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Pagazzi Lighting enters administration as 70 jobs lost and 11 stores close across Scotland

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Daily Record

The Thornliebank-based lighting specialist, which has been in business for 45 years across Scotland and Northern England, has been forced to close stores and make redundancies

A well-known family furniture retailer has collapsed into administration, resulting in 11 shop closures and leaving scores of workers facing redundancy.

Pagazzi Lighting, a household name throughout Scotland and Northern England, was established nearly five decades ago and has built its reputation as a leading specialist in decorative lighting, mirrors and home furnishings.

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Yet facing escalating overheads and declining footfall on the high street, the Thornliebank-headquartered firm has been compelled to shutter 11 of its branches and make 70 employees redundant mere days following the appointment of administrators, Daily Express reports.

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Notwithstanding its 45-year trading history, the retailer’s previous accomplishments proved insufficient protection against a “sustained period of poor trading” and growing financial strain, industry specialists have warned.

Even following a significant restructure just two years previously, George Lafferty of BTG was brought in as administrator last week as Pagazzi Lighting grappled with persistent cashflow difficulties amid rising operational expenses and weakening consumer demand.

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Notable casualties include the Braehead Shopping Centre outlet in Glasgow and the Uddingston branch, located south-east of Glasgow city centre. Administrators have confirmed the 11 affected premises officially ceased trading on Wednesday (March 4), The Sun has reported.

Thomas McKay, managing partner of BTG, commented: “The retail sector has seen some very tough months of late in Scotland and this has also affected the lighting sector, mainly due to increasing competition and high trading costs.”

Reduced margins, slower consumer spending and rising operating costs are creating challenges for many high street retailers, and unfortunately, these are the main factors that saw the Pagazzi stores and concessions no longer able to trade. “”The 11 affected stores closed on Wednesday, after BTG consulted with staff about the anticipated closure.

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Sadly, there have been 70 redundancies arising from the unavoidable closure of the retail outlets that were no longer able to trade. “”We are working closely with these individuals affected to assist them with access to their entitlements in conjunction with Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) and the Redundancy Payments Service, as we provide these staff members with the support and advice they need.”.

The firm’s digital arm, Pagazzi Lighting (Web) Limited, has intervened to purchase the business along with its assets, ensuring the company will survive – albeit in a scaled-back capacity – through its web presence and remaining physical shops.

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The 11 Super Mario side characters who deserve their own game

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The 11 Super Mario side characters who deserve their own game
Mari-who? (Nintendo/Metro)

It’s MAR10 Day today but while there are plenty of games starring Mario himself, which of his allies and enemies also deserve a spin-off game?

While the Super Mario franchise’s actual anniversary is September 13, international Mario Day is actually March 10, since the US date format renders today as MAR 10 – if you’re using the right kind of digital watch or other old school display.

Nintendo has adopted it as an official holiday but it usually doesn’t do anything other than run a limited sale for Mario games, so don’t expect a surprise 3D Mario game reveal. Although there have been rumours of a relatively big Mario Kart World update.

Mario himself has had plenty of games over the decades and while he’s occasionally stepped aside to let others, like Luigi and Wario, take the spotlight, there are still several Mushroom Kingdom residents who are overdue the chance to headline their own adventure.

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1. Toad

Toad driving a go-kart shaped like a buggy in Mario Kart World
Yes, there is a singular Toad called Toad (Nintendo)

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No, we’re not talking about Captain Toad, who already starred in his own game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. We mean just… Toad. While the mushroom headed citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom are also called Toads, a singular Toad, called Toad, has frequently appeared as his own character in the various sports and party game spin-offs.

Aside from being one of the four playable heroes in Super Mario Bros. 2, he’s missed out on most of Mario’s recent mainline adventures, with blue and yellow Toads taking his spot in 2D platformers like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

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Maybe he’s retired and prefers to hold down the fort at home. Given the popularity of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and, most recently, Pokémon Pokopia, a Mario version of those games where you’re a humble Toad building and managing a town in the Mushroom Kingdom sounds like one of those ideas so obvious it’s surprising it hasn’t been done yet. Especially if you could end up making it look like it does in the animated movie.

2. Goomba

A Goomba with a tennis racket in its mouth jumping in the air in Mario Tennis Fever
Goombas are surprisingly dexterous despite their lack of limbs (Nintendo)

The poor Goomba race has been getting stomped on by Mario and friends for 40 years, so when will they get their turn in the spotlight? Their standing has improved over time; in fact, the Switch 2 has seen their racing and tennis debuts with Mario Kart World and Mario Tennis Fever.

However, we’ve yet to see a Goomba be the star of the show. The closest is the Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga remake, which added a real-time strategy side-game where a lowly Goomba leads Bowser’s minions on a quest to find their missing king.

The idea could be fleshed out into a proper tactics game, with you challenging other armies in a bid to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom in Bowser’s name, but we think a puzzle platformer similar to the Captain Toad games would be a better fit, with a dash of Pikmin thrown in where you recruit more Goombas to bypass certain puzzles.

3. Lakitu

Mario possessing a Lakitu's body and fishing out a Cheep Cheep in Super Mario Odyssey
We already got a taste for a Lakitu fishing game in Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo)

Much like the Goombas, Lakitus (Lakiti?) have frequently served as Bowser’s minions, but a few have been friendly enough to assist Mario, whether it be as the cameraman in Super Mario 64 or as a party member in Paper Mario.

Nintendo clearly sees Lakitu as important, since one has served as a referee in multiple sports games and, even after a promotion to playable character, kicks off races in all the Mario Kart games. So, why not give Lakitu their own game?

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Since they’re typically seen flying on clouds, how about a Mario themed horizontal shooter à la R-Type, with them throwing their Spiny shells as their main projectile? Or, since they’re known for fishing racers back onto the track in Mario Kart, a chill Lakitu fishing game.

4. Boo

Mario being chased by several Boos including a large one in Super Mario Galaxy 2
These cackling ghouls have menaced Mario and Luigi for decades now (Nintendo)

Boos are the most famous ghost characters in the Mario franchise, but there have been other types of ghosts throughout the series, most notably in the Luigi’s Mansion games. So, what makes the Boos different? Feels like there’s some untapped lore there.

Like Goomba and Lakitu, there have been plenty of playable Boos throughout the spin-offs (sometimes it’s even been King Boo), but no dedicated Boo games outside of the Luigi’s Mansion series, where they serve as primary antagonists.

A Boo-led game would probably be the reverse of that – a stealth game of sorts where you sneak up on Luigi and scare him before he spots you. Kind of like a child friendly Dead By Daylight that replaces the bloody murders with cartoonish jump scares. The fact that most Boos can’t look you in the face seems like a game mechanic ripe for exploitation.

5. Kamek

Kamek driving a broom shaped bike in Mario Kart Tour
Can you believe it took until the mobile game for Kamek to get into Mario Kart? (Nintendo)

One last minion before we move on, Kamek has been Bowser’s right-hand baddie since the king was a baby and is important enough to have his own name, distinguishing himself from the generic Magikoopa enemies.

He also gets to be one of the main enemies in the Illumination Mario movies, and yet it took until 2012’s Mario Party 9 before he finally got to be playable. He’s since had a few more playable appearances in spin-offs but after finally making it into the racing games with Mario Kart Tour and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, he was demoted to just an item in Mario Kart World.

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Given his position in Bowser’s army, Kamek might be a better lead role for a strategy game than a Goomba and his flying broomstick and spells make him a good fit for any kind of arcade-style shoot ‘em up. Alternatively, a Kamek game could focus on his early years rearing Bowser, kind of like a Nintendogs life-sim parody where you’re taking care of an evil toddler and trying to make him even more evil.

6. Waluigi

Waluigi striking a pose while holding a tennis racket in Mario Tennis Aces
Waluigi is a far more popular character with fans than he is in-universe (Nintendo)

While Luigi’s lanky doppelganger has thrived in the spin-off games, he’s never so much as been acknowledged in the mainline entries. He’s completely absent in the Wario Land and WarioWare games too, despite being Wario’s partner in crime.

The closest he’s come to having a substantial role in the franchise is as the starting villain in 2005’s Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix and even then, he serves as the first boss fight, vanishing completely after he’s bested in a dance off.

Like Wario, Waluigi’s unhinged personality means any game he’d star in could afford to get really weird in ways a regular Mario game can’t. Something akin to those bizarre Legend Of Zelda adventure games starring Tingle would suit Waluigi’s weirdo vibes perfectly, where you explore dungeons and complete puzzles to gather treasure. At the very least, it’d be great to see him appear as a co-op partner in a new Wario Land platformer.

7. Princess Peach

Peach and Stella holding hands in Princess Peach Showtime
The highest profile character on the list (Nintendo)

Okay, yes, we’re cheating with this one as Peach has already had the lead role in two games: 2005’s Super Princess Peach and 2024’s Princess Peach: Showtime! So, why are we including her on this list? It’s because we feel neither of those games did her justice.

Super Princess Peach was a perfectly fine 2D platformer but suffered from some (presumably unintentional) sexist overtones and while not without its charms, Princess Peach: Showtime! is patronisingly easy even for a kids game and does little to expand on Peach’s character in the same way Luigi’s Mansion did for Luigi.

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A more dedicated platformer, with Peach as the lead, makes a lot more sense now that the animated movies have turned her into a hyper-competent action hero, but we’d also welcome an expansion on Showtime’s formula if it had more engaging gameplay and a funnier script. Maybe even give it to Luigi’s Mansion studio Next Level Games, so it can flex its animation chops.

8. Daisy

Daisy holding a parasol and waving to the camera in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Daisy’s personality can simply be described as loud (Nintendo)

Like Waluigi, Daisy is mostly known for her appearances in the spin-offs, serving as Peach’s louder and more tomboyish counterpart. Unlike Waluigi, though, she finally made the jump to the mainline platformers in 2023 as one of Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s playable characters, 34 years after her debut in Super Mario Land.

Hopefully this is a sign she’ll appear more frequently in the platformers and considering the games often hint at her being a love interest for Luigi, she’s arguably overdue an appearance in a Luigi’s Mansion game, though ideally not just as a kidnap victim.

A Daisy-centric platformer would also be the perfect excuse to return to her home kingdom of Sarasaland, which still has untapped potential for new locations. Or alternatively she could share the spotlight with Peach in a hypothetical Showtime sequel, as a co-op partner.

9. Nabbit

Nabbit and Mario hopping off their go karts and posing in the air in Mario Kart Tour
Weird that Nabbit never showed up in the Mario + Rabbids games (Nintendo)

Debuting as a new enemy in 2012’s New Super Mario Bros. U, Nabbit’s antagonistic role was quickly dropped in favour of him being the beginner friendly playable character in the 2D games. Since he’s completely invincible (although he’s not immune to falling into pits) he’s meant for little kids who have never played a platformer before.

A Nabbit game, though, could be a good opportunity to return to his roots. His whole thing was speeding away after robbing someone’s house, so how about a Super Meat Boy-esque platformer where the levels are bite-sized and the emphasis is on how fast you can complete them, with you helping Nabbit flee his pursuers.

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Such a game could also explain where Nabbit came from and why he’s made a habit out of stalking Mario and company in the 2D games. Super Mario Bros. Wonder describes him as ‘someone keeping an eye on Mario and his friends,’ so maybe he’s just lonely and awkward.

10 & 11. Geno and Mallow

Geno Mario and Bowser posing dramatically as they're surrounded in lights in Super Mario RPG
Geno must have earned himself new fans through the Super Mario RPG remake (Nintendo)

The Mario role-playing games are full of fan favourite characters, but if any of them were going to headline their own game, our vote is for the double act of Geno and Mallow, who both served as party members in Super Mario RPG. Coincidentally, that game turned 30 years old the day before MAR10 Day, on March 9.

You’re likely already familiar with Geno thanks to the enduring fan demands that he be playable in Super Smash Bros., but if not, he’s a sagely star spirit who inhabits the body of a wooden doll and fights with energy blasts and kid-friendly firearms.

Mallow, meanwhile, is an adorable cloud boy raised by frogs who wields weather-based magic. He’s also the only party member with a real character arc, joining Mario on his quest to track down his birth parents and eventually outgrowing his cry-baby tendencies.

Super Mario RPG’s overall plot was rather thin, but a direct sequel with a script thatrelies on the comedic stylings of the Paper Mario games would be very welcome and the perfect opportunity to further flesh out Geno and Mallow. Alternatively, their unique abilities could be used for a co-op platformer in the style of Hazelight’s games like Split Fiction.

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Mallow sporting a determined expression in Super Mario RPG
Mallow is part of a small list of Mario characters who undergo any sort of character development (Nintendo)

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Police treating arrest of man who allegedly assaulted children as ‘racially-motivated’

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Police treating arrest of man who allegedly assaulted children as 'racially-motivated'

PSNI revealed that the man tried to escape officers and said the matter is being treated as a hate crime

A man has been released on bail pending further inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of common assault and disorderly behaviour – including shouting racist slurs at children.

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The alleged incident took place in Portadown, Co Armagh, on Sunday evening, March 8. Police responded to complaints after a male was reported in the Park Road area of the town allegedly aggravating children.

A spokesman from PSNI told Belfast Live: “Police received a report of a man acting in a disorderly manner in the Park Road area of Portadown on Sunday, March 8.

READ MORE: Teenage pedestrian hospitalied after East Belfast traffic collisionREAD MORE: Pedestrian seriously injured in West Belfast collision involving Range Rover

“On police arrival, at around 5.55pm, it was reported that the man was assaulting children and shouting racist slurs. The matter is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime.

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“When officers approached the man he made off and a short foot pursuit ensued before he could be detained. The man, aged 22, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and disorderly behaviour. He remains in custody at this time.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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Turkey’s Erdogan has tough, no-nonsense reputation – and his message on Iran war is clear | World News

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Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan speaks after a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday. Pic: Reuters

The Turkish president with a reputation for being bullish, no-nonsense and tough was clear as he addressed his cabinet on Monday.

He does not want Turkey to be dragged into this war on Iran.

“Our primary goal is to keep our country clear of this fire. Ensuring Turkey’s security and the peace of its 86 million citizens is our greatest priority,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his ministers.

He was speaking the same day a second ballistic missile fired from Iran to Turkey was intercepted by NATO defences.

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Debris from the interception landed in a field in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep. A first missile fired days earlier on was also intercepted, this time, as it was headed towards Turkish airspace.

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Debris of a NATO air defence system in Turkey’s Hatay province. Pic: Reuters

That incident drew words of caution from the Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan who urged their Iranian neighbours not to test Turkey’s patience.

“We are not a country that gets provoked easily,” Mr Fidan said. “We spoke with our Iranian friends and said if this missile lost its way, that’s one thing, but if it continues, be careful…”

Mr Erdogan called for calm amid fears the conflict could spill across European borders. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Mr Erdogan called for calm amid fears the conflict could spill across European borders. Pic: Reuters

The president went further at a Monday Iftar dinner in Ankara for ambassadors. “We do not accept the Middle East geography to be put on the operating table just like a century ago.”

“Last week, and today,” the president said. “The ballistic missiles headed to our country were neutralised on time and the necessary warnings were made very clearly to be Iranian side.

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“I emphasise again, that the war should be ended without spreading further in our region.”

The Turkish leader insisted he was actively working to lower tensions and had conducted multiple talks with more than a dozen leaders to try to broke a way through the crisis.

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On Monday evening it also emerged that Mr Erdogan had had a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. Turkey said on social media that this had come at the request of the Iranians. The post said Mr Erdogan had told his counterpart that Turkey “doesn’t approve of unlawful interventions against Iran and Iran’s targeting of the brotherly countries in the region”.

“President Erdogan stated that targeting the brotherly countries benefits no one and that these must all stop,” the statement from his office added.


Day 10 Iran war: Videos from on the ground

The US embassy has raised its advice for travelling to the country to Level Four, urging travellers against travel to southeast Turkey and has ordered non-emergency US government employees and family members to leave the Consulate General in Adana “due to security risks”.

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Americans in southeast Turkey have been “strongly encouraged to depart now”.

Read more from Sky News:
Iran’s women footballers granted Australian visas
Ayatollah’s son takes supreme power

Security along Turkey’s long border with Iran has been tightened and Sky’s journalists along the border have detected very little movement out of Iran and into Turkey.

There is usually visa-free movement for Iranians wanting to visit Turkey and vice-versa along the three border gates the two countries share. But right now, Iran is only allowing in Iranians.

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Our team at a border crossing detected limited movement with higher numbers of Iranians wanting to travel back to their homeland to check on relatives there, than the numbers departing.

A Turkish soldier stands guard in front of the Kapikoy Border Gate in the eastern Van province. Pic: Reuters
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A Turkish soldier stands guard in front of the Kapikoy Border Gate in the eastern Van province. Pic: Reuters

Turkey’s disquiet over Iranian missiles near or through its airspace led to Iran’s Ankara ambassador being summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry.

And in a sign of the country’s increasing concerns over tensions, the country has sent six F-16 fighter jets to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as part of a “phased approach to enhancing security”.

The aircraft are expected to operate from Ercan International Airport west of the capital Nicosia and will be equipped to conduct air patrol and air defence missions over the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey hosts American forces in Incirlik airbase in the southern Adana Province but has not allowed its bases or airspace to be used in the war against Iran.

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Additional reporting by Turkey producer Zeynep Bilginsoy

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Police shut down 400-person rave

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Police shut down 400-person rave

Those arrested have been banned from areas in Cambridgeshire

Three people have been banned from entering areas of Cambridgeshire after police uncovered an illegal rave in St Ives. Officers seized equipment and arrested three people after a rave of more than 400 people.

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Police discovered the illegal rave in an industrial unit in Burrel Road at about 1.30am on Sunday, March 8. At the time, dozens of police officers and a Police Dog attended and a dispersal order was put in place, affecting more than 400 people and preventing others from entering the warehouse.

A 22-year-old man from Doddington was arrested on suspicion of burglary and organising an unlicensed musical event. He has been bailed until June 7 with conditions not to enter St Ives.

An 18-year-old from Stroud and a 26-year-old man from Swindon were arrested on suspicion of breaching a dispersal order, violent disorder, and possession of drugs. They have been bailed until June 6 with conditions not to enter Cambridgeshire.

Music equipment and control units were seized. Officers also cut the power to the unit and boarded it up to prevent any further incidents.

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Neighbourhood Inspector Colin Norden said: “Raves are perceived to be unlicensed music events that are harmless fun and victimless crimes. Sadly this isn’t the case. Not only do they serve as an outlet for the supply and use of illegal drugs but they cause significant community disruption and damage.

“Illegal raves will not be tolerated and where appropriate any sound equipment onsite will be seized. Attendees leaving such an event, intending to drive, are also likely to be breathalysed.”

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Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

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Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Kirsty Brimelow KC, the senior criminal lawyer who heads the Bar Council, said: “This letter and its more than 3,000 signatories demonstrate the unequivocal principled and practical opposition to the restriction of jury trials from not only the Bar, but the legal profession as a whole.

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UK firms make progress on diversity targets but ‘significant improvement’ needed

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UK firms make progress on diversity targets but ‘significant improvement’ needed

Soumen Das, co-chair of the Parker Review Steering Committee, said: “As we transition to a new leadership and move into the next phase of the Review’s work, our focus will be on building on this progress, addressing areas which need further attention, and supporting companies in delivering against their 2027 commitments.”

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UK weather: Snow forecast for some as cold air returns this week

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Bright yellow daffodils bow under a fresh dusting of snow.

After a taste of springlike warmth across the UK, single-digit temperatures are set to return this week with the chance of snow for some.

Although March is commonly when the sun starts to feel considerably warmer, the air over the far northern Atlantic remains cold.

A number of fronts are set to progressively bring this colder air from the north-west across the UK.

As the week wears on, daytime temperatures will drop and by Friday may struggle to reach double figures – reminding us that winter is still only winding down and the mild, sunny, spring-like days are still few and far between.

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Games Inbox: When will the next big Super Mario game be announced?

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Games Inbox: When will the next big Super Mario game be announced?
The day of the Mario (Nintendo)

The Tuesday letters page is shocked at how expensive amiibo have got, as one reader laments the recent job losses amongst Battlefield 6 developers.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Yearly celebration
So MAR10 Day is here again but this time it feels like Nintendo is building up to something in terms of an annoucement. There was that Mario Kart World rumour but if that happens I don’t see how it’s going to be announced because not even Nintendo shadow drops a Direct. Unless Nintendo is also going to start announcing things through tweets, but let’s hope not.

I have to say, I can’t wait until the Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out because I feel too much attention is being taken up by that and we won’t get any real movement on a new game until that’s over. I couldn’t care less about a Mario film but I’m really impatient to know about the next 3D game. But I think it’s pretty obvious they’re waiting for the movie to come out first.

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Even so, I do have some hope we’ll get at least a tease of the next 3D Mario today. They’ve already announced their sale and the new games on Nintendo Switch Online, so it would be disappointing if we didn’t get at least a little bit of news.
Onibee

Premium products
I completely believe that Project Helix is going to be around a grand, but I also believe that Xbox are crazy to dot it. Except, it does seem to be the way things are going. If less people are buying and playing consoles then the obvious way to make up the money, for a publisher, is to make a more expensive item, which will make the same amount of money even if less people overall buy it. It’s why Ferrari don’t bother to make a family hatchback, because it’s chicken feed in comparison.

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I don’t think it’s going to work for Xbox, because who’s going to want to buy Xbox after all this, but it definitely seems to be the way that Valve are going with the Steam Machine. Sony are basically there already, given how expensive the PS5 Pro is.

There’s no way I’m paying that much for a console, but it does make me wonder what kind of games are going to playing on it. Are they just going to be the same ones as normal with better performance? Because I can’t imagine anyone making an exclusive game for a format with only a few million customers.
Hammeriron

Worst job in the world
It’s been said before, but I honestly don’t know why anyone would want to be a games developer. I imagine the pay’s okay (except for all the unpaid overtime) but there’s literally no certainty of keeping your job, no matter how well whatever you’ve made does. And even if you do keep your job you’re only months away from being replaced with AI. And then, if by some miracle, you’re still kept around you get to worry about death threats from rabid fans.

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I don’t see any positives at all. If you’re intelligent enough to be able to make games there’s a hundred other jobs using similar skills that would be far less hassle. I remember when it used to be seem a dream job to me but now it seems more like a nightmare. Commiserations to everyone working on Battlefield 6 that got laid off by EA.
Royston

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

A new problem
I can tell you now, if dynamic pricing becomes a thing with video games I’m out. It’s retro and indie games for me and nothing else. Every day publishers seem to come up with new reason not to buy their stuff and it’s doing my head in.

Make a good game and I’ll pay for it. I’ll probably even pay £60+ if it’s really good and I don’t feel that you’re messing me around. But it’s never that simple. Everything’s got to be more expensive than it pretends or have small print that makes it worse.

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I know there’s no going back but I really miss the PlayStation 4 era. All this stuff was starting then but it hadn’t got bad yet, while the games were top notch. This whole generation has been nothing but downhill in every way.
Stoney

No story
Some interesting info on Marathon’s player counts on the Xbox, with is at number 32 over the last week with the server slam at 37th. Also note that Helldivers 2 is still number 16 on this list.

There’s no supporting narrative, but the PlayStation side of things shows Marathon as 38th with the Server Slam at 26th. Helldivers took 18th place over the week.
NatorDom

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GC: We’re not sure what to draw from this other than both games are doing quite well on both formats?

Ignorance is bliss
There’s been a lot of talk about what Xbox is doing in terms of hardware but I think a bigger question is what’s going to happen to the games under this new boss. Any decent business person should be able to make fairly sensible decisions about a console but game development is a whole different kettle of fish.

It’s different for every game, it involves lots of factors she won’t have a clue about if you’re not a gamer, and in management terms Microsoft has been terrible at it since forever. On the hand that could actually be good news because maybe someone more objective, that isn’t particularly interested in games, can offer a better perspective on things.

We all know Phil Spencer didn’t work out so he kind of makes a good argument that the people in charge shouldn’t be gamers, because they have a warped perspective.

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But how is this new ‘AI guru’ going to make decisions on what to do with the next Halo or if Gears Of War needs a reboot? The problem I see is that Microsoft already tends to overestimate how good, and how popular, its games are and now we’re going to have people whispering into the ear of this acknowledged non-gamer that everything they do is fantastic.

There’s so much that can go wrong, but I guess we’ll just have to see. But if there is a turn around we’ll know from now on that the secret of running a good games business is to know nothing about games (at an exec level at least).
Gorf

Half price
Happy Mario Day to GameCentral, all readers, and Underboxers! I see the Pragmata amiibo is in stock to pre-order on the UK Nintendo Store, it is £24.99 – which is a lot for one small amiibo.

I thought there might be an amiibo of the soldier too but there isn’t.
Andrew J.

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GC: That’s madness. The game itself is only £50.

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People change
To Scooter and changing tastes in games, my niece, well great niece, at 11 plays all the usual: Minecraft, Fortnight, Roblox, Rocket League… but I suppose that’s for socialising purposes too, but she’s more than willing to try other games.

Couple of years ago I got an arcade emulator, two hardy joysticks and six buttons a piece, you can jostle each other and slap the sticks around, just like you’re in a real arcade, circa ’94! And she loves that, her and her sister discovered the many joys of all the varying versions of Street Fighter 2 at Christmas. The younger one found Chun-Li instantly, girly and cute, and quickly discovered her button mashing 100 foot kick, which she used constantly to defeat her big sister!

So she’s now Chunners forever more, the older one now methodically tries each character until she comes across Eddy Honda and his own 100 hand slap! That’s the end of Chun-Li and all hell breaks loose. There’s screaming, name calling and a strop or two… ah, memories, of the days controllers used to hit the walls, controllers I hadn’t had to buy!

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Also, with Game Share on Xbox, she’s had Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, and WWE 2K24. She was keen on Star Wars Outlaws but don’t think she tried that yet and her mam said she couldn’t play the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes, ‘cos they were too scary. What kids play now is probably 50-50 gaming and socialising, which we/I could only do face to face back in the day.
big boy bent

Inbox also-rans
Interested to see what else Shinji Mikami can come up with at his company, but I’ll be honest, he hasn’t really done anything great since he left Capcom/PlatinumGames. If he’s still got one great game left in though, I’d love to see it.
Fester

I didn’t realise Slay The Spire is nearly 10 years old. Crazy how time flies. But I guess that explains why there’s been so many clones over the years, they’ve had plenty of time.
Lokishat

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

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‘The fighting feels like we’re going to finish it – once and for all’ | World News

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'The fighting feels like we're going to finish it - once and for all' | World News

Metula in northern Israel is like a ghost town. Shops are shut, hotels closed and there’s very little sign of life.

This is the frontline of the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it feels other worldly.

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Metula is on the frontline of Israel's war with Hezbollah
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Metula is on the frontline of Israel’s war with Hezbollah

After the October 7th attacks, most people evacuated this frontier town fearing an invasion.

In the following years, it was hammered by mortars and missiles fired from Hezbollah.

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And now, yet again, the air is filled with the sound of gun fire and sirens.

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Sky team shelter as Hezbollah strikes Israel

But next to a hollowed out hotel once popular with tourists is a pretty cafe with the doors open. Miry is stacking up the chairs after serving some young Israeli soldiers.

She’s remarkably upbeat and defiant, too. This time, she believes Israel will crush Hezbollah – an Iranian proxy that casts a long shadow over this town.

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Miry is one of the few still living in Metula
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Miry is one of the few still living in Metula

Life in extremis

“The fighting feels like we’re going to finish it – for once and for all,” she says.

“You need to understand Hezbollah is not a community group, and they’re not freedom fighters: they’re a terrorist organisation putting at risk not only the Israeli people, but the Lebanese people, and people around the world.”

They need to “eliminate” them, she says emphatically: “Like a cockroach.”

It sounds like extreme language, but life is lived in extremis here. The rubble, the military machinery, the trail of smoke from Israeli interceptors. There’s even concrete benches on a hill alongside picnic tables if you want to take a look-out over the destroyed homes across the border – the remnants of previous battles.

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Many of the buildings here have been devastated
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Many of the buildings here have been devastated

The latest confrontation with Hezbollah has seen fierce clashes and no let-up from either side.

And it’s not just the border areas in the crosshairs. Last week, one Israeli minister said his government would turn the southern suburbs of Beirut into Gaza.

Already hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people have been displaced – an exodus unmatched in Israel.

Remnants of previous battles across the border
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Remnants of previous battles across the border

‘It’s difficult to live like this’

About 20 minutes drive from Metula is the northern city of Kiryat Shimona. Once a commercial and economic hub, it’s struggled to rebuild after many evacuated following October 7th.

Yamit Yanai Malul, a lawyer with two children, has spent years living with constant jeopardy.

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“It’s difficult to live like this because you don’t know when the missile will catch you,” she says.

“Maybe in the supermarket, or maybe doing something with the kids, so you are always tense.”

Yamit Yanai Malul has stayed behind despite the risks
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Yamit Yanai Malul has stayed behind despite the risks

And yet, she stays. And this time round, she’s hopeful it will make a difference.

“We have a part in this war,” she says.

“We don’t go and run away to another country and find shelter. This is the home and we stay here. And I think we help the government just by being here.”

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Read more from Sky News:
Erdogan’s clear message on Iran war
New evidence challenges Trump claim

That sense of patriotic duty may live on for months, even years, to come. And she’ll likely need that enduring patience.

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Destroying Hezbollah for good is a massive undertaking – no matter how weakened it is.

And in the meantime, it feels like a lot more could break out either side of the border and beyond – with civilians caught in the middle.

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Love Island star says cancer-linked pregnancy drug has impacted his health

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Love Island star says cancer-linked pregnancy drug has impacted his health

Maxwell Samuda, 26, who appeared on the ninth season of ITV’s Love Island, has spoken out about health issues which he believes are caused by exposure to the cancer-linked pregnancy drug diethylstilbestrol. Samuda’s grandmother Maureen Day, 78, took the drug in the 1970s and his mother, Natalie Samuda, 50, has also had health problems. The family is backing the call from campaign group DES Justice UK for a public inquiry (Samuda family/PA)

Samuda family

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