Startup trading platforms seek to capitalize on AIs need for vast amounts of processing capacity.

Nevermind! Sony removes PlayStation account requirement from 4 single-player Steam games In-game goodies still provide incentives even though the requirement is gone. Samuel Axon Jan 29, 2025 1:59 pm | 38 Glinthawks fly above Aloy in Horizon: Zero Dawn. Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment Glinthawks fly above Aloy in Horizon: Zero Dawn. Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreSony's game publishing arm has done a 180-degree turn on a controversial policy of requiring PC players to sign in with PlayStation accounts for some games, according to a blog post by the company.A PlayStation account will "become optional" for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Sony hasn't lost hope that players will still go ahead and use a PlayStation account, though, as it's tying several benefits to signing in.Logging in with PlayStation will be required to access trophies, the PlayStation equivalent of achievements. (Steam achievements appear to be supported regardless.) It will also allow friend management, provided you have social contacts on the PlayStation Network.Additionally, Sony is providing some small in-game rewards to each title that are available if you log in with its account system. You'll get early unlocks of the Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit and the Miles Morales 2099 Suit in Spider-Man 2, for exampleor the Nora Valiant outfit in Horizon: Zero Dawn.Some of these rewards are available via other means within the games, such as the Armor of the Black Bear set for Kratos in Ragnarok.The change is a major about-face for a handful of single-player titles after Sony faced considerable backlash from many angry PC players about the PlayStation account requirement to play the games.It's not the first time Sony has changed course, either. The firestorm of gamer outrage started with an account requirement for Helldivers 2, a team-based co-op shooter that went viral about a year ago. The response was so negative (players review-bombed the game) at that time that Sony ultimately backed down, opting not to enforce the requirement.This change also comes as some players have taken matters into their own hands: A modder had published a mod to NexusGames that removed God of War Ragnarok's Sony account requirement.There are numerous reasonable justifications even for the end user for requiring a Sony account for an online multiplayer gamefor example, it would make it easier for Sony to enforce community guidelines and battle reported harassment in lobbies, and it is the only way to achieve some features like cross-progression. The value proposition for players in a single-player game is a lot fuzzier, though; that's why Sony is adding some candy with these in-game unlockables to try to entice players to create accounts and sign in.Samuel AxonSenior EditorSamuel AxonSenior Editor Samuel Axon is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He covers Apple, software development, gaming, AI, entertainment, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for nearly two decades at Engadget, PC World, Mashable, Vice, Polygon, Wired, and others. He previously ran a marketing and PR agency in the gaming industry, led editorial for the TV network CBS, and worked on social media marketing strategy for Samsung Mobile at the creative agency SPCSHP. He also is an independent software and game developer for iOS, Windows, and other platforms, and heis a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied interactive media and software development. 38 Comments

What if they put Mother 3 on the list? GOG revamps its Dreamlist feature to better pry old games out of publishers Community demand played a role in getting Dino Crisis games approved by Capcom. Kevin Purdy Jan 29, 2025 1:32 pm | 30 "Hi! Just popping in to let you know that Capcom's Dino Crisis 1 and 2 are now available in lightly remastered forms." Credit: Capcom "Hi! Just popping in to let you know that Capcom's Dino Crisis 1 and 2 are now available in lightly remastered forms." Credit: Capcom Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn morePC game storefront GOG, which has recently pledged to focus on restoring and preserving Good Old Games, has now revamped its community wishlist for games to bring to its storefront. The GOG Dreamlist serves not only as a way to get notified when a game you loved is newly available for DRM-free purchase, but also for GOG to use as market pressure in its negotiations with rights-holders.The games GOG members picked out on what used to be called the Community Wishlist still have their votes, and they have been useful. It was often "the fuel for our actions," Karol Ascot Obrzut writes on GOG's blog. "When talks with IP owners hit a wall, the Wishlist kept the conversation going." GOG attributes the newly available Dino CrisisandDino Crisis 2 (and the bundle) in part to wishlist leverage. Those games had about 5,000 and 3,500 votes, respectively, which helped when, as GOG puts it, "two Polish dudes" approached Capcom to ask about making the games Windows 10/11 compatible and upscaling it. GOG's Dreamlist announcement video. The Dreamlist has received a complete design and interface overhaul, and it makes it easier to see what other people are demanding. At the top, with more than 57,000 votes at the time of publishing, is Black & White, the 2001 game from Peter Molyneaux's Lionhead Studios that was a true "god game," giving you an avatar creature that learned from your actions and treatment. Black & White 2 commands the third-place slot at the moment.Black & White was intriguing; it had classic Molyneaux over-reach and deserves, in the words of one Ars staffer, a re-release so that "a new generation can realize just how janky it is." As detailed in a documentary by Noclip, the B&W games are stuck in publishing purgatory. Microsoft acquired Lionhead's IP and assets, while Electronic Arts retains the publishing rights to the B&Wgames, and nobody has yet been able to align those two very large planets.GOG has added its own "Our Pick" tag to games it wants to see brought forward onto modern systems. Among them is Freelancer, which Ars' Samuel Axon described in our 2024 roundup of non-2024 games as "a sincere attempt to make games like Elite (Dangerous) and Wing Commander: Privateer far more accessible." GOG selected Freelancer as one of its staff picks for the Dreamlist, citing its "dynamic economy and engaging storyline."The main thing GOG would be fixing withFreelancer, as with many games, would be simple availability, as the game is not available on any proper digital storefront. Axon reports that, in having an original disc, installing Freelancer was not too hard, with the installer working in Windows 11. You can apply community patches, like an "HD Edition" mod, but Axon preferred playing at a non-native resolution (1024768) at 4:3 and adjusting his monitor.Other notable games GOG and its voting public want to see brought back are Final Fantasy VII(the original, not the remake), the point-and-click Discworld adventure,Command & Conquer: The Ultimate Collection, andThe Operative: No One Lives Forever.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 30 Comments

Executives are increasingly fielding analyst questions about the business impact of DeepSeek.In spite of the market disruption, the early outlook is generally optimistic about the tech.Business Insider will keep this story updated as more companies report earnings.Stock market surprises have a way of echoing through subsequent earnings calls, and the impact of DeepSeek is reverberating on Wall Street.On analyst calls this week, executives have increasingly been fielding questions about the Chinese AI and what it means for their businesses.The name DeepSeek was mentioned in at least nine earnings calls this week, according to an AlphaSense search, with onlya single mention before Monday's bombshell announcement.But in spite of the market disruption that saw wild swings in Big Tech share prices, the early outlook is generally optimistic about the tech.On Monday, AT&T CEO John Stankey said the newer, lower-cost AI "is going to open up and facilitate new applications and business models."Here's what business leaders are telling analysts:

Industrial Escape House / Studio Parisi ArchitectsSave this picture! THAT PhotographerArchitects: Studio Parisi ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:300 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:THAT PhotographerMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Save this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Industrial Escape House is a contemporary residential design set within a classic suburban context. This striking home contrasts its robust industrial and brutalist materials with lush greenery and a central northern courtyard, creating a dynamic.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The Industrial Escape House is a contemporary residential design set within a classic suburban context. This striking home contrasts its robust industrial and brutalist materials with lush greenery and a central northern courtyard, creating a dynamic interplay between the raw, architectural elements and the serene, natural surroundings.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on January 30, 2025Cite: "Industrial Escape House / Studio Parisi Architects" 30 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026223/industrial-escape-house-studio-parisi-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

C.A.H.S. School Ayakkad / Studio AcisSave this picture!SchoolsAyakkad, IndiaArchitects: Studio AcisAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:29379 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Studio IKSHA Lead Architect: Ar. Rakesh Kakkoth More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture! Studio IKSHAText description provided by the architects. In the rural context of Palakkad, the C.A.H.S. school is situated amidst paddy fields, embracing native architecture and tradition. It offers a serene escape from city life, surrounded by lush greenery. Previously, the site had poor-quality structures scattered in different orientations, built over various periods without proper master planning. The project's scope involved crafting an overall master plan and uplifting the school.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Strategies like preservation, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, new construction, and renovation were implemented in six phases. The first phase focused on constructing a new admin block (Block H), inspired by existing challenges, while the second phase involved renovating the higher secondary block (Block A). The remaining four phases include demolition, new constructions, preservation, adaptive reuse, and rehabilitation for future development. A major challenge was designing the school within budget constraints.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Planned on a 2.53-acre site, the new Admin block (Block H, 20,659 sq. ft.) integrates multiple functions under one roof. Its linear form establishes a clear axis for the school, emphasizing the entry and segregating public and private zones. This block houses meeting rooms, classrooms, and a flexible auditorium. Spaces are efficiently planned with proper segregation, ensuring effective management. The ground floor is open, connecting users to the surroundings and serving as a gateway.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The first floor features semi-open spaces with verandas running parallel, visually linking the open ground floor and surrounding blocks. Design elements like verandas, north-facing linear windows, double-height spaces, gathering pockets, and rooms with light on both sides create vibrant, inspiring spaces. Natural light filters into the school, fostering an elegant, energizing environment for young minds. The architecture blends raw concrete textures with earthy tones, while floor-to-floor balconies enhance transparency and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, connecting the building to its context.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The second phase involved renovating Block A (8,720 sq. ft.). The design addressed challenges by drawing inspiration from nearby structures and traditional Kerala values. An outer layer of columns topped with a roof was added to the existing structure, transforming the dynamics of the space. The corridors, with muted colors and interplay of light, celebrate tranquility and grandeur. These imposing columns and verandas now provide shade and comfort, protecting against rain and sun while creating interactive spaces. This redesign balances heritage with functionality, fostering active learning, social interaction, and emotional development.Save this picture!Save this picture!Always envisioned as a school, where its essence balances between heritage and innovation which is culturally rooted and emphasises the open spaces. A space where children feel safe, a place to unwind that encourages the interaction between students themselves and with the teachers and fosters collaboration. Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Ayakkad, IndiaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeStudio AcisOfficePublished on January 30, 2025Cite: "C.A.H.S. School Ayakkad / Studio Acis" 30 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026026/cahs-school-ayakkad-studio-acis&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Nature, Published online: 29 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08648-1Molecular basis of vitamin K driven -carboxylation at membrane interface

Nature, Published online: 29 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08362-4A halogenase enzyme uses the copper in its active site to catalyse iterative chlorinations on multiple unactivated carbonhydrogen bonds, enabling carbonhydrogen functionalization that is not achievable with an iron-based halogenase.

Arachnophobes, you might want to skip this one, although there are no spiders in sight. Irene Houward presented a cool (and slightly gross) procedural Houdini tool that automatically places spider eggs.It does exactly what it says: creates a bunch of eggs and sticks them together in bizarre slimy shapes. To make it happen, you need to place the tool in the scene and adjust the necessary m, and the alien goo will automatically scan for the closest walls and connect them.The tool is still in development, so we might see even more realistic eggs in the future. For now, you can enjoy Houwards art on LinkedIn and ArtStation.Also, 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 Place Your Spider Eggs Easily with This Fascinating Procedural Houdini Tool appeared first on CG SHARES.