Burnout 3: Takedown | Why I LoveMladen Bonjak from Misfit Village gives us a breakdown of why the much loved Criterion Games classic holds a special place in his heart Feature by Mladen Bonjak Contributor Published on Nov. 29, 2024 Why I Love is a series of guest editorials on GamesIndustry.biz intended to showcase the ways in which game developers appreciate each other's work. This entry was contributed by Mladen Bonjak, creative director at Misfit Village, currently working on their SCP based thriller Go Home Annie for PC and Consoles.As was the case with many households in Croatia, by 2005 we had a PlayStation 2 sitting under our CRT TV. I knew GameCube and Xbox were a thing, I'd just never seen one of them in person or in stores. For us, only PC and PlayStation existed.Piracy was so rampant in those days that PS2 consoles came with a modchip pre-installed directly from electronics stores that were officially licensed to sell the console. I'm still curious if Sony was aware of these illicit practices.I'd like to say that Burnout 3: Takedown's cover captivated my 12-year-old imagination with its sports car narrowly escaping a big ol' explosion front and center. Having played many a Need For Speed game beforehand, the EA Games logo on the bottom would have further convinced me I needed to play this.This game knows what it is. You will be driving cars. Fast. You will also be crashing cars. A lot.But the truth is my first encounter with Burnout 3: Takedown was a jewel case with a blank, white cover and a burned DVD inside, with "Burnout 3" handwritten on it in black marker.As I was already making mods and small games by that time, and knew that actual people made these things, I had an ever-so-slight feeling of guilt when spinning up this pirate treasure. The choice was to either not play the game, or to play it pirated. And that's not much of a choice when you're a kid and don't know better.With its pre-rendered (but using in-game assets) intro with cars racing and crashing to early 2000s punk, Burnout 3 quickly and firmly establishes the tone for the rest of the experience. This game knows what it is. You will be driving cars. Fast. You will also be crashing cars. A lot.The main way in which Burnout differentiates itself from other racing games is that, in addition to aiming to finish first, you'll also want to wreck your opponents by ramming them into oncoming traffic, guardrails, walls, and so on because that expands your boost meter, giving you an edge over your rivals. The focus on takedowns to fuel your boost changes the approach to racingTaking down an opponent results in the camera focusing on their wreck for a few seconds, with time slowing down and sparks, tires and bits of metal flying freely all around. It's a glorious visual feast and a big technical achievement when taking into account the PS2's rendering capabilities.My favorite feature in the game is the Aftertouch, which allows you to slow down time after crashing your car and gives you a chance to try and maneuver your wreck into your opponents, causing them to crash in turn.This gave me the feeling of freedom in an unconventional way. Most game developers would have set up an invisible collider to stop your freeflying wreck from reaching a far-off mountain that barely has a texture on it, but not Burnout 3. In fact, one of my favorite activities in the game was seeing how far away from the intended racing environment I could go. Turns out you can get pretty far indeed.Crash Mode is a different beast entirely, where your main objective is to drive like a madman into an intersection full of traffic and cause as much mayhem as possible. From that description, you'd think it's a mindless, chaotic mode made to show off big explosions but it quickly becomes apparent that it's actually a trial-and-error puzzle game in disguise. Crashing your car into exactly the right taxi at just the right angle so that a giant fuel truck crashes into it shortly thereafter is no easy feat. And the sense of accomplishment after setting up a perfect catastrophe is unforgettable.Brilliantly designed tracks with large vistas, a bunch of detailed cars, particles flying off every which way, the sun's reflection glinting in the incoming traffic's windshields. And all at 60 frames per second.All these fun gameplay systems work impeccably on the skillfully realized environments of the various tracks. Throw in the awesome soundtrack and the cringey DJ interrupting it, and you get one of the best games ever made. Whenever I hear The Ramones', I get flashbacks of sports cars crashing into each other in beautiful, sunny weather.Trying to 100% the game becomes quite a chore at the last 5%, what with having to drive a Formula 1 car down icy roads full of traffic (it's as hard as it sounds). But I persevered. My obsession with the game even spilled over into real life (no, I didn't try to crash my parents' car) as I tried to remake the trophies you get for achieving a certain number of takedowns using my toy cars, mom's mugs and some gold spray. Crash Mode was actually a trial-and-error puzzle game in disguiseThe sequels that followed Takedown experimented with the core formula a bit, but couldn't recapture the essence that made the third entry so great. Burnout Revenge caught the 'brown and gritty' bug of the mid-to-late 2000s gone were the blue skies and sunshine. Burnout Dominator's tracks just weren't as fun and it felt like a rushed effort all around. I can't help but feel both of these installments were more like reskins than full on sequels.Burnout Paradise came out when everything had to be to be open world, so of course Burnout went open world. It's a great game in its own right, but for my money it can't hold a candle to Takedown. For me, a handmade track, with every corner, prop and vista carefully and deliberately designed and placed, beats a giant open world any day of the week.Remastering Burnout 3 wouldn't require any major changes to the game except running it at 8x the original resolutionWhat made all this technical wizardry in Burnout 3 possible was Criterion's RenderWare suite of software. If you played games in the early 2000s, chances are you played a game created using Criterion's technology. All the games I played that used RenderWare looked exceptional: Darkwatch, Killer7, THPS 4 and of course GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas, to name but a few. But when Criterion used it themselves, that's when it outshone most everything on my PS2.Running Burnout 3 or Black through an emulator at 4K proves my point. Running most other older games at a higher resolution usually reveals muddy textures and blocky meshes, but in Burnout 3 it just accentuates the game's timeless, sharp graphical presentation. Brilliantly designed tracks with large vistas, a bunch of detailed cars on the track at the same time, particles flying off every which way, the sun's reflection glinting in the incoming traffic's windshields. And all at 60 frames per second.If it weren't for complicated song licensing issues, remastering Burnout 3 wouldn't require any major changes to the game except running it at 8x the original resolution so, EA, please help me get rid of my adolescent piracy guilt and get to work on that remaster. I'm sure there's a lot more of us that would be happy to actually buy the game this time.Burnout 3 was the perfect game for its time. Playing it now, twenty years later, the game works like a time machine, transporting me back to the carefree mid 2000s, a time when racing games were at their peak and Burnout 3 was at the very top.

Handheld consoles are the industry's next battleground | OpinionWith both Microsoft and Sony planning portable launches down the line, and Switch and Steam Deck defining their respective markets, gaming's future seems to be handheld Opinion by Rob Fahey Contributing Editor Published on Nov. 29, 2024 Only a week or two after confirmation that Microsoft is working on a handheld Xbox device, we now have reports that Sony is also in the early stages of developing a new portable device its first foray into this market since the discontinuation of the ill-fated PS Vita five years ago.With a successor to the Nintendo Switch on the horizon and the burgeoning PC handheld space energised by the success of the Steam Deck, it's fair to ask if we're about to enter a new golden age for handheld gaming a sector that many people wrote off entirely when smartphone games soared in popularity in the 2010s.The caveat here is that both Sony and Microsoft are in the very early stages of planning their handheld devices, and to some degree both companies appear to be waiting for technology to catch up to their ambitions.Sony wants its device to be able to play PS5 games, and it's reasonable to assume that Microsoft would similarly want any handheld Xbox to sit somewhere alongside the Xbox Series S in terms of game compatibility.These are technologically challenging goals, not least because those consoles use PC-like x86 CPUs and AMD GPUs, while much of the advancement that has allowed mobile devices to get so much faster and more efficient in recent years has been focused on ARM architectures.Nonetheless, we'll eventually reach a point where AMD puts PS5-class hardware in a mobile package. The path is relatively clear, given that the Steam Deck already runs on a scaled-down version of the RDNA architecture that powers both the PS5 and the Xbox Series consoles, but it'll take a while to get there.Even once we do get there, battery life is likely to be a concern the Steam Deck isn't exactly great in this department to begin with and both companies will have to be very careful and clear in defining the use cases for these devices around the potential limitations that will introduce.Technologically, then, these devices are certainly possible albeit several years down the line, and with some caveats and concerns that will need to be resolved. Commercially, though, what is the business case here exactly?There's a more straightforward commercial reason for Microsoft and Sony to go down this route; each of them has a major competitor using handheld devices to gain the upper handIt was assumed for some time that if Microsoft and Sony were to dip their toes back into the handheld waters, it would be with thin-client devices that tied in to their game streaming offerings an idea given further credibility when Sony launched the PlayStation Portal, a device exactly in that mould, albeit primarily designed for use within the home, tethered to a PS5, rather than as a genuinely portable console.What is now being described is quite different; powerful handheld devices that would play games from the PlayStation and Xbox libraries natively, rather than simply streaming them from the Cloud.This pivot likely owes something to the dampening down of enthusiasm around 5G, which had been unrealistically seen as an opportunity to shift to a streaming-led paradigm for game consumption.Cloud streaming is instead gradually nestling itself into a niche an important niche, but a limited one and shows no signs of taking over from locally-run games as the industry's dominant paradigm any time soon, which is entirely unsurprising considering how rapid the advances in local processing and storage tend to be compared to the relatively modest advances in network speeds and costs.In the longer term, this trend would inevitably shift attention back to the potential for powerful handhelds rather than thin clients. In the shorter term, though, there's a more straightforward commercial reason for Microsoft and Sony to go down this route; each of them has a major competitor using handheld devices to gain the upper hand.It's sometimes in fashion to pretend that Sony doesn't actually compete with Nintendo. There's a certain logic to that idea, not only due to the uniqueness of Nintendo's brands and product line-up, but also because historically Nintendo has often thrived as a "second console," a device that consumers would buy alongside their PlayStation or Xbox in order to play Nintendo's unique games.That idea was always a little overblown despite the kernel of truth at its heart, and in the past generation it's been quite apparent that it's no longer true Switch has become the primary, and often the only, gaming device for many consumers. That's especially true in Sony's home territory of Japan, and for all that it's often seemed in recent years that Sony has little interest in prioritising Japan as a market for PlayStation, it likely still stings to have lost out so comprehensively to Nintendo in this region.Switch has become the primary, and often the only, gaming device for many consumersNintendo's Switch strategy has been an immense success in Japan, and pretty much everywhere else besides. Merging the company's home console and handheld console businesses into a single device line was a stroke of genius. In the process it opened up a whole set of markets rival consoles just couldn't tap, from people who wanted to play on the go to people who simply don't have a TV available to hook up a console in the contexts in which they want to play.That can sound daft to those of us whose living room orbits around a central 65" monolith, but more and more households especially of young people have laptops, tablets, and smartphones aplenty, but no television. Screens, screens, everywhere and not an HDMI port to plug into.PlayStation Portal was in part an effort to reach out to that market, and seems to have significantly outperformed Sony's (probably quite modest) expectations. Its notion of a handheld console that will play PS5 games natively is a more aggressive pitch for much the same market segment, and when it finally arrives will put Sony directly in competition for the same consumers as Nintendo for the first time in many years.For Microsoft, the competition is more simple and direct. What Nintendo and eventually Sony are doing in the handheld space is of interest to them, of course, but it pales in comparison to the importance of what Valve has done with the Steam Deck.The sales numbers for Steam Deck are not public Valve stated last year that it has sold "multiple millions" of the device, but that's as much as we know officially. Nonetheless, and to some extent regardless of actual sales, the Deck has kicked off a wave of handheld PC gaming devices that seems set to reshape that sector of the market.If the success of the Steam Deck is a key component of that threat, then creating an Xbox device to compete directly in that space seems like the logical responseFor Microsoft, the key threat is that the Steam Deck isn't even a Windows OS device by default, let alone having Microsoft's Xbox services and Game Pass on it. Valve has used the platform, very successfully, to evolve Steam from being simply a digital store that runs (usually) on Windows, into being a very capable gaming OS in its own right.That, perhaps more than anything else happening in the industry in recent years, is a threat to Microsoft's plans for the Xbox platform and gaming more broadly and if the success of the Steam Deck is a key component of that threat, then creating an Xbox device to compete directly in that space seems like the logical response.Sony and Microsoft have different reasons for wanting to compete in the handheld space, then, but to some degree they share an ambition each of them believes that a handheld device will help to expand the reach of their gaming platform.They also share a technological context; each of them essentially needs AMD to reach the same level of performance and efficiency with its portable versions of the RDNA architecture to make these new handhelds possible. The resulting devices, when they do finally appear an event for which nobody should be holding their breath will likely be very similar to one another as a result.Nonetheless, they will signal a remarkable comeback for the handheld form factor; after being written off only a few years ago, it seems that this is set to be the next great battleground for the industry's platform holders.

Gadgets make for expensive gifts, but thats the beauty of Black Friday. As noted in our roundup of the absolute best Black Friday deals, this years shopping event has brought steep discounts on Apple devices, TVs, and plenty of other pricey tech. However, unless youre planning on spending a couple hundred dollars on yourself or someone else, many of the more expensive items might not be in your budget.RelatedWe get it, which is why weve curated this guide to our favorite deals under $100. Weve included gift-worthy gadgets like the Fitbit Charge 6 and Backbone One controller, along with headphones like the Beats Solo 4, e-readers like Amazons latest Kindle, and streaming services such as Hulu and Max. There are even a few of our non-tech favorites at the end, just in case Legos and board games are more your thing.The best earbud and headphone dealsBeats Solo 4$100$20050% off$100$100$20050% offWith lossless USB-C audio, 50-hour battery life, Find My, spatial audio, and more comfy ear cups, the Beats Solo 4 gained significant quality-of-life improvements over their eight-year-old predecessors. They still deliver that bass-rich Beats sound, too. Read our review.Nothing Ear (a)$69$9930% off$69$69$9930% offNothings Ear (a) earbuds have the same general design as the companys previous earbuds but you can get these in a snazzy yellow. They include ANC, more than decent sound quality, and other features like multipoint for just under $100. Read our hands-on impressions.$69 at Amazon$69 at NothingShokz OpenRun Pro$100$18044% off$100$100$18044% offShokzs flagship bone conduction headphones are designed for sports and outdoor use, allowing you to keep abreast of your surroundings. The open-ear headphones weigh just 29 grams and are IP55-rated for water and sweat resistance.Sony WH-CH720N $87$15042% off$87$87$15042% offSonys wireless headphones offer noise cancellation and up to 35 hours of battery life on a single charge. They also come in blue, white, and black. JLab Go Air Pop$10$2560% off$10$10$2560% offThe JLab Go Air Pop is an affordable pair of wireless earbuds with eight hours of battery life (or 32 hours with the included charging case). The case also houses a built-in USB-A charging plug, so youre never without a charging cable.$10 at Walmart$20 at AmazonYou can also buy Amazons newer Echo Buds for just $24.99 ($25 off) at Amazon. The wireless earbuds lack noise cancellation, but they support multipoint pairing and integrate well with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control. They also feature a semi-open design that makes it easier to hear your surroundings. RelatedThe best speaker dealsUE Miniroll$50$8038% off$50$50$8038% offUltimate Ears latest disc-shaped Bluetooth speaker is small and affordable, with a built-in strap for attaching it to your belongings. It also charges via USB-C and features an IP67 rating against dust and water, along with up to 12 hours of battery life.Amazon Echo Dot (fifth-gen)$23$5054% off$23$23$5054% offThe fifth-gen Echo Dot touts a temperature sensor, better sound, and faster response time than the prior model. It can also act as an extender for your Eero Wi-Fi system. Read our review.Echo Pop$18$4055% off$18$18$4055% offAmazons colorful Echo Pop offers a unique semisphere form factor and can function asan Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our review.If you want a smart alarm clock with a great display and zero mics / cameras, the latestEcho Spotis on sale atAmazon, Best Buy, and Targetfor $44.99 ($60 off), matching its lowest price to date. The 2.83-inch touchscreen cant display videos or double as a digital photo frame, but it can tell you the weather when you wake up and allows you to control various smart home devices via Alexa.Read our review.The best e-reader and tablet dealsKindle (2024)$85$11023% off$85$85$11023% offAmazons new entry-level Kindle retains a six-inch, 300ppi display and USB-C. Its brighter and slightly faster than its predecessor, though, and features longer battery life.If youre looking for a basic tablet for under $100, Amazon is also discounting many of the cheaper models. The latest Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy with ads and 32GB of storage starting at $54.99 ($45 off), an all-time low. The 8-inch Fire HD 8 is a decent entertainment device for playing games, streaming, and other basic tasks, even if its not anywhere near as capable as the higher-end alternatives from Apple and Google.The latest Fire HD 10 is down to its all-time low of $74.99 ($65 off) with ads and 32GB of storage at Amazon and Best Buy. The Fire HD 10 offers a sharper 1080p display than the Fire HD 8, along with support for both theMade for Amazon Stylus Penand Amazons handwriting recognition technology.The best smart home deals$45$45$10356% offThe latest Echo Show 5 is just as small as its predecessor but features updated mics and a speaker system that delivers double the bass and clearer sound quality.Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit $80$13038% off$80$80$13038% offPhilips Hues starter kit is a great option for those looking to get started with smart lighting, one that comes with two color-changing A19 bulbs and a Philips Hue Bridge.$80 at AmazonGovees ChristmasString Lights 2 are on sale in a 66-foot configuration for $63.99 ($36 off) at Amazon, which is their best price yet. The smart string lights offer more than 130 preset lighting effects, though you can also create your own custom displays. The IP65-rated lights also work with Matter, so you can connect them to any major smart home platform.Twinkly Strings (multicolor and white edition) $90$13835% off$90$90$13835% offTwinkly has the best selection of holiday string lights in sizes ranging from 26 to 158 feet and with options that include just color, color and white, or just white. The lights are bright and colorful, and the effects you can find and create in the Twinkly app are very impressive.$90 at Amazon (65 feet)Twinkly Candies $37$5026% off$37$37$5026% offTwinklys colorful smart lights are shaped like stars, hearts, candles, and pearls. The USB-C string lights arrive in your choice of 100 or 200 LEDs, each of which can be customized individually to create various visual effects. They also sync with music and come with all kinds of scenes.The Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug (TP25) has dropped to an all-time low of $14.99 ($50 off) at Best Buy. Youll get two outlets in the Matter-ready device, and you can control them with your voice using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. The plug also features a strong enclosure with IP65 water and dust protection, making it suitable for powering holiday lights and yard-bound installations all year long.$100$100$20050% offNanoleafs modular lights can showcase over 16 million colors and are compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant.$100 at Amazon (with onpage coupon)$140 at Best BuyAmazon Smart Plug$13$2548% off$13$13$2548% offAmazons apt-titled Smart Plug doesnt require a hub and lets you add Alexa functionality to any outlet, allowing you to control a range of devices with just your voice.$13 at Amazon$13 at Best BuyOur favorite video doorbell, the wired Nest Doorbell, is around $98 ($81 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store, which is by far the lowest price weve seen. It may not offer 1080p resolution like other video doorbells in its range (its limited to 960 x 1280), but it still produces a clear picture and is one of the few options that can manage 24/7 recording. It also supports facial recognition with smart alerts. Read our review.You can get a Blink Mini 2 security camera for $19.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The inexpensive 1080p camera builds on the original with a wider field of view, a small spotlight, and person detection (the latter of which requires a subscription). It also has color night vision, improved low-light performance, and weatherproofing for outside use with an optional adapter. Cloud recording also requires a subscription, but if you want offline and local video recordings, youll need the optional Sync Module 2. Read our review.Yale Assure Lock 2$85$16047% off$85$85$16047% offOur top pick for a smart lock supports Apple Home and will auto-unlock as you approach your door. For an extra $80, an onboard Wi-Fi module adds out-of-home control and more smart home support. There are also versions with a fingerprint reader and Apple Home Key, but not both. Read our review.$85 at Amazon$87 at Best BuyArlos newWired Floodlight CameraThe Home Depot through November 29th. Arlos battery-powered Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Cam is one of our top picks for a floodlight camera, and the wired version means no more worrying about recharging it. However, Arlos monthly subscription plan for recorded video is expensive, starting at $8 a month. TheBlink Outdoor 4 with its new Sync Module XR,which promises to extend the cameras range up to 400 feet, is on sale for $59.99 atAmazon, a savings of $99. A Wi-Fi bridge for Blinks battery-powered camera, the sync module XR can extend coverage up to 400 feet. Blink Video Doorbell$30$6050% off$30$30$6050% offBlinks buzzer is the best if youre looking for a budget-friendly option with motion-activated recording and alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and up to two years of battery life. Rings Stick Up Cam Batteryis on sale for an all-time low of $54.99 ($45 off) atAmazon and Best Buy. The battery-powered 1080p camera offers weatherproofing, so you can mount and use it outside and inside, but youll have to pay for a Ring Protect plan to record video. Thankfully, basics like two-way audio, night video, and motion alerts are available for free.The second-genRing Indoor Cam is available atAmazonand Best Buy for $29.99 ($30 off), which matches its best price to date. Unlike its predecessor, the indoor security camera features color night vision and a physical privacy cover, allowing you to turn off video and audio recording. The wired camera is similar to its predecessor otherwise and features sharp 1080p HD resolution, a built-in siren, and two-way audio. You can buy Googles wired Nest Cam for $69.99 ($30 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which matches its all-time low. The indoor 1080p camera offers snappy performance and free smart alerts for people and pets. It also comes with 24/7 recording and other useful features, including a Familiar Faces tool that lets you know who is in a room. However, youll have to pay for Googles Nest Aware plan to enable those features. Read our review.Aqara Smart Lock U50$90$17047% off$90$90$17047% offAqaras budget door lock, the U50, is a basic but great lock. It has a touchscreen keypad for key-free access and works with Apple Home Key as well as a regular key. It needs an Aqara Hub or Apple Home Hub for out-of-home control, and its Matter compatible, so it works with all the major smart home platforms. Read our review.$90 at AmazonMeross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Opener$35$5030% off$35$35$5030% offMeross makes a handy add-on that can transform a variety of garage door models into smart doors that you can open remotely. It works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.$35 at Amazon (with onpage coupon)RelatedThe best fitness tracker and wellness dealsAmazfit Band 7$40$5020% off$40$40$5020% offThe Amazfit Band 7 is an unassuming, basic fitness tracker with a bright OLED display, long battery life, and an incredible feature set for the price. Read our review.$40 at Amazon$40 at Amazfit (with code BFBAND7)Fitbit Charge 6$100$16038% off$100$100$16038% offThe Fitbit Charge 6 features a haptic side button, an improved heart rate algorithm, turn-by-turn navigation with Google Maps, and the ability to broadcast your heart rate on certain Bluetooth gym equipment. Read our review.The Fitbit Inspire 3 is available from Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store for $69.95 ($30 off), matching its all-time low. The minimalist band lacks built-in GPS and doesnt offer as many health and fitness features as the Charge 6, but it packs a bright OLED display and does a good job with the basics. It supports both irregular heart rate notifications and advanced sleep tracking, along with several stress management features. Read our hands-on impressions.You can buy the Hatch Restore 2 directly from Hatch for an all-time low of $139.99 ($30 off) when you use promo code BFCM30 (you can also buy it for $5 more at Amazon and Best Buy). The TikTok-famous smart clock, which also functions as a sunrise lamp and sound machine, is one of our favorite sleep gadgets. It offers a simulated sunrise, peaceful alarms, guided meditation exercises, and a selection of white noise so you gently wake up and fall asleep more easily. Read our review.LifeStraw personal water filter$10$2050% off$10$10$2050% offLifeStraws basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.$10 at AmazonRelatedThe best streaming device dealsChromecast with Google TV (4K)$40$5020% off$40$40$5020% offThe Chromecast with Google TV (4K) features a dedicated remote and intuitive software that pulls together recommendations from all of your streaming services. It also supports 4K HDR content with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10 Plus. Read our review.$40 at Best Buy$40 at GoogleAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (second-gen)$33$6045% off$33$33$6045% offAmazons highest-end streaming stick is faster than its predecessor with Wi-Fi 6E and double the storage. It also now displays widgets and artwork when idle while continuing to offer a terrific selection of streaming apps and Alexa integration.Whether youre outfitting a bathroom or need some sensory stimulation for a newborns nursery, theres still a bit of room in the world for 32-inch, 720p TVs like the Insignia F20 which is on sale for only $69.99 ($60 off) at Best Buy. You wont get many tricks, but it has HDMI Arc and its a Fire TV, meaning you have the convenience of voice-activated content discovery across hundreds of apps via the included Alexa Voice Remote.The best streaming dealsHulu (monthly subscription)$1$1090% off$1$1$1090% offUntil December 2nd at 11:59PM PT, youcan get a year of ad-supported Hulufor 99 cents a month or $11.88 for the year. You can also get a Hulu with Disney Plus bundle for $2.99 a month for the next year.$1 at Hulu (with ads) $3 at Hulu and Disney Plus (with ads)$3$3$1377% offParamount Plus and Showtime grant you ad-free access to live sports as well as movies and shows from both platforms, includingStar Trek,Top Gun: Maverick,Yellowjackets. New and returning subscribers can sign up for the ad-free Paramount Plus with Showtime plan for $2.99 a month for two months until December 4th.$3 at Paramount PlusNow until 3AM ET on December 2nd, you can get an entire year of ad-supported Peacock Premium for $19.99 or six months for $1.99 a month. The streaming service is great for sports fans, featuring live broadcasts for NFL Sunday Night Football games, college basketball, Premier League soccer, WWE premium live events, golf, and more. It features scores of other programming, too, including on-demand movies and original shows.Max (with ads, per month)$3$1070% off$3$3$1070% offMax is home toGame of Thronesand its spinoff,House of the Dragon,as well as shows and movies likeFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Prophecy,The Last of Us,The Penguin, and more. As a part of its Black Friday / Cyber Monday promotion, Max is letting new and returning subscribers sign up for its monthly, ad-supported tier for just $2.99 for the first six months.$3 at MaxRelatedThe best entertainment of 2024The best charger deals$56$56$10044% offAnkers MagGo Magnetic Charging Station 8-in-1 is a wireless charging stand capable of delivering Qi2 speeds (15W) of power to newer iPhone models. The magnetic, orb-shaped gadget also features a three-outlet power strip and multiple USB-C and USB-A ports.$56 at Amazon$56 at Anker (with code WS7DV2NMENHH)Ankers Qi2-certifiedMagGo Wireless Charging Station (Foldable 3-in-1)is available for an all-time low of $82.49 (about $28 off) fromAmazon and Anker with promo code WSTDOZTVE2. The charger is a good option for travelers thanks to its foldable, lightweight design, one that can deliver up to 15 watts of power to MagSafe-compatible phones. Its also capable of charging an Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods simultaneously.ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger$22$4045% off$22$22$4045% offA compact, flexible Qi2 charger for vent and dash mounting. Read our review.$22 at Amazon$26 at ESR (with code BF24CM)If you want a basic Qi2 charging puck, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad) is our favorite on the market. Its currently on sale at Amazon for Prime members without an AC adapter for an all-time low of $19.19 (about $5 off) a price Anker is nearly matching with offer code WSPEV2OTG3CH. Prime members can also buy the charger with anadapter for $23.99 ($6 off). The magnetic charging pad supplies a maximum of 15 watts of power to compatible iPhones and comes with a five-foot USB-C cable.Anker MagGo Qi2 Certified 15W Wireless Charger$19$2421% off$19$19$2421% offThe latest version of Ankers magnetic MagGo charging pads supports 15W Qi2 and has a five-foot USB-C cable.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has produced models with powerful capabilities, such as language understanding and vision processing. However, deploying these models on edge devices remains challenging due to limitations in computational power, memory, and energy efficiency. The need for lightweight models that can run effectively on edge devices, while still delivering competitive performance, is growing as AI use cases extend beyond the cloud into everyday devices. Traditional large models are often resource-intensive, making them impractical for smaller devices and creating a gap in edge computing. Researchers have been seeking effective ways to bring AI to edge environments without significantly compromising model quality and efficiency.Tsinghua University researchers recently released the GLM-Edge series, a family of models ranging from 1.5 billion to 5 billion parameters designed specifically for edge devices. The GLM-Edge models offer a combination of language processing and vision capabilities, emphasizing efficiency and accessibility without sacrificing performance. This series includes models that cater to both conversational AI and vision applications, designed to address the limitations of resource-constrained devices.GLM-Edge includes multiple variants optimized for different tasks and device capabilities, providing a scalable solution for various use cases. The series is based on General Language Model (GLM) technology, extending its performance and modularity to edge scenarios. As AI-powered IoT devices and edge applications continue to grow in popularity, GLM-Edge helps bridge the gap between computationally intensive AI and the limitations of edge devices.Technical Details The GLM-Edge series builds upon the structure of GLM, optimized with quantization techniques and architectural changes that make them suitable for edge deployments. The models have been trained using a combination of knowledge distillation and pruning, which allows for a significant reduction in model size while maintaining high accuracy levels. Specifically, the models leverage 8-bit and even 4-bit quantization to reduce memory and computational demands, making them feasible for small devices with limited resources.The GLM-Edge series has two primary focus areas: conversational AI and visual tasks. The language models are capable of carrying out complex dialogues with reduced latency, while the vision models support various computer vision tasks, such as object detection and image captioning, in real-time. A notable advantage of GLM-Edge is its modularityit can combine language and vision capabilities into a single model, offering a solution for multi-modal applications. The practical benefits of GLM-Edge include efficient energy consumption, reduced latency, and the ability to run AI-powered applications directly on mobile devices, smart cameras, and embedded systems.The significance of GLM-Edge lies in its ability to make sophisticated AI capabilities accessible to a wider range of devices beyond powerful cloud servers. By reducing the dependency on external computational power, the GLM-Edge models allow for AI applications that are both cost-effective and privacy-friendly, as data can be processed locally on the device without needing to be sent to the cloud. This is particularly relevant for applications where privacy, low latency, and offline operation are important factors.The results from GLM-Edges evaluation demonstrate strong performance despite the reduced parameter count. For example, the GLM-Edge-1.5B achieved comparable results to much larger transformer models when tested on general NLP and vision benchmarks, highlighting the efficiency gains through careful design optimizations. The series also showcased strong performance in edge-relevant tasks, such as keyword spotting and real-time video analysis, offering a balance between model size, latency, and accuracy.https://github.com/THUDM/GLM-Edge/blob/main/README_en.mdConclusionTsinghua Universitys GLM-Edge series represents an advancement in the field of edge AI, addressing the challenges of resource-limited devices. By providing models that blend efficiency with conversational and visual capabilities, GLM-Edge enables new edge AI applications that are practical and effective. These models help bring the vision of ubiquitous AI closer to reality, allowing AI computations to happen on-device and making it possible to deliver faster, more secure, and cost-effective AI solutions. As AI adoption continues to expand, the GLM-Edge series stands out as an effort that addresses the unique challenges of edge computing, providing a promising path forward for AI in the real world.Check out the GitHub Page and Models on Hugging Face. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. If you like our work, you will love ournewsletter.. Dont Forget to join our55k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

Black Friday has arrived, and there is no better time of year to upgrade your home entertainment than during the Sonos Black Friday Sale. If you're looking for an easy solution to add great sound to your home, then you've probably already heard of Sonos. Sonos speakers are very easy to set up, don't take a large amount of space, and most importantly, offer distortion-free room-filling audio. They're not cheap, so it's a wise investment to jump on a deal when you see one.Sonos' Black Friday sale is better than the few other sales sprinkled throughout the year for two main reasons: 1) the discounts are bigger, with some prices at historical lows, and 2) nearly its entire lineup of speakers, soundbars, and headphones are on sale instead of just a small selection.Best Sonos Deals for Black Friday 2024Sonos ArcSonos Beam Gen 2Sonos RaySonos Sub MiniSonos Sub 4Sonos Roam 2Sonos Era 100Sonos Era 300Sonos Move 2Sonos AceYou may also like: Black Friday Beats Studio DealsSonos ArcSonos ArcThe Arc is Sonos' flagship product. We rated it the best soundbar of 2024. This is a premium soundbar and it shows. This 45" soundbar houses 11 precisely engineered internal speakers, including two dedicated height channels. It's Dolby Atmos ready, and there's enough power here that you can probably get away without a subwoofer. However, the Sonos Arc can be wirelessly paired up with other Sonos speakers and subs to add even more sound distribution. The Arc also has a built-in microphone for voice control so it is Alexa and Google Assistant compatible.Sonos Beam Gen 2Sonos Beam Gen 2If your TV is too small for the Arc's 45" footprint, the consider the Sonos Beam instead. The Beam is a smaller 26" soundbar that still boasts excellent audio quality thanks to four elliptical midwoofers, one central tweeter and three passive bass radiators. It's Dolby Atmos ready and has a mic for voice control.Sonos RaySonos RayThanks to its diminutive 22" length, the Sonos Ray soundbar fits just about anywhere with just about any size TV. Despite its compact size, it still pumps out room-filling audio with its two tweeters and two woofers. The Sonos Ray has built-in Wi-Fi so it can double up as a home audio speaker through the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and more. Note that the Sonos Ray does not have built-in smart functionality.Sonos Sub Mini & Sub 4Sonos Sub MiniSonos Sub 4If you want to add ground-shaking bass to your Sonos setup, there's still nothing better than a separate standalone subwoofer. Despite its compact size, the Sonos Sub Mini boasts two 6" drivers that face inwards towards each other in a sealed enclosure to eliminate unwanted vibrations. Each driver is powered by its own Class D digital amplifier and delivers more than enough sound pressure for even a large room. The Sonos Sub Mini maintains a small footprint and it looks good.The Sub 4 offers even more power in the form of two 5"x8" woofers housed in a larger enclosure. Unlike the Sonos Mini which uses a sealed design, the Sub 4 is ported for a louder, deeper low-end.Sonos Roam 2Sonos Roam 2The Sonos Roam 2 is a compact, portable speaker that's designed for both indoor and outdoor use. To that effect, it has a rugged IP67 waterproof and dustproof housing and weighs in at under a pound. The internal battery supplies the Roam 2 with nearly 10 hours of playtime on a single charge. It supports both Bluetooth and wireless and the presence of an internal mic means it is Amazon Alexa compatible.Sonos Era 100 and 300Sonos Era 100Sonos Era 300The Sonos Era 100 is a direct successor to the Sonos One. Sound quality is equivalent to a Sonos Move, which isn't surprising considering they have similar internal components: two tweeters, a mid-woofer, and three class-D digital amps. The Era 100 also supports Dolby Atmos when it is paired with an Arc or Beam soundbar. It has a built-in microphone and can be voice controlled; it can also be used as a smart speaker for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.The Era 300 is a much larger and better sounding speaker. It has four tweeters and two woofers (double the Era 100), which makes it great for spatial audio. Unlike the Era 100, it supports Dolby Atmos content.Sonos Move 2Sonos Move 2The Move is Sonos' biggest and best portable speaker. Thinks of it as a portable Era 100. This is a standalone speaker with a self-contained battery and can be carried around from room to room. It's also made of more durable materials and is IP56 rated for weather resistance and a small dock is also included. The Move 2 pumps out great sound for its small footprint. Like the Era 100, the Move 2 has two tweeters, three class-D digital amplifiers, a mid-woofer. It also has a built-in microphone for voice control so it is Alexa and Google Assistant compatible.Sonos AceSonos AceThe Sonos Ace is Sonos' first headphone and it delivers on all fronts. It offers superb sound quality and excellent noise cancellation, it's comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and it looks pretty stylish as far as headphones go. The only knock on it is the price, since it's more expensive than the popular Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. But that's why you get it on Black Friday, when it's $100 off.Are Sonos Amps on sale for Black Friday?At this time, we're not seeing any live deals on Sonos Amps. They are already low in stock at Amazon and Best Buy. Check back throughout the weekend and come Cyber Monday here for an update. You can get the full-priced Sonos Amp on Best Buy at $699 or on Amazon for the same price.Why is Sonos so popular?Sound quality vs. sizeDespite the fact that Sonos products are compact and don't take up much space in your house, they offer surprisingly loud and distortion-free audio. They're definitely pricier than budget options, but the sound quality is more akin to audio products that cost hundreds more or take up much more space.Easy setupSonos devices are usually simple plug and play. All you have to do is plug in a power cable (if even that's necessary) and one connection to your TV (if even that's necessary), download the Sonos app, and you're done. Generally a receiver isn't required; the soundbars are designed to plug right into your TV and the speakers are designed to work wirelessly. For something like a 5.1ch home theater setup, you don't have to deal with a mess of cables. Individual Sonos speakers can pair with your soundbar and be used as rear satellites, and the subwoofer is also wireless so it can be positioned virtually anywhere in your room.Communication between devicesPractically all Sonos speakers can communicate with each other. That means you can pair different Sonos speakers in different rooms for multi-room capability. Or you can pair two speakers for stereo output. Or you can pair speakers to your soundbar to be used as a 5.1ch setup. It's all seamlessly done through the app.More resources before you buyBlack Friday Headphone DealsCheck out all the other best headphone deals for Black Friday from other brands right now including Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones for Under $200 at Amazon. And, if you're open to earbuds instead of headphones, Apple's AirPods are selling like crazy right now with AirPods Pro big deal right now.Beats Studio Pro Headphones with 2 Years of AppleCare+60th Anniversary Diamond EditionBose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesBose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesSony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesSony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesSonos Ace Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesSony WH-CH720N Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesBeats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesJLab JBuds Lux Wireless Noise Cancelling HeadphonesEric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Top Pick34" Samsung Odyssey G5 3440x1440 Curved 165Hz Gaming MonitorThe Samsung Odyssey G55T gaming monitor is a 34" monitor with an ultrawide 3440x1440 resolution (110ppi), 1000R curved panel, 1ms MPRT response time, and 165Hz refresh rate. Although the Odyssey G5 doesn't have official G-Sync certification, it does support AMD FreeSync Premium, which means you can still run it in G-Sync compatibility mode if you have an Nvidia GeForce GPU. Update: Although Walmart's site says that this is an IPS monitor, it actually uses a VA panel.Looking for more monitor options? Check out our guide to the best gaming monitors for every type of gamer. For those of you who have very powerful gaming rigs, we've also picked out our favorite 4K gaming monitors. If you're less interested in getting the best value and more interested in getting the absolute best monitor money can buy, then check out these OLED gaming monitors. There's nothing better on the market right now.Looking For More Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals?Take advantage of some fantastic Black Friday pricing on the best gaming monitors, from high-end monitors with OLED panels, 240Hz refresh rate, and 4K resolution to perfectly capable 1080p 144Hz gaming monitors that fall well within the tightest of budgets. Whether you're intending to use the monitor for your gaming PC or PlayStation 5 console, there's definitely a perfect monitor for everyone.Top Pick34" Samsung Odyssey G5 3440x1440 Curved 165Hz Gaming MonitorBonus 2TB Samsung SSD49" Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G91SD) Dual QHD 144Hz Gaming Monitor27" Acer KB272 1080p 120Hz IPS Gaming Monitor27" Acer Nitro 1080p 180Hz Gaming Monitor45" LG 45GR65DC-B Ultragear DQHD 200Hz Gaming Monitor34" LG UltraGear 34GN850-B WQHD 160Hz IPS Gaming Monitor32" Asus ROG Swift 4K 240Hz QD OLED Gaming Monitor45" LG UltraGear OLED 45GS96QB WQHD 240Hz Gaming Monitor40" MSI MAG401QR WQHD 155Hz IPS Gaming Monitor43" Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 4K 144Hz Mini-LED Gaming MonitorClick on the $50 Upgrade Credit49" Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SC) DQHD 240Hz Gaming MonitorClick on the $50 Upgrade Credit49" Samsung Odyssey G95C DQHD 240Hz Gaming MonitorFree 27" Monitor with Purchase57" Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Dual 4K 240Hz Mini-LED Gaming MonitorFree 27" Monitor with Purchase55" Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen 4K Mini-LED Gaming Monitor27" MSI MAG 271QPX 4K 240Hz QD OLED Gaming MonitorClick on the $50 Upgrade Credit32" Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD 4K 240Hz Gaming MonitorClick on the $50 Upgrade Credit34" Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SD WQHD 175Hz Gaming Monitor34" Samsung Odyssey G85SB WQHD 175Hz OLED Gaming MonitorWhy Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

As one of the great actors of our time, Jude Law contains multitudes. From his brilliant turn as Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes films to stunning dramas from Closer and Cold Mountain to Gattaca and The Talented Mr. Ripley, Law is the rare performer who can use his Jedi mind trick of acting to convince us that he can be anyone.As Skeleton Crew prepares for launch, we caught up with Law about his love of Star Wars, how he crafted his new role, and whether or not we can really trust Jod Na Nawood.Seems like youve been primed for Star Wars since you did Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow in 2004. Have you been wanting to do Star Wars for a long time?Jude Law: Yes, I suppose so! I grew up watching these films, and in fact, on reflection, it defined my experience of cinema-going because I was, prior to this, prior to seeing Star Wars, I was probably only watching 101 Dalmatians, The Rescuers, the animated Disney films, and then Star Wars came, and no one had seen anything like it. So, it had a profound effect, certainly on the youth of that time, and therefore sits in a very, very warm place, really in my memory and my heart.Theres something almost classic and literary about your pirate character. For you, was this like stepping into The Count of Monte Cristo? Or Treasure Island?Yeah, definitely. And those themes are there in the sort of piratical tone of the whole piece. This is why Star Wars is such a unique universe. You can layer all of those influences, and it somehow manages to sustain it. You look at the different varieties that have been [in Star Wars], the concepts that have been applied, and it just somehow always manages to absorb them and say, Yeah, this holds. Thats because, I think, in essence, its got this sort of fable at its heart, this purity. And, of course, the aesthetic is so robust. Its an aesthetic that we all recognize and we all love and nerd out on. But again, it can hold a lot.How much of Jude is in Jod?I was taken by this idea of him being a different person to different people. Hes a survivor in a very desperate world, and hes good at it. Hes quick-witted, and that leaves a lot to play with. But I always do this thing of going back and writing my own backstory. Where did he come from? Who is he? Just to give the character a sense of authenticity in my mind. So, I filled all of those blanks in and gave them to Jon and Chris, and they were like, Yep, that fits. And then, as we progressed, I got more confident in his skin. It was more a case of just nudging it a little further here and there. I think we were all on the same page pretty quickly. It was wonderful; he was full of such potential.Can we trust this guy?Which of his names are real? I cant say. Not yet.How long will you stay in the Star Wars universe? Will it be forever?I mean, the balls in their court. Its always about how one is perceived and taken, and I know they have all sorts of ideas. Theyre incredibly creative teams. But, of course, I would come back. I would love that. I would love to step back into Jods boots.This seems like the kind of Star Wars show that is rooted in the Star Wars you grew up with. Is that right?This is very much a show for the whole family. Thats totally the hope. The concept is so smart, and its got those great 80s influences, but theres a lot of cross-pollination going on. The thing is, its really creating an authentic world. The kids are believable in that some have homes, and some have unhappy homes. Some are good at school, some are bad at school. And you know, they dont all get on. Nonetheless, life is still innocent or full of fear, and yet awe-inspiring. This show is what youth is and what one hopes youth is full of. And then to take that and blast that into Star Wars, its just brilliant. I really hope parents who love this world get to sit alongside their kids and watch them discover it and enjoy it.How hard is it to get that Force-hand gesture just right?Thats the funny thing. So many elements of this world were so deeply familiar. To me, it was like second nature. I realized Id been rehearsing for 40 years.Star Wars: Skeleton Crew hits Disney+ on Monday, Dec. 2 at 9 pm ET.

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings. So speaks Zuzu Bailey in Frank Capras classic Its a Wonderful Life (1946). While we cannot attest to her theological assertion, it might surprise you to know that much of the emotional truth of that film, and its story of an optimistic man finding himself down and out, and existentially stressed in postwar America, is partially drawn from James Stewarts own life.Its a Wonderful Life has become synonymous with the holidays and with spiritual rebirth and perseverance, all those things that really embodied Jim were infused into this picture and captured for all time, author Robert Matzen previously told us when discussing Stewarts World War II service and how it deeply impacted the man, his career, and the first film he made after returning from the skies over Germany. When he comes back and hes so much older, he has a dark streak from the war. He has rages, he cant sleep, hes got shakes, and he learned to channel it early on in a couple of places. [In Its Wonderful Life you see it] when he flies off the handle and when he destroys the model hes got in the living room, and he throws things and he terrorizes his family.Its an element in Stewart that Matzen said the actors own daughter recognized at times. Yet just as the films George Bailey ultimately decides he wants to live again, Stewart channeled what might have been PTSD into a lifetime of gratitude for the American military and a choice not to exploit it (including when he left MGM after the studio head attempted to make a hagiographic movie starring the actor as himself in WWII). That is perhaps an extreme example, but Hollywood storytellers and filmmakers at large have used their own experiences to infuse Christmas and other holiday movies with real magic. Here are some of the clearest examples.Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)John Hughes timeless Thanksgiving staple about the indignities, discomforts, and outright hell of holiday travel touches a chord with millions of viewers every year. Most of us can see ourselves in Steve Martins squarish advertising exec Neal Page or the gregarious salesman he ends up spending several nights on the road with, Del Griffith (John Candy), as they attempt to get home to Chicago in time for a turkey family dinner. Yet the arduousness of Neal and Dels week, beginning when their flight between New York City and Chicago is rerouted to Wichita, is based on some very rough memories for Hughes.This movie is based on an incident that actually happened to me, Hughes told the Edmonton Sunday Sun in 1987 (via Vanity Fair). When I was an advertising copywriter I set out from New York to Chicago on Thanksgiving weekend and after a five-day delay, ended up in Phoenix, Arizona via Wichita, Kansas. He would later also note during his travels he partnered with an old salesman whod seen it all. He knew everything about this kind of situation. I kind of hung out with him. I was so impressed by this guys understanding of the situation.Hughes ultimately missed that particular Thanksgiving dinner, spending it instead with another salesman out west. Nonetheless, the memorable experience ended up being an easy pitch to Paramount Pictures for a new holiday classic in the late 1980s. David CrowA Christmas Story (1983)Humorist Jean Shepherd did not consider himself a writer ahead of the publication of his semi-autobiographical collection of short stories and pseudo-childhood memoirs, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash (1966). He was a storyteller and raconteur, a veteran of the radio broadcast who managed to come up at a time when radio was still considered a viable career for comedic talent. And it was while listening to his stories of childhood that Hugh Hefner and author Shel Silverstein got the idea that Shepherd should write these down. Eventually, Shepherd agreed but initially only because Silverstein recorded tales Shepherd was already telling on the college campus circuit and transcribed them into what eventually became a book.Among those dozens of stories that were first published in Playboy magazine and then in the In God We Trust collection were Duel in the Snow, or Red Ryder nails the Cleveland Street Kid and My Old Man and the Lascivious Special Award That Heralded the Birth of Pop Art. If youve seen A Christmas Story, you probably know how they influenced the film. However, what got filmmaker Bob Clark interested in making the movie is when he heard Shepherd on the radio recounting a story he never published, Flicks Tongue. It sent him on a journey to read Shepherds memoir and combine these three tales into the Yuletide favorite we all know today.By Shepherds own admission the stories are a mixture of fact and fiction, with his childhood surrogate being named Ralph instead of Jean. Ralph lives in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, whereas Shepherd grew up in Hammond, Indiana. Nonetheless, there is an unmistakable authenticity to the film and its source material that makes it a favorite more than 40 years after its release. Well leave you to speculate whether a kid named Flick really licked that pole. DC8-Bit Christmas (2021)While discussing A Christmas Storys blend of reality and fancy, it is worth noting its most successful imitator, the still winsome-in-its-own-right 8-Bit Christmas. The movie is about a child of the 1980s going to extreme lengths to own a Nintendo Entertainment System during the holiday season of 1987 (or was that 1988?). Director Michael Dowse and producer/screenwriter Kevin Jakubowskis sweet family film deserves to be seen by more people. And according to Jakubowski, who adapted the film from his own novel of the same name, it was based on his own Nintendo-obsessed childhood.The story came from wanting a Nintendo, and all my friends really wanting it, in 87, 88, the writer told the Gamer Looks at 40 podcast. This included how he and other friends worshipped the one rich kid in the neighborhood who got an NES before any of them and used it to get classmates to curry favor in hopes of coming to his house to play the video game console. I remember riding bikes to his house and hoping I got there soon enough to be one of the four or five kids his parents would let inside to play it, Jakubowski recalled.While we are not sure if any dogs were harmed by karate-kicking children mad about the Nintendo Power Glove, the ability to heighten childhood memories about the most dreamed-of Christmas gift speaks to why yarns like 8-Bit Christmas and A Christmas Story will always be endearing. DCJoyeux Noel (2005)Holiday movies love Christmas miracles, unearned plot developments that were supposed to excuse because of the magic of the season. The 2005 French film Joyeux Noel, written and directed by Christian Carion, has perhaps the most unlikely miracle of all. But heres the thing: it actually happened. Joyeux Noel depicts the 1914 Christmas Truce when the soldiers on the Western Front agreed to cease fire to celebrate Christmas together.Carion uses an ensemble cast to show the fight from multiple perspectives, devoting time to a Danish singer played by Diane Kruger, a German private played by Benno Frmann, and Gary Lewis as a Scottish priest bearing witness. But the focus is ultimately on the humanity of all involved. That choice transcends the limitations of borders or political leaders wish to change lines on a map. It speaks to an empathetic truthfulness which might explain why both German and French officers forbade this happening ever again, as well as why the message still resonates today. Joe GeorgeRead more Unaccompanied Minors (2006)Anyone throwing on the 2006 comedy Unaccompanied Minors might assume theyre watching a broad kid-friendly distraction, a harmless but uninteresting Home Alone style comedy meant to entertain everyone stuck together on Christmas. The second feature film from Paul Feig, still just a few years off from creating Freaks and Geeks, Unaccompanied Minors stars Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Paget Brewster, and a bunch of child actors (including Tyler James Williams!) as airline employees trying to keep track of kids stuck in an airport.However, the movie has more respectable middle-brow origins. Not only did a similar, if not as overtly goofy, event occur in real life, but the story debuted on NPRs This American Life. In a 2001 episode of the show, a storyteller shared In the Event of an Emergency, Put Your Sister in an Upright Position, which recounted the experience she and her little sister shared spending Christmas Eve in the unaccompanied minors room in OHare Airport in 1988. Its easy to see why Feig and his writers Jacob Meszaros and Mya Stark went bigger with their script, and the movie does have some fun performances from respected comic actors. But one wishes Unaccompanied Minors would have retained some of the pathos of the original story. JGOperation Christmas Drop (2020)We admit that the Netflix Christmas movie has become synonymous with its disposability. Theyre movies which trade in romantic comedy clichs and interchangeable narratives. But believe it or not, Operation Christmas Drop is a cut above. Yes, it is still a formulaic love story where a no-nonsense congressional assistant (Kat Graham) is tasked with the thankless (and politically questionable) job of going to Guam and shutting down the U.S. Air Forces actual Christmas Drop operation which is deployed across Micronesia every Dec. 25. Fortunately, Grahams technocrat is convinced to see the error of her ways by a dreamy Air Force captain (Alexander Ludwig). Its typical Netflix schmaltz, but this one has heart, perhaps because it is thinly veiled PR for the Air Forces most cheerful policy. Effective PR, at that.Since 1952 the Air Force has deployed Operation Christmas Drop as a training exercise where military planes airdrop food, supplies, and even toys across Pacific islands every December. The tradition has amounted to the longest-running U.S. Defense Department mission in full-operation, as well as the longest-running humanitarian airlift in the world. Ahem, heres to hoping it stays that way despite what a South African oligarch or his orange vessel might think. DCThe Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)What better place to end than with a highly fictionalized account of how Charles Dickens wrote the quintessential Christmas story. In fact, as the title might suggest it leans into the somewhat overstated, but not entirely unfounded, notion that Charles Dickens more or less redefined our modern image of Christmas when his A Christmas Carol novella was first published in 1843.In the film, Dan Stevens stars as a young and restless Dickens, who battles with imaginary approximations of the minor tragedies he sees out in the world, such as a rich old man whose funeral is sparsely attended. The dead man becomes Charles own ghost, personified here by Christopher Plummer. Eventually, the films Charles turns his finances around and inspires an empire to begin celebrating the pass Christmas holiday in earnest with his story.The reality is a little more complex, with the real Dickens becoming the most influential artist taking part in a cultural revival of Christmas tradition in the Victorian era world, from merry old England to Germany and its Christmas trees, to the New World where Washington Irving was writing some of the first modern Christmas stories a full 20 years before A Christmas Carol. Nonetheless, there is a reason we still use the phrase a Dickensian Christmas, and The Man Who Invented Christmas gives it a glowy new sheen. DC

PublishedNovember 29, 2024 Its easy to forget that, over the course of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, well spending the runtime of multiple films with the archaeologist adventurer. Not just that but, thanks to the games primarily first-person viewpoint, well be quite literally inside Indys head.It gave the games developer MachineGames a responsibility not just representing the world and feel of the Indiana Jones movies faithfully, but also this character, who we already know so well.As Design Director Jens Andersson puts it: Of course, no-one is more iconic than Indiana Jones, so getting that right was paramount. Theres so much to juggle here from Indys tone of voice, to the way he reacts to situations, right down to how he moves, or uses his equipment. And, for the developers, that meant going to the source.Lucasfilm Games and Franchise was a great help here, providing a ton of insight on the character, explains Andersson.The collaboration with the Lucasfilm Games team has been incredibly smooth, adds Lead Narrative Designer, Tommy Tordsson Bjrk. Weve had an open channel with them throughout the project where weve sent finished drafts of scripts to them for feedback and getting their lore input on various aspects. This open and transparent working process has been very valuable for us.But, truly, this research was just the start.Meeting Indy Poring over not only the films, but comic books and even other games became central to defining who Indiana Jones truly is, and led the team to create rules around what Indy would and wouldnt do:Early on in the project I started to look at the early movies, starting to dissect the character and the IP, explains Creative Director Axel Torvenius. The goal was to flesh out and identify what is core to the franchise. What that gave us was some sort of framework for who Indiana Jones is, but also, and sometimes even more importantly what he is not.Quite quickly you realize that he is not a guns-first type of character that kicks down doors, mowing through enemies with a machine gun. He is also not an aggressor or vengeful person. There are some key beats to Indy as a character: he is very human, he is an academic, he is a complex character with his weaknesses (and strengths), he is passionate, an empath with warmth. He also has a sweet tooth for danger and daring stunts, he is obsessed, he thirsts for knowledge, and he is extremely resourceful.That framework didnt just govern how Indy acts in the core story, or how he speaks it was applied to everything about the game, down to moments where players make choices in how to act, or take part in optional content that other players may never find.All of these things tie into the types of actions he does and it ties into which type of narrative we want to craft, says Torvenius. So even when you are off tangent and not on the golden path, all your actions will still feel like they fit within the IP.We worked really hard to make sure it was fun and easy for the player to make similar choices that Indy would do, adds Andersson. If the player naturally chooses to play as a lovable and sometimes brawling archaeologist, theyve already put themselves into the shoes of Indiana Jones and most of the battle is already won.Defining the Character But this isnt just an image of Indiana Jones as a whole The Great Circle is set in a very specific period between Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, meaning MachineGames needed to further refine the character. Who was he in this moment?Speaking in terms of the storyline, the game picks up after Raiders. Indy has split with [Raiders companion] Marion Ravenwood and hes kind of lost, trying to figure out what his next move is, explains Torvenius. He is this charming, very human teacher, but also this almost obsessed superhero but with no superpowers.Obsession is an idea that everyone I speak to brings up around this take on Indy and interestingly, it was drawn out of the movie that follows this game in the timeline:Obsession is what defines him here. Obsession with his work, with exploring the past and uncovering the secrets of history, and it is this that has led him to where he is when the game starts, explains Bjrk. Indys personal theme of obsession is something that weve drawn from The Last Crusade and the relationship Indy has with his dad, who also was obsessed with work. Indy doesnt realize how much it also defines him and thats how it often goes, isnt it? Its not easy to see or analyse your own character traits and flaws.But perhaps most excitingly for players, much of the rest is up to you. MachineGames has created a version of this character thats open to your interpretation:What defines him in this game is what you as a player want to define him as. We have crafted a game experience where all his character traits and skills are there for you to choose from. But regardless whether you, as a player, choose the fists-first brawler or the inquisitive investigator that hides in the shadows, we have made sure that this will always feel like a solid, genuine Indiana Jones adventure.Growth Mindset Another key element for The Great Circles take on the character was in having him change over time MachineGames isnt looking to create a static icon of who Indiana Jones is, but offer a meaningful exploration of how he grows after Raiders and before The Last Crusade. That comes down not just to the story, but the game itself MachineGames has found ways of hinting at Indys personal growth through mechanics.There are several ways we have worked with this, begins Torvenius. Throughout the game we reward the player with Adventure Points. These points can be spent to unlock skills that you find in ability books. These are basically new skills you learn throughout the adventure and all these skills and moves you unlock have been carefully crafted to fit the character of Indy. Some of these are things like more health or stamina and others are related to handling the whip all features intimately tied to Indiana Jones. This gives a sense of experience building up.We also have a visual progression with his hat and jacket becoming a tad more beaten up throughout the experience, and the same goes for the journal. Indys journal becomes more and more built out, and shows stains and scribbles on the pages to emphasize the players journey. All of these things combine to work together very nicely the player will never be left feeling that the character of Indy is not evolving throughout the game.And, of course, playing the majority of the game in first-person plays a major part here too. While it may seem a challenge to set the game within a character so defined by his look, it gave MachineGames a chance to use their experience within this area particularly in the recent Wolfenstein games.We knew this was super important challenge from the get-go, says Andersson. Luckily, this is not our first rodeo. Big parts of the team have worked together on story-driven first-person games all the way back to The Chronicles of Riddick and The Darkness. Also, I think the Wolfenstein series surprised the world by having a very interesting and relatable character with B.J. Blazkowicz, so we have had a lot of experience with this.One important thing that has been part of our DNA for a very long time and is definitely something that helps create great characters is that we put story front and centre, adds Torvenius. We always start with a strong narrative, and we always end with a narratively strong ending. And our experience is weaving those stories tightly with solid gameplay.Having the perfect mix of strong cutscenes and interesting gameplay, driven by an interesting character that is complex with many nuances, that continues to evolve throughout the game, is crucial. A good story survives everything and thats why were always so very focused on getting the story just right.Finding a Voice But all of this hard work would be for naught without finding the right voice for Indiana Jones not just someone who could step into the role of Indiana Jones and make it their own, but create a version of the character who felt right for this specific point in his life. The team found it in renowned voice actor, Troy Baker, whose portrayal feels so natural that you never doubt that youre hearing Indiana Jones.Even better, Bakers work as a performance capture artist meant that he literally embodied Indiana Jones for the game: Troy Baker did a phenomenal job in portraying Indy, both in first-person and third, with his extensive research of the character and stellar acting, says Andersson.For the games writers, it was a match made in heaven:Harrison Fords depiction of the character has been our starting point when writing the script, and then letting Troy Baker do his magic in honoring that depiction, explains Bjrk. And thats what has been so amazing about working with Troy Baker he truly understands Indy as a character, and he has an incredible wealth of knowledge about him and the franchise, and so much love and passion for the story.Creating a single character has been a true team effort, across MachineGames and beyond and its what lends Indiana Jones and the Great Circle its magic. Youre not simply moving Indiana Jones around this world-spanning adventure youre truly playing as him, and it makes all the difference.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (with Game Pass), or Steam on December 9. Premium and Collectors Editions will offer up to 3 days of early access from December 6. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium EditionBethesda Softworks$99.99Pre-orderPre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade. *** Live the adventure with the Premium Edition of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle! INCLUDES: Base Game (digital code) Up to 3-Day Early Access** Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Story DLC Digital Artbook Temple of Doom Outfit ***Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones. Youll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, youll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indianas trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isnt just a weapon, its Indys most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?*Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active. **Actual play time depends on purchase date and applicable time zone differences, subject to possible outages. DLC availability to be provided at a later date. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Standard EditionBethesda Softworks$69.99Pre-orderPre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade.***Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones. Youll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, youll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indianas trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isnt just a weapon, its Indys most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?*Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Lets jump in!Get To WorkIsto Inc.Get it nowGet To Work December 2Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThis story is a metaphor for climbing the corporate ladder. Get To Work is a punishing, yet satisfying experience about a young man on a mission to conquer the corporate world on rollerblades. Maneuver a slippery character with rollerblades on both his arms and feet, who only knows how to move fast.Cricket: Jae's Really Peculiar GamePM Studios, Inc.Get it nowCricket: Jaes Really Peculiar Game December 3Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA hand-animated JRPG adventure that draws from genre classics. Join Jae as he goes on a journey with his best friends to try and fix the past in a story full of laughs, tears, and Elemelons. Engage in silly battles that involve timed hits, meter, and teamwork.The Thaumaturge11 bit studios$34.99$27.99Pre-orderThe Thaumaturge December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called salutors.GodsvivorsAfil GamesGet it nowGodsvivors December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryPrepare to descend into the depths of the Underworld in Godsvivors! As a powerful god of Olympus, your mission is to challenge the ruler of the Underworld, Hades, and restore the balance of power. Battle through waves of demonic foes in this roguelite bullet-hell adventure, where every second counts. Godsvivors offers an action-packed journey through hell, blending fast-paced combat with a satisfying bullet-storm experience. Will you conquer the Underworld and emerge victorious?Super Astro CatSynnergy Circle GamesGet it nowSuper Astro Cat December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAfter getting their home planet destroyed by a meteor, the cats only option was to flee on a spaceship and embark on a journey to find a new suitable planet to colonize and live. Super Astro Cat is a 2D pixel art shoot n run with a jetpack mechanic. Choose wisely, as all their 9 lives are in your hands!BoundlandSilenGamesGet it nowBoundland December 4A fun physics-based platform game where you navigate your multi-shaped character through lots of dark levels and scary boss fights.Magical BackpackOld School VibesGet it nowMagical Backpack December 4Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryLara found a magical backpack that gives her the power to fly through the skies and collect Light stars scattered across an enchanted kingdom. Embark on this journey filled with exciting challenges, helping Lara overcome obstacles, capture each star, and advance through the levels.FANTASIAN Neo DimensionSQUARE ENIX2$49.99Pre-orderFantasian Neo Dimension December 5The Father of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu return to deliver an original RPG story. Mechteriaa deathly mechanical infection that robs humans of their emotions and livesis slowly engulfing the world. The protagonist Leo awakens with only one memory left to him in a strange land abundant with machines. Using the Warp Device that was left behind, Leo must now embark on an interdimensional journey to reclaim his lost memories and save the world from the mechteria infection.The Thing: RemasteredNightdive StudiosGet it nowThe Thing: Remastered December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryThe 2002 third-person survival horror shooter that serves as a sequel to the genre-defining 1982 film is back, remastered by Nightdive Studios to bring this innovative blend of fast paced squad action meets survival horror to the modern era. Where the movie ended, the true terror begins.Uncle Chop's Rocket ShopKasedo GamesGet it nowUncle Chops Rocket Shop December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SWhere most of his customers find meaning in pastimes like worshipping deranged space gods, feeding random crap to a sentient black hole, endlessly digging for The Treasure, or mentally enslaving donut shop workers, Wilbur lives a more humble life, fixing the galaxys ills one broken ship module at a time. Fix stuff, read stuff, upgrade stuff, talk about stuff, discover stuff, and do all that stuff again, but better.Symphonia Headup GamesGet it nowSymphonia December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn the realm of Symphonia, music acts as a source of life and energy. Embody a mysterious violinist, brought back to life in a declining world. Your violin and bow are both your instrument and a means of transport. Catapult yourself through the world, and complete levels by solving exciting platforming challenges while re-activating the machinery that brings life and energy back to this world.DETECTIVE The MotelJanduSoft$12.49$9.99Pre-orderDetective: The Motel December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGrab a pencil and paper to write down what you need because no one is going to help you. You play the role of a detective who has been assigned a case. When you arrive at the crime scene, you find a hotel with several rooms. At that moment you will have to discover what has happened, but it will not be easy. You will have to be very attentive to your surroundings to find all the possible evidence. If you are a good detective you will find the truth that is hidden behind the walls of each of the rooms in The Motel.Railroads Onlineastragon EntertainmentGet it nowRailroads Online December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SSet in a huge open world reminiscent of the Americas during the golden age of steam trains, Railroads Online puts you in the role of a pioneer helping to shape the future of America. Build tracks, traverse vast landscapes in various steam locomotives, transport goods to earn money, and customize and buy new locomotives and equipment as you grow to become a railroad tycoon.UFL FoundationXTEN Limited16$14.99Get it nowUFL December 5A free-to-play football game that features real footballers with a rich metagame. UFL offers tons of unique content like various club kits, boots, gloves, balls, and stadiums. In UFL, you create your club from the ground up, assembling a team of real-world footballers customized to your liking. Compete with players worldwide, climb the ranks, and win championships!Highway Police SimulatorAerosoft GmbHGet it nowHighway Police Simulator December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SDive into the action of American patrolling duty! Put on your uniform and step into the shoes of an American police officer with Highway Police Simulator. This game brings the heart-pounding action of the American Highway Patrol right to your fingertips. Immerse yourself in the unique challenges and serious police duties that officers face on a daily basis and truly feel what its like to patrol the highways while maintaining law and order.Love Too EasilyH2 Interactive Co., Ltd.Get it nowLove Too Easily December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA memory of a sweet kiss from last night. A lost cell phone. Three suspects. Become the main characters helper, make story choices, collect hints, and clear mini-games. A full-scale mystery romantic comedy interactive movie.Mythwrecked: Ambrosia IslandWhitethorn GamesGet it nowMythwrecked: Ambrosia Island December 5Xbox Play Anywhere / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryYoure Alex, a rookie backpacker taking a much needed break from modern life. Your trip is interrupted when you are suddenly shipwrecked on Ambrosia Island; a beautiful long-forgotten place of myth and sunshine. Its home to the gods of Greek mythology. Theyre real after all, even if they are having an identity crisis. Can you discover the secrets of Ambrosia Island in this sun-drenched Friend Em Up adventure?Overthrown (Game Preview)Maximum EntertainmentGet it nowOverthrown (Game Preview) December 5Optimized for Xbox Series X|SYou play as a Monarch in possession of an ancient soul-stealing crown with magical abilities. With its power, establish a kingdom in a perilous wilderness and defend it from mutants and bandits roaming the land. Build, gather resources, farm the land and more to turn your fledgling realm into a commanding, self-sustaining kingdom. As your fame grows, more will flock to your banner but so will those who have come to overthrow you, including your friends in up to six-player co-op.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium EditionBethesda Softworks$99.99Pre-orderIndiana Jones and the Great Circle (Early Access) December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SPurchase the Premium or Collectors Edition to secure up to three days of early access ahead of the games December 9 release date. Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones.Marvel RivalsNetEase GamesGet it nowMarvel Rivals December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA superhero team-based PvP shooter. Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!Path of Exile 2 Early Access Supporter PacksGrinding Gear Games201$29.99Get it nowPath of Exile 2 December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SPath of Exile 2 is a next generation free-to-play Action RPG created by Grinding Gear Games. Journey across the deadly continent of Wraeclast, meeting multiple immersive cultures while facing off against evil in many forms. Path of Exile 2 features twelve character classes, 240 Skill Gems, hundreds of equipment base types, a six-act campaign, more than a hundred unique boss fights, a deep endgame system and so much more.Shadow Tactics: Aiko's ChoiceDaedalic Entertainment$19.99$17.99Pre-orderShadow Tactics: Aikos Choice December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SSet in Japan around the early Edo period, Aikos Choice is a stealth strategy game that takes place within the story of Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. This standalone expansion focuses on one of the main games protagonists: the kunoichi adept Aiko. She is a master of camouflage and distracts enemies disguised as a Geisha. Although Aiko was certain that she left her old life behind her, Aikos former sensei, the cunning spymaster Lady Chiyo, reappears from the shadows to challenge her. Together with her deadly companions she sets out to hunt down the ghosts of her pastLord of the Click 4Desert Water GamesGet it nowLord of the Click 4 December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SFind incredible new challenges, amazing graphics and improved mechanics. As a great monarch, you will fight many new and dangerous enemies using your clicker skills. Every click on your screen summons powerful warriors, deals crushing blows to enemies and directs the magic of nature into battle. Get ready for exciting battles, strategic decisions and unforgettable adventures! The future of the kingdom depends only on your skill and determination. Are you ready to become a real hero and save the world?JanKenUP!Dolores EntertainmentGet it nowJanKenUP! December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn exciting combat game that breaks with traditional schemes. Instead of the typical punches and combos, strategy boils down to three buttons: rock, paper, and scissors. Get ready for a cerebral challenge where your quick thinking and mental agility are key! Hop on the elevator of fun and prepare to act swiftly! Face all kinds of rivals and prove that you can outshine everyone in the arena. Become the undisputed champion!Westild's LawRatalaika Games S.L.Get it nowWestilds Law December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryWestilds Law offers dynamic shootouts where you must cleverly use every element of your arsenal to achieve victory. Throw dynamite to clear your path or send enemies flying, you can throw your weapon at your enemies to stun them when ammo runs low and then take their weapons. Also when the situation gets critical, activate ultra-sense, slow-down time and enhance your abilities to showcase the true power of the hero.Beat the Machine RebootedSanguine Studios$24.99Pre-orderBeat the Machine: Rebooted December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryBeat the Machine: Rebooted is a top down retro roguelike arcade shooter where you must defeat the virus T.O.M (Totally Overpowered Machine) that is invading Sector VIII. Play as Damon, the cocky cadet, willing to aid Sector VIII from total destruction. Guided by Logan, Syncopia and Pete, natives of Sector VIII, traverse across 25 levels corrupted by T.O.Ms virus brigade.Endless DeathsEpiXR Games$9.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedEndless Deaths December 6An intense top-down twin-stick shooter rogue-like game that plunges players into the heart of a zombie apocalypse. As a lone survivor, your mission is to navigate through procedurally generated levels filled with relentless zombie hordes, utilizing a diverse arsenal of weapons and character abilities to stay alive.Taboo TrialHappy PlayerGet it nowTaboo Trial December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SIn this 3D roguelike action game, you are a Valkyrie, choosing blessings from the Nordic gods to build your unique combat style. Go to complete the Taboo Trial guided by Loki. Unlock different Valkyries in Valhalla, each playable with distinct styles. Take up the weapons of the gods to challenge the giants, each weapon having a distinct combat style.MasterChef: Learn to Cook!QubicGames$11.99$9.59Pre-orderMasterChef: Learn to Cook! December 6Choose your ingredients, slice, prepare, plate and serve delicious dishes with style in fun mini-games! The MasterChef judges will evaluate your dish based on your performance and speed. Complete and unlock new recipes, challenges, and mini-games along your cooking journey!Dog Man: Mission ImpawsibleMindscapeGet it nowDog Man: Mission Impawsible December 6Optimized for Xbox Series X|SBringing the beloved book series to life, dive into this action-packed, humor-filled adventure. The key to the city has fallen into the hands of a supa bad guy, unlocking all the prison doors and releasing many evildoers. Help Dog Man and his friends chase down the supa bad guys in their most impawsible mission yet!