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☆ Harry Potter: Original cover art for ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ to go on sale
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —J.K. Rowling’s 1997 novel “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was the beginning of what would become a worldwide phenomenon. Now, the original illustration for the first edition of the book is going on sale. Taylor’s cover was used for several translated versions of the book, the auction house said. The first edition of 1997 book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- which Taylor illustrated. The manuscript is one of six handwritten by the British author that was originally intended as gifts for people closely involved with the publication of “Harry Potter,” according to the release.

Persons: CNN —, Harry Potter, ”, Thomas Taylor, Harry Potter –, Sotheby's, “, “ Harry Potter, Taylor, Shutterstock Taylor Organizations: CNN, Hogwarts Express, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, Heritage Auctions Locations: Sotheby’s, London, Dallas , Texas, New York, American, British

There's a pretty good chance you've already seen the Harry Potter movies, but it's never a bad time for a rewatch. How to watch Harry Potter in the USAll eight Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Peacock. Shop at Peacock TVHow to watch Harry Potter in the UKIn the UK, all Harry Potter movies are available to stream for free on ITVX, ITV's ad-supported free streaming counterpart. How to watch Harry Potter from anywhereIf you're currently outside the UK and want to watch Harry Potter for free, you might want to try a VPN (virtual private network). Shop at ExpressVPNHow to watch Harry Potter with a VPNSign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.

Persons: Harry Potter, J.K, Rowling, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Voldemort, it's, Peacock, Oppenheimer, Kung Fu Panda, They're, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, Netflix, ITV

☆ Nostalgia From Movies, Songs, Games Is Good for Happiness, Innovation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Clay Routledge | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

To them, nostalgia might even cause people to be discontent with the present and pessimistic about the future. Studies indicate that feeling lonely increases nostalgia and that nostalgia, in turn, increases feelings of social connectedness. Americans 45 and older were more likely than those under 45 to view nostalgic memories as reminders of what's important and as sources of inspiration and guidance. That isn't surprising; older adults have more life experiences to draw from. Every one of them has stories of nostalgic inspiration — life experiences that sparked their passion.

Persons: Mario, Zelda, —, Gen Zers, There's, We've, it's, we've, I've Organizations: Mario Bros, Pew

☆ Baldur's Gate 3 made more than $650 million last year, proving video games don't need microtransactions to succeed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Baldur's Gate 3 made more than $650 million on Steam last year. Games that don't rely on microtransactions, in fact, dominated the bestsellers list for 2023. AdvertisementBaldur's Gate 3 smashed expectations, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars last year, proving that not all top-selling games have to have a battle pass. AdvertisementBaldur's Gate 3 was the top-selling game on the platform, outselling its closest competitor — Hogwarts Legacy — by $316 million, according to the report. One of the top trends last year among the top-selling games on Steam was a "lack of microtransactions."

Persons: —, Fortnite Organizations: Steam, Service, Larian, Book, North Carolina Better Business, Epic Games Locations: Baldur's, North Carolina

☆ How Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief plans to build on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and give the company more much-needed wins
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. David Haddad is WBD's long-running games chief and the rare top WarnerMedia executive who survived the merger with Discovery (as well as the AT&T ownership era). In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney.

Persons: —, execs, David Haddad, Haddad, We're, Harry Potter, it's, They've, Michael Pachter, Shaggy, David Zaslav, people's, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, LightShed, Haddad wouldn't, we've Organizations: Service, Warner, Business, Discovery, Warner Bros, Interactive Entertainment, Wedbush Securities, Disney, Netflix, Thrones, EA, Embracer Locations: WarnerMedia

☆ Warner Bros. Discovery's games chief shares plans to capitalize on 'Hogwarts Legacy' and boost the division's growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Discovery's gaming division is on a winning streak with two of the biggest console games in 2023: "Hogwarts Legacy," the year's No. In an interview with Business Insider, Haddad, who is president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment — a position he's held since 2015 — framed the challenge and how he plans to keep WBD games' streak going. It can take the form of new events to keep people playing a strategy game like "Game of Thrones: Conquest" or new characters and tournaments in a fighting game like "Mortal Kombat." WBD's success with games separates it from other legacy media companies that have stumbled in the arena, most notably Disney. Nevertheless, analysts have speculated that given its past success and need for growth, WBD could buy another gaming company such as EA or Take-Two Interactive.

☆ I'm not a 'Harry Potter' fan, but I've visited the Wizarding World over 100 times. Here are 11 things I always do and 2 I skip.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Carly Caramanna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I'm a theme-park journalist who's been visiting Universal Orlando since it opened in 1990. As an annual passholder, I visit often and love the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. AdvertisementThe Hogsmeade section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando in 2010. Admittedly, I'm not a "Harry Potter" superfan, but as a theme-park regular, I appreciate the level of detailing that went into creating the Wizarding World. Here are my favorite things to do, see, and eat in the Wizarding World — and what I usually skip.

Persons: who's, Harry Potter, I've, —, I'm Organizations: Universal Orlando, Service, of, Universal Studios Florida Locations: Universal, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade

The world also said goodbye to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who died Nov. 29. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesAnother political figure who died this year was former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Nov. 19. Among the entertainers who left the world this year was singer Tina Turner, who died May 24. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Fred White, 67. A Hall of Fame forward who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Silvio Berlusconi, Dianne Feinstein, James Buckley, James Abourezk, Nigel Lawson, Pervez Musharraf, Sandra Day O’Connor, Li Keqiang, Martti Ahtisaari, United Nations Bill Richardson, Gov, Sheila Oliver, Theodoros Pangalos, Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Suzanne Somers, Matthew Perry, Raquel Welch, Richard Belzer, Chaim Topol, Jacklyn Zeman, Lance Reddick, Alan Arkin, Paul Reubens, David McCallum, Richard Roundtree, Tom Sizemore, Jimmy Buffett, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Lee Jones, Burt Bacharach, David Crosby, Fito Olivares, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Astrud Gilberto, Coco Lee, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Cormac McCarthy, William Friedkin, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Louise Glück, Jeff Beck, Mary Quant, Kaija Saariaho, Lloyd Morrisett, Fred White, Maurice, Verdine White, Ken Block, Walter Cunningham, Fay Weldon, ” Jan, Russell Pearce, Charles Simic, Lynette “ Diamond ” Hardaway, Donald Trump, Diamond, Constantine, Jan, Tatjana Patitz, George Michael’s, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley, Robbie Knievel, Evel Knievel, Ray Cordeiro, Elmo, Cookie, Gina Lollobrigida, Chris Ford, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Cindy Williams, Shirley, “ Laverne, Billy Packer, Sylvia Syms, Alex ”, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, “ Papa, Rollin ’ Stone, Tom Verlaine, Patti Smith, Bobby Hull, Paco Rabanne, Harry Whittington, Dick Cheney, Hsing Yun, ”, San Jose ”, Carlos Saura, Spain’s, Hugh Hudson, Oscar, “ Greystroke, Hans Modrow, David Jude Jolicoeur, Huey “, ” Smith, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, “, Leiji Matsumoto, Yamato ”, Tim McCarver, Stella Stevens, Jerry Lewis’s, John Munch, Ahmed Qureia, Betty Boothroyd, Ricou Browning, Gill, Gérard Latortue, Fontaine, Barbara Everitt Bryant, Ryan ”, Kenzaburo Oe, Judy Heumann, Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Georgina Beyer, Traute Lafrenz, Rose, Peterson Zah, Tevye, Robert Blake, Jiang Yanyong, Bud Grant, Dick Fosbury, Pat Schroeder, Gloria Bosman, Jacqueline Gold, Britain’s Ann Summers, John Wick ”, John Jenrette, Juana La, Willis Reed, Darcelle, Paul O’Grady, Lily Savage, Emperor ”, Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Ferencz, Nuremberg, Elisabeth Kopp, Michael Lerner, Jack Lipnick, “ Barton Fink, Bugsy Calhoun, Anne Perry, Thomas Pitt, William Monk, Al Jaffee, magazine’s, Charles Stanley, Richard Riordan, Todd Haimes, Tony Awards, Barry Humphries, Tony, Dame Edna Everage, Len Goodman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, Emmett Till, LeRoy “ Lee ” Carhart, Larry “, ___ Gordon Lightfoot, Tori Bowie, Vida, Grace Bumbry, Rock ”, Ovelha, Denny Crum, Heather Armstrong, Bobbie Spencer, Rolf Harris, Kenneth Anger, Doyle Brunson, Jim Brown, Timothy Keller, Andy Rourke, Ray Stevenson, Thor ”, Ed Ames, George Maharis, Carroll Cooley, Miranda, John Beasley, Kaija, George Winston, Ipanema ”, Robert Hanssen, Richard Snyder, Simon & Schuster, Françoise Gilot, Pablo Picasso —, Pat Robertson, Theodore “ Ted ” Kaczynski, Roger Payne, Treat Williams, Glenda Jackson, Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Nixon, Big, George Frazier, Lee Sarokin, Rubin “, ” Carter, Winnie Ewing, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, “ Fiorello, John Goodenough, Peg Yorkin, Sue Johanson, Yan Mingfu, John Berylson, James Lewis, poisonings, Mikala Jones, André Watts, Jane Birkin, Kevin Mitnick, San Francisco ”, Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, Hugh “ Sonny ” Carter Jr, Jimmy, Randy Meisner, Herman, Angus Cloud, Fezco, ” O’Neill, ___, Mark Margolis, Hector Salamanca, Saul, Sixto Rodriguez, flamed, Robbie Robertson, Tom Jones, Magoo, Timbaland, Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Clarence Avant, Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, Ada Deer, Jerry Moss, Herb Alpert, Alpert, Michael Parkinson, Muhammad Ali, Miss Piggy, Jiri Cerny, Betty Tyson, Richard Nixon’s, John Warnock, Ron Cephas Jones, Howard Hubbard, Samuel “ Joe ” Wurzelbacher, Joe, Barack Obama, Gil Brandt, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, Bill Richardson, Steve Harwell, Shabtai Shavit, Jordan, Ian Wilmut, Dolly, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Roy Kidd, Eno Ichikawa, Michael McGrath, Fernando Botero, Giorgio Napolitano, Matteo Messina Denaro, Michael Gambon, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter ”, Mankombu Sambasivan, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Hosni Mubarak, Tim Wakefield, Dick Butkus, Michael Chiarello, Michael Chiarello ”, Masters, Burt Young, Paulie, Sylvester Stallone, Hughes Van Ellis, Kevin Phillips, Louise Meriwether, Mark Goddard, Major Don West, Rudolph Isley, Isley, unblinking, Piper Laurie, Chrissy Snow, Bobby Charlton, Bishan Bedi, Richard Moll, Xi Jinping, Wu Zunyou, Chandler Bing, Ken Mattingly, Bob Knight, Frank Borman, Steve Norton, Don Walsh, Mariana Trench, Terry R, Taylor, Daisaku Ikeda, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Ussery, George “ Funky ” Brown, Joanna ”, Marty Krofft, Pufnstuf, Donny, Marie ”, Terry Venables, Tim Dorsey, Serge A, Frances Sternhagen, ” “, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Gerald Ford, Shane MacGowan, Bernard McGhee Organizations: Wagner Group, Russian, White House, U.S, Supreme, United Nations, Greek Foreign, Republican, Hong, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBC, CBS, Television, Fame, Chicago Blackhawks, ”, New, of Fame, Louis Cardinals, “, Palestinian, Israel, South Dakota Democrat, Arab, Arab American U.S, Britain’s, Commons, . Census Bureau, Alabama ”, Zealand, Navajo, Minnesota Vikings, People, Playboy, Capitol, Juana La Cubana, New York Knicks, Guinness, World Records, Hollywood, Treasury, Southern Baptist Convention, Los Angeles, Roundabout Theatre Company, Air Force, Harlem Globetrotters, Janeiro Games, baseball’s, Germany’s Bayreuth, NCAA, Hall of Famer, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Legion, Ames, Phoenix, FBI, Simon &, Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican Party, Christian Coalition, Harvard, Feminist Majority Foundation, “ Little, Communist Party, Millwall, New York Philharmonic, San, Brigade, Wing, Eagles, HBO, of Indian Affairs, M, Police, Carpenters, Adobe Systems, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, escapist, Democratic, Zulu, Eastern, AA, Broadway, Communist, U.S . Senate, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston, Chicago Bears, Major, Isley Brothers, New York Times, Manchester United, India, Indiana, Nevada — Resorts, Atlantic City —, Navy, Associated Press, Soka Gakkai, Kentucky Derby, Kool, The, European, Barcelona, Tottenham, City Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russian, U.S, Finnish, New Mexico, New Jersey, British, Greece, American, Hong Kong, Italian, America, New York, Spanish, catwalks, Texas, Taiwan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, San, New Orleans, Rosebud, Arab American, Haiti, “, African, Brooklyn, London, Los, Mississippi, United States, Rivers, Georgia, Savannah, Louisville, New York City, Irish, HBO’s “ Rome, Brazilian, Ipanema, Moscow, Virginia, Montana, Vietnam, Canada, Asia, Chicago, Hawaii, France, South Africa, Wisconsin, Los Angeles, Czech, Eastern Kentucky, Colombian, ”, California, Tulsa, Finland, China, Nevada, Atlantic City, Florida, Berkshire

☆ Warner Bros Discovery boss’s payday is toast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Jennifer Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) chief executive will have to more than double the value of the media company if he wants to collect a lavish $200 million compensation package awarded when Discovery agreed to merge with Warner Media in 2021. The news sent shares plunging 19%, the largest one-day drop since Discovery merged with Warner Media. Its current value is over $18 billion when applying Bernstein’s multiple of 8 times EBITDA. At the end of September, the company had net leverage – after deducting $2.4 billion cash – of 4.2 times EBITDA. Shares of Warner Bros Discovery fell 19% on that day.

Persons: David Zaslav, He’s, Harry Potter, Jefferies, Max, “ Barbie ”, Zaslav, David, Peter Thal Larsen, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery, Discovery, Warner Media, HBO, CNN, Food Network, TBS, LSEG, Netflix, Reuters Graphics Reuters, HGTV, Thomson Locations: EBITDA

☆ ‘Saltburn’ Review: A Promising Young Man Takes a Seedy Turn
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Wesley Morris | More About Wesley Morris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

It’s too desperate, too confused, too pleased with its petty shocks to rile anything you’d recognize as genuine excitement. This thing was written and directed by Emerald Fennell, whose previous movie was “Promising Young Woman,” a horror flick about rape that was also a revenge comedy. These two meet, in earnest, when Oliver loans Felix his bike, a moment Oliver’s been waiting for. When Oliver tells Felix his father’s just died, Felix extends his Saltburn invitation out of sincere compassion. He’s the one nonwhite major character in “Saltburn,” a fact the movie considers doing something intriguing with but abandons.

Persons: “, you’ll, It’s, Emerald Fennell, Fennell’s, Hitchcock, Patricia Highsmith, Oliver Quick he’s, We’re, Oxford — bookish Oliver, Barry Keoghan, rakish Felix, Jacob Elordi, —, Bernard, Oliver, Felix, — John Hughes, Fennell, father’s, Felix’s, Elspeth, Rosamund Pike, Alison Oliver, Archie Madekwe, Felix who’s, Farleigh Organizations: Oxford, HBO Locations: Saltburn

☆ All aboard the Hogwarts Express? Train drivers needed for iconic Scottish route
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not, you can probably picture the Hogwarts Express and its iconic journey to the wizarding school. it winds through the Scottish countryside, filled with green rolling hills and forests and of course the curved bridge, or viaduct, the train crosses as it approaches Hogwarts. And now you too could drive trains through this iconic scenery — even if it isn't using the actual Hogwarts Express. Scottish train operating company ScotRail is looking for trainee drivers that will likely cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is featured in Harry Potter frequently. The job posting went live earlier this week seeking trainee drivers — so no previous experience as a train driver is required.

Persons: Harry Potter Organizations: Hogwarts Express, Scottish, ScotRail Locations: Scottish, Hogwarts

☆ ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Downton Abbey’ star Maggie Smith, 88, is the face of Loewe’s new campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Dame Maggie Smith, the British actress acclaimed for her appearances both on stage and in cinema, has taken on a new role — and this time it’s in the world of luxury fashion. Loewe has cast the 88-year-old, known for roles such as Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film franchise, in its spring/summer 2024 pre-collection campaign. The pointed hat and cape of Hogwarts are a distant memory as Smith sports three cosy and stylish looks for the campaign. In another, Smith is adorned in a floor-length faux fur coat and holds Loewe’s signature Puzzle bag. The actress is one of several older women who have fronted fashion lines and magazine covers in recent years.

Persons: Maggie Smith, Loewe, McGonagall, Harry Potter, Smith, Juergen Teller, Dakota Fanning, Greta Lee, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor, Taeyong, Rachel Jones, Fei Fei Sun, Heartstopper, Sebastian Croft, Jonathan Anderson, “, Juergen Teller Smith —, Countess Violet Crawley, —, Oscar, Miss Jean Brodie, ”, Apo, Od, Dame Judi Dench Organizations: CNN, Loewe Creative, Broadway, Vogue Philippines, British Vogue Locations: British, Hogwarts, American, South Korean, ”, California

☆ The sad, lonely secret behind America's never-ending wave of Marvel movies and Disney reboots
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. Next, participants took Batcho's Nostalgia Inventory, a psychological test developed by Krystine Batcho in 1995 to quantify how deeply people feel nostalgia at a given time. If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. American health insurer Cigna has conducted a large loneliness survey since 2018, with over ten thousand respondents in the sample annually. In 2020, 61% of those surveyed were lonely, up 7 percentage points since the survey was first conducted in 2018.

Persons: Harry Potter, Krystine Batcho, lonelier, Cigna, reboots, Indiana Jones, Heather Jones, Walt Hickey, Zelda, backlist, SpongeBob, Percy Jackson, Workman Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Sony, Fox, Southampton University, UCLA, Research Center, Pew Research, Gallup, Netflix, Recreation Locations: Wonderland, Orlando, England, Hogwarts, Kingdom, America, Hollywood

☆ Hollywood insiders are bracing for M&A activity to make a comeback, as 10 experts reveal the deals they're predicting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reed Alexander | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"The unknown is hard to transact in," Sam Powers, the global head of technology, media, and telecommunications for Bank of America, told Insider. Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision , which was completed Thursday, has also put media and tech M&A back in the spotlight. "People have been holding their breath in nervous anticipation" about the idea of tech buying big media , one investor told Insider. Private-equity bets on media and Hollywood have seen mixed resultsPrivate-equity firms may have the cash to finance major media acquisitions, but they're reckoning with market volatility. Are you a Hollywood insider?

Persons: Hollywood dealmakers, Jonathan Handel, Sam Powers, Bob Iger, —, Byron Allen, Greg Doherty, Iger, Disney's, Byron Allen —, Allen, Disney, it's, Handel, It's, you've, Reese Witherspoon, Dave Kotinsky, Moonbug, Reese Witherspoon's, Jeff Zucker, Abu, Tom Staggs, Kevin Mayer, Lucia Moses, Reed Alexander Organizations: Hollywood, Puck News, Bank of America, SAG, Writers Guild of America, Disney, ESPN, Activision, Byron Allen The Weather, Wall Street shareholders, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hulu, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, Allen Media Group, Weather, Lionsgate, Starz, Paramount, BET, Warner Bros, Games, Disney Digital Network, Maker Studios, Observers, Comcast, Paramount Global, Tech, MGM, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, RedBird Capital Partners, RedBird IMI, Private, SP, G Global Market Intelligence, Bloomberg, Media, Apollo Global Management, Yahoo Locations: Hollywood, Blackstone, Abu Dhabi, lmoses@insider.com, ralexander@insider.com

☆ Epic Games is laying off about 830 employees, divesting Bandcamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Epic Games logo, maker of the popular video game "Fortnite", is pictured on a screen in this picture illustration August 14, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - "Fortnite" maker Epic Games is laying off about 830 employees, or 16% of its staff, and divesting online music platform Bandcamp, the company said on Thursday. The videogame company will also spin-off most of SuperAwesome, which Epic Games acquired in 2020. SuperAwesome is a platform for developers to include kid-safety tools in their products. The videogame industry is struggling with a slowdown in spending as inflation-weary gamers become more selective in picking popular titles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney, Harry Potter, Chavi Mehta, Samrhitha, Jaspreet Singh, Arun Koyyur, Maju Samuel Organizations: REUTERS, Epic Games, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: SuperAwesome, Bengaluru

☆ Epic Games is laying off roughly 900 employees - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Epic Games logo, maker of the popular video game "Fortnite", is pictured on a screen in this picture illustration August 14, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSept 28 (Reuters) - "Fortnite" maker Epic Games is laying off about 900 employees, or 16% of its staff, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The videogame industry is struggling with a slowdown in spending as inflation-weary gamers become more selective in picking popular titles. Epic Games could not immediately be reached for comment. Reporting by Chavi Mehta and Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun KoyyurOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Harry Potter, Chavi Mehta, Samrhitha, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Warner Bros Discovery, Apple, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ How Dumbledore Became Michael Gambon’s Most Recognizable Role
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the latter part of Michael Gambon’s long and storied acting career, some of the most animated analyses of his performances could be found not in theater or film reviews, but in forums for the “Harry Potter” fandom, where dedicated Hogwarts obsessives would dissect his every onscreen utterance as the wizard Albus Dumbledore. It wasn’t originally his role. Richard Harris, the eminent actor who was originally cast, died after filming the second “Harry Potter” movie. Several other well-known actors were initially considered to succeed Harris in the role, including McKellen, who demurred, and Peter O'Toole, who turned it down because of his long, close friendship with Harris. In the end the choice was Gambon, whose family said Thursday that he had died.

Persons: Michael Gambon’s, Harry Potter ”, Albus Dumbledore, Richard Harris, Harry Potter, Gambon, Alec Guinness, Obi, Wan, Ian McKellen, Gandalf, Harris, McKellen, Peter O'Toole, Harris’s Organizations: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft

☆ Michael Gambon, Dumbledore actor in ‘Harry Potter,’ dies age 82
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Zahid Mahmood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Actor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in most of the “Harry Potter” movies, has died at 82 following a “bout of pneumonia,” a statement issued on behalf of his family said on Thursday, PA Media news agency reported. I collect cars and guns, which are much more expensive, and much more difficult to store.”Michael Gambon in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Four years later, Gambon joined the Birmingham Repertory Company, finally playing title roles in his favorite Shakespearean plays. But it was as Hogwarts’ headmaster Dumbledore in the “Harry Potter” film series that Gambon will perhaps be best remembered, a role he took up following the death of Richard Harris in 2002. In all, Gambon was cast as Dumbledore for six of the eight “Harry Potter” films.

Persons: Michael Gambon, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter ”, ”, Sir Michael Gambon, Clair Dobbs, Michael, Anne, Fergus, ” Gambon, Gambon, toolmaker, “ I’ve, “ Richard Briers, Harry Potter, Murray, Laurence Olivier, Philip Marlow, ’, Dumbledore, Richard Harris Organizations: CNN, Media, Guardian, Warner Bros, Royal Academy of Dramatic, National Theatre Company, Birmingham Repertory Company, British Empire Locations: Cabra, Dublin, London, Irish, Camden, British

But as it turns out, I was just not using my imagination, because this year’s Burning Man was an absolute nightmare. casey newtonA bit more of a Drowning Man than a Burning Man, I have to say. kevin rooseYeah, so as someone who’s been to Burning Man, I was fascinated by just the logistics of it all, because it is already a mess to get in and out of Burning Man. kevin rooseSo you are, in addition to a Burning Man escapee this year, you’ve been actually going to Burning Man for a long time. When I say I don’t know what happened, I don’t know what happened to prompt the things that were being directed at us.

Persons: casey newton, kevin roose, I’ve, KEVIN, casey newton It’s, you’ve, it’s, I’ll, casey newton What’s, kevin roose Bluetooth, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, Jonathan Greenblatt, Elon, Kevin, casey newton Oh, casey newton You, “ shay, denfreude, kevin roose Schadenfreude, shay, who’s, It’s — casey newton, casey newton That’s, Smart, casey newton Ugh, kevin roose —, casey newton Right, — casey newton, kevin roose What’s, casey newton Sure, ” casey newton Never, Adrian Aoun, He’s, ” adrian aoun, adrian aoun, Larry Page, Adrian, I’m, casey newton Amen, here’s, you’d, we’ve, you’re, Larry, roose, Max, Harry Potter, adrian aoun I’m, they’re, adrian aoun —, —, Rice Krispie, kevin roose Wow, let’s, adrian aoun Oh, adrian aoun She’s, She’s —, We’re, wrenches, hitchhike, I, Gerlach, kevin roose She’s, Y, It’s, They’re, — you’re, casey newton We’re, it’s Elon Musk, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, West, kevin roose It’s, Casey, casey newton Well, Linda Yaccarino, Jonathan, kevin roose Jonathan, ” jonathan greenblatt, jonathan greenblatt, CHUCKLES, I’d, Linda, kevin roose You, Nick Fuentes, haven’t, Kevin —, that’s, what’s, we’re, casey newton I’ve, jonathan greenblatt I’m, We’ve, — what’s, Here’s, That’s, John, “, ”, CASEY, kevin roose Totally, Hank Green, Hank, ” Hank, hank, It’s Hank, Ben Shapiro, kevin roose Hank, Diana Dionisio, Diana, Snapchat, Jay Hepler, Jay, ” Casey, don’t, casey newton Really, casey newton I’m, Holly Godfrey, Holly, Kevin Scott, Kevin Scott’s, Bing, Rachel Cohn, Jen Poyant, Caitlin Love, Chris Wood, Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano, Paula Szuchman, Tam, Nell Gallogly, Kate LoPresti, Jeffrey Miranda, CASEY CHUCKLES Organizations: The New York Times, Defamation League, porta, Electric, Google, Labs, Black Rock, casey newton Fair, Burning, Reno, Defamation, Elon, Labor, Twitter, Center, ADL, Nazi, Anti, Twitter’s Trust, Safety, OG, YouTube, Cato Institute, US, Microsoft, Kevins, Davis Locations: Nevada, La Habra , California, Spanish, East, Iraq, Coachella, Bay, Solano County, Toronto, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Hogwarts, playa, Haiti, Dunkirk, ”, Gerlach, LA, New York, Reno, it’s Reno, America, Florida, chemo, Tokyo, That’s, hardfork@nytimes.com

☆ They’re Tiny, They’re Toony, They’re Packing Off to Uni
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Laurel Graeber | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First-year college students everywhere are now adjusting to campus life. Few, however, have to choose between classes like Banana Peel Placement and Whoopie Cushion Alternatives. Or suffer the crash of anvils on their heads when they give wrong answers. These experiences belong exclusively to the incoming freshmen of “Tiny Toons Looniversity,” a new animated series that begins streaming on Friday on Max and airing on Saturday on Cartoon Network. With Steven Spielberg as an executive producer, the show revives the characters and setting of the Emmy Award-winning early-’90s series “Tiny Toon Adventures,” whose own comic DNA descended from the “Looney Tunes” short films of the 1930s-60s.

Persons: Steven Spielberg, ”, Bugs, Daffy Duck, Wile E, Babs, Buster Bunny, Plucky, Hamton J, they’ve Organizations: Max, Cartoon Network, Acme, Warner Bros Locations: hilarity

☆ Electronic Arts misses quarterly bookings expectations, forecast weak
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

EA (Eletronic Arts) Sports logo is seen in this illustration, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationAug 1 - Videogame publisher Electronic Arts (EA.O) missed booking estimates for its first quarter on Tuesday, hurt by competition from other franchise-based games and muted spending by gamers. Its shares fell 4.5% to $130.25 in extended trading as the company posted net bookings of $1.58 billion in the quarter ended June 30, compared with Refinitiv estimates of $1.59 billion. EA forecast second-quarter net bookings in the range $1.70 billion to $1.80 billion, also below analysts' estimate of $1.81 billion. Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Harry Potter, Yuvraj Malik, Pooja Desai Organizations: EA, Eletronic, REUTERS, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros Discovery, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ In Scotland, Taking the Traditional and Making It New
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Amy Tara Koch | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

This being the Highlands, the great outdoors beckons. “Ghillies,” or local guides, are on tap for horseback riding, fly-fishing, birding and hiking in Cairngorms National Park (doubles from £600 per night). ToursWith its widely spread out attractions, wind-whipped landscape and lack of public transport, Scotland can be challenging to tackle on your own, especially if the thought of driving on the “wrong” side is daunting. Rabbie’s Tours offers one-day (£54) and four-day (£209‌ without lodging) “Outlander”-themed tours centered on filming locations. Beyond activities‌‌, the company can secure tucked-away lodging and car transfers‌ (starting at $1,000 per day for a couple, including hotel, guide and experiences, but excluding dining).

Persons: Manuela, Iwan Wirth, Wirth, Zhang Enli, Queen Victoria, Elsa Schiaparelli, Flora Macdonald, “, Harry Potter, Skye, Outlander, Ben Nevis Organizations: Hauser, Jacobite, brac, Hogwarts Express, Rabbie’s Locations: Fife, Highlands, Braemar, Scotland, Orkney, Isle

☆ Warner Bros, NetEase launch 'Harry Potter: Magic Awakened' video game
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 27 (Reuters) - A Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD.O) unit and China's NetEase Inc on Tuesday announced the worldwide launch of role-playing video game "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". The free-to-play title will let players experience life as a student at Hogwarts, the fictional school of wizardry in the popular "Harry Potter" series of books by J.K.Rowling. Players can learn magic spells and summon "Harry Potter" characters such as Hermione Granger and Rubeus Hagrid as allies to aid in their battles. The game can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android platforms from Tuesday, the companies said. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb ChakrabartyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Harry Potter, J.K.Rowling, Hermione Granger, Rubeus Hagrid, Tiyashi Datta, Saumyadeb Organizations: Warner Bros Discovery Inc, Inc, Tuesday, Thomson Locations: Hogwarts, Bengaluru

☆ Emma Watson’s ‘levitating’ dress is confusing the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Did someone say Wingardium Leviosa? “Harry Potter” fans are asking whether Emma Watson’s new dress may be the result of some Hogwarts wizardry. The star, who played Hermione Granger in the blockbuster movies, posted a picture of herself wearing the gravity-defying sky-blue gown on Instagram on Monday. The dress is not ‘hanging from her ears’ or ‘Photoshopped’, the dress is designed to have ‘bones’, it’s just couture. Renais is our love letter to Chablis; is carbon-neutral, lovingly made from upcycled grapes.

Persons: Harry Potter ”, Emma Watson’s, Hermione Granger, Loewe, Carolina__emme, ’, ” Watson, Duchess, Alex, Watson, “, Emma ” Organizations: CNN, Twitter Locations: Spanish, Ginspiration, Chablis

One is about the possibility that we’re going to have this super intelligent AI that’s capable of great destruction. casey newtonI think that’s right. But it’s just like — I don’t think — I don’t think about to do these things in the moment like Dan. I don’t think that there’s an ethical issue with doing what he wants to do. And yeah, I just think it’s going into an area that’s going to be uncomfortable for the friend.

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