Nintendo showcases indies and surprise releases

Nintendo Indie World Showcase round-up

Nintendo just broadcast the latest Indie World Showcase, 20 minutes packed to the brim with indie goodies for Switch.

Announcements include the stylish and Jet Set Radio-inspired Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, photography game TOEM, deconstructed rogue-like Loop Hero, and puzzle adventure Far: Changing Tides.

• Indie World Showcase August 11th
• Astroneer and Slime Rancher are coming to Switch
• Lumbearjack, Curious Expedition 2 and Gang Beasts are also on the way
• Eastward from Chucklefish launches on September 16th

Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon was revealed, as were Metal Slug Tactics and Tetris Effect.

The remastered Necrobarista: Final Pour is out now, alongside Animal Crossing-like Garden Story, god game Islanders Console Edition, dating rogue-lite Boyfriend Dungeon, and glitchy Metroidvania Axiom Verge 2.

What company developed the video game adaptations of Left Behind?

a) Madmind Studio
b) Bridgestone Multimedia Group
c) Inspired Media Entertainment
d) Wisdom Tree

The answer will be revealed at the bottom of today's issue. Join up with our community on Twitter and Facebook to discuss what the answer could be.

Shareholder group unimpressed with Activision Blizzard’s response to scandal

SOC Investment Group is a shareholder in Activision Blizzard, and while it “appreciates the improved tone and increased detail” from CEO Bobby Kotick, it's not impressed with the company's handling of the recent controversy.

”The changes Mr Kotick has announced do not go nearly far enough to address the deep and widespread issues with equity, inclusion, and human capital management at the company,” SOC Investment Group said.

The big three: The group sent a letter to Activision Blizzard's lead independent director stating its concerns and highlighting the three main areas where Activision Blizzard management has failed, such as recruitment processes.

Discipline required: SOC Investment Group also directed ire towards the lack of changes to executive pay and the failure to claw back compensation, and expressed disappointment in the choice of law firm hired to conduct the internal review.

Ukie criticises Telegraph’s ‘extensive misrepresentation’ of games

UK trade body Ukie accuses a recent article from The Telegraph of “extensively misrepresenting games,” and deriding the millions of people who play them.

The article asks “Is gaming ‘spiritual opium’ for teenagers?”, echoing Chinese state media's recent broadsides against the medium, which wiped billions off Tencent's share value.

Alarmist: Ukie said the Telegraph “unfairly demonises the 37 million people across the UK who find games to be a relaxing source of healthy entertainment” while highlighting the Get Smart About PLAY initiative to support safe and sensible play.

Disorder: The World Health Organization recognized gaming disorder as an international disease in May, defining one of its symptoms as “increasing priority given to gaming over other activities”.

Brave Browser rewards you for surfing

Maybe your internet connection is fast, but what about your browser? The Brave Browser is built from the ground up for speed, privacy and providing an ad-free Internet.

You can opt-in for ads that respect your privacy, and even earn rewards. It’s quick and easy to use, featuring the same comforts and conveniences you expect from a modern browser.

• Janimation director shares old Duke Nukem Begins animation from a cancelled Duke Nukem origin story by Gearbox Software
• Hello Games celebrates No Man’s Sky’s 5th anniversary and teases what's next in the Frontiers update
• Microsoft hosts ID@Xbox /twitchgaming event showing off upcoming indie games for Xbox
• Playable demo for stylish retro Souls-like Of Love and Eternity available now for Windows, Linux and MacOS
• Sidney Spotlight Scout in Pokémon Masters EX introduces the Sidney & Absol Sync Pair until August 27th

What company developed the video game adaptations of Left Behind?

ANSWER: Inspired Media Entertainment!

Loads of Christian videogames have tried to make a splash, but few can match the sheer scale of the marketing the Left Behind games enjoyed. Based on the young adult books of the same name, the Left Behind games were real-time strategy games about bringing people into Christ’s fold complete with buggy gameplay and some rather unfortunate race and gender politics.

The games were developed by Inspired Media Entertainment, also known as Left Behind Games, and the first game sold well in 2006. They couldn’t keep up the steam though, and the company shut down after releasing the fourth Left Behind game in 2011. That would have been the end of the story, except Inspired Media Entertainment’s founder Troy London was then accused of fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. All for a good cause though, right?

Today's issue of DailyBits was written by Gavin Herman, Erlend Grefsrud, Simon Priest, and Jamie Davey. If you have any feedback or news tips for the team, please email us!