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There's a new Pokémon game coming to iPhone and Android — here's what we know

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Pokeland

Fresh off the release of "Magikarp Jump" and a recent update to "Pokémon GO," The Pokémon Company has announced a new addition to its mobile game lineup: "PokéLand."

In it, players will collect toy versions of their favorite Pokémon and battle them on different islands. The gameplay is similar to that of "Pokémon Rumble" for the Wii, but will feature "simple and intuitive controls" so that players can "tap through thrilling Pokémon battles," according to the Japanese press release.

The game, which is in development for iOS and Android, will require an internet connection and will also use players' Nintendo accounts. Currently, The Pokémon Company is conducting an alpha test of "Pokéland" in Japan on Android. The test includes six different islands to explore and battle on, as well as 134 Pokémon to capture and battle. 

The alpha test is open to 10,000 Android users, and will run until June 3. There is no word yet on when the game will be released for iOS and Android devices, but we suspect it will be coming in the next few months. Pokeland

SEE ALSO: Pokémon's new game for iPhone and Android is out, and it's unlike any game before it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything we know about the next iPhone — including a completely new look


The best movies and TV shows coming to Amazon, iTunes, Hulu, and more in June

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Beauty and the Beast Disney final

It’s time to stream some of the biggest movies of the year.

Coming in June over on iTunes you can buy Disney’s live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast” as well as the latest chapter in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, “The Fate of the Furious.”

Other highlights in streaming for June include Adam Driver in Jim Jarmusch’s latest, “Paterson,” over on Amazon; season three of “The Carmichael Show” on Hulu; and the season finale of “The Leftovers” on HBO Go/Now.

Here's everything coming to your favorite streaming platforms in June. We've highlighted some standouts in bold:

SEE ALSO: Why movie critics are in love with "Wonder Woman"

iTunes

Available June 2
“Life”

Available June 6
“Beauty and the Beast”
“Chips”

Available June 13
“3 Generations”
“John Wick: Chapter 2”
“Saban’s Power Rangers”
“T2: Trainspotting”

Available June 20
“Going in Style”
“Smurfs: The Lost Village”

Available June 23
“The Bad Batch”

Available June 27
“The Fate of the Furious”
“The Boss Baby”
“Kong: Skull Island”



Amazon Prime

Available June 1
“2 Days in the Valley”
“Aeon Flux”
“All Over the Guy”
“Apocalypse Now”
“Apocalypse Now Redux”
“Black Rain”
“Blow Out”
“Blue Velvet”
“Bolero”
“Bowling for Columbine”
“Bruce Lee Superstar”
“Bullwhip”
“Burnt Offerings”
“Chaos”
“Chinese Hercules”
“City of Gods” (Ciudad de Deus) 
“Commando 2: The Black Money Trail”
“De-Lovely”
“Desperate Hours”
“Dragon Eyes”
“Drunken Arts and Crippled Fist”
“Drunken Monkey, Floating Snake”
“El Gringo”
“The Fatal Flying Guillotine”
“Fighting of Shaolin Monks”
“Fire in the Sky”
“Fled”
“Gone Baby Gone”
“Hammett”
“The Hanoi Hilton”
“Heartbreakers”
“Ingenious”
“The Invincible Armour”
“Invincible Obsessed Fighter”
“Lady of Burlesque” 
“The Lady Says No” 
“Lady Windermere's Fan” 
“Little Man Tate”
“Madame Behave”
“Magnolia” 
“The Mandarin Mystery” 
“Marihuana” 
“The Mechanic”
“The Medicine Man” 
“The Memphis Belle” 
“Merry-Go-Round” 
“Million Dollar Kid”
“Mind Over Murder” 
“Miss Polly” 
“Mission to Glory” 
“The Monster Walks”
“The Most Dangerous Game”
“Mr. Mom”
“Mrs. Scooter”
“Murder at Midnight”
“Murder with Music”
“Night at the Follies”
“Nomads of the North”
“The Old Corral”
“One Exciting Night”
“One from the Heart”
“The Out-of-Towners”
“Outlaws of Sonora”
“Over the Top”
“Palooka”
“The Patchwork Girl of Oz”
“Payoff in the Pacific”
“The Philly Kid”
“Pinto Rustlers”
“The President's Mystery”
“Prison Break”
“Private Buckaroo”
“The Queen”
“The Racketeer”
“Reaching for the Moon”
“The Red Rope”
“Regarding Henry”
“Revolt of the Zombies”
“Rex the Devil Horse”
“Riders of Destiny”
“Riders of the Whistling Pine”
“The Road to Hollywood”
“Roarin’ Lead”
“Robin Hood of the Pecos”
“Romola”
“Rough Book”
“The Royal Bed”
“Saddle Mountain Roundup”
“The Savage Wild”
“The Scarlet Letter”
“Shadows”
“Shaolin Drunk Fighter”
“Shaolin vs. Lama”
“Shivers”
“Silver”
“Silver Horde””
“Six Gun Trail”
“Slightly Honorable”
“St. Benny the Dip”
“Stash House”
“The Strange Woman”
“Strategic Air Command”                                                                                                     
“Submarine Warfare”
“Svengali”
“Swing High, Swing Low”
“Target for Tonight”
“Tarzan and the Green Goddess”
“Tarzan of the Apes”
“The Salesman” (Amazon Original)
“The Tank”
“The Thief of Bagdad”
“Those We Love”
“Tomake Chai”
“Tormented”
“Tracker”
“Transit”
“True Heart Susie”
“Tumbleweeds”
“Wanderers of the West”
“War Comes to America”
“Way of the West”
“West of Nevada”
“White Orchid”
“Winterset”
“Within Our Gates”
“The Woman in Green”
“The Woman of the Town”
“World Trade Center”
“Yellowstone”
“Zis Boom Bah”

Available June 2
“Dead Ahead”
“Noor “
“So Far”
“The Closing of Winterland”
“The Grateful Dead Movie”
“Truckin' Up to Buffalo”

Available June 4
“Urge”

Available June 5
“20th Century Women”
“Arbitrage”
“Ocean's Eleven”
“Ocean's Twelve”

Available June 6
“Beauty and the Beast” (Purchase only) 
CHIPS (Purchase only, rental available June 27)   

Available June 7
“Aftershock”
“Brand New Testament”

Available June 8
“Art of the Steal”
“I Am Not Your Negro”
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Tiger Family Trip”  

Available June 9
“Girl Most Likely”
“An American Girl Story: Summer Camp”                
“Friends for Life” (Amazon Original) 
“Le Mans: Racing is Everything” (Amazon Original)   

Available June 11
“Transpecos”

Available June 12
“Suits” (Season 6)

Available June 13
“The LEGO Batman Movie”
“John Wick: Chapter 2”    

Available June 17
“Star Trek Beyond”

Available June 22
“Paterson” (Amazon Original) 

Available June 29
“Arthur: D.W. & the Beastly Birthday”                                                                                          
“David Lynch: The Art Life”

Available June 30
“All or Nothing” (Season 2, Amazon Original)
“Danger & Eggs” (Season 1, Amazon Original)



Hulu

Available June 1
“The Carmichael Show” (Season 3 Premiere)
“2 Days in the Valley”
“Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”
“Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls”
“Aeon Flux”
“All Over the Guy”
“Apocalypse Now”
“Apocalypse Now Redux”
“Barnyard”
“Black Rain”
“Blow Out”
“Blue Velvet”
“Bolero”
“Boogeyman”
“Boogeyman 2”
“Boogeyman 3”
“Bullwhip”
“Burnt Offerings”
“Chaos”
“Charlotte’s Web”
“Con Air”
“Dances with Wolves”
“The Deep End of the Ocean”
“De-Lovely”
“Desperado”
“Desperate Hours”
“Double Team”
“Dragon Eyes”
“Drunken Arts and Crippled Fist”
“Drunken Monkey, Floating Snake”
“El Gringo”
“The Fatal Flying Guillotine”
“Fighting of Shaolin Monks”
“Fire in the Sky”
“Fled”
“The Freshman”
“Free Willy”
“Gangs of New York”
“Ghost Rider”
“The Glass House”
“Hammett”
“The Hanoi Hilton”
“Harriot the Spy”
“Heartbreakers” 
“Henry & Me”
“The Ides of March”
“Ingenious”
“The Invincible Armour”
“In the Line of Fire”
“Invincible Obsessed Fighter”
“It Could Happen to You”
“Joe Dirt”
“Kangaroo Jack”
“Last Action Hero”
“Legally Blonde”
“Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde”
“Legends of the Fall”
“Little Man Tate”
“Lost in America”
“Madeline”
“The Mechanic”
“The Medallion”
“Mo’ Money”
“Money Train”
“Moscow on the Hudson”
“Mr. Mom”
“Muppet Treasure Island”
“Muppets from Space”
“The Muppets Take Manhattan”
“Of Cooks and Kung Fu”
“On the Waterfront”
“The Out-of-Towners”
“Over the Top”
“Peggy Sue Got Married”
“The Philly Kid”
“The Prince of Tides”
“The Queen of Versailles”
“Random Hearts”
“Regarding Henry”
“See No Evil, Hear No Evil”
“Seven Years in Tibet”
“Shivers”
“Silverado”
“Starman”
“Stash House”
“Strategic Air Command”
“Stray Bullets”
“Tracker”
“Transit”
“Underworld”
“Underworld Evolution”
“World’s Greatest Dad”
“World Trade Center” 
“XXX: State of the Union”
“Zoom”

Available June 2
“Black-ish” (Season 3)

Available June 3
“Dumb: The Story of Big Brother Magazine” (Hulu Documentary)

Available June 4
“Arbor Demon”
“Urge”

Available June 5
“Arbitrage”
“A Case of You”
“North”

Available June 6
“Rizzoli & Isles” (Season 7)
“Tyrant” (Season 3)

Available June 7
“13 Assassins”

Available June 8
“What Happened Last Night”

Available June 9
“Girl Most Likely”
“Free the Nipple”

Available June 11
“Traspecos”

Available June 13
“American Ninja Warrior” (Season 9 Premiere)
“Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge” (Season 2 Premiere)

Available June 14
“Cocaine Cowboys”
“Control Room”

Available June 15
“Bayou Maharajah”
“Family Mission: The TJ Labraico Story”
“The Girls in the Band”
“The Hunting of the President”
“Outatime”

Available June 16
“Cardinal” (Season 1)
“The Strain” (Season 3)
“Asmodexia”

Available June 17
“Kundo”
“Star Trek: Beyond”

Available June 18
“Grand Piano”

Available June 22
“Little Big Shots: Forever Young” (Series Premiere)

Available June 23
“Hollywood Game Night” (Season 5 Premiere)
“Manny”
“Song One”
“Tarzan”

Available June 26
“Journey to the West”

Available June 29
“Ong Bak”
“Ong Bak 2”
“Ong Bak 3”

Available June 30
“The Pact 2”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A gorgeous new game just launched that looks like 'Zelda' — but it’s for Xbox and PlayStation too

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"The Legend of Zelda" is a third-person action series with a focus on puzzle-solving, light combat, and exploration. It features unique art styles and mysterious lands to discover. Such is the case with 2017's "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild": 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It's also the case with 2017's "Rime," a gorgeous new game that just launched.

It's coming to the Nintendo Switch soon, but unlike "Breath of the Wild," it's already available on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. 

Rime

Intriguing, no? Here's the deal.

SEE ALSO: Forget 'Call of Duty' — this insane new game is going to blow your mind

"Rime" stars a young boy as the playable protagonist. He awakens on a mysterious island, washed ashore.



The island, as you see here, is full of secrets. What are these structures?



It seems that a civilization of some form inhabited the island. There are manicured paths, buildings, and various other structures. But you're seemingly alone.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'That photo is very disturbing': Melania Trump weighs in on Kathy Griffin pose with Trump's decapitated head

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melania trump

First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday joined the chorus of those condemning comedian Kathy Griffin for a photo shoot featuring a bloody, decapitated head that resembled President Donald Trump.

"As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing," Trump said in a statement.

"When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it," she continued.

Griffin's photo, which was released Tuesday afternoon, immediately sparked a backlash among both conservative and liberal critics.

Griffin posted a video apology on social media Tuesday evening, saying she "went way too far" and would ask photographer Tyler Shields to take the image down.

"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said. "I made a mistake and I was wrong."

Trump himself took to Twitter early Wednesday morning to condemn the photo:

 

SEE ALSO: 'I went way too far': Kathy Griffin apologizes for photo shoot that featured bloody Trump head

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: China built a $350 million bridge that ends in a dirt field in North Korea

Why it took so long for Hollywood to make a great female-led superhero movie

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Patty Jenkins WW Warner Bros final

Though Wonder Woman is one of the most well-known superhero characters ever to appear in a comic books, it took 75 years for Hollywood to finally get its act together and bring her to the big screen. 

It seems to have been worth the wait. Warner Bros.' "Wonder Woman" opens Friday as not just the jewel of the studio's fledging DC Comics Extended Universe division but arguably one of the best superhero movies ever made. (The movie currently has a score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.)

Which begs the question: Why have movie studios avoided making female superhero movies for so long?

"There are certainly a lot of reasons, and many of them are depressingly [related to] sexism," Patty Jenkins, director of "Wonder Woman," told Business Insider in a recent Facebook Live interview. "But money moves the world and I think the tentpole industry started and there was a belief system, that was true for a long time, that teenage boys were driving that."

In Hollywood's recent craze for superhero movies, which kicked off around 2002's Tobey Maguire-starring "Spider-Man," the movies were geared for the late-teen/early-20s male. There were attempts to try to cater to females in that time, too, as with Halle Berry in "Catwoman" (2004) and Jennifer Garner in "Elektra" (2005). But both were busts critically (9% and 10%, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes) and financially (worldwide $82.1 million and $56.6 million, respectively). 

hunger games diversity"I really do think the trepidation was there were failed attempts and then that wasn’t who you were targeting for such a massive movie, so I think that has really changed," Jenkins said.

The shift started with the success of "The Hunger Games" franchise, headed by Jennifer Lawrence. The four films, based on a young-adult book series, took in close to $3 billion worldwide and proved that audiences actually want to see action movies headed by women. That, along with the recent greenlighting of female-centric superhero movies (Captain Marvel and Batgirl, among others, are in the works), has made this the perfect moment for "Wonder Woman" to prove that girls can kick butt just as much as the boys do.

"I think it’s beautiful because actually the superhero genre has always had a bunch of great [female] superheros," Jenkins said. "And it's funny and interesting that there’s anything new about doing Wonder Woman 75 years later. We have always loved her so I hope it’s the beginning of many more."

Watch our complete interview with Patty Jenkins below:

 

SEE ALSO: Hollywood is fighting billionaire Sean Parker's plan to let you rent movies still in theaters for $50

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Judge Judy's friend of 40 years explains what she's really like

Al Franken jokes with David Letterman that Ted Cruz is 'the toxic guy in the office, the guy who microwaves fish'

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al franken david letterman

Sen. Al Franken continued to harp on his favorite target on Tuesday in a wide-ranging chat with David Letterman.

At an event promoting his new book "Al Franken: Giant of the Senate" at the 92nd St. Y in New York, the Minnesota senator fielded Letterman's questions about President Donald Trump, potential collusion between the president and the Russians during 2016, his history as a comedian, and his political aspirations.

But the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member also repeatedly poked-fun at Sen. Ted Cruz, whom Franken joked about at length in his book and described as a "sociopath" and "singularly dishonest" for his policy positions and willingness to break senate protocols while seemingly in pursuit of higher office. 

In recent months, Franken has become more comfortable returning to his comedic roots after attempting to cultivate a veneer of seriousness throughout his 2008 and 2014 campaigns and first term in the Senate.

Franken went viral during an innuendo-laced exchange with now-Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry during his confirmation hearing and appeared onstage with comedian Sarah Silverman during last year's Democratic National Convention.

"Giant of the Senate" recounts Franken's attempts to suppress his humor, including several anecdotes in which his staff attempted to strip jokes from speeches and relegate his sarcastic asides to car rides in between events.

Franken's high profile has stoked speculation about his presidential aspirations, but the former comedian denied that he is interested in running for president in 2020.

"I'm not going to do that," Franken said on Tuesday, recounting a conversation with his son in which he described running for president as a "stupid" idea.

"That's what I tell people," Letterman replied. "It's not going to happen because his son will beat him up."

SEE ALSO: Democrats are pushing an unlikely person — Jerry Springer — to run for governor in Ohio

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: WATCH: Putin reacts to Trump firing FBI Director James Comey

Robin Wright says she's still not getting equal pay on 'House of Cards': I got 'duped'

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House of Cards Robin Wright David Giesbrecht Netflix final

We already know not to cross Robin Wright's character Claire Underwood in the Netflix series "House of Cards," but it looks like you shouldn't do it to her in real life, either. 

Wright made headlines last year when she made the comment that she demanded to be paid the same as her costar on the show (which is back for a fifth season), Kevin Spacey.

“I was looking at the statistics and Claire Underwood's character was more popular than [Frank's] for a period of time, so I capitalized on it. I was like, 'You better pay me or I’m going to go public,'" Wright said. "And they did."

But did they? 

In a profile for the United Airlines in-flight magazine Rhapsody, Wright revealed that the pay equity never happened.

“I don’t think I’m getting paid the same amount. They told me I was getting a raise. But... I don’t think so,” Wright said.

Spacey was reportedly paid $500,000 an episode in 2014. It was reported in 2015 that Wright made an estimated $5.5 million from "House of Cards," which is approximately $420,000 an episode.

According to the production company behind "House of Cards," Media Rights Capital, it's not possible for Wright and Spacey to earn the same pay because Spacey is one of the founding producers of the show. Instead, Wright has been given an executive producer credit and opportunities to direct episodes.

"I really don't like being duped," Wright told Rhapsody. "It's such a male-dominant workforce still. There's a conditioning. And changing the condition of men is what needs to happen."

SEE ALSO: Why it took so long for Hollywood to make a great female-led superhero movie

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: HBO just released a new 'Game of Thrones' trailer — the dragons are back

CNN has dropped Kathy Griffin after her controversial beheaded Trump photo

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Kathy Griffin NYE

On Tuesday, a violent photo of Kathy Griffin holding a mock severed head of President Donald Trump sparked controversy after it made its debut on the internet.

The photo was taken by photographer Tyler Shields, and there was video footage of the shoot. Griffin quickly apologized for the photo on social media, saying, "I went too far."

In a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, CNN announced that Griffin will no longer cohost "New Year's Eve Live" alongside co-host Anderson Cooper.

Griffin started cohosting the program with Cooper in 2007. The program airs live from New York City's Times Square. 

Toilet stool company Sqautty Potty also dropped Griffin in the aftermath of the reactions to the image. She made an appearance in one commercial for the brand, and was never a spokesperson.

Both CNN and Cooper condemned Griffin's Trump photo. Cooper said he was "appalled" by the images.

 

SEE ALSO: 'I went way too far': Kathy Griffin apologizes for photo shoot that featured bloody Trump head

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch the first trailer for 'Blade Runner 2049' starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford


Netflix CEO Reed Hastings illuminated a major point about Facebook's new TV strategy (NFLX, FB)

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mark zuckerberg and reed hastings

Though Netflix CEO Reed Hastings sits on Facebook's board, that hasn't led to any conflicts because the two internet giants aren't competing to buy the same shows, Hastings said at the Code Conference Wednesday.

Since 2011, Hastings has sat on Facebook’s board, but as Facebook's plans to fund TV-style shows have taken form, observers have asked whether eventually Hastings might have to leave.

At least for now, that doesn't seem to be something that bothers Hastings.

It's "not a big conflict yet," Hastings said Wednesday. "They are not doing 'House of Cards.' We are not bidding on the same shows. So not a big deal there."

These comments are significant since they come as Facebook is making its big move to take on traditional TV. Facebook is currently readying a slate of premium shows, to be released later this summer, primarily in two tiers. The first tier will be longer scripted shows, up to 30 minutes in length, bought by Facebook. The second tier will be shorter shows, with 5-10 minute episodes, which will not be owned by Facebook.

It's unclear how much money Facebook will spend on the longer, TV-like shows, but Reuters has reported up to $250,000 an episode. If that's true, it would put Facebook into a much lower tier than Netflix's first big original series "House of Cards," which cost a reported $4.5 million an episode starting out, and went higher, CAA agent Peter Micelli said in 2013. A $250,000 budget would also lend credence to Hastings' assertion that Netflix and Facebook aren't competing to buy the same shows.

Netflix is spending $6 billion on content this year, and will spend "a lot more" as time goes on. That means Netflix is bidding against pretty much anyone buying TV shows. So if Netflix and Facebook aren't bidding on the same shows, it indicates that Facebook's first bites in the TV show market will be small.

That doesn't mean, however, that Facebook and Netflix will never go head-to-head. The launch of Facebook's premium programming has been pushed back multiple times, and both "House of Cards" and "Scandal" have been used as examples of shows they'd be interested in buying in meetings, sources told Business Insider. So perhaps even Facebook doesn't know exactly what it wants for the higher tier.

If Facebook does end up putting up TV budgets for original shows, however, you could view Hastings as the canary in the coal mine. If he gives up his board seat, expect Facebook to start bidding against Netflix in a major way.

SEE ALSO: Facebook wants to launch its big attack on TV next month — here's what we know

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 10 details you might have missed in episode 2 of 'American Gods'

These are the 10 best games on the Nintendo Switch (so far)

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Nintendo's newest video game console, the Switch, is finally out. If you can find one, the $300 hybrid game console is a delightful little device.

Nintendo Switch

The Switch is a handheld game console, as seen above, but it's also a home game console. You slide it into a dock and — voila! — it's on your TV, right where you left off. Pretty neat!

Since the Switch arrived on March 3, its game library has grown steadily. Here are the best games available for the Switch thus far.

SEE ALSO: Here are all the games coming to Nintendo's new console, and when they arrive

1. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is one of the best games I've played in years. 

Much of the setup for "Breath of the Wild" happened 100 years in the past. The game supposes that you (Link) and Princess Zelda — the longtime heroine of the series — failed in a major battle against longtime antagonist Ganon. There's far more to the story than that, but it's much more exciting to discover on your own. Discovery is at the heart of everything in "Breath of the Wild" — it's a massive open world full of secrets waiting to be discovered. Simply put: If you own any game on the Switch, this is the one to buy.

Price: $59.99



2. "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe"

 If you own a Nintendo Switch, you should own "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe." No equivocations. No caveats.

Like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," you're looking at a must-own game here for any Nintendo Switch owner. It's a ridiculously good game, alone or with friends. It's literally the best entry in a series composed of great games. There are no truly bad "Mario Kart" games, so that this one stands out says a lot about how good it is. There are dozens of courses, a fantastic new mode that beyond delivers on fan expectations, and a robust online multiplayer mode. I have literally nothing negative to say about "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," except that Nintendo could've thrown owners a bone and offered some form of discount if you bought the game already on Wii U. But Nintendo knows you'll buy it at $60, so Nintendo is charging $60. Such is capitalism.

Price: $59.99



3. "Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition"

"Minecraft" is this generation's Super Mario. It's an international phenomenon. Unless you've been living on the moon, you probably already know these things.

It's on computers, phones, tablets, and game consoles — including the Switch as of pretty recently. It's at your local mall, occupying kiosks with plushies and T-shirts. There's a semiannual convention ("MineCon") and an education initiative that's got it in schools (MinecraftEDU).

But why is it so popular? Think of "Minecraft" as virtual LEGO.

It's a system for fitting pieces together to create something — sometimes amazing somethings — from nothing. "Minecraft" provides endless building blocks and a blank canvas. It's up to you to create something incredible, or silly, or referential, or whatever, using the tools it provides. The tools are blessedly user-friendly, as are the systems for employing those tools.

Price: $39.99



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Watch Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's 2010 cameo in the teen drama 'Gossip Girl'

The eSports competitive video gaming market continues to grow revenues & attract investors

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eSports Advertising and Sponsorships

What is eSports? History & Rise of Video Game Tournaments

Years ago, eSports was a community of video gamers who would gather at conventions to play Counter Strike, Call of Duty, or League of Legends.

These multiplayer video game competitions would determine League of Legends champions, the greatest shooters in Call of Duty, the cream of the crop of Street Fighter players, the elite Dota 2 competitors, and more.

But today, as the history of eSports continue to unfold, media giants such as ESPN and Turner are broadcasting eSports tournaments and competitions. And in 2014, Amazon acquired Twitch, the live streaming video platform that has been and continues to be the leader in online gaming broadcasts. And YouTube also wanted to jump on the live streaming gaming community with the creation of YouTube Gaming.

eSports Market Growth Booming

To put in perspective how big eSports is becoming, a Google search for "lol" does not produce "laughing out loud" as the top result. Instead, it points to League of Legends, one of the most popular competitive games in existence. The game has spawned a worldwide community called the League of Legends Championship Series, more commonly known as LCS or LOL eSports.

What started as friends gathering in each other's homes to host LAN parties and play into the night has become an official network of pro gaming tournaments and leagues with legitimate teams, some of which are even sponsored and have international reach. Organizations such as Denial, AHQ, and MLG have multiple eSports leagues.

And to really understand the scope of all this, consider that the prize pool for the latest Dota 2 tournament was more than $20 million.

Websites even exist for eSports live scores to let people track the competitions in real time if they are unable to watch. There are even fantasy eSports leagues similar to fantasy football, along with the large and growing scene of eSports betting and gambling.

So it's understandable why traditional media companies would want to capitalize on this growing trend just before it floods into the mainstream. Approximately 300 million people worldwide tune in to eSports today, and that number is growing rapidly. By 2020, that number will be closer to 500 million.

eSports Industry Analysis - The Future of the Competitive Gaming Market

Financial institutions are starting to take notice. Goldman Sachs valued eSports at $500 million in 2016 and expects the market will grow at 22% annually compounded over the next three years into a more than $1 billion opportunity.

And industry statistics are already backing this valuation and demonstrating the potential for massive earnings. To illustrate the market value, market growth, and potential earnings for eSports, consider Swedish media company Modern Times Group's $87 million acquisition of Turtle Entertainment, the holding company for ESL. YouTube has made its biggest eSports investment to date by signing a multiyear broadcasting deal with Faceit to stream the latter's Esports Championship Series. And the NBA will launch its own eSports league in 2018.

Of course, as with any growing phenomenon, the question becomes: How do advertisers capitalize? This is especially tricky for eSports because of its audience demographics, which is young, passionate, male-dominated, and digital-first. They live online and on social media, are avid ad-blockers, and don't watch traditional TV or respond to conventional advertising.

So what will the future of eSports look like? How high can it climb? Could it reach the mainstream popularity of baseball or football? How will advertisers be able to reach an audience that does its best to shield itself from advertising?

Robert Elder, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled an unparalleled report on the eSports ecosystem that dissects the growing market for competitive gaming. This comprehensive, industry-defining report contains more than 30 charts and figures that forecast audience growth, average revenue per user, and revenue growth.

Companies and organizations mentioned in the report include: NFL, NBA, English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, Ligue de Football, Twitch, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, ESPN, Electronic Arts, EA Sports, Valve, Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, ESL, Turtle Entertainment, Dreamhack, Modern Times Group, Turner Broadcasting, TBS Network, Vivendi, Canal Plus, Dailymotion, Disney, BAMTech, Intel, Coca Cola, Red Bull, HTC, Mikonet

Here are some eSports industry facts and statistics from the report:

  • eSports is a still nascent industry filled with commercial opportunity.
  • There are a variety of revenue streams that companies can tap into.
  • The market is presently undervalued and has significant room to grow.
  • The dynamism of this market distinguishes it from traditional sports.
  • The audience is high-value and global, and its numbers are rising.
  • Brands can prosper in eSports by following the appropriate game plan.
  • Game publishers approach their Esport ecosystems in different ways.  
  • Successful esport games are comprised of the same basic ingredients.
  • Digital streaming platforms are spearheading the popularity of eSports.
  • Legacy media are investing into eSports, and seeing encouraging results.
  • Traditional sports franchises have a clear opportunity to seize in eSports.
  • Virtual and augmented reality firms also stand to benefit from eSports.  

In full, the report illuminates the business of eSports from four angles:

  • The gaming nucleus of eSports, including an overview of popular esport genres and games; the influence of game publishers, and the spectrum of strategies they adopt toward their respective esport scenes; the role of eSports event producers and the tournaments they operate.
  • The eSports audience profile, its size, global reach, and demographic, psychographic, and behavioral attributes; the underlying factors driving its growth; why they are an attractive target for brands and broadcasters; and the significant audience and commercial crossover with traditional sports.
  • eSports media broadcasters, including digital avant-garde like Twitch and YouTube, newer digital entrants like Facebook and traditional media outlets like Turner’s TBS Network, ESPN, and Canal Plus; their strategies and successes in this space; and the virtual reality opportunity.
  • eSports market economics, with a market sizing, growth forecasts, and regional analyses; an evaluation of the eSports spectacle and its revenue generators, some of which are idiosyncratic to this industry; strategic planning for brand marketers, with case studies; and an exploration of the infinite dynamism and immense potential of the eSports economy.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are two ways to access it:

  1. Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
  2. Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

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How Amazon's approach to making TV is 'very different' from traditional networks, according to its star showrunner (AMZN)

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jeffrey tambor jill soloway golden globes

Amazon has become a major player in the TV market, spending an estimated $4.5 billion on video in 2017.

And according to Amazon's star showrunner Jill Soloway, the internet giant has a different way of making shows compared to a traditional network.

"They have a very different style than most networks," Soloway, who has created "Transparent" and "I Love Dick" for Amazon, said at the Code Conference. "And I don't really know how things work at Netflix, I'd imagine it's a little bit the same. Because they are using these disruptive technologies, they don't really have the same tradition of 'let's put a stop to things at the outline stage, at the script stage.' They don't weigh in over and over again."

In short: Amazon is pretty hands-off. Soloway said that in 10 years of developing shows for networks, she did a lot of "political rewriting" to please various people involved in the show. Then, slowly but surely, everything turned into something she didn't believe in. "Your vision kind of gets dissipated," she said. "None of it happened at Amazon."

That's not to say Soloway didn't have conversations with Amazon execs. They talked about things like broad story arcs, she said. But they weren't micromanaging a "period instead of a comma." Soloway attributed it, partially, to Amazon's ethos — its leadership principles — and how it deals with all "suppliers."

In May, Soloway signed a three-year extension of her overall deal with Amazon, according to Variety.

Global domination

JPMorgan has estimated that Amazon will spend $4.5 billion on video in 2017. While this would still sit below Netflix’s $6 billion content budget for 2017, it would mean a big step up for Amazon. For reference, HBO spent around $2 billion on programming in 2016, and while Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said that budget would rise a bit this year, he characterized the 2017 HBO programming budget as a “couple of billion dollars” in December.

In December, Amazon took Prime Video global by launching in over 200 countries. At the same time, Amazon has beefed up its originals, paying a reported $250 million for “The Grand Tour,” its blockbuster car show from the “Top Gear” team. “The Grand Tour” and “The Man in the High Castle” are Amazon’s two most popular shows in most countries, Amazon Studios boss Roy Price revealed in April.

Price characterized Amazon's video focus as “the crème de la crème,” its blockbuster shows. The “actual shows people are talking about,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Only 8% of college students don't have Netflix, and that's a great sign for the company's future

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Samantha Bee believes she knows the 'real' story behind Trump's 'covfefe' tweet

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samantha bee donald trump covfefe full frontal TBS

President Donald Trump created a social-media circus when he seemingly invented a new word, "covfefe," in a tweet on Tuesday.

"Last night for five blessed hours, Donald Trump made America truly great," Samantha Bee said on Wednesday's episode of TBS's "Full Frontal" right before playing clips from media discussing the president's tweet. "Covfefe. Trump is right — he really does have the best words."

Presumably, Trump meant to use the word "kerfuffle," which means a disturbance or fuss, in the tweet in question: "Despite the constant negative press covfefe."

Trump covfefe tweet

The "covfefe" tweet was deleted about six hours later, but it went viral in the meantime as news outlets and social media made light of the apparent spelling mistake and tried to explain it.

"The Twitterverse greeted covfefe's arrival with unfettered rapture," the host said. "For that glorious interlude between midnight and 5 a.m., we were like passengers on the Titanic who decided to say ‘f--- it,’ and rock out to the band."

The host presented her own theory as to what caused the president to tweet the word in the first place. It had to do with his recent trip abroad, which included visits to Saudi Arabia and The Vatican.

"This is what happens when you’ve abstained from your phone for nine days, you ejaculate just like that," she said of Trump’s return to Twitter after his trip.

Watch the video below:

SEE ALSO: Neve Campbell: The similarities between 'House of Cards' and Trump are 'accidental'

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NOW WATCH: Trump accidentally tweeted 'covfefe' — and Twitter immediately turned it into a huge meme

Johnny Depp's killer lurks in the star-studded 'Murder on the Orient Express' trailer

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murder on the orient express Johnny Depp trailer

Who killed Johnny Depp?

Well, not actually the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, but his dashing character Ratchett's demise is at the center of the mystery in the new movie adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name, "Murder on the Orient Express."

Kenneth Branagh, who also directed the film, plays Hercule Poirot, a genius detective who must solve Ratchett's murder before the killer strikes again. The 13 suspects include a star-studded group in Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, and Josh Gad.

The movie arrives to theaters on November 10.

Watch the trailer for "Murder on the Orient Express" below:

SEE ALSO: 21 books to read before they become movies this year

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These are going to be the 2017 songs of summer, according to Spotify

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Katy Perry

It's June, which pretty much means it's summer. It's time to listen to beach-appropriate songs that will never get out of your head no matter how hard you try. 

The past few years have given us some of the most memorable songs of summer for good and bad reasons: "Call Me Maybe," "Blurred Lines," "Trap Queen."

Spotify put together a playlist of what it predicts will be the songs of summer for 2017, and there's something for every summer occasion. While most of them aren't as horribly catchy as "Blurred Lines," there are songs from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Niall from One Direction, Liam from One Direction, and Katy Perry. 

Here are Spotify's picks for the songs of summer 2017, which you can listen to below:

 

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 11 best movies of 2017 so far

“Bad Liar” - Selena Gomez

Spotify: "Between the playful coos and seductive beat, Selena Gomez’s brand new song has us all hot and bothered. Spotify listeners took to this track instantly and we predict it’ll be setting the tone for summertime shenanigans everywhere."



“Strip That Down” - Liam Payne ft. Quavo

"Liam Payne’s first post 1D solo offering references everything summer needs: beverages (“Coke and Bacardi”), fast cars (“F1 type Ferrari”) and suggestive dancing (“I love it when your body grinds on me”). Co-written by Ed Sheeran, this track is already the life of the party. "



“I'm The One” - DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, Lil Wayne

"If you’re looking to kick back beside the pool with a drink in hand and a mission to be worry-free, this is your song. Led by the charismatic DJ Khaled, “I’m The One” is a sunny all-star collaboration about telling a girl she can call off the search for Mr. Right."

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A gold PlayStation 4 is on the way, and it costs $249

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That plain matte black PlayStation 4 you've got? It's old hat. It's not nearly gold enough. What you need, friend, is a gold PlayStation 4. 

PlayStation 4 (Gold)

And it looks like that's exactly what you're gonna get! 

At least that's what you're going to get if you choose to buy the upcoming gold-colored PlayStation 4 console that Sony's planning for release. The console hasn't been officially announced by Sony, but one popped up recently at a Walmart retail location.

The photo above was snapped by Reddit user "Christopher_Maxim," who spotted the gold PS4 on display his local Walmart and proceeded to attempt buying it. Here's what he says happened:

"This Walmart put them out early. [The] register locked up when I tried to buy one, and the staff realized their mistake. I snagged a pic before they brought them out back."

PlayStation 4 Slim

Here's hoping the gold PS4 wasn't summarily executed "out back" — more likely it was just taken out of public view. Maxim also says that, when the manager arrived to figure out the issue with the register, they realized the console was accidentally up for sale early — before Sony even announced the system. "The woman at the counter wanted to sell it to me," Maxim says. "But the manager she called over said that it was out way too early and the store would get fined if they sold it."

From the looks of the box, the gold PlayStation 4 will cost $249 and it comes with a 1TB hard drive (a step up over the traditional 500GB PlayStation 4). Sony has yet to comment on the leak; we expect the console to be announced at the annual game industry trade show, E3, during the week of June 13.

SEE ALSO: A gorgeous new game just launched that looks like 'Zelda' — but it’s for Xbox and PlayStation too

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Tour the beachfront estate that entertainment icon Dick Cavett is selling for $62 million

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Dick Cavett's longtime Montauk home Tick Hall

Dick Cavett, longtime talk show host and entertainment icon, is offloading his estate in Montauk, New York.

Known as Tick Hall, it was built in 2001 after the original home on the 20-acre property burned down in 1997. 

Now Cavett is looking to sell the plot he's owned for 50 years, and he's listed it for $62 million. In an email to the Wall Street Journal, he said that offering up the estate was "the hardest thing in the world to do."

The Corcoran Group has the listing.

SEE ALSO: The Obamas just shelled out $8.1 million for the DC mansion they've been renting since leaving the White House

Tick Hall lies on 20 acres of property in Montauk, New York, on the far eastern end of Long Island.



It's surrounded by 77 acres of preserved land that Cavett sold to a government consortium for $18 million in 2008.



The home is clad in the classic Hamptons slate shingle siding.



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Jason Sudeikis, America Ferrera, Ilana Glazer, and more launch Immigrant Heritage Month

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immigrant heritage month 2017 Jason Sudeikis

A load of stars have once again come together to help launch Immigrant Heritage Month, the annual celebration of America's international roots that takes place in June.

"Saturday Night Live" alum Jason Sudeikis, "Superstore" star America Ferrera, "Broad City's" Ilana Glazer, Emmy-winning "Orange Is the New Black" actress Uzo Aduba, and "Star Trek" icon George Takei are among the many celebrities appearing in a new video for Immigrant Heritage Month.

This year, it has extended its "I am an immigrant" campaign with "I stand with immigrants" — both of which are emblazoned on the shirts worn by the celebrities in the video. The new campaign aims to encourage Americans to take action in support of immigrant rights and to form coalitions with others.

In the video directed by Colombian actress and director Paola Mendoza, the stars recite a poem written by Lemon Anderson.

Created by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's nonprofit organization Welcome.us four years ago, Immigration Heritage Month was officially recognized by President Barack Obama in 2015.

With less support from President Donald Trump this year, more than just celebrities are pushing forward the Immigrant Heritage Month message. Private companies are also helping and supporting live events, including Zuckerberg's Facebook, Verizon, Snapchat, MTV, HBO, and Airbnb, among many others.

To  learn more about the campaign and its events, visit IAmAnImmigrant.com for the entire month of June.

Watch the star-studded Immigrant Heritage Month launch video below:

SEE ALSO: Exclusive: Photos of Kerry Washington, Bobby Cannavale, and more for Immigrant Heritage Month

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Netflix has canceled its edgy sci-fi show 'Sense8'

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sense8 canceled netflix

Netflix has canceled its edgy sci-fi drama "Sense8" after just two seasons.

“After 23 episodes, 16 cities, and 13 countries, the story of the 'Sense8' cluster is coming to an end," Netflix's Original Content VP Cindy Holland told Variety in a statement.

Cocreated by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski ("The Matrix") along with J. Michael Straczynski ("Thor"), "Sense8" revolved around a small cluster of individuals from all over the world who share a mental connection that allows them to tap into one another's thoughts and skills, and basically experience life together as well as survive being hunted down by a mysterious organization.

"It is everything we and the fans dreamed it would be: bold, emotional, stunning, kickass, and outright unforgettable," Holland continued. "Never has there been a more truly global show with an equally diverse and international cast and crew, which is only mirrored by the connected community of deeply passionate fans all around the world. We thank Lana, Lilly, Joe, and Grant for their vision, and the entire cast and crew for their craftsmanship and commitment."

"Sense8" joins a small group of shows canceled by Netflix, which includes "The Get Down," "Bloodline," and "Marco Polo."

SEE ALSO: 'Sense8' star Tina Desai says she's 'still adjusting' to the show's sexual themes

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