Hobbies

Photography originally established itself without color, but with the arrival of colors in the 1890s, monochrome pictures slowly disappeared. It is still practiced today but is only popular among a niche set of photographers. As a non-photographer myself, I use smartphones to capture photos, so the art of monochrome photography was unknown to me. That is until I used the Xiaomi 13 Pro and its Leica-powered cameras, which not only introduced me to the style but made me a better photographer overall. The many…

I’m a sucker for a tactics game built around a setting that’s atypical for the genre. For instance, I was a fan of Paradox Interactive’s Empire of Sin in 2020, which turned prohibition-era mob management into a tactical strategy RPG. So it’s no surprise that I’m already digging The Lamplighters League and the Tower at the End of the World. Developed by Harebrained Schemes, the unusual game draws on pulp spy thrillers. It follows a ragtag team of 1930s misfits traveling across the globe to thwart a cult’s nefarious…

In 2023’s most surprising news so far, Counter-Strike 2 is coming. The competitive shooter isn’t just a follow-up to the massively popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but an upgrade to that game using the new Source 2 engine. A beta is already underway, with the full game scheduled to come sometime this summer. With how Valve is handling the project, I can’t help but think of how Blizzard rolled out its own recent shooter sequel: Overwatch 2. Both games are highly popular, competitive, and live-service style…

Just when I think there are no new ways to make a tactics game, something like Miasma Chronicles completely blows that notion apart. Developed by The Bearded Ladies, the upcoming tactical RPG is something of a continuation of the studio’s previous project, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. It’s another post-apocalyptic adventure that has players freely exploring large worlds and stopping to battle monsters in traditional turn-based tactical battles. Don’t expect the exact same experience, though; the old dog has…

Forza Horizon 4’s excellent 2019 Lego expansion worked so well that it seemed obvious that an open-world Lego racing game should become its own thing. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long to see that become a reality. Visual Concepts and 2K Games have announced a multi-title partnership with The Lego Group that begins with the open-world racer Lego 2K Drive, which launches on May 19. I was recently flown out to 2K’s Novato headquarters to go hands-on with Lego 2K Drive ahead of its announcement and came…

What if taking on a hobby could lower your risk of dementia? That seems to be the underlying question behind a new study featured in the latest volume of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. According to a new study, having a hobby could lower dementia risk in older adults. However, it isn’t a cure, as some might initially think. Dementia is one of the highest-risk diseases in many adults right now, and the number of patients diagnosed with memory loss continues to grow…

Even with magnifying glasses being replaced by smartphone cameras, a child can tell you what happens when light shines through a focusing lens: a basic science experiment that the creators of this recalled bird bath appear to have forgotten.Today the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an official recall for the Backyard Nature Products Bird’s Choice Hanging and Pole-Mounted Acrylic Bird Baths which were sold in “red, yellow and clear colors” at everywhere from Target to Walmartto Amazon.As you…

For the ultra-rich, fly fishing is one of the most popular ways to spend time, a new report says.GROGL via Getty ImagesSpending time on yachts, golf courses and the slopes of exclusive ski resorts might be what first comes to mind when thinking about how the ultra-rich like to spend their time.And while those are all in the top ten pastimes of so-called centi-millionaires — anyone who has assets worth over $100 million – other activities on the list might be more surprising.Fishing and cycling are among the ultra-rich's…

Image: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images (Getty Images)It’s the final day of New York City Comic-Con! In between all the news that we here at io9 have been covering throughout the weekend, we’ve also shone a spotlight on some sick ass cosplay. Here’s the final batch to close things out! Image: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images (Getty Images)It’s the final day of New York City Comic-Con! In between all the news that we here at io9 have been covering throughout the weekend, we’ve also shone a spotlight on some sick ass cosplay. Here’s the…

Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images (Getty Images)New York Comic Con 2022 is here and that means cosplay. So, so much cosplay. To quote a certain video game, “Everyone is here!,” and it’s here where we’ve got some of the coolest cosplay in town!A Little Guy and Ms. Fun ScaryImage: Paul Morigi/Getty Images (Getty Images)TFW texting your wifeImage: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images (Getty Images)G/O Media may get a commissionMajora’s Mask of the WildImage: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images (Getty Images)Gonna be the Number One cosplayer!Image: …