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Microsoft's File Explorer for Windows 11 finally has the tabs function we've all been waiting for with the operating system's latest update, available for download now from your Settings menu. Aside from File Explorer tabs, Windows 11 version 22H2 comes with a few additional features, the ones missing from the initial 2H22 launch, which may or may not be to your liking—but they are super easy to disable if not. Well, some of them.
We've been excited about File Explorer tabs since we spotted them on a Windows Insider build back in June. With tabs, you won't have to juggle several windows just to shuffle a few files around, which inevitably get lost in the process and tucked behind other Windows.
Still don't know if I want tabs. I found them a bit annoying on Linux.
Dave James - Hardware LeadTabs are on by default in version KB5019509, though they may not be for everyone. There's some functionality you may be used to as a Chrome user for example that doesn't translate. You cant middle click a file to open in a new tab, for example, nor can you drag a tab to another window.
If you're looking to disable tabs in Windows 11, think again. There's no way to do so, not even in the File Explorer properties menu. Maybe just don't use them if you don't like them.
Other features include something called Suggested Actions, which scans and highlights text on screen if it looks like a date or number you might want to save or call. I can see this getting annoying for anyone just, say, looking at big lists of dates or phone numbers. And while an operating system that predicts my every move could be useful in some respects, this is probably one feature I'm going to be turning off.
Disabling Suggested Actions is simple if you've already got yourself the new update, just head to System > Clipboard and switch the slider to off.
(Image credit: Microsoft)
'Taskbar Overflow and easy access to Task Manager' as Microsoft has so eloquently entitled the next feature, gives users more space on their taskbar and lets you access the Task Manager faster by right-clicking the taskbar, too. A little easter egg for the uninitiated: you could already get to the Task Manager by either smashing the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys simultaneously or by simply right-clicking the Start menu, but hey I don't profess to tell Microsoft how to delegate their resources.
You used to be able to access the Task Manager from anywhere on the taskbar in Windows 10, so really Microsoft has just listened to the whimpers of users missing the feature and added it back into its latest OS.
Share to more devices is another feature improving usability, having "enhanced the Windows Share experience so that you can simply share files with more discoverable devices nearby directly from your desktop, File Explorer, Photos, Snipping Tool, Xbox and other apps." It's a bit like the Airdrop function on Mac.
Window shopping(Image credit: Microsoft)Windows 11 review: What we think of the new OS
How to install Windows 11: Safe and secure install
What you need to know before upgrading: Things to note before downloading the latest OS
Windows 11 TPM requirements: Microsoft's strict security policyAt the end of October, Windows 11 users will be able to enjoy a commingling of all their photos from their OneDrive, phone, and camera in the upcoming Photo App, complete with a memories function so you can look back at the random crap you were getting up to four years ago. Great, more inescapable reminders of my terrible life choices.
On a serious note, though, iPhone users will even be able to sync their photos to their Windows PC via the cloud, which is a nice alternative to switching to android… I guess.
Windows' partnership with Amazon also means you can access the Amazon Appstore from your PC, thanks to the Windows Subsystem for Android.
Microsoft talks about the recent update in more depth in a recent blog post, while another explains how the Windows Terminal is now default for anyone wishing to use command line prompts to control their PC.
If you're wondering how to update Windows to get the new features, just hit the Windows key or click Start, and search 'update.' From the update menu, you can download the new version of Windows 11. Installation will happen automatically without bothering you, though you will need to do a restart before the changes take effect.
If you've not checked for updates in a while, you may have to do this a couple of times before you get to the right one, build 22621.675.
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World of Warcraft's Dragonflight expansion isn't far away and it will bring about plenty of changes. Along with a major UI overhaul, the talent trees have been revamped for every class and specialisation, and you'll be able to take to the skies in style with dragon riding. This is alongside the usual new zones, dungeons, raids, and of course, the new playable race.
The Dracthyr is the first new race to be added to World of Warcraft since the Legion expansion. These draconic beings also have their own unique class which can perform the role of healer or damage dealer. And just like the other "hero classes" you won't need to start at level one.
WoW Dracthyr: How to unlock the new race
Dracthyr Evokers arrive during the second phase of the Dragonflight pre-patch on November 15. There are no restrictions for creating your first Dracthyr Evoker other than pre-purchasing the Dragonflight expansion. If you want to make more than one Dracthyr however, you'll have to do so on a different realm and you'll need a character of level 50 or higher—of any class—already on that realm.
Once you've finished making your Dracthyr in the character creator, you'll be able to choose your faction before finalising your new character.
Image 1 of 2Draconic customisation. (Image credit: Blizzard )Image 2 of 2Visage customisation. (Image credit: Blizzard)Dracthyr customisation
Hopefully, you've got an hour or two to spare when you first make your Dracthyr because you may be surprised at how many options are available in the character creator. Not only can you make adjustments to both your draconic and human forms, but there are also more options available overall to help you customise your character.
As well as the usual hairstyles, skin tone, and eye colour, you'll also have the chance to change body size, individual facial decorations, and—the part I'm most excited about—hair highlight colour. Armor is also an option for your Draconic form because it isn't displayed on Dracthyr as with other races, so you'll need to tailor your look here instead—and at the barber shop instead of a transmogrifier if you want to change it in-game.
Dracthyr Evoker: Healer or damage dealer
The Dracthyr race comes with its own unique class—the Evoker. You can choose between two specialisations:
Devastation: The devastation evoker is a ranged damage dealer that relies on the power of both the Red and the Blue Dragonflight to deal damage. It has a variety of spells to help in various situations, though it has a fairly short range compared to other casters.
Preservation: This is the evoker's healing specialisation. It draws power from the Green and Bronze Dragonflight to heal allies and can manipulate time to increase its effectiveness.
Evokers are a little different from other WoW classes in that you can charge up some of their spells—by holding down the key—for added potency. The range of their attacks falls short of the normal range too, so while very fun to play, evokers may take a second to get used to, especially if you're used to playing an existing ranged class.
Dracthyr's Soar ability in action. (Image credit: Blizzard)Dracthyr racial abilities
Each race in World of Warcraft has its own racial abilities that offer both active and passive benefits. While racial abilities generally don't have as much impact as they did in the past, the Dracthyr have some particularly useful ones.
Here are the Dracthyr racial abilities:
Active
- Soar: This active ability launches your Dracthyr into the air and allows you to fly with the same mechanics as dragonriding.
- Glide: Reduces falling speed and allows you to glide. This is essentially the same as the demon hunter ability.
- Tail Swipe: Lash out with your tail, knocking enemies within six yards into the air.
- Wing Buffet: With a powerful flap of your wings, knock away enemies in front of you.
- Visage: Switch between your Dracthyr and Visage forms. Your Visage emanates magic, significantly increasing out-of-combat health regeneration for your party.
Passive
- Awakened: Increases your Mastery by 2.5%.
- Discerning Eye: Increases your Perception by 2%. Perception increases your ability to spot rare reagents while gathering.
- Familiar Skies: Soar's cooldown is reduced by one minute on continents that you have fully explored.
Dracthyr starting zone. (Image credit: Blizzard)Starting level and zone
Dracthyr evokers start at level 58 and like the other Hero classes—death knights and demon hunters—they have their own starting zone too. The Forbidden Reach is part of the Dragon Isles, though it's isolated from the rest of the new zones and you'll gain access to these once you play through the starting quests and learn the history of the race.
Once you've completed the initial quest chain, you should be around level 60 and you can hop straight into the Dragonflight content alongside other classes.
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Dell’s Alienware line of gaming laptops has always been a divisive topic; it’s difficult to dispute that they’ve got some powerful components under the hood, but the sci-fi aesthetic isn’t to everyone’s taste and you’re certainly resigning yourself to paying a steep premium if you buy one. I like to call this the ‘Alienware Tax’—and with Dell’s new Alienware x14, that’s actually a tax I’d be happy to pay. The larger, heavier 17-inch models are a bit harder to love, but this compact powerhouse immediately feels like a laptop for the discerning gamer.
Let’s take a quick moment to look at what we’re working with here. The Alienware x14 can be configured on Dell’s websites with a few different specifications, with the cheapest model (which sports a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and an RTX 3050) costing $1,499 (£1,549). The model I'm looking at for review has an Intel Core i7 12700H and an RTX 3060, joined by 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. This model costs $1,949 (£1,929).
You can pay extra to upgrade the memory and the drive (up to 32GB and 4TB respectively) but otherwise, this is the peak of the x14’s configurations. That’s totally fine, to be clear: squeezing an RTX 3070 or an i9 CPU into this little laptop would probably lead to significant compromises when it came to the chassis or thermal performance, and nobody wants that.
Attach those components to a bright and colourful 1080p display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and you’ve got a competent FHD gaming system. The Alienware x14 averaged over 60 fps in the majority of games, only dipping down into the 50-60 fps range in the more intensive game benchmarks like Metro: Exodus and Cyberpunk 2077. It won’t be able to run Ultra settings cleanly in every single game, but it’s the reliable 1080p performance that I’ve come to expect from the RTX 3060.
The laptop generally performs well across the board, with respectable scores in most synthetic benchmarks thanks to its Core i7 12700H processor and speedy DDR5 memory. It’s undeniably a solid machine, but the price tag still doesn’t quite add up—considering you can get an RTX 3060-equipped Asus TUF Dash F15 for $800 less, and even the RTX 3070-powered Dash we reviewed is cheaper than this. The Alienware x14 is sitting right at the premium end of FHD gaming laptops.
Alieware x14 specsProcessor: Intel Core i7 12700H
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 6GB
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5-5200
Display: 14-inch non-touch, 144Hz, 3ms
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
Battery: 80Wh
Connectivity: 1x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm Combo Jack, built in mic
Dimensions: 15 x 322 x 263mm
Weight: 1.84kg (4.06lbs)
Price: $1,949 | £1,929So, what is that hefty asking price getting you? Well, for starters this is an impressively compact gaming laptop, weighing in at just 4lbs (1.8kg) and just over half an inch thick with the lid closed. The inset hinge that has become synonymous with Alienware laptops is present, enlarging the overall footprint at the rear by about an inch. The chassis is mostly plastic, but it feels durable and doesn’t pick up fingerprints easily.
The physical design is clean and effective; the interior is all-black, with a long perforated grille for the fans and speakers that extends down either side of the keyboard. The screen bezel is quite thin, with a bar across the top that contains the webcam, microphone array, and IR camera for facial recognition logins. Close the lid, and the exterior of the chassis is almost entirely white, printed faintly with a number 14 and adorned with Dell’s little alien-face logo.
That logo lights up with RGB LEDs, but there’s no sign of the chunky rear lightbar found on larger Alienware laptops here. The keyboard is also limited to single-zone solid-color RGB, so don’t expect any flashy lighting effects. It’s not a huge loss, but does feel a little harsh given the high price.
Image 1 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 7(Image credit: Future)Fortunately, that keyboard is actually good to use. It’s nothing mind-blowing—chiclet-style keys with butterfly switches beneath—but the individual key sizing is good, which makes it comfortable to use for both typing and gaming. Running down the right-hand side is a set of dedicated volume and mute keys, with their own lights to indicate whether your mic or speakers are muted.
The trackpad is less impressive. I don’t say that because it’s unpleasant to use; the click is satisfying, and there’s none of the sponginess found in cheaper gaming laptops. It’s simply a little on the small side, especially compared to the large trackpad of the Razer Blade 14—which is arguably the Alienware x14’s immediate competitor in the premium compact gaming laptop space, and carries its own ‘Razer Tax’.
The only significant frown I made when examining the x14’s chassis came from finding that every single one of this laptop’s ports are located on the rear edge. This is something that might not bother some users, but having to reach all the way around the back to plug in a thumb drive or the power cable swiftly became annoying. There is, at least, a good selection of physical ports: a conventional USB Type-A is joined by two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1, a headset jack, and a microSD card slot. The only thing missing is an Ethernet connection.
Image 1 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 8 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 9 of 10(Image credit: Future)Image 10 of 10(Image credit: Future)I wish I could say that the Alienware x14’s digital side only gave me one concern, but naturally, this laptop came loaded with Dell’s almost-bloatware Alienware software suite. Aside from not really doing much in this laptop—you can swap between performance profiles with a button press without needing to ever open the software—it’s just not a particularly well-designed piece of software.
The Alienware x14 also uses Nvidia’s mode-switching tech to conserve battery life, which in practice is more annoying than it is beneficial. It essentially swaps automatically between using the integrated CPU graphics and the dedicated GPU depending on the task at hand, which would be great if it didn’t also freeze for several seconds every single time it did that. I ended up turning it off and sticking to the GPU graphics.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Future)I found that the CPU ran quite hot too—maxing out at 100°C shortly into the benchmarking process, but that didn’t appear to cause any noticeable amount of slowdown. The outer casing only felt mildly warm, which is a far cry from the thigh-roastings I’ve had from other laptops. The fans were a bit noisy while running intensive tasks, however.
Finally, there’s the battery life. To put it short: it’s not great. I’ve seen worse, but those were mostly bigger, more powerful machines. Sure, gaming laptops are somewhat universally poor in this area, mostly because running games is a power-intensive activity—anyone who has tried to play Genshin Impact on a phone will testify to this. But still, the Alienware x14’s battery life fell just short of ‘dismal’ in our tests.
The simple truth of the Alienware x14’s existence is that it isn’t a gaming laptop for everyone. You could get similar performance from a much cheaper laptop, but the target audience here is people who don’t want a budget device. The x14 looks and feels like a premium product, with performance that is good enough to justify buying it in the first place.
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Hello outlawownz,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
outlawownz joined on the 10/19/2022.
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Well, I never thought I would see the day when Persona 5 Royal was on a Microsoft platform. Yet here we are! Not only are the ultra-stylish Phantom Thieves slinking their way onto Xbox and PC, but the JRPG will also be on Game Pass on day one.
Persona 5 Royal is genuinely one of the best games I've ever played, and I challenge you to not have at least one song wormed into your brain by the time you're done with it. It's a fantastic turn-based JRPG, though one you'll need a decent triple-digit time investment to fully experience. Oscar Taylor-Kent gave the game a stellar 94 in his Persona 5 Royal review, writing: "It might not be what you'd expect from quite possibly the longest JRPG you'll ever play, but each of those many hours is filled to the brim with inventiveness that—quite frankly—can make it hard to go back to other games in the genre. The dungeons, the battles, even the hang-outs at the burger joints are just that much better."
If slick anime heists aren't your deal, there are still some fantastic games coming to Game Pass throughout the rest of October. Both Amnesia: Collection and Amnesia: Rebirth are heading to the service on October 20. I never made it through all the games (I am a baby), instead living vicariously through YouTube lets plays of the early 2010s. I feel like Amnesia is one of those games everyone should try once even if you are a small frightened person like me. If you've already combed through the Amnesia series in its entirety, there's the creators' other endeavour Soma arriving on the same day.
Skirting away from horror before I get too scared, there's also Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery. It contains all three Frog Detective games—yep, it includes the upcoming third one!—in one neat little bundle. That one's out on October 27, along with Gunfire Reborn and Signalis.
Here's the full list of everything arriving on Game Pass, and everything leaving this month:
Arriving on Game Pass for PC
- Amnesia: Collection – October 20
- Amnesia: Rebirth – October 20
- Phantom Abyss (Game Preview) – October 20
- Soma – October 20
- Persona 5 Royal – October 21
- Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery – October 27
- Gunfire Reborn – October 27
- Signalis – October 27
Leaving Game Pass for PC
- Alan Wake: American Nightmare – October 31
- Backbone – October 31
- Bassmaster Fishing 2022 – October 31
- Nogunz: Doppelganger Edition – October 31
- Project Wingman – October 31
- Second Extinction – October 31
- The Forgotten City – October 31
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The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled yesterday that 21 QA staff at Blizzard Albany, formerly known as Vicarious Visions, could go ahead with a planned vote to unionise, the Washington Post reports.
The NLRB ruling was made necessary after parent company Activision Blizzard took issue with the QA staff's plans. Activision argued that all 88 staff currently working on Diablo games at Blizzard Albany should get a vote in the unionisation process, rather than just 21 members of the QA team. Labour experts that spoke to the Post described this move as a tactic to, in effect, water down enthusiasm for unionisation in the voting pool and diminish the vote's chances of succeeding.
Activision has also drawn criticism in the past for its hiring of Reed Smith, a law firm specialising in "union avoidance" techniques, despite a pledge to negotiate with unionising staff "in good faith". Reed Smith's training documents have described unions as exploiting "Lazy, non-productive, or inefficient" employees, "Whiner and complainer" types, and workers with a "something-for-nothing attitude".
The NLRB dismissed Activision's arguments against allowing the Blizzard Albany QA staff to proceed with a unionisation vote, noting that the low pay of the QA team ($41,995 a year) relative to other staff at the studio made them notably different from other staff working on Diablo 4. The board also dismissed Activision's argument that staff working on different games—some of the 21 QA staff work on Diablo 2 Resurrected, some on Diablo 4, and one works on WoW—shouldn't belong to the same bargaining unit.
A statement given to the Post by Activision Blizzard spokesman Rich George says that, while Activision respects the NLRB process, the company disagrees "that a decision that could significantly impact the future of the entire Albany-based Diablo team should be made by just a handful of employees". The statement notes that, owing to the "tightly integrated operations" at Blizzard Albany, all "eligible non-supervisory employees there should have a voice and be allowed to vote, not just the approximately 20 quality assurance testers picked by the union".
Activision gave a very similar message to employees in the company's Slack, adding that the company prefers a "streamlined process" and "direct communication" over the "comparatively slow" process of union negotiation. This is a very common line used by companies facing unionisation efforts: it was even used practically word-for-word by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in regard to unionising warehouses back in May this year.
Union vote ballots will be sent to the relevant Blizzard Albany employees on October 27, with a voting deadline set for November 17. The count will take place the following day, November 18, via video conference.
Activision's had a tough time from the NLRB recently: the Board ruled earlier this month that the company had withheld raises from unionising Raven QA staff as an act of retaliation. Activision denies that, though, saying that offering raises to staff in the middle of a union vote would be a violation of labour law.
Plus, of course, all of this is happening while countries around the world scrutinise Microsoft's $68 billion purchase of Activision earlier this year, with Brazil the most recent country to wave the deal through. With that deal underway and the company's already-grim past failings regarding its internal culture, Activision is probably none too thrilled about the PR bruise this newest NLRB ruling represents.
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It seems like Netflix is still very much serious about tapping into game development. As well as opening up another studio led by a former Overwatch lead, vice president of gaming Mike Verdu says the company is "seriously exploring" a foray into cloud gaming.
"It's a value add," he said at a panel during TechCrunch Disrupt. "We're not asking you to subscribe to a console replacement. It's a completely different business model. The hope is over time that it just becomes this very natural way to play games wherever you are." Verdu didn't offer any further details on what Netflix cloud gaming could look like, nor was he very forthcoming about whether to expect a proprietary Netflix controller similar to what Amazon Luna and Google Stadia offered with their services.
Verdu did touch upon Stadia during his talk, however. With the cloud gaming service shutting down in January 2023, it's understandable that some are unsure of the technology's viability. But Verdu doesn't believe cloud gaming was the reason behind Stadia's failure, more the way Google handled its business model. "Stadia was a technical success," he said. "It was fun to play games on Stadia. It had some issues with the business model, sure."
Chacko Sonny is heading up Netflix's new in-house studio. He was described as "a thoughtful leader" by Blizzard co-chiefs Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra. (Image credit: Matthew Eisman (Getty Images))During the talk, Verdu also revealed that Netflix was opening a second internal studio, this time in Southern California. It follows on from September's internal studio in Helsinki, Finland. That's now five studios under Netflix's belt, including its three acquired studios Boss Fight Entertainment, Next Games and Night School Studio.
The studio will be headed up by Chacko Sonny, former executive producer of Overwatch. Sonny left Blizzard shortly after the developer began facing high-profile allegations of widespread sexual harassment and misconduct. It's his first known position since leaving the Overwatch team behind, something which Verdu claims to speak volumes.
"He could have done anything, but he chose to come here. You don't get people like that coming to your organisation to build the next big thing in gaming unless there's a sense that we're really in it for the long haul and in it for the right reasons," he said.
As it stands, Netflix has 14 games in development right now, with Verdu saying there are 55 games "in flight." As far as we know, it still intends to stick to mobile games for now. Verdu says Netflix hopes to have around half of its games based on its own IP eventually.
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Strike it big in the Season of Plunder(Image credit: Bungie)
Destiny 2 map fragments: How to get treasure maps
Destiny 2 Cryptic Quatrains: Solve the riddles
Destiny 2 lost sectors: This season's daily rotation
Destiny 2 Touch of Malice: How to get the raid exotic
King's Fall red border weapons: Craft raid guns
King's Fall secret chests: Extra raid lootDestiny 2 Spectral Pages are a vital part of the Festival of the Lost halloween event. Just like last year, you can get them—along with a shedload of candy—by completing a variety of activities, but to manifest these spooky scribbles into their true form, you have to finish the special seasonal mode: Haunted Sectors.
In this activity, you head into Lost Sectors across the system and fight some spectral champions called Headless Ones. This not only rewards you with candy, as you explode them like Pinatas, but it manifests your pages so they can be converted into lore books. More importantly, it gives you a load of weapons when you finish the activity, and with the new Mechabre Sniper Rifle and new perk pools for the older weapons, they are well worth farming.
But first, you're going to have to get some pages, and presumably, you'll want the fastest method of doing it. In this Destiny 2 Spectral Pages guide, I'll explain the best methods of farming them, as well as how the entire conversion process works in order to get you some guns.
How to get Spectral Pages
Image 1 of 2You must be wearing the mask to earn Spectral Pages from activities (Image credit: Bungie)Image 2 of 2Choose a destination with lots of Public Events to farm (Image credit: Bungie)Once you've received a mask from Eva, you need to wear it during activities in order to earn Spectral Pages and candy. Here's what you can earn by doing various activities with it equipped:
- Strikes and Nightfalls: 350 candy and 5 Spectral Pages
- Lost Sectors and Legend Lost Sectors: 1 Spectral Page
- Public Events: 180 candy and 2 Spectral Pages
- Heroic Public events: 210 candy and 2 Spectral Pages
- Crucible: 235 candy and 3 Spectral Pages, plus 8 candy per kill
- Gambit: 245 candy and 3 Spectral Pages
In terms of the most time-efficient solo method, Public Events are the best activity for farming Spectral Pages and candy. If you head to a destination like the EDZ, Nessus, or the Cosmodrome, you can do a circuit around the map, completing each Public Event as it becomes active. Since those events are very quick to finish, you'll be able to get a lot of Spectral Pages in a short amount of time as well as some candy with which to purchase Grab Bags from Eva.
If you have someone else to play with, then the second mission of the Witch Queen campaign, Investigation, is apparently also a great method for farming pages. As laid out in this video by Aztecross, the essence of the farm is to run the mission normally with a fireteam member until you get to the 'Rendezvous with the Contact' step, then one of you needs to change character in order to keep the checkpoint. This will let you complete the mission to get 9 Spectral Pages, and keep rotating characters so you can farm the encounter.
That said, if you don't have other characters, own the Witch Queen, or just want to get the pages solo, Public Events are definitely the way to go.
How to get Manifested Pages
Image 1 of 2You can start the Haunted Sector activity from the Tower (Image credit: Bungie)Image 2 of 2Your Manifested Pages can be used to unlock lore books next to Eva (Image credit: Bungie)When you've got your Spectral Pages, you need to convert them into Manifested Pages by completing a Haunted Sector from the Tower destination. The number of pages converted will depend on you defeating Headless Ones in the activity, but so long as you beat ten in the time limit you'll convert 13 pages, which is the maximum number you can do each run. You summon Headless Ones by standing in the summoning circles that appear during the activity.
Converting Spectral Pages into Manifested Pages will also give you more rewards from the weapon pool of Mechabre, Jurassic Green, Braytech Werewolf, and that potential masterworked Horror Story from the chest at the end of the activity. Since the halloween weapons now have the Search Party origin trait, which allows for faster aim down sights, some of them are pretty decent in PvP.
You then use Manifested Pages to unlock lore books at the podium next to Eva, and while these might not interest you so much, they are directly tied to the challenges you can find in the event card in the quest menu. Unlocking 18 will get you the Pulp Texture shader, while 28 will give you the Exotic Coffin Nail ship. You'll also get some event tickets for your trouble.
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Disney Dreamlight Valley's first big update is almost here and it introduces The Lion King's Scar, along with his own story arc. It's set to arrive later today but there are a few things you should know before you sit down to play.
If you're unfamiliar with the game, Disney Dreamlight Valley is set in a world that Pixar and traditional Disney characters share. Naturally, all is not as it seems so you'll need to overcome challenges and complete quests as you unlock different Realms in a bid to save the valley. So, without further ado, here are the Disney Dreamlight Valley Scar update release times.
Update 1 is coming soon! While players should be able install it on October 19th, 9AM EST, some platforms may take more time to deploy the update. To make sure you're prepared, our team recommends a few things before and after you update your game.
October 17, 2022See moreDisney Dreamlight Valley Scar update release times
The Disney Dreamlight Valley Scar update is set to arrive today, October 19. Here are the release times:
- Los Angeles: 6 am PT
- New York: 9 am EST
- London: 2 pm BST
- Paris: 3 pm CEST
- Sydney: 11 pm AEST
The announcement on the official Twitter page says that some platforms may "take more time to deploy the update", so don't be alarmed if it's not available immediately. The Twitter thread also states that you should ensure you've saved your game to the cloud before exiting it completely to start the update.
If you're keen to jump in, make sure you've completed The Curse quest and have the Sunlit Plateau unlocked to start Scar's storyline.
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All the tips, tricks, and helpful hints you could ever need to make your daily Wordle game a breeze are right here. Need something a little more direct? No problem—you'll find a fresh clue just below, and the answer to the October 19 (487) puzzle just after that.
Today's Wordle took a little more effort than I expected, as most of those helpful yellows somehow managed to evade my keypresses—and the ones that did show up weren't as much help as I hoped they'd be. I got there just in time but wow, that was close.
Wordle hint
Today's Wordle: A hint for Wednesday, October 19
You'd use this word to describe something or someone that's just a little bit strange or out of the ordinary. It's a friend's weird habit or an unexpected turn of events. You'll need to use some of the less popular consonants to find today's word.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
If there's one thing better than playing Wordle, it's playing Wordle well, which is why I'm going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
- A good opener contains a balanced mix of unique vowels and consonants.
- A tactical second guess helps to narrow down the pool of letters quickly.
- The solution may contain repeat letters.
There's no time pressure beyond making sure it's done by midnight. So there's no reason to not treat the game like a casual newspaper crossword and come back to it later if you're coming up blank.
Wordle answer
(Image credit: Josh Wardle)What is the Wordle 487 answer?
Still not sure? Let me help. The answer to the October 19 (487) Wordle is QUIRK.
Previous answers
Wordle archive: Which words have been used
The more past Wordle answers you can cram into your memory banks, the better your chances of guessing today's Wordle answer without accidentally picking a solution that's already been used. Past Wordle answers can also give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle solving fresh.
Here are some recent Wordle solutions:
- October 18: EXIST
- October 17: STEIN
- October 16: SPADE
- October 15: CATCH
- October 14: FLOOR
- October 13: EQUAL
- October 12: IONIC
- October 11: VALID
- October 10: ENJOY
- October 9: HOWDY
Learn more about Wordle
Every day Wordle presents you with six rows of five boxes, and it's up to you to work out which secret five-letter word is hiding inside them.
You'll want to start with a strong word like ALERT—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters. Hit Enter and the boxes will show you which letters you've got right or wrong. If a box turns
️, it means that letter isn't in the secret word at all. 
means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 
means you've got the right letter in the right spot.You'll want your second go to compliment the first, using another "good" word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn't present in today's answer.
After that it's just a case of using what you've learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there's an E). Don't forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips, and if you'd like to find out which words have already been used you'll find those below.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle, as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle, refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn't long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures. Surely it's only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
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The best wireless gaming controller you can get just got customisable, as Microsoft adds the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller to Xbox Design labs. This storefront allows you to choose the colours of various aspects of your controller, including face plates, triggers, buttons, and more. Then you can top it all off with a few accessories, and maybe even a name engraving. It allows you to get a great quality official Xbox controller, in colour varieties you're far less likely to see in the wild.
If you've never had the pleasure, the Xbox Elite controllers are a lot like the regular ones, but better in every way. They come with heaps of customisation options allowing for more control than usual. Things like hair-trigger locks, changeable d-pads, and back paddles make for a significant upgrade over the standard affair. They also pack a longer lasting battery, but have the added weight, and price tag to go with it.
A customisable Xbox Elite starts at $149 USD or $220 AUD for a base model. Optional extras can be added for an additional cost, but can also be customised as you go. Add a few things like engravings, extra components, and a carrying case and charging pack and you'll end up paying around $210 USD for your complete controller set up.
What's even better is most of the colours on offer look really nice. The metallic shine on the triggers, d-pads, and back panels gives off a classy vibe, while the bold thumbsticks and faceplates demand attention. Choosing the colours you might want is the hardest part, so I spent some time playing with the designer tool making controllers inspired by some of my favourite PC experiences.
Virtual reality(Image credit: Valve)Best VR headset: which kit should you choose?
Best graphics card: you need serious GPU power for VR
Best gaming laptop: don't get tied to your desktop in VROne of my favourite games to waste time in over the past few years has been Genshin Impact. While I'm not generally into Gacha games, I adore exploring the large open world and levelling up characters, learning to combo new abilities to take down the spiral abyss. And by my side throughout these journeys the whole time has been my faithful companion and emergency food provision, Paimon. So I dedicate this controller to thee, Paimon, the best white floaty a traveller can have.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Paimon inspired Xbox Elite Series 2 controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Another PC gaming favourite of mine has to be Overwatch. It was one of the first FPS I had personally played with a mouse and keyboard, always preferring to use controller where possible. Unfortunately, my old controller was no match for the mouse and keyboard skills on PC servers, but maybe I would have done a little better if I had one of these instead. This could be just what controller fans need to get the edge in Overwatch 2.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Overwatch inspired Controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)The Wolfenstein reboots of the last couple of years have had to be some of my favourite single player shooters. In recent years, there's just something very cathartic about its thematic material, and these games do an excellent job of making you feel like a certified badass. Great story, great gameplay, all you need now is a great controller and with the iconic red and black aesthetic the game brings, it's going to be a hot one.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Wolfenstein inspired controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)After making a few of these controllers I wanted to explore some of the brighter face plates, especially that neon green. As soon as I slapped it on the Minecraft vibes were thick and strong, so we added a blue sky and a dirt filled d-pad. I kept the thumbsticks black on this one because it feels the most practical. They shouldn't show up dirt as easily, which is important especially with a controller that may be more likely to be used by kids.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Minecraft inspired controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Ok but the purple face plate also looked rocking, and harkened back to a faint memory from my youth. That was how this mess, otherwise known as the Space Cadet Pinball inspired controller was made. It feels like Xbox Design Labs could use a few different shades of purple to make this one's overall look work a little better, but it still carries some of those cosmic vibes. There's nothing like getting a new high score on a Windows 95 machine that certainly wouldn't support this controller.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Space Cadet Pinball inspired controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Of course when it comes to PC classics there are plenty to choose from. However, perhaps none have quite as iconic a colour scheme as the much beloved Portal series. Slap some white on it, a dash of orange, and a splatter of blue, and finish it off with black and you've got yourself a machine that looks like it came right out of the Aperture Science labs. This Portal Gun themed controller would be the perfect companion for your PC cube.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Portal themed controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Lastly, while we're in the throws of The International, it felt right to make a Dota 2 themed controller. With the wide success of the Netflix series Arcane, combined with the fact that controller support was added to the game just last Christmas, surely there's a sign here. Making a controller themed after your Dota fav is a great way to choose a colour scheme to work with, so I went with everyone's favourite explosive personality, Jinx.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Jinx inspired controller
Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)It's worth noting that PlayStation has recently announced it's own elite controller competitor, so you might want to check that out before dropping hard cash. Though, even if you aren't necessarily ready to put the money down, playing with aesthetics in design lab is a pretty fun way to spend a work day. If you don't already have a theme in mind, choosing your favourite character or game to match it to can really help get those creative juices flowing. Just don't drop any on the controller, lest it permanently be demoted to player 2.
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Hello alf216,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
alf216 joined on the 10/18/2022.
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NEED TO KNOW
What is it? A murder mystery adventure game
Expect to pay: $18/£16.99
Developer: Color Gray Games
Publisher: Playstack
Reviewed on: RTX 2080, Intel i7-9700K, 16GB RAM
Multiplayer? No
Out: Now
Link: Official siteA woman lies dead on a sofa, her mouth open in shock. Some members of the dinner party she was attending stare in horror while others level angry accusations at each other. Only one person is smiling happily, and that's me, the detective. I've got another intriguing murder to solve in The Case of the Golden Idol, one of the most novel and challenging mystery games I've played in years.
I begin my investigation, clicking on anything and everything, starting with the guests. They're frozen in time, stuck in the moment the victim perished, so I'm free to go through their pockets with my mouse pointer to peer at their coins, rings, and monogrammed handkerchiefs. Then I move downstairs to the two maids standing in the kitchen so I can examine the notes and letters they're carrying. A waste bin contains discarded correspondence, a dinner table holds unfinished meals, and most interestingly, a pouch dangles on a rope outside a window as if someone was trying to conceal something from the rest of the household.
Over the next hour I slowly piece together the identities of each person, then figure out which room in the house is theirs so I can match them to their possessions. I even figure out where each person was sitting at the dinner table when the murder took place. I learn who masterminded it, who carried it out and for what reason, not to mention a few interesting plot twists along the way. This murder, and likewise this entire game, is a darkly brilliant tale told in discrete clues, and it makes me feel pretty clever for piecing them together and figuring it out.
The Case of the Golden Idol begins with a simple murder, one man shoving another off a cliff. To investigate, you click on clues in the scene of the murder, and within those clues you click on words. A journal or note might contain a first or last name. A pocket may (and usually does) contain a weapon like a pistol or blade, a fireplace may have a scrap of a will someone hastily tried to dispose of. Carefully looking through the scene and clicking on clues leaves you with a collection of words at the bottom of your screen, words like sword, stabbed, pushed, button, or trapdoor, along with all the names of the characters you've discovered.
Tapping the space bar swaps from exploring the murder scene into "thinking" mode where you can drag and drop the words you've collected into blanks to solve the crime. A scroll on the left contains the description of the events: Blank murdered blank on blank island, for example. Murder via Mad Libs. All you need to do to proceed to the next case is correctly fill in the murder scroll, one word at a time.
Circumspective evidence
But there are bonus objectives: In the middle of the thinking screen is a portrait gallery where you can match faces with first and last names, which brings to mind another brilliant mystery game, Return of the Obra Dinn. In later cases the right side of the screen has slots for more details: who was sitting where at a dinner table, for example. It's well-worth filling in everything because some characters will appear again in later murders, and knowing them make a future investigation a bit easier.
(Image credit: Color Gray Games)The cases—there are a dozen—immediately grow more elaborate and intricate, involving more suspects, murkier motives, tons of unrelated clues, and plenty of secrets. Clues can come not just from the words you gather but from the details of oddly illustrated scenes themselves. Even scouring a scene multiple times, it would sometimes still take me ages to notice the smaller, finer details like a tattoo on someone's wrist or initials in a ledger. Even the minimalist animation of the scene can help you figure out what happened, like the way someone's eyes are moving, even if it's not a clue you can click on.
My favorite case feels like a classic mystery novel setup: A body is found in the parlor of a sprawling manor, with an odd collection of suspects (including a butler, naturally), and there's some all-too-convenient evidence pointing at one likely perpetrator. A detective has been called and has been interviewing everyone in the house as to their whereabouts at the time of the murder... but since I'm the real detective of the game, I get to look through the visiting detective's notebook and use his notes to solve the case. Good work, but I'll take it from here, pal.
(Image credit: Color Gray Games)Paired with the satisfaction that comes from solving a complicated crime and moving on to the next, there's a long and fascinating story running through these murders, all centered around the Golden Idol itself. The idol is no mere trinket or mcguffin but an arcane object of magic and power, and with each murder I learned more about the mysterious idol, what it's capable of, and why so many people feel it's worth committing brutal killings to possess.
As the years pass, the idol's secrets are slowly unlocked and its powers are used in fascinating ways, and the idol's owners grow in power and prestige. It makes solving these murders not just a fantastic series of crime-scene investigations but an highly imaginative bit of storytelling. I don't say this about a lot of games, but The Case of the Golden Idol would make one hell of a novel.
C.S.Idol
(Image credit: Color Gray Games)The Case of the Golden Idol would make one hell of a novel.
There were a couple cases that didn't entirely come together for me. In one I couldn't fully figure out the motive, and even after solving the case I'm not even sure how I was meant to figure out the motive.
I also wound up occasionally brute-forcing the final few names or details of a case, trying every possible combination with the empty slots, adventure-game style. There's also a particular case near the very end I didn't much care for at all, partly because it made me do math (unforgivable) and partly because most of it wound up feeling like data entry rather than an elaborate murder investigation.
(Image credit: Color Gray Games)But just because a few pieces didn't fall perfectly into place didn't stop the overall story of The Case of the Golden Idol from reaching a satisfying end, and it didn't stop me from loving this inventive detective adventure. I only wish there was a "randomize absolutely everything" button so I could figure it out all over again.
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Over the weekend, actor Hellena Taylor said that Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya offered her a flat rate of $4,000 to reprise her role as Bayonetta's voice in the upcoming Bayonetta 3, a lowball she said she declined. Taylor's statement has now been rebutted by two sources who spoke anonymously to Bloomberg, which says it also obtained documentation related to the negotiations.
According to Bloomberg's sources, "Platinum Games sought to hire Taylor for at least five sessions, each paying $3,000 to $4,000 for four hours in the studio." The total fee would've been at least $15,000, if that were the case. Taylor, Bloomberg's sources say, rejected the offer and "asked for a six-figure sum as well as residuals." In the end, Platinum hired prolific voice actor Jennifer Hale, best known as Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, to take over the role.
Taylor told Bloomberg that its sources are telling "an absolute lie" and that Platinum Games is trying to save face. Platinum Games has not officially responded to Taylor's claims. (Unless you count Kamiya calling Taylor's videos "sad and deplorable" on Twitter before briefly deactivating his account.)
In 2016, voice actors represented by the SAG-AFTRA union, including Hale, went on strike in an effort to secure better pay for videogame acting work. As Bloomberg says, they hoped to secure residuals in the form of bonuses when games they appear in are especially successful. They didn't win that fight, but did secure bonuses based on the number of sessions a role requires. In 2020, that contract between SAG-AFTRA and nine major game publishers was extended until November 7 of this year.
According to Bloomberg, three sources say that Platinum Games used union actors for Bayonetta 3, meaning they paid at least the union minimum rates.
Now that there's disagreement over the offer made to Taylor, the conversation (by which I mean, the stuff people are saying on Twitter) has turned to the principle of the matter, which is that voice actors don't make especially large sums even to voice famous characters. Whether or not Taylor is vindicated, the scenario she described is not unheard of. Another actor, Bryan Dechart, said he was offered $4,000 to play the "lead character of a triple-A game."
Those who don't follow the business closely may be surprised to learn that videogame voice actors are paid per-session, and don't earn additional money from games that sell lots of copies, or that are later distributed on new platforms, like TV stars do when shows are syndicated or released on Blu-ray. The voice of Dandelion in the Witcher games, John Schwab, told The Guardian that he sympathized with the discontent expressed by Taylor and other voice actors.
"You get a few thousand pounds to play a lead character, and then that videogame makes $700m," he said. "How does that make you feel, when you've created the role?”
Hale, the new voice of Bayonetta, was pressed for comment by fans following Taylor's videos. She said on Monday that she could not speak openly about the situation because of an NDA, but has since retweeted several comments in support of Bloomberg's reporting.
There's no PC version announced for Bayonetta 3, which releases for the Switch on October 28, although the name "Bayonetta 3" does appear in the Nvidia list that leaked a while back. Nvidia more or less said the list didn't mean anything, but multiple games which appeared on it have since been announced for PC. That said, Bayonetta 3 is published by Nintendo, so it'd be a big surprise if it happened.
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Ahead of its October 21 release, the Gotham Knights recommended system requirements are in, and they're pretty eye opening. The minimum requirements dropped late last week, but now we know that if you want to play the co-op adventure on high settings, with a smooth frame rate at 1080p, you're going to need at least an RTX 2070.
You'll also need a CPU that's as good as, or better than, an i7-10700K or Ryzen 5 5600X, and 16GB RAM. For reference, the recommended specs for playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on high settings are a GTX 1070 (or RX 590) and an i7-4790 (or Ryzen 3 3200G).
So yes: Gotham Knights is asking a lot, and that's before the question of 1440p or 4K comes into play. We'll likely need to wait until launch to see what's required for those resolutions, not to mention higher framerates.
The high requirements probably aren't a huge surprise: last week it was announced that Gotham Knights will run at 30fps on the PS5 and Xbox Series X, with no 60fps performance mode available. That's a huge deviation from this console generation's trend of offering a choice between high resolution and quality, and a smoother framerate. Earlier this year, Warner Bros announced that Gotham Knights would be skipping last-gen consoles, which makes more sense with these system requirements in mind.
Here are the minimum and recommended requirements for Gotham Knights:
Minimum requirements for Gotham Knights (60fps / 1080p, low settings)
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K or Ryzen 5 3600
RAM: 8GB
GPU: GTX 1660 Ti or Radeon RX 590Recommended requirements for Gotham Knights (60fps / 1080p, high settings)
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-10700K or Ryzen 5 5600X
RAM: 16GB
GPU: RTX 2070 or Radeon RX 5700XTGotham Knights will get an extra four-player cooperative mode after launch, and will take multiple playthroughs to see the whole story. Back in May, Rich opined that the game could benefit from another delay based on gameplay footage ("this game looks rough," he wrote), but it's actually launching a whole four days early. So take that, Richard.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is set to go into full release on October 28, but if you preorder you can jump into the campaign a full eight days earlier, on October 20. With that date now just a couple of days away, Activision has announced that preloading will begin at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on October 19—tomorrow.
Activision clarified that this preload is strictly for the singleplayer campaign: Preloading for the full launch, which will also include multiplayer and special ops, will begin at 10 am PT/1 pm ET on October 26. Modern Warfare 2 will finally, fully unlock at 9 pm PT on October 27, which as illustrated in the handy map below is actually October 28 in most of the rest of the world.
(Image credit: Activision)The update also includes detailed system requirements, for those unsure whether—or how well—Modern Warfare 2 will run on their rigs. Basic requirements were revealed in September but the new breakdown gets into greater detail across four distinct specs.
The numbers:
(Image credit: Activision)Minimum:
- CPU: Intel Core I3-6100 / Core I5-2500K OR AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 72GB at Launch
- GPU: Minimum: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470, 2GB
- Hi-rez assets cache (optional disk space that can be used to stream high-resolution assets. The option can be turned off in the game’s settings.): Up to 32GB
Recommended:
- CPU: Intel Core I5-6600K / Core I7-4770 OR AMD Ryzen 5 1400
- RAM: 6 GB
- Storage: 72GB at Launch
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580, 4GB
- Hi-rez assets cache: Up to 32GB
Competitive:
- CPU: Intel Core I7-8700K OR AMD Ryzen 7 1800X
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 72GB at Launch
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, 8GB
- Hi-rez assets cache: Up to 32GB
Ultra 4K:
- CPU: Intel Core I9-9900K OR AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 72GB at Launch
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, 10GB
- Hi-rez assets cache: Up to 64GB
Regardless of your hardware spec, you'll also need Windows 10 64-bit with the latest updates installed, and the latest drivers for your video card.
The PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will support an array of advanced visual features and customization options, and will also require a phone number, unless you're already verified for Call of Duty: Warzone. It will be available for PC on Steam and Battle.net.
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The next character coming to Apex Legends is an "experienced terraformer and defensive conjurer" named Tressa Smith, aka Catalyst, a trans woman who possesses a "remarkable, almost magical, control over ferrofluid."
Catalyst was revealed in a new Stories from the Outlands video detailing a dispute between friends over how to save Cleo, the broken moon of her homeworld Boreas, which is being mined by Hammond Robotics, the corporate bad guys of the Apex Legends universe. Catalyst agrees to help her friend Margo put a stop to Hammond, but things spiral out of control quickly: In the end, Margo is arrested (or possibly killed), but Catalyst, with the help of her newly-discovered abilities, manages to escape.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Respawn lead writer Ashley Reed said they worked closely with trans employees at the studio, as well as representatives from the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD and Catalyst's voice actor, Meli Grant, who is a trans woman herself, to shape the character.
"This has been life-changing," Grant said. "It's very meaningful to be able to work with a team that I know cares immensely about making sure that they're handling this character with care, and creating a character that is respectful and has dignity and feels authentic and feels like a human being, and reflects experiences that are familiar to me.
"And thank goodness, they've been receptive every step of the way. We were constantly communicating about what the character could be and where they came from and where they were going. It was very much a collaboration and it was so artistically fulfilling."
My heart is so full right now…Boundless love and gratitude to @ashsmashreed, @dialoguedude, and everyone at @Respawn for entrusting me with Catalyst, and to my incredible agents @ErinHuckeCESD and Brittney Weiskopf over at @CESDTalent for being the damn best.
October 17, 2022See moreThe development team took pains to ensure that Catalyst is "inescapably trans, front and center," which is why the trailer explicitly references her transition, Grant said. "Because the internet's a confusing place and people like to debate everything and you want to take away as much of that ambiguity as possible. We've had enough ambiguity and queerbaiting and visual storytelling and the use of color palettes throughout media, and not a whole lot of just talking about it."
Catalyst will be added to Apex Legends on November 1 as part of the Eclipse update, which will include a new map, battle pass, and the ability to give gifts to your in-game friends.
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The Sims 5 may not have a real name yet—Electronic Arts announced the "next generation Sims game" today with the codename "Project Rene"—but it is going to bring back the indisputable best feature of the entire series: the Create-A-Style tool.
I've already gushed at length about Create-A-Style this summer, so I won't rehash the entire thing, but in brief: In The Sims 3, you have the ability to really fine tune your builds by choosing the material swatch (wood, leather, marble, etc.) and the exact color of furniture, walls, and other objects. A couch may let you change the fabric separate from the frame while lamps can have customized shades and bases. Even wall finishes can be customized to create lovely subtle patterns or just toss that wacky cowboy pattern everywhere.
It was creatively freeing, especially compared with the swatches we've been locked into with The Sims 4, where you can only choose between the preset pieces of furniture with their color combos chosen for you. Getting wood colors to match between furniture sets will forever be my ninth circle of hell.
During today's livestream, Maxis showed off a "very early" look at some of the furniture editing tools in the next Sims game. Be still my heart; they're beautiful. Well, the interface isn't beautiful (yet), but conceptually I am smitten.
Project Rene will bring back the ability to edit material swatches, set patterns, use a color picker to adjust exact hues, and will even let you change the structure of a piece of furniture. The in-development version that Maxis showed splits object editing into three parts: surface, shape, and accents.
Maxis showed off a bed being edited which let the player choose a two-person or twin size base, and then separate choices for the headboard and footboard, which is part of the item's shape. They also show a couch with options for a single or triple cushion back. In the accents section you'll be able to add and rotate throw pillows—even on the z-axis, hot damn. You can also spot a lot of blankets tossed over the backs and arms of sofas throughout the video, which I'd imagine are accent pieces too.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Electronic Arts, Maxis)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Electronic Arts, Maxis)"We're experimenting with what's worked and where we can push further to offer more flexibility than ever before," Maxis said of the feature preview. Create-A-Style is undeniably one of the part of the series that really worked, so I'm glad to see it being not only brought back, but expanded on.
This is just the start of the early look at features that Maxis says it's planning while developing the next Sims game. We don't know yet just how extensive the multiplayer bits of the next game will be or if it will drastically improve on the clunky Sims 4 Gallery. As for the modding scene, Maxis announced today that it's partnering with Curseforge as the official hub for Sims 4 mods.
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Marvel Snap cards only have a power value and a cost in a bid to keep them simple and the action smooth. (Image credit: Marvel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEvBIn5SCAU I have to admit to raising a skeptical eyebrow when I read yesterday that Ben Brode thinks Marvel Snap is going to become the biggest card game of all time. I mean, he would say that, given that Marvel Snap is the first release by Second Dinner, the studio he co-founded with a bunch of other Hearthstone alumni after leaving Blizzard in 2018.
Marvel Snap left early access and went into full release today. The PC client still very much shows its mobile roots, most noticeably in its phone-shaped orientation, but if you're looking for a sense of how seriously Marvel's paymasters are taking the game, a launch video starring none other than Samuel L Jackson gives a pretty good idea.
For those not inclined to click, the riff here is that Nick Fury has been replaced with a Snap player by the SHIELD human resources department on the basis that the phone jockey is doing a better job of managing a stable of superheroes. Jackson sells the bit with admirable gusto. I imagine he has long learned that being part of a ''cinematic universe' means having infinite things to sell.
Speaking of selling, Second Dinner has also clarified how monetization will work in the full game, clearly keen to draw a line under the unpleasantness that led to strong player pushback against 'Nexus Events' this August, ultimately leading to the scrapping of that entire system.
"We’d like to thank all the players that have shared their feedback and are sticking with us. We’ve got big dreams for Marvel Snap, and we want to build a game that will stand the test of time - we have no plans at this time to add an additional major monetization system. Marvel Snap needs to be fair and fun, and provide a valuable, player-friendly experience."
Note that in Snap additional cards are unlocked to your collection by playing the game. You can, however, pay to get earlier access to cosmetic upgrades. According to the Second Dinner rep, the monetisation options at launch look like this:
- Season Pass (Standard and Premium options)
- Card Variants (cosmetic skins for cards that players have acquired)
- Gold (in-game currency used to purchase Card Variants or additional Credits that are normally earned by playing and used to upgrade cards and increase collection levels)
We found Snap's matches to be fast and fun when playing the beta back in July. Our one criticism of the gameplay was that, despite the gorgeous poppy card art, the actual battles lacked a little pizazz. Yes, slamming Iron Man feels good, but in terms of game-winning flourishes, in Snap there's nothing quite as spectacular as clearing a board with Deathwing in Hearthstone. It's more a case of using combat maths cleverly, something which didn't work out great for Artifact, though Snap certainly doesn't need a PhD to play.
Anyway, I like the idea of super-speedy matches and will definitely be indulging on the sofa while watching b-tier TV shows. Marvel Snap is out now on Steam.
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Two days after revealing that she is married and accusing her husband of domestic abuse, streamer Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa says she has regained control of her finances and social media accounts, and is now "free."
Siragusa, one of the highest-profile streamers on Twitch, alleged during an early-morning stream on October 16 that her husband controlled her finances, pushed her to stream long hours in Twitch's hot tub category, and even threatened to kill her dogs. At one point during the stream, she unmuted her microphone while in a call with her husband; he can be heard insulting her, calling her a liar, and demanding that she leave the house. She apologized for doing so in her most recent stream, saying that it was "hard to watch."
"I didn't really know what else to do, because he was threatening to tweet 'frack'," Siragusa said, "He was going to tweet live, I wanted to beat him to the punch, but... sorry if I triggered anybody with past abuse.
"That was actually the first time that he's ever heard himself on a recording, because as I told you guys before, previously when I recorded him he would just refuse to listen to recordings ... I think that when he heard himself on that call, it really sunk in how much of an 'wookie' he is. It's like he never realized. Idiot."
Siragusa said she now has access to her finances and social media accounts, and is "seeking legal and emotional counsel." She added that her husband is "getting help."
Siragusa also expressed surprise at the level of support she's been shown, even by people who are normally detractors. "There have been so many messages. It's kind of crazy," she said. "I felt so alone for so long and now it's like, I can't stop getting people to talk to me. Not in a bad way, it's just a very big contrast. I didn't think people cared that much."
As for what comes next, Siragusa said she's "positive about the future" and happy to be "free [and] still alive."
"I don't really know what I'm going to do next," she said. "Hopefully a lot more animal streams. Going to take time to process it, I think. I don't know when or if I'll be back to a full-time schedule. At least for now though, I think I'm going to take it easy. And I don't have to wear cleavage every day! I can wear clothes."
She touched on the topic of her wardrobe again later in the stream: "I really don't know what's going to happen. I just hope people still watch, without so much titty showing."
The full stream can be seen below.
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Today at the Sims Summit, EA and Maxis made several announcements about the future of long-running people simulator series The Sims. Most exciting was the reveal of the next Sims game, codenamed Project Rene, which we'll definitely be calling The Sims 5 until we hear otherwise. The game is in early development and isn't expected for a few years, but at least we finally have confirmation that it's in the works.
In the meantime, there's more immediate news about The Sims 4 (which went free-to-play today). During the Sims Summit, VP of franchise creative Lindsay Pearson announced a partnership with Overwolf, owner of modding hub CurseForge, to create "a new destination for The Sims 4 players to download trusted mods and custom content."
In other words, there will be finally be some mod support for The Sims 4, along with a proper mod manager that will make finding, installing, and updating these curated mods much easier.
"Overwolf operates CurseForge, a mod manager and discovery platform built to support creators and hosting their content," reads the press release sent to PC Gamer. "For years, The Sims 4 community has been expanded by modders & content creators, and today marks a big step forward in recognizing and celebrating their contributions."
That's good news for players who are interested in trying mods for The Sims 4, because installing and managing mods can be a complicated endeavor—not just for The Sims 4, but for any game that doesn't have official mod support or a mod manager. CurseForge is a major modding hub for games like Minecraft and World of Warcraft.
A countdown on the hub is currently set for 27 days, and the video mentions that a beta version will be released soon, so I expect The Sims 4 players will be able to try the new mod manager in about a month, with full integration coming later. In the meantime, you can watch the announcement from the Sims Summit below, which begins at 12:20.
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The ultimate guiding principle in the Bayou is risk versus reward, but with hordes of the undead, nightmarish bosses, and enemy hunters seeking you out, it is difficult to plan for all the unknowns. In this sense, success in Hunt: Showdown starts at the loadout screen, where picking the right equipment can give you a crucial advantage in making it out alive.
Whether you're a white shirt looking for an edge or a seasoned bounty hunter eager to spice things up using the Stalker Beetle, I think these loadouts will give you the best chance in your next showdown.
The New Guy
(Image credit: Crytek)- Primary: Winfield M1873C
- Secondary: Nagant M1895
- Traits: Iron Repeater, Levering
- Hunt Dollars: $327
Compact ammo gets a bad rap for its underwhelming damage at range and lackluster bullet penetration. However, the Winfield M1873C is the cornerstone of any player’s early days in Hunt. This loadout prioritizes equipment that is available early in the progression tree with the latest unlock being levering at Rank 8.
The Winfield’s quick repeating mechanism excels at putting a lot of shots down range, especially follow-up shots in fights within the same compound. Compact ammo damage drops off sharply past 25 meters, but the Winfield ironsight has a thin post that's ideal for headshots. The trait Iron Repeater allows you to remain aimed down sight while cycling the next round, perfect for tracking targets.
High Velocity ammo is entirely optional but it will mean that headshots at range (anywhere up to its new max headshot range, 150 meters) won’t require as much lead. If fights get too close for comfort, levering allows for a rapid volley of hip-fired shots, effectively transforming your rifle into a pistol. The only major drawback with this build is its damage over range so expect to need two shots to the chest in most situations and three on the rare longshot.
If you have dirtied your white shirt and earned some unlocks further down the tree, there's no reason not to upgrade to the Winfield 1873 (non-C version, unlocked at Rank 27). It's the same gun, just with 8 extra bullets in the tube. There's also the Talon variant that straps an axe blade to the stock to deal the full 330 heavy melee damage of a standard combat axe. This variant can rinse through AI, killing Armoreds in one swing, and break any barricaded doors between you and a holed-up Hunter. It costs a few extra Hunt Dollars, but the Talon can give this loadout another level of utility and more options for CQB.
Neither Seen Nor Heard
(Image credit: Crytek)- Primary: Vetterli 71 Karabiner Silencer, FMJ ammo
- Secondary: Scottfield Spitfire, FMJ ammo
- Trait: Iron Sharpshooter
- Hunt Dollars: $735
Sometimes the most lethal things are those we don’t see coming. In a game where high-fidelity sound allows you to pinpoint enemies and seeing through walls is a baked-in ability, striking silently is a strong counter to experienced players hunting with all their senses. Silenced rifles have tradeoffs in Hunt, but their ability to surprise enemies without announcing yourself as a primary target makes them well worth your time.
The Vetterli Silencer has claimed all my affection recently for its excellent iron sight, satisfying slow muzzle velocity, and unquestionable utility. Use your silencer to quietly headshot AI and move through the world undisturbed. Pair it with FMJ and you have a rifle that can shoot through most the walls you need to at most the ranges you require. Iron sharpshooter gives you a small boost in fire rate, and the Scottfield Spitfire secondary increases your spare ammo pool to 34, making up for any ammo spent on grunts.
This loadout is all about testing boundaries, audible and physical. Concertina traps and the hive bomb can help you control an area. The flashbomb and fire bomb can be used offensively and defensively, whether you need to hide your movement or force enemies to push.
The Vetterli Silencer edges out other rifles in this category because it retains its damage over range better than the Winfield Silencer and can follow-up shots faster than the Sparks Silencer, meaning you don’t always have to wait for the perfect moment. Those who can master the slow 240 m/s muzzle velocity and avoid failed ambushes will get the most mileage here.
The Stalker Team
(Image credit: Crytek)- Primary: Lebel 1886
- Secondary: Sparks Pistol, half poison ammo
- Trait: Iron Sharpshooter, Bulletgrubber, Poison Sense
- Hunt Dollars: $925
The Stalker Beetle buzzed into the Bayou in Update 1.10 and will surely be a pest while the meta adjusts. Hate it or love it, the new throwable opens the door for some kooky combinations like downing wounded hunters with a sticky bomb airlifted by our new exoskeletal friend. This loadout will require some coordination amongst partners and has some variations depending on your marksmanship and bank account.
As a quick recap, the Stalker Beetle drone is a great vehicle for reconnaissance, but it has offensive capabilities as well. Holding the primary fire button will trigger a small explosion that deals 5 damage over a 5 meter radius, inflicts medium bleeding, and medium poison damage that prevents healing for around 10 seconds. The devious detail: this explosion can also detonate thrown explosives, including a sticky bomb stuck to its shell.
Hunt: Showdown expert; YouTuberhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MpfvnoNH3GrT4g9P8dW5nN.jpgHomeReel is a YouTuber who specializes in Hunt: Showdown tips, weapon guides, and news updates. He also covers other games in the burgeoning extraction shooter genre.
This loadout leans on the high damage of long ammo weapons to greatly weaken your enemies, rendering them perfect targets for your IED drone. A perfect kill goes like this: tag a hunter in the chest, quickly deploy a Stalker Beetle, attach a sticky bomb provided by your parter, and deliver the sticky bomb to the wounded enemy hunter before the 8 second fuse is up.
As an added bonus, this loadout works even if an opportunity for a Beetle kill never presents itself. The Lebel and the Sparks pistol work symbiotically, offering two high damage options for the first hit while also increasing the spare ammo pool to 12. The optional poison ammo on the Sparks, when used with Poison sense, will mark the wounded enemy in dark sight for you and your beetle, making it more difficult to hide from winged death.
Traits like Iron Sharpshooter (remain aimed down sight between shots; slight fire rate increase) and Bulletgrubber (catch unspent bullets on a partial reload) can assist with some of the cumbersome qualities of the Lebel. Most importantly, the full long ammo build means you will rarely be outranged, even in veteran lobbies.
The Sparks LRR might be a better rifle if you don’t want to use a sticky bomb, given that one shot to the chest takes enemies to 1 HP, but its single-shot reload is much more reliant on marksmanship. The Lebel could be swapped for a Mosin, but using the Lebel will save you almost a hundred bucks if your pursuit of beetle-cladded glory doesn’t go to plan.
I doubt Beetle bombs will be the preferred method in the most competitive situations, but it does have a bit of pizazz. It remains to be seen if the Stalker Beetle will truly be the anti-camping mechanic Crytek has touted as its solution to stalemates. However, given all the changes coming to Hunt in 1.10, I think these loadouts will be reliable picks until the dust settles.
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Does anyone do patch notes quite like The Creative Assembly? There may be more details in the blog post for Total War: Warhammer 3's 2.2.0 update than there are Skaven in the End Times, and that's saying something—because as I understand it, Vermintide is literally the rat apocalypse. Today's post details a huge range of changes, additions, and balance tweaks, but the most exciting to me is a brand new endgame full of angry rat men.
Warhammer 3's Vermintide crisis is a new endgame scenario for its Immortal Empires mode that sees a Skaven invasion happening across the world. Here's the description from the blog post:
"Burrowed deep beneath the surface, the Skaven are expanding their underground empire to the farthest corners of the old world. With Warpbombs ready to turn your settlements to ash plus hordes of vermin spewing out from the dirt in the name of the Under-Father, willing factions must race to wipe the major Skaven factions off the map and put a stop to the Vermintide. But tread carefully, for every Skaven clan that’s yet to be slain makes the erupting undercities even deadlier."
If you're a PC gamer first and a Warhammer lore-knower second, you probably associate Vermintide with the excellent co-op action games from Fatshark. If you check out the patch overview video above, you'll catch a fun little nod to the Fatshark's heroes, the Ubersreik Five. Unfortunately they aren't coming as crossover DLC, but that's something Fatshark and Creative Assembly should definitely consider once Darktide ships.
Judging by responses to the patch notes, the most popular change in 2.2.0 is to settlement battles, reducing the frequency of fights at minor settlements. If those settlements only have small garrisons, they'll play out as land battles instead. AI armies have been made more aggressive in general and smarter about assaulting settlements (apparently they had a bad habit of climbing ladders when a settlement's front door had already been busted open). Agents, too, are supposedly smarter, and thus less likely to stand around glowering at each other.
Despite some significant AI changes, it sounds like more are still on the way.
(Image credit: The Creative Assembly)"We have received quite a lot of feedback related to AI and game difficulty," the blog post says. "While we’ve been fixing significant issues, we also felt it was a good opportunity to increase the aggressiveness of the AI. However, this is a double-edged sword: for players that are already struggling with the game, this has the potential to worsen the experience. We will need a lot more feedback on this topic to decide if these changes are correctly balanced."
The 2.2.0 update also comes with a new "Regiments of Renown" DLC pack of free speciality units for Grand Cathay, Khorne, Kislev, Nurgle, Ogre Kingdoms, Slaanesh, and Tzeentch factions, and a novella's worth of changes across factions.
The Creative Assembly is planning to release patch 2.3, focused on fixes and balance changes, in November, and promises "some especially exciting stuff in 2023."
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Electronic Arts didn't announce The Sims 5 during today's Behind The Sims Summit livestream, or at least not in so many words. It's still describing the next Sims game as "the future of The Sims," but has given it a working title: "Project Rene."
EA's VP of franchise creative for The Sims, Lyndsay Pearson, referred to Project Rene during the livestream as the "next generation Sims game and creative platform," before showing a glimpse of some of the editing tools and cross-platform play.
The next Sims game looks like it will be bringing back an expanded version of the Create-A-Style tool from The Sims 3. It also appears that it will let you to collaborate with friends by sharing designs more directly than you can with the current Sims Gallery, which is known for being a rather clunky way to share creations.
Pearson explains that Project Rene, whatever its true name ends up being ("Sims Infinite," or maybe just "The Sims"?), it's still a few years away.
"Over the next couple of years we'll continue sharing updates with all of you on Project Rene." Pearson says. "We'll share in progress work, explorations, sneak peeks, and behind-the scenes content, as well as start to open up early access to Project Rene software to small groups over time.
"This is super early for us and we've never shared information about our games years before they launch to the world but we're so excited to take you on this journey with us."
Riot fixes 'pay-to-lose' Valorant gun skin that pros forgot to tell devs about
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Riot has shortened one of Valorant's gun skins after learning pro players were calling it a "pay-to-lose" item due to a slight variance in the length of its barrel. The Spectrum Phantom, a version of Valorant's Phantom rifle with altered visual and audio effects, had a nose that poked out just a little bit further than other Phantom variants, meaning enemies would be able to spot you slightly sooner than usual if you were using one.
Now, that might sound like an almost unnoticeable detail to mere mortals like you and me, but to Valorant pros it can be the difference between life and death. A few milliseconds extra warning for an enemy who sees you approaching from around a corner gives them extra and precious reaction time.
The problem was only uncovered during a chance encounter between Valorant associate producer Robin Silk and Mistic, a pro-level player, during the game's Valorant Champions Tour event in Istanbul. During their chat, Mistic happened to mention that he avoided the Spectrum Phantom because of its "pay-to-lose" status, which baffled Silk. To prove his point, Mistic collared a couple of passing pro players who confirmed that the skin was studiously avoided by the professional community. Silk, amazed that the problem was so well-known but totally unreported to Riot, returned to LA and got the problem fixed.
"It was just funny to me that these guys all knew about this and didn't report it to any Rioters," Silk wrote on Twitter, "I encourage all VALORANT players to escalate any bugs they come across to the right channels [...] we really do take these reports seriously".
It raises the question as to how many tiny bugs like this one end up internalised and avoided by the community instead of being brought to developer attention. How much of the meta of big multiplayer games is just players being more aware of small mistakes than the devs?
Well, regardless, Valorant's pro players can stop sidestepping the Spectrum Phantom now: it's been fixed as of yesterday's 5.08 patch. Riot has "shaved off some length so that it matches the base Phantom weapon model," and is "ready for pros to start using it again… especially when peeking through garage on Haven."
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