Category Archives: Immortality

Update: Game developers across the industry continue to share footage and screenshots from their own early, in-progress builds and projects to show how normal the leaked GTA 6 footage really is and to shut down a hilariously wrong and now heavily-memed remark about graphics coming first in development.

Jeph Prez of Sea of Thieves developer Rare shared a video from a November 2014 build to highlight the "agile, iterative testing" that the game was seeing at the time. It's a blocky pastiche of the polished pirate adventure we know today, and this was after the build was upgraded from the "pill pirate" character models emblematic of the Unity engine's default assets.

EA community manager Kevin Johnson also shared (opens in new tab) Prez's clip with his own sentiments. "I wish the industry would be more proud to show that side of [development]," he said, calling the wave of build showcases one of the few good things to come "from the recent topic of leak culture and how destructive it is."

Sam Barlow, the lead on the newly released Immortality, chimed in with his own before-and-after, showing how the game looked for its first two years while the team at Half Mermaid "were focused on getting the AI shipped and combat gameplay balanced." (Check out our Immortality review to find out how this trippy, beautiful story comes together). This is one of the starkest examples yet, and it hammers home just how secondary graphics can be. It also sums up one of the key arguments behind this conversation: you can't, or at least shouldn't, spend time polishing a game that isn't built and balanced yet.

Breakout indie darling Cult of the Lamb got in on the conversation too, with developer Massive Monsters posting some familiar-looking but rough versions of the game.

Likewise, Brace Yourself Games, perhaps best known for Crypt of the Necrodancer and Zelda crossover Cadence of Hyrule, shared the amusing placeholders once used in Rift of the Necrodancer's yoga minigame.

Bungie senior game designer Josh Kulinski (opens in new tab) even dug up an old personal project to demonstrate that "games look really rough for a long time before they start looking great." Meanwhile, Knockout City developer Velan Studios shared a draft of one of the game's multiplayer maps, proudly reveling in all its untextured glory.

Animator Robert Morrison from Studio Bend also shared a clip of an untextured sequence from 2018's God of War, which still looks impressively fluid for how blobby everything is.

Similarly, co-game director Kurt Margenau of Naughty Dog reposted a blockmesh version of Uncharted 4's iconic street chase sequence, offering a helpful side-by-side look at how projects evolve graphically throughout development.

Solo Japanese developer Nama Takahashi also pounced on the trend to share a stark before-and-after of ElecHead, an electrified puzzle game previously announced at a May Nintendo Indie World showcase.

Original story follows

A Control developer has shared in-progress footage from the beginning of the game's development.

In response to a Twitter debate over the past weekend which, if we're being completely honest, is too silly to waste words on here, Control developer Paul Ehreth took to Twitter to show off what an actual game looks like early on. In the tweet below, we can see very early in-progress footage of protagonist Jessie Fayden running about, taking cover, and returning fire at enemy troops.

The footage also shows Jessie picking up objects from the surrounding environment, a staple of Control's action-packed combat, before hurling them at the enemy troops. As Ehreth rightly points out, this is the same game that would be go on to win numerous awards for excellence in graphics, not to mention overall Game of the Year awards from outlets and pundits.

Avoiding the Twitter debacle which brought this tweet about, we can instead pivot to the recent GTA 6 leaks. After over 90 videos of in-progress footage of Rockstar's sequel leaked online, some social media users were left somewhat surprised at the rough, in-progress state of the game as it continues through development.

Ehreth's tweet is aimed at educating social media users, showing them that yes, a stellar big-budget game really does look rough in the early goings of the overall development cycle. In fact, it's not just Ehreth that's published early footage with the aim of educating users - Naughty Dog director Kurt Margenau has always drawn attention to some very early in-progress footage of Uncharted 4, seen below.

As for the GTA 6 leaks however, Rockstar confirmed their legitimacy shortly after the leak took place over the past weekend. The developer wrote that it was "extremely disappointed," in the leaked footage, but elsewhere around the industry, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us devs have come together to voice support for Rockstar developers who have had their work leaked online.

Here's why you should ignore the GTA 6, because the final reveal from Rockstar will be worth the lengthy wait.

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Devs behind Control, Sea of Thieves and more share their own unfinished game builds to put the GTA 6 leak in perspective - Gamesradar

Only someone whos lived for centuries could possibly know how to find long-hidden evidence to help settle a protracted legal dispute over an inheritance. In Janeks penultimate opera, the singer Emilia Marty has lived for 337 years, originally named Elina Makropulos and assuming different identities over the many decades, though using the same initials. But tied up in her interest in the case of Gregor v Prus is Martys desperate quest to find again the secret formula for the elixir that granted her immortality. As the young daughter of Hieronymus Makropulos physician to the Holy Roman Emperoror Rudolf II who ordered Makropulos to find a means of extending his life Elina was the hapless guinea pig.

Placing it in the 1920s when the opera was written, and befitting a story whose heroine aspires to being the greatest operatic performer ever, Olivia Fuchs new production for Welsh National Opera has a suitably overblown and flamboyant air. Its also all of a piece with the often tumultuous feel and fast-flowing current of Janeks music, thrillingly delivered here by the orchestra of WNO under its music director, Tom Hanus. Co-editor of the new edition of the score being used, Hanus affinity with Janek was always evident, ravishing details emerging.

In Nicola Turners design, the settings of the three acts the solicitors office, backstage at the theatre where Marty has just sung, her hotel bedroom brought a degree of clarity to the complex narrative, sung in Czech. Ironically, what didnt work was when, between the first two acts and covering the set-change, Mark Le Brocq as himself and as Vitek the clerk addressed the audience in English explaining who was who. It was just naff.

As diva roles go Elisabeth Sderstrm sang in the 1978 WNO production this one demands a commanding presence and soprano ngeles Blancas Guln was certainly that. Amply embracing the vocal challenge, she brought an almost brute physicality to the encounters with the various men whose passions are aroused the young Janek is driven to suicide and her native Spanish flair coloured Martys reunion with her former lover, Baron Hauk (Alan Oke). In the uniformly strong cast, Nicky Spence and David Stout were excellent as the litigants Albert Gregor and Baron Prus.

The essential deeply philosophical question of whether immortality might actually be desirable is core to the closing scene when Martys hitherto cold demeanour begins to thaw, the ageing process now accelerating. In her final exhortation to those around her to celebrate their one existence, Janeks life-affirming purpose is manifest, the music glowing. Significantly, Kristina (Harriet Eyley), the young singer to whom she offers the ancient parchment detailing the elixir, sets it on fire. It is the cue for Marty to finally expire.

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The Makropulos Affair review fast-flowing and flamboyant - The Guardian

Image: Lucasfilm

The next entry into the Star Wars galaxy is here with Andor, with the series boasting an impressive cast with many known characters set to return.

The setting of Andor, between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, opens up the Disney Plus original to featuring crucial characters from the original trilogy, but none more important than the cackling madman himself in Emperor Palpatine. As one of the most frequently recurring characters, his appearance would undoubtedly cause quite the stir within the show.

Andor will heavily involve the political climate of the galaxy during the reign of the Galactic Empire, with several of the pre-release stills and trailers promising a look at the Empires senate. This inclusion has many believing, due to Palpatine being the head of the senate, he would surely appear in the series.

Palpatine spent most of his time after Order 66 and re-establishing the Empire to try and find a way to immortality. This eventually led him to discovering and working on cloning, with secrets of the dark side aiding him in his quest. This period saw him clone himself several times, with younger versions kicking around his family home we can only assume.

Palpatines palace was also located on Coruscant near the Senate Building, with him turning the Jedi Temple into a vast, opulent monument to his ego and power. His leisure time seems to have been spent avoiding assassination attempts, which feels like something easily connected into the plot of Andor.

As of this point in time, it is not confirmed Palpatine will appear, but he did make a brief appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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Will Emperor Palpatine Appear in 'Andor?' - We Got This Covered

Roman Reigns made his grand return to SmackDown during tonight's episode, and after having the crowd acknowledge him it was time to get down to business. With the full Bloodline in tow (including Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn), Paul Heyman got on the microphone and insulted the Salt Lake City, Utah crowd, and then addressed Reigns' win at Clash at the Castle and Drew McIntyre's loss. Then things would take a turn where it looked as if Zayn's time in the Bloodline was at an end, but instead Reigns revealed a new Honorary Uce shirt and the crowd lost their minds.

Heyman kept the big talk coming and said this was all Roman's home turf and even alluded to Karrion Kross taking him down next. Heyman then addressed the newest Bloodline member Solo Sikoa, saying that it was unfortunately not his or Roman's idea (and hinted that it wasn't Sami's idea either), but said the idea for Solo came from the elders of the Samoan Dynasty.

Heyman said Solo was sent because Brock Lesnar took out the wise man and The Usos had enough on their plate, and someone needed to step in and help stop the attacks on Roman's Title reign. Heyman called Solo the enforcer for Roman's reign on the Island of Relevancy and added that now Jimmy and Jey can focus on their pursuit of immortality.

Jimmy then got on the microphone and said that after tonight's match against the Brawling Brutes you will once again hear "And Still", and then Jey weighed in on it and delivered the "We The Ones" but was cut off by Reigns, who put his hand out for the microphone.

Roman then asked for Solo and said "the Elders may have sent you, but you answer to me now. Acknowledge me." Sikoa then said "I acknowledge you my Tribal Chief", and Reigns was all smiles and hugged Sikoa.

That's when the music started and they went to exit, but Zayn asked for the music to be cut and apologized that he had something to say. Zayn said, "I know I'm not technically blood, but the way you guys have taken me in as a family of late, I wanted to show my gratitude, and I wanted to also publicly acknowledge the Tribal Chief."

Reigns looked amused and surprised but smiled as he had the microphone in his hand. Then chants of Sami broke out and he was still amused, and he said "I like you Sami, "but what are you talking for right now? Why are you saying anything right now? I get it, I've been seeing what's happening here, but why do you have our shirt on? What's going on here man? Why do you have our shirt on? Why are you tagging along, what do you want? I'll tell you what I want. I want you to take that shirt off."

Jey was yelling at Sami to take it off, and Zayn looked surprised, saying he didn't know if he was kidding and offered to explain what happened with Logan Paul. Roman then said, "I'm not going to tell you again, take our shirt off, now!"

Roman then said Jey and Jey ripped off the shirt and Roman said he didn't want to see him in that shirt ever again. Then he said, "you're never going to wear that again because I got you a new one." That's when he revealed a new Honorary Uce shirt just for Zayn, and Zayn couldn't believe it. He put it on and Reigns and the rest of the Bloodline were beaming, all aside from Jey, who was not happy in the least.

Now Zayn is an official part of the Bloodline and an Honorary Uce, and this will probably be one of WWE's best-selling shirts.

What did you think of the segment? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Twitter @MattAguilarCB!

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Roman Reigns Returns to SmackDown and Finally Gives Sami Zayn His Own Perfect Bloodline Shirt - ComicBook.com

As the Summer months come to a close the Leagues best will be meticulously working through the last of their training regimens before camp starts in September. Some guys opt for Pro-Am leagues to get into game shape while Giannis Antetokounmpo has been staying sharp with his native Greek national team. Amidst an emergence of warm weather styles from the Zoom Freek 4 during Eurobasket contests,The Swoosh is keeping the kids in the fold with this Lapis flavored Giannis Immortality 2.

Dressed in a shade eerily reminiscent of Minecrafts lapis lazuli ore, the darkened tone radiates with Laser Blue tooling on the sock-liner and exterior heel counter, coupled with hot red hints in the lace structure that matches the medial side Swoosh. A faint yellow hue emanates from the primary tongue logos while mixing with the aforementioned reds for a marbled outsole. And in a playful conclusion to the kids exclusive rendition of the Immortality 2 is a multi-color Swoosh.

For an up-close look at the Lapis Giannis Immortality 2, check out the images below while we wait on any further details.

In other Giannis Hoops news, have you seen the Yellow Strike Giannis Immortality 2?

Where to Buy

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

Grade School: $85Style Code: DQ1943-400

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Nike Dresses The Giannis Immortality 2 in Lapis and Laser Blue - Sneaker News

In two weeks time, the U.S. Open will begin in New York City. Novak Djokovic would be the presumed favorite, because as of now he wont be there. His unvaccinated status bars him from entering the United States.

This is not a column caping for Djokovic to be allowed to play, nor is it a condemnation of him for remaining unvaxxed. Were all in our corners on this one; nothing said here is going to change anyones mind. That conversation is mostly pointless.

But whether you agree or disagree with Djokovics stance, there is this: hes remained firm in his conviction no matter the cost, and that cost is potentially monumental maybe even literally.

Djokovic currently sits at 21 major championship victories, one behind Rafael Nadal for most all time amongst men. Because of his vax status, Djokovic already missed the Australian Open earlier this year. He would have been the heavy favorite to win there, but without him, Nadal claimed the title and the lead in the race for most majors won.

Assuming nothing changes in the U.S.s stance on not allowing unvaccinated foreigners into the country, Djokovic will miss another major hed otherwise be favored to win.

The Big Three of Roger Federer (20 major titles), Nadal (22) and Djokovic (21) have won 63 of the last 77 majors, but their domination is coming to an end. Federer, at 41, has pretty much bowed out of the major race, leaving it to Nadal and Djokovic.

At 36, Nadal has been battling injuries, though even at 75 percent he may still have another French Open title or two left in him. He very well could reach 24 or 25.

Djokovic, at 35, has yet to show much sign of slowing, but the fall can happen fast in tennis. Does he have three or four more majors in him a Hall of Fame career for any tennis player to potentially keep up with Nadal?

This is whats at stake here for Djokovic immortality. The winningest mens player of all-time or maybe not. This is no small thing, he knows it, and yet hes stood strong in his conviction. And it must be noted that that conviction is not to be a hero for the unvaxxed, but rather a personal decision based on what he believes is best for him.

Some of you will cheer him for it, others will ridicule him, and eventually history (as it always does) will have its say. And if Djokovic is No. 2 on the list, what a wild discussion that will be.Culled fromYahoo.com

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Djokovic: Sticking to Principle at Cost of Immortality - THISDAY Newspapers