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biofunmy · 5 years

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Endgame” Box Office Is Record-Shattering

Marvel Studios

Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame.

What words could possibly describe the estimated $350 million Avengers: Endgame has grossed in its domestic theatrical debut, and the $1.2 billion it has earned worldwide?

Colossal? Gargantuan? Hulkmugous?

As it stands, the 22nd film produced by Marvel Studios has not only shattered practically every single box office record imaginable — the biggest worldwide debut, the biggest domestic debut, the biggest domestic opening day — it has fundamentally altered what Hollywood perceives is even possible for a film’s financial success. It’s as if, after years of trying to land on the moon, humanity suddenly reached Mars.

Consider Endgame’s global box office record. After opening internationally on Wednesday in 21 markets — including China — Endgame earned an estimated $643.7 million worldwide through Friday, including $156.7 million on its first day in the US and Canada. That’s already the best worldwide opening ever, surpassing the $640 million record set last year by Avengers: Infinity War. And now Endgame is projected to make $565.3 million more through Sunday.

Roughly 27% of that titanic (elephantine? Thanostrinomical?) global haul came from China. As is the case in virtually every international market, Endgame broke the all-time box office record in China, earning roughly $217 million in US dollars in its first three days, and an estimated $330.5 million through Sunday.

Due to the country’s longstanding quota system allowing for only 34 non-Chinese films per year (give or take), it’s still not terribly common for a Hollywood movie to open over the same weekend in China as it does in the US and elsewhere — Infinity War didn’t, nor did Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But Endgame’s massive haul in China underscores not only how critical the country is now to Hollywood’s bottom line, but how deep an impact Marvel Studios has made within China’s carefully stage managed cultural landscape.

Then there’s Endgame’s domestic box office record. Prior to this weekend, the most the domestic box office had ever grossed in total over a single weekend was last year, when Infinity War’s debut boosted overall grosses in the US and Canada to $314.5 million from April 27–29, according to Comscore.

Endgame blew that figure away all on its own, helping to set a new single-weekend overall record of $393.7 million.

Even adjusting for ticket price inflation, Endgame’s domestic debut remains lightyears ahead of every other film, blasting well past a $300 million threshold that many thought was mathematically impossible to reach.

The issue, it was believed, was Endgame’s three hour runtime. Some of the most popular movies of all time from Hollywood’s golden era in the mid-20th century are well over three hours long. But you can count on one hand the number of modern blockbusters from the last 25 years that run past the three-hour mark.

Studios have grown reluctant to release any movie at that length for the simple reason that it significantly limits the number of times the film can be shown in a single theater in a day.

Demand for Endgame, however, has proven so insatiable — Fandango reported that it had sold out over 8,000 showtimes in advance purchases — that many multiplexes chose to blanket Endgame on most (if not all) of their available screens. Some theaters added late night and early morning screenings, and a handful of theaters even elected to not close at all over the weekend.

Prior to the advent of digital projection in movie theaters, this kind of total saturation for a single movie was cost prohibitive. Creating and shipping a single physical print for a film can run a studio $1,500, and each of those screenings needs to be supervised by a projectionist. Now, by contrast, theater managers can simply send a movie’s much cheaper digital file to their theaters’ unmanned digital projectors. It’s how Marvel Studios’ parent company Disney can release Endgame in 4,662 theaters — another record.

But Disney also inadvertently discovered a different logistical limit to how much a single blockbuster can dominate a weekend: Many movie theaters just aren’t set up to handle a movie at this scale.

I love Avengers: #Endgame as a movie lover. I hate, hate, hate it as a movie theater manager. We just simply are not equipped to handle this kind of business, and it’s killing us. Not enough staff. Not enough registers. Not enough ovens. Not enough space for queues. It’s insane.

03:46 PM – 27 Apr 2019

It turns out that having this many people flood into movie theaters over 72 hours to see just one movie is a bit like trying to carry Thor’s hammer inside a sock — you can do it, but good god, that poor sock!

Nonetheless, audiences did not appear to mind: With a rare A+ rating from audience polling firm CinemaScore, and 29% of audiences telling Comscore they would see the film again, Endgame stands to continue raking in untold riches through the summer.

The only lingering box office records left for Endgame to beat is whether it can also become the first movie to earn over $1 billion domestically and $3 billion worldwide, surpassing the respective all-time records set by The Force Awakens ($936.7 million domestic total gross) and Avatar ($2.78 billion worldwide total gross). Those may be more difficult bars to clear, though, as theaters dial down their superheated release pattern and Endgame’s runtime finally does begin to inhibit how often it can screen in a day.

Endgame is at least guaranteed to propel Marvel Studios past the $20 billion mark in global box office grosses.

It would be a crowning — and fitting — achievement for Marvel Studios if Endgame does become the highest grossing film of all time, reflecting the profound impact the company has had on Hollywood over this past decade.

Since Marvel Studios launched with Iron Man in 2008, it has remade the movie franchise into something akin to a big screen TV series, and forced the rest of the film industry to chase the “cinematic universe” model whether it made sense or not.

No one has come close to matching Marvel Studios, however, not even sister company Lucasfilm, which learned the limits to audiences’ appetite for Star Wars titles in 2018 after Solo: A Star Wars Story severely disappointed at the box office.

While Endgame has broken the paradigm for box office success, it’s unclear when, or if, any other studio could match the monumental creative challenge of marshaling a cinematic universe populated with franchises audiences enjoy, starring actors audiences love, and then weaving those individual franchises together into a series of mega-franchise movies that culminate with what amounts to the biggest, most expensive season finale ever attempted. It took Marvel Studios 11 years, hundreds of actors, and billions of dollars to make that happen, and no current studio appears to have the wherewithal or patience to equal that effort.

No studio, perhaps, except for Marvel Studios.

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recentnews18-blog · 6 years

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New Post has been published on https://shovelnews.com/funny-gimmicks-refuse-to-go-away-at-showground/

Funny gimmicks refuse to go away at showground

Students line up to view ‘mtu bila kichwa’ at the Nairobi International Trade Fair on Friday. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

If the idea that someone can pretend to have a head without a body and charge people to see him was funded by taxpayers, then the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would be accused of looking the other way on one of Kenya’s longest running scandals.

But at the Nairobi International Trade Fair which ends today, the more things change the more they remain the same. Take the bodyless head for instance. In reality, it is just a person seated below a table with the head, surrounded by some pinkish cotton wool to feign blood, protruding on top.

ALSO READ: Uhuru awards KIE for best stand

Or better yet, a dreadlocked person with his head protruding through a plastic basin whose bottom has been cut but being advertised as a mermaid. Then next door there is a woman being marketed as the shortest person in the world.

Mind you, people pay Sh20 to watch such crazy acts and from the length of the queues, show goers are yet to get enough of such gimmicks years after they were introduced at agricultural shows. “I do not have teeth,” said the ‘head without a body’ while flashing his blackened mouth when I asked if he eats.

“So how do you eat?” I asked.

“Even if I eat where will the food go? Can’t you see I don’t have a body?” he responded.

It is hilarious to think that people actually pay money to watch such obvious tricks but what will the show be if there were no such crazy acts. So popular are such side shows and exhibitions that in 2002, the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) decided to rename the Nairobi Show to Nairobi International Trade Fair.

Know if news is factual and true. Text ‘NEWS’ to 22840 and always receive verified news updates.

Making sales

Although agriculture is supposed to be the main attraction, the show has over the years grown into a carnival for exhibitors to display their products and make sales. “The primary objective of giving information to the farmer has been lost by the organisers who have turned it to a cash-generating avenue,” complained Michael Mbuni.

While officially opening the show on Thursday, President Uhuru Kenyatta challenged the private sector to support Kenyan technological startups, adding that the government is also promoting policies that support innovation. “Innovation and technology in agriculture and trade are at the cornerstone of my administration’s commitment to job creation through manufacturing; and ensuring food security for all Kenyans,” said the president.

ALSO READ: KDF launches appeal against acquittal of 26 ex-soldiers

“The government is further implementing measures to encourage more private sector involvement in post-harvest handling and value addition to maximise revenue in the agriculture sector which has been allocated Sh57 billion in this year’s budget,” he said.

Nevertheless, the tired repainted buildings, school buses, dust and the tens of thousands of school children strolling from stand to stand is proof that the show is still popular. It only appears smaller if you visit it as an adult compared to how endless it used to feel when you were a child. All exhibitors still give away cardboard hats, everywhere you look there is a scout or girl guide and the president still rides around a top a modified Land-rover. This presidential tour is not considered complete until he buys a bull at an astronomical price like he did on Thursday.

And although the current attendance numbers are yet to be made public, last year, 700,000 people visited the seven-day event. Additionally, the show attracted 350 local and international exhibitors with 95 foreign countries participating.

One thing that has not changed however is the DS Sounds night club which operates day and night and is a permanent fixture in all the agricultural shows countrywide.

Would you like to get published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us breaking news, story ideas, human interest articles or interesting videos on:

Source: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001298139/funny-gimmicks-refuse-to-go-away-at-showground

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fashiontrendin-blog · 6 years

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35 Travel Apps That Will Level-Up Your Holiday

http://fashion-trendin.com/35-travel-apps-that-will-level-up-your-holiday/

35 Travel Apps That Will Level-Up Your Holiday

Taking a trip abroad used to be easy: all you needed was your plane ticket, passport, phrasebook, some low-cost high-ABV duty-free booze and a suitcase full of alarming loud holiday clothes.

Of course, it was a bit of a nightmare, too: you’d lose your plane ticket, pick up the wrong passport, forget to pack your best swim shorts and end up arguing with a taxi driver because your phrase book is, well, foreign.

In this modern, tech-savvy day, there’s a gizmo to solve all of those problems and more. In fact, travelling has never been simpler, providing you can carry out the simple task of tapping a screen.

So whether you’re booking, flying, taking a tour of a new city, or looking for somewhere that serves up authentic cuisine, here are 35 must-have apps for travelling abroad.

Before You Go

Skiplagged

A controversial (but no less handy app), Skiplagged helps travellers hack airline pricing to find hidden-city flights. Instead of booking direct flights from A to B, it finds cheaper layover from A to B to C options. You just leave the airport to skip the final leg of the flight.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

PackPoint

Saving you the trouble of remembering (and inevitably forgetting) everything you need, PackPoint is the ultimate luggage hack. Tap in all the specifics of your trip – destination, length of stay, activities – and it puts together a comprehensive list of essentials, from socks and sunglasses to phone chargers and hair products.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

XE Currency

Wherever you go, money can get confusing – and it’s all too easy to overspend or not take enough foreign moolah. The XE Currency app helps your sort finances by offering live exchange rates, historical charts, and a converter for calculating prices in 180 currencies. It also remembers the latest exchange rate so you can use it offline.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Skyscanner

An indispensable tool for the experienced (and thrifty) traveller, Skyscanner allows you to search, compare, and book cheapest deals on flights, hotels, and car hire – whether you’re booking last minute or months ahead. More than 40m downloads pretty much prove its place among the best travel apps out there.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Google Trips

A recent addition to Google’s ridiculously helpful and accurate selection of travel-friendly apps, Trips is a one-stop shop for organising your adventure. It collates all travel and reservation info from your emails and helps you plan a daily itinerary, with sightseeing and food recommendations.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

While Flying

FlightAware

One the most popular and user-friendly flight trackers available. Monitor any commercial flight in the world (you can even see what the pilot sees in glorious 3D), plus check speed, aircraft type, route, arrival and terminal details. For both keen travellers and hardcore aviation geeks.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

GateGuru

Okay, this one is most useful before you get in the air, but an essential tool for taking the stress out of the airport stage. It tells you where to check in, estimated wait times, and gives a map of the terminal. All of which helps you factor in time for the obligatory airport pint.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Turbulence Forecast

One for anxious flyers, Turbulence Forecast uses official flight crew info to update you with maps of bad weather, indicating where areas of turbulence will be. You can also access it mid-flight to figure out how much longer turbulence will last, or when the next nerve-rattling bout of buffeting is coming.

Available free on iPhone.

App in the Air

Pitching itself as a ‘personal flying assistant’, App in the Air tells you everything you need to know about your upcoming flight including real-time updates, airport tips, and flight profile. But once you’re flying, it also tracks mileage covered, route, and keeps a log of your personal flight history. It does everything except bring you an alcoholic drink.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Pocket

If there’s anything more likely to turn your brain to mush on an already–boring long haul flight, it’s a marathon of films you couldn’t be bothered to see at the cinema. So get reading instead. Pocket saves all those articles and long-reads you didn’t have time for in day-to-day life so you can enjoy them offline while free from distraction in the air.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Where To Stay

Airbnb

A game-changer in the travel world, wherever you are, use Airbnb to search the location, and book accommodation in someone’s actual home (don’t worry, they won’t necessarily be there). It’s not always cheap, but it pays for itself when travelling in groups, plus it offers some of the unique places to catch 40 winks, from tree houses in Bali to a giant seashell in Mexico.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

HotelTonight

Not every trip goes the plan. So if you’re suddenly lumbered with a cancelled flight or Airbnb disaster, Hotel Tonight offers discounted prices on empty rooms. Booking them takes a matter of seconds. You can also book ahead, with a range of hotels available – from luxury to budget.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Roomer

Looking for cheap accommodation? Roomer will connect you will someone who has a cancellation and pre-paid hotel room going spare. You can take on the room for a fraction of the cost – up to 80 per cent in some cases. On the flip side, a handy app to have in case you need to sell some hotel accommodation on.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Hostelworld

One for backpackers, inter-railers and free-spirited adventurers – Hostelworld can be used to search and compare more than 36,0000 hostels and B&Bs in over 170 countries. It’s the perfect app if you’re happy going with the flow and making arrangements on the fly.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Geosure

We don’t want to be a total downer, but safety should be top of the list when planning a trip and deciding where to stay. Geosure uses statistical algorithms to give a real-time safety score – based on various factors, including physical harm, theft, health, political and basic freedoms – in 28,000 neighbourhoods around the world.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Getting Around

Uber

Where would be without Uber? Stuck on the pavement, trying to flag down a local taxi for twice the price, that’s where. Uber has revolutionised boozy weekend shenanigans back home, but it’s just as handy when travelling abroad – whenever or wherever you need a taxi, with none of the language barrier.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Google Translate

A multilingual marvel of modern technology, with Google Translate you hold your phone over any foreign text — be it a steak menu or a street sign — and it uses augmented reality tech to translate live on the screen (in the same font, no less). An invaluable, strangely futuristic tool for finding your way around and learning the most about a new city.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Turo

Essentially Airbnb for cars, Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental service, which helps you hire vehicles of any make and model from local hosts (i.e. someone willing to rent out their car for a few days). It’s far cheaper than using established rental companies and more straightforward than the usual faff you get at the point of collection.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Citymapper

It can be hard finding your way around a major city (even your own city, let alone somewhere you’ve never been before). Luckily the award-winning City Mapper app is an A to B route planner that covers all transport options – bus, subway, train, even Uber – with live disruption updates, plus real-time departure and arrival info.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Rideways

After some peace of mind about your airport travel arrangements, without having to worry about finding a taxi, or being stung with a ridiculous surcharge? With Rideways you can book airports taxis with reputable firms, with a fixed price (all transactions are cashless), and a guaranteed easy-to-find driver.

Available free on iPhone.

Seeing The Sights

Sidekix

Dubbed an ‘urban navigation app’, Sidekix maintains that the best way to explore a city is by putting those sneakers to pavement. Just tap in your destination and it will give you a route, via other sights, shopping, hidden gem attractions, or best food and drink venues – all based on your own passions and personal tastes.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Guides by Lonely Planet

When it comes to travelling expertise, there’s nobody better than the Lonely Planet writers. The publisher’s app offers curated guides, with reviews and recommendations on all the must-see (and lesser-known) sights for an authentic experience. It also goes the extra mile with offline maps, language phrasebooks, and local tips.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

G Spotting

Forget the slightly rude name, G Spotting is an app for the ‘authentic’ (i.e. fancy) traveller. It’s actually a spin-off from Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle website, Goop, and gives the inside scoop on restaurants, shops, hotels, and culture hotspots. Think high-end and boutique-y. The sort of place you’d expect to see a Hollywood A-lister between Moon Juice smoothie sessions.

Available free on iPhone.

Musement

Launched in 2014, Musement promises to turn your phone into a digital tour guide in over 350 worldwide destinations. It suggests all the usual things – restaurants, bars, landmarks, attractions – but also works as a ‘what’s on’ guide for concerts, sports events, or exhibitions. The big sell is that you can skip queues by booking tickets directly through the app.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Time Out: Discover Your City

If you’re in any of the world’s major cities, Time Out is still the number one guide for discovering things to do that otherwise only locals would know about. It’s a handy tool for planning your entire trip, day-by-day, with recommendations that help you max out on culture (or just good places to drink) during your time away.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Food & Drink

Where Chefs Eat

This app version of the famous restaurant guidebook lists over 4,500 eateries in more than 70 countries, recommended by 650 top chefs. In short, actual chefs tell you the best places to eat. And it’s not all top dollar fine dining – there are suggestions for neighbourhood haunts, budget options, breakfast, late night bites, and more.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Yelp

Picking a restaurant to eat in or a bar where you can sink a few martinis in a new city is always a risky business. What you need is the local low-down on where’s best to eat, drink, and be merry. So what better app than Yelp, the number one app for local business reviews? You can also check out reviews of shops and other services.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Happy Cow

Designed for vegans and vegetarians (the cow’s happy because he hasn’t been eaten, presumably), this finds plant-based-grub restaurants and cafes anywhere in the world. And not just standard eateries, but veggie bakeries, health food stores, markets, juice bars, and everything else. It also caters for organic, gluten-free, and raw food fans too.

Available on iPhone, priced £3.99 and Android, priced £3.59.

Zomato

Need to find a mouth-watering hangout, be it food or drink? Providing you’re in one of 10,000 cities worldwide (we’re going to assume you are), Zomato has you covered. You can look through menus and photos of dishes, plus scroll through themed lists of venues if you’re hungry for a specific type of cuisine, or looking for a place that will suit a particular occasion.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

OpenTable

OpenTable doesn’t just find restaurants to eat in, it also books the table directly from your device (eliminating the need for angrily shouting your details down the phone to a maitre d’ who doesn’t understand your terrible lingo). It lists over 40,000 venues around the world, which you can search by location, cuisine, or personalised preferences.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Next-Level Living

GetMyBoat

It’s a common problem: you need a luxury yacht with an hour’s notice but just can’t seem to flag one down. Fear not, GetMyBoat is the app you need. It’s the number one place for booking all kinds of swanky water activities: charters, tours, fishing trips, paddle board rentals, snorkelling, and even surfing lessons.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Dufl

Intended for frequent business travellers, Dufl stores, packs, ships and cleans your clothes so you can hop between borders bag-free. All you need to do is the select the pieces you want sending from the app’s digital closet, and your freshly cleaned Oxford shirts will meet you at your destination.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

LoungeBuddy

These days, you don’t have to be a first-class flyer to access airport lounges (though having a few quid does help). With LoungeBuddy you can browse ones available at your terminal – including actual photos of the usually mysterious interiors – check the amenities and book a spot in seconds.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Louis Vuitton City Guide

That’s right, a ‘things to do’ guide from one of the world’s top luxury fashion houses. As you’d expect, recommendations lean towards the luxurious – high-end hotels, boutique stores, wallet-troubling chocolatiers, galleries, and off-the-beaten-track venues.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

Alice Guest

Alice is an award-winning concierge service that connects world explorers with every department of the hotel (providing you’re staying at one of the 2,000+ locations signed up to the platform). You can order room service, talk to the front desk, book spa appointments and arrange wake-up calls, all with real-time updates.

Available free on iPhone and Android.

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rincongamers · 6 years

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Team Fortress 2 Update Released

An update to Team Fortress 2 has been released. The update will be applied automatically when you restart Team Fortress 2. The major changes include: Matchmaking Changes

Competitive Revamp

The matchmaking system used for Competitive Mode has been overhauled. Players will now be ranked using a model based on the Glicko rating system used in CS:GO.

The old 18 Competitive ranks have been consolidated into 13 new ranks. You can view the new ranks on the updated Competitive FAQ page (https://ift.tt/29inlu9)

Competitive ranks have been reset and players must win 10 matches to earn a new Competitive rank

Note: The previous system started everyone at Rank 1, and required - in most cases - considerable time for players to reach a rank that properly reflected their performance. The new system - by way of placement matches - considerably shortens the time required to reach an appropriate rank

The requirements to access Competitive Mode have changed: If you do not own a Competitive Matchmaking Pass, you must now be at least Casual level 3 in addition to being a Premium user and having a valid phone number associated with your account.

Casual Improvements

Casual Mode now uses the Glicko skill rating system behind the scenes to better create balanced matches and group players by skill level

The maps listed in the Casual matchmaking screen are now sorted alphabetically

Added ctf_sawmill, ctf_well, cp_5gorge, ctf_2fort_invasion, and ctf_foundry to Casual Mode

Updated the match-end map voting to only vote on maps for the current game mode (if you are playing Payload, you will only vote on Payload maps)

Queue While Playing

You can now queue for a match while already in a Casual or Boot Camp match

While queued and in-game, queue status will be shown in the top right

Multi-Queue

You can now queue for multiple match types at the same time

Players can queue for all match types in parallel, but accepting a Competitive or Mann Up match will remove the player from other queues

Players who are in a party and not the party leader are now able to freely browse any of the matchmaking menus

Gameplay Changes

Flamethrowers

Flamethrowers were able to do full damage regardless of the spread of their flames, rewarding maximizing flame spread over focusing on a target. We've made changes geared toward preserving the current damage range of flamethrowers, but requiring better aim to do so.

Flame damage per second now ramps up based on density of flame encountered, up to 200%

Initial flame damage per second reduced by 50%, resulting in the max damage being unchanged

The Dragon's Fury

We are happy with the design of this weapon, and the playstyle it brings, but it should require tighter hit tolerances in order to reach the higher-end of the damage range

The size/radius of the fireball has been reduced by 25%

Bonus damage against a burning target now requires the fireball's center to make contact with the target's hitbox

The Gas Passer

We found a couple of issues with the Mann vs. Machine upgrade "Explode on Ignite" that resulted in it doing far more damage than intended. We've increased base damage to help offset some of the reduction in output these fixes bring about.

Changes to the "Explode On Ignite" upgrade in Mann vs. Machine

Damage from the upgrade no longer counts toward the refilling the item's charge meter

Fixed an issue where explosive damage could be reapplied for each target in the gas cloud

Fixed the triggering bot not taking explosion damage

Increased explosion damage to 350 (from 250)

The Axtinguisher

The slow deploy time -- which is there to help "pay" for the burst-damage this weapon is capable of -- hasn't been very well received, and we agree that it feels awkward. The design goal of this pass is to embrace the concept of a finishing-move weapon -- which requires planning, timing, and introduces opportunity for "combo" gameplay.

New design:

Attacks mini-crit and then extinguish burning targets

Receives a damage bonus based on the remaining duration of after-burn

Added: "Sketchek's Bequest: Killing blows on burning players grant a speed boost"

Base damage reduced by 33%

Holster speed 35% slower

No random critical hits

The Thermal Thruster

We erred on the side of conservative with the initial design -- as this item introduces a lot of mobility to a class that's typically lacked it -- but having watched players for a while, we think it is safe to make it easier for Pyros to switch back to their weapon

Holster time reduced to 0.8 seconds (from 1.1)

The Sydney Sleeper

Jarate is a powerful effect, and this weapon makes it too easy for one Sniper to substantially increase the damage potential of their team. And, unlike the Jarate jar, the infinite-range of the rifle means the Sniper can be far away from danger. These changes are designed to preserve the "Jarate Rifle" identity, but tone it down, add more reward for the Sniper's skill by allowing higher first-shot damage output, and offer a way for players who want to focus on providing area-of-effect Jarate to recharge their Jarate jar more quickly.

Fully-charged body shots and headshots no longer splash Jarate on players around the target

Reduced length of on-hit Jarate to 2 to 5 seconds (from 2 to 8 seconds)

Added: "Nature's Call: Scoped headshots always mini-crit and reduce the remaining cooldown of Jarate by 1 second"

The Short Circuit

The current design of zapping projectiles is interesting, but we're not happy with how much it can be done. While it would be easy to simply increase the metal cost (which we've done before), it would quickly push this weapon into the rarely, if ever, used category. Instead, we've changed the fundamental behavior of the weapon, such that it requires a bit more anticipation and positioning from the Engineer, has more skill depth, and increases the team support potential of this weapon.

Alt-fire attack changed to launch a medium-range, projectile-destroying energy ball. Requires 65 metal.

Pretty Boy's Pocket Pistol

We underestimated how much health high-skill players would be able to recover during combat.

Reduced maximum (close-range) per-hit heal amount to 3 (from 7)

The Panic Attack

The recent redesign left this weapon feeling a little weak close-in, so we've increased the damage potential at point-blank and close range.

Reduced worst-case shot pattern spread by 40%

Reduced damage penalty to -20% (from -30%)

The Atomizer

This is basically a bug fix. Players could perform a double-jump and then quickly switch to this item and eek out a third jump. The goal of the previous change was to require players to commit to this item in order to gain the extra jump.

The weapon must now be fully deployed before a triple jump can be performed

Gameplay Fixes

Fixed the "-40% health from healers" penalty on The Fists of Steel (it wasn't active)

Fixed an issue with The Gloves of Running Urgently and Eviction Notice where players that were missing health would not be properly restored when touching a resupply cabinet

Fixed the Cow Mangler 5000's charged shot so that afterburn lasts 6 seconds (instead of 10)

Fixed a case where Engineer buildings could be placed such that players would become stuck when exiting a teleporter (a.k.a. "teleporter trap")

Fixed Flamethrower particles sometimes failing to draw on the client

Fixed Flamethrower flames not colliding with tf_generic_bomb entities

Fixed being able to fire flames and then quickly switch teams to attack teammates

Fixed The Loose Cannon continuing to play the priming sound if the weapon is holstered while priming

Fixed projectiles from The Pomson 6000 and The Righteous Bison pushing players around

Fixed the Razorback shields not being preserved across round restarts

Fixed the Dragon's Fury not giving health when attacking an enemy under the effects of Mad Milk

Fixed being able to load the Beggar's Bazooka with rockets and then spam the inspect key to hold the loaded rockets until ready to fire them

Fixed the Heavy being able to attack with secondary and melee weapons while stunned

Fixed being able to collect organs with the Vita-Saw during a truce

Fixed not being Marked-for-Death when doing a melee attack while under the effects of Crit-A-Cola

Lag compensation system will now reliably restore pose parameters responsible for animation layering

This makes server-side hitboxes for lag compensated players better match client-side rendered models

Fixed stickybombs sometimes blocking explosive damage from other stickybombs

Fixed The Back Scatter not mini-crit'ing when the Scout was in the air and behind their target

Fixed the resistance-piercing property on The Enforcer not working against some items or effects (Wrangler shields, Battalion's BackUp, Fists of Steel, Spy invisibility passive resistance, The Dead Ringer, Brass Beast and Natascha)

Fixed The Sandman and The Wrap Assassin projectiles colliding with invisible objects in team spawn rooms

Fixed player movement speed sometimes being faster than intended while under the effect of a movement stun (i.e. Natascha, The Sandman's ranged attack, Bonk! Atomic Punch)

General

Added the Blue Moon Cosmetic Case and Blue Moon Cosmetic Key

New community cosmetics case with 19 items

Reduced the base price of the Competitive Mode Pass from $19.99 USD to $9.99 USD and left it on sale for 50% off the new base price

Added The Dragon's Fury and The Hot Hand to the list of weapons used when generating Killstreak Kits in Mann vs. Machine

The type of badge shown on the main menu can now be changed by clicking the gear button near the badge

The in-game action buttons (Call a vote, Request a coach, etc.) have been moved to the bottom center of the main menu

Sped up the main menu screen transitions. Controlled via the ConVar tf_dashboard_slide_time.

Party members will now have a status indicator on their Steam avatar when they are offline

Improved Steam rich presence integration based on the player's current status

Improved UI when certain match types, such as Mann vs. Machine, are unavailable for maintenance

Fixed Squad Surplus Vouchers only being usable by the party leader in Mann vs. Machine

Fixed the console, server browser and options menus sometimes going behind the main menu and becoming unclickable

Fixed a client crash related to the cycling ads in the main menu

Fixed a bug related to the ConTracker not displaying the correct number of earned contract points

Fixed not being able to move if you opened the ConTracker menu while dead and closed it after you respawned

Fixed Sniper ragdolls not displaying the correct state for the Razorback when the Sniper is killed (drawing when it should be hidden and vice-versa)

Fixed the match-end map vote menu drawing if you disconnect from a server during a vote and then connect to a new server

Fixed not using the initial observer point when first connecting to a Casual or Competitive server

Fixed not being able to spectate observer points or your own buildings in Casual Mode

Fixed not being able to inspect the Pain Train in-game

Fixed a visual artifact when inspecting the Panic Attack

Fixed The Thermal Thruster launch effects only being visible to the wearer

Fixed the Heavy fists not showing the Killstreak sheen

Fixed the Yeti Smash taunt not removing the Yeti prop if the taunt is ended before the animation is complete

Fixed Mann vs. Machine robots sometimes using human voices instead of their robot voices

Fixed Festivized items ignoring any other quality for their name (i.e. "Collector's")

Fixed Festivized Australium weapons not using the correct skins for players on the BLU team

Fixed Festivized Holy Mackerels, Soda Poppers, and Wingers not drawing the festive lights for the BLU team

Fixed the Steam Community Market icons for several Festivized weapons

Fixed training bots suiciding in the respawn room

Fixed the Prinny Hat and Prinny Pouch not displaying their painted areas when painted

Fixed The Hot Hand being hidden when the Pyro taunts

Fixed the Deflect Projectiles strange part not counting deflections

Fixed the Engineer's PDA not always honoring the "Use minimized viewmodels" option

Fixed missing display attribute for the Rescue Ranger (client display issue only)

Fixed seeing "Red Rock Roscoe War Paint" as a valid tool for all items in the context menu

Fixed the Community Sparkle particle effect not drawing on the viewmodel for players with Community and Self-Made weapons

Fixed the Wrangler's death notice icon being clipped

Fixed the Overtime label not being centered under the team status HUD

Fixed the Sap Auteur achievement not working with all types of sappers

Fixed the Krazy Ivan achievement not requiring the victim to be underwater

Added RGB sliders for Combat Text in the Advanced Options screen

Added a unique particle effect whenever a player performs a "Stomp" attack on another player with the Mantreads or The Thermal Thruster

Added the BLU skin to the Neo Tokyo War Paint

Added the ozfortress Season 21 tournament medals

Added the National Heavy Boxing League tournament medals

Added ETF2L Highlander Season 14 and 6v6 Season 29 tournament medals

Added the Ultimate Ultiduo tournament medals

Added RGL.gg Pick Ban Prolander Participant Season 2 tournament medal

Added the RGL.gg One Day Prolander Cup tournament medals

Added the Palaise tournament medals

Added the Newbie Prolander Cup tournament medals

Added the ESA Rewind II tournament medals

Added the Florida LAN 2018 community medals

Added the Journey to the East community medals

Added the Canteen Crasher community medals

Updated the Harvest Moon, Dead Presidents, and Circling Peace Sign unusual effects to fix display problems

Updated the autobalance feature to more quickly respond to team imbalances

Will select the best candidates to balance the teams then ask the candidates for volunteers

If no volunteers are found, candidates will be switched when they die

If no candidates die within a reasonable period of time, candidates will be forcibly switched to the other team

Updated past Saxxy and Memory Maker items to be Strange

Updated the Huntsman contract to give 5 points instead of 4 on the Expert objective to fix not being able to fully complete the contract

Updated The Jag to fix a problem with the Isotope unusual effect

Updated the team status HUD to be enabled by default when playing on Community servers (for game modes other than Mann vs. Machine)

Can be toggled via the Adv. Options menu

Updated the Thermal Thruster status icon in the HUD to match the actual model

Updated Titanium Tank Participant Medal 2017 so it can be used with name/description tags

Updated the description for the Skullpluggery achievement to clarify what needs to be done

Updated the equip_region for the Wally Pocket

Updated models/materials for The Patriot Peak, The Crit Cloak, and Special Snowflake 2016

Updated the localization files

Added a bot navigation file for ctf_turbine

Updated pl_badwater

Fixed a few cases where Pyros could shoot through spawn doors

Updated cp_dustbowl

Fixed Pyros shooting through the stage 3 doors

Updated some entities that were disabled but shouldn't have been (func_nobuilds, soundscapes, powerlines in the 3dskybox)

Updated ctf_foundry

Added func_noclip instances to the base areas for both BLU and RED to prevent nasty sentry locations

Updated cp_mercenarypark

Fixed RED being able to shoot through the roof of BLU's starting spawn

Changes to control point C

BLU's spawn time has been slightly lowered

The upper-mid route window now has a small opening for attackers to use

Players can no longer build on the very top of the crate stack overlooking the control point

Increased cover next to the control point

Increased the size of the metal supply next to the cover stack

Added a vent route that exits behind the new cover

Bullets no longer go through the chain fence wall at the ramp connecting lower and upper

Community requests

Fixed the Start Disabled logic in the func_nobuild entity

Added OnEat, OnEatRed, and OnEatBlue outputs and filter support in the func_croc entity

Added ConVar mp_tournament_prevent_team_switch_on_readyup (default 1) to prevent team switching on ready-up when using tournament mode

Missed note from a previous update:

Fixed security issue reported by 'Kristian N. (!AvastAntiPony 9445)'

#steam #news #gamers #juegos pc #juegos online

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robertkstone · 7 years

Text

An Orange 2017 Land Rover Discovery Joins the Four Seasons Fleet

Through the many badges it’s worn here in America since launching here in 1994, the Land Rover Discovery has played an undeniable role in the early seeds of SUV mania. Even after the Disco name was dropped for North America in 2004 with the launch of the third-generation model in favor of the LR3 moniker (which evolved to LR4 years later with the launch of the fourth-gen), the iconic SUV endeared itself to would-be adventurers as a tantalizing mixture of rugged grit and upstanding British appeal. And although the original name is back, this new, fifth-generation model brings with it host of changes that, for better or worse, shake up the tried-and-true Discovery formula. To get a better handle on just what the new 2017 Land Rover Discovery is made of, we snagged one for our Four Seasons fleet.

Automobile’s first-ever Four Seasons test with a Land Rover featured a 1996 Discovery. That tough-as-nails off-roader was adored for its fearsome capability but mistrusted for its constant quality issues, large and small, earning it a dismal 2.5 stars out of 5. Land Rover went back to the drawing board for the LR3, updating everything from the pushrod V-8 to the frame, suspension, and styling language. With its vastly improved driving dynamics, ergonomics, and interior packaging (the rear seats actually folded flat), our test of the 2005 LR3 earned a much-improved 4 stars. Still, quality gremlins endured, and the freshly introduced DOHC 4.4-liter V-8 was neither powerful nor torque-rich enough to overcome the LR3’s ample heft.

For 2017, the all-new Discovery addresses all of these shortcomings, and more. While the boxy utilitarian styling may be gone, so is much of the Disco’s muffin top. Not only is the new aluminum unibody up to 1,000 pounds lighter than the steel structure it replaces, under the hood is the oil-burning engine we’ve envied from afar for years. We eagerly ticked the box for Land Rover’s 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6, the first offered in a U.S.-market Discovery, and have so far been pleased with the 254 hp and juicy 443 lb-ft of torque it offers. (Gas-powered models use a 340-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V-6.)

Barely a week passed before we took it for its first cruise, up from Detroit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, where the Disco effortlessly towed a 16-foot fishing boat on a trailer. The new eight-speed automatic transmission works especially seamlessly on the highway, where it helps the 4,916-pound seven-seater return an EPA-rated 26 mpg. On several long hauls, however, we’ve managed as much as 28 mpg with a cargo area full of luggage.

In addition to the diesel engine, we added a laundry list of options to ensure we had the full Land Rover mix of luxury and capability. The top-spec HSE Luxury trim comes nicely outfitted with everything from air suspension to heated 16-way power seats with Windsor leather upholstery, Espresso wood trim, a fantastic Meridian premium sound system, keyless entry, Bluetooth, navigation within the latest 10.2-inch InControl Touch Pro interface, and front/rear parking aids. On top of that we kitted our Rover out with the Drive Pro package, adding adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with Queue Assist, and lane-departure warning ($2,350). Additional side cameras and LED headlights with automatic high beams come on the Vision Assist package ($1,000), while other pieces of tech like autonomous emergency braking ($125), a color head-up display ($950), a 360-degree parking aid ($275), automatic park assist ($800), and a full-on rear-seat entertainment suite ($2,270) have to be ordered a la carte.

On the more practical side of things, we made sure to include the Capability Plus package to get the active rear locking differential and Terrain Response 2 system ($1,250), a tow package ($650), roof rails ($400), and a full-size spare wheel and tire ($440). All told, our fully built-out family-hauling, rock-crawling, diesel-drinking, beverage cooling ($350) British behemoth rings in at an eye-watering $79,950.

So far, the Discovery has racked up more miles in such a short time than any Four Seasons vehicle in recent memory. Just two months into our test we’ve piled on 6,640 miles, putting it on pace to be one of the most driven Four Seasons testers on record. In short order we’ve adventured from Automobile’s Detroit bureau to Buffalo, Grand Rapids, two trips to Sault Ste. Marie, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. We’ve also spent a sunny afternoon off-roading at the Bundy Hill off-road park, where the Discovery’s raised air suspension, selectable terrain drive modes, hill-descent control, low-speed all-terrain cruise control, and low-range transfer case proved a Swiss Army knife of off-road guts in sand, dirt, and gravel. Once Michigan winter hits, we’ll be ready for the worst of it with a good set of winter rubber.

Though the Discovery has won praise for its capability, fuel economy, and utility, it is not without its detractors. Anglophile and contributing writer Marc Noordeloos wishes for better body control and a smoother ride, as well as a return to the bulkier styling of old. “I miss the near-timeless look of the old LR4,” he says. “This new Discovery has a bit of a hunchback going on and I can’t say I’m sold on the switch from a split tailgate to a fold-down.” Detroit bureau chief Todd Lassa, meanwhile, is often frustrated with the delayed throttle response. “The slow, clumsy tip-in makes me lose confidence when I need to merge into traffic. At least the interior leather and wood make the interior feel like a private London club,” notes Lassa.

Following a blissfully trouble-free Four Seasons test of a 2015 Jaguar F-Type S, we had hoped Land Rover’s infamous reliability woes were over, but we’ve already been somewhat disabused of that notion. It began with an improperly fitted A-pillar black trim piece, but since that small repair, we’ve also experienced random and unexplained tire-pressure monitoring warnings despite correct pressures (an issue we’ve also seen on our Four Seasons Jaguar F-Pace), lurching and bucking from the powertrain after cold starts, and (by far the most odd) – a rear three-quarter window that isn’t tinted to match the others. Perhaps most annoying have been the freezes and bugs with the infotainment system, which could really use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity as well as voice-recognition technology. Even when everything is working, the system is simply not intuitive to use. When a friend and professional web and user-experience designer happened to be sitting shotgun, he was surprised how difficult it was to sift through various menus to access key functions. The satellite radio also frequently cuts out due to a weak signal, while the media player interface gets easily confused when connecting devices via Bluetooth and USB at the same time.

Has Land Rover has finally made a Discovery that’s both rugged and reliable for the daily grind? While it’s most certainly grown from its 1989 roots as a bare-bones all-terrain terror to a stylish, family-friendly people-mover with nine (!) USB ports, such a question remains open. When the Discovery’s four seasons are up, we’ll know if this third-gen is the charm.

Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 Luxury

Overview

PRICE $66,945/$79,950 (base/as tested) ENGINE Turbodiesel DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 7-Passenger, front engine, FWD SUV

Chassis

CONSTRUCTION Unibody STEERING Electric power assisted LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.7 turns TURNING CIRCLE 40.4 ft SUSPENSION, F/R Control arms with air springs/Integral link with air springs BRAKES, F/R discs/discs WHEELS, F/R 20-inch aluminum TIRES Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 255/55R20

Measurements

L X W X H 195.6 x 87.4 x 73.5 in WHEELBASE 115 in TRACK, F/R 66.6 in HEADROOM, F/R 39.4/39.0 in LEGROOM, F/R 39.1/37.6 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 60.4/49.5 in CARGO CAPACITY 45 cu ft/82.7 feet (third-row folded/second- and third-row seats folded) WEIGHT 4,916 lb WEIGHT DIST F/R 49.4 / 50.6 EPA MILEAGE 21/23/26 mpg FUEL CAPACITY 22.5 gal EST. FUEL RANGE 585 miles (est) FUEL GRADE Diesel 0-60 MPH 6.9 sec TOP SPEED 133 mph

Equipment

STANDARD EQUIPMENT Power gesture-operated tailgate w/ power inner tailgate Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel Power sliding panoramic glass sunroof Carpeted floor mats Rear privacy glass, infrared reflective windshield Four-zone climate control 20-inch aluminum wheels Heated first and second-row seats LED automatic headlights Ambient interior lighting Front fog lights Keyless entry w/ push-button start Rain-sensing wipers w/ heated washer jets Bluetooth and USB connectivity Power-folding heated mirrors with approach lighting Front and rear parking aids 16-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats with memory 825-watt Meridian sound system Third row seating 10-inch InControl Touch Pro interface Satellite radio Navigation OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT Namib Orange paint $1,495 Rover Tow package $650 Full-length black roof rails $400 Full-size spare wheel and tire $440 Front center console cooler compartment $350 Autonomous emergency braking $125 Park Assist $800 360-degree parking aid $275 Activity Key $400 Loadspace cover $150 Rear-seat entertainment $2,270 Head-up display $950

Drive Pro Package $2,350

Driver condition monitor

Intelligent speed limiter and traffic sign recognition

Blind-spot assist, blind-spot monitor, reverse traffic detection

Adaptive cruise control with Queue Assist and intelligent emergency braking

Lane keep assist, lane-departure warning

Vision Assist Package $1,000

LED auto high-beam assist

Auto-dimming exterior mirrors

Surround camera system

Capability Plus Package $1,250

Active rear locking differential

Terrain Response 2

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jesusvasser · 7 years

Text

An Orange 2017 Land Rover Discovery Joins the Four Seasons Fleet

Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 Luxury

Overview

PRICE $66,945/$79,950 (base/as tested) ENGINE Turbodiesel DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 7-Passenger, front engine, FWD SUV

Chassis

Measurements

Equipment

Drive Pro Package $2,350

Driver condition monitor

Intelligent speed limiter and traffic sign recognition

Blind-spot assist, blind-spot monitor, reverse traffic detection

Adaptive cruise control with Queue Assist and intelligent emergency braking

Lane keep assist, lane-departure warning

Vision Assist Package $1,000

LED auto high-beam assist

Auto-dimming exterior mirrors

Surround camera system

Capability Plus Package $1,250

Active rear locking differential

Terrain Response 2

<img width="150" height="113" src="http://ift.tt/1YDcwlQ" class="attachmen

from PerformanceJunk Feed http://ift.tt/2vUHce6 via IFTTT

from Performance Junk WP Feed 4 http://ift.tt/2vVm5Y0 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk WP Feed 4

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years

Text

An Orange 2017 Land Rover Discovery Joins the Four Seasons Fleet

Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 Luxury

Overview

PRICE $66,945/$79,950 (base/as tested) ENGINE Turbodiesel DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 7-Passenger, front engine, FWD SUV

Chassis

Measurements

Equipment

Drive Pro Package $2,350

Driver condition monitor

Intelligent speed limiter and traffic sign recognition

Blind-spot assist, blind-spot monitor, reverse traffic detection

Adaptive cruise control with Queue Assist and intelligent emergency braking

Lane keep assist, lane-departure warning

Vision Assist Package $1,000

LED auto high-beam assist

Auto-dimming exterior mirrors

Surround camera system

Capability Plus Package $1,250

Active rear locking differential

Terrain Response 2

IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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jonathanbelloblog · 7 years

Text

An Orange 2017 Land Rover Discovery Joins the Four Seasons Fleet

Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 Luxury

Overview

PRICE $66,945/$79,950 (base/as tested) ENGINE Turbodiesel DOHC 24-valve V-6 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 7-Passenger, front engine, FWD SUV

Chassis

Measurements

Equipment

Drive Pro Package $2,350

Driver condition monitor

Intelligent speed limiter and traffic sign recognition

Blind-spot assist, blind-spot monitor, reverse traffic detection

Adaptive cruise control with Queue Assist and intelligent emergency braking

Lane keep assist, lane-departure warning

Vision Assist Package $1,000

LED auto high-beam assist

Auto-dimming exterior mirrors

Surround camera system

Capability Plus Package $1,250

Active rear locking differential

Terrain Response 2

IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger Feed 4

0 notes