#Tech In Gaming

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Nintendo DS

[maldemer]

a wikipedia poem on software entropy

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SAG-AFTRA is going on strike again. This time, the union is calling a work stoppage against the major video game companies after nearly two years of trying to renegotiate its Interactive Media Agreement. The decision to hit the picket lines comes 10 months after the union’s initial strike authorization vote. The strike goes into effect July 26 at 12:01 a.m. The 10 companies facing the strike are Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games, Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.

[thisisrealy2kok]

[vxmpire-vxlle]

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I hadn’t drawn the house of hades boys in years! Curse me! This isn’t exactly a remake of an old painting but it’s in the vibe of how I used to draw them all the time. Poetic and stealing kisses

[natsumipocket]

Game Boy Color - Atomic Purple, 1998

[market-insider]

Game Engines Market: Unveiling Opportunities and Challenges

The global game engines market size is anticipated to reach USD 8,261.6 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.4% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth of the market for game engines can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing demand for mobile games, the rise of virtual and augmented reality technologies, and the growing popularity of esports.

Game Engines Market Report Highlights 

The solution component segment accounted for the highest revenue share of over 70.0% in 2022, due to the ease of development of high-quality games using game engines. Solution components like plugins and asset packs can help developers save time and resources by utilizing pre-made tools and assets for game development

The 3D game engine segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2030. The growth is attributed to the increasing popularity of 3D games, which provide players with immersive and engaging experiences and are becoming more popular among gamers of all ages

Based on genre, the action & adventure games segment accounted for the highest revenue share in 2022, and is poised to expand at a CAGR of 16.1% during the forecast period. The rise in trend of smartphone-based gaming among end-users is anticipated to propel the growth of the segment

Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the highest CAGR of 18.4% over the forecast period, owing to the region's large and rapidly expanding population of gamers

For More Details or Sample Copy please visit link @: Game Engines Market Report

Game engines are also becoming more accessible and easier to use, allowing developers of all skill levels to create high-quality games and interactive experiences. The market is also witnessing the emergence of innovative game engines, including Unreal Engine 5 and Amazon Lumberyard, which are expected to further drive industry growth. The increasing adoption of game engines across various industries, including education, healthcare, and advertising, is expected to continue the rapid growth of the market during the forecast period.

The increasing popularity of mobile gaming drives the market growth of game engines. With the sustained rise in popularity of smartphones and tablets, mobile gaming has become more accessible than ever, increasing demand for games that can be played on the go. Platforms like Unity and Unreal Engine have been able to capitalize on this trend by providing developers with tools and resources to create high-quality mobile games quickly and efficiently.

The primary advantage of using game engines for mobile game development is the ability to create games for multiple platforms. Companies offer support for a range of platforms, including iOS, Android, console, and PC. This allows developers to create games once and deploy them to multiple platforms, saving time and resources. The rapid growth in popularity of the eSports industry is also driving market demand, with esports having millions of players & viewers globally. As it continues to grow, companies like Unity and Unreal Engine are becoming more crucial for creating high-quality games that can be played competitively.

Game engines offer features such as real-time physics simulation and network optimization, which ensure smooth and responsive gameplay in online multiplayer matches. Besides providing tools for game development, these platforms are used to create specialized tools and software for eSports. For example, Unity has launched Unity for eSports, a set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. The platform offers features like match management, player profiles, and live streaming integration, making it easier for organizers to manage and broadcast eSports events.

The accessibility of this platform is another factor contributing to the market growth. In the past, game development was a highly technical and time-consuming process that required significant expertise. Nowadays, game engines have become more user-friendly with drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built assets, and tutorials, making it easier for developers of all skill levels to create games. This accessibility has allowed more developers to enter the market, leading to an explosion in the number of games being created.

[y2k-internetexplorer]

Xbox cats!!!

[haoeu]

Must be lonely to be stuck in a computer in an abandoned theme park

[zegalba]

Nintendo: Game Boy Advance SP, Tribal (2005)

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[retrogamingblog2]

[reasonsforhope]

Federal regulators on Tuesday [April 23, 2024] enacted a nationwide ban on new noncompete agreements, which keep millions of Americans — from minimum-wage earners to CEOs — from switching jobs within their industries.

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday afternoon voted 3-to-2 to approve the new rule, which will ban noncompetes for all workers when the regulations take effect in 120 days [So, the ban starts in early September, 2024!]. For senior executives, existing noncompetes can remain in force. For all other employees, existing noncompetes are not enforceable.

[That's right: if you're currently under a noncompete agreement, it's completely invalid as of September 2024! You're free!!]

The antitrust and consumer protection agency heard from thousands of people who said they had been harmed by noncompetes, illustrating how the agreements are "robbing people of their economic liberty," FTC Chair Lina Khan said. 

The FTC commissioners voted along party lines, with its two Republicans arguing the agency lacked the jurisdiction to enact the rule and that such moves should be made in Congress...

Why it matters

The new rule could impact tens of millions of workers, said Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist and president of the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. 

"For nonunion workers, the only leverage they have is their ability to quit their job," Shierholz told CBS MoneyWatch. "Noncompetes don't just stop you from taking a job — they stop you from starting your own business."

Since proposing the new rule, the FTC has received more than 26,000 public comments on the regulations. The final rule adopted "would generally prevent most employers from using noncompete clauses," the FTC said in a statement.

The agency's action comes more than two years after President Biden directed the agency to "curtail the unfair use" of noncompetes, under which employees effectively sign away future work opportunities in their industry as a condition of keeping their current job. The president's executive order urged the FTC to target such labor restrictions and others that improperly constrain employees from seeking work.

"The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and to a competitive, thriving economy," Khan said in a statement making the case for axing noncompetes. "Noncompetes block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they need to build and expand."

Real-life consequences

In laying out its rationale for banishing noncompetes from the labor landscape, the FTC offered real-life examples of how the agreements can hurt workers.

In one case, a single father earned about $11 an hour as a security guard for a Florida firm, but resigned a few weeks after taking the job when his child care fell through. Months later, he took a job as a security guard at a bank, making nearly $15 an hour. But the bank terminated his employment after receiving a letter from the man's prior employer stating he had signed a two-year noncompete.

In another example, a factory manager at a textile company saw his paycheck dry up after the 2008 financial crisis. A rival textile company offered him a better job and a big raise, but his noncompete blocked him from taking it, according to the FTC. A subsequent legal battle took three years, wiping out his savings. 

-via CBS Moneywatch, April 24, 2024

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Note:

A lot of people think that noncompete agreements are only a white-collar issue, but they absolutely affect blue-collar workers too, as you can see from the security guard anecdote.

In fact, one in six food and service workers are bound by noncompete agreements. That's right - one in six food workers can't leave Burger King to work for Wendy's [hypothetical example], in the name of "trade secrets." (x, x, x)

Noncompete agreements also restrict workers in industries from tech and video games to neighborhood yoga studios. "The White House estimates that tens of millions of workers are subject to noncompete agreements, even in states like California where they're banned." (x, x, x)

The FTC estimates that the ban will lead to "the creation of 8,500 new businesses annually, an average annual pay increase of $524 for workers, lower health care costs, and as many as 29,000 more patents each year for the next decade." (x)

Clearer explanation of noncompete agreements below the cut.

Noncompete agreements can restrict workers from leaving for a better job or starting their own business.

Noncompetes often effectively coerce workers into staying in jobs they want to leave, and even force them to leave a profession or relocate.

Noncompetes can prevent workers from accepting higher-paying jobs, and even curtail the pay of workers not subject to them directly.

Of the more than 26,000 comments received by the FTC, more than 25,000 supported banning noncompetes. 

[iloveabortions]

SONY: PlayStation Portable in Atomic Purple (2005)