Month: April 2019

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PUBG is getting its first 6×6 map, the snowy Vikendi, as well as a new assault rife and brand new Snowmobile.

Announced at The Game Awards, Vikendi is filled with snow, meaning players fighting for their chicken dinner will have to pay attention to their footprints as they trek through the wintry new map, as they can potentially lead others to their location.

Vikendi will be available tonight on PC Test Server, and will launch on PC Live Server on December 19.

Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners will be able to try out the new map in January 2019.

Tomorrow, December 7, PUBG finally arrives on PlayStation 4, making it almost a year since PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds joined Xbox Game Preview in December of 2017.

To celebrate, PUBG and Metal Gear Solid movie director Jordan Vogt-Roberts collaborated for a live-action short film.

In addition, PUBG is now part of Xbox Game Pass, joining a list of 15 others announced at Xbox’s X018 event and many more that are already available to play.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who loves winter and snow so this announcement is pretty, pretty cool. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

Click:Cosmetic glass jar

At 1.32pm, exactly a week after a gunman began shooting people at two mosques in Christchurch, the nation of New Zealand observed a two-minute silence to remember the 50 victims. 

Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old suspected white supremacist from Australia, had launched the attack to try to repel “invaders” from New Zealand, he wrote in a manifesto.  Yet, the nation came together on Friday to observe the Muslim call to prayer, which was sounded around the country — including on national radio and television — before ceremonies were attended by tens of thousands of people who paid tribute to the dead and heard calls for unity. 

Addressing a crowd of thousands standing quietly at Hagley Park, near the Al Noor mosque where 42 people were killed, Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, said: “New Zealand mourns with you. We are one.”

Imam Gamal Fouda, from the mosque, told the crowd: “We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us.” 

He added:  “To the people of New Zealand, thank you for your peace. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.”

Many women wore headscarves to demonstrate solidarity with the grieving community. Across New Zealand, small ceremonies and prayers were conducted at mosques, schools, cafes and offices. 

New Zealand mosque massacre – In pictures

The nation’s The Press newspaper carried a front page simply saying “Salam, peace” in English and Arabic, and The Dominion Post listed the names of the victims, alongside the words: “1.32pm — Today we remember”.

Following the ceremony, mourners gathered at a cemetery to attend a burial service for 26 of the victims, including three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, the youngest of the dead. Despite Islamic custom requiring speedy burials, the funerals had been delayed due to the painstaking effort by authorities to identify the victims. 

The first to be buried on Friday was Naeem Rashid, a 50-year-old who died trying to tackle the gunman near the entrance of the Al Noor mosque. His 21-year-old son Talha Rashid was also killed. His wife, Ambreen Naeem Rashid, 44, told The Courier Mail of the murderer: “I feel really sorry for him. I feel sorry for all the people who hate in their hearts. They can never have satisfaction.”

New Zealand’s terror alert level remains high, despite authorities being confident that the attack was conducted by a lone gunman.

Ms Ardern has announced a ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons and on the parts and ammunition used in the attack, ahead of a wider overhaul of gun laws over the coming weeks. She and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison have called for an international effort to force technology firms to prevent the spread of online hate speech. The gunman livestreamed his attack on Facebook, which, along with other sites such as YouTube and Twitter, has struggled to prevent the footage being republished online.

About one per cent of New Zealand’s 4.8 million residents are Muslim.

Imam Fouda said the attack “did not come overnight” and urged the global community to combat Islamophobia.

“[The attack] was the result of the anti-Muslim rhetoric of some political leaders, media agencies and others,” he said. “The rise of white supremacy and right-wing extremism is a great global threat to mankind and this must end now.”

 

 

 

 

April 14-17 Featured Five

April 4, 2019 | News | No Comments

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Throughout the 2016 softball season, the NFCA will feature some of the sport’s highest-profile contests in our “Featured Five” Games of the Week.

Each weekly installment will be released on Thursday, providing live stat links, game notes, team info, social media accounts and any available broadcast links in hopes of becoming another reason for fans to visit us during the season for information on some of collegiate softball’s best games.

As the year continues, we will attempt to expand our focus to include matchups throughout as many divisions as possible. This week’s featured games come from NCAA Division I, II and III.

We open in Division II as NCAA-record holding pitchers go head-to-head for the final time in the regular season as No. 1 Indianapolis and No. 8 UMSL face off in a key Midwest Region and Great Lakes Valley Conference twin bill in St. Louis. Indy’s Morgan Foley and UMSL’s Hannah Perryman are the No. 1 and No. 4 all-time strikeout leaders in Division II. They have combined to fan over 3,100 batters during their illustrious careers, while totalling 248 wins between them. In addition, Foley owns two single-game strikeout records, while Perryman has twirled a Division II-best nine perfect games.

The fifth-ranked Ragin’ Cajun of Louisiana-Lafayette head to Gainesville for a top-five non-conference tilt against top-ranked Florida. In SEC action, a pair of programs (Georgia & Tennessee) coming off sweeps of nationally-ranked squads go head-to-head in Athens, Ga. Also on the docket, is a battle for second place in the Sun Belt between South Alabama and Georgia Southern. 

In Division III, No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan and No. 24 (tie) Wheaton (Ill.) face off in a pivotal College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin doubleheader.

We may not be able to highlight every division or big game each week, but our hope is to provide a spotlight for as many different teams and games as possible throughout 2016.

Make sure you follow the NFCA on our social media (NFCAorg) through Twitter (Periscope), Instagram and on Facebook and let us know what you think of our “Featured Five” segment.


DII – No. 1 Indianapolis at No. 8 University of Missouri-St. Louis

April 17 | 12:00 CT (DH) | UMSL Softball Field | St. Louis, Mo. | Great Lakes Valley Series
TEAMS

 

  QUICK HITS

#1

38-1, 21-1

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Statistics

Team BA: .325 | Team ERA: 1.22 | Runs Scored: 245 | Runs Allowed: 63

* Acended to the No. 1 ranking three weeks ago
* Started the season 32-0
* Swept two GLVC doubleheaders last week
* Morgan Foley is 30-0 with a 0.68 ERA… She has struck out 351 batters, third most in Division II, but leads the NCAA with 13.3 strikeouts per seven inning pitched… Earlier this season, the senior righty fanned all 21 batters in a no-hitter, setting a new DII benchmark
* With 17 punchouts on Thursday, she became the 4th DII pitcher to reach 1,500 strikeouts
* On the offensive side of the ball, Natalie Lalich leads the way, hitting at a .407 clip with 50 hits, seven doubles, 10 home runs, 49 RBI and a .740 slugging percentage
* Seven starters bat .316 or better and 10 different Greyhounds have homers, nine have multiple long balls
* Defensively, Indy fields at a .972 clip, committing just 29 errors in 1,034 attempts 

#8

41-4, 19-3

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Statistics | Live Stats | Live Video

Team BA: .313 | Team ERA: 1.03 | Runs Scored: 247 | Runs Allowed: 51

* UMSL has won five straight and seven of its last eight contests… The Tritons swept a pair of GLVC road doubleheaders from Missouri S&T and Drury
* The Tritons have been riding the left arm of Hannah Perryman, the Division II all-time strikeout queen… The senior has fanned 1,603 batters during her four-year career… She also owns the DII record for perfect games with nine and is one shy of the all-time NCAA mark of 10
* Perryman has tossed all but 43 innings, posting a 36-2 mark with a 0.94 ERA and DII-best 445 strikeouts (7th highest in a single season) in 261.2 innings of work… She has twirled an NCAA-high 20 shutouts and held opponents to a .138 batting average
* The offense is very balanced as seven starters hit above .300 led by Alex Stupek at .366 with 56 hits, nine doubles, 10 home runs 37 RBI, 35 runs and 22 stolen bases… Sarah Kern (.298) and Jennah Perryman (.311) also provide pop at the plate with 10 and nine homers, respectively… Kern matches Stupek with a team-best 37 RBI

  

Other Notable Division II Games

April 14

4 & 6:00 CT – RV Northwest Missouri (xx) at No. 15 Missouri Western (33-10, 19-3 MIAA) | Live Stats | Audio

April 15

1 & 3:00 PT – No. 3 Humboldt State (39-3-1, 28-2 CCAA) at San Francisco State (23-20, 17-13, CCAA)| Live Stats

April 16

3 & 5:00 CT – RV West Florida (33-11, 19-8 Gulf South) at No. 21 Delta State (33-12, 21-6 Gulf South) | Live Stats | Audio

12 & 2:00 PT – RV Azusa Pacific (27-9, 14-4 PacWest) at No. 9 California Baptist (35-7, 18-4 PacWest) | Live Stats & Video

1 & 3:00 PT – No. 3 Humboldt State at San Francisco State | Live Stats

April 17

12 & 2:00 ET – No. 19 Caldwell (23-10) at New Haven (17-9) | Live Stats | Video

1 & 3:00 ET – Charleston (32-7, 19-3 Mountain East) at No. 16 West Virginia Wesleyan (37-5, 19-3 Mountain East) | Live Stats (G1 / G2) | Video (G1 / G2)

1:00 CT – RV West Florida at No. 21 Delta State | Live Stats | Audio


DI – No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 1 Florda

April 16-17 (Sat.-Sun.) | 1:00 (DH) / 1:00 ET | Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium | Gainesville, Fla. | SEC Network+ (G1 / G2 / G3)
TEAMS

 

  QUICK HITS

#5

32-3

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Game Notes | Statistics | Audio
 
Team BA: .347 | Team ERA: 1.52 | Runs Scored: 286 | Runs Allowed: 58

* Louisiana swept Georgia State in a three-game Sun Belt series in Atlanta to extend its winning streak to seven games
* Lexie Elkins was named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 finalist… She was named a top-26 finalist last season
* Elkins, one of Division I’s premier power hitters and catchers, is out approximately 4-6 weeks with a thumb injury… She is tops in the nation with 17 home runs
* Aleah Craighton was named Sun Belt Player of the Week… She is currently hitting .386 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 38 RBI
* The pitching staff has the fourth-lowest ERA in Division I and is led by the combined effort of Alex Stewart and Kyle Jo Trahan… Stewart is 17-1with a 1.55 ERA, 121 strikeouts in 122 innings, while Trahan is 10-2 with a 1.76 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 67.2 innings… Both hurlers have walked just 19 batters and recorded five shutouts each

#1

38-3

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Game Notes | Statistics | Audio

Team BA: .321 | Team ERA: 0.85 | Runs Scored: 245 | Runs Allowed: 41

* Coming off a suspended extra-inning affair against No. 8 Florida State… The scoreless game was halted with one out in the bottom of the ninth and will be resumed on May 4th in Tallahasee prior to the scheduled road contest against the Seminoles
* Gators started an eight-game homestand on Wedenesday
* Returned to the No. 1 ranking after falling to No. 2 in the NFCA poll last week
* Owns the highest winning percentage (.927) in the country and is on top of the the SEC with a 12-3 mark
* Florida is unbeaten in its last 26 regular season non-conference games and has won 117-of-119 non-league games dating back to the start of the 2013
* The Gators sport the best ERA (0.84) and fielding percentage (.982) in Division I, allowing just 41 runs and committing 19 errors through 41-plus games
* Aleshia Ocasio and Delanie Gourley were named Top 25 finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year


DI – No. 10 Georgia at No. 15 Missouri

April 16-17 (Sat-Sun) | 1:00 / 7:00 ET | Jack Turner Stadium | Athens, Ga. | SEC Series | G1 ESPNU | G2 SEC Network
TEAMS

 

  QUICK HITS

#15
31-10, 10-5

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Softball Central | Statistics | Audio

Team BA: .335 | Team ERA: 2.35 | Runs Scored: 319 | Runs Allowed: 120

* The Vols are coming off a four-win week which included a series sweep of then-No. 11 Texas A&M
* Rainey Gaffin was named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of hte Week and SEC Player of the Week… She recorded eight RBI and a 1.077 slugging percentage to go along with two wins in the circle
* Tennessee holds a 37-29 advantage in teh series and has won seven straight dating back to 2012… The Vols have been victorious in 14 of the last 16 meetings
* This will be Tennessee’s fifth straight ranked SEC opponent and is 7-2 over their last nine contests against ranked foes
* The Vols are averaging 7.78 runs per game
* Gaffin is batting .380 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 31 RBI and 22 runs, while posting an 8-2 mark in the circle with a 2.47 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 73.2 innings… Freshman Aubrey Leach tops the squad with a .387 average, while Meghan Gregg paces the offense with a .373 average, 12 doubles, five homers, 46 RBI and 33 runs scored

#10
35-8, 8-4
 

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Game Notes | Statistics | Live Stats (G1 / G2)

Team BA: .371 | Team ERA: 2.01 | Runs Scored: 321 | Runs Allowed: 102

* The Bulldogs trounced in-state rival Georgia Tech, 15-0 on Wednesday as Chelsea Wilkinson and Kylie Bass combined on a five-inning perfect game… Tina Iosefa and Alex Hugo each homered twice
* Georgia swept then-No. 15 Missouri in Columbia to move into a tie for fifth with Alabama in the SEC
* Cortni Emanuel was named a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 finalist
* Alyssa Dicarlo was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season… She is hitting .389 on the season with 11 doubles, 41 RBI and 31 runs scored
* The victory against GT brought head coach Lu Harris-Champer’s overall win total to 975 with 766 of those coming with the Bulldogs
* Emanuel leads the squad with 65 hits, 47 runs, .503 OBP and 27 stolen bases
* Iosefa leads the squad with 16 round trippers, 63 RBI and .878 slugging percentage
* Wilkinson is 20-2 with a 1.80 ERA and 147 strikouts in 132.1 innings, while holding her opponents to a .189 batting average


DI – RV South Alabama at Georgia Southern

April 16-17 | 3 & 5:00 / 1:00 ET | Eagle Field ast GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. | Sun Belt Series 
TEAMS

 

  QUICK HITS


24-11, 12-2 
 

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 Game Notes | Audio

Team BA: .302 | Team ERA: 2.11 | Runs Scored: 176 | Runs Allowed: 88

* Riding a six-game winning streak and have swept their last two conference series against Georgia State and UT Arlington
* Offensively Emily Messer is hitting a team-best .463 with 57 hits, eigh double, five triples and 34 runs scored… Steph Pilkington (.337) has knocked in a team high 26 runs with nine doubles, two homers and 20 runs… 
* The Jaguars have only eight home runs this season and actually have one more triple than long balls
* In the circle, Devin Brown is 14-7 with a 1.43 ERA, nine shutouts and 226 punchouts in 141.2 innings… The southpaw held her opponents to a mere .157 batting average

 
24-27, 9-3

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Game Notes | Statistics | Live Stats (G1 / G2 / G3) | Video ($)

Team BA: .288 | Team ERA: 3.94 | Runs Scored: 201 | Runs Allowed: 195

* Coming off a 6-4 win over Kennesaw State in mid-week action, the Eagles have won four straight and six of their last seven
* Third in the Sun Belt, one game in loss column behind South Alabama
* Morgan Robinson and Lydia Witkowski pace the offense… Robinson is batting .309 with a team-best eight home runs, 43 RBI and .561 slugging percentage… Witkowski hits a team-high .352 and also leads the squad with 50 hits, four triples and 33 runs scored
* Dixie Bailey is 17-8 with a 3.24 ERA, three shutouts and 144 strikouts in 142.2 innings and has held opponents to a .226 batting average

Other Notable Division I Games

April 15

3:00 ET – Kent State (24-13, 7-4 MAC East) at Miami (23-14, 8-2 MAC East) | Live Stats | Video

3:45 & 6:30 CT – RV Texas (27-10, 2-3 Big 12) at No. 12 Oklahoma (31-7, 6-1 Big 12) | Live Stats | Audio (Texas / Oklahoma)

6:00 ET – RV Ohio State (xx) at No. 2 Michigan (29-4, 7-2 Big Ten) | Live Stats | BTN2GO

6:00 ET – No. 18 Missouri (28-10, 5-7 SEC)at No. 16 Kentucky (35-8, 11-4 SEC) | Live Stats | SEC Network+

6:30 CT – No. 4 Alabama (36-7, 8-4 SEC) at No. 16 Texas A&M (31-9, 5-7 SEC) | Live Stats | Audio (Alabama / A&M) | SEC Network+

7:00 PT – RV California (20-15-1, 5-5-1) at No. 9 Washington (26-8, 7-5 Pac-12)  | Live Stats | Live Audio

April 16

1:00 ET – No. 18 Missouri at No. 16 Kentucky | Live Stats | SEC Network+

1 & 3:00 ET – Lehigh (25-9, 6-0 Patriot) at Army West Point (24-14, 6-2 Patriot) | Live Stats | Audio

1 & 3:00 ET – Kent State at Miami | Live Stats (G1 / G2) | Video

2:00 ET – RV Ohio State (25-8-1, 9-1-1 Big Ten) at No. 2 Michigan (30-4, 8-2 Big Ten) | Live Stats | BTN2GO

2:00 CT – RV Texas at No. 12 Oklahoma | Live Stats | Audio (Texas / Oklahoma) | ESPN2

3:00 CT – No. 4 Alabama at No. 16 Texas A&M | Live Stats | Audio (Alabama / A&M) | SEC Network+

4:00 MT – No. 21 Arizona State (27-13, 3-6 Pac-12) at RV Utah (24-13, 5-4 Pac-12) | Live Stats | Pac 12 Networks

7:00 PT – RV California at No. 9 Washington | Live Stats | Live Audio

April 17

1:00 ET – No. 18 Missouri at No. 16 Kentucky | Live Stats | SEC Network+

1:00 ET – Lehigh at Army West Point | Live Stats | Video

2:00 ET – RV Ohio State at No. 2 Michigan | Live Stats | BTN2GO

3:00 CT – No. 4 Alabama at No. 16 Texas A&M | Live Stats | Audio (Alabama / A&M) | SEC Network+

12:00 PT – RV California at No. 9 Washington | Live Stats | Live Audio

7:00 MT – No. 21 Arizona State at RV Utah | Live Stats | Audio | Pac 12 Networks 


DIII – No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan at No. 24 (tie) Wheaton (Ill.) | College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin DH

April 16 | 2 & 4:00 ET | Ruth Leedy Field | Wheaton, Ill.
TEAMS

 

  QUICK HITS

#8

19-5, 4-2

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Statistics

Team BA: .340 | Team ERA: 2.27 | Runs Scored: 136 | Runs Allowed: 66

* Senior outfielder Mary Rankin was this week’s CCIW Hitter of the Week after batting .647 (11-for-17) with five runs, four doubles, eight RBI and a .882 slugging percentage in the Titans’ 5-1 week
* Illinois Wesleyan’s .340 overall team batting average is just one point behind Wheaton, but leads Wheaton in CCIW play (.348 to .341)
* Wednesday’s 1-0 extra-inning loss to Millikin snapped four-game win streak and a stretch over which the Titans won 19 of 20 games
* Senior Jenna Noland and sophomore Mackenzie Marquis have combined to go 18-5 and pitch 133 of the Titans’ 157 innings in the circle
* Noland and Marquis combined to fan 25 Millikin batters and allow just five hits over 14 innings in the doubleheader split.

#24 (tie)

20-6, 6-2

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    Statistics | Live Stats | Audio

 

Team BA: .341 | Team ERA: 2.15 | Runs Scored: 190 | Runs Allowed: 80

* Senior Katie Thornton earned her second CCIW Pitcher of the Week honor of the season after going 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched for the Thunder
* The Thunder are 14-3 over their last 17 games and 8-2 at home this season
* Leading hitter Thornton was 2-for-2 with a solo homer in Wheaton’s last game, a 15-3 five-inning win in the nightcap of a doubleheader split with Carthage.  She also has a 14-4 record and 0.83 ERA in the circle
* Junior Katie Yergler (.424, three doubles, five triples, three homers) and freshman Hannah Clark (.391, eight steals) help anchor an offense that boasts five players hitting better than .380
* The Thunder pitching staff has nearly two and a half strikeouts for every walk they allow

Other Notable Division III Games

April 15

6:00 CT — Louisiana College (17-15) at No. 1 Texas-Tyler (31-2) | Suddenlink Field | Tyler, Texas

April 16

1 & 3:00 ET — Emory & Henry (13-21) at No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan (28-5) | StrikeOut Cancer Day | Marlins Field | Norfolk, Va. | Live Stats (Gm 1)| Live Stats (Gm 2)

1 & 3:00 ET — Alfred (14-6) at No. 21 Ithaca (16-6) | Kostrinsky Field | Ithaca, N.Y. | Live Stats| Video

1 & 3:00 CT — No. 2 Luther (27-1) at Buena Vista (18-11) | Softball Field | Storm Lake, Iowa | Live Stats (Gm 1)| Live Stats (Gm 2)

Prison guards have blocked access to 18 prisons in France after two colleagues were stabbed in a brutal attack by a ‘radicalized’ inmate in Normandy. The prisoner’s wife, who was visiting at the time, died in the incident.

About 60 guards have blocked the Condé-sur-Sarthe prison in north-western France, the scene of Tuesday’s horrifying attack, setting fire to tires and palettes outside the secure facility. The two guards were seriously injured in the stabbing, and the suspect was shot and wounded by police.

The inmate is believed to have become a radicalized Islamist inside prison, with Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet telling French media there “is no doubt as to the terrorist nature of this attack.” The man’s wife, who died during the 10-hour siege following the stabbing, is thought to have smuggled a knife in to him during her visit.

A local union leader at the Fleury-Merogis prison outside Paris told the AFP that “colleagues want to go to work but we do not abandon them, we do not send them to die.” Footage from the prison shows that riot police have arrived on the scene and are calling on the guards to remove their blockades.

Think your friends would be interested?

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is officially free-to-play on PC and Mac, and a new, smaller scale battle royale mode has been added.

Announced through counter-strike.net, the mode is called Danger Zone, and is played by 16 players at a time (this can go up to 18 if players queue as a squad of two or three). This battle royale mode revolves around a tablet that characters can use, seeing a visual representation of where the Danger Zone is closing in as the match progresses.

The tablet can also track the movements of other players and their drone deliveries, allowing you to strategically use this information to your advantage. The tablet can be upgraded to gain more detailed intel on the ever-changing Danger Zone.

Taking place on the Blacksite map, players can find equipment, money and special deliveries throughout matches that last 10 minutes on average. In-game cash can be earned by blowing up safes, carrying hostages to rescue zones, and hunting down contracts that give you extra money for taking out a high value target. This cash can then be used to upgrade your tablet, buy new weapons, and more.

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Each Danger Zone match includes pistols, rifles, SMGs and heavy weapons featured in the CS:GO’s classic arsenal. Danger Zone can be played alone or with up to two friends and you can hunt, and be hunted, as a group. For a limited time, players can nab a MP5-SD | Lab Rats gun, and earn 17 rare weapons with skins designed by fans.

Though not explicitly stated on the website, it appears CS:GO remains a paid title on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and no announcement was made for Danger Zone to hit those consoles. The PC and Mac versions of CS:GO can be downloaded for free on Steam now.

\r\n\r\nWritten by IGN Staff\r\n”,”height”:720,”width”:1280,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/25bestmodernpcgames-yt-1540317114213.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/25bestmodernpcgames-yt-1540317114213_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”01″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”25. The WitnessThe Witness is one of the best puzzle games ever created. Clever design makes even its toughest challenges a joy to solve, but it also recognizes struggle as an important part of the learning process. You\u2019re encouraged to carve out your own path on its beautiful, open-world island, creating an isolating but incredibly powerful experience.\r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/witness-1540315568126.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/witness-1540315568126_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”02″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”24. Counter-Strike: Global OffensiveThere\u2019s a reason Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has maintained such astronomical popularity: it\u2019s one of the most focused and technical first-person shooters out there. The level of depth at play in these fast-paced matches doesn\u2019t just make it one of the toughest competitive shooters to master, but also the most rewarding.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/csgo-1540315568113.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/csgo-1540315568113_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”03″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”23. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom PainIt took more than a decade for a new Metal Gear game to make it to PC, but the series came back in incredible fashion. Metal Gear Solid 5 is an excellent stealth shooter with missions that you could beat a dozen different ways and still have more to try. Its open world acts as a military playground between ops, and who doesn\u2019t love attaching balloons to unsuspecting soldiers?\r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/phantompain-1540315568121.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/phantompain-1540315568121_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”04″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”22. Rocket LeagueAll you have to do is say \u201cCar Soccer\u201d and people will understand what Rocket League is, but the skill behind boosting a ball through the air pushes it far past that simple idea. Rocket League has been around for years, adding modes and constant content updates to an already great game. It\u2019s one you could play everyday and never get bored of, and many people do.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/rocketleague-1540315568123.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/rocketleague-1540315568123_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”05″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”21. UndertaleUndertale is a delightfully inventive exercise in subverting our expectations of RPGs. Its design knows you\u0027re playing a game and messes with you at every turn, remembering your saving habits and constantly adjusting itself in surprising ways. An involving and emotionally charged story thematically supports Undertale\u2019s underlying message: every choice you make matters. \r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/undertale-1540315568126.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/undertale-1540315568126_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”06″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”20. FTL: Faster Than LightWhen you play FTL: Faster Than Light, you shouldn\u0027t expect to survive, but you should expect great, memorable stories. The times you succeed with a killer beam weapon combo that cuts enemy ships to ribbons, or fight off an enemy boarding party become even better when you realize how much the deck is stacked against you.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/ftl-1540315568117.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/ftl-1540315568117_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”07″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”19. World of Warcraft: Battle for AzerothWorld of Warcraft\u2019s sheer persistence and willingness to revamp systems both old and new create a world that millions of gamers are still happy to spend thousands of hours exploring. Recent updates and expansions get back to the heart of why World of Warcraft was fun to begin with by focusing on the world, the dungeons, and PVP.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/wow-1540315568127.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/wow-1540315568127_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”08″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”18. Stardew ValleyStardew Valley makes the mundane seem more wonderful. It doesn\u0027t reinvent the wheel, but marvelously distills the best essence of Harvest Moon\u0027s long genealogy into a simple, accessible, and incomparably addictive game. Tranquil and purposefully provincial, Stardew celebrates the simple joy of watching the fruits of your labor grow.\r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/stardewvalley-1540315568124.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/stardewvalley-1540315568124_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:”09″,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”17. Sid Meier\u2019s Civilization VCiv V is still the king of the modern 4X strategy genre. It takes the depth that makes 4X strategy amazing and joins it with a simplicity that allows anyone to get a lot out of it. Refined combat, an intuitive UI, and a fantastic hex-based map system all improve on previous Civ\u2019s already-addictive formula to create something truly special.\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/civ5-1540317018135.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/civ5-1540317018135_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:10,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”16. Fallout: New VegasLike Fallout 3 before it, Fallout: New Vegas threw us into a harsh, post-nuclear America. It tells an excellent story where the fate of the Nevada wasteland is determined by your choices. With improved combat, and some amazing modding work by the community, it becomes far more than just more of the same.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/newvegas-1540315568120.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/newvegas-1540315568120_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:11,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”15. XCOM 2XCOM 2 builds on the brilliant, high-stakes tactical combat of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and its War of the Chosen expansion made it even better. It adds not just complexity in the form of new and more powerful soldier classes and aliens, but also a huge focus on replayability thanks to procedurally generated maps, tons of random events, and of course mods galore.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/xcom2-1540315568127.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/xcom2-1540315568127_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:12,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”14. CelesteCeleste\u2019s 2D platforming levels are as challenging to figure out as they are satisfying to complete. Hidden throughout those levels are a wealth of secrets, some of which push the skills it teaches you to the absolute limit. But its greatest triumph is how it blends that platforming with a sincere story and an incredible soundtrack that make it a genuinely impactful game too.”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/celeste-1540315568109.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/celeste-1540315568109_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:13,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”13. SpelunkyRarely has procedural level generation been so cleverly and expertly executed as it is in Spelunky. Every stage is a nail-biting, hair-pulling timed race to the bottom demanding the player quickly choose between new risks and rewards. Crammed with traps, deadfalls, and l secrets, Spelunky demands months of obsessive dedication to master.\r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/spelunky-1540315568124.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/spelunky-1540315568124_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:14,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”12. Mass Effect 2Mass Effect 2 struck a perfect balance of all the things we love about the series. No other team shined quite as brightly as the ragtag one you assemble on the second Normandy, each of whom have compelling stories to tell and problems to solve. It\u2019s a peak the Mass Effect series may have trouble ever topping. \r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/masseffect2-1540315568119.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/masseffect2-1540315568119_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:15,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”11. Dead CellsDead Cells offers flexibility in a way few games do. Each easily digestible run through its beautifully detailed and shifting levels goads you to push the limits of your ability, and crushes you when you get too comfortable. There are layers of strategy and tactics buried not only in the immediate choices you make, but in the grander metagame, making it one of the best action platformers around.\r\n”,”height”:1082,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/deadcells-1540315568114.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/deadcells-1540315568114_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:16,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”10. Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive EditionDivinity: Original Sin 2\u2019s Definitiive Edition has cemented it as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. It masterfully mixes the feel of old school cRPGs with more modern mechanics and designs. With six different origin characters, custom tags to make your own, and over 74,000 lines of fully voiced dialogue, there\u2019s a whole lot to keep coming back to. \r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/divinity-1540315568114.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/divinity-1540315568114_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:17,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”9. OverwatchWith a fantastic lineup of memorable characters and meticulously balanced abilities, Overwatch is a shooter that bobs and weaves almost perfectly between being the quick-fix adrenaline hit you might want after a long day, and the thoughtful, strategic multiplayer experience that becomes the center of evening-long binges with friends. \r\n”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/overwatch-1540315568121.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/overwatch-1540315568121_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:18,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”8. Fortnite Battle RoyaleFortnite\u2019s Battle Royale quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, but its fast and frequent updates have shown it\u2019s more than just a flash in the pan. Its free-to-play format and relatively simple shooting mechanics make it a significantly more accessible take on the battle royale shooter. But that\u2019s coupled with unique building tools that push its skill cap sky high.\r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/fortnite-1540315568116.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/fortnite-1540315568116_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:19,”albumTotalCount”:26},{“caption”:”7. League of Legends20 years down the line, the documentary that looks back on the beginning of eSports will credit League of Legends as the tipping point. League took the popular MOBA formula and tweaked it to make a more accessible game that still offers immense depth. Its 100+ heroes are fun, varied, and tough to master.\r\n”,”height”:0,”width”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/leagueoflegends-1540315568119.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/10\/23\/leagueoflegends-1540315568119_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”IGN\u0027s Top 25 Modern PC Games”,”relativePosition”:20,”albumTotalCount”:26}]’
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In our review of CS:GO back in 2012, we called the game “Great” calling it a “top-tier tactics game that will probably share the long-tailed legacy of its predecessors.” CS:GO managed to make it onto IGN’s list of the top 25 modern PC games.

Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

JOLIET, Ill. — Dick Smith, a longtime coach at the University of Saint Francis and Valparaiso University, who also was an accomplished author and served his country in the U.S. Army and as an FBI special agent, died Saturday after a long battle with cancer. He was 83.

Smith served two 10-year stints as St. Francis head coach — most recently from 2003-12 — winning 562 games over his 20 seasons at the school. He was a part of 143 more NAIA victories as an assistant to his former all-conference pitcher Ali Franzen from 1999-2002 at St. Francis, and he claimed 24 Division I triumphs as Valparaiso’s head coach in 1995 and 1996.

In all, he was a member of the Saints’ staff for 27 of the program’s 37 years and was involved in softball for a total of 67 years — including the last 59 as a coach — starting in 1953 when he was introduced to the sport while in the Army. He had written for the NFCA’s member newspaper, Fastpitch Delivery, for most of its two decades of publication, and also wrote for Women’s Fastpitch World and penned two books, including Fast Pitch Softball Fundamentals.

“Our entire NFCA community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Smith,” NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman said. “Coach Smith was one of our most selfless members. He dedicated his time and talents equally between the softball teams he coached and the NFCA. His educational insight shared through his column in Fastpitch Delivery helped numerous coaches across the country. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family.” 

After retiring from the FBI, where he did domestic counter-intelligence during a 21-year career that followed a stint in Army intelligence, Smith joined the St. Francis staff in 1981 under head coach Ed Serdar. Together, they led the 1982 squad to an NAIA World Series runner-up finish in just the program’s third season and Smith took over the reins in 1985.

In his first 10 seasons, Smith went 304-199 with three NAIA World Series appearances, seven Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and another seven NAIA District 20 championships. His teams were ranked in the NAIA Top 20 Poll in eight of those years. After two seasons at Valparaiso, Smith won 258 more games in his second 10-year run at St. Francis.

During his 20 years as Saints head coach, his teams won 30 games seven times on the field and he graduated 100 percent of his players off the field.

“We are saddened to hear the news of Coach Smith’s passing,” Dave Laketa, University of St. Francis director of athletics said in a statement posted on the school’s athletic website. “He was a tremendous asset to our softball program and was very giving of his time and donated a lot to the program. We were extremely fortunate to have had him involved for nearly three-quarters of the program’s existence.”

“Dick never concerned himself with the wins and losses of the program or the many championships that his teams won,” Laketa continued. “His main concern was that the young women that he recruited to the program were successful in the classroom and after they left St. Francis. Everything else was topping on the cake.”    

A graduate of Huntington (Ind.) High, where he starred in baseball, and Indiana University, where he earned both bachelor’s and law degrees, Smith spoke six languages — English, Japanese, Latin, Polish, Russian and Spanish. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, his son, Ernie, daughter-in-law, Debra, and three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tracy.

Friends and family will be received on Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at the Monee Funeral Home in Monee, Ill., and a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the same location with an 1 p.m. burial at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill.  

The St. Francis softball team will honor Smith with a patch on their helmets this season.

— Some information courtesy of the University of St. Francis

The French language is poised to undergo a feminine facelift after the austere council charged with safeguarding France’s linguistic heritage abandoned its hard-nosed opposition to the feminization of job titles.

In a surprising departure from its centuries-old ban on feminine-fiddling with trade names, the Academie Francaise, or “French Academy,” has declared in a new report that the 36-member body saw “no obstacle in principle” to feminine versions of French words for professional titles. Almost all of them have been masculine by default.

The uber-conservative council, often referred to as the “guardians” or “police” of the French language, said that they were open to “all developments in the language aimed at recognizing the place women have in society today.”

The academy’s report may be a begrudging acknowledgment that the language “police” need to catch up with the times: feminine versions of job titles, although technically unofficial, are already used widely in France, and several French-speaking countries such as Canada have already embraced feminizing nouns when appropriate.

Some hailed the move as an important step forward for French women.

“To feminists outside of France, fighting to be allowed gender-neutral or even male work titles; this may seem like a step in the wrong direction. But to French feminists, women being linguistically recognized as actually present in this world is very important,” wrote Faustine Wohlfart, a freelance journalist based in France.

The move, however, was not welcome news for French conservatives.

“For the first time in its history, language was reshaped under the pressure of politicians and lobbies, and the Academie Francaise eventually surrendered,” right-wing MP Julien Aubert wrote on Twitter.

In some respects, the change could be implemented seamlessly. The report noted that many titles would be easy to feminize by simply adding a silent “e.” However, some words, such as medecin (doctor), now risk confusion with medecine (the science of medicine).

The French Academy, which was established in 1635 under Louis XIII, last weighed in on the feminization of profession names in 2014, when it ruled that the mayor of Paris was guilty of crimes against grammar by championing a gender-neutral version of her job title.

Like this story?

Update #2: According to a report by Ars Technica, Wade Callender filed a discrimination claim with the Texas Workforce Commission’s Civil Rights Division 10 days before Gearbox sued him.

Ars Technica’s report says the claim alleged Gearbox took part in “harassment, discipline, inequitable terms and conditions, and discharge” because of an employee’s religious beliefs.

Gearbox then offered a statement to Ars, saying Callender’s recent allegations were “absurd” and without “merit,” while also pointing to the company’s policy of “equal opportunity for employment.”

Stay tuned to IGN for more updates as this story develops.

Update: Randy Pitchford has publicly alluded to the lawsuits following Kotaku’s original story, while Gearbox itself has offered an official statement.

In a series of tweets posted this afternoon, Pitchford said “The attacks made by my former friend and colleague have no basis in reality or law. He is simply trying to shake me down for money,” while Gearbox’s statement reveals the company is filing a grievance in Texas against Wade Callender.

Gearbox’s full statement to Kotaku reads:

“I am just going to try to focus on my work and trust that truth and justice will prevail with the courts,” Pitchford also wrote on Twitter. “It is very painful that a former friend and colleague would lie to try to associate me with such vile behavior in his own greedy pursuit of money.”

Additionally, while remaining unspecific, Gearbox’s former VP of Business Development David Eddings tweeted “Yes. It’s true” following Kotaku’s original report. However, Eddings did not go into any further detail regarding what specifically he claims is true from the lawsuits.

Stay tuned to IGN for updates on this story as it progresses. Original story follows:

Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, and a former general counsel for the game studio are in a legal battle in which the counsel accuses Pitchford of allegedly receiving “a secret $12 million bonus from publisher Take-Two Interactive as an advance against Borderlands profits.”

As reported by Kotaku, the legal battle was sparked when Gearbox sued its former counsel, Wade Callender, for “fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.”

According to the lawsuit, Gearbox alleged that Callendar, who worked at the company from 2010 until 2018, borrowed money and destroyed evidence for a home loan, borrowed money for tuition, and paid back neither in full.

In addition, Callendar reportedly “abused the privilege of credit card access by charging unapproved, wholly personal expenses, including family vacations, gun club memberships and firearms accessories, and trying to get six-pack abs.”

A little over a month later, in December of 2018, Callendar sued Gearbox and Randy Pitchford, accusing Pitchford “of violating various contracts involving both Gearbox and a separate real estate company that they both owned, as well as Callender’s own employment contract.”

Callendar’s lawsuit claimed Pitchford and he were longtime friends, but the relationship began to deteriorate over the past couple of year.

The main point of the lawsuit alleges “Pitchford struck a deal in 2016 to receive a “personal, secretive ‘Executive Bonus’ of $12,000,000 to be paid directly to a Pitchford entity called ‘Pitchford Entertainment Media Magic, LLC.’” That bonus, Callendar and his lawyers argue, is an advance upon royalties that would otherwise go to Gearbox’s staff.”

The allegations don’t end there, and some get pretty ugly.

Callendar claims Pitchford left a USB drive in a Dallas, Texas restaurant that contained sensitive corporate documents for Gearbox and many partners including Sony and Microsoft. Furthermore, the lawsuit states “upon information and belief, Randy Pitchford’s USB drive also contained Randy Pitchford’s personal collection of ‘underage’ pornography.”

Wade also accused Pitchford of hosting parties in which “adult men have reportedly exposed themselves to minors, to the amusement of Randy Pitchford.”

“The allegations made by a disgruntled former employee are absurd, with no basis in reality or law,” a Gearbox spokesperson said in a statement to Kotaku. “We look forward to addressing this meritless lawsuit in court and have no further comment at this time.”

This isn’t the first time Gearbox has been in a lawsuit, as in 2013 the company found itself in a legal battle over Aliens: Colonial Marines for falsely advertising the title.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN and thinks this is quite a messy situation. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst.

He is used to being chauffeur driven in a convoy on royal tours but on Tuesday Prince Charles took to the driving seat to embrace Cuba’s love of classic cars.

The heir to the throne took the wheel of a beautifully restored 66-year-old MG TD – a rare sight on an island where many still drive American Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Dodges.

With his wife Camilla by his side, the 70-year-old prince drove to the classic car event in Havana’s John Lennon Park to the sounds of the Beatles ringing out of the nearby Yellow Submarine bar.

Looking the part in sunglasses and a linen suit, the prince pulled up tentatively and stopped, before helping Camilla, 71, out of the passenger seat.

Charles told onlookers: “The one I was driving is the most beautiful car. It has an incredibly powerful accelerator. It is incredibly close to the brake so you have to be careful you don’t press the wrong one.” 

His wife, in a mint-green Anna Valentine dress and parasol, needed a little help to get out of the low-slung car.  “You try getting out of that elegantly!” she joked. 

Turning to look at the range of cars on show, she laughed and said: “I remember most of these cars. Shows how old I am!” As Charles became absorbed in the vehicles on display, his wife joked: “He’s never going to leave, he loves his cars. He’s really rather in his element.”

They also met Lazaro William Gonzalez Ruiz, head of The British Classic Motorbike Enthusiasts, who was wearing a bandana and sporting leathers and metal jewellery. 

Charles and Camilla seemed rather tickled by his appearance and chatted at length to him, through an interpreter, about his passion before looking at the bikes on show, including a 1956 Norton. 

"Now motorbikes, that’s something else he loves," said the Duchess. 

He was then handed a Cuban cigar by a fellow classic car owner. The prince, who is said to dislike smoking, resisted the urge to spark it up in celebration but he did sniff the tobacco before handing it on to an aide.

The royal rental used to belong to ‘our man in Havana’ Stanley Fordham, then Britain’s ambassador to Cuba.

Built in 1953, the ambassador is thought to have driven the black convertible in 1957, two years before the Revolution.

The roadster then ended up languishing in a garage in Havana, only to be discovered by chance by restaurant owner and band manager Eduardo Bermudez eight years ago.

Mr Bermudez, who manages musicians who used to sing in the world-famous Buena Vista Social Club, was last week asked by the British Embassy if he would loan the car to the prince for the morning.

He said the future king had practised driving it around the streets of Havana on Monday in preparation.

Describing the car as “my baby”, Mr Bermudez told The Telegraph: “Everybody knows my car – it is the most famous car in Cuba.

“The Embassy offered to pay me for the rental but I said I would delighted to give it for free.”

Although he said he only took the car out himself “once or twice a month”, he said he was happy to let the prince drive his pride and joy.

“I never touch it. My regular car is a Mercedes.

"It’s like my baby – but if the car is being driven by someone like him then I know it’s in safe hands.”

The married father of four, who is Havana born and bred, bought the car for $25,000 in 2011 and then spent another $25,000 restoring it, importing parts from the UK.

The car has since won two national competitions in Cuba.

Newsletter Promotion – Royal Appointment – in article

Mr Bermudez, 47, added: “I fell in love with the car as soon as I saw it in the garage. I just knocked on the guy’s door and said I have to buy it. He was mad to sell it to me. The brakes, the engine –  everything was destroyed so I had to spend two years getting it restored. I imported all the parts from England so it was like original.

“Everyone in Cuba has American cars but for me you need to have something original and the best sports cars in the world are British. I know the prince has a beautiful Aston Martin.”

The future king owns a vintage Aston Martin DB5 Volante, given to him by the Queen as a 21st birthday present, which he has had converted to run on white wine. The Duke of Cambridge drove his new wife Kate from Buckingham Palace in the car on their wedding day in April 2011.

After pulling up to the waving crowd, the royal couple were greeted by Nelida Lupe Fuentes Macias, a representative of British car enthusiasts.

They then viewed a selection of British classic cars and motorbikes and met well wishers, before being introduced to event participants, including motorcyclist Yenima Zayas Ravelo, and Luis Magin Ramirez Sanchez, a biker and musician from Cuban rock band Habalama.

The classic British cars on display included a 1948 white MG, a cream Jaguar Mark VII and a Triumph Herald.

With Beatles music ringing out throughout the event, Charles and Camilla were then introduced to musicians from Submarino Amarillo (Yellow Submarine) Bar in Vedado, before visiting John Lennon Park.

Opened in March 2013, it is a place where Cuban rock bands perform classic rock songs from the 60s and 70s, including Beatles covers.

The Beatles’ music is hugely popular in Cuba. There was an anniversary concert in Havana for the Sgt Pepper album in 2017.

A statue of John Lennon was sculpted by Cuban artist, Jose Villa Soberon and was officially unveiled in December 2000.

In front of the statue, there is a marble plaque inscribed with lyrics from John Lennon’s song, ‘Imagine’. Jose Villa Soberon also made the statue of William Shakespeare in Old Havana, which was unveiled on Monday by the Prince.

Before leaving the park they chatted with members of the local British community in Havana, organised by the British Embassy. 

Amanda Fenton, who runs a B&B and has lived in Havana for five years said:  “She said it was an interesting place, very nice – but a bit hot on occasions.”

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Barry junior Cheyanne Head and Catawba senior Carley Tysinger were named the Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively on Wednesday afternoon. The each earned their first nod after outstanding play during the week of Feb. 15-21.

Head was nearly perfect at the plate in Barry’s three-game Sunshine State Conference (SSC) series sweep of Nova Southeastern. The Surrey, B.C. native finished 9-for-10, walked twice, recorded five doubles, eight RBI and six runs. She swiped three bags, one in each contest, and posted .1.400 slugging and .917 on base percentages.

“Our team really came together this week, demonstrating our passion and perseverance,” commented Head. “We came out, played our own game and had fun doing it, which is why we were so successful. I always play better when I’m relaxed, having fun and know that the rest of my team is there to pick me up.”

Doing her damage from the three-hole, Head went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored in game one. The designated played followed with a perfect outing in day two’s doubleheader sweep. She went 5-for-5 with two walks, three doubles, five RBI and three runs scored.  She doubled twice in game two and knocked in three runs in the series finale. In addition, Head was selected the SSC Player of the Week.

Tysinger, hailing from Lexington, N.C., had a memorable weekend in the circle for the now seventh-ranked and undefeated Indians (10-0). The right-handed hurler not only went 4-0 with a 0.25 ERA and three shutouts, but she reached the 1,000-strikeout plateau on Sunday, Feb. 21 in the sixth inning of a one-hit shutout against Columbus State. In that contest, she took a perfect game into the seventh and finished with seven punchouts.

“I know that reaching 1,000 strikeouts is a huge accomplishment and this may sound cliché, but it’s true, I never would have come close to this goal if it wasn’t for the amazing catchers and coaching staff we have calling pitches,” said Tysinger. “I have complete trust in my teammates on the field and in the batter’s box to get the job done day in and day out.”

In her first three starts, Tysinger went the distance with 10 strikeouts per contest, two shutouts and an upset win over then-No. 9 Georgia College. Against the Bobcats, Tysinger allowed just three hits, an earned run and did not issue a free pass in a 3-2 triumph. The South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Week twirled five and four-hit shutouts in her other two starts. For the week, she punched out 37 batters, walked just three and held her opponents to a .138 batting average.

“For Catawba, it’s an incredible accomplishment,” said head coach Nan Whitley. “Carley is a very focused, hard working and dedicated student-athlete.  She is definitely a team player despite all the individual accolades she has received.”

Images Courtesy of Barry (Joel Auerbach) and Catawba Sports Information

Player of the Week
Feb. 24 – Cheyanne Head (Barry)
Feb. 17 – Hannah Michel (St. Mary’s)
Feb. 10 – Darian Harris (Southern Arkansas)

Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 24 – Carley Tysinger (Catawba)
Feb. 17 – Hannah Perryman (UMSL)
Feb. 10 – Kaylee Garner (Southern Arkansas)

Selected Top Performances
Valdosta State’s Caitlyn Calhoun garnered Gulf South Pitcher of the Week recognition after going 3-0 with a save, 0.00 ERA, 26 strikeouts, one walk and a .097 opponent’s batting average… Pfeiffer’s Rachel Crowder was named Conference Carolinas Player of the Week after hitting .615 with three home runs, two of which were grand slams, 14 RBI and four stolen bases… Peach Belt Pitcher of the Week, North Georgia’s Courtney Poole went 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA with 49 punchouts, two walks and  .115 opponent’s batting average in 28 innings… Valdosta State’s Kylie Rusen hit .588 (10-17) with five long balls, 15 RBI and a 1.471 slugging percentage on her way to Gulf South Player of the Week honors… RMAC Player of the Week, Katie Leiker of Colorado Mines went 10-for-14 (.714) at the plate with three doubles, two homers, six RBI and five runs scored… GNAC Pitcher of the Week Alyson Boytz of Western Oregon went 2-0 in three appearances with a one-hit shutout and 15 strikeouts in 16 innings of work… North Georgia’s Meredith Heyer hit .714 (10-14) with four doubles, two homers, seven RBI, five runs and a 1.429 slugging percentage to garner Peach Belt Player of the Week plaudits… PacWest Player of the Week, Concordia’s Ryann Ferguson hit .517 with six extra base hits, including a grand slam, 11 RBI and 11 runs scored… Limestone’s Jose Weber tossed a perfect game (5 IP, 7 K) against St. Andrews and finished the week 3-1 to garner Conference Carolinas’ Pitcher of the Week award… Destiny Kuehl of Western Oregon hit .688 911-16) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, seven RBI and six runs in earned GNAC Player of the Week honors… In earning G-MAC Pitcher of the Week recognition, Davis & Elkins’ Alexandra Lapallo went 2-1 with a pair of shutouts and 22 strikeouts in 22 innings… Chelsea Skipper of West Texas A&M tossed two shutouts and struck out eight in 10 innings to take home Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week accolades… Lenoir-Rhyne’s Jordin Phillips registered two doubles, three home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored to be recognized as the SAC Player of Week.., CCAA Pitcher of the Week, Cassandra Williams of Cal State San Bernardino went undefeated (3-0) with a two shutouts, 21 strikeouts and did not allow an extra-base hit in 21 innings… Saint Leo’s Stephaine Adkin tossed a no-hitter and struck out 10 agaisnt Embry-Riddle to earn SSC Player of the Week honores… Lone Star Player of the Week, Cameron’s Chelsea DeLong hit .526 with 11 RBI and seven runs scored… Kayce Wooldridge of Northeastern State collected MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors after a 3-0 showing with two shutouts, a 0.70 ERA, 21 strikeouts, one walk in 20 innings… G-MAC Player of the Week, Katie Chriyssofos of Salem International launched four home runs, knocked in 16 and hit .500… Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Week, Lauren Slatten of St. Edward’s finished 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 24 punchouts in 22 innings of work… Bellarmine’s Allie Foster went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings to earn GLVC Pitcher of the Week recognition… GAC Pitcher of the Week, Kimmy Beasley of Southern Arkansas went 2-0 with two shutouts, 13 strikeouts and no walks in 14 innings of work… Winona State’s Hannah Lythberg was selected North Sun Pitcher of the Week with a 3-0 record, 1.22 ERA, 16 strikeouts and a save… Mercy College’s McKaily Cusamano went 2-0 with two shutouts and 11 strikeouts in her first two collegiate starts… CCAA Player of the Week, Maddy Lewis of UC San Diego hit .722 (13-18) with three doubles, two triples, eight RBI and five runs scored… Henderson State’s Ashlyn White took home GAC Player of the Week honors by hitting .727 with three long balls, 11 RBI and seven runs scored… In three games, Indianapolis’ Erika Goodwin hit .667 with four extra-base hits, five RBI and six runs scored and was selected GLVC Player of the Week… Heartland Player of the Week Morgan Colburn of Lubbock Christian belted five home runs, slugged 1.333, scored eight times and knocked in 13 runs.