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Nintendo’s new Zelda sequel gives players memeable creative powers


The previous entry in Nintendo Co.’s seminal The Legend of Zelda series was acclaimed largely because of its momentous sense of exploration.

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The next game adds a new dimension that will undoubtedly turn it into one of the most memeable video games of the year: construction.

Nintendo has mostly kept mum on the details of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which will be released on May 12.

But a recent demo of the game in New York City gave journalists more than an hour of hands-on time with the highly anticipated sequel and put a spotlight on one of the key features.

Players can combine items they find throughout the world, building their own machines to battle enemies and explore the skies. During the demo, I built airplanes, flying air balloons and one rocket-powered contraption that took me soaring.

Tears of the Kingdom is a follow-up to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is widely considered among critics and fans to be one of the best video games ever made.

It has sold 29 million copies — twice as many as the next-highest Zelda title. It was released in conjunction with Nintendo’s Switch console, helping catapult it to massive success. With 122.5 million units sold, the Switch is the third-best-selling video-game console of all time.

Expectations are high for the new game, in which you play as a mute but expressive hero named Link who must again save the Kingdom of Hyrule from the evil, monstrous Ganon.

The new Zelda may be one of Nintendo’s last big hits for the six-year-old Switch, which is still selling well but is out-classed by its competitors in technical specs. The Japanese publisher is expected to release a successor within the next few years.

While speaking to journalists, Nintendo marketing representative Ethan Stockton described Tears of the Kingdom as a game about “Yes, and…,” a reference to the popular catchphrase describing an experience that is continually additive.

Like its predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom is what developers might call “systemic” — rather than creating a linear, guided experience, it gives players a set of tools and asks them to imagine myriad solutions.

After a brief introductory session, the demo placed Link in front of a giant fortress full of enemy Bokoblins who were guarding a giant tower. Stockton explained that players could attempt to get to the tower in whatever way they chose.

This was where the charms of the game and its Minecraft-evoking capabilities quickly became apparent.

Rather than fight through the monsters, I chose to build a flying machine. My first attempt was a failure thanks to two misaligned rockets that sent me spinning off in the wrong direction.

My second creation, a makeshift floating platform, launched me right into the Bokoblin camp, where I was promptly slaughtered.

It was the third machine, powered by a fire-igniting balloon, that took me high enough that I could soar straight to the top of the tower, skipping all of the monsters and obstacles below.

Breath of the Wild was a revelation because it allowed players to explore every nook and cranny of a seemingly boundless world.

Tears of the Kingdom takes that universe and adds several new dimensions, such as floating islands and perhaps, as trailers have hinted, an underground territory.

Link’s other new aptitudes in Tears of the Kingdom should lead to additional creative possibilities.

The “fuse ability,” which allows the player to attach objects such as fire plants or mushrooms to weapons and shields, has already been the source of many fantastic social media posts following a gameplay preview that Nintendo posted in late March.

One Nintendo representative pointed out that Link can jury-rig a hammer out of a stick and a rock, allowing him to access new areas by smashing apart weak walls or floors.

(Sadly, only two items can be fused together at once, dispelling any dreams of making, say, a sword that circumnavigates Hyrule.)

The “recall ability,” which rewinds the last few seconds of a given object’s trajectory, can be used either to reverse your mistakes or to send incoming projectiles back into the faces of enemies.

The demo left me with a few lingering questions that won’t be answered until the game is released.

Will the Switch’s technical capacities struggle to support a game this ambitious? Will the controls, which seemed unwieldy during my brief session, eventually feel more natural?

And will Zelda, who has spent years playing the part of damsel in distress, have a more active role or even be controllable this time around?

It’s difficult to gauge a game as sprawling as Tears of the Kingdom after playing for only an hour, but the potential combination of Breath of the Wild’s wonder with Minecraft’s creativity makes this seem like another potentially big winner for Nintendo.

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Abu Dhabi Overtakes Oslo for Sovereign Wealth Fund Capital in Global SWF’s First City Ranking

Today, industry specialist Global SWF published a special report announcing a new global ranking of cities according to the capital managed by their Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs). The findings show that Abu Dhabi is the leading city that manages the most SWF capital globally, thanks to the US$ 1.7 trillion in assets managed by its various SWFs headquartered in the capital of the UAE. These include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala Investment Company (MIC), Abu Dhabi Developmental
Holding Company (ADQ), and the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA). Abu Dhabi now ranks slightly above Oslo, home to the world’s largest SWF, the Government Pension Fund (GPF), which manages over US$ 1.6 trillion in assets. Abu Dhabi and Oslo are followed by Beijing (headquarters of the China Investment Corporation), Singapore (with GIC Private and Temasek Holdings), Riyadh (home to the
Public Investment Fund), and Hong Kong (where China’s second SWF, SAFE
Investment Corporation, operates from). Together, these six cities represent two thirds
of the capital managed by SWFs globally, i.e., US$ 12.5 trillion as of October 1, 2024.
For the past few decades, Abu Dhabi has grown an impressive portfolio of institutional
investors, which are among the world’s largest and most active dealmakers. In addition
to its SWFs, the emirate is home to several other asset owners, including central banks,
pension funds, and family offices linked to member of the Royal Family. Altogether, Abu
Dhabi’s public capital is estimated at US$ 2.3 trillion and is projected to reach US$ 3.4
trillion by 2030, according to Global SWF estimates.
Abu Dhabi, often referred to as the “Capital of Capital,” also leads when it comes to
human capital i.e., the number of personnel employed by SWFs of that jurisdiction, with
3,107 staff working for funds based in the city.
Diego López, Founder and Managing Director of Global SWF, said: “The world ranking
confirms the concentration of Sovereign Wealth Funds in a select number of cities,
underscoring the significance of these financial hubs on the global stage. This report
offers valuable insights into the landscape of SWF-managed capital and shows how it is
shifting and expanding in certain cities in the world.”

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AM Best Briefing in Dubai to Explore State of MENA Insurance Markets; Panel to Feature CEOs From Leading UAE Insurance Companies

AM Best will host a briefing focused on the insurance markets of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on 20 November 2024, at Kempinski Central Avenue in Dubai.
At this annual regional market event, senior AM Best analysts and leading executives
from the (re)insurance industry will discuss recent developments in the MENA region’s
markets and anticipate their implications in the short-to-medium term. Included in the
programme will be a panel of chief executive officers at key insurance companies in the
United Arab Emirates: Abdellatif Abuqurah of Dubai Insurance; Jason Light of Emirates
Insurance; Charalampos Mylonas (Haris) of Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company
(ADNIC); and Dr. Ali Abdul Zahra of National General Insurance (NGI).
Shivash Bhagaloo, managing partner of Lux Actuaries & Consultants, will his present
his observations in an additional session regarding implementation of IFRS 17 in the
region. The event also will highlight the state of the global and MENA region
reinsurance sectors, as well as a talk on insurance ramifications stemming from the
major United Arab Emirates floods of April 2024. The programme will be followed by a
networking lunch.
Registration for the market briefing, which will take place in the Diamond Ballroom at the
Kempinski hotel, begins at 9:00 a.m. GST with introductory comments at 9:30 a.m.
Please visit www.ambest.com/conference/IMBMENA2024 for more information or to
register.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics
provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United
States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in
London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.

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Future of Automotive Mobility 2024: UAE Leads the Charge in Embracing Digital Car Purchases and Alternative Drivetrains

-UAE scores show highest percentage among the region in willingness to purchase a car
completely online
– Openness to fully autonomous cars has grown to 60% vs previous 32%.
– More than half of UAE respondents in the survey intend to move to hybrid cars during
next car purchase, while less than 15% intend to move to fully electric car.
– UAE sees strong use of new mobility services such as ride-hailing (Uber, Careem, Hala
Taxi)
– The perceived future importance of having a car is not only increasing in UAE but is
higher than any other major region globally, even China

Arthur D. Little (ADL) has released the fourth edition of its influential Future of Automotive Mobility (FOAM) report, presenting a detailed analysis of current and future trends in the automotive industry. This year’s study, with insights from over 16,000 respondents across 25 countries, includes a comprehensive focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report examines car ownership, electric vehicles,
autonomous driving, and new mobility services within the UAE.

“The UAE is at the forefront of automotive innovation and consumer readiness for new mobility
solutions,” said Alan Martinovich, Partner and Head of Automotive Practice in the Middle East
and India at Arthur D. Little. “Our findings highlight the UAE’s significant interest in
transitioning to electric vehicles, favorable attitudes towards autonomous driving technologies,
and a strong inclination towards digital transactions in car purchases. These insights are critical
for automotive manufacturers and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of the UAE
automotive market.”
Key Findings for the UAE:
1. Car Ownership:
o Over half of UAE respondents perceive that the importance of owning a car is
increasing, with the study showing the increase higher than any other major
region, including China.
o Approximately 80% of UAE respondents expressed interest in buying new (as
opposed to used) cars, above Europe and the USA which have mature used
vehicle markets

2. Shift to Electric and Hybrid Vehicles:
o While a high number of UAE respondents currently own internal combustion
engine (ICE) vehicles, more than half intend that their next vehicle have an
alternative powertrain, with significant interest in electric and plug-in hybrid
(PHEV) options. Less than 15% plan to opt for pure battery electric vehicles
(BEVs).

3. Emerging Mobility Trends:

o Ride-hailing services are the most popular new mobility option among UAE
residents, with higher usage rates than traditional car sharing and ride sharing.
The study indicates a strong openness to switching to alternative transport modes
given the quality and service levels available today.

4. Autonomous Vehicles:
o UAE consumers are among the most open globally to adopting autonomous
vehicles, with a significant increase in favorable attitudes from 32% in previous
years to 60% this year versus approximately 30% in mature markets. Safety
concerns, both human and machine-related, remain the primary obstacles to
broader adoption.

5. Car Purchasing Behavior and Sustainability:
o The internet has become a dominant channel for UAE residents throughout the car
buying process, from finding the right vehicle to arranging test drives and closing
deals. UAE car buyers visit dealerships an average of 3.9 times before making a
purchase, higher than any other region in the world, emphasizing the need for
efficient integration of online and offline experiences.
o Upwards of 53% of respondents from the region would prefer to ‘close the deal’
and complete the purchase of their car online, which is the highest for any region
in the world.
o Sustainability is a key factor cited by UAE consumers as influencing car choice.
The UAE scored among the top half of regions, highlighting the importance of
environmental considerations.

“Our study confirms the promising market opportunities for car manufacturers (OEMs) and
distributors in the UAE” commented Philipp Seidel, Principal at Arthur D. Little and co-Author
of the Global Study. “Consumers in the Emirates show a great and increasing appetite for cars
while being among the most demanding globally when it comes to latest vehicle technologies
and a seamless purchase and service experience.”
The comprehensive report, “The Future of Automotive Mobility 2024” by Richard Parkin and
Philipp Seidel, delves into global automotive trends and their impact on various regions,
including the UAE. This study is an invaluable tool for industry stakeholders seeking to navigate
and leverage the dynamic changes driving the future of mobility.

 

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