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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ukraine is using Steam Decks to control remote turret guns on the battlefield.</li><li>Steam Deck is a popular platform used for playing video games.</li></ul>Ukraine appears to be using a very popular video game system for an unusual purpose: remotely controlling gun turrets.The use of the Steam Deck platform to control the unmanned machine-gun systems highlights the continued influence of modern technologies in the Ukraine war, something also evident in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-typhoon-military-unit-drone-operations-training-2024-9">the prevalence of drones</a>.It also highlights the tendency to employ systems in ways outside of what they were intended to do, as is the case here.Ukraine's United24 Media, a government-run platform, shared a video of Ukrainian soldiers using the Steam Deck system to remotely control guns on social media over the weekend. The video notes that the remote-controlled gun turrets, the ShaBlya system which was developed by Ukrainian engineers and approved for use and mass production earlier this year, are one of the first "robots" on the front lines, designed to hold, target, and fire machine guns.The gun turret also has a thermal imager and wide-field cameras for locating targets, and it can fire out to a distance of just over three miles, according to United24.Footage of the turret being used in combat shows it being controlled by portable Steam Deck systems, video game platforms made by Valve that are used to play popular games such as the classic "Halo" series, "Elden Ring," and "Stardew Valley." Steam Decks are relatively new handheld gaming devices, but they have become popular for their portability and the variety of games that are available on the Steam store.But there are apparently other features, ones that the Ukrainians have figured out how to exploit. Reports of the Steam Deck being used in combat have been circulating since last year.The use of these systems to control remotely operated gun turrets, as United24's video notes, speaks to the significant use of a variety of different technologies in this war, especially when it comes to robots and drones.Both sides of the war have seen soldiers remotely controlling unmanned systems on the battlefield. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-footage-in-ukraine-twists-perception-of-the-war-shows-2023-12">First-person-view drones</a> are constantly harassing vehicles and troops, naval drones have been <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-attack-ukraine-shows-black-sea-fleet-dangerous-despite-losses-2024-8">sinking warships in the Black Sea</a>, reconnaissance drones direct strikes, and long-range drones have been used for deep strikes.There are a variety of benefits to remotely controlled systems. They can keep troops away from the fighting, potentially saving lives, and they offer a mix of tools to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russias-unjammable-wired-drones-arent-end-all-game-changer-2024-8">locate and target enemies</a>.The development of this technology is fast moving. Both Russia and Ukraine, especially in drone warfare, are racing to make advances in a sort of arms race against one another. One recent example is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-fiber-optic-unjammable-drones-fix-a-big-problem-war-2024-8">Russia's use of wired drones</a> to mitigate the effects of signal jamming on unmanned systems and drones.

Ukraine is fielding machine-gun turrets remotely controlled by the Steam Deck video game system made for playing Halo

<ul><li>The <keyword id="242110" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="valve">Valve</keyword> <keyword id="11651484" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="steam-deck">Steam Deck</keyword> is a new handheld gaming device with powerful hardware. </li><li>Designed like the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck is capable of running most games available on Steam, including the latest AAA titles. </li><li>The Steam Deck reservations begin July 16, and it is priced at $399. </li></ul>Valve, the US-based game developer company and the maker of Steam has announced its own dedicated handheld gaming device, the Steam Deck. This portable gaming device promises to pack a punch, too, bringing the power of dedicated gaming consoles into your hands. The Steam Deck sports a 7-inch display and runs on a quad-core AMD Ryzen Zen 2 processor. This is paired with the RDNA 2 graphics, with up to 512GB storage and 16GB of memory. If that isn’t enough to make you feel giddy, there’s more. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Steam Deck price and availability" comment="subhead" text="Steam Deck price and availability">Steam Deck price and availability</cmsannotation> The Steam Deck is priced starting at $399 (approx. ₹30,000) and reservations begin July 16, however, reservations are not open in India just yet. Don’t lose hope, though, as Valve says that expanded regional availability is coming soon. The Steam Deck will start shipping in December this year. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Steam Deck features, specs and design" comment="subhead" text="Steam Deck features, specs and design">Steam Deck features, specs and design</cmsannotation> The Steam Deck is loaded with controls and features. It uses a similar form factor as that of the Nintendo Switch, except it packs in a much more powerful punch. It runs on a tweaked version of Valve’s SteamOS, with an interface designed to enhance the ease of navigation. It sports a 7-inch HD resolution display, with a 60Hz refresh rate. <div type="image" title="Valve Steam Deck 1" msid="84464540" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Steam Deck&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Thanks to the Zen 2 processor paired with RDNA 2 graphics, the Steam Deck is powerful enough to run almost everything on the Steam store. Valve says that it is capable enough to run the latest AAA games as well. Beyond the powerful hardware, the Steam Deck also promises a complete gaming experience thanks to the abundant controls on hand – it has all the buttons you’d need, including full-sized joysticks. It also has four buttons on the back that can be mapped to do whatever you want. Valve says the 40 watt-hour battery should offer “several hours of play time for most games,”. For lighter games or streaming, the company says you can expect 7-8 hours of battery life. This will likely vary based on real life usage, but it does offer an approximate idea of what you can expect. But beyond gaming, the Steam Deck is actually a full-blown Linux computer. You can even attach a mouse, keyboard and connect the device to a monitor and download other software, app store or simply browse the web. And if the Steam Deck succeeds, Valve would consider launching future models, said Gabe Newell, the company’s co-founder in an <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-hands-on-impressions-details-valve-handheld-gaming-pc">interview</a> with IGN. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/from-a-new-aposhaloapos-game-to-the-long-awaited-aposstarfieldapos-xbox-just-showcased-a-huge-slate-of-new-games-coming-to-its-consoles/slidelist/83495242.cms">From a new 'Halo' game to the long-awaited 'Starfield,' Xbox just showcased a huge slate of new games coming to its consoles</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/forget-about-the-xbox-microsoft-is-all-in-on-its-netflix-for-gaming-subscription-service/articleshow/83520826.cms">Forget about the Xbox: Microsoft is all-in on its 'Netflix for gaming' subscription service</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/news/the-game-console-inside-the-new-tesla-model-x-and-s-is-powered-by-the-chipmaker-behind-the-playstation-5-and-xbox/articleshow/83158106.cms">The game console inside the new Tesla Model X and S is powered by the chipmaker behind the PlayStation 5 and Xbox</a>

Valve’s Steam Deck handheld gaming device promises to bring the power of consoles in your hands

<ul><li>Asus has confirmed the existence of the <keyword id="17032617" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ROG-Ally" source="Orion">ROG Ally</keyword>, a handheld gaming device that will compete with Valve's <keyword id="12955989" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="steam-deck" source="Orion">Steam Deck</keyword>.</li><li>The <keyword id="123436" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rog" source="Orion">ROG</keyword> Ally's release date and price remain unknown, but Asus has hinted at a competitive price range.</li><li>The ROG Ally has a 7-inch display with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 1920 x 1080p.</li></ul>Asus has unveiled a trailer for their upcoming handheld gaming device, competing with Valve's highly-anticipated Steam Deck. However, the timing of the trailer's release on April 1st led some to believe that it was a cleverly crafted April Fool joke. Despite the skepticism, Asus has since confirmed that the device is real and will soon hit the market as soon as the Taiwanese manufacturer confirms the Asus ROG Ally's official launch date. The highly anticipated handheld gaming console will be unveiled on May 11 at 10 am in New York, 3 pm in London, and 10 pm in Taipei. <div type="twitter" handle="ASUS_ROG" handlename="ROG Global" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1346369825019371525/awnlfQQs_normal.jpg" favoritecount="1034" retweetcount="209" status="The wait is almost over! 👏We are thrilled to announce that we will be unveiling our the ROG Ally's specifications,… https://t.co/pgmxXdFIIu" createdat="1682431203000" id="1650862237505163264"></div> Asus has confirmed that the device will be powered by the latest Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipsets, specifically designed to deliver high-performance gaming experiences on handheld consoles. This is impressive news for gamers looking for a powerful portable gaming experience. The ROG Ally will also boast a ‘high-performance’ display compatible with the ROG XG Mobile, Asus' mobile GPU. These features indicate that the device will likely offer a top-of-the-line gaming experience with stunning graphics and smooth gameplay. Popular YouTuber <a href="https://youtu.be/drLZxyv79Oo">Dave2D</a> has had a chance to go hands-on with the ROG Ally and has expressed his belief in Asus' claims about the device's powerful performance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Asus ROG Ally: Here’s what we know" comment="subhead" text="Asus ROG Ally: Here’s what we know">Asus ROG Ally: Here’s what we know</cmsannotation> Asus' latest handheld gaming device, the ROG Ally, boasts a design similar to the popular <keyword id="3768099" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nintendo-switch" source="Orion">Nintendo Switch</keyword> and Steam Deck. On the left side, users will find an analog stick and a D-pad, while on the right, there are face buttons and another analog stick placed at an offset angle. Both sides come with two vents and two navigation buttons, while the top section houses power and volume buttons, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack. There are also additional air vents at the top; the back has two buttons and more air vents. According to Dave2D, the ROG Ally measures 11.0 x 4.4 x 0.5 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds (0.58 kg), making it smaller and lighter than the Steam Deck, which measures 11.73 x 4.60 x 1.93 inches and weighs 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg). The ROG Ally has a 7-inch display with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 1920 x 1080p, with Asus claiming it can hit 500 nits of brightness. In contrast, the Steam Deck's 7-inch display has a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 and a 60Hz refresh rate, and Valve states that it can hit 400 nits of brightness. Asus claims that the ROG Ally has double the performance of the Steam Deck thanks to the custom Zen 4 RDNA3 4nm APU from AMD, which allows for higher graphics settings without sacrificing performance. Dave2D couldn't go into further detail, but he expressed confidence in AMD's performance claims based on his experience with the device. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/chatgpt-alternative-comes-to-iphone-with-perplexity-offering-its-own-ai-assistant-on-ios/articleshow/99139758.cms">ChatGPT alternative comes to iPhone with Perplexity, offering its own AI assistant on iOS</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/how-to-subscribe-verified-blue-tick-on-facebook-and-instagram/articleshow/99108865.cms">Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Verified on Facebook and Instagram with Meta Verified in India</a>

ROG Ally is Asus’ answer to the Steam Deck — here’s what we know about the hand held gaming console

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Photos show Ukrainian soldiers using a Steam Deck to operate the Sabre weapon system.</li><li>The US Navy has used Xbox controllers in some submarines since 2018.</li></ul>Ukrainian soldiers appear to be using an unusual device in combat against Russian forces: a video game console.Photos posted by the Ukrainian news outlet <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02Wiaz1uTFxNxDgc9V8LhE9iCzXaqCAzPpPXQJevkT16act9S5vcoEpwmQrJyAtNREl&amp;id=100089720168329&amp;mibextid=Nif5oz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TPO Media</a> showed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraines-military-balances-uneven-training-levels-after-year-of-war-2023-4">Ukrainian soldiers</a> remotely operating a machine gun turret using what appears to be a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/steam-deck-vs-nintendo-switch">Steam Deck</a> — a handheld video game console developed by the company Valve and released last year.The console was being used to control the "Sabre" weapon platform, TPO Media reported. The Sabre was created as the result of a successful <a href="https://www.peoplesproject.com/en/sabre-remote-weapon-station/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crowdfunding effort</a> that launched in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea, according to <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9g9z/ukraine-is-now-using-steam-decks-to-control-machine-gun-turrets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vice</a>. It is a remotely operated machine gun turret that can be controlled and fired from 500 meters away."This module is designed to destroy enemy personnel and light armored vehicles," the crowdfunding site says. "Unlike the standard platform, the module Sabre fully protects the soldier from enemy's fire as he is in an armored car or coordinating platform remotely."Valve, the maker of Steam Deck, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.According to the tech publication <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/ukrainian-army-uses-steam-deck-to-control-a-machine-gun-turret" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PCMag</a>, it's unlikely Valve supports the use of the Steam Deck in this way but the company probably can't prevent it since the console is a relatively open platform for running software.It's not the first time a military has utilized video game hardware.In 2017, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-uses-xbox-360-controllers-for-periscope-2017-9">US Navy announced it would begin using Xbox 360 controllers</a> to operate the photonics masts, which replaced periscopes, on submarines. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uss-colorado-photos-advanced-attack-sub-xbox-controller-2018-3">USS Colorado</a>, a 377-foot-long sub that joined the Navy's fleet in 2018, was the first to utilize the controllers.Cmdr. Reed Koepp said at the time utilizing the controllers saved money and had the added benefit of young sailors already knowing how to handle them, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/03/16/attack-submarine-colorado-xbox-controllers-included-join-fleet/431719002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today</a> reported.In March, <a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/us-military-video-game-controllers-war/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Task and Purpose</a> reported that at least two major weapons systems that the US military is investing in utilize Xbox-style controllers. <a href="https://twitter.com/_Sovinskiy/status/1626127011641974786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1626127011641974786%7Ctwgr%5Ee59e887b20e1591be6b7a810cf6065d6b9918b96%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftaskandpurpose.com%2Ftech-tactics%2Fus-military-video-game-controllers-war%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Photos</a> show the devices are of similar shape, size, and even button layout as an Xbox controller. Israel's armed forces have also turned to video games, utilizing Xbox controllers in tanks and artificial intelligence trained by the video game "StarCraft II" in its combat vehicles, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/07/28/new-israeli-tank-features-xbox-controllers-ai-honed-by-starcraft-ii-doom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a> reported in 2020.

Ukrainian soldiers are using a handheld video game console to operate machine gun mounts, per reports. The US Navy has also utilized Xbox controllers in the past.

<keyword id="6357149" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="hdfc-bank">HDFC Bank</keyword> on Saturday reported a <keyword id="864691" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="year-on-year">year-on-year</keyword> rise of 16.1 per cent in its <keyword id="6431508" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="net-profit">net profit</keyword> for Q1FY22. Accordingly, the bank's net profit increased to ₹7,729.6 crore during the quarter under review ended June 30 in the <keyword id="64466" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Current-Fiscal">current fiscal</keyword>, over the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Besides, the bank's net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) rose to ₹17,009.0 crore from ₹15,665.4 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. "During the quarter, the country was hit by a 'second wave' of Covid-19, with a significant surge in cases following the discovery of mutant coronavirus strains. While there was an improvement towards the end, business activities remained curtailed for almost two thirds of the quarter." "These disruptions led to a decrease in retail loan originations, sale of third party products, card spends and efficiency in collection efforts. The lower business volumes, coupled with higher slippages, resulted in lower revenues, as well as an enhanced level of provisioning." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/valve-steam-deck-price-in-india-specifications-launch-date/articleshow/84464421.cms">Valve’s Steam Deck handheld gaming device promises to bring the power of consoles in your hands</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tatva-chintan-pharma-chem-ipo-should-you-subscribe-to-the-ipo-check-out-analysts-review/articleshow/84464187.cms">Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem IPO -- Should you subscribe? Here’s what analysts are saying</a>

HDFC Bank reports 16.1% year-on-year rise in net profit  for Q1FY22

<keyword id="4791624" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook-pay">Facebook Pay</keyword> is arriving on other online shopping platforms, starting with e-commerce platform Shopify, that will help businesses ensure a seamless checkout experience for their customers on their own websites. Currently, the <keyword id="6354576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword> Pay system is available for users on its main platform, as well as on <keyword id="790242" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword> and Instagram. "Starting this August, businesses in the US who use participating platforms will have the ability to enable Facebook Pay as a payment option directly on their websites, giving their customers the ability to speed through checkout without having to re-enter their payment information," the company said in a statement on Thursday. "We're starting the rollout with Shopify merchants and expect to expand availability with more platforms and payment service providers over time," the social network added. People already use Facebook Pay to send money, shop, donate and more, across Facebook apps and services. The company said that Facebook Pay is designed to help businesses drive conversion higher by giving customers a low-friction and mobile-friendly way to pay online. "Payment details are encrypted and securely stored, eliminating the need for businesses to manage customers' card or bank account numbers," it added. "The card and bank account numbers that people provide will not be used to personalise their experience or inform the ads they see". Shopify in February partnered with Facebook to bring its checkout and payment processing system -- <keyword id="10737731" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="shop-pay">Shop Pay</keyword> -- to Facebook and Instagram. Facebook last month rolled out the ability for <keyword id="176655" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="messenger">Messenger</keyword> users in the US to leverage QR codes and payment links when they want to send or request money with Facebook Pay, even if they're not connected on Facebook. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tatva-chintan-pharma-chem-ipo-heres-how-to-apply-via-banks-and-apps-like-zerodha-upstox/articleshow/84462586.cms">Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem IPO: Here’s how to apply via banks and apps like Zerodha, Upstox</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/valve-steam-deck-price-in-india-specifications-launch-date/articleshow/84464421.cms">Valve’s Steam Deck handheld gaming device promises to bring the power of consoles in your hands</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-pips-apple-takes-second-place-in-global-smartphone-shipments-in-q2-2021/articleshow/84464531.cms">Xiaomi overtakes Apple to capture second place in global smartphone shipments for the first time</a>

Facebook Pay arrives on online shopping platform Shopify

Amid the remote learning times, Apple's annual education offer went live on its India Store Online on Friday, where those buying an eligible Mac or iPad for the college or university needs will and get an AirPods for free. The offer is available to current and newly accepted college/university students, parents buying for them, and teachers and staff at all levels and is available on the special education section of Apple Store Online, the company announced. One can buy an eligible Mac or iPad for college/university and get AirPods (wired charging) for free. They can also upgrade to AirPods wireless charging for ₹4,000 or to AirPods Pro for ₹10,000. Eligible products are <keyword id="455593" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="MacBook-Air">MacBook Air</keyword>, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini; iPad Pro and <keyword id="1613785" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ipad-air">iPad Air</keyword>. Eligible customers can also get 20 per cent off <keyword id="1608700" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Applecare">AppleCare</keyword>, education discount on Apple Pencil and <keyword id="11652052" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="keyboard-apple-music-student-plan">Keyboard, Apple Music Student Plan</keyword> for Rs 49/month which includes free Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade gaming free for 3 months (then Rs 99a month). The eighth-generation iPad, starting at ₹29,900, brings a huge leap in performance, delivering next-level machine learning capabilities. The redesigned iPad Air, starting at ₹54,900 is the most powerful, versatile and colourful iPad Air ever bringing pro features at a more affordable price, and available in five gorgeous finishes. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at ₹71,900 and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at ₹99,900. The thin, light and portable MacBook Air starts at ₹92,900 and the MacBook Pro begins from ₹122,900. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/valve-steam-deck-price-in-india-specifications-launch-date/articleshow/84464421.cms">Valve’s Steam Deck handheld gaming device promises to bring the power of consoles in your hands</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tatva-chintan-pharma-chem-ipo-should-you-subscribe-to-the-ipo-check-out-analysts-review/articleshow/84464187.cms">Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem IPO -- Should you subscribe? Here’s what analysts are saying</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tatva-chintan-pharma-chem-ipo-heres-how-to-apply-via-banks-and-apps-like-zerodha-upstox/articleshow/84462586.cms">Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem IPO: Here’s how to apply via banks and apps like Zerodha, Upstox</a>

Apple Back to School programme in India offers free AirPods with iPad, MacBook but conditions apply

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Valve</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/valve">Valve Software</a> is one of the most-respected game developers in the business, having created the "Half-Life," "Portal," and "Left 4 Dead" franchises.</li><li>The company's first game in years arrived in late 2018 - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/valve-artifact-game-2017-8">a collectible card game named "Artifact,"</a> developed by "Magic: The Gathering" creator Richard Garfield.</li><li>Though the game was warmly received by critics at launch, it has largely flopped with players.</li></ul> The studio that created classic video games like "Half-Life" and "Portal" has a brand-new game named "Artifact." Never heard of it? You're not alone.That's because "Artifact" is a rare flop for Valve - a company that specializes in making games that tens of millions of people play for years.There are so few people playing "Artifact" that it <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/stats/">doesn't even chart on Valve's own top 100 games</a> currently being played on Steam, Valve's ubiquitous PC gaming platform. That means, as of this writing, fewer than a couple thousand people are playing "Artifact." Since the game arrived in late November 2018, its player count has continuously dropped to where it is now - with fewer than a few thousand players at any given time.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://steamcharts.com/app/583950#3m">Steamcharts.com</a></div></div></div>That is not normal for Valve's games, which tend to be enormously popular. Three of the top 10 games currently being played on Steam are made by Valve: "DOTA 2," "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive," and "Team Fortress 2."The most recent of those games, "DOTA 2," came out all the way back in 2013 - and it's still popular enough years later than nearly 700,000 people are playing it on a Thursday morning.So, what's going on?The answer isn't black and white. At least part of the issue stems from the game's rocky launch, and what players perceived as a game set up to strongly encourage additional purchases.That's because "Artifact" is a collectible card game, along the lines of "Magic: The Gathering" and, more recently, "Hearthstone." For $20, you get the game itself in addition to a smattering of collectible cards that you use to play against other people.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Valve Software</div></div></div>The issue, broadly speaking, is that "Artifact" stacked the deck against new players. So the criticism goes: In order to build a good deck in "Artifact," you need to either spend a bunch of additional money buying cards from other players/from Valve, or you need to spend a lot of time losing against much better players as you slowly earn cards.Those early issues led to a lot of very negative Steam user reviews for the game early on, which assuredly didn't help to attract new players. And as the game bled players across the last month, the net effect was a massive dropoff in player count that never recovered. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Valve Software</div></div></div>"Artifact" is a multiplayer-only game that's dependent on having a large userbase.The more players, the more varied the player base is - and that's crucial for multiplayer-only games because new players need other new players to play against, while more seasoned players need more seasoned players to play against. With so few players sticking with the game over time, the overall player pool shrank to the point where new players were likely to spend a lot of time facing off against far better-equipped opponents. Where "Artifact" goes from here is anyone's guess - Valve didn't respond to a request for comment - but the company isn't known for walking away from its games. For the time being, "Artifact" appears to be the extremely rare flop from one of the world's most-respected game studios. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-sales-slowed-stock-plunge-2019-1">How Apple went from a $1 trillion company to losing over 20% of its share price in 3 months</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The latest game from one of the most respected developers in the business is showing early signs of being a flop

<table class="image-container float_right" width="200"><tr><td><div class="image"></div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HPvvRMCrlQ">YouTube/Trippy</a></td></tr></table>A roller coaster ride may be the closest a civilian can get to the feeling of whipping off the deck of an aircraft carrier in an F-22 Raptor, but it's still not quite as fun.
The two are about to have something in common, though.
<keyword id="114046" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="General-Electric">General Electric</keyword>'s engineers have developed an electromagnetic catapult — based on technology developed for the Superman roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California — to replace the energy-guzzling "steam catapults" that are currently used to propel <keyword id="58568" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Fighter-jets">fighter jets</keyword> off the deck of an aircraft carrier.
The <a href="http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvn-21/">Gerald R. Ford class carrier</a>, which is currently under construction, will be the first with this type of system built organically into the ship — <a href="http://www.ga.com/ems">under contract</a> from General Dynamics.
<a href="http://www.gereports.com/superman-meet-top-gun/">GE explains the benefits of the electromagnetic catapult:</a>
The new electromagnetic catapult could replace steam catapults still used by even the latest American aircraft carriers. Steam-powered launch has a number of drawbacks. “It’s basically a tube with a piston inside,” says Mark Dannatt Mark Dannatt, director of naval business at GE Power Conversion. “You get a tremendous jolt at the start of the launch when you open the valve and let the steam out at full pressure. This does not do the aircraft or the pilot any good.”
But the electromagnetic catapult, the technical name for the technology is medium-voltage advanced linear induction machine, starts slow like a theme park ride and attains maximum speed at launch. “This is what you want,” Dannatt says. “The wear on the airframe is less.”
Steam catapults have been around for 80-plus years now. They are horrible for an aircraft's airframe due to the "jolting" nature of the speed. The way the steam is released, the aircraft is simply punched forward.
Anyone who's seen Top Gun knows what that looks like.
<div class="image-container float_left" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://www.gereports.com/superman-meet-top-gun/">via GE</a></div>Steam also isn't as easily contained, produced, and directed as electricity. And the use of steam requires all sorts of extra bits of machinery.
With linear electric engines, on the other hand, there's no punch. There's a steady build. And the change will be almost imperceptible to the pilots; except for the lack of a sudden jerk forward, they'll still go whipping off the deck.
The fact that electricity for the catapults can be generated by a ship's nuclear reactors, combined with the lack of airframe maintenance on frequently used birds, was enough to convince the Pentagon to throw these on the next generation carriers.
Believe it or not, the technology has been around for decades, but applications actually hit theme parks before the Pentagon. The 1997 opening of the Six Flags <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman:_Escape_from_Krypton">Superman: Escape From Krypton</a> ride saw use of GE's "electric linear motor system."
The company notes that the system was good enough to launch 15 people up a 415-foot tall tower at a 100 mph ... so why not use it to propel a fighter jet off the deck of a ship?

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