This year, I decided I'd finally play 2022's Case of the Golden Idol, a mystery game that thrusts you onto the scene of a murder moments after it's happened. You pan through several screens, absorb every detail you possibly can, gather clues in the form of nouns and verbs, and make logic-based deductions by filling in the missing details in passages that tell the story of what occurred there. There are systems in place to guide you in the right direction, and the game begins quite simply, but by its end, I was being pushed to my absolute limit. The first few cases took all of about 10-25 minutes, but the final one in the game seemed to stretch across the span of an entire night. My head was positively bursting with possible motives and culprits, and kudos to Case of the Golden Idol for allowing me the room to be wrong about these cases until I eventually divined the right permutation of terms and cracked the case. It was one of the most frustrating ends of a game ever, and I was enamored of the whole experience.I bring up Case of the Golden Idol and this frustration because, overwhelmingly, many of 2024's best games provided me with that very same feeling. These stellar titles, like Animal Well, Rise of the Golden Idol, and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, are composed of what seems like countless of the most nefarious and confounding puzzles I've come across, some of which still vex and evade me to this day. And yet, despite that recurring headache--brought on by slamming my head into a proverbial wall over and over again--I wouldn't trade the experiences I had with them for anything.I was wrong a lot in Rise of the Golden Idol, 2024's sequel to the aforementioned Case. I frequently confused names and aliases, and as the levels grew in scale (and the scenarios grew in complexity), I missed a lot of smaller details in the immaculately rendered environs that had been planted to provide insight and direction. I misunderstood the events of the game on numerous occasions, and was more surprised than usual at the revelations that were revealed by a level's end. Rise of the Golden Idol was thoroughly frustrating, and yet it's clearly one of the best games I've played all year because when I pushed it, it pushed back.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Enclaves are likely to make a comeback in State of Decay 3, and if they do, there are a list of new features that could be applied to them. Just like in previous games, enclaves in State of Decay 3 will play the important role of reminding players that they aren't alone in a world of zombies. However, they do more than just add set dressing. Enclaves have a variety of uses in-game that make them a valuable part of the player's strategy. Come State of Decay 3, they could have even more to offer in a more advanced world.

Throughout its first season, Dune: Prophecy has been stacking up mysteries, taking its time to pay them off despite only having six episodes. At the end of episode five, "In Blood, Truth," the series finally revealed some major information about one of its most mysterious characters, Desmond Hart.

Tournament arcs are a staple in most anime. It's one of the best and cleanest ways to pit two great fighters in a battle against each other, usually with a spectacular end result. There are several anime that have used tournament arcs to great effect, giving side characters some much-needed exposure while also letting these fighters develop their character extensively. In some instances, these tournaments are so great that they easily become one of the best parts of the entire show.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.If you know a runner, I have the perfect gift recommendation for you. If you are a runner, I know what you should tell your mom you want for Christmas. And even if there isnt a gifting holiday in your immediate future, you should still know the Good News about water-resistant running shoes. Theyre out there, they might be on sale right now, and they will change your life. Nike Pegasus Trail 4 Gore-TEX Women's Waterproof Trail Running Shoes (FN7102-010, Black/Light Magenta/Pink Foam/Chlorophyll) Size 9 $184.99 at Amazon $193.94 Save $8.95 Shop Now Shop Now $184.99 at Amazon $193.94 Save $8.95 I speak from experience. Not long ago, my birthday was coming up and I had no idea what to tell my mom I wanted. (She kept asking.) I was giving the matter some thought while I was jogging at the local track, in a drizzling near-freezing rain, and my toes were going squish with every step. I suddenly remembered that Gore-Tex shoes exist. I had owned a pair years ago and loved them, but never replaced them when they wore out. They felt like too much of a luxury somehow. Most runners get through wet weather in regular shoes and wool socks, so why not make do?Ill tell you why not. Wool socks can keep your feet warm, but they dont keep them dry. If youve traveled to a park to get your run in, youre driving home with soaking wet feet. Youll come home, wring out your socks, and have to air out your shoes and hope theyre mostly dry by the time you go for your next run. Putting on wet shoes is about as much fun as putting on a wet bathing suit. Returning home from a drizzly run with dry feet is, by contrast, one of this cruel worlds great creature comforts.What weather are water-resistant shoes good for?Water-resistant shoes are great in drizzling rain, or in snowy conditions. In regular shoes, your body heat tends to melt any snow that contacts your shoes, making your feet wet even on a below-freezing day. Water-resistant shoes are great for when its snowing, when theres a small amount of snow on the ground, or when its raining. This covers pretty much all of the weather Im likely to consider running-friendly in a Pennsylvania winter.What dont water-resistant shoes do?Water-resistant is not waterproof, though. In Gore-Tex and similar materials, you cannot step into an ankle-deep puddle and expect to stay dry. A heavy enough downpour will probably eventually work its way through or around the material.Note that water-resistant shoe material doesnt stop snow or rain from getting into the top of the shoe. For trudging through deep snow, you probably want to attach a gaiter (or buy a shoe that comes with built-in gaiters).And if you run in a variety of wintry conditions, you may want more traction on the bottom of the shoe as well. You can buy shoes with spikes built in, or add your own.What are the best water-resistant running shoes?I know youre dying to see mine, so here they are: the Nike InfinityRN Gore-Tex. (Mine are white.) To be honest, I didnt do a lot of research and will not swear that these are the best. My requirements were (1) water-resistant, and (2) Nike, since Nikes always fit me well. These fit the bill, and Ive had many pleasant runs in them in the rain and snow. Nike InfinityRN 4 Gore-Tex Women's Waterproof Running Shoes $150.00 at Amazon $162.08 Save $12.08 Shop Now Shop Now $150.00 at Amazon $162.08 Save $12.08 Based on reviews, forum posts, and other things Ive heard runners say about their favorite weatherproof shoes, Ive collected some other excellent models to consider. For each, Im linking one model, but click around to see its other colors, sizes, and mens/womens versions.Nike Pegasus Trail 5 Gore-TexSaucony Peregrine Ice+3Hoka Clifton 9 GTX TSPuma Deviate Nitro 3 WinterizedBrooks Ghost 16 GTX Brooks Women's Ghost 16 GTX Waterproof Neutral Running Shoe - Moroccan Blue/Pink/Yellow - 8.5 Medium $169.95 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $169.95 at Amazon Note that Gore-Tex is a name brand of breathable, water-resistant fabric, but other brands exist (for example, Saucony has their own, which they call Runshield). Gore-Tex is often abbreviated GTX in shoe model names, so consider looking for that when searching for shoes. And a bonus on many of these shoes is that they include high-traction outsoles to reduce the chances of slipping on wet surfaces.

You don't have to scroll very far down most social media feeds to find a screenshot of a text, comment, or postmaybe a ridiculous Reddit post, or a hilarious reply on X, or an incriminating WhatsApp conversation. But how can you tell the screenshot is genuine, and not artificially created to mislead you?First of all, it's important to bear in mind that fake screenshots can be made very easily. Web browsers have HTML editing features that mean you can temporarily change what articles and online posts say, and there are an abundance of photo editors that will happily help you change text in an image with just a few clicks.There are even free tools that will create fake social media posts for you. As a result, it's often difficult to definitively prove the authenticity of a screenshotbut there are clues you can look for to help you make a judgment one way or another.Check the contextIf you're dealing with a supposed screenshot of a post or article that's in the public domain, your first question should be why the original content was screengrabbed and not linked to directly. Even if people are posting screenshots for convenience, they should still be linking back to the content they're referring to.If there's no link back, see if you can find the original source yourselflook up the X account, the blog post, the Reddit thread, or whatever it is. If there's no sign of it, that's another reason to be suspicious. Posts can always be deleted of course (the Wayback Machine can help here), but it's still worth investigating. It's all too easy to fake social media posts, and take snaps of them. Credit: Lifehacker Think too about what the screenshot is doing. Does it depict something controversial, illicit, or likely to stir up emotions? Essentially, is it possible that it's just been made for clicks? That's another warning sign. Getting a viral post is often worth the few minutes it takes to fake a screenshot, and there are plenty of people trying it.Even when context is harder to figure outwith a private text message thread, for examplelook around the main screenshot itself for clues. Who are the people involved? Have they made any official comment? Is there any background to how the screenshot was obtained? Is the screenshot from a trustworthy source (like a verified news organization)? This can all add to (or take away from) the credibility of an image.Study the imageScreenshots may be easy to fake, but they can be rushed, and can come with inconsistencies. Study the image for inconsistencies: Bad alignment, broken or misplaced elements, or strange formatting. If the screenshot is from an app, try comparing it to the actual app on your own phone, or the Google Play Store or Apple App Store listing. Fakes will often use the wrong stylings or an out-of-date interface.To try and hide these inconsistencies, fake screenshots will often be pixelated and of a low qualitythis is something else to look out for. Genuine screenshots should be crisp and clear, and shouldn't look fuzzy or over-processed: Unless a screenshot has a reason for being poor in its quality and resolution, be wary. There are plenty of clues that this is a fake screenshot. Credit: Instagram The usual rules for spotting fake pictures apply to fake screenshots: Does everything fit? What's the source? Does this actually make sense? Take this faked screenshot of a news story about child soldiers, where you can see straight away the fuzzy graphics and text. If you properly look at the image though, the uniforms look like play outfitsthe kids don't look particularly distraught or determined, and one of them is almost laughing.Sure enough, the photo is from a war camp game and has nothing to do with any actual battles. Resources such as PolitiFact and Snopes can help in your screenshot debunking efforts, as can other detectives on social media and sites like Reddit (they might spot a problem with an image that you wouldn't otherwise see). Where images are involved, it's often worth using the TinEye reverse image search too.Use a photo editorSometimes the metadata of a screenshot will reveal more about it. You can check this on Windows by right-clicking an image and choosing Properties; on macOS, right-click and choose Get Info. Look for details like the dates the image was created and last modified, and where it was last downloaded from. Not all screenshots will have all of this information attached, but it's a good idea to check, just in case.Getting the questionable screenshot up in a photo editor of your choice can help you get a closer look at it, and possibly spot some of the mistakes its creator has made in choosing the right fonts and graphics, getting elements properly aligned with each other, and removing evidence of fakery. You can usually check image data in photo editors too (in Photoshop, it's File > File Info). Photo metadata can sometimes reveal some secrets. Credit: Lifehacker Forensically is an excellent, free image analyzer that runs in your browser, and can help you take a closer look at screenshots (and any other picture type). As well as letting you magnify any part of an image, it also has a range of tools for detecting editssuch as looking for luminance values that don't match, or checking for areas of an image that may have been cloned.As I mentioned right at the top, proving that a screenshot is real or fake isn't always possible, as these images are so easy to createbut once you've worked your way through all those steps, you should have a much better idea whether something you're looking at is genuine or not.

This week's look into the culture of young people is like Uber Eats Roulette: there's all kinds of different things to enjoy, but none of it fits together. I'm taking a look at maximalist Christmas decorations; a classroom TikTok challenge; Catly, a video game that gamers find sus; and a viral video about what happens to the millions of things that people send back to Amazon. Have yourself a maximal ChristmasMaximalism, the design aesthetic that says "more is more," is having a moment online, especially now that it's Christmastime. There is no holiday tradition more suited to maximalism than decorating for Christmas, and TikTok's maximalists are leaning into it hard, decking out their halls with ungodly amounts of tinsel, holly, angels, shiny stars, and every other decoration they can find. Here's some inspiration, if you're going for the look: This "every-branch-enhanced" tree from @tnkyla: Self-proclaimed "autistic maximalist" @candy.courn's Pokemon tree: @whilefloriansleeps' retro-Maximalist decoration: One more: @thekitchenmagpie. I'm not even sure there's a tree under that decoration. What is the "slowly leaving the classroom" challenge?Even though most schools are still in session, holiday malaise has overtaken many classrooms, leading to shenanigans like the "slowly leaving the classroom" trend that's taking off online. It's as simple as it sounds: Kids are filming each another slowly moving their desks toward the door of the class, as if they're stealthily making an escape. It looks like this: "Catly" video game raises questionsIf you're a crusty old cynic like I am, it's hard to not feel dismayed on behalf of younger people who seem to fall victim to transparent money-grab schemes from "influencers," whether it's YouTubers abusing their young fans' trust to sell junk food, or meme-stars trying to cash out as their 15 minutes of fame tick away. But there are reasons to be hopeful, too, like the reaction of the gaming community to the release of the trailer for Catly shown at the GAME awards this week. Check it out: Rather than fall all over themselves for a cat-based game endorsed by popular streamers Ninja, Felicia Day, and Pokimane, the gaming community immediately reacted with healthy skepticism, pointing out the trailers suspiciously AI-looking sheen, and digging up connections between the founder of the company behind Catly and blockchain games/NFTs. On the other hand, a PR representative for Catly developer SuperAuthenti told IGN that neither the trailer nor the game employ generative AI, and that there has been "zero blockchain technology" involved in Catly. Which might be true; it's just good that questions are being asked and research done.How to play "Uber Eats Roulette"Most food-related trends from young people are terrible, but I like the idea of Uber Eats Roulette, a party idea/game that's becoming popular in online foodie corners. It's a twist on the traditional pot luck, where the host gives guests a price point and invites everyone to order something to eat from whatever Uber Eats place they want. If you want, you can have your guests keep what they ordered secret from each other and try to guess, or just have the food delivered so everyone can have a feast and a laugh. I want to go this party: Viral video of the week: Man buys box of Amazon returns, instantly regrets it Unlike most YouTubers who are popular among young people, Danny Gonzalez is not annoying: He's sometimes funny and sometimes interesting. In this week's viral video, Gonzalez has teamed up with Climate Town for a video about what happens when you return items to Amazon. You might think Amazon put those items back on sale, but nope. Big retailers throw most of their returns into landfills. But some of the six billion pounds (per year) of returned items end up at re-sellers. These bulk item liquidators then re-sell the items, sometimes in bulk. In this video, Gonzalez picks up one of these mystery pallets and tries to flip it for a profit through Facebook marketplace. It's an amusing way to talk about the ungodly amount of crap we generate, without preaching.

The US Department of Commerce on Friday announced its awards for Samsung, Texas Instruments and Amkor Technology under the CHIPS Incentives Program, which come to more than $6.75 billion altogether. The program is meant to help expand domestic semiconductor production. Samsung was awarded up to $4.745 billion in direct funding a smaller amount than the preliminary award of up to $6.4 billion that was announced earlier this year while Texas Instruments was granted up to $1.61 billion and Amkor up to $407 million.Samsung plans to invest $37 billion over the next few years to ramp up chip development and production in the US, the DOC said. The company will expand its operations in Texas to include two new production facilities and a site for research and development. It also plans to expand an existing facility in Austin. Texas Instruments is working to build three new facilities two in Texas and one in Utah which its said it will invest over $18 billion in through 2029. Amkor is planning a $2 billion investment to create an advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria, Arizona. According to Reuters, itll be the countrys largest facility of its kind.The Commerce Department says the awards will be doled out as the companies complete certain project milestones. It expects the funding to support the creation of thousands of jobs per project.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/doc-finalizes-semiconductor-awards-totaling-nearly-7-billion-for-samsung-texas-instruments-and-amkor-235749200.html?src=rss

After announcing this week that it furloughed 82 employees, EV startup Canoo emailed remaining workers to inform them they were being placed on a mandatory unpaid break and would be locked out of the companys systems at the end of the day Friday, TechCrunch reports. The email viewed by TechCrunch reportedly said the break would last at least through the end of the year. Canoo announced on Wednesday that it was idling its Oklahoma factories while it works to finalize securing the capital necessary to move forward with its operations.Canoo has faced financial difficulties, lawsuits and the departure of multiple executives over the last year. It previously announced it was furloughing 30 employees just this fall. Canoos announcement on Wednesday said that the company is now in advanced discussions with various capital sources. In a statement about the cuts, Canoo said, We regret having to furlough our employees, especially during the holidays, but we have no choice at this point. We are hopeful that we will be able to bring them back to work soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/canoo-put-employees-on-a-mandatory-unpaid-break-after-pausing-work-at-oklahoma-factories-this-week-221912555.html?src=rss

Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.