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Turning tragedy into purpose: Gabby Petito's father advocates for missing Black and brown people
Okay, be honest; you’ve probably not finished too many full campaigns in the Civilization series. It’s okay, neither have I—there’s always some reason to tap out and start fresh. We’re not alone, and Firaxis has the numbers to prove it. Answering an assortment of interview questions from our sagely Council for The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted —where Civilization 7 was just voted the #1 anticipated game for 2025—creative director Ed Beach got on camera to let us know what’s going to be different this time, and how Firaxis is going to be re-defining the genre after 34 years of iteration. "We had a lot of data that people would play Civilization games and they would never get all the way to the end. They just wouldn’t finish them. And so we wanted to do whatever we could—whether it was reducing micromanagement, restructuring the game—to really address that problem directly," said Beach while standing stoically against the backdrop of a US Civil War-era fort. The solution is to let players make a clean break if they’re starting to feel their attention flagging. It’s a bold design decision, but in Civilization 7, "you don’t stick with a civilization throughout the entire course of the game,", he said. A full campaign is broken up into ages, which are both notable shifts in technology and aesthetics, but also break a single playthrough up into three more easily digestible chapters. As one age ends and another begins, players will have the option to switch who they’re playing as and continue on as a civilization at the peak of its power and influence. It’s a big option to present to players, but should provide an interesting option to shift gears if you’ve been operating as a quiet background player up until that point, with little opportunity to break into the limelight. Beach said that this also helps sell the fantasy of experiencing the history of our strange, flawed species: "We’re challenging players to not look at the history of an empire as something that started in 4000 BC, made it to the present and is going on without end. It’s not very reflective of the way things work in real history." It does sound like players won’t necessarily be leaving everything behind if they choose to switch roles midway through a playthrough. This is still Civilization, and you are playing as immortal figureheads that have been around since 4000 BC. “You can choose science civs from different places in the world and link them together for your playthrough, and we have to figure out how those attach to leaders, which aren’t necessarily hard-wired into civs anymore, but that all becomes part of the long journey that you have building up your empire, and it does feel like one continuous journey." The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. It’s a major shift in design, and one that highlights Civilization’s primary role as a singleplayer, solipsistic experience. It also reminds me of more freeform, sandboxy grand strategy games like Crusader Kings, where a single playthrough almost always had the player’s perspective hopping between various characters on their family tree, or even hopping to another tree entirely to experience how you’ve impacted the world from a fresh perspective. Obviously only having two opportunities to switch per campaign is a bit more restrictive, but it does change what it means to ‘win’ a game of Civilization. As someone who absolutely has struggled to finish a Civ campaign, I’m excited to see whether they can pull it off. I never would have expected Firaxis to pull off rebooting XCOM into a less granular digital board game-esque experience, or making social hangouts and deckbuilding the core of a superhero throwdown, but I’ve enjoyed both—as a studio, they seem to excel when they’re taking risks. Civilization 7 is set to launch on February 11th next year, and you can wishlist it now on Steam . We’ll have an extended cut of the interview (presumably answering only the most prying and personal of questions) available on PC Gamer's official YouTube channel soon.
LOS ANGELES — As the Dodgers officially welcomed their latest gazillionaire pitcher to a remodeling Dodger Stadium last week, the churning of the bulldozers in the infield was momentarily drowned out by the whining around the baseball world. Boo-hoo! The Dodgers are buying another championship! For shame! The Dodgers have an unfair advantage! It’s not right! The Dodgers are ruining baseball! On and on the tears flowed, from Pittsburgh to Minnesota, from Northern California to South Florida, with many blubbering that signing two-time Cy Young Award-winning Blake Snell to a $182-million contract officially makes the defending World Series champions bad for the game. Stop it. Just stop it. Far from being a blight on the major-league landscape, right now the Dodgers’ front office is everything that is good about the game. They are smart, savvy and fearless. They base decisions not only on analytics but also attitude. They spend a lot of money, but only because they make a lot of money, and since when is reinvesting revenue into your fans a bad thing? Many think the Dodgers should be grateful to win the World Series this year and humbly behave like other recent defending champions by cutting corners and reducing costs and receding back into the pack. Forget that. These Dodgers are intent on running it back, going even harder for an encore, sparing no expense in an attempt to become baseball’s first back-to-back champions in a quarter-century. Deal with it. Endure it. Maybe even learn from it? The Dodgers need not apologize to anyone for doubling down on a Commissioner’s Trophy, because they have created a championship the right away. They’ve built it, not bought it. Andrew Friedman spent nearly a decade creating the sort of smart culture that strengthened the clubhouse and stocked the farm system. Stan Kasten spent that same time running a Guggenheim business model that restored the fan experience at baseball’s largest stadium, selling record numbers of tickets while enduring much justified criticism to score big TV money. Finally, with the infrastructure in place and the new money flowing, the Dodgers then opened their fatted wallet for the players that created the championship. Players didn’t want to come here only for the big money, they wanted to come for the winning baseball, which is something that could have happened with any team that was lucky enough and brainy enough and focused enough. “Winning is hard. There are teams that have a lot of resources that have trouble winning,” Friedman said. “Winning is hard. It goes way beyond money. It gets to culture, the type of people you have around.” Everyone talks about the nearly $2 billion in committed money, the more than $1 billion owed in deferred payments from 2028 to 2046, and a current annual payroll that will exceed $350 million, more than triple some of baseball’s cheaper operations. But did you know that for the first five years of his reign, Friedman did not sign a player for more than $100 million? He used that time to build an atmosphere where players wanted to be and, soon enough, the superstars essentially began signing themselves. Listen to Snell, who signed so early in the offseason that the stove was not yet even hot. “It was really easy,” he said of his choice. “... You look at the team, you look at what they’ve built, what they’re doing, it’s just something you want to be a part of.” Over the last couple of years, one has heard the same thing over and over. Mookie Betts was traded here, liked what he saw and signed his giant contract four months later. Freddie Freeman wanted to stay in Atlanta, didn’t feel the love and quickly moved into the Dodgers’ embrace. Shohei Ohtani moved up the road from pleasant Anaheim because he desperately coveted a championship. Money was a major factor in all three signings, for sure, but the offers were maximized by the atmosphere. Players saw how other players got better here. They saw the Dodgers rescue the careers of Max Muncy and Chris Taylor. They saw how young Walker Buehler grew into a lights-out pressure pitcher here. They saw Will Smith go from ordinary catcher to a $140-million man. The final piece to the complicated economic puzzle occurred last winter with a simple handshake. Ohtani agreed to defer all but $2 million annually of his $700-million contract if it would help the Dodgers pursue championship players. The Dodgers agreed, living up to their promise by signing the likes of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernández. It is no coincidence that Snell agreed to defer $66 million of his contract. The Ohtani agreement grows stronger and deeper. “The pledge that we made when we met with him about how aggressive we were going to be to try to win, we feel some responsibility and obligation to fulfill that,” Friedman said of Ohtani. “I think no matter what, our mindset was, ‘Let’s be aggressive to add to the core that we had.’” So they recently added Snell, and tacked on a $74-million extension for National League Championship Series most valuable player Tommy Edman, and here’s guessing they’re not done yet. “What’s really difficult is to win; what’s even harder to do is repeat,” Friedman said. “And to a man, all the guys that we talked to, our players, coaching staff, everyone was of the mind, ‘Let’s run it back. Let’s do everything we can to be in a position to win.’ We feel like we’ve got a really talented team in place. So everything for us was centered around, ‘What can we do? What can we add to put ourselves in the best position to do that?’” And to all of you who are complaining about the Dodgers’ passion, does your team have the same basic commitment? A chart called “The Scrooge Index” compiled by Travis Sawchik of the Score would indicate it does not. According to the index, the Dodgers ranked second in baseball last season by investing 67% of their total revenue into payroll. The Tampa Bay Rays were last at 32%. The Dodgers spend more than half of their big money on talent as part of an unspoken pact with fans that Kasten, the Dodgers’ chief executive who arrived with Guggenheim in 2012, refers to as their virtuous cycle. “This is our investment in our fans, and our fans keep investing in us,” Kasten said. “The first day I got here, we said we think this market would support us if we do the right things, and our fans have supported us, and this is us supporting them, so they can support us, and on and on.” Come spring training, there actually may appear a Dodgers story in this newspaper that doesn’t contain a dollar sign. But for now, sit back and enjoy the spending while understanding that the nurturing of this dynasty is about something much richer. Get local news delivered to your inbox!ORLANDO, Fla. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnifica, a global high-luxury lifestyle brand under CIG Companies, is set to redefine elevated living experiences with its highly anticipated launch event on December 9th, 2024 , at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando , FL. Under the visionary leadership of Charles D. Carey , CEO and Co-Founder, Magnifica celebrates an expansive vision of luxury that includes its signature developments—Magnifica Residences and Magnifica Resorts, both slated for launch in 2026—and its bold foray into the luxury aviation sector with Magnifica Air, taking flight in 2027. A Revolutionary Vision for Modern Luxury Magnifica embodies a balanced approach to luxury, blending timeless design with sustainable innovation. Guided by CIG Companies' commitment to impactful investments in clean energy and local conservation, Magnifica represents the pinnacle of elevated living. From elegant residences to immersive resort experiences, every Magnifica offering reflects an unwavering dedication to quality, sustainability, and community enrichment. Propelling this vision further is Magnifica Air, poised to disrupt the luxury aviation space with its trailblazing approach to personalized air travel. With the filing for FAA certification, Magnifica Air is ready to redefine the customer journey from the ground up. The certification process, an intensive evaluation involving design reviews, safety tests, and operational validations, underscores Magnifica Air's commitment to the highest standards of safety and excellence. Magnifica Air: Redefining the Skies Designed to bridge the exclusivity of private aviation with the accessibility of premium commercial travel, Magnifica Air offers a truly bespoke experience. Every detail has been designed to elevate the passenger journey, from its spacious, elegantly designed cabins to cutting-edge technology that ensures frictionless, tailored service. "Magnifica Air isn't just about getting from one place to another—it's about creating an unforgettable experience where luxury meets deeply personalized service," says Wade Black , CEO and Co-Founder of Magnifica Air "Our recent FAA certification filing reflects our dedication to operational excellence, innovation, and a customer-centric philosophy that ensures each traveler feels known and valued." An Evening of Elegance and Vision The December 9th launch event will be a celebration of culture, innovation, and high luxury. Guests will be treated to a captivating performance by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside other notable musicians and artists, a showcase of Magnifica's master plan, and exclusive previews of upcoming projects, including Magnifica Residences and Resorts. A highlight of the evening will be an exclusive preview of Magnifica Air, offering a glimpse into the unparalleled travel experiences that await. The evening will culminate in a private afterparty at the Magnifica Residence Showroom, where guests will experience the artistry and intentionality behind Magnifica's iconic designs. From curated cuisine to thoughtful architectural details, every element will reflect the brand's ethos of timeless luxury. The Magnifica Experience: A Lifestyle Redefined From its meticulously crafted homes to transformative travel experiences, Magnifica is more than a brand—it is a promise to deliver elevated living. With Magnifica Air leading the charge into the future of luxury aviation, the Magnifica portfolio is a testament to the art of creating meaningful, unforgettable experiences. For media inquiries and event attendance requests, please contact: Magnifica Media Relations info@magnifica.com About Magnifica Magnifica, a subsidiary of CIG Companies, is dedicated to redefining luxury living through exceptional design, sustainable practices, and transformative experiences. The Magnifica portfolio includes Magnifica Residences, Magnifica Resorts, and Magnifica Air, each a testament to the brand's commitment to creating spaces and journeys that inspire, connect, and endure. About CIG Companies CIG Companies is a leader in high-value sustainable investments across diverse sectors, including real estate, clean energy, and infrastructure. With a focus on innovation and community impact, CIG Companies shapes projects that leave a lasting legacy View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magnifica-unveils-the-future-of-luxury-living-at-december-9th-launch-event-orlando-fl--december-2024-302324357.html SOURCE Magnifica, LLC
TORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada's main stock index to close higher in the shortened Christmas Eve trading session while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 97.84 points at 24,846.82. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 390.08 points at 43,297.03. The S&P 500 index was up 65.97 points at 6,040.04, while the Nasdaq composite was up 266.24 points at 20,031.13. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.51 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 86 cents at US$70.10 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 16 cents at US$3.50 per mmBTU. The February gold contract ended up US$7.30 at US$2,635.50 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press
Stock up on these popular board games for your next get-togetherMeta (PRNewsfoto/Meta) MENLO PARK, Calif. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META) board of directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of the company's outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock, payable on December 27, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 16, 2024 . Contacts Investors: Kenneth Dorell investor@meta.com / investor.fb.com Press: Ryan Moore press@meta.com / about.fb.com/news/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meta-announces-quarterly-cash-dividend-302324358.html SOURCE Meta
Beth El in Voorhees Hosts Shai DavidaiSpoiler alert for Dune: Prophecy finale A new HBO show is giving Game of Thrones a run for its money after it's bloody finale. Dune: Prophecy is a prequel show to the blockbuster Dune movies starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya. The HBO Max show takes place 10,000 years before Timothee's character, Paul Atreides, "ascends" and follows "two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit." The Bene Gesserit is a powerful group whose members are able to have superhuman powers after years of intense aphysical and mental conditioning. They have power among the social, religious, and political spheres. Netflix show's season two trailer has fans 'sobbing' as huge twist confirmed Netflix drops chilling teaser for Robert De Niro thriller about deadly cyberattack The finale of the show ended with the death of Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) was killed, along with others. Fans were left shocked and took to social media to share their thoughts. "These girls are wild. This was a bloodbath... #DuneProphecy," one wrote. Another added: "That #DuneProphecy finale was absolutely insaneeee! What a show, 10/10 recommend." A third added: "I hope other shows will leave aside the fireworks show and focus more on the script and acting like Dune Prophecy. Great final season! #DuneProphecy." Many compared the show to Game of Thrones, which also aired on HBO. "I expected House of the Dragon to bring back the Game of Thrones type of tension, but #DuneProphecy was the one to do it," someone said. "#DuneProphecy is basically Game of Thrones in space and I love it," another added. Game of Thrones had a shock penultimate episode in season three known as The Red Wedding that had fans caught off guard. While those who read the books by George R R Martin knew the bloodbath to come, many first time viewers were shocked as Robb Stark (Richard Madden), his pregnant wife Talisa Stark (Oona Chaplin), and his mother Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) were all killed on the order of the Lannister family. The medieval fantasy show lasted eight seasons and, even though the final season was panned and criticized by fans. Meanwhile, this is only Dune: Prophecy's first season. The show has been renewed for a second season, set to hit our screens either in 2025 or 2026. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
Maputo tense after disputed poll result
Former minister Josepha Madigan given court defence deadline as ex-Fine Gael TD being pursued over €225k bank loan debtUS says terror designation doesn't bar talks with Syrian rebel group