• Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance servers close next February | News-in-brief
    www.gamesindustry.biz
    Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance servers close next February | News-in-briefThe base game and DLC will still be available to play offline in single-playerImage credit: Wizards of the Coast News by GamesIndustry.biz Staff Contributor Published on Dec. 17, 2024 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance servers close next February
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·81 Views
  • James Wan is adapting indie horror Pacific Drive for TV
    www.gamesindustry.biz
    James Wan is adapting indie horror Pacific Drive for TVNoted horror filmmaker Wan secures rights to turn the driving game into a TV showImage credit: Ironwood Studios News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 17, 2024 Pacific Drive is the latest game getting the Hollywood treatment.As reported by Variety, notable horror filmmaker James Wan has secured the rights to turn the driving game into a TV series via his Atomic Monster production company.Wan will executively produce the show alongside Atomic Monsters Michael Clear and Rob Hackett, as well as The Menagerie Productions' Jeff Ludwig.As of the time of writing, the series has yet to be attached to a particular streaming service.Ironwood Studio's indie survival horror hit, Pacific Drive, has sold over 600,000 copies globally.Developer Red Barrels has also recently signed a deal with Lionsgate Studios and It and Strange Darling producer Roy Lee to create a movie based on the Outlast franchise.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·81 Views
  • Investigation claims "network of illegal casinos" lets children gamble with their Roblox account details
    www.gamesindustry.biz
    Investigation claims "network of illegal casinos" lets children gamble with their Roblox account detailsRoblox says it's working "collaboratively with law enforcement to pursue the owners of such websites"Image credit: Roblox News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Dec. 17, 2024 A "network of illegal casinos" is allegedly permitting children to gamble using their Roblox currency.According to an investigation by Sky News, children as young as 12 have reportedly been able to gamble using their Roblox accounts on sites and unlicensed casinos that run outside of Roblox's ecosystem.Although the casinos are not published on Roblox itself and the company has attempted to deter the illegal sites, children can reportedly use their Roblox login credentials and Roblox's currency, Robux, to access gambling on "robux casinos" like BloxFlip, RBLXWild, and Bloxmoon. The latter - which acquired RBLXWild earlier this year - has taken "a total of $11.4m (8.9m) [...] since it launched in late 2022."Whilst some casinos ask the players to provide a date of birth or tick a box confirming they are over 18, "they do not attempt to verify the users age."One respondent told Sky News that he began gambling at the age of 14, and has gambled away around 15 million Robux - the equivalent of around $190,700 (150,000). Even though his mother "tried to get [him] to stop," he "just liked the adrenaline of doing bigger and bigger bets.""I just thought it was something you could do to make extra money," he said. "I didn't even know what gambling was."A friend of the child reportedly threatened to take his own life after he lost 20,000 Robux - the equivalent of about $250/200 - "on a single roulette spin."Sky News said the boy's friends weren't sure "if he was serious, but the group didn't want to get adults involved for fear of revealing their gambling habits.""We just tried to calm him down ourselves," the respondent added.In response to the investigation, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, Andrew Rhodes, said: "At the end of the day, illegal casino operators are criminals. They're supported by criminal gangs and are part of the criminal underworld. It's important all of us play our part in trying to frustrate them."Commenting that all partners, including parents, should be "vigilant" about what their children are doing online, Rhodes added parents "have to remember that criminals are always trying to find ways to exploit children and others and be alive to that risk."BloxFlip went offline shortly after Sky News approached the site with its findings. Bloxmoon and RBLXWild have also disappeared, with notices on their websites saying they have "ceased operations."However, site moderators have been caught encouraging players to circumvent regional bans by using VPNs, and both Bloxmoon and RBLXWild have previously moved operations to slightly different URLs.Roblox was reportedly suing some of the illegal casinos for copyright infringement and breaking its terms of service."We have a dedicated group focused on identifying potentially fraudulent activity on Roblox and we work collaboratively with law enforcement authorities where possible to pursue the owners of such websites," a Roblox spokesperson told Sky News."Our efforts have met with some success, but we would welcome further law enforcement action and vigilance from web hosting providers to shut down sites like this."GamesIndustry.biz has also independently reached out to Roblox for comment.Roblox recently announced significant changes to its safety systems and parental controls to protect children under 13.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·85 Views
  • Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance fails death saves, gets delisted in 2025
    www.gamedeveloper.com
    Invoke Studios is pulling the plug on Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance. On February 24, 2025, the action-RPG will be delisted from all platforms and "no longer available to purchase."The game initially released in 2021 (back when Invoke was Tuque Games) for PlayStation 4 and 5, PC, and Xbox One and Series X|S. While unrelated to the original Dark Alliance games from Snowblind and Black Isle, this title was an attempted revival of that subsect of D&D games.According to Invoke, Dark Alliance's base game and DLC will remain playable through offline single-player after February 24. A week prior on February 18, Sumo Digital's Hood: Legends & Outlaws will similarly be delisted and rendered unplayable.Invoke's Dungeons & Dragons futureInvoke seemed to have moved on from Dark Alliance about a year after its release. In fall 2022, it revealed it was already at work on a new triple-A game, set once again in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Currently, that project is not one of the five titles canceled by Wizards of the Coast in early 2023.Last year's Larian-made Baldur's Gate 3 was a massive hit for both companies, and Wizards has made clear it would like to try and make more D&D games, either internally or with partners. At the same time, it's also hoping to start a new franchise with Exodus, Archetype Entertainment's sci-fi RPG that just got a gameplay reveal earlier today.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·80 Views
  • Pacific Drive is on the road towards a TV adaptation
    www.gamedeveloper.com
    Justin Carter, Contributing EditorDecember 17, 20241 Min ReadImage via Ironwood Studios/Kepler Interactive.At a GlanceThe title is being adapted for the small screen by horror director James Wan's production company, Atomic Monster. Ironwood Studios' Pacific Drive has a new destination: television.Per Variety, the car-heavy survival title is being adapted for the small screen by horror director James Wan's production company, Atomic Monster. Michael Clear and Rob Hackett from the same company will serve as executive producers alongside Wan. A streamer or network has not been attached to the would-be series yet.Pacific Drive released back in February for the PlayStation 5 and PC. In it, players use a station wagon to try and escape an exclusion zone in the Pacific Northwest, home to gameplay-altering anomalies.In July, Ironwood revealed Pacific sold over 600,000 copies across the two systems. The game was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game at the Game Awards, and won Best Game at Gamescom Latam's BIG Festival Awards in June.Game adaptations along the roadThis is the latest game this year to get tapped for a future TV or film adaptation. Mass Effect, Minecraft, and Alan Wakeand Control have all been picked up by major studios for eventual expansions onto Prime Video, Netflix, or theaters.At the same time, adaptations for Tomb Raider, Like a Dragon, and Fallout have came out this year to strong reviews and renewals for more seasons. The most recent game series, Arcane: League of Legends, wrapped with its sophomore season back in November.Not every game is making it to TV and film, though. Ubisoft finally put its Splinter Cell adaptation to bed after it'd been announced back in 2005, and Netflix's plans for a TV show based on PlayStation's Horizon games fell apart after showrunner Steven Blackman was accused of workplace abuse.Read more about:TransmediaAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·76 Views
  • Developer survey reveals surge in 'underperforming' studios in 2024
    www.gamedeveloper.com
    A recent survey from the Game Developer Collective reveals many developers feel their studio underperformed in the third quarter of FY 2024-2025.Of those asked, 41 percent said their employer did "worse than expected." The survey notes it's a "major jump" from the 20 percent that shared this thought in the first half of the 2024-2025 year. Conversely, the developers who believe their team did better than expected has declined from 24 percent to 16 percent.While this year has been rife with layoffs, not many publishers have attributed those reductions specifically to weak sales. More often, it's common for layoff announcements to mention the "harsh realities" of the game industry or say their game "didn't hit our targets" with audiences.On the other hand, Don't Nod had no trouble saying in October that its first-half struggles and underperforming games this year meant reductions were on the horizon.41% of surveyed devs think their studio underperformed for 2024-2025's Q3.Looking at 2024-2025's current fourth quarter, about 50 percent of developers surveyed feel their studio will end up breaking even compared to Q3. That outlook is slightly ahead of the same sentiment shared during the fiscal year's first half.Of this group, nearly 30 percent feel they'll do worse this quarter. 20 percent believe they'll do better, and around 5 percent are uncertain.Industry concerns across live service and overall market conditionsDevelopers have been candid about their industry concerns in two prior Collective surveys this year. In April, 70 percent of participants were unsure if live-service games would continue to be sustainable. Since then, major entries in the genre like xDefiant, Suicide Squad, and Concord have or will soon lose support, and their teams have faced layoffs or been closed entirely.In June, 59 percent of surveyed developers felt the industry is in a bad place and facing "poor market conditions." 49 percent feel things will stay the same through 2025, as well.As for what's made things so dire, 61 percent of developers put the blame on "unreasonable" expectations from investors. Trailing slightly behind were 58 percent who pointed the finger at mismanagement. Allegations of mismanagement hovered around xDefiant and Don't Nod throughout the year, in addition to Greedfall II creator Spiders.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·80 Views
  • The Verges favorite holiday gifts under $50
    www.theverge.com
    The holidays can be fun and all, but theres nothing less fun than watching your savings dwindle and your blood pressure spike as you work your way through your holiday wish list. Thats why weve created this gift guide for the budget-conscious shopper.RelatedWe at The Verge have tested a lot of pricey gadgets over the years, many of which can be found lining the pages of our buying guides and Favorites series. That being said, we can also swear by a ton of inexpensive tech, some of which you can snag for less than $50. This includes everything from festive, color-changing string lights and security cameras to an orb-shaped smart speaker that can double as a Wi-Fi extender. Dont worry its not all tech, either. Weve also sprinkled in viral skincare products, lore-heavy cookbooks, and one of the best albums of 2024, so there should be something for everybody on your list.price range:Glocusent Bookmark Style Reading LightGlocusents Bookmark Style Reading Light is the perfect gift for those who burn the midnight oil reading. The clip-on USB light offers a lightweight design and multiple brightness levels, providing a soft, warm glow thats dim enough that it wont disturb anyone else trying to get some shut-eye nearby. Price: $15.99+AmazonGlocusentScrabble Vintage Bookshelf EditionWord nerds will love the commemorative edition of Scrabble. The stylish, fabric-wrapped board game is meant to sit alongside vintage copies of For Whom the Bell Tolls and 1984; however, instead of containing pages full of prose, it opens to reveal 100 letter tiles and various wooden components inspired by the original 1948 edition of Scrabble. Price: $42+WS Game CompanyL.L. BeanSoundcore Select 4 Go speakerAnkers Soundcore Select 4 Go is a small but mighty Bluetooth speaker with up to 20 hours of battery life, a waterproof IPX67 rating, and the ability to float in water. It also features a built-in strap and can produce stereo sound when paired with another Go, just in case you and your bestie want to punch up the sound while at the beach. Price: $29.99+AmazonSoundcoreeBayApple AirTagAirTags can function as a second set of eyes for iPhone owners, allowing you to keep tabs on everything from your car keys to your backpack. Thats because the ultra wideband location trackers tap into Apples extensive Find My network, which allows for impressively precise tracking and lets users share the tracker with up to five other people for even greater peace of mind. Price: $24+AmazonBest Buy TargetPanel Sound Pickleball PaddlesPickleball has exploded in popularity, and chances are your sports-minded giftee has been curious to try it out if they havent already. Panel Sounds comfortable fiberglass rackets arent exactly high-end, but they work great as a beginner-friendly set with USA Pickleball certification. That means theyre even considered appropriate for tournament play. Price: $25.99+AmazonKeychron C3 Pro mechanical keyboardTheres just something about mechanical keyboards like the wired C3 Pro that makes them irresistible, even if you dont spend a good chunk of your day chipping away on a computer. Keychrons entry-level tenkeyless option puts the average laptop board to shame with red backlighting, linear or tactile switches, and the ability to remap keys via the VIA app. Price: $39.99AmazonLiberty Classic Floral Origami Flower KitYou dont need to be the creative type to enjoy the traditional Japanese art of origami, which is known to reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Libertys Classic Floral Origami Flower Kit has everything you need to get folding, including 75 patterned sheets and instructions for creating a decorative kusudama ball and four other flower designs. Price: $16.96+AmazonPaper SourceAnker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)Ankers compact USB-C hub is a relatively inexpensive way to bolster the number of ports on your laptop. The 8-in-1 hub features a single USB-C port for 100W Power Delivery, one 10Gbps USB-C port, two 10Gbps USB-A ports, SD and microSD card slots, and an ethernet port. It also has an HDMI port capable of up to 4K 60Hz output, which is a bona fide rarity at this price. Price: $49.99 AmazonWalmartAnkerHit Me Hard and Soft (vinyl)With certified bangers like Birds of a Feather and Chihiro, its no wonder Billie Eilishs third LP quickly became one of this years bestselling albums upon its release. All 10 tracks are a treat for the ears, making it a great gift for any self-proclaimed Avocado or aging millennial who still doesnt get the 22-year-old hitmaker. Price: $32.99+AmazonTargetBillie EilishBlink Mini 2The Blink Mini 2 is an inexpensive way for your giftee to keep an eye on valuables back home while out of town. The tiny 1080p camera features motion detection, two-way audio, and IP65 weatherproofing, the latter of which lets them monitor their back patio when paired with Blinks optional outdoor adapter. Price: $23.99AmazonBest Buy TargetTsuki Midnight Edition Black Page Bullet JournalAlong with being festive, the holidays are oft-considered a reflective time of year, making a bullet journal the perfect gift. With 150 dot grid pages and a set of 10 gelly pens, the Tsuki Midnight Edition Black Page Bullet Journal provides a fun, creative way for your friend or loved one to mull over the previous year while setting goals for the next. Price: $48.98Notebook TherapyTwinkly Strings USB-C StarsIf you want to deck the halls with more than just boughs of holly, Twinklys star-shaped string lights are a great addition. They can transform any living space into a colorful winter wonderland teeming with possibility, thanks in part to their integration with various smart home platforms and the fact you can individually tune each LED via Twinklys AR mapping feature. Price: $49.99+AmazonBest Buy TwinklyEcho Dot (fifth-gen)Amazons latest Echo Dot offers a ton of value for less than 50 bucks. Its both a good speaker and an alarm clock with access to plenty of Alexa-enabled skills, allowing you to effortlessly set reminders, check the weather, and play your favorite tracks. Hell, it can even boost your Wi-Fi coverage if youre on an Eero mesh Wi-Fi network. Price: $22.99AmazonBest Buy TargetSungboon Editor Deep Collagen Power Boosting Mask (four-pack)Sungboons collagen mask is the rare TikTok sensation that actually lives up to the hype. Like magic, the face mask works overnight to improve elasticity, temporarily erasing fine lines and wrinkles. It also soothes, hydrates, and rejuvenates your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion that should last far longer than the viral videos from which it sprang up. Price: $19AmazonSong of SkinJLab Go Air Sport The right song can push you through even the toughest gym session, but not if youre constantly fumbling with your earbuds. Luckily, JLabs Go Air Sport offer great sound for the price and a secure fit thanks to a dedicated pair of ear hooks. They also carry an IP55 rating, ensuring it wont matter how much you sweat during your next HIIT workout. Price: $19.99+AmazonBest Buy JLabNomad ChargeKeyNomads keychain-friendly ChargeKey is perfect for frequent travelers who dont want to lug a bulky charger around. The short braided cable comes in either a USB-C or Lightning-only configuration, both of which can deliver up to 60 watts of power. The cable tips even feature integrated magnets, allowing them to secure together when not in use. Price: $25.00AmazonNomadWomen of Science Tarot deckEven if you dont believe in divination, you have to admit the Women of Science Tarot deck is pretty fun. The unique set bridges the gap between spirituality and science with illustrations depicting inspirational STEM leaders, from computer scientist Annie Easley to chemist Rosalind Franklin. Each major arcana card also includes info on a foundational scientific concept, making for an educational, inspiring deck. Price: $24.39+AmazonBarnes & NobleBookshop.orgAmazfit Band 7Honestly, if all you need is a basic fitness tracker, the flagship Apple Watch Series 10 is overkill. The platform-agnostic Amazfit Band 7 nails the basics for less than $50 while boasting a stunning OLED display, Amazon Alexa support, and other features typically reserved for more expensive wearables. The menstrual tracking and abnormal heart notifications are just a plus. Price: $44.99+AmazonBest Buy AmazfitTwelve South AirFly ProThe wired earbuds airlines provide for in-flight entertainment are rarely any good. Thankfully, Twelve Souths AirFly Pro let you use your own set of Bluetooth earbuds. The wireless adapter also features an aux input for older devices and syncs with two pairs of headphones simultaneously, so you can binge up to 25 hours of Love Is Blind alongside your travel companion.Price: $43.99AmazonBest Buy Puncheons & FlagonsIf youre wondering what to get the Dungeons & Dragons fan in your life, Puncheons & Flagons makes for a great game night companion. The clever book comes with 75 easy-to-follow recipes for delicious D&D-themed cocktails and mocktails from a Necromancer to a Baldurian Tonic along with directions for both sweet and savory snacks. Its a Sword Coast staple if there ever was one. Price: $22.90+AmazonTargetBarnes & NobleLaurensory External DVD DriveIf you thought the humble optical drive was dead, think again. Laurensorys External DVD Drive is a cheap and efficient way to watch, listen, rip, and burn movies and music that lives only in disc form. It connects via USB-A or USB-C, too, so your giftee should have no trouble uploading those cathartic, Sharpied mixtapes from the early aughts to their computer. Price: $15.63AmazonTapo Matter Compatible Smart Plug Mini (three-pack)Dont want to buy smart lights for the Christmas tree? You dont have to. TP Links stackable Tapo P125M smart plug lets you outfit traditional lights with a bit of smart functionality, granting you the ability to schedule or control them using an app or your voice. They also support Matter, meaning theyll work with a wide range of smart home platforms. Price: $21.99AmazonB&H PhotoThe Verge Wrapping PaperWe may be biased in this instance, but we consider wrapping paper to be as essential to gift-giving as the gift itself. Thats why we designed two sets of 8.75 19.75-inch wrapping paper for our gift guide shoot this year, both of which you can purchase in our store if you want to outfit your presents with a bit of colorful eye candy. Price: $15The Verge (Set 1)The Verge (Set 2)Te-Rich Weighted Jump RopeThe Te-Rich Weighted Jump Rope offers an easy way to get a full-body workout at home. Its weighted handles allow you to incorporate some minor strength training, while a built-in LCD display with a timer and jump counter help level up what is otherwise a basic piece of equipment. It even estimates calories burned, which isnt bad for less than $20. Price: $20.99AmazonMeross Smart Wi-Fi Garage Door OpenerMeross garage door remote is easy to set up and allows you to control an existing garage door opener from wherever you may be using either your voice or the Meross app. The basic device is compatible with more than 1,600 different models, too, and this premium HomeKit-compatible version integrates nicely with iPhones for speedier operation. Price: $39.99AmazonOwala FreeSip Water Bottle (32-ounce)You cant go wrong with Owalas FreeSip Water Bottle, regardless of which size you choose. The triple-layered stainless steel vessel keeps drinks cool for up to 24 hours and comes with two spouts: one for sipping and one for a big swig. To top it off, each bottle features a collapsible handle, one that effortlessly flips open when its time to move. Price: $32.94+ AmazonWalmartTargetStardew ValleyIf you or someone you know hasnt played Stardew Valley yet, now is an excellent time to do so. The recent 1.6 patch makes the cozy farm simulator even more enjoyable by allowing you to play with seven other people on PC, raise new crops, and experience a wealth of late-game content that wasnt available until now. You can even drink mayonnaise, because why not?Price: $14.99+Best Buy TargetGameStopBialetti Moka ExpressItaly is the birthplace of espresso, so its no surprise that Bialettis attractive Moka Express pot brews up one-of-a-kind espresso-like coffee. The stove-top espresso maker has been used to serve delicious coffee for nearly a century at this point, yet it can still rival many modern machines, rendering it a great gift for both traditional types and the less tech-savvy. Price: $37.49+AmazonTargetSur La TableSwitchBot BotDo you ever wish you could turn on your coffee maker or hit the light switch without getting up? The SwitchBot Bot lets you do that. All you need to do is stick the inexpensive contraption on a standard button or rocker switch, which will allow you to control or schedule your pet feeder, garage door, and a wide range of other devices from your smartphone. Price: $26.10+AmazonSwitchBotBodyMark Temporary Tattoo MarkersIf you dont want to commit to a tattoo, BICs tattoo markers are the next best thing. You can use the eight markers to create all kinds of colorful designs on your skin, either by drawing freehand or using one of the provided stencils. Best of all, they only last a few days and can easily be washed off, so you can cycle through a new batch of temporary ink every week. Price: $26.14+AmazonTargetStaplesThe ChargerIf you or someone you know wants to cut back on cable clutter, The Charger is the perfect gift. The thick silicone puck features a built-in 4-foot USB-C cable that retracts with the touch of a button, so you dont have to deal with cables unless you want to. It also quickly delivers 35W of GaN charging, which is enough to juice most phones, a Nintendo Switch, tablets, and earbuds. Price: $44CounterpartEvolutionIf youre looking for a tech-free way to entertain friends or family while huddling for warmth indoors, board games like Evolution are perfect. The card-based strategy game rewinds time, pitting players against one another and forcing them to adapt to an ever-changing ecosystem in which hungry predators loom and resources are always at a premium. Price: $44.49+AmazonNorth Star GamesMueller Immersion Blender StickVersatility is the name of the game with Muellers handheld immersion blender. The ultracompact kitchen tool comes with a detachable whisk, frother, and blending shaft, which makes it easy to whisk eggs or make soup on cold, blustery days. The eight-speed blender is just as suitable for whipping up smoothies and baby food, too, making it the kind of gift thatll come in handy year-round. Price: $39.99AmazonMuellerCreditsPhoto/Art Direction and Photography: Amelia Holowaty KralesCreative Direction: Kristen RadtkeArt Direction and Design: Cath VirginiaProp Styling: Ashleigh Sarbone
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·70 Views
  • Dekogon Townscape Essentials Unreal Asset Humble Returns
    gamefromscratch.com
    The Dekogon Townscape Essentials Unreal Asset Humble Bundle has returned as part of the Humble Holiday Re-Runs, for the next 2 days only. It is a huge collection of Unreal Engine assets for populating a game town or city environment. While being composed of Unreal Engine assets, they can easily be exported to other game engines like Unity or Godot by following the guides below.The bundle is now a single $25 tier:Vehicles VOL.7 Retro Cars (Low Poly)Signage VOL.2 Town and City (Nanite and Low Poly)Roadside VOL.2 Town and City (Nanite and Low Poly Versions)Roadside VOL.3 Rural Props (Nanite and Low Poly Versions)Small Structures VOL.2 [ Low Poly ]Suburban Houses- VOL.1Buildings VOL.1 Window Decor (Nanite and Low Poly)Buildings VOL.3 Attachments (Nanite and Low Poly)Buildings VOL.5 Covers and Awnings (Nanite and Low Poly)Buildings VOL.5 Doors (Nanite and Low Poly)Buildings VOL.8 Commercial Doors (Nanite & Low Poly)Buildings VOL.9 Modular Pipes & Gutters (Nanite & Low Poly)Fences VOL.1 Beach and Town Modular (Nanite and Low Poly)Fences VOL.2 Farm and Town Modular (Nanite and Low Poly)Fences VOL.3 Town Modular (Nanite and Low Poly)Grocery VOL.2 Household Items (Nanite and Low Poly)Laundry VOL.2 Home Laundry (Nanite and Low Poly)Lighting VOL.1 Interior (Nanite and Low Poly)Lighting VOL.2 Interior (Nanite and Low Poly)Lighting VOL.3 Industrial (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.14 Furniture (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.15 Bathroom (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.16 Bedroom (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.17 Modular Cabinets (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.19 Retro Office (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.2 Couches and Sofas (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.8 Retro Decor (Nanite and Low Poly)Vehicles VOL.2 Retro Cars (Low Poly)Vehicles VOL.6 Hitches & Trailers (Low Poly)Vehicles VOL.3 Retro Cars (Low Poly)Trash VOL.1 City Streets (Nanite and Low Poly Versions)Suburbs VOL.4 Furniture (Nanite and Low Poly)Police HeadquartersUrban Background Buildings VOL.1Realistic Materials VOL.3 Suburban Exteriors (50 Materials)Retro 80s VOL.3 Toys (Nanite and Low Poly)Retro 80s VOL.4 Electronics (Nanite and Low Poly)Small Structures VOL.1 [ Low Poly ]Suburbs VOL.1 Wall Decor (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.10 Fireplaces (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.11 Rugs (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.12 Interior Decor (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.13 Roof Antennas (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.20 Vending and Service (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.21 Knick Knack Decor (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.3 Retro Furniture (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.5 Around the House Retro (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.6 Outdoor and Yard (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.7 Retro Kitchen (Nanite and Low Poly)Suburbs VOL.9 Kitchen Appliances (Nanite and Low Poly)Vehicles VOL.1 Small Rides (Nanite and Low Poly)Vehicles VOL.5 Trucks, Tractors, Buses (Low Poly)If you wish to convert the assets from one game engine to another, consider the following guides.You can learn more aboutthe Dekogon Townscape Essentials Unreal Asset Humblein thevideobelow. Using links on this page helps support GFS (and thanks so much if you do!). If you have any trouble opening the links simply paste it into a new tab and it should work just fine.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·106 Views
  • Google Released State of the Art Veo 2 for Video Generation and Improved Imagen 3 for Image Creation: Setting New Standards with 4K Video and Several Minutes Long Video Generation
    www.marktechpost.com
    Video and Image generation innovations are improving the quality of visuals and focusing on making AI models more responsive to detailed prompts. AI tools have opened new possibilities for artists, filmmakers, businesses, and creative professionals by achieving more accurate representations of real-world physics and human movement. AI-generated visuals are no longer limited to generic images and videos; they now allow for high-quality, cinematic outputs that closely mimic human creativity. This progress reflects the immense demand for technology that efficiently produces professional-grade results, offering opportunities across industries from entertainment to advertising.The challenge in AI-based video and image generation has always been achieving realism and precision. Earlier models often struggled with inconsistencies in video content, such as hallucinated objects, distorted human movements, and unnatural lighting. Similarly, image generation tools sometimes need to follow user prompts accurately or render textures and details poorly. These shortcomings undermined their usability in professional settings where flawless execution is critical. AI models are needed to improve understanding of physics-based interactions, handle lighting effects, and reproduce intricate artistic details, which are fundamental to achieving visually appealing and accurate outputs.Existing tools like Veo and Imagen have provided considerable improvements but have limitations. Veo allowed creators to generate video content with custom backgrounds and cinematic effects, while Imagen produced high-quality images in various art styles. YouTube creators, enterprise customers on Vertex AI, and artists through VideoFX and ImageFX extensively used these tools. They are good tools,they often have technical constraints, such as inconsistent detail rendering, limited resolution capabilities, and the inability to adapt seamlessly to complex user prompts. As a result, creators required tools that combined precision, realism, and flexibility to meet professional standards.Google Labs and Google DeepMind introduced Veo 2 and an upgraded Imagen 3 to improve the abovementioned problems. These models represent the next generation of AI-driven tools to achieve state-of-the-art video and image generation results. Veo 2 focuses on video production with improved realism, supporting resolutions up to 4K and extending video lengths to several minutes. It incorporates a deep understanding of cinematographic language, enabling users to specify lenses, cinematic effects, and camera angles. For instance, prompts like 18mm lens or low-angle tracking shot allow the model to create wide-angle shots or immersive cinematic effects. Imagen 3 enhances image generation by producing richer textures, brighter visuals, and precise compositions across various art styles. These tools are now accessible through platforms like VideoFX, ImageFX, and Whisk, Googles new experiment that combines AI-generated visuals with creative remixing capabilities.Veo 2 brings several upgrades to video generation. The central one is its improved understanding of real-world physics and human expression. Unlike earlier models, Veo 2 accurately renders complex movements, natural lighting, and detailed backgrounds while minimizing hallucinated artifacts like extra fingers or floating objects. Users can create videos with genre-specific effects, motion dynamics, and storytelling elements. For example, the tool allows prompts to include phrases such as shallow depth of field or smooth panning shot, resulting in videos that mirror professional filmmaking techniques. Imagen 3 similarly delivers exceptional improvements by following prompts with greater fidelity. It generates photorealistic textures, detailed compositions, and art styles ranging from anime to impressionism. These models offer professional-grade visual content creation that adapts to user requirements.In evaluations, in head-to-head comparisons judged by human raters, Veo 2 outperformed leading video models regarding realism, quality, and prompt adherence. Imagen 3 achieved state-of-the-art results in image generation, excelling in texture precision, composition accuracy, and color grading. The upgraded models also feature SynthID watermarks to identify outputs as AI-generated, ensuring ethical usage and mitigating misinformation risks.With Veo 2 and Improved Imagen 3, Whisk is a new experimental tool by the team that integrates Imagen 3 with Googles Gemini model for image-based visualizations. Whisk allows users to upload or create images and remix their subjects, scenes, and styles to generate new visuals. Whisk combines the latest Imagen 3 model with Geminis visual understanding and description capabilities. The Gemini model automatically writes a detailed caption of the images and feeds those descriptions into Imagen 3. This process allows users to easily remix the subjects, scenes, and styles in fun, new ways. For instance, the tool can transform a hand-drawn concept into a polished digital output by analyzing and enhancing the image through AI algorithms.Some of the highlights of Veo 2:Veo 2 creates videos at up to 4K resolution with extended lengths of several minutes.It reduces hallucinated artifacts such as extra objects or distorted human movements.Also, it accurately interprets cinematographic language (lens type, camera angles, and motion effects).Veo 2 improves understanding of real-world physics and human expressions for greater realism.It allows cinematic prompts, such as low-angle tracking shots and shallow depth of field, to produce professional outputs.It integrates with Google Labs VideoFX platform for widespread usability.Some of the highlights of Improved Imagen 3:Now, Imagen 3 produces brighter, more detailed images with improved textures and compositions.It accurately follows prompts across diverse art styles, including photorealism, anime, and impressionism.Imagen 3 enhances color grading and detail rendering for sharper, richer visuals.It minimizes inconsistencies in generated outputs, achieving state-of-the-art image quality.Accessible through Google Labs ImageFX platform and supports creative applications.In conclusion, Google Labs and DeepMind research introduce parallel upgrades in AI-driven video and image generation. Veo 2 and Imagen 3 set new benchmarks for professional-grade content creation by addressing long-standing challenges in visual realism and user control. These tools improve video and image fidelity, enabling creators to specify intricate details and achieve cinematic outputs. With innovations like Whisk, users gain access to creative workflows that were previously unattainable. The combination of precision, ethical safeguards, and innovative flexibility ensures that Veo 2 and Imagen 3 will impact the AI-generated visuals positively.Check out the details for . All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Mohammad Asjad+ postsAsjad is an intern consultant at Marktechpost. He is persuing B.Tech in mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Asjad is a Machine learning and deep learning enthusiast who is always researching the applications of machine learning in healthcare. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·67 Views
  • TAI 130: DeepMind Responds to OpenAI With Gemini Flash 2.0 and Veo 2
    towardsai.net
    Author(s): Towards AI Editorial Team Originally published on Towards AI. What happened this week in AI by LouieAI model releases remained very busy in the run-up to Christmas, with DeepMind taking center stage this week with a very strong Gemini Flash 2.0 release and its Veo 2 video model. The Flash 2.0 model illustrates the progress made in inference efficiency and model distillation over the past year, together with Geminis progress in competing at the top of the leaderboards. For example, Flash 2.0s MMMU image understanding score of 70.7% compares to 59.4% achieved by the far larger and more expensive Gemini 1.0 ultra almost exactly one year before. We also saw a strong update to Grok-2 this week, together with free access to everything on x.com. Microsoft also delivered an impressive update with Phi-4 its model family focussed on pushing synthetic data generation to its limits. The 14bn parameter Phi-4 model achieved an MMLU Pro score of 70.4 vs Phi-3 14B at 51.3 and even beat the recently upgraded Llama 3.3 70B model at 64.4. OpenAI also continued its 12 days of announcements with focus on ChatGPT including features such as Canvas, Projects, video input in advanced voice mode and integration with iPhones.Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental is an updated multimodal model designed for agentic applications, capable of processing and generating text, images, and audio natively. In benchmark comparisons, it shows strong progress over its predecessors. For example, on the MMLU-Pro test of general understanding, Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental achieves a score of 76.4%, a slight improvement over Gemini 1.5 Pros 75.8% (despite being a smaller and faster model) and a substantial gain compared to Gemini 1.5 Flashs 67.3%. Similarly, on the MMMU image understanding test, Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental reaches 70.7%, surpassing Gemini 1.5 Pros 65.9% and Gemini 1.5 Flashs 62.3%.Gemini 2.0 Flash Experimental supports a range of input/output modalities, offers structured outputs, and integrates tool use, including code execution and search. It can handle large input lengths (up to 1 million tokens) and produce outputs with up to 8,192 tokens while maintaining a high request throughput. The models native tool use and code execution features are intended to enhance reliability and adaptiveness, though current feedback shows some inconsistencies in accuracy and voice naturalness. Gemini also released a new Multimodal Live API with real-time audio and video-streaming input.In a busy week at Google Deepmind, the company also announced Deep Research (a tool for researching complex topics within Gemini advanced), Veo 2 (text to video model) and Imagen 3 (text to image). Veo 2 is a video generation model capable of producing realistic motion and high-quality outputs, including 4K resolution video with reduced artifacts. It interprets and follows both simple and complex textual instructions accurately, simulating real-world physics in a variety of visual styles. Veo 2 supports a range of camera control options and maintains fidelity across diverse scenes and shot types, enhancing both realism and dynamic motion representation. In human evaluations on the MovieGenBench dataset, Veo 2 outperformed other top models in terms of overall preference and prompt-following capability.Why should you care?As the first release from the Gemini 2.0 family, Flash 2.0 may be the first glimpse we have of the next generation of LLMs using larger compute clusters (TPUs in this case) and compute budgets. This model likely benefits from model distillation from larger models in the 2.0 family and shows the huge progress made in inference costs this year. This new model aligns with a strategy focused on agentic experiences and interoperability with various inputs and tools. Gemini noted how it fits into agentic research prototypes like Project Astra, which examines the use of video input AI assistants in mobile and potential wearable devices, and Project Mariner, which explores browser-based agents. The strong capability now possible in low latency and low cost smaller tier models is particularly valuable for these agentic applications where many tokens may be used in large chains of prompts and where real-time responses can be key. These low costs are also important for reasoning models that scale inference time compute; this is now the key area where Gemini still lags behind OpenAI, and we expect to hear more from Gemini here in the future.Hottest News1. Google Launched Gemini 2.0, Its New AI Model for Practically EverythingGoogle released Gemini 2.0 Flash, a multilingual and multimodal AI model capable of real-time conversation and image analysis. In addition to advances in multimodality like native image and audio output, it allows native tool use, enabling developers to build new AI agents.2. OpenAI Brings Video to ChatGPT Advanced Voice ModeOpenAIs ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode now supports video and screenshare features, enabling users to interact visually through a phone camera. This update, previously audio-only, demonstrates ChatGPTs ability to identify objects and guide tasks. It is currently available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users.3. Microsoft Launches Phi-4, a New Generative AI Model, in Research PreviewMicrosoft introduced Phi-4, a 14B parameter small language model (SLM) that excels at complex reasoning in areas such as math and conventional language processing. It surpasses larger models, excelling in mathematics and outperforming GPT-4 in science and tech queries. Available soon on HuggingFace, Phi-4 achieved 91.8% on AMC tests, leading all models but showing practical limitations despite strong benchmarks.4. Apple Releases Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT Integration in SiriApples iOS 18.2 update enhances iPhones, iPads, and Macs with Apple Intelligence features. The new update brings a whole host of Apple Intelligence features, including ChatGPT integration with Siri, Genmoji, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence to the iPhone. It also adds language support for other regions, such as the UK and Australia, officially launching Apples AI in those countries.5. Cohere AI Releases Command R7BCommand R7B is the smallest, fastest, and final model in the R Series. It is a versatile tool that supports a range of NLP tasks, including text summarization and semantic search. Its efficient architecture enables enterprises to integrate advanced language processing without the resource demands typically associated with larger models.6. Google Unveiled Willow, a Quantum Computing ChipGoogle announced Willow, a new quantum chip that outperformed even the worlds best supercomputer on an advanced test. The new chip can complete a complex computation in five minutes that would take the most powerful supercomputer 10 septillion years more than the estimated age of the universe. Google researchers were also able to prove for the first time that the chips errors did not increase proportionately as the number of qubits rose.7. OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Projects, Letting You Organize Files, Chats in GroupsOpenAI is rolling out a feature called Projects to ChatGPT. Its a folder system that makes it easier to organize things youre working on while using the AI chatbot. Projects keep chats, files, and custom instructions in one place.8. Grok Is Now Free for All X UsersGrok is now available to free users on X. Several users noticed the change on Friday, which gives non-premium subscribers the ability to send up to 10 messages to Grok every two hours. TechCrunch reported last month that Musks xAI started testing a free version of Grok in certain regions. Making Grok more widely available might help it compete with the already-free chatbots like OpenAIs ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Anthropics Claude.9. OpenAI Released the First Version of SoraOpenAI is releasing Sora as a standalone product at Sora.com to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. Sora, OpenAIs text-to-video AI, enables users to create 1080p videos up to 20 seconds long. Sora features include video remixing and storyboards. However, videos carry watermarks.Five 5-minute reads/videos to keep you learning1. The Epic History of Large Language Models (LLMs)This article breaks the evolution of RNN architecture into five stages: traditional encoder-decoder architecture, addition of attention mechanism in our traditional encoder-decoder architecture, transformers architecture, addition of techniques like transfer learning into the NLP domain, and finally, large language models (like ChatGPT).2. Building Multimodal RAG Application #5: Multimodal Retrieval From Vector StoresThis article dives into the essentials of setting up multimodal retrieval using vector stores. It covers installing and configuring the LanceDB vector database, demonstrates how to ingest both text and image data into LanceDB using LangChain, and concludes with a practical walkthrough of performing multimodal retrieval, enabling efficient searches across both text and image data.3. How To Build a Truly Useful AI ProductThe traditional laws of startup physics like solving the biggest pain points first or supporting users getting cheaper at scale dont fully apply when building AI products. And if your intuitions were trained on regular startup physics, youll need to develop some new ones in AI. This article shares a set of four principles for building AI products that every app-layer founder needs to know.4. Run Gemini Using the OpenAI APIGoogle confirmed that its Gemini large language model is now mostly compatible with the OpenAI API framework. There are some limitations with features such as structured outputs and image uploading, but chat completions, function calls, streaming, regular question/response, and embeddings, work just fine. This article provides examples of Python code to show how it works.5. AI Tooling for Software Engineers in 2024: Reality Check (Part 1)A survey asked software engineers and engineering managers about their hands-on experience with AI tooling. This article provides an overview of the survey, popular software engineering AI tools, AI-assisted software engineering workflows, whats changed since last year, and more.Repositories & ToolsMarkItDown is a Python tool for converting files and office documents to Markdown.HunyuanVideo is a systematic framework for a large video generation model.DeepSeek-VL2 is an advanced series of large Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) Vision-Language Models.TEN Agent is a conversational AI powered by TEN, integrating Gemini 2.0 Multimodal Live API, OpenAI Realtime API, RTC, and more.Top Papers of The Week1. Phi-4 Technical ReportThis is the technical report for phi-4, a 14-billion-parameter language model. By strategically integrating synthetic data during training, it excels in STEM-focused QA capabilities. Despite retaining the phi-3 architecture, it outperforms its predecessors due to enhanced data quality, a refined training curriculum, and advanced post-training innovations. It surpasses GPT-4, particularly in reasoning-focused benchmarks.2. ReFT: Representation Finetuning for Language ModelsThis research develops a family of Representation Finetuning (ReFT) methods. ReFT methods operate on a frozen base model and learn task-specific interventions on hidden representations. The research also defines a strong instance of the ReFT family, Low-rank Linear Subspace ReFT (LoReFT). Both are drop-in replacements for existing PEFTs and learn interventions that are 15x 65x more parameter-efficient than LoRA.3. Training Large Language Models To Reason in a Continuous Latent SpaceThis paper introduces Coconut, a novel reasoning paradigm for LLMs that operates in a continuous latent space. Coconut enhances reasoning by utilizing the last hidden state as a continuous thought, enabling advanced reasoning patterns like breadth-first search. It outperforms traditional chain-of-thought approaches in logical tasks with substantial backtracking, demonstrating the promise of latent reasoning.4. GenEx: Generating an Explorable WorldThis paper introduces GenEx, a system for 3D world exploration that uses generative imagination to generate high-quality, 360-degree environments from minimal inputs like a single RGB image. GenEx enables AI agents to perform complex tasks with predictive expectations by simulating outcomes and refining beliefs. By advancing embodied AI in imaginative spaces with real-world applications, GenEx advances embodied AI in imaginative spaces.5. FlashAttention on a Napkin: A Diagrammatic Approach to Deep Learning IO-AwarenessThis paper proposes a diagrammatic approach to optimizing deep learning algorithms with IO-awareness, achieving up to sixfold performance improvements like FlashAttention. By efficiently managing data transfers and harnessing GPU features, their method generates pseudocode for Ampere and Hopper architectures. It enhances energy efficiency and performance by reducing GPU energy costs from transfer bandwidth, which currently consumes 46%.Quick Links1. Harvard and Google to release 1 million public-domain books as AI training datasets. This dataset includes 1 million public-domain books spanning genres, languages, and authors, including Dickens, Dante, and Shakespeare, which are no longer copyright-protected due to age.2. Meta is releasing an AI model called Meta Motivo, which could control the movements of a human-like digital agent, potentially enhancing the Metaverse experience. The company said that Meta Motivo addresses body control problems commonly seen in digital avatars, enabling them to perform more realistic and human-like movements.3. Pika Labs has launched Pika 2.0, the advanced AI video model that is a new step towards creative AI video production. This forward-looking release combines crisp text alignment with freshly introduced Scene Ingredients in the Pika Labs web application. Compared to earlier versions, it adds deeper flexibility and sharper detail.Whos Hiring in AIMachine Learning & Computer Vision Engineer @Corning Incorporated (Remote)Research Instructor @University of Colorado (Hybrid/Colorado, USA)Artificial Intelligence Engineer @Fortive Corporation (Hybrid/Bengaluru, India)Sr. AI Linguist @LinkedIn (Hybrid/Mountain View, CA, USA)Lead AI Engineer @Capital One Services, LLC (Multiple US Locations)Senior Generative AI Data Scientist, Amazon SageMaker @Amazon (Seattle, WA, USA)Machine Learning Research Engineer Intern @Texas Instruments (Dallas, TX, USA)Software Engineer, Generative AI Engineering (Internship) @Woven by Toyota (Tokyo, Japan)Interested in sharing a job opportunity here? Contact [emailprotected].Think a friend would enjoy this too? Share the newsletter and let them join the conversation.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AI
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·78 Views