character designs Archives

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

The Secret Weapon Behind the VFX of ‘A Minecraft Movie’

Director Jared Hess helmed "A Minecraft Movie," which emphasizes creativity and the struggle between freedom and oppression. The film features a villain named Malgosha, a Piglin ruler from the Nether, voiced by Rachel House, with motion capture by Allan Henry. Production VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon discussed the challenges of integrating live-action actors like Jason Momoa and Jack Black with animated characters while maintaining the game's aesthetic. The team developed a tool called "Bloktz" for achieving the distinctive "Minecraft" look, and twelve variants of the Piglin army were designed. The Creeper character, initially a coding error, underwent numerous design iterations to maintain its pixelated essence. Malgosha's design was inspired by characters like Emperor Palpatine and Mama Fratelli, with adjustments made for expressiveness. The film's conclusion features an improvised moment between Jack Black's character and Malgosha, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the production.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Old Skies review

Wadjet Eye Games will release the adventure game Old Skies on April 23, 2024. The game is set in a futuristic New York City in the 2060s and follows Fia Quinn, a ChronoZen agent who guides wealthy tourists through time manipulation. Fia is chronolocked, remaining unchanged by the timeline's fluctuations, which contrasts with her clients' evolving lives. The gameplay features accessible puzzles that encourage logical thinking, including a scenario where Fia must create a life-saving drug from non-existent ingredients. The game departs from Wadjet Eye's traditional pixel art style, using bold colors and comic book-inspired designs. It features a jazzy score by Thomas Regin and explores themes of love, loss, and human emotion. Fia's character development highlights her struggle for agency in her role, with her experiences portrayed through Sally Beaumont's performance.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Lost Ember studio reveals its next game, and dang, it’s got some really good snow

The trailer for Ikuma: The Frozen Compass showcases a realistic depiction of snow. The game is set in the Arctic in 1864 and follows a cabin boy named Sam and his sled dog, Ellie, as they navigate an uncharted island while surviving with limited resources. They will uncover remnants of a lost expedition and a dark secret. Developed by Mooneye Studios, known for the critically acclaimed Lost Ember, Ikuma is anticipated for its narrative depth and gameplay mechanics. The game's CEO, Tobias Graff, expressed excitement about sharing the project after five years of development. Ikuma: The Frozen Compass is scheduled for release in 2026, and players can add it to their wishlists on Steam.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

South of Midnight

South of Midnight is a video game developed by Compulsion Games for PC and Xbox Series X/S, set to release in early 2025 at a price of .99. It features a coming-of-age story centered around Hazel Flood, a teenage track star who embarks on a quest to rescue her mother after a hurricane separates them. The game incorporates elements of Southern Gothic folklore, including characters like a talking catfish and the child thief Huggin' Molly. Hazel, an African-American teenager, navigates themes of generational poverty and historical struggles faced by Black individuals in the South. The gameplay includes platforming, puzzles, and combat, reminiscent of action-adventure titles from the PlayStation 2 era, with a total playtime of around 10 hours. The game showcases a rich visual style with detailed environments and a stylized aesthetic, supported by a soundtrack composed by Olivier Deriviere. South of Midnight has received the Editors' Choice accolade and is noted for its narrative depth and cultural significance.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

Nintendo got a Bloodborne spiritual sequel before PC even got the first game

FromSoftware is developing a new game titled The Duskbloods, set for release in 2026, which is a spiritual successor to Bloodborne. The game features gothic architecture, beast transformation mechanics, and characters that can morph into monstrous forms, including a miniature T-Rex. It incorporates vampiric themes where vampires can siphon power from defeated foes. The gameplay will include elements like runes, firearms, and a focus on steampunk technology, with characters using jetpacks and a functioning train. The game is exclusive to Nintendo Switch.

Tech Optimizer

March 17, 2025

F-Secure Internet Security

F-Secure Internet Security provides coverage for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms, but its features are more limited compared to competitors like Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360 Deluxe. The pricing starts at .99 per year for a single license, with options for up to 25 licenses, making it competitive in the market. F-Secure has received a perfect score of 18 points from AV-Test Institute for malware protection, performance impact, and usability. In testing, F-Secure achieved a malware detection rate of 97% and a phishing detection rate of 94%. The software includes features like banking protection, scam protection, and parental controls, though the latter lacks the depth found in some competitors. The installation process is user-friendly across all platforms, but the macOS, Android, and iOS versions have fewer advanced features compared to other security suites.

AppWizard

December 26, 2024

Best PC Games Graphics of 2024

- Empire of the Ants, developed by Tower Five using Unreal Engine 5, showcases innovative technology like Lumen and Nanite, delivering a visually stunning experience without stutters. - Dragon Age: The Veilguard features a unique art style and striking visuals powered by the Frostbite Engine, despite not meeting long-time fans' expectations. - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite its troubled development and some graphical glitches, is visually captivating, especially with HDR, and modding communities have helped enhance its environments. - Horizon: Forbidden West translates beautifully to PC, offering impressive visuals without ray tracing effects, and is considered superior to titles like God of War: Ragnarok. - Final Fantasy 16 shines on PC with gorgeous environments and character designs, and the absence of major pop-ins enhances the immersive experience. - Tekken 8 is noted as the most visually impressive 3D fighting game, with meticulously crafted character models and stage designs that run smoothly on various PC configurations. - Black Myth: Wukong utilizes path tracing technology for a visually rich experience, though it has some limitations in environmental design. - The Silent Hill 2 Remake features expansive environments and exceptional use of Lumen and Nanite, showcasing impressive 3D models and an elevated horror art style. - Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, utilizing Unreal Engine 5, presents some of the most realistic 3D characters and environments, with high-quality textures and particle effects. - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is recognized as the best-looking PC title of 2024, featuring path tracing effects that enhance lighting and detail, despite minor texture issues.

AppWizard

December 4, 2024

Atlyss is a considerately horny RPG where you can play the thickest furry this side of the internet, but I’m in it for the fun action and oldschool MMO nostalgia, I swear

Kiseff has developed an early access title called Atlyss, a pseudo-MMO featuring customizable avatars and anthropomorphic characters. The game includes suggestive designs but avoids explicit content, allowing players to tone down risqué features. Atlyss offers straightforward yet engaging combat mechanics, with a variety of whimsical enemies and three distinct classes—Mystic, Fighter, and Bandit. Players can enchant weapons and respec character attributes, enhancing gameplay depth. The game is available on Steam for £8.50.

AppWizard

November 28, 2024

Ubisoft is reportedly working on a cozy game that mixes Animal Crossing and Minecraft

Ubisoft is developing a new game codenamed Alterra, which has been in development for approximately 18 months and utilizes resources from a previously canceled game with a four-year development cycle. Alterra features a vibrant island environment with characters called Matterlings, allowing players to engage in daily activities and explore diverse biomes. The game includes construction mechanics inspired by Minecraft, requiring players to gather materials from different realms to craft items. Character designs in Alterra resemble Funko Pop figures and include a variety of styles based on fantastical creatures and real animals.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins Game’s PC Version Launches on November 28

Rainmaker Productions and Sola Entertainment announced the upcoming release of Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins, a game inspired by the Ninja Kamui anime. The game will be available for PC users on Steam starting Thursday, following its earlier launch on PlayStation 4 on November 14 and on Nintendo Switch on May 30. Developed by G.rev, players will assume the role of Tsukumo, who battles henchmen and ninjas while uncovering a plot by AUZA against his former allies. The anime premiered on Adult Swim on February 10 and became available for streaming on Max the following day. The anime is directed by Sunghoo Park and features character designs by Takeshi Okazaki.