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AppWizard
December 26, 2024
Mouthwashing is a notable horror game released this year, set on a broken spaceship named the Tulpar, which can be completed in under two and a half hours. Players experience the story through the perspectives of Curly and Jimmy, exploring themes of violence and corporate dehumanization with a nonlinear narrative. Still Wakes the Deep, developed by The Chinese Room, is another significant title that takes around six hours to complete. It follows protagonist Caz McLeary on an oil rig, blending psychological horror with emotional depth as players evade a monstrous entity while dealing with Caz's troubled past. Lethal Company stands out in the multiplayer sandbox horror genre, featuring whimsical yet terrifying elements and unpredictable gameplay. The game has received updates throughout 2024, enhancing its chaotic and memorable experiences, such as encounters with a hungry bird and a giant robot. Overall, this year has been exceptional for horror gaming, particularly for indie titles like Mouthwashing and Lethal Company, which have gained recognition alongside larger games.
AppWizard
December 25, 2024
PC gaming has transitioned from a niche hobby to a significant competitor against consoles, highlighted by the success of titles like Baldur's Gate 3. The Steam wishlist charts showcase a diverse range of games, including janky survival games, indie debuts, and obscure titles that gain unexpected popularity. Notable games this year include a survival game with 25 million players, a poker roguelike, and Stalker 2. Discussions around Game of the Year awards featured unconventional games, reflecting the eclectic nature of PC gaming. Despite the rise of console-first releases on PC, the platform continues to embrace a variety of genres and interests, maintaining its unique identity and charm.
AppWizard
December 20, 2024
Tango Gameworks is considering a sequel to their 2023 title, Hi-Fi Rush. Studio head Colin Mack expressed a positive outlook on the idea of a sequel but did not make any definitive announcements. Hi-Fi Rush director John Johanas noted that many team members have a strong affection for the original game, leading to various opportunities being considered. Project manager Kazuaki Egashira emphasized the studio's commitment to innovation and evolution, stating that while Hi-Fi Rush became popular as a new IP, it should not remain the same forever.
AppWizard
December 20, 2024
Valve's Steam Winter Sale features a 40% discount on Elden Ring and the first discount on Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Other notable discounts include 40% off Shadows of Doubt, 50% off Dungeons of Hinterberg, and 35% off Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The sale includes various sections for games under different price points, highlighting budget-friendly options and showcasing ten games for under 0, including recent Game of the Year winners.
AppWizard
December 19, 2024
A recent update to Zenless Zone Zero led to player backlash after patch 1.4 introduced a change that caused characters to appear faded from certain angles, which players referred to as a "butt filter." This change sparked frustration within the community, with users expressing concerns over perceived censorship and speculating about external pressures, including potential influence from the Chinese government. In response to the outcry, developer MiHoYo announced a hotfix less than 24 hours later, addressing the fading effect and restoring characters' appearances to normal. The community celebrated the reversal, although the motivations behind the initial change remain unclear.
AppWizard
December 19, 2024
Valve has introduced personalized player statistics for 2024, allowing users to explore their gaming habits. Players can view details such as the total number of games played, longest gaming streaks, achievements unlocked, and compare their stats to average players. The average player engaged with four games annually, while the user played five. The user's longest gaming streak was three days, below the average of six days. The most-played game was humorously labeled "Nothing" due to leaving it running for 48 hours. Users can also analyze the frequency of keyboard and mouse usage versus controller play and the proportion of new releases played in 2024. A spider graph illustrates the genres of the most-played games.
AppWizard
December 13, 2024
Employees at ZeniMax Online Studios have formed a union with the support of the Communication Workers of America, uniting 461 employees from various states including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. The union includes web developers, designers, engineers, and graphic artists. Union members aim to improve working conditions, provide protections against layoffs and exploitation, and enhance support mechanisms beyond existing policies like the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
AppWizard
December 12, 2024
Meta experienced a significant disruption across its social media and messaging platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Threads, starting around 10 a.m. PT. Users reported issues on Downdetector, with problems such as error messages on Instagram's web interface and slow loading times. Meta acknowledged the issue on X at 10:48 a.m. PT and provided updates throughout the day, stating they were working to restore functionality. By 2:26 p.m. PT, they reported being "99% of the way there" with the restoration process. Cisco ThousandEyes linked the outage to internal server errors and timeouts, although Meta has not detailed the root cause. Users expressed their frustrations and shared experiences on X during the outage.
Winsage
December 7, 2024
Windows 10 will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. It once had over a billion users and still holds over half of the market share. Users face vulnerabilities without security updates post-deadline, and about one in five laptops may not be compatible with Windows 11. Alternatives to Windows 11 include open-source operating systems like Linux and Google's OS Flex. Remanufacturing as a Service (RaaS) offers a sustainable option for extending IT infrastructure lifespan, with remanufactured laptops being up to 70% less expensive and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 316 kg per laptop. Microsoft has announced a one-year security update extension for Windows 10 users at a cost of £23. The end of Windows 10 coincides with International E-waste Day, presenting an opportunity for businesses to adopt more sustainable practices.
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