Tech

Games and projects that you can play together with a friend

Published

10 months ago

January 26, 2024

Harry Miller

The gaming industry is simply overflowing with projects that offer solutions for every taste and number of players.

You can try several formats and choose the most interesting one – it’s worth considering MMO RPGs, shooters, grinds.

World of Warcraft

MMO RPG is one of the most interesting options for gameplay in the company of friends, because it allows you to jointly develop your heroes and achieve results and help each other in strengthening your characters. It was World of Warcraft that became one of the projects that became the progenitor of the entire genre, and now everyone can go through current and old updates and do WoW boost while playing with their friend.

Combine your factions and classes

You need to choose the same faction – this is important, because World of Warcraft has a system of confrontation between two irreconcilable enemies, the Horde and the Alliance. If you accidentally or specifically select two different factions, then you simply will not be able to play together, but will only fight when meeting in the same locations, so be careful and coordinate your choice.

Choose solely based on external preferences, because there is no big difference between all the factions for a long time and the balance of power has been equalized by the developers from Blizzard.

Next, you need to choose a combination of classes and do this in several ways to ensure stable boosting in World of Warcraft:

Two attacking characters – on the one hand, this is an unstable format, because no one can restore health, or strengthen allies with different effects, but you can consistently deal double damage provided you are constantly mobile and take care to strengthen your characters using food and other methods.

One attacker and one support player – this format is chosen by many friends, or couples for stable gameplay like a warrior and a healer, when one player provides full damage to all types of monsters and raids, and also attacks representatives of other factions, while the second character and player provides support, heals and applies protective effects. Equipment and weapons are also distributed according to the principle of increasing attack for the attacking player and defensive for the support class. In this gameplay format, players can go quite far, adding temporary or permanent allies to their group as needed and assigned tasks.

Select priority gameplay

The main advantage in World of Warcraft for any group of players is the several types of WoW boosting and gameplay that you can choose from without losing serious aspects of the game mechanics.

You can purposefully complete all quests related to the storyline in order to find out the history of each major update that was released as the World of Warcraft project developed, and in this way get to the main and current Dragonflight addition, which will open at level 60.

It is in this way that you can level up the fastest, simply by completing quests and helping each other by simply exchanging profitable equipment for each hero.

At the same time, you will be able to engage in professions to collect different materials, combine them, earn gold, create important equipment and weapons for yourself and other players if you put them up for sale, or engage in mass production through the order table – a new mechanic that will be available on Dragon Islands.

Participate in PVP – if you have reached a sufficient level in World of Warcraft boosting, then you can simply fly and run around locations for adjacent leveling for two factions, that is, there will always be a chance to meet opponents, then you can devote yourself entirely to battles with other players.

For each victory over an enemy of your level, you will receive special coins – valor, which will allow you to exchange them in a certain amount for special equipment and weapons, with enhanced values for attacks in PVP against other players, which allows all battle fans to fully concentrate on this kind of gameplay, if you like it.

CS 2

If you like to shoot, play together and prefer the session shooter format, then you can choose one of the best e-sports projects in the history of the gaming industry.

2×2

This is a format that copies the matchmaking familiar to all players, but allows it to be played by two people, rather than the usual lineup of 5 players.

You and your friend will be up against two other players who are also playing as a team, or have been matched at random in a 15-round format with 8 of them switching sides, where classic bomb-planting matches will be played, but on a smaller version of popular maps, where They left only one zone for planting a bomb and there are three directions for approaching it. There may be problems with card balance with one side having an advantage, but overall it is an interesting format for playing with two players, if not ideal.

In this mode, the same reward system will operate as in matchmaking, but with only successes in this mode highlighted.

It is worth recalling that CS abandoned the rank formats and instead there is now an overall rating on each of the maps and the same principle applies in the 2×2 format, which is an exact copy of this mode.

However, you can also pay attention to full-fledged matchmaking if this format is closer and more pleasant to you.

Yes, three random players will play with you on the team, but not always they will not communicate, and with the change in the rating system, now each player does not lose or increase his rank with his results, but loses points, which can, firstly, be easily replenished, and secondly, the more efficiently you play even when you lose, the fewer points you will ultimately lose.

Due to the fact that you are playing together, your allies will not be able to kick any of you out of the match if a conflict arises, because the votes of all group members need to be taken into account, and you and your friend naturally will not vote against each other.

While Valve is in no hurry to add a workshop system and maps with interesting AIM to CS 2, just to shoot at each other without obligations, but the implementation of the old format will have to wait.

Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.

“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.

The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.

However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”

Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.

“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.

“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”

The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.

At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.

A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”

Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.

Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.

Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.

Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.

While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.

Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.

The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.

— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.

The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.

“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”

San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.

Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”

“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.

The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.

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