FTS: Explore the Myth of Baba Yaga in BLACKTAIL, Out Now (PC, XSX, PS5)

Watch the Gripping Launch Trailer for BLACKTAIL, Out Now on PC & Consoles!

PARIS -- Dec. 15, 2022 -- Focus Entertainment and THE PARASIGHT are thrilled to announce the release of their surreal, first-person action-adventure game BLACKTAIL. Available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, the eerie woods of BLACKTAIL are now wide awake with a dark and poignant tale for you to set in motion. Let the new launch trailer lead you down the forest’s path and start your adventure!

Created by Polish indie studio THE PARASIGHT and published by Focus Entertainment, BLACKTAIL retells the myth of Baba Yaga. You play as Yaga, a 16-year-old girl accused of witchcraft and expelled from a medieval Slavic settlement. Unravel your own mystery as you track down living memories of your past that have returned as foul, walking spirits.

On top of mastering your trusty bow, broom and gauntlet to engage in thrilling boss fights, you’ll also craft arrows and brew elixirs, hunt wild game, and gather resources to improve your abilities, shape your playstyle and survive the ominous environment.

Deep in the woods, every choice matters. Choose whether you’ll be a good or evil witch, deciding the fate of the land and its inhabitants, and witness the impact your decisions have on your skills through BLACKTAIL’s morality system.

BLACKTAIL – a one-of-a-kind blend of intense archery, combat, magic and dark storytelling set in a vibrant fairy-tale world inspired by old Slavic myths, is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a 20% launch discount. Today also marks the digital release of the game’s original soundtrack, and the Game + OST bundle on Steam and GOG.com, letting you extend your enchanted experience with a bewitching blend of Slavic folklore themes and modern motifs. 

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FTS: Teardown's "Art Vandals" Expansion Launches Today (PC)

 

Teardown’s “Art Vandals” Update Introduces New Story-Driven Expansion Today on PC

The smash-hit sandbox heist game continues to grow with five new heists and a new location, free for all players

MALMÖ, Sweden – Dec. 15, 2022 – Tuxedo Labs has released the new “Art Vandals” campaign expansion for Teardown, the voxel-based sandbox heist game on Steam. This major content update launches today with five new heist missions and a new location, free for all Teardown players.

In “Art Vandals,” players take on the role of Freya Woo – the daughter of Gordon Woo, who features in the original Teardown campaign. You’ll visit the picturesque fishing town of Tilläggaryd and its modern art museum with new missions focused on getting revenge against artist Kerstin Stråbäck. Steal her awards, escape with her art and destroy what you need to, all while using powerful new tools like the Paperboy Gun and Jackhammer.

“Art Vandals” is available through the all-new Expansions section in the Play menu, as well as through the in-game mod menu to help introduce players to Teardown’s powerful modding systems. Anyone can begin “Art Vandals” without playing the original story, but this challenging campaign is best undertaken by Teardown veterans with a bit of heisting experience under their belts.

Plan the perfect heists with realistic physics in the fully destructible, voxel-simulated world of Teardown! Use a range of tools to manipulate environments to your advantage in the most creative ways you can imagine: bring down walls with vehicles, create shortcuts with explosives, stack objects to reach higher places, and much more. Run, jump, drive and slingshot in a full story campaign featuring 40 missions, test your skills in experimental challenges, create your own no-pressure experiences with unlimited resources in Sandbox mode, and discover unique designs from the community with Steam Workshop mod support. Just don’t get caught!

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2022 Wishmas Guide... for the Guys!

 

You don't think we would've forgotten about the guys do ya? We got you. There are quite a few guys that have said they're good on gifts, more than a few actually. They didn't exactly say they didn't want anything, some of them just said it in a way like... I wouldn't mind this or... it would be kinda cool if I had that. So don't take it as the guys in your life are Team Scrooge or something... no no no, just listen and capitalize.

There might even be some gifts that they didn't think they'd be interested in... just come from an angle that keeps their interests in mind, making the gift even more useful.

Let's start with hygiene

One that some of you may have been curious about, but never bit on is... Dr. Squatch. Dr. Squatch is a natural soap company with crazy commercials of guys showering (and sometimes bathing) outside to awesome spokesmanship, and there is still a number of curious people who would like to know how good the soap is for the guys in their lives... without a subscription. We have you covered!

A gift of a Dr. Squatch subscription certainly comes in handy, but... if you want to get a bar of soap or different types without subscribing to anything... you can grab the soap here.

To be honest, if you get the individual bars without the subscription, you actually save more (which would be great stocking stuffers that leave the guys in your life smelling fresh). Yes, you can get the soap on the main site without a subscription, but... there's a minimum order requirement for shipping and they cost a little more. This Wishmas guide isn't to break the bank, so... save where you can.

These are Dr. Squatch soap options that you can grab for less than $6 per bar:

Pine Tar
Wood Barrell Bourbon
Fresh Falls
Birchwood Breeze
Cedar Citrus

Nothing wrong with being fresh and clean know what I mean? You never want the guys in your lives to go around others smelling like... the Infamous Mr. Stinky. It can put a damper on the day... or night.

If you're eyeing this department regarding hygiene, you might as well bring it full circle. I'm not saying that you have to go off the deep end where they feel as if you're trying to send a message. Stocking stuffers will keep tension out of the air... so stick to the stocking unless you're going with a bundle, trust me. You don't want them opening gifts, and instead of a thank you, they want to know what exactly are you trying to say. But anyway... back to the circle. Don't forget about their dental health.

You might be wondering how can you possibly help them with that, but if you get them a Dr. Plotka's Mouth Watchers Toothbrush, they will thank you. Their dental game could be amazing right now, but if they're using a standard toothbrush, it's simply not the same. I've had the honor of reviewing one of these toothbrushes and it's the cleanest my grill has ever felt outside of the dentist's office. I still use this brand to this day, and you can even ask them how their teeth feel after the first brush. There are 2-packs + kids options as well.

If you're looking to gift fragrance this season, this could be a tad more complicated based on the guy. You may want to see what he has and re-up on the pleasant options. There are some heavier options where a little goes a long way, but if the guy bathes in the stuff (leaving other men, women, and younglings gasping for air, it might be a bit too much)... you may want to stick with a lighter fragrance. I prefer a lighter scent like a Cool Water, it's not a fruity-like scent but... but it's light like such scents can be. Even then I hit one wrist one or twice (based on intensity), share the love with the other wrist, and dab it all around from there.

I can't forget about tech

While a number of people will utilize their phones and even peripherals for their phones to take photos and video, there are some people with a passion for photography and videography. You may not have the budget to go to the top of your budget on one item, so consider some good options that help your wallet breathe.

The Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera w/ the 18-55mm Lens can certainly get the job done for hobbyists and professionals. Why not start off with gaming? Relax, we're saving the best for last, but... a number of people are looking for opportunities that don't consist of the traditional 9 to 5. So this could be a great gift for the guy with aspirations in this field. Pair it with a nice photo editing software, and consider gifting a photography course.

Another great gift... is a large mouse pad. Even if it's to replace another one that ran its course already. It goes across their desk (covering a nice area) and allows them to have room enough to shift their mouse, keyboard, etc. The more stationary items can chill on the bare desk, but the items that they shift and slide around... won't smear or potentially scratch the desk with a large mouse pad protecting it.

The Aukey XXL Gaming Mouse Pad/Mat is $8.99

I won't hate on consoles this holiday season, but... PC is the best route to go in my opinion. If they're more of a nomad or just constantly on the go for work, a gaming laptop would be a great gift. It's a gift that keeps on giving. There are many to choose from, just make sure the system specs are good: 

RAM between 8GB & 16GB

GPU between Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 to Core i7-4770K or AMD Radeon RX 470 to Radeon RX 580

CPU between Intel Core i5-3570 to Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X to Ryzen 7 1800X

DirectX Version 12

Try to avoid going below the minimum specs you see here.

The Lenovo Legion Slim 7i Gen 7 Intel (RTX 3050 Ti) has the following specs:

12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H (E-cores up to 3.5GHz, P-cores up to 4.7GHz)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU 4GB GDDR6

16GB DDR5-4800MHz

512GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC

16" WQXGA (2560 X 1600) HDR400 | 165Hz (Low Blue Light)

3 Months of Xbox Game Pass

The available ports are:

HDMI 2.1

3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (1 x always on)

Headphone / mic combo

SD card reader

Intel Thunderbolt 4

USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, 135W power delivery)

This laptop also comes with 3 months of Xbox Game Pass (which again... not crapping on consoles), but they're getting access to PC games, multi-console releases (and even previous console exclusives), plus the benefits of PC. This particular system has a nice form, the power input is in the back along with HDMI, etc. The HDMI and power on the side aren't as aesthetically pleasing, so I appreciate the placement on this laptop.

The minimum specs also apply to desktop PCs, the same thing applies because the game specs don't change... they're just not going to be carrying around a desktop (if they do, get it on video).

Regardless of whether you get a desktop or a laptop, definitely add a game controller to the mix (duh of the day). If you'd like to gift a handheld game console... a Steam Deck is the way to go. They have access to PC games on the go, but for hobbyists, they can also play a variety of games that aren't even through the Steam store. Valve wants people to have fun and find creative ways to use their Steam Deck, so that's perfect for someone interested in STEM or simply wants to be a part of a game mod community. 

Overall, it's a handheld that keeps on giving... I believe it has more life than what the Nintendo Switch can deliver because the PC doesn't come out with the PC 2 or something like that (so no need to replace it because support is no longer there, you have access to Steam regardless). Make your budget work wonders, and I keep forgetting that you can connect the Steam Deck to the telly.

If you're researching smart watches, you may have come across the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, in addition to the Apple Watch + the Galaxy Watch. This watch works on both the Android & iOS and delivers a lot of the features you expect like a heart rate monitor, GPS, 2-week battery life, and Water Resistance.

You also get the PAI Health Assessment System, along with stress level + sleep monitoring, and 60+ Sports Modes to access via the 1.69" display. If your heart is set to gift one of the more well-known brands, I can understand... but the quality isn't based on brands or price (hence some of the items in this Wishmas Guide). You can get the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro for less than $75, which... if someone isn't huge on smartwatches anyway, it's a safe investment that gives them useful features, and if they don't use every feature... there are still enough they'd likely use to keep the doc informed that would make it worth it.

If you have it like that... to buy the Apple Watch Ultra for $799, go for it, just... make an inventory of what he has versus what he doesn't have. You can gift the Apple Watch Series 8 for $349 and have $400 left for a Steam Deck or a number of other items. Play with the numbers, see what's what... and knock your gift out of the park (it's the thought that counts). 

The best advice I can give for this category is to seek what would be beneficial to the person, especially if they're up in age. If they like to go jogging and all that awesome athletic stuff... a watch like the Apple Watch Ultra has an 86 dB siren on it that Apple says can be heard up to 600 feet (or 180 meters away). That's not just a gift, that's another feature that can help you breathe a bit easier, and overall having the ability to make emergency calls with a smartwatch goes a long way. The Apple Watch Ultra also has crash detection + fall detection.

The battery life for the Apple Watch Ultra is 36 hours (on normal use) to 60 hours (low power setting). So there are certainly pluses you can get from these various watches, just aim for the perks that can help the recipient level up. It can even help with productivity if their phone is in their pocket and they can just check a caller ID via their watch, and control their phone from their watch seeing texts, to-do lists, etc.

I didn't forget the Galaxy Watch5 and its 5ATM IP68 waterproof body, sleep tracking, 410mAh, armor aluminum, etc. It's a nice option at $239.00, but keep some of the features in mind... just like with the Apple Watch, you can find some of the same features in the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro. The Amazfit Bip 3 Pro also has a 5ATM+IP68 waterproof body, meaning you can swim with the watch on without issues.

Overall, I hope this gift guide helps you in your mission to find some great gifts for the guys in your life. Stop, look, listen, and remember the things they may have mentioned. Take those hints and knock it out of the park. 

There are even a number of guys trying to get smaller means of transportation to get back and forth from work because doing the math, it beats... driving back and forth in some of the gas guzzlers out there. Not everyone wants to ride a bike to work, but there are bikes out there that can get them anywhere from 45 to 65 miles with battery power (i.e. long-range Lectric eBike). One of my neighbors has one of these actually, and he floats through the neighborhood. Again, not everyone wants a bike, but... you're paying a bit more in some cases if you decide to gift a gas-powered scooter. The electric scooters are cool, but... the miles aren't great for a number of them, so an eBike is a great alternative just in case they need to pedal. Happy gifting!

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Potential Developers: How long are you going to wait to start?

There are individuals out there like yourself with aspirations of becoming a game developer, taking dreams and making them a reality, but... procrastination is dominating the clock. I'm going to keep it real with you, how in the hell are you going to make a dream come true if you don't start doing the work to make it a reality?

Every morning, ask yourself... "What am I waiting for?". It's an honest question, especially if you have spare time. Spare time is grind time. Spare time gives you the grind time to make your dreams of game development a full-time reality.

I know that some of you might be curious with a side of doubt right now... but don't worry, I'll explain.

I could say it's simple, but I won't say it's extremely difficult. It all boils down to the route you choose to take. There's no-code software out there that gives you the ability to create games utilizing the capabilities of a game engine, and some engines allow you to create original artwork within the software. You'd be surprised of the various things you can do with certain game engines by way of your creativity and effort. You aren't stuck with the same game engine either, but take advantage of any engine you become familiar with because it's another pathway to creating games. Not saying you need all game engines, but if you find one that works great for you, don't utilize it for just one game and then move on. Game engines are a tool, and if you have various ideas that you're able to bring to life with that engine... do your thing.

If it's a simple engine to get the ball rolling, nothing wrong with that. If you're thinking, "I wouldn't even know how to get started with a game engine", no worries... there are so many affordable courses out there for game engines. So... learn it up!

As you continue to grow and gain the ability to do more, you'd be taking another step from spare time to full-time. When you get to the point where you're hiring team members to cover various positions, you're on your way... and I wish you the best. The links you see in this article can help you get started... even if you grab some with a plan to get started at a certain time (when you make better sense of your schedule).

I have to say this in terms of your schedule, be honest. If you find yourself binge-watching TV shows, ask yourself how much of that time is taking away from your dreams or contributing to them? Consider giving yourself at least an hour of learning 4 to 5 days per week. I wouldn't say just go all in if this is your spare time and it's limited, even if it's more on the unlimited side... you need a schedule for structure. 

If you have to work, and you have an hour to spare... it's worth it. If you like to watch TV and Film, use it to your advantage. While watching your favorite shows and films, look at how stories are laid out, look at angles, pace, music... and all that good stuff. You can help your endeavors via one of your favorite pastimes. So with all this said, take a look at the links you see here... see what you think (because research is of great importance) and... go ask yourself, "What am I waiting for?".

When you ask yourself this question, please do not think about your race, age, sex, or anything else that has nothing to do with development becoming a possibility. It simply requires your effort to make it happen, don't let nonsensical excuses get in your way. You can use your race, age, sex, and overall experience to develop different stories, but roadblocks... heck no. Hop on your PC and get started. 

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