anxiety Archives

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Oblivion is a lot better now that I can read

The author recently played Oblivion Remastered and engaged in a side quest involving a character named Glarthir, which felt new and captivating. They reminisced about their first experience with the game in 2006 at the age of nine, when they received The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Collector's Edition, which included two discs, an art book, a map, and a metal coin. The author’s father bought the game without prior knowledge of the franchise and never progressed beyond the sewers. The author struggled with character creation and navigation, recalling a chaotic encounter in Weynon Priory that led to a panicked escape. They revisited the game on PS3 but rushed through the main quest without engaging with the story. Upon returning to Oblivion Remastered, the author recognized the game's depth and the wealth of side quests they had previously overlooked.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Devs lament Oblivion Remastered’s surprise release as Todd Howard eats their lunch: ‘I noticed a complete stop in game sales from about 2 pm onward on Oblivion day’

Launching a video game is complex and challenging, especially for indie developers competing against major titles like GTA 6. Bethesda's announcement of Oblivion Remastered negatively impacted smaller developers, as its release on April 22 coincided with the launch of indie games like Post Trauma and Starless Abyss, leading to visibility issues. Developers reported significant revenue drops; Brian Bucklew estimated a 10-20% decrease in daily revenue, while Francisco González experienced a complete halt in sales after Oblivion's launch. This pattern of major releases overshadowing smaller games has been observed previously, such as with Monster Hunter Wilds in March.

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

Utah-based director of ‘A Minecraft Movie’ addresses Sundance Film Festival’s big move

“A Minecraft Movie” is approaching a billion in global box office sales. Director Jared Hess expressed gratitude to fans for their support and creativity. He hinted at a possible sequel due to the film's success. The Sundance Film Festival will relocate from Park City, Utah, to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027, marking the end of a 40-year relationship with Park City. A poll showed that 56% of Utah residents are disappointed by this decision. Park City Mayor Nann Worel and Utah Governor Spencer Cox both expressed their disappointment, while the Utah Film Commission Director mentioned potential future opportunities for the state's film community.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Microsoft set to make huge Windows change — and it’s hoping you won’t notice

The Windows 11 Insider Preview Build (27842) will replace the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) with a new error screen featuring a Medium Forest Green backdrop. This change is part of an effort to create a more streamlined user interface for unexpected restarts, although it may provide less context for troubleshooting. The new design is currently being tested in Microsoft's Canary Channel and is expected to become standard with the Windows 11 25H2 update later this year.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

Windows Update fails successfully, says Microsoft

The April 2025 Windows Recovery Environment update, identified as KB5057589, has caused confusion among Windows 10 users due to an error message (0x80070643 – ERRORINSTALLFAILURE) encountered during installation. Microsoft clarified that this error is a nuisance and does not affect the update or device functionality. The update enhances recovery features for devices facing booting issues and is delivered through Windows Update. Users may see the error if the update is installed while another update is pending a reboot, but the update typically installs successfully after a restart. Microsoft is working on a resolution to address user concerns.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

This Windows 10 bug looks serious – but apparently it’s lying

A new bug has emerged on Windows 10 machines following the KB5057589 update, which began rolling out on April 8 and focuses on enhancing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Users have reported encountering the 0x80070643 error during installation, indicating a potential failure of a crucial data protection tool. Microsoft advises users to remain calm, suggesting that the error message is largely inaccurate and often resolves after a reboot. While some issues related to the update have been fixed, Microsoft is actively working on further solutions. Windows Update may continue to display the update as failed, but this should clear after the next daily scan. Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, after which Microsoft will stop providing security patches and support unless users opt for the Extended Security Updates program. Meanwhile, Windows 11 is receiving regular updates and new features, including enhancements to the Start menu and the introduction of passwordless sign-in options.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

My biggest pleasant surprise of 2025 so far has been the free prequel to one of my favorite indie RPGs, made with FromSoft’s 25-year-old game making toolset

Lunacid, a first-person RPG inspired by the King's Field series, was released in 2023 by Kira LLC. A prequel titled Lunacid: Tears of the Moon is set thousands of years before the original game and was developed using the Sword of Moonlight toolset. The game features user-generated dungeon crawlers and has drawn comparisons to atmospheric exploration titles like Thief and System Shock. Players engage in melee combat without blocking or dodging options, and character progression occurs automatically upon leveling up. Mana regenerates through successful melee attacks, and health is fully restored at the home base. The game lacks a tutorial, prompting players to refer to a classic-style manual. Players must locate five shards of a legendary sword while navigating a world filled with secrets, including hidden doors and challenging enemies.

AppWizard

April 12, 2025

‘My recreated Minecraft university is helping autistic students’

De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester has created a virtual campus in Minecraft to support students with autism, allowing them to socialize and build friendships. Eden Turner, a 23-year-old student, has reconstructed parts of the university, including the library, to create a welcoming environment for autistic students. Clare Squires, DMU's autism officer, emphasized the initiative's role in fostering community and belonging, particularly for new students. The project helps reduce anxiety by familiarizing students with the campus layout and providing a low-pressure space for interaction. Plans are in place for Eden to expand the virtual campus further.

AppWizard

April 12, 2025

Dark and Darker finally gets a PvE-exclusive ‘Adventure Mode’

Dark and Darker has launched Season 6 of its early access release, introducing "Adventure Mode," a PvE-exclusive co-op format that allows players to explore dungeons without PvP encounters. The update includes adjustments to loot drops and monster difficulties, new monster patterns such as the Nightmare Ice Spider and Nightmare Yeti, and a "High-Roller boss summoning system" for summoning bosses like the Lich and Ghost King. Numerous bug fixes have been made, along with improvements to gameplay mechanics, cooldown times, armor ratings, and new crafting options.

BetaBeacon

April 11, 2025

This 16-Bit Spider-Man Game For The SNES / Genesis Just Got A New Fan Reimagining For PC & Android

A fan reimagining of the classic beat 'em up game Spiderman and Venom: Maximum Carnage has been released for PC and Android devices by Brazilian developer Zvitor. The game includes multiplayer mode, 19 playable characters from the start, and an additional 12 unlockable characters. New features include changes to enemies, new street enemies, and a boss battle against the Sinister Six.