Author: Trafficblast

Rick May, an actor with a small but illustrious list of video game critics, has died. According to an obituary posted by Rekindle School, where he worked as a teacher until recently, May suffered a stroke in February, and contracted COVID-19 while staying in a nursing home for rehabilitation. He was 79 years old.

May had eight video games listed among his IMDB credits, including the role of Genghis Khan in Age of Empires II and the Soldier in Team Fortress 2 (including all related animated shorts). He also appeared in Pajama Sam 2, Freddi Fish 5, SOCOM II, and Claw.

But his most iconic role was one that spawned a strange meme. Rick May played Peppy Hare, the oldest team member and mentor figure in Star Fox 64. Rick May was the one who told players exactly when it was time to “do a barrel roll”–a rare example of voice acting on the Nintendo 64, and a line that would go on to be one of the most iconic in games.

Outside of games, Rick May was a major figure in the world of theater in Seattle. According to Rekindle School, he acted in or directed over 300 productions during his career. Beyond that, he also had an uncredited role in American Graffiti, the second film by Star Wars director George Lucas.

In tribute to Rick May, today’s a good day to go to Google and type “do a barrel roll” into the search bar and enjoy a classic Google Easter egg.

Now Playing: Expiration Date – Team Fortress 2 Short

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No. In terms of the headline in question, Comic-Con is still a go. The annual pop culture event that brings in millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of people to San Diego and its Gaslamp District is still planned for July 23-26, even with a social distancing order currently in effect as the global COVID-19 pandemic moves forward.

The bigger question is “why hasn’t Comic-Con been cancelled?”

For those who have ever been to Comic-Con before, staying at least six feet away from someone else is a near impossibility. There is nowhere in the convention area where that is an easily achievable feat–unless you jump in the water. Comic Con International has stated that it is “monitoring the situation,” as they remain hopeful that the show can go on.

That seems like a bizarre response considering what’s going on in the country right now. Comic-Con, if it is going to happen, is three months away, and America is about a month into social distancing–and three months after the first case appeared in the country. While most of us are clamoring to get back out into the public, hang out with our friends, eat at restaurants, and have a drink at the bar, we have a ways to go.

Sure, you can remain hopeful that SDCC is going to happen, but why state that you are monitoring the situation? Even if today would be the peak of coronavirus infections–which is nearing 600,000 infections in the US–is it really smart to bring in over one hundred thousand people from around the world to cram the Gaslamp District and San Diego Convention Center for three days? (It is not.)

Undoubtedly, SDCC brings in a large amount of money to the local economy. But is that influx of money more important than the possibility of creating yet another pandemic along with the possibility of infected people losing their lives? (It is not.)

COVID-19 is unlike any other virus we’ve seen in the 21st century. It’s highly contagious and carriers are asymptomatic (meaning they show no symptoms of infection but can spread it) for days. Additionally, it can be deadly to the elderly and those with lung conditions. These are things you probably already know, but it bears repeating. You can always check out the World Health Organization for more info.

There is a laundry list of events that have been canceled or postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic: SXSW–which is now an Amazon Prime Video event—E3, the Olympics, WonderCon (which is owned by Comic-Con International, the same company as Comic-Con), and many, many others. All of these take place before or after the same time that SDCC is supposed to happen.

Cancelling SDCC is a good thing, but also its cancellation can open up new opportunities. Maybe SDCC can shift to an online event, much like Comic-Con International did with WonderCon recently. Panels could still happen, over the internet–and maybe some people can finally get into a Hall H event. Comic-Con International can find a happy medium here. It can have its event in an online space, make people who wish they were at the show have something to look forward to, and not endanger anyone’s health. This is the best solution to this terrifying problem glaring us all in the face.

Another mission awaits Cloud and Avalanche in Final Fantasy 7 Remake as you head into Chapter 6. This is one of the more labyrinthine areas of the game, and there are some important items along the way that are easy to miss–including one of the best Materia orbs you can find in the whole game.

We’re here to help guide you through that big rotting pizza with our Chapter 6 guide, taking you through every boss fight and helping you find every item, weapon, Materia, and collectible. And if you need more help, check out our FF7 Remake guide roundup for every guide we’ve got.

Chapter 6: Light The Way Walkthrough

After the opening cutscene kicking off the chapter, Tifa and Barret will head down the ladder to your left. Before you follow them, take a breather at the nearby bench and purchase whatever supplies you need from the vending machine behind you to the right. If you haven’t purchased any Leather Bracers yet, now’s a good chance to stock up to give your party additional Materia slots. Afterward, climb down the ladder, and then turn the opposite way from Barret and Tifa to open a chest with a hi-potion.

Continue to the gate, which you’ll find needs power. When you head up the ladder to turn off the sun lamp, turn left from the console to find another chest, which contains three potions.

As you head forward into section G-03, you’ll pass by some powered down sentry guns up above. Ahead in G-04, you’ll see stairs that lead down. Head around behind the staircase to find a chest with Hazardous Material, an item you can throw at enemies to poison them and deal damage.

Moving on, the walkway to section H-07 will fall away ahead of you, blocking the way to a new Materia–more on that below. Head back the other way, where you’ll find a staircase and then head across into section G-08. Deal with the Grashtrikes, then check the northwest corner of the pillar in the center to find a chest with a remedy inside.

Back up the stairs in G-05, you’ll find a chest containing two antidotes just across from the walkway that leads you forward. As you keep moving, you’ll fight a new fish-like enemy called a Blugu. These guys are weak to Lightning and Wind magic, but be careful, as they’ll put your characters to sleep and then deal big damage to them with Water attacks.

Move ahead and you’ll get to a section where you’re crossing in front of some ventilation fans–Tifa will spot a Materia behind one that you can’t reach yet. To advance the story, you’ll need to disable the rest of the lamps to send more power to a nearby cargo platform, but there’s a gondola nearby that can take you back to the ventilation fans that also needs power. You’ll need to turn off one more sunlamp to power it, however.

The Second Sun Lamp

Head to H-02 to reach the first second, and once you arrive, check to the right of the switch to find a chest with a phoenix down inside. With the lamp powered down, head back to the console and activate it to move the catwalk. First, push it all the way to the right to open a path that gets you behind some cargo containers. Go around the back of the containers to find a chest with a turbo ether.

After connecting the catwalk, push on to fight a new enemy called a Terpiscolt. These are weak to Ice attacks, but will start spinning when you interrupt them, making them pretty dangerous and tough to hit with melee attacks without taking damage yourself. Switch to Barret and use Overcharge to knock them out of the spin, then follow up with Cloud and Tifa to stagger them and finish them off.

Head down the ladder and you can take a gondola back toward the beginning of the area. That also means that the gondola near the cargo platform is operational, and you can get that Materia Tifa spotted behind the fan.

Materia Backtrack: Inside The Ventilation Fan

With two sunlamps powered down, return to H-01 and the beginning of this section to use the gondola that will take you back toward the ventilation system. On the far side, take the ladder up to a service room where you can access a vending machine that holds the Electric de Chocobo Music Disc. You can also buy MP Up Materia here, but it’s better to hold off, as you can get one for free shortly.

When you activate the console, you’ll have one minute to enter the next room, kill all the enemies, and press a button on another console. Don’t worry if you fail to kill everything within the time limit, though. You can double back out of the room and hit the console again to start a new, easier fight with some weaker enemies. Once you activate the other console, you can head into the fan corridor and snag what you discover to be a Chocobo and Moggle Summon Materia.

Materia Backtrack: Collapsed Passageway

Return on the second gondola to the area you entered when you climbed down the ladder from the second sun lamp. Go around the cargo containers to find a ladder down, as well as a chest containing a Moogle Medal.

Take the ladder down to another platform where you’ll fight two Queen Grashtrikes. Dispatch them, then use the control panel to lower the walkway ahead. Don’t align it with the gate so you can cross; instead, keep lowering it until the MP Up Materia sitting on top of the frame is low enough for you to grab. Now put the walkway in place so you can cross it. Head to the far end of the next platform to grab the Elemental Materia.

The Final Sun Lamp

Okay, time to wrap up! Return to the ladder that brought you down here and follow the path ahead to reach the third sunlamp. When you climb up to its catwalk, check around to the right to find a chest containing a Mesmeric Armlet. Return to the cargo platform and take it across. You’ll fight a bunch of automated defenses, so take them out the only way you know how.

In the next area, Plate Partition – Interior, climb up the ladder and once up top, turn right to find a chest with a Moogle Medal inside. When you reach Biggs, note that you’ll get a new weapon for Barret–the Light Machine Gun.

Now Playing: 8 Things Final Fantasy 7 Remake Doesn’t Tell You (Right Away)

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In Season 3, Episode 5 of Westworld the villain of the story, Serac (Vincent Cassel), steps out from the shadows and into the spotlight. The episode, titled “Genre,” digs deep into his history and how he came to be one of the most powerful figures in the world. Seeing his history and hearing his reasoning may change your perspective on whether Serac is the villain at all or it may solidify his role as the antagonist of the tale.

Genre is also a big episode for Aaron Paul’s character, Caleb, who undergoes quite an … aesthetic journey, let’s call it. At the same time, we learn a little bit more about Caleb’s history. And the new details are delivered in a way that looks to be setting up a more comprehensive look at what he lived through before we joined him at the start of Season 3.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a rather in-depth history of Rehoboam given to us this episode, so we learn a great deal about how it came to be and what the intention behind it was. As always, Lucy and Tamoor have combed through the episode and are here to break down everything that’s crucial to know, point out any cool easter eggs, and theorize on what could be happening next.

Westworld airs Sundays on HBO.

Beyond the reef, the shelf drops away into the turquoise haze of the open ocean. I find myself surrounded by golden-peaked pillars aglow with the shimmering petals of sunlit life. Bright green webs of twisted tendrils extend from pillar to pillar, forming a writhing network of bridges for the feathery, fern-like creatures who patrol and maintain them. It’s a spectacular, awe-inspiring scene. Yet it exists mostly in my imagination, its wonder shaped by a handful of single-sentence descriptions and a simple two-colour contour map. In Other Waters does so much with seemingly so little, emerging as a masterclass in prudent, minimalist storytelling.

Dr. Ellery Vas is a xenobiologist following in the wake of her partner who disappeared while researching extraterrestrial life on the ocean planet Gliese 667Cc. Stationed at her partner’s abandoned lab and equipped with an AI-controlled diving suit, Vas explores the depths in search of answers. In a disarming inversion of the typical human-AI relationship, you play the AI; Vas sets the objectives, often conferring with you, but it’s your job to plot her course, gather samples, and run tests back in the lab.

The setup allows Vas room to breathe as a character. As you guide her maritime expedition, she provides intermittent narration. She pauses to marvel at new sights, thinks out loud as she works through possible theories, and occasionally confides in you her doubts and fears. Conversation may be sparse, and your ability to respond is limited to the odd yes or no answer, yet it’s perhaps all the more affecting because of it. The two of you are strangers at the outset, but Vas’ wariness at revealing her innermost thoughts to an AI gradually washes away as she realises, despite your reticence, that you understand her predicament–in the process unearthing a memorably multi-layered character. It’s a friendship forged in aquatic isolation, one quiet line at a time.

Similarly, there’s an elegance to the overall design in that it communicates a great deal of information in very few words. The view of your travels is confined to a bathymetric chart where hydrographic features are drawn in clean lines and navigational points of interest are clearly marked whenever you activate the local scanner. Vas is an assiduous note-taker, and her short written descriptions of each location bring these points to life in remarkably vivid fashion. The textual imagery combines effectively with the subtle palette changes of the map–the warm greens of the shallows segue into the rich blues and yellows of the deeper waters before giving way to the blacks and reds of the darkest depths. Add in the obscure, ambient hum of the sea and the gentle thrum of the diving suit’s propulsion engine as you push off to a new destination, and In Other Waters delivers a richly immersive audio-visual experience that belies its spartan aesthetic. It’s quite an achievement.

The minimalist construction extends to your interactions with the world. Scanning reveals the nearest nodes you can travel to via the point-to-point movement system. It also uncovers any lifeforms that you can click on to have Vas study. Each unique encounter with a specific lifeform adds to her observations until she’s able to properly identify and catalogue it. There are also special samples to collect, often hidden in out-of-the-way corners of the map, that contribute to the deep taxonomy of this alien ecosystem and reward the time it takes to track them all down.

All of this is accomplished via an interface that just begs to be played with. Intriguingly unlabelled buttons, dials, switches, scopes, and sliders don’t so much fill the screen as grace it, teasing enigmatic functions with perfect stylish form. Inconspicuous tutorial tips light up the dashboard when it’s appropriate to utilise each component, but there’s plenty left for you to decipher. Just as Vas confronts the unknown in her journey and has to speculate and experiment, testing out her hypotheses, you too are handed a highly tactile, symbolic interface and left to probe it until you eventually intuit how it all operates. In many instances, the mysteries coincide; Vas’ search for understanding of the lifeforms she’s encountering mirrors your own rumination on the best means to proceed. Indeed, all throughout, the themes and mechanics of exploration and scientific method align and intertwine.

Although principally a narrative-driven game, there is a light undercurrent of resource management flowing through each outing from the base. Sampling and researching marine life allows you to extract the power and oxygen you’ll need to maintain Vas’ diving suit on longer treks. Certain environmental hazards deplete these resources at a greater rate, though, while you’ll need a supply of specific samples to progress through otherwise inaccessible regions, both scenarios serving to gently nudge you to at least consider the limited inventory space as you prepare for each expedition. Even though failure here isn’t punishing–Vas will be extracted via drone back to base if you let her run out of oxygen–having to monitor your use of resources builds tension and benefits the feeling of trepidation as you set a course into uncharted waters.

In Other Waters develops its central mysteries in expert fashion, drip-feeding its revelations in a way that feels natural, and dispatching you to inspect the corners of its map in a way that doesn’t feel contrived. As you steadily learn more of what Vas’ partner was up to on this strange planet, and you yourself begin to grasp humanity’s plight, the mystery builds to a confident conclusion–one that satisfies yet remains aware that some questions are more enticing when left unanswered. In this sense, its story echoes the restraint that runs through the entire game to deliver a stylish, assured, and utterly absorbing adventure that demonstrates again and again it knows how to do a lot with seemingly very little.

Disney Plus is playing for keeps in the streaming wars, with a massive catalog of both classics and original content, as well as a handful of new releases recently expedited to digital thanks to the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. There’s plenty to watch on the platform–as long as you don’t mind some uh, interesting censorship.

Allison Pregler recently uncovered one such instance on Twitter in Disney’s 1984 classic Splash, starring Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks. Hannah, who plays a mermaid-turned-human named Madison, has one brief scene where her (currently human) butt is briefly exposed as she runs back toward the ocean. This, apparently, was far too scandalous for Disney Plus, so they opted to do the only thing they could do: utilize some absolutely bizarre looking CGI hair to hide poor Madison’s rear-end.

Take a look.

Nevermind the fact that Disney’s entire catalog is packed to the proverbial gills (pun intended) with all manner of violence–from run-of-the-mill guns you can find in family favorites like E.T. to the world-ending sci-fi catastrophes you can find in virtually any MCU film. Apparently a split second glimpse of a very PG-rated butt is just a bridge too far.

Who knows, maybe digitally generated hair will become Disney’s go-to censor for anything from now on. It’s nothing if not creative, we’ll give them that.

The good news is: Splash is still very much worth watching, censored or otherwise. And if mermaid love stories aren’t exactly your speed, check out our recommendations for the best streaming slasher movies, the best streaming cosmic horror movies, and the best streaming comedy shows to make your time in lockdown a little more bearable.

And speaking of things you should be watching, consider listening to GameSpot’s weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. With new episodes premiering every Wednesday, you can watch a video version of the podcast over on GameSpot Universe or listen to audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.

It was reported late last week that the XFL, the football league launched by WWE chairman Vince McMahon, has suspended operations, laid-off employees, and had no plan to return for another season. Now, it’s being reported that the league has filed for bankruptcy. This all comes after the XFL cut its inaugural season short due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

News of the bankruptcy filing was first noted by The Hollywood Reporter senior editor Eric Gardner, who shared the filing on Twitter. The documents note Alpha Entertainment LLC, the company that owns the XFL, is filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, with McMahon appointed as one of the two “liquidating agents” that wrap up the company’s business affairs.

This was the second attempt to launch the XFL. McMahon originally launched the league in 2001, with it folding after the first season. In 2018, the revival was announced, with the first game taking place on February 8, 2020. Little more than a month later, on March 12, the league canceled its remaining games, joining the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS in suspending or canceling its seasons. Additionally, the NCAA canceled the 2020 March Madness tournament.

The league has yet to publicly discuss shuttering operations. However, the XFL’s official Twitter account seemingly references the end of the league with a puzzling tweet that was a video of actor Jake Gyllenhaal blowing a kiss as he walked out of a room. It remains the final thing the account has tweeted.

While the XFL won’t be continuing, McMahon’s other venture–WWE–is still producing weekly television. After holding Wrestlemania in front of no live audience, the company will be broadcasting its TV programming live from the WWE Performance Center.

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