Player versus Player versus Compatibility Layer Marvel Rivals lifts 100-year cheating bans on Mac and Steam Deck players Players using Proton, CrossOver, or other tools earned "Penalty Issued" screens. Kevin Purdy Jan 3, 2025 1:48 pm | 47 Officially, only Windows and console players should have access to this much IP in one battleground. But that doesn't mean everybody else is a cheater. Credit: NetEase Officially, only Windows and console players should have access to this much IP in one battleground. But that doesn't mean everybody else is a cheater. Credit: NetEase Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWith Valve's impressive work on the Proton tool for Linux and the Mac's Game Porting Toolkit and CrossOver options, few games are truly "Windows only" these days. The exceptions are those with aggressive, Windows-based anti-cheating tools baked in, something that hit back hard against players eager to dive into a new superhero shooter.Marvel Rivals, an Overwatch-ish free-to-play hero shooter released in early December 2024, has all the typical big online game elements: an in-game shop with skins and customizations, battle passes, and anti-cheating tech. While Proton, which powers the Linux-based Steam Deck's ability to play just about any Windows game, has come very far in a few years' time, its biggest blind spots are these kinds of online-only games, like Grand Theft Auto Online,Fortnite,Destiny 2, Apex Legends,and the like. The same goes for Mac players, who, if they can work past DirectX 12, can often get a Windows game working in CrossOver or Parallels, minus any anti-cheat tools.Is there harm in trying? For a while, there was 100 years' worth. As detailed in the r/macgaming subreddit and at r/SteamDeck, many players who successfully got Marvel Rivals working would receive a "Penalty Issued" notice, with a violation "detected" and bans issued until 2124. Should such a ban stand, players risked entirely missing the much-prophesied Year of the Linux Desktop or Mainstream Mac Gaming, almost certain to happen at some point in that span.WhileRivals was quick to ban, it was also quick to fix this issue. After players contacted Rivals leadership, along with direct intervention by the CEO of CodeWeavers, CrossOver's maker, the bans have been reversed, according to company statements and Reddit posts. Developer NetEase posted on its Discord, per IGN, that it "will not ban players who are playing fairly and without cheating" and work to improve its anti-cheat detection accuracy. The company did not issue any broader statement about allowances for compatibility tools.Maintaining a cheat-free online game, while also allowing for all the quirks of various compatibility layers, seems like a tricky challenge for a developer. With more Steam-OS-based devices seemingly on the way, game developers will seemingly have to decide just how much compatibility they want to fit inside their communities.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 47 Comments

I met a blind date at the Atlanta airport, and we flew to Alaska together.Though we didn't end up having a romantic connect, we spent a week together with our friends.It was an amazing time, and I'm glad I was brave enough to say yes. I never thought a blind date would include flying thousands of miles with someone to see if we were compatible, but when mutual friends set me up, I couldn't resist. My date was in the Air Force and on his way home to Alaska for a two-week leave.We decided to spend his first week off together. It would be a crash-and-burn scenario or a story to tell my grandkids one day. Whatever the result, I was all in.We met at the airport and flew to Alaska togetherOur first meeting was in the airport moments before an eight-hour flight from Atlanta to Anchorage. It wasn't my ideal way to start the date, especially since we'd spoken on the phone exactly once before, but it turned out better than I expected. He was thoughtful and made things less awkward. We made small talk for the first couple hours of the flight but mutually decided not to overdo the conversation.The mutual friends who'd set us up greeted us in Anchorage. My date had known them most of his life, and I'd met them a year before on a work trip when they'd plotted this set-up, thinking the two of us might hit it off. Connecting with them helped ease any lingering awkwardness and settled my nerves. The author enjoyed her time in Alaska, even if she didn't find a romantic connection. Courtesy of Kate Huff We didn't have a romantic connection, but we still had an amazing timeOur friends planned an incredible week for us, and our first real date was at his favorite restaurant after we arrived. We quickly figured out neither of us felt a romantic connection but enjoyed hanging out together. Thankfully, our friends pivoted, and we ended up doing everything as a group for the rest of the week, taking the pressure off both of us and still allowing us to enjoy the week they had planned.We visited an old mining community and picked wild raspberries on the side of the road. Traffic stopped on our way to Portage, but instead of worrying about what we'd miss, we played cards while waiting for the roads to reopen. It was a joy to discover glaciers work as well as trees for hammock-hanging. Soaking up the sun felt incredible after white water rafting down a freezing cold river to this Georgia girl.Capping off our trip, I climbed Bear Mountain and nearly kept up with the Airman and my native Alaskan Friends. I only had to stop and take pictures every few feet to catch my breath. Thankfully, they pretended not to notice. The midnight sunset view from the top was worth every minute of the struggle. I've never felt so accomplished, especially as we raced down the mountain to beat complete darkness.While our days were jammed with the best Alaskan adventures, when the sun finally set, our nights were filled with endless rounds of Settlers of Catan. Those cozy nights around a fire fueled my love for games and experiences, even if it didn't ultimately bring me the love of my life (or much sleep!). The author plans to return to Alaska. Courtesy of Kate Huff Even though I never saw or talked to my date again after that trip, it was still one of the best vacations of my life. I learned you should always take a chance when you have an opportunity in front of you. You never know what the end result will be until you try you could meet the love of your life or just go on the best vacation ever. I'm thankful for my friends, who took a shot at setting us up, and for the courage to live in a moment of spontaneous possibility.As for all the landmarks I missed last time, I plan to return in March. Who knows what will happen this time?

YouTube and Threads have taken down pro-Luigi Mangione posts they've said violate their policies.YouTube told Business Insider it forbids videos that glorify the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.The different moderation approaches among platforms are leaving some users confused.Diana "Ladidai" Umana, a content creator based in New York, has been closely following the news of Luigi Mangione posting her thoughts on various social media accounts.Umana's posts are pro-Luigi (and some have unorthodox angles, like saying he wasn't the shooter, which authorities have charged him with). But she was surprised when her entire YouTube account was permanently removed for what YouTube told her were "severe or repeated violations" of its rules.YouTube's content moderation policies forbid "content praising or justifying violent acts carried out by violent extremist, criminal, or terrorist organizations.""This means we remove content that glorifies or promotes the suspect in the murder of [UnitedHealthcare CEO] Brian Thompson, as well as content that trivializes his death," Jack Malon, a spokesperson for YouTube, told Business Insider. "This enforcement began in the immediate aftermath of the incident, as part of our standard practice to address content related to violent tragedies."Other social platforms have also taken down content related to Mangione.Several subreddits devoted to him have been banned like r/luigimangione2 although there are still other active subreddits about him. Reddit didn't respond to a request for comment on its moderation policies about the topic.TikTok also has a policy against "promoting (including any praise, celebration, or sharing of manifestos) or providing material support" to violent extremists or individuals who cause serial or mass violence. People have complained that TikTok has removed comments saying "Free Luigi" and some videos about Mangione.On Meta's Threads, people have said some of their posts about Mangione like a post about his astrological sign or a video montage of him set to an Olivia Rodgigo song were removed.Meta has similar guidance, banning the "glorification" of dangerous organizations and individuals, which it defines as "legitimizing or defending the violent or hateful acts of a designated entity by claiming that those acts have a moral, political, logical or other justification that makes them acceptable or reasonable."However, Meta recently updated what it calls its dangerous organizations and individuals policy to allow for "more social and political discourse in certain instances including peace agreements, elections, human rights related issues, news reporting and academic, neutral and condemning discussion and to ensure users are not unduly penalized for sharing it."A spokesperson for Meta pointed to this policy but declined to comment further.Pro-Lugi posts can be difficult to moderateYou might imagine how, when it comes to posts discussing Luigi Mangione, there are some gray areas between what's considered praise vs. discussion of social issues.That's where the deluge of pro-Luigi posts from American users on social platforms gets a little weird.Mangione's popularity among some people online is complicated, and I won't try to untangle it here (read this or this for some smart analysis). But you've probably already observed some of this online: There are a lot of people posting about Mangione and running afoul of content guidelines that they'd never usually run up against rules designed for posts praising ISIS or Mexican drug cartels, for instance.The result is some confusion and frustration among users.Content moderation is an art, not a science, and there's a spectrum of differences between a statement like "Luigi was justified" and a meme about his looks or an ironic fan cam edit video.Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder "in furtherance of terrorism," which may clarify things for platforms about whether to consider him as a single accused murderer or an alleged terrorist when it comes to content policy.For now, it seems that a lot of social media users are surprised or confused by what is or isn't allowed when talking about Mangione on social media.

Itzett RomeroItzett Romero. Itzett Romero Age: 37Job: Digital marketer and content creatorWhen she knew she didn't want to have kids:Romero told BI she knew from a young age, as she spent much of her adolescence helping to care for her younger siblings.Why she doesn't want them: Romero is the oldest of three children, and because of the large age gap with her siblings, she did a lot of childcare growing up. She understood the sacrifices people make when they have children, and it wasn't something she wanted for herself."I grew up very much understanding not just the Disney version or what the media portrays as having kids, but the more realistic version of having kids," she said.She also thinks the American government and society don't do enough to support parents, particularly mothers."Women are very much taking on the burden of motherhood, as well as everything else, by themselves," she said. "I personally don't think that's fair.""There's also something to be said about the fact that motherhood is just not for everybody," she added. "I have so much ambition. There are so many things I want to do."How people have responded to her choice: "I have been lucky that I have surrounded myself with friends and family who have always respected my decision," she said.Romero said she sometimes gets pushback from people she isn't close to but looks inward for acceptance instead of outward."I have stopped trying to get validation from people who don't understand my decision-making," she added.What she's most excited about for her future: "As a content creator, I'm very passionate about human rights and collective liberation," Romero told BI."I'm excited to have the time, and the space, and the purpose to be able to do these things," she said. "I am a child of immigrant parents, and I'm looking forward to being a voice for that experience." Anas ChantalAnas Chantal. Anas Chantal Age: 26Job: Project manager, personal assistant, and bookkeeper in the music industryWhen she knew she didn't want to have kids: In 2020, Chantal became friends with a woman who wouldn't have kids."I had in my head that I was going to grow up, get married, and have three children," she said. "When she said that, it was like, 'Oh, you can choose to do that. That's an option.'""I really started to self-reflect on why I wanted children," she said. "Did I actually want kids, or was I just conditioned to want children?"Why she doesn't want them: Chantal said her mental health is one of the biggest reasons she wants to remain child-free. She told BI she is a victim of sexual assault and thinks giving birth, breastfeeding, and raising a child could be triggering for her."I don't normally tell people this, but there might be somebody out there that has this conflict, and I want people to know that they're not alone," she added. "My mental health is really important, and I don't want to put myself through that. And I also don't want to put my child through that because kids can pick up on things."Chantal also said that she just doesn't think kids are something she needs to feel fulfilled and joyful."I have friends with kids, and they're the sweetest little things, but I really value my peace and being able to come home to peace and quiet," she said.How people have responded to her choice: "My parents, of course, were initially sad," Chantal said. "But when I sat them down and told them my reasons, they were like, 'You know, it sounds like you really thought this through.'"She also said she surrounded herself with people who don't want children, bothin person and online, which gave her a sense of community.Chantal had her fallopian tubes removed at 24 once she decided to remain child-free. Her insurance covered the procedure, and she said she felt relieved when it was done."I can remember getting wheeled out and waking up and seeing my partner with the biggest smile on my face," she said. "I was so, so happy."What she's most excited about for her future: Chantal plans to move to New York with her partner next year. Eventually, they hope to settle in a more remote desert area with their dog."I just want to see the world, and I'm excited for my freedom," she said. "It does feel like the possibilities are endless for me." Israa NasirIsraa Nasir. Israa Nasir Age: 37Job: A therapist and the author of "Toxic Productivity"When she knew she didn't want to have kids: "The feeling of wanting to have kids just never came," Nasir told BI.She said her friends often imagined themselves as moms during imaginative play when they were children, but she pretended to be an explorer or adventurer."Even when I hit high school, I never really imagined a future where I was having a kid, but at that time, I didn't know that there was a thing of not having kids because everybody around me had children," she said."As I grew older, I started realizing this is a thing," she added. "There are some people who don't have children."Eventually, Nasir realized she had fallen into that group.Why she doesn't want them: "I'm very happy around kids," Nasir said. "I think they're very interesting. You can learn a lot from them."However, Nasir told BI she's "not interested in parenting.""It doesn't fit the lifestyle I've built for myself over the last 15 years," she said. "I would have to shift a lot to accommodate a child.""I'm a therapist, and I know how important it is to have parents who are present, connected, and engaged," Nasir continued. "I think that my role in the world is different.""Everybody has a role that they take on in this world, and when people have kids, a lot of their life, especially for the first five years, starts revolving around their children," Nasir said, adding that she's "not able to do that."How people have responded to her choice: Nasir said she and her husband were on the same page about not having kids but her choice has been more surprising for other family members."I'm South Asian. This is a very big part of our culture, so I definitely got a lot of disappointment and anger from my mom," she said, adding that her mom still has not accepted her decision.She also thinks her dad is sad about not being a grandpa, and some of her friends have expressed that she and her husband would have been great parents."I make a lot of space for other people's grief on this because they lose something when I make a decision," Nasir said. "It doesn't mean that I'm not entitled to it, and it does not mean that I have to feel guilty about it."What she's most excited about for her future: "I am excited about building something that I can leave behind for others that makes their life a little better," she said. "One person can't change the whole world, but I want to add an impact.""On a personal level, I'm really excited about being able to have experiences with my partner and have adventures and have a really big life on my terms," she added. TJ TurnerTJ Turner. TJ Turner Age: 38Job: Engineer at a power companyWhen he knew he didn't want to have kids: Turner reflected on how kids could fit into his life after his father died in 2024. His dad was part of two unplanned pregnancies, including his conception."Not to insult myself, but I realized I didn't want to make that same mistake," he said. "That's kind of when I decided this isn't for me."Turner decided to get a vasectomy when he was 28.Why he doesn't want them: "I just didn't think that I would be good parent material," Turner told BI.He said the financial and physical toll of parenting, like a lack of sleep, didn't appeal to him. He also didn't think he could take care of his mental health and be the kind of parent he wanted."In this day and age, it's so hard to focus on yourself that I don't know how people can not only focus on their own mental health but also focus on the health of their children on top of working full-time," he said.How people have responded to his choice: Turner was already married when he decided to get a vasectomy, and he said his wife was supportive of his choice. His mom also supported him, though she was "sad initially" that she wouldn't have grandchildren."I tried to explain to her, like, 'Look, it's not because I think you raised me poorly or I had a bad childhood. It's honestly more because I know I will never be as good of parents as you were,'" Turner said."I think she understood that, and I think she respects that," he said.What he's most excited about for his future: Turner told BI he's glad his future is flexible thanks to the independence. He can foster his love of motorcycling or go on a date with his wife without worrying about childcare."I can pay for my own retirement, own houses, and just live comfortably," he said. Kathryn HoffmanKathryn Hofman. Kathryn Hofman Age: 33Job: Marketing professionalWhen she knew she didn't want to have kids: Hofman said she always knew, on some level, children weren't part of her life plan. In fact, her late grandfather knew she didn't want children before she did."I was not the serial dater," she said. "I didn't typically bring folks around, so everyone assumed it was pretty serious when I brought my husband home. Somebody asked something about children, and my grandfather just chimed in and was like, 'She doesn't want kids.'""And I was like, 'You know what? I don't,'" she said.Why she doesn't want them: "I have a lot of ambitions," she said. "I'm not saying a mom can't accomplish a lot of things, but I really value my ability to assign success to myself and not assign success to what I've done for other people in my adult life.""I think there are many, many things that I would have to prioritize differently if I were to be a mom," Hofman added.How people have responded to her choice: "One of the things that people tell me often in response to the statement that I don't want children is, 'Oh, but you would be so good at it,'" Hofman said."The idea that I would be exceptionally good at it is one of the deterrents," she told BI. "I know myself well enough to know that if I were to become a mother, I would put all of my effort and energy into that child versus myself.""Whether that's selfish or not, I'm sort of indifferent to that," she said. "I value my relationships as they are, my relationship with my husband and my relationship with myself."What she's most excited about for her future: Hofman is an aspiring author, so she's looking forward to starting the querying process in 2025.She also hopes to learn more and travel with her husband. They plan to head to New Zealand together and Disney World with her niece and nephews."That was one of the very few things I felt like I might miss out on not becoming a mom is that first time taking kids to Disney, so I'm borrowing my niece and nephews, and we're going to go do that with them," she said."There's just a lot of opportunity and things that come with the freedom of not owing your life and raising somebody else. You can raise yourself and go from there," Hofman said. Whitney S.Whitney S. Whitney S. Age: 38Job: Nursing home stafferWhen she knew she didn't want to have kids: When she was 17, Whitney watched a video of a woman giving birth in a college-level health class. The reality of giving birth shocked her and made her sure she didn't want to go through the experience herself."I didn't tell anyone because you can't say that when you're 17," she told BI. "Nobody will believe you.""But no matter what phase in life, no matter how old I was, I said, 'A kid is not going to fit in this,'" Whitney added.Why she doesn't want them: "With the way things have been going and the way things will be, I don't see a reason to bring a child into this world," she said, pointing to the climate crisis as one of her concerns. "I don't feel like it's safe enough."Whitney also said she doesn't want to take on the physical and mental risks of pregnancy and motherhood. She thinks many people take the responsibility of becoming parents too lightly."I know people who really want kids, and they're preparing for that financially and mentally," she said. "But I know too many people who have not and the kids always suffer."How people have responded to her choice: Whitney said she is estranged from some of her family members, who are disappointed she isn't having children, even though there are other kids in her family. She also said her decision impacted her dating life."For seven years, I was single," Whitney told BI. "That's a large reason I was single for so long."Whitney has a boyfriend now, and she said she told him early in their relationship that she didn't want to have children.What she's most excited about for her future: Whitney has fostered a community with other child-free people on social media and said she's eager to keep growing it and connecting with like-minded people."I get a lot of enjoyment out of it despite all the negativity," she said. "I told myself there's gotta be at least one person that can relate to what I'm saying." Jessica HawkJessica Hawk. Jessica Hawk Age: 55Job: Retired high-school teacher and content creatorWhen she knew she didn't want to have kids: Hawk said she never felt the urge to be a mother, even as a child.Watching her friends become parents made it clear to Hawk that having kids wasn't for her."I had so many goals and aspirations for myself," Hawk said. "I knew from my friends who started having kids in their 20s just how much time, effort, and energy, mentally and physically, kids took.""When I saw real-life examples of exhaustion, I definitely knew it was not the path for me," she added.Why she doesn't want them: "When you decide to become a parent, you have to be ready for every possible scenario that could come up," Hawk said. "That includes having a child who might have special needs and will need care for the rest of his or her life.""You have the possibility of the marriage not lasting," she added. "What would it be like to be a single mother?""When you think of all the variables that can come up with having children, it was more reasons for me to say I'm not ready to accept any of those variables," Hawk said.How people have responded to her choice: Hawk didn't have pressure from her family to have children, which made her decision easier."I come from a long line of child-free women on both sides of my family," she added. "I always had real-life examples of child-free people thriving in my life."Still, when she married her ex-husband who also didn't want children Hawk said people asked them within hours of the moment they said "I do" when kids were coming."At the beginning of the reception, I said, 'Oh, you know, we don't want to have children,' and the pushback I got: 'Oh, you'll change your mind.' 'You're too young.' 'You just got married.'""I'm like, 'Can I eat my cake?'" Hawk said.What she's most excited about for her future: "I am at a point in my life now where I put myself in a really good financial situation," she said. "I live in my own large apartment and have peace and quiet. I travel extensively with my boyfriend and friends. I have such freedom to live my life in a way that is not a grind.""I just feel completely unfettered and to the point where I can really just have fun, and I think not everybody has that opportunity," she added. "I'm going to take it to the fullest extent I can."

Games are too cheap but I reject the doom and gloom around gaming Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished January 4, 2025 9:00am Can you have too much of a good thing? (Microsoft)A reader advises against too much negativity amongst gamers, even as he admits there are serious problems including too many cheap games.Every week for what feels like the last three years I seem to see the same old complaints in letters and features.Console manufacturers and developers are doing nothing to address the changes in gaming. Single-player games are dead. There are no first party games. Only live service games are being made. Gaming is too expensive. The games industry is going to crash. Gaming is dying.None of these things are true.Or at least, while some part of these statements have an element of truth to them, the reality is a lot more complicated, though a lot less satisfying. Too often we prefer things to be black and white. To hear things that will make us angry, shake our fist, and blame someone. Anyone. This can prompt us to jump to conclusions, often muddling cause and effect.Obviously, gaming is changing. As we start to reach the point where the cost of improving graphics gets more expensive, and difficult to discern, its harder and harder to justify AAA games and new hardware. With gamers sticking to older machines, a wealth of free games on offer via PS Plus, Game Pass, etc., and backwards compatibility theres less of a reason to buy new games and new consoles.Its a shift that has benefitted Nintendos lower tech approach, though thats exacerbated the problem for Sony and Microsoft as their in-house games have seen even fewer sales. Manufacturers and developers have tried a range of options to try and address these changes: tiered pricing, going direct to consumer, AA games, multiplatform games, live service games, Game Pass, mobile and VR consoles, increasing the cost, DLC, etc.Though none of these approaches has worked entirely, and in some cases has made things worse, its equally unclear what the right approach is at this stage. This would make an interesting feature, if it can avoid the classic one-eyed make games better and priced lower, lol blunder.Most games being released remain single-player, though they compete for time against the wealth of multiplayer and live service games that constantly demand our time. You can see why some execs may look at this and think that means live service games are the answer, but its clear that theres even less room for those, unless they can carve out a niche within the existing pack and thats tough. As a result, weve seen a few not loads and theyve been largely unsuccessful.Its hard to get away from the fact that theres been lots of excellent games of varying types over the last few years though just look at GCs top 20 lists. The problem is finding time to play them all!Which brings me to gaming being too expensive. The problem interestingly is that, if anything, its just too cheap. Even ignoring inflation, compared to most hobbies gaming overwhelms us with cheap options. Game Pass, PS Pls, sales, freebies, Gameshare, back catalogue, and free to play games. Ive really spent very little on gaming this year, and Ive spent a loooot of time playing games. I suspect many others are the same. The end result is that Im spending more time gaming, but less and less money on new games.So, thats a problem to be solved then, and there are more coming, but that doesnt mean that an industry crash or collapse is at all likely. Back in the 80s the industry was just finding its feet, but these days there is simply too much momentum (even if it is slowing) and too many platforms, gamers, and stakeholders to satisfy. To be blunt, theres simply too much money on the table.There will no doubt be changes, and in practical terms these will likely be developers, publishers, and manufacturers folding, but there will be replacements as the industry slowly pivots. Maybe thats Microsoft dipping out of console making, only to be replaced by Valves Steam Deck.Maybe Nintendo slowly gain more market share at Sonys expense, as the flatlining top end of gaming performance means that Nintendos consoles can play the most demanding third party games as well as all the Nintendo first party software.More TrendingTheres a lot still to enjoy in gaming, and its easy to sour that by subscribing to a negative narrative, looking back at gamings past through rose-tinted specs. Im not suggesting that we all subscribe to an unwarrantedly optimistic future either, but to simply admit that we dont know. Until we do, lets continue to enjoy all the excellent games out there presently. Happy Christmas!By reader Matt (he_who_runs_away PSN ID) Free games are everywhere (Sony)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

In a first bold move that would prove to be one of many over its seven-season run,Deep Space Nine opens withStar Treks new hero staring down the horrifying visage of its old one: Jean-Luc Picard, corrupted and perverted into Locutus of Borg. It sets a remarkable stage through which to meet the franchises latest protagonist, and over three decades later, those opening scenes aboard the USS Saratoga remain one ofStar Treks most haunting and compelling opening salvos.Thirty-two years ago today on January 3, 1993, Deep Space Nines pilot, Emissary, opened not on the titular space station that would become then-Commander Siskos home, but with a title card that took Trek back to what was then its greatest, and one of Starfleets lowest, points: the Battle of Wolf 359 inThe Next Generations season four opener, concluding one of the greatestTrek cliffhangers of all time in The Best of Both Worlds. There, the series had kept the slaughter of Wolf 359 off screen. Now, Star Trek was ready to show it, and put its new protagonist right at the very heart of that terror. Its an incredible gambit, one that immediately tells the audience that this new Star Trek series was not going to go where they expected. The scenes aboard theSaratoga as it prepares to be one of the many doomed vessels gathering to stop the Borg at Wolf 359 hold a remarkable mirror up to whatTrek was at the moment.Star Trek is used to scenes of Starfleet officers thriving under pressure, in the face of impossible odds, but there is a stark matter-of-factness to how DS9 depicts the events of the battle thatTNG never showed. TheSaratoga has no chance against Locutus, and Starfleet calm and collectedness is not given time to prevail in the face of the ship being immediately incapacitated, slaughtering the bridge crew. This is not an attack they roll about the bridge and get up from; most of them are just dead, as Sisko and a sole surviving Bolian lieutenant realize the ship is lost. The scenes outside the bridge are even worse: after years and years of depicting theEnterprise as a ship with a thriving civilian complement, one always safeguarded when it flew into battle, the corridors of the Saratogaa Miranda-class ship, tiny in comparison to the scale of the Galaxy-classare filled with wailing, injured civilians scrambling for life pods. It all climaxes, of course, with a humbling personal cost to Starfleets hubris for Sisko when he returns to his own quarters to find his wife Jennifer dead among the debris, and his son Jake barely alive, as he himself is forcibly dragged wailing in grief to a shuttle as the Saratoga explodes, the fireworks of its destruction reflected in the viewport Sisko vengefully glares out of. In just four and a half minutes, Star Trek fans have just watched their new star face tragedy unlike anything theyd really gotten to see before, and crucially, they had seen it through the eyes of a man who acted perhaps more like any of us would than the ideals of someone like Kirk or Picard would.Its this tragic, vulnerable humanity that informs the Sisko we meet throughout the rest of Emissaryshaping a focal figure far from what wed assume of a typical Star Trek protagonist. Hes petty, in the way he deals with both the people hes working with upon assignment to Deep Space Nine and with Starfleet itself when he finds himself face to face with Picard (now back to his heroic self and not expecting to be challenged in any way, let alone the way Sisko does). Hes still very clearly shaped by the trauma of Wolf 359, not fully processing it or even compartmentalizing itand it almost takes a literal act of god for him to even begin to do so, when his encounter with the wormhole entities the Bajorans worship as their spiritual gods is almost entirely compromised by the fact that Sisko cant move on from the loss of Jennifer. Its an unvarnished view of Starfleet in the shadows of what was, up to that point, one of its lowest points ever depicted on screen: a low point that is arguably only matched by whatDeep Space Nine itself would get into later in its run during the Dominion War. And that unvarnished view comes in the shape of Sisko himself, a man who is allowed to be vulnerable and flawed in ways that defy what we had come to expect (and still, for the most part, come to expectjust look at the friction even all these years later over how Discovery portrayed Michael Burnham, who fees like one of theStar Trek protagonists most shaped by Siskos legacy since). Its a shape that is formed from the minuteDeep Space Nine gets going, and one that is still defining the show all these years later. 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.

It's possible to compare some aspects of animal and human intelligence, but not all researchers like to.

Zelda fans can now get the Great Deku Tree Lego set at major retailers. Launched last September as a Lego Store exclusive, the first building set based on The Legend of Zelda is now available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. The superb 2,500-piece Great Deku Tree Display Model is a 2-in-1 package that lets fans build the Deku Tree as depicted in Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time.Buy The Great Deku Tree Lego Set at:AmazonBest BuyWalmartTargetLego StoreIt's worth noting the Great Deku Tree is currently on backorder from the Lego Store and won't ship for two months, so it's certainly possible other retailers will sell out, too. As of now, all major retailers have the Great Deku Tree in stock and can ship it now. Lego The Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree costs $300, but My Best Buy Plus/Total members save 10%, which drops the price down to $270. My Best Buy Plus costs $50/year, so new members will already be getting $30 of that fee back with this one purchase. All in-stock Lego sets are eligible for this perk, including the brand-new Mario Kart lineup. The Lego Mario Kart lineup is more budget friendly, with all six vehicle playsets adding up to $220. If you bought all of the Mario Kart sets and the new Zelda set, the membership will be fully paid off.Continue Reading at GameSpot

When Ghost of Tsushima launched in 2020, it didn't take long for it to become one of the most memorable titles released in gaming's modern era. However, in spite of its most notable features like its breathtaking landscapes and compelling narrative not every idea conceived during Ghost of Tsushima's development made it into the final release.

The trick to beating any monster or boss in Metaphor: ReFantazio is knowing exactly what you're up against. Knowing the attacks of an enemy will help you bring skills or items to counter any additional attacks while knowing a weakness will help you deal additional damage and earn more Press Turn icons.