Jordan Shapiro writing for Forbes:

Of course, it is easier to frame the story as paper vs. digital. It gives us permission not to engage with our kids. We can blame the video games and apps rather than blaming ourselves. Parents need to take responsibility for raising thoughtful, empathic, open-minded adults. Books are a crucial part of the equation. But even if we eliminated every digital technology from our lives, our kids still won’t read books unless we tell them in no uncertain terms that books are an important part of being an adult.

Shamefully, at the age of 28, I have discovered that the substance contained in non-fiction books is unmatched by video games. I have never been much of a reader but have been challenging myself to read more and more each year.

This year, I have decided to do a majority of reading on my devices. Once I finish a book, I buy the print version as a trophy or achievement. Is buying a book twice crazy? Probably. But the author gets a small bonus and it has me yearning to read cover-to-cover. One step toward gamifying my reading experience.

Wesley Yin-Poole, Eurogamer:

While Microsoft did not confirm how many people had been let go, Eurogamer understands the number is around 16, a figure one source said was made up of some software staff, but mainly design and project managers. Kinect Sports Rivals was a 150 person project.

A Microsoft spokesperson issued Eurogamer the following statement:

At Xbox, our goal is to constantly create new fun, social and interactive entertainment experiences. As part of Rare’s commitment to this goal, we have made a decision to change our development process and methodology at Rare to best support our future projects, this has led to us reviewing the skills and the makeup of our development teams in our business.

Rare continues to invest in our people and future projects.

This news comes on the heels of Rare re-evaluating their direction after Microsoft’s decision to offer Kinect-less Xbox One units. My thoughts to those let go. Layoffs list updated.

Ben Kuchera, Polygon:

Sex in games is almost exclusively used to give players, who are assumed to be male, something to ogle at between blood baths. The last place I expected a more realistic, and often touching, view of sex was the latest Wolfenstein game.

Emily Gera, Polygon:

Xbox head Phil Spencer confirms Microsoft is working closely with U.K. developer Rare to evaluate the studio’s future now that Kinect peripherals are optional for Xbox One systems, OXM reports.

Despite the studio’s history developing GoldenEye 007 and Donkey Kong Country, Rare was retooled as a flagship Kinect studio, releasing its first Kinect project Kinect Sports in 2010. Rare continued with this franchise, releasing Kinect Sports: Season Two and Kinect Sports Rivals.

In May of 2013, following the news that Microsoft will be breathing new life into a ‘historic’ Rare franchise (turned out to be Killer Instinct), I wrote a piece about Microsoft’s need to invest in child-friendly colorful characters and how Rare could pull it off:

Xbox One: Swinging for the Franchise Fences with Rare IP?

Seeing as the price-drop will likely draw more appeal from parents, Microsoft should invest in the children’s market with Rare IP to set itself apart from PS4 and, dare I say it, Wii U.

Alexa Ray Corriea, Polygon:

If you were to purchase every special edition available for Ubisoft’s open-world adventure Watch Dogs, you would spend just over $1,240.

This includes all region-exclusive editions, such as Australia and New Zealand’s ANZ Special Edition and the Europe, Australia and Asia-only Vigilante Edition, the only version that offers a wearable replica of protagonist Aiden Pierce’s hat. You come away with 10 copies of the game — and don’t forget about the season pass. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to play every version because of console region-locking.

While it’s not quite the same discussion, this quote is relevant to the tax complicated purchasing strategies can have on both the consumer and business:

Mike Monteiro on the Amazon/Comixology model, aired on The Talk Show, ep. 80: Beats by Tim

What you never want to do with an addict, and I think comics readers are addicts, is show them a total. I would sit there at night just hitting buy, buy, buy, buy. So I’m just buying comics an issue at a time. Now, I go to the website and I get to see a total. ‘Holy shit! I’m spending $35 on comics today. That’s really a lot of money.’ Then all of the sudden I’m thinking, ‘well… I’m certainly not going to try this new one I’ve never heard of before. It might suck and I want to get out of hear under $20.’