![]() ![]() You can just take all of that and multiply it by 10. They are one of the few speakers that are dynamic enough for orchestral or big band music and refined enough for a small jazz quartet or a string trio.? Most important these speakers let you emotionally into the pace and rhythm of the music. The top end is just beautiful like real music is. The bass is quick and dynamic and so deep it will blow your mind from such mundane looking speakers. Vocals and instruments are just there with all there dynamics and with unbelievable tonal accurateness. They have the clearest, quickest, and most beautiful midrange I have ever heard. After breaking in and with my Kern modified Sony 777 SACD or with one of Audio Notes new transformer coupled dacs or with records they sound more like my Quad 57s than any other speaker I have ever owned at any price. If positioned correctly and mounted right they load a room better than a Rel subwoofer. How do they sound? In reviewing the $3000 AN-E Ls I said they sounded ?More like live music than any speaker I have ever heard. It stirs my emotions and it is easy on the ears. Oh but that sound that comes out of a well broken in well set up pair of these is beyond my words. WARNING: THEY SOUND BAD RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, better after 100 hours, good after 200 and they keep getting better for weeks. They aren?t especially heavy, and the drivers look quite ordinary. They are so traditional, a two way ported box. ![]() They look mundane, even in the beautiful finishes Peter offers. Nothing prepares you for the sound of these speakers. Sony 777es SACD player modified by Kern with Super clock II and power supply, blackgate caps and vashay resistors.Īll cable and power cords Audience AU 24 and one of JC Audio?s ISO on each piece of equipment. WAVAC MD 300B SET Amp 10 Watts per channel, transformer coupled, WE tubes use in both amps. If you have been listening to large panels or horns then you are already use to this and know it is more lifelike then the small precise pinpoint imaging that I use to love so much before I was set free to let the music with all it?s emotions come into my home almost like it does in person.Īudio Note Conqueror SET Amp 8 Watts per channel or the Now I can?t imagine why anyone would want speakers sticking out there like that when it?s not necessary for a lifelike soundstage. The truth is the music is in the same place in my room the speakers just moved. If you like me have been listening to speakers several feet out into the room at first this is a hard change but it?s psychological. They sound great out in the room, (and even the rep uses then that way) but to get the full glory from them they need to be in the corners. As Peter recommends the speakers were place in the corners about 3 inches from the rear wall. The stand elevated the speaker to the point where my ears were parallel to the tweeter. Between the speaker and the stand you place blue tack, it works amazingly well. The speakers were set on two 10-inch high, lead and sand filled steel speaker stands that AN supplies for an additional $300. My pair has the optional piano black finish. They are 94.5dB efficient with Audio Note AN-SPx silver speaker cable, Audio Note solid silver wired inductors with Black Gate capacitors and Audio Note copper foil adjusters in an all round veneered cabinet with MDF wrap and Russian birch plywood front and back. The AN-E SEs are a 2-way rear ported enclosure with 1" tweeter and a 8" bass driver. You?ve got to move up above the bottom of the line, I settled on the pair of AN-E SEs that cost $8400 and I?m happier then I have been in 30 years of audio. The speakers I had settle on were the Gershman Avant Gaurds and then it happened I heard a pair of the Audio Note Speakers. Then I tried several model of Klipsch, they had the magic I missed but they weren?t coherent with the bass drivers and could be harsh at times. I really liked the CLSs but never could convince myself to buy a pair. They weren?t quads, but my biggest disappointment was that neither were the 63s my cup of tea. I tried Spenders, Rogers, Clestions, Spicas, and some others that I don?t remember. Then I got married and we moved and there was no place for the monoliths so I begin down the line of mini monitors. I purchased a second pair and stacked them. So for a few years I tried to fine something better that would also give me volume and bass. Thirty-one years of trying to fine a satisfying speaker The first speakers I owned were stacked Advents then I heard a pair of quad 57s and I had to have them. ![]()
0 Comments
![]() The Mac version is a hefty install though, consuming over 50MB of disk space. The Mac version compares well to the Windows version, with support for Yahoo! Voice as well. It was designed from the ground up for the Mac, leveraging the common user interface elements of OS X. Yahoo! Messenger for Mac is an exception. Often when a program begins life as a Windows app, the Mac version is more of an afterthought. View Deal YakYak YakYak (Image credit: YakYak) YakYak is a big hit with Mac users that only want a Google Hangouts client. ![]() Try Franz for free and add a subscription if you must add more than three services. It offers both basic chat services (text chat, emoticons, avatars), advanced features (file transfer, video and voice chat) and some unique capabilities (IMVironments). You can download it from the official website. For the installation of yahoomessenger3.0.2build235554. Yahoo! Messenger is free to download, supported by advertisements in the contact list and chat windows. Messenger for Mac from server 2 If you have problems getting it (interruptions, breaks, slow internet connection) see the How to Download Manual made by SoftSpecialist or use a Free Manager. Install the software on your computer, following specific directions for your operating system (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac or Unix). Since then, Yahoo! Messenger has grown to include versions for Mac, Unix, web-based IM and–most recently–a web-based communicator called Pingbox. Yahoo! Messenger was initially released for Windows in 1998 as Yahoo Pager. It's well-integrated with the myriad of Yahoo services out there, so if you've ever signed up for Yahoo! Mail or My Yahoo!, you can use the same login and password for Yahoo! Messenger (and vice-versa). ![]() Yahoo Messenger for Mac includes some interesting news, such as a tabbed chatting system very similar to the one we use. Yahoo! Messenger is one of the most popular instant messengers. Yahoo Messenger for Mac will let you chat with your Yahoo contacts, as well as MSN Messenger contacts, from the same application. ![]() ![]() Just like in almost every other open-world game, you will need to unlock the Fast Travel locations before you can utilize them. How To Unlock The Saints Row Fast Travel Locations? There are 7 Fast Travel locations in Saints Row, and we will tell you how to unlock each and every single one of them. No matter how good the game is, sometimes you just want to skip all the traveling, and that’s why the Fast Travel system is almost necessary for open-world games. Some players get bored just going from point A to point B, and they can just choose to jump from one location to the other by just opening up their map and selecting the area. This is where the fast travel system comes in.įurthermore, the Fast Travel system in almost every game serves the same purpose. These are also scattered all over the map, and getting to them can be quite frustrating at times. There are also plenty of activities that you will need to complete in order to gain XP and Money. These mini-games are scattered all over the map, and getting to some of them can take time. Many of the mini-games that fans loved from the originals have returned, while some have been left out. There is a lot to do in the open world of Saints Row. Where Are Saints Row Fast Travel Locations? Promotional image for the game showing all the main characters How To Unlock The Saints Row Fast Travel Locations?.Where Are Saints Row Fast Travel Locations?.Take the snap of the lone wolf landmark, and you are good to go. The last fast-travel location, Lone Wolf, is found in the form of a wolf statue in the Badlands South intersection.Cactus Bill is the Sixth location found in the Lakeshore south of the map, present in the form of a Cactus statue.Take a photo of it to unlock this location. The fifth Location, Twin Coyote, is located in the Rojas Desert North area near the Twin Coyote Arcade. ![]() Take a snap of the sign at the entrance of the area. El Dorado is the fourth location that is found in the region of El Dorado.The third location, Panther Rock, is a rock shaped like a panther that can be found in the center of West Providence.Take a snap of the statue to unlock this location. Bear Lake is the second fast-travel location found in the form of a bear statue in the lake.The first location, The Apartment, also known as The Church can be obtained by completing the mission ‘Take Me To Church ’.The Fast Travel in Saints Row makes it a lot easier for people to easily travel across the map. ![]() ![]() Many biotic and abiotic constrains limit global palm yield, resulting in a 30% loss (Sujithra et al. India is the world's leading producer of coconuts. Every component of the palm has a purpose, and the possibilities are endless. rhinoceros, and its field efficacy should be tested further to include the EPNs in the integrated pest management program in coconut.Ĭoconut is a traditional Indian crop that is valued as both a horticultural crop and an oilseed commodity. Present study found the effective native strain against O. Conclusionīased on the virulence, reproductive capacity, searching ability and LC 50 values, it is suggested that strain Sc1 have great potential as a biocontrol agent for the Oryctes management in coconut palms under humid tropical ecosystem. With different concentration of EPN tested, the production of infective juveniles (IJs) inside the cadavers for Sc1, Sa1 and Hi1 varied between 3223–10,365 4722–96,5–85,453 larvae −1, respectively. At 72 h of incubation, the LC 50 values of Sc1, Sa1 and Hi1 strains were 1078, 16 IJs larva −1, respectively. abbasi (92%) at 10 days post treatment, whereas H. The highest larval mortality was observed with S. Oryctes rhinoceros larval susceptibility to EPN significantly varied with the treatment dose and period of exposure. carpocapsae (CPCRI-Sc1), virulence and reproductive capacity were evaluated against second instar larvae of O. Heterorhabditis indica (CPCRI-Hi1), Steinernema abbasi (CPCRI-Sa1), and S. ![]() Hence, indigenous entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) strains, viz. However, indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides has created a lot of environmental and regulatory issues, thus warranting an ecologically safe and environmental friendly alternative option. the larval stage, which is cryptic in nature and spends nearly 90–160 days in the breeding site, is amenable to any control measures so as to reduce the population of actual damaging adult stage. rhinoceros grubs and adults have different feeding habits as the adults feed on plant tissues, whereas the grubs primarily feed on rotting organic matter. The adult beetle attacks the unopened leaves and inflorescences, resulting in a yield loss of more than 10%. Many biotic and abiotic constrains limit global palm yield and among the biotic factors, the coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is the major problem in India. More recently aĬhemical attractant, ethyl-4-methyloctanoate, has been used in traps to attract and kill the beetles.India is the world's leading producer of coconuts. In many countries, the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae or the Oryctes virus are used to control the rhinoceros beetle. A hooked wire can be used to extract and destroy rhinoceros.It takes longer for rhinoceros beetle larvae to develop than it takes to make compost, so properly maintained compost should not serve as a source of rhinoceros When turningĬompost piles or applying compost to plants, destroy any rhinoceros beetles found. Compost piles should be maintained properly. ![]() Piles of dead leaves or grass can be composted, used for mulch,īurned, or spread on the ground in a thin layer.Ground covers can be planted or allowed to grow over logs or Rhinoceros beetles do not usually lay eggs in potential breeding sites that are obscured by growing vegetation.Dead, standing coconuts should be felled, chopped, dried, and.Cut stumps as close to the soil surface as possible.Chop and burn decaying logs or break them up and destroy any. ![]() "Rhinoceros beetles can be controlled by eliminating the places where they breed and by manually destroying adults So, make sure you create the worst conditions for this insect so they dont keep breeding and cause more damage. As with any pest insect we must think about the conditions now and what the conditions will be in the future. The promotion of natural enemies is a very good approach that reduces the incidence, is cost effective and does not harm your health like pesticides can. Let us assume this is Rhinoceros beetle damage. But since these are very young plants then maybe such holes do not appear. It is not clear to me this is indeed Rhinocerous beetle damage. ![]() ![]() For New York City Center, he produced Arturo O’Farrill’s Adelante Cuba! concert, featuring Omara Portuanda, O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Telmary Diaz, Roberto Fonseca, Ayodele Casel, Yasek Manzano and Camerata Romeu. Additionally, he developed and curated a talks and conversations series featuring well known writers, filmmakers and comedians.Īs an independent programmer and producer in 2017-18, Mr.Schwartz-Hall developed music programming for The Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA, and provided specific projects for the SFCurran. The Nonesuch Celebration presented 24 concerts over 3 weeks, including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Robert Plant, Kronos Quartet with Natalie Merchant, Rokia Traore and others, Chris Thile, Dawn Upshaw, John Adams, Brad Meldau, Youssou NDOUR, Laurie Anderson, Caetano Veloso, Nico Muhly, Timo Andres and many others. The Bridge Project was a first-ever, 3-year international collaboration between BAM and The Old Vic Theatre to produce and tour classic plays in repertory, with joint casts of British and American actors under the direction of Sam Mendes, presented at BAM, The Old Vic and numerous international venues in Asia and Europe. John residency Insides Out, Questlove’s Shuffle Culture and Electronium, the BAM Red Hot concerts, and various other projects in theater, dance, opera and contemporary music. Schwartz-Hall served as the lead producer for large scale BAM-produced projects including The DanceAfrica festival (the largest festival of African and Diaspora dance in the U.S.), the 50 th Anniversary Celebration of Nonesuch Records, the international theater initiative The Bridge Project, RadioLoveFest (coproduced for 5 years with WNYC Public Radio), the Si Cuba! festival, the Muslim Voices: Arts and Ideas festival, the Paul Simon residency Love In Hard Times, the Crossing Brooklyn Ferry music festival with Aaron and Bryce Dessner, the Dr. He also produced a significant body of short video work for The Music Center.Īs Line Producer for the Brooklyn Academy of Music, from July 2007-January 2018, Mr. He was Executive Producer of the live presentations and broadcasts of the Spotlight Awards Grand Finale and the LA County Annual Holiday Celebration, for which he received 20 LA Regional EMMY Awards and several Telly Awards. ![]() ![]() ![]() He developed and curated the Summer SoundWaves outdoor concert series, featuring Latin and African diaspora artists. Biles publicly announced in 2018 that she was sexually abused by Nassar, and according to the Wall Street Journal, Biles was only then approached by USA Gymnastics after her revelation.Before joining Guild Hall as Director of Performing Arts in April of 2023, Nick Schwartz-Hall served as the Senior Producer for The Music Center in Los Angeles for the last 5 years, establishing The Music Center’s Producing Department, overseeing the presentation of the annual Glorya Kauffman Presents Dance season and producing large scale concerts including Max Richter’s SLEEP in Grand Park and Joni75, a birthday celebration of the music of Jon Mitchell, which became a film, CD and PBS Broadcast. It was reported last November that after Biles had raised concerns about Nassar in 2015, she was not a part of USA Gymnastics' internal investigation at the time. Biles saw the message, though, and responded by reiterating her call for an independent investigation into the the Larry Nassar scandal.īiles has repeatedly called for an independent investigation, and was one of the many victims who harshly criticized USA Gymnastics' proposed $215 million settlement offer. USA Gymnastics incorrectly tagged Biles, though, mistakenly tagging a fan-made account. Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, and wrote that Biles "will only continue to amaze us and make history." The official USA Gymnastics Twitter account shared a highlight of Biles from the 2019 U.S. ![]() The most dominant women's gymnast in history turned 23 years old on Saturday, but Simone Biles wants more from USA Gymnastics than a careless birthday tweet. Watch Video: Will Simone Biles attempt this insane maneuver at the Olympics? ![]() ![]() This simple application lives in the tray or menu bar and allows you to record with just a couple of clicks. If you want an even simpler way to record a portion of your screen, RecordIT is what you’re looking for. A ribbon-based interface means fans of Microsoft Office will feel right at home. Hit stop when you’ve got what you want, and you’ll head to the editing screen.įrom here, you can delete sections of your recording and do things like add captions. Then, when you’re ready, hit the Record button. You’ll see a frame window, which you can resize to select your desired portion of the screen.įit this over a video you’d like to turn into a GIF or into a region of the screen you’d like to record. Board lets you record yourself drawing, and Editor lets you edit existing GIFs. The second, Webcam, lets you record GIFs using your computer’s camera. The first option, Recorder, lets us pick a region of the screen to record. Start the program, and you’ll have a few options. The software functions as a simple Windows application - one that makes GIF creation simple. With Screen to GIF, you can select a portion of your screen and record anything that happens in that specific area - or at least that’s the idea. You can then copy the provided URL or download the GIF for your own use. Then pick which of your recorded frames you want to keep, and you’re ready to share your GIF. Just head to the site, click “I want to make a GIF, “ and enable your webcam. This simple website turns your computer’s webcam into a machine for creating GIFs, and it couldn’t be easier to use. The two aforementioned tools are great if you want to use existing material to create a GIF, but what if you intend to create original content? And then i was like… is just what you’re looking for. This is a powerful tool for any GIF fan and one worth checking out. You can turn a collection of still images into a GIF, for instance, or edit any of the existing GIFs on the website. From there, you can share them, download them directly, or tweak them using a variety of tools. The process doesn’t take long, and the resulting GIFs instantly upload to Giphy. Just pick your source material from YouTube, Vimeo, or Giphy Links, and you can select any portion of the video to turn into a GIF. ![]() Giphy’s own GIF Maker lets you simultaneously create and share your creations, and it’s straightforward to use. Giphy has long been the default search engine for GIFs since its library is nearly endless. The best Mac apps for 2023: top software for your Mac The best desktop computers for 2023: Dell, HP, Apple, and more ![]() ![]() You might lose your tags (keywords) and some structure, but you get your information out. However, you can export your files, DEVON think is not a data island. You chain yourself to the Mac and to DEVON think.There is also no way to sort tags hierarchically. Tags use autocompletion, but a nice tag window like the one in Aperture is missing.You don’t see it in the Inbox and it’s only visible if you choose a database but not any folder in it. You can create something in the database itself but it is not in any folder (or group). Nothing unwieldy (a few GB - which is nothing, even considering that I grew up in a time where 640K was still an issue) but it’s noticeable. Given that you save the whole database, Time Machine Backups have become larger. The main issues I have with DEVON think are: A solutions that places the notes in a direction that gets imported when DEVON think is running later would have been better. While the Widget can be used while DEVON think is not currently running, it will start it when you save the note. Unfortunately, the Dashboard Widget vanishes after a note (which makes sense but is inconvenient, if you want to do more than one note). Very convenient if you want to jot down something while working. The Dashboard Widget also allows you to create notes - only as text files.Unfortunately, the sorter vanishes after a note. Pressing enter while having partly written the tag creates a new one with that part. Tags can also be assigned, although autocompletion works different here. You can also make notes with it, which are also imported into DEVON think, either as text files or rich text files. You can assign any folder (group) to this drawer and when you drag a file onto it, the file gets imported into that folder (group) in DEVON think. The Sorter looks like a bunch of drawers that’s on the side of your desktop.There are also two things that are quite helpful - the sorter and the dashboard widget. There are a lot of other things DEVON think can do, including scanning and much, much more. Even when importing huge amounts of files it stayed cool, never going beyond acceptable levels in processor load. While doing all this DEVON think doesn’t send the processor (and the fans) into breakdown.You can replicate files into different folders (groups) and when you change the content of one of these files, all the other files change as well. DEVON think supports replicants (think file aliases).The search function allows a detailed yet easy search of the content.It makes suggestions where files could be sorted to, it can show documents that are related to the current document regarding the content, and much, much more. Easily the most impressive thing is DEVON think pseudo-intelligence.Very convenient when they are displayed in a smart group. DEVON think identifies duplicates - not regarding the file name (this doesn’t faze DEVON think and it treats these files differently) but regarding content.Simply give a file tags from multiple projects and they appear in the smart groups of all projects whose tag they have. As a lot of ideas/files/documents belong in different folders/to different projects this is a great way to handle this. The scope can also be defined, from the whole database to specific groups. Smart groups are also possible - similar to smart lists in iTunes - based on anything from file name, to tags, to time/date, etc.You can prevent DEVON think from showing these tags (which I do) and simply use them as folders. ![]() Files can be grouped, which essentially assigns the same tag to them but makes it look like they are in the same folder.It will also point out tags that often appear with the ones you have assigned. DEVON think uses autocompletion - once you have used a tag for the first time, the second time you write part of the text DEVON think will make suggestions for autocompletion. Once you have imported files into DEVON think you can work with them, and you can do a lot: Sure, you can import your files into it and it will display them like a directory, but in truth DEVON think is a powerful database that helps you to deal with huge amounts of information, with text files, documents, images, anything. On first glance, it looks like the Finder of Mac OS X. I have already invested time, effort and money in it and transferred part of my Wiki into it. Unless something unacceptable happens (e.g., losing data), I will continue using it. I have switched from a DokuWiki to DEVON think. I have made a major change in the way I deal with my (now > 9000) ideas. Who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. ![]() ![]() ![]() The most common causes of this issue are: If you’ve been wanting to see the origins of the Star Ocean franchise after playing newer games, Star Ocean: First Departure R is a fine way to do it but one that could have been a lot better.Your IP address has been temporarily blocked due to a large number of HTTP requests. The added audio options are very nice, but I wish the game had some quality of life upgrades for portable gameplay like being able to save anywhere, or even control the encounter rate like in Bravely Default. Having character portrait options is very good but the actual game still looks basically like the PSP version, albeit at a higher resolution. Star Ocean: First Departure R plays great and mostly looks great, too. It also isn’t a very long JRPG or a very good one on either PS4 or Nintendo Switch but I’m always happy when older games that aren’t available digitally are brought to modern systems. The game feels the same on both systems when docked but being able to also play it on the go on Switch makes this version better. If you’re wondering whether Star Ocean: First Departure R is worth buying on PS4 over Nintendo Switch, I’ve enjoyed it a lot more on Nintendo Switch. Having looked at some footage of the original release for Star Ocean, those environments look like they would scale up to HD displays better. The environment could’ve used some touching up because while the characters look nice even while moving, the environment looks very dated. The font doesn’t scale well in general from the PSP version to this remaster but in handheld mode, some of the alphabets don’t even look as they should. In handheld mode, it suffers from an annoying issue relating to the font choice. On Nintendo Switch, Star Ocean: First Departure R doesn’t make use of the touchscreen at all. I was hoping there would be some major quality of life improvements. If you already played this on PSP, I wouldn’t recommend getting this version just for new voice acting and portrait options. In terms of content, those are the only major additions to this release. In addition to English voice acting, you can also play the game with the Japanese PSP voice acting or a new Japanese audio track specially done for Star Ocean: First Departure R. The other big addition is in voice acting. Sadly, cutscenes don’t reflect the different portraits. In addition to the original PSP character art, there’s a new portrait option available. Star Ocean: First Departure R includes everything from the PSP release and has some nice extras. While it succeeds in being an authentic take on the PSP game with some nice additions, the game needed a bit more to be worth recommending to all right now. Star Ocean: First Departure R is a remaster of a PSP remake of the first Star Ocean game for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Ever since that hit PS4, Square Enix has slowly been bringing more of the older games to current platforms. Square Enix’s Star Ocean franchise is something I had been wanting to check out for a while and I finally gave it a shot through Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness which was something I did not enjoy at all. Originally released in 2008 on PSP and then brought to PS4 and Nintendo Switch with additional content. Switch Re:port covers the Nintendo Switch port/version of a game newly released on the platform. ![]() ![]() ![]() It must be kept in mind that the pictures above show only the most common case (the general case). ![]() The third system has no solutions, since the three lines share no common point. The second system has a single unique solution, namely the intersection of the two lines. The first system has infinitely many solutions, namely all of the points on the blue line. The following pictures illustrate this trichotomy in the case of two variables: In the first case, the dimension of the solution set is, in general, equal to n − m, where n is the number of variables and m is the number of equations. Such a system is also known as an overdetermined system. ![]() In general, a system with more equations than unknowns has no solution.In general, a system with the same number of equations and unknowns has a single unique solution.Such a system is known as an underdetermined system. In general, a system with fewer equations than unknowns has infinitely many solutions, but it may have no solution.Here, "in general" means that a different behavior may occur for specific values of the coefficients of the equations. In general, the behavior of a linear system is determined by the relationship between the number of equations and the number of unknowns. The solution set for two equations in three variables is, in general, a line. The solution set is the intersection of these hyperplanes, and is a flat, which may have any dimension lower than n. įor n variables, each linear equation determines a hyperplane in n-dimensional space. For example, as three parallel planes do not have a common point, the solution set of their equations is empty the solution set of the equations of three planes intersecting at a point is single point if three planes pass through two points, their equations have at least two common solutions in fact the solution set is infinite and consists in all the line passing through these points. Thus the solution set may be a plane, a line, a single point, or the empty set. Because a solution to a linear system must satisfy all of the equations, the solution set is the intersection of these lines, and is hence either a line, a single point, or the empty set.įor three variables, each linear equation determines a plane in three-dimensional space, and the solution set is the intersection of these planes. The system has a single unique solution.įor a system involving two variables ( x and y), each linear equation determines a line on the xy- plane.The system has infinitely many solutions.Ī linear system may behave in any one of three possible ways: The set of all possible solutions is called the solution set. , x n such that each of the equations is satisfied. The solution set for the equations x − y = −1 and 3 x + y = 9 is the single point (2, 3).Ī solution of a linear system is an assignment of values to the variables x 1, x 2. The number of vectors in a basis for the span is now expressed as the rank of the matrix. A linear system in three variables determines a collection of planes The intersection point is the solution. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Seriously, if you can dream it – and it fits in the allocated space – you can build it. 2K Drive pays homage to that game with a customisation tool of its own that would’ve seemed like witchcraft in the late ’90s. Now, the last LEGO racing game I played – beyond Forza Horizon’s take on it – was LEGO Racers back in 1999, which is fondly remembered by gamers of a particular vintage for its rudimentary custom car building. My kids loved the villain, who is frankly far funnier than the token bad guy in a licensed racing game probably had any right to be. I absolutely found myself smiling along with the cutscenes, which emulate the same photoreal stop-motion style nailed by The LEGO Movie. It does a slightly poor job of spelling out why certain later missions are unavailable until you unlock the next batch of races, especially since younger players may just stumble across them and think they’re broken, but the story is very cute. The story itself lasted me around 10 hours sticking at it, but I have been left with a lot of uncompleted side objectives. ![]() The collection missions are the most egregious and they’re essentially just padding to stretch out proceedings. 2K Drive performs smoothly on Xbox Series X, but I have had a friend lose hours of save game progress on PS5 without warning, which appears to be a known issue.ĢK Drive is probably guilty of leaning a little too heavily on some of its non-racing mission types, some of which are riffed upon several times throughout the career mode. The track design is also generally strong, with plenty of technical segments, environmental hazards, and rewarding shortcuts. ![]() The rubber-banding might be a fraction too flagrant at times, but it does at least keep the racing chaotic and close, and it rarely feels unfair. It’s very useful for tight switchbacks and an absolute necessity to effectively complete some of the missions – particularly the destruction-based ones that require swift changes of direction. Also, the dedicated handbrake button – or quick turn, as 2K Drive dubs it – is a crucial and welcome addition. It’s simple to pick up and play but arguably more complex than it first seems – especially once you start to exploit the mild air controls possible via the rocket jump and nitro boost, or feel the subtle effects of weight as your vehicles lose bricks from collisions and combat (in a clever touch, crashing through trackside objects will replenish the LEGO in your own damaged ride). That said, the sensation of long, high-speed powerslides is well translated by 2K Drive’s handling model. It’s possible to switch to a more typical tap-to-drift mechanic but that’s a little less predictable and I have found my drifts ending prematurely, leaving me to battle understeer or jam down the brake mid-corner to get another drift going. It’s actually very easy to grasp, but it does feel a little odd to have the brake squeezed fully down for considerable parts of a race. On that note, drifting is executed in a slightly peculiar way in 2K Drive, and by default it requires us to hold both the brake and throttle at the same time throughout an entire drift. If you’re unfamiliar with The Crew 2, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed’s similarly mighty take on morphing motors may give you some idea of what to expect – their brands of multi-terrain, vehicle-swapping racing around regularly crazy courses while blasting opponents with weapons are very alike. The effect of your ride rapidly blinking from street to offroad and back again, after spending just a split-second on the shoulder, is a bit manic – but you can turn automatic switching off if you’d rather swap manually. The ability to have multiple different trios of vehicles saved in your loadouts is very handy, though I would say the system is a little overzealous when set to shift automatically. Vehicles in 2K Drive transform between street rides, offroad racers, and boats as the terrain changes, complete with a satisfying brick-clicking sound effect. However, despite that obvious LEGO link, 2K Drive is arguably more in-line with Ubisoft’s The Crew 2 and its hot-swapping system. Forza Horizon 4’s dearly-loved LEGO expansion rates as an automatic mention as a fellow open-world, LEGO-themed racer (and they certainly both share the idea of having races and challenges spread out across the map to organically discover as we explore). LEGO 2K Drive cribs from a lot of existing racers, which makes it fairly easy to explain. ![]() |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |