game mechanics Archives

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Surgent Studios unveils Dead Take live-action horror game for the PC

Abubakar Salim is the founder of Surgent Studios and the creative director of the upcoming live-action horror game, Dead Take, which will launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store on July 31. Surgent Studios, established in 2019, previously released the side-scrolling Metroidvania game Tales of Kenzara: Zau in April 2024, which did not achieve commercial success. Following funding issues for a project called Project Uso, the studio faced layoffs in July 2024. In January 2025, Surgent Studios secured funding from Pocketpair Publishing, allowing them to focus on Dead Take, inspired by Salim's experiences in the entertainment industry. Dead Take features a live-action film-like aesthetic created with Unreal Engine 5 and follows an actor named Chase Lowry, who searches for his missing friend in a mansion reminiscent of horror classics. The gameplay includes escape-room-style puzzles and fragmented video files revealing Hollywood's unsettling truths. The game explores themes of ambition and betrayal, with a cast that includes Neil Newbon, Ben Starr, Jane Perry, and Alanah Pearce, along with cameos from industry veterans. Salim emphasizes psychological horror over graphic violence, focusing on the emotional challenges within the industry. Players are encouraged to engage with the game using pen and paper and headphones for a richer experience.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

How to survive as an indie developer for 20 years

Dan Marshall began his game development journey at 24 while learning C++. Over two decades, he created three games that received over 80% review scores in PC Gamer, despite facing challenges such as a 26% rating for Behold the Kickmen. His company, Size Five Games, started as a hobby, and he developed games like Ben There, Dan That! and Time Gentlemen, Please! with minimal financial risk. One notable game, The Swindle, featured a unique design that limited players to 100 attempts, leading to mixed reactions but ultimately became Size Five's most financially successful title. Marshall has kept overhead costs low by hiring external talent for short projects and has navigated the industry's volatility without significant expenses. Despite critical acclaim for Lair of the Clockwork God, its sales did not match expectations, and he speculated that a change in protagonists might have affected its performance. Marshall expresses anxiety about the future of his projects and the possibility of needing a traditional job, yet he remains committed to game development regardless of financial circumstances.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

One Dune: Awakening player ‘will not bend the knee’ to hackers laying waste to ornithopters—’I am personally on their hit list now’

A group of hackers in Dune: Awakening has manipulated game mechanics to achieve speeds that allow them to capture players' ornithopters and transport them to remote locations. A player known as SpooN04 has been documenting these incidents and sharing video evidence on the game's official Discord channel to raise awareness. Despite numerous reports and evidence submitted, the hackers remain active, and the game's developer, Funcom, is dealing with various complaints and bugs. The community is concerned about griefers and has suggested removing rockets from ornithopters to reduce their impact.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

List of all Minecraft Advancements in 2025 | Esports News

Minecraft features a total of 122 advancements categorized into five groups: Minecraft, Nether, End, Adventure, and Husbandry. Each category includes various challenges related to progression and combat. Minecraft Advancements: 1. Craft a crafting table. 2. Mine stone with a pickaxe. 3. Craft a better pickaxe. 4. Smelt an iron ingot. 5. Wear a piece of iron armor. 6. Fill a bucket with lava. 7. Upgrade to an iron pickaxe. 8. Block a projectile with a shield. 9. Obtain a block of obsidian. 10. Obtain a diamond. 11. Build and enter a Nether portal. 12. Wear a full set of diamond armor. 13. Enchant an item using an enchanting table. 14. Enter the Nether. Nether Advancements: 1. Enter the Nether. 2. Deflect a ghast fireball. 3. Travel 7 km in the Nether. 4. Enter a Nether fortress. 5. Obtain crying obsidian. 6. Mine ancient debris. 7. Wear a full set of Netherite armor. 8. Get a Wither Skeleton skull. 9. Survive fire damage with a fire resistance potion. 10. Respawn using a respawn anchor. 11. Visit all Nether biomes. 12. Enter a Bastion Remnant. 13. Ride a strider with a warped fungus on a stick. 14. Rescue a ghast from the Nether. 15. Summon the Wither. 16. Have every status effect at once (secret). The End Advancements: 1. Enter the End. 2. Defeat the Ender Dragon. 3. Obtain the dragon egg. 4. Escape the End via an end gateway. 5. Respawn and defeat the Ender Dragon again. 6. Collect dragon’s breath. 7. Obtain elytra. 8. Levitate 50 blocks with shulkers. Adventure Advancements: 1. Discover every biome. 2. Kill one of every hostile mob. 3. Hit a target with an arrow. 4. Shoot a crossbow. 5. Kill a skeleton from 50+ blocks away. 6. Hit a target block bullseye from 30+ blocks. 7. Kill two phantoms with one arrow. 8. Kill a pillager captain. 9. Kill a mob with a poisonous potato. 10. Kill five unique mobs with one crossbow shot. 11. Change your spawn point by sleeping. 12. Successfully defend a village from a raid. 13. Throw a trident at something (and pick it back up). 14. Strike a villager with lightning. 15. Survive a lightning strike. 16. Walk on powder snow without sinking. 17. Spy on a phantom through a spyglass. 18. Spy on a ghost through a spyglass. 19. Spy on a dragon through a spyglass. 20. Fall and survive from a high place. Husbandry Advancements: 1. Eat any food. 2. Breed two animals. 3. Tame an animal. 4. Breed every breedable mob. 5. Tame every variant of cat. 6. Plant a seed and harvest it. 7. Collect honey safely. 8. Move a bee nest with silk touch. 9. Walk on honey blocks to slow down. 10. Apply wax to a copper block. 11. Scrape wax off a copper block. 12. Have an ocelot trust you. 13. Eat every edible food item. 14. Upgrade a hoe to the Netherite tier.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

1 in 5 Steam games released in 2025 use generative AI, up nearly 700% year-on-year — 7,818 titles disclose genAI asset usage, 7% of the entire Steam library

Recent research indicates a 681% increase in the number of games on Steam that acknowledge the use of generative AI, rising from around 1,000 titles in 2024 to over 7,500. Ichiro Lambe, a game developer, noted that the applications of generative AI in gaming include audio elements, narrative generation, marketing materials, and code generation assistance. The use of AI during runtime is also increasing, with examples such as flagging offensive content and generating 3D worlds based on player prompts. Some games featuring AI have received positive reviews, suggesting growing acceptance among players. Notable titles using generative AI include My Summer Car, which has sold 2.5 million copies. Developers are using carefully crafted language in disclosures about AI to reassure customers, and there are concerns about undisclosed AI usage in some games.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Deus Ex was a hard sell because, among other things, the Thief devs thought ‘if you give players a gun, they won’t sneak’

Deus Ex is a significant title in the immersive simulation genre, allowing players to approach challenges from various perspectives and breaking away from traditional linear gameplay in CRPGs and FPS games. Warren Spector, the game's creator, expressed frustration with conventional RPGs and FPS games before developing Deus Ex. The game has influenced many others, including Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Avowed, Prey, and Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing its impact on player freedom and game design. An interview with Spector will be featured in the upcoming issue of PC Gamer, releasing on July 15.

AppWizard

June 22, 2025

Pathologic 3’s time travel system will let players ‘explore the unknown boldly and without fearing permanent ruin’ and that makes me way more inclined to play it

Pathologic 2 is a challenging immersive sim from Ice-Pick Lodge that has a dedicated following but may not cater to players seeking a more balanced experience. The upcoming Pathologic 3 will redefine the player experience by starting at the point of failure and allowing players to backtrack through time to correct past mistakes. The narrative follows protagonist Dankovsky, who faces dire consequences for his actions, and players will have two key mechanics: "Amalgam," which enables time jumps to alter past events, and the "Mind Map," which visually represents decision interconnections for strategic planning. These mechanics are integral to the gameplay, with specific locations and endings accessible only through particular causal combinations, promoting exploration and creativity without forcing players into fail states.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Dustwind: Resistance Has Launched For PC & Consoles

Indie game developer Dustwind Studios, in collaboration with publisher Z-Software, has released Dustwind: Resistance, a tactical squad game available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. Players lead a tactical squad with a canine companion named Diesel in real-time combat against raider forces. The game features a new single-player campaign, enhanced mechanics, a rebalanced arsenal, and various combat strategies such as stealth and heavy weaponry. It includes a refined user interface, improved gameplay experience, and significant updates to skills, character systems, environments, and weapon systems. Players can utilize tactical pauses to strategize and issue commands during gameplay.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

FBC: Firebreak patch aims to improve the game’s early hours, which ‘do not provide a good experience,’ Remedy admits

Remedy has acknowledged that FBC: Firebreak did not meet expectations but believes many issues are fixable. A recent patch introduces balance changes to improve gameplay, including making Lost Assets easier to locate and allowing new players to start at Clearance Level 3 for the introductory job, Hot Fix. The patch also includes significant overhauls to core systems, enhancing progression and rewards, with recalibrated unlockable costs and streamlined gear progression. New players can now begin at Clearance Level 3 for the first Job, and must complete a full three-zone run at CL3 to unlock subsequent Jobs. The Operational Requisition has been divided into two categories: Essentials and Expressions, allowing players to access essential gear without unlocking unrelated items. Balancing changes include reduced construction times for certain items, increased health for enemies, and improved accessibility for the Stapler Corrupted Item. Audio issues have been addressed, including missing sound effects and music transition problems. User interface corrections include XP level indicators and crash issues in the Loadout menu. Gameplay improvements involve enhanced haptic feedback and visibility for Lost Assets. Visual enhancements include performance improvements and updates to environmental elements.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

New Minecraft Server “Marvelous Anarchy” Launches with No Rules

A new Minecraft server called "Marvelous Anarchy" launched in May 2025, accessible via the IP address marvelousanarchy.com. It operates on Minecraft Java Edition version 1.12.2 and allows the use of hacked clients and exploits like item duping. The server has an initial player capacity of 25 and offers a completely unregulated gameplay experience, lacking traditional elements such as land protection and anti-griefing measures. Players can engage in unrestricted exploration, conflict, and resource acquisition, with the environment characterized by volatility and emergent social dynamics. The use of hacked clients is expected, providing players with various advantages. Spawn points are dangerous, and survival requires escaping quickly and finding untouched land. The server offers a fresh start for players to explore and establish themselves before chaos ensues.