Latest news with #2022
The Verge
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Playdate's second season is off to a great (and very weird) start
A lot of games have been released for the Playdate since it launched in 2022, as a quick browse of or the Catalog shop will attest. But still, there's something unique about the handheld's seasonal format, which just kicked off its second iteration. When it first launched, the Playdate came with 24 games from notable indie developers that were steadily released on a weekly cadence, making a perfect introduction to the little yellow device and its crank. Now, a few years later, we finally have season 2, and it's off to a solid start — and it even includes a bizarre mystery. The new season runs for the next six weeks and totals a dozen games, two of which will drop each week. The entire collection will run you $39. To start, we have a pair of very different games. Fulcrum Defender, from FTL: Faster Than Light developer Subset Games, is sort of like a modern take on Asteroids. You control a little ship in the middle and fire guns at little squares flying toward you. The twist is that you use the crank to rotate the ship around and aim your shots. There's also something of a roguelike element, where you steadily unlock random upgrades like new weapons or a larger spread for your bullets. The goal is to last for 10 straight minutes. It's a pretty challenging game — so far, I've only really had success on easy mode — but it's also surprisingly chill, eliciting that sort of zen state that the best shooters and puzzle games can create. This is helped by its lo-fi soundtrack that pretty much demands you play with headphones on. It's an absorbing game. On the other end of the spectrum is Dig Dig Dino!, developed by Dom2D and Fáyer, who brag that the game 'is perfect to play while watching TV! No time pressure, no quick reflexes needed!' It's a puzzle game where you travel to different dig sites to uncover dinosaur bones, artifacts, and trash. You only have a limited amount of moves per dig, but you can upgrade your capacity over time — while also getting new tools to smash rocks or dig deeper — letting you dig both more and for longer. It's sort of like a really cute take on Minesweeper, one clearly designed for short play sessions. It's not exactly difficult, but there's still something satisfying about uncovering a large dinosaur bone when you're just about to run out of moves. These two games do a good job of showing the breadth of games possible on the Playdate; one is meant for quick bursts, the other for longer, more focused sessions. But the launch week package is rounded out by something a whole lot weirder. It's called Blippo Plus and, well, it's a series of TV channels you can flip between using the crank. Some are nothing but static, while others have giant FMV videos of strange TV shows or commercials. One show, called Tantric Computing, is nothing but closeup shots of someone using a computer mouse. Another, Werf's Tavern, is some kind of musical talk show. There's also a messaging tool and some kind of fax service. What's most interesting about Blippo Plus, though, isn't just that it's odd. It's also a mystery that seems like it will evolve over the course of the season. Playdate maker Panic says that 'Playdate season 2 owners should tune in weekly and make sure they are connected to WiFi when season 2 updates at 10 AM PT on Thursdays.' There are lots of other promising games planned for season 2, including the point-and-click adventure Shadowgate PD and whatever the heck Long Puppy and Tiny Turnip are. But an FMV mystery that unfolds over the course of weeks is something that's pretty unique to this format — and further evidence that the Playdate exists in its own parallel universe.
Geek Girl Authority
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Horror With a Side of Cheese: THE KILLING TREE
Hello, horror lovers! I am back to dish up a fondue pot full of cheesy goodness with a new edition of Horror With a Side of Cheese! If you are new to the column, I'm hunting for the cheesiest horror movies to grace the genre. Every month, on the first and third Fridays, I talk about my latest find. I rate each film on a scale of one to five cheese slices. Several factors go into the rating, including story, acting, dialogue, effects and re-watchability. In this edition, I dive into the 2022 film, The Killing Tree . Stick around to find out how many cheese slices this film gets. About The Killing Tree A widow is desperate to resurrect her criminal husband, who was executed for his crimes. On Christmas Eve, she attempts a spell to grant her wish. He is brought back to life but encounters a tiny issue; his soul goes into a Christmas tree. Now, with lights twinkling and ornaments shining, the killer tree goes after the person he blames for his execution. RELATED: Horror With a Side of Cheese: The Gingerdead Man The Killing Tree stars Marcus Massey, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Kelly Rian Sanson, Judy Tcherniak and Sarah T. Cohen. The story is by Craig McLearie, and the director is Rhys Frake-Waterfield. Runtime is one hour and 13 minutes. This film has a 17 percent Tomatometer score and no Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fun fact: This movie was previously known as Demonic Christmas Tree . My Thoughts The bad guy is a decorated Christmas tree! Lights, garland, baubles, the works. Before considering anything else, this has to be one of the cheesiest horror movies I've had the pleasure of viewing. Take a moment to imagine it, a literal tree shuffling around, killing people. Only one word comes to mind: epic. RELATED: Underrated Horror Movie of the Month: The Howling Reborn While there are many potential talking points with The Killing Tree, I want to start with the effects. In particular, I want to address the tree itself. Multiple mediums are utilized throughout the film to create the titular villain. In some scenes, the tree is entirely CGI; others feature a regular store-bought Christmas tree. My favorite, however, is the scenes where the tree is a person in a suit. One such moment sent me into a fit of giggles. Our villain falls over, and you can see the legs of the person inside the costume. Surprisingly, the CGI is decent. The next topic I want to talk about is the story itself. On the surface, it is basic and straightforward. A criminal is executed, and his wife uses magic on his ashes to reincarnate him. The only difference is, instead of his soul ending up in a doll, cookie or snowman, it goes into a Christmas tree. The ending is unique, but I won't go into details and risk spoilers. I will say that I felt it was a cop-out. RELATED: Every Friday the 13th Movie, Ranked Moving on from the story, the dialogue is what I expected, possibly worse. For example, there is a moment when the tree talks about being born in the woods; however, an earlier scene shows the pine needles are fake. Perhaps that changed when the killer's soul entered the plastic. The acting is so cheesy it belongs on a charcuterie board. Full stop. Between the overacting and ridiculous lines, it is wild. Even the screaming is underwhelming and on the cheesy side. Finally, re-watchability: 10/10. I will watch The Killing Tree again. I am not a fan of many holiday horror movies, especially the cheesier ones. This one, however, is ooey gooey cheesy goodness. RELATED: Movie Review: Violent Night Final Thoughts Overall, The Killing Tree gets 4.5 cheese slices. I almost gave it a full five, but I did not love the end, which knocked it down a half point. Otherwise, it is an excellent cheesy horror. There is a scene in the woods you do not want to miss! There you have it, horror fans, another cheesy horror in the books. Take a look at the trailer for this film below, and let me know what you think in the comments. Also, tell me which movie I need to add to my list. Until next time, stay spooky, stay cheesy, and most importantly, watch more horror movies.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
From the lumber yard to social media stars: How Shepmates became a viral sensation
The Shepmates pose for a photo during the 2022 Brownlow Medal at Crown Palladium on September 18, 2022 in Melbourne. (Dylan Burns/via CNN Newsource) Their commentary is breathless. Literally. Australian twin brothers Archie and Miles Shepherd have become internet stars for their high-energy and comedically nuanced interpretations of some of the most dramatic moments in sports. But if you were in the bedroom where they shoot their material, like Arsenal's Champions League win at Real Madrid, you'd hardly hear a thing. 'I feel like it's a whisper,' said Archie in an interview with CNN Sports, noting that the lip synching of the original commentary only requires them to mime the words. 'It's a soft yell, if I was yelling then I'd have no voice!' Shepmates, as the duo is known, began almost by accident. The 23-year-old identical twins were working together as salesmen at a timber yard in 2021 and Miles was listening to the Ashes cricket on the radio. When the Australian bowler Mitchell Starc claimed an English wicket with the very first ball of the match, the commentator's contagious enthusiasm inspired him to film his own reenactment of the call. 'It was Covid, so I was bored,' he recalled, 'and I just filmed this video and the next morning it blew up and people were asking for more. And then Archie was like, 'Can I get in on this?'' They spent the rest of the summer generating more cricket content, honing their craft as a double act and building a devoted following. Sometimes, their material has been flagged for copyright infringement, but when the International Cricket Council targeted one of their early World Cup clips, it worked to their advantage. 'Ten hours later, it got taken down, our account got banned,' Miles said. 'I reached out to the ICC, and we're like, 'Why are you banning this? People love this!' So, they brought our account back and they actually collaborated on the video with us, and it went absolutely bananas.' Sport is not just a live broadcast product, the action is now being repackaged across disparate media platforms, finding new audiences in faraway places. Golf and Formula One are now enjoyed in hitherto unexpected markets thanks to the reach of 'Full Swing' and 'Drive to Survive' on Netflix. Shepmates have been able to tap into this new trend, covering everything from soccer to basketball, mountain biking and darts. Their spoof of Donald Trump and Joe Biden bickering about who was the better golfer was conceived and recorded while the CNN presidential debate was still ongoing, and released immediately afterward. It's been seen around 20 million times. No sport is off the table – Shepmates say that sperm racing could even be in the pipeline soon. Sitting side by side and wearing broadcast headsets, they dress according to the sport they are covering and exchange either smug, knowing glances or accusatory and puzzled looks. At the crescendo of each play that they feature, the scene often descends into chaos; when filming Harry Maguire's dramatic late winner for Manchester United in the Europa League, Archie rocked the camera for dramatic effect as Miles threw a chair across the room, damaging the wall: 'The landlord wasn't happy.' When the darts commentator Wayne Mardle gasped, 'I can't speak, I can't speak,' the Shepmates' interpretation of the moment spoofed a commentator falling backwards in a state of medical distress. The brothers often switch positions in their pretend commentary box, making it impossible to tell which one is which, and sometimes they're even able to quickly duck out of shot, change their appearance and re-appear as a third character just seconds later. They've become skilled at repackaging the energy and joy of sport with a humorous twist, their repertoire has found a global audience and they've been able to quit the lumber yard and focus full-time on the Shepmates media brand. Initially, each shoot was labor intensive. Miles said that he used to spend hours trying to memorize every line – 'a nightmare.' Now, they write the lines out on a screen, using a series of commas and dots to time their delivery. 'It doesn't matter how good our facial expressions or the comedy,' Miles explained, 'if the lip-sync's not good then people aren't going to watch it.' He's become an expert in mimicking Spanish and Arabic commentary, but admits he has no idea what they're saying. 'Most of the clips we can nail in four or five shots, we have a ball,' said Archie, 'But you start screwing up, then it starts to wear a bit towards the end, like you've heard this commentary close to 40 times and by the time you put it out, you're like, 'I don't even know if this is funny.'' Their fans would argue that the labor of love is well worth it, and so far, they say that the commentators they've covered approve of their work, but in 2024 they were accused of a gross invasion of privacy when they filmed Mercedes F1 driver George Russell in the urinal. 'That was a big moment for us,' Miles explained, 'It felt like we were on top of the world, and I think we probably just got a bit ahead of ourselves and we made a mistake. We were like, 'Jeez, are we bad humans for doing this?' We apologized to George. I wouldn't change it, I'm glad it happened. It made us realize we're not invincible, I think it's made us better.' Archie and Miles have grown up together, they still live together and now they're embarking on a dream career together that they could never have imagined when they were making videos together as kids. Miles acknowledges that they have suffered from an imposter syndrome. 'Do we deserve all this?' he asked. 'A lot of the time we're worried it's going to get taken away from us.' 'We tried to become professional athletes and failed at that,' Archie added, 'So I think the stars aligned with sports and content.' In a manner that they never could have imagined, they have found their calling. Written by Don Riddell, CNN
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Carmakers Can Just Disconnect Your 'Connected' Car Whenever They Feel Like It
The latest car news, reviews, and features. A few years ago, all major U.S. cell carriers began shutting down their 3G wireless networks, which subsequently took vehicles that relied upon it offline. This effectively ended remote start, location, and locking services for some of the earliest connected cars to hit the market. This week, an Acura owner shared a letter they'd received on Reddit, announcing that a range of 2014-2022 model year vehicles would also be dropping support for AcuraLink, the automaker's connected car platform. It's a disappointing reminder that no matter how long a car remains on the road, the tech inside it often carries a much shorter shelf life. The letter identifies the following vehicles as ending AcuraLink support on July 21: 2014-2020 Acura RLX 2014-2020 Acura MDX 2015-2020 Acura TLX 2016-2018 Acura RDX 2016-2022 Acura ILX 2017-2022 Acura NSX Yes, every Acura NSX ever built, including the one-last-bang Type S model from 2022, will lose its AcuraLink features, from roadside assistance to stolen vehicle tracking, remote locking, and concierge. Those who are currently subscribed to an AcuraLink term that runs beyond July 21 will receive a prorated refund. AcuraLink being discontinued on older cars byu/orange9035 inAcura It's unclear if this decision was prompted by a technical limitation, like the 3G shutdown, or some other reason. Nevertheless, the fact that vehicles up until 2022 are affected is a pretty tough pill to swallow for owners of new-ish Acuras. The Drive has reached out to the company for more insight, and to find out if any associated HondaLink vehicles are affected. We will update this story with whatever we learn. This is, unfortunately, the modern reality of car ownership. The capabilities that rely on systems automakers have no control over, like data networks, are never guaranteed to be up and running forever, and there's no replacement for them once they go dark. Yes, you could argue that these owners got the service they paid for, for an established length of time they agreed to. But many people base their vehicle purchasing decisions on technologies like these (because carmakers advertise them), completely unaware that they won't last forever. Or even just three years! The interior of a 2019 Acura NSX. Acura It's simply not a good situation for consumer confidence, and it's bound to frustrate people who purchased their vehicles intending to keep them for a good number of years. I mean, I probably have canned food products in my pantry that I bought in 2022 that still haven't expired yet. There had to be a better way Acura could've handled this situation, especially for the most recent models affected. It's frankly a surprising move from the same company that offered to retrofit late-model Accords with Wireless CarPlay for a very reasonable price. If you happen to own one of the impacted vehicles and use AcuraLink, let us know in the comments if you've received a similar notice, and how you're feeling about all this. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Fallon Sherrock speaks out about health battles as she hints at break from darts
Fallon Sherrock has endured a difficult period at the oche due to her health, and has now admitted she may need to take a break from darts to ensure she gets better and back to playing at her best in the grand scheme of things Fallon Sherrock's hinted that she may take a break from professional darts in 2026, citing health issues that have impacted her ability to practice and compete. The 30-year-old, known as the Queen of the Palace, has enjoyed a successful career, winning several major titles including the 2015 Finders Masters, the 2018 World Trophy and the 2022 Women's World Matchplay. However, she has been forced to reassess her approach to the sport due to her health struggles. Speaking with Online Darts at the Armageddon exhibition in Leicester, Sherrock said: "I'm playing alright, I'm not playing the best but I'm getting there. "I'm just focusing on each day now rather than thinking too much ahead." She then added: "All I want to do is practice at home and stuff for a couple of hours a day and I can't do that at the moment. So it is difficult. "I've had to pull out of some exhibitions recently as well because I haven't had the stamina. I really wanted to play in the Women's Week at Modus, and I weren't able to do the whole week of that. "So I've had to kind of narrow down what I'm playing in at the moment, and that hurts a little bit because I love darts – so I love to play. But fingers crossed by a couple of years' time, that I'll be alright and I'll be back to winning really well." Meanwhile, Sherrock hinted that she may take a break from the oche next year, but she's eager to end this season on a high note with ambitions for the Grand Slam and World Championship, reports the Express. When asked about her end-of-year plans, Sherrock said: "Just qualify for what I can, just keep going. "My main objective this year is obviously the Worlds – I want to try for the Grand Slam this year, cause I feel like if I'm going to have a year out next year, I want to and make a bang this year. "I want to try and get to everything, and even if I'm not playing to my 100 per cent, at least say that I made it." Remaining optimistic when asked about her ability to bounce back and take make waves once more at full health, she replied: "Yes, 100 per cent. I can, I just need to sort myself out first. "I just need to get myself well again, and then once I'm well, I feel the sky is the limit because I know I can do that and I know what I need to do. "I know how many hours I need to put in, I know what standards I need to play against. So I can do it again, I just need the energy for it first." Sherrock previously opened up about health struggles during last December's World Championship at Alexandra Palace, where she exited in the first round after a defeat by Ryan Meikle. She said ahead of her exit: "This year I feel like there is hardly any pressure on me at all. "There are other players in the field who have got the media attention and stuff, so I can go under the radar. I have been poorly. "I haven't publicised it as such. Only a few people close to me actually know about it, but I am on the mend now and hopefully getting my confidence back."
