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Why Maximum Football went F2P in the traditionally premium sports game space

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Why Maximum Football went F2P in the traditionally premium sports game space

With few exceptions, the sports genres in video games are dominated by triple-A franchises put out by major publishers. Whether it be 2K’s NBA and NHL series, Sony’s MLB: The Show, or EA Sports’ redoubtable list, when most people want to play a sport video game, they usually reach for one of these games — which are always premium titles, usually with yearly iterations. So how does a free-to-play game compete in that same space? Maximum Entertainment believes it’s found a way with its upcoming title, Maximum Football.

At this point, it’s practically a meme in the games industry that sports games come out every year, demand a princely price, and yet don’t change very much or add much new content in each successive year. This has not stopped player demand for football games — in July alone, EA Sports College Football 25 was the best-selling game in America (and the second-best, thanks to sales of the MVP bundle). Maximum, however, has a different approach: Launching a game in free-to-play, then iterating on it with feedback from the fans.

GamesBeat spoke with Micah Brown, the game’s director, about developing a free-to-play football game for the market. Brown told us, “We are trying to jump into this space that is occupied by basically the biggest game studio that’s ever existed on planet Earth, and it’s one of their biggest games. So it’s a pretty uphill battle. and we’ve been in development for about almost three years at this point… We try to listen to our fans and and try to give them what they haven’t gotten out of other football games, and address the different features that they feel are lacking in some of the other football games.”

Maximum Football launches on Steam Early Access on November 7, where Maximum says in a statement it plans to “gather feedback directly from you, the community, so we can make the most realistic, physics-based football simulation game possible.” At Early Access launch, it’ll feature Exhibition Mode, with pre-made teams; College Dynasty, a customizable mode about guiding a college ball team; online multiplayer and the “Maximum Football Customization Suite,” where players can customize their own teams.

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According to Brown, customization is one of the Maximum Football’s most important features. “You can customize absolutely everything. If you want to make a team of geniuses and have Albert Einstein as a quarterback, you can go ahead and do it. If you want to make a team of Barbies and put Ken as a quarterback, you can do that too. So the game is fully customizable. Everything about the players is customizable. Everything about the teams is customizable.”

Brown adds that Maximum made its football title free-to-play as a way of differentiating itself from other sports games on the market: “The obstacle we’re facing is that we don’t have the license to use any of the NFL or the college players, or anything that the fans are looking for. The fans are also very weary of other sports games. They only really trust two studios to make a sports game: 2K and then EA Sports. Other than that, most fans out there like, ‘Ah, this game’s not going to make it, you know.’ And so they’re not even going to get going to give it a chance. If we initially, you know, launched this game and said, ‘All right, this game is $40 for you just to be able to turn it on, before you even know if you like the gameplay.’ Most people out there wouldn’t even give it a shot. We knew that.”

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Instead, Brown says that Maximum plans to make the game free-to-play from launch, and offer all of the features fans wish to play, with plans to possibly monetize in the future after they’ve already won players’ hearts with solid gameplay. “The thing that everybody is questioning the most is, ‘Can you do gameplay?’ Because other games can do dynasty, or they can do customization. They’ve come out before, but they didn’t nail gameplay. And gameplay in a football simulation game. You win it or lose it based on the gameplay. So we said, okay, let’s release this game as free to play… There’s going to be a lot of opportunities to play for free, a lot of opportunities to play dynasty and franchise and all of that for free.”

At present, Brown says the team is working on refining gameplay and working out any bugs in online play, to make the early access experience as positive as possible for users. “As soon as all of that is cleared through, we’re back onto gameplay. We’re just going to keep iterating on the mechanics that we’ve already worked on.”


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WP Engine sues Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg

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The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained

Hosting provider WP Engine has filed a lawsuit against Automattic and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, accusing them of extortion and abuse of power. The lawsuit comes after nearly two weeks of tussling between Mullenweg, who is also CEO of Automattic, and WP Engine over trademark infringement and contributing to the WordPress community.

WP Engine accused Automattic and Mullenweg of not keeping promises to run WordPress open-source projects without any constraints and giving developers the freedom to build, run, modify, and redistribute the software.

“Matt Mullenweg’s conduct over the last ten days has exposed significant conflicts of interest and governance issues that, if left unchecked, threaten to destroy that trust. WP Engine has no choice but to pursue these claims to protect its people, agency partners, customers, and the broader WordPress community,” the company added.

The case document, filed in a court in California, also accused Mullenweg of having a “long history of
obfuscating the true facts” about his control of WordPress Foundation and WordPress.org

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The story until now

For over a week, Mullenweg has criticized WP Engine for infringing WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks. He called them the “Cancer of WordPress” and also called out WP Engine’s private equity partner, Silver Lake, for not caring about the open-source community. Later, WP Engine sent a cease-and-desist letter asking Mullenweg and Automattic to withdraw these comments. Automattic sent its own cease-and-desist letter alleging WP Engine of infringing WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks.

Notably, Mullenweg then banned WP Engine on September 25 from accessing WordPress.org resources, including plug-ins and themes, preventing sites from updating them. Two days later, Mullenweg provided a temporary reprieve and unblocked WP Engine until October 1.

On Wednesday, Automattic published a proposed seven-year term sheet that it sent to WP Engine on September 20, which asks the hosting company to pay 8% of its gross revenues as a royalty fee on a monthly basis for using WordPress and WooCommerce trademarks.

Alternatively, WP Engine could also commit 8% by deploying employees to contribute to WordPress’s core features and functionalities or combination of both hours and money.

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WP Engine didn’t accept these terms, which included a probation on forking plugins and extension from Automattic and WooCommerce.

You can contact this reporter at im@ivanmehta.com or on Signal: @ivan.42

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Dell PowerEdge R620 Rack Server INNOVATIC)

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Best iPad deals for October 2024

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Best iPad deals for October 2024

While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday and Amazon’s forthcoming Prime Day event, many great iPad deals are attainable outside those times. The day-to-day discounts may come and go like changing winds, but there’s often something to be saved, particularly on the more affordable iPads. What’s more, Apple released a new iPad Pro and iPad Air during the summer, and they’re causing prices on older models to drop even further.

It’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apple’s powerful M2 and M4 chips.

The best iPad (2021) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13 way back in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet, one that’s still great at carrying out everyday tasks despite having been discontinued. The ninth-gen model originally started at $329 with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage, which arguably makes the newer 10th-gen model the better deal if you don’t need a home button or a headphone jack, as it now starts at $349 and is often on sale for even less.

If you’re still interested in buying the last-gen model, however, now isn’t a bad time to pull the trigger. The base Wi-Fi configuration is currently on sale for $224 ($105 off) at Amazon and $229.99 at Best Buy and Target. As for the 256GB model that initially sold for $479, it’s down to $379.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy and Target, which is about $30 north of its all-time low.

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A last-gen model is still worth considering

The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a smart connector for connecting a smart keyboard.

A 9th gen iPad on a wood table viewed from the top down

Apple’s entry-level iPad from 2021 has a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature. It’s also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the company’s smart keyboard. Although it’s discontinued, it’s the only iPad you can still buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The best iPad (2022) deals

Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, it’s still an excellent tablet — one we consider to be the best value for most people (once Apple dropped its price in 2024). The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack.

In the past, you could often buy Apple’s latest entry-level iPad for $349 ($100 off its initial launch price) — which is now the MSRP. Right now, however, the base model with 64GB of storage is on sale at Amazon starting at $319.99 ($29 off); Amazon is also selling the step-up 256GB model starting at $461, which is $38 off its new starting price of $499.

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The 10th-gen iPad in yellow, resting face up on a wooden table.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-gen iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with an A15 Bionic processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the newest iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

purple iPad mini back with pencil attached on blue background and vignette

Apple’s revamped iPad Mini ditches the home button and opts for a larger edge-to-edge display. It also comes outfitted with a faster processor, support for USB-C, and a top-mounted power button that moonlights as a Touch ID sensor.

Now is a good time to buy the iPad Mini, however, as multiple configurations are discounted to an all-time low. For instance, Amazon is currently selling the latest iPad Mini in its 64GB base configuration starting at $379.99 ($119 off). If you need additional storage, the 256GB model is also on sale at Amazon in select colors for $539.99 ($109 off) thanks to an on-page coupon.

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The best iPad Air (2024) deals

Apple just recently launched the 2024 iPad Air, which features several small upgrades. The newer model doesn’t feature any groundbreaking changes compared to the 2022 release, but notably, there is now a 13-inch configuration in addition to a base 11-inch model. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E radios and upgraded the chipset to M2, which enables the hover feature when using Apple’s latest styluses. You can use the newer iPad Air with the Apple Pencil Pro and both previous-gen Magic Keyboards, too. The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599, while the comparable 13-inch model starts at $799.

Deals for the 2024 iPad Air started to appear before the latest model even hit store shelves. Right now, you can pick up the 11-inch base model at Amazon in select colors with 128GB of storage starting at $549 ($50 off). The 13-inch iPad Air, meanwhile, is on sale at Amazon in its 128GB base configuration starting at $745 ($54 off) or at B&H Photo starting at $769.99 ($30 off).

Someone using iPad with Apple Pencil

The newest iPad Air comes with Apple’s M2 chip, a new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and last-gen Magic Keyboards. The 11-inch model is exactly the same size and weight as the previous version.

A photo of the iPad Air in a cafe setting.

In addition to the 11-inch model, the newest iPad Air is also available in a 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M2 processor. It features a Liquid Retina display, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and the bigger version of Apple’s last-gen Magic Keyboard.1

The best iPad Pro (2024) deals

Compared to the latest iPad Air, the 2024 iPad Pro is a far more impressive upgrade. The 11- and 13-inch models start at $999 and $1,299, respectively, and they are the first Apple devices to feature the company’s latest M4 chip, which brings moderate performance gains and dedicated hardware for on-device Apple Intelligence processing. The new Pro models can claim other firsts, too, such as being the first iPad models with OLED displays and the lightest Pros yet, which is true for both sizes. They also feature repositioned front-facing cameras that sit along the horizontal edge, which prevent you from looking as though you’re staring off into space on a video call.

As for deals, the 11-inch iPad Pro with Wi-Fi / 256GB of storage is on sale in select colors at Amazon starting at $927 ($72 off), B&H Photo starting at $929 ($70 off), and Best Buy starting at $949 ($50 off). The sleek and super-thin 13-inch model, meanwhile, is on sale in its 256GB base configuration at Amazon starting at $1,198 ($101 off) or Best Buy for $1,249 ($50 off).

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An overhead photo of the iPad Pro 2024 on a table.

Apple’s latest iPad Pro is the first Apple device with an M4 processor and an OLED-based Ultra Retina XDR display. It also features an improved camera system with adaptive flash and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro and the newest Magic Keyboard.

A photo of a person pinching the screen on an iPad Pro.

The newest iPad Pro comes in either an 11- or 13-inch configuration with Apple’s M4 processor. Both models also feature an OLED display, a much thinner and lighter build, new horizontal placement for the front camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro.

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Priceline has a new AI voice assistant thanks to OpenAI

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Priceline AI

Travel agents may be mostly a relic of the past, but Priceline has used AI to create a new one. Penny Voice is designed to help you book trips by conversing with you like a human. Priceline turned to OpenAI and its new Realtime API introduced this week to create Penny, leveraging GPT-4o and the technology underlying the Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT.

Penny Voice augments the existing Priceline AI travel assistant with the new tools from OpenAI. Natural, conversational speech with a user processed by the AI models allows Penny to understand complex requests and even anticipate what you want before you lay it out. It also has a memory for previous interactions and stated preferences to customize how it responds in future conversations. Penny Voice is starting out just on hotel reservations, and you can talk to it on the Priceline iOS app or on its website. 

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Original Toten Server Rack Best Price in Bangladesh

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Original Toten Server Rack Best Price in Bangladesh



We are the Authorized Distributor Toten Server Rack in Bangladesh. We also Sell 4u, 6u, 9u, 12u, 15u, 22u, 32u, 42, & Open rack 22u, 32u, 42u.

Address:
Capricorn Computers
75, 76, BS Bhaban, Science Laboratory Road
(New Elephant Road), Dhaka-1205
Mobile: 01404443673

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Which AI chatbot is best at avoiding disinformation?

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Which AI chatbot is best at avoiding disinformation?

Russian propaganda about its invasion of Ukraine is affecting AI chatbot accuracy

Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty

Artificial intelligence chatbots struggle to consistently provide accurate answers about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sometimes regurgitate Kremlin propaganda – an especially noticeable problem for Google’s Gemini chatbot.

“Increasingly, chatbot users tend to trust the output of these new digital tools,” says Elizaveta Kuznetsova at the Weizenbaum Institute in Germany. “Therefore, the way in which chatbots frame information about current events can have a substantial effect on political attitudes about crucial events, like the ongoing war in Ukraine.”

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