James Cameron has risen from the depths of post-production on his Avatar franchise to give an update on the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. Weve got some really clever action set-pieces, he told Empire. You can get your blood up in this movie. But what excites me as an artist who recently turned 70 and has kind of done all that stuff is not only the opportunity to get to do it again, but to get to a level of character and intrigue you havent seen before in an Avatar movie. He continued. Were just starting to riff on it and twist it and turn it, Cameron promised. Its a tricky thing if youre not making brave choices, youre wasting everybodys time and money. That alone is not sufficient to create success, but its necessary. Youve got to break the [mold] every fricking time. And thats got us all in to continue to watch the master bring us another visually stunning chapter from the world of Avatarto life. Game of Thrones Oona Chaplin is featured as a new antagonistic force as the head of the Ash Clan, and Cameron spoke about the character elsewhere in his chat with Empire. Varang is the leader of a people who have gone through an incredible hardship. Shes hardened by that, he said. She will do anything for them, even things that we would consider to be evil, 20th Century/Empire Magazine Were trying to evolve beyond the all humans are bad, all Navi are good paradigm, Cameron said. He praised Chaplins take on the character, which he hopes brings more of dynamic look to the conflicts within the world of Pandora. Shes an enemy, an adversarial character, he said, adding that Chaplins performance makes her feel so real and alive.The new look exclusively presented through the magazine showcased the films vibe and gave a sense of what Cameron is going for with the return of the Windtraders. Theyre nomadic traders, equivalent to the camel caravans of the Spice Road back in the Middle Ages, he described. And you know, theyre just fun. Like all Navi, they live in a symbiosis with their creatures. He also teased, If youve got any nautical blood in your veins, youll want to be on [their] ship. 20th Century/Empire Magazine Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in theaters December 19. 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.

Nantong Grand Theatre / BIADSave this picture! SK StudioTheaters & PerformanceNantong, ChinaArchitects: BIADAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:107071 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2020 PhotographsPhotographs:SK StudioMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The site area ofthe project is 107,071, with a total building area of 110,916. It consists of 7 floors above ground and 2 underground floors (3 underground floors in certain points), with a building height is 57m. The BIAD team aims to reconstruct the locality and the affinity of urban spaces by using cultural context as a guidance, citizen life as a focus, and theatrical design as an opportunity.Save this picture!Save this picture!Nantong, formerly known as "Tongzhou," derives its name from its strategic location at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the East China Sea, making it a key transportation hub that connects the regions of Wu and Yue. The water body and urban boundary space surrounding Nantong Grand Theatre serve as a microcosm of the city's geographic and historical significance. The theatre is located on the northeast bank of Zilang Lake in Chongchuan District, Nantong. Along with Nantong Art Museum to the south and Nantong International Convention & Exhibition Center to the west, it forms the cultural and MICE area of Nantong Central Innovation Zone. The combination of the three major public buildings in Nantong Central Innovation Zone serves to obscure the boundaries between the water and the city, redefining the urban spatial organization. An open space to the public in this area represents the fundamental stance and self-positioning of the region in terms of the locality and affinity.Save this picture!Save this picture!From the lakeside, the undulating roof floats along the shore, shaping an elegant form, at the intersection of water and city. The pristine, continuous roof resembles auspicious clouds, lending a sense of lightness to the building's structure. The smooth architecture continuously draws people closer, as this astonishing "Qin Mountain and Pearl Water" landscape slowly unfolds by the shore of Zilang Lake. On the lakeside, the theatre is opened to the dramatic view of Zilang Lake with glass curtain wall; on the cityside, perforated aluminum panels with varying apertures enhance the cohesion of building. The two distinct facades are the interpretation and extension of the surrounding environment, marking the first step in the building's redefinition of the boundary between the water and the city.Save this picture!Nantong Grand Theatre has five auditoriums, arranged in an arc from northwest to southeast, including a 300-seat Children's Theatre, a 605-seat Drama Theatre, a 1,523-seat Opera House, a 1,184-seat Concert Hall, and a 406-seat Studio Theatre, collectively forming a "Five-Colored Lucky Cloud." The five auditoriums are aligned centripetally, with the auditoriums and foyers facing the lake, while the stage and backstage areas facing the urban roads. The five auditoriums are connected by a circular lobby, which is open to the public at all times. The circular lobby has two floors, both with entrances and exits equipped, and can be accessed by eight emergency stairways leading directly to the lake. The north-facing lobby serves as the main entry to the entire building, guiding visitors from the city into the circular lobby. The clear and well-defined circulation of the Grand Theatre reflects the designers' comprehensive consideration of affinity and local experiential qualities. The foyer and two levels of circular halls together form the theatre's lobby. This space integrates essential programs such as cloakrooms, restrooms, a caf, lounges, and box offices while organizing vertical flow to the auditoriums. Visitors collect tickets on the first floor, pass through security checks, and use the vertical circulation within the public lobby to access the second floor, where they enter their respective performance halls. This flow ensures a high-quality viewing experience and serves as the foundation of the theatre's affinity with its audience. Additionally, the flexible spatial arrangement enhances the versatility of the public areas, allowing the urban and waterfront environments to permeate into the building. Auxiliary spaces, such as the souvenir shop and caf, along with small exhibition areas, are located on the first floor. These spaces can operate independently and remain open during different hours, serving visitors to Zilang Lake Park even when the theatre is not in operation.Save this picture!The main lobby of Nantong Grand Theatre serves as a dual extension of the water and urban spaces. Located between the Opera House and the Concert Hall, the foyer features a soaring atrium that creates a bright and spacious experience. A canal runs through the foyer, the result of a design adjustment to its original course, transforming what was once a transitional waterway into the spatial axis of the theatre. The interior design reflects the essence of Zilang Lake, bringing its waters indoors. The ceiling features stainless steel panels shaped into artistic water ripple patterns, while a circular glass floor in the central hall offers a glimpse into the refined interior spaces of the theatre, as boats glide between Zilang Lake and the canal. The interplay of the ceiling and floor, interior and exterior, creates layers of visual and artistic interaction, rich in vibrancy and creativity. This surprising and seamless design ensures the spatial coherence of Nantong Grand Theatre and stands as a testament to its embodiment of locality and affinity. Regardless of whether the theatre is open, the building visually extends the city's public space, prioritizing public engagement and participation as its primary essence.Save this picture!Save this picture!The main entrance reflects the Grand Theatre's respect for the city's cultural heritage, while the circular lobby is its response to "Qin Mountain and Pearl Waters" around Zilang Lake. Connecting all five halls, the circular lobby serves as the theatre's primary public space. Facing Zilang Lake, it offers unparalleled natural views. As a tribute to the lakeside scenery, the circular lobby directly accesses an outdoor viewing platform. From the platform, visitors can gaze at Lang Mountain at the western end of the corridor or step closer to lakeside, engaging in a visual dialogue with people strolling along the lakeside. Additionally, the landscape design adds a new layer between the building and the water, enriching the spatial experience. Between the city and the water, everythingpeople, events, and objectsbecomes simultaneously an observer and the observed, creating a dynamic interplay of perspectives.Save this picture!Save this picture!Just as Nantong, a city of connectivity, embodies diversity and inclusivity across different communities, the five halls of Nantong Grand Theatre reflect various interpretations of locality and affinity based on their distinct functional requirements. The interior design of each hall are uniquely styled and full of characters. However, from a technical perspective, these five theatres demonstrate a high degree of uniformity. All utilize glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GRG) panels with intricate textured surfaces as wall materials, designed to optimize acoustic performance to the fullest extent. Furthermore, the design of stage lighting, sound systems, and stage machinery exemplifies a relentless pursuit of modern performance excellency and immersive audience experiences, creating a cutting-edge artistic space for both spectators and performers. The Opera House serves as the centerpiece of the five halls. Audiences reach the auditorium through entrances on either side of the Opera House. The golden and dynamic vertical light strips, immediately evoke the elegance and purity of a world-class performance venue. The undulating vertical lines enhance the cohesiveness and depth of the space. The "light strips" on the walls can adjust their brightness and colors to suit different performance themes or conference settings. The seats, in rich shades of deep red, beautifully complement the golden walls, creating a striking visual harmony.Save this picture!Save this picture!The Drama Theatre is a significant representation of the affinity of the theatre.It features a circular, enveloping wall structure, with a central golden relief colonnade that defines a unique seating arrangement. The overall style of the theatre draws inspiration from Nantong's long-standing and elegant local cultural traditions. Through the use of different materials and modern techniques, the audience can sense the captivating atmosphere of the drama even before the performance begins. The seats are upholstered in velvet, and the gradient color treatment enhances the centripetal focus of the circular theatre. The walls are coated with a matte night-blue finish, which, along with the colonnade, creates a mysterious and noble ambiance.Save this picture!Save this picture!The concert hall is enveloped in a silver-gray metallic paint on its walls, creating an overall bright and lively atmosphere. Through the unique circular walkway within the hall, audience members can easily access their seats. The surfaces of the pool seating and side walls feature various curves, providing excellent sound reflection. The organ is positioned along the central axis behind the stage, with the choir seats placed in front of it. Above the stage, a series of elliptical stained glass acoustic panels with self-illuminating functionality direct the audience's attention to the center of the stage. The immersive auditory and visual experience of the concert hall integrates the audience with the architectural environment, achieving the ultimate goal of architectural affinity.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:No. 68 Hudong Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeBIADOfficePublished on January 16, 2025Cite: "Nantong Grand Theatre / BIAD" 16 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025699/nantong-grand-theatre-biad&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/CodeLikeMe/shop/shootlikeme-unreal-engine-third-person-258727 . In this episode of my third person shooter series, I am going to start working on a aim assist system. Here, if the player aim down while keeping the reticle closer to an enemy, the aim assist system will automatically focus on the closest hit point of the enemy character. the hit point means either head or the middle of the character's torso. But you can choose any point on character as hit point. This option will make gameplay easier for people who need some assistance in aiming. CodeLikeMe Third-Person shooter series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4HL7SAyIQoCqJRJ5QeQAl8 // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue5 #indiegamedev

Nature, Published online: 15 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00045-yMachine-learning system can process words spoken in 101 languages, spitting out voice-synthesized translations in 36 target languages.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Walmart-Exclusive Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray) $35 | Releases March 4 Preorder at Walmart The Super Mario Bros. Movie Power-Up Steelbook Edition (4K Blu-ray) $28 | Available now, in stock as of January 16 See at Walmart The Super Mario Bros. Movie is getting a new 4K Blu-ray release with a steelbook case on March 4. Exclusive to Walmart and available to preorder for $35, The Super Mario Bros. Limited Edition Steelbook will likely sell out before it's ready to ship. Walmart's exclusive steelbook releases of popular films often sell out well before launch, and we're talking about the biggest video game adaptation of all time here.Perhaps the only reason why it hasn't sold out yet is that Walmart also has The Super Mario Bros. Movie's Power-Up Edition Collectible Steelbook in stock, too. Outside of sporadic, brief restocks, this edition has been sold out since its June 2023 release. Walmart is the only retailer with copies of the Power-Up Steelbook Edition in stock, and it's priced at only $28.The Super Mario Bros. Movie 4K Blu-ray EditionsOriginal 2023 release with Super Mushroom Steelbook -- $28 | Available now at WalmartNew 2025 Walmart-exclusive with Question Block Steelbook -- $35 | Releases March 4 at Walmart4K Blu-ray standard edition -- $14 | Eligible for 3 for $33 4K Blu-ray promo at Amazon (Expires Jan. 20)You'll need to decide whether you love Question Blocks (the new steelbook) or Super Mushrooms (the old steelbook) more. Or you could be like a-me and buy a-both. It's also worth mentioning that the standard 4K Blu-ray edition (plastic case) is only $14 at Amazon right now, and it's eligible for the retailer's 3 for $33 promotion on 4K Blu-rays through January 20.Continue Reading at GameSpot

While the desktop setup is still the crown jewel for a lot of content creators, being able to take a production mobile has become a lot more viable. Even just recording something in the wild is so much easier than it was 5 years ago, thanks in large part to products like the Rode Wireless Micro.

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While many big names are trying to vie for the dragons hoard, Loot by Gila RPGs has found its own unique way to evoke that classic D&D experience. When most people think of Dungeons & Dragons they think of two things: rolling dice and going on epic adventures. The three pillars of D&D exploration, social interaction, and combat are often said to be the cornerstone of an adventure. A lesser acknowledged (but equally true) drive for adventurers is loot. Magical items, powerful weapons, and cool armor drive explorers to venture into dangerous dungeons and face off against powerful dragons. Loot shows that you can have all of that, without ever rolling a single die.Spencer Campbell of Gila RPGs is known for making games inspired by video games (like his games Rune and REAP, crunchy soulslike solo TTRPGs). His most recent game, Loot is set in a city that has just toppled its former lich overlord and his vast supply of wealth is now free for the taking. But the people have been left to fend off the creatures and factions whove come to fill the power vacuum and claim the city as their own.Players act as freelancers, adventurers whove come to the city on the promise that they will fend off these combating factions in exchange for unimaginable loot. There are two main phases of play: exploration and combat. During exploration, players venture through forests, city streets, and of course dungeons. During combat, the game master breaks out a 66 grid for turn-based combat.It all sounds pretty standard (though still compelling) fare for a D&D campaign, but instead of relying on skills and dice, players have resources they have to manage (Approaches) that offer them three ways to solve problems: Force, Flow, and Focus. Every player starts off with one available slot for each approach, increasing depending on the loot they have equipped. Each time a player confronts a challenge or an obstacle in or out of combat the GM will ask the PC to use and mark off a corresponding Approach point.There is no option for failure here, which some players may find odd, rather the consequences for resource management reflect how severe the complications are that will arise from the challenge. As Campbell writes in the quickstart guide, the PCs are assumed to be capable adventurers, with their limits represented by their willingness to push through obstacles, or adapt their approaches to fit a challenge.While print copies of the game will be available at the end of January, a pdf of the game is available now for $20 on the GilaRPG itch.io store.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Last year, I was searching high and low for a good present to get my mom, who loves gadgets but for whom I have already purchased every Alexa-enabled device, plus a whole slew of Apple products. I dug my own grave by maxing her out on electronics and doodads and was left with few gift optionsthat is, until I noticed a product advertised as a mug warmer. I initially thought she could plug it into one of her many smart outlets and command her army of Amazon Echos to keep her drinks warm, so I bought it immediately. That was not, however, how she ended up using itwhat sits atop this drink warmer is a candle. She found the smartest way to make her home smell amazing, then passed the knowledge on to me. Now, I'm passing it on to you because this is a great hack. Candle warming is a super efficient way to make your entire home smell fantastic. My mom lives in a four-level house and says that when she sets a candle on her mug warmer, the smell permeates at least two levels away from wherever the device is. Simply lighting a candle doesn't yield the same result. Unlike traditionally lighting a candle, the warmer causes the wax to melt from the bottom up. It does take a while for the smell to hit, but once it does, the scent is unstoppable. For a smaller candle, around 14 ounces, the process takes about an hour and the smell grows in intensity the whole time. You can get designated candle warmers for about $30, but the smaller heaters designed for mugs can be as low as $9.99. The ones designed to heat candles, specifically, usually work by heating from the top down and are generally available in more decorative designs. I prefer the mug warmer primarily because it's cheaper, but also because it's more useful overall, even if it isn't as pretty on the shelf. First, as the candle heats from the bottom, the smell builds in intensity. If you want a less intense scent, you can stop the warmer, which gives you a little more control and customizability. Second, the candle warmers that heat from the top are designed specifically to do that, which is awesome, but you can't benefit from the dual-purpose glory the mug warmer offers. Remember, it's a mug warmer, so you can use it as one whenever you want. The fancier, more expensive, top-down warmers don't do much for your coffee, but the mug warmer can be used for its original purpose with ease. To me, it just makes more sense to get the cheaper device that does more around the house. The one I've purchased for my mom and myself is no longer available on Amazon, but it was similar to this: Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer $12.53 at Amazon $19.99 Save $7.46 Shop Now Shop Now $12.53 at Amazon $19.99 Save $7.46 What to keep in mind when heating candles on a mug warmerFirst of all, the surface here is pretty small, so you're not going to be doing this with big, three-wick candles. That would take too long, anyway. Second of all, once you do this to a candle, you won't be able to burn that one again. Once the whole thing liquifies, the wick can start, as my mom puts it, "floating around in there." When it hardens again after you turn the warmer off, there's no guarantee the wick will be sticking out and available for lighting in the future. Granted, once you try this fire-free option and see how much more intense the scent is, you may not want to bother lighting a candle again anyway. The best candle I've found for this is from Bath & Body Works and I assume the powerful smell comes from the brand's tendency to put essential oils in its product. The exterior doesn't get sweaty, the labels don't peel off, and there are really no safety issues or other problems beside the fact that you'll probably lose access to your wick. (I should note, however, that you shouldn't try to move the candle until after the wax has cooled and re-solidified. The glass will be warm to the touch and moving it too soon means risking spilling hot wax all over the place, which is not ideal.) I love this method because it is safer than traditional candle burning. I am a huge fan of candles and scents overall, but I don't really enjoy having open flames out and about in my home, so this takes away some anxiety while providing better service. Plugging the warmer into a smart outlet also means I can check an app to be sure it's not still on, even when I'm out, which is not possible with an open-flame candle. My mom has requested, however, that I let you know that safety features can also be a slight negative if you don't prepare correctly: "One thing to remember when choosing a candle is that these mug warmers are meant to go off when you lift a coffee mug off of them, so you need to make sure that the candle has a good flat base and some weight to it to keep the warmer on," says she, the expert. Finally, the wax doesn't really disappear the way it does with a normal candle. Rather, it loses potency. You can aim to heat yours 15 to 20 times, then, if it's losing scent power, consider swapping it out for a new one.