Monthly Archives: July 2017
Researchers Pull Plug on AI After It Invents Own Language
We haven't quite reached the terrifying sci-fi hellscape described by the Terminator franchise, but researchers at Facebook have brought us just a bit closer to the age of the machines. Recently, they pulled the plug on an artificial intelligence system after it developed its own language.
The AI in question was actually designed to maximize efficiency in language, but according to Fast Co. Design, the researchers forgot to add a crucial rule in its programming: the language had to be English. So the "two AI agents" moved on with their programming to communicate as efficiently as their programming would allow, putting the conversation between the two outside the understanding of humans.
Joe Manganiello Coy on If Deathstroke Still in The Batman
Whether or not Joe Manganiello will appear as Deathstroke in The Batman remains shrouded in mystery, as the actor is remaining tight-lipped regarding the character's status in the upcoming DC movie.
When asked by The Hollywood Reporter if he has any information regarding Deathstroke's status in The Batman, Manganiello replied, "I don't. Well, I do but nothing that I can share. I know everything but I can't say any of it."
When pressed further, as THR sought to gauge the actor's tone, Manganiello said he was "shooting for a neutral tone." The actor continued to play coy, saying it isn't up to him when fans will find out whether or not Deathstroke will be in the film, adding, "That's a good question for Warner Bros. and DC."
Rob Lowe Investigates the Paranormal Because Why TF Not
Rob Lowe and his sons, Matthew and John Owen, hit the road and investigate everything from mythological creatures to famous paranormal happenings in A&E's The Lowe Files - premiering Wednesday, August 2nd. And yes, you read all of that correctly. And no, this isn't a spoof of ghost hunting shows. It's the real deal.
Being just as much of a father/son bonding show as it is a search for spooky hidden truths, The Lowe Files stars appeared at the Television Critics Association press tour to chat about their new series, which Rob Lowe described as "Anthony Bourdain in a blender with Scooby-Doo."
"When I was eight-years-old I saw the Roger Corman movie The Legend of Boggy Creek," Lowe revealed, "and it so traumatized me that I've been obsessed with bigfoot ever since." Yes, the idea for this show wasn't just a random pairing of "Rob Lowe plus ghosts" as the Lowe household has been fascinated by the supernatural for decades. Telling ghost stories and asking big questions about the paranormal was how Rob and his sons bonded throughout the years. "To go out and do this is a like an eight-year-old boy trapped in a 53-year-old man's body's dream."
What to Expect from Sarah Silverman’s New Weekly Hulu Series
"We will absolutely be taking about doody," Sarah Silverman said of her new weekly show coming to Hulu.
She discussed the pitch for I Love You, America at the Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour. "I'm hoping with this show to connect with un-like-minded people," Silverman said, "It's a fun challenge. What I realize is it doesn't have to be a, 'Look at this deep moment we did where we connected with these people and it's really smart and it's moving and look at it.' But what is really important is that it will be funny and silly, and it's aggressively dumb, which is my favorite kind of comedy. Anything smart that's in there will be served in a big, fat, bready sandwich of super, super dumb, because that's how I like my comedy."
Now Is the Time to Get Into Competitive Pokemon
If you've ever thought about becoming a Pokemon Master and absolutely destroying your peers in "friendly" Pokemon battles, now is the time to stop procrastinating. Right now, a competitively viable Shiny Tapu Koko is available to everyone with Pokemon Sun or Pokemon Moon for a limited time, and The Pokemon Company just confirmed that the 2018 Pokemon Videogame Championship Series will still use Pokemon Sun and Moon, not Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 Preorder Guide
Final Fantasy XV’s Regalia Coming to Forza Horizon 3
Prince Noctis' Regalia will soon join the car lineup of Forza Horizon 3.
According to Xbox Wire, starting August 1, Forza Horizon 3 players who've played Final Fantasy XV on Xbox One will be able to download the new vehicle for free. To see Noctis' car in action, check out the trailer below:
Forza Horizon 3 players will be able to redeem the Regalia via the in-game messaging system, and Final Fantasy XV players will get a code to redeem the car in an Xbox Live message.
Last month, Final Fantasy XV received an update that added the Regalia Type-D, a version of Noctis' vehicle that allows players to take the Regalia off the main road.
Where to Find More Details on Kylo Ren’s Story
Much of the story of Kylo Ren and his connection to the dark side is being saved so far, presumably for Episodes VIII and XI. The dossier on Han Solo and Leia Organa's son, Ben Solo, is slim and primarily filled from scenes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens or found in supplementary material like The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary and The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But still, if you dig deep enough there are more Kylo tidbits to be found out there in the media beyond the movies.
Kylo is the master of a group called the Knights of Ren. He associates with and takes orders from Supreme Leader Snoke. He spent some time training with Luke Skywalker, but it didn't end well. He idolizes and wants to emulate his grandfather, Darth Vader. He has access to excellent hair care products (maybe the First Order has a salon?). He made his cross-guard lightsaber using an ancient design, and he uses it to wreck consoles when he's angry. Those are the basics.
IGN UK Podcast #394: Spooky Mavericks
We take a look back over the biggest and best things that went down at this year's San Diego Comic Con. Okay, mainly it was Taika Waititi's delightful outfit.
Gav, Krupa, and Rory try to track down a missing Dana Skully and meet the Flukeman along the way. Honestly, this will make perfect sense if you just download the podcast now. Go on.
IGN UK Podcast #394: Spooky Mavericks
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Dragon Quest XI Coming to the West
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age will be released in the west sometime in 2018, Square Enix has announced.
Franchise creator Yuji Horii shared the news in a video message addressed to Dragon Quest fans, during which he confirms that localization work has already begun. The game is being localized into five languages, one of which is English.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age features character art by the beloved manga artist Akira Toriyama and music from longtime series composer Koichi Sugiyama.
The game launches this week on July 29 in Japan for PlayStation 4 and 3DS. While both versions can be purchased separately, a bundle that includes both versions is also available in Japan. A version for Nintendo Switch has also been confirmed for the region, but Square Enix has yet to announce a release date.