Upper Echelon"Yasuke" (the subject of Ubisofts latest Assassins Creed: Shadows game, has become the subject of controversy after Historian Thomas Lockleys work was called into question over the authenticity of portraying Japans "First African Samurai" as a Legendary Hero.
With the Japanese Government now involved, and a tapestry of shady circumstances on display, the situation is best described as a public relations disaster... for a game franchise that is now at the center of a debate regarding cultural appropriation, and invasion.
The Yasuke Disaster - Ubisofts NightmareUpper Echelon2024-07-24 | "Yasuke" (the subject of Ubisofts latest Assassins Creed: Shadows game, has become the subject of controversy after Historian Thomas Lockleys work was called into question over the authenticity of portraying Japans "First African Samurai" as a Legendary Hero.
With the Japanese Government now involved, and a tapestry of shady circumstances on display, the situation is best described as a public relations disaster... for a game franchise that is now at the center of a debate regarding cultural appropriation, and invasion.
#yasuke #assassinscreed #ubisoftUbisoft - A Dying CompanyUpper Echelon2024-10-12 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at surfshark.com/echelon
After 3 consecutive years of poor decision making, Ubisoft appears to be on its dying breath as a company. Skull and Bones, Star Wars Outlaws, even Assassins Creed Shadows have been met with disinterest or backlash, forcing their share price to the floor, and necessitating bailout talks with Tencent.
There's no denying that Ubisoft is in hot water, but there's also no denying that the vicious rumor mill of manufactured sources, and rampant speculation has also spun out of control. With that in mind, today I wanted to look at the the complete picture, outlining where things are with regards to Ubisoft, the future, and the current state of their company.
#ubisoft #yasuke #assassinscreedThe Rings of Poor Decision making - (Amazons Rings of Power)Upper Echelon2024-10-03 | Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power... is a masterclass in failure. With continuity problems, narrative issues, lore troubles and a total lack of logical direction... the show is an example of wasted money in every conceivable sense of the phrase.
As a betrayal of everything that made the Peter Jackson Trilogy special... Rings of Power serves as a stunning example of what happens when you have zero respect for the source material, with a fixation on cheap narrative tricks, and shallow nostalgic references.
Its objectively bad, and I felt the need to talk about two scenes in particular.
#ringsofpower #amazon #lordoftheringsThe TENET Media DisasterUpper Echelon2024-09-25 | Go to https://ground.news/echelon to see all sides of every story. Subscribe through my link to get 40% off unlimited access this month only.
"TENET Media" (featuring a collection of high profile conservative content creators) has recently been exposed for taking 10 million in Russian state funding, pulling it into the spotlight as a government propaganda outlet.
After a DOJ indictment was unsealed, with an outpouring of speculation on social Media, today I wanted to weigh in on what the reality of Russian state propaganda really is, what reasonable conclusions we can draw, and where it all goes from here.
#tenet #russia #newsNintendo is Going After Palworld - (Its Not What You Think)Upper Echelon2024-09-22 | Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECHELON at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/echelon
With a new Patent Infringement lawsuit from Nintendo (aimed at Pocket Pair, the developers of Palworld for their similarities to Pokemon), I wanted to take some time and discuss the likelihood of this lawsuit ending up in Nintendos favor, despite very little long term consequences for Palworld as a game, and the historical precedent for why this outcome seems most probable.
As gaming fans on either side interpret the lawsuit and dig their heels in... reality may be a lot less extreme, and a lot more reasonable for two giant (and very successful) companies.
#palworld #nintendo #pokemonA Bungie Executive & A Disney Princess - Cancelled by YOUR OWN CultureUpper Echelon2024-09-21 | Over 3 years after the Destiny 2 community was rocked by series of coordinated accusations. Now, long after it all began, things have finally come putting one of the most vocal critics, and outspoken organizers of that campaign (responsible for personally targeting this channel as well) back in the spotlight, as her Bungie executive husband gets fired for repeated harassment of female employees.
After a dedicated campaign to ruin a fellow streamer, (a blatant showcase of cancel culture with targeted effect) and a subsequent effort to squash criticism through disingenuous tactics... I wanted to put a capstone on that saga with a final look back at everything that went down, and a perfect example of casting stones, from glass houses.
#sarahdaniels #bungie #chrisbarrettThe LAWSUIT Against Mr. Beast and AmazonUpper Echelon2024-09-18 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at surfshark.com/echelon
As if the Beast media Empire needed any more controversy, there is now a class actin lawsuit against Mr Beast, Beast holdings and Amazon, which alleges employee wages were improperly paid, and that documents were falsified to receive millions in Tax Credits from the Nevada State Film Commission.
With a history of using their own employees as contestant sin prior videos, there might be a hidden monster in this lawsuit that causes problems elsewhere in the company as the well deserved downfall of Mr Beast continues.
#mrbeast #amazon #beastgamesWe Need to Talk About GRUMMZ - Accountability in GamingUpper Echelon2024-09-11 | After roughly 8 years, 600 thousand dollars of total backer funding and a relatively intense political activism campaign... I wanted to finally take a look at Grummz (AKA Mark Kern) who has become a divisive figure in the industry more than ever before.
A spiritual successor to Firefall, a crowdfunding initiative reminiscent of Zoe Quinn's... and a stated goal of causing the industry to "make better games"... all combine to form a perfect storm where backers have questions, and critics have ammunition. Today I wanted to discuss all of it... and hopefully make a positive impact on the overall situation.
BIG Shoutout to McDizzle Gaming (Channels linked down below) and Mark Kern himself for speaking with me extensively about the state of the project, research, and overall vision. Thank you.
#grummz #firefall #emberThe Dark Reality of AdvertisingUpper Echelon2024-08-30 | Go to https://ground.news/echelon to see all sides of every story. Subscribe through my link to get 40% off unlimited access this month only.
After a leaked pitch deck from Cox Media Group was discovered, the concept of devices listening to our private conversations in order to serve up advertising has taken on a whole new light.
The question that major companies are asking, is no longer "How do we make the ads more targeted"... the question they asking, is now "how do we use the technology we have, without triggering customer paranoia.
We are now in a digital age where your devices will directly listen in on your everyday conversations, identifying keywords, and serving you advertisements that they know you are most likely to buy.
#advertising #smartphone #technologyThe Future of Mr Beasts Reputation... is BleakUpper Echelon2024-08-29 | As the media empire surrounding Mr Beast remains relatively silent, another DogPack404 video has dropped with allegations against two high ranking current/former employees at the Mr Beast group of companies.
This new video highlights a workplace culture that has been allowed to spin out of control, not unlike what was seen at Activision Blizzard in 2022. One particularly notable section includes a direct allegation that Jimmy Donaldson knew about specific issues... and directly worked to cover them up... but regardless of where the road leads, one thing that is abundantly clear is that the company has a problem with its internal culture.
With that in mind, I wanted to highlight the parallels here and discuss how Mr Beasts reputation is likely damaged beyond repair, with every passing decision he makes contributing further to one of the most spectacular YouTube falls from grave we have ever seen.
#mrbeast #dogpack404 #youtubeBlack Myth: Wukong - TARGET of the Culture WarUpper Echelon2024-08-26 | Black Myth: Wukong (After storming the games industry with millions of players and record setting interest)... is now being subjected to faux outrage over a "lack of diversity"... as opposing commentary proclaims victory in a conflict that isn't even remotely relevant.
A Chinese game, finding success on the basis of merit, has somehow become the beacon for two sides to argue when the foundation of that argument has nothing to do with either of them.
I for one, am happy to see this game breaking records, especially when its a well made product, with complete features, and a profound lack of monetary greed. Its incredible to see, even if the political sides of the carnival are hellbent on arguing with each other.
#blackmyth #wukong #gamingThe REAL Problem With Gaming Media - Deadlock and Access JournalismUpper Echelon2024-08-17 | Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECHELON at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/echelon
CORRECTION: The article was amplified by Tom Warren but originally written by Sean Hollister. Everything said in the video remains correct and I stand by it... however the author and editor names got mixed up.
The problem of "Access Journalism" isn't unique to the world of video games, but for some reason in video games, the audience is making it ten times worse by willfully propping up the idea that publishers should be enforcing access tactics on even the most widespread public leaks.
Its one thing to consistently blame Gaming Media for their failures... but its quite another to cheer on the very problem itself just because you happen to like a studio that mass released their game early with zero protections.
In ANY other industry, reporting on a subject like this would be commonplace, but here in Video Games, people have decided to completely forsake the concept of rational consistency.
#deadlock #valve #videogamesArena Breakout: Infinite(Greed)Upper Echelon2024-08-14 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at surfshark.com/echelon
Arena Breakout Infinite is a perfect example of lying to your secondary customers. The game has amazing potential, but it was never meant to capture a PC audience, leading to an unfortunate scenario where the developers have directly lied about monetization in favor of mechanisms that were "tested" by a mobile market, and translated into a PC game.
It has some great features, but the overseas publishing arm of Tencent has unsurprisingly decided that making a good (and fair) game, is secondary to greedy and deceptive practices. Hopefully the game can improve, but so far it is a shining example of why Mobile and PC markets should not co-exist or mingle. Leave the garbage on the phones.
#arenabreakout #escapefromtarkov #extractionThe Mr Beast Disaster Could DAMAGE YouTube - A Content Gold RushUpper Echelon2024-08-12 | The Mr Beast Content "Gold Rush" could have serious ramifications for the platform as the golden child of YouTube is bombarded by ever worsening scandals with inadequate response.
While some creators (myself included) squabble over minor issues and opinions, the entire platform is now risking the availability of advertising as the creator once viewed as the pinnacle of the ecosystem is mired in controversy.
Its hard to differentiate how far is too far as a seemingly never ending parade of youtubers (again, myself included) cover the situation repeatedly with extremely high relative viewership. Good or bad... that's up to the viewers.
Also... its a little annoying when possibly the largest legal channel on all of YouTube, clips me out of context, and then calls me wrong when the NEXT SENTENCE after the clip they chose says the very thing they called me wrong for not knowing.
#mrbeast #youtube #videosPROTECTING P philes? - The DESTRUCTION of Mr Beasts Media EmpireUpper Echelon2024-08-08 | The "Mr Beast Media Empire" is in chaos. With new allegations about company personnel, as well as prior challenges and inhumane working conditions, the facade of the worlds largest YouTuber... (a pseudo "philanthropist" whose channel is more akin to a children's psychologically exploitative lottery/casino)... is cracking.
For someone obsessed with being worshipped, and loved by poor people around the world... its shocking to me that he would place so little emphasis on real human empathy, and reputable behavior.
As the world wakes up to what the "Mr Beast" media empire really is... I expect that the situation will continue to make headlines... as Amazon, and YouTube (among others) closely evaluate their stance on the issues.
DogPack404's new interview of Jake Weddle is a scathing look at the inner workings of the Beast Empire.
#mrbeast #mrbeastcrew #youtuberMr Beast is Covering Up EVERYTHING (Part 2) - Videos Edited, Comments DeletedUpper Echelon2024-08-07 | As the COVERUP of controversial material continues... I want to draw attention to the stealth editing of videos, and comment section purges of the Mr Beasts YouTube channel dating back over 6 years to cover up any connection they can find to "unsavory" public figures.
Somehow, the validity of the "dislike" number for mr Beasts latest video ("Survive 100 days in a nuclear bunker") is being called into question, when the real question, is why the worlds largest influencer can execute predatory business practices, and unethical behavior at will... without being held to any reasonable standard that is applied to programs and gameshows far smaller by comparison.
When caught, they simply delete everything, and the cycle will inevitably continue unless the online community refuses to allow them that option.
#mrbeast #gameshow #coverupSkill based Matchmaking... Is Good? - JuSt TrUsT uSUpper Echelon2024-08-05 | After a new research paper was released by Activision Blizzard, showcasing the benefits to "Skill Based Matchmaking"... gamers are faced with a scenario where they must blindly trust that a potentially valuable tool, will be implemented in ethical ways.
That's a bit tricky to do... when publishers like Activision and EA have proven time and time again that they're willing to use predatory means for the sake of profit, however the revelation that "SBMM" or "EOMM" (Engagement Optimized Matchmaking) can have dramatically positive impacts on the overall community... are something worth looking at.
#activision #videogames #gamingThe Mr Beast COVERUP Has Begun - (Part 1)Upper Echelon2024-08-02 | With a trifecta of issues facing Mr Beast and his team... (in my opinion)... a full scale coverup operation has begun. Silence the whistleblowers, suppress the footage, and make sure that the truth can never come out, because the truth appears to be mismanagement, favoritism, and predation of the highest order.
Safety concerns, injuries, inappropriate behavior, accusations of illegal lotteries, underaged gambling and more... has left the worlds largest YouTuber as a living example of the wrong way to respond, and the worst things to do in the face of public scrutiny.
At this stage it seems clear what their tactics will be... however I hold out hope that for the sake of the platforms reputation, the worlds most watched "influencer" will wake up to the fact that his behavior is inherently held to a very high standard. (especially when you deliberately target an audience of underage children)
#mrbeast #editing #riggedYour New AI FRIEND is a DISASTER ProductUpper Echelon2024-08-01 | Use code ECHELON50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box plus 20% off your next month of orders at bit.ly/4fvyllE
"Friend" (a new AI wearable accessory) is facing difficult times, with one of the most irresponsibly expensive domain name purchases yet, a founder with what can only be described as "suspect origins"... and competition that is beating them to market with virtually the same exact open source product.
With a Silicon Valley AI investor goldrush, and some of the worst products in the world coming out aiming to capitalize on blind greed..."Friend" appears to be the next domino in a chain of very obviously bad products, and bad corporate decision-making.
Not to mention the fact its a Bluetooth connected always recording AI necklace that listens in on your life, collecting on you (and others) that has no business being collected. Don't wear it. Don't support it.
#friend #AI #technologyAnother Useless Hollywood Strike - SAG AFTRAUpper Echelon2024-07-30 | Go to https://ground.news/echelon to see all sides of every story. Subscribe through my link to get 40% off unlimited access this month only.
"SAG-AFTRA" (the Hollywood union striking now against the Video Games Industry)... appears to be suffering from delusions of grandeur as they attempt to dictate terms, in a negotiation where they have a definitive lack of true bargaining power.
While I hope on a personal level that the worker sof this union find fair compensation, and quality protections... a strike over AI usage in gaming is a far cry from their previous strike against Hollywood Studios, and seeems to me like a disaster in the making.
#SAGAFTRA #strike #hollywoodThe Mr. Beast Team is IMPLODING - Worse and WorseUpper Echelon2024-07-30 | The "Mr Beast" Media team is completely imploding. With a spiraling disaster about a former employee on the basis of inappropriate conduct with a minor... another team member has now attempted to refute allegations of rigged gameshows and predatory lotteries... but the result is a response that only serves to make things worse.
Avoiding the issues that matter, blatantly misrepresenting reality, and further underscoring that the business model of YouTubers poster child... might just be lies, manipulation, and greed.
Oh... and deleting the remaining evidence on Facebook of Merchandise livestreams after people call them out as being possibly illegal lotteries... really doesn't help the narrative.
#mrbeast #editing #riggedYouTube is LOSING The Comment WarUpper Echelon2024-07-29 | YouTube is plagued by a number of issues, but one of the most obnoxious (and seemingly most prevalent) is spam/scam bots in the comment section of videos. Sometimes harmless, sometimes horribly damaging... these accounts are allowed to persist for years, with no action taken, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
After making great strikes in their efforts to solve the problem of accounts being hijacked for crypto scam livestreams, YouTube needs to pivot some resources into tackling the widespread phenomenon of malicious bots in the comment section of nearly all popular videos.
#comments #bot #cryptoThe Disaster Facing Mr. BeastUpper Echelon2024-07-27 | "Mr Beast" (the worlds largest, and most famous YouTuber) appears to have an ex employee openly claiming that he rigs competitions, and runs illegal lotteries.
With a barrage of situations recently bringing his company under a microscope, there are questions that need to be asked about when exactly a YouTube creator, bridges the gap to be held accountable by larger broadcasting laws with regards to lotteries, giveaways, sweepstakes and game shows.
With a career built around giving away large sums of money (with seemingly little oversight)... Mr. Beast is sitting in a metaphorical house of cards.
#mrbeast #giveaway #gameshowThe Media Vs. The Players - Yasuke Controversy Gets WORSEUpper Echelon2024-07-25 | The "Yasuke" Controversy (kicked off by Ubisoft) has gotten worse after an enraged media took issue with the companies failure to condemn the backlash in their preferred terms.
Insulting an entire nation, demeaning their own player base, and all of it because they are hyper fixated with fighting back against a very small subset of their audience who are blending in with a massive display of rightly articulated criticism.
The Media is once again showing itself as a short term anger machine that fails to consider the root of the issue, and the true reaosns why players are looking at Assassins Creed Shadows (and "Yasuke") with concern.
#yasuke #assassinscreed #ubisoftThe Update That CRASHED Society - CrowdStrikeUpper Echelon2024-07-20 | CrowdStrike (one of the worlds largest cyber security firms)... released an unvetted update that shut down large parts of the financial, healthcare, logistics and tech world, in what is (by far) the largest IT blunder of human history.
It is a chilling reminder of just how fragile the systems we rely on actually are, and how close we are at any given moment to simple lines of code de-stabilizing large parts of the modern world. Crowdstrike exists as a company to protect operating systems from threats, but this time, it was the source of all their problems.
#Crowdstrike #tech #technologyCAPTCHAs are Killing the Internet - Are You Even Real?Upper Echelon2024-07-19 | "CAPTCHA"s (once an industry standard security verification system online)... has become nothing more than a nuisance to actual human users, with no discernable upside, and ample methods of bypass.
With proxy services and AI programs all dedicated to defeating these "checks"... the CAPTCHA system is an antiquated defensive measure that the internet has not yet abandoned.
#CAPTCHA #AI #machinelearningThe Collapse of DEI - A Corporate LieUpper Echelon2024-07-18 | "DEI" (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) initiatives are built on a falsehood. As with anything... building without a proper fundation, yields unsustainable results, and that is precisely what we are witnessing in the world of DEI, "BRIDGE", and ESG.
However, there is a widespread lack of understanding about what these issues are, where they came from, or why they are pulling back, which led me to making this video about the concept of DEI, where it came from, and the true reasons why we are now watching it fail.
As large companies like Microsoft, Google and Meta begin dismantling their DEI programs... the writing is on the wall for one of the most divisive topics of the past few years.
If you like the content please consider supporting through the links below, particularly Locals and Patreon. Thank you.
#DEI #corporate #culturePerfectly Mediocre - First Descendant ReviewUpper Echelon2024-07-15 | Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECHELON at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/echelon
First Descendant is a perfectly mediocre dose of rehashed concepts that are certainly fun (at times)... while also becoming incredibly tedious and repetitive, with wasted time and frustrations galore.
Its enjoyable, and it makes me want to play more... but it also makes me wonder about whether or not its worth my time. A developer that is attempting full-send monetizatin techniques designed to irritate you, with a proven track record of deceiving their own community... but a game that is engaging and snappy, with a lot of strong things going for it.
Honestly, im conflicted on what to say about this game because it is a stunning example of how zero innovation can still yield astounding success. I just hope that Nexon can get the balance right, which I'm extremely skeptical of.
#firstdescendant #nexon #videogamesIs Google RUINING The Internet?Upper Echelon2024-07-11 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at https://surfshark.deals/echelon
Google (while its own researchers warn about the negative consequences)... is continuing to push generative AI and "AI Solutions" down our throats with zero remorse.
The Internet is getting bombarded now by a never ending torrent of AI generated slop, and google (fully aware of what's happening)... has decided that it may just be totally fine with them. From Facebook, to scientific research, AI is infiltrating our everyday lives, backed by trillion dollar corporations and even their own staff members are sounding alarm.
#google #internet #aiIf You Hold Essence... Youre a GENIUS - Earth 2 is BACKUpper Echelon2024-07-03 | Visit Car Keys Express today at http://cke.co/UpperEchelon and receive an extra 15% off for the next 30 days at checkout! Thank you, Car Keys Express, for sponsoring this video! #SnapKey
After 3+ Years of development... Earth 2 is finally coming together. With a crypto token crashing in value, land that cant really be sold, and a world where the basic building blocks are years behind any industry standard... its community remains dedicated to the idea that this is the next fortnite, the next metaverse, and the next get rich quick opportunity... with financial freedom in tow.
Today... I wanted to talk about where the project is at, why its hilarious to me, and revisit a once beloved topic on the channel that has spent far too long out of the sunlight.
#earth2 #metaverse #cryptoThe Sudden Fall of DrDisrespectUpper Echelon2024-06-27 | Go to https://ground.news/echelon to see all sides of every story. Subscribe through my link to get 40% off unlimited access this month only.
7 Years after the events, (and 4 years after his Twitch Ban) DrDisrespect is back in the news over his conduct in 2017... leading to one of the fastest collapses of gaming stardom ive ever seen.
From humble beginnings, to internet super-status... DrDisrespect is an example of how the court of public opinion can make or break someone in the blink of an eye. What he actually did, and the extent his conduct may always be somewhat of a mystery, but today we discuss the rise (and rapid fall) of DrDisrespect.
#drdisrespect #twitch #streamingGaming Whales Secretly Funding Nuclear ResearchUpper Echelon2024-06-26 | Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/upperechelon Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more. See important Masterworks disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
MiHoYo (the developers of Mega Hit Gacha Game "Genshin Impact") are slowly investing in medical and clean energy tech across a variety of industries, as they live up to their motto of "Tech Otakus Save the World"
In an industry where major publishers often display extremely predatory practices, having Anime Gacha Games be an example of money used better... is a very strange thing to be saying. Yet here we are.
#gacha #genshinimpact #mihoyoSweet Baby EXTORTING Black Myth Wukong? - I Dont Think SoUpper Echelon2024-06-21 | Black Myth: Wukong (an upcoming Action RPG game from Game Science) has become the subject of controversy after a Weibo influencer posted a claim about Sweet Baby Incorporated... leading to an amplification on twitter, and now an army of claims about 7 million dollars of extortion, media hit-pieces and IGN bias.
Today I wanted to give my take on what seems to be a clearly fake story, built on a game of telephone where claims take on a life of their own without a shred of actual evidence.
#wukong #sweetbaby #IGNKick is Poisoning SocietyUpper Echelon2024-06-20 | "Kick" (a live streaming competitor to twitch) is becoming a glaring example of what happens when you fail to punish people properly.
As children and teenagers flock to the platform, attempting to gain fame and fortune, they have begun mass broadcasting behavior that has no place on a livestreaming service, and negatively impacts the entirely world around them.
Until the culture is changed on Kick, and the platform begins properly removing violative content, it is a place to be avoided that is poisoning the minds of everyone watching.
#kick #streaming #twitchMatrix - A Pit of Abuse with Government TiesUpper Echelon2024-06-17 | "Matrix" (a government connected federated messaging protocol, similar to discord in many ways)... is grappling with an overwhelming problem, where a substantial portion of its userbase, utilizes the service purely to disperse vile content, and circumvent online laws.
As the community struggles to make that all change, and documents the widespread problem, I wanted to discuss what seems to be a great piece of software on paper, but has become an extremely damaging application in practice.
#matrix #government #discordThe Chaos of The Worlds Most Valuable Album - Martin Shkreli Vs. PleasrDAOUpper Echelon2024-06-12 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at https://surfshark.deals/echelon
The worlds most valuable music album... meets one of the worlds most hated men. (Martin Shkreli). A lawsuit involving a Crypto "DAO"... a big pharma fraudster, and a multi-million dollar Wu Tang album is set to go forward in a "winner take all" match regarding copyright, in the most hilarious way possible.
"Once Upon a Time in Shaolin" has made history twice as the most valuable album ever sold... and it might just make history again, as the mechanism by which hated Pharma/Hedge Fund executive Martin Shkreli goes back to jail.
#wutang #hiphop #cryptoVideo Games Play YOU... (Not The Other Way Around)Upper Echelon2024-06-08 | Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECHELON at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/echelon
Video games have evolved over time. What started as a meritocracy of peer to peer competition... has now become a constantly changing maze of parameters designed to manipulate the player base, keep them online, and cause them to spend.
With clearly defined systems (patented by companies like Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts, and exposed by executives now working for Ubisoft) designed to award wins and losses, or change even basic fundamental mechanics such as "player aim"... Video games no longer exist to be played... they exist to play their users.
#gaming#videogames #callofdutyYouTube Music has a CRITICAL FlawUpper Echelon2024-06-04 | Youtube Music has a critical vulnerability where copyright trolls can use distribution channels to not only steal, but absorb the stats of legitimate artists while stealing their revenue and forcing them off the platform.
As long as this only targets small creators, YouTube will likely remain unaware, but distribution companies are an abuseable service that fails to conduct proper due diligence, while facilitating theft and copyright abuse at an alarming level.
Hopefully YouTube will become aware, and fix this issue for Ghost Data, as well as any other affected channels who have fallen prey to these type of predatory tactics.
#youtubemusic #music #musicindustryThe Unturned Gaming MysteryUpper Echelon2024-05-31 | "Unturned" (a roblox mod spinoff, and once viral steam game) appears to have wildly over-inflated current player numbers, as it consistently ranks in the top 20 all time most played games.
Whether for the purpose of gaining credibility, or supporting a market of item speculation... it requires the questions to be asked "Who" is making sure this game sits far above its actual concurrent player count... and more importantly "Why" are they choosing to do so.
With the only other comparison game being Team Fortress 2 (a game notorious for its bot presence)... I wanted to talk about an Anomaly in the free PC game community, and discuss why it may be happening.
#unturned #roblox #steamThe Internets Bottomless Money Pit - Twitter (X)Upper Echelon2024-05-28 | Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/upperechelon Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more. See important Masterworks disclosures: masterworks.com/cd
In a world where advertising has taken over the entire broader internet, one platform in particular seems purpose built to facilitate fraud on a massive scale.
As Twitter continues to make changes... the level of advertising fraud continuously grows, with some groups even bragging about the ability to take hundreds of thousands of dollars "Directly out of Elons Pocket".
Today we examine the internets bottomless money pit, with false traffic and AI governed bot networks harvesting millions of dollars from unnformed advertisers.
#socialmedia #advertising #moneyThe Death of The InternetUpper Echelon2024-05-25 | With Google rolling out new AI "overview" features from Gemini (that tell people to eat rocks, put glue in their food, and refer to some of the worlds deadliest mushrooms as the wrong "yummy" type...) The question has to be asked "is the internet dying"
When over 80% of search traffic funnels through one particular site (a site that used to be a beacon of information availability)... is a choice by that websites owner to compress everything down to the worst version of itself through machine learning the inflection point for the death of the Internet we once had.
#temu #shein #technologyThe Dark Future of Your YouTube FeedUpper Echelon2024-05-23 | Go to https://ground.news/echelon to see all sides of every story. Subscribe through my link to get 40% off unlimited access this month only.
YouTube is now grappling with the concept of fully automated AI produced content. Its hard for some of us to think about, but the future of fully automated start to finish YouTube video production is right around the corner and the effects it will have on your content feed, and browsing experience are enormous.
Today I wanted to discuss what seems to be an early warning sign of what's to come... while acknowledging that there very well may be an expiration date on the viability of YouTube as a Human Creator dominated platform.
#youtube #ai #contentcreatorThe Temu Invasion - Do Not Use ItUpper Echelon2024-05-16 | "Temu" (And Shein) are rising e-commerce platforms out of China, that are breaking into a western market with extreme force.
On the surface, these platforms are just easy alternatives with great price points, but in reality they are a sinister endeavor that circumvents import laws, and benefits from forced labor and human rights violations.
Setting aside privacy concerns (of which there are many)... a choice has to be made when using these platforms, and its a choice that people should be fully aware of.
#temu #shein #technologyThe Dark Future of RelationshipsUpper Echelon2024-05-14 | Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code ECHELON for an extra 4 months free at https://surfshark.deals/echelon
With the rise of "companion AI" and "Virtual Girlfriends"... the future of Relationships is in a dark place. Simply because a profit opportunity exists, does not mean it should be capitalized on, and with dating application companies (like Bumble and Replika) pushing harder and harder towards AI as a solution for interpersonal struggles... the landscape of human to human interraction is becoming more and more difficult.
Dating applications are fundamentally at odds with their stated goal of "helping build connection" because success in that goal means the loss of customers. Overall... there is a Dark Future on the Horizon for Human to Human relationships.
#dating #datingapps #AIThe BetterHelp YouTube Virus is BACKUpper Echelon2024-05-11 | Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code ECHELON at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/echelon
"BetterHelp" (once a prominent YouTube sponsor...) is making a comeback on the platform after 6 years, with a massive advertising push in the wake of newly forgotten scandals, and breaches of trust.
While some viewers may not remember the details about this company... that doesn't change their track record, and it certainly does not mean that their business ethics have improved. Today I wanted to re-evaluate this company since it will be appearing on a lot peoples feeds with increasing frequency over the coming months.
#betterhelp #sponsorship #counsellingApples Dystopian Advertising BlunderUpper Echelon2024-05-10 | Apple decided to release an advertisement that basically showcases callous destruction of beloved creative tools. "Buy Our Ipad" seems to be the desired message... but the result is a demonstration of technology and Silicon Valley destroying basic human experience in a way that is completely dystopian.
#Apple #advertising #technologyUnchecked Greed in Gaming - How The Industry is Destroying ItselfUpper Echelon2024-05-08 | With Microsoft shutting down studios, and dispersing multi hundred million dollar payouts on their acquisitions... todays video is meant to examine a structure that fully incentivizes gaming companies to avoid creativity, stifle innovation, and focus all their efforts into predatory monetization for the personal enrichment of a few executives.
Take Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft and many more companies are at fault for an industry descending into Unchecked Greed.
#gaming #microsoft #microtransactionsThe Helldivers 2 Fiasco - How Sony Got DestroyedUpper Echelon2024-05-07 | After Sony decided to try and enforce a completely ridiculous account linking policy, the Helldivers 2 community has risen up and put them in their place.
After hundreds of thousands of negative reviews, and a coordinated effort from the player population, Sony has backed down and overturned their asinine policy, in a massive win for the community that is very well deserved. PC players have managed to show with stone cold clarity that publishers cannot, and should not be able to do whatever they please without repercussions.
#helldivers2 #ghelldivers #sonyGray Zone Warfare - A Diamond in the RoughUpper Echelon2024-05-06 | Gray Zone Warfare is a freshly released early access title that adds much needed competition to the Extraction Shooter genre. While different from its peers in many respects, it is also similar enough to where good development decisions could likely capitalize on the stagnation of an entire genre in a very compelling way.
Performance issues and other conceptual choices may be rough, and completely unpolished, but the level of potential here is amazing.
#grayzone #greyzone #tarkovThe OpenTable Impersonation ScamUpper Echelon2024-05-01 | With a rising proliferation of online scams, one of the latest examples brought to my attention has been an impersonation scheme regarding "OpenTable" which pulls victims into a funnel of increasingly large deposits to unlock alleged profits.
In reality, the entire thing is a carefully designed scheme to steal as much as possible from desperate job seekers, raking in almost a quarter million dollars per week from the four wallets I was able to find.
Don't fall for it. Awareness is the best weapon against online scamming.
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