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‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Doubles Down With Black Panther Expansion, Full Roadmap – Forbes

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4 years ago

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Today at the Square Enix showcase, Crystal Dynamics did a whole lot more than simply announce that Hawkeye was live in Marvel’s Avengers today. They took the opportunity to try and quiet a lot of doubts that fans and critics have had about the game, showing off a full six month roadmap of content, culminating in something that’s long been rumored, a large, free Black Panther-led expansion set in Wakanda, out sometime this fall.

I actually had the chance to talk with Studio Head Scot Amos and Executive Producer Morgan Gray for about 40 minutes ahead of all this, where they laid out their changing philosophy of communication going forward, recapping where they’d fallen short and previewing what’s to come.

What was made very clear from the outset of the conversation was that yes, Crystal Dynamics is still wholly committed to the Avengers and their promised version of it with a lengthy, interconnected story threaded through a live service game with frequent updates.

Those updates have…not been frequent so far. I confirmed that yes, the original plan was to get a whole bunch more content out a lot more quickly, but Crystal Dynamics was forced to drop everything and focus on fixing core issues with the game right at launch. Combine that with COVID and California wildfires, and we have a recipe for a whole lot of delays.

But they understand their communication has been poor, and they have not given a clear enough vision of where there is to look forward to. In their presentation they even cited one of my articles, where I called the game’s current roadmap “datamining and fan dreams.” Well, they listened. Now Avengers has a literal roadmap.

Today is meant to mark a turning point with the release of Hawkeye, Maestro and the Future Imperfect campaign, along with the release of the next-gen update for the game which should drastically increase performance, and some additional features like the ability to replay the campaign.

Going forward, in the months that follow, Avengers will start having more dedicated “events” in a way they haven’t so far. There’s something planned for the release of the Black Widow movie in May, a “Red Room” challenge which will mark the arrival of actual MCU skins in the game, another big fan request. The game will get another Villain Sector starring original campaign villain Monica, unattached from a hero release. Later, there’s a new type of mission type which is essentially unstructured patrol, where players can traipse around the Wasteland zone, free-farming at their will. Changes to gear to make it more impactful are coming. Lower level players will find they get stronger, faster (even if they’ve slowed down the XP curve). They’re introducing cool new things like an artifact that can spawn Hank Pym to shoot an energy cannon at enemies as a one-time summon.

And all of this culminates in the Black Panther expansion (yes, it’s an expansion, yes, it’s still free), which was teased during this reveal, but not a ton of details were shared. What they did tell me was that Black Panther was a fully new character, ie. he won’t just mirror Cap’s brawling moves or anything, and that Wakanda is a totally new zone with new types of areas, puzzles and more. Datamining (not Crystal Dynamics) has said that the villain for that content will be Klaw, and it’s possible King T’Challa may be voiced by none other than Kratos himself, Christopher Judge, as Avengers continues to expand its A-list voice cast.

Is it pure, unadulterated good news all around? Mmm I think there are a few caveats to explore here.

While Crystal Dynamics said that Omega-level threats are still coming, high level boss fights and its raid-like AIM Labs, even with the arrival of the roadmap, those still do not have dates. I asked them what was going on with this content, as AIM Labs has been teased since release, and here we are. It’s not precisely clear, with them saying only that they want to make sure to “get it right” precisely at launch and make sure everything is balanced and nothing break for what it deems some of the most important content they’ll be introducing.

I am wondering about how fans will receive some of the content that’s been announced as arriving in the six month window until Black Panther shows up. The Black Widow event is a reskinned HARM room. Monica may be a new type of boss fight, but she’s not exactly a high profile Marvel villain. And when AIM Labs do come, they are still teasing a boss segment as four Abomination clones, which sounds like no one’s idea of a good time.

But it’s all certainly more than the game has had so far, with yawning gaps in between content drops. And systems changes like better gear will help, and Crystal Dynamics says they’re working on something akin to a paragon system where XP will let you further upgrade your character once you hit max.

Some things weren’t mentioned at all, however. I pressed them on the absence of Spider-Man, the Sony-exclusive hero that was supposed to be out early this year, according to a long-altered timeline, and it does not appear he will make it out in the first year of release, though they said yes, he still exists And no other heroes were teased besides Black Panther, even with rumored ones like Captain Marvel, She-Hulk and Bucky Barnes buried in the files. They also couldn’t tell me if Black Panther would mark the arrival of a new enemy race, something fans have been waiting for so they can stop fighting AIM, but they wouldn’t say, though we know a Kree invasion is supposed to happen at some point.

As for the long, long term? All I could get them to say is yes, they’re working on content past the first year here. They want to express that players can feel comfortable committing to investing in Avengers, and it seems like it’s not going to pull an Anthem and just evaporate before a bunch more content comes out.

I want all this to work. I’d love nothing more to still be playing new Avengers expansions three years from now with a 20+ hero roster. But for that to happen, the next six months seem like they’re going to be key, and if Hawkeye, Black Panther and all the rest can’t pull together a larger playerbase, that won’t be good.

To quote the old looter adage, “things seem to be moving in the right direction.” I’m not sure I could say that a few weeks ago about Avengers, but I think fans who have been waiting for actual announcements and plans and new content should be satisfied by what they heard today. There are lingering questions and shifting timelines, but for now, things are in a far better place than we’ve been for a while now.

More thoughts on video:

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Slack researcher discusses the fear, loathing and excitement surrounding AI in the workplace

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5 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.

Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.

Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?

A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.

Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?

A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.

The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.

Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.

Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?

A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.

Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?

A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.

Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?

A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.

Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.

The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.

Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?

A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Biden administration to provide $325 million for new Michigan semiconductor factory

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5 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.

The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-in-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.

“What we’ve been able to do with the CHIPS Act is not just build a few new factories, but fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers,” Raimondo said. “All of this is because of the vision of the Biden-Harris administration.”

A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement reflected the negotiating process for reaching terms on the grant, rather than any political considerations. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the process.

After site work, Hemlock Semiconductor plans to begin construction in 2026 and then start production in 2028, the official said.

Running in 2016, Trump narrowly won Saginaw County and Michigan as a whole. But in 2020 against Biden, both Saginaw County and Michigan flipped to the Democrats.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

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2 weeks ago

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October 8, 2024

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Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

  • You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
  • This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
  • In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

 

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

 

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