Tag: rejected
First OnLive, now Stadia: Cloud Gaming has been rejected by the market twice – it’s time to let it go
It’s an odd full-circle moment for me that the least surprising bombshell news of all time – Stadia’s unceremonious cancellation – lands just a week out from EGX. The Eurogamer Expo (as it was still called back then) of 2011 was more or less the start of my career in games coverage, and it started when I managed to get an interview with OnLive’s Senior Vice President John Spinale, a smooth-talking American businessman of the kind I had up to that point only encountered via the medium of television. And always as a villain, even in shows produced by smooth-talking American businessmen.
Spinale, though, was extremely nice. He could tell I’d never interviewed anyone before, and knew how to set people at ease. Within seconds, it felt like a normal chat with someone you met down the pub. The sheer gulf of wealth disparity between us didn’t seem to matter. John was excited to tell me about OnLive, this strange new concept that was going to disrupt the gaming business, and I was excited to hear about it.
It was, and is, a brilliant concept, and the basic pitch for OnLive pretty much applies to the Stadia platform which died a decade later: imagine never having to buy new hardware. That was the first thing that appealed to me, a potless call centre worker at the time, who saw the looming new generation of consoles as less of an exciting new future and more of a £400 tax on joy.
Warmonger Vladimir Putin REJECTED Ukraine peace deal recommended by top aide and ordered his troops into country
VLADIMIR Putin defied advice from a top aide to accept a peace deal offered by Ukraine and pressed ahead with his invasion, sources close to the leader claim.
The Russian tyrant rejected the agreement tabled by his chief envoy even though it would have satisfied his demand for Ukraine to stay out of NATO, it is reported.
Putin reportedly rejected a peace deal tabled by one of his top aides[/caption]
The claim comes as Putin suffers humiliation in Ukraine[/caption]
Top aide Dmitry Kozak negotiated a peace deal – but Putin is said to have rejected it[/caption]
Presidential aide Dmitry Kozak tried to reason with Putin that he believed he had nailed a provisional agreement that removed the need for the bloody war, three people close to the Russian leadership told Reuters.
But Putin argued Kozak’s negotiation deal did not go far enough and that he had expanded his objectives – including annexing large amounts of Ukrainian territory, the insiders claim.
Ahead of the invasion, the Russian leader fumed that NATO and its military infrastructure was creeping closer to Russia’s border by accepting new members from eastern Europe.
He said the alliance was preparing to bring Ukraine into its orbit and claimed it represented an “existential threat” to Russia, forcing him to react.
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Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said Russia had used the negotiations as a smokescreen to prepare for its invasion.
He said: “Today, we clearly understand that the Russian side has never been interested in a peaceful settlement.”
Asked about Reuters findings, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “That has absolutely no relation to reality. No such thing ever happened. It is absolutely incorrect information.”
Kozak did not respond to requests for comment sent via the Kremlin.
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It comes as Putin suffers humiliation in Ukraine as he suffers major losses amid a Ukrainian counterattack.
President Zelensky vowed to keep storming forward as his troops reached the edge of Russian-held Donbas in a stunning counter-attack.
Ukraine’s military appears to have made stunning gains on its eastern and southern fronts, amid the reported collapse of the Russian military resolve.
Two of the three sources said a push to get the deal finalised happened immediately after Russia invaded on February 24.
Within days, Kozak believed he had Ukraine’s agreement to the main terms Russia had been seeking and recommended to Putin that he sign an agreement, the sources said.
One insider said: “After February 24, Kozak was given carte blanche: they gave him the green light; he got the deal.
“He brought it back and they told him to clear off. Everything was cancelled. Putin simply changed the plan as he went along,”
The third source – who was told about the events by people who were briefed on the discussions between Kozak and Putin – differed on the timing.
They said Kozak had proposed the deal to Putin, and had it rejected, just before the invasion.
Kozak, who is 63, has been a loyal lieutenant to Putin since working with him in the 1990s in the St. Petersburg mayor’s office.
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Six months on from the start of the war, Kozak remains in his post as Kremlin deputy chief of staff.
But he is no longer handling the Ukraine dossier, according to six of the sources who spoke to Reuters.
President Zelensky has vowed to keep storming forward[/caption]
Crypto Markets Lost $50B Daily as Bitcoin Sharply Rejected at $25K (Market Watch)
Leicester reveal they ‘want over £50m for in-demand James Maddison after rejected £40m bid from desperate Newcastle’
LEICESTER will only consider offers of at least £50million for sought-after midfielder James Maddison, according to reports.
Maddison, 25, has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle this week.
The Magpies have already had a £40m bid rejected for the England international, who is considered one of Brendan Rodgers’ most valuable assets.
And now Eddie Howe is considering a follow-up offer in a bid to push the deal across the line.
However, according to The Times, Leicester will not entertain any offers lower than £50m.
As a result, Newcastle could now turn to alternative options.
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The Magpies have reportedly identified Burnley’s Maxwel Cornet as another top target.
The Clarets are claimed to be demanding £17.5m for the Ivory Coast international, but Newcastle would be willing to pay up to £25m.
Howe is desperate to bring a new winger or midfielder to St James’ Park before the Premier League season kicks off next week.
Speaking after Newcastle’s pre-season win over Atalanta on Friday, he said: “Never say never, but as the days tick by it looks more and more unlikely.
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“We’re desperate to try and improve the group with the right player.
“I probably wouldn’t have hoped to be in that situation (no attacking signing), but that’s the transfer window.
“The most important thing is we get the right players, not the speed with which we get those players.
“There is a slight frustration, but not aimed at anyone from our side, in terms of a frustration that we haven’t done business.
“There is an understanding of the window and the mechanics of what goes into making transfers.
“There is frustration because you want to build your team and you want to get the adhesive nature of that team working quickly.”
Newcastle have been relatively busy throughout the transfer window so far.
The Magpies have introduced three new additions to the first team this summer.
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Goalkeeper Nick Pope joined in a £10m transfer from Burnley last month, shortly before Sven Botman made a £39m move from Lille.
The club also made Matt Targett’s loan move permanent for a fee of £15m.