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Nintendo Cracking Down On Speed-Runners And ROMs

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Super Mario Bros

Nintendo is starting to crack down on popular speed-running and ROM hacking YouTube channels. The company has issued several copyright claims on many channels featuring speed-run videos of Mario games and on channels featuring ROM hacks of other Nintendo games. While Nintendo’s relationship with YouTube has always been widely regarded as draconian, this is taking things to a new level.

Popular speedrunner PangaeaPanga, whose YouTube channel centers around speedrunning Nintendo games, has just tweeted that his entire channel has been “wrecked” by Nintendo. “RIP me,” he wrote. His most popular video, Item Abuse 3, which was labelled the “Hardest Super Mario World Level Ever,” has been taken down. It had over a million views before Nintendo issued a copyright claim on the video, along with approximately 80% of the rest of PangaeaPanga’s channel.

PangaeaPanga, or Alex, says the reason his videos were taken down is that Nintendo is becoming more aggressive in its efforts to control appearances of ROM hacking on YouTube. Another popular YouTuber, who goes by the handle @switchpalacecorner, was sent this email by Nintendo.

We wish to inform you that the videos in question infringe Nintendo’s copyrights. As the owner of the copyright in the games: Mario Kart 8, Super Mario World, and Pokémon, Nintendo has the exclusive right to perform the games publicly or to make derivative works based on the games. By making a derivative work using Nintendo’s IP, and then displaying Nintendo’s IP on your YouTube channel, you have violated Nintendo’s exclusive rights.

Nintendo understands that its fans are the reason for its success, and we are always happy to see people share their passion for Nintendo’s games. At the same time, Nintendo’s intellectual property constitutes its most valuable assets, and the unauthorized use of these assets jeopardizes Nintendo’s rights. Because of this, we ask that you please remove the video in question from your channel, and confirm that you will not post any videos using unauthorized software or copies of games, distribute or continue work on the modification, or take any other steps that would infringe Nintendo’s rights.

Nintendo encourages fan engagement on YouTube through the Nintendo Creators Program. Under the program, participants are granted a license to use Nintendo’s characters, games, and other intellectual property, subject to the Code of Conduct included with the agreement. However, please note that this Code of Conduct prohibits you, among other things, from posting any content using unauthorized software or copies of games. This includes videos featuring tool-assisted speedruns, which require making a copy of a game’s ROM file, and running the copied ROM through an emulator. If you are interested in learning more about the Nintendo Creators Program, please see:

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Nintendo Anti-Piracy Team

Switchpalacecorner notes that Nintendo appears to be asking him to take down his videos, but in fact had already forcibly removed them by the time he received this email.

“It just hurts to see how two very active communities that I participate in, the hacking community (SMWCentral, a site dedicated to SMW hacking) and TASing community (TASVideos, a site dedicated to TASes) are being targeted,” Alex told Kotaku. “It is also sad to see how these works that I have made throughout my childhood (including the Item Abuse series) are now being removed from YouTube (80% of my videos were removed), and that goes for people from these communities, not just me.”

Many other speedrun videos across YouTube are disappearing. Some suspect Nintendo is making this move now because of the recent release of Super Mario Maker and that the company wants to stop people from being able to share their ROM hacks in order to make them buy the game. Whatever the case, it seems Nintendo isn’t backing down.

Rhiannon likes video games and she likes writing, so she decided to combine them. As well as writing about video games, she also belts out the occasional science fiction or fantasy story, edits videos, and eats strawberry oreos. In that order.

Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

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This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

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Developers are reportedly questioning the purpose behind Sony’s PS5 Pro upgrade

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Two major stories have emerged at GDC this year: the decline of Xbox’s brand and the speculation surrounding the purpose of the PS5 Pro. During a podcast discussion, Christopher Dring, a prominent reporter from GamesIndustry.biz, expressed his observations about the lack of understanding surrounding Sony’s rumored mid-gen upgrade. Dring claims that he came across a lot of people at the show who were confused about its purpose.

He made it clear that he anticipates “PS5 fans” upgrading, which gives Sony certain advantages. However, game developers are finding it difficult to generate enthusiasm for the system. “Developers don’t seem to see the necessity for it, based on my conversations with them,” he disclosed. Some people believe they aren’t fully maximizing the potential of the PS5 from the start.

With the lingering effects of the pandemic and the lengthy development cycles, the PlayStation 5 has yet to showcase a substantial lineup of exclusive blockbuster titles. “Some companies expressed skepticism about the potential for growth and impact,” Dring nonchalantly remarked. This current generation of consoles appears to have barely begun, with no apparent demand for a mid-generation update. How about we focus on developing fresh, cutting-edge software?

The journalist later explained that Sony likely has realistic expectations for the refresh, understanding that it will likely have limited appeal to a specific audience. As we’ve mentioned before, the introduction of PlayStation Spectral Resolution and other innovative features is aimed at enhancing the performance modes in games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Thus, if such an experience resonates with your preferences, you likely fall into the niche audience that PlayStation aims to cater to.

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Bend Studio, the development team behind Days Gone, is expanding their staff for an exciting new project in the world of AAA live service gaming

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Sony’s Bend Studios is expanding its team for another high-profile game, signaling PlayStation’s ongoing pursuit of the live service trend. When we last heard from the Oregan-based developer of Days Gone, Bend expressed their anticipation and confidence in their upcoming project, suggesting that it would propel the studio to new heights.

By way of Eurogamer, the studio has alerted us to this most recent update. It appears that a recruitment ad has been recently posted on the company’s website. Bend is looking for a lead project manager who can effectively manage project scope based on current team velocities and milestone schedules. The role requires hands-on game development experience in leadership roles, specifically in shipping AAA live-service games. Specifically, the ideal candidate should possess a proven ability to transform game development studios from a traditional focus on boxed products to dynamic live service development, all while holding a key leadership position.

It’s worth noting that while a service game out of Bend has the potential to be great, it’s important to acknowledge the numerous failed attempts in recent history. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve reported on a cancelled Spider-Man game, rumors of an online Twisted Metal project, and a fantasy co-op game that got axed when London Studio shut down. And mind you, that’s just scratching the surface of what Sony has been up to. Choosing to take a chance with a studio that specializes in single-player games seems questionable, to say the least.

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