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Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

2018-11-20T13:34:42Z

Openlydialectic:

{{Infobox software
| title = Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead
| author = Whales
| released = 0.1 / {{Start date and age|2013|02|26|br=yes|df=yes}}<ref>[https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/releases/tag/0.1 0.1]</ref>
| latest release version = 0.C "Cooper"
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2015|03|11|br=yes|df=yes}}
| logo = File:Cataclysm logo square.png
| genre = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]] [[Roguelike]], [[survival horror]]
| developer = Kevin Granade & community
| programming_language = [[C++]], [[ncurses|ASCII with ncurses]], [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|Tiles with SDL]]
| platform = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Linux]], [[OS X]], [[IOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| license = [[CC BY-SA]] 3.0<ref name="license">[https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/master/LICENSE.txt license.txt] on [[github]]</ref>
| website = [http://cataclysmdda.org http://cataclysmdda.org]
| repo =

}}
[[Image:zombie chase.png|thumbnail|In-game screenshot showing a player '@' being chased by zombies 'Z']]

'''''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead''''', or '''CDDA''', is an [[open source]] [[survival horror]] [[roguelike]] [[video game]]. ''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' is a [[Fork (software)|fork]] of the original game ''Cataclysm''.<ref name="cataclsymfork">{{cite web|title = Cataclysm - RogueBasin|url = http://www.roguebasin.com/index.php?title=Cataclysm |website = www.roguebasin.com |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> CDDA features text based graphics but has an alternative graphical tiles version.
The game is [[Freeware|freely downloadable]] on the game's website and the [[source code]] is also freely available on the project's [[GitHub]] repository under the [[CC BY-SA]] [[Creative Commons license]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="license"/> [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] named CDDA in 2016 one of "The 50 Best Free Games on PC".<ref name="RPS2016"/>

== Plot ==
The game is set in near-future [[New England]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LhNpXGXmkPOxp_cp0-c9G7xqnihwApq-eZSa99exfcU |title=C:DDA Design Outline|website=[[Google Docs|doc.google.com]]}}</ref> after a [[catastrophic event]] killed most of the human population and spawned various monsters and hazards. Though the [[Risks to civilization, humans, and planet Earth|cataclysm]] is predominantly a [[Zombie|zombie apocalypse]], many other disastrous events are going on, including invasions from fungi, [[Triffid]]s, [[Lovecraftian horror|Lovecraftian]] monsters and caves containing sewer rats and a [[rat king]].

== Development ==
''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' is based on ''Cataclysm''<ref name="cataclsymfork"/> which [[source code]] was released as [[open source]] under the [[Creative Commons licence|Creative Commons]] [[CC BY-SA]] license on [[GitHub]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm/blob/master/LICENSE |title=Cataclysm / LICENSE |website=github.com |author=whales}}</ref> by the original author Whales in October 2010.<ref>[https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm/commit/69ffbb2953c1e92a9b24d5380dabe7f26066223e first commit] by whales on github.com </ref> After the ''Cataclysm'' author [[End-of-life (product)|ended the development]] around 2012, the game community [[Fork (software)|forked]] the game as ''Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead'' into a new repository in early 2013.

In June 2013 a successful [[crowdfunding]] on [[Kickstarter]]<ref name="CDDAcrowdfunding">{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/568375735/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead-dedicated-developer/|title=Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead - Dedicated Developer|work=[[Kickstarter]]|date=22 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiestatik.com/2013/06/22/cataclysm-dda-kickstarter/ |title=Multipocalyptic Roguelike Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead Turns To Kickstarter |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401001904/http://indiestatik.com/2013/06/22/cataclysm-dda-kickstarter/ |archivedate=2014-04-01}}</ref> raised $9,492 (beyond the $7,000 goal) for the payment of a full-time developer for 3.5 months.

The game is made with [[Ncurses]] to provide text based graphics; later a [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] version with [[Tile-based video game|graphical tile]]s became available. The game is under heavy development with experimental releases available multiple times each day.<ref name=":1" /> The latest stable version of the game is 0.C "Cooper" released on March 11, 2015.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://dev.narc.ro/cataclysm/jenkins-latest/Windows/Tiles/|title=Index of /cataclysm/jenkins-latest/Windows/Tiles |website=dev.narc.ro |access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref>

In December 2015 an unofficial [[Application launcher|launcher]] was created for CDDA under an [[open source]] [[MIT license]] to allow to stay up to date with the latest releases and [[Mod (video gaming)|third-party mods]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/releases |title=remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher |website=GitHub |access-date=2017-02-11}}</ref><ref>[https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/blob/master/LICENSE License] on github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher</ref>

== Gameplay ==
Unlike most roguelikes, it has [[Nonlinear gameplay|no goal]]: the player is free to explore the [[procedurally generated]] map, clear areas of monsters, work with [[Non-player character|NPCs]], and build shelters and vehicles. The gameplay is mainly based on day-to-day survival, and the game tracks parameters like hunger, thirst, morale, illness and temperature which the player must manage to stay alive. The game also manages numerous other mechanics about the player including [[drug addiction]], [[Mutation|mutations]], broken limbs, and [[Bionics|bionic implants]].

=== World ===
[[File:Screenshot from 2015-11-25 08-42-33.png|thumb|276x276px|Map View showing a giant-sized city.|left]]
The world is persistent between games. When starting a new character after the death of a previous character, the new game can be set in the same game world as the last.<ref>{{cite web|title = Whales/Cataclysm|url = https://github.com/Whales/Cataclysm| website = GitHub |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> The world has support for seasons and dynamic weather conditions and the season lengths can be modified during world generation.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title = CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA|url = https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/|website = GitHub |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> A typical world has cities, towns, rivers, forests, bridges and other landmarks. Cities and towns generally have all the common establishments generally found in the real world such as houses, department stores, malls, parking lots, swimming pools, hospitals, and more. Exotic locations such as labs, military bases, and missile silos can be found in remote places throughout the whole world. Latest versions have support for experimental three-dimensional buildings.<ref>{{cite web|title = CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA|url = https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/blob/d56e624ed03b6efba398b17b53ed5dda2b027d56/src/mapgen_functions.cpp |website = [[GitHub]] |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref>

=== Character ===
[[File:Cataclysm player.png|thumb|Player creation menu which shows Profession, Traits, Skills and Stats. |277x277px]]
Characters can be generated randomly or can be custom-built to suit player gameplay and preferences. Players choose from several available initial scenarios. The default scenario is "Evacuee" in which the player starts from an evacuation center with few provisions. Choosing harder scenarios awards the player with points with which they can create more powerful characters. Like most roguelikes, the game allows players to initially choose from various professions and each profession has its own set of traits and skills. In character creation, positive traits can be chosen by consuming points, and stats like strength and intelligence and skills like archery can also be increased through spending points. Negative traits earn the player more points to spend on positive traits, stats or skills. Traits that have a greater impact on gameplay have more points associated with them, ranging from minor traits like "Tough Feet" and "Clumsy" to game-changing traits like "Night Vision" or "[[Schizophrenia]]." Characters can increase their skills gradually once in-game by practicing the respective skills or reading books obtained from various sources found within the cities or towns. The game also has an optional skill rust system by which skill levels decrease with time due to disuse.

The game has a menu which shows the current conditions such as hunger, thirst, morale or any existing illness from which the character is suffering. In order to survive the character has to consume food and water regularly. The character also needs sleep regularly to recover from injuries and avoid negative penalties. This menu also shows the skill progression of the character.

=== Crafting ===
[[File:Cataclysm crafting menu .png|left|thumb|256x256px|Screenshot of Crafting Menu]]
Unlike most roguelikes, CDDA focuses heavily on crafting with many basic necessities such as clothing and food being craftable from raw items that are found lying around the world. For crafting to be successful the player needs the necessary raw materials and equipment. The player also needs to learn the recipe of the object to be crafted which can be unlocked by reading books from libraries. Successful crafting leads to an increase of the corresponding skill. Craftable items are classified into Weapons, Ammo, Food, Chemicals, Armor and Other, with several subcategories in each of them.

Crafting can be hampered by player conditions such as low morale or other external game conditions like insufficient light or the presence of monsters nearby.

=== Construction ===
[[File:Vehicle construct.png|thumb|273x273px|Vehicle construction/repair menu]]
CDDA features an intricate construction menu where one can perform simple construction activities like boarding up a window, digging a pit to elaborate ones like building a reinforced concrete wall, stone wall, digging a well or creating basements. Like crafting, construction requires raw materials like brick, stones, or nails. Equipment required for construction can be either salvaged from cities or can be crafted via the crafting menu from additional raw materials. For the most part, the terrain in the game is fully destructible, meaning that the player and other entities can destroy it or build structures on it.

Vehicles can be repaired or even constructed from scratch using the construction menu. Players are reported to have created vehicles of quite different sizes and capabilities - from small quad bikes with limited storage<ref>{{cite web|title = I tried building a smaller vehicle instead of a montrosity. • /r/cataclysmdda|url = https://www.reddit.com/r/cataclysmdda/comments/2qpgpm/i_tried_building_a_smaller_vehicle_instead_of_a/|website = reddit |accessdate = 2015-11-25}}</ref> to huge "deathmobiles"<ref>{{cite web|title = Vehicle Show and Tell|url = https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/vehicle-show-and-tell/207|website = discourse.cataclysmdda.org|accessdate = 2017-11-15}}</ref> with multiple engines, turrets, machine guns, and chemical labs.

=== Farming ===
The player can farm land and grow grains, vegetables, berries and other shrubs (e.g. cotton) provided that he finds the respective seeds. The final crop can be laid up for later use (though some food may perish), it can be eaten raw or can be used to prepare more elaborate products (e.g. [[cooking oil]], flour, spirits, vinegar, sealed food). The farming season usually extends from late spring to early autumn and depends on external temperature. Every plant type has different growing rates and growth can be accelerated using commercial or home-made fertilizers. Final output depends on character survival skill: the higher the skill, the higher the yield of every single plant. Once harvested all plants are considered "dead" and leave straw (grains) or withered plants and some seeds.

== Reception ==
The game was received by gaming websites overwhelmingly positive.<ref>[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/14/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead/ Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead: A roguelike you could play for the rest of your life] by Sin Vega on [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] (November 14th, 2016)</ref><ref>[http://toucharcade.com/2016/01/15/cataclysm-dark-days-ahead-review/ 'Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead' Review - A Learning Curve Like A Sheer Cliff, But Great Rewards Await] by Shaun Musgrave on [[TouchArcade]] "''4.5 stars''" (2016-01-15)</ref> [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] named it in October 2016 number 39 of "The 50 Best Free Games on PC".<ref name="RPS2016">[https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/31/the-50-best-free-games-on-pc/13/ The 50 Best Free Games On PC] on [[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] (October 31st, 2016)</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free software|Video games}}
* [[List of open source games]]
* [[List of roguelikes]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commonscat|Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead}}
* Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead {{official website}}
* [https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA GitHub page]
* [https://github.com/remyroy/CDDA-Game-Launcher/releases CDDA Launcher]

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[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Virtual economies]]
[[Category:Creative Commons-licensed video games]]
[[Category:Roguelike video games]]
[[Category:Open-source roguelikes]]
[[Category:Software that uses ncurses]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Survival video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Freeware games]]

Simulation Theory

2018-11-13T05:55:57Z

Openlydialectic:

<noinclude>{{User:RMCD bot/subject notice|1=Simulation Theory|2=Talk:Simulation Theory (album)#Requested move 9 November 2018 }}
</noinclude>{{short description|Muse album}}
{{For|hypothesis that the universe is an artificial simulation|Simulation theory}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Simulation Theory
| type = studio
| artist = [[Muse (band)|Muse]]
| cover = Simulation Theory (album).jpg
| alt = A neon-coloured portrait of the members of the band in 80s-style dystopian-themed costumes, with themed electronic imagery surrounding them.
| released = 9 November 2018
| recorded = January 2017 – August 2018
| studio = [[Associated Independent Recording#AIR Lyndhurst Hall - Hampstead, London (1991-present)|AIR Studios]] (London)
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Electronic rock]]
* [[pop rock]]
* {{nowrap|[[synth-pop]]}}
}}
| length = 42:12
| label = {{hlist|[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]|[[Helium 3 (record label)|Helium-3]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[Rich Costey]]|[[Mike Elizondo]]|Muse|[[Shellback (record producer)|Shellback]]|[[Timbaland]]}}
| prev_title = [[Drones (Muse album)|Drones]]
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Simulation Theory
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Dig Down]]
| single1date = 18 May 2017
| single2 = [[Thought Contagion]]
| single2date = 15 February 2018
| single3 = Something Human
| single3date = 19 July 2018
| single4 = The Dark Side
| single4date = 30 August 2018
| single5 = Pressure
| single5date = 27 September 2018
}}
}}

'''''Simulation Theory''''' is the eighth studio album by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Muse (band)|Muse]]. It was released on 9 November 2018 through [[Warner Bros. Records]] and [[Helium 3 (record label)|Helium-3]]. Muse coproduced the album with [[Rich Costey]], [[Mike Elizondo]], [[Shellback (record producer)|Shellback]], and [[Timbaland]]. Following the darker themes of Muse's prior albums, ''Simulation Theory'' incorporates lighter influences from [[science fiction]] and 1980s pop culture, with extensive use of synthesisers. The contemporary political climate of the United States informed the lyrics.

Rather than working on the album as a whole, Muse focused on recording a single track at a time. Recording began at [[Associated Independent Recording#AIR Lyndhurst Hall - Hampstead, London (1991-present)|AIR Studios]] in London in early 2017 with Elizondo, before embarking on a tour of North America. Production restarted in Los Angeles in late 2017 with Costey, who had produced Muse's albums ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' (2003) and ''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]'' (2006).

The [[album cover]], designed by ''[[Stranger Things]]'' artist [[Kyle Lambert]], and its [[music video]]s homage 1980s pop culture entertainment such as ''[[Back to the Future]],'' ''[[Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)|Michael Jackson's Thriller]]'', and ''[[Teen Wolf]]''. ''Simulation Theory'' was preceded by the release of singles "[[Dig Down]]", "[[Thought Contagion]]", "Something Human", "The Dark Side", and "Pressure", along with a 2018 festival tour of North America. It was released in a standard edition alongside two [[Special edition|deluxe editions]] featuring alternate versions of its tracks. A headline tour of North America and Europe in 2019 is planned.

==Background==

Following ''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]'' in 2006, Muse released three [[concept album]]s – ''[[The Resistance (album)|The Resistance]]'', ''[[The 2nd Law]]'', and ''[[Drones (Muse album)|Drones]]'' – with darker themes such as government oppression, energy depletion, and remote warfare respectively.<ref name="beaumont-1">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Beaumont|2018|loc="But after a long run of albums tackling some of mankind's most serious concerns – oppressive governments, energy depletion, remote control warfare – they've finally found a mind-bending sci-fi topic to have fun with."}}</ref> Each album was followed with tours with elaborate stage designs, visual effects, and pyrotechnic programmes.<ref name="rollingstone-1">{{cite web |last=Appleford |first=Steve |title=Muse Open U.S. Tour With a Bang |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muse-open-u-s-tour-with-a-bang-244546/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727Osai6f |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=24 January 2013|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="guardian-1">{{cite web |last=Empire |first=Kitty |title=Muse review – entertainingly bombastic |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/16/muse-london-o2-matt-bellamy-drones |website=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/pWLWi |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=17 April 2016|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="nme-1">{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Rhian |title=The Evolution Of Muse’s Tech-Obsessed Live Shows |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/evolution-of-muse-live-show-1790119 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727OuOpwE |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=1 November 2016|dead-url=no}}</ref> Following the conclusion of the [[Drones World Tour]], the band and tour director Glen Rowe expressed an eagerness to design a new more ambitious tour,<ref name="musicfeeds-1">{{cite web |last=Hohnen |first=Mike |title=Muse Reach Peak Muse, Are Considering A Magnetic Stage So Band Can "Levitate" |url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/muse-reach-peak-muse-considering-magnetic-stage-band-levitate/ |website=[[Music Feeds]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/ptNBd |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=26 October 2016|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="pitchfork-1">{{cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |title=Muse "Want to Do a Stage Made of Magnets So the Band Can Levitate" On Next Tour |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/69287-muse-want-to-do-a-stage-made-of-magnets-so-the-band-can-levitate-on-next-tour/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=1 September 2018  |date=25 October 2016|dead-url=no}}</ref> but with a different musical direction. Singer and guitarist [[Matt Bellamy]] entertained the possibility of experimenting with [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] or making another attempt at creating a stripped-back [[acoustic music|acoustic]] sound.<ref name="musicfeeds-2">{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Zanda |title=Matt Bellamy Is "Going To Start Rapping" On Muse's Next Album |url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/matt-bellamy-going-start-rapping-muses-next-album/ |website=[[Music Feeds]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/IyqR3 |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=8 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="nme-2">{{cite web |last=Britton |first=Luke Morgan |title=Muse suggest surprising new direction on next album |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-next-album-acoustic-1822662 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=1 September 2018  |date=4 November 2016 |quote=Asked by Absolute Radio if they could go acoustic, frontman Matt Bellamy said: "I feel like I say it every time with each album but I feel like it might be time to actually do something a bit more stripped down."}}</ref> Drummer [[Dominic Howard]] suggested that the band might release singles or EPs to target audiences who did not listen to albums.<ref name="sandiegout-1">{{cite web |last=Varga |first=George |title=Muse may have made its last album, says drummer |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/sdut-muse-drummer-dominic-howard-interview-2016jan06-htmlstory.html |website=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/qdJxy |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=6 January 2016 |quote="The way people consume music has changed so drastically over the past 10 years, it's insane," Howard continued. "And I'm the same. I certainly don't listen to albums all the way through now, like I used to. So we just thought, if we're going to release an album this time, we wanted to make it an album that makes sense from start to finish. It makes much more sense to go from start to finish, than just hear one or two songs."}}</ref>

==Composition==
Musically, ''Simulation Theory'' has been described as featuring [[electronic rock]],<ref name="Classic Rock"/> [[pop rock]],<ref name="Classic Rock"/> and [[synth-pop]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/78375/Muse-Simulation-Theory/|title=Reivew: Muse- Simulation Theory|publisher=SputnikMusic|author=SowingSeason}}</ref> Lyrically, it explores the role of [[simulation]] in society<ref name="bellamy-1">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="...that’s really one of the themes of the album, the idea of fantasy becoming real, simulations becoming something that's part of our everyday life."}}</ref> and the [[simulation hypothesis]], which proposes that reality is a simulation.<ref name="beaumont-2">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Beaumont|2018|loc="I confidently expect this to be Bellamy's dissection of the idea that we're all just lumps of code in the shape of unusually lumpy sims."}}</ref> Biographer [[Mark Beaumont (journalist)|Mark Beaumont]] wrote that it would likely be songwriter [[Matt Bellamy]]'s "dissection of the idea that we're all just lumps of code in the shape of unusually lumpy sims".<ref name="beaumont-2"/> In contrast to the darker themes of Muse's previous albums,<ref name="beaumont-1" /> ''Simulation Theory'' takes on a lighter [[science fiction]] theme, with "fantasy becoming real" cited by Bellamy as a core idea.<ref name="bellamy-1"/>

The band wanted to blend elements of different eras, citing the music of [[Lana Del Rey]], who mixes 50s-style music with lyrics concerning modern concepts in songs such as "[[Video Games (song)|Video Games]]", as an example.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="...what's interesting about music now is not just the style-blending but the era-blending. So you'll have an artist like Lana Del Rey doing a song that sounds and feels like it's set in the 1950s, but she's singing about video games. It's an interesting time for era-blending and creating something which is timeless, and not particularly attached to any time..."}}</ref><ref name="independent-1">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-thought-contagion-listen-new-music-album-release-date-tour-festivals-matt-bellamy-a8213411.html|title=Muse release new track 'Thought Contagion'|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=16 February 2018|accessdate=2 September 2018|archiveurl=http://archive.is/CQLh5|archivedate=2 September 2018|dead-url=no|quote=and we're also interested in doing some genre-blending and era-blending.|website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> The opening track, "Algorithm", features a musical juxtaposition between [[Classical music|classical]] piano and 80s [[synthesizer]]s and [[chiptune]]s.<ref name="loudwire-1">{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/muse-thought-contagion-trump-supporters/|title=Muse's 'Thought Contagion' Is Inspired by Trump Supporters|last=Childers|first=Chad|date=16 February 2018|website=[[Loudwire]]|dead-url=no|accessdate=2 September 2018|quote=Bellamy also teased a track called "Algorithm" that has "blended a bit of romantic classical piano with like '80s synth, computer game music."}}</ref> "Something Human" is rock song inspired by [[folk rock]]<ref name="cos-1">{{cite web |last=Schatz |first=Lake |title=Muse to release new album in November, unleash "Something Human" as first single: Stream |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/07/muse-something-human/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/NAuq2 |archivedate=31 August 2018 |date=19 July 2018|quote="Something Human" finds the alt-rockers tracking a much more mellow route here, trading in crunchy prog-rock for — get this — something along the lines of folk pop. [...] The song was co-produced by the band with help from Rich Costey.|dead-url=no}}</ref> written to counteract the "dark vibe" of ''Drones'' and the [[Drones World Tour]]. Bellamy described it as a "tender, down-to-earth, simplistic song" that describes the [[Occupational burnout|burnout]] and [[homesickness]] he felt towards the end of the tour.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="The Drones Tour was amazing and we’re very happy with how it went, but at the same time it was quite grueling. [...] It had a dark vibe, which is good, but when you’ve been doing that for a while that natural result was that as soon as I came off the road, “Something Human” came out, which is a more tender, down-to-earth, simplistic song about what it feels like to be burned out and wanting to get home to a more normal life after being on the road for a couple years."}}</ref> "Pressure" is a [[power pop]] track with contrasting [[Horn (instrument)|horns]] and guitars, reminiscent of [[Geek rock|nerd rock]].<ref name="nme-3">{{Cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|title=Muse go 'back to the future' in new video for their 'straight rock single' 'Pressure'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-new-single-video-pressure-2383582|website=[[NME]]|accessdate=28 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928025047/https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-new-single-video-pressure-2383582|archivedate=28 September 2018|date=27 September 2018|quote="It's more like a straight Muse rock track," Bellamy told Radio X. "It's like a different riff every 10 seconds, basically." [...] the scene shifts to a high school prom – seemingly recreating the prom scene in Back To The Future, with Muse assuming the role of the band and the frontman appearing to be dressed as Marty McFly.|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="cos-2">{{Cite web|last=Worthington|first=Clint|title=Muse premiere new single "Pressure" and Terry Crews-starring video: Stream|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/muse-pressure-music-video/|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]|accessdate=28 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928025037/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/muse-pressure-music-video/|archivedate=28 September 2018|date=28 September 2018|quote=...driving power chords, catchy hooks, pure wall-of-sound nerd rock. The addition of horns to the song's central riff [...] the song’s power-pop sensibilities. [...] is a big, silly, over-the-top '80s throwback, featuring everything from a John Hughes-y school dance to Terry Crews zapping gremlins with a Ghostbuster-like proton pack.|deadurl=no}}</ref> The song features several interchanging riffs.<ref name="billboard-1">{{Cite web|last=Marina|first1=Pedrosa|title=Muse Goes Back to the '80s for Sci-Fi 'Pressure' Video: Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8477257/muse-pressure-video|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=28 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928025034/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8477257/muse-pressure-video|archivedate=28 September 2018|date=27 September 2018|quote=...their new '80s high school homecoming-meets-Stranger Things music video for "Pressure," [...] The multiple-riff, guitar-heavy tune features some impressive melodic arrangements and a full-bodied vocal attack by frontman Matt Bellamy.|deadurl=no}}</ref>

"[[Dig Down]]", one of the first songs written, is a reaction to the social and political climate following the [[United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016|Brexit referendum]] and the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 US presidential election]], hoping to "give inspiration, optimism and hope to people to fight for the causes they believe in."<ref name="exclaim-1">{{cite web |last=Slingerland |first=Calum |title=Muse Return with "Dig Down" |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/muse_return_with_dig_down_share_video |website=[[Exclaim!]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7276kVpFF |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=18 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref> "[[Thought Contagion]]" was written in late 2017 following the band's move to [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], and the restart of production.<ref name="bellamy-2">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="It’s a pretty recent track, probably towards the end of last year is when I wrote it. I came up with the bass line and then I used a theremin, originally, to [create] this lead melody that went over the top."}}</ref> The verses stem from Bellamy's anxieties observing American news at the time;<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="Probably watching American news stations. We’re living in an age where these sort of ideologies, people’s belief systems, whether they are true or false, are getting a lot of air time, especially ones on the false side [...] The verses are me streaming off anxieties and feelings..."}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="Thought Contagion was inspired by watching rolling news in America, and seeing how it influenced voters."}}</ref> its chorus recalls Bellamy's concerns about the power misinformed or ideological people have over their audiences.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="The key line in the song [...] summarizes what I’m trying to get at here, which is sometimes in life you will come across situations where someone who is a bit ideological or believes things that are not true in any way will sometimes have more power than you, over you or get more airtime. I think that’s really what the song is about."}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="We're living in an age where truth is getting less airtime than falsities; and that's a scary thing," said Bellamy, who currently lives in the US. "When you live in that bubble, and see that bubble, the scariest thing about it all is you realise people's minds can be influenced by false belief systems or incorrect thinking."}}</ref> The track's title was inspired by scientist [[Richard Dawkins]], who compared the spread of thoughts, "regardless of their accuracy and truth", to a viral disease.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="The title of the song came from a Richard Dawkins book that suggested that thoughts can become contagious and spread like a virus, "regardless of their accuracy and truth"."}}</ref>

==Recording==
[[File:AIR Studios London 2017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Associated Independent Recording#AIR Lyndhurst Hall - Hampstead, London (1991-present)|AIR Studios]] in [[London]], England, where the first recording sessions for ''Simulation Theory'' took place in early 2017.]]
Muse began writing and recording their eighth studio album following the conclusion of the [[Drones World Tour]] in late 2016. The band spent time at [[Associated Independent Recording#AIR Lyndhurst Hall - Hampstead, London (1991-present)|AIR Studios]] in [[London]], [[England]],<ref name="independent-2">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |title=Muse are back in the studio recording new music |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-new-music-album-release-date-tour-reading-and-leeds-headlining-how-to-get-tickets-a7669746.html |website=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/T85F6 |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=6 April 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="musicfeeds-3">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Sam |title=Muse Are Back In The Studio And Have A New Song "Coming Soon" |url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/muse-back-studio-new-song-coming-soon/ |website=[[Music Feeds]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7273bznGt |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=6 April 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref> with producer [[Mike Elizondo]]<ref name="nzherald-1">{{cite web |last=Schulz |first=Chris |title=Superproducer Mike Elizondo 'blown away' by Kiwi singer |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11810629 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/8kUqV |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=3 March 2017 |quote=...and landed in New Zealand fresh from a songwriting session with stadium rockers Muse...|dead-url=no}}</ref> until they left to embark on a tour of North America with [[PVRIS]] and [[Thirty Seconds to Mars]] in May 2017.<ref name="billboard-2">{{cite web |last=Cobo |first=Leila |title=Muse Dazzles at Stunning Summer Tour Kickoff in West Palm Beach |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7801142/muse-west-palm-beach-concert-recap-2017 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7276kKIYE |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=20 May 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> Three tracks were written and recorded during these sessions; information that had been relayed by the band to a fan that visited them at AIR Studios in March 2017.<ref name="nme-4">{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |title=Muse have recorded 'three new songs' in a London recording studio |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-recorded-three-new-songs-london-recording-studio-2016810 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7272QoIC2 |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=14 March 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref> One of the tracks, "[[Dig Down]]", was released following the conclusion of these sessions in May 2017.<ref name="rollingstone-2">{{cite web |last=Leight |first=Elias |title=See Muse's Violent, Kung-Fu-Filled 'Dig Down' Video |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/see-muses-violent-kung-fu-filled-dig-down-video-123273/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/72757oU9G |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=18 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="pitchfork-2">{{cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |title=Watch Muse's Video for New Song "Dig Down" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/73592-watch-muses-video-for-new-song-dig-down/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/72764NGFe |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=18 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="cos-3">{{cite web |last=Geslani |first=Michelle |title=Muse share action-packed video for new single "Dig Down" |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/05/muse-share-action-packed-video-for-new-single-dig-down-watch/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7275mMA50 |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=18 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref> At the end of the tour, the band moved to [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], to restart production, this time with collaborator [[Rich Costey]], who co-produced ''[[Absolution (album)|Absolution]]'' and ''[[Black Holes and Revelations]]''.<ref name="nme-5">{{cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |title=Muse are back in the studio – with an old friend and collaborator |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-back-studio-old-friend-collaborator-2149345 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7278CNudk |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=12 October 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="nme-6">{{cite web |last=Connick |first=Tom |title=Muse's new album 'Simulation Theory' - everything we know so far |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/muse-new-album-release-date-title-tour-plans-everything-know-far-2371994 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/7248Yj4Oj |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="rockol-1">{{cite web |author1=''Rockol'' staff |title=I Muse di nuovo al lavoro con il produttore Rich Costay |url=https://www.rockol.it/news-679564/muse-nuovo-al-lavoro-il-produttore-rich-costay?refresh_ce |website=Rockol |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/47hrH |archivedate=1 September 2018 |language=Italian |date=12 October 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = I think for the last two or three albums, we've always been thinking about the whole. [...] It was nice to remind ourselves to just think about a song. What makes a song great?
| author = [[Matt Bellamy]]
| source = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="I think for the last two or three albums..."}}</ref>
| width = 25%
| align = left
}}
Rather than concentrating on the album as a whole, as they had on previous albums, Muse focused on recording and mixing one track at a time.<ref name="bellamy-3">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="We’re doing the writing, recording and mixing process and even the video in this occasion before moving onto the next song. It’s nice for us to not be multitasking twelve songs at once and always thinking about the whole. "}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="Unlike previous projects, the band are releasing it one song at a time, rather than conceiving an overarching concept."}}</ref> The band hoped this would improve the individual quality of the songs, and they worked with no particular theme in mind, even halfway through its production.<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="It remains to be seen whether the whole will have a concept to it, but I kinda think that we’ve done two or three concept albums in a row now. I think it'll be our greatest album in terms of the quality of individual songs."}}</ref>

One of the first tracks produced with Costey was "[[Thought Contagion]]", based on a [[bassline]] and [[theremin]] melody conceived by Bellamy.<ref name="bellamy-2" /> The band began recording it in November, and replaced the theremin with a ten-layer vocal chorus performed by Bellamy and bassist [[Chris Wolstenholme]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="It wasn’t until we started recording the song in November that it occurred to me that the theremin melody would be a cool, anthemic sort of vocal part, so [bassist] Chris [Wolstenholme] and I did about ten passes on that to create this sort of crowd effect on the vocal."}}</ref> The verses were originally intended to be supported by a heavier, [[arena rock|arena]]-style drum sequence, before experimentation with programming led to a [[Trap music|trap]]-inspired drum sound that emulated the [[Roland TR-808]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Greene|2018|loc="The verse of the song, originally, was probably a lot more heavy-sounding than it is now, in terms of [having a] much more arena sound, drum kit kind of thing. But we wanted to experiment with programming the verse and go for more of a slightly trap or 808 drum feel for the verses..."}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Savage|2018|loc="On their latest single, Thought Contagion, the band have even used the skittish drum patterns of Trap. "That's the first time we've used something like that - big 808 [drum machine] drops and stuff," said Bellamy.}}</ref> The [[folk rock]]-inspired track "Something Human" was also co-produced with Costey.<ref name="cos-1" /> [[Shellback (record producer)|Shellback]] and [[Timbaland]] also co-produced tracks.<ref name="variety-1">{{cite web |author1=''Variety'' staff |title=Muse Uses 'Stranger Things' as Inspiration for Cover Art to New Album |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/muse-new-album-simulation-theory-with-cover-stranger-things-1202922426/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/726lCUshq |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="rollingstone-3">{{cite web |last=Blistein |first=Jon |title=Muse Preview New Album 'Simulation Theory' With Slick Song 'The Dark Side' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muse-new-album-simulation-theory-the-dark-side-717448/ |website=[[Rolling Stone]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830190721/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/muse-new-album-simulation-theory-the-dark-side-717448/ |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>

==Artwork==
[[File:Simulation Theory (album), alt.jpg|thumb|The [[album cover]] for the "Super Deluxe" edition of ''Simulation Theory'', illustrated by Disney collaborator Paul Shipper]]
The [[album cover]] for ''Simulation Theory'' was designed by British visual artist [[Kyle Lambert]], who had worked on the television series ''[[Stranger Things]]''.<ref name="nme-6"/><ref name="cos-4">{{cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |title=Muse announce new album, Simulation Theory, unveil "The Dark Side": Stream |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/08/muse-announce-simulation-theory/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830190753/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/08/muse-announce-simulation-theory/ |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> It was created using Procreate on an [[iPad Pro]] with [[Apple Pencil]],<ref name="nme-7">{{Cite web|last=Daly|first=Rhian|title=Here's how Muse's new album artwork was created using an iPad|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muses-new-album-artwork-simulation-theory-created-ipad-2392832|website=[[NME]]|accessdate=24 October 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024124544/https://www.nme.com/news/music/muses-new-album-artwork-simulation-theory-created-ipad-2392832|archivedate=24 October 2018|date=23 October 2018|quote=...Lambert shows the process behind the sci-fi imagery that will adorn the sleeve of 'Simulation Theory'. In the beginning, he can be seen creating line drawings on his iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil...|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="9to5mac-1">{{Cite web|last=Cao|first=Peter|title=Muse's 'Simulation Theory' album artwork created with Apple Pencil and iPad Pro|url=https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/22/muse-simulation-theory-ipad-pro-apple-pencil/|website=[[Apple community#9to5Mac|9to5Mac]]|accessdate=24 October 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024124547/https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/22/muse-simulation-theory-ipad-pro-apple-pencil/|archivedate=24 October 2018|date=22 October 2018|quote=...both the album artwork and the video teaser was almost entirely created with the iPad Pro using the Apple Pencil.|deadurl=no}}</ref> and features a [[retro style]] focused on 1980s aesthetics, prompting comparisons by critics to Lambert's earlier work and similar aesthetics used in both 1980s and contemporary media.<ref name="inverse-1">{{cite web |last=Lucchesi |first=Nick |title=Who Do We Blame for Muse's 'Simulation Theory'? |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/48543-muse-simulation-theory-album-explanation |website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/NsgXN |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018 |quote=The artwork for Muse’s Simulation Theory feels very much like an elevated version of the ‘80s Text Generator meme that was popular two years ago, an aesthetic that was no-doubt inspired by Stranger Things.|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Beaumont|2018|loc=The album comes in an uber-retro sleeve [...] that couldn’t be more Blade Runner if it came with a free attack ship on fire off the shoulder of Orion. [..] The whole thing screams San Junipero to the max."}}</ref> The cover for the "super deluxe" version was designed by Paul Shipper, who had designed the [[Dolby Cinema]] posters for [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] films such as ''[[Star Wars: The Last Jedi]]'' and ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]''. It features an array of characters, including members of the band, in a stylistic arrangement similar to Shipper's previous work.<ref name="cos-4"/><ref name="louder-1">{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |title=Muse to release new album Simulation Theory on November 9 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/muse-to-release-new-album-simulation-theory-on-november-9 |website=[[Metal Hammer|Louder Sound]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/GTzPh |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>

==Promotion==
In April 2017, Muse shared footage from their early studio sessions on [[social media]], with captions teasing new material "coming soon".<ref name="independent-2"/><ref name="musicfeeds-3"/> More cryptic teasers were published in the weeks following.<ref name="independent-3">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |title=Muse tease new single and video on social media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-new-album-music-release-date-video-reading-and-leeds-festival-headliners-instagram-a7725901.html |website=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/Cn41d |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=9 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="digitalspy-1">{{cite web |last=Anderton |first=Joe |title=Muse tease their long-awaited comeback with cryptic video |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a827804/muse-tease-new-singe-comeback-cryptic-video-teaser/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/iHZBF |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=8 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="billboard-3">{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Muse Tease New Music in Cryptic Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7791770/muse-tease-new-music-video |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/72749vUVu |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=9 May 2017|dead-url=no}}</ref> The first product of the sessions, "[[Dig Down]]", was released on 18 May 2017, along with a music video.<ref name="rollingstone-2"/><ref name="pitchfork-2"/><ref name="cos-3"/> The song became the opening song on the band's 2017 North American tour.<ref name="austin360-1">{{cite web |last=Swiatecki |first=Chad |title=Muse delivers lots of moments big and small, and one great live show |url=http://music.blog.austin360.com/2017/06/11/muse-delivers-lots-of-moments-big-and-small-and-one-great-live-show/ |website=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/4SMpf |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=11 June 2017 |quote=...but the only taste of Muse-to-come came at the top of the show with "Dig Down," the single released in May in advance of the tour.|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="ottcit-1">{{cite web |last=Saxberg |first=Lynn |title=Bluesfest review: Muse energy level set to stun |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/bluesfest-review-muse-energy-level-set-to-stun |website=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/zqGNI |archivedate=1 September 2018 |date=16 July 2017 |quote=...there was some catching up to do, starting with a brand-new tune entitled Dig Down.|dead-url=no}}</ref>

After the band's return to the studio, Muse teased "[[Thought Contagion]]" as their next release, and teased several more tracks to follow.<ref name="diffuser-1">{{cite web |last=Kielty |first=Martin |title=Muse Are Planning More Singles Before Their Next Album |url=http://diffuser.fm/muse-new-singles/ |website=Diffuser |accessdate=2 September 2018 |date=11 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="forbes-1">{{cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Hugh |title=The Most Anticipated Rock Albums Of 2018 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2017/12/21/the-most-anticipated-rock-albums-of-2018/#7d0465537942 |website=[[Forbes]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/QiD6z |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=21 December 2017 |quote=...a second single (or at least a new song) entitled “Thought Contagion” will come soon.}}</ref> "Thought Contagion" was released on 15 February 2018 with its accompanying music video.<ref name="independent-1" /><ref name="billboard-4">{{cite web |last=Braca |first=Nina |title=Muse Share Infectious New Song & Video 'Thought Contagion' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8099960/muse-new-song-video-thought-contagion |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727ciuAkT |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=15 February 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="pitchfork-3">{{cite web |last1=Blais-Billie |first1=Braudie |last2=Phillips |first2=Amy |title=Muse's New Song "Thought Contagion" Is About Memes: Video |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/muses-new-song-thought-contagion-is-about-memes-listen/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727cjLCAM |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=15 February 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> Muse continued to post in-studio footage on social media in the weeks following.<ref name="billboard-5">{{cite web |last=Cummings-Grady |first=Mackenzie |title=Muse Share Teaser From Inside the Studio as They Work on New Album: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8457364/muse-share-video-recording-next-album-studio |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727dwA5Ja |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=22 May 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> The band also headlined a number of festivals in the United States in 2018, including [[Bonnaroo Music Festival|Bonnaroo]], [[BottleRock Napa Valley|BottleRock]], and [[Carolina Rebellion]] festivals.<ref name="billboard-5" /><ref name="nashscene-1">{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Amber J. |title=Muse Turns Bonnaroo Into an Action Adventure Friday Night |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/spin/article/21008611/muse-turns-bonnaroo-into-an-action-adventure-friday-night |website=[[Nashville Scene]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727eOCyOH |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=9 June 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>

Muse announced the album release date on 20 July 2018, alongside the [[lead single]] "Something Human".<ref name="cos-1" /><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="We are putting the finishing touches on the album at the moment, hoping to get the album finished over the next few weeks. If all goes to plan, the album will be out in November."}}</ref><ref name="musicfeeds-4">{{cite web |last=Mack |first=Emmy |title=Muse To Release New Album In November, Share First Single 'Something Human' |url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/muse-release-new-album-november-first-single-something-human/ |website=[[Music Feeds]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/ZqHYW |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=20 July 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> The title, tracklist and cover art were announced on 30 August 2018.<ref name="rollingstone-3" /><ref name="pitchfork-4">{{cite web |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam |title=Muse Announce New Album Simulation Theory, Share Song "The Dark Side": Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/muse-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-share-song-the-dark-side-listen/ |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830190743/https://pitchfork.com/news/muse-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-share-song-the-dark-side-listen/ |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> The "deluxe" and "super deluxe" editions feature alternative versions of songs, referred to as "alternate reality versions",<ref name="cos-4" /> including a version of "Pressure" performed by the [[UCLA Bruin Marching Band]], a [[Gospel music|gospel]] rendition of "Dig Down", a live version of "Thought Contagion" and [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] renditions of "Propaganda", "Something Human", and "The Void".<ref name="cos-4" /><ref name="nme-8">{{cite web |last=Andrew |first=Trendell |title=Muse unveil new single 'The Dark Side' and announce new album 'Simulation Theory' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-unveil-new-single-dark-side-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-2372513 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=30 August 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830190748/https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-unveil-new-single-dark-side-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-2372513 |archivedate=30 August 2018 |date=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref> A fourth single, "The Dark Side", was released on 30 August,<ref name="pitchfork-4" /> followed by "Pressure" on 27 September.<ref name="cos-2" /> 

===Music videos===
[[File:Simulation Theory (album) music videos.jpg|thumb|The album's [[music video]]s feature [[science fiction]]-themed, 80s-style visuals. The videos for "Thought Contagion" (top) and "Something Human" (bottom) are pictured.]]
Muse plans to produce music videos for all eleven tracks on ''Simulation Theory'', forming a narrative focused on "digital containment and escape".<ref name="variety-1"/><ref name="beaumont-3">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Beaumont|2018|loc="That each song will have its own video ('The Dark Side''s clip of Bellamy driving a sports car through a neon cityscape could be taken from GTA Vice City 2078) suggests a narrative about digital containment and escape."}}</ref> Like the album, the videos are [[science fiction]]-themed,<ref name="undertheradar-1">{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Christopher |title=Muse Share Sci-Fi Video for New Song "Dig Down" |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/muse_share_sci-fi_video_for_new_song_dig_down/ |website=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://archive.is/GtdNX |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=18 May 2017 |quote=Lance Drake directed the science fiction styled video, which stars model and activist Lauren Wasser as she tries to escape from some sort of facility. The band appear on TV screens, with frontman Matt Bellamy looking a bit like 1980s computer generated cult character Max Headroom.|dead-url=no}}</ref> with 1980s-inspired aesthetics and effects.<ref name="billboard-4"/><ref name="pitchfork-3"/><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="The new video — one man’s quest to return a VHS tape before he turns into a werewolf — stays on the ‘80s nostalgia thread from the “Thought Contagion” video.}}</ref> Each videos was directed by American filmmaker Lance Drake, noted for his work with [[Miike Snow]] and [[Twin Shadow]].<ref name="cos-3" />

The first video, "Dig Down", stars model and former athlete Lauren Wasser attempting to escape a high-security facility.<ref name="pitchfork-2" /><ref name="undertheradar-1" /> The [[Action fiction|action]]-heavy video is a literal interpretation of the song's lyrics, based on Wasser's publicised experience with [[toxic shock syndrome]].<ref name="cos-3" /> Drake had intended to film a video with Wasser starring prior to his involvement with Muse, and "Dig Down"'s themes of unity and survival inspired him to create a story centered around her.<ref name="exclaim-1" /><ref name="cos-3" /> Bellamy appears in the video through [[cathode ray tube]] [[television set]]s dressed as 80s cyberpunk character [[Max Headroom (character)|Max Headroom]].<ref name="undertheradar-1" /> The second video, "Thought Contagion", references the 1983 music video ''[[Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)|Michael Jackson's Thriller]]'', with a love story involving a [[vampire]] antagonist illustrated through [[choreography]] and [[neon lighting]].<ref name="billboard-4" /><ref name="pitchfork-3" /><ref name="ucr-1">{{cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |title=Watch the Video for Muse's New Song, 'Thought Contagion' |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/muse-thought-contagion/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/728MAa3AH |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=15 February 2018 |quote=The video for the song – which features Muse's usual mix of flashy alt-rock and Queen-sized theatrics – is a neon-drenched dance party that plays into some of these modern-day anxieties.|dead-url=no}}</ref> Muse held an open [[Casting (performing arts)|casting call]] for dancers and extras for the video, welcoming "super edgy" [[Punk subculture|punk]] characters with "wild hair", tattoos, and piercings.<ref name="nme-9">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Helen Meriel |title=Are Muse casting for their new music video? |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-video-casting-call-grungy-punks-thought-contagion-2225905 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/728MAwoSE |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=22 January 2018 |quote="We're looking for a couple of super edgy guys to play punk/street guys," reads the 'grungy punks' ad. "Wild hair, tattoos and piercings welcome."|dead-url=no}}</ref>

The third video, "Something Human", follows Bellamy as he attempts to return a [[VHS]] cassette to a [[video rental shop]] before turning into a [[werewolf]], while being chased by police portrayed by band mates [[Dominic Howard]] and [[Chris Wolstenholme]].<ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="The new video — one man’s quest to return a VHS tape before he turns into a werewolf..."}}</ref> Drake aimed to create an "epic journey" out of a simple task, such as returning a tape, while continuing the narrative of the previous two videos.<ref name="nme-10">{{cite web |last=Maine |first=Samantha |title=Muse have shared a futuristic, Teen Wolf inspired video for 'Something Human' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-new-video-something-human-2356634 |website=[[NME]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/728HHPq3q |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=19 July 2018 |quote="Our aim with 'Something Human' was to continue the journey that began in 'Dig Down' and 'Thought Contagion," Drake said. "Pulling further into a simulated world we follow Matt, Dom, and, Chris on the chase of a lifetime – where something as simple as returning some video tapes becomes an epic journey."|dead-url=no}}</ref> Continuing the 1980s-inspired visual style, the video takes place in a [[simulation]], and makes more direct references to 80s media, such as ''[[Back to the Future]]'' and ''[[Teen Wolf]]''; films that Bellamy had enjoyed during his childhood and wanted to recall as part of the video's simulation setting.<ref name="nme-10"/><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bellamy|Olivier|2018|loc="For that very reason we live in age where because you can be anything or anywhere you want in a simulation, for me I want to go back to the early ‘80s and Back To The Future. [...] My earliest memories as a child are of watching films like E.T. or Back To The Future or Teen Wolf."}}</ref> The following video, "The Dark Side", continues where the ending of "Something Human" left off and features Bellamy driving through a simulated [[Dystopia|dystopian]] landscape populated by giant robots.<ref name="rollingstone-3"/><ref name="nme-8"/> The video has invited comparisons to ''[[Cyberpunk 2020|Cyberpunk]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' by critics.<ref name="beaumont-3"/><ref name="billboard-6">{{cite web |last=Rincón |first=Alessandra |title=Muse Announce New Album 'Simulation Theory,' Share Pounding Track 'The Dark Side': Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8472956/muse-announce-new-album-the-dark-side-video |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |archivedate=2 September 2018 |date=30 August 2018 |quote=...and debuted a Cyberpunk-esque video for a new single called "The Dark Side" today.|dead-url=no}}</ref> The fifth music video, "Pressure", continues the 1980s pop culture references,<ref name="cos-2"/><ref name="billboard-1"/> and stars the band as performers at a [[Homecoming#Homecoming dance|homecoming dance]] akin to a scene from ''Back to the Future'',<ref name="nme-3"/> and [[Terry Crews]] as a [[Chaperone (social)|chaperone]] who uses a ''[[Ghostbusters]]''-esque proton pack to subdue an outbreak of [[Gremlins|gremlin]]-like creatures.<ref name="cos-2"/><ref name="rollingstone-4">{{Cite web|last=Grow|first=Kory|title=See Muse Play High School Dance Gone Wrong In New 'Pressure' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/see-muse-play-high-school-dance-gone-wrong-in-new-pressure-video-729994/|website=[[Rolling Stone]]|accessdate=28 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928025044/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/see-muse-play-high-school-dance-gone-wrong-in-new-pressure-video-729994/|archivedate=28 September 2018|date=27 September 2018|quote=...and a chaperone, Terry Crews. When two students ride their bikes into the science lab, things go horribly wrong with a sequence that owes a debt to sci-fi movies like Critters.|deadurl=no}}</ref> Critics also identified homages to ''[[Critters (film)|Critters]]'', the work of [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]], and ''Stranger Things''.<ref name="cos-2"/><ref name="billboard-1"/><ref name="rollingstone-4"/>

===Tour===
In September 2018, Muse revealed through a post on [[Twitter]] the name of twenty cities in North America and seventeen cities in Europe that the band intended to visit on their 2019 headline tour.<ref name="nme-11">{{Cite web|last=Trendell|first1=Andrew|title=Muse announce the cities for their 2019 UK and world tour|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-2019-uk-europe-world-tour-tickets-2384337|website=[[NME]]|accessdate=5 October 2018|archiveurl=http://archive.is/OJCuL|archivedate=5 October 2018|date=28 September 2018|quote=the band have told fans that anyone who pre-orders the album here will have early access to their 2019 headline tour. Revealing the cities they’ll be playing, [...] We’re going to come up with something that no one’s ever seen before. We’re always interested in the latest technology and what’s cutting edge...|deadurl=no}}</ref> In the same post, the band promised early access to tickets for the tour for people who pre-ordered the album.<ref name="nme-11"/><ref name="kerrang-1">{{Cite web|author=''Kerrang!'' staff|title=Muse Announce Which Cities They’ll Be Playing On 2019 Tour|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/muse-announce-which-cities-theyll-be-playing-on-2019-tour/|website=[[Kerrang!]]|accessdate=5 October 2018|archiveurl=http://archive.is/n3C4I|archivedate=5 October 2018|date=28 September 2018|quote=...fans who pre-order their new album Simulation Theory gaining early access to tickets. More cities are still set to be announced!|deadurl=no}}</ref> Technology will be a focus in the design of the tour, with an intent to showcase "something that no one’s ever seen before".<ref name="nme-11"/> Early ideas for the tour included a system of [[magnet]]s that would allow the band to levitate without wires.<ref name="musicfeeds-1"/>

==Critical reception==

{{Album ratings
| MC = 64/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/simulation-theory/muse |title=Reviews for Simulation Theory by Muse |work=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=9 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusicRev">{{cite web|first=Neil|last=Yeung|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/simulation-theory-mw0003207373|title=Muse Simulation Theory|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Classic Rock Magazine|Classic Rock]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Classic Rock">{{Cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/muse-simulation-theory-album-review|title=Muse: Simulation Theory album review|work=[[Classic Rock Magazine|Classic Rock]]|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="DIY Review">{{cite web|first=Will|last=Richards|url=http://diymag.com/2018/11/08/muse-simulation-theory-album-review|title=Muse Simulation Theory|work=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]|access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="guardian-review">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/09/muse-simulation-theory-review-bring-back-the-alien-overlords-please|last=Hann|first=Michael|title=Muse: Simulation Theory review – bring back the alien overlords, please|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 November 2018|accessdate=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Kerrang">{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=10 November 2018|title=Simulation Theory - Review|url=|journal=[[Kerrang!]]|volume=|pages=pg. 53|via=Wasted Talent Ltd}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="NME">{{cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/muse-simulation-theory-review|title=Muse – 'Simulation Theory' review|work=[[NME]]|date=8 November 2018|accessdate=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-muse-get-lost-in-the-eighties-on-simulation-theory-754029/|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher|title=Review: Muse Get Lost in the Eighties on 'Simulation Theory'|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=9 November 2018|accessdate=10 November 2018}}</ref>
| rev8 =
| rev8Score =
| rev9 =
| rev9Score =
| rev10 =
| rev10Score =
| rev11 =
| rev11Score =
}}At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, ''Simulation Theory'' has an average score of 64 based on seventeen reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="Metacritic"/> ''[[AllMusic]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Neil. Z Yeung praised the combination of electronic pop with "urgent, stadium rock foundation".<ref name="AllMusicRev" /> Andrew Trendell of ''[[NME]]'' described the album as a "''Tron''-style pastiche of [Muse's] own adolescence", adding that "you'll be ashamed to tell anyone how much you love it."<ref name="NME"/>

''[[The Guardian]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Michael Hann wrote that the "less poppy moments are the most exciting", citing the arpeggios and power chords of "Blockades" and the "none-more-jackbooted" synth bassline and "urgent" strings of "Algorithm".<ref name="guardian-review" /> Christopher R. Weingarten of [[Rolling Stone|''Rolling Stone'']] found that the lyrical mix of relationships and political themes resulted in a confusing message.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>

Yeung found ''Simulation Theory'' to be "the least complicated or overly conceptual [Muse album] in over a decade", and felt that "the orchestral and dubstep meandering of [Muse's] previous 2010s output" was absent.<ref name="AllMusicRev" /> Trendell wrote that Muse present their "bombast" by "indulg[ing] their guiltiest pleasures" rather than through the "operatic prog" found in their previous albums,<ref name="NME" /> and Hann commented that producers such as Shellback and Timbaland found "a new face to Muse ... to a certain extent".<ref name="guardian-review" /> ''[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]'' writer Will Richards saw ''Simulation Theory'' as a continuation of the "absurdities" of ''Drones'' and concluded: "If a Muse album isn't meant to make you laugh, gasp and double-take in its ridiculousness, then we don't wanna hear it."<ref name="DIY Review"/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Simulation Theory''<ref name="itunes-1">{{cite web|title=Simulation Theory by Muse on iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/simulation-theory/1434084601|website=[[iTunes Store|iTunes Store GB]]|accessdate=30 August 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830185658/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/simulation-theory/1434084601|archivedate=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| all_writing = [[Matt Bellamy]], except where noted
| total_length = 42:12
| title1 = Algorithm
| writer1 =
| extra1 = {{hlist|[[Muse (band)|Muse]]|[[Rich Costey]]}}
| length1 = 4:05
| title2 = The Dark Side
| writer2 =
| extra2 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey}}
| length2 = 3:47
| title3 = Pressure
| writer3 =
| extra3 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey}}
| length3 = 3:55
| title4 = Propaganda
| writer4 = {{hlist|Bellamy|[[Timbaland|Timothy Mosley]]|Angel Lopez|Federico Vindver}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey|[[Timbaland]]|Lopez|Vindver}}
| length4 = 3:00
| title5 = Break It to Me
| writer5 =
| extra5 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey}}
| length5 = 3:37
| title6 = Something Human
| writer6 =
| extra6 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey|Noah Goldstein{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length6 = 3:46
| title7 = [[Thought Contagion]]
| writer7 =
| extra7 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey}}
| length7 = 3:26
| title8 = Get Up and Fight
| writer8 = {{hlist|Bellamy|[[Shellback (record producer)|Johan Schuster]]}}
| extra8 = [[Shellback (record producer)|Shellback]]
| length8 = 4:04
| title9 = Blockades
| writer9 =
| extra9 = {{hlist|Muse|[[Mike Elizondo]]}}
| length9 = 3:50
| title10 = [[Dig Down]]
| writer10 =
| extra10 = {{hlist|Muse|Elizondo}}
| length10 = 3:48
| title11 = The Void
| writer11 =
| extra11 = {{hlist|Muse|Costey}}
| length11 = 4:44
}}
{{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| headline = ''Simulation Theory'' (Deluxe)<ref name="itunes-2">{{cite web|title=Simulation Theory (Deluxe) by Muse on iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/simulation-theory-deluxe/1434329335|website=[[iTunes Store|iTunes Store GB]]|accessdate=30 August 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830185705/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/simulation-theory-deluxe/1434329335?app=itunes|archivedate=30 August 2018|dead-url=no}}</ref>
| total_length = 58:59
| title12 = Algorithm
| note12 = Alternate Reality version
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:32
| title13 = The Dark Side
| note13 = Alternate Reality version
| writer13 =
| length13 = 3:54
| title14 = Propaganda
| note14 = acoustic
| writer14 =
| length14 = 2:58
| title15 = Something Human
| note15 = acoustic
| writer15 =
| length15 = 3:46
| title16 = Dig Down
| note16 = acoustic gospel version
| writer16 =
| length16 = 3:57
}}
{{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| headline = ''Simulation Theory'' (Super Deluxe)<ref name="rollingstone-3"/>
| total_length = 78:56
| title12 = Algorithm
| note12 = Alternate Reality version
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:32
| title13 = The Dark Side
| note13 = Alternate Reality version
| writer13 =
| length13 = 3:54
| title14 = Pressure
| note14 = featuring the [[UCLA Bruin Marching Band]]
| writer14 =
| length14 = 4:04
| title15 = Propaganda
| note15 = acoustic
| writer15 =
| length15 = 2:58
| title16 = Break It to Me
| note16 = Sam de Jong remix
| writer16 =
| length16 = 3:08
| title17 = Something Human
| note17 = acoustic
| writer17 =
| length17 = 3:46
| title18 = Thought Contagion
| note18 = live
| writer18 =
| length18 = 4:08
| title19 = Dig Down
| note19 = acoustic gospel version
| writer19 =
| length19 = 3:57
| title20 = The Void
| note20 = acoustic
| writer20 =
| length20 = 4:34
| title21 = The Dark Side
| note21 = Alternate Reality instrumental
| writer21 =
| length21 = 2:53
}}

==Personnel==

'''Muse'''
* [[Matt Bellamy]] – [[guitar|guitars]],[[Lead vocalist|lead vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
* [[Dominic Howard]] – [[drum kit|drums]]
* [[Chris Wolstenholme]] – [[bass guitar|bass]], backing vocals

'''Additional Musicians'''
* David Campbell – [[brass]] (track 3)
* [[Mike Elizondo]] – [[Musical keyboard|keyboard]] (track 10)
* [[Tove Lo]] - Additional vocals (track 8)

'''Production'''
* Laurence Anslow – assistant [[Audio engineer|engineer]] (track 10)
* Brent Arrowood – assistant engineer (track 10)
* Tom Bailey - assistant engineer (track 6)
* Tyler Beans – assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant [[Record producer|producer]] (track 6)
* Jeremy Berman - "assistant" {{sic}} (track 2, 3, 7)
* Rob Bisel – assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant producer (track 6)
* Phillip Broussard – assistant engineer (track 10), assistant producer (track 6)
* Adrian Bushby – assistant engineer (track 10)
* Tommaso Colliva – assistant engineer (track 6)
* Martin Cooke – assistant engineer (track 7), assistant producer (track 6)
* [[Rich Costey]] – producer (track 2, 3, 6, 7), engineer (track 6), [[Audio mastering|mastering]] (track 7)
* [[Mike Elizondo]] – producer and [[Programming (music)|programmer]] (track 10)
* Nick Fournier – assistant producer (track 6)
* Michael Freeman – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] (track 2, 6, 10)
* [[Chris Gehringer]] – mastering (track 7)
* Noah Goldstein – assistant producer (track 6)
* Sam Grubbs - "assistant" {{sic}} (track 2, 3), assistant producer (track 7)
* [[Adam Hawkins]] - engineer (track 2, 3, 6, 7, 10), mixing (track 3, 7)
* Ted Jensen - mastering (track 10)
* Aleks Von Korff - assistant engineer (track 2, 3, 7), assistant producer (track 6)
* Randy Merrill - mastering (track 6)
* Dylan Neustadter - "assistant" {{sic}} (track 2, 3), assistant producer (track 7)
* John Prestage – assistant engineer (track 10)
* [[Spike Stent]] – mixing (track 2, 6, 10)
* Chris Whitemyer - "assistant" {{sic}} (track 3, 7)
* Colin Willard - "assistant" {{sic}} (track 3), assistant producer (track 7)

==References==
'''Sources'''
{{Refbegin}}
# {{cite web|last1=Bellamy|first1=Matthew|last2=Greene|first2=Andy|author-link=Matt Bellamy|title=Matt Bellamy on Muse's Rousing, Political New Song 'Thought Contagion'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/matt-bellamy-on-muses-rousing-political-new-song-thought-contagion-206025/|website=[[Rolling Stone]]|accessdate=1 September 2018|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/726pMoeqC|archivedate=15 February 2018|date=1 September 2018|year=2018|ref=harv|dead-url=no}}
# {{cite web|last1=Bellamy|first1=Matthew|last2=Olivier|first2=Bobby|author-link=Matt Bellamy|title=Muse's Matt Bellamy Talks New Single 'Something Human' & 'Simulation' Themes on Upcoming Album|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8466062/muse-matt-bellamy-new-single-something-human-interview|website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=2 September 2018|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/727fE1k5w|archivedate=2 September 2018|date=19 July 2018|year=2018|ref=harv|deadurl=no}}
# {{cite web|last1=Bellamy|first1=Matthew|last2=Savage|first2=Mark|author-link=Matt Bellamy|title=Muse: 'The guitar is no longer a lead instrument'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43126988|website=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=2 September 2018|archiveurl=http://archive.is/E3uJI|archivedate=2 September 2018|date=20 February 2018|year=2018|ref=harv|deadurl=no}}
# {{cite web|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|authorlink=Mark Beaumont (journalist)|title=Muse's biographer: 'Simulation Theory' will find Muse going full 'San Junipero'|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/muses-new-album-looks-set-go-full-san-junipero-2372792|website=[[NME]]|accessdate=1 September 2018 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/726l57Kul|archivedate=1 September 2018|date=31 August 2018|year=2018|ref=harv|deadurl=no}}
{{Refend}}
'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://simulationtheory.muse.mu/ Promotional subsite] for ''Simulation Theory''

{{Muse}}

[[Category:2018 albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Mike Elizondo]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Shellback (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Timbaland]]
[[Category:Muse (band) albums]]
[[Category:Political music albums by English artists]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Records albums]]

TunnelBear

2018-11-06T16:30:21Z

Openlydialectic:

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}

{{Infobox software
| title = TunnelBear
| name = TunnelBear
| logo = TunnelBear_Logo.png
| screenshot = TunnelBear screenshot.png
| caption = TunnelBear connected to a server in Italy
| developer = TunnelBear Inc. (2011–2018) [[McAfee]] (2018–present)
| operating system = [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[Linux]]
| language = English
| genre = [[Virtual Private Network]]
| license = [[Subscription business model]], with a [[freeware]] client app
| alexa = 18,294
| website = {{URL|https://tunnelbear.com}}
}}
'''TunnelBear''' (also known as the '''TunnelBear VPN''') is a public [[virtual private network]] (VPN) service based in Toronto, Canada. The company was founded by Daniel Kaldor and Ryan Dochuk in 2011. In March 2018, TunnelBear was acquired by [[McAfee]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/08/mcafee-acquires-vpn-company-tunnelbear/|title=McAfee acquires VPN provider TunnelBear|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=8 March 2018|work=[[VentureBeat]]|access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

== Features ==
A [[freeware]] TunnelBear client is available on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows]], [[macOS]] and [[iOS]]. There is also a [[Google Chrome]] and Opera [[browser extension]].<ref name="extension">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2923442/how-to-easily-secure-your-web-browsing-with-tunnelbears-free-chrome-extension.html|title=How to easily secure your web browsing with TunnelBear's free Chrome extension|last=Paul|first=Ian|date=19 May 2015|website=[[PC World]]|publisher=[[IDG]]|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> Alternatively, [[Linux distribution|Linux distros]] can be configured to use TunnelBear.<ref name="TBlinux">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunnelbear.com/updates/linux_support/|title=TunnelBear Befriends Penguins with Limited Linux Support|last=Robinson|first=John|date=20 March 2014|website=TunnelBear|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201160818/https://www.tunnelbear.com/updates/linux_support/|archive-date=1 February 2016|access-date=6 August 2016|quote=we’re excited to announce that you can now connect to TunnelBear on Linux! We currently have apps for Windows, OSX, iOS and Android. While we aren’t quite ready to build a full application for Linux, we are now offering settings and instructions for manual configuration of a connection to the TunnelBear network (for Giant and Grizzly TunnelBears). We’ve successfully tested these settings on new installs of [[Linux Mint|Mint]] and [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] in the office. We want to send a big thank you to the TunnelBear Science Division Volunteers (our Beta group) who helped test these settings on half a dozen other Linux distributions.}}</ref>

Like other public VPN services, TunnelBear has the ability to bypass [[Internet censorship|content block]]ing in most countries.<ref name="content">{{cite web|url=http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/06/the-always-up-to-date-guide-to-streaming-blocked-content-overseas/|title=Streaming Content From Overseas: The Complete Lifehacker Guide|last1=Klosowski|first1=Thorin|date=1 June 2015|website=[[Lifehacker]]|publisher=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> TunnelBear allows the user to appear in one of 20 different countries (including Ireland, the United States of America, Sweden, and Italy).

All clients use [[AES-256]] encryption with the exception of the client for iOS 8 and earlier, which uses AES-128.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tunnelbear.com/blog/stronger-encryption/|title=Rawwwr! Even Stronger Encryption|date=17 March 2015|work=TunnelBear's Online Privacy Blog|access-date=25 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> When connected, the user's actual [[IP address]] will not be visible to the websites visited.<ref name="IPAddress">{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/tunnelbear-simple-vpn-online-privacy-app/|title=Watch U.S. Netflix anywhere with TunnelBear, now available as a Chrome extension|last=Boxall|first=Andy|date=13 May 2015|website=[[Digital Trends]]|publisher=Designtechnica|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref> Instead, the websites and/or computers would be able to see the spoofed IP address provided by TunnelBear VPN.

TunnelBear also offers a corporate VPN service called "TunnelBear for Teams."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tunnelbear.com/teams|title=TunnelBear for Teams|work=TunnelBear|access-date=2018-05-17|language=en}}</ref>

== Pricing ==
TunnelBear VPN is a freemium product. The trial version only provides 500MB of VPN data before they would have to either disconnect or purchase the monthly subscription for unlimited data. (The 500MB of data resets every month)

==See also==
* [[Comparison of virtual private network services]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|https://tunnelbear.com}}

{{McAfee}}

[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:Google Chrome extensions]]
[[Category:IOS software]]
[[Category:MacOS software]]
[[Category:Virtual private network services]]
[[Category:Windows software]]
[[Category:McAfee]]
[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]

{{Computer-security-stub}}

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

2018-10-28T05:45:05Z

Openlydialectic:

{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent IP [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Current person}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
| image = File:Vichai Raksriaksorn.jpg
| caption = Srivaddhanaprabha at the [[Ham Polo Club]] in 2010
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|04|04|df=yes}}<ref name="Forbes" /><ref name="Forbes" />

| birth_place = [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]
| nationality = Thai
| occupation = Owner & chairman of [[King Power|King Power International Group]] Chairman of [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] Chairman of [[Oud-Heverlee Leuven|OH Leuven]]
| net_worth = [[United States dollar|US$]]4.9 billion (October 2018)<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news| title=Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/vichai-srivaddhanaprabha/?list=billionaires |work=Forbes | accessdate=19 May 2017}}</ref>
| spouse = Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha
| children = 4, including [[Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha]]
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| website = [http://www.kingpower.com King Power]
| signature =
| parents =
}}
'''Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ''' ({{lang-th|วิชัย ศรีวัฒนประภา}}; {{RTGS|''Wichai Siwatthanaprapha''}}{{Needs IPA}}), born '''Vichai Raksriaksorn''' ({{lang-th|วิชัย รักศรีอักษร}}; {{RTGS|''Wichai Raksi-akson''}}) (born 4 April 1958-27 October 2019), was a Thai [[billionaire]] businessman, founder, owner and chairman of [[King Power|King Power Duty Free]]. He has been the owner of [[Premier League]] football club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] since 2010.

==Career==
Srivaddhanaprabha is the founder and CEO of [[King Power|King Power Duty Free]], an operator of [[duty-free shop]]s.<ref>{{cite news| title=Leicester announce takeover details| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leicester-city/7940631/Leicester-announce-takeover-details.html| newspaper=The Telegraph| author=Sandy Macaskill | date=12 August 2015}}</ref> In December 2009, King Power received the [[Royal warrant of appointment (Thailand)|royal warrant]] from the King of Thailand in a ceremony attended by Raksriaksorn.<ref>{{cite news| title= King Power banks on stable politics | url= http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/12/03/business/business_30117872.php| newspaper= [[The Nation (Thailand)|The Nation]]|author= Watcharapong Thongrung| location= Bangkok| date= 3 December 2009}}</ref> He is ranked by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine as the 7th richest man in Thailand,<ref name="Forbes"/> reportedly worth US$3.3 billion.

In August 2010, the Asia Football Investments consortium including Srivaddhanaprabha and his son Aiyawatt purchased English [[Football League Championship]] club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref name=chairman>{{cite news |title=Vichai Raksriaksorn named Leicester City chairman |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9393953.stm |accessdate=28 October 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2011}}</ref> He succeeded [[Milan Mandarić]] as chairman of the club in February 2011 while continuing as owner, and Aiyawatt became the vice chairman.<ref name=chairman/> In July 2011, the club's formerly named [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers]] Stadium was renamed the [[King Power Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Leicester rename Walkers Stadium the King Power Stadium |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14027229 |accessdate=28 October 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 July 2011}}</ref>

Leicester City went on to win the [[2015–16 Premier League]] title. Shortly before the 2016–17 season, Vichai gifted 19 [[BMW i8]]s to the players of Leicester City at £100,000 each as a gift for winning the title.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Crowson|first1=Martin|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-city-players-get-gift-of-100-000-bmw-each-from-foxes-chairman/story-29589374-detail/story.html |title=Leicester City players given £100,000 BMW i8 for Premier League win |work=Leicestershire Live|date=5 August 2016 |accessdate=10 August 2018}}</ref>

In May 2017, he bought his second football club, [[Oud-Heverlee Leuven|OH Leuven]] in Belgium.<ref>{{cite news| title= Leicester City owner buys Belgian club OH Leuven | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/16/leicester-city-owner-pushes-ahead-bid-buy-belgian-club-oh-leuven |work=Daily Telegraph |date=17 May 2017}}</ref>

==Polo==
In his spare time he is an avid [[polo]] player, and owns the VR Polo Club in [[Bangkok]]. He was the president of [[Ham Polo Club]] in London from 2008 to 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Coveted Chakravarty Cup |url=https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/bangkok-post/20080629/281844344396087 |accessdate=28 October 2018 |work=The Bangkok Post |date=29 June 2008|quote=According to Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, chairman of Ham Polo Club, Vichai is the first Asian to receive the honour of this prominent position}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Srivaddhanaprabha was born into a [[Thai Chinese]] family.<ref>[https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/v-vichai-how-leicester-citys-thai-owner-became-billionaire-blessing-prayer-1554828 V for Vichai: How Leicester City's Thai owner became a billionaire – on a blessing and a prayer]</ref> He is married to Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, with whom he has four children: Voramas, Apichet, Arunroong, and Aiyawatt.<ref name="Mail">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3572602/Vichai-serves-monks-insists-chilling-200-bottle-St-Emilion-Inside-bizarre-world-Leicester-City-s-billionaire-Buddhist-owner-duty-free-king-plays-polo-Prince-Charles.html|title='Vichai serves monks himself and insists on chilling his £200 bottle of St Emilion': Inside bizarre world of Leicester City's billionaire Buddhist owner, the Duty Free king who plays polo with Prince Charles|date=4 May 2016|work=Daily Mail|access-date=1 June 2018|last=Joseph|first=Claudia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604211310/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3572602/Vichai-serves-monks-insists-chilling-200-bottle-St-Emilion-Inside-bizarre-world-Leicester-City-s-billionaire-Buddhist-owner-duty-free-king-plays-polo-Prince-Charles.html|archive-date=4 June 2016|dead-url=yes|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Monarchy of Thailand|King of Thailand]] [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] bestowed the family new surname of Srivaddhanaprabha.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/04/thai-billionaire-leicester-city-vichai-srivaddhanaprabha|title=The Thai billionaire whose gamble on Leicester just paid off |date=4 May 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 June 2018|last=Holmes|first=Oliver}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/434490/royal-honour-for-city-owners|title=Royal Honour For City Owners|date=1 February 2013|website=Leicester City F.C.|access-date=1 June 2018}}</ref> The name means 'light of progressive glory' in the [[Thai language]].<ref name="Mail"/>

On 27 October 2018, Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter [[2018 Leicester City F.C. helicopter crash|crashed outside the King Power Stadium]], shortly after taking off from the pitch. It was not immediately clear as to whether Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter, however it was later confirmed by sources close to the family that Srivaddhanaprabha was inside.<ref>{{cite news| title=Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46006470| newspaper=BBC News |date=27 October 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat-inline|Vichai Raksriaksorn}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from London]]
[[Category:Thai chief executives]]
[[Category:Thai polo players]]
[[Category:Thai billionaires]]
[[Category:Thai football chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Leicester City F.C. directors and chairmen]]
[[Category:Thai people of Chinese descent]]

ICTV (Fernsehsender)

2018-10-20T23:11:25Z

Openlydialectic:

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox TV channel
|name = ICTV
|logofile = IctvUa 2017logo.jpg
|logosize = 232px
|headquarters = [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]
|country = [[Ukraine]]
|network_type = [[Broadcast network]]
|picture format = [[16:9]] ([[576i]], [[SDTV]])
|slogan =
|available = Ukraine
|owner = [[StarLightMedia Group]] ([[Victor Pinchuk]] & [[Elena Pinchuk]])
|launch_date = 15 June 1992
|founder = PPT, Story First Communications
|key_people = Olexandr Bogutskiy
|website = [http://www.ictv.ua/ www.ictv.ua]
| terr serv 1 = DVB-T2
| terr chan 1 = MX-1 (7)
}}

'''ICTV''' (in full, International Commercial Television) is a privately held TV channel in [[Ukraine]]. Its coverage area allows it to be received by 56.6% of the Ukrainian population, making the channel the fourth in the nation in terms of coverage (trailing the state-controlled [[UT1 (Ukraine)|UT1]] and privately held [[Inter (Channel)|Inter]] and [[1+1 (channel)|1+1]]), and third (well ahead of UT1) by the viewers' ratings.

The channel is owned by several business structures connected to the [[Ukrainian oligarchs|Ukrainian businessman]] [[Viktor Pinchuk]]. It first went on-air on 15 June 1992, and since 1995 it has broadcast 24 hours a day.

Related to the [[2014 Crimean crisis|Crimean crises 2014]] ICTV broadcasts in [[Sevastopol]] ended on 9 March 2014, 14:30 o'clock East European time <ref>Dmitry Tymchuk, [[Facebook]], translation Vladimir Germanov</ref>

== Criticism ==
{{See also|Boycott Russian Films}}
Since 2014 ICTV channel was criticised for broadcasting Russian serials. According to the results of monitoring made by "Boycott Russian Films" campaign activists in September this channel was broadcasting 7 hours and 40 minutes of Russian content per day.<ref name="espreso_09.09.2014">[http://espreso.tv/news/2014/09/09/rosiyske_kino_vse_sche_dominuye_na_ukrayinskomu_teleprostori Російське кіно все ще домінує на українському телепросторі] {{uk icon}}. [[Espreso TV]]. 09.09.2014</ref><ref>[http://tvoemisto.tv/news/ukrainskyy_kanal_pokazuie_v_den_75_godyn_rosiyskyh_peredach_66291.html Українські канали показують у день по 7,5 годин російських передач] {{uk icon}}. Tvoye misto. 23.09.2014</ref> At the end of month the part of Russian origin content took 43% of all broadcasting time.<ref>[http://espreso.tv/news/2014/09/30/sytuaciya_z_kilkistyu_rosiyskoho_kontentu_na_ukrayinskykh_ekranakh_pohirshylasya____doslidzhennya Кількість російського контенту на українських екранах збільшується, - дослідження] {{uk icon}}. [[Espreso TV]]. 30.09.2014</ref> Also, according to activists, ICTV shows almost the biggest amount of serials about Russian law enforcement and army.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRwhlFS_bgI#t=23 Зомби против сериалов] {{ru icon}}. Channel NEWS. 03.12.2014</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://ictv.ua ICTV website]

{{Ukrainian TV}}

[[Category:Television stations in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Ukrainian brands]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1992]]
[[Category:ICTV (Ukraine)| ]]

{{Europe-tv-stub}}
{{Ukraine-stub}}