Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night Switch Fix Expected To Arrive Soon
When Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night arrived on the Switch a week after initial release, Nintendo players quickly established something wasn’t right.
Digital Foundry had a closer inspection of this version of the game and found the performance and visuals had taken a tremendous hit and own review here on Nintendo Life said these same issues detracted from what was a fantastic game on other platforms.
So, how are the developers planning to resolve these issues plaguing the Switch release? Now that Koji Igarashi and his team have released the “Iga’s Back Pack” they are focused on releasing the July update. 505 Games Global Brand Manager Roberto Piraino has now posted the following development update on the game’s Kickstarter page:
Hello everyone, I’m happy to report that this week we submitted a patch for Switch, once it’s approved we’ll update the game asap. The following changes are already locked in, and we’re working to confirm even more changes/improvements etc. for this patch, hopefully by next week
Below is exactly what you can expect:
Performance Updates
The teams continue to work on input delay, stability and optimization. We’re not ready to release these improvements just yet, but we’ll be sharing more information in the coming weeks.
Bug Fixes
Map quest markers no longer showing when target has been killed
HD Rumble issues in certain areas fixed
Familiar Changes
Familiar upgrade via Grade was nerfed
Increased strength based on level
Dullahammer Head has been nerfed
Shard Adjustments (Decreased Power)
Riga Storaema
Craftwork
Bunnymorphosis
Flame Cannon
Straight Arrow
Chase Arrow
Heretical Grinder
Circle Ripper
Shooting Dagger
Riga Dohin
Welcome Company (nerfed significantly – starting from 3 portraits instead of 5)
Weapon Adjustments (Decreased Power)
Flying Edge
Rhava Bural
Rhava Velar
Enemy HP Increases
Dullahammer Head
Malediction
Drop Adjustments
Increased the drop rate of “Monster Fur” from Simians
Credits
Text corrections
Map
Map close button has been remapped to standard exit/close button
Marker button has been changed
Trail display button has been changed
Map scroll speed improved
Zoom in and out improved
Zoom level retained when reopening the map
Auto-center when opening the map
The same post also mentioned how the development team was still prioritizing “important fixes and improvements” and went on to thank owners of the game for their patience.
Thank you everyone for your patience while we continue to make improvements on Switch and the other platforms as well, we will be following up with more updates soon.
How are you finding Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night on the Switch? Tell us below.
Oracle has announced the general availability of Oracle Linux 8. With the release, the core operating environment and associated packages for a typical Oracle Linux 8 server are distributed through a combination of BaseOS and Applications Streams. BaseOS gives you a running user space for the operating environment. Application Streams provides a range of applications that were previously distributed in Software Collections, as well as other products and programs, that can run within the user space.
Fear The Walking Dead Renewed For Season 6 At Comic-Con
AMC's Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for a sixth season. The announcement of its return was made during the show's panel at San Diego Comic-Con, and it doesn't come as much of a surprise considering it is one of AMC's most-watched shows.
As a prequel series to The Walking Dead, it follows the exploits of a series of dysfunctional characters as the world begins to crumble around them as part of what will end up becoming the full-on undead apocalypse depicted in the main Walking Dead series. The show stars Alycia Debnam-Carey as Alicia Clark, one of the few remaining characters from earlier seasons.
Fear the Walking Dead has had a number of fresh faces added to its cast lately, including Maggie Grace, Jenna Elfman, and Garret Dillahunt as Althia, June, and John Dorie respectively. Lennie James has also reprised his role as Morgan, who he played in the main Walking Dead series.
The Walking Dead comic series, from which the TV shows are inspired, came to a surprise ending on July 2, ending its 15-year run. Creator Robert Kirkman, who also works on both TV shows, said the comic's conclusion won't impact the series.
"I hate knowing what's coming," he said in a letter to fans. "As a fan, I hate it when I realize I'm in the third act of a movie and the story is winding down. I hate that I can count commercial breaks and know I'm nearing the end of a TV show. I hate that you can feel when you’re getting to the end of a book, or a graphic novel. Some of the best episodes of Game of Thrones are when they're structured in such a way and paced to perfection so your brain can’t tell if it's been watching for 15 minutes or 50 minutes ... and when the end comes ... you’re stunned.
"I love long movies for that very reason. You lose track of time because you went in convinced that you're going to be there for a long time, but the story moves at such an entertaining and engaging pace that by the time the movie's wrapping up ... you can't believe it’s already over. Surprise, it's over! All I've ever done, all a creator can really do ... is tailor-make stories to entertain themselves, and hope the audience feels the same way. That's all I've ever been doing ... and it seems to work most of the time."
Fedora community has announced the preview release of Fedora CoreOS. The initial preview release of Fedora CoreOS runs on bare metal, QEMU, VMware, and AWS, on x86_64 only. It supports provisioning via Ignition spec 3.0.0 and the Fedora CoreOS Config Transpiler, automatic updates with Zincati and rpm-ostree, and running containers with Podman and Moby. Benjamin Gilbert of the Fedora team said that Fedora CoreOS is designed specifically for running containerized workloads without regular maintenance, automatically updating itself with the latest OS improvements, bug fixes, and security updates.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-20-2019, 11:49 AM - Forum: Lounge
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What Happens If Google Stadia Shuts Down? Developer Answers
Google's new game-streaming service, Google Stadia, is launching in November. Unlike traditional consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, Stadia is a streaming service with no local hardware beyond the controller. This means everything happens in the cloud. Naturally, people want to know what happens if Stadia shuts down, as numerous other Google products have in the past.
During a Reddit AMA today, Stadia's director of product, Andrey Doronichev, said this is a question that the team gets a lot. And he understands how people might be afraid to move to the cloud.
"I hear you. Moving to the cloud is scary," he said. "I felt the same way when music was transitioning from files to streaming. I still have all my old CDs in the garage… although it's hard to find a CD player these days :)"
Doronichev went on to say that movies, photos, and documents have all generally moved to the cloud, and that has generally gone well. The same can be true for games, he said.
"The same happened to Movies and Photos and my Docs and other files… And it’s great! Games are no different. Eventually all of our games will be safely in the cloud too and we'll feel great about it," Doronichev said. "We've been investing a ton in tech, infrastructure and partnerships over the past few years. Nothing in life is certain, but we’re committed to making Stadia a success."
Doronichev added that Google Stadia will support the "Takeout" feature from day one. This allows players to download the metadata of their games, including game saves. However, games themselves cannot be downloaded, so if Stadia shuts down, players may not be able to access their games.
"Of course, it’s OK to doubt my words," Doronichev said. "There's nothing I can say now to make you believe if you don't. But what we can do is to launch the service and continue investing in it for years to come. Exactly how we've been doing with gMail, Docs, Music, Movies and Photos. That’s exactly what we’re committed to."
Concerns about game ownership and ongoing support for games is not exclusive to Stadia. The servers for older console and PC games are often shut down over time as developers shift their focus to newer titles. While physical media remains important in the gaming industry, digital is taking up a bigger piece of the pie as time goes on.
Stadia launches in November in some parts of the world, including the United States. A $10 USD/month subscription gets you access to a growing library of games. A $130 USD Stadia Founder's Edition comes with the Google controller, a Chromecast Ultra, 3 months of Stadia Pro, a copy of Destiny 2 (and all the expansions), and other extras.
Microsoft's game-streaming service, xCloud, is attempting to steal some of Stadia's thunder, as the first public trials will begin in October.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-20-2019, 11:49 AM - Forum: Windows
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How AI is changing the world of manufacturing
Henry Ford’s assembly line revolutionized manufacturing in the 20th century. The transformation driven by AI in the 21st century will be just as dramatic.
“The Future Computed: AI and Manufacturing” is the second book in Microsoft’s The Future Computed series, looking at the impact of AI on society.
Author Greg Shaw examines the way in which leading manufacturing companies are using AI to build the factories and supply chains of the future. He explores the exciting opportunities around this new technology and also looks at the way the manufacturing industry is again at the forefront of grappling with the challenges of adopting a new technology. In particular, “The Future Computed: AI and Manufacturing” looks at the importance of creating a framework for the ethical and responsible use of AI and ensuring that workers can be trained to take on new tasks.
In this video, Shaw explains the themes underlying his research, and hears directly from Çağlayan Arkan, general manager of Microsoft Global Manufacturing, and some of the manufacturing customers at the cutting edge of industrial AI.
For more on AI innovations at Microsoft follow @MSFTIssues on Twitter.
‘SiriOS’ predicted for 2020 WWDC – here’s what it might be
Apple should produce a “SiriOS,” a report into voice recognition and digital assistants by Mangrove Capital Partners suggests, but while the firm is certain the “voice community” expects it to be revealed by 2020, there is little detail on what it could be.
The “Voice Tech 2019” report from investment firm Mangrove anticipates a greater shift into voice-based computing over the next decade, with the use of systems that rely on AI and machine learning, as well as voice recognition likely to spawn a “new generation of technology companies in every category.”
Equipped with a higher-than 95% word accuracy rate that puts them on a par with humans for understanding language, it is claimed voice is a “far more natural, convenient, and efficient form of communication” via a device than typing, and will become the primary human-machine interface in the future. The rise of Internet of Things devices and smart appliances with voice recognition systems is also highlighted, along with the wide variety of languages supported by Google and the flexibility of Alexa skills.
The improvements in AI are touted to further build up the abilities of voice assistants, with first-wave algorithms and second-wave decision-making improvements to be succeeded by a third-wave AI that collects data from sensors and can automate more complex processes. As these improvements impact how users work with devices, this will apparently prompt companies to “rethink how it interacts with its audience,” using “context-aware voice-first interfaces” that don’t rely on predictable scripted responses.
How Siri appears within macOS
Mangrove believes investment in voice startups has reached $768 million in 2019 so far, above the $581 million observed in 2018 and $298 million in 2017. Over a billion dollars is said to be invested in voice startups in the United States, with another $118 million in Europe.
Privacy and Ecosystem
Towards the end of the report, it moves on to the concept of privacy, which a Microsoft survey suggests 41% of users are concerned about, especially relating to passive listening. After noting the discovery of microphones in Google Nest devices and an Amazon patent to “listen to all conversations in a room,” Mangrove suggests tech companies will be following Apple in responding to user concerns, something it has “been doing particularly effectively.”
The example given is Apple’s acquisition of Silk Labs, which deals with on-device AI software that performs processing on the iPhone or iPad itself, without relying on communicating with cloud servers. The acquisition is heralded as a “shrewd move.”
In contrast, Apple is said to have been “less effective at building an ecosystem around voice.” The vision of the “Knowledge Navigator” suggests Apple’s voice strategy was “more clearly articulated in 1987 than it is now.”
Getting SiriOS
The report then declares “The voice community expects Apple to release a SiriOS for its developer community at WWDC 2020 which would accelerate innovation and adoption.” Aside from quoting Brett Kinsella of Voicebot.ai as calling SiriOS “desirable for enabling innovation and is viewed by many as required to match the progress made by Amazon and Google with their voice assistants,” there is no discussion as to what form this SiriOS would take.
Siri Shortcuts, an automation tool that some apps tap to use Siri commands
Tracking down the quote’s source reveals it would be a Siri operating system that would be the equivalent of Alexa with Alexa Skills Kit or the Google Assistant using the Actions on Google development environment. Rather than being a part of existing operating systems, governed and limited by guidelines and rules developers would have to follow in SiriKit, with differences for iOS and macOS, SiriOS would effectively be an independent software system from the device’s operating system.
By having SiriOS separate, it could allow for Siri functions and features across Apple’s operating systems to have parity across the board, and for changes to be implemented on all devices simultaneously. For developers, SiriOS would also ideally be unfettered by many of the existing restrictions of SiriKit, and wouldn’t necessarily require intimate knowledge of how each device operating system’s particular Siri implementation would work.
By separating Siri from the operating system, this could feasibly open up other ways for the digital assistant to be used. For example, developers could potentially integrate Siri into their apps directly, giving a highly customized experience depending on the app’s abilities.
It is assumed that this is in the ballpark of what the Mangrove report suggests when it mentions SiriOS, due to the lack of detail offered. The bottom line is Mangrove believes it is Apple’s best interests to open up Siri to developers further than it currently does.
For the time being, developers have to use SiriKit and to take advantage of Siri Shortcuts. Ultimately, the ball is in Apple’s court as to whether something approximating a SiriOS could be produced, and it would have to rely on whether Apple would want to cede control of its iconic and prized virtual assistant away to third parties.
So I’ve been trying out The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot past couple of weeks. Fun Fact: This game originally launched in 2015 on PC as some weird blend of loot-tastic action/RPG and a Dungeon Master type deal as players built their own Castles/Dungeons for players to raid for said loot. It didn’t last that long, closing down shy of two years after launch. In January 2017 it came back on mobile, soft launched in only a few territories. Whatever they were testing seems to have worked because it released world-wide in full the other week.
The problem is, it’s now just one Red Hot™ Free-to-Play gacha mess. Energy gating how long you can play in one go, chests that you can unlock by spending keys, which can be bought for money. Hey, want to double the loot you got from this chest? Watch an add! Can’t be bothered to play? From Level-5 there’s an ‘Auto’ mod, and you can even buy ‘Instant Win’ tickets that by-pass playing levels out entirely. I mean look at this non-sense:
The worst thing is, they’ve gotten rid of the Castle building elements, which I personally think was the most interesting part about it, but what do I know? Here I am, playing it anyway… It’s an incredibly pretty game. Like, I really dig the production values that have gone into designing the character models and levels and I’m not going to lie, I’ve taken more-than-appropriate satisfaction from putting different pieces of bad-ass gear to my dude.
Tl;dr – Don’t play Might Quest for Epic Loot, you will probably end up hating yourself (while looking like a baws).
Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…
Out Now
Beholder 2 (iOS Universal) – Full review coming soon!
If this had already been announced, I must have missed the memo as I was not expecting to see Beholder 2 on the release docket this week. We reviewed the first game back in 2017 and while it had some interesting ideas in terms of the choices and trade-offs, it was too easy to succumb to ‘efficiency’ rather than trying to deal with morality. Beholder 2 seems to be a rather expanded affair, with your character a fully-fledged member of the Ministry of Security. You must work your way up the career ladder, spying on your co-workers and praising the leader at every turn. It’s only on iOS at the moment but the first game made it do Android eventually, so it’s hopefully just a matter of time.
Fluxx Digital (iOS Universal) – Re-Review Coming soon!
This is technically a ‘re-release’ rather than a new release, but you’ll remember the other week we reported that Playdek has decided to revive their digital adaptation of Fluxx from the dead. Originally released in 2012, it was lost in the Appocalypse a couple of years ago – now it’s back! This is a card game for 2-4 players where the rules and objectives can change at any moment. It’s chaotic and pretty unique, as card games goes.
We do have a review buried in the site archives, but it hasn’t aged well so I’ve got Michael on the case to re-review it for us, so watch this space. Also note – if you bought the game originally between 2012 – 2017, so long as you still have access to the iTunes account you bought it on, you’ll be able to re-download it on your modern iOS devices without have to re-purchase the game. The originally release was never on Android as far as we know, and we don’t know if there are plans to bring it to Google Play anytime soon.
Also released this week of note was Cosmic Frontline AR, which we reviewed yesterday (it’s not very good, unfortunately) and Healer’s Quest: Pocket Wand (Android), which at first glance is a strategy RPG in the style of Final Fantasy, except it’s also got comedic themes woven into its DNA. It seems a little generic on paper, but we’re wondering if the light-hearted presentation makes it stand out.
Finally, for the more aesthetic among you, the developers behind 2013’s iconic Journey have released a new game this week. Sky: Children of the Light is a free exploration/adventure game where you can fly around, explore and go on adventures with other players.
Updates
A few update of note this week, so let’s run through them…
Chess Rush
Tencent’s version of Auto Chess received an update this week, which along with the usual tweaking of pieces and new rewards/content drops, also included a co-op mode. I’ve yet to test it out, but it sounds intriguing.
Santorini
The digital version of Santorini has had a few updates since launch. Two this week fixed a few bugs as well adding in an easy share feature for private matches, along with a discount for God of the Week promos. If you’re wondering, our review will be dropping on Monday – sorry for the delay!
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
The first official patch since the end of June, this week’s update offers a few quality of life teaks, such as making the Exstimulo potions a bit more effective, and showing how much Spell Energy you have left in more obvious places. You can also change your code name in the settings, if you want, but only once.
Star Traders: Frontiers
In this week’s episode of the Star Traders: Frontiers Update Show, the latest update adds a new ship, new salvage, replaces the Pirate template as well as a few others goodies that keep this game ticking.
Sales
On the sales front, here’s what we’ve got:
Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!
VMware is acquiring Austin, Texas-based Bitfusion in a move to boost its ability to support artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads in its core vSphere virtualization platform. Bitfusion last year joined VMware’s Technology Alliance Partner program. It later linked its FlexDirect platform with VMware and Mellanox for attaching GPUs to any virtual machine (VM) and be part of a common infrastructure resource pool.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-20-2019, 05:45 AM - Forum: Lounge
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How HBO's His Dark Materials Stays True To The Source Material
HBO debuted the latest trailer for His Dark Materials during the show's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019--a panel that included executive producer Jane Tranter, writer Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen (Lyra Belacqua), Ruth Wilson (Marisa Coulter), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Lee Scoresby), and James McAvoy (Lord Asriel).
The His Dark Materials books, beginning with The Golden Compass (Northern Lights outside of North America) in 1995 and concluding with book 3, 2000's The Amber Spyglass, are a fantasy series set in a world in which humans' souls are embodied in companion animals that live outside their bodies. The series follows Lyra Belacqua, a young girl whose journey goes to some very surprising places by the end.
Tranter discussed why she chose to tackle this adaptation--one that's been attempted more than once in the past. "I thought it was time for the books to be liberated in a space which could do them justice," she said. "I think that all of those different adaptations have all been brilliant in their own ways, but the real estate of contemporary television--being able to stretch those books out and sound every note that Philip Pullman sounded in the novels--I just thought it was time."
She said the show starts the same way as the Philip Pullman books on which they're based--with the attempted murder of Lord Asriel, which Lyra thwarts.
Thorne, who handled writing the adaptation itself, said when he starts an adaptation (he wrote the stage play for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child previously), he learns as much as possible about the original work's author first. "I think that's what we've tried to do, is just try and capture the important notes, and tell them to the best of our ability," the writer said.
Thorne revealed that he and Tranter worked on 46 drafts of the first episode. Getting the daemons--an integral part of the series' lore--right was particularly important. "You do sometimes get lost in other stuff, but the thing about the daemons is that they are characters," Thorne said. "Everything that Philip built is for a reason."
Keen and Wilson discussed shooting with their "daemons," revealing that they used puppeteers to represent the CG creatures during filming. The puppeteers were later edited out as the CG daemons were added, but the actresses said it helped them to have physical representations in the room.
Miranda, famous for his musical Hamilton, said the His Dark Materials book are particularly important to him. "When my wife and I started dating we read these books together," Miranda said. "They're in a really special place in my heart." He was thrilled when he was offered the part of Lee Scoresby, and he revealed how his character will enter the show: Lee's first scene is set on his hot air balloon, where he sings a duet with his daemon.
Keen, on the other hand, revealed she wasn't a fan of the books when she auditioned for the part, and had only read about halfway through the first novel, The Golden Compass, because she didn't believe she'd be cast. When she got the part, though, she dove in again, and found she couldn't put them down.
"Literally until I finished the three books, I did not close the book," Keen, who X-Men fans know as X-23 in Logan, said. "They're just so fun, they're so entertaining, they're so good, because Philip's amazing." She repeatedly raised her hands to her head to mime her mind being blown.
Part of the reason the books are so popular is they're far more than they appear. "That's why these books are so fascinating," Wilson said--they're not just a coming-of-age story, but deal with religion, philosophy, and more. Fans no doubt are hoping this adaptation won't shy away from those aspects the way some previous ones--particularly the 2007 movie--have.
Tranter took the opportunity of the panel to clarify what she believes the source material's stance on religion is.
"Philip Pullman, in these books, is not attacking belief, not attacking faith, not attacking religion or the church per se," Tranter said. "He's attacking a particular form of control where there is a very deliberate attempt to withhold information, keep people in the dark, and not allow ideas and thinking to be free."
She said that although that authoritarian force is represented by the Magisterium in His Dark Materials, it doesn't equate directly with any real-world churches or religions. Fans might have different ideas, but Tranter seemed firm in this position.
The executive producer also said it took a while to get HBO on board. "It was a long process," she said. "It took us a couple of years to really begin to put the pieces together in a way that people other than myself and Jack...and a small group of people could see." Eventually, HBO got it, and they came on board as a partner to the BBC. "It's not an easily comprehensible piece, and I think [HBO] felt that was very much for them," Tranter said.
Hopefully, fans will believe it's very much for them, as well, when His Dark Materials arrives on HBO this fall.
