This Week in the Universe rounds up some of the best and most interesting stories from around the web you may have missed this week.
Our weekly segment is usually done by Jonathan Hill, but he has gone away for two weeks. So, rather than let down the one consistent thing this website has going at the moment, I agreed to take over – apologies in advance.
There was controversy surrounding 2K this week with a flop release of Borderlands 2 in Russia, but they have proved themselves by addressing the problem the very next day.
Russian Borderlands 2 Is All Fixed!
“2K Games and 1C Company have updated the PC versions of Borderlands 2 that are purchased from both retail locations and via digital distribution in Russia, the Baltic states, and CIS territories. Consumers in these countries will now receive a bundle that contains both the 1C Russian language version of Borderlands 2, as well as the 2K Games worldwide version of the game.”
After updating the Steam terms of service regarding user accounts, Valve have been threatened by the consumer’s association (vzbv) to ‘submit the required declaration of failure’.
Valve threatened after EULA change
“In this case, following the European Union supreme court ruling that all digital software licenses should be eligible for resale amongst consumers, Valve promptly had their EULA changed in August to protect themselves against class-action lawsuits and to nullify any adherence to the abidance of tools, software or means in which to transfer a product service license from one user to next. “
The action-roleplaying series Kingdom Hearts is getting an HD makeover. Perhaps this is a coming (and much wanted) trend, after Square Enix released an HD-remake of Final Fantasy XII.
Kingdom Hearts -1.5 HD ReMIX – announced for PS3, releasing 2013
“In memory of this year being the 10th Anniversary of the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ series, we are compiling a collection of the first works ‘Kingdom Hearts’ and ‘KH Re:Chain of Memories’ in HD. Furthermore, 2009’s Nintendo DS game ‘KH 358/2 Days’, which received much credit for its enjoyable story, will be compiled as well.”
Now moving away from Gaming-related news: the world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, released details this week about his upcoming adventure, leading a team of six explorers to cross Antarctica during the Antarctic winter.
“It is such an extreme undertaking that certain technology had to be invented for this expedition. For instance, a Finning (U.K.) Caterpillar track-type tractor has been adapted so the team members can move across the continent. In doing so, they will endure the coldest temperatures on earth – below minus 80 degrees Celsius (minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit), with wind chill below minus 100 degrees Celsius (minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit) – as well as more than three months of darkness.”
The 570-million-pixel dark energy camera will scan 300 million galaxies over the next five years. One would assume that the photographer doesn’t come cheap.
Dark energy camera snaps first images ahead of survey
“Studies of the way galaxies and galaxy clusters bend passing light – in a process called weak gravitational lensing – will help to pin down the equally mysterious ‘dark matter’ that is believed to make up more than 80% of the Universe’s mass – most of the Universe’s stuff that is not energy.”
A new campaign has been launched with the hopes of getting people to set their televisions to the correct settings, so you can enjoy everything the current technology has to offer.
Film directors launch campaign for correct TV settings
“A campaign backed by moviemakers has been launched to make sure films are watched ‘as the director inteded’. The plea comes in response to a poll which found more than half of consumers do not use the most suitable settings on their equipment. One expert said poorly set-up TVs made images look ‘more like a soap opera rather than a hollywood movie’.
The space shuttle Endeavour flew its final mission in the month of May last year, but it took its final flight this week for a ‘sightseeing’ tour of California and LA.
Space shuttle to slip surly bonds of Earth one last time over California
“The shuttle, piggybacking on its 747 jumbo-jet, will fly over the north of hte state and a large part of the Los Angeles basin, buzzing tourist hotspots like the Golden Gate Bridge, Malibu beach and Disneyland.”
This brings us to the end of this week’s issue of This Week in the Universe. This week’s video of the week has been chosen because it gives viewers a glimpse into the future of video-gaming. You must watch it to understand the possible ramifications it could have on gamers around the globe.
Hope you enjoyed Akardo’s Edition, and enjoy your week!
Gaming and Tech Network 