

Role-Playing Game of the Year: Elden Ring

Sports Game of the Year: OlliOlli World

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year: Dwarf Fortress

Immersive Reality Game of the Year: Red Matter 2

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game: TUNIC

Mobile Game of the Year: MARVEL SNAP

Online Game of the Year: FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker

Game of the Year: Elden Ring

Additionally, the ceremony recognized achievements in categories such as Animation, Art Direction, Character, Original Music Composition, Audio Design, Story, Technical Achievement, Game Design, and Game Direction.

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