Author Archives: Chris Morris

Here’s the $34 Billion Video Game Maker That Is Taking Giant Leaps

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By any reasonable measure, things are pretty good at video game maker Electronic Arts these days. Last month, the company’s stock topped $100 for the first time and now trades at close to $110 a share, putting its market cap at just over $34 billion. And this week, it hosted 15,000 fans at its EA Play event — an independent fan fair being held at the same time as (but a good distance from) E3, the industry’s annual trade show.

The story was very different four years ago, however.

Read more at TheStreet.com: Here’s the $34 Billion Video Game Maker That Is Taking Giant Leaps

E3 preview: Video game industry makes a big gamble

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E3, the video game industry’s annual trade show, has historically been a closed-door affair. Initially an event where back-room deals took place, the show later evolved into a more marketing-driven affair, where big games and game systems made their debut and fans kept tabs through an onslaught of online stories and live video streams.

This year, though, the Entertainment Software Association, which hosts the show, has opened the doors to the general public. It’s a move that gamers have been clamoring for — but it’s not one without risk.

Read more at CNBC.com: E3 preview: Video game industry makes a big gamble

Here’s What It Costs to Train Your Kid to Be the Next Simone Biles or Michael Phelps

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Head to a neighborhood pool these days and you’re bound to see several kids whipping their arms back and forth like an albatross before plunging into the water. Poke your head into a gymnasium, and you may see an abnormal number of young ones lined up to try the vault.

Olympic fever may not know any age range, but it’s especially inspiring for young children, who see the accomplishments of these athletes and the excitement it creates, sparking an interest in the sports they see on TV. And that usually results in more than a few lost weekends and added expenses for parents.

Read more at Money.com: Here’s What It Costs to Train Your Kid to Be the Next Simone Biles or Michael Phelps

Freelance Finances: The Tax Challenge

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Whether you call it “freelance,” “self-employed,” or “contractor”… there are some undeniably great things about working for yourself. You can set your own hours. You have the option of saying “no” to work that doesn’t interest you. And casual Friday takes on a whole new meaning.

Of course there are challenges, not the least of which is making sure you have enough clients and enough work to make freelancing worthwhile for you. But beyond business basics, there are challenges many don’t appreciate until they actually wade into the freelance world.

Read more at Mass Mutual: Freelance Finances: The Tax Challenge

10 upcoming binge-worthy shows

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On a rainy Saturday, when you’re in no mood to do household chores, there is no gravitational force stronger than your couch. And thanks to streaming services that let you binge on both past, recent and original shows, it’s easy to spend an entire afternoon without moving.

The idea of binge-watching was foreign just a few years ago, but the rise of streaming services and the ever-increasing number of millennials has made it a big part of the entertainment landscape.

Read more at CNBC.com: 10 upcoming binge-worthy shows