Monthly Archives: March 2021
Scientists Teach AI to Beat Tricky 1980s Platformers
A team of scientists working as part of Uber AI Labs has taught an artificial intelligence to complete 1980s platformers, such as Pitfall.
The scientists have created a series of algorithms that are able to create archives of their previously explored areas, allowing the AI to effectively remember where it has been in a level. It can then use that knowledge to further explore new, not yet investigated locations.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/10/history-of-awesome-pitfall"]
This method differs from the traditional AI approach of intrinsic motivation, which rewards an AI for finding new areas. But this system can result in the AI effectively forgetting about places it has already been and potential avenues branching from those areas that it has yet to take.
By using this new method, the team have been able to teach the AI how to beat games such as Montezuma’s Revenge, Freeway, and Pitfall; all tricky gaming classics from the Atari era of gaming.
"Our method is indeed pretty simple and straightforward, although that is often the case with scientific breakthroughs," said scientists Adrien Ecoffet, Joost Huizinga and Jeff Clune in an interview with BBC.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-platformers-of-2020&captions=true"]
Key to how the new design, known as Go-Explore, works is that it is able to separate the process of exploring new areas and returning to old ones, and uses different methods to achieve those two goals.
As is often the case in science, this research is being done with a much larger goal of just teaching a computer how to play video games. The team says that the algorithms could be used for guiding robots within industrial locations, such as robotic baristas in a coffee shop.
"In addition to robotics, Go-Explore has already seen some experimental research in language learning, where an agent learns the meaning of words by exploring a text-based game, and for discovering potential failures in the behaviour of a self-driving car," the team added.
Perhaps the next stage is to progress to 3D platformers? With that in mind, here's some classic 3D platformers that we'd love to see rebooted.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Scientists Teach AI to Beat Tricky 1980s Platformers
A team of scientists working as part of Uber AI Labs has taught an artificial intelligence to complete 1980s platformers, such as Pitfall.
The scientists have created a series of algorithms that are able to create archives of their previously explored areas, allowing the AI to effectively remember where it has been in a level. It can then use that knowledge to further explore new, not yet investigated locations.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/10/history-of-awesome-pitfall"]
This method differs from the traditional AI approach of intrinsic motivation, which rewards an AI for finding new areas. But this system can result in the AI effectively forgetting about places it has already been and potential avenues branching from those areas that it has yet to take.
By using this new method, the team have been able to teach the AI how to beat games such as Montezuma’s Revenge, Freeway, and Pitfall; all tricky gaming classics from the Atari era of gaming.
"Our method is indeed pretty simple and straightforward, although that is often the case with scientific breakthroughs," said scientists Adrien Ecoffet, Joost Huizinga and Jeff Clune in an interview with BBC.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-platformers-of-2020&captions=true"]
Key to how the new design, known as Go-Explore, works is that it is able to separate the process of exploring new areas and returning to old ones, and uses different methods to achieve those two goals.
As is often the case in science, this research is being done with a much larger goal of just teaching a computer how to play video games. The team says that the algorithms could be used for guiding robots within industrial locations, such as robotic baristas in a coffee shop.
"In addition to robotics, Go-Explore has already seen some experimental research in language learning, where an agent learns the meaning of words by exploring a text-based game, and for discovering potential failures in the behaviour of a self-driving car," the team added.
Perhaps the next stage is to progress to 3D platformers? With that in mind, here's some classic 3D platformers that we'd love to see rebooted.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.
Golden Globes 2021: All the TV and Movie Winners
It's Golden Globes time!
There were a lot of surprises this year at the Golden Globes as Nomadland took home Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Director, Andra Day won Best Actress (Drama) for The United States vs Billie Holiday, and Rosamund Pike captured Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) for I Care a Lot.
David Fincher's Mank, which led in movie nominations, was shut out, along with The Father, Promising Young woman, and One Night In Miami.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm took home two Golden Globes, for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) for star Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen's co-star Maria Bakalova did not win in her category however. Pixar's Soul also won two Globes, for Best Animated Feature and Best Score.
Chadwick Boseman won a posthumous Best Actor Golden Globe for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom while Mark Ruffalo won Best Actor for a Limited Series, for I Know This Much Is True.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2021-movies-preview&captions=true"]
In TV, Netflix's The Crown cleaned up in most of the acting categories, including a Supporting Actress award for Gillian Anderson. Schitt's Creek continued its win streak, picking up Best TV Comedy and a Best TV Actress (Comedy or Musical) trophy for Catherine O'Hara. Jason Sudeikis won Best Actor for the titular role in Ted Lasso.
Netflix's The Queen's Gambit did well for itself too, winning Best Limited Series and a Best Actress in a Limited Series award for Anya Taylor Joy.
Winners:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah - WINNER
- Jared Leto, The Little Things
- Bill Murray, On the Rocks
- Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- John Boyega, Small Axe - WINNER
- Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule
- Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek
- Jim Parsons, Hollywood
- Donald Sutherland, The Undoing
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Lily Collins, Emily in Paris
- Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
- Elle Fanning, The Great
- Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek - WINNER
- Jane Levy, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Best Motion Picture – Animated
- Soul - WINNER
- Onward
- Wolfwalkers
- Over the Moon
- The Croods: A New Age
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
- Bryan Cranston, Your Honor
- Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule
- Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird
- Hugh Grant, The Undoing
- Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True - WINNER
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
- Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
- Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 - WINNER
- Jack Fincher, Mank
- Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton, The Father
- Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
- Olivia Colman, The Crown
- Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
- Emma Corrin, The Crown - WINNER
- Laura Linney, Ozark
- Sarah Paulson, Ratched
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
- Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah - H.E.R., Dernst Emile II, Tiara Thomas
- Hear My Voice from The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Daniel Pemberton, Celeste
- Io Si (Seen) from The Life Ahead - Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi - WINNER
- Speak Now from One Night in Miami - Leslie Odom Jr., Sam Ashworth
- Tigress & Tweed from The United States vs. Billie Holliday - Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
- Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky
- Ludwig Göransson, Tenet
- James Newton Howard, News of the World
- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Soul - WINNER
- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Mank
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso - WINNER
- Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek
- Nicholas Hoult, The Great
- Ramy Youssef, Ramy
- Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Emily in Paris
- The Flight Attendant
- The Great
- Ted Lasso
- Schitt's Creek - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
- Kate Hudson, Music
- Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit
- Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot - WINNER
- Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama
- Jason Bateman, Ozark
- Josh O'Connor, The Crown - WINNER
- Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
- Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason
- Al Pacino, Hunters
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
- Another Round
- Minari - WINNER
- Two of Us
- The Life Ahead
- La Llorona
Best Television Series – Drama
- The Mandalorian
- The Crown - WINNER
- Lovecraft Country
- Ozark
- Ratched
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
- Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian - WINNER
- Amanda Seyfried, Mank
- Helena Zengel, News of the World
- Olivia Colman, The Father
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- Gillian Anderson, The Crown - WINNER
- Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
- Julia Garner, Ozark
- Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
- Cynthia Nixon, Ratched
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
- Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit - WINNER
- Shira Haas, Unorthodox
- Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
- Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
- Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- Normal People
- The Queen's Gambit - WINNER
- The Undoing
- Small Axe
- Unorthodox
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
- Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - WINNER
- Anthony Hopkins, The Father
- Gary Oldman, Mank
- Tahar Ramin, The Mauritanian
Best Director – Motion Picture
- Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
- David Fincher, Mank
- Regina King, One Night in Miami
- Chloé Zhao, Nomadland - WINNER
- Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - WINNER
- Hamilton
- Music
- Palm Springs
- The Prom
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - WINNER
- James Corden, The Prom
- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
- Andy Samberg, Palm Springs
- Dev Patel, Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Andra Day, The United States vs Billie Holiday - WINNER
- Frances McDormand, Nomadland
- Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
- Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nomadland - WINNER
- Mank
- The Father
- Promising Young Woman
- The Trial of the Chicago 7
Golden Globes 2021: All the TV and Movie Winners
It's Golden Globes time!
There were a lot of surprises this year at the Golden Globes as Nomadland took home Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Director, Andra Day won Best Actress (Drama) for The United States vs Billie Holiday, and Rosamund Pike captured Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) for I Care a Lot.
David Fincher's Mank, which led in movie nominations, was shut out, along with The Father, Promising Young woman, and One Night In Miami.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm took home two Golden Globes, for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) for star Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen's co-star Maria Bakalova did not win in her category however. Pixar's Soul also won two Globes, for Best Animated Feature and Best Score.
Chadwick Boseman won a posthumous Best Actor Golden Globe for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom while Mark Ruffalo won Best Actor for a Limited Series, for I Know This Much Is True.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2021-movies-preview&captions=true"]
In TV, Netflix's The Crown cleaned up in most of the acting categories, including a Supporting Actress award for Gillian Anderson. Schitt's Creek continued its win streak, picking up Best TV Comedy and a Best TV Actress (Comedy or Musical) trophy for Catherine O'Hara. Jason Sudeikis won Best Actor for the titular role in Ted Lasso.
Netflix's The Queen's Gambit did well for itself too, winning Best Limited Series and a Best Actress in a Limited Series award for Anya Taylor Joy.
Winners:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah - WINNER
- Jared Leto, The Little Things
- Bill Murray, On the Rocks
- Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- John Boyega, Small Axe - WINNER
- Brendan Gleeson, The Comey Rule
- Dan Levy, Schitt's Creek
- Jim Parsons, Hollywood
- Donald Sutherland, The Undoing
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Lily Collins, Emily in Paris
- Kaley Cuoco, The Flight Attendant
- Elle Fanning, The Great
- Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek - WINNER
- Jane Levy, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Best Motion Picture – Animated
- Soul - WINNER
- Onward
- Wolfwalkers
- Over the Moon
- The Croods: A New Age
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
- Bryan Cranston, Your Honor
- Jeff Daniels, The Comey Rule
- Ethan Hawke, The Good Lord Bird
- Hugh Grant, The Undoing
- Mark Ruffalo, I Know This Much Is True - WINNER
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
- Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
- Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 - WINNER
- Jack Fincher, Mank
- Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton, The Father
- Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
- Olivia Colman, The Crown
- Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
- Emma Corrin, The Crown - WINNER
- Laura Linney, Ozark
- Sarah Paulson, Ratched
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
- Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah - H.E.R., Dernst Emile II, Tiara Thomas
- Hear My Voice from The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Daniel Pemberton, Celeste
- Io Si (Seen) from The Life Ahead - Diane Warren, Laura Pausini, Niccolò Agliardi - WINNER
- Speak Now from One Night in Miami - Leslie Odom Jr., Sam Ashworth
- Tigress & Tweed from The United States vs. Billie Holliday - Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
- Alexandre Desplat, The Midnight Sky
- Ludwig Göransson, Tenet
- James Newton Howard, News of the World
- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Soul - WINNER
- Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Mank
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso - WINNER
- Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek
- Nicholas Hoult, The Great
- Ramy Youssef, Ramy
- Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
- Emily in Paris
- The Flight Attendant
- The Great
- Ted Lasso
- Schitt's Creek - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
- Kate Hudson, Music
- Michelle Pfeiffer, French Exit
- Rosamund Pike, I Care A Lot - WINNER
- Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama
- Jason Bateman, Ozark
- Josh O'Connor, The Crown - WINNER
- Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
- Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason
- Al Pacino, Hunters
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
- Another Round
- Minari - WINNER
- Two of Us
- The Life Ahead
- La Llorona
Best Television Series – Drama
- The Mandalorian
- The Crown - WINNER
- Lovecraft Country
- Ozark
- Ratched
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
- Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy
- Jodie Foster, The Mauritanian - WINNER
- Amanda Seyfried, Mank
- Helena Zengel, News of the World
- Olivia Colman, The Father
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- Gillian Anderson, The Crown - WINNER
- Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown
- Julia Garner, Ozark
- Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
- Cynthia Nixon, Ratched
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
- Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit - WINNER
- Shira Haas, Unorthodox
- Nicole Kidman, The Undoing
- Cate Blanchett, Mrs. America
- Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- Normal People
- The Queen's Gambit - WINNER
- The Undoing
- Small Axe
- Unorthodox
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
- Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - WINNER
- Anthony Hopkins, The Father
- Gary Oldman, Mank
- Tahar Ramin, The Mauritanian
Best Director – Motion Picture
- Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
- David Fincher, Mank
- Regina King, One Night in Miami
- Chloé Zhao, Nomadland - WINNER
- Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - WINNER
- Hamilton
- Music
- Palm Springs
- The Prom
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm - WINNER
- James Corden, The Prom
- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
- Andy Samberg, Palm Springs
- Dev Patel, Personal History of David Copperfield
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
- Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- Andra Day, The United States vs Billie Holiday - WINNER
- Frances McDormand, Nomadland
- Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
- Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman
Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nomadland - WINNER
- Mank
- The Father
- Promising Young Woman
- The Trial of the Chicago 7