curiosity Archives

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

Games Inbox: Are video games too expensive on console and PC?

Bethesda's latest game, Doom: The Dark Ages, is priced at £70 for both PC and console and can be completed in about 13 hours. This pricing strategy has raised concerns among gamers, especially since PC games typically have lower price points. Some gamers believe this may be an attempt by Microsoft to promote its subscription service, Game Pass, while others plan to wait for sales. Additionally, there are concerns about Bungie's management following its acquisition by Sony, with critics questioning the effectiveness of such corporate acquisitions in revitalizing franchises. In contrast, Nintendo is innovating with its upcoming Mario Kart World for the Switch 2, moving the series to an open-world format, which has generated excitement among fans. The gaming community remains engaged in discussions about pricing, management, and innovation as the industry evolves.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

A delayed review, a controversial GOTY pick, and Big Geralt: PC Gamer’s strange 10-year relationship with The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its 10th anniversary this week, marking its evolution from a niche title to a significant influence in modern fantasy storytelling, partly due to the Netflix adaptation. Upon release, it received a score of 92% from PC Gamer and was recognized as a top title in 2016, despite not winning the Game of the Year award in 2015. The game faced distribution challenges, with console versions prioritized over PC, leading to delays in review copies. The community has embraced various memes, including the "tub scene" and "Big Geralt," contributing to the game's cultural impact. The ongoing conversation about its legacy and anticipation for a sequel keeps the franchise relevant.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

A Super Mario 64 ROM Hacker Is Recreating Minecraft Inside The N64 Classic

A modder named Arthurtilly has created a voxel engine similar to Minecraft within the Super Mario 64 engine, which operates on an authentic Nintendo 64 console. This project showcases modern modding techniques applied to vintage hardware. Arthurtilly, known for previous ROM hacks, collaborated with rovertronic to develop the Mario Builder 64 tool. His latest hack features an infinite world, multiple block types, diverse biomes, initial fluid dynamics support, and enhanced graphics. Future plans for the engine include a dynamic day/night cycle, flowing lava and water, world saving and loading functionality, integration of trees and vegetation, and an inventory system.

BetaBeacon

May 15, 2025

Explore the Top 10 Mobile Games of 2025

The top popular mobile games of 2025 include Block Blast, Roblox, Free Fire x Naruto Shippuden, Ludo King, Pokémon Go, Candy Crush Saga, Mini Games: Calm & Relax, Balatro, Last War: Survival, and Call of Duty Mobile.

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft might be sick of hearing “When is Windows 12 coming?” — but Windows 10’s death remains the hot topic for most users

Microsoft introduced Windows 11 over three years ago as the successor to Windows 10, which will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025. Windows 11 currently holds a market share of 43.72%, while Windows 10 has 52.94%. Users are gradually transitioning to Windows 11, influenced by the impending support deadline for Windows 10. A recent update for Windows 11 added new features, but there is speculation about Windows 12, which Microsoft has not confirmed. User sentiment reflects more concern about the end of Windows 10 support than excitement for Windows 12. In response, Microsoft is promoting Windows 11 through ads and highlighting the benefits of Copilot+ PCs, which claim to outperform older devices.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

This Factorio-ish sim is threatening to devour hours of my time, and I haven’t even gotten to the part where I make my own starships yet

Players of management games can experience a cycle of improvisation, where strategies develop after constructing makeshift systems. "Outworld Station" is a game that combines striking visuals with engaging gameplay, allowing players to build assembly lines and explore environments filled with abandoned ships. The game features an interactive interface where a drone follows the cursor, gathering resources. Players can explore to uncover valuable materials and engage in combat by shifting into a combat mode with the drone. Initial impressions of the game suggest deeper mechanics, such as starship construction, and it is currently available as a demo on Steam.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

MechWarrior 5’s beefy story expansion is out, and it has the most videogame title I’ve ever had the pleasure to read

The latest expansion for Piranha Games' mech shooter, MechWarrior 5: Clans, is titled MechWarrior 5: Clans – Ghost Bear: Flash Storm. This expansion introduces eight new pilotable mechs, including four OmniMechs: Night Gyr, Ebon Jaguar, Fire Moth, and Huntsman, as well as four battlemechs: 100-ton Kodiak, 35-ton scout Jenner IIC, 50-ton Hunchback IIC, and 65-ton Rifleman IIC. Players can customize these mechs in an expanded mechlab. The expansion is available for £16.75. PC Gamer contributor Jonathan Bolding previously praised the original MechWarrior 5: Clans for its focused narrative campaign, despite the lack of sandbox play.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Outer Wilds studio finally confirms it’s working on a new game but says it will be ‘years’ before it’s ready to share details

Mobius Digital has announced a new project, six years after the release of Outer Wilds, during the final major update for the game. The studio indicated that further details about the new game will not be available for some time, stating, "It's gonna be a while, on the order of years, before we have any details to share about it." The update includes various gameplay enhancements, art and visuals improvements, user interface adjustments, text and localization updates, and PC-specific changes. Mobius Digital has no further major updates planned for Outer Wilds or Echoes of the Eye as they focus on their next game.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

PlayStation spins out new studio TeamLFG out from Bungie

TeamLFG is a new studio formed by former Bungie employees, located in Bellevue, Washington. The studio is developing a multiplayer action game and aims to incorporate player feedback through early access playtests. They also hinted at a "frog-type" game concept in a recent PlayStation Blog post.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Someone Reportedly Hacked the Messaging App Mike Waltz Was Seen Using

A cybersecurity breach involving TeleMessage, an Israeli messaging application company, has raised concerns about customer data safety. The breach allowed unauthorized access to direct messages and personal information on the platform, which lacks full end-to-end encryption like Signal. The hacker reported that accessing the data took only 15-20 minutes and exposed names, phone numbers, and email addresses of Customs and Border Protection officials, along with information from various financial institutions. TeleMessage is used by government agencies, including the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making the breach more significant. While the hacker did not access all content, they indicated potential for further breaches, and journalists have verified some of the compromised material. TeleMessage's claim of maintaining Signal's security standards is questioned, as archiving messages introduces privacy risks. A spokesperson for Signal warned against using unofficial versions of their app, highlighting security vulnerabilities.