Its about that time of the year to turn on the heat, warm up some cocoa, and curl up in your reading nook. If youre running out of space for physical books to enjoy, Amazons newest Kindles can hold thousands of digital ones, and some are on sale as part of the retailers ongoing Cyber Monday promo. This includes the 2024 Kindle, which has dropped to $84.99 ($25 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, along with the new Kindle Paperwhite, which is now just $129.99 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. RelatedYou can also get the new Kindle Kids for $94.99 ($35 off) and the Paperwhite Kids for $149.99 ($40 off), each of which includes a protective case, six months of Amazon Kids Plus, and a two-year extended warranty. Sadly, the Kindle Colorsoft (the first with a color display) and the new Kindle Scribe havent gotten the same treatment, but you can get the last-gen Scribe with a Basic Pen stylus for $269.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, which is $30 more than the lowest price to date for the note-taking e-reader.Kindle Paperwhite (2024)$130$16019% off$130$130$16019% offAmazons latest Kindle Paperwhite features a larger seven-inch display and noticeably faster performance. It also boasts longer battery life than the previous model, retains IPX8 waterproofing, and includes a USB-C port.Kindle (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.The Kindle Paperwhite is the most compelling of the two newest models for anyone looking for solid reasons to upgrade. Compared to the previous model, Amazon stretched the E Inks screen size to seven inches, making it the largest Paperwhite yet. The display is also 25 percent brighter and has the highest contrast ratio in any Kindle to date. The bigger size may have made room for a better battery, too, as Amazon advertises it lasts as long as three months per charge, which is a significant jump from the 10 weeks promised on earlier devices. The 2024 Paperwhite is even a bit faster, with Amazon suggesting a 25 percent increase, which certainly felt noticeable in our hands-on time with the device. You should notice less delay and flashing when quickly tapping through pages.Meanwhile, the base Kindle for 2024 feels a bit more pedestrian coming from the 2022 model in terms of upgrades. Its backlight is also brighter (as bright as the Paperwhite now), its a little lighter in weight, and it also has a faster processor, though we found the latters impact a little less impressive compared to the Paperwhite. Theres a chance that could change after further updates, but for now, you shouldnt upgrade to the newest model for that alone. One reason you may consider upgrading, however, is that it comes in a new matcha green color, which wraps the entirety of the device and offers a bit more elegance to the aesthetic than the typical black chassis were accustomed to. That one is also on sale for $89.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.Update, December 2nd: Updated to include several Cyber Monday deals, including those for the latest Kindle Kids and last-gen Kindle Scribe.

Whenever Vergestaffers are asked to describe their favorite games, smart tech, desktop accessories, or whatever, they are free to talk about things they recently bought, things they picked up 10 years ago, or things theyve had sitting around their house for decades. Unsurprisingly, many of those items are on sale for Cyber Monday. Good news!RelatedDeep-sea strategy board gameJennifer Pattison Tuohy, reviewerEvolution: Oceans$36$5535% off$36$36$5535% offA strategy board game in which you enter the mysterious world of the Earths oceans.$36 at AmazonFinding a board game that will entertain a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, my partner, and me is a challenge. Weve cycled through all the classics as well as newer options Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Catan, and more. While these are all great, inevitably one of the group develops a passionate dislike for a game (usually after a few too many losses) and it drops off our rotation. However, Evolution: Oceans has been a constant crowd-pleaser for over six months now, and we all love it.Part of the Evolution series fromNorthStar Game Studio, Oceans is a beautiful, complicated, compelling, and challenging strategy game. You create new species to fill your ocean and fight to develop them and keep them alive using adaptations and abilities such as schooling and speed, tentacles, and parasitic abilities.Cards give you your powers, and these are gorgeously illustrated, making this game a visual feast. It does have a fairly steep learning curve, but once you get going and the strategies unfold, the gameplay is smooth and relatively fast-paced. There is a fair amount of player-to-player interaction, so weve had a couple of temper tantrums, but nothing big enough to knock this one off our familys top spot at least not yet.Metering your moistureVictoria Song, senior reviewerGouevn soil moisture meter$7$1030% off$7$7$1030% offQuickly tests the soil moisture for indoor and outdoor plants.$7 at AmazonAt my last apartment, I kept all my plants in the windowsill, and whenever we opened the window for some fresh air, we got fungus gnats.Fungus gnats love overwatered soil, so once youve gotten rid of them, youve got to be careful and diligent about your watering schedule. For that, I got myself aGouevn soil moisture meterto teach myself how to properly water my plants. Ive properly vanquished my fungus gnat issue, but with these two tools, Im always prepared in case theres ever another infestation.A smarter garage door openerWes Davis, weekend editorMeross 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 on-page coupon)Most of the things I own are, frankly,justunreliable enough to be annoying. But I do love theMeross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door Openerfor HomeKit. And my love for it isnt just about its rock-solid performance its because, as far as I can tell, its compatible with almost any garage door opener on the market and acrosstime itself. I dont think thats an exaggeration, either. The chunky mustard yellow all-metal box that cranks my garage door open the Model 455 by Automatic Doorman was made, by my loose estimation, sometime between the fall of Rome and 1975.But Meross adapter was $30 and to my amazement, after a very simple installation, it worked and continues to do so almost every time I need it to. Best of all, I dont have to carry the chunky remote with me on my bike when I leave because I can just talk into my Apple Watch when I return and coast right in.An all-time favorite electric screwdriverBrandon Widder, senior commerce editorHoto 3.6V Electric Screwdriver Kit$30$7057% off$30$30$7057% offHotos electric screwdriver is perfect for making small- to medium-sized repairs around the house. In addition to a USB-C port, the screwdriver comes with a magnetic case and 25 steel bits.I picked up Hotos electric screwdriver because my former boss at The Verge, Dan Seifert, would often pitch it around gift guide season. Im glad I did, though, because it now sits alongside a handful of tools I use on an almost weekly basis. I wouldnt suggest using it for real household projects that require some serious torque, but its incredibly handy for tightening the legs on my desk, assembling furniture, and making sure my bike seat isnt going to come off mid-ride. Its also equipped with a USB-C port for charging, a nifty LED light that lets you ditch the headlamp, and a case for housing the 25 steel bits. Oh, and it really does make for a great little gift. I guess Dan was right.Ray-Ban Meta Smart GlassesVictoria Song, senior reviewerRay-Ban Meta Smart Glasses$239$29920% off$239$239$29920% offDeveloped by both Ray-Ban and Meta, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can perform a range of tasks, including playing music and capturing photos and videos. Read our review.$239 at Best Buy$263 at AmazonOn sunny walks and runs, Im not interested in getting flattened by wayward SUVs in my neighborhood I need that situational awareness. Many open-ear headphones wrap around the top of the ear, and since I often wear glasses, thats a lot to put on my poor ears. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses kill two birds with one stone; theyre my go-to headphones these days. The audio quality is great, they protect my eyes from UV rays, and once in a while, I use them to snap a photo of a random bunny or stray cat. Theres a mic right by your nose bridge, so you sound pretty great on calls, too. Who doesnt love a multitasking gadget?A reliable smart plugSean Hollister, senior editorKasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25P4) $30$5040% off$30$30$5040% offKasas smart plugs let you add voice controls and scheduling to any outlet. They can also help you monitor your energy usage and work with Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.$30 at Amazon (four-pack)$30 at TP-Link (four-pack)The single fastest and most reliable device in my entire smart home is whichever dumb-as-a-brick appliance I plug into this tiny box. Seriously, Im pretty sure theKasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Miniis the only smart home device thats never let me down. Whether its a string of Christmas lights, a garage freezer, a hot water recirculation pump, a humidifier, a bedside lamp, or a fan all genuine examples from my home I always know Alexa or Google or Siri or Home Assistant will flick that virtual switch in an instant and / or follow my programmed schedule.Plus, I get some energy savings, too! My Brother printer used to draw 4W all day every day; now, I only spend 0.50.8W for the Smart Plug Mini its plugged into. I just wish TP-Link stopped making so many new versions so I could tell you which one to buy. I do know Id have boughtthese energy-monitoring onesif Id had a little more foresight.Strings of twinkly lightsJess Weatherbed, news writerTwinkly Strings (multicolor and white edition) $94$13832% off$94$94$13832% 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.$94 at Amazon (65 feet)When the aesthetic hill youve chosen to die on is as gaudy as mine, the traditional red-and-green holiday string lights that get plonked on the tree each year are, frankly, not obnoxious enough. Ive been usingTwinkly Stringsinstead for the last few years, which are considerably more expensive butprovide a great deal more creative freedom. These smart LED lights are fully customizable, enabling you to pick which colors work best for your decorative needs, and are compatible with Alexa and Google smart home setups.In my flat, they stay out year-round. When not adorning a tree, I hook them to the ceiling of my office to use as ambient mood lighting, which Ive programmed to turn on automatically at sundown each day. You can control most features via voice commands with Alexa, including switching the lights on or off and adjusting what color the lights are set to. The Twinkly companion app provides more control over color combinations and lighting patterns, but gamers can also integrate them with Razer Synapse if they want to match them with the RGB accessories in their PC setup.A cost-effective doorbell camChristopher Grant, group publisher,The VergeandPolygonReolink Video Doorbell PoE camera $70$10030% off$70$70$10030% offEasily installed video doorbell with a 180-degree view.$70 at Amazon (with on-page coupon)I was already out of love with my 2018 Nest Doorbell when Google raised the price of the video cloud storage subscription. That subscription, which was already unpalatable at $50 a year it only captured events and not full 24/7 video, and even then only stored those events for 30 days was going to increase by a whopping 60 percent. Raising prices this high without anything to show for it except a clumsy explanation of inflation and tax increases, despite the well-understood maxim that storage costs go down over time, was just the push I needed, so after spending some time on the Home Assistant forums, I settled on theReolink Video Doorbell PoE camera.On sale for less than the cost of a single year of Googles new subscription, the Reolink impresses with much better video quality, PoE support, so no batteries or Wi-Fi issues to worry about (though a Wi-Fi version is available if that works better for you), and support for local storage via an SD card (imagine!) or network support via the ONVIF standard. It integrates directly into Home Assistant, no Reolink account necessary, and is generally just a much better product. I wish I made the switch years ago.Reminders and weather reportsBarbara Krasnoff, reviews editorAmazon Echo Show 8 (third-gen)$80$15047% off$80$80$15047% offAmazons Echo Show 8 features spatial audio and room adaptation software for improved audio quality. It also displays a different homescreen on its 8-inch display based on whether youre standing near it or farther away. Read our review.$80 at Amazon$80 at Best BuyA couple of years ago, I realized that my mothers memory was starting to get a little wonky and that she would need reminding about appointments, medication, and other things. The answer turned out to beAmazons Echo Show 8. I bought her one for the living room, and not only did it remind her to take her pills but also she could listen to music, see photos, and maybe even do an occasional face-to-face call.However, I soon realized that wasnt enough. I needed to know that she could contact me in an emergency no matter where she was in her apartment, but she refused to wear one of those old-fashioned Ive fallen and I cant get up alert system gadgets. We went back and forth until finally, as luck would have it, her ancient clock radio (if you dont know what a clock radio is, look it up under old technology) finally gave up the ghost, and I was able to get her anAmazon Echo Dot with Clock (which is, unfortunately, being phased out). My mother loved it. She could not only see what time it was but also ask what the weather was or play a favorite song, right from her bedroom. And I was happy because, between the Dot and the Show, she could yell, Call Barbara anywhere in the apartment including the bathroom and it would hear her. It was a win-win.A snap-on phone stand / walletAllison Johnson, reviewerMoft Snap-on Stand & Wallet$24$3020% off$24$24$3020% offMofts phone stand and wallet sticks to the back of your phone, either by MagSafe or adhesive, and fits three of your most precious ID or payment cards.$24 at AmazonIm at the phone stand. Im at the wallet. Im at the combination phone stand and wallet.An accessory that does two jobs instead of one is the best kind of phone accessory in my book, like Mofts phone stand and wallet. It sticks to the back of your phone, either by MagSafe oradhesive, and fits three of your most precious ID or payment cards. Its pretty low-profile when its closed, but you unfold it origami-style when you need a card or want to use it as a stand. Magnets inside keep it open or closed, and its sturdy enough to prop your phone up either horizontally or vertically.You can also open it partway and put your hand through the loop to use it as a phone grip. Thats like, two and a half jobs out of one accessory, plus it looks nice. Not a bad deal.Instant PotChristopher Grant, group publisher, The VergeandPolygonAbout 90 percent of our quarantine meals were made in an Instant Pot. Theres just no time to do anything anymore, and we can make large amounts of healthy food, with little attention, and have leftovers. I liked it before, but now Im ready to build a shrine to it. Instant Pot Duo$70$10030% off$70$70$10030% offThe six-quart Instant Pot makes it quick and easy to prepare a variety of foods, ranging from rice and ribs to yogurt and assorted soups.$70 at AmazonRockin with garlicBarbara Krasnoff, reviews editorWe use a lot of garlic in my household, and traditional garlic presses never did it for us they usually produced a messy, slushy paste. A friend of ours introduced us to the garlic rocker, which is not only fun to play with but produces beautifully minced pieces of garlic, perfect for sauting and other uses. Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker$10$2050% off$10$10$2050% offThe Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker is just a simple curved piece of metal with holes in it, but its one of the easiest and most effective ways to mince / crush garlic.$10 at AmazonSilent mechanical keyboard switchesNathan Edwards, senior reviews editorKailh Deep-Sea Silent Pro Islet switches$48$6020% off$48$48$6020% offA fantastic silent linear mechanical switch for Cherry MX-compatible keyboards. Islets are smooth and quiet, with a long spring that gives them a top-heavy, almost tactile force curve. Theyre 3-pin switches, so they work with most hot-swappable mechanical keyboards that take 3- or 5-pin switches.$48 at Amazon (90-piece)These are my current favorite switches. The Kailh Deep-Sea Silent Pro Islets are nearly identical to the fantastic switches in the HHKB Studio, just much less expensive. The Islets are silent linear switches, with an extra-long spring, so the actuation force curve is strongest right at the beginning and then smooth the rest of the way, giving them an almost Topre-like tactile sensation. (Pitchforks down; I said almost.) Theyre an instant upgrade for any hot-swappable keyboard that takes Cherry MX-compatible switches, and Ive been using them as my daily drivers for a while.Theres also a tactile version, which I dont like as much. Sorry to the Kailh Whales. Unblurring video callsVictoria Song, senior reviewerInsta360 Link$179$30040% off$179$179$30040% offThe Link features a 0.5-inch Sony sensor mounted on a gimbal that can follow you around the room. It typically runs for $299.99, and it comes with numerous features that take advantage of the gimbals flexibility. Read our review.I got theInsta360 Linkwebcam because I was tired of looking like a blurry potato on calls. This one is neat because it tracks your position, though sometimes it doesnt always work the way its supposed to and my coworkers get to look at a close-up of my forehead.An old-fashioned watch standAntonio G. Di Benedetto, commerce writerElago W3 Stand$12$1414% off$12$12$1414% offElagos charming Apple Watch stands are made of silicone and styled after vintage tech. Mount your Apple Watch charger in it, and it will resemble an old Macintosh Plus computer while charging.$12 at AmazonThis adorableElago W3 Standfor my Apple Watch looks like an original Macintosh.Working with wireless headphonesAdi Robertson, senior reporterSony WH-1000XM4$198$35043% off$198$198$35043% offSonys WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones still offer plenty of bang for your buck with excellent ANC, lively sound, and lengthy battery life. Theyre not the companys latest, but they remain an excellent buy. Read our review.$198 at Amazon$200 at Best BuyI spend the workday at my Vox laptop, a MacBook Pro, with a few accessories, including a pair of SonyWH-1000XM4 wireless headphonesthat mycolleague Chris Welch reviewed.Handy cat scratcherHelen Havlak, publisherAmznova Durable Flat Cardboard Cat Scratcher $6$1765% off$6$6$1765% offCorrugated cardboard cat scratcher.$6 at AmazonIf you love your cat but also love your furniture, do yourself a favor and buy a fewcardboard cat scratchers. My cat Olivia loves them way more than any fancy cat tree and has pretty much entirely stopped scratching our couch. We get several months use out of each one, especially as they are reversible. For extra cuteness, you can even splurge on one shapedlike a skateboard.Universal travel adapterVictoria Song, senior reviewerEpicka universal travel adapter $20$2520% off$20$20$2520% offEpickas universal travel adapter is an all-in-one adapter that includes four different plugs that cover over 150 countries.$20 at AmazonIn my youth, I forgot to pack plug adapters for international trips one too many times. Buying them once youve landed in another country isnt always easy, either. And if youre like me, your relatives in rural Korea dont always have more than one plug for your American devices in which case, youll have to share with your six other cousins. Nope. Absolutely not. Which is why I never leave this country without a universal travel adapter.Basically, its six plug adapters in one. Depending on which one you get, it might come with USB ports so you can charge multiple devices in one outlet. Granted, its bulkier than buying one or two specialized adapter plugs, but if youve got a multi-continent itinerary, its a game-changer. What I like aboutthis one from Epickais that it comes with a spare fuse in case things go sideways with voltage.The only caveat is that, although it says universal, its technically only the four most common types of plugs. Thatll get you by inmostcountries, but its not a guarantee in places like Brazil, South Africa, or India. Even so, Ill take this over price gouging at airport electronics shops or having to take time out of my schedule to visit a local hardware store.An extension cord for awkward situationsSarah Jeong, deputy features editorAnker 321 Power Strip$14$2646% off$14$14$2646% offThis all-in-one 20W power cube boasts three AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port.$14 at AmazonNobody wants to carry a power strip or an extension cord with them on their vacation. Its probably unnecessary if youre staying in relatively modern buildings and definitely unnecessary if youre camping. But sometimes you want to stay in a charming historical hotel or a lovely cabin in the woods, and its only when you go to charge your devices at night that you realize that the only electrical socket in the bedroom is in the corner farthest away from the bed and there are already two lamps plugged into it.Older buildings especially suffer from what I can only describe as loose socket syndrome, where those very convenient modern boxy socket extenders with five different USB and USB-C charging ports simply cannot stay in place and fall right out of the wall because theyre too heavy. After one (totally pleasant) vacation where I had to charge my phone, watch, AirPods, and laptop in a weird corner of my room with the plug-in charging hub propped up on a strategically balanced mountain of books and sham pillows, I bought thisAnker combination extension cord / power strip. Its not a full power strip just a cube with a few sockets along with USB and USB-C charging ports at the end of a five-foot cable. Ive brought it on a few trips since then. It takes up extra space in my suitcase but each time has left me feeling vindicated about the purchase.The three prongs at the end of the cable are static, rather than folding flat for easy packing. This is key because the loose sockets of older buildings reject the beautiful convenience of folding prongs. There are more than enough sockets for one person, and with some finagling (and maybe an extra charging brick), it can accommodate two peoples devices.If youre traveling overseas, dont forget to purchase a different plug type for the region youre going to or pack an adapter.A bag for the cycling setAndrew J. Hawkins, transportation editorAlpha Pannier Backpack$139$19930% off$139$139$19930% offThis backpack works just as well as a pannier for your bike and holds 25 liters of whatever stuff you need to carry.$139 at Amazon$199 at Two Wheel GearIf youre like me and you like to bike most places, youll need a bag thats both versatile and stylish. I recently came into possession of a bag that meets both these qualifications: theAlpha Pannier Backpack by Two Wheel Gear. Its a backpack! Its a pannier! Its a laptop bag with a padded pocket for an external battery! This bag really checks a lot of boxes, and its easy on the eyes as well. The ability to convert to a pannier is really the clincher for me: unclip the backpack straps and tuck them away inside an interior flap. The top latch fits most rear bike racks. The ability to show up at your destination without the dreaded back sweat is really priceless. And if youre diehard about biking in all weather conditions, the Alpha Pannier Backpacks waterproof material will certainly impress. You can even attach your bike helmet using the various straps.Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 ProEmma Roth, news writerSamsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro $130$23043% off$130$130$23043% offThese buds have excellent sound quality and good noise cancellation but work best when youre part of the Samsung ecosystem.$130 at SamsungI love my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro; theyre the first wireless earbuds Ive ever used, and they made the most sense for me, as Im knee-deep in Samsungs ecosystem. They fit comfortably inside my ears and their active noise cancellation works well almost too well at the gym or on an airplane.Shure MV7 USB microphoneAndrew Marino, senior audio producerShure MV7 Plus$249$27911% off$249$249$27911% offAn update to the well-regarded Shure MV7 with customizable color and improved performance.$249 at Amazon$249 at ShureThe Shure MV7 USBhas been our go-to microphone to send to remote guests forVergepodcasts. Its a very flexible dynamic microphone for podcast interviews because of its sonic similarity to typical radio mics like Shures SM7b and has both a USB and XLR output for virtually any recording setup.Pink flamingosBarbara Krasnoff, reviews editorPink flamingo yard decorations $14$1822% off$14$14$1822% offTwo medium-sized happy plastic pink flamingos on metal legs that also work as stakes.$14 at AmazonSome years ago, my partner and I went to a tech trade show that was Florida-themed, so the large room was decorated with fake palm trees, hanging fish mobiles, and pink plastic flamingos those straight-from-the-50s ones. When the show was over and we were leaving, we found a bunch of the birds piled near the exit. One of the staffers who was cleaning up begged us to take as many as we wanted. Theyd bought them for the show and had no idea what to do with them now.We took home two of the pink flamingos and set them up in our tiny garden. They were meant to be a temporary joke, but those flamingos have been standing guard in front of our home ever since. It turned out that they are actually incredibly useful for guiding guests and delivery people to our house all we have to do is tell them to look for the pink flamingos.An organizer for everythingBrandon Widder, senior commerce editorYamazaki Desk Organizer$31$3614% off$31$31$3614% offA simple yet elegant desk organizer that is just right for propping up your phone or stashing your Apple Watch.$31 at Amazon$31 at YamazakiYamazakis desk organizer isnt a smartphone accessory, per se, but Ive found it to be a more stylish resting spot for my phone than your run-of-the-mill Qi charging stand. The handy steel and wood desk organizer is great for stashing a pair of wireless earbuds and some stationery, and its outfitted with an arm thats perfectly suited for holding a watch or two. The best part, however, is that the upper platform is situated farther back than the bottom tray, which means you can rest a small notebook or your phone upright, thus making it easy to glance at texts, calendar reminders, and other incoming notifications.Ive always been a fan of Yamazakis understated wares, which honestly, often look a little more expensive than they are. The Japanese company, which started out making ironing boards more than 100 years ago, has steadily built an impressive collection of minimalist goods spanning everything from shelves to bread baskets, much of which is available in either black or white. Sure, the subdued color palette might be a little too Ikea for some people, but theres something to be said aboutkeeping things simple.Update, December 2nd: Updated pricing and availability.

Rust Powered Bevy Game Engine Release 0.15 / News / December 2, 2024 / Almost 5 months after the previous release the open-source Rust powered cross-platform 2D/3D data driven game engine/framework Bevy just released Bevy 0.15. Key features of this release include:Required Components: A rethink of how spawning entities works that significantly improves the Bevy user experienceEntity Picking / Selection: A modular system for selecting entities across contextsAnimation Improvements: generalized entity animation, animation masks, additive blending, and animation eventsCurves: a newCurvetrait, cyclic splines, common easing functions, color gradient curvesReflection Improvements: Function reflection, unique reflect, remote type reflectionBevy Remote Protocol (BRP): A new protocol that allows external clients (such as editors) to interact with running Bevy gamesVisibility Bitmask Ambient Occlusion (VBAO): An improved GTAO algorithm that improves ambient occlusion qualityChromatic Aberration: A new post processing effect that simulates lenses that fail to focus light to a single pointVolumetric Fog Improvements: Fog volumes that define where volumetric fog is rendered (and what form it takes), along with Point Lights and Spotlight compatibilityOrder Independent Transparency: A new opt-in transparency algorithm that improves the stability / quality of transparent objects as their distance from the camera changesImproved Text Rendering: Weve switched to Cosmic Text for our text rendering, which significantly improves our ability to render text, especially for non-Latin-based languages that require font shaping and bidirectional textGamepads as Entities: Gamepads are now represented as entities, making them much easier to interact withUI Box Shadows: Bevy UI nodes can now render configurable box shadowsKey LinksBevy HomepageBevy 0.15 Release NotesGitHub RepositoryBevy DiscordYou can learn more about the Bevy 0.15 release in the video below.

The development of machine learning (ML) models for scientific applications has long been hindered by the lack of suitable datasets that capture the complexity and diversity of physical systems. Many existing datasets are limited, often covering only small classes of physical behaviors. This lack of comprehensive data makes it challenging to develop effective surrogate models for real-world scientific phenomena. Moreover, numerical methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) can be computationally expensive, particularly when high accuracy is required, making surrogate models a practical alternative. Despite advances in machine learning, there remains a significant gap between the datasets currently used and the complex problems of practical interest. PolymathicAIs The Well aims to address this issue.PolymathicAI Releases The Well: 15TB of Datasets for Spatiotemporal Physical SystemsPolymathicAI has released The Well, a large-scale collection of machine learning datasets containing numerical simulations of a wide variety of spatiotemporal physical systems. With 15 terabytes of data spanning 16 unique datasets, The Well includes simulations from fields such as biological systems, fluid dynamics, acoustic scattering, and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations involving supernova explosions. Each dataset is curated to present challenging learning tasks suitable for surrogate model development, a critical area in computational physics and engineering. To facilitate ease of use, a unified PyTorch interface is provided for training and evaluating models, along with example baselines to guide researchers. This open-access collection of datasets is available on GitHub, making it a valuable resource for machine learning researchers and scientists interested in physical simulations.Technical Details The Well features a variety of datasets organized into 15TB of data, encompassing 16 distinct scenarios, ranging from the evolution of biological systems to the turbulent behaviors of interstellar matter. Each dataset comprises temporally coarsened snapshots from simulations that vary in initial conditions or physical parameters. These datasets are offered in uniform grid formats and use HDF5 files, ensuring high data integrity and easy access for computational analysis. The data is available with a PyTorch interface, allowing for seamless integration into existing ML pipelines. The provided baselines include models such as the Fourier Neural Operator (FNO), Tucker-Factorized FNO (TFNO), and different variants of U-net architectures. These baselines illustrate the challenges involved in modeling complex spatiotemporal systems, offering benchmarks against which new surrogate models can be tested.The diversity and extensibility of the datasets in The Well are among its key benefits. Researchers can explore a wide range of physical phenomena using a unified dataset collection. Each dataset includes metadata and training/testing splits, enabling easy benchmarking of different machine-learning models. The variety and granularity of the datasets encourage the development of generalizable models capable of solving a broad spectrum of problems in physics, chemistry, and engineering. With its standardized data format and accessibility, The Well lowers the barrier to entry for using ML in physical sciences, thereby enabling a wider range of researchers to participate.The significance of The Well goes beyond its size and scope. It provides a benchmark for the emerging class of physics surrogate models and establishes a standard for evaluating models on complex physical tasks. The diversity of the included datasets allows researchers to assess the robustness of their ML models against realistic physical systems with varying degrees of complexity. By providing a unified platform for these datasets, PolymathicAI has bridged the gap between domain experts and machine learning researchers, facilitating collaboration on challenging physical problems. Initial benchmarks show that models such as CNextU-net perform well in some datasets, while others favor more specialized architectures like the Fourier Neural Operator. This underscores the nuanced nature of surrogate modeling and the need for tailored approaches depending on the type of physical phenomena.ConclusionPolymathicAIs The Well is a valuable asset for the ML community, particularly for researchers working on surrogate modeling for physical sciences. By making these diverse datasets publicly accessible, PolymathicAI facilitates the development of new models and helps improve existing ones through rigorous benchmarking and testing. The Well represents an important step forward in the availability of standardized, diverse, and high-quality datasets for physical simulations, making it a key resource for future advancements in both ML and physics. Check out the Paper and GitHub Page. 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)

As you begin online holiday shopping, there are some amazing tech deals you should be aware of. One in particular that stands out is the Cyber Monday Kindle sale at Amazon, which includes some first-time deals on the newly launched Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Kindle Kids, and Kindle Paperwhite Kids. In case you missed it, Amazon announced a few brand-new Kindles back in October, alongside upgraded versions of most models. Depending on how much storage you need and who you're shopping for, the 2024 Amazon Kindle with 16GB storage is a safe pick for anyone.Save $25 on the New Amazon Kindle (16 GB)Amazon Kindle (16 GB)The new Kindle is the lightest and most compact of its kind, with glare-free display, faster page turns, adjustable front light, and long battery life.Why choose (or upgrade to) the newest model?The latest Kindle's glare-free screen has an adjustable, brighter front light and higher contrast than previous models, making reading easier and faster with quicker page turns. This USB-C charged model has a sustainable design made with recycled materials, which is an added bonus in my book. Grab this Kindle deal while you can! More Kindle Deals for Cyber MondaySave $45 on New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32 GB)Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32 GB)The fastest Kindle with auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and weeks of battery life.Save $35 on New Amazon Kindle Kids (16 GB) at $94.99Amazon Kindle Kids (16 GB)The new Kindle Kids comes with ad-free books and a cute Kindle cover!For those who already subscribe to Amazon Kids+, your active subscription will automatically be replaced as soon as you activate a new Kindle Kids device, and youll receive six months of the subscription.Kindle Unlimited for Only $0.99If you own or are about to own a Kindle, it's also worth subscribing to Kindle Unlimited. You can access over 2M titles with this subscription, including audiobooks and magazines. Right now, you can take advantage of a Black Friday deal of three months for $0.99 before it goes back toKindle UnlimitedGet 3 months for $0.99See it at AmazonWhy a Kindle Is Worth the InvestmentHere's what commerce writer and Kindle owner, Hannah Hoolihan had to say: "Since the Kindles use e-ink instead of traditional screens like your phone or iPad, they can be read in just about any lighting. In fact, the pages look like actual paper pages, so any artificial light or even bright sunlight are no factor when using the Kindle. It only uses energy when you turn the page, use the backlight or leave Wi-Fi turned on, so if you go into Airplane mode you can go weeks, even months, between charging your Kindle. Generally I go long enough to completely forget where I put my charging cable." For more deals to explore, also see the top Cyber Monday deals we've found so far, including Amazon Cyber Monday Sale. You can expect many tech deals to remain on sale through the end of the day today, December 2, so take advantage while you can!Lindsey (she/her) is IGN's Director of Audience Development and Commerce. She's been at IGN since 2021 and has a background in SEO, especially in the gaming, entertainment, and tech media spaces. Find her on Twitter at @LindseySalzer.

Cyber Monday is offering up plenty of video game deals right now, including discounts on fantastic newer releases. The console edition of the Game of the Year-nominated Metaphor: ReFantazio is currently on sale at its lowest price yet, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, at $49.99. This is $20 off its list price of $69.99. If you've been waiting for a good time to pick up Atlus's latest RPG, now's an excellent time to do it. Save $20 Off Metaphor: ReFantazio for Cyber MondayCyber MondayMetaphor: ReFantazioPS5 and Xbox.Both Amazon and Best Buy have the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of Metaphor: Refantazio on sale for $49.99, while Walmart only has the PlayStation 5 version on sale for that price.As previously mentioned, Metaphor: ReFantazio has been nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards this year. It also earned nominations for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Art Direction, Best Score and Music, and Best RPG. We gave it a 9/10 in our review as well, with IGN's Michael Higham saying, "Theres a certain familiarity in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but Atlus takes the principles of its already excellent RPGs and refines them in a way that effortlessly ushers you through its brutal, and sometimes beautiful, new fantasy world."More PS5 Games on Sale for Cyber MondayStar Wars OutlawsFinal Fantasy: I-VI Collection Anniversary EditionDragon Age: The VeilguardPrince of Persia: The Lost CrownTomb Raider I-III RemasteredMetal Gear Solid:Metal Gear Solid: The Master Collection Vol.1Visions of ManaCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VII ReunionSpace Marine 2There are plenty more video game deals to explore right now, too. Some of the highlights from the Cyber Monday sale event include Star Wars Outlaws down to $40, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $40, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard for $49.99 just a month after launch, but you can even score great discounts at the moment on consoles and hardware.Outside of games there are even more deals to check out. To see a collection of our favorites, have a look at our full breakdown of Cyber Monday 2024 where we go over the best deals at the moment on LEGO sets, Apple devices, board games, and so much more.Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

A man walks alone in the snow. Hours earlier on this frigid morning, local Romani took his horse and left him strandeda cruelty or a comfort, depending how you read their warning not to seek out the desolate castle on a hill. There, he is told, awaits only shadow and demons; a nightmare without end. For anyone who has seen F.W. Murnaus original Nosferatu from more than a century ago, as well as many of the other films that have played in Bram Stokers crypt, this all has the unmistakable air of familiarity.Yet in rarefied moments, Robert Eggers 2024 retelling of the classic vampire story feels strangely new. And in this particular sequence, it becomes downright breathtaking as Nicholas Hoults fated traveler stands atop a clearing to look out at a landscape of wintry frost and gloom. The composition is a recreation of painter Casper David Friedrichs Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog oil masterpiece; but its also one of countless examples of the aching beauty that the filmmaker behind The Lighthouse and The Witch has wrought from such well-worn material.As the most aesthetically beatific rendering of the Dracula myth put to screen, Eggers Nosferatu is also the most perverse. Like a child who enjoys skidding across newly fallen snow to reveal the slush and mud beneath, Nosferatu 24 relishes in its Romantic flourishes and allusions while also wallowing in the putrid and festering decay that lies at the core of its parable. It is a film which seeks to dig deep beneath the vampires native soil in order to find the gruesome (and yet queerly alluring) appeal that has kept the creature alive all these centuries; and in the process, it transforms a Halloween staple into a psychosexual tragedy about a young woman and her most anticipated suitor: Death.The woman in question is named Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp in the Mina Murray role). Like other versions of this character, she is a woman graced with an otherworldly intuition for the supernatural. However, more so than any other telling, this Nosferatu is her movie. Hence the film beginning in her childhood bedroom where a troubled girl calls out for companionship in the loneliness of night and finds a shadow return her summons by raising its taloned silhouette across her nightgown. Ever since, Ellen has been stalked by darkness, though when we come to her as an adult, she lives like a proper Victorian in 1838 Germany with doting husband Thomas (Hoult). He urges her to never speak aloud those macabre fancies which follow from her dreams.Nonetheless, he soon finds himself living in them after he is required to sell crumbling real estate in his hometown of Wisburg to Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgrd), an eccentric nobleman who resides in the Carpathian Mountains. Probably the closest interpretation to the historical Vlad the Impaler we have seen in a Dracula movie, Skarsgrds Orlok is domineering and brutish, demanding all attention despite rarely leaving the most squalid corners of his ruined castle. He quickly makes plain, too, his interest in Thomas wife, whose locket he steals in the nightamong other things judging by the rodent-like bite marks Thomas finds on his chest each morning.Chances are you know where this is headed, complete with buckets of rats when Orlok arrives in Ellens port city. He might come for Thomas raven-haired bride, but he wont be satiated until all of the city is under his dominion of plague, pestilence, and despair. In this context, even Willem Dafoes delightfully kooky Professor Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Van Helsing by another name) seems ill-prepared to save Ellens friends and neighbors from the monstrous shadow descending from above.Much in the marketing has been made about the mystery of the vampires appearance. In spite of the makeup Murnau used to transform actor Max Schreck into a walking cadaver in 1922 being the most iconic image of a vampire this side of Bela Lugosi, Eggers and his collaborators have elected for something slightly different. The rough build and shape of Schrecks Orlok remains intact, but the design is more subdued and grounded (gone, too, is the problematic Shylock nose and in its place comes an amusingly antiquated hairstyle from medieval Transylvania). But the most striking thing about the vampires appearance is how entirely devoid it is of what viewers might expect from a character played by Skarsgrd.The handsome Swedish actor wholly disappears into the character, even more so than he did in his showy turn as Pennywise the Clown in It. At least with Pennywise, the dancing eyes remained. But what we are left with in Nosferatu is a corpse with sunken, blazing pupils and a booming voice of entitlement and sneering loathing for everything in his presence, save of course Ellen.The choice to pare down the storys focus to essentially three peopleEllen, Thomas, and the demon between themheightens the emotional depth of feeling in this above Murnaus original, the Werner Herzog remake, and just about every other Dracula. This is partially due to Eggers seeking a humanist grounding in all the performances, even when Dafoe is allowed a slightly longer leash once its time to chew scenery as the half-mad occultist. That much needed levity never tips over into excess though, like Anthony Hopkins mugging for the camera in Francis Ford Coppolas Dracula. There is a deeply empathetic concern for all the players in Eggers treatment.In terms of the central triangle, this is achieved in large part by Houltwhose puppy dog eyes could make a monster like Peter III in The Great sympatheticand Depp. Hoult provides the Jonathan Harker archetype with some romantic heft strangely lacking in every other screen version, but Depp is the true revelation as Ellen, a woman whose unhealthy draw toward the dark manifests itself in several showstopping scenes of possession and contorted frenzies that blur the line between rapture and torture.Depp provides Nosferatu with a soul, giving texture and context to the ancient motif of Death and the Maiden. Whether its The Daemon Lover, Renaissance cuttings eulogizing the Black Death, or Twilight, the artistic appeal of youth (usually feminine) and personifications of fetid decay has lingered in our popular imagination since time immemorial. Eggers utilizes one of its most famous articulations to trace the collective, Jungian draw we might all feel toward macabre, destructive thingsdrawing a line between now, the storys 19th century roots, and as far back as heathen times antiquity.The appeal, then, of this Nosferatu is the juxtaposition between the radiant and the rancid. By drawing compositions from infinite shadings of inky black shadows, Eggers and frequent cinematographer Jarin Braschke craft a beautiful world that will likely be only fully visible on the big screen. Their lush Gothic palettes are further accentuated by production designer Craig Lathrops sets, which have a faintly Dickensian warmth in their early 19th century grandeur. Seeing those beautiful things, lit entirely by candles or gas lamps, slowly give way to the gloom, just as all the characters descend into a primal madness by films end, is as enticing as it is disturbing.The contrast even seems designed to carry the viewer inside the vampires worldview. Unlike most movie vampires these days, Count Orlok is a genuinely sinister and evil presence that corrupts Eggers aesthetic and emotional earnestness with abomination. Right down to an unforgettable final shot, the creatures desire to destroy and rot all in its presence is total. Yet like this beast, Eggers and his film find comfort, bliss even, from watching pretty things wither and die. Their final repose is what lets them live forever.Nosferatu opens in the U.S. on Dec. 25 and in the UK on Jan. 1. Learn more about Den of Geeks review process and why you can trust our recommendationshere.

This article is part of the Collectors Digest Holiday Edition powered by: Perhaps no single collectible has had as strong a hold on pop culture over the last decade as Funko Pop. The small, vinyl figures with comically large heads, no mouth, and big dark eyes have taken the world of toys by storm, with almost every IP imaginable receiving the Pop treatment.One of the best things about Pop figures is their highly displayable size, perfect for any shelf or desk. This also makes them the ideal stocking-stuffer this holiday season, so without further ado, Den of Geek presents to you the premier Funko Pop figures to be on the lookout for this holiday, all products available to purchase on eBay at this very moment.Clark Griswold with Station WagonNational Lampoons Christmas Vacation celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Often regarded as one of the best (and funniest) Christmas flicks of all time, what better way to kick off our list than with the iconic opening scene of the movie? Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to host the ultimate Christmas for his family, and the centerpiece of his desired holiday display is the Griswold Family Christmas tree.Theres only one problem: Clark forgot to bring an ax to cut down the tree after he found it in the woods. No need to worry, though, because the Griswolds 1980s-something station wagon will do the trick to uproot the pine. Funko replicated this hysterical moment with a Pop Rides rendition of the sequence, picturing Clark driving his station wagon with the way-too-tall tree barely balancing on top. This is a perfect gift for any fan of the Christmas classic and will surely become a yearly decoration in your house when purchased.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereElphaba and Glinda in Shiz UniformWicked took the box office by storm this past weekend, transporting audiences across the globe to the wonderful world of Oz. The adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical broke a plethora of box office records, and what better way to commemorate your fandom for the film than with a pair of figurines?Elphaba and Glinda, portrayed by the lovely Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, respectively, are included in this spectacular two-pack set. Fans can acquire both of the popular characters ready to defy gravity, with the witches featured in their Shiz University outfits from the early stages of the movie. This boxed set will make the ideal gift for the biggest theater kid you know; its sure to have them dancing through life.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereArctic Puffin / Polar Bear Cub / Mr. Narwhal / Buddy the ElfBye Buddy, hope you find your dad!Odds are youve heard someone quote that line from Elf (2003) at some point in the last two decades. One of the last Xmas classics, Elf has cemented itself in the pantheon of films centered around the end-of-year holiday. One of the most beloved moments in the film sees Will Ferrels Buddy the Elf saying farewell to the stop-motion animal friends hes made at the North Pole.In a reveal that begins akin to a horror movie, Mr. Narwhal emerges from the depths of the Arctic Sea, only to be one of the most adorable characters. Funko expertly sculpted a fabulous diorama of this scene, with figures of the Arctic puffin, polar bear club, and the aforementioned sea unicorn included. Like the Christmas Vacation ride before it, this Pop display would immediately become a staple of your holiday decorations each year.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereStar Wars: Episode I The Phantom MenaceStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace turned 25 years old this past May. While that may be hard to believe for mega fans of the franchise, The Phantom Menace celebrated its monumental birthday with a re-release in theaters and an excellent selection of anniversary-themed merchandise.Of course, Funko was quick to hop on that train, with various figures released to celebrate the films quarter-century. Highlights include a young Anakin Skywalker and Queen Padme Amidala. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Watto, and Jar Jar Binks were also featured. A Battle Droid ready for a separatist army was part of the collection, but the centerpiece is the glamorous Queen Amidala atop her throne. Any of these figures are perfect gifts for the biggest Star Wars enthusiast you know.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereDogpoolDespite reports of the death of the MCU as we know it, Deadpool & Wolverine reaffirmed the franchise as a continuous juggernaut at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated picture in the history of cinema. To no ones surprise, a plethora of merchandise from the film was produced, but it was actually the first time Ryan Reynolds interpretation of Wade Wilson got any representation from Funko.However, were highlighting a different character today, the real breakout star of the movie: Dogpool, aka Mary Poppins. Portrayed by previous Ugliest Dog in the World winner Peggy, Dogpool is an adorably hideous canine equipped with her own Deadpool costume and goggles. The character is translated effortlessly into a Funko form, as the pop figure looks practically perfect. Any Deadpool or Marvel devotee would love to see this character under the tree this Christmas; just be thankful Peggys real-life tongue isnt included.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereRobot ChickenAdult Swims Robot Chicken has been airing for nearly two decades, but the mascot of the stop-motion series finally has a Funko Pop figure. The titular Robot Chickens wacky design is recreated fantastically in vinyl, with an expertly crafted mold sure to please any mega-fan of the animated show. While targeted at a niche audience, the Robot Chicken Funko Pop is one of the brands most creative players in late 2024.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereJaws Shark Eating BoatBelieve it or not, the film credited with introducing the world to blockbuster filmmaking, Jaws, will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. While there arent too many different scenes in the movie (mostly just the ocean), the Orca, the boat from the famous Youre gonna need a bigger boat sequence is seen here facing off against the great white shark himself. This explosive movie moment will bring joy to any aficionado of Steven Spielbergs 1975 classic, even if its a gory sequence in the film.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereBatman BeyondBatman Beyond is just so cool; theres no other way to put it. One of the most underrated iterations of the Caped Crusader became a spectacular-looking Funko Pop figure. The contrast of his all-black suit with the red logo and bright white eyes really pops (get it?) here, yielding a visually striking figurine. Additionally, how awesome is his pose? This Batman Beyond figure is one of the premier display pieces from Funko this year and should please DC Comics fans.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereMoanaReleasing eight years after the classic original film, Moana 2 stormed into multiplexes this Thanksgiving. The sequel to one of the most-streamed films of the last few years, Moana was a prime candidate to return to the big screen. The wayfinding Disney princess has been the subject of many a piece of merchandise, and her boat from the original films finale was made into a glorious Funko Pop suited as a gift for your most giant Disney adult friend.Buy This Funko Pop Figure HereGraded Funko PopsIf youre plugged into the world of collectibles, youve probably heard of grading. Most commonly associated with trading cards and comic books, grading is a process that determines the condition of a product. Like high school before it, the higher the grade, the higher the praiseor, in this case, higher the value. If you want to ensure the Funko Pop youre buying this Christmas is the utmost quality, get your hands on a graded figure.If one is to acquire a 10 grade, just know the figure is without blemish, literally perfect. The grading process is rigorous and particular, so this feat is not small. Additionally, itll raise the value of your figure tremendously, yielding a much more desirable investment for collectors. Buying a graded Funko Pop this holiday season is the perfect excuse to splurge on a loved one you know will cherish the finer things in life, even if its just a small vinyl figureBuy Graded Funko Pop Figures Here

In developing Cursed Feed, our new horror game about a paranormal investigator pursuing a mysterious family murder, I encountered an unexpected question: Why was I so concerned about establishing the protagonists occupation? This led me down a rabbit hole of reflection about the changing nature of video game narratives and player expectations.Todays gaming landscape reveals a fascinating shift: young players are increasingly drawn to simulation games that recreate everyday experiences. Games that depict profession simulators consistently top charts, while classical storytelling approaches fight for attention.Im baffled with one Steam review about a supermarket game simulator where you play as cashier. The reviewer says I work as a cashier at a supermarket and then as if it is not enough, I come home in the evening to play this game.Immersion vs. EscapismWhat happened to the escapism factor of video games?Did anyone care that Gregor Samsa was a traveling salesman in Kafkas Metamorphosis? His occupation was incidental to theme of alienation and human nature. Similarly, Meursaults clerical job in Albert Camuss novel The Stranger served merely as background to the existential themes at play. Yet in contemporary gaming, a characters profession is crucial for player engagement.The irony isnt lost on me. If we were to adapt Waiting for Godot as a video game today, would we need to market it as Professional Wait Simulator 2024 to capture attention?Becket never needed to explain Godots occupation though its fascinating to note he was inspired by a bus driver Beckett would wait for each morning. Today, paradoxically, a straightforward bus driving simulator game might find more commercial success than a game exploring Becketts existential themes.Life Outside the ScreenThis shift reflects broader cultural changes, particularly among Gen-Z, if I may use the termTheres a growing appetite for experiencing lifes various facets from the safety of ones screen. The popularity of job-focused games might speak to a generation seeking to explore different lives and careers in a low-stakes environment. Its why games featuring mortuary assistants, paranormal investigators, and various professional roles resonate so strongly with modern audiences.In Cursed Feed, we consciously positioned our protagonist as a paranormal investigator, not just someone who stumbles upon supernatural events. This decision wasnt purely artistic it was a recognition that todays players often connect with games through the lens of profession and purpose. The occupation makes the extraordinary elements more relatable through the framework of a job.Does this trend signal the slow demise of classical narrative approaches in gaming? Not necessarily. Rather, it suggests an evolution in storytelling and experience. While simulation games fulfill a desire for structured, occupation-based experiences, they also reveal something profound about modern storytelling: the everyday has become extraordinary.The challenge for narrative designers is to bridge the gap between simulation and narrative. Perhaps the next breakthrough in gaming narratives will come from understanding why players find such comfort and engagement in the mundane, and how we can use that understanding to tell deeper stories.Literary Heroes ResumesIf Kafka were writing for todays gaming audience, would Metamorphosis be marketed as Traveling Salesman Life Simulator (with Unexpected Twist)? The thought is both amusing and sobering. Yet it points to an essential truth: while the vehicles for storytelling may change, the fundamental human experiences we seek remain constant. The task before us is to embrace this evolution , finding ways to weave meaningful narratives through the framework of simulation that todays players find so compelling.As we continue to develop and refine Cursed Feed, these considerations shape our approach to storytelling. The challenge is to tell a horror story that resonates with a generation that finds profound meaning in the simulation of everyday life.At first glance, Cursed Feed might appear to be another profession-based horror experience your role is a paranormal investigator using modern ghost-hunting tools to investigate supernatural phenomena . But beneath this familiar framework lies something more fundamental: a haunting family tragedy that explores the weight of inheritance, the bonds of blood, and the curses that echo through generations. While players might come for the ghost-hunting mechanics, theyll stay for the deeply human story of life, death, and the shadows that family legacies can cast across time.In this way, perhaps weve found a middle ground using the familiar structure of professional simulation as a gateway to deeper, more traditional narrative themes. After all, the best stories, whether told through literature or games, ultimately lead us back to the core of human experience, regardless of the path they take to get there. Cursed Feed is available today on Xbox.Cursed FeedPlaystige Interactive25$5.99$4.79Get it nowIn first-person horror game "Cursed Feed," players embark on a chilling journey with the Thornvale family as they confront a malevolent force unleashed by their own patriarch's archaeological discoveries. Richard Thornvale, a renowned archaeologist, returns from a harrowing expedition in the Middle East with cryptic artifacts in tow, he unwittingly invites an ancient curse into their tranquil home. Soon, inexplicable phenomena plague the household, and Emily, their young daughter, becomes the focal point of the sinister presence. With each passing night, the family is tormented by terrifying apparitions and escalating paranormal activity, leading them to unravel dark secrets buried within the walls of their own home. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they must confront their own fears and uncover the truth behind the curse before it consumes them all. Will they break free from the grip of the past, or will they become mere echoes in the haunted halls of their own history?*As a paranormal investigator, Thornval residence is at your disposal. Place your camera recording equipment at strategic locations around the deserted house.*Use your camera set-up at the back of your van to monitor camera feeds, observe and investigate any ghostly happenings.*Use your spirit box to unearth the horrifying mysteries in the cryptic dungeons beneath the Thornval residence.

Prepare to face Karkonos, the fearsome new Behemoth debuting in Dauntless on December 5 as part of the Dauntless: Awakening update.This is the largest update ever to our monster-slaying, free-to-play action-RPG. Featuring revamped progression systems, powerful new weapons, and a new Behemoth, its a transformative leap forward. With fresh challenges and a community-informed development roadmap, Dauntless: Awakening sets the stage for an exciting future in the Shattered Isles.And at the heart of all this lies our newest Behemoth, the fearsome Karkonos. This monstrous creation is the result of months of collaboration between the Dauntless team and its passionate community. Today, were peeling back the curtain to reveal how the newest addition to the Shattered Isles was brought to life, from initial concept to final in-game implementation. Along the way, youll see how community feedback helped shape Karkonos and why this Behemoth is a testament to the power of collaboration.A Concept Born from CommunityThe origins of Karkonos trace back to a community design livestream, where Dauntless players and developers collaborated in real time to envision the next Behemoth. The session was a creative melting pot, with Slayers sharing their ideas for a creature that was both visually striking and deeply tied to the lore of the Shattered Isles. Some players pushed for a towering, alien-like monster with intricate details, while others suggested grounding the design in real-world inspirations for a sense of familiarity.From these discussions, a bold and imaginative concept emerged. However, as developers delved deeper into the initial sketches, it became clear that the design felt too alien-like and disconnected from the world of Dauntless. Brent Barrett, lead designer on Karkonos, recalls the iterative process: The communitys ideas gave us a phenomenal starting point for us to iterate on. We wanted Karkonos to feel like it truly belonged in the Shattered Isles.Feedback from the livestream continued to shape the Behemoths evolution. Players emphasized the importance of a creature that looked dangerous yet believable, inspiring the team to integrate real-world influences. Crab-like elements were introduced to anchor Karkonos visually, while its scorpion-inspired tail preserved its menacing edge. These design decisions balanced player creativity with the Dauntless aesthetic, resulting in a creature that feels both authentic and fresh.This collaborative refinement process extended beyond visual design, laying the groundwork for a gameplay experience as dynamic and challenging as the Behemoth itself.From Sketch to Savage: The Gameplay ExperienceWhile Karkonos appearance sets the stage, its gameplay is where this Behemoth truly shines. The collaboration with the community extended into early playtests, where Slayers provided invaluable feedback on its mechanics.Karkonos moves with a crab-like gait, forward and backward, but its attack patterns are anything but predictable. Karkonos is mean, Barrett says with a smile. Its tail swipes and ground-shaking pincers have almost no tell, keeping players on edge. And its not just one-on-one, it threatens entire teams, forcing coordination and strategy.Key to the gameplay design was the balance of risk and reward. Moments of vulnerability, like when Karkonos pounds the ground with its pincers, offer skilled Slayers a chance to interrupt, but only if they act quickly and decisively. Community feedback fine-tuned these interactions, ensuring every encounter feels dynamic and rewarding.A Challenge for All SlayersWhether youre a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, Karkonos offers something for everyone. For experienced players, its a punishing test of teamwork, adaptability, and precision. Its relentless attacks can target multiple players simultaneously, and its ability to Aether charge adds an unpredictable layer of intensity.For newer Slayers, Karkonos provides an opportunity to sharpen your skills and experience the thrill of taking down a truly formidable foe. Environmental interactions, like avoiding falling debris or finding openings during Aether charges, ensure the fight remains engaging and accessible for all.But the rewards are worth the effort. Slayers who conquer Karkonos can craft armor inspired by deep-sea diving suits, a nod to its undersea aesthetic. This set not only looks striking but offers the defensive advantages needed for future challenges.The Future of CollaborationThe creation of Karkonos underscores the incredible potential of building Dauntless not just for players, but with players. Through live design streams, early playtests, and ongoing feedback, the community has left an enduring mark on the Shattered Isles.And this is just the beginning. With Dauntless: Awakening heralding a new era, the team is committed to harnessing the passion and creativity of its players in even more meaningful ways, ensuring the voice of the community continues to drive the evolution of Dauntless.Dauntless is back, stronger than ever, with more details about future collaborations on the horizon. Whether youre a Slayer seeking your next great hunt or a creative mind ready to shape the Shattered Isles, your input will help define whats next.Join the conversation on our Discord to participate in these future collaborations.DauntlessEpic Games Inc.1388Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedAs a Slayer, you are all that stands between your world and the Behemoths that seek to devour it. Take on boss-sized monsters, forge powerful weapons, and craft armour from the very creatures you slay all in a massive, free-to-play online world.