Buffy the Vampire Slayer may soon make a TV comeback with Sarah Michelle Gellarand the cult-classic series will always be the most beloved version of Buffys story. But in 1992, five years prior to fans becoming obsessed with Sunnydale and the Scoobies, a different version of Buffys story hit the big screen. The same broad strokes are there; the script is by (now-disgraced) Buffy series creator Joss Whedon, and it follows a chipper blonde named Buffy saving the world from monsters. But its got a flavor all its own, and it remains both a time capsule of 1990s teen culture as well as a surprisingly timeless story. You already know from the perfectly descriptive title, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer has more than a few elements of satire stuffed into its storytelling. It opens with a preface set during Europe: The Dark Ages that establishes the mythology well be working with here: throughout history, watchers train slayers uniquely equipped to battle the blood-sucking forces of eviluntil the slayer dies, and the next is chosen, and the process starts anew. A close-up of the slayers wooden stake cuts to a shot of a cheerleader shaking her pom-poms at a high-school basketball game, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is off. We probably dont need it, but its amusing anyway to be informed that this is Southern California: The Lite Ages. Whedon may have penned the screenplay, but Buffy was directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, and its not hard to imagine that having a woman behind the camera helped inform the movies approach to its central character, as well as her friend group. When we first meet them, the girls (Kristy Swanson as Buffy; Michele Abrams as Jennifer; Paris Vaughan as Nicki; and a pre-fame Hilary Swank as Kimberly) come across as superficial airheads, shopping together at the mall and using slang that still fits even a decade after Valley Girl, a movie that Buffy tips its hat to in multiple ways. But we soon see theres a ruthless competitiveness lurking just below the surface; their interactions are often catty to the point of being mean-spirited, and you can sense early on theres not much loyalty in this little tribe. That theme becomes even more overt when Buffy meets Merrick (Donald Sutherland), the watcher to her slayera man who couldnt be more out of place in the Lite Ages, and who squelches his very reasonable doubts about Buffy being capable of fulfilling her destiny and devotes himself to helping her succeed. 20th Century Studios Merrick has no choice but to stay on his missionits his destiny too, a fact we learn in a heartbreaking speech that makes you glad Sutherland signed on for this one and brought all his gravitas alongand Buffy soon warms to his strange man. The fact that her friends are toxic, her boyfriend is a giant jock stereotype, and her parents couldnt be more checked-out (Stay away from the jag is how her dad bids farewell when they scamper off on their latest getaway), means that shes secretly grateful someone is taking her seriously for once. Buffys self-actualization expands when she meets Pike (Luke Perry, delightfully cast against type as a burnout at the height of his hunky Beverly Hills, 90210 fame), who puts aside his own mixed feelings about Buffy once he gets to know her. (That he witnesses her incredible vampire-staking reflexes only increases his admiration.) In turn, Buffy puts aside her own initial judgment of Pike as a grimy loser, and realizes how refreshing it is to be noticed for more than just her good looks. You want this odd couplethe popular cheerleader and the weirdoto get together, but the movie doesnt rush into getting there. Their relationship does cement itself after subverting two high-school movie tropes, however: a makeover sequence (his), and a high-school dance (hers, overrun by a plague of hungry fang-bangers). And speaking of vampires, Buffy the Vampire Slayers most campy delights come with Rutger Hauer as big bad Lothos, and Paul Reubens (post-Pee-wees Playhouse, and just post his tabloid-sensation arrest) as his oily underling. The biggest problem Buffy has are the plot holes surrounding its confusing and underbaked loreLothos meets the slayer and its no big deal, but its game over if he learns her name? Why doesnt he just kill her on his first opportunity rather than holding back because she is not ready?but if you dont think about it too much, its easy enough to put those aside and simply enjoy the performances. 20th Century Studios Though Buffy the Vampire Slayer is very much a product of 1992the fashions, the music, the lack of cell phonesits a story that could fit into nearly any decade. The TV show, which ran from 1997-2003 and is poised for a comeback over 20 years later, made that clear, but these are evergreen themes: an unlikely hero who rises from an even more unlikely place, a supernatural threat that only this chosen one can vanquish. A mismatched romance that works in spite of itself. A mentor and a student drawing strength and knowledge from each other. While Swansons political views have become more notable than her acting roles lately, and Perry, Reubens, Hauer, and Sutherland have all passed on, the main factor that makes Buffy feel dated are the faces you see pop up in the smaller parts: Hilary Swank, already mentioned, laying down perfect bimbo insults (Get out of my facial!) years before her Oscar wins. David Arquette (pre-Scream) is Pikes buddy, Benny, who has a funny scene in which he emerges from a photo booth and all the pictures show up blank because hes a vampire. Thomas Jane (The Expanse) is credited as Tom Janes in a bit part as Pikes mechanic friend. Stephen Root (pre-News Radio and Office Space) flexes his awkward-guy persona as Buffys school principal. There are also cameos (or blink-and-youll-miss-them appearances) by Ben Affleck, Ricki Lake, Seth Green, Alexis Arquette, and probably more, frankly. Plus, Buffy is still funny as hellthe lines are zippy, as much as it makes a person cringe to hat-tip Whedon, and the physical comedy is still there too. Reubens endless death scene is one for the ages, and surely nobody realized in 1992 how ruefully humorous that young Republicans joke that comes during the films end-credits reel would hit all the way in 2025. 20th Century Studios Buffy the Vampire Slayer is streaming on Prime Video. You can also stream the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series on Disney+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Hasbro unveiled new action figure releases based on the Spider-Man video game franchise on todays Marvel Legends Fanstream. Venom, Peter Parker, and Miles Morales headline the releases with the variant looks from the games. Each six-inch figure features over 20 points of articulation and game-authentic accessories for posing as if youve taken your player out of the game and into real life. This launch also includes Kingpin, Spirit Spider, Black Cat, and a new release of X-Force figures. Take a look at the gallery to see the figures and their product details, courtesy of Hasbros press release. Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Hasbro Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Venom Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man 2 video game. The Venom figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 4 accessories, including alternate head, alternate hands, and symbiote FX. Approx. retail price $60; pre-order February 27 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available Summer 2025.Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Peter Parker Black Suit Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the MarvelsSpider-Man 2 video game. The Peter Parker Spider-Man figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 5 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands and web accessory for dynamic poses. Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025.Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Miles Morales Upgraded Suit Style Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man 2 video game. The Miles Morales Spider-Man figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 4 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands. Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025. Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Miles Morales Boriqua Suit Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the MarvelsSpider-Man 2 video game. The Miles Morales Spider-Man figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 5 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands and web accessory for dynamic poses.Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025. Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Peter Parker Anti-Venom Suit Style Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man 2 video game. The Peter Parker Spider-Man figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 6 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands and web accessory for dynamic poses.Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025. Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Black Cat Felicia Hardy Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man 2 video game. The Felicia Hardy figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 3 accessories, including alternate hands. Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025.Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Miles Morales Brooklyn 2099 Suit Hasbro This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man 2 video game. The Miles Morales Spider-Man figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 6 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands and web accessory for dynamic poses. Approx. retail price $25; pre-order February 25 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating retailers; available summer 2025. Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Spirit Spider Hasbro Spirit Spider, a version of Peter Parker infused with the power of souls, uses his Spirit Fire suit to channel waves of ethereal energy This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance in the Marvels Spider-Man video game. The Spirit Spider figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 4 accessories, including a set of alternate web-slinging hands. Approx. retail price $25; pre-order March 13 at 1 p.m. ET exclusively on Walmart; available summer 2025.Marvel Legends Series Gamerverse Kingpin Hasbro When the feared Kingpin, who controls Marvels New York Citys organized crime families, is incriminated by Spider-Man, a mysterious new menace comes to power This collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figure is detailed to look like the characters appearance inthe MarvelsSpider-Man video game. The Kingpin figure features over 20 points of articulation with premium design and posable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 4 accessories, including alternate head, alternate hands, and cane. Approx. retail price $40; pre-order March 27 at 1 p.m. ET exclusively on Amazon; available summer 2025.Marvel Legends Series X-Force X-23 & Warpath Hasbro X-Force, a covert team of mutants, has tasked X-23, a clone of Wolverine trained as an assassin, and Warpath, a powerful hero with superhuman strength and speed, to end a mutant-fearing religious sect called the Purifiers once and for all. Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with the Hasbro Marvel Legends X-Force X-23 & Warpath Two-Pack figure set! These collectible 6-inch scale Marvel figures are detailed to look like the characters from Marvels X-Force and X-Men comics. The X-23 and Warpath action figures feature over 20 points of articulation with premium design and poseable head, arms, and legs. This Marvel action figure set comes with 9 accessories: X-23 features 4 alternate hands and alternate head; Warpath features 2 alternate hands and 2 knife accessories. Approx. retail price $50; pre-order March 12 at 1 p.m. ET on Hasbro Pulse and participating Fan Channel retailers; available summer 2025. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08564-wThis Perspective considers the application to infectious disease modelling of AI systems that combine machine learning, computational statistics, information retrieval and data science.

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00535-zWhich universities top the retraction chart? Plus, meet the scientists editing Wikipedia in their spare time.

PUBG creator Brendan Greene's @PLAYERUNKNOWN upcoming open-world survival game might be too hard and hated by many, but he is okay with it as long as the game "elicits a reaction."It'll help the team get to bigger places: https://80.lv/articles/pubg-creator-s-new-game-might-be-hated-by-many-for-being-too-hard-but-that-s-fine/

To celebrate 80 Level's 10th anniversary, we spoke to Technical Artist and author of @ushadersbible, Fabrizio Espndola, about his artistic journey, how the industry has changed over the past decade, and how our favorite 3D software has evolved.Read the interview:https://80.lv/articles/the-unity-shaders-bible-author-on-how-the-digital-art-industry-has-changed-over-the-past-10-years/

PLAYERUNKNOWN ProductionsBrendan Greene, aka PlayerUnknowns next title, Prologue: Go Wayback!, is coming in Q2. This open-world survival game is set in a 64km procedurally generated map with some difficult weather on the way, and one main purpose is for the players to explore their limits.Thinking about the possible reactions, the PUBG creator has an expectation: many people might hate it. But it is okay, the developer told PC Gamer, if it elicits a reactionthats all I want. Personally, Brendan has been a fan of brutal games, and he recalled growing up playing Doom, and he spent weeks trying to clear the levels. This is part of the fun. I want to make a space that is hard and difficult because he believes there are many other gamers enjoying that.Prologue is more of a prototype designed to illustrate the kinds of games that Greene wants to build next. It brings players to realistic sandbox worlds and asks them to stay alive with little tools while trying to reach the weather station. The world is dynamic and unpredictable: the weather can change at a moments notice, forcing you to adapt to harsh storms, freezing temperatures, and the relentless forces of nature, the games description reads.PLAYERUNKNOWN ProductionsThe designer compared such weather conditions to a big bad or unpredictable enemy, which resembles other players in Battle Royale who are out of your control and prediction. Its more that its a constant threat, rather than something you can predict easily. It just feels fairer.Even though there is the possibility that this design might not be everyones cup of tea, Brendan believes this is fine. Prologue is not the next great game for me. Its like Muses second album, something a bit weird, something thats a little bit different, but it serves a goal of experimentation and getting to bigger places, Brendan said.People didnt get [Battle Royale] at first, but then they did. And I think its the same with this, the goal here is creating these big, massive worlds for everyone. We already have a demo on Steam, and people understand what it is. So, if it causes a reaction, fantastic. Ill happily talk to them and go, Well, yeah, it doesnt handhold because that doesnt serve a purpose.'Besides Prologue, PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions also released Preface last December on Steam, which allows players to build an Earth-scale planet with some various biomes and some simple systems to allow you to explore it.Dont forget tojoin our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post PUBG Creators New Game Might Be Hated By Many For Being Too Hard, But Thats Fine appeared first on CG SHARES.

The Season 2 Reloaded update is live in Black Ops 6 and Warzone, and while Call of Duty's TMNT crossover event doesn't begin until next week, all four turtles are now available to purchase. The TMNT crossover includes additional character skins arriving with the event, but you'll need to shell out $90 if you want to unlock them all.Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo's operator bundles are live in Call of Duty's in-game shop at 2,400 CoD Points ($20) each. Each turtle comes with their signature melee weapon, plus various TMNT-themed cosmetics and guns with tracer blueprints to match their specific turtle color. This means it will cost $80 to unlock all four turtles for use in Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Additionally, three more skins are being added on February 27 with Splinter and two Foot Clan soldiers included in the TMNT event pass. Splinter is part of the paid "premium" pass for $10, while both of the Foot Clan baddies are included in the free event pass rewards.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Innersloth has made a series of Among Us announcements, including a brand-new game: Among Us 3D. A demo for the game, which shifts the perspective to a first-person view, will be available during Steam Next Fest beginning on February 24.Among Us 3D for Steam allows players to join cross-platform lobbies with people playing Among Us in VR on Meta Quest, Steam VR, PlayStation VR 2, and PICO. "Fans can expect the same intense, fast-paced gameplay, complete with voice chat, new customization options, game modes, roles, and all the deception-filled fun--without the need for a VR headset," Innersloth said in its announcement. Check out the trailer below to get a first look at Among Us 3D.Among Us 3D is not compatible, with the original Among Us. Players in that game will not be able to interact with those in Among Us 3D.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The strongest melee weapon in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the Reforged Radzig Kobylas Sword, and to get this beautiful Longsword, players will have to work really hard, since it is one of the hardest weapons to get in the game.