Matt O'Keefe
Still writing stuff. Previously: @comicsbeat, @SKTCHD, @SwitchPlayerMag | TIMES 2006 Person of the Year | Politics are always personal
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Articles by Matt O'Keefe
MARIO TENNIS FEVER adds new flavor to a classic series
Last September’s Nintendo Direct included the reveal of Mario Tennis Fever, which promised more characters, more special abilities, and more modes than ever before. It has a lot to live up to following up the original Switch’s Mario Tennis Aces, the best-selling Mario sports game ever and well-respected for its highly tactical gameplay.
Review: METROID PRIME 4: BEYOND is a good game with an identity crisis
The wait for a new Metroid Prime game has been a long one. 18 years have passed since the series’ previous entry, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, released on the Wii. The development cycle of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was its own marathon. When Nintendo originally announced the game in 2017, Bandai Namco was assigned to its production. A year and a half later, development duties shifted to Retro Studios, the team behind the first three Prime games.
Two of the Fittest People on Earth Have a New Sneaker Brand
The dream team of fitness has assembled, and the footwear industry has a new name that’s immediately going to get eyeballs. That’s not easy for an upstart sneaker maker to accomplish, but when you find out who’s behind it, you’ll understand the potential. The brand, While on Earth, is the brainchild of Todd Meleney, who previously served as CMO at No Bull, nine-time CrossFit Games athlete Brooke Wells, and five-time CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser.
Navigating the fallout: Lessons from the CrowdStrike outage
Although CrowdStrike has publicly stated that the issue was not related to a cyberattack, which is reassuring, its impact on global IT systems is significant, revealing critical lessons for enterprises around preparedness and response strategies. In addition, this issue has many companies re-examining their third-party partners’ software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes and their own business continuity plans.
Cyber security considerations for the Financial Services sector
Cyber security considerations for the Financial Services sector 1000 Home › Insights › Cyber security considerations for the Financial Services sector Australian focus | Key cyber considerations | Top priorities | Case study | How KPMG can help | Contact us The global economy entered 2024 with momentum amid duelling tailwinds – easing supply chain pressures, moderating inflation – and headwinds – geopolitical tensions, increased regulatory scrutiny.
Cybersecurity considerations 2024
Home › Insights › Cybersecurity considerations 2024 < Back to KPMG Cyber Security Services page As 2024 unfolds, organizational leaders face many challenges, from sustaining growth to navigating emerging technologies and talent acquisition and retention.
REVIEW: SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER demonstrates the power of presentation
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the game fans and critics have been waiting for. The art style of 2D Mario titles has remained stagnant since 2006’s New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS. Even at the time, the 2.5D graphics obviously lacked the personality of the Mario titles released for the NES and Super Nintendo. The New Super Mario Bros. games played well, with solid platforming and a unique-at-the-time co-op feature for the Wii and Wii U releases.
Maintaining cyber vigilance and staying resilient
1000 Home › Insights › Maintaining cyber vigilance and staying resilient The rules of engagement in cybersecurity are constantly shifting. Criminal gangs and nation-states are using new technologies, including AI, to exploit new attack routes while still using old, reliable solutions. While prevention remains a high priority, leaders acknowledge that cyberattacks will succeed despite the best defenses.
Eight tips for using AI safely
Eight tips for using AI safely Eight tips for using AI safely Eight tips for using AI safely 1000 Home › Insights › Eight tips for using AI safely As artificial intelligence (AI) programs gain popularity, it's common for children to become curious about them. However, having conversations with kids about responsible and appropriate tech usage is crucial. Consider the following tips to help your family explore and learn about AI together. How does it work?
Be cyber smart!
Be cyber smart! Be cyber smart! Be cyber smart! 1000 < Back to KPMG Cyber Day page The internet is a powerful tool that provides children with endless opportunities to learn, socialize and have fun. However, with a third of all internet users being under 18 years old, online risks have become a significant concern and they continue to grow.
Get cyber smart - KPMG Global
KPMG Global Cyber Day initiative The annual KPMG Global Cyber Day Initiative is a Global Corporate Citizenship program aimed at educating young people on the importance of cyber security and internet risk, as part of KPMG member firms' commitment to supporting our communities.
AGCO's Fendt(R) Expands Award-Winning Momentum(R) Planter Line with 30-Foot Model 10:30 AM EDT 8/29/2023 - Comtex New size brings innovative planter to a wider range of smaller operations.
Cybersecurity in ESG
In today’s digital economy, businesses face challenges in simultaneously meeting their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets and ensuring robust cybersecurity and privacy measures. These concerns have been at the forefront of global risk maps for several years. While environmental aspects of the ESG agenda have received significant attention, other elements such as cybersecurity and privacy have not been as well-developed.
REVIEW: STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR - an amazing evolution Original
In The Beat’s review of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, I concluded that the title offered an entertaining experience, but not a wholly satisfying one. Fallen Order has the bones of a great video game, boasting solid combat, enjoyable platforming, and an interesting world, with the added bonus of classic Star Wars iconography. But the whole of Fallen Order is less than the sum of its parts.
Dynamite promotes SUPERCADE: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1985-2001 with exclusive art
Dynamite Entertainment recently published Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1985-2001, a comprehensive coffee table style book on a key period in the history of video games. Dynamite picked the project up following a successful Kickstarter run by its main writer and editor Van Burnham. It’s a sequel to 2001’s Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1971-1984, which focused on the golden age of arcades and was one of the earliest books to chronicle classic video games.
Nintendo Live 2023 set for September Original
Yesterday, Nintendo announced its first major live event in the US since its appearance at E3 2019. Now that it’s successfully run multiple Nintendo Live shows from Japan, the video game company is bringing the experience to Seattle, Washington in September. Here are activities to expect at Nintendo Live 2023: Games: Have a blast together with popular Nintendo Switch™ games.
EA releases final gameplay trailer for STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR Original
EA shared its final trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to 2016’s Jedi: Fallen Order. The story “follows the continuing epic adventures of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis as he enlists the help of old friends and new companions in his fight against the growing threat of the Empire across the galaxy.” Set during the Great Jedi Purge, the war against the Jedi that followed Palpatine’s issuance of Order 66, the game blends content from the Original Trilogy and the Prequels.
E3 cancelled - what now? Original
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) made a real go at reviving the gaming industry’s biggest annual event, even enlisting ReedPop to take over its management and reimagine the show to be more consumer-focused. But, for a variety reasons, the ESA and ReedPop failed to bring it back, announcing today that this year’s E3 has been cancelled. Here’s their statement: E3 faced several major challenges that the ESA and Reedpop couldn’t overcome.
Game Boy on Switch, a METROID shadow drop, and more from yesterday's Nintendo Direct Original
Yesterday, the maker of Mario, Metroid, and Zelda aired its first Nintendo Direct of 2023, setting up the release schedule for the first half of the year. The showcase was a bit light on surprises, but included announcements that appealed to all types of fans. Here are some of the top stories to come out of the February 2023 Nintendo Direct. Pikmin 4 Nintendo released the first trailer for the long-awaited fourth mainline entry in the Pikmin series.
Xbox Developer Showcase spotlights 1st half of Xbox's 2023 Original
The lack of first-party titles from Xbox, especially on the AAA front, is no secret. But Microsoft promised that 2023 will be different and get it closer to its aim to release at least one big game per quarter. To illustrate that, Microsoft aired the Xbox Developer Showcase, a video presentation (mostly) focused on games coming out in the first half 2023. They had a lot to show, including gameplay from some long-awaited titles and a brand new game reveal.
Hasbro pulls back on plans to alter DUNGEONS & DRAGONS license after backlash Original
Following a week of chaos in the tabletop gaming scene, Hasbro-owned Wizards of the Coast released a statement promising that it will not be changing the terms of Dungeon & Dragon‘s Open Gaming License to require creators to pay royalties for the use of the D&D framework that has been iterated on by other tabletop games for decades. On January 5, Gizmodo shared a draft of the planned revision to the Open Gaming License.
The 2022 Game Awards was packed with big game reveals Original
Like any awards show, the Game Awards are nominally about honoring the best video games to come out in a given year. But the reason the events draw a large audience is that they regularly reveals new information about upcoming games. This year was no different, with a flood of new announcements. Sometimes the Game Awards can be a bit underwhelming, but this year’s show was filled to the brim with big news and bigger surprises.
New SUPER MARIO BROS. trailer introduces more of the cast Original
Yesterday, Nintendo debuted the 2nd trailer for the Super Mario Bros. movie during a special Movie Direct, showing off a lot more of the Mushroom Kingdom and the Mario cast.
REVIEW: MARIO + RABBIDS: SPARKS OF HOPE is a dazzling sequel Original
2017 was an outstanding year of gaming for Nintendo fans. The launch year of the Switch saw the release of some of the most beloved titles on the platform to this day, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey. Another game that belongs on that list is Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, the biggest surprise of that year.
Konami goes all in on SILENT HILL Original
Konami has been largely absent from video games in recent years, focusing on pachinkos over interactive entertainment. But the pachinko industry was rocked by COVID-19, which led to the closure of hundreds of pachinko parlors in Japan, so Konami is now making games its primary focus. The company owns some of video game’s most memorable IPs, including Castlevania, Contra, and Metal Gear, but seems to have gone all in on one in particular: Silent Hill.
GOTHAM KNIGHTS Official Gameplay Launch Trailer released Original
https://madcavestudios.com/ “Launch trailers” are coming earlier and earlier. Gotham Knights, the action-adventure title developed by WB Games Montreal starring four of Batman’s former sidekicks, isn’t releasing for another two weeks, but Warner Bros. just released the game’s Official Gameplay Launch Trailer. To be fair, it’s possibly Gotham Knights‘ best trailer to date, bearing a cinematic feel but with no shortage of gameplay.
EA Motive developing IRON MAN video game
Electronic Arts announced its first collaboration with Marvel Games, an Iron Man action-adventure video game from EA Motive, the Montreal-based behind Star Wars Squadrons and the upcoming remake. The game is still in early development, but video game publishers are announcing titles earlier than ever due to the need to draw talent to its studios. The announcement even points developers to apply for open positions on EA’s website.
REVIEW: In SPLATOON 3, it’s still a blast to splat Original
The recent launch of Splatoon 3 cemented the series’ status as Nintendo‘s biggest new IP in decades. When the series debuted on the Wii U in 2015, Splatoon instantly gained attention for its spin on the shooter genre. In the game, players wield diverse weapons, from guns to brushes to buckets of paint, and battle against another team to cover territory with ink.
The latest Ubisoft Forward event was an ASSASSIN'S CREED blowout Original
Ubisoft announced no less than 4 new Assassin’s Creed projects at Saturday’s Ubisoft Forward event. The video game publisher only hinted at Assassin’s Creed Infinity, its long-promised, even longer-rumored live service expected to tie together all future games in the series. But Ubisoft used its presentation to announce 3 new single-player titles and a mobile game in the series.
Marvel & Disney Games Showcase reveals new a bunch of upcoming titles Original
Today, the Mouse held the first-ever Marvel & Disney Games Showcase, and it was packed with announcements, including the reveal of many new projects and updates on previously-announced titles. Everything from the Marvel Universe to Mickey Mouse to TRON was represented across the 23-minute video presentation. Unfortunately, most of the projects either didn’t seem particularly exciting or too little information was shared to generate much of a response to them one way or the other.
KIRBY'S DREAM BUFFET gets overview trailer, August release date Original
Kirby has had more spinoff titles than any Nintendo character apart from Mario, and developer HAL Laboratory is back again with yet another new on the pink pufffball.
New POKÉMON SCARLET & VIOLET trailers highlight games' open world
During the latest Pokémon Presents video presentation, the Pokémon Company shared new details about Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, the next games in the mainline series announced earlier this year. Following in the footsteps of February’s Pokémon Legends Arceus, the games introduce an open world to the modern day setting of the series. To travel the Paldea region, trainers will partner with one of the two Legendary Pokémon and ride them like planes, motorcycles, etc. across the open world.
BAYONETTA 3 gets October 28 release date Original
A long 8 years after the release of Bayonetta 2 on the Wii U, the next entry in the Platinum Games series is just a few months away. Nintendo announced its October 28 release date, accompanied by a new trailer, with a tweet. You can check out the trailer below. The decision to announce the game’s release date over social media dampens hopes that Nintendo will have a big Summer Direct.
MARIO STRIKERS: BATTLE LEAGUE has strong fundamentals but needs follow-through Original
Mario and friends have mostly limited their extracurriculars to tennis and golf as of late, but finally returned to soccer after an 11-year absence. Mario Strikers: Battle League is a bit tamer than predecessors, abandoning the more inflammatory character animations from past titles, but the spirit of the series is still alive and kicking. Most importantly, the gameplay is the best the soccer series, and maybe Mario sports titles as a whole, have ever seen.
REVIEW: NEON WHITE is a perfect blend of speed, style, and substance. Original
Neon White is a difficult game to describe. I guess you would call it a card-based speed runner, but that label gives a false impression. Neon White isn’t a card game like Magic: The Gathering or Slay the Spire. The cards are power ups you collect during a run, like shells or mushrooms in a round of Mario Kart. They accentuate the experience, but the gameplay is defined by movement.
Xbox Showcase promises a busy year for Game Pass Original
Xbox‘s video game slate for Fall looked pretty slim when two of its biggest titles planned for the year, Redfall and Starfield, first shown off last year, were delayed to 2023. But the benefit of the Game Pass subscription service and being part of one of the biggest corporations in the world is Xbox’s ability to throw around money to beef up its lineup. Thanks to Microsoft‘s war chest, Game Pass subscribers will have no shortage of games to play in the fall.
Watch Devolver Digital's bonkers videos game presentation Original
Nearly all video game showcases follow the same structure: an introduction by a semi-charismatic host, followed by trailer after trailer of previously-announced or brand-new games. Devolver Digital, the publisher of games including Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon, and Katana Zero, does its annual presentation very differently, interspersing game trailers with silly skits filled with an Adult Swim type of humor.
Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, and more at June State of Play Original
Sony just aired its latest State of Play presentation to spotlight upcoming games coming to PlayStation. The event was mostly focused on third-party titles and games coming to the PlayStation VR 2, so we didn’t get an update on God of War or Naughty Dog‘s next project. But, thanks to partnerships with publishers like Capcom and Square Enix, there was no shortage of big announcements. Let’s run through the highlights of the June 2022 State of Play.
STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR announced with trailer, releasing 2023
At the tail end of Star Wars Celebration, Electronic Arts announced the heavily-rumored Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a follow-up to 2019’s Jedi: Fallen Order developed by Respawn Entertainment. The game is releasing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2023. While the debut trailer doesn’t show actual gameplay, the footage suggests that the title is a big graphical upgrade over its predecessor.
Marvel announces new collectible card mobile game MARVEL SNAP Original
Marvel surprise announced a new upcoming mobile game, and it looks very impressive. Marvel Snap is a collectible card game developed by Nuverse and Second Dinner, the latter of which was founded Ben Brode, the former director of Hearthstone, one of the most popular and acclaimed digital card games in the world. The studio is also made up of other ex-Hearthstone developers, so there’s plenty of reason to believe they have the ability to make Marvel Snap into something special.
MULTIVERSUS cinematic trailer brings together the best of Warner Bros. Original
Today, Warner Bros. Games shared a cinematic trailer for MultiVersus, the upcoming fighter developed by Player First Games. A platform fighting game in the vein of Super Smash Bros., MultiVersus lets you play as one of over a dozen characters owned by Warner Bros., everyone from Superman to Arya Stark to Jake the Dog.
GOTHAM KNIGHTS gameplay demo shows off Nightwing and Red Hood combat Original
DC shared a brand-new look at its upcoming co-op action role-playing game Gotham Knights, developed by WB Games Montréal. Focused on Nightwing and Red Hood, the 13-minute demo is the most extensive look to date at the game’s systems-based combat. Based on the footage, the heroes’ fighting styles are very distinct from one other. The first few minutes of the video showcase a fighting sequence on a Gotham City rooftop.
Why creators leave comics for video games (and what brings them back) Original
Sean McKeever worked in comics full-time from 2003 to 2011, writing titles like Gravity, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, and Teen Titans. But, suddenly, he wasn’t able to land new work when Marvel placed a moratorium on new series and DC was in the midst of launching its New 52 initiative. The industry had quietly been playing a game of musical chairs, and by the time Sean noticed the music had stopped, there weren’t any seats left at the table.
REVIEW: KIRBY AND THE FORGOTTEN LAND is a delight and a triumph
Most Nintendo series upgraded to 3D with their debuts on the Nintendo 64, but the console’s Kirby title was one of only a few platformers that remained a classic sidescroller. That’s why Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the game Kirby fans have been waiting for since booting up Crystal Shards finding themselves trapped on a 2-dimensional plane.
HOGWARTS LEGACY gets extended look, Holiday 2022 release date
Warner Bros. Games finally shared an extended look at Hogwarts Legacy, its big-budget video game set in the world of Harry Potter. Based on the presentation, Hogwarts Legacy appears to be an expansive game that lets you simulates life as a Hogwarts student and everything that entails. The video features elements familiar to anyone who’s seen the Harry Potter films or read the books, including wizard duels, potion-making, flying on broomsticks, and more. You can watch the full gameplay reveal below.
State of Play highlights new PlayStation games from third-party partners
Sony just aired its latest State of Play showcase, showing off titles coming to the PlayStation 4 and 5 later this year and into 2023, mostly ones from third-party publishers like Capcom and Square Enix. You can watch the event in its entirety here, but, if you prefer a summary, here are the most notable games announced during the event.
ART OF DEATHLOOP explores time-bending world of game
Dark Horse just released The Art of Deathloop, a hardcover art book documenting the creation and production of Arkane Studio‘s 60’s-inspired, time looping first-person shooter video game. A pair of retro-styled anaglyphic 3D glasses is included with every copy, so readers can experience select 3D imagery found inside the book.
The 3 biggest announcements from February's Pokémon Direct Original
The Pokémon company held its latest Pokémon Direct to promote upcoming games and DLC. In addition to the standard updates to titles like Pokémon Go and Pokémon Unite, the digital showcase had some surprisingly big news to share with fans. Here are the 3 biggest news stories to come out of the Pokémon Direct, including a peek at the next generation of the franchise. New Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl content Last year’s Pokémon remakes are receiving post-launch DLC.
A pathway to industrial cyber resilience
Cyber security is being tested in bold and unprecedented ways as the frequency, sophistication and devastating impact of cyber-attacks increase worldwide. As businesses in every sector race toward solutions, industrial organizations in the energy and natural resources sector face their own harsh reality as they recognize their potential lack of preparedness — and the potentially catastrophic consequences they now risk.
The 5 biggest announcements from today's action-packed Nintendo Direct
After a bit of a lull, Nintendo‘s game studios are back in full force for 2022, beautifully illustrated by today’s Nintendo Direct presentation. We already knew about a few games coming to Switch this year, but Nintendo used the Direct to fill out the rest its Spring and Summer schedule. Here are 5 of the most noteworthy, surprising, and/or exciting announcements to come out of today’s Nintendo Direct. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Fates The showcase began with the reveal of the latest Musso game.
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