creative vision 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 25, 2025

Filmmaker Jared Hess on knowing what ‘Minecraft’ fans were going to like

A Minecraft Movie is nearing the billion-dollar mark at the box office after overcoming challenges during its marketing phase at Warner Bros. Director Jared Hess noted that the initial teaser did not resonate well with the fanbase, prompting the team to adjust their marketing strategy to better reflect the film's tone. Hess credits producer Mary Parent for her support in allowing him to bring his comedic style to the project, which has contributed to the film's success.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

We called its first cyberpunk setting ‘cooler than Night City,’ and now the studio behind The Ascent says it’s making ‘the kind of game that every developer wants to work on’

Neon Giant, the Swedish developer known for the co-op shooter The Ascent, is working on a new first-person game that emphasizes "player agency" and creativity. The project features a distinctive aesthetic with retro technology and is described as "ludicrously ambitious." The studio, founded by a small team of over 20 individuals, aims to maintain its autonomy and creative freedom, ensuring that team members can contribute to the vision without traditional management constraints. Many staff members have prior experience in director roles at major studios. The new game is expected to focus on creating a believable and reactive world, moving towards immersive simulation. Further details and updates from Neon Giant are anticipated soon.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Coming to PC On April 3, 2025

“The Last of Us Part II Remastered” will be released on PC on April 3, 2025, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This marks the first time Windows users can access the game, which previously received over 300 Game of the Year awards on PlayStation. The remastered edition includes enhancements such as improved graphics, performance, and new content, including a roguelike mode called “No Return.” Pre-orders are currently available. The PC version will support customizable graphics settings, ultrawide monitor support, and full DualSense controller features. New playable characters Bill and Marlene will be introduced in the “No Return” mode, alongside a Guitar Free Play mode and restored cut content. The game will require a minimum of an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x processor and 16GB RAM.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Tencent backs new Ubisoft subsidiary

Ubisoft has established a new subsidiary dedicated to its major franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. This entity will manage both upcoming titles and the existing catalog, allowing for increased investment and development. Tencent has invested €1.16 billion for a 25 percent stake in this subsidiary, which is valued at approximately €4 billion. Ubisoft's current market capitalization is around €1.91 billion. The move is part of Ubisoft's strategy to transform its operating model and build strong game ecosystems. There have also been discussions about potentially selling some of Ubisoft's intellectual properties to companies like Microsoft and EA.

Winsage

March 17, 2025

Paint update begins rolling out to Windows Insiders

An update for Paint, version 11.2502.121.0, is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels of Windows 11, featuring enhancements to the Cocreator side panel for a more intuitive user experience. Users can access Cocreator through the Copilot menu to generate artwork based on their input using a mouse or pen. The update includes familiar tools like the Creativity slider and Select style dropdown, as well as a new Try again button for generating alternative image versions. The Apply button allows users to integrate generated content onto the Paint canvas. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

The Minecraft Movie is tunneling toward a $60M+ opening at the box office

Analysts project that A Minecraft Movie will debut at the box office with estimates ranging between million and million during its opening weekend in April. The film, directed by Jared Hess and featuring Jack Black as Steve, has a production budget of 0 million. It follows four misfits who are transported to the Overworld, where they must navigate challenges and harness their creativity to return home. The screenplay is written by Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James, and Chris Galletta, based on the Minecraft video game.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Netflix cuts staff from Night School Studio

Netflix has initiated layoffs at Night School Studio, which will not affect the studio's current content lineup. The layoffs were announced in January and are part of a broader shift in Netflix's gaming strategy, which includes the closure of its triple-A Blue studio. Mike Verdu has transitioned to a new role overseeing generative AI, and Alain Tascan has been appointed to lead Netflix's gaming division. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Fallout: New Vegas writer Gonzalez returns to Obsidian

John Gonzalez, the lead writer of Fallout: New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian Entertainment but is not involved in Fallout: New Vegas 2. He joined Obsidian in 2008 and worked there until 2011, after which he spent over two years at Ubisoft in Shanghai. He then worked at Warner Bros' Monolith Productions as the lead narrative designer for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and later served as the narrative director at Guerrilla Games for Horizon: Zero Dawn. Most recently, he spent nearly three years at Smilegate's Barcelona studio. Gonzalez is also set to release a novel titled God Mode: Single Player in 2025.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue announces closing date in Plano

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue opened to the public on October 18 in Plano and will close on January 20. It will begin a global tour in 2025, with future locations yet to be announced. During the holiday season, the experience will extend its hours for families. The interactive experience lasts approximately one hour, featuring a collaborative rescue mission through various Minecraft biomes, where participants will build structures and interact with both friendly and hostile mobs. The exhibit is created by Supply & Demand, led by executive producer Olivier Goulet, with production primarily based in Montreal and in development for about two years.