I've wanted to rewatch the sci-fi thriller Strange Days for a long time, but I kept forgetting because, honestly, I couldn't remember the title. I finally came across it on Hulu and checked it out, and I can't stop thinking about it.Though Strange Days was released back in 1995, it looks and feels like it could've come out yesterday. It's one of those rare old movies that imagined the technology of virtual reality, or VR, without turning it into a gimmick. Strange Days takes place in 1999 Los Angeles during the last 48 hours of the millennium. Lenny Nero, played by Ralph Fiennes, is a former cop who now peddles an illegal virtual reality experience called Playback. Nero's friend and bodyguard, Mace (Angela Basset), tries to keep him rooted in reality and away from trouble. Together, they work to track down a brutal rapist and murderer -- a man who uses VR Playback discs to record his crimes from his own point of view.The movie wasted no time dropping me into its jarring setting: The opening scene is an armed robbery filmed in first-person perspective, with the robber running from cops and jumping from one rooftop to another. A couple of scenes later, I saw tanks on the streets of LA and heard radio callers declaring that the world would end at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2000. Strange Days reminds me of the best Black Mirror episodes -- both deeply disturbing and uncomfortably close to home. Director Kathryn Bigelow was influenced by the 1992 LA riots and incorporated those elements of racial tension and police violence into her work. The result is a movie that's sometimes difficult to watch but impossible to look away from. At the same time, Strange Days is grounded by emotion. Nero (Fiennes) spends a good portion of the movie reliving memories of his failed relationship with the singer Faith (played by actress-turned-rocker Juliette Lewis). Lying in bed while he plays back footage of happier days, he can trick himself into believing he's roller skating with Faith again -- until the disc stops spinning and he opens his eyes, back in the lonely present day."This is not 'like TV only better,'" says Nero, as he introduces the VR Playback tech to one of his clients. "This is life."But Bassett's character, Mace, believes otherwise, at one point confronting Nero over his attachment to his "used emotions." "This is your life!" says Mace. "Right here! Right now! It's real time, you hear me? Real time, time to get real, not Playback!" As I watched Strange Days in 2025, I couldn't help thinking of the virtual reality devices that exist today. VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 and Google's upcoming AR glasses are bringing us closer than ever to the Playback tech in the film. And the immersive spatial videos for the Apple Vision Pro can make you feel like you're really reliving a three-dimensional recorded memory. As I considered the similarities between our current tech and Strange Days' Playback discs, I wondered if the future wants to be haunted by the past.Despite being 30 years old, Strange Days' special effects hold up incredibly well. Where other 1995 sci-fi flicks like Hackers and Johnny Mnemonic experimented with early computer-generated imagery, Strange Days went for a more practical approach: Characters shift in and out of the Playback footage with a simple analog distortion effect, just like you'd find while watching home videos on VHS tapes. The point-of-view shots were carefully choreographed, and the resulting footage looks like you're viewing it through the recorder's eyes.Strange Days also features standout musical acts. Juliette Lewis, in character as Faith, belts out two PJ Harvey tracks in on-screen performances that recall the best of '90s grunge. Rapper Jeriko One (played by Glenn Plummer) delivers biting social commentary in his music video. And contemporary artists Aphex Twin, Deee-Lite and Skunk Anansie perform during the movie's bombastic final act, a New Year's Eve rave in downtown LA. (It was a real-life concert with 10,000 attendees.)Strange Days is both a thrilling action movie and a mind-bending exploration of technology and memory. I'm surprised it was a box-office flop in 1995, and I wish it had received the recognition it deserved then. Still, I'm glad this sci-fi masterpiece is available to stream today. Though Strange Days isn't the easiest title to remember, the movie itself is unforgettable.

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame.  Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series.  This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film.  The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026.  The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film.  Amazon Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.    In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers. Photo by: Nick Morgulis Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.   Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end. Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens.  A24 Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog. Max/WBD Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max.  We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.” Searchlight Pictures Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful. Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.  Netflix Maya Hawke as Wiress  Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice.  Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill.  Amazon Prime Lili Taylor as Mags The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her.  Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death.  Sony Pictures Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group.  Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence.  Focus Features Ralph Fiennes as President Snow The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor.  Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be. Hulu Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series.  Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world. HBO Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman  Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic.  Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone. Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021.  On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

BY2K Membero Americo The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 5,044 Québec, Canada Ask the Developer Vol. 18: Mario Kart World — Part 1 - News - Nintendo Official Site This article has been translated from the original Japanese content. This interview was conducted before the game was released. In this 18th volume of Ask the Developer, an interview series in which developers convey in their own words Nintendo's th… www.nintendo.com - World's development started in late 2017 after ARMS was complete. - Started as a Switch 1 game before being moved to Switch 2 in 2020 after work on the Booster Course Pass for 8 Deluxe started to not compromise on the game's ambitions. - Would have been called Mario Kart 9 if the game was simply a follow-up to 8 Deluxe with new tracks. - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". - One day cycle is 24 minutes of in-game time. - Rail and Wall Riding was added to make driving between tracks less boring. - 100 tracks in the game if you count all the variable path between tracks. - Karts can be customized with stickers you find in Free Roam.   Last edited: Today at 9:57 AM Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Also, EPD 9 specified Late 2017 for the start of development (after ARMS's DLC was finished). EDIT: Or not, Tour was released in 2018.  Last edited: Today at 9:57 AM mrmickfran The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 33,200 Gongaga The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... Music to my ears (literally)  Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 Neoxon said: I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You think it would have been call MK10 in the current climate otherwise if they stuck to the traditional game formula? I don't think so.   Bear Member Oct 25, 2017 12,305 Would not have guessed that this has been in the oven longer than GTA6 lol.   Kevers The Fallen Oct 29, 2017 15,882 Syracuse, NY 8 Years in Dev? Goddamn.   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,476 Hopefully they allow players to change what music is selected in the jukebox, guessing it's just an automatic selection So, what did you do with the music for modes like Free Roam, where the route isn't fixed? For other modes like Free Roam, we prepared lots of music in addition to course themes and made it so the game would automatically select the right track depending on the situation. During development, we called this the "jukebox." For this, we created lots of arrangements of music composed for past Asahi:Super Mario™ and Mario Kart games. You're not only rearranging the music but also revamping the mechanism for how the music is selected and played, right? You said you created a lot of musical tracks, but how many pieces did you end up with? Altogether, over 200 for the "jukebox." These are all brand-new arrangements, and we also did live recordings. We prepared pieces from quite a wide variety of musical genres. I believe those who are well-versed in video game music, as well as those who aren't, will enjoy listening to them. Asahi: Click to expand... Click to shrink...   Bucca Banned Oct 25, 2017 5,529 Started in 2017? Christ alive they've been simmering this for a while   ned_ballad One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 50,558 Rochester, New York lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character   NINTENDOTHEGOAT Member Mar 3, 2025 7 Can't wait easily my most anticipated game this year along with Donkey kong bananza.   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX Bucca said: Started in 2017? Christ alive they've been simmering this for a while Click to expand... Click to shrink... They seem to have gotten straight to work after Dr. Coyle released for ARMS.   cw_sasuke Member Oct 27, 2017 29,988 Damn, they been cooking for a while.   DNAbro Member Oct 25, 2017 30,050 Here are the full quotes So, the various courses are interconnected. Could you tell us how development for this game got started?: We were thinking about what to do for the next YabukiMario Kart game even during the development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and we began prototyping in March 2017. It was at the end of that year when we officially started work on it as a project. I felt that in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we were able to perfect the formula that we'd been following in the series up to that point, where players race on individual courses. That's why, this time, we wanted the gameplay to involve players driving around a large world, and we began creating a world map like this. When did you decide to move development of this game to Nintendo Switch 2? Yabuki-san first brought it up around 2020. Back then, we already had an idea of the next system's expected specs, but it wasn't until a bit later that we actually received working development units. Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates. Sato: This game has been in development for over 8 years which is insane. If people are wondering why we didn't get an original Mario Kart for Switch 1, we now know they tried.  ResidentDoom Member Sep 13, 2024 147 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver  finally Member Jul 22, 2019 1,537 $10 for each year in development   Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... The chances of it not delivering is extremely low to be honest.   Mr. Lemming Member Oct 25, 2017 643 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... "Ishikawa: Cow is actually a pivotal character in the Mario Kart series. "  mavericktopgun Member Oct 27, 2017 5,447 Can't wait to play this damn game!!!!   Aleh Member Oct 27, 2017 20,093 Thank FUCK they didn't do another MK on Switch.   RailWays One Winged Slayer Avenger Oct 25, 2017 18,327 BY2K said: - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... I know this OST is about to be peak   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,059 2017? Goddamn   Jaded Alyx Editor-in-chief at SpecialCancel.com Verified Oct 25, 2017 40,219 The Duskbloods also started dev for the Switch   JoJo'sDentCo Unshakable Resolve Member Oct 25, 2017 9,277 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... lol it will   Stairouais One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 3,047 France mrmickfran said: Music to my ears (literally) Click to expand... Click to shrink... Can't wait to have 15 of them on Nintendo music app  Zonic Member Oct 25, 2017 37,022 TWO HUNDRED SONGS?! If this is on par with the quality of MK8/D's soundtrack, this is gonna be OST of the year easily.  Truno Member Jan 16, 2020 5,735 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues  Zebesian-X Member Dec 3, 2018 25,336 8 years of development, $80. That's how that works right? Super excited, it's crazy how long they had us on MK8  Bucca Banned Oct 25, 2017 5,529 Mr. Lemming said: "Ishikawa: Cow is actually a pivotal character in the Mario Kart series. " Click to expand... Click to shrink... They've been there when we needed them the most. Chilling in Moo Moo Meadows.   Hollywood Duo Member Oct 25, 2017 55,009 Well considering 8 was a Wii U game they've been holding this back for fucking ever   luminosity "This guy are sick" Member Oct 30, 2017 1,673 No wonder they want to recoup the money.   Finiri6143 Member Mar 16, 2022 3,251 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... No it doesn't.   Jahranimo Community Resettler Member Oct 25, 2017 10,267 I can believe it, that world looks incredibly expansive and different from anything the MK Team has done before.   BaconHat One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 6,577 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Well, that's a new profile pic right here!   NotLiquid One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 37,874 ResidentDoom said: 8 years seems excessive tbh It better deliver Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nintendo is pretty noted for having very long project incubation and ideation phases. Another recent example of that was Mario Wonder where they said they worked with a no deadlines approach. Obviously the EPD group worked on other stuff during that time like as well like Tour and the Booster Course expansions so it's unlikely it was an all-hands-on-deck type development schedule when they say they started in 2017.  ZeoVGM Member Oct 25, 2017 84,753 Providence, RI Neoxon said: I guess the MK9 part was before Tour became a finalized thing. Still, makes sense that such an ambitious game took so long. Click to expand... Click to shrink... lol no, it would have been called MK9 because it is MK9. Tour was announced in January 2018. This quote should actually put an end to that silly MK9 debate.  Geg Member Oct 25, 2017 6,606 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Not only that, it's what also gave them the idea to add all the other weird creatures as drivers. Truly a pivotal moment in development lol   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX ZeoVGM said: lol no, it would have been called MK9 because it is MK9. Tour was announced in January 2018. This quote should actually put an end to that silly MK9 debate. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Then yeah, that answers it.   Lee Morris Member Oct 28, 2017 3,894 I doubt they have been seriously developing on it for the last few years. I imagine the bulk of the team have moved onto the next game. I was only thinking about the music this morning. 200 tracks means it shouldn't feel too repetitive. Can't wait  Lukar Unshakable Resolve - Prophet of Truth Member Oct 27, 2017 28,242 BY2K said: - Soundtrack uses more live instruments this time around. - The soundtracks includes 200 tracks, "all brand-new arrangements". Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nintendo Music App please come in clutch in two weeks 🙏   --R Being sued right now, please help me find a lawyer Member Oct 25, 2017 15,562 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... It doesn't. They were prototyping in 2017 and tried to make the game work on the first Switch, but it didn't so they moved to the successor.   RPG_Fanatic Member Oct 25, 2017 4,805 ned_ballad said: lol one dev just drew a cow in a truck as a silly thing and they ended up loving it so much they added the cow as a character Click to expand... Click to shrink... Now I want this picture to be plastered on a random billboard in Mario kart World.   Lightsong Member Nov 11, 2022 9,416 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... The issue was the Switch being too weak, lol. They pushed it to Switch 2. It's in the article. No need for concern trolling.   RandomlyRandom67 Member Jul 7, 2023 2,660 $80 price tag makes sense now!   PucePikmin Member Apr 26, 2018 5,355 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Don't know about that. They had to re-focus and re-scope the game for Switch 2 midway through, which would have added more work. Then, once it was clear MKW was going to be the big Switch 2 launch game, its release got pushed back as the release of Switch 2 also got pushed back. They probably could have released some version of their original vision on the Switch 1 in a lot less than 8 years.  AuthenticM Son Altesse Sérénissime The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 35,157 Hopefully they have since learned that the next Mario Kart should be a launch title for the next system.   poptire Avatar Wrecking Crew The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 15,505 I am so happy you can customize the karts with stickers I don't know why   Neoxon Spotlighting Black Excellence - Diversity Analyst Member Oct 25, 2017 93,490 Houston, TX Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah, & they very clearly stated what it was: The Switch 1's hardware limitations   cw_sasuke Member Oct 27, 2017 29,988 Open World Mario Kart on Switch 1 would probably have had a hard time looking as good and perform as well as MK8D, so they just developed it for Switch 2. It makes sense. Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... Or no/less crunch while being more experimental and having much more content Day 1 than past titles.   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,476 Truno said: 8 years is not a good thing. It points to development issues Click to expand... Click to shrink... They pushed development to the Switch 2, so it then became a result of when the systems release date was going to be instead   Lotus One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 124,059 Geg said: Not only that, it's what also gave them the idea to add all the other weird creatures as drivers. Truly a pivotal moment in development lol Click to expand... Click to shrink... I love that the Cow wasn't just a meme everyone glomped on, but that even the devs singled it out 

An anonymous reader shared this report from Kotaku: One of the most striking things about Bungie's Marathon is its presentation. The sci-fi extraction shooter combines bleak settings with bright colors in a way that makes it feel a bit like a sneaker promo meets Ghost in the Shell, or as designer Jeremy Skoog put it, "Y2K Cyberpunk mixed with Acid Graphic Design Posters." But it now looks like at least a few of the visual design elements that appeared in the recent alpha test were lifted from eight-year old work by an outside artist. "The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs I made in 2017," Bluesky user antire.alâ posted on Thursday. She shared two images showing elements of her work and where they appeared in Marathon's gameplay, including a rotated version of her own logo. A poster full of small repeating icon patterns also seems to be all but recreated in Marathon's press kit ARG and website... Bungie has responded and blamed the incident on a former employee. The studio says it's reaching out to the artist in question and conducting a full review of its in-game assets for Marathon ["and implementing stricter checks to document all artist contributions."] "We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game," the studio posted on X. "As a matter of policy, we do not use the work of artists without their permission..." their X post emphasizes. "We value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them. Thank you for bringing this to our attention." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

One of the most striking things about Bungie’s Marathon is its presentation. The sci-fi extraction shooter combines bleak settings with bright colors in a way that makes it feel a bit like a sneaker promo meets Ghost in the Shell, or as designer Jeremy Skoog put it, “Y2K Cyberpunk mixed with Acid Graphic Design Posters.” But it now looks like at least a few of the visual design elements that appeared in the recent alpha test were lifted from an eight-year old work by an outside artist. Suggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglish“The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017,” Bluesky user antire.al‬ posted on Thursday. She shared two images showing elements of her work and where they appeared in Marathon’s gameplay, including a rotated version of her own logo. A poster full of small repeating icon patterns also seems to be all but recreated in Marathon’s press kit ARG and website. “Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution,” antire.al wrote. “I don’t have the resources nor the energy to spare to pursue this legally but I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email.”Screenshot: Bungie / antire.al / BlueksyScreenshot: Bungie / Antire.al / BlueskyHow could something like this have happened? One possibility is that the art was used for placeholder assets that were supposed to be replaced or overhauled later on but never were. A less generous version is that someone at Bungie or the agencies it outsources to cut corners and knowingly lifted the work or used it as inspiration without compensation or attribution. Bungie didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.This isn’t the first time the PlayStation-owned studio has gotten into hot water for this sort of thing. In 2023, Destiny 2 fanart turned up in a major cutscene for the massive sci-fi MMO. In 2024, old fan art was plagiarized for an Ace of Space Exotic ornament and NERF gun replica. Bungie agreed to pay the artists and apologized in both instances. The studio has also been on the receiving end as well, with last year’s The First Descendant lifting ability and perk icons directly from Destiny 2 before later removing them.Marathon’s alpha wrapped up earlier this month, leaving fans impressed by the shooting and moment-to-moment feel but torn on its implementation of the extraction shooter formula. What’s not in doubt is that the worldbuilding and sci-fi interiors are some of the most intriguing work Bungie’s done in years, a virtue now partly tarnished by allegations of plagiarism in certain aspects of the aesthetic. “In 10 years I have never made a consistent income from this work and I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living,” antire.al wrote. .

Until recently, the all-white bedding aesthetic has dominated the bedroom-scape. We’ve forgotten that the best colorful bedding sets bring a sense of personality to our sanctuary. A terra-cotta set can make a room feel distinctly Mediterranean, you can see the Scandinavian influence in a bold stripe, and a pastel bedding set creates a sense of calm and comfort for cuddling up. There’s a lot of interior design potential to unlock in a set of colored sheets, and we consider them one of the small mood-boosting luxuries for a bedroom.From a bold-and-bright plaid duvet to sunny yellow sheets, we’ve selected our favorite picks to brighten up your space and help you part ways with a less than dreamy color palette. Below, find splashy sets from tried-and-true bedding brands and our tips on how to style them.Our Top Picks for the Best Colorful Bedding:Best Mediterranean Style: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set, $130For a Coastal Bedroom: Frette Color Block Duvet Cover, $1,000A Bold and Breathable Sheet Set: Bamboo Bay Sheet Set, $110Best Y2K Style: GreenRow Sloan Patchwork Quilt, $459For an Antique-Inspired Space: Piglet Mix & Match Linen Bundle, $523Nashia BakerNashia BakerQuince Bamboo Sheet SetWe rated these bamboo sheets “best overall” for their breathability and durability. ”This set feels smooth and cool to the touch but still cozy enough to bundle up with during the winter months,” senior commerce editor Nashia Baker adds. She has these sheets in a terra-cotta orange, which brings “desert tones and earthiness” to her room, creating a sense of serenity and openness in her space.Frette Colour Block Sheet SetThese luxurious sheets are made from 100% solid cotton sateen in Italy, and they boast a color palette that feels distinctly Mediterranean. The color-blocking offers a reprieve from any color story that’s too overbearing, and the dusky blue and deep coral make it perfect for a luxurious beach bedroom.Bamboo Bay Sheet SetOur eyes are really on the sage variety here, whose soft, friendly colorway feels bright and comforting. A couple rattan nightstands and you have a coastal bedroom, or a few white end tables and it works within the framework of farmhouse design. What’s more, contributor Jordan Goldberg has these high-quality Amazon sheets in her bedroom and says they boast “the perfect thickness while still being airy and breathable to keep you cool while sleeping.”GreenRow Sloan Patchwork QuiltThis quilt is a bit of a Y2K throwback with bold pinks, oranges, and gold thread woven very subtly into the texture. This feels—if not suitable for a kid’s room—like a great way to liven up your bedroom, especially if you lean toward fun, flashy pieces, or there’s simply not enough of Lizzie McGuire’s vibe going on.Bed Threads 100% French Flax Linen Bedding SetThis 100% French Flax Linen set in a pinky shade of lavender looks old-world and French country, making it a perfect pick for a more antique-style bedroom. Senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums says, “A friend of mine has a range of sunset hues on his bed and frankly, I’m jealous (though it’s hard to go wrong with white linen sheets). I found these to be sturdy, beautiful, and perfect for temperature control.”Photo: Yelena Moroz AlpertPiglet Mix & Match Linen BundlePiglet has more options for interchangeable, mix-and-match bed covers than anyone else on this list. Made from 100% linen, these sheets are as soft after a wash as they are aesthetic. If you’re a fan of cottagecore or vintage vibes, the endless gingham and maxi stripe prints will work wonderfully with your already-established bedroom decor.Brooklinen x Caroline Z. Hurley Classic Percale Core Sheet SetThis brand-new release from Brooklinen makes an impact without sucking the air out of the room. Commerce writer Julia Harrison pairs this set with a white duvet cover for a more muted approach to colorful bedding. She also opted for the taupe shade, but it also comes in coral and sky, should you be interested in a bright, bold bedding moment. As for the quality, Harrison attests, “the cool, clean feel of the percale puts me to sleep right away.”Linoto Linen Sheet SetThis deep burgundy linen set is such a rich color, it’s transfixing. We’d pair this with a small Renaissance-like painting overhead, a white iron bed, and a few dark wood end tables, piled high with books for a studious European look.Ellison Studios Lull BedFor the more modern sleeper, try this upholstered and ’70s-inspired bed from Australian-based design company Ellison Studios. The velvety apricot material is made from 100% GRS-certified recycled plastic bottles, and it brings an unmistakable sunniness to your space. Pair this with bright sheets for full maximalism, or keep things simple with white bedding and a few throw pillows with some personality.Schoolhouse Woven Plaid Duvet CoverSchoolhouse calls this print “reminiscent of a summer camp in the Catskills,” which we’ll lift because we like to imagine we lived that too. It does seem like a print and weight completely suitable for a summer night’s camping trip, with or without a tent, under the stars, in a truck bed, or as a picnic blanket for watching fireworks: the quintessential summer linen.Photo: Lauren ArzbaecherBuffy Cloud ComforterWe’ve raved many a time about Buffy’s Cloud Comforter, but a lesser known feature is the 11 colorways it comes in. If you’re firmly in the duvet-covers-be-damned camp, this duvet insert delivers on color and comfort without any of that corner tie nonsense. The porcelain blue is especially tempting.Parchute Matelasse CoverletFor ultraminimalists, this simple coverlet from Parachute imitates the look of a quilt without the fill, delivers on the work of a good throw blanket, and makes for a perfect year-round bed linen on account of its weight. Use this on top of a flat sheet for your spring and summer setup, and throw it on top of your duvet for fall and winter. The moss brings a splash of color that maintains a sophisticated and minimalist quality, while keeping a space from becoming whitewashed.Ettitude CleanBamboo Pillowcase SetButter yellow is here to stay, and we don’t mind that. This yellow pastel makes for an understated decor moment that still shows design muscle, and it works surprisingly well as a neutral—pair it white, blue, brown, green, even the right shade of purple, and you have something that speaks volumes about your ability to throw a (bed)room together. What’s even more delicious? This particular set is made from 100% bamboo lyocell, and it’s Oeko-Tex-certified.Brooklinen Washed European Duvet SetA total coastal classic, this linen duvet set in striped blue is the ultimate East Coast beach house bedding. Made from 100% Certified European Flax, this set is durable, breathable, and super soft. Contributor Madeleine Luckel can verify: “When I got these I thought white linen sheets year-round might be a slightly bold move, since I don’t live my life on a Greek island, but the nature of the fiber is versatile and temperature-regulating.”

Spotify's AI DJ is like if ChatGPT decided to switch careers. The DJ curates a playlist of music based on Premium subscribers' previous play history, including new and old songs in the mix. Of course, the headline feature is the DJ's voice, as the AI bot announces which songs are up next, as well as some information about each. Whether you love or hate AI, it's a pretty harmless feature, and seems fun for those who pay for Spotify.While DJ feels interactive, it really isn't. Aside from skipping songs, it's mostly a passive feature. That's now changing: In a blog post on Tuesday, Spotify announced that you will now be able to make requests to the DJ with your voice. If you're enjoying the personalized playlist, but want to listen to something in particular—whether that be a song, genre, or mood—you can now ask the DJ to play it. In a video on the press release, Spotify demos a user asking, "DJ, morning motivation needed ASAP...give me some dance-pop vibes." The DJ responds in kind: "No problem. Here's some LISA." In another example, the user asks, "play me something with a Y2K vibe to celebrate." DJ decides to run with Tate McRae, "with that nostalgic sound you've had on repeat." Some other request examples Spotify highlighted include:“Surprise me with some indie tracks I’ve never heard before.”“Give me some electronic beats for a midday run.” “Play me some cry-in-the-car songs.”Spotify says that DJ requests are available in English for Premium users in over 60 markets. If you have access to the DJ, you have access to requests. How to make a DJ request on SpotifyFirst, you'll need to subscribe to Spotify Premium and live in an area where the DJ is available. If those two points are met, open Spotify and search for "DJ." Press play to launch the DJ, then press and hold the DJ button in the right-hand corner. (Listen for a beep.) Now, place your request. As usual, if you don't have a specific request but want to hear something else, you can simply skip to the next track, which will likely be something totally different than what was just playing.

Saucycarpdog Member Oct 25, 2017 20,231 The E3 of Warhammer games comes back for another year. Hope we see some Mechanicus 2 gameplay View: https://youtu.be/wEonJHkA9ZU?si=OnVDXjCqVZHDv1To Also Darktide will be there to announce new content. View: https://youtu.be/cnS4KrViqyQ?si=uwFHj7kIjRmKQIO9  y2kyle89 Member Mar 16, 2018 10,577 Mass Will the Leagues of Votann reveal themselves?   Hella Member Oct 27, 2017 24,468 Hopefully this is why Creative Assembly have kept the new Total Warhammer 3 DLC so close to their chest. Make it a good one.  Native_Vel Member Jun 5, 2022 2,012 Saucycarpdog said: Also Darktide will be there to announce new content. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I will be there no matter what. It would be nice for the Dawn of War rumors to be something real.  Gman! Avenger Oct 25, 2017 1,305 Dallas Finally - Fire Warrior 2   data west Member Oct 25, 2017 13,803 y2kyle89 said: Will the Leagues of Votann reveal themselves? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Some Leagues of Votann armor in DRG would be peak   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,515 *whispers* Dawn of War   Kordova Member Dec 10, 2023 1,182 Hayabusa Village Always down for new 40k games.   SirKai Member Dec 28, 2017 10,114 Washington Finally we're gonna get the Saltzpyre/Kruber MLM romance graphic novel I've been pestering FatShark for for the past 6 years.   Miker Member Oct 25, 2017 3,551 Are there any actual credible Dawn of War rumors or just wishful thinking?   Genesius Member Nov 2, 2018 20,470 Is Rahul back?   Mr Evil 37 Member Mar 7, 2022 27,515 Miker said: Are there any actual credible Dawn of War rumors or just wishful thinking? Click to expand... Click to shrink... Wishful thinking lol but it makes some sense with Relic going independent. They need bankable projects and next to Age, DoW makes the most sense.   Bessy67 Member Oct 29, 2017 13,040 Oh man, are we finally getting a 5th Darktide class?  

Eleven years after Google first announced its grand unifying theory of design—Material Design—it’s introducing its third major revision to the system.Called Material 3 Expressive, the company will tell you that it’s their most “researched update” ever, promising to help people find what they’re looking for on the screen faster than before. But it’s also the company’s most maximalist design system to date. Still enabling quieter minimalist designs, sure, but embracing bolder colors, more playful animations, and all around more overt approaches to interface. There’s a new roundness to almost every component, right down to the tips of Google’s new default typeface, Google Sans Flex Rounded, which replaces the hard edged terminals on letterforms with smooth tips.[Image: Google]But mostly, Google is using more of everything to accentuate contrast, like between headers and bodies. Button shapes can now be anything from giant pills to stars. Perkier animations rekindle tech’s old favorite words, “joy” and “delight,” with a bit more springiness in them across the board. And UI elements on your screen often react to others—dial a phone number, and each digit you press bounces the others out of the way like cartoony bubble tape.“It’s kind of like the next evolution,” says Vanessa Cho, VP, Google Design. “It’s design with the soul. What I mean by that is it’s [still] driven with deep purpose…but it also connects with you on the emotional level.”[Image: Google]The history of Material DesignMaterial Design was born over a decade ago, as Google Designers developed a grounding metaphor to codify its otherwise fragmented approach to design. Inspired by light and paper, Material Design was like a stretchy piece of wonder paper that could reshape to do anything, and it brought a sense of tactile physics to Search, Android, and other Google Services.In the years since, Material Design veered from its ambitious roots. It imagined eventually breaking out of screens and becoming the interface for our lives—what would be a better interface for an internet of things than literal matter that would reshape itself in front of you? Material Design was built for a path toward that smart infrastructure that seemed so inevitable in the 2010s. But a decade later, and the world didn’t play out that way. Instead, most things stayed dumb as we got sucked deeper and deeper into our phones. The stoic minimalism that Material Design v 1 celebrated got washed out by the pixel onslaughts of TikTok and other social media platforms. The emoji of 2014 seem quaint by the comparison of just about everything on Instagram, where even AI characters are attempting to be my bff.So in 2021, Material Design pivoted. It became more about personalization—allowing your phone to have a color palette and typefaces more reflective of you. And now? Material Design is trending more maximal, with an overt approach to design that’s willing to call attention to itself as a moment of celebration, rather than disappear into the background.[Image: Google]“We’re in an era of expression…thinking about TikTok and whatever you’re on,” says Mindy Brooks, VP, Product & UX, Android Platform. “So this design system allows us to, even as developers and creators of it, to express what we want to in the product.”Testing and manifestingAcross Google’s products, these new design standards play out in different ways. On Android, it means we see apps presented in a greater array of typefaces (pushing expressiveness and information hierarchy at the same time), while apps like Photos trend toward the Canva-create-a-card vibes we get on iOS today. On Wear OS, the colors from your phone can be mirrored on your wrist, and buttons now wrap all the way into the curves of the display through a lovely marriage of device and UI.[Image: Google]But what Google’s design team most wants to highlight is that Material 3 Expressive isn’t style over substance. Validated by 46 studies that tested hundreds of designs across more than 18,000 participants, they found that the expressive end of the Material Design system was preferred across all age groups, though especially Gen Z, which preferred the more maximalist screens 87% of the time.[Image: Google]The team also found that Material 3 Expressive was faster to navigate. Certain actions were spotted up to 4x faster than before. And while older adults are typically slower at finding certain buttons on the screen, the larger buttons inside Material 3 Expressive proved faster to find for everyone—while eliminating the age gap. Google claims older adults can use this design system with the same rapidity of youth. (And who woulda thunk, a big red “send” button would be easier to spot than that old little paper airplane in the corner?)As a design solution, it’s hard to argue with Google’s own validating data or the joy of bringing in more color and motion into the mix. But I’m more interested in Material 3 Expression for what it reveals about this era of design. For the last decade and a half, minimalism has taken over everything from blanded branding to interface (the world of interior design notwithstanding, which has been waffling on the idea for some time). But celebratory expression used to be in! Animations like Apple’s genie effect—which shrunk apps into your taskbar like a genie into the lamp—embodied playfulness before minimalism conquered tech. They were invented way back in 2004 during a more optimistic time in tech, right beside bondi blue iMacs with handles on them. This was the hope of a world that didn’t end after Y2K. Now, screen time debates have been decimated by the For You Page and AI everything, while your Grazas and Manischewtizs of the world prioritize a bit of funk over subdued Swissness. We’re back in expressive times again.