A similar style, Decorated Gothic, appeared in England in the late 13th century. The English were very interested in decoration and articulation and linear patterns on surfaces, Bork. says. They werent as interested in pushing the envelope structurally as the French were, but they developed fantastic vaulting and window tracery and were very innovative in that respect. Prominent examples include Westminster Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, and Wells Cathedral.Late GothicThe Late Gothic period, which began in the late 14th century, introduced Flamboyant style. Known for S-shaped, flame-like tracery and purely ornamental ribs in the vaults, this iteration of Gothic architecture was popular across all of Europe. In France, it can be seen at Rouen Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle; in Spain, at Burgos Cathedral and Segovia Cathedral; and in the Czech Republic, at St. Vitus Cathedral. In Prague and Germany, you have these incredible vaulting patterns in the ceiling that are overwhelming in their complexity so that you no longer get this sense of how the building is standing, but youre still caught in wonderment, Hutterer says.Segovia Cathedral in SpainPhoto: Vanni Archive/Getty ImagesPerpendicular style was Englands version of Late Gothic, featuring straight, vertical tracery, oversized windows, and fan vaults. The Decorated style was only around for a few decades, whereas the Perpendicular style stuck around for 150 years, Gajdoov says. It was still relevant even in the early 16th century, when St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle, where Queen Elizabeth is buried, was finished. That particular style of Gothic had a really lasting effect.What are the defining features of Gothic architecture?Identifying Gothic architecture is easier when one knows the elements that comprise it. Consider the following list.External featuresPointed archesFlying buttressesThinner wallsTraceryRose windowsVertical proportionsSpiresTowersPinnaclesInternal featuresRib vaultsHigh, vaulted ceilingsStained glass windowsColumnsPiersGallery arcadesNarrow walkwaysWhat does the name Gothic architecture mean? Where does it come from?Gothic architecture was originally called opus Francigenum, which means French work in Latin. It wasnt until the 16th century, when Giorgio Vasari published his book Lives of the Artists, that the term Gothic architecture was coinedand it wasnt complimentary. Its a totally false, misleading slur, Bork says. It refers to Germanic barbarians, the Goths, who sacked Rome seven centuries before the pointy architecture came around. The Italian theorists were trying to disrespect the architecture they were fighting against. Even though its unfair and coming from a bad place, it has a little kernel of truth to it. Gothic is the alternative to the old Roman way of doing things.What are the differences between Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture?The prevailing style of architecture from about 1000 to 1150, Romanesque drew its influences from ancient Roman structures. They used round arches and barrel vaults like the Romans did, but they were working on a smaller scale, building Christian churches instead of temples, Bork explains. They also deviated from the Greco-Roman system of proportion, so you get columns that are stretched out slender like taffy. Its still fairly dark, an architecture of walls and planes and volumes.

15 Republican AGs Urge The Supreme Court To Make Providing Affordable Broadband To Poor People Illegalfrom the this-is-why-we-can't-have-nice-things deptMon, Mar 3rd 2025 05:24am - Karl BodeThe FCC runs an $8 billion federal subsidy program to help bring phone and broadband services to lower income homes and schools called theUniversal Service Fund. The program was historically a bipartisan thing, until the extremist Trump administration came to town. Driven by a fake right wing consumer group called Consumers Research, theTrumplican-stackedFifth Circuit court of appeals recently took the radical step ofruling the entire program unconstitutional. The ruling, which ignored past Fifth Circuit and Supreme Court precedent, effectively declared the USF an unconstitutional, illegal tax, something seven court dissenters said was a preposterous leap.Now the Supreme Courthas stated theyll hear the case, which will ultimately determine whether federal efforts to expand broadband access to poor, rural neglected communities is effectively illegal or not.Not too surprisingly, 15 MAGA loyal Attorneys General, apparently with nothing better to do, have thrown their support behind the effort to effectively make helping poor people afford broadband illegal:A coalition of Republican attorneys general from 15 states urged the Supreme Court Tuesday to find an $8 billion-per-year broadband subsidy unconstitutional. They argued the court should make it harder for Congress to delegate broad power to regulatory agencies.This is, of course, part of the broader radical Trump administrations attempt to dismantle any sort of coherent federal governance, regardless of any sort of real world harm. This is, as weve noted previously, about eliminating all oversight of billionaires and corporations. But its routinely dressed up as some sort of noble constitutional battle by serious, good faith individuals.Yes, the Universal Service Fund serves some important purposes. But those purposes cannot trump constitutional precepts, the attorney generals wrote intheir amicus brief.But nobody actually supports this outside of a handful of extremist far-right wingers. Even traditional GOP telecom allies and former Trump FCC boss Ajit Pai think this is a bad idea. And again, this case only exists due to a lawsuit by a fake consumer group namedConsumers Research, whose website encourages people to reportwoke companiesfor making bare-bone efforts at empathy and inclusivity.The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on March 26. Its hard to say whether this is too extreme for even our extreme, Trump-loyal Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court declares the USF illegal, this could be leveraged to justify congressional reform of the program. But because Congress is broken and corrupt, it wont be real reform. It will be corruption-fueled bullshit.The Trump FCCs idea of reform of the USF is to basically impose a massive new tax on Google and Netflix. That will drive up the cost of your streaming and other tech service bills, purportedly under the pretense of funding broadband and bridging the digital divide. But under Republican management I strongly suspect this will be little more than a slush fund for regional telecom monopolies like AT&T.At the same time, the Trump administration and its loyal courts are dismantling the entirety of federal consumer protection at agencies like the FTC and FCC, ensuring regional telecom giants like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, and Charter can rip you off with zero real repercussions. What could possibly go wrong?

GTAcquisitionLA Noire director returns to Rockstar ahead of GTA 6, as studio buys GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition developer and renames it Rockstar AustraliaWe are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible.Image credit: Rockstar Games News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on March 3, 2025 Rockstar Games has made an an acquisition ahead of GTA 6, bringing Sydney-based developer Video Games Deluxe - which it worked with on The GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition - into the fold and renaming it Rockstar Australia.The move brings LA Noire director Brendan McNamara back to Rockstar, with the developer having founded Video Games Deluxe after departing now-defunct LA Noire studio Team Bondi.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "After working together closely over many years, we are excited to have Video Games Deluxe join the team as Rockstar Australia," Rockstar Games' head of publishing Jennifer Kolbe said in a release on the acquisition published by BusinessWire.Video Games Deluxe and Rockstar have collabed on the likes of LA Noire's re-release, its VR Case Files, and most recently on an update to the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition. This was the update that followed the latter's original version being criticised for its poor quality, something which a different studio - Grove Street Games - has taken the brunt of ther flack for, with the update having prompted GSG's CEO to suggest it scrubbing some mentions of Grove Street Games from the game was a "dick move".As noted, acquiring Video Games Deluxe also brings LA Noire director Brendan McNamara, who also founded that game's developer Team Bondi, back to Rockstar. Team Bondi shut its doors back in 2011, having faced allegations of bad working conditions and crunch culture, something McNamara responded to at the time."Its been an honor to work closely with Rockstar Games this past decade," McNamara said in the release about Video Games Deluxe becoming Rockstar Australia, "We are thrilled to be a part of Rockstar Games and to continue our efforts to make the best games possible."We'll likely not know for sure whether Rockstar Australia will be lending a hand on GTA 6's development until the game's out, but it seems like a setup that'd potentially make sense, given the game's bearing down its currently pencilled in Fall release window.That's for the game's console release - Rockstar's yet to give word on a PC release window, despite some recent and quickly walked-back comments from an exec at the company behind some hardcore gamer mood lighting.

Oliver Markowski, Head of 3D at RISE, returns to the podcast to dive deep into the latest advancements in VFX technology. Since his last appearance, the industry has seen major shifts, and Oliver shares insights on how USD and MaterialX have evolved, shaping how studios exchange data and build pipelines. He discusses the adoption of USD across the industry, from major VFX houses to tech giants like NVIDIA and Apple, and the challenges of standardizing MaterialX for real-world production. Oliver also provides an update on RISEs latest projects, including their work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Megalopolis, and the highly anticipated Fallout series.A major focus of the conversation is the use of Gaussian Splats and how they are revolutionizing virtual production and 3D asset capture. Oliver explains how this technique has surpassed neural radiance fields (NeRFs) in efficiency, enabling real-time 3D reconstruction with remarkable accuracy. He explores its potential to replace traditional polygon-based workflows and the challenges of integrating Gaussian Splats into existing VFX pipelines. With fascinating insights into real-time rendering, AI-driven workflows, and the future of digital filmmaking, this episode is a must-listen for anyone following the cutting edge of VFX innovation.Links:Rise >Oliver Markowski on LinkedIn >Oliver Markowski on IMDB >

Werehogs, not swearhogs.Like all big pop culture moments, time has done weird things to the public perception of Sonic Unleashed. What launched in HD on Xbox 360 and PS3 (and in SD on Wii and PS2) back in 2008 to the lukewarm reception of "oh, it's like Sonic only slower... and greyer" has developed into something a tad more nostalgic, particularly for those who grew up with the title.It's not one of the games that immediately springs to mind when you think of which blue blur adventure is ripe for a remaster, but a fan-made PC port is making us see things in a new light (thanks for the heads up, Push Square). Grab your mascara and pull down your fringe, we're jonesing for Sonic Unleashed on Switch 2.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)In Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland, theres an oft-quoted interaction in which the titular character, having fallen down the rabbit hole and become trapped in a dreamlike world, complains to the Cheshire Cat that she doesnt want to be among mad people. Oh, you cant help that, says the Cat. Were all mad here. The Cats observation, and this interaction as a whole, perfectly captures the feeling of Everhood 2, the latest release from Foreign Gnomes.In the best of ways, this Toby Fox-inspired RPG is as confusing and menacing as it is fascinating and funny, and while it likely wont top most peoples lists when discussing the best RPGs on the Switch, it provides a memorable and worthwhile adventure that wed suggest you try out.The premise of Everhood 2 is well, its complicated. You begin the narrative as a self-insert silent protagonist who awakens in a surreal world, guided on a quest by the cryptic wisdom of a mysterious creature named The Raven. It wants you to kill a dragon on its behalf, but youre not yet ready for the fight, so The Raven helps you navigate the strange world of Everhood as you grow your power and discover the color of your soul.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Much like the previous game, there are much darker and more serious themes that gradually come to the fore, but most of the narrative experience for the 8-10 hours it lasts is an incomprehensible kaleidoscope of scenarios and conflicts that each leave you feeling more baffled and intrigued than the last. Whether youre freeing a contingent of alien slaves under the control of a pack of hyenas and sharks or helping a small vegetable insurgency overthrow a kingdom, there is almost no rhyme or reason to the sequence of events, and there is absolutely no predicting what could happen next.In a lesser game, this crazy, meandering structure could run the risk of ruining your interest in the plot, but Everhood 2 avoids this through its relatively lighthearted tone and brisk pacing. Even though theres always a subtle, sinister vibe in the background, the characters have a funny way of interacting with you that ensures theres always something interesting to deal with. Everhood 2 is the kind of game that happens to you, and once you let go of trying to understand it, the bizarre trip through this goofy, gonzo world is like no other.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Gameplay loosely follows the standard JRPG template in which you visit towns, delve into loot- and enemy-filled dungeons, and engage in tense combat, the star of the show here. It follows an interesting rhythm-based set up in which you stand on a note highway (similar to what was once used in the Guitar Hero games) and dodge colored notes that fly at you from the enemy at the top of the screen.You can either jump over these notes or dodge to the side, but merely avoiding them will not grant you victory over your foes. A quick tap of a button just before a note is about to hit will make your character absorb the note, banking it in an energy meter that will allow you to respond with a counterattack once youve snagged enough energy.Things get a little more complicated, however, when you factor in that taking any damage while holding on to energy will cause you to lose it all. Further, you can only store one color at a time, and if you mistakenly absorb a differently colored note, youll lose any stored energy and drop down to just one. You can do a small, medium, or large attack depending on how much you have, which creates a thrilling risk/reward system for navigating fights. Do you keep stringing together a series of small attacks and just poke the enemy to death? Or do you trust your ability to remain untouched and try to build up your energy for much more damaging strikes?Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)The answers to such questions dynamically shift not just between battles, but often within encounters as foes change up their attack patterns with significant shifts in the music. At least on the base difficulty, this combat never feels downright punishing, but it tests your dexterity and strategic capabilities as you adapt your approach in the thrilling dance with death.All this is well and good, but our biggest criticism of Everhood 2 is its rather limited gameplay experience once the shock value of its specific brand of psychedelic madness wears off. The games strongest appeal lies in its aesthetics and its ability to keep you guessing, as the gameplay driving this wild adventure feels relatively shallow for an RPG.Though the combat system is certainly interesting, the character progression systems are quite basic and there really isnt much in the way of gear or party management to give you much agency. And despite feeling like it features a rather expansive world at first, Everhood 2 soon shows that its a relatively linear experience that doesnt do much to reward exploration. To be clear, this relative shallowness doesnt make it a bad or unenjoyable game, but it feels like it falls short of what it could be with a little more fleshing out.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)For the visuals, Everhood 2 follows the same graphical style seen in games such as Undertale, opting for an intentionally crude take on 8-bit graphics. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to parse an environment and understand whats interactable within, but this mild confusion is ostensibly part its irreverent aesthetic. Every now and then, things will also get decidedly more trippy, and this is where more modern effects and even some photorealistic elements come into play to keep you off balance and intrigued.Meanwhile, the soundtrack does an excellent job of matching the world's mercurial nature by throwing a variety of different music genres at you both in and out of combat. Tracks include elements of house, classical, rock, chiptune, pop, drum and bass, metal, and more, keeping you guessing over what you might hear next when you encounter a new enemy type. Overall, its a pretty catchy and diverse soundtrack, and the fusion of gameplay and music is executed quite well.ConclusionWhile we wait for the final episodes of Deltarune to come out hopefully sometime before the end of this century, Everhood 2 acts as a fitting substitute for those looking for a subversive and strange RPG that defies conventions. Its distinct mixture of comedic storytelling, unique aesthetics, and rhythm-based combat gameplay all make this one easy to recommend, even if it can feel a little shallow in places. Wed suggest you add Everhood 2 to your library at some point; the experience is certainly well worth it, although its best approached with an open mind.Absolutely insane premise and charactersRhythm combat is consistently greatWriting has a charming and goofy toneVisuals are a little middlingGameplay can feel a bit shallowGood 7/10

The United States has suspended its offensive cyber operations against Russia, according to reports, amid efforts by the Trump administration to grant Moscow concessions to end the war in Ukraine.The reported order to halt U.S.-launched hacking operations against Russia was authorized by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to The Record. The new guidance affects operations carried out by U.S. Cyber Command, a division of the Department of Defense focused on hacking and operations in cyberspace, but does not apply to espionage operations conducted by the National Security Agency.The reported order has since been confirmed by The New York Times and The Washington Post.The order was handed down before Fridays Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the reports. The New York Times said that the instruction came as part of a broader effort to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin into talks about the countrys ongoing war in Ukraine.U.S. Cyber Command and the Pentagon did not respond to TechCrunchs questions, but a senior defense official told The Record that it does not discuss cyber intelligence, plans, or operations.The Guardian also reports that the Trump administration has signaled it no longer views Russian hackers as a cybersecurity threat, and reportedly ordered U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA to no longer report on Russian threats. The newspaper cites a recent memo that set out new priorities for CISA, including threats faced by China and protecting local systems, but the memo did not mention Russia. CISA employees were reportedly informed verbally that they were to pause any work on Russian cyber threats.The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CISA, denied the report in a statement to TechCrunch.Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, said the memo did not come from the Trump administration, and that, CISA remains committed to addressing all cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, including from Russia.There has been no change in our posture or priority on this front, McLaughlin told TechCrunch.The reported shift in U.S. policy by the Trump administration towards Russia comes just months after the U.S. intelligence community said that Russia poses an enduring cyber threat to the United States. In its annual threat assessment, the U.S. warned that Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, continues to target U.S. government agencies and critical infrastructure such as underwater cables and industrial control systems.Over the past few years, the U.S. government has also taken action against a swathe of Russian cybercriminals: it has successfully disrupted the infrastructure of Russia-linked ransomware groups, reclaimed millions in ransom payments paid to Russian hackers, and targeted some of the most notorious Russian hackers with indictments and sanctions.

After fielding user backlash over its new Terms of Use last week, Firefox browser maker Mozilla has rewritten its policy to address issues around the overly broad language it had previously used. Critics said the terms implied Mozilla was asking users for the rights to whatever data they input into the browser or upload, which some worried would be then sold to advertisers or AI companies.Mozilla said that was not the case, noting that the new terms didnt represent a change in the way the company used data. The company also said that the original language updates were not driven by a desire to sell user data, and that the companys ability to use collected data was still limited by the rights laid out in Firefoxs Privacy Notice.Anumberofcritics hadpointed to language, such as the following, in the new terms as a cause for concern (emphasis ours):When you upload or input information through Firefox, you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use that informationto help you navigate, experience, and interact with online content as you indicate with your use of Firefox.Now, Mozilla has rewritten its Terms of Use to more clearly reflect the limited scope of how Mozilla interacts with user data, Mozillas product chief Ajit Varma said in an announcement shared ahead of the weekend.In the updated policy, Mozilla clarifies that its asking for user data in order to operate Firefox and that this does not give the company ownership of that data.Specifically, the new terms state that:You give Mozilla the rights necessary to operate Firefox. This includes processing your data as we describe in the Firefox Privacy Notice. It also includes a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license for the purpose of doing as you request with the content you input in Firefox. This does not give Mozilla any ownership in that content.Mozilla says it also removed the reference to the Acceptable Use Policy from its terms, as it was causing confusion. The companys online Privacy FAQ was updated to better explain legalese, as well.For instance, Mozilla said it may have removed blanket claims that it never sells user data because the legal definition of sale of data is now broad and evolving, Mozillas blog post stated. The company pointed to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as an example of why the language was changed, noting that the CCPA defines sale as the selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating orally, in writing, or by electronic or other means, a consumers personal information by [a] business to another business or a third party in exchange for monetary or other valuable consideration.Firefox does collect and share some data with its partners, Mozilla said, including data that helps to power its optional ads on the New Tab page in the browser and for sponsored suggestions in the search bar, which are detailed in its Privacy Notice. However, the company says that the user data it does share is stripped of personally identifying information and is only shared in aggregate.Users can continue to adjust their own data-sharing settings in the browser, Mozilla also said.

Breakdown & ShowreelsAlien Romulus: Stop Motion Reel by Tippett StudioBy Vincent Frei - 03/03/2025 Stop-motion meets sci-fi horror as Tippett Studio delivers a chilling sequence in Alien: Romulus: the reanimation of a mouse. A testament to the studios mastery of practical effects, enhancing the films eerie realism!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Eric Barba: Heres my interview of Production VFX Supervisor Eric Barba. Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2025

All images Zachary CorzineTechnology and Nature Merge in Zachary Corzines Otherworldly Faux FloraMarch 3, 2025AnimationKate MothesFantastical flowers burgeon and bloom in the digital animations of Zachary Corzine. The Portland, Oregon-based generative designer takes what he describes as a variety of software like Cinema4D, Houdini, Substance, Octane, Redshift, and After Effects to create dynamic, atmospheric visuals.Between projects for clients like Apple, Audi, Disney, Nike, and many more, Corzine explores new techniques and effects in projects like Faux Flora. Taking inspiration from real botanicals like sunflowers, pincushions, lilacs, and more, he animates each specimen as if recording a timelapse, embracing an otherworldly geometry. This series was a year-long passion project, driven by my desire to explore hyper-realized flowers that exist in a space where nature and technology entwine in a delicate, algorithmic dance, Corzine says. Each specimen is flawless and unfurls with a slightly uncanny polish. He adds:Each bloom was designed to evoke both familiarity and mysteryforms that echo the organic yet defy the constraints of the natural world. By viewing flora through a procedurally generated lens, we can reimagine the botanical landscape as an ever-evolving entity.Faux Flora blossomed from the increasing tension Corzine observes between technology and naturea disparity he finds difficult to reconcile. As climate change and environmental destruction continue, this project is both a love letter and a means to explorehow technology can be used not to replace nature but hopefullyreconnect us with it in new and meaningful ways, he adds.Explore more on Corzines website, Vimeo, and Behance. You might also enjoy Hannes Hummels bizarrely beautiful Hybrid Species or Ondrej Zunkas The Fleur.Next article