Good day, Avatars! NEWS ON THE HOUR is broadcast at the top of every hour, Tuesday - Sunday, 24 hours a day. The news we report is available for reading on our Discord server under “Metaverse News.” 

Friday, October 6, 2023 - Weekend Edition

Written by Alleine Dragonfyre | Reported by Asclepius

Local News

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 10 am to 1 pm Pacific Time, head to the Isle of Light and fast-travel to the Abandoned Mine Fight and Fish dungeon. Seek out Flair Minamoto for a themed uniform, mandatory for participation. Presentation of your outfit to Flair grants your fishing license. Join a party based on your uniform and navigate trolls to reach fishing spots. Prizes await, even a random booby prize. Tune into Flair's Shroud of the Avatar stream and join the game's official Discord server.

Shawn and Zealot2 have revived a valuable resource for Novian adventurers - ShroudoftheAvatar.net. The receipt system allows users to track transactions and in-game commerce. Sharing data is optional but can boost visibility for vendors across Novia.  ShroudoftheAvatar.net enables players to hunt down vendors, player statistics, and even loot data. The dynamic duo has big plans for the future, including raffles, contests, and expanded API data. Improvements include enhanced town stats, crafting insights, and even glimpses into the eccentric world of farmers and brewers. ShroudoftheAvatar.net is a player-run project not affiliated with the official game.

MORE: Visit the Shroud of the Avatar Player-Run Events official forum

Community Member Shawn has also recently rebuilt the ever-so-useful Siege Mapper for any Avatars missing it, which is now posted on moongatetravelers.com. This siege mapper gives times and locations for each of the 8 Cabalist-influenced sieges wreaking havoc outside player-owned towns. For your seige needs, please note it -  that's moongatetravelers.com for the Siege Mapper.

Lighbringer Isle hosts a monthly fishing contest that invites avid anglers to cast lines for the largest fish in the Isle’s salt and lava waters. Prizes will be revealed monthly for each group, with the ultimate Grand Prize awaiting the angler who nets the longest combination of lava and saltwater fish caught. Visit the Shroud of the Avatar official forums for info.

On October 28th, 7 pm NBT, in Duanor, the Guardians of the Silver Serpent Guild host the inaugural 'Get Your Barbarian On' Costume Party at GSS Great Hall. Plan your attire and join Guardians of the Silver Serpent for music, dance, prizes, and creativity. 

Metaverse News

CD Projekt Red Commits to Cyberpunk 2077

Kotaku reports that CD Projekt Red devoted over $60 million to develop Phantom Liberty, Cyberpunk 2077's acclaimed expansion, with an additional $21 million for marketing. This outlay nearly equals half the cost of the base game's production. Despite initial setbacks, ongoing updates and a well-received Netflix anime bolstered the game's popularity. The DLC's release on September 26, accompanied by a free 2.0 update, garnered praise, revitalizing the game's reputation. CD Projekt Red's significant commitments demonstrate their confidence in Cyberpunk 2077's long-term sales potential, mirroring The Witcher 3's enduring success. Cyberpunk 2, currently codenamed Project Orion, has entered the early stages of production. With the game’s sequel and live-action spin-off in the works, CDPR is doing all it can to solidify Cyberpunk 2077's place in gaming history.

Terror strikes Southern San Andreas

Terror strikes Southern San Andreas as bloodthirsty characters descend upon Grand Theft Auto Online. During the next four weeks of nonstop mischief, players will battle gruesome adversaries, including Slashers, Clowns, and FIB agents. During Halloween, enjoy double rewards in spooky modes like Condemned and Slashers and triple payouts in Judgment Day. Players logging in this week get a free Scarlet Vintage Devil Mask. Discounts are available on various vehicles, and LS Car Meet Series winners can score a Pfister Neon. The Lucky Wheel offers a chance at the Bravado Greenwood muscle car while cargo warehouses and weapons are on sale.

Jennifer Hale Made $1200 for Metal Gear Solid in 1998

Renowned voice actor Jennifer Hale, known for iconic roles in games like Metroid Prime, Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect, disclosed on the My Perfect Console podcast that her initial payment for voicing Metal Gear Solid's Naomi Hunter in 1998 was a mere $1,200, or adjusted for inflation in 2023, $2300. Hale expressed concern over the stark contrast between her earnings and the game's colossal $176 million revenue, or $335 million adjusted for 2023, emphasizing the economic disparity in the industry. She advocates for fair compensation and residuals for voice actors, highlighting the importance of preserving rights and sustaining professionalism. United States workers union SAG-AFTRA members overwhelmingly voted for a potential video game strike on September 25.

October’s spooky season in Warframe

Digital Extremes is ready for October’s spooky season in Warframe, introducing Revenant Prime, a werewolf-inspired Warframe, coinciding with the return of the Halloween event, Nights of Naberus. Revenant Prime, available for immediate unlocking or in-game earning, debuts alongside Phantasma Prime and Tatsu Prime through Void Relics. The event runs from now until  November 2nd. Additionally, a new wolf-inspired design is in progress in collaboration with Joe ‘Mad’ Madureira of Airship Syndicate.

Telltale Games Layoffs

Former Telltale Games cinematic artist Jonah Huang disclosed on Twitter today that he and several colleagues were laid off in early September. This development followed Telltale's acquisition of U.K.-based studio Flavourworks, known for Erica. While Telltale confirmed the layoffs, they didn't specify the number affected. The company stated market conditions prompted the action. The company, famed for The Walking Dead, faced a major downsizing in 2018 before its eventual closure. It was revived in 2019, recently releasing the critically acclaimed The Expanse: A Telltale Series, while The Wolf Among Us 2's release was postponed to next year.

PC Game Releases

• Ambusher

• Cactus Simulator 2

• Castle of Secrets

• English Is Hard_

• Freaky Trip

• Ghost at Dawn

• Glob

• GoldenLand: Card game

• Halloween Store Simulator

• Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition

• Little Splash

• Making Memories

• Marki Game Collection

• Mazepocalypse

• Midnight Girl

• NHL 24

• Ocnus Theory

• Ontotis

• Purple Explorer

• Racing the Gods - Beyond Horizons

• Shields of Asgard

• Sole Seeker

• Speed Master

• Star Sign

• Step By Step

• Sword Art Online: Last Recollection

• The Castle Mystery

• Ultrazone
  

ChatGPT was used to assist in writing today’s news.