Twenty years ago, the original Monster Hunter first introduced players to its ever-expanding arsenal of weapons and memorable monsters. Since then, the series has grown in popularity around the world, and been refined into one of the finest multiplayer experiences gaming has to offer. Theres still a special satisfaction that comes from taking down an unfathomably huge creature by the skin of your teeth, coordinating with your fellow hunters, and using everyones weaponry and abilities skillfully to topple the most fearsome foes out there.To celebrate 20 years of the series and Monster Hunter Wilds upcoming February 28 release lets examine how the series evolved alongside PlayStation since its 2004 debut.Monster Hunter | PS2The biggest behemoths often emerge from humble beginnings. The game that started it all was released in Japan in March of 2004, with a North American release a few months later in September and a European release in March of 2005. It introduced the core gameplay that would define Monster Hunter in the decades to come: quest-driven progression, resource gathering and management, weapon and armor crafting, and the need to approach and attack ferocious monsters with strategy, planning, and perseverance to succeed.By the series current standards, Monster Hunter looks a bit sparse, with only seven weapon types and thirty monsters (including many now-famous creatures like the Rathalos), but the game offered quite a bit of variety in quest types and difficulty. Also, the game was designed around online multiplayer when that was still somewhat of a novelty, even offering special event quests that could only be played online.Monster Hunter did very well in Japan, and while Capcom worked on the follow-up, they released Monster Hunter G, an upgrade with improvements, new features, more monsters, and higher-difficulty quests.Monster Hunter Dos | PS2The true Monster Hunter sequel would emerge late into the PS2 eraand only in Japan. Monster Hunter Dos released for the PlayStation 2 in February of 2006, with new weapons, the additions of subquests, a unique day/night and season system, and the addition of armor upgrades, among numerous other small tweaks and improvements. Monster Hunter Dos was warmly received in Japan, and was the final Monster Hunter game on the PS2. But for the larger global marketand the future of Monster HunterCapcom was looking towards the PlayStation Portable.Monster Hunter Freedom | PSPEven before Monster Hunter Dos launched, Capcom wanted players to be able to take the hunt on the go. Monster Hunter Freedom, known as Monster Hunter Portable in Japan, launched in December of 2005 in Japan and in May of 2006 for the rest of the world. It was based heavily on the aforementioned Monster Hunter G, offering up both new monsters (including the debut of Yian Garuga) and high-level G rank quests for players to enjoyIn retrospect, its easy to see why the PSP felt like a true home for Monster Hunter: the PSPs capability for adhoc local network play, along with its advanced graphical capabilities and analog control, fit the gameplay of Monster Hunter like a vambrace. It was followed up by Monster Hunter Freedom 2, which took cues from Monster Hunter Dos by expanding the weapon repertoire (adding series staples like the Hunting Horn and Gunlance to the armory) and revisiting Doss various locales.Monster Hunter Freedom Unite | PSPPhenomenon is exactly the word to describe how huge the follow-up to Monster Hunter Freedom became in Japan. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite released in 2008 in Japan as Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, expanding on the success of the previous game and transforming Monster Hunter into a household name. Freedom Unite would go on to sell a whopping 3.8 million copies globally, with many of those sales coming from Japan.Building on Freedom 2, Freedom Unite offered a host of quality-of-life improvements to the core experience while adding more environments, more monsters, additional monster behaviors, and a host of new high-difficulty quests. It introduced the concept of CPU-controlled helper characters by giving solo players use of a Felyne companion to aid in battlea feature which later games in the series would build upon.Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | PSPHitting the PSP at the end of 2010, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is another Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter titlethough that didnt stop it from becoming one of Capcoms fastest-selling games ever. Portable 3rd pushed the PSP to the maximum, showcasing some of the best-looking visuals on the system and setting a standard for high-quality visual designs that the series would continue in later installments. Portable 3rd also marked the first appearance of Zinogre, a fan-favorite monster to this day.Monster Hunter World | PS4If theres a turning point where the fervor for Monster Hunter became global, its probably 2018s Monster Hunter World. Headlined by the fearsome Elder Dragon Nergigante, Monster Hunter World was a tremendous evolution of the series both graphically and gameplay-wise, using the PS4 to create a seamless hunting experiencein more ways than one.Not only were the tutorials and early-game experience improved for series novices, but the various zones that made up the large hunting environments (and necessitated transitional load times) were streamlined into one big, open space for an epic monster pursuit. And, for the first time ever, a Monster Hunter game was released simultaneously worldwide, allowing players from all over the globe to team up and experience the thrill of devising new hunting strategies together. True to the name of the games setting, it felt like a New World had opened up for the Monster Hunter series.Monster Hunter World proved to be so successful globally that an expansion, Iceborne, released the next year, reintroducing some of the cold-weather mechanics seen in previous Monster Hunter titles. Monster Hunter World continues to have an active player base to this day.Monster Hunter Rise | PS5, PS4Monster Hunter Rise, alongside its main monster Magnamalo, vaulted onto PS5 and PS4 in early 2023. It brought with it a host of unique gameplay additions: the fast-traveling, aerial-launching Wirebugs, a new type of Canyne companion called a Palamute, and Rampage battles where hunters were tasked with protecting the village of Kamura from an onslaught of several monsters all at onceincluding particularly dangerous Apex monsters. Plus, alongside hunting and capturing monsters, you could actually commandeer the huge beasts for a brief time with the Wyvern Riding feature.The already massive adventure grew even bigger with the Sunbreak expansion, taking hunters to the far-away Kingdom, adding several new monsters (including new leading beastie Malzeno), additional hunting locales, and numerous new skills for all of the weapons.Monster Hunter Wilds | PS5The evolution of Monster Hunter from cult favorite to Japanese sensation to global popularity has been quite a ride, and the anticipation for the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds has already hit a fever pitch. From striking new weather effects to new abilities enabled by a birdlike mount called a Seikret, theres a mountain of new features for players to consider.Last years closed beta drew plenty of interest from old and new players alike. Fortunately for those of you itching to get that Hunting Horn back out for a trip to the Forbidden Lands, you wont have to wait too much longer Monster Hunter Wilds will be releasing on February 28.

OLED gaming monitors are becoming more affordable, but theyre still not what I, and presumably most other people, would consider cheap. As such, Im always watching out for deals that make buying one a more reasonable choice and I found one at eBay. Samsungs 34-inch ultrawide Odyssey OLED G8 gaming monitor is cheaper than ever right now. Thanks to a limited time coupon code that automatically applies at checkout (if it doesnt its SAVEBIG20), you can get it for $639.20 before tax through Jan. 27. This display is selling at Amazon for $1,199.99, and through Woot for $879.99, which was previously the lowest price wed seen before this. The closest a retailer comes to matching eBays deal is Samsung itself, which is selling it for $799.99.The Odyssey OLED G8 is a curved (1800R, so the curve is slight) QD-OLED gaming monitor that offers an ultrawide 3,440 x 1,440 resolution (this is 21:9 aspect ratio, which PCs support, but consoles dont), with a fast 175 Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time that matches the best out there. Its a beast of a monitor, and this a very good deal for this price. For context, most 27-inch flat 1440p OLED monitors usually cost about this much, if not more.There are numerous reasons why your next gaming monitor should be an OLED, instead of going with a less expensive screen. Its tough to call anything perfect, but OLED is as close to perfection as you can currently get in a screen. Thats because each pixel is self-lit as opposed to being backlit, so colors and brightness can achieve exactly the tone that your entertainment calls for. Also, the Odyssey OLED G8s fast refresh rate and response time make this an ideal monitor for casual gameplay as well as competitive matchups. Something I like about this monitor in particular is that it has a 3-year warranty that includes burn-in coverage.For some reason, Samsung opts to use Mini DisplayPort and Micro HDMI inputs on the rear of the Odyssey OLED G8, which means you need to use specialized cables to connect your PC and consoles to this display. However, at least it includes both cables in the box (if you need extras, you can buy adapters for your cables).Lastly, this eBay deal is being offered by BuyDig, a third-party seller. Typically, we dont recommend products sold by third-party sellers at Polygon, but Ive personally had good experiences purchasing products through it.

The famously obtuse colony management simulation Dwarf Fortress snagged itself a proper publisher in 2019 in part so that its creators could have medical insurance. But the relationship with Kitfox Games has done quite a lot to improve the gameplay experience for fans as well, including by adding things like graphics, mouse support, and now full-fledged video tutorials.Dwarf Fortress highly-anticipated Adventure Mode launches on Jan. 23. With it, players can create a party of fantasy characters and tramp around the procedurally generated game world in style. They can even explore their old fortresses, then reload their save files to see how the plucky adventurers have changed the history of their world. But how exactly youre supposed to do those things has been a bit of a mystery, even for long-time fans used to digging through wikis and obscure forum posts. The nearly 45-minute beginners guide, hosted by a veteran YouTuber who goes by BlindiRL, goes a long way to help get players up to speed.Kitfox now offers a total of five Dwarf Fortress tutorials on its YouTube channel.

Emerging from indigenous Mesa farmland just south of alternative Baja California coastal town Todos Santos the unspoiled and unfussy antithesis of oversaturated and costly Cabo San Lucas one hour south is Paradero. Opened in 2021, the 41-suite resort has already garnered numerous accolades for its wellness-focused mission, striking Brutalist albeit site-responsive and eco-conscious architecture, and Michelin-Key TENOCH restaurant.Ruben Valdez and Yashar Yektajo up-and-comers among an ever-growing roster of innovative Mexican talents shaking up the field on an international level designed the 5-acre oasis with the idea of framing the environment in which the desert meets the ocean. Defined by cast-in-place concrete volumes with curvilinear articulation; pre-air-conditioning cooling strategies like breezeways; and reflective accents, the destination champions an indoor-outdoor living model. Within the perimeter structures that house the lodgings some with outdoor bathtubs and others with suspended lounging nets are a whole host of freestanding structures dedicated to yoga, fitness, and even cooking classes.After an intensive sweat-lodge experience in the traditional temazcal, guests can cool off in the 130-foot semi-circular infinity pool or partake in a meditation class. Various art installations intersperse within the central 100,000-square-foot botanical garden replete with 200-year-old Cardon cacti. A James Turrell-esque amphitheater is accessed from a below-grade entrance and is encircled by well-tilled farmland which also makes its way up to the foot of the ground-level suites. Though setback from the largely undeveloped Pacific Ocean beach by a few miles, Paradero offers an extensive surfing and sailing program.Located between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Todos Santos is the heart of the peninsula and Paradero is the ultimate Baja experience. We are strategically creating a community in one of Mexicos premier real estate investment destinations, Paradero co-founder Joshua Kremer notes. Never before has a hotel residence offered this combination of design, experience, and ecological sensitivity.Part of his and his business partner Pablo Carmonas overall goal is to expand on this mission with a diversified product: a collection of rentable villas with its own dedicated suite of amenities and the currently under-construction Paradero Homes. The enclave of 26 four- to six-bedroom luxury residences is appearing right next to the main resort, also amid indigenous farmland. Each property will have its own organic garden.Paradero Homes leads the way in future living, promoting a holistic approach to health and wellness through lifestyle, movement, nutrition, and connection, Carmona explains. The Homes have been designed to encourage this lifestyle with thoughtful architecture, interiors, and landscaping.Though distinguishable by the matrix of sleek clean lines the structures will form as a whole, theyre also set to blend into their surroundings. Award-winning architect Gabriella Carillo yet another force behind Mexicos influential scene was tasked with the design of the two-story freestanding abodes and opted to use natural materials: stone, clay, and other elements.Though programmed for privacy, open-concept layouts available in three variations are being staged by interiors firm Estudio Esterlin to have a boundary less flow between the indoors and outdoors. Rooftop terrace replete lounging nets are joined by seamless ground-level patios anchoring infinity pools and large sunken dining rooms. Operable window walls will give way to the semi-arid landscape and mountains in the distance. Positioned above an ancient aquifer, Paradero finds itself in a unique perch. There are at least five distinct ecosystems in its midst, including a dense cacti forest that UNESCO has designated a biosphere reserve.The units are selling for $2.5 million and up, far less than in Cabo San Lucas, where comparable properties can easily fetch $30 million. The resort-adjacent residence trend is only picking up steam and Paradero Homes is leading the charge.What: Paradero HomesWhere: Todos Santos, MxicoHow much: Homes starting at $2.5 millionDesign draws: Luxury vacation homes extending from the top-ranked Paradero resort that take on the same contemporary, yet responsive outdoor-indoor aesthetic with organic farmland and multiple wellness amenities to boot.Photography courtesy of Paradero Todos Santos.

Getting out of bedswitching from the coziness of sleep to the jarring reality of the daycan be a challenge for anyone. But, as the saying goes, there's an app for that. Or, in this case, several appsones that go above and beyond the default options in Android and iOS to make sure you wake up when you need to.From alarms that get you to complete a challengeand fully regain consciousnessbefore they'll turn off, to alarms that are timed to fit in with your natural circadian rhythm, there's plenty of choice when it comes to getting some assistance in starting the day. Alarmy Alarmy gives you missions to complete to stop your alarm. Credit: Lifehacker Attention, heavy sleepers: Alarmy is on a mission to get you out of bed in the morning, and promises that it'll never fail to wake you up. The main way it does this is by getting you to complete a challengelike a math, typing, or memory taskbefore it'll shut up, which means you really do have to force yourself to start thinking and get yourself out of bed.That's not all the app has to offer, either; you can pick from a variety of sounds to wake yourself up, set customized alarm screens that encourage you to face the day (think kittens and sunrises), and track your sleep overnightjust make sure your phone is near your pillow. When you wake, you can be greeted by a sleep analysis report.Features like an extra-loud setting for alarms and persistent time reminders while you're thinking about hitting snoozeor gentle volume increases, if you want to be kinder to yourselfput Alarmy a level above most other alarm clock apps out there. It uses a freemium model, with all of the various features available for $5 a month or $60 a year. Alarmy is available for Android and iOS. Sleep as Android Sleep as Android offers a host of options for waking up. Credit: Lifehacker There are a host of settings to explore when it comes to configuring alarms in Sleep as Android: You can have the app wake you up at a time you'll feel most refreshed, you can set up a captcha challenge to force you awake, and you can set a wake-up check that makes sure you've risenand if you haven't, your alarm starts ringing again.There is also a range of different alarm sounds to pick from, as well as a gentle wake-up mode that gives you an easier segue out of slumber. Snoozing is still permitted, if you want to keep it as an option, but here too you can set limits if you think you'll rely on it too much. The app is difficult to beat in terms of how customizable the alarms are.However, alarms aren't even the primary focus of Sleep as Android: It's mainly designed to be a comprehensive sleep tracker, and it handles this just as well too (just leave your phone on your bed). You can use the app for free, but the full set of features will set you back $5 a month or $50 a year. As its name suggests, Sleep as Android is only available for Android.Loud Alarm Clock The alarms in Loud Alarm Clock can be extensively customized. Credit: Lifehacker Loud Alarm Clock brings with it several tricks to ensure you don't sleep in any longer than you should, including boosted audio that goes above and beyond whatever volume setting you've got on your iPhone to really make a racket. If standard alarms can't rouse you from a deep sleep, then Loud Alarm Clock is definitely worth trying instead.It's not just the volume boosting that helps here, because the app also offers some excruciating sounds as options for the alarm audiothink nails on a chalkboard and a car alarm, for example. If that's too grating, there are friendly voice options you can turn to instead as alarm sounds.Other features include the ability to limit snoozing time, so you don't go past a certain time, the option to randomize alarm sounds so you don't get used to them, and a choice of wallpaper backgrounds to help you get the day started. Loud Alarm Clock is free to try and use, but you can pay a one-off fee of $8 to remove the ads and get more sound options. The app is only available for iOS.Talking Alarm Clock Beyond Have your alarms speak to you with Talking Alarm Clock Beyond. Credit: Lifehacker Talking Alarm Clock Beyond eschews the traditional alarm clock sounds to give you a motivational talking-to when you wake upthe idea being that you're more inclined to get yourself up and out of bed if you're being told to seize the day, rather than having your sleep interrupted by a shrill beeping that your brain has come to recognize as annoying.You can customize the message you hear when the alarm goes off, and the app comes with challenges you can set yourself to do to make the talking stop: You can solve a math problem, for example, or complete a captcha, or walk a certain distance with your phone. By the time you've managed to dismiss the alarm, you should find yourself fully awake.There are plenty of nice extras included here as well, including the "mayday mode" that adds an extra level of volume to make sure you really do realize you have to get out of bed, as well as timer, world clock, and stopwatch features. You can use everything in Talking Alarm Clock Beyond, but there is a one-off fee of $3 if you'd like to get rid of the ads. You can find the app on Android.Sleep Cycle Sleep Cycle will wake you up at the right time for you. Credit: Lifehacker The clue is in the name: Sleep Cycle is focused on making sure you wake up at the right time, in harmony with your body's natural rhythms (within the constraints of work and other responsibilities, of course). As well as getting you up in the morning, there are also tools (like sounds and exercises) to get you to sleep more easily.During the night, Sleep Cycle can monitor your movement and any sounds you make to assess the quality and stages of your sleep, and it'll give you advice on improving your sleeping habits as well. In the morning, within a window you've previously set, it can wake you up gradually and smoothly in your lightest sleep phase, with your choice of audio.It's a full-on sleep helper and enhancer, complete with goal setting and trackingand the alarm clock is a crucial part of it. Everything is wrapped up in a clean and intuitive interface that's easy to navigate. You can try Sleep Cycle for free for a week to see if it's helpfulafter that, you need to pay $10 a month or $40 a year to keep using it. Download Sleep Cycle on Android or iOS.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youre considering a smartwatch with top-tier health tracking and rugged durability, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (Bespoke Edition) is now $249.99 (down from $329.99), its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 7 Bespoke Edition $249.99 at Amazon $329.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Amazon $329.99 Save $80.00 Its 44mm aluminum body is lightweight but tough, with IP68 weather resistance, 5ATM waterproofing, and MIL-STD-810H certification. In simple terms, it can handle dust, shocks, extreme temperatures (-4F to 122F, according to the manufacturer), and submersion. Pair that with a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display (480x480 resolution), and youve got a watch thats both durable and great to look atwhether youre swiping through notifications or checking your fitness stats, the screen reportedly impresses.When it comes to health tracking, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers sleep monitoring, measures body composition (like BMI and fat percentage), takes an ECG, and even features FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, notes this PCMag review. It then calculates an Energy Scorea Galaxy AI feature that combines fitness, sleep, and other health metrics into a single score (out of 100)while offering personalized tips to improve your health. That said, some advanced features (like snoring detection) require a Samsung phone.For day-to-day use, the Galaxy Watch 7 is powered by Wear OS with Samsungs One UI enhancements. You get Bluetooth, wifi, NFC for mobile payments, and dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking. Plus, its 32GB of storage means you can load plenty of music or apps. But no product is perfect. Its 425mAh battery lasts 22-28 hours (depending on usage), which means youll need to charge it daily. For those who prioritize battery life, alternatives like the OnePlus Watch 2 might be worth exploring at a similar price point.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is on sale for $280 via Amazon. This represents a discount of $120, though the promotion doesnt show up until checkout. Just pop the ring in your Amazon basket and start the checkout process to peep the discount. We were fairly positive about Samsungs first smart ring in our official review, calling it a surprisingly informative health-tracking device for those with compatible Samsung phones. We came away impressed by the comfort-forward design, which doesnt impede sleeping, writing that we barely feel it when trying to snooze. This is a boon for light sleepers. The health-tracking metrics are on point, especially when you consider that theres a new software update that uses compatible SmartThings devices to create a sleep environment report that takes factors like temperature, humidity, air quality and light intensity into account. Samsungs app lets users adjust any connected devices to improve local conditions. The major downside with the Galaxy Ring is the price, which has been somewhat alleviated by this sale. At least now its slightly lower than the rival Oura Ring. This is a great wearable for those already tied into the Samsung ecosystem, but not the best fit for everyone else. Some of the features require a Samsung phone. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-samsung-galaxy-ring-is-on-sale-for-120-off-174530918.html?src=rss

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced this years Oscar nominees and Netflixs Emilia Prez leads the pack with 13. The musical crime drama has broken the record for the most nods for non-English language film, overtaking Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Roma (Netflix's first-ever best picture nominee), which each had 10.Emilia Prez scored nominations in the categories of best picture, international feature, supporting actress, cinematography, directing, editing, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song (with two in that category), sound, adapted screenplay and best actress. That last one has extra significance as Karla Sofa Gascn is the first openly trans performer to earn an acting nomination. Although Elliot Page received a nomination for Juno in 2008, that was long before the actor transitioned. (Curiously, I Saw The TV Glow, which has been praised for its abstruse portrayal of trans experiences, is nowhere to be found among this year's nominees.)Netflix had the most nominations of any distributor for the second year in a row. An animated feature film nod for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, documentary short The Only Girl in the Orchestra and original song nominee Diane Warren (for The Journey from The Six Triple Eight) took Netflix's tally to 16. Perhaps Warren will finally win an Oscar this year at her 16th time of asking.Mubi, another streaming company, has six nominations this year, including five for the body horror film The Substance. Meanwhile, Disney+ scored one for Elton John and Brandi Carlile's song Never Too Late from the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late.This year's best picture nominees are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part 2, Emilia Prez, Im Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance and Wicked. You can find out the winners of this year's Academy Awards when the ceremony takes place on March 2, with the wonderful Conan O'Brien taking on hosting duties.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/netflixs-emilia-perez-breaks-new-ground-with-its-oscar-nominations-173223767.html?src=rss

The YouTube Shopping tool has expanded to include Wix.com, too.

Mullvad VPN has been running three ad campaigns within less than 2 weeks to raise awareness of the dangers of data collections.