Author: Trafficblast

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Pokemon Go‘s Meltan event has returned for a limited time, giving you another chance to catch a rare Shiny Meltan if you missed it the first time around. Not only will the special Pokemon appear from now until May 5, Niantic has also made it easier to find more Meltan than usual, allowing you to stock up on the Candy you need to evolve it.

Unlike other Mythical Pokemon, which can typically be found through either EX Raids or Special Research questlines, Meltan will only appear in Pokemon Go if you’ve used an item called the Mystery Box, which can be obtained exclusively by linking the game with either Let’s Go Pikachu or Eevee on Nintendo Switch. If you’re unsure of how to get your hands on one, here’s how to catch and evolve the Hex Nut Pokemon.

How To Catch Meltan

As mentioned above, the key to finding Meltan is obtaining the Mystery Box, which you’ll automatically receive after you’ve transferred a Gen 1 Pokemon to either of the Let’s Go titles. You can read more information about how Pokemon Go transfers work here.

After you’ve received a Mystery Box, open it and Meltan will begin to spawn in the wild for the next 30 minutes. Once you spot one, you can catch it just as you would any other wild Pokemon in Go. During this event, you’ll also have a chance of encountering a Shiny Meltan when you open the Mystery Box; however, whether one appears will be down entirely to luck, so you’ll need to be persistent if you’re hoping to catch one.

After the 30 minutes have elapsed, the Mystery Box will close, and you’ll typically need to wait seven days before you can open it again and capture more Meltan. However, from now until May 5, Niantic has greatly reduced this cooldown timer to three days, so you can re-open the Mystery Box and catch Meltan again much more quickly than before.

How To Evolve Meltan

Even if you’ve already caught the Hex Nut Pokemon, the Meltan event is a good opportunity to stock up on more, as you can transfer any excess ones to Professor Willow in exchange for Meltan Candy. You’ll need a whopping 400 of those Candies to evolve Meltan into Melmetal, but you can expedite the process in a few ways. Rare Candies will work toward powering up any Pokemon, even Meltan, and feeding Pinap Berries to one during the capture phase will increase the amount of Candy you receive if you successfully catch it.

If you evolve a Shiny Meltan, it’ll retain its Shiny coloration as Melmetal. This version of the Pokemon sports a slightly darker head and a blue tail rather than a red one. You’ll also be able to transfer any Meltan or Melmetal you’ve obtained in Pokemon Go over to Let’s Go, where you can add them to your party or show them off in online battles. You can read more about how to get Meltan and Melmetal here.

The Meltan event is scheduled to run until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on Sunday, May 5. More details about the event can be found on the Pokemon Go website.

If you’re a little fuzzy on who the Mad King is, and why he matters so much, you’re not alone.

One of the quirks of Game of Thrones: Season 1 (rewatch it, if you haven’t) is that the show never stoops to obvious, expository dialogue, where the characters explain the context of their actions for the audience’s benefit. This is immersive, but it can also be confusing.

The show forces its viewers to be attentive and infer necessary information from the conversations we do hear. And it trusts the actors to fill in the rest through non-verbal language and facial expressions.

It’s from various sources like this that over the years, we’ve learned about the Mad King, who once sat on the Iron Throne and ruled over the Seven Kingdoms. He is one of the most significant characters on the show, despite being dead before the series premiere; it was his disastrous reign that precipitated the current chaos in Westeros.

Now we’re in Season 8, and with the Mad King’s daughter, Daenerys, poised to take the Iron Throne, you’ll be hearing a lot more about him. Here’s an explainer on Aerys II Targaryen, Mad King of the Seven Kingdoms and an objectively horrible individual. We’ve supplemented information in the show with information from the books to provide some additional, interesting context.

Targaryen Madness

Prior to Robert Baratheon, the Mad King reigned supreme. His derisive nickname was well-earned, especially because Aerys was not always mad. Targaryens, on the whole, had a very good track record as monarchs; Aerys was the sixteenth member of his family to sit the throne. And Aerys’s first decade of rule was marked by prosperity.

The young king (20 years old when he ascended) was aided greatly by his Hand, Tywin Lannister. Tywin was coldly objective and efficient–everything that Aerys was not. Aerys talked big and charmed people, while Tywin went about the sordid, detail-heavy business of actually running the realm. It was an arrangement that worked out for everyone at first.

But Aerys was insecure, and over time, he went mad. Perhaps his mental instability was the product of incest; generations of Targaryens intermarried to keep the lineage pure and consolidated.

Aerys alienated Tywin over a period of years; while drunk, he made a crude sexual remark to Tywin’s wife and cousin, Joanna. He also made Tywin’s eldest son, Jaime, a member of the Kingsguard. Since Kingsguards are not allowed to marry, have children, or hold property, this was an insult disguised as an honor; he deprived Tywin of an heir to Casterly Rock.

Tywin resigned as Hand. And without a mediating influence in King’s Landing, things quickly went off the rails. Administrative positions were increasingly occupied by a rotating cadre of yes-men and charlatans. And the king himself grew paranoid, fearing that his subjects were out to kill or usurp him. He tortured and killed entire families of those he suspected, and laughed while doing it.

He allowed his physical appearance to degrade; he no longer cut his hair or bathed, and his nails grew long and yellow. He developed an unhealthy fascination with wildfire and with burning people alive. The Targaryen family had always been closely associated with dragons and fire, but this was a step too far.

The Tipping Point

The situation became untenable when Aerys’s son, Rhaegar, “kidnapped” Lyanna Stark. Lyanna’s father Rickard and brother Brandon protested, as did Robert Baratheon, to whom Lyanna was betrothed. In response to their righteous anger, Aerys burned Rickard and Brandon alive in the throne room for their “treason.”

This triggered an uprising known as Robert’s Rebellion, during which the Starks, Baratheons, and eventually the Lannisters all united to overthrow the king. And in the midst of this coup, Jaime Lannister slit Aerys’s throat. For this, and for doing so as a member of the Kingsguard, his enemies tagged him with the derisive nickname “Kingslayer.”

What most people didn’t know was that Jaime had saved King’s Landing with his actions. Aerys had wildfire planted all over the city in its underground tunnels, so that in the event of a rebellion, he would reduce the city (and its inhabitants) to ash. This plan never came to pass, thanks to Jaime betraying his vow.

It’s also important to note that Rhaegar never actually “kidnapped” Lyanna. In reality, the two had eloped and were in love. But no major player on either side knew this.

The Fallout

Aerys’s pregnant sister-wife, Rhaella, fled to Dragonstone with Aerys’ second son, Viserys. She gave birth to Daenerys and died shortly afterward.

Robert Baratheon ascended to the Iron Throne. He pardoned Jaime and married Jaime’s twin sister, Cersei. He allowed Eddard (Ned) Stark, Lyanna and Brandon’s younger brother, to remain as Warden of the North.

Rhaegar Targaryen, Aerys’s first son, died during Robert’s Rebellion. And Lyanna Stark died after giving birth to his son, Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna made Ned promise to keep the boy safe; had Robert known that Aegon existed, he would have killed him. So, Ned renamed him Jon Snow and presented him to the world as his bastard.

And the wildfire that the Mad King had planted all over the city was used by Cersei in Season 6 to destroy the Great Sept of Baelor and kill the High Sparrow and the Tyrells. This ultimately resulted in Tommen Baratheon’s suicide, and Cersei ascended to the Iron Throne in her son’s place.

The Mad King’s other caches of wildfire are presumably still scattered throughout the city. Should Cersei choose to light them, she may fulfill Aerys’s plan after all.

The Future

The reason why Aerys is still important, all these years later, is multifaceted. As the saying goes, “The North Remembers.” Aerys burned Rickon and Brandon Stark to death. And remember: As far as the North knows, the Targaryens raped and killed Lyanna Stark as well. Some of this distrust and anger naturally manifests itself toward Daenerys.

Daenerys, to her credit, consistently disavows her father, conceding that he was a bad man. She promises to her doubters that she will be better, fairer, and more just. But there is darkness in Daenerys. Like her father, she’s demonstrated, on occasion, an uncompromising desire for power. And when Randyll and Dickon Tarly initially refused to bend the knee, Daenerys had them burned to death by her dragon Drogon, much to Tyrion’s alarm and dismay.

There’s an interesting parallel here; just as Aerys was advised by Tywin, Aerys’s daughter is advised by Tywin’s son. This might foreshadow that she is following in her father’s “mad” footsteps. After all, Aerys didn’t get that way overnight.

As of Season 8, Episode 2 of the show, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are together, and in love. Jon has just told Daenerys his true lineage; his claim to the Iron Throne is stronger than hers. And Dany didn’t have time to react; the horn sounded three times, which meant that the White Walkers were imminent.

Assuming Dany (Aerys’s daughter) and Jon (Aerys’s grandson) survive the battle against the Night King, they’ll have a lot to talk about and negotiate. How do they take down Cersei? Who rules the Seven Kingdoms? And will there be a power struggle between them before the show airs its final episode? The Mad King may be dead, but his influence, and the fear and resentment he sowed, live on.

One of the most popular slice of life anime from 2018, Laid-Back Camp, is getting a short follow-up story early next year. Called Heya Kyan (which translates to Room Camp and has thus been nicknamed Heya Camp), the short anime will premiere January 2020.

According to Comic Natalie, and translated by Anime News Network, Laid-Back Camp opening animation sequence director Masato Jinbo will be heading Heya Camp. Laid-Back Camp writer Mutsumi Ito and character designer and chief animation director Mutsumi Sasaki are returning to reprise their roles in Heya Camp as well. The director of Laid-Back Camp Season 1, Yoshiaki Kyougoku, will supervise.

After Heya Camp, Laid-Back Camp will be getting a full second season, as well as a movie. A key visual for Laid-Back Camp’s future direction and stories was released alongside the announcement of Heya Camp’s premiere date. The artwork sees main characters Nadeshiko and Rin take center stage at the base of Mount Fuji, while Nadeshiko’s fellow Outdoor Activities Circle members Chiaki and Aoi and Rin’s friend Saitō stand to their left. On their right stands the Outdoor Activities Circle advisor Minami and Nadeshiko’s older sister Sakura. The key visual can be viewed below.

Laid-Back Camp follows Nadeshiko and Rin, two high school girls who love camping. Rin is a quiet girl who prefers to camp alone, while Nadeshiko is quite boisterous and would rather spend time with others. Despite their different personalities, the two high schoolers forge a very close relationship and continue to camp together–with Rin beginning to open to the idea of occaissionaly spending time with others and Nadeshiko learning to appreciate more solitude excursions.

The anime is one of our favorite series from 2018 and it was nominated in both the Best Girl and Best Japanese Voice Acting Performance categories for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Laid-Back Camp is a fairly relaxing series to watch that’s mostly geared towards making the audience laugh and teaching them the basics of camping. The anime is based off an ongoing manga series, and is currently streamed on Crunchyroll.

Mortal Kombat 11 recently revealed the roster’s final playable character, Frost. The stylish Sub-Zero apprentice is unlockable by playing the campaign, but for those who want a shortcut or just aren’t interested in the story mode, you can purchase her separately.

Frost is available on Steam and consoles for $6. On PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, she appears to only be listed through the in-game marketplace, rather than as a separate game item on the storefronts themselves. The price is consistent throughout the different platforms.

Frost is a unique inclusion on the character roster, as all of the other playable characters are available right from the start. Frost is a locked character, only obtainable after completing chapter four in the story campaign–or by purchasing her.

While selling a shortcut to an item that can be unlocked through normal play isn’t uncommon, the store listings do not appear to give an indication that she can be obtained without a purchase. In fact, her store listing is very similar to the one for Shao Kahn, who can only be obtained through purchase if you missed him as a pre-order bonus. The Steam reviews on the DLC are mostly negative, with many players citing the fact that you can unlock her through play.

GameSpot has contacted NetherRealm for comment, but has not received a response as of the time of publishing.

“There’s a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp,” Edmond Tran wrote in GameSpot’s Mortal Kombat 11 review-in-progress. “The unfulfilling approaches to the game’s dynamic single-player content and progression may feel like they’ve totally whiffed (at least at this early stage), but Mortal Kombat 11 hits where it matters.”

During the latest Kombat Kast, additional details about the server-side update that went live in Mortal Kombat 11 right after release–which reduced the maximum health of AI opponents in the Tower–as well as a coming hotfix update were announced. The live stream also addressed in-game microtransactions in Mortal Kombat 11 as well.

After player outcry in concern for the Towers of Time in Mortal Kombat 11, NeatherRealm agrees that the mode is too difficult in its current state–adding that it made earning rewards to go through the Krypt “punishingly slow” as a result. The developer is working on a patch “as quickly as they can” to balance the issue, with the update scheduled for the end of this week. However, NeatherRealm added that the update could be pushed back to as late as early next week. The update will specifically address AI difficulty and modifiers in the Towers, and also adjust the frequency of modifiers so that they show up less and make certain unblockable modifiers into blockable ones.

Despite these changes to make the Towers of Time less difficult, certain aspects of the mode will remain challenging. Group Battles, for example, will remain a difficult challenge for players because “they are meant” to be.

During the Kombat Kast, NeatherRealm also addressed in-game purchases. The developer said they don’t want to artificially drive people toward microtransactions. As a result, cosmetics, Time Crystals, and easy fatalities will remain the only things you can buy in Mortal Kombat 11’s in-game store outside of DLC. The store will not be changed to allow you to buy in-game currencies.

NeatherRealm also has a bundle of free in-game currency coming to all Mortal Kombat 11 players. The developer doesn’t have a timetable for when the bundle will release quite yet, but it will include 500k Coins, 500 Hearts, 1000 Souls, and 1000 Time Crystals–the latter of which is enough for two premium skins.

Mortal Kombat 11 is available for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC. In our Mortal Kombat 11 review in progress, Edmond Tran wrote, “MK11 isn’t just a sequel for series fans and Netherrealm devotees, it’s a gateway into the realm of fighting games for anyone who has a passing interest in watching ruthless warriors beat each other silly. Streamlined mechanics keep the act of fighting furiously exciting no matter what your skill level, and comprehensive tutorials encourage you to dig into the nitty-gritty. There’s a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp. The unfulfilling approaches to the game’s dynamic single-player content and progression may feel like they’ve totally whiffed (at least at this early stage), but Mortal Kombat 11 hits where it matters.”

Phoenix Labs has launched the new Path of the Slayer content update for its Monster Hunter World-like hunting co-op action RPG, Dauntless. Path of the Slayer releases alongside the latest expansion to Dauntless’s Hunt Pass: Season 4: Burndown.

Path of the Slayer introduces the new Mastery system to Dauntless, which allows you to earn rewards for finishing challenges related to hunting certain Behemoths or wearing specific gear. “Each Behemoth and crafted weapon–not just weapon class–has its own unique Mastery card for players to delve into,” Phoenix Labs PR manager Andy Burt wrote in a press release. “Players will also find new alternate special attack options for the Hammer, War Pike, Sword and Chain Blades, allowing Slayers to further customize their experience.”

The expansion also introduces a new progression system into Dauntless. “The progression rework introduces a brand new End of Hunt screen that provides Slayers with a wealth of information, including progress made in various Mastery cards, quest rewards, Behemoth break parts earned, and more,” Burt wrote. “Quests and the Dauntless map have also been revamped to clearly define the challenge Slayers can expect on any given hunt, and Behemoth hunts are now organized by their elemental attribute.” This system plays into Dauntless’ new crafting features and mechanics which has replaced the multitude of crafting parts for a simpler system of elemental Orbs and Arcstones.

Ahead of Dauntless’ console release, the game begins its fourth Hunt Pass season. “[Burndown] transforms Ramsgate into an arid landscape marked with ceremonial braziers spread throughout the city, and offers Slayers a number of limited-time barbaric rewards,” Burt wrote.

Currently available in open beta on PC, Dauntless will officially launch on the Epic Games Store this summer. PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game are planned as well. Every version of Dauntless will support cross-platform play and progression, allowing you to move your account between multiple systems and party up with your friends regardless of system.

With Avengers: Endgame arriving in theaters around the world, fans are starting to see first-hand what is likely the biggest piece of the Marvel Cinematic Universe puzzle thus far. As the Infinity Saga, as the last ten years’ of movies have been dubbed, comes to a close, there are many questions that need to be answered. Warning: The following contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

One of the biggest questions was whether Stan Lee would have his customary cameo in the film. As you’ll remember, Lee died in late 2018 at 95 years old. While it was previously confirmed that the Marvel Comics icon had filmed a cameo for Avengers: Endgame, there was no telling what it was or if it would actually end up in the movie or how the cameo itself fit into the story. Consider this your last warning: If you haven’t seen Endgame yet, stop now. We’re going into spoiler territory, so continue forward at your own peril.

As it turns out, Lee does, in fact, have a cameo appearance in the movie. It’s a simple but funny moment somewhere near the middle of the film. The scene opens on a car license plate, pulling back to reveal the driver of the vehicle is Lee’s character, with a woman in the passenger seat. As they drive by a military base, Lee’s character shouts “Make love, not war” out the window. Fittingly, the car has a bumper sticker that reads, “Nuff said.” The phrase is one Lee used often in his Stan Lee’s Soapbox editorials in Marvel comic books. He also said the phrase as part of his cameo in Spider-Man 3.

It’s worth noting this will be the final cameo for Lee in the MCU, which is very fitting given this film is wrapping up the first decade of storytelling in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Speaking to RadioTimes, co-director Joe Russo said of Lee’s role in Endgame, “Obviously it was exceedingly sad that this cameo was his final appearance, but I do think what was shot was very fitting.”

For more on Avengers: Endgame, make sure to check out our review of the movie, as well as whether or not the film has a post-credits scene. And, for your own safety, here’s when it’s safe to run to the bathroom during the three-hour film.

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