Tag Archives: language|en-US

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 will include Crazy Taxi with a live backing band

Posted on by

It’s almost time again for Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), the zany speedrun-fest for a good cause. The hook for this year’s event is a run of the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi with a live backing band. Funds raised from this year’s showcase will benefit the nonprofit Prevent Cancer Foundation. AGDQ 2025 runs from January 5 to 12 in Pittsburgh.

The live instrumental band rocking out during a Crazy Taxi run sounds like a fun centerpiece. You can check out a preview in the video below, which showed the same band rocking out to a recorded run of the game at Summer Games Done Quick (SGDC) 2024. On Saturday, January 11 at 4:48PM ET, you can catch a fully live version.

Other highlights on the agenda include a run of the instant PlayStation classic Astro Bot on Sunday, January 5 at 6:30PM ET, a speedrun of Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire for 3DS on January 11 at 8:18AM ET and a play-through of the Wii port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the same day at 4PM ET. You can check out the full schedule for more.

Last year’s AGDQ (also in Pittsburgh) raised $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Among its best bits were a no-hit run of Resident Evil 2 (2019), Super Mario 64 completed on an electric drum kit and a pup named Peanut Butter lending a paw to help his person beat the NES classic Gyromite. The Games Done Quick Organization has raised $51.8 million for various charities throughout its 15 years.

You can stream AGDQ 2025 on Twitch. Or, if you want to attend live at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh, you can register now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/awesome-games-done-quick-2025-will-include-crazy-taxi-with-a-live-backing-band-203426032.html?src=rss

Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 will include Crazy Taxi with a live backing band

Posted on by

It’s almost time again for Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), the zany speedrun-fest for a good cause. The hook for this year’s event is a run of the Dreamcast classic Crazy Taxi with a live backing band. Funds raised from this year’s showcase will benefit the nonprofit Prevent Cancer Foundation. AGDQ 2025 runs from January 5 to 12 in Pittsburgh.

The live instrumental band rocking out during a Crazy Taxi run sounds like a fun centerpiece. You can check out a preview in the video below, which showed the same band rocking out to a recorded run of the game at Summer Games Done Quick (SGDC) 2024. On Saturday, January 11 at 4:48PM ET, you can catch a fully live version.

Other highlights on the agenda include a run of the instant PlayStation classic Astro Bot on Sunday, January 5 at 6:30PM ET, a speedrun of Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire for 3DS on January 11 at 8:18AM ET and a play-through of the Wii port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the same day at 4PM ET. You can check out the full schedule for more.

Last year’s AGDQ (also in Pittsburgh) raised $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Among its best bits were a no-hit run of Resident Evil 2 (2019), Super Mario 64 completed on an electric drum kit and a pup named Peanut Butter lending a paw to help his person beat the NES classic Gyromite. The Games Done Quick Organization has raised $51.8 million for various charities throughout its 15 years.

You can stream AGDQ 2025 on Twitch. Or, if you want to attend live at the Wyndham Grand in downtown Pittsburgh, you can register now.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/awesome-games-done-quick-2025-will-include-crazy-taxi-with-a-live-backing-band-203426032.html?src=rss

The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way

Posted on by

There’s a new portable gaming console in town, joining an ever-crowded field. The Ayaneo 3 is the manufacturer’s latest portable device, following last year’s Ayaneo 2S. This Windows-based handheld looks to be an improvement in nearly every major way over its predecessors.

The Ayaneo 3 will be available in a few different versions. Purchasers can choose between two processors, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U. The HX 370 is the more powerful option, offering an “extraordinary handheld gaming experience with AI support.” It’s worth noting that the 8840U should still be able to run plenty of modern games, as the company says it’s a good choice for “gamers who prefer classic powerful performance.”

Folks can also select between two display options. There’s a model with a serviceable 7-inch LCD screen and another with a 7-inch OLED. Portable devices really pop with OLED screens.

A spec sheet.
Ayaneo

Every model boasts a new back button design, to provide for a “richer button combination experience.” The company says the design has been “ergonomically optimized” so human fingers can easily reach those back buttons. There’s also a trigger lock feature, to offer enhanced “control in both popular and retro games.” Otherwise, the front-facing buttons and slanted joystick layout are familiar.

The front-facing speakers have received a refresh here, with Ayaneo promising “immersive audio beyond expectations.” It says they were designed in “deep collaboration with sound specialists” and will offer “low rumble” and “depth and clarity.”

That’s about all we know for now. Ayaneo says it’ll release more information soon, including new features and “more control innovations.” There’s no price yet and no release date.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-ayaneo-3-looks-to-be-an-improvement-in-nearly-every-way-193511618.html?src=rss

The Ayaneo 3 looks to be an improvement in nearly every way

Posted on by

There’s a new portable gaming console in town, joining an ever-crowded field. The Ayaneo 3 is the manufacturer’s latest portable device, following last year’s Ayaneo 2S. This Windows-based handheld looks to be an improvement in nearly every major way over its predecessors.

The Ayaneo 3 will be available in a few different versions. Purchasers can choose between two processors, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Ryzen 7 8840U. The HX 370 is the more powerful option, offering an “extraordinary handheld gaming experience with AI support.” It’s worth noting that the 8840U should still be able to run plenty of modern games, as the company says it’s a good choice for “gamers who prefer classic powerful performance.”

Folks can also select between two display options. There’s a model with a serviceable 7-inch LCD screen and another with a 7-inch OLED. Portable devices really pop with OLED screens.

A spec sheet.
Ayaneo

Every model boasts a new back button design, to provide for a “richer button combination experience.” The company says the design has been “ergonomically optimized” so human fingers can easily reach those back buttons. There’s also a trigger lock feature, to offer enhanced “control in both popular and retro games.” Otherwise, the front-facing buttons and slanted joystick layout are familiar.

The front-facing speakers have received a refresh here, with Ayaneo promising “immersive audio beyond expectations.” It says they were designed in “deep collaboration with sound specialists” and will offer “low rumble” and “depth and clarity.”

That’s about all we know for now. Ayaneo says it’ll release more information soon, including new features and “more control innovations.” There’s no price yet and no release date.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-ayaneo-3-looks-to-be-an-improvement-in-nearly-every-way-193511618.html?src=rss

God of War Ragnarok for PS5 finally lets Kratos solve puzzles in peace

Posted on by

Ghosts of Sparta rejoice, for you can now think in peace without your smart-ass son reminding you how slow-witted you are. The latest patch for the PS5 version of God of War Ragnarok adds the option first seen in the PC port to tone down the boy’s excessive and unsolicited hints when Kratos is contemplating the game’s many puzzles. Stick a sock in it, Atreus.

Game Version 06.00 for PlayStation 5 adds the “reduced puzzle hints” feature. Although Atreus isn’t the title’s only overly helpful companion, he’s Kratos’ most frequent comrade in the award-winning game and therefore the most notorious culprit. Activating the option will pipe down all of your partners’ excessive hints throughout the game, a feature players would’ve loved to have had when Ragnarok arrived two years ago.

The update also includes PS5 Pro enhancements, like a new mode that enables “Favor Quality” while keeping things running at a smooth 60 fps. The patch also lets owners of the new console unlock the framerate when running on variable refresh rate monitors, and the Favor Performance mode gets boosted to match the PS5 Pro’s boosted specs. Finally, it adds support for the AI-fueled PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution as an upscaling option.

On both PS5 tiers, the update also adds a new accessibility option with audio descriptions for all the game’s cinematic scenes. You’ll also find the requisite bug fixes, including remedies for Brok losing his way to the shop in Freyr’s camp (dumbass) and problems related to crafting hilts.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/god-of-war-ragnarok-for-ps5-finally-lets-kratos-solve-puzzles-in-peace-190806687.html?src=rss

God of War Ragnarok for PS5 finally lets Kratos solve puzzles in peace

Posted on by

Ghosts of Sparta rejoice, for you can now think in peace without your smart-ass son reminding you how slow-witted you are. The latest patch for the PS5 version of God of War Ragnarok adds the option first seen in the PC port to tone down the boy’s excessive and unsolicited hints when Kratos is contemplating the game’s many puzzles. Stick a sock in it, Atreus.

Game Version 06.00 for PlayStation 5 adds the “reduced puzzle hints” feature. Although Atreus isn’t the title’s only overly helpful companion, he’s Kratos’ most frequent comrade in the award-winning game and therefore the most notorious culprit. Activating the option will pipe down all of your partners’ excessive hints throughout the game, a feature players would’ve loved to have had when Ragnarok arrived two years ago.

The update also includes PS5 Pro enhancements, like a new mode that enables “Favor Quality” while keeping things running at a smooth 60 fps. The patch also lets owners of the new console unlock the framerate when running on variable refresh rate monitors, and the Favor Performance mode gets boosted to match the PS5 Pro’s boosted specs. Finally, it adds support for the AI-fueled PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution as an upscaling option.

On both PS5 tiers, the update also adds a new accessibility option with audio descriptions for all the game’s cinematic scenes. You’ll also find the requisite bug fixes, including remedies for Brok losing his way to the shop in Freyr’s camp (dumbass) and problems related to crafting hilts.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/god-of-war-ragnarok-for-ps5-finally-lets-kratos-solve-puzzles-in-peace-190806687.html?src=rss

Google Black Friday deals include the Pixel Watch 3 for a new low of $280

Posted on by

The Pixel Watch 3 is on sale in an early Black Friday deal. Not even two full months after Google debuted the smartwatch, it has hit a new record low price of $280. That's a tasty discount of $70. That deal is specifically for the Wi-Fi-only 41mm model, but there's an offer on the 45mm option too. The larger variant can be yours for $330. That's $70 off as well.

Furthermore, you can save on the LTE-enabled versions of both sizes. The cellular variant of the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 has dropped by $100 to $350. As for the 45mm LTE model, that will currently run you $400, which is also a $100 discount.

The Pixel Watch 3 is our pick for the best smartwatch for Android users. It's Google's best Pixel Watch yet. It has a display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen can drop to just 1 nit of brightness while you're asleep (or perhaps at the movies) to help conserve battery life. The smartwatch can run for over 24 hours on a single charge. Handily, the Pixel Watch 3 charges faster than previous models too.

Thanks in part to the help of Fitbit's knowhow, the wearable is a great activity tracker. Functions include detection and custom running plans, along with the ability to track other metrics such as Cardio Load. However, you'll need to stump up for a Fitbit Premium plan to access more in-depth coaching. Some software quirks and slight bulkiness are other drawbacks of the Pixel Watch 3.

Other features include the likes of weather forecasts, calendar alerts and map directions that you can access via Google Assistant voice commands. In the end, we gave the Pixel Watch 3 a score of 84 in our review, with Engadget deputy editor Cherlynn Low calling it a "a serious smartwatch [that's] ready for the competition."

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/google-black-friday-deals-include-the-pixel-watch-3-for-a-new-low-of-280-184803582.html?src=rss

Black Friday deals drop the Google Pixel Watch 3 to $280 on Amazon

Posted on by

Wearables are always a good category of tech to look for during the Black Friday time period, since some of the best once out there typically go on sale. This year in this space, we’re seeing the Google Pixel Watch 3 down to $280, which is a record low. That represents a $70 discount on the 41mm model.

The LTE-enabled version of that size is on sale too, but only if you opt for the matte black aluminum case with an obsidian band. That Pixel Watch 3 model has dropped by 22 percent to $350. 

The Pixel Watch 3 is our pick for the best smartwatch for Android users. It's Google's finest Pixel Watch yet. It has a display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen can drop to just 1 nit of brightness while you're asleep (or perhaps at the movies) to help conserve battery life. The smartwatch can run for over 24 hours on a single charge. Handily, the Pixel Watch 3 charges faster than previous models too.

Thanks in part to the help of Fitbit's knowhow, the wearable is a great activity tracker. Functions include detection and custom running plans, along with the ability to track other metrics such as Cardio Load. However, you'll need to stump up for a Fitbit Premium plan to access more in-depth coaching. Some software quirks and slight bulkiness are other drawbacks of the Pixel Watch 3.

Other features include the likes of weather forecasts, calendar alerts and map directions that you can access via Google Assistant voice commands. In the end, we gave the Pixel Watch 3 a score of 84 in our review, with Engadget deputy editor Cherlynn Low calling it a "a serious smartwatch [that's] ready for the competition."

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-drop-the-google-pixel-watch-3-to-280-on-amazon-183726553.html?src=rss

Black people across the country have been getting racist texts about slave plantations

Posted on by

Black people throughout the country, in more than 20 states, have been getting racist text messages that order them to report to a plantation for slave labor, according to reporting by CNN and numerous other outlets. The texts reference “slave catchers” and “picking cotton,” in addition to warning the recipients that they will be searched upon arrival.

These hate-filled messages have been received by both kids and adults. The “texts appear to be targeting Black and Brown individuals, including students,” New York’s attorney general Letitia James said. Various AG offices from other states have also issued statements.

The texts all come from unknown phone numbers and began ramping after the election on Tuesday. NAACP president Derrick Johnson said that “these messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesday’s election results.”

The mother of a University of Alabama student who received one of the messages said that “it’s eerie that it’s the day after the election. It’s eerie that it came to my daughter’s personal phone. It’s eerie that it’s only going to Black students.”

A spokesperson for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign wrote in a statement that it “has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” The FBI has addressed the situation in a statement, noting that it’s been in “contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.”

It remains unclear who sent the texts and how they did it. The messages targeted people of color, suggesting that the senders had biographical information on the recipients. Many of the messages were sent through TextNow, a free app that provides phone numbers, texting and calling services.

TextNow told CNN that it believes this is a “widespread, coordinated attack.” The service lets people sign up anonymously and sends texts via randomly-generated phone numbers. It says it has been busy “rapidly disabling the related accounts.” The company is also “working alongside our industry partners to uncover more details and continue to monitor patterns to actively block any new accounts attempting to send these messages.”

If you have received one of these horrific texts, lawmakers encourage you to reach out to your state’s AG or email OAGCivilRights@dc.gov. It’s currently unknown how many people have received the messages.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/black-people-across-the-country-have-been-getting-racist-texts-about-slave-plantations-173059798.html?src=rss

Black people across the country have been getting racist texts about slave plantations

Posted on by

Black people throughout the country, in more than 20 states, have been getting racist text messages that order them to report to a plantation for slave labor, according to reporting by CNN and numerous other outlets. The texts reference “slave catchers” and “picking cotton,” in addition to warning the recipients that they will be searched upon arrival.

These hate-filled messages have been received by both kids and adults. The “texts appear to be targeting Black and Brown individuals, including students,” New York’s attorney general Letitia James said. Various AG offices from other states have also issued statements.

The texts all come from unknown phone numbers and began ramping after the election on Tuesday. NAACP president Derrick Johnson said that “these messages represent an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country, who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear that many of us are feeling after Tuesday’s election results.”

The mother of a University of Alabama student who received one of the messages said that “it’s eerie that it’s the day after the election. It’s eerie that it came to my daughter’s personal phone. It’s eerie that it’s only going to Black students.”

A spokesperson for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign wrote in a statement that it “has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” The FBI has addressed the situation in a statement, noting that it’s been in “contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.”

It remains unclear who sent the texts and how they did it. The messages targeted people of color, suggesting that the senders had biographical information on the recipients. Many of the messages were sent through TextNow, a free app that provides phone numbers, texting and calling services.

TextNow told CNN that it believes this is a “widespread, coordinated attack.” The service lets people sign up anonymously and sends texts via randomly-generated phone numbers. It says it has been busy “rapidly disabling the related accounts.” The company is also “working alongside our industry partners to uncover more details and continue to monitor patterns to actively block any new accounts attempting to send these messages.”

If you have received one of these horrific texts, lawmakers encourage you to reach out to your state’s AG or email OAGCivilRights@dc.gov. It’s currently unknown how many people have received the messages.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/black-people-across-the-country-have-been-getting-racist-texts-about-slave-plantations-173059798.html?src=rss