INDIANA Jones is Xbox’s killer app of 2024, and people are rushing to play the part of the adventuring archaeologist.

While it’s only been out a few days, people are already digging in, and a few people have already finished it.

MachineGames

I love The Great Circle’s whip-cracking action[/caption]

MachineGames

But I don’t want to brawl with bad guys every ten seconds[/caption]

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Or have my companion constantly telling me what to do[/caption]

The feedback is promising. People love flicking their whip and punching the bad guys while they explore various historic monuments.

While the overall experience is very fun, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t without its issues.

Allow me to go on a tangent for a minute about how people’s relationships with technology have evolved over the past decade.

Smartphones have changed the way society functions for better and for worse. People are always reachable and they are always entertained.

There are the obvious impacts, like people are often multitasking, scrolling their phones while they watch TV or movies.

But there are smaller changes to our behaviour that phones have caused that people may not have noticed.

Thanks to social media and short videos, people have become used to instant gratification and multiple simultaneous options to keep themselves entertained.

While people used to be happy to think puzzles through on their own, or grind and backtrack, modern gamers won’t put up with this ‘time-wasting’.

We want it all and we want it now, and that means that games have had to change to adjust to these modern tastes.

This is usually a good thing. It’s what has made features like auto-save standard, and added accessibility and quality-of-life options to games.

But some games take pleasing our dopamine-soaked brains too far, and I end up feeling disrespected.

Indiana Jones tips the scale from engaging to pandering, and there are two main things that frustrated me as I played.

The first is that the bad guys are savage, and even when you are trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, they chase you relentlessly.

They are easily dispatched thanks to Indy’s iron fists, and empty bottles left by the Vatican’s obvious drinking problem, but I don’t want to brawl every time I walk outside.

I think these moments are so frequent to make sure that you are never too far from an action sequence, but I’d rather be left in peace.

Personally, the far more damning problem is Gina, the companion you pick up a few hours into the game.

During cutscenes she is a fun and well-written character, but she notices as soon as you invade Indy’s head as she suddenly starts talking to you like you’re an idiot.

“Oh the gate just opened”, Gina cries out after you pull the lever and are already walking through the gate.

“It’s getting really hot in here”, Gina points out as you stand in a room engulfed in flames.

If you look at a puzzle for more than one second before you start working on it, she helpfully shouts out that it’s a puzzle and how to complete it.

The first few examples make her seem stupid but her puzzle-solving prowess shows she’s not. 

Instead, she points things out to you like a mother who wants her toddler to think he’s doing things himself.

But I’m not doing things myself. I’m not allowed to. Gina has blurted all the fun out of exploring before I get my chance.

I think the developers did this to cater to a modern gaming audience that can’t concentrate long enough to finish a TikTok.

MachineGames have oversteered directly into the ball pit and it’s a dampener on an otherwise excellent game.

If you want to read more about the game, check out our Indiana Jones and The Great Circle review.

SPORTS pundit Gary Lineker has revealed just how much a reality TV show might need to pay to entice him to take part.

Speaking on YouTube for his podcast The Rest Is Football, he discussed with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer over what he would do if he ever gave up being a pundit for good.

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Sports presenter Gary Lineker revealed he would ‘never’ do a reality show[/caption]

YouTube/The Rest Is Football

YouTube/The Rest Is Football

Gary Lineker revealed: “Do you know last week I got requests to go on Celebrity Big Brother.”

As his fellow podcasters laughed he then revealed his agent handled the enquiry, but outlined a major fee before Lineker would agree to be involved.

Lineker continued: “My agent sent it through, and then jokingly he replied, ‘Oh, yes. Gary’s fee will be £50 million’.”

He then added: “He did it completely as a joke, obviously. And they came back said, ‘Oh, that’s a little bit…that’s not within our budget’.”

As Micah and Alan laughed along they joked that Gary would be getting more requests for shows now he’s stepping back from Match Of The Day, but he revealed a stint on a reality show is not likely.

Gary explained: “I can tell you now, don’t bother asking.”

Last month Gary revealed he will stop presenting Match of the Day at the end of this season.

Yet as part of an 18-month contract extension – the 63-year-old will stay on to anchor the Corporation’s 2025/26 FA Cup coverage and the next World Cup.

Lineker, who will take a substantial pay cut, will have hosted MOTD for 25 years when he steps down from the show.

The former England striker is understood to be on new terms, which will see his salary reduced significantly. He currently receives £1.35m, making him the highest paid broadcaster at the BBC.

In November, a BBC source said: “Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day, and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.

“But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves, he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years.

“He wants to leave on a high – and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get much higher.

“It’s one of the industry’s worst kept secrets that the new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t exactly close. The former is very keen to make his mark by bringing in new faces, and slashing wage bills.

“Negotiations have been ongoing for the past six weeks and finally a deal has been struck that everyone is pleased with. 

“Gary is incredibly popular with both players and viewers, and news of his departure will send shockwaves around the Corporation. In other words, no-one is immune from change.

“Gary will be 65 when he leaves; frankly, he isn’t getting younger and just feels the time is right to focus solely on his mogul interests outside the BBC – namely his Goalhanger podcasting business which is becoming huge Stateside.

“BBC execs, meanwhile, will be giving Match of the Day a reboot to keep it fresh in the wake of such a huge departure.”

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Gary is set to leave BBC’s Match Of The Day in 2026[/caption]

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The sports pundit will continue to present FA Cup and 2026 World Cup coverage[/caption]

FORMER Strictly Come Dancing pro Brendan Cole says he’s “gobsmacked” JB Gill was top of the leaderboard.

The dancer has accused the judges of overmarking the JLS star to get him to the final.

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Lauren Oakley and JB Gill are in the final[/caption]

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The judges have been accused of overmarking by a former pro[/caption]

Now he’ll face off against Chris McCausland, Tasha Ghouri and Sarah Hadland this weekend.

Giving his verdict on the result, Brendan told Sky Vegas: “The judges are judging everybody individually as if they are marking them against themselves rather than others – people are getting the same scores for what I saw as visually very different dances.

“If you compare Tasha [Ghouri] and JB [Gill’s] Salsas, Tasha performed a very good dance – there was an intro and an exit to a lift which were a little bit messy, and they marked her down for that. 

“JB did a Salsa – which was slightly stompy, awkward in places – and he was praised through to the rafters, and he was given four 10’s. His Pasodoble was a good number, but it wasn’t an amazing Pasodoble.

“Tasha should have been at least – if not four marks ahead on the judges’ scorecard – eight marks ahead.

“She wasn’t and that changes things, because all of a sudden, she’s second on the leaderboard, rather than first, and then she’s in the dance-off. If she had been first – where she belonged – perhaps she wouldn’t have been in the dance-off and would have been going through to the final with a different mentality. 

“I have no idea why they [the judges] think that JB is such an amazing dancer – I don’t see it. He’s definitely a great contestant and definitely deserves a final [spot], but he doesn’t deserve to be topping the leaderboard in that semi-final.” 

“Likewise, with Chris [McCausland], he was getting nines – he is fantastic in terms of what he’s doing – and I’ve loved watching his time on the show, and he’s performed some brilliant numbers.

“However, we’re talking about going from the semi-final to a final of a big competition, where it really matters to people and who have put in the best part of four months’ work. 

“If you’re going to mark numbers fairly, you need to mark it on their merits, not on your feeling over the contestant.

“The markings have to change as for my money Tasha should have been number one by far and Chris should have been bottom.

“If the judges took everything external out of it and judged one by one on their merits, i think it would be a very clear one to five. Tasha, Sarah [Hadland], JB, Pete [Wicks], and then Chris.”

Reflecting on who he would have preferred in the final – and who he thinks will win – Brendan added:

“I would have swapped out Chris McCausland with Pete [Wicks]. Pete was better on the night, and he deserved it a bit more.

“Chris was always going to be in the final – that was fairly clear from early on, even though the dancing didn’t improve the way it should. As a journey, Pete had the full spectrum, and that was quite impressive to watch.

“I was a little disappointed that he didn’t make the final – even though his dancing doesn’t necessarily deserve a place in a final – his journey does more so than anybody else.”

Brendan added: “Chris will take home the Glitterball, the show – for some reason – want JB [Gill] to take it home, but it should be Tasha [Ghouri who wins].

“She has had lots of dance experience, but at the same time, she is really good and some of the stuff she’s been doing has been exceptional.

“She has done some of the best dancing that the show has ever seen.”

JB got 79 out of 80 points for his two dances on Saturday night.

That meant he finished top of the leaderboard, followed by Tasha on 75 points, Sarah on 72 points and Chris on 69.

Tasha and Pete Wicks battled it out on the dance off – with the former Towie star getting the axe.

Rex Features

REALITY superstar Gemma Collins has told how she’s launching a pop career and even believes she can give Mariah Carey a run for her money.

In the thirty years since the release of the 1994 classic, All I Want for Christmas, US megastar Mariah Carey has become the unrivalled queen of the festive season.

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Mariah Carey is famous for her large scale Christmas tours, could Gemma be set to follow suit?[/caption]

The 55-year-old’s annual Christmas time tour of America, is now in its fourteenth year.

But now Essex’s Gemma Collins says that she’s ready to topple Mariah’s crown and become Britain’s answer to the “Queen of Christmas.”

The former TOWIE star has teamed up with alcohol brand Bailey’s to put the sweetness back into the season.

Earlier this week she attended the Bailey’s sip and sing launch in London, where she led the crowds in a Christmas carol sing-a-long, alongside the Gold Vocal collective choir.

Speaking about her new singing experience, the 43-year-old told The Sun:

“Oh hun, I was living my best life on that stage! Having The Gold Vocal Collective backing me and the crowd joining in – pure festive magic. I’m definitely feeling the buzz for more singing in 2025.”

“If the people want a GC Christmas tour, who am I to say no? It’s all about bringing joy, and if singing
does that, I’m up for it!”

In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Gemma then revealed why the Bailey’s brand is so close to her heart. 

“The Baileys Christmas Sip and Sing was the perfect start to the
festive season. I mean, who doesn’t love belting out those Christmas classics with a gorgeous Baileys choctail in hand?”

“It’s indulgent, creamy, and just puts me right in the holiday spirit. Baileys has been a part of my family’s Christmas celebrations for as long as I can remember – it’s a family favourite.”

“ I’ve always adored Baileys – it’s a real treat when you want something special. I couldn’t resist the chance to bring everyone together for a bit of sparkle and song!”

Earlier this year, Gemma revealed that she’s been raking in millions from a lucrative side hustle away, from the reality TV studios.

The TV personality has been buying and selling properties alongside her husband-to-be, Rami Hawash.

The pair reportedly live in a £1.3 million house in Essex, but Gemma has told The Sun, she has no time for those envious naysayers.

She said: “Darling, if you worked as hard as me you could be in the same position as me.”

“I didn’t get lucky, I worked extremely hard to get where I am. We can all manifest the GC lifestyle.

“Nobody gave me a pound, I did it all myself. I haven’t stopped working but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

After getting engaged earlier this year, after Rami staged a candlelit proposal in the Maldives, the couple are planning a lavish wedding ceremony for their family and friends.

She has also revealed plans to foster a child after several miscarriages and unsustainable pregnancies.

The Sun caught up with Gemma Collins, who has teamed up with Baileys this season to bring the joy back to Christmas – one festive carol and indulgent sip at a time.

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Gemma Collins appeared with the choir The Gold Vocal collective[/caption]

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The star led the crowds in a festive sing along after which she said she’d like to do more singing[/caption]

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IT’S not as common as it once was to be friends with your neighbours, but many still like to stay on good terms.

But that all went out the window for one homeowner after their next door neighbour added a dodgy privacy fence to their garden.

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The neighbour was stunned when they saw the newly added wall[/caption]

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They shared some snaps of the creation on Reddit[/caption]

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The wall didn’t look particularly secure[/caption]

Instead of paying the professionals to add some height to the already existing garden fence, the neighbour decided to take matters into their own hands.

The finished product was so bad the homeowner took to Reddit to rant about it – and they’re not the only one who raised some concerns.

Posting on Reddit, the explained that the red fence is theirs, but the dodgy looking wall was recently added by their neighbour.

“I’ve had mixed messages, some saying that it’s susceptible to damp, others saying it’s structurally fine and assume they’ll render it to look better,” they explained.

The homeowner went on to ask for other people’s thoughts on the matter and added: “I’m really concerned it’s structurally terrible and may fall over (I’ve got a child on the way!)”

It’s not hard to see why the homeowner is so concerned, the wall doesn’t exactly look structurally sound.

The cement is oozing out of the gaps, the bricks are uneven and there are even huge gaps – not exactly what you want, especially if you’re going to have a little one running around soon.

Fellow Reddit users were just as shocked by the wall, as one commented: “Who put it up? Bob the blind builder?”

Someone else thought reporting the dodgy wall to the council was the homeowners best bet.

“Report it to your local council, but expect it to take a very long time to resolve,” they commented.

“Be polite and patient with them and try to get an actual person to give half a sh*t… or just give it a shove into their garden and deny all knowledge,” they added.

A second urged the homeowner to report it and wrote: “Yes, you should definitely report that. It’s an absolute farce of a wall.”

And someone else had another idea: “Just pop out on a windy night and give it a firm nudge.”

Meanwhile, someone else joked: “Never in my life have I put up a brick will but I’m confident I could do better.”

And another said: “A good fart would bring that down, apart from being uglier than Pat Butcher’s earrings it doesn’t look anywhere near safe.”

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People urged the homeowner to complain about the new wall[/caption]

Tashinga Musekiwa scored the 11 runs needed from the final over to give Zimbabwe victory over Afghanistan in the first of a three-match T20 series.

Human rights groups brand Fifa's confirmation of Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts as a 'reckless decision' that will put 'lives at risk'.

As Jewish communities reel from recent violent attacks, a parliamentary inquiry trying to stamp out anti-Semitism at universities will sit on Thursday.

Australian home values could dip in early 2025 but a drop in interest rates is expected to send buyer demand up again.

Israel says it has killed two senior Hamas commanders in air strikes while medics in the Gaza Strip say the attacks have left at least 38 people dead.