Games

Neon White co-creator and game director Ben Esposito, right, and co-creator Geneva Hodgson pose for photos in Glendale, Calif., Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Neon White is nominated for "Best Indie" in Thursday's Game Awards, the Oscars of the video game industry. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Making ‘indie’ video games gets trickier as industry evolves

Every year, some tiny and independent video game developer studios like hold their own with the big leagues by making hit games that achieve commercial success or at least critical acclaim.

This combination of images shows promotional art for “Something from Tiffany’s,” a film premiering Dec. 9 on Prime Video, from left, the Disney+ documentary “Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?,” "George & Tammy" a Showtime series premiering Dec. 4 and "Emancipation," a film premiering on Apple TV+ on Dec. 9. (Prime Video/Disney+/Showtime/Apple TV+ via AP)

New this week: Will Smith, ‘Pinocchio’ and ‘George & Tammy’

England's Phil Foden waves towards the fans after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Game of lies bonds England ahead of Senegal World Cup clash

FILE - Professor Ernő Rubik, inventor of Rubik's Cube, is photographed in New York on Sept. 18, 2018. Rubik has seen his color-matching puzzle go from a classroom teaching tool in Cold War-era Hungary to a worldwide phenomenon with over 450 million cubes sold and a mini-empire of related toys. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

The mind behind the Rubik’s Cube celebrates a lasting puzzle

AP source: Rose Bowl clears way for 12-team CFP in 2024

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Sheriff: Deputy fatally shot deputy in ‘avoidable’ accident

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) — A deputy mistakenly shot and killed his roommate, who was also a deputy, as the two took a break from playing an online game with friends while they were off duty, a Florida sheriff said.

This combination of images shows promotional art for "Riches," a series premiering Dec. 2 on Amazon, left, and "Sr.," a documentary premiering on Netflix on Dec. 2, and "The Eternal Daughter," a film which opens in theaters and on video on demand Friday, Dec. 2. (Amazon via AP, left, and Netflix via AP)

New this week: ‘Riches,’ Robert Downey Sr. and BTS’ RM

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music and video game platforms this week.

This combination of photos shows promotional art for "Welcome to Chippendales," a series premiering Nov 22, left, "The Woman King," available on VOD on Nov. 22, center, and "Love. Lizzo," a film premiering Nov. 24 on HBO Max. (Hulu/Sony Pictures/HBO Max via AP)

New this week: Lizzo, ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘The Woman King’

This week’s new entertainment releases include an live posthumous album from Tom Petty, the criminal profile spinoff series “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” a documentary about the plucky Mars Rover Opportunity and a TV series that focuses on the backstage melodrama at the Chippendale’s male strip clubs

This photo shows the cover of the seventh edition of “The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary” released in November. The latest edition adds about 500 new words for Scrabble play. (Merriam-Webster via AP)

Happy hygge! Scrabble dictionary adds hundreds of words

Here’s the sitch, Scrabble stans. Your convos around the board are about to get more interesting with about 500 new words and variations added to the game’s official dictionary.

From Wordle to sweets, holiday gift ideas for the grown-ups

Adults. They, too, need fun stuff for the holidays. There’s a wide range of gifty possibilities this holiday season.

Judges Milan D. Smith Jr., from left, sits on a panel with Sidney R. Thomas and Michael J. McShane before hearing arguments at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Apple is heading into a courtroom faceoff against Epic Games, the company behind the popular Fortnite video game, reviving a high-stakes antitrust battle over whether the digital fortress shielding the iPhone's app store illegally enriches the world's most valuable company while stifling competition. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Battle over the iPhone app store spills into appeals court

Apple and the company behind the popular video game Fortnite squared off Monday before three federal appellate judges who will decide the next round in a high-stakes battle over whether the iPhone app store is an illegal monopoly that stifles competition and drives up consumer prices.

This combination of photos show promotional art for the documentary treatment “Mickey: The Story of a Mouse,” debuting Nov. 18, on Disney+, left, the holiday comedy “Spirited,” a riff on “A Christmas Carol” starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, debuting Nov. 18, on Apple TV+., center, and the fantasy adventure film “Slumberland,” debuting Nov. 18 on Netflix. (Disney+/Apple TV+/Netflix via AP)

New this week: ‘Spirited,’ Pokémon, ‘Nope’ and ‘Slumberland’

This week’s new entertainment releases include an album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, a documentary about how Mickey Mouse became beloved by children and adults and a cash machine for Disney’s growing entertainment empire, and Chris Hemsworth puts himself and his body to the test in National Geograph

FILE - Kevin Conroy participates during a Q&A panel at Wizard World on Aug. 24, 2019, in Chicago. Conroy, the prolific voice actor whose gravely voice on the “Batman: The Animated Series" was for many Batman fans the definite sound of the Caped Crusader, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 66. Warner Bros., which produced the series, announced Friday. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)

Kevin Conroy, a defining voice of Batman, dies at 66

Kevin Conroy has died at 66. The prolific voice actor’s gravely delivery on the “Batman: The Animated Series” was for many Batman fans the definitive sound of the Caped Crusader.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, runs the ball as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick gives chase during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

49ers look to show off new offense vs. Chargers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan has been known as one of the NFL’s most creative play-callers.

FILE - A traveler walks past an advertisement featuring a Nintendo character at Narita airport in Narita near Tokyo on June 10, 2022. Nintendo hopes to leverage a new Super Mario movie, various merchandising and theme parks to draw more people into playing its video games, President Shuntaro Furukawa said Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)

Nintendo counting on forays beyond video games to boost fans

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo hopes to leverage a new Super Mario movie, various merchandising and theme parks to draw more people into playing its video games, President Shuntaro Furukawa said Wednesday.

An employee tests a version of Call of Duty on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Activision Blizzard, Infinity Ward Division, in Woodland Hills, Calif. Call of Duty has been one of the best-selling video games for the past decade-plus, and is at the heart of the developing antitrust fight over whether Microsoft will be able to acquire Activision Blizzard. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

EU’s Call of Duty: Probe Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal

The European Union has launched an investigation into Microsoft’s planned takeover of video game giant Activision Blizzard, fearing the $69 billion deal would distort fair competition to popular titles like Call of Duty.

This combination of photos shows promotional art for the cooking competition series "The Big Brunch," left, the series “Pawn Stars Do America," center, and the film "Is That Black Enough for You?" (HBO Max/History/Netflix via AP)

New this week: Bruce Springsteen, ‘The Big Brunch’ and Sonic

This week’s new entertainment releases include albums by Bruce Springsteen and Louis Tomlinson, Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” hits HBO Max, and Dan Levy of Emmy-winning “Schitt’s Creek” fame has “The Big Brunch,” a cooking competition he created and hosts.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain speaks during the NASCAR Championship media day, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Wall-hugging Chastain, red-hot Bell eye 1st NASCAR title

Ross Chastain skyrocketed to motorsports infamy for wall-riding his way into NASCAR’s championship race with a video-game style move that has overshadowed the finale and his fellow title contenders.

This combination of images shows promotional art for "Manifest," a series airing Nov. 4, on Netflix, "Enola Holmes 2," a film premiering Nov. 4 on Netflix and "Causeway," a film premiering Nov. 4 on Apple TV+. (Netflix/Netflix/Apple TV+ via AP)

New this week: Radcliffe gets weird, ‘Causeway’ and Phoenix

This week’s new entertainment releases include albums by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Phoenix, Daniel Radcliffe takes on “Weird Al” Yankovic on film and George Lopez’ returns to sitcoms in “Lopez vs.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain speaks during the NASCAR Championship media day, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Chastain’s video game-inspired ride puts more eyes on NASCAR

Ross Chastain’s video game-inspired ride along the wall at Martinsville carried him across the finish line, into the NASCAR championship finale and around the world.

Japan entertainment maker Sony ups forecasts as profits grow

TOKYO (AP) — Sony said Tuesday its quarterly profit through September rose 24% on healthy demand for its music and movies, prompting the Japanese entertainment and electronics giant to raise its annual sales and profit forecasts.

Ross Chastain watches cars during practice for the NASCAR auto race at Martinsville Speedway, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Column: Chastain rides the wall into NASCAR’s title race

Ross Chastain has been criticized all season by his rivals for being too aggressive on the track. He’s worried that they may be right.

Ross Chastain (1) leads Kevin Harvick (4) and Daniel Suarez (99) out of Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Bell wins, Chastain rides the wall to earn title race spots

Christopher Bell worked his way into NASCAR’s championship round the only way he could, winning at Martinsville Speedway to claim a spot in the finale.

Incarnate Word ground game chews up Texas A&M Commerce

COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Marcus Cooper ran for 183 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns and Incarnate Word beat Texas A&M Commerce 35-7 on Saturday.

A man wears a bulletproof vest that is mapped in a photogrammetry room for the video game series Call of Duty on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Activision Blizzard, Infinity Ward Division, in Woodland Hills, Calif. Call of Duty has been one of the best-selling video games for the past decade-plus, and is at the heart of the developing antitrust fight over whether Microsoft will be able to acquire Activision Blizzard. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

Call of Duty’s latest battle is between Microsoft and Sony

Hunting down your enemies on the bustling streets of Amsterdam, along the U.S.-Mexico border or in a Middle Eastern fishing village is just part of the intense action in the latest Call of Duty video game.

This combination of images shows promotional art for the documentary “A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting,” debuting Oct. 26 on HBO Max, left, "Barbarian," the low-budget indie horror available on VOD on Oct. 25, center, and “The Good Nurse,” premiering Oct. 28 on Netflix. (HBO Max/20th Century Studios/Netflix via AP)

New this week: Scary movies, Lainey Wilson, ‘Call of Duty’

This week’s new entertainment releases include albums from Lainey Wilson and a Garbage anthology, the video on demand releases of horror films “Pearl” and “Barbarian” and the latest installment of the “Call of Duty” video game franchise.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels scores a touchdown agaanst Mississippi during an NCAA college football game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (Scott Clause/The Daily Advertiser via AP)

Dynamic Daniels, LSU, roar back on No. 7 Ole Miss, 45-20

Jayden Daniels ran for three touchdowns and passed for two scores, and LSU roared back from an early two-touchdown deficit to hand No. 7 Mississippi its first loss this season, 45-20.

Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Mississippi won 52-28. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Kiffin: No. 7 Ole Miss faces toughest road test yet at LSU

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin offered a blunt assessment of the challenge facing the unbeaten and seventh-ranked Rebels when they visit LSU on Saturday.

Former Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green, the coach of Lakeland University's esports program in Wisconsin, spoke at a conference in Atlantic City, N.J. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 at which participants agreed there is great untapped economic potential in bringing together the global audience of competitive video games with the gambling industry. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Esports video games hold vast betting potential, experts say

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Competitive video games hold vast economic potential in the U.S. and worldwide, particularly once gambling companies figure out how to interest players and spectators in betting on them, participants in an industry conference said Tuesday.

Mississippi running back Zach Evans (6) fights off a tackle attempt by a Auburn player during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Mississippi won 48-34. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Pick your poison against Kiffin’s No. 7 Ole Miss offense

One week, Mississippi zapped Vanderbilt for 448 passing yards. The next, the seventh-ranked Rebels bulldozed Auburn’s defense for the same number of yards on the ground.

Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) scrambles past the Vanderbilt defense during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV/The Tennessean via AP)

No. 9 Mississippi hosts struggling Auburn after comeback win

Lane Kiffin and No. 9 Mississippi are trying to keep rolling along.

Bryan Harsin and Auburn just want to stop the bleeding.

Mississippi wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (1) races up the field with a 71-yard touchdown reception, past Vanderbilt linebacker De'Rickey Wright (43) during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV/The Tennessean via AP)

Ole Miss’ Mingo has record performance a year after injury

Elijah Moore was rooting for Jonathan Mingo to break his record.

The former All-American at Mississippi and current New York Jets wide receiver texted his old teammate during last weekend’s game, hoping he’d keep getting the ball.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, jokes around with guard Jamal Murray during the NBA basketball team's Media Day, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Nuggets’ Murray ready to rejoin forces with 2-time MVP Jokic

DENVER (AP) — Here’s an example of just how much Jamal Murray was missed: Introduced before a preseason home game, the Denver Nuggets all rushed over to swarm him.

FILE - NBC Sports commentators Mike Tirico, left, and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broadcast from the field before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New Orleans. Brees put his broadcasting career on hold after one year to spend weekends with his family. Going back to the booth or studio is always a possibility for the 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback who worked in a variety of roles for NBC last season. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)

Drew Brees enjoying family time, still open to broadcasting

Drew Brees put his broadcasting career on hold after one year to spend weekends with his family.

Going back to the booth or studio is always a possibility for the 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback who worked in a variety of roles for NBC last season.

The Tampa Bay Rays pose for a team picture after a baseball game against the Houston Astros Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Houston. The Rays won 7-3 and clinched a postseason berth. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Rays clinch AL wild-card spot; Astros get AL home-field edge

Drew Rasmussen pitched seven effective innings and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a playoff spot for the fourth straight season, beating the Houston Astros 7-3.