Jason Lomberg

Jason Lomberg is the Technical Editor for Electronic Component News, a trade magazine for electrical engineers. He also edits for Bitmob.com and has written for Joystiq, ECN, and GamesBeat. Jason is based out of Netcong, NJ.

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stories by Jason Lomberg

Déjà vu: New bill would give ESRB video game ratings the force of law

January 17, 2013 12:40 PM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

Congressman Jim Matheson (D-Utah) has introduced a bill – H.R. 287 – to the United States House of Representatives which would give the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s rating scheme – heretofore a voluntary, self-regulatory system – the force of law and make it illegal to sell “Mature” or “Adults Only” titles to minors.

NRA pulls bait-and-switch with iOS shooting app

January 16, 2013 9:43 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

NRA: Practice Range uses a low-rent shooter game as a bait-and-switch to educate users on the NRA and responsible gun ownership. While the intent is admirable, the app ultimately serves little purpose.

Violent video games are not to blame: Why I’d cancel my membership to the NRA

December 31, 2012 9:00 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

I'm not a member of the NRA. But if I were, I'd cancel my membership immediately. Violent games are not to blame for the Newton tragedy, and they won't make anyone more proficient with firearms.

Top gaming technologies of 2012

December 23, 2012 7:00 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

This year saw the continued evolution of three consumer technologies -- autostereoscopy, touch sensing, and motion sense – with direct application in the gaming world.

New history of Atari commemorates the 40th anniversary of Pong

November 29, 2012 11:28 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

Industry vets Martin Goldberg and Curt Vendel have penned a comprehensive history of the retro gaming juggernaut, Atari, in time for the 40th anniversary of the interactive, table-tennis classic, Pong.

A soldier’s perspective on Call of Duty and its ilk (interview)

November 24, 2012 11:55 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

Editor's Pick It's no secret that first-person shooters -- in all their Hollywood-inspired clamor and spectacle -- don't simulate the realities of war very well. From basic rules of engagement, to gun safety (i.e., don't flag your buddies), and the dynamics of combat, FPSs are more akin to interactive action flicks than a proper recreation of armed conflict.

What gamers have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

November 22, 2012 8:00 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

In this most American of holidays -- in which we cherish what we have by camping out for doorbuster sales -- what can we be most thankful for?

Tiny Speck to scuttle offbeat MMO Glitch on Dec. 9

November 16, 2012 1:50 PM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

Startup Tiny Speck – helmed by Flickr co-founder Stewart Butterfield – announced that it will be shutting down its quirky browser-based, massively-multiplayer game, Glitch, at the end of the year.

Navy SEALs face disciplinary action for consulting on Medal of Honor: Warfighter

November 9, 2012 7:14 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

There's a history of the military cracking down on those who talk to outsiders without permission.

Nexon to publish Dota 2 in Japan and Korea

November 8, 2012 1:26 PM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

'Freemium' publishing guru Nexon (MapleStory) will partner with Valve Corporation (Portal, Half-Life) to publish the Defense of the Ancients sequel in both Korea and Japan.

Games and industry figures discuss Election 2012

November 6, 2012 2:27 PM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

GamesBeat would like to remind its American readers that your civic duty entails more than just buying Halo 4. So put down that controller and go vote for the next president of the United States!

Jedi, fedoras, and carpal tunnel: A history of LucasArts

November 2, 2012 1:00 PM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

What if LucasArts never existed? What if the irascible filmmaker, beloved (and despised) the world over for his invaluable contributions to the pop-culture lexicon, had stuck to making space operas and juvenile fantasies about archeologists in fedora hats? What if George Lucas never entered the arena of gaming 30 years ago?

How Unreal Tournament bots passed the Turing test

October 20, 2012 8:00 AM Jason Lomberg
Jason Lomberg

A custom-designed Unreal Tournament "bot" has apparently passed the Turing test for artificial intelligence by convincing over half its flesh-and-blood opponents that it was human. This could have huge implications for robotics, gaming, and sci-fi doomsday scenarios.