Technology

Marvel Snap is kind of like a wild comic book story generator

Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2022

Marvel Snap is kind of like a wild comic book story generator

The extra time you spend enjoying Second Dinner’s Marvel Snap, the better it turns into to see which characters work nicely collectively and the way understanding the distinctive talents of assorted areas is usually key to successful matches. As a aggressive sport at its core, Marvel Snap is inbuilt a means that encourages you to outsmart opponents through the use of your wits. However the most effective issues about enjoying Marvel Snap extra casually and with a deal with who characters are, somewhat than what number of factors they’re value, is how the sport all of the sudden turns into a pocket-size storytelling machine that’s all the time able to provide you with new concepts.

In each Marvel Snap match, two gamers have six — however typically seven — turns to see who can accumulate essentially the most factors at three separate areas, the place playing cards with completely different prices and values will be positioned primarily based on how a lot power gamers have collected. As gamers achieve extra power each flip, they’ll place as much as 4 playing cards at every location, and when you get the grasp of the essential mechanics, it doesn’t take lengthy earlier than sure standard strikes — like utilizing Carnage to kill Bucky and summon the Winter Soldier — develop into stuff you anticipate.

You don’t actually need to know issues like who the Infinaut is or the place the Bar with No Identify is positioned on this planet to win Marvel Snap matches with them. However the sport turns into a distinct sort of thrilling if you’re in a position to play playing cards with a little bit of understanding about how their values, powers, and even artwork are sometimes reflections of particulars from Marvel’s deep catalog of comedian books and tales tailored from them. Marvel Snap’s Scarlet Witch isn’t fairly the omnipotent actuality manipulator that Wanda Maximoff of the comics is, however the card’s energy to magically remodel one location into one other is a nod to Marvel’s Home of M storyline, which served as the premise for Disney Plus’ WandaVision.

Within the comics, the Infinaut is an extradimensional being so massive that, if he had been in a position to enter sure planes of existence, he would obliterate them fully, which is why heroes like Blue Marvel have labored to maintain him out of theirs. Just by making the Infinaut terribly {powerful} however restricted by a requirement that gamers not put down any new playing cards the flip prior, Marvel Snap synthesizes all of that lore right into a card that seems like giving your opponents the center finger if you handle to put it.

Marvel Snap matches have a tendency to come back collectively like narrative puzzles

Beating opponents is the quickest approach to purchase new playing cards with out spending precise cash, and since growing a big, various assortment of characters is vital to constructing sturdy decks, it’s truthful to say that Marvel Snap encourages you to play to win. However as you get deeper into the sport and matches develop into extra advanced, it will also be very cool — particularly if you’re dropping — to have a look at an expansion of playing cards not simply as a battle between two gamers however as a multi-act story enjoying out throughout Marvel’s fictional universe.

Much like how superhero motion pictures and action-adventure video games like Sony’s Spider-Man titles can really feel like comics delivered to life, Marvel Snap matches have an attention-grabbing means of coming into focus like narrative puzzles being put collectively piece by piece. Initially of each match, there’s no dependable means of understanding which three areas the sport will spawn or which playing cards you’ll draw from flip to show, that means that, often, you’ve acquired to guess and have religion that sending Quicksilver into the unknown goes to work out for him. Generally these unknowns find yourself being revealed as locations with strategy-ruining unwanted side effects, just like the Starlight Citadel or the X-Males’s Hazard Room, and it may be irritating to observe these areas derail your plans for victory.

However even if you’re dropping with no path to successful, it may be very entertaining to take a step again, recognize the wildness of the situations woven into each Marvel Snap match, and spend time excited about how these tales would possibly play out as extra linear narratives. Everyone knows what it seems to be like when the Avengers meet up in Manhattan to face again to again whereas saving the world from aliens or how Charles Xavier stays able to ship ~~child-soldiers~~ college students into battle.

What you don’t see fairly as typically, although, are conditions like Uatu the Watcher teaming up with Jessica Jones and Ka-Zar of the Savage Land to battle Rocket Raccoon and Thor’s long-lost sister Angela in Limbo, a hell dimension that’s normally managed by the mutant Magik. Understandably, that sentence won’t make all that a lot sense to folks unfamiliar with Marvel’s characters and their haunts. However the great thing about Marvel Snap is that, for those who’ve frolicked studying Marvel comics, virtually each match finally ends up enjoying out like a very ridiculous (which is to say, enjoyable) subject of a crossover occasion centered on throwing heroes and villains into uncommon conditions only for the hell of it.

One of the best superhero tales are a lot greater than assortments of characters and settings randomly smashed collectively within the pages of a comic book guide or in a film’s script. They’re home windows into the realities of larger-than-life figures who embody our hopes, desires, and fears, and people realities are crafted by artists, writers, and different creatives who work to make them vibrant, fascinating locations. Marvel Snap’s bite-size matches can’t fairly replicate all of that, and the sport isn’t actually making an attempt to. However it could actually work as a light-weight, fast-paced dip into Marvel’s multiverse that leaves you impressed to learn some comics and perhaps get down to creating a few of your individual.

Technology

Microsoft’s AI obsession is jeopardizing its climate ambitions

Published

4 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

Microsoft’s AI obsession is jeopardizing its climate ambitions

Microsoft’s producing a lot more planet-heating pollution now than it did when it made a bold climate pledge back in 2020. Its greenhouse gas emissions were actually around 30 percent higher in fiscal year 2023, showing how hard it could be for the company to meet climate goals as it simultaneously races to be a leader in AI.

“In many ways the moon is five times as far away as it was in 2020”

Back in 2020, Microsoft set a target of becoming carbon negative by the end of the decade. To translate the jargon, it pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions by more than half and then capture a greater amount of carbon dioxide emissions than it would produce. It was an audacious commitment to make at the time, considering carbon capture technologies were barely coming into existence. The company would also have to spur the deployment of way more renewable energy onto power grids where it operates.

“In 2020, we unveiled what we called our carbon moonshot. That was before the explosion in artificial intelligence,” Microsoft president Brad Smith said in an interview with Bloomberg. “So in many ways the moon is five times as far away as it was in 2020, if you just think of our own forecast for the expansion of AI and its electrical needs.”

Diving into the data in Microsoft’s sustainability report, you can see just how far it’s gone in the wrong direction. It pumped out 15.357 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the last fiscal year, comparable to the annual carbon pollution of Haiti or Brunei.

Data centers used to train AI are even more energy-intensive than traditional data centers that already gobble up a lot of electricity to run servers and cooling systems to prevent overheating. And Microsoft has plans to build a whole lot more of those data centers now that it’s all in on AI. The company planned to spend $50 billion over the past fiscal year in order to meet its AI ambitions — a figure it’s expected to surpass in the following year, Bloomberg reports.

Technology

True or false: If you get a pop-up message, you should pull the plug on your computer immediately

Published

5 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

True or false: If you get a pop-up message, you should pull the plug on your computer immediately

In today’s digital age, it’s not uncommon to be on the receiving end of some unsolicited and potentially malicious online advice. Take, for instance, the concern raised by “Barbara,” who reached out with a question that might have crossed many minds:

“Hi, Kurt. I can’t remember if I read this online or someone told me about it, but when you receive a pop-up message, you should pull the plug on your computer immediately; this prevents the scammer from having any further access to your work. Is this the right thing to do?”

Pop-ups used to be one of the most common ways that scammers would penetrate a person’s computer. It’s less common nowadays, which may be one of the reasons the unplugging method came to be. Well, the quick answer is “no.” Instead of just debunking this myth once and for all, let’s talk a bit more about why it’s not recommended and what to do instead.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

A person unplugging a laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What never to do when you see a pop-up message

It’s important to be cautious when dealing with pop-up messages, as they can be used by scammers to trick you into downloading malware or giving away your personal information. So, you’re right in taking a second to figure out your next move.

But pulling the plug on your computer immediately when you receive a pop-up message is not the right thing to do. This could potentially cause data loss or damage to your computer, which can wreak havoc in other ways. It could also potentially let in more scammers in the future due to vulnerabilities in your system.

It’s also worth mentioning that if the pop-up message is a malicious link or file, scammers these days have a lot more sophisticated strategies, and merely unplugging your computer wouldn’t necessarily stop them. Don’t worry, though. There are ways to protect yourself.

A man working on his PC (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: BEST PRIVATE AND SAFE ALTERNATIVES TO GOOGLE

What you should do when you see a pop-up message

So, if unplugging your computer isn’t the answer, what can you do instead if you see a pop-up message, especially one that looks suspicious? Follow the steps below.

Don’t click on the pop-up message: If you receive a pop-up message, don’t click on it or enter any personal information. Instead, close the window by clicking on the “X” button in the top right corner of the window. Be on the lookout for fake pop-ups that appear in your browser window that are trying to trick you into clicking on them. These pop-ups are not coming from your computer but from a malicious file that has integrated itself into your browser and is displaying images that look like pop-ups. If you click on them, you might end up downloading more malware, giving away your personal information or paying money for a fake service.

MORE: BEWARE OF THIS MCAFEE GOOGLE CHROME AD SCAM

Watch out for download pop-ups: If you’re receiving a pop-up because you clicked a link to download, be sure that the file can be trusted. Did you download it directly from the company’s website? Or was it from a message that someone sent you via email, SMS or Facebook? Or was it from a third-party app store? If it’s the latter, be extremely cautious.

Don’t call any phone numbers: If you receive a pop-up message that tells you to call a phone number, don’t do it. This is a common scam used by scammers to trick you into giving away your personal information or downloading malware.

Woman on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: DON’T CLICK THAT LINK! HOW TO SPOT AND PREVENT PHISHING ATTACKS IN YOUR INBOX

How to prevent pop-ups (and other scams)

While there’s no way to prevent scams 100%, aside from practicing online privacy and security recommendations (and staying up to date with security news), there are ways to prevent pop-ups that may contain threats.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Download a pop-up blocker: Many browsers have pop-up blocker extensions to keep pop-ups at bay. However, you may need to disable these to let certain pop-ups come through; for instance, when doing your online banking or booking a flight. Many premium popup blockers come included with security software used to protect your devices.

Be wary of suspicious links/files: Whether these suspicious links are through a pop-up ad or somewhere else, always exercise caution.

Use strong antivirus software: Make sure you have antivirus software installed on your computer and keep it up-to-date. The best way to help protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

Update your browser: Make sure your browser is up to date with the latest security patches and updates. This can help prevent security vulnerabilities that might be exploited by scammers.

MORE: EXPOSING TOP SCAMS TARGETING COSTCO SHOPPERS

Kurt’s key takeaways

Pop-ups are still a way for hackers to infiltrate your system with a malware threat. Like with any cybersecurity scams and the pace at which information travels these days, you may hear of ways to protect yourself, like unplugging your computer. But always double-check solutions before taking matters into your own hands. Also, remember the next time a pop-up springs into view, pause and proceed with caution – your cybersafety depends on it.

Can you share a time when you successfully identified and avoided an online scam? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Why TikTok users are blocking celebrities

Published

11 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

Why TikTok users are blocking celebrities

Every Met Gala has some sort of controversy, whether it’s about the dress code and theme, the guest list, or a now-infamous brawl in an elevator at an afterparty. Because this is 2024, it’s only fitting that the outrage began this year because of a TikTok audio track.

In a now-deleted video, an influencer named Haley Kalil shows off her elaborate floral dress and headpiece as she prepares to host a pre-Met Gala red carpet event. Her misstep was using an audio snippet in the background taken from the 2006 film Marie Antoinette, in which the titular character smirks and delivers one of the most famous (and spurious) one-liners of history: “Let them eat cake.” The sound has been circulating on TikTok for months, mostly used in makeup tutorials, fashion videos, and things of that nature.

The backlash was swift and brutal. Audiences compared the event to The Hunger Games, a dystopia where the wealthy sit back as everyone else fights to the death. TikTok users flooded Kalil’s comments saying she was clueless, callous, or purposefully trying to manufacture outrage. Kalil insisted it was an honest mistake, but the optics were bad: as thousands die, starve, and are displaced in Gaza, reveling in opulence will inevitably rub some the wrong way.

For seven months, social media audiences have watched violence rain down on Palestinians in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7th attack in Israel. Instagram feeds have been inundated with infographics, charts, and gruesome images of death and destruction. TikTok — once an app primarily known for goofy dances — has become a battleground for shaping the public narrative around the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict. For many — especially younger people — their entire exposure to the conflict has been on social media, as opposed to learning of it on a college campus, through family, or via traditional media. It only makes sense, then, that these same platforms have become an outlet for their responses, whether in the form of frustration, activism, or some combination thereof.

At the same time that Kalil’s video was being debated and discussed, a seemingly unplanned grassroots movement dubbed “Blockout 2024” was picking up steam. Last week, a TikTok user shared a video about blocking celebrities on social media platforms in order to stymie their reach and, by extension, their earnings from ads or sponsored content. The video was in response to clips from the Met Gala interspersed with news footage of Gaza, and the intended message was clear: celebrities don’t care about what happens to everyone else. The least normal people could do is try to cut the powerful off however they can.

Since then, a litany of “block lists” have circulated, created by different people and for different reasons. The targets vary, but Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Selena Gomez are frequently listed, along with many others. (Kalil, unsurprisingly, has also been mentioned.) It’s a diffuse movement with no established leadership or stated goals, but it’s clearly resonated: tens of thousands of posts have been made on TikTok and Instagram using related hashtags, and comment sections are filled with “#blockout” and pro-Palestine messages.

The Blockout is coinciding with more direct forms of mutual aid, with pressure directed at celebrities and influencers to promote these efforts. Sending funds and other resources to Gaza has been difficult over the past several months due to the legal system, the collapse of infrastructure, and Israel’s physical blocking of aid going into Gaza. Some content creators have publicly called on celebrities to support organizations like Operation Olive Branch, a grassroots effort to directly fundraise for Palestinian families. Artists and creators like Lizzo and Hank Green have posted in support of the organizations, spurred in part by comedian Erin Hattamer’s call for fundraising.

Social media-based activism can be fleeting: followers lose interest; momentum dies down; and the reach of movements is limited by algorithms. To be fair, the Blockout is still in its early days, and it’s unclear if it will have a measurable impact. But for a conflict that’s unfolding via shortform videos, live selfie-style updates, and Instagram posts, this will likely not be the last we hear of it.