creative freedom Archives

AppWizard

January 11, 2026

Minecraft rival Hytale lets you wedge a live animal into a wall, and the implications for player-made worlds are huge

Hytale is set to launch on PC on January 13, 2026, for .99. The game features a Creative Tooling menu, including an innovative Entity Tool that allows players to manipulate and create various objects within the game world. An eight-minute showcase on the Hytale YouTube channel demonstrated the ability to freely rotate and position objects, such as constructing a tavern. The video has garnered over 100,000 views in less than 24 hours. Community reactions have been enthusiastic, with discussions about the creative possibilities and mechanics of object interaction. Players can visit the official website to secure their copy and download the launcher ahead of the full release.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

How I Fell Back In Love With Minecraft After 10 Years Away

The author first played Minecraft in 2010 and was captivated by its charm, comparing it to a digital Lego set. Over time, they drifted away from the game due to burnout and political controversies surrounding its creator, Markus “Notch” Persson. The author visited Mojang in March 2011 when Minecraft had sold over a million copies, a figure that has since grown to over 350 million. Persson's demeanor changed after the game's acquisition by Microsoft for .5 billion in 2014 and the emergence of GamerGate, leading to the author's negative feelings towards the game. The Donut SMP server, created by YouTuber DrDonut, peaked at nearly 46,000 players in a single day and features an in-game economy where players can buy and sell resources. The author's son initially sought a Minecraft Realm for his classmates but later requested to join the Donut SMP server after tensions arose in the Realm. The author, initially hesitant, found common ground with their son on the server, leading to collaborative gameplay that involved resource gathering and crafting. They created a secret base and automated systems, learning about supply and demand in the game's market. This experience rekindled the author's joy in Minecraft and strengthened their bond with their son.

AppWizard

January 1, 2026

Designing a more magical survival game: a first look at Witchspire

Witchspire is a co-op open-world survival game developed by the Swedish team Envar, targeting Early Access in 2026. Players assume the roles of witches or wizards who reactivate an ancient monument, the Witchspire, and embark on a quest to return home. The game features an expansive environment with floating islands and diverse biomes, utilizing witchcraft as a gameplay mechanic. Players can build structures through astral projection, gather resources with magical tools, and use collectible familiars for combat and crafting. The game emphasizes a non-punitive progression system, allowing players to explore various biomes and engage in combat with spells and upgradeable gear. The world includes "corruption events" with darker elements, and the narrative unfolds through exploration of ruins and dungeons. Witchspire marks Envar's shift from outsourcing to developing original IPs, with plans to self-publish the game.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said “ehhh” nah

Steam was launched in 2003 as a platform for updates to Valve's games and became a full-fledged storefront in 2005. Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, reached out to Adrian Chmielarz in the early days to feature the game Painkiller on Steam, but Chmielarz was hesitant as they did not hold the rights to the game. Painkiller's Black Edition was eventually released on Steam in 2007. The emergence of digital storefronts like Steam has transformed game development, allowing smaller developers greater access to audiences without the need for traditional publishers. Steam has revolutionized video game distribution, despite challenges like game discoverability, and has become essential to the PC gaming ecosystem.

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

“The physical world gave us possibilities we didn’t have before”: How Grim Fandango’s 3D environments revolutionized PC gaming in 1998

Grim Fandango is influenced by film noir, art deco, and the Mexican Day of the Dead. Director Tim Schafer gained creative freedom for the game due to the success of his previous title, Full Throttle. Schafer was inspired by the 3D graphics of contemporary games like BioForge to innovate within the adventure game genre. The game was remastered in 2015, making it available on modern platforms and allowing players to switch to the original graphics. Schafer has a strong personal attachment to Grim Fandango and considers it a product of a talented collaborative team.

AppWizard

December 14, 2025

Why Is Minecraft So Expensive?

Many gamers hesitate to purchase Minecraft due to its price, questioning why it remains relatively expensive despite its simplistic graphics and long-standing presence. 1. Minecraft is a one-time purchase game, offering full access without pay-to-win mechanics or subscriptions. 2. Since its launch in 2011, Minecraft has undergone continuous development, providing numerous major updates at no extra cost. 3. Minecraft serves as a versatile creative platform for learning game design, coding, education, and community building. 4. Microsoft's ownership has led to investments in global server infrastructure, account management, and security measures, impacting the game's pricing. 5. The value-per-hour argument shows that Minecraft offers extensive gameplay hours, making it economical compared to other games. 6. Minecraft is one of the best-selling games of all time, with high demand supporting its stable price. FAQs indicate that Minecraft provides exceptional value, maintains its price due to sustained development and popularity, distinguishes itself from cheaper alternatives, does not require additional payments for core access, and offers legal ways to play at a lower cost.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Creating your own Android wallpaper isn’t hard, and it’s totally worth it

A recent poll by Android Authority found that among respondents, 32% create wallpapers using images from their cameras, 7% use drawing apps or wallpaper creators, 9% let their phones generate wallpapers, 23% rely on wallpaper apps, 27% download wallpapers from the internet, and 2% indicated other methods. Users can create personalized wallpapers through drawing, photography, or by using smartphone features that generate wallpapers automatically. Online tools like Canva and Kapwing are also available for those who want to design their own wallpapers.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Getting banned by Steam and Epic has made HORSES a best-seller — but this censorship bodes ill for creativity

Indie developer Santa Ragione's horror game HORSES has been banned from Steam without a clear explanation, leading to frustration from the developers and a lack of communication regarding the ban. Despite this setback, interest in the game has increased, resulting in strong sales on alternative platforms like GOG and itch.io, where it is currently a best-seller. The ban has made it difficult for Santa Ragione to secure external publishing deals, forcing them to seek private funding. Steam cited concerns over depictions of sexual conduct involving minors, while Epic referenced explicit sexual behavior and animal abuse, claims that Santa Ragione disputes. The game is available for purchase on GOG for .99 and on itch.io. GOG has expressed support for the game, emphasizing player choice in gaming experiences.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

New Horror Game Is Banned on Almost Every Major PC Storefront

A new Italian horror game, Horses, has been banned from major PC storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, and Humble, due to its AO (Adults Only) rating. The developer, Santa Ragione, reported that Valve did not clearly communicate the reasons for the ban, and despite making content adjustments, Valve did not reassess the game. Epic Games Store cited the AO rating as the reason for their withdrawal of support, referencing violations of their policies on inappropriate and abusive content. Humble has not provided clarity on its reasons for the ban. Currently, Horses is available for purchase on GOG and Itch.io, where it has a user review score of 4.4 out of 5 on GOG.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

Palworld publishing boss says ‘I haven’t really touched so-called AAA titles’, adding that they tend to be ‘overwhelmingly about graphic quality and fidelity’

Pocketpair, the studio behind Palworld, focuses on indie games, including projects like Normal Fishing and Never Grave. John Buckley, the publishing manager, expresses a passion for indie games, highlighting their innovative mechanics and diverse gameplay compared to AAA titles, which he finds less interesting in terms of gameplay. He notes that the indie scene offers more creative freedom and unique concepts that diverge from mainstream offerings. The definition of "indie" is evolving, with titles like Clair Obscur receiving nominations for indie of the year, expanding the conversation about what constitutes a good game.