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Urbz!Forget The Sims, what we really need EA to do is bring The Urbz backThe stars are aligned. Now is the time of prophecy. Article by Connor Makar Staff Writer Published on Feb. 7, 2025 The world is electric with remasters of The Sims 1 and The Sims 2, as it should be. Both games, while old and for sure showing their age in some places, are absolute classics that a gaming powerhouse was built upon. Who doesn't love The Sims? But, what I'm asking is for a little bit more. While EA is in a remaster-doing mood, why not bring back a true gem from the series' history? It's time, at last, to bring back The Urbz.The Urbz, for those unaware, was a peculiar yet impactful entry into The Sims series that hoped to make the whole ordeal a bit more cool. A bit more modern. Rather than place you in a lovely detached house with a pool and a job, it placed you in the city. Urbzville was the place to be, and your main priority was to gain popularity with various cool groups in this city in order to become a VIP. 2004 was the best of times, so I hear, and as such EA was able to pull off some real magic. There's a reason it placed well in our very own Sims ranking list.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. It was also one of the strangest Sims games ever made, in my opinion. It was wacky, even by Sims standards. You can dumpster dive in The Urbz, way before The Sims 3 and The Sims 4 brought it back. People were dressed up in all manner of out-there outfits, seemingly down with your life of buffing glass and digging through trash to save up for a T-shirt you really like. The Sims is a journey in earning money to improve your life. The Urbz is a journey in doing odd jobs to improve your standing with strangers at clubs. Truly, a more grounded depiction of city life than we had seen back then, and dare I say, have seen since.As you progress, you unlock new parts of town to explore, new Urbz to talk to and tickle on occasion, and new clothes to buy. The throughline in The Urbz is fun - this game is unashamedly fun. Nothing hits like mashing buttons to improve your mental faculties while your character is playing future Snake on a cyber chair getting brain blasted. That's a sentance you'd never write for another game, that's the power of The Urbz! The power of The Urbz is to take the foundational mechanics of The Sims and just go bananas with it. As a side note, what's WILL.I.AM doing right now? What's the entirety of the Black Eyes Peas doing? Making music, one assumes, or at least thinking about making music. You think they would be down with coming back for a Simlish remix of a song or two? The truth is for many folks, Black Eyed Peas are kind of linked by the hip to The Urbz, and cement the game in this early 2000's era that people have a real love for. Yes this is an opinion rooted firmly in nostalgia. I have gone back and looked at the models, and yeah it's super dated. The fact you can tickle people out of nowhere and people are seemingly cool with that is perhaps a sign of the times. But damn it, there's gold in those hills. It will cost money to dig it up, yes. That gold may be niche at the end of the day, sure. But c'mon, people love The Sims, and I feel in this retro-fanatical world we live in, a good portion of that love must trickle down to The Urbz.

Back to Da BatAfter Suicide Squad, Rocksteady is reportedly "looking to return to" single-player Batman like everyone wants, while Monolith's Wonder Woman game is in troubleThings aren't currently looking very rosy at Warner Bros. Games, a new report outlines.Image credit: Rocksteady/Monolith Productions News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Feb. 7, 2025 Rocksteady is planning a return to the kind of single-player Batman games it put out to critical acclaim before being deployed onto ill fated live-service thing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, according to a new report which also delves into the behind-the-scenes struggles Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman game has endured so far.The report comes from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, and paints a pretty tumultous picture of the overall state of Warner Bros. Games, which has recently overseen a few high-profile flops, headlined by the aformentioned Suicide Squad and fighting game MultiVersus. The former got an ending fans found pretty disappointing midway through last month, following layoffs at Rocksteady, while the latter was given its shutdown date just a couple of weeks later.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As Schreier notes, all of this played into Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav saying the company's video games section is substantially underperforming its potential during an earnings call in November.So, what's it got in the works at its studios to try and turn things around a bit? Well, arguably the most interesting thing the report says is that now Suicide Squad's done, Rocksteady is "looking to return to Batman for a single-player game".Before you start punching the air too hard and fire up Arkham Asylum for a celebratory brawl, it's important to note that the report cites people familiar with that project's timeline as saying that it's "years away from landing".Beyond that, things don't sound too good for Monolith Productions' Wonder Woman game, which was announced at The Game Awards back in 2021. The report claims it's "struggled to coalesce" development-wise, after being rebooted and switching directors last year, leaving it having racked up over $100 million in costs and still being "years away from release, if it ever makes it to market".It was reportedly once slated to feature an interesting twist on Shadow of Mordor's famously cool Nemesis system which would let you befriend enemies, but now looks more like a standard action-adventure game.Meanwhile, Gotham Knights developer WB Games Montreal has reportedly had plans for an evolution on Knights, a game starring DC antihero John Constantine, and a game about The Flash all nixed for various reasons (such as this), leaving it just helping on other games wider WB is working on, and putting together a pitch for a new Game of Thrones game.So yeah, not the most fun sounding of times, even if Rocksteady apparently going back to single-player itz da batting will likely be welcome news to lots of fans.

The Switch version is fine, though.Hideki Kamiya has stated on social media that he would rather players not experience Okami via the 2008 Wii port (thanks, Automaton).Originally released on PS2 back in 2006, Okami's move to the Wii was handled by the now-defunct American studio, Ready at Dawn. When creator Kamiya was approached by a fan and mistakenly asked whether it's recommended they start with the Wii original, Kamiya responded to clarify that the PS2 version is the true OG.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kCape Cosmic, the developer behind the fabulous Phoenotopia: Awakening, has announced its next project Star Iliad, a Metroidvania set inside a star whale. And, par the course, the pixel art looks gorgeous. Platforms have yet to be announced yet.In a blog post on the developer's tumblr, Cape Cosmic reveals that its new game leans much closer to a Metroid game rather than Phoenotopia's Zelda-esque trappings. The map is much larger, with the devs promising 40 hours of gameplay, and guns are your weapon of choice.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube While the map gets bigger, the story gets more focused you are Blythe Braves, who responds to a distress signal, which takes her to a rock formation shaped like a whale. Unfortunately, her ship is destroyed by aliens, and she's left with a bunch of other castaways to try and escape this unusual star whale.Here's a rundown of what to expect from the game's Steam page, along with some lovely-looking screenshots:Game Features:- A Tale of Mystery and Wonder : Immerse yourself in a single-player journey where narrative, intrigue, and romance intertwine. -Dynamic Communication System : Engage with a charismatic cast of characters using a codec-inspired system. Forge new bonds and deepen your connection to uncover their stories. -Spell-Powered Combat and Puzzles : Master 40 unique spells to combat foes and unravel puzzles. Transform with the flame cloak, shatter with missile spells, and pierce with magnum shells. -Deep Suit Customization System : Tailor your abilities with a comprehensive computer chip system featuring over 30 unique chips, each altering your capabilities in unique ways. -Spell Gun Evolution : Hunt for more than 50 gun shards to craft and customize a powerful spell gun that suits your playstyle -Vast Enemy Variety : Face off against over 150 distinct enemy types and engage in over 25 epic boss battles. -A Living, Colossal Microcosmic World : Explore over 20 awe-inspiring biomes within the Star Whale, from storm-lashed peaks to fiery stomach pools, each teeming with secrets to uncover. -An Epic Original Soundtrack - Enjoy over 50 songs featuring a fusion of synth and orchestral elementsfrom storytelling symphonic pieces and energizing rock to melodic folk and adventurous synth. -Achievements and Replayability: Earn over 30 badges through an in-depth achievement system, encouraging exploration, challenge, and replayability. -An Expansive Campaign: Dive into a campaign estimated to deliver over 40 hours of gameplay, with even more for completionists.Images: Cape CosmicBelow the announcement, Cape Cosmic also thanks fans for reaching out over the studio's previous game. Admitting that Phoenotopia was not a "strong seller", it's not "as bleak as I previously believed", with a small group of dedicated fans and steady income keeping the studio funded, along with family support.As a result of this, and good word of mouth, the team has managed to "stay afloat" and start working on its next project. We're extremely glad! And if you want to keep up with Star Iliad development, you can follow the dev log.We hope Star Iliad comes to Switch (or Switch 2) in the future, but for now, only Steam has been confirmed. We're pretty hopeful, and since we loved Phoenotopia, we would love to get our hands on this.Let us know what you think of Star Iliad in the comments. Almost phoenomenal[source tumblr.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and while RPGs are her first love, Nintendo is a close second. She enjoys nothing more than overthinking battle strategies, characters, and stories. She also wishes she was a Sega air pirate. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games... and the Switch 2!Ex-PlayStation Boss On Switch 2's Name: Nintendo Created So Much "Brand Value""Why would you mess with that?"Rumour: Switch 2 Game Cases Might Take Up More Space On Your ShelfHere's how they could compare to the current Switch cases"Nintendo Is Probably The Easiest To Scam" - Devs Discuss The Current State Of The eShopThe rise of "eSlop"PlatinumGames Wipes Several Games From Its Website's PortfolioIncluding Star Fox Zero and 'Project G.G.'

In BriefPosted:8:06 AM PST February 7, 2025Image Credits:JACK GUEZ/AFP / Getty ImagesReport: Ilya Sutskevers startup in talks to fundraise at roughly $20B valuationSafe Superintelligence, the AI startup founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, is in talks to raise funding at a valuation of at least $20 billion, according to Reuters.Its not clear how much Safe Superintelligence which has yet to generate any revenue is looking to secure, but it could be substantial. The new figure is 4x the $5 billion valuation the company held last September.Little is known about Safe Superintelligences work. The company, which also counts ex-OpenAI researcher Daniel Levy and former Apple AI projects lead Daniel Gross among its founding team, has raised $1 billion so far. Existing investors include Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and DST Global.Sutskever is widely respected in the AI and wider tech industry. Hes credited with contributing to major AI breakthroughs while at OpenAI, including the technical approach that made ChatGPTs development possible.Topics

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has begun notifying individuals whose personal information was stolen during a 2023 cyberattack, which the company blamed on Russian government hackers.HPE has so far notified more than a dozen individuals whose data was stolen in the cyberattack, according to TechCrunchs review of breach notices filed with at least two U.S. state attorneys general.The breached data included Social Security numbers, drivers license information and credit card numbers, per a filing with the state of Massachusetts.HPE spokesperson Adam R. Bauer did not return requests for comment with questions about the breach.The breach relates to an intrusion beginning May 2023 into HPEs email systems and SharePoint environments, referring to Microsoft SharePoint software that allows companies to build intranet portals; both of which were hosted by Microsoft. HPE publicly disclosed the incident in January 2024, confirming that the hackers exfiltrated the contents of a small number of its email mailboxes and some SharePoint files.HPE said the hackers used a compromised account to access internal HPE email boxes in our Office 365 email environment. HPE later told regulators that the stolen mailbox data predominantly belonged to individuals in HPEs cybersecurity, go-to-market, and business teams.HPE attributed the hack to a group dubbed Midnight Blizzard, which security researchers say is linked to Russias foreign intelligence service, known as the SVR. Midnight Blizzard (also known as APT29) has been linked to a number of high-profile attacks, including the 2019 SolarWinds espionage campaign targeting the federal governmentMicrosoft also confirmed in January 2024 that its corporate network was compromised by Midnight Blizzard. Microsoft said that the Russian hackers targeted the email accounts of corporate executives, as well as senior staff working in cybersecurity, which Microsoft said was likely in an effort to learn what the company knows about the hackers themselves.

Breakdown & ShowreelsGhostbusters Frozen Empire: New York Public Library VFX Breakdown by Sony Pictures ImageworksBy Vincent Frei - 07/02/2025 The New York Public Library in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is more than just a backdropits a testament to the skill of Sony Pictures Imageworks. This breakdown showcases how VFX artists extended and enhanced the real-world location with incredible attention to detail!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Sony Pictures Imageworks: Dedicated page about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on Sony Pictures Imageworks website.Geoffrey Baumann: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Geoffrey Baumann. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

Brought to you by:Architect:HDRLocation: Omaha, NebraskaCompletion Date: 2024Illuminated at night, the Kiewit Luminarium is a symbol of the revitalization of Omaha, Nebraskas Missouri River waterfront. The new science museum replaces the citys Riverfront Science Center and is named after its largest donor, the Kiewit Corporation, a locally based general contractor. On the other hand, the term luminarium reflects the illumination of the structure, while also evoking associations with curiosity and wonder. Inspired by the vernacular of midwestern machine sheds, HDR devised two staggered rectangular volumes for the institution which are clad in perforated aluminum panels and backlit at night. The new museum features a double height exhibition space. (Dan Schwalm)Focusing on engineering and science, the 83,000-square-foot institution is part workshop, part museum according to a press release from HDR. The building features classrooms, a maker space, cafe, and gift shop, in addition to two floors of exhibition space. Throughout, the buildings immersive exhibitions and installations play with bold geometry and color. For instance, a large icosahedron sculpture hangs near the entrance and a playscape made from hexagonal modules is located on the southern end of the building. The Kiewit Luminarium is sited within Lewis and Clark Landing, a long-neglected segment of Omahas riverfront adjacent to the citys downtown. In recent years, the area has been revitalized with the addition of green space and recreational programs, replacing the large expanses of concrete that once defined the site. The facility is also located near the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which spans across the Missouri River into Iowa.The museums entrance is recessed beneath a cantilevered volume, providing shelter for visitors. (Dan Schwalm)To allow for flexibility within the space, HDR adopted a simplistic shed typology for the new building. The entrance to the museum, facing Downtown Omaha, was placed beneath a spacious cantilever that creates shelter for visitors. This feature allows for easy bus access, encouraging the use of public transit and establishing the Luminarium as a destination for school field trips. In terms of massing, the buildings two rectangular volumes are offset from one another, creating space for a service area on one end and a landscaped play scape on the other. On the south elevation, the aluminum shed cantilevers outward to shade a glass wall overlooking the playground near the entrance plaza. Punched windows shaded by vertical fins were also incorporated across the facade, offering views west to the river.At night the museum is illuminated, creating a new icon along the Missouri River. (Dan Schwalm)Central to the design of the facade is the incorporation of backlighting, which illuminates the building at night. This feature signifies the improvement of Omahas waterfront.The concept was born out of our collaborative efforts with lighting engineers, building on our previous successes with illuminated facades, said Mike Hamilton, design principal at HDR. The idea was to create an active, illuminated space that would draw people to the building, transforming a once dark and neglected area into a beacon of activity. HDR tested different levels of perforation and illumination for the facade, working to develop a balance that satisfied cost, shading, and visibility requirements. In addition, the name of the facility is printed on the aluminum panels in large graphic letters that are visible even from across the river.We did consider materials like galvanized steel and even something as wild as recycled light poles, added Tim Williams, design principal at HDR. Ultimately, we chose a marine-grade aluminum that could remain uncoated and patina with time to align with the buildings scientific and natural themes and put science on display right on the facade.During the day, the perforated panels filter sunlight into the building, while at night, they function in reverse, emitting artificial light outward. (Dan Schwalm)Prior to construction significant remediation work was performed on the site, which had been contaminated from previous use. Because of poor soil conditions, deep foundations and a large structural slab were implemented to stabilize the new building.The Kiewit Luminarium demonstrates the role that cultural institutions can play in urban revitalization. Through its facade, the building has managed to symbolize these remediation efforts byquite literallybrightening a once-blighted space.Project SpecificationsArchitect: HDRClient: Heritage OmahaStructural Engineer: HDRMEP Engineer: HDRExhibit Design: ExploratoriumEnvelope Design Assist: AWSGeneral Contractor: Kiewit Building GroupFacade Installation: AWSGlazing Contractor: AWSGlass: ViraconInsulation: Kingspan

American Airlines Passenger Ticket 1 (after Warhol) (2023), oil on canvas, 32 x 59 inchesParadise and Precarity Merge in Jessica Bellamys Paintings of Los Angeles LifeFebruary 7, 2025ArtClimateKate MothesFor Jessica Taylor Bellamy, juxtapositions, transparency, and layers shape a way of working that evokes her family history and notions of home and landscape. Born to an Ashkenazi Jewish mother and an Afro-Cuban Jamaican father, Bellamy was raised in Whittier, just southeast of Los Angeles. In glowing oil paintings, she draws from personal mementos like photographs, sales receipts, and newspaper clippings to explore the relationships between utopia and dystopia, humans and nature, image and text, and fantasy and reality.Did She Nail It? (2025), oil on canvas, 26 x 20 inchesBellamy portrays sunsets, landscapes, trees, urban streets, flora, animals, and cloud formations in a kind of dreamy washiness, adding patterns like chainlink fences, gates, and lace curtains suggestive of boundaries. Horizontal landscapes overlaid with American Airlines tickets echo Andy Warhols 1960s silkscreen prints of SAS airline tickets merged with floral motifs.Bellamys observations are rooted in her experiences of the sprawling urban landscape of Los Angelesa meeting of nature and civilization at the edge of a precarious paradise, formed by fire, drought, flood, and wind, says a statement from Anat Ebgi, which represents the artist and opens her new solo exhibition, Temperature Check.A few works shown here, like Did She Nail It?, appear in the show, which merges landscapes and atmospheric lighting effects with references to DIY culture, whats gendered as mens work, and car and motorcycle culture. The Home Depot receipt, which typically uses the slogan Did we nail it?, is combined with an image of a rear-view mirror depicted so close that it initially appears abstract.Bellamy examines the dualities and precarity of life in Southern Californiaa seeming paradise weve witnessed can be swiftly devastated by fire and drought. The title Temperature Change is also a double entendre, suggesting meteorological readings and a figurative expression used when measuring a group mood or opinion. Through surreal imagery and echoes of mass production and consumerism, the artist invokes a noir reverie.Temperature Check runs from February 8 to March 22 in Los Angeles. Find more on the artists website and Instagram.Box Fan (AM) (2025), oil on canvas, 57 1/2 x 32 inchesAmerican Airlines Passenger Ticket 2 (after Warhol) (2023), oil on canvas, 32 x 60 inchesPlaya Larga (Coquina Combination Pill Pack) (2023), oil on canvas, 23 3/4 x 42 1/2 inchesA Subspecies of Journalism (2023), oil on canvas, 59 x 43 1/2 inchesA Splendid Paradox (2022), oil on canvas, 70 x 52 inchesCurtain of Sky (2024), oil on canvas, 57 1/2 x 48 inchesHorizontal Thrust I (Blue graffiti highway) (2025), oil on canvas, 26 x 70 inchesDriveway Moment (2025), oil on canvas, 57 1/2 x 47 inchesNext article