Doom And GloomAs Marvel sets shooting dates for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, you can't help but wonder if it's too little, too lateLittle reason to be excited about either of them right now.Image credit: Marvel Studios News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 12, 2025 It sounds like all the shooting dates for the next couple of Avengers films have been decided, though at this point, I'm wondering why anyone still cares.As part of promoting the latest upcoming addition to the MCU, Captain America: Brave New World, Anthony Mackie spoke with Deadline about the experience of making the film alongside an actor like Harrison Ford, but also of the upcoming pair of Avengers movies, Doomsday and Secret Wars. Doomsday is obviously up first, currently set to be released May 1, 2026, with a shooting date kicking off in either March or April. "We shoot in London through the summer and then the following summer we shoot the next one [Avengers: Secret Wars]," Mackie explained. "Its going to be a full slate."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Mackie didn't have much to share by way of casting news, as he claimed to not know apart from Robert Downey Jr. being a part of the movie as Doctor Doom. "I dont know how many are coming back. RDJ made the big announcement that hes coming back. Other than him I dont know who of the original crew will be coming back, but I know he will be. Im excited to be able to go to work with him, go toe to toe with him."The only problem is, will people care as much as they used to? Following Endgame, Marvel has struggled to find the same successes it once had aside from last year's Deadpool & Wolverine, not to mention the reset the MCU had due to the studio dropping the Kang storyline. While I don't personally think the earlier Marvel movies did a perfect job at building towards Infinity War and Endgame (we all remember how ham fisted the Infinity Stones stuff was in Age of Ultron), it was at least building towards something over the years. Right now, though, the MCU doesn't even have a big bad.We can assume that Doctor Doom will be making an appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is due out this June 25, but between that, Captain America, and Thunderbolts, there isn't much reason to get excited about a new Avengers film. Guess we'll have to wait and see if these three incoming entries can change that feeling.

Image: Nintendo LifeNintendo's mascot has never been shy of a spin-off, and while his karting exploits not to mention his world-renowned penchant for a party tend to grab all the attention and the biggest sales, Mario and co. have a long, rich history of starring in Nintendo sports games, too.But what's the best Mario sports game? We've compiled this ranked list of every Mario sports game covering everything from the premier league to the lowly feeder divisions, from the courtside seats to the nosebleeds!Below you'll find every Mario sport game, ranked from worst to best, featuring the Mushroom Kingdom crew, including his trips to the Olympic Games when he teams up with Sonic and his Sega posse. If it's a sports game and it's got Mario in the title, you'll find it here.It's time for the first shot/throw/kick/serve, then - let's see who takes home a medal and who's up for relegation. We begin at the bottom of the table...On this page: Best Mario Sports Games Of All Time33. Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 20th Nov 2015 (USA) / 20th Nov 2015 (UK/EU)There are positives with Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, like the strong basic gameplay and neat visuals, but we cannot emphasise enough how phoned-in and thin the content offering was, nor how throwaway Mega Battle was as a tentpole feature.Given the severe lack of content at release, it's a difficult game to recommend to even the most passionate Mario Tennis fans. Still, if you're after local multiplayer fun in which you simply mess around with the various court types, you can't really go wrong. It's just a shame the rest of it felt like a rush job.32. Mario's Tennis (VB)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D1Release Date: 14th Aug 1995 (USA)The small character roster makes the tournaments laughably short but this is a solid, if simple, tennis game. Good music and graphics combined with the excellent 3D effect of the court ensure that Marios Tennis is an excellent introduction to the Virtual Boy, plus it's cheap and easy to find these days. If only Nintendo had released that link cable, though...31. Mario Sports Superstars (3DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 24th Mar 2017 (USA) / 10th Mar 2017 (UK/EU)Mario Sports Superstars straddles an unfortunate line of mediocrity. Combining five sports in one convenient package, it's certainly not a bad game, as it has plenty of variety and content to offer with a robust multiplayer mode, but we'd struggle to call it a good game either. It merely exists; sitting uncomfortably in a space that the Mario & Sonic series ruled for years.It fails to offer a definitive version of anything, and even a pretty decent take on horse racing isn't worth the price of admission alone. As a multiplayer title, it has its moments, but it's a painfully lifeless single-player experience that needed to take a few more risks.30. NES Open Tournament Golf (NES)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo R&D2Release Date: 29th Sep 1991 (USA) / 18th Jun 1992 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineAs with nearly all of the games in the NES library, the formative systems and mechanics put down in games of the '80s have advanced a lot in the interim.However, while NES Open Tournament Golf (known as Mario Open Golf in Japan, so technically the first entry in the Mario Golf series) might lack the bells, whistles and frills we've come to expect from our golf games these days, the core gameplay here is as solid as ever. 18 holes might be pushing it, but a swift walk around the back nine will do nicely.29. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (Wii U)Publisher: SEGARelease Date: 15th Nov 2013 (USA) / 8th Nov 2013 (UK/EU)Mario and Sonic 2014 felt like a minor progression in the series certainly not a huge leap. Taking a lot of its cues from 2010 edition, and ignoring the rapid-fire party experience of 2012, it hit some of the right buttons, but theyre the same unremarkable buttons that were hit four years earlier on Wii.The inclusion of online was certainly welcome, but too limited, while the inventive TV idea used on the GamePad was never taken far enough. With a group of friends, there's still fun to be had; its just hard to shake that feeling that youve done it all before.28. Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 24th Jun 2016 (USA) / 24th Jun 2016 (UK/EU)For every step Mario & Sonic At The Rio 2016 Olympic Games takes forward, it seems to stumble several steps backwards in the attempt.There are some solid minigames, but they came at the expense of more memorable Dream Events. Motion controls are a thing of the past, replaced with needlessly complicated button layouts. There's no dedicated story mode, meaning that solo players must enjoy repeating Tournaments if they want a lengthy session.Olympic veterans may have enjoyed the graphical upgrade this entry brought to the series, and it's not a bad game; as ever, it's just not a particularly good one.27. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 14th Feb 2012 (USA) / 10th Feb 2012 (UK/EU)The Mario & Sonic games were once a shining example of how minigame collections should be developed. However, while Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games was technically no worse than its forebears, its events were too up-and-down quality-wise.It was by no means a train wreck, and a valiant first effort for the series in its jump to 3DS, but this all-star collab had too many wrinkles to be an easy recommendation.26. Mario Strikers: Battle League (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Next Level GamesRelease Date: 10th Jun 2022 (USA) / 10th Jun 2022 (UK/EU)Not a fan favourite, although we really connected with this one. Mario Strikers: Battle League is a masterclass in competitive game design. What it lacks in options is more than made up by just how much fun the game is, and its absolutely gorgeous to boot.Post-launch updates brought along content which you could argue should have been there from the start, but the game it played from kick-off was a beautiful one. If arcade sport action isnt your bag, itll likely do nothing to sway your opinion, but if you have even a passing interest in this kind of caper, Mario Strikers: Battle League is one of the best sports games on Switch.25. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 22nd Jan 2008 (USA) / 8th Feb 2008 (UK/EU)Whilst M&S (not that one) made a successful hop, skip, and jump over to Nintendo's autostereoscopic 3D handheld, it doesn't quite reach the heights of its older, wiser Wii incarnation. Wii owners had no real reason to get this version of the game, but the two people who owned a DS and not a Wii in their household likely found something enjoyable in this portable version.24. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 6th Nov 2007 (USA) / 22nd Nov 2007 (UK/EU)Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games healthily extended the range of sports games for Wii with an impressive amount of events spanning a number of different sports. There was something for everyone, whatever your sporting or character preference.With impressive controls and the novelty of seeing two gaming titans sharing the screen, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was a party hit which did just about enough to take the Gold in the Wii multiplayer discipline.23. Mario Tennis Open (3DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 20th May 2012 (USA) / 25th May 2012 (UK/EU)Mario Tennis Open was a strong and accessible entry in the beloved series, and a group of friends gathered around could lose themselves in it for a long time. Solo players could still have a good time perfecting their skills, and playing online was a nice way to keep things interesting, but the missing RPG mode left a pretty big hole that this 3DS entry struggled to fill.Unless you're part of a cabal of 3DS-owning pals, you'll miss out on the real heart of the game: punching your wily opponent in the arm after a hard-fought match.22. Mario Golf: Super Rush (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 25th Jun 2021 (USA) / 25th Jun 2021 (UK/EU)Mario Golf: Super Rush is a game that in many respects hits its marks. Golf Adventure has plenty of charm and offers a fun way to learn various mechanics and unlock courses. Away from that solo endeavour there are decent options and customisation for multiplayer games, local or online, button controls or motion-based swinging.It's not a premium effort, however, with a nagging feeling of corners cut and, at times, an absence of creativity. However, many players should get a good amount of fun out of this one, both solo and with friends. This ain't the Masters, but for Mario Golf fans it is a solid par.21. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 5th Nov 2019 (USA) / 8th Nov 2019 (UK/EU)Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020's 34 events provide welcome variety and there are far more hits than misses in its lineup, but once you're finished with its four-hour Story mode it becomes notably less enticing for solo players.With no real incentives or unlockables to aim for, this should be considered a strictly multiplayer affair and a pretty good one, too. For fans jonesing for Olympics action back in 2020, this wasn't a bad way to pass the time until the rescheduled real-life event finally took place in 2021.20. Mario Tennis Aces (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 22nd Jun 2018 (USA) / 22nd Jun 2018 (UK/EU)Were used to seeing Wii U games transfer to Switch, but for Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash to have moved across without a substantial makeover would have been disastrous. Mario Tennis Aces, wonderfully, is anything but that its a superb arcade sports game thats generous with its suite of player options and only occasionally guilty of being a little cheap in its Adventure Mode.The presentation is spot on, and the core tennis action is absorbing whether youre trading simple strokes or firing off special shots. Some animations and voiceovers are identical to Ultra Smashs, but everything around them has been overhauled and rebuilt to reach quite splendid heights.This is something of a Switch Port Plus, then not quite a whole new experience, but so improved as to be near unrecognisable.19. New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (Wii)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 9th Mar 2009 (USA) / 6th Mar 2009 (UK/EU)If you loved Wii Sports Tennis and couldnt get enough of it, New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis was a great investment. There are a lot of modes to get through, the controls work fairly well, and its a bash with your mates around.The only trouble is that it doesnt feel like the mechanics have been properly refined; precision is somewhat lacking and we can't help but wonder why Nintendo didnt wait until the Motion Plus attachment was out. (The answer is likely so that anyone with a Wiimote not just the upgraded version could buy the game and get out on the court.)Worthwhile for a fun whackaround, but not a top seed.18. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 15th Nov 2011 (USA) / 18th Nov 2011 (UK/EU)Plenty of people seemed to like this one, although our flame didn't burn as brightly for this Olympic entry - maybe having the real-life games on our doorstep dampened our enthusiasm for Mario & Sonic's take. What felt fresh and enjoyable four years prior didn't cut the mustard in 2011, particularly when some elements were stripped out or reworked to poor effect.London Party mode was a poor alternative to the dozens of superior Wii party games, and while its cast of gaming greats was enough to forgive some of its mistakes, the flagship home console version of Mario and Sonic's 2012 tournament was pretty far off the mark by our reckoning.17. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Square EnixRelease Date: 11th Sep 2006 (USA) / 16th Feb 2007 (UK/EU)Mario Hoops 3 on 3, known as Mario Slam Basketball in Europe, was a great handheld title in its day, especially when played with a friend. If you're after a fun, colourful, and (at times) manic sporting experience with inventive controls and wonderful presentation, this is definitely worth a shot.Our lovely video producer Felix is a particular fan of this underrated Mario gem check him out waxing lyrical about Mario's courtside skills alongside footage of the game.16. Mario Sports Mix (Wii)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Square EnixRelease Date: 7th Feb 2011 (USA) / 4th Feb 2011 (UK/EU)While Mario Sports Mix may lack the depth of Mario's flagship sporting lines, it's a great example of a more casual Mario title that multiple players can enjoy.Dodgeball, basketball, hockey, and volleyball are included in the mix here, so you're not getting watered-down versions of Tennis and Golf. Not all the disciplines on offer will be to everyone's taste, but there's enough good stuff here to last you a fair while and the developer the venerable Square Enix in this case! gave it oodles of imagination.15. Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 2nd May 2014 (USA) / 2nd May 2014 (UK/EU)Mario Golf: World Tour sees developer Camelot return to the fairway and turn in an impressively lengthy and involving round of golf. There's depth not just in the level of content and diversity of options, but in the mechanics themselves; options for beginners and scratch players are impeccably implemented.Attempts at zaniness with items feel rather superfluous, although some well-designed courses would have benefited from less conventional designs. Aside from that, this was a truly excellent addition to the 3DS library, working beautifully whether you want a 15-minute blast or a longer round.14. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 13th Oct 2009 (USA) / 16th Oct 2009 (UK/EU)Sega truly listened to the feedback about the first game and slimmed down the waggle controls, beefed up the lastability with a ton of extra content, and managed to turn even Curling and Figure Skating into engaging and varied games.With over 20 characters, 25 events and hundreds of unlockable items, this one had enough to last you until the next Olympics, and the added subtlety of the controls made playing it a far less tiring experience. It may have lacked the Motion Plus-aided control genius of Wii Sports Resort but it's every bit as good in terms of content, presentation, and pure, distilled fun.13. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGARelease Date: 13th Oct 2009 (USA) / 16th Oct 2009 (UK/EU)If youre after a fun and accessible single-player adventure on your DS, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games fits the bill. The sports can be hit and miss, but the Sonic Rush-like Supersonic Downhill and Fever Hockey are addictive events youll go back to time and time again.It may not have the subtle controls of the Wii version, or the same amount of unlockable content, but its an enjoyable pick-up-and-play title that was well worth a look if you were looking to inject some of the Nintendo X Sega spirit into Vancouver 2010.12. Mario Tennis: Power Tour (GBA)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 5th Dec 2005 (USA) / 18th Nov 2005 (UK/EU)Veteran developer Camelot proved it still belonged on Centre Court with this one.With a comprehensive story mode, tight and entertaining tennis gameplay mechanics and a surprising amount of depth, Mario Tennis: Power Tour (or Mario Power Tennis as it's known in Europe) is a winning return for the plumber and his pals.It's pretty dialogue-heavy, but theres a deep, rewarding experience to be found underneath all the waffle, with the story mode serving up a satisfying sense of progression from the very beginning to this Game-Set-Match.11. Mario Superstar Baseball (GCN)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NamcoRelease Date: 29th Aug 2005 (USA) / 11th Nov 2005 (UK/EU)Developed by Namco and tapping into the Japanese and US obsessions with whacking a little ball with a big stick (we prefer a big plank in this green and pleasant land), 2005's Mario Superstar Baseball gave the titular sport the colourful Nintendo-character treatment.Being the first game in the line, it lacked some of Camelot's depth from the RPG-inspired Golf and Tennis lines. However, a neat Chemistry mechanic that affected your team's performance and a hefty roster that included a cluster of Kongs gave Mario and co. a sporting chance off the bat - enough to garner a sequel on Wii, at least.10. Mario Super Sluggers (Wii)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Bandai NamcoRelease Date: 25th Aug 2008 (USA)Mario Super Sluggers never saw the light of day in PAL regions - probably a wise decision based on the lacklustre performance of its predecessor on these shores, though curiously we're still waiting for our region-appropriate 'Mario Wicket Whackers'.This Now Production and Namco Bandai-developed slugger was a sequel to Namco's GameCube entry three years earlier and put the plumber and his pals on the ball field in a thoroughly serviceable take on the sport that let you indulge your proclivities for either waggle or Nunchuk input.9. Mario Golf (GBC)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 15th Oct 1999 (USA) / 26th Oct 1999 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineMuch like Mario Tennis on GBC, Mario Golf is another game revolving entirely around human characters (Kid, Sherry, Joe, and Grace). In fact, there's a total of eight playable humans and only three Mario characters.This is a story-heavy adventure where you can freely move your character around an overworld and rounds of golf take the place of traditional RPG battles. You can level up your golfer to enhance their stats and even transfer them to the also-excellent N64 version using the Transfer Pak.It may not mirror the scope or ambition of Dragon Quest or Pokmon, but this is a compelling little clubhouse treat which stands proud among the Mario Golf series.8. Mario Power Tennis (GCN)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 8th Nov 2004 (USA) / 25th Feb 2005 (UK/EU)Mario Power Tennis was packed with cool courts, items, and effects that had forms or simpler equivalents on N64 but this entry nevertheless stepped it up a notch. It really was the core experience from the 64-bit entry once again, but powered up.In addition to Mario Kart-esque items and quirky court types there were also plenty of modes, with various tournaments that were straight-up tennis or 'gimmick' focused. There were also eight minigames, some of which were fun diversions, but like with its home console predecessor, many fond memories revolve around local multiplayer.7. Mario Golf: Advance Tour (GBA)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 22nd Jun 2004 (USA) / 17th Sep 2004 (UK/EU)Mario Golf: Advance Tour is a fantastic portable golf game and then some.Camelot nailed the mixture of RPG and straight-up golf action in the Game Boy Color entry, and it works this time around, too so well, in fact, that there's not much need to rely on the stable of Mario characters to flesh out the experience, although we're always happy to join the plumber on the fairway, or for the various minigame modes available.Throw in multiplayer options and Advance Tour is still worth firing up when tee time comes around.6. Mario Strikers Charged (Wii)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Next Level GamesRelease Date: 30th Jul 2007 (USA) / 25th May 2007 (UK/EU)Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom pals put down their jumpers for goalposts and had another crack at the beautiful game in this follow-up to their first time on the pitch on GameCube in 2005.Mario Strikers Charged delivers exactly the brand of arcade pyrotechnical take on football you'd expect, with Next Level Games once again on dev duties as the studio went up another rung on the ladder in Nintendo's estimations on their way to such gems as Punch-Out!!, Luigi's Mansion 2, and the sublime Luigi's Mansion 3 - and ultimately being acquired and brought under Nintendo's first-party umbrella in 2021.5. Mario Smash Football (GCN)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Next Level GamesRelease Date: 5th Dec 2005 (USA) / 18th Nov 2005 (UK/EU)Proving that there's little that the portly plumber can't turn his hand (or foot) to, Next Level Games' Mario Smash Football (or Super Mario Strikers in the US) offered solid soccer action in a colourful package with Mushroom Kingdom residents brightening up the beautiful game and adding a little flair and excitement to proceedings - no nil-nil draws here!The polar opposite of the simulation style that 'proper' football games were going for, this is a fast-paced five-a-side frenzy that did well enough to get a similarly satisfying sequel on Wii. And a fun fact: it started out life as a soccer-platformer hybrid in the prototype stage!4. Mario Golf (N64)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 26th Jul 1999 (USA) / 14th Sep 1999 (UK/EU)Available On: NSO + Expansion PackCamelot brought Mario and his golfing pals onto the 3D fairways in this excellent entry in his catalogue of sports games. This game also linked up with the superlative Mario Golf for Game Boy Color. They're very different games, and the handheld version is probably even better thanks to its brilliant RPG elements, but together they make an unbeatable pair.When we're disappointed that later games like Mario Golf: Super Rush don't match the quality of older entries, it's Mario Golf that we're remembering with a faraway wistful look in our eyes.3. Mario Tennis (GBC)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 16th Jan 2001 (USA) / 2nd Feb 2001 (UK/EU)Available On: Nintendo Switch OnlineWhat's a Mario sports game without iconic characters such as *checks notes*... Alex, Kate, and Harry, eh?Camelot's handheld Mario sports entries were bizarre; not only is Mario absent from this game until you unlock him in the story mode... but there's a story mode.Mario Tennis may not have swords, magic, or random encounters, but each Tennis match is tied together in a charming overworld that feels like it's ripped straight out of a traditional RPG. Just imagine rounds of Tennis replacing battles and it becomes much clearer why many consider these more than simple sports games - and some of the best games in Mario's sporty lineup.2. Mario Tennis (N64)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 28th Aug 2000 (USA) / 3rd Nov 2000 (UK/EU)Available On: NSO + Expansion PackThe first in the Mario Tennis series (second, if you count Mario's Tennis for the Virtual Boy) was one half of a winning doubles team in the Mushroom Kingdom sports department from Camelot the studio also released the brilliant Mario Golf for N64, as well as Game Boy Color versions of each game that linked up with their home console cousins via the Transfer Pak.Mario's played a lot of tennis over the years, but this remains one of his finest on-court displays.1. Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour (GCN)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: CamelotRelease Date: 29th Aug 2003 (USA) / 18th Jun 2004 (UK/EU)We're quite partial to the Nintendo 64 entry in the series, but as we've seen from the many excellent entries on this list, developer Camelot knows what it's doing and didn't do much wrong when it came to the excellent GameCube iteration.Featuring 16 characters and courses containing Mushroom Kingdom staples such as warp pipes and Chain Chomps, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour takes things up a gear without reinventing the game, making every bunker and green look suitably lovely and introducing some fun extra modes.Given the dev's history and impressive catalogue of games involving Mario smacking balls of various sizes as hard as possible, MGTT is hardly revolutionary. But there's only so much you can do with golf before it turns into something that isn't really golf anymore. Ultimately, there aren't many better ways to spoil a walk than this.And there's the whistle! Or the winning point! Or, erm, the final golfer has entered the clubhouse. It's time for the medal ceremony, to shake hands with royals, pick up a shiny plate and all that game.Best Mario Sports Games FAQBefore we walk around the pitch kissing a trophy and shaking it at the crowd for 45 minutes, let's hit the pundit box to answer a few common questions.What was the first Mario sports game?Technically, the first Mario sports game was NES Open Golf Tournament known as Mario Open Golf in Japan which released for the Famicom on 20th September 1991, with the NES version following in North America soon after and Europe teeing up in June 1992.A 1991 Nintendo Players Guide called Mario Mania flagged the player character of 1985's Golf as everyone's favourite plumber, although there's no such mention in the game or its manual and in Japan this Mario-like character was known as Ossan (who turned up years later in Captain Rainbow).However, the Western box art for the 1989/1990 Game Boy port of Golf clearly shows Mario hitting a ball onto the green, so the first sports game starring Mario is open to debate!The first Mario sports game released internationally with 'Mario' in the title in every territory was Camelot's Mario Golf for N64, which launched in Japan on 11th June 1999.However, further complicating things, Mario cameoed in various Nintendo sports games since the early Famicom days. More on that after the break...Hang on, what about [insert Nintendo sports game without Mario in the title but with Mario in it]?Over the years, Mario has popped up in various sports games - and he's even playable in some of them.Many early Nintendo games featured him in some capacity, as a referee for example (Tennis, Punch-Out!!).A few console generations later, Mario Luigi, and Peach would pop up as playable characters in EA's NBA Street V3 and SSX On Tour for GameCube. But these aren't Mario Sports games just because there are Mario characters in them!Which Mario sports games are on Nintendo Switch Online?Here's a list of all the Mario sports games currently playable on Switch with an NSO subscription.NESNES Open Tournament GolfGame Boy (Color)Mario GolfMario TennisN64Mario GolfMario Tennis Every retro game available with an NSO sub (plus the Expansion Pack)How can I change the ranking in this article?Disagree with this ranking? Feel free to search for your favourite Mario sports game below, give them the score they deserve, and potentially influence the order above.Up Next: MetroidSee AlsoShare:00 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related Articles98 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Play On' eShop Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higher69 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Supercharge' eShop Sale (North America)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherBest Nintendo Switch Metroidvania GamesOr Search-Action, if you prefer? Castloid?Pokmon TCG Pocket: Dialga EX Deck GuideChoo Choo! All aboard the Dialga train.

Game / engine is running smoother than Civ 6, thats for sure.But the start and lack of an opening tutorial (its a tutorial as you go instead so far) has me a bit thrown off.Im use to starting Civ as a settler and picking my starting location. This one just gave me 2 cities right off the bat. Meanwhile Napoleon, and 2 other civs have 4 cities starting out.Also started with a lot of units.Its almost like Im playing a scenario, but all I did was hit new game. I truly hope this isnt the streamlined process Id heard about. Was trying to keep Civ 7 news and such away and give myself a spoiler free experience.

In BriefPosted:10:10 AM PST February 12, 2025Image Credits:NetflixLas Vegas just got a Netflix restaurantYou can now dine out on dishes inspired by Netflix movies and shows at Las Vegass newest restaurant. Netflix Bites is open as of this week in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casio, where it will operate for a year. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options like a Bridgerton-inspired tea service, Stranger Wings, nachos crafted by Wednesdays Thing, DIY Nailed It! cakes, and an assortment of drinks, like a Love is Blind cocktail where you combine flavors for a surprise.This isnt the first time Netflix has gotten into food service a Netflix Bites restaurant was previously open as a pop-up for a month in L.A. in 2023. But this new year-long residency in a travel hotspot will offer broader reach and more marketing opportunities.Netflix has been expanding more into in-person experiences in recent years, including with live events like The Queens Ball: A Bridgerton Experience; Stranger Things: The Experience; and Squid Game: The Experience, now open in New York, Madrid, and Sydney. Another, Netflix House, is coming to Dallas and Philadelphia in 2025Topics

Drata, a security compliance automation platformthat helps companies adhere to frameworks such as SOC 2 and GDPR, has acquired software security review startup SafeBase for $250 million. SafeBase co-founders Al Yang (CEO) and Adar Arnon (CTO) will retain their roles, and SafeBase will continue to offer a standalone product while bringing its core solutions to Dratas platform.This partnership isnt just about combining complementary products, Yang wrote in a post on SafeBases official blog Tuesday. Its a union of two customer-obsessed companies with aligned missions and cultures, focused on delivering the tools enterprises need to succeed.Yang and Arnon founded SafeBase in 2020 after meeting at Harvard Business School. Incubated by Y Combinator, the company helps customers fill out security questionnaires the reviews that organizations normally kick off before purchasing a new piece of software. SafeBase employs AI models specifically trained on security documentation use cases to read, interpret security information and questions, and then automatically respond to security questionnaires. Beyond the custom models, SafeBase provides an engine that allows a company to assign rules-based behavior for customer access, as well as dashboards that show insights and analytics on the companys security posture.SafeBase, which is headquartered in San Francisco, managed to raise $53.1 million in venture capital from investors including Zoom Ventures, NEA, and Comcast Ventures prior to its exit. According to Yang, SafeBase has over 1,000 customers today, including LinkedIn, Palantir, and CrowdStrike.As Drata co-founder and CEO Adam Markowitz noted in a post on Tuesday, Dratas acquisition of SafeBase comes as the demand for so-called trust management solutions rises. Cloud apps and AI have increased organizations reliance on third parties that have access to sensitive data. At the same time, new regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act in the EU are imposing new security requirements on vendors.With SafeBase, Markowitz aims to create a seamless ecosystem of trust, governance, risk, and compliance offerings. Together with SafeBase, were more committed than ever to empowering our customers to build and scale trust, unlock growth, and achieve success, Markowitz said in the blog. Just in time for Dratas fourth anniversary, this milestone marks the start of an exciting new chapter.Founded in 2020, Drata has grown rapidly over the years, securing well over $300 million in funding and acquiring over 7,000 customers including Notion and Tenable. It counts Iconiq Growth and Salesforce Ventures among its backers, in addition to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner.Last year, Dratas revenue grew 100% year-over-year, and the San Diego-based company said that it was adding 650 new customers each quarter. Drata also made its first acquisitions, snapping up governance and automation firm Harmonize.io in April and cloud security platform Oak9 in May.A PR rep for Drata told TechCrunch via email that Drata is nearing $100 million in annual recurring revenue.But the aggressive growth strategy hasnt consistently paid off. Last September, Drata laid off around 40 people, or 9% of its workforce. At the time, the company alluded to sustainable growth; Dratas headcount grew a whopping 52% from 2023 to last year.Topics

Architecture EditionOctane Texture Pack 2 for Blender (Includes .orbx)Over 100 incredibly detailed and high-resolution textures for stunning interior or exterior scenes. These would be perfect for any mograph work also, not just arch viz. Every texture has smudges, dirt, flecks, and subtle variations to make them incredibly realistic. This pack is a must-have for pro-level texturing!Incredible RealismAttention to detailEvery texture has incredible detail to make them ultra-realistic.VarietyExtremely VersatileThis pack includes all the .orbx files in a separate download. This means you can use the pack in Octane Standalone and other apps that use Octane!Professional DesignBeautiful DetailsThese assets are a must-have for professional archviz, architecture, interiors, or motion graphics pieces.BUY NOW (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)This pack has 114 incredibly detailed architectural 3D textures for Octane Render and BlenderBUY NOW (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)18 Blender Octane Metal Textures(Renders below by Pierre Magnol using these shaders: bphoton.com)BUY NOW (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)10 Blender Octane Glass Textures9 Blender Octane Fabric Textures4 Blender Octane Ornamental Textures27 Blender Octane Mineral Textures25 Blender Octane Plastic Textures21 Blender Octane Wood TexturesBUY NOW (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)Versatility with .orbxWe included the .orbx files which means you should be able to use this pack in any other software which has Octane. Your mileage might vary depending on the software, and the way you use them might be different, but having access to .orbx files means that Octane can read these materials in any platform, including Octane Standalone!A Octane Texture Pack for the professional 3D Blender artistA .blend file with 114 shaders. All textures are procedural or 4K quality because every detail is important.Really nice pack and very accurate. I really like this pack because theyre efficient and especially for this production because it was very short in term of delays, just a few days, and I needed good based materials that I could tweak the way I wanted in order to produce the exact look the client wanted.P MAGNOL About Octane Texture Pack 2 for C4D. WWW.BPHOTON.COMBUY NOW (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)I was new to Octane for a big project and was approaching a tight deadline. The Pixel Labs texture packs helped elevate the project quickly and beautifully and at a reasonable price. Since then, I have snatched up just about every one of Pixel Labs Octane texture and materials pack. Theyre vast and versatile. They add a ton of production value to all of my projects. And they give me a greater understanding of how to build and customize my own textures. The new architectural pack is astounding. Now, the only hard part is I find myself obsessing over which texture looks best.Matthew Wells on Octane Texture Pack 2 for C4Dinstagram.com/postman_officialBUY NOW FOR ONLY $69 (INSTANT DOWNLOAD)RequirementsOctane 2024.1.2_29.18.0_stable +Blender 4.1 +GuaranteeWe believe in what we create and want you to be 100% happy. We offer a 60 day money back guarantee if we dont meet your expectations!Your Biggest SavingsC4D Octane Texture BundleIf you use Octane + Cinema 4D, then check out our Octane Texture Bundle. It has all nine of our C4D Octane texture packs with a 20% savings!Learn more hereRecommended Products

Hello everyone!Im trying to get into Unreal VFX since I have close to no prior experience with it and the industry is only asking for UE technical artist - gotta pick up the paceI was looking for references and I stumbled with this CGHow tutorial. When it comes to setting the refractions, I have one big issue: it simply doenst workThis is my current graph:There doesnt seem to be happening any kind of refraction; there are no visible changes in the effect preview nor the game scene. This is a comparison with my result VS the tutorials:For this effect, I also generated three sets of round Normal Maps, although none of them seem to work:Things Ive tried unsuccessfully:I tried using refractions via using fresnel nodes, but still dont seems to workStraight up hooking a B/W texture, still nothingChanging the Refraction modes; tried PixelNormalOffset, 2D Offset and IoF, but none seem to workTrying with color textures instead of normal texturesConverting normal maps to color maps - the engine wont allow itTrying with engine-provided normal mapsChanging scalability settings to highAt this point, I think there is something wrong my project setup; is it possible that refractions dont work if the project is not set to Maximum?

All images courtesy of Lena Guberman, shared with permissionLena Gubermans Emotive Sculptures Call Upon Childhood Social AnxietyFebruary 12, 2025ArtCraftKate MothesFor any of us who are shy or anxious about interacting with others in the outside world, we might think of the face we put on that enables us to feel less fearful. For Lena Guberman (previously), a recent series of ceramic sculptures titled INS_IDE_OUT delves into her childhood experiences with social anxiety and the uncertainties of the unknown.The mask provides a protective shell and presents a perfect appearance to the outside world butfails to stop the fears and emotions from bursting out, Guberman tells Colossal.Each piece is modeled on the same melancholy face of a young, brown-haired girl, with painted and sculpted elements that range from spikes to arrows to a dead bird. Emotionally evocative and sometimes slightly unsettling, her sculptures explore the spectrum of feelings associated with anxiety.Guberman is currently planning a project that expands upon her use of ceramics by adding other materials. See more work on her website, Instagram, and Behance.Next article

Recommended By Fox News Staff Fox News Published February 12, 2025 11:47am EST close Gladstone AI CEOs outline how artificial intelligence will become critical to national security Gladstone A.I. co-founders and CEOs Edouard Harris and Jeremie Harris explain the major role that A.I will play in national security and warfare on The Will Cain Show. Welcome to Fox News Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.IN TODAYS NEWSLETTER:- Vance tells world leaders AI must be 'free from ideological bias,' American tech won't be censorship tool- Altman says Musk 'trying to slow us down,' OpenAI not for sale- Top translation apps for travelers Vice President JD Vance will attend an AI summit in Paris, France, a French official said anonymously. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)FREE FROM BIAS: Vice PresidentJDVancetold world leaders in Paris on Tuesday that the United States intends to remain the dominant force in artificial intelligence and warned that the European Union's far tougher regulatory approach to the technology could cripple it.'TRYING TO SLOW US DOWN': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said Elon Musk is "probably just trying to slow us down" with his bid to purchase the company, insisting on Tuesday that it is not for sale.'MASS SURVEILLANCE': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts that artificial general intelligence will lead to lower costs for many goods, but has also warned that AI could be leveraged by authoritarian governments aiming to control people. A man using a translation app on his cellphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)TRANSLATED TRUTH: Whether you have an iPhone or an Android, these apps have got you covered with features like live speech translation, text input and even AI-powered sign and menu translation.CONDOLEEZZA RICE, AMY ZEGART: DeepSeeks new AI model is causing deep consternation from Silicon Valley to Washington. Few would have predicted that a little-known Chinese startup with a couple of hundred homegrown engineers would be able to release a frontier AI model rivaling the capabilities of Americas best and biggest tech companies reportedly at a fraction of the cost and computational power.SPEEDY ROBOT DOG: A Chinese team has unveiled a groundbreaking quadruped robot that is pushing the boundaries of robotics and speed. Black Panther 2.0 (Mirror Me)FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIASIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERSDOWNLOAD OUR APPSWATCH FOX NEWS ONLINEFox News GoSTREAM FOX NATIONFox NationStay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox Newshere. This article was written by Fox News staff.

Two major artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives have been launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris, focused on promoting sustainable and public-interest applications of the technology.The first is Current AI, a public interest foundation launched by French president Emmanuel Macron that seeks to steer the development of the technology in more socially beneficial directions.Backed by nine governments including Finland, France, Germany, Chile, India, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Slovenia and Switzerland as well as an assortment of philanthropic bodies and private companies (including Google and Salesforce, which are listed as core partners), the initiative aims to reshape the AI landscape by expanding access to high-quality datasets; investing in open-source tooling and infrastructure to improve transparency around AI; and measuring its social and environmental impact.Key focus areas for the initiative will include healthcare, linguistic diversity, science, and issues such as trust, safety and AI auditing. Current AI can change the world of AI, said Macron. By giving access to data, infrastructures and computing power to a large number of partners, Current AI will contribute to developing our own AI ecosystems in France and Europe, to diversifying the market, and to fostering innovation throughout the world, in a fair and transparent way.The second initiative launched is the Coalition for Environmentally Sustainable AI, which aims to bring together stakeholders across the AI value chain for dialogue and ambitious collaborative initiatives.Consisting of 91 partners so far including 37 tech firms, 11 countries and five international organisations the coalition will be spearheaded by France, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).I want to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in Norway, said Norwegian minister of digitalisation Karianne Tung. It will increase workforce availability, create new jobs, and help address societal challenges. At the same time, we know that AI requires a lot of energy. It is therefore important that countries work together to make technology more sustainable.According to a statement on the coalitions website, its primary goal is to make sure that the momentum will be continued for future events (AI Summits, COP and other international gatherings), with other national authorities and international organisations.This coalition serves as a platform to identify stakeholders committed to the topic, and as a hub for giving visibility to open-ended, collaborative international initiatives pursuing the advance of science, standards and solutions for aligning AI and environmental goals, it says.Current AI founder Martin Tisn who was a key organiser of the AI Action Summit said the goal of creating the public interest foundation is to create a financial vehicle to provide a North Star for public financing of critical efforts, such as using AI in a range of healthcare contexts.We have a critical window to shape the future of artificial intelligence, Tisn said in a statement. AI has the power to transform access to jobs, healthcare and education for the better, but only if we act now. Current AI will drive a shift towards open, people-first technologies.Weve seen the harms of unchecked tech development and the transformative potential it holds when aligned with the public interest. By supporting innovation that benefits all, we can ensure AI serves the public good.Read more about artificial intelligenceGoogle drops pledge not to develop AI weapons: Google has dropped an ethical pledge to not develop artificial intelligence systems that can be used in weapon or surveillance systems.AI Action Summit: UK and US refuse to sign inclusive AI statement: The UK and US governments decisions not to sign a joint declaration has attracted strong criticism from a range of voices, especially in the context of key political figures calling for AI red tape to be cut.Government opens up bidding for AI growth zones: As part of its AI opportunities action plan, the government is encouraging local authorities to put in bids for AI growth zones.The initiative is currently backed by a $400m investment from the French government, philanthropists and industry partners, and will aim to raise a total of $2.5bn over the next five years.Speaking during the summit, United Nations secretary general Antnio Guterres urged international collaboration on AI to ensure the technology expediates sustainable development, rather than contribute to entrenching global inequality.The power of AI carries immense responsibilities, he said. Today, that power sits in the hands of a few. While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold. This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides.We must prevent a world of AI haves and have-nots. We must all work together so that artificial intelligence can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries not widen it. It must accelerate sustainable development not entrench inequalities.Guterres added that the launch of Current AI is an important contribution to global AI capacity building, noting that his office will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.Commenting on the turn to open source infrastructure, Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation, said it was a positive move. Just over a year ago at Bletchley Park, open source AI was framed as a risk, she said. In Paris, we saw a major shift. There is now a growing recognition that openness isnt just compatible with AI safety and advancing public-interest AI its essential to it.Baker added that its clear we need infrastructure beyond private, purely profit-driven AI. That means building AI that serves society and promotes true innovation even when it doesnt fit neatly into short-term business incentives. The conversations in Paris show that were making progress, but theres more work to do.Mike Bracken, a founding partner at digital transformation consultancy Public Digital, described the public-interest focus of Current AI as a really strong outcome of the summit, and said its important the body already has a budget.Its got a mandate, its got funding, he said. Its got a substantial number of funders from governments, NGOs, philanthropic organisations and individual countries, so people are putting their hands in their pockets.Weve got loads of institutions that do ethics committees, think tanks and societies for this and that, but public institutions that act globally to create public AI assets that can change peoples lives? We havent had one of those before. Thats big news.