award Archives

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Victims of cheaters in Marvel Rivals will be refunded all the ranked points they lost if they report them thanks to NetEase’s new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation System

Marvel Rivals is experiencing a significant increase in cheating incidents, prompting NetEase to initiate a ban wave and announce updates to its anti-cheat system. Many players believe these measures are inadequate. To address player frustration, NetEase will introduce a new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation System, allowing players to receive a full refund of Ranked Points lost if they report a confirmed cheater, although this does not apply to Placement Matches. This system, called the "Victim Compensation Protocol," is similar to those in other games like Overwatch and Valorant. However, players remain concerned that current punitive measures are insufficient to deter cheaters, especially since Marvel Rivals is free-to-play, making account bans ineffective. More stringent measures, such as hardware or IP bans, may be necessary, but these harsher penalties are only a small part of the overall ban efforts.

AppWizard

May 28, 2026

Li’l Friday: ‘Beetlejuice,’ PC Highland Games, Venus Flytrap Festival

Every Thursday evening through Labor Day, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk hosts the Boardwalk Blast event, featuring free music and fireworks. On May 28, The Petty Mac Revue will perform at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. On May 29, the Broadway tour of “Beetlejuice” will be at the Wilson Center, with five performances from May 29 to 31. Other events include “Ten-Minute Miscellany” at Thalian Hall, “Mahalia: A Gospel Musical” by Techmoja Dance Company, “Twelfth Night” by Cape Fear Shakespeare, and a stand-up comedy show by Nick Murphy at Dead Crow Comedy Room. On May 30, the Port City Highland Games will take place at 3600 Randall Parkway, celebrating Scottish heritage and benefiting paws4vets, with over 1,500 participants expected. Other events include NC Vibe Fest, a performance by Striking Copper at Waterline Brewing, The Pop Culture Expo at Elk’s Lodge, Venus Flytrap Festival at BSL Community Center, and CFCC Riverfront Boat Show. On May 31, “Dear Evan Hansen” will be performed at Front Street Theater, with final performances from May 28 to 31. Other events include a donation drive in the Brooklyn Arts District and a concert by Titans Wilmington Symphonic Band.

AppWizard

May 25, 2026

How mathematicians use Minecraft to calculate pi

Mathematicians Molly Lynch and Michael Weselcouch developed a method to approximate the value of pi (π) within the game Minecraft using a probabilistic darts technique. They constructed a circular structure with a radius of 11 blocks surrounded by a square and introduced random events using slimes, which move randomly. By counting the number of slimes killed within the circle compared to the total number killed, they calculated an approximation of π. During their test, they killed 619 slimes, with 508 inside the circular area, yielding an approximation of π ≈ 3.283. They noted that increasing the size of the square and the number of slimes could improve accuracy.

Tech Optimizer

May 22, 2026

Threat Protection Pro: all you need to know about IPVanish’s anti-malware tool

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have evolved into comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, offering features like ad-blockers, antivirus software, and dark web monitoring. IPVanish offers a feature called Threat Protection Pro, available with the Advanced plan, which protects against malware, ads, and trackers. It enhances online security by blocking ads and tracking scripts, quarantining suspicious downloads, and preventing access to malicious websites. All IPVanish plans include core Threat Protection, utilizing DNS filters to combat trackers and malware across various platforms. Threat Protection Pro, launched in March 2026, provides 24/7 malware and antivirus protection, even when the VPN is not active. This feature is exclusive to Advanced-tier subscribers and currently supports Windows and Mac platforms. It employs VIPRE’s antivirus engine and initiates detailed measures to identify risks at multiple levels. Users can activate Threat Protection Pro through a straightforward setup process on Windows or MacOS. IPVanish allows unlimited devices per subscription and includes DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. Advanced users also have access to a Secure Browser for disposable browsing.

AppWizard

May 18, 2026

This indie action RPG looks like Minecraft but plays like Dark Messiah, letting you boot enemies off ledges and body slam them into walls of spikes

A wave of new fantasy gaming titles inspired by Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is emerging, with three notable projects: Alkahest, Fatekeeper, and The Adventures of Sir Kicksalot. Alkahest features visually striking trailers, while Fatekeeper offers a grounded experience influenced by Arkane Studios. The Adventures of Sir Kicksalot has a blocky aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft and allows players to engage in playful combat, such as kicking foes into spike walls. The gameplay is described as gratifying, with a satisfying sense of impact, despite lacking the intricate physicality of Dark Messiah. The game is priced at £8.50 and includes humorous elements and dark comedy, earning it the unofficial Rick Lane sicko award for its quirky antics.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

A new Far Far West update slices its grind in half, and stamps out Joker hoarding

The developer Evil Raptor has released a significant update for the team shooter Far Far West, which includes an overhaul of the Prestige system to reduce grind time by halving the required experience gains and restructuring the unlocking process for Joker and upgrade slots. Players can now prestige heroes and weapons up to level 15 and unlock an additional bonus upgrade slot, totaling six. Jokers will now be instanced per player to improve resource distribution, and players can share Jokers without triggering healing effects. The drop rate of Jokers has been adjusted based on team size. Balance changes include increased ammo for the Bow, a damage buff for Dual Revolvers, and a doubled Fire Rate upgrade for the Minigun. The Overblast modifier has been nerfed, and adjustments have been made to enemy types for better balance. The update also features bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, and new options for players in the lobby. The update is now live, and players are encouraged to provide feedback through official channels.

AppWizard

May 10, 2026

Comedic text-based adventure game There’s Something Wrong with the Hero’s Choices announced for PC

Publisher PLAYISM and developer minatonezumi are set to release a comedic text-based adventure game titled "There’s Something Wrong with the Hero’s Choices" for PC via Steam in 2026. The game will support English, Japanese, and Korean languages. It won the PLAYISM award at the Niconico Indies Game Fest 2020 and had a free version released on May 2, 2025. The Steam version will feature new episodes and expanded language options. Players will navigate a narrative involving a party of heroes on a mission to slay the Dark Lord, making critical decisions that lead to unexpected outcomes, with over 2,000 event illustrations and more than 30 possible endings. The main characters include Shayla (the healer), Silvan (the mage), and John Doe (the hero). Key features include perplexing dialogue choices, surprising twists, the ability to save progress anytime, and additional content beyond the free version.

AppWizard

April 30, 2026

EVE Online dev pays out $80,000 to mod contest winners for its experimental survival MMO

CCP Games has announced the winners of its latest hackathon for EVE Frontier, a blockchain-based survival MMO. The main winner, CradleOS, received a prize of ,000 for its civilization-building tool. An additional ,000 was awarded to other notable projects. The winning projects include: - CradleOS: A user interface and system for managing in-game resources and territory with a narrative involving a mysterious AI. - Blood Contract: A bounty system for player-versus-player quests. - Civilization Control: A user interface for managing territory and assets in the game. Secondary category winners were Bazaar, which received the "Most Creative" award for transforming the marketplace menu into a playable social space, and Shadow Broker Intel, which won the "Weirdest Idea" accolade for a marketplace trading player activity intelligence. EVE Frontier is currently in early access, allowing players to participate in its modding experiment.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

There are dozens of us! The best third-person shooter of all time sees HUGE* player spike on Steam after Capcom’s Pragmata

Phil Savage, Editor-in-Chief of PC Gamer, rated the game Vanquish at 80% in his review, stating that beyond its core gameplay loop, there isn't much to the game. Vanquish has seen a 34.8% increase in peak players on Steam over the past month, with an additional 16 players engaging with the game, and a 52.9% rise in average daily player count, equating to 26 more players each day. The game is currently available at a 70% discount. Historical data shows that spikes in player activity for Vanquish have occurred periodically, particularly in September 2024, September 2025, and February of this year.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 celebrates first anniversary with new cosmetics, and it’s shipped over eight million copies

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 has celebrated its first anniversary, surpassing eight million players. Sandfall Interactive has released an update introducing new hairstyles for characters, available at specific merchants in the game. The update also fixes minor bugs, including an issue with character outfits and allows players to open rest points without interruptions. Official merchandise featuring characters is now available, and there is a 20% discount on Steam.