Technology
The Witcher 3 is a whole new experience in first person
As some of the unanimously beloved video video games of all time, it’s troublesome to think about The Witcher 3 as something aside from what it emphatically is: a sprawling, attractive, third-person RPG spearheaded by a gruff outdated man who’s finest friends together with his horse. Geralt additionally likes amassing playing cards and betting on races, each of that are hobbies he practices whereas he’s imagined to be on the lookout for his lacking daughter. That’s to not point out his fondness for fisticuffs.
Apart from all the above, a part of what has made CD Projekt Purple’s behemoth role-playing recreation so enduring is how reliably followers can recall its smelly swamps, snow-laden sierras, and repugnant little rotfiends, all of which we’ve come to know by means of a third-person lens. However ever since 2016, fan-made first-person mods for The Witcher 3 have existed — although they’ve by no means been on par with official help for the sport and have since been hidden on Nexus, the web’s largest modding hub. For probably the most half, these initiatives have felt like proof-of-concept experiments way more so than actionable add-ons designed to alter move, pacing, or performance within the recreation.
That was till Gervant First Particular person, a 2021 mod that blows all earlier makes an attempt at changing The Witcher 3 right into a first-person RPG out of the water. Whereas it’s technically nearly a yr outdated, its foremost file was up to date simply final month, proof of its steady progress because it makes an attempt to reimagine not simply basic exploration or perspective however cutscenes, fight, and every part in between.
“I simply needed to combat some nekkers in first particular person and didn’t discover a appropriate mod for that,” crthdr, the mod’s enigmatic creator, tells The Verge. “First particular person isn’t ‘higher,’ however that’s how I choose to play laptop video games.” Crthdr spent round a yr creating the mod with instruments like Witcher Script Studio, Ghidra, and Rust, amongst others. They then examined it by partially enjoying by means of the sport 4 separate occasions to make sure it labored persistently. “Good factor I additionally made the Skip Dialogue mod,” crthdr says.
Crthdr’s blasé response is indicative of a wider disregard for a way their work is perceived by others. They don’t have a lot of a social media footprint — they’re not on Fb, Twitter, or Instagram, and their YouTube channel doesn’t embrace any contact info. After I reached out to ask for an interview, they defined that they might focus on the mod and nothing else, and on condition that English will not be their first language, their solutions could be quick and to the purpose. Of their eyes, the mod was by no means designed so they may speak about it — it was designed in order that they and others like them may see by means of Geralt’s eyes as a substitute of over his shoulder.
And so it turned obvious that to correctly have interaction with this mod, I’d want to put in it myself. For those who’re already acquainted with The Witcher 3’s modding scene, set up must be a breeze. The one mods crucial for operating Gervant First Particular person are Neighborhood Patch – Base and Neighborhood Patch – Shared Imports, each of that are pretty normal for any mods designed for variations 1.31 or 1.32 (it’s value noting that these variations are basically the identical, on condition that the latter simply provides help for Simplified Chinese language). Guide set up could be a ache, however launching it by way of The Witcher 3 Mod Supervisor robotically merges all the crucial scripts. Offered you’re not messing round with dozens of different mods, you may get GFP up and operating fairly painlessly.
When you get began, you’ll discover the mod helps each first- and third-person views, permitting you to simply flit between the 2 after deciding on a customized key binding for flipping the digital camera. The third-person possibility is precisely the identical as it’s within the vanilla model, however altering to a first-person view instigates radical change, changing the expertise into one thing that looks like a bona fide Elder Scrolls journey. For those who’ve ever questioned what The Witcher 3: Wild Skyrim would seem like, that is the mod for you.
The transition between views isn’t precisely seamless, and it’s typically apparent that the world was by no means designed to facilitate first-person play. For instance, characters who must be off-screen sometimes teleport round cutscenes, whereas points with lighting develop into considerably extra distinguished as soon as the digital camera is absolutely unlocked. Related issues come up in fight, which is initially unintuitive however finally grows on you, particularly should you’re enjoying with a gamepad as a substitute of a mouse and keyboard. Whereas dodging may be powerful, combining swords and indicators feels nice within the first particular person — there’s an actual weight to your witchering that makes it barely extra tangible.
Whereas there are clearly many minor problems that come up from enjoying a blockbuster recreation in a approach it was by no means supposed to be performed, the truth that a single particular person made this mod is outstanding and presents the strongest case but for a first-person Witcher recreation. Positive, Cyberpunk 2077 is an FPS constructed utilizing REDEngine, the identical engine that powers The Witcher 3. However GFP lets you discover Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige in first particular person to your coronary heart’s content material. It’s undoubtedly janky, however what else may you count on from a solo developer who constructed this in his spare time, free of charge, simply so he may beat up a bunch of nekkers? Not every part must be polished to be a worthwhile experiment.
Points be damned, there are some points of GFP that actively enhance on The Witcher 3. It’s no exaggeration to counsel that this is among the most attractive recreation worlds to have ever existed, so being able to disable numerous HUD widgets and discover its beautiful units in first particular person offers you the proper alternative to essentially drink within the splendor of all of it — as a Witcher pictures simulator, GFP is unmatched. It additionally highlights a few of the principally hidden capabilities that subtly texture the world of The Witcher 3: you’ll be able to intently research provide strains, patrol routes, and wolves forming packs to shut in on a carcass. It’s clear that this world wasn’t designed with first particular person in thoughts, however its potential to include it nonetheless is an actual testomony to how magnificent it’s.
Within the curiosity of offering clear context, it’s value noting that, on the time of writing, I’ve slain the griffin in White Orchard and cleared a number of aspect quests like “A Frying Pan, Spick and Span” and “On Dying’s Mattress.” The introductory sequence in Kaer Morhen is bugged on account of the tutorial prompts interfering with first-person actions, which implies it’s extremely suggested to finish it in third particular person. However as quickly as you get up subsequent to Vesemir, you acquire unrestricted entry to a full-fledged model of The Witcher 3 as a first-person journey recreation.
Maybe one of many weightiest arguments for why seasoned witchers ought to give this mod a whirl is that this can be very straightforward to get misplaced. The world feels essentially completely different in first particular person — it seems extra dense, for one factor, but it surely additionally enjoys immense draw distance, creating a large ambiance the place cities and towers may be seen from miles away. This scale may be additional compounded by turning the HUD off, remodeling locations like Velen and Skellige into complete new areas that retain all the heat and familiarity of the originals. It’s clearly not as professionally designed because the precise recreation’s third-person view — however that’s not what’s essential right here. GFP makes a compelling case for why implementing the form of first-person / third-person hybridity you may look forward to finding in a Bethesda RPG into The Witcher may work; it’s most likely the primary venture of its type to aim that and emerge profitable.
There are a number of clear examples of this too, which point out each CDPR’s consideration to element and crthdr’s imaginative and prescient in terms of changing that to first particular person. For instance, whenever you swim, you’ll discover that Geralt pops his head as much as inhale each two or three strokes. Witcher senses really feel extra palpable in first particular person, too, notably whenever you’re following tracks or scent trails. It merely doesn’t matter whether or not this mod feels polished or janky. (For the report, it oscillates between the 2). The essential factor right here is that it accentuates how refined this world is whereas concurrently performing as an unofficial prototype for a way a future, higher one may look.
Regardless of all of this, crthdr is way too modest to confess how radical the venture is. “The mod is made for Witcher 3 followers who like first-person video games,” they clarify. “These guys just like the mod. The remainder don’t care. Technically, in fact CDPR may have executed it higher and quicker. It simply wasn’t on their to-do checklist in any respect. Most individuals don’t care about first-person, and doing hybrid first particular person / third particular person might be thought of an excessive amount of work. I personally choose first particular person.”
Whereas crthdr themselves may reckon their work isn’t any massive deal, anybody who engages with GFP will possible come away pondering the precise reverse. That is the form of unofficial venture that’s sufficiently well-considered to immediate actual introspection inside precise official ones.
The Witcher 3’s upcoming new-gen patch supplies a more-than-worthy purpose for avid monster slayers to return to The Continent — however if you would like a very completely different expertise on this world, it’s best to make a degree to take a look at GFP, too.
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Meta is testing a feature for its Quest headsets that allows you to place windows freely, similar to the Apple Vision Pro. Multitasking with multiple windows has been part of Meta Horizon OS (formerly Meta Quest OS) for a few years now, but currently, it only supports three virtual windows docked in a side-by-side layout.
It brings the Quest 3, in particular, a step closer to Apple’s spatial computing when used in mixed reality mode, but from the video, it doesn’t seem to work quite the same way. You can freely move up to three windows from 2D apps — such as the browser or OS windows like your library and settings — around your space and keep another three docked.
Other demos suggest that the windows will only remember their placement within a limited distance and return to their default positions should you switch orientation or reset the view. We haven’t tested it yet ourselves to know the full limitations here, but it looks promising.
The update also allows you to switch between curved and flat windows, as well as a dimmer that lowers the brightness of virtual environments while using 2D apps. (The latter doesn’t yet work for passthrough mode.)
The Apple Vision Pro allows you to move windows around whichever space you’re in and keep them locked in place even while you move around and after you take the headset off. That way, you can have a window sitting next to your refrigerator and another positioned alongside the TV in your living room, and then walk to and from the windows as if they’re actual objects.
Let’s face it, social media has become a mixed bag. Sure, it promised to connect us all in ways we never imagined, but let’s be real: The downsides are starting to overshadow the upsides.
It’s funny how your birth year can totally shape your view on this digital playground. Some of us might shrug off the issues, thinking, “No big deal,” while others are going to extremes, ditching their smartphones for old-school flip phones just to escape the social media circus. It’s like we’re all trying to figure out our own social media survival strategies.
And then there are the parents. Oh boy, are they in for a ride, especially if they’ve got teenagers. They’re busy crafting rules faster than you can say “TikTok,” hoping to keep their kids safe in this wild digital world. But here’s the kicker: It feels like they’re running a never-ending race. Just when they think they’ve got a handle on things, boom, another app or platform pops up, and they’re back to square one. It’s like trying to nail jelly to a wall – frustrating, messy and seemingly impossible.
Welcome to the social media age, folks, where the only constant is change.
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Mom and daughter looking at social media (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The dangers of social media
Social media platforms have become integral to our daily lives, but the impact they have had on mental health, productivity and even politics has gotten progressively worse over the years. Though awareness has been raised on this issue, which has helped people learn how to create boundaries for it, we’re still not able to stay ahead of what social media will do next.
Here are just some of the dangers of social media:
1) Exposure to scammers: Children and adolescents are vulnerable to online scams and fraudulent schemes.
2) Excessive screen time: Prolonged use of social media can lead to physical and mental health issues, including eye strain, poor posture and disrupted sleep patterns.
3) Dopamine-driven notifications: Frequent notifications can create addictive behavior patterns, leading to increased anxiety and reduced ability to focus.
4) Negative body image: Social media often promotes unrealistic body standards, contributing to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
5) Cyberbullying: Many young users face harassment and bullying online, which can lead to severe psychological distress.
6) Exposure to inaccurate news: The spread of misinformation and fake news on social media can influence young minds and contribute to anxiety and confusion.
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What the US surgeon general wants to put into place
This isn’t the first time that issues concerning social media have reached the government. Most recently, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to introduce a warning label on social media apps to highlight the potential harm these platforms pose to young people.
Murthy’s push for this warning label aligns with longstanding concerns from youth advocates and lawmakers who have criticized social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat for their detrimental effects on children. These effects include contributing to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, vulnerability to predators, and, in the worst cases, suicide.
In fact, according to the NIH, “…age-adjusted suicide rates have steadily increased over the past decade in the United States with suicide being the second most common cause of death in youth. Hence, the increase in suicide rate parallels the simultaneous increase in social media use. In addition, the rate of non-suicidal self-injury ranges between 14% and 21% among young people.”
In the meantime, according to the article, “New York state lawmakers this month passed legislation to bar social media platforms from exposing “addictive” algorithmic content to users under age 18 without parental consent.”
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Teenager looking at social media (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
BALANCING THE PROS AND CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA SCREEN TIME
What we can expect to happen if this goes through
If this warning does get approved through Congress, it would, of course, take some time before we actually see “warning labels,” and it’s unclear what that would actually look like. But if it did happen, here’s what could potentially happen:
Pros:
Increased awareness: Warning labels could make parents and adolescents more aware of the potential mental health risks associated with social media use.
Behavioral change: Similar to the impact of tobacco warning labels, these could encourage healthier social media habits and reduce usage among vulnerable groups.
Pressure on social media companies: Companies may be compelled to implement stricter safety measures and better content moderation practices to avoid legal and public relations issues.
Cons:
Resistance from tech companies: Powerful social media companies may lobby against the legislation, leading to protracted legal battles and potential delays in implementation.
Perceived insufficiency: Warning labels alone may be seen as a minimal effort, insufficient to address the deeper, systemic issues of social media’s impact on mental health.
Potential stigma: Warning labels could unintentionally stigmatize social media use, leading to fear or anxiety rather than informed, balanced usage.
An adult on social media (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How you can protect yourself in the meantime
Depending on what your own stance is on social media, the fact of the matter is that it does have the potential to harm too many vulnerable people, especially children and teenagers. And if you’re not in this demographic but still struggle with managing your social media usage, then there are some ways you can limit your time:
1) Set boundaries: This is not easy for everyone, but make it your goal to limit screen time and establish specific times of day for checking social media to prevent overuse. You can check how much time you’re on the screen by looking up the “screen-time” function on your device.
2) Manage notifications: Turn off non-essential notifications to reduce constant interruptions and the dopamine-driven urge to check your phone.
3) Don’t give away sensitive information online: Always be careful of what information and photos you put online. It’s never too difficult for someone to find.
4) Log out of social media on your phone: Not having the social media apps installed on your device and logging off of them on the browser (they make it easy to log back in with one click, so you’ll need to go the extra mile) can help you get off social media.
5) Don’t take things personally: Though social media can be a dangerous tool, and any harassment, stalking or other misconduct should be reported to the authorities, most negative people on social media are “trolls.” Ignore them, don’t engage with them, and report them to the platform, if need be.
6) Get a dumb phone: Many people are trading in their smartphones for a dumb phone, which helps them to get off of social media.
7) Install parental controls: Phones, laptops and other tablets come with parental controls that parents can use to limit their child’s social media activity. But it’s important to also talk about the dangers of social media with them, and if they are allowed on it, what the ground rules are. Get my top four child monitoring programs of 2024.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Social media is fine if used appropriately, responsibly and in moderation. But its potential to do harm is something that’s important to take seriously, especially if you’re a parent and/or someone who has already suffered from anxiety or depression. Essentially, if what it’s taking from you is more than what it’s giving to you, it may be time to reconsider your relationship with your social media platforms or at least put some restrictions on it.
Do you enforce social media restrictions on yourself and/or your children? If so, why? And what are your thoughts on putting a warning label on social media platforms? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung (and others), Matter is an open-sourced, IP-based connectivity software layer for smart home devices. It works over Wi-Fi, ethernet, and the low-power mesh networking protocol Thread and currently supports over 30 device types. These include lighting, thermostats, locks, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, ovens, smoke alarms, air quality monitors, EV chargers, and more.
A smart home gadget with the Matter logo can be set up and used with any Matter-compatible ecosystem via a Matter controller and controlled by them simultaneously, a feature called Multi-Admin.
Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home are some major smart home platforms supporting Matter, along with hundreds of device manufacturers.
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