Steam Next Fest is one of the biggest events on Steam, providing a huge opportunity to showcase your demo. I already have a demo on Steam and have gained about 96 wishlists.What is the game about?IslaNode Resc

Early 2024 the fight for galactic liberty reached new heights when, on February 8, Helldivers 2 blasted off into the stratosphere and became the new star of PlayStation 5. Since its launch, the third-person squad-based shooter has become a firm favourite with fans, scooping a clip-load of awards throughout the year. And what a year it ended up being from brutal new foes to staggering mech suits, Arrowhead pretty much hit the target every time.So, grab a steaming cup of liber-tea and join Game Director Mikael Eriksson for a chronological, intergalactic jaunt through what made Helldivers 2 such an explosive hit.Play VideoFebruary 2024 launch and the epic battle of Malevelon CreekThe continuation of the Galactic War in Helldivers 2 not only brought with it a fresh gameplay perspective, but also one of the key elements to the games appeal building a community worthy of interstellar peacekeeping.One of the things we really wanted to hone in on was making a game thats exciting and will create great moments that you can look back on with your friends and laugh or reminisce about, explains Eriksson.To that end, Helldivers 2s emergent, often unpredictable systemic gameplay is partnered with social aspects that means players create a constant feedback loop of engagement. Videos and social media posts of random events, friendly fire, accidental deaths and the dramatic stakes of alien warfare already started being shared from launch day. Which was all part of the developers vision statement, shared by Eriksson: Improvise, adapt, and overcome challenges that push your abilities to the max as you forge friendships through the joy of shared laughter and the thrill of clutch moments.This was immediately highlighted in the Massacre of Malevelon Creek an ill-fated mission where players were tasked to defend a planet from an Automaton threat. The Helldivers failed. Badly. What resulted from this doomed fight were social media memes, rallying calls, and a desire for revenge which pulled even more players into the game.It was incredible to watch, says Eriksson. We didnt even think that the battle for Malevelon Creek would be anything special, but players themselves were really running with it, driven by the huge losses of Helldivers down on the planet. It became a shared experience.This battle was the first time we stood back and said, wow, what have we created?March 2024 new enemies, missions, and stratagemsThe Galactic War well on its way and the number of enlistees growing, Super Earths quest for liberty began to take shape with new elements dropped into the game alongside fresh event missions.The bug-like Terminids added flying Shriekers to their ranks, while the Helldivers evened the odds with the LAS-99 Quasar Cannon, MG-206 Heavy Machine Gun, and the EXO-45 Patriot Exosuit the latter a reward for the liberation of Tien Kwan.I was nervous, says Eriksson. We had spent so much time making the Exosuit as good as we could, and now it was down to the communitys ability to actually earn it. What if theyd fail? But eventually they unlocked it and then all tried to claim it at the same time!Play VideoPlayers also were making full use of the Galactic War Table, which gave players valuable summaries of the ever-evolving conflict, and gave them an idea of where next to *ahem* spread democracy. This tapped into another key factor of Helldivers 2s creation.We consider the Galactic War as a tabletop roleplaying game, which is our main inspiration, says Eriksson. We created a Dungeon Master style concept [ called Joel] who controls various factions and respond to the often-surprising player actions, so the player-driven narrative is as much about you guys playing with us as it is about us playing with you. Its a crazy way to make a video game, but we love it.April 2024 Helldivers strike backA month of great victory. Malevelon Creek was avenged with a decisive liberation of the jungle planet, resulting in April 3rd declared as Malevelon Creek Memorial Day. By Super Earth presidential decree, all Helldivers were granted a commemorative cape, and citizens were given a generous three minutes of remembrance (during their lunch break).In retaliation, the Automatons mounted a full-scale attack which the Helldivers crushed immediately. The hilariously swift victory didnt go unnoticed by Arrowhead. The players performed vastly better than we had planned for, admits Eriksson. One of the delights of working on a game where the players have this much agency is that it always keeps us on our toes.Of course, somehow, the Automatons returnedPlay VideoMay & June 2024 more mechs and mission malfunctionsThe heavy-duty introduction of the EXO-49 Emancipator Exosuit allowed players to celebrate their dominance over the resurgent Automatons. This was a stark contrast to the repeated failure of the Helldivers attempts to succeed in tasks designed to aid the construction of MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines.By June, the Helldivers were given a choice: attempt to retrieve vital materials from Marfark to finally earn the Anti-Tank Mines, or head to Vernen Wells to save stranded civilians inside Super Citizen Annes Hospital for Very Sick Children. The Corps chose the latter, giving up their third chance to gain the Anti-Tank Mines. However, in the real-world, Arrowhead was so impressed by this display of morals, that the developer donated $4,311 to the Save the Children charity.July & August 2024 Freedom for allAfter the anti-tank rocket launcher MLS-4X Commando was added to the Helldivers arsenal in July, August saw two big milestones: the MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines were finally unlocked despite yet another Major Order failure, and the massive Escalation of Freedom update. The latter arrived with a number of tweaks and balances, a higher difficulty preset, new mission objectives, and the addition of the Impaler, Automaton Rocket Tanks, Reinforced Scout Strider, Alpha Commander, and Spore Charger threats.For those seeking a new planet to discover, the swamp planet biome was also added, while armour-reducing acid storms provided a fresh environmental hazard for both players and enemies.Play VideoSeptember to November 2024 a celebration of libertyThe Helldivers courageous liberation of Tarsh and Mastia in September saw the Orbital Napalm Barrage stratagem unlocked, which was followed by the glory of Liberty Day on October 26 and the delivery of a free weapon and armour load to all in the celebration of Super Earths tireless quest for universal freedom.By the time November rolled around, the focus had been shifted to the powerful Democracy Space Station becoming operational via the successful killing of 500 million Terminids.However, these successes and celebrations were short-livedPlay VideoDecember 2024 to February 2025 Illuminating the futureThe return of the dreaded and ancient Illuminate flipped everything on its head, marked by the Omens of Tyranny update in December. Along with more tweaks, joining the reemergence of this deadly foe were new colony missions and the ability to call upon the Fast Reconnaissance Vehicle (FRV), capable of ploughing through some of the lighter enemies.Omens of Tyranny was a major landmark for Arrowhead, with the team launching it at The Game Awards as they scooped Best Ongoing Game and Best Multiplayer Game gongs.Working in the studio, the success of the game can sometimes seem abstract, says Eriksson. Going to award shows, actually meeting real people talking about their experiences, is amazing. It makes me realize that were actually having an impact on peoples lives.We see it as a huge responsibility. It tells us that we have to keep making this game the very best multiplayer experience it can be, and keep raising the bar and the expectations.And with the fight ongoing, theres still plenty more surprises to come in Helldivers 2. Were just getting warmed up, says Eriksson. Expect drama, mounting threats (new and old) and, of course, the unexpected.Were really honoured that people are having a great time in Helldivers 2, and from our point of view, this is just the beginning.More on Helldivers 21/2Now showing slide 1 of 2Show allPlay VideoHelldivers 2: how Arrowhead turned the twin-stick shooter original into a bombastic PS5 sequelView and download imageDownload the imagecloseCloseDownload this imageHow the names Arrowhead Game Studios and Helldivers 2 came to be

Mario collects mushrooms. Donkey Kong collects bananas. The naked, blood-lusting loner of Butchers Creek collects snuff films.More than likely, you already know whether youre the sort of person who will play the latest gorefest from Dusk creator David Szymanski or the sort of person who wonders how this shit is legal. Ill share the grimy details for the few people still balancing on the entrails-covered fence.Butchers Creek takes place in a pseudo-apocalyptic future in which nihilism and cruelty have won, any heroes have long died, and the people who remain eke out pleasure from others pain. The protagonist has a taste for recordings of killings, which is why theyre willing to make the poor decision to enter a terrifying, decrepit basement littered with soiled mattresses, busted light bulbs, and plaid-wearing Appalachian murder cultists.What follows is a knowingly nasty, thoughtfully crafted mashup of M-rated (or unrated) games like Manhunt, Kane & Lynch, and the never-officially-released Thrill Kill. This sticky subcategory inspired congressional hearings in the 1990s and fueled court cases in the 2010s. In its 2011 ruling in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, the U.S. Supreme Court afforded video games the same First Amendment protections as other art forms. And yet, with this new freedom, the expanded video game market found itself self-censoring for a different reason: to appeal to the broadest possible audience.Butchers Creeks grotesqueries could be mistaken for modern edgelord humor meant to enrage strangers on social media. But Szymanski has created something intentionally anachronistic as a piece of art, a throwback to when games existed as much to entertain as to provoke the ire of institutions, whether they be the government, retailers, or arts publications.Shortly after the games protagonist enters this moldy, musky underworld, a group of torturers captures the man, strips him naked, and prepares him to be the latest victim in the snuff films he had previously craved. Of course, the story cant end there. The antihero (a word that feels like an understatement) breaks free and uses wrenches, planks of wood, and box cutters to seek revenge on his captors. To be clear, no lesson has been learned. The snuff films, on VHS tapes, serve as a currency for saving the game and unlocking new areas. Taking Polaroids of murder scenes restores health. The gap between the main character and the band of sickos is roughly as thick as a single sheet of Bible paper.Is this fun?If you enjoyed the underrated Xbox 360 first-person melee game Condemned: Criminal Origins and have the constitution for the worst of human nature, yeah. Art can be many things, not all of them comfortable. What I admire about Szymanskis games, which are short and appear with astonishing frequency, is that they are art. Nearly 15 years ago, video game developers gained protections that, for decades, had felt unattainable. Today, Szymanski isnt simply taking advantage of those protections to create something shamelessly sadistic and hateful (of which theres plenty to be found on Steam), but to engage with gaming history, the current cultural mood, and the assumptions we make about the very building blocks of design. Consider the mushroom, the banana, and the snuff tape. See how a power-up can be perverted. Contemplate what power for the sake of pleasure encourages.And then bash a cultist with a hammer.Butchers Creekwas released Jan. 23 on Windows PC. The game was played on PC using a digital copy purchased by the author. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can findadditional information about Polygons ethics policy here.

Painting miniatures is a good, chill time. Since I picked the hobby back up in 2017 Ive spent hundreds of hours away from my screens, listening to good music and great podcasts. And, as a bonus, I have dozens upon dozens of smartly painted little miniatures for all my favorite games. If youd also like to add an artsy little oasis to your life, one that can bring a bit of meditative joy to your free time while also adding beautiful bits to your favorite board games and role-playing games, youve come to the right place. It can be daunting to build up the skills and tools you need to get started, but our guide can show you how.In this article, I hope to demystify those first few steps beginning painters need to take. Below youll find my personal recommendations, not just of the paints and other tools youll want to buy, but a handful of carefully curated teachers and artists Ive come to trust over the last seven years of exploring. Lets dive in.Which miniatures should you buy?There are so many different kinds of miniatures on the market that just narrowing things down to a handful of choices can be difficult work. My recommendation is to start with one of your favorite games or subjects.Maybe youre really into dungeon-crawling board games like HeroQuest, Zombicide, Frosthaven, or Descent: Legends of the Dark. Maybe youre more into strategy games, like Scythe or Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition. Or maybe youre curious about miniatures skirmish games, titles like Star Wars Shatterpoint, Halo: Flashpoint, Necromunda, Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team, or Trench Crusade. Wherever your interests lie, start with a game or a universe you really enjoy and that bit of passion you feel in your gut will help to get you across the finish line with your first batch of painted minis.But dont start off by plopping down hundreds or thousands of dollars on a big army for Warhammer 40,000, or any other large-scale miniatures wargame for that matter. Piling up too much plastic on your desk before you even have the basics under your belt is a surefire way to get discouraged.Just a handful of minis is enough to get you where youre going, so start small and build from there.AssemblyWhile choosing your first small passion project, consider if youd like to spend any time at all assembling those miniatures before you paint them because you dont actually need to. Plenty of miniatures are sold preassembled these days especially ones that come with hobby board games. Other options include The Witcher and the Cyberpunk Red lines from Monster Fight Club, as well as the huge new range of plastic miniatures for Catalyst Game Labs BattleTech. WizKids also offers a huge selection of preassembled miniatures, including a wide variety of miniatures custom-made for D&D. Some even come primed and ready to paint right out of the box.Note that even if you arent assembling your miniatures, youll still need a simple self-healing cutting mat to protect your work surface.When selecting miniatures that you do need to put together, Id recommend avoiding metal and resin miniatures out of the gate. Both of these materials require different tools to assemble, which wont be covered at all in this guide. Stick with plastic miniatures your first time out. Plastic minis will likely come on a sprue the plastic frame that holds them safely inside the box for shipment. To gently remove each piece, youll need a pair of cutting pliers called sprue nippers. Sprue nippers look a bit like scissors, but with one flat side and one angled side. Unlike scissors, the edges of these blades should never overlap if they do, youre simply squeezing them too hard.To use sprue nippers correctly, carefully place the nippers with the flat edge touching the surface of the miniature youd like to clip from the sprue. Then, gently pull the two halves together until the piece comes free. Repeat for every point of connection between the model and the sprue to free the piece entirely. Never twist pieces free from the sprue, as you can severely damage them.Once you have all the pieces needed to assemble a given miniature trimmed from the sprue, you need to clean those pieces off. The goal is to remove whatever remnants of the sprue are still attached, which you can easily do with a hobby knife and a flexible sanding pad sort of like an emory board, but for plastic models.Youll also want to remove something called mold lines which youll nearly always find somewhere on a plastic miniature, even if it comes pre-assembled.To make a plastic miniature, two halves of a metal mold are brought together and hot plastic is pressed in between them. Sometimes the plastic seeps out where the two halves of the mold meet, creating unsightly ribbons of plastic called mold lines, and several different tools can be used to remove them.A hobby knife is the most common tool used to remove mold lines, as they are incredibly sharp. But they can lead to damaging your miniatures. A better tool for beginners is the Citadel Mouldline Remover. You can use its firm, sharp edges to scrape off the mold lines rather than cut them. Youll also want a small, soft brush like a toothbrush to clean those areas when youre done.Now that youve got all the bits of your miniature trimmed out and cleaned, its time to glue them together. Always check with the manufacturer of your plastic models to be sure, but more often than not you wont be using super glue youll be using plastic cement.Plastic cement is a solvent that literally melts the plastic that your miniature is made of, creating a permanent bond that will weld its various pieces together. Considering this, you will want to be very precise and delicate with how you apply it. I recommend Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. The brush applicator makes it easy to use just the right amount of glue, while the low-viscosity formula allows you to easily flow the glue into gaps and then gently sand or cut away the excess when it dries.Assembly shopping listPrimerPaint wont stick to bare plastic, so before you start painting, youll need to prepare your miniatures with a special kind of paint called a primer. A primer will stick to bare plastic, and it will create a rough surface that will be easier for you to paint on. The most common way to prime miniatures is with canned spray paint. Just about anything that you can find at the local hardware store will do, but be sure to read the label to make sure its safe to apply on plastic. Also, avoid enamel and other oil-based primers as they can be hard to clean up.Ive personally had the most experience with Citadel and The Army Painter primers, and both will do a decent job. They are, however, extraordinarily expensive something like four times as much as comparable paint at the hardware store. Thats why lately Ive just been going with Rust-Oleum. Something to consider later on in your painting journey is the color for your primer coat. The other paints youll be using arent perfectly opaque, so some of that primer will ultimately show through and impact the overall color and tone of your miniature. Stick with black your first time around, as that will give you an even base layer to work from.Youll also want to invest in some gloves, to keep your hands free of paint while spraying. Also, priming with a rattle can should always be done outdoors to protect your eyes and lungs, and you should closely adhere to the guidelines posted on your can of primer.Most cans of spray paint dont work upside down, and will work poorly if you even tilt them on their side, so to help you get into every nook and cranny on your miniature youll want something on which to mount your miniature. You cant go wrong with a paint mixing stick (free at most hardware stores) covered in masking tape, unrolled sticky side out. Just stick your minis on and go. Just be sure youre painting in an open, well-ventilated area and apply thin, even coats of paint. To avoid runny, drippy coats of paint you should both depress and release the trigger on your spray can while the stream of paint is not pointed at a model.Alternatively, a painting handle like the Citadel Painting Handle can make cleanup much easier, and help conserve paint.Primer shopping listPaintThe next big decision youll need to make is which line of paints to begin purchasing. For beginners, we recommend starting with acrylic paints that wash up with water. Oil-based paints are great, especially for weathering and other effects, but water-based acrylic is a lot more forgiving when youre just getting started and theres no fumes to speak of. So what brand of acrylic hobby paint should you get? My recommendation is to swing by your local hobby shop and see what theyve got in good supply. That way when you run low on something, or want to try a new color, youll have options that are compatible with the work youve already done. But if you have your choice in the matter, we recommend Two Thin Coats paint. Designed by former Games Workshop presenter Duncan Rhodes, and manufactured by Trans Atlantis Games, these paints are based on the common hues found in the Citadel range but feature more consistency from pot-to-pot. They also come in a dropper bottle with a stainless steel mixing ball inside two features that Citadel paints lack.Before you go any further, youll also need to understand that whatever paint you buy is not going to be ready to go onto your model straight out of the pot. Instead, youll need to thin your paints. Rhodes, who still presents on YouTube, does a great job of explaining why and showing how.Other kinds of paintWashesWashes are a kind of thin paint, designed to run into the recesses on your miniature. These will give depth and nuance to your models, especially the areas with lots of texture and shadow. Washes are applied on top of layer paints once the previous layers are dry. Washes tend to pool up, and youll use your brush to position these pools where you want them on your model. Washes are manufactured by just about every company that makes layer paints, including Two Thin Coats, Citadel (Games Workshop), The Army Painter, Vallejo, and others.Contrast paintThe newest kind of paints available on the market are called contrast paints, named after the progenitors of the type Citadel Contrast Paints.Contrast paints are used like layer paints, but behave like washes. Youll need a bigger, fatter brush to use contrast paints in most settings. Contrast paints are applied in neat, even coats. Multiple coats build up additional opacity, deepening the tone of the color. When thinned, however, contrast paints can often be used just like a wash.Note that while layer paints have some variance in how they can be thinned, mixed, and applied to models, contrast paints vary wildly in their consistency. Most notably, they often dont look anything like they do in the bottle once theyve dried on your model. So while contrast paints can be an expedient way to paint especially if youre using the slapchop method mentioned below they also take a little bit of practice to get comfortable with.Contrast-style paints are available from Citadel (Games Workshop), The Army Painter, and Vallejo.Paint shopping listBrushesThere are a number of different styles that you can use to paint your miniatures, and they tend toinvolve different brushes. Here well discuss layer painting in detail, touch on drybrushing, and discuss the newest style a hybrid known as slapchop. Youll find links below to starter brushes that will be compatible with each.Layer paintingThe most traditional method of painting miniatures uses base layers and highlight layers, applied with small brushes, to build up detail on a miniature. Those surfaces are generally painted from the bottom up, meaning that painters are working with the deepest layers of detail on the miniature and working their way to the topmost layers. The finer the work, the more variation and gradation between and within those layers.For instance, if I was painting a knight in armor I would paint his padding first, then his chainmail coat, and then the plates of polished steel on top of that. I would start each layer by blocking out the areas I need to separate them from the layers below, neatening up the edges with other colors as I go.As I work on each new layer, I might use just one or two paints, or perhaps several different techniques like glazing or drybrushing, or different kinds of paints like washes and contrast paints in different ways. Different techniques like stippling, glazing, and non-metallic metal shading (discussed below) can even be used to simulate different materials.Layer painting is the style most commonly seen in Kickstarter campaigns for high-end board games and in the lavish miniature wargames produced by companies like Games Workshop and others. Its also one of the most commonly taught methods of painting, since the same skills apply regardless of how many layers there are or how detailed those layers might be.Because layer painting is so popular, tutorials are easy to come by online. I found my way using Games Workshop tutorials almost exclusively for the first few years. Just about every model that the British company makes has its own tutorial multiples, in fact, to include the color schemes for each of its different factions. Theyre currently divided into two levels of difficulty: Battle Ready and Parade Ready. You can find them all on YouTube and in the Citadel Colour mobile app.Edge highlightingWhile there are many different techniques that go into layer painting, one of the most important is called edge highlighting. This involves taking a relatively full brush and using it to draw thin lines along the edge of a model. Merely the presence of a thin, bright line by itself gives the geometry of a miniature more definition and volume. But you can also add depth and flash by painting multiple lines, each one thinner than the last, using progressively brighter, sharper colors. Its a subtle, versatile technique that applies just as well to military models and mechs as it does to faces and flesh.There are a bunch of tutorials that can teach you more about edge highlighting. Here are just a few to get you started.Miniac: Edge HighlightingSquidmar Miniatures: Edge HighlightingDrybrushingDrybrushing is a common technique used in layer painting alongside edge highlighting, and in that context its not much of a big deal. Just get a brush, put some paint on it, then wipe nearly all of that paint off. Drag that dry brush against the sharper details on your miniature and voila, off comes the paint. Its like edge highlighting, but a bit softer and over a larger area.But you can also use the technique to paint your models start to finish, using little or no layer painting techniques along the way. This method has been popularized by a company called Artis Opus. Its signature style of painting relies on big, poofy, makeup-style brushes and a specially textured palette. While beginners will have more success with larger models, including terrain, it can also be combined with layer painting for smaller miniatures as well.Artis Opus video tutorials are tremendous, and include everything from painting large pieces of terrain to smaller figures to caring for these large, unique brushes.SlapchopThe last style of painting that well deal with in this guide is called slapchop, named after a mostly satirical video by The Honest Wargamer that helped to popularize the style in 2022. While they clearly set out to take the piss out of over-serious painting videos and YouTube hobby gurus in general, they accidentally made a decent little tutorial of their own. Heres how it works.Slapchop is a hybrid of both drybrushing and layer painting. It begins with a black primer, and then a thick drybrush of white paint over the top. The secret here is that the white paint is applied directionally, with the intent to preserve areas that would be shaded by a natural light source.Imagine a black baseball cap. To prepare that black baseball cap for slapchop, youd hit it hard with a white drybrush from the top. The imagined sun (the white paint) would be hitting the top, while the imagined shadow (the black paint) is hiding under the brim.Once youve established a monochromatic, fully shaded model, slapchop uses the transparency of contrast paints (Citadel Contrast, Army Painter Speedpaints, and others) to its advantage. A single, relatively thick coat of paint over a given area will be more intense over white, and less intense over black. Just slap on the base colors that you want, and you get shading and blending for free, essentially, thanks to the high-contrast black-and-white undercoat. You can leave it there, or glam it up with washes, glazing, stippling or even more drybrushing.Paintbrush shopping listProtecting your miniaturesOnce youve finished a miniature, you need to protect it from damage using a clear varnish. Varnishes can be applied with a brush as a thin, all-over coat. They are also available in cans and can be applied through an airbrush. Two thin coats will do in most situations. Choosing either a gloss varnish or a matte varnish will change the look and feel of your miniature, so plan accordingly.Varnishes can also be used in between stages of painting, effectively saving your work from damage before you move on. These clear varnishes are essential when working with other kinds of paint as well, including enamel and oil-based paint.Its also important to consider how and where you want to store your miniatures. Some plastic inserts can damage your paint work, so be careful when placing minis back into the box.For displaying your miniatures, consider clear plastic or glass boxes.Additional painting techniquesThere are a bunch of additional techniques that you can use to supplement your chosen style. Here are just a few of my favorites, presented by trusted sources and available for free on YouTube. You can also check out my other guide on airbrush basics.Caring for your brushesFilling gaps in your modelZenithal highlightingStipplingGlazingNon-metallic metalsApplying decalsWinterdyne Commission Modeling Blog guide to Waterslide DecalsAppendixWeve mentioned several times that contrast-style paints can be deceptive in how theyll actually look on your model. Below youll find a fan-created color guide for various contrast paints applied on top of various surfaces.Citadel and other contrast-style paint swatchesSometimes you cant quite find the right color at the local shop, and you cant wait for it to ship from an online retailer. Thats when you need to consider using a different brand of paint. The chart linked below can help you find compatible colors across multiple ranges.Dakka Dakka paint range compatibility chart (for swapping colors between brands)Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list and leaves out many other common techniques including airbrushing. Nevertheless, its a good place to start and should keep you busy for months, if not years.If you have a favorite painting trick, tutorial, or tutor, be sure to mention them in the comments below.

In a narrow alley of Mallorca, Spain, a simple renovation metamorphosed into something far more ambitious a masterclass in manipulating light and space that recalls the luminous spatial experiments of Josep Antoni Coderch in his Spanish homes. Completed by Isla Architects, Casa Milas defining moment came with the acquisition of an adjacent strip of land, affectionately dubbed the llonganissa (Spanish for sausage), which catalyzed a complete reimagining of how a home could interact with its surroundings through multiple dimensions of illumination.At its core, the project is an exploration of threshold spaces, exemplified by the diverse array of window treatments each one a consideration on the relationship between interior and exterior. These openings from sliding panels to circular skylights create a dynamic interplay of light throughout the day, transforming otherwise static spaces into ever-changing environments. The pivot windows, in particular, echo Spains modernist tradition, where technical functionality and spatial design seamlessly integrate.The table that anchors the kitchen space becomes more than mere furniture, creating a social nexus that bridges the main house with the courtyard while embodying the projects philosophy of fluid boundaries. In addition, the material palette demonstrates an elegant restraint while speaking to contemporary sensibilities. Lime mortar, verdant carpentry, and custom flooring draw inspiration from Palladian traditions. The deliberate imperfection of the tile placement honors Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetics, which finds beauty in controlled imperfection and irregularity.Most striking is the guest houses innovative kitchen-chiringuito hybrid, where a liftable window transforms the space into an open-air gathering spot. This detail recalls the versatile spaces of Mediterranean vernacular architecture while updating the concept for modern living. The double-height bedroom above creates a vertical breathing space within the narrow confines, demonstrating a thoughtful sectional design that expands both perceived space and physical limitations.Photography by Luis Daz Daz.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.If you want to read more books but don't have the time to actually sit down and stare at a page of text, audiobooks are a great alternative. You can listen to them on your commute, while youre lounging around on vacation, or while youre completing boring tasks around the house.Audiobooks used to be expensive and cumbersome, but digital subscription services has made them all too easy. A subscription to one of them is among the best ways to maximize your listening experience, as they'll give you access to a ton of books at once. Amazon-owned Audible is unquestionably the leader in this space, but they are far from your only choice. In 2025, there are many audiobook subscription servicespaid and freefor your bibliophile needs. In this guide, I'll cover the best audiobook platforms, and note the pros and cons of each. Grab your headphones and get ready to hear a good book.Audible Credit: Audible Though you might have misgivings about Amazon, Audibles parent company, theres no question that this audiobook service is one of the very best around. It has plenty of titleshundreds of thousands, in factthat you can buy, rent, stream, and listen to offline using its official apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Amazon devices (naturally). You can also play audiobooks through your Sonos speaker via your Audible or Sonos app.Your progress through an audiobook is stored wherever you listen to it: on the web, on an app, or in your car, for example. And thats good; you dont want a service that makes it hard to pick up where you left off.Audible offers a free trial which gives you 30 days of membership and a free book. After that, the Premium Plus plan costs $15/month for one credit (good for one audiobook), but you get to keep any books youve bought if you ever cancel. A Plus membership ($8/month after the free trial) gives you unlimited access to select titles in the Audible cataloguecalled Audible Plus Listensto listen to via streaming or download, but only as long as you remain a paying member. Audible Plus Listens is also included for Premium Plus subscribers along with the option to add more credits to your plan. You dont have to be an Audible member to buy audiobooks, but if you are, you get a 30 percent discount on any purchases. Those books are available for you to listen to any time, even offline, and the service integrates with your Amazon account so your discount will also appear when you browse for books on Amazon.Depending on how much you read, Audibles selection and credit system makes it a great value. (No, you wont get a special bonus discount for buying the physical copy of a book and then buying the audiobook, but you do often save a little bit if you buy the Kindle version of a book first and add on the Audible trackgo figure.)Audible pros: Huge catalog of audiobooks, podcasts, and original titlesBooks are yours to keep after subscription endsAudible cons:Depending on your perspective, it's part of AmazonSign up for AudibleAudiobooks.com Credit: Audiobooks.com If you just cant bring yourself to use Audible, Audiobooks.com has more than 500,000 audiobooks to choose from. You can start with a 30-day free trial, which comes with three free books. After that, $15 a month gets you one book credit plus a bonus book from Audiobooks.com's VIP program (free for all members). The service also has curated listening listsand if you have multiple book lovers in your home, theres a family plan that allows you to share books, and each user can save their own bookmarks without interfering with others listening. The service has apps for iOS and Android, which have helpful features like offline listening and a sleep timer.Audiobooks.com pros30-day free trial includes 3 booksFamily plan for multiple listenersAudiobooks.com consAccess to VIP content ends upon cancellationSign up for Audiobooks.comB&N Audiobooks Credit: Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble also has an Audible-like service at the same price point ($15 per month for 1 credit after a 30-day free trial) with access to more than 300,000 audiobooks. However, the service is not quite as flexible as similar alternatives, as theres only one plan with no option to add credits, and credits expire 30 days after your subscription ends. Listen on the B&N Nook app on iOS or Android. The app also pulls in other content purchased from B&N and syncs across devices.B&N Audiobooks pros:Nook app combines audiobooks with ebooks and other digital contentDiscounts on audiobook purchases with subscriptionB&N Audiobooks cons:Limited subscription options compared to other servicesSign up for B&N AudiobooksLibro.fm Credit: Libro.fm If you want to support your local independent bookstore instead of a huge corporation, Libro.fm gives you access to more than 500,000 titles for $15 a month, a percentage of which goes to the bookshop of your choice. Select one of more than 3,000 booksellers when you sign up, and get one credit (equal to one book) per month as well as 30% off individual audiobook purchases with your membership. Credits never expire, even if you pause or cancel your account. Libro.fm has apps for iOS and Android with features like a sleep timer and automatic syncing of bookmarks and listening progress across devices. Libro.fm prosSubscription supports independent bookstoresCurated bookseller playlists and recommendationsLibro.fm consNo free trial (offers free book with membership signup instead)Sign up for Libro.fmEverand Credit: Everand Everand is the audiobook service from Scribd, which still houses community-uploaded documents of all kinds, from court filings to research papers. The platform has audiobooks, ebooks, podcasts, magazines, and articles for you to peruse and stream, which makes the services low monthly fee$12 for one credit with an initial 30-day free trial that also includes Scribd accessa relative bargain. The $17-per-month Plus plan comes with three credits. Everands apps for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices make it easy to find, stream, and download audiobooks for offline listening. And the sleep timer automatically turns off your audiobook after a set time (so you dont stay up past your bedtime reading, er, listening to all the things).Although Everands audiobook offerings arent quite as comprehensive as Audibles, you get a wider selection of services for your lower monthly feeideal for those who also like reading their favorite monthly magazines after listening to a book or two on their commutes.Everand pros:Multiple content types included in monthly feeHelpful features like offline reading and sleep timerEverand cons:Monthly reading limitsSign up for EverandSpotify Credit: Spotify Spotify has audiobooks available for purchase on its platform, and Premium subscribers also get 15 hours of free listening time per month with access to more than 250,000 titles. Once you hit that limit, youre cut off unless you purchase the book or a 10-hour top-up (note that hours dont roll over month to month). A Spotify Premium subscription costs $12 per month after a 2-month free trial ($17 per month and $20 per month for Duo and Family plans, respectively). On Duo and Family plans, only the primary subscriber can access the audiobook benefit. If youre already a Premium user, this is a nice extra feature, but its likely not worth subscribing if you simply want to listen to books. Spotify also has an Audiobooks Access plan for non-subscribers, which gives you 15 hours of listening for $10 per month. Spotify pros: Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks all in one appSpotify cons: Limits on listening time rather than per bookNot available to Duo and Family plan membersSign up for Spotify PremiumLibby Credit: Libby More than 90% of libraries in North America support OverDrive, a service that makes it easy to check out audiobooks and ebooksfor freeright from your smartphone or tablet. All you need is your library card and a library in your community that supports the service. (Odds are great youll find at least one.) Libby is Overdrives library reading app available for iOS, Android, and Amazon as well as on the web.The service is completely free as long as you have a library card for whichever library (or libraries) you want to use. Yes, your selection may vary by library, but Overdrives website does a great job of showing you other locations where youll be able to find a book you might want to read (or listen to).You can read ebooks and listen to audiobooks offline, and you can pick up where you left off no matter how youre listening to your content. Your position, bookmarks, and notes are all synchronized between your devices. Both the number of books you can check out at once and the borrowing term are set by your local libraryand you may have to wait a while for popular titles.Libby pros:Free to useOffline access and device syncing Libby cons: Selection varies by local library catalogWaitlists for popular titlesHoopla Credit: Hoopla Much like OverDrive, Hoopla allows you to check out various types of media from different libraries; the content list includes audiobooks, ebooks, and music, as well as TV shows and movies. You authenticate your library membership by providing the number on the back of your card (digital or physical), which gives you access to your librarys digital offerings.You can view your content on Hooplas website or via its app for iOS, Android, and Amazon devices. Like Overdrive, you are allowed to check a certain amount of content at once in various categories of media, but its easy to check stuff back in once youre done listening to/reading/viewing it (or once your borrowing period expires, just like a real library!).Hoopla is completely free, which is a great selling point, and its online reader for ebooks has all the settings you probably care about: font sizes, background colors, text margins, line height, etc. Its content is limited to what your library offers, which will give you all the incentive to hop in the car and make a membership run to a few of your local libraries the next time you have a free weekend.Hoopla pros:Free to useMultiple media categories, including audiobooks and ebooksHoopla cons:Selection is limited by your librarys catalogMust return at end of borrowing term Chirp Credit: Chirp Chirp is an audiobook store that gives you access to thousands of books at a discount. Instead of a subscription with credits, you get limited-time deals (under $5) on the purchase of select titles, with personalized recommendations as well as the option to buy and download popular titles at full price. There's no commitment or monthly fee, which means books are yours to keep once you purchase them. This is a solid option if you find discounted titles you like or don't want to be locked into a monthly subscription. Chirp has apps for iOS and Android with features like a sleep timer, bookmarking, and offline listening. Chirp pros: No commitmentSignificant discounts on select booksChirp cons: Popular titles cost more to purchase than monthly credits on other servicesSign up for ChirpThis story was previously published and has been updated to include current pricing and additional services.

Leica is mainly known for its high-end cameras, but it also makes smartphone camera lenses. Today, the company is announcing its new LUX grip for iPhone, designed to mimic the feel of a Leica camera. It weighs 120 grams and is designed for ambidextrous use.The Leica LUX grip has a two-stage shutter for precise shots. Theres a button to change between shooting modes and another to choose from frequently-used functions that you can select using the Leica LUX app. A control dial is also there to make it easier to switch between settings like zoom, aperture and shutter speed. After 1,000 shots, the Leica LUX grips battery must be recharged via USB-C for two hours.As mentioned, the app works with the grip, which communicates with the iPhone via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). In addition to customizing the button, the app includes bokeh effects from the Summilux-M and Noctilux-M lenses, Leica Looks (preset effects that dont require post-processing) and more.The Leica LUX grip is now available for 260/300, including VAT. An additional case is available for 50. Each grip purchase includes a yearlong premium Leica LUX app subscription.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/leicas-lux-grip-is-a-pricey-way-to-add-camera-controls-to-your-iphone-140031130.html?src=rss

Lyft is partnering with Anthropic to bring the startup's AI tech to its platform. "Anthropic, known for its human-centric approach to AI, will work with Lyft to build smart, safe, and empathetic AI-powered products that put riders and drivers first," the two said in a joint press release.If you're a frequent Lyft rider, you can see the early results of that collaboration when you go through the company's customer care AI assistant, which features integration with Anthrophic's Claude chatbot. According to Lyft, the tool is already helping to resolve thousands of customer issues every day, and has reduced average resolution times by 87 percent.Moving forward, Lyft plans to integrate Anthropic's tech across its business. As part of the partnership, Lyft will get early access to the startups products and models, and will in turn assist Anthropic with testing those capabilities. Lyft says this will allow it to integrate Anthropic's AI models in a way that aligns with the needs of its drivers and customers. Last but not least, Anthropic will provide training and education to Lyfts software engineers."Lyft is using Claude to both reimagine the future of ridesharing, and at the same time deliver tangible benefits to their community today," said Michael Gerstenhaber, vice president of product management at Anthropic. "This approach, combined with their deep collaboration with our team of experts, creates a blueprint for how companies can successfully bring AI into their business."Lyft is no stranger to working with other companies, particularly when it involves AI technology. At the end of last year, it partnered with three companies in the autonomous vehicle space Mobileye, May Mobility and Nexar. Lyft plans to start introducing their technologies into its network starting this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/lyft-uses-anthropics-claude-chatbot-to-handle-user-complaints-140026067.html?src=rss

Nikon's Coolpix P1100 boasts the world's best 125x optical zoom, but it offers very little that's new over the Coolpix P1000.

Users are advised to apply the patches as soon as possible.