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Leaked ‘Dead Island 2’ copy shows the zombie game that might have been

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Dead Island 2 is still in development limbo years after its 2014 reveal, but you now know what it would have looked like if Deep Silver and Yager hadn’t parted ways. A leaked (via Eurogamer and Kotaku) June 2015 gameplay build, reportedly originating on 4chan, shows just how the game was shaping up in its original form. As you might expect, it revolved around creatively shooting and slicing zombies in an overrun Los Angeles. It was surprisingly complete with three locations, a variety of characters and little touches like head stomping — it wouldn’t have been ready for shipping, but it might not have needed much more time.

Not that you’ll ever see it officially finished, however. Deep Silver and Yager split in July 2015, just weeks after this build was available, and Sumo Digital took the reins from Yager in March 2016. The leak is more a peek at an alternate history than anything else. And in case you’re wondering: yes, Sumo’s version of Dead Island 2 is still in the works. Without a release date or indications as to what has changed, though, this is about as close as you’ll get to playing the title for a long while.

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Elon Musk says Starship is SpaceX’s ‘top priority’ from now on

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Don’t expect SpaceX to lavish much more attention on Crew Dragon now that it has launched people into orbit. CNBC said it had obtained email from Elon Musk asking staff to treat Starship as the “top SpaceX priority,” pushing them to “dramatically and immediately” speed up progress on the super-heavy rocket. About the only other focus is whatever can “reduce Dragon[’s] return risk,” Musk said.

Starship is meant to ultimately become SpaceX’s go-to rocket. It would not only have enough power for space tourism and long-distance trips, but represent a truly reusable rocket with fast turnaround times that make spaceflight more accessible. The rocket represents the future of the company — the string of explosions and other setbacks have effectively set back the company’s broader ambitions.

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Apple gets a patent for taking group selfies while you’re socially distant

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It’s generally unsafe to take group selfies during a pandemic, but Apple might have a way to make that work in the future. The iPhone maker has received a patent (via Patently Apple and The Verge) for creating a “synthetic group selfie.” You could invite people to a selfie session where the software would place people as if they were right behind you. The pics could include recorded or even livestreamed videos, and the participants could edit the shots to put themselves front and center.

Don’t count on this popping up soon. Apple first filed for this patent in July 2018, well before COVID-19 became an issue. There’s also no guarantees that patents will translate to finished products — Apple is exploring an idea, not producing a roadmap. Given the pandemic, tough, we certainly wouldn’t rule out remote group selfies as a way of connecting friends who can’t be together.

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Amazon extends ‘Crucible’ pre-season indefinitely to refine gameplay

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Do you think that Amazon’s Crucible needs some polish before it can compete with the current crop of team-based shooters? So does Amazon. The Relentless Studios development team has extended (via Eurogamer and PCGamesN) the title’s pre-season period indefinitely until players get the “features and polish” they’ve been asking for, including voice chat. On top of this, the team is refining Crucible’s focus in a dramatic fashion — it’s “retiring” the Alpha Hunters and Command modes in favor of just one mode, Heart of the Hives.

The change of direction will be split into two phases, Relentless said. An initial phase will “build and iterate” on core aspects by adding must-have features like the previously mentioned voice chat as well as a wider ping system, a surrender system, dealing with idle players and a possible mini-map. The second phase, meanwhile, will bring “additional systems” and refinements such as tailoring the map and upgrading creatures.

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Senate bill offers more incentives for private spaceflight

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Politicians are seizing on Crew Dragon fervor to offer more incentives for private spaceflight. A group of US senators including Marco Rubio, Dianne Feinstein and Ted Cruz have put forward the American Space Commerce Act, a bill that would expand perks for companies like SpaceX. It would extend depreciation-related tax deductions by another 10 years to the start of 2033, and would make clear that incentives should go to spacecraft either launched from or “substantially manufactured” in the US.

There’s a House version of the bill (HR 6783). Not surprisingly, the bill has the backing of the companies it’s most likely to affect, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing and United Launch Alliance.

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Facebook pulls nearly 200 accounts connected to hate groups

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Facebook is continuing its fight against hate, and this time with an added degree of urgency. The social network has confirmed to the Associated Press (via The Verge) that it removed nearly 200 accounts for users linked to hate groups like the Proud Boys and American Guard, both of which were previously banned. The company was already gearing up to remove the accounts, but its hand was forced when it became clear these members were planning to stoke tensions in light of anti-racism protests sweeping the US. They not only intended to rally members to attend protests (and foster confrontations), but sometimes were “preparing to go with weapons,” according to Facebook counterterrorism director Brian Fishman.

The measure came soon after Facebook cracked down on “boogaloo” groups, some of which include racists, as well as white supremacists who tried to pose as antifa members.

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Amazon workers sue over alleged failure to follow COVID-19 guidelines

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The lawsuit was filed with the support of groups Make the Road New York, Public Justice and Towards Justice.

We’ve asked Amazon for comment. In a statement to CNBC, it maintained that it followed all national and local health guidelines, including the CDC’s contact tracing approach. The firm reviews camera footage, checks where people were present and conducts interviews, according to a spokesperson. It also insisted that it immediately alerts all workers if there’s a positive case, and that it was up to employees to disclose if they tested positive.

Critics have already contended that Amazon’s approach isn’t enough, though, and doesn’t meet CDC guidelines despite claims to the contrary. Warehouse footage only covers 24 hours (not the 48 hours needed for CDC tracing) and likely doesn’t include high-contact areas like washrooms. It would also break CDC guidelines if it discouraged staff from revealing positive test results. As in the past, then, there appears to be a gap between what Amazon says it’s doing to protect workers and what people say is happening.

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After Math: Take a mental health break from this crisis with these games

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doom

Engadget

The dread and helplessness many of us feel is a painful, yet perfectly reasonable, response to the mad times we are living through. But rather than giving in to your anger and doing something you’ll regret in real life take out that pent up aggression on invading demonspawn from hell. If you’ve got a Chromebook, you can pick up and play the OG Doom and Doom II games for free, at least for a limited time. Conversely, if you prefer a more cultured method of response, the Criterion Collection has released an archive of movies from black filmmakers for your free perusal.

pokemon expando pack

Engadget

I for one take exception to the entire premise of the Pokemon series. But, if you’re the sort of gamer who enjoys pitting enslaved animals against one another in violent combat for your personal prestige and amusement, the first expansion packs for Sword and Shield drop in just 10 days.

Seaga

Engadget

If you’re looking for a distraction while being detained and zip-tied in a police van for 9 hours because you committed the “crime” of being the streets 10 minutes before curfew, the Sega Game Gear Micro ain’t it unfortunately. Once October rolls around, however, these brightly colored, miniscule throwback systems can help you make it through the coming second wave of COVID-19 outbreaks, each with its own unique set of classic 16-bit titles.

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Scientists find a likely Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star

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Astronomers have found Earth-like planets before, but usually around red dwarf stars. That’s a rather large problem when their flares and radiation could make orbiting planets uninhabitable. Thankfully, there may be a much more viable candidate in the pipeline. Researchers have found (via MIT Technology Review) a likely exoplanet, KOI-456.04, that’s less than twice as large as Earth while orbiting a host star (Kepler-160) that provides about 93 percent of the light levels our planet receives. It’s even circling the star at a comparable distance to the Earth, taking 378 days to complete one pass.

The team found the object by combing through old Kepler Space Telescope data using two new algorithms meant to study the star’s brightness. Instead of looking for sudden dimming of the star’s light, the usual sign of a passing planet, the algorithms checked for subtler dimming.

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EA allows ‘Madden NFL 21’ Xbox Series X upgrades until ‘NFL 22’ arrives

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When EA first introduced an option to upgrade the Xbox One version of Madden NFL 21 to the Xbox Series X release for free, it gave players until March 31st, 2021 to make the decision. That’s not much time if you aren’t dead set on buying the Series X right away, is it? You won’t have to stress quite so much going forward, however. EA has quietly updated its “Next Level” teaser page to extend the upgrade period until the arrival of Madden NFL 22. You can buy the Xbox One edition a few months after the fact and still have some time to decide if you want Microsoft’s next-gen console.

The site was updated “earlier this week,” an EA spokesperson told Polygon (via Operation Sports). The publisher had intended to formally announce the upgrade extension, but pushed it back as part of efforts to give the spotlight to anti-racism protests. EA delayed its Play event and the Madden NFL 21 introduction to June 11th.

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