#Web Design Manhattan

[agilemedia]

How a NYC Website Design Company Can Transform Your Business?

Table of Contents Introduction The Power of an Effective Website Design Finding the Right Website Design Company in NYC 3.1. Assessing Your Business Needs 3.2. Researching NYC Website Design Companies 3.3. Checking Portfolio and Client Testimonials 3.4. Understanding Pricing and Packages The Transformational Impact of Agile Media Work 4.1. Tailored Website Design Solutions 4.2. Enhancing User Experience (UX) 4.3. Leveraging Responsive Design for Mobile Users 4.4. SEO Strategies for Increased Visibility 4.5. Integrating E-commerce Functionality Success Stories: NYC Businesses Transformed by Agile Media Work 5.1. Client A: From Local to Global Reach 5.2. Client B: Skyrocketing Sales with E-commerce 5.3. Client C: Establishing Authority in the Industry Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 6.1. What sets Agile Media Work apart from other NYC website design companies? 6.2. How long does it usually take for Agile Media Work to complete a website project? 6.3. Can Agile Media Work optimize my existing website for better search engine rankings? 6.4. Does Agile Media Work offer ongoing website maintenance services? 6.5. How can I request a quote or get in touch with Agile Media Work?

Introduction

A well-designed website can be a game-changer, helping you attract, engage, and convert potential customers. When it comes to transforming your business through a captivating online platform, partnering with a reputable website design company is paramount.

The Power of an Effective Website Design

Your website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your brand. It's your digital storefront and a reflection of your professionalism. An effective website design can make a lasting impression, instill trust, and encourage visitors to take action. On the other hand, a poorly designed website can drive potential customers away and harm your reputation.

Finding the Right Website Design Company in NYC

Selecting the right website design company is a crucial decision that can determine the success of your online venture. Here are some necessary steps to guide you through the process:

3.1. Assessing Your Business Needs

Before embarking on the search for a website design company, assess your business needs and objectives. Determine what features and functionalities your website requires to align with your goals.

3.2. Researching NYC Website Design Companies

Do your research and compile a list of website design companies in NYC. Look for agencies with a proven track record and a diverse portfolio of successful projects.

3.3. Checking Portfolio and Client Testimonials

Review the portfolios of potential companies to ensure their design style matches your vision. Additionally, check client testimonials and reviews to gauge their level of client satisfaction.

3.4. Understanding Pricing and Packages

Get a clear understanding of the pricing and packages offered by different website design companies. Remember that quality and expertise often justify a higher investment.

The Transformational Impact of Agile Media Work

Agile Media Work, a leading website design company in NYC, has been transforming businesses through cutting-edge web design solutions. Here's how they can revolutionize your online presence:

4.1. Tailored Website Design Solutions

Agile Media Work understands that one size does not fit all. They tailor their website design solutions to match the unique needs and branding of your business.

4.2. Enhancing User Experience

A seamless user experience is paramount for visitor retention and conversion. Agile Media Work creates intuitive and user-friendly websites that keep visitors engaged.

4.3. Leveraging Responsive Design for Mobile Users

With the majority of internet users browsing on mobile devices, Agile Media Work ensures that your website looks and functions flawlessly across all screen sizes.

4.4. SEO Strategies for Increased Visibility

Agile Media Work incorporates search engine optimization (SEO) techniques into your website to improve its visibility on search engines and drive organic traffic.

4.5. Integrating E-commerce Functionality

If you run an online store, Agile Media Work can integrate secure and efficient e-commerce functionalities to enhance the shopping experience for your customers.

Success Stories: NYC Businesses Transformed by Agile Media Work

Let the results speak for themselves. Here are some success stories of businesses that witnessed remarkable growth after partnering with Agile Media Work:

5.1. Client A: From Local to Global Reach

Client A, a local boutique, expanded its reach globally with a beautifully designed website that captured the essence of their brand.

5.2. Client B: Skyrocketing Sales with E-commerce

Client B's online sales skyrocketed after Agile Media Work optimized their website with seamless e-commerce features.

5.3. Client C: Establishing Authority in the Industry

Client C became an industry authority with a professionally designed website that positioned them as experts in their field.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

6.1. What sets Agile Media Work apart from other NYC website design companies?

Agile Media Work stands out due to its personalized approach, creative solutions, and dedication to customer satisfaction.

6.2. How long does it usually take for Agile Media Work to complete a website project? The time frame varies depending on the complexity of the project, but Agile Media Work ensures efficient and timely delivery.

6.3. Can Agile Media Work optimize my existing website for better search engine rankings? Absolutely! Agile Media Work offers website optimization services to boost your search engine rankings and overall online visibility.

6.4. Does Agile Media Work offer ongoing website maintenance services? Yes, Agile Media Work provides ongoing maintenance and support to ensure your website functions optimally at all times.

6.5. How can I request a quote or get in touch with Agile Media Work? You can easily request a quote or contact Agile Media Work through their website or by reaching out via phone or email.

In conclusion, partnering with a reputable NYC website design company like Agile Media Work can truly transform your business by providing an engaging online platform that drives growth and success. Take the first step towards a digital transformation today! For more information visit our website agilemediawork.com

[m8-group]

Premier Web Design & Marketing Agency in Miami | M8 Group

Elevate your online presence with Miami's top web design & marketing agency. Offering website design in Miami, WordPress web design in NYC, and digital services. Visit us at M8-group.com.

[iemconfused]

some, definitely not all, of my favorite spider-verse bits/details (most if not all of these have been pointed out to me by other people or i’ve seen someplace on the internet, in the interest of giving credit where credit is due):

- “yeah, i think it’s a banksy”

- the foam party coffee shop opening in itsv, then in atsv miles & the spot go to foam party from the car wash bringing in a bunch of soapy foam with them

- miles not knowing what comic con is in both movies

- “sunflower” playing in different languages throughout the spider-verse in atsv

- mayday doing stuff for herself, sometimes with the web-shooter (taking her first chase selfie, hanging upside down & pointing out to gwen, pulling down her beanie (MIND YOU THIS CHILD IS AT MOST 7 MONTHS OLD))

- hobie calling gwen “gwendy” and miles “peter pan”

- how natural and realistic jeff and rio are as parents and as a couple in general

- miles in itsv and jeff in atsv going down the stairs instead of taking a big jump

- just the thinking ahead of ‘BAGEL!’ in itsv

- double meanings and doubling in general in atsv (miles “unless you bake two cakes”, chai tea, naan bread, miles 1610 and miles 42, pav “i can do both”, gwen “i was doing both”, etc)

- miles saying “i’m spider-man, i’m not grounded” when he goes to his room, but hesitating when gwen says “bummer. is spider-man grounded?”

- gwen trans colors :D

- [EDIT: this one isn’t true- it would’ve been cool for storytelling so i’m sad but it’s ok] miles and gwen having the conversation that they did at the williamsburg bank building, which (according to somebody on the internet) is where gwen fell in tasm2

- ALL of the variants in spider society <3

- mumbattan = mumbai + manhattan

- hobie turning different colors around different people

- when people get electrocuted, their nervous systems light up instead of their bones

- peter b taking care of himself before coming back to mj in itsv

- character designs reflecting their voice actors

there are so many more things, especially because it’s been a while since i’ve gone back through itsv. but i love the spider-verse so damn much. it’s wonderful and i have nothing but respect and awe for everyone involved in the creation of it

[aloevhello]

Nueva York in ATSV Script

1. Nueva York

Nueva York’s art style is inspired by the work of Syd Mead, a neo-futurist concept artist who often portrayed utopian designs of streamlined urban settings. The ATSV art book also cites other artists from the 70’s and 80’s, such as John Berkeley, John Harris, and John Bell, adding to the retro futuristic look of the city.

The city being reminiscent of Mead’s sketchbook is shown through the sketch lines presented in its architecture to Miguel himself, creating the image of an unfinished world. This style likely reflects Mead’s work in concept design, the idea of the future being susceptible to change, and Miguel’s 1992 comic run being cancelled and in turn his story being left unfinished.

The script also describes Nueva York as being bilingual, which is exemplified later in ATSV when Miguel speaks to Miles fluently in Spanish. This indicates that Spanish is at least a secondary language used in Nueva York, along with the city having a high Spanish speaking population.

The foyer is described as brutalist, an architectural style that emphasizes functionality and structural elements, along with giving a cold and imposing impression. Brutalist structures are often used for utilitarian purposes, which works in tandem with Miguel’s philosophy of utilitarianism regarding canon events.

2a. Downtown

Syd Mead is also known for his darker cyberpunk designs found in films like Blade Runner (1982), which inspired the look for the underground portion of Nueva York; a fitting choice since the comics portray this section of the city being riddled with crime. The use of one main artist to present the utopian and dystopian aspects of Nueva York allows for a visual connection between these disparate parts of the city.

Considering the pistons in this scene, one questions what kind of function they serve for the city? What if the industrial aspect of the city’s underground is focused on providing an energy source that fuels the upper level of Nueva York? What if these pistons are meant to help fuel the city’s lower level?

It’s also interesting to note the script’s use of the word “underbelly” when describing the lower city, since that phrase was used to describe the same area, which is named as Downtown, in the comics. (Below a panel from v1, #45 from sm2099 July 1996)

At least, this region would be called Downtown if the script had not already named this place as…

2b. Viejo Nueva York

In the script, Downtown is renamed as Viejo Nuevo York which translates into “Old New York” in Spanish. The name change likely occurred to reflect the bilingual nature of the city and its inhabitants.

The name Viejo Nuevo York could also provide more insight into the city’s history, considering how the script referred to this section of Nueva York as the “old city.” Maybe this will lead to further exploration into Nueva York’s history and its juxtaposing aspects. Viejo Nueva York is a fitting name to describe this portion of the city, since the comics state that it was once the island of Manhattan before Nueva York was built on top of it.

Viejo Nueva York is also set in “permanent night” due to the upper level of the city being constructed on top of their buildings that prevent any sunlight. This acts as a clear differentiation from the blue sky’s portrayed in the city’s upper level as seen in the film.

3. Anyr

These two scenes present the spider-like contraption, Anyr, found at the Go-Home-Machine. The script’s usage of words like “cocoon” and “spidery arms” gives the robot an organic and animalistic quality, which differs from the other technology presented. The directors’ commentary adds to this point as they state that whale noises were used to make Anyr sound more like a living being than a machine.

In the commentary, one of the directors state that Anyr’s design was inspired by a stop-motion resin spider, The Widow Of The Web, from a sci-fi adventure movie called Krull (1983). Anyr’s namesake was inspired by Ynyr, a character in Krull who climbed across the spider’s web. Considering how Krull was from the 80’s, the retro aesthetic continues despite the robot being in a futuristic setting.

The directors note how Anyr is meant to be this mystical technology Miguel found from the deep future of 3000, potentially from another dimension. While the commentary states that Miguel found the robot instead of creating it, considering how akin to a spider it is, Anyr might lead to a future plot point that goes more in depth about the nature of the Spiderverse.

[mrwatermelaun]

Mary Jane "MJ" Watson-Parker (AMAZING! Marvel AU)

Character art from Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 5) #50 (Federico Vicentini)

"Maybe the rest of the world thinks marriage is something to do between other marriages, but it means something to me. You're my partner and my husband and I LOVE YOU."

Created By - Stan Lee & John Romita Sr.

First Appearance - The Amazing Spider-Man #25 (partial - June 1965), #42 (full - Nov. 1966)

Aliases - MJ, Red, Mrs. Webs

Identity - No Dual

Status - Active

Bio

Mary Jane Watson was born into a crappy family with an abusive dad, as well as an unstable life from to their constant moving due to her father's teaching jobs. As a result of the emotional trauma, MJ developed into an extroverted and carefree person as a coping mechanism to make friends and just as easily detach herself when moving away. After her mother had enough and divorced her father, MJ's family moved in with her aunt Anna in Queens, New York.

Enrolling at Midtown High, MJ met and befriended Peter Parker (whom coincidentally was her neighbor) after being introduced to each other by their aunts and the two became close friends. However, their friendship took an interesting turn the night Peter's uncle Ben died. That night, MJ witnessed Spider-Man emerging from Peter's bedroom window (on the hunt for Ben's killer) and deduced his identity as that of her best friend. MJ kept this information to herself for years, subtly helping Peter without his knowledge whenever he needed an excuse to leave and be a hero.

Their little friend group eventually expanded to include rich kid Harry Osborn, reformed former bully of Peter's Flash Thompson and smart drummer-girl Gwen Stacy (who MJ even started a band with called the "Mary Janes" and totally didn't develop a crush on). However, MJ stepped aside when Peter and Gwen fell in love during their early college years. She also continued pursuing her interest in the performing arts that she started during high school, determined to succeed with her career where her mother and sister had given up.

Gwen's eventual death at the hands of the Green Goblin was a devastating blow to all of them, but especially to Peter. When MJ attempted to comfort Peter, he lashed out, claiming she couldn’t truly understand his pain, even though MJ's own mother had passed away recently. Despite being hurt by his words, she remained by his side. This moment had a profound impact on both MJ and Peter’s friendship. Mary Jane, once the lively and carefree party girl, gradually grew more serious and empathetic. Meanwhile, their shared grief drew her and Peter closer than they had been before. They eventually realized the depth of their feelings for each other, with MJ falling for Peter because of his passion for life and selflessness. After several years together (and MJ revealing she had always known Peter was Spider-Man), they got married.

Nowadays, Mary Jane Watson-Parker is a lot of things: actress, model, fashion designer and nightclub owner. She's starred in movies and soap operas, been in the cover of magazines, and is publicly known as the wife of Spider-Man. However, all of that pales to the love she has for her husband and their two children Mayday and Benjy.

An insightful, supportive and dedicated woman; MJ makes managing her expansive career AND her half-superpowered family look like the easiest thing in the world.

Personal Information

Full Name: Mary Jane “MJ” Watson-Parker

Living Status: Alive

Place of Birth: Montoursville, Pennsylvania

Place of Residence: Queens, New York City, New York

Education: High school (Midtown High), college graduate

Occupation: Several

Fashion designer (MJ's, her personal brand; and the Spider Shoppe, official Spider-Man merchandise that goes to her children's college funds)

Owner of the nightclub Jackpot located in Chelsea, Manhattan

Actress (movies and soap operas)

Professional fashion model (very occasionally these days)

Languages: English, American Sign Language

Gender: Cis

Sexuality: Bisexual

Physical Characteristics

Gender: Female

Age: 39 (born March 11th, 1986)

Height: 5'8'' (1.73m)

Weight: 120 lbs (54.43 kg)

Eyes: Green

Hair: Red

Skin: Fair

Ethnicity: American/Caucasian

Race: Human

Other: Light freckles, needs glasses but prefers contact lenses, bullet scar (upper left abdomen)

Family

Parents

Philip Watson: abusive father, deceased

Madeline Watson: mother, deceased

Siblings

Gayle Watson: older sister, strained relationship but slowly improving

Significant Others

Gloria Grant: ex-girlfriend, fellow "Mary Janes" band member (songwriter and keyboard player) whom MJ dated in high school to make Gwen jealous/notice her

Harold "Harry" Lyman/Osborn: ex- boyfriend, troubled relationship due to MJ's feelings for Gwen (and later Peter) and Harry's at-the-time drug problems. Eventually patched things up and are still close friends.

Peter "Pete" Parker: husband, love of her life and soulmate.

Children

Unborn daughter: sadly died from complications during childbirth

Anna-May "Mayday" Parker: daughter, takes after Peter, also has spider powers

Richard "Benjy" Parker: son, takes after MJ, already as smart as his dad, hard of hearing

Other Relatives

Anna Watson: parental aunt and MJ's second mother. Cut ties with her brother (MJ's father) after learning of his abusive tendencies and took in the family

Norman "Normie" Lyman: the son of MJ's best friend Norman Lyman (formerly Osborn) and MJ's godson

Sandwich: the family dog!

Affiliations

Close hero allies: Through Peter, MJ has met a lot of superheroes. Besides her husband's close allies and forming part of the Fantastic Four extended family, she also counts Tony Stark as a friend (Peter and Tony's friendship became strained after the death of Bill Foster during the Superhero Civil War)

Groups: SAG-AFTRA, Lookups (an anonymous support group for the loved ones of superheroes)

Powers and Abilities

Excellent professional actor, model and fashion designer

Smart businesswoman

Mesmerizing go-go dancer

Pretty decent guitarist and vocalist from her time as a band member

Good first aid skills from patching up Peter a hundred times over

Trained in self-defense by Peter and Captain America

A bracelet given to her as an anniversary gift from Peter that functions discreetly as a web-shooter

OOU Commentary

Mary Jane is the poster girl of how a good supporting cast member elevates a superhero story and WHY they're so important. Hell, MJ was written so extremely well and is such a good character that she basically took a life of her own and became the deuteragonist of Spider-Man comics! No matter what Marvel editorial may think or say, Mary Jane is as crucial a part of Spider-Man mythos as aunt May or uncle Ben.

A driven woman, MJ has an expansive career. From go-go dancing in clubs to pay the bills and her acting classes all the way to the several positions she holds today, she is a modern-day renaissance woman. Mary Jane designs clothing for her personal brand "MJ's", as well as Spidey merchandise for her "Spider Shoppe" locales. She also renovated one of The Vulture's old bases into the nightclub "Jackpot", now a center of the Manhattan clubbing scene. Nowadays she doesn't star in as many movies or soap operas, but her performances in Cleopatra, Secret Hospital and even Lobster Man are well-remembered (together with her modelling career, they have made her the covers of Models Inc. and HER Today magazines several times).

All in all, Mary Jane Watson-Parker is the foundation that holds the Parker household together and her husband and children's #1 fan.

Updates

4/22/2025 - Finally landed on the outcome of the Superhero Civil War for this AU, updated information accordingly

[gnomeonamelon]

I kid you not hours after I posted that Lester should interact with Mr D, I started reading Tower of Nero and low and behold.

Doodles of the brothers are necessary to my recovery from both the Trials of Apollo finale and covid.

I have some ideas on what I'm going to do with Limen Au's Trials of Apollo (it's a long one I apollo-gize in advance):

First things first, I'm going to stick with the 2020 setting. Everything from the plague spirits in the first book to everything having to do with the burning maze was too perfect.

Secondly, I'm going to let The Seven retire. It's a new generation with new heroes (for the most part).

Third (and slightly ironically): Rachel deserves quest rights. She's going to be the third member of the party. She has the motive, can relate to Meg, smack some sense (verbally) into Lester, and we could learn more about her.

I would probably have her not receive any prominent glimpses of the future except for when Python feeds her a chunk of the Tower of Nero prophecy towards the end of every book.

Ash or one of her students (Probably Estelle) will also be in the second and third books. Maybe they/ one of her students dies instead of Jason? (not Estelle)

I'm giving up on numbers.

This hurts to write, but I'm going to have Chiron die in the Battle of Manhattan against Kronos/Luke. It's a trope for mentors but he doesn't do much after this point that others couldn't. Mr D would be welcomed back to Olympus after the battle. This would force the demigods to lead themselves for the first time contributing to the tension in HoO (although that should be its own post). Will, Nico, and Rachel, now in their mid to late 20s would be running CHB by the time of ToA.

The Germani and Gauls working with Nero will be replaced with unclaimed Norse and Celtic demigods. The fact that they exist as monsters in this universe when they were actual people in history doesn't feel right to me. It's also perfectly in character that Nero would do this and there are a lot of unclaimed Norse demigods in this universe. (ex: Luguselwa as a daughter of Andraste, a Celtic war and victory goddess)

The 12 children of Nero will be children of the Olympians (or similar gods for those that don't have children and the big three) and trained to replace specific ones.

Changing the hair color of The Sibil: why are all three prophets red haired women. Apollo apparently has a type >:(

I'm going to be shuffling around the relationship web of Jason, Piper, Leo, Reyna, and Calypso. I'm going to keep this brief and come back to it when I get around to designing them but for now:

- Jason x Reyna - Piper x Shel - Aromantic Asexual Leo (why are all aroace people part of the Hunters >:( ) - Calypso was released after PJO. I love her but I would like her as a caring minor god or an eighth Pleiade too.

[henrysglock]

Pulling @krokodilsredimudil'stags from this post

OKAY THIS IS SOMETHING IVE BEEN CHEWING ON FOR A LONG TIME!!

Now, I don't have a full "analysis", but I've got a web of things I've noticed.

Let's start by looking at an Observer (September pictured here):

Bald, grey suit, darker tie. They can both see and move within past, present, and future. They exist outside of time, a new branch of humanity from an alternate future. They're guardians of the timeline, making alterations to ensure that specific ends are reached.

Now, there's a certain character this sounds a whole lot like, who we've discussed before in the context of Vecna/001: Dr. Osterman/Dr. Manhattan.

He can also see past, present, and future all at once, and he can manipulate the universe to get his desired ends.

Particularly, though, what connects him to Vecna/001:

Dr. Manhattan's theme, Prophecies by Phillip Glass, which comes from the documentary Koyaanisqatsi, plays over young Henry/Edward's introduction in 4.07.

As Dr. Osterman becomes a blue, super-powered, pseudo-God "Dr. Manhattan"...so, too, does 001 when he becomes Vecna:

The 001 -> Vecna transformation sequence is beat-for-beat the same as Dr. Osterman's transformation into Dr. Manhattan:

So this all already puts Vecna tangentially into the realm of Observers.

But what makes this paralleling interesting is this:

That man is not Jamie Bower. Period. The man we're told becomes Vecna is not Jamie Bower.

For reference...here's Jamie Bower under similar lighting/injury:

Proto-Vecna? Not the same (as I've detailed here and here).

He may not look like Jamie, but he does look like Modine/Brenner:

(as I've detailed here)

Meaning if we hand-wave and mumble a little to tie Brenner and Vecna together, we get a true Dr. Manhattan-type character. A doctor who fucked around and found out and ended up a fucked up blue pseudo-God.

Which becomes even more interesting when we consider that, from a certain point pre-Gate, Brenner does not change outfits. He always wears a dark grey suit and a darker tie...just like an Observer.

(This exact costuming detail has been driving me batty because it makes it impossible to put Brenner's scenes in chronological order. He's always wearing the same thing, meaning I have to rely on the outfits of those around him to try and piece it together, which is...insanity-inducing)

This becomes even more interesting when we consider that William Bell had plans to create a brand new universe out of the decimation of the existing two and act as the God of that universe.

Which, initially that makes you go:

"Okay, that's a 001 thing"

Except...

However, he does so with just a shit ton of chess references, much akin to how Henry describes Brenner in NINA:

While also being heavily Brenner paralleled in shot choices and character design:

And here's Bell's New Universe plus its inhabitants, as compared to demodogs:

However, after having his plans thwarted, Bell then pairs up with the Observers, selling the Fringe team out to them in Season 5, which leads them into the final timeline reset.

We also know, from season 5 of Fringe, that "normal" humans can become observers by co-opting their technology:

(peep the Bowie reference)

And we have a Brenner who is a) in direct connection with William Bell and the cortexiphan trials and b) is not located by the end of Fringe.

So like...I have nothing but questions, honestly! I wonder if Brenner is somehow tied to that Brenner, and if he has Observer-like abilities the way Peter does when he co-opts the Observers' technology. Our Brenner predates cortexiphan, and he predates Walter/Bell's discovery of the alternate timelines...

So who's to say he's not tied to Fringe's Brenner? Our Brenner is known for his LSD trials in pursuit of pushing the limits of human ability.

I mean, the Duffers even go so far as to say that Brenner was looking for Henry to show him "other worlds about how our universe works".

That's textbook Fringe. That's textbook Bell and Bishop. Were Stranger Things to be something of an offshoot, Brenner would be in exactly the same line of work as Bell and Bishop. Hell, Richard Brenner in ST could very well be meant to be tied to Fringe's Brenner. We just don't know, and we won't until Season 5.

I just... [REDACTED] Brenner, William Bell, Walter Bishop, Peter "Test Subject 01" Bishop, Olivia "Subject 13" Dunham, Henry Dunham, Henrietta Bishop, Ella and Eddie Blake (named for his grandfather, Eddie Dunham). Martin Brenner, Richard Brenner, Peter Ballard, Peter Owens, William Byers, William Hargrove, Henry/Edward "001" Creel, El "011" [REDACTED], Eddie Munson...etc., etc. into eternity.

Bell, Bishop, Brenner.

Anyway, I do have a working graphic for this web of connections, though:

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

15 Inventors Who Were Killed By Their Own Inventions

Marie Curie -  Marie Curie, popularly known as Madame Curie, invented the process to isolate radium after co-discovering the radioactive elements radium and polonium. She died of aplastic anemia as a result of prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation emanating from her research materials. The dangers of radiation were not well understood at the time.

William Nelson - a General Electric employee, invented a new way to motorize bicycles. He then fell off his prototype bike during a test run and died.

William Bullock - he invented the web rotary printing press. Several years after its invention, his foot was crushed during the installation of the new machine in Philadelphia. The crushed foot developed gangrene and Bullock died during the amputation.

Horace Lawson Hunley - he was a marine engineer and was the inventor of the first war submarine. During a routine test, Hunley, along with a 7-member crew, sunk to death in a previously damaged submarine H. L. Hunley (named after Hunley’s death) on October 15, 1963. 

Francis Edgar Stanley - Francis crashed into a woodpile while driving a Stanley Steamer. It was a steam engine-based car developed by Stanley Motor Carriage Company, founded by Francis E. Stanley and his twin Freelan O. Stanley. 

Thomas Andrews - he was an Irish businessman and shipbuilder. As the naval architect in charge of the plans for the ocean liner RMS Titanic, he was travelling on board that vessel during her maiden voyage when the ship hit an iceberg on 14 April 1912. He perished along with more than 1,500 others. His body was never recovered.

Thomas Midgley Jr. - he was an American engineer and chemist who contracted polio at age 51, leaving him severely disabled. He devised an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to help others lift him from the bed. He was accidentally entangled in the ropes of the device and died of strangulation at the age of 55.

Alexander Bogdanov - he was a Russian physician and philosopher who was one of the first people to experiment with blood transfusion. He died when he used the blood of malaria and TB victim on himself.

Michael Dacre -  died after testing his flying taxi device designed to permit fast, affordable travel between regional cities.

Max Valier - invented liquid-fuelled rocket engines as a member of the 1920s German rocket society. On May 17, 1930, an alcohol-fuelled engine exploded on his test bench in Berlin that killed him instantly.

Mike Hughes - was killed when the parachute failed to deploy during a crash landing while piloting his homemade steam-powered rocket.

Harry K. Daghlian Jr. and Louis Slotin -  The two physicists were running experiments on plutonium for The Manhattan Project, and both died due to lethal doses of radiation a year apart (1945 and 1946, respectively).

Karel Soucek -  The professional stuntman developed a shock-absorbent barrel in which he would go over the Niagara Falls. He did so successfully, but when performing a similar stunt in the Astrodome, the barrel was released too early and Soucek plummeted 180 feet, hitting the rim of the water tank designed to cushion the blow.

Hammad al-Jawhari - he was a prominent scholar in early 11th century Iraq and he was also sort of an inventor, who was particularly obsessed with flight. He strapped on a pair of wooden wings with feathers stuck on them and tried to impress the local Imam. He jumped off from the roof of a mosque and consequently died.

Jean-Francoise Pilatre de Rozier -  Rozier was a French teacher who taught chemistry and physics. He was also a pioneer of aviation, having made the first manned free balloon flight in 1783. He died when his balloon crashed near Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais during an attempt to fly across the English Channel. Pilâtre de Rozier was the first known fatalities in an air crash when his Roziere balloon crashed on June 15, 1785.

[theultrablog]

Pulp Storytime #71: The Whisperer in Duluth!

Paranoia pays off. That’s the lesson learned by Javid Kulfi, Afghan technician/photographer, and pal Devika Velyapur. Devika (ex-cultist/child millionaire) was still stressed out by the events of "Web Of The Spider Cult!", especially the part where she was put into a coma by a spider cult. So they were turning art dealer Sir Matthew’s townhouse into a fortress, much to his chagrin. (Devi had taken up semi-permanent residence ever since her mentor, Lord Simon, had moved in.) The doorbell rang after dinner, with two new faces: formerly dead detective JP Diamond*... and a five-year-old whose name he did not know. He found her in the woods while working a case in Minnesota, and all his instincts said bad hoodoo. And for better or worse, Miss Velyapur was an expert in cults, magic, and as a 13-year-old girl, girls. *JP Diamond has appeared once before in "The B-Team!". He met Devi very briefly in "Beignet, Done That", and is played by Florence’s old player. Because of the events of “Beignet”, he suffered from mild zombieism, which while “cured”, continues to have knock on effects.

It was evening, so there was little for the team to do but secure the house more and go to bed. It was lucky they were paranoid: the next day, there was evidence of powerful mystical attack, a spell designed to snatch the five-year-old’s mind and lead her back to captivity. The "fix the five-year-old" project was assigned to Devika, who called information. The right person for the job was "Dr. Dan", Manhattan’s premier child psychologist. And he was helpful, getting the girl to draw and write out her problems. The pictures contained odd blobs, chains of teeth, and other unsightly oddities. Javid consulted his knowledge of the occult and suggested Devi attack the psychic construct in the girl’s head! The ersatz exorcism had its intended effect… as much to Dr. Dan’s amazement the girl began to speak! Well, first scream, a lot, but after that, speak!

Her name was Aurora Coil. She wanted her mommy. Her dad was a wicked man who wanted to open her soul to demonic possession. This scared the hell out of the already-addled child millionaire. After some effort and cupcakes, Javid and detective Diamond coaxed Devika back to her normal, arrogant self. It was scary, to be sure, but she was an expert. They needed her! Devi agreed on the condition that Aurora not be allowed in her room. It wasn’t hard to find the Cole residence. The decaying manner was in the woods near Duluth, a multilevel Victorian with its windows shuttered or barred. Infiltration was also easy, with JP pretending to be an encyclopedia salesman, and the other two sneaking in the back way. Despite locked doors and mystic wards, there was only one thing that could stop them: nerves. Fastidious Javid and cowardly Davika both screamed when they found the basement’s Sacrifice Chamber. It reeked of entrails and maggots. The screams eliminated the element of surprise. But the narrow, corner-filled house worked against the cultists. JP hammered them with haymakers. Javid put bullets through eyebrows. Devika ran support with her dagger. JP took a .45 to the sternum… and sighed, knowing he’d have to sew up that suit. Les Cole was another matter. The alienist commanded the house itself against our heroes: the windows bricking up, the furnace going full blast, the stairs inverting their nails. Cole had a weakness, though. (Two if you consider lunacy to be a weakness.) His greatest powers required eye contact. Devika took the sheets from the master bedroom and hurled them on his head! Cole soon traded his mansion for a drawer in the morgue. Detective JP scoured the now-normal grounds for clues. Old wedding records, framed photos, travel documents… It would take some doing, but he could now reunite Aurora and her mother. Javid told Devika to gather Aurora’s toys and clothes before they burned the mansion to the ground. The rest was cleanup! Diamond found the cult’s New York member in a fleabag motel. It wasn’t hard for Javid to put the man’s ideas on the wall behind him. For her part, Devika was emboldened by the group’s success. She treated Aurora like a little sister. Games, new outfits, even a guided tour through Devi’s various globetrotting knickknacks. And after mother and daughter were reunited, Devi had one more call to make. Did Dr. Dan work with adult patients, ones who we were 13? JP Diamond:

[dailyunsolvedmysteries-movedd]

15 Inventors Who Were Killed By Their Own Inventions

Marie Curie -  Marie Curie, popularly known as Madame Curie, invented the process to isolate radium after co-discovering the radioactive elements radium and polonium. She died of aplastic anemia as a result of prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation emanating from her research materials. The dangers of radiation were not well understood at the time.

William Nelson - a General Electric employee, invented a new way to motorize bicycles. He then fell off his prototype bike during a test run and died.

William Bullock - he invented the web rotary printing press. Several years after its invention, his foot was crushed during the installation of the new machine in Philadelphia. The crushed foot developed gangrene and Bullock died during the amputation.

Horace Lawson Hunley - he was a marine engineer and was the inventor of the first war submarine. During a routine test, Hunley, along with a 7-member crew, sunk to death in a previously damaged submarine H. L. Hunley (named after Hunley’s death) on October 15, 1963. 

Francis Edgar Stanley - Francis crashed into a woodpile while driving a Stanley Steamer. It was a steam engine-based car developed by Stanley Motor Carriage Company, founded by Francis E. Stanley and his twin Freelan O. Stanley. 

Thomas Andrews - he was an Irish businessman and shipbuilder. As the naval architect in charge of the plans for the ocean liner RMS Titanic, he was travelling on board that vessel during her maiden voyage when the ship hit an iceberg on 14 April 1912. He perished along with more than 1,500 others. His body was never recovered.

Thomas Midgley Jr. - he was an American engineer and chemist who contracted polio at age 51, leaving him severely disabled. He devised an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to help others lift him from the bed. He was accidentally entangled in the ropes of the device and died of strangulation at the age of 55.

Alexander Bogdanov - he was a Russian physician and philosopher who was one of the first people to experiment with blood transfusion. He died when he used the blood of malaria and TB victim on himself.

Michael Dacre -  died after testing his flying taxi device designed to permit fast, affordable travel between regional cities.

Max Valier - invented liquid-fuelled rocket engines as a member of the 1920s German rocket society. On May 17, 1930, an alcohol-fuelled engine exploded on his test bench in Berlin that killed him instantly.

Mike Hughes - was killed when the parachute failed to deploy during a crash landing while piloting his homemade steam-powered rocket.

Harry K. Daghlian Jr. and Louis Slotin -  The two physicists were running experiments on plutonium for The Manhattan Project, and both died due to lethal doses of radiation a year apart (1945 and 1946, respectively).

Karel Soucek -  The professional stuntman developed a shock-absorbent barrel in which he would go over the Niagara Falls. He did so successfully, but when performing a similar stunt in the Astrodome, the barrel was released too early and Soucek plummeted 180 feet, hitting the rim of the water tank designed to cushion the blow.

Hammad al-Jawhari - he was a prominent scholar in early 11th century Iraq and he was also sort of an inventor, who was particularly obsessed with flight. He strapped on a pair of wooden wings with feathers stuck on them and tried to impress the local Imam. He jumped off from the roof of a mosque and consequently died.

Jean-Francoise Pilatre de Rozier -  Rozier was a French teacher who taught chemistry and physics. He was also a pioneer of aviation, having made the first manned free balloon flight in 1783. He died when his balloon crashed near Wimereux in the Pas-de-Calais during an attempt to fly across the English Channel. Pilâtre de Rozier was the first known fatalities in an air crash when his Roziere balloon crashed on June 15, 1785.

[imaginechb]

GUYS. I have come up with the best most detailed pitch for a CHB theme park... hear me out.

the rides...

Soarin' over CHB: like the big HP ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. You'll fly through scenes that depict CHB, CJ, Manhattan, Greece, Rome, etc. and it'll show various significant places in the books.

Pegasus Rides: much like the hippogriff ride from Universal Studios, but like,, longer and more fun.

Tunnel of Love: Water ride just like in the books/show, and similar to Pirates at Disneyland. Big drop, Splash Mountain style.

Sea of Monsters: If you've ever been on Grizzly River Run at Disneyland, it's like that. It's super fun, and you will get wet.

Chariot Races: Something like Autopia at Disneyland but also much much cooler.

Apollo's Archery Practice: much like the web slingers ride or the toy story ride at Disneyland, it's an interactive ride where you like press buttons to shoot arrows at VR monsters and targets. Lester may or may not be involved somehow.

Hippocampus tours: kind of like Jungle Cruise at Disneyland except with Hippocampi and it's much cooler. Less terrible jokes and more Percy-esque sarcasm from the tour guide.

Medusa's Lair: a fast-paced adventure-style roller coaster themed after snakes and stone statues.

The 600th Floor: big ferris wheel that lights up blue at night and always has the pjo soundtrack playing in the cars. Some of the cars swing, some don't.

other stuff...

Every night there's fireworks over a lake in the park which is really more of a pond but it would have canoes and fake monsters in the water and it's safely blocked off so no one can fall in

merchandise would include: chb and cj t-shirts, spqr temporary tattoos, chb necklaces (they come out with a new limited edition bead every year), plastic swords and knives, solid foam armor, etc.

restaurants and eats in the park would include: monster donut, tyson's bakery (they sell blue cookies and blue chocolate brick cupcakes), sweet on america candy store, "the dining pavilion" which is a cafe where you can get all sorts of stuff and it has a big covered outdoor seating area with tables designed after different gods, fadlan's felafel, and all sorts of little food trucks named after different gods and monsters and characters

there's professional cosplayers in character as different riordanverse characters (like the actors at disney)

other workers such as ride operators and vendors all wear either chb or cj t-shirts and armor or dress as different monsters or gods

TELL ME IT WOULDN'T BE THE COOLEST THING EVER. GO ON, TELL ME.

[demifiendrsa]

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will launch for PlayStation 5 on October 20, 2023.

Latest details via PlayStation Blog

Everyone at Insomniac Games is thrilled to announce that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will launch on Friday, October 20th, 2023, only on PlayStation 5. After the amazing fan reception for Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales in 2020, the team has worked tirelessly over the past few years to make this third installment in the franchise the sequel you have been waiting for. Built from the ground up for PlayStation 5 console, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will unlock the power of the console with better visuals, faster web swinging (and web wings!), 3D Audio*, and near-instant character switching. We speak for all our collaborators and friends at PlayStation and Marvel Games, when we say that we cannot wait for you to get your hands on this incredible single-player open-world experience.

*3D Audio via built-in TV speakers or analogue/USB stereo headphones.

In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, players will get to experience Marvel’s New York as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. As you saw in the PlayStation Showcase last month—the main storyline of the game will have you take control of both Spider-Men at different points of the campaign. In the open world, you will be able to switch nearly instantly between them as you explore Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Both Spider-Men have stories and missions in the world exclusive to each of them.

As you can see from our box art, Peter and Miles are both key protagonists in our story. The iconic red background returns, but darkness surrounds as fan-favorite villains like Venom, Lizard, and Kraven threaten them and Marvel’s New York. You will also notice that each character’s arm represents their new abilities: Peter with the symbiote, Miles with his evolved bioelectric Venom powers.

In addition to our launch date, we are excited to walk you through your options for experiencing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Pre-orders will open on June 16th, 2023 at all participating retailers, PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Direct. Pre-Orders will go live at 10:00 AM local time on June 16, 2023. Fans who pre-order any version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will receive an early unlock Arachknight Suit for Peter with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Shadow Spider Suit for Miles with 3 additional color variants, an early unlock Web Grabber gadget, and 3 skill points to get you started!

You will see the beautiful box art adorning the standard edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for $69.99 / £69.99/ €79.99/ ¥8,980 MSRP. But that is not all! There will be a Digital Deluxe and Collector’s Edition of the game!

The Digital Deluxe edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 ($79.99 / £79.99/ €89.99/ ¥9,980 MSRP) will include the game, all the pre-order incentives, as well as 10 unique suits (5 for Peter, 5 for Miles), additional Photo Mode frames and stickers, and 2 additional skill points.

Additionally, we are excited to announce that these 10 suits were designed by guest artists across comics, films, and PlayStation Studios! The featured artists are Kris Anka, Julia Blattman, Sweeney Boo, Anthony Francisco, Raf Grassetti, Jerad Maantz, Joel Mandish, Darren Quach, and Victoria Ying!

For our hardcore Spider-Man fans out there who want an incredible Spider-Man collectible alongside Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, we have just the edition for you while supplies last. The Collector’s Edition ($229.99 / £219.99/ €249.99/ ¥31,790 MSRP) includes a voucher for the Digital Deluxe Edition, as well as a Steelbook® case, and an extraordinary, high-quality 19-inch statue featuring our Spider-Men battling fan-favorite Venom. Fans can order the Collector’s Edition on PlayStation Direct in those select markets (United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal) starting at 10AM local time on June 16th, 2023.

For those countries that do not have PlayStation Direct, be on the lookout for more information on how you can secure a Collector’s Edition in your region.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Debra Soh

Published: Aug 17, 2023

In the debate on childhood transition, one of the largest points of contention has been whether a minor’s wishes should override parental opposition. And, indeed, whether parents have a right to be informed about the process at all.

On Monday, a federal appeals court ruled that a group of parents couldn’t challenge a Maryland school district’s policy regarding children who declare themselves to be transgender. The policy requires school employees to support a child’s preferred name, pronouns, and bathroom access and bars employees from disclosing these plans to parents without the child’s consent.

Gender ideology owes much of its success to the isolation of vulnerable children in every area of life. Children are currently being treated as though they have an equivalent mental capacity to adults, and this presumed ability to make sound choices autonomously should not be questioned.

These are not, however, benign decisions; in addition to potentially exacerbating gender confusion, failing to challenge a child’s beliefs about being transgender or "non-binary" can have implications for their future well-being in more ways than one. As my readers are likely already aware, a social transition isn’t without consequence and has been shown by research to be associated with medical transition.

As well, parents deserve to know if their child is being granted access to single-sex spaces that would otherwise be exclusively used by members of the opposite sex. For example, when it comes to bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations on field trips, a girl using boys’ facilities will be placing herself at greater risk. I also think all parents at a school deserve to know if a male student is being allowed to use facilities designated for girls.

Keeping secrets from parents is a hallmark sign of predatory grooming. This isn’t to say that personnel abiding by these policies are doing so with the goal of sexually abusing children, but the process of excluding parents from important decision-making shouldn’t be promoted by our society as healthy or safe.

Last week, the New College of Florida announced it would be defunding its gender studies program. Spearheaded by trustee Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, New College’s recent transformation should be emulated by every university and applauded by anyone in favor of truth and evidence. As our educational system continues to be overrun by gender zealotry, we should seek to excavate the rot at its root.

Dr. Debra Soh is a sex neuroscientist and the author of The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths About Sex and Identity in Our Society.

[ Via: https://archive.is/Rwsu4 ]

==

https://cass.independent-review.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cass-Review-Interim-Report-Final-Web-Accessible.pdf#page=62

Social transition – this may not be thought of as an intervention or treatment, because it is not something that happens within health services. However, it is important to view it as an active intervention because it may have significant effects on the child or young person in terms of their psychological functioning. There are different views on the benefits versus the harms of early social transition. Whatever position one takes, it is important to acknowledge that it is not a neutral act, and better information is needed about outcomes.

I still think it's fascinating that the same children who are deemed mature enough to make irreversible medical decisions that will affect their fertility, sexuality, biological development, and make them life-long medical patients...

... are simultaneously not mature enough to agree to a cellphone plan.

[goldenasirpa]

Time to revamp the spidersona I designed 5 years ago to ship w/ Hobie waaaaay before he was even IN this universe. So here we go once more.

Earth-2015 is a dry, desert wasteland under alien occupation. Harvested for water and overrun with alien tech, this lawless last stand for humanity is bordering on a cyberpunk dystopia. Gastercantha, aka Pyro Parker, lives in Last Manhattan, one of the few remaining mega-cities where humans live at the bottom of the food chain. With their mutated spider powers and gasoline-soaked webbing, they fight the oppressive powers that be and anyone who would choose to exploit the vulnerable. Since the death of their best friend Gwen and her revolutionary father, Pyro has worked without the luxury of a secret identity, mostly in alignment with a group of mutated humans that call themselves the Avengers.

[edgepunk]

Okay, filtered MSM 2 thoughts:

We knew Kraven was gonna show up in the sequel, however, I def did not expect The Lizard/Dr. Connors and the fact that Kraven is focused on him instead of Peter or Miles is very interesting. I wonder if they're gonna sort of recreate/reference Kraven's Last Hunt 👀

Either way, I'm very excited to see these classic villains showing up. Maybe we'll see Yuri Watanabe/Wraith too??? They were building her up in one of the DLCs quite well. Also, interested to see how Peter will react since they were friends.

Gameplay!!!!!! I already loved the gameplay in the first game, and the Miles Morales game improved upon that. And they seemed to take it another step further, it's like they actually listened to the criticism that people had, and I didn't know it was possible to improve the already banger gameplay (tho yes the first one was a little clunkier but still v intuitive)

The new traversal features look so good hello?? The web wings used as a glider? Miles slingshotting himself across the city??? aoughhfg and also!!! It looks like we'll be able to explore other parts of New York like Queens and maybe Brooklyn??? tbh Manhattan became a little restrictive after a while in the first two games, so it would be cool to expand the map a bit. Y'all know I'm meh about huge maps with some exceptions, but if done right, I think it's gonna be good.

Putting this under a read more bc this game is driving me insane I'm eating drywall

So I was right that we'll be able to switch between Peter and Miles. I kinda guessed that they're gonna be mission specific, and maybe, we can switch between them in free roam like with Jacob and Evie in AC: Syndicate (this specific feature isn't confirmed, just speculation on my part)

Looks like Nuform changed Miles' abilities since his Venom (heh) powers can turn blue? I'm interested to see what it did to him and if they're going to address it. Maybe it's purely for aesthetic/gameplay reasons. Who knows, I'm still curious.

Also, love how they incorporated Ganke as their guy in the chair. I loved him in MM and the fact that he helped Miles with the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app. Just give me more Ganke please, he was really charming and they managed to differentiate him from MCU Ganke Ned that he feels like his own character.

Okay, I'm done beating around the bush and I'm going to address the elephant in the room - the symbiote. This is all we've been waiting for, we knew from the post-credits scene from the first game that Peter is gonna have the black suit. I'm glad Insomniac were like "yeah let's get this over with" and showed it to us.

And people are already calling him Bully Lowenthal 💀

Now, I was a little bit iffy about the design of the black suit, but after I watched the trailer a couple of times, it's starting to grow on me? Maybe I'm looking too much into it but the organic armor/exoskeleton design gives me xenomorph vibes, and I love the tendrils in the "exposed" exoskeleton. The texture looks gross and slimy and I love it. I was wondering if they're gonna add some subtle sci-fi horror elements to it and they delivered. I've always said that the symbiote has a lot of space/eldtrich horror potential.

Which brings me to the tendrils (I can already hear the p*rn artists working hard), jokes aside, they look so cool and they're animated so well???? The way Peter fights with them??? He straight up turns into a uhhh tentacle monster for a split second. And his fighting style is so brutal, I liked when he kept repeatedly kicking the guy as if he was a punching bag ddjhsjh

but the scene where he shows up in the sewers(???) yeah this shot legit gave me chills bro looks fr intimidating

And do I really need to gush about Yuri Lowenthal's voice acting? Ben 10 off the shits I'm gonna do it anyway bc holy shit he got the guttural growl down to a T. However, I do wish they put a very subtle filter on his voice. Doing that kind of growly voice must've hurt his throat real bad. Maybe his voice is gonna become more monstrous as the game progresses, that'd be real neat :3c

Honestly, I'm really curious to see how it will affect Peter since May is dead, the whole thing with Otto (I think they're gonna have a convo on the Raft maybe???), he's got a lot of debts to pay and he mentioned that Harry is dying. Bro's going through it fr also parksborn angst???? I'm ready for the homoerotic undertones in their cutscenes kdjkdjdkj I'll take any crumbs I can get 👀

And the way that Peter just dismissively shoved that one civilian away??? Ah?? I'm not ready for Peter to become an absolute cunt and be mean to Miles. There's a high probability we're gonna have to fight Peter in a boss fight as Miles aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

ANYWAY THAT'S IT I'M LOSING MY MIND

[topgamestodayps]

Spider-Man 2: A Stunning Evolution of NYC

The Manhattan map in the 2018 Spider-Man game was a marvel of open-world design. However, the bustling streets and iconic landmarks felt somewhat lifeless when compared to its successor, exclusively powered by the PS5. In this sequel, players can truly appreciate the potential of Sony's cutting-edge hardware. It expands the virtual world to include a detailed rendition of Manhattan, Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens, and Coney Island. The result is a more vibrant cityscape, with more yellow cabs zooming down Fifth Avenue during rush hour, tourists snapping selfies in Times Square, and an overall sense that the virtual metropolis is teeming with life beyond the main action.

Combat: Lightning-Fast Reflexes and Tactical Choices

Surviving the frenzied wave-based battle royales in Spider-Man 2 demands lightning-fast reflexes. Players must fluidly transition between different attacks, utilizing the square button to strike, the circle button to dodge, and the triangle button to close in on the nearest enemy. Special abilities add a strategic layer to the combat, no longer tied to specific suits as in the first game. Now, players can assign abilities through the pause menu, allowing for greater customization and tactical depth. Mixing and matching these abilities becomes crucial in determining the most effective combination for your play style. One viable combo that players interested in buying PS5 games might appreciate could start with a Reverse Flux to immobilize foes, followed by a Chain Lightning to eliminate weaker enemies. This sets the stage for unleashing Thunder Burst, a powerful area-of-effect attack, and Galvanize, a focused strike that sends one enemy airborne while damaging nearby foes. Managing cooldown timers and building your focus bar through regular attacks are essential aspects of combat strategy for those diving into Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Only when the focus bar is maxed out can you heal or perform slow-motion takedowns, either solo or in tandem with your spider companion?

Skills and Gadgets: Versatility in Combat and Traversal

A suite of skills, gadgets, and suit tech options complements the dynamic combat system. Players can unlock improvements using skill points earned from winning battles and discovering secrets. Both Peter and Miles have unique combat traits, while a third tier of shared unlockable skills offers broader advantages for both combat and navigating the city. The traversal aspect of the game benefits from the addition of a 'web wing' wingsuit, allowing gliding through the skies at any altitude instead of solely swinging from high platforms. This feature proves invaluable when crossing the East River towards Queens and Brooklyn. Wind tunnels and updrafts, indicated by glowing rings on-screen, help maintain aerial momentum, adding a touch of puzzle-solving to the traversal experience. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 boasts an impressive roster of 66 spider suits (34 for Peter and 32 for Miles), each paying homage to specific eras or storylines from Spider-Man's rich history, making it a must-have for fans looking to buy PS5 games. Notably, the symbiote suit holds a special place within the game's narrative, though discussing its significance would reveal major story beats.

Accessibility Options: Enhancing the Gaming Experience

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 features a comprehensive suite of accessibility options, catering to a wide range of player needs, including those who may want to buy PS5 games. These options include Hearing Presets for adjusting subtitles, colors, music volume, and vibration settings. Motion Sensitivity Presets offer control over camera-related features like shake, blur, and depth of field. Motor Presets aid aiming, melee combat, and parkour, with options like continuous dodge, enhanced auto-aim, and QTE autocomplete. Vision Presets offer various gameplay aids such as auto-heal, chase assist, and waypoint navigation.

Exploration and Side Activities: A Living, Breathing World

Unlocking the diverse districts of the game is a more organic process compared to its predecessor. Discovery now depends on physically entering areas, as opposed to the comms tower interactions reminiscent of Far Cry. The map of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is filled with extracurricular activities apart from the main quest, including designated photo ops, raidable enemy gang strongholds, randomly generated crime scenes, and time trial-style puzzles. Completing these activities rewards players with tokens, which can be used to unlock skills, suit tech, gadgets, and more. To put the game's scale in perspective, completing just the Story Mode leaves over 50% of the content unexplored.

Conclusion: The Pinnacle of Superhero Gaming

Marvel's Spider-Man 2, developed by PlayStation Studios and Insomniac Games, represents the culmination of years of evolution and refinement, both within the developer and the superhero action-adventure genre. The game offers numerous improvements over its predecessor, featuring a combat and gadget system that pays homage to Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series, and traversal that caters to anyone who ever dreamed of swinging through the city skyline. In summary, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 sets the bar high as the ultimate superhero gaming experience.