Kevin Webb

Brooklyn rapper 2 Milly plans to sue "Fortnite" creator Epic Games for allegedly copying and profiting off of a dance he created, the "Milly Rock."

2 Milly has been vocal about his distaste for the game's monetization of popular dances in interviews with Insider and CBS News. The "Milly Rock" dance originally arose in 2014 from the video for 2 Milly's song of the same name, "Milly Rock."

<a id="e8840735-3ff3-32ba-a229-f103626e524a" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/fortnite?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> "Fortnite" </a> added a dancing emote called "Swipe It" to the game in July 2018 that appears to be clearly inspired by the Milly Rock. For a time, players could unlock the dance through playing or by paying cash to level up the game's Season 5 Battle Pass, but Swipe It can no longer be acquired in-game. Players who unlocked it before can still use it though.

"Fortnite: Battle Royale" is the world's most popular game and has a massive audience that most artists can only dream of. While the game is free-to-play, the majority of its earnings come from the sale of emotes and other cosmetic items in-game. The game is currently generating more than $200 million a month in revenue and those emotes are available to <a id="60f0c102-1d7e-37e5-aaca-bd8aefa35cc4" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-people-play-fortnite-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> more than 200 million registered players </a> around the world, with no mention of the artists who inspired them.

Read more: <a id="cf15e699-7c50-3ac8-ab6f-7bbf8e70db63" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fortnite-dance-lessons-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Forget about paying to get better at 'Fortnite' — some kids are paying for 'Fortnite' dance lessons </a>

2 Milly isn't the only artist claiming that the game turned their original dance into emotes for purchase in "Fortnite" without permission or pay. Rapper BlocBoy JB criticized the use of his "Shoot" dance in "Fortnite" and actor Donald Faison claimed that "Fortnite" lifted a dance he performed for the TV show "Scrubs" as the game's default dance.

On Twitter, Chance the Rapper also suggested that Epic Games should find a way to compensate the creators behind the dances.

2 Milly's case isn't the only pending lawsuit Piece Bainbridge is bringing against Epic Games. The firm also claims that Epic used the likeness of former NFL player Len "Skip" Hamilton to create the character Cole Train for the Gears of War video game series. Pierce Bainbridge partner David L. Hecht claims that in both cases, Epic Games "misappropriated the likeness of African-American talent."

Experts have been skeptical of whether artists can claim ownership over a dance, compared to the clear copyright laws that protect music and song lyrics, but it seems that won't stop 2 Milly from pursuing his day in court.

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SEE ALSO: Forget about paying to get better at 'Fortnite' — some kids are paying for 'Fortnite' dance lessons

SEE ALSO: How big is 'Fortnite'? With more than 200 million players, it's now equal to nearly two-thirds the US population

Artists are slamming the creators of ‘Fortnite’ for allegedly making money off of stolen dances, and one rapper says he plans to sue

Magic the Gathering is one of the most celebrated card games ever created, reaching more than 35 million players around the world in 70 countries. The collectible card game will enter a new phase in its history in 2019 with a brand new esports program announced by Magic's parent companies Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast during <a id="1de41965-261f-3e2c-a9ef-4a782d9e7e98" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-video-games-introduced-at-annual-game-awards-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> The Game Awards </a> on December 6th.

Launching in 2019, the new esports program introduces a $10 million prize pool split between traditional tabletop tournaments and digital competitions using the new "MTG Arena" video game.

Magic the Gathering has a long history of competitive play, with the first Magic Pro Tour dating back to 1996. The decision to introduce a larger scale esports program alongside "MTG Arena" will help introduce a wide range of new players to the game. "MTG Arena" is still in beta, but is free to download. The game is the first fully-digital representation of "Magic the Gathering" and offers learning tools for new players.

Read more: <a id="5e5831e1-fd27-3f4c-af5c-c3059ace5dc7" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-power-nine-magic-the-gathering-cards-costs-so-much-trading-game-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> These 9 Magic: The Gathering cards are worth a staggering $27,000 — here's why </a>

“Today is an extremely important day for Magic: The Gathering as we announce our commitment to esports and our Magic players by evolving our tournament structure to include a $10 million prize pool,” Wizards of the Coast President Chris Cocks said in a statement. “We are fully embracing esports and affirming Magic as a leader in the collectible card game category while providing lucrative opportunities for pros, players, sponsors, and esports partners.”

The esports program will be divided into two types of competitions: The Magic Pro League (MPL) will be focused on premier events between 32 of the top-ranked Magic the Gathering players in the world; Mythic Championships will let players from around the world compete in "MTG Arena" online to qualify for a chance to play against the stars of the MPL.

Official tabletop tournaments will be considered Mythic Championships as well, and each in-person event will award $500 in prize money.

The Magic Pro League will focus on developing the top level of professional Magic the Gathering competition, with the top 32 players earning contracts worth $75,000 each. Those top players will face-off against each other each week, with the matchups building toward new Mythic Championship events.

To kick off the 2019 esports season, Magic the Gathering is hosting a special $1 Million Mythic Invitational at PAX East 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts this March. Details on qualifying for the event will be revealed in early 2019. The first Mythic Championships for tabletop players will be held in Cleveland (February 22 to 24th), London (April 26 to 28th), Barcelona (July 26 to 28th) and Richmond (November 8 to 10th).

“The past 25 years of Magic competition has led us to design this comprehensive esports program that would support Magic: The Gathering Arena, while increasing our investment in tabletop Magic,” Elaine Chase, Vice President of Esports at Wizards of the Coast said in a press release. “Our investment in esports will catapult the game to new heights while providing support to the players by giving them the platform to build their brand and bring Magic to a broader audience.”

For more details on the new Magic the Gathering esports program or to play Magic the Gathering Arena for free, <a id="6f1d7cfc-dc00-3937-aa7f-aed5dd2b5d60" href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/competitive-magic"> visit the official website. </a>

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SEE ALSO: People are paying close to $100,000 for rare 'Magic: The Gathering' cards that they compare to early bitcoin investments and predict will one day be worth millions

SEE ALSO: These 9 Magic: The Gathering cards are worth a staggering $27,000 — here's why

With more than 35 million players worldwide, Magic the Gathering is giving back to its community with a brand new game and $10 million in esports prize money

Unlocking <a id="53ebef54-68e9-3280-a0c4-e481f96e8b92" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/every-super-smash-bros-character-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> every character in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" </a> will be the largest task facing new players picking up the new Nintendo Switch game.

Luckily, dedicated players have already figured out some early tricks that make unlocking the full 74-character cast much less time consuming.

<h1> Unlocking characters the usual way </h1>

As in past games, characters can be unlocked in a variety of ways across the game's many modes.

During gameplay, players will occasionally be faced with a "Challenger Approaching" screen carrying the silhouette of the next unlockable character. If the player can beat the challenger in a match, the character is unlocked and added to the roster.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Joins the Battle

Normally, new challengers approach about every 10 minutes of multiplayer "Smash," or after you complete a specific game mode, like the arcade-style Classic Mode.

When playing the World of Light adventure mode, you regularly encounter new unlockable characters, too.

<h1> The timer trick for more new challengers </h1>

Players have also found that you can frequently reset the timer for character unlocks by changing the language, going back to versus mode, and playing a single multiplayer "Smash" match.

Changing the language closes the software and resets the game, and apparently the "Challenger Approaching" timer, too. Some players who received the game before launch date reported that resetting the game from the main menu also resets the timer, though the language change seems to be quicker and a bit more consistent after the game's 1.1.0 update on launch.

Repeating this trick will get you a new challenger after just about every Smash match, so long as you're changing the language after each game.

The trick does seem to require a bit of extra playtime before it starts working, so I'd recommend playing through Classic Mode once or twice before changing the language to reset the game.

If you happen to lose to a challenger and fail to unlock new characters, they will eventually return for another match. You can rematch challengers via the "Challengers Approach" option in the Games &amp; More section of the menu. The menu option will disappear if you lose again, or have no past challengers to rematch.

With 66 challengers to beat, unlocking the full roster of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will always take hours worth of playtime, even with the language reset trick. But the the trick can help get the process done in one dedicated afternoon, rather than over the course of a few days.

If the language trick stops working, try playing a round or two of Classic Mode, which can also lead to new challengers.

<h1> More ways to unlock characters quickly </h1>

Dedicated players in the Smash Community have also contributed to a <a id="1c052d25-e940-3131-a559-00143aa20ba9" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Lrf8YZUcZz5JpfTrDaR-2VLKZCSzKgEpjgU3jXL1FYk/htmlview?sle=true#gid=0"> Google document </a> that lists the order that characters are unlocked in "Smash," in both Classic Mode and World of Light.

If you're looking to unlock your favorite character as quickly as possible, be sure to check this list to find the most direct route.

Past Evolution "Smash for Wii U" <a id="892a80ed-e06c-3a47-aa80-ec715536f935" href="https://twitter.com/zerowondering"> champion Tempo|Zero </a> uploaded his own video describing the unlocking process in detail and explaining how to reset the game for more new challengers.

Regardless of what method you use, unlocking every character in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will be a long journey. It's probably best not to get too caught up in how fast you're unlocking characters, and make sure you're having fun while its happening.

But, it also helps to know a few tricks to get it done faster and start playing your favorite characters against your friends.

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SEE ALSO: 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' is less than a week away and features more than 70 characters — here they all are

NOW READ: The major improvements to online play in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' might be worth the price of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription

We found a trick that unlocks every character in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' in just a few hours. Here's how to get your favorites as fast as possible

Rockstar Games' "Red Dead Redemption 2" was one of the year's <a id="a3d72dcf-cba0-3275-a315-9eb20c3fe4c8" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-games-fall-release-dates-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> most anticipated games, </a> releasing on October 26th to plenty of fanfare. But a major portion of the game has been missing for the past month, the online multiplayer mode, "Red Dead Online."

In September, Rockstar revealed that "Red Dead Online" wouldn't be ready on release and would enter beta testing in November. Rockstar developers have said they consider "Red Dead Online" and "Red Dead Redemption 2" to be two different games, though "Red Dead Online" is free for anyone who buys the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One versions of "Red Dead Redemption 2." Now, with just a few days left in November, Rockstar is keeping true to its word and rolling out the online beta for all players this week.

Here's the breakdown on when you'll be able to play the beta:

<ul><li> Those who bought the ultimate edition of "Red Dead Redemption 2" will get first dibs on the "Red Dead Online" beta starting November 27th. </li><li> Those who played "Red Dead Redemption 2" on release day, October 26th, will be allowed into the beta on Wednesday, November 28th. </li><li> Anyone who played between October 26th and October 29th will be able to join "Red Dead Online" on Thursday, November 29th. </li><li> On Friday November 30th, the "Red Dead Online" beta will be open to everyone who plays the game. </li></ul>

Read more: This guy followed 'Red Dead Redemption 2' characters for a full day and discovered just how detailed the game really is

According to Rockstar, "Red Dead Online" will feature both competitive and cooperative gameplay, but the company is warning fans to expect some growing pains. Players will be able to explore the open-world environment of "Red Dead Online" alone or with friends, and the online mode will have its own narrative storyline.

"As with most online experiences of this size and scale, there will inevitably be some turbulence at launch," Rockstar said in a September statement. "We look forward to working with our amazing and dedicated community to share ideas, help us fix teething problems and work with us to develop 'Red Dead Online' into something really fun and innovative."

Rockstar certainly has practice at building mega-popular online games; its ongoing support for "Grand Theft Auto Online" has helped sell more than <a id="38e150e6-4f2f-3a49-abde-e65a5decd3a2" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-games-of-all-time-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> 100 million copies of"Grand Theft Auto V" </a> since September 2013.

The NPD Group reports that "Red Dead Redemption 2" is already the <a id="9fa6860b-671f-3f35-acb7-9b14945e1c52" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-best-selling-game-of-2018-call-of-duty-black-ops-4-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> second-best selling game of 2018 </a> , with just nine days of reported sales after release. The game also managed to triple the launch sales of its predecessor, "Red Dead Redemption." With the introduction of "Red Dead Online," the game will have laid plenty of foundation for a healthy multiplayer community.

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'Red Dead Online,' the online multiplayer mode for 'Red Dead Redemption 2' launches today as a beta test

YouTube's impact on the realm of pop culture can't be ignored — the platform's top stars become the world's premiere influencers, coveted for their ability to reach tens of millions of followers on a daily basis.

As influencers become more valuable, many popular YouTubers have been able to turn their personal brands into million-dollar businesses. While the formula for YouTube success varies between channels, the most successful YouTubers have been able to find new sources of income beyond the ad revenue on their videos. For some, that means personal clothing lines and TV appearances, while others have capitalized on their success with sold-out live tours and custom toy brands.

Forbes recently released its list of <a id="c2daa7d2-b7e9-360b-ae3c-3dbbac25b615" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2018/12/03/highest-paid-youtube-stars-2018-markiplier-jake-paul-pewdiepie-and-more/#2fdfc6aa909a"> the highest-paid YouTubers </a> , based on their earnings from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018.

Here's how they rank:

<h1> 10. Logan Paul — $14.5 million </h1>

Vlogger <a id="ce5d5964-7a02-3a21-ae35-8e3bd618ca13" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG8rbF3g2AMX70yOd8vqIZg"> Logan Paul </a> was YouTube's fourth-highest earner last year. But his personal brand took a tumble after <a id="3a33b56a-5824-3e68-ab94-cbc5bb92ed9d" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-star-logan-paul-apologised-after-filming-a-dead-body-in-japans-suicide-forest-2018-1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> he uploaded a video of a dead body he found in Japan's Aokigahara forest </a> , a location that is notorious for suicides.

As a result, YouTube removed Paul from the Google Preferred program, impacting his ad revenue. However, his channel continued to rack up subscribers, and he continues to earn income from his personal merchandise and celebrity appearances. Despite the scandal in Japan, Paul was able to increase his earnings by $2 million in the course of a year.

One of Paul's most-watched stunts this year was a pay-per-view boxing match against British YouTuber KSI held in London. <a id="d4684f56-72ac-3147-ad36-76e696d56ac0" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ksi-logan-paul-youtube-fight-ends-in-a-draw-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> The fight ended in a draw </a> and the pair are planning a rematch for next year.

<h1> 9. PewDiePie — $15.5 million </h1>

In past years, Felix " <a id="018eb052-fe60-3c73-a31f-a30d60bec056" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PewDiePie"> PewDiePie </a> " Kjellberg was, without question, the world's most successful YouTuber.

But recent scandals accusing the video game commenter of racism and anti-Semitism have led to a slight decline in sponsorships. Still, like Logan Paul, PewDiePie managed to increase his overall earnings by about $3.5 million between June 2017 and June 2018.

PewDiePie still has the <a id="c6522258-f4db-3c34-acd6-c6388d10ad86" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pewdiepie-overtaken-t-series-most-popular-youtube-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> most subscribers of any single account </a> on YouTube with more than 73 million, but will likely be overtaken by Bollywood YouTube channel T-Series in early 2019.

<h1> 8. JackSepticEye — $16 million </h1>

Irish video game streamer Sean " <a id="88d465cb-a709-32f7-a71d-5f362f2e4922" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jacksepticeye"> JackSepticEye </a> " McLoughlin was one of the first YouTubers to be a part of PewDiePie's Disney-sponsored Revelmode network, earning him a giant following.

While Disney eventually dumped Revelmode, McLoughlin was eventually signed to create original programming for Disney XD, a TV channel targeted at children and teens. McLoughlin also serves as a host and stage personality for a number of live events and tours in Europe and North America.

<h1> 7. Vanoss Gaming — $17 million </h1>

<a id="dc8e0d1c-e7c6-39d6-a327-523f6b462e75" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/VanossGaming"> Vanoss Gaming </a> is a channel run by Canadian gamer Evan Fong, though Voss rarely appears on camera himself.

His channel stands out for its unique editing, original art and comedic tone. Voss has also branched out from video content with a personal clothing line and self-produced music under the name Rynx.

<h1> 6. Markiplier — $17.5 million </h1>

Mark Edward Fischbach, or " <a id="10b0a164-e5d1-35f1-a89e-8873eff82d5e" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/markiplierGAME"> Markiplier </a> ," has been one of the most popular video game YouTubers for more than five years, frequently collaborating with other influential content creators.

Fischbach was once studying to become a biomedical engineer, but suffered a string of life-changing events that led him to pursue a YouTube career. <a id="cd1d871a-cce1-321b-a70f-17484621c6a9" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2017/06/20/forbes-top-influencers-markiplier-mark-fischbach-gaming-youtuber/#17852f9c38fd"> Fischbach told Forbes </a> he had a tumor removed from his adrenal-gland, broke up with his girlfriend, and was laid off from his job before he decided to start his channel.

Today, he has more than 22 million followers on YouTube.

<h1> 5. Jeffree Star — $18 million </h1>

Once known as the most-followed person on MySpace, <a id="7ecf7dea-a578-3a2b-acf4-d8f818a15510" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/jeffreestar"> Jeffree Star </a> has made a wildly successful transition to YouTube since 2014.

Star launched his channel alongside his makeup brand, Jefree Star Cosmetics, uploading a mix of beauty tips, tutorials, and personal vlogs.

Star has earned more than 11 million subscribers with about 300 videos, a departure from the daily schedule of uploads that most top YouTubers follow.

Austrailian video game streamer Daniel " <a id="9e8c677c-af65-3007-ab6f-a2165b5cebbb" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDiamondMinecart"> DanTDM </a> " Middleton was last year's highest-paid YouTuber with $16.5 million in earnings.

Middleton's earnings skyrocketed thanks to a world tour that included four sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House and a thriving <a id="0aefa90e-35b7-3187-a63d-27119dd0fa64" href="https://dantdmshop.us.com/index.php"> personal apparel brand. </a>

Middleton built his massive audience streaming "Minecraft" and recently had a role in Disney's "Ralph Breaks the Internet" as eBoy.

<h1> 3. Dude Perfect — $20 million </h1>

<a id="14c4c8e2-46e4-386f-a4e4-070610b51049" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/corycotton"> Dude Perfect </a> is a sports-focused channel featuring hundreds of amazing trick-shots and stunts. The channel is run by a five-man group: twins Cory and Coby Cotton, Garret Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler Toney, all of whom attended Texas A&amp;M.

The group's tricks garnered tons of viral attention, and they've made appearances on "Good Morning America" and multiple ESPN shows.

As their popularity has grown, Dude Perfect has also produced videos with a number of famous professional athletes, including Odell Beckham Jr., Drew Brees, Chris Paul, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

<h1> 2. Jake Paul — $21.5 million </h1>

Richard Shotwell/Invision/Associated Press

While Logan Paul saw his earnings stumble in the aftershock of the Aokigahara incident, his younger brother, Jake, has continued to thrive in the YouTube ecosystem, releasing daily vlogs and rap videos to more than 17 million followers each week.

Like Logan, <a id="cd2a1b5e-5252-3420-af6c-d7a54e1043b8" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JakePaulProductions"> Jake Paul's </a> earliest internet fame actually came from the now-defunct social media network Vine, where he had more than <a id="96c8edcf-2d36-3108-ad5f-85db951b35c4" href="https://www.thisisinsider.com/who-is-jake-paul-youtube-vine-2017-7"> 5 million followers and 2 billion views on his content. </a>

Now 21 years old, Paul earned national attention in July 2017 for his ongoing feud with his neighbors over noise complaints and the unwanted attention his followers brought to his Los Angeles neighborhood.

<h1> 1. Ryan ToysReview — $22 million </h1>

<a id="cb5fa73c-05b5-3896-a0bf-72875df5613b" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChGJGhZ9SOOHvBB0Y4DOO_w"> Ryan ToysReview </a> is the <a id="8320d662-ee6d-38a9-ab7f-76a7c2449422" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ryan-toysreview-7-year-old-makes-22-million-per-year-youtube-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> top-earning YouTube channel, </a> and it features a 7-year-old host, Ryan.

The boy's parents began documenting his toy reviews in March 2015, and have now amassed more than 17 million subscribers. While Ryan's follower base isn't as large as some of the other top YouTube stars, his growing influence on the toy industry helped double the family's earnings from 2017.

Ryan ToysReview was one of several YouTube brands to partner with pocket.watch and Bonkers Toys to create a new line of licensed toys and books featuring YouTube stars. The Ryan's World toy line was the first to be released in an exclusive partnership with Walmart earlier this year.

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"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is the biggest Nintendo Switch game of 2018, bringing some impressive upgrades and the <a id="88287595-6eb4-3ef4-a0a4-a07bb0ef5475" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/super-smash-bros-ultimate-adds-characters-ken-incineroar-petey-piranha-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> largest roster the series </a> has seen so far.

Online play has been a part of the franchise since "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" arrived on the Nintendo Wii in 2006. However, Nintendo's handling of online play has historically lagged behind other game developers, earning the company a reputation for subpar matchmaking, unstable connections, and limited rewards for dedicated players.

The Switch is the first Nintendo console to <a id="c8822eb7-91fe-3a8b-a973-b9c63167b2ea" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nintendo-switch-online-nes-games-review-2018-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> require a subscription for online play </a> ($20 per year), and there is hope that the added investment will translate to a better online experiences overall. Nintendo has overhauled the online modes in <a id="030a7bbf-c235-3920-a232-ee0ae4010c0b" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/release-date-super-smash-bros-nintendo-switch-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" </a> to tackle some of its past issues head-on. A recent Nintendo Direct livestream fully detailed how online play will function in the new game with the Nintendo Switch Online service.

<h1> Your smash tag is essential for online play </h1>

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate"/Nintendo

The first step to playing online will be creating a smash tag. Your tag will identify you to other players, and as you beat other people, their tags will be added to your own list. Records and statistics from online matches will be recorded based on the Smash tag, making it easy to track results over time.

<h1> Players will be matched online based on their preferred rules. </h1>

The last "Smash" game, "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS" divided online matches between two modes with two different sets of rules; For Fun, which included normal stages and items, and For Glory, which only featured flat stages and no items.

Rather than divide the player base into two camps, online quick play in "Ultimate" will let players set their own rules and match them with others who have similar preferences. Once the match is set, the game will randomly choose one player's rules to use during battle.

However, the matchmaking prioritizes connection strength over rules, so there may be some occassions where players are stuck playing with rules they don't prefer, in favor of a more stable match.

<h1> Your location is the most important factor in matchmaking. </h1>

Matching players who live in similar regions makes it easier to maintain a stable connection and ultimately cuts down on lag when playing online. In past Smash games and other Nintendo titles, players often report being matched up against players in other countries, leading to significant delay during the match.

By prioritizing proximity, the matchmaking system will deliver more consistent matches, even if the ruleset isn't always ideal.

<h1> Nintendo recommends a wired internet connection for more stable online matches. </h1>

" Super Smash Bros. Ultimate"/Nintendo

Nintendo is also recommending that players who plan to play online use a wired LAN cable for more stable connections. Sadly, the Nintendo Switch doesn't have its own ethernet port, but you can pick up a third party USB ethernet adapter or buy <a id="b2c38039-17a7-3af5-aef1-32f5615a5da0" href="https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/browse/productDetailColorSizePicker.jsp?productId=prod10279"> the official Nintendo one for $24.99 </a> . Dedicated Smash players have been using LAN adapters since "Brawl" to get more consistency out of online play.

<h1> Your Global Smash Power ranks you alongside every player in the world. </h1>

Online matchmaking will also use a ranking system called Global Smash Power. GSP ranks a player against the total number of players in the world. Rather than starting the rankings at number one, the GSP figure reflects how many players are below you in the rankings. If your GSP is 128,490, that means you are ranked above 128,490 players; so higher is better.

<h1> "Ultimate" will match players with similar Global Smash Power. </h1>

Raising your GSP will eventually place you up against stronger players. Your GSP will change from character to character, depending on how often you use them and how much you win overall.

<h1> High-ranking players will be able to play elite battles against other top players. </h1>

Players with very high Global Smash Power can qualify for elite battles. Nintendo says the development team will be monitoring elite battles and these high-stakes matches will likely impact the game's balance in the future.

<h1> Two players can use a single Switch to team up online. </h1>

There's no need to play online alone; two friends can team up on the same Switch to play against other two-player teams. It's not clear whether cooperative matches will impact your GSP, but bringing a friend in on the action will be easy.

<h1> Players can use training and other modes while searching for an online match. </h1>

"Super Smash Bros Ultimate"/Nintendo

Like other fighting games, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will allow players to enter training and other game modes while searching for matches online. Once an opponent is found, they can go straight into their online game.

<h1> Self-destructing or disconnecting too often during online matches will be discouraged. </h1>

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will also punish players for killing themselves repeatedly or disconnecting from matches early. Players run the risk of being kicked from online matches and/or temporarily banned from matchmaking.

<h1> Create battle arena lobbies to set your own rules or play with specific friends online. </h1>

Battle arenas will allow players to set up their own lobbies with personalized rules. You can make arenas open to the public or exclusive to people on your friends list. This will be the easiest way for friends to group up and play together online.

<h1> You can still spectate online matches to watch and learn. </h1>

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will feature a spectator mode, for those who don't want to join in on the action. Spectating strong players is a good way to learn new tricks, and a nice option for those who may need to step away from a battle arena for a few minutes.

<h1> Players can assign short phrases to the directional pad to communicate during matches. </h1>

Players can once again choose short messages to share during battle. Up to eight messages can be mapped to the controller's directional pad for communication before or after online matches.

<h1> The Nintendo Switch Online app will be necessary for voice chat. </h1>

If you want to talk with other players, you'll have to use the Nintendo Switch Online companion app, which includes voice chat and other supporting features. Players can use the app to chat with people on their friend's list during matches or send longer messages.

<h1> A new service, Smash World, will let players share clips online. </h1>

Finally, Nintendo will launch a new online service, Smash World, in 2019. Smash World will let players share screenshots and video clips of their gameplay with people around the world.

With Smash players now paying for online, there's definitely an expectation that "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" will benefit from the subscription. Nintendo seems to have a solid framework in place to support an online community, but the biggest tests will come when the game is released on December 7th.

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The major improvements to online play in 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' might be worth the price of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription

Google Play has released its <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/editorial_collection/promotion_topic_bestof2018_mainpage_tp" id="b4c15196-7027-3cc2-aab2-77b0b61823d9"> Best of 2018 list </a> , and battle-royale shooter "PUBG Mobile" tops the list as both Best Game and Fan Favorite Game.

As the name suggests, "PUBG Mobile" is the mobile version of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-ps4-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="27a9c3c6-0e46-323b-a482-0d4e990d1d03"> "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," </a> the PC game that's largely credited with inspiring the battle royale genre leading to "Fortnite: Battle Royale" and copycat game modes in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4" and "Battlefield V."

Hundreds of millions of players around the world are playing battle royale games on video game consoles and smartphone alike. It helps that the two biggest games in the genre, "PUBG" and "Fortnite," are free on mobile devices. <a href="https://sensortower.com/blog/pubg-mobile-revenue-october-2018" id="60858944-e780-3eec-aa16-f673a6f4212b"> Research firm SensorTower </a> reports that "PUBG Mobile" has been downloaded more than 240 million times and has earned more than $113 million through microtransactions.

"PUBG Mobile" and the console and PC versions of "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" have separate player bases, but the games function the same. "PUBG" throws 100 players onto an island with scattered resources. Once the game starts, they need to find weapons and items to defend themselves with as the safe areas of the island begin to shrink. The last player or team surviving at the end of the round is the winner.

Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-ps4-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="02f5b042-f2d4-3d7a-affa-1a2b0f7ef232"> It looks like the smash-hit game that paved the way for 'Fortnite: Battle Royale' is finally coming to PlayStation 4 </a>

While "Fortnite" is more popular than "PUBG" overall, the game is not downloadable in the Google Play Store — Android users must instead install the game directly from the Fornite website — clearing the way for "PUBG Mobile" to dominate on Android devices and Google Play download rankings. "Fortnite" is also unavailable in China, the world's largest video game market, due to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-video-games-crackdown-costing-billions-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="42f14255-970e-3fc5-a8a0-168e5f54f18f"> Chinese government's ongoing freeze </a> on new game releases.

Both the PC version of "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" and "PUBG Mobile" were published in China by Tencent prior to the government's call for increased <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tencent-age-restrictions-identity-verification-china-video-games-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="4d8ec082-c870-34bf-adbc-7676961cebeb"> video game regulation </a> . The game has seen tens of millions of downloads in China but Tencent is still not allowed to monetize "PUBG Mobile" in China with in-game purchases.

While "Fortnite" still reigns as the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-people-play-fortnite-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="e7c7b204-8607-3b56-a80a-3df484222cd2"> world's most popular game </a> , the global reach of "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" will help ensure that its around for years to come. The console version of "PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds" recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its launch on Xbox One, and will be released on PlayStation 4 on December 7th. The game's creators have also revealed plans for <a href="https://www.pubg.com/2018/11/16/2019-npl-esports-structure/" id="4048802f-49bb-375e-a7da-602ab1f18c0f"> "PUBG" esports leagues </a> in North America and Europe starting in 2019.

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'Fortnite''s biggest competitor was just named Best Game of 2018 on Google Play

It's the holiday gift-giving season, and that means that parents are out to find the hottest toys and video games for their kids. Unfortunately, that also means that some sellers will have an opportunity to prey on uninformed shoppers who may be stepping foot in a video game store for the first time ever to buy gifts for their loved ones.

The most popular game of the year, "Fortnite: Battle Royale," is a free-to-play download, but that hasn't stopped retailers from getting in on the rush. Every major video game seller, from GameStop to Walmart, has a variety of "Fortnite" bundles for parents to buy, at a variety of price points.

But don't be fooled: "Fortnite" itself is a free download, and probably always will be. The sale of V-Bucks, an in-game currency, are how "Fortnite" makes its money, not charging for the game itself.

The bundles just add additional perks to the free game, including V-Bucks — the premium in-game currency — and special cosmetic items for players. In other words, when you buy a "Fortnite" bundle, you're not paying for the game, you're paying for these bonuses.

These bundles should be clearly labeled for what they are, though at least <a id="83e7da62-4582-3fbf-aa76-83711852e6f6" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/a1nley/eb_games_in_australia_using_stickers_to_cover_up/"> one Australian on Reddit </a> noticed that his local games store had placed a sticker on the case that could confuse the matter by covering over the fact that it's merely a code for some "Fortnite" extras. So, be careful out there.

That's not to say that "Fortnite" bundles don't have value. The included V-Bucks can help unlock paid content in the game, but buyers should be aware that the game is free to own and play without any monetary investment whatsoever. Though it can take a while, players can earn V-Bucks by playing the game over time, and unlock the items they like without paying.

Being free-to-play has helped "Fortnite" amass <a id="b0d1210b-f86a-38a8-ab24-8c22447131f7" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-people-play-fortnite-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> over 200 million players </a> since it launched in July 2017, and creator Epic Games said that 80 million players are playing on a monthly basis. The game reportedly earned more than $300 million in revenue during May 2018, primarily through V-Bucks microtransactions.

The demand for the Fortnite currency has risen as more players get interested in the game, leading scammers to target young "Fortnite" players with ads for free V-Bucks. Epic Games forbids the sale of V-Bucks from unverified shops, and also bars players from selling their accounts to other players. A feature for trading premium items with friends is currently undergoing testing with select players, but has not yet been formally rolled out to the game at large. Ultimately, this means that you shouldn't trust anyone trying to sell V-Bucks or in-game items.

At the risk of confusing the matter further, it's worth noting that thereisa separate, paid game mode for "Fortnite," called "Save the World," that actually predates the ubiquitous "Battle Royale" mode. If you want to play "Save the World," it costs $30, and doesn't come in any of the existing "Fortnite" bundles you find in stores. It's also worth noting that "Save the World" is far less popular than "Battle Royale."

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