I am old enough to remember when Wicked opened on Broadway. I was still in high school and what felt like a million miles away from New York City. Still, even from the relatively provincial wilds of North Carolina, I was aware something big had landed on the Great White Way; an event so extraordinary to my generation that virtually overnight every theater kid was singing Defying Gravity and Popular in the halls of Green Hope High, whether their classmates wanted to hear it or not.While there had been other hit musicals in my pint-sized life up to that pointthe Rent phenomenon of the 90s was still going strong, and Mel Brooks got his late-in-life embrace of respectability only a few years prior thanks to chorus girls belting Springtime to Hitler to gray hairsthis was clearly different. In fact, there had been no bigger musicals since the 80s blockbusters imported from the UKs West End almost 20 years prior. Those would have been your Cats and your Les Misrables. And of course The Phantom of the Opera. Indeed, the first musical I ever saw on the stage was one of that triohow could it not have been for a 90s kid?with Andrew Lloyd Webbers sweeping strings leaving me and other 12-year-olds balling by the time Christine Daa picked stuffy old Raoul over the Phantoms musical genius!I understand your pain, Phantom! a tween version of myself lamented at the time (probably)barely cognizant of the icky issues of consent and power which audiences in the 80s on through the 2000s glossed right over while making Phantom of the Opera a decades-long running smash. Even today, the show is still running on the West End while it only closed on Broadway last year, making it the longest running show ever in NYC. Well, at least until Wicked catches up.Which brings me to the other intriguing parallels between Phantom and Wicked. In the moment of their debuts on the stage1986 and 88 for POTO, depending on the continent, and 2003 in Wickeds heydaythey were the peak of pop culture synthesis; big splashy and brassy belters that articulated the values of the era with one high note after another. And yet, not by accident, both took nearly two decades or better to make it to the big screen (allowing enough time to soak in as many theater tickets as possible).But when Phantom of the Opera arrived in cinemas 20 years ago this month, it was received with a whimper and treated like an afterthought largely ignored by audiences and awards voters at the time. Conversely, Wickeds popularity has never been bigger than when it grossed $450 million (and counting) in its first few weeks and became one of the possible frontrunners for Best Picture this awards season. What are the differences between these films that might explain the change in perception and reception, and what might it say about the state of the movie musical?Emphasis on CastingPerhaps the most striking difference between what were supposed to be two landmark adaptations of Broadway favorites is how they approached their casting. On paper, it would seem that director Joel Schumacherwho captained Webbers Phantom of the Opera to the screen after more than a decade of discussing the projecttook more risks. When Schumacher was caught in Webbers orbit, POTO was still the hottest ticket on Broadway where star Michael Crawford had just won a Tony to accompany his Olivier for playing the self-described Angel of Music. Webbers own wife at the time, Sarah Brightman, also originated the role of Christine in both London and New York.Yet it was the end of Brightman and Webbers marriage that caused Schumachers first stab at Phantom to be waylaid until the 2000s, and by the time the project rolled back around, a choice was made to cast primarily unknown talent. Emmy Rossum was only 17 when cast in the role of Christine Daa for the screen, with only one major film role on her resume up to that moment: as Sean Penns murdered daughter in Mystic River (2003). However, she was also filming The Day After Tomorrow while auditioning. Meanwhile Patrick Wilson was known on Broadway for playing Curly in a revival of Oklahoma! (the same production that made Hugh Jackman a star on the West End, in fact), as well as appearing in the original cast of The Full Monty. Neither though were a household name.The biggest and most important piece of casting, however, was that of relatively obscure Scottish actor Gerard Butler in the title role of the Phantom. Keep in mind this was nearly half a decade from 300s release, and the thing Butler was best known for at the time was playing a shirtless vampire in leather pants via Dracula 2000.Intriguingly, director Jon M. Chu took almost a diametrically opposed tact when tackling Wicked 20 years later. When it came to his two leading ladies, the filmmaker, Universal Pictures, and Wicked maestro Stephen Schwartz either only pursued or settled on major names in the modern world of social media users who would already be attuned to Wickeds theatrical and YA-adjacent roots. Think Cynthia Erivo, who won a Tony for tremendous work in The Color Purple, as Elphaba and Jonathan Bailey fresh off Netflixs steamy Bridgerton as Fiyero. But most obviously this applies to Ariana Grande, one of the most popular pop stars in the world in 2024, as Glinda, the Good Witch whose attire in the movie musical veers straight into princess iconography.At a glance, one might think Schumacher took greater chances than Chu. And yet, thats true in more ways than one. While Phantom of the Opera did not feature a starry cast, its ironic to know Webbers first choices for the roles of the Phantom and Christine were future stars of the Les Misrables movie, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. And when those didnt happen, he still went for a casting that would mirror Tom Hoopers later, highly divisive Les Mis film: he picked a movie actor who could not handle the musical material he was given.While Rossum proved a decidedly vulnerable and delicate Christine, befitting Schumachers snowy (and youth-obsessed) aesthetic, with a voice like a clarion bell, and Wilson likewise is a terrific tenor, in the crucial part of the supposed Angel of Music, Webber and Schumacher chose Butler, a talent with a voice solid enough to front a rock band in his school dayswhich was Butlers only singing experience before the filmbut woefully short of a character who has been performed by literal opera singers. On the one hand, this seemed to curiously confirm Webbers original vision of the Phantom never left.Indeed, before Crawford turned the Phantom into a tortured, aged loner with a maniacal laugh in the 80s, Webber originally cast former 1970s glam rocker Steve Harley as the Phantom, a role which he kept until almost the eleventh hour when legendary stage director Harold Prince replaced Harley with someone a little more tragic (and full-throated).Webbers ideal of the Phantoma misunderstood musical genius who can seduce any woman with the power of his talentapparently remained that of a sexy rock god, and Butler was cast to deliver exactly that. In one sense, it reveals a unique interpretation of the character by his musical patron thats antithetical to what Prince and Crawford turned into an icon on the stage. But it also was part and parcel of many movie musicals of the 2000s. The art form had only recently returned to popularity a few years prior to the POTO movie thanks to the success of Moulin Rouge! and Chicago, it also was recognized as a great place to cast starry talent like Catherine Zeta-Jones in her Oscar-winning role. After Chicago, the impulse time and again seemed to be to cast big names regardless of their musical talent in roles written for greater vocal ranges.And to be sure, Butler is not the worst offender in this regard. There is, after all, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth in Mamma Mia! (2008) or infamously Russell Crowe in 2012s Les Mis, to name but a few. Nevertheless, Butlers rugged and untrained rock and roll voice literally tripped and faltered over high notes most stage Phantoms soared past. And for a character renowned for his musical gifts, its glaring.Conversely, 20 years later audience expectations from singing talent has seemed to grow. Whether this is a reflection of social media heightening an appreciation for a good singer versus a bad one, or simply because traditional movie stardom matters less in the 2020s, I am not sure. But while getting Ariana Grande to play Glinda in Wicked undoubtedly had a lot to do with that movies initial attention-grabbing following on IG, Grande also has the musical versatility of a stage soprano. Meanwhile Erivo is one of the great Broadway talents of her generation.Some of the supporting cast, such as Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, might be cast purely for their marquee appeal, but the biggest roles have talent that can broadly match audience expectation for a stage Elphaba or Glindawhich seems par for the course in a time where Steven Spielberg cast Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose in West Side Story, and actual Broadway star Anthony Ramos took over the role of Usnavi in In the Heights.A New Kind of Commercial AppealLest this article turn into a piece too critical of the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie, it is worth noting that time has in some ways been crueler to the movie musical adaptation. Twenty years ago, Schumachers goal was to translate everything that made the stage show popular to the screen. One might argue that this is in itself a trap since a moment that sings on stage could fall flat on the screen (remember those candelabras rising from the water of the Phantoms underground lake?). Nevertheless, this is the M.O. of nearly every Broadway adaptation.So while its open to debate whether Schumacher successfully transferred the power of Hal Princes theatrical designs to the cinematic medium, you still had all the basics there: the tragic love story between the Phantom and his muse, a story full of melodramatic murder, mayhem, and falling chandeliers, and of course every luscious piece of pseudo-operetta Webber penned for the show. All that, plus the bittersweet ending.Meanwhile Wicked has come out in a very different context. Whereas two decades ago, a popular Broadway musical was just another type of story to interpret for the screen, one with a built-in and pre-existing audience who saw the show on stage, now it is something far more coveted: potentially valuable intellectual property. It is a brand in the same way Harry Potter is or Marvel; Coke and Pepsi. And the best way to exploit a brand is to expand on it and event-ize it as much as possible. Hence the opening title card of this Novembers musical smash where its confirmed youre actually watching just Wicked, Part 1. Aye, while being only four minutes shorter than the stage show, which includes an intermission, Wicked the Movie consists of only the first act, or roughly 60 percent of the musical.There are all sorts of explanations and rationalizations given in the press, but at the end of the day this comes down to the fact that like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and The Hobbit, there is a lot more money on the table when you split a story into two or more parts.And to be fair, if you were ever to do that with a musical, its hard to think of a better one than Wicked. Defying Gravity is the greatest Act One showstopper this side of One Day More in Les Mis, and seeing how turgidly that aural epic was transferred as just a montage of close-ups in Hoopers 2012 film gives credit to Chus choices to turn it into a monumental climax in Wicked where Elphaba struggles with literal flight before looming large over her insecurities and oppressors.Its a hell of a mic drop. So much so, that one wonders if in the long run it might harm Wicked, Part 2. After all, its an open secret among theater fans that most of the musical bangers in Schwartzs songbook for the show are in Act One. There is nothing on the scale of Defying Gravity, Popular, or Dancing Through Life in the shows second act, which might be why Schwartz and Chu have already confirmed new songs have been written for Part 2.Whether they succeed or not, Wicked has turned into something more than a beloved film; it is now also a franchise. In the long term it remains to be seen whether that will help or hurt the movies joint legacy, but it certainly raises the popularity in the 2020s where audiences have been trained to thrill at the prospect of both a cliffhanger and a teaser for another one.Read more Timing Is EverythingIn the end, we must concede the different receptions between the Phantom of the Opera movie and the first half of Wickeds Hollywood plunge comes down largely to timing. Other creative choices beyond casting played a role as well. For as much criticism as Wickeds rather flat and washed out color palette has received, the film still has a certain grandeur befitting its story. The Phantom movies cinematography and hair and makeup choices, comparetively, always made the material seem more harlequin than it does on the stage.But these aesthetics matter less to audiences than how a film generally makes them feel, and Wicked came out at a moment where its finale of self-empowerment in the face of rising authoritarianism is liberating. Its wish-fulfillment. By contrast, the intentionally toxic relationship between the Phantom and Christine, a dynamic where the antihero grooms the heroine into thinking he might be the ghost of her dead father but also the specter of her ideal lover, had not fully aged out of the zeitgeist by 2004, but it was certainly a lot creakier-seeming than it appeared in the 80s and 90s.The stage show came out during a period where sweeping Gothic aesthetics and overwrought emotions were in vogue. Anne Rices vampire novels were bestsellers, Meatloaf was a pop star, and movies that ran the gamut from Francis Ford Coppolas take on DraculaDavid Bowie in LabyrinthInterview with the Vampire movie) off her feet. But 18 years after Phantom debuted on the West End, tastes had changed, and the Gothic revival of the end of the century ended.Which is a long way to say Phantom of the Opera looked like a blast from the past when it arrived in cinemas circa 2004. Wicked, on the other hand, deals primarily with something as timeless as profound adolescent friendships between young women, and the sense of losing touch with your youthful self. Plus, its once seeming window-dressed themes about standing tall against fascism have grown frightfully relevant over the last nine years. Hell, just the last month.The Wicked movie arrived at exactly the right moment whereas Phantom might have missed it years earlier when Schumachers first attempt to adapt it fell by the wayside. They can both have their fans, but it would seem Wickeds popularity was built to always defy gravity.

If you grew up with 8-bit consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System or home computer of the time, Id wager youll probably remember the painful attempts gaming companies such as serial movie tie-in murderer, LJN, made to bring the classic temporal sci-fi flickBack to the Futureto our screens. These games were some of the worst, defecated out onto the market, and bore little to no relation to the events that took place on the silver screen. Often, they were made up of levels that had the smallest, most tenuous link you can imagine to the source material, and they were invariably of poor quality.Take LJNs terrible 1989 NES release thats supposedly based on the first film. This travesty, which bears little resemblance to the movie, features levels where Marty, clad in a black muscle shirt, has to run along the streets of Hill Valley picking up clocks to extend the arbitrary timelimit, while avoiding bullies, giant bees, manholes, and other obstacles. Oh, and he cant stop running.Picking up clocks is about the most literal goal to put into a game about time travel, and just goes to show how little effort or intelligence went into making it. Later levels dont get much better.One is a blatant copy ofTapper(akaRoot Beer Tapper), where Marty has to throw drinks at foes as they approach the caf counter. Remember that scene from the movie? I dont. Then theres the final scene where Marty is racing in the DeLorean to hit the lightning strike at the clock tower so he can travel back to the future. The odd thing here is the fact that the enemies of the level arewait for itlightning bolts, which you have to avoid.Wait, what? Marty is racing to catch a lighting strikes 1.21 gigawatts of electricity in the DeLoreans flux capacitor so he can time travel, and while he does that, he has to avoid lightning strikes? Hmmm.Lightning strikes twiceThe sequel, also made by LJN and based upon the second and third movies combined, was almost as bad. Although the actual stories of the films were followed a little more closely, focusing on Biffs alteration of the timelines, the game itself was totally removed from the movie.The game was a side-scrolling platformer where you had to pick up random objects and keys littered throughout various levels, returning objects to their correct time periods. You were given very vague clues, and the levels bore little to no resemblance to the time periods themselves. Enemies were also right out of other Nintendo games, even including rip off Koopas, complete with spiked shells. It was a confusing, badly designed mess, and once again did the source material no justice whatsoever.Oddly enough, the earlier, and technically inferior Commodore 64Back to the Futuretitle by Electric Dreams was far closer to the movies in terms of content. It was still a pretty poor game, but in it you had to interact with other characters from the movie, such as Martys mom and dad, as well as Biff, and your progress was reflected by the photo Marty carries that shows himself and his siblings vanishing (to be fair, the NES version also has this). You even had to find key objects from the movie, such as the skateboard, guitar, and radiation suit, and explore familiar locales.Later consoles also got a couple of games, notably theBack to the Future IIIgames of the 16-bit console era (which also appeared on home computers like the Spectrum, Commodore 64, PC, Atari ST, and Amiga). These were once again multi-genre games, with different game types for each level, but few managed to get past the awful first level that saw Doc Brown on horseback trying to rescue Clara. It was poorly coded, far too hard, and simply wasnt worth the time. Once again, a popular film was snubbed with a poor video game adaptation. As is often the case, simply slapping the movies name on a box was enough to sell, so little effort was needed and little effort was provided.All of these games failed miserably to capture the magic of the series, and they didnt even feature any of the memorable music from the trilogy (at least any thats recognizable). The music we all know from the movies, such as Johnny B Goodeor The Power of Lovewere either absent or terribly reproduced, and even the iconic theme by Alan Silvestri was usually missing. It was a stream of poor showings, that much is certain.Thankfully, weve had a more recent, far better game based on the series, thanks to Telltale games and theBack to the Futureadventure series. They certainly capture a lot of the spirit of the movies, but even these didnt impress everyone. TheBack to the Futureseries isone of Telltales least well received, which is a shame.Great Scott!And yet, in the midst of all of this, there was one goodBack to the Futureaction game, one that managed to mix the worlds of the movies and games into a cohesive and enjoyable title. Theres a good chance youve never heard of it, though, as it was only released in Japan. Theres something odd about the fact that a film rooted in Americana and western culture was only given a good action game by a Japanese developer, and was then only sold in its home market. But that is indeed how it panned out.The game in question isSuper Back to the Future IIfor the Nintendo Super Famicom (Super Nintendo to most of us, of course).Developed by Daft, published by Toshiba, and released in 1993, the game is a side-scrolling platformer with a very anime style. You play as Marty, who rides his hover board around the complex levels, using it to perform spin attacks in order to dispatch a variety of enemies. These include police, robots, and boss villains like Griff. And you know what? It all opens with the proper theme tune. Huzzah!It has an interesting score and collecting system, using collected coins in vending machines to buy extra lives, invincibility power-ups, and the like, and the whole thing is wonderfully colorful and slickly presented. The DeLorean even flies towards the screen in the intro, using Mode 7 for the effect. Nice.Still, dont get too carried away. When compared to other classic platformers, this is no award winner. In fact, the controls are a little clunky and the level design verges on the wrong side of frustrating. But its still a decent game, and one that does the movies justice. It even replicates some of the famous scenes, such as Biff running his car into the manure truck during the tunnel chase. Its good, clean platforming fun, and one thats a whole lot better than the other action games that preceded it.HeavyThe reason the game works so well in my opinion is not just because the developer clearly set out to make a real game, one that can be played and enjoyed, unlike most of the above. But it also refrained from sticking rigidly to the films when its an impossible task. Granted, Ive been grumbling that otherBack to the Futuregames have little to do with the story, but hear me out.While many licensed games can suffer from not sticking to movies at all, as with most of the older games, they also suffer when they try to replicate a movie that really cant be replicated in game form (theBack to the Future Part IIgame was guilty of that, too). Often, both problems are present.As good asBack to the Futureis, its hardly a film that can be easily adapted into an action game. Its just not that kind of story.Terminator 2is the kind of movie thats prime action game material (and was still butchered when it crossed to video games), but Marty McFlys adventures arent really as fitting for the genre.Super Back to the Future II, on the other hand, takes the license and likeness of the movies, and does its own thing. It doesnt try to emulate entire scenes of the movie exactly, and it doesnt try to force a sequence not from the film into a terribly produced mess. Instead, it focuses on pure platforming, and adds theBack to the Future style to it. The end result is a game thats more enjoyable than the other action games weve had, and one that fits the console mold it sits in.Its a SNES game, of course, so it has all of the usual quirks and traditional style of a title from thar era, but the developer has taken time to lovingly replicate the main characters and other elements, from the Future Hill Valley backgrounds and run-down 1985 neighborhoods, to the reproduction of Biff Tannens Pleasure Paradise. In the end, its a game that fans of the movies will actually enjoy.Sadly, its not an easy game to get hold of in North America or Europe. Local game stores and importers may be able to grab it, and you can find it on eBay, often for a pretty penny. Emulation is another option, of course, but legal issues inevitably ensue there, and thus you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law.Its worth trying to pick up a copy if you see one for sale, though. It might be out of its time now, and it might be 40 years too late, but its something closer to the kind of video gameBack to the Futuredeserved.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! Each week, we highlight the exciting new games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Game Pass. This will be the last feature for a couple of weeks as well be on holiday. Check out the details on these upcoming titles below and click on their profiles for more information (release dates may vary). Lets jump in!Flint: Treasure of OblivionMicroids$39.99Pre-orderFlint: Treasure of Oblivion December 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|SExperience the golden age of piracy through a strong and original narrative, real-time exploration and turn-based tactical combat in Flint Treasure of Oblivion. Assisted by his friend Billy Bones and his crew, Captain Flint sets sail for a mysterious treasure. If the call of the unknown galvanizes him, he doesnt yet suspect this adventure will set him free.ROBOBEATKwaleeGet it nowRoboBeat December 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|SYoure Ace a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, youll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat!InfernitosAfil GamesGet it nowInfernitos December 18Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryTake on the role of a little imp chef serving up devilishly delightful dishes to hungry demon patrons. Move the dishes across the fiery kitchen, carefully pushing and delivering them on the table to serve your hellish clients. Every level demands sharp thinking and a strategic approach, as each dish must be assembled with precision to satisfy your picky infernal clientele.Azura's CrystalsSoft Source Pte LtdGet it nowAzuras Crystals December 19Embark on an enchanting quest as Azura, a spirited heroine, and discover a world of ancient mysticism. Forge unbreakable bonds with mythical creatures using the power of Primalis Crystals. Traverse breathtaking landscapes, make difficult choices, and uncover the secrets that shape your destiny.Montgomery Fox And The Case Of The Diamond Necklace (Xbox)Ocean MediaGet it nowMontgomery Fox And the Case of The Diamond Necklace December 18An exciting Hidden Object investigation. When crime strikes the countryside, only a famous city detective can solve the case. Hell soon discover theres more to this case than meets the eye! Set for a journey, meet different characters, find clues and finally unravel a riveting mystery in this fun and colorful hidden object adventure game! Enjoy bright and lighthearted levels and locations, with no time limit or pressure of any kind.Montgomery Fox And The Case Of The Missing Ballerinas (Xbox)Ocean MediaGet it nowMontgomery Fox And the Case of The Missing Ballerinas December 19When the ballerinas mysteriously vanish from the theatre, Detective Montgomery Fox jumps into action. Meet various characters, question them, and write your clues to your diary. Visit dozens of locations and search through hundreds of hidden objects and items while you solve riddles and play minigames in this hidden object adventure game.Universe For SaleAkupara Games$14.99Pre-orderUniverse for Sale December 19Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn a bizarre bazaar, theres a worried woman crafting entire universes in the palm of her hand. Universe for Sale is a hand-drawn adventure game set in the dense clouds of Jupiter, where sapient orangutans work as dockhands and mysterious cultists strip the flesh from their bones to reach enlightenment.Ancient Ants AdventureSilenGamesGet it nowAncient Ants Adventure December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|SScarabs, spiders and other insects seek to destroy the fragile world of ants, and only your magic and strategic thinking will help maintain the balance. Your task is to become the leader of this great colony, rebuild your army and learn to use magic to protect your comrades to turn the tide of battle.Cave RangerCascadia Games LLCGet it nowCave Ranger December 20When the Bitty Gang steals the towns livelihood and takes it underground, a lone, brave cowboy must come to the rescue. Cave Ranger is an 8-bit inspired, retro platform game. Rescue sheep, fight outlaws, and face down dangerous critters. With a whip and pistol at his disposal, the cave ranger must traverse old mines, water reservoirs, and even a sawmill! It is a lighthearted, laid-back western, full of platformer fun.Die for the Economy!Tea Monster GamesGet it nowDie for the Economy! December 20A love letter to 80s maze-based arcade games. In this game, you make your way through a maze trying to avoid robots, destroy security servers, and escape. Armed with your trusty blaster (the P-45) youll need to blast the evil robot managers and avoid electrified walls.Ghoulie's GardenEverynot Games StudioGet it nowGhoulies Garden December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryWelcome to Ghoulies Garden, where Halloween magic awaits! Guide Ghoulie, a friendly little zombie, through haunted mazes filled with pumpkins to collect. But beware this garden is crawling with ghosts, bats, and colorful clowns eager to make things tricky!Seal: WHAT the FUNPLAYWITH KOREA Inc.Get it nowSeal: What the Fun December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereAn omniverse multiplayer party royale game that allows up to 10 players to enjoy a range of compact plays in 10 minutes. Players can customize their characters with variety of effects and features, making the game more interactive and unpredictable.Jewel Fever 3Sprakelsoft GmbH$5.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedFree TrialJewel Fever 3 December 24Xbox One X EnhancedThe much-improved successor to the highly successful Jewel Fever 2 which is played by millions of people. It adds new game modes, better graphics, and finally local and online multiplayer!Star Trek: LegendsQubicGames$11.99$9.59Pre-orderStar Trek: Legends December 25Step into the role of your favorite heroes and villains from across the history of Star Trek and embark on an epic space adventure to control the mysterious Nexus. Battle to save all of existence in Star Treks official strategy-based RPG!Kiting CatAfil GamesGet it nowKiting Cat December 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryPrepare delicious meals for your feline customers by moving carts, chopping, mixing, and baking ingredients to create the perfect dish. Each level requires precision and planning, as youll need to pay close attention to the orders and ingredients before you start cooking. Serve your whiskered clients with speed and accuracy to keep them happy!Bright Side: QuizQubicGamesGet it nowBright Side: Quiz December 27How well do you know your planet and the universe beyond? Lets put your knowledge to the test! Embark on an exciting journey filled with captivating trivia, stunning visuals, and surprising discoveries!Doodle TaxiMetgan GamesGet it nowDoodle Taxi December 27Whats the worst thing that could happen to a modern-day taxi driver? Not getting paid? Get mugged? No. A cabbie can get cursed by a witch and lose his sight. What if that witch is unable to control her powers in this world? What happens then? Welcome to the magical world of Doodle Taxi where youll navigate an open world while your vision is slowly taken away. The cure: Deliver customers fast and carefully to restore your vision.Swords & Bones 2RedDeer.GamesGet it nowSwords and Bones 2 December 27Sequel to an action-adventure RPG. Experience the ambiance of 16-bit classics from the 80s and 90s with many modern twists. Challenge yourself in 50 action-packed levels full of dangers and riches.The Legend of Cyber CowboyEastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowThe Legend of Cyber Cowboy January 1Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereThe wild west gets even wilder with the development of cybernetic technology, and its up to you to take down the bandit gangs turning this tech against honest and hard-working locals! Step into the role of a steampunk gunslinger with a mechanical arm and loads of enhanced weaponry at your disposal in this top-down, twin-stick shooter presented in a slick pixel art style.SokomonsterAfil GamesGet it nowSokomonster January 2Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA thrilling puzzle game where chaos and strategy collide. You play as a powerful monster invading a city, tasked with destroying buildings by pushing cars into them. Progress through 30 uniquely designed levels, each filled with new challenges and obstacles that test your wits and destructive skills!Moo & Move: Extra Grazing GroundsEverynot Games StudioGet it nowMoo & Move: Extra Grazing Grounds January 3Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGuide the hungry cow to its goal! Place directional tiles on the ground and choose to solve puzzles the easy or hard way, its up to you! Watch as the cow follows your path to reach its tasty hay in this fun, kid-friendly game!

Turok: Origins is first and foremost a tribute to the original Turok games that impacted our childhoods and made remarkable contributions to the shooter genre. The addition of platforming and the more explorable maps marked a before-and-after, and the dinosaurs and aliens formula was incredibly appealing to so many people, including us. This new game means a lot to us because its a chance to really show our love for the Turok franchise. Today, Im excited to talk more about the game and some of the features you may have seen in the trailer for Turok: Origins revealed at The Game Awards 2024.DNA PowersTurok is back, and one of the main things we wanted to show off with this announcement was the DNA powers. As you saw in the trailer, when the Turok and a dinosaur square off, our hero has the upper hand as he performs a Stomp ability. He slams the ground, sending out debris and a lightning shockwave that stuns the dinosaur. This allows for a quick tomahawk hit, followed by an energy arrow and gunshot, putting the dinosaur down.One of the many things were very excited about are the biomorphic suits the Turok wear in the game. These suits cover the Turok in real time to reflect the different DNA abilities equipped for players to use. These are cool, detailed visual effects that change as you toggle between different abilities. Each power is fine-tuned to be effective while in combat, and there are times when simply using your weapons wont be enough to stave off various enemies. How you upgrade these abilities can help turn the battle in your favor.DNA powers provide the player with powerful combat abilities and also passive ones that affect your weapons and basic traits while the suit is activated.Later in the gameplay portion of the trailer, we see Turok utilizing a different ability by lashing out to grab the dinosaur, lifting it in the air before slamming it to the ground. The DNA powers are not just random power-ups but specific abilities that you unlock by collecting samples of the creatures you confront on the different missions. They are all quite impactful, fun to use and add a layer of depth as you confront the enemies.When playing co-op with other players, your abilities can complement those used by your teammates. Imagine you and your team members facing off against one of the faster running enemies, and you slow or tangle it with one of your DNA powers while your teammates release a devastating attack these abilities help add a level of strategy to each encounter. What you see in the trailer is just a small preview of what you can expect in the final game. There are many more powers were excited to reveal in the future, to crank up the intensity of combat and make for more exciting and strategic gameplay tactics when facing off against all the different enemies.Third-person TurokWe know Turok has a rich history as a first-person shooter and were all big fans of the previous Turok games, but as we were designing the game, we found many scenarios that we thought would be best experienced in third-person. For instance, when designing the DNA powers, we came to realize that they are best visualized from a third-person perspective. With our experience making these kinds of high-quality action shooters that can be played alone or with friends, we felt like it would be a perfect fit for where we wanted to go with this game, and an evolution of the iconic franchise.What weve highlighted today are just a few teases of whats to come. We have plenty of big reveals planned with tons more to unveil at later dates, so please stay tuned for more Turok: Origins. https://x.com/turokorigins

If youve ever encountered Louisa May Alcotts coming-of-age novel Little Women, or watched any of its many television and film adaptations, you know its nearly impossible to not see yourself reflected in one of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, or Amy. Or, more than likely, see snippets of each sisters archetype mirrored in your own life. I always related most to Jo, a bookish type who feels a little stir-crazy in her small social circle and narrowly defined role as a women. But then theres the oldest sister in me that feels a camaraderie with Meg, a romantic who finds strength and power in her choice to marry and raise a family. Perhaps thats why the story of the March sisters is so enduringwere always grappling with how to be ambitious women. The real beauty of Alcotts Little Women is that, of course, you dont have to choose. The March sisters are just as complicated and nuanced as the women in your own life, navigating ambition, desire, and sisterhood. But, in the spirit of Christmas merriment, you can choose which sister best represents your Christmas decorating style. Do you collect vintage Shiny Brights all year round? Youre a Beth! Can the reflection of your tinsel turn heads down the block? I see you, Amy. Perhaps you start making a dried-orange garland the day after Thanksgiving. You, my friend, are definitely a Jo. Thankfully, nostalgic and handmade decor is trending this year, so no matter your style, youll find inspiration below thats both of the moment and timeless. Curious to see how your favorite March sister affects your Christmas decor sensibilities? Fair warning, these ideas may inspire you add a festive tabletop tree (or two) to your Christmas decor, and they will definitely inspire a rewatch (or two!) of the Alcott classicboth the 1994 adaptation and the more recent 2019 version. Settle in for a Holiday Movie Night:Meg: The TraditionalistBrian WoodcockYou love the finer things, and put tradition (think a classic red-and-green scheme) and family above all. Just like many eldest daughters before and after her, Meg follows in Marmees footsteps making a tree that feels warm and traditional (like the set for the filming of Little Women (which was based on Alcotts childhood home in Concord Massachusetts). This mini balsam tree, much like its muse, embraces traditional elements like a plaid bow, cranberry garland, and tartan ornaments, plus homey accents like clip-on candlesticks. A stoneware crock serves as a classic base.Jo: The NaturalistBrian WoodcockMinimalist and no-nonsense, you gravitate toward a nature-inspired palette and more literary pursuits. You keep your decking-of-the-halls simple for ample time to spend as much of the holiday season as possible snuggled up with a book.A sparse alpine balsam fir channels Jos less-is-more leanings, while an antique copper pot anchors the display with metallic heft. Bird and pine cone ornaments hit an organic note, while a dried-orange garland appeals to Jo's practical sideBeth: The NostalgistBrian WoodcockSweet and sentimental, you relish holiday nostalgia and cherish all things handmade and handcrafted. Less drawn to grand adventures that your other sisters, you instead, feel the pull towards the simplicity and comfort of home. A flocked spruce and ribbon-candy ornaments hit a nostalgic note. The happy-hued handmade button garland and vintage candy-tin base add simple homespun charm. RELATED: 25+ Vintage Christmas Decorations That Will Never Go Out of StyleAmy: The Free SpiritBrian WoodcockFanciful and (a bit) frivolous, you love the glitz and glamour of the holidays. You likely have a soft spot for sparkle and shiny objects. Unafraid to speak your mind, or make your intentions know you have no trouble embracing the more-is-more approach to decor. An all-white spruce serves as an eye-catching foundation for sparkling snowflakes, pastel baubles, putz house accents, and a sweet ice-skate topper. A hatbox as the tree holder evokes a bit of jet-set glamour.Get More Decorating Inspiration for Your Christmas Trees:Maribeth B JonesDesign DirectorMaribeth B Jones is the Design Director of Country Living where she creates seasonal content full of warmth and playfulness. When shes not wrangling chickens for a cover shoot you can find her collecting vintage oil portraits or flipping pancakes in her sunny, yellow kitchen with her two chatty daughters.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Yellowstone is coming to an end after five seasons, but make no mistake: The shows impact, particularly on interior design, has staying power. Over the years, weve seen a surge in ranch-inspired productsfrom fabrics to furnishingsthat nod to luxe life on the range. And weve lusted over sprawling yet cozy ranches, rustic retreats, and even party barns. Its become abundantly clear that Old-West style is no longer reserved for cowboys; Weve dubbed the style Rich Ranch, and its not going anywhere anytime soon. Related StoriesThe look is less Howdy, Pardner, and more, Howdy, (Top Law Firm) Partner. Designer Kylee Shintaffer, who executes the Rich Ranch aesthetic well, explains: lt's luxe, rustic materials used in a sparing way, paired with furnishings that are a blend of old and new. Its a delicate balance of mixing the rustic with the refined. Effectively finding the right blend requires taking cues from the architecture [to] help inform those decisions and how far you push the mix.While Yellowstone is a longtime propeller of this trend, its not the only reason homeowners are embracing it. I think there are more clients looking to find places to escape to and connect with nature while also having an elevated sense of comfort to retreat to at the end of the day, says Shintaffer.So if youre ready to immerse yourself in Rich Ranch style, whether to fill the Yellowstone void or take advantage of natural surroundings, here are four elements you can incorporate into your home.Additional copy by Kelly Allen.Reclaimed Wood and Timeworn Stone With Modern AccentsEric PiaseckiA kitchen designed by Kylee ShintafferOut West, natural materials like wood and stone reign supreme. But for the Rich Ranch look, you'll want to make sure those materials are mixed with contemporary ones. Often, we use a blend of authentically rustic materials such as reclaimed wood and antique stone paired with more contemporary elements of steel and glass, says Shintaffer. It's a beautiful way to modernize a rustic aesthetic. One thing to keep in mind: if you'd like to keep your metal looking modern, make sure it's smooth, not hammered!Luxe, Natural FabricsEric PiaseckiAn office designed by Kylee ShintafferAs for textiles, you'll want a combo here, too. Shintaffer gravitates toward natural fabrics of wool, cashmere, and linen, which can be selected in neutral shades for a more modern look. Pair those with other luxe fabricsfaux furs and jewel-tone velvet, for instanceto infuse a cozy sumptuousness into a room.Old-School Wall FinishesTria GiovanA living room designed by Suzanne KaslerNod to ye olde days with classic wall finishes like plaster and lime paint, two of Shintaffer's picks, which can add subtle texture to a space. The handmade quality is something you'd find on a traditional ranch, but when it's paired with more modern furniture and decor, you're entering Rich Ranch territory.Vintage and Contemporary Furnishings Vintage pieces always add character to a space, but Shintaffer suggests incorporating clean-lined contemporary pieces to find that perfect balance of old and new. That way, you can ride off into the sunset knowing your home will feel timeless rather than dated.Shop the Rich Ranch TrendCastlery Abel Leather Counter Stool$458 at castlery.comVFAUOSIT Kitchen Sink FaucetNow 21% Off$45 $36 at AmazonCrate & Barrel Wythe 92" Leather Sofa$4,199 at Crate & BarrelEastern Accents Wiley Pillow Cover & Insert$203 at Wayfair$295 at Neiman MarcusWest Elm Faux Fur ThrowNow 50% Off$109 $54 at West ElmRobert Abbey Bling Large ChandelierNow 20% Off$3,631 $2,905 at LumensSquare Travertine Side Table$3,818,383 at West ElmSerena & Lily Lake House Expandable Dining TableNow 35% Off$5,498 $3,598 at Serena and LilyRejuvenation High Back Dining Arm Chair$619 at RejuvenationFollowHouse Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Baller League a new six-a-side football league that has attracted support from legends like Ronaldinho, Gary Lineker, and Luis Figo has raised $25mn from EQT Ventures as it looks to initiate a new era for the beautiful game.German entrepreneur Felix Starck co-founded the Baller League last year alongside former players Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski. The founders wanted to change the way younger audiences engage, view, and interact with the worlds most popular sport. The league, which is now expanding from Germany to the UK and the US, comprises shorter 30-minute matches that are available to stream on popular digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Amazons live-streaming service Twitch.Sport is no longer as easy as just saying look, were here now, come and watch us, said Starck. Thats just not how sport works any more. It needs to be exciting, and it needs to be authentic. Those are the two words that we always use at Baller League.Alongside some of the games biggest names, influencers Darren Jason Watkins Jr (KSI) and Olajide Olatunji (IShowSpeed) are also working with Baller League. The pair have a whopping 58 million YouTube subscribers between them.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!KSI and IShowSpeed are set to lead the leagues newly set up UK and US chapters, respectively. Ronaldinho, Lineker, Figo and other prominent ex-players like John Terry, Alan Shearer and Freddie Ljungberg will serve as team presidents.The Baller League live-streamed its first matches from a repurposed aeroplane hangar in Cologne. It has rapidly amassed nearly one million followers across digital platforms. This has made it Germanys top Twitch channel and one of the global top five.Baller League UK is set to debut on 3 March 2025, with games held every Monday through 19 May. Matches will be live-streamed, with YouTuber Chunkz hosting a weekly show. Twelve teams will compete, with the top four advancing to the playoffs where they will battle it out to decide the season champion.The Baller League drafts players from various backgrounds, including former academy players, free agents, and recently retired professionals or semi-professionals. Player trials will take place in London and Manchester.Baller League is confident that the fast-paced gameplay will resonate with fans worldwide, many of whom grew up playing small-sided football on playgrounds and streets.Baller League is bringing a loved sport back to its roots, said Ashley Lundstrm, Partner at EQT Ventures, the Swedish venture capital firm that led the funding round.Baller League is part of a new cohort of upstarts that are using influencers and social media to reach global, mainly younger, audiences. Earlier this year, former FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqu raised 60mn for Kings League, a seven-a-side football competition.As upstarts like Baller League and Kings League garner more fans, it remains to be seen how footballs establishment will react. The old guard may innovate within their own structures to retain younger audiences, a bit like how traditional banks responded to the rise of digital-savvy challenger banks like Revolut.Either way, this new era,, looks to be here to stay. Let the games begin. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot has become somewhat of an internet sensation, no doubt thanks to its (perhaps disturbingly) killer dance moves or displays of super-strength.But Spot is far from the only robodog on the block. One of its competitors is ANYmal, an autonomous quadruped thats impressively good at everything from parkour to climbing ladders.Apart from doing tricks, ANYmal also has a real job. It does routine inspections in some of the toughest places on Earth. Think old nuclear power plants, abandoned mines, and offshore oil rigs.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Cameras, sensors and gas detectors act as the robodogs eyes and nose spotting obstacles, and potential safety hazards, and even sniffing out gas leaks. With its AI brain, it plans safe paths and knows where its been.ANYmal is so good at its job, that some of the worlds biggest industrial companies the likes of BP, Equinor, and Petrobas have adopted it as part of their workforce.ANYmals human master is ANYbotics, a company spun out from ETH Zurich in 2016. The startup has just raised $60mn to build more inspection robots and make them smarter.Currently, close to 200 ANYmals are deployed at worksites across the world. As of last year, the company reported having more than $150mn in pre-orders.This additional funding allows us to scale globally, enhance our AI-driven capabilities, and continue to deliver unmatched value to our customers across industries, said Dr. Pter Fankhauser, the companys co-founder and CEO.ANYbotics recently opened an office in Silicon Valley to tackle the American market. This will put it into closer competition with Spot, which also does its fair share of industrial inspections.The company said it is investing in software and hardware development, including new, built-in GPUs intended to make ANYmal faster at processing information, detecting anomalies and overall making it better at its job. ANYbotics trains its robot using AI computing from Nvidia.This latest funding brings ANYbotics total raised to over $130mn. The round was led by Qualcomm Ventures and Supernova Invest, with participation from TDK Ventures and other new investors. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

For a limited time, Apple is offering (at least) two new sign up bonuses for Apple Card. Apple Card typically comes with no sign up bonus, unlike most rewards credit cards. If youre interested in Apple Card, this could be worth jumping on!Apple ran two similar limited time offers back in August, and the offers are the same this time around. Both offers are running until January 13th, so you have around a month to think about it.Offer 1: $100 after $500Apple is advertising this first offer across social media, requiring new customers to spend $500 in the first 60 days of account opening. Afterwards, you earn $100 in Daily Cash, which can be deposited to your Apple Cash account, or your Apple Card Savings account which currently earns 3.9% APY. Unlike some other credit cards, this offer is not a statement credit, so youre technically free to spend this $100 as you please.If interested, you can sign up at this link before January 13th, to lock in this special offer.Offer 2: $300 after $1500This second offer is a targeted email, sent to customers with the subject Preview your new Apple Card credit limit offer.With this offer, you earn $300 Daily Cash after spending $1500 on your new Apple Card in your the 60 days of opening. Similar to the last offer, you can use this Daily Cash as you please, it isnt a statement credit.Its worth checking your email to see if Apple targeted you for this offer. If not, you can try checking this link, though its unlikely to show anything special for you. Once again, users have until January 13th to consider.If youve been looking to get Apple Card, now would be a good time to do so!Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost.Request your EXTENDED TRIALtoday and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.The enterprise workplace is undergoing a seismic transformation fueled by digital innovation and AI, and according to WiprosMac@Work 2024report, the Mac is leading the charge. For years, the Mac have been the go-to for creative teams like designers and developers, but this report highlights their growing adoption across departments like finance, operations, and even manufacturing. Lets look at why the Mac is a peer to Windows in the enterprise heading into 2025.About Apple @ Work:Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT department.The Mac and AIApples focus on privacy-conscious AI and on-device processing is setting a new standard. With Apple silicon chips and a dedicated Neural Engine, the Mac on Apple Silicon are uniquely equipped to run advanced AI workloads like large language models efficiently and securely.Enterprise-grade security and productivityThe survey shows that 80% of respondents consider the Mac more secure than other endpoints, thanks to built-in encryption and regular software updates. Additionally, 78% said the Mac improves productivity through its interface and seamless ecosystem with iOS, enabling faster workflows and collaboration.Employee choice as a competitive advantageNearly48% of enterprises now allow employees to choose the Mac, signaling a shift toward empowering workers with their preferred tools. This flexibility contributes to greater job satisfaction, boosting productivity and innovation. The Mac also offers a harmonious work-life balance with their ability to integrate effortlessly across devices and support remote work.SustainabilityApples commitment to sustainability resonates with enterprise IT teams. Features like energy-efficient Apple silicon chips and extended battery life help businesses meet their environmental goals while lowering costs. Although the Mac may have a higher upfront cost, 77% of respondents believe it offers superior long-term value by reducing support needs and increasing device longevity.Wrap upThe message heading into 2025 is simple: For IT leaders and decision-makers, the Mac is a peer to Windows as an enterprise endpoint. Weve all known this for 4+ years, but the data proves it. The Mac stand sout for their ability to integrate seamlessly with enterprise systems, enable AI innovation, and provide the security businesses demand.Download the full report.Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost.Request your EXTENDED TRIALtoday and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel