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Nintendo’s Epic Zelda Sequel ‘Tears Of The Kingdom’ Sparks Global Gaming Frenzy

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After a six-year anticipation, fans of the beloved “Zelda” franchise around the globe finally rejoiced on Friday as Nintendo unveiled the highly anticipated latest chapter in its iconic gaming series, which has been captivating audiences for four decades.

 

Dedicated gamers showed their unwavering commitment by forming lengthy queues outside a store in Paris, hours before midnight struck, in their quest to be among the first to obtain the much-awaited game, titled “Tears of the Kingdom.”

 

“I’m going crazy actually, because it’s been six years that we’ve been waiting for this game,” 19-year-old Taylor Meguira told AFP as he waited in line.

 

“When ‘Breath of the Wild’ came out, it was a real revolution in the world of games,” he added, referring to the 2017 instalment of the saga.

 

“Knowing that there is a sequel, which is coming out in an hour or a little less, it’s just incredible, it just makes me so happy.”

 

Since its initial release in 1986, the game series showcasing the adventures of Princess Zelda and the courageous hero Link has achieved remarkable success, with a staggering 125 million copies sold worldwide.

 

Notably, “Zelda” played a pivotal role in shaping the concept of “open world” gaming, allowing players to freely explore vast virtual landscapes—an innovation that later inspired titles such as “Grand Theft Auto” and “Skyrim.”

 

The franchise’s influence on the gaming industry is evident as it paved the way for immersive gaming experiences and expansive virtual realms.

 

However, the primary hurdle for the Japanese gaming powerhouse this year lies in enhancing its earnings and extending the lifespan of its Switch console, which industry experts claim has reached a mature stage after gracing store shelves for seven years.

 

Prior to its release, preview clips circulating on the internet garnered millions of views, generating immense anticipation. Analyst Serkan Toto from Kantan Games predicts that the game will significantly contribute to Nintendo’s sales this year, surpassing other titles by a wide margin.

 

Nonetheless, when the franchise made its debut in the 1980s, it was a daring move for a company primarily recognized for games like “Donkey Kong” and “Super Mario Bros.” The launch of “Zelda” marked a significant gamble for Nintendo at the time.

 

The inaugural release, “The Legend of Zelda,” thrust gamers into an unfamiliar universe with minimal guidance or instructions.

 

During an era when most games could be completed within a couple of hours, “Zelda” presented an expansive and grandiose scale.

 

Kiyoshi Tane, a renowned author specializing in video game history, acknowledged the game’s groundbreaking nature, stating, “It was a forerunner of what open-world games would eventually evolve into.”

 

With its vast and immersive world, “Zelda” pushed the boundaries of gaming conventions and set the stage for future titles to explore the possibilities of open-world gameplay.

Following its release, “Zelda” entered the market a few months after the iconic “Super Mario Bros.”

 

While Mario’s adventures involved traversing platforms from left to right, Zelda took a distinct approach by enticing players to delve into its vast world, encouraging exploration, discovery, and the mapping of its intricate landscapes.

 

This unique characteristic of the game was highlighted by Mark Brown, an analyst of game design who shares insights on his YouTube channel.

 

The original “Zelda” quickly became a resounding success, pushing the boundaries of game design and setting new standards for the industry over the next two decades.

 

However, as the 2010s arrived, the franchise encountered challenges and experienced a decline in its popularity.

 

The designers rethought the basics of the game, eventually creating 2017’s “Breath of the Wild”, which launched alongside the Switch and has since become the best-selling edition of Zelda.

 

“This game set a high bar for the open-world action-adventure genre, and Zelda is still at the top,” Katsuhiko Hayashi, representative for Famitsu Group, which publishes industry magazine Famitsu, told AFP.

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‘Dem Dey Use Stick Dey Flog Women’ — Nigerians in India Camp Cry Out

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Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.

The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.

Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.

SEE ALSO: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case

“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.

Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”

“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.

The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.

Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”

The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.

“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.

The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.

They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.

“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.

“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”

The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.

Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.

No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.

 

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‘Military Gets Huge Budgets, Yet Air Crashes Persist’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Military Conducts Mass Burial For Slain Soldiers In Niger Ambush, Air Crash

Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.

Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.

RELATED NEWS: Military Gear Found at Ondo Crash Site as Helicopter Burns to Rubble

He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.

“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.

According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.

“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.

Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.

He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.

The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.

Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.

He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.

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‘NYSC Has Outlived Its Usefulness, Should Be Scrapped’ — Shehu Muhammad

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Gombe NYSC Prioritises Safety of Corps Members

Rights activist and public affairs analyst, Shehu Mohammed, has called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying the scheme has outlived its usefulness amid growing security concerns across the country.

Shehu made the call on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, while reacting to the kidnapping of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Anambra states.

He described the incident as “one incident too many,” noting that kidnapping, maiming and the detention of victims in kidnappers’ camps had become frequent in several parts of the country.

SEE ALSO: 2027: North Should Back South-West To Complete 8 Years In Power — Shehu Sani

“I think it is just a case of one incident too many. There are more unreported cases of kidnapping and maiming and detention in kidnappers’ den, almost all over the country, especially in the northern part of the country: the Middle North West, North East, and North Central. It’s a daily, daily happening,” Sani said.

He said the security situation had made him question the continued relevance of the NYSC scheme, which was established to promote national unity.

“When Bukola was saying that she objects to the scrapping of NYSC, I tend to take a different view. My view is that the entire NYSC was meant to unite Nigeria, but if in uniting Nigeria you lose your daughter, you lose your son, you lose your uncle, you lose your sister, you lose your neighbour, then it’s not worth the trouble,” he said.

Shehu argued that corps members should instead be allowed to serve in their respective states, eliminating the need for young Nigerians to travel long distances to orientation camps.

“This NYSC issue should be scrapped, removed from the constitution, allow each and every corps member to serve in his own state, traveling with all the dangers, with all the costs,” he said.

He also highlighted the financial burden placed on families when corps members are posted far from their home states.

“If a child is going from Katsina to Anambra State to report to the camp, minimum that you give him is three hundred thousand naira for transfer cost, three hundred. How many parents have three hundred thousand naira to give their wards?” Sani asked.

He said the financial burden was only one aspect of the problem, with corps members also facing security risks and possible trauma during interstate travel.

“Minus all the dangers, the consequences, the uncertainties, the traumas involved. If your child has to go through a trauma, through uncertainty, through pain, through kidnapping, through raping, eventually through killing, why do you have to go for NYSC?” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, the NYSC project has outlived its usefulness. It should be scrapped.”

Shehu also warned that kidnapping in Nigeria was taking a new dimension, with criminal groups increasingly targeting vulnerable groups.

“Corps members are vulnerable groups. Travelers for commercial purposes all over the country are vulnerable groups. Therefore they are now going for soft targets,” he said.

According to him, kidnappers also use abductions to blackmail victims’ families and government authorities into paying ransom.

“The next one is blackmailing either the parents or blackmailing government to collect money,” he said.
Sani alleged that ransom payments were subsequently used to finance criminal activities.

“So they can finance their arm purchase. They can finance their purchase of hard drugs to enable them operate without pity and compassion, and to send permanent fear into the community,” he said.

He added that the kidnappers were using their activities to create fear within communities, despite being relatively few in number.

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