Nature, Published online: 20 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00074-7Lab vans and other facilities can bring researchers closer to what they study.

USGS researchers have unveiled the first map of prospective locations for hydrogen gas in the contiguous United States and there's a lot more than they previously thought.

Have a look at this beautiful monochrome owl animation created in Blender by .@ito3am.See more: https://80.lv/articles/mysterious-paper-like-monochrome-owl-animation-made-in-blender/#b3d #blender #blender3d #3D #3dart #digitalart #art #animation #3danimation

Lets start the new workweek on a positive note by taking a look at the fantastic demo shared by Digital Artist Petio, portraying a stylized squishy 3D bird playfully hopping between the rendered and viewport sections of its cage.Dubbed Pistachio Green Caged Bird, this project was created in collaboration with Infinite Objects as part of The Fourth Wall Petios collection of artworks that delves into the fusion between animated art and physical objects. While the production process behind the animation remains largely undisclosed, the viewport reveals that the sequence was set up in Autodesk Maya. Additionally, the artist mentioned that blend shapes were employed to add the blinking animation.And heres the fully-rendered version of the animation:Also, check out some of Petios earlier works:Click here to check out the artists portfolio and dont forget to join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Adorable Squishy 3D Bird Animated in Maya appeared first on CG SHARES.

Following the 2023 release of Stronghold: Definitive Edition, Firefly Studios is back with Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, an updated version of the 2002 RTS city-builder.The upgraded version of the game was unveiled in all its isometric splendor via a reveal trailer posted to the official Firefly Studios YouTube channel, giving players a closer look at what the definitive edition of the game has in store. Created by the original Stronghold Crusader's development team, Firefly Studios says the definitive edition includes new content, "elevated graphics," and "extensive player-requested features" meant to improve the game's overall quality of life.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Metaphor: ReFantazio proved to be Atlus' next big hit. Published by Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio was released on October 11, 2024. Fans of JRPGs were already excited about trying the game, and more people joined them because of the demo.

Summary:This isn't directly a game design article but the elements I talk about in this article do appear in some of my game projects in regards to how I designed their metagame or their ingame universes. This is part one of a two part article.In this part I talk about what my honest guesses regarding the mechanics and logistics of a human soul, what might happen after death and how absolutely terrifying I find it.I also speak about how games commonly handle deat

There are too many games released each week to keep up with whats worth adding to your backlog. That isnt hyperbole there really are hundreds of games released on Steam alone every week, not to mention titles new to consoles and other platforms like mobile. Lucky for you, Polygon has the time and resources (and the latent exposure to hordes of new releases) to wade through these titles for the gems. Of course, we havent played these games yet, in most cases theyre coming out this week! but well highlight new work from our favorite developers, newcomers to the scene, and indies that might get lost in the shuffle.This week, the big un is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which comes to PC on Jan. 23 and which will surely reignite the fandom once again. (But this time, without TikTok well see how that goes.) Its not a brand-new game, but according to players, its long overdue for a PC port, so wed be remiss to exclude it. Theres also a new Metroidvania called Mark of the Deep that looks addictive and artsy, as Metroidvanias should be, out Jan. 24, along with a bunch of other indies. And of course, Diablo 4s new season threatens to delight.Here are our most anticipated game releases for the week of Jan. 20.Pairs & PerilsRelease date: Jan. 20Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows PCIf you liked Dicey Dungeons or Miracle Merchant, this roguelike deck builder will probably be right up your alley. In Pairs & Perils, youll crawl the dungeon by successfully winning memory games and building a deck with what you win in those games, using the cards to level up your attacks and steer clear of pitfalls. Zo HannahDiablo 4 Season of WitchcraftRelease date: Jan. 21Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XWitches have arrived in Sanctuary, and theyre willing to share their occult knowledge inDiablo 4slatest season. Anyone can learn to summon a giant pet frog or conjure a floating orb of doom to help hunt down new Headrotten monsters infesting regions of the open world. And finding the perfect character build will be much easier with a new system for letting you save and load preset loadouts. Tyler ColpSomber EchoesRelease date: Jan. 21Platforms: Windows PCThis 2D-3D Metroidvania has striking visuals: a nimble protagonist with magic tendrils for hair (that, in true Metroidvania fashion, transforms into various abilities throughout the game); big, varied enemies that evoke the unsettling horror of monsters in the Greek mythology the game is based on; and a sibling turned evil by the allure of ultimate power. I fear Somber Echoes may try to do too much at once, but it certainly looks compelling enough to check out and the games Steam page promises multiple endings, adding to the intrigue. Its out Jan. 21 on PC. ZHSuper Farming BoyRelease date: Jan. 21Platforms: iOSOut on iOS this week and promised on PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, and Switch in the future, Super Farming Boy is a wacky adventure that requires just one button. Youll use that button to fly, harvest, grow crops & whack enemies, all in an effort to save your mom from an evil corporation. The aesthetic reminds me of Arranger, probably in part because its a puzzle genre-bender, marrying puzzles with action and farming sims. The demo is out on Steam now, if you dont want to use your Apple device to check it out. ZHBorder TownRelease date: Jan. 22Platforms: PCIts a farming sim, its a sandbox, its open-world, its 2D-3D and its all been developed by a single person. Border Town has all the trappings of your typical farm sim, but its also got some combat that looks a bit more involved than the genre typically sees, and the building mechanic looks super user-friendly. Plus you can ride a wolf! This ones out Jan. 22 on PC. ZHWrens ResurgenceRelease date: Jan. 23Platforms: Windows PCThe last thing I need is another extremely challenging 2D platformer in 16-bit art style thatll surely rip my heart out with its storyline. But Wrens Resurgence from Soliloquy Games looks really promising. The side-scroller sees Wren on a journey to save her sister, Swan, using her well-honed martial arts skills and her super-sharp katana. ZHFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthRelease date: Jan. 23Platforms: Windows PCPC players can finally take Cloud and his crew out into an open-world version of the classic RPG. The story picks up right whereFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeleft off as the party leaves Midgar behind and chases after Sephiroth. Its a lengthy adventure full of fast-paced battles, side quests, and minigames. But like in the first game, iconic moments from the past have been remixed to fit wherever Square Enix plans to take the series next. Its out for PC on Jan. 23. TCMark of the DeepRelease date: Jan. 24Platforms: Windows PCThis pirate-themed action game blends the challenge of Soulslikes with the exploration and puzzle-solving of Metroidvanias. Marcus Rookie Ramsey is stranded on an island full of monsters and searching for their missing crew. Along the way, weapon and skill upgrades change the pace of combat and prepare you for challenging boss fights. There are quests to complete too, and they determine which of the games multiple endings will play out. TC

Car makers are apparently still trying to figure out how to build well-designed controls. Early in the rise of EVs, Tesla was considered the North Star of design, offering a cool new look and efficient performance. But over the years, that novelty has worn off a little, and some of the design choices Tesla has made, and still sticks to, clearly arent where we want to go. Case in point: car climate controls.Cars are increasingly getting bigger and bigger tablet-like displays that are designed to control every aspect of the vehicle, including the climate. But is that really the right choice?Software Isnt All BadIm not fully against software-based climate controls in cars, and to be clear, some automakers have been building better ones for their vehicles over the past few years. Early on, car makers started packing these options into their infotainment systems, and removing physical controls.The only problem with that is they didnt really think about how to best design their software to ensure easy access to things like fan speed and temperature. The end result? Drivers have to tap on multiple on-screen buttons just to change the basics. When combined with poor performance that meant a tap could take seconds to even register, this was not only annoying but plain dangerous.But recently, things have been getting better. Car makers have started putting higher-performing processors into their vehicles, ensuring that the software is much more responsive. Not only that, but their design has been improving, and many now offer persistent climate controls that allow for quick and immediate access to basic things like fan speed and temperature, always on the screen.BMW is a good example of this, as it has begun putting its climate controls in a menu bar at the bottom, both for the driver and the passenger. Basic controls can be changed with a tap, and while you still need to dive into menus for more advanced controls, this isnt necessarily a huge deal.Tactile Hardware ControlsBut even in the best-designed cases, theres still something missing from software-based controls. Hardware controls like knobs, dials, and buttons offer a tactile experience that allows a driver to control climate without having to take their eyes off the road. Plus, they often simply look cooler.Car makers are starting to realize this, and there are at least a few cases of manufacturers switching back to physical controls after building vehicles with software controls only.Of course, this certainly presents a design challenge. Sure, manufacturers have been building hardware-based climate controls for decades now, but an absence of physical controls would allow manufacturers to make things look more minimalistic and less busy. That can be a good thing, though at times it can certainly get a bit over the top.The Right Way(s) To Do ThingsMaybe were still headed toward a future of software-based controls, but until car makers can actually design good software, hardware climate controls are simply the way to go. Theyre easier to use, much safer, and take some of the complexity out of learning how to use a cars infotainment system. Sure, it means that manufacturers still have to figure out how to actually make them look good, but thats up to them to figure out, and up to us to criticize.

The enduring design legacy of QWERTY in modern UXContinue reading on UX Collective