Best WishesIconic Elder Scrolls and Fallout voice actor Wes Johnson seemingly suffers medical emergency, fundraiser started to "help his family get through this period""Wes has always been the friend who would give you his last dollar, as well as the shirt off his back."Image credit: Wes Johnson on BlueSky/Twitter. News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Updated on Jan. 27, 2025 Voice actor Wes Johnson, known for playing notable roles across various Bethesda titles including Fallout 4, Skyrim, and Starfield, has suffered a medical emergency and is currently recieving treatment in an intensive care unit, according to a GoFundMe campaign shared by his official BlueSky account.The campaign has raised $26,200 from 366 donors as of writing, and has a $50,000 goal. It lists a Bill Glasser of West Falls Church, Virginia as an organiser.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The GoFundMe's description reads: "On Wednesday, Jan. 22nd, Wes volunteered to host a benefit event for the National Alzheimers Foundation in Atlanta. He flew down and checked into his hotel room - but something happened and he didnt make it out of the hotel."When he didnt show up at the event, his wife Kim tried desperately to get in touch with him. It took hotel security to enter his room and discover him unconscious and barely alive. EMT crews struggled to find a pulse. Right now, Wes continues to battle for his life in an intensive care unit.www.gofundme.com/f/unleash-th...[image or embed] Wes Johnson (@wesjohnson.bsky.social) 27 January 2025 at 13:11To see this content please enable targeting cookies."If your life has ever been touched by his work or his heart- its time to show your gratitude. If youve ever joined him in UNLEASHING THE FURY - donate now. If his comedy has ever made you laugh - donate now. Wes has always been the friend who would give you his last dollar, as well as the shirt off his back. Wes volunteers for so many causes and is always the first person to jump at helping anyone who asks, and even helping those who dont ask."Its your turn to show him your gratitude and love. Please make a donation to help his family get through this period and cover his medical expenses as well as cover the time he will be unable to work."VG247 has reached out to the campaign's organisers and Bethesda for comment.Roles Johnson has played in games include Starfield's Ron Hope, Oblivion's Sheogorath, and Fallout 3's Fawkes.

ModzoberranzanThis doesnt feel like an amateur production Inside the ambitious Baldur's Gate 3 custom campaign project aiming to release a demo this year"I feel like I have been training and working towards this one mod for the past 25 years."Image credit: Larian/Path To Menzoberranzan team/VG247 News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 27, 2025 I think the biggest problem that we have faced in regards to the overarching story is that this project is called Path To Menzoberranzan, and it starts off in Athkatla, Tomobamba says.Which is about 6000 kilometers away - to the south - of Menzoberranzan, the narrative design coordinator and creative lead of this Baldurs Gate 3 custom campaign modding project continues. Menzoberranzan is also underground, he adds.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. So, the task facing Tomobamba, project leader and level design team leader Lotrich, and the rest of Path To Menzoberranzan team, in their quest to put out a demo of their ambitious custom campaign in a matter of months time, isnt a small one. And thats putting aside the fact that its coming together only about half a year or so after Larian first released official modding tools for BG3 with Patch 7.Modders were quick to find ways to modify this toolkit in their own ways, creating versions like Moonglasses which are designed to give people the capability to create more complex mods for the game - ones involving the likes of entire custom campaigns and quests. Lotrich was there right from the beginning of this movement, experimenting with his own custom maps and managing to re-create locations like Waukeen's Promenade from Baldurs Gate 2.After this, Lotrich, a a huge fan of Baldurs Gate 2 and Drow culture since childhood", tells me they started to create a silly project. From there, they recount: Tom reached out to me, and showcased his experience with film directing, writing, etc. We had the same mind and ideas, though I was more of a tech guy, so Tom started to work on the storyline. We decided to create a new story featuring Athkatla and Menzoberranzan.Tomobamba tells me that they were drawn to the project in the same manner that they believe numerous other members of the modding team were - stumbling across Lotrichs regular Reddit posts about their BG3 modding work and progress. I have been playing Baldurs Gate, Baldurs Gate 2, Baldurs Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal on and off for the past 25 years, he says, To see Waukeen's Promenade in its beautifully-designed glory in this amazing Baldurs Gate 3 engine - this game that I played as a 2D top-down map back in, I dont know, 2001 - it just blew my head off and it was incredible. Athkatla's looking pretty good based on what the mod's team has shared so far. | Image credit: Larian/Path To Menzoberranzan teamI feel like I have been training and working towards this one mod for the past 25 years, Path To Menzoberranzans creative lead adds, I know the lore of the Forgotten Realms, the Sword Coast, Baldurs Gate 1 and 2s storylines I know like the back of my hand.The team the pair have played a big role in bringing together to work on the project, as you can imagine, is full of big fans of classic Baldurs Gate like Lotrich and Tomobamba are, but the latter says thats far from all each addition has brought to the table. Ive been working as a TV producer and director for many years, Ive been writing things for a long while, he tells me, Im really excited to bring the experience I have into a project like this, and Im really, really excited because this doesnt feel like an amateur production.We have managed to get the interest of some incredibly experienced people from all over the world, who have experience within specific industries that we can lean upon. We have people whove worked in video games, we have people thatve worked in film production, we have creative writers, we have modders, we have mappers, all with experience working on projects not too dissimilar to this. So, it feels like [were] not running a team of amateurs, these are very much dead-set professionals who are making something incredible.Naturally, this hasnt meant working on the project so far hasnt presented challenges. Lotrich picks out animations as the toughest task they and their side of the mod have faced to this point, explaining: those are very hard to create, but every day our team gets closer to understanding how to make them better and [more] efficient. It wouldn't be a journey in BG3 without spending 70 hours just chilling in your - or someone else's - tent. | Image credit: Larian/Path To Menzoberranzan team.Meanwhile, Tomobamba cites communicating and staying on the same page as the rest of the team as something hes personally had to work around, due to being based in Australia. Everyone else pretty much lives in the northern hemisphere, he says, So, to get on everyone elses time zone - because Im not gonna expect people to get onto my time zone - Im sometimes going at two, three, or four oclock in the morning just to have a meeting with some people.He adds that he and Lotrich are constantly talking in our DMs, and this has led to having to work around another quirk of being a team from all over the world. English isnt [Lotrichs] first language, he explains, So, sometimes we have to find the word that hes looking for.As for the practicalities of what Path To Menzoberranzan will look like, the team seems to have a good handle on what it wants its demo to look like, but is generally keeping its cards close to its chest when it comes to the specifics of what the full version and its story will entail. Our aim is two big locations: Waukeen's Promenade - [thats] gonna be much bigger than in BG2, for example the houses and buildings surrounding it will be accessible - and Irenicus Dungeon, Lorich says of the demo/beta, adding therell also be a lot of small locations.Gameplay-wise, they say you can anticipate: New combat, story, completely new companions with their own VAs, and romances - only a little part of the romances, same as romances in Act 1 of BG3 - new items, quests, and some completely unique mechanics that will highly affect gameplay in Athkatla. They do at little teasing in terms of that last one, saying: What can it be? Good question, I'm sure you can figure it out if you've played BG2. "What in Lolth's name do you mean I cannot come on this new adventure of yours?" | Image credit: Larian/VG247You wont be able to bring along the party for the original game, with Lotrich explaining that this is because the team don't want to use AI or run afoul of any copyright law. He doesnt provide much detail about what you can expect from the mods new companions, though, aside from saying the teams hard at work on them and that we want players to FEEL the companions emotions.In terms of the full versions story, Tomobamba adds: To try and find a narrative that doesnt feel contrived has been an interesting journey in itself. It was one of the things I was working on for several weeks, just trying to get this story to make sense. I dont want the player to arrive in Athkatla, and then be told Oh, by the way, the story isnt here, its somewhere else, youve got to go now.Stories are all about journeys, or some of the best stories are about journeys, and this story is very much a journey to an unknown place. So, to tell that properly and to work alongside writers to help me tell that properly has been quite the achievement, and were really proud of what weve made. It will parallel certain stories that have already been told, it will parallel certain journeys that people have already made, and it will end up in this most iconic, terrifying Drow capital.Who knows, you might die when you get there, he jokes, No, youre not gonna die. Im really excited for the story that weve told, I think its going to be very compelling and its going to be quite a unique experience.

The recent devastating fires in Los Angeles have left thousands of families in dire situations, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Disasters such as this can be completely overwhelming for individuals, families, and entire communities.Humble is committed to providing meaningful support through our partnerships with organizations such as Direct Relief, World Central Kitchen (WCK), Save the Children, International Medical Corps, and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC). Together, we aim to make a significant difference in the lives of those impacted by these fires.Direct Relief is at the forefront of providing health-related assistance during this crisis. Their efforts include distributing medications, N95 respirators, and more to impacted communities. They are also coordinating with local and regional agencies and organizations, as well as health centers and free clinics in and around Los Angeles.WCK is working tirelessly to ensure that those affected have access to nutritious meals.Save the Children is focusing on reaching the most vulnerable communities with wildfire relief and long-term recovery efforts, including getting kids back to learning, helping child care providers re-open and protecting childrens mental health and well-being.International Medical Corps is ensuring affected families have access to medical care and supplies.BINC is stepping in to assist bookstore and comic shop employees and owners facing emergency financial, medical, and mental health service needs due to the fires.Supporting Relief EffortsIn addition to allocating $200,000 from our Humble Forward Fund, in partnership with DirectRelief, to provide immediate support for LA fire relief efforts, weve also worked with our content partners to pull together the following bundles to raise funds for each of these charities.To date, these efforts, along with a portion of funds raised in December for Save the Children and BINC (thank you!) have resulted in $340K raised for LA fire relief.Direct Relief: Packt Machine Learning + Invisible Sun RPG Media book bundles, and Complete Learn to Code + Make Your Own Games In Unreal Engine 5 from GameDev.tv software bundlesWCK: Hellboy Universe + Travel & Learn Lonely Planet book bundlesSave the Children: Pro Level Photography With Anthropics software bundleInternational Medical Corps: Mastering Every Database book bundleBINC: Sports Trailblazers: Legends Who Changed the Game book bundleYour purchases matter. Every bundle you buy contributes directly to relief efforts, harnessing the power of community and generosity to support those in need.Ongoing CommitmentOur commitment does not end here. Every contribution, in any form, can help, so were continuing to explore additional ways to support those impacted by this crisis. We hope youll join us in making a difference today!2025 Humble Bundle, an IGN Entertainment Brand. All Rights Reserved.

Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeAfter a year plagued by layoffs at studios big and small, Ubisoft has today confirmed that its 'restructuring' efforts are continuing into 2025, with a further 185 employees laid off across the company's European studios.As reported by VGC, the layoffs come as a product of "restructurings" at Ubisoft Dsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm and Ubisoft Reflections, and the complete closure of UK-based studio Ubisoft Leamington the team formally known as FreeStyleGames responsible for the DJ Hero series.In a statement released to VGC, an Ubisoft spokesperson claimed that the job losses come "As part of our ongoing efforts to prioritise projects and reduce costs that ensure long-term stability at Ubisoft". The statement clarifies that the decision should impact 185 employees overall", with the company noting, "We are deeply grateful for their contributions and are committed to supporting them through this transition.This comes a little over a month after the company closed two studios in San Francisco and Japan, and was reportedly "ramping down" its production team in Sydney, Australia.Last year, Ubisoft released the likes of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Skull & Bones and Star Wars Outlaws, all of which were claimed to have fallen short of the company's targets. With a potential buyout looming, the studio's future seems to hinge on Assassin's Creed Shadows, set to launch on Xbox and PlayStation this March. Following yet another wave of staff layoffsIs Ubisoft in the endgame..?Update: Ubisoft says it's in "love" with the Switch 2If we hear any updates on this story, we'll let you know.[source videogameschronicle.com]Share:00 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesSteam Deck Sales Business As Usual For Valve During Week Of Switch 2 RevealUpdate: Sales chart "updated" by ValveTeam Ninja Kicks Off Anniversary Celebrations With Ninja Gaiden 4The Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames is backAstral Chain Director Seemingly Forms New Studio After Leaving PlatinumGamesNieR, far, wherever you are

Moons, give me strength...Sega has filed trademarks for Skies of Arcadia and Eternal Arcadia in Japan and plenty of Dreamcast and GameCube fans are going wild worldwide.The trademarks one for the game's English name, and the other for its Japanese name were made on 16th January, and then made public on 24th January (thanks, Gematsu).Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Social network Bluesky is doubling down on video. After it added a new TikTok-like custom video feed last week in the wake of the U.S. ban on the popular video app (now on pause), the company on Monday announced its adding a new video tab to Bluesky user profiles.The tab will allow people to showcase the videos theyve uploaded to Bluesky, whether thats original content or something they grabbed from other social networks, including, of course, TikTok. But in addition to simply chasing the potential for more video-based social activity, video could potentially offer Bluesky another revenue stream if it catches on. The company could charge for features like longer or higher-quality video as part of its upcoming premium subscription plan, if it chooses.However, not all Bluesky users are ready for their network to become just another TikTok rival. Some people are even asking in the replies to the companys announcement if theyll be able to disable the tab on their own profiles. Others are requesting that Bluesky prioritizes other features theyre used to on X, like an Edit button.Still, theres clear demand and developer interest in building video-first Bluesky clients at present. Several developers are already working on Bluesky TikTok apps, including Berlin developer Sebastian Vogelsang, who makes the Bluesky apps Skeets and now Flashes (a Bluesky Instagram of sorts) and the teams behind upcoming apps Reelo and Skylight, for instance.Celeb investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban even recently said hes open to backing a video app built on the AT Protocol, which powers Bluesky.The new user profile video tab was introduced in the Bluesky 1.97 update, which also adds a menu for blocking a user or deleting a conversation after reporting a DM (direct message) and other translation improvements.

In BriefPosted:10:05 AM PST January 27, 2025Image Credits:Anadmist / Getty ImagesAI startup DeepSeek pauses signups amid cyber incidentDeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that made waves in the AI world last week when it released its open-source R1 model, is pausing new user signups.The company has temporarily paused new user registrations this morning, according to CNBC reporting, due to a cyberattack. Existing users can still access their accounts with no issue.TechCrunch reached out to DeepSeek for comment and will update the story if we hear back.This comes just days after DeepSeek first became the topic du jour of the AI world, driven by industry excitement over its R1 model. DeepSeek claims its reasoning model beats OpenAIs o1 on multiple benchmarks. Today the company released a new image model family.DeepSeeks app hit 2.6 million downloads on Sunday, according to data from Appfigures, with 1 million downloads coming from last Friday alone.Topics

Grab your straw hats! The LEGO Group, Netflix, and Tomorrow Studios have teamed to bring the epic live-action series One Piece to life - in LEGO form. The collaboration will offer multiple new LEGO sets, inspired by some of the most iconic scenes in the series.This is a truly special collaboration. For the first time, LEGO play and the exciting world of anime meet, said Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President for Core Businesses at the LEGO Group. Building the world of One Piece, as depicted in the Netflix live-action adaptation, in LEGO brick form has been such an exciting challenge and I couldn't be more excited for fans to experience the new adventures this One Piece collaboration will bring them for the first time. Throughout this project with Netflix and Tomorrow Studios, it has been an exciting, collaborative process, and I think that shows in all the grand adventures we will begin to unveil soon.It has been an honor to bring the magnificent world of One Piece to life both on and off the screen, added Josh Simon, Vice President of Consumer Products, Netflix. We are excited to collaborate with LEGO, a brand synonymous with creativity and the joy of play, to mark a historic moment as we build out the treasured mangas adventures in iconic LEGO form for the first time ever. Through every detail of the design process, we've worked to meticulously create a collection of playsets that will give fans new ways to live out their own epic voyages into the Grand Line one special brick at a time.Based on Eiichiro Odas manga series, One Piece follows the daring young pirate, Monkey D. Luffy, who has a dream of becoming King of the Pirates. On his quest, Luffy encounters other pirates, bounty hunters and corrupt generals. Some turn out to be fierce enemies while others become steadfast allies like his crewmates Nami, Roronoa Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji.Source: Netflix Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Creative studio Psyop has announced the promotion of Jen Cadic to MD, Animation and Andrea Panda to MD, Live Action/VFX.We are thrilled to announce this news, said Psyop co-founder Marie Hyon. These two remarkable women embody everything Psyop values in our creative journeydedication, passion, and intelligence that continually elevates our work. Jen and Andrea arent just leaders; they are champions of talent, advocates for our creative ambitions, and stewards of a culture that prizes quality over shortcuts, nuance over noise. Its particularly inspiring to see womens leadership at the forefront of our company, shaping the way we create, collaborate, and grow.Cadics history with Psyop spans over a decade. Before returning to the studio for her second tenure in 2022, she became a founding member and managing director of Flight School, where she executive produced a collection of games and interactive content including the Hunger Games VR Experience.Creative storytelling has always been where passion, creativity, and innovation converge, and Psyop exemplifies these qualities at every turn, Cadic said. I am excited to explore new creative spaces while doubling down on what makes Psyop, Psyop everlasting stories led by iconic design and memorable characters. Extraordinary talent has always been Psyop's core, and I'm eager to champion our roster of visionary directors and exceptional artists.Panda joined Psyop as executive producer after almost a decade working with directors such as The Daniels, Alejandro Inarritu, and Guy Ritchie for brands including Nike, Apple and Calvin Klein. She is now focused on the development of Psyops live-action and VFX offerings with head of production Tina Pavlides and VFX EP Rachael Byrne, boasting talent including Terry Hall, Valle Duhamel and Christian Bevilacqua.The creative marketplace hasnt just evolvedit has fundamentally transformed, said Panda. After many years in the industry its become clear to me that visions like Psyops represent the future. Our Directors bring innovation, passion, versatility, and a collaborative spirit, viewing each project through a broader, unified lens. Their live-action and mixed media expertise blend seamlessly between creative realms. Experiencing the power of a holistic approach through to finish has redefined my perspective. Now, I cant imagine how we ever did it differently.Source: Psyop Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Frank Lloyd Wrights lauded Hollyhock House turned 100 years old last year. To celebrate the centennial affair, artist Janna Ireland was invited to display 21 photographs of the Los Angeles abode, the citys sole World Heritage Site. The photographs by Ireland now on view at Hollyhock House zoom in on some of its most intimate details, which took cues from a bevy of influences, Wright himself said, including the Prairie Style, but also Mayan, Aztec, Asian, and Egyptian architecture. Wright called Hollyhock House a California Romanza.Janna Ireland: Even by Proxy is very much rooted in the present: The artist focused on Hollyhock Houses subtle details, she said, in an attempt to make visible the care and conservation that sustains it over time. Its an intimate portrait of an renowned building at 100 years old, and all of its blemishes.The photographs detail cracks in the glass windows, the craftsmanship of the custom wood furnishings, and the aging (and repair) of the hollow clay and stucco used to the build the residence.The show coincides with Hollyhock Houses 100th birthday. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Plants frame a statue positioned in the center of the pool at Hollyhock House (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Even by proxy is a phrase Wright often used to describe the fraught relationship between architect and client. I regard the story of Hollyhock House, and how it came to be in spite of the often contentious relationship between heiress Aline Barnsdall and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, as one of the great L.A. stories, Ireland said in an artist statement. It is a tale of ego and conflicting ambitions, as so many of the best stories are, Ireland continued. My photographs are about light and shadow, wood and concrete, and the labor involved in preserving Wright and Barnsdalls complicated project for future generations.A view out toward Hollyhock Houses courtyard is layered with reflections of the interior architecture. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Oak furnishings inside were custom-designed by Wright. (Janna Ireland/Courtesy City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs)Abbey Chamberlain Brach, Hollyhock House director and curator, contextualized Irelands show with past photographers who shot the house.At the sites centennial, Janna Ireland beautifully documents the landmark structure, showing signs of life, scars, and activity along with striking interplay of light and shadow, Brach said. This commission builds a rich photographic legacy for Hollyhock House, including work by Margrethe Mather, Edmund Teske, and Julius Shulman, and here Ireland reframes the storied site, capturing its continued resonances into the 21st century.Janna Ireland: Even by Proxy was scheduled to open on January 16, but its debut was pushed back to January 26 because of the California wildfires. The house regularly plays host to art exhibitions, last spring floral arrangements from Ravi GuneWardena were installed throughout the home.The exhibition is open through September 27.