By now, youve probably already heard about Code Violet, TeamKill Medias recently announced third-person action horror game that instantly captured the gaming communitys attention not for its graphics, story, or gameplay, but rather for its developers tone-deaf remark, which was swiftly and overwhelmingly criticized over on Twitter.If you havent heard yet, heres some context: the controversy stems from the teams explanation for making the game a PlayStation 5 exclusive, with no plans for a PC release. While its entirely up to developers to decide which platforms to prioritize, many found TeamKills stated reason concerns over vulgar mods that could sexualize the games characters nothing short of absurd.While the apprehension derives from the teams desire to hold voice actresses and actors with high regard, protect the artistic vision, and defend the reputation of our voice actresses and actors priorities, I believe, most would view as understandable the decision not to release the game on PC, a platform that has recently surpassed consoles in terms of game sales, because of them was widely ridiculed, partly due to the baseless assumption that anyone was planning to create vulgar mods for Code Violet in the first place, but mostly because such a move is ultimately futile, as determined modders wont be stopped by the lack of an official PC release.And that wouldve been the end of it if it werent for one small caveat hidden in the games trailer. First noticed by Twitter user @malquis1, the caveat in question is a line of text revealing that the footage featured in Code Violets announcement trailer was actually captured on PC, making the teams anti-PC stance seem questionable, if not hypocritical.When this was pointed out to TeamKill, the devs attempted to defend themselves by stating that all games are created on a PC or Mac, which, while mostly true, for some reason ignores the fact that creating a game and preparing footage for its trailer are two different things. Heres, for example, a gameplay trailer for Astro Bot also a PS5 exclusive that was captured on the appropriate console:But its a gameplay trailer, while Code Violets is merely an announcement trailer! Alright, heres an announcement trailer for Ghost of Ytei that uses PlayStation 5 footage:Heres one for Rise of the Ronin, also PS5:And here are both the teaser and gameplay trailers for Quantum Error, a game also developed by TeamKill Media, and as you might have guessed, both were captured on the console:Speaking of Quantum Error, the 2023 game was met with crickets, with both gamers and critics agreeing on giving it Generally Unfavorable reviews, scoring around 3.8-4.0/10. With that in mind, TeamKills remark may indeed be a PR stunt designed to generate attention after an unremarkable release, as some have suggested, and given that the original tweet garnered over a million more views than the announcement trailer itself, a successful stunt at that.And what do you think about the studios views? Was it a PR stunt or a genuine, albeit questionable, concern about actors? Share your thoughts in the comments!Check out the tweet that started it all here 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 The Trailer For Code Violet, a Game That Wont Be on PC Because of Vulgar Mods, Was Captured on PC appeared first on CG SHARES.

Given the large number of players required to consistently fill Call of Duty: Warzone matches, the game relies on crossplay functionality, uniting gamers across different platforms in shared lobbies. However, players often only want to face off against those on equal footing.

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Fortnite OG is back, permanently, and it will gradually rotate through all 10 Seasons of Chapter 1, allowing players to experience how Fortnite Battle Royale was when it first launched back in 2017, but on an accelerated scale.Players may quickly realize how brutal Fortnite of old was as theyre landing in one of the 12 named locations or scrambling for shield potions. Season 2 brought along some needed changes with more map locations and items, but when will these changes come in Fortnite OG? And what do we know about when future seasons will come into rotation?Heres when the current Fortnite OG season ends and when Chapter 1 Season 2 arrives, and what we know about the Fortnite OG schedule.Update (Jan. 20): Developer Epic games has released the first teaser for Chapter 2, confirming both its release date and a familiar named location.When does the current Fortnite OG season end and OG Season 2 arrive?Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 1 will end on Jan. 31, 2025 at 5 a.m. EST, as stated by the OG Pass in-game.This has been subsequently confirmed by a post on X as the same date OG Chapter 2 will arrive, which will go full tilt a reference to named location Tilted Towers.Clear your plans for January 31. Were going full tilt. pic.twitter.com/m4EtMEeJ3p Fortnite (@FortniteGame) January 20, 2025How often will Fortnite OG seasons and maps change?With this first season lasting eight weeks, the assumption though not confirmed is each new Chapter 1 season will also come into rotation every eight weeks. A leaked Fortnite OG schedule by El Packito on X seemingly also confirms this, with the final season, Season X, arriving on June 1, 2026. Thats some wait if true but as with Fortnites mainline seasons, dates can easily shift, so take it with a pinch of salt until at least Season 2 is with us.Fortnite OG seasons scheduleSeason 1: Dec 6 Jan 31Season 2: Feb 1 Mar 31Season 3: Apr 1 May 31Season 4: Jun 1 Jul 31Season 5: Aug 1 Sept 30Season 6: Oct 1 Nov 30Season 7: Dec 1 Jan 31Season 8: Feb 1 Mar 31Season 9: Apr 1 May 31Season X: Jun 1 Jul 31 El Packito (@ElPackito_) December 2, 2024When to expect in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2As for what we can expect during the next map change, Chapter 1 Season 2 brought along a lot of new changes that fans and players grew to love. Season 2 introduced vital items such as the small shield potion, boogie bomb, and chug jug, and added the famous Tilted Towers to the map. The Season 2 battle pass also had highly coveted skins like the Blue Squire, Royale Knight, and Black Knight.For a list of what changes you might see in Fortnite OG Chapter 1 Season 2, check out the sections below.Season 2 map changesIn Season 2, there were five named locations added to the map:Haunted HillsJunk JunctionShifty ShaftsSnobby ShoresTilted TowersSeason 2 item changesIn Season 2, many items were added, but many were also vaulted. Heres a list of all of the new item additions in season 2:Boogie BombChug JugCozy CampfireCupids CrossbowDamage Trap (uncommon)Impulse GrenadeMinigunSmall Shield PotionSuppressed PistolHeres a list of all of the vaulted items:Ceiling Zapper (rare)Damage Trap (rare)Directional Jump Pad (rare)Grenade LauncherWall Dynamo (rare)While you wait for the next season to arrive, see the current Fortnite OG map and fish trophy locations.

Tax season is upon us, which means now is the time to kick your preparation into gear. The sooner you file, the sooner you get your refundor the more time you have to collect the cash for an outstanding balance. The IRS will begin accepting returns later this month, and while the biggest deadline for most taxpayers is April 15, there are other important dates you need to know in 2025. January 15: Estimated tax payment for Q4 2024The first deadline in 2025 is actually the final estimated tax payment for 2024. Anyone who is self-employedcontractors and freelancers, for exampleor who makes estimated tax payments throughout the year should plan to submit for any income earned in Q4 of last year (for tax purposes, this is Sept. 1Dec. 31). Failure to make estimated payments, or paying too little, may result in penalties. Note that if you file your return and pay your tax bill by Jan. 31, you can skip the Jan. 15 payment. January 27: Tax filing opensThe IRS just announced that it will begin accepting 2024 tax returns on Jan. 27. Many taxpayers are eligible for free filing either through IRS Free Filewhich can be prepared now and held until the filing period beginsor IRS Direct File, which was piloted last year and is now available in 25 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.While you can submit your tax return beginning on Jan. 27, business have until Jan. 31 to finalize and send out 1099 forms. Make sure you have all of your documents before filing. March 17: Business filing deadlineMarch 17 is the filing deadline for businesses taxed as partnerships or S corporations. This is also the deadline for electing to be treated as an S corp for 2025. April 15: Tax filing and retirement contribution deadline The biggest date of the year is Tax Day. There are a handful of important deadlines that fall on April 15: Tax returns and payments are due for individuals and corporations. Unless you file for an extension, you must submit your return and pay any taxes owed to avoid penalties and interest. If you aren't able to cover your tax bill by the deadline, don't avoid the issue. Look into IRS payment plans. Request an extension. If you do need an extension (which gives you until Oct. 15 to submit your return), request it by the April filing deadline. Extensions do not apply to outstanding tax liability, which still must be paid by April 15. Make your estimated tax payment for Q1. Unfortunately, the first estimated tax payment for 2025 must also be paid on April 15. This covers income earned in January, February, and March. Finalize contributions to your IRA and/or HSA. You have until the tax filing deadline to make contributions to your IRA and HSA and apply them to the previous tax year. If you haven't hit the contribution limit for 2024 and have extra funds, you can consider paying into these tax-advantaged accounts. There are a few exceptions to this filing deadline. Those in disaster areas are granted extensions, which vary depending on the location. For 2024 returns (and payments), the IRS has already extended the deadline to May 1 for residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as those in parts of Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The IRS has not yet announced extensions for California residents affected by the wildfires, but you can find the most updated information on the agency's website. June 16: Estimated tax payment for Q2The second estimated tax payment for 2025 income falls on June 16 and covers income earned from April 1 to May 30. September 15: Estimated tax payment for Q3The third estimated tax payment for 2025 income falls on Sept. 15 and covers income earned from June 1 to Aug. 31. October 15: Extended tax filing deadlineIf you requested an extension for filing your return, it is due on Oct. 15. January 15, 2026: Estimated tax payment for Q4The final estimated tax payment for 2025 income falls on Jan. 15, 2026 and covers income earned from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

That didnt take long. Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump signed a swathe of executive orders. Among them was a temporary pause on the law that banned TikTok in the US.With the executive order, Trump's Justice Department will not enforce the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for 75 days, effectively extending the amount of time the company has to reach a deal. In a statement, Trump said that the "unfortunate timing" of the law, which went into effect during President Joe Biden's last hours in office, "interferes with my ability to assess the national security and foreign policy implications of the Acts prohibitions before they take effect."He wrote that he would review "sensitive intelligence" related to the national security concerns raised by TikTok critics and "evaluate the sufficiency of mitigation measures TikTok has taken to date." The company previously undertook a years-long effort, known as Project Texas, to move US user data to servers hosted by Oracle.TikTok (and other ByteDance apps) went offline late Saturday ahead of the law taking effect on Sunday. The TikTok outage only lasted a matter of hours, however. Service was gradually restored after Trump pledged to sign an executive order to suspend the law after he was sworn in on Monday. He affirmed that there would be "no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order." Trump also proposed a joint venture that would see US interests take a 50 percent stake in TikTok.Earlier on Monday, China (in which ByteDance is based) signaled an openness to striking a deal with the US that would allow TikTok to remain active there for the long run, despite previously saying it would block a forced sale of the app. When it comes to actions such as the operation and acquisition of businesses, we believe they should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. If it involves Chinese companies, Chinas laws and regulations should be observed.During his first administration, Trump sought to ban TikTok in the US. He signed executive orders to that effect, which included an attempt to force ByteDance to sell its US business. That didn't come to pass at the time. However, Joe Biden, the former president, signed a bill last year that sought a ban or forced sale of TikTok.Developing..This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-delays-tiktok-ban-for-at-least-75-days-via-executive-order-014523110.html?src=rss

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VFX artists are modern-day magicians in the film & television industry. Crafting worlds that take audiences beyond the confines of reality, blending technical expertise with a creative touch, every VFX professional walks a tightrope between expression and precision.For the team atBaked Studios, a boutique VFX shop based in New York City and Los Angeles, efforts are focused on invisible effects, meticulous edits like blue-screen replacements and set extensions that blend seamlessly into the final cut. Despite their covert artistry, the creatives at Baked have become renowned for their ability to layer nuanced details and bring artistic visions to life, providing a range of VFX post production for some of the biggest film companies and streaming platforms.Supporting this intricate, data-heavy work, however, takes a different skillseta keen sense of workflows and media management. Without a fast, secure, and reliable way to share assets between collaborators, creating high-quality VFX becomes a cumbersome task.Choosing a hybrid workflow, which includes a mix of on-premise and remote collaboration, Bakeds creative output is rooted in the talent of its team, but also the effectiveness of its processes. With main offices in New York City and Los Angeles, and annex locations in Montana and soon Atlanta, the workflow supervisors at Baked chose to recently revamp their approach.Now, lets put Baked Studios current workflow under the microscope and uncover how a cloud storage solution, powered by Suite, has simplified operations, made it possible to collaborate across vast distances, and deliver fine-tuned visuals with superior efficiency.Managing complex, distributed VFX workflows, Bakeds existing on-prem infrastructure provided instant connectivity to mediabut that stopped at the front door. With many artists working remotely, coordinating projects between Bakeds various on-prem and remote locations complicated operations, as did ensuring consistent access to critical configuration files. So, the initial challenge was to take a well-oiled on-prem workflow and connect it to the cloud for real-time remote collaboration between key players.Cameron Target, VFX pipeline manager at Baked, spearheaded the process and tapped Ricardo Musch, a London-based VFX pipeline consultant at Nodes & Layers, to hatch a clever plan. To use Suites cloud storage as a mounted drive location integrated directly with Bakeds Flow Production Tracking database (formerly ShotGrid), on-prem servers, and render farms.Flow just needs a central storage location; it asks you to point to a mounted drive, any disk location, Target explains. We can point it directly at Suite, and Flow doesnt distinguish Suite as different from any other mounted drive.The team then simply relies on shared file-pathing guidelines to ensure everyone on a project organizes media correctly. Not surprisingly, the process is simple, so when Target brought the idea to the rest of the team, eyes widened. Bakeds leadership understood how it workedand the benefitsimmediately.We built the tool so that you can either share media directly to Suite, or to Bakeds local storage in New York, says Musch. VFX studios generate a lot of dataprojects can grow to 40-50 terabytes. We split up hot assets that we need readily available, and we store those all on Suite. Everything else stays local.For George Loucas, Founder & VFX Supervisor at Baked, greenlighting the use of Suites cloud storage became a no-brainer once the team tested the integrated workflow and experienced the advantages.Suite has been widely embraced, and that says a lot, Loucas says. For our team to see the benefits and the efficiency thats music to a business owners ears. George Loucas, Founder & VFX Supervisor, Baked StudiosTaking it a step further, Target explains how the system works by using templates within Flow Production Tracking, allowing media to be easily distributed between the two storage locations.Flow uses tokens linked to existing information in the database, Target says. We just added an extra token called Storage Location into our template; now there are two options for our editors to pick[store files] in Suite or on-prem. Every file in our system has a corresponding file path that dictates where it is kept. Its exciting to use Suite as mounted storage that fits into this industry-standard platform; Suite allows us to have a central link, so we can continue using our familiar workflow, but through a cloud platform that operates just the same.Storing all active media on Suites cloud storage not only simplifies but unifies the teams efforts. On-premise employees can utilize the companys powerful infrastructure in tandem with Suite while remote artists get real-time connectivity to assets as if they were working in-office.At any given time, 25+ VFX artists, coordinators, and producers work directly off of Suite, where the team stores configuration templates and all active media. In turn, everyone remains connected to the most updated versions of every layer, node, and asset.For Matt Hartle, partner & executive creative editor at Baked, stationed at his office in Montana, that connectivity is a vital benefit of the cloud-based VFX workflow on Suite.When were reviewing files and notice simple things that need a quick adjustment, Im able to hop into the project directly from Suite to make those changes, Hartle says. It makes our studio feel small, like were all sitting in the same room on the project. It just flows seamlessly on Suite.Even with a dispersed workforce, Bakeds supervisors act with confidence as they choose which projects stay entirely in-house and which get placed on the Suite drive. Even when adding new team members with just a few clicks, admins can apply user-specific permissions that limit remote access to certain files and folders, with the ability to revoke access instantly, if needed.You can set up a really professional shop with loads of flexibility really quickly, Target remarks. Suite is the backbone for that. CG artists and compositors also frequently work with specific plugins, often having certain tools & preferences saved locally on their editing machine of choice. On Suite, every one of those creative tools is compatible right out of the box, enabling artists to work the same way they would off of a hard drive, but remain connected to the team from anywhere in the world.Our teams can collaborate with all the plugins they already use, Musch explains. This is an important noteyou can simply point Nuke or any other software to Suite and it just works.Moreover, additional features like Suites CLI compatibility with Linux; a convenient built-in Time Machine feature that can recall files down to the millisecond; and direct-to-cloud external file sharing with Suite Connect also help Bakeds supervisors and creatives shine.Ive tested it on Rocky, the industrys Linux distribution of choice, and it works great. The CLI-compatibility makes it really easy to deploy changes and throttle actions across our network, Target says. You can also edit a Nuke script, save it to Suite, and maintain version control through Time Machine, meaning you can easily roll back to an earlier version of that script if you need to reference it. Having a shared space for configurations taps into one of Suites cool central source of truth ideas. Anyone in New York or Los Angeles can pull the updated files. Having that flexibility and access from everywhere its insane. Theres no easier way to do it.From everyday, granular efficiencies to overarching benefits that affect top execs and project managers, Bakeds revamped cloud-based VFX workflow on Suite highlights how streamlined collaboration can lead to accelerated creative results. Better yet, success often pairs with growth, and Suite makes it effortless to scale without the usual unnerving overhead.Were currently building out our operation in Atlanta and Suite makes that less daunting, says George Loucas, founder & VFX supervisor at Baked. We can dip our toes in, without a large commitment to on-prem costs upfront. It lets us build out a small team and provide access to data quickly, instead of having to commit to racks of storage, servers, and everything else that comes with a fully configured on-prem setup. Were excited about these new opportunitiesthese technological advances are allowing everything to run better, upping the game.As a full service, mid-size VFX agency, Baked Studios represents a large swath of the visual effects industry, a sector of independent shops using the latest technology to produce the best content possible. Lastly, VFX projects arent getting any simpler, and its the teams finding efficiencies on the cutting-edge that will continue to thrive, take on bigger projects, and help define the next chapter of visual effects in film and television.Suite has enabled us to do things we didnt think we could, Target says. We can work with our on-premise servers at the core, but easily expand. Theres no easier way to do it.Brought to you by Suite Studios:This article is part of the befores & afters VFX Insight series. If youd like to promote your VFX/animation/CG tech or service, you can find out more about the VFX Insight series here.The post VFX without limits: How Baked Studios revamped its hybrid workflow with file streaming on Suite appeared first on befores & afters.

On rural Texas farmland, beneath hundreds of rows of solar panels, a troop of stocky sheep rummage through pasture, casually bumping into one another as they remain committed to a single task: chewing grass.Thebooming solar industryhas found an unlikely mascot in sheep as large-scale solar farms crop up across the U.S. and in the plain fields of Texas. In Milam County, outside Austin, SB Energy operatesthe fifth-largest solar projectin the country, capable of generating 900 megawatts of power across 4,000 acres (1,618 hectares).How do they manage all that grass? With the help of about 3,000 sheep, which are better suited than lawnmowers to fit between small crevices and chew away rain or shine.The proliferation of sheep on solar farms is part of a broader trend solar grazing that has exploded alongside the solar industry.Agrivoltaics, a method using land for both solar energy production and agriculture, is on the rise with more than 60 solar grazing projects in the U.S., according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The American Solar Grazing Association says 27 states engage in the practice.The industry tends to rely on gas-powered mowers, which kind of contradicts the purpose of renewables, SB Energy asset manager James Hawkins said.A sunny opportunityPutting the animals to work on solar fields also provides some help to the sheep and wool market, which has struggled in recent years. The inventory of sheep and lamb in Texas fell to 655,000 in January 2024, a 4% drop from the previous year, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Because solar fields use sunny, flat land that is often ideal for livestock grazing, the power plants have been used in coordination with farmers rather than against them.Sheepherder JR Howard accidentally found himself in the middle of Texas burgeoning clean energy transition. In 2021, he and his family began contracting with solar farms sites with hundreds of thousands of solar modules to use his sheep to eat the grass.What was once a small business has turned into a full-scale operation with more than 8,000 sheep and 26 employees.Just the growth has been kind of crazy for us, said Howard, who named his company Texas Solar Sheep. Its been great for me and my family.Following the herdSome agriculture experts say Howards success reflects how solar farms have become a boon for some ranchers.Reid Redden, a sheep farmer and solar vegetation manager in San Angelo, Texas, said a successful sheep business requires agricultural land that has become increasingly scarce.Solar grazing is probably the biggest opportunity that the sheep industry had in the United States in several generations, Redden said.The response to solar grazing has been overwhelmingly positive in rural communities near South Texas solar farms where Redden raises sheep for sites to use, he said.I think it softens the blow of the big shock and awe of a big solar farm coming in, Redden said.Fielding more researchAgrivoltaics itself isnt new. Solar farms are land-intensive and require a lot of space that could be used for food production. Agrivoltaics compensates by allowing the two to coexist, whether growing food or caring for livestock.There is a lot still unknown about the full effects of solar grazing, said Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, an assistant professor in regenerative system ecology at Texas A&M University.Not enough studies have been done to know the long-term environmental impacts, such as how viable the soil will be for future agriculture, although Gomez-Casanovas suspects solar grazing may improve sheep productivity because the panels provide shade and can be more cost-efficient than mowing.We really have more questions than answers, Gomez-Casanovas said. There are studies that show that the land productivity is not higher versus solar alone or agriculture alone, so its context-dependent.As one of Texas largest solar sheep operators, Howard has more clients than he can handle. He expects to add about 20 more employees by the end of this year, which would nearly double his current workforce. As for the sheep, he has enough already.Nadia Lathan, Associated Press/Report for America

Backcountry Containers recently designed the versatile and unique Augustine tiny home. Built using a metal box, the compact dwelling is great for rural living or as a hunting lodge. It is equipped with a flexible bedroom and a garage space that can be utilized to accommodate people or vehicles quite comfortably. It is based on a 4o-feet shipping container painted in a uniform dark gray or Iron Ore. It features insulation, windows, as well as a front door, modifying the box. The interiors showcase a finishing in pine wools, paired with vinyl flooring and a shiplap ceiling.Designer: Backcountry ContainersThe layout of the space is ingeniously compact, designed with an emphasis on flexibility to accommodate various living needs. As you enter through the front door, youre greeted by an open living area that serves as the heart of the home. This versatile space is furnished with a large, comfortable sofa that invites relaxation and socializing. Adjacent to the sofa is a dining area equipped with a table and chairs designed to seat two, providing a cozy spot for meals.The living area is truly quite adaptable. If you need additional sleeping arrangements, this space can be converted into a bedroom. You can install a sofa bed, for a seamless day-to-night transition or choose bunk beds to maximize sleeping capacity without sacrificing floor space.Located closely is the kitchen which maintains a minimal aesthetic. It features a small refrigerator, perfect for storing perishables, alongside a functional sink and ample cabinetry to keep kitchen essentials organized and within easy reach. It is also equipped with a coffee machine and more than enough space for other appliances.Located in another part of the tiny house is the bathroom, which is compact yet functional. The bathroom is quite snug, but it efficiently accommodates all the necessary amenities. It features a standard flushing toilet, and adjacent to the toilet is a sink. Completing the setup is a shower, designed to maximize the limited space.On the opposite side of the container from the living room, youll find the versatile garage space. Depending on your needs, the garage can be transformed into a master bedroom, providing a more spacious and private sleeping area. It can also be configured to include multiple bunk beds, making it an ideal solution for accommodating additional guests or family membersThe Augustine tiny home is equipped with hookups for power and water, but you could also opt for the off-the-grid option with water tanks and solar panels. You can also choose a rooftop deck with a staircase, which makes for a lovely addition. There is also the option to opt for a wood-burning stove, although these modifications will increase the cost. The home is currently up for sale for US$75,000.The post This Iron Ore-Colored Shipping Container Home Can Accommodate Humans & Vehicles Alike first appeared on Yanko Design.