banter Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Over 25 Years Ago, This Lemmings-Esque Puzzler Was Sent Out To Die – Its Fans Had Other Plans

Monolith Productions announced its closure earlier this year, prompting tributes to its 30-year legacy. One notable title from the studio is Gruntz, a puzzle strategy game released for PCs in 1999, which has maintained an active community despite its initial rocky launch. The game was designed by Nick Newhard, who aimed to create a game that his wife would enjoy, blending real-time strategy elements with puzzles. After Newhard's departure from the project due to internal disagreements, Kevin Lambert took over development, infusing humor and personality into the characters. Gruntz received mixed reviews upon release, but found a favorable reception in Europe. The game's inclusion of level editing tools led to a dedicated fan community, with ongoing projects like Dizgruntled and Gruntz Unityverse. The community currently has over 368 accounts, showcasing the game's lasting appeal.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Why did the Colts delete their Minecraft schedule release video?

The Indianapolis Colts' 2025 NFL schedule release video, featuring Minecraft-inspired humor and jabs at league figures, was removed shortly after its debut. A notable joke involved a portrayal of a Tyreek Hill dolphin being "arrested" by the Coast Guard, which has led to speculation about the video's removal due to its controversial nature. The full video, including the dolphin joke, is still available online.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Watch: As Microsoft Turns 50, Bill Gates, Satya Nadella And Steve Ballmer ‘Roasted’ By Copilot AI

Microsoft's 50th anniversary featured co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella, with an interview conducted by the AI assistant Copilot. The event included humorous exchanges where Copilot roasted the CEOs, prompting lighthearted responses from them. Microsoft also launched new website pages to document its history and vision for the future, reflecting on its growth and innovations since its founding in 1975.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Minecraft’s Jack Black and Jason Momoa Reveal Which Video Games They’ve Played the Most

Jack Black and Jason Momoa discussed their different experiences with video games in an interview. Black shared his immersive experience with Red Dead Redemption Part Two, playing it for 400 hours during the pandemic, while Momoa expressed caution about gaming due to his addictive personality. He reminisced about playing Street Fighter, favoring characters Ryu and Blanka. The development of A Minecraft Movie has been lengthy, initially announced in February 2014, facing production delays and changes in directors. Originally set for a May 2019 release with a budget of 0 million, the film's progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography began in January 2024 in Auckland, New Zealand, after delays from the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The film aims to combine live-action with advanced visual effects to create a realistic representation of Minecraft. Black and Momoa have developed a strong friendship during production, with both actors promoting the film together. A Minecraft Movie is scheduled to be released on April 4, 2025.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Painkiller is back, and maybe they’ll finally get it right this time

A new installment in the Painkiller series, developed by Anshar Studios and published by 3D Realms, was announced during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The original Painkiller, released in 2004 by People Can Fly, is recognized as a classic first-person shooter known for its level design, weaponry, and heavy metal soundtracks. The new game will feature four distinct characters with unique abilities, a collectible system with Tarot cards, and reimagined enemies, while retaining classic weapons like the Painkiller. The game is set to launch in the fall and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.

Winsage

March 11, 2025

You can ‘Press to Talk’ to Copilot via a Windows hotkey now

Microsoft Copilot now offers complimentary unlimited access to its top two features for all users. A new feature called Press to Talk has been introduced in the latest Windows 11 Insider build, allowing users to initiate voice chat by holding down the Alt key and the Spacebar for two seconds. If there is a pause in conversation, the AI will automatically conclude the chat, and pressing the Esc key will end the interaction. Users can customize Copilot's voice and settings through the Copilot web page. The update (version 1.25024.100.0 and higher) is being gradually rolled out to Windows Insiders, with a potential transition to the production version of Windows expected based on user feedback.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

WhatsApp down as thousands of app users struggling to send messages

On a Friday afternoon, WhatsApp experienced significant outages affecting at least 68,000 users globally, along with issues on Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and TikTok. The disruptions began around 3:12 PM, primarily impacting users in London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Users reported difficulties sending messages (55%), server connection issues (34%), and problems with the app (11%). Many turned to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the outage. By 6 PM, WhatsApp confirmed the issue had been resolved. This incident follows previous outages at Meta, including one in December affecting over 100,000 users and another in October 2021 that left billions without access for nearly six hours, resulting in a significant financial loss for Mark Zuckerberg.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

The BAFTAs dares to ask the internet: ‘What is the most influential videogame of all time?’

The BAFTAs are engaging the gaming community by asking, "What is the most influential videogame of all time?" This initiative invites diverse responses, with participants like Ted Litchfield suggesting Pong for its impact on mainstream gaming. Neil Newbon has chosen not to name a specific game, while Jane Douglas has made a bold choice that has received lighthearted criticism. The nominations will be announced on March 4, and the community's choice will be revealed during the awards ceremony on April 11.

AppWizard

February 25, 2025

Looks like a new wake word could be replacing “Hey Google”

Google may replace "Hey Google" with "Hey Gemini" based on findings from the latest beta version of the Google app. This speculation follows the introduction of Gemini, an AI framework, which has been hinted at through various projects, including Project Moohan, where users activate the assistant with "Hey Gemini." During the previous year's I/O event, Project Astra showcased Gemini as a multimodal assistant. Promotional material for the Galaxy S25 series also referred to Gemini as the primary assistant. Currently, "Hey Google" is still in use, but a formal announcement regarding this change may occur at I/O 2025.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

“Poor parents have to sit through that”: Users joke about ‘A Minecraft Movie’ having a 1 hour & 41-minute runtime

Warner Bros. is set to release a Minecraft movie in April, featuring a narrative where humans are transported into the Minecraft universe. The film will blend humor and chaos as characters navigate crafting mishaps and survival tactics. The confirmed runtime is 1 hour and 41 minutes, which has sparked various reactions online, with some users humorously questioning the engagement level throughout the duration. Fans have speculated about classic game moments being included and have envisioned scenarios such as characters silently punching trees. Overall, the film is generating excitement among fans.