Squid Game Season 2 trailerThree years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind.https://adapt.one/editorial/link/244/Squid+Game+Season+2+trailer/

Starting tomorrow, Nov 29 - Dec 8 25% off #MaxonOne, #ZBrush, and #Redshift! Dont miss out on exciting new features including #ZBrushForiPad and future upgrades. https://maxonvfx.com/3Zlo05s

LIVE NOW on #CreateWithMaxon Get comfortable with Redshifts render settings. Focus on the key concepts that ensure your projects are optimized for quality and speed. Explore techniques to fine-tune your render, including Depth of Field (Bokeh), Motion Blur, and PostFX, and learn the importance of sampling and global illumination (GI) to balance high-quality with efficient render times. DOWNLOAD FREE PROJECT FILES HERE! https://maxonvfx.com/files_c4d_fundamentals In this episode youll get comfortable with Redshifts render setting...

Vandals Destroy Ebenezer Scrooges Fictional Tombstone Featured in a Film Adaptation of A Christmas CarolLocated in an English churchyard, the stone was inscribed with the name Ebenezer Scrooge for the 1984 movie. Police are investigating the vandalism, which occurred earlier this monthOlatunji Osho-WilliamsStaff ContributorNovember 27, 2024 10:48 a.m. The stone marked with the name "Ebenezer Scrooge" is located in a graveyard at St. Chads Churchin Shrewsbury, England. Jeremy Bolwell via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 2.0A vandal has destroyed the tombstone that marked Ebenezer Scrooges fictional grave in the 1984 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol.The gravestone is located in Shrewsbury, a town in Englands West Midlands. Town officials say it was likely smashed on the evening of November 23, according to Nick Humphreys of theShropshire Star.If the ghosts of past, present and future would like to visit [the vandals] in the middle of the night and drop them and break them in pieces, I think that would be a perfect punishment, Helen Ball, the town council clerk, tells the Associated Press Brian Melley.The town council is currently looking into whether the stone can be repaired. Meanwhile, local police are still investigating the incident. The gravestone was damaged earlier this month. West Mercia PoliceThe movie adaptation ofCharles Dickens1843 novel was filmed in Shrewsbury four decades ago. Throughout the movie, the ornery Scrooge (played by George C. Scott) is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.The Ghost of Christmas Past brings Scrooge back to his childhood, while the Ghost of Christmas Present shows him the joys and struggles of those in his community. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, cloaked in black like the Grim Reaper, wipes snow off the now-destroyed tombstone to reveal Scrooges name, showing his fate if he continues on his current path.Since the movies debut, Scrooges tombstone has remained on the grounds of St. Chads Church in Shrewsbury. Ball tellsBBC News Richard Price that the site is a popular tourist attraction.A lot of us go on a Christmas pilgrimage to see it, she adds. Whenever we have any friends or family who come to stay, we always make a point of taking them to it.The gravestone wasnt always a prop. Before the film, it had marked a real grave in the churchyard for hundreds of years, according to BBC News Tim Page. The stones original inscription had faded over time, and the church permitted the films production team to inscribe the unknown grave with Ebenezer Scrooge.They had to go to the Home Office to get permission and the rest of it, but nobody knew [whose grave] it was, Martin Wood, a Shrewsbury resident who appeared in the film, told the broadcaster in 2023. If you look at the bottom of the grave nearest to the path, you can just make out a little bit of writing. It was [in] an ideal spot for what they wanted.After the grave was vandalized, Shrewsbury resident Louise Coupland launched aGoFundMe campaign to raise 1,000 for the costs of repairing the stone.Theres not much to see other than broken bits of the gravestone, Ball tells the AP. You cant see that it says Ebenezer Scrooge at the moment because its so damaged. Its hugely disrespectful.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Arts, Books, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Crime, Death, England, England Travel, Fiction, Film, Literature, Movies, Pop culture, Tourism, Travel

Wolfire and Dark Catt's antitrust lawsuit against Valve granted class action statusLegal dispute between studios and Steam firm originally began in 2021 News by James Batchelor Editor-in-chief Published on Nov. 28, 2024 Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios have been granted class action status for their continuing legal dispute with Valve.A court document seen by GamesIndustry.biz shows their motion for class certification was granted by United States District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead. It transforms the antitrust lawsuit from being two developers versus the company behind Steam into a potentially much larger dispute.According to the document, the class action will apply to any developers, publishers or individuals who paid a commission to Valve in connection with a game sale referring to the 30% cut the Steam firm takes from each purchase on or after January 28, 2017.In the same order, the judge denied Valve's request to exclude the testimony of an expert, a Dr. Steven Schwartz, whom the two studios called to argue their case.Both Wolfire Studios and Dark Katt will be the class representatives for the action.Overgrowth developer Wolfire originally filed an antitrust lawsuit against Valve back in April 2021, claiming the company's 30% commission which it described as "an extraordinarily high cut" constitutes anti-competitive practices. It also argued that Valve uses its dominance to "exploit publishers and consumers."This claim was initially dismissed in November 2021, but the developer updated and adapted its arguments before refiling in May 2022.Meanwhile, multimedia production and VR game developer Dark Catt Studios filed its own antitrust suit against Valve in June 2021. This was partly dismissed in November 2021, but Dark Catt was able to continue with some of its claims.A court order issued in July 2022 confirmed the two cases would be consolidated into one.

From distributor to developer: GCL's ambition to create Asian IPs for the worldKeith Liu on the Singapore-based conglomerate's ambitions to evolve from distributor and publisher to developer, and the specificities of the Southeast Asian marketsImage credit: The Gamescom Asia 2024 booth of GCL's publishing branch, 4Divinity | Marie Dealessandri Feature by Marie Dealessandri Deputy Editor Published on Nov. 28, 2024 While the name might not sound as familiar in the west, GCL is one of the biggest digital entertainment companies in Asia, publishing titles like Black Myth Wukong, Stalker 2, and Atomic Heart on the continent, and distributing titles from some of the biggest companies in games including Take-Two, CD Projekt Red, Sega, and Warner Bros."GCL is a group of six brands that cover the spectrum of gaming in Asia," chief marketing officer and head of publishing Keith Liu tells GamesIndustry.biz when we meet at Gamescom Asia. "We're one of the larger gaming companies in this region, from publishing our games to distribution, to having an influencer marketing agency and a digital games retail brand called 2Game."The firm also does accessories and digital vault technology, and is headquartered in Singapore, with branches in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China. It is also nurturing strong relationships in Japan and Korea as well.GCL's publishing branch is called 4Divinity and it often assumes the role of co-publisher for AAA titles across Asian territories. For instance, it co-published the recently released Stalker 2 in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, while Plaion and Sega handled Europe and Japan, respectively.For a title like JDM: Japanese Drift Master, 4Divinity acted as co-publisher for PC only in Asia Pacific, which includes Japan and Korea. Next year, it'll work alongside My Games' new publishing branch, Knights Peak, to release Mandragora in Asia. It handled similar responsibilities for Kong: Survivor Instinct, Atomic Heart, Daymore, and more."We've got all these titles, many of them we bring in from the West to the Asian market, but increasingly we are also looking at bringing titles from Asia to the rest of the world," Liu says."Asia is quite a fragmented market," he continues when we ask why developers might need the help of 4Divinity. "Aside from the ratings, which you've got a few of, there are also differences in languages, differences in what [Asian gamers] really like to play, [and] how to reach out to them, in terms of social media platforms. Many of these countries, when it comes to these things, they're more localised. So because of that, it's kind of complex to navigate within Asia and, a lot of the time, if a Western publisher wants to come to Asia, they might have to end up working with a few different partners for different territories. GCL's chief marketing officer and head of publishing Keith Liu"What we've done is we've helped to build out that network, and also the connections [and] skillsets to be able to address Asia, not as a whole [because] one size does not fit all, but being able to do a lot in these territories with a more local approach. I think that's what they appreciate about what we can do, and for them we're just one neck to choke, basically," he laughs."We're the one partner that can help them to access China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, which are very, very different beasts in general. We started actually with our distribution network, Epicsoft Asia. It's a 16-year-old company."The first game that Epicsoft Asia distributed was Grand Theft Auto 4, and it's continued to work with Take-Two since then for GTA titles and Red Dead Redemption. It also worked with CD Projekt Red and distributed Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020, and also distributes all of Sega Japan's titles for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and "into China a little bit," Liu says. For Warner Bros, it worked on Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, and more."These brands were trusting us all these years and we've had these relationships for a very long time so it's not a one-off thing. And it also means that they're happy with what we do. So what we've done is we've extended that into the publishing business as well, and extended that into Japan, Korea, and that sort of thing."And that's only the first step for GCL, as the company announced last year it was getting ready to go public on Nasdaq in order to fulfil its game development ambitions. Liu tells us it'll be through a De-SPAC route rather than a traditional IPO and that the journey "isn't as fast as [they] would have wanted to" but that there will be more to announce soon."We [are] still looking to tap [into] the capital market for additional funding and investment in order to grow GCL into a much larger conglomerate so that we can start making games. So we do have plans to develop our own titles, and we have very high ambitions and aspirations to not just create any game; we want to make it an impactful and significant one that people will remember and talk about."So obviously it's gonna be a bit on the higher budget side [and] we're still working out those plans, but definitely game development is something that's on our trajectory. It has to because, at the end of the day, you want to be a company that creates IP and owns IP.""Game development is something that's on our trajectory... At the end of the day, you want to be a company that creates IP and owns IP"GCL aims to create IPs that are "more Asian," Liu adds, inspired among others by the success of Black Myth: Wukong."We're trying to bring some of this Asian culture to the rest of the world. I think Black Myth: Wukong, just as an example, [has] given big lessons for the whole gaming industry everywhere."We're taking lessons from that, and we feel that the release of this title, the story behind [it], and how successful it's been and what they've been able to achieve, is a really positive thing for the whole industry, that's really been beset by bad news all around, right? All the layoffs, and all the expansion pre-COVID and then all the implosions post-COVID... It's just been quite unfortunate. And we feel that we are in a slightly better place... The markets all still want good content. We just need to give them good content. Don't make it too complicated, right? Just make games that are fun. Let's go back to that, because people just want to have fun."This echoes sentiments expressed by Shawn Layden during the fireside chat that opened Gamescom Asia. Liu says he's in agreement with the former PlayStation exec, adding that a balance has to be found where you still can create good content that the world appreciates without breaking the bank."And that's where I would say the real test and the real challenge are. But we've always had these challenges when making games, it's just that it's gotten so expensive that, if you fail, what happens after is a lot harder to get out of."So for us, it's really important to really understand the fundamentals of what the market is really looking for. And the market has changed as well. But offering something that's fresh, and not really succumbing to so-called trends... Gamers always want fresh experiences. So if they're happy with something that they've already played, and that's done really well, that doesn't mean that if you do something similar, it will do as well.""We're trying to bring some of this Asian culture to the rest of the world. I think Black Myth: Wukong, just as an example, [has] given big lessons for the whole gaming industry everywhere"The market is in constant evolution, and what works in certain parts of the world might not work elsewhere. That also applies to the formats people are after, Liu tells us as we pivot the conversation to the Southeast Asian market and what players buy here."Retail remains a big part of the gaming landscape, in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China as well," Liu says. "When it comes to console titles, the markets differ from PC and I would say that if you compare PC and console markets here in Asia, the PC market, thanks to China, absolutely dominates. So, consoles themselves haven't really gotten like a massive headway into the China market, for historical and cultural reasons. You see the traditional markets like Japan, Taiwan, and to some extent Korea, still dominating the console space. Of course, when it comes to Korea, mobile has absolutely taken over as well, and PC is growing really, really fast also. So in that sense, the overall console market is a lot smaller vis-a-vis the overall gaming market here in Asia."So when you look at it from that perspective, and you look at digital [versus] physical, digital games still dominate because of PC, and Steam primarily, and also because of mobile."However, when it comes to console, physical sales still predominate for a couple of reasons, Liu explains."With day one launch titles, the physical SKUs still have a very big impact on the market""Firstly, let's just talk about Switch: Nintendo's eShop is only officially available in Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea. It's not available in other markets in Southeast Asia. Sony's a lot better with PlayStation. They've got seven PSN stores in the countries, so you've got Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and then Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea."[But] digital has absolutely grown, especially in the last couple of years. I think consumers look to digital for titles that have been around for a while because they tend to see discounted prices for those titles. So pricing makes a difference, right? But with what we call day one launch titles, the physical SKUs still have a very big impact on the market. Especially for those who want to play the latest games first."He continues: "The other reason is that it's quite a nice second-hand market in many parts of Asia. So after you play it, you go back to your games retailer and trade it in for something else."We mention that the second-hand market has plummeted in the UK for instance, where it barely exists anymore, similarly to brick-and-mortar game shops in general."There are also online platforms where people can get together and do these exchanges or sell [games] off to someone in their town, and then go buy other pre-owned titles from someone else that's still happening," Liu continues."And then I'd say if you look at retail, Japan is still one of the biggest markets for physical [sales]. [It] continues to be. In Korea, that's dropped off I think now physical is about 30%, from my understanding. But in Southeast Asia, it's still at least 50% to 60% of the market. So in that sense there's still half, or more than half, of the market. For day one, definitely higher. For back catalogue, that's gone down. It's all about pricing, it's all about affordability."

The holiday shopping season is here which means its a great time to snag deals on smartwatches and fitness trackers. RelatedBlack Friday and Cyber Monday, in particular, are excellent opportunities if you or a loved one have health or fitness-related goals for the year ahead. That said, it can get a little daunting sifting through the dozens of models out there. Not to worry weve rounded up the best deals for smartwatches and fitness trackers out there.The best Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker dealsThe 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 is $70 off at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $329. The larger 46mm model is also $51 off at $359 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.The 42mm LTE Apple Watch Series 10 is 14 percent off at $429 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. The larger 46mm LTE model is $459 at the same sites.The second-gen Apple Watch SE is 40 percent off at $149 at Amazon and Walmart.Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS)$329$39918% off$329$329$39918% offThe Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. Its also thinner and lighter than its predecessors. Read our review.The 40mm GPS Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is down to $205.05 at Amazon. The larger 44mm size is also $60 off at $247.48.The last-gen 44mm Bluetooth Galaxy Watch 6 is 52 percent off at $159.99 on Amazon. If you want a physical rotating bezel, then the 43mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is 42 percent off at $232.77. The LTE model is also 37 percent off at $284.94.The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is $190 off, selling for $459.99 at Best Buy.Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, Wi-Fi)$280$35020% off$280$280$35020% offGoogles new Pixel Watch 3 is bigger and brighter than its predecessor. It also features more advanced running capabilities, offline Google Maps functionality, and deeper integration with other Google devices. Read our review.You can get the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 with Wi-Fi for $280 at Amazon, Best Buy, and at Googles online store. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 with Wi-Fi is going for $329 at Amazon, Best Buy and Google.Meanwhile, the 41mm LTE Google Pixel Watch 3 is 22 percent off at $349.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, and Google. The larger 45mm LTE model is 20 percent off at $399.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. The OnePlus Watch 2 is 33 percent off at $199.99 on Amazon. This is an excellent alternative to Samsung and Googles Android watches, with great battery life.TheGarmin Fenix 7S Pro is on sale exclusively forVergereaders. Now through Cyber Monday, you can get the multi-sport fitness watch for just $529.99 ($270 off) atWellbotswith promo codeVERGEBF270.The Garmin Forerunner 165 Garmins most affordable running watch is 20 percent off at $199.99 on Amazon. The fetching Withings Scanwatch Light is 20 percent off at $200 on Amazon and Best Buy. This is a nice option if you want a stylish, no-frills hybrid smartwatch.The Fitbit Charge 6 is down to $99.95 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. If youre looking for a kids tracker, the Fitbit Ace LTE is $179.95, or 22 percent off, on Amazon, Best Buy, and Google.Oura Ring Gen 3$249$29917% off$249$249$29917% offThe Oura Ring Gen 3 is a discreet sleep and recovery tracker that tracks heart rate, body temperature, and activity. It comes with a six-month free trial, with a $5.99 subscription after that. Read our review.If you want to save on a smart ring, the Oura Ring Gen 3 is $50 off at $249 on Amazon, Best Buy, and Ouras site.Not keen on Ouras subscription? The Ultrahuman Ring Air is 15 percent off at $296.65 on Amazon. The first-gen RingConn is also 40 percent off at $169 on Amazon.

Now that Thanksgiving is done and dusted, the holiday weve actually been waiting for is here: Black Friday. The biggest shopping event of the year has officially kicked off, folks, and as expected, there is a dizzying array of deals available just about everywhere you look. Thankfully, we at The Verge know a thing or two about how to find the best deals.Many of the writers and editors at The Verge have spent years testing and toying with various gadgets, many of which can be found in our buying guides, reviews, and deal coverage. Our team has also spent more hours than we care to admit sifting through spreadsheets and retailer listings, cross-checking prices and our own recommendations to pull together a list of deals that earn our stamp of approval.Below, youll find deals on everything from Sonos speakers and the PlayStation 5 to Apples latest AirPods Pro, the newest Kindle, and even streaming services like Hulu. Weve also added a few non-tech goodies from our Favorites program, like Hotos electric screwdriver and the AeroPress Original. Well be continuously updating this roundup as more deals drop throughout the day, so keep checking back!RelatedFeatured dealsApple AirPods Pro 2$154$25038% off$154$154$25038% offThe second-gen AirPods Pro improve upon Apples original pair with much better noise cancellation, sound quality, and onboard volume controls. The latest refresh also ships with a USB-C charging case, as opposed to Lightning.Read our review.Hulu (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)UE 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.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.TheLegend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom$30$7057% off$30$30$7057% offTears of the Kingdom is the latest installment in the Zelda franchise. The storyline and gameplay are similar to Breath of the Wilds, but enough has changed to make Links return to Hyrule plenty special. Read our review.$30 at Walmart (digital)$40 at Best Buy (physical)Ray-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.Philips Hue Festavia string lights $154$22030% off$154$154$22030% offThese smart lights have beautiful colors, a nice selection of festive scenes, and an easy-to-use app. They are super reliable when paired with a Hue Bridge and also work over Bluetooth. They come in two lengths, work with all the major smart home platforms, and are Matter-compatible.2022 Apple iPad (64GB, Wi-Fi)$250$34928% off$250$250$34928% offApples 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button. Read our review.Hoto 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.Nintendo Switch Pro Controller$50$7029% off$50$50$7029% offThe Switch Pro released alongside the Switch console in 2017, and its a tough controller to beat. It offers an unmatched set of features (HD rumble, motion controls, NFC), and its one of the most comfortable Switch controllers out there.Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra $1100$180039% off$1100$1100$180039% offWith top-notch vacuuming performance, an easy-to-use app, and built-in voice control, the S8 MaxV Ultra is a superb vacuum and good mop. It features Roborocks best obstacle avoidance, innovative features like dirt detection, and a hands-free dock that makes it an expensive but excellent choice.Glocusent book light$18$2218% off$18$18$2218% offGlocuscents book light hangs around your neck to illuminate whatever youre reading, while offering adjustable brightness and warmth settings.$18 at Amazon$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)The best Apple dealsApple AirTag (four-pack)$73$9926% off$73$73$9926% offApples AirTags are unobtrusive, waterproof, and tap into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating. Read our review.2022 Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS) $149$24940% off$149$149$24940% offThe latest SE borrows a few features from the Series 8, including the same chipset and Crash Detection feature, but its an otherwise subtle upgrade from the last-gen SE. Read our review.Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS)$329$39918% off$329$329$39918% offThe Apple Watch Series 10 has a larger, wide-angle OLED display with up to 30 percent more screen area. Its also thinner and lighter than its predecessors. Read our review.You can buy the last-gen iPad with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage for its all-time low of $199.99 ($129 off) at Best Buy and Target. The 2021 tablet features a smaller 10.2-inch screen than the newer model, a slower A13 Bionic chip, and a Lightning charging port. However, its still snappy enough for streaming, browsing the web, sending emails, and performing other typical tablet tasks, making it great for kids or anybody looking for an affordable tablet. It even features a 3.5mm headphone jack a welcome rarity.If you want the latest and greatest, the new iPad Mini is available at Amazon with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage starting at $459 ($40 off), or at Best Buy for $469 ($30 off). Apples 8.3-inch tablet is pretty similar to the outgoing model from 2021, only it features faster Wi-Fi speeds and support for the newer Apple Pencil Pro. It also leverages the new Apple A17 Pro chip, which allows for various AI-based Apple Intelligence features. Read our review.Verizon is offering up to $1,000 off an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max and up to $830 off an iPhone 16 when you trade in any phone in any condition, provided youre signed on to a select Unlimited plan. AT&T is also offering $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max or $830 off an iPhone 16 with trade-in. You can get the same Verizon and AT&T deals through Best Buy, in which case youll get a $100 Best Buy gift card with your purchase.13-inch MacBook Air with M2 (2022)$749$99925% off$749$749$99925% offThe 2022 MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apples M2 chip. The M2 model touts an improved 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. Read our review.$749 at Amazon (256GB SSD, 16GB RAM)$749 at Best Buy (256GB SSD, 16GB RAM)13-inch Apple MacBook Air M3 (2024) $844$109923% off$844$844$109923% offThe MacBook Air M3 is a jack-of-all-trades, with a balanced combination of performance and power efficiency. It also now supports dual displays with the lid closed, and the storage speed is noticeably faster. You dont need to think about if this laptop will meet your needs it just will. Read our review.$844 at Amazon (16GB / 256GB SSD)$849 at Best Buy (16GB / 256GB SSD)If you want a larger laptop from Apple, the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air with base 256GB storage and 16GB of RAM is going for $1,044 ($255 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Thats matching the lowest price weve seen for Apples larger Air, which sports an excellent display and a couple of extra speakers over the 13-inch that sound great.The M4-powered iMac is on sale starting at $1,149 ($150 off) at Amazon with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU M4 chip, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage when you clip the on-page coupon. Its a shame the base model only comes with four ports, but otherwise, the iMac is a good desktop computer that offers minor upgrades over its predecessor, including faster performance and a better 12MP webcam with support for Apples Center Stage feature. And, of course, the 24-inch display continues to come in a number of fun colors. Read our review.You can buy Apples official iPhone 16 Clear Case with MagSafefrom Amazon starting at$37 ($12 off), which is its best price yet. Apple designed the polycarbonate case so that it works well with the iPhone 16s newCamera Control button. The company also added a glossy scratch-resistant coating, likely after many complained about how last yearsFineWoven casesscratched easily.If you prefer to buy first-party, starting on November 29th,Apple will also be hosting its own rare sales event. You can get up to $200 on select MacBook Airs, while certain iPads will net you $100 in credit. Apple will also give you anywhere between $25- $75 in credit when you purchase select iPhones, AirPods, styli, streaming devices, and more.The best wireless earbuds 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.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$229$29923% off$229$229$29923% offWith dynamic, rich sound and the best noise cancellation available in true wireless earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a terrific pick if you want to listen to your music in peace. Read our review.Jabra may have stopped selling consumer earbuds, but that doesnt there arent discounts available on the existing models. Right now, for instance, you can purchase theJabra Elite 10Gen 2 for an all-time low of $199.99 ($80 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.In addition to noise cancellation, the semi-openElite 10 come with an LE Audio charging case, which lets youwirelessly transmit audio from an external device. They also feature physical buttons and support other essentials, including multipoint Bluetooth connectivity.You can also pick up Jabras Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for $169.99 ($60 off) at Amazon and

Every year we round up all the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for game developers and 2024 is no exception. The follow are the best deals we located for game development software, tools and assets. AssetsUnity Asset StoreUnity have 850+ assets on sale 50% off, as well as daily Flash Deals that are 70% off. Unreal Engine/FabFab (formerly the Unreal Engine Marketplace and SketchFab marketplace) has hundreds of assets 70% off.Ovani Sound Black Friday BundleA massive collection of sound effects, music and audio game engine plugins for just $20. GameDev MarketSave up to 60% off game dev assets.Unreal to Godot ExporterGet this excellent Unreal to Godot (learn more) exporter for 20% off using code rt99t8i at checkout.Leartes Black Friday Unreal Engine BundleUse code BF60 for an additional 60% off the bundle priceLeartes Black Friday Unity Engine BundleUse code BF60 for an additional 60% off the bundle priceSynty AssetsGet Synty assets up to 70% off.3D TotalSave 20% off all items.CG TraderSave up to 70% off 3D models.Flipped NormalsSave up to 50% off on 40,000+ items.TurboSquidSave up to 50% off 3D models.HDRMaps30% off everythingKitBash3DKits and subscriptions on sale for Cyber MonthSound IdeasUp to 50% off sound effect libraries and buy 2 get the 3rd one free.Humble BundlesWhile not technically Black Friday deals, both Humble Bundle and Fanatical are running several bundles of interest to game developers.Humble Bundles:Rust Black Friday (with Bevy)Ultimate Unreal (and Unity) Sci-Fi Assets BundleAward Winning Assets for UnityLearn Unity with GameDevTVGameDev Market: Best of 2024 BundleFanatical Bundles:Build Your Own Game Development Bundle with Unreal & UnityGodot Programming eLearning BundleVarious Game Development AssetsVarious Game Development and Programming BooksSteam Autumn SaleThe annual Steam autumn sale is going on right now as well. There are several game development related applications available on discount on Steam, with the following be a random assortment of interesting programs. Be sure to check Steam for the full list of applications on sale.Aseprite 30% OffPixel FX Designer 33% Off Learn MoreSpriter Pro 35% OffPixel Over 30% Off Learn MoreSoftware3D CoatGet 3D Coat 2024 for 100 off, and 3D Coat Textura for 23 OffAbletonGet Ableton Live, upgrades and packs 25% OffAdobeSubscribe to Creative Cloud for 50% offAffinityAll Affinity Products such as Designer and Photo 50% off.AutodeskBlack Friday/Cyberweek deal still coming soonCascadeurGet 45% off CorelSave up to $210CDN on Corel programs including Corel Draw, Painter, Paintshop Pro and moreDaz3DRotating daily offers plus sales across the catalogEmberGen(Learn More)Get 30% off EmberGen Indie license using code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout.FL StudioSave up to 30% off FL Studio multiple versionsLightwave 3D63% off new licenses and upgrades to 2024 versionMari50% off individual subscriptionsMarmosetGet 20% Off Marmoset Toolbag licensesMaxon25% off Maxon One (Cinema 4D, ZBrush and moreMilo & Silo40% off with code GATHER at checkoutPlasticity20% off indie and studio licenses.RealAllusionSave up to 50% off software and assets.RizomUV30% off with code rizomuv at checkout. (Learn More)Sound ParticlesSave up to 65% off on all products. You can learn aboutSound Particles here.SteinbergSave up to 60% off all products.Toon Boom30% off all Harmony and Storyboard pro subscriptionsThe above links may contain an affiliate code that pays GFS a small commission if used (and thanks if you do).You can learn more about the Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 deals for game developers in thevideo(coming soon)below.

Large language models (LLMs) with long-context processing capabilities have revolutionized technological applications across multiple domains. Recent advancements have enabled sophisticated use cases including repository-level coding assistance, multi-document analysis, and autonomous agent development. These models demonstrate remarkable potential in handling extensive contextual information, requiring advanced mechanisms to retrieve and integrate dispersed details effectively. However, the current landscape reveals significant challenges in maintaining consistent performance across complex reasoning tasks. While LLMs have achieved near-perfect accuracy in needle-in-a-haystack scenarios, substantial performance limitations persist when confronting more nuanced long-context reasoning challenges. This variability highlights the critical need for innovative approaches to enhance contextual understanding and reasoning capabilities in artificial intelligence systems.Research in long-context language modeling has emerged as a critical frontier in artificial intelligence, exploring innovative approaches to enhance large language models contextual processing capabilities. Two primary research trajectories have gained prominence: model-centered and data-centric methodologies. Model-centered strategies involve targeted modifications to existing architectures, including subtle adjustments to position embeddings and attention mechanisms. Researchers have also proposed unique architectural designs aimed at improving computational efficiency and contextual comprehension. Simultaneously, data-centric approaches focus on sophisticated data engineering techniques, such as continued pretraining on extended sequences and utilizing expert models or human annotations for refined training data. These multifaceted research efforts collectively aim to push the boundaries of language models contextual understanding and reasoning capabilities, addressing fundamental challenges in artificial intelligence systems.Researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Tencent introduce SEALONG, a robust self-improving methodology designed to enhance large language models reasoning capabilities in long-context scenarios. By sampling multiple reasoning trajectories and employing Minimum Bayes Risk (MBR) scoring, the method prioritizes outputs demonstrating higher consistency across generated responses. This approach addresses the critical challenge of hallucination in language models by identifying and prioritizing reasoning paths that align more closely with collective model outputs. The methodology offers two primary optimization strategies: supervised fine-tuning using high-scoring outputs and preference optimization involving both high and low-scoring trajectories. Experimental evaluations across leading language models demonstrate significant performance improvements, with notable increases in long-context reasoning capabilities without relying on external human or expert model annotations.SEALONG introduces an innovative two-stage methodology for enhancing long-context reasoning in large language models. The approach centers on self-supervision and model fine-tuning, utilizing a robust evaluation technique based on MBR decoding. By generating multiple reasoning trajectories for each input, the method assesses output quality through semantic consistency and embedding similarity. This approach enables the model to identify and prioritize more reliable reasoning paths by comparing different generated outputs. The technique employs a Monte Carlo method to score each trajectory, effectively distinguishing between potentially hallucinated and more accurate responses. Crucially, SEALONG demonstrates significant performance improvements without relying on external human annotations or expert model interventions.This research presents SEALONG, an innovative approach to enhancing large language models long-context reasoning capabilities through self-improvement techniques. SEALONG represents a significant advancement in addressing critical challenges associated with contextual understanding and reasoning in artificial intelligence systems. By demonstrating the models potential to refine their own reasoning processes without external expert intervention, the study offers a promising pathway for continuous model development. The proposed methodology not only improves performance across multiple long-context reasoning tasks but also provides a framework for future research in artificial intelligence. This innovative approach holds substantial implications for the ongoing evolution of large language models, potentially bridging the gap between current AI capabilities and more advanced, human-like reasoning.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. Mohammad Asjad+ postsAsjad is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is persuing B.Tech in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Asjad is a Machine learning and deep learning enthusiast who is always researching the applications of machine learning in healthcare. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)