The Trump administration is working to lift regulations on coal-fired power plants in the hopes of making its energy less expensive. But while cost is one important aspect, utilities have a lot more to consider when they choose their power sources. Different technologies play different roles in the power system. Some sources, like nuclear energy, are reliable but inflexible. Other sources, like oil, are flexible but expensive and polluting. How utilities choose which power source to invest in depends in large part on two key aspects: price and reliability. Power prices One way to compare power sources is by their levelized cost of electricity. This shows how much it costs to produce one unit of electricity on average over the life of the generator. The asset management firm Lazard has produced levelized cost of electricity calculations for the major U.S. electricity sources annually for years, and it has tracked a sharp decline in solar power costs in particular. Coal is one of the more expensive technologies for utilities today, making it less competitive compared with solar, wind and natural gas, by Lazard’s calculations. Only nuclear, offshore wind and “peaker” plants, which are used only during periods of high electricity demand, are more expensive. Land-based wind and solar power have the lowest estimated costs, far below what consumers are paying for electricity today. The National Renewable Energy Lab has found similar levelized costs for renewable energy, though its estimates for nuclear are lower than Lazard’s. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Lh38M/3 Upfront costs are also important and can make the difference for whether new power projects can be built, as the East Coast has seen lately. Several offshore wind farms planned along the Northeast were canceled in recent years as costs rose due to inflation and supply chain problems during the pandemic. Construction costs for the two newest nuclear generators built in the U.S. also rose considerably as the projects, both in the Southeast, faced delays. Reliability and flexibility matter But cost isn’t the whole story. Utilities must balance a number of criteria when investing in power sources. Most important is matching supply and demand at every moment of the day. Due to the technical characteristics of electricity and how it flows, if the supply of electricity is even a little bit lower than the demand, that can trigger a blackout. This means power companies and consumers need generation that can ramp down when demand is low and ramp up when demand is high. Since wind and solar generation depend on the wind blowing and the sun shining, these sources must be combined with other types of generation or with storage, such as batteries, to ensure the power grid has exactly as much power as it needs at all times. Nuclear and coal are predictable and run reliably, but they’re inflexible—they take time to ramp up and down, and doing so is expensive. Steam turbines are simply not built for flexibility. The multiple days it took to shut down Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after an earthquake and tsunami damaged its backup power sources in 2011 illustrated the challenges and safety issues related to ramping down nuclear plants. That means coal and nuclear aren’t as helpful on those hot summer days when utilities need a quick power increase to keep air conditioners running. These peaks may only happen a few days a year, but keeping the power on is crucial for human health and the economy. In today’s energy system, the most flexible generation sources are natural gas and hydro. They can quickly adjust to meet changing electricity demand without the safety and cost concerns of coal and nuclear. Hydro can ramp in minutes but can only be built where large dams are feasible. The most cost-effective natural gas technology can ramp up within hours. The big picture, by power source Over the past two decades, natural gas use has risen quickly to overtake coal as the most common fuel for generating electricity in the U.S. The boom was largely driven by the growing use of fracking technology, which allowed producers to extract gas from rock and lowered the price. https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/VRgsO/1 Natural gas’s low price and high flexibility make it an attractive choice. Its rise is a large part of the reason coal use has plummeted. But natural gas has its challenges. Natural gas requires pipelines to carry it across the country, leading to disruptive construction. As Texas saw during its February 2021 blackouts, natural gas equipment can also fail in extreme cold. And like coal, natural gas is a fossil fuel that releases greenhouse gases during combustion, so it is also helping to cause climate change and contributes to air pollution that can harm human health. Nuclear power has been gaining interest recently since it does not contribute to climate change or local air pollution. It also provides a steady baseload of power, which is useful for computing centers as their demand does not fluctuate as much as households. Of course, nuclear has ongoing challenges around the storage of radioactive waste and security concerns, and construction of large nuclear plants takes many years. Coal is more flexible than nuclear, but far less so than natural gas or hydropower. Most concerning, coal is extremely dirty, emitting more climate-change-causing gases, and far more air pollution than natural gas. Solar and wind have grown rapidly in recent years due to their falling costs and environmental benefits. According to Lazard, the cost of solar combined with batteries, which would be as flexible as hydropower, is well below the cost of coal with its limited flexibility. However, wind and solar tend to take up a lot of space, which has led to challenges in local approvals for new sites and transmission lines. In addition, the sheer number of new projects is overwhelming power system operators’ ability to evaluate them, leading to increasing wait times for new generation to come online. What’s ahead? Utilities have another consideration: Federal, state, and local governments can also influence and sometimes limit utilities’ choices. Tariffs, for example, can increase the cost of critical components for new construction. Permitting and regulations can slow down development. Subsidies can artificially lower costs. In our view, policies that are done right can help utilities move toward more reliable and cost-effective choices which are also cleaner. Done wrong, they can be costly to the economy and the environment. Erin Baker is a distinguished professor of industrial engineering and faculty director of The Energy Transition Institute at UMass Amherst and Paola Pimentel Furlanetto is a Ph.D. candidate in power systems at UMass Amherst. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The new packaging design makes an important change.

New subscription service notwithstanding, Garmin’s latest entry-level tracker is still reliable and attractive and works great.

His LeapPad tablets, which helped children read, found their way into tens of millions of homes beginning in 1999.

Apple has highlighted how an Australian shoe company replaced its traditional point-of-sale machines with iPhones, making for a better customer experience.Using the NewStore app, employees can check inventory instantly — image credit: AppleFirms are regularly spotlighted by Apple in its now long-running "Apple at Work" series, which focuses on small-business use cases for various Apple technologies. The latest explores how Australian shoemaker and retailer R.M. Williams is now using iPhones for nearly every aspect of its retail business.The Head of Technology for the company, Peter Ratcliffe, said that the switch to the iPhone has been "pivotal". "[iPhone is] revolutionizing our in-store experience, resulting in a significant increase in sales and a more personalized customer experience," he said. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Protesters in Washington, DC on April 5th. More protests against President Donald Trump are taking place today as part of “A National Day of Action” largely spearheaded by the decentralized 50501 movement. Events are scheduled in all 50 states, two weeks after millions of people attended more than 1,300 “Hands Off!” protests across the US and the world. This time, over 700 rallies and community events are planned. A post on the official 50501 website describes some of the other efforts underway today: Yes, there are marches, rallies, and courthouse demonstrations. But there are also diaper drives, skill shares, free community meals, and teach-ins happening all over the country. This is intentional. Because real change doesn’t just come from loud chants — it comes from deep connections. “No one single march wins demands or ends injustice,” Ben Zinevich, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, which is participating in the protests, told The Washington Post yesterday, “It’s really about building a sustained movement that can show itself as a political force.” Today’s actions, like those earlier “Hands Off!” demonstrations, are broadly aimed against the actions of President Donald Trump since his inauguration in January. That includes the rapid dismantling of the US administrative state at the hands of Elon Musk’s DOGE, chaotic tariffs, and apparent defiance of court orders, including one from the Supreme Court. Notably, today is the 250th anniversary of the first two major battles at the start of the American Revolutionary War. People are generally posting about the protests under the same “#handsoff” hashtag that was used earlier in the month. Below are scenes from some of the most visible protest actions taking place today, starting with what looks like hundreds preparing for a march from New York City’s Bryant Park: The April 19 NYC March has not even begun yet and there are SO many people gathered!Mass mobilization is the way!#50501 #FightForDemocracy#HandsOff— Postcards for America (@postcards4usa.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T16:21:07.424Z Protesters also gathered in Chicago’s Daley Plaza: #chicago #peotest #handsoff— Liam Hayden (@liamhayden.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T17:00:12.314Z A large crowd showed up early this morning at Piatt Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, where protesters in the video below can be heard chanting “bring him home:” “Bring him home!” (Garcia)Demonstrators are seen as they participate in the  ‘Hands Off!’ national day of protest and march in Cincinnati, Ohio. Saturday, April 19, 2025. #50501movement #50501 #HandsOff pic.twitter.com/IwILVgM6Ku— Jason Whitman (@jason_whitman) April 19, 2025 They seem to be referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who the Trump administration initially admitted was sent to an El Salvador prison by mistake. In the wake of a unanimous Supreme Court order to “facilitate” his return, the administration has been attempting to retroactively justify Abrego Garcia’s deportation while doing “nothing,” as a federal judge said this week, to try to get him back. Nice crowd building in Cincinnati. #handsoff— David Pepper (@davidpepperoh.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T14:00:32.182Z Demonstrators also turned out at Halifax Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina: We out here #50501protest #handsoff #raleigh— Young Democrats of Johnston County (@youngdemsjoconc.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T15:29:29.542Z In Buffalo, New York’s Niagara Square: Buffalo strong..50501 #handsoff— Bonnie (@bonniefitz.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T15:42:18.758Z And Brittlebank Park in Charleston, South Carolina: #SOUTHCAROLINA ! Charleston represented this morning with a THOUSAND people in attendance! Lemme see your pictures from around the state! (Other states welcome too😉)— Madelyne (@madelynerants.bsky.social) 2025-04-19T16:44:22.398Z

Author(s): Talha Nazar Originally published on Towards AI. Image by Author from AI Imagine a world where software writes itself — the lines between developer and machine blur into a seamless dance of creation. This isn’t a distant sci-fi fantasy; it’s the revolution unfolding. With generative AI advancing at breakneck speed, the very foundation of software development is being rewritten. Enter agent software engines — the game-changing force turning code into a collaborative conversation between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. This isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a paradigm shift. Traditional coding is evolving into a dynamic partnership, tech roles are being redefined, and a new wave of innovators is rising. The future belongs to those who embrace this transformation early. The question is: Will you lead the change, or watch from the sidelines? What if software could think, learn, and build like a human developer? Enter Agent Software Engines: the next evolution in AI-driven development. These aren’t just code generators — they’re autonomous, intelligent systems powered by cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) and reinforcement learning. They don’t just follow instructions; they understand them, write and refine code, debug complex issues, execute tasks, and — most crucially — learn from every interaction. Unlike traditional tools, agent engines act as true collaborators. They reason, validate, and optimize code through iterative cycles, mimicking the workflow of a seasoned engineering team. Picture OpenAI’s AutoGPT orchestrating tasks, Microsoft’s Autogen managing multi-agent workflows, or MetaGPT assigning specialized roles — frontend dev, database architect, QA engineer — all working in concert to build full-scale software systems. Illustration by Author — Napkin.ai This isn’t automation — it’s augmentation. The future of coding isn’t human vs. machine; it’s human and machine, co-creating at unprecedented speed. The question is: Are you ready to harness the power of AI teammates? The End of Coding as We Know It: How Agent Software Engines Are Rewriting the Rules of Development The software industry is on the brink of its biggest transformation since the invention of high-level programming languages. Agent Software Engines aren’t just changing how we write code — they’re redefining what it means to be a developer. Here’s how the future of coding is taking shape: 1. From Syntax to Strategy: The Rise of Prompt Engineering The “how” of coding is becoming obsolete. Tomorrow’s developers won’t wrestle with semicolons and syntax — they’ll master the art of crafting precise, context-rich prompts that guide AI agents to build entire systems. Coding is no longer about writing lines; it’s about architecting intent. 2. Your AI Team Never Sleeps: The Era of Asynchronous Development Imagine a world where your “development team” includes AI agents that work 24/7 — writing documentation, fixing bugs, and optimizing performance while you focus on big-picture innovation. The future of software isn’t solo geniuses; it’s human-AI collectives operating at unprecedented scale. 3. From Weeks to Hours: The Death of the Development Cycle Could you prototype, test, and deploy in the time it takes to drink your morning coffee? Companies like Cognosys and Sweep AI are already proving it’s possible to use AI agents to collapse development timelines from weeks to hours. The bottleneck is no longer human hands; it’s human imagination. 4. No Code? No Problem: Democratizing Development The biggest shift isn’t just speed — it’s accessibility. Entrepreneurs, designers, and even non-technical stakeholders can now directly shape applications using natural language. The barrier between “idea” and “execution” is vanishing — and with it, the monopoly of traditional coders. Illustration by Author — Napkin.ai The Bottom Line: The future belongs to those who adapt fastest. Will you cling to old workflows, or lead the charge into this new paradigm? One thing is certain: in five years, “coding” won’t mean what it does today. The question is — will you be ahead of the curve, or left behind? Pros and Cons of Agent Software Engines vs Traditional Developers Illustration by Author — Napkin.ai Roadmap to Mastering Agent Software Engineering The biggest opportunity in tech isn’t just using AI — it’s orchestrating it. While most developers are still manually writing code, early adopters are already leveraging AI agents to build software 10x faster. Here’s your battle-tested roadmap to not just adapt, but dominate the coming AI-powered development revolution: Illustration by Author — Napkin.ai Phase 1: Rewire Your Mindset Forget everything you know about “traditional” coding. The future belongs to those who can direct AI, not just program it. Immerse yourself in the paradigm shift: Study AI agent philosophy (LangChain’s The Rise of AI Agents is a must-read). Unlearn coding habits: Watch DeepLearning.AI’s LLM courses to grasp how prompting replaces syntax. Key mindset shift: You’re no longer a coder — you’re an AI conductor. Phase 2: Weaponize Prompt Engineering The most valuable skill of the next decade? Telling AI exactly what you need. Master advanced prompting: Chain-of-thought, ReAct, and iterative refinement. Hands-on labs: Build real projects with AutoGPT, BabyAGI, and LangGraph. Deliverable: A portfolio of AI-built apps (CRUD systems, automated workflows). Phase 3: Assemble Your AI Team The best developers don’t code alone — they lead AI agents like a tech CEO. Deploy specialized agents: Use Autogen for cloud-based teams, and MetaGPT for role-based workflows. Project: Ship a microservice app where AI handles 80% of the work. Pro tip: Document every agent interaction — your “prompt playbook” is your new competitive edge. Phase 4: Build Superhuman Agents Turn basic AI helpers into powered-up co-developers. Integrate tools: Web search, APIs, and vector databases to expand agent capabilities. Add memory: Create agents that learn from past projects. Deliverable: A market-ready MVP built entirely through agent collaboration. Phase 5: Go Pro & Get Paid Transition from learner to high-value AI-augmented developer. Automate your org: Implement agent-driven CI/CD, testing, and docs. Earn credentials: LangChain certification, AI agent hackathon wins. Monetize: Launch a micro-SaaS, freelance as an “agent whisperer,” or build a content empire teaching these skills. The Dark Side of AI-Powered Development: 4 Urgent Challenges We Can’t Ignore The agent software revolution isn’t all sunshine and 10x productivity — real dangers are lurking beneath the hype. As we rush to embrace AI teammates, we’re stumbling into four critical minefields that could define the future of our industry: 1. The “Wizard of Oz” Problem: Empty Expertise in the AI Era We’re raising a generation of developers who can prompt but can’t program. When AI handles the heavy lifting, will we still understand what’s happening under the hood? This isn’t just about skills — it’s about preserving our ability to think like engineers when the AI fails (and it will). 2. The Pandora’s Box of Code Security Every AI agent is a potential attack vector. Recent studies show that unconstrained agents can: Expose API keys through hallucinated code Inherit vulnerabilities from training data Become Trojan horses for supply chain attacks The question isn’t if a major agent-related breach will happen — it’s when. 3. The Black Box Crisis: Who’s Responsible When AI Writes Buggy Code? Imagine debugging a system where: The original “developer” is an AI The logic is too complex for any human to fully parse The error only manifests in production We’re entering an era where we might not understand our codebases — let alone certify their safety. 4. The Developer Identity Crisis The brutal truth? AI won’t replace all developers — just the ones who refuse to evolve. The at-risk jobs aren’t just: ✔️ CRUD app developers✔️ Basic bug fixers✔️ Documentation writersThey’re any role that can’t deliver more value than an agent working at 1/10th the cost. The Wake-Up Call: These aren’t hypotheticals — they’re unfolding right now in early-adopter companies. The developers who thrive won’t just use AI agents; they’ll master mitigating these risks while leveraging the advantages. Illustration by Author — Napkin.ai Your Move: Will you be the one solving these challenges, or become a cautionary tale of the AI transition? The Great Developer Divide: How AI is Creating a Two-Tier Future for Coders The numbers don’t lie — we’re witnessing the fastest workforce transformation in tech history. GitHub’s 2023 data reveals a seismic shift: (a) 55% faster coding with AI tools(b) 3 in 4 junior devs now rely on AI daily(c) 81% of companies will bake AI agents into their SDLC by 2026 But here’s the uncomfortable truth no one’s saying out loud: By 2030, “coder” will mean something radically different. The Coming Reality: ▸ 30–40% of entry-level coding jobs will vanish or morph into AI-management roles ▸ Agent Engineers (avg salary projected: $250k+) will be the new rockstars▸ Whiteboard interviews will die — replaced by AI collaboration challengesThis isn’t speculation — it’s already happening: • FAANG companies are quietly retooling their hiring rubrics• Bootcamps are pivoting to “AI-First Development” curricula• Startups are launching with 1 human and 10 AI agentsIllustration by Author — Napkin.ai There will be two kinds of developers in 5 years: 1. Those who command AI agents 2. Those who compete with AI agents The AI Developer Survival Guide: 4 Non-Negotiable Rules to Stay Relevant The brutal truth? Your coding skills alone won’t save your career. As AI agents become the new “junior developers,” here’s how to bulletproof your future in the industry: 1. Become the Architect, Not the Bricklayer AI writes code — humans solve problems. The developers who thrive will: Master system design and abstraction Think in patterns, not just functions On the “why” while AI handles the “how” 2. Develop Your AI BS Detector The most valuable skill of 2025? Knowing when your AI is: ✓ Brilliant✓ Broken✓ DangerousLearn to audit code like a forensic accountant — your job depends on it.3. Your New Portfolio: AI Collaboration Case Studies Forget GitHub commit streaks. Hiring managers want to see: ✓ Projects where you directed AI agents✓ Documentation of prompt iterations✓ Before/after benchmarks showing your AI leverage4. Join the AI Underground The best opportunities aren’t on job boards — they’re in: • Open-source agent projects• AI dev Discord war rooms• Experimental frameworks 99% of devs ignoreFinal Thoughts The rise of agent software engines isn’t the end of human developers — it’s the beginning of supercharged innovation, where the most successful engineers won’t just write code but will architect intelligence, orchestrate AI teams, and solve problems at unprecedented scale. Just as high-level languages liberated us from assembly, AI collaboration will free us from repetitive tasks, elevating our role to true creators and strategists — those who embrace this shift will define the next era of technological progress, while those who resist risk becoming obsolete. References If this piece resonated with you, please clap, share your thoughts in the comments, and spread the conversation by sharing with fellow developers who need to hear this message. The future is being written now, and your engagement helps shape what comes next! Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming a sponsor. Published via Towards AI

This review contains full spoilers for Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2, “Lux”.Following a disappointing season premiere, this week’s Doctor Who is a meticulously crafted descent into a retro-tinged nightmare, where daring storytelling collides with a pervasive, unsettling atmosphere. The TARDIS doesn't arrive in the expected sun-drenched glamour of 1952 Miami, but rather in its subtly sinister twilight. It’s a period setting rendered in immaculate detail: pastel hues, sharply tailored costumes, and a lovingly recreated slice of mid-century Americana. Drawn into a mystery surrounding 15 missing patrons at a once-bustling picture house, what begins with echoes of a standard Doctor Who caper, even cheekily evoking Scooby-Doo, quickly spirals into something far stranger and more ambitious. That ambition is most profoundly realized in the work of director Amanda Brotchie and animators Framestore, whose contribution to this episode is fantastic. With fine finesse, they’ve managed to channel the kinetic energy and whimsical charm of the Fleischer Studios' animated heyday, crafting an unsettling combination of colorful whimsy and insidious presence in the form of Mr. Ring-a-Ding. Masterfully embodied by Alan Cumming, who delivers a tour-de-force vocal performance, the villain feels like he's stepped directly out of a 1930s cartoon reel, not just in style, but in physics, posture, and that off-putting grin. It’s classic rubber-hose animation, brought to life and warped just enough to feel wrong, possessed, and dancing to a silent, unsettling rhythm, tactically amplified by Murray Gold’s wonderfully creaky and classically Hitchcockian score.If there’s a bum note to this, it’s the reveal that Mr. Ring-a-Ding is Lux, another all-seeing, all-knowing cosmic deity – a character type Doctor Who is certainly guilty of overindulging in these days. It’s hardly a fatal flaw, and the nightmarishly animated devil still manages to exert a captivating influence over the episode. Moreover, the reveal lends to a fitting end for the villain, with the god of light released to join the celestial tapestry above us in a surprisingly poetic send-off. But fingers crossed we don’t see another one-off fantastical god in disguise anytime soon.The animated brilliance of “Lux” extends beyond Mr. Ring-a-Ding. Amid the episode’s chaos, the Doctor and Belinda are unexpectedly thrust into a cartoon reality, a turn in the story that transcends mere gimmickry. The resulting sequence is a delightfully bizarre and frenetic experience, brimming with quippy puns and one-liners delivered with the pace and precision of the best early Simpsons episodes. After the pun-laden stumbles of the season opener, it’s a relief to see Russell T Davies wield his wordplay with actual purpose: Not just twisting phrases for plot’s sake, but crafting lines that carry rhythm, wit, and a surprising amount of heart. Crucially, the inherent absurdity of the sequence never undermines the episode's sincerity, maintains tension, and exhibits a pacing that is atypical of Doctor Who, a show often constrained by its tight runtime. Against all odds, it not only works, but ends before it wears out its welcome.Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2: "Lux - GalleryThat goes double for the episode's even bolder swing: a gleefully clichéd fourth-wall break where the Doctor and Belinda crash straight through a television screen into a modern-day living room, startling a set of bewildered Doctor Who fans mid-episode. With the fans decked out in stereotypical Who-dress-up – Tom Baker's scarf, Matt Smith's fez – it does come off as a bit too on the nose at first. However, the reveal of Mr. Ring-a-Ding's involvement and the fact that it’s actually part of the illusion swiftly recontextualizes the scene. As a result, it feels a lot more affectionate without pandering, folding fandom into the fiction, and smartly avoiding any strained winks or jabs. To my surprise, the whole detour ends up doing more than simply breaking the fourth wall; it starts to toy, with real intent, at the boundaries between fiction and reality, going so far as to brazenly acknowledge the online leaks that spoiled the scene’s very existence. It caught me off guard in a way the show rarely does, and I still haven’t quite decided whether it’s genius or not.Yet, beneath all the meta references and structural flair, “Lux” is ultimately anchored by a powerful emotional core that pulses throughout the episode. While some of the dialogue still feels a little janky or rushed in places, and the supporting cast remains one-note – more functional than fleshed out – the episode’s simple, chaotic center still shines. Plus, any shortcomings on the periphery are quickly eclipsed by the leads, who make the episode feel like a stage built just for them. Ncuti Gatwa delivers yet another standout performance as the Doctor, carefully channeling the mischief of the character’s past incarnations with the warmth and gravitas of a silver-age superhero. There’s real conviction in his quieter moments, like promises to a grieving mother and reflections on how his humble police box gives people hope. It all lands like a statement of intent for Doctor Who itself. Gatwa’s scenes with Varada Sethu aren't drowned out by exposition but resonate with a dynamic rhythm shared by equals. I also especially love that Belinda being a nurse isn’t treated as a throwaway backstory – it’s embedded in her every instinct as a character, shaping how she operates. (It’s already propping up some great interactions with the Doctor.) The fact that she’s only been in the TARDIS for two weeks is astonishing. She somehow already feels foundational.

Category: Games Amerzone: Why Microids Remade this Cult ’90s Adventure Game Clotaire Jacquier, Microids Published April 18, 2025 Acclaimed for its outlandish atmosphere and amazing production value in 1999, Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy is returning on April 24 in the form of a remake for Xbox Series X|S. Set in a fictional region of South America and based on a classic 1986 comic book, Amerzone is a classic point-and-click adventure that sees players embark on a mysterious journey as a journalist, attempting to unravel the mysteries of a beautiful, endangered part of the world. The new remake updates the looks, sounds, and gameplay of the original, while keeping its spirit alive, in a touching tribute to its creator, Benoît Sokal. To find out what inspired their teams to embark on this project, we spoke to developer Microids to find out more. The Perfect Time to Revisit a Very Special Title With more than one million copies sold around the globe, Amerzone was an instant hit with adventure game fans, who loved its spellbinding atmosphere. For Microids, it is particularly special, given that it was the first game produced by the sorely missed Benoît Sokal, a brilliant artist who went on to create the Syberia series but passed away in 2021. “After [the release of Sokal’s final game] Syberia: The World Before, we thought that it would be interesting to return to the roots; to offer both fans of the original and newcomers an enhanced version of the game where it all began,” explained Charles Leveugle, Brand Manager at Microids. “For us, simply making a remaster would not have been enough of a tribute,” continued Charles. “A remake gives us the opportunity to make a vivid experience even richer, without betraying the original vision.” A Truly Considered Remake The principal reason for remaking Amerzone jumps out of the screen immediately when you watch the reveal trailer: the improvements in technology since 1999 allowed the team to create a gorgeous new take on the original “This game is all about the mystery-filled atmosphere, where immersion is key,” explained Charles. “So it was crucial for us to push the engine as far as possible, to produce vibrant environments filled with finely modeled characters that are animated using motion capture.” The same goes for the sound environment, with rich effects that are much denser than in the original, as well as a new soundtrack composed by Inon Zur (of Syberia and Fallout fame). Gameplay has also been modernized, while staying in touch with the ideas of the original game. The Amerzone remake is of course sticking with its iconic point-and-click style, where the player explores environments through fixed camera angles; however, the transitions are now smoother. As for the puzzles, they are clearer and more intuitive, while remaining just as challenging. “We have also added some totally new puzzles, to provide some fresh challenges for returning players,” added Charles. Finally, this Amerzone remake will help keep alive the legacy of a title that is important for Microids, for players, and for the adventure genre as a whole! “Playing the Windows 98 or PlayStation edition today can be tricky,” noted Charles, “and it’s a shame, because it’s a very worthwhile game to play. It deserves a version that’s designed for today’s machines, which will extend the experience for another 25 years. The original fans will be able to return to the game through an enhanced adventure, while new audiences will at last get a chance to experience it through a remake that meets today’s standards.” A Unique Journey to Be Discovered or Rediscovered With this all-new version of Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy, Microids is aiming to offer a rare gaming experience once again, in keeping with Benoît Sokal’s philosophy. “It’s a game that encourages players to take their time and think,” said Charles. “They can forget about what’s going on around them, breathe in the atmosphere of a foreign land, and lose themselves in the plot. We are proud to be working on this remake, and we believe it will bring together all generations of players. After all, whether you’re 20 or 50, the call of adventure is just as strong…” Amerzone – The Explorer's Legacy Microids ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ $39.99 Pre-order As a young journalist, you’ve been entrusted with a crucial mission: to cross the globe and reach the heart of a mysterious, faraway land… Your goal is to bring back the last egg of the mythical “Great White Birds”. According to legend, they are bound up with the fate of the only country they call home: a land with strange, dangerous plants and wildlife that has been devastated by years of bloody dictatorship. – Embark on an extraordinary adventure Amerzone – The Explorer's Legacy will call on your curiosity and observational skills as you explore its fascinating world,its magical locations and its painful history. Solve puzzles, find clues that will help you along your way, and get immersed in the spirit of adventure, the beauty of the landscapes and the depth of the story. During your journey, you will need to unravel the mysteries of the “hydraflot”, a fantastic invention that is equally at home in the water and in the sky. It will be your only ally to overcome the dangers standing between you and the heart of Amerzone… – The remake of a legend First released in 1999, Amerzone is a legend in the adventure game genre. While this remake naturally pays tribute to the original game, it also offers a totally new experience of it. Benoît Sokal’s legacy, mingling realism and poetry, awareness of worldly truths and wonder, is both honored and magnified. – An investigation on the other side of the globe Will you manage to discover the sinister secret hidden behind the mystery of the White Birds? In this distant land, where past and present overlap, your skills as a journalist will be your most powerful tools: make sense of the clues hidden in your environment, decipher the documents you uncover, and fulfil the explorer’s final wish by saving the Great White Birds! – 2 difficulty modes for everyone to enjoy the adventure – A transferable save from the demo version to the full game – A comprehensive dive into Benoît Sokal's universe, along with the Syberia series Related Stories for “Amerzone: Why Microids Remade this Cult ’90s Adventure Game” Category: ID@XboxLunar Remastered Collection: How Its Stellar Logo & Package Design Came to Be Category: GamesActivate the Power of Play this Earth Day Category: Next Week on XboxNext Week on Xbox: New Games for April 21 to 25 The post Amerzone: Why Microids Remade this Cult ’90s Adventure Game appeared first on Xbox Wire.