Most of what happens within the video games we play is invisible to us. Even the elements we're looking straight at work because of what's happening behind the scenes. If you've ever watched a behind-the-scenes video about game development, you might've seen these versions of flat, gray game worlds filled with lines and icons pointing every which way, with multiple grids and layers. These are the visual representations of all the systems that make the game work.Assassin's Creed ShadowsThis is an especially weird dichotomy to consider when it comes to lighting in any game with a 3D perspective, but especially so in high-fidelity games. We don't see light so much as we see everything it touches; it's invisible, but it gives us most of our information about game worlds. And it's a lot more complex than "turn on lamp, room light up." Reflection, absorption, diffusion, subsurface scattering--the movement of light is a complex thing that has been explored by physicists in the real world for literally centuries, and will likely be studied for centuries more. In the middle of all of that are game designers, applying the science of light to video games in practical ways, balanced with the limitations of even today's powerful GPUs, just to show all us nerds a good time.If you've wondered why many games seem to be like static amusement parks waiting for you to interact with a few specific things, lighting is often the reason. But it's also the reason more and more game worlds look vibrant and lifelike. Game developers have gotten good at simulating static lighting, but making it move is harder. Dynamic lighting has long been computationally expensive, potentially tanking game performance, and we're finally starting to see that change.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The cuts could reportedly affect over 100 employees.

ActuGaming.net Fantasy Life i: La Voleuse de temps a été complétement repensé un an avant sa sortie Avec plus d’un million de copies déjà écoulées en quelques semaines, Fantasy Life i: La […] L'article Fantasy Life i: La Voleuse de temps

Earlier this week, Capcom shared a new preview for Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth game in the long-running franchise. According to Capcom, Requiem is already on 1 million wish lists across PSN and Steam. But would the number have been that high if Capcom went through with its original plans to make Requiem an online game?Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi shared an online developer diary on Capcom's official site (via VGC) and revealed that the game was originally developed as an online title. Nakanishi added that the team came up with "interesting concepts" for the game, but ultimately abandoned their online plans when the team realized that RE fans didn't want it. Instead, Requiem was re-envisioned as a single-player game like its eight predecessors.Considering the origins of Requiem as an online title, that may explain why it features Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from the franchise's first multiplayer game, Resident Evil Outbreak. The story is also picking up the narrative threads from the first three RE games by returning to Raccoon City 30 years after it was bombed to end the zombie infestation. Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Criterion Collection 50% Off Sale Godzilla, David Lynch, Guillermo del Toro, Kurosawa, and more See at Amazon Blu-ray collectors don't need to wait for Prime Day 2025 to score great deals, as the annual Criterion Collection Summer Sale just kicked off. Hundreds of 4K Blu-rays, 1080p Blu-rays, and box sets are 50% off at Amazon and Barnes & Noble through July 27. But while you technically have a whole month to shop the deals, many of the most popular Criterion releases tend to sell out long before the official end date during these half-off promotions--especially at Amazon.Here are some of the movies that often disappear before the sale ends: Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films Box Set, the superb 4K remaster of Pixar's Wall-E, The Princess Bride, Dazed and Confused, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, The Shape of Water, Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Yojimbo/Sanjuro, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Uncut Gems, and The Silence of the Lambs. Godzilla: The Showa-Era 15-Film Box Set (Criterion Collection) $112.48 (was $225) See at Amazon We put together a giant alphabetized list of Criterion Collection movie deals that you can check out below. We also created sections for some of the notable franchises, directors, and actors featured in The Criterion Collection. So if you're looking for every 50% off deal related to Godzilla, Guillermo del Toro, David Lynch, Akira Kurosawa, the Coen brothers, Martin Scorsese, and Akira Kurosawa, we have breakdowns for all of them.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Club Mocchi-Mocchi Plushie Deals at Amazon Zelda, Mario, Kirby, Sonic, and more See at Amazon We’re inching closer to Prime Day, but you don’t have to wait until July 8 to save a few bucks on some of the best video game-inspired plushies around. Tomy's Club Mocchi-Mocchi collection is filled with ultra-soft, officially licensed plushies themed around Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, Animal Crossing, and more popular franchises.While many of the standouts hail from classic Nintendo franchises, one of our favorites is the 15-inch Cuphead plush. Fans can get this very cute Cuphead plush for $27 (was $35) at Amazon. This is the lowest price ever for Club Mocchi-Mocchi's Cuphead plush, which is large and chunky enough to be used as a pillow. Cuphead 15-Inch Plush by Club Mocchi-Mocchi $27 (was $35) Cuphead displays a wide range of facial expressions in StudioMDHR's brilliant boss rush action game--and in Netflix's TV adaptation--but Club Mocchi-Mocchi opted for happiness with its officially licensed 15-inch plush. The result is an adorable recreation of the beloved character.Since Cuphead's cup head has a handle on the back, you could attach it to your backpack to have the world's largest keychain plush. In all seriousness, it's worth noting that this plush topples over if you try to display it without a support behind it. And yes, it's because Cuphead has an enormous head.Cuphead isn't the only large Club Mocchi-Mocchi plush available for a discount. Check out deals on Nintendo and Sega designs below. See at Amazon Club Mocchi-Mocchi 15-inch gaming plushiesClub Mocchi Mocchi Plush DealsOther great deals on 15-inch plushies at Amazon include Super Mario's Goomba for $24.49, Mario Kart's Blue Shell for $22.50, and Zelda's Octorok for $23. The list below also includes a few deals from Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. You can get a 15-inch Yoshi Egg plush at Best Buy for $21 and 6-inch Animal Crossing plushies for $10 at Walmart. Target has a 13-inch Dr. Eggman plush for only $20. You can pair Sega's iconic villain with a 15-inch Sonic plush for $25.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Still tending to your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Then it might be worth picking up the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Official Complete Guide. The hardcover guide is still available at Amazon--and it’s even seeing a slight discount right now. Best of all, this is the updated version published in 2023, meaning it includes details for all the major updates and the Happy Home Paradise expansion. Animal Crossing: New Horizons Official Complete Guide $50 (was $55) Published by Future Press, this comprehensive 668-page guide covers everything you need to know about the game, including information on all the islanders, all the craftable items, and every collectible from seasonal events, updates, and DLC. There’s also a section covering unique island designs--so if you need inspiration for your next big project, you’ll find plenty of examples in this official guidebook.The original version of this guide was published in 2020. While the 2020 edition is still available, we recommend the updated 2023 edition, as it includes information on all the additional content released between 2020 and 2023--such as Happy Home Paradise--and is a much better fit for anyone playing New Horizons in 2025. See at Amazon Future Press is also responsible for the new Metaphor: ReFantazio strategy guide and the popular Elden Ring strategy guides, along with dozens of other titles. If you’re interested in rounding out your bookcase with premium video game books, be sure to check out the full collection.Folks who haven’t yet purchased Animal Crossing: New Horizons will find it on sale for just $40 (was $60) at Woot--an Amazon company. If that deal sells out, it’s also discounted to $52 at Amazon.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Stan Lee Story $78.57 (was $100) | Releases July 1 Preorder at Amazon It's not unfair to say that the late Stan Lee was not only one of Marvel Comics' most important creators, but also one of the most recognizable ambassadors for the entire comic book industry. If you're interested in his life story, then you'll want to check out the upcoming book, The Stan Lee Story. The chronicles his work, starting from his early days in 1940 at Timely Comics, his work in Hollywood, and his impact on other comic creators. The Stan Lee Story launches soon on July 1 for $100, but if you act fast, you can grab is at a discount for just $78.47 at Amazon. The Stan Lee Story $78.57 (was $100) | Releases July 1 Published by Taschen and overseen by legendary comics writer Roy Thomas, this 576-page deluxe book features a foreword written by Lee. It includes never-before-seen art and photographs sourced straight from Lee's family archives, a novel-length essay, an epilogue by Thomas, and an appendix covering all of the comics Lee worked on across multiple decades. Preorder at Amazon While this deal on The Stan Lee Story is a great opportunity to learn more about one of the medium's legendary figures, there are plenty of other books available that explore Marvel's history. One notable release is the Origins of Marvel Comics, which was first published in 1974 and was reissued in a deluxe edition last year. Written by Lee, Origins of Marvel Comics highlights the comic book characters that helped turn Marvel into a dominant force, as well as the talented creators who brought them to life. There's also Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, which chronicles the publishing company's early years through the accounts of the people who worked there.Another great pick is Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics, which recounts Kirby's life and prolific career as one of Marvel's most recognizable illustrators. Unlike the prose books we've mentioned, this is a graphic novel written by Eisner Award-winning author Tom Scioli.Continue Reading at GameSpot

A really cool parkour game is being delisted from Steam on June 30, but you still have a chance to grab it for dirt cheap. Supermoves: World of Parkour is on sale right now for just $0.79 ahead of its removal next week.Despite being a blast to play, Supermoves has had a bit of a tragic life following its release last year. Based on both critical and Steam review response, Supermoves is a blast, combining Mirror's Edge-inspired freerunning with some cool multiplayer modes. However, the game did not sell particularly well, and developer Makea Games was forced to shut down back in April. Tomi Toikka, the founder and former CEO of Makea Games, stated that he has been in negotiations to try to retain control over the Supermoves IP, but to no avail. As he shared in a final update announcing the delisting, Makea's financing structure apparently prohibits any path for Toikka to keep the game on sale. He wrote, "After shutting down Makea Games, I had hoped I could salvage the game IP to be preserved in another game company, so players could still play the game they own online, and maybe it could see a resurgence in new players one day. But sometimes the cost of doing business is losing something you love."Continue Reading at GameSpot

Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra $37.19 (was $40) | Releases September 23 Preorder at Amazon Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra (Deluxe Edition) $80 | Releases September 23 Preorder at Amazon Earlier this year, Nickelodeon announced Avatar is coming back with a new animated series called Avatar: Seven Havens, and there's a new Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action movie on the way, too, making now a good time to brush up on the lore and rich worldbuilding the franchise is known for. One way to do that is with the upcoming Beasts of the Four Nations, a 128-page hardcover bestiary offering in-universe lore and behind-the-scenes details on the wildlife and mythical creatures of both animated series. You can preorder the standard edition for $37.19 (down from $40) or secure a copy of the $80 Deluxe Edition that includes exclusive cover art and a lithograph print. Preorders for both editions are available at Amazon, and both ship September 23. Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra $37.19 (was $40) | Releases September 23 Written by John O'Bryan, Beasts of the Four Nations includes illustrations and information on the many fantastical beasts of The Last Airbender's world. Everything from the Air Nomads’ flying bison to Kyoshi Island’s elephant koi and the Earth Kingdom’s singing groundhogs are detailed in the book, along with commentary by Avatar and Legend of Korra creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. The standard edition launches September 23 and is available to preorder for $37.19 (down from $40) at Amazon. A Deluxe Edition will also launch on the same day that includes a few extras, which we've detailed below. Preorder at Amazon Beasts of the Four Nations: Creatures from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra (Deluxe Edition) $80 | Releases September 23 The Beasts of the Four Nations Deluxe Edition contains all the contents of the standard edition, but features a few notable upgrades like foil highlights on the cover art and a protective slipcase. The book also comes with an exclusive lithograph print depicting Cai, the cabbage merchant who appears throughout the Avatar series, and his cart pulled by two ostrich horses. You can preorder the Beasts of the Four Nations Deluxe Edition for $80 at Amazon. Preorder at Amazon Beasts of the Four Nations Deluxe EditionIf you want to explore more of the Avatar franchise’s visual history, you're in luck, as several more official Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra art books are available, and some are even discounted. There's a giant Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Art of the Animated Series art book that covers all four seasons of the show. It's packed with concept art, design, and production materials, ranging from the very first sketch through to the series finale.The Legend of Korra has a multi-volume art book series available as well Each volume focuses on a specific season of the show and features creator commentaries and exclusive artwork. Standard and Deluxe Editions are available for each volume. The Deluxe Editions include slipcases, lithographs, new covers, and bonus sketches by the show’s creators.Continue Reading at GameSpot