By the time the seventh generation of video game consoles came around, open-world games were one of the most prominent and popular genres on the market. This open-ended game design philosophy really started to come into its own during the previous generation, but the arrival of the PS3 meant that more was possible and developers started improving both the scope of their projects and the quality of the storytelling.

Right now, Ive started dabbling with tile maps to build the structure of the tree, which consists of 60 tiles high and almost 3 tiles wide, each 32x32 pixel tile. The character starts at the base and climbs up, but there are no branches or hazards - yet.Current Controls:W / Climbs up at 16 pixels per second (eventually, a double press will make climbing faster).

Dynamax Zapdos is the second Legendary were seeing in Max BattlesforPokmon Go. Its making its debut during Max Monday on Jan. 27 from 6-7 p.m. and will be available until Feb. 3 when Dynamax Moltres will debut.While Dynamax Zapdos isnt as hard as the very tough Gigantamax battles weve seen in the past, it can be tricky as theres not many Dynamax Pokmon to use to counter it.Below, we list out some general Max Battle tips and counters for Dynamax Zapdos inPokmon Go.Dynamax Zapdos weaknessZapdos is electric- and flying-type, so it only has two weaknesses to exploit: rock and ice-type moves. Just like its sibling Articuno, the problem is that there arent any Dynamax Pokmon that have rock-type Dynamax moves (as of this writing).There arent really many Dynamax Pokmon out there that will help you beat down Zapdos, but there are a few that will resist its attacks, allowing you to take advantage of bulk to play the defensive option.Dynamax Zapdos best countersWith the above in mind, there are a few counters to bring to Zapdos. We recommend the following to focus onoffensivemoves:Gigantamax Lapras with Water GunDynamax Cryogonal with Frost BreathDynamax Articuno with Frost BreathDynamax/Gigantamax Gengar with LickFor the most part, youll want to keep your offensive Pokmon stocked away while your tanks soak up hits and charge the max meter. Swap to these when its time to Dynamax or Gigantamax, but keep them in reserve otherwise, as Zapdos moveset can take these out quickly.As for defense, you should bring the following with Max Guard and Max Spirit:Dynamax Excadrill with Metal ClawDynamax/Gigantamax Venusaur with Vine WhipDynamax/Gigantamax Rillaboom with ScratchDynamax Metagross with Zen HeadbuttThese Pokmon are just meant to tank hits from Zapdos while they quickly charge up the max meter with their fast moves. Excadrill can resist just about everything Zapdos can throw at it, while the two grass-types will struggle against Drill Peck. Metagross will also hold its weight decently against Zapdos, so use what you have and pay attention to Zapdos movesets.Even if you dont have these powered up, consider just bringing thestrongestDynamax Pokmon you have. If you have a maxed out Dynamax Gengar and your Dynamax Cryogonal isnt leveled (and you dont have the means to power it up), just bring your Gengar.General Max Battle tipsIf youve been struggling in Max Battles, here are some general tips to survive and make sure youre an asset to your team. While Gigantamax Battles are tough, a Legendary Max Battle shouldnt be as tough as that. You can slack a little, but you should still heed our advice:Make sure you have enough players.High-efficiency players with maxed out investments will likely be able to solo Zapdos, but this isnt going to be realistic for most people. Try to go at it with three other players for the highest chance of winning. Note that unlike Gigantamax Pokmon, the Dynamax Legendary Pokmon have a max party size of four (rather than 40).Dont sleep on Max Spirit and Max Guard. Teams work best when theres a variety of moves, not just maxed-out attacks. Each player should bring Pokmon with the defensive and healing moves unlocked as well. Max Guard will focus single-target damage towards you and reduce the damage taken and Max Spirit will heal the whole party, so these moves are really important to make sure your damage-dealers can keep dishing.Remember to swap to super effective moves when its time to Dynamax. ForDynamax Pokmon, their max moves are determined by whatever type their fast move is. This means if you have a Cryogonal with Frost Breath, it will know Max Hailstorm. A Gengar with Lick will know Max Phantasm. Take advantage of this and make sure to swap to a Pokmon that will deal super effective damage to your target before Dynamaxing, if you can.Focus on your fast moves. You want to spam your fast moves to build up that Dynamax meter and often times, using your charge move is actually a DPS loss when compared to the damage you could be doing with your max move will be. Spam those attacks!Level up a few mons, but you dont have to go too hard. Depending on your group size, you absolutely do not need to max out all your Dynamax Pokmon to level 40-50. While this will make it easier on the rest of your group, if this isnt an investment you can make, you dont have to stress about it. Power things up as high as you can afford to, but dont fret if you dont have a maxed out Pokmon.That all being said,make sure to come as prepared as you can be. This is a team effort and theres a chance that a full group of four can still fail. Do not just bring your unleveledDynamax Woolooexpecting a free ride to a powerful Pokmon. (After all, ifeveryonedoes that, then you certainly wont clear the battle.) Again, you dont have to completely max out your Pokmon, but it will be better for everyone involved if you bring something helpful to the table.Keep your eye out for a shiny Zapdos!If you clear the raid, there is a chance that the Zapdos you catch will be shiny which also means itll be a guaranteed catch. Use a Pinap Berry to score extra candy if you get lucky enough to find a sparkly Zapdos.

Most of the time, the best TVs for gaming are the best TVs you can buy, period. That said, there are a few key features to prioritize when picking out a big screen for your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. While nobody needs a fancy TV to just enjoy a video game, the right set can help you maximize your experience. If youre not sure where to begin, weve laid out some helpful advice for finding something good and researched a few well-reviewed gaming TVs that should suit your needs today. What to look for in a gaming TV Whether you use it for gaming or not, all good TVs are built on the same foundations. You want a 4K resolution, high-enough brightness to overcome glare and make HDR content pop, a relatively high contrast ratio with deep and uniform black tones, colors that find the right balance between accuracy and saturation and wide viewing angles. For video games specifically, you want a TV with minimal input lag and fast motion response, with no blur or other unwanted artifacts behind quick-moving objects. Of course, finding a set that does all of this well and fits into your budget can be tricky. OLED and LCD For now, top OLED TVs generally offer the best picture quality for gaming or otherwise. But good OLED sets usually cost more than their LCD counterparts, and some models may not get bright enough for those who have their TV set in a particularly bright room. More specifically, modern OLED TVs may utilize different types of OLED display tech: WOLED (i.e., White OLED) or the newer QD-OLED. We wont dig too deep into how the two diverge in panel composition and subpixel structure, but the simplified version is that QD-OLED displays use a layer of quantum dots (hence the QD) to deliver a wider gamut of more vibrant colors and higher overall brightness than traditional WOLED sets. This doesnt mean all QD-OLED TVs are inherently better: How well an individual set performs is more important than the panel it uses, and some premium WOLED TVs like the LG G4 utilize a form of display tech called Micro Lens Array (MLA) to greatly improve brightness. (Though LG and others now appear to be ditching that for a new four-stack OLED structure in their next top-end models.) And virtually all OLED TVs share the same core strengths. Broadly speaking, though, a reasonably priced QD-OLED set looks like the best balance of value and picture quality today. If you opt for an LCD TV whether to save cash or stick in room with poor light control an advanced backlight with smaller and more precise mini LEDs and effective full-array local dimming will usually improve contrast and lighting detail. Many of these TVs, including some budget-level models, also use quantum dots to enhance colors (and are labeled as "QLED" TVs). They usually arent as vivid or fast in motion as the top OLED sets, but theyre often brighter and more affordable, and the best can still produce an excellent image in their own right. HDMI 2.1 To get the most out of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, your TV should have full HDMI 2.1 support. This update to the HDMI spec enables a higher maximum bandwidth 48 gigabits per second, up from HDMI 2.0s 18 Gbps and a handful of features that are beneficial for gaming performance specifically. Those include variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode (ALLM), which we detail further below. Beyond that, perhaps the chief perk of HDMI 2.1 is its ability to transmit sharp 4K video up to a 120Hz refresh rate with modern consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, or up to 144Hz with a powerful gaming PC. Not every PS5 or Xbox Series X/S game supports frame rates that high and some only do at lower resolutions but those that do will look and feel especially fluid in motion. HDMI 2.1 also includes support for Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), which allows you to pass higher-quality lossless audio from a source device connected to the TV to a compatible soundbar or receiver. The more full HDMI 2.1 ports your TV has, the better. Full is the key word there. As reported by TFT Central, because HDMI 2.1 is backwards compatible with HDMI 2.0, TV and monitor manufacturers have been allowed to brand HDMI ports as HDMI 2.1 even if they lack full (or any) support for the specs upgraded features. We recommend a few TVs below that have true HDMI 2.1 ports, but if youre buying a new TV for gaming, make sure your chosen set isnt trying to hide any capabilities you may consider essential. While HDMI 2.1 is the latest and greatest today, its worth noting that the HDMI Forum officially revealed a new HDMI 2.2 spec at CES 2025. This update promises a greater maximum bandwidth of 96 Gbps, which should technically enable even higher refresh rates and resolutions. It could also help reduce hiccups in audio and video syncing (i.e., annoying lip-sync errors). If history is any indication, though, were likely several years away from HDMI 2.2 ports appearing on TVs you can actually buy. Even then, the only people who could take advantage of the theoretical resolutions and refresh rates allowed by the spec are those who connect a super-powerful gaming PC to their TV. But this could always change with whatever the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles bring. HDR High Dynamic Range HDR refers to a TV's ability to display a wider range between the darkest and brightest parts of a picture. This broader range can bring out details that would otherwise be missing on a standard dynamic range (SDR) TV, in both the very dark and (especially) very bright areas of an image. HDR typically comes with an improvement to color reproduction as well, displaying a larger palette of more vibrant colors that brings content closer to its creators original vision. To get an HDR picture, you need both content that is mastered to take advantage of the tech and a TV capable of displaying that content. HDR also comes in a variety of formats, which are generally split between those that utilize static metadata (e.g., HDR10) and those that utilize dynamic metadata (e.g., HDR10+, Dolby Vision). In short, the latter allows a TV to optimize its brightness and colors on a per-scene or even per-frame basis, while the former uses one set of optimized settings for the entirety of the given content. Support for these formats can differ depending on the TV, content and game console you use. The Xbox Series X and S, for example, support Dolby Vision for gaming, while the PS5 does not. The good news is that most TVs youd buy today are HDR-ready in some fashion, even on the budget end of the market. The catch is that some TVs are much better at getting the most out of HDR than others. The same goes for actual content mastered in HDR. With video games in particular, there arent quite as many titles designed to take advantage of HDR as there are movies (though the number is growing all the time), and the variance in HDR quality tends to be wider. HGiG HDR Gaming Interest Group HGiG stands for the HDR Gaming Interest Group. Sony and Microsoft are both members, as are many TV makers and game developers. What this means is that, ideally, all the groups communicate information so that you can start up a new game on a console or PC and have it automatically recognize your display. Once that happens, the game can adjust the internal settings to adjust for that display's capabilities and give you the best picture quality possible, without losing details in the brightest or darkest areas of the screen. For example, daylight at the end of a dark tunnel may portray a brightly lit environment instead of looking like an overexposed white blob. This is a good thing, but the reality is a bit more complicated. Not all TVs highlight HGiG compatibility in their settings menu, while only some PlayStation and Xbox games recognize and follow the guidelines. If an HGiG option is listed in your TV's tone mapping settings, you should turn it on prior to running the console's HDR settings. Then, if you're playing a game that supports HDR and HGiG, you should be in good shape without having to adjust the various luminance levels again. Still, how all of this looks to you might differ depending on your TV and the game youre playing. Owners of certain LG OLED TVs, for instance, may prefer their TVs Dynamic Tone Mapping setting. Use whatever settings you think look best. ALLM Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM lets a compatible source (like your PS5 or Xbox) tell your display to switch into a picture mode that reduces lag between receiving each frame of an image and displaying it on the TV. This cuts out additional processing that could be the milliseconds of difference between landing a precise input or not. Put another way, it lets your TV automatically enable its "Game" mode when it detects that you've launched a game. A good modern TV can do this without forcing you to enter any menus, then switch back when you'd rather watch a movie or TV show. VRR Variable Refresh Rate VRR should sound familiar to most gamers at this point. Many players have experienced slowdown, screen tearing or stuttering as a system struggles to render each frame at the target speed, which is most commonly 60 or 30 fps on a TV. With VRR, everything stays in sync: Your display won't show the next frame until it's ready, which can make things feel smoother and more responsive, even if the system fails to deliver on its target frame rate. There are a few different implementations of VRR available, including Nvidias G-Sync, AMDs FreeSync and the HDMI Forums VRR spec, which is part of the full HDMI 2.1 standard. Both a TV and an input device need to support the same VRR tech for it to work, and different devices may only support VRR within a specific refresh rate window. On a 120Hz display, for instance, the PS5s VRR only works between 48Hz and 120Hz. As a reminder, the PS5 supports HDMI Forum VRR, the Xbox Series X/S support HDMI Forum VRR and FreeSync, while gaming PCs may support G-Sync or FreeSync depending on whether they use a Nvidia or AMD graphics card. A great gaming TV supports all the big VRR formats, but missing, say, G-Sync, isnt a killer if you only game on a PS5 or Xbox. 8K (You don't need it) One thing you dont need to worry about is 8K support. Although the PS5 and Xbox Series X are theoretically capable of outputting 8K video, almost no games are made for that resolution, and 8Ks practical benefits are extremely minimal unless you plan on sitting unreasonably close to a massive TV. The few 8K TVs on the market are usually very expensive as well. Good gaming TVs you can get right now Theres never an ideal time to buy a new TV. Prices for todays models are always dropping, and next years upgrades are always just around the corner. Case in point: Our latest update comes just after CES, where Samsung and LG announced initial details for much of their 2025 lineups while Hisense, TCL and Panasonic unveiled a smaller selection of sets. A few of these could be worth waiting for, particularly on the upper-end. In the price ranges where most people shop, though, most of the new sets seem to be more iterative than transformative. Were still several months until 2024s TVs are replaced for good, and when their successors do arrive, theyll cost much more to start. So, per usual, youll get the most value by picking up a still-good TV from last year while its available for less. While we at Engadget do not formally review TVs, weve researched the market and rounded up those sets that have been widely well-received by other professional review sites we trust, including Rtings, Wirecutter, Reviewed, PCMag and others. Richard Lawler contributed to a previous version of this report.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-gaming-tv-131509986.html?src=rss

Stunts, special effects and digital effects combined for this incredible Wicked moment. An excerpt from befores & afters magazine.Wicked ends in spectacular fashion as Elphaba learns how to fly a broomstick and defies the Wizards guards in order to fly off west from the Emerald City. These flying momentsachieved with bluescreen wire work and digital visual effectsinvolved significant collaboration between stunts, special effects and visual effects.Special effects worked closely with stunts to design and make custom flying equipment for this sequence, outlines special effects supervisor Paul Corbould. We made a self-levelling broomstick motion control rollercoaster to fly Ariana and Cynthia around the Wizards chamber. The path that they needed to follow was very specific, requiring a camera to move around them during the shot. This would have been challenging to achieve safely using other methods.Since Cynthia Erivo would be live singing, Corbould also helped facilitate something dubbed Silent Wind, where air was blown onto the actors to add to the sense of flying, but the motorized fans ducted away from the set and piped in. The purpose of Silent Wind was to aid in the live recording of the vocals with as little set noise as possible.Earlier, previs (both The Third Floor and Framestore Pre-Production Services delivered previs for the film, with FPS also crafting postvis) drew upon storyboards to explore how the broomstick flying would look and how it could be achieved. We then moved on to having miniature models built by Nathan Crowley, says visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. We gave Jon a little stick with a little Elphaba at the end of the stick. We recorded those sessions in which Jon would just make the move for Elphaba by playing the music from his iPhone, and then he would choreograph the whole thing together with choreographer Christopher Scott.By doing that, notes Helman, we were able to see how we were going to wire Cynthia there, as it was important that Cynthia wanted to do all her own stunts. The one thing that we couldnt have there was the cape. Because of the wires and because of the center of gravity where she needed to move, we couldnt have the cape, which had to be put in via visual effects. A lot of her body was replaced, but we always kept the face and the acting. Sometimes the hat was replaced because it needed to move.issue #26 WickedErivo was filmed against bluescreen and against a balcony set with wire rigs and a tuning fork. This all provided a foundation for Elphabas ultimate flying performance and movement. Due to the physical limitations of the stage-based shots, realizing the overall scope and speed the director wanted for the scene, multiple VFX techniques were then used by ILM to augment the footage, including shot stitches with animated blends to extend selects, digital double takeovers and transitions, and also fully animated wide shots. The sequence was handled by VFX supervisor Anthony Smith at ILM Sydney.We designed dynamic moments using fully animated beats to extend the filmed performance in shots, with live to digital transitions disguised by camera movements, flourishes and the characters cape, explains Shirk. Extending filmed action was complicated due to the strict time rules imposed by the song and in many cases aided by designing action across cuts to ease any continuity issues. Match animation to the original wire and rig-based footage ensured the integrity of Cynthias performance choices while allowing simulation of the effects of speed and wind on the characters costume, adding freer secondary movement physics for the increased speed as well as minor timing adjustments to action and changes to the camera and interactive lighting.Elphabas cape proved to be almost its own character, with very specific direction given for its performance, including making it especially extended as a homage to what happens in the stage musical. The dramatic shaping often required manual posing of major shapes, working in tandem with simulation, says Shirk. Establishing creative trust was critical to the success of shots featuring the extended mega-cape as the team would often compose frames and animate the character in specific ways to drive interesting shapes for the cape that would follow later in the production process.For Helman and the entire visual effects team on Wicked, Defying Gravity represented a key aspect of the filma highly photorealistic and emotional moment in this fairytale story. I think the reason it feels so realistic, says Helman, is because Cynthia is mitigating all the forces of gravity doing those stunts while shes really singing. We thought, if we combine her movement and her face and the fact that shes singing live with a cape, then thats what its supposed to do in a very heroic way. Read the full VFX of Wicked issue of befores & afters magazine.The post The making of Defying Gravity appeared first on befores & afters.

The 2024 campaign for Roller Das Galaktische Jubilum is a creative marvel brought to life by a talented team of collaborators. Merging imaginative storytelling with groundbreaking visual effects, this project is directed by Claas Ortmann. Das Rund produced the campaign, while service production fell into the hands of Family Film, thus fluidly executing every stage in its usual magnanimity.This campaign was largely shot and manipulated at FrameBreed Studio, a company specializing in 3D animation and VFX. Their flair for animation and highly complex VFX design have enabled a galactic theme to give way to an effectively engaging storyline.Working with the respected Leo Burnett agency, the campaign captures the energy and excitement of Rollers jubilee celebration, combining creative vision with flawless execution. It goes to testify that collaboration and innovation, which can be used in storytelling, are powerful in modern advertising.The post Making OfRoller Das Galaktische Jubilum Campaign appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Red9 played an important role in creating Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with outstanding rigging work that helped breathe life into these otherwise beloved characters. All character rigs for the film were created by the studio-from body and facial rigs to specialized ball rigs and digital doubles-and allowed the motion to be incredibly smooth and allow even the most forceful actions of Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles, and all the other legendary stars to produce beautiful animations and keep the movies energetic visual appeal.Working under Jeff Fowlers direction and the Production VFX Supervisor Ged Wright, Red9 contributed a lot in delivering the action as well as the emotional depth of the franchise to the film. Innovative rigging solutions by the studio further expanded the scope of animation in delivering electrifying visuals.Red9s involvement speaks volumes about their reputation for technical excellence and creativity in the VFX industry, making Sonic the Hedgehog 3 a thrilling experience for audiences around the world.The post Red9 Rigging Breakdown: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Dezeen Showroom: a roomy sofa with a wraparound backrest and long, lozenge-shaped seat is among seven new products featured on Dezeen Showroom.Nebulone sofa by E-ggs for MiniformsItalian brandMiniforms and design studioE-ggs have added a broad sofa to the Nebula furniture collection.The Nebulone sofa shares the rest of the collection's rounded corners and teardrop-shaped arms and is spacious enough for solo relaxation and hosting alike.Nebulone was recently featured on Dezeen Showroom alongside a foldable wooden high chair for design-savvy parents and earthy terracotta tiles that are handmade by craftspeople in Morocco.Read on to see more of the latest products:Terra tile collection by Mosaic FactoryTile manufacturer Mosaic Factory has released a series of handmade terracotta tiles that have an earthy aesthetic.Tiles in the Terra collection have slightly irregular surfaces and edges that are hallmarks of their handmade nature, which makes each one unique.Find out more about Terra Wannabe textile by DesigntexA trio of pinstriped, embossed patterns feature in American brand Designtex's new Wannabe range of wallcoverings.All made from felt containing 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles, the fabrics come in a selection of vibrant or neutral colourways.Find out more about Wannabe Wool fabric by Burel FactoryTraditional processes are employed in the preparation of this wool-based material by Portuguese brandBurel Factory.The highly durable Wool fabric comes in a variety of three-dimensional designs that serve a range of purposes while providing enhanced acoustic and thermal regulation in interiors.Find out more about Wool Rakino dining furniture by Tim Rundle for MorganA dining chair and a table have been added to designerTim Rundle's furniture collection for furniture brand Morgan.Pieces in the Rakino dining furniture range share smoothly carved wooden frames that are available in beech, oak, ash or walnut timbers.Find out more about Rakino Arena outdoor furniture by Sren Rose for Gandia BlascoDesigner Sren Rose collaborated with Spanish brandGandia Blasco on a range of outdoor lounge furniture comprising tables and seating.Arena outdoor furniture is made from powder-coated aluminium, a material selected for its timeless aesthetic and durability against the elements.Find out more about Arena Click and Fold high chair by CybexSoft, rounded components made from beech timber combine to form this space-saving, foldaway yet sculptural high chair by German design brand Cybex.The Click and Fold high chair aims to promote functional children's furniture to the same league as other design-conscious furniture, without compromising convenience, sturdiness or adaptability.Find out more about Click and Fold Dezeen ShowroomDezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.Dezeen Showroom is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.The post Nebulone sofa by Miniforms among seven new products on Dezeen Showroom appeared first on Dezeen.

Heritage design gets a modern refresh.