Category Archives: New Utopia

New York Times

A 'Carousel' Revival Promises Stars, Onstage and Off New York Times The revival, scheduled to open on March 23 in an unspecified theater, is to be directed by Jack O'Brien, a three-time Tony winner (for Hairspray, Henry IV and The Coast of Utopia) who is now directing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on ... 'Carousel' Revival Set For Spring 2018 On BroadwayDeadline Rodgers and Hammerstein Classic 'Carousel' Sets Broadway ReturnHollywood Reporter all 18 news articles »

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A 'Carousel' Revival Promises Stars, Onstage and Off - New York Times

BOUNTIFUL UTOPIA, the city-owned fiber-optic network serving Layton, Centerville and many other Utah communities, may be extending its reach to another Davis County community, Bountiful, augmenting high-speed internet offerings.

Unlike Layton and Centerville, though, Bountiful wont contribute funds to build out the network, shielding it from any risk associated with the systems development. UTOPIA which proponents say offers among the fastest internet speeds in Utah was the target of intense criticism in a 2012 state report that faulted operators at the time for mismanagement, though the current leader, Roger Timmerman, say its since turned things around.

This is just kind of a natural progression out of the Salt Lake Valley, said Timmerman, executive director of UTOPIA, which stands for Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency. The dealbrings more options to Bountiful, aside from incumbent high-speed internet providers like Comcast, which offers its XFINITY service via cable, and CenturyLink, which taps phone lines.

The Bountiful City Council last week agreed to grant UTOPIA a franchise agreement, letting it extend its network into the city for use, most likely, by commercial customers. Per the arrangement, would-be Bountiful customers, not the city, would likely help finance the networks build out to hook into the system.

UTOPIA, formed in 2002, manages and maintains a fiber-optic network thats leased by private internet service providers that offer high-speed internet, telephone and other services to commercial and residential end users.A handful of member cities, like Layton and Centerville, own it and have helped provide funds and financing to build the UTOPIA network, aiming to improve connectivity in their communities.

RELATED: UTOPIA wonders what to do with $10M windfall

But a growing number of cities around Salt Lake City and now Bountiful have approved franchise agreements, allowing for expansion of the system without any financial obligation to them, Timmerman said.

If UTOPIA and its member cities find that providing services to customers in neighboring cities benefits their operation, then it could be a win-win for both UTOPIA and non-UTOPIA cities alike, Bountiful City Councilman Richard Higginson said in an email.

The firm is aproven player, he said, also noting that Bountiful doesnt have to put up any funding per the franchise agreement. It just has to grant UTOPIA access to right-of-way so it can install the necessary infrastructure to reach customers.

Im happy for residents and businesses in Bountiful to have access to as wide a variety of high-speed data/streaming/entertainment options as possible, Higginson said.

Aside from Layton and Centerville, UTOPIAs member cities include Tremonton and Brigham City to the north and West Valley City, Orem, Payson and four other cities farther south. Cities with franchise agreements, like Bountiful, include Salt Lake City, Draper, South Jordan and Pleasant Grove, Timmerman said.

Facilitating potential expansion into Bountiful is the existing UTOPIA fiber-optic line along Interstate 15 just to the west of the city, Timmerman said. He also noted the well-developed networkin Centerville just to the north.

I would guess we would start with a handful of businesses near existing lines and then kind of grow it from there, Timmerman said. Though Higginson expressed optimism the service could extend to homes, Timmerman said commercial clients in Bountiful would be the most likely customers.

At any rate, he said the existence of a new option for provision of high-speed internet is a good thing for consumers because it creates more competition, potentially bringing more competitive pricing among all service providers.

Exceptionally low churn rate

Since the criticism aimed at UTOPIA in a 2012 report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor General, Jesse Harris, who works in Utahs tech industry and is a UTOPIA proponent, says the entity has changed for the better. The report faulted UTOPIA for poor planning in building its network and working with unreliable business and financial partners, among other things.

Since then, UTOPIA has adopted a new strategy in building the network, seeking sufficient numbers of customers before building out, thus assuring a revenue source to cover expansion costs.Theyre actually generating enough revenue to cover operating costs at this point, Harris said.

Nine private providers offer internet service via UTOPIA, though not Comcast or CenturyLink, and Harris said the churn rate among their customers isexceptionally low. Comcast and CenturyLink have been invited to use the UTOPIA network, but have declined the offers.

Centerville Mayor Paul Cutler echoed Harris remarks, while acknowledging the bumpy past. More than 80 percent of Centerville has access to the UTOPIA network and a third of households in the city actually have service from providers that use the network.

What we find is once people get (service via UTOPIA), they dont give it up, he said.

Contact reporter Tim Vandenack at tvandenack@standard.net, follow him on Twitter at @timvandenack or like him on Facebook at Facebook.com/timvandenackreporter.

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Utah fiber-optic network UTOPIA may grow, giving Bountiful new internet options - Standard-Examiner

Stellaris, the sci-fi strategy game from developers Paradox Interactive, has gotten its newest update, titled Utopia. Utopia is the first major expansion for Stellaris, the best-selling science fiction grand strategy game that delivers unparalleled variety in an ever changing universe. Utopia adds new ways to improve the players planets and even his species itself, with a greater focus on allowing the player to reach his full potential in a multitude of new ways both peaceful and aggressive. You can check out the new trailer for Utopia here.

One of the major upgrades in Utopia is the addition of Ascension perks. By harnessing the unity of your species to establish stronger cultural traditions, the player is allowed to expand his empire according to his own specific vision of Utopia. One may choose to advance via genetic engineering, psionic exploration, or even abandon frail mortal flesh entirely and pursue a path of cybernetic ascension.

Utopia brings a number of new features to Stellaris, including:

Stellaris: Utopia launches with the Banks update to Stellaris, another major upgrade free to all Stellaris owners. The Banks update reworks the place of factions in your population, adds new challenges to maintaining internal stability within your Empire, and makes changes to how ethics work in the game. The goal is to make empire management a more engaging task.

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Stellaris Gets New Utopia Update - gameguiders.com

Meet Iden Versio, the latest kick-ass Star Wars star. All Images: EA

Star Wars Battlefront II will give players a totally new Star Wars experience. And, this time, its going to count.

In Battlefront II, out November 17, there will be a single player campaign. Itll give you the ability to play as Iden Versio, played by Janina Gavankar, a special forces Imperial soldier who vows revenge on the Rebel Alliance after seeing Death Star II get blown up from the surface of Endor. The character wholly believes in the Empire and, for players, itll be a focus they are not used to: the eradication of the Rebellion.

In addition to a hugely expanded multiplayer experience, the highlight of Battlefront II is this brand new, canon Star Wars story that puts players on the opposite side of the conflict. As the leader of the brand new, elite, Inferno Squad (who will get their own book later this year, out July 25), Iden was raised on Vardos, a brand new planet created for the game thats kind of an Imperial utopia. There she was raised to totally and fully understand Imperial beliefs. Her team is the best at everything in the Empire: ground battle, flying, sabotage, spying, everything. So when the second Death Star blows up, Iden and her droid sidekick go off on a journey that will take her on a story spanning the time period between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. (It also involves Operation Cinder, which fans will recognize from some of the new canon content) However, in the game, you wont only play as Iden. Shes the primary hero but the campaign will also allow you to play as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and other stars of the series.

The addition of the multilayered, canon single player campaign is certainly the crown jewel in Battlefront II. But multiplayer has expanded too, now spanning all eras: Prequels, Clone Wars, Original Trilogy and Sequel Trilogy. (No word on Rebels characters. Fingers crossed for playable Thrawn). Among the confirmed names: Darth Maul, Yoda, Kylo Ren, Rey, Luke Skywalker, and, certainly, many more as we get closer to release. Also, players will be able to upgrade and customize the heroes much like the traditional troopers, giving them new abilities. The same will go for vehicles, which will be more numerous, varied (you can ride a freaking tauntaun!), and easier to fly thanks to the team at Criterion, who was brought in to help with a frequent criticism of the first game. And, yes, there will be space battles.

Players will start most multiplayer rounds as a traditional trooper (more on those in a sec) but acquiring vehicles and heroes wont be the same as the first game. Instead of grabbing some kind of power up, theyll be earned through various gameplay goals. Plus, even your traditional troopers will be able to earn heroic abilities that will allow them to stand toe to toe with the heroes. Also, there will be classes.

As for those traditional troopers, the variety will be much greater than the original game. We saw resistance fighters, Imperial officers, First Order stormtroopers, and even, yes battle droids. Theyll all be playable along with many more to be revealed.

But really, Battlefront II is all about Iden, a very different character who the team behind the game will eventually stand beside Leia, Rey, Ahsoka, and the other powerful women of Star Wars.

Star Wars Battlefront II is out November 17. Heres the key art, and you can check out the trailer here.

Update: At the end of the EA panel at Celebration, it was announced there would be Last Jedi add-ons for tied to preorders. No details were given but there will be new costumes for Rey, Kylo Ren, new heroes from the film, a Last Jedi Millenium Falcon and yet-to-be-revealed First Order TIE Fighter. Heres a glimpse of Kylo.

Entertainment Reporter for io9/Gizmodo

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Star Wars Battlefront II Will Tell a Canon Story of Imperial Revenge (and Have Last Jedi DLC) - Gizmodo

The end of the Superman Reborn event has given us a major new evolution in Superman's saga a Man of Steel who is a singular mix of his pre- and post-New 52 versions of himself. It seems like the umpteenth time in recent memory that Kal-El has had his origin tweaked, but this time it's a turn of events that could have some wide-reaching implications on DC's current continuity.

Image: DC Comics. Action Comics #977 art by Gary Frank and Brad Anderson.

Today's Action Comics #977 by Dan Jurgens, Ian Churchill, Hi-Fi and Rob Leigh has kicked off a two-part epilogue to the mind-and-reality-bending events of Superman Reborn. We get to see just what's changed in Superman's classic origins as Clark, still hazy about what went down with Mxyzptlk's machinations, returns to the Fortress of Solitude to re-learn his past.

In a lot of ways, it remains a very familiar story. Krypton is still gone, the Kents still find Kal, and in the present day, Clark is still a Daily Planet reporter, married to Lois Lane and father to Jon. But all the little details that have been tweaked seem to imply one thing only: While this Superman is an explicit merging of his Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths self and his New 52 self, it's really the Post-Crisis incarnation that's coming out on top, re-establishing itself over the New 52.

First, we get to go back and see Krypton before its destruction a Krypton that, unlike the New 52 Superman's origins, is depicted as a much more eclectic utopia. The New 52's Krypton borrowed a lot of elements from John Byrne's post-Crisis depiction of Superman's homeworld, inhabited by an emotionally reserved people driven solely by their desire for scientific advancement. Before Flashpoint ever happened, much of that depiction was erased in Superman: Birthright in 2003, a Mark Waid/Leinil Francis Yu miniseries that brought back the idea of Krypton as a paradise on the brink of disaster, but the New 52 went back to Byrne's vision... something that's now been erased once more with a more Silver Age-inspired view of Kryptonian society.

Additionally, when Kal-El arrives on Earth as a baby, the Martha and Jonathan Kent that find him appear to be in a much brighter place than their New 52 counterparts. In the New 52, Martha had recently been through a miscarriage before finding Kal-El, informing her decision to take the alien child in as her own, but the Kents we see here simply just never had a child before deciding to raise Kal. A picture of an older Jonathan with his baby grandson glimpsed in Clark's cubicle at the Planet early in the issue also seems to hint that the tragic fate he and Martha suffered in the New 52 (a car accident that ultimately claimed both their lives) hasn't occurred any more.

Beyond that, Clark had a pretty typical teenage life as he does in most versions of his origin story (although in another diversion from the New 52, it appears Clark's powers didn't manifest until he was in his teens in the New 52, he has displays of his power at a much earlier age). He grows up with Lana Lang and Pete Ross as his best friends, and with Lex Luthor as his teenage rival.

Even when we fast-forward to the present, a lot of what used to be canon before the New 52 is suddenly back again. Lois and Clark work together and are married, Daily Planet editor Perry White is Jon's godfather. If anything, the only real acquiescence to the New 52 version of events included here is an offhand mention that Lois and Clark still live outside of Metropolis presumably at the farm that the pre-Flashpoint Lois and Clark hid out on when they first came to the New 52 universe in the Superman: Lois and Clark miniseries, to avoid being caught by the then-alive New 52 Superman. Otherwise, the intention seems to be clear: While this is a merging of these two takes on the Man of Steel, it's much of the original pre-Flashpoint reality that's won out as "canon" rather than the New 52.

As Action Comics #977 only brings us up to Clark's arrival in Metropolis, there's still a bit more of his early days as the Man of Steel we don't know about yet. We've yet to see the full ramifications of the two Supermen merging on the wider DC Universe, either.

The seeming implication of all this is that the birth of the New 52 reboot back in 2011 didn't erase the past of DC comics and replace it entirely with a new universe. It instead seemingly split these characters into two alternate existences: The existences fans had been reading for decades, and the shiny new one of the New 52. We've had other inklings of this, such as the return of Eobard Thawne as a Zoom who remembers his death in Flashpointin the pages of The Flash #19.

Superman's own merging of his pre-and-post Flashpoint selves, and affecting his timeline, appears to have started some kind of chain reaction that is helping to merge these two "splits" into a whole again a process which seems to favour restoring DC's pre-New 52 continuity. So far it's mainly on a character level, like with Clark, Zoom and the re-emergence of the old Wally West. Could the actions of Superman lead to this "merging" for other major characters like Batman and Wonder Woman? At what point do we actually start seeing this on a universe-wide scale?

All this tweaking and merging is building up to something big something that, presumably, will culminate in the reveal of Watchmen's Dr Manhattan and the reasons behind his meddling with the reality of the DC universe as unveiled back in Rebirth. Even if we don't know why just yet, at least we know that Superman's has his history put back in place for now.

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Given that the weekend officially starts from tomorrow, it seems a perfect time to ask. what are you playing over the Easter weekend?

InDemand Design's SwitchCharge gives Nintendo's new console a stronger stand, onboard cartridge storage and promises up to an additional 12 hours of portable battery life, but the coolest thing it does is move the Switch's charging port from the bottom to the side.

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Superman Has Another New Origin Story, And It May Mean Major Changes For The DC Universe - Kotaku Australia

Art by Sierra Deak / Daily Nexus

While observing large groups of incoming freshmen gleefully exploring UCSB this past weekend, my mind was brought back to my own first visit to campus. It was a sunny April afternoon during my senior year of high school, and I was beyond excited to tour the campus I had heard so much about. My tour guide whisked us around the school with effervescent descriptions of dorm life, activities, delicious dining commons food and concerts. In fact, the moment I decided I could actually picture myself attending the school was when he showed us Storke Plaza and advertised that Childish Gambino and Drake had both performed there.

My short visit to the campus I would later call home seemed to confirm all of the fantastic expectations I built in my head about college life. Like most young people with their sights set on a higher education, I fell head-first into the popular myth of the College Utopia.

During their last few years of high school, college-bound teenagers are bombarded by the same enthusiastic fervor every time they discuss their future plans with a curious adult. Every reader who has or is currently attending a university knows what Im talking about; middle-aged family friends are all seemingly united in the consensus that their years spent in college were the best ones of their life. They all seem to remember nothing but the best of times. Movies like Animal House sensationalize the college experience even further.

In addition to hearing these enthusiastic narratives, incoming freshmen can scroll through their own Instagram feeds to view perfectly edited snapshots of older friends at parties, Greek life events, concerts and a plethora of other exciting possibilities college can offer. These rave reviews and glossy social media posts are the stories new students draw upon when they form their expectations of what college will be like.

The stories that dont get told, however, are the day-to-day realities of college life that arent worth sharing at a dinner party or uploading to Instagram. No one wants to tell an excited teenager there will be nights when they are sitting in the library with drooping eyelids and thoughts addled from exhaustion, on the brink of tears but unable to give up just yet because their term paper is due the next day. Adults are quick to tell the tale of the wildest house party they ever attended, but they wont tell you about the nights they spent in their room crying and wishing they could be back home.

Once they actually get to college and establish a routine, freshmen students may be shocked by the volume of mundane or frustrating experiences that come along with all the exciting adventures they envisioned. This can cause them to feel isolated, wondering why they have been unable to carve a place for themselves in the utopia college is meant to be.

Adults are quick to tell the tale of the wildest house party they ever attended, but they wont tell you about the nights they spent in their room crying and wishing they could be back home.

As Im sure many of you have already discovered, college is not a utopia. Its a place and a set of experiences that exist in the real world, not the fantasy world adults and media have constructed. Being on a college campus does not immunize anyone from the stress, sadness, frustration or loneliness that are all facets of the human experience at some time or another. It is inevitable that hardships will come your way no matter what phase of life you are currently experiencing.

It can be an exciting time to challenge yourself and experience new things, but sometimes college is simply not all its cracked up to be. And thats okay.

The problem with the idealized portrait of college life in America is that it causes students whose college experiences dont exactly mirror what theyve seen in movies to believe the fault must lie within themselves. If they are not having the time of their lives and making new friends every day, they must be doing something wrong that needs to be fixed. Furthermore, they might be afraid to voice these concerns to their peers for fear they are the only one going through this dilemma.

If my words so far have resonated with you, rest assured that you are not the only person who feels this way. In fact, I believe it is more common to experience a difficult transition into college life than a seamless one. It is equally common to feel frustrated or sad just as often as you feel satisfied or carefree. These troubles are not limited to new students, either; mounting responsibilities and academic pressure can lead to increased stress for students as they advance through their college career.

Hardships are not an anomaly, but the norm. They are equally as common as the parties and fun events that appear to comprise the full sum of everyone elses college experience.

Attending college and experiencing those wild, fun-filled four years has seemingly become an essential facet of the American experience (for those who can afford it, at least). In my opinion, college is the most overly glamorized period of life in our society today. Im not saying college isnt fun; in fact, I would probably agree with the statement that the years Ive spent here have been a few of the best in my life. I am extremely privileged and grateful to be able to attend this university and experience all the benefits it has to offer.

In my opinion, college is the most overly glamorized period of life in our society today.

The fact remains, however, that the experience I was told to expect from my college years set me up for disappointment when I discovered all of the unsung responsibilities that college entails. Wouldnt it be better to let high school students see a realistic portrayal of college life that doesnt deceive them into thinking they are headed into a state of drunken, carefree bliss for the next four years? I know we want teenagers to be excited about all the good things ahead of them, but the inflation of these benefits and erasure of any hardships end up harming them in the long run.

When my younger friends ask me about my college experience, I am always quick to describe the I.V. party scene, studying on the beach, the activities Ive joined and the friends Ive made. But I also make sure to tell them about the nights I spent alone in my freshman dorm room scrolling through Instagram, aching from the dual pains of FOMO and homesickness. I tell them about how many times Ive gotten sick after finals week because my body couldnt handle the stress and lack of sleep. I tell them the good most definitely outweighs the bad, but hard times are inevitably going to come their way.

I dont think this approach is negative or discouraging; in fact, letting them know that hard times are normal will be comforting later on down the line. I wish someone had done me the favor of informing me that college is not like the movies and that there is nothing wrong with that.

Laurel Rinehart wants everyone to get real about college.

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The Problem With the Myth of College Utopia - Daily Nexus

Windows Central

Stellaris Utopia lets you build an empire and leave your mark on the universe Windows Central The former sees new civics and authorities for governments, unlocking new ways to face friends and foe, as well as interacting with your own population. Wish to develop a hive mind and avoid politics altogether? That's entirely possible! Slavery has ... Stellaris: Utopia reviewPC Gamer Stellaris' 'Utopia' Expansion Is Now AvailableGaming Union 'Stellaris: Utopia' Takes You From Chancellor To God in New Release TraileriDigitalTimes.com GameZone all 6 news articles »

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Stellaris Utopia lets you build an empire and leave your mark on the universe - Windows Central

Game Details Developer: Paradox Development Studio Publisher: Paradox Interactive More Info: Stellaris Utopia

DLC for Paradox-developed titles has traditionally been based around a particular region or theme. If you wanted to set up in India in Crusader Kings 2, youd buy Rajas of India. Europa Universalis IV players who wanted more depth to trading could pick up Wealth of Nations. Utopia, the first major expansion forStellaris, follows the thematic route (idealised forms of space empire; whether from the perspective of enlightened psychics, or purge-happy space fascists), but in a looser manner than its predecessors.

Thats partly because the ahistorical sci-fi subject matter lends itself better to abstract themes of power than specific regional histories, and partly because Paradox are still bolstering some of the weaknesses lingering from the games May 2016 launch.

Every piece of DLC for Paradoxs main developed titles is released alongside a free (usually substantial) update which adds features to the base game too. Where Utopia is concerned, the studio has tried to strike a balance between including unique, enjoyable features in the DLC, without withholding other key mechanics from the main game.

Ship colours now correspond to those of your empire, which is handy (and thats a freebie).

Two of the features which I think will do most to revitalise Stellaris are actually free ones coming with the 1.5 Banks update. The addition of proper political factions and Traditions (more on those later) provide that familiar Paradox feeling of having to wrestle with your own internal problems as much as external threats; something the game had definitely been missing.

Several of the paid Utopia features are extensions of a free Banks feature, and even those which arent can be difficult to talk about in complete isolation. Ill do my best to keep it clear which things are exclusive to the expansion, and what parts will be in all versions of Stellaris after 6 April.

The DLC features can be divided broadly into three categories: greater depth to species customisation and roles (which in part overlaps with the free stuff), expanded mid-to-end game species evolution options, and the building of Megastructures (both separate and unique to Utopia).

Everybody, for example, will get access to Civics. These are additional perks and quirks you add to your created race to make them feel a little more specialised. Things like Cutthroat Politics (+1 influence) or Mining Guilds (10% Minerals boost), and some of which (Imperial Cult) can only be picked with certain ethical pre-requisites. But only owners of Utopia have access to the unique Hive Mind government type and its special civics, or to Fanatical Purifiers; available only to those who really love genocide, and despise diplomacy.

As part of Utopia, you can now also Indoctrinate the hell out of pre-spacefaring race.

The difficulty presented to a reviewer by a DLC which is focused quite heavily on divergent and distinct species customisation is that running a full game with every new option is pretty much impossible. I settled for covering as many angles as I could by creating a race of deeply spiritual (for potential psychic powers) and overtly authoritarian (because slavery has been expanded to include distinct types in Utopia) bird people, who would beeline for the chance to build the new Megastructures and/or pierce the veil of reality. Preferably while cawing in triumph and preening themselves in a ritualistic manner.

Species customisation adds more flavour to what was already a pretty superb early game experience, but what Stellaris tended to lack was a compelling mid-to-late-game period. Unless you were poking at the edges to make your own entertainment (which usually just meant starting a war with somebody), that central era could often stagnate. Political factions and the Traditions mechanic (again, free features) help to mitigate this issue, giving you potential internal strife to deal with and further mid-term goals to achieve, respectively.

My spiritualist, authoritarian bird race ultimately liberated their domestic servants (the polite way to frame slavery) and ended the associated caste system. I did this partly for role-playing reasons (a new imperial ruler had taken the throne, and I decided hed be a reformer) and partly for practical ones (full citizens made better, happier workers and my economy was shifting). Immediately, the two existing political factions, a set of authoritarian traditionalists and some ultra-spiritual devotees of the imperial religion, were joined by a third, left-leaning, group desiring even greater policy reforms.

Looks like the Hierarchical Union are heading the way of the Whigs.

Throughout the next few decades, any policy or edict decisions I made had to be weighed against pleasing or irritating one or more of these factions. Juggling those choices, along with the impact it might have on the productivity of my colonies (which in turn made me delve into the murky world of government propaganda, and covert support for a favoured party), kept that period of time vibrant and captivating.

Traditions, meanwhile, are a reflection of your galactic priorities. Funded by a new Unity resource, which has its own buildings you need to plan around, Traditions are divided into seven categories with headings like Expansion, Diplomacy, or Domination. Each category has five associated aspects to unlock with Unity points, tied to buffs and benefits (the Expansion set, for example, make it easier and swifter to colonise new planets). Though not as immediately compelling as the faction system, Traditions and their attendant resource are another aspect of internal management around which to strategise.

With Utopia, they gain another layer of relevance. For every Tradition category you complete in the DLC, your species gains an Ascension Perk. Some are powerful benefits like being able to clear almost any tile blocker on a colony world (bypassing a lot of research time). Others are intriguing and unique evolutionary goals for your species, like unlocking latent psychic abilities (very helpful for admirals who get a sizeable evasion bonus, or governors, who get a bonus to quelling unrest) or embracing a synthetic singularity.

Forget battleships, were going to Zen our way to supremacy.

My birdman psychic race eventually became so powerful that they were able to peer into the cosmic realm itself. That in turn enabled a little espionage-based revenge on a Fallen Empire who had previously beaten my fleets into submission and killed a former ruler. Gazing for too long into this Shroud, however, seems as if it may attract the unwelcome attention of unknown entities.

When theyre not turning your Stellaris species into mighty telepaths, Ascension perks are also used to unlock the secrets of Megastructures. Like a lot of this DLC they have both practical and flavourful elements. I wasnt able to experiment with every different type, but the Habitats (which can be constructed a great cost around most planetary bodies) proved to be a terrific way of sticking another readily-colonisable planet in a nearby orbit. What you lose in Habitat mineral investment costs, you probably can make up from other resources. Their solar plants can generate great amounts of energy, and the science labs give three of each science resource across the board.

Ringworlds (for which, sadly, I didnt reach the necessary requirements) are such feats of engineering that they require an Ascension perk all of their own. Again though, as well as a sense of pride in your species achievement, the structures reward your investment. When complete, Ringworlds provide the equivalent space of a whopping four maximum size habitable planets.

My beautiful Birdman Sanctuary Habitat, ready to prosper.

The division of mechanics between the free Banks 1.5 patch and Utopia itself feels pretty much correct. Banks is doing the heavy lifting on features vital for a more dynamic Stellaris mid-game (radically reworked factions, Traditions), and adding quality of life tweaks like ship colours which match those of your species. That leaves Utopia to delve into areas of more optional luxury; specialised role-play options like Hive Minds under the new government system, new late game event chains linked to Ascension perks, and vast engineering projects to expand or consolidate your empire in ambitious ways.

At $20 its not exactly cheap, so to get full value youre going to have to be interested in a significant majority of the DLC-specific additions. I had a fine time with everything I saw in Utopia, but its difficult to claim anything included in the paid expansion is as essential as the new (free) faction mechanics. Thats as it should be, really; and if youre keen to mercilessly dominate the galaxy, enslaving all before you as consumable livestock, before uploading your species minds to synthetic bodies, then this expansion has all the tools you need.

7/10

Rating: 9.1. From 12 votes.

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Stellaris Utopia DLC Review - Paradox's spacefaring grand strategy ... - PC Invasion (blog)

PCGamesN

Win a key for Stellaris: Utopia! Build the ultimate interstellar empire and create the perfect society. PCGamesN Utopia is the first major expansion for Stellaris and adds new ways to improve your planets and even your species itself, with a greater focus on allowing you to reach your full potential in a multitude of new ways - both peaceful and aggressive.

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Win a key for Stellaris: Utopia! Build the ultimate interstellar empire and create the perfect society. - PCGamesN

UTOPIA Phil Jones wants to put Utopia on the map.

For 45 years, Jones has been the unofficial mayor of this unincorporated Berrien County community.

Unlike several other unincorporated Berrien communities, such as New Lois and Cottle, Utopia is not named on county maps.

Partly because some of the other communities were named a century or more ago. They are part of the historic fabric of Berrien County but Jones claims so is Utopia.

On March 28, 1972, Jones, his parents and neighbors were walking backroads through their neighborhood which is a short distance north of Nashville, the county seat.

They decided to name their community. They chose the name Utopia. They viewed their "town" as a "quiet, peaceful place."

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines utopia as:1. an imaginary and indefinitely remote place;2.often capitalized: a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government and social conditions;3.an impractical scheme for social improvement.

For Jones, his hopes for his community and the reality of Utopia's status, all three definitions fit.

He was 15 years old in 1972. He took the concept of Utopia seriously. Jones constructed signs reading "Utopia: Population 41," for example. He fixed the signs to denote population changes for decades. He affixes the signs to posts marking the unofficial boundaries of the mile-long stretch of the Enigma Road.

"How many 15-year-olds do something like this?" Jones said.

He named several dirt roads for community families, such as Griner Lane, Rogers Street, Dale Avenue, and Christy Lane. He named Griner Lane for Joe Griner, a one-time resident who in his 80s and 90s, walked every day from Utopia to Nashville and back. The county later officially named three streets combined as Utopia Circle and kept Griner Lane.

As a youth, Jones worked a deal with Nashville leaders for old Christmas decorations. Jones put up decorations throughout Utopia each holiday season. Neighbors gave him permission to place decorations on his property but no one ever helped him.

Jones said he has always worked alone for Utopia.

He was already referred to as the mayor as early as the mid-1970s, according to a Feb. 22, 1976, article in The Valdosta Daily Times. Even then, Jones was considered the lone advocate of Utopia.

He was a student enrolled at Young Harris College then. The 1976 article noted, "Utopia is not the same when Mayor Phil Jones is gone."

When he became an educator, when he moved away from Berrien County the "mayor" has not lived in Utopia for years,he still returns to install new signs. He's had signs made that resemble official town signs with white lettering on a green backdrop.

Now, Jones wants to see Utopia added to Berrien County maps.He wants to see the community listed on Wikipedia; past media reports in newspapers and television even a salute on the old syndicated "Hee-Haw" show are 30 to 40 years ago, prior to the internet reports required to validate a Wikipedia entry.

He's created a Facebook account supporting Utopia, remembering past residents, and pushing for its inclusion on maps and Wikipedia.

With the recent passing of the 45th anniversary of the walk that named the community, why now?

The one-time boy mayor is pushing 60. He's a retired teacher who worked with at-risk students. He spends half a year living in South Georgia and the other half living in North Carolina.

He sees time slipping away. He sees Utopia lost.

"I loved growing up in Utopia," Jones said. "But I'm not getting any younger. I want to see Utopia last beyond me."

More:

Utopia lost: Man wants Berrien 'town' on the map - Valdosta Daily Times