Latest news with #BurnoutParadise
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
The Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat has a hidden screen sharing restriction
The Nintendo Switch 2's new GameChat feature has a hidden restriction that prevents players from screen sharing select games. During testing, Digital Trends discovered that the app will block broadcasting of specific games while the app is open. So far we've seen that in action with Lumines Remastered, though it's not clear what causes the restriction to trigger. GameChat is a new feature that's exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2. It essentially puts Zoom inside of the console. With the press of a button, players can activate a video feed through a web camera and share their live gameplay footage with everyone in the party chat. While the shared gameplay video broadcasts at a choppy framerate, the feature largely does what it says — but there's a catch. Recommended Videos During a GameChat session, I opened up Lumines Remastered. Rather than showing the other users in chat my screen, a black screen popped up noting that gameplay sharing for that title was restricted. That restriction remained as long as the app was running. That means that if I popped out to the home menu, that footage would still be blocked until I closed the app. As of now, it's unclear what exactly triggers the restriction. My first guess was that it had something to do with licensed music, but another user was able to share their screen while playing Burnout Paradise, a game that features plenty of licensed tunes. I also had no trouble sharing Fitness Boxing 3, which features covers of popular songs like Bad Guy. Digital Trends has reached out to Nintendo for clarification on the restriction and will update this article when we receive an answer. The Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5. We are currently working on a full review of the system, but in the meantime, you can read our recent impressions of the system and Mario Kart World.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I played Mario Kart World for 6 hours — here are 5 reasons to buy it with Switch 2 at launch
Mario Kart World is going to be the biggest game for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. And I'm not just basing that on the footage Nintendo has revealed or even our coverage from the Switch 2 launch event. I recently played the upcoming kart racer for nearly six hours at a Switch 2 press event, and I can confidently say it's going to be a must-own title. As its name suggests, Mario Kart World features a giant open world featuring a wide variety of environments you can freely explore when not participating in races. If you're like me and miss the open world antics of Burnout Paradise, you'll feel right at home here. And the game isn't just big because of its expansive locales, as it also offers a slew of gameplay modes, unlockable content and other secrets. Though I'm not as familiar with this franchise as some of my friends and colleagues, I'm very impressed with what I've seen of Mario Kart World so far. Yes, it costs $80 as a standalone purchase, but it's a game that will be worth every single penny. Here are five reasons why. One of the first things I tried in Mario Kart World was its Free Roam mode, and I wasn't disappointed. The game's enormous map contains various locales inspired by older Mario Kart tracks and several other Nintendo games. And this world isn't just window dressing. If you can see it, you can drive to it. To that point, I drove down a tranquil meadow, taking in the sights, when I caught a glimpse of something dark in my peripheral vision. Turning the camera, I saw a menacing-looking volcano topped with dark clouds far off in the distance. I turned around and drove toward this location and eventually found myself in Bowser's fiery world. The peaceful meadow, which now lay in the distance, solidified how far I had driven and the vastness of the map. If you want structure when exploring the world, you can drive over big 'P' switches that unlock time trials and other challenges. Some of these challenges are pretty… well, challenging, but you're rewarded for your efforts. Couch co-op is a Mario Kart staple, but it gets a major boost on Switch 2, especially if you're using the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. Thanks to the camera, you can now have all participants' heads hovering over their respective in-game drivers in real time, letting you know exactly who you're trying to sabotage with a turtle shell. This is also far more personal than the standard P1 or P2 you'd normally get in a game. Having four players (or four smaller screens on a display) works as well as you'd expect. The frame rate drops down to 30 for each person, but the visual quality remains sharp and vivid. I never had difficulty seeing what was happening on my screen. I should note that the frame rate can hit around 60 fps if there are only two screens on the display. If you have a family or frequently have guests over, then you're all going to have a blast playing Mario Kart World together. You can also link up with up to 20 other players online if you want to extend the fun beyond the couch. This is another way this game lives up to its 'World' moniker. Speaking of 24-player races, Knockout Tour is going to be a big hit with Mario Kart World players. This race starts with 24 racers, but with each lap, the last-place drivers are eliminated until only four remain. If you're one of the unfortunate players eliminated early, you'll have to spectate the race until the others finish. Mario Kart races can get pretty wild, and Knockout Tour serves to amplify things since you don't want to get eliminated too early. This frantic feeling is amplified even more since races can swiftly turn. One minute, you're sitting pretty in first place. One blue turtle shell later, and you're in last place and screaming at your TV. Knockout Tour is available in single-player mode but it truly shines in online or couch co-op mode. Feeling like you're about to lose it all might not be fun in the moment, but hearing your opponent's exasperated cries when you send them toward the back of the race is extremely rewarding. I can see myself spending an obscene amount of time playing Knockout Tour online. Battle Mode has been around since the original Mario Kart on the Super NES, but it's naturally a lot bigger in Mario Kart World. For instance, I played the classic Coin Runners mode, where players try to collect the most coins. However, I had to do so in the middle of a giant bowl-shaped sandpit that can suck you up if you get too close to its center. The equally classic Balloon Battle was also pretty perilous when trying to pop others' balloons while racing down the side of a steep snow-covered hill. Like Knockout Tour, playing against others is what makes Battle Mode incredibly fun. I also plan on spending many hours playing this one online. I had unlocked new drivers, karts and outfits just in my first hour of playing Mario Kart World. That alone shows me that this game will be jam-packed with unlockable content. In a world where DLC has all but erased proper unlockables, having so much in a game at launch is a refreshing change of pace. Completing races and challenges unlocks new drivers and karts. This game also lets you change your character's outfit when you pass by one of the Yoshi drive-thrus scattered across the map. Eating food from these drive-thrus not only gives you a speed boost but also unlocks new outfits. The more dishes you eat, the more outfits you'll have. I'm sure I only scratched the surface of Mario Kart World's unlockables, so it'll be fun to see what we can ultimately unlock in the final game. People would have been more than happy with a Mario Kart 9 that stayed close to the franchise's tried-and-true formula. Thankfully, Nintendo set out to exceed expectations and deliver the most ambitious entry yet with Mario Kart World. Even though I played for about six hours and tested almost every offline and online mode available, I know the game has much more to offer. And if Nintendo updates this game as much as it did with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, then Nintendo Switch 2 users will be playing this racer for many years to come. As I said, the $80 price tag seems more than justified for what this title offers. But if you can get your hands on it, the $499 Nintendo Switch 2 bundled with Mario Kart World saves you $30 off the game. Regardless, if you're buying a Switch 2, you absolutely need to get Mario Kart World. Not only will it arguably be the best in the series so far, but it will also be a possible contender for game of the year.
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Cork Midsummer Festival returns with a cultural lark by the Lee
From a 24-hour play to a horde of giraffes of the city streets, Festival Director Lorraine Maye previews the 2025 Cork Midsummer Festival programme, bringing an eclectic array of cultural activities to Cork city this June. Cork is the stage for Cork Midsummer Festival, where extraordinary Irish and international artists meet audiences in theatres, streets and unexpected places. So many people come together in the city to make this festival happen and it channels Cork's unique sense of adventure and playful spirit. The thing I love most about it, is that it always feels so alive - there are so many different ways to encounter live theatre, dance, music, circus, literature and art. There are always imaginative ways for people to participate and get involved and it's where the stories of the city meet the stories of the world. There are shows you won't see elsewhere in Ireland, art that will be seen for the very first time and moments that will never be repeated. From 4pm on Saturday 14 June until 4pm on Sunday 15 June, we will gather in Cork Opera House to watch Eileen Walsh, one of our finest actors, do something truly remarkable. She'll perform the same theatrical scene 100 times opposite 100 different men, most of whom are not actors. She has never done it before and will never do it again. The show is Nat Randall and Anna Breckon's The Second Woman and acclaimed versions with other actors have been performed in cities all over the world. For audiences – who can come and go over the 24 hours, stay for 30 minutes or the full event – it's a once in a lifetime experience. Another part of our Australian season is Burnout Paradise by Pony Cam, where performers race against the clock to complete a series of tasks – all while running on treadmills. They aren't always successful – at a recent performance in St Ann's Warehouse in New York they admitted they failed 29 out of 44 times performing the show. No two shows are alike. Amanda Coogan, one of Ireland's most celebrated artists, returns to the festival with an incredible new durational work Caught Among the Furze. This 7 day immersive performance invites audiences to step in and out of moments of stillness and raw endurance and will evolve and change each day. Following the sell-out success of last year's debut performance of the Solstice Céili by Martin O'Donoghue at Elizabeth Fort, this year is centred around new co-created dances, fire and magic. It's an unmissable celebration of Midsummer ritual and new traditions and all kinds of fun and joy. I'm really excited about all of the new work that will be presented across the city. On Emmet Place, Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals' Theatre For One: Made in Cork will feature new short plays by Cónal Creedon, Katie Holly, John McCarthy, Michael John McCarthy, Gina Moxley and Louise O'Neill. Cork theatre maker Irene Kelleher will present a cracking double bill of shows including Stitch in site-responsive locations and emerging Cork artist Aaron O'Neill will present his hilarious new play Bottlenose: a Mystery for Modern Ireland. At The Everyman, the first audiences will see a new production of Caryl Churchill's masterpiece Escaped Alone by Hatch Theatre Company and The Everyman in association with Once Off Productions. We're thrilled to be working in partnership with UCC for the first time this year to develop a new literature strand called Western Frequencies. Co-curated with Danny Denton, events will take place in venues on campus and feature bestselling international writers such as Claudia Rankine and GauZ' with translations from Frank Wynne, alongside award-winning and celebrated Irish writers Patrick McCabe, who will perform with David Murphy and Michael Lightborne, and Sinead Gleeson in conversation with her long-time collaborator Aideen Barry, our festival artist in residence. Through our participation programme, we have a special focus this year on amplifying the voices of young people. Twelve Cork girls take control of the airwaves in Action Hero's Rebel Resistors Radio Club. While the young people participating in the Midsummer Youth Assembly take over Fitzgerald's Park. The festival will open with a giant installation of the sun at St Fin Barre's (Helios by Luke Jerram) and end with a herd of huge French giraffes parading down St Patricks Street (Les Girafes by Compagnie Off). Join us in June for bright nights, bold art and unforgettable live encounters.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mario Kart World's Free Roam Looks Like The Burnout Paradise Sequel I've Been Dreaming Of
I'm excited to play Mario Kart World for all the obvious reasons, not least among them that it's the first new Mario Kart in 11 years. But today's mini Mario Kart Direct confirmed for me that I'm most interested in the Free Roam mode. It's the Burnout Paradise sequel I've been waiting for since 2008. When the Switch 2 Direct earlier this month first announced that the launch title Mario Kart World will let you drive between the race tracks and hinted at an explorable world, I found an immediate greater interest beyond that of 'MORE MARIO KART!' The idea of just aimlessly driving around a Nintendo-created world sounds completely brilliant. Today's Direct assured me that my suspicions were correct—that there was no way the developer would be able to resist packing the world with secrets, bonus items, missions to complete, and collectibles to find. And honestly, I find that even more enticing that shaving microseconds off of my best times on my favorite tracks. (OK, admittedly, I've not actually lost too many hours in that particular pursuit since an obsession with the N64's Koopa Troopa Beach level.) It reminds me of another gaming obsession: smashing every barrier and smashable billboard in Burnout Paradise. Not playing driving games properly is a bit of a habit. And the best driving games are the ones that positively encourage it, like BP, and also the wonderful Forza Horizon games. Sure, there are races and cups and what-have-you, but what if I just drive over there? There might be a windmill! There might be yellow fencing I've yet to knock over. I return to Burnout Paradise with a concerning frequency, almost never replaying all the races, my enthusiasm focused on smashing my way around Paradise City. It's a passion strong enough to get past the game's interminable opening screens and the contemptible babble of Worst Character In All Of Fiction, DJ Atomika. Mario Kart World, albeit without all the barriers to break, is giving me that same drive (sorry) to aimlessly explore. The footage shows so much stuff to find out there! All those pads to jump off, blocks to bop, blue P switches to trigger, and then coins and who knows what else. It's going to be just so much fun to veer away from the races and uncover the secrets. Or just pootle about, nudging at the edges, seeing if I can break the boundaries, and approach the kart racer like a third-person action game. It'd be nice if it didn't cost such an absurd amount of money, although I've been fortunate enough to pre-order the bundled version (the magic of being a foreigner to your shores). I really hate that. I don't care for any of the half-assed arguments about 'worth' and 'value'—I just hate that it means the game and all the joy it looks like it could offer will be cut off from so many more people. Privileged as I am, I'm now far more hyped for this than I was before, my hopes of an open-world game beyond the racing seemingly validated. And then the racing on top of that, too! It's fun to be this pumped for the ninth entry in an ongoing franchise. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
