Latest news with #Link
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Studio Ghibli's Majestic Sensibility Is Drawing Imitators
Hayao Miyazaki and his colleagues at Studio Ghibli craft pictures that are so delicately drawn and convincingly textured that it seems as if we should be able to step right into them. Think of the bustling bathhouse of 'Spirited Away' or the bucolic Japanese countryside of 'My Neighbor Totoro.' But as viewers, we are never able to actually enter these worlds of tender emotions, whimsical characters and, perhaps above all, vivid locations that set the imagination ablaze. Movies are made from flat 2-D images; they remain tantalizingly out of reach. The most committed Ghibli fans can travel to Ghibli Park in Nagoya, Japan, and Ghibli Museum in Tokyo for a tactile experience of their beloved animated films. But most of us are not making that globe-trotting journey. Enter video games, which allow players to explore immersive 3-D environments and satisfy many fantasies: the sword-wielding savior, the slayer of fantastical beasts, the fleet-footed time traveler. The influence of Studio Ghibli — which turned 40 this week — can be seen throughout the industry, notably in recent additions to the Legend of Zelda franchise. Breath of the Wild (2017) and Tears of the Kingdom (2023) each offer pastoral experiences tinged with menace, similar to many Ghibli pictures; their cel-shaded graphics also evoke the studio's exquisite painterly style. In Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda's devoted knight Link moves between floating land masses that evoke those in 'Castle in the Sky.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Is Cutting Medicare Advantage Commissions. How Should You Play UNH Stock Here?
UnitedHealth (UNH) shares are in focus on Tuesday following reports the health insurance giant is removing commissions for brokers on a small percentage of Medicare Advantage plans. The company believes removing incentives tied to selling these plans could cut costs that made it suspend its full-year guidance last month. Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for June 22 Nvidia Says Quantum Computing Is Nearing an 'Inflection Point.' Here Are the 3 Best Stocks to Buy Now to Profit. Warren Buffett Loves This Cheap Dividend Stock and So Do Company Insiders Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. At the time of writing, UnitedHealth stock is down nearly 50% versus its year-to-date high in April. Removing broker incentives may prove significantly positive for UNH shares since it may reduce enrollment in higher-cost plans, helping the insurer regain control over its margins. Investors could read the company's decision as a proactive step toward stabilizing its earnings and restoring financial discipline. While regulatory pressures remain, cost containment measures like this could ease concerns and support the case for a rebound in UnitedHealth stock – especially as the NYSE-listed firm continues to lead the fast-growing Medicare Advantage market. UNH currently pays a dividend yield of 2.87%, which makes up for another good reason to have it in your investment portfolio. Speaking with CNBC today, Hightower's chief investment strategist Stephanie Link also dubbed the Medicare Advantage news a positive since it's 'what got them in trouble in the first place.' Link agreed that the next few months will likely remain volatile for UNH stock – but reiterated her constructive view on the insurance behemoth for the long term. According to the Hightower's top strategist, UnitedHealth shares are currently going for about 13 times earnings only, which she said was 'too cheap for the number one player in the industry.' Additionally, Link expects UNH to soon announce an extended share repurchase program that she believes could breathe new life into the healthcare stock in the back half of 2025. Despite ongoing challenges and a massive crash in UnitedHealth stock this year, Wall Street hasn't thrown in the towel on the world's largest health insurer. The consensus rating on UNH currently sits at 'Moderate Buy' with the mean target of about $364 indicating potential upside of 18% from current levels. On the date of publication, Wajeeh Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Is Cutting Medicare Advantage Commissions. How Should You Play UNH Stock Here?
UnitedHealth (UNH) shares are in focus on Tuesday following reports the health insurance giant is removing commissions for brokers on a small percentage of Medicare Advantage plans. The company believes removing incentives tied to selling these plans could cut costs that made it suspend its full-year guidance last month. Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for June 22 Nvidia Says Quantum Computing Is Nearing an 'Inflection Point.' Here Are the 3 Best Stocks to Buy Now to Profit. Warren Buffett Loves This Cheap Dividend Stock and So Do Company Insiders Markets move fast. Keep up by reading our FREE midday Barchart Brief newsletter for exclusive charts, analysis, and headlines. At the time of writing, UnitedHealth stock is down nearly 50% versus its year-to-date high in April. Removing broker incentives may prove significantly positive for UNH shares since it may reduce enrollment in higher-cost plans, helping the insurer regain control over its margins. Investors could read the company's decision as a proactive step toward stabilizing its earnings and restoring financial discipline. While regulatory pressures remain, cost containment measures like this could ease concerns and support the case for a rebound in UnitedHealth stock – especially as the NYSE-listed firm continues to lead the fast-growing Medicare Advantage market. UNH currently pays a dividend yield of 2.87%, which makes up for another good reason to have it in your investment portfolio. Speaking with CNBC today, Hightower's chief investment strategist Stephanie Link also dubbed the Medicare Advantage news a positive since it's 'what got them in trouble in the first place.' Link agreed that the next few months will likely remain volatile for UNH stock – but reiterated her constructive view on the insurance behemoth for the long term. According to the Hightower's top strategist, UnitedHealth shares are currently going for about 13 times earnings only, which she said was 'too cheap for the number one player in the industry.' Additionally, Link expects UNH to soon announce an extended share repurchase program that she believes could breathe new life into the healthcare stock in the back half of 2025. Despite ongoing challenges and a massive crash in UnitedHealth stock this year, Wall Street hasn't thrown in the towel on the world's largest health insurer. The consensus rating on UNH currently sits at 'Moderate Buy' with the mean target of about $364 indicating potential upside of 18% from current levels. On the date of publication, Wajeeh Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Switch 2 Edition review
Nintendo's remaster of the sequel to Zelda: Breath Of The Wild has been tweaked and upgraded, with considerably better graphics and a few new tricks and options. We're very jealous of anyone who's playing the two most recent Zelda games for the first time on Switch 2. As we've already explored, with the Switch 2 Edition of Breath Of The Wild, these are essentially just remasters, with no substantial new content, but given both games had issues with performance on the original Switch, enhanced versions are very much welcome. The original version of Tears Of The Kingdom didn't have quite as infamous a problem with its frame rate as Breath Of The Wild but it was still obvious that the original Switch was only just able to run the game at a satisfactory level. On the Switch 2, everything seems a lot more effortless, and it's immediately obvious that this is by far the best way to play the game. Both are 10/10 classics, so really the only question here is which to start with and whether they're worth the price of an upgrade, if you've already played them. One thing to note is that Tears Of The Kingdom is an even bigger game than its predecessor, so the chances are you probably haven't 100%-ed it, and so the new Zelda Notes mobile app will come in extra handy here. PIC 1 As with the Switch 2 Edition of Breath Of The Wild, we're not going to pretend we've completed the whole game again from scratch. It's far too long for that (at least 60 hours if you ignore every possible diversion – which no one ever does) but we've explored the game again in all its glory by using both a new save file and our old one from the Switch 1. Our original review covers everything in detail but, in short, Tears Of The Kingdom is a direct sequel to Breath Of The Wild – a real rarity for any Zelda game. It uses the same map as Breath Of The Wild but altered to account for the passage of time and with the addition of a gloomy underworld and a series of islands in the skies. It's not quite three times as big as before, but it's not far off. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. One of the few criticisms of the original version of Tears Of The Kingdom is that while the visual storytelling is clear, in terms of showing a world recovering from the calamity of the previous game, the narrative barely acknowledges the fact, with many returning characters not even seeming to recognise Link. There was also some disappointment, following the original release, that the sky islands and underworld depths are involved in relatively few of the story missions. There's lots of optional side quests involving them, and they're tons of fun to explore, but the existing overground is still the main story focus. Which surprised many given that's not necessarily what the marketing implied. You could also complain that the combat, arguably the weakest element of the original game, hasn't changed significantly but the major focus of Tears Of The Kingdom, in terms of new features, is the Ultrahand ability, which allows you to manipulate objects as if Link has telekinesis. This is used to fuse weapons into stronger forms, increasing the amount of time before they break, but primarily to create complex constructions and vehicles. Most puzzles and obstacles can be overcome in multiple different ways, as you use raw materials like wood and specialist items like items and steering wheels, to create all kinds of Heath Robinson style devices. The only restriction was the limited amount of time that some vehicles, particularly flying ones, had before they automatically fell apart. We're not sure what technical limit it was that was forcing this, but it hasn't changed in the Switch 2 Edition, no doubt because it would unbalance the rest of the game. All the changes in the remaster are essentially the same as with Breath Of The Wild, including higher resolution visuals, 60fps gameplay, and HDR support. There are also the same flaws, in that these improvements make obvious the rather basic textures in some areas, as well as the pop-up for smaller objects like bushes and rocks. But then this is just a remaster, not a remake. Other changes include an extra save file, if you want to start again from scratch, and access to the Zelda Notes app. This is used in an almost identical way to Breath Of The Wild, with an array of mildly useful features, such as the ability to share items with other players, edit photos that you take along the way, and check player data. With Tears Of The Kingdom you can also create a QR code for any of your Ultrahand builds and share them with other people. Tears Of The Kingdom also has new commentary from Princess Zelda, which is just as inessential as in Breath Of The Wild, while the most useful option by far remains a live map which shows you nearby Koroks and shrines, for those that are trying to see and do everything in the game. More Trending There's no question that Tears Of The Kingdom is a great game or that this is anything but a very welcome remaster. The only real issue is whether this or Breath Of The Wild is the better game. That will be argued about for many years to come, as while Tears Of The Kingdom is better overall – fixing a few minor quibbles with its predecessor – Breath Of The Wild is more approachable and the one responsible for all the initial innovation. As much as we'd love to play both games again for the first time, we're not sure we'd advise anyone doing so one after the other, in quick succession. But that's up to you, all we can say is that the Switch 2 now has the definitive versions of two of the best games ever made, and that's not bad going for any console launch. In Short: The definitive version of one of Nintendo's most astounding technical and design achievements, that expands and refines the world of Breath Of The Wild in new and unexpected ways. Pros: The Ultrahand system is an incredible achievement and allows even more freedom in how you approach the game. Immense game world, with a new secret or encounter around every corner. Higher frame rate and resolution are a big help. Cons: As with Breath Of The Wild, some of the texture work is showing its age and the weak storytelling still feels like a missed opportunity. Score: 10/10 Formats: Nintendo Switch 2Price: £66.99 or £7.99 upgrade pack*Publisher: NintendoDeveloper: Nintendo EPDRelease Date: 5th June 2025 Age Rating: 12 *free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Stellar Blade's story is 'weak' admits director but there's a reason why MORE: The Witcher 4 designed for PS5 and not PC after 'so many problems' scaling down MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 sales numbers smash records in the US and worldwide
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
My unexpected Pride icon: Link from the Zelda games, a non-binary hero who helped me work out who I was
Growing up steeped in the aggressive gender stereotypes of the 1990s was a real trip for most queer millennials, but I think gamers had it especially hard. Almost all video game characters were hypermasculine military men, unrealistically curvaceous fantasy women wearing barely enough armour to cover their nipples, or cartoon animals. Most of these characters catered exclusively to straight teenage boys (or, I guess, furries); overt queer representation in games was pretty much nonexistent until the mid 2010s. Before that, we had to take what we could get. And what I had was Link, from The Legend of Zelda. Link is a boy, but he didn't really look like one. He wore a green tunic and a serious expression under a mop of blond hair. He is the adventurous, mostly silent hero of the Zelda games, unassuming and often vulnerable, but also resourceful, daring and handy with a sword. In most of the early Zelda games, he is a kid of about 10, but even when he grew into a teenager in 1998's Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, he didn't become a furious lump of muscle. He stayed androgynous, in his tunic and tights. As a kid, I would dress up like him for Halloween, carefully centre-parting my blond fringe. Link may officially be a boy, but for me he has always been a non-binary icon. As time has gone on and game graphics have evolved, Link has stayed somewhat gender-ambiguous. Gay guys and gender-fluid types alike appreciate his ageless twink energy. And given the total lack of thought that most game developers gave to players who weren't straight and male, I felt vindicated when I found out that this was intentional. In 2016, the Zelda series' producer Eiji Aonuma told Time magazine that the development team had experimented a little with Link's gender presentation over the years, but that he felt that the character's androgyny was part of who he was. '[Even] back during the Ocarina of Time days, I wanted Link to be gender neutral,' he said. 'I wanted the player to think: 'Maybe Link is a boy or a girl.' If you saw Link as a guy, he'd have more of a feminine touch. Or vice versa … I've always thought that for either female or male players, I wanted them to be able to relate to Link.' As it turns out, Link appeals perhaps most of all to those of us somewhere in between. In 2023, the tech blog io9 spoke to many transgender and non-binary people who saw something of themselves in Link: he has acquired a reputation as an egg-cracker, a fictional character who prompts a realisation about your own gender identity. Despite their outdated reputation as a pursuit for adolescent boys, video games have always been playgrounds for gender experimentation and expression. There are legions of trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people who first started exploring their identity with customisable game characters in World of Warcraft, or gender-swapping themselves in The Sims – the digital equivalent of dressing up. Video games are the closest you can come to stepping into a new body for a bit and seeing how it feels. It is no surprise to me that a lot of queer people are drawn to video games. A 2024 survey by GLAAD found that 17% of gamers identify as LGBTQ+, a huge number compared with the general population. It may be because people who play games skew younger – 40 and below – but I also think it's because gender is all about play. What fun it is to mess with the rules, subvert people's expectations and create your own character. It is as empowering as any world-saving quest.
