LEGO Fortnite is adding a surprising new "social roleplay" game later this week with LEGO Fortnite Brick Life, letting 32 players customise their home and take on jobs throughout an open world

After last week's AI Santa, it appears some of the voice talent working on Call of Duty Black Ops 6 are stepping away due to a lack of AI protection in contracts

Bubble Bobble we love Taito (ININ Games)GameCentral reviews two classic arcade games and eight others in Taitos latest coin-op collection, featuring the best of Bubble Bobble and its sequel.Taito has always been one of our favourite arcade makers. Even back in the day, they were never as well known as contemporaries such as Sega and Capcom, but while their portfolio is relatively small games like Space Invaders, Bubble Bobble, Qix, Arkanoid, Rainbow Islands, Dairus, The NewZealand Story, Chase H.Q., and Operation Wolf were amongst the best in their genre genres which in many cases they helped create.After being bought by Square Enix in 2005, Taito faded further from the public eye, although starting in 2019 they did begin to engineer something of a comeback, by reviving past franchises such as Darius, The Ninja Saviors (aka The Ninja Warriors), and Bubble Bobble. That movement seems to have faltered in recent years but in 2022 they released the marvellous Taito Egret II mini arcade console, which collected most of their best known titles in one place.Clearly, a 165 mini-console is not going to do much for Taitos mainstream recognition but, sadly, theres not been no all-in-one retro collection to work as an alternative. Many of their games are available separately on the Switch, via the Arcade Archives label, but that also is not exactly high profile. The Milestone collections are basically just bundles of existing, and not yet released, Arcade Archives titles, which means no museum content of any kind, but since this volume contains some of our favourite games of all time, well take it.We didnt review the previous collections because they were such a random hotchpotch of the iconic and the almost entirely unknown. The most famous games in the first one were Qix and The Ninja Warriors, while Taito Milestones 2 had The NewZealand Story and Darius 2, but not Darius 1. Whether thats because of licensing issues or throwing darts at a dart board were not sure, but the end results were wildly inconsistent in terms of the quality and prominence of individual titles.By luck or judgement, Taito Milestones 3 is a notable improvement, so were going to give this a full review, although well leave the crown jewels, of Bubble Bubble and its sequel, until last. Besides, the franchise that has the most entries in this collection is Rastan Saga, which started with a well-regarded side-scrolling hack n slash in 1987 and was converted to almost all 8-bit home systems of the day, except, surprisingly, the NES.To be honest, its still probably best of the trilogy as, like most Taito games, theres slightly more to it than any of its peers, with optional weapons, alternative routes, and some very nice sound and visuals for the day. Its difficult and unfair but less so than most similar arcades of the time, with useful checkpoints that make progress via the unlimited credits a home version offers surprisingly enjoyable. Rastan Saga the original is the best (ININ Games)1989 sequel Rastan Saga 2 is technically more adept, but its more cartoonish visuals and terrible animation lose a lot of the charm of the original, which was clearly channelling the Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan movies. The level design is also notably worse, making it the only genuinely bad game in the collection. It does introduce a two-player co-op mode though, which is carried through to pseudo sequel Warrior Blade: Rastan Saga Episode 3.One of the pleasures of a good retro compilation is not only classics you remember but ones youve never heard of before and we had no idea there was a Rastan Saga 3. Although, really, this has no gameplay connection to the first two games, as its a (very) simple scrolling beat em-up, in the style of Streets Of Rage et al.The games combat is absolutely mindless, with barely more than one attack for each of the three characters. Although there is an incorporeal wizard that follows you around sometimes and attacks enemies seemingly at his leisure. Theres also a few beast-riding mini-games, on horseback and flying on a dragon, which show off the games excellent graphics.It may be dumber than rocks but the 1992 visuals, which mustve been on one of Taitos extra wide screens, to judge by the screen ratio, are fantastic, with some fun boss enemies and Rastan himself looking like hes been cut out and pasted directly from a Frank Frazetta painting.Another oddity wed never heard of, and which was released the same year, is Dead Connection and it couldnt be more different. It seems to be a pastiche of the The Untouchables movies, with each level taking place on a single screen, where you control a trench coat-wearing detective as you, and ideally a pal, gun down everyone you see.All the sprites are absolutely tiny, and the only controls are to shoot in the direction youre facing and a rather theatrical dodge roll. With digital controls we expected the game to play like a dog but its actually really good, with some intelligent auto-aim that also allows you to shoot at elevated positions.Theres lots of extra weapon types to collect and an impressive amount of destructible scenery, with chandeliers falling from the roof, cars bursting into flames, and bullet holes riddling walls. It reminded us slightly of Power Stone, in that its a sort of sandbox arcade game that encourages you to use the environment as much as your own attacks to take down enemies.That makes it sound more impressive than it is but its still another hidden gem for the collection. Were more familiar with 1991 scrolling beat em-up Runark (aka Growl), which was also on the Egret II, as was the peculiarly complex 1989 action role-playing game Cadash. Champion Wrestler Rastan is in this too (ININ Games)Arcade operators, who wanted you to die quickly and have to put in another 10p, mustve hated this one because its a full-on role-player, featuring multiple player characters, some of which use magic; stats and levelling up; and multiple shops, with weapons, armour, and items to buy. Theres even Dark Souls style hidden areas, alternative routes, and almost Metroidvania style backtracking.Its not even that difficult, so you can keep playing for ages on a single credit. As such, its a shame that the combat is so clunky, and notably less fun than the otherwise much simpler Rastan Saga. Even the terrible translation is more entertaining than the fighting, with multiple allies congratulating you on How well you came.Rounding out the collection is the rather good 1989 wrestling game Champion Wrestler which, as youd expect from Taito, gets an impressive amount of moves out of its two button controls. It also features Rastan as one of the characters, which is a neat cameo.And then theres 1990 Rolling Thunder/Shinobi clone Thunder Fox, which does a decent job of trying to be an interactive 80s action movie, with a good amount of variety in its scrolling beat em-up (stab and shoot em-up, actually) sections and a number of brief vehicle-based interludes. Theres also a bit of Green Beret in there too, but unfortunately it has far more ideas borrowed from other games than it has of its own. Rainbow Islands game of the forever (ININ Games)All of which brings us back to the stars of the collection: 1986s Bubble Bobble and its 1987 sequel Rainbow Islands. Weve spoken before, including in our Egret II review, about how we consider both games to be cast iron classics and we havent altered that opinion in the almost 40 years theyve been around, so were certainly not going to now. Especially as this version of Rainbow Islands is superior to the one on the Egret II.Bubble Bobble is still the same perfectly crafted single screen platformer as always, and really comes to life as a two-player co-op game. Rainbow Islands is a single-player game featuring one of the most versatile weapon systems in all gaming: a rainbow you can use to hit enemies with, trap them under it, drop on them, or use as a platform to reach higher ground. Its wonderfully flexible and the game is stuffed to the gills with secrets and extra abilities, of the sort youd never usually expect from an arcade game.Whats great about this version of Rainbow Islands is that it has the same level and enemy progression as the original, rather than the remixed Rainbow Islands Extra, which we hate. Taito still cant use the original soundtrack, because it sounds too much like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but other than that this is almost exactly the same game we fell in love with on the Amiga 500 all those years ago.More TrendingWere a bit stuck as to what to give this collection in terms of a score though, as zero effort has gone into padding it out from the individual Arcade Archives releases, which cost 6.29 each. In fact, these are slightly worse than the individual releases as they dont feature the regional variation settings, which means Dead Connection is stuck with Japanese text during cut scenes and Runark cant decide whether its called that or Growl. Although everyone speaking German is how it always was in Warrior Blade.Theres absolutely no museum content at all, beyond a relatively in-depth manual for each game including cheat codes were applicable. They are good emulations, with lots of control and difficulty settings (which is handy, because Rainbow Islands is very difficult), but apart from an online leaderboard theres nothing here beyond the original arcade games.That said, we cant give a lower score than this to any collection which includes two of our favourite games, especially as one is as close to a definitive edition as you can get nowadays. A lot of the other games are also fun curios, but we dont appreciate the scattershot approach to the collections contents and would much rather have seen a more complete compendium that celebrates the full glory of Taitos arcade legacy.Taito Milestones 3 review summaryIn Short: You could just buy the classic Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands separately but while none of the other games in this retro arcade collection are anywhere near as good, they are all at least interesting.Pros: 10 late 80s to early 90s coin-ops that range from entertaining curio (and one dud) to GOAT status. Great emulation and plenty of control, difficulty, and display options as well as an online leaderboard.Cons: The games included seem to have been chosen almost entirely at random, even if its not quite as bad as previous volumes. No museum content of any kind.Score: 8/10Formats: Nintendo SwitchPrice: 34.99Publisher: ININDeveloper: TaitoRelease Date: 10th December 2024Age Rating: 12 Rastan Saga 2 the worst of the batch (ININ Games)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

God Of War art director joins Naughty Dogs next game for new chapterAdam StarkeyPublished December 9, 2024 6:20pmUpdated December 9, 2024 6:20pm A God Of War alumni is back at PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment)The developers behind God Of War and The Last Of Us both seem to be gearing up for new announcements, but what could their next games be?Its been over four years since developer Naughty Dog launched The Last Of Us Part 2 and were still in the dark about what the studios next original project is.The situation at Naughty Dog has been complicated by various remasters and a cancelled multiplayer The Last Of Us spin-off, along with various rounds of layoffs, but we do know that multiple single-player games are in development at the studio at the moment.While little is known about these projects, Naughty Dog has recently hired an industry veteran to work on at least one of them: God Of Wars Rafael Grassetti.In a post on Instagram, Grassetti, who worked as an art director at Santa Monica Studio on the recent God Of War games, wrote: Im super excited to be joining the amazing crew and project over at @naughty_dog_inc, and to be back to PlayStation!Im joining Neil Druckmann and his team as Art Director, to help create the next big thing! A huge thanks to everybody who was involved on making this happen and all my friends from sister studios. Im hyped and cant wait to share more about it!In a post announcing the move on X, he simply wrote New chapter alongside the Naughty Dog logo.https://www.instagram.com/p/DDXFHncpzt3/Grassetti left Santa Monica Studio after 10 years in May 2023, where he worked as a principal artist on 2018s God Of War and as an art director on its sequel, before becoming the studios overall art director.He joined Netflixs Team Blue studio shortly afterwards, which was shut down before it had even released a game in October this year.What is the next game from Naughty Dog?Sony has not announced Naughty Dogs next project, but in a blog post from December last year the studio confirmed it is working on more than one ambitious, brand new single-player game.Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann later stated in February 2024 that a concept for The Last Of Us Part 3 exists, implying that the sequel isnt one of the aforementioned projects in development.As for what the next project is, Druckmann has only given teasing snippets. In an interview with Sony, he described it as something really fresh for us suggesting it is a new IP, and said it is maybe the most excited Ive been for a project yet.While details are low, we definitely know actor Troy Baker, who portrayed Joel in The Last Of Us, is involved in Druckmanns next game. As confirmed in a profile interview of the actor on GQ, Druckmann said: In a heartbeat I would always work with Troy.There have been rumours that one of the new games is a fantasy-based title involving dragons, but this is based on little more than a supposed Easter egg in The Last Of Us Part 1.What is the next game from Santa Monica Studio?Following 2022s God Of War Ragnark and its subsequent Valhalla DLC, its unclear what Santa Monica Studio is working on next.However, various LinkedIn posts from developers and job listings indicate it is a new IP, and not another God Of War game. The studio has long beenrumoured to be developing a sci-fi project of some kind, although one previously existed over a decade ago codenamed Darkside, which was later scrapped.Back in 2022, Santa Monica Studio said it is spread out on a lot of different things, indicating it could be juggling multiple projects too. This, however, was before the launch of Ragnarks Valhalla DLC. It may also have been a reference to the help Santa Monica Studio gives to other first and third party developers working on games for Sony, although the studio has seemed to slowly move away from that role in recent years.The studios creative director, Cory Barlog, last tweeted about his project in March, writing: Seeing some early things coming together on this thing I am working on right now and GOD DAMN the people I get to work with at Sony Santa Monica are just f***ing beyond brilliant.Although it may be a little early to hear about Santa Monicas next project, as God Of War Ragnark was only two years ago, it feels like were perhaps overdue an update on Naughty Dogs next project.More TrendingAs such, its very possible we could see something at The Game Awards, which kicks off at 12.30am on Friday, December 13 in the UK; especially as The Last Of Us Online was announced at the related Summer Game Fest event. The Last Of Us Part 3 is in the very early stages (Sony Interactive Entertainment)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: 30 years later, PlayStation has lost its edge GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

In a Q&A at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, Disney CFO Hugh Johnston participated in an audience discussion about the Walt Disney Companys plans for the future in its various divisions across entertainment. Talk soon turned to how Disney Experiences is gearing up for the opening of Walt Disney World competitor Epic Universe at Universal Studios Orlando.According to a report from Blog Mickey, the discussion provided new insight on how Disney Experiences, the Walt Disney Companys theme park and cruise brand, is planning on tackling lower demand as price increases hit at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts. Johnston admitted that declined attendance in the summer of 2024 was a hiccup but that things are doing fine with consumers since. That remains to be seen as just a couple weeks ago, those price hikes hit as the parks most in-demand seasonthe holidaysbegan. At least Southern California residents can partake in a ticket bundle deal right now at the Disneyland Resort as the new year starts. The Get a 3-Day Ticket for $67 Per Day promotion is available for purchase now; it allows three visits between January 1 and May 15, 2025.In regards to Disneys official stance on whether its feeling worried about the highly anticipated Epic Universe openingan event that could potentially affect attendance at Walt Disney World in OrlandoJohnston affirmed even before the question came up that Disneys parks division is an asset of one. For the most part, when it comes to IPs (wink at Marvel) they dont necessarily compete; Disney is working on incorporating experiences and attractions based on recent hit films such as Encanto in next years new parade, and a 3D Zootopia show by the end of next year.When asked head-on, Johnston shared that overall regard toward Epic Universe is more of a welcoming feeling. Universals theme park is set to open with lands inspired by Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon (in time for the live-action film), Nintendo, and the Universal Monsters Dark Universethough the companys biggest IP at the moment is Wicked (which currently is without plans to be featured at the parks despite demand). Johnston shared that theres a sense of rising tide lifts all boats, positing that folks having more reason to go to Orlando could allow for more visits to encompass both resorts. However he also added that despite more summer bookings at Walt Disney World, the company is still cautious and conservative about the upcoming year and have allotted some negative into the books. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

What would you do if, while serving on the Roman Empires northern frontier, you suddenly realized your chainmail needed repairing? An international team of scientists now thinks soldiers may have turned to local craftspeople for help.Researchers in Czechia and Germany have suggested that a now-corroded pile of Roman chainmail discovered in Germany was intended for the repair of other military garments. If true, their findings, detailed in a December 10 study published in the journal Antiquity, shed light on the Roman militarys repair and recycling methods on the empires northern frontier, as well as its dependence on local craftspeople. As the Roman Empire expanded into new territories, often far from the regions where military equipment was originally produced, the Roman army faced a growing demand for self-sufficiency, the researchers wrote in the study. This need was especially significant along the German frontier where it was necessary for military units to become involved in the manufacture of their own equipment. In turn, the Roman armys increased self-sufficiency in the production of military gear was closely intertwined with the supply of raw materials and recycling practices.This is the first clear evidence that mail armour was being repaired outside a Roman military installation. The limited archaeological evidence of this recycling practice provides little insight into how soldiers might have interacted with nearby settlements in this context, the researchers note.In 2012, however, archaeologists unearthed a 30.86-pound (14-kilogram) hoard of chainmail in an ancient civilian settlement outside of a Roman legionary fortress in Bonn, Germany. The thousands of interconnected rings in chainmail made the garment difficult to melt down, so it was instead reused for repairs, similar to textile patches. In fact, the results of the recent study suggest that the 2012 artifacta solidified pile of two almost-complete chainmail garments as well as sections of two otherswas essentially a scrap pile.Examples of chainmail. Left: detail from the Great Ludovisi Sarcophagus. Right: A digital model of a Danish mail coat. M.A. Wijnhoven; A. Moskvin & M.A. Wijnhoven This is the first clear evidence that mail armour was being repaired outside a Roman military installation, Martijn A. Wijnhoven of the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, who participated in the study, said in an Antiquity statement emailed to Gizmodo. The teamalso including researchers from the LVR-Amt fr Bodendenkmalpflege im Rheinland and the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonnexamined the artifact both visually and using high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans (an x-ray imaging technique).The mail seems likely to have been intended to be used for the repair and patching of other garments for the Roman army, the researchers wrote in the study. They added that, because of chainmails unique design, it is likely that the Bonn hoard represents a stockpile of mail intended for repairing other mail garments by craftworkers in the settlement. This evidence ultimately suggests that when the Roman army was far from military installations, they depended on local workers to maintain their equipment.The hoard highlights some key aspects of the Roman military economy, particularly aspects of repair and recycling, the researchers wrote. Moreover, it offers a compelling insight into the interactions between the Roman army and the local population dwelling along the frontier. Moral of the story? Do as the Romans do, even when youre far from Rome.

Ikseon-jabbang Restaurant / Design Studio MaoomRestaurants & Bars, Restaurant & Bar InteriorsJongno District, South KoreaArchitects: Design Studio MaoomAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:60 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 Lead Architects: Minkyu Choi, Yeonjong-Kim , Jeonghwan Lee More SpecsLess SpecsText description provided by the architects. Ikseon Jabbang developed its design with the question, "How can we express the experience of enjoying brunch in a hanok in a warm mood?" First, we considered the "time spent enjoying brunch." To us, brunch is closer to "enjoying" than simply "eating." The leisurely time of enjoying brunch on a holiday morning contrasts with the busy and chaotic mornings of weekdays. It is a moment filled with tranquility and relaxation, where you can feel the warmth of the sun and the gentle breezesensations often unnoticed during the hustle of daily life. We aimed to create a space where visitors could feel this carefree time, filled with the anticipation of starting the day pleasantly, without any worries.Next, we focused on how to highlight the charm of the hanok setting. Among the iconic elements of hanok, we wanted to emphasize the exposed rafters and ceiling structure. Instead of revealing the ceiling entirely, we framed it using white plain panels to draw attention to and accentuate the beauty of the rafters.Upon entering, visitors are greeted on the left by a long, flowing white curtain. This delicate, light curtain sways gently with the movement of air, adding a sense of relaxation and comfort to the space. Behind the curtain lies a private, small dining area. Despite the compact size of the venue, we designed cozy and intimate spaces, allowing customers to choose from a variety of seating arrangements.Save this picture!To the right of the entrance, there is a seating area with built-in sofas. While primarily designed for two or four people, the tables can be rearranged for larger groups, offering flexibility in seating configurations. Typically, pendant lights are placed above individual tables, but this approach can lead to lighting misalignment or interference when tables are moved. To address this, we installed a long pendant light spanning the seating area, ensuring consistent illumination regardless of table movement. We hope that this space, thoughtfully designed to reflect our considerations, becomes a place where people can always enjoy the warmth and leisure of a relaxed holiday morning.Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Jongno District, South KoreaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeDesign Studio MaoomOfficePublished on December 10, 2024Cite: "Ikseon-jabbang Restaurant / Design Studio Maoom" 09 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024528/ikseon-jabbang-restaurant-design-studio-maoom&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Vipp Todos Santos Guesthouse / PPAASave this picture! Anders HviidLodgingTodos Santos, MexicoArchitects: PPAAAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3800 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Anders HviidManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Vipp Lead Architects: Pablo Prez Palacios More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!The latest guesthouse from Danish brand Vipp, the ground-up design is rooted in its desert location and unique topography, blending seamlessly into the landscape. PPAA has created a dynamic interplay of strategically-placed volumes and stepped exterior stairways which thoughtfully respond to the contours of the site. The resulting structure pays tribute to the region as well as its culture of in / outdoor living. The five bedroom property is comprised of a main house, two connected guest houses, a covered patio, a rooftop pool and terraces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A circular rooftop pool has been conceived as a celestial oasis where guests can enjoy expansive ocean and sky views while the covered terrace is the social center of gravity for the home, creating an inviting year-round, day-to- night gathering place.Using natural materials from the site, Vipp Todos Santos' rammed earth construction is ideally suited for its climate, sustainably-built, naturally cooling by and insulating at night. Sturdy walls, crafted from compressed earth, and left in their raw state line the exterior and interior of the building. Its expansive windows frame panoramic ocean views, further connecting the interior with its natural surroundings.Save this picture!Featuring an interplay of natural tones and textures, its serene spaces were created to evoke a sense of tranquility, integrating custom furniture and design details that honor local craft and weaving techniques as well as art, textiles and ceramic pieces sourced from the area. Each element in the home has been selected to complement the minimal material palette of earth, concrete and wood. Window shutters woven frombranches of the local Palo de Arco tree add a handcrafted element to the building and cast ever changing shadows in the space throughout the day.Save this picture!Save this picture!The open plan living space is outfitted with Vipp's new anodized aluminum V3 kitchen and the brand's furniture, lighting, bathroom and outdoor collection have been placed throughout. A study in contrasts, Vipp Todos Santos creates a dialogue between Mexican and Danish design traditions. Save this picture!Now in its 85th year, the project is Vipp's 10th guesthouse, and joins a growing portfolio of bookable, architecturally significant properties in spectacular, often remote settings the brand has opened since 2014. Renowned designers from David Thulstrup to Snohetta have worked on their properties from the Danish countryside to Puglia and the Pyrenees Mountains, each entirely unique and of their place. Vipp Todos Santos is the tenth guesthouse in the brand's portfolio and first in North America.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Todos Santos, MexicoLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePPAAOfficePublished on December 09, 2024Cite: "Vipp Todos Santos Guesthouse / PPAA" 09 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024437/vipp-todos-santos-guesthouse-ppaa&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Well, its that time of year again. Like you, Im working through the gift-giving part of the holidays. I used to send out Amazon gift cards until one was stolen. I didnt get sympathy or a refund from Amazon, so Ive decided to steer clear of store gift cards altogether. So, Im back to sending people things I think they might want, and this week, Ill share my list of tech gadgets that make great gifts.Ill close with my last Product of the Week for 2024, a new off-road electric motorcycle from Dust Moto due out next year that is being built almost in my backyard.Dyson Supersonic Hair DryerDo you have a special lady in your life? Wife, sister, mother, daughter or girlfriend? Well, the best, but far from the cheapest, hair dryer Ive found is the Dyson Supersonic. Its normally priced around $430, but I found it on sale for $329. I got one for my wife, and she loved it, so I got one for my sister this year, but dont tell her!This hair dryer is relatively small, which makes it easy to pack. It comes up to speed quickly and holds up well. We havent had any problems with ours so far.The Supersonic uses Dysons unique design, which pulls the air from low in the handle, so it is unlikely to suck up your hair, and it has adjustments for every hair type, making it extremely flexible. It does come with a host of attachments, as is typical for anything Dyson-made. Dont ask me to explain all the features because I dont use them myself.This is my gift idea for someone you care about because it is well-made and expensive. Its unlikely theyd buy it for themselves, and they will likely think fondly of you when they dry their hair.Nixplay Digital Touchscreen Picture FrameFor the older folks in your life parents, grandparents, uncles, or aunts who might not be great with technology but who love family pictures, consider a digital picture frame you can preload with family pictures. When connected to the web, like the Nixplay digital touchscreen picture frame, you can update the picture playlist from the comfort of your couch once the device is set up.Yes, youll have to make sure the recipients Wi-Fi is working, which is a good reason to visit rather than just sending the thing out. At 10.1 inches and for around $140 (the 15-inch is on sale for $244 right now), it wont be too big for a bedside table, and it works with both iOS and Android phones.Although they say a grandma could upload pictures to the frame, its better if you manage it yourself. Regularly updating the pictures turns the frame into an ongoing surprise and a thoughtful reminder that youre thinking of them. Parents often struggle to feel connected after their kids move out, especially when those kids have their own families. This gift can help bridge that gap, serving as a simple but meaningful way to show you care.70mai Dash Cam OmniI was in a terrible car accident last year where an airbag knocked me out and broke my back. Because I was hit so hard, I have little memory of the accident, but my 70mai Dash Cam Omni caught the entire event, so I was able to go back and learn from it.What makes this dash cam different is that it has a head like R2D2 that swivels, so you dont have to have a rear-view camera. It will follow the action as it moves from side to side, capturing the entire event. It will also record people who mess with your car while it is parked. While it isnt as good as what Teslas typically ship with, for those of us who dont drive a Tesla, this is a great way to record your drive.Image Credit: 70maiIt can also get you out of bogus tickets. I got one of those a few years back where the officer said I was doing 90 on an open road. I wasnt, and I was in heavy traffic. It was my word against his, and he won. If Id had the camera back then, it would have paid for itself with that one ticket.This dash cam can also reinforce the need to drive more safely, given the record you are creating can be used against you. If you have kids who borrow your car, you might want to consider this to keep them from doing stupid things. At $200, its one of the more reasonable dash cams out there.Oh, and there are a lot of insurance scammers out there who will back into your car and scream that you rear-ended them or throw themselves in front of your vehicle, claiming you didnt yield. This camera can help you get out of those situations as well.VolteX Heated ScarfImage Credit: VolteXLiving in Bend, Oregon, where winters can be harsh, Ive come to appreciate heated gear. The VolteX Heated Scarf is one of the easiest self-heated items in the market.At under $17, this is a handy gift for those on a budget. You have to charge it up, but it heats almost instantly once turned on and has three heat settings (just like my heated car seats).The scarf is fluffy, so it feels really good on your neck. I bought one for my wife this year because she hates the cold. She can leave it in the car plugged into the cars electric system, so its always ready for the cold when a little instant warmth is appreciated.It is very portable, so you can travel with it, though since it has a battery, youll need to carry it onboard and not leave it in your luggage. It comes in brown, black, gray, or white. I ended up getting two in different colors since Im going to want to wear one as well.Ray-Ban Meta Smart GlassesThings are getting a bit crazy, given all of the political tension in the air. Ive been in several situations where I wanted to record what was happening without experiencing the anger that usually comes when you use your smartphone to capture someone breaking the law or behaving badly. In addition, using an action camera to record videos often doesnt provide the same view you have because the camera is located somewhere other than your face.Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have a great camera in them. They can also replace your earbuds if you like to walk and listen to music or audiobooks or have your messages read to you while you are doing something else like running. The glasses come in a variety of styles and will take prescription lenses.Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses (Video Credit: Meta)The camera is well hidden, so you dont have the concerns that the old Google Glass headset had. While the base prices currently range from $299 to $379, these glasses could be just what your loved one needs to capture that fleeting moment when something truly good or terribly bad is happening and you want to create a permanent record.Wrapping UpI hope this list helps you with your holiday shopping choices. Putting it together helped me make some of my own this year. I hope you have a marvelous holiday season!Hightail All-Electric Dirt Bike by Dust MotoHightail all-electric dirt bike (Image Credit: Dust Moto)While I dont ride much anymore, I used to own a Suzuki 125 and a Yamaha 175. The 125 was my school motorcycle, and the 175 was offroad. The problem with gas bikes when you are riding in the wilderness is that they make a lot of noise, and they need RPMs for torque. This means you miss a lot of the natural sounds, and when you get into trouble, like on a steep hill, you can end up spinning your wheel while trying to build enough torque to climb it.At an estimated $10,950 and with a release date of late 2025, the Dust Motos Hightail all-electric dirt bike is simply awesome. While not street legal, at least not yet, it is a monster of an alternative when it comes to riding off-road. It has an extremely clean design, and it was created by guys who also enjoy riding outdoors we have a lot of that here in Oregon. Their experience shows in the design and execution of this bike.With 42 HP and 660 Nm of torque, it will run for up to two hours on a charge. Plus, it has a replaceable battery, so you could carry a spare. It was created with support from Bloom, a company specializing in electric motorcycles, so even though this is Dust Motos first bike, it isnt Blooms first, so you can be confident this bike will do all it claims and more.Designed within walking distance of me, this would be on my Christmas shortlist for 2025 if I were still riding. As a result, the Hightail all-electric dirt bike by Dust Moto is my last Product of the Week for 2024, even though it wont be on my Christmas list until 2025, when this bike will be available.

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