The Linux Foundation has released the second edition of Open Source Compliance in the Enterprise by Ibrahim Haddad, which offers organizations a practical guide to using open source code and participating in open source communities while complying with both the spirit and the letter of open source licensing.

This fully updated ebook — with new contributions from Shane Coughlan and Kate Stewart — provides detailed information on issues related to the licensing, development, and reuse of open source software. The new edition also includes all new chapters on OpenChain, which focuses on increasing open source compliance in the supply chain, and SPDX, which is a set of standard formats for communicating the components, licenses, and copyrights of software packages.

“Open source compliance is the process by which users, integrators, and developers of open source observe copyright notices and satisfy license obligations for their open source software components,” Haddad states in the book.

This 200+ page book encompasses the entire process of open source compliance, including an introduction on how to establish an open source management program, a description of relevant roles and responsibilities, an overview of common compliance tools and processes, and all new material to help navigate mergers and acquisitions. It offers proven best practices as well as practical checklists to help those responsible for compliance activities create their own processes and policies.

Essential topics covered in this updated ebook include:

• An introduction to open source compliance
• Compliance roles and responsibilities
• Building a compliance program
• Best practices in compliance management
• Source code scanning tools

To learn more about the benefits of open source compliance and how to achieve it, download the free ebook today!

This article originally appeared at The Linux Foundation

Following Valve’s decision to change their revenue share splits and Epic’s launch of a new digital storefront, developers have many things to consider now when it comes to publishing their games to Steam or not.

Indie developer Lars Doucet published a survey earlier today reaching out to fellow devs across the world spanning different communities, with some choosing to reveal information about their lifetime earnings on Steam.

Doucet conducted a Steam developer survey in the past, noting that this year’s results should be taken with a grain of salt given the time constraint, authenticity of some answers, and unintentionally ambiguous language used when asking questions. 

When asked what the more important issues plaguing Steam were, devs shared concerns over “not getting screwed by the algorithm,” More transparency from Valve, and curation. According to Doucet’s survey, the results were pretty consistent among revenue tiers.

“Given how much ink has been spilled about revenue share, it’s interesting to see that topic edged out by ‘Not getting screwed by the algorithm’, and also to see this concern shared across revenue tiers — at least in this sample, it’s not just the < 250K crowd, it’s everyone, even the million+ earners,” Doucet notes. 

The survey also asked devs to share their opinions about Valve, which Doucet points out has had an overall negative shift compared to last year’s study. “The ‘Western’ sub-group actually feels more negative about Steam than the overall population,” Doucet points out.

“The biggest thing that sticks out in the survey is that revenue share is not developer’s #1 concern. I mean it’s way way up there (nearly tied for first in fact), but the top issue is not getting screwed by ‘the algorithm,” he shares in his analysis. 

“Even if Valve is hearing developers’ concerns, they aren’t listening to them. The difference is that listening includes understanding, as well as acknowledgment,” he adds.

“To Valve’s credit, they have added some improvements to the developer support system. But there’s still plenty of developers who feel shut out, and as this chart clearly shows the sentiment is getting worse.”

The entire survey goes into more depth around how devs feel about curation and transparency, so interested developers can look at that here. Be sure to take the results with a grain of salt. 

Fire Emblem Heroes version 3.0.0 is now available

Version 3.0.0 of the Fire Emblem Heroes game was released! Here are the changes you can expect:

1. Book III of the Story Has Begun
After returning from their fight with Muspell, the order of Heroes is beset by a new enemy from Hel, the realm of the dead. Get 5-star Mythic Hero “Eir: Merciful Death” by clearing Chapter 1: Part 5 of Book III. Those who have not yet completed Book I or Book II can still access Book III. You won’t want to miss the opening movie in Chapter 1: Part 1!

2. Hero Fest
To celebrate the release of Book III, a Hero Fest including Eir: Merciful Death will start 12/10/18 at 11:00 p.m. to 12/17/18 at 10:59 p.m.

During the active period, the initial appearance rate for the 5-star focus Heroes will be set to 5%! What’s more, you can get up to 7 First Summon Tickets as a Hero Fest Log-In Bonus. Please see Fire Emblem Heroes Updates for more details.

3. Mythic Heroes and Mythic Effects Have Been Added
Mythic Heroes, beginning with Eir: Merciful Death, and Mythic Effects have been added. Only godlike characters from the Fire Emblem series can become Mythic Heroes. Mythic Heroes have special powers that manifest in Aether Raids. For more information, see the Mythic Heroes Are Here! notice.

4. First Summon Tickets Have Been Added
A First Summon Ticket is a special item that replaces the 5 Orbs you spend during the first round of summoning. We will gift players with First Summon Tickets for use in the Hero Fest that starts on 12/10/18 at 11:00 p.m. Please see Fire Emblem Heroes Updates for more details.

5. Aether Raids
A new structure, Escape Ladder (O), can be built in Aether Raids. If you build an Escape Ladder (O) and are defeated or surrender in battle, the battle’s Aether cost will be refunded. Escape Ladder (O) can be used up to three times per season.

Please see Fire Emblem Heroes Updates for more details.

6. Additional Heroes Can Be Summoned Using Heroic Grails
The following Heroes can now be summoned using Heroic Grails:

• Dorcas: Pumpkin Smasher
• Aversa: Dark One

With a Log-In Bonus to celebrate the release of Ver. 3.0.0, you can receive Orbs up to 10 times between 12/10/18 at 11:00 p.m. and 12/31/18 at 10:59 p.m.!

We hope you continue to enjoy the Fire Emblem Heroes game! For more information about Fire Emblem Heroes, please visit the official site.

Fantasy Violence
Suggestive Themes
Partial Nudity
Digital Purchases

It is the holiday season, and to celebrate, we are sharing Xbox One deals on consoles and accessories to get you ready for some winter gaming.

Starting today, you can save $50 on any Xbox One bundle, including Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console, and Xbox One S, the best value in gaming and entertainment this Holiday. And there’s no shortage of amazing bundles to choose from at a participating retailer near you.

Join the worldwide Fortnite phenomenon with $50 off the Xbox One S Fortnite Bundle and get ready to battle to be the last one standing. This bundle includes a full-game download of Fortnite Battle Royale plus the Eon cosmetic set download and 2,000 V-bucks. Fortnite Battle Royale is the 100-player PVP mode where you fight to the end. Build and destroy environments and join intense PVP combat on Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network

Get $50 off the Xbox One S Battlefield V Bundle and enter mankind’s greatest conflict: World War II. Join the ranks with a full-game download of Battlefield V Deluxe Edition containing paratrooper apparel for your Company of soldiers, special assignments, and weekly Airlifts. Plus, enjoy an outstanding Battlefield experience with full-game downloads of Battlefield 1943, Battlefield 1 Revolution, and one-month of EA Access.

Looking for more power? Save $50 on the Xbox One X Fallout 76 Bundle and explore, quest, build, and triumph in a post-nuclear wasteland. Prepare for an epic adventure in the prequel to the award-winning Fallout RPG series from Bethesda Game Studios. Journey alone or with friends in a new and unique Fallout adventure, and for the first time ever, Vault Dwellers can team up online on Xbox Live!

With so many great bundles to choose from, you can’t go wrong while saving $50!

And if you need more accessories for your arsenal, starting on December 9, you can save $10 on select Xbox Wireless Controllers and gear up for the holidays.

Equip yourself with $10 off the Xbox Wireless Controller Phantom Black and sense victory within, or bring your ABXY game and save $10 on the Xbox Wireless Controller Sport White edition. There’s plenty of other controllers to choose from as well, so be sure to size them all up and choose wisely!

And top it all off with deals on Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass:

• Get $50 off Xbox Game Pass and get instant access to over 100 games
• Starting on 12/9 buy 3 months of Xbox Live Gold and get $10 towards the Microsoft Online Store

This Holiday is the best time to get into gaming or to give the thrills of gaming with Xbox One. Enjoy 100 games right out of the box with Xbox Game Pass, and access all your favorite entertainment through apps like YouTube, Netflix, and more. Watch 4K Blu-ray movies and stream 4K video on both Xbox One consoles and experience immersive true 4K gaming on Xbox One X—the world’s most powerful console. Whether you’re playing games, watching your favorite shows or streaming gameplay, Xbox One delivers brilliant graphics with HDR technology, premium audio, and the fastest, most reliable gaming network.  Visit Xbox.com to learn more.

Team17 is launching a brand new update for The Escapists 2 today on Nintendo Switch, adding some festive fun for the low price of free.

The new content comes in the form of a ‘Snow Way Out’ update, introducing a new festive-themed prison for you to wriggle your way out of; four new jobs – burning letters to Santa, engineering, reindeer feeding, and servicing the robot workers; new items to forge and a new craftable weapon called the Candy Pain; and unique ways to escape.

The trailer above should give you an idea of what to expect, but we also have this lovely description straight from the publisher:

“Following on from last year’s free Santa’s Shakedown release, Santa has now ditched his mantra of good will to all and has instead opened a booming online retail store. His sleigh sits abandoned, as new delivery sleighs ship products all around the world. The North Pole now contains warehouses and concrete cells to contain the poor elves forced to work for Santa. You still better be on your best behaviour, as waking up with a lump of coal in your desk is the least of your concerns!”

As mentioned above, this update launches today for free. Team17 has also recently teased some festive and free content for Overcooked 2 – we’ll make sure to keep an eye out for more info on that in the coming days.

Will you be heading back to prison for another escape? Tell us below.

In celebration of Killing Floor 2’s Twisted Christmas update, play Killing Floor 2 for FREE starting now through Monday at 10AM Pacific Time. You can also pickup Killing Floor 2 at 67% off the regular price!*

The update includes new maps, 4 new weapons, play as Badass Santa and much more!

If you already have Steam installed, click here to install or play Killing Floor 2. If you don’t have Steam, you can download it here.

*Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time

Items and Economy

General

• Prime engrams will now drop more frequently and with larger power bumps for players under 600 Power

Misc

General

• Fixed an issue where players could not purchase the Annual Pass from the Director node

Disruption/Insults/Disrespect

Disruption/Insults/Disrespect

Harassment/Personal Attacks/Privacy Violation

Gory Violence/Explicit Sexuality

Illegal Activity

Hacking/Cheating

Spoilers/Stolen Content

Soliciting/Phishing/Impersonation

Tourism is big business, accounting for 10.4 percent of the world’s GDP and supporting one out of every 10 jobs on the planet. For economically fragile communities it can be a lifeline, spurring business development and creating living-wage jobs. But sometimes this growth comes at a price.

The top twenty countries now represent nearly two-thirds of all international arrivals. This concentrated tourism means some of the world’s most beautiful sites are in danger of being “loved to death,” according to a new report from McKinsey & Company, “Coping With Success: Managing Overcrowding in Tourism Destinations.”

An estimated 32 million people will visit Greece in 2018, and just five small islands—Santorini, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, and Mykonos—will receive much of the volume, stressing their infrastructure and ecosystems. The Peruvian government has tried to limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu, because of concerns about irreversible ecologic impacts. Tourism hotspot Venice is suffering because the vast crowds that descend on its 100 small islands every year displace locals. And nearly 80 percent of the reefs in Thailand’s popular Koh Khai islands have been damaged by humans, causing the government to close three islands, states the McKinsey report.

In nearly every tourist attraction location, governments are struggling to manage and mitigate the environmental impacts, which include waste, erosion, defacement of artifacts, habitat loss, and water stress. Popular tourism sites provide a compelling example of why national and local governments need to craft long-range sustainability strategies accompanied by specific actions that start today to protect their valuable ecosystems.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is taking the lead on assessing the economic and ecologic politics of tourism. More importantly for the countries, economies, and ecosystems in question, TNC is using the power of the cloud and AI to provide insights about how to develop a more sustainable path forward.

Using big data to protect fragile tourism destinations

TNC has worked for years to protect and conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Their goal is to enable a world where people and nature thrive. To create that world, people need better and more accurate information to understand what is happening today and why, to prove the economic value of investing in data-led solutions for conservation issues, and to pursue focused actions to preserve nature for future generations.

TNC has historically relied on traditional and academic research to build a business case for sustainability. However, the organization also has lacked a way to combine that research with big data and social media to create a compelling rationale for protecting fragile ecologic systems, such as coral reefs, cities prone to flooding, and more.

Microsoft’s AI for Earth program, which is part of Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative, helps organizations use artificial intelligence (AI) to solve the world’s thorniest environmental challenges. Microsoft became a global partner of TNC with its Upgrade Your World program, launched in conjunction with the Windows 10 release in 2015. Backed by Microsoft’s resources, TNC can now use data in a more powerful way, and even work toward dissolving boundaries between organizations that deal with environmental issues, such as urban planning, economic development, corporate sustainability, and ecology preservation groups.

“If we don’t have proof or numbers on the important facets of nature and why we need to protect it, we sound vague,” explains Dr. Mark Spalding, senior marine scientist at The Nature Conservancy. “My first thought was that with advances in technology, we can show local economies how valuable nature is. If we can show them where nature provides significant economic returns, then we can do a much better job of persuading them to look after nature.”

Artificial intelligence improves conservation decision-making

Through an AI for Earth grant fulfilled by NetHope, TNC leveraged Microsoft Azure cloud services to help link data with AI and machine-learning tools to develop decision models that can be shared among cross-disciplinary organizations. Each group can use the models to prove, plan, and track the impact of sustainability initiatives, providing economic data decision-makers with the information they need to drive policy-making and investing.

Emerging technology is also helping break down information silos that for years have stood in the way of better scientific insights. For example, Esri, the University of California at Santa Cruz, Spatial Development International, and the Natural Capital Project worked with TNC and Microsoft to brainstorm conservation applications based on Azure’s cognitive services API. One groundbreaking result is TNC’s Mapping Ocean Wealth initiative. The nonprofit crafted an AI-powered web app in tandem with Microsoft AI for Earth and Esri, building the software and training the algorithm.

The app can precisely analyze geo-tagged photos that are uploaded to the photo-sharing site Flickr, processing millions of images in hours. Machine learning helps the app distinguish between a scuba diver in a fragile area versus one in a pool, for instance. By matching the frequency and number of coral-related photos to economic tourism data, data scientists can quantify the value of coral reefs, kilometer by kilometer.

Data visualization reveals the true value of natural resources

When TNC leaders shared its AI-powered map of the Florida Keys coral reefs to local officials, the policymakers realized that in high-tourism areas in their waters, every square kilometer of reef accounts for up to more than $1 million in revenue each year. “People are starting to have ‘aha’ moments,” Spalding says. “Seeing that hard data helps localities plan and realize their natural resources truly are precious.”

Those insights, delivered with powerful data visualizations, can help local agencies balance tourism goals with preservation objectives. That type of decision-making is already occurring. In Cancun, Mexico, local hotels are contributing to a voluntary tax fund to repair the area’s “million-dollar reefs” when they are damaged after natural or other disasters. TNC plans to run its app in real time to rapidly identify such changes, which will empower groups to accelerate repair efforts, translating to a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Similarly, TNC has teamed with Minecraft to create an immersive world that enables players to protect and restore coral reefs through play. Players can place five types of coral reefs in Minecraft’s in-game oceans and use the Coral Crafter Skin Pack to create character costumes, learning about the importance of ecologic preservation.

“Thanks to our work with Microsoft, we have the incredible opportunity to leverage technology to link science to actionable planning,” says Zach Ferdaña, program manager at The Nature Conservancy. “We’re using AI, machine learning, and other technology tools to accelerate our impact and increase coastal communities’ resilience. We’re hacking the future.”

Read the case study.

To stay up to date on the latest news about Microsoft’s work in the cloud, bookmark this blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Marching Order is the perfect game for the yuletide. It’s a cute, relaxing, crystal-clear logic challenge. This is refreshing and timely, because ‘tis the season for rich fare, in games as well as meals. Many of gaming’s biggest games, both in terms of raw content and development budget, drop in Q4, beckoning gamers to side-line other parts of life and mainline these huge games.

Oh, it’s also the season of trips, hospitality and fruitcake. By contrast, sometimes it’s nice to have a refresher, a break from the tumult of big festivities and the onus of this season’s crop of important, must-play AAA games. Marching Order is a nicely done bite-sized snack with endearing presentation, an effervescent soundtrack and excellent (albeit limited) gameplay.

A logic puzzle with two game modes, ‘Normal’ and ‘Hard’, Marching Order tasks players towards shuffling around animals to assemble the perfect marching band based on their preferences. The macaw plays best directly behind the elephant; the lion likes to lead; the elephant wants to march behind something with feathers, and so on. This starts out almost trivially simple but as levels go on, additional animals are added to the lineup, as are additional clues. In ‘Normal’, everything is untimed and the margins of success are measured in the number of moves required to find the right order of animals. (This is an optional, extra metric, kind of like tracking the number of moves used to solve a Rubik’s Cube). Solving it in the minimum number of moves gives a whistle bonus, which acts like an extra life. Normally submitting an incorrect final solution ends the game, but the whistle changes this to ‘Try Again’.

‘Hard’ mode, though, is a race against the clock, seeing how far you can go before the time allotted runs out. They both have similar scaling and the same core logical challenge, so the different modes are really a matter of preference rather than challenge per se.

Logic puzzles are great mental stimulation and exercise. Famous ones like the Monty Hall problem (which pigeons can pass more reliably than Joe Schmoe) or the Watson Selection Test are distinct examples, but this game reminds me of another oldie-but-goodie: Who Owns the Zebra?  Marching Order has the same constraints, the same unique solution, but is simpler and designed to scale in difficulty to match the moment.

This adaptability and the game’s overall aesthetic are great marks in its favor. Instead of trying to foist an uber-difficult, one-and-done challenge on the player to prove they are one of the 2% of people who are ‘smart’ enough to do it (such a clickbaity line splashed across brainteaser ads all the time), it starts easy and ramps up until the player fails the challenge. Especially in the timed mode, this doesn’t really take long. The cuteness of the game sets the stage for a calm, collected mindset to tackle the logic challenges. So yes, sometimes I don’t want a flaming-rings, death-defying, world-saving backdrop theme to my mobile games. Epic is nice, but homely and cutesy are often better. The soundtrack helps immensely on this front.

If I had to knock one part of the game, it would be the horizontal scroll of the hints. It’s a clean presentation, to be sure, and in the beginning prevents players from getting overwhelmed, but for later stages this unnecessarily breaks up the puzzle. The hints obviously only hold value in combination with each other, so solving the puzzle is as much about holding all the clues in the player’s working memory simultaneously rather than just applying their restrictions. For timed mode, having to cycle through the hints repeatedly eats up time. A full vertical list would have been a faster, fairer way to present the information for players to process, but this is really making a bugbear of a minor design choice. Yes, it slows people down and prevents quick scans of all the hints, but it’s an evenly enforced outcome for all players.

The game is modest but excellent and fairly priced for the experience. It might not have unlimited staying power or an epic campaign, but for what it asks, it gives a satisfying and salutary experience.