Free games

• Sony

• • In a last-minute swap Sony changed out Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 in favour of

  • Detroit: Become Human Digital Deluxe Edition

  • • 2018
    • Narrative adventure game similar in style to Heavy Rain, following three different androids in their struggles with their growing humanity, that hit some rough waters in the press with their handling of historical and thematic allegories
    • Includes Detroit: Become Human, Heavy Rain, Detroit digital art book and soundtrack, 2 dynamic themes, and 22 PSN avatars

  • Horizon Chase Turbo

  • • 2018
    • Modern take on 90’s arcade racers like Out Run and Top Gear with stylized graphics and four-player local co-op

• Twitch

• • For the King

  • • 2017
    • A strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging turn-based single-player or co-op adventure that spans the procedurally generated realms

  • The Escapists

  • • 2014
    • Top-down strategy game where you assume the role of a prisoner that must escape from 6 different prisons

  • Cultist Simulator

  • • 2018
    • Card-based narrative-driven simulation game where you try to create a cult-like following in a nameless society with different elements like people, health, emotions, items, lore, and more

  • Yooka-Laylee

  • • 2017
    • An open-world Banjo-Kazooie style platformer that’s colorful and fun, plus you can see us in the credits as backers!

• Epic Games

• • Torchlight

  • • 2009
    • This critically acclaimed Action-RPG dungeon crawl has you choosing from three powerful heroes to adventure the procedurally generated depths for endless treasure and glory.

Any Mac users of the video conferencing app Zoom have had an interesting time with security this week

• Earlier in the week a substantial security issue came to light with Zoom that was apparently reported to them back in March- before they released an update on Tuesday, uninstalling the app the regular way wouldn’t actually remove it from your computer
• • By installing it you also installed a web server on your system that can be used to reinstall the app without your permission
  • So if you clicked on a meeting invite link, or even visited a compromised website, Zoom would launch you into a conference call with your webcam on by default. Even if you thought you’d removed it from your computer
  • If you wanted to remove the app from your computer entirely, it involved opening your Mac’s Terminal and running commands to kill the web server, then completely removing the hidden files it put on your computer, and finally removing it as you would any other app
• Tuesday’s patch removed the web server, but Apple has now taken it one step further
• • Using their behind-the-scenes security systems built in to macOS, they’ve worked with Zoom to push out a silent update yesterday that takes care of removing the webserver regardless of what version of Zoom you have installed.
• All said and done this was a bit of a mess, and highlights why installing applications on your computer willy-nilly isn’t the best idea
• • You can use your browser to join meetings instead of an app for most if not all of the major web conferencing providers, which is a lot less intrusive

Good news on the security front, it looks like Amazon has enabled 2FA for all accounts

• You can enable it by going into your account settings under Login & Security and clicking on Two-Step Verification Settings
• There are options for both using an app like Google Authenticator or Authy or using a phone number, though if you use an app it will still optionally ask for a phone number as a backup
• • Many security experts recommend using an app since text messages and phonecalls can be intercepted, though 99% of the population doesn’t need to worry about that
• One thing to note is any legacy apps or devices trying to log in to your account will now need an extra step
• • When login first fails Amazon will send a one-time password to your phone that you need to then add to the end of your normal Amazon password

Nintendo’s announced their new Switch Lite, the Switch console that doesn’t switch

• The changes include shrinking the console down a bit, with a 5.5″ screen instead of the original’s 6.2″, permanently attaching the controllers, adding a proper d-pad on the left, and removing the HD rumble, kickstand, and ability to connect to TV’s
• • Thanks to the smaller screen and a processor change the battery will get about 30 minutes longer life as well, depending on the game, even with it weighing a third less than the original
  • It comes in three colours: turquoise, grey, and yellow
• Nintendo is planning on keeping both versions on the market, distinguishing the Lite as a portable-focused version of the switch while keeping the original around for its flexibility
• • They’ve promised that all Switch games capable of handheld-mode will work on the Lite, so you could play games like 1-2 Switch or Just Dance, but you’d have to pair additional controllers to it and find a way to prop it up
  • The surprising news from this though is they’re also keeping the 3DS/2DS consoles around as well, so we’re still not seeing them switch to a single-console focus
• Apparently one idea for this device is a second Switch for a household that already owns one, to be more portable or give more options for people that want to play different games at the same time
• • While there’s no capability to transfer games and saves between devices, because Nintendo still adamantly refuses to look at Xbox Live or PSN for the last decade, they’ve said that is the eventual intention
• Coming this September for $260 CAD ($200 USD)

The Chinese company Xiaomi is gearing up to launch their new phone, the CC9, and alongside it their new “Mimoji” avatars.

• Now keep in mind, these are not to be confused with Apple’s Memoji. Xiaomi’s Mimoji are completely separate and distinct from that, despite them being almost identical-looking customizable 3D torso-less characters that you can pose and send to friends.
• In a press release Xiaomi refute any claims that it’s a clone, saying that they’ve conducted internal audits and found no evidence of plagarism
• • This is of course after their Mi 8 phone last year that was nearly identical to the iPhone X, and the Airpods clone they release earlier this year
  • Unfortunately someone should have told their marketing team that, since apparently the product page for the Xiaomi CC9 showcased Apple Music Memoji ads
  • • The ads were also seen on multiple e-commerce websites alongside Xiaomi’s official Mimoji graphics
    • According to their public relations general manager, staff “uploaded the wrong content” to the websites, though if they had those Apple videos so readily available and easily mistaken I’m curious what exactly their internal audit was looking for

YouTube is starting to fix the copyright claiming system

Congrats to Cooooouk

Tidbits

• Apple has temporarily disabled the Walkie-Talkie app for Apple Watch due to an eavesdropping bug
• • According to their statement they were just made aware of the issue this week and while there are specific conditions and events that need to happen to exploit it, and they’re not aware of it being used against a customer, they’ve disabled the app until a fix can be deployed
• In a surprise move, The Walking Dead issue #193 is apparently the final comic in the series
• • In order to disguise the end the duo behind the series, Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard, arranged with Image Comics to advertise three more issues to retailers
• For $10, you can turn your copy of Starcraft Remastered into a Newgrounds Flash game
• • All the graphics were created by the YouTube channel Carbot Animations, and look goofy in the best ways
  • The official mod is available to buy from Blizzard and has been tested at an official tournament in South Korea

Alan recommends Hey Riddle Riddle

• It’s a riddle podcast with fantastic energy hosted by three great improvisers: Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, and JPC
• The riddles are fun, the weird improv scenes are hilarious, and if you’re at all decent at riddles it’s a nice ego boost to solve them before the hosts do