In this week’s edition, GameStop tries to make amends to PC gamers, and a man in Arkansas sues Microsoft for $500 billion.
GameStop Apologizes for Deus Ex Debacle
After not making itself any friends by opening PC copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and removing the promotional OnLive vouchers, then pulling the copies from shelves when it was called out on it, GameStop has found a way to make amends: with cash. Anyone affected by GameStop’s shenanigans will be able to head down to their local store, present their receipt, and claim a $50 gift card. As apologies go, that’s a pretty good one. (Link)
Shepard’s Victory Not Guaranteed in Mass Effect 3
Commander Shepard is the only person who can defeat the Reapers and save the galaxy. But BioWare has revealed that victory is not assured, and it is possible to lose to the Reapers in Mass Effect 3. BioWare’s Mike Gamble didn’t go into any detail as to how this particular turn of events would come about, but suggested that it would be as a result of the player’s choices. (link)
Internet Unhappy About Origin’s Snooping
People all over the world reacted badly this week to the discovery that EA’s Origin service was a nosy little thing. The terms and conditions for the service allowed EA to examine every single part of a person’s computer and then use that information for marketing purposes. Adding to people’s consternation was the fact that it was not possible to opt out of this information gathering process. (Link)
Notch Creates Game in Two Days
Minecraft creator, Notch, has whipped up an old-school, find-keys-to-progress dungeon crawler game in just 48 hours as part of the Ludum Dare. The game, called Prelude of the Chambered, has six levels and four boss fights, and takes between twenty minutes and half an hour to beat. You can try it out for yourself for free online, by clicking here. (Link)
Man Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion
David Stebbins of Arkansas, USA, is claiming that Microsoft owes him half a trillion dollars, thanks to some legal tomfoolery. Stebbins says that Microsoft did not respond to a offer to arbitrate a legal despite for the sum, an offer which contained a “forfeit victory clause,” meaning that if Microsoft didn’t respond – which it didn’t – then he won by default. Stebbings claims he is just doing what big companies do all the time. (Link)
