It’s time to cover the weekly Japanese charts once again. The latest figures from Famitsu (via Gematsu) have come in, and the Switch is back to filling out all spots in the top ten.
Pikmin 4 is incredibly still at number one, selling another steady 23,489 units in the week of 11th to 17th September. It’s now just shy of shifting 850,000 physical copies in Japan alone. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet — a mainstay in the JP charts since its release last year — has jumped up a few places to third, shifting 9,319 units, likely due to the release of the first half of the Expansion pass,The Teal Mask.
There are a couple of newcomers this week, too. The highest-charting new release is Konami’s Super Bomberman R 2 in second, which was the only other game to sell over 10,000 physical copies this week. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster swoops into fifth with 7,975 units sold, while One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Deluxe Edition (which got a physical version in Japan this week) charts right behind it in sixth.
Here’s this week’s top ten software sales in full:
This week’s hardware sales are basically the same as last week’s, with the Switch dominating the competition again. The OLED is once again the best-selling console of the week with 52,998 units shifted, with all three SKUs selling a total of 71,578 units — a drop of around 9,000 units from last week. PlayStation 5 sales also dropped down to 35,865 units (with the Digital Edition dropping to 2,746 units this week). Xbox sales too have slipped with the Series X going back below 700 units.
We are making some important updates to our Player Reporting Tool to better protect the online safety of our players.
Playing Minecraft should be an inclusive and safe experience for everyone, which is why alongside in-game chat messages, you will now be able to report player skins and usernames that violate our Community Standards in Java Edition.
Just like with chat reports, nothing is automated. Any reported skin or username will be reviewed manually by a team of trained Minecraft moderators, who will use the submitted evidence to decide whether the skin and/or username is in breach of our Community Standards. Skins that violate these standards will be removed from Minecraft and will no longer be accessible for use by any player. Usernames that violate these standards will need to be changed before that player can play online via a shared server or Realm; though single-player mode will still be accessible. To find out more about this and other safety policies, including more detail on the suspension procedure, appeals process, and how we handle malicious or repeat reporting, please visit our dedicated FAQ page.
Player Skins and Names can now be reported in the Social Interactions Screen
If a skin or name is reported and found to be violating the Community Standards, our team of human moderators can take action in a few ways:
Ban the skin from being used by any player
Ban the name from being used by any player
Suspend the player from online play in the case of repeated offenses
When a skin is banned, players with that skin:
Will have their skin removed
Will be notified when they launch the game
Will be automatically assigned one of the default skins
Can still play multiplayer and singleplayer
Can select a new custom skin at any time
When a player’s name is banned, that player:
Will need to choose a new name
Will be notified when they launch the game
Will not be able to play online until they change their name
Can still play singleplayer
A skin or name that has been banned cannot be used by any player in the future
Changes
The calculations to determine whether a mob can attack a player or other mobs have been changed
Diamond Ore is now generated more frequently in the Deepslate layers of the Overworld
Optimizations to networked play
Curing a Zombie Villager now only gives a big discount the first time
There is no longer a bonus discount for reinfecting and curing the same Villager multiple times
Sponges and Wet Sponges now have their own custom sounds
Barrier blocks can now be waterlogged by players in Creative mode
Water cannot be placed in them or taken out by non-direct interactions such as Dispensers
The positions that all entities ride on other entities have been adjusted to make more sense
Added the “Narrator Hotkey” accessibility option (default on)
The narrator can be toggled on and off with Ctrl+B when this is on
Added “I want to report them” Player Reporting category
Removed Herobrine
Mob Attack Reach Changes
The calculations to determine whether a mob can attack a player or other mobs have been changed. Previously a mob’s horizontal width was used to determine their attack reach and their height had no effect. The area where a mob can attack is now their bounding box extended in horizontal directions.
Here are some situations where the new rules will affect the reach of mobs:
If a mob is entirely below you, or entirely above you, it will not be able to reach you
While riding on a medium-sized mob, like a Horse, you will be protected from small mobs, like Baby Zombies
While riding on a tall mob, like a Camel, you will be protected from standard-size mobs, like Zombies
Also, Ravagers won’t be able to attack you through a few block-thick walls anymore
However, to escape from an Enderman, you need to be at least 3 blocks above the ground, not 1.5 as before
Mobs will be able to attack you with the bottom of their hitbox, assuming your head is in range
Builds that trap hostile mobs might need to be adjusted to be safe
This change does not affect the reach of players, and mobs still need to see their target to attack it.
Networked Play
The Multiplayer mode of the game has been optimized to enable more fluid online play. If you have previously experienced disconnections or slow loading into online servers, this version may significantly improve that experience.
The game world will now show earlier instead of the loading screen while loading into a world on a server
Clients with extremely low-bandwidth connections will not time out while loading the world
Clients with low-bandwidth connections can interact with the world while some chunks are still loading
Vibrations
Vibrations no longer risk being lost on simulation distance limit
Using Bone Meal emits an item_interact_finish vibration of frequency 3
Unequipping items emit a new unequip vibration of frequency 4
Camels eating Cactus emit an eat vibration of frequency 8
Carrots being eaten by Rabbits emit a block_change vibration of frequency 11
Sweet Berries being eaten by Foxes emit a block_change vibration of frequency 11
Chiseled Bookshelves emit a block_change vibration of frequency 11 when receiving books from Hoppers
Turtle Eggs cracking emit a block_change vibration of frequency 11
Turtle Eggs hatching emit a block_destroy vibration of frequency 12
Fire being doused by Water Potion emits a block_destroy vibration of frequency 12
Evokers evoking Vexes or Fangs emit an entity_place vibration of frequency 14
Miscellaneous Minor Tweaks
Chorus Flower no longer provides support for hanging or standing blocks
Updated structure icons on Explorer Maps sold by Cartographers
When Villagers unlock new trades, the order of those trades in the UI is now always random instead of sometimes being deterministic
The sizes of text fields in the user interface are now consistent with the size of buttons
You now need a taller pillar to escape taller mobs.
Rabbits eating Carrots now trigger Sculk Sensors
Technical Changes
The resource pack version is now 18
The data pack version is now 18
History of used commands is now saved and accessible across worlds
Optimized networking to improve the experience on low bandwidth connections
Added support for multi-version packs
Changed network protocol to allow for more data-driven content in the future
Added new log-ips option to server.properties
Added validation for symbolic links in datapacks and resource packs
When hitboxes are displayed through F3+B, entities that have a passenger will display the passenger’s attachment point
The charts on the debug screen can now be toggled with F3+1 (pie chart) and F3+2 (FPS and TPS) instead of holding Shift or Alt while opening the screen
Pressing F3+3 will now show charts for ping and received network traffic on the debug screen
The LWJGL library has been upgraded to version 3.3.2
The default Java version shipped with the game has been upgraded to Microsoft OpenJDK 17.0.8
Command History
The last 50 commands that you sent in chat will be remembered across game sessions
You can access the command and chat history by pressing the up or down arrows in the chat
Regular chat is only persisted within the same game session (leaving a server or world clears them)
Recent commands are stored in command_history.txt in the game folder
Network Optimizations
Gameplay packets are now packed into bigger TCP packets to reduce overhead from TCP headers, significantly reducing network usage
Chunks are not sent over the network to the client in one big continuous batch anymore
Chunks are instead sent in smaller batches depending on the available bandwidth, meaning that:
Clients with extremely low-bandwidth connections will not time out while loading the world
Clients with low-bandwidth connections can interact with the world while some chunks are still loading
Only chunks within the client’s render distance are now sent
Multi-Version Packs
New features have been added to datapacks and resource packs to allow the creation of packs that are compatible with multiple versions of the game.
Pack Metadata
Pack metadata now includes an optional field supported_formats which describes a range for pack formats that this pack supports
pack_format field is still required and its format remains unchanged, to allow older game versions to read pack data
If supported_formats is present, it must contain the value declared in pack_format
Note: since this new information is ignored by older versions of the game, they will always see a “normal”, single-version pack, without any extended compatibility
Overlays
Packs can now contain overlay directories (“overlays”)
Overlays are sub-packs applied over the “normal” contents of a pack
These directories have the same layout as the top-level pack, including the assets and data directories
Overlays can be applied if they support the client’s pack format
Overlays can add and replace files, but not remove them
For example, if the overlay foo is applied, the file foo/assets/minecraft/textures/bar.png will replace the contents of assets/minecraft/textures/bar.png
pack.mcmeta and pack.png are ignored in overlay directories
New section called overlays has been added to pack metadata
It contains an entries field, containing a list of overlays
Order of application: overlays are stacked from the bottom to top of the list
For example, if a pack has two overlays: “entries”: [{“directory”:”A”, …}, {“directory”:”B”, …}], the game will first look in B, then A and then in the top pack directory
Symbolic Link Validation
To improve safety, the game will now also detect symbolic links used inside data- and resource packs.
This feature expands on symbolic link validation in worlds added in the previous release
The game will now warn users if a pack added via drag and drop contains disallowed symbolic links
Packs containing disallowed symbolic links will not be visible in UI and commands
Additionally, directories and files that are not recognized as packs will no longer be copied via drag-and-drop
As part of ongoing work towards more data-driven features, the network protocol has been changed to include a new configuration phase.
Configuration phase automatically starts after login phase (i.e. after client account has been verified) and lasts until the player joins the world (play phase)
Clients can stay in configuration phase indefinitely – it’s up to the server to release it to the world
Servers can also request clients to re-enter the configuration phase after it has entered the play phase
Other players will see such clients as disconnected
Users in configuration phase will not be visible on the player list
Actions allowed in configuration phase (moved from play phase):
Configuration of data-driven registries
Configuration of enabled features
Actions shared between configuration and play phases:
Application of server resource packs
Update of tags
Exchange of custom packets
Ping and keep-alive packets
Sending of client options
The server will now negotiate resource packs in the configuration phase
This means that the player will no longer be in the world when answering prompts and reloading resources
Secure Chat
Clients will no longer disconnect themselves when receiving an invalid chat message
A placeholder message will instead be shown in chat
server.properties
New option: log-ips (default true)
When set to false, will prevent player IPs from being included in the log when players join the game
Telemetry
Added a button to the Telemetry Data Collection Screen that links to the Microsoft Privacy Statement
Resource Pack Version 16
The process of upgrading your pack can be assisted by using this automated Slicer tool
All textures containing multiple sprites in a sheet for GUI have been split into individual sprites under textures/gui/sprites (automated by the Slicer tool)
All textures in the realms namespace have been moved into the Minecraft namespace (automated by the Slicer tool)
villager2.png has been renamed to villager.png (automated by the Slicer tool)
icon/trial_available and realm_status/expires_soon GUI sprites are animated with .mcmeta declarations instead of individual sprites (automated by the Slicer tool)
The Bundle tooltip background is now drawn as a nine-sliced sprite
The icons for the Accessibility, Language, and Realms News buttons have been split from their underlying button texture
The Realms Invite button is now drawn as an overlay on the normal button texture
The highlighted texture state for this button has been removed
The highlighted states for Realms invitation number icons have been removed
The exclamation marks on the notification\more.png have been removed
GUI Sprite Sheet
Sprites used in GUI drawing have been split into individual sprite files instead of larger sprite sheets
For example, widgets/button.png and widgets/button_highlighted.png have been split from widgets.png
Each sprite can now be individually overridden by a resource pack instead of replacing the entire sheet
Sprites are loaded into the GUI atlas from the textures/gui/sprites directory
GUI Sprite .mcmeta
Any sprite used in the GUI can now be animated using .mcmeta files, similar to other atlases
icon/trial_available and realm_status/expires_soon are now animated this way
Sprites in the GUI atlas can now configure scaling behavior through a new GUI section in .mcmeta files
For example, button textures must be scaled based on how big the button should be
The GUI section in .mcmeta contains one scaling field:
type: one of: stretch (default), tile, or nine_slice
When stretched, the sprite will be stretched across the desired space
No additional fields need to be defined
When tile, the sprite will be repeated across the desired space, starting from the top-left
width: number of pixels for this sprite to cover on-screen across its width
height: number of pixels for this sprite to cover on-screen across its height
When nine_slice, the sprite will be sliced into 4 corners, 4 edges, and 1 center slice, which will be tiled across the desired space
width: number of pixels for this sprite to cover on-screen across its width
height: number of pixels for this sprite to cover on-screen across its height
border: the size in pixels that the border slices should cover on-screen, one of:
Constant integer for uniform border size on all sides
Object containing left, top, right, and bottom
Resource Pack Version 17
The text field background is now a nine-sliced sprite at widget/text_field and widget/text_field_highlighted
The scroll bar in lists and text fields is now a nine-sliced sprite at widget/scroller
Resource Pack Version 18
The map_icons.png texture now contains new icons
DATA Pack Version 16
Gamerule randomTickSpeed now affects the rate of accumulation of Snow and Ice the same way it affects crops and other blocks affected by random ticking
Renamed belowName value in display slot argument in scoreboard command to below_name
Game event changes
New tags
Commands
Random
A new command for randomizing values and controlling random sequences. The value and roll forms can be used to draw a random value. In the case of roll, the resulting value is also shown in chat for all players.
Syntax:
random value|roll <range> [<sequenceId>]
random reset *|<sequenceId> [<seed>] [<includeWorldSeed>] [<includeSequenceId>]
Parameters:
range: A range of values to randomize between, inclusively
For instance, 1..6 is a regular D6 roll
sequenceId: The name of a random sequence to sample or reset
seed: A seed to use for the random sequence after reset
includeWorldSeed: A boolean [default: true] specifying whether to include the world seed when seeding the sequence
false means the sequence will evaluate to the same regardless of which world the command is run in
includeSequenceId: A boolean [default: true] specifying whether to include the sequence ID when seeding the sequence
false means all sequences will evaluate to the same regardless of which name they have
By default, all sequences are seeded as 0, true, true. Using * instead of a sequence ID resets all sequences and sets the default parameters.
If no seed is specified, the sequence resets to the default parameters.
Note that random value|roll <range> used without a sequence ID is available to non-operator players.
Functions
A single backslash \ as the last non-whitespace character of a line now allows a command to be continued on the next line
Leading and trailing whitespace of the following line are stripped before appending
Macros
Functions can now contain macro lines, making them Function Macros.
Any line beginning with $ (as the first non-space character) marks a macro line
A macro line also contains one or more substitutions in the form of $(variable)
When calling a function macro a compound with data for all argument variables must be provided
Calling Function Macros
The function command has new forms:
function <id> <compound>function <id> with <data source> [<path>]
New Arguments:
compound: A data compound, enclosed in {}
data source: A data source specification, like what could already be used for data get
path: An NBT path specification
Notes:
The data source and path must specify a compound data entry
The compound must contain one entry for each variable used in the macro
More data may be present in the compound and if so is ignored
Calling a non-macro function with a data compound is silently ignored
When a macro is called, the values provided are substituted in place of the variable specifications, and the resulting commands are executed
Any syntax errors in the lines resulting from variable substitution result in the entire function call being skipped
Performance Considerations
Using a macro means commands must be re-evaluated after variable substitution. This has an extra cost compared to running pre-parsed functions.
Regular commands (non-macro lines) are still pre-parsed. Only commands with variable substitutions in them are parsed when a macro is called and the game will attempt to cache the result of a certain parameter set being used in a call.
This makes repeated calls with the same parameter set cheaper than new calls with different parameters, but an overhead still remains compared to regular functions. Note that only the values referenced by macro as parameters are included in this cache, so any extra data in the provided compound is ignored.
Display Entity Interpolation
Display entities now start updating their client-side position and rotation on the first tick after an update
In previous versions, updates were applied in the same tick, causing uneven motion
The new behavior is similar to Armor Stands, mobs, and players
On the server, position and rotation are still updated immediately
The duration of this interpolation is controlled by the field teleport_duration
0 means that updates are applied immediately
1 means that the Display Entity will move from the current position to the updated one-over-one tick
Higher values spread the movement over multiple ticks
Please note that this value is clamped to avoid glitches due to periodic position updates
The new value will apply only to position and rotation changes made after it changed
That means any current movement will continue unchanged
Note: behavior while riding remains unchanged from previous versions
Attributes
Added new attribute generic.max_absorption
generic.max_absorption acts similarly to generic.max_health, but instead of being the upper bound for Health, it is the upper bound for AbsorptionAmount
The mob effect absorption increases generic.max_absorption as well as fills the AbsorptionAmount to the max when applied
Game Events
entity_roar and entity_shake game events have been removed and replaced with entity_action game event
Tags
Added no_knockback damage type tag which causes knockback to not be caused by the damage itself
Used in Vanilla for damage that is caused by events, such as explosions, which apply knockback separately
Added non_controlling_rider to represent entities that don’t override their vehicle’s movement control
Added concrete_powder block tag for Concrete Powder blocks
Added camel_sand_step_sound_blocks block tag for blocks that produce entity.camel.step_sand sound
DATA Pack Version 17
Changed mob effect storage on items, entities, and block entities
Added decal field to armor trim patterns (default: false)
If true, the pattern texture will be masked based on the underlying armor
Mob Effect Storage Changes
The game no longer uses numeric values when storing mob effects to a world (so, for example, 4 becomes minecraft:mining_fatigue)
Various mob effect fields have been renamed for consistency with new structures
Mob Effect Instance
This structure is used in many places, so its changes are described separately.
Id -> id, also changed from number to string id
Ambient -> ambient
Amplifier -> amplifier
Duration -> duration
ShowParticles -> show_particles
ShowIcon -> show_icon
HiddenEffect -> hidden_effect, also since it’s mob effect instance, changes apply recursively
CustomPotionEffects -> custom_potion_effects, contents transformed as a list of mob effect instances
suspicous_stew
Effects -> effects, for each entry:
EffectId -> id, also changed from number to string id
EffectDuration -> duration
Entities
mooshroom
Removed EffectId and EffectDuration
Added stew_effects with the same format as suspicious_stew.effects tag (i.e. list of effect id and duration)
area_effect_cloud
Effects -> effects, contents transformed as a list of mob effect instances
arrow
CustomPotionEffects -> custom_potion_effects, contents transformed as a list of mob effect instances
Players, Armor Stands, and mobs
ActiveEffects -> active_effects, contents transformed as a list of mob effect instances
Block Entities
beacon
Primary -> primary_effect, also changed from number to string id
Secondary -> secondary_effect, also changed from number to string id
Loot Tables
Added sequence loot function
Contains 1 field:
functions: an array of sub-functions to run in sequence
Can also be declared as an inline array without a type
This matches the existing behavior where loot function JSON files can be declared as an array of composite functions
all_of predicates in loot tables can now be declared implicitly as an inline array without a type
This similarly matches the existing behavior where loot predicate JSON files can be declared as an array of sub-predicates
Block or fluid state property matches in loot conditions no longer accept non-string values
Any number or boolean value in a property matcher must be quoted
DATA Pack Version 18
This data pack version removes the execute if function and return run functionality that existed for a time during the development of this version. Flaws with those commands (see bugs MC-264595, MC-264699, and MC-264710) require some substantial changes to fix, which we do not want to make close to a release.
These commands will instead be reintroduced early in the next snapshot series when we can take the time to iterate on and test them together with pack makers.
Removed execute if|unless function command form
Removed return run command form
Numbers used as macro arguments are now always inserted without suffixes, regardless of numeric type
Added game rule enderPearlsVanishOnDeath, controlling whether thrown Ender Pearls vanish when the player that threw them dies (default true, which matches the existing behavior in previous versions)
Added damage type tag always_kills_armor_stands for damage types that should always fully kill an Armor Stand
Experimental Features
Villager Trade Rebalance
The Experiments screen when creating a world now has an option to enable the Villager Trade Rebalance. When this option is selected, some Villager trades will change.
This experiment does not affect normal worlds. You can find more information about Feature Toggles here.
Librarian Changes
Librarians from different biomes now sell different Enchanted Books
Each village biome has one special enchantment that is only available from Master Librarians with full XP
This means that players must visit all seven village biomes to get the full set of villager enchantments
There are two secret village biomes where villages do not generate
A player must build these villages to access their trades!
Some enchantments have been removed from village trading and must be found in other ways
Cartographer Changes
Cartographers can now sell seven new Explorer Maps
Five new maps show the way to five different types of village
The other two new maps show the way to a Swamp Hut and a Jungle Temple
Cartographers from different biomes now sell a different range of maps
Wandering Trader Changes
Wandering Traders now have lower prices and have a higher amount of each item in stock
Wandering Traders now sell Logs
Wandering Traders can now buy many items, instead of only selling
Armorer Changes
Armorer from different biomes now sell different Armor with different enchantments
Buying Diamond Armor now requires a small amount of Diamonds as well as Emeralds
Many other Armorer trades have been updated
Structure Loot
Certain Enchanted Books now have a high chance of generating in some structures:
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics is the latest subsidiary of Embracer Group to be hit with cuts, with the studio announcing yesterday on Twitter that ten staff had to be let go “due to an internal restructuring”.
And, at Embracer’s annual general meeting (which you can watch on YouTube), CEO Lars Wingefors has stated that the company will need to “continue making tough decisions” in order for the company to become “more cost-efficient” (thanks, Game Developer). Wingefors reiterated that these cuts were projected back in June, and is “confident to deliver on the targets we set out for the end of the fiscal year,” which means the cuts will continue until at least March 2024.
With yesterday’s announcement, Crystal Dynamics also requested that if any studio has positions open in “Brand Direction, Creative Services, Community, or IT” to reach out to them.
Senior brand manager Nick Edwards is one of the names affected by the layoffs along with communications director Adam Kahn and social media manager Neha Nair (via Eurogamer).
Wingefors said in today’s AGM that the decision to either close or downsize many of the teams is “tough from many standpoints”, and that Embracer might have more luck by trying to sell its bigger companies and “high-value assets”. Just last week, rumours circulated that the studio was weighing up the option to sell Gearbox.
Crystal Dynamics wasn’t the only studio to suffer yesterday as a result of Embracer’s spending and cuts, as Beamdog — the studio behind MythForce — lost a handful of names. And there’s also the closure of Saint’s Row developer Volition, too. It’s a turbulent time at Embracer, and more and more, it has many wondering what happened with that spending over the past few years.
It seems like we’ll be hearing about these stories for a good while longer, and it’s always sad to see names and talent let go from these studios.
Let us know what you think of this latest news in the comments.
At this year’s annual Tokyo Game Awards, which are held during the Tokyo Game Show, the Family Computer — known as the Famicom or NES (to us) — won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (thanks VGC).
That’s a rather long title for an award that recognises someone or something that has contributed significantly to the growth of the Japanese games industry. The official website says that “Rather than just being a hit toy, it laid the foundation for the world’s game industry, which has continued to develop for 40 years up to the present day”, and that the video games industry would not be where it is today without the Famicom. For reference, FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki won the award in 2022.
Takashi Tezuka, game designer and assistant director on the original Super Mario Bros. who is a long-time Nintendo employee — and is also producing this year’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder — accepted the award on behalf of Nintendo. According to VGC, the game designer said that this award should be shared with all of the developers who created games for the Famicom — a nice little comment, we think.
Nintendo’s first video game console wasn’t the only recipient of an award, however. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak won the Grand Award for Game of the Year — which covers games released from April 2022 to March 2023 in Japan. The expansion to the hugely successful Monster Hunter Rise launched in June 2022 on Switch and PC, with PlayStation and Xbox ports following in 2023.
The Nintendo Switch’s library had a number of other winners — Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet all received an “Award for Excellence”. The latter also received the “Best Sales Award” — no surprises there.
Indie adventure title RPG Time: The Legend of Wright won the “Game Designers Award”, which is chosen by a panel of nine big industry names working in Japan today This year’s panel included Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros., PlatinumGames founder Hideki Kamiya, and NieR creator Yoko Taro.
Here’s a list of all of the night’s winners:
Grand Award
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
Award for Excellence
Best Sales Award
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
Game Designers Award
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright
It’s a fitting year for the Famicom to win the award, as the console celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier in the year. A special website opened up to commemorate 40 years of the landmark console and it’s a delight — even if you can’t read Japanese.
What do you think of the winners of the Tokyo Game Awards 2023? Are you glad to see the Famicom recognised? Let us know in the comments.
We know people love Monster Hunter, but the absolutely – ahem – monster amount of Monster Hunter Now downloads is still something of a surprise. Niantic and Capcom announced recently that Monster Hunter Now has reached over 5 million downloads in its first week, an absolutely whopping number and a great start for the mobile spin-off.
To celebrate, Niantic is giving fans a bonus package that includes 5,000 Zenny and two free paintballs. Simply use one of the brand new Monster Hunter Now codes to get access to it. Alongside this, Niantic revealed the first Monster Hunter Now event, as the Diablos Invasion event hits players this weekend on September 23, 2023, and September 24, 2023. The event runs from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm local time on both days.
During the event, Diablos appears more frequently in desert regions. Plus, time-limited event quests are active, asking you to complete new missions, such as snapping a picture of Diablos using the AR mode within Monster Hunter Now. You can learn more about the Diablos Invasion event at the Monster Hunter Now website.
If you want to get a glimpse of the exciting mobile game in action, you can check out the Monster Hunter Now trailer below.
There you have it, hunters, that’s all we have on those huge Monster Hunter Now downloads for today. If you’re diving in and need some tips, be sure to check our guides covering the Monster Hunter Now weapons and the Monster Hunter Now monsters as well.
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Switch eShop – Highlights
Mineko’s Night Market(Humble Games, 26th Sep, $19.99) – Playing as the adorable Mineko, you’ll do various jobs, befriend the townsfolk and craft all sorts of doodads for the weekly Night Market in this narrative adventure-sim. There are a ton of things to do, like joining parades, entering cat races and performing on stage. If you’re just itching to explore, the island has many secrets to uncover and puzzles to solve. Stop by Mineko’s Night Market, setting up shop on Nintendo Switch Sept. 26.
Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance(Game Mill, 22nd Sep, $49.99) – Relive the epic adventure of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Play as Aang and his friends and master the elements, explore the most unique locations from the series, solve challenging environmental puzzles and experience the most heart-touching moments of Aang’s story. Play the story solo or with a friend locally or online* through the game’s unique two-player co-op mode. Replay any of the 18 thrilling chapters whenever you choose to re-experience your favorite moments from the series. Avatar The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance is available on Sept. 22.
Paleo Pines(Modus Games, 26th Sep, $29.99) – Welcome to Paleo Pines, a charming island known for its friendly dinosaurs, quirky townsfolk and mysterious past. Here, evolution took a different path, creating a world in which humans and dinosaurs live together in harmony! Set out with your dino companion, Lucky, to uncover the island’s secrets and discover new dinos. Your arrival on the island is met with welcome curiosity by the local townsfolk who can help you on your quest – and might just give you more work to do! Together with Lucky, grow crops, assist local villagers, befriend adorable dinosaurs and unearth the island’s lost history to build your cozy dino sanctuary. Start your farming journey Sept. 26.
Switch eShop – New Releases
Aireo FlightSimulator(Airror Studio, 21st Sep, £24.99) – Are you ready for takeoff? With the Aireo FlightSimulator, you’ll experience the world from a new perspective. Take off from one of over 10,000 real airports and discover the world from above! Global Adventure: Fasten your seatbelt and take off to explore the wonders of our Earth. Experience what it’s like to be a pilot as you dive into the most breathtaking landscapes of this planet. From the majestic peaks of the Alps to the shimmering beaches of the Caribbean – the world is yours! More Than 10,000 Airports: Land at the most iconic airports in the world! Test your skills on short landing strips, massive international airports, and remote island airfields. Each airport holds a new adventure and a new opportunity to perfect your skills. Brand New Physics System: Immerse yourself in a completely new flight experience thanks to our new physics system. Feel the aerodynamics of your aircraft and master the challenges of the skies.
Best Adventure 4-in-1 Bundle(HandyGames, 13th Sep, $59.99) – Endling – Extinction is Forever: As the last mother fox on Earth, your cubs need all your care to survive in a merciless world on the brink of destruction. Explore what is left of nature and defend your family against all threats. You are their last hope because extinction is forever. Chicken Police – Paint It RED! : A wild tale of love, death, chickens, and redemption! Chicken Police is a buddy-cop noir adventure, with a carefully crafted world, a gritty story, and lots of absurd humor. The game mixes elements of classic adventure games with visual novel-style storytelling. Through The Darkest Of Times: Berlin, January 1933. “Adolf Hitler is chancellor! ” We all know where that message will lead to, unspeakable horrors and suffering will come to the world. Too few are standing up against the monstrosity of the German Reich. Will you? Lead an underground resistance group Through the Darkest of Times.
Betomis(eastasiasoft, 27th Sep, $4.99) – Enter the tricky pixel art dungeons of Betomis, where you’ll need to carefully observe and explore your surroundings in order to escape! Betomis is a retro 2D action platformer where each chamber of the sprawling dungeon is a single screen of environmental puzzling. Light is limited. Weapons are scarce. But deadly hazards are aplenty, from spikes and spinning saw blades to creatures and carnivorous plants!
Bingo(Sabec, 14th Sep, $9.99) – Engulfed in such a riveting ambiance, you’ll swear you’re right in the heart of the Bingo Arena. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just stepping onto the Bingo scene, gear up for a memorable journey marked by enjoyment, friendly competition, and the exhilarating rush of triumph. Watch the numbers closely and prepare for a Bingo duel unlike any before!
Bro Falls DELUXE(Boros Bros, 21st Sep, £12.99) – Enjoy the chaotic competition alone or with your friends. Up-to 60 online players in a showdown party and only one who can get the victory. Play as Brokkoli to activate the traps or avoid them as a juicy food and win the rounds. DELUXE Edition Extras: -All tracks unlocked. -BattlePass Season 1 Premium path unlocked -Offline mode
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill – Slaps and Beans 2(ININ Games, 22nd Sep, $19.99) – The action-packed sequel to the 2017 brawler sensation Slaps and Beans is finally here! A brand-new, explosive & ludicrous story adventure with an enhanced combat system: Both heroes now have signature abilities and unique power ups. The game now includes voice dubbing in English, Italian, German and Spanish. Enjoy the music from Oliver Onions, the original movie composers, to harmonize with the sound of slapping. Team up with your buddy, to enjoy the story in 2-player couch co-op. Lots of competitive mini-games are included throughout the story, adding various fun gameplay mechanics.
Car Parking Simulator 2024(VG Games, 15th Sep, $9.99) – Get ready to test your precision and skill behind the wheel in the most immersive parking simulator yet – Car Parking Simulator 2024! Dive into a world where every inch matters, and every corner poses a new challenge. From tight urban lots to sprawling multi-story structures, this game will push your parking prowess to the limit. Experience Varied Environments: Explore a diverse range of parking lots, each with its own unique layout and obstacles. Progressive Challenges: With every level, the difficulty ramps up. Maneuver your vehicle through a series of increasingly complex parking scenarios. From mastering parallel parking in narrow alleys to conquering hairpin turns in underground garages, your skills will be put to the test. Precision Driving: The game’s realistic physics and controls require you to carefully gauge your speed, angle, and distance. Feel the weight of your vehicle as you inch your way into tight spots.
Construction Machine Simulator 2023 : Hard Truck Work Job(GameToTop, 22nd Sep, $12.99) – Adventurers of the construction world, brace yourselves for an unparalleled experience! Step into the virtual realm where you become the master of massive machines amidst a bustling construction site.
Cry Babies Magic Tears: The Big Game(Merge Games, 22nd Sep, $39.99) – The Big Game is a friendly and fun adventure perfect for young players! Join Lady, Coney, Dreamy and friends in an all-new adventure as they take part in an exciting multi-stage tournament to win the fabled Golden Pacifier!
Cube Airport(Isaias Game Dev, 14th Sep, $10.00) – Cube Airport is a puzzle game where your objective is to construct a runway to enable the airplane to take off safely. To do this, you need to correctly fit the runway cubes into the indicated positions on the platform and proceed to the next level.
Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace(Ratalaika Games, 21st Sep, $5.99) – Initially released in 1992, Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace is bringing its nostalgic flavor of platform action to consoles. Join bionic heroes Arnold and Sonya on their mission to defend the world from an alien invasion. Jump, fly and blast your way through levels full of robotic alien baddies, take down epic bosses, and save your allies from the clutches of evil. Rediscover Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace today!
Days of Doom(Atari, 21st Sep, $29.99) – The apocalypse wasn’t the end of the world. Just the one we knew. Enter the Days of Doom, a post-apocalyptic tactical RPG roguelite that challenges players to reach Sanctuary, a place of promise and respite in a world of colorful chaos. Starting with a small cast of survivors, you’ll chart a path to reach your ultimate destination, encountering threats, including zombies, raiders, and even zombie raiders! Along the way you will need to recruit a ragtag band of heroes to protect your growing community and fight your way forward.
Earthshine(Sometimes You, 21st Sep, $4.99) – Earthshine tells the story of two travellers, Talia and Inar, as they journey across the Desert in search of the Fields of Oblivion. Legend has it that these fields contain beautiful flowers: flowers that can heal any wounds, resurrect the dead, and grant immortality to those who seek it. But nobody has ever proved the rumours to be true before… Who are Talia and Inar? Are they just two strangers, or something more? Will they make it to the Fields of Oblivion, and find the answers they’ve been searching for?
Escape Room Bundle Triple Pack(Mc2games, 20th Sep, $24.99) – This bundle includes three escape room games: *Between Time: Escape Room *Regular Factory: Escape Room *Wizardry School: Escape Room BETWEEN TIME: ESCAPE ROOM You are going to steal a time machine. In this escape room, you must travel through time, explore mysterious places, and solve puzzles to obtain untold treasures. Will you come back alive? REGULAR FACTORY: ESCAPE ROOM You don’t work in a regular assembly line. In this escape room, you will investigate what is really being manufactured in a secret factory. Will you discover the truth? WIZARDRY SCHOOL: ESCAPE ROOM The School Headmaster needs your help to recover the Philosopher’s Stone. Explore your wizardry school, solve puzzles, learn new spells, and put your magical skills to the test. Will you save the school?
Evil Wizard(E-Home21st Sep, $19.99) – Evil Wizard is a humor-filled action RPG that puts you in the shoes of a former Final Boss. Rise from defeat, rediscover long lost powers, and fight to reclaim your castle from an army of so-called heroes.
Evolings(Super Rare Games, 21st Sep, $8.99) – Prepare for endless excitement as “Evolings” generates a brand new level-map with each playthrough! Discover unique Evolings, acquire rare items, engage in thrilling battles, and create unforgettable stories. No two adventures are alike, ensuring endless surprises and thrilling experiences every time you dive in! Unleash your strategic prowess and assemble a formidable team to take on evil Evolings. Engage in exhilarating turn-based battles where cuteness meets power. Command your squad and showcase your tactical genius to emerge victorious in epic clashes! Embark on a journey through three distinct acts, each brimming with exclusive Evolings, extraordinary items, and captivating levels to conquer. Prepare for a gameplay experience of non-stop action and adventure!
Farm Land(QubicGames, 22nd Sep, $4.99) – Your quest is simple… sow the seeds, harvest the crops, sell your products to the merchants and expand your farm to become the best farmer you can be! Take part in other very satisfying activities. Go fishing, milk all the cows, shear the sheep and much more! If you need a little help on the farm, invite a friend to play together on the split screen! Put on your funny skins, hop on your bikes and share the responsibilities. Are you ready for country life?
FRAG Pro Shooter(Oh BiBi, 21st Sep, $0.00) – Get ready to play the BEST EVER HERO SHOOTER! REAL-TIME TEAM DUELS! ! Challenge thousands of players in FAST and INTENSE real-time 1v1 matches! Control your character in First-Person or Third-Person View they will shoot AUTOMATICALLY! – SWITCH RAPIDLY between your heroes and get the advantage! – Dying isn’t that bad: RESPAWN INSTANTLY as another character! ASSEMBLE THE MIGHTIEST TEAM! ! – Build your BATTLE DECK to fit your game style: offensive, defensive or balanced! – Over 100 UNIQUE CHARACTERS to choose from to make your Battle deck! – Each character has a UNIQUE POWER to turn the tides of a fight: try them all to find combos! – UPGRADE your character to make them even more awesome! MAKE FRIENDS, RIVALS, AND BECOME A SUPER STAR! ! – Expand your FAN BASE to become POPULAR! ! – Join a CLUB or create your own to become a famous team! – RECORD AND SHARE your games and decks, and check others to become better!
Fragment’s Note2+(ULLUCUS HEAVEN, 21st Sep, $19.99) – Kyoichi Akikawa lost his family in a devastating plane crash when he was just a child. “Will it really come someday?” “Will the day ever come when I can truly move on from this pain?” Kyoichi’s stepsister Shizuku Akikawa has supported him all this time, while Yukitsuki Asaka bears a striking resemblance to Kyoichi’s beloved older sister from before the tragedy. As the paths of these three fated individuals converge, a mechanical god appears… This is a story that heads towards the future.
Galaxy Battle(Gametry, 22nd Sep, $4.99) – Galaxy Battle thrusts you into the role of a daring galaxy pilot, engaging in intense space combat against a variety of foes. Customize your starship, navigate cosmic battlegrounds, and prove your mettle in adrenaline-pumping encounters. With stunning visuals and gripping gameplay, prepare for an epic journey through the galaxy where your piloting skills will be put to the ultimate test. Only the bravest and most skilled pilots can hope to emerge victorious in this grand interstellar showdown. Defend the cosmos and become a legendary pilot in Galaxy Battle!
HammerHelm(Silesia Games, 21st Sep, $14.99) – Banished from your homeland for believing that dwarfs can live above ground, you decide to build a new town that will attract other dwarves who share the same vision. Become a leader and keep your townspeople safe and happy by completing quests, crafting items and fighting off enemies. The bigger your town, the bigger your adventure!
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos(Natsume, 26th Sep, $49.99) – The land of Anthos was a peaceful and harmonious land watched over by the Harvest Goddess and the Harvest Sprites, who protected the inhabitants of Anthos from natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and the like. However, one day many years ago, Anthos experienced a severe volcanic eruption that threatened life on Anthos itself, and the Harvest Goddess and Harvest Sprites had to use all of their remaining power to keep the people and animals of Anthos safe. This left the different villages across the land blocked off from each other. Some unfortunate souls even got trapped outside their villages, and were unable to return… Believing that the separated villages and people would one day be reconnected, the Harvest Goddess sent out a bottle with a letter and a magic key, then fell into a deep sleep… Now, 10 years later, you have found the SOS the Harvest Goddess sent to the world in the form of a message in a bottle! With the help of your wacky inventor friend Doc Jr. and many others, it’ll be up to you to revive the Harvest Goddess and the Harvest Sprites, as well as reconnect all of the villages of Anthos with each other!
Hole Switch(Entity3, 16th Sep, $0.99) – Control and grow your hole by eating only the correct colors Eat cars, trains, trees, buildings and more in your quest to grow eat the wrong color and shrink back down!
HopSquash!(Domarius, 12th Sep, $5.00) – Up to 8 kids and adults can SQUASH each other the most times to win! Controllers can be shared between two people, doubling the amount of simultaneous players! Enjoy a variety of levels, with different music and themes, and add computer-controlled opponents to enhance the chaos or use them to play alone and build up your skills!
Horizon Chase 2(Epic Games, 14th Sep, $24.99) – Horizon Chase 2 is the evolution of the award-winning racing franchise. Born under the arcade sign, this game fulfills your senses through immersive and high-speed gameplay. This is the golden era of arcade racing brought to life over a modern and completely evolved experience. The classic 90’s signature gameplay keeps you in complete control of your cars at all times. Forget complex setups: you are one tick away from overtakes, forks, and nitrous. Surpass your rivals in the blink of an eye. Easy to play, but hard to master, this game demands sharp racing skills and quick reflexes to beat your opponents and cross the finish line. Play every game mode with your friends! Join them on the couch with the split-screen multiplayer or assemble an Online Crew to race for bragging rights. You can decide to compete head-to-head for glory or progress together in the World Tour. No matter where you are, it’s Arcade racing for everyone.
Item Tower(RandomSpin, 14th Sep, $1.50) – Players build towers by expertly arranging a variety of everyday items – from chairs and bananas to microwaves, washing machines, and statues. The challenge lies in balancing these unpredictable pieces. Stacking up 10 items gives your tower stability, but watch out! Any less and your tower could come crashing down. Stack up 50 items and watch your tower magically disappear, leaving behind your well-earned points. Competition escalates with an online leaderboard, as players from around the world vie to amass the most points in this whimsical, strategic game. Step into “Item Tower” and elevate ordinary objects into extraordinary adventures!
Kind Heart Defenders(DX Gameworks, 21st Sep, $3.99) – If you enjoy space shooters or have a penchant for strategy in tower defence games, Kind Heart Defenders offers a unique fusion of both genres that promises an engaging gaming experience. Prepare to be transported to a universe unlike any other—a realm of floating islands amidst the vast expanse of space, where the purity of Kind Hearts must be safeguarded at all costs. As a relentless wave of enemy ships threatens to obliterate these precious hearts, the fate of this celestial sanctuary rests upon your shoulders. Summoned from across the galaxy, you’ll step into the shoes of masterful aviators—each with their own distinct traits and strengths, embodied in their uniquely designed planes. For the enthusiasts, the Enthusiasm Ship boasts an unmatched firing rate, turning the tide of battle in your favour. The Luck Ship, a beacon of fortune, endows you with increased resilience, ensuring prolonged survival. Are you driven by dreams?
Livestream 2: Escape from Togaezuka Happy Place(qureate, 21st Sep, ($24.99) – It’s a side-scrolling survival action-adventure game in which players must escape from a mysterious mascot in an abandoned shopping mall, using items and hints as clues. Depending on the player’s choices, the fate of the girls will drastically change.
Lost Crystals(Ultimate Games, 19th Sep, $4.99) – Welcome to the enchanting world of Lost Crystals. Immerse yourself in the calm and let the magic of Lost Crystals wash over you. Are you ready to embark on a tranquil adventure like no other? Immersive Gemstone Hunt: Seek out a plethora of exquisite treasures, including dazzling gemstones like Sapphire, Jade, Ruby, Amethyst, Moonstone, and more. Uncover hidden crystals to unravel the secrets of this mysterious realm. Breathtaking Visuals: Get lost in the stunning beauty of the fog-shrouded valley, with ethereal fog effects and meticulously crafted environments that immerse you in a captivating atmosphere. Soothing Atmosphere: Experience tranquillity with the soft sounds of nature and a soothing musical score that enhance the relaxing gameplay. Let the stress melt away as you lose yourself in the serene world of Lost Crystals. Mystical Exploration: Navigate through overgrown paths, dense foliage, hidden alcoves, and ancient ruins.
Magic Donut Adventure: Line Match 3 Puzzle(Megame, 21st Sep, $9.99) – A classic match-3 puzzle in which you have to connect yummy donuts in a line of three or more! The rules of the puzzle are extremely simple, but the tasks become more and more difficult with each level. You need to match three or more donuts in a row to destroy them. Connect the donuts in a line and in a row and in a column and diagonally and destroy all the donuts! The last levels are a real workout for the mind! Despite the complexity of the puzzles, the gameplay will allow you to escape from the daily routine. And don’t forget the hints – they will help you solve the puzzle.
Mermaid Castle 2(IceTorch, 21st Sep, $9.99) – Evil Magic has stricken the mermaids’ land and swallowed their beautiful castle whole! Embark on a challenging journey to discover the secret of Evil Magic. Fight, solve puzzles, collect coins, and use special abilities. Ava, Luna, and Nixie are counting on your help once again! When the mermaid sisters returned home from a trip, they had an unpleasant surprise. An Evil Magic Vortex appeared out of nowhere, literally devouring their castle! The sisters immediately went to seek the Wise Octopus’s advice. But their friend didn’t have good news either. Someone had stolen valuable scrolls from her library! As it turned out, that was just the beginning of the trouble. . . Who is behind all this? To unravel this mystery, you will embark with Ava, Luna, and Nixie on an exciting journey through brand new lands.
Mon-Yu(Aksys Games, 21st Sep, $49.99) – You have been guided to the land of fairies where the Dragon King’s Tower housed the hidden treasures that had brought peace to the land. But one day, the Seven Devil Kings stole all of the treasures, and used their powers to turn the tower into a terrible dungeon! Choose from eight different classes to assemble your team of heroes and challenge the tower! Find strong weapons and armor as you traverse the dungeon. Level up and defeat the Devil Kings – no matter how many times you die!
Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission(Microids, 21st Sep, $29.99) – A reinterpretation of one of the founding games of the Rail Shooter genre, released as an arcade game in 1987, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission adopts the same DNA as in the original game (sustained action in an atmosphere straight out of 1980s action films) but offers a new design. A few months ago, a new criminal organization made its appearance. In addition to trafficking arms and drugs, it has developed a new, superpowerful weapon. After discovering several of the bases of the organisation, led by the mysterious General Viper, two agents are dispatched to learn more about this weapon and free the hostages held in the surrounding camps.
Osyaberi! Horijyo! Gekihori: Anna Holinski saves the universe, alright?!(First Press Games, 21st Sep, $16.99) – Anna Holinski is a treasure hunter, keenly drilling for her shiny gems. But one morning, she is shocked to find that all minerals got stolen away by UFOs – It’s time to dig high, instead of low, and catch those thieves from outer space! Osyaberi! Horijyo! Gekihori is a cute Japanese Space-Shooter that you can enjoy at your very own pace: Play it with a friend, grind for upgrades and clear each stage one by one, if you are a beginner. Or try to go for a one-try clear, get challenging achievements and unlock secrets, if you are a skilled arcade-expert!
Ouija: They are Among us(Cooking And Publishing, 14th Sep. $4.99) – In a forgotten American town, five thrill-seeking teenagers decide to challenge the monotony by exploring an abandoned mansion, where they find a Ouija board. Unaware of the consequences, their curiosity leads them to unearth dark secrets and deep fears that inhabit the house and themselves, drastically altering their worldview. Local legends come to life, showing that the line between reality and fiction is thinner than it seems.
Paperman: Adventure Delivered(Mindscape, 21st Sep, $29.99) – Paperman’s post office has managed to make 1 million deliveries. To celebrate this special achievement, the post office has decided to send out special golden letters to their most loyal customers. On a night when the dragon is watching television, he sees the news about the golden letters. Greedy as he is, the dragon uses his ancient magic to attack the post office and steal all the mail including the golden letters to add to the massive mountain of gold he already possesses. Paperman and his team will do everything in their power to retrieve the mail and get it delivered! Play as each of the four unique mail carriers and swap characters to unlock their unique abilities. Paperman, our titular hero, throws letters as projectiles and can teleport short distances. Express is the fastest character and takes care of the most urgent deliveries.
Raid on Taihoku(Softstar Entertainment, 21st Sep, $10.99) – About This Game “All wars are fought twice, the first time on the battlefield, the second time in memory. ” -Vietnamese novelist, Viet Thanh Nguyen Game mode This is a 2. 5 D narrative adventure game. In the city of Taihoku under Japanese colonial rules, the players have to evade the raid of B-24 Liberator from American Air Force, and face the struggles of humanity through the characters’ eye. In the safe zones, you can explore the game freely at your will, and follow hints to collect mysterious items hidden in the city; in danger zones, the emphasis is put on the life-or-death cooperation between characters, who have to escape from all kinds of dangers including air raid. Background Story Near the end of WWII, the USA Air Force chose to fight against Japan with island hopping, and the two countries thus had an air combat in the air of Taiwan Strait. On May, 31th, 1945, hundreds of American B-24 Liberators raided the capital of this island, Taipei.
Railed Up(Timothee Paez, 14th Sep, $5.99) – Take part in deadly settlings of scores between rival electricity providers, inside futuristic tramways on suspended railways. In Railed Up, everything is upside down. You see the world from below, in order to give a better view of those endless railway networks as well as the oppressively enormous city through which your quest will lead you. It’s a multiplayer game for one to four players. A solo campaign will lead Iskhar on his way up the layers of the lower city, while he faces each electrical gang and discovers all the deadliest weaponry of their tramways. Each gang eliminated means having their arsenal at your disposal, a much-needed help against what’s coming. The tone is very dark and violent, but tries at the same time to offer a dose of offbeat, cynical humour in its dialogues, which brings some lightness between the ruthless confrontations. The gameplay is “on rails”, literally.
RAINBOW HIGH: RUNWAY RUSH(Outright Games, 22nd Sep, $39.99) – It looks like you’ve just got your first art assignment, the theme is ‘Everything is Art’. Play as Ruby, Poppy, Sunny, Jade, Skyler, and Violet. Use their unique talents and work together to present your best work to date. Take a tour around the school. Check out the Atrium, hang out in Sunny’s bedroom and Rainbow Union, play games, take selfies in the Student Lounge, and find fun materials in the Fabric Studio. As you search for inspiration collect rainbow diamonds, find clues, and unlock the coolest outfits while you help your classmates.
Retro Kart Rush(TuanisApps, 21st Sep, $4.99) – Retro Kart Rush is a retro racing game that will transport you back to the 16-bit era. Where friendships were made (or broken) by playing multiplayer games in front of the TV. Featuring pixelated characters, arcade physics, and gameplay that is both easy to learn and deep enough to satisfy veterans of the genre.
RoboDunk(Jollypunch Games, 25th Sep, $14.99) – ROBODUNK is Nba Jam meets Rogue Legacy, with robots. A combat dunkball game with sky-high dunks, satisfying tackles and explosive weapons. A roguelite campaign where every match is different, and you can buy the next permanent upgrade even if you die. JUST…ONE…MORE…DUNK!
Shuyan Saga(ESDigital Games, 22nd Sep, $14.99) – Immerse yourself in a beautifully crafted world where ancient Chinese culture meets the power of martial arts in Shuyan Saga. This action-adventure game blends captivating storytelling and breathtaking visuals. Experience a gripping tale of honor, courage, and self-discovery, as you step into the shoes of Shuyan, a young princess determined to become a true Kung Fu warrior and stop the evil Guer horde from destroying the Five Kingdoms.
Sugar Tanks(EpiXR, 21st Sep, $9.99) – Sugar Tanks is an intense, fast-paced, and super-sweet tank shooter game. As the hero of Sugar Tanks, you will have to defend your sweet home world from evil grey tanks, trying to sap all the color from it. Defeat enemy tanks while dodging their attacks. Level by level they will get faster, smarter, and deadlier. Unlock more heroes with their own sweet perks and upgrade your tank. Stock up on lives, bombs, and shields and become the strongest hero. Choose from 12 different tanks to beat the Grey Ones and save the world! Will you be the one to banish evil? Be ready for a colorful, bullet-hell twin-stick shooter like no other!
Super Adventure Hand(DevM Games, 21st Sep, £12.99) – Enjoy 50 plus exciting, unique levels full of challenges! Avoid saw blades, fires, and other obstacles! Enjoy a handy 5 high friction digits which will allow you to climb walls and tubes, grab objects, explode bombs, and more We all know feet stink, but who in their right hand would steal someone’s arm? There must be a reason behind all of this. Lay your hands on Super Adventure Hand now and figure it out!
The Jelly Adventure(INSTAMARKETINGANDGAME, 24th Sep, $4.99) – Introducing The Jelly Adventure – the ultimate puzzle-casual game designed to bring joy to kids and offer a relaxing escape for those seeking a break from a hectic day. As a bouncy, wobbly jelly, you’re about to dive into a captivating experience where quick thinking and adaptability are your best allies.
Tick Tack Puppet(Tenkai Games, 21st Sep, $4.99) – Experience a time-manipulation action game with unconventional controls. Limbs are linked to touch control and can be moved as desired. Jump by moving the feet downward! Float gracefully through the air and punch enemies by moving the hands. When playing alone, you use the touchscreen; when playing with others, you tilt the Joy-Con™ to control the limbs. While the limbs are not moving, time almost stops. Stop time, avoid enemy attacks coolly, and strike with precision. The game supports co-op play. Instead of each player controlling a single puppet, each player manipulates a single hand or leg, working together to control the puppet. Communication with your friends is the key to success.
Trombone Champ(Holy Wow Studios, 14th Sep, $14.99) – Do you have what it takes to become the Trombone Champ? Trombone Champ allows you to play over 45 songs, which include anthems, marches, classical pieces, electronic music, folk classics, and more. You can also play with up to four players in local multiplayer mode! The game supports multiple control modes, so you can play however you like! There’s also a hidden story for you to discover! As you play the game, you can find collectible cards and interact with hidden characters, which allow you to unlock new characters, trombones, trombone sounds, and more. Can you unlock all of the game’s mysteries? – Read our Trombone Champ review
Truck Drag Racing Legends Simulator(GameToTop, 17th Sep, $13.99) – Get ready to unleash the adrenaline-fueled fury of raw power on the asphalt! Dominate the tracks as you steer through an array of formidable challenges and opponents.
TY the Tasmanian Tiger 4: Bush Rescue Returns(Krome Studios, 26th Sep, $19.99) – The hero loved by millions worldwide, TY the Tasmanian Tiger™, is back! Join TY on an exciting new adventure in the great Aussie Outback. Use your wits and boomerangs to find hidden treasures, help the colourful locals, and uncover the mysteries of the land Down Under.
Ugly(Graffiti Games, 14th Sep, $19.99) – In this dark and twisted fairytale, nothing is as it seems. Explore the desolated recesses of a tormented nobleman’s mind as you progress through challenging puzzle rooms and topple towering bosses in this reflective puzzle platformer. Use an innovative mirror mechanic to create a shadowy reflection of yourself that you can swap places with to solve puzzles and make your way around this wicked place full of secrets and awash in tragedy. It will take logic and skill alike to survive this perilous journey of self-reflection. A deeply stirring narrative is waiting to be discovered as you strive to untangle the cobwebs obscuring your past. The mirror reveals all…but beware. Sometimes, the truth is ugly.
Venatrix(Playstige Interactive, 22nd Sep, $14.99) – We choose to play as either Matthew Kolth, an occult obsessed paranormal investigator, into nightmarish scenes to fight perturbing monsters from ghastly realms, or as Della Hartfort, as she slithers her way stealthy to avoid the same monsters Matthew is emptying his bullets upon. Join either Mr. Kolth or Mrs. Hartfort as they both try to make sense of a hellish adventure that leads them into the depths of their own psyche and back again. Live through their difference of reality-gaze which merges fiction and ethereal dream sequences and go on to fight against evil in this dimension…and the next. Matthew Kolth is a paranormal investigator at the turn of the century that takes on a new case at Hartford Mansion. There he meets Della, the wife of a rich businessman that believes her house to be haunted. She sees visions of demons and beasts of other dimensions.
Warriors of the Nile 2(Gamera Games, 21st Sep, $14.99) – Warriors of the Nile are back! Building up on the original version’s framework, in Warriors of the Nile 2 you will once again experience iconic fast-paced, exhilarating combat. This time, you will lead warriors blessed by Egyptian gods and fight against the invading Roman army. Choose your adventure route. Strategise and make preparations amidst ever-changing stage conditions, then move with precision as you fire away. Create a unique skill build by choosing from an array of skill tablets. What’s different from the original version is, in the new Warriors of the Nile squad, each character possesses a trademark skillset. Not only have attack modes changed, but the new feature-packed individual system will bring an all-new dynamic into the game. Choose a suitable skillset tablet for you, be it making a clean sweep at the battlefield, using multi-phased attacks and chain attacks to break through enemy lines, or using charge attack leaps to take out the back row. . .
Wartales(Shiro Games, 14th Sep, $39.99) – Fight, Survive and Live to Tell the Tales. A century has passed since the fall of the Edoran Empire at the hands of an unprecedented plague that swept the nation. Now, the land is rife with mercenary work, banditry and thievery, with honor having become an almost entirely forgotten virtue. Now, prepare to lead a group of unscrupulous characters in a massive open world where combat, death and a thirst for riches will dictate your day to day life. You are not the hero of this story, destined to usher in a new era of peace. Your goal is solely to survive and thrive in this harsh and hostile world, by any means necessary… Only the bravest and most ambitious can hope to see their story written in the Wartales! Develop your group of mercenaries.
Whateverland(Drageus Games, 22nd Sep, $14.99) – Vincent is a skilled thief who decides to steal a precious necklace from a mansion of a lonely old woman named Beatrice. His plan would have gone perfectly well, but when she catches him red-handed, she turns out to be an ancient, powerful witch. As a punishment, Beatrice sends him to the parallel world she has created, where the witch traps those she considers her enemies. The first inhabitants of this bizarre world called it Whateverland, and since then it kind of stuck. Vincent teams up with a charming, yet a little annoying ghost named Nick, and together they have to find their way out. Are they going to make it? That’s for you to decide!
Wire Lips(RandomSpin, 14th Sep, $6.99) – Leta’s life changed in a fleeting moment when fate led her to a mysterious artefact. Leta was strolling in the mountains near her hometown with her friend Lina, photographing nature, when they stumbled upon an ancient box. Lina decided to take the strange object home — after all, it seemed to belong to no one. Soon after, she vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a photograph and that very box. It’s up to Leta to discover the terrifying secrets the artefact holds. . . Third-person horror; Eerie atmosphere; Unique style and soundtrack; Vibrant animated characters; Puzzles; Roughly two hours of gameplay; The box.
Word Web by POWGI(Lightwood Games, 14th Sep, $7.99) – A new POWGI word game for fans of logic puzzles! Place the letters into the web so that every word can be found along a continuous path. This puzzle is also known as “Gogen”.
What will you be downloading this week? (153 votes)
Mineko’s Night Market14%
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance4%
Paleo Pines4%
Aireo FlightSimulator0%
Best Adventure 4-in-1 Bundle0%
Betomis1%
Bingo (2023)0%
Bro Falls DELUXE1%
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill – Slaps and Beans 20%
Car Parking Simulator 20241%
Construction Machine Simulator 2023 : Hard Truck Work Job0%
Cry Babies Magic Tears: The Big Game2%
Cube Airport0%
Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace1%
Days of Doom0%
Earthshine0%
Escape Room Bundle Triple Pack0%
Evil Wizard0%
Evolings2%
Farm Land1%
FRAG Pro Shooter0%
Fragment’s Note2+1%
Galaxy Battle0%
HammerHelm0%
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos6%
Hole Switch1%
HopSquash!0%
Horizon Chase 27%
Item Tower0%
Kind Heart Defenders0%
Livestream 2: Escape from Togaezuka Happy Place3%
Lost Crystals0%
Magic Donut Adventure: Line Match 3 Puzzle0%
Mermaid Castle 20%
Mon-Yu2%
Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission3%
Osyaberi! Horijyo! Gekihori: Anna Holinski saves the universe, alright?!0%
Ouija: They are Among us0%
Paperman: Adventure Delivered1%
Raid on Taihoku1%
Railed Up1%
Rainbow High: Runway Rush1%
Retro Kart Rush1%
RoboDunk1%
Shuyan Saga0%
Sugar Tanks0%
Super Adventure Hand0%
The Jelly Adventure1%
Tick Tack Puppet0%
Trombone Champ8%
Truck Drag Racing Legends Simulator0%
TY the Tasmanian Tiger 4: Bush Rescue Returns6%
Ugly1%
Venatrix0%
Warriors of the Nile 21%
Wartales1%
Whateverland0%
Wire Lips0%
Word Web by POWGI0%
Nothing for me this week25%
So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!
With its bright, cel-shaded models and notably more tame environments, MythForce targets nostalgia for Saturday Morning cartoons from the 1980s like He-Man and Thundercats. A lot of people don’t remember just how poorly a lot of those cartoons hold up, though. They have their die-hard fans, and they’re fun to look back at with your tongue in your cheek and a drink in your hand as you muse about how easily entertained you were as a kid, but for most they’re not much worth revisiting outside of a good laugh about reused animation and some occasionally fun character designs. Similarly, even beyond its horrendous performance on Switch, MythForce proves to be an uncompelling experience that hardly holds up.
MythForce is a first-person roguelite dungeon crawler intended (though perhaps not designed) to be played in online co-op. For all intents and purposes, it’s a pretty standard multiplayer roguelite; the entire game resets itself after you lose a run, and aside from incremental upgrades, nothing you pick up will stay with you in between runs. You can choose from one of MythForce’s four members, each with their own special abilities, for each run.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Each character represents a different broad archetype you’d expect from any fantasy work in the same vein as He-Man; there’s Victoria the knight, Hawkins the ranger, Rico the rogue, and Maggie the wizard. Each character has four distinct special attacks, some have their own weapons, and they all seem to have their own movement abilities, though MythForce’s performance was so consistently bad in our time with it that it was often difficult to get a good feel for each member’s movement abilities.
They all have well-acted, personalized voice lines, but unless you’re playing in multiplayer, they lose some context. Even in single-player, they’ll shout lines like, “This isn’t just a flesh wound! I need healing!” or talk about their relationship with the level’s boss or their fellow members of Mythforce as if they were on the battlefield with them. It’s a cool dialogue system in multiplayer, but doesn’t hold up as well if you’re trolling MythForce’s dungeons alone.
Playing with other people works well enough; we’re still in the launch period, so we had no issues hopping into quickplay matches or letting others join our own games. Like with a lot of MythForce, it’s hard to tell where baked-in performance issues began and online play issues ended, but things seemed lag-free, at least. But again, MythForce’s performance issues permeate almost everything about it.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
We have played and reviewed hundreds of Switch games. From notoriously stumbling ports of last-gen AAA games to poorly optimized indies, very few games have performed as poorly as MythForce. Between pervasive pop-in, resolution, load times, frame rate drops and freezing, full-on crashes, and input lag, it’s playable only by the skin of its teeth.
Developer Beamdog and publisher Aspyr have promised a patch, but we’re not optimistic. This embarrassment of bugs seeps into every aspect of gameplay and often left us wondering what was a bug and what wasn’t. Other times, they outright prevent you from playing the game. One of MythForce’s key attacks is a charged attack that requires you to be running, jumping, or both. It takes precise aiming and timing to land, but it also requires you to be moving so quickly that the game can’t keep up. Most of the time any of us tried to execute this attack, things slowed down to slideshow-like frame rates, causing us to miss completely.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Missing an attack because of lag might as well be a feature in this version of the game, but that’s just one minor example of how performance issues completely muddy the MythForce experience. Plenty of attacks lack proper visual/audio cues. In fact, many of the times that we lost a round were at the hands of enemies outside of our field of view or enemies who essentially teleported into us thanks to severe dips in frame rate.
MythForce isn’t Beamdog’s first game on Switch, nor is it Aspyr’s. Known for its ports of classic Star Wars like Republic Commando, Knights of the Old Republic, and The Force Unleashed, it’s disappointing to see the Austin, TX-based publisher not exert more quality control over releasing a game that performs so much worse than its other titles on Switch. Sure, the Switch is old hardware at this point, but performance this bad is unforgivable.
Its poor optimization stretches beyond just the likes of bugs and performance issues, though. Menus are clearly designed to be navigated using a mouse and keyboard, tutorials are giant, overwhelming walls of text presented as if they were ripped straight from a PC game. There’s nothing wrong with these things in the right setting; a keyboard and mouse are absolutely the ideal way to navigate a user interface, and text-based tutorials can be efficient when playing at a desk with a monitor, but the Switch is not a PC in the ways that matter. It’s an example of a careless Switch port.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
Even its multiplayer features feel half-baked on Switch. Unlike PC, native microphone and voice chat features in-game are extremely limited on Switch, and MythForce requires some degree of communication beyond its simplistic ping system that boils down to, “Hey, this thing is here.” Chests, shops, potions, and other pickups are single-use only. That means playing with a co-op partner who isn’t interested in playing ball can all but ruin the experience and keep you from picking up stuff you need to get stronger and complete the run, like upgrades for your abilities or accessories to level up certain attributes or stats.
When it isn’t bogged down by frustrating decisions and bumbling performance, there’s a decent roguelite experience to be had here. The first-person combat feels good; there are rewards for precision aiming with ranged weapons, dodges are responsive, and each character has an interesting enough set of abilities. The problem is that there aren’t many layers to its rogue elements.
You’ll come across a handful of powerups as you progress throughout each run, but you rarely get to see a power’s full potential realized. Instead of moving from section to section, leveling up as you go, and carrying on your powers and upgrades, defeating a boss at the end of a level results in the end of a run. Starting the next level means starting from zero, so you rarely get that snowball-like feeling that comes from a good run in a great roguelike. Even allowing players the choice to start on the next level with their previous successful run’s build would be a massive step in the right direction.
Conclusion
Even when everything’s working, MythForce isn’t much more than a bad port of a fun but uninteresting game. That being said, we can’t possibly recommend it in its launch state. We don’t take half-baked efforts lightly, and this feels even less than that. With some patches and updates, MythForce could potentially turn things around, although we’re very far from optimistic. As things stand, avoid the Switch version of MythForce.
The release will also come wit a bunch of special content, so let’s see what Capcom has in store of us:
– Orchestra Hall – The soundtracks of all three games plus 14 select tracks from the Ace Attorney 15th Anniversary Orchestra Concert and the Ace Attorney 2019 Orchestra Concert make for a total of 175 tracks. Watch the new chibi character illustrations dance along to the music as you enjoy your favorite songs. – Art Library – This library is chock full of character designs, background art, and even the special prologue anime for Spirit of Justice. We’ve never included so much! Original art commissioned for this collection can also be found here! – Animation Studio – Freely create the scene of your dreams with character models and animations, background music, and voiced lines from the games—all at your fingertips. Place characters in situations unthinkable in the main games! – Special Episodes and Costumes – Special Episodes and costumes that were only available as pre-order specials or paid content are included in this collection. Play with special costumes on for even wackier trials. Enjoy the two Special Episodes from Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice, “Turnabout Reclaimed” and “Turnabout Time Traveler.” An unusual client and some familiar faces make these must-play episodes for any Ace Attorney fan!
Will you be picking up Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy in the new year? Please present your case to the court in the comments section below.
Satya, this is an exciting vision for bringing helpful and responsible AI to Microsoft’s products. The seamless integration of Copilot across Windows, Office 365, Bing and Edge represents a major strategic investment in the future of AI. By baking it deeply into Microsoft’s daily solutions for consumers and businesses, you are positioning the company to lead and shape the coming AI revolution. If executed responsibly, Copilot could redefine how we interact with technology and transform human capabilities. It points to a future where AI assumes a collaborative, assisting role in our work and lives. Of course, it will be critical that Microsoft sets the highest bars for AI safety, ethics and transparency as Copilot scales up. But the promise is enormous, and this technology could help unlock new levels of human productivity and creativity. Kudos to you and the team on this ambitious effort to put Microsoft at the forefront of our AI future. I’m excited to see Copilot and your expanded AI vision come to life for customers.
If you’re like me, you’re using OpenAI API a lot in your Python code. So the natural question arises: “How to use OpenAI’s API asynchronously by issuing multiple requests at once?”
I will give you my code for asynchronous OpenAI API requests for copy and paste below. But first, allow me to give you a word of warning from coder to coder:
Generally speaking, coders who use asynchronous code do it just because they want to, not because it is needed. Asynchronous code is hard to read, error-prone, inefficient due to context switches, and unpredictable.
Specifically, when using asynchronous requests against the OpenAI API, you should be aware of the rate limits that may become the bottleneck of your asynchronous Python app:
I have developed the following code to issue OpenAI requests asynchronously in Python — make sure to replace the highlighted lines with your OpenAI key and your desired prompts:
import aiohttp
import asyncio
import openai # Set up your OpenAI API key
openai.api_key = 'sk-...' # Example prompts
prompts = ["What is the capital of France?", "How does photosynthesis work?", "Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?"] async def async_openai_request(prompt): url = "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions" headers = { "Authorization": f"Bearer {openai.api_key}", "Content-Type": "application/json" } data = { "model": "gpt-4", "messages": [ { "role": "user", "content": prompt } ], "temperature": 1, "max_tokens": 150, "top_p": 1, "frequency_penalty": 0, "presence_penalty": 0 } async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session: async with session.post(url, json=data, headers=headers) as response: return await response.json() async def main(): # Gather results from all asynchronous tasks results = await asyncio.gather(*(async_openai_request(prompt) for prompt in prompts)) for prompt, result in zip(prompts, results): print(f"Prompt: {prompt}") print(f"Response: {result['choices'][0]['message']['content']}\n") # Run the main function
asyncio.run(main())
I’ll give you the output at the end of this article. But first let’s go through the code step by step to ensure you understand everything.
Note that if you need a refresher on the Python OpenAI API, feel free to check out this Finxter Academy course:
Step 1: Imports
The code begins by importing three essential libraries.
aiohttp is used for making asynchronous HTTP requests, allowing the program to send and receive data from the OpenAI API without blocking the main thread.
asyncio provides the tools to write concurrent code using the async/await syntax to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Lastly, the openai library is the official OpenAI API client, facilitating interactions with the OpenAI platform.
Step 2: Set up the OpenAI API Key
Following the imports, the OpenAI API key is set up. It’s important to note that hard-coding API keys directly in the code is not a recommended practice. For security reasons, it’s better to use environment variables or configuration files to store such sensitive information.
When this function is called with a specific prompt, it prepares and sends an asynchronous request to the OpenAI API’s chat completions endpoint.
The headers for the request include the authorization, which uses the API key, and the content type. The payload (data) sent to the API specifies several parameters, including the model to use (gpt-4), the message format containing the user’s prompt, and other parameters like temperature, max_tokens, top_p, frequency_penalty, and presence_penalty that influence the output.
The function then establishes an asynchronous session using aiohttp and sends a POST request with the specified data and headers. Once the response is received, it’s returned in JSON format.
Step 4: Main Asynchronous Function
The main function encapsulates the primary logic of the program. It starts by defining a list of example prompts.
async def main(): # Gather results from all asynchronous tasks results = await asyncio.gather(*(async_openai_request(prompt) for prompt in prompts)) for prompt, result in zip(prompts, results): print(f"Prompt: {prompt}") print(f"Response: {result['choices'][0]['message']['content']}\n")
For each of these prompts, asynchronous requests are sent to the OpenAI API using the previously defined async_openai_request function. The asyncio.gather method is employed to concurrently collect results from all the asynchronous tasks. Once all responses are received, the function iterates over the prompts and their corresponding results, printing them out for the user.
Step 5: Execution
Finally, the asyncio.run(main()) command is used to execute the main function. When the code is run, it will send asynchronous requests for each of the example prompts and display the responses in the console.
The output is:
Prompt: What is the capital of France?
Response: The capital of France is Paris. Prompt: How does photosynthesis work?
Response: Photosynthesis is a process used by plants, algae and certain bacteria to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into food and oxygen. This process happens inside the chloroplasts, specifically using chlorophyll, the green pigment involved in photosynthesis. Photosynthesis occurs in two stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions, also known as the Calvin Cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, which take place in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts, light energy is converted into chemical energy. When light is absorbed by chlorophyll, it excites the electrons, increasing their energy level and triggering a series of chemical reactions. Water molecules are split to produce oxygen, electrons, and hydrogen ions. The oxygen is released into the Prompt: Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?
Response: 'Pride and Prejudice' was written by Jane Austen.
Method 2: Using OpenAI ChatCompletion’s acreate()
An alternative to the above method of using asynchronous requests against the OpenAI API endpoint is to use OpenAI’s native asynchronous methods, as noted in the docs: “Async support is available in the API by prepending a to a network-bound method”.
In the following code, I have only changed the OpenAI API calling function to use the acreate() method:
import aiohttp
import asyncio
import openai # Set up your OpenAI API key
openai.api_key = 'sk-...' async def create_chat_completion(prompt): chat_completion_resp = await openai.ChatCompletion.acreate(model="gpt-4", messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]) return chat_completion_resp async def main(): # Example prompts prompts = ["What is the capital of France?", "How does photosynthesis work?", "Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?"] # Gather results from all asynchronous tasks results = await asyncio.gather(*(create_chat_completion(prompt) for prompt in prompts)) for prompt, result in zip(prompts, results): print(f"Prompt: {prompt}") print(f"Response: {result['choices'][0]['message']['content']}\n") # Run the main function
asyncio.run(main())
Output:
Prompt: What is the capital of France?
Response: The capital of France is Paris. Prompt: How does photosynthesis work?
Response: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose (sugar). This process is essential for life on earth as it is the primary source of all oxygen in the atmosphere. This process takes place in a part of the plant cell called the chloroplast, more specifically, within the chlorophyll molecules, which absorbs sunlight (specifically, photons) and gives plants their green color. It can be divided into two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions or Calvin Cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, which take place in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts, light is absorbed by the chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy - in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). This process also splits water molecules (H2O) into oxygen (O2), which is released into the atmosphere, and hydrogen ions (H+), which are used in the next stage of photosynthesis. In the second stages, the light-independent reactions or Calvin Cycle, which take place in the stroma of the chloroplasts, the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions, along with carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, are used to produce glucose (sugar), which is used as an energy source for plant growth and development. In summary, during photosynthesis, light energy is converted into chemical energy, which fuels the organisms' activities, and oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct. Prompt: Who wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?
Response: 'Pride and Prejudice' was written by Jane Austen.
Make sure to check out our course on prompt engineering with Llama 2 in case you’re looking to leverage a free and open-source large language model (LLM) instead of the paid OpenAI API:
Prompt Engineering with Llama 2
The Llama 2 Prompt Engineering course helps you stay on the right side of change. Our course is meticulously designed to provide you with hands-on experience through genuine projects.
You’ll delve into practical applications such as book PDF querying, payroll auditing, and hotel review analytics. These aren’t just theoretical exercises; they’re real-world challenges that businesses face daily.
By studying these projects, you’ll gain a deeper comprehension of how to harness the power of Llama 2 using Python, Langchain, Pinecone, and a whole stack of highly practical tools of exponential coders in a post-ChatGPT world.
Recommended: 
The 
Python, 
Langchain, 
Pinecone, and a whole stack of highly 
practical tools of exponential coders in a post-ChatGPT world.