Categories
Australia

Moyne Shire offers cabins to workers in bid to address housing crisis, labor shortage

The windy shores of Warrnambool are a world away from Alberta Canada’s rocky mountain trails — something Cassidy Kroeker is reminded each morning.

Mr Kroeker is a survey equipment specialist, a profession in such short supply that a regional Victorian earthworks company was willing to sponsor and fly him Down Under as soon as his suitcase was packed.

The 34-year-old was parachuted from the snowy winterland of his hometown in February, arriving under a scorching summer sun in Melbourne before nervously driving west in search of adventure and his new home.

Three hours later he was in south-west Victoria.

Little did he know he’d be living out of suitcases for the next few months.

A smiling man stands in front of a sign reading "melbourne" at Melbourne Airport.
Mr Kroeker was in the south-west shortly after touching down in Melbourne, but then the struggle began.(Supplied: Cassidy Kroeker)

When jobs are easier to find than houses

The regional city of Mortlake, three hours west of Melbourne, is home to 1,500 people.

Mr Kroeker’s new employers, an earthworks moving company specializing in farm work, were desperate to make that 1,501 and find him a place to live close to their operation base in the town.

But that was a task easier said than done.

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Categories
US

When to expect cooler temperatures as sweltering heat hits the US



CNN

Two rounds of excessive heat will grip a large part of the country this week, impacting people from the Plains to the Midwest and the Northeast.

Heat advisories are in place for more than 30 million people from Oklahoma and Arkansas to Minnesota.

“Daytime highs will likely reach into the upper 90s to low 100s, and heat indices perhaps reaching 110 degrees when combined with high dewpoints,” the Weather Prediction Center said in its morning discussion Tuesday.

This heat will spread eastward, impacting the Northeast by the end of the week, then another round of heat will hit the Plains once again.

Between the waves of above-average heat, a bit of relief will come as cooler air pushes through.

Here is when to expect the heat and the minor relief.

“Dangerous heat indices expected today across much of central and southern (Minnesota) with afternoon heat index values ​​expected to top out around 105 degrees,” warned the National Weather Service office in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

Heat index values ​​– the temperature it feels like when heat is combined with humidity – are for shady locations, the weather service explained. “If you are exposed to direct sunlight, the heat index value can be increased by up to 15 (degrees).”

The weather service breaks down the heat index temperatures into four different risk levels based on how heat index temperatures could affect the body. Danger, the third of four categories, is for forecast heat indices reaching 103 to 124 degrees. At this level, heat cramps or heat exhaustion is likely, and heatstroke is possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. The maps below show the forecast dangers (dark orange) this week.

The heat will be felt much farther and wider than in Minnesota.

CNN Weather

An area of ​​high pressure sitting over the Great Lakes is creating bright sunshine. But it’s also resulting in warm, moist air from the south to spill into the region.

Plainly put: High pressure is making it hot.

It is generating above-normal temperatures for such a large area in the midsection of the country. “Today looks to be the hottest day of the week,” said the weather service office in Wichita, Kansas.

Here, temperatures will also top out around 100 degrees. But once you factor in the humidity, it will feel closer to 105 degrees in some areas.

In southern Nebraska, it will feel even hotter.

“Heat index values ​​are now forecast to climb as high as 110 degrees in eastern portions of the area,” said the weather service office in Hastings.

There may be one saving grace – a nice breeze.

“The good news is that south winds of 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will help combat the oppressive heat,” the weather service said.

The heat will even affect Kentucky, where the horrific flooding happened less than a week ago.

CNN Weather

High temperatures are expected to climb into the lower 90s Wednesday and Thursday, proving challenging for those still living without power from the floods.

The heat will march on to the Northeast by the end of the week, giving the region a small window to cool down.

CNN Weather

For Washington, DC, and New York, the extreme heat will peak on Thursday and Friday. The weather service office in Washington mentioned in its morning discussion the forecast models favor “highs in the mid-90s which carries heat indices into the 100 to 104 degree range.”

New York City could even feel like 100 on Thursday and Friday, not able to escape the sweltering heat.

Its weather service office warned a heat advisory could be issued for those days.

By Saturday, a cold front will swing through the Northeast, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall and a temporary improvement in temperatures.

CNN Weather

After a brief reprieve, another round of heat will quickly hit the same areas as the first, sending high temperatures soaring once again.

“Friday looks to be the next chance of widespread 90s across central/southern Minnesota,” said the weather service office in the Twin Cities.

While this round may not last quite as long as the first, the heat will be just as potent.

“The center of the upper ridge looks to be situated over Kansas during the weekend ensuring the return of triple-digit heat to many areas,” the weather service said.

CNN Weather

By Saturday, another cold front will move through the area, helping to drop temperatures out of the triple-digit range and return them to more seasonal norms.

Saturday’s highs – back in the low 80s for Minneapolis – sound almost refreshing compared to heat indices in the triple digits.

While the Midwest starts to cool off, the second wave of heat will push into the Northeast by the beginning of next week.

“This wave looks to reach the Northeast by Sunday with another brief wave of high temperatures expected to continue ahead of a cold front into Monday,” the Weather Prediction Center said Tuesday.

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Categories
Business

F45 franchisees blindsided by turmoil at head office

Several franchisors this masthead spoke to said the issues afflicting the parent company headquarters has had next to no impact on their operations which are operating as usual. But some owners have had to deal with questions from members about whether they are closing down.

“It’s not ideal, because it just ends up meaning that you’ve then got spot fires that you’ve got to put out where there’s no fire,” said F45 Blakehurst owner and head trainer Rodger Talevski.

F45 operates a franchising model that grants franchisees ‘territory rights’ to operate a facility in a designated location, rights to use the F45 brand, and plug into all of F45’s systems and processes. Owners pay a fixed monthly franchise fee to F45.

Talevski said the churn levels for F45 franchisees were “very, very low” compared to the industry standard, and noted that while the company had reduced its expansion targets down from 1500 new branch openings to 350-450, that the revised figure was “still phenomenal”.

“F45 dominated the market and was innovative, and a lot of those people that keep talking down the brand are the ones that are copying it or trying to just basically look for holes [in] why the brand won’t last,” he said. “I just see a full glass, not a half empty glass.”

F45, which has more than 1500 franchise centers around the world, listed on the Nasdaq in July last year $US16. Shares have since tumbled by about 90 per cent.

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The company last week said it now expects to generate underlying earnings of $US25 million for the year ending December 31, compared to previous forecasts of up to $US100 million.

High-profile Australian co-founder Adam Gilchrist (not the cricketer) last week resigned from the business.

The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

Categories
Technology

Xbox Game Pass August 2022 additions and removals

Another month means a changing library.

Xbox Game Pass August 2022 additions and removals are starting to filter through, announced by Microsoft and its partners. We’ll gather them all up for you as announcements are made in this very post.

Below, you’ll find the titles you can soon expect (or in some cases, lose) on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Streaming.

Those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate have access to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass alongside access to the EA Play Vault as well. This month also sees the introduction of titles through Ubisoft Connect. Finally, select regions also have access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Streaming on supported devices.

We’ll be adding to the lists below as more games are revealed.

Xbox Game Pass additions and removals

additions

  • Ghost Recon Wildlands: 3 August
  • Turbo Golf Racing: 4 August
  • Two Point Campus: August 9
  • Cooking Simulator: 11 August

Removals

  • Boyfriend Dungeon: 15 August
  • Curse of the Dead Gods: 15 August
  • Library of Ruin: 15 August
  • Train Sim World 2: 15 August

PC Game Pass additions and removals

additions

  • Ghost Recon Wildlands: 3 August
  • Shenzhen I/O: August 4
  • Turbo Golf Racing: 4 August
  • Two Point Campus: August 9
  • Cooking Simulator: 11 August
  • Expeditions Rome: 11 August
  • Offworld Trading Company: 11 August

Removals

  • Boyfriend Dungeon: 15 August
  • Curse of the Dead Gods: 15 August
  • Library of Ruin: 15 August
  • starman: 15 August
  • Train Sim World 2: 15 August

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Streaming additions and removals

additions

  • Ghost Recon Wildlands: 3 August
  • Turbo Golf Racing: 4 August
  • Two Point Campus: August 9
  • Cooking Simulator: 11 August

Removals

  • Boyfriend Dungeon: 15 August
  • Curse of the Dead Gods: 15 August
  • Library of Ruin: 15 August
  • Train Sim World 2: 15 August

We’ll continue to this list as more is known. Until that time, what do you make of Xbox Game Pass in August 2022?

This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

Categories
Entertainment

Commonwealth Games 2022: Princess Charlotte steals the show with Kate and William watching the swimming

Another major British event means another one of Kate’s cuties to steal the show.

This time, it was Princess Charlotte who was the picture of excitement on an outing with her parents Duchess Kate and Prince William at the Commonwealth Games.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Sandwell Aquatics Center during the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Camera IconKate and Princess Charlotte at the Commonwealth Games. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The seven-year-old appeared thrilled to be watching the swimming in Birmingham, struggling to contain her enthusiasm, gasping and leaning on the edge of her seat.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, left, and Princess Charlotte smile as they watch a swimming event at Sandwell Aquatics Center on day five of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Camera IconCharlotte appeared thrilled to witness the action at the Games. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Wearing a striped dress and her hair in pigtails, she was seen at one point giving the thumbs up to her father.

Little Charlotte appears just as sporting mad as her parents.

Only days earlier she appeared in a video message to England’s women’s soccer team, the Lionesses, before their win against Germany in the Euro 2022 final.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the Sandwell Aquatics Center during the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Camera IconCharlotte sat with her parents William and Kate at the Birmingham event. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

“Good luck, I hope you win, bye!” she said in the message.

Charlotte’s animated display in Birmingham was reminiscent of her younger brother Prince Louis’ famous appearance at the Platinum Party at the Palace for the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June.

The four-year-old created international headlines by pulling faces, sticking out his tongue through the lengthy performance, during which he sat alongside his cousins ​​and grandparents Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla.

SMETHWICK, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the action on day five of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Sandwell Aquatics Center on August 02, 2022 in Smethwick, England.  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Camera IconCharlotte gives the thumbs up to Prince William. Credit: elsa/Getty Images

The display, in full view of the television cameras filming the event, drew a mixed response from viewers, with some dubbing it Kate’s most relatable parenting moment

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Sandwell Aquatics Center during the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Camera IconThe seven-year-old was on the edge of her seat during the swimming. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

However, some royal watchers criticized Prince William and the Duchess’ parenting methods.

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Categories
Australia

Gold Coast seething over Cross River Rail airport snub

“If anything, the massive state government investment in the CityTrain network, the accelerated terminal development plans at Brisbane Airport and the 2032 Olympics makes having a direct airport train service to the city and Gold Coast even more crucial for SEQ.”

Tate said while Cross River Rail would have some benefit to the Gold Coast, he was concerned about the effect the change would have on travellers.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said having to change trains to travel between Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast could detect travellers.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said having to change trains to travel between Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast could detect travellers. Credit:Australian Financial Review

“I accept that the services from the coast to Brisbane will be faster, but having to change for an airport connection is a huge disincentive,” he said.

“The whole intent of Cross River Rail is more services, faster services and greater reliability. That seems to not apply to the critical airport direct services.”

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Destination Gold Coast chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said it would be a blow to the region’s tourism industry.

“Seamless travel between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is so important to our visitor economy, especially for visitors traveling through Brisbane Airport,” she said.

“We know that travelers are looking for ease of connectivity when planning their transport options, while frequency of services is also a priority.

“We look forward to understanding these new routes in more detail.”

Public transport advocate Robert Dow, meanwhile, said there was a potential silver lining for Airtrain.

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Dow, from the lobby group Rail Back on Track, said Airtrain could make the change work for its business model, with fast population growth in Ipswich, Springfield and Ripley Valley.

“They could say we are running services through the city and along the Ipswich line, but I know they are not happy,” he said.

Basche said Airtrain had sought to engage with the government on future network planning and indicated he did not consider the matter to be settled.

“Given there is still more than three years before Cross River Rail will open, there is still sufficient time for engagement and input from stakeholders,” he said.

In response to the announcement, Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Stephen Beckett said: “Fast, reliable and affordable public transport is essential for Brisbane Airport. We’ll work with all levels of government to ensure Queenslanders who need to get to the airport can do so as easily as possible.”

Comment was sought from Bailey, whose office directed queries to Translink. Translink had not responded before the close of business on Tuesday.

Categories
US

Double ‘Eric’ Endorsement Sends Trumpworld Spiraling

The former president’s decision to endorse “Eric” for a race with two Erics as the main contenders has plunged Trumpworld into open chaos.

The trouble began Monday night when Donald Trump tossed his political weight behind “Eric,” meaning that two Missouri Senate Republican candidates, Eric Greitens and Eric Schmitt, could legitimately claim to have his blessing.

(Rep. Vicky Hartzler, the one candidate in the race Trump explicitly said he would not endorse, congratulated the third little-known “Eric” on the ballot, Eric McElroy, in a tongue-in-cheek statement.)

Within minutes, both Schmitt and Greitens had put out tweets touting the endorsement without acknowledging it was a joint venture.

By Tuesday morning it was clear, that Trumpworld pundits were not amused.

Fox News host and right-wing media heavyweight Dan Bongino had a meltdown on Twitter over Greitens asserting Trump had endorsed him.

“Nope. Not a chance in hell,” he wrote in response to a Greitens tweet touting the coveted Trump backing. “Flush that seat down the toilet if Greitens wins.”

“Bullshit. Read the endorsement,” the Fox News host continued. “This dude is a FRAUD.”

Convinced that two tweets weren’t enough on the matter, Bongino kept tweeting.

“If you listen to any of my shows, you know that I generally stay out of primaries. But this is different. PLEASE, do not vote for Greitens. Trust me on this. Please,” I completed. “I can’t emphasize this using strong enough English words.”

Likewise, upon Greitens claiming the Trump endorsement as his own, former NRA spokesperson and firearm fanatic Dana Loesch jumped into the fold to take a swing at Greitens.

“Greitens is down double-digits to Schmitt in the polls and camped outside Mar-a-Lago for weeks hoping to score an endorsement, only to get this,” she tweeted. “Greitens is the Beto [O’Rourke] of Missouri.”

A senior Greitens campaign adviser fired back on the Loesch claim Tuesday afternoon, telling The Daily Beast, “There’s only one candidate who camped out, and that’s RINO Eric Schmitt.”

It didn’t end there, as the influential Loesch ripped into Rep. Matt Gaetz over his support for the former Missouri governor.

“That ain’t no endorsement, dude,” Loesch said in response to a Gaetz tweet congratulating Greitens.

In a tweet Tuesday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) cheered on Schmitt.

“Missouri, the polls are open right now! Vote for my friend Eric Schmitt,” the senator said. “He is the strongest conservative in the Missouri Senate race!”

A Trump spokesperson didn’t return The Daily Beast’s request for comment on the story Tuesday morning.

Political reported late Monday that the dual endorsement came at the end of a seven-hour lobbying campaign that occurred at Trump’s Bedminster golf club. The scramble featured Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle working overtime on behalf of Greitens and RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel attempting to convince the ex-president to stay neutral.

In the end, Trump, setting aside fears that a double endorsement might be “too cute,” backed both candidates and phoned them up to congratulate them while leaving out that he also backed their rival, according to Political.

While there were plenty of Greitens detractors, there were also supporters.

“Missouri get out and vote Eric Greitens,” Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani declared. “I’m personally very proud of President Trump for having the courage, guts and balls to endorse Eric Greitens,” right-wing radio talker and Steve Bannon pal John Fredericks chimed in. “#BallsWins.”

On Trump’s own social media site, Truth Social, opinions on the endorsement ranged widely, with many pro-Trump users getting into arguments with each other in the comment section.

“Schmitt is an Establishment RINO,” wrote the user “@MidnightLouie,” while other pro-Trump users squabbled over which “Eric” was Trump’s favorite in the race.

On Tuesday morning, Greitens, who refers to himself as a “MAGA warrior,” appearing on Steve Bannon’s WarRoom program, said, “At the end of the day, this race is very simple…this is MAGA vs. [Mitch] McConnell.”

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Categories
Business

Will the house price collapse be different this time?

“They’re in park as opposed to fifth gear at the top end.”

Now, this is a sharp reversal of the usual pattern. Typically, when house prices fall, it’s the top end of the market that suffers the most savage declines.

Few can forget the eye-watering falls in house prices seen in prestige Sydney suburbs such as Mosman and Double Bay following the 2008 financial crisis.

Of course, there is a solid economic reason why the top end of the market is more vulnerable.

At the lower end of the market, a growing population feeds into an increasing demand for housing. But the value of housing is underpinned by the cost of bringing new houses to market – the cost of the land, for instance, and construction costs.

This effectively puts a floor under housing prices at the lower end of the market because developers have very limited scope for reducing the cost of new housing. This is especially the case when construction costs are soaring, as they are now.

As a result, even if mortgage rates rise sharply, the drop in house prices at the lower end of the market tends to be more moderate.

But at the top end of the market, a very high proportion of the cost of a prestige house reflects the cost of land, rather than the cost of construction.

And the cost of land at the top end of the market is a function of demand. Typically, the combination of rising interest rates and a slowing economy causes demand to drop sharply.

And this translates into a steep drop in land values. And because land values ​​at the top end of the market aren’t determined by, say, the cost of putting in roads, or building sewerage, land prices are much more responsive to general economic conditions.

What’s more, as bankers are aware, many people at the top end stretch themselves to the limit to afford expensive housing.

But the rise in interest rates – combined with falling share markets and the collapse in the value of digital currencies – mean that many new buyers are unlikely to want to pay the inflated prices that properties were trading at 12 months ago.

So why are prestige property prices so robust at present?

The most likely explanation is that there is a relative dearth of such properties on the market, and a sizeable cohort of buyers, including international buyers, and returning expats, with large chequebooks.

But if that’s the case, we should expect to see property values ​​at the top end of the market drop sharply once this temporary imbalance between supply and demand is cleared.

Indeed, as the Financial Review’s Nila Sweeney reported this week, house prices in some of the most expensive suburbs are now tumbling four times faster than the national average.

For instance, house prices in the Sydney northern beaches suburbs of Pittwater and Manly recorded price drops of 8.8 per cent and 7.4 per cent respectively in the July quarter, compared with a 2.2 per cent drop in the median house price nationwide.

Still, this could partly reflect an unwinding of the outsized gains these suburbs notched up in the past two years.

In Pittwater, for instance, house prices jumped by 53.3 per cent from the COVID-19 lows to the peak, but values ​​have since dropped by 10.1 per cent in total.

Categories
Technology

‘Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series’ Is A Faithful But Basic Retro Tribute

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile on the original PlayStation was one of those strange games that I experienced exclusively through a coveted PS1 demo disc. Whether it was PlayStation Underground or Official PlayStation Magazine, I can’t particularly remember, but here’s what I do know: I absolutely loved running through the 2.5D platformer’s bright and colorful first level over and over, relishing the excellent soundtrack and charming visuals. It was like Crystal Dynamics Pandemonium!only starring a bunny cat…thing?

You’d figure such a positive impression would have led me to acquire the full game at some point, but no, this (sadly) never happened. Considering the complete game’s astronomical Ebay value at this point, you can probably understand my ongoing regret.

Gamers from that era can relate to this sort of problem, I’m sure. We all had those select games we worshiped via demo discs, though something kept us from taking the MSRP retail plunge. Do young gamers today even know what demo discs are? I feel so ancient. Excuse me while I go cough dust.

I suppose my ’90s stories don’t matter much at this point, because Bandai Namco has benevolently released Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Seriesa heartfelt — though terribly named and somewhat barebones — remastered compilation of the first two Klonoa games. This includes the aforementioned Door to Phantomile as well as Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, the cel-shaded PS2-relegated sequel. The latter isn’t cel-shaded anymore, but we’ll get to that.

As far as I can tell, the remastered Door to Phantomile is based on the 2008/2009 Nintendo Wii version, which itself was a remake of the original PS1. So in essence, the new 2022 Door to Phantomile is a remaster of a remake, which totally isn’t confusing at all. On the other hand, the included sequel game is a remake-ish remaster, I suppose, since it’s also based on its corresponding original PS2 version but adds some changes.

Basically, if you haven’t played any of the Klonoa games, they’re arguably great platformers with an interesting surrealist style. Between the two of them, they’ve occupied a somewhat niche corner of Namco’s storied library, and I still don’t think a whole lot of people have played these games. Probably more gamers experienced the Wii remake, so it’s nice that we’re getting a pair of largely ignored classics in one modern, accessible, updated collection.

On that note, the updated graphics do look excellent, minus some egregious blooming effects here and there. I’ll always prefer the rudimentary sprite-heavy visuals of the PS1 release, but what’s here is nicely and lovingly brought into the current generation. If you go in expecting graphical powerhouses, you’ll surely be disappointed, but Klonoa has never really been about pushing hardware. The draw is in the art, the environments, and the cute appealing nature of our anthropomorphic hero’s entire world.

It does seem that Bandai Namco has altered the look of Klonoa 2, stripping the game of its charming cel-shading in favor of a more homogenized display. This bummed me out, because I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for cel-shading, and I blame Jet Set Radio for that. At least the music from the first game appears to be in-tact from the PS1 release, though I can’t be certain for the sequel, since I didn’t play that title nearly as much.

The last thing I’ll mention is that I was definitely expecting a little bit more in terms of franchise history with Phantasy Reverie Series. I’m thinking in terms of stuff like design documents, interviews, anything to ‘plus’ a retro compilation like this. Many of the recent throwback collections (say, from Capcom) have dabbled in such extras and I think it goes a long way in making a re-release like this more special. It should also be noted that none of the other Klonoa games, like from the Game Boy Advance, made the cut.

It looks like a digital artbook is included in the special edition, but I’d have preferred some kind of Klonoa museum feature in-game. I mean, Namco is no stranger to awesome PS1 museum compilations, so I feel a bit let down.

That said, the Klonoa games are beautiful, fun, (mostly) hidden gems and I’m hoping that enough interest shows up for this new collection that Bandai Namco seriously considers making Klonoa 3. In the meantime, I’ll be listening to the amazing Windmill Song on the first level of Door to Phantomile over and over, just like I did all those years ago.

But if you haven’t played these games yet, do yourself a favor and give them a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Disclosure: Bandai Namco provided a review code for coverage purposes.

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Categories
Entertainment

Batgirl movie ‘shelved’ by DC Comics

Holy millions down the drain, Batman!

The DC Comics film batgirl will be completely “shelved” by Warner Bros, a top Hollywood source told new york post.

That means it won’t hit theaters or the US streaming service HBO Max. Fans will not see it.

The reportedly $100 million movie (the source said the budget was actually more than $140 million), which was doing test screenings for audiences in anticipation of a late 2022 debut, would rank among the most expensive cinematic cast-offs ever.

Those tests were said to be so poorly received by moviegoers that the studio decided to cut its losses and run, for the sake of the brand’s future. It’s a DC disaster.

“They think an unspeakable batgirl is going to be irredeemable,” the source said.

The Post has reached out to Warner Bros. for comment.

It’s been a months-long walk of shame for the movie. Batgirl, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life), received not a single mention at DC’s Comic-Con panel in San Diego in July — an unusual move that raised industry eyebrows. The much-publicized event, after all, is designed to boost exposure for forthcoming projects just like this one.

Marvel’s Comic-Con presentation, on the flip side, announced more than a dozen films in the so-called Phases 5 and 6 of the MCU, to be released through fall 2025, with even more surely in the hopper.

batgirlwhich stars Leslie Grace (In the Heights) in the title role, alongside JK Simmons, Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser, was originally planned for a release on HBO Max. The Puck newsletter reported in April that WB’s then-chair, Toby Emmerich, was considering a theatrical run for the film too.

But Emmerich stepped down in June to form his own production company — not long after Warner Bros. merged with Discovery and David Zaslav became the CEO of the new entity. He replaced Emmerich with MGM’s Michael De Luca (who likely had to deliver the “Bat” news) and Pam Abdy.

While the film’s co-directors have done some scattered interviews about casting, the studio has been mum on plans for batgirl ever since.

Shelving a multimillion-dollar effort would not be unusual for Zaslav, a ruthless cost-cutter. Remember, he’s the same guy who gave the $400 million streaming service CNN+ the ax just days after its splashy launch because it didn’t snare enough subscribers.

The budget-conscious CEO, according to Varietyhas split WB into multiple segments, including a reorganized “DC-based film production” group.

With that in mind, WB is said to be searching for a head honcho to run the flailing DC Extended Universe and whip it into a coherent shape, like Kevin Feige did with the far more successful Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is owned by Disney. The current president of DC film production is Walter Hamada. Warner Bros. Discovery will report their Q2 earnings and announce future plans on Thursday.

DC urgently needs all the help it can get.

Unlike the behavior that is Marvel Studios, whose movies occasionally get bad reviews but reliably print money, DC is a disorganized, confusing, not-very-profitable mess. Aquaman and Wonder Woman 1984 got mixed reviews from critics; birds of prey and Suicide Squad were admired flops.

batman performed OK at the box office for Warner Bros., netting $1.1 billion worldwide with an R rating, and got good notices. However, the only DC Extended Universe film that has managed to beat the $1.45 billion box office gross of Dark Knightwhich came out 14 long years ago (joker with Joaquin Phoenix was not part of the DCEU), was Aquaman.

Meanwhile, Marvel’s pandemic-era Spider-Man: No Way Home has grossed $2.75 billion worldwide and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness you have managed a solid $1.4 billion.

Lately, DC’s nasty star drama has eclipsed the buzz — such as it is — surrounding its movies.

Ezra Miller, who plays the Flash, has caused a string of embarrassing controversies this year. In the spring, the actor was twice arrested in Hawaii — first for disorderly conduct and harassment, then for second-degree assault. Then in June, the Standing Rock Sioux tribal court issued an order of protection against the 29-year-old for allegedly using “violence, intimidation, threat of violence, fear, paranoia, delusions and drugs” to groom an 18-year-old whom the actor has known since she was 12. (Miller has not publicly commented on the latest allegation; a police investigation into the Hawaii incidents are reportedly ongoing.)

Ben Affleck, meanwhile, consistently claims he’s done with playing the Caped Crusader — even going so far as to allow Robert Pattinson to take over the role in this year’s batman — but keeps coming back like a bad ex-boyfriend. It was reported this week by Screen Rant that the actor will appear yet again as Bruce Wayne in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Perplexing.

And Gal Gadot is said to be starring in Wonder Woman 3, but the actress and director Patty Jenkins have said nothing — including a title or release date — beyond that they’re throwing around script ideas. DC, which squanders legendary properties with abandon, appears to have no grand plan whatsoever.

Soon, however, Wonder Woman won’t be the one holding the golden lasso anymore. Instead, power will be wielded by an all-controlling DC film production head who will attempt to turn things around. Before they arrive, killing batgirl is Step 1.

“This is the end of DC as a hobby,” the source said.

This story originally appeared on Page Six and is republished here with permission

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