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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
What Does it Mean to Be a Villain? Vol. 1
- Real life situations aren't like superhero stories where good guys defeat evil villains. Thinking groups of people as 'bad guys' to be exterminated is a sign of bloodlust and/or indoctrination.
- Few individuals can be considered villains, most just do what they believe is right with some assumptions. On a social stage, people can have different moral sets.
- The writer discusses villains in stories on what they see, why they exist in opposition to protagonists and what their villain status means to them and the writer.
- Villains may not always be antagonists; villain and antagonist are two different concepts but not exclusive. Crossovers from protagonists to villains may exist, even playing with lines.
- In a story, villains are usually framed as being wrong or in opposition to the main characters. This may not always be reflective of what the readers understand.
- In later volumes, villains will be categorized by primary motivation and an underlying reason. The writer won't focus exclusively on female villains but acknowledges female villains' reception is worse than males.
- Villains may be discriminated based on the intersectionality of their identity. A Japanese female villain may be subject to Orientalist and misogynistic stereotypes.
- The series will continue with a Vol. 2, which will be a character analysis piece.
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Insider
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Image Credit: Insider
Xbox Game Pass: Price, plans, games, and how to sign up
- Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that lets players download or stream more than 450 games across Xbox consoles and Windows PCs.
- Separate Xbox console and PC plans start at $10 a month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $20 a month with cloud streaming support and same-day releases for new Xbox Studios games.
- Game Pass Ultimate lets you stream games to your phone, select Samsung displays, and Fire TV 4K sticks, which eliminates the need for an expensive gaming PC or Xbox console.
- The rotating library of over 450 games includes classic titles dating back to the original Xbox, indie titles, and online multiplayer games.
- Game Pass Ultimate members can access games from the EA Play library, along with discounts and perks from Microsoft partners, Disney Plus, and Marvel Unlimited.
- Xbox Game Pass Standard costs $15 a month with access to over 100 games for Xbox consoles, but no day one releases, cloud streaming, or PC game support.
- Xbox Game Pass Core is the entry-level Game Pass tier for consoles that costs $10 a month with a limited collection of games, online multiplayer support, and member discounts.
- Game Pass for PC is a PC-only tier that costs $12 a month and offers similar benefits to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate without access to games on Xbox consoles or cloud streaming.
- Games are available for at least a year, and Microsoft Studios titles like Halo and Forza are permanent fixtures in the Game Pass library.
- Not every game on Xbox Game Pass supports cloud streaming, and members need to check the official Xbox site for supported titles and full lineups of games.
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Playstationlifestyle
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Image Credit: Playstationlifestyle
New Dead Space 4 Report Leaves Fans Disappointed
- Dead Space 4 was pitched to EA this year but was denied.
- Talks of a new entry didn't go deep and were rejected quickly.
- Current industry hesitance to take chances may have influenced EA's decision.
- The Dead Space remake did well critically but did not meet sales expectations.
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Cgmagonline
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Image Credit: Cgmagonline
Palworld’s Feybreak Update Brings Terraria’s Meowmeow, New Island, and Predator Pals
- Palworld’s latest Feybreak update introduces new content, features, and gameplay elements.
- The update includes the addition of a new weapon called Meowmeow from Terraria.
- Players can explore Feybreak Island and engage with new mechanics like Expeditions and Research.
- The update also introduces Predator Pals and the opportunity to complete bounty quests.
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Polygon
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Image Credit: Polygon
Mufasa’s clumsy number ‘Bye Bye’ shows exactly how Disney villain songs went wrong
- Disney has only produced a handful of movies with actual villains over the last 15 years and it has meant a lack of animated villains. Villain songs are memorable because they allow the audience to see all of their glorious viciousness. Unfortunately, “Bye Bye” by the white lion antagonist Kiros in Mufasa: The Lion King is a pitiful machination of a villain number that manages to make the villain less threatening. Since the company’s first feature-film villain song, Pinocchio’s “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee,” providing a musical showcase for a film’s big bad has been one of the best expressions of Disney’s musical heritage. During the Disney Renaissance (1989-1999), they became big, dynamically choreographed Broadway-style numbers. Unfortunately though, “Bye Bye” is a valuable reminder of how great Disney villain songs used to be.
- All the great villain songs firmly establish antagonists’ characters and display what makes them truly diabolical, but we learn virtually nothing about Kiros through “Bye Bye.” Since “Bye Bye” tells us nothing about Kiros or what he’s capable of, there’s no reason to root against him, or even care about him. These numbers deserve more. They’re a huge reason why classic Disney villains are so popular and memorable. If Disney’s songwriters aren’t interested in what makes villain songs such a wonderful part of the studio’s canon, perhaps we’re better off without them after all.
- Between 2000 and 2023, Disney only gave us five villain songs and just three of them since 2010 — “Mother Knows Best” in Tangled, “The Backson Song” in Winnie the Pooh, and “Shiny” in Moana. Disney’s Wish gave us our first true villain song in 13 years with “This Is the Thanks I Get?!”. Moana 2’s fiery “Get Lost” is styled and presented as a villain song, although it is not a true villain song as Matangi reveals herself as Moana’s ally.
- The snarly “bye-bye”s seem as if they’re meant to echo Scar’s snark, but his 1994 number is full of genuine malice, as well as haunting imagery deliberately recalling Germany’s Third Reich. There’s no matching visual creativity or daring in the screen staging of “Bye Bye,” which reduces the number to a group of lions circling and jumping around. Villain songs have been a vital opportunity for Disney storytellers to push the limits and breach taboo subjects.
- During the Disney Renaissance they became big, dynamically choreographed Broadway-style numbers. Although great villain songs help us understand what makes a villain tick, we learn virtually nothing about Kiros through “Bye Bye.” The obnoxious, childish threat of making Mufasa “go bye-bye” feels more like a petulant aside than a genuine intention.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda’s song for Mufasa: The Lion King makes the mistake of centering “Bye Bye” not on the villain, but instead on Mufasa. Unfortunately, “Bye Bye” (much like “This Is the Thanks I Get?!”) is a pitiful machination of a villain number that manages to make the villain less threatening.
- Disney villain songs have become a box-ticking exercise, added more out of a sense of obligation than out of inspiration. Mufasa: The Lion King also features a full villain song: “Bye Bye,” sung by Mads Mikkelsen as white lion antagonist Kiros. But hope is not lost: The villain song is on the rise again. If Disney’s songwriters aren’t interested in what makes villain songs such a wonderful part of the studio’s canon, perhaps we’re better off without them after all.
- If Disney has no more interest in villain songs, then it would be a shame as these songs help break up the parades of protagonist I-want songs and comic relief songs, and serve as playful excursions into kid-safe nastiness in creative ways. Villain songs are an expression of Disney’s musical heritage and should continue to be a part of the Disney franchise.
- There’s no one way to have a successful villain song, but all the great ones firmly establish antagonists’ characters and display what makes them truly diabolical. For Disney, the villain song has been a way of breaking up the formulaic constraints of a classic hero story and cheered audiences by giving them something different.
- Since the company’s first feature-film villain song, Pinocchio’s “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee,” providing a musical showcase for a film’s big bad has been one of the best expressions of Disney’s musical heritage. These numbers deserve more, however it seems Disney misinterprets the importance of villain songs and tends to overlook them. Kiros, from Mufasa: The Lion King, prompts the question, has Disney given up on quality villain songs?
- It’s fair to say that “Bye Bye” is a valuable reminder of how great Disney villain songs used to be. The poignant Pinocchio’s “Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee” lyrics are proof if any were needed that songwriters and directors could use villain songs to make their antagonists memorable and relevant to the story. If Disney refuses to invest in quality villain songs, perhaps it’s better off without them?
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Siliconera
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Image Credit: Siliconera
Final Fantasy XIV Art Appears in Samsung SSD Ads in Japan
- Samsung Japan has featured character artwork from Final Fantasy XIV in its advertisement for the Samsung 990 Pro SSD.
- The ad is part of Samsung's 'Make Your GG' promotion project, focusing on providing the best gaming experiences with its SSD storage products.
- The collaboration advertisement can be found at the Bic Camera Yurakucho Store and Shibuya Station's Tokyu Toyoko Line in Tokyo, Japan.
- The Final Fantasy XIV and Samsung SSD collaboration will be visible until December 29, 2024, and mid-February 2025 respectively.
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Massivelyop
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MassivelyOP’s 2024 Awards: Best MMO Business Model
- Guild Wars 2 wins the Best MMO Business Model award in 2024.
- The game offers a whole year of new content for $25, without being pay-to-win.
- The staff praises Guild Wars 2's affordable buy-in, free content updates, and discounted expansions.
- Reader poll includes nominations for various MMOs and business models.
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Pcgamer
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Image Credit: Pcgamer
Best Comedy 2024: Thank Goodness You're Here!
- Thank Goodness You're Here! was voted as the best comedy of the year.
- The game features ridiculous character design and quickfire slapstick dialogue that had players open mouth cackling.
- It offers simple puzzle solving and easy platforming, allowing players to admire the world and entertaining characters.
- The game's inclusivity in different languages shows the power of comedy as a great equalizer.
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Gadget Flow
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Image Credit: Gadget Flow
Freedom to Roam: How eSIMs Revolutionize Connectivity for Digital Nomads
- The number of digital nomads has risen to at least 40 million, who are associated with an online business, freelance or a job which allows them to work independently of a physical workspace.
- eSIM technology empowers this lifestyle by creating new ways of accessing cellular networks.
- Traditional SIM cards only come with one profile, making continuous connectivity difficult across countries with varying regulations on compliant roaming.
- Unlike traditional SIMs, eSIMs are an inbuilt digital alternative, which can connect your device to your preferred mobile network while storing essential data.
- eSIM technology offers unprecedented mobility and flexibility for digital nomads that require real-time communication across many devices.
- eSIMs simplify the issue of network coverage by allowing users to switch between operators based on the strength of available networks.
- This technology makes it easier to download important documents, promotes cost-effective data solutions, allows users to connect to a local network and improves overall connectivity.
- The freedom of the digital nomad lifestyle is greatly simplified by eSIM technology.
- eSIM tech allows everyone to benefit from seamless connectivity without the stress of replacing physical SIMs whenever you land in a foreign country.
- In short, eSIM technology is making the possibility of a digital nomad life more accessible and fulfilling.
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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
Introducing Skunk Labs: Bridging the Gap Between Web3 and Gaming
- Skunk Labs is a company merging Web3 and gaming to create innovative and exciting experiences.
- Their goal is to make blockchain-powered gaming accessible and enjoyable for all users.
- Their flagship Web3 game is Combii, combining luck and strategy in a peer-to-peer setting.
- Skunk Games is their Telegram Mini-App, providing a gateway to the Skunk Labs ecosystem and future Web3 games.
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Playstationlifestyle
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Image Credit: Playstationlifestyle
Kingdom Hearts 4 Might Finally Get Revealed Soon – Rumor
- Square Enix is rumored to reveal Kingdom Hearts 4 in February 2025.
- The Gamers Joint predicts a re-reveal of Kingdom Hearts IV by the end of 2025.
- Square Enix's upcoming releases besides Kingdom Hearts 4 include Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate.
- Take this rumor with a grain of salt and wait for official confirmation.
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Psu
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EAFC & Dynamic Difficulty Adjustments – Are They Cheating Us?
- EAFC, previously known as FIFA, is the most popular football game ever created.
- There are claims that EA Sports manipulates online games using Dynamic Difficulty Adjustments (DDA) to boost engagement and revenue.
- DDA gives weaker players a slight advantage, making the game easier for them.
- The legality of DDA in EAFC is uncertain, but it raises concerns about fairness and satisfaction for players.
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Psu
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Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth PS Plus Premium Trial Out Now
- A 10-hour trial of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is now available for PS Plus Premium members on PS5 and PS4.
- Progress from the trial can be transferred to the full version of the game if purchased.
- The game is currently on sale for $34.99 as part of Sony's Holiday Sale.
- Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth features dual protagonists and a turn-based combat system.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
This futuristic mechanical keyboard will set you back an eye-watering $1,600
- The Icebreaker is a futuristic mechanical keyboard priced at $1,600.
- It is made of one block of 6061 aluminum and has aluminum keycaps.
- The keyboard has a 65% layout, hot-swappable switches, and two layers of sound dampening.
- It is the first product from Serene Industries and prioritizes form over function.
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Gsmarena
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Image Credit: Gsmarena
Oppo A5 Pro passes by Geekbench and Google Play supported devices list ahead of launch
- The Oppo A5 Pro is set to launch in China tomorrow.
- The device has been spotted on Geekbench, revealing that it is equipped with MediaTek's Dimensity 7300 chipset and 12GB RAM.
- The A5 Pro achieved a single-core score of 1,053 points and a multi-core score of 3,052.
- The device has also appeared on the Google Play-supported devices list, further confirming its existence.
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