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Here are the 4 best moments from the first big Fortnite e-sports tournament
2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 First Drive
13-inch MacBook Pro battery replacement program FAQ: What it is and how to use it

Here are the 4 best moments from the first big Fortnite e-sports tournament

Posted: 22 Apr 2018 12:00 PM PDT

Hundreds of fans, semi-pros, and big names from the world of e-sports, YouTube, and Twitch streaming descended on the Esports Arena in Las Vegas' Luxor hotel yesterday for a Fortnite tournament unlike anything we've ever seen before. The event was called Ninja Vegas 18, and it's arguably the first big Fortnite Battle Royale tournament since the game launched back in September 2017. It was organized around massively popular Twitch streamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, whose reach and popularity has turned him into a celebrity practically overnight.

Yet unlike traditional games that can easily be turned into team-based competitive sports like Overwatch or League of Legends, Fortnite is a massively multiplayer game involving as many as 100 people competing in the same match. So for this event, organizers tried an unprecedented format. For $75, any fan or casual player could purchase a ticket to compete in three of nine solo games — split up until three separate three-game heats — alongside invited professionals, streamers, and semi-pro competitive players. (I was one of those casual players who competed in the tournament, although I lost miserably in all three of my games.)

Each game included anywhere from 75 to 85 players, with a total of 233 competitors, including Ninja. Every match was played live on the floor of the Esports Arena, with each player given a dedicated booth and machine to compete on. With their names anonymized, you never knew who the other players were, so each competition rewarded smart and careful play that treated every opponent as if they could be one of the best on the planet.

If you killed Ninja in a game on your own, you won $2,500. If you won the match itself, you also won $2,500. Doing both — killing Ninja and winning — netted you $5,000. But if Ninja came out unscathed and won the game, the bounty on his head would be rolled over to the next game. Effectively, the event was nine micro-tournaments, with Ninja acting as the connective thread. He was the reason why more than 680,000 people tuned in on Twitch simultaneously at one point in the night, a new platform record for concurrent viewers, to watch the event through his player's perspective.

Ninja himself is among the most skilled Fortnite players in the world. He's a former Halo pro, was a signed e-sports athlete for years before retiring to stream full-time last year, and his popularity derives in part from just how accomplished and composed he is under pressure with hundreds of thousands of fans watching him play and win often every single day. He's also known for befriending and playing with celebrities like Drake, Diplo, and Joe Jonas.

But Ninja's performance on his own wasn't what made the event so riveting. He did nab four top-10 finishes, including two second place ones and one hard-earned victory, with the prize money he earned going to an Alzheimer's charity of his choice. But it was the intense and mind-blowing performances — all from relatively unknown players who came to Vegas specially to make a name for themselves — that made the first Fortnite tournament such a unique and entertaining affair.

Here are four of the best moments from the nine-match series:

The player who won killed Ninja and won the first match goes on to win the second

One of the most shocking turns of events at the tournament involved one player, a college student from Los Angeles who goes by the online name "Blind," who showed off his skills in the first match of the evening by besting Ninja in a one-on-one bout. You can see the moment he defeats Ninja here:

Blind went on to win that match thanks to careful and strategic play. Yet he wasn't done there. Buying a ticket to the tournament meant you got to play three back-to-back games, so Blind came into the second game of the day even hungrier. Though he did not kill Ninja that go around, he did go on to win the second game, notching two victories in a row in a fantastic performance. You can see his match two victory below:

Speaking with The Verge afterward, Blind, who wishes to remain anonymous as he's not yet prepared to tie his real name to his online handle, said he came to the Fortnite tournament hoping to get signed. He said he's spent the last month or so competing against other top-tier players through exclusive Discord chat servers, where scrimmages and other training sessions are often organized among pros and semi-pros. Already, Blind says he's seeing professional organizations reaching out.

The player who came in second place in match one kills Ninja in match two

To win his first game, Blind had to defeat a highly skilled and meticulously careful player named "Niibs," who happened to be sitting right next to me throughout my ill-fated three matches in heat one. That said, I got a front row seat to Niibs' performance throughout. His loss to Blind, as seen above, involved the latter player having the coveted high ground, which put Niibs at a severe disadvantage as the circle closed.

But in match two, Niibs made up for his loss by recouping the $2,500 snatched from his fingertips at the last possible moment by securing a mid-game kill on none other than Ninja. Asked about whether he knew he had defeated the event's namesake player after the match, Niibs told me he did not. He was just focused on winning and making it to the end. Unfortunately, he didn't win the match, but he did take home that $2,500.

Ninja scores his first, and only, victory in match four

Ninja didn't have the best of luck in heat one, but he returned for heat two with a new slate of opponents and managed to perform a lot better. In the first match of the heat, Ninja secured a victory with a modest total of 5 kills by besting a player who was pulled up onstage to compete on one of the handful of featured stations at the Esports Arena.

The fight was tense, with Ninja's opponent having both a rocket launcher and a health advantage. But sensing the player had run out of ammo, Ninja pushed aggressively with his shotgun and found himself in a tense cover-building battle that ended with well-placed shotgun blast to his opponent's most vulnerable area, winning Ninja the match and setting off a victory celebration that included some of his signature on-screen graphical overlays and some slick dance moves. You can see the final fight and the celebration by scrolling to 01:24:00 here:

A 14-year-old competitive Fortnite player surprises everyone with a victory

The biggest surprise of the evening came late, in match eight in the third heat, when a player known only to the crowd as "4DRStorm" pulled off a wildly impressive three-kill streak to win himself the match. He started it by first dropped an entire tower using a rocket launcher in a strategic play that saw his opponent's loot rain down from the sky in front of him.

4DRStorm went on to secure a direct rocket kill followed up by a game-winning rocket hit on the only other player left standing. It was an amazing performance, exhibiting extreme confidence under the pressure of hundreds of thousands of online viewers and hundreds more in person, with Ninja himself commentating as he had already been knocked out.

When he won the match, and the Esports Arena camera singled him out on the live feed, the crowd was pleasantly shocked to see a bright-eyed teenager who it turns out is only 14 years old. He was at a loss for words when asked how he felt about his victory, and he looked visibly shocked to have even secured the win. But his in-game skills, confidence, and composure are undeniable, and it's clear he has a bright future in e-sports if he sticks with it.

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2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 First Drive

Posted: 23 Apr 2018 06:14 AM PDT

You can't ignore the engine. The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has many highlights, but you always come back to that 6.2-liter V8. In part because of its power but also because you see it through the windshield. This prominence is unfair to the parts surrounding it, but it's understandable. After all, an electronically controlled differential doesn't make a baritone war cry. Carbon-fiber wings don't render tires into plumes of white smoke. And a sophisticated stability control system doesn't shoot flames.

But what you learn about the most powerful and fastest Corvette ever, after repeatedly circling the 2.5 miles that constitute the Road Atlanta racetrack, is that the ZR1's marriage of a gonzo V8 to a suite of comprehensively integrated electronic controls makes for supercar performance that's remarkably approachable.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Tower of Power
Accommodating the needs of 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque required a redesigned front end. The result is a shrine to power, the base festooned with extra cooling equipment (the car has 12 heat exchangers) and the openings enlarged to allow more air to pass through. The carbon-fiber center of the hood isn't for show; that's the top of the engine. It actually comes through the hood. And from the right angle — high up, like from a camera mounted to the roof — you can see it rock back and forth on full-throttle upshifts.

This bulging display is a necessity of the Roots-type supercharger that crowns the V8. It stands nearly 3 inches taller than the one on the Corvette Z06, and its larger displacement allows it to generate more boost without working as hard. To match the additional airflow, Chevy has added port injectors to supplement the existing direct-injection system, which couldn't supply enough gas alone.

Chevy's power claims are with 93 octane fuel. The engineers tell us the engine's knock sensor lets the V8 run safely on 91 octane, but they won't say how much doing so reduces output. Unlike the rest of the Corvette lineup, the ZR1 doesn't have cylinder deactivation. You can expect worse fuel economy — if you care.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Trial Run
Chevy says the ZR1 will do 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 134 mph, figures that land it among the world's most exclusive supercars. This kind of potency makes corners in the distance instantly materialize ahead. It likewise magnifies errors in judgment, so instincts say approach the ZR1 with caution.

Our first experience is with the optional eight-speed automatic. It switches to its Track mode after a few corners, which always lands the right gear for the upcoming corner. Downshifts during braking are smooth, and upshifts on the back straight arrive with a terrific crack from the exhaust. The automatic changes gears more quickly than the manual and is capable of shifting in places where it'd be too difficult to take a hand off the wheel.

If all you care about is lap times, get the automatic. While the standard seven-speed manual requires more concentration, its added involvement makes the experience more satisfying. Automatic rev-matching works quickly and accurately, and the engine's broad power delivery means you don't have to shift often.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Cornering the Market
The ZR1 wears its performance on its sleeves, which are dotted proudly with carbon-fiber trimmings. Underneath the enlarged fenders are half-inch-wider front wheels. Behind the wheels are large carbon-ceramic brake rotors with lightweight construction that translates into better on-track durability and zero brake dust.

Along with racetrack-oriented tires and a suspension tuned for maximum grip, the Track Performance package ($2,995) adds a tall, adjustable rear wing and removable front-end caps that give an imposing look. The additional downforce from this package is enough to reduce the ZR1's top speed from 212 mph to 202 mph. The optional bucket-style seats have ample side bolstering but seem overwhelmed by the high cornering speeds. You can expect a bruised left knee from keeping it braced against the driver door. Consider installing a harness for track use.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Chain of Command
The supercar-like acceleration means the ZR1 shortens straightaways and turns gentle bends into hairpins. You have to look farther and farther ahead just to keep pace. Despite how rapidly you dispense with turns, after a few laps it's apparent that the ZR1 isn't some hard-edged track machine. It's like a normal Corvette with all the dials cranked.

The ZR1 uses the electronically controlled limited slip differential, adaptive dampers, and Performance Traction Management (PTM) stability control that you'll find on all Corvettes. These support systems are responsible for tying everything together, from tire temperature to the level of power going to each wheel, and adjusting accordingly.

Take the PTM system, for example. With five levels of intervention, ranging from wet weather to an aggressive Race setting, it communicates with the rest of the car to evaluate the available traction of a given tire. If you apply more gas than that tire can take while exiting a corner, the PTM changes the engine timing to limit power. The smoothness of the effect helps you build trust in the car while improving your skill. When you're ready to show off, an optional forward-facing camera and data-logging system called the Performance Data Recorder outputs a YouTube-ready clip of your driving heroics to an SD card.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Public Enemy
It's easy to mistake the ZR1 for a gutted track tool, but on public roads this 212-mph, 755-hp Corvette is largely unburdened by its abilities. It still has a removable roof. Support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay comes standard. The higher of the two trim levels has heated and ventilated seats. It's even available as a convertible (top speed: 208 mph).

Under the right conditions, the variable exhaust shoots flames in Track mode, which makes its silence in the Stealth setting all the more perverse. The ride isn't too firm. The front tires don't follow grooves in the road. And aside from the occasional clunky shift and the slight delay from the paddle shifters, the automatic transmission's smoothness turns this massively powerful machine into a gentle street car.

To be sure, the road and interior noise is loud, and the mounting location and height of the optional rear wing make accessing the trunk exceptionally difficult mdash; don't plan on impressing your golf buddies in the parking lot. But the ZR1 is civil enough to be driven daily.

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Pay Respect
The ZR1 is currently on sale with a starting price of $123,820. The convertible starts at $127,820. One notable option gives you the opportunity to visit the factory and assemble the engine on your very own ZR1 under the supervision of technicians. You even get your name on a plaque on the back of the carbon-fiber supercharger cover.

The combination of big stupid power and sophisticated technology means you can approach the ZR1 with confidence. But this attention to ownership comes bundled with a peerless performance-per-dollar ratio and largely uncompromised road manners, ensuring the ZR1 a special spot in the hearts of its owners.

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13-inch MacBook Pro battery replacement program FAQ: What it is and how to use it

Posted: 23 Apr 2018 07:21 AM PDT

It's been a rough year for Apple's batteries. After announcing a program to replace batteries in the iPhone 6 and 7 earlier this year, Apple has now launched a program to swap them out in the 13-inch non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro (affectionately known as the "MacBook Pro ESC" due to the presence of actual function keys). So if you have a laptop that's been dying out mid-way through your day or just noticed some performance oddities, you might be able to get your battery replaced with a new one. Here's everything you need to know about the new program:

What's the reason for the recall?

Apple has said that a component inside "a limited number" of 13-inch MacBook Pro units could fail, "causing the built-in battery to expand." Apple did not specify which component was faulty or how it affects the battery.

That sounds bad. Is my laptop at risk?

Nope. While expanding batteries generally pose of risk of fire or explosion, Apple assures that this isn't a safety issue.

What models are included?

A pretty small amount actually. First, only non-Touch Bar models manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017 are affected. And among that group, only some of the units manufactured during that time are affected by the issue.

How do I know if my MacBook is eligible?

You can check your serial number on Apple's site here.

How do I find my serial number?

Click on the Apple logo at the top left of the menu bar and go to About this Mac. You'll see your serial number in the window that appears. From there, you can copy it and paste it into the search bar on the support page.

macbook pro find serial number — You can find your MacBook Pro's serial number in the About This Mac dialoge box. Don't worry, yours will be legible.

OK, my MacBook is one of the affected units. Now what?

You'll need to take it in far repair in one of three ways:

Make an appointment at an Apple Store.
Make an appointment at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can find a list of service providers in your area on Apple's support site.
Mail your MacBook to the Apple Repair Center.

As always, make sure to back up your data before sending your MacBook in for repairs.

How long will it take?

Since the program is limited, wait times shouldn't be nearly as long as they are with some iPhone 6 models. Apple estimates service time is 3 to 5 days, though it could be longer depending on the availability of batteries.

How much will it cost?

Nothing. However, Apple notes that if there is prior damage to your MacBook that "impairs the replacement of the battery," the service technician may need to fix that problem first, resulting in a possible charge.

Will my warranty be extended?

Unfortunately, no.

How much time do I have to get it fixed?

Apple hasn't put a specific expiration date on the program, but it does say that the program covers affected MacBook Pro models for five years after the first retail sale of the unit. So that means Apple will replace batteries until sometime in 2022.