Why Niantic is closer to ‘Pokemon Go’ success with ‘Monster Hunter Now’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Why Niantic is closer to ‘Pokemon Go’ success with ‘Monster Hunter Now’ It’s been a tumultuous year for Niantic as the San Francisco-based developer downsized and shut down some current and future projects as it focuses on its core titles such as “Pokemon Go,” “Ingress Prime” and “Peridot.” One of the games that survived the cuts was “Monster Hunter Now,” a Niantic-made game licensed from Capcom. It’s a project that has been in the works since Kei Kawai, the chief product officer in the Japan studio, made a pitch to “Monster Hunter” producer Ryozo Tsujimoto in 2019.It didn’t take long for him to agree to the project and that’s something that doesn’t happen often, Kawai later learned. Niantic would adapt its real-world gameplay to the fantasy realm of the action role-playing game.A NIANTIC WORLD WITH MONSTER HUNTER GAMEPLAYFor it to be a success though, the company couldn’t just slap the “Pokemon Go” formula atop the world of “Monster Hunter....

Hunter Biden sues ex-Trump aide over alleged hacking efforts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Hunter Biden sues ex-Trump aide over alleged hacking efforts By Paula Reid | CNNAttorneys for Hunter Biden have filed a civil lawsuit against former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler, alleging illegal hacking in violation of federal computer privacy laws.The suit, filed in federal court in California, accuses Ziegler of “accessing, tampering with, manipulation, altering, copying and damaging computer data that they do not own and that they claim to have obtained from hacking into Plaintiff’s iPhone data and from scouring a copy of the hard drive of what they claim to be Plaintiff’s ‘laptop’ computer.”Ziegler worked in the Trump White House from February 2019 until January 2021 as a policy analyst and later in the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy under the supervision of former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro.The lawsuit is part of a more aggressive strategy Hunter Biden’s team is taking against his detractors. As part of this strategy, Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, has added attorney Abbe Lowell to his defense team. ...

Fact-check: McCarthy’s claims about Biden impeachment inquiry

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Fact-check: McCarthy’s claims about Biden impeachment inquiry By Annie Grayer, Marshall Cohen and Daniel Dale | CNNHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy made several unproven claims Tuesday while announcing the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.The Republican-led investigation will focus on “allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption” by Biden, related to his family’s overseas business dealings, McCarthy said.There is clear evidence that Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, leveraged his famous name while pursuing lucrative foreign deals, which might be untoward but isn’t illegal. And he isn’t a government official – the impeachment inquiry is into his father.House Republicans have not presented any proof that Joe Biden ever profited off his son’s business deals or was influenced while in office by his son’s business dealings.Republicans argue that opening an inquiry will give them the authority to uncover more information, so it’s possible they’ll find additional facts that are not publicly known at this point. But ...

PHOTOS: Palo Alto’s Fish Market restaurant reels it in after 47 years

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

PHOTOS: Palo Alto’s Fish Market restaurant reels it in after 47 years The Fish Market era is coming to a close in the Bay Area.Forty-seven years after opening California’s first Fish Market restaurant in Palo Alto, then expanding throughout the South Bay and Peninsula, the company shuttered that El Camino Real location late Wednesday. Customers lined up outside before lunch to snag a favorite table for their last orders of seafood and bowls of chowder — and their final goodbyes with longtime employees.On the last day of service at The Fish Market in Palo Alto, Calif., Juan Gonzalez, who has worked in the restaurant chain since 1979, cleans a table on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) The San Mateo restaurant is nearing its final day of business, Sept. 20. The company’s fishery operations based in South San Francisco also are closing.The reason? Redevelopment is in the works for both properties, company officials said. Also, the hiring and the costs associated with operating the Farallon Fishery for just two r...

San Francisco's Cliff House restaurant to reopen in 2024

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

San Francisco's Cliff House restaurant to reopen in 2024 SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A remodeled version of San Francisco's iconic Cliff House restaurant will reopen in 2024, according to a press release from Sutro Lands Ends Partners. The National Park Service gave a 20-year lease for it to operate. The restaurant, located on the western edge of San Francisco at 1090 Point Lobos Ave., closed in 2020 after operating for 157 years. Its previous owners blamed the National Park Service and slow business due to the pandemic for the closure. Some California inflation relief checks still haven’t been sent: Is yours missing? “Since 1863, there has been a Cliff House perched on that dramatic bluff welcoming locals and visitors to come and be inspired by the views of the Pacific and perhaps share a drink or a meal with friends and family. We are honored to have been chosen by the National Park Service to be the stewards of this beloved venue for the next generation,” said Alexander Leff, who is leading the effort to bring back the restaurant. The C...

Big rig goes off-road in Alameda County, prompts hazmat response

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Big rig goes off-road in Alameda County, prompts hazmat response (KRON) -- A big rig driver lost control at a sharp turn and went off the road in Sunol on Wednesday, according to the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD). The big rig trailer was overturned on Calaveras and Geary roads in the census-designated place in Alameda County.ACFD first received a call around 12:49 p.m. about the overturned big rig. It was reported the truck was leaking fluid, which was later determined to be ammonium sulfate. The big rig is approximately 100 yards from the closest lake. officials said. However, the leaking fluid was deemed not a threat, according to hazmat officials."The initial fluid that leaked was coolant from the tractor," ACFD said. All lanes reopen on Vasco Road in East Bay after big rig, van crash Crews will be on scene to remove the fluids and the truck from the area. That will take "five to six hours at least," according to an email sent by ACFD at 4:22 p.m. The driver refused to be taken to the hospital, officials said. Photos of the overturne...

Love pop music? Largest US newspaper chain is hiring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter writers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Love pop music? Largest US newspaper chain is hiring Taylor Swift and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter writers LOS ANGELES (AP) — This week the United States’ biggest newspaper chain posted to its site two unusual job listings: a Taylor Swift reporter and a Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter.Gannett, which owns more than 200 daily papers, will employ these new hires through USA Today and The Tennessean, the company’s Nashville-based newspaper. The job description for the Swift-focused role announced Tuesday says the company is seeking “an energetic writer, photographer and social media pro who can quench an undeniable thirst for all things Taylor Swift with a steady stream of content across multiple platforms.”“Seeing both the facts and the fury, the Taylor Swift reporter will identify why the pop star’s influence only expands, what her fanbase stands for in pop culture, and the effect she has across the music and business worlds,” the company’s website says.Gannett announced Wednesday it’ll also hire a reporter dedicated to covering Beyoncé. The company says it’s ...

Jimmy Garoppolo working on chemistry with Raiders’ receivers with Meyers in concussion protocol

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Jimmy Garoppolo working on chemistry with Raiders’ receivers with Meyers in concussion protocol With Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain sticking to Davante Adams throughout Sunday’s meeting with the Raiders, Jakobi Meyers kept getting open and Jimmy Garoppolo kept finding him.That connection between two of the newest Raiders was critical in Las Vegas opening its season with a 17-16 victory. Garoppolo threw 10 passes Meyers’ way, and he caught nine for 81 yards and two touchdowns.Now Garoppolo might have to look elsewhere when the Raiders play at Buffalo on Sunday because Meyers is in the concussion protocol. That could mean more than nine targets Adams received at Denver and certainly more than the zero Hunter Renfrow and rookie tight end Michael Mayer had.Garoppolo is working with his receivers this week at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Raiders are there to acclimate to the Eastern time zone before playing the Bills.“They all pull for each other,” Garoppolo said. “It’s even in the run game and you see those guys crack-bl...

Giants offensive line faces criticism after Daniel Jones sacked 7 times against Dallas

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Giants offensive line faces criticism after Daniel Jones sacked 7 times against Dallas EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants right guard Mark Glowinski has been around long enough to know there is going to be fallout after a team is embarrassed in its season opener and its quarterback is sacked seven times.That’s what happened to Daniel Jones on Sunday night in a 40-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and the fans are looking for someone to blame.While the whole line played poorly, most of the attention is seemingly focused on the 31-year-old Glowinski, a nine-year veteran who was signed to a three-year, $18.3 million contract to leave Indianapolis in 2022. He allowed two sacks and the right side, which includes tackle Evan Neal, allowed a total of five sacks. “It was very disappointing. All I can do is move on from that and be better,” Glowinski said Wednesday.Glowinski stood in front of his locker after practice for more than 10 minutes fielding questions from two waves of reporters.Glowinski said most of the mistakes were physical and mental miscues that can...

Rays top Twins 5-4 on Arozarena’s 9th-inning homer to head into weekend series vs. Orioles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:14:49 GMT

Rays top Twins 5-4 on Arozarena’s 9th-inning homer to head into weekend series vs. Orioles MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Randy Arozarena’s bat has been relatively quiet for Tampa Bay since the All-Star break, and September has been a particularly slow month at the plate for the All-Star left fielder and 2021 American League Rookie of the Year.He rose to the occasion in Minnesota on Wednesday. That ball he hit kept soaring, too.Arozarena’s tiebreaking home run with two outs in the ninth inning helped the Rays recover from a blown four-run lead to beat the Twins 5-4 heading into a weekend showdown with AL East leader Baltimore.“He rises up in big games and big moments. He’s done it since he’s been a Tampa Bay Ray,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Hopefully that provides him a little bit of a jolt and it continues now the rest of the way.”The Rays (90-57), who entered three games behind the Orioles in the division race, reached 90 wins for the ninth time in their last 15 full seasons. Tampa Bay starts a four-game series on Thursday at Baltimore, which hosts St. Louis later ...