New York State

The Wednesday letters page is appalled by Warner Bros. closing down Monolith Productions, as one reader celebrates 15 years of Deadly Premonition.

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Past decisions
I think it’s pretty obvious the reason Fable has been delayed is so that Microsoft can release it on PlayStation 5 at the same time. They said that some developers weren’t set up to do it or hadn’t planned to when they first started and Fable definitely wasn’t designed for PlayStation 5, given how long ago it began.

It’s obvious Indiana Jones And The Great Circle would’ve had a bigger impact if it’d been multiformat from the start. I don’t think it was to give the Xbox a little bit of exclusivity, I just don’t think it was ready. And I think the only reason a release date hasn’t been announced yet is because it’s not finished.

There are no Xbox exclusives now, there’s just games they haven’t got round to porting across yet. I’d be surprised if there was a single game that wasn’t released multiformat by the time we get to next year. I think things like South Of Midnight being Xbox only are just putting people off and they don’t realise that the change has already happened, there’s just a bit of lag on the implementation.
Purple Ranger

Ever decreasing circles
Just seen the news about Warner Bros. shutting down multiple developers and I just don’t know what to say. If it’s not buyouts shrinking the size of the games industry it’s layoffs. How is Warner going to improve its profitability if it doesn’t release a new game for five or more years?

OK, it won’t be spending any money on development, but it won’t be making any either. You need to actually make a game to be able to sell and earn money off it. I mean, that seems pretty basic logic to me.

My sympathies to all those affected by this latest short-sightedness and I really hope you’re not all replaced by AI, even though you probably will be. Can’t wait for that new Wonder Woman game where she’s got six fingers on each hands and the background size and perspective keeps changing every time you turn the camera.
Gadfly

Definitely delivered
I just wanted to write in and say how brilliant Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is. A real breath of fresh air compared to many recent games. It’s the first game in a long time that I find myself thinking about when I’m not playing it. The game world seems so real it’s a pure joy just to walk around and see what you can find. I haven’t completed many missions but the ones I have seemed interesting and not just fetch quests.

Maybe I’ve missed them, but I’ve heard very little about this in the Inbox. Hopefully readers are too busy enjoying it to write in. I hope it sold well. It deserves to.

Keep up the good work.
Manic Miner 100 (gamertag)

GC: It sold very well. Better than the original, with 2 million sales in less than two weeks.

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Shaolin superheroes
I’m not really sure what James Gunn knows about making video games. All he seems to do is talk about trivial stuff like who’s doing the voiceovers. He did work on Lollipop Chainsaw, so maybe he picked up something, but I really could do without Injustice 3.

I think the positive reaction to the Superman movie trailer shows that people are sick of evil Superman and Injustice is very Zack Snyder adjacent. I’d be happy for NetherRealm to either reboot the series with more positive portrayals of the characters or do something new. They keep putting off a Shaolin Monks sequels so why not make one but with DC Comics characters? Or something similar at least.
Pr0metheus

Jurassic larks
Been seeing a lot of talk of Dino Crisis talk lately. Nothing major, just things like the fact it actually outsold Onimusha (which is getting a new game) back in the day and GOG advertised it coming to PC in Times Square. Little things but I hope it’s all leading up to some kind of remake and/or sequel.

I know the Inbox likes to joke about dinosaurs in games but with a new trilogy of Jurassic Park films coming out soon surely now is the perfect time for Capcom, and others, to take advantage of the fact that everyone loves dinosaurs and yet almost no games have them.

Turning them into movie monsters is one thing but you could have them be friendly too, in a Dino Riders sense. How that hasn’t become a thing after all these years, even in just an indie game, I have no idea.
Snatcher

Slop machine
I completely understand people’s revulsion at the thought of Xbox firing lots of talented developers to pump out AI sludge, and while I have no doubt to some extent that will probably happen, I can’t help but see some benefit to Microsoft’s Muse tools and their ilk.

If it speeds up developments of assets for games that can be curated by a discerning human hand, especially in this and the next generation where games are getting more and more complex to build, surely that’s a net gain? Especially for indie developers.

Am I exposing my ignorance here in thinking it couldn’t at the very least correct glitches within real-time based on player feedback? My Star Wars Jedi: Survivor playthrough would certainly be a lot smoother.
ArmandxUltra (gamertag)

GC: We don’t know about that specific example, but AI can absolutely be used for lots of useful things, that would be difficult, time consuming, or simply too tedious for people. These are not creative tasks and yet so much AI tech is aimed at wholly replacing artists and developers, who are already underpaid enough it’s hard to imagine the savings equalling the cost of creating the technology in the first place.

15 years of Zach
I know how much people love/hate hearing about anniversaries so here’s another one for you: Deadly Premonition is 15 years old this week.

For me personally it’s one of those where it feels both too old and not old enough. One thing’s for certain you’d never get a weird, half broken game like that released on consoles nowadays. Maybe an indie game but for me part of the appeal of the game was finding this bizarre hidden gem in Tesco that was actually one of the best games of the year. I’ll never forget that original IGN review that just did not get it.
Mackalo

All or nothing
Just horrible to see what has happened to Monolith Productions, whose only crime seems to be that they were mismanaged by a clueless exec. Warner Bros. are already one of the few big publishers left and now they’re considerably less big.

Once again, we see how the ridiculous length of time it takes to make games nowadays is destroying both developers and publishers. Unless Warner Bros. is suddenly very good at keeping secrets they’re going to have nothing new out until 2030 at the best, by which point we’ll likely be halfway through the PlayStation 6 generation.

This problem has been going on for years now and I’ve not seen anyone make any attempt to solve it. Even when there are very obvious things they can do in terms of cutting budgets and play times, especially when so many people are complaining that games are too long anyway.

It feels like the games industry doesn’t want to help itself. If it can’t make infinite money, instantly it’d rather just crash and burn. The people in charge of these companies are deranged.
Goober

Inbox also-rans
Good for Bloober Team getting more work from Konami but can I have my new Castlevania game now, please? I really hope the talk of a reveal during the Switch 2 becomes true because that’s the only thing that would even slightly explain the lack of news.
Austin

So are Sony actually going to give any compensation for the PSN blackout? I know I haven’t received anything.
Lobar

GC: They are if you have PS Plus, but not if you haven’t. But they don’t seem to have done it yet anyway.

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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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'I know that he can give more.'

Black Ops 6 is getting stale, but there’s still hope for the latest Call of Duty; it just has to learn quickly from what MW3 did so well.

THOUSANDS of unemployed Brits are set for a major boost as a new fast track to work scheme is rolled out across seaside towns.

More than 100,000 jobseekers from towns like Blackpool and Scarborough will be given the chance to learn new skills and land work.

NB PRESS LTD

The scheme will be rolled out across seaside towns including Scarborough and Blackpool[/caption]

AFP

Employment minister Alison McGovern said the scheme would be a ‘game changer’[/caption]

This will span across various industries crying out for staff – with hospitality and retail among those desperate for recruits.

The Government’s Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) will be expanded by more than a quarter next year.

It will offer work-ready training, placements, and guaranteed job interviews to those on benefits.

Employment Minister Alison McGovern said the scheme will be a game-changer in areas struggling with high unemployment, urging more businesses to sign up.

She said: “The evidence is clear – SWAPs boost your earnings and keep you in your job for longer.

“That is why we are promising to deliver more of them than ever, as we Get Britain Working as part of our Plan for Change.”

The move comes as research shows those who take part in SWAPs earn up to £1,400 more over two years and stay in jobs for three months longer on average.

The expansion will see a hospitality training pilot rolled out to 26 new areas, including 13 coastal towns, to help tackle the industry’s 88,000 unfilled roles.

UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls hailed the move, saying: “UKHospitality’s Sector-Based Work Academy pilot proved to be a brilliant way to provide high quality, entry-level training for both new starters and those looking to get back into work.

“I’m delighted that the Government is rolling out our pilot to 26 new areas and using it as the model for its exciting plans to deliver at least 100,000 SWAP participants next year.

“This announcement gives us the impetus to expand our work across the country, help more people find rewarding jobs in hospitality, boost growth, tackle economic inactivity and continue to develop our Hospitality Skills Passport.”

Anyone on Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance can sign up through their local Jobcentre, while businesses can partner with the DWP to create tailored training schemes for vacancies.

It comes as the spiralling cost of supporting people with disabilities and long-term health conditions is on track to surpass £100bn by the end of the decade.

A near-record 2.8m people are out of work due to  ill health according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a rise of nearly 700,000 compared to before the Covid lockdown.

PA

Unemployed people will be able to land jobs across the hospitality and retail sectors[/caption]

A NAVY veteran spent £25,000 of his pension going private for life-saving heart surgery because of NHS delays.

Neil Wogan, 52, found out in 2023 that he required an urgent valve replacement.

ABNM

Naval veteran Neil Wogan spent £25,000 of his pension going private for life-saving heart surgery because of NHS delays[/caption]

But after a four-month wait to see a cardiologist and then an additional four months to wait for an op, he went private, fearing “my heart could fail at any moment”.

Former weapons engineer Neil, now a police community support officer, from Wigan, said: “I feel really let down by the system.”

Neil said: “I felt like a ticking time bomb.

“Every night I went to sleep thinking I might never wake up.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to go private as I’ll now have to retire later than I’d planned but I felt forced to – I was desperate.

“I had been on sick leave by that point for months and it was taking a huge mental and physical toll on me and my family.

“I’ve served my country for nearly 30 years: in the Navy, for my local council, and for the police.

“I feel really let down by the system.”

The British Heart Foundation called it the result of an “unprecedented crisis” in heart care, with 420,000 in England on waiting lists.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the UK and second for women.

KELLY Brook has a blooming great time as she tells how women thank her for revealing she’s happy being child-free.

Sunny Kelly, 45, who posed in a yellow floral dress, reckons she’s a ray of light to many for “being honest” about her preference in a TV chat.

Prima UK / Nicky Johnston

Kelly Brook, 45, has a blooming great time as she poses in a yellow floral dress[/caption]

Prima UK / Nicky Johnston

Kelly tells how women thank her for revealing she’s happy being child-free[/caption]

Prima UK / Nicky Johnston

Kelly on the cover of the April 2025 issue of Prima magazine[/caption]

She had miscarriages in her 20s and 30s, which she said took an emotional and physical toll.

Kelly, wed to model Jeremy Parisi, told Prima mag: “I never had a really positive experience with pregnancies and trying for children.

“I just got so sick of being asked about it.

“‘We’re not having children’ kind of closes off this conversation.

“People are shocked you can be that blunt.

“But that’s where we’re at.”

In July 2022, Kelly married her longtime boyfriend Jeremy, whom she had dated since 2015.

The pair began dating after she messaged him on Instagram.

Last year, Kelly publicly gushed about her man when she told The Times: “I just thought, this guy is genuine and kind and selfless and he’s putting me first, not his career.

“Jeremy brought out the best in me and I can have the life that I’ve dreamt of without compromising.”

The April 2025 issue of Prima is now on sale.

NET Zero will cost Britain around £5billion a year for the next 25 years — with higher energy costs and pricier holidays for all.

And eco zealots want you to ditch your bacon for beans and lentils.

SelwynPics

Ed Miliband’s Net Zero pledge will cost Britain around £5billion a year for the next 25 years[/caption]

Getty

Heating costs have risen by £150 – despite Labour’s promise to bring down energy bills[/caption]

The Climate Change Committee today lays out the huge price of going green by 2050.

The public body claims savings will come eventually, but “the net costs of Net Zero will be around 0.2 per cent of GDP a year on average” in that time.

With GDP at around £2.6trillion, that will be around £5billion annually over the 25-year period when ministers are legally obliged to hit Net Zero.

The CCC says home heating costs will only be cheaper with significant government help to cushion the blow of switching from boilers to heat pumps.

Its report says: “Depending on the level of policy support, a typical household will experience somewhere between £100 in savings to £150 in additional costs per year, on average, from 2025 to 2050.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband previously said his eco dash will knock £300 off bills.

The committee — set up by law to advise the Government on battling climate change — expects Brits to drive less and consume less meat and dairy.

It adds: “Meat products will be mainly replaced by existing alternative protein products, some plant-based whole foods and, in the later years, novel alternative proteins.”

It says farmers should stop keeping cows and sheep and move to “woodland creation” and “peatland restoration”.

The CCC also proposes a range of flying taxes, saying by 2040 “a return ticket from London to Alicante, Spain, would increase by about £150” — up £600 for a family of four.

Reform UK’s Richard Tice said: “This report confirms that Net Zero will cost many tens of billions in taxpayers’ money over the next decade.”

Getty

A family holiday will be priced out for many[/caption]

Eroteme

Many eco zealots want you to ditch your bacon for beans and lentils – like those eaten by Coleen Rooney in I’m A Celeb[/caption]

Keir armour

FOR years The Sun has railed against the obscene waste of our foreign aid.

Only a tiny fraction ever did any good.

PA

Sir Keir Starmer deserves considerable credit for increasing our forces’ budget[/caption]

So it is right to take billions from that budget to bolster our defences against Russia and China.

Given how painful that is for some Labour MPs, Keir Starmer deserves considerable credit for doing it.

Increasing our forces’ budget from 2.3 to 2.5 per cent of GDP in two years is hardly a game-changer.

Three per cent could be, though that’s nine years off.

But hiking spending IS the right call.

Significantly, as the PM prepares to meet Donald Trump, it was welcomed by the US Defence Secretary as a “strong step from an enduring partner”.

Unlike many of his MPs, Sir Keir now knows how hard being in power actually is.

And he must find more steel to cull other ideological Labour fixations and release billions more for defence along with tax cuts to foster growth.

The crushing welfare burden. NHS waste. Net Zero madness. And the £9billion-plus Chagos Islands fiasco which looks even more inexplicable now.

Sir Keir has been left holding the baby after decades of scandalous under-investment in our forces.

He must bazooka more Labour sacred cows to truly fix it.

Breaking Britain

“WARMER homes, lower bills” . . . Ed Miliband’s pledge last year was a blatant deceit.

Homes got colder for OAPs stripped of their heating payment. Energy bills have soared three times in seven months.

Across Britain once-thriving, decades-old firms are closing, destroyed by the world’s highest electricity prices. Families owe billions in unaffordable bills.

And still Labour’s witless Energy Secretary claims Net Zero is the solution, not the problem we all know it to be.

He could green-light fracking and North Sea drilling for cheap UK-made energy.

He refuses, merely expressing false concern — like a drunk driving a bus off a cliff telling passengers: “I know how worried you must be.”

Today Miliband’s zealous allies at the “Climate Change Committee” which advises the Government will make matters worse, releasing a one-sided report packed with swivel-eyed optimism about Net Zero saving us all money one day.

After, that is, we have bankrupted ourselves buying battery cars and heat pumps and given up meat and holidays.

It’s electoral poison for Keir Starmer.

PM . . . Miliband has sold you a pup.

Apocalypse? No

SO the YR4 asteroid isn’t now going to smash into Earth at 38,000mph.

Typical of our luck.

With wars, chaos and strife everywhere we’d been hoping that vast fiery rock might put us out of our misery.

Maybe the chatbots can rise up and do for us instead.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Being able to tell the difference between true friends and individuals just passing through isn’t always easy for you – but you have moon insight for this today.

So you won’t waste time on false bonds. In love, too, you need two-way respect as well as romance.

Single? The One stands behind you in a group picture.

 TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

All the attraction trump cards are in your zodiac hand today – so let love come to you.

Giving a partner more space, can create a more intimate connection.

If you’re single, updating a quest for a specific partner into a wider search, can bring you an “E” name less likely, but much more suitable.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

Harmony and connection flow through your love chart – you are ready to sit down and work out a way forward that may be quieter, but also more rewarding.

If you’re single, someone who’s been on the fringes of your social life for months starts to look special.

Sulks or silences at home or work turn toxic – so step in.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Your zodiac goal is not to let pursuing passion seem more exciting than living with it.

The perfect match for you can be a name you first encounter today. But start by expecting this to last.

Venus in your sector of personal sparkle makes you centre of attention, and that big chance to promote a product or skill is close.

LEO

July 23 to August 23

Freedom is on your mind and in your heart, but you also have a strong chart of togetherness.

So if partners are growing at different rates, or different directions, it’s not too late to fix this. But both sides must play an equal part.

Single? A door with an ornate archway can open to reveal your passion destiny.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Intensity is your passion style right now, and hot dates are all around – even with someone you’ve known for years.

You have more of your true self to give to love when you address other questions distracting your mind – from cash to work.

Single? A musician living at an unusual address could be playing your song.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

Getty

Pluto intensifies your property zone – tonight you’ll dream of a dream home[/caption]

LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Relationships that are just ticking over are not enough for you right now – all bonds really have to matter, and bring you more of the good things you know you deserve.

If this is not happening, you can see a solution.

Saturn steadies a work team that’s been rocked by recent changes – leaving you ready to lead again.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Venus’s support helps you put in extra effort you sense romance needs – but this should be a two-way process.

So plan with a partner, rather than striking out alone.

If single, someone with a role in the fitness world can make you feel good.

Pluto intensifies your property zone – tonight you’ll dream of a dream home.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

All the lightest aspects of love are there in your chart, waiting for you to reach out.

Seeking a playful solution to a serious partnership puzzle can lead to great shared decisions.

If you start the day single, the right love may be older, but looks and feels younger.

A guessing game can reveal so much about your future.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

Star focus highlights your zone of big romance, so you may be wondering where to take a love bond next.

It may feel risky to share your true self, but this can open so many doors.

If you’re single, a quirky character may keep your mind engaged, but your heart is actually thirsty for emotional routine. Luck circles “95”.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

Supplied

Writing or reading special words together can unlock new levels of love[/caption]

AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

A way with words is high on your attraction list and a fast-talking, funny Libra can fit the bill well – even if this love can’t happen right away, it has a place in your future.

Already attached? Writing or reading special words together can unlock new levels of love.

At work, remember flattery and confidence are not the same.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Your passion profile overflows with gifts – of loyalty, security and other feelings you value, as well as well-chosen items.

This can silence a clock you’ve sensed ticking in the background of a bond.

Single? The less you agree with someone’s social or financial attitudes, the more compatible you could be.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

THE results are in… Europe’s best and worst short-haul airlines have been named – and I was lucky enough to fly on one of the best.

Consumer watchdog Which? has ranked the best and worst airlines for short-haul flights after surveying travellers’ experiences of flying in the last year.

Alamy

Loganair took second place in a survey by Which? naming the best short-haul airlines in the UK[/caption]

Hope Brotherton

Travel Writer Hope Brotherton flew from Birmingham to Aberdeen with Loganair and was impressed by its cabin space and freebies[/caption]

In total, over 9,000 flights were analysed by Which? with Jet2 named the best short-haul airline.

Jet2 scored highly for its customer service, booking process and cleanliness.

Meanwhile, Loganair nabbed second place, also scoring highly for its customer service, booking process, cleanliness and boarding process.

After first launching flights in the 1960s, Loganair has gone on to become the UK’s largest regional airline with more than 70 routes across the British Isles, Europe and Scandinavia.

Last week, I flew with the airline on a trip to Aberdeen from Birmingham International Airport.

Loganair only offers economy class seats, which means all passengers benefit from the perks.

While most airlines are charging passengers over the odds to add luggage, Loganair seems to be debunking the trend.

This is because every economy class passenger has 15kg of hold luggage included in the price of their ticket.

I think this is partly because the aircraft are very small, with overhead storage lockers only having enough space for a personal item bag and a thick coat.

Even though I typically don’t like to check a bag, it felt nice to float through the airport without lugging around a larger cabin bag.

It also meant I had the option of bringing back souvenirs, something I normally don’t have space for.

Boarding is relatively quick, partly because there aren’t many passengers to get onto the plane and no one is being held up in the fight for overhead baggage space.

The seats had ample legroom, with plenty of room between the seat and the tray table too.

Food and drink isn’t available to purchase onboard.

However, flight attendants are quick to dish out the freebies, including cups of tea and coffee as well as packets of shortbread biscuits and Tunnocks chocolate bars.

In the Which? survey Loganair only scored poorly for its value of money, with the consumer watchdog awarding the airline 2/5 stars for that category.

And I have to admit in the age of budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air, flights on Loganair are on the more expensive end.

For example, one-way flights from Birmingham International Airport to Aberdeen start from £99.27 per person.

While it isn’t the cheapest, it does include a hold bag, which means passengers aren’t stung by hidden costs.

Hope Brotherton

Onboard freebies included tea and coffee as well as other treats like shortbread biscuits[/caption]

Other travellers have raved about the airline too, with one person writing on TripAdvisor: “A really great company. We had some difficulties but they were so helpful sorting everything out”.

Another added: “I love Loganair, the staff are great and it’s the best airline in the UK for domestic flights”.

A third person wrote: “A lovely experience…it’s a joy to fly with this airline.”.

Last year, Loganair launched more flights from London Heathrow to Orkney and the Isle of Man.

Here are some of our other airline reviews, including what it’s like to fly with Emirates.

We also tried out Finnair’s unusual non-reclining business class.

And here is what you can expect from flying with Korean Air, who have the best plane food in the world.

The best value premium economy went to Vietnam Airlines and the best first class went to Singapore Airlines.

We recently tried out the new Cathay Pacific business class suite – here is what we thought.

Hope Brotherton

Travel reporter Hope Brotherton thought the boarding process was a lot smoother compared to other airlines[/caption]