Category: Gamespot

Two YouTubers who promoted their own Counter Strike: Global Offensive gambling website without disclosing their stake in it will not be punished by the US Federal Trade Commission. Trevor “TmarTn” Martin and Thomas “ProSyndicate” Cassel produced videos of themselves winning valuable CS:GO items via CSGOLotto.com, a website they owned but did not disclose their connection to until after investigations in 2016 by fellow YouTubers HonorTheCall and h3h3Productions.

After an investigation, the FTC has decided not to impose any fines on Martin and Cassel, who have instead agreed to disclose any endorsements going forward. Future breaches of this agreement will lead to a $40,000 fine for every infraction. Notably, the FTC’s decision does not require Martin and Cassel to admit any wrong-doing over the pair’s promotion of CSGOLotto.

“The goal of the FTC isn’t to be a punitive or draconian agency,” the regulator told Rolling Stone. “We are here to educate consumers about new markets.”

Martin and Cassel’s site allows users to gamble weapon skins earned in CS:GO in an attempt to win rarer and hence more valuable skins. These skins have real-world value and can therefore be sold for large sums of money by circumventing Steam, the Valve-owned platform where CS:GO is played. According to a Bloomberg report, as much as $2.3 billion worth of skins was bet in 2015 over a number of websites.

The YouTubers’ failure to disclose their interests in CSGOLotto violates YouTube guidelines and has also called into question the authenticity of the videos; it has been suggested the pair’s ownership of the site may have allowed them to fix the outcome of bets in order to stage wins and thus encourage viewers to use the website. Their videos showed them reacting with surprise and elation as they won large sums of money.

In addition, the FTC’s report states that Martin and Cassell also ran an “influencer program,” which paid other YouTubers between $2,500 and $55,000 to promote CSGOLotto while avoiding saying anything negative about the site. The pair will now be required to disclose any such agreements.

Since skins are not a legal currency in themselves, the skin gambling industry has not until now been regulated as tightly as traditional casinos and bookmakers. TmarTn and ProSyndicate’s audiences–which together total over 13 million users–include a number of children, leading to the pair’s promotion of a gambling site drawing further criticism.

TmarTn defended his promotion of CSGOLotto in a video that he later deleted but has been archived. “It’s never been secret,” he said. “We’ve never gone around bragging about it saying, ‘Oh yeah we own the site’ all over social media. But it’s also never been a secret, it’s been mentioned in videos before, on livestreams before … it’s never been this big scary, hidden thing that people are making it out to be.”

ProSyndicate, meanwhile, stated he felt his disclosure was sufficient, and said he stands “very firmly behind the fact that CSGOLotto has never & will never scam/steal from players.”

Powered by WPeMatico

Destiny 2 has officially launched, and soon it will be available worldwide. Full reviews won’t arrive just yet, but reviews-in-progress from a pre-release event have been online for a few days, with more impressions from the live version also becoming available.

The much-anticipated sequel doesn’t radically shake up the Destiny formula, instead opting primarily to refine and improve the core of the first game. You can see our breakdown of Destiny 2’s five biggest changes for a basic idea of what to expect.

Below, you’ll find a collection of various critics’ impressions of the game so far. In GameSpot’s Destiny 2 review in progress, Kallie Plagge calls the story a “clear improvement over Destiny’s much-maligned storytelling,” adding that “Destiny 2 builds on the original in smart ways that make me excited to keep playing.” We’ve also more recently published a Destiny 2 review diary (now updated for day two) that offers more of Kallie’s thoughts now that the game is live.

• Game: Destiny 2
• Developer / Publisher: Bungie / Activision
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Release: September 6 (PS4/Xbox One), October 24 (PC)
• Price: US $60 / £50 / AU $100

GameSpot

“Of course, all of this still feels like Destiny. The new social space, the Farm, is functionally the same as the Tower in the original. Finding loot and switching out your old gear still takes up a significant portion of your time. Enemies have been tweaked, but they’re not wildly different, either. That’s not necessarily bad, but it also makes me wonder if I’ll see Destiny 2 as a sequel, rather than a half-step forward, the longer I play and the more I grind and repeat.” — Kallie Plagge [Full review in progress]

“Though I’ve only replayed things I’ve already done, I’m still excited about Destiny 2. I can’t wait to find my next exotic weapon, but I’m also looking forward to completing more Adventure missions and learning more about the world. My next step is to finish the story, reach level 20, and run some Strikes, so check back soon for more impressions.” — Kallie Plagge [Destiny 2 review diary]

US Gamer

“Destiny 2 doesn’t necessarily feel like full sequel to Destiny, but it doesn’t need to. So far, what’s here is fun and engaging. As I polish off the Story Campaign, partake in the current elder game, and await the unlocking of the Raid next week, I’m having fun. I don’t know if it stands up to the best MMOs yet, but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far.” — Mike Williams [Full review impressions]

Polygon

“At the very least, what I’ve played of Destiny 2 is an incredibly promising start. In plain English, it feels like Destiny without all the bulls***. It seems like the sequel Bungie needed to make–not a fundamentally different experience, but improved enough over its predecessor to reel veterans back in and attract people who skipped the original Destiny. Now we have to see how it holds up.” — Samit Sarkar [Full review in progress]

IGN

“So far, while I’m in the endgame grind I’m still having a good time, and I’m excited to hop back in and get my first max-level character. But as I mentioned, there’s not a lot of clear direction from Destiny 2 after completing the campaign, and as much as I’ve loved the story I’m left feeling like I’ve seen it all, and I’d really like to see more. The upcoming Raid and Trials multiplayer mode do promise more narrative threads for me to pull at and I can’t wait to dive in to see if they satisfy my content hunger pangs. Still, I’m thrilled to see Bungie deliver on its story promises and give a more balanced PVP experience. ” — Destin Legarie [Updated review in progress]

Rolling Stone

“However, what’s remarkable about the structure of Destiny 2–aside from it having a real central plot–is that it achieves what the first Destiny tried but ultimately failed to do: it gives the player freedom. Yes, there’s some linearity to the Red War missions and the order in which the destinations are introduced–but you can spend the bulk of your time wherever you’re most comfortable, where you find combat encounters most fulfilling, or where the rewards on offer are most appealing to you.” — Alex Kane [Full impressions]

Ars Technica

“I am not at an ideal state to issue anything resembling a verdict. But I at least feel safe declaring this: I entered the event perturbed that I would play so much Destiny 2 and not get to transfer that progress to the final, retail version. Now, I am anxious to dive back in and try again. I want to flex the muscles of an entirely different class. I want to devote far more attention to so much in-mission dialogue and exposition. Above all else, I want to group up with some friends and see how the ‘always a battle around every corner’ sensation feels when I have some persistent fireteam members at my side.” — Sam Machkovech [Full pre-review]

DualShockers

“So far, Destiny 2 has improved upon the original Destiny in every way. There’s a Pierce Brosnan-impersonating sniper who serves as your faction representative for the European Dead Zone. There’s new enemy types, including staff-wielding Fallen Wretches and caped-flaming-crossbow-wielding Hive Knights. There are cutscenes where The Speaker, who never really had much to say, is actually a savage and disses Ghaul in rap-battle proportions during cutscenes. When I sat down to play this game I had one mission for Bungie: prove to me that Destiny 2 isn’t just another expansion. Thankfully, it turns out that Destiny 2 has listened to the fans and has taken a look in the mirror: the product is one that I–so far–thoroughly enjoy.” — Noah Buttner [Full review impressions]

Powered by WPeMatico

Destiny 2 is officially live. Whether you pre-ordered it or purchased the Deluxe edition, you may be wondering where your bonus items are once you log in. Most of these are not awarded immediately, and you’ll actually have to play through a significant chunk of the game before getting them–sorry, no Exotic at Level 1 for you.

Bungie has outlined the exact process for obtaining these items, and in all but one case, you’ll have to complete the campaign before doing so. Once you’ve finished the campaign, you’ll then collect any items you qualify for from various sources, such as the Postmaster, Shaxx, or the Gunsmith. Below, you’ll find Bungie’s unlock process for each item.

Destiny 2 Pre-order Content

Coldheart

• Qualifying players may collect Coldheart after meeting the following requirements:
  • Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Gunsmith. This item may also be re-acquired from the Exotic Weapon Collection in exchange for Legendary Shards.

Kill-Tracker Ghost

• Qualifying players may collect the Kill-Tracker Ghost after meeting the following requirements:
  • Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from Lord Shaxx. This item may be re-acquired from Lord Shaxx in exchange for Legendary Shards.

Salute Emote

• Qualifying players may collect the Salute Emote after meeting the following requirements:
  • Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Emote Collection.

Destiny 2 Limited Edition Content

• Qualifying players may collect Destiny 2 Limited Edition Content after meeting the following requirements:
  • Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
• After meeting these requirements, these items may be retrieved from the following:
  • Traitor’s Fate (Legendary Sword): Postmaster, Legendary Engrams
  • Shadow Dance (Emote): Postmaster, Emote Collection
  • Emperor’s Shadow (Emblem): Emblem Collection

Promotional

Athena Victorious Sparrow

• Qualifying players may collect the Athena Victorious Sparrow after meeting the following requirements:
  • Complete the Destiny 2 Campaign
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Shipwright. If this item is discarded, it may be repurchased from the Shipwright.

XP Boosts

• Qualifying players may collect XP Boosts after meeting the following requirements:
  • Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Postmaster. This item will provide XP gains for specific amounts of time, specified by the type of XP boost received. Multiple items may be consumed, but time limits will not be increased.

Promotional Engrams

• Qualifying players may collect a limited amount of Promotional Engrams after meeting the following requirements:
  • Gain access to the Postmaster by completing the Campaign or unlocking the Farm social space
• After meeting these requirements, this item may be retrieved from the Postmaster and redeemed through the Cryptarch.

These items aren’t the only thing that Destiny 2 players will be unable to access right out of the game. In-game Clan functionality is unavailable for the first few days after launch, while the Raid doesn’t unlock until next week. Full reviews also aren’t yet available, although you can check out our Destiny 2 review-in-progress for some early thoughts on the game.

Powered by WPeMatico

Destiny 2 is out now, and among the elements that you can play beyond campaign and the Crucible is the first of the game’s weekly Nightfall Strikes. A Nightfall Strike is a special version of the activity, with special modifiers to crank up the challenge.

A post on Bungie’s website confirms many of the details about this first Nightfall Strike, including the name, “The Arms Dealer.” Your task is to “shut down the operations of an ironmonger providing weapons to the Red Legion.”

Unfortunately, the modifiers are being kept under wraps. So you’ll have to discover those for yourself when you play the game. We do know the challenges, however, and these include the following:

• Speed Of Dark: Complete the Nightfall with at least 5 minutes remaining.
• Unbroken: Complete the Nightfall with fewer than 3 deaths.
• Trash The Thresher: Shoot down a Thresher while fighting Bracus Zahn.

Nightfall Strikes, along with their modifiers, rotate weekly, so you’ll have many more chances in the future to try your hand at them. Given that the modifiers change, it is recommended that players select a loadout with the modifiers in mind, but you can do whatever you want.

For lots more on Destiny 2, check out GameSpot’s roundup of everything you need to know. It covers our review in progress and many other key details.

Powered by WPeMatico

Update: Bungie says the issues affecting some Destiny 2 players on PS4 have now been rectified. “Issues causing players on PlayStation 4 to receive an error indicating permissions to access online multiplayer have been resolved,” the company said on Twitter. Original story follows.

Destiny 2 is a big, big game with a huge focus on multiplayer and online. Presumably due to the strain of loads of people coming online for launch, the game is running into some issues. Bungie acknowledged one of these issues on Twitter today, saying it’s aware of and looking into a problem with the PlayStation 4 edition related to multiplayer permissions. The exact nature of the problem isn’t immediately clear, but people are responding to the tweet to voice their displeasure with the state of things.

Here’s what Bungie had to say: “We are investigating players on PlayStation 4 receiving errors indicating permissions to access online multiplayer may have changed.”

According to the error message posted above by Twitter user @cokelogic, they were booted from Destiny 2’s servers because “your permission to access online multiplayer gameplay may have changed.” Alternatively, it might have been because “your profile may have been sign in elsewhere.” The error message then points to Bungie’s support site for further details.

Earlier this week, Bungie outlined all of Destiny 2’s known issues, which include problems with waypoint detection and scenarios that can lead to you being unable to progress. Check out the full rundown of known issues here.

For more on Destiny 2, you can check out our Destiny 2 review dairy. For a full roundup, head over to our Destiny 2 everything you need to know feature.

Powered by WPeMatico

Update: Sony says the PSN issues affecting some users have now been resolved, and that the network is up and running as normal. Bungie, meanwhile, says its Destiny 2 server issues have also been fixed. Original story follows.

It seems PlayStation Network is experiencing issues worldwide for some people right now. At the time of writing, Sony’s network status page says, “You may have some difficulty launching games, applications, or online features.”

GameSpot was able to sign in to PSN, but reports on NeoGAF state some others are struggling to either sign in or play online games. Sony states, “Our engineers are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible, and we thank you for your patience.” Other services, including Account Management, PlayStation Video, and the PlayStation Store, are seemingly working as normal.

It’s unclear whether the issues are related to problems some Destiny 2 players were experiencing on PS4 in the past few hours. The huge multiplayer game launched yesterday and will likely be causing an influx of players on to both PSN and Xbox Live. Developer Bungie’s latest update reads, “Investigations for this issue are still ongoing.”

We’ll update this post with new details regarding PSN’s own issues as they become available. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.

Powered by WPeMatico

Rainbow Six Siege has just added three new Operators, but developer Ubisoft Montreal isn’t planning on stopping any time soon. In an interview with PC Gamer, brand director Alexandre Remy has said the team is hoping to reach over 100 playable characters.

“We are looking at developing the game with 100 Operators,” he said. “I’ll let you do the math and work out how many years that [will take]. There’s no reason for us to stop there.” At the current rate of eight new Operators per year, that would take Ubisoft another eight years after the end of the current DLC year to reach 100 Operators.

Ubisoft previously said the minimum number of Operators it wanted in Siege would be 50, after launching with 20 back in 2015. “The moment that we hit 50 Operators, that’s the minimum that we actually want,” Remy declared in February this year. “The idea is that you actually want enough Operators so that [for] each pick you have a choice. Thermite for a long time was not a choice, everyone had to pick him in a team because he was the only one who could breach into a reinforced wall. Introducing Hibana, all of a sudden the player could perform that task with a choice. At that moment every choice is tough choice for the player and not an obvious one. To come to that moment, you need a minimum of 50. When we have 50, that’ll be when the game is at its peak in terms of strategy.”

Currently, Siege has 33 Operators, with the most recent additions–Ela, Lesion, and Ying–having just arrived as part of Operation Blood Orchid. A new map, Theme Park, has also been introduced, along with a wide variety of fixes, changes, and improvements. As detailed in the Blood Orchid patch notes, weapons have been rebalanced, lighting has been improved, and facial animations (among many other visual details) have been enhanced. New servers are being implemented that “bring significant improvements to stability, connectivity, FPS, rubberbanding, and overall performance.” Additionally, a new physics system will further mitigate rubberbanding, as well as teleporting.

Blood Orchid caps off Operation Health, the series of updates intended to improve nagging issues with the game. Although Operation Health is now over, Ubisoft has vowed to continue addressing problem areas. “In the future, we are still keeping the core pillars to focus on game optimization, top community issues reported by the community, and improving player experience,” the company stated. “The groundwork in Operation Health will help us to continue to improve the game for the distant future.”

Powered by WPeMatico