• WWW.EUROGAMER.NET
    The new Grand Theft Auto 3 Dreamcast port is an astonishing achievement
    The Dreamcast burned brightly from 1998 to 2001 but Sega's financial situation famously ended its life early. As a result, many games - both announced and unannounced - were abruptly cancelled and as new games arrived on other platforms, many often wondered, would these titles have been possible on Dreamcast? Well, with an unofficial homebrew release of Grand Theft Auto 3 on the classic Sega machine, we finally have an answer for at least one of those questions.GTA 3 itself really needs no introduction - it was a cultural event, after all, but before GTA 3 took the world by storm, the development team at DMA Design, creator of Lemmings, had released multiple Grand Theft Auto games across PlayStation, PC and, yes, the Dreamcast. That's right - GTA2 received a port to Dreamcast during its short life. The result is certainly interesting but as a game designed for PlayStation first and foremost, it's limited. It runs very poorly on Dreamcast, which feels unacceptable to me given its origins. Yet, if you can ignore that, many of the ideas that would come to define the series started here. GTA was popular but not popular in the way that the series would become after GTA 3. The Dreamcast version is also, unfortunately, of rather low quality given the platform it's running on, which only serves to make GTA3's port that much more impressive.The new Dreamcast version is derived from the RE3 reverse engineering project - a from-the-ground-up, non-emulated version of the Rockstar Engine. When creating a playable image, you'll need to use the PC version from which data is extracted and converted to the proper file formats. It is currently optimised for use with Optical Disc Emulators, which replace the Dreamcast's optical drive, but it is possible to play from a burnt CD-R though there are caveats. Fundamentally, this is the complete version of GTA3. All missions, maps, cutscenes and audio made the cut albeit with some reduction in quality in spots, which we'll get to.In a new DF Retro video, John Linneman looks at the new Grand Theft Auto 3 port for Sega Dreamcast, stacked up against the PS2 original.Watch on YouTubeKicking off with the comparisons, GTA 3 has seen many releases over the years, but I wanted to stay contemporary and compare it with the original PlayStation 2 release. In capturing the game, I used original consoles but with the PixelFX Gem installed in each of them for pristine HDMI digital output.So, the first thing I want to address is actually a visual effect that I didn't use in most of the comparisons - the so-called 'trails' feature. This is an accumulation style blur which uses previous frames to create a sort of post-process motion blur effect. It also blends colours together to create that unique looking presentation which is central to the GTA3 visual design language. The Dreamcast is not well suited to this sort of effect, due to its unique memory arrangement in how it deals with textures and framebuffers - basically, if you try to use the framebuffer as a texture - a copy of the full frame - you get two pixels correct followed by two incorrect pixels. Two selectable alternatives are in the Dreamcast version, but the performance hit is palpable and it's clear that further work is required.Right away, I noticed some minor texture blending issues here but also differences in the character model. The Dreamcast version extracts data from the PC version of the game which features changes to character models, so there are fundamental changes - and even some additional objects that are absent on PS2. I also noticed that texture resolution has taken a hit, in order to fit into the Dreamcast's memory. During the conversion process from the PC data, textures are reduced across the board compared to other versions of GTA 3. Now, this may seem odd, but according to SKMP (lead on the project) it all comes down to memory limitations, but not necessarily due to the textures themselves.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Basically, the game sends a huge amount of vertex data to the GPU and the GPU needs to store all these vertexes in memory before rendering them. While models appear simple on the surface, the large size and number of objects on-screen means that GTA 3 pushes a fair amount of geometry around. So while Dreamcast has 8MB of VRAM versus 4MB on PS2, due to how it works on Dreamcast, vertex data eats up more than half of the system's VRAM pool. Subtract framebuffer data and other VRAM resident objects and they're left with only 2.3MB of VRAM for textures.Additionally, in addition to reducing size, all textures are compressed down using Dreamcast's VQ texture compression - but it turns out that VQ compression isn't well-suited to compressing the palettised textures used by GTA3 so additional artefacts rear their head as well. There is still hope, however. The team is working on ideas to overcome this, and, in time, we should see stable builds capable of loading full resolution textures. I also noticed issues with light flares from headlights clipping through the world. This is something that the team is still working on - there's currently a depth mismatch happening there and these light flares are basically 2D objects projected on top of world geometry. Those, though, are the main limitations I noticed in terms of visual issues because, otherwise, what we have is something very close to the original game.More positively, all the main visual elements have made the cut - the lightmaps, the shadow textures from trees and light posts, the light halos, lighting from streetlamps and traffic lights, fogging and more. It's all here. One of the more impressive things about this port is the streaming system - part of this is down to GTA3 itself being designed around optical disc-based data streaming so there's a lot of leeway but it's still challenging especially given that Dreamcast has half the system memory of PS2. The game tries to keep as much data in memory as possible to avoid hiccups while a separate streaming thread handles data fetches from the source media. In a like-for-like performance comparison, the Dreamcast port runs at a much lower frame-rate - but performance on PS2 isn't great, to be honest, particularly in terms of its highly choppy frame-pacing. | Image credit: Digital FoundryThe initial release was optimized for use with the GDEMU optical disc emulator but I don't own one of those, so I opted for a burnt CD-R. The team sent me an updated build that prioritises CD-ROM performance and... it works. In the initial build, every time the game would load a sound effect, it would pause making certain missions nearly unplayable but now? It works surprisingly well from a CD and that's a real achievement.In terms of performance, let's discuss the permutations of my testing. I used the V1 trail effect on Dreamcast, which is the closest match with PS2. With this feature enabled, however, the frame-rate is limited to just 15 frames per second on Dreamcast as going above this isn't currently feasible, though I'm told there are plans to further optimise. It's unlikely that we'll see more than 20 fps with trails, though. I was simply curious to see how it compared to what is the default state of the game on PS2. This testing also revealed to me why GTA 3 always felt so choppy on PS2 - frame-pacing is poor, with lots of random 16ms spikes. I always noticed this back in the day - GTA3 is not smooth compared to its contemporaries. This was forgiven, though, due to its revolutionary design but still, now we know why it feels this way.With V3 trails enabled (there is no V2, if you're wondering), Dreamcast's frame-rate increases but remains firmly in sub-20 fps territory most of the time. I should note that the V3 trails are enabled by default in the menu, so this is what you're likely to experience on first boot. This time frame-rate moves into a 15-20fps window, which is improved still further by completely turning off trails altogether. The thing is, this is all measured in fairly undemanding areas. Move into the central city island and the increased geometry causes issues - frame-rate is in the 10fps territory in some areas and can go even lower. The V3 trails tech can help improve frame-rates, while disabling trails at all helps still further - but this is the first release and the homebrew team continue to optimise. | Image credit: Digital FoundryLooking at the performance data got me thinking about the PS2's own frame-rate issues and what a new port of GTA 3 could have looked like. After all, years later, the PSP game Liberty City Stories was ported to PS2 and there I made a pleasant discovery: the overall visual quality and performance was boosted significantly on an updated version of the GTA 3 map. Traffic is far more dense, models are improved, while elements like fences and fire escapes are added. The lighting is better and the frame-rate is much smoother too. There's definitely a lot of additional headroom here.I've got to say though: the Dreamcast version is still in development but even this first release is astonishing, with a lot of cool features plus more to come. The game is mostly playable as is, though there's currently a progress stopping bug in the Bomb da Base mission which makes it impossible to completely finish normally right now - but that will also be fixed going forward.The key takeaway for me is that the Dreamcast development community has managed to achieve what feels almost like a miracle port. Elements like the motion blur trails effect, for instance, are something the DC just isn't designed to be able to do - but the development team has pulled it off. To be able to run such a large scale game at this level of performance already is really unbelievable. Personally, I'm sceptical that Rockstar could have pulled this off back in 2001 - the studio was still learning how to make games like this and the initial PS2 release was fairly rough. Looking at this new Dreamcast port though, it's clear that performance is low but remember, this is a first release, and as a proof of concept, this port is incredible. The Dreamcast can, in fact, handle Grand Theft Auto 3 in its entirety. The dream will never die!
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  • WWW.EUROGAMER.NET
    This year's AGDQ included someone speedrunning Elden Ring bosses with a saxophone
    This year's AGDQ included someone speedrunning Elden Ring bosses with a saxophone2025 fundraiser ends raising a wonderful 2.1m for Prevent Cancer Foundation.Image credit: AGDQ News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 Awesome Games Done Quickly has "come to a thrilling close", securing an incredible $2,556,305 - that's 2.1m - for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.The week-long fundraiser wrapped up last night with a speedrun of Super Metroid after attracting over 2000 in-person attendees and "tens of thousands" of viewers on Twitch.Elden Ring on Saxophone by Dr. Doot in 29:22 - Awesome Games Done Quick 2025.Watch on YouTubeSpeedrunners came from all over the world to "race through a bevy of games new and old", often with "zany incentives and challenges to drive donations", including a full-blown live concert during Crazy Taxi, Dr. Doot playing Elden Ring with a saxophone as a controller - which is embedded above - and an opera performance by trained singer Xem after completing his Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando run. You can also see FunkopotamusWess playthrough of New Super Mario Bros. Wii using his head and feet via motion controls while playing piano.Since 2010, Games Done Quick has raised more than $54 million (44.2m) for charities worldwide, including Doctors Without Borders, Malala Fund, Organization for Autism Research, and more.Next up is Back to Black, the first all-Black speedrunning charity event, which will run 6th-9th February and benefit racial justice nonprofit Race Forward. Summer Games Done Quick returns to Minneapolis, Minnesota to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders in July.This time last year, Shiba Inu Peanut Butter became the first dog to speedrun a game during Awesome Games Done Quick.Peanut Butter speedran Gyromite, a puzzle platformer released on the NES, in 26 minutes and 24 seconds, which is around a minute slower than his own world record, but well within the 30-minute slot he'd been allocated.
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  • WWW.BLENDERNATION.COM
    Art Process: "How I Made This Stylized Lily Of The Valley Flower in Blender"
    Lane Wallace writes: The flower was sculpted in Blender, and the benday dots were created using a simple NPR shader node setup that utilizes a voronoi texture with zero randomness.Source
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  • WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM
    So immoral: gig economy workers forced to pay fee to receive their wages
    Retail assistants have accused a gig economy firm of holding them to ransom by making them pay a fee if they want to receive their wages within 30 days.A new payment system brought in by YoungOnes, which supplies freelance retail assistants to many well-known high street stores, charges gig workers 4.8% of their earnings to be paid in one minute or 2.9% to be paid in three days. If they decline, they typically have to wait 30 days. Previously the workers were paid in three days, without a charge.Tom Gillam, who has worked at least six shifts at the Emma Sleeps store in Manchester, said gig workers on low and irregular wages needed money quickly to buy essentials and pay bills. People do gig work for short-term cash ... it feels like were being held to ransom, he said. It is so immoral its unreal.Gillam, 37, claimed some of the workers at the store were last week still waiting to be paid for shifts in late November and early December. They cant really badger their managers because working as a freelancer you have no voice, you might not get any more shifts if you are seen as outspoken.Another worker at the Manchester store said he was forced to borrow money from his family to buy gifts and travel home for Christmas. It is unfair for people working on a low wage with reduced rights to be charged to get their money quickly, he said.Last month, the Observer revealed the growing use of gig economy workers without basic employment rights in the retail sector, a move the TUC had called worrying.The minister for employment rights, Justin Madders, told the Observer he would be asking the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate to investigate the allegations against YoungOnes. He added he would also be writing to the firm to demand answers. We find it entirely unacceptable for employers to avoid their legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when they are not. Action that reeks of this exploitation is intolerable, and we will not hesitate to ask all relevant authorities to scrutinise such employers, he said.Concern is mounting that companies could seek to evade protections laid out in the governments flagship employment rights legislation by recruiting gig economy workers. Liam Byrne, chair of the business and trade committee, which is examining the governments employment rights bill, said: Were deeply concerned that companies will try to get around the law and continue to exploit vulnerable workers by pretending they are self-employed when they should enjoy the full protection of the law.The bill will bring in a range of new workplace rights, including immediate protection from unfair dismissal and the right to guaranteed hours for anyone on zero-hour contracts. It will also abolish the waiting period for statutory sick pay, set at the first three days of illness, and give workers the right to unpaid paternity and bereavement leave as soon as they start a new job.However, the new protections will not apply to the estimated 4.4 million people working in the gig economy.The government has promised to consult on a simpler two-tier employment framework, which distinguishes between genuine self-employment and all other types of workers, but nothing has been published yet.Last week Margaret Beels, who is the governments independent director of labour market enforcement, told the committee that the UKs complex three-tier employment status system which includes employees with full rights, casual workers with limited rights, and freelancers with no rights was being abused. Having three levels of status allows people to engage in sharp practice, shifting workers around between those [levels], she said.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to ObservedFree weekly newsletterAnalysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionBeels called on the government to act more quickly: I really would like to see the government stepping up to doing more you can probably consult till the cows come home on this issue, and its about time to do something about it.James Medd, YoungOnes chief operating officer, said the new payment system allowed freelancers to choose between standard payment terms at no extra cost or pay for faster options. We deeply value the freelancers on our platform and understand the challenges they face, particularly when it comes to payment timelines, he added.Medd said freelancers choose to work through YoungOnes as it offers them independence and a flexible solution tailored to their needs. They have the freedom to decide when, where, and with whom they work, he said.Emma Sleep said it took the allegations very seriously. It said payment issues were reported by some workers but the team had been paid for several weeks now. Emma is committed to continuously improving the working experience for freelance employees in our stores while ensuring full compliance with labour laws, said a spokesperson.
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  • WWW.VG247.COM
    I need you to stop what you're doing and watch this Games Done Quick Crazy Taxi speedrun that has a live backing band
    Need A Pick-Me-Up?I need you to stop what you're doing and watch this Games Done Quick Crazy Taxi speedrun that has a live backing bandPure cinema.Image credit: Games Done Quick/ Crazy Taxi News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 If you need a video game pick-me-up that will cure you of any ailment, then you absolutely need to watch this Crazy Taxi speedrun.I would argue that Crazy Taxi is one of the most video games to ever video game - it is ridiculous, loud, it's a game many people have played because they see it in an arcade and go "oh man I haven't played Crazy Taxi forever, let's play a couple rounds!" You just can't go wrong with it, and for the first time in apparently a decade, the game made an appearance at the annual charity fundraising event Awesome Games Done Quick. Except, it isn't any ordinary speedrun. No, this one has a live backing band playing a whole bunch of pop punk tracks, and it's just as wild, fun, and silly as you'd hope from the concept.Watch on YouTubeThe runner in question goes by the name Chuckles825, who is of course trying to play the game as quickly as possible, as is the case for literally every speedrun ever, but generally with Games Done Quick you'll find some commentary to explain what they're doing. That's not the case here, not in the slightest, as it's obviously a bit difficult to do when you have a live band playing. It's a fun one to watch, because the band has to be paying attention to the game too - they're not just playing continuously uninterrupted, they have to immediately stop as soon as a level is finished or restarted, making for a good few laughs.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Awesome Games Done Quick is all wrapped up now, raising money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation this year, this year amassing a massive $2,556,305, a huge amount that always goes to a worthwhile cause. There's plenty of other fun runs that have been uploaded on the official Games Done Quick YouTube channel too, so if you're in need of some time killers, you're in luck.Don't forget that there's a new, open-world, MMO Crazy Taxi game in the works too, even if that doesn't sound quite right.
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  • TECHCRUNCH.COM
    Here are the five best pieces of founder advice I learned as a host of Found
    After more than two years and nearly 100 episodes as a host of TechCrunchs recently ended Found podcast, I have learned a lot about how founders approach building their startups.Ive heard stories about how founders know when it is the right time to expand from their core product, to how startups approach hiring, to what got entrepreneurs to take the leap in the first place, and everything in between.While not a founder myself, some of the learnings and advice I heard on the show stood out more than others. Ive compiled a short and sweet list of the five best pieces of advice for founders I heard on the show that are both practical and philosophical.Founders should lean into what they arent good atWhile many of the founders talked about finding co-founders or making early hires who helped fill their experience or knowledge gaps, Rippling co-founder and CEO Parker Conrad thinks founders should do the opposite.Conrad called the practice of hiring people to fill roles a founder isnt good at, or doesnt want to do, bullshit.You should find the things that you hate within the company, and you should run towards them and bear hug them and just really take them on and focus on those things, because those are the things that are probably going to kill you, Conrad said. Those are the things that youre probably avoiding because its uncomfortable to focus on them. Ive definitely seen that in myself, and the things that you really hate, like, thats where you should spend all your time.VCs arent always rightWhile the right venture capitalist can provide invaluable insight and guidance to a startup, good VCs are hard to find, and even the best VCs dont always have the best advice for every startup.When Ashley Tyrner, the founder and CEO of FarmboxRx, a direct-to-consumer produce box company meant to help solve food deserts, pitched VCs, they told her to pivot to being a meal kit company, the hot trend of the time. Shes glad she ignored the advice and bootstrapped instead.Every VC we talked to, any of them that were actually even remotely nice to us at the time wanted us to become a meal kit, Tyrner said. Thats not what our focus was. We did not want to jump on the meal kit bandwagon. Now looking back, Im really glad that I never raised any capital and we still havent raised any capital to this day. Most of the meal kits are, you know, theyve slowly died.Instead, just a few years later, FarmboxRx was able to link up with insurance companies and start sending its produce boxes as part of patients prescriptions, a revenue stream Tyner said has been really lucrative for the company.It pays off not to be firstIf you read a lot of PR pitches, as I do most days, a common thread is that many companies want to tout that they were the first to either a technological innovation or a new market. But is being first always the best thing?Jordan Nathan, the founder and CEO of non-toxic homeware company Caraway, wouldnt necessarily agree. Nathan told TechCrunch that when he was getting ready to launch Caraways first set of non-toxic cookware, he initially wasnt thrilled that it looked like they would be the last to launch in an increasingly crowded category, but it worked out. Nathan said launching last allowed the company to find the gaps in the market left open from what had already been released, and allowed Caraway to cater to those audiences directly.It helped us change our color palette, it helped us change our price point, what pieces that we put in the set, Nathan said. And while a lot of those other brands did a lot of things right, we were able to craft our space within the kitchen [direct-to-consumer] world that others werent playing in.Companies should try to get to market right away, regardless of their longterm goalsWhile some startups build software that can start acquiring customers, and making money, within a week, the same cant be said for startups looking to introduce innovative deep tech or moonshot companies. But that doesnt mean these deep tech companies have to wait years to make any money.Joe Wolfel, the co-founder and CEO of Terradepth, a company looking to build autonomous drones to map the ocean floor, told Found that Terradepth was very intentional about setting up its revenue streams. While it still has a ways to go before its autonomous drones will be roaming the ocean floor, the company is looking to provide the same services to commercial and government customers in the meantime, both manually and through a dashboard, because companies need information on the ocean floor now.One thing you learn pretty quickly in combat is you cant steer something thats not moving, Wolfel said. Theres no substitute for on-the-ground learning right? We are eating our own dog food everyday.We heard a different approach to this same concept from Paul Hedrick, the founder of Western wear company Tecovas. Hedrick told Found that he knew he wanted Tecovas to be a direct-to-consumer brand but he didnt want to just set up a website and wait around for sales to come in. Because of this, he started selling his boots out of the back of his car at farmers markets right away so he could get customer feedback and sales from the beginning.Dont forget to build a company around your productWhen a startup is just getting off the ground, founders are focused on building a product and getting said product to market as they probably should be. But founders should make sure they dont forget to think about building the actual company around the product too.Gavin Uberti, the co-founder and CEO of chipmaker Etched, told Found that one early mishap the company had was that they didnt think about setting up employee benefits until it was too late. Uberti said the company only realized it had waited too long when one of its employees broke their leg before the company had set up health insurance which wasnt a quick process to remedy.Ubertis story was a good reminder that when founders are trying to move fast and break things, its important for them to also take care of all the other elements needed to build a lasting company that takes care of its employees.
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  • BUILDINGSOFNEWENGLAND.COM
    Adelphic Institute Building // 1847
    Located across from the North Cornwall Congregational Church in Cornwall, Connecticut, this vernacular, Greek Revival building was constructed by 1847 as the Adelphic Institute, a private school. The Adelphic Institute was founded by Ambrose Rogers, son of Deacon Noah Rogers of the Congregational Church in the village, on land and adjacent to the house he had inherited from his father. The school would eventually relocate to New Milford, Connecticut, in 1860 and this building was converted to a parsonage and meeting room for the church and village. It is now privately owned on the property of the old Rogers house.
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  • WWW.FORBES.COM
    4 Signs Your Google Account Is Hacked And What To Do
    Discovering that your Google Account has been compromised can be alarming, but it's usually not too ... [+] difficult to regain controlNurPhoto via Getty ImagesTABLE OF CONTENTSGmail is and has been for years one of the most popular free email services, with around two billion active users around the world. Access comes via a Google account, which also includes Google Ads, YouTube and Google Play. And because of this, a compromised Google account can give the hackers access to a wide range of data, including emails, documents, photos and even financial details. Using this information, they can scam your contacts with spam, phishing emails or malicious attachments or even extort you. But don't despair: if your Google account is hacked, it's possible to regain it and keep it secure in future.Is Your Google Account Compromised?While Google implements powerful security measures, there are still ways for hackers to gain access to your account, most commonly by using credentials stolen in data breaches or through phishing emails, as well as malware or insecure wifi connections.There are a number of signs that your Google account may have been hacked. You might find that your password no longer works, for example, or that other personal information relating to the account has been changed. You may receive a security alert from Google warning that there has been a sign-in to your account from a new device, or of other behaviour that it deems unusual or suspicious. Other warning signs include a tip-off from friends or family who may be receiving strange messages purportedly from you.Sign 1: Changes To Security SettingsIt's a sure-fire sign that your Google account has been hacked if you see changes to your security settings that you didn't make.You could find that there's a different recovery phone number or recovery email address, for example, or alternative or contact email address. The name on your account may have been changed, or your security question, and you might find that two-factor authentication has been turned off without your knowledge. All these are signs that a hacker has gained access and is now controlling the account.MORE FOR YOUSign 2: Suspicious ActivityYou may spot odd activity in Google products that you use: missing or deleted emails, or sent emails that you didn't write.Similarly, if you have a YouTube channel you may see videos that you didn't upload or unauthorized changes to your profile. Google Drive, too, could show activity that's nothing to do with you, Photos may be sharing your pictures without permission, and Blogger users may see posts appearing that they didn't write. You may spot any of these events yourself, or be alerted by bemused contacts.Sign 3: Unauthorized Financial ActivityPerhaps the most alarming sign that your Google account has been hacked is discovering unauthorized financial transactions.You may find that unknown purchases have been made with Google Pay, or that new payment methods such as bank accounts, credit cards, debit cards or gift cards have been added. The same thing can happen with Google Play too.Sign 4: A Security Alert From GoogleGoogle sends out security alerts when it thinks it's detected suspicious behaviour from a Google Account. These will be sent to your recovery phone or email address.This can include a sign-in from a new device, or unusual activity such as a big increase in the number of emails being sent. The company will also issue an alert if it needs to block someone from taking an important action, such as viewing stored passwords. Be warned, though: sometimes fraudsters issue false security alerts themselves; you can check if it's genuine here.What Should You Do If Your Google Account Is Hacked?As we've seen, a hacked Google account can cause no end of damage, particularly if the hackers are able to gain access to financial information. This means you'll need to act fast.Your first move should be to sign in to your account if you can, select Security and then Review security events to check that you have actually been hacked. You should turn on two-step verification to make sure the hackers don't just get straight back in, check for and delete any malware, and check other apps and services to see whether they have been hacked too. It's a good idea to contact your bank or other financial services to let them know what's happened. And it's also worth informing all of your contacts, in case the hackers try to make a move on them too.Step 1: Turn On 2-Step VerificationWith two-step verification turned on, anyone signing into your account will need to go through a second step to get access or else use a passkey.When you create a passkey the simplest option you'll no longer need a password. If you choose to continue using a password instead, there are various options for the second step such as receiving Google prompts or using a verification code. You can check out the options and sign up by going to Security, followed by How you sign in to Google.Step 2: Check For And Delete Any MalwareThere's a fair chance that the hackers have gained access to your Google account by persuading you to unwittingly download malware.You can check whether this is the case by going to myaccount.google.com/security-checkup. Install and run a trustworthy anti-virus package, which should identify and remove any suspicious software. You may want to install a more secure browser too.Step 3: Check Other Apps And ServicesHackers often try to use a hacked account to access other services where you may have used the same password.This might include online banking, financial platforms and social media. You should take a look at all of them, change all your passwords to something unique and hard to guess, and enable two-factor authentication.Step 4: Contact Your BankYou should obviously contact your bank if you find that the hackers have been accessing your cash but even if you've seen no signs of this, it's not a bad idea.Your Google account could contain all sorts of information that could allow the criminals to gain access to your bank account or other financial services or start using your identity to impersonate you.Step 5: Warn Your ContactsHackers frequently use a compromised account to target friends and contacts with phishing scams or malware-laden links.And while it may be embarrassing to have to admit that you've been hacked, it's the decent thing to do. Warn everybody in your contacts list to be on the lookout for suspicious messages from you, and to delete anything that could be suspicious.How Can You Recover Your Google Account?As we've seen, regaining control of your Google Account isn't usually too problematic as long as you can still log in. But what if the hackers have changed your account information, such as your password or recovery phone number, so you can't?The good news is that it's still generally perfectly possible, and that you'll just need to jump through a few extra hoops tyo get back in control of your Google Account. You should start by visiting the account recovery page. It makes things much easier if you do this from a device and location that youve used before, as this helps reassure the company that you are who you say you are. Here, you'll find a series of questions designed to make sure that you really are the owner of the account. You'll be asked for your recovery email address or recovery phone number, as well as previous passwords and answers to security questions even if you can't get these exactly right, it will help to make your case.How Can You Protect Your Google Account From Hackers?Protecting your Google Account from hackers is a question of basic cyber hygiene and if you've been hacked already, now is the time to make sure it doesn't happen again. First, make sure your recovery email address and phone number are up to date and then remember which ones you've used.It's important to use a strong password, with upper and lower case letters, numbers, symbols and so on. And if you haven't already turned on two-step verification, do it now. Other good practices for keeping your account safe include making sure that your anti-virus package, apps, browser and operating system are all up to date, so that you always have the latest security updates. Get rid of any apps and browser extensions that you aren't actually using. And finally, be very, very wary of any unsolicited messages asking you to click on links, or that seem suspicious in other ways.Bottom LineDiscovering that your Google Account has been compromised can be alarming and for good reason. However, it's usually not too difficult to regain control, though the process can sometimes be time-consuming. And a few simple measures should help keep it safe in future.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Can You Get Hacked By Opening An Email?It's easy to get a bit paranoid about the risk of being hacked but, in fact, this rarely happens unless you've done something risky.Theres very little chance that your email account can be hacked if all youve done is open an unsolicited email. The risk only really arises if you interact with it in some way, by clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. Nowadays, with improved security, it's simply not possible to get a virus simply by opening an email.What Should You Do If Your Gmail Account Is Hacked?If your Gmail account has been hacked, you may be tipped off by changed personal information or a password that no longer works. Other signs are a security alert, sign-ins from new devices or strange emails coming from your account.Unfortunately, a hacked Gmail account will give the criminals access to all the Google services you use. However, this also means that the process for recovering and protecting your Gmail account is the same as for any element of your Google Account just visit the Google help center recovery pagehere. You should regain control of all Google services.How Do You See If Someone Logged Into Your Google Account?It couldn't be simpler to see whether somebody else is logged into your Google Account.Just visit your account,here, select Security and then select Manage all devices on the Your devices panel. This will display where youre currently signed in yourself, along with any that have been used in the last few weeks. If there are any that arent you, simply click on them and select Sign Out.
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  • WWW.TECHSPOT.COM
    Yes, video game budgets are skyrocketing, but the reason goes beyond graphics
    In context: A recent report about the video game industry put the spotlight on skyrocketing development costs and the pursuit of ever more realistic graphics. While graphical fidelity certainly contributes to inflated budgets and extended development timelines, other factors play equally significant roles in driving up costs. These include the creation of massive open worlds and broader, non-gaming-specific issues such as resource misallocation and poor management. There is a compelling case to be made that the gaming industry's bloated budgets are driven by a frenzied quest for greater graphics. This push for realistic visuals has been a trend for decades as gaming giants sought to captivate audiences. And for many this strategy paid off: it transformed simplistic 2D environments into richly detailed, lifelike worlds, drawing in legions of players.However, as the cost of achieving such realism surged, the returns started to diminish. At the same time, as a new generation of gamers entered the market, their tastes have gravitated towards games with simpler graphics but robust social features."It's very clear that high-fidelity visuals are only moving the needle for a vocal class of gamers in their 40s and 50s," Jacob Navok, a former executive at Square Enix who left that studio to start his own media company, told The New York Times. "But what does my 7-year-old son play? Minecraft. Roblox. Fortnite."While graphical fidelity undoubtedly plays a role in inflating budgets, it is not the sole culprit. An equally compelling case can be made that the primary factor of rising video game development costs are labor expenses and resource mismanagement. In high-cost cities like Los Angeles, each employee can cost a studio between $15,000 and $20,000 per month, including salaries, benefits, and overhead. As development teams have grown significantly in size, these costs have multiplied exponentially.Whatever the cause of the soaring development costs, some argue that the gaming industry faces a critical juncture because its current path is not sustainable. Video game journalist Jason Schreier illustrated this point in his Bloomberg report: "Let's do some quick napkin math. If you have 100 employees and you're estimating $15,000 a month (a conservative guess) for each one, you're spending $18 million a year. But these days, the top game studios are much bigger than that. So if you have 300 employees and you're estimating $20,000 a month for each one (got to pay good wages to compete in 2025), you're spending $72 million a year." // Related StoriesRecent revelations from an Activision executive's deposition in a lawsuit shed further light on the staggering costs of modern game development. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015) cost $450 million to develop, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) cost $640 million, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) cost $700 million. With over 3,000 people working on the Call of Duty franchise, labor costs are undeniably substantial.There are other factors at play. Modern games often feature massive levels and sprawling open worlds, requiring significant development time and resources. Management issues, such as inefficient workflows, technological shifts, and indecisive executives, can also lead to wasted time and inflated budgets.Abrupt changes in direction such as pivoting from single-player to multiplayer games-as-a-service can further compound inefficiencies and costs.Industry veterans frequently share stories of wasteful practices, such as features being canceled due to executive whims or teams continuing work on levels slated for removal because of poor communication. While iteration is a natural part of game development, excessive "wasted" work often results in crunch time and budget overruns.As production expenses for major gaming titles breach the hundred-million-dollar threshold, game companies would be wise to engage in serious self-reflection and examine their internal processes if they hope to maintain a sustainable and innovative industry.
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  • VMware Workstation and Fusion now free for all, including commercial users
    Run Windows, Linux and BSD virtual machines on a Windows or Linux desktop with VMware Workstation Pro.Build, test and demo software across an array of different devices, platforms and clouds. IT professionals, developers and businesses rely on Workstation Pro every day to support their projects and customers. Workstation Pro makes it easy to run complex local virtual environments to simulate operating systems, platforms and clouds, all from the same desktop PC.What are the different editions of VMware Workstation?The VMware Workstation product line consists of two products: Workstation Pro and Workstation Player. Collectively they are referred to as 'VMware Workstation,' and when there are differences, they are called out.What are the differences between Workstation Pro and Workstation Player?Workstation Pro and Workstation Player share the same hypervisor technology, but with unique user interfaces for different types of use.Workstation Player is designed for a single graphical VM operation, or for command line operation with 'vmrun' or ' for running a different operating system in a secure isolated sandbox on a PC.Workstation Pro is designed for IT professionals and developers, providing a more fully featured interface with capabilities for running multiple virtual machines at the same time. Workstation Pro can provide and configure virtual networking, create clones, connect to vSphere, show multiple VMs at the same time in a tabbed UI and more.Do I need to dual boot or repartition the disk?No, VMware Workstation uses your computer's file system and creates files that map to a virtual machine's disk drives, so there is no need to create a partition for each operating system. If you already have another OS with dual boot installed on your computer, you can use VMware Workstation to run the other OS in a virtual machine on your host operating system.Instead of dual booting, you can run both operating systems simultaneously and seamlessly switch from one operating system to another with a click of your mouse.FeaturesRun VMs and Containers on a Single PCDeploy local OCI containers and Kubernetes clusters with VM isolation, virtual networking and virtual resource options through the new vctl CLI tool.Develop and Test for Any PlatformFix more bugs and ship quality code on time using Workstation Pro in development and testing. Virtualize nearly any x86 operating system available today on a desktop PC.Enjoy Baked-In vSphere and ESXi SupportRun ESXi and vCenter as virtual machines on the desktop, and connect to a remote vSphere environment for quick VM access and basic management tasks.Run Secure and Isolated DesktopsRun a secure second desktop with different privacy settings, tools and networking configurations for online protection, or to take "snapshots" that can be restored later.Expand the Power of Your PC with VirtualizationDiscover the true power and flexibility of your desktop or laptop computer with VMware Workstation. Reduce hardware costs by 50% or more by running multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single PC. Automate and streamline tasks to save time and improve productivity. Join the millions worldwide who use Workstation to:Host legacy applications and overcome platform migration issuesConfigure & test new software or patches in an isolated environmentAutomate tasks for software development and testingDemonstrate multi-tier configurations on a single PCUse Multiple Operating Systems Concurrently on the Same PCVMware Workstation makes it simple to create and run multiple virtual machines on your desktop or laptop computer. You can convert an existing physical PC into a VMware virtual machine, or create a new virtual machine from scratch. Each virtual machine represents a complete PC, including the processor, memory, network connections and peripheral ports.VMware Workstation lets you use your virtual machines to run Windows, Linux and a host of other operating systems side-by-side on the same computer. You can switch between operating systems instantly with a click of a mouse, share files between virtual machines with drag-and-drop functionality and access all the peripheral devices you rely on.Take Snapshots & Videos of your Virtual MachinesWith Workstation, you can take a "snapshot" that preserves the state of a virtual machine so you can return to it at any time. Snapshots are useful when you need to revert your virtual machine to a prior, stable system state. Workstation displays thumbnails of all your snapshots on a single screen, making it easy for you to track and revert to a previously saved snapshot.You can even use Workstation 6 to record and play video files that capture all changes to a virtual machine over a period of time. This function is exclusive to VMware Workstation and is incredibly useful for software debugging, Help Desk forensics, sales demonstrations and training.Run an Entire Multi-tier System on a Single Host ComputerRun multi-tier enterprise applications on a single piece of hardware by managing network-connected virtual machines with the Teams feature of Workstation 6. Teams let you create virtual network environments that include client, server and database virtual machines.With Workstation Teams, you can turn an entire multi-tier environment on and off with a single click of the mouse button. Workstation displays live thumbnails of all connected virtual machines, enabling you to easily identify and switch between the virtual machines associated with a team.Clone your Virtual Machines to Accelerate DeploymentInstalling operating systems and applications can be time consuming. With clones, you can make many copies of a virtual machine from a single installation and configuration process. This capability makes it fast and simple to distribute standardized computing environments to employees and students, or to create a baseline configuration for testing.Take Your Virtual Machines With YouNew to Workstation is the ability to create and deploy secure virtual machines (called ACEs) with the ACE Option Pack. Mobility is one of the primary benefits of this option pack, as it enables users to securely take their desktops with them on portable media devices such as USB thumb drives.What's NewWe're thrilled to announce a significant change that reflects our commitment to making VMware Fusion and VMware Workstation more accessible than ever. Starting November 11, 2024, these powerful desktop hypervisor products will be available for free to everyone commercial, educational, and personal users alike.Introducing vmclivmcli is a command-line tool included with VMware Workstation Pro, enabling users to interact with the hypervisor directly from a Linux or macOS terminal, or the Windows command prompt. With vmcli, you can perform a variety of operations such as creating new virtual machines, generating VM templates, powering on VMs, and modifying various VM settings. Additionally, you can also create scripts to run multiple commands sequentially. For more information, see Using VMware Workstation Pro.New Guest Operating System SupportWindows Server 2025Windows 11 Version 23H2Ubuntu 24.04Fedora 40New Host Operating System SupportWindows Server 2025Windows 11 Version 23H2Ubuntu 24.04Fedora 40Resolved IssuesVMware KVM crashes while running the 'vmware-kvm --preferences' commandVMware KVM crashes when you try to open its Preferences dialog by using the 'vmware-kvm --preferences' command. This issue is resolved.Virtual machines run unusually slowly on Windows hostsRunning virtual machines on Windows hosts as a non-administrator user might result in high host CPU usage and poor guest performance. This issue is resolved.Workstation installation fails on Linux hosts with a compilation errorIf you try to install Workstation on Linux hosts with kernel version 6.8, you receive a compilation error. For details, see https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article?legacyId=80807. This issue is resolved.Security IssuesOpenSSL has been updated to 3.0.14Expat has been updated to 2.6.27zip has been updated to 23.01Known IssuesCentOS 9 Stream with kernel versions later than 5.14.0-432 is not supported on Workstation Pro 17.6 as a hostWorkaround: NoneInline product upgrade from versions earlier than 17.6 will not be automatic for Workstation Pro on Windows HostDue to the migration from VMware services to Broadcom, Workstation Pro cannot automatically apply this upgrade.Workaround: Refer to the KB368734 article for downloading and installing Workstation Pro from the Broadcom support portal.The multi-monitor feature might not work correctly in specific topologiesIn specific situations, based on different hardware and topologies, the multi-monitor feature does not work as expected. You might see issues like reverting the topology to a single screen, or not cycling through monitors.Workaround: None.
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