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Sunday night’s Oscar telecast started and ended with indelible moments: a stirring Wicked duet and a climactic pair of wins by Anora.

Unfortunately for many Hulu subscribers, both ends of the 3-hour, 45-minute telecast were the exact points when they got blocked from accessing the show due to technical glitches. The outages prompted howls from frustrated viewers on social media and multiple apologetic statements from Hulu about flaws in the first-ever Oscar livestream.

Two days later, the question nags not just at consumers but an entire industry committed to streaming: What exactly caused the stream to fail? Unlike cases like Netflix’s global stream of November’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight, scale didn’t seem to be the problem. Instead, authentication – the process of...

After premiering in 2002, The Wirequickly established itself as a great HBO series and is still remembered as one of the best crime dramas of all time. Distinguished by incredible writing, authentic storytelling, and brilliant performances, the series delivered five remarkable seasons featuring a large cast of characters and weaving narratives that constantly intersected with one another. Two important figures who regularly saw their paths cross on The Wire were Detective Jimmy McNulty and gangster Stringer Bell. The pair regularly engaged in a cat-and-mouse game and came to see each other as rivals. While neither would want to admit it, however, they actually shared some notable connections.

Repeating patterns and never-ending cycles were a regular theme on The Wire, and it wasn't uncommon for fans to notice lines reoccurring or events mimicking each other. One of the most significant examples of this is in the lives and careers of McNulty and Stringer.

As it ramps up ahead of the launch of its flagship ESPN streaming service in the fall, Disney has hired an executive from Meta to lead a newly created product engineering group that brings together multiple teams.

Andre Rohe, who most recently served as vp of engineering at the Facebook and Instagram owner, joined the Burbank-based entertainment giant in January, Disney Entertainment & ESPN’s chief product/tech officer Adam Smith told his team.

Rohe was hired with the evp, product engineering title and will report to Smith. The exec, who will split his time between San Francisco and Los Angeles, earlier served six years at YouTube and eight years at the video platform’s parent Google in engineering roles.

“Andre is an incredibly talented technologist that brings not only a deep background in managing world-class engineering teams and years of expertise in scaled recommendation and product personalization, but also a truly collaborative spirit,...

Andre Rohe, who previously held senior engineering roles at Meta, YouTube and Google, has been hired to lead a newly created consolidated product engineering team in the Disney Entertainment and ESPN technology group.

Rohe reports directly to Adam Smith, chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, who joined the company last September. The new organization headed by Rohe unifies many of the Disney and ESPN product engineering teams into a single team focused on digital products and platforms spanning entertainment and sports properties.

Rohe joins Disney Entertainment and ESPN after more than two decades leading engineering teams at Meta, YouTube, Google and fabless semiconductor company Tabula, where he has driven work in recommendations, personalization, AI, machine learning, big data and more across news, entertainment, video and more.

Rohe and Smith previously worked together: Smith is a 20-year alum of YouTube and Google, having most recently served as...

The world premiere of a new satirical play about the financial crash of 2008, starring Brian Cox, will open this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Make It Happen, written by James Graham (Sherwood, Quiz) and directed by Andrew Panton (Osage County, The Children, A Christmas Carol), artistic director of Dundee Rep Theatre, will mark the return of Succession star Cox to the Scottish stage for the first time in 10 years.

Make It Happen will open the annual arts fest in the Scottish capital and run for a week at the Festival Theatre from Aug. 1 to 9.

Set in Edinburgh, the play sees Cox portray Adam Smith, the pioneering Scottish philosopher and economist, and the ghost of fiscal past. Graham’s writing dives into the “unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees,” a plot synopsis read.

Cox said: “I’m excited to be doing...

A $895 billion defense policy bill was approved by the House on Wednesday, which included a controversial provision prohibiting the military’s health program, Tricare, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender children of U.S. service members.

Known as the National Defense Authorization Act, the bill authorizes funding for the Defense Department for fiscal year 2025. The vote was 281 to 140 — 200 Republicans and 81 Democrats voted yes, while 124 Democrats and 16 Republicans voted no. The legislation will next head to the Senate.

Although the bill is traditionally bipartisan, some Democratic lawmakers pushed back against the...

Upon its release, Larian Studio’s Baldur’s Gate 3 took the entire gaming world by storm. Its success can be attributed to a number of reasons, such as its story, world, characters, and incredible gameplay. Both critics loved the game and fans alike, so it’s no surprise that it snatched the Game of the Year Award 2023.

Baldur’s Gate 4 isn’t happening anytime soon. (Image via Larian Studios)

With the game’s success, many waited for more news from Larian Studios about a potential Baldur’s Gate 4. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening as Larian doesn’t have “fire” anymore to produce another title. However, the series might benefit if franchise owner Wizards of the Coast lets the minds behind Metaphor: ReFantazio do the job.

It’s Time For Studio Zero to Give Us Baldur’s Gate 4

Earlier this year, Larian’s CEO, Swen Vincke, announced that the studio...

A recent trend that has been appearing in many popular movies and TV shows is the idea of alternate universes; that is, different realities which contrast heavily with the established world thanks to at least one key change occurring somewhere in the past. Movies like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have dedicated themselves to diving deep into the idea, exploring numerous alternate realities that could have existed just as easily as the ones the characters live in.

However, while many major motion pictures have been entirely focused on this idea, there are also numerous TV shows that have diverged from their main narrative in order to consider alternate realities as well. After all, it can be very enjoyable for the creators and actors of the show to consider how different the lives of their characters could have been. While they all approach the subject in different ways,...

If there’s one thing to be said about the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections, it’s that the political event has become more of a media circus than it should be. While Donald Trump and Kamala Harris go at each other with full force in the minutes counting down to Election Day, celebrities like Jennifer Lopez have made it a priority to endorse either Harris or Trump at rallies on the campaign trail.

Jennifer Lopez at Kamala Harris’s Las Vegas rally [Credit: YouTube/The Guardian]

Meanwhile, more A-listers such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Taylor Swift, and even Beyoncé have put the whole weight of their support behind the Democratic party nominee Kamala Harris. But that may not necessarily be a good thing for the potential future President as these high-profile A-listers have also been implicated due to their alleged association with the disgraced rapper P. Diddy.

As the Bad Boy CEO...

Asad Ayaz

Chief brand officer, The Walt Disney Co.; president of marketing, The Walt Disney Studios and Disney+

A recent day from Ayaz’s calendar explains why Bob Iger hand-picked the marketing wizard in 2023 to serve as the conglomerate’s first-ever branding officer while continuing to oversee campaigns for movies and streaming series. This year, Disney is back on top at the box office (including Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Alien: Romulus), with Moana 2 and Mufasa yet to come.

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024

6 a.m. Gym.

7 a.m. Travel time.

8 a.m. Internationals marketing monthly with regional leads; in TD416A.

9 a.m. Release dates with distribution; Thunderbolts trailer review. Release dates are highly classified, but Ayaz reveals that theatrical dates for Freakier Friday and the live-action Lilo & Stitch have been signed off on for May 8 and May 23, 2025, respectively; in Td 416A.

10 a.m. D23 Brazil — run of show; in Pandora Td 413D conference room.

Exclusive: A show for budding Warren Buffetts is headed to market after Zdf Studios scored the distribution rights to Pipo, Pepa & Pop. The animated show teaches kids the basics of economics and finance using the principles of brainstorming and teamwork. In keeping with the theme, pioneering economist Adam Smith inspires a recurring character on the series, a Scottish elf who lives in a moneybox.

Pipo and Pepa are siblings and Pop is their dog. The trio have adventures and overcome problems together. Visually, the finance aspects are portrayed with stock market graphs that become the city skyline, percent signs that flutter in the skies turning into butterflies, and different currencies that become blooms of colorful flowers

The series was made for Italian pubcaster Rai and has been a hit on its linear and on-demand services. The show was created by sisters Fiorella Congedo and Maria Elena Congedo and produced by their Congedo CulturArte,...

Billy Porter has become a household name through his trailblazing performances and charismatic presence on screen and stage, but his net worth doesn't necessarily reflect his fame. Best known for his Emmy-winning role in Pose, Porters career spans Broadway, film, and music. He first made his mark in theater, with starring roles in productions such as 2013's Kinky Boots, which he won a Tony Award for. Additionally, Porters unapologetic style and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights have made him a cultural icon.

Born William Ellis Porter II in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Pose actor has openly discussed his traumatic childhood marked by abuse and a strict Pentecostal upbringing (via People). Porter sought refuge in the arts, and his high school teachers at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School encouraged him to attend Carnegie Mellon University. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. Openly gay since age 16, Porter...

Michael Fassbender's best performances are often overlooked in lesser-known projects like A24's 2016 film. Trespass Against Us showcases Fassbender's emotional range through personal themes like morality and family. Despite Fassbender's involvement, Trespass Against Us received little attention due to its limited release.

Michael Fassbender has starred in an A24 film that more people should recognize. While Fassbender has achieved great through franchises like X-Men and Alien, he has also starred in many other movies that may not have been as popular. However, as Michael Fassbender's new 97% Rotten Tomatoes hit indicates, some of the actor's best performances can be found in his lesser-known projects, like his A24 film from 2016.

Born in Germany before breaking into the American film industry, Michael Fassbender soared to commercial success in the fantasy action movie 300. The role has since given him access to even greater opportunities, including Magneto in the X-Men franchise. With an...

The internet let out a collective sob when Beyoncé’s publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, shut down rumors that the 32-time Grammy winner would be performing at the Democratic National Convention.

“At home watching and anticipating the VP’s historic speech,” wrote Noel-Schure prior to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Nominee, taking the stage on Thursday. “Focus on the win and register to vote. Do not report rumors. Focus.”

Her post was seen as a direct reference to rampant speculation that the Renaissance star would appear at the four-day long event.

Disney is looking to replicate YouTube’s success in the streaming TV sector. The Mouse House has hired 20-year Google/YouTube vet Adam Smith as its Chief Product and Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

Smith most recently served as YouTube’s VP of Product Management, a role that saw him lead operations for services like YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. He’ll occupy a similar niche at Disney, where he will oversee the development of technology that will be deployed across streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.

Disney is looking to shore up its streaming division during a difficult period for that particular industry. As subscription service owners like Paramount announce substantial layoffs, Disney is drawing inspiration from a company that’s currently enjoying a growth spurt on TV screens.

YouTube gets more than one billion hours of watch time on TVs every day. Its base of...

Adam Smith. (Courtesy photo)

The Walt Disney Company has hired a former Google executive to serve as its new technology officer for its entertainment and sports businesses.

On Thursday, executives at Disney announced the appointment of Adam Smith to the role of Chief Product and Technology Officer at Disney Entertainment and ESPN. He will oversee all technology and product initiatives at Disney’s entertainment and sports brands, including Disney Plus, ESPN and Hulu.

“We could not be more thrilled to have Adam join the Disney team in this pivotal role,” said Disney co-Chairpersons Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro in a statement. “We’ve been aggressive in advancing our technological capabilities to better support our world-class media, streaming and advertising businesses, and Adam brings a bold, consumer-focused vision for the future and a proven ability to effectively lead global teams in implementing ambitious, scalable and flexible...

Longtime YouTube and Google executive Adam Smith has been named Chief Product & Technology Officer, Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

He takes the senior post after the exit in June of Aaron Laberge, who is now Chief Technology Officer at Penn Entertainment, Disney’s partner on ESPNBet. The Smith hire was announced by Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro, to whom he will jointly report.

In the previous executive structure, Jerrell Jimerson served as Chief Product Officer for Disney Streaming until his departure in 2023 during companywide layoffs.

Upon his official start on September 3, Smith will oversee the company’s global Product and Technology group, which spans Disney’s entertainment and sports media businesses. He will be responsible for “driving technology strategy, development, deployment and continued innovation across the company’s streaming platforms and networks, portfolio of consumer digital touchpoints, proprietary advertising technology, emerging technologies, and more,...

Former Google and YouTube executive Adam Smith is joining Disney Entertainment and ESPN as its new chief product and technology officer on Sept. 3.

In the role, Smith will be responsible for driving technology strategy, development, deployment and innovation across the company’s streaming platforms and networks, consumer digital touchpoints, proprietary advertising technology, emerging technologies and more. He will also lead a global team of technologists, including engineers, product managers and designers, data scientists and technical operations teams.

Smith will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairpersons Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. He replaces Aaron Laberge, who departed the role at the end of June after 20 years to serve as the Cto and head of Penn Entertainment’s Interactive division — a key partner and collaborator on ESPN Bet.

“We could not be more thrilled to have Adam join the Disney team in this pivotal role,” Bergman, Pitaro and...

Disney has made a significant hire meant to bolster its streaming efforts, with the company bringing on board Adam Smith as chief product and technology officer for Disney entertainment and ESPN.

Smith, who starts next month, will oversee the technology development and deployment in streaming, networks, advertising, production technologies and other digital touchpoints across Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

He will jointly report to Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, as well as ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

Smith as a 20-year veteran of Google and its YouTube subsidiary, most recently serving as VP of product management for YouTube, where he oversaw the video platform’s YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, subscription and commerce offerings.

The Disney job is a critical one for the company, which is seeking to establish itself as a leader in streaming. Disney CEO Bob Iger has said publicly that the company needs to enhance its technology...

To say Baldur’s Gate 3 was a massive project would be an understatement. Larian Studios went above and beyond the call of duty, delivering an RPG experience unlike any other. After all, that’s why the game won so many accolades when it finally hit the shelves.

Innovation was a key component of the title, enabling the studio to deliver a Dungeons and Dragons experience that no game had managed to create. But this may have been Larian painting itself into a corner, as the studio is now wondering how to move forward.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Has Made Things Difficult for Larian

Studios that aim to create something new need to contend with their contemporaries, but also with other games made over the years. As daunting as it sounds, advancing technology allows these studios to push their titles to greater heights. But it seems Larian Studios may have hit a...

It’s been weeks since President Joe Biden’s calamitous debate performance against Donald Trump. Despite his campaign’s best efforts, concerns about his health and mental acuity have not been put to rest, and a host of Democratic lawmakers, celebrities, donors, and media personalities have called for him to drop out of the race.

The president has so far remained defiant, issuing an open letter blasting his critics and maintaining that he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,...

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi danced around questions of whether she continues to support President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic nominee during a Wednesday interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Pelosi was asked if Biden continues to have her support as the head of the Democratic ticket, but she didn’t really say.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” the former House Speaker responded. “We’re all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short.”

“He’s beloved. He is respected,...

After more than a week of interviews and campaign events attempting to counter calls to step down from his campaign, President Joe Biden is going on the offensive.

“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites […] the elites in the party,” Biden said Monday during a phone interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “Run against me. Go ahead, announce for president. Challenge me at the convention,”

“I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden added of editorials from major publications urging him to step down. “The bottom line...

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the culmination of what some of the brightest minds in the video gaming industry can do when they’re left to explore and ideate as much as they want. While we’ve come to know and love the game and its many facets, it wasn’t nearly the same as it was during the conceptualization stage.

And yes, that includes its characters. During BAFTA’s “An Evening with Baldur’s Gate 3” event, Larian CEO Swen Vincke, writing director Adam Smith, and lead writer Chrystal Ding had much to share about all the work that went into creating the studio’s latest hit.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Characters Went Through Many Iterations The Baldur’s Gate 3 companions could’ve turned out much differently.

Larian won big at the BAFTA’s this year, scoring in the Best Game, Music, Narrative, and Ee Player’s Choice categories.

A lot of...

The popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 is based a lot on its unique storyline and immersive gameplay. And these two aspects have been assisted by the diverse character roster in the game. From Lae’zel, Wyll, Astarion, Minsc, Shadowheart, Dark Urge, and many more.

Still, arguably the most popular character in the game is Karlach. This is an origin character and a recruitable companion as well, with an Outlander background. She is a Zariel Tiefling and a barbarian who first appeared in Act 1. However, one important aspect of this character was added so late to the game, that almost all the developers weren’t sure about it.

Karlach’s Infernal Engine Was a Late Addition to Baldur’s Gate 3

Karlach’s Infernal Engine was added to her heart almost at the end of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s development.

Karlach’s popularity has grown a lot upon her infernal engine heart.

In role-playing video games, few titles hold the charm and grand nature of the Baldur’s Gate series. With its intriguing storytelling, complex characters, and immersive world-building, the franchise has captivated gamers with all its titles.

When Baldur’s Gate 3 launched, it not only earned the love of the RPG gamers but also set the standard for any new games. The decisions in BG3 can lead players to countless roads but not all ends are happy as players find themselves confronted with a decision that would shape their experience in unforeseen ways.

The Condemned Path of Baldur’s Gate 3 Every decision in Baldur’s Gate 3 carries weight and can change the game’s narrative. | Larian Studios

Baldur’s Gate 3, much like its predecessors, is a game where decisions made by players affect the world around them. Every decision, small or big, has consequences and has the power to shape the narrative within the game world.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is more than just another RPG; it’s an ambitious storytelling marvel. Larian Studio’s Adam Smith knew the narrative stakes had to be earned through a complex, evolving story.

The decision to push beyond conventional RPG tropes was driven by the inherent power curve of Dungeons & Dragons (D&d) 5E.

Crafting a Complex, Reactive World for Baldur’s Gate 3 Baldur’s Gate 3 is a storytelling masterpiece.

From the outset, the team at Larian Studios faced a daunting challenge: creating a story that could sustain player engagement beyond the typical encounters with low-level enemies. Adam Smith acknowledged early on that having players “running around fighting goblins for 100 hours” would not suffice.

Suggested“That’s the moment it all comes together”: Gears of War E-Day’s Creative Director Won’t Fumble the Ball Like Gears of War 5 Did, After Forcing the Series to Return to the ‘Heart of the Universe’

Instead,...

High fantasy isn’t the easiest genre to navigate, let alone completely own, but Baldur’s Gate 3 swooped in and became a fantastical force to be reckoned with. Not only did the game showcase a detailed narrative, but Larian also provided its players with the kind of options that aren’t found in other fantasy IPs.

This made the Dungeons and Dragons story stand out as a fresh entry, which begs the question why popular properties like Lord of the Rings haven’t fared as well in the realm of gaming.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Brought Layers to the Fantasy Genre in Gaming

While playing Baldur’s Gate 3, gamers could choose their narrative.

Dungeons and Dragons has been massive even before Baldur’s Gate 3, but Larian brought the franchise to the forefront of the gaming industry with its Game of the Year 2023.

Suggested“We’re trying things. We’re experimenting”:...

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a 2023 RPG game developed by Larian Studios, set in the incredible Dungeons and Dragons universe. In this game, players engage in turn-based combat, explore a richly detailed world, and make impactful choices that shape the overall narrative, all while unraveling a complex story.

The game features turns of captivating characters, but Astarion, the mischievous vampire spawn, has quickly become a fan-favorite for his engaging narrative, exceptional voice acting, and sassy flair. However, Astarion has one of the worst endings in the game, which, according to the developers, delivers a “really powerful” message.

Astarion’s Evil Ending Delivers a Message That We Can’t Ignore Astarion’s ening in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Steam

Allowing Astarion to finish the ritual in Cazador’s place allows him to become an Ascendant Vampire, which is stronger than both a Vampire Spawn and a real Vampire. This ending is considered to...

In RPG games, every decision matters as they shape the narrative, define characters and have the ability to craft the player’s journey through the game world. Baldur’s Gate 3 also follows the same rule and delves even deeper if players decide to embrace the evil.

Players can choose various roles, including that of an evil character which showcases the different sides of the game. Even CEO Swen Vincke urges players to embrace their evil within, on their second playthrough and pick the Dark Urge origin.

Unveiling the Moral Duality of Players with Swen Vincke

Vincke wants players to explore the Baldur’s Gate 3’s narrative from different perspective | Larian Studios

In an interview, Swen Vincke and Adam Smith delve deep into the consequences of player choices, character development, and the formula behind crafting a truly immersive RPG experience. They feel that at the core of Baldur’s Gate 3, players...

In RPG games, companions are some of the most important parts of the story and player’s journey. If written correctly, they can make the game’s narrative even better. Baldur’s Gate 3 built upon this and made waves in the gaming community due to its intriguing story and well-defined companions.

It boasts a diverse cast of companions, each with their own unique personalities and stories. However, one companion who stands out the most from the start is Lae’zel. She was super aggressive from the start, to the extent that developers felt the need to nerf her personality a little bit.

Adjusting Aggression: Baldur’s Gate 3 Balancing Act

Larian Studios nerfed Lae’zel’s aggressive nature toward players | Baldur’s Gate 3

In an interview, the developers at Larian Studios shed some light on the decision they made to keep the companion characters’ story engaging. They also discussed their reason behind nerfing Lae’zel,...

If you’ve played through Baldur’s Gate 3, you know that Larian Studios has crafted an unforgettable cast of companions, each with their own unique stories and personalities. But there’s one character who stands out above the rest, capturing players’ hearts with her infectious optimism, tragic backstory, and unwavering determination: Karlach, the lovable Tiefling Barbarian with a heart of gold (and an infernal engine).

From the moment we first meet Karlach on the Risen Road, it’s clear that she’s not your typical companion. Born in Baldur’s Gate to a loving family, Karlach’s life took a dark turn when she was betrayed by her employer, Enver Gortash, and sold to the archdevil, Zariel.

Trapped in Avernus and forced to fight in the Blood War for a decade, Karlach’s only hope for freedom lies in the nautiloid’s incursion into the Nine Hells.

The Challenges of...

In the broad canvas of game development, every choice matters, even those that are abandoned on the cutting room floor. Baldur’s Gate 3, the highly anticipated RPG by Larian Studios also had its share of abandoned ideas.

Swen Vincke, Larian’s CEO, stated that the team frequently tests with creative concepts, but many of them never make it into the game owing to the enormous difficulty of building a large-scale RPG.

The Ideas of Larian’s Development Team for Baldur’s Gate 3

The Portable Hole That Never Was in Baldur’s Gate 3. | Larian

In an interview with RockPaperShotgun that included a conversation about the ideas and approaches to developing huge RPGs, Larian CEO Swen Vincke talked about the enormous amount of labor needed in these games.

Suggested“This was just the progression they knew they wanted to do”: Baldur’s Gate 3 Went All Out to Undo a Mistake Larian...

In video games, crafting a compelling narrative is often considered an art form. With the release of complex, story-driven RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, the task of creating a captivating story became even more challenging.

In an interview, Larian Studio’s Lead Writer Adam Smith shed some light on the efforts his team went through to ensure the game’s narrative integrity. To check all the story plot lines and threads of a single aspect, he had to do 18 playthroughs of the game.

The Quest for Narrative Perfection by Larian Studios

Smith went through 18 playthroughs of Baldur’s Gate 3 to perfect one aspect. | Larian Studios

Baldur’s Gate 3 is renowned for its dynamic storytelling, where players’ decisions shape the world around them. From moral decisions to character interactions, every choice in the game has consequences that not only affect the immediate narrative, but are permanent for the whole playthrough.

Smith...

Baldur’s Gate 3 had launched with immense excitement, and all players were ready to go back to the iconic world of Dungeons & Dragons. The rich storytelling, intricate gameplay mechanics, and a vibrant cast of characters awaited the players.

However, incorporating the new story with engaging and dynamic gameplay was a difficult task, but slotting older characters who were in both the original Baldur’s Gate games was a harder challenge in itself.

The Task of Balancing Nostalgia and Innovation in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 wanted to bring back familiar faces | Larian Studios

In an interview, Larian Studios’ lead writer Adam Smith discussed the intricate process of reintroducing a character from the previous Baldur’s Gate titles into the new one. The character in question was Minsc, who presented a unique set of challenges for the developers.

Suggested“This is so f**king annoying”: 1 Flaw in Baldur...

In RPG games, player experience often depends not just on the mechanics or visuals, but also on the complex nature of the narrative and the surrounding character’s development. Baldur’s Gate 3 managed to strike that balance, and the results show that it is one of the biggest games in recent times.

One of the most talked-about and intricate parts of the game’s story was the romance and the various relationships with companions. Lead Writer Adam Smith shed some light on this by explaining how the romance between characters was handled by only one person.

The Significance of Individual Expertise in Baldur’s Gate 3 Complex storytelling and different narratives were the secrets behind Baldur’s Gate 3 success. | Larian Studios

In an interview, Lead Writer Adam Smith discussed the development process of various aspects of the game. When asked how the studio managed to form complex relationships between characters. His...

Baldur’s Gate 3 was one of the most celebrated titles released in 2023. The game dominated most video game award ceremonies which did wonders for the series’ popularity, and established Larian as one of the best game developers in recent years.

One of the best things about the game is the nuance that is offered by each one of its characters. While some characters are lovable, some are downright repulsive. However, one character was mentioned by the game’s makers in a recent interview because of his striking personality.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Director and Writer Talk About Wulbren Bongle Is Bongle rightly hated or misunderstood?

Baldur’s Gate 3‘s success was enough to rock the industry and even compel toymakers to turn into game companies. After the game’s release, people in the fraternity realized that Indie games could give Aaa titles a run for their money, too.

Suggested“Our biggest fear…...

Baldur’s Gate 3 showed so much promise before its full release, and people saw its potential for what it is. When the game got a proper full release, the hard work that Larian put into the game was seen.

It grew to unimaginable heights, backed by a loyal and booming fanbase. Before all that, however, the game went through a stressful development period. For the staff at Larian, their problem was rooted in a very human emotion: fear.

Larian Gets Real in Conversation About Baldur’s Gate 3 Developing Baldur’s Gate 3 was no easy feat.

In an interview with GamePressure.com, Swen Vincke, Larian’s CEO, and Adam Smith, the writing director, spilled the beans on some very real emotional turbulence they experienced while working on the studio’s latest release.

Suggested“It sucks”: Swen Vincke Regrets 1 ‘cascading effect’ that Baldur’s Gate 3 Caused

When asked if they thought...

Baldur’s Gate 3 was so very close to revisiting an iconic location in the franchise—Candlekeep, the large, fortified library where the first game’s prologue unfolds.

While the idea didn’t go through, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke and lead writer Adam Smith let the world in on some secrets behind the planned revisit. Had the idea worked out, it would be very different from what we remember seeing in the first game, but one mantra pulled the team back into focus.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Could Have Returned to Candlekeep Candlekeep unfortunately had no place in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Rock Paper Shotgun recently interviewed Vincke and Smith regarding Candlekeep and about its absence in Larian Studios’ addition to the franchise.

SUGGESTEDSwen Vincke’s Larian Studios Won’t ‘Kill Themselves’ to Follow 1 Gaming Trend Other Developers Rely On

When asked why the location didn’t return, Smith explained:

The biggest problem was that geographically,...

Game development comes with its own set of hurdles, and even acclaimed titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 can’t avoid these hardships. This has become more apparent in the modern gaming landscape, considering how much more expensive developing games has gotten and the constant fear of whether or not the title will resonate with the audience.

Dungeons and Dragons is a massive franchise that many gamers are familiar with, but simultaneously, it’s still a niche brand that may not have connected well with mainstream players. And with a layered title like Larian Studios’ Game of the Year, there’s always the possibility of something going wrong.

Doubt Played a Major Role in the Development of Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 ended up being the biggest game of 2023, but confidence levels were fluctuating before its launch.

The triumph of Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t come out of nowhere, as...

Baldur’s Gate 3 is very interesting in more than many ways. From all the character’s background stories to all the classes for players to pick. Lead Writer Adam Smith wanted to add depth to the character and wanted players to learn every details about characters.

The lead writer of Baldur’s Gate 3 Adam Smith poured all his energy into writing Minthara, his favorite character in the game. He managed to go so deep into her backstory that he almost breached the Fourth Wall like Deadpool himself.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Character which almost broke the Fourth Wall

Baldur’s Gate 3 has many Fourth wall breaks | Larian Studios

In various instances, Baldur’s Gate 3’s characters have the “ability” to break the Fourth Wall, similar to what people have mostly seen in various Deadpool movies. During an interview, Adam Smith revealed that he nearly wrote a character, whose story narrative was...

Baldur’s Gate series has always been known for its storytelling and freedom for players to make any choices. These choices will lead to different consequences so that every player can enjoy the game somewhat differently.

Lead Writer Adam Smith in an interview said there has been an idea that he finds very cool that is still not included in any Baldur’s Gate title. The idea was to add another chapter to the story but it was cut down to keep the story interesting and not too long for players to get disconnected.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Cosmic Horror concept

New storyline based on Cosmic Horror got canceled | Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 story is very engaging and is paced very reasonably to keep the players invested. Players also have the freedom to make anyone their ally or foe with their choices. Every new area in the...

In Baldur’s Gate 3, every choice matters as it determines the other characters’ response. This means any character in the game can become your ally or foe if players play their cards right. Thinking before making any choices matters as it can sometimes lead to some characters’ deaths.

There are very many characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 but the one that the Lead Writer Adam Smith likes is usually killed by players by choice. He is very sad about that as he thinks the character has much more depth than players realize.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Lead Writer’s Favorite Character

Every choice carry weighs in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Larian Studios

Adam Smith, the Lead game writer, has created many characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. But the one he feels is the best character is Minthara, due to her background and perspective. She is a recruitable companion character and appears in...

Citing safety concerns following escalating protests, USC announced today it has canceled the “main stage” commencement ceremony that had been planned for May 10 and will require tickets for people to attend any other commencement activities.

The university will continue to hold “dozens” of smaller commencement events, including the individual school ceremonies — such as that for the School of Cinematic Arts — in which graduates are announced and walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.

“To ensure we host commencement activities and celebrate our graduates safely, we will be implementing additional security measures,” reads a message from the university. “These include ticketing of all commencement events taking place on May 8-11 and directing all campus access through specific points of entry.”

Details on the ticketing process were expected to be posted online by Tuesday.

The announcement came one day after nearly 100 people were arrested on campus following a daylong “occupation” by pro-Palestinian protesters in Alumni Park,...

Baldur's Gate 3 has many endings, offering thousands of subtle variations based on player choices. Side quests, character interactions, and romance options all affect the ending, providing unique epilogues for each. While it may not have exactly 17,000 unique endings, the game's attention to detail and responsiveness to player choices make every ending satisfying.

Before its release, the developers of Baldur's Gate 3 promised that the game would include 17,000 different endings - but does it really? There's undeniably a ton of player choice and variation in the game. There are even hundreds of contingencies and failsafes in case players try to break Baldur's Gate 3. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch at all to say there are thousands of different ways its story can play out, but 17,000 endings is an entirely different kind of claim.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for various endings of Baldur's Gate 3.]Baldur's Gate 3 does have many different endings. This is far from the typical open-ended RPG structure, which typically just includes a good,...

I'm sorry, I can't right now, I'm going through a breakup - well, my fave celebrity couples are. And I'm in mourning.

So far, 2023 has felt unprecedented in terms of long-term, fan-favorite Hollywood relationships ending. Left and right, our social media feeds have been overwhelmed with the gut-wrenching "so-and-so called it quits after XYZ years together" announcements, and my fangirl heart simply can't take it anymore.

"It still hurts like we've been personally victimized by the breakup."

Sure, every year high-profile Hollywood romances end. But for millennial and Gen-Zers, this year has been particularly cruel. Take a walk down (painful) memory lane, and you'll see why. The whirlwind started in March, when Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth parted ways after nearly 12 years of marriage. The same month, Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix broke up after nine years together, and "Scandoval" rocked the pop culture zeitgeist for months afterwards. Mere weeks later,...

There’s a new trailer for World on Fire, the Masterpiece war drama from The A Word’s Peter Bowker that bows Sunday, October 15, on PBS.

The series looks at World War II through the eyes of ordinary people from all sides of the conflict. The new seven-episode season will follow the first year of the war, starting with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and ending with the Battle of Britain.

The cast includes Lesley Manville (The Crown), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Ahad Raza Mir (Resident Evil), Mark Bonnar (Guilt) and Gregg Sulkin (Runaways).

In 2019, PBS joined the BBC for a second season of the drama that starred Helen Hunt as a war correspondent. Season 2 has already dropped in the U.K, where viewers have noticed the absence of Hunt, as well as Sean Bean, Arthur Darvill and Brian J. Smith — due to a combination of scheduling...

Billy Porter is back on the market.

In a new interview with the Evening Standard, the “Pose” star opened up about single life after filing for divorce from husband Adam Smith last month.

Read More: Billy Porter & Husband Adam Smith Split After 6 Years Of Marriage

Since then, the 53-year-old has been living it up in London, staying with friends and working on projects, while adding that the trip has been “a respite from some other s**t!”

That “other s**t” is, of course, his divorce, which Porter announced in early July, in a statement from his rep which explained that he and Smith had “made the sad decision to end their marriage after six years.”

Opening up about the split, Porter joked, “The whole world knows I’m getting a divorce! Y’all want to talk about my divorce and Ricky Martin’s at the same time?”

Read More:...

Billy Porter and Adam Smith are calling it quits after six years of marriage, People exclusively confirmed on July 5. "I can confirm that Billy Porter and his husband Adam Smith have made the sad decision to end their marriage after six years," said Porter's rep Simon Halls in a statement to the outlet. "The decision was an amicable and mutual one and was made after much consideration. They continue to love and support each other as they embark on this next chapter. There will be no further comment from either parties and it would be appreciated if their privacy be respected."

Speaking to the Evening Standard in August, Porter further opened up about the split, saying, "The whole world knows I'm getting a divorce! Y'all want to talk about my divorce and Ricky Martin's at the same time?"

"It's bittersweet," he added. "But relationships are hard. I will always love him.

Emmy-winning actor Billy Porter claims that he was forced to sell his house due to the ongoing SAG-Afrta strikes, which he has publicly supported. Porter blames major studios for his financial losses, accusing them of "starving him out" and not negotiating a fair deal with SAG-AFTRA. Porter believes that the payment structure for artists in Hollywood is outdated, especially with the rise of streaming platforms.

Emmy-winning actor and singer Billy Porter has recently revealed in an interview with the London newspaper, Evening Standard, that he was allegedly forced to sell his house due to the ongoing SAG-afrta strikes. The SAG-afrta strikes have been underway since July 14 due to the actors’ unhappiness with low residual payments from major studios.

Many prominent celebrity actors, including Seth Rogan, Bryan Cranston, Sarah Paulson, and Porter, have publicly supported the strike. Porter is mainly known for his FX series Pose and his lead actor...