Tekken director apparently keeps getting requests to add a Waffle House stage

Waffle House is one of those uniquely American institutions-turned-meme. The 24/7 chain is not only a place where you can order a breakfast combo at 3AM, but where unruly customers have been known to show up ready to throw hands (and sometimes chairs). Given its notoriety for late-night brawls, it’s exactly the type of setting that would make for a perfect backdrop in a fighting game like Tekken 8 — and apparently, fans have been inquiring. Longtime Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada posted on X this weekend asking what the deal is with all the Waffle House requests.

Obviously, the question was posed in the days before April Fools’ Day, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there turned out to be some jest baked into it all. But now that we’re having the conversation…

Ok, I will only ask once about this request.
Why do some communities send me requests for "Waffle House"?

Please be sure to explain the basis for the request, including the original story, history and background.

I look forward to an explanation from someone who knows more. https://t.co/w8ozUnJ1mY

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) March 30, 2024

“Ok, I will only ask once about this request,” Harada posted. “Why do some communities send me requests for ‘Waffle House’? Please be sure to explain the basis for the request, including the original story, history and background. I look forward to an explanation from someone who knows more.”

Harada followed it up with another post thanking everyone who explained it and saying he understands, but went on to say, “The restaurant has both the trademark and the rights to the restaurant, so if the restaurant chain's headquarters refuses to accept my proposal, it will not happen.” Waffle House now has an opportunity to do something pretty funny here.

But that shouldn’t come before Waffle House adequately addresses the concerns of its employees, some of whom have been vocal in the last year about low wages and a lack of security. Employees from some locations are on strike, and the Union of Southern Service Workers has put together a petition demanding Waffle House implement changes to improve working conditions. Until that's resolved, any collaboration with the fighting game would just be in poor taste. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/DL6CfWJ
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AT&T resets millions of passcodes after data leak

If I had to rank leaks, I'd say a leaky faucet is the second worst leak, bested only by the most devastating of all fissures: the data leak. And, boy, do we have a data leak on our hands.

A huge cache of AT&T customers' data, including Social Security numbers and encrypted passcodes that could be used to access customer accounts, was dumped online in March, forcing the telco giant to reset millions of customer account passcodes, TechCrunch learned in an exclusive. After a security researcher analyzed the leaked data and told the news outlet that the passcodes were "easy to decipher," TechCrunch told AT&T.

AT&T told TechCrunch that there isn't any evidence just yet that anyone used this data leak to access customer's information and accounts.

SEE ALSO: 26 billion records have been leaked in 'Mother of all Breaches,' but don't freak out

In response, AT&T told the outlet: “AT&T has launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts. Based on our preliminary analysis, the data set appears to be from 2019 or earlier, impacting approximately 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and approximately 65.4 million former account holders.”

Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt told the Associated Press that while this particular data leak popped up on a hacking forum just two weeks ago, it looks a whole lot like a 2021 data breach that AT&T never acknowledged. Hunt said that if AT&T assesses the leak and "made the wrong call on it, and we’ve had a course of years pass without them being able to notify impacted customers,” then the company could be on the hook for class action lawsuits.

In a statement on AT&T's website, the telco company encourages customers to take safety into their own hands by "monitoring account activity and credit reports" and setting up "free fraud alerts from nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion."

via IFmashable.com

Elon Musk's X funds lawsuit against Jack Dorsey's Block

Elon Musk has a lot of money. He also owns a couple of companies that have a lot of money. One of those companies, X, is using some of its money to fund yet another lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Chloe Happe against her former employer Block — yes, the Block that was founded by Jack Dorsey, the person who founded X back when it was Twitter. The tech world is just one interconnected web not unlike The Chart in The L Word.

In the complaint, Happe accused Block of firing her for making two posts on X in her personal time: One in which she purported to be a citizen of Kurdistan and referenced refugees fleeing Gaza in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, and another in which she used ableist language and slurs against trans people in reference to gender neutral restrooms. Both were made from pseudonymous accounts.

The lawsuit alleges that she was unlawfully terminated in violation of Block's own employee speech policy and "several constitutionally protected freedoms, including the freedom of thought, the freedom of belief, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of expressive association" because neither post mentioned Block, she posted both of them during her personal time, and she "voluntarily deleted" both posts within days of posting them.

According to the lawsuit, human resources at Block said it received reports about Happe's posts. When Block obtained the deleted posts and showed them to Happe, she denied making them and "claimed an abusive ex-boyfriend must have impersonated her online." A few days later, Block fired Happe. She is claiming that Block terminated her without severance solely because she "expressed her political views, opinions, or beliefs in the form of satire" that Block disagreed with.

SEE ALSO: Musk's X to pay legal fees to support doctor who sued to silence her critics (and lost)

Tweet may have been deleted

"X is funding a lawsuit filed today by Chloe Happe against her former employer, Block," X's account posted on X. "Block fired Chloe because of the political opinions she expressed on X. Chloe had two pseudonymous accounts on X, @bronzeageshawty and the now-deprecated @samsarashawty. She did not reference Block or her own identity on either account before Block fired her. But because some of the opinions she expressed in her X accounts did not conform to the prevailing political orthodoxy, Block fired her, in violation of the law.  X is supporting her suit to vindicate her rights."

Happe wants her job back and to be compensated for loss of pay. Block has not released a public statement about the lawsuit and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.

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AT&T resets millions of customers’ passcodes after account info was leaked on the dark web

AT&T says 7.6 million current customers were affected by a recent leak in which sensitive data was released on the dark web, along with 65.4 million former account holders. TechCrunch first reported on Saturday morning that the company has reset the passcodes of all affected active accounts, and AT&T confirmed the move in an update published on its support page. The data set, which AT&T says “appears to be from 2019 or earlier,” includes names, home addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, according to TechCrunch.

TechCrunch reports that it alerted AT&T about the potential for the leaked data to be used to access customers accounts on Monday, after a security researcher discovered that the records included easily decipherable encrypted passcodes. AT&T said today that it’s “launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts.” The data appeared on the dark web about two weeks ago, according to AT&T.

It comes three years after a hacker known as ShinyHunters claimed in 2021 that they’d obtained the account data of 73 million AT&T customers. AT&T at the time told BleepingComputer that it had not suffered a breach and that samples of information shared by the hacker online did “not appear to have come from our systems.” The company now says that “it is not yet known whether the data in those fields originated from AT&T or one of its vendors.” So far, it “does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set.”

AT&T says it will reach out to both current and former account holders who have been affected by the leak. The company also says it will offer credit monitoring to those customers “where applicable.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/smyxAgY
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The Pirate Queen interview: How Singer Studios and Lucy Liu brought forgotten history to life

I had a favorite version of Mulan growing up (Anita Yuen in the 1998 Taiwanese TV series). I obsessed over Chinese period TV series like Legend of the Condor Heroes, My Fair Princess and The Book and the Sword. I consider myself fairly well-versed in Chinese historical figures, especially those represented in ‘90s and 2000s entertainment in Asia. So when I found out that a UK-based studio had made a VR game called The Pirate Queen based on a forgotten female leader who was prolific in the South China Sea, I was shocked. How had I never heard of her? How had the Asian film and TV industry never covered her?

I got to play a bit of the game this week, which was released on the Meta Quest store and Steam on March 7th. The titular character Cheng Shih is voiced by actor Lucy Liu, who also executive produced this version of the game with UK-based Singer Studios’ CEO and founder Eloise Singer. Liu and Singer sat with me for an interview discussing The Pirate Queen, Cheng Shih, VR’s strengths and the importance of cultural and historical accuracy in games and films.

Cheng Shih, which translates to “Madam Cheng” or “Mrs Cheng,” was born Shi Yang. After she married the pirate Cheng Yi (usually romanized as Zheng Yi), she became known as Cheng Yi Sao, which translates to “wife of Cheng Yi.” Together they led the Guangdong Pirate Confederation in the 1800s. Upon her husband’s death in 1807, she took over the reins and went on to become what South China Morning Post described as “history’s greatest pirate.”

Singer Studios

How did Singer Studios learn about Cheng Shih and decide to build a game (and upcoming franchise including a film, podcast and graphic novels) around her? According to Singer, it was through word of mouth. “It was a friend of mine who first told me the story,” Singer said. “She said, ‘Did you know that the most famous pirate in history was a woman?’”

Cheng Shih had been loosely referenced in various films and games before this, like the character Mistress Ching in the 2007 film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Jing Lang in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. As Singer pointed out, Cheng Shih had also appeared in a recent episode of Doctor Who.

Singer said that her team started developing the project as a film at the end of 2018. But the pandemic disrupted their plans, causing Singer to adapt it into a game. A short version of The Pirate Queen later debuted at Raindance Film Festival, and shortly after, Meta came onboard and provided funding to complete development of the game. Liu was then approached when the full version was ready and about to make its appearance at Tribeca Film Festival 2023.

“The rest is history,” Liu said, “But not forgotten history.” She said Cheng Shih was never really recognized for being the most powerful pirate. “It seems so crazy that in the 19th century, this woman who started as a courtesan would then rise to power and then have this fleet of pirates that she commanded,” Liu added. She went on to talk about how Cheng Shih was ahead of the time and also represented “a bit of an underdog story.” For the full 15-minute interview, you can watch the video in this article or listen to this week’s episode of The Engadget Podcast and learn more about Liu and Singer’s thoughts on VR and technology over the last 20 years.

Capturing the historical and cultural details of Cheng Shih’s life was paramount to Liu and Singer. They said the team had to create women’s hands from scratch to be represented from the player’s perspective in VR, and a dialect coach was hired to help Liu nail the pronunciation for the Cantonese words that Cheng Shih speaks in the game. Though I’m not completely certain if Cheng Shih spoke Mandarin or Cantonese, the latter seems like the more accurate choice given it’s the lingua franca in the Guangdong region.

Singer Studios

All that added to the immersiveness of The Pirate Queen, in which players find themselves in an atmospheric maritime environment. The Meta Quest 3’s controllers served as my hands in the game, and I rowed boats, climbed rope ladders and picked up items with relative ease. Some of the mechanics, especially the idea of “teleportation” as moving around, were a little clunky, but after about five minutes I got used to how things worked. You’ll have to point the left controller and push the joystick when you’ve chosen a spot, and the scene changes around you. This probably minimizes the possibility of nausea, since you’re not standing still while watching your surroundings move. It’s also pretty typical of VR games, so those who have experience playing in headsets will likely be familiar with the movement.

You can still walk around and explore, of course. I scrutinized the corners of rooms, inspected the insides of cabinets and more, while hunting for keys that would unlock boxes containing clues. A lot of this is pretty standard for a puzzle or room escape game, which is what I used to play the most in my teens. But I was particularly taken by sequences like rowing a boat across the sea and climbing up a rope ladder, both of which caused me to break a mild sweat. Inside Cheng Shih’s cabin, I lit a joss stick and placed it in an incense holder — an action I repeated every week at my grandfather’s altar when I was growing up. It felt so realistic that I tried to wave the joss stick to put out the flame and could almost smell the smoke.

It’s these types of activities that make VR games great vehicles for education and empathy. “We didn’t want to have these combat elements that traditional VR games do have,” Singer said, adding that it was one of the challenges in creating The Pirate Queen.

“It’s nice to see and to learn and be part of that, as opposed to ‘Let’s turn to page 48,’” Liu said. “That’s not as exciting as doing something and being actively part of something.” When you play as a historical character in a game, and one that’s as immersive as a VR game, “you’re living that person’s life or that moment in time,” Liu added.

While The Pirate Queen is currently only available on Quest devices, Singer said there are plans to bring it to “as many headsets as we possibly can.” Singer Studios also said it is “extending The Pirate Queen franchise beyond VR into a graphic novel, film and television series.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/NBc7fdw
via engadget.com

Universal Music Group turns to Spotify after pulling catalogue from TikTok

The TikTok-ification of Spotify is almost complete. First Spotify pivoted to video. Now Universal Music Group (UMG) is expanding its partnership with the music streaming giant to compensate for pulling its music from TikTok.

SEE ALSO: Is Djo's 'End of Beginning' the beginning of the end for TikTok as a music discovery platform?

Spotify and UMG announced that Spotify will give UMG artists access to new promotional and social tools. In a press release Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, said, "The forthcoming features will put more power in the hands of artists and their teams to help them authentically express themselves, efficiently promote their work, and better monetize their art."

While Spotify has yet to specify what these tools look like, they will likely take the form of more video content on the platform as the partnership also gives Spotify permission to distribute Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) music videos.

Spotify's turn to video already frustrated users, and UMG's new reliance on the platform for artist promo will likely exacerbate the problem. Like nearly all social media platforms, Spotify continues to stray further from what users love in order to be its very own TikTok — and this partnership won't help.

At the end of January, UMG pulled its catalog from TikTok after negotiations to renew their contract broke down between the music corporation and the social media platform. In an open letter, UMG identified "appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok's users" as three key issues TikTok neglected to address. In February, UMG removed all songs controlled by UMPG, which includes any song that a UMG signed-artist wrote or co-wrote.

In a press release, Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG said, "Spotify has been a committed partner in creating tools that help maximize attribution and fair pay for artists and songwriters," despite artists reportedly earning a fraction of one cent per stream on Spotify.

via IFmashable.com

Try out the Apple Vision Pro with $200 off at Woot!

SAVE $200: As of March 28, save $200 on a new Apple Vision Pro headset at Woot!. That's a discount of 6%.

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Credit: Woot!

Apple Vision Pro

$3,299.00 at Woot!
$3,499.00 Save $200.00

The Apple Vision Pro is undeniably impressive, but its admittedly exorbitant price tag can be a turn-off for many users. Apple's latest gadget, complete with its own software platform and set of apps, is an exciting look at what spatial computing and augmented reality is capable of. But the fee you have to pay to experience it is a high barrier for entry. Thankfully, if you've been waiting for even a small price cut to give it a spin for yourself, that day has come.

As of March 28, you can get the Apple Vision Pro for $3,299 at Woot!. That's $200 off its normal price of $3,499 and a 6% discount. There's one caveat: it comes with the Light Seal (21W), Solo Knit Band (Small), and Dual Loop Band (Small) accessories, Woot! notes, so if those sizes don't work for you, you might want to pass up this discount or purchase the correctly sized accessories, which may negate the discount for you. This deal is available for the next month or until all the units sell out.

Is it worth buying, even at a discount, though? Mashable Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon thinks so, for the most part, praising its "cinematic virtual experience," lengthy battery life, surprising portability, and prowess when it comes to picking up even the smallest of gestures, all after traveling from New York's JFK airport to Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica.

The spatial computing headset has a variety of applications and the base model comes with 256GB of storage, two 3,660 x 3,200 micro-OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, 16GB of RAM, an M2 chip with a 10-core CPU and R1 co-processor, 12 cameras and five sensors, and optional storage upgrades.

You can use the headset to watch your favorite media, get productive with a variety of apps that turn it into an everyday work-centric machine, or play a selection of games – plus, much more. It's an exciting piece of tech, made even more appealing by this discount. If you've been wondering how you might add it into your usual tech stack, now's a good time to give it a whirl while it's available at this price.

via IFmashable.com

Celebrate spring blooms with flowery Lego sets on sale for 20% off at Amazon

You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers. From the fleeting cherry blossoms to tulips popping up, recent blooms are a sure sign that winter is over. If you're celebrating spring's arrival and hope to brighten up your space, consider these Lego deals from Amazon that offer up everlasting blooms. Here are some of our favorite flowery Lego deals at Amazon today.

Best floral Lego deals at Amazon today

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Best indoor desert Lego deal

Lego Icons Succulents set

$39.99 at Amazon (save $10)

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Best living room display Lego set

Lego Icons Orchid plant

$39.99 at Amazon (save $10)

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Best Lego bouquet deal

Lego Icons Wildflower Bouquet set

$47.99 at Amazon (save $12)

What better way to celebrate spring than by brightening up your space with some permanent blooms? Today's sale on Lego sets at Amazon includes some of our favorite floral Lego sets. Whether you're planning your next cozy night in or you're already shopping for Mother's Day, check out these great deals on Lego sets.

Best desert Lego deal

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Credit: Lego

Our pick: Lego Icons Succulents

$39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00

Why we like it

If you're hoping to have a succulent or cactus display in your home but would rather not deal with the prickly parts, the Lego Icons Succulent set is an ideal replacement. The set features nine individual plants that you can show off as one desert garden or as each individual plant. Each plant comes with its own buildable pot and, while this could be perfect for your living room, it could also be great as a Mother's Day gift or a housewarming present for a good friend.

Best living room Lego display

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Credit: Lego

Our pick: Lego Icons Orchid plant

$39.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $10.00

Why we like it

An orchid is a notoriously finicky plant that can be tough to grow at home. Save yourself the heartache and go with the Lego Icons Orchid plant instead. Today's deal at Amazon brings the set to just $39.99, down from the normal price of $49.99, so you'll save 20%. This Lego set is customizable so you can arrange the blooms, roots, and leaves to suit your wishes, or change them around whenever you see fit. The orchid Lego set includes over 600 pieces and is recommended for Lego fans ages 18 and up.

Best Lego bouquet deal

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Credit: Lego

Our pick: Lego Icons Wildflower Bouquet set

$47.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $12.00

Why we like it

You can never go wrong with gifting a bouquet, but live flower arrangements can cost a small fortune these days and they tend to come with a short lifespan. However, the Lego Icons Wildflower Bouquet set will never wilt. A perfect gift for Mother's Day or a spring birthday, the Wildflower Bouquet includes 16 individual stems that you can adjust in height to get the perfect look. With ferns, daisies, and lupins, the set includes over 900 pieces for the ultimate Lego fan in your life.

More floral Lego deals at Amazon

• Lego Cherry Blossoms — $11.99 $14.99 (save $3)

• Lego Roses — $11.99 $14.99 (save $3)

• Lego Icons Bonsai Tree — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

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Vizio just announced a $999 86-inch 4K TV

Walmart ag ’d have to sell a kidney to afford a giantg 4K TV for the living room. That is no longer true, as television prices continue to decline. Case in point? Vizio just announced a new 86-inch 4K smart TV that costs just $999.

The first thing worth mentioning about the latest member of Vizio’s lineup of 4K televisions is its size. The next-biggest model is 75 inches and that’s already large enough to absolutely take over most spaces. This thing will be like having a Times Square billboard in your living room. That's not a bad thing, particularly for home theater buffs. 

We don’t know how this set will look in action yet, but it does offer a serious batch of features. Vizio says it “boasts the same powerful picture quality as its predecessors”, thanks to the inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+. The company also promises the TV can run games at 120 fps once you switch to 1080p. Here’s hoping the product can make good on this claim. Other features include dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and DTS:X audio.

Walmart agreed to buy Vizio last month for $23 billion, though the deal still faces regulatory approval. The 86-inch 4K TV officially goes on sale April 29 at both brick-and-mortar and digital retailers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://ift.tt/lgRVMqS
via engadget.com

Here's why '3 Body Problem' is set in the UK

3 Body Problem has left us with plenty of burning questions, from that intriguing conversation between Dr Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) and Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) to the mystery of what the San-Ti aliens might actually look like.

But anyone who's read Liu Cixin's Remembrance of Earth's Past novel trilogy, which is set mostly in China and upon which the show is based, may have had another question: Why is the Netflix adaption set largely in the UK?

SEE ALSO: '3 Body Problem': What's the deal with everyone smoking?

With the majority of the show either taking place in the '60s and '70s in China and Mongolia or present-day Oxford, London, and the southeastern English coast near Seven Sisters, Mashable put the show's UK setting to showrunners David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo during a recent interview. The main takeaway was that the choice wasn't so much a stylistic one as it was a logistical one.

"I think part of it was just familiarity," said Benioff. "I mean Dan [Weiss] and I had worked there for many years. Not in England but in Northern Ireland, and worked with a mainly UK crew."

Plenty of recognisable UK landmarks pop up in the show, from the colleges of Oxford University to the headquarters of the fictional Strategic Intelligence Agency on London's south bank, through to the capital's bustling Piccadilly Circus during the "you are bugs" scene.

Benioff said that they worked with a UK casting director and a largely UK cast on Game of Thrones and had a great experience — many of whom, such as John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, Conleth Hill, and Jonathan Pryce, turn up in 3 Body Problem.

"I don’t know if it’s superstition or a feeling of they really know what they’re doing over there, that made us want to get back together with a bunch of the same people we worked with before," he said. "Some of it's just that you start working with these people and you know that they're incredibly good at their jobs, and you develop a shorthand with them. So for us, even though it's a long trip and it would be a lot more convenient to work at home, we had such a great experience the first time around that we thought well, let's try this again."

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.

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Grab the Roku Express 4K on sale for under $35 and upgrade your streaming experience

SAVE 30%: The Roku Express 4K streaming device is just $34.99 at Amazon, down from the regular price of $49.99. That's a savings of $15.

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Credit: Roku

Roku Express 4K streaming device

$34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00

Streaming your favorite shows and movies in 4K brings a whole new life to the experience. If your content and TV can handle 4K resolution, but your streaming device isn't up for the job, today's deal is your signal to upgrade.

As of March 27, the Roku Express 4K streaming device is $34.99, marked down from the regular price of $49.99. That's a 34% discount or a savings of $15. This sale price matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: Watch movies at home with this smart projector on sale for $286

Whether you're streaming from Netflix, Prime Video, or Hulu, the quality of the picture makes a difference to your immersive experience. The Roku Express 4K streaming device means your 4K content won't show up in lower quality thanks to an outdated streaming device — it streams in 4K HDR for sharp resolution and color optimized for your TV.

The Roku Express 4K also comes with the Roku Voice Remote Pro which has hands-free capability so you can ask Roku to stream your latest binge-worthy find. The remote is rechargeable so you'll never need to dig through the junk drawer to find new batteries. Plus, Roku can find the remote should it get misplaced. Just say, "Roku, where's my remote?" and the remote will play a sound to help you locate which couch cushion to look under.

If you want to watch the latest blockbuster while everyone else in your house is sleeping, just plug headphones into the Roku remote and you won't disrupt anyone's slumber. You can also control your TV with the Roku remote to power it on and off and adjust the volume.

If you've been watching 4K content without a streaming device that's capable of handling 4K resolution, upgrade to the Roku Express 4K. Thanks to today's deal, you'll score the lowest price we've ever seen on this product at Amazon.

via IFmashable.com

Get 'Alan Wake II' for 20% off and experience an acid trip of a detective story

SAVE $12: As of March 27, get a digital copy of Alan Wake II for PlayStation 5 for $47.99 at the PlayStation Store. That's a 20% discount off the original price of $59.99.

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Credit: PlayStation Store

'Alan Wake II' (PlayStation 5)

$47.99 at PlayStation Store
$59.99 Save $12.00

If you bought a PlayStation recently and want to find a great game to lose yourself in, Alan Wake II is the way to go. You can't go wrong with the 2023 Mashable Game of the Year, after all. If you've been waiting for the perfect time to grab your own copy on sale, today's a great time to do so.

As of March 27, you can score a digital copy of Alan Wake II from the PlayStation Store for just $47.99. That's $12 off the usual price of $59.99 and a discount of 20%. You can also snag the Deluxe Edition for $63.99, which is $16 off the usual price of $79.99. The Deluxe Edition gets you the Alan Wake II Expansion Pass for additional story content and some in-game items that protagonists Alan and Saga can use.

SEE ALSO: Sony PlayStation 5 Pro leak: New PS5 Pro console may arrive for the 2024 holiday season

You don't need to have played the first Alan Wake to enjoy Alan Wake II, but it will certainly help. This sequel picks up where the original ended, but contains a sprawling psychological mystery that you can dive right into: the Dark Place. Alan Wake will work to find his way out of the terrifying miasma between nightmares and reality with the help of FBI Agent Saga Anderson. You'll play as both characters while Anderson investigates a string of murders in the fictional town of Bright Falls, Washington.

If horror and surrealism are up your alley, you'll find plenty to love about this game — and it's even sweeter now that you can get it at a discount.

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Why '3 Body Problem' picks the perfect gamer names

Picking a name for your character in a game is a high-pressure decision. Honestly, I'll sit there for at least 30 minutes, scanning my bookshelves for a glimmer of half-baked inspiration that isn't straight-up naming my newly minted elven warrior mage Sally Rooney. Perhaps you use the same pseudonym across all your games — I almost always resign to either Juno or Artemis; sue me, I love a fierce classical bitch. But whatever you pick, often your moniker will pop up in conversations, giving you the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever, especially in deadly serious games.

However, no game really has higher stakes than the VR immersive action-adventure gifted by the San-Ti to Earth's scientists in 3 Body Problem. In Netflix's adaptation of Liu Cixin's novels, several characters including Dr Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) and Jack Rooney (John Bradley), find these slick, sliver headsets turning up in their lives, throwing them into a way-too-real world where their mission appears to be solving the titular three-body problem of a doomed alien home planet.

SEE ALSO: '3 Body Problem' showrunners discuss what the aliens might really look like

But before they can do that, Jin and Jack are required to give themselves a "better" name than the real-world one they arrived with. And it's these names that provide a neat connection between the characters and their role in solving the game — and the very real connection with the fate of the San-Ti.

What names do Jin and Jack pick in the VR game?

"Pick a better name." Credit: Netflix

Putting on the VR game, Jin lands near the court of ancient Chinese Emperor Zhou (Russell Yuen). In episode 2, she meets the formidable Count of the West (Tom Wu), who instructs her to pick a different name for her character — "one befitting a hero". Jin suggests "Copernicus". In Jack's game, confronted in Tudor England with Henry VIII's Lord High Chancellor Sir Thomas More (Kevin Eldon), he selects "Sir Francis Bacon" as his moniker (after punching Sir Thomas in the face, of course).

Fittingly, Jin picks the 15th century Polish mathematician and astronomer who developed the extremely important model that demonstrated Earth isn't the centre of the universe — a lesson we all need to learn, really, the characters of the 3 Body Problem included. Specifically, Nicholaus Copernicus was the guy who told the world we revolve around the sun, not the other way around, and that the Earth turns once daily on its unique axis. It's a perfect pseudonym for Jin, who pores over charts, measurements, and data, trying to figure out what initially appears to be the game's main mission: to predict the movements of the sun to determine whether a civilisation is about to enter into an era defined by Chaos or Stability.

Meanwhile, Jack's namesake is the 16th century English philosopher and politician who was King James I's Lord Chancellor, but more importantly for our purposes, Bacon is referred to as the "father of empiricism" who championed the scientific method, much like Jack does in the game.

Credit: Netflix

Both of these figures are crucial to the history of science and discovery, the likes of which the San-Ti want to both test and destroy in order to dominate humankind on Earth — "We're going to kill your science" is quite the threat. Copernicus' heliocentric theory about the sun being the centre of the solar system would have a massive influence on later major scientific players in the Scientific Revolution including one Sir Isaac Newton, whose own work led to the core scientific quandary that Jin eventually wades into: the three-body problem (wey-oh!). In the 17th century, revolutionary research by Newton would show the world how gravity holds the universe together, and in doing so, he unlocked the dilemma that would perplex scientists to this day. In a fittingly Newton move, Jin demonstrates the three-body problem to Pope Gregory (Conleth Hill) in the game by holding an apple.

Nice Newton nod. Credit: Netflix

We see other figures throughout the series turn up in the game with their own theories to solve the Chaos/Stability mystery, all named for famous scientific figures. In the level with the Pope, players named for Aristotle (Phil Wang) and Galileo (Adrian Greensmith) battle for His Holiness' approval. In the level featuring the Great Khan, they challenge players named for Professor Alan Turing (Reece Shearsmith) and Sir Isaac Newton (Mark Gatiss).

Do Jin and Jack's gamer names appear in Liu Cixin's books?

Credit: Netflix

Mashable's Chris Taylor describes just where the gamer names came from in Cixin's novels in this excellent explainer of the book vs show. Jin's gamer name, Copernicus, is the one chosen by book-only character Wang Miao, as are the names of the figures Jack and Jin encounter while meeting the Pope, as Taylor writes:

"Wang calls himself Copernicus in the game, and encounters many more historical figures that we assume to be NPCs. One level contains Pope Gregory, Galileo, and Aristotle, and deals with a pre-computer technical solution to the three-body problem. Another level that Wang plays after the giant human computer features Einstein, who points to a large moon that was created when the gravitational effect of the three suns ripped it out of the planet itself."

So, there you have it, an understanding of the names in 3 Body Problem and a handful of potential monikers you can take to your next game character that aren't your regular go-tos.

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.

via IFmashable.com

What is Hubbl? Inside the new TV technology changing how we watch

By now, you’ve likely seen some advertisements popping up around the place for Hubbl. It’s some kind of entertainment product, but it’s not a new streaming service. So, what exactly is it?

Hubbl is both a new line of hardware, as well as an advanced operating system designed to combine your streaming services and free-to-air TV together. But is that all marketing hype, or is there some truth to that branding? Let’s start with the very basics:

What does Hubbl do?

Simply put, it's a TV and streaming aggregator. Hubbl combines your streaming subscriptions onto one interface, and merges that with existing free-to-air TV channels. With this, it allows you to create personalised watchlists that factor in your streaming services, and ‘Continue Watching’ functionality that is consistent across everything you watch. The hope is that Hubbl will simplify how you search for and watch content, as well as provide the ability to manage your eligible subscriptions in one place.

Doesn’t my smart TV do this?

In varying degrees, yes. But Hubbl is more than just a homepage to access your existing apps on. The first thing you notice when using Hubbl is how it seamlessly integrates streaming apps with live TV.

Do you ever stumble upon a reality show (or otherwise) on free-to-air channels that immediately gets you hooked? Well, Hubbl automatically informs you of which streaming service you can find more of that show on, meaning you can immediately go back to the first season for context, or you can add it to your multi-app watchlist and start watching at your own pace.

Which streaming services work on Hubbl?

At the time of release, alongside native apps Binge, Kayo Sports, LifeStyle and Flash, you’ll also find Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, Apple TV+, iView and ABC Kids, SBS On Demand, 7plus, 9Now and 10 Play.

Stan, Optus Sport, and Paramount+ are slated to join the Hubbl platform soon.

Getting your hands on Hubbl

If you’re interested in getting started with Hubbl, you have two choices. The first is the A$99 Hubbl “puck” device (just called Hubbl). It’s a small device which you connect to your existing TV via HDMI. It’s relatively simple to set up, and the remote functions well with most existing TVs. This will likely be the most popular entry point into Hubbl.

Additionally, there is also the Hubbl Glass smart TV, with a built-in sound bar and Hubbl preinstalled. Starting at A$1,595 and available in both 55” and 65”, Hubbl Glass features a 4K Ultra HD Quantum Dot Display with 8.2 million pixels, hands-free voice control, and six powerful speakers built-in for 360° Dolby Atmos surround sound. Hubbl Glass is available in two sizes and five colours (Anthracite Black, Ocean Blue, Racing Green, Dusky Pink and Ceramic White)

If you’re in the market to buy, Hubbl Glass is currently exclusive to Harvey Norman and Hubbl.com.au, while the Hubbl puck is available at JB HI-FI, Harvey Norman and Hubbl’s website.

How much does Hubbl cost?

The standalone Hubbl device has a launch price of A$99. For the Hubbl Glass, there are two different size options available:

• Hubbl Glass 55” – A$1,595

• Hubbl Glass 65” – A$1,995

There is no monthly subscription cost for Hubbl, as it’s just a portal through which you access your existing services (both paid and free). However, separate app subscriptions are still needed for some services.

Hubbl Glass Credit: Hubbl

How does Hubbl's subscription bundling work?

A strong selling point for Hubbl is “Stack & Save”, which lets you stack eligibale streaming services Binge, Kayo, Netflix, Flash, and Lifestyle. Essentially, the more streaming apps that you connect to through Hubbl, you earn a stacking discount on your monthly bill.

At launch, if you stack 3 apps through Hubbl, you save $5 a month. If you stack 4 apps, you save $10 per month. If you add all 5 eligible apps, you can save $15.

Is Hubbl worth it?

The Hubbl interface is surprisingly snappy, intuitive, and seamlessly integrates traditional free-to-air broadcasts into its streaming offering. Many people these days will set up a TV and never even connect to an aerial for free to air TV. In recent years the TV watching experience has boiled down to frustrated scrolling through number of apps, being blasted with content but still never finding anything to watch. With its combined watchlists and TV guide, Hubbl does a good job of changing up that routine. The ability to connect to free-to-air TV without an aerial is also a feature that will likely push a few people into trying it out, and if you’re a prolific streamer, you can save some good money on your monthly content costs.

Learn more or purchase either device on the Hubbl website, here.

via IFmashable.com

Prep for summer backyard season by getting 20% off on select Solo Stoves

Fans of spending time outdoors have recently been treated to something pretty special — outdoor fires that have minimal smoke. For those who've ever played an endless game of musical chairs to avoid sitting in the smoke plume, these sale prices at Solo Stove will be enticing as summer season rolls around.

Best sale items at Solo Stove today

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Best deal for the outdoor chef

Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven

$279.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $70)

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Best deal for those who prefer the indoors

Cinder Tabletop Bowl

$31.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $18)

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Best backyard ambiance deal

Solo Stove Mesa Torch (3-pack + 1 bonus torch)

$159.99 at Solo Stove with code FAST20 (save $119.99)

Solo Stove is in celebration mode and they've invited all of us to the party. Fast Company recently awarded Solo Brands 2nd place on the list of the Most Innovative Companies of 2024. To commemorate the achievement, Solo Stove is offering 20% off on some of the brand's most innovative products that earned them this prestigious award by using the code FAST20 at checkout. Here are some of our favorite Solo Stoves to shop during this limited-time sale that ends on March 31.

Best deal for the outdoor chef

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Credit: Solo Stove

Our pick: Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven

$279.99 at Solo Stove
$349.99 Save $70.00

use code FAST20

Why we like it

How does a flame kissed pizza in 90 seconds sound? The Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven is the outdoor summer chef's dream. Using propane, the Solo Stove Pi Prime has a demi-dome design for efficiency. Just preheat for 15 minutes, get that pizza on the included pizza stone, and you'll be serving up pizzas with endless topping combos all summer long. The oven also comes with an included shelter for protection from those summer storms.

Best deal for those who prefer the indoors

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Credit: Solo Stove

Our pick: Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl

$31.99 at Solo Stove
$49.99 Save $18.00

use code FAST20

Why we like it

Not much of an outdoor person? Solo Stove has something just for you. The Cinder Tabletop Bowl is designed for using indoors with a compact size that lends itself to easy storage. Ideal for when a s'mores night is on the calendar but the weather isn't cooperating, the Solo Stove Cinder Tabletop Bowl uses a heat-resistant base and durable concrete construction, making it more stable for indoor use.

Best backyard ambiance deal

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Credit: Solo Stove

Our pick: Solo Stove Mesa Torch (3-pack + 1 bonus torch)

$159.99 at Solo Stove
$199.99 Save $40.00

use code FAST20

Why we like it

Set the summer mood with the Solo Stove Mesa Torch to get transported to your favorite tropical island. A three-pack of Mesa Torches typically sells for $199.99, but thanks to the discount code FAST20, you'll be scoring the pack for just $159.99. To sweeten the deal, a three-pack is currently eligible for an additional free Mesa Torch which means you'll wind up with four in total.

The Mesa Torches can be set to two height options to match the look you're going for, and the weather-resistant steel means you won't have to worry about them getting a little summer drizzle.

More Solo Stoves eligible for the FAST20 discount code

• Solo Stove Fire Pit Pellet Adapter — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Solo Stove Mesa XL — $79.99 $109.99 (save $30)

• Solo Stove Lloyd Modern Gel Fuel Fireplace — $559.99 $699.99 (save $140)

via IFmashable.com