Our Picks View details $3,599 at Home Depot View details View details $2,899 at The Home Depot View details View details $2,099 at The Home Depot View details View details $5,499 at Ace Hardware View details Table of Contents Getting your mower ready and pushing it across the lawn can feel like a chore. With the right riding mower, youll save time and effort -- especially for larger yards. However, trying to find which one is right for you can be overwhelming. To help you make the choice, we've compared the specs and found the best mowers for different yard needs and budgets.When choosing a riding mower, consider your lawn size. For instance, a .05-acre yard may only need a push mower, which is far cheaper than even the most affordable riding mower. Plus, not all lawns are created equal. You may need to take steep inclines or other rugged terrain into consideration when making this decision.Read more: 36 Unique Gifts for People Who Have EverythingRecent advances in battery technology now offer the option of electric versus traditional gas motors. There's a lot to consider here. If you run out of gas while mowing, you can refill in minutes and continue. With an electric mower, however, you might face a one- to two-hour delay while recharging. Thats why sizing your machine to your lawn is especially important when considering electric options.On the other hand, some electric models are compatible with battery platforms, allowing you to use the mowers batteries in other tools. If you have extra charged batteries from those tools, you can swap them into the mower to avoid the downtime of recharging. There'll still be an offset on pricing, however. There's a hefty upfront investment in batteries that may be tough to recoup.Important note: Unlike most of CNETs best lists, this one is based on research rather than hands-on testing, as the size and cost of these units made obtaining samples difficult. I've compared all the specs to find the best riding lawn mowers on the market so that you can make an informed decision about which one could be right for you. $3,599 at Home Depot $3,599 at Home Depot The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50-inch riding mower is a great choice for homeowners with large lawns. It has a powerful 23-horsepower engine and a 50-inch cutting deck, making it easy to mow even the largest lawns quickly and efficiently. The mower also features a hydrostatic transmission, which makes it easy to maneuver around tight spaces. This also allows for a speedy 7 mph forward speed and 3.5 mph in reverse.In addition, the Ultima ZT1 comes with a variety of features (some at an extra cost) that make it a great choice for homeowners who want the best possible lawn care experience. These features include a mulching deck, a bagger, side discharge chute, tow/haul capability, snow plow or even a sun shade. The fabricated mulching deck delivers a signature cut with fewer clumps and stragglers, finer clippings, increased evenness and improved soil health, while the bagger and side discharge chute make it easy to collect grass clippings. Overall, the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50-inch riding mower is a great choice for homeowners who want a powerful, easy-to-use and feature-rich riding lawn mower. Photo Gallery 1/1 $2,899 at The Home Depot Best gas-powered riding lawn mower John Deere S130 $2,899 at The Home Depot Some people prefer the traditional steering experience of the round wheel mounted on the steering column, and my pick for best gas riding mower is a John Deere lawn tractor that offers just that. The S130 sports a 42-inch cutting deck and a 22-hp engine that will get you up to 5.5 mph forward or 3.2 mph in reverse. Much like my pick for best zero turn, the S130 offers many add-ons including a snow plow, snow blower, tire chains and even a full cab enclosure for extra protection from the elements.The S130 includes the John Deere "Easy Change" 30-second oil change system, a proprietary all-in-one oil and oil filter canister that allows you to quickly change its tractor oil with "no hassles and no mess." The list price of $2,899 is attractive for a name-brand unit with these specs. Throw in a seasonal discount you can likely dig up somewhere, and the S130 becomes a great choice for nearly anyone considering a riding mower. Photo Gallery 1/1 $2,099 at The Home Depot Best riding lawn mower value Troy-Bilt Bronco 42 $2,099 at The Home Depot My pick for best value riding mower falls into a categorization of riding mowers that are designed for lawns of 2 acres or smaller. You still have access to plenty of power with a 19-hp Briggs & Stratton engine and a 42-inch cutting deck. The Bronco 42 is designed to provide easy on-and-off accessibility with a "Step-Thru" frame design that makes it a great pick for people at all physical capability levels. The automatic transmission and foot pedal control are also designed to allow the mower to drive "like a car."You will still have access to all the add-ons and pull-behind carts, spreaders and sprayers with the attached rear hitch. When you look at these specs and performance options at a list price of $2,199, which is near entry-level pricing for name-brand riding mowers (entry-level being around $2,000), the Bronco 42 becomes an easy choice for best value. Photo Gallery 1/1 $5,499 at Ace Hardware Best electric riding lawn mower Ego Power Plus Z6 42-inch $5,499 at Ace Hardware Choosing the titleholder for the best electric riding mower is a bit trickier, given the wide variance in how these batteries and electrical systems perform. The Z6 42-inch does work on a removable battery platform where you can use the individual batteries from the mower (up to six of them) in the company's lineup of other outdoor tools. Included with the mower are four of the 10-Ah batteries (Ego currently offers batteries with amp-hour capacities of 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 10 and 12) and two additional spaces for you to add additional batteries of your own. To start the mower, you will need a minimum of 15-Ah batteries loaded, with full capacity being 60 Ah, which Ego says will get you up to 3 acres.There are three driving modes: Control, Standard and Sport, which give you different degrees of aggressiveness and speed during maneuvering. Your speeds while cutting will range from 3-7 mph with an overall top speed of 8 mph during travel mode. Included is a wall-mounted fast charger similar to a standard EV charger so you don't have to charge each battery individually. This is also handy if you're invested in the Ego ecosystem and prefer to charge multiple batteries simultaneously.You'll also get some nifty extras like an LCD control screen and a USB port to charge or power things on the go. The Z6 42-inch model is a great choice if you're already invested in this outdoor tool platform or interested in one. It's also great if you're generally an electric/EV/battery power enthusiast. Generally, the performance you'll see will rival that of similarly sized 22-hp gas engine models. The price tag might be a little higher due to battery buy-in, but overall this is a great machine with exceptional performance. Photo Gallery 1/1 Other units we evaluated Ryobi 48-volt, 100-Ah Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower: Ryobi has a few nice options for electric riding mowers, including this 100-Ah version that has the largest battery capacity of all our evaluated units. Looking at the math converting both the Ryobi and Ego units to watt-hours by multiplying their battery voltage by battery amp-hours, Ryobi has 4,800Wh versus Ego's 3,360Wh. At these stated capacities, both manufacturers claim their mowers cover "up to" 3 acres, which makes the Ego system appear to be more efficient.Greenworks 60-volt, 42-inch CrossoverT Electric Riding Lawn Mower: This mower is the least expensive of the electric options I evaluated. I do like the integrated storage bed in the back of the unit. It comes with six 8-Ah batteries and there is an extensive outdoor tool collection to interact with these batteries just like the Ego platform. For recharging, you will need to use the three included double-battery chargers to bring your six batteries back online. It can cover up to 2.5 acres per charge.Craftsman T110 42-inch 17.5-hp Riding Lawn Mower: This gas-powered mower boasts similar specs to some of our other units, albeit with a slightly smaller 17.5-hp engine. A decent choice overall, especially if you're already a Craftsman fan, but a slightly higher price tag per spec keeps this one out of the winner's circle. Show more Riding mower FAQs How much does a riding lawn mower cost? Riding mowers vary greatly in cost. Entry-level costs for most known brands is around $2,000 and can exceed $25,000 for larger multifunction lawn tractors designed for very large lawn areas. An average lawn mower costs in the $3,000-$3,500 range. Show more What size lawn should I have before considering a riding mower? This answer will vary a bit based on the individual, but in general, anything over half an acre is a great candidate for a riding mower.You still might consider a riding mower for smaller lawns especially if you have concerns about your physical ability or stamina to push mow whatever size yard you have. Even in those circumstances, there are self-propelled push mowers that take the majority of the work out of the task. Show more Which is better, a traditional riding mower or a zero-turn mower? Both mowers have their advantages. Up front, one of the main differences will be cost. Zero-turn mowers will usually cost at least 25% more (usually closer to 50% more) than their traditional counterparts. Zero-turns will mow your space faster and with greater maneuverability than the traditional riding mower. Smaller residential yards are easy candidates for traditional mowers while larger yards or people who mow multiple yards (like landscape companies) might opt for zero-turns to increase their time efficiency. Show more

November 22, 20246 min readScientists Scramble to Save Climate Data from TrumpAgainFederal climate databases remained largely intact during President-elect Donald Trumps first term. Scientists say the threats are bigger this timeBy Chelsea Harvey & E&E NewsPresident-elect Donald Trump's first administration altered federal websites featuring climate change. Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | Eight years ago, as the Trump administration was getting ready to take office for the first time, mathematician John Baez was making his own preparations.Together with a small group of friends and colleagues, he was arranging to download large quantities of public climate data from federal websites in order to safely store them away. Then-President-elect Donald Trump had repeatedly denied the basic science of climate change and had begun nominating climate skeptics for cabinet posts. Baez, a professor at the University of California, Riverside, was worried the information everything from satellite data on global temperatures to ocean measurements of sea-level rise might soon be destroyed.His effort, known as the Azimuth Climate Data Backup Project, archived at least 30 terabytes of federal climate data by the end of 2017.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.In the end, it was an overprecaution.The first Trump administration altered or deleted numerous federal web pages containing public-facing climate information, according to monitoring efforts by the nonprofit Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI), which tracks changes on federal websites. But federal databases, containing vast stores of globally valuable climate information, remained largely intact through the end of Trumps first term.Yet as Trump prepares to take office again, scientists are growing more worried.Federal datasets may be in bigger trouble this time than they were under the first Trump administration, they say. And theyre preparing to begin their archiving efforts anew.This time around we expect them to be much more strategic, said Gretchen Gehrke, EDGIs website monitoring program lead. My guess is that they've learned their lessons.The Trump transition team didn't respond to a request for comment.Like Baezs Azimuth project, EDGI was born in 2016 in response to Trumps first election. They werent the only ones.Scientists across the country raced to preserve federal climate data at the start of Trumps first term, organizing efforts like the Data Refuge project at the University of Pennsylvania and the volunteer-led Climate Mirror. Even scientists from other countries got involved the University of Toronto hosted at least one "guerrilla archiving event" in December 2016.Some of these projects, like Azimuth, concluded once theyd achieved their archiving goals. Others, like EDGI, continued to organize and expand over the last eight years. And now theyre using the lessons they learned under the first Trump administration to prepare for the next one.That was a wild time and burned out a ton of people, so weve been preparing for this, Gehrke said.EDGI staff have been reaching out to other organizations, like the Environmental Protection Network and the Union of Concerned Scientists, for advice on what kinds of data to prioritize under the second Trump term. Theyre also working on ways to ensure that scientists can access and use the archived datasets if they do disappear from federal websites.It does good to have the data but if you dont have a path into it or the support systems from people to actually use that data, its impact is limited, Gehrke said.'More jeopardy' under a second Trump termThreats to federal data could have big consequences for global climate research. Researchers at federal agencies collect and maintain a vast array of local, national and global climate datasets, many of which are publicly available and valuable to scientists around the world.NASA satellite missions collect data on global temperatures, sea-level rise, melting ice sheets, dwindling sea ice, clouds in the atmosphere, algae in the ocean and a huge variety of other climate variables. NOAA houses the National Weather Service, with its immense trove of weather-related data. It also collects information on a wide assortment of other environmental factors, including atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean temperatures, sea levels, climate-related disasters and other data, much of which is housed by the National Centers for Environmental Information.THe Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey, EPA and other federal science agencies also collect their own climate and energy-related information.Some of the major global datasets, like NASAs estimates of global surface temperature changes, arent the only ones of their kind. Other science agencies around the world collect the same information using similar methods. But having multiple datasets from independent research groups helps scientists confirm that their instruments are working and their datasets are accurate.Some federal datasets are nearly irreplaceable. Hurricane Helene helped drive that fact home in September, when it flooded much of western North Carolina and temporarily knocked NOAAs NCEI headquarters in Asheville offline. Scientists found they were unable to complete certain kinds of analyses until the databases were back up and running.One of the things we came across after Hurricane Helene swept through and caused devastation in Asheville, North Carolina, is we didn't have access to all the NOAA data we needed to do these analyses, said Daniel Gilford, a scientist with the nonprofit Climate Central, at a webinar on Tuesday announcing the findings of a new study examining the links between climate change and Atlantic hurricanes. So we actually had to wait for the NCEI, the National Centers for Environmental lnformation, to come back online after Hurricane Helene.Shortly after Trump won the 2024 election, scientists took to social media platforms like Bluesky to begin discussing federal datasets that might be in jeopardy, pointing to agencies like NOAA and the EPA as likely starting places.Much of the renewed concern about federal data stems from Project 2025, a 900-page conservative policy blueprint spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation that outlines recommendations for the next administration.Project 2025 calls for major overhauls of some federal science agencies. It suggests that Trump should dismantle NOAA and calls for the next administration to reshape the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which coordinates federal research on climate and the environment.The plan also suggests that the "Biden Administrations climate fanaticism will need a whole-of-government unwinding.A leaked video from the Project 2025 presidential transition project suggested that political appointees will have to eradicate climate change references from absolutely everywhere.Trump has previously distanced himself from Project 2025. In July, he wrote on the social media platform Truth Social that he knew nothing about Project 2025, did not know who was behind it and did not have anything to do with the plan.But since winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump has picked several nominees for his new administration that are credited by name in the conservative policy plan, reviving fears that Project 2025 could influence his priorities.Trump has also recently named Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead his new so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an external commission tasked with shrinking the federal government, restructuring federal agencies and cutting costs. The announcement has also ignited concerns about job security for federal scientists, including the researchers tasked with maintaining government datasets.There are lots and lots of signs that the Trump team is attempting to decapitate the government in the sense of firing lots of people, said Baez, who co-founded the Azimuth Climate Data Backup Project in 2016 and is currently a professor of the graduate division in the math department at University of California Riverside. If they manage to do something like that, then these databases could be in more jeopardy.Though federal datasets remained largely untouched under the first Trump administration, other climate-related information on federal websites did change or disappear, Gehrke pointed out. EDGI documented about a 40 percent decline in the use of the term climate change across 13 federal agencies it monitored during the first term.A better organized effort could result in more censoring under a second administration, she said.While groups like EDGI are gearing up for their next efforts, Baez says he has no immediate plans to revamp the Azimuth Climate Data Backup Project although he hopes other groups will step up instead. One lesson he learned the first time is just how much data exists in the federal ecosystem and how much effort it takes to archive it, even with a dedicated group of volunteers.We got sort of a little bit burnt out by that process, Baez said. Im hoping some younger generation of people picks up where we left off.Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2024. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

November 22, 20246 min readHow Trump Could Weaken the Affordable Care ActThe Trump administration could embolden Republicans to make sweeping changes to how the affordable care act functions and is enforcedPresident-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House could embolden Republicans who want to weaken or repeal the Affordable Care Act, but implementing such sweeping changes would still require overcoming procedural and political hurdles. Kent Nishimura/Getty ImagesPresident-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House could embolden Republicans who want to weaken or repeal the Affordable Care Act, but implementing such sweeping changes would still require overcoming procedural and political hurdles.Trump, long an ACA opponent, expressed interest during the campaign in retooling the health law. In addition, some high-ranking Republican lawmakers who will now have control over both the House and the Senate have said revamping the landmark 2010 legislation known as Obamacare would be a priority. They say the law is too expensive and represents government overreach.The governing trifecta sets the stage for potentially seismic changes that could curtail the laws Medicaid expansion, raise the uninsured rate, weaken patient protections, and increase premium costs for millions of people.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The Republican plans they dont say they are going to repeal the ACA, but their collection of policies could amount to the same thing or worse, said Sarah Lueck, vice president for health policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research and policy institute. It could happen through legislation and regulation. Were on alert for anything and everything. It could take many forms.Congressional Republicans have held dozens of votes over the years to try to repeal the law. They were unable to get it done in 2017 after Trump became president, even though they held both chambers and the White House, in large part because some GOP lawmakers wouldnt support legislation they said would cause such a marked increase in the uninsured rate.Similar opposition to revamping the law could emerge again, especially because polls show the ACAs protections are popular.While neither Trump nor his GOP allies have elaborated on what they would change, House Speaker Mike Johnson said last month that the ACA needs massive reform and would be on the partys agenda should Trump win.Congress could theoretically change the ACA without a single Democratic vote, using a process known as reconciliation. The narrow margins by which Republicans control the House and Senate mean just a handful of no votes could sink that effort, though.Many of the more ambitious goals would require Congress. Some conservatives have called for changing the funding formula for Medicaid, a federal-state government health insurance program for low-income and disabled people. The idea would be to use budget reconciliation to gain lawmakers approval to reduce the share paid by the federal government for the expansion population. The group that would be most affected is made up largely of higher-income adults and adults who dont have children rather than traditional Medicaid beneficiaries such as pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities.A conservative idea that would let individuals use ACA subsidies for plans on the exchange that dont comply with the health law would likely require Congress. That could cause healthier people to use the subsidies to buy cheaper and skimpier plans, raising premiums for older and sicker consumers who need more comprehensive coverage.Its similar to an ACA repeal plan, said Cynthia Cox, a vice president and the director of the Affordable Care Act program at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Its repeal with a different name.Congress would likely be needed to enact a proposal to shift a portion of consumers ACA subsidies to health savings accounts to pay for eligible medical expenses.Trump could also opt to bypass Congress. He did so during his previous tenure, when the Department of Health and Human Services invited states to apply for waivers to change the way their Medicaid programs were paid for capping federal funds in exchange for more state flexibility in running the program. Waivers have been popular among both blue and red states for making other changes to Medicaid.Trump will do whatever he thinks he can get away with, said Chris Edelson, an assistant professor of government at American University. If he wants to do something, hell just do it.Republicans have another option to weaken the ACA: They can simply do nothing. Temporary, enhanced subsidies that reduce premium costs and contributed to the nations lowest uninsured rate on record are set to expire at the end of next year without congressional action. Premiums would then double or more, on average, for subsidized consumers in 12 states who enrolled using the federal ACA exchange, according to data from KFF.That would mean fewer people could afford coverage on the ACA exchanges. And while the number of people covered by employer plans would likely increase, an additional 1.7 million uninsured individuals are projected each year from 2024 to 2033, according to federal estimates.Many of the states that would be most affected, including Texas and Florida, are represented by Republicans in Congress, which could give some lawmakers pause about letting the subsidies lapse.The Trump administration could opt to stop defending the law against suits seeking to topple parts of it. One of the most notable cases challenges the ACA requirement that insurers cover some preventive services, such as cancer screenings and alcohol use counseling, at no cost. About 150 million people now benefit from the coverage requirement.If the Department of Justice were to withdraw its petition after Trump takes office, the plaintiffs would not have to observe the coverage requirement which could inspire similar challenges, with broader implications. A recent Supreme Court ruling left the door open to legal challenges by other employers and insurers seeking the same relief, said Zachary Baron, a director of Georgetown Universitys Center for Health Policy and the Law.In the meantime, Trump could initiate changes from his first day in the Oval Office through executive orders, which are directives that have the force of law.The early executive orders will give us a sense of policies that the administration plans to pursue, said Allison Orris, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Early signaling through executive orders will send a message about what guidance, regulations, and policy could follow.In fact, Trump relied heavily on these orders during his previous term: An October 2017 order directed federal agencies to begin modifying the ACA and ultimately increased consumer access to health plans that didnt comply with the law. He could issue similar orders early on in his new term, using them to start the process of compelling changes to the law, such as stepped-up oversight of potential fraud.The administration could early on take other steps that work against the ACA, such as curtailing federal funding for outreach and help signing up for ACA plans. Both actions depressed enrollment during the previous Trump administration.Trump could also use regulations to implement other conservative proposals, such as increasing access to health insurance plans that dont comply with ACA consumer protections.The Biden administration walked back Trumps efforts to expand what are often known as short-term health plans, disparaging the plans as junk insurance because they may not cover certain benefits and can deny coverage to those with a preexisting health condition.The Trump administration is expected to use regulation to reverse Bidens reversal, allowing consumers to keep and renew the plans for much longer.But drafting regulations has become far more complicated following a Supreme Court ruling saying federal courts no longer have to defer to federal agencies facing a legal challenge to their authority. In its wake, any rules from a Trump-era HHS could draw more efforts to block them in the courts.Some people with ACA plans say theyre concerned. Dylan Reed, a 43-year-old small-business owner from Loveland, Colorado, remembers the days before the ACA and doesnt want to go back to a time when insurance was hard to get and afford.In addition to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety, he has scleroderma, an autoimmune disease associated with joint pain and numbness in the extremities. Even with his ACA plan, he estimates, he pays about $1,000 a month for medications alone.He worries that without the protections of the ACA it will be hard to find coverage with his preexisting conditions.Its definitely a terrifying thought, Reed said. I would probably survive. I would just be in a lot of pain.KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Planet Coaster 2 review - buckled potentialFairground subtraction.Image credit: Eurogamer Review by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 22, 2024 Planet Coaster 2's flexible creation tools are as compulsive as ever, but the fun butts up against an exhausting UI, uninspired management gameplay, and conspicuous content gaps that feel like cynical spaces for DLC. I bloody love a theme park: the sights, the smells, the gleeful screams, the sense of utter transportation. But most of all, I love the breathless clash of science and art behind these thoroughly encompassing illusions. Im the kind of theme park nerd who still gets genuinely giddy when they see technology and creativity crash together like this, and who's been daydreaming their perfect rides and coasters into existence since a run-in with Disney's Haunted Mansion at the age of three became a bit of an obsession. For people like me, the original Planet Coaster was a dream. For all its flaws, it was a brilliantly implemented, beautifully presented suite of creative tools capable of turning theme park flights of fancy into digital reality, and its sequel promises the same, but more.Planet Coaster 2 reviewDeveloper: Frontier DevelopmentsPublisher: Frontier DevelopmentsPlatform: Played on PC Availability: Out now on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5Like its predecessor, Planet Coaster 2 is an immediate head turner; a glorious fusion of art, animation, sound, and music that brings those creative whims to wonderfully convincing life a world of whirling metal, blinking lights, and the delighted screams of guests, to be experienced on high or at ground level. Strip away the presentational pizzazz, of course, and Planet Coaster 2 remains indebted to Chris Sawyer's seminal RollerCoaster Tycoon, barely straying from the template established over a quarter of a century ago. It's a game built around the intricacies of park management; of hiring staff, constructing rides, and providing key amenities all to please guests and make enough profit that the operational loop can continue indefinitely. But once again, Planet Coaster 2's real strengths lie in the depth, breadth, and flexibility of its design and customisation tools.Watch on YouTubeThis is a sequel of gentle evolution rather than sweeping reinvention, which isn't to say its refinements aren't immediately apparent Frontier has clearly listened to feedback from Planet Coaster 1, even if it feels like its most notable improvements are specifically catered toward the YouTube content creator contingent with days to spend fashioning their marvels of intricate design. Its new lighting engine, for instance, isn't just pretty, it's practical; enclosed spaces are actually dark, meaning proper dark rides are finally possible without clunky workarounds. Then there's the optimisation. Unlike its notoriously spluttery predecessor, Planet Coaster 2 is far more capable of keeping up with players' creative whims without immediately turning into a slideshow. Track ride construction generally feels less fiddly; flat rides can now be stripped back and fully themed with dcor pieces - invaluable for those wanting a more cohesive aesthetic flow across their parks - while seemingly minor additions such as object-scaling and scenery brushes are major game changers. Elsewhere, pools and flumes have been introduced, satisfying the endless clamour for water parks among the community. Image credit: EurogamerPlanet Coaster 2's various play modes are more clearly defined now, too. There's a campaign mode, for instance, that goes to some entertainingly weird places as it cheerfully turns the fundamentals of park building into objective-based challenges. That said, its tendency to prioritise dad-tier jokes over helpful explanations - and the frequency with which any attempts at creativity butt up against arbitrary limitations - make it a bit of a drag. There's also a Franchise mode, enabling players to work together, clan-like, in a globe-spanning grasp to top the leaderboards by satisfying weekly challenges, and there's support for asynchronous co-operative building, too. Finally, for those simply wanting to maximise their creative freedom, there's a highly customisable sandbox mode, enabling players to shift the balance between park management and design as they say fit.What Planet Coaster 2 lacks, though, is any meaningful strategic evolution or sophistication. It jettisons some of its predecessor's mechanical breadth too, with the likes of restaurants, hotels, and security all now inexplicably removed. The original Planet Coaster was, of course, a desperately uneven affair, its powerful creation tools massively overshadowing an anaemic management core, and it's disappointing if perhaps not especially surprising to see those weaknesses carry over to the sequel. It might feature a checklist of new management options from water filtration to power distribution but the implementation is uniformly superficial. Even water parks, Planet Coaster 2's flagship new feature, just sort of exist a couple more holes to dig, staff to employ, and rides to build with little in the way of extended integration. Image credit: EurogamerFor all its building refinements, Planet Coaster 2 feels like it marginalises its management side even further, its two halves co-existing, occasionally intertwining, but never in particularly interesting or convincing ways. It's a backward step compared to Frontier's wonderful Planet Zoo, which struck a compelling balance between park management and beautification. And it's especially weak in comparison to Texel Raptor's Parkitect, created with a fraction of Frontier's resources, which despite ostensibly being a retro throwback, felt like a genuine evolution of the classic theme park sim formula. Parkitect's canny logistical layer of goods distribution, meaningful distinctions between backstage and 'front of house', not to mention its impactful weather system, all brought a genuine sense of strategic cohesion between its two halves. By comparison, the handful of elements that Planet Coaster 2 does borrow from Parkitect - weather and scenery scoring - feel dramatically underdeveloped and awkwardly siloed.Even more so than the original, Planet Coaster 2 feels like a game for the builders and tinkerers, the look-what-I-made content creators, and that's perfectly fine, even if it does feel like a missed opportunity. Frontier's sequel has the same unquestionable kind of hypnotic allure as its predecessor when it comes to building and design - arguably even more so, given its multitude of toolkit refinements - hours vanishing in a happy haze of meticulous rock placement, or in getting the banking sweep of your brand-new coaster just so. The trouble is, for all it gets right, Planet Coaster 2 often feels strangely retrograde - cumbersome, counterintuitive, or just plain contradictory - with an infuriating knack of getting in its own way.Simply navigating menus is often an exercise in fiddly frustration, with Frontier's attempt to design an interface that works for both keyboard and mouse and controllers never quite working for anyone. Menus are unintuitively organised, key information is often missing or obscured through poor or inconsistent presentation, advanced settings frequently remain unexplained On it goes in a similar slapdash fashion. Why, for instance, does the Workshop not have a filter for flat rides, of all things? Individually, these feel like surmountable quirks, but all together they're just draining. It doesn't help either that feedback is often so poor, even contradictory, that it's hard to tell what's a failure on your part or a failure of the game. "Staff are trying to access a staff building which is at full capacity", I am informed at one point, quickly followed by the message, "There is no staff building". Encouragingly, Frontier has already started to address some of Planet Coaster 2's more egregious issues, with more substantial tweaks coming in December, but it's still hard to shake the sense of backward slides elsewhere. Image credit: EurogamerSure, the ride selection is genuinely great, with some wonderful titillating flourishes - tilting coaster platforms, backward flumes, oh my! But as easy and enjoyable as it is to build the 'park' bit of your theme park, Planet Coaster 2 seems to flounder on theme. Gone are the visually distinct archetype themes seen in the original game - pirate, sci-fi, spooky, and western. Instead, replaced by far less distinct options: aquatic, mythology, Viking, tropical resort, and cheerily corporate. Its a mix that results in a sort of bland sludge of vaguely vacation-themed visuals - part holiday resort, part generic amusement park - that don't exactly sizzle with creative potential. Furthermore, Planet Coaster 2's building blocks leave a lot to be desired, pre-built decorations, animatronics, and in-house scenery blueprints all in decidedly short supply. Image credit: EurogamerPlanet Coaster 2 accessibility optionsSubtitles. Colour blindness heatmap contrast settings. Interface scaling options. Dialogue isolation. Audio mono mode option. Keyboard and controller sensitivity sliders.After a few hours in the original Planet Coaster, Id built a surprisingly elaborate Pirates of the Caribbean knock-off, complete with sword waving buccaneers, burning ships, and cannon balls splashing in the water; by comparison, the most exotic corner of my park in Planet Coaster 2 is a sad cave with a singing eel. Yes, it's absolutely possible to improvise something more fantastical using geometric shapes and fiddly little props, but not everyone will want to go so deep into the tools. Of course, Planet Coaster 2's new in-game Workshop means design-minded players can upload and share their creations with anyone hoping for a more casual play experience - but it all feels a little distasteful, as if Frontier's offloading key foundational work onto the community. And Planet Coaster 2's more conspicuous gaps feel even more cynical when they're accompanied by 18 launch day DLC.At its best, Planet Coaster 2 captures much of the magic of its predecessor, where immaculate presentation and powerful tools manifest a game of endless creative potential. But its undoubted pleasures are haunted by interruptions and frustrations, missed opportunities, and just far too many conspicuous holes where it feels like something vital should be. There's a chance things will improve as Planet Coaster 2 evolves, but right now, for all its core refinements, it often feels lesser than its predecessor in too many ways.A copy of Planet Coaster 2 was provided for review by Frontier Developments.

The Rogue Prince of Persia's enormous Second Act update is here, but all is not lost for "Purple Prince" loversPurple Reign.Image credit: Evil Empire News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 22, 2024 The Rogue Prince of Persia's enormous new update, Second Act, is here.We already knew it would function as something of a full relaunch but today Ubisoft made it official, calling it The Rogue Prince of Persia's "biggest update since launching in early access on Steam and GeForce back in May 2024".Along with upgraded art work and a changed colour palette, players can expect the wartime city of Ctesiphon to come to life, along with a "significant transformation regarding the Prince, whose colour has been changed from purple to a tone that not only better fits the new direction, but also its genre, setting, and the Prince of Persia series in general".The Rogue Prince of Persia Gameplay Trailer - Second Act Update.Watch on YouTubeThat said, the "Purple Prince" will still be playable when a set of playable skins arrive in an upcoming update."With the Second Act update, players will be able to explore brand-new biomes, the Mines and the Craftsmens District, face off against new bosses, and experience a fresh narrative act, while Act 1 received extensive polish," Ubisoft explains. "Additionally, there are new enemies to encounter and many quality-of-life additions, such as difficulty re-balancing, multiple save slots, spirit cinder & gold automatic pick-up and more."This update also adds of German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish localisation."I think it works because the game has a charismatic star," Chris Donlan wrote of The Rogue Prince of Persia upon its early access launch. "Not charismatic in what he says, perhaps, but in what he does and how he moves. I just love to watch him run."

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereFortnite introduces new items each season, both cosmetic and gameplay that often get mixed reviews by the player community. A year ago with the launch of Chapter 5, when Epic introduced Instruments with Fortnite Festival which was poorly received by the community and was deemed useless given the hefty price tag they came with.A similar case was when Epic also released vehicles for Rocket Racing mode and sold them for a price as high as 2,800 V-Bucks in the Item Shop. However, that too was forgiven over time since they enabled some of those to have cross-ownership with Rocket League.Now another cosmetic item has appeared in the game that seemed exciting and promising at first, but when they were put up for sale, players started slamming them as a total ripoff.Fortnite players pass on new Kicks cosmetics due to absurd price tagFortnite has finally added the new Kicks cosmetic item to the game with its latest 32.11 patch, which at present supports 524 outfits. These footwear items are digital models of real-life Nike and Jordan shoes that fans can get in the game and assign to their favorite skin.Kicks are priced at 800 V-Bucks and up in Fortnite shop. Image by VideoGamer.Back when they were announced players were excited to try these out with their locker skins, but when they hit the Item Shop, the pricing of 800 V-Bucks and upwards threw a lot of fans off guard. While you can still get the OG Air Jordan 1s from the Fortnite Battle Pass for free, if you want to get more Kicks in the game, youll have to pay the price in V-Bucks which almost comes close to a low-tier skin.Upon seeing this, players slammed Kicks for being a total ripoff and not adding any value to the current locker they already have. One such fan wrote, 300-600 Vbucks sounds more reasonable. This s**t pricing at the moment aint gonna work.Another chimed in, Yeah those prices are a huge dump joke. A third user added, Crazy how we get Lego styles for free but shoes cost 600-100. Makes no sense.While the debate among the community around Kicks has just begun, Fortnite is also offering a free emote to celebrate the cosmetic release that you can claim for a limited time in-game. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe arrival of the long-awaited third faction in Helldivers 2 could be almost upon us as a huge number of files featuring The Iluminate have been moved into the games latest update. In the games latest SteamDB update, numerous files relating to The Illuminate gameplay have been moved by developer Arrowhead.Illuminate files flood Helldivers 2Following massive leaks for upcoming mission types and even Illuminate-themed weapons for the enemies eventual arrival, Arrowhead has merged a tonne of files featuring the psychic aliens in the latest HD2 changelist.Found on SteamDB here, a large list of files named gameplay_illuminates have changed depot as of November 22, 2024 at 9:48:43 UTC. At the time of writing, that change happened around six hours ago.Some of the files have been added as DLC, potentially being part of an additional download such as previously leaked weapons skins or some exclusive armour. The launch version of Helldivers 2 did feature a few small DLC-exclusive cosmetics for those who wished to support Arrowhead, but its not been confirmed if additional purchases are coming.More exciting is the amount of files that have not been marked as DLC, potentially meaning that the arrival of The Illuminate is closer than many think. Since the start of the Democracy Space Station storyline, fans have assumed that the new Super Earth landmark of destruction would end up attracting the third faction, and it looks like that might be right.With Helldivers 2 now boasting over 15 million players and becoming an award-winning multiplayer title, it would be a great time to bring the games next enemy type to the game. As some players tire of fighting bugs and bots, a brand-new alien presence would be amazing. Personally, we cant wait to stop some rituals and crush another foe in the name of Super Earth.For more HD2, read about the teams early plans to bring crossovers to the multiplayer game or the confirmation of new vehicle stratagems for players to use as they devastate their enemies in style.Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Something you realize pretty quickly when diving into the wide world of furniture shopping is that finding the best affordable couches will take time (and lots of browsing). Thankfully, there are a wealth of options in the sub-$2,000 sofa category, if your budget is only netting youapproximately half an accent chair these days.With a slew of direct-to-consumer companies offering sofas minus the middle man and big-box retailers shilling flat-pack options at a fair price point, there are a bunch of budget-friendly options at your disposal. Just remember to factor in shipping costs, along with any customization services and white-glove delivery.Combing through all of the affordable couches to find The One to tie your living room together can prove onerous, especially with so much junk out there. But dont fret. Weve sorted all the best budget-friendly sofas that look a lot more expensive than they actually are.Our Top PicksBest Overall: Abisko Sofa, $1,199 at ArticleMost Comfortable: Osborn Sofa, $1,499 at West ElmBest Sectional: Honbay U-Shaped Sectional Sleeper Couch With Storage Chaise, $1,400 at WayfairBest Sleeper Sofa: Nordby 87" Sofa Bed, $1,599 at ArticleBest Chaise: Jonathan Right Chaise, $1,099 at CastleryWhether your interior design taste leans tailored and midcentury modern, or cozy and maximalist, we did the digging for you to surface several budget-friendly candidates for your new couch. Without further ado, a short list of the finest picks we could find for less than $2,000.And if youre looking for a couch at a certain price point, click below to jump to a specific section.The Best Affordable Couches Under $1,000Sanders Velvet SofaOval velvet seat cushions make up the base and back of this squishy Article couch that beckons you to sit and sprawl out. The thin Scandi-style legs are just long enough that you can stuff some storage bins under there where the dust bunnies live, and the polyester fabric is low-absorption, so if you get a little too wild with your red wine or coffee, theres still time to make a dash for some paper towels before its fully seeped in.Engage Mid-Century Modern Upholstered LoveseatModways midcentury couch is one of our favorite Prime-able couches on Amazon. It has a relatively small footprint for tight spaces, and balances on solid wood legs, with a middle-of-the-road seat depth that works for petites and people of average height. It also arrives in a handy slipcover when it ships out, so your sofa stays clean and pristine en route.Aquarius 85'' Upholstered SofaAllModerns Aquarius sofa isnt quite as rebellious as the star sign its named after, with its modern lines and bountiful cushions that cater to a wide crowd. Still, its got the depth to suit the name, at least when it comes to seating. Its deep enough to really sink into when youre dialed into a show, though shorter folks might want to choose alternative options. Its also firm-leaning to appeal to people who want a sturdier surface to sit on.Rane FutonWhen your budget is only $200 for a new sofa (no judgement), you could go straight to Craigslist, but chances are you just want something free of dust and wear. The mattress specialists over at Serta have just the thing: a very cheap futon made up of high-density foam and coiled springs that acts like a firm mattress. Blessed with a midcentury look, its the ideal not-so-expensive find for folding down in a spare room or den when you have guests come through.West Elm Penn SofaThe three-seater Penn Sofa from West Elm comes in a blue-gray velvet. What it lacks in customization options, it makes up for in comfort and affordability. It comes optimally cushioned with high armrests and bold, spindly metal legs.Pottery Barn Teen Cushy Lounge Sectional SetModular sofas like this L-shaped one are great if you want to move your furniture around, break things down into multiple single-seaters sprinkled around the room, or keep it all connected for cuddly movie nights. The possibilities are endless with how you can configure these three pieces, as well as the color and performance fabrics you can purchase them in (you can have the velvet couch of your dreams!).Mella SofaPerformance velvet, a lovely curved silhouette, and a little peek of rubberwood legs make this the kind of piece of furniture that becomes a focal point of any living space its parked in. Great for small apartments, the design looks high-end while maintaining minimal charm (thank you, velvet). It does run on the firmer side, which is something to keep in mind. But if youre in the market for a comfortable sofa thats perfect for reading, watching a movie, or hanging out with friends, wellyou found it. The cushions are attached, and its recommended that any stains are spot-cleaned.Burrow Range 2-Piece SofaBurrow aims to cut out unnecessary markups while manufacturing highly customizable products with upcycled fabrics and sustainable wood. This small-space-friendly two-seater is our top choice because its completely customizable, from the colorways and arms to the legs (we reviewed the three-piece here).The Best Affordable Couches Between $1,000 $1,500Leroy Loveseat (60")If theres anything West Elm does well, its a velvet sofa, and Leroy is just the comfy love seat for cozying up with someone or just cozying up with the special someone that is Netflix. Leroy is available in a soft velvet like the one pictured here or a number of finishes like linen, twill and chenille (so you can customize it for whatever living area its about to bless).Article Abisko SofaWe love all things overstuffed (hello, cloud couch trend) because they offer supreme comfort. This option from Article arrives in two separate pieces for easy moving and assembly. It has wide, cushioned armrests which can double as a pillow in a pinch. If youre in need of a sofa thats neutral but still ultra-comfortable, look no further.Osborn SofaConsider this puffy pick the Cloud Couchs cousin. Just looking at West Elms Osborn sofa makes us feel relaxed and ready to curl up. The exaggerated curves feel playful, though don't and its firm without being uninviting. Choose from a number of fabric styles and color options, from a sandy boucl to gray performance velvet.Albany Leather SofaAlbany Parks signature three-seater faux leather couch is a dream for anyone who loves the look and feel of real cowskin. We can't ignore all the luxurious hues of velvet upholstery available, if that's more your style though. Plus its the ideal size for stretching out and reclining.Jonathan Right ChaiseThis modern chaise is technically one part of Castlerys modular sofas, but it can certainly stand alone in a room with other seating. It comes in a few neutral shades, as well. Push it up against a wall or nestle it near a side table, and expect a nice alternative to poufs and other low-lying seating.Interior Define Lennox LoveseatWere huge fans of Interior Defines Gaby sectional, and the brand also offers several sofas in the under $2,000 price range. The Lennox is customizable when it comes to color, fabric, leg type, cushion type, depth, fill, and size. The Lennox has a classic shape, but the deep-toned upholstery adds a vintage element that'll stand out in your living room.Urban Outfitters Roma SofaThe curvy bottom edge alone sold us on this one (along with the gorgeous hue). Its playful, its modern, and has a soothing color and design. Plus, without any arms to speak of, it's easier to fit in tighter spaces. Fill it with throw pillows and get ready for some cozy naps.Albany Park Kova Sofa 86"For anyone decorating a smaller space who still wants to provide a cozy spot to nap, this pick from Albany Park certainly fits the bill. Prepare to sink into the deep hypoallergenic foam cushions for hours on end. You can choose from different fabric optionsincluding stain-resistant, pet-friendly, and kid-friendlyall of which come in a handful of different colors.The Best Affordable Couches Between $1,500 $2,000Nordby 87" Sofa BedArticles Nordby took the top spot in our list of the finest sofa beds for its attractive price point and easily convertible frame that folds out into a full-size pullout bed. Its minimal look and chunky legs are easy to swallow when youre on a tight budget and, though the sofa itself is decently firm, your guest can at least relish the fact that theyre not on a saggy air mattress when theyre sprawled out on it.Cleon One Arm SofaBlu Dots left- or right-leaning Cleon is the perfect couch for resting your elbow on your chin and pondering the plot twist of a Cristopher Nolan movie or the meaning of it all. With a wide, puffy base and gently pleated seams, its soft around the edges but with a hardy wood frame to rest your back against.Sabai The Essential SofaNot only does the Essential Sofa from Sabai have a fairly wallet-friendly price tag, it also has serious sustainability cred. The solid wood frame is made of FSC-certified lumber, the foam-filling is CertiPUR-certified, and the pillows are made of recycled fiber fill. Plus it leans into a classic silhouette thatll fit any decor style, featuring square arms and one long foam cushion. Its a green flag in our book!Crate & Barrel Pacific Armless Sofa with Wood LegsAnything with cute, chunky legs is going to add some personality to your spaceand make it look more expensive. This armless seat is anchored by square, wooden legs and you even get to choose between a variety of color ways (we love the look of natural rubberwood). The taller back cushion offers up some serious support, whether youre lounging or working. Plus, the armless construction means the couch will prove a little easier to fit into tighter spaces.Strato 80" Camel Velvet SofaWell give you a second to take in this 70s-inspired beauty. Yes, it comes in right at $1,999, but it makes a statement without being so trendy youll want to sell it on Facebook Marketplace next year. Framed in solid wood and ensconced in camel velvet, this two-seater sofa lasts for the long haul.

architectureHow the UN Popularized Modernism in NYCToday Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD in New York for an in-depth walking tour of the United Nations. Founded in 1945, the UN now comprises 193 member states, all of whom assemble at their modernist headquarters on the bank of the East River in NYC. The birthplace of international diplomacy, the United Nations became the first major building in New York to represent International Style architecture.celebritiesInside SNL Star Heidi Gardners Midcentury Kansas City HomeToday, AD is welcomed by SNL star Heidi Gardner to tour her midcentury home in Kansas City. When shes not making us laugh on Saturday Night Live, Gardner leaves NYC behind, heading back to the Midwest for a slower pace of life. The actor and comedian moved into a midcentury-modern home that soon became a disco-era fantasy with the help of Tara Davis of Cicada Company and Brooklyn-based interior designer Madelynn Hudson. From terrazzo floors to a disco ball stove hood, Gardners home is full of fun finishes inspired by memories of her youth and her all-time favorite movie Boogie Nights. Having a glamorous and gregarious mom and a fashion-forward dad, their whole lives were their primebut in the 70s they were especially killing it, she says. My dream was to make the house a sexy-chic time capsule.celebritiesInside Famous Homes at ChristmasFrom Kris Jenner to the Vice President of the United States, decorating for the holiday season is a big affair. Today, AD steps inside some famous homes to see how they prepare for Christmas.architectureFrancis Ford Coppola Breaks Down The Design of MegalopolisToday, AD is joined by legendary director Francis Ford Coppola to break down the architectural details of Megalopolis. Modeling the fall of Rome in an alternate version of New York City, Megalopolis has been The Godfather directors passion project for over 40 years. Join Coppola as he discusses the metaphors behind his movies design and how he brought his long-awaited dream to life.MEGALOPOLIS is now available On Demand.designHow Wicked Built Immersive Real-Life Sets, From Shiz To Emerald CityToday, AD welcomes production designer Nathan Crowley to explain how he designed the sets for Wicked. Through his extensive use of practical effects, Crowley designed sets where Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo could shine and come alive as Glinda and Elphaba. From planting nine million tulips for Munchkinland to Shizs 52-foot high set, Crowleys designs for Wicked are truly immersive and nothing short of impressive.WICKED is in theaters November 22, https://www.wickedmovie.com/Shopping57 Best Housewarming Gifts Guaranteed to Get You Welcomed BackCelebrate that new home with these thoughtful findsBy Leah MuncyArchitecture + DesignThis Furniture Maker Built His Germantown House and Filled It With His Own CreationsMichael Robbinss New York abode is a longtime dream realizedBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesRyan Korban brings a fresh perspective to a historic Manhattan residence for a family of fiveBy Jessica RitzArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetArchitect Alessandro Venneris redesign of his small Barcelona space filled it with light and personalityBy Sara Barragn del ReyArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldThough they differ in style and location, these stunning royal residences all evoke grandeur and opulenceBy Maya Chawla ShoppingWhere to Buy Wallpaper in 2024: 26 Best Stores With Unique DesignsFind out where to buy wallpaper that will surprise and delightBy Sarah MadausShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineSkip the gift cards and get them something theyll actually loveBy Shoko Wanger

Every week, hundreds of artists share their work on the Blender Artists forum. I'm putting some of the best work in the spotlight in a weekly post here on BlenderNation.Source