As part of the Bungie's reveal showcase for its next game, Marathon, the studio announced a closed alpha test and confirmed how players can sign up for access.The Marathon closed alpha starts later this month, and players can join the Marathon Discord channel for a chance to get in. Bungie said its teams will be "actively engaging" with the Discord channel, including conducting live Q&As and generally discussing the project directly with fans.Marathon is a team-based extraction shooter. It's a successor of sorts to Bungie's 1994 game of the same name. Whereas Bungie today is better known for its work on the Destiny and Halo franchises, the original Marathon was one of Bungie's first big successes when it was released for Mac and Apple Pippin.Continue Reading at GameSpot

As the Galactic War continues to rage on, Helldivers 2 still seems to have quite a long life ahead of itself. Although the game's future already looks bright, Helldivers 2 may still want to consider experimenting with different game modes, given how this could help the game flourish long after the Galactic War comes to an end.

What about a new games genere without any buttons, that let you move around the screen using the mouse pointer, but no need to press anything, just point, this genere is called JUST POINT.This will help people that can move, but find difficult to press a button, maybe there is a hand missing, but able to move the computer mouse.This game is called Zombie Ducks - Shooting Ga

What happened to the ghost colony on Tau Ceti IV and the infamous Marathon ship that started it all? Decades after the original Marathon trilogy, the Bungie development team is ready to dive back into the world of Tau Ceti IV in their upcoming team-based extraction shooter, Marathon. The game launches on PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S on September 23.Today we’ll be covering some of the highlights from the live Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase. For all the details, you can watch the livestream here. Play Video A deadly competition In Marathon, players work together in crews of three to scavenge the remnants of the lost colony on Tau Ceti IV. In their search for the powerful weapons and equipment left behind, they’ll face AI security forces, otherworldly threats, and rival Runner teams competing for loot.Death is part of the journey—it’s a cutthroat world, and it’s not possible to survive every expedition. But every time you make it out alive, you get to keep everything you scavenged, which means you’ll grow in power and fill your vault across matches.You’re only ever one run away from your next big score.For your first look at gameplay, check out the Gameplay Reveal Trailer debuted in today’s livestream.  Play Video Enjoy your new shell At the heart of Marathon are Runners.Runners are cybernetic mercenaries who’ve given up their human form for biosynthetic shells. They’ve sacrificed a piece of their humanity for a slice of immortality that allows their consciousness to be transferred upon death.In Marathon, you’ll choose from a roster of Runners with unique abilities, stats, and styles. While each Runner brings their own flare, they’re also a foundation for you to customize your playstyle. To do so, you’ll collect implants and other equipment during your runs that you can use to augment your Runner and dial them into how you want to play.“For example, Glitch is all about agility, movement, and going fast. You can lean into this style harder by stacking implants and upgrades that reduce heat build-up and allow you to keep running, jumping, and sliding longer before having to cool down,” says Kevin Yanes, Senior Design Lead.“There are also rare items that can really push the boundaries like Prestige Cores. Glitch has one that will upgrade her double jump to a triple jump, giving you a lot of maneuverability in the air.” Combined with Bungie’s best-in-class gunplay and a wide range of weapons to loot, you can flex your Runner into multiple different playstyles.Learn more about Runners (and more) in the new Gameplay Overview Trailer. Play Video Returning to Tau Ceti The original Marathon series released in the 1990s established a foundation for experiential storytelling that’s become a hallmark for Bungie games. “The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection,” says Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff.Players were challenged to engage with the stories they encountered on their own terms, either as passive observers or active investigators into computer terminal tidbits and other environmental clues.“We’re embracing this approach to expand and explore what’s known about the worlds of Marathon through a new lens—the eyes of Runners, who are stepping into the world of Tau Ceti IV and Marathon to uncover the secrets hidden in the wake of the original trilogy’s events,” says Goff.How and where Marathon overlaps, and sometimes clashes, with the original games is a story that’ll unfold over time. And just like those classic games, the truths, lies, and consequences of Tau Ceti’s mysteries will be placed in the hands of players to own, consider, and debate.“At the end of the day, our goal with Marathon is not to tell a story, but to build worlds in which stories can and will unfold,” says Goff.Experience the world of Tau Ceti for yourself in the cinematic short debuted as a final surprise in today’s showcase. Written and directed by the award-winning Alberto Mielgo, director of the “The Witness” and “Jibaro” in Love, Death & Robots. Play Video Shape the future of Marathon Bungie has been working with players and creators since early in Marathon’s development—the earliest Bungie has ever invited players into a game. Even before entering production, players were testing early prototypes and providing feedback that shaped the next builds. Hearing player’s thoughts early and often has made Marathon better in ways big and small.“When we first started playtesting, maps acted more like a persistent world,” says Game Director Joe Ziegler. “So you could drop in and out of the same map server instance multiple times. But we heard this made matches feel unfair and unpredictable, like someone could just be camping spawns forever, or the loot you were going for could’ve already been taken.”“After hearing this feedback, we moved to the design we have today, where each match is a fresh start for everyone. This consistent starting point means you and your teammates can better strategize before each run, and then you can race enemy teams to fight for the loot you’re looking for,” says Ziegler.With Marathon now revealed, it’s time to expand playtests so Bungie can continue development alongside players’ feedback.“We’re beyond excited to invite more players into Marathon and to hear what they think,” says Ziegler. “Plus we have so much more to share in the weeks and months ahead. The journey is really just getting started.”You can sign up for your chance to play in this month’s Closed Alpha Test by joining the community Discord.Marathon launches September 23 on PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S.

Bungie re-revealed its extraction shooter Marathon via livestream on Saturday. Marathon was officially revealed in May of 2023, and Bungie has been relatively quiet since its announcement. But as the studio gears up for the game’s Sept. 23 release date, it’s opening the floodgates on all things Marathon. The studio started the event with a quick intro and a flashy trailer, which you can see above, followed by some of its developers discussing the game in more detail. This led into a significantly longer trailer (narrated by Ben Starr of Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro fame) explaining how Marathon works. The idea is that each player inhabits the shell of a Runner, a bio-cybernetic mercenary body. Players will then group up in teams of three to drop into a variety of maps on the colony of Tau Ceti IV. Once they arrive, players will search around the environment to find loot and complete contracts for their factions back home. They’ll also encounter other players and be able to kill them to steal their loot. Players who are able to safely extract from Tau Ceti IV will maintain any and all gear they found while exploring and hunting. Death, however, will cause players to drop everything in their inventory — including any items they brought with them into the lobby. After more discussion, the event ended with a short film set in the Marathon universe, created by Alberto Mielgo, the 2022 Oscar winner for best animated short film (The Windshield Wiper). Mielgo has also worked on Love, Death & Robots and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The short film showcases the life of the Runners, featuring their bodies getting shredded by enemies, intercut with something reminiscent of the Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner. Marathon will come to PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X — despite the fact that Bungie was purchased by Sony in early 2022. Interested players can also sign up to participate in the Marathon alpha test, which starts April 23. The studio did not speak about Marathon’s price during the stream, but a representative from Bungie confirmed to Polygon that Marathon will not be free-to-play, and will have an upfront cost. It’s currently unclear what that cost will be, or how the studio may choose to monetize the game post-launch. For more, read Polygon’s Marathon preview or our Q&A with Bungie. Disclosure: This article is based on a Marathon preview event held at Bungie’s headquarters in Bellevue, Wash. Bungie provided Polygon’s travel and accommodations for the event. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.

Popular culture for kids has fragmented so much lately that what's familiar to one 14-year-old might be utterly foreign to another. But the progress toward everyone having their own personal culture isn't complete. So I'm taking a look at some of things all (well, most) kids relate to and love, including A Minecraft Movie, Labubus, and the literary techniques developed by Spanish author Jorge Luis Borges in the 1940s (for real).Will A Minecraft Movie become a generational touchstone? I'm writing this on the day A Minecraft Movie comes out, and signs point to the release being one of those vanishingly rare events that capture the collective imaginations (and disposable incomes) of a generation. It's a cultural event that everyone (under a certain age) will experience and remember. But probably for a different reason than you expect.The main audience for the movie is younger kids (and their bored parents who are dragged into theaters, of course). Six-year-olds are going to love seeing Minecraft on screen in a genuine way, but many teenagers are attending the movie ironically. It's like that time kids gathered the squad and wore suits to the Minions movie a few years ago. A Minecraft Movie hasn't been getting good pre-release reviews, but it is getting good pre-release memes. And there is no better marketing for hard-to-reach kids than their peers making TikToks. I love that the memes all seem to tacitly accept that the movie will be bad, like this one, in which the trailer is cut down to only words from the video game: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Or vids like this one with a single cheesy phrase: or this one with a ton of cheesy phrases: Or this brain-rot video: If I had any money at all, I'd bet it all on the creators of the movie having made it like this on purpose. They know that little kids are going to love A Minecraft Movie regardless of the bad CGI, the canned "catchphrases," and the clichéd plot; kids are terrible at critical thinking. They also must know that older kids wouldn't accept a kiddie version of Minecraft if they took it seriously. Minecraft, the game, is so open-ended that the version of it a teenager experiences is very different than the one a little kid experiences: There's no way to "stay true" to the source material like you can with Super Mario, so the movie's producers didn't try. They leaned into the cheesiness instead, in the hopes of catching an ironic wave because there's nothing older kids like more than laughing at things they used to like (even though we adults know that, deep in their hearts, they still love it.)Or I could be wrong and the thing could be a flop; what am I, Nostradamus?What's the deal with Labubus? Credit: Labubu Parents: if you haven't heard of Labubus, I predict you'll know everything possible about them between now and Christmas. The slightly edgy-looking plush dolls with vinyl faces are destined to become the must-have toy of the 2025 holidays—we're talking Beanie-Babies-in-1997 levels of hysteria here, so be prepared.A creation of Hong Kong-based illustrator Kasing Lung, Labubus were first marketed in 2015 by a company called Pop Mart. Over the last decade, they've taken over Asian markets, spread to Europe and America, and have recently reached worldwide critical mass. The popularity is partly because the characters are undeniably adorable and cool, but also because they're collectible. People love collecting things. Labubus are available as keychains, dolls, and emblazoned on other merchandise. There are over 300 variations of the toy, with more on the way, so you'll never run out of Labubus to buy, ever. A main difference between Labubus and Beanie Babies is that Labubus are sold in black boxes, so a buyer doesn't know exactly what they're getting before the purchase. Some are more rare than others, so if you want to collect 'em all, you're going to be getting a lot of doubles. As you'd expect, there's a ton of Labubu content on social media and a thriving secondary market for the toys, full of collectors and quick-buck artists, has sprung up. Ordinarily, I'd suggest would-be Labubu millionaires take a look a what happened to people who "invested" in Beanie Babies and invest in a IRA instead, but I'm not sure that advice applies: If you invest in Labubus instead of a mutual fund, at least you'll have some cool dolls to hug.Yarn face makeup trend terrifies, intrigues The "yarn face" makeup trend on TikTok isn't being widely practiced yet, but I hope it catches on: Using makeup for reasons other than "so I look prettier" is the kind of subversion of expectations the world needs more of. It's scary and weird, but I want to see people walking around looking like they were crocheted every time I go outside.The technique was invented by extremely talented SFX makeup artist @annamurphyyy in this video, which was was viewed over 52 million times: Before long, other cosmetic influencers responded with their own takes on the trend, resulting in videos like these: Viral video of the week: My Most UNHINGED Video [Amanda The Adventurer 2] This week's viral video, "My Most UNHINGED Video [Amanda The Adventurer 2]" has been viewed over four million times on its first day online. It's from game-streamer CoryxKenshin, and works on a lot of levels. Here's some explanation:1) Game streaming: This isn't exactly new, but young people love watching other people play videos games, often for long stretches; this video is over two and a half hours long. 2) CoryxKenshin: This streamer has over 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. He mainly plays horror games, a popular genre for streamers, probably because watching people get scared is fun. 3) Reaction videos: CoryxKenshin might be described as a combination of game streamer and reactor. His videos are half about the game he's playing and half about his reaction to it.4) Amanda the Adventurer 2: A sequel developed by indie studio MANGLEDmaw Games, Amanda the Adventurer 2 is a puzzle-heavy horror game about a kids' TV show from the early 2000s that's connected to something supernatural and sinister involving missing children. It is an example of "analog horror" and horror revolving around nostalgia for childhood, both popular among young people. 5) Analog horror: This popular-among-younger-people analog horror subgenre isn't usually gory or overly violent. It's not usually adult horror. The idea is to create a disconcerting, dreadful vibe through highlighting the limitations of older forms of media, then breaking the tension with an occasional jump scare. You play Amanda the Adventurer 2 by controlling a character who is watching old VHS tapes of a children's TV show. Amanda, the show's main character, invites interaction from the audience. She's somehow alive inside the VHS tapes, and you progress in the game by figuring out what Amanda wants and giving it to her (or not giving it to her), thus unveiling the story behind the tapes and the missing children. Like many popular horror games, Amanda's scares are based on referencing media the audience remembers from childhood—in this case, Dora the Explorer. 6) Multi-layered, nested narrative: Creating complex fictional structures that distance the reader from the story was popularized in horror literature by Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, but you can go back further and credit Phillip K. Dick or Jorge Luis Borges if you want. The interesting part to me is how artistic conventions that were once the sole purview of pointy-headed intellectuals are now fully accepted by 14-year-olds who have never read a book. Consider what you're doing right now: You're reading a description of a YouTube video of a person playing a game in which the "real" person watches VHS tapes of a fictional character that's based on "actual" fictional character Dora the Explorer. Like I said: There are many levels.

Netflix has started testing a new search feature powered by OpenAI that can help customers find movies and shows to watch, according to Bloomberg. The streaming service has reportedly given select users in Australia and New Zealand the option to use the tool. It will allow users to search for terms other than a specific show's title, an actor's name or the genre they want to watch. Bloomberg says it will give them a way to search for content using more specific terms, like their mood. Presumably, that means the service can surface dramatic shows for a search query that says "sad," and seeing as it's powered by generative AI, users will most likely be able to use natural language in their search terms.  As the news organization notes, Netflix already uses artificial intelligence for some of its existing features, such as learning user's preferences based on their viewing history to recommend titles they're more likely to watch. And it's looking for more ways to use the technology. At the moment, OpenAI-powered searches are only being tested in the two countries, but Netflix reportedly has plans to expand its testing to more markets, including the United States. The company has history of rolling out features to Android users first before making them available on iOS. This time, however, the feature is currently accessible on iOS devices only, and it's unclear if the next test markets will be able to access it on Android.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/netflix-is-reportedly-testing-a-search-function-powered-by-openai-190025983.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.

At least half of the people I coach identify delegation as an area that they’d like to improve. Delegating can be a real challenge because—let’s face it—it’s tough to let go of control.  Many of us believe that if we want something done right, we have to do it ourselves. Plus, it takes effort to explain the task, trust someone else to do it, and then follow up. Sometimes, it feels like it’s just easier to do it ourselves rather than invest the time in teaching someone else.  But in the long run, this mindset can lead to burnout and missed opportunities for growing and developing our team members. So, while delegating may feel like a hurdle, it’s a crucial skill for both personal and professional success. Why is delegating so hard? Perfectionism: One of the primary reasons people struggle with delegation is the desire for perfection. At work, managers and team leaders might feel that their way is the “best” way, and fear that delegating will lead to mistakes or a decline in quality. This mindset is often rooted in a deep-seated belief that no one else can do the job as well as we can. Lack of trust: Trust is a significant factor in delegation. In the workplace, if a manager does not trust their team’s capabilities, they are unlikely to delegate effectively. This lack of trust might stem from past experiences where delegated tasks were not completed to satisfaction or within the desired timeframe. It can also arise from a general lack of familiarity with team members’ skills and work ethic. Lack of training and communication: Lack of trust is often tied to a need to improve communication and training. In the workplace, if tasks are not delegated with clear instructions and expectations, the likelihood of mistakes increases. Managers might not take the time to train employees adequately, leading to frustration and subpar results. This, in turn, reinforces the belief that it’s easier to do everything oneself. Overestimation of time savings: Many people overestimate the amount of time that delegating tasks will take. It’s true that effective delegation requires an initial investment of time to train, explain, and monitor—and many managers feel that by the time they’ve explained a task to an employee, they could have completed it themselves. However, this short-term thinking overlooks the long-term benefits of delegation, such as freeing up time for strategic activities and developing employees’ skills. Personal identity and self-worth: This is a big one. For many of us, our sense of identity and self-worth is closely tied to our roles and responsibilities. Managers sometimes feel that their value is measured by how much they do, leading to reluctance in delegating tasks. They might worry that delegating too much will make them appear less valuable to the organization. Overcoming the challenges of delegation While delegation is challenging, it is not insurmountable. Here are some strategies to help overcome these barriers: Reframe delegation: Reframing delegation as a crucial development tool is essential, because it shifts the focus from simply offloading tasks to empowering and developing your team. When you delegate effectively, you’re not just getting things off your plate; you’re providing opportunities for team members to learn new skills, take on responsibilities, and build confidence.  This investment in their development leads to more capable, motivated, and engaged employees. It also fosters a collaborative environment where everyone can contribute to their full potential, ultimately driving the success of the entire team and organization. In short, you’re doing everyone a favor when you delegate effectively. Build trust: Start by delegating smaller, less-critical tasks, and gradually move to more significant responsibilities as trust builds. By beginning with less-critical assignments, you can test the waters and assess your team members’ capabilities without risking major setbacks.  This approach allows you to provide constructive feedback and guidance, helping them grow more confident and competent over time. As they prove themselves with smaller tasks, you can gradually entrust them with more complex responsibilities. Make sure to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts along the way. Improve communication: Effective communication is key when delegating tasks to ensure clarity and accountability. Start by clearly defining the task, including the desired outcome, deadlines, and any specific guidelines or resources needed. Be explicit about the level of authority and decision-making power the person has. Encourage questions to ensure understanding and provide all necessary information up front.  Regularly check in to offer support, provide feedback, and address any issues that arise, without micromanaging. Maintaining an open line of communication fosters trust and allows for adjustments if needed, ensuring the task is completed successfully and to the expected standard. Adjust mindsets: Recognize that perfection is not always necessary and that different approaches can still yield successful outcomes. Embracing the idea that tasks can be completed well, even if they aren’t perfect, empowers your team to take ownership and innovate. This shift in mindset not only alleviates your own workload and stress but also promotes a more dynamic and resilient team, ultimately enhancing overall productivity and success.

For anyone who has visited the United Kingdom, you’ve probably come across the iconic red postboxes by Royal Mail since they have been around for more than 175 years. It has become a symbol for the streets in the country and have remained largely unchanged. But of course as with a lot of things that have lasted this long, it needs to adapt to people’s changing needs. As the way we communicate and send items evolves, so too must the infrastructure that supports it. Royal Mail is now embarking on a significant transformation, testing a new generation of postboxes designed to meet the demands of the 21st century. Design: Royal Mail These iconic red postboxes are now being given a more updated design and function, thinking of how most people send out parcels now instead of just letters, for both personal and e-commerce reasons. This redesign reflects the shifting landscape of the postal service. While letter volumes have seen a decline, the rise of e-commerce, side hustles, and casual online selling has led to a surge in parcel traffic. The timing of this innovation comes as Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services, is on the cusp of being acquired by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group in a substantial £3.57 billion deal. This potential acquisition could usher in a new era for the postal service, with this modern postbox design hinting at a future focused on adapting to the evolving needs of its customers in an increasingly digital world. These updated postboxes or “postbox of the future” are being tested out in five locations across the country. They still retain the classic pillar box shape but now has a secondary chute where you can drop off those larger packages. This larger hatch can be unlocked after you scan the parcel’s barcode and it comes with an app-based proof-of-postage feature. The postboxes use solar panels to power this new system and also has 4G connectivity and location data. This trial marks the most significant change in postbox design in over 175 years, since the initial proposal by novelist Anthony Trollope during his time at the Post Office. While the familiar red color might be taking a backseat to the solar-powered black lid in this trial phase, the core identity of the Royal Mail postbox remains. The trial of these high-tech postboxes signifies Royal Mail’s commitment to innovation while still honoring its rich heritage. It’s a delicate balance – delivering a fresh stamp on tradition – but one that appears necessary to ensure the postal service remains relevant and efficient for generations to come. The outcome of this trial will undoubtedly be watched closely by communities across the UK, eager to see how this blend of the old and the new will shape the future of their local postbox. The post Royal Mail tests out updated red postboxes of the future to adapt to modern needs first appeared on Yanko Design.