#some fans are speculating this pr might be about a potential project

[larrylimericks]

17Mar25

The formula’s never finessed: Insta moots, dodgy pics, trashy press. The Sun shouts “Exclusive!” Which means it’s conclusive: Strictly business and strictly BS.

[theunsinkableship1]

ISN'T IT GORGEOUS?

I’d like to extend heartfelt congratulations to our beloved international treasure, Nicola. She truly is a princess of hearts, and watching her continue to grow and soar to new heights in her career is nothing short of inspiring. Her accomplishments are a testament to her hard work, undeniable talent, and grace, and we couldn’t be more proud. Seeing her conquer challenges and succeed with such ease and passion is both heartwarming and uplifting. Here’s to many more wins, achievements, and milestones for her. We can’t wait to witness everything she’s going to accomplish next! Cheers to Nicola!

It's strange how quickly some people rush to dismiss Nicola and Luke's relationship as just a work-based connection, a PR stunt, or a "fake" friendship when there's ample evidence pointing to a much deeper bond. Over the years, their friendship has been well-documented, with behind-the-scenes footage and public comments from those who know them, showing that their connection is anything but superficial. They’ve been described by colleagues as having a strong bond, and neither has ever publicly claimed to be "just friends" in the way many people are insisting. This insistence on downplaying their relationship as something impossible or purely professional disregards the reality that friendships can often develop into romantic relationships something that happens frequently between colleagues, especially actors who work closely together and portray on-screen love stories.

What's even more curious is how adamant some are about rejecting the idea that they could be attracted to each other or in love, as though it's an implausible notion. Actors share intense experiences during projects, including world tours like the one they embarked on, and these connections often lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships off-screen. The refusal to acknowledge this possibility, while belittling those who do, creates an unnecessary divide and downplays the obvious chemistry and bond between them. It's perfectly reasonable not to see romantic potential, but the effort to dismiss and invalidate others who do see it, with such force and false narratives, feels like a strange and unwarranted reaction.

And don't even get me started on the idea that them being in other relationships somehow disproves their connection. First off, neither Nicola nor Luke has publicly claimed anyone as a romantic partner, so all of those assumptions are just that... assumptions. People are so quick to use this as evidence when in reality, it proves nothing. Secondly, it's not unheard of for people in relationships to develop feelings for others, whether we like it or not. I'm not saying it's ideal, but it happens all the time, and it’s not unimaginable in this case either.

At this point, I'd need them both to explicitly state that they’re not in love with each other, never have been, and never will be, and even then, I’m not sure I'd fully believe them. They could easily be lying to themselves or avoiding acknowledging their feelings for a variety of reasons. Until they say that outright, I’m going to keep rooting for them… and even then, I might just keep rooting for them privately. Their chemistry is undeniable, and no amount of dismissal or denial is going to change that for me.

The statement Nicola makes about people wanting her to marry Luke, framed with a laugh, isn't a simple dismissal of romantic speculation it’s a deliberate acknowledgment. By addressing it directly, she keeps the conversation alive rather than shutting it down, signaling an openness about the connection they share. Describing their relationship as having "such a love for one another" and stating it's a bond she won’t have with anyone else suggests something deeper and more unique than ordinary friendship.

Instead of being incidental, this comment feels purposeful, as if to offer just enough to acknowledge the chemistry that fans observe, without fully clarifying the nature of it. By talking about their special bond in such a heartfelt way, Nicola leaves room for interpretation, subtly implying that their relationship is not just platonic but potentially more significant.

That’s how I interpret it, but I could be wrong. Time will tell, I guess. Either way, I’ll continue to cheer for them, whether as a couple or as individuals. I believe they’re both equally talented, beautiful inside and out, and truly remarkable human beings. I genuinely want to see them succeed, and if they do it as a couple, that would be perfect!

[septembersghost]

What do you think of the idea that this was PR for SNTV so that everyone would be paying attention to the Nash shows?

oof. okay, first of all, and this isn't aimed at you anon, but everyone has gotten way too comfortable using the term "PR" inappropriately, to the point where it's meaningless, because you get people online saying everything they see ever is PR when that's simply not the case and a lot of things are just...humans living life who happen to do so in the public eye. but the whole point of the concept there is some benefit. this is not an instance where there's benefit of publicity - trolling potential aside, because that would serve a different purpose - all eyes are already on her.

she knows fans pay attention to the shows every week (even the ones like me who aren't viewing the livestreams! i read along with the updates as they happen but haven't watched, others might check in the next day due to time zones or busy schedules, and so on), no matter what we all know what happens and what surprise songs she plays and what she might've said, and we know very quickly. every entertainment and music outlet is paying attention. an album announcement would make spectacular noise and immediately be reported no matter what.

furthermore, stoking romance/personal rumors, if anything, takes *away* from the announcement, it doesn't add to it - hence the internet being in a dither about matty rather than only being focused on excitement over SNTV. why on earth would she intentionally court speculation and rumor that distracts from an important project? moreover, why with someone who undeniably would be controversial and cause anger/annoyance? how does that help her? (answer: it's irrelevant to her if she likes him.) i'd be slightly inclined to think it was a silly joke for the sake of 1989 TV and a potential collab if she'd announced that album instead, but everything about the optics, especially given very recent events and history, has such overwhelming negative downsides with really no upsides as far as press and reactions go. so PR for SNTV specifically makes very little sense to me, versus her being in a do-whatever-i-want-with-whoever-i-want moment (which, let's be real, is not out of character).

it's either a (perhaps ill-timed and unclear) bit of shenanigans between chaotic friends or it's...whatever it is, and we're going to be living with that rebound reality for a bit. he took a very long trip to get to a hometown show for her...we're gonna have to face what that means, particularly after not seeing the person we thought we should have seen on opening night. i didn't want to read into that absence before, but unfortunately information is now what it is. (me @ mr. bowery: you should've been there! you should've burst through the door with that, "baby, i'm right here" smile!)

the announcement of SNTV would've happened last night no matter what, i'd lay odds she's had that planned for the first night of nashville for quite a while. the matty of it all is a wrinkle, not a boost. the only thing i hope is that it doesn't have any negative ramifications for her (not necessarily in the press, but in her personal life. having fun is fine, i just don't want her to be hurt anymore than what's already happened, you know?).

ultimately, what we all have to remember is that boundary - we don't know her directly. we have no say or influence over her decisions or personal life. that doesn't mean we have to like them, but we have zero input into her making those choices. all we can continue to do is what we already do, support her artistry, wish her the best, and cherish her music.

[bakagamieru]

Hi!!! I’m hoping you can help - do you know why Zayn left One Direction? He was partying with Louis on March 14 in Thailand and left the band on March the 25th. So what happened in those 9 days for him to leave? I just don’t get it!! TIA!!

Hello,

It wasn’t anything in those 9 days that made him leave.  In fact, I don’t think it was his idea to leave at all.

I have a masterpost outlining most of my speculation relating to this: http://bakagamieru.tumblr.com/post/120840259353/zayn-stunt-summary

Of course there are other fans/bloggers (known as Team Stunt mostly) that have speculated about this as well.

Disclaimers

Please bare with me here and read the whole post (and preferably the other posts in my masterpost) before writing this theory off.  I 100% believe that if anyone takes the time to look at the evidence, it will become obvious that something very fishy is going on.  It’s just logic.

If you’re not coming into this post with the knowledge of 1D’s adversarial relationship with their team or with the knowledge that there are closeted gay couples within the 1D band (Louis and Harry, Liam and Zayn), then you might want to check that out first.  There are good resources out there for all of it.  I have some of it linked on my “ziam resources” and “larry resources” tags or on my Projects and Posts and Tags and Links pages.

It’s important to know what’s going on with these things and the history of 1D and their team because Zayn leaving being a stunt is a part of and a continuation of that.  

It might also help to check out who Zayn really is since a false and negative characterization of him has taken hold because of his public persona since his leaving.  I’ve got a few things linked on my summary masterpost.  Another tag on my blog to check out would be “pairing masterpost” (look for any including Zayn).  There’s also this post and this post and this post that show who Zayn is beyond the broody bad boy image he’s always been saddled with, extremely so in his solo career.  Myself, I think the lyrics from his solo albums, particularly Mind of Mine but also the Icarus part of Icarus Falls, shows who he is better than anything.  There’s no way to fake the gentleness and thoughtfulness inherent in the sentiments he chooses to express.  

Even if you know Zayn well already, it’s always good to revisit these because it can be hard to fully avoid the effects of being bombarded by everyone telling you he’s a selfish, erratic, rash, and disloyal person.  It’s good to be reminded of exactly how dorky, geeky, sweet, protective, thoughtful, intelligent, and caring he is.

Let’s Get Into It

The thing that made us start wondering about a stunt was the way Zayn left.  It doesn’t particularly make sense for a lot of reasons.

1) He had been more engaged than usual at the start of the OTRA tour, talking to fans on social media and practicing to get better at giving speeches on stage.  He was also just as affectionate with the other boys on stage as ever.

2) The reasons they gave for Zayn leaving were many and yet none of them ever made sense.  The WAY he left is also baffling.

Originally the implication was that Zayn left because he was caught “cheating again” on Perrie.  This is unlikely because 1) Zayn was never truly dating Perrie as it was a PR/bearding relationship (yes there is proof), and 2) Zayn and Perrie officially broke up that August anyway and if Zayn left for her, that would take away his reason for leaving and yet he didn’t return.  The same sort of theory popped up with the idea of Naughty Boy luring him away, but again, 1) Naughty Boy had been very pro-1D the year before, and 2) Zayn and Naughty Boy had a “falling out” and yet Zayn didn’t return to 1D.

They said anxiety immediately after he left, but then he started a solo career that’s bound to be more anxiety-inducing if someone has stage fright.  If the worst part of the job is dealing with people, then why would you get rid of the people who distracted most of the interviewer’s attention during interviews and the people who shared the stage with you?

They said he never liked being in the band, but if he likes the music/performing part (he ostensibly did because of going solo) and he likes the boys (there’s no real proof he doesn’t), that only leaves his management team to be causing the problem.  One Direction was just about to end their active contract with Syco/Modest, so why leave the band and risk penalties and censure instead of sticking it out until the end of the year?

Some said he left to go solo first and get the spotlight, but he didn’t actually release solo music until after the hiatus started, he risked a really negative public image by doing so, Simon Cowell had actually claimed the fall before that 1D members could do solo music while in the band, and he missed one of the concerts he’d been really looking forward to (Dubai) instead of at least waiting until the end of that tour leg when there would be a month-long break.  

Additionally, even though Zayn is supposed to be “free of Syco”, it’s pretty clear that his own team is sabotaging his solo career with a complete lack of promo and unnecessarily negative print interviews.  Zayn can’t be blamed for this because even if those things were his choice, they’re not going to earn money and his team has a vested interest in that and yet would apparently be doing nothing about it.  Going back to the theory that Zayn left because of not liking how Syco/Modest did things, clearly him going solo didn’t fix that problem whatsoever and Zayn is too smart to cut ties and burn bridges only to jump from one bad situation into another.

Some people say all of the above things were lies to cover the fact that Zayn and 1D just didn’t get along.  There’s no proof of this.  Like I said, he was just as affectionate with them leading up to his departure.  He was very complimentary of them right after he left, and then suddenly there were Twitter fights with Louis out of nowhere (very suspicious Twitter fights by the way), a supposed feud with Harry (that has only ever existed in the headlines as there is literally no proof other than “a source said”), and negative and then positive and then negative and then positive comments in print interviews despite this being very inconsistent with the official narrative of what’s happened.  Zayn has never from his own mouth said something vitriolic about the other boys.  In fact, the way he talks about them in his few radio/tv interviews is far more positive than his supposed words in print interviews (which can be manipulated very easily).

They claim that Zayn up and decided to leave and then caught a plane without anybody knowing and went back to the UK.  This is very unlikely considering all of the people around him that would notice like the bodyguards, etc.  Also, this assumes Zayn is the type of person who would make such a rash, snap decision.  They also announced him officially leaving not long after which begs the question, did Syco/Modest do nothing to try to persuade/coerce 1/5 of their biggest money-maker to at least finish the tour?

The way it was announced was quite odd, considering it was posted on Facebook of all places immediately after the end of a concert and sounded extremely impersonal like a PR person wrote it (which Zayn later confirmed).  The Mirror also reported on the announcement almost immediately which means they had to be tipped off because they wouldn’t have had time to find the announcement and create an article about it otherwise.

The other odd thing is that there were never any consequences for Zayn leaving.  He’s part of a huge money-making band and he broke a contract with his team, so you would assume that they would 1) sue him, 2) demand he pay the very high fee for getting out of the contract, or 3) drop him from the label/management agency and make sure no one else will work with him in the industry.  None of these things happened.  There’s obviously been no suit as it would have made news.  There was no payoff because Zayn’s net worth never changed in such a dramatic way.  Originally the story was that Syco ONLY let Zayn leave if he signed to them for his solo career, but then Syco claimed to have dropped Zayn BECAUSE he left, but then Syco was still listed on his first solo release (which is sketchy in and of itself).

And let’s talk about the timing once more because there’s a little more to it.  He left 7 shows before the end of the Asia/Africa leg of OTRA.  This meant that he missed the Dubai show which was in an area of the world where he was very popular, where he has cultural ties, and where he had explicitly said he was excited to perform.  That leg was the last leg before a planned 1-month tour break, which would have been a much more logical time to leave, break it to the fans, deal with the paperwork, etc.  That tour was also the last tour before the hiatus.  No, it wasn’t announced until later, but it’s very unlikely it wasn’t planned before that.  Even the fans kind of assumed there would be some sort of break after the album since as far as anyone could guess, that was going to be the end of the Syco/Modest contract time period.  

If Zayn couldn’t stand the band or wanted to go solo or couldn’t stand his management team, there was an obvious out coming up that would have been way less complicated and would have had way fewer potential negative consequences.  For any reason but anxiety (which is eliminated because of the baffling solo career decision), it doesn’t make sense for him to leave instead of waiting out the year.  

There are any number of oddities about the way he left and the given reasons for him leaving.  No matter what theory you look at, it isn’t consistent with logic OR with Zayn’s character and past actions.

So these things were why some of us were suspicious from the start and paid close attention as the events unfolded.  As we did, we just caught more and more inconsistencies and suspicious things.

3) Finally, I need to point out one massive area of evidence about Zayn’s leaving being a (particularly long-lived [although only a couple months longer than babygate]) stunt.  The shade.

The 1D boys have a long history of throwing shade that contradicts the official narrative, thus cluing fans in that some lie is being told.  There’s hella shade around Zayn’s leaving from both him and from the other boys.

The masterpost I linked at the top contains several posts about this, so I’m not going to rehash that here.  However, I will briefly go into what I think is the most compelling evidence that Zayn was actually planned to return to the band in August 2015.

The reason I find this particular shade so compelling is because it’s actually a pattern of shade, and not only is it a pattern of shade, it’s actually 5 overlapping and coordinated patterns of shade.  

The basic idea is that Zayn was scheduled to return on August 5th, around July 26th the boys learned that the return was delayed, the 2nd scheduled return was probably August 18th, and then that return was also delayed/cancelled.

First is Niall’s all-black pattern.  Niall had never worn an all-black outfit on stage before and he’d never repeated the same outfit more than 2 times in a row during a tour, but starting from the concert before Zayn left, he wore all black for 8 shows in a row until the end of that tour leg.  He stopped for the European leg and some of the NA leg.  Then, 8 shows before the August 5th show, Niall starting wearing all black again, like a bookend.  He didn’t make it to 8 shows consecutively because plans got changed, but he did continue wearing some amount of black at almost every show until the end of a tour in an organized pattern.

Second is Rainbow Bondage Bear’s (“RBB”) stickers.  In mid to late August, people started associating the recurring blue and green stickers on RBB with Louis and Harry because of their blue and green mic grips.  In fact, there were orange and yellow stickers (Niall and Zayn) before that, and a red sticker (Liam) showed up after that at strategic times.  The interesting thing is, Zayn’s yellow sticker was up for exactly 8 shows, ending on, you guessed it, August 5th.

Third is the Batman references.  With Liam taking the lead, the references to Batman skyrocketed in August.  Participants included Liam, some of the musical band members, Naughty Boy, and Zayn (yes, both sides participated).  Three particularly compelling references when put together are 1) the bat symbol that was put on the big screen at the 1D concert in Kansas City after the show (the bat signal traditionally calls Batman to come to it), 2) Zayn posting a fanart of his own name in the bat symbol (indicating himself as Batman), and 3) Naughty Boy posting a quote from Batman about the darkest moment being just before the dawn, which he posted with the hashtag “comesoon” (indicating a positive change coming soon).  All together, it’s hard not to read them as a sign that Zayn was supposed to return to the 1D stage soon.  Incidentally, RBB wore a Batman costume on, yes, August 5th.

Fourth is the 5th of the month pattern.  On the 5th of the month, from June 2015 to September 2015, something Ziam-related always happened with the exception of August 5th.  On June 5th Liam wore a ring (unusual for him at the time) in concert.  Surrounding circumstances point to it being Zayn-related.  On July 5th there was a video taken of Liam singing and coming out of the shower where surrounding circumstances point towards Zayn being the one filming.  On September 5th, Zayn and Liam started posting Instagram pictures that seemed to mirror each other or hint at Ziam in some way.  On August 4th, the Zerrie break up was announced, but on August 5th there was nothing in particular.  However, there would have been if that had been the first concert Zayn returned.

Fifth and final is related to the in-ears the boys wear on stage (and specifically to the 2nd return date this time, August 18th).  Oddly enough, the boys seem to change their in-ears in overly patterned ways and although I can’t identify what exactly they’re marking all the time, some of the ones I can link match up to Zayn’s leaving and potential return.  Liam wore a different set of in-ears for the last 5 concerts of the Asia/Africa leg of OTRA, starting on the Jakarta concert which was the first after Zayn’s official leaving announcement was made.  Later, starting on the Winnipeg show on July 24, the first show after Niall’s all-black bookend was disrupted (indicating Zayn’s return date was probably in flux at that point), Niall wore different in-ears for 3 shows.  Then Niall switched back to his regular and Liam picked up the pattern seamlessly by wearing different in-ears for 3 shows and 1 TV performance.  There are 2 possible ways this pattern could have ended that would make sense.  1) Liam could have counted the TV performance, worn in-ears for 1 more show and that would have completed Liam’s bookend of 5 different in-ears ending the show before Zayn’s (2nd scheduled) return on August 18th.  This would have resulted in a total of 8 performances with different in-ears counting both Liam and Niall and both concerts and TV performances, which partially (it doesn’t end on the concert Zayn would return)matches Niall’s bookend pattern.  2) Liam could have not counted the TV performance (the in-ears are almost exclusively a concert pattern) and worn in-ears for 2 more concerts, resulting in 8 total different in-ear shows ending on Zayn’s 2nd return date, completing Niall’s bookend pattern.  This would also mean Liam wore his in-ears for 5 performances, partially matching his bookend pattern (but not ending before the concert Zayn would return).  Again, I think the pattern was disrupted because Zayn’s return was again delayed (indefinitely as it turns out).

All of these patterns are explained in more detail (and with visuals because heaven knows it’s just a lot of dates and numbers without seeing it) in posts that are linked to my masterpost.  

There are also several other surrounding events that seem to confirm Zayn’s delayed returns such as:

the Zerrie break up;

an aborted Zayn-Naughty Boy fight;

the advent of positive 1D-Zayn relations leading up to August and then negative press resuming around August 17th;

a few things that might match up relating to Niall’s Where We Goin’ Today Mark video shade pattern; and 

the release of Drag Me Down which seems to have possibly been moved up by a week or so, indicating it originally might have been an OT5 song meant to be released around Zayn’s return.

To me, the fact that these patterns were so obviously deliberate (they’re way too organized not to be) and that they all overlap and point to the same dates, along with the fact that people from both camps participated in the Batman pattern, points to a definite return plan that was positively anticipated by both the boys and Zayn.

If I were to ever wonder if maybe Zayn really didn’t want to return even if leaving wasn’t his idea in the first place, this is what makes me positive that he did.  

If I ever wonder if maybe there was a falling out with Zayn and the boys after he left, even if he didn’t want to leave to start with, the shade from both sides makes it obvious to me that there never was any real bad blood.  If they all go to the trouble to contradict the official story, then clearly the official story must be a lie and the boys must all be on the same page.

Conclusion

I know this is a long post, but this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sketchiness around Zayn leaving.  

Unfortunately, I haven’t followed through on organizing all the evidence like I had planned to at one point, but I think the masterpost I put together does cover a lot even if it’s a bit repetitive with some posts and a bit disorganized.

If anyone has questions that aren’t already covered in the masterpost, go ahead and send me an ask.

[laveritaswoman]

What’s the Big Deal?

Just came across these new pics of two beautiful couples on the red carpet: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively at the Deadpool 2 premiere and Jamie Dornan and Amelia Warner at the Old Vic Bicentenary Ball (a pic, coincidentally, that S happened to “Like”. Both couplings are made up of successful married actors who look pretty happy to be appearing in public with their spouse, many years and several children after they tied the knot.

These coupley pics made me nostalgic for all the magic S and C once had that made them so special to all of us. From the time they met at C’s screen test in 2013 until the IFH in 2016, we were treated to an off-the-charts chemistry from two people who acted and looked, from all appearances, like a couple in love off-screen as well as on. But then the fuckery began with the IFH, with C in particular implying then and on other occasions that they could not be together because it would be too hard to be with someone else in the business. Since the IFH, we’ve had occasional glimpses of the pre-IFH magic, but soon after we’re subjected to some form of fuckery, whether it be adjacent trolling, a bizarre engagement, UBA photoshops, or fake pap walks.

I look at these other happy couples in which both spouses are actors and I think of the negative relationship comments C has made. Comments where she blithely dismisses the very possibility of dating or marrying another actor because of the potential problems caused by the ups and downs of the profession. Problems in a marriage can occur no matter what vocation either spouse is engaged in. Despite what C says about the downside of dating an actor, couples like Blake/Ryan, Jamie/Amelia and many others have successfully navigated this path by demonstrating a  commitment to treating each other as equals, supporting one another’s projects, and keeping their private lives private.

So when we see successful A-list actor pairings, who ignore all the outside noise and make their marriages work despite both being “in the profession,” it begs the question: if C-list actors S and C are in fact in a RL relationship with one another, what is the big deal and why are they going to such extremes to deny it and keep it hidden? The level of potential intrusion from fans in their private lives would be 1/16th of what A-lister actor couples would experience and most of those couples are doing just fine, so ... just ... why?  

I think we shippers ask ourselves that every day, especially when we’re treated to a rather nasty dose of fuckery. So what are the potential reasons S and C could be together privately but living a lie publicly and how well has it worked for them? 1. Well, if this sham is a brainchild of S and C, it is failing and appears to have taken the glow from their faces and the ebullience/chemistry out of their interactions – one of the very things that originally made them stand out from other actors and brought many shippers, followers, and viewers on board OL. Under current conditions, IMO, if movie scouts were to see their wan appearances and lack of banter and interaction on the red carpet, I can’t imagine them giving S or C a second thought for movie roles. 2. If it’s a non-frat driving this narrative, then S and C, their managers, and TPTB need to reassess the whole “not together” approach and acknowledge that it’s created either a negative effect or no notable positive effect. In fact, a positive effect would be best accomplished by allowing S and C to drop their charade and their adjacents and return to how they acted with one another before the IFH -- that’s what helped draw people to the show. 3. If S and C are concealing a relationship because they want awards panels and casting agents to believe their great onscreen chemistry is just amazing acting, they may have succeeded in reinforcing that through their many RL relationship denials, but has it really helped them? C has received some noms and awards, but she hasn’t appeared in any roles outside of OL since the IFH and S has had one supporting role thus far, in an LG movie. 4. If it’s to protect other people in S/C’s private life from fan intrusion, I refer you once again to A-listers like Jamie/Amelia and Ryan/Blake, who have successful marriages and children whilst maintaining their privacy. I think S and C would get more privacy if they came out with the truth. Then people would stop obsessing with speculation and sleuthing. 5. Another theory is that the denial may be in place to hide what S and C or TPTB might perceive would be a loss of viewers if a same-sex orientation is the issue for one of them. Hello, this is 2018 -- most people are accepting of gay actors in straight parts and if S were gay IRL, the majority of fans/viewers would still embrace him as the manly OL Highlander that he has played so well on screen for many years. And if some fans/viewers are not OK with that, why would S and C even care if they lost these fans? S, and particularly C, have numerous friends in same-sex relationships and both post in support of gay rights, so wouldn’t it be hypocritical to beard or hide the fact that one of them was gay? 6. Maybe S and C are really just not together or were but now aren't. Then why are these expensive and draining games necessary? 7. Finally, in the unlikely event that T is in fact a real fiance, then C needs to do herself, T and everyone else a favor and own the man by actually saying the words “my fiance Tony” in an interview, or by posting a pic of her and T on SM and labeling it “me and my fiance Tony.” And also by actually treating him like he’s a fiance/SO in public, not just a PA that holds her purse and wanders about aimlessly behind her at events. C needs to actually look at T, walk with him, talk to him, smile at him and touch him, you know, things that normal couples do and kind of what she does (still) with her platonic co-star S. 

SMH at all the time- and energy-wasting antics that have gone into this charade of S and C’s. Own your truth, S and C, whatever it is, and get back to focusing on OL -- you know, the actual TV show and not the Droughtlander sideshow. And speaking of Droughtlander: since we still have a few more months of drought left to go and more in coming years, hire more skilled promotional/PR staff and give fans and viewers something “real” to focus on instead of fake narratives.   

[gaycey-sketchit]

(Gary anon) I understand the complaints about Ash how much should contributes to Goh's missions and JN's power-scaling; but this clearly isn't to meant to be an Ash-centered fight. (Plus, this Articuno had a OHKO move on it. Which would have caused more problems for Charizard) It felt like Goh rejected Gary as soon as he saw him; which yeah expected, but no insults were thrown period. (This is arguably the least he's "teased" Goh) Plus, Gary gave him a choice to work with him or not.

.

(Part 2) (It's fair that a number felt Gary hold some responsibility; but if you're thinking his character regressed completely or thought he was just a flat-out bully, you're missing the point of what he was trying to do. Goh showed aversion to this mission throughout the episode, even with Ash and Tokio's encouragement. Something that happened before he when Project Mew was presented to him) Gary very easily could've gotten into a verbal fight with Goh, but chose to focus

(Part 3) on the task at hand and even sent his Pokemon to take the fall for each drawback. He earned that leadership token. (This failure was very needed for Goh to wake up)It's ironic cause if you're acting like this with Gary; concerning Goh, why would you want Paul doing something that's similar or potentially worse to him too? (Which again,would make no sense at this point. We get why Gary [while retaining his development] is being this way with Goh, but what would Goh get)

(Part 4) (out of Paul calling him "pathetic" or curb-stomping him in a battle? What would PAUL get out of this?) I'm glad his battling skills were still on display, despite what happened. (Still open to becoming a Gym Leader; while keeping researching side) For analysis on a certain character, I think it's often better to primarily focus on just their episodes [or any place they show up] than doing a whole series rewatch. You'll catch things you didn't noticed before. (This episode does)

(Part 5) (have me wonder with Gary having somewhat of his own loner-ish tendencies; he's trying open Goh's eyes to the bad points of it) Similar to how he kept reminding Ash to not get a swelled head like he did and keeping your mind open. (In turn, Goh might loosen him and Tsurugi up a bit) Heh, for as much as a fan favorite [and being a starter] it is, it's sad. But it wouldn't be the first that's happened to other favorites in the anime. *gestures to Scizor being a punching bag*

(Part 6, p. 2) And there we go: Yamper episode for the 22th, Greninja return [with Lucario development] for the 29th. (Looks like the speculation on Greninja was correct on Greninja possibly being a mentor to Lucario cause of "Battle Bond".) Not counting those who either already had physical or speaking appearances, that leaves just Paul as the only one left. (Definitely certain now he's a May release, wonder what that means for the character montage in the OP afterwards)

Yeah.

It sure seemed that way, yeah. On sight. Gary barely said anything. And what antagonism there was was extremely light, like pointing out something completely true (”it takes nothing to rile you up”) and the “you’re not scared, are you?” that was clearly just a nudge to action like it is whenever anyone says that.

Yeah, it’s fair to say he was at least a little bit at fault, but his character definitely hasn’t regressed and it’s been outright said multiple times now that he acts the way he does toward Goh for a reason and it’s not just petty antagonism. Even Goh himself has started to understand what Gary’s deal is now. Hopefully the fandom will follow suit.

I honestly like this struggle of Goh’s, from a writing standpoint and because I really sympathize with it. He’s never had many friends (which already shows a struggle to connect with people), so of course he has a hard time working with a group. I get it, and I’ll be very happy to see him overcome it.

Absolutely. Gary could’ve engaged in argument and it would’ve been understandable, but he didn’t. He had his priorities in order and focused on dealing with Articuno, and he handled his part (in both leadership and commanding his own Pokemon) skillfully despite everything.

Yeah, it was definitely necessary. Goh had something to learn and now he can grow as a person from that.

Yeah. At this point I’ve probably made it extremely clear how I feel about Paul so I can’t say I get it. I don’t see what the point would be from like, any standpoint?

Yeah, it’s good to see he’s still a strong and skillful battler. And how far he’s come since he faced Mewtwo in EP063, a fight in which he pretty much immediately gave in to panic (understandably so because at that point he was much less experienced, and also facing a Mewtwo commanded by a very bad person all alone so he was completely screwed from the start).

I still think that’d be neat for him too! Reclamation!

Yeah, I’ve done similar before (for fanfic purposes, mostly). It’s definitely good for that, you can notice a lot of subtler aspects of a character that way!

That’s a good point! Love that he’s trying to make sure other people don’t make the mistakes he has. Such a wise ten year old. (I love Pokeani’s “time passes and characters experience personal growth but nobody gets any older” writing so much, by the way.)

That’d be good, yeah. Would love to see that for them.

Oh man, poor Scizor. I still remember that clip that went around from the Sun and Moon anime of Guzma’s Golisopod switching itself out for his Scizor, which immediately took a fire blast. I’m laughing again just thinking about it, I feel so bad for that Scizor but it just wraps back around to being funny.

Yamper getting some spotlight again! Greninja return is cool too I guess(/j, I know people who have seen XY love that frog).

Yeah, him turning up in May sounds right! And I guess after that’d probably be when the character montage in the OP would change--it’ll be interesting to see who turns up in it then. I guess we’ll see what happens in the coming months! It’s an exciting time! (Personally out of the confirmed upcoming returns, I’m most excited for Wallace and Lisia. Love me some coordinators, and I found Lisia really cute in ORAS. Even if her saying “there’s no rivals in contests” made me laugh because I have seen the AG and DP anime and there are so many rivals in contests.)

[idolizerp]

for fun, have admins ever given thought to what each of the fandoms would act like or be known for? (i.e., exo/bts fans being crazy, cube fans being considerate, etc.)

Hey! This is a great question, so we’ve broken down our thoughts on different groups fans below ^^

MIDAS in general tend to have more hardcore fans who are willing to shell out money, stream, vote, etc.

> Olympus: out of all the groups on the site, Olympus arguably has the biggest fanbase. However, they also by large have the largest amount of akgae fans, as well as sasaengs. They are an extremely loyal fanbase (even if there are large portions loyal to only one member) and are quick to shield and protect the boys from scandals if at all possible. Of course, Olympians are known to be mildly crazy, to the point of tailing the boys, pulling odd stunts, trying to tear down one member at the cost of another, etc. They’re definitely not the cleanest fandom out there, but they’ll show up in droves to make sure their boys win awards and set records.

> Fantasy: An odd blending of sweet or sour. There are two camps within the Dreamer fandom, though perhaps this will blow over as the girls work their way out of rookie status. There is the supportive camp who want all the girls to succeed equally, and then there’s the side that is actively rooting or supporting only one subunit, getting angry when one is supported more, etc. Despite this, true to Midas fans in general, they are loyal to the group.

99 in general tend to have fans that stress the skillsets of idols while ignoring the fact that other companies have perfectly talented idols too. Generally pretty loyal, considering 99 doesn’t give them a lot of releases to keep them happy. Maybe that’s why some of them wind up getting so fanatical. 

> Heaven: While Heaven has received notoriety and nearly everyone knows their name, Heaven has a relatively small fanbase with the general public being the ones that often shoot them up in the charts. However, the fans that they do have are very supportive of the girls, and after being in the industry for so long, have a relatively good artist-fan relationship. Angels and Heaven are known to be pretty chill around each other, with some members being friendly with longtime fansite masters.

> POIZN: The cures that are still around after POIZN’s many scandals are in deep. Their fanbase is obsessive, protective, and sometimes wildly delusional. They often cite that POIZN members are the only true artists in the industry, and that it makes up for their less than ideal behavior. Their fans can toe the line of acceptability, but they do work hard in defending the boys from the onslaught of comments that they get. But sometimes that’s a double edged sword, as the fans feel like they’re owed something. 

> Imperial: Imps are caught somewhere between Heaven and POIZN’s fandom. They stick with the group, but often feel that Imperial gets slighted. Resources go into constantly bailing out POIZN and then putting out new music, the company always leans on Heaven when they need more PR friendly recognition, and it often leaves Imperial on the sidelines. Despite being public friendly, their fans work harder than the company does to promote them. 

MSG’s fans are really group dependent. Since the company is all over the place and experimenting with sound, it means that there are less “company stans” and more singular group stans that aren’t willing to branch out and support everyone under MSG’s roster.

> Honey: Honey has an odd mishmash of fans, so it’s hard to put labels on them. The core of the bumblebee fandom is largely men, which while they can be supportive can also be unpredictable (will they stay when the next “hot” group debuts? and what’s with all the creepy zoomed in fancams?). This is balanced out with extreme popularity among the younger/preteen crowd (who will happily stream Honey, but don’t really have the funds to shell out for merchandise). Since they have a larger public appeal, they also have a wider net of more casual fans who will happily buy their album or attend concerts when possible. A hot/cold take on fandoms, both obsessive and only mildly interested.

> Galaxy: Galaxy has what is known to be the most “chill” fandom. They’re extremely welcoming and supportive of everything that the boys do. They’re great at setting up fan projects, promoting concerts, and being the operational force behind large donation birthday gifts in the boys’ names. Constellations are often pointed to as being one of the best fandoms to be a part of, even if they’re not as big as some of the others. But then, maybe that’s the reason why they’re able to operate so smoothly and maturely.

> CHERRY BOMB!:  CHERRY BOMB! started off as having far more female fans than male fans. But as the concepts have been rolling into more sultry, their male fanbase has been growing. Despite this, the female core stayed and it means that the fandom is still generally pretty loyal and organized and also that they bring in a decent amount of revenue, as everyone knows it’s female fans that shell out. They’re known for being relatively level-headed, though are often referred to as bitter by other fandoms since they’re constantly complaining about how CHERRY BOMB! is being wronged, getting the short end of the stick, or coming up with conspiracy theories. 

KJH’s fans are a mix of Korean and international fans. This can sometimes cause a divide, but there’s not denying that the added interest is helping to propel their group toward more fame. KJH fans have almost aggressively bought into the company’s (very manufactured) narrative of being the underdog and as a result have developed a big complex about being perpetually overlooked/jilted/underestimated. While that was true once, to a degree, it’s certainly not to the extent they’ve taken it in their own narratives. 

> Atlas: The world started off as a very level headed and supportive fandom. They went out of their way to try and get the boys attention, banded together for tiny fan-signs, and screamed their names at music shows. But comeback after comeback, Atlas has been growing, and so has it’s fandom. The more people who are added, the crazier the fandom gets dubbed. Considering this is all new, Atlas could potentially be having a hard time transitioning between having such a small, loyal fanbase to having one who is now starting to be called cutthroat, rude, and chasing after Olympus’ ‘worst fandom’ title. 

> Jawbreaker: Considering how long the girls have been around (sans the new addition), and how low a release rate they’ve had, SweeT’s have turned themselves into what is considered an elitist fandom. They get uppity about cute concepts (there are fanwars sparking up notably between SweeT’s, bumblebees, and dreamers), but are also known to attack all other fandoms especially in areas like PANN. While they’re not the friendliest bunch, they’re loyal to a fault and want ‘justice’ for Jawbreaker.

Koala T.’s fans are an assortment. The company doesn’t have a “true” musical vision. Instead, they create a multitude of acts in hopes that eventually one will stick. This means they don’t carry around die hard fans who are willing to support all the groups in the company, or who would be willing to move from an older group to a newly debuted one under the same company.

> WINK: their fans are overwhelming male. For the moment, this is a good thing. They’re requested often at the army, their concerts are well attended, and their fan signs are filled. However, this leads to expectations from the girls as well. They have to make sure to keep their personal life clean -- or at least -- hidden from the press. If you’re dating and the fans find out? It could start up a chain reaction, and it could lead to them deciding to leave you for a different group entirely. It also means the girls need to deal with some male fans trying to take less-than-innocent fancams when they’re close to the stage. Koala T. doesn’t seem to be pushing to try and appeal to potential female fans, which can be dangerous - core male fans tend to be fickle, leading some to speculate WINK's meteoric rise to be a bubble that can pop at any moment. But their current fanbase is quite smitten with them, and the girls are known to have incredibly deep fanchants during events and music stages due to the numbers of them.

> XLNC: their fandom isn’t quite so big as the other groups. Koala T.’s had a tough time of trying to figure them out. Form their music, to their image. Are they idol, or are they band? How should they promote them? This has led to a fandom that, while very dedicated, isn’t as loud or defensive as a lot of fandoms from more ‘standard’ idol groups. They’re a lot more easy going, and it might be because they have a higher chance of winning raffles for fan signs, or having an easier time ticketing for concerts. They’re happy to support their boys, and trade leniency for the ability to boast about how close they are to XLNC. And they are -- XLNC are known to be quite thoughtful and close to their fan base.

[aion-rsa]

Xbox Series S: 4 Theories About the Next-Gen Console

https://ift.tt/30L9LZu

Recently leaked photos of Microsoft’s next-gen controller have seemingly confirmed the existence of a device known only as the Xbox Series S.

Long-standing rumors have suggested that Microsoft intends to release another console alongside the Xbox Series X, but nobody seems to be able to agree on what, exactly, the Xbox Series S is. In lieu of confirmation, though, there’s an abundance of theories about Microsoft’s mysterious next-gen platform.

So join us as we breakdown four of the most popular Xbox Series S theories in an attempt to discover what Microsoft’s mysterious next-gen device will offer that the Xbox Series X will not.

The Xbox Series S Is a Less Powerful Version of the Xbox Series X

This particular possibility has the unique distinction of being the most logical, yet unlikely, Xbox Series S option.

Right now, the “X” and “S” branding for Xbox is relatively simple. The Xbox One X is a more powerful version of the Xbox One S (which Microsoft considers to be the standard edition of the Xbox One after it discontinued the launch model). It just makes sense that the Xbox Series S would simply be a less powerful version of the Xbox Series X.

Yet, a few pieces of that logic don’t hold up under the light of scrutiny. First off, Microsoft has been treating the Xbox Series X as their flagship next-gen console so far. It would be odd for them to promote a “pro” model of a console over what they would otherwise consider being the standard.

Second, it would be strange for Microsoft to release a console that is objectively less powerful than its next-gen companion. It would be hard to sell such a console (even if it features a reduced price point) given its potential future limitations, and Microsoft would essentially need to manufacture two different consoles featuring a variety of different hardware components. That sounds like it would be more expensive for everyone involved in the long run.

If Microsoft does go this route, the relationship between the X and S will likely mirror the launch of the Xbox 360 Core and Xbox 360 Pro. That is to say that the X will probably feature more storage space and other basic upgrades over the S model.

The Xbox Series S Is the All-Digital Version of the Xbox Series X

The first series of rumors regarding the Xbox Series S was largely based on the assumption that it would be Microsoft’s all-digital next-gen console. The idea was that by removing the disc drive, Microsoft could offer those who rarely (or never) purchased physical games a less expensive way to join gaming’s next generation. When Microsoft released the Xbox One All-Digital Edition, it seemed pretty obvious to many that the Xbox Series S would eventually offer a similar alternative to the Xbox Series X.

Since then, though, a couple of things happened which threw a bit of cold water on that theory.

Recently, Microsoft discontinued production of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition (as well as the Xbox One X). Microsoft explained that decision by noting that they were ready to “ramp into the future with Xbox Series X” and needed to take the “natural step” of discontinuing some older hardware. However, some sales reports suggest that the All-Digital Edition just never caught on with the mass market.

Microsoft has also been heavily promoting the Series X’ backward compatibility features, which would obviously be limited to digital downloads on a console without a disc drive. Given some of the confusion surrounding Microsoft’s next-gen exclusives policies, we’d suggest they won’t want to muddy the PR waters further by having to explain which next-gen console can utilize their backward compatibility selling points and which can’t.

Still, this feels like a pretty realistic (if boring) option for the Xbox Series S, and if we’ve learned anything from 2020’s wave of bad news, delays, and uninspiring reveals, it might just be to expect the expected.

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The Xbox Series S Is a Handheld Device Designed For Mobile Play

For years, fans have speculated on the possibility of Microsoft releasing a handheld device. While Phil Spencer has shot down such rumors in the past, the success of the Nintendo Switch reignited discussions that Microsoft might pursue the production of a similar device. After all, they’ve been a surprising supporter of the Nintendo Switch so far.

There’s also the iPhone factor to consider. With Apple recently stating that their policies prevent them from approving the launch of Microsoft’s Project xCloud program on iOS devices, Microsoft might just be looking for a way to offer more people a way to access xCloud via mobile platforms.

So could the Xbox Series S be a handheld device? It’s possible, but we don’t think it’s likely.

The biggest hurdles here are logistics and precedent. Producing a next-gen console is tricky enough in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, but producing two next-gen consoles of such wildly different designs would be a logistical nightmare. Furthermore, Microsoft has made it pretty clear over the years they aren’t working on a mobile gaming device, and it seems like they’re more interested in developing console-like controllers for existing mobile platforms.

Maybe Microsoft will eventually make a Switch-like device, but we don’t think the Xbox Series S is that console.

The Xbox Series S Is a Delivery Device for Project xCloud and Game Pass

Most existing speculation surrounding the Xbox Series S suggests that it’s some kind of fairly traditional video game console. However, this theory argues that it’s actually much closer to a Google Chromecast device designed to allow you to easily access Project xCloud and Game Pass via your TV.

This theory is based on the fact that Microsoft has been emphasizing the value and impact of the Xbox Game Pass platform more and more since its initially somewhat humble debut. You could go so far as to argue that they’re using Game Pass to sell the Xbox brand more than they’re relying on a traditional next-gen console to do the same.

On top of that, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft is dreaming big with Project xCloud. Google Stadia’s early stumbles have cast some doubt on the future of cloud gaming, but the idea of delivering Xbox gaming experiences to millions of people regardless of whether or not they own an Xbox console seemingly remains one of Microsoft’s biggest gaming goals.

That’s why it makes some sense that the Xbox Series S would be a streaming-style device meant to be plugged into a TV. In theory, it would allow people to access xCloud (and perhaps even expanded Game Pass features) in their living rooms without needing to own a video game console, compatible mobile device, or nearby PC.

We think Microsoft may eventually look into manufacturing such a device, but if pressed to guess, we’d say that it’s unlikely that’s what the Xbox Series S refers to. Not only would the branding be confusing even by Microsoft standards, but such a device would depend heavily on the success of Project xCloud. It would be a little odd for Microsoft to release a peripheral that is so dependent on a service that hasn’t even been formally released to the masses much less marketed as a next-gen option.

That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if a similar idea is relatively close to what the Xbox Series S ends up being.

The post Xbox Series S: 4 Theories About the Next-Gen Console appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/31LA0hX

[extraquarterblog]

Gone but not forgotten, the story of Project Offset

Project Offset

The beauty of being a gamer, is that there's always a high degree of excitement for the next AAA release. The industry over the years has delivered so many new series or sequels, that regardless of the year, there's always a title to look forward to on the calender. While some games release on time, others well, get delayed a bit, and then you have some titles, pushed back years. It's a level of frustration that few can understand outside being a gamer. All the teasing, videos, images, demos, that tug on a gamers heart for years n years till the final release date, becoming a passionately exhausting roller coaster. 

Unfortunately, history has shown, there are a select few titles, despite the enormous attention and potential, will never see the light of day. None showed so much promise, potential and excitement, arguably more than Project Offset. 

Now for some of you reading, might be wondering What's Project Offset? Well, don't feel bad if you don't have a clue to what it is. Project Offset originally made its debut a decade ago. A time where YouTube was just starting, Myspace was all the rage, and service pack 3 for Windows XP wasn't a thing yet. So back then, it was actually pretty easy to overlook a new trailer or projects studios were working on. But for those who do know what Project Offset is, undoubtedly feel a slight bit of sadness towards the game that never was. 

"We're making a first person shooter, set in a epic fantasy world, rendered at cinematic quality"

To bring you all up to speed. In 2005, a new studio by the name Offset Software demonstrated a revolutionary new engine, showcasing stunningly beautiful visuals that pretty much shocked the industry. The original demo gave several different glimpse of a Kingdom of old, under attack by unknown invaders, Dragons and Orcs. Project Offset also had a unique twist to the FPS approach as well, instead of machine guns like Halo or Call of Duty, it used crossbows, stealth and magic. The whole display screamed Lord of The Rings, which released their final film in late 2003. To quote the original video "We're making a first person shooter, set in a epic fantasy world, rendered at cinematic quality." And that was the thing,at the time, the visuals were so damn amazing, that it did appear to reach the mythical unicorn, a video game that had the visuals of a big blockbuster Hollywood film - The ultimate wet dream for a gamer. 

On-line debates of fans posting comparison pictures of the Orcs from Lord of The Rings and the Orc shown in the Offset Demo are still fresh in my mind. Though the difference was still clear that Hollywood, still several steps ahead, but everyone agreed, this has been the biggest jump towards a cinematic presentation then ever before. However - not everyone was convinced. The Gaming industry has been plagued by fake "real time" demos and constant PR bullshots for decades, why should this be any different? Especially when very little was known about Offset studios, not to mention its very small size. The few staff members that we knew were Sam McGrath, Travis Stinger and Trevor Stringer, who all previously worked for S2 Games. 

For the most part, Offset Studios was an enigma, despite all the red flags, everyone was too busy drooling over the gorgeous videos and images. 

If Offset Studios was famous for its Project Offset demo, then it was equally famous for how little information they ever gave out and their silence. Which made it incredibly frustrating for its fans. There was no twitter to make cryptic tweets, or a blog to leave little nuggets of info on how the development going, wouldn't appear till years later. Nope. Nothing. The only place, where you could get the slightest glimmer of anything Offset related was on the official website forum. Which had its own unique community, that grew over the course of Offset life, creating its own distinct culture. The lack of any information didn't stop the devoted to scrubbing through every single frame of the few videos released and discussing any tidbit of graphical hardware related to Nvidia or ATI. 

They worshiped various Idols, none so more famous than the fabled Teapot, the holy grail of the game. Some believed the Teapot would be the final boss. An unstoppable foe which could summon the very fabric of life, creating a sea of monsters to fight. All hail the Teapot! Joking aside, random objects fans happened to spot from the demos soon became viral. For instance the Teapot I was talking about, one of the videos showed a room filled with little trolls running around, and at the corner of the screen, you could see a 3D Teapot model in the background, that seemed all the trolls were appearing from. Little things like this, gave this little corner of the internet life, as fans waited hand and foot for any crumb to devour. 

Offset Software living up to their reputation of remaining silent, leaving fans empty, with hardly any details given - For years. Rumors of the entire project were nothing more than smoke and mirrors continued to grow and the online community numbers would continue to whittled down to only a few active members left. Project Offset, the most promising looking title had all but vanished. Until one fabled day in early 2007, a leaked video showcasing entirely new artwork and video footage spilled out onto the interwebs. Causing an eruption of hype, the game was real and more importantly, it was alive. Though, despite the warm feedback from the community, it seemed the higher staff was not happy at all about the video being leaked. Supposedly, it was made for internal purposes only. Official quote the man himself: It has come to our attention that a video we made for internal purposes was leaked and is being spread around. Again, this video was for internal use only and we didn't intend to release it publicly. We'd like to request that news sites, please not post this video - Sam McGrath.

Of course, this only leads to further speculation and rumors surrounding the game. Why create an internal video demonstrating the game to such a small staff size? Are they aware of what they're working on? The video is getting fantastic attention and praise, why try to remove it? Something was amiss with Offset Software, which, of course, continuing their fine reputation. Went underground, Again. 

The world of Project Offset remained silent once more for some time until an unthinkable bombshell scenario hit. Intel, the giant semiconductor, CPU making beast, in early 2008 - purchased Offset Software. It was the shot that rang across the world kind of moment. Why did Intel have any remote interest in a software gaming company? Well, if you recall, years and years ago, Intel had great interest getting in the GPU market, to rival against Nvidia or ATI. Working on their own card under the code name Larrabee. Intel GPU was supposed to deliver unheard of gaming performance, showcasing real time Ray tracing, which was unheard of at the time. So, if you had an unbelievable graphic card, what better than to pair it up with an unbelievable game, Project Offset. 

Naturally, everything about was met with mix emotions. More red flags continued to be raised and speculation about the earlier leaked internal video was originally made to pitch to Intel to seal a deal. While others felt relief that Offset Software now resting on the shoulders of Intel would have all the resources needed and time to develop the game. As for a while, people began to wonder, if this game was ever going to see the light of day...

Thankfully, Offset Software started to release a few additional demos and pictures, showcasing other interesting tidbits of their engine. Giving hope that the project was well alive and the partnership with Intel looked to be a fantastic match made. A complete 180 from a company, previously famous for being so tight lipped. A steady flow of information continued to dip out throughout 2008 and early 2009. A promising sign that the development was going well, and fans began to speculate that Offset Software was getting ready to completely unveil the game from their shroud of mystery and even possibly a release date. The game been in development for several years now, surely something should be coming.

Then everything went quiet. 

Did the company go back to their traditional ways? Was Project Offset deep in development Hell? Were things going sour with Intel? Regardless of rumors floating around. Things didn't feel right. 

Sadly, in early July 2010. Intel canceled their Larrabee project and scrapping everything connected to it. Including Offset Software, which at the same time disbanded. For any fan, who follows a game in development for years and years, this is, without any argument the very worst possible scenario. Gone, done. Goodbye. There was no Larrabee, no Offset studio, and Project Offset will forever remain nothing more than a video, sitting on YouTube. 

After the disbanding of Offset Software, few details are known what happened with the original staff. Several employees split ways left to do their own thing while a portion of the staff joined together to create a new company Adhesive games.  Who already have one release under their belt Hawken, A title you can play right now. While the former Offset leads created a new smaller company Fractiv, making mobile App games. 

Questions piled up after the fateful day, fans who chased after Project Offset was left with very little closure. No one would get any answers until a post on Fractiv website giving a few details, relating to the ending with Intel and showing off a few pieces of Project Offset:

"Our previous company, Offset Software, was purchased by Intel in 2008. Our labor of love was Project Offset and the game engine that went with it. As many of our fans already know, Project Offset was cancelled. The graphics hardware it was being designed for did not ship and our game was a casualty of this. The IP and Engine are property of Intel so its future is out of our hands. We have tried working with Intel to obtain the rights and there are some good people there who have made some effort to help us, but without success. We would like to thank all those who supported us and the project. We learned some good lessons along the way and met some incredibly talented people who we are fortunate enough to call our friends"

So with that, answered several questions relating to the fate of Project Offset and Intel. On that same blog, Sam shared a portfolio reel piece that belonged to one of the animators who worked on Project Offset showcasing never before seen footage, including a few brief pieces that included audio, showing the game was at the stage of voice acting. Sadly, that would be the last piece shown of Project Offset for several years...

Until last year, a sound engineer who previously worked with Intel, posted a few videos, all never before seen footage of stages and enemies, including a few boss fights, showcasing that the game was indeed in playable form. Answering one of the age old question, was the game smoke n mirrors, or was it legit? Seeing these final videos, shows, that Project Offset was indeed real and at some point playable. 

Despite its age, the game still looks gorgeous, the atmosphere and detail is top notch, I would be so bold to say, lives up to today's titles on the current consoles. A little rough around the edges, but that should be a true testament to just how unbelievable this game was when it made its debut a decade ago. A title with graphics that would be several consoles ahead. It's a tragic story, what could of been, to imagine not only how great Project Offset could of been, but what Offset Software could of done next.