Evolving galaxies, breathtaking aurorae, and the most delicate nebulae were also celebrated in the competition.

Decades later, the anomalies still don't have an explanation.

Researchers believe that advanced civilizations face the same problems, and therefore aliens may be doomed, just like humans. Earth’s average global temperatures have been steadily increasing since the Industrial Revolution. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), Earth has been heating up at a rate of 0.06 °C (0.11 °F) per decade since 1850 – or about 1.11 °C (2 °F) in total. Since 1982, the average annual increase has been 0.20 °C (0.36 °F) per decade, more than three times as fast. What’s more, this trend is projected to increase by between 1.5 and 2 °C (2.7 to 3.6 °F) by mid-century, possibly more! This is a direct consequence of burning fossil fuels, which has increased exponentially since the mid-19th century, reports universetoday.com. Depending on the extent of temperature increases, the impact on Earth’s habitability could be catastrophic. In a recent study, a team of scientists examined how temperature increases are a long-term issue facing advanced civilizations and not just a matter of fossil fuel consumption. As they argue, rising planetary temperatures could be an inevitable result of the exponential growth of energy consumption. Their findings could have serious implications for astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The study was conducted by Amedeo Balbi, an Associate Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Universita di Roma Tor Vergata, and Manasvi Lingam, an Assistant Professor with the Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech). The paper detailing their findings, “Waste Heat and Habitability: Constraints from Technological Energy Consumption,” recently appeared online and is being reviewed for publication in the journal Astrobiology. This chart shows the meteorological summer (June, July, and August) temperature anomalies each year since 1880. Credit: NASA’s Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin The idea that civilizations will eventually overheat their planet harkens back to the work of Soviet scientist Mikhail I. Budyko. In 1969, he published a groundbreaking study titled “The effect of solar radiation variations on the climate of the Earth,” where he argued that “All the energy used by man is transformed into heat, the main portion of this energy being an additional source of heat as compared to the present radiation gain. Simple calculations show that with the present rate of growth of using energy the heat produced by man in less than two hundred years will be comparable with the energy coming from the Sun.” This is a simple consequence of all energy production and consumption invariably producing waste heat. While this waste heat is only a marginal contribution to global warming compared to carbon emissions, long-term projections indicate that this could change. As Lingam related to Universe Today via email: “The current contribution of waste heat to a rise in global temperature is minimal. However, if waste heat production proceeds on an exponential trajectory for the next century, a further 1 degree Celsius (1.8 F) rise in temperature may stem from waste heat, independent of an enhanced greenhouse effect because of fossil fuels. If the waste heat generation maintains its exponential growth over centuries, we show that it can eventually lead to a complete loss of habitability and the demise of all life on Earth.” The Dyson Sphere is a fitting example of waste heat resulting from the exponential growth of an advanced civilization. In his original proposal paper, “Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of Infrared Radiation,” Freeman Dyson argued how the need for more habitable space and energy could eventually drive a civilization to create an “artificial biosphere which completely surrounds its parent star.” As he described, these megastructures would be detectable to infrared instruments due to the “large-scale conversion of starlight into far-infrared radiation,” meaning they would radiate waste heat to space. “The heating we explore in our paper results from the conversion of any form of energy and is an unavoidable consequence of the laws of thermodynamics,” added Balbi, who was the study’s lead author. “For present-day Earth, this heating represents only a negligible fraction of the warming caused by the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. However, if global energy consumption continues to grow at its current rate, this effect could become significant within a few centuries, potentially impacting Earth’s habitability.” To determine how long it would take for advanced civilizations to reach the point where they would render their home planet uninhabitable, Balbi and Lingam crafted theoretical models based on the Second Law of thermodynamics (as it applies to energy production). They then applied this to planetary habitability by considering the circumsolar habitable zone (CHZ) – i.e., the orbits where a planet would receive sufficient solar radiation to maintain liquid water on its surface. “We adapted the calculation of the habitable zone, a standard tool in exoplanetary studies. Essentially, we incorporated an additional source of heating—stemming from technological activity—alongside the stellar irradiation,” said Balbi. Another key factor they considered is the exponential growth rates of civilizations and their energy consumption, as predicted by the Kardashev Scale. Using humanity as a template, we see that global energy consumption rates went from 5,653 terawatt-hours (TWh) to 183,230 TWh between 1800 and 2023. This trend was not only exponential but accelerated over time, similar to population growth in the same period (1 billion in 1800 to 8 billion in 2023). Balbi and Lingam extrapolated this trend to measure the implications for habitability and determine the maximum lifespan of an advanced civilization once it has entered a period of exponential growth. Ultimately, they concluded that the maximum lifetime of technospheres is about 1000 years, provided that they experience an annual growth rate of about 1% throughout the period of interest. These findings, said Balbi, have implications for humanity and in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): “Our results indicate that the effect of waste heat could become substantial not only in Earth’s future but also in the development of any hypothetical technological species inhabiting planets around other stars. Consequently, considering this constraint could influence how we approach the search for technologically advanced life in the universe and how we interpret the outcomes of such searches. For instance, it may offer a partial explanation for the Fermi paradox.” Balbi and Lingam also stress how these results present some possible recommendations for how we could avoid rendering our planet uninhabitable. Once again, there are implications for SETI since any solution we can envision is likely to have already been implemented by another advanced species. Said Balbi: “Although our paper focuses on physics rather than solutions to societal challenges, we envision a few scenarios that could help a technological species mitigate the constraints of waste heating and delay its onset. A sufficiently advanced civilization might use technology to counteract heating, such as employing stellar shielding.” “Alternatively, they could relocate much of their technological infrastructure off-world, moving into space. Such mega-engineering projects would have significant implications for our search for technosignatures. A less ambitious but perhaps more feasible approach would be to reduce energy consumption by slowing growth. Of course, we cannot predict which of these options is the most plausible.” Source: www.universetoday.com The post Will Extraterrestrials Face the Same Fate as Humanity? appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Click to Skip Ahead What Is Vomiting and Diarrhea? Signs Causes Diagnosis Care Guide Frequently Asked Questions Whether it’s a one-off episode or something that has gone on for weeks, most dog owners know that vomiting and diarrhea are signs of a problem. But what causes vomiting and diarrhea? The truth is hundreds of causes generally signal a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, but this can be secondary to disease elsewhere in the body. Some cases of vomiting and diarrhea can be very mild, while others are immediately life-threatening; if you’re ever unsure whether you need to worry, we recommend talking with your vet. Our article will discuss vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, the potential causes, and the signs that you could be dealing with a more severe problem. What Is Vomiting and Diarrhea? Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of a problem impacting the gastrointestinal tract. During vomiting, dogs expel their stomach contents out of their mouths after drooling and forceful belly movements. When they bring up stomach contents, they usually look like digested or partially digested food with yellow bile and foamy saliva mixed in. In severe cases, dogs can vomit contents from the intestine, which can look and smell more like poop. Sometimes, regurgitation can be confused with vomiting. Regurgitation doesn’t involve stomach contents; it occurs when food from the esophagus that hasn’t reached the stomach is brought back up. This process is more passive, and you won’t notice drooling or movement in the belly. The food that comes up is undigested but can have mucous. Sometimes, it is formed into the sausage shape of the esophagus. Diarrhea is passing feces that are loose or even watery. Dogs with diarrhea usually “go” more frequently, and the stools can have blood or mucus; it’s worth checking for this and noting any color changes to discuss with your vet. Dogs that posture to poop with nothing coming out may have diarrhea, as the inflammation in their colon makes them feel like they need to go. Then again, they could be constipated, so you should check what they are passing. Image Credit: Murrr Photo, Shutterstock Signs to Look for With Vomiting and Diarrhea Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of illness in themselves. However, they often occur with other signs. These signs, along with the severity of the vomiting and diarrhea, can help your vet determine whether you need to worry. Vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, as fluids are lost from the body. The risk increases with the time and frequency it has been happening, and also if the dog won’t drink. Some cases of vomiting and diarrhea can be managed at home, whereas at other times, tests, hospital care, or medications could be needed. We recommend seeking urgent vet treatment if you notice signs like: Tacky gums Small volumes of dark urine Poor appetite Not drinking Unable to keep food or water down Lethargy Shaking Restlessness Abdominal pain Tense abdomen Hunched posture Frequent vomiting Uncontrollable diarrhea Blood in stool or vomit Black tarry feces Weight loss Bloated abdomen Fever Collapse Breathing difficulties What Are the Causes of Vomiting and Diarrhea? As we’ve stated, there are hundreds of causes of vomiting or diarrhea. It can help to divide the possibilities into different categories like: Infection: Gastrointestinal infections include bacterial infections, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, parasitic infections, such as intestinal worms and Giardia, and uterine infections (pyometra) and septicemia. Immune-mediated: Allergic or anaphylactic reaction. Inflammatory: Inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, peritonitis. Hormonal: Addison’s disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism. Dietary: Dietary indiscretion, food intolerance or allergy, change in diet, nutrient deficiency. Medication side-effects: Antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, chemotherapy drugs Toxic: Plants: Philodendrons, Sago Palm, Morning Glory, Azalea. Toxic foods: unripe tomatoes, grapes, onions, and garlic. Chemicals: bleach, carbamates Genetic: Intestinal cobalamin malabsorption in Border Collies, Basenji enteropathy, Granulomatous colitis in Boxers and French Bulldogs. Protein-losing enteropathy in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherds. Degenerative: Chronic kidney disease. Trauma: Head trauma, perforated bowel Congenital: Pyloric stenosis, hiatal hernia, portosystemic shunt Cancer: Lymphosarcoma, gastrinoma, carcinoma Other: Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), intestinal foreign body, severe constipation Image Credit: Christian Mueller, Shutterstock Diagnosing Vomiting and Diarrhea in Your Dog Before making a vet appointment, you should assess the urgency of your dog’s situation. If you’re not sure, you can call your regular vet, go to an after-hours clinic, or consult a veterinary triage service. For urgent or emergency cases, you should go to an after-hours clinic. In milder cases, sometimes treatments are started at home, with the view to consult with a vet within 24 hours if things don’t resolve on their own. Your vet will examine your dog, including checking their hydration levels, temperature, and heart rate. Be prepared to answer questions to help the vet determine the most likely causes of your pet’s illness. Some areas you can be asked about are: Dietary history, including any recent changes in diet. This includes access to something they shouldn’t have eaten and treats. Current parasite prevention Duration and severity of illness Other signs your pet is showing Access to anything toxic Previous illnesses, medications, chronic conditions Exposure to other dogs and vaccination history If your vet feels further investigation is appropriate, they will usually start with simple tests like: Fecal tests: Your vet may examine your pup’s feces under a microscope or perform a fecal float to look for parasites. The feces can also be sent to the lab for specific tests, such as bacterial culture or DNA testing for infectious diseases (PCR panels). Blood tests: Blood tests can check your pet’s red and white cell counts, organ function, electrolytes, acid-base balance, and hormone levels. It is important to look for underlying causes of gastroenteritis and problems secondary to vomiting and diarrhea. X-rays: X-rays are a simple test that is particularly useful for looking for intestinal foreign bodies but can also help diagnose other problems, like GDV. However, they don’t show good detail within the organs. Abdominal ultrasound: Unlike X-rays, ultrasound shows good detail of soft tissues such as the intestines, stomach, kidneys, and liver. If there are problematic areas, ultrasound helps to localize the issue. Elimination diet trial: If your vet suspects your dog has a food allergy, they may recommend a hypoallergenic dog food or diet trial. Your vet should give you strict instructions for an elimination diet trial. In most cases, one or more of these tests will help diagnose your dog’s condition. However, sometimes, more invasive tests like tissue biopsies or advanced imaging (CT scan or MRI) are needed. Image Credit: thirawatana-phaisalratana, Shutterstock How Do I Care for a Dog With Vomiting and Diarrhea When caring for a dog with vomiting or diarrhea, it’s important to follow your vet’s instructions for the best outcomes. You’re not going to have a good result if you start treating a dog with an intestinal obstruction, for example, at home. After your vet visit, you probably have a diagnosis, or at least a preliminary diagnosis, with a plan to see how things go with treatment. Depending on your situation, your vet’s treatment plan could include the following: Probiotics: With gastrointestinal issues, there may be an imbalance of good and bad gut bacteria. Probiotics are good bacteria that you can introduce into your dog’s system. They will help restore the balance and hopefully improve digestion. Medications: Depending on your pup’s diagnosis, they may be prescribed medication. Medication to protect the gastrointestinal tract, anti-nausea, antibiotics, or dewormers are common choices. Dietary changes: Sometimes, a bland diet is recommended until vomiting or diarrhea resolves. Feeding small, frequent meals is best. Sometimes, the vet may recommend a more specialized diet, like a hypoallergenic diet or one fortified to improve gut health. Hydration support: Maintaining hydration is one of the biggest challenges in dogs with vomiting or diarrhea. If your dog is drinking on their own, adding electrolytes to their water can help. If your pet is dehydrated, your vet may recommend an injection of fluids under the skin or a fluid drip into the vein. Surgery: Some illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhea will necessitate surgery. Surgery can also be important for diagnosing your dog’s illness. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What Food Is Good for Dogs With Vomiting and Diarrhea? Assuming your dog has no food sensitivities, bland food like boiled chicken and rice for a few days can be gentle on the stomach. You can also buy high-quality gastrointestinal foods that are nutritionally balanced and designed for digestibility and stool quality. How long does gastro last in dogs? Mild gastroenteritis from causes like dietary indiscretion generally improves in 24–72 hours, but it can sometimes last longer. More severe cases of vomiting or diarrhea that need interventions like medications and hospital care can take longer to resolve completely, usually around a week or two. Vomiting that lasts longer than 1 week and diarrhea that lasts more than 2 weeks is classified as chronic. Image Credit: Zontica, Shutterstock Conclusion Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of illnesses that can range from mild and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening. Each case is different, but if your dog shows one of the concerning signs listed in the article, along with vomiting or diarrhea, you should seek urgent veterinary care, even if this means visiting an after-hours clinic. However, even if they aren’t showing these obvious signs, they can sometimes still need help sooner rather than later. Calling a vet to discuss your pet’s case or online veterinary consults can help you decide whether or not you should get them help immediately. Sources https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952781 https://veterinaryemergencygroup.com/blog/dog-diarrhea-causes-and-when-to-go-to-the-emergency-vet/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781455744541500058 https://www.msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/congenital-and-inherited-disorders-of-the-digestive-system-of-dogs https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/gastroenterology/gi-intervention-approach-to-diagnosis-and-therapy-of-the-patient-with-acute-diarrhea/ https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/gastric-dilatation-volvulus/ Featured Image Credit: My July, Shutterstock The post Vomiting & Diarrhea in Dogs: Our Vet Explains What to Do & When to Worry appeared first on PangoVet.

Game developer Bible X, an Oslo-based game studio founded in 2020 as part of BCC media, is developing a semi-open world video game set in ancient Israel that is sure to generate major waves in an industry valued at over $240 billion. While Gate Zero has multiple distinguishing features, what primarily sets it apart from other titles in the historical adventure genre is that it centers on the most important story worth telling: that of a certain Nazarene whose life, death, and resurrection forever changed the fate of mankind and serve as a reference point by which all nations still mark the years of lesser events. 'I truly believe this game can and likely will be one of the biggest things for spreading the gospel — maybe not just only this game, but the start of what this game is doing — since the printing press.' Gate Zero is hardly the first faith-based game. However, its developers are set on making it the first proper Christian blockbuster — accomplishing for the medium what "The Chosen" and "The Passion of the Christ" managed for TV and film, respectively. Blaze News discussed the project with Bible X's head of studio and game designer Arve Solli last year and previewed a compelling prototype of the game, which was then touted as an opportunity to "travel back in time to explore ancient Israel, interact with Gospel stories, and examine the deeper meaning of Jesus' words." In the months since, Bible X has made several bold moves to maximize quality and impact, including the onboarding of John Gibson, an industry veteran who stepped down as CEO of Tripwire Interactive after radicals targeted him for ruin and exile in 2021 over his support for the unborn. Solli and Gibson spoke to Blaze News this week about mainstreaming the Bible in the video game industry, the current state of the game, Bible X's fundraising efforts stateside, and remaining obstacles. From exile to Bible X Bible X announced in January that Gibson had joined the team as executive game consultant. Gibson indicated that while the opportunity was providential, his path to accept it was anything but smooth or direct. "It was kind of funny. Every time I opened social media, I was seeing ads for the game Gate Zero. It was like God was tapping me on the shoulder saying, 'You should check this out.' And I kept ignoring it and ignoring it," said Gibson. Finally, he relented and messaged the company, noting, "I'm John Gibson. I've been developing games for a while. If any of my experience is valuable, I'd be happy to contribute." Gibson boasts decades of experience, having worn many hats while leading Tripwire, a Georgia-based video game company he co-founded in 2005, which has sold tens of millions of games. He brought multiple well-received titles to market, including Maneater, Chivalry 2, and Rising Storm, as well as the Red Orchestra and Killing Floor franchises. Gibson recalled that "Arve responded and said, 'I hope you don't mind me saying this: we've been praying for someone like you to come along.'" Tragedy and misfortune had evidently primed Gibson to lean into the moment. "I took a break from games for a while," he told Blaze News. "Just to be candid, it was a very difficult thing that I went through. … One of the things I haven't said on Tucker Carlson or some of those interviews, I don't believe, is that almost five family members — right after that whole crisis happened — including my mother at 66 years old, and my little sister at 44, just back to back to back every couple of weeks, somebody died, and it was traumatic." Blaze News previously reported that after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block Texas’ pro-life heartbeat law, Gibson tweeted, "Proud of #USSupremeCourt affirming the Texas law banning abortion for babies with a heartbeat. As an entertainer I don't get political often. Yet with so many vocal peers on the other side of this issue, I felt it was important to go on the record as a pro-life game developer." Gibson told Blaze News that he had seen many of his peers in the industry condemning the law but no one daring to laud it. "I wasn't trying to go on a big crusade," said Gibson. "But apparently I properly combined uranium to create a nuclear explosion on Twitter." Not only was he viciously attacked online, but at least one company that conducted business with Tripwire — Shipwright — announced it was canceling all existing contracts with his company. Various other outfits piled on, making sure to let everyone else know they disagreed with the gaming veteran's opinion and that they supported abortion. In a statement indicating that Gibson had stepped down as CEO just over two days later, the company he co-founded even apologized on his behalf. When asked whether he felt a little bit like Job — whether this bout of misfortune was a test of his faith — Gibson told Blaze News, "It was a crisis for me because I’m a fighter and a person of action. And when this all went down, and I get a lot of pushback from other conservatives and believers on this, but my initial reaction was to fight." Gibson indicated that after his unceremonious exit from Tripwire, he hired one of President Donald Trump's former attorneys, intending to go on the legal warpath. "I'm like, 'Let’s go. You want to fight? You're going to have one,'" said Gibson. "And I had absolutely no peace at all. I felt in those first few days that God was telling me to take the path of peace. I could fight and I could probably win, but the end result would be better if I just followed what He wanted to do." Gibson indicated that it was a "battle every single day." Then came the decision to sell Tripwire to Saber Interactive. "This was 20 years of blood, sweat, and tears," said Gibson, noting that to first get the company going, he borrowed against everything he owned, missed time with his family, and sank months of 100-hour work weeks. After some soul-searching and counsel from a mentor, Gibson signed the contract, parting ways with his company. Months later, he heeded the apparent tap of the divine on his shoulder, got in touch with Solli, and met the team in Norway. Shortly thereafter, he joined Bible X on a project he now figures could very well be "one of the biggest things for spreading the gospel" — something Solli noted is critical at a time of dismal Bible illiteracy. Pulling out all the stops Solli previously told Blaze News, "We want to create something great because we believe it's the greatest message ever told," adding that "the Christian message deserves to have the same amount of effort, if not more" than other works of entertainment. This was a factor not only in seeking greater investment but also in adding Gibson to a team that includes individuals who previously worked at Rockstar Games on the Grand Theft Auto franchise and on Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as on the Thief and Assassin's Creed series. "That's been the goal all the time: to bring on the best people with the best experience and the burning heart for this type of project," said Solli. Blaze News previously asked Dr. Kevin Schut, a professor of media and communication at Trinity Western University and the author of "Of Games & God: A Christian Exploration of Video Games," about Christian video games and their apparent inability to break into the mainstream. While the industry's aggressive and transgressive culture has long been a factor, Schut noted that "few developers of explicitly Christian games have either the experience or resources to make really high-quality games." Bible X appears to be breaking the pattern. Gate Zero - Screenshot from early demo Solli noted that Gibson has brought 20-plus years of experience as a founder CEO, game developer, designer, and programmer, as well as his industry network. "As a startup and as an indie developer — there's a lot of small challenges every day," said Solli. "The more we can shorten the decision time and shorten the time it takes to go from the wrong direction in the right direction, the more effective[ly] we can spend all the money we're using to create this game." Gibson indicated that there were two preconditions for his involvement in the project. First, he had to know that the team he would be working with had "the skills and the desire to make an undeniably great game, because not everybody has the skills and not everybody has the drive to do something that successful." Second, he said Bible X would have to double its budget on Gate Zero to maximize quality and ensure that the game was a knockout. Bible X had already satisfied the first condition and agreed to satisfy the second. However, the increased budget meant finding new ways to raise funds. Previously, Bible X successfully crowdfunded several hundred thousand dollars in campaigns for the game on Indiegogo and Kickstarter. "Since we talked last time, we have started an organization in the U.S. called NextGen Bible Media. The goal there is to first and foremost fund-raise for [Gate Zero], but later on, possibly for other games," Solli told Blaze News. Bible X appears to be crafting a game that satisfies the expectations of conventional gamers while also delivering biblical content they will never have seen before. NextGen Bible Media is a nonprofit registered through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services set up to help fund the Gate Zero project in BCC Media. According to the NextGen Bible Media page, which has an option for tax-deductible donations, the project is already 49% funded. "This is marking great progress, but we need additional support to reach the full target and bring this vision to life," said Solli. Gibson noted that he is among the donors. "I am a significant backer of Gate Zero. I'm putting my money where my mouth is," said Gibson. "I'm not just asking people to donate. I'm saying, 'Come alongside me and also donate because — and Arve talks about this a lot — Bible literacy is going down." According to the American Bible Society's State of the Bible 2024 report, the percentage of American adult Bible users (defined as those who interact with scripture at least three or four times a year outside church or faith services) bounced around 50% for several years but then plunged to 40% in 2022. That downward trend has continued, falling to 39% last year and 38% this year. Of Millennials, 12% are scripture-engaged, whereas 65% are Bible disengaged. While slightly less Bible-disengaged than the older cohort (61%), Gen Z adults are the least scripture engaged at 11%. "We have an entire generation that's not engaging with the Bible," said Gibson, noting that such a game would constitute a massive evangelizing opportunity. "I truly believe this game can and likely will be one of the biggest things for spreading the gospel — maybe not just only this game, but the start of what this game is doing — since the printing press," continued the gaming veteran. "This is how the next generation interfaces with media. Video games are bigger than all of professional sports combined. Video games make more revenue than all of movies and television. So it’s a shame that no one has gotten there yet, but it's time." When asked whether Bible X has partnered with religious organizations and churches stateside, Solli said, "We haven’t done that yet, but it's definitely an opportunity." Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, previously told Blaze News that "any medium that offers an accurate account of the biblical story and encourages young people to grow in the Christian faith should be welcomed by Christians. With proper parental guidance, it can serve as a platform for more serious study. Gate Zero promises to do just that." Although Donohue admitted to a limited exposure to Gate Zero, he indicated that it "would be an important cultural marker" should it break into the mainstream. "Young people, especially boys, are being inundated with morally debased videos, so wholesome alternatives are badly needed." "Some parents may carp that this is not a blue-chip medium, but if a video game presents a realistic opportunity to evangelize the young, its unconventional approach should not be a factor," added Donohue. The game — and how it has evolved The version of the game previewed by Blaze News late last year kicks off in a cyberpunk dystopia in the year 2072. Current trends were clearly left unchecked because the soulless society of the 2070s appears to be bereft of Christianity. Max, the playable teen protagonist, uses his time machine, Gate Zero, to travel back to the first century as part of a resistance group, keen on challenging a corrupted version of history. There, Max explores ancient Israel and follows Christ's ministry in ancient Judea and Galilee. The sci-fi framing not only coheres the game but permits Bible X to avoid dragging two millennia of social and political baggage into the game. "The intent behind the time machine is to bring the player back to Year Zero, back to Jesus, and to talk to the Author, basically," said Solli. "The game takes players back to the source, back to Jesus, because we believe that connecting with Jesus is what people really need today. This journey allows players to explore their own questions and find help for their current challenges." Gate Zero - Screenshot from early demo "We tried to weave together the story of our player character with the stories from Jesus," Solli previously told Blaze News. "They have certain meeting points where they connect, and then you can explore." The player is free to explore an intricately detailed world that clerics, archeologists, historians, and other scholars have worked with the Bible X team to ensure is both historically and biblically accurate. Gate Zero is not, however, a mere virtual museum. The player has agency, is met with both purpose and danger, and is rewarded for curiosity. 'We just have to do our job and be humble every day. Be humble and work hard. That's our secret ingredient.' Since Blaze News last spoke to him in November, Solli indicated that he and his team at Bible X have been working on the core of the game and strengthening the game loop to ensure that "it's an undeniably great experience." When pressed on specifics, Solli noted they have been working on action, stealth, and traversal mechanics, as well as on conducting further research to incorporate additional stories into the game. Gibson said early iterations may have come across as high-quality walking simulators, but the game has radically evolved. "We want the action parts of the game to be amazing, making it on par or better than other games in these genres," said Gibson, citing Assassin's Creed and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as two examples. "We want the action parts to be on par with that, so that when players play it, they might come into the game going, 'I don't care about the stories, but I hear the game plays really good.'" "One of the big improvements from what people have seen in the Kickstarter demo is the abilities that Max has to traverse the world," said Gibson. "He's climbing, jumping, and balancing on beams and has some really cool special abilities that we're not quite ready to reveal yet." Bible X appears to be crafting a game that satisfies the expectations of conventional gamers while also delivering biblical content they will never have seen before — certainly not in a game. Solli indicated that the primary market the company aims to target is the U.S. and English-speaking countries. However, owing to the committed and ever-growing community, he suspects that the game will be localized and translated into roughly 12 languages on day one. As for immediate next steps, Solli said, "We just have to do our job and be humble every day. Be humble and work hard. That's our secret ingredient." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

I simply can't wait for Persona 6. Atlus' series of school JRPGs where you end up killing god is unlike anything else I've ever played, and they all have some of the most inventive mechanics I've ever seen. I used to be indifferent to turn-based games, but Persona 5 turned me around on the genre. I can easily say the same for the medieval setting, which often doesn't hook me like I'd hope. Metaphor: ReFantazio, the upcoming JRPG from Atlus, looks to change that. Best of all, we can all bide our time to launch with a brand-new demo. Continue reading New Metaphor Refantazio demo lets you start the 100-hour JRPG early MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Metaphor Refantazio release date, Best RPG games, Best JRPGs

As we get into the spooky season, free The Sims 4 rewards are here to help you get into the mood. EA might not be making The Sims 5 any time soon, as it commits to focusing on its existing game alongside the experimental Project Rene, but there are still lots of reasons to jump back into the free game and keep playing, starting with a special Halloween event. If you’re worried that The Sims 5 is dead, The Grim Reaper themselves is here to comfort you. Continue reading The Sims 4 has free items for you, and a new Grim Reaper story MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

We’ve seen quite a few 24-inch screens going for surprisingly low prices lately, but this latest Amazon gaming monitor deal brings a big-brand 27-inch monitor down to a rock-bottom price, enabling you to pick up a decent-size screen for just $139. It’s not just a basic monitor either. This Asus TUF Gaming display not only has a 165Hz refresh rate, but it also supports the company’s Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) tech to reduce image ghosting. The Asus TUF Gaming VG27VH1B usually costs $179, which is already a generous price for a 27-inch screen from a big brand, so it’s great to be able to save a further 22% on it. This gaming monitor also shares some key specs in common with some of the best gaming monitor options you can buy right now, including the aforementioned ELMB tech. Continue reading This 27-inch Asus gaming monitor has an amazing price right now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard

Any game worth its salt will ensure its players are kept well-fed with substantial updates, and Halls of Torment has certainly delivered on that front. The 1.0 patch has arrived, bringing with it a new final stage, new items and abilities, and the standard system improvements, too. Judging by the huge increase in its player count, HoT fans are enjoying the fresh content. Continue reading Halls of Torment 1.0 is a huge success, and the player count proves it MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, Best survival games, Best action-adventure games

Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s response so far has been more of the same muddled mess to which we’ve become accustomed.