'GAME OF THRONES' COURSE A HIT AT CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY

The hit television show "Game of Thrones" is now the subject of a college course at UC Berkeley.

The unpredictability of "Game of Thrones" is now a college course at the University of California, Berkeley. It's not the first course in the country, but it might be the most in-depth.

The university's film class on the popular fantasy show is no easy-"A". The students in this class are serious when they get into the show's themes of religion, poverty and the portrayal of women.

Unlike other courses on pop culture, this one is happening now, giving them a chance to predict what might happen next.

Sandra Doyle, a senior film studies major, said, "I think it's really exciting to be able to study something contemporary. Oftentimes we're looking at movies that have already been completed. And having the opportunity to watch a television series that still in the making and so popular, I just thought it would be a really great opportunity to, why not take advantage of it."

This summer, the class had 27 students, which the instructor says is the largest number of summer students he's ever had for any class.

Microsoft's third Windows 10 cumulative update said to fix Store issues

Microsoft rolled out late on August 14 the third cumulative update for Windows 10 since the product began rolling out to users on July 29.

The newest cumulative update is KB3081438. The Microsoft Support page says nothing about the specific features and fixes that are new to this update beyond "This update includes improvements to enhance the functionality of Windows 10."

But a Microsoft spokesperson did let me know that the new update is designed to fix the Windows 10 Store issues which had been affecting a number of us Windows 10 users for the past week. A number of us were unable to access the Store, obtain app updates and/or download new apps. In some cases, Windows Store apps like Mail and Calendar were also not working.

"KB 3081438 is now available resolving the Store issues," said the spokesperson in response to my question about what Microsoft was doing to fix the Store issues. Company officials declined to say anything beyond that about what specifically caused the Store problems. I was told "Microsoft has nothing further to share."

Here's the odd thing: For me and a number of others affected by the Windows 10 Store glitch, KB3081438 wasn't needed to fix the Store issues. On the morning of August 14 -- hours before the third cumulative update started rolling out via Windows Update -- our Stores and Store apps just started working normally again, seemingly without us applying any kind of fix via Windows Update. I am happy to say my Store and Store apps seem to still work even after applying the latest update.

The newest update also does not seem to fix the Store issues for everyone affected. I've gotten several Tweets and emails from individuals who still cannot use the Store and Store apps even after applying the new update. (And yes, there are a few app updates that still won't download for any of us, including Microsoft Reader and Windows Reading List. I'm guessing they need updating to work on Windows 10, if they will work at all.)

According to Microsoft, cumulative updates seem to be the new norm for patching and updating Windows 10. Microsoft's support page for the latest update states:

"Windows 10 updates are cumulative. Therefore, this package contains all previously released fixes. If you have previous updates installed, only the new fixes that are contained in this package will be downloaded and installed to your computer."

The Knowledge Base (KB) pages for cumulative updates one and three did not detail what Microsoft updated or fixed in Windows 10. However, the page for cumulative update two did spell out the specific security fixes Microsoft downloaded to users, but did not spell out any of the other features or fixes that were included.

When I look at the Windows Update history page (on my Windows 10 laptop -- by going to Settings-Windows Update-Advanced Options-View your update history -- I see almost no itemized, individual updates (beyond the Windows Defender definition updates I receive daily). There are a couple of exceptions: I see a separate security update for Internet Explorer Flash Player, which I got on August 11, Patch Tuesday, as well as the updated Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, which I also got on August 11.

Microsoft is making some big changes as to how it handles patching and updating with Windows 10. Those using Windows 10 Home must take all features, fixes and security updates from Microsoft as soon as the company makes them available via Windows Update. (There is a not so readily discoverable blocking tool meant to enable users to temporarily block drivers and patches.) Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education users have a bit more leeway in terms of when and how they get patches with features and fixes.

I'm not sure why Microsoft is not providing users with a list of what's new in these Windows 10 cumulative updates. I also don't know how long the rapid release cadence of these cumulative updates is likely to continue.

SMITE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES NEXT WEEK ON XBOX ONE

Developer Hi-Rez Studios announced its third-person action MOBA, Smite, will exit open beta and officially launch on Xbox One August 19.

New players will be able to merge their PC and Xbox accounts until August 31, according to the developer. Account merging adds purchases, favor, and XP from your PC account to that you've earned on your Xbox account. Gems, however, will not be transferred. For more info, be sure to check out the FAQ on the game's site.

The Founder's Pack will also remain available until August 31. For $30 USD, the Founder's Pack includes 400 gems, two exclusive skins, and all present and future playable Gods.

In related news, Hi-Rez Studios recently announced Paladins, an objective-based shooter currently in development for current-gen consoles and PC.

Strike The Blood Video Anime's Promo Video, Theme Song Artists Revealed

Yuka Iguchi, Kanon Wakeshima to perform theme songs for 2-part OVA shipping in November-December

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Warner Brothers began streaming a promotional video on Friday for the upcoming two-part video anime (OVA) adaptation of writer Gakuto Mikumo and illustrator Manyako's Strike the Blood light novel series. The first Strike the Blood: Valkyria no Ōkoku-hen (Strike the Blood: Valkyria's Kingdom Volume) episode will ship in Japan on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on November 25. The second and final episode will ship on December 23.

The video outlines the OVA's main staff and cast. The anime will again star:

• Yoshimasa Hosoya as Kojō Akatsuki
• Risa Taneda as Yukina Himeragi
• Asami Seto as Asagi Aiba
• Rina Hidaka as Nagisa Akatsuki
• Ikumi Hayama as Sayaka Kirisaka
• Ryota Ohsaka as Motoki Yaze
• Kanae Itō as Kanon Kanase
• Saori Ōnishi as La Folia Rihavein

The main returning staff for the anime includes:

• Director: Hideyo Yamamoto
• Series Composition: Hiroyuki Yoshino
• Character Design: Keiichi Sano
• Mechanical Designer: Mika Akitaka
• Music: Assumed Sounds
• Sound Producer: Jin Aketagawa
• Animation Production: SILVER LINK / CONNECT

The video anime series will feature an original story from Mikumo.

Warner Brothers also announced on Friday that voice actress and singer Yuka Iguchi will perform the opening theme song, and Kanon Wakeshima (Vampire Knight, Selector Infected Wixoss theme songs) will perform the ending theme.

Iguchi's and Wakeshima's CDs with their respective theme songs will also ship on November 25.

The first pressing limited edition of the first disc will include a 16-page booklet, a digipack, and an early chance to purchase an event ticket. The limited edition Blu-ray Disc costs 5,900 yen (about US$47), and the DVD costs 4,900 yen (about US$39).

The school action fantasy story of Strike the Blood revolves around Kojō Akatsuki (voiced byYoshimasa Hosoya), a boy deemed the "fourth progenitor" — the world's most powerful vampire, once thought to only exist in legend and lore. In the Itogamijima special zone for demons, a girl named Yukina Hirameki (Risa Taneda) is entrusted with watching over the vampire and if needed, hunting him down.

The light novel series already inspired the Strike the Blood television anime series in 2013, andCrunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan. Discotek licensed the television anime for North American home video.