Editorials
A functional warp drive is apparently bending space and time in an Omaha garage
Star Trek fans should (cautiously) rejoice because there’s a man out there who plans to bend space and time straight from his garage in Omaha. The man is called David Pares and although he might be a bit of a dreamer, he’s also a scientist and a professor at the University of Nebraska. Pares believes that bending spacetime is not only possible, but that it already occurs naturally in infamous places such as the Bermuda Triangle and wants to harness that knowledge in order to construct a warp drive.
Trekkies are not the only people who dream about travelling from one star to the next inside a ship that’s propelled by a real warp drive. Many scientists (including some from NASA) have also been seriously thinking about this possibility and actually concluded that it might be the only way to efficiently achieve interstellar space travel. As you already know, the universe is an unfathomably huge place, with the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, located at about 4.24 light-years away from our Sun. Travelling to Proxima Centauri would theoretically take about 4.24 years if a ship would somehow be able to travel at the speed of light or faster. Unfortunately, Einstein’s theory of relativity indicates that such a thing is not possible, at least not by conventional means.
A warp drive would indeed allow for faster-than-light travel by contracting spacetime in front of the ship and expanding it at the back which could result in travelling impossibly huge distances in the blink of an eye. But as mentioned, FTL travel should theoretically be impossible for a number of reasons. However, the workaround to some of the problems comes in the form of a “warp bubble”, a safe zone of sorts in which the ship itself is protected by the surrounding distortion of spacetime and stays within the universal speed limit proposed by Einstein, while also achieving FTL travel thanks to the warp drive. The warp bubble is key here as otherwise the ship would be disintegrated while travelling at such high velocity and there’s actually no certainty that it won’t suffer this fate even with the bubble in place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0Nx6Dk8DE
But how does one go around creating a warp bubble anyway? Well, you would definitely need a huge amount of energy to power the warp drive and create the warp bubble, that much is for certain. This energy source would likely have to be extremely unconventional and is the main problem that scientists are struggling with at the moment. Some suggest that antimatter should do the trick, although professor Pares claims that his specialized equipment can achieve the desired effect with just 100 watts of power. The way he’s approaching the problem is a bit unorthodox, but might actually yield some sort of results if he gets the necessary funding to take his idea to the next level. Instead of creating the warp drive from scratch like others are attempting, Pares is harnessing the power of nature by generating an electric field which replicates a thunderstorm at a very small scale and using it as the energy source.
The professor was inspired to conduct his research by an incident that occurred in 1970 in which a pilot who was flying above the Bermuda Triangle entered into “a sucker hole in a large and powerful thunderstorm” and upon leaving it found that he had traveled about 100 miles in just 30 minutes instead of the usual time of one hour and 20 minutes. The pilot – named Bruce Gernon – along with his plane reportedly experienced something that’s commonly known as linear displacement or space warp, however, many would likely consider it more like time travel. The research is based on the idea that natural phenomenon can in fact lead to the distortion of the very fabric of space and time, all of which is actually true, although most would agree that such phenomenon are usually caused by black holes rather than thunderstorms. Still, the idea does seem to have some merit behind it so maybe it shouldn’t be just outright dismissed. That said, many things are theoretically possible and building an actual craft powered by a functional warp drive is a different matter altogether.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX49xam2Wts
The aforementioned event, if true, would indicate that a warp bubble is indeed created when linear displacement takes place and, more importantly, that the bubble does a good job at protecting the object inside since the pilot apparently lived to tell the tale. It’s worth mentioning that this supposed event actually contradicts the scientific community’s consensus which says that the warp bubble is probably not completely impervious and that high-energy particles are likely to make their way inside it while travelling through space. Even if the warp drive would work as intended, upon arrival all these particles would release large amounts of energy that will cause serious damage to anything in the area.
Travelling to the nearest star using a warp drive would result in a downright cataclysmic burst of energy as soon the the spacecraft arrives due to the plethora of particles that were picked up along the way. Plus, the spacecraft might vaporize anything that crosses its path as it travels through space. A linear displacement of only 100 miles like described by the pilot would certainly cause a far less spectacular effect, but even so, the effect would still have to be pretty noticeable. You know how planes cause sonic booms when travelling faster than the speed of sound? Imagine what something travelling at (or faster than) the speed of light could do.
David Pares and team
Despite all these issues, Pares is confident that he’s on the right track with his research and claims that he can provide further proof for his claims by this summer. The professor is working on a small 7-foot aircraft prototype that can achieve liftoff by using the technology he’s currently working on. There won’t be a warp drive like we see in Star Trek just yet and the prototype called Blue Bird II is certainly no Enterprise starship, but perhaps this experiment will be a step in the right director. Thus far, his research hasn’t inspired much confidence in neither the scientific community nor the general public given that his Indiegogo campaign that was meant to fund the project failed badly. However, Pares is not about to give up any time soon in spite of all the criticism and I, for one, applaud his commitment, even though his methods sound just a bit “out there” at the moment.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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