News on the Hour
Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord in the Newsstand section...
Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord in the Newsstand section...
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius | PC Games by Drizz Dragonfyre
Local News
In Knight's Watch, a new Treasure Hunt is on the horizon. Belladonna Rose, the event organizer, plans to engage the community with an interactive challenge. Participants armed with a "clue book" will seek hidden clues around town, recording numbers and answers on provided sheets. The event promises a Grand Prize and rewards for second and third place, and everyone receives a "booty" bag of goodies for participating. The specific Date and Time will be announced shortly, inviting all Avatars to join the adventure.
The weekly Lightbringer Isle Auction takes place every Wednesday. Determine your prices, starting bids, and reserves. Drop labeled items at the Auction House or mail them to Hemnu Lighbringer, along with bid details. Expect a diverse array of offerings for a rich experience. Remember, a 10% commission on the final sale price applies. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info.
The Robot Overlords are currently running a music hunt event in Shroud of the Avatar. Participants search for music sheets with a twist. Ten specific sheets of music are now listed on the official forums. Finding one makes you eligible for the grand prize. Discovering five or more earns an additional special reward. Players must post a screenshot of the sheet on the forum thread and its drop to claim victory. This event will continue until a winner is found. Happy hunting!
Download the FREE MMORPG Shroud of the Avatar today.
Lightbringer Isle hosts a monthly fishing contest that invites avid anglers to cast lines for the largest fish in the Isle’s salt and lava waters. Prizes will be revealed monthly for each group, with the ultimate Grand Prize awaiting the angler who nets the longest combination of lava and saltwater fish caught. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info. Best of luck to all participants!
General Player Event Info
For more information about player-run events, developer game updates, and more happenings in Shroud of the Avatar, or to have your events broadcasted during NEWS ON THE HOUR for free, visit the official Shroud of the Avatar forums and the Avatars Radio Discord at www.avatarsradio.rocks/discord
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Metaverse News
13-Year-Old Breaks Tetris Limits, Makes History
In a groundbreaking achievement, 13-year-old Willis Gibson from Oklahoma has reached level 157 in the classic game Tetris, a feat believed to be unprecedented in human history. Willis uploaded a video of the momentous event to YouTube, showcasing his excitement and disbelief. Tetris expert Vince Clemente stated that no one had gone this far before, setting a potential world record.
Willis, a professional Tetris competitor, practices about 20 hours weekly and has earned $3,000 from tournaments. Tetris, created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1985, remains an iconic and enduring video game.
Bryan Ansell with some of his collection of miniature figures at Stoke Hall
Warhammer Pioneer Bryan Ansell's Lasting Legacy
Bryan Ansell, co-creator of Warhammer Fantasy Battle and former Games Workshop leader, passed away at 68 on Dec. 30. Ansell, born on October 11, 1955, founded Asgard Miniatures in the 1970s. In 1978, he joined Games Workshop to create Citadel Miniatures, later becoming the company's managing director. An experienced sculptor, Ansell played a key role in Games Workshop's transition to manufacturing. His significant contribution was co-creating the Warhammer Fantasy Battle tabletop wargame with Rick Priestley and Richard Halliwell. Ansell also led the company to prioritize Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000. Games Workshop has not issued a public statement. Total War: Warhammer III, released in 2022, is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Warhammer franchise.
Phasmophobia Unveils Ambitious Roadmap for 2024
Kinetic Games reveals an updated roadmap for Phasmophobia, extending into 2024 and beyond. Unlike traditional roadmaps, this one lacks specific release dates. Lighting updates are expected in version 0.9, arriving after the holiday event concludes next week. Future milestones include new tasks in 0.10, play models in 0.11, and significant overhauls leading to the 1.0 release. Notable additions feature the Point Hope Lighthouse map, with images showcasing the bathroom and basement workshop. Farmhouse maps Grafton and Bleasdale will receive distinct makeovers. The devs remain cautious about timeline commitments, considering past setbacks due to an office fire. Stay tuned for updates.
Ubisoft Shutdown: 10 Games Lose Online
On January 25, Ubisoft will shut down servers for 10 games, impacting online features. Affected titles include Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, Liberation HD, Revelations, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Heroes of Might and Magic 6, NCIS, RUSE, Splinter Cell Conviction, and Trials Evolution. While some games, like single-player Assassin's Creed 2, have minimal impact, Ghost Recon Future Soldier's diverse multiplayer modes will vanish. Players should note that linking Ubisoft accounts and claiming Ubisoft Connect rewards for these games ends on January 25. Preserve your online experiences before the shutdown.
Valve Ends Windows 7 & 8 Support
On January 1, Valve ceased support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, signaling an end for Steam users on these older Microsoft operating systems. Steam anticipates continued functionality for some time, but no guarantees until January 1, 2024. Valve cites the reliance on an embedded version of Google Chrome, incompatible with older Windows, as the reason for this change. Users still on these systems are urged to update due to potential vulnerabilities. Despite affecting a small percentage, with .15% on Windows 8.1 and .06% on Windows 7, the impact is significant for a user base of 132 million as of 2021.
Game of Thrones Shifts: Animation Prevails
Author George R.R. Martin recently updated fans on upcoming Game of Thrones projects, revealing a shift for the Nine Voyages show from live-action to animation. Citing cost concerns for the complex sea-centric narrative, Martin expressed full support for the change. Nine Voyages becomes the third animated Game of Thrones project in development. While Martin remains uncertain about their realization, he hopes for success comparable to his favored animated series, Blue Eye Samurai. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon's second season is confirmed for an early summer 2024 release, and filming for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight commences this year.
Baldur's Gate 3 Ban Unveils Controversy
In a recent incident, a Baldur’s Gate 3 player faced a ban on Xbox for inadvertently sharing nude in-game character models. The player, Daddy-Vegas, explained that the ban, lasting until year-end, occurred moments after the auto-uploaded clip, named "naked camp time fun." Xbox's default setting for auto-sharing clips played a role, prompting discussions about the need for a mature content tag or revised default settings. This raised concerns over a perceived double standard, with violence and gore deemed acceptable while depicting the human body leading to penalties. Similar complaints surfaced among Xbox users, highlighting a broader issue.
