Currently viewing the tag: "gaming"

Should the U.S. Regulate Loot Boxes?

On November 13, 2018 By

Purchasable randomized rewards, commonly known as “loot boxes,” are a contentious topic in the video game industry. Although many argue that loot boxes resemble a form of unregulated gambling targeted at minors, the number of games containing loot boxes has continued to grow. Over the last two years alone, more than twenty major […]

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Skill or Cheating—What Happens When a Player Exploits a Casino’s Mistake?

On September 9, 2015 By

Absent an outlier situation, casinos have a mathematical edge over their customers. Almost everyone that enters a casino understands this.  The law accepts the fact that customers cannot win over the long run. To increase the house edge, casinos entice customers with a steady flow of cocktail waitresses who hand out complimentary drinks—this is smart business […]

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Microsoft Acquires Maker of Minecraft for $2.5 Billion

On September 16, 2014 By

The era of console gaming is probably coming to an end. At least it seems Microsoft thinks so. Yesterday, the company announced the acquisition of a little-known game publisher called Mojang. It should not be very surprising if you haven’t heard of them, as they have not published many hit games. The one […]

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Gaming for the Greater Good

On September 27, 2011 By

Recently, the journal Nature published an article for which players of the online game Foldit solved the protein structure of a retrovirus similar to HIV. This particular protein structure, an understanding of which will help in the treatment of AIDS, eluded researchers for over ten years before […]

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Monday Morning JetLawg

On September 20, 2009 By

In the news . . .

Ukrainian law prohibiting unmarried couples from adopting children bars Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish from adopting 14-month-old, HIV-stricken child.

PCs and iPhones with text-to-speech applications for speech-impaired denied coverage by Medicare and private health insurers due to other non-medical uses.

Delaware appeals […]

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Duke Nukem . . . Forever ? Take-Two Sues Apogee (3D Realms) Over Failed Sequel

On May 17, 2009 By

It was well over ten years ago when now-defunct video game maker 3D Realms (makers of the Duke Nukem series and the recently well-received video game Prey) announced the proper, and what was to be the final, installment of the Duke Nukem franchise–Duke Nukem Forever. Since that announcement, the game’s title took […]

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Electronic Arts' Online Battle Over DRM

On December 11, 2008 By

A battle has long been underway in the virtual world; rights holders such as video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) want to protect their proprietary software to the greatest extent possible while end-users playing the games often find the means of protection, commonly known as Digital Rights Management (DRM) to be overly restrictive. DRM […]

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