Image: Sony Online Entertainment Massively multiplayer online games have gotten a bad rep over the years, but those who play them know the joys of an immersive, adventurous world. Thanks to a sweeping scale, many MMOs can offer players whatever experience they want, be it raiding, questing or battling. A quick look at the titles due for release in 2014 show the genre is still alive and well, with fresh ideas and ever-improving hardware. To add to the excitement, many studios are giving gamers behind-the-scenes looks at their creation progress. Thanks to beta sessions, developer chats and lots of trailers, the landscape for MMOs looks very promising. Here are seven new games slated for 2014 launch that are taking risks and pushing the definitions of what an MMO can be. In other words, plan to lose all your free time diving into these fun, creative worlds. 1. Elder Scrolls Online Bethesda Softworks has maintained a cult following for its Elder Scrolls series for years. These sweeping sagas let players roam across various regions of Tamriel, learning magecraft, joining the Dark Brotherhood or just harassing city guards who took arrows in the knee. That open-world mentality seems like a natural fit for an MMO. With Elder Scrolls Online, players will get a chance to wander the snowy mountains of Skyrim and the mysterious Black Marsh. Bethesda has a reputation for great storytelling in its games, so expectations are high for the online game. It is set in a time before the RPG games, so expect to see different struggles between the races and lots of new villains to take out. The latest betas have been making big strides in polish; the art style will not disappoint franchise fans. 2. EverQuest Next Landmark The original EverQuest title was one of the early entries in the MMO genre, and it’s getting a long-awaited overhaul. Some elements of the upcoming EverQuest Next will probably look familiar from those first days, but David Georgeson and his team promise a revolutionary approach to the game style. Although EverQuest Next probably won’t hit shelves for at least another year, we’ll get our hands on EverQuest Next Landmark quite soon. Landmark is a blank canvas that gives players powerful in-game tools to build just about anything they can dream up. These creations in the game will be available for purchase by EverQuest Next players, through the Player Studio. Sony Online Entertainment will take a cut, but the players with the most impressive items will also pocket some cash for their inventions. EverQuest Landmark is winding down a promising alpha stage, and we’re hoping to see Landmark’s official launch at some point in 2014. 3. World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor It’s not exactly a new game, but the new expansion for World of Warcraft marks a big change in the granddaddy of MMOs. On the visual side, the Blizzard team is revamping the player character models to bring the nearly decade-old game more in line with contemporary graphics […]
Image: Flickr, Camera Eye Photography Authors from all over the world came together last week to celebrate the best and brightest in contemporary literature at the 2014 PEN Literary Awards. The ceremony honors both recently published authors and those whose work has been pivotal in crafting the modern literary scene. Prize-winning books ranged from deep dives into the world of sports medicine to playful children’s stories to enchanting literary fiction. These books are all must-reads, but in case you need more convincing to check out these titles, here are seven reasons why you should be reading this year’s 2014 PEN Literary Award winners. Reasons Why You Should Be Reading This Year’s PEN Literary Award Winners 1. They empower children This year, storyteller Bil Lepp won the PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing with his children’s book The King of Little Things. By following the King of Little Things and his tiny subjects in their struggle to stop the devious King Normous, readers learn the value of simplicity and the power held by even those who are small. The book is made even more endearing by Lepp’s inspiration for the story — a whimsical playtime misadventure with his own son. Image: leppstorytelling.com 2. They let you travel the world Part of the power of literature is its ability to take you somewhere new. It’s this very virtue that PEN America celebrates with its PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. This year, the award went to The Diaries of Exile by Yannis Ritsos, translated by Karen Emmerich and Edmund Keeley. The Diaries of Exile details the life of a prisoner during the Greek Civil War, transporting readers to 1940s Greece within the bounds of this collection’s diary poems. Image: Archipelago Books 3. They celebrate diversity This year, PEN America awarded two authors — Ruth Ellen Kocher and Nina McConigley — the PEN Open Book Award. Kocher’s poetry collection domina Un/blued is simultaneously tragic and touching as it depicts various forms physical and mental of slavery. Likewise, McConigley’s Cowboys and East Indians addresses diversity and identity by looking at an eclectic cast of characters inhabiting Wyoming and India. Image: theaerogram.com 4. They advocate for social good Every year, PEN America spotlights social good with its PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. The prize is always awarded to an unpublished novel that addresses issues of social justice and comes with $25,000 and a publishing contract with Algonquin Books. This year, Ron Childress won the Bellwether Prize with his manuscript “And West Is West,” which explores corruption in both the military and Wall Street. Image: penamerican.tumblr.com 5. They are confronting violence in the NFL With the recent NFL controversies, much has been said about the brutality found within football, both on and off the field. But in their new book League of Denial, brothers Mark Fainaur-Wada and Steve Fainaru expose another type of violence perpetuated by the NFL — brain injuries incurred by players while playing football and how the NFL sought to cover […]
These days, it’s not just print and television that secure dedicated campaigns — Instagram and Vine are getting them, too. Earlier this week, Polo Ralph Lauren began rolling out a series of nine 15-second videos on Instagram as part of its “Polo Ralph Lauren Survival Guide.” As of Sunday, seven of the videos have rolled out, demonstrating, for example, how to pitch a tent (see below), how to start a fire and how to chill and uncork a bottle of champagne. The videos aren’t practical guides, of course. Rather, they provide a backdrop to Polo Ralph Lauren’s cable-knit sweaters, down jackets and leather boots. A company spokesperson said they’re designed “to capture the essence of the new Polo collections — the Explorer’s Club and Country Gentleman,” collections that are both “rugged yet wearable.” The entire campaign was shot and edited on an iPhone, according to the company. And judging by the image, below, it had an impressive iPhone rig to work with. Although Ralph Lauren denied any connection, the videos remind us of Lowe’s wildly popular Fix in Six Vine campaign, which offers a series of home-improvement tips in six-second videos. (The campaign recently won Mashable‘s Best in Show award at The Mashies.) Image: Polo Ralph Lauren Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/10/13/polo-ralph-lauren-instagram/
The Inebriator is a cocktail machine that mixes your drink in seconds. With this Arduino-powered robot bartender, all you have to do is grab a glass, fill it with ice, select your desired drink, give it a little stir and enjoy. The makers of the cocktail-making robot describe the inspiration behind the project: Most parties we have been to there is a good selection of spirits and mixers, but no one has the inclination to make cocktails. This project is designed to make it as simple as feasibly possible to get perfect cocktails every time without the hassle of looking up ingredients or measuring spirits and mixers. The Inebriator features a Hitachi HD44780 compatible display that displays drink information, navigation buttons, a stepper motor to drive the drink shelf and a cluster of LEDs to illuminate the glass and mixers. This article originally published at PSFK here Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/09/06/inebriator-cocktail-machine/
Mashable‘s social book club, MashableReads, met with author Juan Gabriel Vasquez for a Twitter chat on Sept. 24 to discuss his novel, The Sound of Things Falling. The novel deals with the aftermath of kingpin Pablo Escobar’s reign in Colombia. Mashable readers discussed their favorite characters and posed questions to the author. Vasquez shared his own experience writing the novel and where he draws inspiration from. If you missed the Twitter chat, you can check out some of the highlights in our Storify below. The next MashableReads book will be Necessary Errors by Caleb Crain. Make sure to follow @mashlifestyle for discussion about the book and tweet with the hashtag #MashReads during the chat. For an up-to-date discussion throughout the month, join our Facebook group and share your thoughts with other readers. [View the story “#MashReads Discusses ‘The Sound of Things Falling’” on Storify] Image: Mashable, Bianca Consunji Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/09/26/juan-gabriel-vasquez-twitter-chat/
People love to drink wine, but how much do we really know about it? Everybody’s favorite spirit has a rich history beyond rowdy bar nights or quiet evenings with a special someone — or your cat. Travel Channel host and wine expert Olly Smith teamed up with #5facts to round up some little-known trivia about that sweet nectar of the gods. How many of these tipsy tidbits did you know? Impress all your wino friends with these five fascinating facts, and for more fun in wine country, check out Jeni and Olly’s West Coast Wine Adventures on the Travel Channel. And if you love comedy with your facts, be sure to subscribe to 5facts on YouTube for a new video every week. 1. A “butt” is a medieval measurement for the liquid volume of wine. Image: Reddit HeathenBarbie A butt is equivalent to a half “tun,” or about 126 gallons. 2. Roman women could be killed for drinking wine. Image: Tumblr doctorwhogifs Women in early Rome were forbidden to drink wine, and a man who caught his wife drinking was legally allowed to kill her. 3. Red and white wine grapes both produce clear juice. The color of red wine is created by fermenting the skins of red grapes, in addition to the juice. Pink wines start like reds, but the skins are removed early in the fermentation process. 4. Soil type has a huge impact on the flavor of wine. Image: I Am Brony The French science of Terrior was developed to pinpoint the exact climate, topography and soil type best suited for each grape. Legend has it that Benedictine monks even tasted the soil to find ideal planting conditions. 5. Women get drunker on wine than men. Image: Tumblr foxsearchlightpictures Women’s stomachs contain less of the enzyme that metabolizes ethanol. BONUS: 5 Facts Every Coffee Drinker Should Know Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/05/01/wine-facts/
The Nuna Pepp is sure to make you wonder why Americans need to have everything so big. The European stroller, which only recently debuted in the United States, is compact and incredibly light, weighing in at just 19 pounds. Despite its smaller size, the stroller still has a shade, storage basket and five-point harness. We had a chance to test drive the Pepp stroller, and found it to be snappy, compact and very chic. Assembly was a breeze, and it folds incredibly flat for easy storage. The compactness of the stroller is probably its best feature; place it side-by-side with a typical American stroller, and you’ll definitely see the difference. The Pepp is also made for one-hand navigation, so no more coffee-stained shirts while pushing your baby. The five-point harness, however, is something to get used to. Because it requires so many clicks into and out of place, prepare for a greater struggle with your writhing little one. What’s more, the basket underneath is reminiscent of typical European car trunks — very small without much room for storage. The Nuna Pepp retails for about $300, so it isn’t the cheapest stroller on the market, but urban dwellers will appreciate what it has to offer. Read more Crash Test Mom gadget reviews on Mashable Image: YouTube, Crash Test Mom Natali Morris Natali is a technology reporter and host/editor-in-chief of Crash Test Mom, a parenting product review show. She is a regular contributor to CNBC and The TODAY Show, as well as an MBA student at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is …More Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/09/29/nuna-pepp-stroller/
Cauldrons? Check. Pumpkins? Check. Candy, ghosts and goblins? Check, check, check. Oct. 31 isn’t only about tricks and treats — it’s about stimulating the economy. With 170 million Americans participating in Halloween festivities, there’s a lot of cash being spent on ghoulish items. Personal finance forum WiseBread looked into Halloween spending, and found that from 2007 to 2012, Americans shelled out an average of $28.65 on costumes. What’s more, they spent $370 million costumes for pets within those five years. (For some, though, it’s worth seeing their pooch dressed as a giraffe.) Interestingly, people are turning to social media more often to get ideas for the perfect Halloween getup. Pinterest is a popular source of ideas for All Hallows’ Eve, with 4.2% consulting the online pinboard, while 2.8% are logging on Twitter to get inspiration for costumes. Check out the infographic below to see more stats on the spookiest night of the year. Halloween by the Numbers: With the economy already looking pretty darn scary, will Halloween be tame by comparison? Or is Halloween still an excuse for us to throw on a mask, go wild with fake blood, and forget all about our financial misery? Image: Wise Bread How much did you spend on Halloween this year? Tell us in the comments below. BONUS: 15 Unbelievable Halloween Makeup Tutorials on YouTube 15 Unbelievable Halloween Makeup Tutorials on YouTube 1. Emily from The Corpse Bride Make sure you walk around with your eyes closed, or this costume will become even more creepy. 2. Nina from Black Swan Even if you can’t dance, at least you can perfect this eye makeup. 3. Pinhead from Hellraiser This is a lot less painless than actually putting nails into your head. 4. Zombie We never thought flaps of “skin” could be so intriguing… 5. Scar from The Lion King With the exception of the scar, this look was completed entirely with paint, and we love it! 6. Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland One of the simpler looks, but a red wig is required. 7. Pop Art Comic books come to life. 8. Jigsaw from Saw This video is infinitely creepier than the costume itself. 8. Edward Scissorhands Scissors for hands not required. 10. Zombie Skeleton Although the video doesn’t provide step-by-step directions, just watching the process is helpful. 11. Classic Skeleton One of the simple, classic looks that’s easy to copy. 12. Unzipped Face This is the only video in which the demonstrator talks about what she’d change to make it better, but we say it’s realistic enough. 13. Neytiri from Avatar Novice Na’vi? No problem. 14. Sonic the Hedgehog You can probably skip the eyebrow glue and pencils and freehand this look. 15. The Joker from The Dark Knight Why so serious? BONUS: Mouth/Neck A new take on “necking” this Halloween. Read more: http://mashable.com/2012/10/28/halloween-spending/
You don’t have to travel to New York City this weekend to experience the NYC Pride March. On Sunday, June 29, the city streets will welcome the march, and Mashable has your front-row seats. We’ll be providing coverage, commentary and interviews live from the march route. Tune in right here on Mashable or via the livestream on the Mashable YouTube page beginning Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET for interviews with Orange Is The New Black‘s Laverne Cox, Frozen‘s Jonathan Groff, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Rea Carey and Kinky Boots‘ Natalie Joy Johnson, among many others attending the march. Influencers and advocacy groups around the world will also join the event remotely through the power of Google+ Hangouts on Air to share their inspiring stories and efforts. The month of June commemorates the Stonewall riots, which took place in New York City in June 1969. Now 45 years later, Pride Month is often observed and celebrated across the U.S. through LGBT Pride marches. To follow the march through social media, keep up with all the action with the #PrideCast hashtag. BONUS: 5 LGBT Influencers Share Their Proudest Moments Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/06/27/nyc-pride-march-livestream/
Once you see how the sausage is made, they say, you probably won’t want to eat it. A photographer named Peter Augustus created a photo series that shows popular food dishes next to their raw animal counterparts. It’s … eye-opening, to say the least. Elliott gives his take on it in the newest episode of Mashable Minute. Last week, we strongly persuaded you to not have sex with a shark. Check it out: Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/09/08/mashable-minute-food-porn/
