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jcmarchi · 10 days

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OpenAI chooses Tokyo for its first Asian office

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/openai-chooses-tokyo-for-its-first-asian-office/

OpenAI chooses Tokyo for its first Asian office

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OpenAI has announced the opening of a new office in Tokyo to drive its expansion into the Asian market.

The new office aims to foster collaboration with the Japanese government, local businesses, and research institutions to develop AI tools tailored to Japan’s unique requirements.

Tokyo was selected for OpenAI’s first Asian venture due to its global leadership in technology, a culture dedicated to service, and an innovative community.

“We’re excited to be in Japan which has a rich history of people and technology coming together to do more,” explained Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. “We believe AI will accelerate work by empowering people to be more creative and productive, while also delivering broad value to current and new industries that have yet to be imagined.”

To ensure effective engagement within the local community and spearhead OpenAI’s initiatives in Japan, Tadao Nagasaki has been welcomed as the president of OpenAI Japan. Nagasaki’s role will involve leading commercial and market engagement efforts and building a local team to progress global affairs, go-to-market, communications, operations, and other functions catered to Japan.

OpenAI is granting local businesses early access to a customised GPT-4 model optimised for the Japanese language. This custom model boasts enhanced performance in translating and summarising Japanese text, offers cost-effectiveness, and operates up to three times faster than its predecessor.

Speak – a leading English learning app in Japan – reportedly benefits from faster tutor explanations in Japanese with a significant reduction in token cost, facilitating improved quality of tutor feedback across more applications with higher limits per user.

The new office positions OpenAI closer to major businesses such as Daikin, Rakuten, and TOYOTA Connected, which are leveraging ChatGPT Enterprise to streamline complex business operations, assist in data analysis, and improve internal reporting.

Local governments, including Yokosuka City, are adopting the technology to enhance public service efficiency. Yokosuka City has notably expanded ChatGPT access to nearly all city employees, with 80 percent reporting productivity gains.

The Japanese government’s role as a leading voice in AI policy – especially after chairing the Hiroshima AI Process – aims to foster AI development aligned with human dignity, diversity, and inclusion, and sustainable societies. OpenAI seeks to contribute to the local ecosystem and explore AI solutions for societal challenges, such as rural depopulation and labour shortages, within the region.

OpenAI’s expansion into Japan highlights its global mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity, underlining the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives.

(Photo by Jezael Melgoza)

See also: US and Japan announce sweeping AI and tech collaboration

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: asia, japan, openai

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pressnewsagencyllc · 10 days

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Stock Market Live Updates – 15th April 2024: Sensex, Nifty slide amid Iran-Israel war escalation

Granules: Unit V facility located at Anakapally gets zero Form 483 observations from USFDA. ISMT: Company received 2 contracts from ONGC to supply products worth ₹343.72 cr. RVNL: Company received LoA worth 95.95 cr for new line project of Araria – Galgalia of N.F. railway Mphasis: Company has signed a multi-year global strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Varun…

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wealthview · 4 months

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Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO Date, Price, GMP, Review December 2023

New Post has been published on https://wealthview.co.in/shree-osfm-e-mobility-ipo-details/

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO Date, Price, GMP, Review December 2023

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO: Shree OSFM E-Mobility Limited is a Pune-based manufacturer of electric vehicles, primarily focusing on three-wheeled e-rickshaws and e-loaders.They operate in the rapidly growing Indian electric vehicle market, estimated to reach $150 billion by 2030.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO Key Details:

Dates:

Open: December 14, 2023

Close: December 18, 2023

Listing (tentative): December 21, 2023, on NSE SME

Offer Size: ₹24.60 crore (fresh issue of 37.84 lakh shares)

Price Band: ₹65 per share

News and Developments:

Subscription Update: As of December 15, 2023, the IPO saw good initial response with:

Retail category subscribed 3.99 times.

Overall subscription at 3.50 times.

Grey Market Premium (GMP): Trading at a slight premium of ₹2-3 per share as of December 17, indicating cautious optimism.

Analyst Opinions: Views are mixed, with some recommending caution due to the fragmented nature of the segment and high valuation compared to FY24 earnings. Others see potential in the company’s focus on last-mile connectivity and EV adoption growth.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility Securities Offered:

This is a pure equity share offering. No bonds or other instruments are being issued. The company is raising fresh capital by issuing 37.84 lakh new shares.

Investor Category Reservation:

Category Percentage Allocation Retail Individual Investors (RII) 35% Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB) 50% Non-Institutional Investors (NII) 15%

Minimum Lot Size and Investment Amount:

Minimum Lot Size: 2,000 shares.

Minimum Investment Amount: ₹130,000 (2,000 shares * ₹65 per share).

Note: For HNI/NII investors, the minimum investment is 2 lots (4,000 shares) or ₹260,000.

Additional Information:

This is a fixed-price IPO, meaning the offer price is set at ₹65 per share.

You can apply for the IPO through your broker or through the designated ASBA platforms of your bank.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility Company Profile:

Early Beginnings and Operations:

Established in 2015, Shree OSFM E-Mobility started as a manufacturer of automotive components.

In 2018, they pivoted to electric vehicles, focusing on three-wheeler e-rickshaws and e-loaders.

Currently, they have two manufacturing facilities in Pune with a total capacity of 60,000 units per year.

Their primary operations are spread across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, but they aim to expand pan-India.

Market Position and Brands:

They hold a small but growing share in the fragmented Indian e-rickshaw market, estimated to be worth over ₹20,000 crore.

Their main brand is “OSFM E-Mobility,” marketed under the tagline “Sustainable Solutions for Last Mile Connectivity.”

They haven’t yet established prominent sub-brands or subsidiaries.

Competitive Advantages and Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Focus on last-mile connectivity: caters to a vital segment with high demand for affordable and efficient e-vehicles.

Vertical integration: own production facilities for key components, ensuring cost control and quality.

Product differentiation: offer customized e-rickshaws and e-loaders based on specific customer needs.

Strong distribution network: have established dealership relationships across their target markets.

Challenges and Potential Risks:

Intense competition: operate in a crowded market with numerous established players.

Dependence on government policies and subsidies: government support plays a crucial role in EV adoption.

Limited financial resources: compared to larger peers, their capital base is relatively smaller.

Overall: Shree OSFM E-Mobility occupies a niche space in the growing Indian e-vehicle market. While it faces stiff competition, its focus on specific segments, vertical integration, and customization offer potential advantages. However, its limited financial resources and dependence on government policies create uncertainties for investors.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility Financials:

Revenue Growth: The company has demonstrated impressive revenue growth, with YOY (Year-over-Year) increases of 85% in FY22 and 168% in FY23 (estimated). This surge reflects rising demand for their e-rickshaws and e-loaders.

Profitability: Profitability remains moderate, though improving. They recorded a PAT (Profit After Tax) of ₹309.09 lakhs in FY23, compared to ₹162.78 lakhs in FY22. Net margins remain around 3-4%.

Debt Levels: The company currently has minimal debt, with a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 0.10. This provides them with financial flexibility and potential for future borrowing.

Key Financial Ratios (FY23 estimated):

P/E Ratio: Based on the issue price of ₹65 and estimated EPS (Earnings Per Share) of ₹2.94, the P/E ratio stands at 22.1.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio: As mentioned earlier, it stands at a healthy 0.10.

Industry Benchmarks:

P/E Ratio: The average P/E ratio for established electric vehicle companies in India is around 30-40. Shree OSFM’s lower P/E could signal potential, but also reflects its smaller size and lower profitability.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio: Industry benchmarks vary, but a ratio below 1 is generally considered favorable, which Shree OSFM achieves comfortably.

Future Growth Prospects and Earnings Drivers:

Growing e-vehicle market: The Indian e-vehicle market is expected to see consistent growth in the coming years, driven by government policies, rising fuel prices, and increasing focus on sustainability. This presents a significant opportunity for Shree OSFM.

Expansion plans: The company plans to expand production capacity and enter new markets, which could significantly boost revenue and earnings.

Product diversification: Exploring new e-vehicle segments beyond e-rickshaws and e-loaders could diversify their offering and attract new customers.

Challenges and Risks:

Intense competition: The fragmented market has numerous players, and competition for market share is fierce.

Dependence on government policies: Continued government support for e-vehicle adoption is crucial for the company’s success.

Profitability concerns: Sustaining and improving profitability while scaling up will be key for long-term sustainability.

Objectives of the Issue:

Shree OSFM E-Mobility has outlined three main objectives for its IPO:

Funding the purchase of passenger vehicles: This includes acquiring new e-rickshaws and e-loaders to meet the growing demand and expand their fleet.

Meeting working capital requirements: The capital will be used to manage day-to-day operations, purchase raw materials, and improve operational efficiency.

General corporate purposes: This could involve research and development activities, marketing initiatives, brand building, and potential acquisitions.

Alignment with Growth Strategy:

These objectives clearly align with Shree OSFM’s future growth strategy:

Expansion: Acquiring new vehicles directly supports their goal of increasing production capacity and entering new markets.

Efficiency: Addressing working capital needs allows them to streamline operations and potentially reduce costs.

Future Opportunities: Utilizing funds for general corporate purposes provides flexibility for strategic investments, R&D, and future acquisitions, all of which can contribute to long-term growth.

Additional Considerations:

The amount raised (₹24.60 crore) might seem modest compared to larger players in the electric vehicle market. However, for a relatively young company like Shree OSFM, it can be a significant boost for achieving their near-term growth goals.

The dependence on IPO funds for vehicle acquisition raises questions about their current capital structure and future financing plans.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO: Lead Managers and Registrar

Lead Managers:

First Overseas Capital Limited (FOCO): FOCO is a licensed merchant banker with experience in managing small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) IPOs. Some recent SME IPOs they handled include Devyani International Limited and Uniphos Enviro Care Limited. While they have experience in managing similar offerings, their track record in terms of post-listing performance hasn’t been consistently robust.

Registrar:

Bigshare Services Private Limited: Bigshare is a SEBI-registered entity acting as a registrar for various types of capital market issuances, including IPOs. Their role in the Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO involves maintaining shareholder records, handling allotment and refund processes, and facilitating share transfers. Their expertise ensures smooth execution of these crucial aspects of the IPO.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO: Grey Market Premium

Current GMP: As of October 26, 2023, the GMP for Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO stands at ₹2-3 per share. This indicates a slight positive sentiment in the grey market, with investors willing to pay marginally more than the issue price of ₹65 per share.

Comparison with Recent Listings:

Compared to recent SME IPOs, this GMP is moderate. Recent listings like Akashdeep Metals and Crafts saw GMPs reaching ₹10-15 per share, while others like Erisson Auto Parts Limited had negative GMPs.

The relatively subdued GMP for Shree OSFM E-Mobility could be due to several factors, including its smaller size, limited track record, and presence in a competitive market.

Factors Influencing GMP:

Demand and supply dynamics: High demand for the shares in the grey market can push up the GMP, while excess supply can exert downward pressure.

Company fundamentals: Strong financial performance, future growth prospects, and prominent investors can boost confidence and lead to a higher GMP.

Market sentiment: Overall market conditions and investor appetite for IPOs can also influence the grey market premium.

News and analyst reports: Positive news coverage and favorable analyst opinions can strengthen the GMP, while negative developments can have the opposite effect.

Potential Impact on Listing Price:

A sustained positive GMP can indicate rising investor interest and potentially lead to a higher listing price than the issue price. However, it is important to remember that the grey market is unofficial and its performance doesn’t guarantee the actual listing price.

A negative GMP suggests weaker demand and could result in a listing price below the issue price. Nevertheless, other factors like institutional investor participation and market conditions can also play a role in determining the final listing price.

Potential Risks to Consider Before Investing in Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO:

Market Volatility:

The Indian stock market can be volatile, and unforeseen economic or political events could negatively impact the IPO performance and overall value of the shares.

Industry Headwinds:

Intense competition in the fragmented e-rickshaw market could erode margins and limit Shree OSFM’s market share.

Dependence on government policies and subsidies for e-vehicle adoption creates external risks beyond the company’s control.

Rising battery and raw material costs could put pressure on profitability.

Company-Specific Challenges:

Limited track record as a publicly traded company creates uncertainty about their future performance and ability to deliver on growth plans.

The relatively small size of the IPO fundraising compared to industry giants might limit their competitive edge and expansion capabilities.

Dependence on IPO funds for vehicle acquisition raises concerns about future financing needs and potential debt burden.

Financial Health Concerns:

While debt levels are low, profitability remains moderate, and significant improvement is needed to justify the current valuation.

The high P/E ratio compared to industry benchmarks could indicate potential overvaluation, increasing investment risk.

Red Flags for Investors:

Short operating history makes it difficult to assess long-term business sustainability.

Inconsistencies in past bottom lines raise concerns about future profitability.

Limited product diversification exposes them to potential market shifts within the e-rickshaw segment.

Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO: DRHP (Draft Red Herring Prospectus)

Also read: How to Apply for an IPO?

Conclusion :

Shree OSFM E-Mobility shows promise in the booming Indian e-vehicle market, with impressive revenue growth, minimal debt, and expansion plans. However, intense competition, modest IPO funds, and profitability concerns necessitate caution. Thorough research and due diligence are crucial before investing.

#Analysis #Due Diligence #EV #Financials #India #Invest #Invest in India's E-Vehicle Boom? Analyze Shree OSFM IPO Before You Charge In #Investors #IPO Documents #News #Risks #Risks & Insights #Shree OSFM E-Mobility IPO: Unpacking Revenue Growth #Strategy #IPO

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faultfalha · 8 months

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The old swan casts a lingering eye over the soon-to-be forgotten hydropower of Africa. Its song lingers in the air like a prophecy, a warning of the imminent downfall. As the murmurs of change fill the air, a new journey looms ahead, shining a light on a brave new world. Will it be a sign of hope or a call to despair? Only time will tell.

#Central Africa #East Africa #Energy #Features & Analysis #News #West Africa #DRC #Ethiopia #Ghana #hydropower #renewable energy #fault #Hydropower #Africa #Nile #Climate #Swan Song

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moneyhustlers · 10 months

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Nike Share Price Prediction: 2023-2050 Forecast- Nike Stock Buy or Sell

Nike Share Prediction: 2023-2050 Forecast- Nike Stock Buy or Sell Nike Share Price Predictions: A Comprehensive Forecast for the Next Three Decades (2023-2050) Welcome to the Nike Share Price Prediction post written by the MoneyHustle team, In this post, we will provide complete information about the (NKE) Nike Stock Price forecast along with stock price predictions for 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026,…

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#Can I buy shares of NIKE?#Is NIKE a buy sell or hold stock?#Is NIKE listed on NSE?#Nike (NKE) Stock Forecast & Price Target #nike 5 year forecast #nike forecasting methods #nike q3 earnings 2023 #nike stock analysis #Nike stock buy or sell #nike stock forecast #nike stock forecast cnn #nike stock news #nike stock price today #nike stock review #Where will NIKE stock be in 5 years?

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riverwoodcapital1 · 1 year

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The Rise of E-Commerce and Online Marketplaces

The Rise of E-Commerce and Online Marketplaces Introduction Definition of e-commerce and online marketplaces Overview of the growth of e-commerce in recent years Importance of e-commerce and online marketplaces in today’s world The Growth of E-Commerce Explanation of the factors driving the growth of e-commerce Statistics on the global e-commerce industry Impact of e-commerce on…

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#Business & economic news & analysis #E-Commerce and Online Marketplaces

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governmentjobsworld · 1 year

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தேர்வே இல்லாமல் - தேசிய விசாரணை நிறுவனத்தில் வேலை வாய்ப்பு..!

NIA Recruitment 2022 – Apply Offline For 49 DSP & ASP Posts #NIA #Centralgovtjobs #govtjobs #jobrascals

தேசிய விசாரணை ஆணையத்தில் (ASP & DSP) பணியிடம் நிரப்புவதற்கான அறிவிப்பு வெளியாகியுள்ளன. மத்திய அரசு இந்த அதிகாரப்பூர்வ அறிவிப்பினை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. தேசிய விசாரணை ஆணையத்தின் பணிக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்க ஆர்வமுள்ளவர்கள் 14/11/2022 முதல் 14/01/2023க்குல் அஞ்சல் மூலமாக விண்ணப்பிக்கவும். இப்பணிக்கு விண்ணப்பிக்கும் நபர்கள் விண்ணப்பிக்கும் முன்பு கீழே கொடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பணிக்கான கல்வித் தகுதி , வயது விவரம் , …

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#agency #association for the study of the cuban economy #cid investigation #national investigation agency #national investigation agency in hindi #national investigation agency recruitment 2022 #NIA Recruitment 2022 – Apply Offline For 49 DSP & ASP Posts #president of the senate #question time #regional sanitation #senator the honourable scott ryan #televisión nacional de chile #the hindu news analysis #the other place #the speaker of the house #tvj midday news: pnp pushes for investigations on corruption issues - october 8 2019

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articlesminer · 2 years

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Staff Shortages Choking U.S. Health Care System

As the pandemic stretches on with no clear end in sight, one of the biggest unanswered questions is what this experience has meant, and ultimately will mean, for those who’ve been on the front lines throughout – the nation’s health care workforce – and the patients they serve. An estimated 1.5 million health care jobs were lost in the first two months of COVID-19 as the country raced to curb the…

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#Coronavirus #doctors #health care #Healthiest Communities #Healthiest Communities Health News #Healthiest Communities News & Analysis #hospitals #National News #Public health #Steven Ross Johnson

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don-lichterman · 2 years

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How Many People Have Long COVID? The Statistics Are ‘Pretty Scary’ | Health News

The majority of Americans have had the coronavirus at some point in the past two and a half years. A smaller number – though still a substantial proportion – went on to have lingering symptoms for months or longer from a condition known as long COVID-19. Just how many people have had long COVID or are still experiencing it? Estimates vary, but the numbers might be a surprise to many. And the…

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#Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder #Coronavirus #Covid #Health #Health News #Healthiest Communities #Healthiest Communities News & Analysis #Long #National News #News #PEOPLE #pretty #Scary #Statistics #Vaccines

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thebitcher69 · 7 months

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Revisiting Resident Evil Village (a full analysis)

Spoilers!!

Resident Evil Village is the continuation of Ethan Winters’ story. It follows from Resident Evil 7 in a linear fashion and ends up vaguely erasing the constant feeling of tension and turning up the amp on campiness. The game itself had a couple sections where I did feel scared but unlike the game before it I was not constantly terrified. It does better in my opinion as a survival game than as a survival horror game. In this analysis I will evaluate all of my good, bad and mediocre opinions on the plot, characters, terrifying sections and the game's tone.

The plot:

Resident Evil Village follows Ethan Winters after his seemingly new normal life after Louisiana is destroyed by someone who was meant to be his friend (Chris Redfield). His main quest is to find his daughter in a form of medieval village similar to the main village in Resident Evil 4 (There are quite a few similarities throughout the game). The village surrounds a giant castle which is Ethan’s first goal. After defeating monsters of multiple kinds within the castle, Ethan is informed that his child has in-fact been split into multiple pieces and is being kept by the various lords. Ethan’s quest now is to find the disassembled parts of his daughter and hopefully put them back together again, while facing creatures of many types repeatedly throughout his quest. Eventually he manages however, he does not make it out to see her survive. This game is incredibly tragic, a perfect end to Ethan’s story instead of making him a character who never dies due to plot armour. This also prevents the game from ever bringing him back and giving other characters motivation for Resident Evil 9. It prevents the curse of a character slowly becoming worse the more they are brought back throughout the series.

Character Analysis:

Ethan Winters:

Ethan is now more well versed when it comes to dealing with harsh areas like this. Not only does he have his experience in Louisiana but it is also implied that he did training with Chris Redfield after that. He is now a dad, well settled with ‘Mia’ and enjoying his life. Until it is all thrown out of the window by Chris. Who kills ‘Mia’ and kidnaps both Rose and Ethan. Then Ethan is thrown back into an awful situation like Louisiana, trying to both escape and get his daughter back. He is still more normal than the average Resident Evil protagonist, when Leon came back for Resident Evil 4 he had undergone intense training to turn him from a S.T.A.R.S rookie into a government agent well versed in combat. However, Ethan is still a normal dude with his only training being gained from just being thrown into the Baker residence in the previous game. Like I said in my analysis of Resident Evil 7, this makes him relatable and fun to play as. This also makes him funny, he has stupid one liners that you doubt he’d have if he was massively trained. Again comparing him to Leon, Ethan is more relatably funny due to his reactions, whereas Leon doesn't have much of a reaction and simply tells a joke. Ethan is a tragic hero, going to insane lengths to save Rose yet he cannot see her grow up after saving her. He chooses to kill himself to save her making him relatable to any parents who are playing the game. He only has character growth through this game and makes the game more fun.

Chris Redfield:

Chris is another character we play as in the game, in a small section after Ethan 'dies'. There isn't much to be said about him apart from how tough he seems to be. Hardened by constant military training as well as constantly dealing with bioweapons. However, we see a soft side to Chris when Ethan hands him Rose telling him to care for her. Chris wants to save him, get him back to his home. He may also feel a small amount of guilt to storming his house and making all of this happen. Chris is set up as the main character for the next game, finding a bioweapon in a helicopter.

Lady Dimitrescu:

Lady Dimitrescu was likely the driving force behind Resident Evil Village's marketing campaign. Many people who had never played Resident Evil before played this game simply for her. I'm going to refrain from discussing her appearance and attempt to simply discuss her character. The first time we catch a glimpse of Lady Dimitrescu, she is arguing with Heisenberg over who gets to 'take care' of Ethan. She makes a point that she is the most loyal to Mother Miranda yet is the first of the lords we battle as Ethan. When we see her after that she begins simply taunting Ethan. She wants to eat him and savour his taste, commanding her daughters to string him up for her. We come close to her but not fighting her occasionally at the beginning. However, it is only after we kill one or two of her daughters that she begins to stalk Ethan throughout her castle. Before she begins stalking him we see her get angry at Mother Miranda's decision to keep him alive (pictured in the GIF above). She was clearly beginning to doubt Mother Miranda's power and her decisions. The only reason I believe she continued to hunt Ethan was because of pride and grief due to him murdering her daughters. Eventually Ethan makes her mutate into a dragon format. This is her boss fight, a disgusting dragon form who attempts to kill and eat Ethan throughout. After finally managing to take her down, she tries to bring Ethan with him yet he survives. She is rather tragic with her end, and the fact she served Mother Miranda yet her home was left unprotected and her daughters were murdered by Ethan's rampage. She is completely centred with her pride and that is the reason she attempts to murder Ethan when her loyalty to Mother Miranda is clearly wavering anyway.

Bella, Cassandra and Daniela:

The three daughters of Lady Dimitrescu don't have many defining features. Their main one is corruption, being addicted to the taste of Ethan's blood. They aren't too hard to deal with when it comes to their boss fights and again their connection to their mother is greatly tragic. Listening to Lady Dimitrescu shout in pain when discovering one of her daughters can be rather heart-breaking to hear.

Donna Beneviento and Angie:

Donna and Angie are made known to be the same character yet their actual personalities are very split. This leads to show that Donna may have a split personality disorder or only be able to showcase her true personality through Angie (her puppet). Donna herself is shy, either invisible completely or covered in a cloth. The only times we see her face is when Ethan eventually kills her and a portrait of her in the main house. The rest of the time she is Angie. Donna herself only has one line where she tells Ethan that she can't let him take her part of Rose. This again shows that the only reason she has to stop Ethan is because of the punishment she will face at the hands of Mother Miranda. Angie however, is very cocky and quite a nightmare to deal with. Her voice is annoying and she serves the purpose of irritating the player. However, her boss fight is pretty easy, its just a glorified game of hide and seek. The only issue with her area is the entire concept of the basement which I will touch on later. All in all, the worst part about these two as a collective is how annoying Angie is.

Moreau:

Moreau is the disgusting creature of this game. A bundle of flabby skin, eye like pustules and weird tentacles that leave his body. As well as a babbling voice, constantly vomiting and the general area he lives in. It all combines to make him truly disgusting and unsettling. While I don't believe he is the most disgusting enemy in the entire Resident Evil series, he still makes me almost retch at the sight of him. Moving away from the pure body horror that he is. He again is tragic. With an unrequited love to Mother Miranda even though she decides to push him down. The other Lords also bully him, referring to him as a freak or ugly. The entire reason he attacks Ethan is because he wants to be better than the other Lords. His character is on the basis of being better as he has always been put down. Even Ethan constantly insults him, and its obvious why considering his appearance. Moreau also hunts Ethan through the water being quite easy to fight once the water has been drained. After he has been killed, he screams for Mother Miranda, swells up and explodes. As Ethan says, even in death he is disgusting.

Karl Heisenberg:

He is the final lord and as the Duke says 'the most dangerous' . His powers are incredibly interesting compared to the rest as he can control metal. He is also increasingly intelligent compared to the other Lords. Building a robotic army through his factory. He also is very against Mother Miranda. He wants to utilise Rose's power and team up with Ethan in order to crumble Miranda's empire. He is also constantly testing Ethan, from their first encounter where he tests his survival skills without weapons till sending Ethan to the Lycan den to retrieve the final piece of Rose. He wants to see how effective Ethan will be at defeating Mother Miranda. He is simply misunderstood, a child roped into Miranda's corruption and he wants to break away from that. Yet Ethan doesn't see this and not only murders him but with the help of Chris he destroys Heisenberg's entire factory and army. Heisenberg is not in anyway a villain, he classes as an enemy in my eyes but never a villain. He has no malicious intent originally, he only seeks out to murder Ethan after he refuses to help him kill Mother Miranda. His boss fight is one of the most interesting boss battles throughout the entire Resident Evil series, it isn't too hard or too easy but it is really fun to do.

Mother Miranda:

Mother Miranda has been mentioned multiple times throughout this review. She is the main antagonist, the others can be argued as simple enemies not villains. They are all vaguely tragic yet Miranda isn't. She is likely one of the most important villains and possibly even one of the most important characters in the entire Resident Evil series! On the basis of her importance in Resident Evil 8, she takes the form of Mia at the beginning in order to get close to Rose. She wishes to use infant Rosemary Winters to resurrect her own daughter who tragically met her end. She is a very mysterious character till right at the end. An old woman who is seen as a devout worshipper while Ethan talks to and about her was actually Mother Miranda in disguise. To me this kind of seems both self-centred and insecure. Mother Miranda believes herself worthy of worship, yet must do it herself in order to gain the others trust. The other two times we see her before the end, is killing a villager in a field and deciding Ethan's 'fate' when it comes to which Lord can kill him. She is rather mysterious till right after Ethan kills Heisenberg. When she reveals herself to him and 'kills' him. However, her entire place in the series originates before the first game. Without, Mother Miranda, Umbrella corporation would have never been founded by Oswell E. Spencer. She also influenced him to develop the T-virus. It is revealed that Mother Miranda discovered the umbrella symbol that Spencer adopted as the logo for his company. Without Miranda the entire series would practically crumble. With her importance it will be interesting to see how they beat her character in Resident Evil 9.

The Duke:

There isn't much to really say about the Duke apart from him being even more mysterious than Mother Miranda. He aids Ethan throughout the game, not only selling or purchasing items from him, but also informing him about Rose being inside the jars and rescuing him after Mother Miranda 'kills' him. He has an entire mystery around his motives and who he is. He even alludes to being friends with the Merchant from Resident Evil 4, which is possibly a simple reference to the similarity of the games or it could be a small part of lore dropped in to connect the games. People even believe that the Merchant and the Duke are the same person, however I doubt this theory is true. There is also an entire mystery around how a man his size can get around with the amount of stuff he has. He is also never attacked throughout the game either by basic enemies or the actual villains, which is strange as he constantly assists Ethan. I understand that his lore is more revealed in the Rose DLC, however I unfortunately have not got around to playing it yet (so I wont talk about Rose).

General enemies:

Lycans:

The Lycans are the first enemies we encounter in the game. At first they are slightly mysterious, tugging an animal corpse away from Ethan. Then we get our first main battle. Where Ethan gets chased around a small portion of the village by multiple Lycan's and a giant bearded Lycan until a bell rings and they all leave. This is again similar to our first main encounter in Resident Evil 4, where Leon is chased by both Ganado's and a Ganado wielding a chainsaw, until a bell rings and they all retreat into the church. The Lycans then begin roaming the village constantly throughout the game, having multiple versions getting harder each time. From Lycan's with armour, crossbows or even giant wolves we will occasionally encounter. Ethan even gets the last part of Rose from the Lycan den, where we see them roaming around and eating seemingly human flesh. There is again a mystery with the Lycan's as we see a villager transform into one after seemingly being bitten. Personally, I think Resident Evil 8 took a gamble with all of these iconic villains, from werewolves to vampires. I enjoy the versions of zombies from the first few games, however the Lycan's can be pretty scary to deal with especially in your first playthrough.

Moroaica:

In my opinion the Moroaica are the scariest villains in the game. In general they are freaky and always manage to take me by surprise. They occasionally pop out of the ground or turn around corners as you walk through. In the dungeon of the Dimitrescu castle you can hear their heavy breathing as you walk through the halls and they in general make the area really tense. These go back to Resident Evils roots of zombie like beasts that stumble and groan as they chase after you. There is a winged enemy similar to these that also appear around the Dimitrescu castle, they aren't as scary however they are quite difficult to deal with. There is also a giant version of these that sucks to deal with unless you have countless landmines.

Soldats:

The Soldats are definitely the most difficult regular enemies in the game. They not only are bullet sponges but they also manage to cover up their only weak spot. They have weapons that can practically be one-shot kills. They are examples of Heisenberg's intelligence as he made his own intelligent army that aren't basically mindless like the Moroaica and Lycans. They also have giant armoured versions that have jetpacks and double saws. Another version of the Soldat is a boss called Sturm, who has a giant propeller and the only thing remotely human about him is his legs. All versions of them make for genuinely difficult fights and a hard time when you are low on ammo traversing through the factory.

Area analysis:

The Village:

The village is generally a strange area. The entire place seems abandoned and empty, without a trace of life. Parts of the village are destroyed and many doors are left open throughout. It shows there was a small struggle as the villagers fought for their lives. Many homes are completely destroyed and have scratch marks across the walls showing the rampage of the Lycans. There is also a level of uncertainty with a small church all dedicated to Mother Miranda even though she is actively murdering people in the village. The village appears self sufficient, with livestock and crop fields. It all bears a striking resemblance to Resident Evil 4 as both villages are seemingly living in the past.

The castle:

The castle is again like the Village. There is an eerie emptiness to such a large area. However, we are made incredibly aware that the Dimitrescu sisters and Lady Dimitrescu are stalking you through the castle. The castle contains multiple old puzzles that are similar to the old Resident Evil games. There is a piano puzzle and multiple puzzles that require you to examine items. Almost everything is a riddle that requires you to use your head, however they aren't that hard to solve after a while of doing these puzzles. The castle requires you to walk through the same areas multiple times and each time the difficulty gets amped up with multiple Moroaica in each area.

The Beneviento house:

By far the scariest area in the game is the Beneviento house. It has the same feeling as the Baker house, with peeling wallpaper and in general an eerie feeling. This is also without mentioning the scariest part of the entire game. The basement. At first it is a simple puzzle area revolving around a doll based on Mia, and revealing to Ethan that his marriage has more problems than expected. Then after Ethan goes down a dark well we hear a loud crash and a baby screaming. Going back upstairs we find the most disgusting pile of flesh that resembles a foetus. It babbles at Ethan and cries when he runs away. The grossness of this enemy as well as the fact all our artillery has been taken from us makes this encounter one of the scariest in the entire Resident Evil series. After this area, we play hide and seek with Angie in a doll ridden area of the house. Dolls are already pretty freaky but them glitching around and occasionally attacking with giant knives makes for a very creepy encounter.

The windmill/lake:

There isn't much to say about this area apart from it being disgusting. It is constantly covered in gunk from Moreau, and multiple boxes Ethan opens are covered in maggots and grubs. It is a bit underwhelming after the horrors of the Beneviento house, but it is still gross in general.

The Factory:

The factory brings us to a dingy area full of incredibly difficult enemies around each corner. At this stage in the game Ethan is low on ammo and the difficulty of the game has been amped. It is very interesting especially with the propeller monster constantly being a threat. There is quite a few small puzzles in this section and it becomes an interesting part to playthrough.

My conclusion:

Personally this game does not live up to Resident Evil 7. It is quite campy and fun to playthrough however does better as a survival game than a horror survival game. The characters are all interesting and for my personal tastes there is a lot of fanservice if you know what I'm saying. The lore is also incredibly interesting with the fact that Mother Miranda is one of the main reasons Umbrella Corporation was founded. It makes for a fun yet tragic game throughout. The ending is sad but is a fair way to end Ethan's story and connect back to Chris for the next game. Overall in my opinion this game is a 7/10.

Again I am interested in hearing your opinions and ratings of the game, as well as anything I may have missed when it comes to the lore.

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marvelsmostwanted · 2 years

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https://www.brookings.edu/blog/planetpolicy/2022/08/04/the-climate-bills-oil-and-gas-provisions-are-a-worthwhile-tradeoff/amp/

The Inflation Reduction Act is about to pass both the House and Senate and will become law! This is GREAT news for the climate:

“Analysis from Energy Innovation shows that for every one ton of expected emissions from the bill’s fossil fuel provisions, the bill will result in 24 tons of emissions reductions. That’s a huge net positive! A reason for the large reduction in emissions is that the bill contains provisions affecting every major emitting sector in the economy – transportation, electricity generation, industry, homes and buildings, and agriculture. There’s something for everyone, and the broad scope of the bill brings large emissions reductions.”

Yes, they had to make some concessions to appease Joe Manchin, but as the article above discusses, the bill is still a major step (the biggest ever, actually) in the right direction.

And yes, I know great =/= perfect! That’s okay. The fact that this passed at all is still a win for climate activists who have been pushing for years for this to be a top priority, and a win for everyone who would like this planet to remain livable for the foreseeable future.

TLDR; there’s more work to be done, but this is still a good thing and we should treat it as such!

#edited to reflect that it has not actually passed yet… but I think it’s today #climate change #us news #us politics #inflation reduction act #vote #mine #democrats

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jcmarchi · 15 days

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OpenAI makes GPT-4 Turbo with Vision API generally available

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/openai-makes-gpt-4-turbo-with-vision-api-generally-available/

OpenAI makes GPT-4 Turbo with Vision API generally available

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OpenAI has announced that its powerful GPT-4 Turbo with Vision model is now generally available through the company’s API, opening up new opportunities for enterprises and developers to integrate advanced language and vision capabilities into their applications.

The launch of GPT-4 Turbo with Vision on the API follows the initial release of GPT-4’s vision and audio upload features last September and the unveiling of the turbocharged GPT-4 Turbo model at OpenAI’s developer conference in November.

GPT-4 Turbo promises significant speed improvements, larger input context windows of up to 128,000 tokens (equivalent to about 300 pages), and increased affordability for developers.

A key enhancement is the ability for API requests to utilise the model’s vision recognition and analysis capabilities through text format JSON and function calling. This allows developers to generate JSON code snippets that can automate actions within connected apps, such as sending emails, making purchases, or posting online. However, OpenAI strongly recommends building user confirmation flows before taking actions that impact the real world.

Several startups are already leveraging GPT-4 Turbo with Vision, including Cognition, whose AI coding agent Devin relies on the model to automatically generate full code:

Devin, built by @cognition_labs, is an AI software engineering assistant powered by GPT-4 Turbo that uses vision for a variety of coding tasks. pic.twitter.com/E1Svxe5fBu

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) April 9, 2024

Healthify, a health and fitness app, uses the model to provide nutritional analysis and recommendations based on photos of meals:

The @healthifyme team built Snap using GPT-4 Turbo with Vision to give users nutrition insights through photo recognition of foods from around the world. pic.twitter.com/jWFLuBgEoA

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) April 9, 2024

TLDraw, a UK-based startup, employs GPT-4 Turbo with Vision to power its virtual whiteboard and convert user drawings into functional websites:

Make Real, built by @tldraw, lets users draw UI on a whiteboard and uses GPT-4 Turbo with Vision to generate a working website powered by real code. pic.twitter.com/RYlbmfeNRZ

— OpenAI Developers (@OpenAIDevs) April 9, 2024

Despite facing stiff competition from newer models such as Anthropic’s Claude 3 Opus and Google’s Gemini Advanced, the API launch should help solidify OpenAI’s position in the enterprise market as developers await the company’s next large language model.

(Photo by v2osk)

See also: Stability AI unveils 12B parameter Stable LM 2 model and updated 1.6B variant

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: ai, api, artificial intelligence, coding, developers, development, gpt-4, gpt-4 turbo, openai, programming, vision

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watcher-servant · 8 months

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Counter guardian ARC

(Including 1st and 2nd ascension)

1st ascension: Rusted Knight

2nd ascension: Professor Arc of the Clock tower

3rd ascension: Counter Guardian (secret/undecided)

Class: Shielder, Pretender, Saber

Parameters:

Strength: B

Endurance: A+

Agility: C

Mana: B

Luck: E

NP: B

Class Skills:

Magic Resistance: B, Cancel spells with a chant below 3 verses. Even if target by greater magecraft and rituals, it is difficult for them to be affected.

Riding: B, Most vehicles and animals can be handled with above average skill, even vehicles that did not exist in the time period one was alive in. Can't ride phantasmal species

Self Defense Field: B

Personal Skills:

Auric Arts: B, Due to gaining a better understanding of aura, along with gaining proficiency in magecraft. He is able to weave techniques together allowing the use of circuits and the manipulation of aura in a tangible form

Guardian Spirit: B, A composite Skill combining effects of Eye of the mind (False) and Battle Continuation. Holds a natural instinct of tactics, which became sharper over time, capable of complete analysis of his enemy and battlefield. Due to his endurance and determination, he is very hard to put down. As he will keep fighting until his foe is dead, he can no longer move or allies can finish. Gains a rank when protecting someone.

Self-loathing: C, Doesn't hold himself highly even with earned wins. Suffers from imposter syndrome, the only pro is that he won't underestimate any enemies.

Noble Phantasm:

Crocea Mors: C+, Originally a weapon that had passed through his family, was upgraded with first partner's weapon, later broken during the fight aganist her killer. In this new world was reforged using a black key. Later with both sword and shield enfused and saturated in his aura started to fuse with his body. Is able to summon a complete copy of the sword in energy form that ripples.

Aura Amp, Enhancing the soul: B, His original semblance allows the amplification of aura's natural abilities. This also applies to prana allowing healing, energy replenishment, and enhancement. Can also infuse his aura into a weapon to strengthen it and apply different effects.

Lore, Abyss of the soul: B, The dark side of aura he discovered by accident. The complete opposite of aura as it allows the absorption of energy and even having its own gravity like a pseudo black hole. Can also be manipulated like aura and usually takes form of a gauntlet shield.

Chevalier's Shard: ???, A mystic code that he created during his time as the Kaleidoscope's apprentice. It allows him to instantly don armor, giving both physical and magical properties. Once infused and enhanced by both lore and his aura, it allows a complete change that further enhances ability. However, its locked due self-imposed restrictions saved for foes up the ranks of world ender or beasts.

Juniper, celestial jackalope: B, the loyal mount of the rusted knight due to bonding with the rider. She can use a form of the knight's abilities. Channeling energy into her horns makes a similar effect of aura Amp and even heal wounds of allies. By calling her true name, she's able to unleash a concentrated beam of energy.

(Context: Lore ability is from Silver by Imyoshi, also a good reference for Jaune using aura more.)

(2nd image is made by Diahwasher1910)

#jaune arc #rwby #crossover au #fate series #counter guardian ARC #i dont own anything...except stat page

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kieiswrite · 1 year

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Okay. I’m feeling like it, so here’s a bunch of speculation on the Was It Scripted question. Getting far too deep into it, because I like speculation. This is going to be long.

For the record. For the record. I think it’s even more impressive if it was planned. I hope it was planned, so that’s my bias. And here’s my biased analysis:

There’s no chance it was not planned.

It feels to me that the consensus is that Scar and Grian blowing up Doc’s redstone was a genuine accident, and that’s making me doubt my own media literacy here, so for my peace of mind, here’s how I see it. I’m convinced all the major beats of the story this far - Grian visits the Perimeter, Grian gets an intervention, Grian and Scar go to check out the tunnel bore, it blows up - were laid out beforehand, and then acted out for our viewing pleasure.

First, Grian visits the Perimeter. He goes to mine copper for a prank, standard resource gathering, and conveniently enough he is both recording the trip and narrating it. He decides to check out the strange new hole, and finds 80 wardens and the tunnel bores (that Doc builds every season). Somehow he is more fascinated by the bores than the wardens.

Then the intervention. After some whispers to join a voice group (seen in Impulse’s episode) some chat messages are exchanged and Scar, Gem and Impulse arrive to force Grian to finally work on the back of his base. From what I've seen, it’s not very controversial that this part is planned. Would this be all? Is this the bit Grian wants to do - that his friends heckle him and he builds, without a blueprint - nah, for sure it’s set up for something more.

Grian brings up the tunnel bores and Scar - “Work, Grian, you may not wake up tomorrow” - is instantly on board. They go mess with Doc’s redstone. Scar is recording, something he rarely does when just hanging out with his friends, but since they were doing a bit for Grian (of indeterminate length) I’ll let this one pass. These two men who actually are very professional, and usually very courteous about other people’s delicate builds at least when the builder is not present, decide to start fiddling with it. Lol Doc’s redstone, what even could go wrong?

Scar, who has no clue how tunnel bores operate, nonetheless figures out with no time at all that the button they need to press is the singular noteblock - and he arrives to this conclusion before testing it. Then they press it. They blow up the whole thing and they are so so shocked and panicked it could not be acting, right, they sound genuinely terrified!

These men, whose job is creating entertaining content, whose server has back ups, who have known Doc for years and who for sure know what a big softie he is, are… actually scared there are going to be adverse consequences? Either they make a mistake and make a split second decision not to approach it rationally but instead amp up the drama, or the decision has already been made.

Then they show the footage to their friends and laugh about it together, I guess.

Then they make a really pathetic but highly amusing attempt to repair what they broke. If Scar can build a sorting system by himself by following a tutorial, he could surely figure out a tunnel bore at least a little bit better - but I don’t think it’s very controversial either that at this point at least they have already decided to play it for content.

I’ve seen the idea that something was planned, they were going to do something, but they were never meant to go this far, because the damage they did was so excessive. But… it really was not? Doc’s tunnel bore had already served its purpose - to demonstrate building a moving mob switch out of wardens. It was out of sight, and it could easily be destroyed without damaging anything else important. Doc still has his much bigger tunnel boring system from the start of the season operational. A few episodes back, when he built this one, Doc mentioned that it took him about two hours to put it together, because he is so practiced in building these bores (that tend to blow up). Repetitive thing, he would have no trouble remembering how it was made, if he really needed to fix it for some reason. Two hours is not nothing, but on the scale of Hermitcraft it’s hardly devastating damage. It’s not much worse than Grian dropping Scar to the Boatem Hole and needing to replace all his stuff, for example.

Then there are all the other convenient coincidences surrounding this event: Life series just ended. Scar just finished his castle. Grian doesn’t really know what to do. Doc just came back from an extended break. The TCG craze is winding down. Doc has built all these doomsday machines and has been itching to go to war with someone for however long. It’s all in all an excellent time for a bit of conflict, for some sweet shenanigans.

But Scar said on stream that it was not planned! Right. Do you remember last year when a curious lodestone appeared in front of Grian’s rift and there was some speculation if Grian had placed it himself, even though he denied it? I ended up thinking it was not Grian after all (spoilers: it was), because he was talking about it with Scar on stream and they were so convincing when they wondered who it could have been, when Scar said it was not him and when Grian suspected him and finally relented, that I was totally fooled. They have lied to us before. They have multiple times pretended they have no clue about stuff that they absolutely knew. What should Scar have said if it was planned after all, that yeah actually it was all an act, sorry about that?

But they always tell us when something is scripted! No they don’t. But they have said more events on Hermitcraft are (loosely) scripted than we think, in contrast to the Life series that's all improv.

But Joe Hills said it wasn’t planned! Okay, out of all the opposing evidence this piece makes me hesitate the most, but I will say, for all the things that have been said about Joe Hills, I don’t think “he never lies” was among them. Also, I trust his ability to spin it so that technically it was even not a lie.

(I could be very wrong. Of course that's possible. I realize my evidence is nothing but guesses, and guessing content creators' motivations is generally not a fruitful effort. But I've also seen people wonder how anyone could even think an event like this is scripted, and for me, it's very easy. This is how. These episodes sure left an impressions, since I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! And to reiterate: planning, scripting, does not devalue it at all.)

I leave you with this loosely related old tweet from none other than the Goatfather himself, the illustrious DocM77:

#hermitcraft #meta #grian #goodtimeswithscar #docm77

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give-soup-please · 2 years

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How I write for the narrator (long post)

This isn't perfect advice, this is just what I do to make him sound canonical.

Every good fictional character has their own rhythms and cadences for how they speak. Word choice and pacing have a certain flow when spoken aloud. I notice in the script there are patterns that repeat. He has a tendency to do rapid fire "no"s, for example.

(ex. "Are you really just doing this for the achievement? Click a door five times? Is that all that you think an achievement is worth? No, no, no, no, no."

"Oh, no! Oh, no no no no no no no no no no no no, not again." (when the player re-enters the broom closet.

"NO! No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! This isn't right at all! You're not supposed to be here, yet! This is all a spoiler! Quick, Stanley, close your eyes!" (adventure line when it leads you back to the monitor room)

Another pattern he has is switching between really short sentences and longer ones.

"Stanley waited. Hours passed. Then days. Had years gone by? He no longer had the ability to tell.

But the one thing he knew, for sure, beyond any doubt, was that if he waited long enough, the answers would come. Eventually, some day, they would arrive."

There are other patterns he has too, but they're kind of hard to put into words.

The narrator is also a dramatic MF, so when emotions run high, he really amps up what he's talking about.

"The moment he entered his manager's office, Stanley froze in his tracks. Not a living soul anywhere. Could he really be all alone? This was too much for Stanley to take; too much for any man to take. He fell to his knees, bursting into half-moans, half-sobs... the guttural retching of life from a man denied any hope, any reason to keep going." (Narrator, what the f*ck. we're- we're just standing here)

and

"No! He refused to believe it. He couldn't accept it; his own life in someone else's control? Never! It was unthinkable, wasn't it? Was it even possible? Had he truly spent his entire life utterly blind to the world?" (narrator~, your showmanship is, well, showing~)

He's also a sarcastic boi, which I usually downplay because I prefer the narrator's sweeter side. But it's still there.

"You too?! Unbelievable. I'm at the mercy of an entire species of invalids. Perhaps there's a monkey nearby you can hand the controls to? A fish? A fungus? Look, you can hammer out the details; I'm not particularly picky."

"Okay, I think we all know the drill by now. Blah blah blah, dark secrets, the keypad, Stanley pushes some buttons, oh hey, look, it's a new passageway! Quelle surprise!"

Another thing to think about is word choice. The narrator is someone I'd describe as erudite. He uses large words a lot. An example of large words that I can pull from the script include: "momentum, "warrants recognition", " examination of structural narrative tropes", "Physical malady", solace, catalyst, immense." And this is just from a quick glance at the script. I admit, it's a tricky balance. You want him well spoken, but not a jackass, unless you're specifically writing him to have maximum pretentiousness. Try and find words that not everyone knows, but can guess based on context if they're too lazy to look the word up. Eventually you can fine tune it.

The more you practice this stuff, the more intuitive it becomes. These days, when I write him, I can hear whether or not it sounds like something he'd actually say. and I think there was a post that modmad talked about when writing characters. There's a voice inside that will tell you whether or not what you're writing fits his character. "Listen to that voice, that's the character speaking" or something like that.

And a small confession: I keep the script open when I write these things in case I need to refer back to him or check in to see if what I'm writing fits. I don't have the entire script memorized (yet)

Again, this isn't a perfect system, but it's how I do it.

And if it seems like I've got a particular knack for it... I'm an english major who reads character analysis papers and looks at linguistic styles for fun. I love thinking about what makes characters tick. I have major original ideas that I'll one day write about. It's my dream to one day write professionally. I think it would be hilarious to be at a convention 10-20 years from now doing one of those author Q&As and tell the audience that I used to run a headcanon blog. I imagine the crowd would go wild at hearing that. I love writing, it's my other special interest/gen

#the stanley parable #tsp narrator #tsp #narrator #tsp narrator x reader #long post

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pluckysidekick · 11 months

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OK, bringing it home with Part 3 of my in depth analysis of Episode 2 of Nancy Drew Season 4, “The Maiden’s Rage” - Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them.

TW: I covered Bro-Nancy’s abusive behavior and the fight in Part 2, but I may touch on DV and emotional abuse in this post too.

Seeing Nancy in handcuffs (presumably Ace’s) is a dark twist from the Ace carries handcuffs scene in S3’s The Demon of Piper Beach, and his untying of the scarf with Amanda in S2’s Moonstone Island. There’s nothing sexual about this scene - Ace starts out as far back as he can be from Nancy, his arms crossed, only coming closer after Nancy’s had the ‘Clari-tea’ and is able to explain what was going on with her.

We get a little lesson on toxic masculinity, but I was a bit surprised they didn’t mention DV, which is what the show recreates so accurately as an outcome of the poison’s effect on Nancy.

Nancy explains how her feelings about Ace were locked away by the poison, leaving her with only anger. I like how they tied her real feelings to the poison. Nick then ties that anger to her wanting to dominate Ace, and Bess explains how it made Nancy aggressive. I’m not completely satisfied with that explanation as I feel there was more at work here, but I am glad they address it in some way.

If you didn’t catch it, Ace’s tiny nod to Nancy acknowledging her explanation is telling. He’s come closer to her, his arms now uncrossed, and he understands what happened, but he’s not over her treatment of him yet.

This scene is an instant classic. I could watch George and Nancy (even Bro-Nancy) investigating together all day. In handcuffs. It looks like George is a US Marshall with her surly captive. It’s the buddy movie we need! Also, George’s look is 🔥.

We get another gander at Tristan in this scene - he’s dreamy, shot in the most beautiful light. Nancy can’t help noticing and admitting how good he looks in that sleeveless shirt (he really does). We also get some more clues about him - he knows about his parents’ relic business but prefers the simple sea life, and he’s willing to get them the pump but needs collateral. Nancy giving him her necklace is a big deal. The fact that she trusts him with it - is that the whammy at work? Or does she already feel something more than idle attraction to the latest Horseshoe Bay heartthrob? Hmm…

Back at the (Drew) ranch, we finally get the context for the M3gan trailer scene. George’s rough handling of Nancy as she protests that her behavior wasn’t really that bad made me chuckle, but the process itself was unnerving - it felt like a scene from a steampunk sci-fi show (in a good but disturbing way). I actually love how S4 is exploring new realms of the supernatural and amping up the effects. Also put the stomach pump in the growing list of antique supernatural gadgets, along with the soul splitter and Nick’s ghost goggles. From the S4 trailer I think we’ll get lots more of them (yay).

We also finally have confirmation that Ace is present in this scene (although that “what did you eat?” line still sounds like a voiceover). He again moves from the back of the group to the front with a concerned expression once Nancy purges the poison. Nancy’s heartfelt ‘I’m so sorry’ is a good start in making amends. Ace needs more, but it will have to wait as they jump back to the case, with Ace back in his hacker role.

Notice the grouping on the couch - unlike S2’s Trail of the Missing Witness (still my favorite pre-S4 episode), Nancy and Ace are separated by Bess. They look nothing so much as the parents discussing something serious with their teen daughter, who’s sitting between them with a mixture of boredom and confusion on her face.

Nancy and Ace sleuthing again together makes me ridiculously happy. The energy isn’t 100% back yet - compared to say “We heard great things about your bathrooms” or “No sign of Tinkerbell?” But Ace’s “she brought these stickers” was a return to form, and this visit shows them in much better cooperation than their last visit to Logan’s when Bro-Nancy left him on the sidewalk.

George’s scene with Abbott in the hospital is so heartbreakingly good - seeing her hero fall is tough, but it helps her re-assert how important finding the truth is to her, and helping those who are affected. The intercutting of the story between Logan’s and the hospital was effectively done. Nancy’s scene with Maggie Lake is quick and gives Logan and Abbott’s victim some closure, but there are still many unanswered questions about how it all fits together with the poisoned water, the bodies, and how it fits in with Nancy’s history and the founders.

I was happy to see Addy and Bess on the same page and working together on the final preparations for the dinner party. I wished we could see a little of the dinner, but in the end the important thing was that the couple is a team, and her picky parents can’t break them apart. Bess’s heartfelt hugs to them were so adorable - her sunny energy is so key to the group and the whole show. Bess might not find familial acceptance in Addy’s parents (although I bet she eventually breaks them down), but she is building something good with Addy.

Nancy continues on the rounds of her apology/explanation tour. This scene with Tristan was…interesting. They are clearly building a bond. The huge clue that Tristan is adopted was almost expected, and softens Nancy toward him in a new way. I’ll have to talk more about my thoughts on his origins in a separate post. Note how Nancy gently lifts her braid for him - we’ll see it again in the Ace scene coming up.

This gesture of his putting the necklace around Nancy’s neck - it was surprisingly intimate. More so than the casual way Nancy puts the lanyard around Ace’s neck at DetectiveCon. The fact that this intimate scene, which includes more flirting over Tristan’s arms (grr) is followed by Nancy going straight to Ace’s - this season is trying to kill me, and it’s only Episode 2.

The George and Nick bonding is much more satisfying. They are building such a strong foundation - maybe it will always be friendship, maybe more. The maturity we see in George in this episode is such beautiful growth, and Leah is killing it.

Nick is ready and willing to get to know Jade better, and they are too. I detect some chemistry starting between them by the end of the scene.

(Spoiler alert):

I’ve spotted them in the final scene that Riley shared on the last day of filming, so Jade will be here for the long haul. They are walking through the door in the clip, and their real name (Arianna) is called. Nick and George are standing next to each other in the Claw baby shower scene - so interested in how this turns out.

The scene that we’ve all been waiting for. Ace’s hesitancy at the door, and his expression, make it clear he is still hurt. Nancy’s peace offering and her related joke, which of course harkens back to both the bagels from Temperance’s forecast, and the pickle jar she tried to open as Bro-Nancy, falls flat. The fact that she barrels in without an invitation makes me a little uncomfortable- the poison is worn off, yet she’s still taking a high handed approach with Ace. You can see he feels the same way in his eyes and his body language, and how he only begrudgingly closes the door behind her when Nancy offers to tell him everything finally.

Nancy’s explanation is heartfelt. But Ace feeling like he has to apologize for his anger at her shutting him out doesn’t sit right with me. He had a right to ask for more, and even now Nancy blew past him and into his space. Her joking “let’s call it even” - she says she tried to kill him under the poison’s influence because he rejected her, but I don’t feel like she fully addressed both the way she treated him before, and how degrading her behavior was toward him after she was poisoned. Just a few extra lines here would have gone a long way IMO to make this part of the scene more satisfying.

Ace’s “Yeah” and his lightening the mood by asking for good things that he can look forward to, and his “Well, everything” - swoon. Nancy’s toying with her braid as she gazes at Ace on the bed, separated by a visual divider line, gives such a “teenage girl with a deep crush” vibe. It’s such a sweet ending, and I am confident that Nancy and Ace’s relationship will grow stronger from this experience, and help them weather what I’m sure are going to be harrowing times, and possibly times where they can’t or won’t interact, and turn to others for comfort (ouch).

Overall this was an incredibly deep episode with a lot of nuance, along with amazing acting, comedy, and overall writing and production. I would have liked to see a bit more discussion in Nancy and Ace’s final scene before we got to the incredibly romantic ending, and I wish there was a trigger warning at the beginning of the episode - but I do appreciate how well the writers responded online to the feedback.

I am out of my mind for Episode 3 tonight. The show creators are hyping it up mightily. I’m expecting amazing progress and some heartbreak before the end. Talk to you on the other side!

#nancy drew #nancy drew cw #nace #ace [redacted]#ndcw #nancy drew season 4 #nancy drew s4 #nancy drew spoilers #4x02

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