Young tech creators from more than 40 countries have already registered to take part in this year’s Coolest Projects online showcase! To help us celebrate this year’s wonderful group of participants, we’re lucky to have brought on board Colin Furze, Melissa Pickering, James Whelton, and Fig O’Reilly as special judges.
“Since the first Coolest Projects in 2012, I’ve been continually inspired seeing thousands of young creators sharing their projects with the world. Building websites, apps, games, and hardware around something they’re passionate about, solving problems they face or just doing something cool, year on year Coolest Projects shows the magic of technology.”
James Whelton
Meet the coolest judges!
Colin Furze is a British YouTube personality, presenter, inventor, and five-time Guinness world record holder from Lincolnshire, England. Colin’s YouTube channel has over 10 million subscribers. Colin left school at 16 to become a plumber, a trade which he pursued until joining the Sky1 TV programme Gadget Geeks. He has used his engineering experience to build many unconventional contraptions, including a homemade hoverbike, a jet-powered bicycle made with pulsejet engines, and the world’s fastest dodgem vehicle for Top Gear. Colin has completed three Star Wars–themed challenges in partnership with eBay: in 2016, he completed a giant AT-AT garden playhouse, followed in 2017 by a full-size Kylo Ren Tie Silencer. In 2019 he completed a moving Landspeeder from Star Wars: A New Hope; the vehicle was auctioned off on eBay, with all of the funds going to BBC Children in Need.
Colin Furze, YouTuber, inventor, and five-time Guinness world record holder
Melissa Pickering is Head of Product at LEGO Education, leading a cross-functional team to design and develop learning through play experiences for kids globally. She has worked in the field of interactive kids’ products for 15 years, from innovating theme parks as a Disney Imagineer to founding an edtech startup. In her six-year LEGO career she has built up and led design teams to innovate LEGO products through digital experiences, with a key focus of using technology to inspire hands-on play.
Melissa Pickering, Head of Product at LEGO Education
Fionnghuala O’Reilly is an Irish-American model, beauty pageant titleholder, and engineer. The 27-year-old recently made history as the first woman of colour to represent Ireland at the international Miss Universe pageant. Since getting her degree in Systems Engineering from the George Washington University, O’Reilly, who goes by Fig, has gone on to become a NASA Datanaut, working within the agency’s Open Innovation programme comprised of engineers and scientists who engage with NASA’s open data to create new thinking, processes and products. Fig has joined the two-time Emmy-nominated science television series Mission Unstoppable as the newest correspondent. She is also the founder and CEO of Reach Productions which is the host of NASA’s Space Apps Challenge in Washington DC. In 2020, Fig was named an Ambassador for Engineers Ireland, Ireland’s leading governing body for professional engineers. Fig is a passionate advocate for women and diversity in STEM subjects.
Fig O’Reilly, beauty pageant titleholder, engineer, and CEO
James Whelton is a coder, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CoderDojo. At 16, James gained worldwide recognition for discovering a hack for the iPod Nano. In response to the lack of opportunities to learn computing at school, he co-founded CoderDojo in 2011, a global community of code clubs for young people where they can learn to build websites, apps and games, and explore technology in an informal, creative, and social environment. James has developed apps and systems with over a million users around the world. He is currently developing an online platform that helps its users achieve their personal goals and build healthier, happier habits and behaviours.
James Whelton, coder, entrepreneur, and co-founder of CoderDojo
Register a project today
These four fabulous people will choose their favourites from among all of this year’s projects — a unique honour that the young tech creator in your life could receive if they take part! We hope this will be a big boost of motivation for them to register their project for the Coolest Projects showcase before the 3 May deadline.
We’ll be announcing the special judges’ favourite projects as part of our big live-streamed Coolest Projects celebration on 8 June!
Everyone up to age 18 can register for Coolest Projects, and we welcome all projects, all experience levels, and all kinds of projects, made with any programming language or any hardware. Through Coolest Projects, young people are able to show the world something they’ve made with tech that they love, and the projects are as diverse as the participants!
You can explore the projects of the young tech creators who’ve already registered if you visit the Coolest Projects online showcase gallery! Which one is your favourite project so far?
Düsseldorf, 23. April 2021 – Ubisoft® gab bekannt, dass das zweite In-Game-Event zu For Honor Year 5 Season 1, das Chimären-Bankett, ab sofort beginnt.
In diesem zeitlich begrenzten Event werden für die Chimären-Allianz die eigenen Fähigkeiten in einem neuen 4vs4-Modus unter Beweis gestellt: Die Boten der Chimären.
Diese Schlacht wird in der Knight Area Map ausgetragen. Jedes Team spawnt mit einem Teammitglied, welches zum Boten ernannt wird. In jeder Runde wird diese Rolle auf einen anderen Kämpfer übertragen. Das erste Team, welches den gegnerischen Boten bezwingt, gewinnt die Runde.
Während des kostenlosen Events wird ein kostenloser Event Pass mit einem Kampf-Outfit, einem Emotions-Effekt und einem Ornament zur Verfügung stehen. Zudem stehen die langersehnten Rüstungsvariationen, inspiriert vom Einfluss der Chimären-Allianz, während des gesamten Events und darüber hinaus, bis zum 13. Mai 2021, als Loot bereit.
Der Trailer zum For Honor Chimären-Bankett kann hier gefunden werden.
RayTracing Shaders installed with ReShade Reshader, and made my own resahde preset based on my screen settings, playing it on 3 screen setup just for recording in 4k 🙂 🙂
Diablo II: Resurrected will be released at a later date. Diablo II: Resurrected will not be available on Mac, but will be available for PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
Due to various reasons, humans have two hands. Sometimes less. Balancing wires and solder and a (very hot) soldering iron, or holding a small piece steady painting, can be tricky even for the most dextrous. With movable clamps and a magnifying glass, helping hands make it easier for everyone.
3D printer
Print your dreams
A quite expensive item for sure, but one that has endless possibilities. Thanks to online modelling communities and easy access to basic CAD software, you can quickly prototype and test designs for projects, or create that part you can’t get elsewhere.
Wire stripper
No knife required
Snipping wires to length is easy; removing the plastic insulation to reveal the actual conductive wire underneath can be a little tricky. We recommend a good wire stripper, especially when you get past the breadboard prototyping phase.
Glue gun
Hot fusion
Easy to apply, quick to set, strong, and insulating? Glue guns are a maker’s best friend. Always make sure to get one with at least two settings, though. And don’t rely on just one for all your gluing needs. You can even get sealing wax sticks for them, as well.
Cutting mat
Precision slicing
While you can cut on the surface of a wooden workbench in a pinch (and with permission), a cutting mat is definitely the preferred method. It won’t dull the blade as much, they self-heal, and they usually come with angles and measuring tools built onto the surface so you can have a better visual guide.
Rotary multi-tool
Spinning trimmer
Otherwise known as a Dremel, which is a brand of tool maker that makes popular rotary tools, they’re great for small projects. You can sand, buff, cut, drill, shave, and more by switching out the different tool heads. It’s great for makers as they’re small and cover a lot of bases.
Directional light
See your project
It’s easy to find little USB LED lights on a goose neck these days. They’re bright, low energy, can be clamped to a table, and moved around however you wish. For finer work, good illumination is key, and they’re a bit more flexible than a head torch.
Needle-nose pliers
Grab small things
You never realise just how much you need a slim pair of pliers until you really need them and all you have are tweezers or heavy-duty pliers bigger than a Raspberry Pi. Of course, a good set of tweezers and regular-sized pliers are great to have as well.
Soldering iron
Create circuits
An essential tool for electronics, a soldering iron is basically a very hot metal pen that allows you to melt specially treated, soft metal that allows for wires and circuits to be connected and have electricity run through them. Make sure to tin the tip before using, though: magpi.cc/tin.
Clamps/vice
Steady on
Vital for a lot of wood- and metalwork – even some painting! A clamp can keep your projects sturdy so that drilling or cutting won’t go awry, or make sure glue will dry firmly, or even make sure metal is aligned for welding. Got a miniature with a base? You can lightly clamp it in one to keep it steady too.
This DIY Bluetooth speaker’s magical ferrofluid display reacts to the music
Arduino Team — April 23rd, 2021
Ferrofluid is a special kind of liquid full of ferromagnetic particles, so it reacts to magnetic fields. Dakd Jung built a beautiful Bluetooth speaker that features a ferrofluid display driven by an Arduino.
This Bluetooth speaker has a gorgeous minimalistic 3D-printed enclosure that would look great on any bookshelf. But it is the ferrofluid display that makes the speaker special. A glob of ferrofluid floats inside of a glass reservoir mounted front-and-center on the speaker. That ferrofluid moves to the music playing through the speaker, providing a mesmerizing visualization. There is even a dial that lets the user adjust which part of the sound frequency that the ferrofluid responds to.
The ferrofluid is able to react to the tunes thanks to an electromagnet placed behind the glass reservoir. An Arduino Nano board controls the power going to that electromagnet proportionally to the volume in a specific frequency range of the music playing. An MSGEQ7 graphic equalizer module isolates the desired frequency range. The Arduino monitors the voltage output from that module and uses it to control the voltage going to the electromagnet.
The result is that the ferrofluid jiggles and bounces along to the intensity of the music. If the user tunes the dial to low frequences, then the ferrofluid will react to the bass. If set to high frequencies, the ferrofluid will respond to treble. It is entrancing to watch and a very creative use of ferrofluid.
Verdansk as you’ve come to know it is gone. A nuclear blast has wiped out a zombie outbreak that recently corrupted the land. In its cleansing wake, Activision has rewound Verdansk back to its 1984 version to explore how the Cold War events affected that city. Warzone Season Three rises from these ashes, and with it comes a host of exciting map updates, including reimagined retro interpretations of iconic locations.
The throwback blast of Warzone is just one piece of the Season 3 picture. New Operator Wraith joins the fight – a stone-cold killer featured in the narrative cinematics around the destruction of Mt. Yamantau. Yamantau is a new snowy Multiplayer map that takes place in and around buildings after a devastating avalanche, Sticks and Stones mode returns for a more laid-back MP experience, and will challenge your tomahawk-throwing precision. Diesel is a new 2v2 Gunfight map that doubles as a tight-quarters 6v6 map. The Strafe Run scorestreak rakes the battlefield with airplane machine gun fire. That’s just a sample.
Welcome to Verdansk ‘84
Every building, surface, and object on the Warzone map has been revisited and retouched to create a fresh Warzone environment. For starters, It’s now springtime in Verdansk. Cherry blossoms line the streets, and vivid green flora makes the map a newly vibrant destination.
Seven existing locations return with new points of interest, including the Airport which was destroyed in modern-day Verdansk. In Verdansk ‘84, the Airport is fully furnished, sun shines through intact windows, and has an entirely different mood than before. The Airport control tower still stands tall in the location, creating a power position for players who want to control the area. However, the new layout of the airport allows players additional cover to counter-snipe anyone camped out in the tower.
The Verdansk Stadium is still under construction in 1984, complete with a crane towering over the location. The dome, previously blasted open, is completely absent in 1984, creating an open-air battleground.
We had a chance to chat about three of the most high-profile Verdansk map changes with Miles Leslie, Creative Specialist at Treyarch, and Amos Hodge, Associate Creative Director at Raven Software. Read on to learn about what these locations were like previously, how they’ve been updated in Verdansk ‘84, and tips for success.
(Northwest on map)
Gora Summit
What it was
Amos Hodge: “…the biggest change is that before it was the Dam. It was a solid wall. A lot of times you’d try to get up there and you just couldn’t because solid walls are hard to traverse. You could go inside, but it was a little bit maze-y, a little bit dark. So it was really hard to transition up to the top [of the Dam].”
What it is now
Amos Hodge: “Now there’s a truck path [up Gora Summit]. It’s kind of steep, but you can run up it, you can drive a truck up it. We also have what I think is the coolest part: the cable cars that go from summit down to buildings below to provide a little cover.”
Tips for success
Amos Hodge: “[Gora] Summit is really great for its lines of sight and sniping. If you get to Summit and climb on the roofs, you can snipe. There are the gondolas that go up and down and you can get people who aren’t paying attention, getting on and off the gondolas.”
(Slightly west of map center)
Airplane Factory
What it was
Amos Hodge: “Airplane Factory was one of those in-between locations. There were these big, rusted cylinders that stood straight up. There were some ladders. There were six of these structures. This area was kind of an intermediary location. It was just enough to pass through, but wasn’t really a destination.”
What it is now
Amos Hodge: “Now it’s a full destination. There are interiors where people are actually assembling the planes.”
Tips for success
Miles Leslie: “I like driving a truck around the outside just to get people really excited and come out from the inside, thinking they’re going to kill me. And then I’m just driving around in a cargo truck. And it’s doomsday for them.”
(Northeast on map)
Radar Array
What it was
Amos Hodge: “There really wasn’t much there before! This is one of the most interesting new locations because you see it from anywhere in the map.”
What it is now
Miles Leslie: “For some of the fans that remember back to the original Black Ops, we had a map called Grid, and it was based right next to the Dugo. This also made an appearance in the Black Ops Cold War campaign as well, so there’s some deep connection and a lot of tie ins to the Black Ops world, overall.
It was also a real thing used during the Cold War, so now that we’re going back in time to ‘84, it just made sense. On top of that, it’s just really fun to play. Radar Array is deceiving – you immediately want to land on it, but there’s a sense of mastery that comes with how you use it, how you run on it, and how you play around it. I think that’s what players are going to enjoy.”
Tips for success
Amos Hodge: “On Radar Array I love carrying a launcher secondary [weapon] and taking down helicopters. It’s the perfect vantage point. You can see so many helicopters up there and can lock on with your launcher at a pretty long distance. So it’s a great place to clear out the helicopters. You can also get up there and [destroy] vehicles down on the ground.”
Miles Leslie: “You want epic moments? Try jumping off [Radar Array], parachuting, and wiping people out. There you go, it’s fantastic.”
Season 3 of Call of Duty Warzone and Black Ops Cold War is live now, and ready to transport you to Verdansk ‘84. Be sure to jump into Black Ops Cold War and dig into all the updates for Zombies and Multiplayer as well. More is on the way from the teams at Treyarch and Raven Software, but for now jump in and get to work learning the exciting new map so you can fight your way to victory.
Thank you everyone for waiting patiently for the latest entry in the Tales of series. As Tales of Arise will be coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on September 10, and digital pre-orders start today, April 22, our team is excited to share more details about Tales of Arise and its characters.
Our story centers on two neighboring worlds: Rena and Dahna. Rena is a planet inhabited by a society with highly advanced science and magic. In contrast, Dahna is a planet full of nature, rich with resources and a wide-variety of biomes like the flame-spewing lands of Orbus Calaglia and the snow-covered landscapes of Cyslodia.
After a swift and sudden invasion 300 years ago, Rena has strictly ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its natural resources, and stripped the Dahnan people of their dignity and freedom.
Our tale begins with two people, Alphen and Shionne. Although they are born in two different worlds where division and domination prevail, they both seek to define their own fate and create a new future, experiencing conflict and growth together in their struggle for freedom.
Alphen is a Dahnan youth living as a slave in Calaglia who wears a mysterious iron mask that covers his face. In his fight for the freedom of his people, he meets Shionne, a Renan woman on the run from her Renan compatriots, who suffers from a curse that causes severe pain to those who touch her. During their journey, Alphen and Shionne cross paths with two young Dahnans: Rinwell and Law.
Rinwell is a Cysloden girl who is accompanied by a Dahnan owl named Hootle. Although the ability to use magic is usually only available to Renans, she is uniquely able to handle powerful magic techniques. Law is a boy who originally hails from Orbus Calaglia. Even though he is Dahnan, he works as a member of Rena’s police organization.
Commemorating over 25 years since the release of the first Tales ofgame, Tales of Arise both continues and evolves the tradition of the series. Tales of Arise Producer Yusuke Tomizawa has said that he wants the game to represent a new milestone for the Tales of franchise. With its new artistic direction, and making the most out of Unreal Engine, as well as the newly developed Atmospheric Shader to improve the graphics quality, it will make players feel like they’re in a painting. And with a story that’s more mature and hits on more essential themes than previous games, we hope players will be fully immersed in Alphen and Shionne’s journey.
The Atmospheric Shader, a tool developed specifically for Tales of Arise, adds a hand-drawn looking touch to the game’s graphics with sense of light movement and airiness. Combined with improved facial CG and more expressive power, the game’s upgraded visuals create an immersive world with spectacular drama and increased emotional connection as we follow the characters on their journey.
We’re looking forward to sharing the full experience of Tales of Arise with you when it releases on September 10. Pre-order the Standard, Deluxe, or Ultimate Edition now on the Xbox Store and receive the Pre-Order Bonus Pack, which includes DLCs like costumes for Alphen and Shionne, wing-themed outfit accessories, cooking recipes, and food items!
We can’t wait for you to be able to play the game later this year on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!
Tales of Arise Pre-Order (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One)
Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the "Tales of" series with this latest installment and pre-order today! Includes the following pre-order bonus content: • Pre-Order Bonus Pack – Alphen and Shionne customization items Alphen – [Costume] Reconciler Armor Shionne – [Costume] Noble Ash Shionne – [Hairstyle] Void Black Tiara – Attachments Left Black Wing Right Black Wing Left White Wing Right White Wing – Exclusive Cooking Recipes Mabo Curry Bun Recipe Fisherman's Hot Pot Recipe Eastern Rice Recipe Fruit Sandwich Recipe – 16 Food Items For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom. Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, intuitive and rewarding combat system, and a captivating story set in a lush world worth fighting for, Tales of Arise delivers a first-class JRPG experience.
Perseus stands on the edge of total domination and chaos reigns in Verdansk. Welcome to Season Three in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Experience the new Warzone, Verdansk ‘84, plus four more multiplayer maps, six new weapons, and the next chapter of Zombies in Outbreak.
Here’s what’s coming to Season Three, live now.
Welcome to the New Warzone: An Overview of Verdansk ‘84
Welcome to a new era in Warzone. Season Three winds back the clock to 1984, with a fully reimagined Verdansk optimized for a greater variety of gameplay and major changes all over the map. Now fully tied into the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War storyline, Verdansk is like you’ve never seen it before on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Here are just some of the major changes you’ll see in Verdansk ‘84:
Gora Viaduct: A feat of 19th century engineering, the viaduct spans the Gora River Valley, with dams upstream feeding the lush grassland. Find ascenders, drop off the bridge onto gondola roofs, and perform epic vehicle stunts.
Old Verdansk Stadium: While the Verdansk Sparks expect a new stadium soon, they need to play elsewhere while the old stadium is dismantled. In 1984, the demolition site is still open with high vantage points such as an announcer booth, an archaic scoreboard, and a parked crane. There may even be a hole in the arena wall big enough to allow a Cargo Truck onto the pitch!
Salt Mine: In 1984, Verdansk’s Quarry was the region’s largest salt mine. Two large (and currently sealed) entrances lead into the salt mine, a location with numerous old mine conduits and a large craggy hillside with containment ponds and factories to explore.
Superstore: This popular drop returns to 1984 with changes and improved game flow. On the roof, skylights allow you to crash as you enter through the main interior of Superstore. New exterior windows sit in the southwest edge to the reception area. You can even access the tops of the shelves and a central refrigerated section under the roof.
1984 Verdansk – 2021 Strategy Guide, Updated and Free
Read more about the “retrofitted” changes in “The Official Warzone Strategy Guide”. This update includes the full breakdown of tactics, tips, loadout suggestions, and over 400 points of interest in Verdansk ’84. Check out the entire guide here.
“Hunt for Adler” Event
The new “Hunt for Adler” limited-time event starts at launch of Season Three in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone, tasking operators to complete in-game challenges, earn event rewards, and learn of Adler’s whereabouts.
Once you’ve completed a full set of challenges in either Black Ops Cold War or Warzone, you’ll unlock an exclusive Adler skin for use in both games!
Six New Weapons
Expand your arsenal with six new Season Three weapons:
PPSh-41 SMG (Launch Week) – This classic SMG spits fire for an aggressive playstyle that’s ideal for leading the charge.
Swiss K31: Sniper Rifle (Launch Week) – With fast rechamber and aiming speeds with a large ammo capacity, this bolt-action sniper rifle creates exceptional accuracy.
Unlock more weapons throughout Season Three by completing in-game challenges or by purchasing their corresponding bundles in the Store. In Season Three, keep an eye out for the CARV.2 Tactical Rifle, the AMP63 pistol, the Baseball Bat, and the Ballistic Knife (which is available only in Cold War at Season Three launch).
New Multiplayer Maps, Outbreak Content and More in Zombies, and Additional Features
Yamantau (6v6, Launch Week): Fight through the crumbled remains and bury your enemies at the Soviet observatory on Mt. Yamantau. Battle through a massive, downed satellite dish, snowy interiors, and broken catwalks.
Diesel (6v6/2v2/3v3, Launch Week): In the lonesome desert and a slice of Americana, battle around the gas station and its surrounding buildings.
Standoff (6v6, In-Season): Watch the building and mind the hay bales. Season Three sees the return of this iconic three-lane medium sized map from the fan and pro scene.
Duga (Multi-Team In-Season, Outbreak at Launch): Only the strongest Operators can hope to survive the cruel terrain in the Ural Mountains in this new Multi-Team environment. Move through the central admin offices for close-range battle or work around the perimeter through the bus depot to the chemical processing plant for long-range. No need to wait until mid-season to play Duga! Drop into the map coming exclusively to Zombies in Outbreak at launch for the first half of Season Three!
Multi-Team Elimination (In-Season): Multiple teams of four will fight to survive ever-expanding radiation zones in the Multi-team Elimination mode coming to Black Ops Cold War’s biggest maps. Emerge as the last team standing or the first squad to board the exfil chopper in the final safe zone to achieve victory.
Sticks and Stones Returns at Season Launch
Sticks and Stones is back for Black Ops Cold War and it is every operator for themselves. Each player deploys with the R1 Shadowhunter crossbow, Ballistic Knife, and a Tomahawk. The first player to reach the score limit or the player with the highest score when the timer expires wins.
New Scorestreak: Strafe Run (Launch Week)
Rack up kills or hold down an area for your team by calling upon a pair of jet fighters to shower lead and rockets down upon the DZ with this new mid-tier Scorestreak. With a longer active period and higher potential for kills compared to Scorestreaks like the Napalm Strike, the Strafe Run is a solid choice for any MP mode.
New Outbreak Vehicles: FAV and Cargo Truck (Launch Week)
Hit the road with two new vehicles for Outbreak. Gun down zombies while racing for the next objective with the high-speed Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV) or fit the whole squad as you hunt Special and Elite zombies with the Cargo Truck.
New Field Upgrade: Toxic Growth
Requiem’s R&D team has developed Toxic Growth in round-based maps and Outbreak, a Field Upgrade that summons a deadly growth of toxic thorns that reduce zombie movement speed by half and deals toxic damage to enemies. Operators can upgrade Toxic Growth using Aetherium Crystals to double its damage, give it more charges, and even cause enemies who perish from the growth to explode!
New Outbreak World Events and Features (Launch Week)
Gain access to upgrades for the D.I.E. Machine Wonder Weapon, unlock the powerful Aether Tool item by destroying Fury Crystals, discover the secret to warping ahead to higher difficulty regions even faster, and more for the first time in Outbreak.
New Battle Pass, Prestige Levels, and More
This is just the surface of what Season Three is bringing along with a new Battle Pass, three new playable operators — Wraith, Antonov, and Knight — new prestige levels, new challenges in Multiplayer and Zombies, and more. Plus, those who purchase or already own any version of Black Ops Cold War at the start of Season Three will receive the Captain Price Operator for use in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone.
Das Verdansk, das ihr kennt, gibt es nicht mehr. Eine nukleare Katastrophe hat einen Zombie-Ausbruch verursacht, der das Land korrumpiert. Im Zuge der Säuberung habet Activision Verdansk auf seine Version von 1984 zurückgespult, um zu untersuchen, wie sich die Ereignisse des Kalten Krieges auf diese Stadt ausgewirkt haben. Saison 3 von Warzone steigt aus dieser Asche empor und bringt einige neuen Map-Updates mit. Zum Beispiel neu interpretierte Retro-Interpretationen von ikonischen Orten.
Dieser Blick in die Vergangenheit ist nur ein Teil von Warzone Saison 3. Der neue Operator Wraith folgt dem Ruf des Schlachtfeldes – ein eiskalter Killer der in den Szenen rund um die Zerstörung des Mt. Yamantau vorgestellt wird. Yamantau ist eine neue, verschneite Multiplayer-Map, die in und um Gebäude herum stattfindet, die von einer verheerenden Lawine getroffen wurden. Der Sticks and Stones Modus kehrt zurück und fordert eine extrem hoher Präzision von euch, um hier erfolgreich zu sein. Mit Diesel bekommt ihr eine neue 2v2-Gunfight-Karte. Eine Map, die gleichzeitig als 6-gegen-6-Karte mit engen Vierteln fungiert. Strafe Run bringt ein Flugzeug-Maschinengewehr-Feuer mit ins Spiel – und das sind nur Beispiele.
Willkommen in Verdansk ‘84
Jedes Gebäude, jede Oberfläche und jedes Objekt in der Warzone Karte wurde bearbeitet, um eine frische Warzone-Umgebung zu schaffen. Jetzt ist Frühlingszeit in Verdansk mit Kirschblüten in den Straßen und hellgrüner Flora, die diese Karte zu einer tollen location machen.
Sieben bereits existierende Locations kehren mit einem neuen Twist zurück, auch der Flughafen, der im modernen Verdansk zerstört ist. In Verdansk ‘84 ist der Flughafen komplett eingerichtet, die Sonne scheint durch die intakten Fensterscheiben und es fühlt sich komplett anders an, dort zu sein. Der Kontrollturm steht noch fest an seiner Position und stellt eine gute Position für Spieler dar, die über die Location wachen wollen und einen Überblick brauchen. Das neue Layout des Flughafens erlaubt es Spielern auch die im Blick zu haben, die am Tower campen.
Das Verdansk Stadium ist 1984 noch im Aufbau, inklusive eines Krans, der über der Location schwebt. complete with a crane towering over the location. 1984 gibt es die Kuppel noch nicht – das schafft ein neues Open-Air-Schlachtfeld.
Wir konnten mit Miles Leslie, Creative Specialist bei Treyarch und Amos Hodge, Associate Creative Director bei Raven Software über die drei großen Map-Veränderungen sprechen. Lest weiter, um mehr darüber zu erfahren, wie sie sich verändert haben und holt euch Tipps für den Sieg.
Nordwesten der Karte
Gora Summit
Was es mal war
Amos Hodge: “…die größten Veränderungen kamen, bevor es zum Dam wurde. Es war eine solide Mauer. Ihr würdet oft versuchen dort hinüber zu kommen, aber harte Mauern sind schwer zu überqueren. Ihr könntet es innen versuchen, aber es ist wie ein Labyrinth, ein bisschen dunkel. Es war also sehr schwer, an die Spitze zu gelangen [des Dam].”
Wie es jetzt ist
Amos Hodge: “Jetzt gibt es einen Weg [ Gora Summit]. Es ist etwas steil, aber ihr könnt es schaffen und sogar mit einem Truck rauffahren. Und eines der coolsten Sachen: Die Seilbahn geht vom Gipfel bis zu den Gebäuden, um etwas Deckung zu geben.”
Tipps
Amos Hodge: “[Gora] Summit ist super zum Snipern. Wenn ihr oben seid und auf die Dächer klettert, könnt ihr snipern. Die Gondeln gehen hoch und runter und ihr könnt Leute erwischen, die bei den Gondeln nicht aufmerksam sind.”
Westlich von der Kartenmitte
Airplane Factory
Was es mal war
Amos Hodge: “Airplane Factory war eine dieser Zwischen-Locations. Dort gab es diese riesigen Zylinder die runstanden. Ein paar Leitern. Es gab sechs solcher Strukturen und einfach so eine Art Zwischen-Location. Gerade genug, zum durchstreifen, aber nicht wirklich ein Ort.”
Was es jetzt ist
Amos Hodge: “Es ist jetzt eine komplette Destination. Es gibt Plätze, an denen Menschen tatsächlich die Flugzeuge zusammenstellen.”
Tipps
Miles Leslie: “Ich habe Spaß daran mit einem Truck herumzufahren und Leute aus ihren Verstecken zu locken, weil sie denken, sie könnten mich erwischen. Und dann fahre ich einfach in einem Lastwagen umher. Und für die anderen startet dann der Weltuntergang.”
Nordosten der Karte
Radar Array
Was es mal war
Amos Hodge: “Vorher war dort nicht viel! Das ist eine der spannendsten neuen Locations, weil man sie von überall auf der Karte sehen kann.”
Was es jetzt ist
Miles Leslie: “Für alle, die sich an das originale Black Ops erinnern: Es gab es eine Karte mit dem Namen Grid und sie lag genau neben Dugo. In der Black Ops Cold War Kampagne war das ebenfalls ein Thema, es gibt also eine tiefe Verbindung und einige Verknüpfungen zur Welt von Black Ops im Allgemeinen.
Es war also in Cold War tatsächlich etwas, das genutzt wurde und jetzt gehen wir zurück in der Zeit – es ergibt einfach Sinn. Außerdem macht es großen Spaß dort zu spielen. , so now that we’re going back in time to ‘84, it just made sense. On top of that, it’s just really fun to play. Radar Array kann täuschen – man will sofort dort landen, aber gibt Besonderheiten, wie man dort landet, rennt und wie man dort spielt. Ich glaube, das werden die Spieler genießen.”
Tipps
Amos Hodge: “In Radar Array trage ich gerne eine Zweitwaffe und hole Helikopter vom Himmel. Es ist ein perfekter Aussichtspunkt. Ihr könnt dort so viele Helikopter sehen und einfach anvisieren – auch über große Entfernung hinweg. Es ist der perfekte Platz dafür! Ihr könnt von dort aus auch andere Fahrzeuge ins Visier nehmen.”
Miles Leslie: “Ihr wollt epische Momente erleben? Springt von Radar Array mit dem Fallschirm und haut die Leute um. Probiert es aus, es ist fantastisch.”
Saison 3 von Call of Duty Warzone und Black Ops Cold War ist verfügbar und bereit, euch nach Verdansk ‘84 zu bringen. Macht auch einen Abstecher zu Black Ops Cold War und erlebt die Updates, Zombies und den Multiplayer. Von den Teams bei Treyarch und Raven Software wird es noch mehr geben, aber jetzt springt erst einmal in die neue Map und holt den Sieg.
We’re excited to announce our first installment in the new Warfare series! Warfare 1 focuses on the engineer by both expanding the engineer’s arsenal, as well as bringing a series of new quality-of-life features to Space Engineers combat. Warfare 1 expands your creative possibilities, providing a series of new blocks aimed at pushing the limits of battlefield innovation.
As with our previous updates, this DLC and update will be released on all supported platforms simultaneously. We want you to enjoy Space Engineers on your platform of choice! Ensuring proper support for all platforms means proper support for all features and functionality, including dedicated servers. Warfare 1: Field Engineer is multiplayer-focused and the content of the Field Engineer DLC is designed to be enjoyed with friends.
As part of our continued efforts to ensure the best possible Space Engineers experience, Xbox and PC players can now play in the same space, on the same server, via our new Crossplay update, released earlier last month!
A true rework of engineer-based combat could hardly be called complete without an arsenal of specialist weapons, suited for every battlefield condition. Pistols will be making their long-awaited debut. The new S series standard-issue sidearm is built for use in even the most hostile environments: Simple, reliable, dependable. When a sidearm is not enough, the Space Engineers rifle is reborn as the MR series. A staple of both military and police forces it is an exceptionally reliable rifle. Easy to use, easy to clean. Looking for something that packs more of a punch? The Rocket launcher is the weapon of choice when faced with mechanized opposition.
Warfare 1: Field Engineer simply wouldn’t be complete without a custom battlefield to test your combat prowess. Gather your team and face off against two other teams of four and test your combat readiness in our newest, action-packed, close combat scenario The Uranium Heist! Gather the uranium, repair your escape pod, and fight for victory!
Warfare 1: Field Engineer provides you with new choices in how you create & destroy. Field Engineers is the first installment in our all-new Warfare content! That’s right, this is only the beginning of our exploration into conflict and warfare in the Space Engineers universe.
This update features a comprehensive overhaul of handheld weapons and infantry combat. A number of big changes went into making Space Engineers infantry combat more rewarding, consistent, and compelling.
Riffles are now rebalanced, each specialized to fit a particular niche and have a distinctive feel. Infantry weapons now feature recoil, muzzle climb, and reloading as well as new magazines that visually match their ammo capacity. More bullets? Bigger magazine! Finally, friendly/hostile indicators, hit indicators, and damage indicators have been added to improve combat awareness and battle feedback.
Warfare 1 doesn’t just focus on the Engineer though, it also includes new blocks to outfit your base, space station, or fortress. Prepare your defense or lay siege like never before!
Similar to our previous major releases, we hope you will take this opportunity to support the continued development of Space Engineers. This DLC pack consists of cosmetic items that enrich your game visually. None of the features in this package provide any advantage to players who purchase this DLC.
The price of the Warfare 1: Field Engineer Pack is $3.99 USD on the Xbox Store. Help show your continued support for Space Engineers and check out the Warfare 1: Field Engineer Pack. This update includes both free features as well as the option of paid DLC. Functional items that directly impact game mechanics are always offered as a free upgrade. Cosmetic upgrades are included as paid DLC content. This is how we structure all of our Major DLC releases and we hope you enjoy it.
For all of the latest news and updates, follow Space Engineers on Twitter and Facebook.
Space Engineers “Warfare 1: Field Engineer” pack includes Fire Cover Block, Half window Block, Weapon Rack Block, Five new passage blocks, Embrasure Block, Two new Emotes and the Assault Suit skin. This content is not “pay to win” and the owner of the package has no advantage against other players. If you decide not to purchase the “Warfare 1” pack, but you want to play with friends or other players who did buy Warfare 1, you will still be able to join a multiplayer game or server with them and participate. Fire Cover Block Provides excellent cover while crouched behind it and provides a limited line of fire through the lower gaps. Comes in 2 different variations, both Normal and Corner. Half window Block The half window is much like the cover wall with a viewing window above it. The block is air-tight and connects nicely with vanilla window blocks. Comes in 2 different variations, both Normal and Corner. Weapon Rack Block The weapons rack is an open locker that stores your armament inside. A home for your new arsenal. Keep it well-stocked, well guarded, and behind lock & key. Provided in small and large grid versions. More Passage Blocks Fivel new passage blocks provide greater possibilities for interior design and provide an easy-to-navigate space. Designed in several new variations: Regular, Crossroads, Light, Side, and Entry. Embrasure Block Having the dimensions of a half armor block, this block serves as a window for players to fire through while still maximizing cover from incoming fire. An ancient innovation now brought to the far future battlefield of Space Engineers. Two new Emotes “Got hit”: Oh no, they got me! “Finger guns”: Fire off a few warning shots. Assault Suit skin The Assault Suit skin combines precision engineering, state of the art design, steel, and kevlar. The end result is a highly resistant, hermetically sealed, military exoskeleton. The Assault suit skin is designed for one purpose, war.
Space Engineers is an open world sandbox game defined by creativity and exploration. It is a sandbox game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, wheeled vehicles, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses (civil and military), pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive. Featuring both creative and survival modes, there is no limit to what can be built, utilized and explored. Space Engineers features a realistic, volumetric-based physics engine: everything in the game can be assembled, disassembled, damaged and destroyed. The game can be played either in single or multiplayer modes. Volumetric objects are structures composed from block-like modules interlocked in a grid. Volumetric objects behave like real physical objects with mass, inertia and velocity. Individual modules have real volume and storage capacity. Space Engineers is inspired by reality and by how things work. Think about modern-day NASA technology extrapolated 60 years into the future. Space Engineers strives to follow the laws of physics and doesn't use technologies that wouldn't be feasible in the near future. Space Engineers concentrates on construction and exploration aspects, but can be played as a survival shooter as well. We expect players will avoid engaging in direct man-to-man combat and instead use their creativity and engineering skills to build war machines and fortifications to survive in space and on planets. Space Engineers shouldn’t be about troops; it should be about the machinery you build. CORE FEATURES Planets and moons – fully destructible & persistent, volumetric, atmosphere, gravity, climate zones Game modes – Creative – unlimited resources, instant building, no death – Survival – realistic management of resources and inventory capacity; manual building; death/respawn Single-player – you are the sole space engineer Multiplayer – Creative and survival mode with your friends – Cooperative and competitive – Privacy customization: offline, private, friends only, public – A host on Xbox One and Xbox One S supports 2 player multiplayer (lobby), 1 host + 1 client – A host on Xbox One X supports 4 player multiplayer (lobby), 1 host + 3 clients New game options – Scenarios – offer linear story with action-packed gameplay, while the majority of Space Engineers scenarios feature unique sandbox environments where players create their own challenges. – Workshop worlds – offer worlds created by other players. – Custom worlds – offer variety of customizable worlds where you can start your own scenario. Customizable character – skins, colors, community market, male and female character Ships (small and large) – build and pilot them Space stations Planetary bases, outposts, cities First-person & Third-person Super-large worlds – the size of the world to 1,000,000,000 km in diameter (almost infinite) Procedural asteroids – an infinite number of asteroids to the game world Exploration – adds an infinite number of ships and stations to the game world; discover, explore, acquire and conquer! Drilling / harvesting Manual building in survival mode – use welder to assemble blocks from components; use grinder to disassemble and reuse components Deformable and destructible objects – real proportions, mass, storage capacity, integrity Building blocks – over 200 blocks (gravity generators, jump drive, turrets, doors, landing gears, assembler, refinery, rotors, wheels, thrusters, pistons, wind turbine and many more) Electricity – all blocks in a grid are wired in an electrical and computer network; electricity is generated by nuclear reactors or various power sources Gravity – produced by planets and gravity generators. Spherical gravity generator also available. Symmetry/Mirroring – useful in creative mode when building structures that require symmetry Weapons – automatic rifle, small and large explosive warheads, small ship gatling gun, small ship missile launcher mod.io Workshop – share your creations with the Community (upload and download worlds, blueprints) Localized interface – Official localization: English, Russian, Chinese, German, French, Spanish Cargo ships – auto-piloted vessels (miners, freighters and military) that carry ore, ingots, constructions components and other materials from sector to sector. They can be looted but beware, they often contain booby traps! Oxygen – take off character's helmet, generate oxygen out of ice by using the oxygen generator Hydrogen – hydrogen thrusters, hydrogen tanks and hydrogen bottles Factions – create and join factions, determine ownership of blocks and manage the relations between them (hostile/ally). Blueprints – save your ship or station on a blueprint and paste it into your game GPS – create, send, receive and manage GPS coordinates in the game Voxel hands – shape and form the asteroids and change their material (creative mode only) Sounds – realistic and arcade mode Space Engineers utilizes an in-house built VRAGE 2.0, realistic volumetric-based physics engine: all objects can be assembled, disassembled, damaged and destroyed. How to Play Start by watching this video tutorial:http://www.SpaceEngineersGame.com/how-to-play.html Performance Notes The performance depends on the complexity of your world and the type of your Xbox. Simple worlds run smoothly even on old Xbox, but a more complex world with rich object interactions could overload even XBox One X.
There’s a moment that happens almost every day in our multiplayer playtests – where someone jolts out of their seat, laughs, and says to no one in particular, “Did you just see that happen?” These amazing and unpredictable moments in gaming are the sparks that occur when playing with others; future memories ready to be replayed and retold.
We started Firewalk Studios in 2018 with this kind of spark at the heart of our games.
It’s why I used to stay up until 2 AM playing Phantasy Star Online night after night with the same group from Server 9. Or how the neighbors who showed up at my NYC apartment to complain about the noise, ended up jamming with us in Rock Band instead.
For others on our team, it was spending nights with their crew searching and finding the perfect last armor set piece in Diablo II, making the online qualifiers in competitive Halo tournaments, or skipping studying for a math final to play in a Left 4 Dead 2 LAN party.
As a next-generation AAA studio and part of the ProbablyMonsters family, we’ve carefully assembled an amazing and diverse team of best-in-class talent who are focused on creating these moments. Everyone here brings a deep passion for games and the art of making them. We have a saying at Firewalk: build a great team, build a great game. One leads directly to the other. The ProbablyMonsters’ world-class operations teams and infrastructure has allowed us to focus on doing both better: fostering a sustainable development culture where people come first and delivering great games.
Our collective leadership team is no stranger to building memorable multiplayer experiences. Ryan Ellis, our Game Director, was a Creative Director on Destiny. Elena Siegman, our Executive Producer, was a producer on Guitar Hero II, Bioshock Infinite, and multiple Destiny releases. Our deeply talented team has helped bring to life franchises like Mass Effect and Apex Legends. Combined with my own experience (and, er, thousands of hours played) on Call of Duty and Destiny, we’ve had the opportunity to deliver some of the decade’s biggest experiences to gamers – and we’ve loved it.
Today, we’re thrilled to announce a partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment for our new, original multiplayer game. For our team, the opportunity to create new worlds and inspire more amazing moments for players around the world is the fire and ambition that keeps us going. The PlayStation team has a deep love and respect for the medium of games, and some of the best expertise and capabilities in the world to help make big ambitions a reality.
We’re already hard at work on development and have been having a ton of fun playing our game as a team. In fact, while we continued to grow our team during this challenging last year, it was our daily online playtests that provided the most consistent point of joy and connection for our crew. The fun and laughter of playing together brought us closer, even if we were physically apart. Our goal is to be able to deliver that same joy to gamers and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on when the time is right.
We’re very fortunate to love what we do – making games. There’s more game-making in front of us, but in the meantime, we’ll keep playing the incredible games this industry creates and generating a few more sparks of our own.
We first revealed the Tachyon Anomaly event one month ago at Square Enix Presents, and we’re eager to dive into the details to prepare you for its arrival on April 22! Being able to have a Strike Team composed of more than one of the same Hero has been a much-requested feature in the past, so we’re excited to see everyone jump in!
Temporal Assault
AIM’s tampering with time has led to periodic Tachyon Anomalies. Whenever these events occur, Avengers from different timelines can converge in a single location and take on the world’s threats together. The first Tachyon Anomaly is happening from April 22 to May 3 and allows players to form teams of more than one of the same Hero. Players can also matchmake into teams that contain the same Heroes, meaning you’ll never know what combination you may be part of.
During these two weeks, there will be a weekly mission chain that rewards Hivemind set gear, and daily missions that reward priority set gear for high-level Heroes.
We’re also introducing Temporal Assault nameplates, which are animated nameplates you can earn to add some shine to your experience. You’ll receive an animated team nameplate as a reward for the first completion of the weekly mission chain that can be used on any Hero!
There are also Hero-specific animated nameplates that will be available in the Marketplace:
April 22 to 29 – Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Hulk
April 29 to May 6 – Iron Man, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop
Let us know what you think of this event and if you want it to return!
Tachyon Rift Missions
During the Tachyon Anomaly event, multiple Tachyon Rift missions will appear at a time. There will also be new Tachyon Rift missions for Heroes who are power level 1-100, which will rotate every day and offer relevant rewards. Finally, there is a new Tachyon mission in town: And We’re Back.
Tachyon Rifts are timed missions that usually require power level 140+, with only one appearing on the War Table per week. These missions reward powerful cosmic gear that can allow Heroes to gain willpower (life) upon attacking enemies. To unlock Tachyon Rift missions, players must complete the SHIELD Substation Zero mission chain that takes them to the Pacific Northwest.
If you and a friend are both Iron Man mains and haven’t been able to play together because of the restrictions, make sure to tell them about this event because you can have a Strike Team full of fliers now. We’d love to see some air formation videos!
We invite you to take screenshots of your team in the Temporal Assault event and to tag us in all your photos so we can see how creative you are – we’re @PlayAvengers on Twitter and Instagram!
Marvel’s Avengers is an epic, third-person, action-adventure game that combines an original, cinematic story with single-player and co-operative gameplay*. Take the essential Super Hero gaming experience to another level! Marvel's Avengers will be available for next-gen consoles at no extra cost.* This version will boast a wide spectrum of improvements to visuals and speed, and will be backwards compatible in single and multiplayer. Marvel's Avengers has a beautiful world filled with exquisite detail, and with improved Heroics, destruction, graphical fidelity, and framerate versus previous gen, you won't be missing any of it. Get right into the action with fast loading times and be blown away by the striking detail of enhanced destructive visuals that make Heroics feel truly in your hands. Marvel's Avengers will support save file transfer and cross-gen play so you can pick up right where you left off and continue fighting AIM with your favorite Super Hero squad. We're excited to herald in the next generation of consoles on Marvel's Avengers! Marvel’s Avengers leverages the Smart Delivery technology – buy the game once and play it on either Xbox One or on Xbox Series X|S. Marvel's Avengers on Xbox Series X|S is available now!*** *One-time online access required for single-player campaign; online access required for multiplayer and to download post-launch content. Free Square Enix Members account required. Platform-specific online subscription fee may be required. *Upgrading from the disk version will require the next-gen version of the same console with a disk drive. **Credits that you purchase are useable on Xbox Series X|S Console version of Marvel’s Avengers. Please be aware that the Credit that you own is synced with your Microsoft account, and the wallet will be shared through both platforms.
Hey everyone! Brian Otten from X Plus in Osaka, Japan here. We are thrilled to be releasing Smelter, a 16-bit style action-strategy hybrid, available today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!
So, what’s Smelter all about?
Smelter is a story about a boy. Actually, it’s a story about a girl and a boy. Wait — actually, it’s a story about a girl and a talkative winged being that can transform into a set of armor and command countless forces to expand his magnificent empire throughout the deepest reaches of Rumbly Lands in order to regain what he and the girl have lost.
Smelter is our debut title since coming together as a team in 2018 and it is our take on a combination we haven’t seen much in recent years: a top-down strategy, action-platformer in a 16-bit style.
In overhead, Mode 7-style map stages, players control airborne Smelter, who can fly, shoot and destroy enemies and obstacles while giving commands to his troops to expand territory, build structures and unleash attack units against enemy monsters in various regions. Players control Smelter in a top-down strategic conquest as he and his Zirm forces attempt to expand his empire by completing quests and taking on an onslaught of enemies determined to stop him. Gameplay is designed with shooting and command-driven interfaces, adding modern-day tutorials to assist both veteran gamers and those new to the genre.
Once the player has completed certain NPC-driven quests and fortified key locations on the map, they will access new and exciting action-platformer stages where they control Eve infused with Smelter on foot and take on the bad guys. Eve can perform an array of melee attacks, jumps, dashes, wall grabs, Smelter special attacks and maneuvers to complete the stages and progress the story. Stages contain secret “Trial” stages where the players are rewarded by completing short levels within given conditions, such as Time Trial, Don’t Get Hit, Don’t Be Seen and more.
One of the key modern-day features of Smelter is the elemental skill tree system that grants Eve and Smelter special abilities on land and air. Perform punching combos and rock shield counters with Gurabi’s earth and gravity-based skills, launch shock-infused spinning jump attacks with Eremagu’s electrified abilities, and fire long-range shooting attacks with the unstable yet deadly Nutoro elemental skill set. By unlocking new abilities, players can reach new areas and tackle stages with different approaches.
Inspiration
When planning Smelter, while although we made it a priority to give our own spin on the top-down strategy and action-platformer genres, we were definitely inspired by classics like Actraiser and the Megaman series simply because those were the games many of us loved to play and still love to play.
And while that might explain some of the inspirations for the game design choices, we feel Smelter has ultimately become this combination of the team’s personalities and what each of us enjoy to read, listen to, play and watch — anything that we are personally inspired by whether it’s a sarcastic comedy, action-packed anime with characters wearing armor that has no business being worn in battle, memorable boss from a game we played years ago, or a super heavy metal soundtrack we bang our heads to while working.
The Journey into the Rumbly Land
The majority of us at X Plus were (and still are) foreigners living in Osaka, Japan. The game development community in Japan can tend to be a fairly connected one, especially amongst expats, which makes it a great place to find those with similar goals. We were all looking for something new and eventually found ourselves together at X Plus in Japan, which has a long history with collectible figurines, and they were willing to give us a chance to pursue something we wanted to do.
During the planning process, we had to ask ourselves, do we want to go big? Or do we want to play it safe and go small? We had a lot of cool ideas! However, we realized that in order to deliver the quality we were shooting for and in order to deliver the experience we wanted players to have, we had to be honest with ourselves.
We went back to the whiteboard and asked ourselves: “What do we think makes a game fun?”
The result we reached is the Smelter players experience now: an action-packed platformer and strategy game with three distinct elements and an easy-to-learn swappable skill set system, a simple yet compelling narrative, colorful and high-quality pixel art, fun strategy mechanics and more emphasis put on thematic stage mechanics that mesh well with the skills available to the player.
Last but not least, a great soundtrack and sound design done by some incredibly dedicated and passionate artists that helped breathe life into the visuals and game mechanics.
Message to Players
We were super happy to be able to come together and go through this journey of making Smelter what it is today. For over two years, the team lived and breathed Smelter (even had dreams!). We’ve all put a piece of ourselves into Smelter and we are hoping to have the chance to share the story of Smelter with players around the world.
You are Eve, fresh out of Eden and armed with a living suit of armor. Explore a dangerous new world, battle its bizarre denizens and expand your empire in a desperate journey to find Adam. Smelter is a strategy, action-platformer combo inspired by classics from the 16-bit era. Lead Smelter and his faithful Zirm forces by expanding Smelter’s territory across the Rumbly Lands in top-down strategy levels, then dive into thrilling side-scrolling action stages after annexing key locations. Build, attack and advance your army — unlock, upgrade and unleash elemental action skills against vicious enemies, perilous environments and dangerous bosses. Release the power of Smelter! STORY After the untimely destruction of the Garden, Eve finds herself in an unfamiliar world with her beloved Adam nowhere to be found. In her search for Adam, she encounters Smelter, an unusually over-confident, winged creature with the powerful ability to transform and fuse with others, giving them incredible powers. Offering his apparently “invaluable” assistance, Smelter transforms and fuses with Eve. They depart on a journey to the treacherous Rumbly Lands. There, they expand Smelter’s territory, allowing them to reach further into the various domains to find out what happened to her Adam, hoping to find him in one piece and find a way back home to their peaceful lives…
Immortals Fenyx Rising – The Lost Godshas arrived on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, introducing a new overhead view, a new hero, and new ways to play. The third DLC chapter for Immortals Fenyx Rising swings its focus back to Greek Mythology, where cataclysmic disasters are ripping the mortal world apart. Fenyx, now a god, chooses a mortal named Ash to find the lost gods of Olympos, re-unify the Pantheon, and restore balance to the world.
Ash’s adventure unfolds from a top-down perspective in a new land, the Pyrite Island, where Ash will need to track down Hades, Poseidon, Demeter, Boreas, and Hestia, and convince them to come home. Naturally, this involves solving a lot of environmental puzzles and pummeling a lot of monsters – including the venomous, burrowing Abas and ice-wielding Telchines, which are new to the game.
With the overhead view comes a new, brawler-inspired approach to combat that features faster pacing and more enemies on screen at once. Players can also customize their approach to battle by applying unlockable buffs and other bonuses to Ash’s abilities to create different builds. Additionally, Ash can wield new abilities: Nature’s Fury, a continuous beam of destruction that deals more damage the longer Ash can keep it going; and Catastrophe Quake, which knocks down any surrounding enemies with a powerful stomp.
Immortals Fenyx Rising – The Lost Godsis available now to Season Pass owners, or available as a separate purchase via the Xbox Store, and is playable whether or not you’ve finished the main game or the other DLC chapters. (Those who haven’t experienced Fenyx’s adventure yet can also grab the free demo, which features a self-contained side story specially designed to show off what Fenyx can do.) If you’re ready to step into Ash’s sandals, there’s a whole new hero’s journey to experience, so grab the DLC and get started – the gods aren’t going to reunite themselves, after all.
Expand your adventure with the third DLC, The Lost Gods. Discover a new top-down gameplay experience featuring a daring new champion, brawler-style combat, and an exciting mythological adventure! Meet Ash, a new hero on an epic journey to reunite the Greek gods, including legends like Poseidon, Hades, and more. Unlock her powers using a brand-new, customizable upgrade system and bring the gods back to the Pantheon.
Immortals Fenyx Rising brings grand mythological adventure to life. Play as Fenyx, a new, winged demigod, on a quest to save the Greek gods. The fate of the world is at stake – you are the gods’ last hope. – Wield the powers of the gods, like Achilles' sword and Daidalos' wings, to battle powerful enemies and solve ancient puzzles. – Fight iconic mythological beasts like Cyclops and Medusa in dynamic combat in the air and on the ground. – Use your skills and diverse weapons, including self-guided arrows, telekinesis, and more, for devastating damage. – Discover a stylized open world across seven unique regions, each inspired by the gods. This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title
Mit den Frühlingsangeboten im PlayStation Store bekommt ihr die besten Games für eure PlayStation mit satten Rabatten bis zu 80%! Um euch die Qual der Wahl ein wenig zu erleichtern, haben wir das riesige Angebot unter die Lupe genommen und einige Empfehlungen für euch. Spielt ihr gerne online gemeinsam mit Freunden oder wollt euch bei ein paar Runden entspanntem Couch-Koop mit euren Kumpels messen, dann haben wir ein paar richtig gute Vorschläge für euch. Denkt daran: Die Angebote sind nur noch bis zum 28. April 2021 verfügbar.
A Way Out
Könnt ihr euch auf eure Freunde verlassen? Das werdet ihr in dem spannenden Koop-Gefängnisausbruch-Spiel A Way Out schnell herausfinden, denn alleine kommt ihr garantiert nicht weit. Worum geht’s? Zusammen mit einem Couch-Mitspieler übernehmt ihr die Rollen der Knastbrüder Leo und Vincent, die sich unschuldig eingeknastet fühlen. Gemeinsam müsst ihr nicht nur aus dem gut gesicherten Gefängnis ausbrechen, sondern euch auch bis zu eurem Ziel durchschlagen und dabei der Polizei tunlichst aus dem Weg gehen. Das spannende Katz- und Mauspiel im filmreif inszenierten 1970er-Jahre-Szenario stellt euch immer wieder vor schwere Entscheidungen, die den Spielverlauf maßgeblich beeinflussen. Oftmals habt ihr unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten eine Situation zu meistern, dann solltet ihr euch untereinander schon einig sein, wie es weiter gehen soll. Ansonsten landet ihr schneller wieder hinter schwedischen Gardinen als es euch lieb ist. Tipp: Schaut euch auch das neue Spiel der schwedischen Entwickler Hazelight Studios an: It Takes Two ist ein echter Koop-Meilenstein und zu Recht Player’s Choice März 2021.
Cuphead
Lasst euch von den knuffigen Figuren im herrlichen Retro-Look früher Animationsfilme bloß nicht täuschen: Das Spiel Cuphead der kanadischen Indie-Entwickler StudioMDHR ist ein knallharter Shooter, bei dem ihr euer Temperament ganz schön in Zaum halten solltet. Sonst wird beim fünfzigsten Anlauf einen der Bosse zu bezwingen, der ein- oder andere DualShock-Controller dran glauben müssen. Am besten ihr geht die Aufgabe kooperativ mit einem Freund oder Freundin an und werft euch als Cuphead und Mugman in das Bildschirmgetümmel, das Bullet Hell-typisch vor Schüssen und Gegnern nur so wimmelt und die Übersicht schnell verloren gehen kann. Sammelt also möglichst viele Münzen ein und stattet euch mit Waffen und Amuletten aus, die mächtige Spezialfähigkeiten verleihen. Ihr wollt kein Spiel, ihr braucht eine echte Herausforderung? Dann schlagt in den Angeboten unbedingt zu.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Nitros Oxide Edition
Ihr habt bestimmt genug DualShock-Controller im Haus, dann ladet eure Freunde oder die Familie zu ein paar Runden mit dem rasanten Kart-Racer Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled ein. Es geht eben nichts über heiße Rennen mit einem Fun-Racer, um den Zusammenhalt mal so richtig auf die Probe zu stellen. Heizt mit Crash Bandicoot, N. Gin oder Small und Big Norm aus dem breiten Fahrerfeld an freischaltbaren Charakteren über die Pisten. Das rundum gelungene Remake des gut zwanzig Jahre alten PS One-Klassikers macht einfach richtig gute Laune, egal ob ihr euch alleine im Abenteuer-Modus gegen KI-Konkurrenten beweist oder im Splitscreen- und Online-Modus gegen menschliche Kartfahrer antretet. Um das Siegertreppchen zu besteigen, müsst ihr schon euer ganzes Kart-Können auf den abgefahrenen Strecken beweisen. Natürlich sammelt ihr auch hilfreiche Gegenstände wie TNT-Kisten ein, mit denen ihr die Mitfahrer quälen könnt. Aber es zählt nicht nur das Glück, sondern eher wie gut ihr in den Haarnadelkurven mit der genialen Slide Boost-Mechanik umgeht. Ein echtes Fun-Racer-Komplettpaket mit massig Strecken, Fahrern und spannenden Spielmodi.
Overcooked! 2
Ihr kennt bestimmt den Spruch „Viele Köche verderben den Brei“, das mag auch bei sehr vielen Dingen zutreffen, aber garantiert nicht bei dem herrlich chaotischen Multiplayer-Kochduell Overcooked! 2. Im zweiten Teil geht es für euch zurück ins Zwiebelreich um es dem fiesen Monsterfleischklops mal wieder richtig zu zeigen. Wie ihr das macht? Eigentlich ganz einfach: Ihr sollt in der Küche Rekorde aufstellen, indem schmackhafte Menüs für eure Kunden zubereitet. Das allerdings unter erheblichem Zeitdruck und in immer schwierigeren Küchen-Layouts. Was zuerst wie ein Spaziergang wirkt, wird ganz schnell zu einem herrlichen abgedrehten Tohuwabohu am Herd. Teil 2 liefert euch nicht nur mehr von dem bewährten und begehrten Spielprinzip, sondern lässt euch jetzt auch online nach Mitköchen suchen. In den Frühlingsangeboten bekommt ihr den absoluten Multiplayer-Geheimtipp mit satten 50% Rabatt.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Wenn 60 knuffige Kreaturen im Ananas-Outfit oder mit Häschen-Hut um den Sieg ringen, dann kann die Rede natürlich nur von Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout sein. Das Spielprinzip ist eigentlich einfach erklärt: Seht zu, dass ihr als erster einen völlig abgedrehten Hindernisparcours meistert und witzige Herausforderungen besteht. Eigentlich kein Problem, wenn da nicht online eine ganze Menge Gegenspieler genau das auch wollen und alles daran setzen, euch das Fall Guys-Leben schwer zu machen. Klar, dass es sehr schnell zu einem absoluten Battle Royale-Chaos kommt, in dem ihr die Tücken des Parcours und die Gemeinheiten der Konkurrenz überstehen müsst. Ihr mögt Herausforderungen und ganz viel Schadenfreude? Ihr werden Fall Guys lieben!
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Eine spannende Kampagne, Zombiehorden und ein umfangreiches Multiplayer-Erlebnis: In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ist garantiert für jeden Spielertyp genau das Richtige dabei. Als Solostreiter erlebt ihr eine dramatische und gewohnt bleihaltige Story, die euch den Kalten Krieg aus einer neuen Perspektive zeigt. Im beliebten Zombiemodus erlegt ihr alleine oder kooperativ Welle um Welle an fiesen Menschenfleischfressern und in den vielseitigen Mehrspielergefechten beweist ihr euer Können gegen Spieler aus aller Welt. Zur Auswahl stehen traditionelle Modi wie Team Deathmatch, Herrschaft oder Frei für alle, aber auch neue, spektakuläre, 12 gegen 12-Gefechte mit Fahrzeugen in Verbundene Waffen und epische Schlachten mit zehn Teams zu je vier Kameraden auf einer riesigen Karte. Apropos Karte: Mit Nuketown ‘84 kehrt die wohl kultigste Call of Duty-Map für 6 gegen 6-Kämpfe in überarbeiteter Optik zurück.
Sustainability is a pivotal point of focus for Microsoft and Xbox. We’re exploring new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and to raise awareness with our community. Reaching our sustainability commitments will take time and a lot of work, but we believe taking consistent, incremental steps make for the surest route to everlasting impact. It’s our responsibility to build a more sustainable future at Xbox, but we know our community is passionate about this mission and are looking for ways to show it.
For Earth Day 2021, we want to recognize that progress also needs awareness. The best stories today have the power to move and change minds – and games have that power too, with a social and visual dimension other entertainment doesn’t have. With that in mind, we want to share some of the ways you and your friends can discover and drive discussions on climate-related issues that lead to action. Read on for more details on our Earth Day celebration activities and how you can get involved.
Making an Impact Through Minecraft
Mojang Studios continues its mission of building a better world through partnerships and activities supporting sustainability and environmental causes. With the Coral Crafters project, Minecraft set out to help restore coral reefs and support marine life, starting with a $100,000 donation to The Nature Conservancy and donation of proceeds from the Coral Crafters Skin Pack. Minecraft also partnered with the World Wildlife Fund on programs supporting panda and honeybee conservation, yielding another $200,000 in donations plus proceeds from merchandise.
This Earth Day, join a very special edition of Xbox Plays with Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa, Head of Xbox Social Good Jenn Panattoni, and Minecraft Education Marketing Lead Sara Cornish as they explore Minecraft‘s Sustainability City and discuss the importance of sustainable practices. Tune in on Twitch from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT on Thursday, April 22 to join in the fun, celebrate Earth Day, and learn more about Microsoft and Xbox sustainability efforts.
Minecraft Celebrates Earth Day with a New Learning Experience for Educators and Students
In April, Minecraft: Education Edition is celebrating Earth Day with the new Radical Recycling lesson for the Sustainability City world, taking students on a journey through a bustling urban environment and inside its recycling center. One of the most important lessons that educators can teach learners is how their choices matter, whether those are individual decisions or the solutions they support in their communities. Learn about Sustainable Farms, Forestry, Renewable Energy sources and more in Sustainability City with seven lesson plans and activities to explore. For more information, please visit: Celebrate Earth Day with Minecraft | Minecraft: Education Edition
Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards: The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund
Microsoft Rewards Members in the United States can make further impact with The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, and as we feature these nonprofits via Microsoft Rewards on Xbox. All Microsoft Rewards points donations made to these organizations will be matched by Microsoft through the month of April. See below for more details on each of these organizations and why you should donate.
The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Their mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
World Wildlife Fund – As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in nearly 100 countries. At every level, they collaborate with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live. Their mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
Xbox gamers can earn Microsoft Rewards points in various ways, such as playing or purchasing games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Join today and donate through Xbox.
Explore Amazing Worlds This Earth Day with Xbox Game Pass
While many fans continue to experience widespread social distancing and isolation, we invite our Xbox community to explore amazing worlds through gaming! From building, crafting, or exploration on earth or other worlds, Xbox Game Pass has created an Earth Day inspired collection. Other games feature survival themes in challenging environments and elements of creating or caring for life in sustainable ways. Enjoy exploring!
Grounded (Cloud, Console, PC): The world is a vast, beautiful, and dangerous place – especially when you have been shrunken to the size of an ant. Explore, build, and survive together in this cooperative survival-adventure. This title is part of the Xbox Early Access program and is available on Xbox Game Pass.
Minecraft (Console): Explore your own unique world, survive the night, and create anything you can imagine!
No Man’s Sky (Cloud, Console, PC): Explore an infinite universe where you will discover unique never-before-seen planets and lifeforms.
Astroneer (Cloud, Console, PC): Set during the 25th century Intergalactic Age of Discovery, where Astroneers explore the frontiers of outer space, risking their lives in harsh environments to unearth rare discoveries and unlock the mysteries of the universe.
During the week of Earth Day and beyond we will be highlighting movies and TV that can help educate and motivate you to join us as we work to minimize our environmental footprint for a sustainable future. Players in the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, and Australia can check out the content on the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the Microsoft Store on Windows.
‘Hog Wild’ Nameplate for Halo: The Master Chief Collection
In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, our players can customize their profile with special nameplates commemorating in-game activities or celebrating special events. In celebration of Earth Day, any players who log in from April 21 to 25, will receive this special ‘Hog Wild’ nameplate, a not-so-subtle nod to the Warthog vehicle!
Microsoft is dedicated to leading a future of ambition and action in this space and we look forward to working with you even more in the years ahead on our sustainability efforts. In the meantime, you can learn more about what Microsoft is doing in celebration of Earth Day and how Microsoft is tackling sustainability more broadly
Bei unseren Multiplayer-Spieltests gibt es eigentlich jeden Tag einen Moment, in dem jemand von seinem Platz aufspringt, lacht und in die Runde sagt: „Habt ihr das gerade gesehen?“ Diese erstaunlichen und unvorhersehbaren Momente im Gaming sind die Funken, die beim gemeinsamen Spielen entstehen. Sie werden zu Erinnerungen, die man sich immer wieder gerne ins Gedächtnis ruft.
Als wir Firewalk Studios 2018 ins Leben gerufen haben, wollten wir genau diesen Funken in unseren Spielen einfangen.
Er ist der Grund, warum ich Nacht für Nacht mit der gleichen Gruppe bis zwei Uhr morgens Phantasy Star Online auf Server 9 gespielt habe. Oder warum die Nachbarn, die eigentlich bei meiner Wohnung in New York an die Tür geklopft hatten, um sich über den Lärm zu beschweren, stattdessen mit uns in Rock Band gejammt haben.
Für andere in unserem Team war er der Grund, warum sie Nächte damit verbracht haben, mit ihrer Gruppe in Diablo II das perfekte letzte Rüstungsteil zu suchen, es in die Online-Qualifikationsrunde von Halo-Turnieren zu schaffen oder nicht für eine Matheklausur zu lernen, sondern lieber eine Left 4 Dead 2-LAN-Party zu veranstalten.
Als AAA-Studio der nächsten Generation und Teil der ProbablyMonsters-Familie haben wir sorgfältig ein fantastisches und vielfältiges Team von führenden Talenten zusammengestellt, die sich darauf konzentrieren, genau diese Momente zu schaffen. Jeder hier bringt eine große Leidenschaft für Spiele und die Kunst, sie zu entwickeln, mit. Unser Motto hier bei Firewalk: Mit einem großartigen Team entsteht auch ein großartiges Spiel. Das Eine führt direkt zum Anderen. Die erstklassigen operativen Teams und die Infrastruktur von ProbablyMonsters haben es uns ermöglicht, uns auf beides zu konzentrieren: die Förderung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklungskultur, in der die Menschen an erster Stelle stehen – und die Bereitstellung großartiger Spiele.
Unser gesamtes Führungsteam weiß genau, wie man unvergessliche Multiplayer-Erlebnisse erschafft. Ryan Ellis, unser Game Director, war Creative Director bei Destiny. Elena Siegman, unsere Executive Producerin, war Produzentin bei Guitar Hero II, Bioshock Infinite und mehreren Destiny-Titeln. Unser extrem talentiertes Team hat Franchises wie Mass Effect und Apex Legends zum Leben erweckt. In Kombination mit meiner eigenen Erfahrung (und, ähm, Tausenden von Spielstunden) in Call of Duty und Destiny hatten wir die Gelegenheit, einige der größten Erlebnisse des Jahrzehnts für Gamer zu liefern – und wir haben es genossen.
Heute freuen wir uns, eine Partnerschaft mit Sony Interactive Entertainment für unser neues Multiplayer-Spiel bekanntgeben zu können. Für unser Team ist die Chance, neue Welten zu schaffen und noch mehr fantastische Momente für Spieler auf der ganzen Welt zu ermöglichen, das Feuer und die Motivation, die uns antreiben. Das PlayStation-Team bringt Spielen als Medium tiefen Respekt und eine große Liebe entgegen und verfügt über die besten Fachkenntnisse und Fähigkeiten der Welt, um große Ziele zu verwirklichen.
Wir arbeiten bereits hart an der Entwicklung und haben viel Spaß dabei, unser Spiel im Team zu spielen. Während dieses herausfordernden letzten Jahres konnten wir unser Team weiter ausbauen. Bei diesem Wachstum waren es unsere täglichen Online-Spieltests, die unseren Crewmitgliedern durchgehend Freude bereiteten und einen Ort boten, an dem sie sich austauschen konnten. Der Spaß und das Lachen beim gemeinsamen Spielen haben uns näher gebracht, auch wenn wir physisch voneinander getrennt waren. Unser Ziel ist es, Gamern dieselbe Freude zu bieten. Wir können es kaum erwarten, euch zu zeigen, woran wir gearbeitet haben, sobald der richtige Zeitpunkt gekommen ist.
Wir haben das Glück, dass wir das tun können, was wir lieben: Spiele entwickeln. Jetzt haben wir noch viel Arbeit vor uns, aber in der Zwischenzeit werden wir weiterhin die unglaublichen Spiele spielen, die diese Branche hervorbringt und auch selbst ein paar weitere Funken erzeugen. Wir sehen uns!
Experience one of the finest story-driven shooters of all time or hit the mud in the leading off-road simulation franchise, all in this weekend’s Free Play Days. Metro: Last Light Redux and WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship are available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, April 22 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 25 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
How to Start Playing
Find and install the games here on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One.
Keep the Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discount percentage may vary by region.
Metro: Last Light Redux Immerse yourself in the Moscow Metro and witness one of the most atmospheric worlds in gaming brought to life with stunning visuals at 60fps. Metro: Last Light Redux is the definitive version of the critically acclaimed Metro: Last Light, rebuilt in the latest and greatest iteration of the 4A Engine. Newcomers will get the chance to experience one of the finest story-driven shooters of all time, an epic adventure combining gripping survival horror, exploration, and tactical combat and stealth. Stay immersed in the Moscow Metro, as Metro: Last Light Redux is also on discount for a limited time!
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship WRC is the leading off-road simulation franchise. It returns with even more realistic gameplay and more content than ever: 3 new rallies, 35 new special stages, creation of your own custom championships, and completely redesigned engine sounds. Enjoy the game for free during Free Play Days and extend your experience with amazing promotions on all editions.
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
The Arduino Pro lineup continues to grow with the introduction of the new Arduino Edge Control. This is a remote monitoring and control solution optimized for outdoor environments. Easy deployment makes it suitable for smart agriculture, precision farming, and other intelligent control applications in remote locations.
Featuring built-in Bluetooth, Arduino MKR boards can expand connectivity with 2G/3G/CatM1/NB-IoT modems, LoRa®, Sigfox and WiFi. With solar power capabilities you can place it anywhere while leveraging AI on the edge. Once installed in the field, it can then be managed remotely using Arduino IoT Cloud (or other services).
Real-time monitoring with Edge Control sensors
You can also connect sensors, provide real-time monitoring, and drive actuators — commonly used in agriculture — thereby reducing production-related risks.
Particularly aimed at smart agriculture, the sensors can collect real-time data. Weather conditions, soil quality, crop growth and any other data you need. Once sent to Arduino IoT Cloud, the data value chain becomes valuable analytics that support business processes at various levels. For example, crop yield, equipment efficiency, staff performance and so forth. The Edge Control can improve crop quality, reduce effort and minimize error by automating processes like irrigation, fertilization or pest control.
Remote access and maintenance
With its robust design, the Edge Control is a fitting solution for applications in any outdoor setting. For example, using it on construction sites or in real estate to automate access control. Similarly, swimming pool maintenance and cleaning companies could monitor and control the condition of pool water from remote locations. As usual, we expect the Arduino community to come up with countless ingenious ways to implement this new technology.
To learn more about how you can use the Edge Control, check out how to get started.
The Edge Control is now available for €169/US$199 on the Arduino Store.
Düsseldorf, 22. April 2021 – Ubisoft® gab heute bekannt, dass Immortals Fenyx Rising™ – Die verlorenen Götter, der finale narrative DLC, ab sofort weltweit verfügbar ist. Spieler:innen, die bisher noch nicht die Chance hatten, Immortals Fenyx Rising auszutesten, können den Titel mit einer Demo auf Nintendo Switch™-Konsolen, Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One-Konsolen, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4 und Windows PC kostenlos ausprobieren.
Die AT-Version des Videos kann hier auf YouTube gefunden werden und steht ebenfalls zum Direktdownload bereit.
Immortals Fenyx Rising – Die verlorenen Götter, bietet neuartiges Gameplay in der Top-Down Perspektive. Mit Kämpfen im Stil eines Brawlers kehrt der DLC zu der Geschichte von Fenyx zurück, die nun ihr neues Leben als Gott lebt. Als eine Katastrophe die sterbliche Welt heimsucht, muss Fenyx eine neue Heldin bestimmen, um das Gleichgewicht auf der Erde wiederherzustellen und die verlorenen Götter zu vereinen. Die Spieler:innen erkunden die Pyritinsel als Ash, eine enthusiastische Sterbliche, die Poseidon, Hades und die anderen Götter überzeugen muss, wieder ins Pantheon zurückzukehren.
In dem finalen post-launch Abenteuer trifft Ash auf neue Götter und Monster, entdeckt neue Regionen gefüllt mit Herausforderungen, Geheimnissen und neuen mächtigen Gegnern. Als Teil des neuen Fortschrittssystems, wird Ash auf mächtige Upgrades, spezielle Boni und einen einzigartigen Kampfstil zurückgreifen können. Zusätzlich bekommt sie zwei brandneue Fähigkeiten:
Katastrophales Beben: Ein mächtiges Stampfen, welches ihre Gegner auf den Boden wirft.
Zorn der Natur: Ein Energiestrahl, der jedem getroffenen Gegner Schaden zufügt und seine Stärke über Zeit erhöht.
Dazu können Spieler:innen Belohnungen erhalten, indem sie Freund:innen dazu einladen, sich Immortals Fenyx Rising durch das Freundesempfehlungsprogramm zu kaufen. Die Freund:innen die sich das Spiel gekauft und auch gespielt haben, erhalten im Spiel mit dem Eiswaffen-Paket eine Belohnung. Mehr Informationen über das Freundesempfehlungsprogramm gibt es unter: immortalsfenyxrising.com/referral
Immortals Fenyx Rising – Die verlorenen Götter kann über den Season Pass gespielt werden, was einen sofort Zugang zu allen drei Erweiterungen gibt und den Spieler:innen nicht nur neue Helden und Herausforderungen, sondern auch neue Regionen und Spielmöglichkeiten gibt. Immortals Fenyx Rising – Die verlorenen Götter ist zudem separat erhältlich.
Die kostenlose Demo von Immortals Fenyx Rising schickt Fenyx auf die Reise, das mysteriöse Geheimnis des Kyklopen zu lüften. Die Demo spielt auf einem Archipel, das exklusiv für die Demo erstellt und von Aphrodites Region im Hauptspiel inspiriert wurde. Diese neue Region bietet eine Mischung aus Kampf, Erkundung und Rätseln für den ersten Vorgeschmack auf das volle Spiel.
Entwickelt von Ubisoft Quebec*, den Machern von Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, ist Immortals Fenyx Rising eine spannende neue Marke, die mythologische Abenteuer zu neuen Höhen verhilft. Die Spieler:innen schlüpfen in die Rolle von Fenyx, einem mit Flügeln ausgestatteten Halbgott auf der Mission, die griechischen Götter und ihre Heimat vor einem dunklen Fluch zu retten. Fenyx erlernt die legendären Kräfte der Götter, muss heroische Prüfungen überwinden und sich mächtigen mythologischen Bestien stellen, um sich letztendlich Typhon, dem tödlichsten Titanen der griechischen Mythologie, entgegenzustellen.
Immortals Fenyx Rising ist erhältlich auf Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One-Konsolen, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PC, Luna und Nintendo Switch™.
Immortals Fenyx Rising ist ebenfalls auf Uplay+**, dem Abonnement-Service von Ubisoft, verfügbar. Ubisoft+ gewährt Zugang zu Premium Editionen, neueren Erscheinungen wie Assassin’s Creed®Valhalla, Watch Dogs®: Legion und Immortals Fenyx Rising, Klassikern und zusätzlichen Inhalten.
Games controllers – like keyboards – are very personal things.What works for one person may not work for another. Why, then, should we all use almost identical off-the-shelf controllers? In the latest issue of HackSpace magazine, we take a look at how to use Raspberry Pi Pico to create a controller that’s just right for you.
Gaming like it’s 1989
We’ll use CircuitPython for this as it has excellent support for USB interfaces. The sort of USB devices that we interact with are called human interface devices (HIDs), and there are standard protocols for common HIDs, including keyboards and mice. This is why, for example, you can plug almost any USB keyboard into almost any computer and it will just work, with no need to install drivers.
We’ll be using the Keyboard type, as that works best with the sorts of games that this author likes to play, but you can use exactly the same technique to simulate a mouse or a gamepad.
Before we get onto this, though, let’s take a look at the buttons and how to wire them up.
We’re going to use eight buttons: four for direction, and four as additional ‘action’ buttons. We’ll connect these between an I/O pin and ground. You can use any I/O pin you like. We’re going to use slightly different ones in two different setups, just because they made sense with the physical layout of the hardware. Let’s take a look at the hardware we’re using. Remember, this is just the hardware we want to use. The whole idea of this is to create a setup that’s right for you, so there’s no need to use the same. Think about how you want to interact with your games and take a look at the available input devices and build what you want.
The connectors should just push onto the buttons and joystick
The first setup we’re creating is an Arcade box. This author would really like an arcade machine in his house. However, space limitations mean that this isn’t going to be possible in the near future. The first setup, then, is an attempt to recreate the control setup of an arcade machine, but use it to play games on a laptop rather than a full-sized cabinet.
Arcade controls are quite standard, and you can get them from a range of sources. We used one of Pimoroni’s Arcade Parts sets, which includes a joystick and ten buttons (we only used four of these). The important thing about the joystick you pick is that it’s a button-based joystick and not an analogue one (sometimes called a dual-axis joystick), as the latter won’t work with a keyboard interface. If you want to use an analogue joystick, you’ll need to switch the code around to use a mouse or gamepad as an input device.
You can solder the pin headers straight onto Pico
As well as the electronics, you’ll need some way of mounting them. We used a wooden craft box. These are available for about £10 from a range of online or bricks and mortar stores. You can use anything that is strong enough to hold the components.
The second setup we’re using is a much simpler button-based system on breadboard-compatible tactile buttons and protoboard. It’s smaller, cheaper, and quicker to put together. The protoboard holds everything together, so there’s nothing extra to add unless you want to. You can personalise it by selecting different-sized buttons, changing the layout, or building a larger chassis around this.
Insert coin to continue
Let’s take a look at the arcade setup first. The joystick has five pins. One is a common ground and the others are up, down, left, and right. When you push the joystick up, a switch closes, linking ground to the up pin. On our joystick the outermost pin is ground, but it’s worth checking on your joystick which pin is which by using a multimeter. Select continuity mode and, if you push the joystick up, you should find a continuous connection between the up pin and ground. A bit of experimentation should confirm which pin is which.
In order to read the pins, we just need to connect the directional output from the joystick to an I/O pin on Pico. We can use one of Pico’s internal pull-up resistors to pull the pin high when the button isn’t pressed. Then, when the button is pressed, it will connect to ground and read low. The joystick should come with a cable that slots onto the joystick. This should have five outputs, and this conveniently slots into the I/O outputs of Pico with a ground on one end.
You can solder the pin headers straight onto Pico
The buttons, similarly, just need to be connected between ground and an I/O pin. These came with cables that pushed onto the button and plugged into adjacent pins. Since Pico has eight grounds available, there are enough that each button can have its own ground, and you don’t have to mess around joining cables together.
Once all the cables are soldered together, it’s just a case of building the chassis. For this, you need five large holes (one for the joystick and four for the buttons). We didn’t have an appropriately sized drill bit and, given how soft the wood on these boxes is, a large drill bit may have split the wood anyway. Instead, we drilled a 20 mm hole and then used a rotary tool with sanding attachment to enlarge the hole until it was the right size. You have to go quite easy with both the drill and the sanding tool to avoid turning everything into shards of broken wood. Four small holes then allow bolts to keep the joystick in place (we used M5 bolts). The buttons just push into place.
With a combination of small sections of wire and jumpers, you can create whatever pattern of wiring you like on protoboard
The only remaining thing was a 12 mm hole for a micro USB cable to pass through to Pico. If you don’t have a 12 mm drill bit, two overlapping smaller holes may work if you’re careful.
The buttons just push-fit into place, and that’s everything ready to go.
A smaller approach
Our smaller option used protoboard over the back of Pico. Since we didn’t want to block the BOOTSEL button, we only soldered it over part of Pico. However, before soldering it on at all, we soldered the buttons in place.
Tactile switches typically have four connections. Well, really they have two connections, but each connection has two tabs that fit into the protoboard. This means that you have to orientate them correctly. Again, your multimeter’s continuity function will confirm which pins are connected and which are switched.
Protoboard is a PCB that contains lots and lots of holes and nothing else. You solder your components into the holes and then you have to create connections between them.
We placed the buttons in the protoboard in positions we liked before worrying about the wiring. First, we looked to connect one side of each switch to ground. To minimise the wiring, we did this in two groups. We connected one side of each of the direction buttons together and then linked them to ground. Then we did the same to all the action buttons.
There are two ways of connecting things on protoboard. One is to use jumper wire. This works well if the points are more than a couple of holes apart. For holes that are next to each other, or very close, you can bridge them. On some protoboard (which doesn’t have a solder mask), you might simply be able to drag a blob of solder across with your soldering iron so that it joins both holes. On protoboard with solder mask, this doesn’t work quite so well, so you need to add a little strand of wire in a surface-mount position between the two points and solder it in. If you’ve got a pair of tweezers to hold the wire in place while you solder it, it will be much easier.
For longer connections, you’ll need to use jumper wire. Sometimes you’ll be able to poke it through the protoboard and use the leg to join. Other times you’ll have to surface-mount it. This all sounds a bit complicated, but while it can be a bit fiddly, it’s all fairly straightforward once you put solder to iron.
Program it up
Now that we’ve got the hardware ready, let’s code it up. You’ll first need to load CircuitPython onto your Pico. You can download the latest release from circuitpython.org. Press the BOOTSEL button as you plug Pico into your USB port, and then drag and drop the downloaded UF2 file onto the RP2 USB drive that should appear.
We’ll use Mu to program Pico. If you’ve not used CircuitPython before, it’s probably worth having a quick look through the ’getting started’ guide.
The code to run our games controller is:
import board import digitalio import gamepad import time import usb_hid from adafruit_hid.keyboard import Keyboard from adafruit_hid.keycode import Keycode
pad = gamepad.GamePad( digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP12), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP14), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP9), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP15), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP16), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP17), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP18), digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.GP20), ) last_pressed = 0 while True: this_pressed = pad.get_pressed() if (this_pressed != last_pressed): for i in range(8): if (this_pressed & 1<<i) and not (last_pressed & 1<<i): kbd.press(keycodes[i]) if (last_pressed & 1<<i) and not (this_pressed & 1<<i): kbd.release(keycodes[i]) last_pressed = this_pressed time.sleep(0.01)
This uses the HID keyboard object (called kbd) to send key press and release events for different key codes depending on what buttons are pressed or released. We’ve used the gamepad module that is for keeping track of up to eight buttons. When you initialise it, it will automatically add pull-up resistors and set the I/O pins to input. Then, it will keep track of what buttons are pressed. When you call get_pressed(), it will return a byte of data where each digit corresponds to an I/O pin. So, the following number (in binary) means that the first and third buttons have been pressed: 00000101. This is a little confusing, because this is the opposite order to how the I/Os are passed when you initialise the GamePad object.
The while loop may look a little unusual as it’s not particularly common to use this sort of binary comparison in Python code, but in essence, it’s just looking at one bit at a time and seeing either: it’s now pressed but wasn’t last time the loop ran (in which case, it’s a new button press and we should send it to the computer), or it isn’t pressed this loop but was the previous loop (in which case, it’s newly released so we can call the release method).
The << operator shifts a value by a number of bits to the left. So, 1<<2 is 100, and 1<<3 is 1000. The & operator is bitwise and so it looks at a binary number and does a logical AND on each bit in turn. Since the right-hand side of the & is all zeros apart from one bit (at a different position depending on the value of i), the result will be dependent on whether the value of this_pressed or last_pressed is 1 or 0 at the position i. When you have an if condition that’s a number, it’s true if the number is anything other than 0. So, (this_pressed & 1<<2) will evaluate to true if there’s a 1 at position 2 in the binary form of this_pressed. In our case, that means if the joystick is pushed left.
You can grab this code from the following link – hsmag.cc/USBKeyboard. Obviously, you will need to update the GPIO values to the correct ones for your setup when you initialise GamePad.
We’ve taken a look at two ways to build a gamepad, but it’s up to you how you want to design yours.
Issue 42 of HackSpace magazine is on sale NOW!
Each month, HackSpace magazine brings you the best projects, tips, tricks and tutorials from the makersphere. You can get it from the Raspberry Pi Press online store or your local newsagents. As always, every issue is free to download from the HackSpace magazine website.
In The MagPi issue 103 we addressed one of the burning issues of the day: how do I let my family know I’m on a Zoom call? We invented a ‘digital do-not-disturb sign’ that can be remotely controlled by some buttons or an event detected by Home Assistant. Display any message you want right outside your door and avoid those moments that could send you viral on social media.
If you’re working at home and have your own working space, particles and gases (now, now) can build up without proper ventilation. Consider adding a Pimoroni Enviro+ to your arsenal. This HAT with optional add-on particle sensor monitors dust, temperature, and other concerns, sending the data straight into Home Assistant.
Home automation isn’t just about switching lights on and off. There’s a wealth of information provided free-of-charge from the internet that you can use to affect your environment. A great example is the data that powers all the railway station displays in the UK. This is freely available and this great project by Chris Crocker-White allows you to make your own home display.
Our newest member of the Raspberry Pi family, Pico, can act as a keyboard over USB. Pairing one with Pimoroni’s RGB Keypad Base creates an inexpensive macro keyboard. Create shortcuts for your common operations and program them into your Pico to speed up your day. No more fighting with the mouse to reach ‘Leave Meeting’.
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