Content | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Sat, 16 Sep 2023 09:42:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Content | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 arrives next week ahead of Phantom Liberty expansion https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/cyberpunk-2077-2-0-arrives-next-week-ahead-of-phantom-liberty-expansion/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/cyberpunk-2077-2-0-arrives-next-week-ahead-of-phantom-liberty-expansion/#respond Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:30:47 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=630672 Cyberpunk 2077 is getting two major updates this month. Not only are we getting a major expansion in the form of Phantom Liberty, but the entire base game has also been reworked with a massive 2.0 update. Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 did not have a release date, so we had assumed it would arrive at the …

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Cyberpunk 2077 is getting two major updates this month. Not only are we getting a major expansion in the form of Phantom Liberty, but the entire base game has also been reworked with a massive 2.0 update. Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 did not have a release date, so we had assumed it would arrive at the same time as the expansion. The good news is, we were wrong, so you can start your new playthrough before the expansion drops. 

Cyberpunk 2077's 2.0 update will land on the 21st of September, five days ahead of the September 26th launch date for the Phantom Liberty expansion. Unlike The Witcher 3, you don't play Cyberpunk 2077's expansion after completing the main game. The story is set before the game's ending and due to all of the reworks in place for the base game, many are planning on starting a new playthrough, or picking the game up for the first time this month.

The Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 update will apply to the base version of the game on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5, bringing players a completely redesigned skill tree and perks system, revamped cyberware system, vehicle combat and car chases, improvements to AI, a full new police system, additional UI improvements, changes to items, crafting and loot drops and new radio stations. The gameplay experience should be not only vastly improved following the update, but it should also be different enough to warrant starting a new character, or at the very least, a re-spec of an existing one.

Those picking up the paid Phantom Liberty expansion will get a few extras. The new zone in Night City, Dogtown, will only be accessible to those with the expansion. Naturally, owning the expansion also grants you access to all the new quests, gigs and boss fights. Another expansion-exclusive feature is the addition of new vehicle missions and airdrops, offering endless ‘dynamic' events for players to chase.

The new Relic skill tree and abilities will be exclusive to owners of the expansion, as will all the new items introduced for it. Owners of the expansion will be able to equip missile launchers to their cars and you'll get an increased level cap, moving from 50 to 60.

The Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 update lands on the 21st of September with all of the new improvements in place. After that, Phantom Liberty will arrive on the 26th of September, bringing a bunch of new content with it. The expansion and 2.0 update will not be available on last-gen consoles.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning on jumping back into Cyberpunk 2077 this month for the 2.0 update and the expansion? 

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Overwatch 2 Season 2 content updates detailed https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-season-2-content-updates-detailed/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-season-2-content-updates-detailed/#respond Wed, 30 Nov 2022 18:00:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=584650 Earlier this week, Blizzard unveiled the gameplay trailer for Overwatch 2's next tank hero, Ramattra. Now, Blizzard has returned, unveiling the content roadmap for Season 2.  Overwatch 2's second season kicks off on the 6th of December, bringing a new season pass, a new hero character and a new game mode. We already know everything …

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Earlier this week, Blizzard unveiled the gameplay trailer for Overwatch 2's next tank hero, Ramattra. Now, Blizzard has returned, unveiling the content roadmap for Season 2. 

Overwatch 2's second season kicks off on the 6th of December, bringing a new season pass, a new hero character and a new game mode. We already know everything we need to know about the new hero, Ramattra, whose abilities have already been detailed. Aside from the new hero, the new season will bring a new map, and the map pool will be refreshed too.

The new map is for the Escort game mode and is called Shamboli Monastery. This is a brand new map for the game, but we'll also see some old maps returning to the map pool next season, including Blizzard World, Watchpoint: Gibraltar and Rialto.

This season will also have multiple events. For starters, Winter Wonderland is back and will run from the 13th of December until the 4th of January. Then, on the 5th of January, a limited-time mode, Battle for Olympus, will go live. Finally, Lunar New Year will also take place before the end of this season.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Did you play much Overwatch 2 during the first season? Will you be returning for Season 2? 

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MultiVersus Season 1 launches next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/multiversus-season-1-launches-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/multiversus-season-1-launches-next-week/#respond Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:50:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=570721 MultiVersus has had a great reception since launching its open beta earlier this summer. The game's first season was unfortunately delayed ‘indefinitely' at the start of the month, but the developers have quickly been able to polish things up for launch, which will now be happening next week.  In an update last night, WB confirmed …

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MultiVersus has had a great reception since launching its open beta earlier this summer. The game's first season was unfortunately delayed ‘indefinitely' at the start of the month, but the developers have quickly been able to polish things up for launch, which will now be happening next week. 

In an update last night, WB confirmed that MultiVersus season 1 will begin on the 15th of August and will have a brand new Battle Pass with new cosmetic rewards. This season will also see the first DLC character introduced – Morty, who will join the game on the 23rd of August.

Earlier this week, WB also gave us a sneak peek at what to expect from MultiVersus during its first season. This includes a new arcade mode for casual and party play, a new ranked mode for competitive play, new cosmetics like profile icons, banners and new costumes for characters, as well as new fighters, starting off with Morty, who will be the game's 18th character.

MultiVersus is available now as a free to play game on Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as PC. Each week, there is a set selection of free characters you can play with, which rotate out each week. Alternatively, you can pay to unlock characters permanently. The game's first season has been delayed and does not have a new launch date at this time, but the big update is still expected to arrive in August.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: MultiVersus is about to kick off its first season. Hopefully new character updates will be pretty frequent too, as there is already a lengthy list of characters players would like to see. 

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Overwatch 2 beta will include new hero, new maps and more https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-beta-will-include-new-hero-new-maps-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/overwatch-2-beta-will-include-new-hero-new-maps-and-more/#respond Sun, 20 Mar 2022 10:24:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=554067 This month, Blizzard confirmed that Overwatch 2 will be entering beta in April, giving players their first chance to check out the new 5v5 PvP gameplay. We've seen the game's PC system requirements ahead of the beta, and now, Blizzard has also revealed what content will be available, including new maps, reworked heroes and some …

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This month, Blizzard confirmed that Overwatch 2 will be entering beta in April, giving players their first chance to check out the new 5v5 PvP gameplay. We've seen the game's PC system requirements ahead of the beta, and now, Blizzard has also revealed what content will be available, including new maps, reworked heroes and some new in-game mechanics. 

As with the original Overwatch, the Overwatch 2 beta is invite-only for the time being. Players are allowed to sign-up for the beta program and invites will be sent out in waves as testing goes on throughout the year. The beta will be PvP-only, with the new 5v5 structure for matches, so don’t expect to get a preview of the new PvE mode until closer to launch. Right now, the first beta test is set to begin on the 26th of April.

The Overwatch 2 beta system requirements have increased compared to the original game. However, the game is still very accessible, with very low minimum requirements.

Overwatch 2 minimum PC requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Phenom X3 8650
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 600 series or AMD Radeon HD 7000 series
  • Memory: 6GB RAM
  • Storage: 50GB

Overwatch 2 recommended PC requirements:

  • CPU: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD R9 380
  • Memory: 8GB RAM
  • Storage: 50GB

During the beta, Blizzard will be testing “new features, content and systems”. More specifically, players will have the chance to try the new 5v5 gameplay, a new hero character ‘Sojourn', the new Push game mode, and reworked versions of Overwatch 1 heroes, including Orisa, Doomfist, Bastion and Sombra. All of the maps from Overwatch 1 will be available in OW2, including four new maps – Circuit Royal, Midtown, Toronto and Rome. Finally, the Overwatch 2 beta will also debut a new ping system, making it easier to communicate in-game.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Have any of you signed up for the Overwatch 2 beta? Do you think Blizzard can make Overwatch successful again with this sequel? 

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The Division 2’s open beta kicks off today https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-division-2s-open-beta-kicks-off-today/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-division-2s-open-beta-kicks-off-today/#respond Fri, 01 Mar 2019 12:25:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=405475 After announcing The Division 2 in March last year, Ubisoft has been working away on getting the game up to scratch in time for launch. Last month, The Division 2 went through a closed beta test period and now today, we'll be getting a fully open beta. The Division 2's open beta kicks off today …

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After announcing The Division 2 in March last year, Ubisoft has been working away on getting the game up to scratch in time for launch. Last month, The Division 2 went through a closed beta test period and now today, we'll be getting a fully open beta.

The Division 2's open beta kicks off today and is available to download through uPlay. The beta includes access to three main missions- two from the private beta and one new ‘exclusive' mission. You'll get to explore the open world and play up to five side missions, while also taking part in world events. For your PvP fix, you'll get access to the Dark Zone East area and play a Skirmish 4v4 mode. Finally, you can sample end-game content with access to one ‘Invaded' mission and three character specialisations so you can try out end-game gear/abilities.

The Division 2's open beta will take place from the 1st of March until the 4th of March. After that, the game will get a full release on the 15th of March. Do keep in mind that on the PC side, this game will be launching on the Epic Games store rather than Steam. As usual though, the game will also be available through uPlay.

KitGuru Says: I sunk many hours into The Division 1 but the post-launch content updates left me underwhelmed. Hopefully Ubisoft does a better job on that side of things this time around. Will you be hopping in for the open beta this weekend?

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DICE unveils new maps and weapons for Battlefield 1 Turning Tides DLC https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-unveils-new-maps-and-weapons-for-battlefield-1-turning-tides-dlc/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dice-unveils-new-maps-and-weapons-for-battlefield-1-turning-tides-dlc/#respond Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:36:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=350679 While the it may have taken a while to get going, DICE has been on the ball when it comes to rolling out Battlefield 1 DLC this year. So far, we’ve had two DLC launches ‘They Shall Not Pass’ and ‘In the Name of the Tsar’, each bringing new maps, weapons, vehicles and more. Soon, …

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While the it may have taken a while to get going, DICE has been on the ball when it comes to rolling out Battlefield 1 DLC this year. So far, we’ve had two DLC launches ‘They Shall Not Pass’ and ‘In the Name of the Tsar’, each bringing new maps, weapons, vehicles and more. Soon, another DLC will be added to the roster. The Turning Tides expansion was unveiled today, with new maps, classes, weapons and more.

The Turning Tides DLC will launch in two parts, with some content arriving in December, and some additional content arriving in January. This year, we will be getting two new maps: Cape Helles and Achi Baba. Then in January, we will be getting two additional maps: Heligoland Bight and Zeebrugge.

As far as weapons go, we will be getting six new guns and three new melee weapons. This includes a grappling hook, a Naval Cutlass, a Carcano M91 Carbine, a Type 38 Arisaka, an M1917 MG, an M1917 Trench Carbine and a Maschinenpistole M1912/P.16.

A new class called ‘The Infiltrator’ will be added in this DLC, as well as a new L-Class Destroyer and a C-class Airship. The British Royal Marine’s will be added in as a new faction and finally, a new ‘Conquest Assault’ game mode is coming, which is twists conquest to allow the defending team to have control of map areas at the start of the match.

There is no specific release date for this DLC just yet, but we should see and hear more as we get closer to December.

KitGuru Says: Things were a little slow when it game to Battlefield 1’s DLC rollout at the start but the pace does seem to be picking up a bit. Are any of you still playing Battlefield 1 regularly? Will you be jumping back in when the new DLC launches?

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Call of Duty: WWII open beta lands this week- content, system requirements and more https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/call-of-duty-wwii-open-beta-lands-this-week-content-system-requirements-and-more/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/call-of-duty-wwii-open-beta-lands-this-week-content-system-requirements-and-more/#comments Tue, 26 Sep 2017 09:20:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=347790 There might be quite a bit of buzz surrounding Call of Duty: WWII but the jury is still out on how good the game will actually be. If you would like to get a feel for the game's multiplayer ahead of time, then you can jump in to the open beta this week. The Call …

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There might be quite a bit of buzz surrounding Call of Duty: WWII but the jury is still out on how good the game will actually be. If you would like to get a feel for the game's multiplayer ahead of time, then you can jump in to the open beta this week.

The Call of Duty: WWII open beta launches for PC on the 29th of September. The beta weighs in at 14GB on Steam and pre-loading is already live, so you can download it well ahead of time.

Here are the PC-specific features listed for the open beta:

  • Native 4K Support.
  • Framerate Cap Slider (up to 250FPS).
  • FOV Resizing.
  • Keyboard/Mouse Fully Re-mappable.
  • Controller Support.
  • G-Sync Monitor Support.
  • Ultra-Wide Monitor Support.
  • High-resolution Mouse Support.
  • Advanced Video Settings.

Beyond that, the minimum and recommended system requirements are also here. For minimum, you will need at least an Intel Core i3-3225 or equivalent, 8GB of RAM and a GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7850. The recommended system requirements include an Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD Ryzen R5 1600X, 12GB of RAM and a GTX 970 or Radeon R9 390.

Finally, here is the content you can expect to find in the beta:

  • Maps – Four Multiplayer maps: Pointe du Hoc, Ardennes Forest, Gibraltar and Aachen
  • War – Operation Breakout
  • Modes – Four Multiplayer modes: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed
  • Divisions – Five Divisions: Infantry, Expeditionary, Airborne, Armored, and Mountain Division. Players aren’t limited to any single Division, so try them all!
  • Progression – Players will begin at Soldier Rank 1. Over the weekend, the level cap will increase to 35, including progression to unlock weapons, scorestreaks, and equipment.

KitGuru Says: With Call of Duty heading back to ‘boots on ground' style gameplay, it will be interesting to see how people find the beta. Are any of you planning on playing the Call of Duty: WWII beta? 

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Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire expansion announced https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/guild-wars-2-path-of-fire-expansion-announced/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/guild-wars-2-path-of-fire-expansion-announced/#comments Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:14:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=342579 Guild Wars 2 is still going strong and those still playing are about to be greeted with a ton of new content alongside a heavy dose of nostalgia. Today, ArenaNet announced Path of Fire, Guild Wars 2’s second expansion, which aside from adding all new content, will also bring back two zones from the original …

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Guild Wars 2 is still going strong and those still playing are about to be greeted with a ton of new content alongside a heavy dose of nostalgia. Today, ArenaNet announced Path of Fire, Guild Wars 2’s second expansion, which aside from adding all new content, will also bring back two zones from the original Guild Wars.

Path of Fire will take players back to a familiar location- the Crystal Desert region, which appeared in the original Guild Wars. On top of that, you will also be able to return to Elon, which was the focus of the Guild Wars: Nightfall expansion. In total, there will be five new open-world zones to explore alongside nine new elite specialisations for characters.

Here is the synopsis for this expansion: “Balthazar, the human god of war and fire, threatens the Crystal Desert and adjoining kingdom of Elona with his Forged legions. Players saw through the course of Living World Season 3 that Balthazar is determined to hunt Elder Dragons–and now he and his armies have invaded the desert to do just that. Now, Tyria's fate hangs by a thread as players race to the desert to hunt down the rogue god before he can do any more damage to the delicate balance of magic.”

The Path of Fire expansion on its own will cost $30 and will be available from the 22nd of September. According to ArenaNet, this expansion is very heavy on content, so there should be a lot for players to sink into. If you don’t already own Guild Wars 2, then you can get the base game and expansion bundle for $50.

KitGuru Says: I didn’t manage to get into Guild Wars 2 but I did thoroughly enjoy Guild Wars 1 back in the day. Do many of you play Guild Wars 2? Will you be jumping back in for this new expansion?

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Netflix is stalling overseas: pricing and content blamed https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/netflix-is-stalling-overseas-pricing-and-content-blamed/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/netflix-is-stalling-overseas-pricing-and-content-blamed/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2016 11:13:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=299822 Netflix might be a global powerhouse in the online streaming game, but its major success still lies in the U.S., where its content is richest and its pricing is competitive. Elsewhere in the world though, where that isn't always the case, it's growth is stuttering. Last week it was reported that user growth for the …

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Netflix might be a global powerhouse in the online streaming game, but its major success still lies in the U.S., where its content is richest and its pricing is competitive. Elsewhere in the world though, where that isn't always the case, it's growth is stuttering.

Last week it was reported that user growth for the service had been lower than expected thanks to reduced interest from consumers overseas. That lead to a fall in Netflix share prices of fifteen per cent, which is quite a chunk of change when you're worth more than $2 billion.

While growth is still reasonable in many European countries, where content is at least somewhat comparable with the U.S., in Asian markets where huge swathes of potential customers live, Netflix has really struggled. Regulatory barriers have made entry into China problematic and for many people the costs involved with a Netflix subscription are simply proving too expensive, as per TechCrunch.

netflixworld

Netflix is available almost everywhere, but it's struggling to make an impact in Asian markets

Netflix is taking steps to try and combat this issue. It's still working on improving licensing deals around the world to make content from the U.S. more readily available and it's also commissioning shows for production in many other countries, like India, but that will take some time to film and build an audience.

Part of its problem is that it's no longer the only major player in the streaming game. Amazon's Instant Video and Prime options have hauled in a lot of viewing eyeballs and there is talk that Disney may go it alone with its vast library of content. There are certainly a lot of parents that would pay a pretty penny to have easy access to everything Disney has to offer.

Netflix may soon offer different pricing options in various regions though, which will help – though it will have to make sure it's stamped out VPN usage first.

Another problem Netflix has to contend with though is infrastructure. Streaming HD video requires a lot of bandwidth and in countries where ready access to high-bandwidth, high-data-cap connections is uncommon, that will prove a difficult barrier for Netflix to hurdle.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you don't have a Netflix subscription, how come? Is it a content issue? A pricing issue?

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The Division’s free Incursions update drops today https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-divisions-free-incursions-update-drops-today/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/the-divisions-free-incursions-update-drops-today/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2016 20:14:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=289481 The Division's Incursions update is out today and being the first of two of the free announced DLC updates, there is quite a bit of buzz surrounding it. Incursions are being added to The Division today, bringing along new end-game content for those that have already ploughed through the main story and geared up in …

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The Division's Incursions update is out today and being the first of two of the free announced DLC updates, there is quite a bit of buzz surrounding it. Incursions are being added to The Division today, bringing along new end-game content for those that have already ploughed through the main story and geared up in the Dark Zone.

The Incursion is essentially The Division's version of a raid. The first one will see players venture to the Last Man Battalion, a water treatment facility. This is a completely new area that has not been seen in previous missions and will come with two difficult modes, which will also affect your loot drops.

Incursions

The Incursions will likely be your primary source of loot if you're looking to get the best gear in the game. You can play through the incursion multiple times but your best chance of getting the good stuff will be the first time you beat it that week. The incursion will reset each week, giving players another chance to drop back in for the ultra rare drops. This is similar to how Destiny handles its weekly activities.

With this update, you will also see a ‘gear level' added to the game, this level is based on your gear's strength and rarity. There will also be new gear sets added to the game that are tailored to different play styles, like healing, marksman and tank. These sets also come with unique talents so they will be worth trying to get your hands on.

Finally, the Incursions update will also add player trading to the game. You can only trade an item within two hours of picking it up and you can only trade with those in your group at the time you picked an item up.

KitGuru Says: As someone who has been playing The Division a lot but isn't too into the Dark Zone, I'm pretty excited for the Incursions update as there does need to be more end-game content to keep players coming back. Are any of you still playing The Division? Will you be trying out the Incursion mission this week? 

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Hitman will have seven episodes releasing in 2016 https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/hitman-will-have-seven-episodes-releasing-in-2016/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/hitman-will-have-seven-episodes-releasing-in-2016/#respond Mon, 07 Mar 2016 14:01:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=286263 After a few delays and a huge change in direction, IO Interactive and Square Enix will finally be launching Hitman this month in episodic form. While we already have some details on the first three episodes, we didn't know exactly how many we would be getting this year until now. Today, Square Enix has confirmed …

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After a few delays and a huge change in direction, IO Interactive and Square Enix will finally be launching Hitman this month in episodic form. While we already have some details on the first three episodes, we didn't know exactly how many we would be getting this year until now.

Today, Square Enix has confirmed that there will be a total of seven episodes for Hitman rolling out through 2016. We don't know if new maps will be added with each episode but we do know that six different locations, including Paris, will be available at launch on the 11th of March.

Hitman

Additional areas that will feature in the game include Morocco, Thailand, Japan, Italy and the USA. The ‘Full Experience' package will include all episodes and cost £44.99 upfront though you can buy the ‘intro pack' for £11.99 and future episodes at £7.99 each.

On the PC side, Hitman will be launching with full Direct X 12 support, which will bring along plenty of benefits, including a performance boost.

KitGuru Says: Square Enix is taking a very different approach with Hitman this year so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. It does seem like a very odd choice of series to turn into an episodic release. 

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Pindex is Stephen Fry’s push for curated educational media https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/pindex-is-stephen-frys-push-for-curated-educational-media/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/pindex-is-stephen-frys-push-for-curated-educational-media/#comments Tue, 16 Feb 2016 12:03:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=284440 Taking a leaf out of Pinterest's book, Stephen Fry's new Pindex platform is designed to make it easier for teachers and parents to find high-quality, educational media online. Some of it will be created in-house, but it will also focus on highlighting some of the better videos, articles and infographics out there, providing a useful …

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Taking a leaf out of Pinterest's book, Stephen Fry's new Pindex platform is designed to make it easier for teachers and parents to find high-quality, educational media online. Some of it will be created in-house, but it will also focus on highlighting some of the better videos, articles and infographics out there, providing a useful resource for many.

“I started Pindex out of frustration with the dull, dry material my 10-year-old daughter would bring home from school,” said co-founder John Leaver (via the Telegraph). With a strong background in video production, Leaver's arm of the operation will make sure content production is of a high quality, while Mr Fry's part in the equation will be in creative direction.

He's also the star of the company's first in-house production: a two minute video discussing the Large Hadron Collider, dark matter and extra dimensions.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXWWgZ-nnEs']

This short video is designed as an introduction to the LHC and Pindex itself, suggesting that viewers then head to the main Pindex.com website to learn more. There they can find categories on various scientific endeavours, leading down a rabbit hole of information that can provide teachers, students and parents with plenty of resources for education.

In-line with gaming and some websites, there will also be achievements for learning. Reading articles, watching videos and bettering your knowledge of a subject will grant you  badges and awards, helping incentivise the whole process.

Other content currently promoted on Pindex includes information on the Elon Musk pushed Hyperloop, videos on chemical bonding and waves, as well as a series of all the best TED talks in one location. It has future plans to invite Youtubers and bloggers to create content specifically for Pindex, in order to target younger audiences and to provide a wide range of informative media on the site.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This seems like quite a solid plan, as it can often be frustrating to separate the wheat form the chaff of online media, especially when it comes to documentaries and educational content. 

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Reddit clarifies content rules in new CEO address https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/reddit-clarifies-content-rules-in-new-ceo-address/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/reddit-clarifies-content-rules-in-new-ceo-address/#respond Fri, 17 Jul 2015 15:46:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=259592 Since the ousting of Ellen Pao at discussion site Reddit, new CEO (and original founder) Steve Huffman has been adamant about improving lines of communication between site admins and the community. To that end he spent a lot of time late yesterday discussing just what is ok and what is not ok, for people to post. …

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Since the ousting of Ellen Pao at discussion site Reddit, new CEO (and original founder) Steve Huffman has been adamant about improving lines of communication between site admins and the community. To that end he spent a lot of time late yesterday discussing just what is ok and what is not ok, for people to post.

This comes following some decisions by the site's admins to take down subreddits that were considered hateful, like r/fatpeoplehate. This caused consternation on the site as it was thought that any subforum which admins disagreed with would be torn down. This was compounded when Pao was quoted saying that Reddit was never supposed to be a “bastion of free speech.” This, despite the fact that racist subreddits were allowed to continue existing.

In his new address, Huffman clarified that the difference between the groups banned and those that weren't (and will not be) is that the former were involved in hateful actions, whereas the latter were just considered hateful opinions.

redditban

Moving forward, prohibited content includes:

  • Spam.
  • Anything illegal (though not the discussion of illegal activities).
  • ‘Doxxing' or the publishing of anyone's private information against their permission.
  • Any incitement of violence or harm against individuals or groups.
  • Any harassment, abuse or bullying of individuals or groups.
  • Sexually suggestive content involving children.

He also said that a number of subreddits would be investigated to see that they comply with the above rules. If not, they too will be banned.

However, Reddit will also be introducing a new content system which will expand the current NSFW labelling. While not in place yet, the idea is to create a classified and opt-in system for certain content that could be considered offensive. Some of the more controversial subreddits that deal with pictures of corpses, or racist views will be classified as such.

While this will mean more policing than Reddit has taken part in over the past few years, Huffman did clarifiy: “One thing that isn’t up for debate is why Reddit exists. Reddit is a place to have open and authentic discussions….  because people have more open and authentic discussions when they aren’t worried about the speech police knocking down their door.”

KitGuru Says: Regardless of Reddit's future, I agree with Huffman's final statement there. That's why it's so important we try not to have government's looking over our shoulder. 

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Twitch implements dress code for streamers https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/twitch-implements-dress-code-for-streamers/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/twitch-implements-dress-code-for-streamers/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:33:55 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=218795 Do you like to do your game streaming topless? If so, you may need to find yourself another site to do it on other than Twitch, as the now-Amazon owned property has announced its own dress code. You don't have to wear anything in particular, but you do have to wear something, as Twitch has …

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Do you like to do your game streaming topless? If so, you may need to find yourself another site to do it on other than Twitch, as the now-Amazon owned property has announced its own dress code. You don't have to wear anything in particular, but you do have to wear something, as Twitch has now banned nudity and sexually suggestive clothing.

“Nerds are sexy, and you're all magnificent, beautiful creatures, but let's try and keep this about the games, shall we?” reads the update to Twitch's rules of conduct on its official site. Indeed most of the time streams are all about the game and the personalities of the people hosting the content already, but it seems Twitch feels that some streams have made it all about the cleavage or the abs and that's not what it wants to promote.

“Wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing – including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments – is prohibited, as well as any full nude torsos, which applies to both male and female broadcasters. You may have a great six-pack, but that's better shared on the beach during a 2-on-2 volleyball game blasting “Playing with the Boys.”

iceman
Too hot for Twitch. Too hot for anywhere really. 

It then linked to the famous Top Gun volleyball scene, a pretty great example of unnecessary semi-nudity in a movie.

But this isn't an Amazon warehouse we're talking about here. Twitch is sensitive to temperature and understands that in some places around the world, staying cool is important. In the case where you absolutely must wear very little, Twitch suggests you just pull the webcam in so only your face is showing.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It's not clear if bare shoulders are ok, but its probably best to err on the safe side and wear some sort of wrap. Maybe a nice cardigan. 

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UK finally makes it ok to rip your CDs, DVDs https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/uk-finally-makes-it-ok-to-rip-your-cds-dvds/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/uk-finally-makes-it-ok-to-rip-your-cds-dvds/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:08:59 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=215010 If there's any clearer indicator that the copyright law is falling far behind the pace of modern technological advancements, it's the fact that the UK has only just made the practice of ripping personally owned digital content from physical media like CDs, DVDs and others, legal. Until now, while the law wasn't really enforced, it was …

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If there's any clearer indicator that the copyright law is falling far behind the pace of modern technological advancements, it's the fact that the UK has only just made the practice of ripping personally owned digital content from physical media like CDs, DVDs and others, legal.

Until now, while the law wasn't really enforced, it was entirely illegal to buy a DVD and rip it to your PC to watch without the disc having to spin up. Likewise if you downloaded MP3s from a site like Amazon and copied them to some other device, technically that was illegal too. Of course thousands, if not millions of people have been doing this for years, all the way back to when they first started recording TV shows with VHS tapes, and radio shows with cassettes, but it's only become officially legal in the past couple of days.

dvds
Rip away… in-case you hadn't already

The British government made the practice of ripping and copying digital media legal for those with disabilities earlier this year, but in a change that has also enshrined other fair usage laws like parody, it's now extended that to any private citizen to copy the media for personal use.

However, the most dramatic change to copyright and IP law, which could have far reaching consequences for file locker websites, is that it's now legal to store copyright protected media in the cloud, if, again, you're only planning to use it personally and with no commercial intentions.

“These changes are going to bring our IP laws into the 21st century,” IP Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe says of the changes (via TorrentFreak). “They will mean that the UK IP regime will now be responsive to the modern business environment and more flexible for consumers.”

For a full breakdown of exception to copyright law, have a read of the overview here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This is great news, but it's about time. Copyright law is woefully outdated. Hopefully this will go some way to rectify that.

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Hearthstone’s next expansion to add more than 100 cards https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/hearthstones-next-expansion-to-add-more-than-100-cards/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/jon-martindale/hearthstones-next-expansion-to-add-more-than-100-cards/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:43:32 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=214570 If you feel like you have nailed down your legend deck in Blizzard's turn based collectible card game, Hearthstone, then you better start getting ready to head back to the drawing board, as the next expansion for the hit free to play title is going to add more than 100 cards. That should shake things …

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If you feel like you have nailed down your legend deck in Blizzard's turn based collectible card game, Hearthstone, then you better start getting ready to head back to the drawing board, as the next expansion for the hit free to play title is going to add more than 100 cards. That should shake things up a bit.

Teased by Hearthstone production director, Jason Chayes, in a chat with Polygon, he said that the next expansion (which he described as the first, suggesting the single player dungeon Curse of Naxxramas, is seen as something different) will, “mix it up a bit,” and “will have a lot more cards.” Over 100 in fact.

dust
We're going to need more dust….

The cards will have a central theme, though Chayes wouldn't be drawn on what that will be. However he did talk about how Blizzard was spending a lot of time and effort to make the experience well “paced.” In the context of Hearthstone expansions, the idea is to give new players more to do but not make them feel intimidated by a rush of new content. Similarly though, professional players and those well versed in the game's mechanics need to have something to shake up the meta-game now and again. New cards will certainly do that.

This might mean rolling out content in a similar style to how Blizzard handled the Curse of Naxxramas, with cards being gradually introduced, week by week. Ultimately Blizzard thinks it will employ multiple content rollouts per year, some single player adventures, some card content and potentially even new play modes, but that last option isn't something that Blizzard is investigating too much as of yet.

Expect the new cards to be at least teased at the upcoming Blizzcon Event taking place in early November.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you guys had control of what cards were added, which decks would you like to see bolstered the most?

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Gamestop wants to fund unique in-game content https://www.kitguru.net/professional/development/jon-martindale/gamestop-wants-to-fund-unique-in-game-content/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/development/jon-martindale/gamestop-wants-to-fund-unique-in-game-content/#comments Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:53:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=202595 Pre-order bonuses or those exclusive to specific retailers have been getting a bit ridiculous as of late. Watch Dogs showed us the new extremes of the segregated content and it may be set to get even more convoluted, as high street retailer Gamestop, wants to help fund game development in exchange for even more exclusive …

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Pre-order bonuses or those exclusive to specific retailers have been getting a bit ridiculous as of late. Watch Dogs showed us the new extremes of the segregated content and it may be set to get even more convoluted, as high street retailer Gamestop, wants to help fund game development in exchange for even more exclusive content for games bought through its outlets.

This news comes from an analyst at investment firm, R.W Baird called Colin Sebastian, who has been meeting with Gamestop as of late and described its plans to Venturebeat. He explained that Gamestop has been courting publishers and trying to build up an exclusive relationship when it comes to content, but that in the future was hoping to go much further, “getting involved at the time of game development where there could be some content exclusive to [the retailer] included in the game.”

gamestop

Of course Gamestop was also quizzed on the news. Is it hoping to fund development in exchange for unique content? It wouldn't be drawn on specifics, but reiterated that it loved digital and physical exclusives:

“We are working with our [development] partners to build in a longer lead time,” GameStop said. “And we are working with them to get both physical and digital exclusives for our customers.”

This is of course a move that has a lot of benefits for developers and for Gamestop, which is battling to stay afloat in a landscape increasingly dominated by digital downloads on Steam and elsewhere. However this does mean that many gamers will miss out on certain content because they don't want to buy from a store.

Gamestop has assured those that are worried about it stepping on the developers toes though, that it won't be heavily involved. In a statement a spokesperson said that it “will not be involved in the creative process.”

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As beneficial as I see this for everyone involved, I don't think it's good for gamers. It segments the population and makes the purchasing decision more complicated. It could also lead to Gamestop charging a premium, since its stocked games will be more definitive since they'll have that more content than other versions of the game in other outlets.

Image Source: Mike Mozart

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Facebook buys video ad-firm Liverail for half billion https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/facebook-buys-video-ad-firm-liverail-for-half-billion/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/facebook-buys-video-ad-firm-liverail-for-half-billion/#respond Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:35:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=201479 Facebook has been throwing its financial weight around this week once again, announcing the purchase of yet another firm, this one a video advertising company called LiveRail. Costing the social network a reported $500 million (£291 million), it's expected that Facebook will leverage its content matching technology to add relevant adverts to Facebook videos. “We believe …

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Facebook has been throwing its financial weight around this week once again, announcing the purchase of yet another firm, this one a video advertising company called LiveRail. Costing the social network a reported $500 million (£291 million), it's expected that Facebook will leverage its content matching technology to add relevant adverts to Facebook videos.

“We believe that LiveRail, Facebook and the premium publishers it serves have an opportunity to make video ads better and more relevant for the hundreds of millions of people who watch digital video every month,” said VP of advertising at Facebook, Brian Boland.

The key technology that LiveRail uses, is that it automatically matches adverts based on the video's content and a host of other factors, tailoring the adverts to the viewer as much as the video itself. This type of matching tech has already been used by the likes of Major League Baseball and ABC in the US. Now it will be able to leverage that technology to aid Facebook with its global advertising plans.

facebookdeal

Mark Trefgarne, LiveRail's co-founder, said of the buyout news: “When we started talking to the team at Facebook about how we could work together, it quickly became clear that we shared a vision for the future of digital advertising.

“They believed, as we do, that publishers deserve a new generation of audience-aware advertising technology. We realized that by joining forces we’d be able to draw upon our respective strengths to move even faster towards our shared vision of creating the advertising platform of the future. “

KitGuru Says: This sounds like a smart move for Facebook, but considering news of its recent personality survey that no one knew they were taking part in, what kind of information will it be using to determine what adverts are served to users?

[Thanks Telegraph]

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Dragon Age writer talks about the reality of cutting content https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dragon-age-writer-talks-about-the-reality-of-cutting-content/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dragon-age-writer-talks-about-the-reality-of-cutting-content/#comments Fri, 02 May 2014 13:20:50 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=190811 Dragon Age Inquisition writer, David Gaider, posted a rather lengthy blog post on his personal Tumblr describing the current state of the game and explained a little about the reality of cutting content. Inquisition is currently heading in to the Alpha stage and while new content is still in development, it can be a challenge to …

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Dragon Age Inquisition writer, David Gaider, posted a rather lengthy blog post on his personal Tumblr describing the current state of the game and explained a little about the reality of cutting content. Inquisition is currently heading in to the Alpha stage and while new content is still in development, it can be a challenge to get all of the current ideas to make sense together.

“This is also the stage where most of the big cuts happen, since we can still create new content to deal with those cuts (as in “change the writing to accommodate a change in the story flow”). Once we hit Alpha, cuts are generally things that are simply excised in their entirety, without any ability to really work around them for the sake of logic or flow.”

Dragon-Age-Inquisition-PC-Games-HD-Background-wallpaper

Most of the voiced content for the game has been recorded at this point but there is always potential for something to be cut and be replaced with something that makes more sense in the story. That aside though, the bulk of the work in the writers room is now going towards “non-VO text,” which essentially means anything that needs words such as item descriptions, GUI text and ability descriptions.

“Still, we have to handle all bugs that come our way, and be responsive to any cuts that are occurring. This is a pretty stressful time for everyone. Every cut feels like it's reducing the overall quality of the game, until there are so many of them you feel like you're producing a piece of crap-until you remind yourself that every game goes through this, and the alternative is shipping late or not at all.”

Dragon Age Inquisition has been in a playable state since late last year, the title will release on the 9th of October on PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360.

KitGuru Says: I've only played a little bit of Dragon Age Origins, most fans didn't seem to like Dragon Age 2 though. Are you guys looking forward to Dragon Age Inquisition? Do you think Bioware will steer clear of the things people didn't like about the second game? 

Source: Polygon

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Now you can have your own movie streaming site, for $200 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/now-you-can-have-your-own-movie-streaming-site-for-200/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/now-you-can-have-your-own-movie-streaming-site-for-200/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2014 08:59:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=189812 It used to be the case that setting up a streaming TV and movie site wasn't easy, it could take hours and hours of work, sometimes turning into a full time job just updating links, selling ad space and keeping one step ahead of the authorities. While you still have to do the latter two …

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It used to be the case that setting up a streaming TV and movie site wasn't easy, it could take hours and hours of work, sometimes turning into a full time job just updating links, selling ad space and keeping one step ahead of the authorities. While you still have to do the latter two if you ever want to make money at it, the set up looks to have gotten a lot easier. One group of clever chaps has begun selling a custom content management system known as TVStreamCMS, which offers freely and regularly updated movie and TV show links, IMDB interaction for plenty of thumbnails and information on the media and a nice low price tag, of $200 for the base version.

tvcms

“The best Movie/TV Shows CMS ever made that revolutionizes the way we make TV Streaming Sites,” reads the site's blurb. “TVStreamCMS automatically adds movies and episodes into the database to save you months and years of hard work. No need to add Movies one by one or to wait all night or all day to add an episode right when it comes out.”

It offers a variety of different packages, many of them based around already existing streaming sites like SideReel and Primewire. Oddly though a lot of the site's images don't work, specifically for all of the product pages. Torrent Freak has also unearthed some dodgy elements of the site, including claims by users that it ripped a lot of its content from a similar project known as TVSS, that scripts don't work correctly and that broken content packages weren't refunded.

We've attempted to contact the owners of the site for comment and will update this story if we hear back from them.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It goes without saying that we wouldn't recommend using a service like this. Not only do you open yourself up for potential copyright infringement legal action, but it sounds like there might be something shady going on with the owners anyway. 

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NSA admits to loophole spying on Americans https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/nsa-admits-to-loophole-spying-on-americans/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/nsa-admits-to-loophole-spying-on-americans/#respond Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:33:14 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=185660 When the NSA spying revelations were first revealed, it was clear American metadata was being used when it came to tracking down terrorists – though it wasn't particularly useful – but Obama and others made bold statements that suggested “nobody [at the NSA] is listening to [American] telepohone calls.” However now director of national intelligence, James …

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When the NSA spying revelations were first revealed, it was clear American metadata was being used when it came to tracking down terrorists – though it wasn't particularly useful – but Obama and others made bold statements that suggested “nobody [at the NSA] is listening to [American] telepohone calls.” However now director of national intelligence, James Clapper, has admitted that a loophole exists that allowed the NSA database to be searchable even if the target was a US citizen.

In typically wordy, political-speak, the letter unearthed by the Guardian and written by Clapper to a senator, says: “There have been queries, using US person identifiers, of communications lawfully acquired to obtain foreign intelligence targeting non-US persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States. These queries were performed pursuant to minimization procedures approved by the FISA court and consistent with the statute and the fourth amendment.”

While FISA law does allow for the collection of US citizen metadata, it doesn't allow for the collection of call content. However, if those persons are communication with a foreign national or with someone in another country, it is possible. On top of that, sometimes “incidental collection,” takes place, where local phone call content is also recorded. These collections at least weren't searchable for the first few years of the scheme, but in 2011, FISA changes made it possible to look through and use any and all data regardless of nationality.

nsa
‘Join the NSA, where you can exercise your voyeuristic tendencies, completely legally!'

Even though technically legal, this doesn't paint the NSA or its defenders in a good light, who made a big deal of saying that Americans were kept out of the spying scheme. The fact that these searches are allowed without a warrant under FISA law, means that it's all secretive and we may never know the extent to which Americans have been spied upon. Considering we know some NSA employees used the schemes to spy on their love interests and partners, it seems likely that it's far higher than we ever thought.

KitGuru Says: This is why the whole “if you're not doing anything wrong,” stance is so off. It doesn't matter if you're doing anything wrong or not, you can have your phone records and even content looked through by some guy at the NSA, because he thinks your wife is hot. I'm sure it's not rampant, but it exists and the fact that the NSA considers that collateral damage and is able to get away with “incidentally,” collecting phone content and then not deleting it, is ridiculous. 

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Would you pay for a Youtube channel subscription? https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/would-you-pay-for-a-youtube-channel-subscription/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/would-you-pay-for-a-youtube-channel-subscription/#respond Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:01:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=123468 Some of Youtube's most popular content creators have been approached by the video sharing site and asked to put forward proposals for the sort of programming they could make available on a pay-per-subscription based channel system, that could see users pay between £0.60 and £3.00 a month to watch their videos. The idea behind this …

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Some of Youtube's most popular content creators have been approached by the video sharing site and asked to put forward proposals for the sort of programming they could make available on a pay-per-subscription based channel system, that could see users pay between £0.60 and £3.00 a month to watch their videos.

The idea behind this scheme is to further rival TV as a place to watch programmes, as well as draw the interest of more advertisers – though how restricting your content to less people will increase ad. revenue remains a mystery to this writer.

No word on who has been approached beyond vague rumours of them being big content producers, or channel owners that have shown the ability to keep a big audience for a long period of time. However chances are Youtube has been courting them for some time. It was over a year ago now that we heard the first rumours of paid content on the site, with CEO at Youtube, Salar Kamangar, suggesting during a stage appearance that he had been in talks with cable TV companies for a while.

Youtube
You could soon have to pay to see these

With regards to recent developments, a Google spokesman said: “We have long maintained that different content requires different types of payment models. The important thing is that, regardless of the model, our creators succeed on the platform. There are a lot of our content creators that think they would benefit from subscriptions, so we're looking at that.”

If these rumours put forward by Ad Age turn out to be true, we could be looking at this new subscription model beginning as soon as in the next few months.

KitGuru Says: Can't imagine I'd sign up to this. As good as some channels are, I don't see myself ever paying to watch them. What about you guys?

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Sony could launch its own internet TV channels https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/sony-could-launch-its-own-tv-channels/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/sony-could-launch-its-own-tv-channels/#respond Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:48:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=121070 While it still remains a bit of a rumour at this point, Sony is said to be looking to launch its own internet based TV channels and is currently talking with “at least two” major content creators to secure the rights to their programming. This bit of hear say comes from Variety magazine, which claims …

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While it still remains a bit of a rumour at this point, Sony is said to be looking to launch its own internet based TV channels and is currently talking with “at least two” major content creators to secure the rights to their programming.

This bit of hear say comes from Variety magazine, which claims that Sony is aiming to launch this service towards the end of the year; initially just in the US, but branching out after that. Apparently it will be an offering similar to companies like Sky, with predetermined programming, though people will access it via the internet.

I don't mean to be a party pooper, but with the growth of streaming and on-demand content, doesn't a predetermined schedule sound like a step backwards?

Sony TV
Would you guys use a PS3 or Vita to watch some Sony TV?

Presumably Sony will make this service accessible through the PS3, as with its continued push for more media centric features, it would make sense. It would also give Sony a good base to launch from.

It wouldn't be alone though, as many other companies have started pushing for this sort of tech or have already begun their ventures. Google Fiber offers a TV/broadband package in Kansas City and there are rumours that other companies like Intel and Dish could also be interested in entering the virtual TV market. All of this requires people to still watch TV though, which of course a lot of people do, but if the explosion of companies like Netflix has shown us anything, it's that a lot of people really prefer streaming, on demand content.

While Sony has yet to comment on this rumour, it will be interesting to see how it affects Sony's public image and stock price, since with the recently appointed CEO, Kazuo Hirai, it was hoped he would be able to turn around the company's poor fortunes over the past few years.

KitGuru Says: While I was never a big TV watcher myself, I've completely stopped now. I have Netflix, iPlayer. If it wasn't for my girl watching some programs still, I'd have scrapped our licensing fee ages ago.

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