#audio video system design

[avtechnologysworld]

Speaker Layout Configurations: 5.1, 7.1, 9.1.2, and Beyond

In the world of home theater and surround sound systems, the speaker layout configuration plays a crucial role in delivering an immersive and engaging audio experience. From the classic 5.1 setup to the more advanced 7.1, 9.1.2, and beyond, each configuration offers unique benefits and capabilities, allowing you to tailor the audio experience to your specific preferences and room layout.

Choosing the right speaker layout configuration is essential for achieving optimal sound quality, accurate sound localization, and a truly enveloping audio environment. Whether you're a movie enthusiast, gamer, or music lover, understanding the nuances of these configurations can help you make informed decisions and create a home theater setup that exceeds your expectations.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various speaker layout configurations, including 5.1, 7.1, 9.1.2, and beyond, providing valuable insights and expert tips to help you select the ideal configuration for your space and entertainment needs.

Introduction

In the realm of audio video system design, the speaker layout configuration is a fundamental aspect that can significantly impact the overall audio experience. From the immersive surround sound of a movie theater to the captivating music performances in a concert hall, the placement and arrangement of speakers play a crucial role in creating a truly engaging and realistic audio environment.

Whether you're a movie enthusiast, gamer, or music lover, choosing the right speaker layout configuration is essential for achieving optimal sound quality, accurate sound localization, and a truly enveloping audio experience. With advancements in audio technologies and the introduction of immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the possibilities for speaker configurations have expanded, offering a wide range of options to suit various room sizes, seating arrangements, and personal preferences.In this blog post, we'll delve into the world of speaker layout configurations, exploring the classic 5.1 setup, the popular 7.1 configuration, the immersive 9.1.2 arrangement, and even beyond, providing valuable insights and expert tips to help you select the ideal configuration for your space and entertainment needs.

5.1 Speaker Configuration

The 5.1 speaker configuration is considered the foundation of modern home theater setups and has been a standard for decades. This configuration consists of five main speakers (front left, front right, center, surround left, and surround right) and one subwoofer, providing a well-rounded and immersive audio experience.

Front Left and Right Speakers: These speakers are responsible for delivering the primary audio content, such as movie soundtracks, music, and sound effects. They should be positioned at ear level and equidistant from the main listening position, forming an equilateral triangle with the listener.

Center Channel Speaker: The center channel speaker is dedicated to reproducing dialogue and anchoring the audio to the on-screen action. It should be placed directly above or below the center of the screen, aligned with the front left and right speakers.

Surround Left and Right Speakers: The surround speakers are responsible for creating an enveloping audio environment, adding depth and ambiance to the overall sound experience. They should be positioned slightly behind and to the sides of the main listening area, ideally at ear level or slightly above.

Subwoofer: The subwoofer is responsible for reproducing low-frequency bass effects, adding impact and depth to the overall audio experience. Its placement is flexible, as low frequencies are non-directional, but it's generally recommended to position it near the front of the room for optimal integration with the main speakers.

The 5.1 configuration is a versatile and widely adopted setup, suitable for a variety of room sizes and seating arrangements. It provides a balanced and immersive audio experience, making it an excellent choice for movie viewing, gaming, and music listening.

7.1 Speaker Configuration

Building upon the foundation of the 5.1 setup, the 7.1 speaker configuration adds two additional surround speakers, creating a more enveloping and immersive audio environment. This configuration is particularly well-suited for larger rooms or dedicated home theater spaces.

Front Left, Right, and Center Speakers: These speakers maintain the same positioning and roles as in the 5.1 configuration, delivering the primary audio content and anchoring the dialogue to the screen.

Surround Left and Right Speakers: Similar to the 5.1 setup, these speakers are responsible for creating an enveloping audio environment and adding depth and ambiance to the overall sound experience.

Surround Back Left and Right Speakers: The addition of the surround back speakers is the key differentiator of the 7.1 configuration. These speakers are positioned behind the main listening area, creating a more immersive and enveloping audio experience, particularly for surround sound formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Subwoofer: As with the 5.1 setup, the subwoofer is responsible for reproducing low-frequency bass effects, adding impact and depth to the overall audio experience.

The 7.1 configuration is particularly well-suited for larger rooms or dedicated home theater spaces, as it provides a more enveloping audio experience and enhanced sound localization. It's an excellent choice for movie enthusiasts and gamers who desire a truly immersive audio environment.

9.1.2 Speaker Configuration (Dolby Atmos and DTS:X)

With the advent of immersive audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, speaker configurations have evolved to incorporate height channels, creating a more three-dimensional and enveloping audio experience. The 9.1.2 configuration is a popular choice for those seeking to take advantage of these immersive audio formats.

Front Left, Right, and Center Speakers: These speakers maintain the same positioning and roles as in the 5.1 and 7.1 configurations, delivering the primary audio content and anchoring the dialogue to the screen.

Surround Left and Right Speakers: Similar to the 5.1 and 7.1 setups, these speakers are responsible for creating an enveloping audio environment and adding depth and ambiance to the overall sound experience.

Surround Back Left and Right Speakers: As in the 7.1 configuration, these speakers are positioned behind the main listening area, enhancing the enveloping audio experience.

Height Left and Right Speakers: The addition of height speakers is the key differentiator of the 9.1.2 configuration. These speakers are positioned above the main listening area, typically mounted on the ceiling or high on the walls, creating a more three-dimensional and immersive audio experience. They are responsible for reproducing overhead and height-based audio cues, adding a sense of verticality to the sound field.

Subwoofer: As with the other configurations, the subwoofer is responsible for reproducing low-frequency bass effects, adding impact and depth to the overall audio experience.

The 9.1.2 configuration is an excellent choice for those seeking to take advantage of immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as it provides a more three-dimensional and enveloping audio experience. It's particularly well-suited for dedicated home theater spaces or larger rooms, where the added height channels can truly shine.

Beyond 9.1.2: Advanced Speaker Configurations

As audio technologies continue to evolve, even more advanced speaker configurations have emerged, catering to the most discerning audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. These configurations often incorporate additional height channels, surround speakers, or even overhead speakers, creating an even more immersive and enveloping audio environment.

11.1.4 Configuration: This configuration adds two additional surround speakers and two additional height speakers to the 9.1.2 setup, creating a more immersive and enveloping audio experience, particularly for larger rooms or dedicated home theater spaces.

13.1.6 Configuration: Taking immersion to the next level, the 13.1.6 configuration incorporates six height speakers, two surround back speakers, and two additional surround speakers, creating a truly three-dimensional and enveloping audio environment.

22.2.4 Configuration (Dolby Atmos with Overhead Speakers): For the ultimate in immersive audio, the 22.2.4 configuration incorporates overhead speakers in addition to traditional height speakers, creating a truly three-dimensional and enveloping audio experience that mimics the sound field of a commercial cinema.

These advanced configurations are typically reserved for dedicated home theater spaces or large rooms, where the added speakers and channels can truly shine. They offer an unparalleled level of immersion and realism, transporting you into the heart of the action and creating a truly captivating audio experience.

Exploring AV System Integration Software and Speaker Layout Optimization

In today's modern home theaters and audio setups, advanced AV system integration software plays a crucial role in optimizing the overall audio experience, including speaker layout configurations. These software platforms, such as Control4, Crestron, and Savant, offer powerful tools and features that can assist in achieving the ideal speaker placement and calibration for your specific room and setup.

Control4

Control4 is a leading provider of smart home automation solutions, including advanced AV system integration software. Their platform offers several features that can aid in optimizing speaker layout configurations:

Speaker Calibration: Control4's speaker calibration tools allow you to precisely adjust the levels, delays, and equalization settings for each speaker in your system, ensuring optimal integration and performance, regardless of the layout configuration.

Room Correction: Control4's room correction technology analyzes the acoustic properties of your room and automatically adjusts the system to compensate for any potential issues, such as reflections or standing waves. This can help mitigate acoustic challenges and optimize the performance of your speaker layout configuration.

Listening Profiles: With Control4, you can create multiple listening profiles tailored to different seating positions or preferences. This allows you to optimize the speaker layout configuration and overall system calibration for various listening scenarios.

Crestron

Crestron is another renowned provider of AV system integration software, offering advanced features for optimizing speaker layout configurations:

Audyssey MultEQ XT32: Crestron's integration with Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room correction technology allows for precise calibration of your speaker layout configuration and the entire audio system. This technology analyzes the room's acoustic characteristics and adjusts the speakers accordingly, ensuring optimal performance.

Speaker Level Calibration: Crestron's software provides comprehensive speaker level calibration tools, enabling you to fine-tune the volume and balance of each speaker in your layout configuration, ensuring seamless integration and a cohesive audio experience.

Customizable Presets: With Crestron, you can create and save customized presets for different listening scenarios or speaker layout configurations. This allows you to quickly switch between optimized settings based on your preferences or room setup.

Savant

Savant is a leading provider of smart home automation solutions, including advanced AV system integration software. Their platform offers several features to help optimize speaker layout configurations:

RoomPerfect™ Room Correction: Savant's RoomPerfect™ technology analyzes the acoustic properties of your room and automatically adjusts the audio system to compensate for any potential issues, such as reflections or standing waves. This can help mitigate acoustic challenges and optimize the performance of your speaker layout configuration.

Speaker Calibration Wizard: Savant's user-friendly speaker calibration wizard guides you through the process of properly setting up and calibrating each speaker in your layout configuration. This ensures optimal performance and integration, regardless of the speaker arrangement.

Scene Configurations: With Savant, you can create and save different scene configurations tailored to various speaker layout configurations or listening scenarios. This allows you to easily switch between optimized settings based on your preferences or room setup.

By leveraging the advanced features and capabilities of these AV system integration software platforms, you can ensure that your speaker layout configuration is properly calibrated and optimized for your specific room and listening requirements. This can lead to an improved and more immersive listening experience, with accurate sound localization, seamless integration between speakers, and a cohesive audio environment.

User Case Studies: Real-World Speaker Layout Configurations

To better understand the practical application of these speaker layout configurations, let's explore some real-world case studies showcasing how users have implemented various setups to suit their specific needs and preferences.

Case Study 1: Compact Living Room Setup with 5.1 ConfigurationJ

ohn, a movie enthusiast living in a city apartment, wanted to create an immersive home theater experience in his compact living room. After consulting with a home theater professional, he decided to implement a 5.1 speaker configuration that would fit his space constraints while still delivering a high-quality audio experience.

Room Specifications:

Dimensions: 14' x 12' x 8' (length x width x height)

Seating arrangement: Two-seat sofa and armchair

Speaker Configuration:

Front Left and Right Speakers: Bookshelf speakers positioned at ear level and equidistant from the main listening position

Center Channel Speaker: Compact center speaker placed below the TV

Surround Left and Right Speakers: Wall-mounted surround speakers positioned slightly behind and to the sides of the seating area

Subwoofer: Compact subwoofer placed in the front corner of the room

User Experience: John was thrilled with the immersive audio experience provided by the 5.1 speaker configuration in his compact living room. Despite the space constraints, the setup delivered clear and intelligible dialogue, accurate sound localization, and a well-rounded audio experience that enhanced his movie-watching sessions."The 5.1 configuration was the perfect choice for my living room," John said. "The surround sound experience is truly immersive, and the compact speakers blend seamlessly with my decor, making it a practical and enjoyable setup."

Case Study 2: Dedicated Home Theater with 7.1 Configuration

Sarah, a home theater enthusiast, wanted to create a dedicated home theater space in her basement, complete with an immersive audio experience. After consulting with an AV professional, she decided to implement a 7.1 speaker configuration to take advantage of the larger room size and create a truly enveloping audio environment.

Room Specifications:

Dimensions: 20' x 16' x 9' (length x width x height)

Seating arrangement: Three rows of plush, reclining chairs

Speaker Configuration:

Front Left, Right, and Center Speakers: High-performance tower speakers and center channel speaker

Surround Left and Right Speakers: Wall-mounted surround speakers positioned slightly behind and to the sides of the seating area

Surround Back Left and Right Speakers: Wall-mounted surround back speakers positioned behind the seating area

Subwoofer: Powerful subwoofer placed in the front corner of the room

User Experience: Sarah was delighted with the immersive audio experience provided by the 7.1 speaker configuration in her dedicated home theater space. The addition of the surround back speakers created a more enveloping audio environment, enhancing the sense of realism and immersion during movie-watching sessions and gaming experiences."The 7.1 configuration truly elevates the audio experience in my home theater," Sarah said. "The enveloping sound field and accurate sound localization make me feel like I'm right in the middle of the action, whether I'm watching a blockbuster movie or playing an immersive video game."

Case Study 3: High-End Home Theater with 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos Configuration

Michael, an audiophile and home theater enthusiast, wanted to create a state-of-the-art home theater setup that would take advantage of the latest immersive audio technologies. After consulting with an AV professional, he decided to implement a 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, incorporating height speakers for a truly three-dimensional audio experience.

Room Specifications:

Dimensions: 22' x 18' x 10' (length x width x height)

Seating arrangement: Two rows of plush, reclining chairs

Speaker Configuration:

Front Left, Right, and Center Speakers: High-performance tower speakers and center channel speaker

Surround Left and Right Speakers: Wall-mounted surround speakers positioned slightly behind and to the sides of the seating area

Surround Back Left and Right Speakers: Wall-mounted surround back speakers positioned behind the seating area

Height Left and Right Speakers: Ceiling-mounted height speakers positioned above the seating area

Subwoofer: Powerful subwoofer placed in the front corner of the room

User Experience: Michael was thoroughly impressed with the immersive audio experience provided by the 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration in his dedicated home theater space. The addition of the height speakers created a truly three-dimensional audio environment, adding a sense of verticality and realism to the sound field."The 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos configuration has taken my home theater experience to a whole new level," Michael said. "The three-dimensional audio environment is simply stunning, and the sense of immersion is unparalleled. It truly feels like I'm in the middle of the action, whether I'm watching a movie or listening to music."

User Queries and Answers

1. How do I determine the appropriate speaker layout configuration for my room size?

The appropriate speaker layout configuration largely depends on the size of your room and the desired level of immersion. As a general guideline, smaller rooms (up to 200 square feet) are well-suited for a 5.1 configuration, while medium-sized rooms (200-400 square feet) can accommodate a 7.1 setup. For larger rooms (400+ square feet) or dedicated home theater spaces, more advanced configurations like 9.1.2 or beyond may be appropriate to take advantage of the additional space and create a truly immersive audio environment.

2. Can I mix and match speakers from different brands or series in my layout configuration?

While it's generally recommended to use speakers from the same brand and series for optimal tonal matching and seamless integration, it is possible to mix and match speakers from different brands or series in your layout configuration. However, you may need to invest more time and effort into calibrating and equalizing the speakers to achieve a cohesive and balanced sound across the entire system.

3. How important is the placement and positioning of the subwoofer in a speaker layout configuration?

The placement and positioning of the subwoofer can have a significant impact on the overall bass response and integration with the rest of the speakers in your layout configuration. While low frequencies are non-directional, the subwoofer's location can affect how the bass interacts with room boundaries and furniture, potentially creating acoustic issues or uneven bass distribution. It's recommended to experiment with different subwoofer placements and utilize room correction software or acoustic treatments to optimize the bass response and integration.

4. Can I upgrade or expand my speaker layout configuration over time?

Absolutely! Many home theater enthusiasts start with a more basic speaker layout configuration, such as 5.1 or 7.1, and gradually upgrade or expand their setup as their needs and preferences evolve. Most AV receivers and processors support various speaker configurations, allowing you to add additional speakers or channels as desired. However, it's important to ensure that your existing equipment can support the desired upgrade and that you follow proper speaker placement guidelines for the new configuration.

5. How do I account for furniture and decor when planning my speaker layout configuration?

Furniture and decor can significantly impact the acoustics of your room and the overall sound quality of your speaker layout configuration. When planning your speaker placement, consider potential obstructions or reflective surfaces that may interfere with sound propagation. Additionally, ensure that your speakers are positioned at the appropriate height and distance from walls or other surfaces to minimize acoustic interference. If necessary, consider implementing acoustic treatments or rearranging furniture to optimize the listening environment.

Conclusion

Choosing the right speaker layout configuration is a crucial aspect of designing an immersive and engaging home theater or surround sound system. From the classic 5.1 setup to the more advanced 7.1, 9.1.2, and beyond, each configuration offers unique benefits and capabilities, allowing you to tailor the audio experience to your specific preferences, room size, and desired level of immersion.

When selecting a speaker layout configuration, it's essential to consider factors such as room dimensions, seating arrangement, and personal preferences. Smaller rooms may be well-suited for a 5.1 or 7.1 configuration, while larger spaces or dedicated home theater rooms may benefit from more advanced setups like 9.1.2 or beyond, which incorporate height channels and create a truly three-dimensional and enveloping audio environment.

Leveraging advanced AV system integration software, such as Control4, Crestron, or Savant, can further enhance your setup by providing powerful tools for speaker calibration, room correction, and customizable presets. These platforms allow you to fine-tune the performance of your speaker layout configuration, ensuring optimal sound quality, accurate sound localization, and seamless integration between speakers.

Remember, proper speaker placement and calibration are crucial for achieving the best possible audio experience, regardless of the layout configuration you choose. Regularly recalibrating and adjusting your system as needed can help ensure that your audio experience remains immersive, engaging, and true to the intended sound design.

By carefully considering your specific needs and preferences, leveraging the expertise of professionals, and embracing the latest technologies and tools, you can create a home theater or surround sound system that delivers a truly captivating and immersive audio experience, transporting you into the heart of the action and elevating your entertainment experience to new heights.

[vivencyglobal]

AV Solutions – Vivency Technology LLC

Vivency Technology LLC is a leading provider of IT Audio Visual (AV) solutions, delivering top-tier AV system design, installation, integration, maintenance, and support for various industries. With expertise in cutting-edge AV technology, Vivency ensures seamless communication, collaboration, and presentation experiences tailored to your business needs.

Our AV Solutions Include:

✅ Audio Visual System Design – Customized AV solutions to match your specific requirements. ✅ AV System Installation and Integration – Professional setup and seamless integration of AV systems. ✅ AV System Maintenance and Support – Ensuring your AV systems run efficiently with expert maintenance. ✅ Video Conferencing Solutions – High-quality video conferencing systems for effective remote communication. ✅ Digital Signage Solutions – Dynamic digital displays for impactful content delivery. ✅ AV System Upgrades and Integration – Enhancing and modernizing existing AV setups with advanced technology.

📍 Location: Dubai, UAE 📞 Contact us today! Elevate your AV experience with Vivency Technology LLC.

[sascosmarthome]

Types of Best Home Automation Systems: Transform Your Living with SASCO Smart Home

Home automation systems are revolutionizing the way we live, offering unparalleled convenience, comfort, and efficiency. With technology evolving rapidly, there are now various types of home automation systems designed to cater to different needs and preferences. At SASCO Smart Home, we specialize in providing the best home automation systems, tailored to create a seamless, smart living experience.

Let’s explore the types of home automation systems that can transform your home into a futuristic haven.

1. Lighting Automation Systems

Sasco is Best system integrators Companies in India.Lighting automation is one of the most popular and essential aspects of a smart home. These systems allow you to control your lights with:

Voice Commands: Integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri for hands-free control.

Mobile Apps: Adjust brightness, color, and on/off schedules remotely.

Motion Sensors: Automatically turn lights on or off based on movement.

SASCO Smart Home offers customizable lighting solutions to create the perfect ambiance for every occasion while saving energy.

2. Climate Control Systems

Smart climate control systems optimize your home’s heating, cooling, and ventilation. Features include:

Smart Thermostats: Learn your preferences and adjust settings automatically.

Zone Control: Manage temperatures in individual rooms or areas.

Energy Efficiency: Reduce energy consumption with advanced scheduling and remote control.

These systems not only enhance comfort but also lower energy bills, making them a must-have for sustainable living.

3. Security and Surveillance Systems

Home security has been redefined with smart automation. Key features include:

Smart Cameras: Provide real-time video monitoring with remote access.

Smart Locks: Allow you to lock/unlock doors remotely or with a code.

Motion Detectors: Send instant alerts for suspicious activity.

Integrated Alarms: Automatically activate alarms and notify authorities when needed.

SASCO ensures your home is secure with robust and reliable smart security solutions.

4. Audio and Video Systems

Professional audio visual systems extends to entertainment, providing immersive experiences with:

Multi-Room Audio: Play your favorite music in any room of your home.

Home Theaters: Custom setups with 4K/8K displays and surround sound.

Streaming Integration: Access all your streaming platforms seamlessly.

SASCO Smart Home combines top-notch technology with expert installation to bring your entertainment vision to life.

5. Smart Appliances

Upgrade your kitchen and laundry with smart appliances that simplify chores. Features include:

Smart Refrigerators: Track groceries and create shopping lists.

Smart Ovens: Preheat and adjust settings remotely.

Smart Washing Machines: Schedule and monitor wash cycles via an app.

These appliances integrate with your smart home ecosystem, enhancing convenience and efficiency.

6. Home Energy Management Systems

Monitor and control your energy usage with advanced systems that:

Track Usage: Provide real-time insights into energy consumption.

Solar Integration: Optimize energy usage with solar panel monitoring.

Load Management: Schedule high-energy appliances during off-peak hours.

SASCO’s energy management solutions help you create a greener, more sustainable home.

7. Irrigation Automation Systems

Perfect for garden enthusiasts, smart irrigation systems automate watering based on:

Weather Conditions: Adjust schedules based on real-time forecasts.

Soil Moisture Sensors: Ensure plants get the right amount of water.

Mobile Access: Control your irrigation system from anywhere.

These systems conserve water and keep your garden lush and healthy.

8. Universal Control Systems

Integrate all your smart devices into a single platform with universal control systems. Features include:

Single Interface: Manage lighting, security, climate, and entertainment from one app.

Voice and App Control: Seamlessly operate all systems with voice commands or a smartphone.

AI Integration: Use AI-powered automation to anticipate and adapt to your needs.

SASCO’s universal control solutions ensure effortless management of your smart home.

Why Choose SASCO Smart Home for Your Automation Needs?

At SASCO home automation, we understand that every home is unique. Here’s why we stand out:

Tailored Solutions: We design systems to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Expert Installation: Our skilled technicians ensure flawless setup and integration.

Premium Products: We partner with leading brands to provide the best automation technology.

Ongoing Support: From troubleshooting to upgrades, we’re here for you every step of the way.

Conclusion

Investing in the best home automation systems is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern living. From smart lighting to universal control systems, SASCO Smart Home offers a comprehensive range of solutions to elevate your lifestyle.

Ready to make your home smarter, safer, and more efficient? Contact SASCO Smart Home today to discover the perfect automation solutions for your space!

[geomeximdesigns]

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[msdroppinit]

God #shorts Bless

Debbie Dropit • Anointed #debbiedropit THANK YOU JESUS #thankyoujesus Spice #spiceofficial #msdroppinit God Is Love #godisloveforever Merry Christmas 2023 #jesus  #reggaemusic #reasonfortheseason #riddim #audiovisual #videoedit #addimage

Debbie Dropit is a rising star in the Roots Reggae Community in Toronto as well as the city’s sound clash culture. She has gained popularity through her presence on Facebook and YouTube, where she shares videos showcasing her talent as a Digital Creator specialize in Audio Visuals, Copywriting and Graphic Design. . Some of her videos may be muted in certain countries due to music rights as she has dedicated her time restoring her 35 year old cassette collection of Rare Reggae Music and Digitalizing the audio for future perseverance to be shared with all who engage.  Debbie Dropit has received positive reactions and comments from her audience, indicating her rising star status all all Digital Platforms

[evergentleandkind]

Weight Room Atlanta

Inspiration for a large contemporary home gym renovation with a light wood floor and a brown floor and beige walls

[av-industry-blog]

Church AV Equipment refers to the audio-visual technology and equipment utilized in churches and places of worship to enhance the overall worship experience and communication with congregants. This equipment includes a wide range of audio systems, such as microphones, speakers, and sound mixers, to ensure clear and impactful delivery of sermons, hymns, and musical performances. Additionally, video components like projectors, screens, and cameras are employed to display multimedia presentations, scripture verses, and religious imagery during services or events. Church AV Equipment plays a vital role in fostering engagement, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and facilitating meaningful connections between clergy and their congregation.

[girasois]

words for users !

ideias de palavras aleatórias para ajudar você a criar seu próprio user;

random ideas of words to help you to create your own user.

core -> aesthetic core

vlog -> daily videos

logs -> daily facts

mp3 -> audio file format

m4p -> apple audio file format

mp4 -> video file format

txt -> text format

jpeg -> image file format

jpg -> image file format

png -> image file format

gif -> animated file format

raw -> uncompressed file format

zip -> compressed archive file format

rar -> compressed archive file format

web -> internet file format

doc -> document file

pdf -> document file

vinyl -> phonograph record

film -> motion picture; photography

user -> person who utilizes a computer or network service

i2 -> "keeping it real"

self -> a person's essential being

itself -> a person's essential being

priv -> private

luv -> love's short form

tale -> a fictitious or true narrative or story

archive -> to place or store (something) in an archive

list -> connected items

tier -> a type of hierarchy

talk -> speak in order to express something

chat -> to have a conversation

post -> to announce or publish something

zone -> a subject to particular restrictions

vie -> life in french

tie -> to form a knot or bow in

on/online -> connected to a network

byte -> a group of binary digits 

bits -> a small piece, part, or quantity of something

ram -> hardware in a computing device

8bit -> computer term used to designate either color depth

pixel -> a minute area of illumination on a display screen

data -> things known or assumed as facts

series -> a number of things, events, or people of a similar kind

village -> a self-contained community within a town or city

lab -> a laboratory

lady -> a woman

miss -> a form of address to a woman

mister -> a form of address to a man

error -> something not found

art -> the various branches of creative activity

petit -> small in french

poet -> a person possessing special powers of imagination or expression

thing -> an object without a specific name

stuff -> a vague reference to additional things

vogue -> the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time

tv -> taylor's version and/or television as a system or form of media

media -> the main means of mass communication

topia -> an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect

saur -> forming names of extinct reptiles such as dinosaurs

tune -> a melody, one that characterizes a particular piece of music

deun -> melody in deutsch

off/offline -> disconnected from the Internet

gloss -> shine or luster on a smooth surface

fae -> a fairy, in modern fantasy fiction

[nostalgebraist]

Anthropic's stated "AI timelines" seem wildly aggressive to me.

As far as I can tell, they are now saying that by 2028 – and possibly even by 2027, or late 2026 – something they call "powerful AI" will exist.

And by "powerful AI," they mean... this (source, emphasis mine):

In terms of pure intelligence, it is smarter than a Nobel Prize winner across most relevant fields – biology, programming, math, engineering, writing, etc. This means it can prove unsolved mathematical theorems, write extremely good novels, write difficult codebases from scratch, etc. In addition to just being a “smart thing you talk to”, it has all the “interfaces” available to a human working virtually, including text, audio, video, mouse and keyboard control, and internet access. It can engage in any actions, communications, or remote operations enabled by this interface, including taking actions on the internet, taking or giving directions to humans, ordering materials, directing experiments, watching videos, making videos, and so on. It does all of these tasks with, again, a skill exceeding that of the most capable humans in the world. It does not just passively answer questions; instead, it can be given tasks that take hours, days, or weeks to complete, and then goes off and does those tasks autonomously, in the way a smart employee would, asking for clarification as necessary. It does not have a physical embodiment (other than living on a computer screen), but it can control existing physical tools, robots, or laboratory equipment through a computer; in theory it could even design robots or equipment for itself to use. The resources used to train the model can be repurposed to run millions of instances of it (this matches projected cluster sizes by ~2027), and the model can absorb information and generate actions at roughly 10x-100x human speed. It may however be limited by the response time of the physical world or of software it interacts with. Each of these million copies can act independently on unrelated tasks, or if needed can all work together in the same way humans would collaborate, perhaps with different subpopulations fine-tuned to be especially good at particular tasks.

In the post I'm quoting, Amodei is coy about the timeline for this stuff, saying only that

I think it could come as early as 2026, though there are also ways it could take much longer. But for the purposes of this essay, I’d like to put these issues aside [...]

However, other official communications from Anthropic have been more specific. Most notable is their recent OSTP submission, which states (emphasis in original):

Based on current research trajectories, we anticipate that powerful AI systems could emerge as soon as late 2026 or 2027 [...] Powerful AI technology will be built during this Administration. [i.e. the current Trump administration -nost]

See also here, where Jack Clark says (my emphasis):

People underrate how significant and fast-moving AI progress is. We have this notion that in late 2026, or early 2027, powerful AI systems will be built that will have intellectual capabilities that match or exceed Nobel Prize winners. They’ll have the ability to navigate all of the interfaces… [Clark goes on, mentioning some of the other tenets of "powerful AI" as in other Anthropic communications -nost]

----

To be clear, extremely short timelines like these are not unique to Anthropic.

Miles Brundage (ex-OpenAI) says something similar, albeit less specific, in this post. And Daniel Kokotajlo (also ex-OpenAI) has held views like this for a long time now.

Even Sam Altman himself has said similar things (though in much, much vaguer terms, both on the content of the deliverable and the timeline).

Still, Anthropic's statements are unique in being

official positions of the company

extremely specific and ambitious about the details

extremely aggressive about the timing, even by the standards of "short timelines" AI prognosticators in the same social cluster

Re: ambition, note that the definition of "powerful AI" seems almost the opposite of what you'd come up with if you were trying to make a confident forecast of something.

Often people will talk about "AI capable of transforming the world economy" or something more like that, leaving room for the AI in question to do that in one of several ways, or to do so while still failing at some important things.

But instead, Anthropic's definition is a big conjunctive list of "it'll be able to do this and that and this other thing and...", and each individual capability is defined in the most aggressive possible way, too! Not just "good enough at science to be extremely useful for scientists," but "smarter than a Nobel Prize winner," across "most relevant fields" (whatever that means). And not just good at science but also able to "write extremely good novels" (note that we have a long way to go on that front, and I get the feeling that people at AI labs don't appreciate the extent of the gap [cf]). Not only can it use a computer interface, it can use every computer interface; not only can it use them competently, but it can do so better than the best humans in the world. And all of that is in the first two paragraphs – there's four more paragraphs I haven't even touched in this little summary!

Re: timing, they have even shorter timelines than Kokotajlo these days, which is remarkable since he's historically been considered "the guy with the really short timelines." (See here where Kokotajlo states a median prediction of 2028 for "AGI," by which he means something less impressive than "powerful AI"; he expects something close to the "powerful AI" vision ["ASI"] ~1 year or so after "AGI" arrives.)

----

I, uh, really do not think this is going to happen in "late 2026 or 2027."

Or even by the end of this presidential administration, for that matter.

I can imagine it happening within my lifetime – which is wild and scary and marvelous. But in 1.5 years?!

The confusing thing is, I am very familiar with the kinds of arguments that "short timelines" people make, and I still find the Anthropic's timelines hard to fathom.

Above, I mentioned that Anthropic has shorter timelines than Daniel Kokotajlo, who "merely" expects the same sort of thing in 2029 or so. This probably seems like hairsplitting – from the perspective of your average person not in these circles, both of these predictions look basically identical, "absurdly good godlike sci-fi AI coming absurdly soon." What difference does an extra year or two make, right?

But it's salient to me, because I've been reading Kokotajlo for years now, and I feel like I basically get understand his case. And people, including me, tend to push back on him in the "no, that's too soon" direction. I've read many many blog posts and discussions over the years about this sort of thing, I feel like I should have a handle on what the short-timelines case is.

But even if you accept all the arguments evinced over the years by Daniel "Short Timelines" Kokotajlo, even if you grant all the premises he assumes and some people don't – that still doesn't get you all the way to the Anthropic timeline!

To give a very brief, very inadequate summary, the standard "short timelines argument" right now is like:

Over the next few years we will see a "growth spurt" in the amount of computing power ("compute") used for the largest LLM training runs. This factor of production has been largely stagnant since GPT-4 in 2023, for various reasons, but new clusters are getting built and the metaphorical car will get moving again soon. (See here)

By convention, each "GPT number" uses ~100x as much training compute as the last one. GPT-3 used ~100x as much as GPT-2, and GPT-4 used ~100x as much as GPT-3 (i.e. ~10,000x as much as GPT-2).

We are just now starting to see "~10x GPT-4 compute" models (like Grok 3 and GPT-4.5). In the next few years we will get to "~100x GPT-4 compute" models, and by 2030 will will reach ~10,000x GPT-4 compute.

If you think intuitively about "how much GPT-4 improved upon GPT-3 (100x less) or GPT-2 (10,000x less)," you can maybe convince yourself that these near-future models will be super-smart in ways that are difficult to precisely state/imagine from our vantage point. (GPT-4 was way smarter than GPT-2; it's hard to know what "projecting that forward" would mean, concretely, but it sure does sound like something pretty special)

Meanwhile, all kinds of (arguably) complementary research is going on, like allowing models to "think" for longer amounts of time, giving them GUI interfaces, etc.

All that being said, there's still a big intuitive gap between "ChatGPT, but it's much smarter under the hood" and anything like "powerful AI." But...

...the LLMs are getting good enough that they can write pretty good code, and they're getting better over time. And depending on how you interpret the evidence, you may be able to convince yourself that they're also swiftly getting better at other tasks involved in AI development, like "research engineering." So maybe you don't need to get all the way yourself, you just need to build an AI that's a good enough AI developer that it improves your AIs faster than you can, and then those AIs are even better developers, etc. etc. (People in this social cluster are really keen on the importance of exponential growth, which is generally a good trait to have but IMO it shades into "we need to kick off exponential growth and it'll somehow do the rest because it's all-powerful" in this case.)

And like, I have various disagreements with this picture.

For one thing, the "10x" models we're getting now don't seem especially impressive – there has been a lot of debate over this of course, but reportedly these models were disappointing to their own developers, who expected scaling to work wonders (using the kind of intuitive reasoning mentioned above) and got less than they hoped for.

And (in light of that) I think it's double-counting to talk about the wonders of scaling and then talk about reasoning, computer GUI use, etc. as complementary accelerating factors – those things are just table stakes at this point, the models are already maxing out the tasks you had defined previously, you've gotta give them something new to do or else they'll just sit there wasting GPUs when a smaller model would have sufficed.

And I think we're already at a point where nuances of UX and "character writing" and so forth are more of a limiting factor than intelligence. It's not a lack of "intelligence" that gives us superficially dazzling but vapid "eyeball kick" prose, or voice assistants that are deeply uncomfortable to actually talk to, or (I claim) "AI agents" that get stuck in loops and confuse themselves, or any of that.

We are still stuck in the "Helpful, Harmless, Honest Assistant" chatbot paradigm – no one has seriously broke with it since that Anthropic introduced it in a paper in 2021 – and now that paradigm is showing its limits. ("Reasoning" was strapped onto this paradigm in a simple and fairly awkward way, the new "reasoning" models are still chatbots like this, no one is actually doing anything else.) And instead of "okay, let's invent something better," the plan seems to be "let's just scale up these assistant chatbots and try to get them to self-improve, and they'll figure it out." I won't try to explain why in this post (IYI I kind of tried to here) but I really doubt these helpful/harmless guys can bootstrap their way into winning all the Nobel Prizes.

----

All that stuff I just said – that's where I differ from the usual "short timelines" people, from Kokotajlo and co.

But OK, let's say that for the sake of argument, I'm wrong and they're right. It still seems like a pretty tough squeeze to get to "powerful AI" on time, doesn't it?

In the OSTP submission, Anthropic presents their latest release as evidence of their authority to speak on the topic:

In February 2025, we released Claude 3.7 Sonnet, which is by many performance benchmarks the most powerful and capable commercially-available AI system in the world.

I've used Claude 3.7 Sonnet quite a bit. It is indeed really good, by the standards of these sorts of things!

But it is, of course, very very far from "powerful AI." So like, what is the fine-grained timeline even supposed to look like? When do the many, many milestones get crossed? If they're going to have "powerful AI" in early 2027, where exactly are they in mid-2026? At end-of-year 2025?

If I assume that absolutely everything goes splendidly well with no unexpected obstacles – and remember, we are talking about automating all human intellectual labor and all tasks done by humans on computers, but sure, whatever – then maybe we get the really impressive next-gen models later this year or early next year... and maybe they're suddenly good at all the stuff that has been tough for LLMs thus far (the "10x" models already released show little sign of this but sure, whatever)... and then we finally get into the self-improvement loop in earnest, and then... what?

They figure out to squeeze even more performance out of the GPUs? They think of really smart experiments to run on the cluster? Where are they going to get all the missing information about how to do every single job on earth, the tacit knowledge, the stuff that's not in any web scrape anywhere but locked up in human minds and inaccessible private data stores? Is an experiment designed by a helpful-chatbot AI going to finally crack the problem of giving chatbots the taste to "write extremely good novels," when that taste is precisely what "helpful-chatbot AIs" lack?

I guess the boring answer is that this is all just hype – tech CEO acts like tech CEO, news at 11. (But I don't feel like that can be the full story here, somehow.)

And the scary answer is that there's some secret Anthropic private info that makes this all more plausible. (But I doubt that too – cf. Brundage's claim that there are no more secrets like that now, the short-timelines cards are all on the table.)

It just does not make sense to me. And (as you can probably tell) I find it very frustrating that these guys are out there talking about how human thought will basically be obsolete in a few years, and pontificating about how to find new sources of meaning in life and stuff, without actually laying out an argument that their vision – which would be the common concern of all of us, if it were indeed on the horizon – is actually likely to occur on the timescale they propose.

It would be less frustrating if I were being asked to simply take it on faith, or explicitly on the basis of corporate secret knowledge. But no, the claim is not that, it's something more like "now, now, I know this must sound far-fetched to the layman, but if you really understand 'scaling laws' and 'exponential growth,' and you appreciate the way that pretraining will be scaled up soon, then it's simply obvious that –"

No! Fuck that! I've read the papers you're talking about, I know all the arguments you're handwaving-in-the-direction-of! It still doesn't add up!

[komaedalovemail]

komaedas have you tried straw.page?

(i hope you don't mind if i make a big ollllle webdev post off this!)

i have never tried straw.page but it looks similar to carrd and other WYSIWYG editors (which is unappealing to me, since i know html/css/js and want full control of the code. and can't hide secrets in code comments.....)

my 2 cents as a web designer is if you're looking to learn web design or host long-term web projects, WYSIWYG editors suck doodooass. you don't learn the basics of coding, someone else does it for you! however, if you're just looking to quickly host images, links to your other social medias, write text entries/blogposts, WYSIWYG can be nice.

toyhouse, tumblr, deviantart, a lot of sites implement WYSIWYG for their post editors as well, but then you can run into issues relying on their main site features for things like the search system, user profiles, comments, etc. but it can be nice to just login to your account and host your information in one place, especially on a platform that's geared towards that specific type of information. (toyhouse is a better example of this, since you have a lot of control of how your profile/character pages look, even without a premium account) carrd can be nice if you just want to say "here's where to find me on other sites," for example. but sometimes you want a full website!

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neocities hosting

currently, i host my website on neocities, but i would say the web2.0sphere has sucked some doodooass right now and i'm fiending for something better than it. it's a static web host, e.g. you can upload text, image, audio, and client-side (mostly javascript and css) files, and html pages. for the past few years, neocities' servers have gotten slower and slower and had total blackouts with no notices about why it's happening... and i'm realizing they host a lot of crypto sites that have crypto miners that eat up a ton of server resources. i don't think they're doing anything to limit bot or crypto mining activity and regular users are taking a hit.

↑ page 1 on neocitie's most viewed sites we find this site. this site has a crypto miner on it, just so i'm not making up claims without proof here. there is also a very populated #crypto tag on neocities (has porn in it tho so be warned...).

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dynamic/server-side web hosting

$5/mo for neocities premium seems cheap until you realize... The Beautiful World of Server-side Web Hosting!

client-side AKA static web hosting (neocities, geocities) means you can upload images, audio, video, and other files that do not interact with the server where the website is hosted, like html, css, and javascript. the user reading your webpage does not send any information to the server like a username, password, their favourite colour, etc. - any variables handled by scripts like javascript will be forgotten when the page is reloaded, since there's no way to save it to the web server. server-side AKA dynamic web hosting can utilize any script like php, ruby, python, or perl, and has an SQL database to store variables like the aforementioned that would have previously had nowhere to be stored.

there are many places in 2024 you can host a website for free, including: infinityfree (i use this for my test websites :B has tons of subdomains to choose from) [unlimited sites, 5gb/unlimited storage], googiehost [1 site, 1gb/1mb storage], freehostia [5 sites/1 database, 250mb storage], freehosting [1 site, 10gb/unlimited storage]

if you want more features like extra websites, more storage, a dedicated e-mail, PHP configuration, etc, you can look into paying a lil shmoney for web hosting: there's hostinger (this is my promocode so i get. shmoney. if you. um. 🗿🗿🗿) [$2.40-3.99+/mo, 100 sites/300 databases, 100gb storage, 25k visits/mo], a2hosting [$1.75-12.99+/mo, 1 site/5 databases, 10gb/1gb storage], and cloudways [$10-11+/mo, 25gb/1gb]. i'm seeing people say to stay away from godaddy and hostgator. before you purchase a plan, look up coupons, too! (i usually renew my plan ahead of time when hostinger runs good sales/coupons LOL)

here's a big webhost comparison chart from r/HostingHostel circa jan 2024.

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domain names

most of the free website hosts will give you a subdomain like yoursite.has-a-cool-website-69.org, and usually paid hosts expect you to bring your own domain name. i got my domain on namecheap (enticing registration prices, mid renewal prices), there's also porkbun, cloudflare, namesilo, and amazon route 53. don't use godaddy or squarespace. make sure you double check the promo price vs. the actual renewal price and don't get charged $120/mo when you thought it was $4/mo during a promo, certain TLDs (endings like .com, .org, .cool, etc) cost more and have a base price (.car costs $2,300?!?). look up coupons before you purchase these as well!

namecheap and porkbun offer something called "handshake domains," DO NOT BUY THESE. 🤣🤣🤣 they're usually cheaper and offer more appealing, hyper-specific endings like .iloveu, .8888, .catgirl, .dookie, .gethigh, .♥, .❣, and .✟. I WISH WE COULD HAVE THEM but they're literally unusable. in order to access a page using a handshake domain, you need to download a handshake resolver. every time the user connects to the site, they have to provide proof of work. aside from it being incredibly wasteful, you LITERALLY cannot just type in the URL and go to your own website, you need to download a handshake resolver, meaning everyday internet users cannot access your site.

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hosting a static site on a dynamic webhost

you can host a static (html/css/js only) website on a dynamic web server without having to learn PHP and SQL! if you're coming from somewhere like neocities, the only thing you need to do is configure your website's properties. your hosting service will probably have tutorials to follow for this, and possibly already did some steps for you. you need to point the nameserver to your domain, install an SSL certificate, and connect to your site using FTP for future uploads. FTP is a faster, alternative way to upload files to your website instead of your webhost's file upload system; programs like WinSCP or FileZilla can upload using FTP for you.

if you wanna learn PHP and SQL and really get into webdev, i wrote a forum post at Mysidia Adoptables here, tho it's sorted geared at the mysidia script library itself (Mysidia Adoptables is a free virtual pet site script, tiny community. go check it out!)

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file storage & backups

a problem i have run into a lot in my past like, 20 years of internet usage (/OLD) is that a site that is free, has a small community, and maybe sounds too good/cheap to be true, has a higher chance of going under. sometimes this happens to bigger sites like tinypic, photobucket, and imageshack, but for every site like that, there's like a million of baby sites that died with people's files. host your files/websites on a well-known site, or at least back it up and expect it to go under!

i used to host my images on something called "imgjoe" during the tinypic/imageshack era, it lasted about 3 years, and i lost everything hosted on there. more recently, komaedalovemail had its webpages hosted here on tumblr, and tumblr changed its UI so custom pages don't allow javascript, which prevented any new pages from being edited/added. another test site i made a couple years ago on hostinger's site called 000webhost went under/became a part of hostinger's paid-only plans, so i had to look very quickly for a new host or i'd lose my test site.

if you're broke like me, looking into physical file storage can be expensive. anything related to computers has gone through baaaaad inflation due to crypto, which again, I Freaquing Hate, and is killing mother nature. STOP MINING CRYPTO this is gonna be you in 1 year

...um i digress. ANYWAYS, you can archive your websites, which'll save your static assets on The Internet Archive (which could use your lovely donations right now btw), and/or archive.today (also taking donations). having a webhost service with lots of storage and automatic backups can be nice if you're worried about file loss or corruption, or just don't have enough storage on your computer at home!

if you're buying physical storage, be it hard drive, solid state drive, USB stick, whatever... get an actual brand like Western Digital or Seagate and don't fall for those cheap ones on Amazon that claim to have 8,000GB for $40 or you're going to spend 13 days in windows command prompt trying to repair the disk and thenthe power is gong to go out in your shit ass neighvborhood and you have to run it tagain and then Windows 10 tryes to update and itresets the /chkdsk agin while you're awayfrom town nad you're goig to start crytypting and kts just hnot going tot br the same aever agai nikt jus not ggiog to be the saeme

---------------------------------------

further webhosting options

there are other Advanced options when it comes to web hosting. for example, you can physically own and run your own webserver, e.g. with a computer or a raspberry pi. r/selfhosted might be a good place if you're looking into that!

if you know or are learning PHP, SQL, and other server-side languages, you can host a webserver on your computer using something like XAMPP (Apache, MariaDB, PHP, & Perl) with minimal storage space (the latest version takes up a little under 1gb on my computer rn). then, you can test your website without needing an internet connection or worrying about finding a hosting plan that can support your project until you've set everything up!

there's also many PHP frameworks which can be useful for beginners and wizards of the web alike. WordPress is one which you're no doubt familiar with for creating blog posts, and Bluehost is a decent hosting service tailored to WordPress specifically. there's full frameworks like Laravel, CakePHP, and Slim, which will usually handle security, user authentication, web routing, and database interactions that you can build off of. Laravel in particular is noob-friendly imo, and is used by a large populace, and it has many tutorials, example sites built with it, and specific app frameworks.

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addendum: storing sensitive data

if you decide to host a server-side website, you'll most likely have a login/out functionality (user authentication), and have to store things like usernames, passwords, and e-mails. PLEASE don't launch your website until you're sure your site security is up to snuff!

when trying to check if your data is hackable... It's time to get into the Mind of a Hacker. OWASP has some good cheat sheets that list some of the bigger security concerns and how to mitigate them as a site owner, and you can look up filtered security issues on the Exploit Database.

this is kind of its own topic if you're coding a PHP website from scratch; most frameworks securely store sensitive data for you already. if you're writing your own PHP framework, refer to php.net's security articles and this guide on writing an .htaccess file.

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but. i be on that phone... :(

ok one thing i see about straw.page that seems nice is that it advertises the ability to make webpages from your phone. WYSIWYG editors in general are more capable of this. i only started looking into this yesterday, but there ARE source code editor apps for mobile devices! if you have a webhosting plan, you can download/upload assets/code from your phone and whatnot and code on the go. i downloaded Runecode for iphone. it might suck ass to keep typing those brackets.... we'll see..... but sometimes you're stuck in the car and you're like damn i wanna code my site GRRRR I WANNA CODE MY SITE!!!

↑ code written in Runecode, then uploaded to Hostinger. Runecode didn't tell me i forgot a semicolon but Hostinger did... i guess you can code from your webhost's file uploader on mobile but i don't trust them since they tend not to autosave or prompt you before closing, and if the wifi dies idk what happens to your code.

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ANYWAYS! HAPPY WEBSITE BUILDING~! HOPE THIS HELPS~!~!~!

-Mod 12 @eeyes

[sandplague]

pathologic 3 save & sound 2024 presentation

this is a quick attempt at a transcript of the presentation. I think I got most of it but there are some words I was unable to hear, I can't say I have a lot of practice doing this and that's on me so if any of you guys can help me I'll edit it asap

Ressa Schwarzwald: I'm Ressa from Gameowdio. Our team has been working on Pathologic 3 with Vasily Kashnikov and his apprentice Nikolai. This video will feature some of the audio stuff we've made together.

Our goal regarding audio direction was to give the real experience of being in the epicenter of an epidemic. Fully realistic, no bullshit. So we are obviously shooting this video in The Town. We realized pretty early that the game was quite different from the original Pathologic 2 because of the time travel mechanics. So for the prototype we built a time travel machine [the date November 1924 shows on screen], which appeared to be quite useful to record some source sounds, and [date changes to November 3024] make this video in just half a second using existing technology.

Let's start with the music.

Vasily Kashnikov: Hi, I'm Vasily Kashnikov, audio director of Pathologic 3 project. I'll tell you how our music is structured. We were already thinking about how the Bachelor's game would sound when we were working on Patholgic 2 and writing music for Haruspex. In Pathologic 2, the music had more ethnic and real motives (motifs?) and instruments. Since the city and its customs are familiar with Haruspex since he was a child, he is involved in the traditional way of life. In the case of Pathologic 3, this is the view of an outsider who evaluates everything from the point of view of rationality and science. Therefore, we are trying to make the Pathologic 3 soundtrack colder and more detached from the steppes and ethnicity in character. There is more synthesis, guitars at the same time, the Bachelor communicates with those in power so the soundtrack contains a large share of minimalist so-called furniture music that could sound in the beginning of the last century. Piano etudes and references to composers of that time: Satie, Debussy, etc. The soundtrack is a rather eclectic mix of dreampop, downtempo, and (?) minimalism.

In the city when the Bachelor is alone with himself, we emphasize the cold mind of the rhythm section: less emotional harmony, and sometimes electronic timbres. In the rooms where we need to separate the main character from those he interacts with, we use more expressive harmonies and more classical instruments: piano and guitar passages.

When we designed the interactive music system, we assumed that time is finite, and the music had to change depending on the amount of time the Bachelor had left. However, we later abandoned this system and now the music changes depending on the state of the Bachelor himself, who can fall into apathy or psychosis. To emphasize these states, we apply filters and effects to different layers of our tracks and get a slower, muffled sound in the case of apathy, and wired (?) nervous, glitchy in the case of psychosis. In the infected quarters, there are interactive systems that... [screen begins to distort] oh my god, Nataliya! Please stop this!

Nataliya Radina: Whoops, hehe, sorry. But yeah, basically the other system we created reflects everything you hear in the game. Such as... If we use our gun when dealing with the local thugs, the longer we aim the weapon at the people, the less sounds of the outside world we hear and the louder becomes the heartbeat. To add to the intensity, sharper tone was used along with a high pitch tinnitus sound. If the psychosis level goes to the maximum, it starts to damage Bachelor's health, which is accompanied by flashes on the screen, as well as low heartbeat and short breathing sounds.

Vasily Kashnikov: In the infected and rebel's quarters, there are also interactive systems that change the character of the music by adding or disabling instrument layers depending on the state of the world or the Bachelor's equipment to fight the plague. As a result, we have 12 tracks for each day spent in the city. they can freely switch between each other and several dozen themes for locations and characters, and all the music is subject to change depending on the state of the Bachelor.

Nataliya Radina: Since the game has a weather changing system, we also wanted to reflect that in our audio feedback as well. The game has global wetness parameter that shows how intense the rain is. The more it rains, the more squishy and muddy are the steps of the outside surfaces. Moreover, if you come closer to the window, you can hear the rain pondering on the glass. Even in the middle of the plague, we always have room for cozy moments, right? My favorite part of that system is involving cows. [cow moo]. So, when it's raining, you can actually hear very very soft sound of raindrops dropping on those bovine butts. And I personally think it's beautiful.

Artur Ramanouski: Hi, my name is Artur, and I was also involved in creating some sound assets for the game.

Probably the hardest thing to record were the footsteps. I had everything planned out: bought the equipment, got every type of surface, but...there was one small thing I overlooked: I live in a city with over 12 million people. Noise everywhere. The solution was simple and ingenious: I recorded everything on a Sunday, because in Buenos Ares, Sunday is the one day when no one does anything.

Nataliya Radina: One of the most important places in the game is the cathedral. There we have a system of ladders that control the speed and direction of time. Direction wise, we can have it flow normally, or reversed. [entire presentation is rewound very quickly so it's back to Ressa]

Ressa Schwarzwald: She is super professional.

Nataliya Radina: As for the speed, we can make it stand still, go twice as fast, or half normal speed. We created an audio system that has to (?) understand what is actually happening around (inaudible). When we reverse time, spatial effects are added to the surrounding sounds. Ambience, steps, and the mechanism itself. When time stands still, we increase the low frequencies in the ambience, and all the other sounds are muted to zero. Now lastly, when the time goes twice as fast, or half the original speed, the pitch of the surrounding sound changes accordingly.

The coolest part of this system is that it's been actually implemented into the game engine using only one parameter.

Ressa Schwarzwald: Thank you for watching. See you here, later!

[sanpape]

idk how to put this succinctly, but the rise of multimedia degrees becoming a competative nessecity also means that we're not learning/using any software to it's fullest. like. do I really have to know unity, figma, after effects and Adobe dimension all at once or is this just my uni clawing at the walls for the chance at making our cvs look better

honestly I kinda miss when there were only 2 Adobe softwares you needed to know in order to be competative within the design industry. now you gotta know like 3 or 4 minimum and uni programs are grading u on your ability in at least 6.

[vivencyglobal]

AV Solutions – Expert Audio-Visual Services by Vivency Technology LLC

Vivency Technology LLC specializes in cutting-edge IT audio-visual (AV) solutions, offering comprehensive services such as design, installation, integration, maintenance, and support. Our advanced AV systems cater to diverse industries, ensuring seamless communication and enhanced user experiences.

[demifiendrsa]

Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025.

It will be available both as a standalone console for $449.99 / CAD$629.99 / $699.99 / €469.99 / 49,800 yen, and as a bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart World for $499.99 / CAD$699.99 / €509.99 / 53,980 yen.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa in a press release. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

Switch 2 will include the following peripherals:

Nintendo Switch 2 console

Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)

Joy-Con 2 Grip

Joy-Con 2 Straps

Nintendo Switch 2 Dock

Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable

Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter

USB-C Charging Cable

Latest details:

GameChat Enables New Ways to Play Socially, All Together

With the new online feature GameChat, people can play games and talk like everyone is in the same room, even if they are miles apart. Whether sharing a victory or just waving hello, GameChat makes it feel like online friends around the world are on the same couch. Once GameChat is up, players can start a chat with friends anytime by pressing the C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. The system’s built-in mic can be used to voice chat while playing games with up to 12 people in different locations. Up to four friends can share their screen, and if they connect a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), they can also video chat, seeing each other’s faces as they cheer, shout, or laugh while playing. Additional friends can join the chat via audio only. Until the end of March 2026, GameChat can be used without the need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required.

When initiating a GameChat session, the user invites people from their friend list. Safety features are in place to help players have a safe and secure chat experience, such as the ability to report a person while in a chat session. In addition, Nintendo recognizes the important role parents and guardians play in their children’s online experiences, so children under the age of sixteen will need their parent or guardian to approve their use of GameChat with an updated version of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App.

A Multitude of New Features and Experiences

A large, vivid screen that allows smooth motion expression – Nintendo Switch 2 has a large 7.9-inch built-in LCD screen that displays in full HD at 1080p while maintaining the same thickness of Nintendo Switch. Even while on the go, Nintendo Switch 2 offers vivid, detailed game experiences, as well as smooth graphics showcasing character movements and their rich facial expressions.

Joy-Con 2 controllers attach to the system with a “snap” – Joy-Con 2, the newly designed Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, magnetically attach to the Nintendo Switch 2 console. In addition, either Joy-Con 2 controller can be operated like a mouse by sliding it on a surface like a table or on a pair of pants. They can be used in multiple ways, including for games that require aiming.

A new freely adjustable stand and a new USB-C port – The angle of the new stable stand on the back of the Nintendo Switch 2 system can be adjusted freely so that players can find their preferred viewing angle. While Nintendo Switch has one USB-C port on the bottom of the system, Nintendo Switch 2 has a port on the top of the system as well, which makes it possible for players to use the included AC adapter to charge the system while playing in tabletop mode. It is also possible to connect a compatible USB-C camera, like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory to enjoy video chat on GameChat.

Powerful processing speed and graphical performance – Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly improved CPU and GPU performance over Nintendo Switch, resulting in faster processing speed and enabling new visually advanced gameplay. It also makes it possible to achieve more detailed graphics and faster loading times.

Crisp audio quality and spatial 3D sound – On Nintendo Switch 2, the sound quality is more natural and clearer with an even more balanced sound range. When playing in handheld mode or tabletop mode, players will be able to experience games with even more immersive, three-dimensional sound.

Internal storage of 256 GB – The internal storage of Nintendo Switch 2, where digital games and save data are stored, is 256 GB, which is 8 times the storage capacity of Nintendo Switch. For additional storage, Nintendo Switch 2 only uses microSD Express cards, which have faster data reading speeds than previous microSD models.

Nintendo Switch games are also playable on Nintendo Switch 2 – In addition to Nintendo Switch 2 games, Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch. Some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers and peripherals, such as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, will also be usable on Nintendo Switch 2 by connecting them wirelessly to the system. For more information on the compatibility with Nintendo Switch games and accessories, please visit the Nintendo website.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock – By connecting the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock to a TV, users can output video at up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120 fps, via compatible games and TVs.

Multiple people can play one title with GameShare – With GameShare, a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature, players can share and play the same game with others who do not have the game. If one person has a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a game compatible with GameShare, that person can invite others to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch system. Between Nintendo Switch 2 systems, GameShare can also be used along with GameChat for online play, so that players can chat with others while all of them play the same game.

Virtual game cards add benefits to digital games – With virtual game cards, players can easily manage all their purchased digital games, play games on two different systems, or even lend or borrow games. The virtual game card menu shows all of the digital games purchased with a user’s Nintendo Account, making it easy to access the games and load them on the system. Once a virtual game card is loaded onto a system, it can be played even if the system is not connected to the internet, and other users who are on that system can also play the game. Additionally, digital games can be lent and borrowed among members of the same Nintendo Account family group in the form of virtual game cards via local wireless communication.

Nintendo Switch Online – Nintendo Switch Online will be available on Nintendo Switch 2. On Nintendo Switch 2, players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be able to use features like GameChat along with existing online features. For a limited time, all Nintendo Switch 2 owners can access GameChat without a Nintendo Switch Online membership through the GameChat Open-Access period, which lasts until the end of March 2026. After that time, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat. In addition, for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics will be released right at the system’s launch. Players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and a Nintendo Switch 2 system will be able to access a growing collection of Nintendo GameCube games with clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases. The classic game lineup available at release will be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soulcalibur II. Along with the classic games, a dedicated wireless controller designed after the original GameCube controller will be available for purchase by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.

Variety of accessibility features – In addition to existing accessibility features on Nintendo Switch, to support players’ wide range of gameplay styles, Nintendo Switch 2 offers a variety of new accessibility options including the ability to adjust font size, enable screen reader, and speech-to-text features within GameChat.

Safe and secure game experience on Nintendo Switch 2 – With the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app, parents can easily support their children’s gameplay by using their smart device to check what kind of games their children play or set limits on how long the system can be used daily. As for GameChat, children under the age of 16 will need the parent’s or guardian’s approval on the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app to start a chat, which makes it possible for parents and guardians to manage their children’s chat experience securely.

Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for pre-order in North America from participating retailers beginning on April 9, 2025.

New Games for a New System

Nintendo Switch 2 will launch with games that highlight its new capabilities while bringing everyone along for the ride. From brand new titles and system exclusives, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, to exhilarating experiences like EA Sports Madden NFL and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, to upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, there is much to share and play.

Put the pedal to the metal in Mario Kart World, a brand-new experience set in a vast interconnected environment. Race seamlessly across connected courses that deliver Mario Kart racing like never before. Twenty-four drivers can compete in a race. Participate in the new Knockout Tour mode, where you’ll barrel through back-to-back courses and checkpoints, with no pit stops along the way. If a player doesn’t make it to each checkpoint at a high-enough placement, they will be eliminated. And in Free Roam, it’s possible to go off the racetrack and drive in any direction you wish, explore areas that pique your interest and take some photos at scenic spots with a group of friends. Mario Kart World races onto Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. More details will be revealed in a Mario Kart World Direct presentation on April 17 at 06:00 PST / 09:00 EST.

Get ready for Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure—available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Crash, bash, and climb through nearly everything in DK’s path and tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration. The more that is demolished with powerful punches, the more areas open up to discover. Break on through this adventure full of mayhem, surprises and bananas when Donkey Kong Bananza crashes onto Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17.

The new capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2 allow for compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch to receive paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs featuring enhanced graphics, exclusive content offerings, and new gameplay experiences.

Star in Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, featuring unique new modes and minigames that showcase mouse controls, the system’s built-in mic, and Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately). Invite friends to join Bowser Live, a game show-themed experience with 2v2 team battles and physical challenges! But beware: Losing teams may have to answer to Bowser himself! Get ready to see what’s new in this party when it launches July 24.

See the Kingdom of Hyrule in a whole new way with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, available with performance upgrades on Nintendo Switch 2. Smoother frame rates, faster load times, and better graphics will make for a fresh experience when revisiting these adventures, and now players will also have a little extra help. Also on the way is an update to the Nintendo Switch App (previously known as the Nintendo Switch Online App), called ZELDA NOTES. This game-specific service is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of the games and helps players navigate to various locations, like that difficult-to-find shrine or hidden Korok, and will even feature commentary from Princess Zelda herself that was not part of the original games. Both upgraded titles will be available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, June 5.

Kirby’s 3D platforming adventure gets an extra Nintendo Switch 2 boost in Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. A mysterious meteor crashes in the world of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, revealing a new story for Kirby. He must use his abilities, including new Mouthful Modes, to clear a trail through uncharted territory. The upgrade pack will include this new content which can be played in single-player and local co-op, as well as improved performance for the entire game. Jump into Kirby’s star-crossed world when it launches August 28.

The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter Samus Aran returns in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This title will release on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with the latter allowing for both standard controls and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls as players wield Samus’s arm cannon with more precision, plus enhanced visuals and performance. Choose between Quality Mode and Performance Mode, both of which support HDR, based on your preference and playstyle. Explore the immersive world in 4K at 60 fps or enjoy smoother action in full HD at 120 fps on compatible displays when the game launches in 2025.

In Pokemon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you can enjoy your adventure in Lumiose City on Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced resolution and frame rates, coming late 2025.

Kirby Air Riders, a brand-new title originated from the Nintendo GameCube classic racing-action game Kirby Air Ride, and Masahiro Sakurai, the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, was announced for release this year. The trailer revealed a dramatic introduction of Kirby on his Warp Star machine and other Kirby air riders on a variety of unique machines, as they joined together on a racetrack. Kirby Air Riders will glide onto Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.

Use the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls and enjoy a new experience by strapping into Drag x Drive. A new online three-versus-three game experience, Drag x Drive (pronounced “Drag and Drive”) challenges players to use the mouse controls with both Joy-Con 2 at the same time to intuitively steer, speed up, perform tricks and make plays such as dunks. Get ready to gear up when Drag x Drive launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this summer.

While it’s understandable that players will want to hit the ground running (or racing) with Nintendo Switch 2, they can also explore a variety of features and details the new system has to offer. Players can enter a virtual exhibition with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and gain insights into what makes Nintendo Switch 2 such a unique gaming experience. Through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be available to buy from Nintendo eShop from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, June 5.

Exciting Games from Global Developers and Publishers

From acclaimed hits like Split Fiction and Elden Ring to sports phenoms like EA Sports Madden NFL and NBA 2K, and highly anticipated games like Hades II and Borderlands 4, Nintendo Switch 2 is the place where players can find the full range of gaming experiences. Here are some of the games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 from development and publishing partners.

The Duskbloods: The moontears will flow for one and one alone in The Duskbloods, a brand-new multiplayer title from the creators of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, FromSoftware. Available exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods launches next year. Read more in our upcoming developer diary series, Creator’s Voice, with the game’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki, coming on April 4th.

Hades II: Battle beyond the Underworld to vanquish the Titan of Time as the Princess of the Dead in this bewitching sequel to the original rogue-like dungeon crawler. Hades II lets players explore a bigger, deeper mythic world with the full might of Olympus at their call in a story that reacts to their every setback and accomplishment. The game is coming first on console to both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, taking advantage of the new system’s higher-definition display with responsive action at a target of 60 frames per second. Look out for more information about Hades II later this year.

EA SPORTS Madden NFL and EA SPORTS FC: EA Sports is bringing fans together from across the world—both on the pitch and on the gridiron. EA Sports Madden NFL and EA Sports FC will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2.

NBA 2K and WWE 2K: Dominate on the court and in the ring—NBA 2K and WWE 2K are coming to Nintendo Switch 2.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the newest title in the Hyrule Warriors series and is developed by Koei Tecmo Games with support from Nintendo. The game features epic battles against hordes of enemies as it tells the untold story from Hyrule’s distant past of the Imprisoning War that ultimately led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Fans of the Legend of Zelda series and players of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can experience the thrill of battle and this canonical tale featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other familiar characters. Fight for Hyrule’s future when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

Split Fiction: Jump between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this co-op action adventure, where contrasting writers Mio and Zoe have become trapped in a simulation of their own stories. Split Fiction keeps you on the edge of your couch with weird and unexpected moments as players have to coordinate and work together to overcome challenges. Players can also invite a friend to play with for free via cross-play on Nintendo Switch 2 with Friend’s Pass. Jump into the action when Split Fiction releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: For the first time, Nintendo players can step into the shoes of V — a mercenary determined to become a legendary cyberpunk in Night City. With the powerful processing speed and graphical performance of Nintendo Switch 2, every neon-lit street and firefight feels more immersive than ever. With this edition, players can enjoy the full Cyberpunk 2077 experience, featuring the base game and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty spy-thriller expansion. Climb the ranks when Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade: Experience a modern reimagining of one of the most iconic games of all time on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in Midgar, players will immerse themselves in a standalone gaming experience designed for RPG players that crave unforgettable characters, a powerful story, and a strategic battle system that merges real-time action with command-based combat. Including Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission, an additional story arc happening during the events of the game, players can fight for the future of the planet when Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade comes to Nintendo Switch 2.

Street Fighter 6: Experience the next evolution of Street Fighter in Street Fighter 6 with three distinct game modes, new gameplay features, and enhanced visuals. Fight your way to the top with new game modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 like Local Wireless One on One and Avatar Matches. Enjoy new party modes utilizing Joy-Con 2 controllers like Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest. Plus, players can check out three new amiibo figures and 22 amiibo cards at launch. Choose from Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighter Edition, or the digital version of Street Fighter 6, for Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Steer the course of history in Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Featuring new mouse controls that offer a more intuitive experience, players’ decisions will shape the cultural lineage of their empire. Construct cities and architectural wonders, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the world. Whether you choose to follow history or forge your own path, create a legacy that echoes through the Ages when Sid Meier’s Civilization VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Hogwarts Legacy: Experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before in Hogwarts Legacy, which has been updated with Joy-Con 2 mouse support, improved graphics and audio, seamless map load times, and controls for Nintendo Switch 2. Players can become the center of their own adventure with this open-world, action role-playing game as they discover magical beasts, customize their character, master spell casting, and become the witch or wizard they want to be. Rediscover the magic when Hogwarts Legacy arrives on the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster: Follow four Warriors of Light on a journey to restore the elemental crystals in the HD remaster of the Nintendo 3DS RPG masterpiece, Bravely Default. Experience an RPG that brings new depth to classic, turn-based battles with the introduction of the “Brave & Default” system—featuring an array of options to customize your characters with over 20 unique jobs. The game also includes quality of life updates and two new minigames that leverage the dual mouse controls of Nintendo Switch 2. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Borderlands 4: Experience outrageous enemies and killer loot on the dangerous new planet of Kairos in Borderlands 4. Become an unstoppable force blasting through enemies with an arsenal of weaponry. Deftly defy death from every direction as players flex their skill expression with glide, dodge, fixed-point grapple, and more. Hop into the action when Borderlands 4 launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.

More adventure awaits in new and updated titles including…

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Two legendary Activision games return with new skaters, gnarlier tricks, a sicker soundtrack, and, for the first time in over a decade—new parks! Drop into cross-platform online multiplayer and relive the classic fun. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this summer.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition: With over 28 million copies sold worldwide, Elden Ring is an award-winning action RPG set in an authentic dark fantasy world. Explore treacherous dungeons and face epic boss battles. Including the base game, the “Shadow of the Erdtree” expansion, and new weapons, armor, a new Torrent appearance customization, and more, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut: Discover the decadence and danger of 1988 Japan in Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut. The definitive edition of the acclaimed origin story is coming first to Nintendo Switch 2. Players will have to fight through Tokyo and Osaka’s entertainment districts as Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in an epic crime drama. With the Director’s Cut, players will find deeper insights into character backstories and incidents with never-before-seen cutscenes, plus, the new Red Light Raid online multiplayer mode. Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Fortnite: Whether you want to be the last player standing in Battle Royale, Zero Build, Reload, and Fortnite OG, or you want to explore LEGO Fortnite experiences, blast to the finish with Rocket Racing or headline a concert with Fortnite Festival – the choice is yours. Find it all in Fortnite on Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.

Enter the Gungeon 2: Experience the reloaded sequel to the iconic bullet dungeon crawler with Enter the Gungeon 2. Featuring a new 3D art style, weapons, and new gameplay tricks, players can load in on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.

HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition: Enter the world of the ultimate assassin in HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition. Explore intricate environments as you use disguises and stealth to execute missions. Experience the best of HITMAN, HITMAN II, and HITMAN III including the main campaign, contracts mode, escalations, and more. HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.

Project 007: Step into the shoes of James Bond and earn your 00 status. Featuring a wholly original Bond story, Project 007 will come to Nintendo Switch 2.

And that’s not all, as Nintendo Switch 2 welcomes STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, DELTARUNE, Survival Kids, Star Wars Outlaws, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and more!

Overview Trailer

GameChat

[perkeleen-lavellan]

I feel like with any sincere discussion of Veilguard we should start off by establishing that there are multiple forms of 'fun' as it were, to be had from video games. The main purpose of a video game is, after all, to be fun. To entertain us.

So. With Veilguard I feel the problem is this; Veilguard succeeds at being fun. It succeeds at the kind of actionable fun. Veilguard is fun to actively play for most people. The combat is fun, the level design is fun, the main storyline is fun whenever we get to it. Veilguard offers fun that is quick and instant. I think it was no small feat that BioWare has finally managed to design levels and combat for a Dragon Age game that feels complete. Although I will go to my grave defending the tactical combat of DAO, it is a different more gripping kind of fun that Veilguard's mobility and systems can offer.

But there is another form a fun. The kind of fun you might be more used to associating with a good book. The fun of a story you can't wait to see the end of. The fun of fantasy world building, of seeing the marvel that is an author, or a collection of authors, who know what their vision is, and who are subtle enough to communicate that vision through fiction. The joy of seeing the result of experts building their craft. Environmental clues, implications in dialogue, tone in atmosohere. Seeing a good story unfold is fun, and with video games, which are an interactive audio visual medium how much moreso?

A book is just words, a show on tv is always linear and restricted to what the camera shows us. A video game has a whole three dimensional world that you can move inside of, witnessing the story and world building both passively and actively. A video game has dialogue and characters, who can both drive and narrate the plot for you. A video game can put you inside the world the story is happening in and immerse you in it.

And I feel that Veilguard fails to take advantage of the full breadth of the vast collection of storytelling tools a video game has. The fact that the companion quests and companion writing seems to have been left incomplete, pieces wilting on the cutting room floor when the companions are meant to be the emotional core of this story? The fact that all the factions are presented as unambiguous good guys which leaves them with no depth, their stories woefully superficial and unwilling to engage in any deeper ideas? The fact that vast amounts of world building and lore have been essentially discarded? That is all severely unfun.

So I think it's fair to say that Veilguard is fun and disappointing and not fun. The fun that I had while playing this game was always followed by a collection of things that were not fun. And the most annoying part is the parts about Veilguard which are fun are the parts that are fleeting. That I can find combat in a video game entertaining, extremely entertaining sometimes, is nothing when compared to the staying power of a gripping story with not just good set up and pay-off, but also an immaculate structure supporting that all the way throug.

When I am 80 years old I will not remember fondly the fact that Veilguard was the first Dragon Age game to finally have an actual dodge mechanic. There are always going to be games with fun combat mechanics, Veilguard isn't special for that. But I will remember Solas turning into a dragon sized wolf in a desperate bid to fight a dragon ten times his size, to help the hero he became a villain to. I will remember what it felt like to have a protagonist start off by treating Solas with suspicion, knowing there was no reason to trust Solas but choosing to give Solas a chance to prove himself trustworthy anyway, and Solas breaking that trust. And I'll remember what it felt like to have that protagonist then face Solas again, and make a choice to either be kind or to be just like Solas.

You will sometimes see gamers who say they don't really care about the writing in their games that much, but then their favourite games are things like The Witcher 3, God of War, The Last of Us. The reason they say that is because the writing is so integrally a part of the gameplay experience they don't even realise how much work it's doing. Fun gameplay doesn't matter if there is no reason to continue it.

Do you know what I remember about Dragon Age Veilguard? I remember dreading opening the game and seeing the list of companion quests in my journal that I had no interest in doing, because I had already realised how nothing a lot of them were. And I'm not talking about the gameplay of those quests, I think we've established I enjoyed smacking the bad guys and moving through the levels quite a bit. Oh no. I'm not even talking about the dialogue, not really. It was the stakes. Why were these characters doing these things, and why should I care? There was so little emotional conflict in those early to mid game companion quests.

Do you know how plot structure works when you really boil it down? Conflict is set up -> tension rises -> conflict comes to a head -> tension releases. This is why you need conflict and this is why you need characters to have flaws that they will not self psychoanalyze to a resolution within the first 5 minutes of the story. The realisation of those flaws is the plot! The character overcoming those flaws is the plot. You can't have a story without plot! What are we doing here????

That's how those quests felt. They felt like all the actually meaningful things the writers of these sub-plots had to say got crammed into their final quests. With a couple exceptions. And that's why doing most of the companion quests felt like a chore.

So, anyway, in summary. Remember that a video game contains within itself multiple forms of fun. As many forms of fun as there are ways of interacting with a game.

[pannman]

Fix it

Platonic Alastor x tech savy/graphic designer reader

He didn't quite understand you

In fact people never expected you to be friends, and it certainly didn't start put that way

You started out working at Voxtech, you spent hours designing advertisements and editing commercials but when Vox told you to start working for Valentino and editing his porn videos you refused. Vox gave you an ultimatum: work for Valentino or be fired. So with no job you decided to try your hand at redemption

You didn't count on Vox's greatest enemy being the facility manager

At first Alastor threatened you. Suspecting you might be a spy since you were associated with Vox but Charlie convinced him to give you a chance

So he mostly ignored you. Keeping conversations short. Especially since it seemed you guys had absolutely nothing in common

Charlie wanted to find away to put your skills to use for the good of the hotel. You suggested creating a website

Charlie loved that idea so you got to it. You designed and developed it. You made it simple but eye catchy. And you decided to regularly upload edited videos of the shenanigans going on the hotel to attract new patrons (and to give yourself some fun).

Charlie being the person that she is wanted Alastor and you to get along better so she came up with the brilliant idea for you to interview him and create a page on the website for first hand accounts

Alastor agreed and as long as it was not a filmed interview

You had prepared a list of questions

Q. Why did you decide to join the hotel?

A. I decided to help the pathetic princess in her silly little dream to watch others fail miserably in attempt to change their already determined fates as entertainment for myself

Q. What has been your favorite moment here at the hotel?

A. Possibly when Niffty released an entire colony of roaches into Angel's bed. That was quite hilarious!

Q. What progress do you think you or someone else has made thus far that's worth mentioning?

A. I finally managed to get my new radio tower to look exactly like the old one. It was nice gesture really. But I do have preferred place for everything

After that you didn't know if Charlie was still going to be for this idea

You really didn't think you and Alastor would ever see eye to eye until one night you woke up to a knock on your door

You jumped out of bed still in your pajamas and opened the door to see Alastor standing there

You were... quite surprised. He told you he needed your help and it couldn't wait till morning

You followed him to his radio tower to see his system short circuiting. He warned you not to get to close or you'd get a nasty shock

"You're the one who deals with this technology stuff, fix it!" You thought to point out the two issues here

1. You don't fix technology, you utilize it to make things

2. This radio recording system is really old and you only knew what you were doing with MODERN technology

But you could tell he was very agitated. You wondered how it even got broke in the first place

You decided to do the only thing you could think and you Voxtubed it

You found some weird guy with obsession for fixing ham radios and old vintage tvs and watched a few of his videos. After assessing the broken system there were a lot of similarities. And after one boring audio book and online purchase of some parts you fixed it

Alastor was impressed. He tried very hard not show it but he couldn’t help it.

Before he could get back to it. You decided to listen to last chapter of the audio book one last time to make sure it was up to code. Unfortunately you forgot to connect your Bluetooth

Alastor standing in the tower with impatiently tapping his foot waiting for you to give the ok so he can give his listeners a much delayed broadcast stiffened at the sound coming from your phone and static buzzed loudly in the air

"Lovely I imagine the imagery to this is just flashy and distracting as it always is" he says rather annoyed

"Actually" you replied "it's an audio book. There is no visuals. It's just sound. Someone reads aloud a book and records it for people to listen to" you pointed out

It was not that much different from radio

You apologized and told him you would connect back to your headphones so he didn't have to hear it

"You may leave it on" he said surprisingly. So you did

Finally when you were done you went about your business. Everything went back to normal. Except... Alastor kept calling upon you before every broadcast demanding you play your audio book again to look over his system to make sure it won't crash on him mid broadcast

And each time he told you there was no need for your headphones

You finally decided to grow a pair and challenge him

"Once again I'd like you to check it over and make sure it's up to code. Play your dumb sound book again and get to it" he spoke as if the audio book did not matter at all but you knew better

"Oh I have it memerized by now. No need to play it again" you responded mischievously

His eyes narrowed and you could hear the sound of a record scratch. "Now, now. I won't allow for any mistakes that would not end well for you. Now play it again" he demanded

"You know if you liked the audio book you could just say so. Also you don't have to listen to the same end chapter over and over again. I have other probably more exciting books" you proposed

He acted offended. "How dare you insinuate that I would enjoy something as pointless and boring as that." Of course he didn't want to admit that anything that came from technology could possibly be good in any way and he could never ACTUALLY like it. No way

"You know its not a lot different from radio. Telling stories with just your voice. Like any kind of art this is just another medium. Another way of expressing oneself. You don't have to suddenly be Mr. Technology guy to like audio books" you said

Alastor seemed to pause in thought. "Hmmm... fine. I guess... it wasn't too horrible to listen to literature being read aloud in a soothing voice. Maybe I'll give some other pieces a try"

And after that you were at the radio tower all the time. Playing audio books for him. You eventually showed him your art skills and showed off the new website. He taught you a lot about his Era and about radio. You guys even redid the interview live on his radio show. Though the results were still quite similar

Though Alastor still hated technology he respected that it was something you enjoyed. And he did listen to the occasional audio book, although it was more like he made you play it for him

An unlikely friendship had formed. And nobody saw it coming. But you wouldn't trade it for the world