Category: Entertainment & Lifestyle

  • Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff: The Unsung Hero of Taylor’s Inner Circle


    – Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff have been close friends and collaborators in the music industry for many years.
    – They first crossed paths in 2012 and their friendship has led to numerous hit records, including songs on albums like “1989” and “Lover.”
    – Antonoff has also contributed his musical talents to Swift’s re-recording project, “Taylor’s Version,” including co-producing and co-writing tracks for her “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” release.

    Full Story

    Taylor Swift’s circle of friends, better known as the “Squad,” has gained significant attention over the years. However, it’s her longstanding friendship with music collaborator Jack Antonoff that deserves recognition. The two talented musicians initially crossed paths in 2012 and struck up a collaboration that would shape both their personal and professional lives. Their first joint effort, “Sweeter than Fiction,” was featured on the soundtrack for the movie “One Chance.” Since then, their musical partnership has only grown stronger, resulting in hit records like “1989,” “Lover,” and “Midnights.”

    Antonoff, the lead vocalist of Bleachers and a Grammy winner himself, has also played a crucial role in Swift’s ongoing project to re-record her earlier albums. He has contributed his musical talents to her massive “Taylor’s Version” series, co-producing and co-writing all five “From the Vault” tracks on her highly anticipated re-recording of “1989.” Their collaboration on the original 2014 release of the album marked the beginning of their fruitful partnership.

    Beyond their musical connection, Antonoff and Swift share a deep admiration for each other. Their unwavering support has been evident throughout their friendship, making it all the more special. As we celebrate the release of Swift’s latest album, it’s worth revisiting the remarkable moments and sweet camaraderie between these two artists over the years.

    The friendship between Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff is indeed one for the books. From their chance encounter at the MTV EMAs in 2012 to their continuous collaborations that have brought us fan-favorite songs like “Getaway Car,” “August,” and “Cruel Summer,” their synergy in the studio is undeniable. It’s a beautiful full-circle moment to see how their bond has evolved, with Antonoff’s involvement in Taylor’s re-recording journey serving as a testament to their enduring friendship. As we immerse ourselves in Swift’s music, let’s also appreciate the magic created by her and Antonoff, which has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the pop music landscape.

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  • Capcom views mods as being no different than cheating which could have repercussions in the fighting game community











    Last week, a presentation was uploaded to Capcom R&D’s YouTube channel as part of the company’s open conference. The focus on the presentation was focused on the RE Engine’s built-in anti-cheat and anti-piracy measures intended for PC games.






    During the video, it’s noted that games can be cracked in a day and paid DLC will be distributed for free without anti-cheat and anti-piracy measures. Needless to say, it’s understandable that Capcom views the damage caused by cheating and piracy as unobservable since it’s not really possible to do a control test with the situation, but it’s particularly interesting to note how mods are to be seen by Capcom as no different than cheating.









    “All mods are defined as cheating, except when they are officially supported,” said the slide in the Capcom R&D video. “What they are doing internally is no different than cheating.”


    It’s also noted that the increased customer support load that comes with Capcom having to step in to deal with malicious mods have the potential to take away from development costs. Under normal circumstances, these costs were supposedly intended for creating high quality games.


    Additionally, it’s said that anti-cheat and anti-piracy measures are necessary to protect the company’s future profits and reputation.




    Capcom's stance on modding image #1

    Capcom's stance on modding image #2

    Click images for larger versions


    The presentation declares that, unlike consoles, PC games essentially allow users to do whatever they want with the games, which is why these games are often released with anti-pirate software. We haven’t heard much in terms of Capcom shutting down mods or other fan projects, but that is likely to change at some point considering that it was recently revealed that the company aims to make the PC their main platform for their games.


    Assuming that this is really Capcom’s stance, this could potentially have some major repercussions for the FGC in the near future considering how intertwined the community has become with modding.


    Though Street Fighter 6 was only released about five months ago, fans have already created some cool costumes for the playable roster. Of course, it should be noted that these appearances are only client side, meaning that online opponents won’t be able to see the costume unless they too implement the mods on their device.


    Games like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 have officially had their development concluded many years ago, but some particularly tech-savvy fans have been keeping the game alive by developing new content (such as new characters) for these games.


    Overall, as Capcom becomes more focused on the PC as their main platform, they could more often approach some of the mods for games like Street Fighter 6 and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 with the mindset that “all mods are defined as cheating.” If that happens, they may be issuing cease and desists orders more often.


    While all of this could potentially be alarming to fans of certain mods, we’ll just have to see how things play out from here and see if Capcom makes those sort of moves.









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  • 2 new special moves coming to Guilty Gear Strive in December update with next DLC character and 1 has been revealed already











    Guilty Gear Strive made the most changes to its gameplay since launch with the Season 3 update a few months back, but they aren’t done yet.






    Arc System Works revealed during their Paris Games Week 2023 presentation that more new special moves are coming to Strive in the next update along with what one of them will be.









    It appears the first of the two new specials is going to Potemkin with the Heat Tackle move that sends him flying diagonally upward across the stage.


    This Heat Tackle appears a bit similar to his I.C.P.M attack from the Guilty Gear Xrd games except it has armor and can seemingly lead to good corner carry and Oki.


    We don’t know who the other character is that’s getting the other new attack, but they’ve previously said that all original launch fighters will be getting them eventually with I-No, May, Ramlethal, Zato-1, Anji, Giovanna, and Faust having received theirs already.







    A December update also suggests that’s when the second DLC character for Season 3 after Johnny will be releasing too since the roadmap showed one more for 2023.










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  • Trisha Paytas & Moses Hacmon’s Winning Halloween Looks: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Costumes

    • Trisha Paytas and Moses Hacmon dressed up as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for Halloween, recreating one of the duo’s game day looks.
    • Many social media users praised Trisha and Moses for their costumes, with one person commenting that Trisha “wins Halloween yet again.”
    • Other famous couples, such as Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber, Paris Hilton and Carter Reum, and Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, also showcased their Halloween costumes.

    Here is what happened:

    Get ready to be captivated by Trisha Paytas and Moses Hacmon’s impressive Halloween costumes! The popular YouTuber and her husband went all out by dressing up as none other than Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. They even recreated one of the couple’s game day looks, complete with the caption, “Home is where the heart is, but God I love the football team.” Fans around the world have fallen in love with Taylor and Travis’ blossoming romance, making them a favorite choice for Halloween costumes this year.

    Trisha and Moses weren’t the only ones who hit the mark with their Halloween outfits. Other couples also impressed with their creative costume choices. Singer G Flip and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause took on the roles of Troye Sivan and Ross Lynch from the “One of Your Girls” music video. Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber channeled Bamm-Bamm and Pebbles Flintstone, while Paris Hilton and Carter Reum rocked flight attendant and pilot costumes at the Casamigos Halloween party.

    Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly showed off their love for each other and the movie “Kill Bill” with their inspired outfits. They then transformed into Anime character Ryuk and his forbidden fruit at another Halloween celebration. Trisha Paytas and Moses Hacmon once again proved their love by going as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, while Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler took an artistic approach as Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol.

    Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford brought a touch of “Grease” to their costumes at the Casamigos party, while Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos captivated with their intricately designed looks inspired by Día de los Muertos. Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee stepped into the world of Tim Burton by dressing as Edward Scissorhands and Kim from the 1990 film. Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso showcased their love for gaming as Mario and Luigi, while Becca Tilley and Hayley Kiyoko mesmerized as Glinda and Elphaba from the musical “Wicked.”

    The Halloween festivities continued with Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams, who embraced their love for hockey by dressing up as a Boston Bruins player and a cheering fan. Molly Sims and Scott Stuber added a touch of Scarface to the Casamigos bash, while April Love Geary and Robin Thicke rocked retro couple’s costumes. With so many incredible costumes, it’s safe to say that Halloween 2023 brought out the creativity and fun-loving spirit of these famous couples.

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  • Cute and comfy Juri cosplay in her pajama costume shown off by Yazuki before its even available in Street Fighter 6



    Plus some awesome I-No as well








    Juri has become one of the most popular Street Fighter characters for cosplayers in recent years alongside the likes of the classic world warriors of Chun-Li and Cammy, and it helps that she’s got a multitude of killer costumes to pick from.






    Japanese pro cosplayer Yazuki recently came back with some more of her perfect Juri except this time she’s put together her upcoming pajamas costume for Street Fighter 6 — plus some awesome I-No from Guilty Gear Strive as well.









    The cosplayer started teasing her latest project a few weeks back with the soft pjs laid out as well as the stuffed pink spider shown off in Juri’s concept art.



    But now we’ve gotten to see the costume basically in its entirety now, and it’s looking pretty darn spot on to what we’ve seen so far.


    She’s got the spider zipper, the multiple pinks / purples sewn into the suit, the yellow draw strings with the puffs at the end and even the holes in the hood for her pigtails to stick out.






    On top of that, Yazuki’s previous fighting game project was apparently for I-No where she went above and beyond what most cosplayers would go for.


    Not only does her costume look basically perfect for the witch’s Strive design, but she’s even got the dang guitar too, which is all sorts of extra awesome.





    If you enjoyed these, there’s plenty more great video game themed cosplay to be found on Yazuki’s Twitter page.


    And at least we have these to look at while we all continue waiting for Juri’s costume to actually come to SF6 or any new DLC outfits for that matter.












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  • What’s the greatest character select theme of all time? Maximilian rates them all



    The correct answer, by the way, is Killer Instinct 2








    It can get to the point where we may not even consciously perceive them because of how many hours we’ve logged into any given fighting game, but some of the character select screen themes from over the last 30 years have become absolute, iconic bangers.






    There are others, however, that really don’t get the blood flowing, and Maximilian is rating most all of them in his recent video. Which themes get perfect 10’s and which are trash? Continue on to find out.









    This is an especially fun experience for those of us who have been enjoying fighters for the last 30 years or so, as blasts from the past like the early Mortal Kombats, Killer Instincts, and Street Fighters are nostalgically sweet.


    On a personal note, I have to say that Killer Instinct 2 (KI Gold for those of you Nintendo 64 kids) is easily the most invigorating of this bunch for me. Which of these is the most iconic, though?


    It probably comes down to a duel between Marvel vs. Capcom 2’s ear worm Take You For a Ride and the epic entire song devoted to the idea of picking a fighting game character from rapper Infinite from Third Strike.


    See what Max and his co-host Steve (who also goes by the handle “Infinite,” but no relation) rate each and every one of these tracks (there are nearly 80) and let us know which ones you think are the best in the comments afterwards.









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  • Noah Cyrus’ Rapunzel-Length Hair: Prepare to Be Astounded

    • Noah Cyrus turned heads with her dramatic floor-length hair at a recent event.
    • She wore a sheer long-sleeve dress that showcased her daring fashion choices.
    • Other celebrities, including Heidi Klum and Kendall Jenner, celebrated Halloween 2023 with creative costumes.

    Here is what happened:

    Noah Cyrus made a striking statement with her latest look at the GLSEN’s Rise Up LA benefit in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old singer turned heads with her floor-length hair, styled in a textured bubble ponytail that featured wispy spheres created by multiple elastics. With minimal makeup, Noah’s attention-grabbing hair became the focal point of her ensemble. Adding to her bold fashion choices, she wore a sheer long-sleeve dress, freeing the nipple yet again, in true Noah fashion.

    This isn’t the first time Noah has opted for daring outfits. Earlier this year, during Paris Fashion Week, she made headlines by wearing a black chest-baring gown with a plunging neckline and a chain-link attachment. The outfit was reminiscent of something out of Morticia Addams’ closet and emphasized Noah’s fearless style. She isn’t the only celebrity who embraced the Halloween season with their wardrobe choices.

    At Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween blowout, stars like Heidi herself and her husband Tom Kaulitz went all out with their outfits. Other notable celebrity costumes included Zayn Malik as Harry Potter’s Voldemort, Rachel Zegler and Josh Rivera as Daphne and Fred from Scooby-Doo, and Taylor Lautner and Taylor Dome as characters from a Saturday Night Live sketch. Halloween 2023 was certainly a feast for the eyes, with various celebrities embracing creativity and embodying iconic characters.

    From Noah Cyrus’ dramatic hairstyle and attire to the numerous standout outfits at Heidi Klum’s Halloween party, it’s clear that celebrities went all out to celebrate the spooky season with their fashion choices. These bold and imaginative ensembles allowed them to express their creativity and have fun with their Halloween looks.

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  • Mariah Carey’s Epic Christmas Countdown Tradition: Videos, Concerts, and Festive Fun


    – Mariah Carey kicks off the holiday season with an annual over-the-top video, signaling the start of Christmas.
    – Her latest video features her encased in an ice block, being defrosted by people in Halloween costumes, and breaking free with her iconic whistle tone.
    – These Christmas countdown videos have become a tradition for Carey, evolving from simple home videos to elaborate studio productions with special effects.

    Full Story

    The holiday season officially begins when Mariah Carey says so, and she wasted no time in making her grand entrance. On November 1st, the pop star shared her annual over-the-top video announcement, signaling the start of Christmas. This year’s masterpiece is no exception, as Carey is encased in a giant ice block. With the help of people dressed in Halloween costumes armed with blow dryers, she breaks free and belts out, “It’s time!” in her signature high-pitched whistle tone. The familiar notes of her iconic hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” fill the air as she dances in a Santa Claus outfit alongside her twins.

    Creating these festive countdown videos has become a tradition for Carey. In previous years, she took us on imaginative journeys, transforming from a witch in a snowy wonderland to smashing pumpkins with a giant candy cane. The quality and creativity of these videos have noticeably escalated since their humble beginnings, now featuring elaborate production sets and hired actors. It’s clear that Carey has a dedicated team working to bring her visions to life.

    As the Queen of Christmas, Carey is committed to spreading the holiday spirit beyond her videos. She recently announced her Merry Christmas One and All! tour, scheduled to take place across the United States and Canada. Due to overwhelming demand, additional shows have been added to the lineup, ensuring that fans can bask in the joy of Carey’s live performances.

    Get ready to embrace the Christmas magic alongside Mariah Carey by watching her hilarious countdown video for this year, and take a trip down memory lane to see how these videos have evolved over the years. The countdown to the most wonderful time of the year has officially begun!

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  • Rising release date delayed by two weeks











    On the official Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising website, it’s been revealed that the game has been delayed. Though it was originally planned for GBFVR to be released on November 30, 2023, it will now instead be released on December 14, 2023.






    Since the first online beta was held in July, the development team has been reworking game mechanics and battle design. As it turns out, the cause of this delay is due to the number of modes within the game that are being affected by these drastic changes.









    “After our first online beta was held in July, the development team pulled out all the stops to rework the game’s mechanics and battle design in time for the initially scheduled release date,” said Creative Director Fukuhara in the post. “Despite our best efforts, however, it has become clear to me that additional time will be needed to put the finishing touches on the game.”


    “Due to the number of modes that were affected by these changes, we found the overall impact to be much larger than anticipated, and decided that, in order to meet player expectations, we would need two more weeks of polish and debugging to put out a truly high-quality product,” continued Fukuhara. “We regret announcing this as the second beta is just around the corner, but please rest assured that the beta schedule itself has not changed.”


    It’s also noted that the revealed changes for GBFVR were met with “overwhelmingly positive reception” by the fans during the “Balance and System Adjustments” stream that took place on October 20, 2023.


    Due to this delay, the “Granblue Showcase: Part 2 – GBVSR” broadcast is also being delayed from late November until December 2, 2023. The developers apparently intend on showing off the latest news about the game then, as well as have a tournament between members of the development team.


    Luckily though, this will apparently not affect the schedule for the second beta test. The next Open Beta Test for GBFVR will be taking place on November 9, 2023 and last until November 12, 2023.







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  • Cinema: Kada recruits 50 Cross River youths, moves to stimulate entertainment industry

    Cinema: Kada recruits 50 Cross River youths, moves to stimulate entertainment industry

    Kada Cinemas has recruited about 50 youths at different levels from Cross River as it moves to stimulate the entertainment industry in the state.

    This was disclosed by Mr Trevor Pillay, Managing Director of the Kada cinemas on Wednesday in an interview with journalists in Calabar.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN), reports that Kada Cinemas which is set to open its first cinema in Cross River, would be located in the popular Marina Resort, Calabar.

    Pillay said Calabar was in dire need of a cinema as the entertainment industry was really booming in the nation.

    Read Also: Again, Tinubu threatens to sack underperforming ministers

    He said as they were opening the cinema on Nov. 7, their prices would be quite reasonable and there would discounts for students and couples on specific days and occasions.

    “We are putting in the latest technology, it is the same equipment that you find in any cinema across the globe that you will find in Kada Cinemas.

    “We are looking at stimulating the creative industry in the state, let the younger generation see what the potential on the industry is.

    “With the tight security at the resort, latest movies, shows will commence as early as 10 a.m. to as late as 8p.m.,” he said.

    Pillay added that they would have between 20 to 25 showtimes daily and the movies would be on four screens, one of which would be for Very Important Personalities (VIP).

    The last time a cinema worked in Cross River was in 2018 but it was poorly managed and has been moribund since then.