President-elect Donald Trump has called on Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling.He said doing so before he takes office would put the onus on outgoing President Joe Biden and avoid a fight early in his term.Going over the debt ceiling could lead to a default and deep recession.The debt ceiling is the unexpected debate in Washington this week after President-elect Donald Trump threw the annual holiday-season government funding talks into disarray.Trump wants to raise or eliminate the limit on how much the federal government can borrow. Doing so now would mean the much-debated move would happen on President Joe Biden's watch and be resolved before Trump takes office when he'll want to implement his agenda without a fight over borrowing limits."Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday. "Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.'"This all comes amid a chaotic scramble to reach a funding deal for the US government and avoid a shutdown at midnight on Friday. The debt ceiling was one of the sticking points Trump used to scrap a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded through March. Now he's revisiting a much-used political tool."Trump is right to identify that he doesn't want his fingerprints on increasing the debt ceiling, and he doesn't want to have to deal with it in six months while he's trying to pass what he considers a must-pass tax extension bill," Elizabeth Pancotti, the director of special initiatives at the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute think tank told BI.A debt ceiling breach has become a political tool one that Trump is trying to wield for the last timeThe debt ceiling limits the amount of money the federal government is allowed to borrow to pay for its programs and operations. If it's not regularly raised or suspended, the US government risks defaulting on its debt and failing to pay its bills.This could compromise everyday Americans' access to crucial government programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and housing vouchers. Len Burman, a fellow at the think tank Urban Institute, told BI that a default could also cause interest rates to rise drastically if investors no longer view the US government as a creditworthy borrower. That means Americans could face higher rates on mortgages and credit cards, potentially leading to a broader financial crisis and deep recession.Due to these widespread consequences, the debt ceiling has evolved into a political bargaining chip, and the US has repeatedly come close to breaching it due to partisan disagreements, most recently in 2023. That's why some Democrats have long advocated abolishing the ceiling, arguing that Republicans weaponize it to push spending cuts. Sen. Elizabeth Warren capitalized on Trump's recent comments, writing on X on Thursday morning that she agrees with him on terminating the debt limit.During recent debt ceiling standoffs, various plans to sidestep the limit were floated. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin told BIOther ideas to eliminate the debt ceiling have included minting a $1 trillion platinum coin, which some economists have said would allow the treasury secretary to deposit the coin to pay off debts.In an interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday, Trump warned that Republicans who don't support repealing the debt limit could face primary challenges; many Republicans have historically opposed getting rid of it, arguing that it's a check on borrowing. Trump told NBC News that Democrats have signaled they want to get rid of the debt limit and that he would "lead the charge" to do so.The country will technically hit the debt ceiling at the start of next year, but the Treasury Department can hold off default and keep paying the bills through various accounting tricks, likely until late spring or early summer.

When I was on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress," I was surprised by a few things.The show isn't scripted, and I still receive fan mail years later.I thought Randy Fenoli was nice and caring and I liked that we share a Louisiana connection.Back in 2016, I was on a special episode of TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" (season 15, episode six).I planned to get married earlier that year, but when my Louisiana home flooded and my gown was destroyed, it looked like my dream wedding was ruined. As my fianc and I considered pushing the date back, "Say Yes to the Dress" posted an online request for brides-to-be who were affected by the flood.A friend nominated me and I was selected to be on the show. Here are five surprising things I learned from my "Say Yes to the Dress" episode.I'm one of few people if not the only bride who received a free dress on 'Say Yes to the Dress' I chose a Mark Zunino gown and jewelry from Kleinfield's collection. TLC Normally, the "Say Yes to the Dress" team starts by breaking down your budget, but because my original wedding gown was destroyed, I received a free dress.My episode highlighted the tragedy of the flood that took most of my belongings and I was offered the best care by bridal designer Randy Fenoli and his team. "Say Yes" flew my husband and me to New York, where we stayed in a lavish hotel right by Times Square.My family lost everything in the flood, so it was a huge contrast to go from watching all of our stuff wash away to wearing a Mark Zunino gown, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Kleinfield's own collection of jewelry.Fenoli was so kind, and we even shared a personal connection Randy Fenoli was attentive and caring as I prepared for my weddding. TLC As we filmed, I could feel Fenoli had a strong bond with the people who he worked with to tell my story. I'm still so grateful to have been chosen to share my experience about planning a wedding that felt as if it would never happen, and I cannot thank that team enough for helping me feel the most beautiful and cared for.During the process, I learned that Fenoli actually grew up in Louisiana, and he's also dealt with natural disasters. He was trapped in a two-story apartment in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.I think my experience touched him because it was a story that was so close to home.I still talk to Fenoli to this day, and he featured my story in a special season-17 episode where he discussed his most memorable brides.The show isn't scriptedThe crew captured my genuine reactions.And if I said something funny, cute, or cool, I quickly learned to expect to see that footage over and over again.Unfortunately, I didn't get any of the footage of my own wedding I was surprised that I wouldn't get any footage of my wedding. TLC I was so excited to have such an enormous film crew and producers record my wedding because I thought I would receive some of the footage. I also didn't hire my own videographer to capture the details of my entire wedding, so sadly, I don't have the day's events on film.Still, the "Say Yes" production team gave me five minutes of absolute fabulousness.Hindsight is 20/20, but I still wish I would've known the footage wouldn't be available to me because I definitely would've hired a videographer.I still receive fan mail about our episode every so oftenPeople may not know that my husband and I have split up since our episode aired.Still, every time fans contact me, I don't really know what to say other than, "Thank you."This story was originally published on July 14, 2022, and most recently updated on December 20, 2024.

Party City's CEO told employees the specialty retailer is "winding down" operations, CNN reports.The company was impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic and never fully recovered.The company spent much of the past two years in bankruptcy proceedings and has closed 80 locations.Party City's balloon is out of air.CEO Barry Litwin, who took the job in August, told Party City's corporate employees on Friday that operations were "winding down" immediately, CNN reported.The news follows reports last week that the company was contemplating a second bankruptcy in two years as debt continued to weigh on profitability.A spokesperson for Party City did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Litwin told employees the company had done what it could to avoid shutting down but that, "unfortunately, it's necessary to commence a wind-down process immediately," CNN reported.Party City navigated a pre-pandemic shortage of helium for balloons, securing a new supply source.It was impacted severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns and social distancing ended many celebratory gatherings, and other mass retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target stepped up their party supply offerings.The company spent much of 2023 in bankruptcy proceedings and reportedly closed 80 locations, or roughly a tenth of its store fleet.It exited bankruptcy in September 2023, after a judge canceled $1 billion of its debt. Litwin was appointed CEO a year later.

Winter Wildcard is back in EA FC 25, and there are a whole host of cards, including new versions of Erling Haaland, Vini Jr, Declan Rice and plenty moreTech18:00, 20 Dec 2024Haaland and City have been out of form(Image: Getty Images)I know we keep saying we're getting excited about EA FC 25 promos, but this latest one is colossal.Yes, Winter Wildcards is back, and there are FORTY-TWO (42!) amazing new cards for players to work towards with plenty of Premier League stars among them.Not only does Erling Haaland get a 94-rated ST card, but the fun of wildcards is that he's got an alternative card that's also 94 but it makes him a pacy center-back.Elsewhere Barcelona duo Frenkie De Jong and Caroline Graham Hansen get upgrades, while Vinicius Jr. has a 93 rated LW card and a ST one.The event will run alongside the Mode Mastery event, and runs for two weeks given the development team is likely to be on break for Christmas.Don't forget the latest Team of the Week is also in packs right now.Prepare for a Vini Jr Winter Wildcard(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)Winter Wildcards is a weekly promo, meaning it arrives now, Friday, December 20 at 6pm GMT.It'll run for two weeks.Haaland as a CB is a surprising inclusionI really hope you've been saving your coins, as this squad is incredible. If two positions are listed below, there are two positions available.CB/ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 94RW: Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) - 93ST/LW: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid) - 93CM/CDM: De Jong (Barcelona) - 91CDM: Rice (Arsenal) - 90RB: Pedro Porro (Spurs) - 89ST: Lacazette (Lyon) - 89LM: Al Dawsari (Al Hilal) - 89CAM: Lookman (Atalanta) - 89LB: Lavelle (OL Reign) - 89Delap and Guehi also join the Premier League lineupCB: Parejo (Villarreal) - 88ST: Icardi (Galatasaray) - 88CAM: Tillman (PSV) - 88CB: Janssen (Manchester United) - 88CB: Guehi (Crystal Palace) - 87ST: Undav (Stuttgart) - 87LB: Sergio Gomez (Sociedad) - 87CDM: Orban (RB Leipzig) - 87CB: Vivian (Bilbao) - 87ST: Delap (Ipswich Town) - 86CDM: Van den Boomen (Ajax) - 86RM: Dinkci (Freiburg) - 86LM: Sahraoui (Lille) - 86Ronaldo, Carlos Alberto and Xavi? What a lineupBelieve it or not, there are Icons and Heroes, too. Here are the Icons:ST: Ronaldo - 95 (There's another Ronaldo card that's 90-rated)CDM/CB: Carlos Alberto - 92CM: Xavi - 91CM: Scholes - 89CAM: Hagi - 89Article continues belowHere are the Hero cards:LM: Eden Hazard - 91CDM: Yaya Toure - 90ST/LW: Di Natale - 89CDM/CB: Mascherano - 89RW: Al OwairanFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

By Thomas Maxwell Published December 20, 2024 | Comments (0) | OpenAI has debuted o3, its latest AI reasoning model. Mike Coppola/Getty Images The final day of OpenAIs 12 Days of Shipmas has arrived with the unveiling of o3, a new chain-of-thought reasoning model that the company claims is its most advanced yet. The model is not yet available for general use, but safety researchers can sign up for a preview starting today. OpenAI and others hope that reasoning models will go a long way toward solving the pernicious problem of chatbots frequently producing wrong answers. Chatbots fundamentally do not think like humans and different techniques are needed to try and create the best simulacrum of a human thought process.When asked a question, reasoning models pause and consider related prompts that could help produce an accurate answer. For example, if you ask the o3 model, can habaneros be grown in the Pacific Northwest, the model might lay out a series of questions it will research to come to a conclusion, such as where do habaneros typically grow, what are the ideal conditions for growing habaneros, and what type of climate does the Pacific Northwest have. Anyone who has used chatbots knows you sometimes have to prompt a chatbot with additional follow-ups until it finally gets the right result. Reasoning models are supposed to do this additional work for you. o3 is the successor to o1, OpenAIs first chain-of-thought reasoning model. Reps said they decided to skip the o2 naming convention out of respect for the British telecommunications company, but it certainly doesnt hurt that it makes the product sound more advanced. The company says the new model comes with the ability to adjust its reasoning time. Users can choose low, medium, or high reasoning time; the greater the compute, the better o3 is supposed to perform. OpenAI says it will spend time red-teaming the new model with researchers to prevent it from producing potentially harmful responses (since again, it is not a human and does not know right versus wrong).Reasoning is the buzzword of the day in the field of generative AI, as industry insiders believe it is the next unlock necessary to improve the performance of large language models. More compute eventually does not offer equivalent performance gains, so new techniques are needed. Google DeepMind recently unveiled its own reasoning model called Gemini Deep Research, which can take 5-10 minutes to generate a report that analyzes many sources across the web in order to come to its findings. OpenAI is confident in o3, and offers impressive benchmarksit says that in a Codeforcing testing, which measures coding ability, o3 got a score of 2727. For context, a score of 2400 would put an engineer in the 99th percentile of programmers. It gets a score of 96.7% on the 2024 American Invitational Mathematics Exam, missing just one question. We will have to see how the model holds up in real-world testing, and it is still generally not a good idea to rely too much on AI models for important work where accuracy is necessary. But optimists are confident that the problem of accuracy is being solved. Hopefully so, because as it stands, Googles AI Overviews in search are still the subject of frequent social media ridicule.AI model companies like OpenAI and Perplexity are in a race to become the next Google, collecting the worlds knowledge and helping users make sense of it all. They even have search products now that are meant to more directly replicate Google with access to real-time web results. All of these players seem to leapfrog one another with every passing day, however. The feeling is somewhat reminiscent of the late 90s when there were a myriad of search engines to choose fromGoogle, Yahoo, and AltaVista, Ask Jeeves, just to name a few, all hoovering up the internets data and presenting it just with a different UX. Most of them disappeared after one came along that was supremely better than the restGoogle.OpenAI clearly has a strong lead right now with hundreds of millions of monthly active users and a partnership with Apple, but Google has received a lot of plaudits recently for advancements in its Gemini models. The Verge reports that the company is going to soon integrate Gemini more deeply into its search interface.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published December 18, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 16, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 12, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 12, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 11, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 9, 2024

Horror movies have long centered their stories around female charactersthink The Exorcists demon-plagued mother and daughter duo, Halloweens fierce babysitter, or Black Christmas determined sorority sisters. But in 2024 we got a particularly notable crop of women placed in terrifying situations, including a new sci-fi badass in Alien: Romulus, a kind-hearted crook battling a vampire ballerina in Abigail, and trapped Mormon missionaries in Heretic. But there were a few special standouts among this years class of fearsome, fearless, and fearful femalesperformances we admired that brought to life a unique array of characters. Here are the most remarkable female characters we met in 2024s horror films. Lee Harker, Longlegs Neon We think we have a handle on young FBI agent Lee Harker from the start: quiet but brilliant in the vein of The Silence of the Lambs Clarice Starling, but with an unusually developed intuition that makes her well-suited to chase after unpredictable criminals. However, as Osgood Perkins Longlegs digs into its twisty crime narrative, we realize Lee is in her own vein entirelyand is tied to the movies titular maniac in ways that surprise even her. Maika Monroes deeply reserved performance (the ideal contrast to co-star Nicolas Cages over-the-top turn) proves that an actor doesnt need a lot of dialogue to create a full, expressive character. Elisabeth Sparkle and Sue, The Substance Mubi Demi Moore has been a symbol of Hollywood glamor for decades; at age 62, she perfectly channels that real-life status into her vanity-free portrayal of Elisabeth Sparkle in Coralie Fargeats The Substance, a movie that happens to have vanity as a major theme. Fired from her TV gig because the old white dudes in charge think shes too old to be sexy, Elisabeth dips into weird science to create a younger version of herselfMargaret Qualley as Suewith complications that result in some of the most eye-popping body horror to ever grace the screen. Because Elisabeth and Sue are the same person, the battle between them puts a gruesome but darkly hilarious spin on the idea that your greatest enemy is always yourself. When they come together as the mutated Monstro Elisasue, its equal parts repulsive and empoweringnot a combination you come across every day, and a surprisingly satisfying one. Skye Riley, Smile 2 Paramount Pictures Shes an international pop superstarbeautiful, talented, rich, and beloved by her zillions of fansbut Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is in hell. First its more of a personal hell; a year after a car accident killed her boyfriend and left her severely injured, shes still dealing with addiction issues and mental and physical scars. But after an impulse decision to pick up some black-market painkillers, she comes face to face with the demonic curse horror fans met in Parker Finns first Smile movie.From there, Skyes downward spiral reveals a much worse level of hell, as her reality becomes completely warped by the entitys creeping, mockingly gleeful invasion of her sanity. On paper Skye is a hard character to root for, but Scotts performance makes her a character whos believable in her desire to right all the wrongs shes causedbut feels increasingly helpless as the pressure (both show-biz and supernatural) begins to pile on. Margaret, The First Omen Fox Somebody had to give birth to Damien, the kid from The Omenand while that 1976 horror classic suggested he was the product of a jackal and Satan, in The First Omen we meet his actual birth mother, an aspiring nun who gets unwittingly tangled in an occult conspiracy. Arkasha Stevensons prequel justifies its existence by being an artistically dynamic film with a twist-packed script (and actual scares!); the heart of the film, though, is Nell Tiger Frees Margaret, a genuinely good human being whose life takes an apocalyptically dark turn. Honorable mention in the Antichrist horror pregnancy realm for 2024though given current events, you can certainly expect more pregnancy horror themes in future moviesgoes to another performance in a different horror prequel. Natalie Erika James Rosemarys Baby-inspired Apartment 7A didnt get as much acclaim as The First Omen, but Julia Garner held its center as Terry, a character you briefly meet in Rosemarys Baby who has a fascinating backstory of her own. Maxine Minx, MaXXXine A24 She survived the Texas porn-set massacre in 2022s X, and with the ambition of her would-be killer, Pearl (whose vintage dreams of stardom are explored, quite vividly, in 2022s Pearl), Maxine Minx finally stomps her way into Hollywood. As we find her in MaXXXine, shes seeking mainstream success beyond her X-rated fameand nothing, not even a serial killer who might be the Night Stalker, a creepy private detective, actual LAPD detectives, and an ominous specter from her blood-stained past, is going to get in the way.Mia Goth, who plays both Pearl and Maxine across Ti Wests trilogy, brings us a more mature yet still ruthless take on Maxine here, and the characters mid-1980s silver-screen journey brings her to famous backlots (Maxine in the Psycho house is one of 2024s most unforgettable cinematic mash-ups) and sleazy back rooms, and explores the price of fame from a lurid perspective thats never not entertaining. Halley, V/H/S/Beyond Shudder Kate Siegels contribution to the latest V/H/S anthology film, Stowaway, introduces us to Halley (Alanah Pearce), a woman whose troubled backstory is made perfectly clear with just a few asides, and whose current ambition is to make a documentary on UFOspreferably by having her own close encounter. When her moment miraculously arrives one lonely night in the Mojave Desert, were thrilled for hershes been through some messy stuff, its implied, but her weird obsession has finally found its reward.Those thrills turn to sheer terror, however, when Stowaway makes good on its title and Halley sneaks aboard an alien craft only to find the wonders she discovers snowball into a body-horror nightmare that gives The Substances Monstro Elisasue some seriously ghastly competition. Its an astonishing arc, made even more impressive by the fact that its compacted into the space of a short film. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Angra House / Arthur CasasSave this picture! Fran ParenteAngra dos Reis, BrazilArchitects: Studio Arthur CasasAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:7535 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Fran ParenteManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Core, Eurocentro, Guandu Mrmores, Marvelar, Uniflex Ipanema, kitchensMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. By the sea, an architecture combining large openings, raw stones, and mashrabiyas interacts with the surrounding materials to establish full integration with the nature of Angra dos Reis, in Rio de Janeiro.Save this picture!Save this picture!Casa Angra is a renovation project of a summer residence for clients who now reside in an apartment with interiors also designed by Studio Arthur Casas. The aim was to adapt the house to the needs of a family, a couple with two children, who found the original architecture by Fernando Peixoto incompatible with their current needs.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!From the start, the intention was to rethink the existing structure, preserving the integrity of the original volume while making modifications to the facades to maximize views of the ocean and Ilha Grande, a local landmark. Inside, the focus was on creating greater connection and flow between social areas, as the clients enjoy hosting family and friends, and highlighting the landscape in every possible space. Where this wasn't feasible, solutions like existing raw rocks, internal gardens, skylights, and pergolas were used to reiterate integration with nature, from natural light to greenery. This approach ensures an immersive user experience, with textures to feel, perspectives to observe, and pathways to navigate.Save this picture!Save this picture!The main access is via water. From the pier to the house, a path defined by landscaping proposed by botanist Ricardo Cardim features native species to blend seamlessly with the local Atlantic Forest vegetation. The same initiative applies to the internal gardens, bringing a touch of native forest indoors.Save this picture!Save this picture!The architectural program is distributed over five split levels, accommodating the extensive program without occupying a large area of the land. On the entry level, there are the pool, gourmet space, external terrace, wine cellar, and three guest suites. Half a floor below are the gym, game room, sauna, and massage room. The basement houses a professional cinema with automation and high-performance speakers, which required a complex excavation process, structural reinforcement, and robust retaining walls due to the proximity to the sea and water table.Save this picture!Save this picture!On the upper floor, social, private, and functional areas are distributed throughout the layout. The social area includes the living room, dining room, and an outdoor terrace for al fresco dining. The private area features the master suite with a home office space and the children's suites. The functional area includes the kitchen, laundry room, and part of the staff quarters, which are also complemented by an intermediate floor. Finally, on the highest level of the house, there is access via the condominium with a garage for cars. Solar energy with photovoltaic panels allows for more sustainable water heating.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!On the facade, rough stones sourced from the region play a crucial role in establishing a dialogue with the rocky hillside. The stones of varying sizes and tones are arranged horizontally and set with mortar. Wood also plays a significant role in the materiality of the house: on the facade with decks, roofing, and mashrabiyas (made of Accoya, providing both privacy and visibility for the rooms); and internally in the flooring of the private area, panels, and carpentry. In the rest of the flooring, a porcelain model developed by the Studio for the Italian manufacturer Refin is used. Large glass panes allow natural light to enter and provide visual permeability. Finally, the traditional ceramic tile roof, a feature of the original project, combined with the straw ceiling, creates a harmonious contrast with the contemporary look of the building.In the interior design, Arthur and his team had great autonomy in selecting pieces. In an attempt to blend external and internal materials, they chose crafts and artworks by renowned Brazilian artisans, such as the Apostle Head by Mestre Nicola, placed in the hall, and materials like wood, ceramics, and straw to complement the designer furniture.Save this picture!Save this picture!Contemporary international pieces (like the Orlando sofa and Rams chaise by Paola Lenti in the pool area, and the Flairo chair by B&B Italia in the gourmet space) and national pieces (like the NR02 coffee table by Lucas Recchia and the Vidigal armchairs by Lattoog in the gourmet living area) are combined with iconic classics (like the Zeca Chair by Jorge Zalszupin at the dining table) and even pieces designed by Arthur himself: the Apache table, Ayahuasca sideboard, Vieira Souto coffee table, and the Quilombo and Lurdes desks.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeStudio Arthur CasasOfficeMaterialsWoodStoneMaterials and TagsPublished on December 20, 2024Cite: "Angra House / Arthur Casas" [Casa Angra / Studio Arthur Casas] 20 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023292/angra-house-arthur-casas&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

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Video game adaptations are rapidly becoming Hollywood's next big Marvel move, with multiple, decent adaptations releasing every year now (we're not going to talk about Borderlands). Director Tim Miller (Deadpool; Love, Death & Robots), however, puts this trend to the test in a very interesting way: Instead of using source material from one property, why not create an anthology series featuring multiple--and seemingly, extremely random--IPs as a love letter to the industry itself? That's exactly what Secret Level attempts to do.Secret Level is Amazon Prime Video's new animated anthology series where each episode is an interesting, original take on a different video game franchise. Some episodes were highly anticipated as they feature some historically iconic properties such as Mega Man, Pac-Man, and Warhammer 40K, while other segments focus on properties so odd, they can seem like some sort of weird advertisement or make you think, "Who is this even for?" For a series that celebrates the rich storytelling in video games, why have episodes featuring games that arent even playable? Yes, we are looking at you, Exodus and Concord.As expected with an anthology series, each episode is very hit or miss. Tim Miller's unique visual direction is showcased throughout the whole series, but the biggest obstacle for Secret Level is the short format. Every episode is between 5-17 minutes if you exclude the intro and credits, which is not nearly enough time to explore the rich stories video games have to offer. Some episodes manage to please the audience with short segments packed with gorgeous visuals, action, and character-focused moments, while others feel unnecessary and empty, like those cinematic gameplay trailers that leaves the player thinking, "Oh that's cool, but where's the gameplay?" Anyone who is a connoisseur of storytelling in games should not expect episodes to have vast lore with highly satisfying endings, or convince viewers to play the games themselves. The best way to experience Secret Level is to go into it with little expectation or connections and think of each segment as a small homage to the source material.Continue Reading at GameSpot