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The past week didn't lack for wild news. Nintendo hired Bowser. Literally. The CIA found a GameSpot guide in Osama bin Laden's compound. And a Canadian teenager was finally brought to justice after a SWATting and harrassment spree spanning nearly all of 2014.
There were also news and events of more expected and ordinary origins. Both David Letterman and Mad Men ended their runs with huge numbers tuning in. Frank Gibeau probably thought he'd never be mentioned in the same sentence as those two, but he also ended a 20-year stint with Electronic Arts. But M. Bison will be returning when Street Fighter 5 does, in 2016.
That's just a slice of the week that was in video gaming and pop culture. Below you will find some of the week's must-read stories, a mix of original reporting and long reads. Welcome to Press Start, a recap of the week in games and gaming culture to get you ready for the one ahead.
Last Week in Five Stories
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How to replace your worn out PlayStation 4 thumbsticks
After a year and a half of steady use, many owners are suffering from torn rubber thumbsticks on their DualShock 4 controllers. Once the standard 1-year warranty is passed, the official word from Sony is that you'll need to buy a new $60 controller. But there is a cheaper solution.
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A Witcher primer: What you need to know to play The Witcher 3
This post is designed to teach you everything you need to know about the world of The Witcher, so you can be prepared for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. If you're new to the series, this should give you a great start on understanding what is going on in Wild Hunt.
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The curiously ordinary desire of Tim Schafer
Thirty years on, Tim Schafer is one of the most famous game developers in the world. He attracts and is attracted to people who embrace the unexpected. Fans love his games for their quirkiness, their refusal to wholly embrace the mainstream. But he shares another, enduring commonality with the Ramones. He really wants a big, big hit.
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There's a new secret area in Destiny that only the best players will ever visit
Destiny's new player vs. player mode, the Trials of Osiris, grants rewards according to how many wins players can rack up before suffering three losses. What happens if you rack up nine wins (the current maximum) without a single loss? The highest street cred Destiny has to offer: Access to The Lighthouse.
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The most shocking thing about Mad Max: Fury Road is its restraint
In a film full of vehicular slaughter and in which the titular character is imprisoned for the value of his blood, visible gore in the film is reserved exclusively for major plot moments. In a story which revolves around the journey of several scantily clad former sex slaves, the audience is never invited to sexualize their bodies and never forced to watch their physical degradation.
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