Bethesda opens E3, Google gives away free apps, YouTube takes on Twitch, countering crowdfunding corruption, and Grand Theft Auto scores a Full House.

Bethesda Opens Up at E3 2015

E3 2015 has officially kicked off, and Bethesda opened the annual game industry conference with a thrilling press conference full of exciting news. While Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo will all be holding press conferences which are all reasons to watch E3 2015 online, Bethesda has set the tone.

Fallout

After revealing the existence of Fallout 4 earlier this month, Bethesda had a lot more details to offer at E3 2015. Fallout 4 starts just before the apocalypse hits, but the game mostly takes place in Boston 200 years later. As well as the usual RPG elements of exploring and completing quests, players can build their own homesteads, crafting buildings and weapons as they go.

Fallout 4 will be released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 10th, with a special edition featuring a wearable Pip-Boy sleeve upping the price substantially. In the meantime, fans can play Fallout Shelter, a free iOS game which puts you in charge of a nuclear shelter.

Doom

Doom is back, with a new game set to be released on PC, PS4, and Xbox One in in the spring of 2016. Doom, previously called Doom 4 and announced way back in 2008, ups the ante in terms of visuals and gore. However, the most exciting element is Doom Snapmap, which brings modding capabilities to every player.

Dishonored

Last but not least is the announcement of Dishonored 2, a sequel to the highly regarded Dishonored, released in 2012. Set several years after the original game, Dishonored 2 offers more of the same stealth and murder, with players switching between Corvo Attano and Emily Kaldwin. No word yet on an official release date.

Google Play Gets a Free App of the Week

google-play-free-app-week

It looks as though Google is experimenting with offering a "Free App of the Week" on Google Play. As first spotted by Android Police, the first paid app being offered for free is Daniel Tiger Grr-ific Feelings from PBS Kids, which normally costs $2.99 to purchase.

As the name suggests, this particular app won't appeal to all. However, this could be the start of something major, and if Google is indeed testing out offering a "Free App of the Week", it will be more than just family friendly fodder such as this that gets featured. Fingers crossed.

YouTube Gaming Tackles Twitch

Google has announced YouTube Gaming, a new website and app dedicated to gaming videos. YouTube Gaming, which is set to launch in the U.S. and UK this summer, will feature both recorded videos and live streams.

Rather impressively, "more than 25,000 games will each have their own page," along with publishers and YouTubers. The on-demand content will be videos already available on YouTube, but the live-streaming efforts are an obvious attempt to compete with Twitch, the company Google tried to buy before Amazon won out thanks to a higher bid.

The FTC Tackles Crowdfunding Corruption

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken legal action against Erik Chevalier, who raised $122,000 via a Kickstarter campaign in 2012. Chevalier raised the money in order to make a board game called The Doom That Came to Atlantic City, but doom came to the 1,200 who had funded the project instead.

According to the FTC, despite making promises and offering updates on progress, Chevalier never delivered the game, any rewards, or any refunds to his backers. Instead, he's alleged to have spent "most of the money on unrelated personal expenses such as rent, moving himself to Oregon, personal equipment, and licenses for a different project."

Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said, “Many consumers enjoy the opportunity to take part in the development of a product or service through crowdfunding, and they generally know there’s some uncertainty involved in helping start something new. But consumers should be able to trust their money will actually be spent on the project they funded.”

Fraud is a serious threat to the future of crowdfunding, but this at least suggests the U.S. authorities are taking the problem seriously.

GTA Gets the Full House Opening

And finally, the opening credits to Full House have been lovingly recreated using Grand Theft Auto V, and the results are spectacular. It isn't exactly a shot-for-shot recreation, but the similarities between this and the real Full House opening should make it a joy for fans of the show.

This is rather timely, as a Full House reboot is currently in the works. Called Fuller House, the new show will focus attention on D.J. Tanner and her family and friends. However, I'd personally rather see a version of the show starring Michael, Franklin, Trevor, and Lester the Molester. [H/T The Verge]

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

Are you excited to play Fallout 4? Do you want more free apps on Google Play? Can YouTube Gaming compete with Twitch? What should be done to tackle crowdfunding corruption?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.