Tide / TideTable of ContentsTable of ContentsMichael CeraVe CeraVeThe DunKings Dunkin DonutsThe Shining Mountain Dew Zero SugarCrocodile Dundee Reboot Trailer AustraliaUpstream ToyotaThe Bud Knight Bud Light/Game of ThronesIts a Tide Ad TideAside from football, the Super Bowl is famous for its many big-budget, high-concept commercials. The advertisements that air on game day are usually comedic, extravagant videos with celebrity cameos. Other times, theyre cinematic and emotional adverts that effectively connect with the audience. Sometimes, these commercials are even more entertaining than the Super Bowl itself. The 2025 Super Bowl is gearing up to unleash another wave of big advertisements. However, its unclear if they can top these seven Super Bowl ads, which rank as some of the best from the past decade.Michael CeraVe I CeraVe Super Bowl (Long Form)CeraVe effectively promoted its moisturizing cream in a commercial starring Michael Cera. The comedic actor puts himself at the center of a hilarious parody of over-the-top beauty product commercials, complete with flowery language, hunky male models, sexual undertones, and some sort of dolphin-unicorn hybrid. However, it is revealed that Cera was actually pitching this commercial to CeraVe executives, who were not that impressed. They may not have liked it, but audiences sure did.Recommended VideosBen Affleck Joined By Jennifer Lopez, Matt Damon & More For Epic Dunkin Super Bowl AdBen Affleck did a spectacular Dunkin Donuts commercial during the 2023 Super Bowl in which he worked at a store drive-in and was visited by Jennifer Lopez. Affleck topped this commercial the following year by crashing JLos recording session with his new boy band, The DunKings, which consists of NFL superstar Tom Brady and Afflecks pal, Matt Damon. Affleck sings a new Dunkin-centric song to add it to JLos new album, but she isnt having it. Even Damon shares her embarrassment, especially when he reuses his iconic line from Good Will Hunting. Affleck and JLo may no longer be together, but that doesnt make this commercial any less perfect.MTN DEW Zero Sugar, As Good As The OriginalBryan Cranston has appeared in many notable Super Bowl commercials, most of which have him reprising his role as Walter White from Breaking Bad. However, Cranston topped them all when he played Jack Torrance from The Shining in a commercial for Mountain Dew Zero Sugar. This soda commercial features a perfect recreation of Stanley Kubricks iconic horror film, mimicking several iconic scenes with accurate sets, costumes, and cinematography. Specifically, it shows Cranston chopping through the bathroom door with a bottle of Mountain Dew, a wave of green soda surging out of Overlook Hotels elevator, and Cranston playing those creepy Grady twins. Is this commercial better than the original film? Certainly not. But its still very sweet.Tourism Australia Dundee Super Bowl Ad 2018 w/ Chris Hemsworth and Danny McBride (Extended)Who was disappointed when they learned this was a fake trailer? This commercial presents Danny McBride as Brian Dundee, the son of Crocodile Dundee, who travels to Australia for an epic adventure through the Outback alongside Chris Hemsworth. This film is also said to feature other Australian actors like Hugh Jackman, Margot Robbie, Isla Fisher, Ruby Rose, Liam Hemsworth, Jessica Mauboy, Luke Bracey, and Russell Crowe. It even has Paul Hogan reprising his role as Crocodile Dundee. While this commercial teases a must-see comedy odyssey, it takes a weird turn when Brian starts touring the beaches, tasting wine, and eating at world-class restaurants. Eventually, Brian shares everyone elses disappointment when he realizes hes actually in a tourism ad for Australia. Though this reboot couldve been an excellent film, its still an incredible way for Australia to market itself.Start Your Impossible | Up Stream | Jessica Long | ToyotaThis 2021 commercial from Toyota centers around Jessica Long, a USA Team Paralympic swimmer who had won 13 gold medals at the time of this ads release. Its a visually and emotionally beautiful video showing Long literally swimming through her life. At the same time, a phone conversation plays over the video detailing how she was adopted from Siberia and how her legs had to be amputated. Though Longs adopted mother is warned that her child will have a challenging life, the former claims it will be amazing, nevertheless, and that she looks forward to meeting her.Though some critics labeled the advert inspiration porn, the commercial was overall praised for its heartwarming depiction of Longs life. It showcases humanitys strength and potential against great hardships without objectifying or pitying Long, and Toyota effectively connected with its narrative by presenting itself as a proud partner to her Paralympic team. While many corporate ads fumble with emotional marketing, this one featured a genuine message that gave a talented athlete the spotlight she deserved.Game of Thrones X Bud Light | Official Super Bowl LIII Ad | Extended Version | HBOIn one of the Bud Knights many epic tales, the blue warrior is shown entering a medieval jousting match. The commercial starts humorously enough with the Bud Knight telling people to hold his beers before the match begins. However, the commercial completely changes when the Knights opponent reveals himself as the Mountain from Game of Thrones. After the Mountain crushes the Knights head like Oberyn Martell, one of Daenerys Targaryens dragons shows up and scorches everything, revealing the video to be a promo for Game of Thrones season 8. While the final season of this show disappointed many fans, they cannot deny it had some incredible marketing.Tide Super Bowl Commercials 2018 Compilation (All Clips)How often does an ad invade another ad? Throughout the 2018 Super Bowl, actor David Harbour starred in several commercials that seem to be promoting different products. However, he denies all the possibilities and says its an ad for Tide laundry detergent. Harbour crashes commercials for cars, beer, auto insurance, jewelry, and Mr. Clean. He even manages to pop up in a commercial for Old Spice, which itself is known for its wacky surprising advertisements. With Harbors hysterical and unexpected appearances, this clever marketing campaign from Tide keeps its product fresh in viewers minds, making for one of the most inventive Super Bowl advertisements in recent memory.

In 2008, my husband and I decided to move from Iowa to Oregon. We picked Oregon because reports said it was a state resilient to the climate crisis. It was a hard move, but we don't regret it. In 2008, my husband, Adam, and I decided to move to Oregon after cataclysmic flooding devastated eastern Iowa. Many suffered, but for us, it was more like a moment to rethink what we wanted from a place.I'm highly suggestible, so when all those articles about Portland, Oregon, started coming out in the late aughts about being the most sustainable, we started imagining ourselves there me, with an absurd list of desirables (mushrooming culture, bookstores, coffee shops), and my husband, Adam, with his: resilience to the climate crisis.Adam's nickname is "Long Game." He had been comparing online simulations showing how the US climate shifted over time. These days, every listed home on Zillow gets graded for the climate crisis risk, but the maps looked different when we looked at them then. I remember parts of the country turning increasingly burgundy (hot, hurricane-y) when we adjusted by decade, while Oregon's Willamette Valley remained a light green throughout.We were sold.We called ourselves climate change moversInitially, our shorthand was "pioneer spirit," thinking it suggested that we were resilient dreamers. But eventually, as more and more Americans woke up to the perils of the weather, we called ourselves "climate change movers."Oregon isn't that great a place for people with climate anxiety, by the way. Just a few years later, the New Yorker published a story quoting the Pacific Northwest FEMA director as saying that with a coming earthquake expected to be 7.8 or higher on the Richter scale, everything west of I-5 "will be toast."That's a crippling idea to live with, but as a newcomer, it didn't take me long to see the entire state as one big man vs. wild story. The same cold, dramatic ocean coastlines, massive forests, and snow-capped peaks that call to the people here bring almost daily stories of them getting swept away by the waves or lured by a stunning vista to their doom off some pretty mountain path. Climate and geography are bedfellows.And those decade-and-a-half-old climate maps? They didn't indicate what we have now extended droughts and wildfires so close you can smell them in your bedroom.We fell in love with the idea of it anyway.Moving is a great moment to redefine your next era, so in the wake of Obama's first election, as the housing crisis gathered steam and financial institutions collapsed, we moved to a 1910 farmhouse in Salem, where I decided I would become a sassy blogger who ragged on our new hometown. Soon, I had a newspaper column called "Desperately Seeking Salem," where I spouted all the ways this place was failing me while calling out a few things I loved.This got me clout but only a trickle of friends. With no job and too much time on my hands, we decided to have a baby, and I was soon alone at home with my child and a keyboard.We moved again within OregonDuring the first years, Oregon confirmed many of my ideas: the stealth wealth of millionaires in vests, plaid, and beanies and the Tolkien-esque landscapes. I also discovered new markers of place to care about, like nice drivers, so much undiscovered, and midcentury modern architecture.But I sucked at being new in town. It was the worst I ever was as a human. I've never been lonelier. At home with a baby, with no jobs available in my field, and still seeing the place in terms of what it offered me, I fell deep into despair.My husband had a non-compete with his employer and was ready to start his own business, so I vowed to do it differently when we moved again three years later to McMinnville, a wine country town about an hour outside Portland.The things that call you to move to a place aren't necessarily what keeps you there. I had already visited McMinnville during its quirky UFO Parade and thought living in wine country sounded sexy. We bought a business in McMinnville, got a house loan, and had one day to buy a house.The climate crisis got worseOver time, I learned what really keeps me planted, like the inspired state legislation known as the Urban Growth Boundary, a land use law requiring Oregon cities to reach a specific population density before expanding into neighboring farmlands and forests.Meanwhile, the climate crisis got worse.By September 2020, our first wildfire year, the air was so thick with smoke I brought our chickens inside, I had gotten much better at gauging risk. We had more information (though information isn't always a balm). We had Go Bags and a stock of water.By September 2021, another year of grape harvests ruined by smoke and people displaced from wildfires south and east of us, my urge to flee settled.Our climate predictions are always changing. When Zillow announced it would include climate risk information on listed homes, I was curious instead of paranoid.In the summer, our kids run in a pack of 10 and stage plays on the front porch. When our first son became a teenager, he roamed the entire town without a cell phone. We have never surveilled them because an entire community is doing so. My husband has a four-minute commute. I've worked from home for 15 years now. I don't even drink wine.I don't think we're special climate moving is a tale as old as time. But I did learn that once I chose to invest in a place, I stopped seeing it in terms of its amenities. Once I insisted on creating roots, I looked for room to create what was missing. Once I knew how to make relationships outside easy things like school and workplaces, I knew I could do it anywhere.Once more people woke up to the climate crisis, we felt like we were in it together. That's where we are. The danger is always in the air, but it is not the air I am breathing for now.Emily Grosvenor is the author of the book Find Yourself At Home. She writes the design Substack I would do it differently.

Growing up, I always felt that my parents favored my cuter, funnier sister over me.As a mother of two, I sometimes see myself favoring one child over the other.I don't feel guilty about seeming to have a favorite child at times, but I do look for balance.When my youngest son was born, I craved spending time with his older brother, then 4, as the newborn stage is probably my least favorite part of having young kids. That phase of 24/7 breastfeeding and never ending night duty seems to be rewarded with little more than milk- and poop-stained clothes, and if you're lucky, blank stares and unreciprocated cuddles.Older kids, on the other hand, can hold a conversation, eat, and go to the bathroom themselves (mostly), and make for great companions over a movie and lunch. Hanging out with my oldest while his little brother was in his so-called fourth trimester gave me a welcome respite from my role as milk machine and sleep enabler. It's safe to say that at that time, he was my favorite.Things keep changingTwo years on, and that needy newborn is now a cheeky toddler overflowing with cuteness. He told me recently that daddy should change his diaper because mommy did it earlier. He regularly says, "Bless you," when I sneeze. While he's the worst at hide and seek revealing his location before you've even begun the search his supply of cuddles is plentiful.My recently turned 6-year-old, on the other hand, spent the majority of his birthday party bossing his friends and me around, throwing in for good measure a meltdown over party game and prize politics. It's clear to see that the tables have turned, and who the favorite child is now.But I realize playing favorites is a more dangerous game this time around. Unlike a newborn who has little awareness of the world around him, my older child is a fully sentient little human. While I don't feel guilty about often siding with his little brother when arguments blow up over who was playing with what toy, I'm definitely conscious of my oldest feeling isolated and developing some kind of inferiority complex.I felt this growing upI'm conscious of all of this because I know what it feels like knowing who your parents might favor at one time or another. Growing up, I often felt my younger sister was the favorite child. She was cuter and funnier and she had nicknames and inside jokes with my parents that I didn't have. She was offered singing lessons and after-school sports, things that were not made available to me. I don't want history to repeat itselfI often questioned how this dynamic with my parents and I came to be, and I know I don't want my oldest having to go through that potentially demoralizing thought process. At times I can sense his disappointment and frustration at feeling like he's being overridden all the time, and this will sometimes come through in his behavior. For example, my youngest is more danger prone so will often get into some kind of sticky situation and need rescuing plus a cuddle. My oldest will then immediately invent a sore leg or arm to also get a cuddle and take the attention away from his brother.So despite being a sucker for toddler antics, seeing how my oldest processes and reacts to this means I have to remind myself to show him some obvious displays of love. I don't feel guilty about seeming to have a favorite child at times, but I do look for balance and I intentionally remind myself to choose each of them first at times. How I find balanceIt can be hard to show love towards a child that is behaving in a way you don't want, and naturally, it's easy to do that with a child that is cute and funny, and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But I know that sometimes you have to pull yourself together to focus on the bigger picture, and choose what's hard.For example, while I'd love to spend bedtime tickling my toddler until he's laughed himself into exhaustion, I always hand over my youngest to my husband for the final stages of bedtime so I can have a few moments alone with my oldest. That's when we chat about the day and I answer any of his burning questions about life. It's those moments of alone time with my oldest that help remind me what is also lovable about him. He's his own person, so finding intentional pockets throughout the week to appreciate that and let him know that I do is really important.But as my toddler is starting to enter his tantrum era, I'm appreciating my 6-year-old more and more with every additional bedtime demand that comes from his brother's room. So just as the tables once turned, no doubt they'll do so again soon.

What comes after Elden Ring Nightreign? (Bandai Namco)The Tuesday letters page is shocked that Civilization 7 has turned out to be a disappointment, as one reader hopes Nintendo ditches the Switch sooner rather than later.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe next new annoucementLooks like were going to get some Elden Ring Nightreign news next week, including a release date, and I just wondered what everyones expectations of it are? To be honest its not something Im very excited about just yet. It seems like a bit of a crash grab to me, just reusing bits from the original game and trying to make it into something new.Not a very appealing idea to me but I guess it makes sense in todays world, where most game are barely paying for themselves. And I would trust From to make something interesting out of a roguelike Dark Souls style game than I would anyone else.I just want them to get on and announce something new. I want a Bloodborne remaster as much as anyone else but even that is going to delay them from revealing their next proper game. Maybe its just me, but it seems so long since the original Elden Ring and I really want to see their first next gen-only game and how they evolve the formula further.BanditoExecutive interferenceIm kind of startled that Civilization 7 has been getting negative reviews, even if they are technically kind of mediocre. That always seemed like one of those franchises where every sequel was good, because it was basically the same game and the developers were good.So why am I not surprised that the culprit seems to be Take-Two pushing for DLC and dumbing things down for console releases that hardly anyone will buy? Its completely put me off buying the game, except for maybe a discount on the complete collection a few years down the line.People are talking about 80 or 100 becoming a new standard for games but it already is really. If you want to get a complete versions of Civilization 7 youve got to spend that sort of money but even then youve still got to wait months until it all comes together. Seems crazy to launch without the UK or Ghandi or any of the things I actually associate with the games.HeathcliffeSkeleton crewIm shocked at what a shell of a company PlatinumGames are now. They used to be one of my favourite developers, and I know they were GCs, but now theres literally no one left. The Ninja Gaiden 4 guy seems completely unqualified, to the point where I cant really believe theyre still going.I can only hope that they have a lot of up-and-coming stars and that theyll step up to the mark now theyve been given this opportunity but it sounds very bad. And they say they have a bunch of different projects underway at the moment? So whos working on them, the tea lady? So sad to see this happen.MentholEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukTempting switchPersonally, Ill be happy if Nintendo stops support for the original Switch sooner rather than later, as Id prefer as few cross-gen games as possible. I know they always happen, with every console, but theyve been a plague this generation, on the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. Even now we only have a handful of true current gen first party games and Sony in particular dont seem to be in any rush to shift the balance.We still have little idea how powerful the Switch 2 is, and whether itll be difficult for the original Switch to keep up with new games that are released, but I have trouble imagining itll be such a leap forward that Nintendo wont be tempted to make the majority of games for the next few years cross-gen. I am just calling on them to not give into that temptation and to allow the Switch 2 to fulfil its full potential as soon as possible.OnibeeDoing nothingMany of Battlefields recent issues seem to have come from following noisy fan direction. There was significant destruction in Battlefield 1, but it proved problematic. Being able to blow a hole in a wall gives good tactical options but having most of the cover on the battlefield destroyed led to boring maps and even fewer ways of dealing with vehicles.Other backfiring improvements have included very high numbers of players on a map, and increasingly devastating, impregnable vehicles (self-healing tanks, bombers, etc.) capable of being manned by single-players, but requiring two and usually more players to coordinate to take them down. Battlefield has been on a downward trajectory for some time, but I could still be persuaded to try it again if it gets a barrage of positive reviews.Matt (he_who_runs_away PSN ID)PS: With Bloodborne do we actually know that its Sony that are reluctant to make a Bloodborne sequel and not FromSoftware? I could almost see why From wouldnt want to (smaller player base, repeated IP).GC: Nobody knows why Bloodborne is being ignored but From dont exactly have an issue with repeated IP.Illogical decisionsIm going to go against the grain and say it is a good thing that Sony have asked the Bloodborne patch to be removed, as the new PlayStation 5 version will, of course, have this included. Otherwise, why do this now, all of a sudden?They do seem to make a lot of illogical decisions, but theyre still in a market leading position. I often see comments from people who are surprised by how well the PlayStation 5 is doing based on the number of exclusives.Fundamentally, if someone is buying a console for the first time, then their choice will partly be decided by what their friends have. All your friends play Fortnite, EA Sports FC, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Rocket League on the PlayStation 5, so you buy that.Exclusives will sell a particular console, but multiformat games will also just sell consoles in general.As I think even Phil Spencer pointed out (please correct me if Im wrong), Microsoft lost the most important generation with the Xbox One. A lot more people bought the PlayStation 4 and built up their physical and digital libraries that generation. So, that laid the foundation for this generation for Sony to lead and decide against bothering to do many of the things fans have asked for, which nicely circles back to their contempt for Bloodbornes fans.NatorDomCable guyCan anyone help? I have an ARC cable to connect my PlayStation 5 to my home 5.1 system for the sound. I have to bypass the system and plug the PS5 HDMI cable straight into the TV, as the 5.1 system is not 4K, so I would not be getting 4K images from my TV.Where would I connect the ARC cable? Would it be 5.1 system to TV or to PlayStation 5. Please dont suggest an optical cable, as that is not an option. Thanks all, hope someone can help.captainbloodsnot (PSN ID)Games are expensiveSo I see the up to date figures for Nintendo have come in, and no surprise with the hardware numbers as we know what the Switch is doing and now where its going.What does surprise me though, is looking through all generations of hardware, the software sales seem predominantly around only 8-10 games sold per system (though there are some outliers).I know theres reasons, such as, say, the Switch being a secondary console/gaming machine to PlayStation/Xbox/PC, and maybe kids that have them and cant afford much, but that seems a very small amount per system lets say in the Switchs case, just over one game per year, per machine since its been out.Maybe its because I collect physical Switch games (I have more than nine, but dont want to be seen as bragging) that the number seems small, but can GC or another reader shed some extra light as to why the average is this number? Are these software sales physical only or does that include digital, as it even more baffling when you factor in digital sales of late (to me anyway).Slideaway1983 (PSN ID)GC: Youre talking about the attach rate and 8 to 10 is actually very healthy. There is no official data for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S but the PlayStation 4s was 9.6. Ordinary, casual gamers buy far less games than you might imagine.Inbox also-ransMy guess for the first Zelda game on Switch 2 would be a remake of some sort. No one wants the third re-release of The Wind Waker and I dont see the point of Breath Of The Wild when its so recent. A big budget Ocarina Of Time would be my preference but its probably wishful thinking.PalinadIm still shocked how well the Mario Party games sell. Jamboree only came out at Christmas and its already at over 6 million?!LoppyMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

The Nintendo Switch 2 games most likely to use mouse controlsMichael BeckwithPublished February 5, 2025 1:00am Dont tell us those arent meant to be computer mice (YouTube)GameCentral examines why the Nintendo Switch 2s new mouse controllers are a far bigger deal than you may think and the kind of games that could take advantage of them.The official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 sparked a number of questions among fans, with the most obvious being what new games will come out for it, when the console will be released, and how much will it cost.One exciting aspect we feel has gone mostly overlooked, though, is the consoles new Joy-Con controllers and how they seem to function like a computer mouse.Fans discovered this early thanks to leaks and while Nintendo hasnt confirmed anything, the Switch 2 reveal trailer blatantly teases mouse-like functionality for the controllers.While its unclear what Nintendo itself plans to use them for it has the capacity to be a real game changer, allowing a number of games to work properly on a console when they never have before.To explain what we mean by this, lets run down a list of games from various publishers and see what sort of benefits they could gain thanks to the new Joy-Cons.CivilizationIf youre an avid strategy game fan, you likely play most of them on PC, with a mouse and keyboard. Its what theyre typically designed for and while plenty of strategy titles have seen ports to consoles, its usually a compromise in some way.Using a regular controller to survey battlefields and command your troops, particularly in real-time strategy games, just isnt as intuitive as using a mouse, where you need to be very precise in what you select.There are wireless keyboards and computer mice compatible with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S to get around this, but no one ever uses them and certainly not on the Switch.With the Joy-Cons doubling as mice, so many classic strategy games can be ported to the Switch 2, even if some are more obvious than others.Civilization 7 is already launching the same day for PC and consoles, including Switch, but it seems very likely the Switch 2s backwards compatibility will allow it to be played with the mouse controllers.Not to mention, most of the previous games never left PC. Seeing the whole series get Switch 2 re-releases is probably asking too much, but a Civilization 2 special edition for Switch 2 would be great.Total War and SegaSega alone has a massive backlog of strategy games, particularly the Total War and Company Of Heroes series, that are ripe for a Switch 2 port if the publisher wants to capitalise on the consoles expected popularity.Sega could even revisit its Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War series, which have also only ever launched for PC.While developer Relic Entertainment has since split ways with Sega, the publisher re-released the first two games for PC not too long ago, so Switch 2 ports arent entirely out of the question.Some fans actually theorise a Dawn Of War 4 could be in the pipeline, based on screenshots believed to depict terrain seen in the Warhammer 40,000 series that allegedly leaked from a market research survey. So that may be being made with the Switch 2 specifically in mind.Paradox Interactive grand strategy gamesStrategy games, particularly grand strategy games, are Paradox Interactives bread and butter. So, it would make perfect sense for the company to at least port some of its best examples to Switch 2, both to reach a new audience and appease existing fans.Crusader Kings 3 has already had a surprisingly good console port but Age Of Wonders 4 working on Switch 2 would be great, or maybe the Europa Universalis or Hearts Of Iron series too.With other prominent strategy titles like Stellaris and Victoria its hard to know which titles Paradox might deem most suitable for the Switch 2 and theyre probably not sure themselves either. Its just a shame that City: Skylines 2 is indefinitely delayed or that wouldve been an obvious starting point.Manor LordsManor Lords was a surprise hit when it launched on PC last year, attracting over 96,000 players in its first month. Those numbers have declined since, but its still had several thousand people playing it each month and made enough of a splash to get two nominations at The Game Awards 2024, for Best Debut Indie Game and Best Sim/Strategy Game.Developer Slavic Magic is likely prioritising the planned Xbox console port at the moment, but the Switch 2s mouse controllers make it a viable platform as well. Especially if cross-progression becomes a thing, allowing PC players to pick up where they left off on Switch 2, if their PC becomes unavailable.EAs Command & Conquer and The SimsEA seems as eager to get Command & Conquer up and running again as the fans do, yet its fumbled with every attempt so far. We had hoped the series would return to form after the first two games saw fantastic remasters in 2020, but instead EA announced a second crack at a free-to-play mobile game (which is apparently due out this year).A new traditional entry for Switch 2 would be a huge win in our book, but fans would also happily lap up ports of those aforementioned remasters. Maybe a re-release of Red Alert 3 too, so more people can experience Tim Currys iconic performance as Russian ruler Anatoly Cherdenko.Mouse controls on Switch could also allow for ports of EAs Sims games. The Sims 4, a game so popular that EA has no plans for a sequel, has been on PlayStation and Xbox for years, but theres an untapped market of potential new players who have stuck to Nintendos platforms.EA has already revived its short-lived MySims spin-off for Switch and accidental leaks reveal they have new ones planned for the Switch 2 so its going to be very interesting to see how they control.StarCraftWhile theres been talk of Activision Blizzard revisiting the StarCraft series with a shooter spin-off, wed much rather see a traditional entry in this increasingly neglected strategy game series.The franchise has been mostly locked to PC, but if Activision ever gets the urge to tap some StarCraft nostalgia, simply re-releasing the 2017 remaster of the original game or a complete edition of StarCraft 2 on Switch 2 would work.StarCraft on a Nintendo platform isnt even that far-fetched, considering the first entry saw a Nintendo 64 port in 2000. This marks the only time the series ever came to console.DiabloSticking with Activision Blizzard, wed put good money on a Switch 2 port of Diablo 4 being among the first games announced for the console. The series has gained more of a presence on console over the years, but its still primarily a PC franchise and mouse control is the only way to go as far as most veteran fans are concerned.Diablo 4 already has cross-progression, so PC owners can continue playing on Switch 2 whilst travelling thanks to its portability. Same goes for the Diablo-esque Path Of Exile 2, which happens to be one of Steams most played games at the moment.And if/when Diablo 4 comes to Switch 2, similar games could be tempted to follow suit, such as Last Epoch and the Torchlight series.Counter-Strike 2The Switch 2 will no doubt see its fair share of first and third person shooters, regardless of its controllers, but we didnt realise how impactful the mouse functionality could be until we really thought about it.In competitive shooters, PC players have a major advantage over console players, since mouse controls allow for more precise targeting and movement. This is why the modern Call Of Duty games allow you to disable crossplay and opt out of playing against those using different platforms.The Switch 2s own mouse controls, though, could render this a non-issue and help even playing field. For all of Microsofts boasting, that it would be the one to bring Call Of Duty to Nintendo consoles, these mouse Joy-Cons may be what actually justifies the decision.It wouldnt just apply to Call Of Duty either. All manner of competitive shooters would become viable and, assuming they run well, possibly make the Switch 2 the second-best place for them after PC.The likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends will undoubtedly get Switch 2 versions and supported mouse controls would make them even more attractive. Were also thinking of games like Halo (which is already rumoured for Switch 2), Valorant, and Marvel Rivals, the last of which is among the top five most played Steam games at the time of writing.On the subject of Steam, what if the platforms most popular game Counter-Strike 2 made the jump to Switch 2? Counter-Strike has been on consoles before but the Switch 2 could be the only time it really makes sense.League Of LegendsLike strategy games, multiplayer online battle arena games (better known as MOBAs) are traditionally a PC thing. Thats not to say they cant appear on consoles (Nintendo already has one of its own in Pokmon Unite), but porting one from PC to console is not something that often happens.PC MOBAs are built around the assumption that youre using a mouse and keyboard (they evolved out of fan mods of real-time strategy games like StarCraft). But if the Switch 2 has a mouse then PC juggernauts League Of Legends and Dota 2 could make their way to the console.Admittedly, neither game necessarily needs to expand their playerbase (Dota 2 had an average of 400,000+ players every month in the last year) and its possible their lack of console ports is due to their respective publishers not being interested.In the case of League Of Legends, Riot had planned to port the mobile version League Of Legends: Wild Rift to consoles but, according to executive producer David Xu, this was abandoned to prioritise mobile investments and because of a lack of interest in MOBAs within the console space.Advance Wars and PikminLets wrap things up with pure wish fulfilment. Nintendo wouldnt incorporate mouse functionality into its Switch 2 controllers if it didnt intend to make games of its own that use them. Knowing this, we would love to see it used to breathe new life into the Advance Wars series.More TrendingThe franchise has managed without mouse functionality its whole life, but building a new entry with the Switch 2 controllers in mind would allow for new gameplay opportunities and mechanics. Maybe even some real-time elements, as a nod to the short-lived Battalion Wars spin-off series.We could also see Nintendo use the mouse controls for a Pikmin sequel, considering the games are technically classed as real-time strategy titles. Or at least they were at first.Pikmin 4s streamlined combat and controls took the series in a different direction so its probably more likely Nintendo will create a brand new series to make use of the mouse controls and thats the most exciting thought of all. Is it too much to ask for a new Advance Wars on Switch 2? (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

For Anthony Mackies cinematic journey as Captain America, it was important to take not just the mantle but also Sam Wilsons experiences along with him. In an interview with BlackTreeTV, the actor looked back on what makes Wilson the natural choice to be this generations Cap. There are two words that kept coming up during the shoot of this movie between Julius [Onah] and I empathy and compassion, Mackie told the channel of his close collaboration with the films director. I never put together just how compassionate [the character] was and how empathetic he was to the situation of all the people around him. And that was something that I really focused on with this movie and this incarnation of Sam, because I want people to see him grow in every single movie. As Marvel fans know, so much has led to where Wilson is in Captain America: Brave New World. That includes Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which solidified a fate years in the making since Wilsons debut in the MCU. When we first saw Sam Wilson, he was a counselor. He was a veteran. He was a facilitator, a supporter of soldiers and that was something that was very important for me, Mackie said. Keeping that all the way through the storyline up until this movie there were certain aspects of his being certain ways, of him interacting with people, that I wanted to hone in on in this movie because we now get to see Sam Wilson fully accept and fully take the shield. Theres no more question, he is Captain America. And that fact is something that should be normalized despite the current political climate. I think the idea of representation is is Important because of the fact it gives you the opportunity to see people in a different light than what you might think, Mackie said. You know what I mean? Like its important for my sons to watch the Wonder Woman movie. Its important for my sons friends to see a Black dude as Captain America. Mackie continued to describe how its important for kids to see what heroes represent no matter who holds the shield. It changes your perspective. It changes your insight. Thats why I say, You know, Captain America is just the moniker. He represents everything thats good inside of us.In approaching the role, Mackie took a cue from one of his own childhood heroes. When I was a kid one of my favorite superheroes was Supermanlike, I grew up wanting to be Christopher Reeves, he said. Yeah, I didnt care he was a white dude. I didnt care hes from another planet. It was the humanity of the character that I connected with. Sam Wilson is the best part of all of us. And thats what people gravitate to and thats what people connect with. Captain America: Brave New World opens February 14. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Samsung has outdone itself with the launch of its Galaxy S25 Series and offers unprecedented pre-order deals (on the official store) that make owning their latest flagship devices more accessible than ever. The standout offer? Free Galaxy Buds3 Pro with select purchases.From $249 Down to $0The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are normally priced at $249 but they can be yours for free when you opt for the Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB) or the Galaxy S25+ 256GB. Even if you choose the 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra, youll only pay $9.99 for these premium earbuds. Galaxy S25 buyers can buy them for just $19.99 to $69.99 depending on the model.See Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.comSee Galaxy S25 Series at Samsung.comBut the savings dont stop there. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra which accounts for roughly 70% of S25 Series sales (estimates) comes with the most perks. Take advantage of the double the storage option and youll get the 512GB model for the price of the 256GB version thats $1299 instead of $1419. Same for the 1TB model which matches the price of the 512GB version ($1419 down from $1659).The trade-in program is where things get very interesting: By trading in an eligible smartphone (see list on Samsungs official store), you can slash up to $900 off the price of the S25 Ultra. This means you could potentially own the 512GB Galaxy S25 Ultra for just $399, plus get the Galaxy Buds3 Pro for free a combined saving of $1,269.See Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.comFor those looking to complete their Samsung ecosystem, the pre-order deals available until midnight on February 7th, 2025, extend to other accessories too. The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch7 are available with discounts ranging from 40% to 80%. You can also enjoy a 60% discount on the innovative Galaxy Ring ($180 down from $399).This launch marks Samsungs most aggressive pricing strategy yet for a flagship release: The Galaxy S25 Ultra which is touted as the iPhone 16 Pro killer and currently the most powerful Android smartphone offers up to $1,300 in benefits not including the additional accessory discounts.Samsungs Most Aggressive LaunchThe Galaxy S25 series was unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 22, 2025 in California and introduces major features powered by Samsungs new Galaxy AI. The lineup includes the standard Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and the premium Galaxy S25 Ultra.These new devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processors which offer enhanced performance and AI capabilities. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, in particular, boasts a tough titanium frame paired with Cornings glare-free glass for added durability. Its 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display delivers an ultra-smooth 1-120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Camera enthusiasts will appreciate the upgraded system on the Galaxy S25 Ultra which includes three main cameras including a new 50MP ultra wide angle camera.If youve been eyeing a new top-tier smartphone along with Samsungs latest earbuds, theres never been a better time to make the leap. Remember, these offers are only available until midnight on February 7th, 2025.See Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.comSee Galaxy S25 Series at Samsung.com

N26 Residence / WARchitectSave this picture! Rungkit CharoenwatHousesBangkok, ThailandArchitects: MWArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:752 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Rungkit Charoenwat Lead Architects: Thawin Harnboonseth More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. This land measures 282 square meters and is accessible from a road on two sides. The house across the street belongs to a family member. Therefore, they wanted it to be accessible from both sides. It is interesting how the large plot of land compared to the usable area of this 750 square-meter-house is managed. From this context, we thought of an open house like a resort in the shape of an L, crisscrossing the upper and lower floors to provide dimension and have glass at open corners for enjoying nature as much as possible. The vacant area around the house has been landscaped with various gardens for freshness. It makes use of two side roads, providing access from the back of the house through a drive-in car park that accommodates up to 4 cars and access from the front of the house by walk.Save this picture!If the homeowner accesses the house from the front and passes through the archway, it will reveal a panoramic view of the entire home. The house's unique architectural language is a C-shaped box with a C-Channel steel exterior for a cool and sharp feel. It is filled with teak wood, which gives it a warm and conflicting feeling. The ground floor's C-shaped box, which protrudes into the yard like a swimming pool, has a workout room and office. The view from inside the office has a corner mirror, which is another best angles of the house. The C-shaped box on the second floor is the master bedroom that extends 6 meters from the main structure, floating on a large swimming pool. This architectural language is energetic and unambiguous.Save this picture!This futuristic work will greatly enhance the impression of visitors. You will notice the swimming pool and the bulk of the master bedroom projecting significantly from the side as you approach the main balcony. With the big trees encircling the red sage tree in the center of the river, the composition is exquisitely precise.Save this picture!The main living room of this house is open with parallel glass on both sides and large sliding doors that can be opened to let in the breeze. The front of the house has a smooth lawn and rock garden with large trees placed to go well with the swimming pool. There is also an open grass area for children. The garden behind the house is very natural with a waterfall and various plants. As for the view from inside the house through a single flight of stairs, it provides a beautiful and impressive picture frame with natural light changing with the seasons.Save this picture!The back of the TV and the pantry are decorated with elegant bookmat stones, especially behind the TV which is double volume with a selection of 3 pairs of bookmat stones with a seamless pattern. The floor, ceiling, and walls of this house, both inside and outside, are mostly all made of real wood because it is a business owned by the homeowner's family.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMWArchitectsOfficePublished on February 05, 2025Cite: "N26 Residence / WARchitect" 04 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026181/n26-residence-warchitect&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

We arent all morning people. But maybe we should be, as recent research reveals that people tend to have better mental health and well-being scores in the morning than at night. There is a clear time-of-day pattern in self-reported mental health and well-being, the research study states, published in BMJ Mental Health today. There is also an association with day of the week and season, with particularly strong evidence for better mental health and well-being in the summer.Starting Off StrongResearch shows that mental health and well-being are far from stagnant, seeing their fair share of shifts over time. Some studies track these changes through lives. Others, over a period of years or a year. Yet there arent many studies that trace mental health and well-being diurnally, during the shortened timescale of the day.Mood is known to change over seasons of the year, days of the week, and even over the course of the day, the study stated. But although broader mental health and well-being also vary over months and weeks, it is unclear whether there are diurnal changes in how people experience and report their mental health.To determine whether the time of day predicts patterns in mental health and well-being, the authors of the recent research turned to survey results from the University College London COVID-19 Social Study. Including measures for symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and assessing the participants sense of happiness as well as their sense of life as satisfying and worthwhile, the survey results reveal that people tend to feel their best in the morning and their worst at night.Generally, the study stated, things do seem better in the morning.Determining Daily Patterns Conducted from March 2020 to March 2022, the COVID-19 Social Study tracked mental health and well-being information for thousands of participants through a combination of self-assessments and surveys. In total, complete information was compiled for almost 50,000 people.Taken at any time from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., the surveys asked participants how happy they felt in the past week, for instance, and recorded how satisfying and worthwhile they felt their life had been. Using timestamps to tie the participants responses to specific times of the day, the study authors found that mental health and well-being tends to start strong, with people reporting lower levels of loneliness and of depression and anxiety symptoms and higher senses of happiness, life satisfaction, and life worth in the morning than at night. These time-of day patterns applied to any season, though the differences between participants best mental health and worst mental health were more dramatic during the weekends than during the weekdays. Assessing trends associated with the day of the week and the season, too, the study found that the participants sense of happiness, life satisfaction, and life worth were also better on Mondays and Fridays than on Sundays, and better in summers than in winters. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were also improved in the summer, as were levels of loneliness. Read More: The Biology of Stress in Your BodyA Circadian Connection?According to a press release, the study results are not causal, and cannot reveal the source of these trends. That said, its possible that they connect to our circadian rhythms and their timely release of cortisol, a hormone that regulates our response to stress.Physiological processes are known to change across the day, the study stated. Cortisol peaks shortly after waking and reaches its lowest levels around bedtime.Other factors could connect to these trends too, as circadian rhythms do not differ between weekends and weekdays, though daily trends in mental health and well-being do. Given there is little evidence that physiological processes differ across different days of the week, differences might be related to other factors, the study stated. This could include contextual factors and sequence of daily activities, which are likely to be different between weekends and weekdays.Ultimately, the researchers say that their results should inform mental health treatments and therapies in the future. These factors should also be considered for the design and delivery of interventions, the study stated, as well as the planning and provision of public health services.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

We know that staying active is important. It extends longevity and makes us feel better both mentally and physically. But did you know that staying loose and limber is also important to your long-term health?Research has shown that patients with greater flexibility tend to live longer, healthier lives, says Andrew J. Harb, a specialist in rehabilitation and pain medicine at NYU Langone.In a study published last year in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, researchers measured the flexibility of individuals, both middle-aged and elderly, in areas including the shoulders, hips, and back and found that patients with more flexibility tended to live longer and healthier lives.Another indication of the benefits of staying active and nimble comes from research among the worlds Blue Zones, in places like Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, parts of the world where people live exceptionally long lives.Their daily lives dont include much sitting; rather, they stay vibrant and active doing tasks like gardening, walking, dancing, and shepherding the local herds. They focus on moving naturally throughout the day, doing normal activities that require movement and flexibility, says Harb.How Flexibility Plays a Key Role in Our LivesEveryday stretching can reduce levels of cortisol in the brain, which has been associated with our fight or flight response. Over time, high levels of cortisol in the body have been linked to a laundry list of health problems, including heart problems, bone loss, weight gain, and mood disorders.When you spike your cortisol levels, it opens up an inflammatory pathway from the adrenal glands to the brain that perpetuates inflammation throughout your body, impacting your joints, muscles, heart function, liver, and so on, says Harb.Flexibility also plays a key role in our sleep. If were tight and achy, it can make sleep more difficult, and sleep is so important because its the time of day when the body and mind are restored and repaired at the cellular level.Sleep can also improve blood circulation, which is key as we age and our blood vessels become stiffer. The body, in general, stiffens and dehydrates as we age, and stretching plays a role in pushing back against this perpetual drying out of sorts.Stretching Can Improve Muscle Strength and SizeRecent research has shown that simple stretching can improve muscular strength as well as flexibility, according to David Behm, an exercise science researcher at the Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Human Kinetics.Your muscles get larger as they stretch because tension sends a signal to your muscles to grow, says Behm. Stretching sends a message down into the nucleus of the cell, causing an increase in protein synthesis and instructing the muscles to grow, he adds. And building muscle is one of the most important tools for staving off aging.How to Add Stretching Into Your Daily RoutineIf you stretch five days a week for a minimum of 15 minutes for six weeks, youll get bigger and stronger, says Behm. But even less than that can have an impact. Waking up most days of the week, getting out of bed, and starting your day with some simple stretches is all you need.Consider folding forward and hanging like a rag doll with your hands holding onto opposite elbows and the weight of your head pulling you downward. Separate your legs into a standing split and fold forward in the same manner. Stretch your neck to the right and left, and then try to do a full circle, rolling your head all the way around. Stretch your shoulders by bringing one arm across your body and holding it with your other arm. Or consider a gentle yoga class to start or end your day.No matter how you go about adding stretching to your day, the most important thing is to get started because new research is showing us that it may be as important for keeping you young and vibrant as cardio and weight lifting.Read More: Why Are Some People More Flexible than Others?Article Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Andrew J. Harb a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and pain medicine at NYU Langone.Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. Reduced Body Flexibility Is Associated With Poor Survival in Middle-Aged Men and Women: A Prospective Cohort StudyMayo Clinic. Chronic stress puts your health at risk.David Behm, an exercise science researcher at the Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Human Kinetics and RecreationSara Novak is a science journalist based in South Carolina. In addition to writing for Discover, her work appears in Scientific American, Popular Science, New Scientist, Sierra Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, and many more. She graduated with a bachelors degree in Journalism from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. She's also a candidate for a masters degree in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, (expected graduation 2023).