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At any point in any console cycle, the launch of a new Super Mario game is a big deal. But “Super Mario Odyssey,” which hits store shelves today, is a bonafide event.
The game is garnering some of the best review of any game this year. And consumer interest in those reviews is so strong that the servers for Metacritic, which acts as a clearinghouse for reviews, were unable to keep up with site traffic on Thursday.
Read more at CNBC.com: Super Mario Odyssey hits stores
One of the hard lessons many small businesses are learning after the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma is that a disaster plan is essential — even if you think you’ll never need to use it.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), almost 40 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors after a disaster. Recent data from a CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey also shows that most small business owners don’t spend too much time thinking about the environment as a critical factor.
Read more at CNBC.com: Hurricane watch: 40% of small businesses don’t reopen after a disaster
Small businesses usually have, at best, a minor impact on their hometown. They employ a few people, they pay taxes, and they certainly add a convenience factor, but as individual entities, they’re rarely big revenue drivers.
Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, North Carolina, is one of the exceptions. Founded four years ago, the beer maker has just three full-time employees but has built such a strong reputation in the beer world that Morganton (located about an hour east of Asheville) has become a destination for beer tourists, bringing thousands of visitors to the town of 17,000 people each year.
Read more at CNBC: Fonta Flora craft brewery surges to national fame
2017 has been a rough year for retail.
More than 1,000 stores closed in a single week in June, and Macy’s has cut thousands of jobs as part of the retail apocalypse. Earnings announcements by department-store chains Kohl’s, Macy’s and Dillard’s on Thursday revealed a mixed bag of results as these big-box retailers try to turn around their fortunes.
Read more at CNBC.com: Despite Amazon effect, not all mom and pops in trouble on Main St.
For most people, the neighborhood Blockbuster is fast becoming a distant memory. But in Eagle River, Alaska, they’re still going strong.
Generally, when a chain shuts down, it shuts down completely. But every now and then a few locations survive, whether because they’re vital to their community, independently run shops where the owners have no intention of following the parent company’s lead or via new owners who want to leave a porch light on as they consider a new approach.
Read more at CNBC.com: Last stands of 7 retail brands struggling to survive
A year ago virtual reality was the hot thing at the E3 video game conference. This year, things are a bit different.
Read more at CNBC.com: E3: Virtual reality isn’t really catching on with gamers
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
Before this console generation even got underway, Microsoft found itself in the unfamiliar position of having to play defense.
Read more at CNBC.com: Unveiling Xbox One X at E3, Microsoft hits reset in the console wars
Thieves in Las Vegas broke into a warehouse twice and escaped with tens of thousands of condoms and over $10,000 worth of sex toys.
Read more at CNBC.com: Memorial Day thieves steal 30,000 condoms
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
Chris Morris: Journalist 