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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I hosted a Mario Kart World tournament at work and lost — and this is the most important thing I learned
Full disclosure: I didn't pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2. I wasn't fully convinced that it was worth upgrading from my OG Switch, which still works just fine. I told myself that if they ported Baldur's Gate 3 to the Switch 2, that would be enough reason to buy it. That hasn't happened yet (and I don't know if it will), but since then, I've had hands-on time with our shared Switch 2 in the office, and I often spend my lunch break playing a Knockout round in Mario Kart World with Harry from TechRadar (we're friendly rivals). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of my favorite games on my OG Switch, so naturally I really enjoy Mario Kart World too. One day, when Harry and I were playing, we came up with the brilliant idea to host a tournament for our office. We pitched the idea to five of our colleagues and they all agreed. Everyone loves Mario Kart, right? So seven of us chose a date and time after work and let it unravel. Luckily, no friendships or work relationships were harmed in the making of this tournament. The rules for our Mario Kart World tournament were simple: one group of four players and another group of three players would compete across 12 races, with the winners from each group battling it out in a best-of-three showdown. We plugged one Switch 2 into one TV and another Switch 2 into another TV next to it. With our Joy-Cons and third-party controllers in hand (the Turtle Beach Rematch included), we battled it out. Despite my high hopes, I finished second in my group which meant I did not progress to the finale. I was bummed, of course, because I really do enjoy winning, and I get very competitive. The only person I'm genuinely happy to lose against is my partner and that's where I draw the line. So no, I was not happy finishing second and that meant I had to now watch the two winners from the groups race it out. As I sat there with my arms crossed and my eyebrows slightly furrowed (no, I am not a sore loser), something dawned on me. I... actually enjoyed watching others play? Gasp. I sat there with my eyes fixed on the TV and I thoroughly enjoyed the two finalists navigate their way around shortcuts and drift into oblivion while NPCs bombarded them with red shells and the occasional blue shell. And I have to say: Mario Kart World makes for a great spectator sport, and a lot of it is down to the NPCs. I've sunk at least 80 hours into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and never once did I think the NPCs outsmarted me. Sure, once you fall down the pecking order and find yourself in the last 10, things get sticky. But never as bad as in Mario Kart World as having 24 racers on track results in a lot of chaos — so much so that people have often complained about the game's difficulty on r/NintendoSwitch and r/MarioKart. NPCs, for a change, seem intelligent and smart. They'll take shortcuts, grind on rails, target you, so on and so forth, and if you aren't in top form and aren't utilizing shortcuts, the game will punish you. That's what made watching the finale of our tournament so thrilling — the five of us who watched it had no idea what to expect, and I doubt the finalists did either. It was so thrilling to watch, and definitely more fun to watch than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which, after a while, becomes predictable and you don't even break a sweat playing 150CC+. Our office Mario Kart World tournament has cemented the game as one of the greats for me, which I didn't think earlier. With the plethora of characters and vehicles to choose from and the different types of race tracks, it's a whole lot of fun for people who don't like video games either. I can't wait to host another tournament now.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Last chance to claim your Fortnite refund – Act fast or risk missing out on free cash
Fortnite players, there is still time to claim a refund for unintended purchases. The US Federal Trade Commission extended the deadline to July 9. The FTC already distributed $126 million in refunds. You can apply if charged for unwanted items between January 2017 and September 2022. Claims can be filed online through the FTC website. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Last chance to get your Fortnite refund Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Who can get a refund? Who can file a claim? Watch out for scams Why is Epic Games refunding players? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FTC says kids were targeted FAQs If you or your child made an unintended purchase in Fortnite over the past few years, there's still time to claim a refund, but the clock is US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has extended the deadline for filing a claim related to unwanted Fortnite purchases , as reported by TechRadar. While the original deadline was February 14, the new and final date to submit a claim is July 9, according to the far, the FTC has already distributed $126 million in refunds to players who submitted valid claims by the earlier deadline, as reported by you've already filed a claim, there's no need to do anything else, but in case you haven't, there's still time to act quickly by filing the claim online through the FTC's website, as per the TechRadar READ: Rocket Lab stock skyrockets past 52-week high with 13% surge - what's fueling the rise? The FTC has mentioned that you can apply for a refund if you meet at least one of the following criteria, as compiled by TechRadar:You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful chargesALSO READ: Worry for Jensen Huang's Nvidia? AMD stock skyrockets - what did CEO Lisa Su say that has investors cheering However, to submit the claim form, you must be at least 18 years old and above, so a parent or guardian can also complete the claim form on behalf of those under that age, as reported by to the report, the claims process is only open for those in the United States, while the FTC has also warned against potential refund scams, reiterating the fact that it will never charge in order to file a claim. "Don't pay anyone who promises you an FTC refund in exchange for a fee," as quoted in the READ: Top economist warns: US faces a crisis worse than recession — here's what could be coming The refunds stem from a 2022 settlement between the FTC and Epic Games, Fortnite's developer, according to the report. Epic Games was accused of using deceptive design tactics, which are called 'dark patterns,' to trick players into making unintended purchases, according to the report. The company was also charged with violating children's privacy laws, which is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), as per the TechRadar chair Lina M. Khan said previously that, "Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that tricked Fortnite users, including teenagers and children," as quoted in the also said, "Protecting the public, and especially children, from online privacy invasions and dark patterns is a top priority for the Commission, and these enforcement actions make clear to businesses that the FTC is cracking down on these unlawful practices," quoted TechRadar in its yet. The deadline is now July 9, 2025. If you're eligible, file online before If your child made charges without your consent, you can still file a claim.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Last chance to claim your Fortnite refund – Act fast or risk missing out on free cash
If you or your child made an unintended purchase in Fortnite over the past few years, there's still time to claim a refund, but the clock is ticking. Last chance to get your Fortnite refund The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has extended the deadline for filing a claim related to unwanted Fortnite purchases , as reported by TechRadar. While the original deadline was February 14, the new and final date to submit a claim is July 9, according to the report. So far, the FTC has already distributed $126 million in refunds to players who submitted valid claims by the earlier deadline, as reported by TechRadar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You might be interested Undo If you've already filed a claim, there's no need to do anything else, but in case you haven't, there's still time to act quickly by filing the claim online through the FTC's website, as per the TechRadar report. ALSO READ: Rocket Lab stock skyrockets past 52-week high with 13% surge - what's fueling the rise? Live Events Who can get a refund? The FTC has mentioned that you can apply for a refund if you meet at least one of the following criteria, as compiled by TechRadar: You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022 Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018 Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges ALSO READ: Worry for Jensen Huang's Nvidia? AMD stock skyrockets - what did CEO Lisa Su say that has investors cheering Who can file a claim? However, to submit the claim form, you must be at least 18 years old and above, so a parent or guardian can also complete the claim form on behalf of those under that age, as reported by TechRadar. Watch out for scams According to the report, the claims process is only open for those in the United States, while the FTC has also warned against potential refund scams, reiterating the fact that it will never charge in order to file a claim. "Don't pay anyone who promises you an FTC refund in exchange for a fee," as quoted in the report. ALSO READ: Top economist warns: US faces a crisis worse than recession — here's what could be coming Why is Epic Games refunding players? The refunds stem from a 2022 settlement between the FTC and Epic Games, Fortnite's developer, according to the report. Epic Games was accused of using deceptive design tactics, which are called 'dark patterns,' to trick players into making unintended purchases, according to the report. The company was also charged with violating children's privacy laws, which is the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), as per the TechRadar report. FTC says kids were targeted FTC chair Lina M. Khan said previously that, "Epic used privacy-invasive default settings and deceptive interfaces that tricked Fortnite users, including teenagers and children," as quoted in the report. Khan also said, "Protecting the public, and especially children, from online privacy invasions and dark patterns is a top priority for the Commission, and these enforcement actions make clear to businesses that the FTC is cracking down on these unlawful practices," quoted TechRadar in its report. FAQs Am I too late to file my Fortnite refund claim? Not yet. The deadline is now July 9, 2025. If you're eligible, file online before then. Can I still get a refund if my child made the purchase? Yes. If your child made charges without your consent, you can still file a claim.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Users of Facebook app must make important change now to avoid private chats going PUBLIC
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) META AI, which has been woven into the Facebook and WhatsApp experience, might be making your private conversations with the chatbot public. The standalone Meta AI app prompts users to choose to post publicly in the app's Discovery feed by default, a recent report by TechRadar warned. 2 When users tap "Share" and "Post to feed," they are sharing their conversations with strangers all around the world Credit: Alamy 2 Fortunately, you can opt out of having your conversations go public completely through the Meta AI app's settings Credit: Alamy When users tap "Share" and "Post to feed," they are sharing their conversations with strangers all around the world. It is much like a public Facebook post, the report added. The Discovery feed is plastered with AI-generated images, as well as text conversations. There's no telling how private these interactions can be - from talking through your relationship woes to drafting a eulogy. "I've scrolled past people asking Meta AI to explain their anxiety dreams, draft eulogies, and brainstorm wedding proposals," the report wrote. "It's voyeuristic, and not in the performative way of most social media; it's real and personal." Meta has a new pop-up warning users that agreeing for their AI chats to land on the Discovery page means strangers can view them. These conversation snippets aren't just for themselves or their friends to see. However, accidental sharing remains a possibility. TechRadar noted that these conversations may even appear elsewhere on Meta platforms, like Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram. Meta's top VR boss predicts AI-powered future with no phones, brain-controlled ovens and virtual TVs that only cost $1 Fortunately, you can opt out of having your conversations go public completely through the Meta AI app's settings. Here's how you can make sure your chats aren't at risk of being shared publicly: Open the Meta AI app. Tap your account icon, i.e. your profile picture or initials. Next, click on Data and Privacy and then tap Manage Your Information. and then tap Then toggle on Make all public prompts visible to only you , and then Apply to all in the pop-up. This will ensure that when you share a prompt, only you will be able to see it. , and then in the pop-up. To go one step further, you can erase all records of any interaction you've had with Meta AI. To do this, simply tap Delete all prompts in this same section of the Meta AI app's settings. This will wipe any prompt you've written, regardless of whether it's been posted, from the app. It's worth noting that even though you have opted out Of course, even with the opt-out enabled and your conversations with Meta AI no longer public, Meta still retains the right to use your chats to improve its models.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- The Sun
Users of Facebook app must make important change now to avoid private chats going PUBLIC
META AI, which has been woven into the Facebook and WhatsApp experience, might be making your private conversations with the chatbot public. The standalone Meta AI app prompts users to choose to post publicly in the app's Discovery feed by default, a recent report by TechRadar warned. 2 When users tap "Share" and "Post to feed," they are sharing their conversations with strangers all around the world. It is much like a public Facebook post, the report added. The Discovery feed is plastered with AI -generated images, as well as text conversations. There's no telling how private these interactions can be - from talking through your relationship woes to drafting a eulogy. "I've scrolled past people asking Meta AI to explain their anxiety dreams, draft eulogies, and brainstorm wedding proposals," the report wrote. "It's voyeuristic, and not in the performative way of most social media; it's real and personal." Meta has a new pop-up warning users that agreeing for their AI chats to land on the Discovery page means strangers can view them. These conversation snippets aren't just for themselves or their friends to see. However, accidental sharing remains a possibility. TechRadar noted that these conversations may even appear elsewhere on Meta platforms, like Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram. Meta's top VR boss predicts AI-powered future with no phones, brain-controlled ovens and virtual TVs that only cost $1 Fortunately, you can opt out of having your conversations go public completely through the Meta AI app's settings. Here's how you can make sure your chats aren't at risk of being shared publicly: Open the Meta AI app. Tap your account icon, i.e. your profile picture or initials. Next, click on Data and Privacy and then tap Manage Your Information. Then toggle on Make all public prompts visible to only you, and then Apply to all in the pop-up. This will ensure that when you share a prompt, only you will be able to see it. To go one step further, you can erase all records of any interaction you've had with Meta AI. To do this, simply tap Delete all prompts in this same section of the Meta AI app's settings. This will wipe any prompt you've written, regardless of whether it's been posted, from the app. It's worth noting that even though you have opted out Of course, even with the opt-out enabled and your conversations with Meta AI no longer public, Meta still retains the right to use your chats to improve its models. What is Meta AI? You may have spotted Meta AI on your social media feed - here's how it works: Meta AI is a conversational artificial intelligence tool, also known as a chatbot. It responds to a user's questions in a similar fashion to competitors like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. Meta AI is what's known as generative AI, so called due to its ability to generate content. It can produced text or images in response to a user's request. The tool is trained on data that's available online. It can mimic patterns commonly found in human language as it provides responses. Meta AI appears on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, where it launches a chat when a question is sent.
