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Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access Review

Baldur's Gate 3 is a bit of a mess, and for now, that's okay. Baldur's Gate 3 isn't done yet. As with developer Larian Studios' previous release, the acclaimed 2017 RPG Divinity: Original Sin 2, Baldur's Gate 3 has been released into Early Access on Steam. It contains the first act of the game: a chunk of content encompassing around 25 hours of adventuring for players determined to seek out every last treasure chest or minor side quest.

As a setup it shows promise, introducing you to a cast of half a dozen characters who hint at the potential to become interesting traveling companions. Already on the brink of civil war and now facing a terrifying alien threat, the world itself seems to offer rich pickings for these characters to indulge. And by building on the template forged by the Original Sin series, BG3 already has the foundation of a well-engineered RPG that rewards players willing to engage with its systemic creativity.

Yet such promise is muted by notes of caution. Baldur's Gate 3 is rough and messy and often feels like it is just barely hanging together. Occasionally it falls apart, collapsing under the weight of scripting bugs and graphical glitches, and even gives up completely with numerous hard crashes to desktop. Technical issues are not unusual in any game, let alone one still in Early Access, and so it is neither a surprise nor much of a criticism to encounter them here.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Control: Ultimate Edition Cloud Version Review

Control was among the best games of 2019--and one of the most taxing in terms of graphical fidelity. Even on the powerful PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, Control would sometimes hitch, drop frames, and struggle as protagonist Jesse Faden telekinetically hucked objects at Hiss enemies or smashed through the offices of the Federal Bureau of Control, flinging papers and wood splinters in all directions in her wake.

The high graphical requirements seem like they would preclude Control from ever running on the Nintendo Switch, a less powerful game console than its Sony and Microsoft counterparts. But Nintendo and publisher 505 Games found a workaround: streaming. The release of Control: Ultimate Edition leverages cloud technology to make the game available on Nintendo's little hybrid console, and the results are surprisingly strong. With a stable internet connection (my Switch said I was getting around 30 mbps down and 8.2 mbps up over Wi-Fi), Control plays very well on the Switch, and if you haven't had a chance to check out Remedy Entertainment's killer title, this is a good way to do so.

If you're not familiar, Control imbues you with supernatural powers and sets you loose in the Oldest House, a brutalist concrete office building with shifting walls and seemingly impossible scale. It houses the FBC, a government agency dedicated to the study, protection, and containment of "paranatural" objects and entities. If it's supernatural, weird, or possibly involved with other dimensions, it's the Bureau's purview--but the building has been invaded by a spectral force called the Hiss that has possessed many of the Bureau's employees and turned them against the survivors.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Control: Ultimate Edition Cloud Version Review

Control was among the best games of 2019--and one of the most taxing in terms of graphical fidelity. Even on the powerful PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, Control would sometimes hitch, drop frames, and struggle as protagonist Jesse Faden telekinetically hucked objects at Hiss enemies or smashed through the offices of the Federal Bureau of Control, flinging papers and wood splinters in all directions in her wake.

The high graphical requirements seem like they would preclude Control from ever running on the Nintendo Switch, a less powerful game console than its Sony and Microsoft counterparts. But Nintendo and publisher 505 Games found a workaround: streaming. The release of Control: Ultimate Edition leverages cloud technology to make the game available on Nintendo's little hybrid console, and the results are surprisingly strong. With a stable internet connection (my Switch said I was getting around 30 mbps down and 8.2 mbps up over WiFi), Control plays very well on the Switch with all its options, and if you haven't had a chance to check out Remedy Entertainment's killer title, this is a good way to do so.

If you're not familiar, Control imbues you with supernatural powers and sets you loose in the Oldest House, a brutalist concrete office building with shifting walls and seemingly impossible scale. It houses the FBC, a government agency dedicated to the study, protection, and containment of "paranatural" objects and entities. If it's supernatural, weird, or possibly involved with other dimensions, it's the Bureau's purview--but the building has been invaded by a spectral force called the Hiss that has possessed many of the Bureau's employees and turned them against the survivors.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
Posted in Uncategorized

AMC Posts Huge Loss in Latest Quarter

AMC has posted a sharp 90.9% drop in revenue in its fiscal third quarter as the theater chain continues to reckon with the fallout the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the movie industry. In its latest financial earnings call, AMC Theaters revealed $119.5 million in revenue, down year over year from 2019 when the theater chain reported revenues of over $1 billion. AMC is now trying to raise funds to avoid bankruptcy by trying to sell shares to try and raise around $50 million. AMC is currently operating about 539 of its 600 domestic locations, but theater attendance has remained low during the COVID-19 pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Attempts to re-energize the theater industry occurred over the summer when Christopher Nolan’s Tenet was the first blockbuster released during the pandemic. But box office returns failed to meet expectations. Following the response, other movie producers have pushed big 2020 tentpoles into 2021. Delays for movies like No Time to Die, Black Widow, Fast and Furious 9, The Batman, and more, mean movie theaters will not have major blockbusters to keep it afloat during the pandemic, though there are still films slated for December 2020 like Wonder Woman 1984. For the time being, AMC is focused on raising capital and finding alternative arrangements with the film industry. CEO Adam Aron highlighted a deal with Universal Pictures that will allow the producer to release films digitally weeks after a theatrical run, much shorter than the previous timeline. This deal will let AMC earn a cut of the digital sales, and Aron appears to be having similar negotiations with other studios. “The conversations we’re having with every major studio is that AMC is not stuck back in 1965… We understand that the world of streaming is upon us,” Aron says (according to Variety). Whether these deals can help keep AMC running as the pandemic continues remains to be seen. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Posted in Uncategorized

AMC Posts Huge Loss in Latest Quarter

AMC has posted a sharp 90.9% drop in revenue in its fiscal third quarter as the theater chain continues to reckon with the fallout the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the movie industry. In its latest financial earnings call, AMC Theaters revealed $119.5 million in revenue, down year over year from 2019 when the theater chain reported revenues of over $1 billion. AMC is now trying to raise funds to avoid bankruptcy by trying to sell shares to try and raise around $50 million. AMC is currently operating about 539 of its 600 domestic locations, but theater attendance has remained low during the COVID-19 pandemic. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Attempts to re-energize the theater industry occurred over the summer when Christopher Nolan’s Tenet was the first blockbuster released during the pandemic. But box office returns failed to meet expectations. Following the response, other movie producers have pushed big 2020 tentpoles into 2021. Delays for movies like No Time to Die, Black Widow, Fast and Furious 9, The Batman, and more, mean movie theaters will not have major blockbusters to keep it afloat during the pandemic, though there are still films slated for December 2020 like Wonder Woman 1984. For the time being, AMC is focused on raising capital and finding alternative arrangements with the film industry. CEO Adam Aron highlighted a deal with Universal Pictures that will allow the producer to release films digitally weeks after a theatrical run, much shorter than the previous timeline. This deal will let AMC earn a cut of the digital sales, and Aron appears to be having similar negotiations with other studios. “The conversations we’re having with every major studio is that AMC is not stuck back in 1965… We understand that the world of streaming is upon us,” Aron says (according to Variety). Whether these deals can help keep AMC running as the pandemic continues remains to be seen. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Posted in Uncategorized

Demon’s Souls PS5 Has Over 180 Guide Videos in the UI

The Demon’s Souls remake on PlayStation 5 will indeed take advantage of the activities bar and feature over 180 help videos that players can choose to watch to complete sections of the game. As reported in The Washington Post, Demon’s Souls “will make use of the PS5’s activities UI, which offers helpful tips regarding certain tasks. [Demon’s Souls remake creative director Gavin] Moore says there are over 180 videos, each with increasing levels of visibility into what’s needed to complete portions of the game[.]” Sony outlined the revamped PS5 UI in a deep dive last month which showed off the new Activities feature. Aside from tracking players’ progress in missions, the Activities bar can show players video hints that can help reveal hidden objectives or checkpoints. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-ui-screenshots&captions=true"] Demon’s Souls is a notoriously difficult game, so being able to bring up video help on the fly could be beneficial for new players. Especially since an M.O. of the Souls series is intentionally keeping certain game mechanics or challenges opaque. This feature is also optional, so players who don’t want to watch the videos can ignore it by never bringing it up in the UI. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/29/demons-souls-ps5-gameplay-trailer"] Sony’s UI demo from October showed Sack Boy Adventures utilizing the help feature in the Activities UI, so that’s two confirmed PS5 games utilizing the feature. How extensive these features end up being will likely depend on how popular they are with users. IGN has been working hard on our next-gen coverage and you can check out our PS5 unboxing here. And check back with IGN for more next-gen coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Posted in Uncategorized

Demon’s Souls PS5 Has Over 180 Guide Videos in the UI

The Demon’s Souls remake on PlayStation 5 will indeed take advantage of the activities bar and feature over 180 help videos that players can choose to watch to complete sections of the game. As reported in The Washington Post, Demon’s Souls “will make use of the PS5’s activities UI, which offers helpful tips regarding certain tasks. [Demon’s Souls remake creative director Gavin] Moore says there are over 180 videos, each with increasing levels of visibility into what’s needed to complete portions of the game[.]” Sony outlined the revamped PS5 UI in a deep dive last month which showed off the new Activities feature. Aside from tracking players’ progress in missions, the Activities bar can show players video hints that can help reveal hidden objectives or checkpoints. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ps5-ui-screenshots&captions=true"] Demon’s Souls is a notoriously difficult game, so being able to bring up video help on the fly could be beneficial for new players. Especially since an M.O. of the Souls series is intentionally keeping certain game mechanics or challenges opaque. This feature is also optional, so players who don’t want to watch the videos can ignore it by never bringing it up in the UI. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/29/demons-souls-ps5-gameplay-trailer"] Sony’s UI demo from October showed Sack Boy Adventures utilizing the help feature in the Activities UI, so that’s two confirmed PS5 games utilizing the feature. How extensive these features end up being will likely depend on how popular they are with users. IGN has been working hard on our next-gen coverage and you can check out our PS5 unboxing here. And check back with IGN for more next-gen coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Posted in Uncategorized

Harrison Ford Mourns the Passing of Sir Sean Connery

UPDATE: Harrison Ford, who starred opposite Sir Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, has released a statement paying tribute to his late co-star, who died Saturday at the age of 90. "He was my father … not in life … but in Indy 3," Ford said in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter. "You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the sidecar of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace dear friend." Our original report from October 31 follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] With the news this morning of Oscar-winner Sir Sean Connery's passing, Daniel Craig, whose final James Bond film No Time to Die is now scheduled for an April 2, 2021 release, offered up a few words of condolences. And Craig wasn't the only member of the Bond-verse to mourn Connery, who died overnight in his sleep in the Bahamas at the age of 90. Roger Moore's estate commented as well, along with others who were co-stars and fans of the late, iconic actor. The official James Bond Twitter account released Craig's words, which were "It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema." The family of Moore, who was Connery's first long-running successor as Bond, said "How infinitely sad to hear the news Sir Sean Connery has passed away. He and Roger were friends for many decades and Roger always maintained Sean was the best ever James Bond." Former Bond Pierce Brosnan wrote on Instagram "Sir Sean Connery, you were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself. You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever. You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps." George Lucas, who collaborated with Connery for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released a statement online as well, stating "Sir Sean Connery, through his talent and drive, left an indelible mark in cinematic history. His audiences spanned generations, each with favorite roles he played. He will always hold a special place in my heart as Indy’s dad. With an air of intelligent authority and sly sense of comedic mischief, only someone like Sean Connery could render Indiana Jones immediately into boyish regret or relief through a stern fatherly chiding or rejoiceful hug. I’m thankful for having had the good fortune to have known and worked with him. My thoughts are with his family." Speaking of filmmakers, Michael Bay, who directed Connery in The Rock, penned a tribute for THR, saying "He was a legend. We all have a few teachers in our careers. The ones that imprint something special on your being. Teachers that you haven’t seen in 20 years, but you still remember their wisdom like yesterday. Sean Connery was one of those for me." In a statement to PEOPLE, Connery's The Rock co-star Nicolas Cage said "I was happiest when I was working with him - his wisdom, humbleness, and extreme honesty has guided me ever since I met him. He was my friend and greatest teacher in cinema. The first movie star to lead the way in combining drama, action adventure and comedy. He did it all effortlessly and with dignity. Maestro, you will be missed." Alec Baldwin, who starred opposite Connery in The Hunt for Red October, took to Instagram for a video where he said "We talk about people in the legend category. Rest in peace, Sean Connery. You made life better. The work you did, the films you made. The experience you gave me, the kindness you showed me. Thanks for that.” Sam Neill, who auditioned for Bond in the '80s and then acted with Connery in The Hunt for Red October, offered this... Hugh Jackman, who famously turned down the opportunity to audition for Bond (as Brosnan's replacement) because of not wanting to be in two huge franchises at once, offered up these kind words... Robert Carlyle may not have acted opposite Connery, but he is wholly familiar with the Bond franchise having played a villain in 1999's The World is Not Enough... Sons of Anarchy's Ron Perlman, who co-starred with Connery in The Name of the Rose, had this to say... Directors Kevin Smith and Edgar Wright, both massive fans of Connery's career, also took to Twitter... And Arnold Schwarzenegger also chimed in, as a fellow screen icon and bodybuilder... Connery's famous films include Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Untouchables, The Hunt for Red October, The Rock, The Man Who Would Be King, his work as James Bond (of course), and more! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sean-connerys-best-films&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Posted in Uncategorized

Harrison Ford Mourns the Passing of Sir Sean Connery

UPDATE: Harrison Ford, who starred opposite Sir Sean Connery in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, has released a statement paying tribute to his late co-star, who died Saturday at the age of 90. "He was my father … not in life … but in Indy 3," Ford said in a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter. "You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the sidecar of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace dear friend." Our original report from October 31 follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] With the news this morning of Oscar-winner Sir Sean Connery's passing, Daniel Craig, whose final James Bond film No Time to Die is now scheduled for an April 2, 2021 release, offered up a few words of condolences. And Craig wasn't the only member of the Bond-verse to mourn Connery, who died overnight in his sleep in the Bahamas at the age of 90. Roger Moore's estate commented as well, along with others who were co-stars and fans of the late, iconic actor. The official James Bond Twitter account released Craig's words, which were "It is with such sadness that I heard of the passing of one of the true greats of cinema." The family of Moore, who was Connery's first long-running successor as Bond, said "How infinitely sad to hear the news Sir Sean Connery has passed away. He and Roger were friends for many decades and Roger always maintained Sean was the best ever James Bond." Former Bond Pierce Brosnan wrote on Instagram "Sir Sean Connery, you were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself. You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever. You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps." George Lucas, who collaborated with Connery for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released a statement online as well, stating "Sir Sean Connery, through his talent and drive, left an indelible mark in cinematic history. His audiences spanned generations, each with favorite roles he played. He will always hold a special place in my heart as Indy’s dad. With an air of intelligent authority and sly sense of comedic mischief, only someone like Sean Connery could render Indiana Jones immediately into boyish regret or relief through a stern fatherly chiding or rejoiceful hug. I’m thankful for having had the good fortune to have known and worked with him. My thoughts are with his family." Speaking of filmmakers, Michael Bay, who directed Connery in The Rock, penned a tribute for THR, saying "He was a legend. We all have a few teachers in our careers. The ones that imprint something special on your being. Teachers that you haven’t seen in 20 years, but you still remember their wisdom like yesterday. Sean Connery was one of those for me." In a statement to PEOPLE, Connery's The Rock co-star Nicolas Cage said "I was happiest when I was working with him - his wisdom, humbleness, and extreme honesty has guided me ever since I met him. He was my friend and greatest teacher in cinema. The first movie star to lead the way in combining drama, action adventure and comedy. He did it all effortlessly and with dignity. Maestro, you will be missed." Alec Baldwin, who starred opposite Connery in The Hunt for Red October, took to Instagram for a video where he said "We talk about people in the legend category. Rest in peace, Sean Connery. You made life better. The work you did, the films you made. The experience you gave me, the kindness you showed me. Thanks for that.” Sam Neill, who auditioned for Bond in the '80s and then acted with Connery in The Hunt for Red October, offered this... Hugh Jackman, who famously turned down the opportunity to audition for Bond (as Brosnan's replacement) because of not wanting to be in two huge franchises at once, offered up these kind words... Robert Carlyle may not have acted opposite Connery, but he is wholly familiar with the Bond franchise having played a villain in 1999's The World is Not Enough... Sons of Anarchy's Ron Perlman, who co-starred with Connery in The Name of the Rose, had this to say... Directors Kevin Smith and Edgar Wright, both massive fans of Connery's career, also took to Twitter... And Arnold Schwarzenegger also chimed in, as a fellow screen icon and bodybuilder... Connery's famous films include Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Untouchables, The Hunt for Red October, The Rock, The Man Who Would Be King, his work as James Bond (of course), and more! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sean-connerys-best-films&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
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Michael Bay Explains How Sean Connery Stood Up to Disney While Making The Rock

Michael Bay wrote a tribute to Sir Sean Connery shortly after the iconic actor's passing and recounted a moment when Connery helped Bay get more money for their movie, The Rock. In the tribute, published by The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday, Bay recalled a moment when he and Connery were filming a car chase. Connery hit the brakes and caused Bay to hit his head against a window. Connery asked if Bay was okay and Bay said he wasn't, but only because "the Disney folks are here to kick my butt for being two days over schedule." Connery then offered to help. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sean-connerys-best-films&captions=true"] Later, during a break in filming, Bay is eating lunch in an elementary school classroom with Disney representatives when Bay announces that Connery is coming in. "Sean comes in, sits down across from the open-mouthed executives," Bay wrote. "In classic Sean Connery style, he belts out in his Scottish brogue: 'This boy is doing a good job, and you’re living in your Disney F***ing Ivory Tower and we need more f***ing money!!' Without missing a beat, they responded. 'OK. How much?'" Bay went on to further compliment Connery by saying Connery's working style is incomparable to anybody else the blockbuster director has collaborated with. "He did it because he loved movies," Bay wrote. "He loved excellence and doing the best he could. His work ethic was bar none, the best I’ve ever experienced." [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2014/06/18/top-5-michael-bay-movies] The Rock was released in theaters in 1996 and it scored over $300 million at the box office to become the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year, according to The Numbers. Bay's next two movies, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, were also both released by Disney. Bay is one of many celebrities that paid tribute to Connery after the actor passed away in his sleep on Saturday at the age of 90. James Bond actors Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan as well as Connery's The Rock co-star Nicolas Cage were some of the actors and filmmakers who eulogized Connery. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who thinks The Rock is a masterpiece.
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