All posts tagged: Game

Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Published by Jenni Sidey

At nine years old, Shea Fury sat down opposite a stranger with gold hair and one silver eye, and lost her sister across the board. She has spent every day since becoming a player who does not lose. That is not the same thing as a player who loves the game, and Immortal Game by Allison Saft knows it. Six years after Aideen vanished into the Irish Otherworld, Shea is nineteen, an American grandmaster, and hollowed out by the single purpose that has organised her entire adolescence. She has no friends outside the circuit, no plans beyond it, and no idea who she would be if she stopped. When Midir of Bri Leith announces his centennial tournament, open to mortals and fae alike, with a boon of the winner’s choosing as the prize, she takes the invitation without hesitating for a second. So does Daniil Tsoi, the Russian rival she despises, whose ballerina sister was taken by a different lord. Waiting on the other side of the Veil is Ciara of Bri Leith: Midir’s much younger …

A video game invites anyone into Heizer’s exclusive ‘City’ land art

A video game invites anyone into Heizer’s exclusive ‘City’ land art

Published by Jenni Sidey

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based digital artist Lily Belmira has made a new, free video game allowing anyone to virtually visit Michael Heizer’s mysterious and radically difficult-to-enter land artwork in the Nevada desert, titled City. Only six people a day who are willing to pay the regular admission fee of $150 are permitted to explore City, one of the world’s largest artworks, in person. Spanning over a mile and a half, its precise location has been kept secret to some degree since its opening in 2022. But Belmira hopes to offer a virtual way around all that, while deliberately challenging the notion of restricted access to art, in favor of a more democratic and broad-reaching approach. Related Articles She told ARTnews via email that she made the video game out of “a genuine interest in showing City to more people.” But it is also a critique of what she calls a “bourgeois scar on the earth,” albeit a “beautiful” one, in an artist statement. “I didn’t like City when I started, and I saw this project as a …

Mahjong: Why everyone is playing this centuries-old Chinese tile game

Mahjong: Why everyone is playing this centuries-old Chinese tile game

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Mahjong is having a global moment. From designer tile sets and “mahjong parties” to growing numbers of clubs and classes, the centuries-old Chinese tile game is becoming trendy once again. But its resurgence raises questions about cultural exchange, commercialisation, and what happens when a tradition rooted in Chinese history becomes a “lifestyle trend”. From China to the rest of the world Mahjong emerged in eastern coastal China in the mid 1800s, towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. Although its exact origins are debated, historians agree the game developed from earlier Chinese tile-based games. In the early 1900s, mahjong spread across China and internationally, including to the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Annelise Heinz, historian of modern America, explains how American businesses …

The Beautiful Great Game: Extra Time & Penalties

The Beautiful Great Game: Extra Time & Penalties

Published by Jenni Sidey

By Michael Every of Rabobank Yesterday’s in-line US CPI report was the non-event its relative insignificance vs tumultuous domestic and global backdrops suggested it should be. Meanwhile, in the ‘Beautiful Great Game’, it’s extra time and penalties, medals and champagne for some, and tears for others. Iran remains defiant. Trump says he has “total control” of and “will keep” Hormuz. He’s hoping the UAE can shuttle vastly more refined product through Hormuz under the radar than it already is, as Axios flags, ‘Diesel desperation is mounting globally.’ Trump is also hoping Tehran will crumble in the face of 300% inflation, as the US blockade really is seeing import costs rise 4x in coming only by land. Over the longer term, a popular revolt can’t be ruled out – but until then that threat looms in many places. In the US, despite a narrow defeat in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary, the Democratic Socialist Alliance is rising to threaten to do to the Democratic Part what MAGA has done to the Republicans. Even the Wall Street Journal …

I don’t game or stream at my desk, but I love the Stream Deck so much I bought two

I don’t game or stream at my desk, but I love the Stream Deck so much I bought two

Published by skeptic

Keyboard shortcuts are an easy way to speed up creative and productivity workflows. You probably know the keyboard commands for copy, cut, and paste — and power users might have many more saved to memory. However, you can make keyboard shortcuts and workflow processes even faster by using macros. These are saved sequences of actions, like a keystroke or a pointer click, that can be kicked off by a single shortcut. Instead of contorting my fingers to press a four-key shortcut every time I want to run it, I can configure a macro to complete the keystrokes with only one button press. A macro pad is a set of physical buttons mapped to the customized macros you’ve created to hasten your PC commands. Technically, you can turn any keyboard into a macro pad with the right software. It’s not necessary to buy premium macro pads, like the Stream Deck. It’s positioned toward gamers and streamers, but the Stream Deck has become an invaluable part of my desk setup. I exclusively use it for photo editing, …

Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball

Pope Leo hat giveaway turns White Sox game into the church of baseball

Published by Sam Flores

CHICAGO (RNS) — On a hot August night on the South Side of Chicago, Rate Field, home of the White Sox, turned into a church of baseball, filled to capacity with true believers who sang, passed the peace, cheered on a celebrity nun and, of course, wore their pope hats. Those hats, emblazoned with the Sox logo, were given to every fan who entered the park on Tuesday (Aug. 11). It was, according to team officials, the biggest promotional giveaway in White Sox history, with more than 40,000 pope hats given away. The night was a testimony to the resurgent White Sox, who appear to be playoff-bound after three years of losing 100 games a season, as well as to the appeal of Pope Leo XIV, a longtime fan of the team and Chicago native. “It doesn’t matter your religion or your denomination,” said Brooks Boyer, chief revenue and marketing officer for the White Sox. “Everyone respects the pope. For us, it’s obviously fun that he is a White Sox fan.” As soon as the …

This ,800 electric motorcycle hits 70 MPH and could change the game

This $1,800 electric motorcycle hits 70 MPH and could change the game

Published by skeptic

A new player in the industry, Avore, thinks its EX2S electric motorcycle could shake things up with impressive performance and accessible pricing. The Indian company is competing in a crowded market with several electric competitors, not to mention the litany of gasoline-powered motorcycles already crowding the showrooms. But with these figures, it may stand a chance. India is already the world’s largest two-wheeler market, selling more than 20 million motorcycles and scooters each year. Now this new electric motorcycle from startup Avore is showing just how quickly that market is evolving – and at a price that could make riders elsewhere more than a little jealous. The new Avore EX2S is priced at just ₹169,999, or an equivalent of around US$1,800. For that money, which significantly undercuts other electrics like the Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6, buyers get a commuter-focused electric motorcycle with performance figures that are surprisingly impressive. Advertisement – scroll for more content The bike packs a 5 kWh battery offering a claimed 161 miles (260 km) of range on India’s IDC testing …

Steam AI Game Stats Show One Third of New Releases Use AI

Steam AI Game Stats Show One Third of New Releases Use AI

Published by skeptic

Artificial Intelligence is playing an increasingly prominent role in game development on Steam, with roughly 33% of new titles now disclosing AI-generated content in areas like visuals, dialogue and gameplay mechanics. This shift follows Steam’s 2024 policy requiring transparency around AI use in player-facing elements, as highlighted by Bellular News. While this policy has brought clarity, it has also revealed challenges: AI-driven games often underperform in revenue and reviews compared to non-AI titles, suggesting that transparency alone is not enough to ensure success. Developers must navigate the tension between using AI for efficiency and maintaining the creative integrity that players value. Explore how AI is shaping the gaming landscape, from its impact on market trends to the mixed reception among players. You’ll gain insight into why AI-disclosed games face hurdles in achieving visibility and financial success, as well as how genre preferences influence audience acceptance. The explainer also provide more insights into the economic realities for developers, including the dominance of self-publishing and the financial pressures it brings. This breakdown offers a nuanced look at …