character Archives

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

J.K. Simmons hasn’t played Baldur’s Gate 3 or any of his games, but he loves Portal 2: ‘I could have done the feature film, or the play, or whatever’

J.K. Simmons discussed his experiences with video games on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, particularly his role in Portal 2, which he found impactful despite not being an avid gamer. He shared a humorous interaction with actor Tom Britney regarding his character from Baldur's Gate. Eric Wolpaw, the writer of Portal 2, is returning for the upcoming game Aperture Desk Job. Other actors in the gaming industry include Elias Toufexis and Konatsu Kato, while Steven Ogg humorously suggested players read Dostoevsky instead of gaming.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

25-Year-Old Game Is Currently the #1 Best-Selling Game on Steam

Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, has been released in early access on the Steam marketplace by Xbox and Halo Studios. It has quickly become a top seller on Steam, currently priced competitively. The game has received a “Mostly Positive” rating from users, with around 70% of reviews being positive. Players have praised its gameplay mechanics and visuals, but there are concerns about bugs, performance issues, and the quality of cutscenes. The game has been verified for compatibility with the Steam Deck. Its position as a top seller may be challenged by other games like Palworld as the gaming community explores new releases.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

A Game About Penguins Set to Waddle Onto PC on 10 August 2026

A Game About Penguins is set to launch on PC on August 10, 2026, developed by Turkish indie studio CO’s Entertainment and published by Ultimate Games S.A. A free prologue, A Game About Penguins: First Catch, has been available on Steam since July 22, showcasing core mechanics and mini-games. The game supports solo play and online co-op for up to 12 players, featuring activities such as fishing, ice skating, snowball fights, swimming, climbing, and playing chess. Players can customize their penguins with various outfits and accessories. The prologue allows progression up to level 3, while the full release will introduce more NPCs, items, and content. The game will also be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in the future.

AppWizard

July 26, 2026

Modding wizard creates Grand Theft Auto multiverse that lets players travel instantly between Rockstar’s first three games: ‘We got inter-GTA portals before GTA 6’

A modder named DryxioGTA has created a mod for the Grand Theft Auto series that allows players to travel between Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas using portals. The mod enables instantaneous travel between the three worlds while maintaining distinct saves, missions, and settings for each game. Players can interact between the cities, such as shooting through a portal, which triggers responses from civilians in the current world. A video showcasing the mod was shared on YouTube, demonstrating its functionality. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to be released in November.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Final Fantasy 14 has finally added the class I’m always asking for: a viking with two shields, laser cannons, and Wolverine claws

A new character concept in fantasy role-playing games features a viking with triple-barreled laser guns and dual shields with metal claws. In the upcoming expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, titled Evercold, the first new job introduced is the bastion, a main tank that combines blocking, shooting, and stabbing using a new weapon called "skyltborg." This weapon draws inspiration from oversized gunshields used by characters like Rhitahtyn Arvina. The bastion will be available exclusively in the evolved mode of the game, with further details to be revealed at the Tokyo Fan Festival and a full launch scheduled for January 2027.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Videogame villains who sing at you are the best

The villain's monologue is a common trope in video games, often replaced by musical performances from antagonists in some titles. In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Singer is an orc who sings operatic verses about battles, enhancing the experience. In Hades 2, Scylla's performances are humorously interrupted by a witch, contrasting her siren songs with Melinoe's indifference. The Joker in the Arkham series incorporates musical interludes, including a haunting rendition of "Only You" during the credits of Arkham City. In Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Teh Earworm is a creature that plays catchy tunes, leaving players with memorable melodies. GLaDOS's song "Still Alive" from Portal has become a cultural touchstone, reflecting her personality and enhancing her character's narrative. Total Distortion features guitar warriors, where failure results in a memorable game-over song, integrating music into gameplay. Conroy Bumpus in Sam & Max: Hit the Road offers a satirical country song, critiquing the big-game hunter archetype. In Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell, Satan sings with Broadway flair, adding humor and depth to his character. Ursula in Kingdom Hearts 2 showcases her villainy through song, providing comedic relief with her playful references. I.M. Meen opens with a song that sets the tone for a game blending education and entertainment. In Cuphead, King Dice performs a jazzy number in "Die House," enhancing the stakes and his flamboyant personality.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

Modders finally got a high-quality third-person camera working in Baldur’s Gate 3 for all you Dragon Age sickos

Modder Relysia has introduced an over-the-shoulder third-person camera for Baldur's Gate 3, which has been well-received for its effective execution. The mod, uploaded to Nexus Mods last week, allows for immersive exploration of the Undercity Ruins, although some animations may appear jittery. It complements the popular WASD character movement mod and offers customizable settings such as field of view, camera offset, height, and horizontal tracking speed. Relysia's mod stands out for its precision and user-friendly options, enhancing the visual experience and gameplay engagement.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

What Surrounds Us will make you think a lot about circles

What Surrounds Us is a game featuring a circle-shaped protagonist with a hole at its center, set in a vibrant world composed entirely of circular forms. Players navigate through three distinct regions, solving lightweight puzzles and acquiring new abilities, such as a powerful leap. The game includes challenges like a glitchy substance that obstructs paths. It offers minimal guidance, encouraging exploration and experimentation, with players learning through trial and error. The game features ambient music that enhances the atmosphere, and it can be completed in about three hours. It is available on PC via Steam.

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

There’s only one Jedi Operator in Star Wars Zero Company, and reckless players may end up with none at all: ‘Be careful that nothing unfortunate happens to her!’

The upcoming tactical game, Star Wars Zero Company, will feature only one Jedi Operator, Tel-Rea, highlighting the rarity of Jedi in the game's narrative. The game includes a permadeath mechanic, meaning players could permanently lose Tel-Rea if they are not careful. While permadeath is a key feature, players can choose to disable it on certain difficulty levels. The decision to include permadeath was debated internally at Bit Reactor, with narrative lead Aaron Contreras noting its potential impact on the story. Star Wars Zero Company is set to launch next month.

AppWizard

July 24, 2026

MMO life sim Seed’s AI-powered avatars prove once again that nothing shatters immersion quicker than crappy chatbot dialogue

AI-powered non-playable characters (NPCs) in gaming have the potential for meaningful dialogue, but current implementations often fall short. In the MMO colony simulation Seed, players create seedlings that can interact using AI. Initial interactions can be engaging, as seen when a seedling humorously responds to questions about its appearance. However, as gameplay continues, conversations tend to become awkward and filled with unnecessary filler phrases, detracting from immersion. The AI struggles with maintaining coherent and engaging exchanges, although some personality traits do come through in dialogues. The tutorial robot offers helpful gameplay answers, but misunderstandings occur. Overall, while there are redeeming qualities, the quality of conversation remains a significant challenge.