Boeing: Reports of WannaCry outbreak ‘overstated and inaccurate’
This afternoon a report by the Seattle Times cited internal messages showing that aircraft builder Boeing had been hit by the WannaCry ransomware and there were fears it could affect production. Boeing VP Linda Mills tells Engadget in a statement that its network security “detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems,” and it shouldn’t affect deliveries.
Issues with ransomware have not tailed off since last year’s worldwide outbreak of WannaCry/NotPetya, and the city of Atlanta’s government is still recovering after “SamSam” ransomware locked down some systems last week. Even if this occurrence is as controllable as Boeing believes, it’s surely not the last time we’ll hear about a large organization suddenly locked out of its own computers.
Linda Mills, VP of Boeing commercial airplanes communications:
A number of reported statements on this are overstated and inaccurate. Our cybersecurity operations center detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems. Remediations were applied and this is not a production or delivery issue.
Statement: A number of articles on a malware disruption are overstated and inaccurate. Our cybersecurity operations center detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems. Remediations were applied and this is not a production or delivery issue.
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) March 28, 2018
Source: Seattle Times, Boeing Airplanes (Twitter)
Quick Takes: What Wasn’t Announced at Apple Event, CarPlay Vehicles at New York Auto Show, and More
In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
Wednesday, March 28
What Wasn’t Announced at Apple’s Event
Yesterday, we shared a video recap of everything Apple announced at its education-themed event, including a new entry-level 9.7-inch iPad, a new Schoolwork app for classrooms, and other education-related software updates.
Apple’s invite made it very clear that the event would be focused on education announcements, but there were still quite a few hardware and software possibilities that had a slim chance of being—but ultimately weren’t—mentioned:
- Lower-priced MacBook Air: KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a more affordable MacBook Air will launch in the second quarter of 2018. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said the notebook probably wouldn’t be ready for Tuesday’s event, which proved to be the case.
When to expect it: Apple has refreshed the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro in April or May before, and announced the updates via press releases, so that’s one possibility. Otherwise, the new MacBook Air will likely debut at WWDC 2018 on June 4, near the end of the second quarter.
- AirPower: A trio of reports claimed Apple’s multi-device charging mat will be available to order by the end of March. However, despite Apple’s online store going down ahead of Tuesday’s event, the AirPower wasn’t anywhere to be found when the site came back online.
When to expect it: There are still two weekdays remaining in March, so there’s a possibility the AirPower could be added to Apple’s online store within 48 hours. Otherwise, the reports may have been off the mark. Apple has only confirmed that the AirPower will be available at some point in 2018.
- A second-generation iPhone SE: Apple unveiled the current iPhone SE in March 2016, and given multiple rumors about a so-called iPhone SE 2, the new version could have debuted at the Chicago event. However, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had already cast doubt on the idea.
When to expect it: A sketchy Chinese report recently claimed that Apple will unveil a new iPhone SE at WWDC 2018 in June. While certainly a possibility, Apple hasn’t introduced a smartphone at the event since the iPhone 4 in 2010. Beyond WWDC, a new iPhone SE could conceivably be announced in September alongside a new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus.
iPhone X in gold rendered by Michael Flux - Gold or (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhones: Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang and Twitter account OnLeaks said Apple may release a (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and/or iPhone X. Ben Geskin and Japanese website Mac Otakara expect a gold iPhone X.
When to expect it: On March 21, 2017, Apple unveiled a special (PRODUCT)RED edition of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. If it plans on doing similar this year, then perhaps we’ll see a wave of press releases highlighting availability of the new colors and the AirPower very soon.
- iOS 11.3: Apple could have used its event to mention when the software update will be publicly released, but it elected not to do so.
When to expect it: Apple said iOS 11.3 will be available in the spring, which began last week. There has already been six beta versions, and iOS 11.3 was released for the new iPad just hours ago, so it’s very likely the update will be available in a matter of days.
Teacher Reactions to Apple’s Event
Apple’s last education-focused event prior to Tuesday was in January 2012 in New York, where it announced iBooks 2 with interactive textbooks, iBooks Author, and a new version of iTunes U for iPad.
Just over six years later, many teachers and IT directors for school systems were eager to see what Apple had in store for them. And now that the event has concluded, many of those individuals have shared their initial thoughts, which aren’t entirely positive. We’ve rounded up some articles below:
- What educators think about Apple’s new iPad by Engadget’s Edgar Alvarez
- Making The Grade: Why Apple’s education strategy is not based on reality by 9to5Mac’s Bradley Chambers
- Quick thoughts on Apple’s education event, from a real teacher by BrianMadden’s Jack Madden
CarPlay Vehicles at New York Auto Show
CarPlay in 2019 Lexus UX
Today is press day at the New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public on Friday. Many automakers have unveiled vehicles compatible with CarPlay, including the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and 2019 Lexus UX:
- 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
- 2019 Toyota RAV4
- 2019 Lexus UX
- 2019 Audi A6
- 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback
- 2019 Acura RDX
- 2019 Acura MDX A-Spec
- 2019 Cadillac CT6
- 2019 Cadillac XT4
- 2019 Ford Fusion
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- 2019 Honda Insight
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2019 Hyundai Tucson
- 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric
- 2019 Kia K900
- 2019 Kia Optima
- 2019 Kia Sedona
- 2019 Nissan Altima
For more coverage of Apple’s event, visit our Front Page, Mac Blog, and iOS Blog. Also visit our forums to join in the discussion.
Tag: Quick Takes
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Seven cat games every kitty lover needs to try out
In case you haven’t noticed, cats are big on the Internet. There are many kitty pics and videos cluttering up the world wide web and game developers have definitely taken note of people’s affinity towards the furry creatures.
So cat lovers who want to further pursue their love for kitties in the virtual world, have the option of installing a wide range of cat games on their mobile devices.
If playing with cats it’s what keeps you entertained, then you might want to check out our list of best cat games to try out on your Android smartphone or tablet.
Cookie cats
What it is:
A fun, little puzzle game in which you help Belle, Ziggy, Smokey and other adorable kitties find delicious cookies.
Why we like it:
- An easy-to-play 3-match/puzzle game where you connect cookies of the same color to get through the levels. Use the cookies to fight against villains such as Buster the Drooly Dog or Birthday Bear.
- You get hundreds of challenging levels to play and six different game modes.
- Players will be surrounded by cute kitties who can also sing. Add new characters to your list of friends and customize your band.
Install Cookie cats
Cat condo
What it is:
An addictive game which allows cat lovers to build the cat condo of their dreams and populate it with as many fluff balls as they want.
Why we like it:
- You start with a small cat friend, but soon you’ll be combining, mixing and matching kitties in order to upgrade them to majestic felines.
- Players can discover and unlock many types of cats.
- Create and furnish your cat condo with kitty-friendly objects such as a big tower and toys.
Install Cat condo
KleptoCats
What it is:
This is a cat-collecting game from HyperBeard Games. For those who want even more fun, KleptoCats 2 is also available.
Why we like it:
- The game has a funny storyline: you start out in a room with your cat who is good at stealing things. So you simply send your kitty into the world and wait for him/her to come back with stuff.
- You’ll be able to decorate your apartment with the items brought in by your cat companion. Although be warned, there’s a lot of waiting involved with this game. You have the option of petting your cat, so you can shorten the amount of time it takes for him/her to find things.
- Dress your kitty up in thousands of different ways to spice things up.
Install KleptoCats
Simon’s Cat – Crunch Time
What it is:
This game was inspired by the animated cartoon and book series by British Animator Simon Tofield which features a perpetually hungry house cat.
Why we like it:
- Simon continues to be hungry, so the goal in this Match 3 adventure puzzle is to feed him with as many Tasty Treats as possible
- Simon is joined by furry buddies Maisy, Chloe and Jazz and other kitties in his quest to get Treats.
- Players are also tasked with fighting off angry villains. Play in six different game modes with hundreds of levels awaiting you.
Install Simon’s Cat – Crunch Time
Nyan Cat – Lost in Space
What it is:
Inspired by the YouTube video sensation, this game brings the animated cartoon cat with a Pop-Tart for a body to your Android device.
Why we like it:
- Explore space and fly to multiple planets with Nyan Cat – Lost Space. On the way make sure you drink milk, eat ice cream, collect coins and upgrade your gear.
- The game also has players fighting evil enemies who stand in the way of kitty space exploration.
- Players can take advantage of 5 games modes including Nyan Wings.
- Nyan cat takes several different forms including Supernyan and Zombienyan.
- The game includes a Nyanagotchi room to make sure your kitty stays happy.
Install Nyan Cat – Lost in Space
Purrfect Spirits
A game featuring super-adorable graphics in which you play a ghost who doesn’t know how to pass over, so it’s taking care of cats in the meanwhile.
Why we like it:
- A cat-collecting game in which you play a ghost stuck in the mortal realm. So you try to fill your time by taking care of the cats that visit your home . Feed and entertain them by buying additional items such as food, scratches, and towers.
- Decorate your room will beautiful, pastel-colored designs.
- Become the ultimate cat whisperer by attracting a variety of rare cats to your layer.
Install Purrfect Spirits
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
What it is:
A very simple game in which you try to attract cats by placing food offerings and toys around your yard.
Why we like it:
- The game features cute graphics and more than 40 varieties of cats including black and white, tabby and calico that you can attract to your house.
- Buy food and entertainment items to convince rare breeds of cats it’s time to come over for a visit.
- Each furry visitor will be logged in your Catbook. Fill it up and become a pro.
Install Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
Have you tried any of these cat games before? If not which one would you try first?
Snapchat might let third-party apps connect to user accounts
Yesterday, Mashable discovered that the latest beta version of Snapchat had a new feature category called ‘Connected Apps.’ While it didn’t display any, the placeholder text said “These apps are connected to your Snapchat account. Choose an app to control what it has access to.” In essence, this could let third-party software harness your data, though a Snapchat spokesperson assured Engadget that its current practices wouldn’t allow this feature to spread personal data the same way that Facebook’s third-party access led to the Cambridge Analytica mess.
Of course, that’s still speculation at this point — who knows how much data Snap would theoretically let third parties access. When reached for comment, a Snap spokesperson assured that the company doesn’t share user-identifiable information with advertisers and doesn’t offer a service similar to Facebook’s Graph API or share friend network information with third parties, which is what enabled the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Those policies, and the company’s approach to privacy, won’t change, the spokesperson concluded.
As Mashable pointed out, Snapchat currently only allows users to connect their accounts to two external services: Bitmoji, which Snapchat bought in 2016, and Shazam. Currently, users can’t use their Snapchat accounts elsewhere — but Facebook has let its users do that for years, Recode noted. And while the social media titan has tightened up how much personal data external companies can access today, earlier relaxed rules allowed companies to access user information without their consent, which is how Cambridge Analytica harvested 50 million users’ data. While Snap didn’t comment on the record about the very formative ‘Collected Apps’ feature, it’s likely paying close attention to what policies led to Facebook’s privacy debacle.
Via: Recode
Source: Mashable
Pandora goes full Spotify with personalized playlists
Spotify began building custom-curated playlists back in 2015 and now Pandora is offering a similar option for its listeners. With that Pandora calls “personalized soundtracks,” the company will put its Music Genome to work creating a library of playlists based on your listening habits. “The personalized playlists fit your moods, activities and favorite genres and are updated each week based on your individual musical tastes,” chief product officer Chris Phillips explained in a blog post. “We combined our human curation with personalized algorithms to automatically serve up new artists and songs anticipating the perfect balance of discovery and steady favorites.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time Pandora has offered curated playlists. Last October, the service revealed a set of 250 options covering a range of genres and themes. Those playlists were powered by the company’s trademark Music Genome Project as well, but now Pandora is tailoring the playlists to each user with collections that mostly center on genres and moods. In fact, the company says it employs over 75 machine-learning algorithms to do the heavy lifting here. Basically, you should see more music that you’ll be interested in rather than a more generic list. You’ll also see more playlist options as you stream more music over time.
Since its introduction, Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” playlist has become one of the service’s more popular features. If you’re not familiar, it pulls in a mix of new tunes every week based on what you listen to. Spotify followed that up in 2016 with “Release Radar,” a list of newly-released music that refreshes once a week that’s, once again, catered to your listening habits. Apple Music also offers mixes influenced by the songs you stream. The weekly update is something Pandora will do here with its new options as well. And to be honest, it’s a great way for listeners get fresh music on a regular basis with minimal effort.
Pandora’s new “personalized soundtracks” will be available inside the “Browse” tab of the “Featured Playlists” section of the app. Unfortunately, it’s still in the testing phase, but the company says the new feature is rolling out to more users “over the next couple of months.” When they do pop up in the app for Premium users, you’ll be able to share a playlist with anyone — Plus, Premium and free users will all be able to give the shared track listing a spin.
Source: Pandora
New Sixth-Generation iPad vs. 10.5-Inch iPad Pro
Support for the Apple Pencil was one of the major differentiating factors between the fifth-generation iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, with Apple Pencil connectivity limited to Apple’s more expensive flagship tablets.
Now that Apple Pencil support has been built into the sixth-generation iPad, which costs just $329, the Apple Pencil is far more accessible and there’s less separating Apple’s cheapest tablet from its priciest models. In the video and post below, we go over all of the differences between the new iPad and the existing iPad Pro.
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The iPad Pro and the sixth-generation iPad may seem similar at first glance due to the shared Apple Pencil support, but the iPad Pro continues to offer a faster processor, better cameras, and a better display to justify its high price tag.
Apple’s iPad Pro, for example, uses ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes all motion on the screen smoother, crisper, and more responsive.
It’s dramatically different than other iPad displays with smoother text, better gameplay, and enhanced videos. True Tone technology, which adjusts the white balance of the display to match the ambient lighting is also an iPad Pro-only feature, as is wide color, for brighter, more vivid colors.
The sixth-generation iPad, meanwhile, uses the same non-laminated display that was first used in the iPad Air, albeit with improvements to make it brighter and a new touch sensor to allow for Apple Pencil support. It’s Retina, but otherwise unremarkable.
The iPad Pro is also using an A10X Fusion chip, new in 2017, while the iPad is equipped with the A10 Fusion from the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Major improvements have been made in processor and GPU speed in recent iterations, so the iPad Pro is going to be a good bit faster than the iPad, though you’re not going to notice in everyday tasks.
If camera quality is of importance, the iPad Pro has the latest 12-megapixel f/1.8 camera that is leagues better than the 8-megapixel f2.4 camera in the iPad. The iPad Pro’s camera supports a laundry list of features not available in the iPad, like True Tone Flash, stabilization for live photos, wide color capture, 4K video recording, and more.
The iPad Pro’s front-facing camera is also 7-megapixels, a big upgrade over the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera in the iPad. To make it easy to compare the two tablets at a glance, we’ve made a handy chart that also includes the fifth-generation iPad:
So which one should you buy? If you want an impressively fast but affordable tablet that works with Apple Pencil and is going to play the most recent games and apps for several years to come, go with the iPad.
If you want the fastest, thinnest device you can get with the absolute best display available on the market, go with the iPad Pro, but don’t buy right now if you can hold out for a refresh. We’re expecting to see updated iPad Pro models either in June or September with slimmer bezels, no Home button, and support for the Face ID facial recognition system first introduced in the iPhone X.
Related Roundup: iPadBuyer’s Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
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Here’s how to master the new Road to the Show in ‘MLB The Show 18’
Road to the Show has been an MLB The Show staple for years. The create-a-player campaign mode lets you step into the shoes of the fledgling prospect, work your way up the farm system, and eventually, if you play well enough, become a Major League legend. The mode returns in MLB The Show 18 for PlayStation 4, but with a significant change to its progression system. This time around, it places more emphasis on each plate appearance and fielding opportunity than ever before. To help you navigate Road to the Show’s new system, here are a few things you should know and do throughout your journey to the Hall of Fame.
How player progression works
You don’t have the same control over stats as you did in previous iterations. What you do on the diamond impacts your statistical categories automatically. Gone are the points that you can apply to power, contact, vision; in comes a system that allows for both progression and regression. Whether you create a player or import your player from MLB The Show 17, they will be bound by these new rules.
First, you choose an archetype, each of which has clear strengths and weaknesses. We chose to be a power-hitting first baseman, so while our prospect started off with solid power and contact stats, his speed, and thus his stealing, started off low.
Now, all of this doesn’t mean you don’t have control over your player’s stats. For the most part, you do — by performing well on the field. For example, position players have 10 major stat categories (with numerous secondary categories): Contact R, Contact L, Power R, Power L, Vision, Stealing, Speed, Reaction, Arm, and Fielding. If you swing and miss, your contact rating versus a right or left-handed pitcher goes down. If you take a ball or foul off a pitch, your plate vision increases. If you get a base hit, your contact rating goes up. If you catch a fly ball, your reaction and fielding rating goes up. If you steal a bag, yeah, you guessed it, your stealing attribute increases.
It’s important to note that elevating a stat from one value to the next takes many successful net gains. If you are sitting on 67 Power versus right-handers, it will take a good number of positive gains to move to a 68. With that in mind, don’t be alarmed when you mess up on a play and a stat drops.
Sometimes it doesn’t work perfectly
So here’s the thing: While the new system does make each game in a long season’s grind feel more important, the stat boosts don’t always work as they should, particularly at the plate. You can hit a blooper to center field, dig out a double and see your power increase. Conversely, you can smoke a shot to the warning track that is caught at the wall and get no boost in any category at all. Also, if you swing and miss twice, yet hit a homer on the 0-2 pitch, you still get knocked for your plate vision despite hitting a home run in the at-bat.
Focus on increasing stat caps in training
While most stat increases come from on-the-field play, in between series, you will get to utilize training sessions. Sadly, these are non-interactive but result in instant, full stat gains or stat cap increases. At first, you only have the batting cage which focuses on power, vision, contact, and plate discipline. As you progress through your first season, you unlock the practice field and training facility, the latter of which has some crossover with the batting cage.
You can only choose one training category each time, and one of the three exercises available within. These exercises provide boosts for one to three stat categories. We suggest looking through all three categories before zeroing in on your decision. If there is an exercise that raises a stat’s cap (they will be the ones completed with teammates), almost always choose that one. All of your stats have caps and they start off much lower than the all-mighty 99 limit. The only way to raise the cap is through training, whereas you can always improve stats in games.
It may be hard to pass up two power stat points, but trust us, if you don’t pick stat cap exercises, you wind up hitting your cap in a category, which means that it can only stay the same or degrade until you raise the cap. The only time it may be a good idea to not choose an exercise that increases a stat’s cap is when you are nowhere near the current cap. For instance, we decided to pass on moving our Batting Clutch cap from 85 to 90 because our guy only had a 56 at the time.
Showtime and Perks
Showtime, which lets you enter slow motion, can be helpful in pivotal situations. It’s a meter at the bottom of your screen that maxes out at 120 points. In reality, you can use almost all of it one at-bat if you press R2 to trigger it seconds before the pitcher’s windup. The meter is automatically filled at the beginning of the game, but once used, it’s gone. So when should you use it?
It’s a matter of personal preference, but we like to use it when there are runners in scoring position that we can knock in with a hit. Wait for the ball to leave the pitcher’s hand first, though, since you don’t want to activate it if the pitch is clearly outside of the zone. Showtime lets you square up a pitch with great timing really easily since the baseball basically crawls through the air.
The other time we like to use Showtime is when we want to steal a base. Activating it zooms in on the pitcher. As soon as you see his throwing arm twitch, you can initiate a steal, exit Showtime, and voila, you got an excellent jump and have a great chance to steal a bag effectively.
You can also allocate some or all of your Showtime meter to perks, which you can access by viewing your player. Perks can do things like lower the velocity of a pitch or automatically cause a fly ball on contact. You can activate an assigned perk by pressing the D-pad. Personally, we prefer to stick with the full Showtime meter, but if you find yourself not using it, perks can provide a sure-fire means to getting the result you want on a given play.
No two journeys to the Majors play out the same
Lastly, know that your road to the Majors can be confusing at times. One of our gaming writers here at Digital Trends was about to get called up to the Majors just a few months into his first year. He was batting around .350 at a position his MLB club needed. However, another one of our writers played through a whole season in AA (150+ games) batting over.400 at a position in need and never even sniffed AAA. He started the next season in AAA, and one month in with similar numbers, and still hadn’t received an inkling from his manager that he would be making the next step anytime soon.
Your trajectory as a player and control over your own destiny becomes yours as your career progresses, but while in the farm system, just know it may take some time.
If you’re having trouble at the plate, make sure to check out our MLB The Show 18 batting guide.
Editors’ Recommendations
- ‘MLB The Show 18’ batting guide: How to hit like a pro
- ‘MLB The Show 18’: How to master pitching and keep runners off the basepaths
- ‘MLB The Show 18’ Review
- ‘MLB The Show 18’ throws some heat at in-game microtransactions
- When a movie isn’t enough, the best shows on Netflix will keep you busy for days
NASA delays James Webb Space Telescope, pushes launch to 2020
NASA/Desiree Stover
Last year, NASA welcomed spring with a beautiful new image of the James Webb Space Telescope. This year, the space agency has some less uplifting news.
Due to technical hangups and “avoidable errors,” NASA officials said this week that the launch of the Webb will be delayed until 2020 and costs may rise above the congressionally mandated $8 billion spending cap.
Problems were encountered with the portion of the spacecraft meant to house the expandable telescope in flight, which started a review of the program. All of the hardware is complete, according to NASA’s acting administrator Robert Lightfoot. “However,” he told reporters in a teleconference, “work performance challenges that were brought to light have prompted us to take some action.”
Space missions have always been accompanied by delays. The Webb is no exception. Just last September, NASA announced the telescope would miss its October 2018 target launch, pushing liftoff back to between March and June of 2019. But, upon further review, the agency has scheduled 2020 as a more realistic date.
“We need to successfully integrate both halves of the observatory into the final flight configuration and complete some vital testing after an independent assessment of the remaining tasks,” Lightfoot said. “Frankly, the tasks are taking longer to complete than we expected, which will result in a new target launch window, which we now expect to be approximately May of 2020.”
After two decades of construction, the agency announced the completion of the James Webb Space Telescope in November of 2017, following the first important pretest to measure its primary mirror. Over the next few months, the telescope went through a series of grueling trials that shook, rattled, and froze the state-of-the-art machine, subjecting it to conditions it will have to face in outer space. With the final gold-coated segment of its 21-foot-wide mirror array in place, the telescope can now sprawl like an enormous sunflower.
Now scheduled to launch in May 2020, the Webb telescope will be the most powerful telescope in existence, built to capture infrared light from the first galaxies of the ancient universe.
To launch the satellite, the Webb telescope’s sunshield will be folded a dozen times before being packed into a bullet-shaped capsule. Once 930,000 miles distant from Earth (at the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point), the array will unravel in a glorious, sky-gazing display.
“The groundbreaking sunshield design will assist in providing the imaging of the formation of stars and galaxies more than 13.5 billion years ago,” Webb sunshield manager Jim Flynn said in a statement last November. “The delivery of this final flight sunshield membrane is a significant milestone as we prepare for 2018 launch.”
At over $8.7 billion in construction and operating costs, the Webb telescope is more than four time as expensive as its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, and 100 times more powerful. However, where the Hubble was within reach of astronauts who could spacewalk to the telescope if anything were to wrong, the Webb will be too far into space for an easy mission. For that reason, it’s imperative that everything work as planned before the Webb telescope is sent on its journey.
Updated on March 28: NASA delays launch until 2020.
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God of War for PlayStation 4: Everything you need to know!
Goodbye Blades of Chaos, hello whatever sharp thing is lying around.
In 2013, Sony Santa Monica decided to put Kratos, one of PlayStation’s most iconic characters, to bed so they could focus on crafting other games. With a trilogy and a handful of spin-offs starring the vengeful greek god completed and a shift in a focus on mature story driven games, Sony retired the God of War series for five years.
After assessing the series, Sony Santa Monica found a way to revive the series in a new and exciting way while sticking to Sony’s formula. Now, Kratos is set to return in a completely new way next month in a “reimagining” of the series which will be titled simply God of War.
Pre-order on Amazon
A man running from his past in new and unfamiliar territory
God of War’s story is mostly being kept a secret but what we do know so far sounds like a new, compelling take on Kratos’ life. Set an unknown amount of years after God of War 3, Kratos has fled Greece to Norway in a time before Vikings, a time where the gods that Vikings worship walk the Earth.
Players will control a more mature Kratos, one that has both changed physically and mentally. Kratos has remained in peak physical shape but has grown a bushy beard and the ashes of his fallen family that have been basically tattooed to him are starting to fade. While he is known for his almost uncontrollable rage, Kratos has chosen to settle down with a family and hide from his past.
Kratos will make a strong effort to contain his rage to help teach his son how to survive in the harsh world.
After his wife passes away, he and his son, Atreus, recognize her last wish of having her ashes spread across the land and they set out on a dangerous adventure where they grow closer as father and son. Over the course of the game, Kratos will make a strong effort to contain his rage to help teach his son how to survive in the harsh world that awaits them and Atreus will learn more about his father’s complicated past.
With the Norse mythology setting, Kratos and Atreus will encounter Norse gods who have taken precautions to protect themselves from Kratos as they’re aware of his involvement in the destruction of Olympus. Sony Santa Monica has stayed tight lipped on which specific Norse gods will make appearances but many have been speculating the likes of Loki and Thor. Other characters and elements of Norse mythology have been spotted in trailers and marketing material such as the beheaded Mímir.
Additionally, players will battle monsters like trolls, what appear to be ogres, and potentially even dragons which can be seen lurking in the background of the reveal trailer.
Slower but still brutal gameplay
God of War is well-known for its violent, fast-paced gameplay which sees Kratos thrashing around blades and chains to slice large groups of baddies to shreds. With the new God of War, players will notice a much more grounded approach to the combat in the game. Gone are the days of 100+ hit combos, Kratos’ attacks aren’t as fast anymore but he’s still as brutal and relentless as before. God of War director Cory Barlog noted that they wanted players to think about how they fight, almost like a Dark Souls approach to combat but in a way that is accessible to everyone. It’s a bit slower and more methodical when compared to the trilogy that came before.
While the game is completely single-player, you can issue commands to Atreus who will shoot arrows and act as a distraction for some enemies.
At the end of God of War 3, Kratos lost his iconic weapons and has now had to settle for a magical axe. Players can infuse the axe with different abilities to enhance the axe in a variety of different ways. The axe can also be thrown to pin enemies against surfaces, damage them normally, hit environmental objects like explosive containers, and even stun larger enemies by hitting key weak points on their body. Instead of having to pick up the axe by walking over to it, Kratos can call it back to him like Thor’s hammer.
Kratos also has a meter that builds over time that allows him to unleash all of his rage and become extra deadly with more powerful attacks. While the game is completely single-player and Kratos is the only playable character, you can issue commands to Atreus who will shoot arrows and act as a distraction for some enemies.
As with almost every other game today, God of War has adapted a crafting system for new armor, weapon upgrades, and more. Players will also be given XP to level themselves up for new skills, this also applies to Atreus who has his own unique abilities and upgrades.
A world filled with secrets and hidden dangers
With a new story, setting, and approach to gameplay, Sony Santa Monica decided to change up the level design this time around. While the series has been fairly linear in the past, God of War is opening up its new world. Sony Santa Monica has been clear that the game is NOT open world but you go off the beaten path to find secrets like chests and even optional boss encounters.
It’s not entirely clear how many optional bosses there are or how rewarding they are but if you’re one of those gamers who loves to peak around every corner and squeeze through every crevice, God of War is right up your alley.
All the ways to buy God of War
If all of this sounds great and you’re really excited to play God of War, you can snag a copy wherever games are sold for $59.99 on April 20th, 2018. Remember the game is exclusively available on PlayStation 4 so if you don’t have a PS4, you can get the limited edition God of War PS4 Pro which includes a custom console and controller, a 1TB hard drive, and of course, a physical copy of God of War with some extra digital content. You can pick this up from retailers like GameStop, Walmart, and Amazon for $399.99.
Pre-order on Amazon
If you’re looking to go the extra mile and drop a few extra bucks to have some additional goodies, there are plenty of options. Starting at the cheapest option (excluding the standard edition), those who like to get their games digitally can pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition which includes a handful of digital items including the following:
– God of War Digital Full Game
– God of War Digital Mini Artbook by Dark Horse Comics
– God of War PS4™ Dynamic Theme
– “Exile’s Guardian” Shield Skin
– God of War Digital Comic – Issue 0 by Dark Horse Comics
– “Death’s Vow” Armor for Kratos
– “Death’s Vow” Armor for Atreus
The Digital Deluxe edition will set you back $69.99 and is available directly from the PlayStation 4 Store. For those who like big statues and other physical items, you have two options: The Collector’s Edition and the Stone Mason;s Edition.
For $129.99, you can grab the Collector’s Edition which includes slightly less stuff than the Stone Mason’s Edition but if all you care about is the statue then this is the cheapest option. The Collector’s Edition includes the following:
– Full Game
– 9″ Kratos & Atreus Statue by Gentle Giant
– Limited Steelbook Case
– 2″ Huldra Brothers Carvings
– Exclusive Lithograph
– Cloth Map
– Digital Contents Include:
– Defender of the Chosen Shield
– Death’s Vow Armor Set
– Exile’s Guardian Shield
– God of War Digital Comic #0 by Dark Horse
– God of War Digital Mini Artbook by Dark Horse
– Dynamic Theme
Pre-order on Amazon
For $149.99, you can get the Stone Mason’s Edition which includes everything in the Collector’s Edition and the three physical items seen below:
– Stone Mason’s Ring
– Mimir’s Head Talking Keychain
– 2″ Horse and Troll Carvings
Pre-order at Amazon
God of War releases on PlayStation 4 on April 20th, 2018.
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