Thursday, January 16th, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerChaos releases V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4Dhtml PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Chaos has released V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D, the next major version of the production renderer.The update adds support for rendering 3D Gaussian Splats, native OpenPBR support, and improvements to V-Ray GPU, the V-Ray Frame Buffer and Chaos Scatter.Cinema 4D becomes the third DCC application to get an integration for V-Ray 7, following last years releases of V-Ray 7 for 3ds Max and V-Ray 7 for SketchUp.Native support for rendering 3DGS scan dataNew features in V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D include support for 3D Gaussian Splats (3DGS).A new 3D scanning method, 3D Gaussian Splatting generates high-quality reconstructions of real-world objects or scenes from source photos or video.Although there are free third-party add-ons for rendering 3DGS data in Blender, Unity and Unreal Engine, V-Ray is one of the first CG applications to support the technology natively.Chaos tells us that it expects the functionality to appeal to both architectural visualization and VFX studios, particularly as a way of creating detailed background environments.You can read a good overview of how 3D Gaussian Splats work, and the pros and cons of workflows based around them in this post on Chaoss blog.Lighting and rendering: V-Ray Luminaires and updates to V-Ray Sun and SkyChanges to lighting and rendering in V-Ray 7 include support for luminaires.Users can now import baked lighting data for real-world light fittings in V-Rays .vlw format, making it possible to recreate the illumination they create more accurately in interior scenes.In addition, the V-Ray Sun and Sky system has been updated to support the PRG Clear Sky model used in Corona, Chaoss other major production renderer.According to Chaos, it generates more realistic lighting effects than the previous model, particularly at sunrise and sunset, and when rendering the sky from greater altitudes.The firefly removal algorithm, for removing bright flecks in renders, has also been updated.V-Ray GPU: initial support for causticsV-Ray GPU, V-Rays hybrid CPU and GPU renderer, gets initial support for rendering caustics, bringing it closer to feature parity with the main CPU render engine.You can see a list of the remaining features not supported in V-Ray GPU here.V-Ray GPU also now supports Apples Metal API, which should improve performance on macOS: Chaos says that rendering is up to 3x faster on MacBooks with current M4 processors.VFB: vignetting and freeform render regionsThe V-Ray Frame Buffer (VFB), for viewing and editing images rendered in V-Ray, gets a new Vignette Layer, making it possible to apply vignetting effects to renders.The VFB also now supports freeform region rendering, making it possible to specify render regions of arbitrary shape to help resolve key areas of an image more quickly.It is also now possible to denoise LightMix render elements, used to relight scenes in the VFB.Updates to Chaos ScatterChaos Scatter, the object scattering system introduced in V-Ray 6, also gets an update.New features include Edge Trimming, to help confine instances to the required part of a scene, and support for random distribution pattern presets.Export times for scenes that make heavy use of scattering have been reduced, as have the size of the .vrscene files generated, although Chaos doesnt put a figure on improvements.Support for the new OpenPBR material standardV-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D also introduces support for the new OpenPBR open material standard, with the standard V-Ray Material now including an OpenPBR mode.Overseen by the Academy Software Foundation, OpenPBR is intended to streamline look development for VFX, with materials developed for one application displaying near-identically in others that support it.Currently, the main applications that support OpenPBR are 3ds Max and Maya, and OpenPBR support is also due in the upcoming V-Ray 7 for Maya, currently in beta. Other pipeline integration improvementsThe release also improves interoperability with other renderers, including Maxons Redshift, the full version of which is now included in all Cinema 4D subscriptions.V-Ray users can now render Redshift lights, and export textures from Redshift Dome Lights.The update also introduces support for the Substance Archive (.sbsar) format, making it possible to render materials created in Substance 3D Designer, or downloaded from online libraries.Updates to Chaos Cloud and Chaos CosmosOutside the core application, cloud rendering service Chaos Cloud gets a new set of collaboration tools.Artists can now upload images directly from the VFB to the cloud for review, with clients and supervisors able to comment on or mark up the images.There is also new functionality for creating virtual tours of 3D environments, complete with floor plans and minimaps.Users can place Hotspots to act as navigation points in the environment for the viewer, and Highlights to provide text or image annotations for key details.Chaos Cosmos, the online asset library available with all V-Ray subscriptions, now supports asset variants, making it possible to switch between variant looks for an asset without having to re-import it into the scene.The variant system is initially being used for seasonal changes to trees and plants.Subscription prices up since V-Ray 6Chaos has also raised the price of V-Ray subscriptions since the previous release.V-Ray Solo subscriptions now cost $84.90/month or $514.80/year, up $5/month or $48/year, and V-Ray Premium subscriptions cost $119.90/month or $718.80/year, up $24/year.V-Ray Enterprise subscriptions are unaffected.Price and system requirementsV-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D is compatible with Cinema 4D R21+, running on Windows 10+ and macOS 10.14+. The software is rental-only: you can find current pricing details in the story above.Read an overview of the new features in V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D on Chaoss websiteRead a full list of new features in V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4D in the online release notesHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsChaos releases V-Ray 7 for Cinema 4DCheck out the new features in the renderer, including native OpenPBR and 3D Gaussian Splatting support, and improvements to V-Ray GPU.Thursday, January 16th, 2025These simple free tools convert Maya shaders to BlenderVFX artist Robert Rioux's handy open-source tools convert the aiStandardSurface shader to Blender's Principled BSDF.Wednesday, January 15th, 2025Get 75+ free modular shop assets for Unreal EngineGet CropCraft Studios' Modular Bakery Shop pack of 3D assets for creating a shop and cafe for free for two weeks on the Fab marketplace.Wednesday, January 15th, 2025Adobe releases Substance 3D Designer 14.1Check out the new features in the material authoring software, including updates to the Spline tools and node graph.Wednesday, January 15th, 2025Adobe unveils Live Co-Editing in PhotoshopNew beta feature lets multiple artists collaborate on the same Photoshop file simultaneously, speeding up asset reviews.Tuesday, January 14th, 2025Free tool: Hair Cinematic Tool for Unreal Engine 5Argentum Studio's in-house tool gives access to Unreal Engine 5's internal settings to improve the look of hair and fur in your renders.Tuesday, January 14th, 2025More NewsMaster World Building using Blender and PhotoshopGet 6 free smoke and fire effects sequences from FX BackPackGet modular Maya character rig builder Mansur-Rig for freeSuperSpat 1.13 plays back animated '4D Gaussian Splats'Adobe releases Substance 3D Modeler 1.18Getty Images and Shutterstock to merge to create $3.7 billion firmDownload free Houdini tools from Project GrotNVIDIA unveils GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti and 5070 GPUsMaxon buys LaubwerkTik Manager 4 is a lightweight, robust open-source pipeline toolFree add-on Paint System 'turns Blender into Photoshop'Photoshop render compositing add-on Post Manager is now freeOlder Posts

On This Day in HistoryIvan the Terrible, the Czar and Grand Prince of Russia, Wouldnt Earn His Violent Nickname Until Years After His ReignWe all know Ivan IVs sobriquet, but the story is more complicated than it might seemThe OprichnikibyNikolai Nevrev(1888). The painting shows the last minutes of one of the aristocratic elite taken out by Ivan IV. Wikimedia CommonsIvan IV Vasilyevich was just a teenager when he was crowned czar and grand prince of all Russia on January 16, 1547. Today, Ivan is better known as Ivan the Terrible, though the name wouldnt be attached to him until much later.Ivan ruled as Russias first-ever czar for nearly four decades. He transformed Russia, centralizing it administratively and culturally. Early on, Ivan instituted several reforms, strengthening the church and reorganizing the military. And during his reign, the Russian Army also successfully secured the Volga River, and thereby the trade route to the Caspian Sea.However, Ivans policies would also cost many lives, and he brought Russia to economic crisis through an unsuccessful war before setting it up for the Times of Troubles.A large part of what earned Ivan his brutal reputationand later his nicknamewas his bloody oprichnina, which he wouldnt enact until relatively late in his reign. The oprichnina was the creation of a state within a state under Ivans direct control. Theoprichniki,members of the new court largely picked from the lower, carried out the executions of thousands of people, a violent act on the upper echelons of the aristocracy of the time. Their brutal actions, meted out under Ivan's direction. were meant to quash dissent in the country, allowing the czar to remain in control. Ivans use of mass terror against his own people lasted from 1565 to 1572. During the period he drowned Russia, or Muscovite Rus as it was then known, in blood, as historian Michael Khodarkovsky tells How Stuff Works.Despite his well-known nickname, Ivan did not take on the terrible moniker during his lifetime. Indeed, historian Edward Keenan notes that it took until almost two centuries after his death in 1584 for the name to stick, though even by the early 17th century Ivan is well-established in native sources as an unpleasant fellow.The retrospective nickname grew out of the convergence of this dynamic with several others, writes Keenan, including an anti-Ivan bent in sensationalist 16th-century pamphlets and the 18th-century practice of assigning bynames to dynasts.Though Ivan has become commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, there has never been total agreement about his legacy. Some argue that the moniker is not as derogatory as it would seem, since the original Russian word translated as terrible comes closer to meaning inspiring awe or fear.Either way, writes historian Charles J. Halperin, who has authored three books about the sovereign, Ivan was the most controversial ruler in Russian history, surpassing Peter the Great, Lenin, even Stalin.Not long after his death, some held a positive impression of his rule, thinking of him as a just ruler who allied himself with the people rather than the aristocracy. Joseph Stalin lauded Ivan as a strong ruler, which he used to justify his own harsh policies. Not long ago, the debate sprang back up again when the Russian town of Oryol erected a statue of Ivan in 2016 though there was significant backlash. The decision to erect the statue could convey as much about the current regimes views of national power and state control, observers suggested at the time.His reign was politicized in his own time and has been ever since, Halperin writes.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Wargaming said that WorldofTanksBlitz, the cross-platform, free-to-playtankaction game, is about to enter a new chapter with the upcoming Reforged Update.Wargaming said the update for the live game-as-a-service title isthe most significant one in the games history. Its a big deal, as Wargaming said last year that, after 10 years, World of Tanks Blitz had crossed 180 million players to date and $1 billion in revenue.For over a decade,WorldofTanksBlitz has set the standard for fun and engagingtankwarfare, uniting over 180 million players worldwide, more than 500 historical and fictionaltanks, 11 game modes, and more than 30 maps. World of Tanks Blitz is getting the Unreal Engine 5 treatment.TheReforged Updatebrings into the game the Unreal Engine 5 visuals, enhanced physics, redesigned progression and Commander systems, and more.It is a big milestone for theWorldofTanksBlitz community,said Thaine Lyman, general manager at MS-1 Studio, Wargaming.Over the past two years, the entire MS-1 team has worked hard to deliver an update that transforms the game, opens new possibilities for innovation, and delivers a modernized, visually stunning experience while staying true to what players love most. Were excited to invite everyone to be a partofthis new journey!The updateUpgrade to Unreal Engine 5: The tools available in the Unreal Engine 5 will accelerate development, enhance gameplay, and enable a visual blend of realism and fantasy.Revamped Physics and Graphics: Stunning visuals offer detailed and vibrant tanks, dynamic lighting, impressive particle effects, and more realistic tank movements.New Commanders: A redesigned Commander system introduces a variety of new crew leaders with unique backstories and abilities.New Tanks Sets System: A streamlined progression system that organizes vehicles into themed groups, making it easier and more enjoyable to expand a collection.Revitalized Maps: Beloved battlegrounds are reborn with advanced visuals, weather effects, and refined map layouts for more immersion and more strategy.All player progress and previously acquired assets will remain unaffected, ensuring a seamless transition into this exciting new chapter forWorldofTanksBlitz.World of Tanks Blitz is a light-hearted game.The first Ultra Test, which will allow participants to experience the update before its wide launch, is set to begin on January 24, with additional tests planned for later.Players can sign up for an exclusive first look at the new features here:https://reforged.wotblitz.com.The game is available on iOS, macOS, Android, Windows 10, Steam and Nintendo Switch.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

European game sales rose 1% in 2024 | European Annual ReportEA Sports FC 25 topped the charts, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Image credit: Electronic Arts News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 16, 2025 EA Sports FC 25 was the best-selling game across Europe in 2024, despite being down 5% compared to its predecessor FC 24 in 2023.This is according to GSD data supplied to VGC, which reported a 1% rise in overall PC and console games last year with 188.1 million titles sold across the continent.Breaking that data down, 131.6 million games were sold digitally, which marked a 15% increase over the precious year. As for physical, it saw a 22% decline with 56.5 million titles sold in physical stores.Going back to the charts, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the second-best selling game in 2024 despite launching towards the end of the year. It saw 9% more sales than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 when it launched in 2023.Helldivers 2 was the top new release in 2024, ranking at No.6. Overall, new releases made up 27% of titles sold compared to 34% during the previous 12 months.Elsewhere in the charts, sales of Fallout 4 skyrocketed by 183% ranking at No.19 due to Amazon's Fallout adaptation and discounting.As for hardware, overall sales of consoles dropped by 21%. Each platform saw a decrease in sales, with Xbox Series X|S dropping the most by 48%. PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console, though sales decreased by 20%. Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% fall, despite being in its eighth year.European GSD 2024 Top 10 (Digital and Physical)PositionTitle1EA Sports FC 25 (EA)2Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Activision Blizzard)3EA Sports FC 24 (EA)4Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)5Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros)6Helldivers 2 (Sony)7Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar)8The Crew 2 (Ubisoft)9It Takes Two (EA)10Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision Blizzard)

Castlevania: Nocturne has very quickly becomeCastlevania: Rondo of Blood and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night same too for the feeling that this slick, layered sequel series was poised to match the original Castlevania series potency. As the French Revolution escalates, Richter Belmont (Edward Bluemel) and the formerly enslaved Annette (Thuso Mbedu) team up with Dracula's son, Alucard (James Callis, reprising his voice role from Castlevania) to defeat a cabal of power-hungry vampires. Their leader, self-proclaimed vampire messiah Erzsebet Bthory (Franka Potente), is at her strongest and most ruthless, and it'll take more than the Belmonts and Alucard to take her down. The creatures' schemes are hardly novel as far as villainous plots go, but Nocturne mines its familiar endgame for just enough body horror, action, and scaled-up bloodshed to distract from just how slight and shallow it becomes.Meanwhile, Richter's adoptive sister Maria Renard (Pixie Davies) grapples with her father's many, many sins, while Juste Belmont (Iain Glen) does his best to protect her from herself. Halfway into the season, Maria commits a pretty damning no-no, supposedly teeing up an extended emotional tug-of-war between the part of her driven to do the deed and the part wracked with guilt. Frankly, it's a perfect conundrum for a Castlevania character, because the series is at its best and most profound when its forcing its characters to face the ickiest parts of themselves. But creator Clive Bradley and company don't see it through. They throw us only a handful of scenes dealing with Maria's emotional state after the fact, and the ensuing dismissal of this potentially defining moment contradicts the franchises eagerness to engage with uncomfortable choices.Indeed, Nocturne pays its violence more mind than its characters existential crises. Mindless action and nonsensical power fluctuations cheapen the conflict, making every battle they win, every tide they turn, feel completely unearned. How does Richter, having spent every bit of energy he has left, manage these mighty, vampire-bursting flare-ups he hadn't seemed capable of moments before?Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 GalleryLet's be clear: Dragon Ball-esque poses and power-ups aren't unwelcome. But surface-level payoffs without depth don't suit a show as meditative as Castlevania: Nocturne, and by the time the season wraps up, it's difficult not to feel like a key part of what makes this franchise special is lost. Yes, there's resolution. And sure, a key relationship finally blossoms into a romance. But closure and fulfillment dont always go hand-in-hand, and Nocturne is that much worse off for not realizing the difference.In tackling Rondo of Blood and its sequel, Symphony of the Night, Nocturne tries to fold vampire-hunting hijinks into the harrowing implications of the French Revolution. These attempts are largely unsuccessful, mainly because the era-specific details arent reconciled with its fantastical sensibilities. Throwing revolutionaries into conflict alongside Alucard, public beheadings none of this is enough to truly put us in this place, at this time. As a result, the supernatural stuff with which Nocturne excels overwhelms other, equally rich facets. The vampires never feel completely integrated into their setting, leaving us with a lopsided sense of immersion and the nagging feeling that this story could have taken place at any time, during any conflict, and it wouldn't change much.Closure and fulfillment dont always go hand-in-hand, and Nocturne is that much worse off for not realizing the difference.Lets be grateful for the performances, then. The dialogue could be better, but stepping back, we see a cast elevating the material with endearing earnestness. Glen and Davies are exceptional in their respective roles, the latter so deft with line delivery that its easy to forget she stars in the seasons worst arc.

Jan 16, 2025Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / Endpoint SecurityIvanti has rolled out security updates to address several security flaws impacting Avalanche, Application Control Engine, and Endpoint Manager (EPM), including four critical bugs that could lead to information disclosure.All the four critical security flaws, rated 9.8 out of 10.0 on the CVSS scale, are rooted in EPM, and concern absolute path traversal flaws that allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to leak sensitive information. The flaws are listed below -CVE-2024-10811CVE-2024-13161 CVE-2024-13160, andCVE-2024-13159The shortcomings affect EPM versions 2024 November security update and prior, and 2022 SU6 November security update and prior. They have been addressed in EPM 2024 January-2025 Security Update and EPM 2022 SU6 January-2025 Security Update.Horizon3.ai security researcher Zach Hanley has been credited with discovering and reporting all vulnerabilities in question.Also patched by Ivanti are multiple high-severity bugs in Avalanche versions prior to 6.4.7 and Application Control Engine before version 10.14.4.0 that could permit an attacker to bypass authentication, leak sensitive information, and get around the application blocking functionality.The company said it has no evidence that any of the flaws are being exploited in the wild, and that it has intensified its internal scanning and testing procedures to promptly flag and address security issues.The development comes as SAP released fixes to resolve two critical vulnerabilities in its NetWeaver ABAP Server and ABAP Platform (CVE-2025-0070 and CVE-2025-0066, CVSS scores: 9.9) that allows an authenticated attacker to exploit improper authentication checks in order to escalate privileges and access restricted information due to weak access controls."SAP strongly recommends that the customer visits the Support Portal and applies patches on priority to protect their SAP landscape," the company said in its January 2025 bulletin.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Login or SUBSCRIBE to view this storyExisting subscriber? LOGINA subscription to Building Design will provide:Unlimited architecture news from around the UKReviews of the latest buildings from all corners of the worldFull access to all our online archivesPLUS you will receive a digital copy of WA100 worth over 45.Subscribe now for unlimited access.Subscribe todayAlternatively REGISTER for free access on selected stories and sign up for email alerts

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Source:&nbsp ShutterstockThe RIBAs exclusive online membership hub will close after a lack of engagement from chartered members, the institute has said From 21 January, RIBA members will no longer have access to the online forum at architecture.com, the institute announced in an email sent out this week.The Portland Place-based institute said in the announcement that the closure of the online platform had come after close monitoring of the network, which had seen a year-on-year decrease in engagement.The RIBA website describes the Membership Hub as a space for architects to talk, share knowledge, experience and be inspired. It is unclear how many RIBA members used the hub since it was set up during the Covid pandemic.AdvertisementBut, the institute said other forms of networking, including in-person events and digital initiatives, had proven to be more effective in meeting members needs.Former RIBA councillor, honorary secretary and whistleblower Kerr Roberston, told the AJ the move was not a surprise and suggested architects were finding the institute increasingly irrelevant.He told the AJ: Changes to ARBs powers regarding CPD, which will mean architects and their clients will no longer look to those with the letters RIBA after their name for reassurance in this regard, makes it all the more important for the RIBA to improve its offer. Sadly, the closing of the hub suggests members are voting with their feet.At the time of writing, the RIBA is currently recruiting for a 40,000-a-year role for a Membership Engagement Officer in Hong Kong and Asia.From May, RIBA members thought to number 24,000 in the UK in 2022 will lose access to full RIBA services at one 66 Portland Place, which is due to close to allow a 85 million refurbishment and digital upgrade to begin from May 2025.AdvertisementThe Benedetti-designed refurb is expected to take three years and has been partly funded by a 5.5 per cent increase in the RIBA membership, RIBA president Muyiwa Oki admitted to the AJ in September.The RIBA has told members that resources would be allocated elsewhere to provide more impactful support for chartered architects.A RIBA spokesperson, repeating the contents of the email sent to members, told the AJ: In response to the needs of RIBA members, we launched the pilot of the RIBA Member Hub to provide a digital network to support our members as we emerged from the pandemic.While digital engagement through the hub has decreased year on year, other forms of networking, including in-person events and digital initiatives, have proven to be more effective in meeting members needs. To provide more impactful support for our members, we are focusing on tools and initiatives that deliver greater value and reach. This means that we have decided to close the platform to allocate our resources more effectively.2025-01-16Gino Spocchiacomment and share

Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.Raise a glass to today'sStrandspuzzle -- unless you're participating in Dry January, of course. Whether you are or not, once you figure out the theme, you'll likely be spotting the hidden words even without too many clues. However, if you need hints and answers, read on.Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Bar associationIf that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Cheers!Clue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:PATS, STAT, TING, TINGE, SAIL, SAILS, SIDE, SIDES, CAMS, STING, RAMS, TAMSAnswers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:COSMOPOLITAN, MARTINI, ZOMBIE, SIDECAR, STINGERToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isCOCKTAILS.To find it, start with the C that's four letters over from the left on the top row and wind down. The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 16, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Skate City: New York is as dreamy as a week off in ManhattanParklife.Image credit: Snowman/Agens Games Feature by Christian Donlan Contributing Editor Published on Jan. 16, 2025 Not to brag but I have a beanbag now. I bought it last week. What a treat to sink down into with a mobile game, and what an extra treat when that game is Skate City. Skate City is a lovely, deeply dreamy skating game built for touchscreens. Over on Apple Arcade it's just had a new instalment, Skate City: New York. Reader, I am hooked.Skate City: New YorkPublisher: SnowmanDeveloper: Agens GamesPlatform: Played on iOSAvailability: Out now on Apple Arcade.If I had to describe Skate City quickly, I'd say that it's the skating game that really cares about fonts. Its fonts are stylish, classical, sans serif. You know when you take a second look at the cover of Born to Run and go, ooh, didn't expect that? Skate City's font game is a lot more spacious, but it has that same quiet elegance that rewards the second look.The first game took this sense of quiet urban grace to its heart, with soft beats, lots of bloom, and a selection of cities where you'd be more than willing to open an Affogato business that ran its own small-scale Zine printing house. Skate City: New York, as the name suggests, focuses on one city, but it's a great city, and across Manhattan, the park and Brooklyn, it has range as well as airy beauty.There are tweaks, but I'm not sure I've spotted them all yet. You can wall-run now, and levels have multiple routes - one moment I dropped down into the subway, and there was a platform there with a train and everything; that was nice. More importantly, though, the core of the series remains intact. You swipe and tap the screen to pull off various tricks, building outwards from the upwards thumb strike that gives you an ollie. It's a lovely system with lots of room for chaining things together, and it clips well with the kind of pseudo-2D stages Skate City delivers. It's the sports game as indie lateral tracking shot.Here's the trailer for Skate City: New York.Watch on YouTubeWhat I mainly love about the New York instalment is New York. New York's a city where you can walk all day and see new stuff every few feet, while still feeling deeply rooted in a single deeply specific place. Skate City has that too. I'll move from glossy marble squares and businesses that look like Apple might be involved, to an epic road crossing, a bit of park, a bit of corporate sculpture, and then down to the docks.It's gorgeous. There's a pastel brightness to the bloom here that makes me feel like I've just stepped out of the subway on the first day of a New York holiday, and there's that chatty calm you get in Washington Square Park just after lunch. I have never skated in my life, but I love skating games and I love this city. This was a no-brainer, then, but I'm still astonished by how much of my life it's already eaten.