Tag Archives: appeal

Understanding the Appeal of Cozy Games: Where’s My Majestic Cole Mid-Wife Simulator?

Posted on by
Reply

I spent 85 hours immersed in Death Stranding 2 before it hit me: what I was experiencing was an apocalyptic nightmare unfolding on an Earth plagued by a Death Monster. Yet, I found myself treating it as a delightful game. For countless hours, I navigated a photorealistic landscape in a pickup truck, delivering packages to remote communities and constructing new roads. My motivation to complete the main storyline was purely to unlock additional map regions, allowing me to connect with new characters and expand my road network. It felt blissful and entertaining.

I’m far from the only one indulging in games like this. The “Cozy Games” niche has flourished into a vibrant cottage industry over the past five years, featuring countless indie titles that captivate a passionate community. Successful crossovers like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Untitled Goose Game have set the bar high. This month, Steam offers a variety of charming titles including Cat’s Post Office, delightful food truck management sims, and cozy games centered around quaint bookstores. These games typically share common traits: small, often youthful development teams working remotely, brief gameplay sessions, low-stakes challenges, and stylistic visuals that serve both aesthetic and economic purposes.

Yet, it’s curious that we don’t see more luxurious mainstream, Triple A titles despite a clearly established audience for cozy gaming. Major producers like Ubisoft, EA, and Xbox struggle to innovate, opting instead to churn out the next cookie-cutter live service shooter to compete with Fortnite, often wasting millions in the process. I wonder why no one has attempted a grand open-world adventure geared toward positive interactions and gentle drama. The realms of television, film, and literature are brimming with this type of content. Where’s my video game rendition of *Call the Midwife*? Why can’t I ride a bicycle through a 1950s setting? What would be the gaming equivalent of *Downton Abbey* or *Gilmore Girls*?

A frighteningly captivating… untitled geese game. Photo: House House

I recognize the most apparent reason behind this trend. Like Hollywood, mainstream game development focuses heavily on minimizing risk, leading to an industry saturated with action, violence, and power fantasy. However, cultural discussions reveal that cozy gamers appreciate narrative and mechanics over visual fidelity. Moo Yu, Creative Director at Small Studio, mentions, “I think a cozy game of higher budget will certainly be developed. This audience values a broader spectrum of experiences across various price ranges.”

And this is a key point. High-end graphics and expansive worlds aren’t the only worthwhile goals; they represent but one form of immersive experience. Untitled Goose Game wouldn’t hold the same charm if it featured a hyper-realistic environment with a goose rendered in 100,000 texture-mapped polygons. The beauty of *Stardew Valley* lies in its vibrant retro aesthetic. The art’s appeal is not merely in high production value; it’s also about the comfort derived from limitation in both choice and outcomes. The game gently guides you, saying, “Everything will be alright.”

Beyond community authority… Mythmatch. Photo: Team Artichoke

My friend John Cartwright, an experienced game developer who mentors small studios in Australia and New Zealand, shared his thoughts when I reached out. “The cozy game’s market is limited in size, a domain often dominated by small indie teams with constrained budgets. All cozy games share a safe environment with low-stakes gameplay, which has largely remained underdeveloped, especially during the stress of Covid. The simplistic visuals were an added source of comfort and attraction.”

Creating charm is no simple feat. It can’t be manufactured with a new, expensive graphics engine or by having 500 employees working overtime. Just like you can’t establish a high-tech charm center in a desert. In larger productions, charm emerges organically, akin to monumental TV dramas, yet it’s finite and precarious. The entire notion of a cozy game as a defined genre or intentional gameplay element is still relatively nascent. Historically, games have been focused on winning, while elements emphasizing kindness and empathy have yet to be officially recognized. There’s a clever saying that contrasts games and movies: explosions are cheap, yet capturing human emotion through close-ups is a costly endeavor. Given the interactive medium’s historically limited visual naturalism, portraying drama through a date invitation can be more challenging than simply depicting conflict. But we have a century’s worth of animation to showcase how charm, comfort, and emotional closeness can be represented through the most iconic and stylized palettes.

Moo Yu remains optimistic that a cozy, epic, mainstream title will make its way into gaming’s future. He cites the fashion-centric role-playing game Infinity Nikki as an example. Until that time, I’ll continue to feign interest in the issues surrounding chiral contamination and extinction, all for the chance to save the kangaroos, meet the inventors, and traverse the stunning yet irradiated landscapes in my trusty truck. Sometimes you have to play their game to win for yourself.

What to Play

Retro Shooter…Operation Night Striker. Photo: Taito/M2

August has proven to be a fantastic month for retro arcade collections, and we can’t resist recommending one more before we venture back to contemporary titles. Operation Night Striker is a collection of four iconic Taito shooters, effectively blending action film tropes with gaming elements, including the innovative light gun classic, Operation Wolf. It also features its sequel, Thunderbolt operations, as well as two lesser-known gems: the Cyberpunk Flying Car shooter Night Striker and Space Gun, which takes a whimsical approach with its face-hugger and flamethrower. As is usually the case with these collections, new features have been integrated, and gamers playing the Switch version can utilize Joycon as a makeshift light gun. While it may not be highly accurate, it recalls the nostalgia of using the original maggot gun controller from Operation.

These vibrant, fast-paced, and delightfully absurd popcorn games perfectly capture the essence of their era, complete with smooth-scrolling 2D backgrounds, electrifying soundtracks, engaging gameplay loops, and brawny heroes. You’ll be hooked!

Available on: PC, Switch
Estimated playtime: Over 10 hours

What to Read

You have to catch everything… Pikachu. Photo: Pokémon Company

  • In a tale that echoes the antics of Verca Salt, McDonald’s Japan had to cancel a Pokémon promotion due to massive food waste and rampant scalping. According to Eurogamer, an exclusive Pikachu card was offered as part of a limited edition Happy Meal deal, leading fans to queue for hours, resulting in fights and food waste in the streets as scalpers took advantage, listing the cards at inflated prices on auction sites.

  • It’s always enlightening to read Rob Fahey’s Industry Analysis on GamesIndustry.biz. This week, he discusses the fate of PlayStation, scrutinizing how consoles remain profitable despite pitfalls, including the seemingly obligatory shift to live services that have failed to yield meaningful returns.

  • Looking into the future, Xbox has changed the game design landscape over the last 20 years. In an interesting analysis at AV Club, they explore how gamers have responded to the commercialization of gaming and its impact on design.

Skip past newsletter promotions

What to Click

Question Block

Juggernaut on the Horizon…GTA VI. Photo: Rockstar Games

Rich John from Bluesky raised an interesting point:

“Is it beneficial for the industry that a behemoth like GTA VI garners so much media attention and expected revenue? How will this impact other publishers?”

To put it simply, there’s no major gaming company with high hopes for 2026, which will coincide with Rockstar’s highly anticipated release window. As illustrated in a recent industry newsletter, three major Triple A developers have adjusted their timelines, giving it a wide berth, significantly impacting development teams who might have invested years planning for that release slot. This situation can create media and marketing black holes.

However, this isn’t all negative. When GTA V debuted in 2013, it didn’t obliterate every game in its path, as seen with casual mobile games like Puzzle & Dragon and Candy Crush, both of which thrived alongside titles that garnered dedicated fanbases like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. Furthermore, monumental successes like GTA V often spark widespread attention, interest, and potential investments across the entire industry, leading to follow-up titles. Moreover, these giants often introduce innovative design elements to the market, as GTA Online was the pioneering live service experiment.

In essence, it’s beneficial; ripe with potential. While the immediate fallout could be challenging for other studios, as evidenced by GTA V, casual gamers and ardent followers of other franchises are unlikely to abandon their favorites for the latest Rockstar title. Additionally, the ripple effect of a blockbuster’s success opens avenues for future projects. Much like Hollywood post-*Star Wars*, where studios dared to venture into big-budget sci-fi genres, we could see more opportunities presented in the aftermath of such monumental success, even if it’s achieved by competitors.

If you have any burning questions or comments about the newsletter, feel free to reach out at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Instagram Users Claim They Were Banned Without an Appeal Process | Consumer Concerns

Posted on by
Reply

I am a young black entrepreneur and RM leader. His personal and business social media profiles have been deleted by Meta, the parent company of Instagram. There was no notice, no option to appeal, and no explanation given to my understanding. He had successfully established two businesses in clothing design and music events.

Just six days prior to the ban, he sold 1,500 tickets for an electronic dance event in London. Instagram, rather than his website, serves as the main platform for his work. Yet, he was abruptly informed that his content violated Meta’s community guidelines regarding violence and incitement.

His business account boasted 5,700 followers, while his personal account had nearly 4,000 contacts. All were erased without alternative means of contact, leaving him without his entire social and professional network. Retrieving this data is not allowed. IP address His device is inaccessible due to restrictions New account.

In following his work, I’ve yet to see anything violent in his promotional videos, save for toy weapons. His life is being upended by what seems to be an unyielding algorithm.

RP, London

The pivotal role of social media in the lives of young people often confuses older generations who rely on websites and direct contacts.

When I spoke with RM, 21, he shared that the abrupt account closure by Meta, due to vaguely defined infractions, also affected fellow students, resulting in a loss for their burgeoning businesses.

“For my generation, my Instagram profile is not just my sole source of income; it’s part of my identity, making recovery challenging,” he explains. “I wasn’t notified about violating any guidelines. This decision has cost me thousands of pounds in lost sales, which is especially devastating for single parents in the city center.”

RM firmly denies posting any content that could be perceived as violent or inciting harm. His account has been deleted, leaving him unable to clarify.

Instead, I came across an interview with RM on a music website that offered insights into the cyberpunk rave scene he participates in. Some band and song titles might trigger the algorithms.

Terms like drug, sex, and kill are prevalent in various musical genres. It remains unclear which specific lines resulted in RM’s discharge, as Meta has provided no communication to RM or myself, citing “confidentiality.”

While they declined to comment further, a spokesperson indicated that they would not restore RM’s account or provide him with contact details due to a “violation” of the guidelines. There is no avenue for appeal.

Meta, as a commercial entity, has the right to decide its clientele and eliminate harmful content, yet its role as judge, jury, and executioner is concerning given the repercussions of such decisions.

RM can file a Subject Access Request to discover what information Meta holds about him. While this won’t restore his account, it might help him comprehend the basis of the actions taken against him. Should Meta refuse to comply, he can reach out to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

He has created a new account and purchased a laptop to begin the process of rebuilding. I advise him (and others) to regularly back up contacts and not solely rely on companies that offer opaque administrative practices.

Meta currently faces scrutiny for enforcing widespread bans on users via algorithms on Facebook and Instagram. A petition has garnered over 25,000 signatures, advocating for human intervention.

Locked out of Facebook

em West Sussex hit a digital dead end after being locked out of her Facebook account when hackers changed her password, email address, and phone number. She states that Facebook’s automated system provided a lengthy set of instructions when she sought guidance to regain access from the hackers. Subsequently, the hackers switched her account from private to public, exposing her sensitive personal information.

Upon seeking help from Facebook, her newly established account was permanently closed. “It’s impossible to find someone to communicate with via email, chat, or phone,” she laments. “On a positive note, I enjoy the absence of Facebook noise in my life, though it felt like having my arm amputated!”

Meta did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The “Juliana” climate case denied appeal by Supreme Court

Posted on by
Reply

The Supreme Court on Monday concluded its 10-year journey through the court, refusing to hear appeals in a groundbreaking climate case brought to the federal government by 21 young people.

However, the case provided a blueprint for many other climate-related lawsuits that have achieved greater success.

Juliana v. the United States alleged that the government violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights with policies that encourage the use of fossil fuels. However, it was dismissed by the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit, and the judge ruled that the court was not the right place to deal with climate change.

“In fact, the impressive case of plaintiff relief must be presented to the political sector of the government,” wrote Judge Andrew D. Harwitz. Opinions for 2020.

The nonprofit law firm in Eugene, Oregon, which represents the plaintiffs, filed the final legal gambit in a lawsuit last year. Last year, she threw the Supreme Court’s decision back on the Court of Appeals and asked Juliana to go to trial in a lower court. The petition was rejected Monday.

Some observers also thought it was risky to ask the Supreme Court to consider appeals, given concerns that conservative courts might use the case to abandon long-standing environmental protections.

The plaintiff in the case is Kelsey Cascadia Rose Juliana, a now 29-year-old Oregon teacher, the environmentalist and longtime climate activist daughter. The story of how she became involved in the lawsuit was documented in the documentary “Youthv. Gov.”

Juliana’s legal framework has since been replicated in numerous lawsuits and legal actions across the country. And last year, our child’s trust, which submitted many cases, recorded two notable victories.

The group has reached a settlement between Navahine v. Hawaii Department. There, the state agreed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas that warms the planet from its transport system within 20 years. And that’s a hold v. We won in Montana. There, the judge ruled that the state must consider climate change when approving a fossil fuel project. The Court of Appeals upheld the decision in December.

The plaintiff named in that case led to the decision to take part in the case as 23-year-old Ricky grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana and saw the effects of climate change firsthand. She is currently a science educator through the Peace Corps of Kenya.

On Monday, she said the Juliana incident paved the way for her. “Juliana left an indelible mark on the climate lawsuit landscape through the unwavering dedication of the plaintiffs and legal team,” she said.

Julia Olson, founder of Our Children’s Trust, had asked the Biden administration to discuss the settlement in the Juliana case. She said on Monday that Juliana “littles a legal movement.”

However, Justice Department lawyers argued that the court was not set up correctly to address climate change as judges were unable to order or enforce “viable relief” on the matter.

Some experts also raised concerns about the organization’s strategy in the Supreme Court, focusing on the risk that a conservative vast majority of courts could adopt Juliana’s case as a way to rethink legal precedents that will take root in environmental protection.

In an interview last year, Vermont law and graduate environmental law expert Patrick Derprue said: “If you need an answer to this question, you probably don’t like the answer you’re trying to get.”

However, he added that he still praises the efforts of the youth and their lawyers.

Olson said environmentalists should not move away from the courts. “If we don’t show up, don’t advance our claims, don’t shed light on injustice, then other forces will always win,” she said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

UK Minister Acknowledges TikTok’s Appeal Yet Expresses ‘Genuine Concerns’

Posted on by
Reply

TikTok’s ability to provide “uplifting” content and its impact on UK-China relations have raised concerns for the UK government regarding the use of data of millions of Britons, according to the technology secretary. The acceptance of video apps is being shaped by these concerns, the secretary stated.

After a US court upheld legislation that could potentially result in TikTok being banned or sold in the US, Peter Kyle expressed his worries about the platform’s data usage in relation to ownership models. “I am genuinely concerned about their use of data in relation to ownership models,” he told the Guardian.

However, following President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily suspending the US ban for 75 days, Kyle referred to TikTok as a “desirable product” that enables young people to embrace different cultures and ideologies freely. He emphasized the importance of exploring new things and finding the right balance between the euphoria TikTok offers and potential concerns about Chinese propaganda.

A recent study from Rutgers University indicated that heavy users of TikTok in the US demonstrated an increase in pro-China attitudes by around 50%. There are fears that the Chinese government could access the data collected by the app. TikTok claimed to use moderation algorithms to remove content related to alleged abuses by the Chinese Communist Party and the suppression of anti-China material.

The study concluded that TikTok’s content aligns with the Chinese Communist Party’s goal of shaping favorable perceptions among young viewers, potentially influencing users through psychological manipulation. It described TikTok as a “flawed experiment.”

In response to these findings, Kyle urged caution when using TikTok, highlighting the presence of bias in editorial decisions made by various platforms and broadcasters. He emphasized the government’s commitment to monitoring social media trends and taking action if necessary to safeguard national security.

When asked about concerns regarding TikTok as a propaganda tool, Kyle stated that any actions taken by the government would be made public. He also mentioned being mindful of China’s relationships with other countries, clarifying that his comments were not specifically directed at China.

Regarding the ban on TikTok in the US, Kyle noted the potential risks associated with using the Chinese version of the app, which could involve data collection and the dissemination of propaganda. He expressed concerns about the implications of such actions.

Skip past newsletter promotions

A representative from TikTok emphasized that the UK app is operated by a UK-registered and regulated company, investing £10bn to ensure user data protection in the UK and Europe through independent monitoring and verification of data security.

The Chinese government stated that it does not hold shares or ownership in ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, which is majority-owned by foreign investors. The founder, Zhang Yiming, owns 20% of the company.

In 2018, Mr. Zhang posted a “self-confession” announcing the shutdown of an app due to content conflicting with core socialist values and failing to guide public opinion properly. Following criticism on state television, he acknowledged corporate weaknesses and the need for a better understanding and implementation of political theories promoted by Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping.

Source: www.theguardian.com

TikTok’s Final Bid to Overcome Anti-Sale Laws: Supreme Court Appeal | TikTok

Posted on by
Reply

TikTok made a last-ditch effort to continue operating in the U.S. on Monday, as it passed a temporary law requiring its China-based parent company ByteDance to sell the popular app by January 19. The U.S. Supreme Court was asked to intervene and prevent a ban from taking effect.

Both TikTok and ByteDance have filed emergency requests with a judge to block the impending ban on the social media app, which is used by approximately 170 million Americans. They are appealing a lower court ruling that upheld the law. Additionally, a group of U.S. users of the app filed a similar request on Monday.

The law, passed by Congress in April, was based on concerns raised by the Justice Department regarding TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The department alleges that as a Chinese company, TikTok could access and manipulate vast amounts of data on U.S. users, endangering national security. The ban is aimed at addressing these security threats.

TikTok and ByteDance argued in their Supreme Court filing that Americans should have the freedom to choose whether or not to use the app, without government interference. They criticized the law’s potential impact on freedom of speech and expressed concerns about the future implications if the law is upheld.

If TikTok is shut down even for a month, the companies estimate that they would lose a significant portion of their U.S. user base, affecting their ability to attract advertisers and content creators. The companies stress TikTok’s importance as a speech platform in the U.S. and argue that delaying enforcement of the ban would allow for further legal review.

Despite previous attempts to ban TikTok, President Donald Trump has signaled a shift in his stance and expressed interest in saving the app. He met with TikTok’s CEO and has indicated that his administration will evaluate the law’s legality. The companies emphasize the abrupt impact the ban would have, particularly on the eve of the presidential inauguration.

The companies urged the Supreme Court for a ruling that would allow them to manage the shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. if necessary, and to coordinate with service providers within a set deadline under the law. The escalating tensions between China and the U.S. add further complexity to the dispute.

Skip past newsletter promotions

TikTok has vehemently denied any sharing of U.S. user data and accused U.S. lawmakers of creating unfounded concerns. The company emphasizes the importance of protecting free speech and the potential implications of restricting access to the platform.

In a statement following the lawsuit, TikTok’s spokesman Michael Hughes reiterated the need for the courts to closely scrutinize any restrictions on speech, particularly in cases involving foreign ownership. The ongoing legal battle underscores the complexities of balancing national security concerns with free speech rights.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Increasing access and appeal to the mega-settlement of the Trypilian culture

Posted on by
Reply

Archeology has a long history of utilizing various philosophies and philosophical concepts. One common criticism is that theoretical debates often have little impact on actual archaeological research and interpretation. In a recent interdisciplinary study, archaeologists and philosophers from Kiel University applied the “capability approach” to the large settlements of the Trypylian culture (5050 BC to 2950 BC).

Reconstruction of Trypillia’s house. Image credit: Susanne Beyer, Keele University.

The Trypilian culture emerged in Ukraine in the 5th millennium BC and extended into modern-day Romania, Moldova, and the Dnieper River region.

Known for its large ring-shaped settlements and high-quality pottery, the culture had a matrilineal society where women led households and engaged in various crafts.

Dr. Vesa Arponen from Kiel University noted the link between archaeological categories and the United Nations Human Development Index, allowing connections between the past and present.

The “capability approach,” developed by Amartya Sen, focuses on well-being beyond material possessions and influences the United Nations Human Development Index.

Applying this approach to ancient societies presents unique challenges, as Dr. René Ohrlau emphasized the need to understand the dynamic activities behind material remains.

The researchers used an analytical scheme to relate archaeological categories to the UN Human Development Index, revealing insights into societal development and innovation.

The study highlighted the social equality and opportunities for active participation in Trypilia, challenging previous notions of climate change and population growth as drivers of innovation.

The team’s paper was published in the journal open archeology, shedding light on the role of philosophy in shaping archaeological interpretations.

_____

V. Alponen others. 2024. Ability approaches and archaeological interpretations of transformation: On the role of philosophy in archaeology. open archeology 10(1): 20240013;doi: 10.1515/opar-2024-0013

Source: www.sci.news

The Enduring Appeal of Candy Crush: What Keeps Millions Hooked

Posted on by
Reply

a Many of us were once obsessed with our smartphones. In the early days of Android and iPhone, apps seemed designed to entertain us. In 2010, you could shell out a few pounds on the App Store and within minutes be playing a cutesy bird game or frolicking with a lightsaber. Social media apps designed for phones let you post artsy, casual photos and send hearts to your friends in just a few taps. That used to be fun.

But over time, it became a toxic relationship. The fun was taken out of it all. Social media turned into a hellish place designed to trap and anger us. just My friends are posting too much, and rather than actually quitting the platform, I’m prioritizing Twitter ads and algorithmic videos. Twitter used to be full of jokes and cat memes, but now it’s… well, X. I know I’m not the only one who has completely deleted Twitter from my phone. My experience of using apps, my phone, and the internet in general has deteriorated significantly. The same can be said for mobile games. Now most games provide me with around 83 seconds of entertainment before forcing me to pay a £7.99 monthly subscription fee or showing me nasty, misleading ads that I can’t look away from.

And all that time, Candy Crush has been around. Released first on Facebook in 2012 and on mobile phones soon after, the game existed during a booming era of mobile gaming, when the iPhone was becoming the new creative frontier for game developers around the world, bringing new bite-sized chunks of gaming joy every week. It exploded in popularity around 2014, when it seemed like everyone was playing it on their phone, and hundreds of articles were written about how fun, addictive, and bad it was. And it’s still around, and it’s one of the most popular and profitable games of all time.




One of the latest ads for Candy Crush encourages players to “swipe to relieve stress.”

Swedish manufacturer King was sold to Activision Blizzard for $5.9 billion in 2016, and Microsoft acquired the entire group for $70 billion last year. In 2024, a staggering 200 million people will still be playing Candy Crush every month, double the number in 2014. The game’s cumulative revenue exceeds $20 billion.

How has Candy Crush survived? It’s not because it has changed with the times. On the surface, Candy Crush is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago: a free-to-play game where you swap colorful candies to make satisfying lines of three, then the candies disappear and more candies flow into the level until you’re satisfied. But behind the scenes, Candy Crush has undergone a huge improvement. how Candy Crush is done. It’s still free to play, and while only a small percentage of people pay for power-ups, extra time, and levels, it’s now also supported by advertising.

During a visit to King’s Stockholm offices, full of candy-colored recreation rooms, breakout spaces and ample dining options, it all felt eerily empty because of the pandemic, I learned that King has transformed itself from a social mobile-game developer into a behavioral-science company. Its 200 million players generate a ton of data about how and why people play, what makes them keep playing or close the app. That data is King’s most valuable asset; as with any social-media company, the actual product is secondary.

One way to leverage that data in 2024 is to train AI to develop new levels for King’s games, Candy Crush and Farm Heroes. AI head Luka Crnkovic-Friis argues that it should be developed alongside human designers, not instead of them. He explained how a human designer can create a candy-matching level and then press a button to have the AI ​​test it against a model of player behavior to see if it’s too hard, too tedious or too easy. This saves designers a ton of time by not having to test levels with real players before iterating. King’s designers publish 45 new levels every week, totaling more than 17,000, with millions of dollars spent to ensure each one is optimally satisfying.

Skip Newsletter Promotions



“For many players, it becomes part of their daily routine,” said Eva Lyot, Head of Gameplay for King’s Candy Crush Saga. Photo: King

The data also tells King’s designers that millions of players have been playing for years. “We take great pride in having a really high-quality game. That’s how we retain our player base,” says Eva Lyot, head of gameplay for Candy Crush, who joined King as a data scientist in 2013. “They enjoy the game, and for many of our players it’s part of their daily routine. It’s part of their rest and relaxation. Many play multiple times a day, some once a day. We’ve been listening to our players’ needs and wants, making small tweaks and big expansions. That combination keeps people hooked on the game. We want to always be the best quality match-3 game.”

Squeezing players won’t keep them around for very long. One of the reasons Candy Crush has lasted so long is that it doesn’t use the high-pressure monetization (“Buy this virtual jacket before it’s taken away tomorrow!”) or low-quality ads that are so prevalent in mobile games in general. “We definitely don’t want to frustrate players and make them want to quit,” says Trevor Burrows, head of Farm Heroes Saga. “Our goal is to get people into the game and keep them there, so we want to avoid misleading ads, for example. We design our games so that you don’t even need to spend money or watch an ad. It’s the King principle of as little friction as possible.”

The game is so over-optimized that people just can’t get enough of it. In fact, King tried to make a sequel, Candy Crush Saga Soda, in 2014, but too many people kept playing the original, so it became a companion game instead. The game is still running today, boasting its own player base and billions of dollars in revenue, and will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary.




“It’s great to start your day by winning something” …Paula Ingvar, Head of Candy Crush: Soda Saga at King. Photo: King

Paula Engvall, head of Soda Saga, has a different opinion on why people can’t stop playing Candy Crush: in a world full of constant demands, Candy Crush simply doesn’t demand as much. “My personal hypothesis, which is pretty hard to prove, is that Candy Crush is part of our daily routine,” she says. “It doesn’t interfere with or compete with anything else that’s important in life. It fits into a little bit of time in the day. And solving small problems is something uniquely interesting for humans. It’s nice to start the day by winning something… The latest research on mental health suggests that achieving small things prepares you to tackle bigger things.”

Maybe people play Candy Crush for the same reasons people do Sudoku or crossword puzzles at breakfast, the same reasons people still play Wardle every day: It’s a little win that gets you set for the day, a few minutes of stress-free fun. It doesn’t take over your life or empty your wallet. Unlike doom-scrolling on a social media app, it doesn’t put you in a bad mood. It’s playing the long game, just like its most longtime customers.

“We’ve seen a lot of mobile game strategies rely on virality, squeezing as much as we can out of players, and then it’s game over,” says Ingvar. “That’s not the strategy with Candy Crush. There’s never been a difficulty barrier or pressure to monetize. We don’t have to follow every twist and turn of the market. We have a very loyal player base, and we can count on their loyalty as long as we don’t screw up and give them a reason to leave.”

Keza MacDonald conducted these interviews in King’s offices in Stockholm, with travel expenses covered by King.

Source: www.theguardian.com

US Justice Department advises court to dismiss TikTok’s appeal

Posted on by
Reply

The Department of Justice has requested an appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a law that mandates China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19 or risk a ban.

TikTok, along with its parent company ByteDance and a group of TikTok creators, have filed lawsuits to oppose the legislation that could potentially ban the app used by 170 million Americans.

According to a senior Justice Department official, the government will provide classified documents to the court which will outline additional security concerns regarding ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok, along with statements from the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Justice Department’s national security division.


The department is expected to argue that Chinese-owned TikTok poses a significant national security risk to the United States due to its access to vast amounts of personal data on American citizens, enabling China to manipulate information used by Americans through the app covertly.

President Joe Biden signed the law on April 24, giving TikTok and ByteDance until January 19 to separate or face a ban. The White House’s stance is to end Chinese ownership for national security reasons without banning TikTok.

The department clarified that the law is aimed at addressing national security concerns rather than speech issues and intends to address China’s potential misuse of TikTok to access sensitive personal information of Americans. It denies all arguments put forth by TikTok, including claims that the law violates the free speech rights under the First Amendment of Americans using the video app.

The government plans to accuse TikTok of insufficiently safeguarding the data of its U.S. users.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is set to hear oral arguments on September 16, placing TikTok’s fate in the midst of the final week of the 2024 presidential election.

Despite previously signing an executive order threatening to ban the app, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated in an interview in June that he would not support a ban. Additionally, US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president, recently joined TikTok.

The law would prevent app stores like Apple and Google from offering TikTok and prohibit internet hosting services from supporting it unless it is divested by ByteDance.

The bill received strong support from the US Congress amid concerns expressed by lawmakers that China might exploit the app to gain access to Americans’ data for spying purposes.

Reuters

Source: www.theguardian.com

Auramax: Enhancing Sexual Appeal or Draining Energy? | Psychological Perspectives

Posted on by
Reply

name: Auramax.

Year: The word “aura” comes from Latin and Ancient Greek and originally meant a gentle breeze. Today it’s more commonly used to describe the subtle, pervasive quality that emanates from someone, which is exactly what we’re talking about here.

And Auramax? It’s new. It’s similar to looksmaxxing, but…

Hold on, what is looksmaxxing? For example, exercising or making cat noises will help you maximize your physical attractiveness…

Are you meowing like a cat? In practice, this means pushing the tongue up in the mouth to improve the jaw and facial structure.

What happens if I get tetanus? It’s a shame, but it’s worth it. Anyway, Auramax is the same kind of idea, but aimed at improving your energy and overall presence.

And where is this aura?Is amaxxing happening? Mainly TikTok, However, other platforms are available.

What should I do? You could also learn from 18-year-old Canadian content creator, Frankie Mekhi. Share your aura upgrade It has 250,000 followers.

It 250,001. Frankie’s number one rule is “Don’t try to emulate someone else’s aura. It has to come from within, it has to be authentic.”

[Takes notes: writes “within” and “authentic”] Second rule: No barking.

Don’t bark? Don’t talk too much!

[Zips mouth closed] Next, you need to find your purpose.

[Trying to talk with mouth closed] it is In capital letters? That’s correct. Also, people with auras have achieved great things in some way.

Hmm, that might be difficult. Maybe your aura score has dropped too quickly. Aura scores are interesting because they actually happen on TikTok, where users are giving and taking away aura points from other users.

How does scoring work? Well, doing something impressive like having other friends with auras might give you points, or it might cost you points…

Bark? Possibly, but Susanna Merrick says there is no such thing as a premium aura level.

Who is Susanna Merrick?? A New York-based aura stylist. “People don’t need to know who they are.” she told The Cut. “They need to discover who they are.”

I would like to know, is Auramax mainly for men? Mekhi said his audience is primarily young men, but The Cut reported that young women are also joining the conversation about Auramax, but in a different way.

What’s the difference? Instead of trying to exude presence, ask how many aura points you might lose because of how you acted during a difficult experience. Bullying or sorrow.

please tell me: “Or you can just be yourself and not worry about how much of a person you are or how other people perceive you.”

Do not say: “You either get it or you don’t. And if you try too hard to get it, you definitely won’t get it, brother.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Samsung Places Large Bet on AI Features to Enhance Appeal of Galaxy S24

Posted on by
Reply

In an attempt to ignite fading consumer interest, Samsung is heavily emphasizing AI technology for its latest premium S24 Android phone. This includes instant phone translation, new Google search, and advanced image and video editing features.

The Galaxy S24 series was announced at an event in California and is led by the largest and most expensive titanium-clad Ultra. It features the latest Qualcomm chip, brightest screen and most powerful camera. However, in a change for the dominant Korean company, hardware updates are taking a backseat to flashy features that leverage the new Galaxy AI branding.

Many of its additions, including the use of the Android maker’s Gemini AI model, keep it competitive with products such as Google’s Pixel series. Samsung’s new Live Translate feature enables real-time two-way phone, voice, and text conversations between 13 different languages, similar to what Google Translate offers, and its “Chat Assist” allows for simple spelling. Additionally, it helps ensure message tone and grammar are appropriate.

Display with a variety of Samsung smartphones with AI-powered features. Photo: Jennifer Dudley Nicholson/AAP

The phone’s video and photo editing features are packed with generative AI technology, including regular object, background removal, and image retouching. The AI can create instant slow-motion videos from regular videos by generating additional frames that slow down the action. Samsung’s image editor will add watermarks and metadata to AI-altered content, a move widely welcomed by analysts.

Ben Wood, principal analyst at CCS Insight, said: “The Galaxy S24 series of devices, along with Google’s Pixel series, mark the dawn of the consumerization of AI in smartphones. This means that all smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, are adding AI-powered features to their new devices.”

Google has partnered with Samsung to bring new ways for Google to: Search by circle, which will launch on January 31st on select Android devices including the S24 and Pixel 8 series. Users simply press the home button or gesture bar, circle what they want to search for on the screen, and Google’s AI does the rest.

Samsung has also partnered with Google to provide seven years of software support to help users use their new phone for longer and more safely. The S24’s construction includes a wider variety of designs to soften its impact on the environment, using tons of recycled materials.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Photo: Jennifer Dudley Nicholson/AAP

Samsung is aiming to boost mobile phone sales through its AI efforts, as it recently lost its top spot in the mobile phone market to Apple for the first time in 12 years. Analysts believe Samsung’s sales growth will depend largely on its ability to effectively market its mobile phone to raise awareness and break consumer apathy.

Samsung has a nine-month window to regain leadership in the premium segment, especially in its biggest markets, the US and China, before the expected launch of Apple’s next-generation iPhone in September.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The impact of daily songs on the appeal of songbirds

Posted on by
Reply

Every Christmas season, it becomes clear once again that there are amazingly accomplished singers like Mariah Carey and George Michael. Their songs stir strong emotions. Singing involves perhaps the most complex and mostly hidden movements that humans and animals can perform. To become a good singer, you need to learn how to coordinate the movements of hundreds of muscles in your body with great precision. Therefore, it requires a lot of talent and practice.

Voice box training: unexplored territory We all know that athletes spend a lot of time exercising their limbs and body muscles, but why not try training your voice box muscles? “Surprisingly, little is known about the effects of exercise on these muscles or whether they respond to training in humans,” said Professor Koen Elemans of the University of Southern Denmark, an expert in sound production. says. Close to their precious voice box.

This study found that male songbirds require daily singing practice to improve vocal muscle health and song quality. This is an important factor in attracting mates and maintaining social bonds.

Insights from Songbirds

New research published today (December 12th) in a prestigious journal nature communications Male songbirds report that they need to sing daily to strengthen their vocal muscles and produce beautiful songs. And if the female didn’t notice, she notices. “Singing is extremely important for songbirds. They sing to impress potential partners, protect their territory, and maintain social bonds,” said Iris, lead author of the study. Dr. Adam says.

Researchers have shown that songbirds’ vocal muscles require training to keep them at peak performance. And it’s not just training; what’s especially important is singing practice. The study was carried out by an international team of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark, Leiden University, Umeå University and the University of Vermont, and led by Assistant Professor Iris Adam and Professor Koen Elemans from the Department of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark. .

Vocal muscles also need exercise
“It has long been known that songbird calls are controlled by fast vocal muscles, but it remains to be seen whether and how these muscles respond to exercise, similar to leg muscles. “Until now, we knew very little about it,” says Iris Adam. In their study, the researchers showed that when songbirds don’t use their vocal muscles at all, their voices become significantly slower and weaker within a few days. But even if the bird only made a mumble, after seven days the vocal muscles had already lost 50% of their power.

Therefore, in order for songbirds to remain attractive, they may need to invest a lot of time and energy into singing every day.

Unique features of the vocal muscles While studying the vocal muscles of zebra finches, the research team made another very important discovery. “When we go to the gym to work out our leg and arm muscles, we typically slow down our movements,” said study author Pell Stoll, an expert in human muscle exercise physiology. To tell. But songbird vocal muscles, like the muscles in their limbs, don’t get stronger or slower with exercise, they get weaker and faster. This is the opposite of normal limb and body muscles. “We think this reverse training may be unique to the vocal muscles and may be true for everyone.” vertebrateBecause all vocal muscles are developmentally related, ”says Iris Adam.

Source: scitechdaily.com