The 8bA Podcast is a podcast bringing you the latest and greatest geeky news of the past week.

NEWS ITEMS

Lorcana. Some thoughts and first impressions on the game and its rollout.

AI Generated Art. The Verge reports that DC District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted as part of a lawsuit against the US Copyright Office. The suit was brought by Stephen Thaler over a rejection of copyright concerning an AI-generated image made with an algorithm he created. The crux of the case seems to be that he tried to copyright the image “as a work-for-hire to the owner of the Creativity Machine.” Judge Howell’s ruling stipulates that “human beings are an essential part of a valid copyright claim.”

Charles Martinet. GameInformer reports that the longtime voice of Mario will no longer be cast in that role, but instead move into the role of “Mario Ambassador.” Nintendo has said it will share a special message from Shigeru Miyamoto and Martinet at a later date.

Cult of the Lamb. NintendoLife reports that indie-hit Cult of the Lamb is getting a crossover update with Don’t Starve Together, which includes a survival mode, a unique spider follower who is immune to starvation, and themed decorations.

Microsoft Kinect. The Verge reports that Microsoft is (once again) sunsetting the Kinect, though it will partner with outside companies to provide options for people who need similar devices for development. The Azure Kinect Developer Kits will be available through the end of October or “until supplies last.” Those who have one will be able to continue using it without disruption, according to Microsoft’s Swati Mehta.

Pixelborn. Dicebreaker reports that a small team led by game developer Pavel Kolev has created a digital app for playing Lorcana. The app functions similarly to Hearthstone, but does not include any artwork or assets from Disney. The app is currently available on PC and Mac, with mobile support currently being worked on.

PlayStation. The Verge reports that Sony is releasing a streaming handheld for the PS5 later this year. The device will allow users to stream titles from their PS5 over WiFi, though Sony did not indicate if the device needed to be on the same WiFi network as the console. The handheld also will not allow you to stream games being streamed on the base console, nor will it have Bluetooth – it will instead use Sony’s proprietary PlayStation Link technology, and will allow for wired headphones. The device will retail for $199.

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“1-UP” is by Professor Shyguy. You can find his work at https://professorshyguy.bandcamp.com