Stimpaks are next.Get Master Chief one of these, stat.

Monotype's creative type director analyses this year's visual identity.

There is no genre quite like horror. At its best, it's so much more than guts and gore, or tired tropes and torture scenes. It's self-reflection. It's catharsis.It's entering an implicit agreement with a work's creator: If you spill your guts out to me (metaphorically or perhaps literally), then I will wade through my own, hold them up, and take note of what makes ours similar to one another. While there are certainly qualities that make for a "good" work of horror, the transcendent variety is subjective; it relies on your own fears, traumas, and beliefs to create resonance with what's laid before you. The more vulnerable a work is, the greater its opportunity to connect with--or possibly alienate--its audience. This is precisely what makes Silent Hill 2 such a memorable and pivotal entry in the horror game genre--it's sheer vulnerability creates a game wherein even alienation feels like connection.I say all this to emphasize that the upcoming remake of this 23 year-old game is an incredibly exciting prospect to me. Though the original holds up well, there's no denying that it feels quite dated--and not always in an endearing, "time capsule" kind of way. There's also no denying that the game is incredibly influential; its DNA is woven into countless horror games and horror-adjacent titles, with last year's Alan Wake 2 proving that, even decades later, this continues to be true. This ultimately elevates Silent Hill 2's status from "great game" to a "genre essential," albeit one that is frustrating to play--or even simply access--at the moment. A remake, then, seems entirely warranted.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Battlefield franchise has been going through somewhat of an identity crisis in recent years. Back when Battlefield debuted in the early 2000s, its primary identity was being a multiplayer military shooter with a dash of historical realism. That identity remained a staple of the Battlefield franchise throughout the first decade of its life, with a grounded tone being at the forefront of every entry until Battlefield 1's release in 2016. Battlefield V and 2042, however, took a step back from the rest of the franchise's realism and its more grounded tone, introducing mechanics like 2042's Specialist system that didn't quite fit with Battlefield's prior identity.

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Silent Hill 2, a remake of the iconic 2001 PS2 survival horror game, takes players on a journey as the main protagonist, James Sunderland. Venture through the mostly deserted town of Silent Hill, a place filled with memories of his late wife Mary, as he comes to terms with these memories while encountering monsters and a cast of characters. The remake launches on PS5 October 8.I recently had the opportunity to play the highly-anticipated remake. Join me for a chilling recap that stretches from the opening scene to the imposing boss encounter with Red Pyramid Thing (a.k.a. Pyramid Head).Play VideoThe story begins in a grimy public restroomThe game begins with James recollecting the content of the letter he received from his deceased wife in the dimly lit public restroom of the observation deck at the outskirts of Silent Hill. Back in 2001, the level of dirt and detritus in this bathroom was a high-watermark for realistic, atmospheric visuals in games.At first glance, I noticed that although the public restroom was almost proportionally identical to the original, it looked more detailed and realistic, with graffiti and scribbles on the walls, dirty floors, and a filthy toilet bowl. This instilled eeriness as if to foreshadow the grueling journey that James was about to embark on.A new, immersive over-the-shoulder perspectiveThe first thing that struck me when I started the game was the new over-the-shoulder perspective. While the originals overhead perspective felt like I was watching a movie, the remakes updated view put me closer to James point of view, supporting greater immersion and the feeling of being in Silent Hill. 3D Audio also deepens the immersion, making swishing leaves and James footsteps feel audibly real.Thickening fog shrouding James state of mindIn the original game, the observation deck in the opening scene was shrouded in fog, whereas in the view is clear in the remake. At first As James approaches the town the fog grows denser, almost symbolizing his state of mind and evoking anxiety in the player.The first area that James visits is the eastern district of Silent Hill. At first the in-game map didnt look much different from what I had remembered in the original, but I was soon proven wrong. The houses, apartments, shops, and other buildings are dramatically improved, with intricate details that were not present in the original. The detailed chairs, flowerpots, abandoned trash, and other props all faithfully recreat the ambiance of the fog-shrouded streets of Silent Hill.The more explorable buildings add more funAs I was exploring the town, I was surprised to find that the remake boasted more buildings James could go into compared to the original. In some instances, he had to smash window panes to break into the building. Ammunition and recovery items were hidden inside, making exploration vital and, at the same time, more rewarding. However, the monsters lurking inside these buildings meant I had to stay vigilant and engaged, adding an extra layer of challenge to the game.Intense, up-close-and-personal combatFighting the terrible creatures of Silent Hill feels entirely different from the original. Monsters in earlier stages of the 2001 original are rather passive and can bludgeoned to death without much recourse. In the remake, some enemies can now counterattack between players attacks. Successfully dodging these counterattacks and timing retaliation have adds a new engaging later to gameplay. The new, over-the-shoulder perspective also gives players a closer look at the grotesque foes.Puzzles that challenge your wisdom and observation skillsI had a chance to play new puzzles where I had to collect multiple items to combine in order to solve them. Still, I encountered puzzles with clever references to the original, so Im sure this will bring joy to fans of the original Silent Hill 2 and offer them something new to solve. It is also good to know, for those who are not avid puzzle solvers, that the difficulty level for puzzles can be set separately from that of game action elements such as combat level.Newly renovated apartmentsRemember the Wood Side Apartment and the Blue Creek Apartment from the beginning of the story? Well, their layouts have changed significantly from the original version. While the overall story remains the same, the locations where James finds items and puzzles and encounters enemies are entirely different, consequently challenging returning players to come up with a new approach for the remake.Fans of the 2001 original remember loading screens when traversing between rooms. In the remake James can seamlessly move around the building. But be careful when dashing into a room. I was so focused on making progress that I was ambushed by a monster that made me jump.Frantic Pyramid HeadThe Pyramid Head encounter at the end of the apartment has also evolved significantly. James confronts the humanoid monster in a larger, more intense warehouse-like area than the originals small room. Watching the iconic villain stalk towards you while dragging his massive, sparking blade across the ground is still an intimidating sight.Pyramid Heads movements and attacks are fairly slow. Staying calm is key to dodging its attacks or maintaining a safe distance. However, each blow from Pyramid Head is devastating, as I discovered when it swung its arm and sent James flying through the air.As my time at the event was limited, Im sure there must be some highlights that I missed. But for now, I will have to wait to explore every nook and cranny of the streets and buildings of Silent Hill until it launches on PS5 October 8.

Before sitting down to play three hours of the Silent Hill 2 remake at a recent Konami-led press event in London, we were shown a new trailer. Like the previous trailers, it left me skeptical. Although Im not opposed to the project of remaking Silent Hill 2, Im wary of any modernizing instinct that replaces the aged, the weird, and even the off-putting with the same glazed genericism of the 2020s AAA game.After getting my hands on it, I think some of that skepticism is warranted. I also think that the original Silent Hill 2 is a very, very good video game.In the opening section, James jogging around the streets could be any game with a multimillion-dollar budget that you can pick up on the PS5. Yes, its foggy, but other than that it is bland. The switch to an over-the-shoulder camera, the breaking windows to search through drawers for health items, and the white cloth marking places that are interactable all feel unspecific.The latter two mechanics also point to the game being bigger, potentially significantly so. We were told the game is 12+ hours, while the original clocks in around eight. As an example, Neelys Bar once a small, flavorful spot with a clue marked on a map becomes a quest location that involves visiting another new part of the town to pick up an item before running back to solve a puzzle. We were told that these new puzzles add to the lore of the franchise, a promise that will excite some but I know I am not alone in being exhausted by them.I dont think this will do good things for the pacing. Konami PR recommended several times that we spend only an hour in the opening of the game before using a pre-set save point to jump ahead to the apartments section. I did that, so I cant tell you what lore might have been buried in the Neelys Bar puzzle. I also cant tell you how it feels to have to spend a long stretch in the modern version of that town before getting to anything else, but the suggestion that we not do it speaks for itself, to some extent.On the other hand, skipping ahead to the apartments wiped away the generic feeling. Theyre claustrophobic, labyrinthine, and tense. Their design highlights some of what made Silent Hill 2 great in the first place but which isnt common practice in modern AAA games. Gradually exploring with James scribbled-on map, for example, feels incomparably better than any game with a minimap or a tagged overhead compass.This section also brings the remakes improvements to the forefront. Watching a YouTube video of the original apartments segment after playing, I was taken aback by the difference in the sound design. The original James clunks with every footstep, but he hits enemies with a kind of silent disregard. In the remake, he sounded frightened and horrified when he swung into a mannequin creature. The combat changes arent anything stunning, but actor Luke Roberts deserves the credit for selling them.Roberts and the other voice actors were apparently also key in finalizing the script for the remake, says Maciej Gomb, lead producer at Bloober Team. These were all professionals, he says. So they often had ideas on how to sell a scene or a specific dialogue line. As long as they were in line with the tone we wanted, we usually [trusted] their experience and their proficiency.The script has also been reworked slightly to be more understandable, says Gomb, and edited with regard to how newer technology such as face motion capture has allowed the team to show and not tell certain aspects like emotional beats. But, while many of the mechanics have been updated for the remake, its the narrative that Bloober Team is trying to keep as close as possible to the original, says creative director Mateusz Lenart: The characters of the original game, their specific arcs and endings, and what those characters are.There will, however, be additional endings. I think that was one of the first requests from Konami, at the very beginning, says Gomb. The original endings will all be present even the funny ones, although with our own twist for a little bit of an expansion. But in new game plus runs, there will be the possibility to get other outcomes. Although Bloober Team wasnt about to spoil anything directly, Gomb did say that the devs would be adding something from the different worlds; from the different game, presumably hinting at overlap with other Silent Hills.In my last question for Gomb and Lenart, I ask whether they brought any outside inspirations to the remake. Silent Hill 2 is famous for drawing on film Jacobs Ladder and the work of David Lynch and paintings by artists like Francis Bacon. Im hard-pressed to think of another game with 2024 Silent Hill 2s budget that reflects that kind of influence, and in particular I want to know if theres anything in the last 20 years of art thats contributed to the way the game has been updated.The answer is mostly no. Lenart mentions the work of Italian painter Nicola Samori and French artist and performer Olivier de Sagazan as having ongoing impacts on his work, beginning as far back as Layers of Fear. But this project has mostly involved returning to the original games inspirations. For the whole team, going back to those movies was the first thing that we wanted to do, says Lenart. But there was no need to look for much more, he says. We didnt feel the need to look for modern references because the game is kind of stuck into that era.At the time, I was again skeptical of this. As Ive said, the remade Silent Hill 2 is very much a product of its time in how its been modernized. It often looks and mostly plays like any other AAA game; it did not have to. But then I saw Pyramid Head for the first time.Like in the original game, you first run into Pyramid Head lit up in ominous red behind a flimsily barred-off corridor in Wood Side apartments. Unlike in the original game, you already know who Pyramid Head is.I cannot overstate the dread that I felt at seeing Pyramid Head for the first time. Despite not having played the game before, cultural osmosis had, unbeknownst to me until this exact moment, put a fear of being chased and killed by this creature deep in my bones. I stood there, looking at Pyramid Head through the bars, being looked at through the bars. And then the person next to me coughed, and I almost jumped out of my skin.At its best, Silent Hill 2 (2024)s biggest inspiration is Silent Hill 2 (2001). And, again, Silent Hill 2 (2001) is a very, very good video game. It is, in the most crystalised sense of the word, iconic. Where the remake can make that iconism work, and draw on what made it that way, it will also be very, very good. That wont be all the time, but it might be for enough of it.Silent Hill 2 will be released Oct. 8 on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. Disclosure: This article is based on apreview event held by publisher Konami in London, England on Aug. 12. Konami provided Polygons travel and accommodations for the event. You can findadditional information about Polygons ethics policy here.

Weekly curated resources for designersthinkers andmakers.Many of the ways enterprises have rushed to bolt on AI to their products and services (never mind their brand images) reveal precious little consideration of any actual UX strategy and trample foundational principles of user-centered product design and, often, well-established heuristics of usability.Its also a good bet that the haste to react to still unproven market hype and satisfy impatient investors and restless creative directors is likely to degrade the overall user experience in the short term, making the thoughtful adoption of AI in the general population in the long term less likely instead ofmore.The frantic race to push out half-baked AI features By Patrick SharbaughSlow Research is dead [Sponsored] Painful, Slow Research was passionate about slowing down product development, hiding in fragmented tools, hoarding knowledge in silos, and causing unnecessary friction for teams. Theyre survived by Dovetail, the leading AI-powered customer insights hub that gives everyone on the product team instant access to customer insights, at any time. RIP Painful, Slow Research. Long live shared customer understanding.Editor picksThe problem with growth Why products are failing now.By JoannaWeberDraw your own maps The quest for workplace clarity.By TripCarrollIts not you, its me, Adobe Why I finally broke up with the giant.By NeelDozomeThe UX Collective is an independent design publication that elevates unheard design voices and helps designers think more critically about theirwork.The vibrant evolution: Microsofts colorful transformation Make methinkHow to keep IA projects from going off the rails Before, projects often felt vague and disorganized at the beginning and only got messier the more work we did. Now, everyone starts with a clear sense of what needs to be done and in what sequence, and stay on board throughout the project.Intent-driven user interfaces While these kinds of interactions wont immediately replace conventional graphical user interface controls, its pretty clear they enable a new way of control software with hundreds of features just tell it what you want todo.Mapping the landscape of gen-AI product user experience The problem is that there are so many AI products. Everything overlaps and its all so noisywhich makes it hard to have a conversation about what kind of product you want to build. So Ive been working on mapping the landscape.Little gems thisweekWhat Vincent taught me about design By Rita Kind-EnvyDesigning with maps and data: visualizing vacancy in St. Louis By KobyMorenoFigmas UI3: the psychology of adaptation By KristianK.Tools and resourcesDesign tokens demystified Types, benefits, and applications.By T.T.TRINKUSHUX Research for busy PMs How to identify customers, ask the right questions, and find insights.By VikramGoyalAdvanced Figma tips & tricks Little gems we love in 2024.By Christine VallaureSupport the newsletterIf you find our content helpful, heres how you can supportus:Check out this weeks sponsor to support their worktooForward this email to a friend and invite them to subscribeShare open positions on our jobboardSponsor aneditionThe AI feature race, adapting to Figma UI3, advanced Figma tips & tricks was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

If youre looking for the Wordle answer for August 19, 2024 read on. Well share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Todays puzzle is medium difficult; I got it in four. Beware, there are spoilers below for August 19, Wordle #1,157! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to todays Wordle game.How to play WordleWordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if theyre correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isnt in the days secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)Ready for the hints? Lets go!Does todays Wordle have any unusual letters?Well define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it Edwin Shirdloo, like a name, and pretend hes a friend of yours.)They're almost all common lettersfour are from our mnemonic today. The fifth is also pretty common. Can you give me a hint for todays Wordle?A unit of measure at the Olympics.Does todays Wordle have any double or repeated letters?There is one repeated letter today.How many vowels are in todays Wordle?There is one vowel, used twice.What letter does todays Wordle start with?Todays word starts with M.What letter does todays Wordle end with?Todays word ends with R.What is the solution to todays Wordle?Ready? Todays word is METER.How I solved todays WordleI started with RAISE and TOUCH, followed by BENDY, which includes letters found in possible answers. From here, METER was the best solution. Wordle 1,157 4/6Yesterdays Wordle answerYesterdays Wordle was medium difficult. The hint was tall and thin and the answer contained two common letters, one pretty common letter, and two less common letters. The answer to yesterdays Wordle was LANKY. A primer on Wordle basicsThe idea of Wordle is to guess the days secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, youll see an empty grid of letters. Its up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word.Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word:Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and its in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then its game over.The best starter words for WordleWhat should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, thats still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isnt a single best starting word, but the New York Timess Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:CRANETRACESLANTCRATECARTEMeanwhile, an MIT analysis found that youll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:SALETREASTTRACECRATESLATEOther good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that its better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.How to win at WordleWe have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if youre a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, dont waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldnt have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.Wordle alternativesIf you cant get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:Wheeldle, which lets you play one puzzle after anotherDordle and Quordle, which ask you to play two (Dordle) or four (Quordle) puzzles at the same time, with the same guesses. There is also Octordle, with eight puzzles, and Sedecordle, with 16.Waffle, which shows you several five-letter words, scrambled in a grid; you play by swapping the letters around until you solve.Absurdle, which changes the solution after each guess, but needs to stay consistent with its previous feedback. You have to strategically back it into a corner until there is only one possible word left; then you guess it, and win.Squabble, in which you play Wordle against other people with a timer running. You take damage if you spend too much time between guesses; winner is the last one standing.Antiwordle, in which you are trying not to guess the days solution. Youre required to reuse any letters that you (oops) guessed correctly, so the longer it takes you, the better you are at the game.