Artemis Fowl

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Disney+ has arrived in the UK and there’s MORE content on the way! Beginning on Friday 12th June, Disney will bring you some brand new live action content with the film ‘Artemis Fowl’.

Artemis Fowl is based on the best selling book for young adults of the same name by Eoin Colfer. The film adaptation will bring a cinema sized experience for audiences of all ages. Furthermore we are all able to experience it for the first time right from within the comfort of our own homes. Artemis Fowl is directed by legendary director/actor Kenneth Branagh and will bring viewers a fantastical epic adventure. Sprawling across beautiful landscapes and bring spectacular visual effects which will transport viewers to magical brand new worlds that they haven’t been to before.

The fantastical film will star newcomer Ferdia Shaw in the title role. Alongside a star studden cast with Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Nonso Anozie, Josh McGuire, Nikesh Patel and Adrian Scarborough, with Colin Farrell and Judi Dench.

Kenneth Branagh says….

 “Artemis Fowl is a true original. In challenging times, a twelve year old criminal mastermind is one heck of a travelling companion. Smart, funny, and cool as mustard, he’ll take you to new worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and mix magic with mayhem. His own family is everything to him, and (although he’d never admit it), he’d be as proud as I am that families around the world will now be able to enjoy his first amazing screen adventures together, on Disney+.” Kenneth Branagh

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Episode 354 Mr Midas Interviews Tifa! (Britt Baron)

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Play At Home – Sony’s FREE Games

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Sony have recently announced the “Play At Home” initiative. For a limited time Sony are offering two free games to PS4 owners: Journey and The Nathan Drake Collection. Starting today April 15th until May 5th 8pm. While owners in Germany and China will be given Journey and Knack 2. 

But wait….Sony already offered those games last month as part of the Playstation Plus membership. Sony did, but this time round regardless if you are an active Playstation Plus subscriber, you’ll have access to these games. Unless you didn’t already download them of course.

Play At Home: Download Speeds.

While this is all good and Sony wants you to stay in and be entertained whilst on quarantine, they also want to remind you that downloads may take a little longer. Last month Sony announced it was working with internet providers to slow game download speeds. So they can help preserve internet access in the US and Europe. As there was an increased usage during the current pandemic.

Furthermore, Sony’s new initiative (Play At Home) also includes a $10M creative fund to help indie game developers. Who are undergoing financial hardships due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Independent developers are vital to the heart and soul of the gaming community and we understand the hardships and financial struggles that many smaller gaming studios are facing. With that, SIE has developed a fund to support them during this time. We have earmarked $10 million to support our independent development partners. More information about the fund, including participation criteria, will be made available soon.

During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners. Jim Ryan CEO and President of Sony Interactive Entertainment

(The Verge)

 

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Episode 353 Mr Midas Interviews Aerith! (Briana White)

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sweden

Sweden has a FAR different approach to COVID

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Sweden is one of the few countries not to enter a partial or full lockdown to help the fight against coronavirus.

Swedish authorities have opted for a relaxed measure to help isolated confirmed cases as much as possible. Keeping schools for younger children, restaurants and most shops open. While Denmark, Finland and Norway have all imposed some form of lockdown 3 weeks ago.

Sweden still operate social distancing guidelines. Traffic data from Citymapper suggest that trips within Stockholm have fallen 70%. As most people are working from home if they can.

However, the most recent figures are suggesting that this wasn’t enough. Sweden have now recorded almost 800 deaths from Coronavirus. Which is twice as many as it’s Scandinavian neighbours combined.

Sweden’s strategy is a bold one, though if deaths keep rising at the current rate, it has not worked as intended.

(Chartr)

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Zoom COVID benefits in more ways than one!

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Zoom. The meeting app that has skyrocketed in popularity. Our friends over at Chartr have taken a look at it in a closer and have found a few things. They’ve have had a huge few months, their user base has increased twenty-fold and their share price has more than doubled. It’s gone on to become the go to communication tool for many of us in lockdown. However, another company called Zoom Technologies, a tiny company who have no affiliation to the video conferencing company.

Some people are investing. Some think that they’re investing in Zoom Communications (the real one) when they’re actually buying Zoom Technologies stock (the other one). Those mistakes have pushed the wrong Zoom companies price up to 1800%. Which is a tidy return for those who made the mistake early doors and benefited from others doing the same later on down the line. By the way here is where you can get buy Zoom shares.

Suspended Trading

To try and minimise the confusion and protect investors. The SEC (US Security and Exchange Commission) had to suspend trading in Zoom Technologies for a short period.

This has actually happened before. Zoom Communications went public in April 2019. Investors poured money into Zoom Technologies. Seeing their share price go from under a cent to almost $6 in a month. Other instances of these mistakes happening are, Twitter and Snapchat. When Twitter (TWTR) went public in 2013, investors bought Tweeter Home Entertainment (TWTRQ) stock. In one day increased their stock by 1,500%! In 2017 Snapchat (SNAP) went public, the stock price of Snap Iterative increased 164%

(Chartr)

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All wheel hyundi car how to kill an hourhow to kill a

China’s Car Market Recovered In March

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Economic predictions of doom and gloom are coming thick and fast. We have economists all over the world, from Nouriel Roubini to the big wigs at Goldman Sachs calling the coronavirus pandemic “the black swan of black swans” for economic output. A new Great Depression. The end of the world. But a glance over at the Chinese auto market reveals that the green shoots of recovery are emerging. 

The current lockdown has wrecked the auto sector in Europe and the US. People can’t leave their homes to buy cars. In the UK, for instance, manufacturers saw a 44 percent reduction in sales in March – the lowest level in over ten years.  In the US, the figure is around 50 percent. 

All wheel hyundi car how to kill an hour

Economists worry that the coronavirus pandemic is leading to an economic catastrophe from which we may not emerge – certainly not quickly. But there are positive reports coming out of China – which recently reopened its business – that things may improve soon once the lockdown comes to an end. 

Chinese dealerships report that they have seen a massive surge in demand since the CCP allowed people to leave their homes for non-essential reasons again. 

It points in the right direction. There are clear signs of business recovery in the country. And that should be a cause for celebration. 

The main fear was that shuttering economic activity for months at a time would put the car industry into cardiac arrest, causing a massive recession similar to the one that we saw in the 1930s. But it doesn’t appear like that will happen – at least not in China. The country’s authorities threw everything that they could at this crisis, including the kitchen sink, and it appears to be working. Shanghai factories are back online. And some experts predict that if things continue to improve at the rate that they were, the market could recover to pre-crisis levels by the middle of the summer. 

As for dealerships in the west, like Angus Mackinnon, the future isn’t so clear. Governments have stimulated their economies, like the Chinese. However, it is still not known whether we’re headed for a dual public health and financial crisis or not. 

If COVID-19 clears up by the middle of the summer – as some experts predict – and we don’t have a second wave, then we could be in the clear. Manufacturers could resume full-time production and then sell to a market buoyed by monetary stimulus. 

If, however, the lockdown drags on and we see people struggling to pay their bills because they can’t earn, then we’re in for a lot of pain. The structure of the car market might fundamentally change like it did in the financial crisis. And we could see production slow and businesses shuttering across the board. 

fuel pumps how to kill an hour

Remember, the industry never really recovered from that event. And even before the current crisis hit, the industry was dealing with issues such as electrification and diesel emissions. It was clear that change was on the way. The coronavirus will no doubt accelerate it. 

Enjoying The Best Modern Tech In Your Vehicle

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We’ve come a long way when it comes to cars, especially when you compare modern cars with the very first automobiles. Now, they’re much more than just vehicles that’ll take us from point A to point B. There’s a lot more thought that goes into the design of vehicles, to the point where some cars can be regarded as some of the best design work found anywhere. And then there’s a matter of the entertainment technology improvements, which have made driving a much more enjoyable and high-tech experience. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at a few ways that you can enjoy modern tech in your vehicle. You’ll soon notice just how much more fun driving can be once you have the latest tech in your car!

Get Out The User Manual 

First thing’s first: do you know what tech your current car has in it? It’s amazing how many people just try to figure things out by playing around with the dials, rather than looking in the user manual that’s provided. Dig yours out, have a read, and you might just find that your car has more tech capabilities than you previously thought. 

 

Aftermarket Upgrades

If your car didn’t come with all that much by way of modern tech, then fear not, because there is a way to add these touches to your vehicle. There’s a large aftermarket industry where you can buy just about everything for your vehicle. These products can be seriously cool; for example, wouldn’t it be nice to have a remote-start feature? Buy a kit, and it’ll be a reality. There are many sound systems that you can choose from, too; have a search for what’s compatible with your vehicle, and give your car’s music experience a boost. Dash cams and rear view cameras are increasingly popular, too, since it can make driving safer and even lower your insurance costs. 

 

Invest in a New Vehicle

Of course, at some point it just doesn’t become feasible to add new parts to your car. If you’re driving an old vehicle, then while the modern technology might work, it’ll probably look out of place. So why not seriously upgrade your car’s technology by investing in a new vehicle? There’s a wide selection of excellent used cars available from Border City Autos. Take a look at what’s available, get the keys, and you’ll soon be enjoying a slice of modern tech as you drive around town.

 

Download the Best Apps

As well as the hardware tech in your car, you can also use technology to aid your driving experience by downloading the best apps for car drivers. There’s a whole host that will make driving more enjoyable. For example, the Waze app will give you real-time traffic updates, so you can choose the smoothest route to your destination. And if you’re looking to save money on your driving costs (and who isn’t), then you can use GasBuddy, which will tell you the cheapest place to fill up the tank. 

 

Bulletproof Interrogation

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Bulletproof Interrogation. Following on from the successful first series of Bulletproof (Noel Clarke / Ashley Walters) Sky are launching an interrogation experience based off the hit show.

Bulletproof Interrogation is an immersive, gripping and interactive experience that’s been developed exclusively by Sky, Vertigo Films and Charisma.ia. Which allows fans and viewers to engage with Sky TV content like they’ve never done before.

Plot

So, the aim of the Bulletproof Interrogation experience is to give fans a taster of Bishop and Pike’s world. Placing players at the heart of the action, becoming an active participant of an ongoing crime story. You’ll be taking direction from both Bishop and Bike during the experience, helping them prevent a series of murders. A suspected killer has been arrested and only wants to talk to you.

 Key Features of the Bulletproof Interrogation Experience 

  • You are inside the story, not just controlling it. For the first time in entertainment, audiences now play a part in interactive stories as themselves. Enter a fast-paced and highly immersive environment where you must react as you. This is not a set of Yes/No buttons to press. It is a natural language conversation which feels like it could be happening right now. 
  • Al-powered script using Natural Language Processing to understand what the viewer is saying. Then placing what is said into the context of the story, into the mood of the characters, ensuring the correct next line in the script is delivered.
  • Talk directly to our richly scripted characters through your laptop screens, and they will talk back as part of a pioneering storytelling experience.
  • Dynamic and Adaptive story: So, if the viewer is polite, then our characters will react politely. If the viewer is insulting, then the characters will react angrily. Each of these reactions then influences the storyline. Which impacts not only the next stages of the story, but the overall story arc, and how characters behave towards the viewer throughout the experience.

Storytelling

  • Replayable storytelling: Fans can play the game over and over again with a different experience each time, depending on how they treat the characters and respond to the challenges put in front of them. This grants the player true experiential freedom to make the game their own.
  • Synthetic voice acting: A separate recording session was done with the actor to capture his voice into the Artificial Intelligence engine Resemble.ai. This means that the voice becomes a dynamically-generated speech. Able to be changed and updated at any point, and to respond dynamically to what the viewer is saying.
  • AI in entertainment: Artificial Intelligence has been a game-changing technology for many industries. While this is a unique combination of AI and storytelling which combines the latest thinking from both industries into a single project.

Rundown

Bish & Pike are back: and this time it’s interactive.

It’s up to you to help them stop a killer.

In this interactive experience, you have been called to a warehouse where a suspect serial killer wants to talk to you. You must get inside his head and stop him killing his victims, and the clock is ticking…

Get inside the world of Bulletproof in a way that’s never been seen before.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Play Bulletproof Interrogation by clicking here!

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Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake Review: Is it worth an hour?

Final Fantasy VII Remake is THE game that all Final Fantasy fans are waiting for. Arguably one of the best games, Final Fantasy VII is getting remade for a modern look and a lick of paint. Is it worth an hour of your time? Watch and you'll see 😉

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Thursday, 9 April 2020

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy 7 one of the most beloved video games EVER! , wanna know how beloved. We’re taking original, remastered, Prequel, Animated Movie, features in Super Smash Bros, Dissidia, Kingdom Hearts, FF7 manga and the list goes on. So to say the excitement for Final Fantasy 7 Remake is huge is an understatement. Check out our Final Fantasy VII Remake review below!

This review contains minor spoilers ahead. No story spoilers.

Final Fantasy 7, FF7, is the game that I always honour as the title that made me a hardcore gamer. So if it wasn’t for this title, I may have never worked in gaming.

So quick backstory for those of you who are like,So wtf? Is Final Fantasy 7?

The original is turn based role playing game created by Japanese development studio Square enix in January 1997!! Damnnn I’m getting old. FF7 released on the PS(one) took the world by storm, taking you on the adventures of Cloud, Tifa, Barrett and crew.

Now the Final Fantasy Remake is a new game brand a new vision inspired from original, now big man ting. I was super nervous starting this game, when I heard the opening sequence which matches the original to a t, my heart sank.

Long gone are the miss mash of shapes, trying to visually present 3D, we now have a beautiful, like stunning game, with colours that pop! MPCs who’re actually living out their lives and one of the best games I’ve seen on my 4K TV.

And man to see Cloud, Tifa and Barret in all their 3 dimensional glory. Mind blowing.

So does this beloved game, still make me  feel the same? Well yes, yes and no!

Yes!

So Final Fantasy 7 Remake, kept very true to most of the original story, but also added most of new things, including Seporath, the games glooming bad guy, he’s a major part of FF7R and messes with you through the game.

The game does an amazing job of helping you build relationships with characters, even characters like Jessie, who took a back seat in the original is a huge and major part of your story now. And midgar has a more realistic feel, the streets look like somewhere you may of visited or seen on your favourite TV show,

Yes

One of the reasons FF7 is loved and adored. Is it’s cast, FF7R feels so diverse, with characters of all different races livin together, and the leading cast is incredible;

Cloud strife, is beyond iconic and easily the most memorable in the FF series, his gruff loveable personality can’t be missed as he stores around with his giant busted sword. And he looks better than I could ever manage.

Barrett the gruff, strong black male who cares so for the planet, his people and his family more than anything and will die fighting to protect them, stays very true to the original although he’s very Mr T like.

The games leading ladies, Arieth, the caring girl next door, who is super funny and got banter for day’s, which really surprised me. Furthermore she looks stunning in that opening cutscene.

Also everyone’s favourite, Tifa, the strong, independent female, who can kick ass while looking super hot at the same time. Plus she showed a vulnerable side that I really enjoyed.

No!

Although we all reference the original game. Final Fantasy Remake is new title that’s basically redoing an old idea. One of the main changes is the the combat system. It has been completely rebuilt, and it’s soooo f** cold, the game goes all out with real time action, with options to choose your magic and special attacks, via menu. The combat is fast paced, colourful, dramatic and at times a challenge, you can take control of the all characters by pressing side on your D-pad. This has completely changed the feel of the game and makes it feel completely modern. And the music, the musicccc has been completely enhanced to accompany the new style.

FF7R is not a perfect game. Some sections feel super padded out, in a typical JRPG fetch quest fashion, sometimes when your talking to characters the conversations on the street overtake yours and the but these are such small complaints, their like having a ugly spoiler on your Lamborghini, but it’s still a Lamborghini!!!

Now I could talk about this game all day long, you much give this game a try and you can right now as there a free demo on the PSN store and you need this game in your life.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

So it looks like Final Fantasy VII is THE game that all Final Fantasy fans are waiting for. Arguably one of the best games, Final Fantasy VII is getting remade for a modern look and a lick of paint. While the question remains. Is it worth an hour of your time?

Well, the answer to that question is yes. Yes it is. It’s worth many hours of your time.

While it’s been altered to bring it to the modern era and attract more fans and bring new eyes to the Final Fantasy Franchise. You can either play in classic Final Fantasy turn based battle mechanics. Or you can play in a more modern fluid battle mode. Furthermore, the characters are well balanced and are very relatable. Whilst still retaining what we fell in love with them for all those years ago.

Also, it’s very pick up and play and even Final Fantasy novices can get into it. Also, they don’t need to worry about what has gone on in previous games. So, they can simply play this game as their 1st foray into the franchise and be hooked. Within minutes as well!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Plot

The world has fallen under the control of the Shinra electric power company. A shadowy corporation controlling the planet’s very life force as Mako energy. In the sprawling city of Midgard, an anti-Shinra Organization calling themselves Avalanche have stepped up their resistance.

Cloud strife, a former member of Shinra’s Elite soldier unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the group, unaware of the epic consequences that await him. A spectacular re-imagining of one of the most visionary games ever, the first game in this project will be set in the eclectic city of Midgard and presents a fully stand alone gaming experience. [Square Enix]

 

 

Written and reviewed by Mr Midas

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