The postcard is stamped April 11, 1912, just a few days before theTitanicsank. Henry Aldridge & SonA historic postcard stamped April 11, 1912, is about to go to auction. On its back is a hand-scrawled message from British businessman Richard William Smith, expressing excitement about his imminent cruise to the United States. The front features an image of the boat set to take him there: the Titanic.It is an incredibly powerful and poignant message, Andrew Aldridge, managing director of the auction houseHenry Aldridge & Son, tellsBBC News Steve Silk. He had no idea of what was coming over the horizon approximately 80 hours later.Smiths missive was postmarked in Ireland, Titanics final stop before venturing out into the Atlantic Ocean. About three days after the postcard was sent, theWhite Star Line ship collided with an iceberg and sank about400 miles from Newfoundland, killing Smith and more than 1,500 other passengers. Have had a fine run around to Queenstown, wrote Smith in the note.Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes. Henry Aldridge & SonFor just the first day of the Titanics maiden voyageApril 10, on which it departed from Southampton, England, then stopped at Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, IrelandSmith was accompanied by a family friend named Emily Nicholls. She mailed the postcard for him after disembarking in Queenstown (now called Cobh), while Smith stayed onboard.Have had a fine run around to Queenstown, wrote Smith on the card, which was addressed to a woman named Olive Dakin in Norwich, England. Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes.As Aldridge tellsCNNs Lianne Kolirin, Smith was a tea broker who had various interests in the U.S. He sailed first class on the doomed ship.Most postcards written by Titanic passengers were either stamped with Queenstown or the ships own postmark, per BBC News. But Nicholls sent Smiths card from the city of Corkabout ten miles inland. Aldridge expects it will fetch between 6,000 and 10,000 at auction (roughly $7,600 to $12,600). The Titanicarriving in Queenstown (now called Cobh), Ireland Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsIt will be of interest to two different kinds of people, Aldridge tells BBC News. Titanic specialists, of course, but also stamp collectors who like postmarks. This one, dated Cork 3:45 p.m., April 11, 1912, is exceptionally rare.The postcard is just one lot in Henry Aldridge & Sons upcoming Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia auction on November 16. Other items up for sale include archival photographs, a Titanic victimspocket watch and anotherpocket watch that three Titanic survivors gifted toArthur Henry Rostron. Rostron was the captain of RMSCarpathia, which arrived to rescue the Titanics passengers from the icy Atlantic several hours after the boat sank.The auction house stages two Titanic sales every year. At its April auction, a photograph depicting an iceberg, which may have been the iceberg that sunk the vessel, sold for 17,500 (about $22,000). However, some artifacts brought in much more: Agold pocket watch belonging to John Jacob Astor IV, the Titanics richest passenger, went for 1.175 million (roughly $1.4 million).The postcardinked in faded cursiveis one of the upcoming auctions more touching objects. As Aldridge tells CNN, This is one of the last things that Mr. Smith wrote.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Artifacts, Auctions, Death, England, History, Ireland, Letters, Ships, Shipwrecks, The Titanic

Welcome to this week's episode of CGaNews, where we bring you the latest and greatest from the world of architectural visualization! https://youtu.be/4A5fFCF31loHere's what you can expect in this episode:- Viz Pro of the Week- ItooSoft Tools Now V-Ray 7 Compatible- Chaos Corona 12 Update 1 Release Candidate Out Now- V-Ray 7 Gaussian Splats Tutorial- ItooSoft Tutorials for RailClone and ForestPack- Best of the Week ShowcaseDon't forget to connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and join our growing community on Discord to stay up to date with all things archviz. We can't wait to see you there!LinkedIn: CGArchitectInstagram: @CGArchitectDiscord: Join our communityDont forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates!Enjoyed this episode? Make sure to like, subscribe, and share to help us continue bringing you the latest archviz news.#CGarchitect #CGaNews #ArchViz #3DVisualization #Vray7 #CoronaRenderer #itoosoft #forestpack #railclone #BestOfTheWeek #ArchVizCommunity #ArchitecturalRendering #gaussiansplatting

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Ubisoft's Splinter Cell movie cancelledProducer says they "just couldn't get it right, script-wise [or] budget-wise"Image credit: Ubisoft News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Nov. 15, 2024 Ubisoft's Splinter Cell movie adaptation has been cancelled, according to one of the film's producers.As reported by The Direct, producer Basil Iwanyk confirmed the adaptation was no longer in production. Iwanyk signed on to the film in 2013."The movie would have been awesome [...] just couldn't get it right, script-wise, budget-wise," he said. "But it was going to be great. We had a million different versions of it, but it was going to be hardcore and awesome. That's one of the ones that got away, which is really said.Ubisoft's Splinter Cell film has been in production limbo since it was announced in 2012. Variety later reported that Tom Hardy was to be cast as Sam Fisher.In 2014, Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow) was attached to direct, but since then there's been no word on its production status.While the film adaptation may be cancelled, an anime series is currently in production at Netflix, set to premiere sometime in 2025.In 2022, there was an eight-part audio adaptation for BBC Radio 4, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Firewall.

Microsoft's Xbox transition moves into high gear | OpinionWith a campaign about Xbox as a cross-platform service and "no red lines" for first-party on other platforms, the change to Microsoft's games business speeds to a conclusionImage credit: Microsoft Opinion by Rob Fahey Contributing Editor Published on Nov. 15, 2024 It's been clear for quite a few years that Microsoft's notion of what "Xbox" actually means has evolved past physical consoles alone. It now describes a whole ecosystem of software and services that spans all sorts of devices, and which is itself just one outlet for Microsoft's enormous game publishing business.It's taken a while for the industry to wrap its collective head around this change and some of the unusual bedfellows it has created such as Microsoft now being one of the biggest third-party publishers on PlayStation. Given the novelty and complexity of the situation, there's been an open question about how it would be communicated to consumers. How do you tell the world what Xbox actually is now?This week, we got a good look at Microsoft's first real attempt at solving that problem the "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign, which will use that slogan to highlight the fact that phones, computers, streaming devices, VR headsets, and smart TVs are all "Xboxes", as are the existing Xbox Series S and X consoles.The messaging is simple and fun, and it's a good effort at communicating an incredibly complex evolution of the Xbox ecosystem in a way that disposes of much of that complexity and instead highlights the core benefit to consumers.It's probably going to go down like a lead balloon with a lot of Xbox core fans nonetheless. This evolution is a bitter pill for them to swallow, especially since it brings with it certain changes that while entirely commercially sensible look awfully like capitulation to a certain breed of veteran console warrior.Microsoft's game titles steadily becoming multi-platform by default and picking up plenty of their sales on PlayStation is a tough thing to accept for people who have pinned part of their identity to Xbox consoles. They question what future there can be for game consoles whose platform holder has lost interest in the idea of software exclusives; a valid question in light of decades of industry logic about exclusives being the foundation stone of console sales.Microsoft knows its strategic shift isn't going to make all the passengers on the ride happy, and its messaging is trying to assuage fears where possible. I don't think it's coincidence that the "This is an Xbox" campaign which some will undoubtedly and not entirely incorrectly see as minimising the importance of Xbox hardware to the overall ecosystem rolled out at the same time that Phil Spencer was making a point of emphasising the company's commitment to future hardware launches in interviews.Speaking to Rolling Stone, he said that the company would "definitely do more hardware in the future, and other devices" the "other devices" probably being a reference to earlier comments to Bloomberg, where he confirmed that a handheld Xbox device was in the works, albeit probably years down the line.This part of a transition is always hard. There are people who signed up wholeheartedly for the vision you had initially and in few places is that so true as in the game console market, where somehow people feel encouraged to devote a whole portion of their personal identity to brand loyalty to these devices.Pivoting to a new approach is painful for them, and trying to keep these customers happy and loyal to the greatest extent possible through this transition will always be challenging. Talking about future hardware even if that hardware is still in the concept stages, and its launch is years away at best is certainly one way to keep them engaged and enthusiastic.They're not the target audience for most of what was said this week, though, and Spencer was very clear in the same interview that while Microsoft may be committed to future hardware launches, Xbox hardware hasn't actually been a growth market for them lately. They see the growth coming elsewhere and in pursuit of that growth, they will be building out not only Xbox as a cross-platform offering, but also Microsoft's position as a multi-platform publisher.Halo, Gears of War, Forza: the games that have been platform-defining for Xbox are almost certainly going to be available on PlayStation in some form Image credit: MicrosoftSpeaking to that aspect of the business, Spencer told Bloomberg that there were no red lines, as far as he is concerned, in terms of games in the company's catalogue that cannot go multi-platform. It's a pretty clear warning; the sacred cows are now absolutely on the menu.Short of an actual announcement of imminent availability, this is probably as close as we're going to get to confirmation that the biggest Xbox franchises will be appearing on other platforms in the relatively near future.Halo, Gears of War, Forza: the games that have been platform-defining for Xbox are almost certainly going to be available on PlayStation in some form in the coming years. That doesn't necessarily mean that there will be day-one launches on PS5 for new titles in those franchises (though it also doesn't preclude it), but it does essentially mean that the era of permanent platform exclusivity for those titles is coming to an end. This is the final shoe that core Xbox fans dismayed by the company's new direction have been waiting to hear drop.The commercial logic, however, is unassailable. Franchises like Halo now exist within the same studio system as Call of Duty which just enjoyed a record-breaking launch with a strategy that combined Game Pass availability on Xbox with high unit sales on PlayStation and Steam.There is just no way that a commercial strategy for Halo as a single-platform release can be justified when its stablemate franchise is performing so well with this cross-platform approach. If the core Xbox franchises are to remain commercially relevant and viable, they need to fit with Microsoft's new business model which is, in essence, as a gigantic multi-platform publisher with a subscription and platform/services business as one of its pillars.That will also be the fit required for any of the new acquisitions Spencer also hinted at; they'll be aimed at rounding out a publishing business, not at securing exclusives for a platform business.It's worth noting that Microsoft is not alone in this strategic shift. Sony may not be going to the same extremes by any measure, but it's putting most of its major titles on PC (albeit after a delay) and launching a Horizon spin-off title on Switch (Lego Horizon Adventures), both of which are changes that would have seemed unimaginable not long ago.Conscious of the feelings of Xbox customers, the company has been pulling the band-aid off slowly so far, but they're now prepared to rip it off quicklyOne interesting thing to consider is what sort of timeframe Microsoft is considering for this transition. Conscious of the feelings of Xbox customers, the company has been pulling the band-aid off slowly so far, but the new marketing campaign and Spencer's phrasing hints that they're now prepared to rip it off quickly.That could hint at many more high-profile Xbox titles going to other platforms sooner rather than later. One goal they probably have in mind and would like to reach reasonably quickly is following companies like EA and Ubisoft in establishing subscription services on the PlayStation Store, for which they'll need a substantial software offering on that platform.While this wouldn't be "Game Pass on PlayStation" by any means, a big library of Microsoft, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard games being made available through a Microsoft game subscription on PlayStation would still be a major step; perhaps eventually we'll see a cheeky "This is an Xbox" campaign which emblazons that over an image of a PS5?Whatever fears its fans may voice, Microsoft shows no inclination to follow Sega's lead by becoming "just" a third-party publisher but it's very clear that the reinvention of the company's games business model is continuing apace and moving from business reorganisation towards large-scale public rebranding.The objective is to detach the scale and success of the games business unit overall from the success of the Xbox hardware platform. Declaring that there are no remaining red lines in the process of moving to multi-platform is a major statement of intent in that journey.It might be an emotional few years for the core fans of Xbox but based on how it's gone so far, it'll probably be the most commercially successful period in many years for Microsoft's games business.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorNovember 15, 20242 Min ReadImage via Atlus.At a GlanceSAG-AFTRA has struck another deal to support voice actors while continuing to strike for more protections.SAG-AFTRA has locked down another deal, this time for the benefit of video game localizers.The actors union established an Independent Interactive Localization Agreement (IILA), which covers localization of games first made in a non-English language. Its terms are similar to the budget-based tier agreement for indie developers established back in February: under the IILA, localizers have AI protections and expanded voiceprint and session options for "both principal and atmospheric roles, as compared to the original Localization Agreement."Per the IILA rate sheet, off-camera performers are paid $1,023.75 per session for up 12 voice prints in a four-hour day, or $512 for 2 voice prints in a one-hour day. As shown below, this rate runs from now until the end of 2024: from January 1, 2025 to the end of that year, the fees go up to $1,102 for four-hour day performers and $551 for one-hour performers.Rate sheet for SAG-AFTRA's Independent Interactive Localization Agreement.Over the years, games made by non-U.S. studios have released at a greater cadence and become more popular. Titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Black Myth Wukong have been among the year's largest releases, and SAG-AFTRA hopes IILA will provide more job opportunities to performers working in game localization."Many brilliant, beloved games come to market in the U.S. from other countries, projects which need highly skilled localizing performers, and those performers absolutely deserve robust, enforceable A.I. protections," said Interactive Media Agreement's negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh. "We hope that the updated terms in the Independent Interactive Localization Agreement will create even more opportunities for them to collaborate with U.S. union talent."Since July, SAG-AFTRA voice actors have been striking against game companies to secure better work conditions and AI protections. The strike was recently paused so the union could resume talks with studios (including Disney, WB Games, and Insomniac Games), then resumed at the end of October.Before and during the strike, the union has managed to strike several deals with various AI-powered voice companies and indie studios like Lightspeed LA. According to SAG-AFTRA, there are now over 130 game projects currently signed to its interim and independent agreements.More information on the IILA can be read here, and its rate sheetwhich also covers atmospheric voices, on and off-camera singers, and additional compensation per sessioncan be read here.Read more about:UnionizationLaborAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Financials for the second quarter of Embracer's 2024-2025 fiscal year went out, and the Swedish company saw several dips across its games and entertainment businesses.As of September 30, 2024, net sales decreased to 8.6 billion SEK (or $783.7 million), down 21 percent from 2023-2024's second quarter. Its interim report shows the Entertainment/Services and Games divisionsand the latter's individual PC/Console, tabletop, and mobile sub-segmentshad downturns across the board.PC/Console games had the biggest decline: net sales fell to 2.12 billion SEK ($193.2 million), down 46 percent year-over-year. CEO Lars Wingefors contributed that decline to the lack of new releases: whereas 2023-2024's second quarter had Payday 3 and Remnant II, the 2024-2025 quarter mainly saw a re-release of the original Epic Mickey and the 1.0 launch of Satisfactory.According to Wingefors, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed had "slower than expected" digital sales, despite its positive reception, while Satisfactory reportedly performed above expectations and saw a "solid inflow" of new players. The Entertainment/Services division also had a sizable tumble of 35 percent, which was attributed to "few new releases."Embracer cited 'few new releases' as reason for declines in its PC/Console game sub-segment.Mobile games had less of a fall at 1.36 billion SEK ($123.9 million) in net sales, which translates to a roughly 8 percent decline compared to 2023-2024's Q2. Wingefors believes the improved market conditions that drove player activity and improved revenue growth for this quarter will continue through the fiscal year's second half.In the interim report, Wingefors also commented on Embracer's recent $1.2 billion sale of mobile developer Easybrain, which he hopes will "put us in a much stronger position to drive value, both in the short- and long-term."Despite a 5 percent dip in net sales, Asmodee (or the tabletop sub-segment) was commended for having a "strong execution" between July and September. Asmodee's decrease in publishing partners was said to be balanced out by a growth in the games published during the quarter.Looking ahead, Embracer expects growth in earnings for Entertainment/Services during the third quarter, along with lower earnings for the larger 2024-2025 fiscal year. Growth in the Entertainment division is expected to come from the Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim anime film, which arrives on December 13.As for the losses, that can be owed to adjusted expectations for the first half of the fiscal year, and several PC/Console games that have already been (or are expected to be) delayed, such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, and Hyper Light Breaker. Some of these titles will come out during the second half of the fiscal year, while others are expected for the 2025-2026 period.Speaking of losses, Embracer's report also shows it now has 128 game projects in development (-36.3 percent year-over-year), and employs 6,250 game developers (-41.3 percent year-over-year). This past May, the company revealed it had eliminated over 4,500 employees and cancelled 80 projects during its year-long restructuring process, which involved laying off staff and closing (or selling off) studios it'd previously purchased.As of this past April, the company is being split into three standalone companies. In the report, Wingefors confirmed it's on track to spin off Asmodee by the end of the fiscal year.Embracer's full financials for 2024-2025's second quarter, and the first half of 2024-2025 overall, can be read here.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission wants to unilaterally wrest regulatory authority away from the States when it comes to crypto, according to a lawsuit from 18 states. These states want to halt the SECs enforcement actions, so they can manage crypto regulation instead. Also named as a plaintiff on the suit is the DeFi Education Fund, a special interest lobbyist.Controversial SEC chair Gary Gensler is named in the suit, along with other SEC commissioners. Genslers treatment of crypto during his time as chair has made him a punching bag for the industry and for Republicans such as president-elect Donald Trump.There has been an ongoing turf war over crypto regulation. Until this point, the two major contenders were the SEC, and the crypto industrys preferred regulator, the Commodities Futures and Exchange Commission. Led by Russell Coleman, the attorney general for Kentucky, the states have chosen to Leeroy Jenkins themselves into the fray.Genslers SEC has notched significant wins against the crypto industry and in multiple court cases, judges have agreed that the SEC does have jurisdiction over crypto. The SECs sweeping assertion of regulatory jurisdiction is untenable, the lawsuit claims. The digital assets implicated here are just that assets, not investment contracts covered by federal securities laws.This is both annoying and highly debatable. Coinbase, which is being sued by the SEC, has argued the suit should be dismissed because Coinbase isnt trading securities. US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled against Coinbase and the case is proceeding. The crypto nomenclature may be of recent vintage, but the challenged transactions fall comfortably within the framework that courts have used to identify securities for nearly eighty years, Failla wroteThe states suit also argues that a precedent called the major questions doctrine means that the SEC shouldnt litigate against the crypto industry without Congressional approval. This, too, is highly debatable: judges rejected this line of argument from Terraform Labs and Coinbase.

WhatsApp dropped the most I cant believe this wasnt already there feature this week: message drafts. Now, WhatsApp lets you know if you have unsent messages typed up in chats so you know to get back to them later.To let you know about a draft, messages youve started writing will show a green and bold Draft word followed by what youve typed up. That way, you can ponder about finishing it when you open the app and not accidentally ignore your friends (though you still purposefully could, I guess.)Drafts also end up at the top of the chats list, so you dont have to scroll to search for lost ones. The feature is now available in the app worldwide, Engadget reports.WhatsApp announced in July that it had hit 100 million monthly active users, and it recently gained some useful new features, including its own built-in address book and custom lists to organize your chats.