May 11 Why developers are designing video games for accessibility By Justin Stabley Mainstream developers are leveling up – increasingly considering accessibility when designing their games, whether to accommodate a visual impairment, a motor control issue or an anxiety disorder. Continue reading
May 04 The Last of Us, Wii Sports and Barbie to enter Video Game Hall of Fame By Associated Press The World Video Game Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2023. Continue reading
Apr 16 Watch 5:56 ‘Tetris’ screenwriter on translating dramatic history of Soviet game to film By John Yang, Lorna Baldwin, Juliet Fuisz There’s an addictive quality to Tetris — so addictive that in the Soviet Union, where it was created in 1984, the government blocked it from state computers because it was ruining productivity. A slightly embellished version of how the video… Continue watching
Apr 09 Watch 6:32 How Hollywood is turning video games into hit films and TV shows By William Brangham, Lorna Baldwin, Andrew Corkery, Michael Boulter Video games are a booming industry, raking in nearly $100 billion yearly in the U.S. alone. But turning those games into successful movies and TV shows has been a bit of bust — until recently. Geoff Keighley, gaming reporter and… Continue watching
Apr 06 8 things you didn’t know about Super Mario Bros. By Kenichi Serino Generations have sent him bopping along under sunny skies, shimmying down pipes and eating very large mushrooms, but Mario has rarely crossed over into television or film. Continue reading
Jan 14 Watch 4:05 How the video game ‘Stray’ is helping rescue real-life cats By John Yang, Ali Rogin, Claire Mufson "Stray," an award-winning video game featuring a stray cat, is helping rescue animals. Online streamers are using their platforms to raise money for felines without a home. The PBS NewsHour spoke to a number of people who are using a… Continue watching
Jan 03 Video game testers form Microsoft’s 1st U.S. labor union By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press A group of video game testers is forming Microsoft's first labor union in the U.S. It will also be the largest union in the video game industry. Continue reading
Dec 08 FTC sues to block Microsoft-Activision Blizzard $69 billion merger By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft's planned $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying it could suppress competitors to its Xbox game consoles and its growing games subscription business. Continue reading
Dec 07 As the video game industry evolves, making ‘indie’ video games gets trickier By Matt O'Brien, Associated Press How long these “indie” studios can flourish is up for debate as the gaming industry undergoes increasing consolidation. Continue reading
Sep 01 Watch 7:46 U.S. military focuses recruiting efforts on video-game playing teenagers By John Yang, Henry Brannan, Maea Lenei Buhre, Dan Sagalyn The U.S. Military is intensifying its efforts to meet young people where they spend their time: online and on their devices. But, as John Yang reports, there are critics who say these new recruiting methods also raise new concerns. Continue watching