• METRO.CO.UK
    Games Inbox: What can you expect from The Games Awards 2024?
    Leon Kennedy is rumoured to star in Resident Evil 9 (Capcom)The Monday letters page doesnt think therell ever be a good video game movie, as one reader accuses Black Ops 6 of being play to win.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe last hopThe Readers Feature at the weekend was right about the strange lack of new releases this month but that just seems to par for the course this year, with all the strange goings on. The only thing to really look forward to for the rest of the year seems to be The Games Awards in December.But I cant figure whether itll be another disappointment or something that might really have a lot of announcements. Ive heard people talk about Resident Evil 9 and the new Tomb Raider but as far as I know this has never been confirmed, so it just sounds like wishful thinking to me.Some people even talk about the Nintendo Switch 2, but I cant see that happening. And yet there must be some kind of big reveal at the end, as there always is. Im going to guess Resident Evil 9, just because Capcom did use it to unveil Monster Hunter Wilds. But that almost seems too obvious now.Whatever happens I hope the final mic drop reveal is something genuinely interesting and not just whatever company paid the most for advertising space.GannetGC: So far theres been no official clues as to what any of the reveals will be.Straight to streamingI do find it kind of funny that the biggest cinematic success for video games is still Sonic The Hedgehog. People talk about the quality increasing but it seems like people are really thinking of The Last Of Us and Fallout, which are not movies. Borderlands is a movie, and that was terrible.I have never seen a Sonic film, so Im not going to comment on its quality. But Im going to guess it hasnt exactly been up for any Oscars.Im not sure a good quality video game movie is ever going to happen now. Because any good idea that does come up, and seems a perfect fit for live action, is going to be turned into a TV show because of both Fallout and The Last Of Us and the fact that games are really long in terms of story and dont easily fit into two hours.Already Tomb Raider looks like its going to be turned into a show, not a new film, and I imagine everything else will be the same. So only things with no story in the first place, like Sonic, end up as movies.ConstanceEvergreen salesWhen it came out I dont think anyone would have predicted that the Switch would still be selling as well as it currently is, even with the large boost the OLED Model must have given it.However, the bigger achievement must be Mario Kart 8. Nintendos started doing TV ads for the Switch again (unlike Microsoft and Sony who havent figured out adverts help sell stuff) and what games do they pick to sell the console? Mario Kart and Animal Crossing.The game is now 10 years old, but its still the reason someone is going to buy a Switch!It also makes predictions about Switch 2 launch games interesting. Lots of people have been saying Mario Kart 9, but how often do you get the next game in a series when months before its predecessor is still getting TV ads?TimGC: Funnily enough, we have a feature about this coming up very soon.Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukCall to actionCant help but agree with the Readers Feature about Microsofts latest marketing campaign. Its just embarrassing. I dont think any normal person is going to understand what it means and even if they do, what are they supposed to do about it? Suddenly sign up to Game Pass and start playing on their smart TV? Like the feature says, the ads dont even seem to mention Game Pass and youd need a controller anyway.To be honest I find it hard to care about Xbox anymore. They basically dont exist to me, as a PlayStation 5 owner. If they have a decent game, itll come to my console anyway and beyond that what have they got to offer? Nothing.I really dont think Microsoft has anything to counter this point. All theyre interested in is new customers and growing the market, but I think youve got to accept that if you were interested in playing video games, beyond just FIFA and Call Of Duty, you wouldve done it already. Nothing Xbox is attempting to do at the moment is going to make any difference.ColineMissing the boatI think the failure to do any kind of story game or mode with Overwatch will always be its biggest failing. I dont think theres any reversing its declining popularity now, its just too late, but I dont get is why it never happened earlier. Its not a technical problem, theyve already got the gameplay, they just needed to sort out a story and some scenarios.If the main team didnt have time to do it, then thats the sort of thing that could easily be farmed out to another developer. In fact, that sort of thing happens all the time with shooters, so I dont understand why Blizzard didnt do it. Maybe it could happen now, with all their Microsoft money, but somehow I still dont get the impression theyre going to bother.IshiComplex strategyI see people are putting two and two together about news that Blizzard is making an open world shooter and assuming its Starcraft. I hope its something like what I thought Command & Conquer: Renegade was going to be, where youd be playing it as a shooter but also able to build structures and vehicles like a regular real-time strategy game.It seemed to me this was a common idea round about the time real-time strategies were beginning to fade out and people were looking for something new. Only game I know that did something similar was Battle Zone though, which was great but that is very old now.I guess companies thought people would find it too complicated and the game itself would probably be too expensive to make. Shame, as I always thought itd be cool and the obvious way to try and bring back Command & Conquer, if EA ever felt the urge.GrackleThe buck stops hereI agree that the quality of the GTA Trilogy remasters is ultimately Rockstars fault. If this developer theyve scrubbed from the intro wasnt up to the job then Rockstar shouldve realised it and replaced them, not just released the game as it was anyway, since they knew it would sell anyway.I found the remasters to overall be very disappointing. I wouldve much rather they do them one at a time and put in a lot more effort, maybe even make them full remakes, but they just seemed like a random, quickly botched together cash grab. The games are decades old, what was the sudden rush for?MikeyGC: It was GTA 3s 20th anniversary the year they were released, but we know what you mean.Spend to winNice review on Black Ops 6, and I agree its the best call of Duty campaign weve had since Infinite Warfare. Im glad you said that, as I adore the Infinite Warfare campaign.However, I have to say I feel very uneasy about this years Call Of Duty.I have heard reports of them selling an audio enhancer which works very well with Warzone.To me thats flat out play to win. And on top of this they have brought back the (for me) dreaded gobblegums from Black Ops 3. I absolutely detested gobblegums as they destroyed public lobbies. I would try to play a game of Zombies only to find somebody popping a perkoholic and shopping free, thus opening the entire map on round 1. It killed the balance. I stayed away from public lobbies the whole year because of it.Now they return with a vengeance. From season one you can directly buy gobblegums. And not just any. You can buy every single ultra gobbleum in the game, as well as legendary gums for 1,100 COD Points. Now I looked through the rewards that you get from prestiging. You get a gobblegum pack at some point every prestige. But only once do you get a single ultra gobblegum. Just once. But you can buy them all with cash. This is play to win. It matters not that Zombies is PvE as it would directly affect me when I play with others.I was hoping Activision and gaming had gone past this, but apparently not.Also, they have reduced how many COD Points you earn from the battle pass. It used to be 1,300, now its just 1,100. Just enough to buy the next. 200 may not seem like a lot, but over a games life cycle thats about 1,000-1,200 COD Points. Yet they never stated they would change this.These changes feel very nefarious in nature, and Im just wondering if Microsoft has been encouraging this?Either way. Its not good for gamers.MattGC: The audio stuff isnt great but its not much difference from high-end gaming headphones that promise similar advantages. Weve said for years that Zombies needs a complete rethink.Inbox also-ransI have codes for following games on PC that you can give to the readers. The codes can be redeemed on GOG: Dishonered Definitive Edition, Scorn, Coromon, and Duck Paradox.Big Angry Dad82GC: Thats very good of you. Well pass them on to whoever wants them, in exchange for a useable Inbox letter.Just FYI but Lego are releasing a new Horizon set. Its a relatively small one with a Shell-Walker, Sawtooth, Aloy, and Varl. It doesnt seem to be on Legos website but I saw what look like official images online.DolandMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.Game CentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy
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  • GIZMODO.COM
    Windows 11 Pro Is Being Given Away, This Legal Version Is 90% Off Ahead of Black Friday
    Tech enthusiasts and bargain are in for a treat with an incredible deal on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro: StackSocial is a Microsoft-Verified Partner and its offering this premium operating system for a (record) low price of just $17.97. This flash sale is ending in just 4 days and represents a huge 90% discount off the regular price of $199.00. This is officially the best deal ever seen for Windows 11 Pro.See at StackSocialWindows 11 Pro is Microsofts latest and most advanced operating system and its designed to enhance productivity, creativity and overall user experience. One of its main features is the integration of Copilot, Microsofts AI-powered assistant that can help with a wide range of tasks. Copilot can answer questions, provide suggestions and even help manage system settings all through natural language interactions. This AI companion is accessible via a dedicated key on new Windows 11 PC keyboards.Copilot Is HereThe Pro version of Windows 11 comes packed with additional features tailored for professionals and power users: It includes advanced security measures such as BitLocker device encryption and Windows Information Protection so that your data remains safe and secure. The operating system also supports Remote Desktop which allows users to access their PC from anywhere.Windows 11 Pro boasts a sleek and modern interface with a centered Start menu and taskbar for improved usability. The new Snap Layouts and Snap Groups features enhance multitasking capabilities and will allow you to organize and manage multiple windows with ease. The OS also includes Windows Hello for biometric authentication and offers a more secure and convenient way to log in to your device. For creative professionals, Windows 11 Pro integrates seamlessly with various creative tools. The Photos app now includes AI-powered editing capabilities while the Paint app has been updated with features like background removal and AI image generation.This lifetime license from StackSocial allows users to activate Windows 11 Pro on up to two devices. The deal includes all future updates so that your operating system stays current with the latest features and security patches. Given the unprecedented low price and the limited-time nature of this offer (4 days left), its an opportunity that you shouldnt miss.See at StackSocial
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  • GIZMODO.COM
    Costco Kicks Off Black Friday: Its Gold Star Membership Is Nearly Free With This Deal
    As the holiday season is getting closer, StackSocial has rolled out a fantastic opportunity for savvy shoppers: a one-year Costco Gold Star membership for just $65 which comes with a $45 digital gift card. This means youre effectively paying only $20 ($65 $45 = $20) for the yearly membershipwhich makes it an offer thats hard to pass up.See at StackSocialGet Yourself Ready For Black FridayWith this membership, you gain access to Costcos vast selection of products which ranges from bulk groceries to high-end electronics. With over 600 locations in the United States and more than 900 in the world, your Costco Gold Star membership opens the door to significant savings.This exclusive StackSocial deal is especially timely as it coincides with the upcoming Black Friday sales: By securing your membership now, youll be well-prepared to take advantage of Costcos incredible discounts during one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Costco is known for its unbeatable prices on popular items like TVs and home appliances and often outshines competitors such as Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart.The added $45 digital gift card enhances the value of this offer and allows you to explore Costcos extensive inventory without overspending. You can use it for anything in the store whether its stocking up on essentials or treating yourself to something special. The gift card will be emailed to you within two weeks of signing up and is not limited to one-time use, giving you flexibility in your holiday shopping. If you want to use it for Black Friday, youll have to move forward asap.This offer is available exclusively for new members or those whose memberships have lapsed for over 18 months. Its a great chance for newcomers to experience all that Costco has to offer while also welcoming back previous members. Even without upgrading to an Executive membershipwhich costs $130 (theres a $45 gift card as well) and provides additional perksthe Gold Star membership offers huge savings opportunities throughout the year.See at StackSocial
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  • WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM
    Proudly presenting: ArchDaily Plus!
    Proudly presenting: ArchDaily Plus!For a while now, ArchDaily has been striving to enhance your experience exploring how to dive deeper into its content and reshape the ways in which it is delivered. What additional value can be brought to both new and established members of the community that enhances what ArchDaily represents?The result: ArchDaily Plus a membership plan offering a completely fresh user interface and exclusive new features while simultaneously supporting the continued delivery of tools and knowledge essential for everyone involved in creating a better-built environment. It provides even more daily inspiration while keeping critical information freely accessible (projects, news, in-house articles not older than six months).As a member, you will be able to enjoy new features like ArchDaily Audio, ArchDaily Maps, ArchDaily Benefits, or the ArchDaily Archive and can help us achieve our mission of democratizing architecture while getting closer to our community at the same time. In addition, you will receive a monthly newsletter with tailor-made content and exclusive interviews, videos, and articles. And you will be able to browse all our content without the interruption of ads or an article limit.Fresh User InterfaceMy ArchDaily has always been a tool for personal curation, creativity, and research. With ArchDaily Plus, the individual user experience now features a fresh design alongside new tools aimed at improving platform usability and effectiveness for daily applications.This update includes a new visual language that draws on the history of the ArchDaily logo while introducing streamlined shapes for easier navigation and added value. Look out for the new icons upon logging into My ArchDaily they enable more effective searches for inspiration and personalize the reading experience.Exclusive Membership FeaturesBut that's not all. To better package its content and improve access to a world of architectural insights, ArchDaily has designed new features within ArchDaily Plus that make navigating the platform (and the real world) more intuitive and rewarding. Here is an overview of what members can expect: ArchDaily Archive: A centralized library of architectural information and insights spanning decades, now equipped with a brand-new search function. ArchDaily Audio: For those without time to read, this curated selection of articles, project stories, and design trends offers an easy listening option to stay inspired anytime, anywhere. ArchDaily Maps: An interactive tool akin to a Global Architecture Atlas, offering guides to the world's metropolises and their built environment highlights. ArchDaily Benefits: Exclusive discounts and perks from industry partners, including software tools, event tickets, and learning opportunities offered by top architecture and design brands and institutions. How to JoinCurious? Learn more about signing up here. While there is no free trial period, a reduced price is available for those who choose annual payments or join the program before the end of 2024. For anyone uncertain, month-to-month payments are also an option before committing to a full year.We can't wait to share this new dimension with you and want to thank you for your continued support!About this authorArchDaily TeamAuthorCite: ArchDaily Team. "Proudly presenting: ArchDaily Plus!" 18 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023606/proudly-presenting-archdaily-plus&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
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  • WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM
    andwander GINZA SIX Store / Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects
    andwander GINZA SIX Store / Jo Nagasaka + Schemata ArchitectsSave this picture! Nacasa&Partners Inc.Store, Retail InteriorsChuo City, JapanArchitects: Jo Nagasaka, Schemata ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:167 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Nacasa&Partners Inc.ManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Glory More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. and wander features a wide range of unisex items available in various colors. Each item has its own unique cutting and design, which you only notice when you hold it in your hands, giving you the pleasure of discovering something new each time. A grid system suspended from the ceiling was used to create a moveable layout, allowing flexible arrangements of lighting, hangers, posters, fitting rooms, etc.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!We intend to use a consistent system for all of the brand's stores while customizing it to suit individual environments and target customers, allowing customers to enjoy different designs.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The GINZA SIX building, the new store's location, houses high-end brands and attracts many visitors from overseas, and we felt the need to create a similar solid feel for the background. The floors were mainly finished in the mortar at the and wander stores we have designed previously. This time, we decided to use stainless steel on the floor for the first time, eliminating the street feel and successfully taking the brand to the next stage. The brand, themed around nature, always uses wood for the interior. This time, we placed blocks of red cedar as display fixtures to counter the strong presence of stainless steel. The cracks, dents, and scent of the wood added a remarkable quality that standard materials lack. We wanted to continue the design spirit of the previous designs, which exposed the concrete walls and ceiling. However, since we could not reveal concrete by removing finishes on this building, we used wood fiber cement boards to create a concrete-like appearance.Save this picture!Save this picture!In addition, a movable system consisting of flat plates and hooks was introduced on the walls to effectively showcase the store's popular bags, which allows for flexible arrangements of bags and other small items in various shapes.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Chuo City, JapanLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSchemata ArchitectsOfficeJo NagasakaOfficePublished on November 18, 2024Cite: "andwander GINZA SIX Store / Jo Nagasaka + Schemata Architects" 18 Nov 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023588/andwander-ginza-six-store-jo-nagasaka-plus-schemata-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
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  • GAMERANT.COM
    Best Game Anime
    Game anime thrill their viewers for much the same reason Twitch streams do: it's exciting to see people excited by games and share one's beloved hobby with others. Whether they depict card games, board games, or VR, the best game anime leaves no doubt in viewers' minds about why characters have chosen their pastimes.
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  • GAMERANT.COM
    Brawlhalla - Star Wars Event Wave 2 Trailer
    Brawlhalla and Star Wars are teaming up to bring several iconic characters to the free-to-play fighting game. Han Solo, Chewbacca, The Mandalorian with Grogu, and more will join the action on December 4, 2024.
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    CatFountain
    PawGravity specializes in innovative pet hydration solutions, offering the PawGravity Cat Water Fountaindesigned to provide fresh, clean water for your feline friends. Our commitment to quality ensures that your pet stays healthy and hydrated, while our user-friendly design makes maintenance a breeze. Join thousands of satisfied customers who have transformed their pets' drinking experience. Explore our range of products and discover the difference in your cat's hydration today!
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  • WWW.POLYGON.COM
    Dune: Prophecy makes a big choice about one of the universes most important events
    Few events in the Dune franchise are more critical to explaining its universe than the Butlerian Jihad, so it may be a surprise to learn that the fictional war still holds a lot of mystery for many Dune fans.Frank Herbert, who created the series, had a few vague explanations of the Jihad, but never fully explained it. Then, after Franks death in 1986,his son Brian took over the series and wrote a whole prequel series explaining the war in very different terms than his father. Picking over the pros and cons of each approach is the right of any Dune fan, but HBOs prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, doesnt have that kind of luxury. So instead it picks one version of the past and roots the whole universe in it.But to better understand the universe of Dune: Prophecy, its important to first understand the differences between Frank and Brians versions of the Jihad itself.While Frank didnt include too much explanation of the Butlerian Jihad in his novels, he does at one point feature God Emperor Leto II Atreides describing it as more an ideological movement than a war itself. According to Leto II, it was a moment when humanity began to feel the proliferation of technology and thinking machines essentially computers capable of better-than-human reasoning had stolen their humanity and made them subjects of the tools they created. In this moment of clarity, a wave of revolution rippled across humanity, leading to the destruction and outlawing of nearly every thinking machine in the universe, and even taking the species a step backward technologically, in order to regain their freedom of choice.This kind of metaphorical war on technology is a fascinating idea, and a fittingly unique and thorny one for Frank Herberts universe. Science fiction is full of universes that hinge on wars fought long ago (like the Clone Wars in the original Star Wars trilogy) but its rare that those wars take the form of a social movement rather than an armed conflict, especially given how it changed the way the whole universe functions.Brian Herbert, on the other hand, chronicled these years in the Dune universe across his numerous prequel novels much more traditionally. The very short version of his story is that its simply a big bad robot intelligence that threatens humanity.And to be fair, many of his works in the Dune universe have been based on notes and conversations with Frank while he was alive, so it isnt really clear where to draw the lines on his ideas versus his dads. But what we can say is that in Brians prequel novels, the Butlerian Jihad is a more straightforward, Terminator-style war between humans and complex machines that were hell-bent on destroying and/or enslaving humanity.This is the version of the Butlerian Jihad that Dune: Prophecy is working with, as we see in the opening moments of the premiere. Its less interesting and unique than Franks abstract war, but it is one thats much easier to follow and communicate for storytelling purposes. (And the show using Brians version of the story shouldnt be much of a surprise, considering that its technically an adaptation of one of Brians prequel trilogies, called Great Schools of Dune.) The Butlerian Jihad, in the world of Dune: Prophecy, is fresh in the minds of many of the great families, and still an open wound for some of them. The fact that it was a real fighting war, rather than an ideological one, allows viewers to still feel the huge toll it exacted on humanity. We can still see the evidence and remnants of those violent times in which entire houses rose and fell by virtue of their great (or terrible) deeds.Of course, just because Prophecy has made its version of the Butlerian Jihad clear doesnt mean the show is going to be full of easy answers. After just the first episode, we have plenty of questions left about who exactly Desmond Hart is and what his powers include, where the Bene Gesserit are in their sordid history of power games, and whose eyes it is that the sisters are seeing in their dreams. But whatever answers the show eventually reveals about those questions, at least we know what kind of robot war started all this chaos.
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