Posted by: xSicKxBot - 01-02-2019, 10:03 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Does Aquaman's Timeline Make Sense? Geoff Johns And The Writers Explain
With Christmas in the rearview, Aquaman is finally in theaters, and chances are you've seen it--which means you inevitably have a lot of questions. We kind of, sort of, mostly loved the movie, despite its problems, but we were also pretty confused about much of its worldbuilding and plot points. For example: What exactly is the timeline of Atlantean history? How long did King Atlan spend in his self-imposed exile after the fall of Atlantis? And how long ago did he record that message for the future king? How much time has passed since Atlanteans lived in what is now the Sahara desert, and how could a clue that's seemingly millions of years old point Arthur and Mera to a Greco-Roman era statue in Sicily?
Luckily, Warner Bros. gave us the opportunity to sit down with Aquaman's screenwriters, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, as well as DC's famed writer and Aquaman executive producer Geoff Johns. Of course, we asked them to clear this all up.
The main Aquaman timeline problem comes from the fact that Arthur and Mera surmise the Deserters Kingdom under the Sahara desert has been there since "before the Sahara was a desert," which a quick Google search tells us was around 7 million years ago. In addition, Atlanteans who broke off into the various Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis went down wildly divergent evolutionary paths, transforming over time into CGI fish people, CGI crab people, and CGI deep sea monsters, which doesn't happen overnight. Those facts suggest that the fall of Atlantis may have really occurred millions of years ago.
Yet at the same time, Atlan's voicemail message--the one that Arthur and Mera viewed in the chamber under the desert--pointed them to a statue in Sicily that's at most a few thousand years old. How do the writers explain that seemingly kraken-sized plot hole?
"Well, there's definitely a lot of different ways to skin this cat," Johns told us. "One is that Atlan actually lives longer than [other Atlanteans]. Atlanteans live longer than humans, and he's a king, with that trident, so clearly he lived a long, long time in isolation. I think that is probably the easiest explanation."
In other words, King Atlan--the same king who reigned during Atlantis's downfall--may have survived in exile at the Hidden Sea at the Earth's Core for millions of years. His trident's vaguely defined magical powers, which are never really explicitly defined in the movie, might have had something to do with it.
"[Atlan] is hanging onto the trident, and it's holding him together in some way," Beall added.
"Yeah, it's holding him together," Johns agreed. "I think he was there a long, long time."
Does that mean Arthur is effectively immortal as long as he wields it? Maybe we'll find out in future Aquaman movies (fingers crossed). But if the trident isn't responsible, the writers have another theory that could explain Atlan's long life: The energy blast that sank Atlantis may have had unknown effects on those who would have been nearest its epicenter.
"I think [Atlan] had some power beyond other Atlanteans, and he was at the ground zero of that explosion, so who knows how that energy affected him?" Johns posited.
One problem with that theory is it means Atlan survived in exile on the other side of that weird portal thingie for millions of years, then at some point swam back up through the Trench Kingdom, scouted around for potential clue locations, found that statue in Sicily, recorded that cryptic voicemail, and then swam back down through the portal and resumed his lonely vigil. Maybe he decided that the quest for his trident was a little too difficult, like video game developers who add more objective markers in a post-release patch. On the other hand, the Karathen--which, by the way, was voiced by Julie Andrews--seems to have had plenty of victims over the years, although it also states that it hasn't feasted in ages. So who knows?
There's yet another theory that has less to do with Atlan's age: The Deserters Kingdom in the Sahara may have actually survived into much more recent history. That's only possible if a hidden body of water once existed under the Sahara, which real life science suggests is actually possible. Johns floated this theory as well:
"Also, just because we believe that the Sahara was dry for millions of years doesn't mean there wasn't some water underneath it in this hidden kingdom at some point," Johns said.
Either way, it's pretty incredible that the best Aquaman's writers and executive producer can offer about the movie's timeline is theories. If anyone should be able to explain this stuff, it's them. Of course, they could have also taken the route chosen by Venom director Ruben Fleischer and simply fessed up to the plot hole. Instead, Johns and Aquaman's screenwriters decided on a middle path: They're not sure exactly how the movie's timeline works out, but according to them, it's not impossible.
Considering we're really just nitpicking here, we're going to say that's good enough for us and officially close this investigation. Aquaman is in theaters now.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 01-02-2019, 08:48 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Attend GDC to see how Bethesda made Elder Scrolls: Blades look good on mobile
Happy holidays! Organizers of the 2019 Game Developers Conference just wanted to quickly let you know about a really exciting talk at the show that’s all about how Bethesda’s new mobile Elder Scrolls game was designed to look great on a small screen.
There was no clear demand for a game that switches seamlessly between the two orientation methods, but Bethesda decided to design a game that adapted to both anyway. Why? Come out to Jasmin’s talk and you’ll get the answer, as well as a clear understanding of the benefits, the costs, the UX opportunities, and the overall level of commitment necessary to build a game UI that fully supports device orientation changes at any time. Don’t skip it!
For more details on this talk (and many more!) check out the GDC 2019 Session Scheduler. There you can begin to lay out your GDC week, which takes place March 18th through the 22nd at the (newly renovated!) Moscone Center in San Francisco.
Bring your team to GDC! Register a group of 10 or more and save 10 percent on conference passes. Learn more here.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 01-02-2019, 08:48 AM - Forum: Lounge
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BioWare co-founders inducted into the Order of Canada
Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, two of the original co-founders of BioWare, have been named members of the Order of Canada, an honor reserved for those deemed to have enriched the lives of others and made a difference to Canada through their actions and achievements.
The duo is among 103 Canadians receiving the honor this year, alongside an author, playwright, Olympian, and broadcaster, among others.
Zeschuk and Muzyka, alongside several others, founded BioWare in Edmonton, Alberta in 1995 following their graduation from medical school. In an interview with CBC, the pair say that BioWare’s early roots in Alberta helped the current industry establish its roots in the region.
“We did it here in Edmonton,” Zeschuk told CBC. “We didn’t start it and go off somewhere else.”
The pair left BioWare and retired from the game industry as a whole in 2012, but remained in Canada and continue to work toward bettering their communities.
“It’s not just what we did at BioWare, it’s what we continue to do to try to make everything around us better,” Zeschuk told CBC. “I think that’s a key part of it, how we do it and how our philosophy around making a business and building businesses and working with people, building people up.”
Welcome to another Games with Gold reveal for Xbox One and Xbox 360! In January on Xbox One, play the highly acclaimed platformer Celeste, then show off your mud-driving skills in WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. On Xbox 360 and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, get set to raid more tombs in Lara Croft: Guardian of Light, and then fight your way across deserts, jungles, and savannas in Far Cry 2.
All games will be available exclusively for Xbox Live Gold members for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. With Xbox Live Gold, you get the most advanced multiplayer service, free games, and exclusive member discounts on games in the Microsoft Store — get Xbox Live Gold today to get in on the action!
Celeste ($19.99 ERP): Available January 1 to 31 on Xbox One
WRC 6 ($49.99 ERP): Available January 16 to February 15 on Xbox One
Far Cry 2 ($19.99 ERP): Available January 16 to 31 on Xbox One and Xbox 360
Celeste
Recent winner of The Game Awards 2018 Best Independent Game category. Help Madeline survive her inner demons and scale to the top of Celeste mountain in this tight, narrative-driven platformer. You’ll uncover a multitude of devious secrets and side chapters in 700+ screens of hardcore challenges, built into a touching story of self-discovery. Don’t miss out on this highly acclaimed title.
WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship
On a race track, the car makes all the difference. In a rally, it’s all on you. Take your driving skills to the limit in World Rally Championship 6. Whether fog, mud, or punctured tires, you’ll deal with it all, in 11 Super Special Stages including local split-screen multiplayer. Experience rally racing like never before.
Lara Croft: Guardian of Light
Team up with a friend or go it alone in Lara Croft: Guardian of Light. In this co-op action-adventure title, traverse and solve deadly traps, fight hordes of the undead and collect over 60 artifacts and relics with the help a 2,000-year-old Mayan warrior. Retrieve the ancient Mirror of Smoke and stop the forces of evil.
Far Cry 2
Survive war-torn Africa and eliminate the mysterious Jackal in Far Cry 2. The first sequel in the award-winning franchise features real-time storytelling, where every decision you make will affect the final outcome of the game. Use cunning, subversion and brute force to exploit your enemies and fulfill your deadly mission.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 01-02-2019, 03:54 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Daredevil, Luke Cage, And More May Migrate To Disney Streaming Service
Netflix has been slowly killing off its slate of Marvel shows, in a move that seemed apparently linked to the impending launch of Disney's proprietary streaming service, Disney+. Now Disney's Kevin Mayer, the chairman in charge of direct-to-consumer offers, has left the door open to reviving those shows on its own channel once it launches sometime in 2019.
"They are very high-quality shows," Mayer told The Hollywood Reporter. "We haven't yet discussed that, but I would say that's a possibility."
It's far from a commitment, but it certainly gives more hope to further episodes than previously thought. Netflix has been cancelling the shows one by one, usually shortly after releasing their last season. It impacted Iron Fist, then Luke Cage, and most recently, Daredevil. Only Jessica Jones and The Punisher remain standing, but with Punisher's next season set for January and JJ's coming at some point soon too, both appear likely for the chopping block.
Disney has already announced a number of series for its own streaming service, including original Marvel series. Those plans include a series revolving around the fan-favorite character Loki. It joins some high-profile Star Wars projects like a series starring Rogue One character Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and another called The Mandalorian. Those are already some big plans, which may make Disney hesitant to bring on even more shows.
On the other hand, the Netflix series are already critically well-regarded. In particular Daredevil was acclaimed for its first and third seasons, the latter of which left off with a cliffhanger. If Disney does revive it, fans will be able to see how that storyline pays off after all.
Get Ready For Far Cry New Dawn With Far Cry 5 For Just $20 (PS4, Xbox One)
Far Cry 5 came out in March as a full $60 game, but this week the PS4 and Xbox One versions are on sale for $20 at Best Buy. That's the lowest price we've seen yet--which is good news for anyone who likes shooters, especially considering Far Cry New Dawn is set to launch on February 15. In a first for the series, New Dawn is a direct sequel to Far Cry 5, making now the perfect time to get caught up on the story. Just make sure you grab the game before it goes back to regular price on December 30.
Far Cry 5 is an open-world shooter that's set in Hope County, Montana, a rural area that's been overrun by an apocalyptic cult led by a man named Joseph Seed. You play as a federal deputy sent in to arrest Seed, but there wouldn't be much of a game if things went as planned. You quickly find yourself alone in a massive, hostile region, with an enormous amount of freedom over where to go and how to upgrade your abilities.
In GameSpot's 9/10 Far Cry 5 review, Edmond Tran wrote, "Despite some brief irritations and missed opportunities with its narrative, spending time in the world of Hope County remains absolutely delightful. Far Cry 5 boasts a wonderfully harmonious flow to its adventure, with its smart changes to exploration, discovery, and progression distinctly bolstering the enjoyment of creatively engaging and experimenting with its spectacular open world."
The canonical ending of Far Cry 5 packs a punch, and Far Cry New Dawn takes place in the same geographic area 17 years later. According to the trailer, it will feature at least one character from the previous game, and likely more than that. So pick up Far Cry 5 and give it a go before the modestly priced sequel launches in February.
Review: Donut County – A Sweet Little Puzzler In Need Of Extra Filling
The modern game industry seems to be obsessed with the idea of constantly pushing the higher limits of how much content can be packed into a game, with both AAA and indie developers constantly finding new ways of making games that are exhaustingly long. Often, this leads to inevitable repetitiveness – do we really need sixty variants of essentially the same mission? – which makes shorter, but tighter games feel more satisfying. However, there’s another side of this spectrum in which a game is too short, leaving the player feeling like it was over much too soon, and this is unfortunately where we would class Donut County. If you can get past the short runtime, though, you’ll find a delightfully funny and inventive experience that’s sure to be memorable.
Donut County opens with a simple premise following the texting conversation between Mira, a young girl, and BK, a talking raccoon, as they discuss work life at a local donut shop. The girl complains about a loud neighbor during this conversation, and hardly a moment later, a mysterious hole appears in the ground that takes the loud neighbor and everything surrounding him. Moments later, we learn that the hole is being controlled via BK’s phone app, and the narrative quickly jumps forward to the near future in which the entire town – including Mira and BK – are trapped at the bottom of that omnipresent hole. From here, each town member recounts where they were and what they were doing when BK’s hole came for them, and the perspective then shifts to a level that depicts that fateful encounter.
As far as plot is concerned, Donut County doesn’t swing for the fences – this is a fairly standard Saturday morning cartoon-ish narrative – but a big part of the charm can be found in the humorous nature of the writing. As a raccoon with a natural penchant for thieving, BK simply can’t understand how it’s his fault that the entire town is now in a sinkhole, and there’s a very quirky sense of humor displayed as everyone airs their complaints. In addition to this, a “Trashopedia” logs entries for all the items taken by the hole, and the items’ descriptions are clearly written by an inquisitive raccoon; tires being referred to as “gloves for your car” is a highlight.
Gameplay is exceptionally relaxing and simple, calling to mind the puzzle-solving mechanics of a point-and-click adventure game. Each level begins with you controlling a small hole, which you simply move beneath items that can comfortably fall in such as rocks, dogs, books, and donuts. With each item that falls in, the hole slightly widens, allowing you to take progressively larger things. A level is typically comprised of about four screens of things to collect; once you’ve cleansed a screen of everything, the camera usually zooms out as it shifts to a new scene to account for the larger hole you’ve made.
Though this is a remarkably easy game to play, a mild challenge is introduced in the form of environmental puzzles that necessitate a bit of deeper thinking. For example, one level sees you taking the hole around a fireworks shop, and you need to figure out how to cause something in the environment to light a nearby rocket so you can knock some birds off of a power line. Given that there’s only one screen to search at a time and that each screen isn’t too complex in its layout, it rarely takes more than a minute or two to figure out what needs to be done to progress to the next screen. Even so, these light puzzles introduce some much-needed variety on the core gameplay; it can get a bit dull just moving the hole around and taking things, but new puzzle concepts are introduced with each level to keep things fresh.
This is all well and good, but perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Donut County is its incredibly short length; we cleared the entire game in about an hour and a half and there isn’t a whole (heh) lot more to see after you’ve seen the credits. Make no mistake, Donut County is an enjoyable and charming experience while it lasts, but just when things feel like they’re starting to pick up, the game ends and you’re left wanting more. Furthermore, the absence of any hidden collectibles, score system, or any other form of incentive to get you to come back means that there’s next to no replay value; you can play levels over again if you feel like it, but there’s no reason to do so other than for the raw sake of it.
It’s hard to see how a game such as Donut County could realistically introduce more content to keep players engaged, but there’s still a sense of disappointment once you get to the end credits, especially considering the price. Donut County is certainly a unique and charming game, but there’s only about as much content here as you’d find in a typical flash or smartphone game, which can usually be played for free. Given that you’re paying over ten bucks for Donut County, it’s difficult to recommend this over other games on the eShop that are certain to give you vastly more entertainment value for the same or a slightly higher price.
If you can stomach the paltry content, Donut County certainly is an enrapturing game that owns the goofy aesthetic of its premise. Environments are full of color and diverse decorations, featuring a low-poly art style that highlights the sharp geometry of objects in a way that pleasingly calls back to the N64 days. This cool visual style is then accompanied by a similarly quirky soundtrack with a mildly ’80s-style vibe that feels perfect for the oddness of the experience. Donut County is very much a game that seems to champion the idea of video games being a form of interactive art and the immaculate design of each level’s visuals and sound reflect that well.
Conclusion
Donut County will no doubt prove to be a divisive experience, but those that are looking for a relaxing and often funny puzzle game will find an enjoyable experience that has just enough charm to justify its existence. With that being said, this is hardly a game that feels like it justifies the relatively high price tag; three hours max of content is a tough pill to swallow regardless of how enamored you are with the concept at its core. We’d recommend you wait for a sale or put some gold points towards this one; it’s a cool experience that you’ll definitely want to check out, but know that you’re not missing much if you choose to skip it.
Ryan Reynolds Shares Behind-The-Scenes Image Of Detective Pikachu Movie
We may well have just received the very first trailer for the upcoming film Pokémon The Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution, but there’s another 2019 Poké-movie also getting a little bit of love as we approach the new year.
Remember Detective Pikachu? Of course you do. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on 10th May 2019, bringing Pikachu and the gang to life in a way we’ve never seen before. Ryan Reynolds, who plays the comical and adorable Pikachu in the film, has shared this image of himself covered in little dots – the dots are used alongside motion capture technology to place any expressions and gestures he makes onto the animated Pikachu’s face.
If you want to see how this turns out for the final product – and also because we can’t help wanting to watch it all over again – we’ve included the official trailer for you below. If you’re interested, you can also check out a collection of character models and props which were used in the film, spotted at Legendary Entertainment’s headquarters.
Two very different Pokémon films arriving in the same year. 2019’s going to be a good one, huh?
Posted by: xSicKx - 01-01-2019, 09:22 PM - Forum: Windows
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Hello guys, having multiple monitors can lead to a pain if applications and programs aren't wanting to work right.
Sometimes i have troubles with 1 of my displays being off and everything i open wants to show on that display making it look like the program is broken or just not responding when in reality, it's just on the other screen perfectly fine and running. Took me awhile to find a way to bring whatever i opened up, back to my main display I'm currently working on.
Well, really, i found a few ways that helps. Whichever works the best, i hope you use graciously, because this annoying matter shouldn't even happen on a smart computer! LOL
So here's the first method:
Try Windows+P a few times, this selects Single-Monitor or Duplicate Monitor mode.
Just select duplicate and it will bring all items to one sceen on your main display. Which is usually the easiest until i found this method that is a little quicker.
2nd Method: AND QUICKEST
Click the icon in the taskbar to ensure that the program has focus.
Then hold down the Windows key and press the right-arrow a few times.
When you have the app in focus that you want to move (if you just opened it and haven't clicked other places, it's in focus). Hold down the windows key and use the cursors to move the window around where you want it.
More descriptive explanation on how to use it:
If it's on the left monitor and you want it on the right, hold down windows key + press right arrow key and it'll shift across the screen. Depending on what state the window is in (fullscreen/windowed) may depend on how many key presses it takes to move it but you can play around with it to get a feel for what the key presses do.
Windows key + up arrow : maximizes the window or undoes minimizing.
Windows key + down arrow : minimizes the window and makes windows focus be on whatever application was opened right before, or undoes maximizing.
Windows key + left/right : will move the window from snapped left to unsnapped to snapped right to snapped left on the next screen, etc.
Windows key + shift + left/right : will move the window to another screen in the same relative position.
Windows key + shift + up: Will maximize the window vertically only.
Windows key + left/right followed by Windows key + up/down: Will snap/unsnap the window in a corner.
