explosions Archives

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

Minecraft brand boss Harry Elonen on building box-office bedlam into brand devotion

The first trailer for A Minecraft Movie received backlash, prompting the film's team to engage with fans and make significant changes. The film ultimately became the highest-grossing gaming movie, achieving 2.8 million in domestic ticket sales and surpassing the 2023 Super Mario Bros film. It generated nearly a billion dollars in global revenue for Warner Bros. Harry Elonen from Mojang Studios acknowledged the initial marketing missteps and emphasized the importance of emotional connections with fans. The team adapted their strategy based on fan feedback, leading to a successful second weekend box office hold of .6 million. The film's success was attributed to its authentic lore and emotional resonance, with Minecraft being the best-selling video game of all time, and players having spent over 68 million years in-game. The movie grossed over 0 million worldwide by early June, exceeding projections by over 30%. The marketing strategy included embedding Easter eggs and monitoring fan sentiment, resulting in a 6.3 times return on its 0 million production budget and a surge in merchandising.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

I can see why Devolver dedicated its whole show to Ball X Pit: It’s like Atari’s Breakout meets Vampire Survivors and the demo is curing my roguelike fatigue

Ball X Pit, developed by Devolver Digital, is a reimagined brick-breaker game where players face descending skeleton soldiers while automatically firing balls that ricochet off surfaces. Players can aim broadly or precisely to defeat enemies and unlock special balls with unique abilities as they level up. The game features strategic depth with upgrades and fusions, challenging boss enemies, and a whimsical hub called New Ballbylon for meta progression. It offers fast-paced action and engaging mechanics, available for wishlisting or demo play on Steam.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Razer and Minecraft Collaboration! PC peripheral devices with creeper design will be released!

Razer is launching a collaboration with Minecraft featuring a series of PC peripherals themed around the Creeper character. The collection will be released on June 27, 2025, and includes the following products: 1. Razer BlackWidow V4 X Minecraft Edition - Price: 29,980 yen (tax included) - Features: RGB mechanical keyboard with six macro keys, dirt and grass block design, includes the "Ender Dragon Shawl" in-game item. 2. Razer Kraken V4 X Minecraft Edition - Price: 17,480 yen (tax included) - Features: Wired RGB gaming headset for immersive sound, includes the "Ender Dragon Shawl" in-game item. 3. Razer Cobra Minecraft Edition - Price: 10,480 yen (tax included) - Features: Ultra-lightweight wired RGB gaming mouse, includes the "Overgrown Arm" in-game item. 4. Razer Gigantus V2 Minecraft Edition - Price: 4,990 yen (tax included) - Features: Gaming mouse pad with a textured surface, includes the "Overgrown Arm" in-game item. Pre-orders for these products will start on May 27, 2025.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Blocky horror picture show: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ ignites questionable audience etiquette

In movie theaters, the release of “A Minecraft Movie” has led to debates about audience etiquette, similar to previous discussions around the “Wicked” sing-along. Fans are increasingly using their phones during screenings, particularly during a scene with Jack Black's character, which has resulted in disruptive behavior such as echoing lines, tossing popcorn, and even reenacting scenes. This has led to ejections and police involvement, raising concerns about the safety and experience of other moviegoers. Director Jared Hess expressed support for fans but questioned the need for police intervention. The film itself has been criticized for lacking originality and depth, described as creatively bankrupt with a generic storyline and underdeveloped characters, despite appealing to younger viewers. The chaotic atmosphere in theaters highlights the challenges of balancing enjoyment and disruption.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

On March 15, news emerged about U.S. military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, which had been hinted at through discussions in a Signal group involving senior officials, including the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State. The group, titled “Houthi PC small group,” discussed operational details of the strikes, raising concerns about the appropriateness of using an encrypted messaging app for sensitive military discussions. On March 14, participants debated the risks and benefits of the action, including its impact on global trade and oil prices. Just before the strikes, a message outlined the operational plan, leading to celebratory reactions after the attacks began. A National Security Council spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the group and acknowledged a journalist's unintended inclusion. Legal experts noted that discussing classified information on Signal could violate the Espionage Act and federal records laws, raising issues about the credibility of U.S. national security communications.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

GTA V Enhanced Makes the 12-Year-Old Game Look Great Again

Rockstar has released the Grand Theft Auto V PC update, named GTA V Enhanced, which replaces the previous version, now called GTA V Legacy. The update has higher system requirements, with minimum specifications including a 64-bit processor, Windows 10, Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-9590, 8 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 or AMD Radeon RX 6400. Recommended specifications include Windows 11, Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT. Progress can only be transferred from the Legacy version once, affecting both Story Mode and GTA Online. New features in the update include ray tracing support, AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS upscaling, faster load times via DirectStorage, enhanced 3D audio with Dolby Atmos, and DualSense controller support. However, HDR display support is not yet implemented, and the NVIDIA App does not recognize the new version. The game runs smoothly at an average of 123 frames per second on high-end rigs without Frame Generation, which may be added in future updates. Players must use the Rockstar Games Launcher regardless of owning the game on Steam or Epic Games Store, complicating DLSS management. A mod is available to assist with DLSS file management during gameplay.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Just Cause creator’s new studio announces ‘incredibly difficult’ layoffs while still working on its first game

Liquid Swords, a studio founded by Christofer Sundberg in 2020, has announced a reduction in its workforce due to shifting market conditions that hindered its ability to meet projected milestones. The studio, which focuses on creating open-world action experiences, is currently developing a narrative-driven, open-world AAA revenge story using Unreal Engine 5. Despite the layoffs, Sundberg reassured stakeholders that the project will continue. In 2022, NetEase Games made an undisclosed investment in Liquid Swords, which had plans to expand its workforce to 100 employees by early 2024. Sundberg previously served as Chief Creative Officer at Avalanche Studios, contributing to the Just Cause series and the 2015 Mad Max game.

BetaBeacon

February 15, 2025

15 best local multiplayer games for Android

Robotek is a fighting game where players square off against each other, taking turns hitting each other until one goes down. The local multiplayer aspect allows for a good time, where strategy matters more than anything.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

Helldivers 2’s latest warbond adds a stratagem I’ve craved since the galactic war started, a portable hellbomb

Helldivers 2 has introduced a new warbond called Servants of Freedom, featuring the B-100 portable hellbomb, which can be activated by players or teammates and has a ten-second countdown before detonation. The update also includes the LAS-17 Double Edge, an upgraded sickle laser rifle that may burn its user, and the GP-20 Ultimatum, a close-range grenade launcher. Players can equip two new armor sets, the IE-3 Martyr and the IE-12 Righteous, which provide medium protection and are designed for close combat. Additionally, the G-50 Seeker is a throwable drone that targets enemies for explosive effects. This update is set to launch on February 6 and follows improvements to game balance and the introduction of the Illuminate faction.