Dungeons & Dragons PC Games Sale: Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, And More

Following news that Baldur’s Gate 3 will launch in early access this August, a massive Dungeons & Dragons PC games sale is happening right now on Steam and GOG. Both sales feature steep discounts on classic computer role-playing games from the world of D&D, from Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 to Icewind Dale, Neverwinter Knights, and more.

If you want to go back to where Baldur’s Gate began before the third game releases, the enhanced versions of both Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II are on sale for $10 each, down from their usual $20. These both include the original stories along with an added expansion, new adventures, new characters, native support for high-resolution widescreen displays, and hundreds of bug fixes and other improvements. Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear is also on sale for $10–this 2016 expansion added the first original content to the series in over 15 years and includes more than 25 hours of gameplay.

You can also grab Icewind Dale for $10–this adventure takes place in Wizards of the Coast’s Forgotten Realms, and the enhanced version adds a ton of new features including new spells and items, cross-platform multiplayer, and more. Its sequel, Icewind Dale 2 Complete edition, is available at GOG for just $5. The D&D sale also includes great deals on Neverwinter Nights’ enhanced edition ($10), Planescape Torment’s enhanced edition ($10), and the digital board game Lords of Waterdeep ($3.49).

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Pokemon Home Update Finally Resolves A Frustrating Issue

Following its scheduled downtime, a new update for Pokemon Home is now live on mobile and Nintendo Switch. While the update primarily makes the service compatible with the new Pokemon introduced in Sword and Shield‘s first expansion, The Isle of Armor, it also resolves a persistent issue that has plagued the Global Trade System feature for years.

According to the patch notes for the 1.2.0 update, players can no longer set impossible conditions in the GTS. This has been a recurring problem since the feature was first introduced and one of our biggest complaints about Pokemon Home. Prior to the update, players could, for example, put a Pokemon up for trade and request a Cinderace that’s between levels 1-10 in return, despite the fact that Cinderace is a fully evolved Pokemon and cannot be that level.

Longtime Pokemon players will know that this has been an ongoing issue with the GTS, but it seemed particularly prevalent on Pokemon Home. Many players would deliberately set impossible trade conditions like this to troll other users or show off their own Pokemon without fear of it being traded off, but this update has thankfully made that no longer possible.

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Sea Of Thieves Gets Ghost Ships In New Content Update

Sea of Thieves newest monthly update, Haunted Shores, is now live. In a post on Xbox Wire, developer Rare detailed the update, including the new fleet of spooky enemies.

Ghost ships are a new enemy type, rising up from the depths of the sea. These high-powered fleets have less health than other ship types but make up for it by outnumbering living pirates. Ghost ships will remain in the game beyond this month’s event.

The Ghost ships are under the command of Captain Flameheart, who is at the center of Sea of Thieves’ new event. His looming skull will appear over islands, similar to the war clouds appearing over Skeleton forts or Skeleton ship battles. Flameheart’s Skull signifies that his ship–the Burning Blade–and a fleet of Ghost ships, are around an island.

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No, Robert Pattinson Really IS Working Out to Play The Batman

Robert Pattinson said in a recent GQ interview that he was “just barely doing anything” when it comes to his fitness regimen to play The Batman, but it turns out that’s not really the case.

In an interview with Healthy For Men magazine (via Batman-News), Pattinson revealed what he’s doing to get into shape as Batman.

Robert Pattinson’s Batman diet and workout plan includes:

  • Cut down on alcohol, processed meats, and fried foods.
  • Boxing and “military-style sandbag routines on the beach.”
  • Run 5-10km (3-6 miles) three to four times per week.
  • For abs, he begins with a regular five-minute cardio workout.
  • Followed by bicycle crunches, dumbbell side bends, double crunches, and the Superman exercise, with three sets of 25 reps per move.

“You look at the true warriors of the superhero genre — Hemsworth, The Rock, Downey Jr., Evans — and wonder if you’re putting yourself in the wrong place,” Pattinson told Healthy For Men. He added that he spoke to a few of those aforementioned actors about nervousness in taking on such a physically challenging role as that of a superhero.

“It’s all about pushing boundaries and building up to a point where you know you can do justice to the physicality required. And past that, so much of it is letting the special effects and on-screen exchanges produce the real magic. Overall, it’s just very exciting.”

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So why did Pattinson say what he did in that prior GQ interview? It turns out he has a reputation for trolling interviewers and even messing with his directors in a playful way. As The Guardian recently recalled:

“A commitment to chaos is pretty much Pattinson’s MO, according to the directors he’s worked with. In the profile Robert Eggers describes him as “Andy Kaufman-esque in real life. Rob’s so beyond dry that it’s, like, meta. You’re like, ‘Is that funny?’ Like, ‘I have no idea what’s going on.’ In the piece, Pattinson also claims he can’t remember the plot of Tenet, an upcoming movie he just starred in directed by Christopher Nolan. So (the interviewer) calls Nolan to see if he’s being played. The response: ‘The interesting thing with Rob is, he’s slightly f***ing with you.'”

The Batman production has been on hiatus since mid-March due to the pandemic lockdown, but filming in the UK hopes to restart soon. Jurassic World: Dominion is the first Hollywood film to resume production in the UK, with shooting set to begin the second week of July.

Bat-fans should expect to see the first footage from The Batman quite soon. Warner Bros. revealed this week that their July 31 release of Tenet will include previews for upcoming Warners films, which could very well include The Batman since Pattinson stars in both films. Warners also announced their Comic-Con-style virtual event DC FanDome, which takes place August 22, will includes panels and footage from a number of upcoming DC movies, including The Batman.

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Straight To Digital Release “Nothing But A Strength,” Says New Blumhouse Horror Movie Director

David Koepp has had a storied and varied career in Hollywood so far. As a screenwriter, he was responsible for the original Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, and Spider-Man films. In addition to his writing and other credits, he’s directed films including 2004’s Secret Window, 2015’s Mortdecai, and now, the new Blumhouse and Universal horror movie You Should Have Left. And Koepp thinks skipping theaters to go straight to digital video-on-demand platforms is a good thing for the movie industry.

“I see it as nothing but a strength, and I think Universal has been great with their ability to make movie premieres feel kind of exciting. I’ve watched every one of theirs that have come out,” Koepp told GameSpot during an interview to promote You Should Have Left. “Last weekend King of Staten Island and Da Five Bloods both came out on Friday, and it felt like a Friday, you know? It felt like, ‘Oh, new movies, I’m gonna watch them this weekend, and then I want to talk to people about them, because that’s what we do.’ So, I think it’s great.”

Here in the age of COVID-19, movie theaters remain closed and many films’ release dates are being continuously pushed back. Christopher Nolan’s next big blockbuster, Tenet, is the most recent victim, as Warner Bros. optimistically delayed it until July 31. The studio and some fans might argue that Tenet is the type of movie that should be viewed on the biggest screen and with the loudest speakers possible, but that’s not the case for every film, and more and more distributors are choosing to skip theaters and go straight to digital platforms (much to theater chains’ chagrin.)

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Screen Your Visitors Remotely With The Best Video Doorbells

The best video doorbells are practically synonymous with convenience. These smart home devices are not just excellent security tools, so you can catch package thieves or vandals in the act. They’re also perfect for seeing who’s at your door without having to physically be there yourself – whether you’re away from home, trying to avoid Jehovah’s witnesses, or you just can’t be bothered to get up from the couch.

In addition, video doorbells are a perfect complement to that smart lock you’ve just installed. Alongside a set of wireless security cameras, they make an ideal home security system that’s easy on the pocket and free from exorbitant monthly service fees. Take a look at our top picks for the best video doorbells.

TL;DR – These are the Best Video Doorbells:

1. Google Nest Hello

Best video doorbells

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Google’s Nest Hello is the best video doorbell hands down, complete with all the bells and whistles you could ever want – pun intended. This nifty little device already has all the makings of a great video doorbell, including 24/7 live streaming and video recording, a video format that captures your visitors from head to toe, HDR capability, two-way audio, night vision, an IPx4 rated weather resistance, and of course, alerts and notifications.

However, it beefs up its feature set with things like facial recognition so you’ll know if a familiar face is coming. Package tracking, meanwhile,  notifies you immediately if a package has been removed. You can even leave a pre-recorded messages for when you’re not home, and noise and echo cancellation ensures any audio captured in your security recordings is loud and clear. You’ll need a Nest Aware subscription to get some of the more advanced features like intelligent alerts and timelapse, but it starts at $5 a month, which is less than the cheapest Netflix plan.

Our only gripe here is that its installation is best left to professionals, as you’ll need a wired doorbell, a compatible chime and the right transformer. However, for all the features it brings to the table, the Nest Hello is well worth the extra $99 installation service fee.

2. eufy Video Doorbell

Best money-saving video doorbell

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For budget-minded consumers who want to save money on both their device and monthly subscription, eufy’s video doorbell has our vote. Not only is this among the cheapest options right now, but it also forgoes any type of monthly subscription for storage and additional features, saving you money in the long run.

Instead, it utilizes local storage. Though don’t take “local storage” to mean that your videos are vulnerable to theft. They’re stored in a military-grade chip that boasts AES 256-Bit data encryption to keep that footage from prying eyes.

And, for much less than Nest Hello, eufy Video Doorbell boasts facial recognition, a 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR capability, night vision, pre-recorded responses, 2-way audio, and instant alerts when someone is approaching, just like its more expensive rival. Understandably, it isn’t as feature-rich – it doesn’t record 24/7 or offer package tracking, and it only has a 150-degree field of view.

However, it has a few advantages over the competition including impressively high resolution video, camera distortion correction so you’re not getting those ghastly fisheye footages, and a wider operating temperature range of -4 to 122F.

3. Arlo Video Doorbell

Best in unique features

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The Arlo Video Doorbell has a few tricks up its sleeves that you won’t find in other video doorbells on the market. While it has all the trimmings that make for an excellent video doorbell, including intelligent motion detection alerts, 2-way audio, pre-recorded messages, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, it also boasts a few features that make it unique.

Among those features is its video call function. You can set this device to call your mobile phone directly if someone presses the doorbell. That way, you won’t just know when someone’s at your door, you’ll also be able to interact with them directly without that extra step of going through the app.

Other features that set it apart are its 180-degree field of view, 1:1 video aspect ratio, and that built-in siren that you can either set to go off automatically or trigger remotely in case of suspicious activity. What’s more is you also have the option to save your videos directly to your Arlo base-station or Smarthub, so you can keep your video footage locally.

4. Ring Video Doorbell 3

Best battery-powered doorbell

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Whether hardwired or battery-powered, Ring Video Doorbell 3’s versatility makes it ideal for both homeowners and apartment renters. It’s definitely a favorite among folks who either do not have existing doorbell wires or cannot make too many big changes to the unit they are renting. In fact, its battery-powered model takes only a few minutes to install, and you won’t be needing the help of an electrician to do it.

It’s also popular among consumers who want extensive smart home integration. That’s because this video doorbell is easier to pair with existing locks, smart lights, and home alarms than many of its rivals.

Unfortunately, its video resolution isn’t as high as the top three contenders on this list. However, it’s just as reliable in terms of motion detection, alarms and notifications, and two-way audio, which boasts noise cancellation. And, it’s cloud storage service is pretty affordable, starting at $3 a month. Besides, 1080p resolution is pretty standard these days, so it’s not like you’re getting pixelated footage and images.

5. Ring Peephole Cam

Best for basic features

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If you like the Ring Video Doorbell 3’s battery-powered feature, but you just don’t have the funds to spend $200 on a video doorbell, the Ring Peephole Cam might just be the perfect budget alternative. You’ll still be paying a little over $100, but you’re also saving $70, which could go into paying for that Ring Protect subscription for almost 2 years.

There are, of course, things that the Ring Video Doorbell 3 can do that the Ring Peephole Cam can’t. This cheaper alternative has a narrower field of view, for example, and it doesn’t give you the option to connect to your existing doorbell wires. However, it offers the same fundamentally important features like two-way audio, live viewing, night vision, and motion detection. It’s also compatible with many smart locks on the market.

Plus, it has a couple of unique tricks. It has a built-in impact sensor that notifies you when someone’s knocking at your door, for one. And, it takes care of that aging, unflattering peephole you’d rather not display, but still want to utilize.

6. Remo+ RemoBell S 6

Best budget video doorbell

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You can spend a couple of hundreds of dollars on a pricier video doorbell, or you can spend half that amount for practically the same basic features. That’s what Remo+ RemoBell S 6 offers budget-minded consumers. Not only is the video doorbell cheap, but it also comes with a free 3-day rolling cloud storage, so you don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription if you don’t want to.

As for its features, it has all the necessary trimmings: two-way audio, night vision, motion detection alerts, and an operating temperature range of -4 to 122ºF. It even offers that live on-demand streaming feature that some of the more expensive video doorbells make you pay for. And, while many of its rivals only give you a 160-degree viewing angle, this one offers a 180-degree field of view.

The only thing is that it does have that fisheye distortion happening, but that’s hardly a deal-breaker, especially for that price tag.

7. Amcrest Video Doorbell Camera Pro

Best budget with local storage

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The Amcrest Video Doorbell Camera Pro may be the least popular and one of the cheapest products on our list, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it seriously. Sure, it has its share of limitations: namely, the 1080p resolution, the 140-degree field of view, and the 2.4GHz only support.

However, it also has a few things going for it. We certainly appreciate the MicroSD local storage, for one. You can put in a MicroSD card with up to 128GB storage space, instead of having to commit to a monthly subscription. And, its operating temperature range of -22 to 122°F certainly comes in handy to those folks living in places with the coldest winters.

Factor in its up to 16 feet of night vision and motion detection, 2-way audio, and motion detection alerts, and you’ve got yourself a great value. The catch? To get the live streaming function, you’d have to get the Amcrest Smart Home Cloud app and subscribe. The good news? You get your first year free with your purchase. Not too bad a deal.

What to Look for in the Best Video Doorbells

Most video doorbells on the market offer basic features. They all have 2-way audio so you can communicate with whoever’s at the door even if you’re not home. These doorbell cameras are capable of recording videos, naturally, and at resolutions of 1080p and up. They have night vision, though some are better at it than others. And, they all offer compatibility with one or more of the most popular smart home systems and virtual assistants right now.

However, they do differ in quite a few ways that matter a lot to consumers. Here are the some of the main things you must consider when choosing the best video doorbell:

Installation and power

When it comes to installation, not all video doorbells are created equal. Some require a bit of electrical knowledge and experience similar to the best home security cameras, while wireless doorbells can be installed in minutes by anyone capable of inserting a battery.

It really boils down to the type of power source the video doorbell requires. Quite a few of them actually need doorbell wiring to work, although there are others that only rely on rechargeable batteries, making them perfect for many apartment renters. One or two have adapters so you can make them work even if you don’t have existing doorbell wiring at home.

Before you click that buy button, find out what kind of power source your choice needs and whether or not it’s something you can accommodate.

Storage and subscription

Cloud storage solutions are all the rage these days, which makes sense as they’re generally more secure. However, most video doorbells do not offer their cloud storage for free. Subscriptions typically start at $3 per month and can go all the way up to $30 a month.

Granted, if you’re getting the basic plan, you might be paying less than your Netflix or Disney+ subscription. And, you’re also getting additional features like live streaming, timelapse recording, and intelligent alerts.

However, that monthly subscription can still add up, which isn’t good if you’ve got limited funds. Luckily, there are video doorbells out there that come with free, albeit limited, subscription, or better yet, a MicroSD card compartment.

Resolution

There are still some video doorbells out there with only 720p resolution. That’s hardly a surprise; many high-end ultrabook laptops only have 720p webcams. However, when it comes to your home and family’s security, the higher the resolution, the better. You wouldn’t want your home invaded by an intruder, and then realize that the only chance you have of finding the perpetrator is an extremely grainy, low resolution video.

These days, 1080p is standard and good enough. If you want something better, however, there are a few that offer 1,536 x 1,536 and 1,600 x 1,200 resolution.

Field of View

The field of view or viewing angle is another thing that differs from video doorbell to video doorbell. And, unlike camera lenses, it doesn’t follow that the more expensive ones typically offer the widest angles. A lot of video doorbells boast a 160-degree viewing angle, while there are some that give you a whopping 180 degrees of viewing pleasure. A handful still only have around 140 degrees.

Find out what’s best for your home or apartment before deciding. If you have a broader area to cover, then the widest field of view is better for you. However, if you only need to cover a smaller area – like if you’re in the corner apartment, for example – then a 140- or 150-degree video doorbell should suffice.

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Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.

Upcoming Lego Star Wars Kit Includes An Itty Bitty Baby Yoda

The Mandalorian Season 2 is expected to premiere this October on Disney+, which means we’re only months away from reuniting with the adorable Baby Yoda. If you’re looking forward to Season 2 of the breakout Disney+ hit, you may be interested in the upcoming Lego kit featuring the Razor’s Crest. Originally revealed during Toy Fair earlier this year, the Razor Crest has gone in and out of stock ever since. Now, it’s available to pre-order at both Amazon and the Lego Store for $130.

Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian Razor Crest
Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian Razor Crest

Fans of the show will instantly recognize the Razor Crest as Mando’s trusty ship. This 1,023-piece kit comes in at 5.5 x 15 x 11 inches when completed, and the ship has some neat interactive components. It’s fitted with a pair of spring-loaded shooters and hatches that open to the cockpit and cargo hold.

Continue Reading at GameSpot