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What we're playing in February
Welcome back to Gaming IRL, a monthly segment where Engadget editors dive into everything they've been playing lately. We're well past the holidays and finally recovered from CES -- it's the perfect time to sit back and pick up a controller. Unfortunately, we haven't played one of the biggest recent releases, Resident Evil 2, but you can take a look back at our preview from E3. This month, we have a comparison between Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Origins, a look at New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, and one of our editors dives back into the glory of StarCraft 2. We'd also love to know what you've been playing, shout out in the comments below!
What we're listening to: Joanna Connor and 'Hilarious World of Depression'
In this month's installment of our audio IRL, we discover an amazingly talented guitar player from Chicago and a podcast where comedians, musicians and more open up about struggles with depression.
What we're buying: A terrible replacement baby monitor
This week's IRL tale has nothing to do with new year's resolutions. Thankfully. Instead, Senior Editor Dan Cooper tries to replace his decent (but broken) baby monitor, and finds that cheaper models no longer cut it.
What we're watching: '7 Days Out: League of Legends'
This week reporter Nick Summers explores the sixth episode of Netflix's 7 Days Out docuseries. Coming from the producers of Chef's Table and Last Chance U,'this particular episode covers themes of tragedy and perseverance against the backdrop of esports competition.
What we're watching: Best of 2018
With 2019 just around the corner, we're ready to look back and pick a few favorites from the flood of TV shows that arrived in 2018. Senior Editor Kris Naudus explains why Netflix already has an anime series you should watch with Hi Score Girl. But first, a few quick "best" suggestions so you can quit scrolling through your queue and just watch something already. Christopher Schodt: Apparently the US has forgotten how to make half-hour comedies, but Schitt's Creek shows Canada still knows how. It's not revolutionary, but despite the terrible title it's a fun show with great performances. Mariella Moon: The Haunting of Hill House. Everything else is confetti. Kris Naudus: She-Ra. She-Ra She-Ra She-Ra. Sheeeeeee-Ra. The new show is fun and joyful and actually makes what was originally a toy commercial into a well developed universe with deep characterization. Also, SwiftWind is one woke horsey. Richard Lawler: Look, you can watch Killing Eve of your own free will or I can come to your house and make you. Either way works for me.
What we're gifting this month: OLED TVs, a Google Home for the parents
Rather than explain what we regret buying in those Black Friday sales, we're taking a forward-thinking approach to the holiday season, and the gifts we're looking to give or receive. Chris Schodt might take the OLED TV dive, while Cherlynn Low is trying (again) to get her parents into a smart home ecosystem.
What we're buying: RetroStone's smart take on retro handheld gaming
The recent spate of retro "classic" consoles might be switching a new audience on to vintage games, but some of us never left them. For most, a $60 - $100 machine with a few flagship titles on it is probably enough to scratch the itch, but Managing Editor James Trew has a much deeper itch: to play retro games on the go without someone choosing the library for him.
What we're watching: 'Life Sentence'
Senior News Editor Richard Lawler was looking for something light to binge watch and picked an ill-fated show about a cancer patient.
What we're buying: Making the switch from Apple to Samsung
Associate editor Mariella Moon struggled when her old iPhone's touchscreen stopped responding. She went to the other side, and picked up a Samsung Galaxy S8. She's still with it -- but she's being careful.
What we're watching: Netflix rom-coms
Netflix's content push has included a slew of romantic comedy movies released at the same time they've become hard to find in theaters. Senior News Editor Richard Lawler takes a look at three of them and explains which ones could be worth your time.
What we're watching: 'Mandy,' 'Succession' and 'Great News'
This month, Reporter Timothy J. Seppala checks out the latest Nicolas Cage joint and explains why you should too, while Senior Editor Daniel Cooper returns from a break with impressions of some binge-worthy television.
What we're listening to: Ghibliotheque
I firmly believe that Studio Ghibli is one of the best animation studios in the world. So does Michael Leader, digital lead for Film4 and regular host of Truth & Movies, a film podcast by Little White Lies magazine. Six weeks ago, he launched a new podcast called Ghibliotheque with Jake Cunningham, a commissioner for Channel 4's short film program Random Acts and, more importantly, a relative newcomer to the company's work. Every week, they watch a different Ghibli movie, give their honest assessment and explain the circumstances surrounding its release. It is, without fail, a thoroughly entertaining and informative listen.
What we're buying: A potent audio sampler that fits in your pocket
This week, Managing Editor Terrence O'Brien is obsessed with a new sampler that he can take anywhere. It's got its quirks, but that's apparently part of the appeal.
What we're playing: 'Dead Cells'
You know the drill: Last year's PC indie sleeper gets new life with a Switch release. Motion Twin's Dead Cells is one of these. It's been out for a year on Steam Early Access, but properly arrived last week on all platforms, including Nintendo's hybrid console. The game is a good fit for the system: It's a side-scrolling hack-and-slash rogue-lite with plenty of paths to explore over your many, many runs. It has simple yet delightfully vibrant visuals, and all the action is compact enough to track while playing the console on the go. In short, it's exactly the kind of title Nintendo needs on the Switch.
What we're buying: An official third-party PS4 controller for Xbox converts
This week's hardware IRL keeps us indoors and out of the sun. UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith replaced his elderly in-box PS4 DualShock with Hori's Onyx, the first licensed third-party wireless controller to land, though it's no longer the only one. After 20 years of DualShock, how's he coping with the change?
What we're watching: 'First Team: Juventus' and 'Killing Eve'
Welcome back to IRL, our series dedicated to the things that Engadget writers play, use, watch and listen to. This week, Billy Steele explains how to keep your soccer addiction fed with Netflix's 'Juventus' series, while Richard Lawler breaks down why 'Killing Eve' should be at the top of your binge-worthy list.
‘The Butterfly Effect’ explores tech’s impact on the porn industry
Free porn changed the world, and The Butterfly Effect explains how. It's a seven-episode podcast series produced by author and screenwriter Jon Ronson that tracks the wide-ranging impacts of the rise of "tube" sites like Pornhub. The story starts with Fabian Thylmann, who purchased Pornhub's parent company in 2010 and proceeded to buy up a number of key players in the industry before selling it on in 2013. Ronson uses Thylmann as an analog for the rise of free porn -- the proverbial flapping wings of the butterfly -- and then turns his attention to the tornado that decimated the porn industry.
Building the perfect machine in 'Opus Magnum'
I'm not sure how Opus Magnum passed me by when it came to Steam Early Access last year. All I know is that I saw a split-second of it in a YouTube video a few weeks ago and have been obsessed since.
What we're using: Getting back on the smart bike saddle
Bike rental services are spreading, going beyond early adopter epicenters like New York, London and Tokyo. And it's dockless systems that seem to be gaining both more traction and umbrage. Daniel Cooper explains why Ofo's bikesharing platform has totally replaced his own bike.
What we're watching: 'The Good Place' and 'Westworld'
This week's IRL focuses on two shows that don't appear to have much in common. But now Westworld viewers may be able to find a new appreciation for The Good Place, at least until season 3 rolls around. (Warning: spoilers ahead.)
