Lets start with a thought experiment. Im going to give you a single word and lets see what comes to your mind. Dont overthink it. Its not a trick. There are no prizes. No winners or losers. Just let your mind conjure up a picture in response to this word...MAGNUMHeres one I preparedearlier.Having run this activity in workshops and training courses over the years, Im confident therell be some mental images of chocolate-smothered ice cream, a few Clint Eastwoods in Dirty Harry, maybe the legendary photo agency, a Tom Selleck or two, or an oversized bottle of champagne. There are lots of ways to interpret and visualise this singleword.Its a good demonstration of what happens in most meetings. Everyone nods and agrees and leaves happy, thinking their Magnum is the one everyone sees and agrees with. Disappointment and disagreement are postponed for anotherday.Somewhat perversely, many people host meetings so they dont have to make a firm decision. They encourage people to talk in the abstract without anyone having tocommit.As designers, our skill is in taking the abstract and making it real. Its good to create something everyone can look at and have a shared conversation around. Being able to go from 0 to 1 at speed is a form of alchemy (and we can repeat this trick when what we show needs changing).Exploring ideas by making amark.We turn our thinking into sketches, scamps, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs. We lower risk, save money and speed up project delivery by communicating ideas that facilitate more meaningful discussions. As a designer, dont go to a meeting without one or two visuals to focus the conversation around.Be selective. Not everything in every fidelity.In design projects, Ive noticed a tendency for folk to fall into the trap of stepping through the fidelity of the designs in a linear fashion. Some rounds of 6-ups then become sketches for pages before being tidied up into wireframes and passed into Figma. But you dont always need every step for everypage.A colleague of mine has a phrase I really like: Were designing websites for users, not pictures of websites for users. Its a useful reminder that the digital design process has an end goal, and our efforts should be targeted at getting useful solutions into the hands of the user as soon as possible. In the wise words of designer Brenda Laurel: Design isnt finished until someones usingit.The following three questions are helpful when working out what to create and whats the right fidelity at the righttime.1. Whats the quickest, cheapest thing I can create to help make the next design decision?Your visual output should be steered by the problem youre trying to solve and the people you need input from. The work you create should help you explore the challenge at hand. At the early stages of a project, I generally find exploring concepts more important than the execution of the artefact. Even more so when I can show and talk through theideas.Im always looking to do less where I can. The time I save can then be invested where itll have the most impact or where the design challenge is the trickiest.I sketch on paper when I need to think freely, flesh out unusual ideas, or generate a wide range of possibilities. When I need to add finesse, polish and personality, I tend to work in high fidelity. But not always. If a developer can work from a sketch on a napkin or an ordered pile of post-it notes then this is as far as Ill take my designwork.Low fidelity doesnt mean shallow thinking. In fact, the opposite. The best way to arrive at the concepts, metaphors, and models that will drive any design work is to do it early in a project and through many iterations and criticalreviews.Talking and drawing around a whiteboard.Youre answering different questions with different mediums. In one complex project working with a travel company, a whiteboard was the perfect canvas to start investigating ideas. Working in a team in a shared space helped unblock inertia. The whiteboard forced conversation and collaboration, and whiteboard pens excel at preventing any chance of drawing in finedetail.Most importantly, in this project, the next design decisions were made by people in the room who could congregate around the whiteboard.2. What can I create to best demonstrate the essence of theconcept?Its easy for interesting ideas to get lost in the backlog or to be considered only at the end of a project if theres any time left. Creating micro demos throughout a project helps avoidthis.These small proofs of concept dont have to be digital. Its amazing what you can mock up with paper, pens and basic craft equipment. You dont have to wait until youve figured out the entire end-to-end journey. Better to create demos for parts of the product as you goalong.As designers, we can over-fixate on the precision of execution to the detriment of the thinking behind the design. With a demo for a concept, its useful to remind yourself youre not showing the proposed design; youre showing your ideas that may (or may not) edge toward being the delivered design.Performance, accessibility, browser compatibility, alignment with brand guidelines, considered typography, and beautiful touches of design delight are all important, but not yet. At this stage, its perfectly okay for your demo to be bootstrapped together with poor code and held together with sticky tape. Test out your ideas with something tactile and throwaway while you have the time and space in aproject.A micro demo to show early ideas for a complex interaction pattern.I worked on a project with an intricate checkout flow with layers of conditional logic. Designing small discreet demos to pilot novel interaction ideas helped evaluate and develop our potential solutions. In this case, getting a feel for how something behaved in a browser was the fastest way to try and share new ideas without becoming too attached and committed to any ofthem.3. How can I most effectively share the thinking behind the design with decision-makers?Until you get into the final phases of delivery, the thinking behind the design is more important than how it looks. Early design sketches are ways of expressing your thinking. The success of your sketches is in helping whoevers looking at them more easily imagine the finalproduct.In communicating the thinking behind the designs, Ill take time to identify who needs to make what decisions and what will help them to doso.In most projects, you use a variety of channels and formats to share your work in progress. The trick is to use the best channel for the decisions you want made and the situation of the decision-makers. To do this, I start by answering some questions:Who is the decision-maker, and what do they need to make a confident decision?Is the conversation going to be synchronous or asynchronous? If theres a choice, whats my preference?Whats the perceived size and implication of the decision beingmade?What type of feedback am I looking for? A firm agreement or a nod to indicate that Im moving in the right direction?How familiar are people with the challenge, and how much context is required?Your job is to make it easy for the decision-makers to arrive at a timely, informed, and confident conclusion on how to progress.Using Loom to talk through some early designideas.Im a big fan of using screen recordings to show work early to get feedback on ideas. Theyre quick to produce, easy to distribute, and for the viewer, they are convenient to watch when they have the time and space to doso.Showing the work and simultaneously sharing the thinking behind it is a potent combination. This approach is especially useful when the design ideas are more radical and when decision-makers benefit from having more time to reflect on and consider the proposed approaches.Ive found that keeping videos short and focused on a single design decision is most effective. The recordings dont need to be Hollywood blockbusters. However, like all good stories, they need to have a beginning, middle, and end. Avoid a tour through the interface. Instead, highlight the problem youre trying to solve and explain why and how your proposed ideas provide an interesting and impactful solution.Putting the ink into designthinkingDesign can make the abstract concrete. It allows us to play around with and stress-test new ideas. Design enables us to explore possible futures and then bring them tolife.In articulating ideas, look to create just enough to express an idea, to spark a better conversation, and to rapidly investigate alternative (and hopefully radical)options.I like to think about my work as being a step on the road to confident decision-making. Most of my work is a set of disposables rather than deliverables, and I celebrate this. The value is in the depth of thinking and clarity of communication that comes from creating visuals to share. Thats more important than the quality of the marks on thepage.This article was originally published on the Clearleft website: https://clearleft.com/thinking/putting-the-ink-into-design-thinkingPutting the ink into design thinking was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Love is hard, but movies? Movies are easy (well, watching them, at least). The trials and tribulations of modern dating and romance are inevitably going to feel, at one point or another, like they're way too much workso, by all means, let your favorite (or soon-to-be favorite) movie couples do the work for you. Some of these movies are funny, some spicy, and some are tear-jerkingly tragic, but they all have one thing in common: They're not you, so feel free to take a couple hours out of your real life and let some other people do the work for once.When Harry Met Sally (1989) An impressively realistic depiction of a long-term friendship that develops into romance, When Harry Met Sally is sweet, but not cloyingly so. A movie that includes the most famous orgasm (real or otherwise) in cinema history clearly has more on its mind than schmaltz. You can stream When Harry Met Sally on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. When Harry Met Sally (1989) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ River (2023) We've all wished we could stop time in the hope of a few more days or a few more minutes with someone we care about, and this very charming sci-fi rom-com from Japanese director Junta Yamaguchi has a lot of fun with the idea. Mikoto (Riko Fujitani), waitress at a sleepy spa, wishes so hard for a little extra time with her boyfriend that it, seemingly, breaks time, forcing everyone to repeat the same two minutes over and over again while the staff try to keep their clients happy. One of my favorite comfort movies. You can stream River on Tubi and Prime Video. River (2023) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Love & Basketball (2000) Childhood friends Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) both have hopes of playing professional basketball, life getting in the way of their sports dreams as well as their increasing mutual attraction. The movie takes place over a number of years, and the searing chemistry between the leads makes it impossible not to cheer them on. You can stream Love & Basketball on Max and Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Love & Basketball (2000) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Apartment (1960) This very dark satire of greed and misogyny, '60s-style, throws together Jack Lemmon's Bud Baxter and Shirley MacLaine's Fran Kubelik as two of the purest but most damaged souls at a New York City insurance company. He's an up-and-comer without a killer instinct but with an apartment that higher-ups like to use for trysts, while she's an elevator operator having an affair with the boss. Their relationship is hard-won, but director Billy Wilder's absolute classic makes clear that love is worth sacrifice. You can stream The Apartment on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. The Apartment (1960) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Brief Encounter (1945) David Lean's beautiful, and very British, romance finds a married doctor (Trevor Howard) and a suburban housewife (Celia Johnson) meeting at a train station, kicking off a passionate emotional affair that each knows is doomed. A classic of love and longing from director David Lean. You can stream Brief Encounter on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Brief Encounter (1945) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Dirty Dancing (1987) Baby (Jennifer Grey) falls for her dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) at a Catskills retreat in the 1960s. It's a blend of the believable with the silly, and it has no business working as well as it does. You can stream Dirty Dancing on Tubi or rent it from Prime Video. Dirty Dancing (1987) Learn More Learn More The Best Man (1999) Writer and bachelor Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) is determined to hide from his friends the fact that his new bestseller is based on their messy livesall the more complicated as they're all about to gather for a wedding. Everyone gradually realizes that they're characters is a saucy novel, and each has to decide if they like what they've readthat includes Harper, dealing with the consequences of his choices involving his girlfriend Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) and his old flame Jordan (Nia Long) You can rent The Best Man from Prime Video. The Best Man (1999) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video His Girl Friday (1940) Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell are a couple of ambitious reporters involved in a murder case in this fast-talking screwball comedy (my favorite of that genre) from Howard Hawks. Forced to work together, the divorced couple gradually find their ways back to each otherbut not without plenty of incredibly sharp dialogue and sass. You can stream His Girl Friday on Tubi and Prime Video. His Girl Friday (1940) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mississippi Masala (1991) Mina's (Sarita Choudhury) Ugandan-Indian family has relocated to Mississippi after Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians, surviving and trying to thrive despite the resulting clash of cultures. Mina falls for carpet cleaner Demetrius (Denzel Washington), a young carpet cleaner, triggering a feud between their families that spreads to the local community. Mira Nair's movie is as much about these two convincing characters as it is about racial tensions, though, and their relationship is also thoroughly sexy. You can stream Mississippi Masala on The Criterion Channel and Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mississippi Masala (1991) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Carol (2015) A glance across a department store in 1953 puts wealthy Carol (Cate Blanchett) on a path to forbidden romance with a young photographer (Rooney Mara). Lush and eloquent, it's justifiably regarded as one of cinema's greatest queer romances. You can stream Carol on Netflix, Tubi, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Carol (2015) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Remains of the Day (1993) The tears start welling in my eyes when I think of the repressed affections between stuffy English butler Stevens (Anthony Hopkins) and the housekeeper Miss Kenton (Emma Thompson). Their love non-affair simmers against a backdrop of their employer's increasing acquiescence to rising European fascism, and Hopkins and Thompson have never been better. You can rent The Remains of the Day from Prime Video. The Remains of the Day (1993) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967) A great American film from Melvin Van Peebles that takes some smart cues from the French New Wave, The Story of a Three-Day Pass follows Turner (Harry Baird), a Black United States Army G.I. in France, who spends a weekend with a white shop clerk named Miriam (Nicole Berger). The movie doesn't in any way soft-pedal the implications of this interracial romance, contrasting reactions among Parisians with the harsher assessments of Turner's comrades, but the necessarily brief affair is, nevertheless, lovely and entirely believable. You can stream The Story of a Three-Day Pass on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1967) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Moonstruck (1987) It still seems surprising that Cher and Nicholas Cage make up one of American cinema's most beloved couples, but here we are. Young widow Loretta Castorini throws off convention, family tradition, and her boyfriend in order to smack around a sweaty baker. It's glorious. You can stream Moonstruck on Tubi, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Moonstruck (1987) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Moulin Rouge! (2001) Romance and tragedy done in extravagant Baz Luhrmann style against a jukebox of pop songs. The movie is almost overwhelming in its incomparable bigness, but still capable of wresting tears. You can stream Moulin Rouge! on Hulu. Moulin Rouge! (2001) at Hulu Learn More Learn More at Hulu Your Name (2016) Two Japanese high school students intermittently swap bodies after viewing the same comet, gradually falling in love not directly, but by experiencing the life of the other. An all-time-great anime and among the most beautifully animated. You can stream Your Name on Crunchyroll. Your Name (2016) at Crunchyroll Learn More Learn More at Crunchyroll God's Own Country (2017) Self-absorbed Yorkshire sheep farmer Johnny (Josh O'Connor) gets some seasonal help from Romanian migrant worker Gheorghe. With very little in common, the two soon learn that sex is great, but maybe emotional connection is even better. You can rent God's Own Country from Prime Video. God's Own Country (2017) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Casablanca (1942) What's left to be said about Casablanca, the World War II romantic love triangle starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid? A stunningly photographed story about the sacrifices required to fight fascism. You can stream Casablanca on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Casablanca (1942) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max In the Mood for Love (2000) Wong Kar-wai's lush, extravagant story of sex and yearning finds Chow (Tony Leung) and Su (Maggie Cheung) developing feelings for each other after their spouses have affairs. The '60s-set movie is much more than just style, but that style is impeccable. You can stream In the Mood for Love on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. In the Mood for Love (2000) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Love Jones (1997) What seems at the outset like a conventional love story, the movie finds aspiring writer Darius (Larenz Tate) and photographer Nina (Nia Long) forming an instant bond after meeting at a club. The resulting, complicated relationship is endearing, but tempestuous in believable ways, leading to an impressively unexpected conclusion. You can rent Love Jones from Prime Video. Love Jones (1997) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) There are a couple of love stories in the margins of Ang Lee's martial arts masterpiece (and international blockbuster), but the most poignant is in the central story of retiring swordsman Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and his confidante and associate, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh). Despite a mutual traction, honor and loyalty keep the two apart until a lovely, tear-soaked final act. You can stream Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Paris Blues (1961) Against the backdrop of a comparatively more open, less overtly racist backdrop of 1960s Paris, the film stars Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman as a couple of American expats and musicians living in the City of Lights. The two find themselves caught up in romance with a couple of tourists (Diahann Carroll and Joanne Woodward), drawn in by the allure of the city and the two women, but struggling with the idea of getting serious and returning to the United States, which would have life and career consequences for both men. You can stream Paris Blues on Tubi and Prime Video. Paris Blues (1961) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Up (2009) The poignant (OK: heartbreaking) romance at the center of Up is really only seen in a short sequencebut it's the center of gravity around which the movie spins. Ed Asher plays cantankerous widower Carl Fredricksen who finds an unlikely ally in a 13-year-old wilderness explorer in his plan to relocate his entire house to Paradise Falls in South America to honor his late wife. You can stream Up on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Up (2009) Learn More Learn More Boy Meets Girl (2014) A beautifully acted, very sweet rom-com starring Michelle Hendley as Ricky Jones, a young trans woman looking for loveand also a way out of her barista job in Kentucky. She dreams of moving to New York City to go to school for fashion design, dreams she shares with her bestie, Robby (Michael Welch). The arrival of Francesca (Alexandra Turshen) in Ricky's life triggers both a passionate affair while also forcing Robby to reckon with long-simmering feelings. You can stream Boy Meets Girl on Tubi and Prime Video. Boy Meets Girl (2014) Learn More Learn More Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) A rom-com that is, by turns, silly, musical, and deeply poignant, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (the title doesn't really translate, but it's literally "something something happens") is a classic of the '90s rom-com form, done with ebullient Indian style. A deceased mother's letters to her daughter leads her to track down her dad's old flame, mother and daughter conspiring across the years to give Dad the freedom to love again. Shah Rukh Khan leads the all-star cast. You can stream Kuch Kuch Hota Hai on Netflix and Prime Video. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Weekend (2011) The beautifully acted drama stars Tom Cullen and Chris New as a couple of guys who meet for a hookup, and then wind up staying around for the titular weekend. It's not the story of a long-term romance, as you might have guessed, but it is about the connections people can make even when time is limited. You can stream Weekend on AMC+ and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Weekend (2011) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Holiday (1938) There are some absolutely indelible pairings between Katherine Hepburn and her long-time life and screen partner Spencer Tracy, but I still slightly prefer her chemistry with Cary Grant in this George Cukor classic. Grant's Johnny Case has risen from a humble start to make enough money that he's just looking promising enough to marry Julia, daughter of an extravagantly wealthy and ambitious New York family. Enter Julia's unconventional sister, Linda (Hepburn), who forces Johnny to rethink his impending marriage and the entire course of his life. You can rent Holiday from Prime Video. Holiday (1938) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video

Sorry, beefcakes, but this review isnt for you. All the fighters and rangers out there will still get a sense of how phenomenal Avowed is, the lushness of its environments, the clarity of its combat systems and the depth of its conversation trees but at its core, this is the review for Avowed players who want to spend their time in the Living Lands learning how to become a master of mushroom-powered magic. This is the Avowed review for wizards. And, sure, all of their friends. To be clear, I would happily play Avowed as any mixture of classes, and Im likely going to boot up a new campaign and do exactly this very soon. But in my first runthrough, I wanted to see if the game would let me live out my fantastical spell-slinging dreams, and it absolutely did. Avowed is a first-person, open-world RPG from Obsidian and its a spin-off of the studios Pillars of Eternity series, but it introduces an entirely fresh storyline and map, and doesnt require any existing knowledge of that universe. You are the envoy to the powerful Aedyran empire and youve just landed on the shores of the Living Lands, a lawless region occupied by outcasts, criminals and refugees from the wider world. Aedyr and its good squad, the Steele Garrote, are making inroads in this land and attempting to wrest control of its settlements in the name of law and order. You know, classic colonizer shit. However, thats not why youre here youre on a mission to uncover the source of the Dreamscourge, a rapidly spreading illness that consumes the minds of people and animals, covering their bodies in bright fungal growths and turning them into rabid killing machines. Its kind of like cordyceps in The Last of Us, but with rainbow face mushrooms and rambling spiritual breakdowns preceding the full zombie phase. The Dreamscourges growths look eerily similar to markings on your own face, but youve carried yours since birth and they signify you as a godlike, someone whos been touched by one of the many deities of this world. This is a rare and special status, and part of your journey involves uncovering the identity of your god, a mystery thats haunted your entire life. Whats more, as you interact with aquamarine pillars of spiritual power called adra, a booming voice interrupts your thoughts and dreams, begging you to trust it and claiming it can help cleanse the world. Obsidian Entertainment This complex foundation forms a tapestry of twisting, interlocking narrative threads that span politics, military strategy, religion, occultism, science, trust, relationships, duty and identity over 45 hours of playtime. Thats for a fairly focused run, too I skipped plenty of sidequests in the interest of finishing the game before my deadline, and a full, leisurely playthrough could easily have tacked on 20 more hours and oodles of narrative intrigue. The lore runs deep in Avowed and each of its storylines is handled with supreme care, as are all of the notes, letters, poems and plaques scattered across the Living Lands. There are thousands of completely optional pieces of writing to find here, and each one is delivered in its own voice, serving its own purpose. Avowed is full of life and its history was written with a deft hand. After creating my character with purple and pink hair, yellow freckles and big coral mushroom paddles across my eyes, I chose to be a Court Augur the most mystical option and started building out my interpersonal and mana-generating stats. Mana in this game is called essence, and you also have health and stamina gauges. Leveling up certain characteristics unlocks their associated dialogue options in conversations, and throughout my playthrough, I focused on Perception, Intellect and Resolve because I hate being made to look a fool. Also, as the game progressed, I realized I needed as much stamina and essence as I could get. The Living Lands comprise four main regions: Dawnshore, Emerald Stair, Shatterscarp and Galawains Tusks. Their landscapes range from lush, water-logged forests dotted with iridescent fog and glowing mushrooms, to blackened, craggy spires and bone-like structures in a hellish volcanic wasteland. Each area is gorgeous in its own way and packed with people to help, bounties to secure, secrets to unravel and so very many shiny items to pick up. As someone who absolutely cant resist a glowing outline or the tinkling of a nearby lockbox, Avowed is a buffet of delight. The game encourages you to pick up absolutely everything in sight, and though there is an encumbrance limit, its generous and never caused me any real problems. There also seems to be no such thing as stealing with your character, no matter how destitute or hostile the surrounding NPCs may be. Obsidian Entertainment The dialogue system offers ample opportunity to forge a distinct personality and apply it to every scenario, whether you want to be a hardline government simp, religious zealot, socialist vigilante or some combination of all three. The choices you make in conversations with townsfolk, your companions and the voice in your head ripple across the campaign, altering the outcomes of major narrative points in tangible ways. Treat each decision as if it really matters, because in this game, it probably does. Avowed let me live out my anti-colonization, pro-contraceptive, magical underground rebellion fantasy, but I found it just as enjoyable to talk to kith the humanoid creatures of the Living Lands just for the sake of talking. My favorite dialogue moments happened while standing around the fire of my party camp, learning more about the lives of my companions, shaping my own personality and swapping scary stories. Also, the way the firelight glints off of the slick turquoise scales of my companion Kais chest is endlessly mesmerizing. Ahem, speaking of there is no romance in Avowed and I have to say, I didnt miss it. Horny characters abound in the Living Lands, so theres no shortage of flirty dialogue options if you care to partake, but theres enough happening at all times that a roll in the hay never feels like top priority. Your party maxes out with four companions: the aforementioned Rauataian nomad Kai, the mountain dwarf and tracker Marius, the defiant animancer human Giatta, and the talented wizard-in-training Yatzli, a hearth orlan with pink hair and big, fluffy ears. I know who I would start a romance with Giatta and I had some lovely fireside chats but more than anything, Im happy to have these characters as my friends and reinforcements throughout the game. Obsidian Entertainment Some of Avoweds best storylines are sidequests about your companions lives, fleshing out their personal demons, helping them find closure, and providing context for their behaviors and beliefs. Kais sidequest involving his old friend, Tama, stands out as a particularly moving vignette. Play it when you see it. You can take two companions at a time on your adventures, and the campaign touches on their backstories in turn, making certain party members more useful in specific missions. Kai is a tank with a fire-starting gun; Marius has a bow and shadow-step assassin ability; Giatta heals, shields and buffs; and Yatzli uses magic to control crowds and deal devastating damage. Once I realized that playing as a wizard meant I didnt have to use a grimoire to cast spells, I was completely committed to maxing out that class tree, ignoring the fighter and ranger skills entirely. Theres also a godlike ability tree that fills up as you discover memories of your past lives in hidden locations around the Living Lands. Godlike moves include things like passive boosts, area-of-effect spells and attacks. Finding one of these is a treat, because it triggers a moment of introspection between your character and the voice in their head: A beautiful, hand-drawn image of an ancient event fills the screen and the voice asks how you acted in past moments of extreme tragedy and triumph. These conversations nurture your relationship with the voice and help establish your personal history, and theyre quietly, deeply satisfying. Obsidian Entertainment In combat, I ended up with two main loadouts: A wand and one-handed staff as my main, and a flaming sword and pirate-y gun in the other. Every now and then I swapped my secondary loadout for a bow, which takes two hands to fire but never runs out of arrows, and I had a lot of fun landing headshots from afar. I upgraded my chosen weapons and armor at the party camp throughout my adventure, and added enhancements to the objects that could handle them. Upgrading and enhancing is its own little game, and this feature made me feel less insane as I ran in the opposite direction of my waypoint marker, compulsively picking up every single shiny thing on screen. This is for upgrades, I whispered to myself while gathering my 166th twig. Yes, yes, upgrades. The action wheel was also a critical tool. Opening it during combat pauses the action, allowing you to browse consumables, godlike abilities and, most importantly for a young wizard, spells. I mapped health and three spells to the D-pad, but the rest of my magic abilities were added to the wheel as I unlocked them. It became second nature in the heat of battle to pull up the wheel, down some wild mushroom stew and then pick a spell to fling at incoming enemies, whether ice, fire, lightning or pure magic damage, laser-focused or area-of-effect. And then, Id watch my foes fry. Truly, I loved being a wizard. Managing my stamina bar, essence meter and health gauge was the trickiest part of combat, but I quickly fell into a groove of stabbing, dodging and spell-slinging that worked against a range of enemy types. My overall combat tip is simple: Kill the healers first. By the end of the campaign, I really did feel godlike. Obsidian Entertainment Enemies in Avowed dont level up relative to your own experience. This means those level one lizard bros in Dawnshore will always be level one, and the level five beetles in Galawain's Tusks will always be level five. I appreciate this approach because its immediately clear when you need to spend some time grinding, and its easy to plan future raids and sidequest runs. That said, Im a fan of grinding (hey-o), so this choice plays into my open-world RPG preferences nicely. My time in the Living Lands wasnt without bugs, of course, and Im not talking about the giant spiders. I played on Xbox Series X and experienced four hard crashes in 45 hours, and three of these were in the same area, which happened to be a big boss fight, so that definitely wasnt ideal. I restarted the game each time and didnt lose any real progress. There were also consistent animation issues with close-up dialogue scenes, where it seemed like the game had trouble rendering characters based on how much hair they had Yatzli was particularly stuttery from a visual standpoint. The flame animation on my Fan of Flames also cut out sometimes, but the damage kept spewing out, so this wasnt a huge deal. None of these issues ruined the game and none of them are above further optimization from Obsidian hopefully in a day-one patch. But honestly, by the time the end credits rolled, Id forgotten that any of these things had happened. I simply felt warm and fulfilled, like Id just completed a fantastic game. The third line in my review notes says, I would like to be a mushroom witch pls, and Avowed let me be exactly that. I played the game as a kind and self-righteous chaos demon, but if Id wanted, I couldve been a staid enforcer of colonial expansion, a hubristic wannabe king or something in between. The Living Lands easily support all of these realities, thanks to a universe filled with fabulous writing, exciting secrets, breathtaking views, intriguing characters and smooth mechanics. Though Avowed is set in the world of an existing franchise and its yet another entry in the stacked genre of open-world fantasy RPGs, it feels like the start of something new. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/avowed-review-elder-scrolls-i-dont-know-her-140057830.html?src=rss

On March 3, Mobile World Congress will kick off in Barcelona, Spain. While its not the premier show it once was, many of the smartphone industrys leading players still attend the conference and frequently announce new devices there. Below, youll find a list of the more notable phones we expect to be announced at MWC 2025.Nothing Phone 3a seriesAt MWC 2022, Nothings Carl Pei showed off a prototype of what would become the companys first handset, the Nothing Phone 1, behind closed doors, and at last years event, Nothing announced the Phone 2(a). This year, were definitely getting at least one new device from the company at MWC, with Nothing teasing something for March 4, the second day of the show.I say at least one device because Nothings invite says Phone 3a Series. To add to that, recent reports suggest the company is preparing to announce a Phone (3a) Pro alongside a regular offering. Why would Nothing release a Pro version of a midrange device, you ask? Im not sure, but this is Nothing we're talking about and the company has frequently done things a bit differently from the rest of the pack.Phone (3a) Series. Power in perspective.4 March 10 AM GMT. pic.twitter.com/auesJycJQy Nothing (@nothing) January 30, 2025 Xiaomi 15 UltraXiaomiIn 2024, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra made its global debut ahead of MWC, and its looking like history will repeat. Before the start of this month, there was some evidence to suggest Xiaomi would launch its new flagship at MWC 2025, but more recent rumors suggest the company plans to announce the 15 Ultra on February 26. In any case, Xiaomi is listed as an exhibitor at MWC 2025, so if the phone does debut before the end of this month, theres a good chance it will be on the show floor for people to try out. Like the 14 Ultra before it, it looks like the 15 Ultra will be a photography powerhouse, with the phone rumored to feature a 1-inch main sensor and 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.HMD GlobalSince 2017, HMD Global has been a mainstay at MWC. First, with its Nokia-branded phones, including retro throwbacks like the 8110 Reloaded, and now more recently with devices carrying its own name. Given that history, it seems a safe bet the company will have something to announce at the show. What that could be is more of a mystery, though its possible the sub-$100 HMD Key could get a global release.Samsung Galaxy S25 EdgeSamsungAfter Samsung teased the Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked last month, you might think it would be fitting for the company to launch the phone in Barcelona next month. After all, MWC was the venue where, up until the Galaxy S10 in 2019, Samsung announced every S series phone beginning with the S2 back in 2011, and the companys presence at MWC was the highlight of the event. Unfortunately, it doesnt seem Samsung is feeling nostalgic for and the sunny boulevards of Barcelona, with little in the way of rumors suggesting we could see the S25 Edge at MWC 2025. Still, never discount the chance Samsung may have a surprise up its sleeve.Everything elseAs Engadgets resident AI reporter, Im obligated to mention a lot of companies will probably have AI-related announcements to share at MWC 2025. Dont expect anything from the big players like OpenAI the company isnt registered as an exhibitor but with artificial intelligence being the trendy thing in the industry right now, everyone will be trying to cash in on the hype; in fact, AI+ is one of the main themes of MWC 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/what-to-expect-at-mobile-world-congress-2025-140057792.html?src=rss

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Elon Musk called on Thursday for the United States to delete entire agencies from the federal government as part of his push under President Donald Trump to radically cut spending and restructure its priorities.Musk offered a wide-ranging survey via a videocall to the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, of what he described as the priorities of the Trump administration interspersed with multiple references to thermonuclear warfare and the possible dangers of artificial intelligence.We really have here rule of the bureaucracy as opposed to rule of the people democracy, Musk said, wearing a black T-shirt that read: Tech Support. He also joked that he was the White Houses tech support, borrowing from his profile on the social platform X, which he owns.I think we do need to delete entire agencies as opposed to leave a lot of them behind, Musk said. If we dont remove the roots of the weed, then its easy for the weed to grow back.While Musk has spoken to the summit in the past, his appearance on Thursday comes as he has consolidated control over large swaths of the government with Trumps blessing since assuming leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency. Thats included sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and inviting a constitutional clash over the limits of presidential authority.Musks new role imbued his comments with more weight beyond being the worlds wealthiest person through his investments in SpaceX and electric carmaker Tesla.His remarks also offered a more-isolationist view of American power in the Middle East, where the U.S. has fought wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.A lot of attention has been on USAID for example, Musk said, referring to Trumps dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Theres like the National Endowment for Democracy. But Im like, Okay, well, how much democracy have they achieved lately?'He added that the U.S. under Trump is less interested in interfering with the affairs of other countries.There are times the United States has been kind of pushy in international affairs, which may resonate with some members of the audience, Musk said, speaking to the crowd in the UAE, an autocratically ruled nation of seven sheikhdoms.Basically, America should mind its own business, rather than push for regime change all over the place, he said.He also noted the Trump administrations focus on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion work, at one point linking it to AI.If hypothetically, AI is designed for DEI, you know, diversity at all costs, it could decide that theres too many men in power and execute them, Musk said.On AI, Musk said he believed Xs newly updated AI chatbot, Grok 3, would be ready in about two weeks, calling it at one point kind of scary. He criticized Sam Altmans management of OpenAI, which Musk just led a $97.4 billion takeover bid for, describing it as akin to a nonprofit aimed at saving the Amazon rainforest becoming a lumber company that chops down the trees.Musk also announced plans for a Dubai Loop project in line with his work in the Boring Company which is digging tunnels in Las Vegas to speed transit.A later statement from Dubais crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, said the city-state and the Boring Company will explore the development of a 17-kilometer (10.5-mile) underground network with 11 stations that could transport over 20,000 passengers an hour. He offered no financial terms for the deal.Its going to be like a wormhole, Musk promised. You just wormhole from one part of the city boom and youre out in another part of the city.Jon Gambrell, Associated Press