Each of the just six rooms afford lake and mountain views beyond an extended lawn (perfect for dramatic and convenient chopper landings for aerial tours of the mountains) and feature walk-in wardrobes, writing desks, Bose sound systems and complimentary Wi-Fi. The starkly simple, homestead-like main lodge building also boasts the Southern Alps - the highest mountain range in Australasia with 16 peaks above 3000 metres - as its backdrop visible from every suite. It's perched on a hillside about 50 metres above the wondrous, 42-kilometre-long Lake Wanaka, just outside the inoffensive eponymous resort town, about an hour's scenic drive across the Crown Range from Queenstown. Whare Kea, which I visited not long ago, is, typical of a New Zealand lodge - dramatically located. They manage to be friendly yet not excessively familiar. Somehow the more reserved national demeanour of the New Zealander seems to make him or her better suited to service at this level of travel than Australians, especially when you consider the fact that tourism is one of the two most important earners of foreign exchange for the Kiwi economy. So just what is it about the Kiwis that allowed them to create such unique places, attracting wealthy guests from Europe, North America, and more lately Australia? He went on to open an award-winning, all-Australian lodge, with more belatedly following. ![]() I know one shrewd Australian operator, determined to replicate the Kiwi lodge model on his own terms, who spent a fortnight travelling around New Zealand taking notes. ![]() It's been akin to the hospitality equivalent of the All Blacks' dominance of the Wallabies in rugby union: you win some, you lose many. Certainly, the widespread international recognition of New Zealand's lodges (though few, if any, to my knowledge, are run at a profit) has long been the subject of near 100 per cent irritation from their Australian tourism counterparts. They offer a model an envious Australian tourism industry has only most recently managed to emulate in the form of the internationally lauded Kangaroo Island's Southern Ocean Lodge and Tasmania's Saffire Freycinet. While New Zealand, due to its size, has relatively few true five-star hotels, its network of luxury lodges now extends from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island.īy submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's Compare that with Japan's ryokans or Spain's paradores, whose origins stretch back centuries, and you realise how much those canny Kiwis have achieved. The first luxury lodge, Huka, opened in the 1920s but most of the others, including Whare Kea, have been established only in the past few decades or so. Indeed, I've long admired what the New Zealanders have achieved with their lodges in a relatively short time. Perfection, if you can afford it, what with the heady nightly rates asked for this level of accommodation, is at the essence of the Kiwi concept of a luxury lodge, and faux pas usually don't get more trifling than the above. Photo: AlamyĪh, New Zealand luxury lodges: perfect one day, near perfect the next. "But it won't be perfect," she says.ĭramatic: the view from Whare Kea. Just as my kindly middle-aged waitress places my caffe latte order on the dining table before me some of the contents spill into a saucer, forming a little brown moat around the bottom of the glass. ![]() But I remain seated, transfixed by the wraparound views, more or less mandatory at a salubrious New Zealand lodge such as this one.
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![]() Technically speaking, the game is post-post-apocalyptic, as the Earth has. But it's always a good idea to keep track of where Balanced Blade is located, just in case you need it.Ĭheck out the rest of our Returnal content if you're looking for more great ways to survive on Atropos, including our massive rundown of Returnal tips and tricks, and read our Returnal review. In this open-world action/adventure game, you’ll take control of an archer named Aloy in the far-future American West. ![]() If orange force fields seem thin in your early biomes, feel free to skip this one. Especially if you've already seen orange force fields on a run in early biomes, you should try to remember to snag it. Share your journey through Returnal with another player. Engage enemies in bullet hell-fuelled clashes. It usually pays for itself with the upgrades you'll find in the rooms it walls off. Can you return a pre-owned game to any Gamestop or only the one where it was purchased A relative staying at my place bought a pre owned game for me that i already own and the store they bought it from is hours away (but in same state). BREAK THE CYCLE Fight to survive as this award-winning third-person shooter brings Selene’s story to PC. Balanced Blade seems like an artifact you can skip, but because it allows you to open up those orange force fields, it's a pretty good upgrade to prioritize. That means you should try to seek it out when you start new runs it's most often available at the four-item fabricators found in hub areas in each of the biomes. You'll need to upgrade your Atropian Blade with the Balanced Blade artifact to open these doors.īalanced Blade is an artifact, which means that even when you find it, you'll lose it if you die or give up on a run and return to Helios. Incredibly unique gameplay and very addicting to keep trying to make it further each run. When you get the upgrade, you'll increase the power of your melee attacks, while also being able to break orange force fields just like red ones by slashing them with your sword-and most of the time, when you clear an orange force field, you'll find a room full of health, weapon, or suit upgrades that will make any given run a little easier. Returnal is a game full of risky encounters that can mean the difference between a successful run and a more testing one, while players are constantly at the mercy of the loot they may or may. To deal with this second brand of force fields, you need a specific artifact called "Balanced Blade." You can find the gear-shaped artifact in fabricators, in chests, or in random drops from enemies. Now Playing: 11 Returnal Tips to Help you Survive How To Break Orange Door Barriers By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's ![]() I didn’t experience any frame drops that I can remember.īoth exteriors and interiors look great. ![]() Then, I had my browser open at the same time with YouTube on. The graphics don’t get in the way of the game, either. If any of the developers read this, great job! It might sound like I’m too optimistic about it. That goes double if we consider it’s the developer’s first game. So, let’s get to the official section of is Atomic Heart good? Let’s dedicate this one to the graphics.Īs I said, the graphics look fantastic. OK, I’ve been talking about the visuals for a while now. The graphics were admittedly breathtaking at times. The graphics and art style that help make Atomic Heart good And, traversing through the environment is fairly immersive. You get the point: everything looks great. And, you can really feel the mayhem caused by the robot rebellion. After a few minutes (or an hour if you took your time) everything goes to hell. And, you can listen to several interesting conversations. For instance, you can see robots interacting with people. In some areas, you can get a taste of the lore. During the intro, you can see NPCS chatting and interacting with the environment. So, I really wasn’t expecting the quality of the visuals here. In fact, Atomic Heart appears as their first game on their website. Mundfish isn’t a triple-A developer by any means. Other than that, the graphics also surprised me. Other characters and in-game notes have a couple of jokes. And, it’s constantly arguing with the main character. When you get into the gameplay, the same goes for dialogs and characters. Right from the difficulty settings, you can smile at the descriptions. But, the predominant mood here is humorous. Sure, it has observations here and there. This game isn’t a serious story or commentary on modern society. Immediately, you can see the tone the game is seeking. What did I find the first time I booted up the game? So, before we decide whether Atomic Heart is good, let’s dive into my first glance. The humor was evident right after the first menu. ![]() My first impression before asking whether Atomic Heart is good So, there are many mechanics to unpack here. Also, you’ll be upgrading your character and guns in RPG fashion. In these cases, you must improvise and find the most efficient way to take out all your enemies. But, other times you’ll be dropped into larger arenas. You’re traversing through hallways with a few enemies. At times, it feels more like the third entry. They’ll help you craft ammo and upgrade your gear.įinally, we can also compare the combat to Doom. Thus, you’re always looking for crafting materials. Additionally, it has a fairly deep looting and crafting system. That’s due to the atmosphere and player choices. Moreover, Atomic Heart has elements from other games. But, you quickly unlock more abilities, like freezing your enemies. You start off with a simple electric shock. This leads to interesting gameplay tactics, combos, and variety. Along with your weapons, you have a catalog of superpowers to use. Lastly, there’s the “supernatural” side of things. So, you have to time your dodges to avoid heavy damage. Plus, melee combat brings a bunch of unique mechanics. Once more, the weapons feel heavy and satisfying. You can use a fire axe, hammer, and more. Again, there are a bunch of weapons here. You have a shotgun, pistol, rocket launcher, and more. On the shooter side of things, we have a varied firearm selection. It’s more akin to Bioshock in its art style, mechanics, and overall “feel.” In reality, it’s an action game with shooting, melee, and power-up mechanics. However, we can’t judge it entirely on its shooting mechanics. Primarily, Atomic Heart is a first-person shooter. The intro exudes Bioshock vibes, even from the art style. What exactly is Atomic Heart? Kind of soviet Bioshock So, let’s get right into it so that I can go back to playing. I don’t want to spoil the experience for newcomers. Just keep in mind that I’ll mainly focus on the start of the game. It became much more than a way to kill time while I wait for Dead Island 2. I’ll be honest, I only stopped to write this review. I got pretty addicted to it throughout the weekend. The game was released on February 25th, directly on Game Pass, too. But, you also have melee weapons and superpowers. It’s a combination between an RPG, Doom, and Bioshock. However, Atomic Heart caught my eye a while ago. That’s why I’ve covered games like Operation: Harsh Doorstop. If you’ve read my work on FPS, you know I’m a fan of tactical shooters. And, it’s been described as soviet Bioshock. The title was developed by Mundfish, a Russian game development studio. Atomic Heart has been one of the most anticipated, but controversial, games recently. ![]() Include them on top of your digital media kit and let others know why you are here. “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” “To inspire humanity - both in the air and on the ground.” You can see three great examples of mission statements below. ![]() An easy way to do that is to include a mission statement at the top of your media kit. Your audience should know why you are in this business from the early beginning. You must state your brand’s mission as soon as possible. It must be compelling yet straight to the point.įortunately, writing a brand story isn’t difficult and you can easily do that in the 3 steps below. You should answer questions like who you are, what you do, and how you can help others. Include Brand Storyįirst, you must introduce yourself to the journalists, influencers, and everyone else. We’ll start with the most important part… 1. It will allow you to create a compelling digital media kit for your brand which can maximize your chances of getting published in the media press. ![]() In this section, you’ll discover everything that a high-quality digital media kit includes. Hit enter and you get a list of all high-traffic keywords people search for on Google.īe sure to include these keywords and other popular related phrases in the press to make your website rank higher and get more traffic What Does an Effective Digital Media Kit Include? Go to BiQ Cloud Keyword Intelligence and type in your main keyword or the topic of the press coverage. Or you risk ranking high on Google for the keywords nobody cares about.Īn easy way to find the right keywords that have a lot of traffic potential is BiQ Cloud. This is mostly because it allows you to share media coverage on your site which can help you increase credibility and build backlinks.īut for that to be successful, you must use the phrases people search for. SEOĪ digital media kit isn’t a ranking factor, but can still help you rank higher. That allows you to get published more often and maximize your exposure. They just need to go to your site, look at your digital media kit and they have your whole brand’s story and every important detail at their disposal. The press release doesn’t have to work in your company, nor have to directly contact you. Inbound PRĭigital media kit makes it as easy as possible for journalists and writers to release a story about your brand. They just go to your site, open a digital media kit and they have everything in their hands. Writers, journalists, and publishers no longer have to think about or try to guess information or stats about your company. Gives You Control over What Is PublishedĪ great thing about digital media kit is that it gives you control over what gets published. It’s also a great way to promote the services you offer or new products you’re launching.Ģ. You can include your features, pricing, benefits, and the company’s mission inside of it. A digital media kit can help you fix this and help others understand your company better by sharing important details about it. If you’re new or just getting started, nobody knows about you. Promotes Launch of a CompanyĪ digital media kit creates a perfect opportunity to promote a lunch of a company. They’ll help you see why a media kit is important and give you the motivation to perfect it. In this section, we will cover the 4 most important ones. There are a couple of important benefits digital media kits can offer. Why Are Online Media Kits Important for a Brand? In this article, you’ll discover everything about a digital media kit and how to perfect it. It includes the statistics, benefits, and key facts that help others understand your brand, its mission, and what you have to offer.Ĭreating a proper digital media kit can increase your chances of media coverage, increase credibility, and also convey a strong brand image. A digital media kit is a collection of all important information about your business. Here are 9 crucial things that must be included in your digital media kit. Having media kits are a huge deal for businesses who want to get their brand out there. ![]() ![]() This is because a majority of consumers would be willing to spend more if they knew that their patronage was going to a company that values transparency in business. Transmitting rays of light without permitting objects to be distinctly seen partially transparent. In general, companies who are more forthright with their results in quarterly or annual reports are more successful than those who are not. These are issues that make it possible for a team to avoid unnecessary conflict that could potentially snowball into bigger issues and create roadblocks later.īeing transparent in business also helps foster better relationships with customers. definition, 39 Triangularis muscle, 29 Tuberculosis, 27 Ultra contrast filter. Transparency makes it possible for a department to operate smoothly as expectations are managed, goals are set, and progress is regularly shared. Translucent, definition, 39 Transparent, definition, 39 Traynor lift. Sharing information within an organization keeps everyone on the team on the same page. The importance of communication and transparency in business is also evident in the way it facilitates improved operational efficiencies. This way, transparency becomes an effective asset in the acquisition of talent that would drive the business forward. People want to be a part of a company that is straightforward about its values, priorities, and salary expectations. In a search for new candidates, culture fit matters just as much as hard skills. The degree of transparency is measured by its transmittance, which is the ratio of light transmitted through an object to the light incident on it. Trust and transparency in business make it easier to attract strong talent to the team. ![]()
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![]() Some more photos via Getty Images: Photo by David Odisho/Getty Images Photo by David Odisho/Getty Images Photo by David Odisho/Getty Images Photo by David Odisho/Getty Images Photo by Maranie R. This map from today shows where the fire is active: Map via # Firemappers That town is currently evacuated and is "surrounded by fire," according to one evacuee. As of Wednesday morning, it was 30% contained, but it was still actively burning in Plumas National Forest and Lassen National Forest, and in the woods outside Westwood, population 1,600. Dramatic video captured the Dixie Fire, the largest wildfire burning in California, tearing through the small community of Greenville on Wednesday. The Dixie Fire continues burning and is the largest single wildfire in recorded state history, at over 500,000 acres. The population was 1,129 at the 2010 census, down from 1,160 at the 2000 census. Most of the buildings were destroyed by the Dixie Fire in August 2021. Driving through small town Greenville, California around the Plumas National Forest 18,422 views 249 Dislike Share Save The Mad Nomadder 2. Trails in Greenville, California, United States of America 37601111. But much like Paradise was leveled in that fire, Greenville will face a long and tough road to rebuild - and the loss of California history is being deeply felt there as well, with buildings gone that were over a century old. Greenville is a unincorporated community in Plumas County, California, United States, on the north-west side of Indian Valley. Trails in Greenville, California, United States of America 19436826 . What is the 9-digit ZIP Code for GREENVILLE, California Below is the list of GREENVILLE ZIP Code plus 4 with the address, you can click the link to find. Unlike the Camp Fire in 2018, the Dixie Fire has not moved quickly enough to claim any lives. Story: /gVmUcNYOPv- San Francisco Chronicle August 5, 2021 Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Juxtaposed images captured before and after the Dixie Fire tore through Greenville show the fire’s devastating effects on the town of about 2,100 people Frost Shards 10ml -Dazzling multi-coloured effect. The Arctic Frost Winter 2019 collection, now available on ORLY's site for $9.50 each, bottles up the mystique of the far north with glimmery shades designed to sparkle like snow and ice - essentially guaranteeing you'll stand out amongst a sea of bright red manicures this season. Gel Nail Polish -Frost Shards (clear multi coloured glitter) -HEMA Free. And don't worry, there's still plenty of shimmer and shine fitting of the season. Instead, the crowd-favorite nail brand took inspiration from the arctic tundra, and turned out a collection of polishes that transports to you the otherworldly destination. While the typical trappings of the holidays have inspired plenty of nail polish drops of late - like essie's new holiday collection - you won't find a single red, green, gold, or silver in ORLY's fresh launch. And that's why ORLY's new Arctic Frost Winter 2019 collection feels like a much-appreciated breath of fresh (albeit wintry) air, thanks to its range of six standout polishes inspired by a frozen place very far north. Coming from the brand’s Scotland Collection, it’s super pigmented for bold results. Colour Confidence Nail Polish Night FrostNight Frost. Best Red OPI Nail Polish: Red Heads Ahead Nail Lacquer Buy Now Key features: Size: 0.5 fl oz Finish: Crème Price: 10.79 This bright red OPI shade is a must-have for every polish collection. ![]() Plenty of popular nails brands have already busted out their celebratory collections, and no surprise, they're full of flashy metallics, rich jewel tones, and telltale ruby reds. Whether you are searching for a dark navy, a rich purple or a midnight blue, there is a statement. It's that time of year again, people - get ready to see a whole lot of undeniably festive manicures in anticipation of the holidays. |