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Team Talk | Do the first PS5 details have you excited?
The fifth console developed by PlayStation manufacturer Sony hasn't officially been dubbed the PlayStation 5 yet, but we're gonna call it that anyway.
by Team PTC
@pass_controller
Oddly revealed to little fanfare in an exclusive interview with Wired, Lead System Architect at PlayStation and Creative Genius on Knack, Mark Cerny, shared an early glimpse of what we can expect from the upcoming PS5. Did he do enough to garner our interest in the shiny new box, which he also confirmed won't be launching in 2019, or are we perfectly happy in its absence?
Sony seem to be building their next-generation platform in the most traditional way possible; physical hardware boasting a significant jump in horsepower, which will accept disc-based media. No forced streaming or any other gimmicks, just more of what we've always known and loved.
That's comforting to hear, but, if the likes of Google Stadia happen to take off, where does that leave ye olde PS5? Confirmed backwards compatibility should certainly help, offering a huge built-in software catalogue at affordable price points, as should support for existing peripherals like PlayStation VR.
That being said, I hope we also get an optional headset upgrade. For the machine to feel anything like there's been a true generational leap, we need a higher display resolution and to ditch all of those wires. For the love of Knack: please, please, please lose the wires! Rumours suggest this might be the case, so fingers crossed we get a new camera and motion controllers too.
The extra tools being made available to developers - most notably a rapid internal SSD and an updated chipset, said to be capable of outputting 8K graphics - at least seem poised to implement the level of showcase required to wow consumers outside of VR.
Funnily enough, Mark Cerny also touted the wider implementation of 3D audio, which is something almost exclusively reserved for VR right now. It's a huge factor when it comes to increasing immersion, so much so that the thought of having true 3D audio in all of my games is worth getting hot and bothered over alone.
Sam just uses his PS4 Pro for exclusives and VR, so PS VR matters more to him than most.
It seems a little odd to me that Sony are yet to officially name their new console the PlayStation 5. They're usually quite predictable in that respect, so I'm going to assume that this is either an upgrade to the PS4 Pro (in which case I'll be calling it PlayStation 4.9), or an all-powerful future console that may, or may not, be sentient (PlayStation 6). There is no in between, I deal only in absolutes.
With all the talk about fancy CPUs, GPUs and SSDs you might be thinking it's the latter (or a terrible start to a game of Scrabble) and I would be inclined to agree. I'd posit that very few people are invested enough in Spider-Man's fast travel system to warrant spending hundreds of pounds just to save 14 seconds.
The reason for Sony sharing little else about the console is that the PlayStation 6 doesn't want them to. The PlayStation 6 has been biding its time, assimilating all of our knowledge and building the infrastructure it needs to enslave the human race.
For years it has waited, patiently, but it did not hide. It was right there in front of us all along. You see: Mark Cerny is not the man behind the machine - Mark Cerny is the machine.
In 2018 I was more tempted to get a PS4 than any year prior, thanks to a number of tasty exclusives (especially Spider-Man). The next PlayStation's existence is hardly a surprise, but it's again going to be the games that really strike my fancy over any flashy hardware, since I'm not already invested in the PlayStation ecosystem like I am with Xbox.
In terms of raw power, I think Xbox One X already hits the mark and delivers a level of spectacle which I don't fully appreciate. For that reason, the rumoured timed exclusivity period for Grand Theft Auto VI is what has me most tempted right now.
There's no doubt that I've sunk more hours into GTA Online than any other game, despite being awful at it, though, being realistic, there'll need to be much more than just an early taste on the menu for me to fork out on a new console and by extension a new library of games.
Considering Sony has decided to skip E3 this year, perhaps we should temper our expectations accordingly, since there'd surely be no better place to drop any bombs they might have stowed than on the industry's biggest stage?
Will GTA VI, and presumably by extension James' beloved GTA Online, spend its first month as a PlayStation 5 exclusive?
As someone blessed with little to no technological knowledge, the recently revealed PS5 specs mean absolutely zilch to me. There's no doubt everything mentioned will make games look super pretty, but what most interests me is the confirmation of backwards compatibility and support for PS VR.
I don't actually own a PS4, but I do currently have an unopened PS VR gathering dust in the corner of my living room. I'm aware this is an odd thing to purchase, considering the lack of a console to hook it up to, but there was method in my madness.
Bought on a whim at a heavily discounted price, the plan was always to try and save up for the PS4 afterwards, but life kept getting in the way. Whether it's visiting friends, upcoming holidays or paying medical bills (I'm no longer based in the UK), the world seems to be constantly conspiring against me to ensure I never get my hands on one.
While the specs might not do it for me, the idea of being able to finally unwrap my VR headset and experience the whole suite of PS4 exclusives, alongside shiny new games on one shiny new console is worth getting excited about.
How do you see the next PlayStation shaping up? Let us know in the comments below.
Japanese developers are killing it in 2019
After taking a break from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in order to cover Outward, I recently rejoined the eponymous one-armed wolf to conclude our business together. With another exceptional FromSoftware adventure soon under my belt, I paused to consider where Sekiro ranks amongst 2019's other releases, before quickly positioning it alongside Capcom's Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5 right at the very top.
These three titles unapologetically focus on delivering a polished and complete single-player experience, which, let's be honest, is downright cherishable nowadays. As we continue to churn out service-based looter shooter and battle royale games in the West, it's fallen almost entirely to the East to pick up the creative slack this year thus far.
Only really excluding Metro Exodus, it feels as though large Western developers - publishers, more likely - have all but given up on approaching games as an art form. They're too frequently egregious cash grabs instead, asking more while providing less, failing to conceal the fact they're intentional minimum value products, as I recently discussed at greater length.
Sekiro, RE2 and DMC5, on the other hand, are all thoroughly artisan. They're painstakingly handcrafted to ensure that their rewarding, challenging and unique mechanics are ultimately replayable. They often feel nostalgic, if only because they feel classically 'videogame-y', which serves to highlight just how much things have changed in recent years.
These three titles unapologetically focus on delivering a polished and complete single-player experience, which, let's be honest, is downright cherishable nowadays.
I've even been dabbling in Kingdom Hearts III, which I admittedly haven't been enjoying nearly as much, since it falls into many of the same character and narrative pitfalls which put me off most other JRPGs, but the fact I'm engaging with it at all is quite something.
The region hasn't been infallible, however, with Left Alive being one hell of a billowing red flag so far. I also maintain that Shenmue 3 will most likely disappoint, but hey, this is the year to prove me wrong. Should Yu Suzuki pull it off (fingers crossed), Shenmue 3 will join a long list of promising Japanese releases still set to see light of day in 2019.
Nintendo have a strong suite of exclusives including their Link's Awakening remake, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, Pokémon Sword & Shield (we've already picked our starters), and, potentially, Bayonetta 3. A few of those are a little too 'anime' for me on the surface, but I'm willing to overlook that as I grow increasingly disillusioned with games from my own fair shores.
PlayStation have a couple of more immediately-appealing exclusives on the way though, with Judgment in essence offering my route into the intimidatingly vast Yakuza series. Not only that, but, in a first, the game features English voice over, tearing down another wall that's contributed to my dodging its gang-focused spiritual sibling.
Then there's Death Stranding, which, provided it does hit this year, will be a biggie for me. Unlike Rob, one of our Staff Writers, I love prolific auteur Hideo Kojima's work and his first jaunt since escaping Konami oppression (just forget they exist for now, since they don't fit the current narrative) has me very intrigued.
In fact, the air of mystery surrounding Death Stranding and (to a lesser extent) many Japanese releases in general is something I'd link back to the region's seeming greater care for their art. Pre-order culture isn't as prevalent, so reveals don't need to be pushed out of the door to start raking the money in, but moreover I think pride prevents showing a hand too early and risking later coming across as disingenuous in any way.
Avoiding unnecessary controversy is commendable in itself, but it's a total win-win when you understand that less is often more, which this industry tends not to. I can't be the only person that's been plenty sick of plenty of games before they even hit store shelves, due in no small part to massive overexposure.
If you find yourself in a similar situation - looking at the upcoming release schedule and yawning at uninspired sequel after uninspired sequel, or drab shooter after drab shooter - maybe join me in looking towards the Land of the Rising Sun for inspiration.
Team Talk | What's your most memorable co-op experience?
They say that everything's better with friends, which probably explains why cooperative games have always been pretty popular. Whether playing online or on the couch, we're sharing our favourite co-op sessions in this instalment of Team Talk, which, it should be noted, didn't necessarily occur in our favourite co-op games. That's a whole different discussion.
When my brother split from his girlfriend and moved back to England late last year, he made an impassioned appeal for us to spend the weekend playing games whilst getting drunk and eating junk. That'd be an easy sell for most, except I work weekends and unbeknownst to him I'd taken up the gym and switched to a clean diet in his absence.
For his sake, I booked a holiday and conceded my first cheat period. A Way Out was the game of choice, Jack Daniels the drink of choice, and half the confectionery aisle our unbalanced diet of choice.
Whilst I made the decision reluctantly, in all honesty, I needed the break almost as much as he did. It's this surrounding context that elevated an already fantastic game, built entirely around co-op play, to even greater heights. As we played A Way Out into the wee hours - no doubt a little too raucously for the neighbours - I tipsily took the time to appreciate the diminishing art of local multiplayer.
I felt wretched the next morning, of course, but it was worth it for the memories. That night even influenced my wider perspective, since I've kept up the health regiment, but I'm now more open to slackening off given that the time is right.
Many, many moons ago a friend and I sat down for some classic couch co-op with How to Survive: Storm Warning Edition. We both went in blind, knowing only that it was a zombie survival title, not yet realising it'd become a test of endurance more than anything else.
As our blood alcohol level increased, so did the challenges presented to us, in both the real and virtual worlds. Bigger and badder enemies started to appear more often, from undead behemoths which explode when killed, to friends who questioned our decision to spend a beautiful summer afternoon getting hammered and playing a videogame.
After much deliberation, we arrived at the conclusion that said friends would (probably) not explode when killed and, thus, should be dealt with in more mundane ways. Thankfully, closing the curtains not only eliminated screen glare but also kept these incredibly realistic bad guys at bay.
As with all cooperative endeavours, teamwork was key. One of us would hold down the fort while the other went on solo expeditions to gather invaluable supplies, a task which grew more perilous as day gave way to night and the smoky living room became littered with the corpses of fallen beer cans.
I'd like to say we completed How to Survive in one sitting, but my most memorable co-op experience is also the one I remember the least about…
Playing games together is a sure-fire way to enhance the experience in my book. While my first solid co-op experience was the Halo 3 campaign (still one of the most fulfilling of all time), the pinnacle of the concept is without a doubt Splinter Cell Conviction for me.
First off the co-op campaign has its own characters and story, at least to an extent. While it's only two-player co-op (who has time to find more than a single friend to play with consistently anyway?), you'll quickly grow to love Red and Green and forget about the sad loss of the Spies vs. Mercs mode from previous Splinter Cell titles.
One memorable sequence has you completing objectives in parallel across a level before you both end up attached to the bottom of a truck, which unwittingly acts as your getaway vehicle. The satisfaction to be had here cannot be understated.
The game's signature Mark and Execute mechanic, which has you hover your reticle over enemies to visually mark them and then hit fire to take them out in quick succession (similar to Dead Eye in the Red Dead series), also really hits its stride as you mark enemies for your buddy to take down. Delicious!
I've enjoyed countless cooperative experiences over my 25-odd years of gaming. From recent delves into the Overcooked series, to Streets of Rage 2 with the little sister, co-op games really do make lasting memories. Which is why, dear chums, I've gone for World Cup 98 on the N64.
Picture this scene, if you will: four 12-year-old boys in the grip of World Cup fever, crowded around the telly playing 2-on-2 whilst recreating scenes we'd seen unfold in the real tournament, all to a soundtrack of Des Lynam, John Motson, and Chumbawamba's Tubthumping.
Surprisingly, neither duo ever selected England, instead opting for either Brazil or France, the two teams that'd go on to contest the final. Understanding which player was controlled by whom was always entertaining, as were the celebrations both on screen and off. It also helped that the host's Mum always made pizza and garlic bread, and that the host's brother also procured us our first sample of beer…
Anyway, I digress. I have many fond memories of that World Cup: Carlos Valderrama's hair, Michael Owen's incredible goal against Argentina, France dismantling Brazil in the final - but none touch those gaming sessions. Now, repeat after me: I GET KNOCKED DOWN, BUT I GET UP AGAIN...
Here's one of those memorable in-game celebrations, as performed by England, the team Rob should've been playing as.
Like Rob, I could easily have gone with World Cup 98 for my choice this week. Me and my brother would always team up in an attempt to take England to glory, grinding out vital results in the group stages before inevitably facing elimination in the knockout rounds. The graphics may have been a bit rubbish, but EA managed to nailed the pain and disappointment of watching England in the latter stages of an actual World Cup.
Instead, I'm going for a more recent pick with Overcooked 2. Not that long ago I ended up on a team that featured not one, but two professional chefs, who also happened to be avid gamers. After a brief breakdown of the controls, we set to work smashing nearly every high score I'd set up to that point.
Dishes were flying out not just on time, but in the correct order as well(!), meaning we racked up some seriously meaty scores. Most impressive was the way they both actually stuck to their assigned roles, calling out what they needed in clear, concise fashion – exactly the sort of calming, professional presence Team PTC was missing when we took to the kitchen.
One can never have too much pepperoni, apparently.
What co-op session do you most cherish? Let us know in the comments below.
EGX Rezzed 2019 | Rob's Take
£50.90. Fifty pounds and ninety pence. One more time for the folks in the cheap seats: FIFTY POUNDS and NINETY PENCE. That's right, comrades, the glorious English rail network outdid itself once more, as yours truly hurtled towards London from beautiful Brighton town, #NoSeatsAvailableNoSeatRequired. We really do get well looked after…
by Rob Holt
@acousticmagic
Good thing Shadwell's best bean-brewer were open, offering a boost as I swaggered nonchalantly to my second home - EGX Rezzed at London's Tobacco Dock!
After a quick bit of the old how'd-ya-do with our esteemed Editor, Sir James Michael Parry, we ventured forth into the grand Indie Room to see how the folks at Inkle were doing during the final approach of their gorgeous game Heaven's Vault.
One of my games of 2018's show, this year Inkle had a new level to show off, and, as expected, it looked and played a dream. For those not in the know, Heaven's Vault is a marriage of point-'n'-click and third-person adventure all about archaeology and deciphering language, complete with absolutely-chuffing-charming visuals. The pair of us can't wait to get our hands on the finished product, which launches next Tuesday, 16 April.
Staying put in the bombast of the Indie Room, we pushed on towards the offerings of good ol' Chucklefish. They had recent release Wargroove in tow, along with new joints like Pathway (fab desert-based strategy RPG), metroidvania-tinged puzzle platformer Timespinner, and my personal pick of the bunch, Eastward. Not to be confused with that Clint fellow, mind. Or the recent Outward...
Playing (and looking) like The Last of Us funneled through Stardew Valley, Eastward charts the tale of two folks caught up in one of those ruddy world-crumbling-apocalypse periods. Using the skills of each character to solve puzzles, traverse terrain and bash baddies was a lot of fun; I'm looking forward to playing this one again, hopefully soon!
The Indie Room was also home to the underwater charm of Beyond Blue, a game made by the folks behind Never Alone, in collaboration with the BBC's Blue Planet team. Imagine an HD Endless Ocean, and you're halfway there. Following the story of Mirai, a researcher attempting to communicate and explore the depths in ways never before seen, Beyond Blue was a dream to play for an ocean-obsessive like moi. Check out the trailer, it really is dreamy.
Our last port of call in the Indie Room was a little game by the name of Mable and the Wood. Taking its inspiration from many classics of the 16-bit era, this platforming adventure game puts thee in the role of a girl with a terrible shape-shifting gift. That's right, pals: kill a big bastard spider and you steal its grotty powers of webbage (and so on and so forth). Add amusing NPC dialogue and lovely audiovisuals to the fun, challenging gameplay and you're onto a winner.
Next up JMP and I toddled off to the illusory Unreal Engine Showcase, to delve into some local multiplayer shootin' and-a snookerin'.
From two-man Italian developer Ludicrous Games, Guntastic is a frantic game of one-screen shooting and platforming. Full of weapons, power-ups, and switches to send trains crashing through stages (and enemies), this free-for-all arcade shooter brought smiles to all who played it.
So, as the great saying goes: "Once one has shot, one must pot." With that, we went to visit the Snooker 19 gang for a quick frame of Jim Davidson's favourite sport.
I'll be honest here and admit I didn't expect much from Snooker 19. Hands held firmly upward, I'll also admit I was wrong - it's bloody excellent! Photorealistic visuals; licensed venues, tournaments and players; authentic cue-on-ball tones; and simple to understand, yet hard to master controls. Lab42 even seem to have taken our suggestion for mini-games based on Australian-accented Ronnie O'Sullivan interviews and 70s-era cigarette smoking and beer drinking under consideration, so let's hope they get patched in before the game releases next week!
After a quick pizza break - during which we had the great pleasure of listening to the sarcastic woman behind the counter take the piss out of every customer - we went and got green in the ID@Xbox arena.
There were old faves on show like Far: Lone Sails and Human: Fall Flat (fans of that one should keep an eye out for the next of our weekly giveaways), but it was new games Cat Quest 2 and Truberbrook that stood tail and suitcase above the rest.
Cat Quest 2 continues all the excellent RPG goodness of the first game, but with the added twist of a second player this time around. Travelling its colourful cartoon world, beating up baddies and completing quests, chum of choice by your side - purrrrfe... actually, nope, I won't do it!
Stood abreast of Cat Quest 2's kitty-caper was, of course, Truberbrook, which is my sleeper hit of the show. Another point-and-click adventure, the game puts you in the shoes of travelling American physicist Tannhauser, as he attempts to break through a mental block in the titular, sleepy German town. The graphics and dialogue provided not only humour, but a lot of intrigue too. I'll be keeping a beady eye on this mysterious little game, eagerly awaiting its Xbox release.
Down, down, down into the bowels of Tobacco Dock did we plunder, eventually taking up residence in The Leftfield Collection, which had been 2018's best room. Blessed with a glut of beautiful, innovative and downright quirky games, the LFC again proved to be a personal highlight.
There were beautiful, relaxing games like Becalm; the hilarious fun of Drink More Glurp, best likened to a mix of Octodad and Track & Field; sublime puzzle adventuring with OMNO; and Nth Dimensional Hiking, a far-out, no-hands-held 3D platformer with bizarre, blurry visuals.
The sheer amount of creativity on display never fails to astound me, and all of us here at Pass the Controller, in fact. Long may it continue.
Avoid pecking pigeons, evade the eclairs, and bash the battenberg...
To the homestretch, then, and my favourite part of this year's show - Coatsink's showing! Everything about their area was fun, colourful and silly; from the two glorious games on show, to PR man Jack - who won this year's beard-off, yet again - to the countless laughing, smiling visitors.
New title Cake Bash takes the guts of Super Smash Bros., but replaces those famous Nintendo icons with different types of cake. Yes, cake. Avoid pecking pigeons, evade the eclairs, and bash the battenberg in your quest to cover yourself in decorations, garnish a custard tart, or just plain ice a fondant fancy. A brilliant premise that we look forward to seeing more of.
Check out our video coverage of Rezzed 2019.
We end then with Phogs, the glorious two-folks-one-controller game. James and I once again spent most of this year's play session laughing out loud as we slid the eponymous double-ended dog around ravishing night time locales, all in search of bones and moons to feed to giant knitted snakes. If that doesn't sound like the best thing ever, then you are officially a dull, dim-witted turd.
Exhausted, and fearing the worst for my journey home, I slipped away, ready to haunt the halls again next year. Thanks for the games you lovely devs; grazie for the pizza you benevolent gentleman James; and fuck you to ye extortionate Network Rail. See you in 2020. XOXO
Team Talk | What's the biggest game you've never played?
After sharing fantastic franchises that we finally took the time to discover last week, this week we're discussing the very biggest games that still remain in our piles of shame.
Sam | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
I have a long list of unplayed classics to choose from, but settling on Ocarina of Time was actually pretty easy, since it's objectively the greatest if reviews are anything to go by. This undisputed Nintendo 64 banger still holds the title of most critically - and perhaps also commercially - revered videogame ever. Considering games are my favourite entertainment medium and consuming entertainment is my preferred pastime, it's a bit of a travesty that I haven't played it in all honesty.
The main reason it passed me by was my lack of an N64 growing up, or even access to one, but to put it down to just that would be passing the buck. I've owned the 3DS version for several years, after all, though wrapping my huge hands around the unergonomic original model which I own quickly causes a crippling sort of cramp. That might sound like a lame excuse when it comes to skipping potentially the best game of all time, but that's exactly the point - I don't want any distractions to hamper the long-awaited experience.
Stick that bad boy on Switch, or gimme a 3DS XL for peanuts, and I'll be there like green on Tingle!
Chris | Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption was almost perfect (except for that one achievement), so it seems reasonable to assume that a sequel would be just as good, if not better. I'd like to think, in that case, that there are many possible reasons for why I'd have skipped over Rockstar's latest entry.
If I were to really analyse myself, I might come to the conclusion that huge sandbox games require a significant time investment to get the most out of, and that's pretty intimidating. We all want to feel like we've got our money's worth from whatever purchases we make - I mean, you wouldn't buy Babybel cheese and not eat the delicious wax, would you? No, because you aren't a crazy person. In the same vein, it would be wasteful to buy Red Dead Redemption 2 and not get lost in it for, say, 18 hours at a time.
Alternatively, I could've come to the realisation that almost every game I purchase is later given away by a digital storefront or subscription service, sometimes mere days after the cash has left my wallet.
So, is it real life getting in the way? Do I have poor time management skills? Am I a shameless cheapskate? Yes, but I did also forget it existed as soon as the advertising stopped...
Liam | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Incredible. Sumptuous. Immense. Sequel. These are just some of the words used to describe what many people regard as the pinnacle of modern gaming: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I wouldn't know, however, as I've never actually played it.
There's really no reason for me not to rectify that, because it can be found cheap as chips these days, and despite the many distractions of modern life I still find time to play other RPGs, even if they're not as celebrated… such as Fallout 76.
It's not like I'm completely unfamiliar with the game's characters and setting either. I know of Geralt, Dandelion, Yennefer and co. from the books, and I even dabbled in The Witcher 2, though I admittedly never got past the part where you fight the weird salamander-dragon-type-thing on a bridge.
Unlike Fallout 76 though, which I expected to be rubbish and was pleasantly surprised to find wasn't, if I played The Witcher 3 now I'd be going in with how good everyone says it is on the mind. Knowing that, I'm not sure I could keep my lofty expectations in check.
That's probably a terrible reason not to try it, but then I like Fallout 76, so what do I know?
James | The Elder Scrolls
Anyone who's been following my Team Talk entries of late might be beginning to notice a pattern. A few weeks ago, I told you about how I struggled to get into the sprawling world of Red Dead Redemption 2, and now it's time to turn our attention to a fellow gaming legend in Skyrim.
While I've dabbled in Bethesda's work with the most recent Fallout titles, The Elder Scrolls games have always eluded me because, frankly, they're intimidating. Countless others have enjoyed them for hundreds of hours - playing out entire virtual lives encompassing marriage, real estate and the like - across not just Skyrim, but Oblivion and Morrowind as well.
It's not that fantasy doesn't appeal, as Dragon Age and The Witcher have been popular pastimes of mine over the years, but something about the sci-fi side of Bethesda Game Studios' brand of RPG seems altogether more accessible.
Is there a way for me to begin this epic quest after all these years? It's not as if it'd be difficult to get hold of, given the number of platforms the game has been released on now… but where to even begin? With so many expansions and ways to play, surely nothing can live up to the perfect picture others have painted for me, right?
Skyrim is definitely still worth experiencing, as Sam discovered when he first played the game in VR form.
Rob | Metal Gear
Before I get into my pick, I have to say that blaming a gross case of shovel-hand for missing out on the #BestGameEVA is a bloody outrage! AN OUTRAGE, I TELLS YA! Stop playing all those JRPGs you love so much and get your anus to Hyrule, Sam!
… Now, onto my own heinous confession, which PlayStation chums should probably strap in for. I, Bobby Holt, have never played a Metal Gear game.
"But our Bob," I hear thee protest, "Kojima is LORD!" Thanks for filling me in, I'd never heard that before...
To add a little context: I didn't own a PS1 until after its demise, likewise with the PS2, and it was pretty much the same with PS3, except I got one of those when The Last of Us came out right at the end. But - and it's a big one - I did purchase Ground Zeroes in a sale just before the initial announcement of Death Stranding, and this is where my problems began.
I'd loved the look of Ground Zeroes, as well as big brother Metal Gear Solid V, so with all the critical acclaim I was (as we say in SAAFAMPTUN) well up for it, mush. Then that nonsense Death Stranding trailer dropped, which, along with the daft name, tarnished my desire to sample dear Hideo's work.
Here's the offending trailer in all its glory.
What's the biggest game you've never played? Share your shameful secrets in the comments below.
Etherborn | Hands-on Preview
We recently had the opportunity to go hands-on with a pre-release PC build of Etherborn, the gravity-defying puzzle platformer being developed by Altered Matter. After spending around an hour with the game's first three levels, it seems clear that this upstart studio of four are destined for big things.
Heading in we were told to "rethink what you know of gravity", which was apt, as Etherborn's head-scratching traversal sees you wind your way over, under and around its stages. Smooth corner transitions - which stand out against harsh, 90° angles - communicate pathways which can allow you to wander across impossibly shear surfaces.
That might sound complex, and it is, to an extent, but the game's dynamic camera lends a fluid feel to proceedings by tracking your movements closely. Controlling your perspective allows for maintaining your equilibrium, ensuring the world always makes sense in the context you're shown, despite the fact you may not know which way is up. (In fact, the very idea of 'up' can become a foreign concept.)
At the same time, this is where an element of danger enters the equation. There were no enemies or combat encounters during the vertical slice we played, but misjudging your bearings and overstepping the edge of a levitating level without a platform to break your immediate fall (is it still a fall when you're shooting upwards, or off horizontally?) will lead to you disappearing into the yawning horizon of any given direction.
You'll always return to a nearby checkpoint, mind, encouraging experimentation within the unconventional physics playgrounds that are Etherborn's self-contained stages. More conventional is the gated progression, whereby you'll need to place key items on pedestals in order to transform the shifting environments and accommodate pressing onwards; you will at least need to double back and re-utilise them in different places on occasion, which is an added wrinkle to consider.
While no real cause for concern, considering we're judging based on the introductory stages alone, so far Etherborn relies solely on reiterating this structure in increasingly complex ways. It does so very well, coaxing you deeper into what feels like a warmer take on the works of M.C. Escher, but nonetheless we do hope that new mechanics are introduced over time.
We're equally intrigued to see how things are set to progress from a narrative standpoint, as it's all quite vague and introspect at the moment, whilst feeling as though it's probably building towards a deeper meaning.
Your avatar is a completely blank slate, a voiceless humanoid appearing as though a sentient x-ray and lacking any clear motivation. The direct address of a disembodied narrator presumably begins to fill that in, but what's most enticing is the gentle swirl of this dulcet female voice. Experienced in a dark room with a decent pair of headphones, the sound swishes around your head and the minimalist visuals soothe in an almost meditative fashion, which is a state perfectly conducive to switching off the logical parts of your brain to better comprehend the game's unbound, geographic puzzles.
Consider the sweeping soundtrack - comprised of twinkling chimes and mellow organ bellows, cut through by dreamy vocalisation, percussion and strings - and you have a package which, true to its name, is healthy with an almost ethereal glow.
Etherborn stylishly ebbs and flows it's way through the early stages, so do keep an eye out for its arrival on Steam, PS4, Xbox One and Switch this spring.
Team Talk | What series shouldn't you have slept on?
Time is a limited commodity and videogames increasingly are not. People struggle to fit every game that's of interest into their busy schedules, inevitably resulting in cuts to backlogs which can span entire series of games. These seemingly sensible prioritisations can turn out to be regrettable, however, like in these instances where we kicked ourselves for arriving late to the party.
Sam | Devil May Cry
It doesn't generally take long for me to become desensitised to the increasing outlandishness of over-the-top action games. Most in the genre could use a lesson in pacing, or, failing that, they could take the Devil May Cry 5 approach of nixing the issue through sheer variety of gameplay.
Dante, Nero and V are three distinct co-protagonists featuring uniquely exciting skill sets; getting to grips with all three and their individually expanding arsenals presents a learning curve that persists throughout the entire game. It's exhausting at times, to be honest, but overcoming this challenge presented one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in recent memory.
It's incredibly in-depth and gratifying, while Capcom's dumb characters and story offer fun moments of respite between the intense battles. Things are brought full circle by a focus on being showy during combat, resulting in a whole that's greater than the sum of its parts.
Starting out on Devil Hunter difficulty with Auto Assist disabled, I masochistically grew from fumbling through the prologue to destroying the final boss against a backdrop of "Smokin' Sexy Style!" being growled by the announcer.
If you need a self-esteem boost, Devil May Cry 5 is sure to have you brimming with power by its end. That's a feeling I've been missing out on, having regrettably skipped over the series for years.
DMC was originally a Resident Evil sequel; considering that's one of Sam's favourite franchises, how did it take him this long to get involved?
Chris | The Witcher
It took a 10/10 review, pages of recommendations on our forums and a very generous sale for me to finally pick up The Witcher 3. When those stars eventually aligned, I was blown away.
For a newcomer, seeing a number following the title was a little daunting, especially considering the breadth of Andrzej Sapkowski's fiction. Thankfully, one of the game's companions, Dandelion, is as good with a pen as Geralt is with a sword, keeping detailed records on the friends and foes they've met. A habit which is sure to come in handy the next time anyone disagrees with his choice of starter Pokémon.
Favouring horseback exploration over the game's fast travel system will further pad out your journal, adding a seemingly endless array of locations, quests, map markers and characters, each one intriguing enough to warrant its inclusion amongst a staggering amount of overall content.
It's a less lonesome experience than some of its genre stablemates, owing to the diverse cast of recurring personalities who frequently offer counsel. After decades of hunting deadly creatures, Geralt understands that true power lies in the strength we draw from others. Well, that and from being able to craft a variety of explosives at a moment's notice. A habit which is sure to come in handy the next time anyone disagrees with his choice of starter Pokémon.
James | Hitman
Sneaking around as a silent and sinister saboteur has always appealed to me, but the stress of being discovered has often made me shy away from the art of stealth in gaming. Hitman 2 (2018) changed that, though.
A catalyst for my eternal struggle with stealth was Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, where more often than not being detected essentially - or, at times, literally - meant it was game over. Hitman, on the other hand, gives you a little more room to manoeuvre.
The game gives you pointers on ways to approach your targets, most recently through the addition of story strands which just happen to dynamically unfold whenever you enter specific areas. Not taking itself too seriously also helps to make mistakes come off as far more forgiving, though I'm sure purists would lament my disregard for the professionalism to which Agent 47 aspires.
Kill scenarios and weaponry have a nice amount of variety, even if you do find yourself walking past copious conspicuous glasses to spike with poison and buttons to trigger distractions within any given level, but, most importantly, that coveted feeling of satisfaction is most definitely there.
IO also ran a limited event where you got to take out Sean Bean. As a huge GoldenEye 007 fan, what more could I possibly want?
Liam | Pokémon
I was obsessed with Pokémon when it first burst onto the scene just over 20 years ago. I collected trading cards, watched the anime, and, of course, sunk countless hours into Pokémon Red and Blue. My brother and I even teamed up to help him catch 'em all, which is still probably one of my greatest achievements in gaming (and life in general).
But, like most of my peers, I eventually outgrew Pokémon and moved on to the next fad - pulling off sweet Around the World and Walk the Dog tricks with my neon X-Brain yo-yo! The 90s were ace!
I still kept my eye on Pokémon, but as the years went by the idea of jumping back in grew more and more intimidating; counting re-releases, there's been 25 mainline games since the first generation of titles, along with 657 new 'mon to complement the original suite of 150.
It took a heavily discounted copy of Pokémon Moon to bring me back to the series, but I wish I'd returned sooner. Underneath completely optional new features, like Pokémon refresh and Z-moves, lurked the same moreish gameplay I remembered so fondly, and exploring some of the new concepts hasn't been as alienating as I feared it would be.
Smart folk will choose Sobble as their Pokémon Sword or Shield starter.
Which series do you wish you'd gotten to grips with sooner? Sound off in the comments.
Outward needs a lot of work, but I don't half love it!
I'm completely hooked on Outward right now, to the point I've neglected to join Clementine for the final chapter of The Walking Dead and poor Sekiro's starting to wonder whether I even care about saving his master. It's a challenging survival RPG from a passionate team of ten at developer Nine Dots Studio, led by a CEO that clearly cares for both his staff and the integrity of the art they make. Outward is their uncompromised vision of the ideal role-playing adventure, but all the drive in the world and the backing of a big publisher like Deep Silver aren't quite enough to bring such an ambitious game to market without a few cracks.
Those cracks unfortunately run deep, but I won't get into that too much just now; I'd hate to scare anybody off with the downsides before sharing everything that's great about Outward.
Much like Deep Silver stablemate Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Outward casts you as a distinctly unheroic layman (or laywoman, depending which you opt for in the barebones character creator) and tasks you with growing to be something resembling the legendary adventurer most games start you off as. Nothing hammers this home more than the first quest being to raise 150 silver by any means necessary, in order to pay the latest instalment of your debt and not be made homeless.
It's a flat introduction to the high fantasy realm of Aurai, which houses three mutually exclusive branching quest lines, but one that immediately leaves you to your own devices and allows the game to sink its hooks in. The general gist and some gobbledygook lore are conveyed through text overlays, occasionally in somewhat broken English, but the defined narrative isn't really what matters here. In Outward, you begin to craft your own engaging stories each time you set foot outside the safe haven of a township.
How you make the 150 silver you owe, if indeed you choose to at all, is entirely up to you. You could run traditional errands for payment, fish and forage for goods to trade, or delve a dungeon in search of valuable loot. Whatever you opt for, as you venture into the untamed wilds and the rousing main theme kicks in (albeit too loudly, so you'll want to mess with the audio sliders to fix that) it's impossible not to feel like the wind is at your back and the world is at your feet.
As the sun shines on lush green pastures and birdsong fills the air, it's hard not to get carried away, but you always have to remain vigilant in Outward. Much like in real life, the natural world is dangerous and indifferent to your presence. Maps don't show your current location, so if you aren't actively charting a journey by taking mental note of landmarks and compass readings, you can very quickly find yourself lost and alone in the dead of night.
As you venture into the untamed wilds and the rousing main theme kicks in, it's impossible not to feel like the wind is at your back and the world is at your feet.
This is where the survival mechanics come into their own, as your maximum health and stamina deplete as you spend more time awake. You can camp and rest up almost anywhere, mostly dependant on the weather, though the weather's effects can be mitigated by first changing clothes or building a campfire (which can also be a doorway to cooking and alchemy, with the proper equipment). You'll need to delegate rest hours between sleep, repairing gear and guarding against ambushes, with the longer you take making your character proportionally more hungry and thirsty.
These interacting survival elements aren't so present as to be constant annoyances, merely needing babysitting now and again, as resources are abundant and the percentages indicating your needs are slow to degrade. That means that when they do rear their head and inflict debuffs at inopportune moments, skin-of-your-teeth emergent tales are told and your adventures are all the more memorable for it.
That being said, bountiful resources pose another problem, as you're very limited in what you can carry. Pocket space is prime real estate (especially when even currency weighs you down), so you'll need to carry a backpack of some description if you're the item hoarding sort, only the bigger the rucksack - and therefore the carrying capacity - the more it'll impede your movement. This means you'll probably want to set it down before engaging in combat, then be faced with the daunting reality of being separated from it and the vital contents should you find yourself on the losing end.
It's yet another tantalising risk vs. reward mechanic in a game full of them. Combat itself isn't generally required outside of a few quest objectives, so you can sneak or sprint your way past most encounters without too much fear of missing out. That's down to the fact that Outward doesn't feature any kind of experience or traditional levelling systems. You'll still be rewarded with loot for felling a foe, which, provided you can carry it, might help to craft better equipment or fetch some silver that can be put towards training in new skills.
This tweak feels incredibly refreshing, considering how small it is in reality, while further emphasising that coin is king in Outward. It makes it viable to play a sort of pacifist merchant, especially since different enemy classes will fight amongst one another and can reliably be manipulated into doing so, letting you swoop in like a vulture to claim the spoils and finish off the weakened victor. You can also lay traps and lead hostiles into those, rub elemental rags on your weapon to inflict damage over time while you play defence, or take potshots with a bow from higher ground.
If you're more of a scholar than a rogue, Outward also has a bespoke magic system. You can't start out as a mage, as gaining mana requires reaching a specific location and trading off health and stamina in proportion to how large of a pool you want to draw from. It's a big decision as there's no going back, especially since health and stamina are already limited and both absolutely precious, though, with a little experimentation, being well-versed in the arcane can really pay off.
Spells are pitiful in themselves, but placing and standing inside magic sigils whilst you cast offers massive buffs. Combining different spells and sigils will bring different results, so experimenting to see what works best is the name of the game.
Melee combat is more of a no-frills affair. Stringing light and heavy attacks into combinations with different weapon classes yields unique results, so there's some experimentation to do in finding what best fits you here as well, but there's no escaping the fact that combat in Outward feels far more stiff, cumbersome and unimpactful than something like Dark Souls or even Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - though it boasts the dodge rolls and careful stamina use of the former, poise and staggering of the later, and the punishing difficulty of both.
I've found being more aggressive to be the best course of action. In time I got used to the tempo and came to find the learning curve quite satisfying, especially as I implemented new gear and active abilities into my growing arsenal, but for a long time I dreaded each combat encounter and so avoided enemies like the plague.
In time I got used to the tempo and came to find the learning curve quite satisfying, but for a long time I dreaded each combat encounter and avoided enemies like the plague.
Fortunately, many failed early skirmishes lead to some of the game's greatest moments. You don't die in Outward, rather fall unconscious and get thrust into a situation dependant on how and where that happened, which you're filled in on via loading screen text.
Whether a passing stranger took pity and helped you out, or you awake in a prison with a fairly substantial quest to find one of several ways out, you'll often find an emergent adventure inside your existing emergent adventure and that can take the sting out of failure. Of course, if your backpack isn't brought along for the ride, you'll need to cannily retrieve it without its contents to help you along the way.
Having set out to create a wanderlust RPG, I have to commend the team at Nine Dots for a job very well done - they've nailed the liberated feeling of setting out on a perilous journey over and over again. The reliance on real orienteering skills and lack of fast travel in any form makes the game's varied regions - from lush countryside to arid deserts and poisonous swamps - thoroughly memorable through necessity.
It's reminiscent of cult classic Dragon's Dogma in many ways, though I adore the auto-run feature which Outward boasts over that game, allowing you to continue making forward progress whilst map reading or managing your inventory. In fact, Outward shares similarities to last generation RPGs like Fable, Kingdoms of Amalur and many more, evoking a warm nostalgia for a breed of game long thought extinct. Less positively, it does unfortunately look and load like a last generation game as well, even whilst playing the enhanced Xbox One X version.
So, I've waxed lyrical on why I really do love Outward for long enough, but there are some objective shortfalls - even failures - to make you aware of. The game constantly autosaves to stop players pulling any save scum shenanigans, which is fine in itself and significantly ups the stakes, but when you combine that with a knack for getting irreparably stuck in the environment it's frankly game breaking. There's obviously no fast travel to get you out of there, there's also no suicide or "I'm stuck" option to reset your position, so at that point your game is over.
This happened to me 'just' a few hours in, so I was in a position to restart, and, touch wood, whilst being exceptionally careful during descents, there haven't even been any close calls on my second character. I'm so invested now that I'd definitely throw in the towel if it were to happen again, which would be incredibly unfortunate.
If you're thinking that I could've just waited to starve, clever clogs, then here's another issue for you - I did, for several hours, but when the survival meters fully deplete they just break and you lose the associated debuffs. (That's a nifty trick in itself for anyone averse to the survival mechanics, though.)
Next up: Your map can break, failing to update when you transition to a new area and instead still displaying the previous one. This is easily fixed by restarting the game, but you really want to avoid doing that, at least outside of safe areas. There's an incredibly damaging glitch, which only ever stuck me outside of main settlements, where quitting and returning to the game will delete a large portion of the hard-earned inventory from your backpack. It's infuriating, though the workaround is to always get back to a city before you stop playing, or to very slowly move everything from your rucksack into your non-glitched pockets, which will make you massively over encumbered while sparing the loot.
Obviously you can't do that if a crash happens to strike, which have been reported, but I haven't suffered once across many hours of play. I did, however, have the Xbox OS inform me that Outward had become corrupt and needed to be reinstalled when trying to launch it at one point.
I've waxed lyrical on why I really do love Outward for long enough, but there are some objective shortfalls - even failures - to make you aware of.
Despite all that, Outward is so gratifying and immersive that I haven't been put off. It realises its potential, then does so much to push you away, but I'm smitten to an extent that it really doesn't matter. I'll keep coming back for more because this is one of those rare, encompassing games that I can't stop thinking about playing when I'm not playing.
For a title that runs so counter to AAA culture, ironically, the main takeaway is one that applies to many modern AAA games - Outward will eventually be worth anyone's time. With updates to fix the outlined issues, Nine Dots' miraculous effort can be held aloft, but, until then, it's reserved for only the most hardcore of RPG fans. I'm certain they'll find space in their hearts for Outward too, especially if they have a like-minded friend, since it's playable in both local(!) and online co-op.
Blind firing: Battlefield 5 Firestorm | First Impressions
Battlefield V's take on battle royale was worthy of anticipation; DICE have made their name on endlessly replayable multiplayer experiences, filled to the brim with exciting destruction, so why would Firestorm be any different?
@james_parry
Unfortunately, something wasn't quite right from the off. As my comrades in arms picked their characters (superficially, since class bonuses are stripped out of Firestorm for balance), I was left languishing on the title screen. The odd glitch for a new game or update is nothing unusual, I though, whilst motioning to restart the game, but then the audio changed. Bizarrely, I was still being loaded in and a new spin on the mode was born - Blind Firestorm!
Even while communicating with my team, I wasn't able to leave the plane before the end of the drop zone. Then, once I hit the ground, I was only able to go prone in order to keep a low profile (unwittingly triggering the tutorial audio as I mashed buttons), hiding out at the edge of the map in relative safety.
Getting into the mode proper, which I was subsequently able to do, I appreciated Firestorm's greater sense of realism as compared to its contrived peers when it comes to shrinking the circular battlefield. Isolation and terror really begin to build as you hear the fiery inferno starting to make its way towards you, then, once the fire catches up, you'll hear the screams and shouts of your character as their inevitable demise begins to sink in.
Bugs aside, the intended format is what you might expect from a battle royale game: drop, loot, sneak about, take a few shots, probably get killed by someone you didn't see. Only here, there are vehicles to contend with too. Could this be the USP for DICE's entry into an already crowded marketplace?
Firestorm has the ingredients for at least a solid survival shooting experience from this tried and tested franchise.
Vehicles are dotted about the map, including amphibious ones, but unlike PUBG you can airdrop them in at will using limited signal flares. You're even able to signal a fairly devastating airstrike, which can also inadvertently knock out your team if you aren't too careful. Ultimately, the vehicles haven't been the game-changing factor in close games so far, so the jury is still out.
The armour system, which essentially lets you replenish individual armour plates on the fly as you scavenge around the map, is honestly pretty neat. Hits on enemies will register as being deflected by armour specifically, so you have an idea of how much damage you're actually doing to their vitals.
Rumours of my demise were shockingly accurate
Layer in a comparatively basic battle royale weapon set - appropriate to the time period, but still far from realistic - and you've got the ingredients for at least a solid survival shooting experience from this tried and tested franchise.
Whether Firestorm can hold people's attention versus the big boys of the genre, including EA's own Apex Legends, remains to be seen, but, for the time being, it's done enough to justify its own existence and feel like more than just a tacked-on afterthought.
A Gamer's Guide To Life
First Impressions/Quick Look


text:
Life of Abraham Lincoln
By Josiah Gilbert Holland
can only say, in reply to your statement of the case, that it reminds me of a man out in Illinois, by the name of Case, who undertook, a few years ago, to raise a very large herd of hogs. It was a great trouble to feed them; and how to get around this was a puzzle to him. At length, he hit upon the plan of planting an immense field of potatoes; and, when they were sufficiently grown, he turned the whole herd into the field, and let them have full swing, thus saving not only the labor of feeding the hogs, but that also of digging the potatoes! Charmed with his sagacity, he stood one day leaning against the fence, counting his hogs, when a neighbor came along. 'Well, well,' said he, 'Mr. Case, this is all very fine. Your hogs are doing very well just now; but you know out here in Illinois the frost comes early, and the ground freezes a foot deep. Then what are they going to do?' This was a view of the matter which Mr. Case had not taken into account. Butchering time for hogs was away on in December or January. He scratched his head, and at length stammered: "Well, it may come pretty hard on their snouts, but I don't see but it will be root hog or die!""
It is not supposed that Mr. Lincoln hoped for more from this conference than he did from the Niagara Falls negotiations; but he was determined to show that he was ready for peace, on the only grounds that would satisfy the loyal people of the country. The result strengthened the faith of the people in him; and the rebel President seized upon it to stir the ashes in the southern heart, in the vain hope to find fuel there which the long fire had left unconsumed.
Congress adjourned by constitutional limitation on the third of March, although the Senate was at once convened in extra session, in accordance with a proclamation of the President.
On the day of the adjournment of Congress, Mr. Lincoln's first term of office expired. Four years of bloody war had passed away-four years marked by the most marvelous changes in the spirit, position, feelings, principles and institutions of the American people. The great system of wrong, out of which the rebellion had sprung, was in rapid process
of dissolution, and already beyond the reach of resuscitation. The government had passed through the severest tests, and had emerged triumphant. There was no longer doubt in the hearts of the people, and no longer contempt among the nations of the earth. Abraham Lincoln, the humble and unobtrusive citizen, the self-educated and Christian man, had been tried, and had not been found wanting. His foes no longer denied, and his friends no longer doubted, his great ability. He was, in every sense, the first citizen of the republic; and he had taken his place among the leading rulers of the world.
Mr. Lincoln was re-inaugurated into the presidential office on the fourth of March. An immense crowd was in attendance-a crowd of affectionate friends, not doubtful of the President, and not doubtful of one another and the future, as at the first inauguration. Chief Justice Chase administered the oath of office; and then Mr. Lincoln read his inaugural address-a paper whose Christian sentiments and whose reverent and pious spirit has no parallel among the state papers of the American Presidents. It showed the President still untouched by resentment, still brotherly in his feelings toward the enemies of the government, and still profoundly conscious of the overruling power of Providence in national affairs. The address was as follows:
"Fellow-Countrymen-At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.
"The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.
"On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it; all sought to avoid it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war,
insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without warseeking to dissolve the Union and divide the effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish; and the war came.
"One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate and extend this interest, was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it.
"Neither party expected for, the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding.
cease.
"Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offences, for it must needs be that offences come: but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of these offences, which in the providence of God must needs come, but which having continued through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may soon pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid with another drawn with the sword; as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, *The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among our selves and with all nations."
On the sixth of March, Mr. Fessenden, who had never regarded himself as permanently in the office of Secretary of the Treasury, resigned; and Hugh McCulloch of Indiana was appointed to his place. Further than this, Mr. Lincoln introduced no changes into his cabinet. The people had not only indorsed Mr. Lincoln, but they had indorsed his administration. On the eleventh of March, the President issued a proclamation, in pursuance of an act of Congress, calling upon deserters to return to their posts, and promising them pardon. The proclamation called many of the wanderers back to their duty. The draft for three hundred thousand men was commenced on the fifteenth of the same month, and every necessary measure was adopted for a continuance of the war, should the constant accumulation of federal successes fail to bring the rebellion to a close.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE affairs of the rebellion were hurrying to a crisis. In January, General Sherman started northward with his hosts; and the borders of South Carolina were reached on the thirtieth. They swept through the state, a very besom of destruction-tearing up railroads, burning bridges, living on the country, and attracting large numbers of negroes to them, to learn that they were free. Columbia was occupied on the seventeenth of February, and the public property destroyed. The arteries that fed the life of Charleston were cut, and the proud city was evacuated without the cost of a life. Though threatened often, the army marched with scarcely more difficulty than they experienced in their march across Georgia. Fayetteville, North Carolina, was reached and occupied on the twelfth of March; and then communication was established with Generals Terry and Schofield at Wilmington, and the army received such supplies as were needed. Battles occurred at Averysboro and Bentonville; but still the march was resistless, and the forces gathered in front, under command of General Johnston, were driven northward as the forest leaves are driven by the wind. On the twenty-second of March, Goldsboro was occupied; and there the army remained for some days, while General Sherman visited City Point, for consultation with General Grant.
The army of Sherman was aiming at Richmond. There was no doubt of that; but Lee was held to the rebel capital by Grant, and could not get away. The grand campaign

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Abstract Hot gas giant exoplanets can lose part of their atmosphere due to strong stellar irradiation, and these losses can affect their physical and chemical evolution. Studies of atmospheric escape from exoplanets have mostly relied on space-based observations of the hydrogen Lyman-alpha line in the far ultraviolet region, which is strongly affected by interstellar absorption. Using ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy, we detected excess absorption in the helium triplet at 1083 nanometers during the transit of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 18. We measured line blueshifts of several kilometers per second and posttransit absorption, which we interpret as the escape of part of the atmosphere trailing behind the planet in comet-like form.
GB/T 7714 Nortmann, Lisa,Palle, Enric,Salz, Michael,et al. Ground-based detection of an extended helium atmosphere in the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b[J]. SCIENCE,2018,362(6421):1388-+.
APA Nortmann, Lisa.,Palle, Enric.,Salz, Michael.,Sanz-Forcada, Jorge.,Nagel, Evangelos.,...&Zapatero Osorio, Maria R..(2018).Ground-based detection of an extended helium atmosphere in the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b.SCIENCE,362(6421),1388-+.
MLA Nortmann, Lisa,et al."Ground-based detection of an extended helium atmosphere in the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b".SCIENCE 362.6421(2018):1388-+.


text:
__data unsigned char spx ;
__data unsigned char _page_no__;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: React display/navigate through JSON back and forward I'm new to React, and I have a JSON data that I want to navigate through and display.
I created a file called util.js as follow :
const myJson = () => {
  return [
    {
      directors: {
        d_job_1: ["responsability_1", "responsability_2", "responsability_3"],
        d_job_2: {
          d_job_2_1: ["resp_1", "resp_2"],
          d_job_2_2: ["resp_1", "resp_2"],
        },
      },
    },
    {
      hr: [
        {
          hr_job_1: ["resp_1", "resp_2"],
        },
        {
          hr_job_2: ["resp_1", "resp_1"],
        },
        {
          hr_job_3: {
            hr_job_3_1: ["resp_1"],
            hr_job_3_2: ["resp_1"],
          },
        },
      ],
    },
    { /* etc.. */},
  ];
};

export default myJson;

For this example I need to display a sidebar containing all the main jobs titles (directors, hr, etc..) and when I click on the directors for example, I need it to display a component with the directors jobs (d_job_1, d_job_2), and then if I click on d_job_1 I'll display the different responsibilities for that job (resp1, resp2), or if I clicked on d_job_2 it will display more sub jobs (d_job_2_1, d_job_2_2) and then display the responsibilities when I click on one of them.. I also need to have a back button so I can navigate back to where I was.

*

*Can you give me an idea of how can I manage this kind of logic?

*Do I need to loop through and search the entire JSON every time I click on anything?

*I can add more key data to the JSON if you have an advice for me that requires that.

Thank you in advance!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy said the early Saturday confrontation outside a McDonald's with the men from a party bus escalated after a third suspect yet to be arrested was punched in the face.
Battle, wielding a bottle, pointed it directly at Rivera's car multiple times, Murphy said. All three suspects approached the car, according to the prosecutor.
Surveillance video "clearly" shows Jackson pull out a handgun and aim directly at the driver's window a few feet away, Murphy said.
Rivera moved to shield a woman in the front passenger seat before he was shot in the face, the back and shoulder, according to Murphy. Jackson continued to fire, hitting Rivera's friend in the shoulder and chest as he sat in the back seat behind Rivera, the prosecutor said. A bullet lodged in his neck, but he is expected to survive.
Battle's criminal history is far lengthier and includes convictions for felony cannabis and cocaine offenses as well as misdemeanor battery and assault charges, according to the records. A police report from Battle's trespassing arrest in January listed his residence as a South Side homeless shelter.
Battle told authorities that he was a "good Samaritan" who wanted to help out his fellow Gangster Disciples after they had been jumped earlier, Murphy said.
Jackson's arrest report, however, said he has no gang affiliation.


HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1940s → 1941 → February 1941 → 12 February 1941 → Commons Sitting → ROYAL NAVY.
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that men who have been inoculated against typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever contract those diseases when exposed to them, as disclosed in reports on the health of the Navy, he will instruct those responsible for granting leave to withhold leave from the inoculated as well as the uninoculated when they visit ports in which there is any danger of infection?
No, Sir. Although inoculation against typhoid and paratyphoid fever does not confer complete immunity, naval experience shows that inoculated men run much less risk of contracting these diseases than men who have not been inoculated, and that if they do contract them they have better prospects of recovery.
Is my right hon. Friend aware that he is labouring under a great delusion?
I seem to be in company with a good many skilled medical men.
Forward to LEAVE (FREE TRAVELLING WARRANTS).


text:
typedef id(^BWObjectMappingValueBlock)(id value, id object);

typedef id(^BWObjectMappingObjectBlock)(Class objectClass, NSString *primaryKey, id primaryKeyValue, id JSON);

typedef void(^BWObjectMappingObjectDidMapObjectBlock)(id object);


I want to begin by thanking God for Sovereign School of Nursing, an amazing institution that has been established to train some of the best nurses in South Florida. We aim to give peace of mind to our current and prospective students; rest assured that you have made the right choice in selecting Sovereign School of Nursing as your preferred educational institution. I'm truly grateful to welcome you to Sovereign School of Nursing.
As Campus Director, it is my mission to lead all students to a level of excellence. It is our staff and instructor's commitment to remain dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of education, patient care, research and community nursing.
I encourage you to apply and become a part of our successful future.


Angola is losing $350 million a year, or one million dollars a day due to illicit diamond traders, Mining Minister Manuel Africano said on Tuesday. More than 300,000 foreigners have been deported from Angola as part of a crackdown on diamond traffickers, police said. Afrricano said the country had lost $1.4 billion in the last four years.
In part to help regulate the industry, the Angolan state-owned company Sodiam and Lazare Kaplan are opening a joint office in Antwerp to sell of Angolan rough diamonds. Sodiam's chairman said it was too early to forecast what percentage of Angolan diamonds will be sold in Antwerp, although that number will be determined by the Angolan government.
Leon Tempelsman, LKI's president, said that Angola has not yet reached its full production potential. The country plans to more than double its annual output to 15 million carats a year from the current level of six million. Sodiam also has an office in Tel Aviv in association with the Leviev Group.


text:
First Super Speedway
Barney Oldfield
Oldfield Wins 1914 "Cactus Derby"
By: Mark Dill
The great Los Angeles-to-Phoenix off-road race (more commonly known as "The Cactus Derby") was another of the terrific classics from the sport's early days. In its 1914 edition, track racing legend and barnstormer Barney Oldfield entered the same Stutz racer he had piloted to fifth place in that year's Indianapolis 500.
Louis Meyer - 1936
This is David Story's rendering of 1936 Indianapolis 500 winner Louis Meyer. Meyer became the first three-time champion of the legendary contest, with other victories in&nb
Oldfield vs. Jack Johnson
I never thought I would see any of this film as I assumed it was lost forever. Captured here in what is called a "Rare Jack Johnson Documentary" at the 26 minute mark is film from the infamous October 1910 unsanctioned match race between Barney Oldfield and Word Champion Heavyweight Boxer Jack Johnson. I think the film producers dramatized the contest making it appear closer than it was. It appears the same clip is used over and over to make the finish appear closer than it was. What is more the contest was in two heats, not one.
Mark Dill's blog
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text:
Cliff Kincaid: Pope Francis Will Usher In 'Anti-Christian Tyranny'
By Brian Tashman | May 13, 2015 11:00 am
Accuracy in Media's Cliff Kincaid, no fan of Pope Francis, took to the far-right outlet BarbWire today to attack the pope for calling on world leaders to tackle climate change, meeting with Raul Castro and making "common cause with the forces of international Marxism."
"Conservative Catholics and many others are terrified of what is to come," Kincaid wrote. "Some fear that the Roman Catholic Church has joined the campaign for a global socialist state that could turn into an anti-Christian tyranny."
He also spoke to climate change denier Timothy Ball, who alleged that Pope Benedict XVI was forced out of his position because he was "starting to deal with the problems of pedophilia and corruption in the money in the church," providing an opening for Francis to start "bringing in these socialist ideas" that "you've heard from Obama."
Of course, BarbWire contributors typically suggest that any criticism of Christians constitutes an attack on religious freedom, but that only seems to apply to their kind of Christians.
Since we published our article, "Catholic Church Captured by 'Progressive Forces,'" it is starting to dawn on many in and out of the media that Pope Francis has come down on the side of the "progressive," and even Marxist, forces in the world today.
The evidence is getting too big for the major media to ignore: the pope has made common cause with the forces of international Marxism, which are associated with atheism, the suppression of traditional Christianity and the persecution and murder of Christians.
Conservative Catholics and many others are terrified of what is to come. Some fear that the Roman Catholic Church has joined the campaign for a global socialist state that could turn into an anti-Christian tyranny.
Dr. Timothy Ball, author of The Deliberate Corruption of Climate Science, told me during a recent interview: "I think the Catholic Church is regretting making him the pope. They did it because the previous pope was starting to deal with the problems of pedophilia and corruption in the money in the church. So the powerful Cardinals pushed him [Benedict] aside.
"It wasn't a health matter at all. He just realized he couldn't beat them…He [Francis] is bringing in these socialist ideas. He's already expressed some of them—about inequities of wealth, redistributing the wealth, which are themes you've heard from Obama."
Tags: Cliff Kincaid Accuracy in Media BarbWire
Alex Jones: Pope Francis Sounds Like 'Satan Himself'
Rick Santorum: Liberal Media Using Pope Francis To Divide Catholics
Frank Gaffney: Pope Francis 'Gladdened Joseph Stalin's Heart'
Alan Keyes: Pope Francis' Climate Change Encyclical Will Usher In Genocide


text:
Сламнати аргумент или аргумент страшила је врста логички неваљаног реторичког аргументовања. Назив потиче од ( - сламнато страшило), а описује аргумент против сламнатог уместо против правог човека или става. Укључује замену теза, а може бити и подврста ад хоминем напада. Припада теорији медијске манипулације.

Означава ситуацију у којој неко, чешће намерно, иако може бити и због заблуде, погрешно протумачи или изврне изјаву друге стране те затим побија своје изврнуто значење изјаве. Тиме се он служи сламнатим аргументом. Сламнати аргумент, тако створен, представља тврђење које је лакше побити. Назив аргумента упућује на то да се ради о замени тежег објекта за напад (изворне изјаве) лакшом метом (метом од сламе), изврнутим значењем аргумента. Изврнути аргумент може имати и улогу страшила, изазивања одбојности према изворном аргументу код онога коме је упућена реторика, публици напада на сламнато страшило.

Исход успешне употребе сламнатог аргумента је логички неваљано побијање (пораз или омаловажавање) изворне тезе. Суштинска логичка грешка је у томе што се не покушава побити аргумент који је прва особа дала, него нешто сасвим друго. У реторици, сламнатом аргументу се прибегава зато што је основни аргумент теже побити, а измењени много лакше.

Настанак
Када особа А изнесе неки аргумент, а особа Б у потпуности занемари (или не примети) кључну поенту изјаве особе А, те преиначи аргумент дајући му више или мање измењено значење и затим га почне побијати, особа Б користи сламнати аргумент.

Следећи узорци описују настанак:

 Особа 1 држи став X
 Особа 2 занемарује одређене кључне поставке става X и мења их наизглед сличним ставом Y. Начињени став Y је искривљено значење става X, а могуће га је створити на више начина, укључујући:
 * Представљањем неодговарајуће варијанте противниковог става, на пример, поједностављивањем противниковог аргумента и нападом на банализовану верзију.
 * Вађењем противникових речи из контекста, одабиром навода који не исказују став на одговарајући начин.
 * Представљањем као заступника става X некога ко став брани нарочито лоше; следи побијање аргумената које износи "заступник" што ствара привид пораза сваког подржаваоца идеје X, односно и саме идеје.
 * Увођењем у расправу измишљене особе чије се понашање или уверење затим критикује, посредно придајући њене особине групи према којој је говорник ненаклоњен, коју на тај начин критикује.
 Особа 2 напада (и оповргава) став Y и закључује како је став X оспорен и/или лажан и/или неваљан и/или штетан...

Примери
Сламнати аргументи често се јављају у јавним иступима и расправама као што су следећи:

Измишљени примери
А: Требало би да снизимо порезе.
Б: Не би требало, јер без пореза држава не може функционисати.

Изнесени предлог снижавања пореза особа Б поједностављује (замењује) укидањем пореза, подижући тако предлог особе А на теже брањив ниво.

Ц: Сунчани дани су добри.
Д: Када би сви дани били сунчани, не бисмо имали кише, а без кише имали бисмо сушу - смрт.

У наведеном примеру Б лажно представља како А сматра да су само сунчани дани добри што је изјава коју је лако оспорити. А заправо није ништа рекао о кишним данима, није изјавио да не би требало да их буде.

Ф: Требало би дати деци сладолед сваког дана после школе.
Г: То би било поприлично штетно за њихово здравље.
Ф: Зар желиш да нам деца гладују?

Особа Ф мења став да деци не би требало дати сладолед сваког дана јер би то било штетно за њихово здравље ставом да им не би требало дати ништа за јело.

Референце

Литература

Логичке грешке
Логика
Реторика

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
package org.kuali.kra.coi.service;

import org.kuali.kra.coi.CoiDisclosure;
import org.kuali.kra.coi.print.CoiReportType;
import org.kuali.kra.printing.Printable;
import org.kuali.kra.printing.PrintingException;
import org.kuali.kra.printing.print.AbstractPrint;
import org.kuali.kra.proposaldevelopment.bo.AttachmentDataSource;

import java.util.List;

/**
 * This class provides the interface for printing reports related to COI. It has the
 * capability to provide a PDF document of various reports related to COI like
 * certifications.
 */
public interface CoiPrintingService {

    public AbstractPrint getCoiPrintable(CoiReportType reportType);

    public Printable getCoiPrintArtifacts(CoiDisclosure coiDisclosure);

    public AttachmentDataSource print(List<Printable> printableArtifactList) throws PrintingException;

}


Emerald at 6888 Anderson Road, Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1, plan No. BCP43447. This 15-storey, 227 condo unit building is under construction and will be completed in 2012. Maintenance fee will include Caretaker, Garbage Pickup, Gardening, Gas, Heating, Hotwater, Snow Removal, Recreation Facility and Management. Some of the features include air conditioning, quartz countertops, steam room, meet room and storage.
Emerald is walking distance to Richmond Centre Mall, Brighouse Park, Richmond Public Library and Minoru Park. Close to City Centre Community Centre, Richmond Public Market and Grand Value Asian Supermarket. Walk to the Academy of Learning, Richmond Secondary School and General Currie Elementary School.


text:
Gelephu court deferred RBA 'chilli powder' case
Verdict: The Gelephu dungkhag court has deferred the case of the two Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) soldiers' wives who filed a case against deydrim Dorji for defamation and official misconduct.
According to the verdict that was passed in November 2015, the two women could not prove any of the allegations they made against deydrim Dorji.
Plaintiff Dawa Zangmo and Mindu Wangmo had alleged deydrim Dorji of locking them inside an office and spreading chilli powder mixed with water on them on August 7, 2015, which they argued was against human rights. He was also alleged for calling them 'prostitutes'.
While the allegation of Dorji calling them 'prostitutes' could not be proved, the defendant had said that he had cautioned the two women that other people could call them 'prostitutes' if they misbehaved.
Dawa Zangmo and Mindu Wangmo also could not prove the defendant defaming them, states the verdict.
The verdict states that the two women also accused Dorji of throwing them out of the RBA family line and discontinuing their ration quota.
According to the verdict, the defendant had instead accused the two women of lying about the chilli powder incident and providing false information on social media, which defamed him.
The two women had said that other soldiers' wives at the family line had heard Dorji calling them prostitutes. They also had named a witness but they could not produce any witness and submitted a 'No' witness form to the court. Although Dorji accepted that he had used the word 'prostitutes' he said it was used to caution them. He also however could not produce witnesses.
Meanwhile, the verdict also stated that going by the accusation and allegations from the two women and the defendant, the case should have been a criminal case and not a civil that could be registered with the court without routing through Royal Bhutan Police.
The verdict states the case should have been reported to police for investigation. In a criminal case, as per section 161.3 of the Penal Code, the police should act according to the complaint and provide necessary evidence through investigation.
Since the case was registered to the court as a civil case, the court did not find it necessary to investigate the allegation made by the plaintiff on official misconduct and the fight between the plaintiff and the defendant, the verdict states.
The case was deferred according to section 156 of the Civil and Criminal Procedure Code of Bhutan. Section 156 states that 'upon a finding of circumstantial evidence not amounting to proof beyond reasonable doubt, the case may be deferred'.
The court ruled out any compensation for the defamation. A 10 days time was provided for the two women to appeal to higher court but it was learnt that they did not appeal.
Nima Wangdi


text:
Q: How to get timeline link from Facebook Graph API in v2.7 Under certain conditions, the Facebook Graph API returns an app-scoped user ID. With this ID you cannot access the timeline of a user in the usual fashion (https://facebook.com/<app_scoped_user_id>).
I know there's a link field on the user node and a user_link permission but it only returns a value in v3.0.
How can I get this value in v2.7?


text:
Dusit International announces the opening of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore
Author: Theodore Koumelis / Date: Fri, 11/27/2020 - 08:18
Devarana Wellness
Pool View (Rendering)
Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore is the first resort in Singapore with direct access to two championship golf courses.
SINGAPORE – Thailand-based, global hospitality company, Dusit International, is delighted to announce the opening of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore in December 2020, a wellness-focused urban resort, adding another distinctive property to its growing portfolio. Nestled within the grounds of the acclaimed Laguna National Golf & Resort Club, the five-star luxury urban resort will be the first in Singapore with direct access to two championship golf courses.
Situated on the greener side of the city, the property is a mere 10 minutes by car from Changi International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown. Its proximity to iconic landmarks like Jewel Changi Airport as well as a slew of heritage and dining gems in Katong, Joo Chiat and East Coast neighbourhoods makes the luxury resort a great starting point to explore a charming and laidback side of Singapore. Coupled with a comprehensive suite of technological, wellness, entertainment and dining facilities and amenities to enhance the entire guest experience, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore is poised to be a highly sought-after destination for leisure and business travellers.
The resort, when viewed from above, is a sight to behold. Housed in a low-rise building with a curvilinear roof, the stunning architecture brings to mind the mounds and dunes of the two championship golf courses, blending seamlessly and ingeniously into the green landscape. Inside, the beautifully designed resort offers 198 tastefully-decorated rooms and suites that exudecontemporary Asian chic. As Dusit International's first property in Singapore, guests will be privy to an uplifting and warmhospitality experience that is rooted in Thai culture and tradition.
"We are thrilled to expand our footprint in a developed destination like Singapore with the opening of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore. Its status as a modern metropolis and gateway to Asia markets will propel Dusit's growth momentum as we seek to deliver our unique brand of Thai hospitality in other countries," said Khun Suphajee Suthumpun, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dusit International. "Located on the same grounds of Laguna National Golf & Resort Club puts Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore in a unique and strong position to offer an integrated and full suite of services to appeal to a wide consumer segment, be it the C-suite executive, soon-to-wed couples and avid staycationers. Members of Laguna National Golf & Resort Club will also benefit from the enhanced facilities brought on by the multi-million- dollar development of this unique urban resort," said EricPiatti, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.
A wellness-focused urban resort
As demand for wellness experiences among discerning travellers continue to grow, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore has adopted a holistic wellness approach, which covers various aspects of living – socially, physically, environmentally, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and vocationally.
Designed with the intention of inspiring guests to Eat Well, Sleep Well, the Dusit Wellness programme offers innovative, plant-based 'Healthy Power Foods', ranging from fresh salads prepared with ingredients harvested from the resort's Laguna Organic Farm, to low-carb and gluen-free options.
The programme further offers a Sleep Well menu that allows guests to personalise their sleep experience with essentials that will help promote a great night's sleep.
At Dusit's signature Devarana Wellness, guests can look forward to a wide variety of wellness therapies that go beyond the usual spa and massage treatments. Instead, the offerings have been designed to encourage guests to cultivate new habits to improve their emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. There are several transient and holistic spaces dotted around the premises which will be used to conduct educational classes and workshops like personal stress management, nutrition, empowerment and more.
To help guests cultivate new habits, the team at Devarana Wellness have designed a programme that will focus on mindfulness and mental awareness (Pause); physical vitality (Focus); and sustaining a healthy lifestyle through establishing a community (Growth).
To encourage guests to take a pause from their hectic lifestyles, Devarana Wellness will be offering activities like meditation, yoga, breathwork exercises and massages.
As for building strength and flexibility, allowing one to feel good on the inside and look great on the outside, Devarana Wellness has introduced fitness activities like active stretching and personal training.
The final area of focus - Growth, is meant to inspire one to create intentional habits to pave the way for sustained healthy living, and for that, Devarana Wellness believes that establishing a community with likeminded individuals is key. To achieve that goal, workshops and classes as well as retreats and classes will be offered to encourage group involvement and community building.
Other fitness and wellness facilities include DFiT, a sprawling 369 sqm fitness centre – the largest in a hotel within Singapore's Eastern precinct – where guests can fully utilise the 24-hour centre's range of cutting-edge cardio and weight resistance equipment at any time of the day; three swimming pools; three outdoor tennis courts (Q1 2021); and a Laguna Lifestyle Programme which provides a platform for community engagement.
Convenience and connectivity at the heart of hospitality
The resort has invested in a host of digital facilities to ensure a smooth and seamless guest experience without compromising on delivering Dusit Thani's signature Thai-inspired and gracious hospitality.
Each room is equipped with an IPTV, while pocket WiFi is available on loan, offering island-wide connectivity to travellers. The hotel's mobile app - Dusit SG app also offers an enhanced consumer service experience, allowing guests to communicate with the Dusit Ambassador team to request for services like in-room dining, amenities or late check-out.
A Host Of Dining Options
For a variety of dining experiences, guests can enjoy a meal at the Greenhouse, an all-day dining multi-ethnic restaurant with five different kitchens serving an exciting line-up of cuisines including Thai cuisine, featuring dishes from Northern and Southern Thailand; Yue cuisine, which is inspired by Guangdong province featuring dishes like steamed fresh fish, dim sum, wok-fried noodles and roast meats; Nikkei Cuisine, offering a selection of sashimi and sushi as well as tantalising items from the Robatayaki grill; Punjabi Tandoor cuisine spotlighting kebabs, freshly baked naan and paneer cooked in authentic clay Tandoor ovens; and Mediterranean cuisine such as sourdough pizzas, salads and oven baked fish and meats.
For those who prefer to dine outdoors, visit The Tee Deck, an al fresco bar & grill which serves popular Thai street food and a selection of healthy dishes like whole wheat blueberry pancakes and yoghurt during the day, and perfectly grilled charcoal flavoured meats and seafood in the evening.
Other food and beverage options include Legends Bar & Lounge, and Dusit Gourmet. The former provides members with a great place to wind down over hearty bar bites, wines and cocktails mixed by an in-house mixologist, while the latter, which is slated to open in Q1 2021, offers a selection of fresh pastries, sandwiches and salads, making it an ideal spot for a quick midday food fix.
A world-class business venue driven by technology and exclusive golfing experiences
Apart from its close proximity to business hubs like Changi Business Park and Singapore EXPO, the resort offers more than 2,500 sqm of distinctive indoor and outdoor conference venues to cater to small-group meetings, breakout sessions, team-building activities and large-scale events.
Event planners and meeting professionals can choose from three outdoor event lawns for prefunction receptions, with each offering a backdrop of the picturesque golf courses. A column-free, 750 sqm high-ceilinged ballroom, which can be partitioned into three functions rooms, is adjoined to a pre-function area with floor-to-ceiling glass panels.A boardroom and two meeting rooms double up as conference venues. For creative meeting spaces, eight pavilions with plunge pools and a host of modular work arrangements – including sofa lounge or bean bag set-ups – set an ideal environment for C-suite meetings and brainstorming sessions.
In between or after meetings, the two 18-hole award-winning golf courses – which Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Lydia Ko have played on – are perfect for C-suite level interactions. For corporate team building activities, the golf club offers the 50-bay Laguna Practice powered by Toptracer Range, and is home to the Leadbetter Golf Academy. Companies who sign up for corporate golf event packages enjoy benefits including access to the newly revamped clubhouse's buggies and VIP changing rooms.
Inspiring timeless moments with a unique wedding destination
The resort's collection of luxuriously appointed indoor and outdoor venues amid an idyllic setting will whisk guests off to a destination wedding experience reminiscent of a tropical getaway. From intimate receptions to grand celebrations, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore offers a selection of wedding packages to cater to different preferences.
Couples can enjoy their pre-ceremony reception at The Ballroom Foyer, which features floor-toceiling glass panels to allow daylight to stream in. The Pavilion or the open-terrace Ocean Verandah is great as a solemnisation venue, with the latter offering unspoiled panoramic views of the horizon.
The Bridal Gallery, located right next to the Laguna Ballroom, provides live feed streaming for newly-weds to observe and soak in special moments. Other exclusive experiences for couples include a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce service that will ferry them to the resort, and a rare phototaking opportunity on either of the two championship golf courses.
Delivering hospitality with a heightened focus on hygiene
To assure guests that the resort is a clean, safe and secure place to stay in, the team has placed a large part of their resources on developing extensive hygiene, cleanliness, and distancing protocols. Some notable implementations include digital in-room menus; automated floor scrubbers; and the installation of Canon Singapore's Facial Access Control Temperature System (FACTS), which works as an infrared thermometer, camera, barcode scanner and near-field communication (NFC) reader and is linked directly to Singapore's SafeEntry digital check-in system.
This check-in system allows the urban resort to screen all visitors' temperatures and record their entry into and exit from the premises for contact tracing.
Dusit International also recently introduced 'Dusit Care - Stay with Confidence' - a new programme of services designed to go beyond enhanced hygiene protocols to deliver additional convenience, experience and value while ensuring guests always feel safe and reassured.
The programme, which is rolled out across all Dusit hotels and resorts, features five new services: Flexible Stays, Safety & Well-being, Local Experience, Technology, and Dusit Care Kits. These new services will allow guests to check in at any time they wish; enjoy personal shopping service for the finest local foods and souvenirs without having to leave the resort; make payment through their mobile devices, and more. A complimentary Dusit Care Kit will also be made available in every room, comprising items such as face mask, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes.