by Image via InnerSloth LLC
Let’s skip the pleasantries. You all know the drill. Welcome one, welcome all, to the other everyday gaming News roundup from the one and only, We Got This Covered. In our last encounter, we faced the constant Overwatch 2 technical issues (again), an exciting announcement from Don’t hug me, I’m afraid creators and a shocking (but not really) discovery that Overwatch Tank Hero D.Va was one of the most popular searches on Pornhub — because where else would it show up. Speaking of ‘between’, in today’s roundup we’re bringing up the wildly successful online survival game Between usas well as the black community’s response to racism in gaming and a deep dive into the fundamental science behind video games, including their impact on children.
As always, we are disappointed by the choices with compelling stories in the fast-paced world of gaming. Pause those games, save those files, and ditch those snacks. We enter the…
Black gamers take a stand against racism in gaming
Unfortunately, online abuse or virtual bullying has become a constant issue in the gaming realm, specifically targeting minority groups such as BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community. Hoping to tackle rampant racism, BIPOC gamers founded Melanin Gamers in 2018, and in July, launched a project known as “The Watch,” designed to flush out racism on game servers, forums, and other such common spaces. According to Metro, Melanin Gamers are calling on influential developers like Activision and Blizzard to instigate real in-game accountability for anyone who is reported to be discriminating against the BIPOC community.
Also asking for support from other players, ‘The Watch’ released a video campaign to encourage anyone with a passion for eradicating racism to join the resistance. Annabel Ashalley-Anthony, Founder of Melanin Gamers, highlights the prevalence of racism and peer pressure that fuels the toxicity:
“Racism is rife in gaming because individuals can hide behind the mask of anonymity. If they say something, and there are no consequences, then they will say it again and again. Also, if they join a game that has a toxic culture, even if they didn’t necessarily talk like that, they’ll start to assimilate to fit in.”
Studies show that video games have been linked to premature heart attacks in children
In other gaming news, scientists say gaming can kill kids with undiagnosed heart problems. How exactly? According to experts, multiplayer games such as Call of Duty are the biggest triggers for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in young people. In a report published by the journal Heart Rhythm, according to Sky News, lead researcher and specialist Dr Claire M Lawley said:
“Video games can be a serious risk for some children with arrhythmias. can be fatal in patients with predisposing, but often previously unrecognized, arrhythmic conditions.
Children who suddenly pass out while playing video games should be evaluated by a cardiologist, as this could be the first sign of a serious heart problem.”
After conducting a study consisting of 22 cases, the multiplayer war game was found to be the most common cause of cardiac arrest. In many cases, children who passed out led to the diagnosis of many uncontrolled and untreated heart conditions within their families. Although it was more common for children to experience serious health problems during competitive sports, these studies have shown that playing may not be the safe alternative we thought it was.
Sussy cheats will soon be able to sabotage in first person as Between us VR is coming
For anyone who hasn’t bought a VR headset yet, now is the time. Moving on from the more important news, VR fans will be ecstatic to know that the release date for Between us VR – originally announced in April – is coming. On November 10, crew members and rogues will test their teamwork and stab their friends to their heart’s content — all from an immersive first-person perspective.
Inspired by the Mafia party game and sci-fi horror movie The thingInnersloth’s Between us was released in 2018, just in time for the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic that kept many countries under lockdown for most of the outbreak. It wasn’t until 2020 that Between us it received international recognition after many well-known YouTube gamers and Twitch streamers started playing it. Right now, they’re still working out the kinks, but Between us soon he will be among us.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned for another dip into the gaming news pool.
