It’s that time of year again, a full year has passed. Normally, I publish these articles a lot sooner, but I took full advantage of my Christmas break… And after that, I had some problems with my internet connection. But now I’m back. And it’s about time I talk about my top 10 games I have played in 2024. The rules of this list state I don’t have to have beaten the game. Yet, I must have played the game for the first time from January 1st, 2024. This means that games released before 2024, but I have only started to play in 2024 are fair game. This list is my personal opinion, and I’m open to hear your opinion on my picks. Feel free to also add your own list down in the comment section. So, here we go, the big list. A list that I always have trouble in creating at the end of the year. As an editorial note, the listed platform in this article is the platform I played the game on. Not all the platforms the game released on. The date after it, is the release date for said platform.

#10 – Persona 5 – Tactica (PlayStation 4 – November 2023)

I have played Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers and I fell in love with the cast of Persona 5. And then, a new game got released with the Persona 5 cast and I jumped for joy.

The gameplay might not be my most favorite style of playing, but the game is quite addictive. It’s basically Persona in a Fire Emblem jacket. I’m now mid-way through the game but got distracted by other games. I can’t wait to finish this game in 2025. The story is quite well written. It is an amazing spin-off story for Joker and the gang.

Now, I won’t go too much in depth since I’m planning to write an article about this game. So, I’ll talk more in depth about this game soon. But, now… it’s time to save Joker from his forced wedding.

#9 – Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut (Nintendo Switch – October 2024)

How do I explain this game without spoiling it too much? Slay the Princess is a game where you almost Groundhog Day your way through the same story. You walk up to a cabin, where you go to the basement to Slay the Princess.

According to the narrator, the Princess is a danger to the existence of the world. So, you have been sent to slay her. But, depending on the questions you ask, the decisions you take and even the order of your actions… The ending is different.

The story is just insane. It keeps you on edge what will be different in the next round. And the humor and writing in this game is just amazing. The voice action is just amazing. It brings the black, gray and white art to live and pulls you in the atmosphere quite well.

So, if you enjoy narrative games that mess with your head and expectations, give this game a try. Since, it’s a really good one.

#8 – Another Code – Recollection (Nintendo Switch – January 2024)

My first impression

Cing was an amazing developer that sadly went bankrupt. They developed amazing games on the Nintendo DS and Wii like Another Code – R & Little King Story. But to me, the Another Code set of games is one of their best work.

When we got a total remake in 2024, I wanted to play it right away. I convinced my streaming friend Klamath to play this game with me live on stream. I have to tell you, they did the two games justice. I’m so glad that these two games saw the light of day again.

While I have beaten the originals, the new and improved version is just amazing. It has a strong message and is a blast to play through. Although it sounds like a boring setup, it’s a game full of surprises. It is a more relaxing and charming game. It is more grounded and keeps things realistic. The characters are well written and set in a charming world.

#7 – Hypnospace Outlaw (PC – March 2019)

My review

Trying to manage a community isn’t an easy task to do. It’s a fun challenge to do in a game. That’s why management simulators are so popular.

But, combine that with the old school internet from the time I was a young kid, I am beyond intrigued. So, we have to report and clean up personal websites and projects? As a creative, I have my own place on the internet. I can share my opinions there. This hits close to home.

I wrote my opinion on this game in my review. If you want to know more about this game, I highly recommend that you give my review a read.

Now, there is a sequel in development called DreamSettler. If that’s created with the same love and care for that time period, and it matches the devotion this game has for its time period, it will be thrilling. We are going to be in for a wild ride.

#6 – Palworld (PC – January 2024)

Wishes for future updates

Sometimes, all that I need is a good open world game with unique mechanics. A world where you have to survive and explore. This year, Palworld brought that to me.

At first, I was skeptical. I thought: “This is going to be a monster catching game and nothing too much more.” But the more this game got developed, this more things got added that gave more depth to the game. More fun things to do, more polish to the game.

I have lost countless hours during this summer playing this game. It was an amazing time sink for the base game that is already here. A lot more is coming in the future. I wonder what the final game will be.

#5 – The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch – September 2024)

My first impression

Okay, this might be an upset. Usually, I place new Zelda games quite high on my list. But, this time I place it right in the middle. This year had a lot of amazing games. I had a lot of fun with this title in 2024.

I dropped it for now. I got distracted by other games and I forgot that I was playing through this game. I have placed it on my top 10 list. It rightfully deserves a spot on that list. I want to finish this game for real.

Since, the concept of Echoes of Wisdom is just amazing. What I love most is that this is a totally new 2.5D Zelda game like the classic games. I hope that the reception of this game is enough for Nintendo to still make 2.5D and 3D Zelda titles. Since, both have their place in the market and with this amazing title.

#4 – Spirit Hunter Chapter 3: Death Mark II (Nintendo Switch – February 2024)

My review

The Spirit Hunter series is one of the best horror visual novel series. This game ensures you don’t need to have played the original Death Mark. It’s excellent because you can still understand what’s happening in the story.

The game takes a lot of steps forward and makes the game have more meat around its bones. Walking around in the locations is a lot more fun in this title.

Some game mechanics are underused. For example, the jumpscares and the padding aren’t always present in this game. Things like the Soul Health are barely used. But, the battles with the actual spirits are even more amazing in this title. Especially with the randomness of your attack failing. It gives a more tense and realistic spin on battles.

Now, I’m hoping so hard that a 4th chapter will be released. Since the concept of this game is just beyond amazing. The writing is always great and the overall mystery is built up so nice. So, if anyone of Experience Inc, would be reading this… We want more!

#3 – Moescape (PC, 2022)

My article

I love writing small stories as a hobby. Since the summer of 2024, I wanted to give those AI roleplay apps a chance. And I’m happy that I did. MoeScape AI is a platform that really clicked with me and with the amazing community around it… I just feel in love.

My brain often gets creative. When this happens, there is a fun bot waiting for me. I can play around with the idea. And if there isn’t a bot that fits the idea, it’s easy to make one. The control that Moescape gives you is beyond amazing. You can easily make a knowledge base. There are various AI models to choose from. With each update, it gets better.

Something I really like is how open the staff is on the Discord. Like, they tell you when things are down. Or when certain decisions need to be taken. Like filtering certain things on the platform due to restrictions from Apple or Google. But, they have a less filtered platform as well. So, they have Moescape and Yodayo. If you go premium, your account is premium on both platforms, and it’s amazing.

#2 – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC – December 2024)

Okay, now. This is going to ruffle some feathers. I am a giant Indiana Jones fan. I placed one of the best Indiana Jones games in 2nd place on my game of the year list?

Now, that’s not because this game is bad or didn’t impress me enough. But, it wasn’t the game that made my year. Sadly enough, it released too late in the year for that.

I know it’s a strange reason. However, I feel like there is one game that pushed the boundaries more within its respective genre.

This game is a blast to play through. I feel that it deserves all the accolades it’s getting. It’s an amazing piece in the Indiana Jones franchise. It’s a love letter to the fans. I’m just thankful that the game turned out this amazing.

When I have beaten the game, I’ll for sure write an article about it. Since on the streams, a lot of random and enjoyable banter is happening. And truly, if you want to see amazing speedruns of this game, check out the_Kovic on his Twitch channel. He has deep knowledge of the game’s inner workings. He shares a lot of interesting insights during the streams.

Now, prepare yourself for an article on this game in the future. Since, I have a lot of things I still want to say and I’m keeping them all for the article.

Honorable mentions

This list wouldn’t be complete if I shout out various other games I have played in the past year. Not every game made the cut. I still wanted to mention those games that made the long list but didn’t survive the selection process.

Cave Digger 2 (PC), Buckshot Roulette (PC), Refind self (Nintendo Switch), Castlevania Dominus Collection (Nintendo Switch), Death Trick: DoubleBlind (Nintendo Switch), Dragon Quest Monsters – The Dark Prince (Nintendo Switch), Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Nintendo Switch), Ciel Fledge -A Daughter Raising Simulator- (Nintendo Switch), New Super Lucky’s Tale (Nintendo Switch), CrisTales (Nintendo Switch), One More Dungeon 2 (Nintendo Switch), Monster Hunter Rise (Nintendo Switch), This is not my Neighbor (PC) and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Nintendo Switch), Everloop (PC)

#1 – Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (PC – August 2023)

My review

If there was one game that blew me away, that’s Shadow Gambit – The Cursed Crew. The way how it’s built and is the final swansong of the amazing development studio Minimi, it’s just fantastic.

The voice acting is top-notch. The story is excellent. Several game mechanics are seamlessly worked into the game world and the story. But that’s not all, this game has a mindblowing modding tool.

The little attention to detail this game does and the balancing is just mindblowing. The freedom you have to tackle each mission, and it just works. It’s balanced and doesn’t feel unfair. It also doesn’t feel like you made it too difficult by choosing the wrong characters. It also never becomes too easy, where one character makes sure you automatically win the game or the mission. Every character has their use. And you have 8 characters in the base game and 2 get added via the DLC.

I can gush for a long time about this game. If you are interested in a more in-depth article, I highly advise you to read my review linked higher.

This was 2024

I might have written fewer articles in 2024 because a lot of personal things where going on. I have written only 19 articles in 2024. One of the biggest reasons is that I’m just putting more time into finding the right writing style. This has a lot to do with it.

I have been dedicating more time to various other projects. These include contributing to open source projects, translating open source projects, and streaming with Klamath. I am also working on projects for my local acting group. It takes time and effort and I’m enjoying those things quite a lot.

Outside of that, I turned 31 years old in 2024 and life just gets busier with various things. And because of that, I’m also playing less games. At first, I felt guilty that I’m publishing so few articles… But after two years of writing fewer articles, I now dedicate more time to each one. I feel a lot more content with the content I’m placing on my blog here.

I feel that my content only improved over the years. Not only that, I feel more content with my writing. It doesn’t feel like I’m pressuring myself to play a new game every week or two to write about. I can take my time to play the games I want. I also write about the topics I find interesting.

I think I’m finally finding the right rhythm for everything and that’s what I felt that 2024 was for me. Now, this year 2025 is going to be the year I’m writing for 15 years. Before I rebranded in 2013 to this blog, I write a personal life blog that started mid 2010. So, I’m going to celebrate this year with a few special articles. And I have been preparing and brainstorming idea’s for that in 2024.

But thank you everybody for the amazing support in 2024. It was a blast to see how people interacted with my articles and the new friends I made. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next. Like I said earlier, I feel prouder of the things I have been putting out. I hope you are enjoying things as well. Thank you for the support this year and I hope to see you in the future. So, for now, have a great rest of your day and take care.

Developer Ustwo Games has revealed its widely acclaimed Escher-esque puzzler Monument Valley will return for a third outing on 10th December, and it'll be exclusively available to Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS devices.

Monument Valley 3 is described as protagonist Noor's "most extraordinary adventure yet", and it'll see players searching for a new source of power before the light of the world fades forever.

It promises "stunning new art styles and impossible landscapes", alongside "innovative mechanics and fresh ways to approach challenges". And one of its biggest new features comes in the form of sailing, with players able to roam the world - and solve some of its puzzles - by boat.

Read more

Sony is pulling Horizon Forbidden West from its PS Plus subscription service in the coming weeks.

The first-party Sony game is now listed under the 'Last Chance to Play' section on PS Plus, along with the likes of NieR Replicant, Marvel's Midnight Suns and Alien Isolation.

This upcoming removal of Forbidden West comes just a few months after Horizon Zero Dawn was also removed from the service, which as Tom wrote at the time seemed a surprising move by Sony.

Read more

The Borderlands film adaptation will seemingly be available to watch digitally from the comfort of your home very soon.

While nothing has been officially announced by Lionsgate itself, multiple sources such The Hollywood Handle, DVD Release Dates, ScreenTime and When to Stream all have the Cate Blanchett-fronted film listed as being made available digitally from as soon as 30th August.

That's less than a month after its cinematic release, with the film only debuting on 9th August.

Read more

The upcoming Until Dawn remake for PC and PlayStation 5 will reportedly cost £60 at launch.

That's according to reliable leaker billbil-kun from Dealabs, who has also said that a physical PlayStation 5 release is also on the cards.

All versions of the Until Dawn remake will be priced at £59.99 here in the UK, billbil-kun stated. That's €69.99, or $59.99 for those in the US.

Read more

A new "modern camera" mod is now available for Silent Hill 3 and Silent Hill 4: The Room on PC.

Modder ZealotTormunds has developed a mod that gives Silent Hill players both a first-person perspective and a more contemporary over-the-shoulder camera.

Both Silent Hill 3 and 4 typically use fixed camera angles. By freeing up these locked perspectives, Zealot provides players with the chance to get a closer look at the game's textures, enemies, and environments.

Read more

Two Legacy of Kain games are being re-released, but for the Evercade retro handheld console.

The Legacy of Kain Collection will include both Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver on one giga cart priced £22.49.

The collection will release next month and will be available to pre-order from 30th August. It's compatible with all Evercade and Super Pocket devices.

Read more

UPDATE 20/8/24: Well, there you go. Following last week's Deadline report, Amazon has officially unveiled Secret Level, a new "adult-animated anthology series featuring original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games".

It's a 15-episode series from the creators of Love, Death & Robots, and it'll feature stories inspired by Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, PAC-MAN, Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, Warhammer 40,000, and a variety of PlayStation Studios games.

And if that takes your fancy, you'll be wanting to circle 10th December on your calendar - which is when the series arrives on Prime Video - then check out its teaser trailer below.

Read more

Eli Roth's recent Borderlands film adaptation hasn't exactly had the best debut. Ahead of release, critics far and wide shared disparaging reviews of the adaptation, with phrases such as "disaster" and "lifeless, unfunny, and visually repulsive dud" being bandied about.

And then the film was released and, well, things didn't really get much better. The Cate Blanchette-fronted adaptation generated just $4m on its opening day, a disappointing result that looks set to result in the film becoming a commercial flop.

In fact, Borderlands has been such a misfire that now even filmmaker Uwe Boll - who previously directed that Alone in the Dark adaptation, which saw him nominated for not one but two 'Worst Director' awards (one of which he won) - is taking a swipe at it.

Read more

We now have a release date for the upcoming, current-gen version of slasher horror Until Dawn.

The game will arrive on both PC and PlayStation 5 this autumn, on 4th October. What better way to get yourself ready for the run up to halloween than doing your utmost to save that poor group of unsuspecting teens from the horrors of the night.

In addition to announcing a release date, the Until Dawn team has also shared a few details about how it has enhanced the game with changes to graphics, gameplay, story elements and "more". Before I get into all that, though, you can check out a new trailer for Until Dawn showing off some comparisons between the remaster and original below.

Read more

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One of the most disappointing things about the original Pixel Watch was that it couldn’t actually be repaired. Instead, users would need to get a replacement watch. This trend seemingly continued with the Pixel Watch 2, and it now turns out the brand-new Pixel Watch 3 can’t be repaired, either.

In response to an Android Authority query, a Google representative revealed the steps you need to take if your Pixel Watch 3 is damaged:

If your device is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options.

The above statement didn’t mention repairs, so does that mean the Pixel Watch 3 can’t be repaired at all?

“Correct! Pixel Watch 3 is replacement only,” the representative told us in response to a follow-up question.

The Google representative also noted that Preferred Care is available in the US. This insurance program covers accidental damage and out-of-warranty issues, although Pixel Watch 3 owners still have to pay a $49 service fee. Needless to say, you’ll be getting a replacement smartwatch instead of a repaired device.

This is nevertheless a disappointing turn of events as it strongly suggests that any broken Pixel Watch 3 units could end up in landfills. This is also bad news if you were hoping to keep your new Google smartwatch for years and wanted to swap out the battery or conduct any repairs yourself.

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Google has just rolled out the Pixel Watch 3, and it’s already being hailed as the company’s best smartwatch yet. The Pixel Watch now offers a unique blend of Google’s top-tier software and Fitbit’s legendary fitness tracking, making it one of the most well-rounded smartwatches to date. But here’s the kicker: it might be the only smartwatch you’ll be seeing from Fitbit moving forward.

In an interview with Engadget, Sandeep Waraich, senior director of product management for Pixel Wearables, hinted at the future of Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup. When questioned about the potential for new Fitbit smartwatches, Waraich stated, “Pixel Watch is our smartwatch part of the portfolio.”

Before you gasp, Fitbit isn’t disappearing altogether. The report notes that while the Fitbit brand will stick around, its focus will be solely on fitness trackers like the Inspire, Luxe, and Charge series, leaving the smartwatch game to the Pixel Watch line.

We reached out to Google for a comment, and the company had this to say:

“We are very committed to Fitbit, and even more importantly to the customers that use and depend on those products and technology. It’s also worth noting that many of the health and fitness features we launched in Pixel Watch 3 were because of Fitbit’s innovation and ground-breaking fitness advancements. In addition, we just launched Fitbit Ace LTE, and you’ll continue to see new products and innovation from Fitbit.”

Now, while this statement shows Google’s love for Fitbit, it doesn’t really address the elephant in the room. The statement keeps things vague about whether we’ll actually see any new Fitbit *smartwatches*. Instead, it talks up Fitbit’s fitness features being integrated into the Pixel Watch — a detail that, while true, leaves the original report’s assertion basically unchallenged.

When you look at what Google's been doing with Fitbit recently, it kind of makes sense.

The company never explicitly announced any plans to phase out the brand. However, there have been clear signs, like the Fitbit Sense 2 being an objective downgrade from the original Sense. Ever since the Pixel Watch came along, it felt like Fitbit smartwatches were being nudged out of the spotlight. The older Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense models boasted features like third-party app support, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Google Assistant integration, which are absent in the newer Versa 4 and Sense 2.

Given these developments, one could argue that rather than continuing to release diluted versions of Fitbit smartwatches, Google might be better off retiring the Fitbit smartwatch line entirely. This would preserve the brand’s reputation rather than risking it with subpar offerings. For fans of Fitbit, there is still hope that the brand’s legacy will continue through its fitness trackers, like the Fitbit Charge 7.

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We’re in the second half of the year and we’ve already seen plenty of leaks about next-generation flagship phones. Now, a long-time leaker has posted images showing what these new-generation phones could look like.

Digital Chat Station posted drawings showing off numerous upcoming flagship phones from various Chinese manufacturers. For starters, the tipster posted images of what appears to be the OPPO Find X8 Ultra and vivo X200 series.

The Hasselblad logo and alert slider suggest we’re indeed looking at the Find X8 Ultra. Meanwhile, the logo in the center of the apparent vivo phone has the same shape as the ZEISS logo used on vivo X series devices.

Digital Chat Station also posted an image showing four upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 flagship phones from various sub-brands. Check out the picture below.

The tipster didn’t dish out any names, but some followers have surmised that we’re looking at devices from Redmi, Realme, Iqoo, and OnePlus, respectively. Other followers have swapped Realme and OnePlus, which makes sense as there doesn’t appear to be an alert slider on the fourth phone. Nevertheless, Iqoo also makes sense as the third phone given the brand’s propensity for squircle-shaped camera housings.

In any event, Qualcomm and MediaTek are tipped to launch their next-generation flagship processors in October. Digital Chat Station claimed that a variety of OEMs will launch phones powered by these chips in October and November. They specifically pointed to the Redmi K80 series, vivo X200 range, OPPO Find X8 family, Xiaomi 15 series, Iqoo 13, OnePlus 13, Realme GT7 Pro, and HONOR Magic 7 phones. Global availability is another story, though.

Whether you’re working on an essay, doing research for a paper or just need some downtime streaming your favorite show - a good laptop is a sensible investment for every college student. The best laptop for college doesn’t have to push the envelope with the latest graphics card and processor, nor does it have to cost an arm and a leg. Sure, the best laptops come in all shapes and sizes and range in price, but college students don’t need a power-hungry machine to support their needs. The best laptop for college is ideally thin and lightweight, and provides enough battery to last all day without having to be tethered to the wall. No matter what you’re studying, we’ve researched and tested a range of laptops for you to consider as you decide which is the best laptop for college for you.

What to consider in your next laptop for college

It’s important to consider your major and what you need your laptop to do before deciding on the best laptop for college. For example, if you’re a liberal arts major and will mostly be writing or making presentations, you don’t need an expensive system with a discrete graphics card. Alternatively, if you’re a film major who might need to render videos on a regular basis, having a beefy PC can significantly reduce the time it takes to finish a project. You’ll also want to take a look at any guidelines provided by your college or your specific program, as you may need required software or apps that only run on a specific OS.

Some other things to consider are if you want a more portable 13 or 14-inch machine that’s easier to carry around, or if you prefer something with a larger screen. On top of that, if you are doing tasks like photo or video editing, you’ll probably want to go for a system with a high-resolution display (1440p or 4K), so it's easier to see details. As for other specs, ideally you’ll want 16GB of RAM (though you can go down to 8GB on a Chromebook) and at least 512GB or 1TB of storage. Most newer laptops now come with SSD storage, too, which means you can store and transfer data much faster.

Finally, while your budget ultimately will determine how powerful of a laptop you can get, well-equipped ultraportables will generally cost between $1,000 and $1,400, with prices going up from there for systems with discrete GPUs. Budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks can be affordable alternatives though, with many going for just $500 to $700. But again, remember to check your school’s requirements because it’s not worth saving a few bucks only to find out that your notebook can’t run the app you need for all your homework.

See Also:

• Best Laptops for 2024

• Best Gaming Laptops

• Best 2-in-1 Laptops for 2024

• Best Chromebooks

• Best Cheap Windows Laptops for 2024

A word on Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PCs

We have really enjoyed using the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop 7. They’re fast, quiet and support a huge range of both native Arm apps and traditional x86 software. However, there are a few major productivity apps that still have not been updated to work on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips used in the recent wave of Copilot+ PCs. Some of the most notable ones are Adobe’s Illustrator and InDesign (which won’t be available until sometime in July), and After Effects and Premier Pro, which aren’t expected to arrive until later in 2024. And given the number of college students who may need a PC to edit videos, draw or create layouts with these apps, that makes it difficult to give them whole-hearted recommendations in this guide right now. However, if you’re sure the apps you need for your course or major are supported, it may be worth giving these new Copilot+ PCs a closer look.

The best laptops for college students

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-laptops-for-students-130054631.html?src=rss

©

© Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

Qualcomm has launched a new chipset today, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. It comes as a successor to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and sits below the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3. Before we discuss what it offers, the company has interestingly revealed that Samsung is already developing a device with this SoC.

In the past, we have seen Samsung use Snapdragon 7 series chipsets in F and M series smartphones, such as the Galaxy F55. So, the company may offer it in the next phones in those lineups, which would be the Galaxy F56 and the Galaxy M56.

However, that’s just speculation. The brand could also offer it in an A-series device. That being said, the chances of that happening are quite low as we already have a rumor of Samsung powering the Galaxy A56 with its upcoming Exynos 1580 SoC.

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 features

Coming to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, it is made on a 4nm fabrication process and features one Prime core clocked at up to 2.5GHz, three performance cores clocked at up to 2.4GHz, and four efficiency cores clocked at up to 1.8GHz.

Qualcomm hasn’t provided any details about the GPU. According to the company, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 offers 20% faster CPU performance, 40% faster GPU performance, 30% better AI performance, and 12% lower power consumption compared to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2.

The new chipset can drive a display with FHD+ resolution at up to 144Hz. It supports up to 16GB RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The ISP can handle 200MP photos and 4K HDR videos. Connectivity options include 5G mmWave and Sub-6GHz, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless Audio, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDoU, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC.

Samsung won't be the only brand using this SoC. Qualcomm says that Realme, Sharp, and Xiaomi will also launch devices with the new chipset.

The post Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is coming to a Galaxy device appeared first on SamMobile.

Developer: Capcom    Publisher: Capcom    Release:    Genre: Action The SNES release of Street Fighter II is one of the biggest console exclusives of all time. At the time no one thought it was possible and its release and quality sparked a...

The post Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition appeared first on Classic-Games.net.

Developer: WayForward    Publisher: Capcom    Release: 08/13/13   Genre: Platformer    Also On: PS3, Xbox 360, WiiU Remaking a beloved classic is always a risky proposition. If you change too much it does not resemble the original and kind of defeats the...

The post DuckTales: Remastered appeared first on Classic-Games.net.

It isn’t surprising, but today’s Gamescom Opening Night Live presentation hasn’t had much for Nintendo fans to look forward to. Nintendo isn’t at Gamescom, so first-party games aren’t here. Not only that, but the presentation has had very few third-party and indie games shown that are going to be releasing on the Nintendo Switch. This… Read More »Little Nightmares 3 coming to Switch next year

Source

I’ve had the Steam Deck since its launch, and it’s been a mostly positive experience. […]

Mafia The Old Country closed out Gamescom Opening Night Live with more details to come this December.

Batman: Arkham Shadow has revealed it's debut gameplay trailer, along with an October 2024 launch window.

2K and Hangar 13 closed out Gamescom Opening Night Live with the announcement of Mafia: The Old Country, an upcoming new entry in the Mafia series. Set in 1900s Sicily, the game will explore the origins of the mafia through a linear narrative and a classic mob movie atmosphere described as bringing the series back to its […]

Despite initial delays, Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3 is right around the corner, and for players that enjoy veering on the dark side and working alongside the Absolute, Larian has provided a number of brand-new evil endings.

Larian Studios recently posted on their X (formerly Twitter) account for Baldur’s Gate 3 a sneak peak at one of the new evil endings that will be available once Patch 7 finally drops.

The New Ending Tricks Baldurian Citizens Into Living In Total Bliss

If you decided happily ever after wasn’t for you, there’s an assortment of evil ending cinematics new to Baldur’s Gate 3, arriving with Patch 7.

Here’s another sneak peek! Beware, some spoilers ahead! pic.twitter.com/1Z51dOnL2D

— Baldur's Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) August 14, 2024

While details are still sparse regarding how these evil endings will be triggered by players, the clip Larian chose to tease chose what looks like a crowd of Baldurian citizens being controlled by the same aberrant mind powers that Mind Flayers & the tadpoles possess to fill their heads with lofty daydreams about their day-to-day.

While the closed beta for Patch 7 was initially delayed due to some internal coding issues, it looks like the release of the massive patch is back on track for an early Fall 2024 release date.

Creating a Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most intimidating things for beginners that aren’t familiar with Dungeons & Dragons because there are so many Domains and Deities to choose from. While Domains are more important – since they act as your subclass – your chosen Deity is still essential for roleplaying purposes and interactions with other companions and NPCs throughout the game.

All Baldur’s Gate 3 Cleric Domains, Explained

There are 7 Domains to choose from in Baldur’s Gate 3. Each comes with its own list of spells and abilities that will be awarded as you level up. For starters, the BG3 Tempest Cleric Domain is a fan favorite.

• Life Domain
• Light Domain
• Trickery Domain
• Knowledge Domain
• Nature Domain
• Tempest Domain
• War Domain

While some Domains are commonly associated with certain Deities (the Life Domain is usually associated with good Deities, for example) you can mix and match as you please.

Best Cleric Domain in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you ask me, the best Domain to choose for your Cleric is either the Life Domain or the War Domain. The former is the stereotypical choice for a Cleric, but with good reason, since it allows players to heal and buff allies on the field. Conversely, the latter is excellent for Clerics who don’t want to be shoehorned into a support role. The Tempest Domain also works for this purpose if you prefer lightning magic instead of traditional swordplay.

Life Domain

The Life Domain is associated with many good Deities. It focuses on protective and restorative spells, making it perfect for a support-oriented Cleric. In addition to Heavy Armor Proficiency, this Domain starts with Disciple of Life, which permanently buffs all healing spells by 2 HP.

Here’s what you’ll learn as you level up if you choose this Domain.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Bless, Cure Wounds)
• Level 1 – Disciple of Life (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Heavy Armour Proficiency (Subclass Feature)
• Level 2 – Preserve Life (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Lesser Restoration, Aid)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Revivify, Beacon of Hope)
• Level 6 – Blessed Healer (Subclass Feature)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Death Ward, Guardian of Faith)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Life (Action)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Mass Cure Wounds, Greater Restoration)

Related: Karmic Dice May Be Messing Up Your Baldur’s Gate 3 Rolls

Light Domain

According to the official in-game description, the Light Domain is centered around Deities of justice, majesty, and primordial flame. This Domain utilizes spells that can dispel darkness and are effective against undead creatures, which makes sense given the name. Warding Flare, this Domain’s unique spell, lets you force a Disadvantage on attackers.

Here’s what progression looks like for a Light Domain Cleric.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Faerie Fire, Burning Hands)
• Level 1 – Warding Flare (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Light (Subclass Feature, Cantrip)
• Level 2 – Radiance of the Dawn (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Flaming Sphere, Scorching Ray)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Daylight, Fireball)
• Level 6 – Improved Warding Flare (Subclass Feature)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Wall of Fire, Guardian of Faith)
• Level 8 – Potent Spellcasting (Subclass Feature)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Flame Strike, Destructive Wave)

Trickery Domain

The Trickery Domain is home to mischievous and chaotic Deities, perfect for Clerics who really wish they could play a Rogue or Bard. Their unique action is Blessing of the Trickster, which gives an Advantage on Stealth checks. Plus, they start out with Disguise Self and Charm Person too.

Here’s what you’ll learn as you level up as a Trickery Domain Cleric.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Disguise Self, Charm Person)
• Level 1 – Blessing of the Trickster (Action)
• Level 2 – Invoke Duplicity (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Mirror Image, Pass Without Trace)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Bestow Curse, Fear)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Polymorph, Dimension Door)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Poison (Action)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Dominate Person, Seeming)

Knowledge Domain

The Knowledge Domain is the nerdiest of them all, designed for Clerics who wish to be proficient in language and academic skills. Blessings of Knowledge is its unique feature, letting you learn two additional languages at the start of the game. Plus, you can choose to be proficient in two of the following: Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion. Your proficiency bonus will be doubled to +4 for any skill checks that use your chosen two!

Here’s what progression looks like for the Knowledge Domain.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Command, Sleep)
• Level 2 – Knowledge of the Ages (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Calm Emotions, Hold Person)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Speak with Dead, Slow)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Confusion, Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere)
• Level 8 – Potent Spellcasting (Subclass Feature)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Dominate Person, Telekinesis)

Nature Domain

The Nature Domain is self-explanatory, letting you channel your inner Druid to focus on the great outdoors. Nature Domain Clerics are proficient with Heavy Armor, just like Life Domain Clerics, and their unique feature — Acolyte of Nature — lets them learn any Druid cantrip of their choosing and gain proficiency in Animal Handling, Nature, or Survival.

Here’s what the progression path looks like for a Nature Domain Cleric.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Speak with Animals, Animal Friendship)
• Level 1 – Acolyte of Nature (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Shillelagh (Cantrip)
• Level 2 – Charm Animals and Plants (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Spike Growth, Barkskin)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Plant Growth, Sleet Storm)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Dominate Beast, Grasping Vine)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Elemental Fury (Action)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Insect Plague, Wall of Stone)

Related: Here’s an Easy Way to Clear Up Inventory Space in Baldur’s Gate 3

Tempest Domain

The BG3 Tempest Cleric Domain is centered around lightning, thunder, and storms. It’s mainly an offensive Domain that provides proficiency with Martial Weapons and Heavy Armor, so it’s perfect for Clerics who want to be on the front lines and deal massive damage. Its unique feature is Wrath of the Storm, a spell that strikes a foe and deals 2-16 Lightning damage (or half of that on a failed Saving Throw). I found the Wrath of the Storm feature to help me the most in the game’s brutal battles, so I highly recommend it.

Here are all the spells that a Tempest Domain Cleric learns as they level up.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Thunderwave, Fog Cloud)
• Level 1 – Heavy Armour Proficiency (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Martial Weapon Proficiency (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Wrath of the Storm (Subclass Feature)
• Level 2 – Destructive Wrath (Subclass Feature)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Shatter, Gust of Wind)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Call Lightning, Sleet Storm)
• Level 6 – Thunderous Strike (Subclass Feature)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Ice Storm, Freedom of Movement)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Tempest (Action)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Insect Plague, Destructive Wave)

Related: Which Paladin Oath Should You Choose in Baldur’s Gate 3?

War Domain

Last but certainly not least, the War Domain is designed for Clerics who want to smite evildoers with holy powers. Choosing this Domain will make you proficient with Heavy Armor and Martial Weapons and grant you the War Priest ability, which grants you War Priest charges that can be spent to make additional attacks during your turn.

Here’s what progression looks like for the War Domain.

• Level 1 – Domain Spells (Divine Favour, Shield of Faith)
• Level 1 – Heavy Armour Proficiency (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – Martial Weapon Proficiency (Subclass Feature)
• Level 1 – War Priest (Subclass Feature)
• Level 2 – Guided Strike (Action)
• Level 3 – Domain Spells (Magic Weapon, Spiritual Weapon)
• Level 5 – Domain Spells (Spirit Guardians, Crusader’s Mantle)
• Level 6 – War God’s Blessing (Subclass Feature)
• Level 7 – Domain Spells (Stoneskin, Freedom of Movement)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Warmaster (Action)
• Level 9 – Domain Spells (Flame Strike, Hold Monster)

What Does a Cleric Deity Do in Baldur’s Gate 3?

There are a whopping 21 Deities to choose from when creating a Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3. This choice doesn’t affect anything related to gameplay or combat but will affect your relationship with certain NPCs and your available dialogue options in specific scenarios. This is purely a roleplaying decision, so try to choose the one that sounds the coolest to you. My personal favorite is the BG3 Tempus Cleric Deity.

Related: Avoid Baldur’s Gate 3’s Frustrating Traps System Using This Simple Command

Here’s a list of all 21 Baldur’s Gate 3 Deities with a brief summary of each.

• Selune: Goddess of the Moon, Stars, and Navigation
• Bahamut: Dragon God of Justice
• Tempus: Lord of Battles
• Tyr: Blind God of Law and Justice
• Helm: The Watcher, Eternal Sentry Among the Gods
• Ilmater: Crying God of the Oppressed and Persecuted
• Mystra: Mother of All Magic
• Oghma: God of Inspiration and Invention
• Kelemvor: Guides the Undead to the Afterlife
• Moradin: Dwarven God of Smiths, Artisans, and Miners
• Corellon Larethian: Creator of Elves and Overseer of Elven Pantheon, God of Art, Magic, and Nature
• Garl Glittergold: King of the Gnomish Gods, Deity of Humor, Gem-Cutting, Protection, and Trickery
• Yondalla: Mother of the Halfling Pantheon, Goddess of Home, Hearth, and Nature
• Lolth: Matriarch of the Drow Pantheon, Goddess of Spiders and the Underdark, seeks to corrupt all Drow and turn them into cultists.
• Gruumsh: Patron Deity of Orcs, God of War, Conquest, and Victory
• Tiamat: Dragon God of Greed
• Eilistraee: Goddess of Good Drow, Beauty, Song, and Freedom
• Lathander: God of Dawn and Spring, Birth and New Beginnings
• Talos: Uncaring and Destructive Force of Nature
• Tymora: Goddess of Fortune and Gambling
• Mielikki: Goddess of Forests

While most of these Deities can be chosen without affecting your character that much, be wary of selecting Deities like Lolth, who are reviled throughout Faerun. Lolth, for example, wishes to turn every Drow into a mindless servant. In addition, Tiamat is described as a “roiling mass of avarice and hate that is currently trapped within the Nine Hells.”

Openly worshiping some of these Deities might make some NPCs think less of you. However, nobody’s really going to care if you serve Garl Glittergold on the other hand. If you want to deepen your relationship with everyone’s favorite Wizard, Gale, you should choose Mystra to unlock some unique dialogue options with him at camp. Meanwhile, if you want NPCs to associate you with war and battles, select the BG3 Tempus Cleric Deity.

Speaking of deepening your relationship with Gale, check out our Gale romance guide for BG3.

Which Cleric Deity is Best in Baldur’s Gate 3?

As mentioned, choosing a Cleric Deity isn’t the most crucial decision in Baldur’s Gate 3, as they only change dialogue options. That said, it is recommended to pick one that can deepen a relationship with a party member or one that aligns well with the Clerics role.

For example, as stated in the last section, choosing Mystra, described as “Mother of all Magic,” will deepen your relationship with the Wizard Gale. Another great pick is Bahamut, described as the “Dragon God of Justice,” who is well regarded and looked at for their healing capabilities, which aligns well with the Cleric class.

Do Deities Matter in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Deities only matter if you care about the story of Baldur’s Gate 3. In other words, it depends on what you are trying to get out of the game. For example, deities don’t change how combat turns out or the game’s overall difficulty, but they do change the roleplaying nature of the game. You will get different dialogue options depending on the Deity you choose, so it’s smart to choose wisely if dialogue options are an important factor to you.

Considering Baldur’s Gate 3 is at its absolute best when role-playing and discovering the lore the game includes, I recommend you pick the Deity that sounds the coolest to you. You will find that BG3 can get incredibly in-depth regarding relationships with other characters, and each Deity can significantly impact how things pan out. 

If you are unsure which one to choose, you can save before selecting the Deity and then load the game later if you get bored of your current pick. For example, I first selected the Bahamut Deity and didn’t like it, so I reloaded the save game and went with BG3 Tempest Deity instead, which was more my speed.

Which is the Best Race for a Cleric in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The best race to choose for the Cleric class in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Duegar. The Duegar is the best for a couple of reasons: they get a boost in proficiency with bludgeoning weapons and gain an advantage against being paralyzed or charmed. These two status effects can turn the tide in combat, so having a Duegar cleric can help counter this.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has a lot of merchants for players to stumble across on their quest, and it’s easy to miss talking to many of them before finishing the game, which can cause players to miss out on some truly incredible gear for their builds.

Where to Find All Merchants in Baldur’s Gate 3

Act 1

Although there are many merchants in Act 1, most of them are relatively easy to come across. The most important merchants you’ll want to talk to, of course, in the first map are Dammon, who is directly tied to Karlach’s questline, and the Zhentarim merhcants you can help save from the Gnolls near the Risen Road which can offer players with some of the better early magic weapons, and an optional encounter with a spectator.

Merchant	Location
Arron	Emerald Grove
Auntie Ethel	Emerald Grove (will later be located at Riverside Teahouse)
Dammon	Emerald Grove
Mattis	Emerald Grove
Mol	Emerald Grove
Glomp	Goblin Camp
Grat	Goblin Camp
Roah Moonglow	Goblin Camp
Brem	The Risen Road
Cyrel	The Risen Road Tollhouse
A’jak’nir Jeera	Crèche Y’llek (Rosymorn Monastery)
Esther	Rosymorn Monastery Trail (Rosymorn Monastery)
Blurg	Ebonlake Grotto (Underdark)
Derryth Bonecloak	Ebonlake Grotto (Underdark)
Omeluum	Ebonlake Grotto (Underdark)
Kith	Grymforge (Underdark)
Greymon	Grymforge (Underdark)

Act 2

When you reach the Shadow-Cursed Lands and take on Ketheric Thorm and the Sharran Gauntlet, there are plenty of NPCs to interact with that offer powerful new items to aid in your impending face-off with Myrkul’s chosen.

Merchant	Location
Barcus	Last Light Inn
Dammon	Last Light Inn
Mattis	Last Light Inn
Talli	Last Light Inn
Sister Lidwin	House of Healing
Hoarding Merregon	Gauntlet of Shar
Araj Oblodra	Moonrise Towers
Lann Tarv	Moonrise Towers
Roah Moonglow	Moonrise Towers

Act 3

Act 3 has even more merchants than Act 1. There are way too many places to visit, and way too many things to buy. Boney sells scrolls, which are always useful for those playing a Wizard, and Danthelon’s Dancing Axe has good weapons and it’s fairly easy to find.

Carmen and Figaro have many clothing and dye options for players, Vicar Humbletoes and Nansi Gretta have scrolls, and Dammon will be back with weapons and armor. Make sure to visit Lorroakan’s Projection at Sorcerous Sundries since he has rare scrolls and good magic items.

Merchant	Location
Bumpnagel	Angleiron’s Cellar (Rivington)
Exxvikyap	Rivington General (Rivington)
Ferg Drogher	Requisitioned Barn (Rivington)
Mattis	Requisitioned Barn (Rivington)
Boney	Circus of the Last Days (Rivington)
Popper	Circus of the Last Days (Rivington)
Zara the Mummy	Circus of the Last Days (Rivington)
Carmen Pennygood	Carm’s Garm (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Entharl Danthelon	Danthelon’s Dancing Axe (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Hoots Hooligan	Sharess’ Caress (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Stylin’ Horst	The Velveteen Elixir (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Quartermaster Arkleia Oloril	Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Traveller Griska	Fraygo’s Flophouse (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Thodric Shedeever	Along the bridge (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Roberon Silt	Along the bridge (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Velson Oakes	Along the bridge (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Glynda Oltower	Along the bridge (Wyrm’s Crossing)
Oliver Tefoco	Beehive General Goods (Lower City)
Nansi Gretta	The Bibliophile (Lower City)
Derryth Bonecloak or Baelen Bonecloak	Bonecloak’s Apothecary (Lower City)
Thomas C. Quirkilious	Chromatic Scale (Lower City)
Helsik	Devil’s Fee (Lower City)
Alan Alyth	Elfsong Tavern (Lower City)
Lakrissa	Elfsong Tavern (Lower City)
Figaro ‘Facemaker’ Pennygood	Facemaker’s Boutique (Lower City)
Avery Sonshal	Felogyr’s Fireworks (Lower City)
Clerk Tamara	Felogyr’s Fireworks (Lower City)
Dammon	Forge of the Nine (Lower City)
Skittle	Heapside Prison (Lower City)
Mystic Carrion or Thrumbo	Philgrave’s Mansion (Lower City)
Bosun Gannet	The Blushing Mermaid (Lower City)
Tender Henk	The Singing Lute (Lower City)
Omotola	The Glitter Gala (Lower City)
Lorroakan’s Projection or Rolan	Sorcerous Sundries (Lower City)
Tolna Tome-Monger	Sorcerous Sundries (Lower City)
Gloomy Fentonson	Stormshore Armoury (Lower City)
Fytz the Firecracker	Stormshore Armoury (Lower City)
Vicar Humbletoes	Stormshore Tabernacle (Lower City)
Old Troutman	Eastern Docks (Lower City)
Bareki	Undercity Ruins (Lower City Sewers)
Severn	Guildhall bar (Lower City Sewers)
Sticky Dondo	Guildhall (Lower City Sewers)
Echo of Abazigal	Murder Tribunal (Lower City Sewers)
Koll	The Watch Citadel (High Hall)

Gale is a smooth-talking, good-hearted companion in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you’re not playing him as an Origin character and want to romance him, learning his likes and dislikes is a good way to win the Waterdeep wizarding prodigy’s heart.

Before being abducted by the Nautiloid, Gale held close relations with Mystra, the goddess of magic – and even shared a romantic relationship with her.

How To Increase Gale’s Approval in Baldur’s Gate 3

Gale can be a bit hard to figure out. He’s a heroic and kind-hearted individual, but is also extremely driven by ambition and logic. Gale appreciates when you save lives and make decisions that benefit others, such as choosing to save the tiefling camp in Act 1. Additionally, showing an interest in magic and allowing him to rant about his interests will also build up your relationship.

Gale’s Likes

• Demonstrating intelligence
• Protecting allies and other NPCs
• Showing magical knowledge
• Using nonviolent solutions to problems
• Displaying kindness to others
• Petting Scratch & the Owlbear cub at camp
• Respecting other people’s privacy and boundaries – especially his early on
• Giving him Magic Items to consume in Act 1

Gale’s Dislikes

• Unnecessary violence
• Recklessness
• Ignorance to the world around you
• Lack of curiosity
• Distrusting him

How To Romance Gale

To romance Gale, you need to make your decisions with his approval in mind. It’s the same process you go through when looking for approval of any character in the game. There are numerous instances and encounters at the campsite with Gale that could shape his perception of you.

Act 1 Romance Choices

There are way too many ways to make Gale like you during Act 1. The Wizard of Waterdeep will notice and approve of your behavior every time you save NPCs from danger, demonstrate heroism, show empathy, avoid unnecessary violence, and engage in intelligent conversations. Just make sure to entertain his curiosity, act like a hero, and take his concerns seriously.

Act 2 Romance Choices

One of the most effective ways to romance Gale is by completing his companion quest, “Wizard of Waterdeep”. However, there are other things that you can only do in Act 2 to make Gale like you more:

• Shuffle the board in the game between Mol and Raphael
• Do not drink Jaheira’s wine when you first meet her
• Tell Arabella you found her parents dead.
• Ask Elminster why you’re facing the Absolute alone if even the gods know about its threat.
• Let Gale teach you magic.

Act 3 Romance Choices

In Act 3, several dialogue choices can influence Gale’s approval. For example, inside the House of Hope, refuse to remove your clothes and pledge your body to Raphael’s personal incubus, Haarlep. You can also persuade Gale to join you in bed with the Drow twins. When he expresses his doubts, tell him: “Your body looks great“ to earn his approval.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has plenty of companions for players to romance, and some of these romanceable companions are even open to inviting another party into their relationship, if the you play your cards right.

• How To Romance Multiple Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
• All Polyamorous and Monogamous Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
  • How to End a Relationship in Baldur’s Gate 3

How To Have a Poly Romance in Baldur’s Gate 3

Romancing multiple companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t much different from building a monogamous relationship. Of course, you’ll need to ensure that you’ve gained enough favorability with all your potential partners that they’re open to entering a relationship with you. This can be done by choosing the correct dialogue options during your one-on-one interactions with them, and making roleplaying decisions during the main story that they approve of.

Something that’s important to note, however, when exploring poly in Baldur’s Gate 3 is that some characters aren’t interested in sharing you with your companions – in fact, there are only a handful of characters that are truly open and willing to “open up the relationship”.

All Polyamorous and Monogamous Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

The two companions that will be vehemently against having a polyamorous relationship are Wyll Ravengard and Gale Dekarios. If you attempt to romance other companions while committed to them, they’ll confront you and force you to choose between them.

Additionally, while the rest of the companions are more open to being in a polyamorous relationship, they aren’t willing to be in one with some of the other companions, even if you try to convince them. Alternatively, there are some companions who are “open to sharing” in Act 1 and early into Act 2, but as your relationship develops, they’ll want exclusivity.

Here are a handful of examples of potential outcomes for players trying to experience a poly romance in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Shadowheart is open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you and someone else in Act 1 as long as it’s not Lae’zel. However, as your relationship with her deepens in Act 2, she’ll want to become exclusive.
• Astarion is open to a relationship with you, Halsin, and Minthara. He is also available, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to be in a relationship with you and Shadowheart until she decides she wants a monogamous relationship in Act 2.
• Karlach is open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you and someone else in Act 1 since she’s unable to be physical, but once her Infernal Engine is repaired by Dammon and the relationship deepens, she’ll request to be exclusive.
• Halsin and Minthara are both open to being in a polyamorous relationship with you if they get along with the other partner.

How To End a Relationship In Baldur’s Gate 3

If you went down the Polygamy route and have maybe changed your mind on the whole ordeal — there is a way to end one, or both, of the relationships. Players can end a relationship with another character by selecting the correct dialogue options during regular conversations, or in the middle of romance cutscenes.

For the former, when you are speaking with the character(s) you are romancing, an option will appear that says something along the lines of, “Let’s talk about us.” Once you select this, you will have the option to end it for good.

It’s important to note that players have reported that this dialogue option doesn’t always appear, meaning it may only become available if you’ have been in the relationship for a certain amount of time’ve achieved certain milestones in the relationship. Keep an eye out for these dialogue choices during romance cutscenes and when speaking with your romance partner.

Are you wondering where all 29 ramp locations in Goat Simulator 3 are? The developers did an excellent job with placing ramp locations. Some are easier to spot than others, so we have provided you with the locations of all ramps.

Where To Find All 29 Ramp Locations in Goat Simulator 3

There are a total of 29 ramps spread across San Angora. The ramps are broken down into specific zones that will be recorded in your collectible menu after you jump them in a vehicle or bike, which you can access by pressing the menu key. You will know it is successful when fireworks appear after your jump.

Fairmeadows Ranch

There are a total of six ramps in Fairmeadows Ranch.

The first ramp is in the area where men hide in trashcans.

The second ramp is just off the river, where a guy is fishing off the dock.

The third ramp is just north of the talent show, where you complete a quest to be liked by all the judges.

The fourth ramp above Dilbo’s house. Lots of construction equipment and towers surround it.

The fifth ramp is by Sun and Son’s solar farm business.

The sixth ramp is behind the Fossil Fuel gas station.

Pointy Foods Factory

There is a total of two ramps near the Pointy Foods Factory.

The first ramp is off the highway right before you reach Suburbsville.

The second ramp is located inside the Pointy Foods Factory area.

Suburbsville

There are a total of three ramps in Suburbsville.

The first ramp is located across from the Swekia building.

The second ramp is located down the dirt road from the Yoga studio.

The third ramp is located by the birthday party house and where the nuke drops during the Fallout easter egg event.

Construction Site

There are a total of two ramps at the construction site.

The first ramp goes over a building with a red door.

The second ramp goes through a concrete cylinder.

Downtown

There are a total of five ramps in the Downtown zone.

The first ramp is underneath the double-lane highway by the Quiet Hill Rest Area.

The second ramp is located by the entrance to Port San Angora.

The third ramp is inside this white building in Port San Angora.

The fourth ramp is located at the end of Port San Angora in-between red shipping containers.

The fifth ramp is located by Doretto’s car shop at the foot of the Hoofer Dam.

Goatenburg

There are a total of six ramps in Goatenburg.

The first ramp is underneath the Welcome to Clover St. sign.

The second ramp is at the end of the pier on the beach.

The third ramp is located by the Route 55 sign leading to libertarian Island. The ramp goes through a pink shipping container box.

The fourth ramp is located behind the last 5G tower.

The fifth ramp is located inside the construction building. This ramp was the last one I found in the game, and it took me forever. I didn’t realize the ramp leading up to the building was a ramp.

The sixth ramp is located behind the Fidelite Lounge building.

Hoofer Dam

There are two ramps at the Hoofer Dam landmark.

The first ramp is on the Hoofer Dam itself.

The second ramp is by the Welcome to Mornwood Falls sign.

Sawmill

There is one ramp at the Sawmill location.

The first ramp is above the Sawmill.

Mornwood Falls

There are two ramps in the Mornwood Falls zone.

The first ramp is by the rest area.

The second ramp is squeezed in between a trailer, a small cave with a trinket collectible, and some pigs. The ramp leads into the San Angora Zoo when jumped.

Goat Simulator 3 is available on PC through Epic Games, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Ever since The Sims 4 came out in 2014 (oh my goodness...), I’ve been adamant that The Sims 2 and 3 remain the superior titles in the series, especially once you start using core mods to improve performance or quality of life. For those who want to get their life simulation fix but The Sims 4 is broken or too boring, I highly suggest playing The Sims 3 instead!

Those who know anything about The Sims 3 may know that Electronic Arts and Maxis did not optimize this game very well. There are a lot of reasons for this. One reason is that it’s an open-world 32-bit game. This can lead to your files bloating up and causing the game to crash to desktop. The Sims 3 is also notorious in that the game does not naturally cap your FPS, which can overheat your graphics card if you’re not careful. Some of these mods are not mere recommendations. They’re straight up essential for the overall health of your computer.

Though not a mod, I recommend using MATY’s FPS Limiter and 3Booter. This will help to keep your frame rate at the game’s default 30. If you’re like me and you’re using a NVIDIA graphics card, you can also go into your control panel and cap The Sims 3’s frame rate at 30 through there.

Here are some of the best mods for The Sims 3 in 2024

• NRaas Master Controller
  NRaas’s entire library of mods is fantastic, but I have a few that I recommend for even people who aren’t too keen on installing mods. Master Controller is exactly as it says on the tin. With this mod, you can control virtually everything in your town, from relationships to careers to ages. It’s a handy tool for little accidents (oops, my Sim is wearing a raincoat at her garden wedding) to more heavy-duty tasks (I need to reset every single object and sim in my neighborhood).
• NRaas Story Progression
  As mentioned earlier, The Sims 3 has an open world for its neighborhood, which means that things can happen in inactive households completely out of your control. You can turn this off if you want, but for those who don’t mind letting Sims live out their own little virtual lives, I recommend Story Progression from NRaas. This replaces EA’s slow and stagnant Story Progression, preventing your neighborhood from devolving into a ghost town over time.
• NRaas Overwatch
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. Overwatch goes through your neighborhood at an interval you set to clean up things like deserted cars. In general, you can think of Overwatch as a garbage truck that throws away junk files which can cause bloating down the line.
• NRaas Error Trap
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. Error Trap is, like Overwatch, a mod that’s for keeping your save file as clean as possible. It catches and corrects data corruption errors that can prevent you from loading up a save. Think of it as insurance. Under ideal circumstances, you won’t need it. But when you need it, man, you’ll be glad to have this thing in your folders.

• Simpishly's More Traits for All Ages
  If you raise a Sim in-game, you’re forced to only pick from limited pools of traits in the earlier life stages, which can get boring after a while. Enabling traits for all ages can lead to some wacky Sims like a toddler who’s Flirty and has Commitment Issues. But if you don’t mind that, this is a great mod for more varied Sims.
• LazyDuchess Smooth Patch
  As a note, the LazyDuchess Smooth Patch does not work with some NRaas mods if you’re using 2.x versions. I recommend using a 1.x build if you want to use it with, say, Master Controller. Smooth Patch alters some of the script in the game to make the game run faster. For example, it’ll load hairs and outfits in CAS as you scroll through rather than making you wait for the game to pull everything out.
• LazyDuchess Lot population
  This is a personal pet peeve, but I don’t like going to a community lot to scope out a joint, only for everyone to be elsewhere in town. In The Sims 2, the game will populate lots after you arrive. However, the open world concept works against that since, again, Sims have their own lives. The Lot Population mod pushes Sims to lots your active Sim is at so you won’t be partying alone. It can also add walkbys like in The Sims 2, making your neighborhood feel more alive.
• Retuned Attraction
  The attraction system in The Sims 3 is ridiculous and can cause more trouble than it’s worth. With this mod, the attraction system is more sane and logical, as well as less indiscriminate. It will also prevent Sims from continuously harassing you for dates or sending you random stuff in the mail.

• OMSP, S3DT
  For people who like to build and decorate fancy houses, OMSP and S3DT are both absolutely essential. OMSP allows you to create more space on surfaces for clutter. This can include beds and sofas (so you can put blankets and cushions), or mini-fridges (if you want to put a radio or something on top). S3DT gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to moving things around a lot, as well as lets you change the height and angle of objects. If you only care about gameplay, these aren't necessary.
• Ghost Reaction Remover
  This is fantastic for people who play legacy style like I do, as you’ll naturally end up with a lot of ghosts in your house. If you’re annoyed by Sims constantly stopping what they’re doing to go “Ew, you’re getting ectoplasm all over the floor, Great-Great-Grandpa,” then this mod can curb that behavior. Other reaction removers from this maker include mods to curb relation loss from the Emperor of Evil and stop sims from freaking out over Bonehilda.
• Children Can mods
  The Children Can series of mods is fantastic for people who want to give their Sim kids more freedom and independence, as well as get them started in life. With this mod, Sim kids will be able to do laundry, make sculptures, call services, and more. It’s really handy for people who are doing challenges like, again, the legacy challenge or the 100 Baby Challenge, since it’ll make playing with kids more fun.
• NeuroBlazer Random Genetics
  I highly recommend the Random Genetics mod for people who want more varied faces around town or in your Sims. However, NeuroBlazer seems to have removed this mod and they’re not hosting it anymore. Fortunately, there is a backup (this link will directly download the file to your computer).

• Brntwaffles environment mods
  Pretty much all of Tumblr user brntwaffles’s default replacement mods (whether environment or genetics) are really good! They make the game really pretty and it looks even better if you install Reshade. My personal recommendations from brntwaffles for eyes are the MS93 and Sarhra default replacements. I also really like their Perfect Day and Dream Dimension lighting mods.
• Twinsimming mods
  Twinswimming’s mods are great for adding flavor to your game. I recommend basically all of them. Some of them can make your game more difficult, such as Pest Control and Utilities adding new things you have to watch out for. Their best mods are Growing Pains and the Level Up! mods, in my opinion.
• Velocitygrass No Automatic Memories
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. As mentioned in the beginning, memories can really bloat your save file, causing the eventual corruption of your neighborhood and mess with your computer. Even if you turn off notifications, the game still accumulates memories, including from inactive families. This mod completely removes the feature.
• Icarusallsorts's User-Directed Scolding
  If you don’t have kids in your game, this might be a non-issue. But Generations added a mechanic that lets parents scold and ground their kids when they do something bad. On paper, that sounds really neat. In practice, it’s freakishly annoying. This mod gives you more control over how your sim punishes their kid without turning it into unnecessary drama.

• Ultimate Careers
  The Ultimate Careers mod is a very intensive mod that overhauls how careers work in this game. This makes them a lot more similar to how professions work rather than just pushing your Sims to go to a rabbit hole where you can’t peek in on them. Fortunately, you don’t have to micromanage as much as you do with a profession, so it’s friendly for players with large families too.
• TheSweetSimmer mods
  TheSweetSimmer makes a lot of mods that focus on pregnancy interactions and toddlers, making them more fun to play with. It also frees up your teen or adult Sims, since children and toddlers will be able to perform acts that would usually require an older Sim's help. This is mostly useful for people who play families, but it might incentivize YA and Adult sim players to have a kid or two.
• Moar Interactions
  This is one of those mods that add things you’d figure would have been in the base game. It’s great for group meetings and parties, as you can do so much more with other sims around town.
• PhoebeJaySims Social Clubs Mod
  PhoebeJaySims, like TheSweetSimmer and Twinsimming, has a lot of really cool mods. My favorite of them is the Social Clubs mod. This lets you create a club, but without the objectives that are in The Sims 4 clubs. Clubs with this mod are more chill and are a great way for you to set up regular meetings and playdates, or add a layer of storytelling to your neighborhood.

The Sims 3 is readily available on the Windows PC.

The post Best Mods For The Sims 3 in 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

Baldur's Gate 3 has won the award for Best Game or Interactive Work at the Hugo Awards.

It is the second video game in history to do so, the first being Hades when the award was introduced in 2021 as a temporary category.

The World Science Fiction Convention, who present the awards, voted to make it permanent last year as reported by PC Gamer.

Read more

Fast Travel Games has revealed Action Hero for Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro, an action-packed FPS that will throw you onto movie sets to battle ninjas, punch dinosaurs, and race along speeding trains.

The gameplay seems to take a leaf out of Superhot VR’s book, with everything happening in slow motion and then only speeding up as you, the player, physically move. It’s a clever way of helping to make things more manageable, and will no doubt be a pretty cool effect in this setting.

Action Hero will present you with five different movies to play through – so there’s no need for Fast Travel to concoct a story to explain how ninjas and dinosaurs are coexisting, as fun as that might be.

It’s coming soon exclusively for Meta Quest 2 and newer, which will no doubt be a bit of a disappointment for PSVR 2 diehards and PC VR enthusiasts.

The studio had a bunch of other announcements during the VR Games Showcase this week, confirming that they’re bringing CM Games’ Into The Radius to PSVR 2 next month.

They’re also bringing their hide-and-seek shooter Mannequin out of Early Access, with a full launch on Quest 3 and PC VR on 12th September.

And they’ll publish Smartmelon Games’ Rock Band-alike VR game Band Space later this year for Quest and PC VR.

Each week Sony brings PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR, and PlayStation Plus owners new content, add-ons, games, and more. Here is the complete global PlayStation Store update. PlayStation LifeStyle catalogs the PlayStation Store updates for the major regions across the globe. Check back every Tuesday to keep up to date with each week’s PlayStation Store Update.

North American Update

August’s PlayStation Plus Essential Lineup

• Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PS4)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach (PS5, PS4)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PS5, PS4)

---

PSVR Games

• Horror Adventure (PSVR2)
• Horror Adventure : Zombie Edition (PSVR2)

PS4 & PS5 Games

• Axe Ace
• Baby Boomer 2: 35 Years Too Soon PS4 & PS5
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Cafe Master Story
• Castaway
• Cat’s Request
• Crazy Goose Simulator
• Dadish 3D
• DUSTBORN
• Friendly Fire
• The Great Fleece
• House of Golf 2
• HUNT: SHOWDOWN 1896
• Hypermarket Simulator Empire 2024
• Lunar Nightmare
• Murder Is Game Over: Streaming Death
• Mute Crimson DX
• Overboss
• Parking Masters
• Phantom Spark
• Pilot Flight Simulation PS4&PS5
• Pneumata
• Rewind or Die
• Rooftop Rascal: The Midnight Cat
• Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
• Space Explore (PSVR2)
• Street Survival: Homeless Simulator
• SunnySide
• Tiny Pixels Vol. 1 – Ninpo Blast
• Tiny Whaley 2
• Tower
• Tower Hover
• Tribe: Primitive Builder
• Truck Simulator Cargo Driver 2024 – EURO
• Turn to Mine
• Vikings Pinball
• Visa Control: USA Border Simulator
• White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies – Complete Edition

Next Page: European Update

The post PlayStation Store Update Worldwide August 20, 2024 appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

PS Plus members have renewed calls for more notice on games leaving the service. This has been a recurring complaint since the revamp because Sony often gives players as little as one week to wrap up their progress, which isn’t enough when it comes to lengthy games. There have also been occasions where Sony didn’t announce a departure until the very last minute.

When does Sony typically announce the list of games leaving PS Plus?

Sony provides a preliminary list of games leaving the service shortly after a catalog refresh. As an example, September 2024’s departures were announced today after new games were added to the service this morning.

However, as emphasized above, these are preliminary lists. Sony may remove games without a warning — like it has done so in the past — or give as little as a few days notice.

Players refreshed their demand for more notice after they discovered that Sea of Stars and Lost Judgment — both lengthy games — were added to PS Store’s ‘Last Chance to Play’ section with barely two weeks’ notice. Forums like Reddit and ResetEra saw members asking fellow players if there was a way to expedite their progress before the games left the service.

Given that there are hundreds of games in the catalog, Sony should endeavor to provide one-month notice for departures. We don’t see a good reason why this isn’t possible or why this shouldn’t be the case. Random updates with little notice are quite a nuisance.

The post PS Plus Users Continue to Demand More Notice for Games Leaving Service appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Sony has announced the preliminary list of games leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium in September 2024, which includes 12 titles. As we previously speculated, five of the games are Star Ocean titles. Additionally, Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West is departing the catalog.

Full list of games leaving PS Plus Extra, Premium in September 2024

The following games are set to leave the catalogs in mid September.

• Horizon Forbidden West
• Star Ocean: First Departure R
• Star Ocean: The Divine Force
• Star Ocean: The Last Hope
• Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
• Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
• NieR: Replicant
• Marvel’s Midnight Suns
• Alien:Isolation
• Cloudpunk
• Spiritfarer

Do note that this list isn’t final because Sony updates the PS Store’s ‘Last Chance to Play’ section randomly during the month. This means that you may have as much as a one-month notice or as little as a one-week notice of departures.

This is particularly bothersome when lengthy games are suddenly added to the list. This month, we saw numerous complaints about the sudden announcement of Sea of Stars and Lost Judgment leaving the catalogs with little notice as both games are pretty chunky.

We’ll update the list above if/when more games are added to ‘Last Chance to Play.’

The post Games Leaving PS Plus in September 2024 Include Big PlayStation Exclusive appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

The grind for exotic item drops in Destiny 2 is apparently very real. So real, in fact, that players are willing to write and share macros in order to AFK farm for the big shiny. This behavior hasn’t gone unnoticed by Bungie, however, and the developer is now updating its ban policy to account for […]

Last year was a major milestone for Final Fantasy XIV, as it marked the 10-year anniversary for the relaunched game. So what do you do for the next year? Well, it should be obvious: You hold the 11-year anniversary event. And that’s just what the game is doing when the newest incarnation of The Rising […]

Given all of the releases that came out last year, you would be forgiven for letting the co-op critter hunting RPG Atlas Fallen slip through the mental cracks. After all, the game was, by all critical and gamer accounts, something of a middling title. However, developer Deck13 and publisher Focus Entertainment has not completely forgotten […]

For Battle Bards’ penultimate episode, Syp and Syl explore some EPIC battle music across many MMOs. After all, if we’re going to go out in style, that style’s going to be loud enough to blast a hole in your eardrums! We also learn that nobody likes the Flute Guy. Battle Bards is the world’s first, best, […]

💾

We’ve gone through a lot of different names for what are now being called Allied Societies in Final Fantasy XIV, but I think this one finally captures both what the idea is for these quests and the space that FFXIV has narratively staked out for these quests. It was one thing when it was Amalj’aa […]

A new level cap in Final Fantasy XIV means that MOP’s Chris has some catching up to do for some of his alt jobs, and since he’s feeling the urge to do some tanking, that’s just what he’ll be up to! Join him and his crew today at 2:00 p.m. EDT for another round of […]

When a beloved player falls, a studio may honor that memory by including him or her as part of the game world. While our headlining picture isn’t the first time we’ve seen such an inclusion, it’s nevertheless heart-touching. “Death comes to us all but this player was very active in game, on the forums and […]

Publisher 2K and developer Hangar 13 have announced Mafia: The Old Country, a new prequel in their beloved Mafia franchise. Mafia: The Old Country is in development for Windows PC (via Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 with a release set for sometime in 2025. Here’s a brief blurb on the game, plus its […]

Source

Ever since The Sims 4 came out in 2014 (oh my goodness...), I’ve been adamant that The Sims 2 and 3 remain the superior titles in the series, especially once you start using core mods to improve performance or quality of life. For those who want to get their life simulation fix but The Sims 4 is broken or too boring, I highly suggest playing The Sims 3 instead!

Those who know anything about The Sims 3 may know that Electronic Arts and Maxis did not optimize this game very well. There are a lot of reasons for this. One reason is that it’s an open-world 32-bit game. This can lead to your files bloating up and causing the game to crash to desktop. The Sims 3 is also notorious in that the game does not naturally cap your FPS, which can overheat your graphics card if you’re not careful. Some of these mods are not mere recommendations. They’re straight up essential for the overall health of your computer.

Though not a mod, I recommend using MATY’s FPS Limiter and 3Booter. This will help to keep your frame rate at the game’s default 30. If you’re like me and you’re using a NVIDIA graphics card, you can also go into your control panel and cap The Sims 3’s frame rate at 30 through there.

Here are some of the best mods for The Sims 3 in 2024

• NRaas Master Controller
  NRaas’s entire library of mods is fantastic, but I have a few that I recommend for even people who aren’t too keen on installing mods. Master Controller is exactly as it says on the tin. With this mod, you can control virtually everything in your town, from relationships to careers to ages. It’s a handy tool for little accidents (oops, my Sim is wearing a raincoat at her garden wedding) to more heavy-duty tasks (I need to reset every single object and sim in my neighborhood).
• NRaas Story Progression
  As mentioned earlier, The Sims 3 has an open world for its neighborhood, which means that things can happen in inactive households completely out of your control. You can turn this off if you want, but for those who don’t mind letting Sims live out their own little virtual lives, I recommend Story Progression from NRaas. This replaces EA’s slow and stagnant Story Progression, preventing your neighborhood from devolving into a ghost town over time.
• NRaas Overwatch
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. Overwatch goes through your neighborhood at an interval you set to clean up things like deserted cars. In general, you can think of Overwatch as a garbage truck that throws away junk files which can cause bloating down the line.
• NRaas Error Trap
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. Error Trap is, like Overwatch, a mod that’s for keeping your save file as clean as possible. It catches and corrects data corruption errors that can prevent you from loading up a save. Think of it as insurance. Under ideal circumstances, you won’t need it. But when you need it, man, you’ll be glad to have this thing in your folders.

• Simpishly's More Traits for All Ages
  If you raise a Sim in-game, you’re forced to only pick from limited pools of traits in the earlier life stages, which can get boring after a while. Enabling traits for all ages can lead to some wacky Sims like a toddler who’s Flirty and has Commitment Issues. But if you don’t mind that, this is a great mod for more varied Sims.
• LazyDuchess Smooth Patch
  As a note, the LazyDuchess Smooth Patch does not work with some NRaas mods if you’re using 2.x versions. I recommend using a 1.x build if you want to use it with, say, Master Controller. Smooth Patch alters some of the script in the game to make the game run faster. For example, it’ll load hairs and outfits in CAS as you scroll through rather than making you wait for the game to pull everything out.
• LazyDuchess Lot population
  This is a personal pet peeve, but I don’t like going to a community lot to scope out a joint, only for everyone to be elsewhere in town. In The Sims 2, the game will populate lots after you arrive. However, the open world concept works against that since, again, Sims have their own lives. The Lot Population mod pushes Sims to lots your active Sim is at so you won’t be partying alone. It can also add walkbys like in The Sims 2, making your neighborhood feel more alive.
• Retuned Attraction
  The attraction system in The Sims 3 is ridiculous and can cause more trouble than it’s worth. With this mod, the attraction system is more sane and logical, as well as less indiscriminate. It will also prevent Sims from continuously harassing you for dates or sending you random stuff in the mail.

• OMSP, S3DT
  For people who like to build and decorate fancy houses, OMSP and S3DT are both absolutely essential. OMSP allows you to create more space on surfaces for clutter. This can include beds and sofas (so you can put blankets and cushions), or mini-fridges (if you want to put a radio or something on top). S3DT gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to moving things around a lot, as well as lets you change the height and angle of objects. If you only care about gameplay, these aren't necessary.
• Ghost Reaction Remover
  This is fantastic for people who play legacy style like I do, as you’ll naturally end up with a lot of ghosts in your house. If you’re annoyed by Sims constantly stopping what they’re doing to go “Ew, you’re getting ectoplasm all over the floor, Great-Great-Grandpa,” then this mod can curb that behavior. Other reaction removers from this maker include mods to curb relation loss from the Emperor of Evil and stop sims from freaking out over Bonehilda.
• Children Can mods
  The Children Can series of mods is fantastic for people who want to give their Sim kids more freedom and independence, as well as get them started in life. With this mod, Sim kids will be able to do laundry, make sculptures, call services, and more. It’s really handy for people who are doing challenges like, again, the legacy challenge or the 100 Baby Challenge, since it’ll make playing with kids more fun.
• NeuroBlazer Random Genetics
  I highly recommend the Random Genetics mod for people who want more varied faces around town or in your Sims. However, NeuroBlazer seems to have removed this mod and they’re not hosting it anymore. Fortunately, there is a backup (this link will directly download the file to your computer).

• Brntwaffles environment mods
  Pretty much all of Tumblr user brntwaffles’s default replacement mods (whether environment or genetics) are really good! They make the game really pretty and it looks even better if you install Reshade. My personal recommendations from brntwaffles for eyes are the MS93 and Sarhra default replacements. I also really like their Perfect Day and Dream Dimension lighting mods.
• Twinsimming mods
  Twinswimming’s mods are great for adding flavor to your game. I recommend basically all of them. Some of them can make your game more difficult, such as Pest Control and Utilities adding new things you have to watch out for. Their best mods are Growing Pains and the Level Up! mods, in my opinion.
• Velocitygrass No Automatic Memories
  ESSENTIAL MOD; YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR COMPUTER. As mentioned in the beginning, memories can really bloat your save file, causing the eventual corruption of your neighborhood and mess with your computer. Even if you turn off notifications, the game still accumulates memories, including from inactive families. This mod completely removes the feature.
• Icarusallsorts's User-Directed Scolding
  If you don’t have kids in your game, this might be a non-issue. But Generations added a mechanic that lets parents scold and ground their kids when they do something bad. On paper, that sounds really neat. In practice, it’s freakishly annoying. This mod gives you more control over how your sim punishes their kid without turning it into unnecessary drama.

• Ultimate Careers
  The Ultimate Careers mod is a very intensive mod that overhauls how careers work in this game. This makes them a lot more similar to how professions work rather than just pushing your Sims to go to a rabbit hole where you can’t peek in on them. Fortunately, you don’t have to micromanage as much as you do with a profession, so it’s friendly for players with large families too.
• TheSweetSimmer mods
  TheSweetSimmer makes a lot of mods that focus on pregnancy interactions and toddlers, making them more fun to play with. It also frees up your teen or adult Sims, since children and toddlers will be able to perform acts that would usually require an older Sim's help. This is mostly useful for people who play families, but it might incentivize YA and Adult sim players to have a kid or two.
• Moar Interactions
  This is one of those mods that add things you’d figure would have been in the base game. It’s great for group meetings and parties, as you can do so much more with other sims around town.
• PhoebeJaySims Social Clubs Mod
  PhoebeJaySims, like TheSweetSimmer and Twinsimming, has a lot of really cool mods. My favorite of them is the Social Clubs mod. This lets you create a club, but without the objectives that are in The Sims 4 clubs. Clubs with this mod are more chill and are a great way for you to set up regular meetings and playdates, or add a layer of storytelling to your neighborhood.

The Sims 3 is readily available on the Windows PC.

The post Best Mods For The Sims 3 in 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

In today's Daily Fix:Popular Call of Duty Mod “H2M” was pulled just hours before its release time after a cease and desist letter from game publisher, Activision. Though sources are mixed on the reasoning, fans are nonetheless unhappy with H2M, which would have brought back the multiplayer mode from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, being pulled. And, Backyard Sports announced they’ll be coming back with a trailer. The owners of Backyard Sports, which includes titles like Backyard Baseball and Backyard Football, plan to bring back the gaming franchise and could possibly bring “Backyard” to new mediums as well. Presented by NHTSA.

What are the best Borderlands games? What should you play first? Let's rank the Borderlands games from best to worst and see what comes out on top.

A lot of trailers for several games were presented at Gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live. And while I’ve posted the most important ones in separate articles, it would be a shame to overlook all the others that aired. Thus, I’ve decided to collect all of them and share them in one big article. This is … Continue reading Gamescom 2024 trailers for Monster Hunter Wild, Reanimal, Towerborne, ARC Raiders and more →

The post Gamescom 2024 trailers for Monster Hunter Wild, Reanimal, Towerborne, ARC Raiders and more appeared first on DSOGaming.

2K Games and Hangar 13 have announced that the next part of the Mafia series will be called Mafia: The Old Country. In other words, Mafia 4 is Mafia: The Old Country. And, to celebrate this announcement, the teams shared a teaser trailer that you can find below. In Mafia: The Old Country, players will … Continue reading Mafia 4 will be called Mafia: The Old Country, first teaser trailer →

The post Mafia 4 will be called Mafia: The Old Country, first teaser trailer appeared first on DSOGaming.

Sharlene Brown often accompanied her husband, IEEE Senior Member Damith Wickramanayake, to organization meetings. He has held leadership positions in the IEEE Jamaica Section, in IEEE Region 3, and on the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities board. Both are from Jamaica.

She either waited outside the conference room or helped with tasks such as serving refreshments. Even though her husband encouraged her to sit in on the meetings, she says, she felt uncomfortable doing so because she wasn’t an engineer. Brown is an accountant and human resources professional. Her husband is a computer science professor at the University of Technology, Jamaica, in Kingston. He is currently Region 3’s education activities coordinator and a member of the section’s education and outreach committee for the IEEE Educational Activities Board.

Sharlene Brown

Employer

Maritime Authority of Jamaica, in Kingston

Title

Assistant accountant

Member grade

Senior member

Alma mater

University of Technology, Jamaica, in Kingston; Tsinghua University, in Beijing

After earning her master’s degree in public administration in 2017, Brown says, she felt she finally was qualified to join IEEE, so she applied. Membership is open to individuals who, by education or experience, are competent in different fields including management. She was approved the same year.

“When I joined IEEE, I would spend long hours at night reading various operations manuals and policies because I wanted to know what I was getting into,” she says. “I was always learning. That’s how I got to know a lot of things about the organization.”

Brown is now a senior member and an active IEEE volunteer. She founded the Jamaica Section’s Women in Engineering group; established a student branch; sits on several high-level IEEE boards; and ran several successful recruitment campaigns to increase the number of senior members in Jamaica and throughout Region 3.

Brown was also a member of the subcommittee of the global Women in Engineering committee; she served as membership coordinator and ran several successful senior member campaigns, elevating women on the committee and across IEEE.

Brown also was integral in the promotion and follow-up activities for the One IEEE event held in January at the University of Technology, Jamaica. The first-of-its-kind workshop connected more than 200 participants to each other and to the organization by showcasing Jamaica’s active engineering community. The Jamaica Section has 135 IEEE members.

From factory worker to accountant

Brown grew up in Bog Walk, a rural town in the parish of St. Catherine. Because she had low grades in high school, the only job she was able to get after graduating was as a temporary factory worker at the nearby Nestlé plant. She worked as many shifts as she could to help support her family.

“I didn’t mind working,” she says, “because I was making my mark. Anything I do, I am going to be excellent at, whether it’s cleaning the floor or doing office work.” But she had bigger plans than being a factory worker, she says.

A friend told her about a temporary job overseeing exams at the Jamaican Institute of Management, now part of the University of Technology. Brown worked both jobs for a time until the school hired her full time to do administrative work in its accounting department.

One of the perks of working there was free tuition for employees, and Brown took full advantage. She studied information management and computer applications, Jamaican securities, fraud detection, forensic auditing, and supervisory management, earning an associate degree in business administration in 2007. The school hired her in 2002 as an accountant, and she worked there for five years.

In 2007 she joined the Office of the Prime Minister, in Kingston, initially as an officer handling payments to suppliers. Her hard work and positive attitude got her noticed by other managers, she says. After a month she was tapped by the budget department to become a commitment control officer, responsible for allocating and overseeing funding for four of the country’s ministries.

“What I realized through my volunteer work in IEEE is that you’re never alone. There is always somebody to guide you.”

As a young accountant, she didn’t have hands-on experience with budgeting, but she was a quick learner who produced quality work, she says. She learned the budgeting process by helping her colleagues when her work slowed down and during her lunch breaks.

That knowledge gave her the skills she needed to land her current job as an assistant accountant with the budget and management accounts group in the Maritime Authority of Jamaica accounts department, a position she has held since 2013.

While she was working for the Office of the Prime Minister, Brown continued to further her education. She took night courses at the University of Technology and, in 2012, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She majored in accounting and minored in human resources management.

She secured a full scholarship in 2016 from the Chinese government to study public administration in Beijing at Tsinghua University, earning a master’s degree with distinction in 2017.

Brown says she is now ready to shift to a human resources career. Even though she has been supervising people for more than 17 years, though, she is having a hard time finding an HR position, she says.

Still willing to take on challenges, she is increasing her experience by volunteering with an HR consulting firm in Jamaica. To get more formal training, she is currently working on an HR certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Sharlene Brown arranged for the purchase of 350 desk shields for Jamaican schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.Sharlene Brown

Building a vibrant community

After graduating from Tsinghua University, Brown began volunteering for the IEEE Jamaica Section and Region 3.

In 2019 she founded the section’s IEEE Women in Engineering affinity group, which she chaired for three years. She advocated for more women in leadership roles and has run successful campaigns to increase the number of female senior members locally, regionally, and globally across IEEE. She herself was elevated to senior member in 2019.

Brown also got the WIE group more involved in helping the community. One project she is particularly proud of is the purchase of 350 desk shields for Jamaican schools so students could more safely attend classes and examination sessions in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brown was inspired to undertake the project when a student explained on a local news program that his family couldn’t afford Internet for their home, so he was unable to attend classes remotely.

“Every time I watched the video clip, I would cry,” she says. “This young man might be the next engineer, the country’s next minister, or the next professional.

“I’m so happy we were able to get funding from Region 3 and a local organization to provide those shields.”

She established an IEEE student branch at the Caribbean Maritime University, in Kingston. The branch had almost 40 students at the time of formation.

Brown is working to form student branches at other Jamaican universities, and she is attempting to establish an IEEE Power & Energy Society chapter in the section.

She is a member of several IEEE committees including the Election Oversight and Tellers. She serves as chair for the region’s Professional Activities Committee.

“What I realized through my volunteer work in IEEE is that you’re never alone,” she says. “There is always somebody to help guide you. If they don’t know something, they will point you to the person who does.

“Also, you’re allowed to make mistakes,” she says. “In some organizations, if you make a mistake, you might lose your job or have to pay for your error. But IEEE is your professional home, where you learn, grow, and make mistakes.”

On some of the IEEE committees where she serves, she is the only woman of color, but she says she has not faced any discrimination—only respect.

“I feel comfortable and appreciated by the people and the communities I work with,” she says. “That motivates me to continue to do well and to touch lives positively. That’s what makes me so active in serving in IEEE: You’re appreciated and rewarded for your hard work.”

Here's the news: there's a new Mafia game, it's called Mafia: The Old Country, and it's set in 20th century Sicily rather than in America as per the previous three games in the series.

That's about all we know, but hop below and you'll find a trailer.

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