Latest news with #Aspyr
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Neverwinter Nights 2 Is The Perfect Game For Baldur's Gate 3 Fans
Neverwinter Nights 2 Aspyr While Baldur's Gate 3 might be the current favorite jewel in the crown of Dungeons & Dragons media, it's far from the first. The franchise which began as a tabletop roleplaying game and has since morphed to include blockbuster movies, game of the year-winning video games, best-selling novels, geek culture-defining podcast series, and so much more, has a storied legacy of dozens of classic PC games. And Neverwinter Nights 2 was always one of the most elusive, until now. Developed by Aspyr, Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition releases on July 15 for PC (including Steam Deck verified), Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are now live! This Enhanced Edition will include all three of the game's original expansions: Mask of the Betrayer, Storm of Zehir, and Mysteries of Westgate. The original Neverwinter Nights CRPG from BioWare shares a lot of DNA with the first two Baldur's Gate games in that it's from the same developer and is similar in overall gameplay style, but came out several years later under a different publisher. The sequel, Neverwinter Nights 2, was actually developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the folks also known for Pillars of Eternity, Knights of the Old Republic II, Fallout: New Vegas, Grounded, Avowed, The Outer Worlds, and so much more. Plus, Neverwinter Nights 2 takes place in the exact same campaign setting (the Forgotten Realms) as Baldur's Gate 3 so many locations, factions, and overall themes will be familiar. The reason this is the perfect next game for you if you love Baldur's Gate 3 actually goes even deeper than that, though. Besides the DNA and development similarities in genre and franchise, the core gameplay, camera systems, dialogue trees, and overall game feel are also very similar. However, the main difference is that while Baldur's Gate 3 utilizes a fully turn-based combat system, Neverwinter Nights 2 is actually real-time with pause like the first two Baldur's Gate games and the first Neverwinter Nights. What real-time with pause (RTwP) combat entails is similar to Dragon Age: Origins and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. When combat is happening all of your characters are acting in real-time, but you can then pause the game to issue commands about which abilities to use and what to target. This mixes the slow-paced strategy of a turn-based game with the immediate and intense visceral reactions of a real-time combat game. From what we've seen so far, this remaster is going to be wonderful. I've played the Enhanced Editions of Baldur's Gate 1, Baldur's Gate 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Icewind Dale, so if you've dabbled in any of those as well then you understand what to expect here too. Fortunately, you don't need to have played the previous game to jump right in here. Neverwinter Nights 2 Aspyr The base game hasn't aged very gracefully though and, arguably, it's been the most in need of a remaster of the whole bunch if you ask me. Upgrading performance, improving resolution, and streamlining the janky bits so it runs well on modern machines (including consoles for the first time!) is just what the cleric ordered. Fans of Baldur's Gate 3 should definitely have Neverwinter Nights 2 Enhanced Edition high on their to-be-played list for 2025.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus awards $1.8M in grants to help 500 'underemployed' residents access job training
Columbus' unemployment rate is low, but too many residents are trapped in low-paying jobs and lack the resources to climb a better career ladder, says Columbus City Council President Pro Tempore Rob Dorans. "We know that we have too many friends, neighbors and family members that live paycheck to paycheck," Dorans said. He calls these workers "underemployed." Meanwhile, local employers need skilled workers. That's why Dorans and Aspyr, formerly called the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, are launching CAREER 500 (Columbus Access to Resources for Expanding Employment Readiness). The program intends to help at least 500 residents access job training in the next two years. Dorans and Aspyr announced $1.8 million in grants for seven local organizations on Monday. The money will help existing job training programs in Columbus expand to serve more people and/or break down barriers to getting training, like assisting participants with child care or transportation. Columbus City Council approved the funding in October and Aspyr vetted grant applications. 'CAREER 500 is not about just helping a person get a job, any job. This program is designed to connect residents with careers with good wages, quality health care benefits and retirement plans,' Dorans said. For example, Goodwill Columbus will use its grant to expand its certified nursing assistant training, a five-week course, to train more people. Participants also receive services like help with transportation and job placement services. The four major health systems in Columbus employ 84,000 individuals, but there are 7,000 unfilled positions, said Goodwill Columbus President and CEO Ryan Burgess. "My humble belief is that having a good job, a good career, there is no greater sense of self dignity," Burgess said. CAREER 500 will also partner with the Ohio State Center on Education and Training for Employment to track outcomes. "The idea of making this investment and then evaluating it and helping to share best practices really is new," Aspyr CEO Lisa Patt McDaniel said. The following local organizations received grants: Goodwill Columbus - $350,000 National Center for Urban Solutions Columbus - $320,000 Jewish Family Services - $300,000 Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services - $280,000 Youth Over Us - $200,000 Franklinton Rising - $200,000 Riverview International - $150,000 jlaird@ @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus launches CAREER 500 to fund job training for more residents
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered Improves Classic Lara Croft Games
ComingSoon spoke to Aspyr Brand Manager Matthew Ray to learn more about the new Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered release, which brings Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness to current consoles and PC. It is out February 14, 2025, for $29.99. 'Following the incredible success of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, released earlier this year on PC and consoles, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered will bring the next trio of beloved, globe-trotting Tomb Raider adventures, originally developed by Core Design, to modern platforms with a variety of improvements for players to relive or experience for the very first time,' says the game's description. 'Discover remastered visuals that bring new life to environments, characters, and artifacts, with the option to toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly! Choose between new modern controls inspired by later entries in the series for smoother movement and camera capability, or opt for the original tank-style controls. Photo Mode is also back with all poses from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft included, along with brand-new ones to commemorate the adventure! Players will also find quality-of-life updates like boss health bars, plus new trophies and achievements nodding to iconic moments from the series.' Tyler Treese: What were the biggest lessons learned from the I-III remaster that helped the team in remastering IV-VI? Matthew Ray: The overwhelmingly positive response to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered truly solidified our commitment to our initial vision, which was to give fans the complete remastered classic Tomb Raider experience. The response was a powerful reminder of how much these games really mean to this passionate community, and it motivated us to bring that same level of care and passion to Lara Croft's darkest adventures.' Remasters always have a fine line to walk between improving and modernizing a game and helping preserve gaming history. Aspyr gives gamers plenty of choices, such as control schemes and toggling graphic modes, but can you speak to that balance? Here at Aspyr, we believe in additions, not revisions. It's all about respecting the original art direction while taking advantage of modern technology to elevate the experience. Every visual enhancement—whether it's improved textures, refined lighting, or updated character models—is designed to amplify the immersive atmosphere that Core Design originally envisioned. What kind of quality-of-life upgrades can we expect? We've introduced several key enhancements to gameplay without compromising or taking away from the original games in any way. The addition of modern controls makes the game more accessible to players who are newer to the series, but we've also kept the classic tank controls for longtime fans. We've included boss health bars (also toggleable), which help players strategize during tough encounters without taking away from the thrill of the challenge. Lastly, we've made the rare 'Times Exclusive' level from The Last Revelation available to all players for the first time ever, giving everyone a chance to experience this unique chapter in Tomb Raider history. There's plenty more to be excited about, but we won't spoil it all here! As a trophy hunter myself, I loved that the first Tomb Raider remastered trilogy had a ton of trophies, which encouraged players to get the most out of the game. What can gamers expect in terms of achievements and trophies this time around? We loved seeing players dive into the trophy hunt with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, and we've taken that enthusiasm to heart in this collection. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered includes over 150 trophies and achievements. From combat milestones to puzzle-solving triumphs, there's a lot to uncover. We've also designed new, exclusive trophy art that highlights iconic moments and characters from the trilogy—perfect for showing off your progress! The post How Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered Improves Classic Lara Croft Games appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
