SAG-AFTRA members on Monday voted 98% in favor of authorizing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strike</a> against ten major <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video game</a> companies. 
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/unions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">union</a> is currently on strike against the TV and film industry, as is the WGA (Writers Guild of America), which has resulted in a total Hollywood shutdown. The WGA went on strike beginning May 2, while SAG-AFTRA&#8217;s work stoppage began July 14.
Now, the video game industry is under the spotlight as another potential strike looms. The union’s last strike against the gaming companies lasted 183 days in 2016 and 2017, per a Deadline <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/09/sag-aftra-approve-strike-video-game-industry-1235555756/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>.
“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement. 
Monday&#8217;s vote gives the national board the authority to call a strike. It doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean it will happen.
“The result of this vote shows our membership understands the existential nature of these negotiations, and that the time is now for these companies — which are making billions of dollars and paying their CEOs lavishly — to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career,” Drescher continued.
Many of the union&#8217;s demands are similar to those requested by writers and actors striking against the studios, centered on compensation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
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“After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI, and safety,” SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said. 
“I remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that meets members’ needs, but our members are done being exploited, and if these corporations aren’t willing to offer a fair deal, our next stop will be the picket lines.”
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement, said they are working hard to work out a deal and avoid another strike.
“We will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games. We have reached tentative agreements on over half of the proposals and are optimistic we can find a resolution at the bargaining table,” she said in a statement to The Daily Wire.  
Both sides are reportedly set to resume negotiations on Tuesday.

Video games

SAG-AFTRA Members Vote To Authorize Strike Against Video Game Industry

Labor Unions

strike

U.S.

Unions

Video Games

Professional racing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">driver</a> Jann Mardenborough explained why he believed the “Gran Turismo” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">movie</a> should include the 2015 crash that killed a spectator in Germany.
“Gran Turismo,” which debuts in theaters August 25, stars Archie Madekwe as Mardenborough and documents the true story of how the 31-year-old athlete used skills he acquired playing the popular <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video game</a> to launch a successful racing career in the real world.
The movie’s storyline will include the tragic accident at the VLN Endurance Championship. At the time, Mardenborough’s car flew through the air and crashed through a fence keeping fans apart from the track. People Magazine <a href="https://people.com/real-life-gran-turismo-driver-wanted-2015-fatal-accident-included-in-film-7734925" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> how several spectators were injured, and one died.
Mardenborough told <a href="https://www.driving.co.uk/news/interview/jann-mardenborough-nurburgring-crash-gran-turismo-movie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Driving.co.uk</a> that he supported the inclusion of the fatal crash because &#8220;it would have been a disservice for the audience&#8221; to leave it out.
“It’s my life. It’s part of my story,” the pro racing star said. “I made sure all of us that were with the production — the producers, [screenwriter Jason Hall] — that that was how it went down. Because it needed to be correct, because somebody lost their life in this accident. And the movie does a great job of that.&#8221;
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“It shows, as well, the deep dark moments of my life when I was in the hospital by myself,&#8221; Mardenborough continued. &#8220;You know, the mental aspects to such an event, and in life as well: what can happen, how you can get out of that, how can you rebound and achieve something — achieve greatness — off the back of that. So it had to be in there,&#8221; he concluded.
Mardenborough previously discussed including the crash scene in “Gran Turismo” during an appearance on the radio show &#8220;The Breakfast Club.&#8221; He said the movie &#8220;technically [shows] exactly how it happened.&#8221;
“Once I got asked [to participate in the movie] it would have been easier just to say, ‘No, I don’t want that in there,'&#8221; he said. &#8220;But I’m doing everyone else a disservice, because if that wasn’t in there, the storyline’s very linear. It [would not be] true.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s not easy. With the [scene at Nurburgring racing complex] in particular, I’m very happy with the way it’s done,&#8221; Mardenborough continued. &#8220;Sony and I were aligned on that it needs to be correct because of the situation, what happened, somebody lost their life in that accident. So technically it’s exactly how it happened and also emotionally in those scenes afterwards, that’s what it was like. It’s dark.”

Jann Mardenborough

Real-Life ‘Gran Turismo’ Driver On Why He Wanted Fatal Crash Scene In Movie: ‘Part Of My Story’

Real-Life 'Gran Turismo' Driver On Why He Wanted Fatal Crash Scene In Movie: 'Part Of My Story'

Auto racing

Entertainment

Movies

World

The voice actor who gave life to Mario has officially retired.
According to a tweet from the official <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nintendo</a> account, Charles Martinet was the voice of Mario for more than 25 years but will no longer be voicing the iconic video game character.
Martinet’s voice has been featured in popular Mario <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projects,</a> including Super Mario 64, Super Mario Odyssey, and Super Mario Galaxy, plus many spinoffs since the 1990s. 
“Charles is now moving into the brand-new role of Mario Ambassador. With this new transition, he will be stepping back from recording character voices for our games,” Nintendo’s statement reads. “It has been an honor working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We have a message for fans of the Mushroom Kingdom. Please take a look. <a href="https://t.co/U1ASicOuTO">pic.twitter.com/U1ASicOuTO</a>
&mdash; Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1693624002982314108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Fans had already noticed that the voice of Mario sounded a little different in the new Super Mario Bros Wonder game. Nintendo confirmed that Martinet was not voicing Mario in the new project, saying in an email <a href="https://www.polygon.com/23780131/mario-voice-charles-martinet-nintendo-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, “While Charles is not involved in the game, we’re excited to honor his legacy and contributions, including looking ahead to what he’ll be doing as a Mario Ambassador.”
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Martinet also did not voice the iconic character in the “Super Mario Bros. Movie.” That honor went to Chris Pratt, who fans floated as a possible replacement for Martinet.
Pratt told Variety in 2022 that he “worked really closely with the directors” to create the perfect Mario voice, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-funniest-thing-fans-mock-chris-pratts-voice-as-super-mario-bros-trailer-drops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “[We tried] out a few things and landed on something that I’m really proud of.”
“It’s an animated voiceover narrative,” Pratt told the publication ahead of its release. “It’s not a live-action movie. I’m not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over. I’m providing a voice for an animated character, and it is updated and unlike anything you’ve heard in the Mario world before.”
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” defied expectations and smashed records by pulling off the most lucrative opening weekend at the box office for an animated film, a title which was previously held by the Disney sequel “Frozen 2” (2019).
“Super Mario” brought in $377 million in global box office sales and $204.6 million in domestic sales the weekend it opened.

Charles Martinet

Nintendo Confirms Original Mario Voice Actor Is ‘Stepping Back’ From Role After 25 Years

Nintendo Confirms Original Mario Voice Actor Is 'Stepping Back' From Role After 25 Years

Celebrities

High-profile Twitch streamer “Nickmercs,” whose real name is Nicholas Kolcheff, became so popular on the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video game</a> Call of Duty that the company gave him his own operator skin. But then the company took it away when Kolcheff made a supposedly anti-<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ</a> comment.
Nickmercs was the first streamer to ever get a skin in Call of Duty, joining the ranks of celebrities like NBA player Kevin Durant and horror movie legend Leatherface. A “skin” includes purchasable in-game cosmetics that make the player look a certain way during gameplay.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/social-issues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversy</a> began when Kolcheff responded to a thread posted by esports Hall of Fame broadcaster Chris Puckett. Puckett linked to an article describing the fight that occurred outside a Glendale, California, school board meeting.
Armenian and Hispanic parents <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/armenian-hispanic-parents-clash-with-antifa-school-board-over-lgbtq-agenda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted school board members</a> for promoting a pro-LGBTQ agenda to young children while Antifa members showed up in counter-protest. The situation became violent between certain individuals in attendance.
Puckett shared the article and wrote, “This happened 4 blocks from my Overwatch League apartment. Americans are in a sad place right now. Let people love who they love and live your own life.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This happened 4 blocks from my Overwatch League apartment. 
Americans are in a sad place right now. Let people love who they love and live your own life. <a href="https://t.co/iflQJ1xmgC">https://t.co/iflQJ1xmgC</a>
&mdash; Puckett ✈️ #CDL2023 (@MLGPuckett) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLGPuckett/status/1666472945084948480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Nickmercs’ tweet, which has racked up 12.8 million views, says, “leave little children alone. That’s the real issue.”
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This reaction caused Call of Duty developer Activision to remove Nickmercs’ Spartan-themed operator skin from the store. The official developer Twitter account shared on Thursday: “Due to recent events, we have removed the ‘NICKMERCS Operator’ bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store. We are focused on celebrating PRIDE with our employees and our community.”
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Due to recent events, we have removed the “NICKMERCS Operator” bundle from the Modern Warfare II and Warzone store. We are focused on celebrating PRIDE with our employees and our community.
&mdash; Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) <a href="https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/1666985392514424833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nickmercs later posted a <a href="https://twitter.com/Dexerto/status/1666854162619936781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> about the tweet in question. While clarifying that he “didn’t mean to upset anybody,” he went on to say he’s “not apologizing for the tweet.”
“I don’t think it’s wrong,” Kolcheff said. He went on to explain how he believed discussions about sexual morality should happen at home and not in the classroom. His statements set off a huge controversy online with supporters cheering his stance and LGBTQ apologists expressing their fury.
“The guy said it himself. He got no beef with the LGBTQ+ scene. The guy is a father himself so I get it. Just doesn’t want that around kids (elementary kids) is all I hear. When kids get older they’ll figure out their sexuality then. Guy has a right to his own opinion is all I say,” one follower wrote.
“We stand with Nick, protect the children,” another agreed.

Call of Duty

‘Call Of Duty’ Removes Player Option When Streamer Criticized LGBTQ Agenda: ‘Leave Little Children Alone’

‘Call Of Duty’ Removes Player Option When Streamer Criticized LGBTQ Agenda: 'Leave Little Children Alone'

LGBTQ

Pride Month

Social Issues

Two Twitter accounts have been suspended for sharing a pirated copy of the box office smash &#8220;The Super Mario Bros. Movie&#8221; — which just passed the $1 billion mark in global ticket sales — but the suspensions did not come before millions were able to watch at least a portion of the movie for free.
One account, <a href="https://twitter.com/vidsthatgohard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@vidsthatgohard</a>, shared the full movie — separated into two parts — to 1.1 million followers. According to a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2023/04/30/nine-million-people-have-watched-the-full-super-mario-bros-movie-illegally-posted-on-twitter/?sh=6ff0626ef2be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Forbes, the quality of the illegal film was fairly decent — save for some hiccups regarding the aspect-ratio — and the tweets including the pirated video were left up on the social media platform for hours before Twitter took any action.
The report&#8217;s author, senior contributor Paul Tassi, chalked the pirated film&#8217;s staying power on the platform up to the recent changes at Twitter — namely the fact that new owner Elon Musk has admitted to cutting staff by up to 80%, including the content moderators who would normally be expected to monitor such tweets. Additionally, it is only the new Twitter Blue options that allow subscribed users to post videos that are up to one hour long — which is what made it possible to share the entire 92-minute film in just two tweets.
As Mediaite <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/entertainment/twitter-finally-deletes-pirated-super-mario-bros-movie-after-9-million-people-watched-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported later</a>, another account (Twilight Sparkle) also shared the full film — and before Twitter suspended both accounts, they had racked up a combined total of over 9 millions views.
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&#8220;The Super Mario Bros. Movie&#8221; was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/super-marios-bros-movie-shocks-hollywood-after-hitting-massive-milestone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released in theaters</a> just under one month ago, and has already grossed over $1 billion. It was the first film released in 2023 to reach that benchmark — and one of only a handful to do so since the pandemic. The movie has also cemented its place in history as the most successful video-game-based adaptation of all time.
While critics have not necessarily loved the movie — giving it just 59% on the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes — audience scores (96%) have been much higher.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-GAMES

Two Twitter Accounts Suspended Over Pirating Smash Hit ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ — After 9 Million Watch For Free

Two Twitter Accounts Suspended Over Pirating Smash Hit 'Super Mario Bros' — After 9 Million Watch For Free

Chris Pratt

Twitter

Actor Chris Pratt responded to backlash over his accent in his upcoming project, &#8220;The Super Mario Bros. Movie&#8221; — and he encouraged his would-be critics to see the movie before passing judgment. &#8220;You know what? In all honesty, I think you probably need to watch it twice,&#8221; he said.
Pratt, who voices the titular character Mario, joined Extra&#8217;s Jenn Lahmers alongside his costar Charlie Day — who voices Luigi — to discuss the movie and some of the <a href="https://www.cbr.com/super-mario-bros-chris-pratt-accent-perfect/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fan complaints</a> about the characters&#8217; accents. The main point of contention was the move to use more of an Italian-by-way-of-Brooklyn accent than straight Italian.
WATCH:
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Chris Pratt reacts to criticism of voice accents in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperMarioMovie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperMarioMovie</a>: &quot;Go watch the movie and then we can talk.&quot; Full interview: <a href="https://t.co/p2LDxJcOmf">https://t.co/p2LDxJcOmf</a> <a href="https://t.co/BhMZSsSHZC">pic.twitter.com/BhMZSsSHZC</a>
&mdash; ExtraTV (@extratv) <a href="https://twitter.com/extratv/status/1640415916159561728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Lahmers tackled the issue head on, saying that she felt like the movie had handled the accents in a fun way — but then she asked what the actors would say to those who were bothered by the fact that they didn&#8217;t sound more Italian.
&#8220;I — you know, come watch the movie,&#8221; Pratt began, and Day nodded in agreement. &#8220;Go watch the movie and then we can talk. I really think that once you see the movie — and, you know what? In all honesty, I think you probably need to watch it twice.&#8221;
Pratt went on to acknowledge that there were a lot of super-fans in the &#8220;Super Mario Bros.&#8221; fanbase — counting himself among them — and he said that he absolutely understood that no one wanted to see a movie company come in and change a piece of their childhood in order to make a &#8220;cash grab.&#8221;
&#8220;This is the soundtrack to your youth, and you don&#8217;t want someone to come along and cynically kind of just destroy it as a cash grab with the movie,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I fully understand that, you do not want that to happen. And there are so many hearts and souls and minds dedicated to making sure that didn&#8217;t happen &#8230; it really honors the video game and honors the world of Mario.&#8221;
Pratt went on to joke about wanting to make better animated movies not just because the audience would love them but also because, as a parent, he was going to be subjected to most of them anyway.
&#8220;Now that I have kids, I have to see every animated movie whether it&#8217;s good or not,&#8221; he joked.
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&#8220;Mario&#8221; is slated to hit theaters on April 5.
WATCH MORE HERE:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Chris Pratt REACTS to ‘Super Mario Bros.’ Criticism over Accents (Exclusive)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bhj4dHIzUao?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cinema Vanguard Award – 38th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival

‘You Probably Need To Watch It Twice’: Chris Pratt Reacts To Criticism Over ‘Mario Bros’ Accent

Chris Pratt Reacts To Criticism Over 'Mario Bros' Accent

One of the directors of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">The Super Mario Bros. Movie</a>” defended the decision to cast <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chris-pratt">Chris Pratt</a> in the lead role during an interview published Wednesday as fans continue to argue over it.
The debate has been going strong since the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">teaser trailer</a> debuted in October, with viewers wondering why Pratt, who is not Italian and appears to make no effort to sound that way, would be picked to voice one of the most iconic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> characters in existence.
“It’s a bit of an origin tale. It’s the story of Mario becoming Super Mario,” director Aaron Horvath <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-bros-movie-chris-pratt-casting">told</a> TotalFilm of the project during an interview. He noted how the casting agents were looking for someone to realistically portray “a blue-collar guy from a family of Italian immigrants” in Brooklyn.
“For us, it made total sense,” Horvath said of them landing on Pratt as the ideal choice. “He’s really good at playing a blue-collar hero with a ton of heart. For the way that Mario is characterized in our film, he’s perfect for it.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TnGl01FkMMo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Pratt also discussed how focused he was on getting the voice right during an <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/columns/chris-pratt-super-mario-bros-voice-jurassic-world-dominion-1235301622/">interview</a> with Variety last year, explaining how he “worked really closely” with directors to find the best way to portray Mario.
“I tried out a few things and landed on something that I’m really proud of and can’t wait for people to see and hear,” Pratt said. “It’s an animated voiceover narrative. It’s not a live-action movie. I’m not gonna be wearing a plumber suit running all over. I’m providing a voice for an animated character, and it is updated and unlike anything you’ve heard in the Mario world before.”
Fans don’t have much to evaluate as Pratt only spoke two lines in the original <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-funniest-thing-fans-mock-chris-pratts-voice-as-super-mario-bros-trailer-drops">teaser trailer</a>, saying, “What is this place?” and “Mushroom Kingdom, here we come!” But that was enough to send Twitter into a frenzy when the trailer dropped in October. Viewers said it sounded like the actor didn’t do anything to alter his normal voice.
“Chris Pratt saying he worked so hard on the Mario voice only for it to sound like Chris Pratt is the funniest thing,” one person responded.
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When a longer version of the trailer was released shortly after with more dialogue, Illumination Studios turned off commenting on YouTube. 
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” lands in theaters on April 5, 2023.

Today – Season 71

‘Super Mario’ Director Defends Casting Chris Pratt Amid Backlash: ‘Really Good At Playing A Blue Collar Hero’

'Super Mario' Director Defends Casting Chris Pratt Amid Backlash: 'Really Good At Playing A Blue Collar Hero'

The boycotts against the “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harry Potter”</a>-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a>, “Hogwarts Legacy,” seem to have failed miserably.
Early sales numbers for the action role-playing game (RPG) developed by Avalanche Software show that it&#8217;s a huge hit with customers. In the first two weeks of the game’s debut, &#8220;Hogwarts Legacy&#8221; sold more than 12 million units, raking in more than $850 million in sales. That makes it the biggest global launch in Warner Bros. Games history and one of the fastest-selling video games of all time.
Many trans activists were opposed to the release of the game due to its association with creator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> and the likelihood that she would receive a portion of the royalties. Rowling is a staunch leftist feminist but has become incredibly controversial in recent years for questioning the trans agenda and accusing activists of ignoring the rights of women.
Avalanche Software had already begun working on the immersive RPG before the controversy with Rowling started. They’ve since tried to distance themselves from the drama, but the calls to boycott the game were pervasive anyway. 
“J.K. Rowling was not involved in the creation of the game,” the <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">FAQ page</a> on the game’s official site says. “While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
The game’s creators also included a supposed trans-identifying character who says at one point in the game: “I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
Even with these efforts, some video game reviewers were reluctant to post their opinions about Hogwarts Legacy or to even admit they had played it, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trans-activists-urge-boycott-of-hogwarts-legacy-video-game-despite-j-k-rowling-not-being-involved">reported</a>.
“Hogwarts Legacy cannot and should not be judged solely on its own merits, because the end result of supporting this game financially and socially isn’t simply a matter of how much you’ll enjoy it, or how nostalgic it might be to experience the world of Harry Potter,” GamesHub reviewer Percy Ranson, who identifies as transgender, wrote of the game. 
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“If you purchase this game — if you praise its qualities and encourage others to ‘support the developers’ or ‘treat yourself to a guilty pleasure’ — you are making a choice that will harm the transgender community, whether you want to admit it or not,” Ranson continued, echoing what many other critics were saying.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will become available for other gaming systems in the coming months.

Hogwarts Legacy Photo Illustrations

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Rakes In $850M In 2 Weeks Despite Boycott Attempts Over J.K. Rowling Earning Royalties

'Hogwarts Legacy' Video Game Rakes In $850M In 2 Weeks Despite Boycott Attempts Over J.K. Rowling Earning Royalties

Harry Potter

JK Rowling

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">Transgender activists</a> are furious over the release of the Harry Potter-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> “Hogwarts Legacy” after labeling author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a> a “transphobe.” They don&#8217;t want anyone reviewing or playing it.
Game developer Avalanche Software began working on the immersive role-playing game long before the controversy with Rowling started and has since attempted to distance the game from her.  
“J.K. Rowling was not involved in the creation of the game,” the FAQ page on the game’s official site <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">says</a>. “While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
The game&#8217;s creators also included a supposed trans-identifying character who says at one point in the game: “I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
But that effort wasn’t enough to assuage trans activists who don’t believe Rowling should earn any profits from her intellectual property and that, therefore, the game should not exist. Some game reviewers are hesitant to post their thoughts on the game because of the potential blowback.
TheGamer editor Stacey Henley congratulated herself for “not covering Hogwarts Legacy with a review,” and <a href="https://www.thegamer.com/games-media-failed-hogwarts-legacy-test/">argued</a> that taking an “all that matters is how fun a game is” philosophy to game reviews is “actively damaging to professional journalism.” 
GamesHub reviewer Percy Ranson, who identifies as transgender, also refused to review the game. 
“Hogwarts Legacy cannot and should not be judged solely on its own merits, because the end result of supporting this game financially and socially isn’t simply a matter of how much you’ll enjoy it, or how nostalgic it might be to experience the world of Harry Potter,” Ranson <a href="https://www.gameshub.com/news/opinions-analysis/hogwarts-legacy-does-not-deserve-to-be-reviewed-on-its-own-merits-40246/">wrote</a>.
“If you purchase this game – if you praise its qualities and encourage others to ‘support the developers’ or ‘treat yourself to a guilty pleasure’ – you are making a choice that will harm the transgender community, whether you want to admit it or not,” the review continued, also citing the example of Rowling’s potential royalty checks.
Some outlets did choose to review the game with reluctance. 
“As critics, our job is to answer the question of whether or not we find Hogwarts Legacy to be fun to play and why,” a disclaimer on the <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/hogwarts-legacy-review-harry-potter-ps5-xbox-pc">IGN review</a> says. “Whether it’s ethical to play is a separate but still very important question.”
The British pop culture website <a href="https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/hogwarts-legacy-review-3392991">NME</a> also gave Hogwarts Legacy a review while noting that it was “not an endorsement of Rowling’s opinions or comments,” while providing a link to LGBTQ charities.
Engadget senior editor Jessica Conditt wrote that it was “slightly frightening” to write the review, “knowing the condemnation I could receive.”
Ultimately, Conditt gave the game high marks and admitted that she enjoyed playing it. 
Rowling has been labeled anti-trans ever since 2019 when she tweeted her support for Maya Forstater, who lost her job for asserting that biological sex is real. Over the years she&#8217;s also been critical of the radical trans agenda, <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1470092815506063365">mocking them</a> for calling a rapist with a penis a woman and saying “people who menstruate” instead of “women.”
Because Rowling still holds Left-wing views on most issues, she&#8217;s been labeled by her opponents as a TERF, which stands for &#8220;trans-exclusionary radical feminist.&#8221;

Computer Gaming Summit Held In Germany

Trans Activists Urge Boycott Of ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Despite J.K. Rowling Not Being Involved

Trans Activists Urge Boycott Of 'Hogwarts Legacy' Video Game Despite J.K. Rowling Not Being Involved

Transgender

The soon to be released <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>-themed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> “Hogwarts Legacy” will feature the franchise’s first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> character.
This highly anticipated open-world role-playing game is set in the 1800s Wizarding World, which was originally dreamed up by billionaire author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling">J.K. Rowling</a>. The new game will introduce players to the character Sirona Ryan, proprietor of the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade Village, per a report from <a href="https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/hogwarts-legacy-transgender-character-jk-rowling-harry-potter-wizarding-world-1235514416/">Variety</a>. That&#8217;s where players learn how classmates may be confused at first to find that Sirona had &#8220;transitioned.&#8221;
When the player asks Sirona about a goblin named Lodgok, the character apparently replies, “Hadn’t seen him in years when he came in a few months ago. But, he recognized me instantly. Which is more than I can say for some of my own classmates. Took them a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
The publication notes how this immersive game invites players to explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest and the surrounding Overland area as they work on spells and potions.
“Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s as they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world,” the game description says. “They will grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions, taming magical beasts and more.”
Game creators note how Rowling was not involved with the video game’s development. 
“J.K. Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game,” the <a href="https://www.hogwartslegacy.com/en-us/faq">FAQ page</a> on the game’s official site says. 
“While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”
Rowling’s non-involvement is noteworthy as she’s become an outspoken critic of left-wing gender theory and has been labeled by the Left as a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) for defending the rights of women. While some of the “Harry Potter” actors came to her defense, most distanced themselves from the series creator and pledged their allegiance to the pro-trans movement instead.
Despite pushback from her fanbase and the media, Rowling has stood firm in her convictions. 
“Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-a-bloody-mirror-j-k-rowling-points-out-what-real-misogyny-is-in-one-tweet">tweeted</a> recently. “That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.”
“Hogwarts Legacy” is scheduled to launch February 10 worldwide for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will be available later in the year on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Close up of  boy holding game controller

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Includes First Transgender ‘Harry Potter’ Character: ‘J.K. Rowling Is Not Involved’

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Video Game Includes First Transgender 'Harry Potter' Character

The following is a transcript excerpt from Dr. Jordan Peterson’s conversation with Dr. Del Paulhus on the Dark Tetrad: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and the newly added sadism. You can <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast/tbd-dr-del-paulhus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen to</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/tbd-dr-del-paulhus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch</a> the full podcast on DailyWire+.
Podcast time: 10:54
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson:
I know that the Dark Triad has morphed into the Dark Tetrad to some degree, and I am also curious as to what you have to say about the overlap between the Dark Tetrad qualities and personality disorder categories, especially in the histrionic, antisocial, and narcissistic categories. Obviously, that shades into personality pathology. (to Dr. Del Paulhus) Can I define the three traits and have you correct my definitions, if you would?
As you pointed out, Machiavelli was an advisor to princes who was really interested in some sense in the outright maintenance of instrumental power. I would not say he was driven by any intrinsic ethic. Machiavelli gave advice to princes who wanted to maintain their position by hook or by crook. So Machiavellians are willing to use manipulation to obtain their personal ends, and narcissists seem to be driven by a high desire to obtain unearned status from others. The most important thing for them is not status in relationship to competence or in relationship to performance but just in status for its own sake.
Then the psychopaths. I spent a lot of time looking at Hare’s research and thinking about the relationship to the Big Five. Psychopaths seem to be something approximating parasitical predators. They are very, very low in agreeableness and that makes them callous and non-empathetic. Then they also seem to be very low in conscientiousness. That seems to accord reasonably well with the two factors of the psychopathy scale. So a real psychopath is someone who is willing to take what you have, and use it – that might be the predatory aspect – and also to live off the earnings and efforts of others. That is also an element of criminal behavior. 
You are looking at the nexus of all three of those: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Recently, you and other researchers have added – I think this is so interesting because I think it was a real lack – sadism to that, which is positive delight and pleasure-taking in the suffering of others. So, can you expand at all upon the definitions of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy? And we can segway into sadism.
Dr. Del Paulhus:
I agree with all of your definitions, although what we did was spent a lot of time trying to find what is different among each of the characters and what the overlap is. Why is it that the literature and the measures that were available always overlapped to a dangerous degree in trying to understand what is going on. The key thing for psychopaths, in our opinion, is impulsivity and sensation-seeking which is what gets them into trouble.
They may not have worse motives than the others, but they cannot help it. That is why they – at the extreme levels – spend their lives in prison. They cannot help responding to temptation. Whatever the temptation is, they go for it, and often they get what they want right away, and they keep on doing it until they get caught. And they do not seem to learn from it. That answers a qualification to the definition of psychopath. 
Now, what is underlying it, we think, is callousness for all of them. They are overlapping because at the core is a failure to have empathy. And if you have a deficit in empathy, it seems inevitable that you’re going to exploit other people in one way or another because you are not getting the feedback that people with empathy get in seeing other people suffer at your hands.
And the story of sadism is quite a long story, but if you want me to get into the details, I can do that.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson:
Please do. Please do.
Dr. Del Paulhus:
I do not know whether I am more sensitive to these things than other people, but I started seeing sadism in regular people. And not only is it there in everyday people, but people seem to wallow in it when the circumstances allow it. For example, violent sports: one of my favorite sports, hockey. It is kind of pathetic watching a hockey game. The cheers are larger for the fights than for the goals. People love to see their fighter pummel the fighter of the other team – or pummel anyone – and the cheers that go up in a hockey stadium are incredible.
The cheers only stop when the victim falls to the ice and starts twitching, and a hush falls over the crowd, showing the dual nature of positive and negative motivations that human beings have. But the fact that they love seeing the fighting no matter how much blood and teeth end up on the ice is disappointing in a way. We learned a long time ago from the Europeans, they do not have to do that to make hockey a wonderful sport. That was just one. But then watching the undergraduate students at UBC (University of British Columbia), what are they doing for fun?
Well, if you recall way, way back, they used to play these archived games, and there were some gentle ones – Pac-Man, Asteroids, I do not know if you remember those – but going down into the arcade, you see that people are gathered around one of the arcade games. So I wandered over to see it, and it was called Mortal Kombat, which by today’s standards is not that bad, but the heads are torn off and the blood spurts out. And that is why the crowd was there because it was so much more appealing than the silly little Mario Brothers. It just struck me as the beginning of my interest in what people do, especially young males, when they have time on their own. So if it’s not porn, then it seems like it’s violence, and it’s somewhat horrifying. But it has gotten worse.
I do not know if you have been following the video games that are now available on your home computer. You do not need to go to an arcade and be embarrassed by what you are playing because you can sit at home and play whatever games you want. So now, Grand Theft Auto, you can kill innocent bystanders, step on their heads, et cetera. And there are actual torture sites where you can go and torture people. You can torture animals. It is all there.
So people are paying to do this stuff. They pay for violent sports. They pay for violent movies. What is the most popular television program these days? It’s called ‘Game of Thrones,’ and it’s the most sadistic kind of television program that you have ever seen. People are paying for this in one way or another, and they’re attracted to it; they relay stories with their friends. So putting this picture together suggested to me that some, not all – in fact, the variance again is there which excites a personality researcher – some people are highly attracted to this stuff. Other people are horrified.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson:
I know that neurophysiological anger is a multidimensional emotion. It activates positive emotion systems and negative emotion systems simultaneously. So you can think about that, perhaps, as the core element of something like aggression – maybe both defensive and predatory aggression. Then you could imagine that people are wired differently as individuals so that for any given person, being angry might be associated with a predominance of approach motivation – positive emotion – and a relative decrement of negative emotion, and for other people that would be reversed.
I am trying to account for what the positive pleasure is in the observation or participation in the aggression. Hypothetically, you could associate it actually with predatory behavior, with hunting and with combat. But it also might be a consequence of differential wiring at the neurological level in relationship to the balance between positive and negative emotion experienced by any given person with anger.
You see this variation in people. I know some people who are real fighters, let’s say, on the political front, and some of them really enjoy a good scrap. It really seems to get them motivated. And this is not a criticism of them necessarily. Then other people – and I think I fall more into this camp – I am not really very interested at all in conflict. It bothers me a lot. Although I do not like delayed conflict, so I am likely to engage in it relatively upfront.
So we could go into that. What do you think is the fundamental biological and then also ethical difference between people who are taking positive delight in aggression and those who are not? Well, I guess we could start with those questions.
To hear Dr. Del Paulhus’s answer and the rest of the conversation, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast/tbd-dr-del-paulhus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen to</a> or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/tbd-dr-del-paulhus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch</a> the full podcast on DailyWire+.
<a href="https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Jordan B. Peterson</a> is a clinical psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. From 1993 to 1998 he served as assistant and then associate professor of psychology at Harvard. He is the international bestselling author of Maps of Meaning, 12 Rules For Life, and Beyond Order. You can now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/the-jordan-b-peterson-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listen</a> to or <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/watch/jordan-peterson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">watch</a> his popular lectures on DailyWire+.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Daily Wire.

JP _ Editorial tetrad copy

Characteristics Of A Psychopath And The Making Of The Dark Tetrad

Jordan Peterson

Readers Pass

Violence

The life simulation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> “The Sims 4” just released a free update that includes multiple customization options aimed at players who wish to appear <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a>.
This new patch adds to the array of body customization options to include breast removal surgery scars along with garments such as chest binders, “packing” underwear, and other medical wearables, per <a href="https://mashable.com/article/the-sims-4-trans-top-surgery-binder-hearing-aid">Mashable</a>.
The publication noted that the “Create a Sim” character creator now offers users a “Top Surgery Scar” in the &#8220;Body&#8221; category&#8217;s new &#8220;Body Scars&#8221; subcategory. These scars can be added to any male Sims character &#8220;aged Teen or older,&#8221; according to the report, regardless of their base body model’s gender. The “Top Surgery Scar” distinction was made to show that a character had breast removal surgery. 
Also in the “Create a Sim” options, under the “Tops” subcategory “Tanks,” players can opt to put on chest binders. Other shapewear like “tucking underwear” is found in the “Bottoms” section in the subcategory “underwear.”
The official Sims account celebrated these additions with a post on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A base game update is here with new content including medical wearables, binders, shapewear, a light switch &amp; more including bug fixes &amp; console gameplay improvements 🥳💚
Read more about today’s update in the latest patch notes! <a href="https://t.co/4c4vZdfWBY">https://t.co/4c4vZdfWBY</a> <a href="https://t.co/GYbQYijIIm">pic.twitter.com/GYbQYijIIm</a>
&mdash; The Sims (@TheSims) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSims/status/1620491816721342464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
These additions aren’t the first time the popular video game creators adopted pro-transgender standards. The Sims players of both genders have been able to mix and match masculine and feminine traits since 2016. In 2022, an update allowed users to choose their Sims character’s sexual orientations and pronouns. 
Preset pronouns include she/her, he/him, or they/them, or users can add custom entries for their Sims.
Per <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/05/24/sims-4-pronouns-update/">The Washington Post</a>, game developer Maxis collaborated with the LGBTQ advocacy groups &#8220;It Gets Better Project&#8221; and GLAAD to determine how to add the pronoun feature. “The Sims 4” producer John Faciane called the partnership between the game and these groups “a step in the direction of a more inclusive experience for Simmers.”
“While this update isn’t the be-all end-all of representation of nonbinary and other gender diverse folks, we strongly feel that it’s important for us to approach better inclusivity over time as we figure out ways to work within the limitations of our code,” Faciane said of the pronoun update in 2022.
“Making ‘The Sims 4’ more inclusive of gender neutrality is an ongoing learning and development process for us and we will continue to update this feature over time,” game publisher Electronic Arts wrote at the time, referencing the fact that the game still included gendered language such as “mother” and “father.”

Sims 4

‘The Sims 4’ Game Update Adds Trans-Friendly Breast Removal Scars, Binders, Tucking Underwear To Character Options

'The Sims 4' Game Update Adds Trans-Friendly Breast Removal Scars, Binders, Tucking Underwear To Character Options

transgender surgery

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