Posted by Billy Givens from Kotaku
South of Midnight is a thrilling adventure set in the Deep South that sees you take on the role of a Weaver, a mender who brings peace to distraught spirits. This narrative-forward experience is a simple (but at times emotionally powerful) tale that will keep most folks glued to the screen from beginning to end. If…

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Posted by Billy Givens from Kotaku
South of Midnight’s multiple skill trees are fairly linear, but you’ll still need to make some decisions as to which you’ll want to invest in first. It’ll take a bit of time to accrue enough Floofs (upgrade points) to buy a new skill. And while you can eventually max out your skill trees if you find all of the Floofs…

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Posted by Billy Givens from Kotaku
Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight is a breath of fresh air, offering a straightforward adventure that harkens back to an era when such linear experiences were the norm. With a folklore-laden story that’s equally heartwarming and heartbreaking, as well as simple yet enjoyable gameplay, there’s an awful lot to love…

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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the how-about-that department: AmiMoJo writes: The Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance, a group made up of more than 50 Chinese companies, just released a new wired media communication standard called the General Purpose Media Interface or GPMI. This standard was developed to support 8K and reduce the number of cables required to stream data and power from one device to another. According to HKEPC, the GPMI cable comes in two flavors -- a Type-B that seems to have a proprietary connector and a Type-C that is compatible with the USB-C standard.

Because 8K has four times the number of pixels of 4K and 16 times more pixels than 1080p resolution, it means that GPMI is built to carry a lot more data than other current standards. There are other variables that can impact required bandwidth, of course, such as color depth and refresh rate. The GPMI Type-C connector is set to have a maximum bandwidth of 96 Gbps and deliver 240 watts of power. This is more than double the 40 Gbps data limit of USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to transmit more data on the cable. However, it has the same power limit as that of the latest USB Type-C connector using the Extended Power Range (EPR) standard. GPMI Type-B beats all other cables, though, with its maximum bandwidth of 192 Gbps and power delivery of up to 480 watts.

Posted by Zack Zwiezen from Kotaku
Many games are set in America, but few truly feel American. And I don’t mean that most games lack patriotism or red, white, and blue banners. I mean that, while they may use the country’s landmarks, stars, and cities, and even make reference to its politics, they don’t truly engage with American culture. South of…

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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the shape-of-things-to-come department: An anonymous reader shares a report: Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.

The draft language reveals Waymo may also share this data to personalize ads, raising fresh questions about how much of a rider's behavior inside autonomous vehicles could be repurposed for AI training and marketing. The privacy page states: "Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it's necessary to the functioning of the service."

Posted by Black Convoy from TFW2005


The official Premium Collectibles Studio website have been updated with the full reveal and pre-orders of their Museum Scale Optimus Prime Deluxe and Jet Convoy Edition Statues This is a very interesting design for Optimus Prime in both states. The Deluxe edition, while still G1 inspired, got a highly stylized body with some G1, Bayverse and Skybound comic references like an Energon axe, arm blades and even a Megatron right arm. It stands 72.39 cm and 67.31 wide and priced $2499. The Jet Convoy version includes a jet pack which looks like it’s formed by his trailer. Very reminiscent to DOTM » Continue Reading.

The post Premium Collectibles Studio Museum Scale Optimus Prime Deluxe & Jet Convoy Edition Statues Official Images & Pre-Orders appeared first on Transformer World 2005 - TFW2005.COM.

Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the about-time department: The United Kingdom has banned "outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees" to make life easier for online shoppers. From a report: New measures under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Act 2024 came into force on Sunday that require online platforms to transparently include all mandatory fees within a product's advertised price, including booking or admin charges.

The law targets so-called "dripped pricing," in which additional fees -- like platform service charges -- are dripped in during a customer's checkout process to dupe them into paying a higher price than expected. The ban "aims to bring to an end the shock that online shoppers get when they reach the end of their shopping experience only to find a raft of extra fees lumped on top," according to Justin Madders, the UK's Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets.

Posted by Zack Zwiezen from Kotaku
Nintendo has confirmed that Switch 2's Joy-Cons will not use Hall Effect thumbsticks despite all the stick drift issues Switch owners have put up with since the console launched in 2017.

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Posted by John Walker from Kotaku
There’s a scene quite early on in A Minecraft Movie that, to the unaware, would completely pass you by. As Jack Black’s Steve introduces the newly arrived humans to his village, young teenager Henry sees a pig walk past wearing a crown. He asks, “Is he some kind of king?” And for those in the know, the blubbing begins.

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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the how-about-that department: The internet's physical mass remains contested among scientists, with estimates ranging from a strawberry to something almost unimaginably small. In 2006, Harvard physicist Russell Seitz calculated the internet weighed roughly 50 grams based on server energy, a figure that would now equate to potato-weight given internet growth.

Christopher White, president of NEC Laboratories America, has dismissed this calculation as "just wrong." White suggests a more accurate method that accounts for the energy needed to encode all internet data in one place, yielding approximately 53 quadrillionths of a gram at room temperature. Alternatively, if the internet's projected 175 zettabytes of data were stored in DNA -- a storage medium scientists are actively exploring -- it would weigh 960,947 grams, equivalent to 10.6 American males. Though scientists debate measurement methods, White asserts the web's true complexity makes it "essentially unknowable."

Posted by Ethan Gach from Kotaku
The Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for Magic: The Gathering doesn’t drop until June 13, but previously unrevealed cards have already been spotted in the wild after a starter kit seemingly got into someone’s hands early. Thanks to the decks inside, fans have now gotten early looks at Steiner from Final Fantasy IX,…

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Posted by Zack Zwiezen from Kotaku
Last week, during Nintendo’s big Switch 2 Direct, the Mario maker showed off its fancy upcoming console, revealed some high-priced games, and announced a brand new 3D Donkey Kong game, too. And while it might not be the 3D Mario game many hoped for, Donkey Kong Bananza looks really awesome and a perfect showcase for…

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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the how-about-that department: Apple rushed five planeloads of iPhones from India to the U.S. in just three days to beat new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Times of India reported Monday, citing sources. The urgent shipments during the final week of March aimed to avoid the 10% reciprocal tariff that took effect on April 5.

The stockpiling will allow Apple to maintain current pricing temporarily. "The reserves that arrived at lower duty will temporarily insulate the company from the higher prices that it will need to pay for new shipments," the Indian daily cited a source as saying. The Trump administration also announced a 26% reciprocal tariff to be implemented on April 9, potentially accelerating Apple's manufacturing shift away from China. India offers a significant tariff advantage, with Indian exports facing a 26% tariff to the U.S. compared to 54% on Chinese goods.

Further reading: India's Economic Chess Against Twin US Economic Threats.

Posted by Black Convoy from TFW2005


Coming to us via Toy Are Russ on YouTube we have our first in-hand images of the new Transformers x Sonic Collaboration: Blue Booster and Wingtail toys. Blue Booster transforms into a racing blue car which looks inspired by the one he drove in the Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing from 2010. Wingtail transforms into the classic Tornado biplane which was introduced in the Sonic The Hedgehog 2 game and it has appeared in many other Sonic games later. We have clear shots in both modes as well as comparison pics next to other previous Transformers Collaborative toys for those wondering » Continue Reading.

The post Transformers x Sonic Collaboration: Blue Booster and Wingtail In-Hand Images appeared first on Transformer World 2005 - TFW2005.COM.

Posted by Kenneth Shepard from Kotaku
In the years since The Last of Us Part II launched in 2020, I’ve noticed a fascinating phenomenon when people talk about Naughty Dog’s divisive sequel. Some people talk about Ellie’s revenge story in ways that seem incongruous with the game I experienced. Where I would call The Last of Us Part II a beautiful tragedy…

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Posted by Ethan Gach from Kotaku
Marathon is Bungie’s first new project in over a decade. It feels like a lot is riding on the extraction shooter as the studio behind Halo and Destiny becomes slowly subsumed into the larger PlayStation portfolio. But in the meantime, all we know is Marathon continues to be one of the coolest-looking shooters around…

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Posted by msmash from Slashdot
From the tussle-continues department: President Donald Trump signaled a potential diplomatic opening amid his aggressive tariff strategy on Monday, threatening China with an additional 50% tariff while simultaneously offering other nations a path to negotiate lower trade barriers.

The ultimatum to Beijing demands China withdraw a 34% increase by April 8, 2025, or face supplementary tariffs effective April 9, which would push total levies on Chinese goods to 104% or higher. Trump has already imposed a 20% tariff over fentanyl concerns and a 34% tariff related to trade issues. "Negotiations with other countries, which have requested meetings, will begin taking place immediately," Trump wrote on social media, marking a shift from the administration's previously unyielding stance.

Posted by Brian Barnett from Kotaku
Hela is the goddess of death, and she certainly plays like it in Marvel Rivals. A powerful Duelist. viable (and exceptional) up to the highest levels of Ranked play, Hela sings when played by those with exceptional aim.

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Posted by John Walker from Kotaku
Following some very tepid reviews and a year of angry internet men explaining how the film will definitely be a flop, A Minecraft Movie has smashed its opening weekend expectations, pulling in $157 million in the U.S. alone. With an estimated $300 million in ticket sales worldwide, it’s looking set to easily make a…

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