Stay up to date as we cover the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effects across the world.
The Extinction Crisis Is Accelerating, New Study Finds
Look no further than the COVID-19 pandemic for proof.
Vegas Is About To Reopen. But When Will The Jobs Come Back?
Hotels and casinos won’t be the same, post-pandemic. And Las Vegas workers fear their jobs won’t be the same, either.
These Countries Make Voting Mandatory. Could It Work In The United States?
Boosting voter turnout could restore trust in elections and make our democracy more representative.
HuffPost’s Guide To Pride Reimagined
The parades may be canceled, but Pride isn’t.
‘Revolting’: Trump Receives Holy Hell On Twitter For Using Bible As Photo-Op Prop
Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse peaceful protesters so he could have his picture taken at a church.
Music Industry Declares June 2 As ‘Black Out Tuesday’ Amid Unrest
Several record labels will turn off the music in order to reflect and implement change in response to police violence.
Why Uncertainty Feels So Terrifying And How To Cope With It
The pandemic has led to a lot of anxiety over what we can’t control. These methods can help ease the stress.
Here Are A Few Ways To Reduce Your Coronavirus Risk While Protesting
Health experts share how to minimize COVID-19 transmission and generally take care of your health right now.
Finally, I Can Be Me In Animal Crossing–But I’m Exhausted
This article, originally posted on May 11, 2020, has been republished to amplify black voices in GameSpot’s support of Black Lives Matter. Donate to the effort to fight systemic racism here.
In 2013, I was a high schooler with way too much free time on my hands. It was the last few weeks of school and a bunch of my friends and I would routinely skip class to play video games in the back of the library. It was a forbidden gamer paradise. Animal Crossing: New Leaf just dropped and we were all desperate to play it. There was a game where you could go to a town with your friends, become a home makeover demi-god, talk to animal neighbours, and be the mayor? Why wasn’t every video game built exactly like that?
Self-expression is the core element of ACNL; it’s a feature embedded into every aspect of the game. You choose the colour and style of your clothes and the location and architecture of your dream house, and since there are no pressing time constraints like other social simulators, you even choose what you do all day, every day. It’s a game about freedom. I was so incredibly excited when I picked it up, but that feeling dwindled fast. There were no options to have black skin colour or any black hairstyles. A game all about freedom and customization refused to let me be me. It was beyond alienating; out of all the things that could have been excluded, why those things?