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Resident Evil 2: Everything we know so far

Resident Evil is back. The godfather of survival horror games has spanned countless entries on a variety of consoles, but the latest title in the series isn’t going to be a new entry. Instead, in a surprise announcement at E3, Capcom showcased Resident Evil 2, a full rebuild of the 1998 series classic for current generation consoles. The surprise announcement shocked E3 and the game was awarded the much-coveted “Best in Show” honor. Take a look at the reveal trailer and first gameplay showcase below, then read on to see exactly what’s in store for your return to Racoon City.

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Classic characters are back

Resident Evil is known for an iconic cast of characters, and Resident Evil 2 is no exception. Players will once again be taking control of Leon S. Kennedy, the main character in Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 6. A fan favorite, the original RE2 served as Leon’s debut. Far from the jaded veteran hero we see in later entries, RE2 introduces us to Leon as a rookie police officer in the Raccoon City Police Department. What’s supposed to be his first day on the job turns into a fight for survival, but he won’t be alone.

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Claire Redfield, Leon’s partner throughout the events of the game and another iconic character in the series, is also making her return. The Redfield surname should be recognizable to Resident Evil fans: Claire’s brother Chris is the main character in Resident Evils 1, 5, 6, and makes a cameo appearance in Resident Evil 7’s Not a Hero DLC.

Claire’s also seen her fair share of action, but like Leon, isn’t quite as experienced yet. The two cross paths as Claire searches for her missing brother, and will need to rely on each other if they hope to make it out alive. Capcom has yet to confirm whether or not Claire will be playable as well, but we’ve got our fingers crossed.

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Other familiar characters also seem to be returning: in the trailer, we see the young Sherry Birkin, and also get to hear a few mysterious voiceovers. One of them seems to be Sherry’s mother Annette Birkin, an unscrupulous Umbrella Corporation scientist who is partially responsible for the outbreak.

A second, different female voice can also be heard; though we can’t say for certain, it seems likely that this is the recurring femme fatale anti-hero Ada Wong, who takes a starring role in several games in the series. Finally, we hear a mysterious male voice that sounds an awful lot like the infamous Albert Wesker. Could he be putting in a cameo appearance as well?

Though so far we haven’t seen much of the game’s ensemble cast, seeing how they’ve been updated for the remake is doubtless going to be one of the best parts of the experience.

Gameplay gets an upgrade

On the more technical side of things, Resident Evil 2’s gameplay mechanics have received a serious overhaul. The fixed camera and tank controls that characterized the original are long gone. Instead, the game is returning to the third-person over the shoulder perspective that has become standard for the series.

It seems like this too has been upgraded, however: traditionally, players would use a reticle or laser sight to aim and fire. Resident Evil 2 is introducing a new aiming system that will require players to take more time to aim and fire; if you rush too much, you might miss your shot. This makes every encounter into a distinct experience where you’ll have to choose whether to stand your ground and fight or try to escape the situation altogether.

It also appears that a HUD of any kind has been totally removed. This means players will have to pay close attention to their health and ammo, and combined with the lack of aim assistance, looks like it’ll make for a terrifying and intense gameplay experience. Resident Evil has been criticized in recent entries for its more action-oriented controls and gameplay; it appears Capcom has taken these criticisms to heart and has worked to return to a gameplay style that reflects the franchise’s survival-horror roots.

The graphics have, of course, also received a big upgrade. Capcom has confirmed that the game will be running on the same engine as Resident Evil 7, and it shows. The graphics are stunning, allowing for rich detailed settings and atmospheric lighting that heightens the terror. The game also supports PS4 Pro and Xbox One X enhancements with 4K capabilities and 60 FPS.

Familiar setting with a twist

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the remake is how loyal it is to the original. Returning players will doubtless receive a huge hit of nostalgia as they explore familiar areas gorgeously brought to life for the modern era. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t going to be simply an old game with a new face. Capcom has confirmed there are going to be key differences that make Resident Evil 2 a distinct and unique experience for returning players.

What are these key differences? Players familiar with the game might not find what they expect to in certain areas. The gameplay demo at E3, for example, replaced an iconic encounter with a mutated Licker with the mangled body of a fallen RPD officer. The changes we’ve seen so far may be small, but it’s enough to know that returning players will have to stay alert and expect the unexpected. Capcom has shown a lot of care in staying true to the fan-favorite aspects of Resident Evil 2, but we expect to see things like new items, altered area layouts, updated puzzles, and possibly even new characters.

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Capcom also seems to be moving away from the more action-oriented tone of recent entries and making a return to a more horror based experience. We saw this first in Resident Evil 7, but they seem to be leaning into this change even more for RE2. It becomes quickly apparent from the new trailer and gameplay that RE2 isn’t scared to shy away from blood, gore, and other disturbing details that will make this game every bit as nightmare-inducing as it was when it first hit consoles in 1998.

Resident Evil 2 took E3 by storm for good reason. Whether you’re a veteran fan or new to the series, RE2 promises to be a spine-chilling survival horror experience that’s sure to live up to the hype. Resident Evil 2 is slated for release on January 25, 2019.

Everything we know so far about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was first announced a few months ago, all we really knew was that they planned to bring everyone back who was ever featured in a Super Smash Bros. title.

Afterward, we got a glimpse of what the game will truly be like when they invited professional Super Smash Bros. competitors to publicly fight with a demo of the final game. Even more recently, however, Nintendo had some more things to announce at the popular fighting game event, EVO. Here’s everything we know so far about this much-anticipated game:

An ever growing roster

The first trailer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate announced that we would see all 65 previous characters returning, along with three new competitors: Inkling, Daisy, and Ridley. While it was unclear at first if this was all we’d see, Nintendo has recently announced a whole new set of characters as well! Simon Belmont and King K. Rool are being added to the roster as new fighters, while Dark Samus, Chrom, and Richter are being added as “Echo Fighters,” a new category for Smash characters that are echoes of other fighters.

There have been a few changes to some of the returning characters, but most of them have not had many. A common change has been to certain characters’ Final Smashes, as well as updating many of the characters outfits and skins. There are a few important gameplay changes for some characters, however, such as Pokémon Trainer being able to switch Pokémon without a delay. It’s also likely we’ll see more characters added to the roster throughout the next few months.

New stages and music

While not every stage has been revealed yet, we know that there are going to be 103 stages from the start! Almost double the amount the previous game had.

Each stage also features a Battlefield and Final Destination mode, which lets you play it as versions of those maps instead. You can even leave the stage as is, but turn off the stage hazards, if you don’t want to worry about some of the crazy things that these stages can do. Along with this, there is now a “Stage Morph” feature, which lets the stage change around you into an entirely new one.

The best part of these new stage updates is that all stages now allow for 8-player mode as well. And with over 800 tracks of music, you can listen to anything you want while playing on your favorite stages.

Ruleset, tournament, and game mode updates

The game’s rule selection and tournament setup have been updated to include a much larger amount of flexibility and customization. You’re now able to create specific rulesets so that it’s easy to play the way you and your friends like to whenever you want. Along with this, stage selection has been moved to before fighter selection, and there are specific rulesets you can make for how stage selection is done (such as letting the loser of a previous match select the next stage).

Along with a new ruleset feature, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also has an updated tournament mode. While tournaments were available in older titles, the tournament mode in this game is more structured and customization than any before.

Some additional game modes have been added as well such as Squad Strike. This mode lets you do 3-vs-3 or 5-vs-5 matches with specific rulesets. There has also been a single player mode and additional content hinted at, but yet to be revealed.

Additional devices and release date

Along with the game itself, Nintendo has announced a number of supportive gadgets in honor of the new game. There will be a GameCube adapter specifically made for the Switch, along with new Super Smash Bros. GameCube controllers!

The current release date is set to be December 7 of this year. Pre-orders are available now, so make sure to pick it up as soon as you can!

Everything we learned from the Red Dead 2 Gameplay trailer

It’s finally here. The first gameplay trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 has been released. The six minutes of footage is jam-packed with new information about Rockstar’s hit Wild West adventure game. It’s a lot to digest, so if you haven’t yet, check out the trailer below and read on for a look at all of the key takeaways and everything else that Rockstar has just revealed.

The world is much richer

One of the first things that becomes apparent from watching the new trailer is that the game world in RDR 2 is going to be massive. The trailer promises a sprawling variety of environments, from windswept mountain peaks to harsh deserts and murky swamps. Towns and cities are also going to play a key role. Since the game is set on the cusp of the modernization of America, players will be able to explore more rural backwater towns and teeming industrial cities. The contrast between the old world and the modern world is going to be a big theme in this game, and it’ll be up to the player to find out where Arthur fits in.

The world isn’t just large, though: Rockstar has gone to great lengths to emphasize that it’s a living, breathing ecosystem. Hunting seems to be taking a larger role than in the first game, and to that end, Rockstar has added far more in the way of wildlife. Like the first game, animals are just as much of a threat as people. In the trailer, we can see wolves and grizzlies, like in the first game, but also some more exotic creatures like alligators. These animals can be encountered at any time, and predators and prey will hunt each other just as much as the player will.

The human element has also been improved. Whereas the random encounters in the first game felt a bit more stilted, RDR seems to have made them more fluid and integrated into the world. Whether it be in towns or out in the wilderness, your interactions with NPCs will be interesting and varied. The Honor system plays into this: at one point we see Arthur rescuing a man from a bear trap and gaining his gratitude, but we later see a woman on the roadside screaming at him for killing her cousin. Your actions will have repercussions and will inform the way the world around you responds to your presence.

You can bond with your gang

We already know that main character Arthur Morgan is a trusted enforcer in the infamous van der Linde gang. The gang is helmed by Dutch van der Linde, who returning players will recognize as one of the main antagonists from the first Red Dead game. It’s obvious that this time around, the gang itself is going to play a huge role in the game. The trailer details that the gang is a group of roaming outcasts and misfits. With each new location that the gang makes their home, they’ll set up a wilderness camp as a sort of safehouse. Gang members can be interacted with at this camp, and you can hunt and gather supplies to improve the gang’s opinion of you. Doing so is going to be a huge part of your game experience.

Players can interact with each member of the gang, helping them do chores around camp or listening to them tell tales of their pasts. You can also join them for other activities, like drinking and playing cards, or more high-stakes missions. Rockstar has teased that interacting with your gang will earn you access to unique secrets, so it’s certainly in your best interests to get to know the people you’re working with.

Overall, the system seems reminiscent of the activities present in other Rockstar games like Grand Theft Auto 5. You could use your cell phone to call your friends and engage in various activities like bowling or shooting competitions. It seems like Rockstar has taken that system a step up for Red Dead 2. It also seems reminiscent of the Mass Effect series. Though a very different game, Mass Effect placed a huge amount of emphasis on getting to know your squadmates by taking them on loyalty quests or talking to them between missions.

We’re also looking forward to seeing some returning characters in the gang. John Marston, Javier Esceulla, and Bill Williamson are all returning from the first Red Dead, and we’ll doubtless get to see and interact with them in a much deeper way this time around.

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Combat is improved

The final major aspect Rockstar emphasizes in the new trailer is a revamped combat system. Don’t worry, it’s not a total overhaul: Dead Eye is back and looks better than ever, and the game promises a huge variety of weapons to use in combat, from snipers to six shooters and shotguns. The game seems to hint at a different weapons system, though: at one point we see Arthur carrying a long gun and a pistol in both hands, switching rapidly between them. Rockstar used this exact dual-wield system in Max Payne 3, where the player was only able to carry a single long gun and a single pistol at a time. The trailer also mentions that your horse will have room for extra weapons. All this seems to indicate that the weapon wheel from the first game is gone, replaced with a much more bare-bones system where players will have to be more conscious of what they’re carrying.

Aside from gunplay, Rockstar has confirmed in this trailer that hand-to-hand combat is also getting a major overhaul. Where the first game limited you to simply throwing punches, we see Arthur grappling opponents, tackling them to the ground, countering blows, and using the environment around him to get the upper hand in fistfights. Like the rest of the game, it seems like a much more fluid system than that of the first game.

It also seems like your words are going to be just as much of a weapon as your guns or your fists. Arthur will have a variety of verbal options at his disposal in conflicts. Several times in the trailer, we see a mini-menu appear on the bottom right side of the screen when Arthur gets involved in an encounter, with each button mapped to a different response. Arthur can greet, defuse, or antagonize the people he’s interacting with. We see him use this to talk his way out of a gunfight with the local sheriff, and talk his way into a fistfight with a local tough guy. He can also avoid conflicts entirely by simply stating he’s going to mind his own business.

In addition, we can see a few other options at the player’s disposal. Arthur can fire his gun in the air to threaten witnesses, or he can beat and intimidate them to ensure their silence. Both are non-lethal ways to deal with the witnesses to your crimes and ensure the law doesn’t pursue you.

The trailer is full of new information, but from these key takeaways, it’s clear that Rockstar has been working hard to improve everything that made the first Red Dead Redemption so great. If the trailer is any indication, this might just be the best Rockstar to date. The game is slated for an October 26th release, and it can’t come fast enough.

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us 2

Details are slowly trickling in about the follow-up to Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic survival masterpiece, including an incredible new trailer showcased at E3. Here’s what we know so far about The Last of Us 2’s story, gameplay, and other rumors. If you still haven’t played the first game, be warned: spoilers are incoming.

The Last of Us 2 is set five years after the somewhat ambiguous ending of the first game. After finally reaching a research facility run by the Fireflies in Utah, Ellie was quickly whisked away. Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies, informed Joel that in order to find a cure for the infection, they would have to operate on Ellie’s brain, killing her in the process. Forced to choose between saving Ellie and curing the infection, Joel chose Ellie. He massacred his way through the Fireflies facility before finally reaching Ellie just as she was about to undergo the operation that would kill her. When Ellie finally wakes up from her drug-induced coma, Joel lies about what happened, telling her that the Fireflies had found other test subjects besides her and that they were still unable to find a cure.

The game ends with Joel and Ellie returning to the settlement run by Joel’s brother, Tommy. When Ellie once again asks Joel if what he told her is the truth, he doubles down on his lie, and the credits roll.

Several years later, Ellie is now a teenager. Joel will be taking a backseat this time around; Naughty Dog has confirmed that players will be taking control of Ellie in this installment. Joel will still have a large presence in this game, but what exactly that presence will be remains a mystery. In the game’s first trailer, we only see his silhouette, which led some to speculate that Joel is dead, and only remains as a figment of Ellie’s imagination. Though Joel certainly isn’t getting any younger, the latest E3 trailer seems to refute this. New character Jesse approaches Ellie at a party at Tommy’s settlement, remarking that her “old man,” presumably Joel, called him out for slacking while making his rounds. He also mentions that Joel always seems to take a greater interest when Ellie is on patrol with them.

This certainly sounds like the Joel we know and love, but also of note is the way Ellie reacts to this remark. She definitely doesn’t seem happy that Joel is butting in, which could mean several things. Though Ellie and Joel grew closer over the events of the first game, it ended with them somewhat at odds with each other. Just based on the way Ellie seems to resent Joel’s overprotectiveness, it doesn’t seem like that’s changed much in the five years between the two games. However, is this just Ellie going through a rebellious teenager phase, or did she find out at some point that Joel lied to her?

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Whatever the reason, Ellie has grown up quite a bit since the last time we saw her. The new gameplay trailer shows her fighting off enemies with the same brutal combat style introduced in the first game. Melee combat, improvised weapons, and stealth are all returning in a big way in this new game, and combat overall seems much more fluid than in the first entry. Ellie transitions seamlessly between running, hiding, and fighting, and at one point we see her quickly crafting an explosive arrow mid-fight to get the upper hand on her opponents.

So, who exactly are these opponents? Details have been sparse on them so far, but Naughty Dog has revealed that they are a pseudo-religious cult known as the Seraphites. Their goal is to wipe out sin as they see it, though what “sin” they’re attempting to wipe out remains unclear. The cult members all seem to share a similar appearance. Male members of the cult shave their heads, while women have the same braided hairstyle. Looking closely will also reveal that the cultists all have Glasgow Smiles, the same kind of scars that gave The Joker his distinctive grin in “The Dark Knight.” In addition, all members also seem to wear similar long, brown duster coats.

Aside from what they look like, we know that the Seraphites aren’t very nice people. They seem to kill in a particular ritualistic style that involves hanging and disemboweling their enemies, and will “clip the wings” of their targets by brutally breaking their limbs with a hammer. New characters Yara and Lev are a brother and sister duo who were formerly members of the Seraphites. Though it’s still unclear how their story intersects with that of Joel and Ellie, it seems likely that we’ll learn more about this vicious cult through them.

Aside from the Seraphites, we can also see graffiti of the Fireflies logo on a signpost in the game’s first trailer. This is the only hint we’ve seen that they might be returning in the second game. Joel’s rampage at the end of the first game left the group without any clear leadership, so it seems likely that if they do reappear, they’ll be out for revenge. If this is the case, between the Fireflies and the Seraphites, Joel and Ellie will certainly have their hands full.

Several new characters are also being introduced this time around. In addition to Yara and Lev, we’ve also met an unnamed woman voiced by Naughty Dog veteran Laura Bailey. Naughty Dog loyalists will recognize her from her role as mercenary Nadine Ross in Uncharted 4, and it seems like she’s bringing the same intensity to this mysterious new character. We’re also going to meet a few new residents of Tommy’s settlement. Shannon Woodward, who fans of HBO’s “Westworld” will know as park technician Elsie Hughes, plays Jesse’s ex-girlfriend Dina. She takes a starring role in the latest trailer, sharing a kiss with Ellie during a dance at the party. It’s unclear whether their relationship will develop into something more serious than a somewhat tipsy kiss.

One final important detail that Naughty Dog has revealed: whereas the first game was about love, this game is going to be about hate. From what we’ve seen so far, this game is going to have a much, much darker tone than the original. Between Ellie’s colder and more ruthless outlook and the brutal executions perpetrated by both her and the Seraphites, this game promises to be an extremely intense ride, and it seems like Naughty Dog won’t be pulling any punches this time around. Though no official release date has been revealed yet, Naughty Dog has been revealing a steady stream of new content since announcing the game, and we’re excited to see what else lies in store for Joel and Ellie.

This is everything we know about Fallout 76

Dust off your favorite set of power armor; in four short months, you’ll be on an adventure through the rolling, mutant-infested hills of post-nuclear West Virginia as Fallout 76 comes to PC, PS4 and XBOX on November 14, 2018.

Fallout 76 is easily one of the most-hyped entries in Bethesda’s popular series, and also one of the least-understood — both thanks in part to the notable transition from the familiar sprawling single-player RPG to an even larger and dynamic, online world.

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What we know so far:

Since the game’s announcement in late Spring of this year, questions have been flying about what Fallout 76 will be like, and what kinds of changes can be expected from previous games in the series.

Timeline and Premise: From the start, Bethesda has been clear that the game will be a prequel of sorts, taking place in 2102, a short 25 years after the Earth was devastated by nuclear war, and many decades prior to the preceding titles. The residents of Vault 76 (a nigh-sacred place referenced in previous Fallout entries) will leave safety on a mission to rebuild and recolonize the world.

Given that there are four games of post-nuclear hardship that take place after Fallout 76, the jury’s still out on their success with that.

Setting: As stated above, the game world exists in a space approximately four times the geographic size of Fallout 4 and, at least at launch, will be set exclusively among the country roads of John Denver’s West Virginia (the inclusion of this track in the introduction trailer was virtually obligatory).

Single-player or Multiplayer: Both, kind of. Bethesda has clearly (and ambitiously) designed a multi-player romp, while also declaring that single-player adventures are still viable, given that the player maintains an online connection. The proposed small population servers — with an option for private servers — seems reminiscent of the fairly successful GTA Online set-up; albeit, with a bit more environmental impact on the part of the players. Regardless of whether you want to establish a crew to plow through the wasteland or forage alone, the developers have exhibited a real awareness of the potential for griefing and trolling, with several proposed measures to minimize unwelcome interference.

‘Softcore’ Survival: Much about what makes the Fallout series attractive is the setting’s innate danger to human livelihood (see: generous interpretations of radiation poisoning), and yet the games have never truly existed in the survival genre. In Fallout 76, although players will no longer just have to worry about wandering through radioactive muck, but basic food and water needs also. Death itself isn’t so bad, either.

Gameplay: One of the big issues in transferring a single-player game to a multiplayer one is the necessary absence of a pause or turn-speed function. In previous entries, for example, the V.A.T.S. system was a critical aspect of gameplay, allowing players the time to deliberately and tactically target enemy body parts in order to maximize effectiveness. This feature, as well as other time-manipulation-dependent mechanics, will persist in Fallout 76, with the intent of players managing those strategic decision in real-time. The degree to which this will be successful, however, is not clear. Hopefully, any issues in translating these elements will be sorted out in the beta.

Roleplaying: While the series has never truly been at home in the RPG genre, classic elements of character creation and customization have always been a heavy presence. With Fallout 76, Bethesda seems intent on keeping these aspects important, yet fluid, allowing for deliberate-but-changeable traits — meaning players can mold their strengths to their preference as well as the needs of a given group set-up, similar in spirit to the specialization swap of MMOs like World of Warcraft.

Base-building: A favored feature of Fallout 4, base-building makes a limited comeback in the new title, with permanent settlements traded in for more mobile, shareable outposts. While some may mourn the loss of the well-planned settlement, moveable pack-and-go shelters seem a necessary adaptation to the unpredictable nature of online play.

Questing: Bethesda is shooting for dynamic missions and story-telling, with most quests handed out by discovered footage, terminals — even notes. Curiously, there will be no NPCS — it seems every other human you encounter in Fallout 76 will be another player. How this will jive with the RPG-heavy gameplay remains to be seen.

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Recent Developments:

Travel: If you’re excited at the prospect of roaming around West Virginia in a chugging buggy or a trusted steed, Fallout 76 may not scratch that itch. In a recent talk with Bethesda’s Todd Howard, it was made clear that mounted and vehicle travel won’t be a part of the game, though fast-travel options are still planned.

Newbie-cide and Griefing: Low-level players need not worry about being killed by experienced players fresh out of their exit from Vault 76; low-level players will be immune from PVP damage.

Nukes: Nuclear war is a big part of the Fallout lore, and the inclusion of player-generated nuclear strikes in the game itself has led to a lot of understandable debate. According to Bethesda’s Pete Hines, nukes will be tough to launch, come with a fair warning time, and are designed not to target players. Instead, nuclear explosions will change the landscape in favor of further exploration and greater potential for high-quality loot.

Mods: A beloved aspect of Bethesda’s games have been the ability for players to create their own modified game experience. With a persistent online world, the concept of game-breaking mods seems out of the question; however, Todd Howard recently assured us that mods will have a role in private servers.

DLC is DL-Free: Bethesda has expressed a commitment to substantive downloadable content— both large and small— that is free to players who have the base game. Earlier reports remain unchanged; purchases requiring actual dollars will be reserved to purely cosmetic upgrades. In the era of micro-transactions, this news is basically as good as it gets.

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What’s To Come: With only a matter of months to go, the biggest questions unresolved deal with basic questions of how it actually feels to play a multiplayer Fallout game, and how the story of the game can and will be influenced by a prequel edition.

As to the latter question, considerations as to whether or not the game will be the final entry in the franchise are simply too soon to ask— when Elder Scrolls Online came out, it wasn’t clear if we would get an Elder Scrolls VI, but that is now, thankfully, the case.

As to the former; it remains to be seen if the soul of the series is transferable to a cooperative or competitive style of play, but much of what we’ve seen lends itself to optimism. Learning from the mistakes and successes of other studios, Bethesda has demonstrated a conscious appreciation for what makes the franchise great, as well as the potential for players to share in one another’s experiences and story.

And we will be there with them, from start to finish.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Bitcoin (but were afraid to ask)

If you feel a little clueless when it comes to cryptocurrency, you’re not alone. The sudden and stratospheric rise of bitcoin and its ilk is all a little dizzying and unreal.

So you probably have some questions: Is bitcoin the emperor’s new clothes, or is it the ermine shawl of future millionaires? When a single bitcoin can be worth $10,000, then how could you possibly spend it? How much would a pint of milk cost? And can you use your bitcoin to pay for, say, a weekend getaway?

We’re here to debunk the enigma and claim some clarity on this very 21^st-century concept of money – money that, perhaps, doesn’t really exist… Except that it does.

Let’s unravel this, shall we?

Everything you ever wanted to know about bitcoin (but were afraid to ask)

What is cryptocurrency?

First, some definitions.

A cryptocurrency is an encrypted digital payment network. There are no physical notes or coins – it’s a currency that exists solely over an encrypted network of computers.

Are you still with me? Great.

Bitcoin was invented by a mysterious developer, known to the planet as Satoshi Nakamoto, which is a pseudonym. Nobody knows if it’s one person or a group. For ease, we’ll refer to Nakamoto as “they.”

Nakamoto wanted to create a currency that was not controlled by governments or corporations; which could be traded globally at no cost and without revealing one’s identity.

What is a bitcoin?

A bitcoin is a line of code with no physical tokens, a bit like your debit card. Once obtained, bitcoin are stored in a digital wallet, which is conceptually the same as a physical wallet. Bitcoin can be traded for services and goods, just like… well, money.

You may have heard the term “blockchain.” It’s an incredibly boring term, but you need to know it to properly understand bitcoin. Sorry.

What is a blockchain?

A blockchain is a ledger – a record of transactions.

Your bank keeps a ledger on you. It prevents you from “double-spending” – using the same units of currency twice. The blockchain is similar, only it is powered by a peer-to-peer network.

What is a peer-to-peer network?

You might have used a file-sharing application at some point. Remember Vuze, Napster, and Pirate Bay? If so, you’ve used a peer-to-peer (P2P) network to share files.

P2P is an online network of computers where users open up a part of their computer. With file sharing, it’s usually just a partition of your hard-drive. But in this case, users donate processing power as well as hard-drive space. And the processing power borrowed from the P2P contributes to the overall processing power of the blockchain.

Woah, right?

Colossal processing power is required to create new bitcoin, which is why they need a network of users’ computers. And generating that processing power has a huge electricity demand.

A blockchain host on this p2p network searches the web using dedicated software so that they can find and bid for new bitcoin as they’re created. They’re rewarded in bitcoin for hosting the blockchain. This is known as mining.

Isn’t P2P illegal?

P2P got a bad rap when Napster was shuttered because people were using it to illegally share copyrighted material, such as music, video, and application files. But there’s nothing illegal about P2P networks, per se, as long as the activity they operate is legal.

The P2P facilitates the blockchain, which records transactions with a date stamp, preventing double-spending, and we transfer bitcoin from our wallets to buy things. So, it’s a bit like… well, a bank.

So bitcoin is a like a bank, but it isn’t a bank?

Nakamoto described Bitcoin as a “peer-to-peer version of electronic cash,” facilitating online payments that don’t go through a financial institution.

The P2P creates, maintains, and updates the blockchain, recording payment transactions. And the blockchain records and facilitates two willing parties where they wish to trade directly.

All without regulation. All without governments and corporations. And all anonymously.

Wow. Doesn’t this sound a little illegal?

Some countries, such as India, have prohibited the trade of bitcoin. Some say that they’re banning noncentralized cryptocurrencies because the government can’t trace transactions (or, perhaps more to the point, collect taxes).

But that’s the cynic’s view. The service in itself is absolutely not illegal – as long as where the money goes when it’s transferred isn’t used for illegal activity. But you could say that for all currency.

How does this not immediately fall apart?

Your bank account is an established (and regulated) form of digital currency. You have money (which is represented by numbers in an account), which you can transfer to someone else in return for goods and services. You probably use your cash card or mobile payment system more than you use dollars and coins these days.

So you’re already pretty familiar with the concept of electronic cash. The main difference here is that rather than one organization taking care of your numbers, a collection of computers keeps the numbers safe.

It is a valid concern that anonymity could facilitate criminal activity, although this certainly doesn’t imply that users of Bitcoin have unlawful intent. So you can see why it’s controversial. But no – it’s not illegal.

I’ve heard about bitcoin wallets. What are they?

Good question. And this is where the story gets interesting.

A bitcoin wallet is a dedicated program that stores your bitcoins, in the same way that your physical wallet holds your notes and cards. The digital wallet is stored on your desktop computer or on your smartphone. Bitcoin can be stored on the web, but this raises security concerns.

Are Bitcoin wallets safe?

If you lose your bitcoin wallet, you lose your money, just like if you lost your physical wallet. Except your digital wallet was potentially worth millions of dollars.

There are stories floating around the internet of a sorry gentleman who threw out his old computer and forgot to back up his bitcoin wallet. He’s regularly spotted raking through the trash at his local dump.

Allegedly.

If you forget your PIN or password, or you lose your hard drive, or it’s hacked or stolen, the value store becomes forever inaccessible. Experts recommend storing your wallet offline where it’s less vulnerable to ransomware. Just in case.

A regular internet-enabled bank account allows you to access your money (and transfer your numbers) from any computer connected to the internet.

If it’s safer to store your digital wallet offline, that means you can only access your funds from the computer that holds the wallet.

There’s a selection of mobile apps that allow you to control your digital wallet securely.

So how do you spend your bitcoin?

Transactions are recorded onto the blockchain as a file, confirming that “Bob gave Andy 5 bitcoin on [insert date and time here].”

Lucky Andy! What did he do to gain such favor?

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The point?

The transaction is signed by Bob’s private, encrypted key and broadcast to the P2P, which validates and records the transaction.

Can’t this blockchain just fall apart?

The blockchain is publicly distributed, so it is potentially open to hacking. However, it’s heavily cryptographically protected. The data is divided into multiple small blocks.

Individually the blocks don’t mean anything to a hacker.

The total bitcoin blockchain is estimated at around 100gb in size. The entire chain is required to crack the encryption. And there could be, like, tons of blocks. Thousands. Millions. Superquadrillions.

Because the blockchain uses the computing power of thousands of computers around the world, it probably means hacking into thousands of computers, undetected, all all the same time. So it’s pretty safe.

However! There have been successful hacks, losing groups and individuals hundreds of millions of dollars. (But they might not have deserved those hundreds of millions of dollars in the first place. So don’t feel too bad.)

Hacks have broken into individual wallets, rather than “breaking” the blockchain. A wallet could be compromised, stolen, cloned, or manipulated.

What does the financial industry make of blockchain tech?

The bitcoin bubble may yet burst, but blockchain technology looks to be here to stay.

Six international banks (British-based Barclays, the Swiss-based Credit Suisse, Canada’s Imperial Bank of Commerce, HSBC, MUFG, and State Street) are using blockchain technology to develop a Utility Settlement Coin (USC) – rumored to release in 2018.

USC is a cryptocurrency, just like bitcoin, and will be used for international transactions between banks.

USC will be used for financial transfers on a vast scale and won’t be available at a consumer level – at least, not unless you’re dealing with multi-million dollar transactions.

These transactions will be controlled by banks (who are subject to regulation), and they’ll lack the anonymity of bitcoin.

The Best Bitcoin Apps

Learn about them now

How is the value of a bitcoin determined?

Supply and demand drive the fluctuating valuation, controlled by a pre-determined scarcity. (I love a bit of pre-determined scarcity, don’t you?) The system has been designed to prevent more than 21 million bitcoin from ever existing.

It sounds a lot, but when you take into account that this is a global currency, and the value fluctuates, this embedded scarcity infers value.

New bitcoin are released daily, at the rate of around 25 coins per 10 minutes. Where the heck they come from is beyond me, to be honest (and perhaps a subject for another article).

But the flow will dry eventually, it has been prophesied, inferring higher value upon existing coins. There are currently believed to be around 16 million in use.

So someone has done well.

Where can I pay with bitcoin?

Amazingly, there are over 100,000 merchants around the world who accept
bitcoin, including Microsoft, Expedia, and Newegg.

It’s rare to be able to spend bitcoin in physical stores, although the likes of Gyft – a mobile gift card app – provides a means of transferring the value of your digital currency into a form accepted by Amazon and Walmart.

Gyft gift cards are accepted in over 200 outlets in the US, such as Nike, Starbucks, and Target.

There are services, such as Shakepay, which convert your bitcoin into USD or Euros, for a fee.

What next?

When Amazon starts accepting Bitcoin (notice that that’s “when” rather than “if”), the value is set to increase even further, bringing usage into the mainstream.

It wasn’t that long ago that ordering a consumer item from the internet represented a massive risk, remember? Nobody thought that would catch on! So the future looks bright for Bitcoin. Yes, it could all collapse and devalue, but at the current rate of progress, it seems unlikely.

It might be too late to invest in in bitcoin and make millions, unless you already have hundreds of thousands of dollars. But now you know just enough about bitcoin to dip your toes in the water; don’t worry, it’s warm.

Is your phone making money for somebody else? The rise of the mobile crypto-miners

Are you at risk?

Tips to improve your Google searches and find everything you want

Do you really know how to use Google? This question may seem a little ridiculous, but we really mean it. Most users don’t really know how the best ways to use the most famous search engine in the world.

At Softonic, we want to help make your online searching more efficient, so here are seven tips for improving your Google searches and finding everything you want.

Use OR

One of the most basic commands that Google has and that you should know is “OR.” When do you use it? Well, when you’re looking for two elements, but you don’t have a preference. So, imagine that you want to find something about Final Fantasy VII and Dragon Quest, then you can put Final Fantasy VII OR Dragon Quest.

Add words

With the “OR” command, you can link two terms, but maybe you’re interested in one over the other. In this case, the “+” sign is key. Using the previous example, we would put: Final Fantasy VII +Dragon Quest. This way, when you search for Final Fantasy VII, you’ll also have entries in your results that include Dragon Quest.

Exclude words

Maybe you’re searching for a result that might show a lot of similar results, but you want to narrow it down. You can do this with a very simple command: adding the “-” sign in front of the word. For example, if we want to find something about Final Fantasy VII, but without Dragon Quest in the text, then the command would be: Final Fantasy VII -Dragon Quest.

Use an asterisk for unknown terms

Imagine that you want to search for something, but you’re not sure about it. Google has a powerful algorithm capable of guessing what you’re looking for. And it works well in 99 percent of cases. To use this autosearch, the command is the asterisk (*). Example: Final * VII. If you’re paying attention, Google will put the word replacing the asterisk in bold, in this case “Fantasy.” It’s great for when you have doubts about a specific subject and you need to better define it.

Add ellipses

You’re searching for Final Fantasy VII and don’t want to spend more than 60 dollars on the game, but you know it doesn’t go for under 30. You can search for the price by adding an ellipsis. For example: Final Fantasy VII $30 … $60. With this command, you’ll get some results pretty close to what you want (as far as price goes, of course).

Search for images

This is one of the most overlooked features on Google, which we think is a tragedy. The search has a specific section for searching for images. We’re not talking about putting in a term and clicking “Images.” No, we’re talking about a specific URL for it. This way, you can search a URL to compare images and even upload your own image to see if Google can show you the same or similar results.

Index websites

We’ll wrap up this list with a feature that’s a little more professional, since it’s designed for those with websites. If you want to know what URLs from your website Google has indexed, the command is as easy as “site:www.softonic.com.” With this combination, Google will give you all the results related to your website.

Related Articles:

Top 10 things you should never Google

15 funny Easter eggs from Google

How to delete Google search results

Give your Mac the power to do everything

These days there are no limits. If you have a Mac, and the right software, you have a tool that can help you do everything better than you were doing before. The only obstacle to everything is cost. Apps cost money and if you want the apps to help you do your job better than you were doing before you’re going to have to pay for all of them.

All-in

Setapp

From: Setapp

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The power of everything

Paying individually for apps can quickly add up, but new subscription-based service Setapp aims to offer Mac users the power of everything for a small monthly fee. Rather than choosing which apps to buy or paying through the nose for all of them Setapp gives users access to 112 apps with a combined value of over $3,000. If that isn’t enough, Setapp is adding more apps all the time. On top of the value offered by unlimited access to so many different apps offered by over 95 independent developers, Setapp also offers a 10% discount for annual subscriptions and a massive 50% discount for subscribers to the educational plan.

Subscription-based software isn’t new. Microsoft Office 365 and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite are two of the highest profile examples of subscription-based software, but with them, your monthly fee only gets you access to a limited number of programs. Setapp allows you to access applications across a wide range of categories including Mac maintenance, productivity, creativity, personal finance, and writing and blogging.

No matter what task you need to take care of, Setapp will have an app that will help you get it done. These are not second-rate apps either, but rather, Setapp apps are popular, well reviewed, and in many cases expensive premium apps. Ulysses is one of if not the best writing apps that offers distraction-free word processing and easily trackable writing goals, and content organization tools. CleanMyMac, a Mac cleaning and maintenance app, is another popular tool included in Setapp subscriptions, as are apps like Timing, which will help you monitor your Mac activity and optimize your schedule, and Capto, which makes it easy to make video and screenshots. With over 100 apps included we’d be here all day if we went through them all but you can check out all available Setapp apps here.

Setapp Try Setapp for free

Setapp offers Soptify-like subscription but to over 100 premium Mac apps.

It is also worth noting that Setapp is a developer-friendly platform. That means you don’t just get access to established apps that can take care of any task you might have. Setapp also provides a platform for new up-and-coming developers to showcase their latest software to the hundreds of thousands of users trying Setapp. This ensures that Setapp subscribers have access to the latest innovative apps coming to Mac, but it also provides smaller and independent developers a way to earn money for their work

Already proving popular

Setapp’s Spotify-like subscription model for Mac apps is already proving popular. Setapp already has over 16,000 paying subscribers who enjoy access to the whole catalog of Setapp Mac apps.

If you think you’d like to give Setapp a try and access the catalog of over 100 Mac apps, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial now. Give it a try and become better at everything.

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From: Setapp

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How to get rid of EVERYTHING Google knows about you in 7 steps (2017 version)

Google knows more about you than you think and you’re not aware of it. It knows what you search for, your interests (which it then gives to advertisers), what places you visit in the real world…

Think I’m exaggerating? Let’s make a bet: check out these seven links, which will help you find out what Google is keeping on you. If your mind isn’t blown or you decide not to remove at least some of your info, then I’ll tip my invisible hat to you.

Warning 1: to visit all these links, you should be logged into your Google account.

Warning 2: this article was originally published on May 17, 2016. I updated it on March 24, 2017 when I realized some services had changed. Therefore, some instructions had become obsolete.

1. This is the first info you MUST remove

Google stores every search you ever make. All of them. Not one is left out. The page where your activity is reported in Google is called “My Activity.” It’s a very, very hidden section. Here you’ve got the link.

As you can see, this page reports all the content you’ve visited thanks to Google. You’ve got three options for deleting what you don’t care about. The first option is using the search. This is perfect if you’re worried that Google knows you’ve visited a certain page.

The second option is the most obvious one. If you only want to delete searches from one day, it’s as easy as going to “Today” and then “Delete” (it will appear above).

When you click “Delete,” a warning will appear, something like “No, don’t do it! You don’t want to delete this information.” In reality, it’s exactly the opposite: Google doesn’t want you to delete this information. Nothing will happen to you. You’re not going to crash the internet, nor will your Google account be deleted.

Want to delete alllll your searches since the beginning of time? Then you’ll want the third option. Click on “Delete by topic or product” on the list on the left. Click on “Delete by date” and select “All time.” If you’re sure about this option, click on “Delete.”

Ta-dah! Done!

But there’s still another type of search remaining: Youtube.

2. Delete all your Youtube activity

Google also keeps a record of all your Youtube searches. Here’s the link to access it. The option to delete your search history stands out.

Finally, don’t forget to visit this link to delete the record of all videos you’ve watched on Youtube.

3. How to delete everything advertisers have on you

Did you know you can control the ads that appear when you use Google or its products? Again, the link is super hidden: click here to access the control panel for Google ads.

As you can see, Google knows that I like manga and anime, video games and classical music… though I don’t know where my supposed interest in moving comes from.

If you want Google to stop sending your info to advertisers, simply disable the option “Ads Personalization” to “No.”

Again, Google will notify you that you don’t want to do this because then you’ll stop seeing ads related to your interests. Don’t listen: you know what you want, not Google or even me. Make the decision that best suits you.

4. Google knows where you’ve been

If you use an Android device, Google keeps a record of the places you’ve visited with your device through a feature called Routes. You can access it at this link.

If you want to delete the places you’ve been to, it’s as easy as clicking on the trash icon. Again, a warning will appear asking whether you’re sure of your decision or not.

5. These apps are monitoring you

The Activity page on Google also offers a list of all the apps that access all or some of your data. Want to know who is “monitoring” you, to what extent and how to adjust what they know about you? Here you’ve got the link.

6. Want to find out everything Google keeps on you?

This exercise will teach you to be aware of all private info that you’re giving Google without realizing it. At this link, Google lets you explore all data you’ve uploaded to their services: favorites, emails, contacts, Google Drive files…

First you’ll select the service you want to include in this massive data export:

And then the type of file output.

I haven’t tried this feature myself but the Business Insider website did an experiment and one of their editors discovered that, for example, Google saved a photo taken of his puppy in 2013:

This info isn’t available to just anybody, so turn off your paranoia (though it’s normal to feel uneasy, I felt the same way). This tool is good for recovering everything Google and its products are keeping on you and, as I’ve said before, for helping you become more aware.

7. Create your monthly privacy report

You can set up your Google account so that every month you get an email report about all the info that you’re storing on its services. For example, how many contacts are saved on your Gmail or how many videos you’ve uploaded to Youtube. Go to this link.

You only have to enable the first and only option that appears above the list and Google will send you a reminder every month. You’ll know everything you’re storing on Google and act accordingly.

Extra: Link cheat sheet

Since I’ve offered several useful links, here’s the list so you never forget to visit them from time to time.

Your Google search history

Your Youtube search history

All the videos you’ve watched on Youtube

What advertisers know about you

The history of places you’ve visited in the mysterious real world

Apps monitoring you

Create a massive export of your Google data

Google’s monthly privacy report

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How to have infinite Gmail addresses with only… by softonic-en

Sources used: ABC, Cloud Fender, Business Insider

This Extension lets you Disconnect from Everything Happening on Twitter (that you don’t want to know about)

It’s mid-August and insufferably hot. What better way to deal with the heat than to disconnect from everything around you and recharge your batteries before September starts? If you’re one of those people who can’t spend even a half hour without looking at your phone and seeing notifications from your social networks, we’ve got the perfect tool to help you forget about Twitter.

It’s ok if you want to disconnect, but but you don’t want to neglect your Twitter profile or miss out on all the news. For this, you’ve got Mute. This extension lets you mute any words currently trending on the social network.

Unlike the official Mute feature on Twitter, Mute shows you the 100 most used words on Twitter, so you can mute everything going viral and anything the world is talking about right now. The ranking is based on Twitter user voting.

Enabling it is as easy as going to Mute and typing in your Twitter account. There, you’ll see a list of the most used words on Twitter at the time (not hashtags, just words). From there, you decide if you want to know about it, or not. Select the words that you want to block and all the tweets that have that keyword or come from that user will be automatically muted. Brilliant, right?

Now you can have a mojito on the beach without worrying about what the president has said, who won the last football match, or encountering the same arguments as always. Get ready to enjoy your break!