Nintendo Lawyers Hit Fan-Made Zelda Game With Fatal Copyright Claim
Nintendo’s legal team has swooped in once again, filing a copyright claim on a fan-made Legend of Zelda game which has forced the project to be entirely delisted.
Well-known modder Kaze Emanuar, who has been releasing a number of unofficial Nintendo-based projects over the last few years, launched a title called ‘The Missing Link’ earlier this year. The game made use of the very same engine from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and aimed to bridge the gap between Ocarina, and later N64 title, Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
The game was available from GitHub, but following the copyright claim, has since been removed. Spotted by Torrentfreak, the complaint reads as follows:
“The copyrighted works are the video games in Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda video game franchise, including without limitation the audio-visual works, story lines, characters, and imagery in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (U.S. Copyright Reg. No. PA0000901848), The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (U.S. Copyright Reg. No. PA0001940271), and others.
Nintendo has reviewed the reported material and does not believe it qualifies as a fair use of Nintendo’s copyright-protected work.”
It goes on to ask GitHub’s page to be removed, saying that it “provides access to a software file that contains an unauthorized derivative work of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda video game franchise in violation of Nintendo’s exclusive rights.”
It’s worth noting that the complaint only asked for the project’s removal, and didn’t spark a lawsuit or further trouble for the parties involved.
Prime Day 2020: The Best Tabletop And Board Game Deals
Amazon Prime Day 2020 is here, and that means thousands of products are on sale, right now, between October 13-14. And since 2020 is all about being stuck inside and limiting your contact with others, it is the perfect time to play some tabletop games.
There are classic games that have been played for centuries. There are games whose rules feel like they take centuries to fully understand. And of course, there are tons of tabletop RPG deals as well. Below, you'll find some of the best deals for tabletop gaming for Amazon Prime Day. Plus, if you have a board game fan on your shopping list this holiday season, check out our tabletop gift guide for ideas on what to buy.
Mancala is over a thousand years old, one of the oldest games on Earth. It's simple to learn but takes time to master, as you move glass stones around a board trying to capture more than your opponent. The game is also its own storage container, so everything fits into a wooden box that serves as the board.
Betrayal at House on the Hill is a game that takes a frustratingly long time to learn, as the instruction booklet for it looks and feels like a novel. However, that's because the Lovecraftian horror game has twists, turns, and mechanics most tabletop players aren't used to. Ideal for 3 to 6 players, Betrayal has players enter and explore a haunted mansion. At first, there's no goal other than exploration, but eventually, one player will turn traitorous and try to kill everyone, forcing you to find an escape route fast. Currently, the game is 40% off on Amazon, and that's a pretty big deal.
Codenames is a much simpler game that tasks teammates with picking out words from a list based on one-word clues. Though you can play Codenames with just two people, it's more fun with a larger group. It's easy-to-learn, fun, and pretty cheap for a party game.
It's Blunderful is much more of a game you play with friends while partaking in adult beverages. Cards are drawn with awkward scenarios described on them, and you must guess how the target player would react to them. For example, one scenario might say, "You found out your ex just won the lottery," and the two choices involve you weaseling your way back into their lives or belittling them publicly. Apparently, It's Blunderful thinks you're a sociopath.
Playing Dungeons & Dragons over Skype, Zoom, or whatever video conferencing program you prefer has been a life-saver for a lot of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to get started with the iconic tabletop RPG, all you really need is the Player's Handbook. D&D books can be a bit pricey, but you can get it right now for nearly half off on Amazon, which is a pretty great deal.
While we're on the subject of D&D, why not check out the latest adventure book Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden? The book has everything you need to run a campaign that starts characters at level 1 and brings them to level 12. It's the perfect book for first-time DMs. Also, it's pretty interesting to see a book released so recently to be discounted this heavily, so quickly.
Discover is a lot like Don't Starve as a board game. Your characters are stranded in the wilderness and you have to survive, but it's going to take a little bit of cooperation to make that happen. You'll have to gather resources, battle enemies, and compete in scenarios in order to win. You can play alone or with up to four people.
Gloomhaven is a great transitional game between board games and a tabletop RPG like Dungeons & Dragons. It's a tactical combat game for 1-4 players that can take up to an hour to play per session. The story and scenarios change depending on the choices the players make, and a lot of the gameplay is decided by playing cards. $100 is a lot for a board game, but Gloomhaven is worth it as it is one of the best tabletop games in recent memory.
Fantasy Flight Games' Star Wars miniature series is easily one of the coolest tabletop games to come out of that IP. However, it's also the most costly, as you have to spend quite a bit of hard-earned cash to pick up space ships. The X-Wing minatures game is all about space dog fights featuring some of Star Wars' iconic ships. It's easy to play and a lot of fun. This Force Awakens game comes with three ships, so you'll probably want to buy more--and there are plenty of them. Currently, you can pick up the Millennium Falcon or $20, which normally costs $30. Many of the ships for this game are currently on sale.
Imagine you had your own aviary, filled with beautiful birds, and it made other aviaries look like amateur hour for bird enthusiasts. That has to be a great feeling, right? Well, it's one you can achieve in Wingspan. This 1-5 player game is all about collecting the best birds for your aviary, while laughing at other aviaries that lack quality birds.
Pandemic is a game you probably won't beat on your first attempt. You're going to lose, a lot. You control a group of people that are trying to keep the world safe from a global pandemic, and it's not just as simple as "make a vaccine and use it." It's an exceptionally challenging game with great mechanics and gameplay with a high replay value. The Legacy version of the game will take multiple sessions to play, and new rules come into play depending on your actions.
Unity have just launched a new interesting publishing program for indie game developers that have or are creating free to play mobile games. Essentially Unity are offering to fund the promotional costs of selected games and provide monetization, growth and ad placement support over the lifetime of the game. Of course this comes at a cost and that cost is a 50/50 revenue split, with a scenario described on the Unity blog:
We want to be clear about the terms up front so you can decide if Game Growth is the right program for you. Let’s break down the revenue sharing with an example:
1- An indie developer has a mobile game that makes $3,000/month. They apply to the Game Growth program. Unity spends $100,000/month to acquire new users to the game, retains those users with dedicated live operations support, and grows the game to $130,000/month in revenue.*
2- Unity would first recoup their $100,000 in monthly user acquisition costs, leaving $30,000 in monthly revenue. So the developer and Unity would share that $30,000 equally, giving $15,000 to the developer and $15,000 to Unity.*
*This model would continue throughout the partnership. We’re using this fictitious example to illustrate the revenue sharing model only. The exact investment/revenue amounts will not always be consistent month over month.
One major advantage to this approach over a traditional publisher agreement is you retain all control over your company and your games IP with minimal commitment requirements. If you are interested in applying you can do so in the Unity Dashboard.
In addition to the Unity Growth program, there is also an asset giveaway going on right now. You can get the POLYGON Prototype Pack for free using the code ‘SYNTYSALE2020’, available until October 20th. Additionally Synty assets are currently on sale for 50% off. Both of the above links contain an affiliate code that pays GFS a small commission if you buy anything. You can learn more about the new Unity publishing programming and the assets in the video below.
Fortnite Is Boosting The Framerate To 90FPS On Some Samsung Devices
If you're playing Fortnite on a recent Samsung tablet, you could soon find that the game is a much more fluid experience. From October 13, the Tab S7 and Tab S7+ will be able to run Fortnite at a boosted framerate, reaching up to 90FPS.
This feature, which was previously exclusive to OnePlus devices, means that these phones will have the smoothest possible version of Fortnite. Of course, due to a current legal battle, Fortnite currently isn't available to download or update on many mobile devices--but Tab S7 owners can still jump in with players across PC and consoles.
Fortnite has previously been playable at 60FPS on mobile devices.
5 Binge-Worthy Freelance Developing Blogs Every Coder Must Read
With increasing supply of freelancing platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal in the programming industry, more and more companies decide to hire expertise remotely over the Internet. The demand for freelance developers in Python, web development, machine learning, and data science surges—as can be seen by the double-digit growth rates of all of those platforms.
Freelancing is the new way of organizing the world’s talents in the 21st century. To some people, this trend “threatens” their existing job safety. Others believe it’ll help creating a more meaningful working relationship based on respect and value. No matter what you think, you want to belong to the winners of this mega trend, don’t you?
This article shows you the 5 best blogs that teach you how to thrive in this new work environment for decades to come. We selected only blogs that focused on two topics: coding AND freelancing/business. If a blog focuses on only coding or only freelancing, we excluded it from the list.
The Finxter blog is the world’s largest blog on Python freelancing. In addition to that, it provides plenty of valuable articles, videos, and business strategies for all kinds of freelancers and freelance developers.
The idea is to help you reach six-figure earning potential, which is the average income of a Python freelancer in the US, via 100% remote work on freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.
“We help web developers launch and grow their freelancing business.” This is the slogan of the Study Web Development blog. You can see their focus clearly: web developers and freelancing business.
If you’re a web developer, this blog is definitely of interest to you. Traditionally, most freelancing jobs appeared in the web development industry. However, this is rapidly changing. Due to the surge of machine learning and data science, a larger proportion of better-paid professionals sell their Python rather than their web development skills.
Overall, the number of blog articles about freelancing is much smaller than the number of articles at the Finxter blog. However, the ones that are there are interesting reads—check them out!
Upwork is the biggest freelancing platform on the planet. Connecting millions of clients with freelancers, they know a thing or two about how to become a successful freelance developer.
The blog is quite general, with lots of tips for non-developers as well—so, it doesn’t strictly fit our requirement of being focused only on freelancing AND coding. However, if you search for the keyword “developing” on the blog, you’ll find countless of resources specifically tailored towards freelancing as a programmer.
Here are some of the best articles on the Upwork blog for freelance developers:
However, be careful—this blog is mainly focused on bringing you to the Upwork platform. I wouldn’t recommend this resource if this wouldn’t align with my recommendation in 2020. Upwork is a very attractive freelancing market for clients and freelancers alike.
This recommendation is a bit off topic. There are many resources on freelance web developing and remote work as a programmer. However, there are also many resources for employed programmers. Thus, the blog’s sentiment is kind of neutral against the freelance developing opportunity.
These are some interesting articles about freelance developing though:
There are other blogs about only freelancing and only developing. In this article, we focused on the blogs that addressed both topics. If you want to become an expert, and you have a coding background, you should focus mainly on the business side of things. Business skills such as marketing, selling, positioning, negotiating, and accounting are much more important than coding skills on your road to freelance developing success.
Where to Go From Here?
Enough theory, let’s get some practice!
To become successful in coding, you need to get out there and solve real problems for real people. That’s how you can become a six-figure earner easily. And that’s how you polish the skills you really need in practice. After all, what’s the use of learning theory that nobody ever needs?
Practice projects is how you sharpen your saw in coding!
Do you want to become a code master by focusing on practical code projects that actually earn you money and solve problems for people?
Then become a Python freelance developer! It’s the best way of approaching the task of improving your Python skills—even if you are a complete beginner.
Massive Gameplay Giveaway restocked, Metal Gear Sale
Massive Gameplay Giveaway is live for a few more hours!
[www.indiegala.com] We have just recently restocked the prize pool with over 100 thousand Steam keys, plenty of new games for you to win, or rather earn. And to celebrate this new addition, we will be holding a special half a day event, in which you may join the Massive Gameplay Giveaway and thrive! Read more about it here.[blog.indiegala.com]
A custom USB-C cable can jailbreak the T2 chip in a MacBook Pro
The security researchers that found a vulnerability in Apple’s T2 chip have developed an exploit using a clone of an internal debugging cable that can hack a Mac without user action.
Earlier in October, the checkra1n team disclosed the unfixable vulnerability that essentially allows an attacker to jailbreak the T2 security chip in a Mac. Once they do, all types of malicious attacks can be carried out on an affected macOS device.
Now, the team has demoed a real-world attack that takes advantage of a specialized USB-C cable used internally by Apple for debugging.
As depicted in a YouTube video, the exploit causes a machine to crash once the cable is plugged in. A second video posted to the team’s YouTube account showed that the attack was successfully by modifying the Apple logo at boot.
The attack is carried out by a specialized debug probe cable used by Apple and known internally as “Kong,” “Kanzi,” or “Chimp.” These cables work by allowing access to special debug pins within a USB port for the CPU and other chips.
these “Chimp” cables have leaked from Cupertino and Apple retail in the past, but security researcher Ramtin Amin created an effective clone of the cable. Combined with the checkra1n team’s exploits, it allows for this type of attack to be carried out.
Although the video demonstration shows they modifying the Apple logo, the team notes that the same exploit can be used to replace a device’s EFI and upload a keylogger. That’s possible because a mobile Mac’s keyboard is connected directly to the T2 chip.
The proof-of-concept exploit was disclosed by checkra1n security researchers Rick Mark, Mrarm, Aun-Ali Zaidi, and Home3us34. The team also announced that a version of the cable will soon be available for sale.
Who’s at risk, and how to protect yourself
As noted earlier, these specialized debug cables can sometimes be found in the wild. With a commercial clone soon to be available, there’s a good chance that most Mac models on the market with a T2 chip could be vulnerable.
Of course, the attack requires direct physical access to a Mac, which rules out most types of scenarios for the average user.
However, users who may find themselves targeted by nation-states or cybercriminals should ensure that they have keep their MacBook or Mac safe by ensuring no one they don’t trust has physical access to it.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-13-2020, 01:45 PM - Forum: Windows
- No Replies
Autonomous systems 101: Optimizing manufacturing processes with AI
This is one part of a four-part introductory series about autonomous systems. To learn more, read the rest of the series and the free e-book linked at the bottom of this post.
In manufacturing, the name of the game is optimization. With many complex processes working together to build a product or solve a logistical issue, cutting even a little waste can turn into big savings over days, weeks and months.
A major revolution in manufacturing optimization was automation, in which machines carried out the process of building products without as much human intervention. As the manufacturing sector grows, businesses look for more ways to make building products easier and more cost-effective.
That’s where autonomous systems come in. By adding AI to machines, processes or lines, manufacturers have a new weapon in their fight for optimization and efficiency. Engineers are using these new tools that can adjust to their environments and adapt in real time to better meet operational objectives. This stands to disrupt not only how we think about industrial processes, but how humans and machines can work together for maximum impact.
Autonomy, control systems and advancements in AI
Manufacturers know that there are limits to automation—namely, that it’s limited in flexibility and requires high levels of precision and unchanging operating conditions. Think about a modern car assembly line: As a car moves down the line, everything must be just right: location, angle, position. If something is even slightly off, the machines responsible for any aspect of that car can, and probably will, miss their mark (or signal for a human to intervene).
The next step in the evolution of these automated systems is “autonomous” systems. Instead of the automation of a predetermined set of steps, autonomous systems use AI to learn from their environments and engage them dynamically. These machines adopt strategies, rather than rote recipes for action, and then execute them in response to their environment.
The Microsoft approach to autonomous systems
Intelligent, autonomous machines can learn to account for challenges like resource scarcity, managing fail-safe conditions and adaptive object manipulation. To accelerate this learning, Microsoft has pioneered a method that allows control and process experts to teach the AI agent using their own expertise. This allows the AI agent to learn similarly to how a human would: a little at a time, based on a lesson plan from an expert. This includes getting feedback and using that feedback to improve. This AI training methodology allows the most expert engineers to impart their wisdom to the AI agent without needing a data science background, to get the AI agent trained quickly.
The AI agent can then be deployed to assist or advise humans or even work autonomously to optimize a system or process to significantly reduce waste, cost and time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Are Heading To SMITE As Playable Characters
The pizza-loving superhero gang of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will soon be available as playable characters in popular MOBA, SMITE, it’s been revealed.
Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello all appear as skins in the all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Pass, which will be available in November. Purchasing the pass gives you instant access to Leonardo – a new Osiris skin – and through playing the game, you’ll then unlock Raphael Loki, Michelangelo Mercury, and Donatello Sun Wukong.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Battle Pass is chock full of content for dedicated fans of the series, including a Mouser ward skin and a global emote for whenever you want to say “Cowabunga!” For the most hardcore of fans, bonus prestige skins in the Battle Pass feature a unique 80’s cartoon-inspired look for all four Turtles.
Players will also be able to become the Turtles’ master, Splinter, or their arch-rival Shredder through this crossover event. Splinter Hachiman and Shredder Ravana skins will be available as separate purchases.
If you’re yet to play SMITE, it’s free-to-play on Switch and could well be worth a try. In our review, we said that “there’s a slow grind to earn skins via the Season Pass, but the game itself is one of the best entries in the genre and it’s right here on Switch – a cause for celebration and no mistake”.
The TMNT Battle Pass’ full reveal is set to be broadcast live on the official SMITE Twitch channel tomorrow at 3pm EDT.
Just like before, this video aims to replicate how a theoretical, higher-performance Switch console – such as the rumoured, 4K-ready model – would display our favourite titles. SnazzyAI has taken a trailer that was originally at 1080p/30FPS and used AI upscaling and interpolation to produce a 4K/60FPS version, which you can check out for yourself above (as long as you have a device that can display 4K, of course).
SnazzyAI says that any updated Switch console would likely use an upscaling method like this to hit 4K rather than boasting the feature natively, and while such a console hasn’t even been confirmed yet, we’d have to agree that this does sound like the most likely way that Nintendo would enter the 4K space, if at all.
Either way, seeing Mario and the gang strut their stuff in 4K is a treat to behold. Let us know what you think in the comments.
