The IGF (Independent Games Festival) aims to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize independent game developers advancing the medium. This year, Game Developer sat down with the finalists for the IGFs Nuovo and Grand Prize nominees ahead of GDC to explore the themes, design decisions, and tools behind each entry. Game Developer and GDC are sibling organizations under Informa.Thank Goodness Youre Here sets players free to take in the sights and meet the locals of the Northern English town of Barnsworth, taking on ridiculous odd jobs and enjoying (or slapping) the absurd people and things you come across.Game Developer caught up with Will Todd and James Carbutt, creators of the multi-IGF Award nominated title, to chat about the challenges that come with creating an entire city filled with silly people and funny things to do, what appealed to them about making the player interact with things by slapping them, and the complexities of creating the sound and musical style so it didnt take away from the experience.Who are you, and what was your role in developing Thank Goodness You're Here?We are Will and James, the creative duo behind Thank Goodness Youre Here! James does the silly pictures and the music and Will does all the work (on the computer). We write everything together and voice a couple of characters each, too.Related:What's your background in making games?Will studied game design at Uni whereas James comes from an animation background. Really, neither of us have professional experience in the industry; we just got together one weekend and decided to make something fun. It has been the longest weekend of our lives.How did you come up with the concept for Thank Goodness You're Here?It was more a case of slowly arriving at it. The original 'next game' idea we had after The Good Time Garden was very different and didn't have a central player character and or specific location, being more focused on a visual style and loose concepts we wanted to explore. When we sat down to 'design' it, the characters naturally had our tone of voice (and accents), so the whole thing shifted gradually towards being set in a Northern English town and having a focus on the quirks and colloquialisms of that place.What development tools were used to build your game?We used Unity for the engine, Photoshop for the pictures, and Fmod for the noises.The town of Barnsworth is filled with all sorts of wild, wacky people who have things for you to do (or at least promise some sort of silly interaction). What challenges did you face in creating an entire city crammed full of silly things to do and funny people to meet?Related:To be honest, the most difficult part is deciding how you actually interact with the characters. Because the player character serves as a kind of straight man for the comedy, it was difficult to know when their interactions with the townsfolk felt too involved. Also, because of the fairly flat visual presentation, it was tough to signal to the player who and what is important in a scene at any given moment. I think we circumnavigated this issue by making the whole thing a sort of send up of fetch quests, which meant we could be fairly hamfisted with 'briefing' the player.Also, it was hard (and dumb!) to draw that many characters without reusing any assets.What was your process for creating a character and the funny things that would happen around them? Your process for cramming similar humor into the player's interactions with the world and the things they see in it?Our approach to development is comedy first, and then tease out 'gameplay' from those bits. So, it usually involves us both drinking 4 tins of Stella a piece and screaming obscenities in a room until one of us says something funny (usually Will). We write good stuff in the pub. But then sometimes there might be a particular visual composition wed like to explore, or a particular setting, and things are built out from there.Related:What thoughts went into the game's art style? What drew you to this animated, playful style? How did you create an art style that seems designed to enhance the humor of the game? That also made some of the more unsettling or gross elements just feel light and fun?The artwork is just James style so it didnt go through a ton of development because it was already developed. In many ways, the game serves the art style rather than the other way around. It would be a very different, probably more restrictive, experience if everything was written up top and then an artist came in and brought it to life.What drew you to have the slap/smack be the main way of interacting with things in the game's world?This was a hangover from our first exploration into games, The Good Time Garden, a short surreal interactive experience we made around our day jobs. We knew we wanted quite a pure gameplay experience, (no UI, no dialogue boxes, no complicated control scheme), and, as we knew there wouldnt be any gameplay in the traditional sense, it made sense to find a non-diegetic interactive button. Slap was the simplest and funniest.What thoughts went into the music, sound effects, and voices that would further increase the fun and humor? How did you make this game sound fun and appealing with these elements?For the sound, we worked with some lovely folks from A Shell in the Pit, and together we decided that the visual style and tone of voice of the game spoke for themselves, so it was funnier to make the SFX more realistic rather than slapstick. Similarly, the ambience is quite true to life, which hopefully grounds the player a little among the chaos.The music was difficult, if it was too sentimental it undermined the comedy and left some of the scenes feeling a bit too tragic, but if it was too upbeat we were in danger of things feeling corny. Hopefully we found a nice balance. Its a bit of a blend between old British Music Hall stuff, Brass Bands, and a little Rocksteady.A great deal of effort must go into the animations and creating so many layered jokes throughout the world. How did you keep this game's scope from spiraling out of control as you created more and more layers to it? How did you keep things focused and keep your capabilities as a team in mind while creating the game?This being our first proper project meant we were both dramatically under-qualified, but also stupid enough to think we could deliver, which I suppose we did, albeit 3 years over schedule. But that meant that we didnt really have a clue what the game was going to look like until right near the end. It meant the games scope fluctuated massively throughout development, and it was a real struggle to nail down a coherent story or narrative.Difficulties arose because the whole thing is functionally a sketch show you can play, but without the luxury of being able to cut to a completely new scene/time/location at a whim. Instead, we had to write a sketch show, and then figure out a way for the viewer to travel between sketches in a consistent, intuitive, but still entertaining, way. Also, the player is part of the sketch show, also the whole things animated, also the player can walk away from the sketches and decide instead to slap a bin basically whenever they want. Nightmare.Anyway, towards the end of the project we really started to get a handle on what was important and found the balance between bin slapping and bits.

Danielle Riendeau, Editor-in-ChiefMarch 28, 20252 Min ReadImage via UbisoftUbisoft has just announced its latest "transformation" by starting up a new subsidiary for some of its biggest and most battle-tested franchises. Confirming the whispers earlier in the month, the new company (as yet unnamed) comes with an investment of a cool 1.16bn (around $1.25 billion USD) from Chinese conglomerate Tencent, which will own a minority stake.In an announcement, Ubisoft noted the new subsidiary will focus on "building game ecosystems designed to become truly evergreen and multi-platform." It expects the infusion of cash to bolster its creative and commercial prospects, increasing "quality of narrative solo experiences, expand multiplayer offerings with increased frequency of content release, introduce free-to-play touch points, and integrate more social features."Ubisoft will reportedly keep on trucking on games from other Tom Clancy properties, like the Division and Ghost Recon, both noted specifically in the statement. No other franchises were discussed.Ubisoft's march toward "agility and ambition""Today Ubisoft is opening a new chapter in its history, said cofounder and CEO Yves Guillemot via press release. As we accelerate the companys transformation, this is a foundational step in changing Ubisofts operating model that will enable us to be both agile and ambitious. We are focused on building strong game ecosystems designed to become evergreen, growing high-performing brands and creating new IPs powered by cutting-edge and emerging technologies.Related:With the creation of a dedicated subsidiary that will spearhead development for three of our largest franchises and the onboarding of Tencent as a minority investor, we are crystalizing the value of our assets, strengthening our balance sheet, and creating the best conditions for these franchises long-term growth and success. With its dedicated and autonomous leadership team, it will focus on transforming these three brands into unique ecosystems, he continued.Towards the end of the release, a few details emerged regarding current teams working on the three properties in question. The new subsidiary will include the teams currently working on Tom Clancys Rainbow Six, Assassins Creed and Far Cry franchises based in Montral, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia, and will include back catalogue and new games for those properties going forward.Like most major publishers, Ubisoft has had a tumultuous run in the last couple of years. Earlier in 2025, it finished a series of studio closures and mass layoffs by letting go of its team in Leamington. Last year, the publisher cut jobs at its Cary and San Francisco offices as well as on its global publishing team.Related:Read more about:UbisoftTop StoriesAbout the AuthorDanielle RiendeauEditor-in-Chief, GameDeveloper.comDanielle is the editor-in-chief of Game Developer, with previous editorial posts at Fanbyte, VICE, and Polygon. Shes also a lecturer in game design at the Berklee College of Music, and a hobbyist game developer in her spare time.See more from Danielle RiendeauDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

A concert on Monday night at New Yorks Radio City Music Hall was a special occasion for Frank Miller: his parents wedding anniversary. He didnt end up seeing the show and before he could even get past security, he was informed that he was in fact banned for life from the venue and all other properties owned by Madison Square Garden (MSG).After scanning his ticket and promptly being pulled aside by security, Miller was told by staff that he was barred from the MSG properties for an incident at the Garden in 2021. But Miller says he hasnt been to the venue in nearly a decade.They hand me a piece of paper letting me know that Ive been added to a ban list, Miller says. Theres a trespass notice if I ever show up on any MSG property ever again, which includes venues like Radio City, the Beacon Theatre, the Sphere, and the Chicago Theatre.He was baffled at first. Then it dawned on him: this was probably about a T-shirt he designed years ago. MSG Entertainment wont say what happened with Miller or how he was picked out of the crowd, but he suspects he was identified via controversial facial recognition systems that the company deploys at its venues.In 2017, 1990s New York Knicks star Charles Oakley was forcibly removed from his seat near Knicks owner and Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan. The high-profile incident later spiraled into an ongoing legal battle. For Miller, Oakley was an integral part of the 90s Knicks, he says. With his background in graphic design, he made a shirt in the style of the old team logo that read, Ban Dolan a reference to the infamous scuffle.A few years later, in 2021, a friend of Millers wore a Ban Dolan shirt to a Knicks game and was kicked out and banned from future events. That incident spawned ESPN segments and news articles and validated what many fans saw as a pettiness on Dolan and MSGs part for going after individual fans who criticized team ownership.But this week, Miller wasnt wearing a Ban Dolan shirt; he wasnt even at a Knicks game. His friend who was kicked out for the shirt tagged him in social media posts as the designer when it happened, but Miller, who lives in Seattle, hadnt attended an event in New York in years.MSG Entertainment advises event goers that theyll be subject to facial recognition at its venues. Photo: Chris Welch / The VergeMiller says that after he scanned his digital ticket, but before he went through security, a person working at Radio City stopped the line, pulled him aside, and asked him for his ID to verify who he was. They then walked him to another entrance of the building, where five or more staff members stood with him as he was told he was not allowed to return.Hes not sure how exactly MSG connected him to the shirt or a 2021 incident during an event he wasnt at. Miller told The Verge that until the concert, he had never actually purchased tickets to MSG events they were either gifts from other people, or he got them through work.Ive been reading articles about this facial recognition stuff that Dolan [and] MSG properties use, but I hadnt been in or around the Garden outside of Penn Station to take New Jersey Transit [to] Newark Airport in almost 20 years now, Miller says. A friend who was present made sure his parents enjoyed the show while Miller hung out at a bar nearby. He did not get a refund for his ticket, he says.I just found it comical, until I was told that my mom was crying [in the lobby], Miller says of the experience. I was like, Oh man, I ruined their anniversary with my shit talk on the internet. Memes are powerful, and so is the surveillance state. Miller and his parents also had tickets to a Knicks game the following night; his parents went without him, with a family friend in his place. Miller dropped his parents off from across the street.MSG Entertainment did not respond to The Verges questions about whether facial recognition was used to identify Miller.Frank Miller Jr. made threats against an MSG executive on social media and produced and sold merchandise that was offensive in nature, Mikyl Cordova, executive vice president of communications and marketing for the company, said in an emailed statement. His behavior was disrespectful and disruptive and in violation of our code of conduct.Keeping close watch on patrons is nothing new for MSG. In 2022, a New Jersey attorney was denied entry to Radio City Music Hall during a Girl Scout troop trip. Her infraction was being on an attorney exclusion list full of people who work at firms that are suing MSG. The attorney was identified using facial recognition technology at the venue.Miller says he was told at Radio City that he could appeal the ban if he wanted to but said its not a priority for him. He hopes his experience can help others who find themselves in a similar situation, where theyre unexpectedly denied entry at an expensive event based on data about them that has been collected by the company.Its something that we all have to be aware of the panopticon, Miller says. Were [being] surveilled at all times, and its always framed as a safety thing, when rarely is that the case. Its more of a deterrent and a fear tactic to try to keep people in line.Update March 28th: Added comment from MSG Entertainment spokesperson Mikyl Cordova.See More:

Baking sourdough bread may seem pointedly old-fashioned, but that doesnt mean its immune to the allure of a novelty gadget. Thats where the Sourdough Sidekick comes in: a new countertop appliance that automatically feeds your sourdough starter so its ready to bake the moment you need it.The Sidekick is a joint project by FirstBuild the GE Appliances innovation hub responsible for the viral Opal ice maker and King Arthur Baking Company. Currently raising funds on Indiegogo, and well past its initial funding goal, the Sidekick is essentially an automated flour and water dispenser that can help keep your starter alive when you dont have time, and take the guesswork out of the timing to feed it to make sure its active enough to bake with.Theres a little more to it than that though. You can plug in the date and time of the next time you plan to bake to the hour and the Sidekicks Auto mode will feed the starter appropriately to make sure its at a peak of activity right when you need it, even factoring in the temperature of your kitchen. It uses a microfeeding schedule which only generates discard once every seven days, so it should reduce waste too. If youre a more advanced baker with your own specific feeding schedules and flour-to-water ratios, you can load those into the Custom mode. Youve also always got the option to add extra flour and water on the fly.The Sidekick is available to back on Indiegogo for $129, or as a pair for $249. For the moment it only ships to the US, but delivery isnt estimated until January 2026 its still in a prototype stage, with production models not yet finalized. If you want something a little simpler thats available now, the $50 Breadwinner measures your starters volume so you know when it needs feeding and when its ready to bake.See More:

In this tutorial, we demonstrate the integration of Pythons robust data manipulation library Pandas with Google Clouds advanced generative capabilities through the google.generativeai package and the Gemini Pro model. By setting up the environment with the necessary libraries, configuring the Google Cloud API key, and leveraging the IPython display functionalities, the code provides a step-by-step approach to building a data science agent analyzing a sample sales dataset. The example shows how to convert a DataFrame into markdown format and then use natural language queries to generate insights about the data, highlighting the potential of combining traditional data analysis tools with modern AI-driven methods.!pip install pandas google-generativeai --quietFirst, we install the Pandas and google-generativeai libraries quietly, setting up the environment for data manipulation and AI-powered analysis.import pandas as pdimport google.generativeai as genaifrom IPython.display import MarkdownWe import Pandas for data manipulation, google.generativeai for accessing Googles generative AI capabilities, and Markdown from IPython.display to render markdown-formatted outputs.GOOGLE_API_KEY = "Use Your API Key Here"genai.configure(api_key=GOOGLE_API_KEY)model = genai.GenerativeModel('gemini-2.0-flash-lite')We assign a placeholder API key, configure the google.generativeai client with it, and initialize the gemini-2.0-flash-lite GenerativeModel for generating content.data = {'Product': ['Laptop', 'Mouse', 'Keyboard', 'Monitor', 'Webcam', 'Headphones'], 'Category': ['Electronics', 'Electronics', 'Electronics', 'Electronics', 'Electronics', 'Electronics'], 'Region': ['North', 'South', 'East', 'West', 'North', 'South'], 'Units Sold': [150, 200, 180, 120, 90, 250], 'Price': [1200, 25, 75, 300, 50, 100]}sales_df = pd.DataFrame(data)print("Sample Sales Data:")print(sales_df)print("-" * 30)Here, we create a Pandas DataFrame named sales_df containing sample sales data for various products, and then print the DataFrame followed by a separator line to visually distinguish the output.def ask_gemini_about_data(dataframe, query): """ Asks the Gemini Pro model a question about the given Pandas DataFrame. Args: dataframe: The Pandas DataFrame to analyze. query: The natural language question about the DataFrame. Returns: The response from the Gemini Pro model as a string. """ prompt = f"""You are a data analysis agent. Analyze the following pandas DataFrame and answer the question. DataFrame: ``` {dataframe.to_markdown(index=False)} ``` Question: {query} Answer: """ response = model.generate_content(prompt) return response.textHere, we construct a markdown-formatted prompt from a Pandas DataFrame and a natural language query, then use the Gemini Pro model to generate and return an analytical response.# Query 1: What is the total number of units sold across all products?query1 = "What is the total number of units sold across all products?"response1 = ask_gemini_about_data(sales_df, query1)print(f"Question 1: {query1}")print(f"Answer 1:\n{response1}")print("-" * 30)Query 1 Output# Query 2: Which product had the highest number of units sold?query2 = "Which product had the highest number of units sold?"response2 = ask_gemini_about_data(sales_df, query2)print(f"Question 2: {query2}")print(f"Answer 2:\n{response2}")print("-" * 30)Query 2 Output# Query 3: What is the average price of the products?query3 = "What is the average price of the products?"response3 = ask_gemini_about_data(sales_df, query3)print(f"Question 3: {query3}")print(f"Answer 3:\n{response3}")print("-" * 30)Query 3 Output# Query 4: Show me the products sold in the 'North' region.query4 = "Show me the products sold in the 'North' region."response4 = ask_gemini_about_data(sales_df, query4)print(f"Question 4: {query4}")print(f"Answer 4:\n{response4}")print("-" * 30)Query 4 Output# Query 5. More complex query: Calculate the total revenue for each product.query5 = "Calculate the total revenue (Units Sold * Price) for each product and present it in a table."response5 = ask_gemini_about_data(sales_df, query5)print(f"Question 5: {query5}")print(f"Answer 5:\n{response5}")print("-" * 30)Query 5 OutputIn conclusion, the tutorial successfully illustrates how the synergy between Pandas, the google.generativeai package, and the Gemini Pro model can transform data analysis tasks into a more interactive and insightful process. The approach simplifies querying and interpreting data and opens up avenues for advanced use cases such as data cleaning, feature engineering, and exploratory data analysis. By harnessing these state-of-the-art tools within the familiar Python ecosystem, data scientists can enhance their productivity and innovation, making it easier to derive meaningful insights from complex datasets.Here is the Colab Notebook. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our85k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Google AI Released TxGemma: A Series of 2B, 9B, and 27B LLM for Multiple Therapeutic Tasks for Drug Development Fine-Tunable with TransformersAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Meet Open Deep Search (ODS): A Plug-and-Play Framework Democratizing Search with Open-source Reasoning AgentsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/A Code Implementation of Monocular Depth Estimation Using Intel MiDaS Open Source Model on Google Colab with PyTorch and OpenCVAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Google DeepMind Researchers Propose CaMeL: A Robust Defense that Creates a Protective System Layer around the LLM, Securing It even when Underlying Models may be Susceptible to Attacks

Paul Rudd was, as youd expect, asked about Avengers: Doomsday in a recent interview following confirmation of the Marvel movies cast, but he remained tight-lipped.Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Ant-Man actor was asked about the Marvel livestream that slowly revealed chairs with Avengers: Doomsday actor names on them. The video confirmed an additional 26 actors set to appear in the superhero mash-up alongside Robert Downey Jr.s Doctor Doom. Rudds chair, in keeping with his super small superhero role, was tiny in comparison to all the other chairs.Paul Rudd's Ant-Man appropriate chair confirmed his role in Avengers: Doomsday.I saw that announcement. I did, Rudd said in the interview, clearly trying desperately to not give anything away or offer any clues that might bring the Marvel heavies knocking on his door.And about that tiny chair, Fallon began: I guess because youreBecause Im Ant-Man?Yes.I hope so.Rudd then went on to deflect the line of questioning with typical humor.I thought, oh thats clever, yes Im Ant-Man. But theres still the part of me thats like, its a little emasculating to have a little tiny chair. But at least, finally, one that will actually fit me when I sit down.Fallon then asked directly if Rudd could tell him anything about Avengers: Doomsday at all. Rudds answer was... well, it was nothing.There is nothing that I can tell you, he said, before joking about the secrecy surrounding the movie and Marvel projects generally. Rudd said that keeping secrets where they should be for a major movie like Avengers: Doomsday is a serious business, unlike military secrets or some sort of coordinated attack.Its a fun exchange, but one all the actors whose names appeared in Marvels livestream will now face whenever they do interviews to promote their projects. Take the cast of Thunderbolts, for example. Now theyre (pretty much all) confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, theyll be asked relentlessly about the film while out on the press tour.PlayIn the absence of more information from Marvel itself, MCU fans have been searching the chair livestream for hints and Easter eggs, and believe they might have found one or two.Most have now moved on from the video to debating what the cast announcement means for Avengers: Doomsday itsel. Marvel surprised many by announcing a number of returning stars from Foxs X-Men films. Fox X-Men veterans Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all now confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Grammer famously played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise before making his MCU debut via The Marvels' post-credits scene.Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films before appearing briefly in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU. Neither has Cumming, who played Nightcrawler, Romijn, who played Mystique, nor Marsden, who played Cyclops.Even Channing Tatum gets to play Gambit again after his star turn in Deadpool & Wolverine. It begs the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for DoomsdayEarlier this month, co-directors the Russo brothers said they see Avengers 5 and 6 as a new beginning that will lay the foundation for whatever comes next in Phase 7 of the MCU.The only thing Ill say about the movie is this: we love villains who think theyre the heroes of their own stories, Joe Russo said. Thats when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well shaped character for the audience. Thats where a lot of our focus is going.Avengers: Doomsday is currently set to arrive in theaters on May 1, 2026, and Secret Wars arrives about a year later in May 2027. Before then, Thunderbolts* comes out in May 2025, TV show Ironheart is out in June, and Phase 6 kicks off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.In October, Marvel Studios added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. It seems increasingly likely one of these movies is X-Men.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Last updated on March 28, 2025 - Added new Azure Latch codes!Want some codes for extra cash to spend on animations, styles, emotes, and more in Azure Latch? We've got you covered. In this article, you'll find all the currently working codes for the game, so be quick to redeem them and bag that cash.Working Azure Latch Codes (March 2025) RINSOONTRUSTME - 5,000 CashSorryForRollback - 50,000 CashSAEREWORK3TIME - 10,000 Cashsorryforlatency - 10,000 CashAMMISTHEOWNERNOTLEFTRIGHTTH - 10,000 CashAll Expired Azure Latch Codes You're in luck! We couldn't find any expired codes for Azure Latch at the moment, so you've still got time to rack up the cash with the above codes.How to Redeem Azure Latch Codes Before you can use Azure Latch codes, you'll need to be a part of the community, so load up Roblox and join the twi game group Then jump into Azure Latch and find the Menu button at the bottom of the screenIn the Menu options, go to the far right tab to find RewardsEnter the code and press Redeem to get that cash!Why Isn't My Azure Latch Code Working? Codes are often case-sensitive, so to avoid any errors, we'd recommend copying the codes directly from this article into the redemption bar in Azure Latch. We test them all before we upload them here to make sure they're valid for you. If you have copied them from here, and they're still not working, it could be one of two things. You may have accidentally copied over an extra space, so be sure to check for that first. The other option is the code may have just expired.How to Get More Azure Latch CodesWe check for codes daily, so you can visit this article to see when new Azure Latch codes are released. There's also a dedicated Discord Server, that you can visit to look for code announcements yourself.What is Azure Latch in Roblox? Whether you're a fan of anime or sports games, Azure Latch is likely to be a game you'll want to check out. The 5v5 football game is another Roblox experience that takes inspiration from the popular manga and anime series Blue Lock. For this one, however, you'll get super abilities that you can use to make those tackles, passes, and goal attempts a bit more exciting.Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Its up for debate where Assassins Creed Shadows lands in the hierarchy of Assassins Creed games, but its a clear top contender for best combat in franchise history. The discrepancy in styles and weapon sets between Naoe and Yasuke keeps the fighting fresh deep into the game, and improved AI helps enemy encounters feel challenging but fair.The games wide array of weaponry supports the robust combat system with items that are quite literally game-changers, particularly later in the campaign. Whether you like staying nimble with Naoe but struggle to deal with groups of enemies, or love stringing together combos with Yasukes katana and want to maximize your damage output, there are powerful, specialized weapons that can help cater to any style of attack you choose to employ.Below weve listed the best Legendary weapons for each weapon type in the game, where to find them, and why theyre worth seeking out.NaoeDragons EdgeWithout question, Naoes biggest weakness in combat is crowd control, particularly with the katana, which is better for one-on-one scenarios where its easier to manage distance. It takes a lot of finesse and lightning-quick timing for her to deal with a swarm of enemies, but the Dragons Edge katana mitigates this incredibly well. Its perk creates an AOE on hit with dodge attacks, which obviously gives Naoe a leg up when surrounded by grunts. Dodge attacks are super satisfying to land on their own, but adding an AOE to boot makes life a lot easier and frankly makes combat with Naoe even more fun. Oh, and Dragons Edge comes with adrenaline gain as well, which makes it even sweeter.Dragons Edge is unlocked by completing the Topple the Traitor main story quest in Yamashiro by assassinating the Two-Faced.Shinobis FuryThe speed and evasiveness the tanto grants and its synergy with the hidden blade make it a go-to for fast-twitch players, though tantos arent great for ranged combat. What makes Shinobis Fury such a useful tanto is its perk, which causes weakpoint attacks to make enemies vulnerable a second time. When stacked with other gear like the Hood of the Dragon, whose perk restores 33% health on weakpoint attacks, it makes Naoe far more formidable in close-range combat as two consecutive weakpoint attacks restore a whopping two thirds of her health bar.Shinobis Fury can be found by killing The Golden Teppo in the main quest line by completing either the Defensive Position or Drive the Point Home quest.Oceans GripThe most effective tactic when fighting as Naoe is managing distance. Kusarigamas are great for keeping enemies at bay from a safe distance, and the Oceans Grip is unique in that when you hit enemies further than three meters away, damage is increased by 60%. Using kusarigamas to keep enemies at bay is the most tactical, measured way to play as Naoe, and while it can take a while to dispatch enemies with this method, Oceans Grip greatly expedites the process and buys you time to collect yourself in the midst of chaos.Oceans Grip is unlocked by assassinating Lopo Cruz in the Pirates Alliance side quest in Wakasa.YasukeTurquoise ZephyrIf youre a parry-heavy player, the Turquoise Zephyr is one of the most deadly long katanas in the game. Its perk pushes enemies back upon a successful parry, completely changing the rhythm of battle in your favor, particularly if youre the strategic type. When combined with gear boasting further effects like the Armor of the Undead, which creates a cloud of poison on a successful parry, its a particularly effective way to wreak havoc when surrounded.The Turquoise Zephyr can be found in Yamashiro in a hidden chest under a broken bridge at Eagles Nest.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Sages ReachWhile not as flashy, a defensive approach to combat is as effective as any in Shadows, and though blocking isnt as flashy as parrying or dodging, it can be crucial in surviving close-call encounters in which you otherwise might be overwhelmed. Naginatas are slower but rangy and powerful, and the Sages Reach naginata adds a useful wrinkle to defense, stacking +10% damage on your next hit after each blocked attack.Find Sages Reach by killing the Naginata Shinbakufu leader in Sakamoto Castle on the Southwest side of Lake Biwa in the Omi Region.Patient HarbingerThe teppo is one of the trickier weapons to master in AC Shadows due to its drastically different cadence and spacing compared to the other weapons. Using a slow-loading rifle to take down rushing enemies can be downright panic-inducing, but the Patient Harbinger teppo remedies this drawback pretty significantly by allowing you to load two bullets for each reload, effectively doubling your rate of fire and buying you precious time.Find Patient Harbinger in a chest in Wakasa at the Hikidan-jo Ruins at Lake Suigetsu.Dragons WrathLike the Patient Harbiniger, the Dragons Wrath bow allows you to unleash powerful attacks drastically quicker than you normally would, which allows you to speed up your style and pace of combat significantly. While it typically takes time to charge arrows, Dragons Wraths perk instantly charges them, upping the speed and damage of bow combat by quite a lot. Yasuke is quite slow compared to Naoe to begin with, so not having to worry about charging arrows makes the bow a far more effective weapon in general.To acquire Dragons Wrath, kill the Tsutsui Agent in the Kurai Eikyou quest.Boulder FallVideo games can be cathartic in many ways, but few things are more cathartic than swinging a gigantic war club at groups of hapless enemies, leaving pools of blood in your wake. If you want to reach maximum catharsis with AC Shadows kanabo, the Boulder Fall is the way to go. The clubs perk makes it so that attacks cannot be interrupted, which not only completely changes the flow of combat but makes kanabo combat the most indulgently fun, silly, and satisfyingly violent in the game.To find Boulder Fall, assassinate the Katsugari Agent in the Kurai Eikyou quest.

There are a few words in the design lexicon that always seem to stump people. Whether its the age-old debate between sofa and couch (they are not the same!) or, in this case, drapes and curtains, it can be hard to nail down exactly what the difference is and why it (may or may not) matter. Have no fear, Im here to help. As a design editor, I deal with these terms regularly. Below, youll find everything you need to know about drapes and curtains, what the real difference is, where blinds fit into the equation, which style may work best for your home, and all the things you need to consider before purchasing. Jump to:Related StoriesDrapes vs. Curtains: Whats the Difference? Read McKendree for Country LivingGreen-and-white patterned curtains keep this coastal cottage bedroom designed by Marynn Udvarhelyi feeling fresh and breezy.The terms drapes and curtains are very often used interchangeably when referring to fabric window treatments, but in reality, they are distinctly differentand it all comes down to formality and construction. Drapes are often made-to-measure for specific windows and crafted from higher-end designer-exclusive fabrics, also known as to the trade fabrics. These window coverings are typically thickerthink lush velvet or thick woven cottonsand lined for enhanced light-blocking capabilities. Drapes are almost always more formal than curtains. Curtains are breezierespecially sheer curtainsas they arent typically lined in the same manner as drapes. The fabrics used in their construction are also generally not as heavy-duty as those found in drapes. While curtains can be made-to-order, they are often prefabricated in standard lengths and widths. For example, you can buy curtains at popular retailers (Anthropologie, Target, etc.), but not drapesthough sometimes those retailers include drapes in their category headers as a way to make sure consumers searching for any type of window treatment online are seeing their pieces. (As if it wasnt confusing enough!) What About Blinds or Shades? Read McKendreeDesigner Katie Rosenfeld layered wood shades and block-print drapes in this crisp, yet casual Maine beach house. You may ask yourself: Do blinds fit into all of this? Yes, they do! Before we get into that, though, lets quickly address the difference between blinds and shades. Blinds are comprised of single pieces of material (like strips of wood) strung together that tilt to block out light. Shades, on the other hand, are typically made of one piece of material (either yardage of fabric or natural materials tightly woven together into a single piece) that you can raise or lower as desired. Blinds and shades both look great on their own, but they can also be used for layering. You can technically pair both with drapes and curtains, but designers often prefer bamboo or woven wood shades for added visual texture and contrast. (I have these woven wood shades in my home and absolutely adore them. They are customizable and ship via Amazon!) Blinds and shutters, another popular louvered light-blocker that are usually wood, typically nestle neatly within the window frame, so they shouldnt cause an issue for your fabric window coverings (provided you have deep enough window casing). Shades can also nestle within the window, but can also hang outside and have a more pronounced face. Are Curtains or Drapes Better for My Home?Marta Xochilt Perez for Country LivingClassic ticking stripe curtains add humble country charm to this lake house living room.Like many design rules, choosing the best window treatments for your room comes down to personal preference. If youre torn between the two and cost is not a concern (well get more into costs below), the best rule of thumb is to weigh these two factors: style and light filtration. Drapes are more refined due to the structured look provided by the thicker, heavier fabrics used to make them. (Some designers even add drapery weights to maintain a prim and proper appearance.) Drapes also typically filter more light because of their heavier construction. If you live in a classic Colonial-style home or one filled with more traditional elements, opt for drapes. Curtains, on the other hand, are lighter and breezier, making them a more popular choice for the casual living found in farmhouses and cottages. Important Things to Consider Matthew KisidayThe drapes in this West Virginia bunk room designed by Kendall Rabun are crafted of Quadrille Fabrics "Argentine."CostRegardless of what style you choose, window treatments can be found at various price points. In general, curtains are typically less expensive than drapes because of the type and amount of fabric used. Drapes may also feature additional design details that increase their cost, such as pleating, custom header types (the way the curtain looks and functions at the top), or specialized trims. Brands like Pepper Home and Everhem have revolutionized the window treatment game, offering custom curtains with stylish fabric options at direct-to-consumer prices. If you love the more formal look of drapes but they arent in your budget, check out local or online estate sales for vintage drapery panels that might work in your home. Just keep your window measurements handy! Or, you can even buy premade curtains, then add your own DIY trim or embellishment. Light FiltrationAs weve mentioned, drapes are typically better at darkening a room than curtains. Drapes will provide more light filtration, so if thats a priority for you, go for drapes or budget-friendly blackout curtains. If you prefer some light peeking through, opt for curtains. And, remember, you can always pair your curtains with a shade for extra darkness. They even make blackout shades that look a lot better than those vinyl roller shades of the past.PlacementDesigners might say that certain rooms benefit from certain types of window treatments, but in reality its up to you to decide what works within your budget and your style preference. Bedrooms benefit from the darkness of drapes but may feel heavy or stuffy if the rest of your furnishings are more casual or classically farmhouse. Formal spaces, such as living and dining rooms, are perfect for drapes. Communal gathering areas, like the kitchen or family room, are great for curtains. And, rooms where you want even more light but still desire the layered look window coverings givethink powder or laundry roomsare the perfect place for sheer or caf curtains. RELATED:Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything youve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When shes not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.

Ive described one of Waterfields earlier backpacks as a mini-Tardis, as it carries way more inside than youd ever expect from the compact form factor, and thats even more true of the latest Shinjuku Backpack.It looks like a slim backpack suitable for a MacBook, charger, and a few other bits and pieces, but the beautifully-organized layout means its surprisingly capacious Look & feelThe bag is made from waxed canvas, a tough and highly water-resistant fabric, with leather side-panels and accents. Its available in a choice of brown or navy, alongside unwaxed canvas options in black or green.Waxed canvas seems to be one of those materials that has somehow transitioned from the purely utilitarian to the fashionable in the past few years. While leather is always my first love when it comes to bags, this mix of the two materials works really well, giving it a ruggedly stylish appearance.As with the Tuck Backpack, this is a bag Id happily take to an important meeting or upmarket restaurant, though I see it as better suited to a leather jacket than a suit.Ill get to the specifics, but it has all of the small touches and quality feel Ive come to expect of the San Francisco-based company.Dimensions, capacity, and layoutThe bag is 17 inches high by 10 inches wide by 5 inches deep, and has a total capacity of 16 liters.Inside, theres a rear padded laptop section, which holds anything up to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a separate padded iPad slot, which comfortably accommodates a 13-inch iPad with Magic Keyboard.Theres an internal elasticated water bottle holder, which is flexible enough to accommodate anything from a travel mug to a 1-liter thermos. If youre not using this, its easily pushed to the side, taking up no space.Also on the interior is a zipped security pocket suitable for a passport, wallet, and cash. The rest of the interior has enough space for a sweater and books, or pretty much anything else you might carry around when using it as a day bag and could also serve as a weekend bag if you travel light. If you dont, then theres a rear luggage strap to slide it over the handle of a roller-bag (please, all bag makers, do this as standard its such a small thing that makes such a big difference).Moving to the outside, there are two zipped pockets, the top one with two expanding slots, the bottom with one accessory slot and two pen slots. Either pocket comfortably accommodates an iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the pockets are ideal for things like charging bricks, portable SSDs, and powerbanks.There are also two slimline side pockets. These arent big enough for an insulated coffee cup that needs to go in the interior slot but you can carry a small umbrella on one side and a small water bottle on the other. When not in use, they fold flat, so dont get in the way.In useFor me the biggest benefit of this bag is the fact that you can carry a lot while maintaining a slim profile. Backpacks can be a liability on public transit, and if you take them off they can be awkward to hold while also keeping a hand free for a grab-rail. But at five inches deep, it doesnt get in anyones way.Thats not coincidence: the company says the name was inspired by the worlds busiest transit hub inTokyos Shinjuku district.The laptop padding is reassuring, and the fact that both MacBook and iPad are on the inside, closest to your back, means I never had to be concerned about either device getting bashed by anyone around me.The interior is lined with a very reflective gold-colored material, which is now pretty much a standard feature of premium bags. Its intended to bounce ambient light around the interior to make it as easy as possible to see the contents of the bag, and it never ceases to amaze me what a huge difference this makes.All zippers are YKK ones. This is a Japanese company renowned for long-lasting, reliable, waterproof zippers, and in all the many years Ive been using bags fitted with these Ive never once had one catch or fail. The zippers have dual pulls for the main section, letting you choose between them meeting in the middle for the most convenient access, or bringing them down to one side for maximum security in crowded places.Pricing and conclusionsAs Ive noted before, Waterfields bags arent cheap, and the Shinjuku Backpack is no exception, coming in at $329. But as Ive also said previously, the materials, workmanship, and designs all live up to the standards youd expect of a premium US-made bag in this kind of price bracket.As a self-confessed bagaholic, Ive been using several of the companys bags for five or six years now, and they have all stood the test of time. If youre looking for a compact backpack that doubles as a second cabin bag and combines surprising capacity with rugged good looks, this could be the one for you.The Waterfield Shinjuku Backpack is available from the companys website in four finishes, each priced at $329.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel