Call of Duty fans are impressed by Black Ops 6 Season 1 already, calling it the 'best Season 1 roadmap' since 2019's Modern Warfare reboot and you can find out below why they're saying it

EA FC 25 players can snag some big freebies this week, with EA Sports celebrating the Ballon d'Or in style for all Ultimate Team players with some of the best players around.

As a parent I would be perfectly happy with banning GTA 5 Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished Nov 10, 2024, 1:00amGTA 5 not for kids (Rockstar Games)After Grand Theft Auto is banned in one country a reader admits that he wouldnt be upset if the same happened here, in order to protect his son.Earlier this week there was a news story about the country of Tajikistan banning Grand Theft Auto, as well as Counter-Strike. This was met with much patronising comment by a lot of gamers, but I have to say it doesnt sound that incomprehensible to me. I dont know why they banned it, maybe their reasons werent good, but as a father of a seven-year-old son I can completely understand why people would be concerned about the video games their children play.A reader commented only last week about how the average age of players on Call Of Duty used to be in the teens. That was certainly my experience and if theyve now moved on to Fortnite and other free-to-play games then I imagine its a very different, and more enjoyable, experience. Its definitely the case that most people on GTA Online seem to be far younger than they should be, judging by the age rating.When youre a kid the one thing you want to do above all is be treated as an adult and do all the forbidden things that adults get up to. Sex and violence in movies and video games is usually a kids first introduction into many concepts theyre too young for and Im not going to say thats completely unhealthy, but theres a line somewhere and in my opinion Grand Theft Auto crosses it.My boy is not allowed to play GTA 5, but I know for a fact he has at friends and probably behind my back in the house as well. What worries me is that while adults can see it as a parody of the worst of Americana, to a child all that parody and satire goes completely over their head and they take everything at face value.The language is a strong as its possible to be, the treatment of women is awful (it makes sense in that the men are all terrible people but even so), and the violence is unrelenting and treated as fun and amusing. Criminal activities, including stealing and drug-dealing, are treated as normal and without any moral consequence, if there even is a story context when playing GTA Online.I dont think Im being a pearl-clutching prude to say I dont want my seven-year-old playing that sort of game.But, like I said, he has. Despite my best attempts to stop him. Its not even that I want a ban, and I certainly wouldnt campaign for one, but if it happened I would be perfectly happy. I would instantly sacrifice the ability for me to play the game if it meant that kids couldnt. I dont think thats unreasonable and Im sure many parents would agree.In todays world there is practically no way to stop kids from accessing every kind of sex and violence you can imagine, and I dont even want to think about what kind of porn he might have watched already.Of course, Im sure plenty of people will pipe up with It never did me any harm but when parents reading this were kids we didnt have a game of the sophistication and complexity of GTA 5. The internet either didnt exist or was in its early days and extreme content was nowhere near as easy to get hold of.I watch the news in the last few months, and it is made very clear to me that we arent getting more peaceful or understanding as a society, but instead the opposite. Are video games part of the problem? I dont know, but I know theyre not helping. Especially not GTA 5.By reader BorsGTA 5 has an 18 age rating for a good reason (Rockstar Games)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.MORE : Why I don't think Starfield is a misunderstood gem - Reader's FeatureMORE : The PS5 Pro is not worth a near 50% price increase - Reader's FeatureMORE : Playing with my son at the UKs biggest games expo was unforgettable for both of us Readers FeatureSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Why I dont think Starfield is a misunderstood gem Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished Nov 9, 2024, 9:00amStarfield is its reputation deserved? (Bethesda)A reader rejects the idea that Starfield is not a disappointment and argues that its Bethesdas weakest game and no fun to explore.I read the recent Readers Feature regarding Starfield, and how much the reader loved the game, and I felt compelled to offer an alternative viewpoint.Ive enjoyed every single-player Bethesda role-playing game since Daggerfall, having somehow missed the first instalment of The Elder Scrolls. Ive trekked through Ashlands and Wastelands; fought (and friended) ancient, forgotten vampire families and android-loving, teleporting scientists; faced dragons and deathclaws, giants and super mutants.Ive killed an undead dragon in Blackreach and slaughtered the raiders of Nuka-World. Ive built settlements and bathed a city in cleansing nuclear fire. In short: Ive sunk untold hours into the masterpieces crafted by my favourite game designers and Ive loved every single minute of Bethesdas live another life, in another world approach to world building.I bought Starfield in early release last year, after eagerly anticipating it for many years. After a few short days I found myself bitterly disappointed. I denied it at first. I forced myself to sludge through the tedium because I just *knew* that it would get better. I was wrong.Bethesdas strength has never been cinematic storytelling or smooth, precise first person shooter gunplay, but rather exploration of a living world. It is that world which is supposed to be the shinning gem in my favourite games.I do not expect to be left in tears by masterful character development (as in Read Dead Redemption 2) nor blown away by slick, instinctive gunplay, but rather to be able to lose myself in a world worthy of hundreds of hours of exploration: I want to be a *part* of this alien world.This should be Starfields greatest strength, given the supposed scale of the game. Unfortunately, it falls completely flat. For the first time, Im forced to agree with the wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle criticism often levied against Bethesda.Emerge from the sewer in Skyrim, disembark the ship in Morrowind, flee a vault into the Capital Wasteland or stagger out of the doctors house, into the Mojave (OK that wasnt technically Bethesda, but what a game!) and head in any random direction. Know what youll find? Adventure. An endless, open world *filled* with adventure.There is every reason to delve into that sewer in Boston Common or that cave near Winterhold because you just know that something *will* be there. The world draws you in, a reason exists for the exploration.Land on any planet in Starfield and head in a random direction. Know what awaits you? Nothing. There are no points of interest. No real content. Nothing of interest to do. No story to pursue. Just endlessly recycled enemy encampments with vague, generic plots. Oh wow, another group of pirates in a science facility thats coincidentally identical to the 36 other that Ive explored this week. Yawn.Power up your grav drive and jump to a random system. Know whats there? A few asteroids. Maybe two or three lurking ships. Forgettable wildlife. A chance to mine for rocks. Sounds enthralling, huh?That isnt to say that the game is completely unenjoyable. There are moments of brilliance. Some of the quest lines are great. Ive enjoyed giving the finger to SysDef, and even the main story is interesting the first time.Slowly uncovering the truth about the artefacts and your powers may not match the experience of fulfilling the Nerevarine prophecy, but its still fun. Once. Finish those few experiences though and youll find that little else remains in this bland and empty universe.Ive been told by Starfield apologists that this is realistic, as space is supposed to be empty (as if a game with magic powers needs realism) and perhaps theyre right. Turns out realistic space exploration is boring. If you like Starfield, fine. Ive no interest in changing your mind. If youre on the fence, maybe skip this paint drying simulator. Surely there are better ways to spend your money. Like buying paint and actually watching it dry.As for me, Im still eagerly anticipating a *real* Bethesda game. Perhaps The Elder Scrolls 6 will scratch that itch. I definitely wont buy it early though; Ive learned to let others risk their money first.By reader Neil KennedyStarfield it turns out realism can be a bit dull (Bethesda)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.MORE : The PS5 Pro is not worth a near 50% price increase - Reader's FeatureMORE : Playing with my son at the UKs biggest games expo was unforgettable for both of us Readers FeatureMORE : Kids aren't playing Black Ops 6 and that's made it so much better - Reader's FeatureSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

If thinking about Chegg gives you PTSD to the days when you were in school, I might have some good news for you: The company known for textbook rentals and homework help is running on fumes. Cheggs stock is down a whopping 99% since its highs in 2021, erasing $14.5 billion in value, and the company has lost half a million paid subscribers. After revenue keeps dropping quarter after quarter, there are doubts it will be able to continue paying its debts. Chegg should be familiar to most people who have been to college in recent years. It started out in the 2000s renting out textbooks and later expanded into online study guides, and eventually into a platform with pre-written answers to common homework questions. Unfortunately, the launch of ChatGPT all but annihilated Cheggs entire business model. The company for years paid thousands of contractors to write answers to questions across every major subject, which is quite a labor intensive processand theres no guarantee they will even have the answer to your question. As we know, ChatGPT on the other hand has ingested pretty much the entire internet, and has likely seen any history question you might throw at it.As the Wall Street Journal reports, the launch of ChatGPT saw students drop their $20 a month Chegg subscriptions in favor of the chatbot: Though Chegg has built its own AI products, the company is struggling to convince customers and investors it still has value in a market upended by ChatGPT. Its free, its instant, and you dont really have to worry if the problem is there or not, Jonah Tang, an M.B.A. candidate at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, said of the advantages of using ChatGPT for homework help over Chegg. A survey of college students by investment bank Needham found 30% intended to use Chegg this semester, down from 38% in the spring, and 62% planned to use ChatGPT, up from 43%. Its unclear what Chegg can really do to stem the bleeding at this point. The company laid off 441 employees over the summer, a quarter of its workforce. Its trying to target what the new CEO describes as curious learners by offering more comprehensive AI-assisted answers as well as live counseling.Whats perhaps most sad is that, according to the Journal, employees actually asked for resources in 2022 to develop AI tools for automating answers. The company saw a huge boost in demand during the pandemic when learning when virtual and the company needed to produce answers for questions fast. Cheggs leaders denied the request to start building AI tools until ChatGPTs release, but even then some internally werent worried because of the chatbots propensity to make up incorrect answers.But as with a tool like Wikipedia, its clear that students are willing to accept some risk because of the convenience. Students are told not to trust Wikipedia, but most use it anyway and head to the references section to grab citations. Of course, chatbots like ChatGPT have no concept of a subject like math, theyre just guessing the words necessary to make a sentence that sounds right. They will return answers that look deceptively correct but arent. Its like having a calculator thats right 50% of the time. For other subjects like history, chatbots are somewhat better, but answers should be double-checked. Maybe Chegg could work harder to help people understand this? It seems like most students dont care though, and the clock is running out for Chegg.

Marvel just released a brand new trailer for Captain America: Brave New World and it makes one thing very clear. Captain America and the President have some issues and theyre about to see red. Opening February 14, Anthony Mackie finally steps into the mantle of Captain America in the film, which sees Harrison Ford take over the role Thaddeus Ross, the former military man now turned U.S. President. This new trailer focuses more on their conflicts with some nice 1970s espionage flair. And, yes, theres new Red Hulk footage. So what, exactly is going on here? We know Tim Blake Nelson is making his return as the Leader and this trailer in particular makes it seem as if hes behind this plan. That feels a little too easy though, doesnt it? All we know is someone is trying to manipulate, and probably kill, the President, and Captain America is in their way. Marvels official description doesnt help either. Marvel Studios Captain America: Brave New World follows Sam Wilson, who after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.Red, get it? Also, there is lots of footage, but still no full explanation about Tiamut, the giant being from Eternals. Clearly this new land mass plays a huge role too. Let us know what you think of the new trailer below.Captain America: Brave New World stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. Its directed by Julius Onah. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Phu Quoc House / NH Village ArchitectsSave this picture! Cao HoaHousesPhu Quoc, VietnamArchitects: NH Village ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:150 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Cao Hoa Lead Architects: Tran Dai Nghia, Nguyen Phuong Hieu More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The design of Phu Quoc house is inspired by a young couple living on the island who share their concerns about the unstable freshwater supply for the island's residents due to the overdevelopment of tourism infrastructure, which has depleted the groundwater. Considering the island's high salinity and the intense rainfall accompanied by strong winds that damage building structures, the couple desires an affordable, sustainable, and eco-friendly home that can harvest rainwater to meet their daily needs.Save this picture!Save this picture!The design begins with a simple proposal of a large roof covering the entire living space below. The entire roof area will collect rainwater into large tanks placed around the garden. The collected water will be filtered and used for daily activities, with a portion reserved for irrigation.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Beneath this large roof, a continuous corridor surrounds the house, separating the indoor and outdoor living spaces. This corridor acts as a buffer zone, protecting the walls from direct sunlight to reduce indoor temperature, and shielding the walls from strong winds and rain, thus enhancing the durability of the building.Save this picture!The corridor area forms a closed loop around the house, serving as a space for unexpected and enjoyable activities. It acts as a buffer zone that connects people with the surrounding nature and with each other.The corridor is designed with staggered levels following the gently sloping terrain of the land, connecting to a small courtyard, leading to the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. This design enriches the daily living experience, creating the most enjoyable moments during rainy or sunny days.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!By addressing fundamental needs and utilizing widely available techniques, we propose a design solution that achieves environmental sustainability, ensures the core values of residential architecture, and creates a space that connects people with nature and their surroundings.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on November 10, 2024Cite: "Phu Quoc House / NH Village Architects" 09 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023226/phu-quoc-house-nh-village-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Down The Rabbit Hole / Studio LAB (Language.Architecture.Body)Save this picture! Kuber ShahHousesKamshet, IndiaArchitects: Studio LAB (Language.Architecture.Body)AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:14000 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Kuber ShahManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Porta Finestra Lead Architects: Shonan Purie Trehan, Maitri Mehta, Anjaly Teresa Joseph, Chandini Agarwal, Niranjan Phadtare More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The house embodies a subliminal connection with its surroundings. Sited amongst the ghats around a tranquil lake, this is a weekend home for a dancer and her family. Thoughtfully orientated, the homes unfold in a series of connected pavilions. Each pavilion has its own spatial purpose flowing to the next. Each space holds a unique perspective of the lake view. Designed to awaken with the pulse of nature; life in this home is therapeutic. Set along a north-south axis, the sun registers itself on the east and west-facing skin of the home. The solstice sun rays align with the deliberate color blocks on the living room wall, honoring the universe and time.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!One arrives at the breathtaking lake view from a deep veranda. The veranda gives a sense of shelter in the wild outdoors. Just beyond, the half-moon natural stone saltwater pool is encircled by a wraparound deck. A ring of social spaces, the dining pavilion, the living, the kitchen and the verandah pavilion form their own constellation.Save this picture!At the periphery on either end are clusters of bedrooms. These rooms, although private and quiet, are connected by their vantage points of the lake. Navigation through the house is playful, sensitizing one to the environment.The metal frame structure with expansive glazing is detailed with antique reclaimed timber elements. The sloping roofs float above the enclosures and their adjacent outdoor spaces. Each pavilion has a distinct sense of place. A seamless cast in situ floor connects the multiple spaces. The soft color palate allows the eye to travel gently from the inside to the outside.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The journey of the rainwater is told in the successive sloping roofs. The roof and the ground are designed to detail this flow, emphasizing the change of seasons. The carefully channeled water paths are a narrative of water and land. A reflection of ever-shifting life outside the walls. The roofscape, with its assembly of slopes, pays homage to the undulating hills on the horizon.Save this picture!Save this picture!This home awakens as a living, breathing entity in conversation with the world outside. The architectural choreography delineates a profound connection with the dwelling's energy and the intricate rhythms of the household. It is an ethereal dance of energies of people and place.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on November 09, 2024Cite: "Down The Rabbit Hole / Studio LAB (Language.Architecture.Body)" 09 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023091/down-the-rabbit-hole-studio-lab-languagrchitecturody&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Learn how to copy animation sequences from one character to another character by making a simple IK Rig asset for a pre-animated mixamo character, then you'll use the IK Retargeter to transfer the animation to a mannequin and also a metahuman. #unrealengine #animation If you are brand new to Unreal Engine, I recommend you watch this video first to get the basics figured out: https://youtu.be/eTWnzHQJvBE