Decembers Humble Choice games are here, and this months mix features stylish shooters, thoughtful RPGs, dynamic metroidvanias, and lots more!Run the city of New Amsterdam in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk or rule over multiple generations in Old World. Discover great action RPGs, looter-shooters, and a whole more with your membership this month!Explore December ChoiceGet great games in December ChoiceCheck out all 9 games that are yours to own forever when youre a Humble Choice member this month!Bomb Rush CyberfunkBomb Rush Cyberfunk is a hyper-stylish, cel-shaded title that blends graffiti, hip-hop, action sports, and breaking to create a vibrant world for you to explore. Use skateboarding, inline skating, and BMX-style tricks to grind and soar through the environment with speed and flairthe more tricks you land, the faster you go!Your goal? Expand your Bomb Rush Crews influence across the five boroughs in the fictional metropolis of New Amsterdam by defeating police, rival crews, and other adversaries. Slay your foes with slick dance moves, recruit new crew members, and tag graffiti spots across the city. Feel the rush and get your adrenaline pumping with Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.Old WorldTired of the same ol historical strategy games? Old World adds new layers of depth to the genre you know and love to create a revolutionary strategy game experience. Family and generational ties form the backbone of what makes Old World so uniquemarry strategically, strengthen your bloodline by raising powerful heirs, and manage interpersonal relationships to maximize the advantages of your inner circle.How you leadand who you lead withcan unlock additional in-battle bonuses and dictate the success of your empire! The gameplay delivers the core mechanics youd expect from the genre, but with small twists like the ability to undo mistaken commands, move multiple times per turn, and randomized upgrade trees. See how long your dynasty can thrive today in Old World.Atlas Fallen: Reign Of SandExperience the definitive way to play Atlas Fallen with the Reign Of Sand edition. This ultimate edition of the original game features new enemies, new quests, and a revamped progression system, alongside a reworked campaign and enhanced voice acting performances.This action RPG really nails the combat with gorgeous encounters punctuated by amazing visuals and well-blananced opponents. Discover countless weapons, combos, and skills to aid in your battles against legendary monsters and bosses, and customize your attack style by unlocking new perks. Between skirmishes, navigate the eyecatching desert landscape by surfing its golden dunes. Own the battlefield with Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand.Crime Boss: Rockay CityIts your time to be the don in Crime Boss: Rockay City, where anyone who challenges your rise to power will end up sleeping with the fishes. Welcome to Rockay City, Floridaa 90s-themed urban jungle ripe for the taking. This looter-shooter with rogue-lite elements shines in its heists and turf wars. Choose from small, medium, or large-scale jobs, each with three difficulty options for added replayability.Assemble a crew with your friends for thrilling co-op multiplayer missions, or go solo as a one-man army to take on daring heists. With a diverse arsenal of weapons and varied maps, the action always feels fresh. Are you ready to claim control over Rockay City? The battle begins now!InkulinatiMedieval turn-based strategy has never been this entertainingor presented in such a unique way. Inkulinati masterfully reinvents what a field of play can look like with its medieval manuscript gameboard. Draw various powerful units known as Beasts, position them around Battlefields while avoiding dangerous obstacles, and use their monstrous powers to spill the ink of your enemies across the page.The hand-drawn, medieval-painting-inspired art style is both striking and functional. As an Inkulinati Master, turn the tide of battle with your Hand Action powersdraw obstacles, reposition units with a flick of your finger, and execute devastating attacks to dominate the page. Prove that the pen is mightier than the sword in Inkulinati!The InvinciblePonder the complexities of the human experience in The Invinciblea story-driven adventure set in the hard sci-fi world crafted by Polish writer Stanisaw Lem. This philosophical journey combines active storytelling with consequential decision-making, shaping the plot and leading to one of eleven possible endings.Step into the role of Yasna, an astrobiologist leading an expedition to the enigmatic planet Regis III. Chaos blankets the planet as you search for lost crewmates, confront questions about humanitys place in the universe, and fight to survive. Experience this thought-provoking title today!Moonstone IslandHigh-quality kawaii life-sims never go out of style, and Moonstone Island might just be one of the cutest and most enjoyable entries in recent years. This delightful adventure combines creature-collecting exploration, card-based battles, potion crafting, and lively retro-inspired visuals to create an irresistibly charming experience.Befriend your fellow islanders, build relationships, and even find love as you immerse yourself in a vibrant in-game community. Relish classic life-sim elements like designing and decorating your dream home on any of the 100 islands, growing crops for potion ingredients, and trading with friendly merchants. Embrace your destiny as an alchemist in Moonstone Island!VenbaVenba reminds players why short form storytelling is so powerfula great game doesnt need length to have impact. This cooking game is set in the 1980s and follows an Indian mother who immigrates to Canada with her husband and son as they navigate the ups and downs of life.Venbas rich hand-drawn visual style is vibrant, warm, and tonesetting.Cooking delicious Indian cuisine is the tip of the fun icebergVenba is a surprisingly deep story of love, loss, growth, and togetherness. Perfect for pick-up-and-play moments, youll love Venba because of its memorable and punchy presentation and endless replay value.Monster Prom 3: Monster RoadtripEmbark on a teen adventure like no other and feel the wind in your hair with this co-op road trip remix of the Monster Prom series.Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip introduces resource management elements to the franchises signature sense of irreverent humor and loveable characters to create hilarious moments. Reconnect with fan favorite characters from previous Monster Prom installments or make friends with several new personalities. Start a fling with one of many hitchhikers or or skip the romance and focus on the journey ahead.All you need to do is survive the roadtripbut thats easier said than done in this colorful tale of burnt rubber and love. Buckle up and get ready for Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip!Decembers Featured Charity: Direct ReliefAs always, 5% of your membership will help support our featured charityDirect Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian organization aiming to improve the lives of the impoverished and those in crisis with medical resources.Thanks for your incredible support, and we hope you enjoy December Choice!Explore December Choice

Scratch that nostalgia itch with these Switch neo-classics.Given that we're approaching the holiday season, we thought it was high time we brought back this list of retro throwbacks to help fill up your Switch library in time for Christmas. We've rejigged this to our new format and added a fantastic trio of retro-style delights Carpathian Night Starring Bela Lugosi, Crow Country, and Fear the Spotlight.Ah, nostalgia it's a tricksy thing. How many times have we gone back to revisit a treasured classic only to find that modern games have spoiled it for us? For all the brilliant aspects of retro games, the mod cons and performance we're used to now are pretty fantastic, too, and sometimes going back can be tough.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube787kDeveloper Mad Mimic and publisher Light Up Games have announced that the pirate metroidvania Mark of the Deep will be landing on Switch in January 2025.You might remember that this one was initially scheduled for an October 2024 launch a date which, obviously, wasn't met and while it's never ideal to see a nice-looking game delayed, the new release window isn't all that far away.For those who missed the initial announcement, Mark of the Deep sees you shipwrecked on a cursed island (the worst type of island), forced to fight your way through all kinds of nasties in an attempt to reunite your crew. There's a metroidvania structure to the exploration, and the developer highlights a certain Soulslike approach to the combat so expect to see a good few dodge rolls.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube787kWatch on YouTube Looking at the new gameplay trailer (above), we couldn't help but be reminded a little of Hades in the game's isometric camera, action animation and overall visuals. Obviously, there are no roguelike elements to contend with here, but we'd be surprised if Supergiant's journey through the underworld didn't provide at least a sliver of inspiration on the design front.You can find a rundown of the game's story and key features, and a handful of screenshots below:A pirate ship wrecked on a mystic and cursed island, till then known only by myths n tales. In this diversely hostile environment, Rookie needs to face a wide variety of dangers to find his lost crew.However, by exploring the eerie biomes and fighting abyssal monsters, he will learn that the Island was cursed centuries ago, when the cultist leader of the Old Folk - the native inhabitants of the island - imprisoned the Leviathan, in search of obtaining immortality.Features:- Get new abilities that change how you fight enemies, traverse the environment, and unlock new paths!- Experience challenging but fair combat against a diverse set of enemies!- Find your missing crew and bring them to the crew's HUB!- Upgrade your weapons and abilities!Images: Light Up GamesWe still don't have the specifics of exactly when Mark of the Deep will drop anchor on Switch in January 2025, but we'll be keeping an eye out over the coming weeks for more information.We were lucky enough to go hands-on with this one at Tokyo Games Show this year and we liked what we saw. Here's hoping that the full game can keep the good times coming. Fantasian! DQ3! Phantom Brave! Sonic, again!What do you make of Mark of the Deep? Will you be checking it out next year? Let us know in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:53 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesSwitch Is Getting A New Star Trek Game For Christmas'Star Trek: Legends' beams down on Xmas Day133 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Cyber Deals' Switch eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherThe First Review For Fantasian Neo Dimension Is InFrom the creator of Final Fantasy62 Switch Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's Black Friday Sale (Europe)Every Switch game on sale that we rated 9/10+

Chinas open source AI models have been making the news lately for their strong performance on various AI tasks such as coding and reasoning.However, they have also attracted criticism including from OpenAI employees for censoring topics sensitive to the Chinese government, such as the Tiananmen Square massacre.HuggingFaces CEO Clement Delangue says he has similar concerns. In a recent podcast (in French), he warned about the unintended consequences of Western companies building on top of well-performing, open source Chinese AI.If you create a chatbot and ask it a question about Tiananmen, well, its not going to respond to you the same way as if it was a system developed in France or the US, Delangue warned.Delangue noted that if a country like China becomes by far the strongest on AI, they will be capable of spreading certain cultural aspects that perhaps the Western world wouldnt want to see spread.Delangue has previously stated that Chinese AI is quickly catching up to Western AI thanks to its embrace of the open source movement.Delangue warned on the podcast that the strong concentration of top open source models coming from China is a fairly new development and Im a little worried about it to be honest, he said. Its important that AI is distributed between all countries that there isnt one or two countries which are much stronger than the others.HuggingFace is the worlds biggest platform for AI models and a popular place for Chinese AI companies to showcase their latest LLMs. In fact, HuggingFaces CTO announced this week that the default model on HuggingChat is Qwen2.5-72B-Instruct, which was developed by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.This particular model does not appear to censor questions about the Tiananmen Square massacre or other issues typically censored by the Chinese government.A different model from Alibabas Qwen family available on HuggingChat, QwQ-32B, however, clearly does when TC asked:Alibabas QwQ-32B model wont answer a question about the Tiananmen Square protestsDeepSeek, another Chinese model which went viral in the AI community for its reasoning capabilities, also extensively censors topics deemed sensitive by the Chinese government, TechCrunch previously reported.Chinese AI companies are in a tough spot as the Chinese government forces their models to embody core socialist values and comply with its already-extensive censorship system.A HuggingFace spokesperson declined further comment but pointed out that Delangue recently predicted China would start to lead the global AI race in 2025.

Im trying to find holiday gifts for my sisters. I open a bunch of tabs, I want my wifes advice.Thats Browser Company CEO, Josh Miller, in his companys latest ad for its new AI browser, Dia. Consulting your spouse to find gifts for your siblings is a pure and dare I say, sweet thing to do with a browser. But the new product hes showcasing is replacing Arc, a beloved browser that put Millers company on the map. Not everyone is happy about the Browser Companys pivot from Arc to AI browsing, and this latest commercial inadvertently explains why.Instead of talking to his wife, Miller talks to his AI chatbot and asks the AI to talk to his wife for him.Hi, Valerie, I hope youre doing well, said the AI chatbot, posing as Miller, in an email to his wife. I came across a few interesting products on Amazon it continued. Best, Josh.Screenshot of a promotional video for dia.Image Credits:The Browser Company (screenshot)The email feels more like something youd write to a distant work colleague, rather than the way youd speak with a loved one you see every day. While its not an inappropriate message, its cold and couldve been sent to anyone.This example from the Browser Company was the latest AI ad that told a different story about the technology than it intended but perhaps a truer one. It strikes the same sensitive nerve that so many other AI advertisements have in the last year. In trying to promote AI, tech companies cant help but show how it removes us from the very activities that make us human.Of course, Miller could (and probably should) have customized the prompt to be warmer and address his wife as such, but thats missing the larger point.Miller didnt really talk to his wife in this case. The AI browser took a genuine act of human kindness and turned the exchange into something that feels impersonal largely because it is. AI is further abstracting what it means to connect. At one point, connection meant talking in person; then, around the turn of the century, it migrated to texts sent over the internet. Now humans are starting to experiment with using AI to talk with each other, and in some cases, just talking to AI removing the need to connect with a human altogether.You could say Im cherry-picking this ad, but its a story that tech companies keep accidentally telling over and over again. This part of the ad was likely intended to show how Dia could retrieve links from multiple web pages and understand their context an impressive feat for an AI system these days.But this was yet another example of how generative AI can reduce our humanity.Consider Googles ad earlier this year, where a father and daughter used Gemini to create an AI-generated fan letter to their favorite Olympian. The company later pulled the ad after facing backlash for taking a sweet father-daughter exchange and automating it away.Or maybe you remember how Apple unveiled its AI features at WWDC this year: showing how you can go up to a strangers dog, point your iPhone at it, and have Apple Intelligence tell you what breed it is. Many people pointed out that you could have just asked the stranger what type of dog they have, and maybe you would have found a friend alongside the dogs breed.Months earlier, Apple apologized for an ad it ran where the company quite literally crushed objects representing human creativity, in favor of an iPad. It wasnt an ad for AI, but it had the same effect: technology that reduces our humanity.The most extreme example of these AI ads came from an AI startup called Friend. The startup released a promotional video showing how lonely young people could have a virtual companion in the startups AI device that they wear around their neck, instead of talking to others.Uncomfortably honest While these AI ads feel dystopian, theres something about them that also feels honest. These ads represent the ways people are actually using AI for today, even though its unsettling when its demonstrated on your screen.Some of the most common use cases of AI today are AI-generated art and AI companions. The former is usually a pretty low-stakes, creative task such as creating a picture or a short song. The latter can be surprisingly valuable: People are using chatbots to learn about things or talk through personal problems, much like they would with an intelligent or sympathetic friend.Art and companionship both feel very central to the human experience, and the fact that AI is being used for both of those things today is a reality some find uncomfortable to acknowledge.But for every dystopian AI ad that stirs social media users into a frenzy, there are thousands of AI advertisements that fly under the radar. Why? Because most ads for AI mean nothing at all. Lots of companies have resorted to painting AI as this amorphous, magical childrens book character with no specific use case, and yet, implying that it can do almost anything.Heres some examples of odd AI billboards seen around San Francisco:Intelligence so big, youd swear it was from Texas, said one.Adapt your workforce at the speed of AI, said another.AI that talks to cars and talks to wildlife, said a third.A billboard for Google.Image Credits:Maxwell ZeffGeminiiiiiiiiiice, said yet another.See what I mean? I have no idea what these things do, and yet, it all feels inoffensive, vaguely describes AI in a magical way, and gets the product in front of my face. Maybe thats the point.This banal tapestry of AI advertisements depicts the industry more accurately than any one company can. Most companies dont really know what AI is good for, and the ways people use AI today are somewhat discomfiting, automating many of the very tasks that make us human.You might wonder why companies arent making the obvious AI ads: AI does your boring job so you can spend more time at the beach, with your friends and family, or pursuing your passions. Thats what Zooms CEO laid out as his vision for AI, and its probably the most optimistic outcome weve seen someone describe.Perhaps the reason were not seeing more tech companies promise that future is because AI is not ready to do your job. Theres also a conflicting vision there: If AI can do some of your job, couldnt it also replace you altogether? While it may be a while before AI can actually do your job, it seems most companies are steering clear of that message altogether.I cant say what the right way to be promoting AI is right now, but I do think the status quo for AI ads is objectively strange. Whereas previous generations of technology promised to liberate us, connect us, and make us smarter, the overarching promise of AI is still unclear. If companies are looking for another uplifting message to sell their software with, automating core aspects of the human experience aint it.

Created by Samuel Lewek and his team at the Filmakademie Baden-Wrttemberg, Dancing in Norms reflects the upcoming events Rhythm of Change theme; House of the Dragon Season 2 is first confirmed presentation.

RADiCAL has appointed Adrian Rashad Driscoll to its advisory board. The appointment is timed with the integration of RADiCAL with Tinkercad, Autodesks online 3D design and modeling platform a cornerstone of digital creativity in education, empowering students and teachers to explore 3D design and STEM learning.During his career, Driscoll has aimed to empower young people in underprivileged and under-represented communities across the US. Through his teaching roles with programs like EAST Initiative, Driscoll has introduced XR tools to help students explore education. In 2020, Driscoll co-founded Collimation with record producer Young Guru to support global talent with live XR entertainment experiences.Applying his knowledge and industry connections, Driscoll plans to advocate for RADiCALs mission of democratizing content creation."Creativity doesnt thrive only in affluent areas, commented Driscoll. On the contrary, it often emerges from diverse experiences. Thats why we must make these tools accessible to all creators, regardless of their financial circumstances. I joined the RADiCAL team for this very reason. Imagine if Picasso had been unable to paint simply because he couldnt afford a brush."Tinkercad is Autodesks free 3D modeling app that equips the next generation of creators and engineers with the foundational skills for innovation. This new seamless integration enables students and educators to create custom 3D assets in Tinkercad and bring them directly into RADiCALs platform for enhanced visualization and animation. The software enables students to move from imagination to interaction in ways that were previously limited to professional studios.We're thrilled to welcome Adrian to our advisory board at such a pivotal moment for RADiCAL, said Gavan Gravesen, CEO and Co-founder of RADiCAL. "Adrian's passion for empowering underrepresented communities and his dedication to innovation align perfectly with our mission to democratize content creation. His leadership and advocacy will be invaluable as we expand access to our tools, including through initiatives like our Tinkercad integration and free access for educational institutions. Together, were making it possible for creators everywhereregardless of backgroundto bring their ideas to life.Source: RADiCAL Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Breakdown & ShowreelsTransformers Rise of the Beasts: FX Simulations by Weta FXBy Vincent Frei - 03/12/2024 Feel the ground shake and the skies burn as Weta FX brings impressive FX simulations to Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. From explosive battles to intricate elemental effects, every frame is a testament to their mastery!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Weta FX: Dedicated page about Transformers: Rise of the Beasts on Weta FX website.Matt Aitken, Mike Perry & Kevin Estey: Here is my interview of Matt Aitken (Overall VFX Supervisor), Mike Perry (VFX Supervisor) and Kevin Estey (Animation Supervisor) at Weta FX.Gary Brozenich: Here is my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Gary Brozenich.WATCH IT ON Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024

Movie & Games TrailersSnow WhiteBy Vincent Frei - 03/12/2024 Mirror, mirror on the wall the most magical story of them all comes to life! Dive into the enchanting world of Disneys Snow White, reimagined in live action!The VFX are made by:MPC (VFX Supervisors: Chris Uyede, Seb Raets)Framestore (VFX Supervisors: Damien Stumpf, Sean Schur)The Production VFX Supervisor is Max Wood.The Production VFX Producer is Olly Young.The VFX Associate Producer is Dan Moody.The Production Animation Supervisor is Greg Fisher.Director: Marc WebbRelease Date: March 21, 2025 (USA) Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024

Hkan Zap Andersson is a senior technical 3D expert and a widely recognized name in the world of rendering and shader development. Zap has long been at the forefront of technical innovation in computer graphics and VFX.Known for his contributions to tools like OSL and MaterialX at Autodesk, Zap has recently ventured into the rapidly evolving domain of AI video tools, leveraging Googles powerful Notebook LM to push the boundaries of creative storytelling. His exploration resulted in UNREAL MYSTERIES, a bizarre series designed both to challenge his skills and test the capabilities of these new AI technologies.Zap joins us on the fxpodcast to delve into his creative process, share insights on the tools he used, and discuss the lessons he learned from working with cutting-edge AI systems. Below, youll find an in-depth making of breakdown that details how Zap combined his expertise with AI-powered workflows. And because no experiment is complete without a few surprises, weve included an AI blooper reel at the bottom of this story to highlight the quirks and challenges of working with this still-maturing technology.Listen to this weeks fxpodcast as we unpack the fascinating and odd world of artistry, technology, and innovation that is AI video content.Zap commented on this making of video that, this one gets INSANELY meta, the hosts get crazily introspective and its quite chilling. quite self awareIn the podcast the guys mention a series of Video tools, here is a set of links to those programs, (your mileage may vary), enjoy:MiniMax (although maybe its actual name is Hailuo, nobody truly knows):Kling:Luma Labs Dream Machine:RunwayML Gen-3: https://app.runwayml.com/dashboardUpscaling:Krea:Avatars:Heygen:Voices:NotebookLMElevenlabsMusic & Sound:Music: SumoSound Effects: ElevenlabsGoof RealZaps backgroundZap began his journey with a degree in Electronics but has been immersed in programming throughout his life. His first encounter with a computer dates back to 1979, working with an HP2000E mainframe, followed by the Swedish ABC80 computer, which he enthusiastically modified by building a custom graphics card and developing a suite of commercial games. For many years, Zap worked in the CAD industry, specializing in mechanical design software. However, his true passion has always been 3D graphics and rendering.Pursuing this interest, he developed his own ray tracer and 3D modeling software during his spare time. Zaps career took a decisive turn when he started creating advanced shaders for Mental Images, which NVIDIA later acquired. Today, he is a part of the Autodesk 3ds Max Rendering team, focusing on technologies such as OSL, shaders, MaterialX, and other cutting-edge rendering tools.Zaps expertise includes shader development, rendering algorithms, UI design, and fun experimental communication skills, making him a versatile and highly skilled professional in 3D graphics and rendering and a good friend of fxguide and the podcast.Zap on social: