#urbo game

[blueeyedrat]

Steam Next Fest, winter 2023. New year, new games to try. Some hits and misses this time around. First impressions under the cut.

(Part 2)

Mineko's Night Market – I've been curious about this one for a while, mostly for the setting and artstyle. Visually it looks quite lovely, but gameplay-wise I ran into some issues. The controls were a bit awkward, and I couldn't connect my controller or remap any of the keyboard inputs to deal with it. The demo is kinda short, and showed off parts of the game I wasn't as interested in (a brief walk around the main town to talk to a few NPCs and gather a few resources, and a stealth mission that wasn't particularly compelling). There's probably a lot more to explore here, but the demo didn't really explore any of it. I'll need to see more before I pass judgement on this game.

Pocket Planet – It always comes back to hexagons, doesn't it? Gotta love hexagon tiles. I expected a Dorfromantik-like (seriously there's like two of them every event — the more the merrier, I guess?) but really it's just a straightforward puzzle game. Place tiles, fill out a set area, create certain tile formations (forests, mountains, islands, etc.) to solve puzzles. It's as much Terrace as it is Dorfromantik, and I have to admire a kindred spirit.

Pan'orama – This one, on the other hand, is closer to what I expected. As far as games of this sort go, it adds one interesting element (planning out specific tile combinations to create unique structures with different effects), but I'm not sure how much variety that adds to repeat playthroughs, and the game lacks other elements and some visual clarity in the process. Seems alright, but I've seen better.

URBO – Now here's one that's very much up my alley. URBO has a minimalist style similar to builder puzzle games like ISLANDERS, but gameplay-wise it's closer to a merge puzzle game like Threes or 2048: place buildings on the grid, three of the same type adjacent to each other combine into bigger buildings, go until you run out of space to build. A simple idea, with the potential to be very addicting. Looking forward to this one for sure.

Slopecrashers – An arcade racer. This one didn't leave a great impression, unfortunately. Maybe I'm just not that familiar with snowboarding games, but the controls never clicked with me and none of the objectives felt manageable. And something about the style (characters, environments, UI, audio, etc.) felt... generic, I suppose? I don't think I'll be coming back to this one.

Mail Time – A cute 3D platformer. Simple, but charming. The movement seems fine even if the controls aren't as tight as others I've played, and the area shown off in the demo puts a nice variety into a small space. Most of the game's appeal is in its visual style and characters, which are pretty solid, and the main character in particular offers a surprising amount of customization. It's nice, and that's all it really needs to be.

[jaytheinfinite]

THE MOST RELAXING Game For Building Urban Cities - URBO [AD]

[msbarrows]

July 3 - cleaned the upstairs bathroom. Bought Anno 1800 and Urbo in the Steam summer sales and played the latter for a while. Nice soothing merge three style builder game.

For supper I reheated leftover cottage pie from the freezer, and served it with a Greek salad.

July 4 - didn't do much today, other than more Urbo and then trying out Anno 1800. Not entirely sure if like, it's kind of ridiculous how many of each type of worker you need to accomplish things and progress your island(s). Also all too easy to go from having a surplus of necessary supplies to consuming more than you're producing, and to produce more you need more people, who also consume more, etc. Plus it's a very busy game with more things going on at once than I necessarily want to give a damn about, and it's annoying how unhelpful the quest outlines and tool tips are.

Supper was fish sticks, oven fries, and green beans.

[couragelinked]

thinking about her <3

[helpagirlout-lander]

With a resume spanning nearly thirty years, Graham’s got a REP!! This post got long REAL fast as you factor in he’s been spotted in (by my best count) 137 television episodes! He’s no stranger to film either and now a fan fave in more than one fandom. He’s the only actor to have worked with Sylvester Stallone in films as both Rocky AND Rambo. Take a peek!!

Return to Treasure Island (TV Mini Series, 1986): Ned: S1E2 - Mutiny

Highlander (TV Series, 1996): Charlie Tarvise: S4E21 - Judgement Day

Casualty (TV, 1998): Gerry Talbot, 5eps: S13E10 Clip (Graham @ 7:01), Two / S13E18  Clip (Graham @ 8:34), Two (Graham scenes @ 5:01 & 6:12), Three (Graham AND Tobias Menzies @ 7:43), Four (Graham & Tobias @ 4:56, again @ 7:28), Five (Graham @ 8:14) / S14E1: Clip (Graham @ 7:44 & 8:23), Two (graham @ 4:35 & 5:57) / S14E3: Clip (Graham @ 7:42), Two (Graham @ 9:00), Three  / S14E6 : Clip (Graham @ 1:28 & 4:47, 5:43, 7:10), Two (Graham @ 2:54, 4:51, 7:19), Three (Graham @ 3:48, 6:15, 7:23, 8:16), Four (Graham @ Beginning, 0:36, 1:09, 1:48, 2:40 )

Red Dwarf (TV Series, 1999): Ackerman, 5eps: S8E3 - Back in the Red Pt3 / S8E5 - Krytie TV, Making of (Graham @ 7:46) / 30th Anniversary

Heartbeat (TV Series, 1999): Derek Flowers: S9E2 - Tricks of the Trade

Dinotopia (TV Series, 2002): Ajax: S1E3 - Handful of Dust

Rosemary & Thyme (TV Series, 2003): DI Taylor: S1E3 - Language of Flowers

Murder City (TV Series, 2004): Noel Fredericks, S1E4: Clip

Empire (TV Mini Series, 2005): General Rapax, 5eps: Episodes 1-3: Clip (Graham @ 1:58), Two (Graham @ 0:48), Three (Graham @ 3:19 & 4:28), Four (Graham @ 5:09), Five (Graham @ 2:38) // Episodes 5-6: One (Graham @ 4:39), Two (Graham @ 7:47), Three (Graham @ Beginning), Four, Death (Graham @ 3:27) // Watch Entire Series

Rome (TV Series, 2005): Urbo, 2 eps: S1E9 Clip 

The Bill (TV Series, 2005-6): Pete Larson, 6eps: S21E68 - The Boys Are Back in Town / S21E72 - The Scapegoat / S21E85 -  A Mean Game Pt1 / S21E86  - A Mean Game Pt2 / S22E8 - Spirits / S22E20 Connections Pt2

Jekyll (TV Mini Series, 2007): Gavin Hardcastle, S1E6:  FanVid

NCIS (TV Series, 2007): Aleksei, S5E6: Fanvid (Graham @ 2:05)

Lost (TV Series, 2008): Sergeant, S4E5: Clip (Graham @ 0:38), Two (First 20 Seconds)

CSI Miami (TV Series, 2008): Mitch Davis, S6E16: Clip (Graham @ 0:21)

Pushing Daisies (TV Series, 2008): Hansel Von Getz, S2E3: Clip

24 (TV Series, 2010) Mikhail Novakovich, 7eps: S8E16: Promo, Full Ep (ReDubbed in French) / S8E17: Promo, Full Ep in French / S8E18: Promo, Full Ep / S8E19: Promo, Full Ep / S8E20: Promo, Full Ep (In French) / S8E21: Promo, Full Ep (In French) / S8E22: Promo, Full Ep (in French)

The Good Guys (TV Series, 2010): Dolph: S1E7 - Hunches & Heists

Outlander (TV Series, 2014-2020): Dougal MacKenzie / Buck MacKenzie, 19eps: See Master Post

Colony (TV Series, 2018): Andrew MacGregor, 3 eps: S3E3: Clip (Graham @ 0:57), Two (Graham @ 0:15), Three / S3E4: Clip, Two (Graham @ 0:19) / S3E5: Clip, Two (Graham @ 0:31), Three (Graham @ 0:29)

Lucifer (TV Series, 2019): Father Kinley, 6eps: S4E1 - Everything’s Okay / S4E2: Clip / S4E3: Clip, Two, Three / S4E7: Clip, Two / S4E9: Clip / S4E10: Clip // Jibland2019, Two, Three

Preacher (TV Series, 2016-9): The Saint of Killers / The Cowboy, 42 eps: TVGuide / KTLA5 // S2 Saint Promo, Two, Three // Premiere: AP //  S1 Trailer / S3 Intro / S4 Teaser, S4 Featurette // SDCC 2016: IGN, MTV, IMDb Q&A, Panel Part One & Two, AMC, TVLine, Vulture // SDCC 2017: EW, MTV, Panel - Saint Clip, Full Panel,  IMDb, TVLine // Clips: Saint Shoots Thru Planet / Jesse & Saint in Australia // S1E9 Finish the Song - Clip // S2E1 On the Road - BTS, Clip  / S2E2 Mumbai Sky Tower - BTS, Two - Clip / S2E4 Viktor - Deals w/ Satan / S2E5 Dallas - Viktor / S2E6 Sokosha - BTS, Jesse & Saint, “Get On Your Knees” / S2E12 On Your Knees - Returns / S2E13 The End of the Road - BTS // S3E7 Hitler - Trailer, Visits Hitler (Graham @ 2:11) / S3E10 The Light Above - Saint vs Satan, Meets w/ Satan, Sydney // S4E3 Deviant - Turtle Pie / S4E6 The Lost Apostle - Preview / S4E7 Messiahs / S4E8 Fear of the Lord / S4E9 Overture - Trailer, Saint vs God / S4E10 End of the World - Jesse vs Saint, Saint vs God

Men In Kilts (TV Series, 2019-): See Master Post

For Queen & Country (Film, 1988): Lieutenant: Full Movie (w/ a young Denzel Washington!)

Freedom Fighter (TV Movie, 1988): Guard: Full Movie

Erik the Viking (Film, 1989): Thangbrand, Etc: Full Movie (Starring: Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, John Cleese, and fellow S1 Outlander Alum Tim McInnerny (Father Bain))

Macbeth (Film 1997): Banquo: Full Movie

Dot the I (Film, 2003): Detective #1: Trailer (No Graham) / BTS with Tom Hardy & Charlie Cox, JUST BECAUSE (No Graham)

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (Film 2003): Submarine Captain: Deleted Scene

Good Girl, Bad Girl (Film, 2006): Gromek: Trailer (Graham @ 0:35)

Rambo (Film, 2008): Lewis: Mercenaries Clip / Die for Something Clip / Collider Interview / Wellington Con Interview

Sisterhood (Film 2008): Martin: Trailer (Graham @ 1:29)

Secretariat (Film, 2010): Earl Jansen: Trailer (No Graham)

The Wicker Tree (Film, 2011): Sir Lachlan Morrison: Trailer / Full Movie / BTS / Clip

The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey (Film, 2012): Dwalin: Announcement Trailer, Trailer #1, Trailer #2, Trailer #3 / Full Movie // BTS, Two, Three, Four, Dwalin’s Chair, Mr Baggins, Graham Does Metalica, “Middle Earth” (Graham @ 0:56), “Windybeard” (Graham @ 0:10), Archery Training, Beard Envy / Dwarf Bootcamp // Clip, Two, Three, Four, The Fish, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven // Premiere

Note: I tried my best to get the numbered clips in the right movie’s category. I haven’t seen the films, so I may have misattributed some...

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (Film, 2013): Dwalin: Sneak Peek, Teaser, Trailer #1, Trailer #2, Trailer #3 / Full Movie / Berlin Premiere /  Clip, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six / Costumes

Plastic (Film, 2014): Steve Dawson: Trailer (Back of Graham’s head @ 1:03) / Premiere (Graham @ 4:42) / Full Movie

The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (Film 2014): Dwalin: Teaser, Trailer #1, Trailer #2 // Full Film // Premiere, Two, Anglophile / Clip, Two, Three,  Four, Five, Six, /  Deleted Scene / SDCC 2014 Full Panel

Creed (Film 2015): Tommy Holiday: Interview / Trailer (No Graham) / Clip (Graham @ 1:36), Two (Graham @ 1:08), Three (Graham @ beginning & 1:15, 2:25)

The Finest Hours (Film, 2016): Frank Fauteaux: Trailer (Graham briefly in background @ 1:53), Trailer #2 (Graham @ 1:07), TV Spot (Graham @ 0:40) / Clip, Two / BTS (Graham @ 5:09 and on) / Full Movie

The Stolen (Film, 2017): Bully: Trailer (Graham @ 0:42)

Aquaman (Film 2018): King Atlan: Extended Trailer (Graham @ 2:09) / Clip, Two (Graham @ 0:39)

Stakeout (Film 2019): Ibrahim Kozlov: Trailer (Graham @ 1:20) / Full Film

Actors Talk About Themselves / TheCouchCast

iFit: New Zealand / Scotland

ComicCons:

2013: HobbitCon, Two, Singing, Closing Ceremony (Bonn, Germany) / DragonCon: “Dwalin”, Panel #1 Full, Panel #2 Full / SupernovaCon, Two, SeaFM Interview @ 2:39, Q&A // 2014: FantasyCon: Who’s Line Is It Anyway, Dwalin, Kickoff Panel, Dwarven BootCamp / Wales ComicCon // 2015: Cincinnati ComicExpo, Two / MTL ComicCon / LIGeek / RingCon (Outlander) One, Two // 2016: RingCon: “Dwalin, Gloin and Bombur - At Your Service”/ MegaCon Tampa Bay: Hobbit Panel / “Finding Your Inner Dwarf” / Welligeddon: “Dwarves Believe They’re Giants”, “That’s Not Creepy At All”, “Fish Scene”, “Dwalin”, “HobbitCon” / MotorCity ComicCon // 2017: SupernovaCon: Lightsaber Presentation / CollectiveCon // 2018: SideshowLIVE! / TheOneRing Interview  // 2019: GalaxyCon

Charities:

Breakfast for SickKids - FanExpo Canada 

Commercial

Ford Focus (2005): One & Two

Jaguar (2017)

Upcoming Projects:

This Guest of Summer (2021): Mallory: Welcome / Caitriona Balfe “Auditions” / Sideshow Live! / Twitter w/ Stephen Walters

[allmoddedapk]

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.8 Apk [Unlimited Money]

New Post has been published on https://www.allmoddedapk.com/real-drift-car-racing-mod-apk/

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.8 Apk [Unlimited Money]

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.8 Apk [Unlimited Money]

Real Drift Car Racing 5.0.8 Mod Apk is new and exciting racing game in the Android- based rendering and riding game of the RealGames gaming studio, which sells for Android $ 1.99 and is one of the best and most popular games. of Android that is and has today more than 500 million times by Android users around the world have been purchased! In this gameYou ride on your car in different places and you will be able to win and win dramatic races, so you can customize and upgrade your car and double the excitement of the game! Dozens of dream car and lacquer carts are available to you to ride on and control their camera through various modes and perform professional driving in addition to driving! The Real Drift Car Racing has a volume of over 200 MB and has a stunning graphics, breathtaking sound and superb controllers that we offer to all lovers of car games and be sure to get your attention. .

Some features of Real Drift Car Racing Android:

Designed fully 3D and realistic simulation

Ability to customize the car by changing the body color, rim model and so on

Exciting engine for a special engine for each car with a urbo whistle and a blow off valve

Ability to play online and compete to challenge other global players

Includes 5 new powerful cars with special and realistic settings

7 new songs very exciting + modes to play a Possibility to control the car using the accelerometer (gyroscope) or tactile steering mode

[zeldahijinks]

Scenario of Urbosa when her usually nice s/o get into a fight with a Gerudo. They both end up pretty beaten up, and s/o is refusing to explain why they were fighting. Until a bystander tell Urbosa that the Gerudo said s/o weren't "worthy" to be with the champion ... and those words hurts more s/o than they want to admit.

The sun was blaring down as you and Urbosa made the way back to Gerudo Town. She was incredibly exhausted as you were, but you did not want to worry her with your plights. You were only going to drop her off as Princess Zelda needed your assistance in Hateno Village, but you were feeling a bit reluctant of leaving Urbosa’s side once more. The two of you had barely spent enough time together given your conflicting duties, but luckily the relationship you shared was strong. Or you at least hope it was.

As your horse trotted up to the entrance of the town, your heart was weighing heavily in your chest. Urbosa removed herself from her spot on the horse, her much taller form meeting eye level with you as soon she was on the ground. Her plump sapphire lips pulled into a smile and you could see a glimmer of sadness plaguing her eyes. Her hand came up and cupped your cheek, “You will be well missed, my gem. Please have a safe travel and come back to me.”

Her smooth voice was like herbal tea on a rainy day, calming and filling the air with serenity. It made your chest swell with warmth, but it was not unpleasant in this awful heat. You leaned forward and captured her lips, feeling a moment of hesitation before you pulled away. You smiled at her somberly and she trailed her fingers along your jaw before she turned around and headed in the village.  

You stay put a moment longer to watch the love of your life walk away and admire her beauty from behind. Your heart soared of the mere thought of her, and you knew you would going to miss her dearly. Even if you were going to be away a few days.

As you were about to make your way back to the Princess, a voice scoffed aloud. The sound was off-putting and it didn’t sound like it was natural. It caused your head to turn to see a Gerudo making her way in the town, and her sharp eyes were leering at you from her peripherals. Arching a brow at her odd attitude, you did not let it deter you and went to steer your steed.

“You are a disgrace.”

The words shot through you like a shock arrow and you had to sooth your horse from the abrupt pull of its reins. At first you weren’t sure if it was your insecurity playing mind games with you and manifest such cruel words, but the stranger’s voice continued.

“Urbosa is wasting her time on someone like you.”

You inhaled deeply trying to control your anger at her unwanted opinion. You glared over your shoulder and her stare was just as harsh. Lowly and smoothly as you could, you spoke, “She is a capable and smart woman. I believe she has the best judgement over who her significant other should be, so thanks for sharing your opinion no one asked of you.”

The tall woman’s eyes narrowed into slits and the guards at the gate began whispering to each other. She looked behind her and clicked her tongue is disapproval for being shamed, but she was not going to let your justified comment slide. “She is a proud warrior and having someone like you who cannot hold a candle to her should not speak as if they understand.”

You gave her a dry stare, “You realize I am with her? I think I understand her more than you.”

She grit her teeth, her eyes blazing with unbridled rage. “You are weak! You cannot provide anything for her!”

You were becoming rather bored with her attitude and just rolled your eyes. She was not the first one to speak to you like this, but you could not blame anyone. It is what happens when you are with someone of renown status when your own status was pretty much nothing but second hand help. You signaled for your horse to turn and as soon as your head faced the other direction the next thing you knew you were on the ground.

At first you did not understand how you were now kissing sand, but pieces were putting themselves together as you looked over your shoulder and saw the enrage Gerudo standing over you while your spooked horse ran away. That son of a bitch shoved you off your own horse.

Now you were pissed.

“What the fuck’s your problem!?” Your voice booming, ignoring the odd looks from bystanders.

“You are! You do not even see how unworthy you are! I would be better for Lady Urbosa!”

Her words struck a chord, creating a heavy ball within your stomach. You stood up, eyes blazing with your own rage. For a moment the world went black and when you realized what happened, you were staring at the Gerudo who was now on the ground. Her cheek had split open from the force of your punch and she gazed at the blood dripping down her cheek onto her hand. Her eyes bore into your own and she lunged for you.

Urbosa was about to make her way into the throne room when she noticed crowds of Gerudos were swarming back to the entrance. Some were frantic, others were cheering and others were placing bets? Oh wonderful, Urbosa thought, sighing and turning on her heel back to the entrance. A Chief’s job is never done…

But what Urbosa didn’t expect was to see you on top of one of her citizen decking the daylights out of them. Her eyes widen and could not help the small gasp that escaped from her. You were mild temper and so kind, why were you assaulting one of her people?! Urbosa stormed over, bystanders that had circled around the fight moved to the side as her imposing figure came through.

Blood dripped from your broken nose, one eye shut due to a black eye, and your lip was also busted, but you were still too focus on ridding this asshole that you didn’t see your love come up behind you. She grabbed the scruff of your shirt, holding you up in the air and your assaults came to a dead stop the moment the view changed. Your eyes met with a very disapproving glare and felt yourself shrink into your neck.

“What is the meaning of this?” Urbosa’s once serene voice was filled with irritation and disappointment that it became too much for you to bare. Your pride was far too wounded causing your lips to clamp shut and look away from her in shame. Some others Gerudos help pick up the ‘poor’ victim and took her away for medical attention.

Urbosa set you on the ground, her figuring towering over you just made you feel even smaller in her eyes and you began to think that perhaps that woman was right. That you weren’t worthy of someone as understanding and strong like Urbosa…

“[Name], answer me. I am not exactly thrilled at the moment, so I would advise to take advantage of my calm posterior.”  Sure, her tone sounded calm, but you knew her… She was standing at attention and her lips were slightly pursed. You knew she was greatly upset, but how could you justify beating one of her subjects because they insulted you?

You ran your fingers along your head, trying to ignore the pain your felt in your face and knuckles. As you looked into her eyes, the crash of anxiety buried you and lodge your throat stiff. The only thing you could do was muster enough strength to run back to your horse and attempted not to fall while getting on.

“[Name]!” Urbosa’s voice called out and went after you only to have you sped off into the distance. The Gerudo Champion could only stand there as she watch you disappear… She just wanted to know what happened that had upset you so badly, but she could not let it slide you harmed one of her people. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, feeling an onslaught of a migraine. Urbosa’s attention then turned to the supposed victim and made her way over while the Gerudo was being patched up.

The Gerudo was nursing her wounds when a shadow fell over her, and when she looked up she wished she hadn’t. Urbosa cocked a hip to the side, her arms crossed and her face like stone. The Gerudo traveler felt herself shrink under Urbosa’s cold gaze and found pebbles on the ground more interesting.

“I want an explanation.” Urbosa’s tone was not playing around, there was an edge to it that would cause her most fierce warriors shake with fear.

The Gerudo traveler didn’t know exactly what to say, but she still felt she was in the right. “That person you are with attacked me!”

“It is not hard to see that when you’re staining the pathway red. I want the real explanation. Now.”

The Guards that had witness the whole thing and dragged the traveler away stepped up. “My Lady, there was an altercation that this one had started. [Name] was heading out of their way when she shoved them off their horse.” The traveler clicked her tongue, not pleased at all being ratted out. “There were also foul words exchanged that [Name] defended themselves against.”

The silence from Urbosa made the women around her rather nervous. Urbosa was calculating and reserve, but her lack of expression was unnerving. Her mind swarmed feeling guilt, but as a leader she still had to perform her duties. Even if it meant punishing her own people…and you. Her emerald eyes looked over the traveler and with a cold stare simply stated, “One month of cleaning sand seal’s stalls. If I hear one complaint, I shall make it two.”

The traveler kept her mouth shut and grit her teeth, but she remained silent. Urbosa sighed heavily, releasing her crossed arms and turning around on her heel outside the Town.

“My lady?” The Guards questioned as Urbosa made her way to the stalls.

“I will be back by evening.” She simply stated and mushed the sand seal in the direction you veered off to.

With your luck you somehow came across a small oasis. You have gotten yourself turned around and found yourself off the map and just decided to relax here for a moment to collect yourself. You and your horse were resting beneath a small amount of shade the palm trees provided as you soothe the poor animal and attempted to cool them down with soaked rags. You sighed while you were tending to them, a wet rag against your new shiner.

Facing Urbosa again would prove to be difficult given you two have always talked through the issues that came between you two, but you were not sure how to fix this one. You felt nothing but heavy shame. You did not have much time to reflect on your behavior when you heard a sound off in the distance. Turning around you saw a cloud of sand cutting through the barren landscape.

“Oh no…Not now.” You drawled, realizing it was none other than the love of your life. You should have known she would come after you and as she made her way over, you stood up awaiting her arrival. Expertly she came to a halt and stepped off the chariot.

You weren’t sure what to stare at but you wanted to explain now that you had time to cool off, but before you could get a word out of your mouth her lips covered yours. It slightly hurt with a busted lip, but her presence and her soft touches caused you to melt and forget the pain throughout your body. Whatever doubt about what you were to her left your mind as she poured her love into the kiss. You two could talk about it later, but for now you wanted to enjoy this.

She pulled away from the kiss and looked over your bruised face. Urbosa looked solemn at your injuries and attempted to move some sand away from the open wounds. She sighed and held you to her, “I know what happened, and I am deeply sorry.”

“Urbo-”

“But you’re cleaning the waterways for a month.”

“Well, shit. Fine…”

[blastedroads-a]

@ivanellopevonschweetz || human au!

▬ This was absolutely unbelievable.

Turbo had been the king of racing: Not only in terms of his job, but on his street racing side hobby: After all, no one had come even close to beating him. No matter how decked out their car, no matter how much they had boasted, Turbo had wiped the floor with them, almost as if he hadn’t even lfited a finger. It was child’s play to him. As far as he was concerned, they were all losers who had breathed nothing but hot air and simply filled his pockets with more cash. Their loss, right?

But this. This was bullshit.

Not only had he been beaten, but he had beaten by some nobody who had never even seen before! Granted, his ego had chalked it up to a mere fluke, beginner’s luck. Regardless, it has been the champion’s first loss, and to say that it had taken a bruising to his precious, gigantic ego. How could HE lose?! It hadn’t added up in his head, and the anger that had started in the pit of his stomach had traveled throughout him faster than his car could ever hope to go. Jaw clenched, his teeth ground together as his knuckles turned a deathly white, the grip on his steering wheel so vicious he could practically rip it straight out of his car. With a frustrated yelp, he slammed the dashboard with his hand, storming out of his car. Shutting the door harshly, he glowered as he focused his attention on the mystery racer.

Who the hell was she? She was attractive, that much was sure from what he could see of her, at the very least, and if she hadn't beaten him at his own game he surely would've showered her in a much different kind of attention.

Storming over, he seethed as he shoved past his fellow contestants with no regards (When had he ever?), immediately gettting within her personal space. His eyes were wild, as his body trembled violently, fists clenched and dangerously close. ❝ YOU--Ya must think yer REAL talented, huh toots? Lemme tell ya somethin’: That was a heart-breakin’ case a’BEGINNER’S-FREAKIN’-LUCK! Truly a tradgedy fer ya t’get yer hopes up, huh? ‘Cause that ain’t happenin’ AGAIN! ❞ His voice had shook just as much as the racer, raspy and tumbling over it’s self as his breath ravaged through his temper tantrum-rilled body.

❝ Yer car’s pro’lly RIGGED anyways. ❞

[darkarchercatalyst]

Nobody “wins” Monopoly, URBO. You survive it and hope that your friends/family are only “let’s never play this game again” mad and not “if it weren’t for the laws of this land you would be dead by my hands” mad by the end of it.

[blueeyedrat]

Games I played in 2023.

Last year was stable. This year has been... less so. I've bounced between getting out more and shutting myself in more, and between trying to take better care of myself and letting small issues and stressors start to pile up. My steady job got a lot less steady, and I'm now out of work and finding ways to pass the time. Like video games, for instance. Shall we?

(2022 ⇐ 2023)

Moncage

This was another decent year for getting caught up on games I've tried out and expressed an interest in before. Moncage, INSIGHT, Railbound, URBO, and a few other games you'll see further down the list. I also followed up on some games I've played in the past like Train Valley 2, and even dipped back into some old mainstays like Eternal. One of these days I'll find time for Minecraft or Dwarf Fortress again.

I more or less broke even on my backlog this year, chipping away at smaller games from assorted bundles I've picked up over the years, but also picking up some new bundles to add to the pile. So many games, so little time.

Before We Leave

While we're talking about the backlog, here's a game I've been interested in for a while. A settlement builder in a solar system of small planets, with a quaint aesthetic of wooden ships and massive space whales. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this one. The automation and logistics aspect is an interesting spin on the genre, even it gets a bit complex at times. Never too challenging, though, and there's enough depth and nuance to hold my interest all the way to the final stages and on towards the stars. I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel.

The Legend of Zelda (series)

It's hard to go wrong with Zelda. I have fond memories of Skyward Sword, Wind Waker HD, and Breath of the Wild, and with a new one on the way, it seemed like as good a time as any to catch up on my library. In order: Link's Awakening DX, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Minish Cap, and the DLC quests from Breath of the Wild I never got around to. Our Wii U saw more activity than it's gotten in years.

Opinions on each: Awakening was a fun, solid 2D adventure that never overstayed its welcome, though the game shows its age at a few points. Likewise, Ocarina was an interesting look at the series' jump to 3D, but was also somewhat janky at times and it took a while for me to really get into a groove with it. (I think the turning point might've been the Water Temple. I actually liked the Water Temple. Ye gods.) Majora was a sizeable improvement gameplay-wise and played with the format in neat ways, though I'll admit that I butted heads with the time loop mechanic more than once.

I have a particular nostalgia for Minish Cap; some of my earliest memories of Nintendo games are watching my friend's GBA over his shoulder on the bus ride to elementary school. After so long, this was the one I was most curious to see if it held up. Answer: yes. Minish Cap is officially my favorite 2D Zelda, and the highlight of this little retro binge. There's a lot of charm to it, and it just feels good to play.

It may be a bit too recent for nostalgia, but I almost forgot how much I loved Breath of the Wild. My old file was exactly how I left it, and playing through the extra content was a good way to re-acquaint myself with the "new" Zelda style before…

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This was a daunting one. If I had to sum up Tears in one sentence, it would be this: There is so much game in this game. Even compared to its predecessor, there's so much to do and so many more layers of exploration and interaction, with a wide array of smaller improvements that make it a smoother experience overall.

I wish I could say I put as much time into this game as I did into Breath of the Wild, and I did put a lot of time into it, but… some other things got in the way. Summer is when my work got a lot busier and a good amount more stressful, and this was a game I slowly chipped away at whenever I found time for it. I got pretty much everything I wanted out of it, and after the credits rolled, I put it away and haven't touched it since. I should change that. I'm sure there are more good times to be had.

Mutazione

The word that comes to mind to describe Mutazione is fascinating. It's a point-and-click narrative, light on gameplay, heavy on story and character. Of the other games I've played recently, the vibes remind me the most of Sable – quiet and contemplative, where all you want to do is observe and take in the world and characters that are being presented to you. It dovetails nicely with the story itself, which largely consists of a curious little soap opera playing out around characters who are along for the ride. The writing is some of the best I've seen this year, and gets real fuckin' raw in ways I wasn't expecting. This one will stick with me for a while.

Pikmin 3 / The Wild at Heart

I've never had the focus or dexterity for a really complex RTS, but Pikmin's always been a little more approachable. Played the second game in the series a while back, picked up a used copy of Pikmin 3 at a local convention this year, and with another one coming out, it seemed as good an excuse as any to make it a double feature.

Both games have their charms. Pikmin has a distinct style and sense of scale that's hard to replicate, and a good variety of environments and encounters and puzzles. The Wild at Heart is smaller in scope as a Pikmin-like, and hits some familiar beats while remixing some of the core ideas in interesting ways. The latter also put more of an emphasis on character and narrative, something I'd like to see fleshed out more, but what we got was still satisfying. Both games were fun, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Pikmin 4 soon.

Chants of Sennaar / Heaven's Vault

Another double feature – one game that caught my eye immediately, and another I've been curious about for a while. For a long time I've had a fondness for constructed languages, with scripts and writing systems of particular interest. The idea of decoding such a language lends itself well to a puzzle game, and these two approach it in different ways: Chants of Sennaar features multiple cultures in a Tower of Babel-esque setting, each with their own quirks and traits to learn and translate between, and their own puzzles to solve. Heaven's Vault opts for depth, with a single language and a vast history that you slowly unravel through exploration.

My verdict for both games is the same. The language puzzles are really cool and interesting! I want more of them! …Everything else in between gets sort of meandering at times. Not enough to drag down the overall experience, but perhaps enough to overstay its welcome. Sennaar filled the space with a mish-mash of puzzles and stealth, which felt oddly paced at times. Heaven's Vault's pacing was hit even harder with slow exploration and visual novel-esque story segments – fine enough for one playthrough, but the amount of wandering and backtracking involved makes me hesitant to go back and play NG+ to see the rest of the content. I don't have the patience to play a visual novel multiple times to see what all of the dialogue options do. The story's fine as is, and I got what I wanted out of it.

Even with their faults, these are still probably the games that influenced me the most in 2023. If anyone asks me, as a game dev, what I would make given unlimited time, resources, and creative freedom, from now on I'm going to point to Chants of Sennaar and say "something like that". I want more games like this to exist. I will make them myself, if I have to.

F-Zero 99

This wasn't the only racing game I played this year – a bunch of new content was added to Mario Kart 8, and I also pulled Horizon Chase Turbo from my backlog and spent a bit of time on that – but this is definitely the one that made the biggest splash. I've never played an F-Zero game, and it controls differently enough from other racers I've played that I had to unlearn a lot of muscle memory, but I got the hang of it after a while. The 99-player model is frantic in an enjoyable way, and races are quick enough that it's easy to pick up and play in short bursts… which is good, because short bursts are all my nerves can take with this one. Seriously this game is stressful. Fun, but stressful. Maybe one of these days I'll actually win a 99-player race.

Cobalt Core

I've been playing... a lot of Cobalt Core these past couple months. I don't jump on every roguelite or deckbuilder that comes out, but when one does get its hooks in me, they get in deep. This is another one of those games where everything just works. Great music and pixel art, fun characters (all traits shared with its predecessor, Sunshine Heavy Industries, which I also liked this year), a simple but engaging narrative, and an addicting gameplay loop that I can easily sink an hour into whenever the mood strikes me. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't need to – it takes a lot of ideas from games that have come before it, and builds on them to create something really enjoyable. One of my favorite games of the year, without question.

Terra Nil

As we build up, so too must we tear down. This is another one I wanted to get to sooner or later, and managed to slip it in during the last couple weeks of the year. It's also a type of game I want to play more often; a lot of the time when I play sim and builder games all I really want in the end is to build nice-looking homes and environments, and Terra Nil spins that into a puzzle game where those things are the only goal. It was a nice time, but left me wanting more – either more content in Terra Nil, or more games like it.

Eastward

This game is… a curiosity. A solid action-adventure game with a memorable cast of characters and impeccably detailed pixel art. Gameplay flips back and forth between slow-paced story segments and fun setpiece levels with a decent variety of tools for combat and puzzle-solving. The biggest sticking point is the narrative: the pacing and worldbuilding felt odd and disjointed in places, particularly in the back half, sometimes feeling like it's saying too much and often like it's said too little. Yet throughout all that, it never failed to be compelling, and I was hooked all the way 'til the end. What's more, the idea of the upcoming Octopia DLC flipping the entire game and setting on its head has my interest thoroughly piqued – something to look forward to in the coming year.

-

Here's to 2024, and here's hoping things turn around sooner or later.

[2pblog]

Turbo Squad - GBjam version

Multiplayer turn based platformer / racing game (1 - 6 players )

[alfredrserrano]

These are the top leasing brokerages in the country’s four major markets

New York City

Property owners seem to be willing to get a bit unconventional these days to keep rent payments rolling in amid the ongoing waves of store closures.

Indoor amusement parks, doctors’ offices, movie theaters, gyms and even discount stores  — once considered undesirably downmarket — are plugging holes in vacancy-riddled shopping centers and storefronts as rents decline, leases shorten and concessions spike, brokers and owners say.

The Real Deal’s ranking of the top leasing deals and brokerages in major markets in the U.S. reveals that, despite efforts by national firms to boost their retail teams in recent years, the marketing of stores is still largely a local game outside of Los Angeles and New York City. “We’re all trying to do the best we can,” said Marty Shelton, an L.A.-based broker with NAI Capital, the second most active retail leasing brokerage in L.A. County, with 718,825 square feet rented over the past 12 months, according to TRD’s analysis.

To rank the top brokerages in leasing for Chicago, Miami, L.A. and New York, TRD examined data provided by commercial real estate services firm Lee & Associates NYC on new retail leases and renewals in those markets from April 2017 to March 2018. Brokerage leasing totals and deals were shared with the firms, which were given the option to submit additional information. 

Josh Strauss

New York

The country’s most populous city, which is also a major draw for tourists on shopping sprees, has not been insulated from the retail collapse. Once-vibrant shopping districts in Manhattan — like Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Soho and Bleecker Street — continue to be pocked with empty storefronts.

As in other U.S. markets, the list of top New York leases over the past year includes many tenants in the business of offering “experiences,” a heavy-in-rotation retail buzzword.

To wit: The largest deal of the last 12 months was Equinox Fitness’ renewal of its nearly 66,000-square-foot, two-level space at Midtown’s One Park Avenue, a 22-story, full-block office building at East 32nd Street majority-owned by Vornado Realty Trust. The deal, which was handled in-house by Vornado, closed last spring.

Similarly, Chelsea Piers, the vast Manhattan sports complex, leased a 52,000-square-foot, two-level space at 33 Bond Street, a new 25-story rental in Brooklyn from developer TF Cornerstone. A 25-yard pool, yoga studios and a cafe will be included the property, which earned a fourth-place finish. In the transaction, the landlord was represented by Winick Realty Group, the fourth most active retail brokerage in New York, with 547,000 square feet under its belt.

Even though New York sees tens of millions of visitors a year, retail in tourism-rich districts like Times Square — including restaurant concepts that are performing well in other markets — has also struggled, brokers say.

(Click to enlarge)

At 11 Times Square, an office tower developed by SJP Properties on West 42nd Street, two high-profile restaurants collapsed after about only a year: an offering from Señor Frog’s, a national restaurant chain; and Urbo, a farm-to-table eatery.

“Times Square is actually under-restaurant-ed,” said Joshua Strauss, an executive vice president with RKF, which markets the tower. “But if you don’t have an offering that’s compelling, no one is going to come.”

Now 11 Times Square will serve up a 48,000-square-foot, three-level virtual-reality-themed indoor amusement park from the film studio Lionsgate. The first of many planned across the country, the attraction will draw on movies and TV shows like “The Hunger Games” and “Mad Men.”

The asking rent on the 20-year lease, which includes options to renew, was $8 million a year, “and we got close to it,” Strauss said.

SJP is offering an unspecified amount of free rent while Lionsgate and its operator, Parques Reunidos Group, extensively renovate the location, which will open in 2019. “Experience is driving retail,” Strauss added. “It’s not just a fad. It’s the wave of the future.”

In terms of the present, RKF is New York’s busiest retail brokerage, with more than 1 million square feet leased in the last 12 months, according to TRD’s analysis of data, which was provided by Henry Abramov from Lee & Associates NYC. RKF seems to be that rare national firm with regional dominance, even though the 20-year-old company’s roots are in Manhattan.

Other national players with similar clout in New York include Cushman & Wakefield (No. 5 with 523,000 square feet) and Newmark Knight Frank (No. 6 with 431,000 square feet).

But local firms have also finished strong, like Winick, as well as Ripco Real Estate (No. 2 with about 872,700 square feet).

Ripco had a hand in the city’s second-largest retail deal, the lease of about 57,000 square feet in the Hub section of the Bronx by Burlington Coat Factory, now known as just Burlington after an early-2017 rebranding. Located in a bustling shopping district, the store is owned by A&H Acquisitions, a retail-focused developer helmed by longtime retail investor Alex Adjmi. Ripco repped A&H; CNS Real Estate was the agent for Burlington.

“It’s in a terrific transportation hub, close to the subway and buses,” Cliff Simon of CNS told TRD last summer about the deal. “It’s an old historic shopping street with great density.”

Burlington, a rapidly expanding discount apparel chain with about 640 stores in 45 states, also took 55,000 square feet in Kings Plaza Shopping Center, a mall in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, owned by Macerich. Other tenants at the mall, which opened in 1970, include Old Navy and H&M. The Brooklyn Burlington lease, which is for 10 years and has three options for extensions, was the third-biggest transaction last year.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

L.A. County is tightly focused on making sure the bottom doesn’t fall out of the retail leasing market.

To accomplish this, the sprawling metropolis is thinking small. Tenants continue to experiment with pop-up stores, flocking to small spaces of less than 10,000 square feet that come with leases of just a few months. These short-term deals are trending at the same time that there’s an increase in calls to brokers from tenants asking how they might lower their rents, though those efforts are usually unsuccessful, brokers said.

Large-scale retailers are also shrinking footprints to appeal to the tastes of millennials — who reportedly dislike cavernous stores — and to save on real estate costs, which are of particular concern in booming L.A.

As large retailers see upticks in their e-tailing businesses, vast brick-and-mortar locations are less important anyway, said Shelton of NAI Capital, citing the example of Target, which usually occupies 150,000-square-foot stores and as of press time was still looking for a 22,000-square-foot berth in the Hollywood neighborhood.

Similarly, Kohl’s, a department store chain, closed several locations across L.A. in the last two years, in part, according to news reports, to save on expensive leases.

One of Kohl’s closed locations in San Gabriel will welcome what appears to be the first California outpost of the British grocery chain Asda in what was the fourth-largest lease in the county over the last 12 months. Asda entered into an 80,000-square-foot sublease deal brokered by Colliers International, the fourth most active L.A. County retail leasing brokerage, according to TRD’s ranking, with nearly 345,000 square feet rented.

(Click to enlarge)

Like Colliers, CBRE — which is No. 1 in L.A. with nearly 1.6 million square feet leased — is a national firm. But West Coast agencies are also active, like NAI Capital, in second place, and Centers Business Management, which is focused on shopping centers and took fifth place with 343,000 square feet.

It’s important to note that TRD’s brokerage  ranking, which does not include numbers of deals, does not tell the full story when it comes to the most active players in the market. Some local firms are not focused on hitting mega-deal home runs, which can be hard to attain in the current economy. Instead, they opt for lots of base hits to get ahead.

For example, despite not landing any huge individual leases, NAI manages to be one of the city’s most active firms through multiple small-bore deals, like a recent one with a 7-Eleven convenience store at 6500 Hollywood Boulevard, Shelton said. Fast-casual restaurants, like Burger Lounge, a chain that specializes in grass-fed meat in 1,500-to 2,500-square-foot spaces, are also a strong subsector, he added.

As is the case across the country, discount stores offering items at deep discounts — around $1, in some cases, but also with less drastic cuts — are also a growth category.

A recent transaction in this category involves the discount-furnishings store Curacao, which in October renewed its lease for an over-100,000-square-foot space in a shopping center at 5980 Pacific Boulevard in the Huntington Park neighborhood. That was L.A.’s largest leasing deal in the last 12 months, according to TRD’s ranking..

When Curacao’s lease was up for renewal, Argent Retail Advisors — the 10-year-old brokerage representing the landlord, Il Young Kim — began marketing the 1984 building, said Terry Bortnick, Argent’s president. He said there was widespread interest from a “who’s who” of tenants, since large footprints are hard to come by in the area. But Pacific Properties might have had to renovate the space, a costly undertaking, and so instead stuck with Curacao in a 10-year deal, Bortnick said.

The asking rent was $25 a square foot annually, which is on a par with the $27 average asking rent for shopping centers countywide, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

“Deep discounters are one of the few categories that are still aggressively opening in today’s environment,” Bortnick said.

Meanwhile, landlords are being squeezed as they look for new tenants, including discount chains, to replace closing stores.

In addition to offering free rent to commercial tenants while they renovate their stores — a fairly typical concession — owners are now expected to offer credits to help pay for things like expensive electrical work, according to brokers.

South Florida

South Florida

With low vacancy rates and a whirlwind of retail leasing, the Miami metro area continues to buck the national trend.

In fact, the average asking rent in the first quarter of 2018 was about $40 a square foot, according to Colliers International. That’s a sharp jump from the $35-per-square-foot asking rent in the year-earlier quarter.

But dark clouds may be forming, brokers said. Toys “R” Us, the bankrupt toy chain that announced in March it would close all of its U.S. stores, has 23 locations in South Florida, meaning a mass of big-box space is poised to flood the market.

(Click to enlarge)

In a similar vein, Miami is awash in new retail construction, like the mixed-use megaproject Miami Worldcenter, which has 360,000 square feet of stores being built or planned for downtown. 

As is the case in other markets, a major bright spot appears to be discount retailers. These chains are often publicly traded and have deep pockets, which helps explain their appeal as tenants.

Many of the top leasing deals of the last year involved companies emphasizing below-market-rate merchandise, according to TRD’s ranking. Costco, the discount giant, took more than 51,000 square feet by the Miami airport, and Burlington was responsible for a pair of leases, one in Lake Park in Palm Beach (ranked fifth) and one in Hollywood, which was 35,178 square feet.

As in other markets, national chains are picking up some of the slack. Hobby Lobby, the arts-and-crafts store, took three major berths last year, all at 55,000 square feet — a size the brand strictly adheres to — making the chain responsible for three of the top five South Florida leases.

A variety of landlords are benefiting from the store’s moves. In Dania Beach, near Fort Lauderdale, Hobby Lobby will take space at Kimco Realty Corporation’s Dania Pointe, an under-construction 1 million-square-foot retail complex that is charging forward despite the gloomy forecast.

While malls are suffering as shoppers gravitate toward other experiences, Kimco, a Long Island-based developer, is betting there will be demand for its brand of shopping complex, which is more open-air than typical mall properties.

The $800 million, 102-acre Dania Pointe project, on the site of a former roller coaster, the Hurricane, includes tenants like T.J. Maxx and Outback Steakhouse among its 10 storefronts.

Hobby Lobby also picked up space in a building owned by Verde Realty, a real-estate investment trust, in Pembroke Pines. In addition, the chain will cut a ribbon in part of a former Kmart store at the Plaza at Lake Park, a shopping center owned by the Sterling Organization, a Florida-based private-equity firm.

On the tenant side, all three Hobby Lobby deals were handled by Katz & Associates, South Florida’s second most active brokerage with 326,000 square feet leased last year, according to the ranking. A 22-year-old firm that mostly represents tenants along the East Coast, Katz did not return a call for comment.

Chicago

Chicago

As the retail economy has suffered, so too have companies generally considered bullet-proof, like Wal-Mart. Earlier this year, it announced it was closing dozens of its Sam’s Club spin-offs, for instance.

But some stores – namely, chains that can offer even deeper discounts than mass-market retailers – are inching in. A location that Sam’s Club was on the verge of leasing, at the in the Deerbrook Shopping Center in Deerfield, Ill., is instead now home to the latest outpost of the Dump Luxe Furniture Outlet, an 11-location chain specializing in discounted couches and tables, with an unusual twist. It’s open only on weekends to keep labor costs low. With about 136,000 square feet, the deal was Chicago’s largest in the past 12 months, according to TRD’s data.

Arcore Real Estate Group worked on behalf of Dump Luxe. The landlord, Mid-America Real Estate Corporation, repped itself at the property, which is a handy symbol of the decimated retail sector.

Tenants such as Best Buy, Office Max and the Great Indoors, a home decor retail chain owned by the struggling Sears, have vanished in recent years. But in an effort to salvage the property, Mid-America has renovated the one-time enclosed 1970s shopping mall into open-air shopping center; that Great Indoors store became a parking lot.

(Click to enlarge)

Other major leasing activity in Cook County seems to mirror national trends. Medical facilities, eager to branch into neighborhoods as the health care industry grows, are snapping up storefronts. The Chicago Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery signed a lease for an 80,000-square-foot store in a shopping center anchored by a Ross Dress for Less in North Kenwood, near Lake Michigan.

Likewise, Advocate Health Care will take about 50,000 square feet in Wrigleyville, in a former Sports Authority store. Services offered there will include X-rays and cardiac testing, according to a press release from Next Realty, the landlord. CBRE handled the transaction. “Finding 50,000 square feet of free-standing retail space with parking in Lakeview is like finding a unicorn. It just doesn’t exist,” said Marc Blum, Next’s president.

At the same time, Chicago’s retail vacancy rate seems relatively high. Quantum Real Estate Advisors put it at nearly 7 percent in 2017.

But market segments like grocery stores, too, seem robust. Indeed, Living Fresh Market signed up for a 70,000-square-foot store in Forest Park, in a deal it brokered with an in-house team. NAI Hiffman represented landlord Living World Christian Center in the deal.

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/the-kingpins-of-leasing/#new_tab via IFTTT

[juditmiltz]

These are the top leasing brokerages in the country’s four major markets

New York City

Property owners seem to be willing to get a bit unconventional these days to keep rent payments rolling in amid the ongoing waves of store closures.

Indoor amusement parks, doctors’ offices, movie theaters, gyms and even discount stores  — once considered undesirably downmarket — are plugging holes in vacancy-riddled shopping centers and storefronts as rents decline, leases shorten and concessions spike, brokers and owners say.

The Real Deal’s ranking of the top leasing deals and brokerages in major markets in the U.S. reveals that, despite efforts by national firms to boost their retail teams in recent years, the marketing of stores is still largely a local game outside of Los Angeles and New York City. “We’re all trying to do the best we can,” said Marty Shelton, an L.A.-based broker with NAI Capital, the second most active retail leasing brokerage in L.A. County, with 718,825 square feet rented over the past 12 months, according to TRD’s analysis.

To rank the top brokerages in leasing for Chicago, Miami, L.A. and New York, TRD examined data provided by commercial real estate services firm Lee & Associates NYC on new retail leases and renewals in those markets from April 2017 to March 2018. Brokerage leasing totals and deals were shared with the firms, which were given the option to submit additional information. 

Josh Strauss

New York

The country’s most populous city, which is also a major draw for tourists on shopping sprees, has not been insulated from the retail collapse. Once-vibrant shopping districts in Manhattan — like Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Soho and Bleecker Street — continue to be pocked with empty storefronts.

As in other U.S. markets, the list of top New York leases over the past year includes many tenants in the business of offering “experiences,” a heavy-in-rotation retail buzzword.

To wit: The largest deal of the last 12 months was Equinox Fitness’ renewal of its nearly 66,000-square-foot, two-level space at Midtown’s One Park Avenue, a 22-story, full-block office building at East 32nd Street majority-owned by Vornado Realty Trust. The deal, which was handled in-house by Vornado, closed last spring.

Similarly, Chelsea Piers, the vast Manhattan sports complex, leased a 52,000-square-foot, two-level space at 33 Bond Street, a new 25-story rental in Brooklyn from developer TF Cornerstone. A 25-yard pool, yoga studios and a cafe will be included the property, which earned a fourth-place finish. In the transaction, the landlord was represented by Winick Realty Group, the fourth most active retail brokerage in New York, with 547,000 square feet under its belt.

Even though New York sees tens of millions of visitors a year, retail in tourism-rich districts like Times Square — including restaurant concepts that are performing well in other markets — has also struggled, brokers say.

(Click to enlarge)

At 11 Times Square, an office tower developed by SJP Properties on West 42nd Street, two high-profile restaurants collapsed after about only a year: an offering from Señor Frog’s, a national restaurant chain; and Urbo, a farm-to-table eatery.

“Times Square is actually under-restaurant-ed,” said Joshua Strauss, an executive vice president with RKF, which markets the tower. “But if you don’t have an offering that’s compelling, no one is going to come.”

Now 11 Times Square will serve up a 48,000-square-foot, three-level virtual-reality-themed indoor amusement park from the film studio Lionsgate. The first of many planned across the country, the attraction will draw on movies and TV shows like “The Hunger Games” and “Mad Men.”

The asking rent on the 20-year lease, which includes options to renew, was $8 million a year, “and we got close to it,” Strauss said.

SJP is offering an unspecified amount of free rent while Lionsgate and its operator, Parques Reunidos Group, extensively renovate the location, which will open in 2019. “Experience is driving retail,” Strauss added. “It’s not just a fad. It’s the wave of the future.”

In terms of the present, RKF is New York’s busiest retail brokerage, with more than 1 million square feet leased in the last 12 months, according to TRD’s analysis of data, which was provided by Henry Abramov from Lee & Associates NYC. RKF seems to be that rare national firm with regional dominance, even though the 20-year-old company’s roots are in Manhattan.

Other national players with similar clout in New York include Cushman & Wakefield (No. 5 with 523,000 square feet) and Newmark Knight Frank (No. 6 with 431,000 square feet).

But local firms have also finished strong, like Winick, as well as Ripco Real Estate (No. 2 with about 872,700 square feet).

Ripco had a hand in the city’s second-largest retail deal, the lease of about 57,000 square feet in the Hub section of the Bronx by Burlington Coat Factory, now known as just Burlington after an early-2017 rebranding. Located in a bustling shopping district, the store is owned by A&H Acquisitions, a retail-focused developer helmed by longtime retail investor Alex Adjmi. Ripco repped A&H; CNS Real Estate was the agent for Burlington.

“It’s in a terrific transportation hub, close to the subway and buses,” Cliff Simon of CNS told TRD last summer about the deal. “It’s an old historic shopping street with great density.”

Burlington, a rapidly expanding discount apparel chain with about 640 stores in 45 states, also took 55,000 square feet in Kings Plaza Shopping Center, a mall in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, owned by Macerich. Other tenants at the mall, which opened in 1970, include Old Navy and H&M. The Brooklyn Burlington lease, which is for 10 years and has three options for extensions, was the third-biggest transaction last year.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

L.A. County is tightly focused on making sure the bottom doesn’t fall out of the retail leasing market.

To accomplish this, the sprawling metropolis is thinking small. Tenants continue to experiment with pop-up stores, flocking to small spaces of less than 10,000 square feet that come with leases of just a few months. These short-term deals are trending at the same time that there’s an increase in calls to brokers from tenants asking how they might lower their rents, though those efforts are usually unsuccessful, brokers said.

Large-scale retailers are also shrinking footprints to appeal to the tastes of millennials — who reportedly dislike cavernous stores — and to save on real estate costs, which are of particular concern in booming L.A.

As large retailers see upticks in their e-tailing businesses, vast brick-and-mortar locations are less important anyway, said Shelton of NAI Capital, citing the example of Target, which usually occupies 150,000-square-foot stores and as of press time was still looking for a 22,000-square-foot berth in the Hollywood neighborhood.

Similarly, Kohl’s, a department store chain, closed several locations across L.A. in the last two years, in part, according to news reports, to save on expensive leases.

One of Kohl’s closed locations in San Gabriel will welcome what appears to be the first California outpost of the British grocery chain Asda in what was the fourth-largest lease in the county over the last 12 months. Asda entered into an 80,000-square-foot sublease deal brokered by Colliers International, the fourth most active L.A. County retail leasing brokerage, according to TRD’s ranking, with nearly 345,000 square feet rented.

(Click to enlarge)

Like Colliers, CBRE — which is No. 1 in L.A. with nearly 1.6 million square feet leased — is a national firm. But West Coast agencies are also active, like NAI Capital, in second place, and Centers Business Management, which is focused on shopping centers and took fifth place with 343,000 square feet.

It’s important to note that TRD’s brokerage  ranking, which does not include numbers of deals, does not tell the full story when it comes to the most active players in the market. Some local firms are not focused on hitting mega-deal home runs, which can be hard to attain in the current economy. Instead, they opt for lots of base hits to get ahead.

For example, despite not landing any huge individual leases, NAI manages to be one of the city’s most active firms through multiple small-bore deals, like a recent one with a 7-Eleven convenience store at 6500 Hollywood Boulevard, Shelton said. Fast-casual restaurants, like Burger Lounge, a chain that specializes in grass-fed meat in 1,500-to 2,500-square-foot spaces, are also a strong subsector, he added.

As is the case across the country, discount stores offering items at deep discounts — around $1, in some cases, but also with less drastic cuts — are also a growth category.

A recent transaction in this category involves the discount-furnishings store Curacao, which in October renewed its lease for an over-100,000-square-foot space in a shopping center at 5980 Pacific Boulevard in the Huntington Park neighborhood. That was L.A.’s largest leasing deal in the last 12 months, according to TRD’s ranking..

When Curacao’s lease was up for renewal, Argent Retail Advisors — the 10-year-old brokerage representing the landlord, Il Young Kim — began marketing the 1984 building, said Terry Bortnick, Argent’s president. He said there was widespread interest from a “who’s who” of tenants, since large footprints are hard to come by in the area. But Pacific Properties might have had to renovate the space, a costly undertaking, and so instead stuck with Curacao in a 10-year deal, Bortnick said.

The asking rent was $25 a square foot annually, which is on a par with the $27 average asking rent for shopping centers countywide, according to Cushman & Wakefield.

“Deep discounters are one of the few categories that are still aggressively opening in today’s environment,” Bortnick said.

Meanwhile, landlords are being squeezed as they look for new tenants, including discount chains, to replace closing stores.

In addition to offering free rent to commercial tenants while they renovate their stores — a fairly typical concession — owners are now expected to offer credits to help pay for things like expensive electrical work, according to brokers.

South Florida

South Florida

With low vacancy rates and a whirlwind of retail leasing, the Miami metro area continues to buck the national trend.

In fact, the average asking rent in the first quarter of 2018 was about $40 a square foot, according to Colliers International. That’s a sharp jump from the $35-per-square-foot asking rent in the year-earlier quarter.

But dark clouds may be forming, brokers said. Toys “R” Us, the bankrupt toy chain that announced in March it would close all of its U.S. stores, has 23 locations in South Florida, meaning a mass of big-box space is poised to flood the market.

(Click to enlarge)

In a similar vein, Miami is awash in new retail construction, like the mixed-use megaproject Miami Worldcenter, which has 360,000 square feet of stores being built or planned for downtown. 

As is the case in other markets, a major bright spot appears to be discount retailers. These chains are often publicly traded and have deep pockets, which helps explain their appeal as tenants.

Many of the top leasing deals of the last year involved companies emphasizing below-market-rate merchandise, according to TRD’s ranking. Costco, the discount giant, took more than 51,000 square feet by the Miami airport, and Burlington was responsible for a pair of leases, one in Lake Park in Palm Beach (ranked fifth) and one in Hollywood, which was 35,178 square feet.

As in other markets, national chains are picking up some of the slack. Hobby Lobby, the arts-and-crafts store, took three major berths last year, all at 55,000 square feet — a size the brand strictly adheres to — making the chain responsible for three of the top five South Florida leases.

A variety of landlords are benefiting from the store’s moves. In Dania Beach, near Fort Lauderdale, Hobby Lobby will take space at Kimco Realty Corporation’s Dania Pointe, an under-construction 1 million-square-foot retail complex that is charging forward despite the gloomy forecast.

While malls are suffering as shoppers gravitate toward other experiences, Kimco, a Long Island-based developer, is betting there will be demand for its brand of shopping complex, which is more open-air than typical mall properties.

The $800 million, 102-acre Dania Pointe project, on the site of a former roller coaster, the Hurricane, includes tenants like T.J. Maxx and Outback Steakhouse among its 10 storefronts.

Hobby Lobby also picked up space in a building owned by Verde Realty, a real-estate investment trust, in Pembroke Pines. In addition, the chain will cut a ribbon in part of a former Kmart store at the Plaza at Lake Park, a shopping center owned by the Sterling Organization, a Florida-based private-equity firm.

On the tenant side, all three Hobby Lobby deals were handled by Katz & Associates, South Florida’s second most active brokerage with 326,000 square feet leased last year, according to the ranking. A 22-year-old firm that mostly represents tenants along the East Coast, Katz did not return a call for comment.

Chicago

Chicago

As the retail economy has suffered, so too have companies generally considered bullet-proof, like Wal-Mart. Earlier this year, it announced it was closing dozens of its Sam’s Club spin-offs, for instance.

But some stores – namely, chains that can offer even deeper discounts than mass-market retailers – are inching in. A location that Sam’s Club was on the verge of leasing, at the in the Deerbrook Shopping Center in Deerfield, Ill., is instead now home to the latest outpost of the Dump Luxe Furniture Outlet, an 11-location chain specializing in discounted couches and tables, with an unusual twist. It’s open only on weekends to keep labor costs low. With about 136,000 square feet, the deal was Chicago’s largest in the past 12 months, according to TRD’s data.

Arcore Real Estate Group worked on behalf of Dump Luxe. The landlord, Mid-America Real Estate Corporation, repped itself at the property, which is a handy symbol of the decimated retail sector.

Tenants such as Best Buy, Office Max and the Great Indoors, a home decor retail chain owned by the struggling Sears, have vanished in recent years. But in an effort to salvage the property, Mid-America has renovated the one-time enclosed 1970s shopping mall into open-air shopping center; that Great Indoors store became a parking lot.

(Click to enlarge)

Other major leasing activity in Cook County seems to mirror national trends. Medical facilities, eager to branch into neighborhoods as the health care industry grows, are snapping up storefronts. The Chicago Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery signed a lease for an 80,000-square-foot store in a shopping center anchored by a Ross Dress for Less in North Kenwood, near Lake Michigan.

Likewise, Advocate Health Care will take about 50,000 square feet in Wrigleyville, in a former Sports Authority store. Services offered there will include X-rays and cardiac testing, according to a press release from Next Realty, the landlord. CBRE handled the transaction. “Finding 50,000 square feet of free-standing retail space with parking in Lakeview is like finding a unicorn. It just doesn’t exist,” said Marc Blum, Next’s president.

At the same time, Chicago’s retail vacancy rate seems relatively high. Quantum Real Estate Advisors put it at nearly 7 percent in 2017.

But market segments like grocery stores, too, seem robust. Indeed, Living Fresh Market signed up for a 70,000-square-foot store in Forest Park, in a deal it brokered with an in-house team. NAI Hiffman represented landlord Living World Christian Center in the deal.

from The Real Deal Miami https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/the-kingpins-of-leasing/#new_tab via IFTTT

[allmoddedapk]

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.2 Apk [Unlimited Money]

New Post has been published on https://www.allmoddedapk.com/real-drift-car-racing-mod-apk/

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.2 Apk [Unlimited Money]

Real Drift Car Racing Mod 5.0.2 Apk [Unlimited Money]

Real Drift Car Racing 5.0.2 Mod Apk is new and exciting racing game in the Android- based rendering and riding game of the RealGames gaming studio, which sells for Android $ 1.99 and is one of the best and most popular games. of Android that is and has today more than 500 million times by Android users around the world have been purchased! In this gameYou ride on your car in different places and you will be able to win and win dramatic races, so you can customize and upgrade your car and double the excitement of the game! Dozens of dream car and lacquer carts are available to you to ride on and control their camera through various modes and perform professional driving in addition to driving! The Real Drift Car Racing has a volume of over 200 MB and has a stunning graphics, breathtaking sound and superb controllers that we offer to all lovers of car games and be sure to get your attention. .

Some features of Real Drift Car Racing Android:

Designed fully 3D and realistic simulation

Ability to customize the car by changing the body color, rim model and so on

Exciting engine for a special engine for each car with a urbo whistle and a blow off valve

Ability to play online and compete to challenge other global players

Includes 5 new powerful cars with special and realistic settings

7 new songs very exciting + modes to play a Possibility to control the car using the accelerometer (gyroscope) or tactile steering mode

[theophilos-sotiriadis]

Παγκόσμια διάκριση για το Πλαίσιο, καθώς είναι η μοναδική ελληνική εταιρεία που με τη σειρά desktop συστημάτων Turbo-X Battlebox απέσπασε την πιστοποίηση της NVIDIA, αποκτώντας έτσι μία θέση ανάμεσα στους κορυφαίους κατασκευαστές Gaming PC παγκοσμίως με ανάλογη πιστοποίηση. Η πιστοποίηση αυτή είναι εξαιρετικά σημαντική, καθώς η ΝVIDIA κατέχει σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο ηγετική θέση ανάμεσα στις εταιρείες που παράγουν τεχνολογία και έχουν πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο στις εξελίξεις της gaming βιομηχανίας. Με την ένδειξη Battlebox χαρακτηρίζονται συστήματα gaming Τurbo-X που βασίζονται σε κορυφαίας απόδοσης κάρτες γραφικών της NVIDIA και ενσωματώνουν hardware τελευταίας γενιάς ιδιαίτερα υψηλής απόδοσης που κάνουν το extreme gaming… παιχνιδάκι. Τα συστήματα desktop Turbo-X Battlebox βρίσκονται ήδη στα καταστήματα Πλαίσιο και στο www.plaisio.gr και περιμένουν τους fan του gaming για μία συναρπαστική εμπειρία. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στο official website. Πηγή  DigitalLife.gr

http://theophilosblog.blogspot.com/2017/09/nvidia-urbo-x.html

[darkarchercatalyst]

warewol replied to your photo: Nobody “wins” Monopoly, URBO. You survive it and...

Confession: Never had a fight over board games in family, as dysfunctional as we were. I am, however, never ever ever ever ever again helping my dad to build a simple IKEA drawer.

Well of course not. When the only view I have into your family is you, who can make your own swords, I shudder to think of what sort of damage would be done if your whole family went off at once.

That said, the only near-fights that I ever had with my wife were over assembling furniture and attempting to teach her how to iron her own clothes.

The latter is actually a good metric of relationship health in my mind, by the way. Have the partner who’s good at something seemingly simple but difficult to pick up try to teach the partner who doesn’t know it and see how patient they are with each other.