Just before GDC 2015, HTC announced that they were entering into a partnership with Valve to construct one of the first VR headsets that would use the SteamVR technology that Valve had previously announced would be shown at the event. Now Valve say that the headset – the HTC Vive – will be given away free of charge to qualified developers to allow them to develop games for it.

Speaking to Ars Technica about the move which they hope will jumpstart interest in the Vive, Doug Lombardi said that the Developer Edition kit version of it will be “free, at least initially”. The Vive itself will launch in a consumer version sometime later this year.

Already some studios such as Bossa Studios, makers of Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread, have registered interest. A site is being set up to go live later this week so that developers can sign up for a Developer kit.

Hearthstone’s next adventure expansion, Blackrock Mountain is due to release very soon. It’ll be a multi-stage singleplayer expansion much in the same vein as Naxxramas was, and the first wing can be expected April 2nd in the Americas and April 3rd everywhere else.

Yesterday I wrote a round-up of all the cards that Blizzard has revealed to us so far, but it seems that they’ve decided not to wait until the full release of Blackrock to let the others out of the bag. Tomorrow a special livestream will be held on the PlayHearthstone Twitch channel and will not only show off the remaining cards it’ll show them in action as community managers Whirthun and Zeriyah use the new cards for special show matches.

It’s due to begin at 10:00AM PDT on Monday, tomorrow. I’ve embedded the Twitch channel below, but keep an eye on the SanitariumFM Twitch channel for weekly streams as I attempt to bludgeon my way through Blackrock’s wings as I did Naxxramas’. 😀

[plumwd_twitch_stream channel=”playhearthstone”]

Parents have been told by headteachers that they will be reported to police and social services for neglect if they allow their children to play over 18 computer games, according to the Sunday Times.

The newspaper reported that a warning was issued by primary and secondary schools who found children had been watching or playing games like Call of Duty and Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto.

The group wrote to parents, saying sexual content and violence and sexual content in the games are inappropriate and could lead to “early sexualised behaviour” and leave children “vulnerable to grooming for sexual exploitation or extreme violence”.

It goes on to say:

If your child is allowed to have inappropriate access to any game, or associated product, that is designated 18+ we are advised to contact the police and children’s social care as this is deemed neglectful.”

– Letter to parents

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister said social workers, councillors and teachers could be jailed for up to five years if they failed to speak up when they suspected or re­ceived allegations that children were being ill-treated, abused or wilfully neglected.

“We are trying to help parents to keep their children as safe as possible in this digital era. It is so easy for children to end up in the wrong place and parents find it helpful to have some very clear guidelines.”

– Mary Hennessy Jones, the head who drafted the letter

Nantwich Education Partnership, made up of 16 schools in Cheshire, sent the letter. Safeguarding guidance from the local authority told schools that if the behaviour of a pupil, or concerns about them, arouse suspicion the school should consult the children’s service “if in any doubt”.

Parents’ groups have responded by saying reporting families for allowing children to play unsuitable computer games was a step too far.

If you’re an Elite: Dangerous player, listen up. There’s a little contest going on in-game right now that could give you the chance to win one of five shiny new Nvidia GTX Titan Black graphics card. All you have to do is take part in the scavenger hunt that’s going on across the many, many systems in-game right now.

As the in-game bulletin from GalNet says:

“The NVIDIA labs, in association with Reynhardt IntelliSys, are pleased to announce that prototypes of the GeForce GTX Titan Black graphics card are now available for purchase from one exclusive outlet’. A masterpiece of engineering, the NVIDIA Geforce GTX Titan Black represents the cutting edge of display technology. It balances a sleek design with uncompromising performance and unparalleled processing power, making the Titan Black one of the most desirable display modules in the entire galaxy.

 

To celebrate the pre-release of the new module, NVIDIA are offering 5 lucky pilots the opportunity to win a commercial grade GTX Titan Black. Winning the competition couldn’t be simpler. The first 5 pilots to sell a canister of NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan Black Prototypes back to NVIDIA HQ aboard Godel Ring will be rewarded with a commercial model as soon as they become available. The only problem is NVIDIA isn’t saying where the prototypes are being sold. Happy hunting Commanders.

 

Entrants must have transported the prototypes under the Pilots Federation rules of ‘open play’ to be eligible to win.”

All you need to do is locate those prototypes, buy one and transport and sell it at the Godel Ring starport in the Ededleen System. Then e-mail community@frontier.co.uk with your Commander name and the subject title “I sold an Nvidia Titan Black” to make your attempt to claim the prize. The contest is being judged by how quickly you sell the prototype, not how quickly you send the e-mail.

Good luck everyone, it’s going to be quite difficult trying to find the one starport!

Hearthstone’s new expansion is just on the horizon, and bringing with it a whole host of fiery new abilities and creatures along with the new Dragon minion type and even some abilities that depend on what is in your hand at the time it’s played.

So, as I’ve done this for Naxxramas and Goblins vs. Gnomes in the past and we’re so close to a release, here’s your update on exactly what new cards have been released publicly so far:

  Axe Flinger
Minion, 4 mana cost, 2 attack and 5 health. Deals 2 damage to the enemy hero whenever this Minion takes damage.

  Volcanic Drake
Dragon Minion, 6 mana cost, 6 attack and 4 health. Costs (1) less to summon for each Minion who died in the turn it is summoned.

  Blackwing Technician
Minion, 3 mana cost, 2 attack and 4 health. Battlecry: Gains +1/+1 if you’re holding a Dragon Minion in your hand.

  Hungry Dragon
Dragon Minion, 4 mana cost, 5 attack and 6 health. Battlecry: Summons a random 1-cost Minion for your opponent.

  Dragonkin Sorcerer
Dragon Minion, 4 mana cost, 3 attack and 5 health. Gains +1/+1 when you target this Minion with a spell.

  Imp Gang Boss
Demon Minion, 3 mana cost, 2 attack and 4 health. Summons a 1/1 Imp whenever this Minion takes damage.

  Dragon’s Breath
Spell, 5 mana cost. Deals 4 damage. Costs (1) less for every Minion that died in the turn it is played.

  Blackwing Corrupter
Minion, 5 mana cost, 5 attack and 4 health. Battlecry: Deals 3 damage if you’re holding a Dragon Minion in your hand.

  Drakonid Crusher
Dragon Minion, 6 mana cost, 6 attack and 6 health. Battlecry: Gains +3/+3 if your opponent has 15 or less health.

  Lava Shock
Spell, 2 mana cost. Deal 2 damage. Unlocks Overloaded Mana Crystals.

  Rend Blackhand
Legendary Minion, 7 mana cost, 8 attack and 4 health. Battlecry: If there is a Dragon Minion in your hand, destroy a Legendary Minion.

  Neferian
Legendary Dragon Minion, 8 mana cost, 8 attack and 8 health. Battlecry: Adds 2 random Spells to your hand from your opponent’s class.

  Dark Iron Skulker
Minion, 5 mana cost, 4 attack and 3 health. Battlecry: Deals 2 damage to all undamaged enemy Minions.

  Grim Patron
Minion, 5 mana cost, 3 attack and 3 health. Summons another Grim Patron every time this Minion survives damage.

  Dragon Egg
Minion, 1 mana cost, 0 attack and 2 health. Summons a 2/1 Whelp every time this Minion takes damage.

  Flamewalker
Minion, 3 mana cost, 2 attack and 4 health. Whenever you cast a Spell, deal 2 damage randomly split among all enemies.

  Core Rager
Beast Minion, 4 mana cost, 4 attack and 4 health. Battlecry: Gains +3/+3 if your hand is empty.

And that’s it, seventeen of the thirty or so cards that we’re going to get with the Blackrock Mountain expansion. A few more could be revealed before the release date, but it’s likely the majority of them will be made public along with the expansion.

Blackrock Mountain’s first wing will release in the Americas on Thursday April 2nd, and everywhere else on Friday April 3rd.