Tag: controversy:
Hogwarts Legacy Has “Spectacular” Start Despite Controversy, WB Games Boss Says
While Hogwarts Legacy unit sales numbers are staying under wraps for now, Warner Bros. Games has confirmed other statistics that speak to the game’s strong start amid a backdrop of controversy surrounding author JK Rowling.
WB Games president David Haddad told Variety that the “player engagement” in Hogwarts Legacy so far has been “spectacular” following the game’s launch earlier in February. WB Games confirmed that Hogwarts Legacy played have collectively logged 267 million hours in the game, grown 393 million plants, and brewed 242 million potions. Players have defeated 1.25 billion Dark Wizards.
“We are very pleased with the initial launch and see a bright future for our other platform launches,” Haddad said, referring to the game’s release on PS4/Xbox One in April and then Switch in July.
Hasbro Execs Talk Dungeons And Dragons And Open Game License Controversy
Hasbro executives discussed the recent controversy about Dungeons and Dragons changing its open games license (OGL) in a recent earnings call.
According to a report from Gizmodo, the current CEO of Hasbro, and former Wizards of the Coast president, Chris Cocks addressed the negative fan response early in the meeting, saying that “We misfired on updating our open game license.” The earnings call provides no new information about Wizards of the Coast’s plans, but Cocks did say that, “Our best practice is to work collaboratively with our community, gather feedback, and build experiences that inspire players and creators alike.”
In January, a leak revealed that DnD publisher Wizards of the Coast was planning to update its OGL. The new license would more directly restrict what user-created content could exist and be sold without paying royalties. Community backlash was instant and only increased after Wizards released a statement confirming the leak’s validity. Eventually, Wizards of the Coast halted updating Dnd’s OGL, sticking with the old model for the foreseeable future.
BBC Question Time: Tories blasted by ‘appalled’ audience over death penalty controversy
Final Fantasy 14’s Latest Raid Sparks Controversy as World First Winners Accused of Cheating
Gas stove controversy heats up again as second U.S. agency proposes limits
The bizarre ‘To Leslie’ Academy Awards controversy, explained
Just a few years after awarding Best Picture to the wrong movie, we might see a surprise nomination get revoked before the Oscars air on March 12.
When the Academy Awards nominations were announced last week, one of the more shocking revelations was that Andrea Riseborough had been nominated for her role in To Leslie. If you haven’t heard of To Leslie, don’t worry; the film garnered less than $30,000 at the box office. It’s a small independent production about a single mother who wins the lottery, and many big Hollywood names like Edward Norton and Kate Winslet publicly endorsed the film in a grassroots campaign during the Oscars voting period.
That’s all well and good, right? After all, box office success has nothing to do with the quality of a film or the performances therein. However, according to the Academy, something might be awry about the whole situation. Per Deadline, the organization released a statement announcing a review of the nomination process on Friday. It didn’t name Riseborough or To Leslie directly, but everyone seems to agree that’s what the statement is about:
It is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and we are committed to ensuring an inclusive awards process.
We are conducting a review of the campaign procedures around this year’s nominees, to ensure that no guidelines were violated, and to inform us whether changes to the guidelines may be needed in a new era of social media and digital communication.
We have confidence in the integrity of our nomination and voting procedures, and support genuine grassroots campaigns for outstanding performances.
It’s unclear what, if any, rules have been broken here. The Academy has a long list of guidelines for the nomination process, but that doesn’t provide a smoking gun. Per Vanity Fair, some Academy voters were contacted with the suggestion that they watch the movie and support it online, which could theoretically breach the Academy’s lobbying rules.
For reference, Academy Awards nominations can be revoked, but it’s rare. The handful of times it’s happened have usually involved something like the film premiering on TV before it was in theaters, or a film coming out in the wrong year. Most relevant to To Leslie‘s case is that a Best Original Song nomination was revoked in 2014 because songwriter Bruce Broughton had emailed Academy members during the voting period.
The Academy will meet on Tuesday, but Vanity Fair also reported that a rescinded nomination is unlikely.
Aside from the surprising nature by which To Leslie found its way into Oscars history, there are other angles to the controversy. As pointed out in the Vanity Fair report, Riseborough (who is white) got nominated while Black actresses in higher-profile roles like Viola Davis in The Woman King or Danielle Deadwyler in Till were left out. For an institution with a notable history of snubbing Black women in particular, it’s easy to see why some would not be happy about Riseborough’s nomination from that perspective.
Some people could also feel that To Leslie is being unfairly punished for the crime of not being mainstream enough. It’s receiving a level of scrutiny that bigger films haven’t had to worry about, even though there’s a long, well-reported history of movie studios engaging in backroom politicking during awards season.
Regardless of where you land on To Leslie‘s nomination, at least those who care more about Oscars drama than the actual awards have something to care about again this year.
Titan Promises to Fix Kamen Rider Kuuga Manga After Translation Controversy
After days of fan concerns about the state of the Kamen Rider Kuuga manga’s English translation, publishers Titan Comics and StoneBot have announced plans to fix the litany of errors and disparities in future releases and re-prints.
Controversy as Novak Djokovic’s dad is seen posing with Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face
Aretha Franklin’s ‘Natural Woman’ Soars to #1 on iTunes After Controversy for Being Deemed “Anti-Trans”
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was no stranger to having her name listed atop music charts over the last six decades, but – thanks to her inimitable talent – controversy was rarely the catalyst to get her there.
That changed this week, however, thanks to a parodic post that’s galvanized everything but laughs in its wake.
Look inside to see how reignited support for her timeless classic ‘Natural Woman’
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