caves Archives

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The history of the video game that inspired ‘A Minecraft Movie’

On April 4, "A Minecraft Movie" will be released, featuring a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows four misfits who are transported to a block-based realm and must unite with Steve, played by Black, to protect their world. "Minecraft" is a sandbox game that allows players to explore and create in a limitless environment, rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. It has two main modes: Creative, which offers unlimited resources and immortality, and Survival, which involves resource gathering and managing health. Markus "Notch" Persson created "Minecraft" in 2009, launching it officially in November 2011 after successful testing. He sold the game to Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion, after which Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took over as lead designer. As of 2023, "Minecraft" is the second highest-selling video game, behind Tetris, and has received numerous updates, with the latest being the "Trials and Tales Update."

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

New Zealand partners with Warner Bros to showcase Māori culture to tourists through Minecraft

Tourism New Zealand has launched a collaboration with Warner Bros., Mojang Studios, and Māori game developers to create a Minecraft campaign celebrating Māori culture and promoting tourism. The campaign, which began on March 24, 2025, features a free downloadable content (DLC) pack that allows players to explore six iconic locations in New Zealand, aiming to inspire real-world travel and generate significant visitor spending. The DLC includes locations such as Waitomo Caves, Te Puia, and Kāpiti Island, and incorporates activities that reflect real-life experiences. Piki Studios, the Māori game design studio behind the DLC, emphasized the importance of accurately representing Māori culture. The initiative aligns with Tourism New Zealand's strategy to promote the country as a year-round destination and is linked to the upcoming release of ‘A Minecraft Movie’.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

The Best Minecraft Updates (And How They Changed Multiplayer Forever)

Minecraft has evolved significantly since its inception, with various updates introducing new features and enhancing gameplay. 1. Beta 1.8 (2011): Introduced hunger, sprinting, strongholds, and villages, marking the transition to survival mode and boosting multiplayer dynamics with the rise of PvP servers and Hunger Games-style minigames. 2. Release 1.3 (2012): Unified single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing single-player worlds to function as lightweight servers and introducing command blocks for scripting events, enhancing multiplayer experiences. 3. Release 1.7 (2013): Added new biomes and improved world generation, enriching multiplayer exploration and encouraging themed survival worlds and roleplay. 4. Release 1.8 (2014): Introduced armor stands, banners, and enhanced creator tools, allowing for custom lobbies and scripted events, fostering a thriving multiplayer scene. 5. Release 1.13 (2018): Revitalized oceans with new features like coral reefs and improved swimming mechanics, leading to water-themed multiplayer worlds and ambitious server designs. 6. Release 1.16 (2020): Transformed the Nether with new biomes and mobs, introducing Netherite and creating new survival challenges and PvE zones for multiplayer. 7. Releases 1.17 & 1.18 (2021): Overhauled terrain generation, expanding world height and creating dynamic multiplayer experiences with group mining expeditions and scenic base-building. 8. Release 1.20 (2023): Focused on storytelling with new features like archaeology and sniffer mobs, promoting collaborative narratives and community-driven experiences in multiplayer.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

The First Berserker: Khazan review

The First Berserker: Khazan is a cell-shaded soulslike game set in the Dungeon Fighter Online universe, where players control Khazan, a fallen general seeking revenge after being exiled and mutilated. The game features linear missions with checkpoints called Blade Nexuses and offers a diverse arsenal of three weapons, each with its own skill tree. Combat involves accumulating Spirit points through attacks and deflections, with a strict stamina system that allows for combo execution. Players earn Lacrima by engaging with bosses, rewarding them for learning and adapting during encounters. The game includes mechanics like timed deflections and unblockable attacks, with alternative skill paths for those who prefer dodging. However, the missions between bosses can feel repetitive, and the environments may lack diversity. The game showcases an anime-inspired art style and runs smoothly, but some areas may appear drab. A demo could help potential players understand the game's mechanics and narrative better.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Minecraft Just Dropped a New Free A Minecraft Movie DLC

The Aotearoa New Zealand DLC for Minecraft is set to launch on March 18th and will be available for free across multiple platforms, including Xbox, PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. The DLC features six real-life locations from New Zealand: 1. Waitomo Caves (Waikato) - A parkour adventure through a cave network with digital glowworms. 2. Te Puia, Rotorua (Bay of Plenty) - A fast-paced challenge to capture photos of geothermal features. 3. Kapiti Island (Wellington) - A birding challenge to photograph different bird species. 4. Abel Tasman (Nelson/Tasman) - Exploration of a coastal region aboard a waka taua boat with rhythm games. 5. Tekapo (Mackenzie) - An outdoor activity hub where players traverse the landscape on 4-wheelers. 6. Patea Doubtful Sound (Fiordland) - Navigation on a skipper boat while avoiding obstacles and observing wildlife. The DLC allows players to experience New Zealand's landscapes virtually.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

Minecraft recreates NZ’s most popular tourism destinations

Gamers will be able to explore six iconic New Zealand locations, including Abel Tasman National Park and Lake Tekapo, in Minecraft, thanks to a collaboration with Tourism New Zealand. This initiative aims to introduce New Zealand and Te Ao Māori to millions of players worldwide and inspire them to visit in real life. The six locations—Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Kāpiti Island, Abel Tasman National Park, Lake Tekapo, and Doubtful Sound—were selected for their cultural significance and representation of New Zealand's landscapes. Minecraft, created by Mojang Studios and acquired by Microsoft, has sold over 300 million copies and has more than 100 million active users monthly. The collaboration includes input from local iwi to ensure respectful representation of Māori culture.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

New Zealand launches Minecraft tourism campaign DLC

Tourism New Zealand has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures, Mojang Studios, and Piki Studios to launch a new Minecraft downloadable content (DLC) called “Aotearoa New Zealand DLC,” available for free starting March 19. This DLC allows players to explore New Zealand's landscapes and engage in activities such as paddling a traditional canoe, visiting the Waitomo Caves, and discovering various regions like Rotorua and Doubtful Sound. It also includes elements of Māori culture and wildlife. The collaboration is linked to the filming of the upcoming A Minecraft Movie in New Zealand. The DLC will be accessible on the Minecraft Marketplace.

AppWizard

March 12, 2025

On-rails aerial combat adventure game Wild Blue announced for PC

Publisher Humble Games and developer Chuhai Labs are releasing a game called Wild Blue, an aerial combat adventure that revitalizes the on-rails shooter genre from the 1990s. The game features players controlling Bowie Stray and the Blue Bombers on a mission to save the world, with gameplay that includes battles against enemies and the Baron. It will be available on PC via Steam, though the release date is not yet announced. Wild Blue offers easy-to-learn controls, hand-crafted anime-style visuals, branching paths, and various missions. Key features include classic on-rails shooter action, a colorful world, boss battles, secret paths, and a score system for mastering missions.

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

Fossil unveils limited-edition Minecraft-inspired watches to celebrate the game’s Hollywood debut

Fossil has launched a limited-edition collection of watches inspired by Minecraft, coinciding with the game's Hollywood debut. The collection, available since March 7, includes two models: the Grass Block and Deepslate, each priced at Rs 17,495. The Grass Block watch features a textured dial mimicking grass blocks, sub-dial hands shaped like a sword, pickaxe, and torch, a brown leather crown and strap with cubic patterns, and a Creeper face on the winder. The Deepslate watch has a dial resembling stone blocks and raw diamond ores, sub-dial hands shaped like a diamond pickaxe, sword, and torch, a black silicone strap, and a Creeper face on the winder. Fossil also offers accessories such as a custom metal case, a special-edition bracelet with black glass beads and green enamel Creeper blocks, and a leather wallet and card holder.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Fossil unveils limited edition Minecraft inspired watches to mark the game’s Hollywood debut

Fossil is launching a collection of Minecraft-themed watches on March 7, featuring two limited-edition models: the Grass Block and the Deepslate, each priced at Rs 17,495. The Grass Block watch symbolizes the start of adventures in Minecraft, with a dial inspired by the earth block and sub-dials representing essential survival tools. The Deepslate watch has a rugged design reflecting the game's caves, with indicators shaped like diamond picks and swords, and a black silicone bracelet. Both watches include a creeper figure on the winder.