I picked up Scarlet Hollow, an early-access visual novel from Black Tabby Games, sometime last summer and I havent been able to stop thinking about it since.Scarlet Hollow kicks off with your player-character visiting a long-lost cousin named Tabitha in a small, nearly rundown North Carolina town (which is called you guessed it! Scarlet Hollow). Its already a morbid affair since youre in town for a funeral, but each day brings a new, increasingly disturbing supernatural event, with a masked figure watching you from the shadows.Its a gorgeously atmospheric horror game, and also a dating sim with an incredibly nuanced character relationship system. And its one of the most choice-driven games Ive ever played (and I am all about choice-driven games). The four episodes that have already been released have so many branching dialogue paths, so many instances where one seemingly superficial choice affected actions and relationships down the line.And Monday, Black Tabby Games (also the studio behind Slay the Princess) released a massive 70,000-word update, fleshing out the existing chapters of the game to allow for more player agency. And I cannot wait to dig in and replay it many, many times.The horror slowly builds. Things are off from the moment you arrive in town and see your familys historic, dilapidated mansion, but a trip into the woods soon reveals something more sinister lurking in the shadows. Each episode unveils more and more about the town, your family, and the supernatural events and different character builds and dialogue choices will spotlight different revelations. The game grows increasingly more intense with each update.Even in Early Access, Scarlet Hollow already lent itself to a lot of replayability before todays huge update. For one, each episode ends with a huge choice, intentionally designed to be difficult with no clear right answer, and each subsequent episode builds off the previous big choices, rippling out to many different variations. But those hugely consequential choices arent the only ones that matter. In fact, every single decision affects your playthrough.You begin the game by picking two of seven traits, which each give you some additional perks, be they extra information, more dialogue, or even baseline relationship boosts (Hot trait, my beloved). Various combinations of these traits unlock even more for instance, with a Keen Eye, you can spot another characters stick bug pet, and then with the Talk to Animals trait, you can have a conversation with it.I have three different saves with three different character trait combinations because each of those separate character approaches has let me discover more about the overarching mystery though no one single combination will give you a playthrough with all the information needed to solve it.Im the type of person who gets really into role-playing, so Ive tried to really think about the choices people with these traits would make. Thats turned into some deliciously varied scenes across my saves. My super bubbly Hot-and-Mystical character managed to endear herself so much to her prickly cousin that Tabitha made a huge sacrifice for her in the end of episode three. Meanwhile, my more confrontational Powerful-Build-and-Talks-to-Animals character pissed her cousin off so much it led to a physical altercation in episode four.But even without the replayability and the choice-driven narrative which is going to get a whole lot meatier in the new update Scarlet Hollow has such a rich story. Its one about breaking generational cycles and answering for the crimes of those who came before us, all wrapped up with some beautifully haunting art.There are still many mysteries in Scarlet Hollow (both the game and the town). The next episode wont be out till later this year, but Im hungry to return to the Hollow with this new update.Scarlet Hollow is available on Steam and itch.io.The first episode is free.

Opera's new Browser Operator uses AI to change how you use the internet.

Lenovo's AI Stick will add NPU smarts to your non-AI PC, but you'll need a Thunderbolt port to connect it.

Malaysian says its authorities are discussing the issue with the data center companies and checking if the chips have gone to the right parties.

Cryptocurrency prices jumped after President Donald Trumps surprise announcement he wants the U.S. government to purchase and hold a variety of digital assets in a strategic reserve fund, an announcement that highlights Trumps growing attempts to use volatile cryptocurrency prices as a barometer of his public support.Trump said onsocial mediaSunday that his administration is working toward creating a Crypto Strategic Reserve that will include lesser-known cryptocurrencies XRP, solana, and cardano. He later followed up with another post saying his planned reserve would also include bitcoin and ether, the two most popular cryptocurrencies.The announcement helped crypto prices rebound, at least temporarily, after recentsell-offs.Bitcoin was trading around $90,000 Monday morning after dipping below $80,000 last week. XRP, solana and cardano saw massive spikes in their prices after Trumps announcement Sunday followed by a more gradual decline through Monday morning.On the campaign trail, Trump pledged support for a strategic national bitcoin stockpile, which would include bitcoin the U.S. government has previously seized in law enforcement actions. Sundays announcement was the first time he advocated for the government to hold other types of cryptocurrencies.The White House did not immediately provide additional details, including how much of each type of cryptocurrency Trump wanted the U.S. to hold, and how the government would acquire them, and whether he favored including other types of cryptocurrencies as well.Eric Trump, the presidents son, said the price increases validated the recent advice hes made on social media to stock up on crypto assets. Hopefully, I made someones life just a little bit better, hepostedon social media.The president has cast himself as hero to the crypto industry, which he said in his announcement had been the target of years of corrupt attacks by the Biden administration. The crypto industry felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration and spent heavily to help Trump win election. The first several weeks of his administration have seen several moves to boost crypto, including ending or pausing high-profile enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission.Crypto prices soared after Trumps victory last year, and when the price of bitcoin first crossed $100,000 in early December, Trump took credit and posted YOURE WELCOME!!! on social media.But prices have fallen since Trumps inauguration and Trump has faced criticism, including from allies within the crypto industry, for helping launch a personal meme coin just before he took office that has since collapsed in value. Thecrash of meme coinslinked to First Lady Melania Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, along with a massive hack of a major cryptocurrency exchange that the FBI has said was done by North Korea, have also dimmed enthusiasm for crypto.Why is crypto in the toilet if Trump is crypto king? Dave Portnoy, an influencer and crypto enthusiast,said onsocial media last week.The inclusion of cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin is likely to face sustained pushback among some corners of the heavily divided cryptocurrency industry. Bitcoin is the oldest and by far most popular cryptocurrency, and accounts for more than half of the worlds global crypto market cap.Advocates for the government holding a crypto reserve said would help diversify government holdings and hedge against financial risks. Critics say the volatility of cryptocurrencies makes them a poor choice as a reserve asset.In addition to his announcement Sunday, Trump has also recently announced he will speak at and host industry leaders on Friday at a White House Crypto Summit.Alan Suderman, Associated Press

Theres more to winning than just winning. The way someone handles their tremendous success, after all, can transform a winner back into a losersomething Adrien Brody proved last night with a rambling, rule-defiant acceptance speech that managed to snatch reputational defeat from the jaws of career victory. With many of his peers gathered under one roof, and the whole world watching, he put on a masterclass in how not to behave at work.Not only did Brody win his second best actor award last nightthis one for The Brutalist, putting him in an elite class of multi-winners along with Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, and Marlon Brandohe also won a slot in the Guinness World Records for longest acceptance speech in Oscars history. While many winners always tend to flout the tight 45-second limit in their speeches, Brody brazenly exceeded it by five full minutes. For many viewers and social media users, it came across as a breathtaking display of entitlement, in an industry famously riddled with self-regard. Instead of a winner worth rooting for, he resembled the most annoying guy in a meeting.Brody has never had much luck with live moments. Back when he won his first Oscar in 2003, for his work in The Pianist, he pulled Halle Berry into a long and not-entirely-consensual open-mouth kiss on his way to the podium. (I bet they didnt tell you that was in the gift bag, he brayed into the mic immediately afterward.) It was a bizarre move that would never fly today, and barely did back then (even though Berry returned the kiss on last nights red carpet). Brody bungled another live moment just a few months later, going rogue while hosting SNL by donning fake dreads and a painful patois to introduce Jamaican dance hall star Sean Paul. (He has not hosted the show again since.)Last nights acceptance speech was a chance for redemption. Brody could have changed the paradigm of his problematic past by finally getting a big, live, victory-lap moment just right. Needless to say, he blew it.This speech started out at a low point, even before it began. On his way to the podium, Brody visibly remembered that he was chewing gum, and that it might not be a good look to continue doing that during his speech. Rather than swallowing the gum or placing it in his tuxedo pocket, Brody instead turned around and tossed the wad to his partner, Georgina Chapman. It might have been a cute moment if viewed in a vacuum, but given all the privilege dripping from the speech that followed, it made Chapman seem like Brodys personal gum valet.Once at the podium, Brody proceeded to speak in a trembly, deliberate cadence, taking his leisurely time. If I may just humbly begin . . . by giving thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love that Ive felt from this world. What followed was by far the strongest portion of Brodys speech. Acting is a very fragile profession, he continued with obvious emotion. Throughout the long, winding road of a career that spans four decades, Brody has always been considered a richly talented actor, even during years when his star seemed to be on the wane. In this part of his speech, Brody made it clear hes aware his career never quite reached the heights his first Oscar suggested were within his grasp, and that a lot of actors have had similar trajectories. Indeed, some Hollywood careers unfurl in long, graceful arcs, while others are more like short, bumpy roller-coaster rides. Brody seemed legitimately grateful his career had finally rebalanced, and it was touching to behold.Whatever goodwill Brody earned in that moment seemed to abruptly evaporate, however, when he began to rambleWinning an award like this signifies a destinationand then refused to cede the spotlight long after the producers piped in the wrap-it-up music.It wasnt just that he cruised past the time limit, it was the arrogance he exuded while doing so.Please, please, Im wrapping up, I will wrap up, he said while making the universal hand gesture for cut it out. Ive done this before, he added. Its not my first rodeo.In that moment, Brody became every annoying, entitled coworker whose narcissism compels him to demand preferential treatment. You know, the kind who sucks up valuable time in the dwindling moments of a meeting because their ideas are simply too brilliant to be saved?Earlier in the night, best supporting actor winner Kieran Culkin proved its possible to ward off the wrap-it-up music without looking like a jerk. About 90 seconds into the acceptance speech for his work in A Real Pain, Culkin politely asked to not be played off so he could tell a quick story about his wife, Jazz Charlton. He then went on to tell an irresistibly cute anecdote about the negotiations between him and Charlton over how many children they would have together.Not only was the story adorable, it provided continuity from previous Culkin award speeches. It was also just as brief as the star promised, at about a minute, as he made a respectful effort to rush through without bungling his words. (And without throwing any gum at his wife, to boot.) Brody, on the other hand, kept going for even longer after refusing to leave, and continued speaking in the same unhurried tone, attempting to imbue each word with special meaning.The stark contrast between the two performers proves its not difficult to be a graceful winner. For a moment there, Brody had crystallized the narrative that his unlikely second Oscar proves hes been undervalued for decades. But once his off-putting self-importance kicked in, he instead revealed that those fallow years might have been fallow for good reason.

Florian Busch Architects were tasked with designing a family home in an area characterized by harsh winters and scorching summers. The result is House W a timber structure inspired by barns, partly clad in solar panels. This energy-efficient design enables the home to generate nearly double the energy it needs yearly. Nestled in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan, House W stands on the grounds of a former farmers barn, surrounded by rice paddies and asparagus fields, drawing creative inspiration from its rural surroundings.Designer: Florian Busch ArchitectsThe exterior of the house is partially covered in an innovative solar skin, which, when paired with a battery array, enables the property to operate entirely off the grid. According to a representative from the architectural studio, a total of 56 solar panels have been installed on the structure. These panels collectively offer a substantial capacity of 23 kW. This setup is further enhanced by a sophisticated heat pump system, which is ingeniously connected to a nearby water source. This connection is crucial as it provides a relatively constant temperature throughout the year. This system is important for running the houses underfloor heating efficiently and also plays a vital role in producing warm water for domestic use.Specific figures regarding the homes actual power consumption are not available, but Florian Busch Architects assures that the solar panel system is designed to generate nearly twice the energy the house requires on an annual basis. This surplus ensures that the home remains self-sufficient, offering both sustainability and significant energy savings.The structure is predominantly built from timber and features a distinctive design that resembles two sections of a barn that have been split apart and joined with glazing. This unique architectural choice is intended to be a creative solution to budget constraints.Ironically, the idea of breaking a large simple volume into pieces was triggered by an initial requirement which in the end was lifted, said Florian Busch Architects. In light of the volatile construction market, the clients had requested to study the possibility of splitting the project into phases. While we ended up constructing phases 1 and 2 together, the design and construction of a third a shed for storage and workshop originally intended as a future annex, began before phase 1 was even completed. The strategy of splitting a larger volume into pieces and rotating them provides the basis for the annex(es) to preserve the integrity of the overall, complement not undo it.The interior spans 163 square meters (1,754 square feet) across two floors and is bathed in natural light courtesy of the extensive glazing. Timber features prominently throughout the space, complementing the high ceilings and open layouts of the rooms. The design is centered around the central glazed area, promoting both airflow and movement within the home. Adjustable louvers are strategically employed to manage sunlight, providing shade during the summer months and maximizing warmth in the winter.The post This Sustainable Timber Home Doubles Energy Efficiency In Japan first appeared on Yanko Design.

Weve been hearing different versions of leaks about aGears of Warcollection for some time now, and it seems it might finally be on the verge of being announced.Known leaker extas1s recently uploaded a video in which he claimed that the long-rumouredGears of War Collectonis indeed in development, and due out later this year. As per the leaker, the collection will be announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in June, and as prior reports have claimed, will also release for PS5 day and date.As for what the collection will entail- thats where details are a little scarce. The leaker said in his video he wasnt sure about how many games will be included in the collection, or whether they will be remade or remastered (or neither).Meanwhile, theseries next mainline title,Gears of War: E-Day,allegedly isnt due out until next year. Read more on that through here.

Multiple leaks have claimed since its announcement last year thatGears of War: E-Daycould release sometime in late 2025, though it seems the third-person shooters launch plans have been delayed. Thats as per prominent Xbox leaker extas1s.In a recently uploaded video, the leaker claimed that though Gears of War: E-Daywas at one point tentatively targeting a 2025 release, the shooter is at a stage in development where that is looking increasingly unlikely. In development since 2020,E-Dayis now due out sometime next year, the leaker says.That said, fans of Microsofts shooter franchise will seemingly still have something to look forward to before then, with aGears of War Collectionallegedly due out this year (and coming day and date to PS5). Read more on that through here.Gears of War: E-Dayis in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Recently, it was announced thatGears of War: JudgmentandOutridersstudio People Can Fly is serving as a co-developer on the title.

LowKick Games says its MMORPG WorldShards has generated millions in partnership with Open Loot.Read More