Carzy Zarx’s PC Gaming Emporium - Catch Up on All the Latest PC Gaming Related News

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Thursday news, part two:

Valve kicks off $1 million art contest for new Counter-Strike skins
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/valve-kicks-off-dollar1-million-art-contest-for-new-counter-strike-skins/
A "finish" is CS:GO’s official terminology for a skin: As defined at counter-strike.net, they "can be applied to a weapon and that weapon will have an appearance ranging from factory new to battle-scarred.(...)
The $1 Million Dreams and Nightmares Content Contest announced today is offering ten prizes of $100,000 each for "original and shippable, dream-themed weapon finishes" for CS:GO. The full rules are here, but the basics are simple: You can work solo or as part of a team, submitted work must be completely original, and all you need to get in on the action is a Steam account in good standing and with at least $5 in purchases on record.
>> If you decide to take part in it, good luck.

Ubisoft wins $150,000 lawsuit against Rainbow Six Siege DDoS operation
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/ubisoft-wins-dollar150000-lawsuit-against-rainbow-six-siege-ddos-operation/
In January 2020, Ubisoft filed a lawsuit against the operators of SNG.one, a website that allegedly offered to provide DDoS attacks against online games including Rainbow Six Siege. In a default judgment rendered earlier this month, the US District Court for the Central District of California found in Ubisoft's favor and awarded it more than $153,000.

Fortnite taps Ferrari for its first licensed car
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/ferrari-fortnite/
Ferrari, the 80-something-year-old company that makes luxury cars that are probably more expensive than your entire house, is joining up with Fortnite for the first crossover of its kind. Based on some official teasers from both the Fortnite and Ferrari Twitter accounts, it looks like players will be able to drive Ferrari’s 296 GTB model in-game starting tomorrow.

Ubisoft Singapore employees face a 'French ceiling,' report says
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/ubisoft-singapore-employees-face-a-french-ceiling-report-says/
In November 2020, Ubisoft Singapore managing director Hugues Ricour was removed from his post following a leadership audit sparked by a Gamasutra report of abuse and misconduct throughout Ubisoft. (...)
A new report by Kotaku goes deeper into the working conditions at the studio both under and after Ricour's leadership, with multiple accounts of serious issues including failures to address sexual harassment complaints, pay disparities between local and expatriate employees, and a "French ceiling" (Ubisoft is based in Paris) that makes it difficult for employees from other countries to advance.
>> Leaving the other, more serious, things aside, how do they want to advance within Ubisoft if they haven't been able to finish a game in 8+ years?

Activision Blizzard lawsuit alleges discrimination, sexual harassment, and 'frat boy' culture
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/activision-blizzard-lawsuit-alleges-discrimination-sexual-harassment-and-frat-boy-culture/
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard with claims that employees have faced "constant sexual harassment, including groping, comments, and advances" due to a "frat boy workplace culture". The suit, which comes after over two years of investigation, also alleges that women at Activision Blizzard were paid less than men in the same roles and promoted more slowly than them. Activision Blizzard has vigorously denied the claims in a response today.

Hades wins GDC Game of the Year, Umurangi Generation wins IGF Grand Prize
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/hades-wins-gdc-game-of-the-year-umurangi-generation-wins-igf-grand-prize/
As part of the all-digital 2021 Game Developers Conference, the Game Developers Choice Awards and the Independent Game Festival Awards were hosted on Twitch this year. In the GDC Awards the big winner was Supergiant Games' action-roguelike-visual novel Hades, which won Game of the Year as well as Best Design and Best Audio. I'm sure those will all look nice on the pile next to the other trophies Hades has racked up, including two Golden Joystick Awards, five BAFTAs, two Game Awards, two Gayming Awards, five D.I.C.E. Awards, and a Nebula for Best Game Writing.

Final Fantasy 14 director says the new AFK timer shouldn't ruin the fun
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/final-fantasy-14-director-says-the-new-afk-timer-shouldnt-ruin-the-fun/
Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida still wants you to have fun mucking about in the game, even with the recently added AFK kick function.