Roblox to Implement Youth Protections and Pay $12m in Nevada Settlement
Roblox has agreed to pay more than $12 million to settle Nevada's claims and will fund $10 million over three years for youth programs. The settlement requires the platform to verify every user’s age, block night‑time notifications for minors, and limit chat to age‑matched peers or trusted contacts. It also expands parental oversight to users under 16 and creates a law‑enforcement liaison role. The deal comes as states intensify lawsuits against tech firms over child‑safety failures.
Pieced Together Review – Poignant Narrative Game Gathers Bittersweet Fragments of a Friendship
Pieced Together is an indie narrative game that uses an interactive scrapbook to recount the 1990s friendship between Connie and Beth. Players place photos, notes, and stickers to shape the story, creating a personal collage of memories. Developed by a...
The QuickShot II Joystick Review – 80s Clicks and Waggles Lovingly Recreated
The QuickShot II joystick has been resurrected as an almost exact replica of the 1980s original, preserving its iconic dimensions, suction‑cup base, and clicky fire buttons. Modern updates include USB connectivity, programmable fire buttons, six additional base buttons, and microswitches for...
Roblox Sued by Los Angeles over Claims Platform ‘Makes Children Easy Prey for Pedophiles’
Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the platform of insufficient moderation and ineffective age‑verification that expose children to sexual content and predators. The complaint cites false‑advertising claims, alleging Roblox markets itself as safe while its design allegedly...
‘This Shouldn’t Be Normal’: Developers Speak Out About Bigotry on Steam, the World’s Biggest PC Gaming Storefront
Developers are raising alarms that Steam’s moderation system permits persistent bigotry, especially against transgender and LGBTQ+ creators. Reviews and curator campaigns targeting games with inclusive content can depress visibility and sales, while Steam’s response often labels removal requests as censorship....
How a Decades-Old Video Game Has Helped Me Defeat the Doomscroll
Writer Michael Roberts replaces his smartphone with a Nintendo Game Boy Advance to combat doomscrolling, playing Pokémon FireRed, a 30‑year‑old remake. Within weeks he reports a three‑hour weekly reduction in screen time and finds the retro game’s low‑stakes, nostalgic design more...