• Run Your Own Italian Cafe in This Upcoming Atmospheric Sim
    cgshares.com
    If you like cozy atmospheric sims, check out Vacation Cafe Simulator by Alice Games, in which you can immerse yourself in the pleasant vibes of a charming southern cafe.Set along a picturesque sunlit coastline, the game places you in charge of your own authentic Italian cafe. While soaking in the relaxed, vacation-like atmosphere, you will run this business and try to develop it, managing all its aspects, from preparing and serving a variety of delicious dishes to planning the budget, to make the cafe a top vacation spot for tourists.Alice GamesWith a series of mini-games, you will master Italian recipes from traditional cuisine and craft pizza, bruschetta, pasta, and more for your customers. The role of a restaurant owner requires a lot of errands: you will need to manage the budget, develop your cafe by purchasing new equipment, expanding the menu, enhancing its interior, and keeping it atmospheric and attractive for visitors.Alice GamesAlice GamesAlice GamesVacation Cafe Simulator offers not only the cafe location but also the possibility to explore the nearby shows and wineries, where you can make useful contacts and discover new business opportunities.Alice GamesThe game is slated for release in 2025, but the specific launch date has not been revealed yet.For more immersive cooking simulators, check out Chocolate Factory Simulator by Games Incubator, in which you can become a chocolatier and craft your own gourmet recipes:Wishlist Vacation Cafe Simulator on Steam anddont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Run Your Own Italian Cafe in This Upcoming Atmospheric Sim appeared first on CG SHARES.
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  • New Strategy Game That Closely Resembles Advance Wars Is Releasing Soon
    www.gamespot.com
    It might look like Advance Wars. It might even play similarly to Advance Wars. But Warside is its own game, and it's coming out in roughly a month on PC: April 14. Meanwhile, a console release should be coming soon, too.Publisher First Break Labs revealed Warside's release date in a new trailer for the game--seen below. As you can see, the turn-based title resembles Advance Wars, featuring infantry, tanks, and airplanes that can be moved around a tile-based map. The pixel art even shares similarities with the long-running Nintendo franchise.Warside is touted as a "fast-paced, turn-based tactics game" and will offer a story campaign alongside multiplayer support. First Break Labs is also promising 14 playable commanders (possessing their own passive skills and powers), over 30 unit types, and a map editor.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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  • Grab Metroid Prime Remastered Physical Edition For Only $30
    www.gamespot.com
    Metroid Prime Remastered $30 (was $40) See at Walmart Metroid Prime Remastered is on sale for only $30 (was $40) at Walmart, but we wouldn't expect this offer to be available for long. The 25% discount matches the all-time best price for the superb enhanced version of the GameCube classic. Walmart offered this deal a couple weeks back and it disappeared quickly, but now you have another chance to snag this rare deal. Despite releasing over two years ago, Prime Remastered almost always sells for full price. With Metroid Prime 4: Beyond expected to release sometime this year, now's a great time to revisit or experience the Retro Studios series for the first time.Prime Remastered is currently sold out at Amazon and is priced at its normal $40 Best Buy and Target. We wouldn't expect this deal to be available for long, so grab a copy while you can. Metroid Prime Remastered $30 (was $40) Despite the name, Metroid Prime Remastered feels more like a remake--and a faithful one at that. The alien ruins and wilderness of Tallon IV have been rebuilt with gorgeous new models and high-resolution textures and not only match the original game's art direction, but enrich its atmosphere. The gameplay and level designs are identical to the original, barring a few welcome changes like new control options, including a modernized control schemes that mirrors the standardized first-person shooter layouts most players are familiar with--though the the original control scheme and gyro-based aiming are also available. See at Walmart While these changes make Metroid Prime Remastered the definitive way to play, and highlight how good the original core gameplay still is. As Steven Petite says in our Metroid Prime Remastered review, "It's an experience that has aged like fine wine, and is every bit as intoxicating now as it was 20 years ago."Continue Reading at GameSpot
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  • Demon Slayer: Why The Infinity Castle Movies Need To Be Made Into A TV Anime
    gamerant.com
    Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will adapt the final events of the story in great style with a trilogy of movies. While titled Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the penultimate arc, there is a strong possibility it will also cover the events of the final Sunrise Countdown arc. Both arcs are part of the larger Final Battle arc.
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  • If God of War Tackles Egyptian Mythology, One Concept Could Be Important
    gamerant.com
    Arguably the most important aspect of its identity, and undoubtedly one of the series' greatest strengths, God of War fully embraces mythology at every turn. The original God of War saga showed its deep reverence for Greek mythology time and time again, using the complex tapestry of interweaving godly relationships as the backdrop of much of its action and story.
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  • Fielding may not be fun, but it could be more rewarding in MLB The Show 25s career mode
    www.polygon.com
    Fielding is perhaps the unsung hero of every baseball video game. There probably arent many MLB The Show players who ask themselves, upon first firing up the new game each year, Whats new on defense? But of course, its just as important a pillar of the sport as pitching, hitting, or baserunning as my beloved Yankees found out when they frittered away a five-run lead in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, in what is perhaps the most mind-boggling, soul-crushing, Lemony-Snicket-aint-got-shit-on-this collapse in the 120-year history of the Fall Classic.MLB The Show has now existed as a video game franchise for just about one-sixth of that time period it began with 2006s MLB 06: The Show, making this years MLB The Show 25 the 20th entry in the series and for its entire run, the same person has led the gameplay team at developer SIE San Diego Studio. That has made the franchise a renowned model of consistency, but it also presents some challenges. Namely: With such a well-established, solid foundation, are you forever stuck tinkering on the margins?Every year, well say, Oh, weve added hundreds of new gameplay animations. And people will say, Well, the game looks the same, said Sonys Ramone Russell, director of product development, communications, and brand strategy at Sony San Diego, in an interview with me last month. These players are not entirely wrong, of course when an annual sports game gets a few hundred items added to an animation library that numbers in the tens of thousands, players will likely need to spend a significant amount of time on the virtual diamond before their eyes catch something theyve never seen before.Part of the trouble when it comes to representing fielding in a video game is not just that its tough to make it as fun and engaging as pitching or hitting. Its also difficult to convey the differences in skill between a league-average defender and a Gold Glove winner, at least in a way that doesnt simply annoy players. In order to do that, the developers have to take some control out of players hands. Russell said theres effectively a dice roll under the hood, based on certain in-game attributes that each fielder possesses, that helps determine how likely it is that any given player will be able to get to a particular batted ball. (Cue MLB The Show players wailing at their TVs when a seeing-eye grounder trickles into the outfield, just out of a defenders reach.)This is actually a change that Sony San Diego made for MLB The Show 24 last year, but the game didnt communicate it to players in any way. Now theres a visual indicator of how good a jump your infielder got on a ball: blue for the fastest reaction time, green for an average one, and yellow for the slowest. The gameplay connection here is that the fielding animation you see corresponds to the reaction time. Even if three shortstops with varying skill levels can each get to the same hypothetical ground ball, an elite defender will be able to field it more cleanly than the others, and transition to a throwing animation more smoothly and quickly; meanwhile, the lower-level fielders may stumble a bit as they pick up the ball, delaying their throw enough to allow the runner to reach base safely.The developers goal is to make it easier to see the difference between below-average, average, great, and amazing infielders, according to Russell. And hopefully you wont get as mad when your shortstop misses this ball. Youre like, Why did he play that animation and miss that ball? Its like, Oh, I see this yellow thing. That means he got a bad jump, and he got a bad jump because his fielding rating isnt as good.As soon as Russell demonstrated how this system works in MLB The Show 25, I saw its potential to make my favorite mode, Road to the Show, more rewarding. I do get a lot of joy and fulfillment out of the career modes basic rhythm, which follows the languid pace of a baseball season. Its the simple pleasure of jumping into another game and stepping up to the plate for another at-bat a new opportunity to prove myself and raise my game that keeps me going. But the grind can feel abstract at times, with such a gradual progression from promising prospect to big-league All-Star.This years fielding feedback icons offer something concrete to work toward. The jump that an infielder gets is tied directly to their reaction attribute (REAC), which has tiers that correspond to probabilities on the field: If your players REAC rating is under 50, youll literally never see them get a great jump. But when you raise it to that threshold, it unlocks that possibility (albeit with a relatively low chance). Once you improve the attribute to 70, theyll have, say, a 40% chance of getting a great jump. And an infielder with a 99 REAC will have the fastest possible reaction time on every ball hit in their direction.I plan to spend hours upon hours in MLB The Show 25s Road to the Show mode, as I do every year. But this time around, Im particularly looking forward to raising my created players fielding abilities something Ive rarely thought about in the past and anticipating the rush of satisfaction upon seeing that blue glow beneath his feet for the first time.MLB The Show 25 is scheduled to launch March 18 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
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  • Zenless Zone Zero voice actors replaced as union negotiation remains far apart on AI protections
    www.polygon.com
    Video game performers have been on strike since July 26, 2024, and negotiations remain far apart, according to the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Interactive Media Negotiating Committee chair Sarah Elmaleh jointly sent out a letter to members on Tuesday, sharing an update on bargaining. The sticking point continues to be the use of artificial intelligence and the use of digital replicas of video game actors. They want to use all past performances and any performance they can source from outside the contract without any of the protections being bargained at all, Crabtree-Ireland and Elmaleh wrote. You could be told nothing about your replica being used, offered nothing in the way of payment, and you could do nothing about it. They want to be able to make your replica continue to work, as you, during a future strike, whether you like it or not. And once youve given your specific consent for how your replica can be used, they refuse to tell you what they actually did with it.Per the strike rules, video game performers can continue work on games that were already in production as of Aug. 25, 2024 so living games, like Zenless Zone Zero and Apex Legends are technically fair game. But some companies, like Riot Games League of Legends, are explicitly struck due to alleged bad behavior from the company it uses to hire voice actors, Formosa Interactive. Formosa Interactive is one of several companies bargaining with SAG-AFTRA as a group; Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, Insomniac Games, and several more are also part of the group.Proxies I'm learning about this as you are and I share your shock. Neither HoYoverse nor Sound Cadence has communicated with me since October. I've been fully available and recorded multiple voice jobs in that time. I am trying to learn more and absorb this news. Nicholas Thurkettle Voice Actor (@nthurkettle.bsky.social) 2025-03-12T02:30:19.849ZHowever, voice actors and other video game performers even those not in the union may withhold their labor in solidarity, even from projects not technically struck. Thats what happened to at least two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors who who replaced due to their unwillingness to work on a project not covered by SAG-AFRAs interim agreement, which would ensure the AI protections the union is currently fighting for. I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry, Emeri Chase, who voiced Soldier 11, wrote on BlueSky. Nicholas Thurkettle, who voiced Lycaon, said on BlueSky he made a personal choice, and has since been replaced, too. Thurkettle said in a separate post that he learned about the replacement when the Zenless Zone Zero update went live. I share your shock, he wrote. Several other voice actors were placed in August, but it was never confirmed as to why.HoYoverse, which makes Zenless Zone Zero, has opted to leave several of its characters unvoiced in English due to voice actors being unavailable during the strike. When a Genshin Impact update when live in October, the silence was noticeable. But the SAG-AFTRA strike is also impacting other video games across the industry: In February, some Destiny 2 characters were unvoiced, too. However, like HoYoverse with Zenless Zone Zero, Activision Blizzard reportedly chose to replace a couple voice actors on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.As the strike continues, and more new video games enter production, the impact of the strike could increase. The impact of AI use in video games may increase, too: Voice actor Mika Nerida took to X on Tuesday to accusedindie game Castle of Secrets developer Serene Questworks of replacing all its voice actors with AI-trained voices. A day prior, The Verge published a report on Sony Interactive Entertainment prototyping an AI-powered version of Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West. The video doesnt seem to show AI Aloy using voice actor Ashly Burchs voice. (Polygon has reached out to Sony and Burch for clarification on the voice acting in the demo). Nvidia, too, is working on similar technology. Even outside of SAG-AFTRA, video game voice actors want protections: The entire French Apex Legends cast reportedly declined to sign a contract with Respawn Entertainment that would allow the company to use voices to train AI.SAG-AFTRA published a chart that plainly lays out how negotiations with the video game companies is going, showing the back-and-forth between the two groups on AI usage; the two have agreed on most other proposals. The largest AI issues are around digital replicas, which the video game companies want to define as performances that are objectively identifiable as the actor; the union says most of their work doesnt apply there, so its looking to include language that ensures a contracts identifies an actor in a role. Then, the union wants to protect actors from digital replicas built using work created before the new contract goes into effect. That protection, too, is of dispute; the union wants transparency, compensation, usage rules giving actors the right to consent to usage for a set timeframe, to know how their voices are used, then to be compensated for it.We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actors performance in other games, Audrey Cooling, a representative for the companies negotiating with SAG-AFTRA, said in a statement. We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal.Update: This story has been updated to include a statement from the video game companies involved in the SAG-AFTRA negotiations.
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  • A Co-Working Space in Paris Celebrates Modernist Style
    design-milk.com
    A new co-working space in Paris celebrates Modernist style, with two levels featuring a series of offices and lounge areas to support members. Designer Jordan Weisberg filled the interiors of the early 19th-century building with artistic touches, a nod to its location in Montmartre, a haven for creatives.Weisberg looked to a variety of sources for inspiration, from architecture to television and film, to capture the mid-century modern style that he favors. I love the 1950s, he says. Theres an American Functionalist, Mad Men aesthetic, and of course Mies van der Rohe too.A large circular opening is a key element, and a starting point for Weisberg, who wanted to counterbalance the strict rectilinear lines of the overall design. The portal serves as a surprising focal point, one that brings in a sense of fluidity and lightness, which changes depending on the viewers vantage point.There is an emphasis on seamless movement from the first to second floor, each configured to provide dynamic environments that encourage interaction between users, whether they are completing daily tasks or socializing.On the first level, a common area includes a range of options. Standard tables and task chairs are found in the main zones, ideal for quieter heads-down work. A kitchen is on the second floor, complete with a dinette set where clients can gather for lunch or a coffee break. In keeping with the modernist theme, almost all of the furniture was sourced from vintage collections. Classic sofas and accessories placed throughout are stylish but still comfortable.The color palette is simple yet elegant. Off-white tones act as a canvas which allows the deep burgundy ceiling to have added pop. Black and garnet ceramic tiles add sheen, complemented with blue and yellow tones.Materials are mixed effortlessly, providing just enough variety. Wood is paired with stainless steel and leather. Marble covers tabletops, with shades and veining that create a distinct patchwork of patterns. Each area is bathed in natural light, amplified by an interplay of textures. Baseboards and door frames with glossy finishes contrast with the matte acoustic treatment overhead.Each of the unique details are combined to capture the energy that matches the buzz of activity within. I love the dialogue between all of the materials, Weisberg adds. Its all balanced to make the space more dynamic.To see more work by Jordan Weisberg, visit jwarchi.com.Photography by Yvan Moreau.
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  • Bringing Nordic Sauna Culture To Your Backyard With Tyto
    design-milk.com
    Luxury saunas are no longer reserved for five-star hotels you can now enjoy the experience right in your own backyard. Out of the Valleys new Tyto sauna brings home the restorative magic of Nordic sauna culture, offering immediate access to relaxation and wellness. Measuring just 2.5 feet by 8.5 feet, this compact, beautifully crafted retreat fits effortlessly into smaller outdoor spaces, delivering big on design, comfort, and therapeutic benefits. With Tyto, escaping the demands of daily life has never been easier or closer.While saunas are deeply rooted in Nordic culture, serving as spaces for both relaxation and social connection, their popularity has transcended borders. In the United Kingdom where Out of the Valley is based, the allure of sauna living has grown rapidly. It is now rapidly becoming a normal part of our everyday wellness routine, shares Chris Selman, co-founder of Out of the Valley. The brands bespoke saunas seamlessly complement a variety of landscapes, from charming gardens in Notting Hill to the shores of a remote Scottish loch. With Tyto, Out of the Valley is making this timeless tradition even more accessible for those limited on backyard space. We have created a sauna small enough to be tucked into the corner of any urban garden, so fans of heat therapy can be just steps away from this immersive and therapeutic healing experience, Selman explains.Each Tyto is made to order and handcrafted in the brands Devon workshop, ensuring the highest level craftsmanship. The sauna boasts a brushed and oiled black larch exterior, reminiscent of alpine cabins, and an interior of smooth aspen wood for a calming atmosphere. A striking edge-to-edge panoramic window offers expansive views while maintaining a sense of connection to the outdoors, with optional privacy glass available for added seclusion. The sauna houses a floor-mounted heater available in wood-burning or electric options surrounded by rocks for practicing loyly, the Finnish tradition of pouring water onto the hot rocks to create steam and increase humidity. Thoughtful features like adjustable LED lighting, an outdoor deck, and hooks for robes and towels add convenience and comfort. Optional add-ons, such as an outdoor shower, plunge pool, bench seating, extended deck, sauna heater Wi-Fi, and log storage, allow users to tailor their Tyto to their personal wellness needs.These days, the stresses of daily life are mounting, and its become more important than ever to prioritize wellness. An outdoor sauna is a place where you can escape the pressures of modern living through a soothing heat ritual, either on your own or with friends, Selman notes. With the Tytos harmonious blend of contemporary design, traditional craftsmanship, and thoughtful details, its the perfect elegant addition to any backyard oasis.To learn more about the Tyto or any of Out of the Valleys sauna offerings, visit outofthevalley.co.uk.Photography courtesy of Out of the Valley.
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  • The 10 Best Hidden AirTags Features
    lifehacker.com
    When Apple's AirTags first launched, I thought that the devices would prove to be useless once the novelty wore off, but after using them for about a year, my assumption has proved to be wrong. AirTags have quite a few useful hidden features that make the product worth checking out even if you're someone who doesn't lose things often. Here are the best hidden features of your Apple AirTags.Rename your AirTagsIt sounds obvious, but you really should rename your AirTags to make it easy to identify each item they're attached to. Instead of having them named "Pranay's AirTags #1," you can change it to something like "Pranay's Blue Backpack." To do this, go to the Find My app on your iPhone and navigate to Items > AirTag > Rename Item. Once you've chosen names that are specific and easy to pronounce, you can try the next tip.Use Siri to locate your AirTagsWhen you're looking for a lost item with an Airtag on it, the fastest way to find it is via Siri. You can ask Siri to locate the item by using a voice command like, "Hey Siri, find Pranay's Luggage." Just use whatever name you've given the AirTag and Siri will quickly locate the item and you'll hear a sound that will allow you to find it quickly. This is much faster than going to the Find My app on your iPhone and tapping through to Items > AirTags > Play Sound.Share your AirTag's location with a loved oneIf you trust your loved ones to keep an eye out for you, then consider sharing your AirTag's location with them. This can be useful for those who work night shifts or have long drives to work, as it allows loved ones to know where they are in case there's an emergency. As long as the AirTag is in your car or attached to an item you always carry (house keys, your phone, etc.), this feature will work just fine. Enable it by opening the Find My app on your iPhone and going to Items > AirTags > Share AirTag > Add Person.Put your AirTags in Lost ModeYour AirTags have two useful features that let others locate your lost items. One allows you to share contact information with anyone who finds your lost AirTag, and the other lets you share your AirTag's location with trusted people such as airline employees who are trying to locate your luggage. You can set both of these up by going to the Find My app on your iPhone and navigating to Items > AirTag > Lost AirTag. Tap Show Contact Info or Share Item Location and follow the on-screen instructions to set up these features.You can find the owner of lost AirTagsIn case you come across someone else's AirTags, you can use your iPhone to try to identify their owner and contact them. If someone has added their contact information to their AirTags, as described in the previous tip, you can locate it quickly via the Find My app on your iPhone. Go to the Items tab and select Identify Found Item. Follow the on-screen prompts to identify the lost AirTag and hopefully reunite it with its owner.Turn off left behind notifications for your homeIf your home is marked incorrectly in your AirTags, you'll get annoying "This item is left behind" alerts every time you step out. I ordered my AirTags right before a month-long stay at a friend's place, and their house was automatically marked as my "home." When I returned to my own house, three of my four AirTags would keep scaring me by telling me that I left behind my suitcase or other items. You can fix this by going to Find My > Items > AirTags > Notify When Left Behind. Tap New Location and mark your home as an exception. This should take care of unwanted alerts.Check your AirTag's battery levelYour AirTag's battery should last for a year, but there's no way to determine the current battery level. If the battery is really low, your iPhone will send you a notification. You can also see the AirTag in the Find My app, which will show a battery low indicator if your AirTag needs a new battery.Find your AirTag easilyThis is the most popular use for AirTags. Go to the Find My app and open the Items tab. Tap the name of your AirTag and select Find. The iPhone will take a few moments and direct you towards your AirTag.Look up an AirTag's serial numberYou can also view the serial number and the firmware version of your AirTag in your iPhone's Find My app. To do that, go to the Items tab in the app, select your AirTag, and tap the name of the AirTag. You'll now see its serial number and firmware version. This information can be useful if your AirTags are in warranty and to see if the latest software features are available for them.Creative uses for AirTagsWhile you'd think AirTags would be best for tracking luggage, keys, or other items that you might lose more often than most, there's much more that you can use AirTags for. My personal favorite is tracking pets. If you have a cat that often goes outdoors, putting an AirTag on their harness could save you a lot of trouble if the pet ever goes missing. Similarly, people on Reddit have highlighted many creative uses of the product. This includes training your dog to return to you when you play a sound on an AirTag attached to their collar, using it to track people who have dementia (and often get lost as a result), and even tracking a child's backpack. You should never use AirTags to stalk people, but the product can help you keep an eye on loved ones who can't protect themselves.
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