Firaxis Games unveiled details about Sid Meier's Civilization VII during Gamescom 2024.

Players can mix and match leaders and civilizations, combining their strengths for unique gameplay possibilities.

The game is divided into three distinct ages: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. Players can switch civilizations at the beginning of each age based on their progress.

Each age ends with a crisis that affects all players, adding dynamism and preventing early dominance.

Instead of individual units, Civilization VII introduces Commanders who can combine multiple units into armies with special abilities.

Cities develop organically by connecting new districts (urban and rural) to existing ones, reducing micromanagement.

Legacy Paths (Science, Culture, Military, and Economy) allow players to focus on specific paths in each age, impacting available civilizations in the next age.

The diplomacy system has been revamped with the introduction of a new resource called "Influence" for diplomatic actions.

Minor civilizations, now called "independent peoples," are more dynamic and can appear and disappear throughout the game. Players can use Influence to befriend or recruit units from them.

The visual style is inspired by miniatures, model trains, and museums, creating a detailed and atmospheric game world.

The game aims to prevent any player from gaining an insurmountable lead at the start by having a reset button between eras.

Pre-purchasing grants access to the Shawnee civilization and Tecumseh as a playable leader.

Civilization VII draws inspiration from newer rivals like Humankind and Ara: History Untold.

Civilization VII is set for a worldwide release on February for platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

Pre-orders are available on Steam, featuring the digital-only Founder's Edition and Deluxe Edition, with the former only accessible until February 28. Both editions offer advanced early access starting on February 6.

Sources: BBC, Ars Technica, The Verge, TechRadar, VentureBeat, Gameswelt, Yahoo, Meristation, One Esports, Game Rant, Informazione, Siliconera, Newsdirectory3, WorthPlaying, Overclockers.ru, WinFuture, GameSpot.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Season 4 of "Emily in Paris" showcases stunning fashion, and valuable personal branding lessons.

Emily and her team partner with a beauty brand whose product is revealed to be sexual lubricant, and Emily's half-truth about the product may have consequences.

Season 4 also introduces a #MeToo arc, with Sylvie accusing Louis de Leon of sexual harassment, though some critics felt it could have been explored deeper.

Gabriel hopes to receive a Michelin star for his successful new restaurant, while Camille goes through personal struggles and discoveries in Part 1.

Brand placements within the show, like Vestiaire Collective and Rimowa, have boosted their visibility and popularity.

The popular Netflix series catapulted Lily Collins to stardom, with its light-hearted, glamorous elements and Parisian backdrop contributing to its success.

Emily's wardrobe has been adapted for each season, with Collins involved in the process, as the wardrobe shows her character's evolution.

Costume design pays tribute to Audrey Hepburn's iconic fashion, as it did in previous seasons.

Emily's success in "Emily in Paris" offers lessons in personal branding, such as showcasing one's thinking and experiences, taking risks, and maintaining a positive and resilient attitude.

The show was briefly dethroned on Netflix's Top 10 list by the True Crime documentary "American Murder: Laci Peterson," but its popularity continues to grow.

Ashley Park, who plays Mindy, revealed her near-death experience due to septic shock before the season 4 premiere, after having battled leukemia from a young age.

Park and Lucas Bravo (who plays Gabriel) have been posting goofy TikTok videos on Park's page to show their off-screen romance, attending red carpet events together.

Sources: Forbes, Independent, USA Today, Estadao, Repubblica, Yahoo, Tecmundo, Economic Times, Nosotras, Zocalo, Terra, El Comercio, Times of India, ETV Bharat, Corriere, La Vanguardia.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Netflix documentary "Inside the Mind of a Dog" reveals the complexity of a dog's mind through interviews with researchers, and trainers.

It is currently on the top 10 of Netflix top viewership charts worldwide.

It explores the mental and emotional world of dogs through scientific research, behavioral studies, and expert perspectives in ethology and neuroscience.

The documentary delves into the history of dogs, their training, communication, and the evolution of the human-dog relationship, addressing questions about what dogs think, how they perceive the world, and how they express emotions.

The documentary showcases dogs' powerful sense of smell, their ability to understand human commands, and experience of emotions like jealousy, love, and anxiety.

Dogs and humans share a mutual connection through eye contact, which triggers the release of oxytocin, the "love hormone," creating a bond similar to the one between parents and children.

Dogs can manipulate humans by engaging in sustained eye contact, causing an increase in oxytocin levels for both parties.

Sources: Playtech, NewsMonkey, Salon, IndiaTimes

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Disney+ Hotstar released a new travel variety show called "Are You Sure?!" featuring BTS members Jimin and Jungkook, with V joining them in future episodes.

The show follows the trio's adventures in New York, Sapporo, and Jeju Island before their military service enlistment.

The first episode shows Jungkook's performance on "Good Morning America", his packing for the trip, and his exploration of New York City with Jimin.

The show includes eight 72-minute episodes, with new episodes released every Thursday on Disney+ Hotstar.

Jimin and Jungkook started military service on December 12, 2023, finishing basic training on January 15, and are enlisted under South Korea's special companion system, allowing friends or family to serve together.

Jimin recently made a solo comeback with the album "MUSE", while Jungkook released a heartfelt tribute song "Never Let Go" for BTS' 11th anniversary.

Fans can also stream BTS V's travel docuseries "In The Soop: Friendcation" on Disney+ Hotstar, which is similar in format to "Are You Sure?!".

The creators were secretive about the production, but footage showed Jungkook tipping over in a kayak.

BTS is strategically managing their content release during their military hiatus to keep fans engaged, with other productions about the band on Disney+ including "BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star" and "In the Soop: Friendcation."

BTS plans to resume group activities in 2025 after all members have completed military service.

Sources: Lifestyle Asia, Prestige Online, Filo News, The Day, Koreaboo, Filmfare, Bollywood Life, Head Topics, WIONews, Pinkvilla, Mid-Day, The Telegraph India.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Set in the grim, bloody Warhammer 40,000 universe, Space Marine 2 is a highly anticipated third-person hack-and-slash action game. It features intense melee combat with iconic weapons like the chainsword, as well as ranged combat, brutal executions, and superhuman skills of Space Marines combating relentless Tyranid swarms.

The game boasts impressive graphics, sound design, and over-the-top weapons, bringing hundreds of swarming aliens to life. It creates a sense of dread and raw immediacy in battles. A deep melee combat system offers satisfying combos, and improved visuals. An enhanced Swarm Engine managing thousands of enemies on screen simultaneously.

Space Marine 2 introduces new features like "Trials" missions for honing class-specific abilities, extensive customization options for weapons, armor, and class loadouts, and a three-player PvE mode called Operations, where team composition and strategy are crucial for survival against enemy waves.

It has a class system with six unique classes, each offering different loadouts, abilities, and perks for varied gameplay, with options like the powerful but immobile Heavy class. Customization through perks, abilities, and team perks enhances the squad's effectiveness, but significant grinding is required to unlock these.

The game includes a cooperative mode, a post-campaign experience with co-op, PvP modes, and an Operations mode focusing on auxiliary missions with various enemies, challenges, and mini-bosses. Multiplayer missions are immersive, fitting into the wider narrative with well-voiced exposition.

While previews praise the visuals, fluid combat, and the empowering feeling of being a Space Marine, some critics find the melee combat challenging to master and criticize the main campaign's repetitive missions and glitches.

Early testers with hands-on experience with the beta version unanimously praised the graphics quality, level of detail, dynamic and brutal combat system, and the "Operations" mode. Users also noted frame rate drops, varying degrees of bugs, a lack of AI in teammates, and sometimes awkward controls (especially on controllers) during the beta testing on PC.

The system requirements range from Radeon RX 580 to RX 6800 XT for GPUs, with the recommended CPU being Ryzen 7 5800X or Intel Alder Lake, and an SSD for smoother gameplay. The minimum GPU for 1080p is GTX 1060 or GTX 1070. The game's system requirements for PC are surprisingly low and seem affordable on the lower end.

While there are minor concerns about audio issues, bugs, and long loading times, the gameplay loop is compelling, offering a satisfying power fantasy experience for Warhammer 40K fans, with attention to detail and fan service.

Sources: TechRadar, IGN, Pravda, 3DNews, PlayGround, DLCompare, AnandTech, Bell of Lost Souls, Destructoid, Granada Hoy, PCGamesN, GamerBraves, Kotaku, Eurogamer.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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SpongeBob embarks on a cross-country trip to Texas to save Bikini Bottom from an evil CEO's cloning project in "Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie."

The movie is streaming exclusively on Netflix.

The animated/live-action hybrid comedy film includes musical numbers.It celebrates squirrel scientist Sandy Cheeks, exploring her roots, and STEM interests.

The Nickelodeon Movies production was directed by Liza Johnson. The writers are Kaz and Tom Stern.

The voice cast includes Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks, Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants, and other original voice actors, as well as live-action actors like Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, and Grey DeLisle.

While promising a fun and adventurous storyline, the humor may not connect the same way as fans are used to in the SpongeBob universe.

It may also feel like a knockoff rather than a spin-off, potentially impacting the future of "SpongeBob"-adjacent properties.

Sources: The Guardian, India TV News, TheWrap, ComingSoon.net, FirstShowing.net, Variety, Times Now News, ArcaMax, Diario Sur, DNYUZ, MovieWeb, Brobible, Free Press Journal, IndiaTimes.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Futurama is returning with a new 10-episode season on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally.

The season will explore themes like AI, NFTs, coffee, and the continuation of Fry and Leela's romance, with time-twisted elements.

Bender will sell an NFT and visit his ancestral village in Mexico. In the "Futurama" episode "I Second That Emotion," Bender flushes Leela's pet Nibbler down the toilet, leading to Old New York's ruins underground.

Futurama follows Philip Fry, a pizza delivery guy who wakes up 1,000 years in the future and starts working at a delivery service. The show survived cancellations and renewals, with a turbulent broadcast history. It continues to appeal to fans of Groening's work and lovers of sci-fi and quirky humor.

Sources: TechRadar, Gizmodo, Times of India, The Verge, Página/12, Esmael Morais, What's on Disney Plus, Reelgood, ComingSoon.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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"Kaos," a dark satirical comedy Netflix series, reimagines Greek mythology in a contemporary setting. Jeff Goldblum portrays a paranoid Zeus fearing the loss of his status as King of the Gods.

Zeus targets three mortals – Riddy, Orpheus, and Caneus – connected to an ancient prophecy about his end, causing catastrophes to keep humanity submissive. He also has to handle his dysfunctional family life.

"I think my favorite is fire," Zeus says in a newly released trailer.

The cast includes David Thewlis, Janet McTeer as Hera, Cliff Curtis as Poseidon, Nabhaan Rizwan, Killian Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Rakie Ayola, and Stanley Townsend. The series includes cameo appearances by Billie Piper and Eddie Izzard as Greek gods.

The series is created by Charlie Covell, known for "The End of the F***ing World," and directed by Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo, known for their dark sense of humor.

The series offers a mature and dark take on Greek mythology, similar to American Gods but with Zeus as the protagonist.

The series is created by Charlie Covell, known for "The End of the F***ing World," who is thrilled to be making "Kaos" with a dynamic team, including visionary directors Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo, known for their dark senses of humor.

Sources: The Verge, Gizmodo, The Hindu, O Antagonista, Terra, Daily Caller, CinePOP, CBR, Headtopics, CultBox, Gamereactor, Social News, Entertainment Focus, TVLine, Flickering Myth, Geek Girl Authority.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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'Vought Rising,' a prequel series to 'The Boys,' will explore the twisted origins of Vought, the creation of Compound V, and the dark secrets that shaped the world of supers. Set in the 1950s, the plot will revolve around a twisted murder mystery.

The prequel will delve into the origins of characters like Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) and Stormfront (Aya Cash), as well as the debaucherous annual event Herogasm.

The series was announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego and is expected to premiere in late 2026 or early 2027, possibly later due to scheduling and post-production.

Jensen Ackles also confirmed his return for the fifth season of "The Boys" during the Comic-Con panel.

The Boys franchise is expanding with spin-offs like Gen V (a college-themed series), The Boys Presents: Diabolical (an animated anthology), and The Boys: Mexico. The main series may end with season 5, but the Supe-filled universe is just getting started.

While some question the necessity of the prequel, others believe more of a good thing can be enjoyable.

Sources: Engadget, CNET, Gizmodo, Yahoo Entertainment, Begeek, Devdiscourse, FandomWire, Economic Times, Meristation, CarterMatt, TV Series Finale.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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'The Day of the Jackal' is an upcoming 10-episode assassin thriller series, a contemporary re-imagining of Frederick Forsyth's 1971 novel.

Eddie Redmayne stars as the skilled lone assassin Jackal, while Lashana Lynch plays a British intelligence officer pursuing him in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.

A teaser trailer shows Redmayne taking of a disguise, saying "You know who I am," and driving across Europe, as he is pursued by Lynch's character.

The cast includes Úrsula Corberó as the Jackal's love interest Nuria, Charles Dance, Khalid Abdalla, Lia Williams, Eleanor Matsuura, Nick Blood, and Richard Dormer.

Ronan Bennett is the series' creator and writer. Directors are by Brian Kirk, Paul Wilmshurst, Anu Menon, and Anthony Philipson. Executive producers include Redmayne, and Lynch.

The series will premiere in November, on Sky Atlantic, NOW, and Peacock.

Redmayne is currently starring in the Broadway musical "Cabaret."

Sources: TellyMix, MovieWeb, Ice Cream Convos, Stylist, Economic Times, Flickering Myth, Bolavip, FirstShowing, RecentlyHeard, GeekTown,  Just Jared, The News, Meath Chronicle, Connaught Telegraph.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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